Hong Kong: Care teams go the extra mile As announced in the 2022 Policy Address, District Services & Community Care Teams will be set up in all 18 districts of Hong Kong to support the Governments district work and strengthen its community network. Care teams in both the Southern and Tsuen Wan districts were the first to start after being launched a month ago. Care team members from the Southern District are being taught life-saving techniques from the Fire Services Department, learning how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use automated external defibrillators with the goal of providing assistance and saving lives in emergency situations. At the same time, some care team volunteers from the Southern District are learning other specialised skills, all with the goal of providing better services to those in need. Southern District Services & Community Care Teams Ap Lei Chau North sub-district volunteer Dorothy Lau pointed out that in order to help the elderly to install handrails inside their bathrooms, she learnt how to use a drill that enables her to drive screws into concrete walls. Some other care team members are charged with organising activities to promote family harmony. For instance, care team members from the Tsuen Wan District arrange photographers to take family portraits for residents in their sub-districts free of charge. The care team members spare no effort to help residents in need when emergencies strike. As a prime example, a fire broke out in a unit in the Lei Muk Shue Estate several days ago. Care team members from the Tsuen Wan District immediately notified nearby residents to be vigilant and later assisted in cleaning up the affected unit. Additionally, when the water supply was suspended due to the replacement of water pipes in the Ap Lei Chau Estate, care team members from the Southern District delivered water to residents in need. Southern District Officer Francis Cheng, being the commander of all care teams in his district, said care team members not only solve problems for residents, but also strengthen community cohesion. The care teams can play a very good role in connecting the Government and the people, especially those in need. They know the community well. They know the residents. They have been in regular contact with the residents to better care for them. Therefore, they can help to bring very useful information to them and also help them to apply for various services when needed. As the commander of the care teams in his district, Tsuen Wan District Officer Billy Au emphasised that such teams can play a role as a facilitator in the community. They can enhance the connection among different groups of residents in the sub-district and facilitate the communication between the residents of the sub-district and government departments, with a view to improving district governance. Apart from explaining that the main duties of the care teams include supporting the Governments district work, strengthening the community network, organising caring activities and assisting in handling emergency incidents, Mr Au revealed that they also help to disseminate information to the public and reflect the views of the public to the Government. While the Southern and Tsuen Wan District Services & Community Care Teams have already been launched, it is expected that care teams in the remaining 16 districts will gradually be set up in the third quarter of this year. These supportive teams mainly provide district-based services according to the needs of their sub-districts. The 18 districts will be delineated into 452 sub-districts, with one care team set up in each sub-district. This story has been published on: 2023-06-24. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Compromise reached between Moscow, Wagner military headRussian media Xinhua) 08:54, June 25, 2023 MOSCOW, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, reached a compromise through the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko late Saturdayaccording to RIA Novosti news agency reports. Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the advance of the Wagner troops and de-escalate the situation, the reports said. On Saturday morning, Putin informed his Belarusian counterpart of the situation in Russia regarding the Wagner group and the heads of state agreed on joint actions. "The president of Belarus held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin ... They came to an agreement on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloody massacre on the Russian territory," the press service of the Belarusian president was quoted as saying. Then the Wagner fighters left southern Russia's Rostov region and were headed to their field camps, according to Russia's TASS news agency. The criminal case against Prigozhin will be dropped, and he will go to Belarus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on late Saturday, without specifying what exactly Prigozhin will do in the former Soviet republic. Lukashenko has been personally acquainted with Prigozhin for about 20 years and "this was his personal proposal agreed with Putin, " Peskov said. "There was a higher goal to avoid bloodshed, to avoid internal confrontation, to avoid clashes with unpredictable results. It was for the sake of these goals that Lukashenko's mediation efforts were made, and President Putin made the appropriate decision," the spokesman said. According to the official, the guarantee that Prigozhin will be able to leave for Belarus was the word of the Russian president. The incident with the Wagner group will not affect the course of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, which will continue, he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) KHARTOUM, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday welcomed the UN human rights chief's condemnation of atrocities carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in West Darfur State. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the statement by the spokesperson of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, which directly condemned the rebel militia regarding its atrocities in West Darfur State," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry called on international and regional organizations to exert more pressure on the RSF by "condemning the violations it committed against the Sudanese people." On Saturday, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a statement calling for immediate action to end the killing of civilians who were fleeing El Geneina, the capital city of West Darfur State. The statement said horrifying accounts of RSF-backed armed "Arab" militia killing people were heard from those fleeing El Geneina into Adre in Chad. The OHCHR urged immediate action to halt the "wanton killings," adding that "people fleeing El Geneina must be guaranteed safe passage and humanitarian agencies allowed access to the area to collect the remains of those killed." The statement calls on the RSF leadership to "immediately, unequivocally condemn and stop the killing of people fleeing El Geneina, and other violence and hate speech against them on the basis of their ethnicity." According to the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, more than 1,000 people were killed in El Geneina in attacks by armed militias. Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which left over 3,000 people dead and more than 6,000 injured, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. About 2.5 million people have been displaced inside and outside of Sudan, according to an OHCHR update on Wednesday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/ten-injured-in-clashes-with-settlers-in-west-bank-1111450097.html Ten Injured in Clashes With Settlers in West Bank Ten Injured in Clashes With Settlers in West Bank At least ten people were injured on Saturday near the West Bank city of Ramallah. 2023-06-25T00:20+0000 2023-06-25T00:20+0000 2023-06-25T00:20+0000 world west bank palestinians jenin un human rights office (ohchr) ramallah settlers israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/1b/1107852206_0:170:1476:1000_1920x0_80_0_0_6a4813106a37cdd18f0adb4cd449cae0.png The settlers attacked peaceful residents of the village on Saturday and set ten homes and seven cars on fire, the Palestinian Shehab News Agency said. At least ten people were injured as a result, Shehab said. The settlers also set the local farmers harvest on fire. Settlers set up an outpost in Umm Safa earlier this week, but were forced to remove it on Saturday due to clashes with local residents. On June 23, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tuerk issued a statement on the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) website saying that violence in the West Bank could spiral out of control following Israeli army operations this week and clashes between settlers and Palestinians. At least seven Palestinians, including a boy and a girl, were killed and at least 91 Palestinians and seven Israeli soldiers were wounded in Monday's operation by Israeli security forces in the Jenin refugee camp, the OHCHR said. Following the Jenin raid, four Israeli settlers were killed on Tuesday by two armed Palestinians near the Israeli settlement of Eli in the occupied West Bank. Hundreds of Jewish settlers then attacked and ransacked the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230608/five-killed-in-shooting-near-nazareth-in-israel-1111011293.html west bank jenin ramallah israel 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 israeli settlers, palestine, israel, west bank, ramallah, umm safa https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/two-civilians-killed-in-indian-attack-in-kashmir-region---pakistans-foreign-ministry-1111450226.html Two Civilians Killed in Indian Attack in Kashmir Region - Pakistans Foreign Ministry Two Civilians Killed in Indian Attack in Kashmir Region - Pakistans Foreign Ministry At least two civilians were killed and another injured in an attack from Indian forces on the Satwal sector in the disputed Kashmir region. 2023-06-25T00:27+0000 2023-06-25T00:27+0000 2023-06-25T00:27+0000 world kashmir jammu china pakistan india pakistan-india relations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/13/1102083906_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_5d626e20007a096eefe335a443afa5bf.jpg The Indian charge d affaires was summoned to the Pakistani foreign ministry on Saturday, according to the statement. Pakistan has voiced strong protest over the incident. Ties between India and Pakistan have been plagued by territorial disputes and cross-border hostilities in the contested Kashmir region. Pakistan and India have fought several wars over Kashmir since 1947. Tensions hit rock bottom in 2019 after the Indian government stripped the Jammu and Kashmir state of its special status and broke it up into two union territories. India controls the southern part of the Kashmir region, while Pakistan and China hold its northwestern and northeastern parts, respectively. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230621/modi-biden-summit-can-us-pry-india-from-brics-orbit-1111365147.html kashmir jammu china pakistan 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 kashmir, satwal, pakistan, india, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/ukraine-loses-up-to-430-troops-in-donetsk-direction-in-24-hours-1111456592.html Ukraine Loses Up to 430 Troops in Donetsk Direction in 24 Hours Ukraine Loses Up to 430 Troops in Donetsk Direction in 24 Hours Ukraine lost up to 430 military personnel in combat with Russian forces in the Donetsk direction over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a daily update on Sunday. 2023-06-25T13:21+0000 2023-06-25T13:21+0000 2023-06-25T13:28+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis ukraine donetsk zaporozhye russian defense ministry russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/19/1111456918_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_76ffdd4274b6171bdaef450736ec094a.jpg Ukraine's attempts to carry out offensive operations continued over the past day in the directions of Donetsk, Krasny Lyman, South Donetsk and Zaporozhye, the ministry said. Russian troops also destroyed a munition depot of Ukraine's 110th mechanized brigade near the city of Avdeevka, north of Donetsk. A total of 10 Ukrainian attacks were repelled near the villages of Orekhovo-Vasilyevka, Kurdyumovka, Yagodnoye, Zaliznyanskoye and Dubovo-Vasilyevka in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). Four other attacks were repulsed near Krasnogorovka, Avdeevka, Marinka and Pervomayskoe outside the city of Donetsk. Ukraine's losses in the direction of Krasny Lyman amounted to around 130 people in the past 24 hours, as well as three armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and two D-30 howitzers. Three Ukrainian servicemen surrendered to Russian troops, the ministry said. Four Ukrainian attacks were repelled in this direction near the villages of Yampolovka in the DPR as well as Karmazinovka and Dibrova in the Lugansk Peoples Republic. As many as 245 Ukrainian military personnel were eliminated in the directions of South Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Kherson and Kupyansk in the past day, the Russian military said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230620/russian-envoy-says-leopard-tanks-will-soon-be-in-red-list-after-destruction-by-russia-1111325060.html ukraine donetsk zaporozhye russia 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 special military operation, ukrainian crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/ukrainian-forces-shell-donetsk-city-center-casualties-reported-1111458486.html Ukrainian Forces Shell Donetsk City Center, Casualties Reported Ukrainian Forces Shell Donetsk City Center, Casualties Reported According to officials, UAF used MLRS to launch a rocket at the populated area in Donetsk. 2023-06-25T15:57+0000 2023-06-25T15:57+0000 2023-06-25T15:57+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis war crimes donetsk donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104873/15/1048731564_0:125:3227:1940_1920x0_80_0_0_9acc2b8d060f0bdf691212b3f7a73bd5.jpg The Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled Donetsk city center using Multiple Launch-Rocket System (MLRS), a Sputnik correspondent has reported. Militants struck highly populated areas near the city mall and civil registry.We were in our apartment, we heard everything somebody was screaming on the street, I heard. All windows were broken, one witness told Sputnik.As a result of the shelling, an 18-year-old male was killed and several people were injured, city Mayor Alexey Kulemzin said. Russian launched its special military operation in order to protect the people of Donbass from Ukrainian aggression after years of diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Ukrainian militants often target civilian infrastructure a tactic generally considered a war crime under international humanitarian law. donetsk donbass 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 russia special military operation, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian militants, uaf war crimes, donestk shelling https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/un-has-no-plans-to-discuss-situation-in-russia-for-now---reports-1111458815.html UN Has No Plans to Discuss Situation in Russia for Now - Reports UN Has No Plans to Discuss Situation in Russia for Now - Reports The situation in Russia involving the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) and its head Yevgeny Prigozhin will not be on the United Nations' agenda for the moment, the US news broadcaster reported. 2023-06-25T15:40+0000 2023-06-25T15:40+0000 2023-06-26T14:08+0000 russia the united nations (un) un security council (unsc) pmc wagner wagner aborted mutiny /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080435760_0:194:1865:1243_1920x0_80_0_0_6cd3504ff7dfe2d5c3691ae71d439065.jpg The UN Secretary General's office and all five permanent members of the UN Security Council told the broadcaster they will not be discussing the recent developments in Russia. United Arab Emirates Ambassador and president of the UN Security Council Lana Zaki Nusseibeh told media that there were no requests for the body's action. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of Prigozhin. The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group PMC as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. Later in the day, the Belarusian presidential office said that Prigozhin had accepted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and to take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that the Wagner troops were returning to their field camps. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday evening that the criminal case against Prigozhin had been dropped and that he would leave for Belarus under guarantees given by Putin. The spokesman added that the members of the Wagner PMC who were involved in Saturday's events would not be prosecuted, given their distinguished service during Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/american-media-claim-us-intelligence-learned-about-prigozhins-plans-for-mutiny-in-mid-june-1111453277.html 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 russia, prigozhin military mutiny attempt, prigozhin mutiny https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/us-concerns-about-stalled-ukrainian-counteroffensive-surely-not-vote-of-approval---1111456034.html US Concerns About Stalled Ukrainian Counteroffensive Surely Not Vote of Approval US Concerns About Stalled Ukrainian Counteroffensive Surely Not Vote of Approval Washington's alarm over the slower-than-expected progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian forces comes amid Kievs pointless fears that the White Houses military aid to Ukraine may stop if Joe Biden fails to win the 2024 election, international relations and security analyst Mark Sleboda told Sputnik. 2023-06-25T13:39+0000 2023-06-25T13:39+0000 2023-06-25T13:39+0000 analysis joe biden volodymyr zelensky ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/19/1111456740_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d982fbed66fe42ca7dad57597a783980.jpg A US news network recently cited an American military official as saying that Ukraines counteroffensive is not meeting expectations on any front. The source added that during its early phases, the counteroffensive is having less success and Russian forces are showing more competence than western assessments expected.This followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledging in an interview with Western media that the counteroffensives progress had been slower than desired.I think this is rather interesting and it probably has something to do with the fact that the anonymous Biden administration officials have said that the Kiev regime has underperformed on every front with the offensive, which is surely not a vote of approval, Sleboda told Sputnik.According to him, It's something that, obviously, the regime is beginning serious damage control on.The analyst said that Zelenskys remarks actually mean that the Ukrainian president apparently realized the fact that the war is not a Hollywood movie and it's not a Netflix blockbuster, like the Servant of the People TV series, where a kind of hapless teacher portrayed by Volodymyr Zelensky kind of accidentally became president of Ukraine and then attempted to do something good for the country.When asked about Kievs concerns of a possible halt or a substantial curtailment of Washingtons military aid in case of Joe Biden yielding the 2024 US presidential election to Donald Trump or Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Sleboda said the Kiev regime may be afraid but for no reason.I don't think the [US] president has a whole lot of say. I don't believe that any type of serious foreign policy or military policy change is possible with the exchange of the US presidency. I don't know whether Americans believe in the fiction of their democratic politics, [but] I don't believe it," the analyst pointed out.The comments come a few days after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that during 16 days of intense hostilities, Ukrainian forces had reduced their activity, having suffered significant losses.He said that at the moment, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are regrouping, gathering those troops that could go on the offensive in the future. According to Shoigu, the enemy still has the strength to conduct further offensive operations, despite massive losses both in men and materiel.This was preceded by Russian President Vladimir Putin telling reporters during the 2023 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that Kiev had failed to reach any strategic objectives at the beginning of its counteroffensive, losing 186 tanks and 418 armored vehicles.For more in-depth analysis of current events, tune in to our Final Countdown radio show. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230617/scott-ritter-ukrainian-counteroffensives-second-week-ends-in-failure-1111243899.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/new-us-arms-package-shows-qualitative-change-underway-for-ukrainian-army-1111153485.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.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 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg russia, ukraine, us, washington, conflict in ukraine, ukrainian crisis, war in ukraine, ukrainian counteroffensive https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/watch-russian-troops-take-out-ukrainian-stronghold-1111453410.html Watch Russian Troops Take Out Ukrainian Stronghold Watch Russian Troops Take Out Ukrainian Stronghold The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released a video of a Ukrainian army stronghold being destroyed near the town of Kupyansk in eastern Ukraine. 2023-06-25T09:49+0000 2023-06-25T09:49+0000 2023-06-25T09:53+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine stronghold video /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/19/1111453839_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_462e3cc3cd1919db5c3ff6ff5a0061ab.png The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released a video of a Ukrainian army stronghold being destroyed near the town of Kupyansk in eastern Ukraine. The footage, obtained from an unmanned aerial vehicle, shows a powerful explosion, with a massive cloud of smoke and dust rising into the sky. Shortly after, the same blast is seen on a video taken by an observer on the ground. Commenting on a clip, the ministry said that "after spotting the stronghold with Ukrainian militants and stocks of ammunition, Russian forces hit it with high-precision weapons. According to the ministry, as a result of the strike, the militants positions along with arms and munition had been completely destroyed. russia 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 Russian forces eliminate Ukrainian stronghold in Kupyansk direction Russian forces eliminate Ukrainian stronghold in Kupyansk direction 2023-06-25T09:49+0000 true PT0M45S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian defense ministry video, russian forces destroy ukrainian stronghold Casual Cool and Speed Away won the $18,500 featured races on their respective gaits during the Saturday (June 24) card at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. The American Ideal gelding Casual Cool wanted the lead in the pacing feature, and he got it and kept it to the wire, triumphing in 1:50 to win in this class for the second straight week. Ridge Warren utilized drawing the rail with the winner of $638,040 and sent him away full-tilt, forcing a tuck by Joesstar Of Mia A to the :25.4 quarter, then went on to mid-race numbers of :54.3 and 1:21.4. Favoured Bettors Donttell had to take the uncovered route and raced well but settled for second, 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner, who is trained by Daniel Renaud for Dune Road Stables LLC. In the trotting feature, the Father Patrick gelding Speed Away bounced back from a break in his last start, winning in 1:54. Crazycat took control from the pole and set fractions of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:24.3, but then faded, shuffling back favoured Hayek behind him, as Speed Away grinded right to the lead on the turn and won by 2-1/4 lengths over a late-clearing Hayek. Matt Kakaley drove the winner for trainer Jonas Czernyson and Consus Racing Stable Inc. An $18,000 co-featured trot for up-and-coming horses saw the Donato Hanover gelding College Tuition capture his second straight race, taking a new mark of 1:53.3. College Tuition set fractions of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:24.1 under the guidance of George Napolitano Jr., then held off the late bid of the pocket horse, Queen For All, for a neck victory for trainer/owner Eric Foster. Simon Allard won five races on the day, three of them for trainer Ron Burke. Sundays 6 p.m. card at The Downs is headlined by the $148,148 third preliminary round of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) for the three-year-old pacing fillies, with two previous PASS winners topping each of the two divisions as the group looks to establish a leader. Program pages for all Pocono races will be available on the PHHA website. (PHHA / Pocono) First-round winners Lupin K, Highway Queen and Arson lead the 22 rookies slated to compete in their respective $25,000 second-round Kentucky Sire Stakes events on Sunday (June 25) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, but some new arrivals to the series promise to pose significant threats, as well. The two-year-old colt trot, carded as the first of nine races on the program, shapes up as a likely rematch between Lupin K, who rode the pocket to a 9-1 upset on June 12, and Pick Pocket, who overcame road trouble and rallied to miss by a neck as the 3-5 favourite. Pick Pocket, a son of Walner-Cant Have My Moni who retains the driving services of Anthony MacDonald for trainer Eric Patalan, was made the 6-5 morning line choice from the pole over 8-5 second choice Lupin K, a Six Pack-Destiny K S gelding whom Andy Miller will drive from the outside post in the field of five for trainer Don Campbell. Neither of the top two finishers in the first round of the two-year-old filly trot return in the second round (race two), but Readly Success (Andy Miller, post one, 7-5), who finished third in 1:59.1 in her career debut, will face a pair of precocious first-time starters in Allegiant and Miss Dior. Allegiant, a daughter of Tactical Landing-Too Good For You trained and driven by Vernon Beachy, is the 2-1 second choice from post two after winning a June 13 qualifier at The Meadows by 20-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2. Miss Dior's lone qualifier, on June 10 at Harrah's Hoosier Park, was over two full seconds slower, but the Jay Hochstetler-trained daughter of Six Pack-Sweet Thing equalled Allegiant's :28.3 closing speed and similarly won by a widening 15-1/4 lengths. Verlin Yoder will drive the 4-1 third choice from post three in the field of five. All five fillies who participated in the first round of their series return in Sunday's fourth race, with Highway Queen one of three Tony Dinges trainees in the field stamped the early even-money favourite after rallying to defeat stablemates Fearless Bettor and Barefoot Belle in the first round. Joey Putnam retains the drive on Highway Queen, a daughter of American Ideal-Onemorefortheroad who will start from post two, after her 1:55.4 first-leg win. The other Dinges trainees, Fearless Bettor (Atlee Bender, 7-2) and Barefoot Belle (John MacDonald, 5-2), will start from posts four and five, respectively. The quartet of stakes concludes with the two-year-old colt pace, carded as race six. Arson (pictured above) and Tua Many Captains, the top two finishers in the first round, are the top two morning line choices, at 2-1 and 5-2, respectively. Arson, whom Anthony MacDonald will again drive for Eric Patalan, will start from post two in the field of seven after using a :27 closing kick to rally out of midfield and defeat pacesetter Tua Many Captains, again slated to be driven by Andy Miller, by 1-3/4 lengths. Joining them is newcomer Snap Count (John MacDonald, post four, 4-1), who won his June 14 qualifier at Magical Acres, in New Jersey, in 1:59.1 by way of a first-over push through a quickening final three-eighths of the mile. Paula Wellwood trains the son of Betting Line-Tessa Hanover. As many as the top eight point-earners in each division will be eligible to compete in the $100,000 series finals on July 4. First post for Sunday's program at Oak Grove is 3 p.m. CDT. (Oak Grove) On a thrilling summer night of racing at The Meadowlands, Mad Max Hanover and I Did It Myway put a big jolt of electricity into the third and final leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers as both won in high-voltage style on Saturday night (June 24). In the first of the two $50,000 splits, Mad Max Hanover took on Stonebridge Helios, who went to the gate as the 2-5 favourite after stopping the clock in a Big M seasons-best 1:47 in leg two one week ago. Mad Max Hanover brushed to the lead at the half (after sitting fourth to quarter) in :54 as Stonebridge Helios followed that live tow. I made a brave move, said winning driver Tim Tetrick. If [Stonebridge Helios] followed me, great, if not, whatever. Whatever must have meant he wasnt in a yielding frame of mind, as the two battled nose-to-nose around the far turn and past three-quarters in 1:21.2. Stonebridge Helios battled his way to the top as they hit the top of the stretch and appeared to be on his way to victory, but inside the sixteenth pole, Max found more and gunned down his tiring foe in a lifetime-best equalling 1:47.4 by three-quarters of a length. Taurasi was third. My horse is tough, said Tetrick of the Jake Leamon trainee. If he could have left the gate like this last year, he would have made a million dollars. Hes still learning how to leave the gate. Hes improving with age. He was beat halfway down the lane but I kept grabbing him and yelling at him. I cant give my horse enough praise. Mad Max Hanover returned $7.80 to win as the 5-2 second choice in the betting. The gelded son of Always B Miki-Mayhem Seelster now has eight wins from 36 outings, good for earnings of $723,845. I Did It Myway, one week after finishing third (placed second) to Mad Max Hanover as the 3-5 favourite, made amends for that defeat with a lifetime-best 1:47.3 effort in the second Graduate pacing split. [Last week] I wasnt disappointed in my horse, I was more disappointed in my drive, said winning driver Andy McCarthy. In the middle of the first turn, I said 'uh-oh' because I was too far back. I got him out of there a bit better tonight. I Did It Myway and 6-5 favourite Dreamfair Arnie B were up front early to no ones surprise, as the fractions put up were :27 with I Did It Myway on the point, before Dreamfair Arnie B took over, hitting the half in :53.4 and three-quarters in 1:20.4. With about an eighth of a mile to go, McCarthy moved I Did It Myway out of the pocket and collared his rival rather easily nearing the wire on the way to a neck win. Night Hawk was third. Hes very versatile, said McCarthy. With the fractions they go here you have to be close. Once you move him over [out of the pocket], he always digs in. I Did It Myway, a son of Captaintreacherous-Flyme To The Moon who is trained by Tony Alagna, returned $5.60 as the 9-5 second choice. Hes now won 16 of 36 outings and earned $1,130,298. Nancy Takters barn, with 17 wins from just 45 starts at The Big M entering the weekend, stayed red hot, sending out a pair of winners who have their appetites set on some big stakes. Her student Keg Stand (Bar Hopping-Palm Beach Bi) scored from off the pace in the lone $75,000 Graduate Series dash for four-year-olds on the trot as the 2-1 second choice ($6.60 to win) in a lifetime-best 1:50.4. Keg Stand figures to take on Jiggy Jog S when the $250,000 (est.) Graduate finals for both trotters and pacers take place on July 8. Cannibal took a conditioned race later on the card in 1:49.1. The three-year-old son of Sweet Lou-No More Losses is being pointed to the $700,000 (est.) Meadowlands Pace on July 15. Cannibal paid $3.40 as the 3-5 public choice while staying perfect in three seasonal starts. Saturday night belonged to Dave Little, as the veteran member of the Big M TV team won Night 8 of the tracks Battle of The Meadowlands Masterminds handicapping contest in record fashion. Littles $500 win parlay of Mad Max Hanover and I Did It Myway turned into $5,460, a single-card record in the two-year history of the event. His profit for the night was $4,960. As for his handicapping, Little tabbed eight winners on top, including the Early Pick-4 cold, when he turned a $36 wager into $420. P L Ozzy upped his winning streak to five when the five-year-old by Sunshine Beach-Taylorlane Action stopped the clock in a lifetime-best equalling 1:48.3 in the $23,500 Play Meadowlands Series final for mid-range conditioned pacers. He returned $2.80 to win as the 2-5 public choice. Natameri, a 26-1 shot, wore down Ruthless Hanover in deep stretch to take the overnight feature, a $31,500 Open for pacers. The five-year-old son of American Ideal-Native Daughter hit the finish in a lifetime-best 1:48.2. Four weeks ago, Ruthless Hanover went the fastest mile of the year in the sport with his 1:46.3 clocking at Harrahs Philadelphia All-source wagering topped $3 million for the 39th time from 51 race cards this year after $3,024,891 was pushed through the windows on the 14-race program. Live harness racing resumes Friday, June 30 at 6:20 p.m. (EDT). (With files from The Meadowlands) DHAKA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Bangladeshi government on Sunday signed a loan agreement for 400 million U.S. dollars to build a dual-gauge railway connecting the country's seaport city Chattogram, some 242 km southeast of Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka. Sharifa Khan, secretary of Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division, and Jiangbo Ning, ADB deputy country director for Bangladesh, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides in Dhaka. The loan will help complete the construction of the 102 km of the new railway line between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar, one of the world's longest unbroken sandy beaches, about 400 km southeast of Dhaka. The assistance forms the third part of 1.5 billion dollars in ADB loans for the SASEC (South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation) Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Railway Project. "The ADB is assisting the government to shift from road to rail, which is a climate-friendly, safe, affordable, and efficient mode of transport," said Ning. "The project is a priority investment and will open up the unserved areas of Cox's Bazar region by promoting investment, trade and tourism," the deputy country director said, adding that the project also integrates features that are friendly to the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities. The new rail link, expected to open in 2023, aims to transport 2.9 million passengers annually between Chattogram and Cox's Bazar by 2024. The construction of this railway section is one of several ADB railway projects to help Bangladesh meet its targets under its Eighth Five-Year Plan and Railway Master Plan. Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Railway is part of the Trans-Asia Railway network, an initiative led by the United Nations, aiming to provide seamless rail links between Asia and Europe to better connect people and markets. The six-year-old Captaintreacherous stallion Warrawee Vital returned off his Canadian-record mile a week ago for new trainer Des Tackoor to again annihilate at the top class at Woodbine Mohawk Park, the $36,000 Free For All Pace, on Saturday night (June 24). Leaving from post five, driver Trevor Henry hustled Warrawee Vital to the lead and travelled uncontested. He uncorked a clip of :26.4, :54.2 and 1:21.2 to then spurt away from his rivals and win by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:47.3 as the 1-5 choice. Poseidon Seelster gave chase off a pocket ride for second with The Greek Freak flying down the center of the track for third and Codename Cigar Box taking fourth. Warrawee Vital races for owners Blair Corbeil, Yolanda Fellows and M&s Racing Stable Inc. He won for the 23rd time from 62 tries and has now banked $687,861. He paid $2.40 to win. So Much More came back to the Fillies and Mares Preferred ranks after finishing third in the $305,000 Roses Are Red Stakes to win in the $32,000 co-feature in 1:49.1. Driver James MacDonald motored the seven-year-old daughter of Big Jim to the top and faced no pressure while speeding through a :26.3 first quarter and :54.3 half. Dabarndawgswatchin pulled first over from fifth through the final turn and marched after So Much More through three-quarters in 1:22.1 to draw within a length of the leader in the stretch. But So Much More held her ground through the lane, keeping three-quarters of a length in front at the beam with Gias Surreal, off a pocket trip, left in third and Western Wish in fourth. Don Beatson trains and co-owns So Much More with Kenneth Beatson and Cole England. She won her 65th race from 142 starts and has now earned $1,450,407. She paid $2.60 to win. To view Saturdays harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results Woodbine Mohawk Park. As Shelly Wilson and the other members of her family surveyed the damage at their home Saturday, passers-by kept stopping by their tornado-ravaged home about four miles east of Scottsbluff. Some offered prayers. Some offered gift certificates to help with meals. One gentleman offered the use of his storage unit for the family. All of the people were strangers to the Wilsons, but each were offering their help as the 12 members of the Wilson family attempt to pick up their lives after a tornado destroyed their home, located at County Road 25 and Highway 26, Friday evening. Amazingly, even as the contents of their living room and other rooms were strewn among trees, fences and totaled vehicles, they exhibited a good-natured spirit. Most of the family Shelly, Bill, their two daughters and two sons, and six grandchildren were home at the time of the tornado. All escaped without even a scratch. God blessed me, Shelly Wilson says as one man asks how she and her family are. We are all safe. My animals are safe, for the most part. She lists a number of things for which to be thankful: Her daughters fiance was working at the sugar factory during the storm so despite most of the vehicles being strewn across the yard, toppled over each other, there is one vehicle able to be used for transportation. Her future son-in-law and two men were also on the scene quickly after the tornado, breaking down doors to free the family from the basement. She lists one family, the Weiss family, as among those she is appreciative of as they opened up their home to her family, calling a church for beds and bedding, as all hotels were booked for the weekend. We have each other, Shelly said. And, people in this community are so generous, weve seen it. Shelly and her husband, Bill, have lived for four years in their home at the corner of County Road 25 and Highway 26. They rented their home from great landlords, Jody and Tyler Staman, living there with their two adult daughters, one daughters fiancee, two adult sons, and 6 grandchildren, who range in age from 4 years old to 14 years old. Its a five-bedroom home, modest, but its been a comfortable home for the family through the years, Shelly said. On Saturday, the home got a certain kind of notoriety being the only home in Scotts Bluff County destroyed as multiple tornadoes swept through the community Friday, confirmed by Region 22 Emergency Management Director Tim Newman. (It) is the only one destroyed, Newman told the Star-Herald Saturday after he and a National Weather Service meteorologist toured the county looking for tornado and hail damage following the storm. We couldnt find any other tornado damage, other than that one house, as far as residential structures. One man suffered minor injuries after the same tornado that struck the Wilson home picked up his vehicle and flipped it. Newman said the man said he suffered only cuts and bruises. As the Wilson family returned to their home Saturday afternoon, the adults and children walked through the rubble. They quickly assessed the debris for items that they could find, and possibly save. One child brought out a dream catcher, packing it into the Jeep that they had been loaned by a local auto dealer. Shelly teared up as her daughter, Abby, brought out a treasured item, cupping the item, a glass, between her hands. A short time later, Abby returned, lamenting the loss of jewelry she had collected. Ive lost all my necklaces, she told her mother. Im so sorry, Abby, her mom said, giving her a hug as they smiled through their tears. They also faced their battle with a certain sense of humor. As a pair of toy keys laid in the dirt, someone joked to Aaron Wilson, Hey, theres your keys. He laughed, saying, Now I just have to find my car, a reference to multiple cars behind the family home that were destroyed by the tornado. Among them are two motor homes that were flipped onto their sides, atop a pickup truck. They also talked about the tornado, which Shelly described as happening quickly. Like much of Scotts Bluff County on Friday night, the Wilsons were watching from their front step as a thunderstorm system roiled through the community. Reports indicated large hail and even some tornado activity. The system that the Wilsons were watching most closely as they viewed from their house was a large build up of clouds by the Scotts Bluff National Monument. As they watched the clouds split, Shelly said she began seeing the clouds rotate and she herded her grandchildren and her chihuahuas into the basement. Soon after, she said, her husband and stepson, Mike, were coming in, telling them to Move, move, move, directing the grandchildren to a far wall. Soon after, she said, they could hear the roof of the home crashing in, falling on top of Mike. She described it as very scary, saying that things happened so fast that it was hard to describe. She and her daughter, Abby, focused on calming the children down. Then, she said, they were focused on calming each other as they realized what had happened. Suddenly, she said, her future son-in-law and two other men were trying to break down and open doors to the basement, helping them out of the home. How they knew to come help them, she said, she still wasnt sure of Saturday, but was just thankful that they had been there. Newman described the tornado that struck the Wilsons home as one of four that witnesses said they had seen directly in that area. According to Newman, the tornado that struck the Wilson home started on the south side of the North Platte River, moving to the northeast and crossing the highway, striking the Wilsons home. It then did a sharp curve Newman described it as almost a U turn before coming back around and crossing the highway again. In its wake, the tornado also destroyed power poles and upended a pivot, all signs that weather observers use to trace the path of the storm. Newman theorized that once the tornado turned back around, it went over the wastewater treatment ponds, sucking up water, and weakened. It was a pretty strong rotation, Newman said. They say there were multiple vortexes right there. Though several tornadoes are reported to have occurred in the area Friday night, Newman said, most occurred in rural areas where little damage would have occurred and not enough damage to classify it on the Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale, a tool used by meterologists to assess damage. The classification of the tornado that struck the Wilson home was not yet available, but would be released after a report is finalized by the National Weather Service in Cheyenne. The area did experience significant hail damage, Newman said. He estimated that vehicles in the area sustained the most damage, placing a rough estimate that insurance companies would be paying upward of $1 million in insurance claims. However, he said, there is not enough damage to homes, structures and public infrastructure that the area would qualify for any disaster declarations. Damages were reported to a solar array north of 42nd Street in Scottsbluff owned and operated by the Nebraska Public Power District, though damage estimates hadnt been reported publicly as of publication. The City of Scottsbluff also reported that it would close Westmoor Pool for Saturday and Sunday as staff assess damage and make repairs. In the meantime, the Wilson family is in a wait-and-see mode as they try to determine their next steps. Fortunately, Shelly said, after experiencing a fire as a young adult, she had renters insurance to help cover the cost of replacing belongings. Shelly said she has been so overwhelmed by offers to help, but without a home, they arent yet quite sure what to do with offers of furniture and other items. She said their most immediate need is clothing and items such as undergarments as working through the rubble of the home to find anything salvageable will be quite the undertaking. The family has set up a GoFundMe, available at tinyurl.com/Wilsontornado. People interested in donating to the Wilson family can contact Firefighter Ministry, which is providing assistance, by calling Carissa Schank, 308-631-9674, to connect the family as they assess their needs. Schank said Firefighter Ministry is also taking general donations, such as hygiene items and monetary donations, to replenish its supplies as it helps families, like the Wilsons, as they experience natural disasters or fires. Donations can also be made online to Firefighter Ministry at the Oregon Trail Community Foundation website, www.otcf.org, under the Join the Giving and Give to a NonProfit tabs. PHOTOS: June 23 Storm damage The Senate Appropriations Committee has tagged $25 million for construction of an agricultural research facility at Nebraska Innovation Campus. The appropriation will further development of the $140 million National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture, which is anticipated to begin construction next year. Sen. Deb Fischer, who sponsored the appropriation, said in a statement the research center funding was one of three Nebraska-based projects included in the Senate's ag budget this year. The Appropriations Committee also voted 28-0 to advance $3 million in funding to the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and $1 million for the National Ag Producers Data Cooperative also led by UNL. The bill must still be voted on by both the Senate and the House before it goes to President Joe Biden for his signature, but Fischer said she was optimistic the project had received bipartisan support. "Nebraska is becoming a world-renowned leader in agricultural research," Fischer said in a statement. "I'm proud to have pushed for these critical projects, which will cement our state's position as a hub for ag innovation and support family farmers and ranchers." The National Center for Resilient and Regenerative Precision Agriculture has also secured $3 million in funding in the House ag budget, led by Rep. Mike Flood, who has been a vocal supporter of the project. Congress has previously appropriated $11.2 million for design and planning of the facility in 2020 and $20 million for construction in 2021. The Nebraska Legislature also set aside $25 million in funds for an 80,000-square-foot companion building, an appropriation that would cover half the cost. The spending bill was signed into law by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts in 2022. The University of Nebraska has pledged to raise the remaining $25 million for a center that would convert research done at the USDA facility into real-world products and services. Fischer said she also secured language in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act that prioritizes agricultural research at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center. The state has offered millions of dollars in funding to several Cowlitz County projects as part of a larger statewide investment that put more than $300 million toward clean water in Washington. The city of Longview got a $4.16-million loan from the state Department of Ecology to replace aging pipes at the Beacon Hill Water and Sewer plant, according to a department news release. The current pipe system on Nevada Drive was installed in the 1960s and is made primarily of corrugated metal, the department said, which is considered outdated because of how much it corrodes over time. The loan would replace 7,360 linear feet of the pipe system with polyvinyl chloride and high-density polyethylene pipes, which are essentially made of highly durable plastic and considered much more reliable ways of transporting liquids. In Kalama, 10,000 linear feet of pipes in downtown will be replaced with more modern versions after the city got $5.19 million from the Department of Ecology. The current pipes have sat there since the 1950s, with this money going toward adding 6- and 8-inch sewer lines in the northeast portion of downtown. The project, officials hope, will create a better infiltration and exfiltration system. The new pipes are expected to have a 75-year lifespan, according to the department. A wastewater facility at Olequa Creek in Vader got $100,000 for better equipment, according to the state Department of Ecology. The money would fund a new treated effluent outfall diffuser, which are made of rubber and used as water filters to catch sediment or sand. A project that went unfunded was a request from the Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group to move forward on a watershed-scale restoration at the South Fork Toutle River near Mount St. Helens. The group said the money would go toward helping salmon runs and other fish in the river, according to the department. The Department of Ecology, through the Water Quality Combined Funding program, gave money to 125 projects total across the state. Most of the money 90% went to local communities for environmental and infrastructure purposes, the department said in a news release. The money for the program comes from both state and federal funds. On the federal side, President Joe Biden in 2021 authorized the Capitalization Grant that included $36 million focused on assisting small, financially disadvantaged communities, the department said, and $3 million in forgivable loans to help prevent water toxicity. Liana Vincent hasnt lived in the Southside neighborhood long, moving to her Pershing Avenue home in 2020. She immediately fell in love with the area. I love the people and community in Southside the people are caring and kind and so diverse in age and experience, said Vincent, who serves as president of the Southside Historic Neighborhood Association. The beauty of the trees, flowers, yards and birds in Brison Park give a sense of peace. The architectural styles are varied and layered with stories and each one individual. It really gives a person who loves art or history a lot to think about and look at. Since it has been around for 100 years my neighbors started sharing those stories and I got really interested in the idea of preserving all of this and sharing it with more people. We have chosen to stay connected to all of these wonderful people and have stayed connected to building a sense of place in Southside and educating others about its rich history. It is an intersection of professors, students, long-time residents, new residents and the history of the place. The College Station neighborhood was celebrated on Thursday for turning 100 years old. Neighborhood residents filled the council chambers as Mayor John Nichols read a proclamation during the city council meeting in honor of the anniversary. Nichols declared June 2023 as the 100th anniversary of Southside Historic Neighborhood in commemoration of the spirit of the community that has kept the history of College Station alive for the past 100 years and will continue to do so for years to come. The citizens of the Historic Southside Neighborhood, local organizations and outside entities have endeavored to preserve and protect homes and parks in the Historic Southside Neighborhood which are deemed to have historical significance. Organizations such as the Historic Preservation Committee of College Station, Southside Neighborhood Advocacy Group, College Station Association of Neighborhoods and the Historic Southside Neighborhood have endeavored to preserve and protect historic areas and neighborhoods of College Station, Nichols said. Much consideration and effort has gone into the education of our students and our community about the history of Southside Historic Neighborhood. Great effort has gone into making the history of Southside available for the world to see on the internet. Cooperation between the citizens, local government and local organizations of College Station along with concerned outside entities have resulted in a surge in the interest of the history of Southside and the undeniable dedication of its people that is demanded to address all issues related to keeping the history of Southside alive and fresh on the minds of everyone. Fred Dupriest lives on Fairview Avenue in Southside. He and his wife moved into their home in 2012 and in two years their home will turn 100 years old. As they worked on renovations to their house, Dupriest said he realized they had officially found their forever home. When we retired in 2012, we decided there wasnt anywhere else we wanted to be, he recalled. We have traveled all over and there are lots of places out there, but this just really felt like home to us. We renovated our little house and added a porch to it and a garage and moved in. We have lived in lots of suburbs and never felt at home, we just never did and its important. Almost immediately we met people here and people walked the roads, the park and the people are just very connected to each other in Southside and they take care of each other, and are interested in each other. Dupriest said the Southside Neighborhood is a community with emotionally connected residents who love it there but also have a strong sense of ownership and responsibility for preservation of what it is, and the role it plays in College Station. That has evolved a lot over the last 10 years, and the people who live in Southside now are very connected, Dupriest said. And the fact that we have served the city; we serve all of our visitors on game day. And we are the face, we are that warm, engaging, historic face, that feel that everybody likes to have in a city somewhere. And we are that for A&M, and for all of our visitors and we just take a lot of sense of pride in fulfilling that responsibility truthfully, and that is what we are trying to do with the 100-year anniversary and so many activities is to serve that role really and not just for ourselves but for the whole city. Vincent has been organizing numerous events for the celebration of the 100-year-old neighborhood and invites anyone interested to join the festivities. For more information, visit Southside Historic Neighborhood on Facebook and Instagram. AE Wealth Management LLC reduced its holdings in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:TFLO Get Rating) by 9.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 809,722 shares of the companys stock after selling 88,978 shares during the period. AE Wealth Management LLC owned approximately 0.92% of iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF worth $40,964,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 81.8% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 1,734,678 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,757,000 after buying an additional 780,383 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 9.6% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 1,246,731 shares of the companys stock worth $63,072,000 after purchasing an additional 109,062 shares during the period. Moulton Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 115.3% in the first quarter. Moulton Wealth Management Inc. now owns 278,220 shares of the companys stock worth $14,042,000 after purchasing an additional 148,979 shares during the period. Secure Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF in the first quarter worth $537,000. Finally, Transcend Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF by 5.0% in the first quarter. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC now owns 27,869 shares of the companys stock worth $1,410,000 after purchasing an additional 1,339 shares during the period. Get iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF Trading Down 0.0 % TFLO opened at $50.60 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average is $50.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $50.49. iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $50.28 and a twelve month high of $50.66. iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF Profile The iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (TFLO) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of U.S. Treasury floating rate bonds. TFLO was launched on Feb 3, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TFLO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:TFLO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AE Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Rating) by 13.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 388,278 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 45,633 shares during the period. AE Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $37,760,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Strong Tower Advisory Services raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Strong Tower Advisory Services now owns 6,938 shares of the companys stock valued at $675,000 after buying an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management grew its position in Philip Morris International by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 58,476 shares of the companys stock worth $5,687,000 after acquiring an additional 3,283 shares during the last quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE grew its position in Philip Morris International by 18.0% during the 1st quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 5,354 shares of the companys stock worth $521,000 after acquiring an additional 817 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in Philip Morris International by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 502,551 shares of the companys stock worth $48,873,000 after acquiring an additional 9,705 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James & Associates grew its position in Philip Morris International by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,429,044 shares of the companys stock worth $236,224,000 after acquiring an additional 147,044 shares during the last quarter. 77.43% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently issued reports on PM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $114.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. UBS Group upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $106.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Citigroup upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $109.00 to $117.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $111.40. Philip Morris International Stock Up 0.6 % PM opened at $96.30 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $149.48 billion, a PE ratio of 17.23, a PEG ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.68. The business has a 50 day moving average of $94.73 and a 200-day moving average of $98.14. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.85 and a 52 week high of $105.62. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.03 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 128.55% and a net margin of 10.80%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.56 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.18 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be paid a dividend of $1.27 per share. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 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. Read More 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. TOKYO, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Multiple civic groups in Japan have continued to oppose the country's plan of dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, exhorting the government to take the long-term impact into account to avoid entailing endless trouble to future generations. "The problems regarding nuclear-contaminated water and the health hazards of radiation may further show their impact after a century, the situation 500 years or even 1,000 years later must be taken into consideration before judging whether the wastewater can be discharged into the sea," said Yoshitaka Ikarashi, the Japanese representative of the Somei Platform, or the Japan-China common market promotion association. Also a resident of Iwaki city in southeastern Fukushima prefecture, he made the remarks during his recent speech at Meiji Gakuin University. He has been involved in volunteer activities for disaster relief and reconstruction in the prefecture after the devastating earthquake in 2011. When referring to the water-dumping plan, Ikarashi mentioned a Japanese saying that "one cannot do things well if he only considers the immediate," citing carpenters building temples in ancient Japan as an example. In order not to be blamed by future generations, the carpenters would think ahead and will strive to leave a building that can stand the test, according to him, stressing that the century-long impact from now must be taken into consideration regarding the nuclear-contaminated water. "The sea is the common property of the world and Japan cannot make decisions alone," said Ikarashi, adding it is premature to make judgments as the possible future hazards of nuclear-contaminated water containing radioactive materials have not been verified. He added that the current treatment methods of the relevant parties are also not doing their best to protect the marine environment and human health, the viewpoint of which was echoed by other local experts. Hideyuki Ban, co-director of the Tokyo-based Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, told Xinhua in an interview that in order to prevent pollution of the marine environment, countries should use the most practicable methods at their disposal in accordance with their capabilities. The nuclear expert believes there are other ways of treating contaminated water, such as cement solidification, that are more practical than dumping it into the sea. According to Ban, the power plant in Fukushima has stored more than 1.3 million tons of nuclear-contaminated water, which will continue to increase in the future, and according to the plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the discharge is planned to continue for more than 30 years. If fish and shellfish are contaminated, it will ultimately affect the health of humans at the top of the food chain. The expert pointed out that TEPCO only assessed the uniform spread of radioactive material in the sea. "In fact, the ocean terrain is undulating, and the complex ocean currents do not flow in only one direction. It is not surprising that high concentrations of radioactive substances appear in the process," he said. Masanobu Sakamoto, president of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives known as JF Zengyoren on Thursday met with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, and handed over to the latter a petition stating the federation's unchanged opposition to the discharge plan. The president called the planned discharge of nuclear-contaminated water "a matter of life and death" for the fishing industry, and opposed the authorities' decision to start the discharge without the full consent of the fishing industry. Ikarashi also questioned the end date of the water discharge, noting that Japan does not have the final treatment technology for decommissioned nuclear reactors, while the schedule for completing the disposal of waste reactors is completely unclear. "Under such circumstances, how can this decision-making generation bear the responsibility for the discharge after they are gone?" "I probably won't live another 30 years, but as long as I live, I will continue to call on the government to change its policy," said Ban, who is now in his 70s. First International Bank & Trust trimmed its position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL Get Rating) by 4.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,649 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 472 shares during the period. First International Bank & Trusts holdings in Aflac were worth $687,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AFL. Unison Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Aflac by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Unison Advisors LLC now owns 44,068 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,843,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the last quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Aflac by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLC now owns 98,636 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,364,000 after acquiring an additional 3,009 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Aflac by 9.3% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 659,089 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $42,524,000 after acquiring an additional 56,058 shares in the last quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Aflac by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC now owns 631,474 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $40,743,000 after purchasing an additional 4,863 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of Aflac by 125.7% in the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 171,961 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $11,095,000 after purchasing an additional 95,781 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.56% of the companys stock. Get Aflac alerts: Aflac Trading Down 0.6 % NYSE:AFL opened at $67.14 on Friday. Aflac Incorporated has a 1 year low of $53.04 and a 1 year high of $74.01. The business has a fifty day moving average of $67.07 and a 200-day moving average of $68.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.05 and a current ratio of 0.05. The stock has a market cap of $40.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.69, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.94. Aflac Dividend Announcement Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.55 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.40 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $4.80 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.61 billion. Aflac had a net margin of 22.90% and a return on equity of 15.25%. Aflacs revenue was down 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.42 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Aflac Incorporated will post 5.81 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 17th were paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 16th. Aflacs payout ratio is currently 24.24%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have issued reports on AFL shares. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Aflac in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Citigroup reduced their price objective on Aflac from $73.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Aflac from $77.00 to $72.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Aflac in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, 888 reaffirmed a reiterates rating on shares of Aflac in a research report on Friday, June 9th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $71.22. Insider Activity In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total value of $32,225.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 19,269 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,887.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total value of $32,225.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 19,269 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,887.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Barbara K. Rimer sold 18,210 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.18, for a total value of $1,241,557.80. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 35,813 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,441,730.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 112,582 shares of company stock worth $7,647,192. 0.90% of the stock is owned by company insiders. About Aflac (Get Rating) Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. It operates in two segments, Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan. Featured Articles 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. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Argo Group International (NYSE:ARGO Get Rating) in a research note published on Wednesday. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock. ARGO has been the subject of several other reports. Raymond James cut Argo Group International from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Compass Point cut Argo Group International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $30.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, TheStreet raised Argo Group International from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Get Argo Group International alerts: Argo Group International Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of Argo Group International stock opened at $29.51 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $29.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $29.34. The company has a market cap of $1.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.73 and a beta of 1.03. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Argo Group International has a 1 year low of $19.00 and a 1 year high of $40.15. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Argo Group International ( NYSE:ARGO Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported ($0.31) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.80 by ($1.11). The firm had revenue of $419.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $461.90 million. Argo Group International had a positive return on equity of 0.06% and a negative net margin of 9.98%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Argo Group International will post 2.85 EPS for the current year. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Prelude Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Argo Group International by 1,128.4% during the first quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 185,126 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,422,000 after acquiring an additional 170,056 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Argo Group International by 385.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 332,929 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,752,000 after acquiring an additional 264,412 shares during the period. FourWorld Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Argo Group International during the first quarter valued at $80,747,000. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Argo Group International during the first quarter valued at $1,001,000. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Argo Group International by 2.0% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 686,142 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,097,000 after acquiring an additional 13,288 shares during the period. 89.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Argo Group International (Get Rating) Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. underwrites specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty markets. The company operates in two segments, U.S. Operations and International Operations. It offers primary and excess specialty casualty, general liability, commercial multi-peril, and workers compensation, as well as product, environmental, and auto liability insurance products; management liability, transaction liability, and errors and omissions liability insurance; primary and excess property, inland marine, and auto physical damage insurance; and surety, animal mortality, and ocean marine insurance products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Argo Group International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Argo Group International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed their neutral rating on shares of Associated British Foods (LON:ABF Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has a GBX 1,850 ($23.67) price target on the stock. Several other research firms also recently weighed in on ABF. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 1,750 ($22.39) price target on shares of Associated British Foods in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Associated British Foods in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and issued a GBX 2,000 ($25.59) price target on shares of Associated British Foods in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Associated British Foods to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from GBX 2,150 ($27.51) to GBX 2,250 ($28.79) in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Associated British Foods from GBX 2,180 ($27.90) to GBX 2,300 ($29.43) and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 2,075 ($26.55). Get Associated British Foods alerts: Associated British Foods Stock Up 0.9 % ABF opened at GBX 1,953 ($24.99) on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.61. Associated British Foods has a 1-year low of GBX 1,223 ($15.65) and a 1-year high of GBX 2,076 ($26.56). The company has a market capitalization of 15.13 billion, a PE ratio of 2,034.38, a PEG ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.22. The firms 50 day simple moving average is GBX 1,918.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 1,872.73. Associated British Foods Cuts Dividend Associated British Foods Company Profile The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be issued a GBX 14.20 ($0.18) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a yield of 0.69%. Associated British Foodss dividend payout ratio is currently 4,583.33%. (Get Rating) Associated British Foods plc operates as a diversified food, ingredients, and retail company worldwide. It operates through five segments: Grocery, Sugar, Agriculture, Ingredients, and Retail. The Grocery segment manufactures and sells grocery products, including hot beverages, sugar and sweeteners, vegetable oils, balsamic vinegars, bread and baked goods, cereals, ethnic foods, and meat products to retail, wholesale, and foodservice businesses. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Associated British Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Associated British Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Claro Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Get Rating) by 8.1% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 12,304 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 919 shares during the period. Claro Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $880,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,047 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $725,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Coastline Trust Co lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Coastline Trust Co now owns 40,219 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,640,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. ESL Trust Services LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. ESL Trust Services LLC now owns 11,339 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $744,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA now owns 2,105 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $138,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co. now owns 15,605 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,025,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. 78.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Down 1.6 % Shares of NYSEARCA:EFA opened at $70.96 on Friday. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 52-week low of $54.61 and a 52-week high of $74.05. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $72.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $70.61. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Company 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. Further Reading 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. Krones (OTCMKTS:KRNTY Get Rating) is one of 150 public companies in the Specialty Industrial Machinery industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare Krones to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability and analyst recommendations. Institutional & Insider Ownership 41.9% of shares of all Specialty Industrial Machinery companies are held by institutional investors. 24.6% of shares of all Specialty Industrial Machinery companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Get Krones alerts: Profitability This table compares Krones and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Krones N/A N/A N/A Krones Competitors -18.65% -3.47% -1.36% Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Krones N/A N/A 29.33 Krones Competitors $4.37 billion $346.27 million 605.03 This table compares Krones and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Krones rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Krones. Krones is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Dividends Krones pays an annual dividend of $0.74 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Krones pays out 35.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Specialty Industrial Machinery companies pay a dividend yield of 3.4% and pay out 28.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Krones lags its rivals as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Krones and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Krones 0 1 1 0 2.50 Krones Competitors 1040 3764 5065 65 2.42 Krones presently has a consensus target price of $116.00, indicating a potential upside of 87.85%. As a group, Specialty Industrial Machinery companies have a potential upside of 79.17%. Given Krones stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Krones is more favorable than its rivals. Summary Krones rivals beat Krones on 8 of the 13 factors compared. Krones Company Profile (Get Rating) Krones AG is engages in production of machineries and systems for filling and packaging and for beverage production. It operates through the following segments: Machines and Lines for Product Filing and Decoration, Machines and Lines for Beverage Production or Process Technology. The Machines and Lines for Product Filing and Decoration segment offers machines and complete lines for filling, packaging, labeling, and conveying products. The Machines and Lines for Beverage Production or Process Technology segment includes machinery and equipment for products and treating beer, soft drinks, fruit juices, milk, and dairy drinks. The company was founded by Hermann Kronseder in 1951 and is headquartered in Neutraubling, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for Krones Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Krones and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Rating) had its target price boosted by UBS Group from $260.00 to $272.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on FDX. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and set a $290.00 price target on shares of FedEx in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on shares of FedEx from $264.00 to $259.00 in a research note on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of FedEx from $228.00 to $251.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of FedEx from $250.00 to $275.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of FedEx from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $247.17. Get FedEx alerts: FedEx Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of NYSE FDX opened at $232.34 on Wednesday. FedEx has a 1 year low of $141.92 and a 1 year high of $248.76. The stock has a market cap of $58.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.33. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $226.93 and a 200 day moving average of $209.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.27. FedEx Increases Dividend FedEx ( NYSE:FDX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, June 20th. The shipping service provider reported $4.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.85 by $0.09. FedEx had a net margin of 3.23% and a return on equity of 17.71%. The company had revenue of $21.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.55 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $6.87 EPS. FedExs revenue was down 10.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that FedEx will post 14.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 12th will be issued a dividend of $1.26 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 9th. This represents a $5.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.17%. This is an increase from FedExs previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. FedExs payout ratio is currently 43.52%. Insider Buying and Selling at FedEx In other FedEx news, CEO Rajesh Subramaniam sold 11,125 shares of FedEx stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $231.01, for a total transaction of $2,569,986.25. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 39,483 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,120,967.83. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Frederick W. Smith sold 131,755 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $232.21, for a total value of $30,594,828.55. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 14,459,759 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,357,700,637.39. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Rajesh Subramaniam sold 11,125 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $231.01, for a total transaction of $2,569,986.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 39,483 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,120,967.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 146,486 shares of company stock valued at $34,001,009 over the last 90 days. 8.62% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On FedEx Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Gries Financial LLC bought a new stake in FedEx in the first quarter worth $3,128,000. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel increased its position in FedEx by 80.0% in the first quarter. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel now owns 630 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $140,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Sweeney & Michel LLC bought a new stake in FedEx in the first quarter worth $960,000. Berkshire Asset Management LLC PA bought a new stake in FedEx in the first quarter worth $400,000. Finally, EP Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in FedEx in the first quarter worth $2,090,000. Institutional investors own 73.39% of the companys stock. FedEx Company Profile (Get Rating) FedEx Corporation provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services in the United States and internationally. The company's FedEx Express segment offers express transportation, small-package ground delivery, and freight transportation services; time-critical transportation services; and cross-border enablement, technology, and e-commerce transportation solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Grand City Properties S.A. (OTCMKTS:GRNNF Get Rating) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the six ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $10.96. Separately, Societe Generale raised Grand City Properties from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Get Grand City Properties alerts: Grand City Properties Stock Up 1.0 % Shares of Grand City Properties stock opened at $8.00 on Friday. Grand City Properties has a 1 year low of $6.54 and a 1 year high of $16.22. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $8.07 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.12. About Grand City Properties Grand City Properties SA engages in the acquisition, development, investment and management of real estate properties. It provides property management activities along the real estate value chain. The company was founded on December 16, 2011 and is headquartered in Luxembourg. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Grand City Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grand City Properties 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 sent to investors on Wednesday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock. International Tower Hill Mines Stock Performance Shares of THM stock opened at $0.43 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $0.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $0.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $84.30 million, a P/E ratio of -21.63 and a beta of 0.70. International Tower Hill Mines has a fifty-two week low of $0.38 and a fifty-two week high of $0.75. Get International Tower Hill Mines alerts: Institutional Trading of International Tower Hill Mines An institutional investor recently raised its position 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 187.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 215,462 shares of the mining companys stock after purchasing an additional 140,462 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.11% of International Tower Hill Mines worth $211,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. 55.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. International Tower Hill Mines Company Profile International Tower Hill Mines Ltd., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds or has rights to acquire interests in the Livengood gold project covering an area of approximately 19,546 hectares located to the northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. 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. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Ur-Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:URG Get Rating) (TSE:URE) to a sell rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning. URG has been the topic of several other reports. Alliance Global Partners lowered their target price on shares of Ur-Energy from $2.75 to $2.25 in a report on Thursday, April 13th. HC Wainwright lowered their target price on shares of Ur-Energy from $3.00 to $2.80 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. TheStreet upgraded shares of Ur-Energy from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. Finally, Roth Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Ur-Energy in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Get Ur-Energy alerts: Ur-Energy Trading Down 1.9 % Shares of URG opened at $1.01 on Wednesday. Ur-Energy has a 12 month low of $0.82 and a 12 month high of $1.50. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $1.23. The company has a market capitalization of $267.38 million, a PE ratio of -20.20 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 9.63 and a quick ratio of 8.92. Institutional Trading of Ur-Energy About Ur-Energy Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Verity Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Ur-Energy by 49.9% during the first quarter. Verity Asset Management Inc. now owns 225,004 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $239,000 after buying an additional 74,899 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Ur-Energy by 34.8% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 164,576 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $175,000 after buying an additional 42,489 shares during the last quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of Ur-Energy during the first quarter worth $176,000. Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Ur-Energy by 82.3% during the first quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 55,427 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 25,026 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Ur-Energy by 0.5% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,422,722 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,628,000 after buying an additional 15,346 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.31% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Ur-Energy Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of uranium mineral properties. The company holds interests in 12 projects located in the United States. Its flagship property is the Lost Creek project comprising a total of approximately 1,800 unpatented mining claims and three Wyoming mineral leases covering an area of approximately 35,400 acres located in the Great Divide Basin, Wyoming. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Ur-Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ur-Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Former news anchor Stephanie Husak is transforming the old Elks Lodge building in downtown Grand Island into an event venue. On June 7, Husak announced on Facebook that she was leaving her anchor position at Nebraska Television Network in Kearney. She went by her maiden name Crace while on television anchored at NTV for six years. Husak started her news career working at WVVA station in Bluefield, West Virginia, for two years. She then moved to Lincoln and anchored at 10/11 for three years. During her tenure at 10/11, Husak met her now-husband while he studied at the University of Nebraska College of Law. When he was offered a job in Kearney, Husak applied for an anchor position at NTV so she could move with him. However, Husak had dreamed of opening an event venue while working at NTV. Husak said that her passion for an event hall stemmed from planning her own wedding and feeling that there were not enough venues in Central Nebraska. Having an event venue was always a goal of mine, said Husak. I always thought it was going to be a long term goal, I didn't know when it would happen, it's just something that I had in the back of my mind, like, this is what I want to do someday. One day, Husak and her co-anchor, Sara Kirkley, were talking during Good Morning Nebraska. Kirkley, knowing about Husaks goal, showed her a Facebook post about the sale for Elks Lodge. It was pretty rundown and she was sort of joking, said Husak. I don't think she knew how serious I was about actually doing this someday. At the corner of West First street and South Locust street, the building was finished in early 1918 for the Grand Island chapter of the Elks Lodge fraternal organization. In recent times, the building has been abandoned as the group has moved to a new location at 631 S. Locust St. According to Husak, one of the first things she noticed about the building were the big, white arched windows on the top floor. After touring the inside, Husak thought the building was beautiful and could see its potential. Theres a lot of unique elements this building had that really just drew me to it, said Husak. Husak said that renovating the Elks Lodge and continuing at NTV would have been a lot, essentially working two jobs. Husak knew she would have to make a choice and was feeling excited about the project. I had been doing news for 12 years and I love my job, I love news, but I was kind of ready for another adventure, said Husak. And so when this building came up for sale, I was kind of ready just to take that next step and have the event venue. For renovations, Husak wants to modernize the building, opening the bricked up windows, putting in an elevator, removing the stained glass from the top floor. Husak also wants the building to have different spaces and looks for people to utilize, with the first floor being industrial chic and the second having a more elegant feel. Husak wants to help people find the perfect place for their special day, whether it be a wedding or any event. To help people feel the excitement of finding the right place, like how Husak felt when she found her wedding venue. I just was like, I really want to help people find that for their special day as well, said Husak. If I can offer them something that they're going to love and kind of make the spaces their own for their big day, and then leave their guests talking about it well after the event is over, that just really excites me. When the venue is ready to open, Husak plans to manage everything with a small staff. Currently, Husak doesnt know when renovations will be complete, but she hopes to host events next summer. Its a diamond in the rough, said Husak. And it will definitely take a lot of work, but I think it will be good for the community. MOSCOW, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, reached a compromise following mediation efforts by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko late Saturday. Wagner was accused earlier of attempting to launch an armed rebellion, RIA Novosti news agency reported. RIA said that Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the advance of his troops and de-escalate the situation. Here is a timeline of events as they have unfolded since Friday: June 23, 2023 -- In the evening, Prigozhin posted on social media that the Wagner rear camp was attacked, accusing Russia's military leadership of orchestrating the strikes. June 24, 2023 -- In the early morning, a Wagner convoy appeared on the M4 highway from Rostov to Moscow, according to Voronezh region authorities. -- The Russian Federal Security Service confirmed in a statement that due to Wagner's incitement to armed rebellion, a criminal case has been initiated against Prigozhin. -- At 7:40 a.m. local time (0440 GMT), Prigozhin entered the headquarters of the Russian armed forces' Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don. -- The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement declaring that Prigozhin's accusations of a strike by the ministry on Wagner rear camps were false. The ministry urged Wagner members not to participate in an armed rebellion. -- Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee announced that a counter-terrorist operation regime is imposed in Moscow city, the Moscow region and the Voronezh region to prevent possible terrorist acts. -- At 10:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised speech stating that the organizers of the rebellion had betrayed Russia and would be punished, pledging decisive actions to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don. -- Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin said that to minimize risks, Moscow declared a non-working day on June 26, and all large-scale events in the city had been canceled. He called on citizens to minimize travel and said individual blocks and roads might be cordoned off. -- Putin spoke with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev by phone, informing them of events on the ground in Russia. -- In the evening, the press service of the Belarusian president said that Prigozhin accepted Lukashenko's suggestion to stop Wagner's operations in Russia and take further measures to ease tensions. -- Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Putin guaranteed Prigozhin could go to Belarus and his criminal case would be withdrawn. Wagner members who participated in the June 24 coup would not be prosecuted. -- Prigozhin stated that the Wagner column stopped advancing and would return to camp. June 25, 2023 -- In the early hours, Vasily Golubev, governor of Rostov Oblast, posted on social media that Wagner troops had withdrawn from Rostov-on-Don and returned to their field camps. Nebraska Wesleyan announces spring academic honors list announced LINCOLN Nebraska Wesleyan University has announced its 2023 spring semester academic honors list for students enrolled in traditional and adult undergraduate programs. To earn a spot on the list, traditional undergraduate students must earn at least a 3.75 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale) while completing a full-time course load of at least 12 credit hours of graded work (pass/fail courses are not included) are eligible. Adult undergraduate students must earn at least a 3.75 grade point average while completing 6 or more hours of graded work (pass/fail courses are not included) are eligible. Area students on the list include: Claire Kaslon of Ashton; Kaylee Crosby and Blake DeVries of Aurora; Sadie Loehr and Madison Mlady of Ayr; Gabriella Homolka, Graci McGinnis and Ryah Richardson of Central City; Sophie Fitch of Doniphan; Whitney Jensen, McKenna Marsh and Emily Panowicz of Grand Island; Sydney Janzen of Hampton; Dawson Jacobus and Brittany Ochsner of Hastings; Sarah Hultquist of Heartwell; Margaret Harris of Juniata; Baylie Luedke and Helen Whittaker of Kearney; Jenna Jaeschke of Kenesaw; Eric Lenz of Marquette; Camryn Melroy of Minden; Kevin Wagoner of Phillips; Alex Ehrman of Roseland; and Sara Palmer of Shelton. Area students earn degrees from the University of Iowa IOWA CITY, Iowa More than 6,500 University of Iowa undergraduate, graduate and professional students earned degrees at the conclusion of the spring semester. Among them were four area students. Cameron Hucke of Hastings, earned a masters degree in clinical nutrition from the Carver College of Medicine. Jordan Ismaiel of Hastings received a master of arts degree from the Graduate College. Rebekah Birch of Burwell earned her juris doctor degree from the College of Law. Tara Knehans of Hasting earned a bachelor of arts degree in cinema from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Doane, FCSA present four students with scholarships Lincoln Doane University and Farm Credit Services of America will offer four students a $2,500 scholarship to study agribusiness at the university. The scholarship will be awarded for the 2023-24 academic year to: Trevor Bolton of Stromsburg, Alexis Mauler of Sargent, Garrett Rasmussen of Albion, and Keegan Dean Shuler of Culbertson, All but Rasmussen, who will be a Doane sophomore, are first-year students. To receive the scholarship, students were required to have a grade point average of 3.0 or greater and pursue a degree in agribusiness. Students also completed an application explaining their interest in the mission of Doanes Agribusiness program, their desire to strengthen the global agricultural community, their commitment to an environment of diversity and inclusion and to demonstrate their financial need. Academic honors Easton Bruce and Medora Koupal of Kearney, and Brooke Johnson of Osceola were named to the Presidents List for the spring semester at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. To qualify for the Presidents List, a student must complete at least 12 hours of graded credits and earn a semester grade point average of 4.0. Founded in 1865, Washburn University is a public institution with more than 6,000 students involved in more than 200 academic programs. Jacob Schroeder from Hastings has been named to the Deans List for the spring semester at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. To qualify for the Deans List, a student must be enrolled in 12 hours of graded credits and earn a semester grade point average of 3.4 to 3.99. Tara Knehans of Hastings was among the more than 7,100 undergraduate students at the University of Iowa named to the deans list for the 2023 spring semester. Knehans is a undergraduate fourth year student in Iowas College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is majoring in Screenwriting Arts. To qualify for the list students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must achieve a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher on 12 semester hours or more of UI graded coursework. Alexis Barth and Kaleb Luke of Kearney have been named to the Deans Honor List for the spring semester at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. This recognition requires the student to obtain a 3.75 GPA or higher for the semester and carry a minimum of 12 credit hours. Three Central Nebraska students have been named to the Deans List for the spring semester at the College of Saint Mary in Omaha. They are: Claire Caspersen of Cairo, elementary education, sophomore; Tennasynn Sebek of Hampton, human biology, junior; Danielle Hohlfeld of Hastings, applied psychology & human services, senior. For inclusion on the Deans List, students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Jamie Nissen of Aurora has been named to the Deans List for the spring semester at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa. To be eligible for the Deans List, students must have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours during the semester (a full-time class load) and had at least a 3.5 grade point average for the Spring 2023 semester. Graduates Jadyn Hamilton of Kearney received a Bachelor of Arts degree in art and design from the University of Northern Colorado during recent ceremonies at the college in Greeley. Landon Weber of Hastings graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics (5-12 teaching licensure) from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Activities Garrett Nokelby of Marquette was one of nine students from Concordia University, Nebraska, who went on a medical mission trip to Guatemala from May 4-11. The students traveled with Dr. Jennifer Janousek, professor of health and human performance, Jill Beisel, physicians assistant, and Dr. Sarah Matthias, pediatrician. Janousek has been leading this mission trip for the past 15 years to Santa Cruz Lutheran Church and Medical Clinic in Amatitlan, Guatemala. Legislative body orders comprehensive inspection of life insurance market By Huong Dung Sun, June 25, 2023 | 9:40 pm GTM+7 The National Assembly of Vietnam has assigned the government to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the life insurance market, especially insurance-cum-investment products, in a freshly adopted resolution. The resolution was passed on Saturday with nearly 97.4% of the vote. Parliament has also asked the government to fix shortcomings in life insurance brokerage and cross-selling activities when reviewing loan applications or providing consultancy on corporate bond investments. At a discussion on the socio-economic situation on June 1, many National Assembly (NA) members raised problems in the insurance market, especially insurance-cum-investment products. They called for the Ministry of Public Security to inspect the countrys life insurance industry following multiple customer complaints regarding deception. The National Assembly wraps up its fifth session on June 24, 2023. Photo courtesy of the government portal. "Probes are needed to make it clear whether customers in the industry have been deceived," Nguyen Thi Thuy, vice head of the National Assembly Judiciary Committee, said. She made the request after members of the public complained they had been forced by banks to buy life insurance policies in order to access bank loans. Others said their savings deposits were partially used to purchase life insurance without their knowledge. "The Ministry of Finance needs to conduct a comprehensive inspection of life insurance, focusing on insurance-cum-investment packages. The Ministry of Public Security needs to verify and clarify whether there are signs of fraud or deception. If there are, the ministry needs to prosecute the cases," Thuy said. Regarding insurance-cum-investment plans, part of the money from customers is used by insurers to invest in stocks or bonds, therefore the situation becomes more complicated, Thuy noted. In addition, many agents, also called consultants, have made signing contracts their top priority to fill their own pockets. Under Ministry of Finance regulations, the maximum commission rate for consultants is 40% of the contract value in the first year. At present, the rates from life insurers range from 30-40%. To make more money, consultants may give false advice to make buyers think that they are getting a highly profitable product, including both insurance and compensation if something unfortunate happens; and at the end of the contract term, they will get their full amount paid together with yields. Thuy explained that for insurance-cum-investment products, yields completely depend on the market via companies investments, which means the companies can see losses in these investments. The lawmaker also noted that some insurers are aware that some of their agents are dishonest but turn a blind eye. Previously, Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc had said quality needs to be lifted in the countrys fast-expanding life insurance sector following multiple customer complaints. He noted that many established life insurers, including some that have been operating in the Vietnamese market for more than 25 years, only focus on revenue and ignore quality. The market has recently witnessed a crisis of confidence because many residents are frustrated with the quality of life insurance enterprises, including bancassurance services, a popular channel through which life insurers and banks cooperate to sell insurance policies. Baoviet Life, Dai-ichi, Prudential, Manulife and AIA were the top life insurers in Vietnam in terms of premiums from 2015-2022, according to the companies' reports. Singapores Sunrise Material to invest $100 mln in Nam Dinh province By Tri Duc Sun, June 25, 2023 | 9:59 am GTM+7 Sunrise Material, a Singapore-based polymer food packaging company, plans to invest $100 million in a factory in Nam Dinh province. Sunrise Material CEO Song Jian Xin revealed the plan at a Friday meeting with Pham Gia Tuc, chief of Nam Dinh's Party Committee. He said the eco-friendly project, which will use advanced technology, can begin production after 15 months of construction and achieve annual export revenues of around $500 million. The four-hectare factory aims to serve the U.S. market mainly, but its products, meeting U.S. and Canada standards, will reach over 60 nations in Asia, North America, South America, the U.S., Europe and Oceania, Song said. Song Jian Xin (left), Sunrise Material CEO, and Pham Gia Tuc (right), chief of Nam Dinh province's Party Committee, at a meeting in the northern province on June 23, 2023. Photo courtesy of Nam Dinh Television. Welcoming the investment plan, Tuc highlighted Nam Dinhs strengths, including good connectivity between industrial parks and airports and seaports, abundant high-quality workforce and stable power supply to industrial parks. He also mentioned other advantages such as Vietnams membership in various free trade agreements, tax incentives, and local authorities support with administrative procedures. 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, according to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA). Nam Dinhs registered FDI in the five-month period was $143.17 million, the 24th highest in the country. Taiwanese houseware manufacturer JiaWei plans to invest $100 million in three projects in Nam Dinh, an executive told the northern province's authorities at a meeting in early June. JiaWeis projects include a $80 million factory for manufacturing high-tech houseware covering 8.5 hectares; a $10 million printing facility on an area of 2.5 hectares; and a $10 million plant for producing carton boxes covering 3.3 hectares. In May, Nam Dinh granted an investment certificate for Apple supplier Quanta Computer to build a $120 million factory, the giant's first in Vietnam and its ninth worldwide. The plant, located in My Thuan Industrial Park, is set to manufacture 1.3 million laptop and desktop computers in 2024, 2.6 million in 2025, 3.6 million in 2026, four million in 2027, and 4.5 million in 2028. 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. 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Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. To sign-up for EZ-Pay, call us at (903) 785-6901 or e-mail us at circulation@theparisnews.com. We will use the information you provide to change your current billing to EZ-PAY. Your current subscription delivery schedule will not be changed. No refunds for early cancellations. Remainder of early cancellation funds will be donated to Newspapers in Education. COLUMBIA The South Carolina Hospital Association and South Carolina ETV and Public Radio have announced a partnership aimed at improving health care communication and education in the state. The partnership will support the creation of multiplatform content and instructional resources that highlight careers in health care. Both organizations are committed to bridging the gap between health care providers, patients and the wider community by leveraging their expertise and resources to foster a more informed population. SCETV and SCHA are working to promote health care careers and encourage South Carolinians to explore opportunities within the industry. As part of the collaboration, SCETV and SCHA will develop two learning experiences hosted on the knowitall.org website. The interactive modules will provide in-depth insights into various healthcare careers, offering users an immersive and informative exploration of the industry. The program will utilize multimedia elements such as videos, interactive quizzes and real-life scenarios to educate students interested in pursuing healthcare professions. To foster a deeper understanding of pertinent health care topics, SCETV and SCHA will produce a one-hour panel discussion to broadcast on SCETVs statewide network. Experts from the healthcare field will share their insights, experiences and perspectives, providing viewers with a comprehensive overview of the healthcare industry. Standard-aligned learning media will be developed, including digital content, lesson plans and educational materials. These resources will be designed to be accessible and engaging for educators, students and lifelong learners, expanding the reach and impact of healthcare career initiatives across the state. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. honored the nation's seafarers as the Philippines celebrated the Day of the Filipino Seafarer, and vowed support for the country's maritime industry. "Ang industriyang ito ay kailangang suportahan at protektahan upang mapanatili ang kalidad ng pagkilala sa buong mundo, Marcos said in a vlog published on Saturday. [Translation: This industry must be supported and protected to keep the quality and recognition worldwide.] The president earlier said his administration would provide solutions facing the Philippine maritime industry after the European Commission had decided to continue recognizing certificates for Filipino seafarers, citing that the country has made serious efforts to comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers. In May, the Commission on Higher Education and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said a new maritime education curriculum would be released soon in a bid to "to narrow the gaps and issues" seen by the European Maritime Safety Agency. In a separate vlog on Sunday, the president expressed his gratitude to seafarers whose hard work benefitted not only their families but also the country. Meanwhile, MARINA also paid tribute to Filipino seafarers, recognizing their "invaluable contributions" in safeguarding oceans. "Ang kanilang dedikasyon at propesyonalismo ay bumubuo ng pundasyon sa industriya ng maritima at hindi maipagkakaila ang kanilang kontribusyon," said MARINA Administrator Hernani Fabia in a video message. [Translation: Their dedication and professionalism comprise the foundation of the maritime industry and their contributions cannot be ignored.] Fabia also noted the challenges facing the industry, saying government, industry representatives, and educational institutions must work together to support the maritime sector. Fabia said younger generations can be inspired to join the industry by making them understand the "significance of seafaring and the contribution to the maritime world, including the impact they can have in protecting our oceans." (TBTCO) - Trong boi canh thi truong thuong mai ien tu phat trien nhanh chong, a at ra nhung thach thuc khong nho trong cong tac quan ly oi voi hoat ong kinh doanh thuong mai ien tu noi chung va cong tac quan ly thue noi rieng. e chong that thu thue oi voi thuong mai ien tu va kinh doanh tren cac nen tang so hieu qua hon, thoi gian toi, cuc thue cac ia phuong chu trong trien khai ong bo nhieu giai phap e tang thu ngan sach trong linh vuc nay. Should we sell our crown jewels to comply with P&S Rules? by | 25/06/2023 My son has a paper round that I do for him every Sunday (to give him a rest). I always look through all of the papers to see if there is any Everton news. Today's headline in The Sun was Everton's Jordan Pickford may be sold cheap to help satisfy the Profitability and Sustainability Rules. As I read a bit more, Doucoure and Onana were mentioned also as potential sales. My question to you all is this: Should we sell one or all of those mentioned, with the income helping us out with our overspending? I think we should sell Doucoure and Onana. Who we replace them with is anyone's guess but selling Pickford would be the biggest mistake as he saved us a lot of points last season and I believe he's our most important player. Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () How to get rid of these ads and support TW ToffeeWeb UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING Lawyers for the national Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and the first transgender Greek life member at the University of Wyoming asked a judge Tuesday to dismiss the lawsuit brought by six sorority sisters, arguing their lawsuit lacked legal footing and seeks to enforce the personal views of the women on a private organization. "Our courts exist to address legal wrongs; they are not a place where people can go to reshape society to fit their exact sensibilities and preferences," lawyers for Kappa Kappa Gamma wrote in their legal filings. The lawsuit brought by UW sorority sisters Jaylyn Westenbroek, Hannah Holtmeier, Allison Coghan, Grace Choate, Madeline Ramar and Megan Kosar alleged that Kappa Kappa Gamma did not follow its own bylaws and policies, breached its housing contract with the women and misled them by admitting a transgender member. They asked a federal judge to intervene and remove Artemis Langford, a transgender sorority member, from UW's Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter and permanently bar any "man" from joining the group. In their legal findings, attorneys for the six sorority sisters said the central legal question the lawsuit was looking to answer was "whether the word 'woman' includes a man who 'identifies as a woman.'" But Natalie McLaughlin, Scott Klosterman and Brian W. Dressel, the lawyers for the Ohio-based sorority, urged U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson to avoid the politically divisive issue and instead base his ruling on the legal claims of the sorority members, which they insisted did not pass muster. Among the defendants the sorority sisters named was Kappa Kappa Gamma's president Mary Pat Rooney. Lawyers for the sorority stated that lawsuit can't proceed against Rooney because she lives in Illinois and never directed or took part in the induction of Langford, leaving the U.S. District Court of Wyoming without jurisdiction. The crux of the case revolves around the question of whether Kappa Kappa Gamma violated its own bylaws and policies by a chapter inducting a transgender woman. The sorority sisters and their lawyers, John Knepper and Cassie Craven, contend that the sorority's leadership and Rooney "have unilaterally concluded that a man can become a Kappa member" in defiance of its by-laws, which state that every member must be a "woman." But the "restrictive definition" that the sorority sisters and their lawyers use does not appear anywhere in sorority guiding documents, according to sorority's lawyers. Instead, the sorority's 2015 inclusivity position statement and its 2018 "Guide for Supporting Our LGBTQIA+ Members" outline that the sorority allows "individuals who identify as women." The lawyers also argue that as a private organization the sorority has the right interpret its own by-laws and policies, including who it accepts. "The majority of the Amended Complaint amounts to little more than a winding discussion of why Plaintiffs believe that transgender women should not be treated as women and should therefore be excluded from women's organizations," the Kappa Kappa Gamma attorneys wrote. While the six sorority sisters and their attorneys have portrayed their lawsuit as an attempt to protect women's rights in their legal filings and media appearances, the lawyers for Kappa Kappa Gamma depicted the suit as an attempt by "a vocal minority" to impose their personal beliefs at the cost of Langford and the sorority. "Perhaps the greatest wrongs in this case are not the ones Plaintiffs and their supporters imagine they have suffered, but the ones that they have inflicted through their conduct since filing the Complaint," they wrote. "Regardless of personal views on the rights of transgender people, the cruelty that Plaintiffs and their supporters have shown towards Langford and anyone in Kappa who supports Langford is disturbing." A second request Langford's attorney Rachel Berkness also asked Johnson to dismiss the lawsuit. In their initial complaint, the lawyers for the sorority sisters said that Langford was included in the lawsuit only because they were trying to remove her from the sorority. Berkness argued that because the sorority members seek no damages or other legal claims against Langford, the lawsuit should be thrown out. "Plaintiffs admittedly fail to state a claim against Ms. Langford and admittedly seek no relief from her," Berkness wrote. Though Langford's legal argument is straightforward, Berkness did not hold back in criticizing the lawsuit, saying it resembled "a press release" to gain national attention. "They bring college gossip before this Court and rehash stale boogeyman stories used to vilify the LGBTQ+ community," she wrote. In the 70-page amended complaint, the six sorority sisters level a number of lurid accusations against Langford, including that she makes "little effort to resemble a woman," took uncomfortable pictures of other sorority members and asked them sexual questions, along with other "inappropriate and threatening" behavior. Those details have since made their way into national media coverage, including on The Megyn Kelly Show where Craven told the host, "You can put lipstick on a pig that doesn't make it a lady." "Plaintiffs fling dehumanizing mud throughout their Amended Complaint which has nothing to do with their legal claims but which they nonetheless use to bully Ms. Langford on the national stage," Berkness wrote. "This, alone, warrants dismissal." Berkness insisted that the inclusion of Langford in the lawsuit was unnecessary and only served to demonize her and other transgender people. "Ms. Langford exemplifies the best of what a Wyoming woman is. Yet she has been dragged before this Court to defend herself against claims which do not require any party to name her personally or to wield repackaged versions of the same vicious rumors that have been used to vilify the transgender community for ages," she wrote. When it came time to say goodbye, Doolarie Badree just could not do it. The ailing mother cried, begged, wailed and bought time until, in the end, she let go of the daughter she could no longer care for. So that afternoon, her child, Renuca Badree, was taken from the home she had never left in all her 47 years of life. Republican Victoria Lem is running for City Council in Ward 1. Due to a misunderstanding, she did not submit answers to the recent candidate survey used to create the series of stories on candidates positions which has been published over the past week. The Arizona Daily Star offered her the option of answering the survey questions in this form. 1. What would be your top priority as City Council member / mayor? REDUCE CRIME: Fully fund and enable officers to enforce our laws & protect our community, clean up toxic inhumane encampments, fight the fentanyl/overdose crisis, work alongside proven and effective nonprofits in our community which offer housing, counseling and rehabilitation opportunities and a path to become productive citizens. ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITY: Put a stop to current reckless spending and create an environment in Tucson where individuals and businesses can thrive and grow in our economy. Reducing unnecessary red tape. REBUILD OUR ROADS: Stop minor repairs & prioritize a budget that incorporates fully repaving roads in need. Without this, it is a non-starter in our efforts to attract high paying jobs to relocate to Tucson. 2. What steps should the City of Tucson take to deal with rising housing costs in Tucson?As a REALTOR, I know the importance of having affordable housing in our community. First, we need to enhance our workforce by encouraging businesses to come to and stay in Tucson. By attracting well paying employment opportunities, and supporting credit & financial education, we can prepare and motivate more citizens to become homeowners. Encourage local credit unions and lenders to fund homeowners who would like to add a UDC. Create a catalog of builders, permitted plans, local credit unions/lenders, a process checklist, & create online education courses, all while reducing the requirements and permit fees associated which currently burden homeowners, reduce affordability and prevent actual builds. Adding UDCs will open affordable rentals as well as creating multi-generational housing options and/or a potential source of income for the homeowner. In addition, using a Six Sigma approach, I will focus on reduction of red tape and processing time with PDSD to improve efficient and expedient permit approval turnaround time for all builders but especially of multi-family homes. Also including a focus on case-by-case rezoning requests for city infill lots. 3. What are your top priorities for transportation in Tucson? Are there any specific projects you think the city should focus on?REBUILD OUR ROADS: Stop making minor repairs to major potholes & prioritize a budget that incorporates fully repaving roads in need, which at this point is just about everywhere within the city limits. Whether you are in your own vehicle, biking, ride-sharing or using public transportation, we all need this valuable piece of infrastructure to work with us and not against us. Personally paying for damage caused to vehicles due to unavoidable potholes is not something I want our citizens and visitors to endure. Without this, it is a non-starter in our efforts to attract revenue from tourism and high paying jobs/businesses looking to relocate to Tucson. Making transit affordable does not equate to free, nothing is free. The cost to our community is taxpayer funded buses which currently offer open drug use, bus drivers who are assaulted, all while good hardworking people in our community that may have no other choice but still deserve to have a clean, affordable mode of transportation. I will return this back to our community. 4. What do you think are the main challenges the Tucson Police Department is facing right now? How should the City Council help TPD overcome them?We are grossly understaffed per capita, the response to only priority 1 calls places the citizens, community, and the responding law enforcement officers in great danger. Currently, we are a community that does not value their law enforcement officers and we now face the issues we see today. Taking an officer off the street to process an arrestee for 2-3 hours, just to watch the individual they just arrested immediately walk right out the back door with reduced charges. They are limited and unable to serve as sworn when the council, attorneys and judges work directly against their efforts to bring safety to our community. Tucson MUST immediately prioritize hiring quality officers, decrease the wage gap from the surrounding areas and focus on diminished morale. We must never return to the previous Chief Magnus days of apologizing first, blame the officer and find out what happened later mode of operation. I will focus on returning enforcement of the law to the trained law enforcement officers and require district attorneys to uphold our laws and hold criminals accountable. Our law enforcement officers also need more balance in their work lives instead of forced overtime. Remember they are still real people who need rest, have families, and deserve to be treated with respect. I will ensure we, as a city council, appoint leadership based on proven respected and successful leadership, and not politically motivated hirings. Respect is earned through every rank and lost quickly when leadership doesnt lead honorably while walking the walk alongside them. Although I have much to learn through continued communication with TPD, other strategies I would support would be to offer signing bonuses for extending contracts much like the military offers, develop employer assisted homeownership program incentives such as down payment/closing cost assistance which may incentivize our officers to stay and develop roots in our community. This could be by way of a five-year forgivable loan to stay with the employer for five years. It is clear we need to invest time, money, and resources to change direction immediately to create a safer community. 5. What should the City of Tucson do to help Tucsons economy? Through efforts such as reduction of crime, creating safer streets, improving infrastructure, repaving roads, and becoming more business friendly, we will attract business growth and higher paying jobs to our economy. Put a stop to current reckless spending and create an environment in Tucson where individuals and businesses can thrive and grow in our economy. Continuation of current partnerships and creation of new opportunities to collaborate with community colleges (PCC), JTED, and U of A to develop programs and courses which serve our current industries and upcoming job market growth. Encourage other schools to implement programs such as those at Sunnyside High and San Miguel with career based directional learning and encouraging employers to take on interns throughout the year. We need to provide a workforce readily available to those businesses that choose to call Tucson their home at graduation 6. Tucson and the rest of the Southwest are dealing with a water crisis. How do you think the crisis will affect Tucsonans? What steps should the City of Tucson take to deal with it? Continue to enhance education, practice and focus on water conservation. 7. What steps would you take to resolve the homelessness crisis in Tucson? As a lifelong volunteer in our community and as current President of the Tucson REALTORS Charitable Foundation, we are just one of hundreds of non-profits in the Tucson community who financially support housing initiatives. As a city council member, my focus would be on stopping the purchase of hotels that become havens for drug use, assaults and other crimes then redirecting efforts to those 501(3) organizations that specialize in offering housing, rehabilitation, counseling and opening up job opportunities. We need to empower and employ the experts. 8. Deaths related to fentanyl are on the rise in Tucson and around the country. What steps should the City of Tucson take to deal with the opioid crisis? Many families in our community have personally faced the opioid crisis with first-hand experience; unfortunately, mine is not absent from such heartaches. Cities who do not face this issue directly with strict enforcement, offering connections to programs for rehabilitation, and enable dealers, transportation of illegal drugs and use are part of the problem. We need to send a clear message to drug traffickers that Tucson has zero tolerance for them at any level and prosecute offenders swiftly. Enablement only makes things worse. Releasing criminal offenders while they are still high giving no opportunity to get clean in a safe and monitored environment, instead, we release with no hope, no resources all while the individual is ready for their next hit. We need to physically connect to each and every person in need to the available resources our nonprofits offer and help them find a pathway out and hope once again. 9. If we see another spike in Covid-19 cases, how would you handle it? There are many lessons to be learned from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and many of the mandated requirements stepped over individual rights and autonomy. The local response was to pick and choose which businesses, churches and schools were allowed to remain open and was focused on control rather than wisdom and personal liberties. 10. What steps would you take to lessen the number of pedestrian deaths in Tucson? The increase in fentanyl and other illegal drug use in our communities has risen and has lead to more pedestrian deaths. We need to enforce our laws, works with non-profits in our community to offer treatment and rehabilitation as well as enforcing our laws to make an impact on this issue. The Arizona Daily Star Sportsmens Fund raises money so children from low-income households and military families can attend summer camp at little or no cost to their families. Since 1947, the Sportsmens Fund has helped pay for 43,468 children to go to camp. Were one of the oldest 501(c )(3) charities in Arizona and one of the most efficient, with 97 cents from every dollar going to send kids to camp. We send local kids to weeklong YMCA, Boy Scout and Girl Scout overnight camps, as well as overnight camping at Camp Tatiyee for school-age children and teens with special needs. Our goal is to raise $238,000 to send up to 700 kids to camp. So far, weve received 727 donations totaling $133,871 with the first month of camp nearly over. In May, we increased the goal by $13,000, so 13 Tucson-area kids with special needs who were on a waitlist for Camp Tatiyee could attend where the camper-to-counselor ratio is generally 1-1. Your contribution qualifies for the Arizona tax credit of up to $800 for donations to qualifying charitable organizations. Our code is 20450. We do not share or sell our donor information. Donations are welcome throughout the year. Recent donations include: Patricia Berger, $200. Jennifer Ruth Gordon, $2,000. E. Patricia Hamilton, in memory of my husband Keith Hamilton and my best friend Shirley Carr, $100. Jody Mallie, $10. Dennis Miller, $104.42. Judy Nugent, $100. Kathryn Ott, in memory of Frank Ott, $200. Stephen Reitz, $250. Pamela Taylor, $52.37 The Salpointe Class of 1967 Lunch Bunchers, $140. Two anonymous donations totaling $210.59. A hot summer of limbo is stretching out in front of Arizona legislators. Theyve only been in session a couple of days in the last month, and they arent scheduled to convene again until July 31. A few meetings are happening, but the lawmaking appears to be over. Its just the formal session that wont end, thanks to the state Senates Republican leadership. That sounds bad, and it is annoying, but even a session characterized by vetoes and malaise has its political benefits, and its financial ones. Despite a tiny margin in both houses, Republicans have managed to pass a slew of bills that would tackle the states biggest issues, such as discrimination against a firearm entity or a firearm trade association. Yes, I kid: That bill would have forced any company doing business with the state to certify that it isnt boycotting or discriminating against the NRA or Smith & Wesson. Passing the bill undoubtedly pleased the GOPs supporters in the gun industry. Theyre worried that anti-gun bank policies could make it hard for the firearms industry to do business if the banks stop dealing with them. In passing the bill, the GOP legislators also gave Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs an opportunity to please her supporters. This bill is unnecessary and, if enacted, could result in banks leaving Arizonas market, she wrote in her veto letter. This would limit competition and increase costs for local governments, costs which ultimately fall on taxpayers. Multiply this two-step move by more than 100 times: The GOP passes a bill that they know will be vetoed, reaping the political benefit from their supporters, and the governor vetoes the bill, reaping the political benefit from her side. Nothing much gets done, but each side can say theyve done something. Now, the Legislature passed a state budget in May, and the governor signed it usually the sign of the end of the session. But instead they continued this dance deep into June. On the 16th, Hobbs vetoed four bills attempting to restrict drag shows. Legislators such as Rep. David Cook, a Republican from the Globe area, have been disappointed that some of their earnest work on real issues went unrewarded. He noted that his bill to support rural hospitals died for no good reason he could see, but said hes pressing on. I just keep working, doing my job and whatever day they gavel in, they gavel in, Cook said. The way this session has dragged on has annoyed many legislators, including freshman Democratic Rep. Nancy Burke Gutierrez, of Tucson. Her day job is as a yoga teacher at Tucson High. Im getting ready to go back to school July 31, she said, noting the scheduled date to reconvene. Many of us have other jobs we have to do. Its been frustrating to be kept on hold for so long. Im not sure why we have not sine died, she said, referring to the Latin phrase, sine die, for the end of the session. It feels wasteful, for time and money. Ah yes, money. While it is a drag to be nominally in session, it at least pays. Legislators make a small salary of $24,000 per year for their service, but they also make a per-diem when they are in session, which may help pay for rent on apartments or hotel rooms. The extended session extends the per-diem, although most legislators are presumably home or on vacation somewhere. The amount of per-day pay depends on where the individual legislator lives in or out of Maricopa County and the stage of the session before 120 days or after. You get more if you live outside Maricopa County and if its before the 120st day of the session ideally, a built-in incentive not to prolong things. Alas, it hasnt worked out that way. So now, the outstate legislators, who were collecting a $238 per diem earlier in the session, are collecting $119 per day as they wait to return. The Maricopa County legislators, who were collecting $35 per day, now get $10. Nobody is getting rich off of this, but the $5,593 collected by non-Maricopa legislators during the current, 47-day lull eases the pain of the perpetual session. Members of the House have been told they can opt out of this payment, but if they do, they will not get paid a per-diem during next years session either. None have taken the option. On the Senate side, the interpretation of the law has been different: Members may stop getting the per-diem now and resume later. Only three senators, all from Maricopa County, have opted out: Sine Kerr, John Kavanagh and Warren Petersen. It is Senate President Petersen and others in that chamber who have chosen to keep the session limping along. The stated reasons are to consider Hobbs nominees to run state departments, and possibly to work out a compromise on a transportation measure, known as Prop. 400, for Maricopa County. The unstated reason is that it gives Republicans a measure of leverage over Hobbs if she does something they dont like. Once they close the session, she would have to call a special session to bring them back. So, nothing significant is likely to happen as the session lingers. The big housing bill negotiated by Republican Sen. Steve Kaiser and the League of Cities and Towns crashed and burned in the last few active days of the session when far-right Republicans came out against it. Kaiser, thereafter, resigned. Solving problems, it seems, is not really on the agenda. Scoring political points, and getting paid a little along the way, is. (CNN) Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner paramilitary group, has agreed to leave Russia for Belarus, the Kremlin said Saturday, in a deal apparently brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that ends an armed insurrection, which marked the gravest threat to Russian President Vladimir Putins authority in decades. In a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said an agreement was struck with Prigozhin. You will ask me what will happen to Prigozhin personally? Peskov said. The criminal case will be dropped against him. He himself will go to Belarus. Peskov added that the Kremlin was unaware of the mercenarys current whereabouts. The Wagner boss had earlier turned his troops around toward our field camps, in accordance with the plan. Peskov said those troops would face no legal action for marching to Moscow, and Wagner fighters will sign contracts with Russias Ministry of Defense. The announcement defuses a crisis that began when Wagner troops took control of a key military facility in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and some fighters advanced towards the capital. Prigozhin has been publicly critical of Russias military leadership and their handling of the war in Ukraine with few consequences. But he crossed numerous red lines with Putin over the weekend. A somber-looking Russian president addressed the nation and called Wagners actions a stab in the back of our country and our people. The president described events as an insurrection, which he vowed to defeat, and Moscow began to scale up its security measures. But by Saturday evening, Prigozhins calculus appeared to have changed, and the mercenary said his troops, who were 124 miles (200 kilometers) from Moscow, were stopping their advance in order to avoid bloodshed. Videos, authenticated and geolocated by CNN, also showed Prigozhin and Wagner forces withdrawing from their positions at Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don. In the video, Prigozhin is seen sitting in the backseat of a vehicle. Crowds cheer and the vehicle comes to a stop as an individual approaches it and shakes Prigozhins hand. Stunning escalation Saturdays dramatic events come off the back of Prigozhins very public and months-long feud with Russias military leadership. He has previously accused Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russias top general, Valery Gerasimov, of not giving his forces ammunition and was critical of their handling of the conflict, but has always defended the reasoning for the war. On Friday, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of striking a Wagner military camp and killing a huge amount of his fighters a claim Russias Ministry of Defense has denied and called an informational provocation. The private military chief seemingly built influence with Putin over the course of the conflict, with his Wagner forces taking a leading role in the labored but ultimately successful assault on Bakhmut earlier this year. The capture of that city was a rare Russian gain in Ukraine in recent months, boosting Prigozhins profile further. But it appears that Prigozhin had turned not merely against the military leaderships handling of the invasion of Ukraine, but also against the longtime Russian leader and his strategy. On Friday, he said Moscow invaded Ukraine under false pretenses devised by the Russian Ministry of Defense, and that Russia is actually losing ground on the battlefield. There are 25,000 of us and we are going to find out why there is such chaos in the country. There are 25,000 of us waiting as a tactical reserve and a strategic reserve. Its the whole army and the whole country, everyone who wants to, join us. We must end this debacle, he said on Telegram. Wagner upped the gambit and went on to take control of military facilities in Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh, a city that lies some 600 kilometers (372 miles) to the north of Rostov. Russias domestic intelligence service, FSB, opened a criminal case against Prighozhin for his threats, accusing him of calling for an armed rebellion. Wagner troops were then reported to be moving towards the capital, prompting a major security operation in the Moscow region and a counter-terrorist regime being put in place, according to Russian officials. Russian security forces in body armor and equipped with automatic weapons took a position near a highway linking Moscow with southern Russia, according to photos published by Russian media. Monday was declared a non-working day and public and other large-scale events have been suspended until July 1 in the Moscow region, according to Russian state run media TASS. During his speech Saturday, Putin said Wagners betrayal and any actions that fracture our unity, are a stab in the back of our country and our people. Responding to Putins speech, Prigozhin said on Telegram that the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our Motherland, we fought and are fighting, he said in audio messages.The Wagner chief claimed his forces seized the Russian Southern Military Headquarters in the city of Rostov-on-Don without firing a single shot, suggesting that the country supports us. The Rostov base plays a key role in Russias war on Ukraine, due to its proximity to the countries shared border. The temperature cooled following the deal apparently brokered by Belarus leader. Yet Prighozhin has provided scant details about his agreement to about-face. If you ask what kind of guarantee there is that Prigozhin will be able to leave for Belarus, this is the word of the President of Russia, Peskovs office said. When asked what position Prigozhin would take in Belarus, Peskov said he cannot answer the question. Peskov said Lukashenko was able to draw on a personal relationship with Prigozhin to broker the deal. The fact is that Alexander Grigoryevich [Lukashenko] has known Prigozhin personally for a long time, for about 20 years, he said. And it was his personal proposal, which was agreed with Putin. We are grateful to the President of Belarus for these efforts. Significant challenge Many top Russian officials had rallied to Putins side over the past day. Russian intelligence official, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseev, posted a video about Prigozhins actions that day, describing it as a coup attempt. Sergei Naryshkin, who heads Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, described the events as an attempted armed rebellion. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, another key player in the war, spoke of a vile betrayal by Prigozhin on Telegram. The rebellion must be crushed, and if this requires harsh measures, then we are ready! he said. Russian officials said detachments of Chechen special forces had been seen in Rostov to suppress the rebellion. However, CNN was unable to independently confirm that Chechen units have arrived in Rostov. The FSB also responded on Friday, urging Wagner fighters to detain their leader and opening a criminal case against the militia boss accusing him of calling for an armed rebellion. As Russias invasion of Ukraine stalled earlier this year, top US officials said they saw indications of tensions between the Kremlin and the Prigozhin. Officials said the US determined as early as January there was an internal power struggle underway and have been gathering and closely monitoring intelligence on the volatile dynamic ever since. But US and Western officials are being careful not to weigh in on the events because of how Putin could weaponize any perceived outside involvement in the escalating crisis, sources familiar with the administrations thinking told CNN. The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned Western countries against using Prigozhins rebellion to achieve Russophobic goals. The European Union, which borders Russia, activated its crisis response center to coordinate between member nations in reaction to the developments in Russia. Meanwhile, Ukraine took advantage of Russias chaotic security situation on Saturday, launching simultaneous counter-offensives in multiple directions, Hanna Maliar, Ukraines deputy Defense Minister, said in a Telegram post. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian military in eastern Ukraine earlier told CNN that Ukraine will benefit from the events in Russia. The fact that Prigozhin took all his Wagner fighters into Russia now will definitely have an effect on our frontline, Serhii Cherevatyi said. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraines Presidential Administration, said Prigozhins escalation almost nullified Putin and humiliated Russia, showing there is no longer a monopoly on violence. This story was first published on CNN.com. "Wagner chief turns on Putin and takes over military facilities in two Russian cities" PHOENIX Gov. Katie Hobbs wants state lawmakers to enact new laws to ensure that the drivers of electric vehicles pay their fair share for road construction and maintenance. But she said she doesnt have anything specific in mind yet. Hobbs willingness to take on the issue could provide some impetus for efforts that go back nearly a decade to equalize the taxes paid by motorists whose fuel comes from a charger with those who pay the states 18-cents-a-gallon gas tax every time they fill up. The issue remains unresolved amid arguments ranging from personal privacy to who should bear the costs as peoples vehicle choices shift. Changing trends will put pressure on lawmakers to settle it, though. The latest figures from the state Motor Vehicle Division show the number of all-electric vehicles registered in Arizona ballooned from fewer than 35,000 in 2020 to more than 58,000 last year. None of those owners, who are using state roads, pay a penny toward the $538 million generated last year in gasoline taxes, much of that earmarked for road construction and maintenance. We are working on fair solutions, Hobbs said when asked about the issue at a press event last week touting green energy in Arizona. I recognize this is a huge issue as we look at depletion of highway funds and to make sure that everyone who uses the highways are paying their fair share, she continued. And electric vehicles are a part of that. Many alternative and electric vehicles are far heavier, and could be more punishing to streets, than their similar-sized fossil-fueled cousins. Stalemate in Legislature Hobbs acknowledged there isnt a simple fix. Given the Legislature, that is challenging, the Democratic governor said, referring to the Republican-controlled Legislature. But this hasnt been a partisan issue. In fact, it is a dispute between two Republican lawmakers that resulted in the current stalemate. And it has been Republicans, who control the state House and Senate and, until this year, the governors office who have been unable for years to come up with a solution. They have had some success. Rep. Noel Campbell, a Prescott Republican, spearheaded efforts that repealed laws setting annual registration fees for alternative fuel and electric cars at a rate just a fraction of what a similarly priced gas-fueled vehicle would require. Now the owners of cars and trucks pay registration fees on the same basis: the cost of the new vehicle. But finding a levy to compensate for the lack of fuel taxes paid for electric vehicles has proven elusive. Mileage tax proposal Bob Worsley, then a senator from Mesa, trotted out an idea in 2016 for a vehicle mileage tax. This wouldnt involve cutting-edge technology, Dave Williams, a vice president of Knight Transportation, noted at the time. He said the trucking industry already uses global positioning to track its vehicles. But the idea failed to gel, partly over whether the method would be foolproof. Williams said its possible to cheat using a GPS jammer. So, they could leave the house and drive for four hours and come back to the house, and nobody knows they ever left, he said. Technology aside, Williams questioned whether members of the public would be OK being tracked like truck drivers. That hurdle remains today, to the dismay of Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, who chairs the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. We all pay at the pump for the Highway User Revenue Fund, he said, referring to the special account into which all gasoline taxes flow. But that all doesnt include drivers of everything from high-end Teslas and Lucids to all-electric Ford F 150s, the Chevy Bolt and the Nissan Leaf. Well, they dont go to the pump, said Cook. He said that leaves one option, a mileage fee. He said it wouldnt complicated or intrusive. On my new Ford pickup, I have an app. That app tells me everywhere Ive gone, it tells me the mileage on the truck, it tells me when to service it, he said. Privacy issues cited But Cook and supporters of a mileage tax have run headlong into the Arizona Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers who say they fight government overreach. Sen. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, its chairman, proposed legislation that would have made it illegal for any level of government to track someones movements through things like traffic cameras, license plate readers, or any other data from private sources. His bill included a specific bar against imposing or collecting any mileage fee or tax, a per-mile charge or anything else based on the miles driven by anyone. Hoffman said such restrictions on government are justified. One thing we know for certain is that taxing and tracking peoples movements is a significant infringement on Arizonans freedom of mobility, something we can all agree is a highly undesirable and anti-freedom outcome, he said. Hoffmans bill cleared the Senate but died in the House when Cook would not provide the required 31st vote. Cook said one alternative proposed by foes of a vehicle-mile fee that would help capture lost revenues would be a tax on electricity. But he said that is not an option, because it would mean everybody gets a tax on electricity to pay for electric cars, even if you dont have one. Its not well thought out. He said there are options he thinks would be appropriate, without tracking the comings and goings of individual motorists. One parallels the fact that drivers of most gasoline-fueled cars and trucks need to take them in, at least on a biennial basis, for an emissions test. He said owners of electric vehicles could be required to bring them in to a state-operated facility where mileage on the odometer could be recorded, with a fee assessed based on the miles driven since the last time. And if thats too intrusive, Cook said the state could compute the average number of miles driven in Arizona, what that would have generated in fuel taxes in a regular car, and then levy a fee that, like the gasoline taxes, would go into the Highway User Revenue Fund. The bottom line is how do we get them to pay their fair share, he said. Find the money elsewhere, senator says Hoffman, however, said all those ideas are based on what he called a flawed assumption that roads and highways should be built and maintained only with fuel taxes and the like. Vehicles are becoming more efficient, needing less fuel for every mile traveled, he said. Theres also the fact that the states 18-cent-a-gallon gasoline tax has not been increased since 1991. So Hoffman said an entirely different paradigm is needed. Building and maintaining roads is a foundational responsibility of government, he said. The simplest and most responsible way to ensure this happens in the least financially oppressive manner possible is for the gas tax to be completely eliminated through innovation and higher efficiency vehicles, Hoffman said. That would require governments to properly reprioritize this important public asset in their baseline expenditures, he said. NEW YORK The outgoing head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says her reasons for stepping down were complicated, driven in part by a desire to take a break from the frenetic pace of the job during a pandemic. Dr. Rochelle Walensky surprised many in public health circles last month by announcing her departure after two years and five months one of the shortest tenures for a CDC director in recent decades. She resigned as the pandemics national public health emergency was winding down. I did what I came to do which was get us through the darkest days of a pandemic, she said in an interview Tuesday. Walensky, 54, described her time at the agency as intense, but stopped short of saying she was burned out. She said she had looked for a quiet moment to withdraw from a job that gave her a sense of pride and accomplishment but also led to criticism, protests outside her home and threats of violence. That (the threats) wasnt the straw that broke the camels back, she emphasized. But is also wasnt something she expected when she took the job her first time running a government public health agency. I never expected that when I am trying to run to be an aid to somebody, that they would actually be turned off by my very existence, Walensky added. She spent the first year of the pandemic treating COVID-19 patients as an infectious disease doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital. She became CDC director in January 2021, on the first day of the Biden administration. It was near the beginning of a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign that was expected to turn the tide, but saw additional waves of illness and death as new versions of the coronavirus emerged. There were also a variety of other outbreaks and crises, including an unexpected mpox outbreak last year. Counting her time at Massachusetts General during the pandemic, it was 3 years at that pace an extraordinary pace, she said. Walenskys last day at CDC is June 30. She does not have a new job or other role lined up, she said, saying she wanted to spend some time with her family, living at a slower pace. At CDC, she has taken fire, mainly but not only from Republican legislators and critics of vaccination and masking campaigns. That was on display last week, when a GOP-led congressional subcommittee questioned and criticized Walensky about her tenure and accused her of misleading the public. Your leadership has fractured the American publics confidence in the CDC, said Rep. John Joyce, R-Pa. But she was also cheered by other legislators, mostly Democrats, who said she helped safely reopen schools, promote lifesaving vaccinations and build up the agencys ability to forecast new outbreaks. Walensky acknowledged problems during her tenure. One example: In the spring of 2021, early in her tenure, Walensky said fully vaccinated people could stop wearing masks in many settings, only to reverse course as the then-new delta variant spread. But the initial statement was perceived by many as an attempt to game us or push us (into getting vaccinated) in ways that were not quite fair, said Gil Eyal, a Columbia University sociology professor who studies the mistrust of experts. Walensky said she was extremely proud of what the CDC and other public health workers had accomplished in the past couple of years, citing the 676 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine given to Americans. She also initiated a reorganization of the 12,000-employee health agency in Atlanta. Last week, the White House announced it had chosen Dr. Mandy Cohen, a former North Carolina health official, to be the next CDC director. Walensky said she has known Cohen for years and has had several conversations recently about the job and the challenges ahead. Jeff Levi, professor of public health policy and management at George Washington University, said her earlier-than-expected departure from the job is understandable. She walked into a horrible situation and 2 years in a job like this, with this intensity of both the public health and political pressures, is an immense amount of time, Levi said. She is totally entitled to want to be moving on. For more than four decades, the U.S. government has been paying cities and states to move homeowners away from areas that are at high risk of severe flooding. When a hurricane or major flooding event devastates an area, a neighborhood can send a request for the local or state government to buy the impacted land and give residents money to start over someplace else. The Federal Emergency Management Agencys buyout program is a form of so-called managed retreat a long process that relocates people, businesses, homes and infrastructure to an area thats safer from the impacts of climate change-fueled weather events. But until recently, little was known about where people ultimately moved and whether their new location actually reduced their flood risk. A new study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters which coincides with a managed retreat conference unfolding in New York City this week provides a clearer picture of these home buyouts. Data from thousands of home buyouts shows people arent moving that far from their original homes and often they are moving within the same floodplain. But overall, their risk of flooding decreased after the move, a nod to the programs success. Researchers also found that race has played a role in who is moving and where theyre relocating to. As climate change and rising insurance costs increase the pressures to retreat from the coast and flooded areas, we need to pay more attention to where people are going, James Elliott, a professor of sociology at Rice University and a co-author on the study, told CNN. The findings point to how the program plays out differently in different types of communities and neighborhoods across the country, he said. A program for white flight? Using flood risk estimates, housing values, race and income data from the U.S. Census Bureau, and FEMA relocation data between 1990 and 2017, researchers from Rice University built a nationwide database to map out where nearly 10,000 Americans sold their flood-prone homes and where they moved. They found people who have taken advantage of the FEMA buyouts typically did not move that far to reduce their risk, and usually stayed within the same floodplain. On average, buyout participants reduced their future flood risk by up to 65%, Elliott said. The average driving distance between their former homes and their new ones was around seven miles, with almost 74% of homeowners remaining within 20 miles of their old, flood-damaged homes. The findings were also racially segmented, Elliot said. About 96% of homeowners who relocated from a predominantly white neighborhood ended up moving to another majority white community. In contrast, residents of predominantly Black and Hispanic communities were far more likely to relocate to a new neighborhood with a different demographic: Only 48 percent of Black homeowners who go through the buyout moved to predominantly Black neighborhoods. The study also found that buyout areas with predominantly white homeowners had a nearly 90% chance of flooding by 2050, while majority-Black buyout areas had a roughly 50% chance, suggesting that white residents tend to only participate in buyouts when flood risk is much more intense. Though the data suggests that homeowners in white neighborhoods have a higher tolerance for flood risk, 80% of the people who took advantage of the FEMA program previously lived in majority-white neighborhoods. This could be because white communities are more successful at winning the opportunity and money to participate in the FEMA program, Elliott said. The home buyout program, which is the largest managed-retreat initiative in the country so far, is disproportionately targeted toward whiter residential areas, Elliott said. Communities of color and lower income areas just have fewer options to move nearby, so they are less likely to participate in the managed buyout, Elliott said. In Houston, he found in a previous study that most of the people participating in buyouts in racially diverse communities tend to be white homeowners. Its sort of the last wave of white flight in those neighborhoods, he added. And when flood risks come, the final white residents begin to pull up stakes through the buyout program and move further out. Alexander de Sherbinin, a senior research scientist at the Columbia Climate School and deputy manager of NASAs Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center, said its not clear from the study that white homeowners are reluctant to move to racially diverse neighborhoods, and noted that there is evidence to the contrary. De Sherbinin pointed out that there is a process of climate gentrification playing out in areas that have experienced climate disasters, whereby more affluent households are moving into ethnically diverse neighborhoods that are less at risk of flooding, and are even displacing local residents. He pointed to Miamis Little Haiti neighborhood as an example of this phenomenon, where higher ground helps protect the neighborhood from sea level rise and higher storm surges. The research findings make sense in one regard, which is that whiter, more affluent neighborhoods are more likely to have the insurance coverage and resources to stay in place, despite rising risks, de Sherbinin told CNN. In other words, theyre able to rebuild, and possibly accommodate risks by raising their houses above flood lines. As the climate crisis advances, more homeowners and businesses will be forced to relocate, adding stress and vulnerability to new regions. Previous research has shown that climate migration will become more likely as the planet warms and people seek places they consider safer and more stable. We really need to think about how people relocate locally, what the options are, and how the ongoing racial segregation, especially in urban environments, is affecting those local retreats and peoples decisions and abilities not to retreat, because all we see are the people who actually say yes to the program, Elliott said. Thats the classic thing with climate change its not about if people have to move from these places, but when and how. ___ PHOENIX The Republican who lost last years race for Arizona attorney general wants a court to set a briefing schedule for a new trial as he seeks to overturn Democrat Kris Mayes victory even though the judge has yet to rule if he deserves one. The new filing from Abe Hamadehs attorneys indicates he is growing impatient at delays in a decision. They are asking Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen to hold a scheduling conference to set deadlines for pre-trial matters. They cite a court rule that says courts must set a hearing if a litigant requests one. The filing was signed by attorney Jennifer Wright, one of several lawyers representing Hamadeh as he continues his efforts to overturn the closest statewide election in Arizona history. An automatic recount showed Mayes outpolled Hamadeh by just 280 votes in November, down from a 511-vote victory she had after the initial count. Before Mayes took office, Wright ran Republican former Attorney General Mark Brnovichs Election Integrity Unit. She noted the request to Jantzen is unusual, but said it is important because if Hamadeh prevails after a new trial, Mayes would be ousted and replaced by him. Plaintiffs understand that this court has not yet ruled on their motion for a new trial and do not presume what this court may determine is appropriate and just, Wright wrote. She said, though, that setting the deadlines would shorten the period of uncertainty for the people of Arizona as to who was rightfully elected by the voters as the true attorney general of the state in the November 2022, general election. Theres likely a more subtle reason for the filing, according to an election law attorney not involved in the case. It can be seen in some cases as a wink and a nod indication or request for a court to expedite a ruling on a pending subject, said Eric Spencer, a Phoenix election attorney and former state elections director who is not affiliated with this case. Its a totally permissible way to put something in a courts in-box that might have the incidental effect of speeding up another decision. He lost in his first trial Hamadeh first filed suit a month after the 2022 general election to set aside its results. Jantzen ruled against Hamadehs original election challenge in December, saying he failed to prove he received more votes than Mayes. What has kept the case alive is the automatic recount in which about 500 uncounted ballots were found in Pinal County. Hamadeh picked up 392 of those. That still wasnt enough to close the gap with Mayes, who was declared the winner by the 280-vote margin statewide out of more than 2.5 million ballots cast. Pinal County officials have since blamed the disparity on human error. Attorneys for the GOP contender, in seeking a new trial, argued that now-Gov. Katie Hobbs did not disclose the recount results during the original December trial in Hamadehs case. Hobbs, a Democrat, was at the time secretary of state, Arizonas top election official. Wright also argued that ballots cast by more than 1,000 people werent counted because of problems with their voter registrations. She also wants to examine ballots that did not show a vote in the attorney generals race to determine if there actually was a vote for Hamadeh. Thats crucial because more than 50,000 ballots in Maricopa County showed so-called undervotes in the attorney generals race, meaning voters made choices in other races but, according to the machine tallies, skipped that race. Hamadehs attorneys say with a race so tight, the public and Hamadeh deserve to closely scrutinize those ballots to ensure Mayes was truly the victor. All that led to a May 16 hearing where Hamadehs attorneys made their case for a do-over of the December trial. Mayes side says he has no evidence Hobbs lawyers, those for Mayes and attorneys for Maricopa County say Hamadeh is wrong on the law and facts and urged Jantzen to throw out the attempt to force another trial. As to his claim that the recount results were hidden, they said Hobbs was precluded from disclosing those findings before they were revealed by a judge. They told Jantzen at the hearing that Hamadeh and his lawyers were fishing and had no actual evidence to back his claims. Instead, their argument before this court boils down to: The election was close. If you let us keep looking, we might find something, Mayes attorney Alexis Danneman told the judge. At the conclusion of the May 16 hearing the judge said he hoped to have a ruling on the new trial request within the next couple of weeks. That hasnt happened. Under the rules that govern state courts, he has 60 days to rule on the case, meaning a ruling must be issued by mid-July. New trial would be highly unusual Spencer, who said he has not reviewed the new court filings, said a ruling in Hamadehs favor in his new trial request could up-end decades-old rules for contesting election results. State law puts incredibly fast deadlines on election challenges so that they are concluded in the two months following an election and the public and candidate have certainty about the results. You go to court with what youve got at the time and those issues are all settled within weeks of when the canvas is conducted, something that occurred in early December, Spencer said. But if this motion for new trial succeeds and discovery is conducted, then it looks like the litigants have figured out a way to sort of punt these issues months down the road, he said. Potentially more significant, Spencer said, it would allow Hamadeh to conduct the kind of fulsome discovery that normally isnt available in the usually expedited election cases. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: We all recognize that certain chest-thumping, Im The One, Lets Go After Her brand of politicking that I hear echoing through the campaign of Lane Santa Cruzs Democratic Primary opponent. Its easy to criticize without offering new ideas or real solutions. Fortunately politics sometimes does attract rare gems like Council Member Santa Cruz. She fearlessly and effectively represents her constituents, leading with integrity and deep care for Ward 1 residents. I join Congressman Raul Grijalva, Mayor Regina Romero, and many others in endorsing Lane Santa Cruz for reelection as Tucsons Ward 1 City Council Member. Mayor Romero and I have both worked closely with Council Member Santa Cruz, as well as with her Democratic Primary opponent. Her opponent served as Chief of Staff in the Ward 3 office during my first term on the City Council. I know most Ward 3 constituents would agree that those were not our best years of constituent or neighborhood services; we heard that feedback directly at the time. We had a talented team to start but had high staff turnover and needed better processes for tracking and responding to requests. Rather than focusing on improving our constituent services, Council Member Santa Cruzs challenger decided to run for the TUSD school board. I rejected his expectation that he keep his Chief of Staff job and full city salary while campaigning. It was not until I hired a new Chief of Staff and additional talented public servants that we figured out how to effectively serve Ward 3 constituents. I believe Lane Santa Cruz continues to be the right person for the Ward 1 City Council job for many, many reasons. Ill highlight one. After she was elected in 2019, she and her volunteers visited with over 10,000 Ward 1 residents. After she was elected, she focused on door-to-door contact to meet with and listen to her constituents to be sure that she truly understood their priorities. Since being elected, Council Member Santa Cruz has delivered results. As I served with her on the City Council during 2021 I saw her leadership in action. She led on creating affordable housing, including city rules allowing casitas/accessory dwelling units Helped pass Proposition 411 for repaving all neighborhood streets and improving traffic safety Restarted the Citys youth employment program Championed local, small businesses as our economic engine Put seniors, youth and working families as top priorities for COVID-relief help and in annual budgets. Council Member Santa Cruz was born and raised in Ward 1 neighborhoods. She is an educator and organizer, now raising four beautiful children. I back her without any doubt. Take the time to learn more about her during this primary campaign and I believe you will reach the same conclusion. The story goes that as Earl Harwell was observing the construction of what would become his family's home on South Main Street, a passerby took in the sight of what would become a four-story, 15,000-square-foot, English Tudor-style mansion and wondered aloud what sort of person would build such an enormous place. "Oh," Earl Harwell is said to have replied, "some old fool with more money than sense. This incident took place about 100 years ago, and in the century that followed, the house at 2210 S. Main St. has become one of Tulsa's icons of art, architecture and history. When Earl's wife, Mary, died in 1967, she bequeathed the house to the Tulsa Arts Council, later known as the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, for the nascent nonprofit organization to use as its headquarters. The council renamed the house Harwelden, after the Welsh town to which the Harwell family had traced its origins. For many years, Harwelden was home not just to the Arts and Humanities Council; many of the city's arts groups, including Tulsa Ballet, the Tulsa Philharmonic, Chamber Music Tulsa, Light Opera Oklahoma and more, had offices at Harwelden. And the house and its grounds were, and remain, a popular location for events ranging from concerts and lectures to weddings and receptions. Tulsa native Teresa Knox and her husband, Ivan Acosta, purchased Harwelden in 2018, with the goal of restoring the house to its original glory converting office spaces back into the bedrooms to create a unique boutique hotel while continuing to make the property available for public and private events. This year, Harwelden turns 100, and Knox said a public open house to celebrate the anniversary is being planned for later this summer. But Harwelden is such a large place and filled with so much history, it's easy to miss some of the house's subtle, yet intriguing, features. We asked Knox to share some of the lesser known aspects of Harwelden she likes to share with those who come to visit. What's that by the chimney? Posted a bit like sentries next to the south end chimney are a pair of gargoyle-like creatures, grasping shields in their claws. "We haven't been able to find a quote from Mr. Harwell, or anyone else, as to why they included these," Knox said. "But they're not like the usual gargoyles you might see, that look rather fierce and frightening. These are more friendly gargoyles. They're still there to protect the house, but they are a little more welcoming." They are also, Knox added, a little more visible. A magnolia tree that had been planted around the time the house was built had grown to the point that its branches obscured the gargoyles from view. "We had someone come in to trim the tree, and now the gargoyles are easier to spot," Knox said. Going underground It was during the renovations after purchasing the house that Knox discovered something unusual in one of the basement rooms. "It had been a place that was used for storage, and it had these large soffits from the old heating and air-conditioning system that we replaced," she said. "It was kind of hidden away in a corner of the room." It was the entrance to a tunnel that snakes under the Harwelden property and comes out in the basement of the carriage house, the one-time garage that has also been converted into guest rooms. The existence of a tunnel was something that had long been a part of the house's lore, but Knox said exactly why it was constructed and how if ever it was used is still a bit of a mystery. "When we're showing people around the house, we talk about the times when the house was built," she said. "Prohibition was still in force, but also this was the time of the Lindbergh kidnapping, and I know a number of the early Tulsa oil barons had received threats of kidnapping and worse. "There are also a couple of hidden safes in the house," she added. "One is in the dining room, and we discovered the second under drywall when we were renovating the second floor." The entrance to the tunnel, now marked by a brass handle, is in what is now the house's bridal suite, where brides can ready themselves for their weddings. "We joke that, if the bride changes her mind, there's always a way to sneak out," Knox said. Splish, splash Behind the main house is a small pond, surrounded by large, flat rocks over which water flows in a miniature waterfall. The pond may look as if it's been there since before the house was built, but in fact it's a more recent addition to the landscape. "I actually thought it was part of the original landscaping," Knox said. "But when I spoke with Caroline Crain, who is the Harwells' granddaughter and still lives in Tulsa, she told me the pond actually was created in the 1940s. It was used as a wading pool by the children. "One reason I really like the pond is, now that we have converted the carriage house into bedroom suites, it gives that part of the property this kind of 'cottage in the woodlands' feel," Knox said. Forever dancing The statue of the medieval minstrel that stands on the front lawn has been a part of Harwelden since 2000. Former Tulsa artist Rosalind Cook created the image, titled "Celebrating the Arts," as a way of capturing in a single image the house's purpose as a home for the arts. It was also a symbol of Harwelden Knox herself wanted to preserve, although when she first approached the arts council about purchasing the house, she was told the sculpture could not remain. "That was a deal-breaker for me," Knox said. "But after a while, we were able to reach an agreement, that the sculpture would remain in place." One reason why Knox was intent on keeping "Celebrating the Arts" in its original place is a tiny detail on the sculpture that few people notice. Once Cook had completed her full-scale clay maquette for the piece, she invited Katie Westby, the Tulsa arts patron and philanthropist who helped found the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa, and who was instrumental in securing the house for the organization, to view the finished product. Cook had Westby press her thumbprint into the toe of the minstrel's upraised foot. The clay maquette was then sent to the foundry, and Westby's print is now preserved in bronze. "It just seemed appropriate," Cook said at the time, "since Katie has been a guiding hand to the arts for so long." A spot of tea One of the most popular events held at Harwelden since its rebirth have been the English afternoon teas held on the premises. "People would love us to offer them every day, but we're not a restaurant," Knox said. "Sometimes we've done two a month, but we're probably going to keep it to one Tuesday a month. "It's an opportunity to show off the mansion, to talk about the Harwell family and their history, and to celebrate this uniquely English tradition in a place that's designed in the English Tudor style," she said. Equally popular are the Princess Teas, designed for younger audiences, which feature actresses dressed up as Disney princesses to interact with the visitors. Crest-fallen In the Club Room, on the basement level, is a fireplace above which is affixed the Harwell family crest. Sort of. "There was a place above that fireplace that looked as if it were for some kind of crest to be displayed," Knox said. "I got the chance to talk with (longtime AHCT executive director) John Everitt, and he said there had been a crest, but someone had stolen it years ago. He tried to describe it to me, but there were no pictures or descriptions of it I could find." Knox found someone who specialized in the history of family crests in, of all places, Bulgaria who worked with her to create the crest now on display. "He asked me to go around the house and take pictures of all the imagery in the house, from the more than 200 Tudor roses that have been carved into the woodwork and the stone, the thistles, the oak leaves, the pomegranates, everything," she said. "And he worked all that into the final product. So the Harwell family crest was made in Bulgaria." For more information about Harwelden, including room rates, event rentals and schedules for afternoon and Princess tea services: harweldenmansion.com. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. More Harwelden photos OKLAHOMA CITY Two former employees filed wrongful termination lawsuits against two state agencies for action Tourism and Recreation Department Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt allegedly took while employed by those entities. Neither suit names Zumwalt as a defendant. Jo A. Stainsby was fired Sept. 3, 2019, as public information director with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority by Zumwalt, who was then communications and strategic engagement officer. A lawsuit alleges Stainsby was terminated based on her gender and/or her gender and age. Her attorney, Mark Hammons, said Stainsby recently settled the suit for $85,000. Stainsby, who had been employed by the agency since 1999, did not respond to requests for comment. OHCA respectfully disagrees with the basis of Ms. Stainsbys claims, the agency said in a statement. We remain confident in our position in relation to the matter and were prepared to defend at trial; however, in the interest of saving taxpayer dollars a decision was reached to enter into an amicable resolution. OHCA is committed to being an equal employment opportunity employer. Zumwalts former chief of staff and general counsel at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission has also filed suit against the state for allegedly wrongfully terminating her Nov. 10, 2021. Claudia C. Conner is alleging discrimination based on age and gender. She declined to comment. Ms. Conners lawsuit, filed in response to her lawful termination, is wholly based on vague allegations and scant facts, the OESCs general counsels office said. Accordingly, the agencys legal team has filed a motion to dismiss based on her failure to provide enough facts to state a claim that is even plausible. Conner had previously served as an assistant attorney general, general counsel and deputy director at the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation and general counsel for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. In a Nov. 29, 2022, deposition, Conner said every person Zumwalt asked her to terminate was 60 years old or older. In the deposition, Conner alleged that Zumwalt made comments about how employees dressed, the way they looked, and called them frumpy and disloyal. She was told to get rid of the old guard, Conner said. In the deposition, Conner said Zumwalt referred to one employee as grandma. In court documents, Conner said she was recruited by Zumwalt and given a raise shortly before Zumwalt fired her without providing a reason. Zumwalt was appointed executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation in 2022. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and Director Zumwalt are not defendants in the pending matter and cannot provide a statement on litigation that does not name either party, said Taylor Nelson, an agency spokesperson. Zumwalt served as Oklahoma Employment Security Commission executive director from May 2020 until October 2022. She served as chief innovation officer at the Office of Management and Enterprise Services from March 2020 until May 2020. She served as chief communications and strategic engagement officer for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority from August 2019 until March 2020. Zumwalt began her career with the state in 2012 earning $40,000, according to records provided by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. She earns $235,000 in her current role, according to the agency. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Shopping enthusiasts should check out a newly-launched fashion street which is home to various boutiques in Thu Duc City, under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City. The Thu Duc Peoples Committee held a launch ceremony of the fashion street, located on the over-two-kilometer Vo Van Ngan Street, on Friday evening. This shopping street, the first of its kind in Thu Duc, stretches from an intersection of Vo Van Ngan with Dang Van Bi Streets to another intersection with Thong Nhat Street. To celebrate the launch and promote consumption, the Thu Duc administration called on shopping stores operating on the street to offer many special deals throughout a promotion week between June 20 and 27. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Nguyen Ky Phung, vice-chairman of the Thu Duc administration, said the fashion street will contribute to efforts to develop a modern and civilized business model in the city. Thu Duc City officials gesture at the launch ceremony of a fashion street located on Vo Van Ngan Street in Thu Duc City, under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City on June 23, 2023. Nguyen Ky Phung, vice-chairman of the Thu Duc administration, speaks at the launch ceremony of the fashion street in Ho Chi Minh Citys Thu Duc City on June 23, 2023. Boutiques on the fashion street cater to shoppers of various segments ranging from the young to middle-aged people. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The outbound sales of Vietnamese shrimp products are anticipated to bounce back from the third quarter this year, said Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). The upbeat forecast was based on the U.S. markets rising demand for shrimp shipped from Vietnam and other countries over the past three months, Hoe told the eighth Vietnam Shrimp Forum held on Friday in Bac Lieu Province, located in Vietnams Mekong Delta region. Since August last year, the local shrimp industry has witnessed weakening demand from overseas markets, the VASEP representative said. Vietnamese shrimp exports were previously forecast to get back on track by the end of the first quarter, but the weak demand lingered and dampened the prediction, he elaborated. The consumption of shrimp products in the U.S. and then other markets is predicted to recover from the third quarter, thereby boosting the demand. Vietnam exported approximately US$1.4 billion worth of shrimp products during the first five months of the year and the figure is projected to hit $3 billion by the end of the year, according to the VASEP general secretary. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Volodin Vyacheslav Victorovich has postponed his official visit to Vietnam, scheduled to take place from Sunday to Monday, due to an unexpected situation in Russia. The Vietnam News Agency cited a press release issued by the Vietnamese National Assemblys Committee for External Relations on Saturday as saying that the Russian official wished to visit Vietnam at another proper time. Observers were closely monitoring the situation in Russia following the uprising of Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner mercenary unit. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that the armed rebellion led by the Wagner Group leader was a result of "excessive ambitions and vested interests that led to treason." In the latest developments, the Wagner mercenaries have halted their approach to Moscow in a move that the Wagner boss said would avoid bloodshed, according to Reuters. Reuters earlier cited a Russian security source as saying that the Wagner mercenaries had seized all military facilities in the Russian city of Voronezh, some 500 kilometers from Moscow. Wagner chief Prigozhin previously claimed that his forces had taken control of all military installations in the city of Rostov and demanded that Russias military leadership, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, come to him after accusing them of killing his forces. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! (CNN) Guatemalans head to the polls on June 25 to pick a new president, as regional watchers warn of a downward spiral of kleptocracy and weakening rule of law in Central Americas most populous nation. Social democrat Sandra Torres, the right-wing Zury Rios and center-right Edmont Mulet lead the pack of more than 20 presidential hopefuls in the general elections. Other candidates have been blocked from running, including leftist indigenous leader Thelma Cabrera, and most recently, former frontrunner Carlos Pineda sparking accusations of political meddling against the countrys electoral court. One thing we can say about Guatemala right now is this Supreme Electoral Tribunal has a very suspicious pattern of eliminating any candidate who is publicly supportive of anti-corruption, Will Freeman, a fellow in Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, told CNN. One of the expelled candidates, the rightwing Roberto Arzu, was a vocal critic of President Alejandro Giammattei. Another disqualified candidate, Cabrera, had been outspoken critic about corruption in Guatemalan politics. Pineda ran as an outsider to Guatemalas entrenched power structure, frequently sharing his anti-establishment position on Tik Tok. After his disqualification, he concluded on Twitter: Corruption won, Guatemala lost. The Constitutional Court said in a statement to CNN that it adheres to the law, and acts with due diligence, impartiality, objectivity, independence. CNN has also reached out to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal for comment. Its not the first time that Guatemalas electoral tribunal eliminates presidential hopefuls, but this years cycle is happening in rapidly shrinking civic space. The reason why it feels very important this year is because weve seen a real backlash in Guatemala over the past few years against a movement to battle corruption, Caren Cissis, a central America expert and editor-in-chief of Americas Society/Council of the Americas, told CNN. Failing battle against corruption Rights groups say graft and impunity accelerated in the country after former President Jimmy Morales dissolved a United Nations-backed anti-corruption commission in 2019. The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) had been set up in 2006 to help dismantle influential criminal networks in the country. It assisted in hundreds of convictions, exposed a corruption scandal, and has been attributed for helping reduce the countrys homicide rate. Since CICIGs removal, corruption has spread through the countrys justice system, experts say. A large part of Guatemalas justice system has been co-opted by a network of corrupt political, economic, and military elites seeking to advance their own interests and carry out corrupt practices with impunity, concludes a 2022 report by the Washington Office on Latin America, Latin America Working Group, and Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA. Prosecutors and judges associated with CIGIG have been arrested, investigated, and many have been forced to flee the country under the countrys current President Alejandro Giammattei. When the countrys attorney general Consuelo Porras Argueta was reappointed in 2022 by the president, she was sanctioned hours later by the US for her involvement in significant corruption, says Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, in a press statement. During her tenure, Porras repeatedly obstructed and undermined anticorruption investigations in Guatemala to protect her political allies and gain undue political favor, the statement added. Members of the media that took on corruption have also faced legal consequences. Prominent Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora founder of the countrys leading investigative newspaper that was shut down this year was sentenced to six years in prison for money laundering on Wednesday. Press rights groups have called it an attack on free speech. Corruption and poor governance are important factors that drive migration, say experts, which is clearly in play in Guatemala home to the largest economy in Central America yet the second-highest source country for migrants encountered at the US border, according US Border Patrol figures. Giammatteis press secretary rejected allegations that his administration was interfering in the judicial process. The government of Guatemala respects and strives to guarantee freedom of journalism in the country, Kevin Lopez, Press secretary of the President Giammattei, said in a statement to CNN. The candidates The US and Western allies have raised concerns about the exclusion of presidential candidates in Guatemala. But regional watchers speculate an excess of caution, a lack of focus on the Central American region and other foreign policy concerns have shifted priorities. With migration a top concern in Washington as the US heads into the 2024 election cycle, Freeman said the Biden administration has had to balance Guatemalas position as a regional ally, especially over efforts to curb migration, over concerns about democratic backsliding in the country. The Biden administration has been caught between a rock and a hard place,Freeman said. In April, the USs Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols stressed the USs support for Guatemalans right to free, fair, peaceful elections, saying that democracy depended on citizens being able to choose leaders without arbitrary barriers, exclusion, or intimidation. At least one of the remaining candidates appears willing to speak up about graft. The 72-year-old centrist Mulet has taken a vocal anti-corruption stance in recent months. The technocrat, who has held legislative and diplomatic roles, including a stint at Guatemalas ambassador to the United States, led United Nations bodies on Haiti and chemical weapons. His background has added to the sense that he is someone who could build on that experience in Guatemala, according to Carin Zissis, a central America expert and editor-in-chief of Americas Society/Council of the Americas. He warned that Guatemala was marching towards an authoritarian model like Nicaragua, telling Agence-France Presse on Tuesday that Guatemalas public institutions were contaminated. Analysts say the centrist, who has proposed universal pension and youth unemployment projects, looks in a strong position to advance to the second round of voting slated for August 20 as hes not seen as one of these deeply corrupt and entrenched machine politicians, said Freeman. He will have to beat Torres and Rios, who have both advocated for tough mano dura polices to tackle crime in the style of El Salvadorean leader Nayib Bukele. Torres appears to be leading the pack, according to polling. She holds support among rural voters, garnered when she helped get more cash transfers and benefits when she was first lady alongside former President Alvaro Colom, say analysts. Despite heading one of the countrys oldest and well-resourced parties, there is a hardcore, consolidated anti-vote against her over her decision to divorce Colom in 2011, in a conservative, family-orientated country, Freeman said. Polls show nearly a third of the country will not vote for her. Rios is the daughter of former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, who was convicted of genocide in 2013. She is popular among Guatemalas strong evangelical community while advocating for progressive causes like womens rights. Rios has denounced corruption during the race, with a focus on incumbent Giammattei. Although, analysts stress she holds the support of the countrys military and economic elite and she had previously condemned CICIG before it lost its mandate. But its anyones guess as to whether any of these candidates will be able to address Guatemalas erosion of rule of law once in power. Commentators have lamented their proposals have been lacking and overly simplistic, said Zissis. And as a result, in a country that has such big challenges, the question ends up being, what are these candidates going to do to solve the problems? This story was first published on CNN.com, "Guatemala will vote for new president but critics say many anti-corruption candidates were weeded out" The U.S. Navys aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the flagship for Carrier Strike Group 5, arrived in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Sunday morning, beginning a five-day port call. The Carrier Strike Group is headed by the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam, followed by the USS Ronald Reagan with a dozen fighter aircraft parked on its deck. At around 10:00 am the same day, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls was the last one in the CSG 5 to head toward Da Nang Bay. A welcome ceremony for the U.S. strike group was held by the local authorities at Tien Sa Port on the afternoon of the same day. During the five-day visit, the U.S. naval delegation will take part in multiple friendly exchange activities in Da Nang, a popular beach destination in central Vietnam. This is the third time that a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited Vietnam since 2018. The visit marks a special occasion as the two countries celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Partnership. The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam heads the Carrier Strike Group 5 to enter Da Nang Bay in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on June 25, 2023. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre A U.S. aircraft carrier first visited Vietnam in March 2018 following the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The 2018 visit was made by the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer. The second visit from a U.S. aircraft carrier to Vietnam was the USS Theodore Roosevelt in March 2020, along with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, as part of the activities to mark the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam-U.S. diplomatic ties. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is on its way toward Da Nang Port in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on June 25, 2023. Photo: Tan Luc / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh left Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport at noon on Sunday to begin his official visit to China and sit in on the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The prime ministers entourage includes Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister - Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Chairman of the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises Nguyen Hoang Anh, Deputy Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai, and Deputy Chief of the Party Central Committee Office Bui Van Thach. The top Vietnamese official pays a China visit at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. This is the first visit to China by Prime Minister Chinh since he took office in April 2021. The visit was scheduled to deepen the Vietnam - China ties and reaffirm numerous commitments. The prime ministers China visit is also aimed at enhancing high-ranking delegation exchange, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu. Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai expects the two nations to achieve positive results for bilateral relations during the visit, contributing to beefing up political trust and boosting sustainable growth. Through the visit, two-way partnership in various fields such as culture, education, tourism, technology, and science will be strengthened. Furthermore, the two countries high-ranking leaders will reach a consensus to maintain peace and stability at sea, and promote cooperation at international forums. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited China in late October and early November 2022. Vietnam and China established their ties in January 1950, and have entered the comprehensive strategic partnership since May 2008. Vietnam is Chinas largest trade partner in Southeast Asia, and is the latters fourth-biggest trade partner worldwide. Two-way trade totaled US$175.56 billion in 2022, up $9.8 billion year on year, according to statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs. A representative of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam (L) saw Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) off at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, June 25, 2023. Photo: Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R, 1st) shakes hands with an official at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, June 25, 2023. Photo: Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A plane transporting Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh landed at Beijing International Airport in China on Sunday afternoon. The Vietnamese government leader started his four-day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. The top Vietnamese official and his entourage were welcomed by the leader of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo, and other Chinese officials. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R, 2nd) receives a bouquet of flowers from a Chinese child at Beijing International Airport in China, June 25, 2023. Photo: Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre As part of his visit, Prime Minister Chinh was set to have a meeting with Vietnamese citizens in China on Sunday evening. A welcome ceremony for Prime Minister Chinh and talks between the Vietnamese government leader and his Chinese counterpart will take place on Monday morning. The top Vietnamese official will also attend a national strategic dialogue between Vietnam and the World Economic Forum (WEF), and meet with WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab on Monday. Within the framework of the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum held on Tuesday, the Vietnamese prime minister will take part in various activities and meet the leaders of several nations and Chinese firms. Besides, Prime Minister Chinh will deliver a speech at a plenary session themed 'Confronting Headwinds: Regain Growth Amid Global Economic Uncertainties.' Also, the Vietnamese prime minister will have meetings with Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping as well as Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress. Vietnamese and Chinese citizens wave the flags of Vietnam and China to welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to China, June 25, 2023. Photo: Ngoc An / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia to continue monitoring the recent complex situation in the country and prepare plans for safeguarding and supporting Vietnamese citizens there when necessary. In its notice released on Saturday about safeguarding Vietnamese citizens in Russia, the ministry warned that the city of Rostov-on-Don and some other southern regions of Russia have experienced complicated developments in terms of security and order over the past days. The ministry has therefore ordered the embassy and representative agencies of Vietnam in Russia to keep a close watch on the situation and draw up plans for citizen protection and support, especially for those in the said areas. The ministry recommends that Vietnamese communities in Russias southern cities and Moscow strictly comply with the host countrys laws as well as instructions from local authorities. Vietnamese citizens should stay at home, avoiding mass gatherings or long trips within the territory of Russia. Evacuation plans should be prepared in case of increased tensions, the ministry advised. Those who plan to visit the cities of Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov in the near future should carefully consider travel safety and should not take any trips amid complicated developments unless absolutely necessary. In case of emergency or for immediate assistance, Vietnamese citizens should contact the Vietnamese representative agencies in Russia and local Vietnamese associations, the ministry recommended. The ministry also announced the embassys citizen protection hotline at +79 166821617 and the citizen protection switchboard at +84 981848484. The authorities of the Lipetsk region of Russia have recently asked people to stay at home for security reasons. In order to ensure law and order as well as the safety of citizens of the Lipetsk region, the regional government recommends that people should not leave their homes unless in emergency and should restrict travel by personal or public transport means, the regional authorities said in a statement on social media. The government of Russias Rostov region has reported that all local hospitals and social facilities continue to operate normally. Rostov governor Vasily Golubev has announced the cancelation of major events slated in Rostov-on-Don for this weekend and urged people to limit travel to the city center. Rostov-on-Don, the capital of Rostov bordering eastern Ukraine, has been attracting attention because of complex developments involving the Russian group of Wagner mercenaries. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Catch up on the news in Vietnam today: Politics -- Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Volodin Vyacheslav Victorovich has postponed his official visit to Vietnam set for Sunday and Monday due to unexpected situations in his country, the Vietnamese National Assemblys Committee for External Relations announced on Saturday. -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday visited a Samsung Electronics research and development center in Hanoi in a demonstration of his commitment to nurturing talents in science and technology before wrapping up his state visit to Vietnam from Thursday to Saturday, Yonhap reported. Society -- A container truck crashed into a car running in the same direction on a Nha Trang-Cam Lam Expressway section in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam on Friday night, killing two people and injuring three others. -- The Vietnamese National Assembly on Saturday passed a resolution with new special policies for Ho Chi Minh City to boost its development. The resolution will take effect on August 1 this year. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways has introduced an integrated circuit card for the use of the first metro line in the city. The front of the card features typical symbols of the city and the back includes instructions to use it. Business -- The National Assembly on Saturday approve the governments proposal to extend a reduction in value-added tax on goods and services to eight percent from 10 percent until the end of this year. Lifestyle -- The first Vietnam welcome gate in Thailand was inaugurated on an overseas Vietnamese road in Nong Khai Province on Saturday. -- The Vietnam Records Organization on Saturday recognized a 63-meter steel flagpole at the Long An International Port in the namesake southern province as the highest flagpole in Vietnam. The height of the falgpole63 meterssymbolizes the 63 cities and provinces in Vietnam and the area of the flag54 square metersrepresents the 54 ethnic groups in the country. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) has introduced an integrated circuit card for the use of the first metro line in the city. MAUR and Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Co. Ltd., which will operate the metro line, had designed the card, equipping it with the near-field communication technology. There are two kinds of IC cards: high- and medium security cards. They will be used as stored fare cards and single journey tickets, which have red and blue colors, respectively. The front of the card features typical symbols of the city, such as the building of the Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Thanh Market, Municipal Theater, Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, Bitexco Financial Tower, and the Landmark 81 skyscraper. The back of the card includes instructions to use it. The metro line No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, which is 19.7 kilometers long, runs from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City and carries an estimated price tag of VND43.7 trillion (US$1.9 billion). The project with three underground stations and 11 above-ground stops is over 95 percent complete and is expected to be put into operation at the end of this year. Besides the first metro line, work on the first items of the second metro line in the city, linking Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Tham Luong Depot in District 12, started on Thursday. MAUR is relocating technical infrastructure facilities, such as water and power supply, wastewater drainage, and telecom systems, to make room for the project. The back of the card includes instructions to use it. Photo: MAUR The second metro line in the southern metropolis was designed to stretch 11.2 kilometers, passing through six districts: 1, 3, 10, 12, Tan Binh, and Tan Phu. It will include a 9.2-kilometer underground section and two-kilometer elevated section, with 10 stations, upon completion. The project will require an estimated cost of over VND47.89 trillion ($2 billion) and a total space of more than 251,100 square meters and affect 603 households. The metro line was initially expected to be put into commercial operation in 2016 but the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee later proposed extending the deadline for the completion of the project to 2030. An office building and ancillary works at the Tham Luong Depot in District 12 have been finished. The authorities of District 1, District 10, Tan Binh District, and Tan Phu District have completed the compensation for affected entities. Meanwhile, 66 affected households and units in District 3 have yet to reach a consensus on the compensation with the local administration. The district and the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment are working to complete the site clearance for the project this year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Anthony LaPaglia first heard about mafia extortion taking place in Queensland cane fields in the 1930s during a casual conversation with screenwriter Adam Grossetti. I met Adam, some years ago, at some party and he said that he wants to do this project, Black Hand. He gave me a very brief pitch on it and I said, When you have something in writing, send it to me, and Ill read it. A few years later -because these things take time- he sent it to me, and I read it and I was really fascinated with it because its part of Australian history I wasnt even aware about, he tells TV Tonight. The result is a 3 part series, The Black Hand, an Italian organised crime gang, which delves back in time to explore an Australian Italian communitys struggles against extortion, arson, kidnap, mayhem and murder by Italian criminals targeting their migrant countrymen in Australias deep north. Even though it involves my people, I didnt really know about the cane cutters of Far North Queensland. Even though my dad and his two brothers did a little bit of it, when they first moved out to Australia in the 50s, he continues. They did a bit of sugar cane, they did hurricane fencing in the Northern Territory, they worked on the Myponga dam. Wherever they could get work they did it. LaPaglia, who is both presenter and co-producer, travels to both Far North Queensland and Calabria, Italy to learn about mafiosa roots which took hold in centres around the town of Ingham. The Black Hand also operated from Ayr, Mossman (near Port Douglas) and Innisfail. Its pretty big out there. I cant imagine what it was like in the 1930s. Theres a lot of space between each farm and the towns and the farm. Its not easy to get to any of them, he explains. Its almost comical that they went out there to extort money, but thats what they did. The mafia guys ran the brothels and the gambling, so extortion was just a side job to keep the other hustles going. I think the farmers thought, Were not going to put up with this time. Were gonna fight back. Its that simple. They felt more, I guess. emboldened to do it.. .to take them on. Because these guys are out of their element. Theyre not in Calabria anymore. The series is creatively shot by Nick Paton ACS and directed by Kriv Stenders. That was one of the other big reasons I wanted to do it, because I love his work. If I hadnt known the person that was filming and directing it I might have had a different response to it. But the quality of his stuff is always pretty high. I felt like he would do something interesting with it and he did., says LaPaglia. LaPaglia, who maintains that the mafia changed in more recent times, adopting a charm offensive rather than strong arm tactics. I think that their their mission statement may have changed. I think whats happened is that a lot of these guys -because it happened here too- a lot of the old school decided that it was not going to stay productive for too much longer. After John Gotti in the 90s it looked like a losing proposition. Ive come to understand that a lot of these guys educated their kids and as their kids take up prominent roles in the legal profession or politics. They became more educated and kind of fit into the mainstream a bit more. But I dont know if theyve completely left their old ways behind. He adds, By the 1940s, I think that the farmers had kind of got them out. Theyd successfully stopped them. But you know, the mafia has a way of always being there, no matter what. The Black Hand screens 8:30pm Tuesday on ABC. Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi and manager Ange Postecoglou Credit: Alamy Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has clearly talked up the prospect of Kyogo Furuhashi remaining at the club next season, despite strong links to Tottenham. The Japan international forward has been tipped to follow Ange Postecoglou to north London this summer after Celtics treble success under the Australian last term. The 28-year-old has scored 54 goals for the Bhoys since Postecoglou brought him to Glasgow two years ago from Vissel Kobe in a bargain 4.6million transfer. But with the former Celtic boss now at Spurs, talkSPORT revealed last month that Postecoglou was looking to sign Furuhashi given the doubts over Harry Kanes long-term future. Those links have not disappeared, despite things going quiet on the Kane front as he enjoys a family holiday. However, Rodgers is planning for the Japan forward to be leading his line next season as he prepares for his second spell as Celtic manager. He told the The Herald: Ive seen quite a bit of Kyogo. If you look through my history: strikers who can penetrate the last line, who can receive and score goals. Think of [Luis] Suarez he could run in behind. Danny Graham at Swansea was great for me. Then at Liverpool, [Daniel] Sturridge and Suarez could run in behind and penetrate. It was the same with [Jamie] Vardy at Leicester. Kyogo is certainly that. Its a team who can look after the ball and play at fast speed. What I see is a team where there are no real big stars. There are some top players Kyogo, [Reo] Hatate, Jota, these guys but the star really is the team. It reminds me very much of my Swansea team, how they are really synchronised in how they work and how they play. It was a similar sort of idea coming into Swansea [in 2010], they had a decent foundation that we had to build on. I see Celtic as being very similar to that. Despite Rodgers comments, there remains a chance that Postecoglou will still move for his former frontman, especially if the Kane exit rumours start to ramp up again. A fee of around 30million is being mooted for Furuhashi which would clearly represent a massive profit for Celtic but would then leave them having to hunt for a replacement before the new season begins. READ MORE: Tottenham accelerate Liverpool transfer hijack with talks underway over stunning 86m double coup The article Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers sends clear message to Postecoglou over Tottenham raid for Parkhead talisman appeared first on Teamtalk.com. Prigozhin was once seen as a close ally and known as "Putin's chef" (Handout) President Vladimir Putin has long profited from the actions of the Wagner mercenary group, but the mutiny led by its chief Yevgeny Prigozhin presents the Russian strongman with a challenge that could irreparably damage his authority, analysts say. During its decade-long existence, Wagner's operations in Africa, Syria and eastern Ukraine have served Putin's political interests, with the president appearing to relish, rather than fear, the internal rivalries created by its success. But now the organisation, whose development was encouraged by Putin, has turned against him. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin -- once seen as a close ally and known as "Putin's chef" due to past Kremlin catering contracts rather than culinary prowess -- has moved into open revolt. The speed and severity of Putin's address to the nation after Prigozhin said his troops had taken control of the military command centre and bases in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, shows how seriously he regards the threat. While the Russian state maintains the military might be able to put down the rebellion and even crush Wagner, the crisis risks inflicting permanent damage to Putin, who for two-and-a-half decades has prided himself on standing on top of an unchallenged vertical power structure. "Putin's unambiguous position is to put down the rebellion. And hard," Tatiana Stanovaya, head of the R. Politik political analysis firm, said on her Telegram channel, arguing that Prigozhin was "doomed," even it it could take "a long time" to bring him down. But she added: "Many inside the elite will personally blame Putin for the fact that everything went so far and that there was no proper reaction from the president in good time. Therefore, this whole story is also a blow to Putin's positions." The UK ministry of defence said in its daily intelligence update that the "loyalty of Russia's security forces... will be key to how the crisis plays out." - 'Usefulness to Putin' - The Wagner outfit had taken a prime role in Putin's invasion of Ukraine, taking on the most dangerous frontline work, as the regular army appeared to falter, while sustaining what Western sources have described as colossal losses. "For a long time, Prigozhin was allowed to attack the elite due to his usefulness at the front, as well as for some usefulness to Putin himself," said Alexander Baunov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. But the war also emboldened Prigozhin, who for the first time openly admitted he had founded the group after years of denial, and openly recruited new members in Russian prison camps. He also took to launching brazen verbal attacks against the Russian defence ministry. His posturing was seen initially as a boost to the Kremlin's war effort but then as a rare and open challenge to Putin, who appeared to keep the group at arm's length and never held a public meeting with Prigozhin during the conflict. Prigozhin waged what grew into a personal vendetta against Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, widely seen as one of Putin's few personal friends within the Russian elite, who has hosted the president for holidays in his home southern Siberian region. Baunov argued that the moment Prigozhin resolved to "cross the line" came on June 13 when Putin announced that mercenary groups like Wagner would have to be subject to control of the defence ministry, something the mercenary boss had long opposed. In Putin's icy address on Saturday he pointedly did not refer to Prigozhin by name, a tactic he also uses concerning the jailed opposition figure Alexei Navalny. - 'Frankenstein's monster' - James Nixey, director of the Russia-Eurasia Programme, at UK thinktank Chatham House, described Prigozhin "as something of a Frankenstein's monster" who may have had "a licence at some point to shock the Russian army into more effective warfighting." "However, that has gone way beyond anything that Putin would ever have envisaged now," he told AFP. While Prigozhin does not have the "manpower, troops or support" to take Moscow, let alone the entire country, it still "is the first direct serious challenge to Putin's authority in 24 years" of rule. Prigozhin's conduct contrasts with that of the strongman of the southern Russian region of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, who also built up his own private militia force but has remained staunchly loyal to the Kremlin. He has already vowed to send Chechen units to put down the revolt saying that if "harsh measures are necessary, we are ready." "Moscow has every chance of regaining control," said the prominent French political scientist Anna Colin Lebedev. "But this unprecedented situation confirms to the elites that the time for stability is over, and that the state that we thought was all-powerful has flaws. The seat of power today is a slightly more shaky chair than it was yesterday," she said. sjw/fb (CNN) In the hushed, ornate St James cathedral in the Armenian Quarter, one of Jerusalems most famous photographers Garo Nalbandian is at work, straddling a ladder as he photographs a massive Armenian carpet from above. As his camera flash illuminates the hundreds of hanging lanterns and precious paintings on the walls, two assistants scurry around wearing only socks for the artifacts protection. Sometimes I have some pieces, I fall in love after finish it, he tells CNN. But Nalbandian is not only one of Jerusalems most sought after photographers. Hes also Armenian, a member of the dwindling Christian community still living in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem. A quarter he fears will soon be Armenian in name only. Armenians first settled in Jerusalem over 1,600 years ago, with their community growing in the early 20th century as Armenians from other parts of the Ottoman Empire fled from genocide. One hundred years later, however, the Armenian presence in their quarter has shrunk significantly. This property controversy comes as Christian Armenians have felt squeezed by Jewish extremists and the ongoing and worsening Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among the Jerusalem Old Citys four quarters, the Armenian is the smallest. But now Armenians say theyre facing an existential crisis that could be the beginning of the end of the Armenian presence in the Old City. And its being perpetrated, they allege, by their own religious leadership. A deal has been signed by the Armenian Patriarchate that will hand up to 25% of the quarter to a commercial entity for a 99-year lease, according to lawyers working to stop the deal. According to the lawyers and residents, the reported intention is to build a luxury hotel on some of the land that is currently a parking lot, but is on prime real estate nestled just within the Old City walls. Few have seen the contract itself, and those who have are not commenting publicly on how much the deal is worth. The drama has pitted the Armenian community against its religious leader, the Armenian Patriarch Nourhan Manougian. Regular protests have been held, with Armenian residents and supporters creating a human chain around the part of the quarter allegedly part of the deal. Nightmares every night Nalbandians centuries-old home, which he and his family have lived in for more than 50 years rented from the Armenian church, is part of the land transfer, he says. Sitting in his living room with his wife and granddaughter, his own stunning photographs line the wall, as well as a massive painting of Jesus last supper, Nalbandian grows emotional as he describes what he fears is happening. Im having nightmares every night, he said. Where am I going to live with my family, with my children. We are 11 people around, you know. Theyre putting us into parts and we are losing our culture. Nalbandian and his familys small compound is directly across from the Armenian convent and within the shadow of the Old City walls. A steady stream of tourists and priests pass the front door every day. I love it here. I like to be here, forever. Its our homeland. Its most important for me, as an Armenian to be next to the Armenian convent next to the school, next to our culture, clubs, everything between Armenians, you know, all the friends, he said. Nalbandian says theyve been betrayed by their own leadership, who he also accuses of not being forthright. Nalbandian said when he went to the Patriarchs office to inquire what happened, a secretary told him his house is included in the deal but that they are working to bringing it back. But he says he has yet to be shown the contract or a full map of what has been handed over. They are hiding the contracts. Theyre hiding all the maps and everything. Theyre not telling theyre selling they say they gave 99 years. Okay, you give 99 years. Show. Show us, we dont know what our future, Nalbandian said. Rumors abounded about who was leasing the land. A new sign on the parking lot used by the locals gave the most concrete clue - Xana Capital. The company and its chairman Danny Rothman were also identified as the lessee by a former priest for the patriarchate who was also its Real Estate Manager Baret Yeretsian, and spoke with CNN via text messages. Yeretzian said the contract is with Xana Capital and its chairman Danny Rothman, and was signed in 2021 with the intent to secure future financial stability for the patriarchate. Yeretsian shared photos with CNN which he said were taken during signing. Rothman, Yeretzian, the Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, and the patriarchs deputy Archbishop Sevan Gharibian are all featured standing in front of an ornate tapestry. Another photo shows Rothman shaking hands with Manougian. CNN could not independently confirm when the photo was taken. In recent months Yeretsian left Jerusalem for the United States, at the request of the patriarch he says, his exit marred by angry protestors furious over the deal. Videos from the evening show Yeretsian leaving the Armenian quarter under Israeli police protection. Yeretsian said he was acting on the Patriarchs orders. The patriarch is the ultimate authority, he said. Yeretsian added he feels like hes now being used a scapegoat. Xana Capitol and Rothman did not respond to a CNN request for comment. But many of the residents say they dont care who leased the land. Its not important who bought it, Im not blaming who bought it. Im blaming why they sell it, Nalbandian said. This property is a property for all Armenians, all Armenians in the world. Taking action Earlier this month a group of volunteer Armenian lawyers from Armenia and the United States arrived for a seven-day fact-finding mission to help understand the situation and suggest remedies. A full report on the situation is expected to be published in the coming days. At a community meeting on Sunday, the lawyers said its not just some homes that are at risk: The Armenian heritage museum as well as the Armenian cemetery are possibly threatened. Garo Ghazarian, an attorney from Los Angeles, told the community meeting the deal is more than just about the use of commercial purposes. The task and challenge for everyone, the Armenian Church, the community, the clubs and Armenian organizations alike, is to overcome all risks which threatens the integrity and the indivisibility of our community within the Old City of Jerusalem, he said. Arman Tatoyan, a former Deputy Minister of Justice for the Republic of Armenia and human rights lawyer, told CNN that the group had already established there will be violations if the contract is implemented is executed. And our purpose is to prevent the execution. Alongside the fallout from the community the Palestinian Authority as well as Jordan, which oversees Christian and Muslim religious sites in Jerusalem, has withdrawn recognition of the patriarch as a result of the real estate deal. A missing Patriarch Manougian, who declined CNNs request for an interview, has been avoiding the community, residents say. Last Sunday, a ceremony was held at St. James cathedral to install new Deacons. Typically, the Patriarch would attend such events, but he was not in attendance. But his deputy, Archbishop Sevan Gharibian, did speak to CNN after the ceremony, acknowledging that a deal had been struck for part of the quarter, but claiming theyre working to cancel it. We have rented it to the other company that is all. But about 99 years there. But we are doing our best to cancel it if we can, he said. Gharibian said he did not know why the land was leased in the first place but defended the Patriarchs relative silence on the matter. We dont answer to any, every question, every talking. Let them talk. Later we will see who is right. Because these people also have their personal trouble with the Convert, you know they want something for some reason, revenge, I dont know, he said. The body is working about these things. Not everybody must know what they are doing. They will spoil it or destroy it what we are doing, he said. But even if the deal is canceled, the damage has been done. They dont have a God. They have money, Nalbandian said of the Patriarchate. If they have one blood of Armenia, they dont do this. This story was first published on CNN.com, "In Jerusalems Armenian Quarter, a controversial land deal pits a community against its religious leaders." HA NOI T&T Group and South Korean partners on Friday at the Viet Nam-South Korea Business Forum in Ha Noi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop LNG and hydrogen projects in Viet Nam. Accordingly, T&T Group and Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) will co-operate in developing LNG gas power projects in Viet Nam, and convert coal power projects already in Power Plan VIII to LNG gas power following the Government's policy. The two sides will jointly develop projects using LNG refrigeration from LNG terminals in Viet Nam and operate LNG cold chain business nationwide. They will also engage in other business activities related to LNG (procurement, importation, transportation and supply of LNG for power generation and other industrial purposes). o Quang Hien, Chairman of the Strategy Committee of T&T Group, said that the efficient exploitation and use of domestic fossil energy sources combined with imports will contribute to realising the goal of gradually reducing the proportion of coal-fired power plants, giving priority to the development of domestic gas power and LNG gas power sources with an appropriate scale in accordance with Power Plan VIII. The cooperation with KOGAS - the exclusive natural gas wholesaler in South Korea and the world's largest LNG importer will bring T&T Group valuable resources in terms of experience, techniques and technology and finance to implement LNG projects in Viet Nam, thereby contributing to ensuring national energy security, providing enough electricity to meet socio-economic development, Hien added. Choi Yeon Hye, KOGASs General Director said the MoU in particular and the two sides energy projects would not only bring development for the two groups but also contribute to the two countries sustainable development. In 2022, a consortium including T&T Group, KOGAS, KOSPO and HANWHA (South Korea) officially started the technical component of Hai Lang LNG Power Centre Projects Phase I with a total investment of nearly VN54 trillion (US$2.3 billion) in central province of Quang Tri. The project is expected to come into commercial operation in 2026-27 period. Within the forums framework, T&T Energy - a member of T&T Group and SK E&S - an energy company of SK Group (South Korea) signed a MoU on co-operation in LNG power sector. The two sides will co-operate to develop LNG terminal and gas power plant in accordance with development orientation and legal regulations of Viet Nam. Under the agreement, SK E&S will take responsibility for seeking financial resources to for the project implementation. According to the Power Plan VIII approved in May, Viet Nam targeted to develop 22,400MW of LNG thermal power, equivalent to 14.9 per cent of the national power structure by 2030. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha will co-chair the 8th meeting of the Viet Nam-Netherlands Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management slated for June 25-27 in The Hague. Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Pham Viet Anh said the meeting is part of Has visit to the Netherlands. The diplomat said that cooperation in climate change adaptation is an important content throughout the strategic cooperation between the two countries, which is vital for Viet Nam in the process of overcoming the challenges of nature in the coming decades. During Has visit to the Netherlands, he is expected to have meetings with the countrys leaders, visit the Port of Rotterdam and the Global Centre for Climate Change Adaptation, work with the Netherlands International Investment Agency, and attend the Netherlands - Viet Nam business talks about sand mining, sea reclamation, and adaptation to climate change. He will also attend the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Viet Nam and announce the opening of a photo exhibition about Viet Nam which kicks off a series of celebration activities. Regarding bilateral cooperation in climate change adaptation, Anh said that Viet Nam and the Netherlands share similarities when it comes to the challenges of nature and change climate. Mutual understanding and common points of view on many major global issues such as climate change, sustainable development, and green transition are important factors for the two countries to increasingly tighten cooperation and mutual development, he said. The two countries have had successful and effective cooperation programmes and projects. Through two frameworks of strategic partnership cooperation on the response to climate change and water management and development of sustainable agriculture and food security, the Netherlands has helped Viet Nam to develop a sustainable development plan for the Mekong Delta which solve major issues including those relating to flood control, aquaculture production, dyke/dam network monitoring system, and regional restructuring and linkage. In addition to projects on construction and planning, the two countries also have cooperation projects on undergraduate and postgraduate education and training in the field of climate change adaptation, such as the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP). VNS HA NOI The President of the National Council of Switzerland Martin Candinas will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from June 27-30 at the invitation of National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue, according to an announcement from the Vietnamese NA Committee for External Relations. During this visit, the Swiss delegation is set to hold official meetings with Vietnamese leaders, the Minister of Industry and Trade, with Hai Phong Citys authorities, as well as visits to projects financed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), meetings with the Swiss community in Ha Noi and representatives of Swiss companies in Viet Nam. This high-ranking visit will be an outstanding opportunity to further strengthen Switzerlands partnership with Viet Nam as well as to reinforce the excellent ties between the two parliaments. During the visit, President Martin Candinas and the Swiss delegation will gain insight into the opportunities and energy of Viet Nam, collect information about the Vietnamese economic boom and on the effectiveness of Swiss development cooperation in this country in order to inform the Swiss Parliament and public, according to a notice from the Swiss Embassy in Ha Noi. Switzerland established its diplomatic relations with Viet Nam on October 11, 1971, and opened its first Embassy in 1973. Relations between Viet Nam and Switzerland have developed strongly over the past 50 years, extending beyond the political and the multilateral sphere to cover technical and economic cooperation, trade and investment, research and science, culture, tourism and people to people contacts. In addition to high-level contacts, trade and investment relations have also developed. Swiss direct investment in Viet Nam in 2022 amounted to more than VN51 trillion (ranking 21st among foreign investors and among the largest European ones in Viet Nam). More than 100 Swiss companies are active in Viet Nam. The Swiss government has pursued technical and economic cooperation with Viet Nam since 1991 and has disbursed more than CHF600 million (nearly VN15 trillion) in support of Viet Nams socio-economic development. Viet Nam is currently one of Switzerland's priority countries for economic development cooperation and will receive CHF70 million for 2021-2024 under a technical assistance programme. Starting in 2020, Switzerland and Viet Nam provide funding through a partnership with NAFOSTED to expand and strengthen Vietnamese-Swiss research cooperation; and a second one is to be launched in autumn 2023. Negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member, and Viet Nam have been under way since 2012 and are currently one of the key issues on which both countries are working. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the official delegation arrived in China on Sunday for an official visit to China and the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from June 25-28 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF Founder and Chairman Klaus Schwab. The Government leader is accompanied by many senior officials from different ministries and agencies, including Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang; Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son; Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung; Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien; Minister of Natural Resources and Environment ang Quoc Khanh; Chairman of the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises Nguyen Hoang Anh; Deputy Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang; Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu; Deputy Chief of the Office of the Party Central Committee Bui Van Thach; and Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai. This is the first official visit by PM Chinh and the first by a Vietnamese PM to China after seven years. It is also the first time key leaders of the two countries directly meet after China completed the State leadership for the new tenure. PM Chinhs trip is taking place in the context that the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries has been following a developing trend with many positive outcomes. In particular, the official visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 created a new strong impetus for bilateral ties. Viet Nam and China have enjoyed strong political trust, along with expanding economic, trade and investment partnership. Viet Nam is currently the fourth largest trade partner of China, with bilateral trade reaching US$175 billion in 2022, accounting for one fourth of China's total trade with ASEAN member countries. In a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said PM Chinh's official visit to China shows that the two parties and countries attach special importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership and their determination to develop the relationship in a more sustainable, stable and substantive manner. He noted that the visit is a very important new development step in order to concretise and implement the substantive results of the very successful visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in November 2022. Vu said that this visit would focus on finding specific measures to promote economic and trade cooperation as well as finding solutions to limitations of major infrastructure projects between the two countries. The diplomat added that this visit will also contribute to strengthening political trust and making the relationship between the two countries more stable, substantive and sustainable, contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world. At the WEF meeting, PM Chinh will call on the regional and global business community, as well as governments to strengthen cooperation, open the market for trade and investment, actively support businesses and free up resources to recover the current declining trend. The Vietnamese leader would also share the country's experiences and learn from the experiences and lessons of other member economies as well as large enterprises in taking advantage of growth drivers such as digital transformation, green transformation, energy transition and circular economy development to contribute to the realisation of rapid, sustainable, inclusive growth models, science and technology-based innovation. He will also call on the global business community to continue to pay attention to, and increase investment in, Viet Nam. The cooperation between Viet Nam and the WEF is also expanding. The WEF and Professor Klaus Schwab personally attach great importance to and highly value the role and position of Viet Nam. The two sides have cooperated in macro policy consultations, reducing plastic waste, promoting sustainable agriculture, narrowing the labour skills gap and speeding up digital transformation. Viet Nam's cooperation with the WEF through programmes and projects and participation in WEF meetings as well as hosting a number of the forum's events have helped the country attract more investment, promote the image of the nation, foster collaboration with many global enterprises and update on new trends and advanced development-governance practices. VNS HA NOI Shinhan Bank Vietnam donated 110 bicycles and gift boxes and gave away scholarships worth VN100 million (US$4,250) to underprivileged students at the SOS Children Village during its Bike Run event in Ha Noi on June 22 in the presence of the Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee. Kim was accompanying her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was on an official visit to Viet Nam from June 22-24. "These bikes will provide happy memories to students, promote their health and be partners in realising their dreams," the presidential spokesperson quoted her as telling the children. "What's important is to try and to have the courage to stand up again when you fail." The Bike Run is one of the significant annual humanitarian activities organised by Shinhan Bank to motivate and help underprivileged students pursue their education goals. Since 2015 it has donated more than 1,100 bicycles to students across the country. In addition to business activities, Shinhan Bank has consistently demonstrated its bonding commitments with Viet Nams market through significant CSR activities that also include the Tree Planning Project, Happy Meal and others. Its spending on CSR activities since 2007 has topped US$3.5 million to date. Kang Gewwon, CEO and general director of Shinhan Bank, said: 2023 is an important milestone for Shinhan Bank, marking 30 years of its presence in Viet Nam. With the mission of A better world through Finance, we have constantly strived to undertake meaningful social activities to contribute to Viet Nams socio-economic development. VNS (CNN) Within a remarkable day and a half, Russia faced the very real threat of an armed insurrection, with President Vladimir Putin vowing to punish Wagner fighters marching toward Moscow and occupying cities along the way before a sudden deal with Belarus seemed to defuse the crisis as rapidly as it emerged. But much remains uncertain, with experts warning the rare uprising isnt likely to disappear so quickly without consequences down the line. Putin must now navigate the aftermath of the most serious challenge to his authority since he came to power in 2000, following a series of dizzying events that was closely and nervously watched by the world and cheered by Ukraine. Outspoken Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is being sent to Belarus, apparently unscathed, but he may have painted a target on his own back like never before. Heres what we know. Whats the latest? Prigozhin, the bombastic head of the Wagner group, agreed to leave Russia for neighboring Belarus on Saturday, in a deal apparently brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The deal includes Prigozhin pulling back his troops from their march toward the capital, said a Kremlin spokesperson on Saturday. The criminal charges against him will be dropped, said the spokesperson. Wagner fighters will face no legal action for their part in the insurrection, and will instead sign contracts with Russias Ministry of Defense a move Prigozhin had previously rejected as an attempt to bring his paramilitary force in line. Wagner troops previously claimed they had seized key military facilities in two Russian cities; by Saturday, videos authenticated and geolocated by CNN showed Prigozhin and his forces withdrawing from one of those cities, Rostov-on-Don. Its not clear where Prigozhin is now. The Kremlin is unaware of his whereabouts, the spokesperson said Saturday. How did this happen? The crisis in Russia erupted Friday when Prigozhin accused Russias military of attacking a Wagner camp and killing his men and vowed to retaliate by force. Prigozhin then led his troops into Rostov-on-Don and claimed to have taken control of key military facilities in the Voronezh region, where there was an apparent clash between Wagner units and Russian forces. Prigozhin claimed it wasnt a coup but a march of justice. But that did little to appease Moscow, with a top security official calling Prigozhins actions a staged coup detat, according to Russian state media. Russias Defense Ministry denied attacking Wagners troops, and Russias internal security force opened a criminal case against Prigozhin. Then came a remarkable national address from Putin. In a speech that was broadcast across Russia on Saturday morning local time, a visibly furious Putin vowed to punish those on a path to treason. Wagners betrayal was a stab in the back of our country and our people, he said, likening the groups actions to the 1917 Russian Revolution that toppled Tsar Nicholas II in the midst of WWI. Things were tense on the ground, with civilians in Voronezh told to stay home. Meanwhile, Moscow stepped up its security measures across the capital, declaring Monday a non-workday. Photos show Russian forces in body armor and wielding automatic weapons near a highway outside Moscow. All signs pointed to an impending armed confrontation in the capital as rumors and uncertainty swirled. Then almost as suddenly as it began, the short-lived mutiny fizzled out with the Belarus deal seeming putting out the fire at least for now. Whats next for Prigozhin and Wagner? Much remains unclear, such as what will happen to Prigozhins role within Wagner and the Ukraine war, and whether all his fighters will be contracted to Russias military. The Kremlin spokesperson said on Saturday he cannot answer what position Prigozhin will take in Belarus. Prigozhin himself has provided little detail about his agreement to halt the advance on Moscow. The Wagner group is an independent fighting company with different conditions than the Russian military, said retired US Army Maj. Mike Lyons on Saturday. For instance, Wagner fighters are better fed than the military meaning a full assimilation would be difficult. Maybe some will splinter off, he added. Those people are loyal to the man, Prigozhin, not to the country, not to the mission. I think weve got a lot more questions that are not answered right now. The danger isnt over for the Wagner boss, either, experts say. Putin doesnt forgive traitors. Even if Putin says, Prigozhin, you go to Belarus, he is still a traitor and I think Putin will never forgive that, said Jill Dougherty, CNNs former Moscow bureau chief and a longstanding expert on Russian affairs. Its possible we could see Prigozhin get killed in Belarus, she added but its a tough dilemma for Moscow because as long as Prigozhin has some type of support, he is a threat, regardless of where he is. What does this mean for Putin? Putin now faces real problems, too. Multiple experts told CNN that while the Russian president survived the stand-off, he now looks weak not only to the world and his enemies, but to his own people and military. That could pose a risk if there are skeptics or rivals within Moscow who see an opportunity to undermine Putins position. If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave, said Dougherty. One video, geolocated and verified by CNN, showed crowds cheering as Prigozhins vehicle departed Rostov-on-Don. The vehicle stopped when one individual approached and shook Prigozhins hand. Why are average Russians on the street cheering people who just tried to carry out a coup? Dougherty said. That means that maybe they support them or they like them. Whatever it is, its really bad news for Putin. Who is Prigozhin? Why would he do this? Prigozhin has known Putin since the 1990s, and was nicknamed Putins chef after winning lucrative catering contracts with the Kremlin. But Russian-backed separatist movements in Ukraine in 2014 set the foundation for Prigozhins transformation into a warlord. Prigozhin founded Wagner to be a shadowy mercenary outfit that fought both in eastern Ukraine and, increasingly, for Russian-backed causes around the world. Wagner was thrust into the spotlight during the Ukraine war, with the fighters appearing to win tangible progress where regular Russian troops failed. However, its brutal tactics are believed to have caused high numbers of casualties. As the war dragged on, Prigozhin and Russias military leadership have engaged in a public feud, with the Wagner boss accusing the military of not giving his forces ammunition and bemoaning the lack of battlefield successes by regular military units. He was repeatedly critical of their handling of the conflict, casting himself as ruthless and competent in comparison. Prigozhin was always careful to direct his blame towards Russias military leadership, not Putin, and had defended the reasoning for the war in Ukraine. That was, until Friday as the insurrection kicked off. In a remarkable statement, Prigozhin said Moscow invaded Ukraine under false pretenses devised by the Russian Ministry of Defense, and that Russia was actually losing ground on the battlefield. Steve Hall, a former CIA chief of Russia operations, said even seasoned Russia watchers were taken aback by recent events. Everybody is scratching their heads, he told CNN. The only sense I can make from a day like today, you have two guys who found themselves in untenable situations and had to find their way out. Hall said Prigozhin may have felt he had bitten off more than he could chew as his column of troops marched towards Moscow. But at the same time Putin faced the very real prospect of having to defeat some 25,000 Wagner mercenaries. Sending Prigozhin to Belarus was a face saving move for both sides. But Hall said Putin comes out ultimately worse off and weakened. Putin should have seen it coming literally months ago. Well see how it ends up. I dont think the story is over yet, Hall said. This story was first published on CNN.com. "Moscow has stepped back from civil war with Wagner. But the dangers not over, experts warn" HA NOI Work on ring road No 4 connecting Ha Noi and two provinces of Hung Yen and Bac Ninh started on Sunday, at a ceremony with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of the government and local authorities. The ring road will stretch 112 km with total investment of VN85 trillion (US$3.62 billion), connecting three localities in the northern region. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday in Hoai uc District in Ha Noi, PM Chinh highlighted that investment in infrastructure has been identified as one of the three strategic pillars of socio-economic development. Noting that this is a crucial task, PM Chinh said the National Assembly approved a target to have at least 5,000 km of highway by 2030 and the figure is 3,000km by 2025. The launch of ring road No 4, along with other projects in progress, will help us achieve the 2025 goal if they are implemented on schedule, he said. Though ring road No 4 was approved just a year ago, Ha Noi, Bac Ninh and Hung Yen have cleared about 80 per cent of land needed for the project, which is a great effort, he said. The PM requested relevant authorities to carry out site clearance and relocation to ensure the handover of 100 per cent of the ground area in the third quarter of 2023 or no later than December 31 this year. Localities must pay special attention to resettlement, and support for affected households to stabilise their lives and production activities so that people have new places, new jobs and new livelihoods that are at least equal to or better than the old ones. This is a consistent stance of the Party (on this issue), he said. PM Chinh also expressed his hope that people who have their land recovered for the project would continue to support the master plan of the Party and the State as well as create conditions for localities and investors and contractors to implement the project effectively, safely, and with a high quality. He also requested project consultants to uphold their responsibility and conduct regular checks and monitoring to ensure the safety, quality and progress of the project. The leader also highlighted that transport infrastructure development is the first and foremost political task of all localities, ministries and agencies to serve the practical interest of the localities and the entire country. He noted two crucial elements to ensure the success of a project which are sufficient resources and a qualified construction site. He also stressed requirements that need to be adhered to include ensuring quality; ensuring progress, safety, environment and beauty; avoiding overuse of capital; preventing corruption and group interest at all stages. It is also important to ensure harmony of interests of the government, people and businesses as well as handle all violations and inefficiencies when they arise, he said. At the same event, PM Chinh and delegates also attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the Cao Lanh-An Huu highway that connects the two southern provinces of ong Thap and Tien Giang. The highway covers more than 27 km with investment of nearly VN6 trillion. VNS Tuong Van HA NOI - A female fashion designer with a passion for her art is running a modern embroidery workshop to connect with people and add variety to what was a monotonous life. Nguyen Kim Chi, 37 is the class organiser and teacher. As a fashion designer specialising in tailoring, her interests are sewing, drawing, and colour matching. The Cuc Chi class is held in 25B Han Thuyen Alley in Ha Noi to introduce the embroidery craft. Since its inception in 2019, it has attracted many learners from a wide range of backgrounds. "My life's rhythm became repetitive after running a tailor shop for six years, making me feel bored. In 2017, I enrolled in a basic embroidery class to have a bit of fun, but soon discovered that I absolutely love it. I spent nearly two years on my own researching, learning, and practising various stitching methods," Chi said. "In 2019, when I became acquainted with stitching, I decided to share this experience with everyone. It was my desire to open the workshop to entertain people. Because at the time, there were very few workshops in Ha Noi." Unlike traditional Vietnamese embroidery, which is learnt privately and takes many years to perfect, this style of embroidery just takes a few days to acquire the basic techniques. "Traditional embroidery appears to contain few repeating patterns. Meanwhile, there are various forms of modern embroidery that I greatly enjoy because of its richness," Chi said. Attending an embroidery course can also help learners relax after a long and stressful day at work. "When you embroider, your mind will be brought to an empty state, like you are meditating," said Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi, an assistant teacher. "You only need to focus on the needle and thread. Embroidery was something that anyone could do," she said. "Before I began practising embroidery, I assumed that it was an activity reserved for a select group of gifted individuals. This activity, however, is open to individuals of all ages and genders." The activity is held monthly in the city, with the goal of providing participants more frequent opportunities for interaction and sharing. Since the group is small, the quality of embroidery in the course is ensured, and everyone feels at ease connecting. Nguyen An, a 34-year-old office worker in the course, said: "Actually, I used to teach myself to embroider. I signed up for this class because I wanted the teacher to provide suggestions that I would not have known if I had studied online. I gained many new methods after taking this course." The Cuc Chi class has a lesson plan that includes fundamental and widely applicable embroidery patterns. The class consulted a number of close students after a few years of organising sessions. As a result, the stitching activities have become more novel, and students learn what is most practical. The class has also taught various forms of embroidery, including mask embroidery, bag embroidery, scarf embroidery, and hair tie embroidery. "For a newbie like me, these embroidery tutorials are challenging. Ms Chi, on the other hand, has a good method of communicating that I find easy to comprehend, so I'm not having too much trouble. I will go to embroidery lessons whenever there are any available," Thanh Huyen, a university lecturer and participant, said. Chi is delighted with the success of the class and hopes it will find an ever wider group of participants. "The form of organising embroidery classes has gained popularity around the world, particularly in South Korea and Japan. Most of those classes have a somewhat high participation fee and are primarily for locals. So, I have a dream that I will go to many countries across the world to organise embroidery classes for the overseas Vietnamese community." In addition to Ha Noi, the Cuc Chi class has held embroidery activities in other localities, such as Hai Phong, a Nang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, An Giang, and Can Tho. The class is also planning to establish workshops for foreigners in Ha Noi in the near future. VNS By inh Thuan Serving as the cultural centre of the capital Ha Noi, it's not too much of a stretch to say that the city's Old Quarter serves as the spiritual heartbeat of the nation itself. With the thrum of traders and its faded French colonial buildings, the area is a piece of living history, and it goes without saying that local authorities want to do everything to preserve its distinct and storied heritage. The Peoples Committee (or Administration) of Hoan Kiem District has exerted efforts and taken numerous measures to conserve and highlight the unique historical, religious and architectural heritage of the Old Quarter, contributing to developing its tourism and culture industries. The Old Quarter, spanning 82 hectares including all 10 wards of Hoan Kiem, is a treasure trove of history, architecture and culture in general. It is known for its ancient cultural heritage, associated with the formation and development of the royal capital city of Thang Long, now Ha Noi, as well as a range of handicraft and trade activities making up guilds featuring the peculiarities of the capitals residents. Hang Bac Street is renowned for its silver jewellery that was introduced by migrant craftspeople from Chau Khe and ong Xam in Hai Duong and Thai Binh Province respectively, whereas Hang Thiec Street is famed for its metal-work, and Lan Ong Street for its traditional medicine. The Old Quarter extends itself over 79 streets and is bordered by Hang au Street in the north, Phung Hung Street in the west, Tran Quang Khai and Tran Nhat Duat streets in the east, and Hang Bong, Hang Gai, Cau Go and Hang Thung in the south. As many as 121 temples, pagodas and shrines can be found in the quarter, along with hundreds of historic sites, including more than 200 of special heritage value, like the ancient house at 87 Ma May Street, the ong Lac Communal House and Bach Ma Temple. Intangible cultural values In addition, Ha Noi's Old Quarter contains a diverse range of intangible cultural values, from the daily life of its residents to its culinary culture, folk arts, and traditional festivals. Based on these values, it was recognised as a National Historical Site in 2004. The Old Quarter, encompassing the French Quarter, is characterised by many impressive and stunning French-style mansions and villas, located along the shady tree-lined streets that were laid out in an order similar to a chessboard. French city planners in the early 20th century combined Western architecture with local climatic conditions to create a unique urban space, giving Ha Noi a distinct character like no other city in Southeast Asia. This blend of architectural styles has created a one-of-a-kind urban environment that is truly unique to the capital. According to Prof Ho Si Quy, former director of the Institute of Social Sciences Information at the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences, Ha Noi was greatly influenced by and adopted French culture and civilisation for over half a century, which has shaped its current urban identity. However, over time, the architecture of the city has blended harmoniously between the 'classical, grandiose' features of Europe and the historical values that have been preserved by the city's native people and culture. The cultural and social values of the Old Quarter have become a resource for Ha Noi in general, and Hoan Kiem in particular, to effectively develop tourism. However, the development requirements of a modern city pose significant challenges to those values. Hoan Kiems authorities have paid special attention to restoring and embellishing 22 monuments and 24 ancient houses. The urban technical infrastructure system has also been upgraded. The implementation of a project to restore festivals in the Old Quarter shows Hoan Kiem's efforts in conserving intangible cultural heritage. The district has restored 14 festivals, including seven district-level and seven ward-level festivals. Renovating architectural relics The role of residents in protecting cultural heritage has been encouraged, while a cooperation mechanism between the community, businesses, and the local authorities in managing, conserving, and enhancing cultural heritage value has been set up. Tran Thuy Lan, deputy head of the management board of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, said her agency regularly organised cultural and art programmes and other activities at heritage sites in the district, focusing on introducing the lifestyle of Hanoians, restoring the Jewellery Festival, arranging traditional music performances, and introducing traditional craft villages and craft streets. "These programmes all have seen the active engagement of the community, contributing to the work in a sustainable and long-term way," she said. Resources have been focused on renovating structures left over from the French colonial period, such as the Hoan Kiem District police headquarters on Trang Thi Street, the Cua ong ward police headquarters on Nguyen Quang Bich Street, and the Trung Vuong Secondary School on Hang Bai Street. Conservation projects have given a facelift to architectural works in the Old Quarter, thereby introducing and promoting the heritage value of Ha Noi to the people. Currently, Hoan Kiem District is investing in renovating the architecture and landscape of Trang Tien Street and giving finishing touches to a project to restore a villa at 49 Tran Hung ao Street. "The authorities and people of the city and Hoan Kiem District in particular attach great importance to and are determined to conserve and enhance the cultural heritage values of the Old Quarter, considering this as a key task and responsibility of both the authorities and the community," Pham Tuan Long, chairman of the Peoples Committee of Hoan Kiem District, said. "Conserving and restoring the cultural heritage values of the Old Quarter through specific programmes and plans have helped promote the socio-economic development in the capital, and attracted more visitors," Long added. VNS By Alex Reeves @afreeves23 Five years since his passing, today, his birthday, Anthony Bourdain is remembered by fans, friends, and family across the world. Vietnam: It grabs you and doesnt let you go. Once you love it, you love it forever. Ive been coming here since 2000. The first time Id been in this part of the world, and its held a special place in my heart and my imagination since. I keep coming back; I have to. Anthony Bourdain Where do we even start? Would I be here writing this if it wasnt for the subject at the heart and mind of anyone who reads or clicks this with purpose? Or would I be doing something else entirely? Im surely not the only one who has had some change in direction that can be traced back to the man. I mean, look, I could write a whole piece bemoaning the passing of the modern Kerouac; someone who translated the experience of travel and the highs and lows it brings to the masses in a way that hasnt been shared so authentically since. I could spend the next 800 words or so of whatever Im allowed today lamenting the tragedy, wallowing in the collective (as I know many still are), but today is Bourdain Day. Its his birthday for goodness sake. Its been five years, Tony. Where have you been? Where has the time gone? I like many here first visited Viet Nam partially due to your work, but was driven to make it work because of the depth of your words. While the fans who were motivated to move, write, travel, or even just imagine more from their world owe a debt to the profound nature of his work, he felt he owed a debt of his own to the country that we share; the place where (for him at least) it all changed: Viet Nam. From the very first minute that I came to this country, I knew my life had changed. My old life was suddenly never gonna be good enough. I needed a new one, where I could keep coming back here. This is a feeling all too familiar to many of us who now call Viet Nam our home. In total, Bourdain filmed eight episodes in Viet Nam across his culturally and critically acclaimed time on our screens, making it the country he covered most prolifically. And as we can see and feel from the intensity and endearment of his words, this was no coincidence. However, things could have been very different. After shooting the debut episode of his first series of A Cooks Tour in Japan, he was all but ready to throw in the towel. Unable to develop a free and natural rapport with the natives, the shoot went badly, and Tonys awkwardness on camera in more formal scenes had the production team with one hand on the plug. Phillipe Lajaunie, friend and former owner of the famed and now-closed New York brasserie Les Halles where Bourdain was executive chef was brought in for episode two. Les Halles is the site which so many will visit to pay their respects today. A combination of Phillipe and Tonys on-screen banter and the easygoing smiles of the Vietnamese people disarmed him, and kickstarted the 16-year television career which reached the eyes of so many, in a way that perhaps his books never could. Monsieur Lajaunie now a resident of Ha Noi made the decision to move here almost immediately upon hearing the fateful news five years ago. In the most bittersweet of coincidences, he was in Ho Chi Minh City at the time. He has since revealed this was always his intention, such was the impact that the country had had on both men. Viet Nam was always the place, said Lajaunie. Tony and I had this little dream: that when things quietened down, it would be extraordinary to move over for a few years. We experienced happiness and joyfulness here. In Roadrunner the recent documentary about Bourdains life Lajaunie went on to say, We had a common desire to spend time in Viet Nam, maybe forever. That was our secret bond. Eric Ripert, his best friend, fellow chef, and partner-in-crime for many episodes, along with fellow culinary compadre Jose Andres, pursued the idea of marking today as one of remembrance, rather than one of sadness. This is a decision I choose to respect, despite the temptation of an annual return to whats already been said and done. Tony, Anthony, Mr Bourdain, Chef, or whatever else you wish to call him, doesnt care any more; hes gone. But with almost all the best material he created both literary and visual he leaves us with a choice: Multiple lenses through which to view the many aspects of life. His passing is no exception. Death leaves us with many questions. The one that his fans (of which there are many) must contend with is whether to celebrate the life he lived and the influence he had through eyes open to the world around us, or to let the overpowering sadness of loss and the nature of how it occurred dominate our memory. I choose the former. The finality of his decision leaves us with an inevitably limited span of work. As frustrating as that might be, he was prolific; his body of work is vast and will always be worthy of revisiting more so, perhaps, than many of his literary heroes who inspired him. In the same way that Jack Kerouac inspired thousands of road trips across the United States, Bourdain sent people across the world to places of which they would never have otherwise dreamed. He brought the perspectives of The Other to our screens and pages, and into our homes. In a world of growing nationalism, isolationism, and conflict, his work is now more important than ever. From the man who took a US President to dinner on Vietnamese soil, and who protested for peace between the two nations during his own youth seemingly symbolising a new, modern era of peace and cooperation I leave you this: I love Viet Nam. Maybe its a pheromonic thing. Like when you meet the love of your life for the first time, and she just, somehow, inexplicably smells and feels right. You sense that given the opportunity, this is the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with. VNS The Anan Saigon, a restaurant that turns street food flavours into contemporary creations, was awarded a prestigious Michelin star, becoming the first and only Michelin Star restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. The restaurant -- with the combining name of two Vietnamese words "an an", meaning "eat eat" -- is run by its founder, Vietnamese-American chef Peter Cuong Franklin, who decided to leave a successful career in banking to follow his love and passion for food. Chef Cuong talks with Thuy Hang about his decision to come back to Viet Nam as well as his aspirations to create a new style of Vietnamese cuisine, which, in his words is 'Cuisine Moi' or 'New Cuisine'. Inner Sanctum: What inspired you to become a chef? I was born and raised in a Lat but most of my adult working life has been outside of Viet Nam. Now I feel like Sai Gon [former name of HCM City] has called me back to the motherland. After a successful career in banking in New York and London and running a couple of restaurants in Hong Kong, I think its the right time to return to do something interesting in Sai Gon. At Anan Saigon, we ask the simple question: what is Vietnamese cooking? In the process, I think that we are getting people more excited and causing more chatter about the local food scene especially the idea of a more modern Vietnamese cuisine. Hailing from a Lat, I was surrounded by food since my mom ran a small noodle shop in the living room of our house. My mother is the inspiration for my cooking because she was one of the best cooks in the village. She cooks just a few dishes but she's famous for her mi Quang, cha lua and nem nuong. After a successful career in banking, I decided to follow my love and passion for food. You can say that food is in my blood since my mother is a chef and I grew up with food all of my life. Inner Sanctum: Can you share with me the origins of Anan Saigon and the story behind it? I received formal training in French cooking at the Le Cordon Bleu and was fortunate to have the opportunity to train at some of the best restaurants around the world. At first, many people thought I was crazy to open a modern Vietnamese restaurant in Viet Nam since the local food is already so good. They said itd be like selling ice to Eskimos. I established my career as a chef and operated two successful restaurants in Hong Kong before returning to Viet Nam. Hong Kong is a very competitive environment and one of the great food cities in the world so it was a perfect place to begin a culinary career. In 2017, it was at a point in my life when I was ready for a change and you could say that mother Viet Nam called me home and I am very happy that she did. I faced one of the biggest challenges of my life six years ago when I returned to HCM City to open a modern Vietnamese restaurant in the middle of a wet market. We had to overcome many difficulties and challenges. Sometimes when you want to achieve great things you have to be prepared for great difficulties and to fail spectacularly. Inner Sanctum: What is your process for developing a menu? Aside from some special new dishes, we review the menu every three months. In consideration for a new menu, we look at the quality of the ingredients and the best techniques to apply with the goal of creating the most delicious dishes we can. In creating modern Vietnamese cuisine, I want the food to retain the heart and soul of its origins and reflect traditional flavours and the Vietnamese way of eating. These are the principles that I follow to create delicious dishes for our guests. The banh xeo taco is probably the most challenging addition to the menu and is close to my heart since this was one of the first dishes that we created six years ago when the restaurant first opened. It's a unique, creative and contemporary interpretation of Vietnamese street food. The banh xeo taco was inspired by the popular rice pancake street food dish from Hue. We took the banh xeo rice pancake and recreated it in the form of a crispy Mexican-style taco. The dish looks like a Mexican taco but tastes like a Vietnamese banh xeo. I think we managed to create a new and fun dish that elevates the humble street food dish to a gourmet level using quality ingredients and modern cooking techniques while retaining its spirit and flavour. Inner Sanctum: How do your Vietnamese roots influence your culinary creations? I was born in Viet Nam and am happy to call it my home once again. I love the vibrancy of HCM City and I think Viet Nam has a great future. I am Vietnamese so I want to create dishes that reflect the taste, heart and soul of Vietnamese cuisine. I would like our food to move from traditional to modern and for people around the world to recognise that Viet Nam not only has great street food but also fine dining as well. Similar to other cities in Asia such as Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong, I think that Vietnamese street food can coexist with fine dining experiences. The two are not mutually exclusive but can be complimentary. As a developing and modernising country, I think Viet Nam can offer a full range of culinary experiences. Inner Sanctum: What do you want your guests to experience when they dine at Anan? I have lived and worked all over the world and so there are certain global foods that are very familiar and accessible for everyone such as the taco and the pizza. I would like to make Vietnamese food more accessible and global by taking a classic dish such as the banh xeo using the Mexican taco form and turning the a Lat banh trang nuong into a modern Italian-style pizza. At Anan, we take the quality of our food seriously but we also like a bit of fun. Its a fun experience to eat a taco or a pizza with your hands. I think that we seeing new styles of cuisine emerging in parts of Europe and the Americas. For example, world-renowned chef Enrique Olvera is creating a new style of Mexican cuisine with his Cosme Restaurant in New York and also Pujol restaurant in Mexico City. A new and modern Viet Nam is emerging. I hope that Anan Saigon can be a small part of the movement. I would like our guests to experience a new Vietnamese cuisine for a new Viet Nam. Inner Sanctum: In 2021, Anan was ranked 39th best restaurant in Asia by the website theworlds50best.com. At that point, were you dreaming of a Michelin star? Our mission since we opened Anan Saigon six years ago has been to elevate Vietnamese cuisine and I am delighted to accept this recognition for 'Cuisine Moi, our modern Vietnamese style of cooking and also recognition for our growing gastronomic scene here in Viet Nam. On behalf of the Anan Saigon team, I am very proud and honoured that Anan Saigon was recognised as the only restaurant in Viet Nam on Asias 50 Best Restaurants, and now the first and only Michelin Star restaurant in HCM City. The Michelin star is something that I didn't even dare to dream about. Now that we have achieved it I still cant believe it happened. Inner Sanctum: Does the Michelin star put pressure on you moving forward? I am hugely appreciative of all of our loyal guests who have believed in us and supported us because without you we would not be where we are today. We will continue to work hard to push for culinary excellence, to innovate and create the best possible dishes using the finest quality products to retain our customers' support and loyalty. We will continue our mission to elevate Vietnamese cuisine, create unique fine dining experiences for our guests and be a great champion of Vietnamese hospitality. Inner Sanctum: Is there something new in the food world you are looking to explore or learn about? As a chef, I have tried to learn as much as possible from the best Michelin star restaurants to simple street food stalls. The ladies who cook in the wet markets and street stalls all over Viet Nam are great source of knowledge and inspiration for me. I would like to explore more about Vietnamese noodle soups and plan to open Pot Au Pho noodle bar in August to showcase Viet Nams most iconic national dish. Pot Au Pho by Anan is a modern pho restaurant with French and Japanese influences that offers a menu of sophisticated pho and a fresh take on banh mi and spring rolls. An intimate space with 18 ring-side seats and an open kitchen where guests can watch the cooks in action. VNS What are the major development goals of the province towards its master planning until 2030, with a vision until 2050? Vu Dai Thang, member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of Quang Binh Party Committee Quang Binhs master planning for the rest of this decade has oriented the provincial development in line with the countrys socioeconomic development strategies, attuned to development orientations set in national and regional planning schemes, and seeks to best avail of local advantages. The master planning will help Quang Binh make the most of its available advantages and effectively mobilise external resources gearing towards green and sustainable growth. By 2030, Quang Binh is set to become a fairly developed locality in the central region, with a regional GDP growing an average from 8.4-8.8 per cent annually. By 2050, it aims to be a dynamic economy of the central region and the whole country. Which priority areas should Quang Binh focus on to bolster growth? When setting goals, we have consulted many leading industry experts to cover all available potential, thereby orienting the development scenario for Quang Binh in the long haul, while ensuring breakthroughs and sustainable development. On that basis, it has identified four development priorities in this period. First is developing tourism infrastructure so that this field is truly a key economic sector. Industrial development is also key, stimulating investment into power production, renewable energy, processing and manufacturing. We want to develop high-tech agriculture, considering this a pedestal for the economy, and effectively and sustainably develop the marine economy. In addition, the province has identified two growth driving centres, including the Phong Nha-Ke Bang national tourist area and Hon La Economic Zone (EZ). Accordingly, the goal is turning Phong Nha-Ke Bang into a high-class tourism hub in Southeast Asia and Hon La EZ as a driving economic zone contributing to growth. In light of the master planning, Quang Binh also identifies three urban centres: Dong Hoi city and its vicinity as the nucleus for associated gateway urban areas; the northern urban centre with Ba Don town associated with Quang Trach district as well as Hon La and Tien Hoa EZs; and the southern urban centre with Kien Giang town as the nucleus alongside Le Ninh and Ang Son satellite urban areas. In particular, we have identified three economic corridors: the delta coastal economic corridor along the National Highway No.1A; the East-West economic corridor along the National Highway No.12 connecting Cha Lo international border crossing-Ba Don town-Hon La Port; and the midland and mountainous economic corridor associated with the Ho Chi Minh Highway and North-South Expressway networks eastern part. The development priorities are associated with Quang Binhs advantages. To realise the strategy, what breakthroughs does it need? First of all, it is necessary to focus on developing modern and synchronous infrastructure. To achieve this, Quang Binh needs to mobilise resources to invest in key projects such as a seamless transport system, tourism infrastructure, industrial parks, and economic zone infrastructure. At the same time, it shall innovate and perfect institutions, mechanisms, and policies to ensure the mobilisation and promotion of resources, remove barriers, and enhance the enabling role of local state management agencies; putting people and businesses at the centre in implementing administrative reform; improving the local business and investment environment; and enhancing competitiveness and digital transformation capacity to engage domestic and foreign investors. In particular, Quang Binh focuses on developing human resources, especially those with high professional and technical qualifications, to meet the needs of new industries and the high-value tourism. The locality will focus on fostering and promoting talent, and renovating recruitment, use, and respect of talent in management, state administration, sci-tech, and innovation. The master planning of the province is considered a strategic orientation, envisioning its socioeconomic development. To realise this plan, does Quang Binh need any more factors? The master planning approved has basically covered all the objectives and development orientations. However, for the province to develop more comprehensively and optimise the set goals, it is necessary to take into account its development space, including the marine space associated with the whole country. Quang Binh has a special EZ with 20,000 square kilometre sea space, while the inland space is only 8,000sq.km. The planning of the province separates the sea space, based only on the inland space, so it does not cover all the development advantages. In addition, Quang Binh has a 200km border with Laos, so it is possible to expand the economic space to the west. This is an area with vast land, which can develop diverse industries such as energy, rubber, and coffee. The province belongs to a dynamic industrial development area encompassing Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh. This area has many dynamic factories such as Nghi Son Refinery and Formosa Vung Ang Complex. Especially, Hon La EZ is adjacent to Vung Ang EZ in Ha Tinh province, creating a very convenient economic development space with the mutual support between the two EZs. For instance, it is only 70km from Dong Hoi Airport to Vung Ang EZ, compared to more than 150km from Vinh Airport. This is one of the strong advantages in terms of local transport infrastructure. This years investment promotion conference took place in Hanoi. What message does the province give to domestic and foreign investors this time around? In 2021, we held the conference in Dong Hoi and last year we chose Ho Chi Minh City. This year, we chose Hanoi to bring exposure to the provinces master planning and investment promotion plan. Hanoi is both an economic centre an administrative centre with vibrant investment and business activities of large state and private corporations, and especially the financial and banking system. To realise the master planning, Quang Binh needs great resources to create breakthroughs and promote development, in which financial resources are crucial. This financial resource should be realised leveraging the public-private partnership model, where the role of banking is essential. The message of the Hanoi conference is to bring the province closer to investors. With this message, we want Quang Binh to get closer to economic groups, financial institutions, banks, and the business community not only in Hanoi but also in the country and abroad. The conference also helps bridge us with international organisations, foreign embassies, and more. Through the conference, we want to create a very close investment environment between Quang Binh and investors, creating a fundamental and comprehensive change in approach and behaviour in investment attraction. We expect that, with this endeavour, the province can attract quality investors who are enthusiastic about local development. In previous conferences, Quang Binh has made 10 commitments to investors, and we still maintain these commitments. In the upcoming time, we will making radical changes across the board, from districts and towns to departmental levels, with the goal of making it easier for investors, especially at the enforcement level. We believe that investors will not be disappointed when selecting Quang Binh as a destination. Quang Binh announces planning and investment promotion conference in Hanoi On June 25 in Hanoi, Quang Binh People's Committee will be hosting a conference to bring exposure to the provincial planning scheme for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, as well as its investment promotion plans. Quang Binh develops manufacturing into a key sector Quang Binh will focus investment resources on infrastructure and enhancing investment attraction to turn manufacturing into a driving force in the central province. Quang Binh to license $1.42 billion to investors Quang Binh will award investment cooperation agreements to 18 projects with a total investment value reaching $1.42 billion at an upcoming conference to announce the central provinces investment master plan, to take place in Hanoi on June 25. Experts share insights on technology-driven financial reporting at FPT Smart Cloud's event in Ho Chi Minh City Attended by more than 100 CFOs and chief accountants representing 60 diverse multi-sector businesses, the seminar delved into the intersection of technology and financial reporting. In the age of digital transformation, data emerges as a pivotal asset for businesses. Effectively understanding and harnessing data empowers leaders to make swift, informed decisions, gain a competitive edge, streamline operational processes, and drive tangible value for their organisations. To maximise the efficiency of an enterprise's data utilisation, it is crucial to assess the current data landscape across six critical levels. Simultaneously, an evaluation of data analytics practices and the strategic roadmap for unlocking the full potential of data should be undertaken. At the conference, Pham Duy Hoang Nam, CFO of FPT Retail, highlighted the transformation within its reporting team, where a single person could now handle tasks that previously required a team of three individuals. The automation provided by cloud-based systems not only saved time, but also reduced the risk of errors. Nguyen The Phuong, CFO of FPT Corporation said, "FPT has been actively developing an array of data-related products and tools that facilitate enterprise operations and management. Among them, FPT CFS stands out - an encompassing solution designed to streamline consolidated financial reporting." In the context of real-world business operations, especially for large-scale, multi-industry companies with complex subsidiary structures and intricate capital ownership arrangements, the process of consolidating financial reports becomes inherently arduous, time-consuming, and resource-intensive. Countless enterprises grapple with significant time constraints when completing financial reporting, owing to fragmented accounting systems, transaction reconciliation challenges, ambiguous consolidation procedures, and a perpetually evolving reporting landscape, said Phuong. The production of accurate and real-time data lies at the crux of sound consolidated financial reporting, ensuring transparency and adherence to financial reporting standards. FPT Smart Cloud unveiled FPT CFS - a state-of-the-art software solution designed to revolutionise consolidated financial reporting and accounting closing procedures. FPT CFS aims to standardise and automate the preparation of individual as well as consolidated financial reports. Through FPT CFS, businesses gain access to consolidated financial data from disparate sources and entities. The solution facilitates complex accounting tasks, including multi-tiered consolidation, internal transaction reconciliation, and intercompany investment elimination. Moreover, FPT CFS calculates and records controlled and non-controlled shareholders' equity, defers and allocates unrealised internal profits, and offers comprehensive financial reports presented in user-friendly formats. "In today's dynamic business landscape, FPT CFS offers a seamless integration with various accounting software and multiple cloud platforms, including Misa and Oracle," said Le Hong Viet, CEO of FPT Smart Cloud. "This integrated approach empowers businesses to automate their financial processes effectively, ensuring a smooth data flow and facilitating consolidated reporting. By leveraging these integrated functionalities, Vietnamese companies can achieve heightened operational efficiency, improved accuracy, and informed decision-making in their financial operations." Since its inception in 2019, FPT CFS has witnessed widespread implementation throughout FPT Corporation, encompassing over 350 accounting ledgers and 45 consolidated ledgers across six hierarchical levels, representing diverse industries and sectors. Cloud technology thriving in Vietnam Cloud computing is changing the way businesses perform in Vietnam, and proving increasingly important for future growth. Werner Vogels, CTO at Amazon, spoke with VIRs Bich Thuy about how future tech trends will impact digital transformation in the country. FPT Smart Cloud sets its sights on Indonesia: unleashing AI innovation to transform financial market Armed with a rich portfolio of AI-driven solutions and backed by an illustrious track record, FPT Smart Cloud aims to empower businesses, optimise operations, and foster sustainable growth across various sectors, particularly the banking, finance and insurance industries in Indonesia the largest economy in the Southeast Asia. In light of Quang Binhs master planning for the decade and beyond, approved in April, Hon La Economic Zone (EZ) is to play a crucial role in the development of the province as it is set as the growth driver alongside Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Located in the northeast of Quang Trach district, Hon La EZ has a total area of 10,000 hectares, of which the mainland spans 8,900ha and the rest is water surface. Established in 2008, Hon La EZ is envisioned to become a general zone with key industries as power production, shipbuilding, cement, and glass production along with other supporting industries. In addition, the EZ also focuses on developing tourism and urban areas, particularly logistics services associated with Hon La Port. Experts believe that Hon La EZ has many advantages for economic development when converging the North-South and East-West trunk roads with rail, waterway, roadway, and air routes. It also provides the gateway to the sea and the shortest path to Thailands northeastern provinces. In particular, possessing Hon La Port and relatively abundant land located in the common development space with Vung Ang EZ in the nearby province of Ha Tinh, Hon La EZ has rosy prospects for investment attraction in supporting industries development and manufacturing, especially in the energy sector. According to Quang Binh Economic Zones Management Board, Hon La EZ has attracted 68 projects with registered capital approximating $4.65 billion. Some eminent projects are Quang Trach Power Centre (including Quang Trach I and II projects), Hon La Port, DKC Hon La petroleum depot, and Vung Chua-Yen Island Sun Spa resort, among others. The growth engine At Hon La EZ, Quang Binh is focused on developing power production and distribution by ensuring the progress of projects such as the Quang Trach I thermal power plant, which put its turbine group 1 into operation earlier this year. Turbine group 2 is slated to come on stream in 2024. The Quang Trach II thermal power plants turbine group 1 is slated to start operation in 2027 and group 2 in 2028, while other renewable energy projects will be established in accordance to the nations power plan. During a visit and working session at Hon La EZ in April, Chairman of the Central Economic Commission (CEC) Tran Tuan Anh praised Hon La EZ for having great potential for the development of clean energy, especially regarding offshore wind power. Tuan Anh suggested Quang Binhs management authorities create more favourable advantages for potential investors to come for survey. At the same time, the province needs to submit reports to the government and the CEC to study, coordinate and fully assess the potential for wind power, particularly offshore wind power development at Hon La EZ. According to Quang Binh Economic Zones Management Board, to best avail of its advantages, the EZ cannot stand alone but must attach development to the common development space of the region, besides perfecting the internal infrastructure. Accordingly, Hon La EZ is associated with the common development space of Vung Ang EZ in Ha Tinh province; with the National Highway No.12As economic corridor in which Hon La Port is the starting point; with Phong Nha-Ke Bang; as well as with countries in the Mekong sub-region along the East-West economic corridor. Assessing Hon La EZ, Secretary of Quang Binh Party Committee Vu Dai Thang said that the province is located in an area with robust industrial development, covering Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, and Nghe An provinces. Vung Ang and Hon La EZs are located next to each other, making it possible to form a common space for economic development, with the core being the Ha Tinh Formosa complex and new factories currently under construction such as Vingroups battery plant. Quang Binh and the EZ will inherit not only from on-site investment activities but also from Vung Ang EZ in Ha Tinh. By contrast, the province would also support Ha Tinh in terms of infrastructure, said Thang. The appeal of energy investment Tran Thang, Chairman of Quang Binh Peoples Committee, told VIR that with enormous potential for coastal and offshore wind, solar, and gas power, the province has identified renewable energy as a key sector for development. Thang said that expediting solar and wind power projects, especially large-scale ones, attests to the provinces efforts in investment attraction in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, protecting the environment, driving local gross industrial production value and the shift of local economic structure towards sustainability. We are creating an open legal regulatory framework for investors to study, survey, and invest in renewable energy development, said Thang. To boost investment efficiency, Quang Binh is committed to rolling out the red carpet to investors in clean and renewable energy development with many preferential policies and mechanisms on investment support, such as fee and tax incentives, support in compensation and site clearance, building ancillary infrastructure, and offering preferential mechanism on electricity purchase from wind power projects, among others. According to a report from Quang Binh Department of Industry and Trade, the province is accelerating the progress of putting Quang Trach I and II thermal power plants into operation, together with renewable energy projects in light of the national Power Development Plan VIII. To achieve the goal of growing into a major energy centre of the central region and the country, Quang Binh will continue to entice projects from major domestic and foreign investors to promote the potential and strengths of renewable energy. In the investment wish-list before 2025, the province calls for investment in onshore and offshore wind power plants in Ba Don district and town, solar power plants in Le Thuy and Bo Trach districts, and hydropower plants in Quang Ninh, Minh Hoa, and Tuyen Hoa districts. As of now, in respect to solar power investment, Son Hai Group Co., Ltd. has registered to invest in phase 1 of the 50MW Son Hai solar power plant in Le Thuy district, while and Truong Xuan Construction JSC registered to implement a 160MW project, of which phase 1 involves 50MW. For wind power, investors such as Tan Hoan Cau Corporation have registered to implement a project with a total capacity of 300MW in Minh Hoa district; Ha Do Group registered to implement a 50MW project across Ngu Thuy Trung, Sen Thuy, and Le Thuy districts; and Envision Energy registered to implement a 120MW project in the same district. Currently, Quang Binh has a total wind power output reaching 252MW; solar and rooftop solar power reaching 95,196MWp; power from local hydropower plants amounting to 14MW; and waste-to-power generation at 17MW. Some typical projects are the B&T wind farm cluster and Dohwa Le Thuy solar power plant, among others. To realise the goal of becoming a driving force to the provinces economic growth, total investment value for the entire Hon La EZ by 2030 needs to be about $6.81 billion, including $191.3 million of budget capital and $6.62 billion to be raised from other sources. The state capital will be prioritised to invest in infrastructure such as ground levelling and drainage at about $65.2 million, and transport infrastructure at $87 million. Bringing Quang Binh closer to investors The central province of Quang Binh is preparing for all possibilities when it comes to breakthrough growth. Vu Dai Thang, member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of Quang Binh Party Committee, shared with VIRs Thanh Pham efforts to bring the province closer to investors. Chief representative of JETRO Hanoi Takeo Nakajima At the conference on Quang Binh's master plan and investment promotion on June 25, chief representative of the organisation (JETRO) in Hanoi, Takeo Nakajima, highly appreciated the strengths of Quang Binh. Quang Binh has a population of nearly one million people and has developed 10 economic zones and industrial zones and good logistics infrastructure, such as Hon La Seaport and Dong Hoi Airport. "Quang Binh is favourable to develop renewable energy projects, including in wind power and solar power," Nakajima said. "Production and trade in the renewable energy sector will be promising." He also saw great potential for the province to become an attractive tourist destination by taking advantage of world heritage and recreational resources. "Investment by foreign-invested companies is spreading from urban areas to provincial cities and we see a lot of opportunities," said the JETRO representative. Specifically, priorities of Japanese companies and their expectations for Vietnamese localities focus on cost competitiveness, Nakajima revealed. According to a survey by JETRO, current risks in Vietnam include workers' salary increases and rising procurement costs. "Japanese companies always look for low-cost production possibilities. They want to know the advantages of producing in Quang Binh compared to producing near Hanoi and exporting goods to foreign markets via Haiphong ports," he said. Around three-quarters of Japanese businesses in Vietnam will promote human resource development and an average of two-thirds of ASEAN businesses said the same, meaning that human resources are a key factor in the country. Currently, there are nearly 500,000 Vietnamese people working in Japan. They will gain experience there and return to Vietnam to exercise leadership roles. Then, they will return to Japan or other countries and be appointed to more important positions. "Foreign-invested enterprises want such a staffing cycle, especially for young people in Quang Binh," he emphasised. Moreover, with the increase in sustainable procurement around the world, companies must go green in their entire production processes. 67 per cent of Japanese enterprises in Vietnam have initiated, or will, carbon reduction campaigns in their business activities. Products with low green content will be difficult to sell. "If Vietnam wants to become a manufacturing hub with high added value, a stable power supply is very important, as well as reducing fossil fuel consumption," Nakajima proposed. Japanese companies are stepping up efforts to increase production in Vietnam. The amount of foreign direct investment has decreased on-year due to the instability of the global economy and the decline in business confidence. However, the number of investments is growing faster than last year. "A number of export-oriented companies in the automotive, power, and electronic components sectors have shifted some of their production from China and Japan, underscoring the enhancement of Vietnam's importance," he confirmed. Furthermore, Vietnam is becoming a research and development and high value-added manufacturing hub. Such companies as Fujikin, Panasonic, and Osaka University are turning Vietnam into a technology development hub in the region. "Some 35 per cent of Japanese enterprises will become high value-added production, while 30 per cent of enterprises will focus on the general manufacturing industry," he added. Industry and energy lead focus for Quang Binh growth Quang Binh has identified industrial development as a game changer for the central province, enticing investment into power production, renewable energy, and processing and manufacturing. Bringing Quang Binh closer to investors The central province of Quang Binh is preparing for all possibilities when it comes to breakthrough growth. Vu Dai Thang, member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of Quang Binh Party Committee, shared with VIRs Thanh Pham efforts to bring the province closer to investors. Tony Kim, a representative of the Steering Committee of KoCham According to Tony Kim, a representative of the Steering Committee of the Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (KoCham), Quang Binh is considered to have great potential for further dynamic growth in the tourist sector, while agriculture and energy are also other strong investment fields. Speaking at the June 25 conference in Hanoi on Quang Binh's investment planning for the decade, Kim said that many Korean investors have been conducting various market research and they see investment opportunities. "We also see that Quang Binh has made strong efforts to attract investment in the sectors of agriculture, industry, energy, infrastructure, and tourism," Kim said. "The authorities are proactive in implementing reforms of administrative procedures and preferential investment policy; promulgating many preferential policies; and building a fair, open, and transparent business and investment environment to invite and lure potential investors for many years. At the conference, Green Energy Dohwa received an investment certificate for the second phase of its Dohwa Le Thuy solar power project with a capacity of 30MWp and capital of VND650 billion ($28.26 million). The province has established cooperative relations with several South Korean localities and has had some enterprises visit to inspect conditions and to invest further. In addition, over the years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Korean Embassy in Vietnam and South Korean partner agencies have actively coordinated and held promotion cooperation events involving South Korea and Quang Binh province. South Korean giants to pour billions of dollars into Vietnam More than 100 MoUs were signed by South Korean and Vietnamese businesses at the Vietnam-South Korea Business Forum on June 23. Vietnam, RoK exchange 17 cooperation documents President Vo Van Thuong and his visiting counterpart from the Republic of Korea (RoK) Yoon Suk Yeol witnessed the exchange of 17 cooperation documents across fields between agencies of the two countries after their talks in Hanoi on June 23. On June 23, Danang Investment Promotion Agency joined efforts with German Business Association in Vietnam (GBA) to organise the Danang-Germany investment cooperation seminar. Ho Ky Minh, Deputy Chairman of Danang Peoples Committee, said that Germany was Vietnam's largest trading partner in the EU, while Vietnam had risen to become Germany's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia. In 2022, the total trade value between the two countries exceeded $12.5 billion. Germany has 444 valid projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital sum surpassing $2.3 billion. However, as of May 2023, Danang just courted 11 projects from Germany with the total registered investment capital approximating $10.3 million, accounting for a mere 1 per cent of the total number of projects, and 0.2 per cent of the total registered capital volume in the city. This number is modest compared to the space for cooperation between the two sides. Minh revealed that in light of Danangs development direction to 2030, with a vision towards 2045, the city is striving to become a smart eco city, a centre for startup and innovation, and a coastal livable city carving a spot among Asias high-end metropolises. As a plan, Danang focuses on developing three main pillars, comprising tourism, high-tech industry and marine economy. The city gives priority to attracting projects with advanced technology, modern governance, innovation, having high spillover effects and closely connected with domestic economic sectors. I hope that in the forthcoming time, GBA will continue to promote activities in the central region of Vietnam and Danang in particular, helping to bridge more cooperation programmes between the two countries, said Minh. The city will constantly improve local business and investment environment for businesses to invest and develop stably. The success of businesses and investors will accelerate the city's socioeconomic development. Elmar Dutt, chairman of GBA said that the central region and Danang in particular were very appealing to German businesses, and German investment projects in Danang and neighbouring provinces, have been increasingly strongly in recent times. I believe that more projects of German companies will make headway in Danang in the upcoming time, he said. The Danang-Germany networking seminar was held to promote the potential, advantages, business opportunities, and investment support of Danang to businesses and investors. The seminar seeks to bridge German businesses and businesses in Danang, building a premise for developing trade and investment cooperation in forthcoming time. Also at the event, Danang IPA and the German Business Association in Vietnam signed a MoU on cooperation in investment promotion support. Vietnam-South Korea investment and cooperation strengthened ODA cooperation and investing in energy and infrastructure in Vietnam are set to be boosted, based on the second deputy prime minister's dialogue on economic cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea. Seminar set to promote Chinese investment in Vietnam's electronics Vietnam Investment Consulting (VNIC) is cooperating with YueQiBao to organise a seminar exchanging and surveying the investment environment in Vietnam for Chinese electronics businesses on March 27 in Hanoi. High-level ASEAN seminar talks aligning policies for climate transition As part of the first ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting (AFMGM) 2023 in Bali on March 30, Indonesia organised a high-level seminar themed Aligning Policies for Climate Transition to support the message of sustainable development, one of the ASEAN priority economic deliverables (PED) this year. Nam Dinh leaders recently held a working session with executives from Sunrise Material Group, a Singaporean enterprise specialising in advanced technology polymer packaging films for the food sector. Representatives from Sunrise Material Group expressed their interest in acquiring a 4-hectare land plot for the establishment of a cutting-edge production facility dedicated to high-tech packaging films. The facility aims to cater specifically to the intricate packaging requirements of the industrial sector, with a focus on serving the demanding US market. Highlighting their environmentally friendly production practices and minimal energy consumption, Sunrise Material Group sought to familiarise themselves with Nam Dinh's mechanisms and support policies for businesses before committing to any investment decisions. To address the company's needs, Pham Gia Tuc, Secretary of Nam Dinh Party Committee, recommended My Thuan Industrial Zone among the province's many industrial clusters and zones. My Thuan Industrial Zone is currently undergoing accelerated development of advanced infrastructure, offering excellent connectivity to airports and seaports, as well as an ample land reserve to meet the requirements of Sunrise Material Group. Nam Dinh has also proactively implemented two dedicated power sources to ensure stable electricity supply for industrial clusters, assuring uninterrupted production for businesses. Vietnam has signed several new-generation free trade agreements, enabling businesses investing in Nam Dinh to enjoy favourable policies, particularly advantageous tax benefits, Tuc said He also encouraged Sunrise Material Group to conduct thorough research and make an informed decision regarding its potential investment in Nam Dinh. Following the meeting, Sunrise announced its commitment to invest $100 million in building a state-of-the-art high-tech packaging film production plant in the province. The company's executives noted that upon completion, it is projected to generate annual imports of $200 million and exports of $500 million. Furthermore, the construction is expected to be completed over a span of 15 months, resulting in the availability of several products for the market. $2 billion Nam Dinh 1 thermal power plant could resume this year The long-delayed Nam Dinh 1 thermal power plant could get back on track by the end of 2023 thanks to the investor's determination. During a meeting on June 23, Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai warmly welcomed Kim Sung-tae, chairman and CEO of Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), and Kang Seoghoon, chairman and CEO of Korea Development Bank (KDB). The meeting was to explore potential collaborations between Vietnam and South Korean financial institutions in the context of Vietnam's banking system reforms. Khai emphasised the crucial role that South Korean organisations could play in supporting Vietnam's banking sector in restructuring. Seoghoon expressed admiration for Vietnam, describing each visit to the country as a homecoming. He highlighted KDB's remarkable development under the guidance of the South Korean government. Seoghoon also shared KDB's strategic focus on high-tech advancements, digital transformation, and green energy initiatives to tackle global climate challenges. He expressed a strong desire for closer cooperation with Vietnamese companies in these areas. He also revealed KDB's plans to establish a bank branch in Vietnam, aiming to share expertise and provide support for Vietnamese enterprises expanding into the global market. This would generate employment opportunities for local workers and stimulate economic growth. Sung-tae contributed insights during the meeting. He highlighted IBK's commitment to supporting small- and- medium- sized enterprises (SMEs), with 80 per cent of their lending assets in South Korea dedicated to this vital sector. He stressed that IBK has consistently stood by SMEs during economic downturns, offering crucial assistance to help them overcome challenging times. Currently, IBK operates branches in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the bank is in the process of establishing a legal entity in Vietnam. With total assets in Vietnam amounting to approximately $1.5 billion, IBK actively provides loans to both South Korean businesses operating in Vietnam and local partners. Sung-tae said, "IBK is eager to establish a legal presence in Vietnam, not only to support South Korean enterprises but also to extend assistance to Vietnamese businesses, particularly SMEs, across various regions. This commitment aims to foster job creation and promote cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea." DPM Khai welcomed the proposals presented by KDB and IBK, and acknowledged that South Korean financial institutions have the most significant presence among foreign organisations in Vietnam. The State Bank of Vietnam is processing licence applications for new entities, including those from six South Korean banks, including IBK and KDB, he said. The Vietnamese government, under the guidance of the prime minister, would provide specific instructions to address these matters effectively in the near future. Vietnam's continuous pursuit of economic restructuring, particularly within its banking sector since 2011, aims to enhance the quality and efficiency of the entire financial system. The Vietnamese government welcomes the participation of foreign financial institutions, especially in addressing challenges within weaker banks. This presents an opportune moment for South Korean financial institutions seeking to establish new commercial ventures in Vietnam. Vingroup, with a rich 30-year history, operates across multiple sectors. VinFast, as the heart of Vingroup's industrial and technological activities, is a relatively young player in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, having made significant strides in just five years. VinFast's commitment to sustainable practices and reducing emissions aligns with Vietnam's COP26 commitments. By 2025, the EV maker aims to have all newly invested replacement buses running on clean energy, making it a pioneer in the Vietnamese market. Looking ahead to 2030, VinFast plans to have all newly invested replacement taxis running on electricity, solidifying its position as a top electric vehicle manufacturer in not only Vietnam but also in Southeast Asia. Furthermore, VinFast is set to introduce the Green Smart Mobility EV, a first in ASEAN, which utilises pure electric energy and offers EV rentals. VinFast's commitment to the EV transition extends beyond its own product line. As part of Vietnam's transportation transformation programme, VinFast supports Decision No. 876/QD-TTg, which outlines the country's goals for sustainable transportation. A VinFast representative said, "Although we are a young company in the automotive industry, we are fortunate to have the internal drive of the conglomerate, which comes from the support of the Vietnamese government's policies and the collaboration of numerous global strategic partners, including Korean partners, enabling us to become a leading original equipment manufacturer in the electric vehicle segment." The company is also engaged in fulfilling COP26 commitments, aligning itself with global and Vietnamese leaders in the pursuit of a greener future. In addition to four-wheel EVs, VinFast also produces electric buses, motorcycles, and bicycles. The representative outlined the company's plans, saying, "In just a short span of 70 days since our establishment, we completed one million journeys for one million customers and turned five cities green. By the end of 2023, we aim to expand to seven cities in Vietnam." With its expanding presence, VinFast aims to establish its dominance not only in the Vietnamese market but also on the international stage. The company has already made significant strides in markets such as the US, Canada, and the EU. VinFast's vision extends to the Southeast Asian market, with plans to tap into this growing region. Additionally, VinFast is considering venturing into the Korean market, further bolstering its position as a significant player in the EV industry. No braking for VinFast in quest for superiority VinFasts $23 billion entrance into the US stock market through a merger has sparked curiosity, as the carmaker aims for profitability and expansion into the regional and global stages. Tough journey is just starting for VinFast VinFasts move to list in the US demonstrates its determination to position itself as a contender in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle industry. Marc Iyeki, former head of Asia-Pacific Listings at the New York Stock Exchange, gave VIRs Luu Huong his insight on the ambitious overseas listing. Vietnam's market becomes ray of hope for South Korean semiconductor manufacturers Vietnam's emergence as a growing market for South Korean semiconductor manufacturers provides a much-needed boost amidst sluggish chip demand in China. The new restaurant Sammy and Kyle Citrano will open on Franklin Avenue will not have George's III on the marquee. Instead, they will apply their dining expertise to Jorge's Cantina, which will offer Mexican food, seafood, chicken-fried steak, margaritas and George's traditional Big O goblets of beer. "This is something we've been putting together since March or April of last year," Kyle Citrano said. "We knew that old El Paso's (Mexican Grill) lease was up at the end of the year, that they were not going to renew that lease. They closed on Jan. 1, so that kind of sped up the process." Kyle Citrano is managing partner of George's II Restaurant and Bar on Hewitt Drive, offspring of the original George's on Speight Avenue operated by Kyle's father, Sammy. Sammy Citrano, who owns the building at 4225 Franklin Ave., made it available to an ownership group that includes himself and Kyle Citrano. It also includes Chris Cady, who is heavily involved in day-to-day operations at the original George's, and Kyle Citrano's cousin, Kevin Chirafis, who helps run George's II. Kyle said the team began fast-tracking plans for the cantina in December, and have submitted their concept to Waco City Hall for review. He said bids are being solicited to convert the existing building to a hacienda-style restaurant featuring a dining deck, an expanded bar for TV viewing and a U-shaped bar top seating 40 patrons between the dining area and deck. "We teamed up with somebody locally to help with design aspects," said Kyle Citrano, who declined to identify that person. "We want to create a fun and comfortable environment for everybody, give people space to do what they want to do sit down with the family for a meal or sit in the bar area." Crews have gutted the existing space, leaving a shell that will become Jorge's Cantina. Plans include a 5,000-square-foot expansion, giving the restaurant about 11,000 square feet and seating space for 350 to 400 people. That will make it larger than either George's location, Kyle Citrano said. Kyle Citrano said the goal is serving authentic Mexican food while supplementing the menu with George's staples such as chicken-fried steak and crazy wings. He said the team hired a consultant to help craft the menu and its 55 items, including 15 appetizers. Seafood will comprise 15% to 20% of the menu listings. Diners will have options that include enchiladas, tacos, queso, carnitas and guacamole, "but prepared a little differently." "You will see mole involved," Citrano said, referring to the thick chile- and chocolate-based sauce from Southern Mexico. Extras to enhance the Jorge's Cantina experience include making fresh flour and corn tortillas as diners watch. A machine will produce freshly squeezed juices from lemons and limes. A dozen margarita machines will churn out product, and Jorge's will provide "some really great cocktails, with a little different flair," Citrano said. He said food at George's and George's II represents about 75% of sales, the balance generated by alcohol. "We really want to do things the right way," Kyle Citrano said. "We're going to make sure to provide quality and value to our customers. Atmosphere is huge at George's, and will be here. We will have a beautiful restaurant. The layout, the warm textures, the design, the finish-out, the use of textiles, I think we will 'wow' some people. The most important part remains giving great service and hiring the right people. We've done a lot of research and development, and we think customers will enjoy the biggest benefit." Kyle Citrano said the restaurant may hire 150 to 200 to launch the restaurant, then let attrition and other factors reduce the total to 125. He said he realizes Waco has a strong tradition of excellent Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants, and that family-owned locations such as La Fiesta and El Conquistador, among others, have created a loyal customer base. "Waco is such a great town and has taken good care of us. We said, 'What else can we give them?' This is another option, our take on Mexican," Citrano said. "You couldn't ask for a better location. We thought this was the right time." He said the group hopes to open the restaurant next spring. by Adam Estes On June 20th, Air Legends Foundations Lockheed C-121A Constellation took off on its first post-restoration flight from Chino Airport around 7:30 pm. The Connies crew was composed of experienced warbird pilots and restorers, Captain Stewart Dawson, first officer Steve Hinton, flight engineer Jeff Whitesell, safety overseer Jim JD Dale, and safety observer John Hinton made sure that the test flight was a success. The Constellation that came to be known as Bataan started life as a C-121A, a militarized version of the L-749 Constellation, being delivered to the USAF in January 1949 for use within the newly-established Military Air Transport Service (MATS). The C-121As differed from their civilian counterparts with the addition of a reinforced floor for carrying cargo and an aft cargo door in the rear fuselage. In practice, however, the C-121As would usually fly as personnel transports and were fitted with a total of 44 seats. During the Berlin Airlift, 48-613 was used to transport personnel and equipment from Westover Air Force Base in Massachusetts to Rhein-Main Air Force Base in West Germany. With the conclusion of the Berlin Airlift in September 1949, 48-613 continued to perform routine missions until it was decided to convert the aircraft to become a VIP transport at Olmstead AFB, Middletown, Pennsylvania. Flown thereafter to the Lockheed factory in Burbank, California, it was the first C-121 to be equipped with weather radar and its engines were modified with turbines to recover exhaust gasses for use in the crankshaft to provide more power. From there, it was flown to Tokyo during the Korean War, where in September of 1950, it became the latest personal transport for General Douglas MacArthur, who christened it Bataan, after the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines from which he had mounted his last defense of the archipelago against the Japanese invasion in 1942 until ordered by President Roosevelt to move to Australia. 48-613 would serve as a flying command post for MacArthur, and in it, he was flown to several bases in Korea to inspect UN forces, and in October 1950, Bataan flew General MacArthur to Wake Island in order for the general to meet with President Harry Truman about the current state of the war. MacArthur would even have his pilots fly him in Bataan and other transport aircraft to survey the battlefields below him. However, when the Chinese took up arms against the UN forces and forced them back across the 38th Parallel, General MacArthur publicly clashed with President Truman in the press resulting in the controversial relief of MacArthur from command. In April 1951, Bataan flew MacArthur and his family back to the United States, marking the first time that MacArthur had returned to the continental US since he arrived in the Philippines as a military advisor in 1935. As for Bataan, it was taken over by MacArthurs replacement, General Matthew Ridgeway, through to the armistice that ended the Korean War. It even had President Dwight Eisenhower and Vice President Richard Nixon onboard in the last days of the war when the newly-elected President fulfilled his campaign promise to go to Korea and resolve an end to the conflict. After the war, it was assigned to the headquarters of Pacific Air Command at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, flying various commanding officers across the Pacific, from Curtis LeMay, Mark Clark, and South Korean President Syngman Rhee. Bataan would serve the Pacific Air Command until being retired from active duty in 1965, and flown to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in January 1966. Unlike many of her brethren, however, Bataans time in the Boneyard was not to be the final page in her story, for just six months later, it had become one of three Constellations employed by NASA for the Apollo space program, becoming NASA 422, with its VIP interior swapped for scientific instruments, but retaining its nose art, including a depiction of the eponymous peninsula and the flags of the countries it had visited. Though it was typically based out of Baltimore Friendship Airport (now Baltimore-Washington International Airport), the NASA Constellations were under the authority of NASA Goddard Center. The three Constellations would fly across the oceans to monitor and communicate with the Apollo astronauts during their monumental missions. But with the minimization of funding and interest after the success of Apollo 11, the NASA Constellations were decommissioned in 1970. Several museums had an opportunity to acquire Bataan from NASA, but it would be the US Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama that would succeed in securing Bataan. On March 9, 1970, Bataan was flown to Fort Rucker by NASA pilots Melvin Mel Schmidt and William Bill Morgan, with Flight Engineer Carol Bud Weddington, There Bataan would remain, retaining its NASA paint scheme, until 1992, when the museum felt that it could no longer sufficiently maintain the old Constellation. If no one came to the aid of Bataan, it may well have faced the scrapyard. Fortunately, Ed Maloney of the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California was able to secure Bataan from the US Army Aviation Museum. Starting in October of 1992, a team of mechanics from the Planes of Fame, local volunteers, and members of the US Army Warrant Officer Class 93-06 worked over the course of nine months to ready Bataan for the ferry flight to Dothan Airport, about 20 miles west to utilize the more extensive maintenance facilities. On June 23, 1993, after 23 years on the ground, Bataan roared back into the air after using nearly the entire length of the runway. Such were the concerns over the flight that the trees that had grown at the end of the runway were topped, and the fencing at that end removed. The flight went over smoothly, and at Dothan Airport, Pemco Aeroplex, Inc. stripped off the NASA paint scheme and painted Bataan back to the way it appeared as General MacArthurs transport. There would be another stop on the way to Chino in Addison, Texas in May of 1994, where the interior was reproduced based on old photographs and drawings by Foster-Edwards Aircraft Company. Finally, on December 6, 1994, after a stopover in Avra Valley, Arizona, Bataan arrived in Chino, California. By this point, however, the Planes of Fame was opening a new auxiliary location, Valle Airport, located around 30 miles south of the Grand Canyon. Bataan became one of the first airplanes flown into the new location on April 27, 1995, and over the next 20 years, Bataan would welcome visitors from spring through autumn, who would be guided by local museum volunteers through MacArthurs executive transport. In April of 2015, however, a new chapter in Bataans storied history unfolded as the venerable Constellation was acquired by the Air Legends Foundation of San Antonio, Texas. Soon, Planes of Fame mechanics and pilots descended on Valle to ready Bataan for a ferry flight back to Chino for further restoration work. Their efforts paid off on January 14, 2016, when Planes of Fame president Steve Hinton gently nudged the throttles open and Bataan rose up into the winter Arizona sky, with snow covering the desert floor below. Later that day, Bataan arrived in Chino, and the work soon began. Hinton and other pilots and mechanics of Fighter Rebuilders worked on the wings, tail surfaces, engines, and wiring, and treated corrosion on a patch of the airport apron adjacent to the museum. Then in 2021, Bataan was towed across the airport from the museum to a hangar across the airport for further restoration work. As is standard practice with many of Fighter Rebuilders projects, the latest work on Bataan was kept under wraps, until when in May 2023, Bataan completed its first engine runs. Pending the successful series of test flights, it is hoped that Bataan will make its post-restoration appearance at EAA AirVenture 2023 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After that, Lewis Air Legends hopes to fly Bataan on the airshow circuit, and considering the already impressive under Air Legends Foundations belt, from the last airworthy Douglas A-20 Havoc to the P-38F Lightning Glacier Girl, Bataan will be in good company. The Waverly Chamber of Commerce Main Street Program has been designated as an accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach. I am especially proud of Waverlys investment in its historic Main Street district and our annual accreditation by Main Street America since 1989," said Executive Director Travis Toliver, "This recognition of our organizations work keeps our community at the forefront of the movement to care for our history and keep Main Streets alive across Iowa and throughout the nation. "The future only looks brighter as we continue to discover the treasures here in our downtown and partner with business owners and investors to uncover the beauty and history that exists here in Waverlys historic Main Street district. The Waverly Chamber of Commerce Main Street Programs performance is annually evaluated by Main Street Iowa, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. The standards include commitments to building grassroots revitalization programs, fostering strong public-private partnerships, nurturing economic opportunity for small businesses and entrepreneurs, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets. In 2022, 105 businesses call the downtown Waverly home, according to the chamber of commerce. The nationally accredited Main Street Program in Waverly has amassed over 94,000 volunteer hours since its inception in 1989. Founded in 1937, the Waverly Chamber of Commerce is a volunteer-driven organization that today encompasses all functions of the Chamber of Commerce, Waverly Main Street Program, and Tourism. The chambers success is made possible through the financial commitment and tireless dedication of hundreds of businesses and individuals working to strengthen the economic vitality and standard of living in the Waverly area. WATERLOO Black Hawk County deputies arrested a Waterloo man Saturday on charges related to allegedly eluding police and crashing a car into a tree last year. Police said Rahkeem Threex Lewis-Williams, 31, was driving a white 2012 Dodge Journey near the corner of Sixth and Water streets on Nov. 3, 2022, when officers attempted to pull him over for operating with an expired vehicle registration. He reportedly led them on a chase before crashing the vehicle into a tree in the 1900 block of Sycamore Street, breaking his leg and attempting to flee on foot. He was apprehended a short distance away from the car, but the Black Hawk County Jail refused to hold him there at the time because of the medical circumstances. Lewis-Williams was arrested Saturday when deputies pulled over a suspiciously parked vehicle at the Waterloo Boat House, 707 Park Rd. Lewis-Williams happened to be inside when deputies discovered the warrants. He was booked at 11:19 p.m. without issue. The charges include eluding while traveling over the posted speed limit at one point, 80 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone as well as interfering with official acts, leaving the scene of an accident causing injury, driving with suspended license, reckless driving and a host other traffic violations. Hes also been charged with voluntary absence from custody, third degree criminal mischief and a first offense as a registered sex offender. His bond was set at $54,000. Stock your car first aid kit with these essentials for summer road trips 1. Bandages 2. Gauze Pads and Tape 3. Alcohol Prep Pads 4. Anti-Itch Soothing Balm 5. Instant Cold Packs 6. Scissors and Tweezers 7. Pain Relievers 8. Aloe Vera Gel 9. Burn Relief Cream 10. Poison Oak and Ivy Wipes Students in Myanmar compete in Chinese language contest Xinhua) 09:25, June 25, 2023 A student competes at the "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign college and secondary school students in Yangon, Myanmar, June 24, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) YANGON, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The final rounds of the 2023 "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign college and secondary school students in Myanmar was held here on Saturday. A total of 28 Chinese language learners in Myanmar aged 12 to 30 years competed in the Chinese proficiency contest held at the Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Yangon. Of them, 14 students competed in the 22nd edition of Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, and the other 14 students participated in the 16th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students. The Chinese language proficiency competition, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, the Fuxing Confucius Classroom and three other Chinese language centers in Myanmar, featured speeches and talent shows such as singing, poetry recitation and dancing. Due to excellent performances, 19-year-old Min Khant Aung from the Myanmar International Education Center won the first prize in the competition for college students, and eighth-grader Thin Kyu Hlaing from the Eastern Language and Business Center won the first prize in the contest for secondary school students. "The event aims to encourage Chinese language learning in Myanmar. It is the first such contest organized grandly in three years after the outbreak of the COVID-19," Wu Weizhong, head of the Fuxing Confucius Classroom, told Xinhua. Wu said that there are three categories of "Chinese Bridge" language competitions for foreign students, and the competitions will help deepen China-Myanmar friendship. The final rounds of the "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign primary school students in Myanmar was held on June 18 at the China Cultural Center in Yangon. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) CEDAR FALLS The Sturgis Falls Celebration continues to be a high point of a lot of families summer. Thousands flocked to the 47th annual festival Friday and Saturday. Sometimes, it is things unique to the year that cause people to come out. Hometown astronaut Raja Chari the celebrity grand marshal got a lot of attention this year. But everyone has their own reasons for making the trip year after year, whether thats a quick walk to the various attractions or traveling from a distance to return to the place they used to call home. Festivals create that community spirit and then maintain that sense of community and keep it strong, said Ava Koester of Gladbrook, whos lived in town around Cedar Falls. Towns arent much fun to live in without them, and they are one of the great things about the summers in the Midwest. She remembers the days of running around to all the different parks, the flea market, meeting up with friends, listening to Saints All-Star Dixieland Band music, and eating turkey legs. Shes cant do as much as she used to do. But Koester, her husband, Paul, and friends continue to find ways to be kids at heart. One of those acquaintances, Connie Malven of Waterloo, came with her husband, Bill, from Maynard. She had a daisy balloon creation from Zounds The Clown tied around her wrist and was playing around with astronaut-themed Raja Chari glasses. They recollected Saturday about the parade they experienced in the morning and the talent show the night before while sitting under a tent in Overman Park to avoid scattered rain, listening to music, and enjoying various foods like rib sandwiches. We havent found food we dont like, quipped Paul Malven. Everyone comes for something different. Sue Ruschill grew up in the area and now lives near Burlington. She came for family and the music. In particular, the Marine Corp Band is always entertaining and impressive, she said, and the Cedar Basin Music Festival gave them another reason to come out. Katie and the Honky Tonks, as well as Dry Run Creek, were among the favorite music groups. It was the more popular 1990s country music that had her family singing along. Among the memorable numbers played was The Race Is On by Sawyer Brown, said her daughter, Emily Ruschill, of Des Moines. The beef and grilled cheese from Cottonwood Canyon was among the food highlights. Were enjoying the food, music and praying the rain stops, said Sue Ruschill. Its something different to do every year. Its the novelty of it for me at this point. Im sure for the area though, the revenue is a bonus and it showcases what the area has to offer. In the last 50 years, Cedar Falls has grown by leaps and bounds. The downtown especially is so much different from the 1970s, and is such an improvement. And, of course, Sturgis Falls and the Cedar Basin Music Festival is a place for families to create memories. Its one of the highlights of the year for everyone, said Holly Malm, a Cedar Valley native and University of Northern Iowa graduate whose family travels from Colorado for the annual event. We like watching the kids have so much fun. Malm and Aaron Mangel, another UNI alumnus, brought their three kids. They were enjoying the balloon animals. Madeline, 6, walked proudly bearing an orange kitten named Orange. Audrey, 9, had a long blue snake called Blueberry. Their plans included listening to the jazz bands, visiting the Ice House Museum, and stopping for treats like funnel cakes and donuts. The craft sales are another favorite event. In particular, the girls like checking out the dog clothes, jewelry and art. Since I was little, weve come back every year, Malm said. Everybody has gone their separate ways over the years, added Aaron Mangel. This is the one place where you can catch up with everybody. The Sturgis Falls Celebration and the Cedar Basin Music Festival continue Sunday. Photos: 2023 Sturgis Falls Parade Sturgis Falls 1 Sturgis Falls 2 Sturgis Falls 3 Sturgis Falls 4 Sturgis Falls 5 Sturgis Falls 6 Sturgis Falls 7 Sturgis Falls 8 Sturgis Falls 9 Sturgis Falls 10 Sturgis Falls 11 Sturgis Falls 12 Sturgis Falls 13 Sturgis Falls 14 Sturgis Falls 15 Sturgis Falls 16 Sturgis Falls 17 Sturgis Falls 18 Sturgis Falls 19 Sturgis Falls 20 Sturgis Falls 21 Sturgis Falls 22 Sturgis Falls 23 Sturgis Falls 24 Sturgis Falls 25 Sturgis Falls 26 Sturgis Falls 27 Sturgis Falls 28 Sturgis Falls 29 Sturgis Falls 30 Sturgis Falls 31 Sturgis Falls 32 Sturgis Falls 33 WASHINGTON Free medical clinics and legal aid clinics, where college students and their instructors help their communities while also learning more about their professions, are now commonplace. Google hopes to add cybersecurity clinics to that list. Google CEO Sundar Pichai pledged $20 million in donations Thursday to support and expand the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics to introduce thousands of students to potential careers in cybersecurity, while also helping defend small government offices, rural hospitals and nonprofits from hacking. Pichai said the new initiative addresses both the rising number of cyberattacks up 38% globally in 2022 and the lack of candidates trained to stop them. Just as technology can create new threats, it can also help us fight them, Pichai said, announcing the commitment at Google's Washington offices. Security was critical to the work I did early in my Google career, including when we built our Chrome browser. Today, its core to everything we do, and the current inflection point in AI is helping take our efforts to the next level. The tech giant launched the Google Cybersecurity Certificate program last month to help prepare people for entry-level cybersecurity jobs. It also partnered with universities in New York on a research program to create learning and career opportunities across the cybersecurity sector. Making sure we protect and safeguard both the consumer services and the enterprises services we provide is foundational to the company, which is why we treat it as such, Pichai said. Weve been building security from the ground up for a long time and training to innovate and stay ahead. Google's announcement had support from congressional members on both sides of the aisle. Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte of California said addressing cyberthreats is essential to the country's economic competitiveness as well as national security. He added that China will likely produce twice as many computer science students with doctoral degrees this year than the United States. We need to incentivize students to pursue careers in fields like cybersecurity to reverse that trend, he said. We must all embrace the idea of becoming lifelong learners." Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas said Google's initiative helps democratize cybersecurity, providing more employment opportunities and more protection to those not located in Silicon Valley. Small businesses literally can lose hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, Castro said. "Im grateful to Google for building on their commitment to support the growth of a workforce necessary to do everything from securing critical infrastructure in local communities to bolstering our national security. Pichai said there are currently more than 650,000 open cybersecurity jobs and there is a need for a diverse workforce to address the issue. We have seen this in the past when weve gone to communities and open data centers in rural communities, he said. It creates a spark. It inspires more people... These are catalyzing moments. Justin Steele, director of Google.org, the companys philanthropic arm, said the initiative appealed to his team because it seeks projects where the funding can spawn change on multiple levels. It's a challenge, Steele said. But theres a huge opportunity here. Steele anticipates the cybersecurity clinics will have students help small organizations that lack their own technology departments with threat assessments and installing defenses. Those students get hands-on experience and they get to increase their marketability for all of these open jobs in cybersecurity, Steele said. We get to diversify the field of cybersecurity by training these students and we get to protect critical U.S. infrastructure. Ann Cleaveland, executive director of the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity at the University of California, Berkeley, said the clinics can help organizations get over a sense of nihilism about dealing with hackers. While many groups think there is nothing they can do against a state-supported hacker or ransomware attacks, the clinics can offer low-level solutions that can combat a large number of threats. Students can really help organizations overcome 80 to 90% of the problems and give them a much more resilient stance, said Cleaveland, adding that the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics hopes to establish clinics in every state by 2030. Mark Lupo, coordinator of the University of Georgias clinic, known as CyberArch, said demand continues to increase for the clinics services because more and more data is at risk. We have continued as a society to bring more of our sensitive information online, so that vulnerability has only increased, he said. The malicious actors understand that sensitive data can be monetized, which, at some point in the past, was not even a thought. Now that theres money there, theyre going to gravitate toward that. That makes cybersecurity and all hands on deck issue, said Cleaveland, who is co-chair of the consortiums executive committee. She said Google.orgs donation will help the consortium establish new clinics, as well as provide mentors to the students staffing them. How machine learning and new AI technologies could change the cybersecurity landscape How machine learning and new AI technologies could change the cybersecurity landscape Artificial intelligence Machine learning Chatbot technology Virtual reality Cloud computing LE BOURGET, France (AP) Just a dot on the horizon at first, the bug-like and surprisingly quiet electrically-powered craft buzzes over Paris and its traffic snarls, treating its doubtless awestruck passenger to privileged vistas of the Eiffel Tower and the city's signature zinc-grey rooftops before landing him or her with a gentle downward hover. And thus, if all goes to plan, could a new page in aviation history be written. After years of dreamy and not always credible talk of skies filled with flying, nonpolluting electric taxis, the aviation industry is preparing to deliver a future that it says is now just around the corner. Capitalizing on its moment in the global spotlight, the Paris region is planning for a small fleet of electric flying taxis to operate on multiple routes when it hosts the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games next summer. Unless aviation regulators in China beat Paris to the punch by greenlighting a pilotless taxi for two passengers under development there, the French capital's prospective operator Volocopter of Germany could be the first to fly taxis commercially if European regulators give their OK. Volocopter CEO Dirk Hoke, a former top executive at aerospace giant Airbus, has a VVIP in mind as his hoped-for first Parisian passenger none other than French President Emmanuel Macron. "That would be super amazing," Hoke said, speaking this week at the Paris Air Show, where he and other developers of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft or eVTOLs for short competed with industry heavyweights for attention. "He believes in the innovation of urban air mobility," Hoke said of Macron. "That would be a strong sign for Europe to see the president flying." But with Macron aboard or not, those pioneering first flights would still be just small steps for the nascent industry that has giant leaps to make before flying taxis are muscling out competitors on the ground. The limited power of battery technology restricts the range and number of paying passengers they can carry, so eVTOL hops are likely to be short and not cheap at the outset. And while the vision of simply beating city traffic by zooming over it is enticing, it also is dependent on advances in airspace management. Manufacturers of eVTOLs aim in the coming decade to unfurl fleets in cities and on more niche routes for luxury passengers, including the French Riviera. But they need technological leaps so flying taxis don't crash into each other and all the other things already congesting the skies or expected to take to them in very large numbers including millions of drones. Starting first on existing helicopter routes, "we'll continue to scale up using AI, using machine-learning to make sure that our airspace can handle it," said Billy Nolen of Archer Aviation Inc. It aims to start flying between downtown Manhattan and Newark's Liberty Airport in 2025. That's normally a 1-hour train or old-fashioned taxi ride that Archer says its sleek, electric 4-passenger prototype could cover in under 10 minutes. Nolen was formerly acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. regulator that during his time at the agency was already working with NASA on technology to safely separate flying taxis. Just as Paris is using its Olympic Games to test flying taxis, Nolen said the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics offer another target for the industry to aim for and show that it can fly passengers in growing numbers safely, cleanly and affordably. "We'll have hundreds, if not thousands, of eVTOLs by the time you get to 2028," he said in an interview with The Associated Press at the Paris show. The "very small" hoped-for experiment with Volocopter for the Paris Games is "great stuff. We take our hats off to them," he added. "But by the time we get to 2028 and beyond ... you will see full-scale deployment across major cities throughout the world." Yet even on the cusp of what the industry portrays as a revolutionary new era kicking off in the city that spawned the French Revolution of 1789, some aviation analysts aren't buying into visions of eVTOLs becoming readily affordable, ubiquitous and convenient alternatives to ride-hailing in the not-too-distant future. And even among eVTOL developers who bullishly talked up their industry's prospects at the Paris show, some predicted that rivals will run dry of funding before they bring prototypes to market. Morgan Stanley analysts estimate the industry could be worth $1 trillion by 2040 and $9 trillion by 2050 with advances in battery and propulsion technology. Almost all of that will come after 2035, analysts say, because of the difficulty of getting new aircraft certified by U.S. and European regulators. "The idea of mass urban transit remains a charming fantasy of the 1950s," said Richard Aboulafia of AeroDynamic Advisory, an aerospace consultancy. "The real problem is still that mere mortals like you and I don't get routine or exclusive access to $4 million vehicles. You and I can take air taxis right now. It's called a helicopter." Still, electric taxis taking to Paris' skies as Olympians are going faster, higher and stronger could have the power to surprise pleasantly so, Volocopter hopes. One of the five planned Olympic routes would land in the heart of the city on a floating platform on the spruced-up River Seine. Developers point out that ride-hailing apps and E-scooters also used to strike many customers as outlandish. And as with those technologies, some are betting that early adopters of flying taxis will prompt others to try them, too. "It will be a total new experience for the people," said Hoke, Volocopter's CEO. "But twenty years later someone looks back at what changed based on that and then they call it a revolution. And I think we are at the edge of the next revolution." ___ Photos of the 2024 Olympics, Paralympics mascots WASHINGTON Just six days after the bipartisan deal on the debt limit became law, House Republicans proposed a slew of tax cuts, leading to charges of hypocrisy by Democrats in a squabble that shows two clashing visions for the U.S. economy. GOP lawmakers are pushing deep tax cuts for companies and the affluent as the primary driver for sustaining economic growth, while President Joe Biden and fellow Democrats seek more targeted tax cuts to achieve social goals such as reducing child poverty and shifting to renewable energy that can help the economy in the long run. The Republican tax cuts for businesses, coupled with an increase in the standard deduction for households, would be funded by wiping out $216 billion in tax breaks over 10 years that Biden signed into law last year to support the development of electric vehicles and renewable energy. They should look at this plan as more jobs, higher wages, said Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. We are undoing bad policy and replacing it with good. White House officials say Republicans' quick pivot to tax cuts reveals they were never sincere about shrinking deficits during the debt-limit debate. Many but not all of the tax changes that Republicans last week passed out of the Ways and Means Committee would be temporary. If the proposed changes related to corporate taxes were made permanent, the Biden administration says, it would undermine the spending cuts that were part of the agreement this month to raise the government's borrowing authority. No sooner did we get a balanced bipartisan agreement to reduce deficits than they came back and put $500 billion of tax cuts for businesses on the table, said Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic Council. Its just inconsistent. The dispute sets the stage for the 2024 elections and the immediate economic challenges that the winners will face: Lawmakers will need to raise the debt limit again and key portions of the 2017 tax cuts passed under then-President Donald Trump will expire and cause taxes to rise for most households unless they are extended. Democrats say the latest Republican plan would largely favor companies and better-off households. It would make certain tax breaks for businesses retroactive to 2022. The White House says that tax breaks for what companies did in the past would do little to create the jobs that Republicans are promising. While Republicans are premising their tax cuts on the need to get tax relief flowing through the economy, Democrats are positioning their preferred tax breaks as investments that would occur over decades. That difference matters as Republicans believe jobs are likely to come from lower effective rates and policies such as permanently making it easier for small businesses to fully expense the cost of new business equipment and changing the IRS requirements for companies using contractors. Democrats counter that tax breaks to help children and provide market signals for cleaner energy will deliver growth in the long run. The really fundamental part of key policies has to be around how do we make long-term investments that help our communities, help our families, said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Republicans have been short-term thinkers and are really focused on the wealthy and well-connected. One key difference between parties is how they would get money to families. The GOP bill would increase the standard deduction by $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for families in 2024 and 2025. That might sound like a lot of money, but it's less than one might think because those totals apply to the amount of income that's taxable rather than savings. By definition, lower earners would receive less money back from a more generous standard deduction. The bottom 40% of households would on average have tax cuts of less than $12 a month, according to an analysis by the Tax Policy Center. Households in the top 20% would have an average monthly tax cut of $46. By contrast, Democrats would rather help families by renewing the expanded child tax credit, which became more accessible and increased in size because of Biden's 2021 coronavirus pandemic relief package. Families could get monthly payments of as much as $300 per child as part of the expansion, which lapsed after one year. The child poverty rate fell to a record low of 5.2% in 2021 because of the payments. While the House bill is unlikely to pass the Senate or get signed by Biden, it's part of a broader message on how each party thinks about the tax code. Just as Democrats are deeply skeptical that the GOP's cuts would produce growth, Republicans are wary about administering social policy through the IRS. Those differences point toward the risks in 2025, when the debt limit drama restarts and tax breaks for the middle class and wealthy alike are on the verge of lapsing. Theres a fundamental disconnect about the purpose of the tax code," York said. That sets us up in 2025 for a whole bunch of uncertainty. Understanding the significance of the US debt limit Understanding the significance of the US debt limit Congress came within just days of defaulting three times in the past 12 years Repaying the national debt would cost more than $90,000 per person The last time the US paid off the national interest-bearing debt was in 1835. A major depression followed two years later. "Extraordinary measures" are budgeting tactics used to keep the government from defaulting on its debt while terms are established to increase the debt limit Actual spending cuts are relatively small but give some politicians "winning" talking points When Congress returns to Capitol Hill after its Fourth of July district work period 17 days long for the House and 16 days for the Senate members face two enormous tasks with little time to complete either. On Sept. 30, the 2018 farm bill expires and, simultaneously, the federal government needs a new budget in place to open its doors Oct. 1. It will take a mighty effort for either to get done. In the three months between July1 and Oct. 1, the House is scheduled to be in session just 24 days and the Senate for 30 days. The biggest, most difficult fight will be passing the 2024 federal budget. In a good year, much of that wonky, tedious work goes on behind the scenes as key committee chairs, ranking members, and staff debate, schmooze, and compromise to hammer out a spending plan few members like but most can swallow. In a bad year, it can be hand-to-hand combat that often turns into a multi-trillion-dollar game of chicken with a government shutdown as the ultimate threat. And 2023 is a bad year but not for the usual partisan reasons. Instead, this battle features House Republicans warring with other House Republicans over how deep to cut 2024 federal spending despite the debt-raising deal hammered out between Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden in late May. Mr. McCarthy and his leadership team, reported the New York Times June 15, blindsided Democrats ... by setting allocations for the 12 annual spending bills at 2022 levels, about $119 billion less than the $1.59 trillion allowed for in the [May] agreement to raise the debt ceiling. McCarthy also blindsided most Republicans especially in the Senate who thought they had a deal with the White House that gave Congress the green light to get both a budget bill and farm bill done before the Oct. 1 deadline. Not so. Now everyone is stuck as moderate Republicans try to remove a monkey wrench thrown into the already-creaky gears of a deeply divided government by a handful of hard right House Republican monkeywrenchers. And there are no easy ideas on how to do it. In fact, reported Politico recently, GOP hardliners are still fuming over the deal McCarthy struck with Biden to raise the debt limit earlier this month, especially a provision that could expand the number of people on federal food aid. Ah, yes, food aid or SNAP, the Supplemental Food Assistance Program, that now gobbles up 80% of all farm bill dollars. Dems see it as an integral part of federal programming to support families in need; hardline Republicans view it as a too-costly, fraud-ridden program (despite the lack of confirming evidence) that promotes government dependency. Pragmatic members in Congress, Dem and Repub alike not to mention almost every farm and commodity group see SNAP as the political bridge to bring broad urban support to government farm programs. Without those non-farm votes, most political handicappers agree, there would be no farm bill. Todays same anti-food aid tactic was used by Republican hardliners during the 2018 farm bill fight. The results, reminds Politico, helped to sink a partisan House GOP farm bill on the floor. It took another seven months to get the final bill done. Importantly, it wasnt Democrats that propelled the 2018 bill to victory; it was the Republican-majority Senate [that] eventually stripped the House GOPs steep SNAP restrictions from the final legislation that delivered its eventual passage. This time around, however, the Dems run the Senate and their Ag Committee boss, Michigans Debbie Stabenow, recently announced that Congress is done discussing SNAP work requirements in the wake of the [McCarthy-Biden] debt limit talks. Stabenows message didnt register with Speaker McCarthy. In private, reported Politico in mid-June, the speaker has told fellow Republicans that to appease hardliners, the party will need to at least push for stricter work requirements. Appeasing hardliners may allow McCarthy to maintain his tenuous grip on his job but it wont make any farmer or ranchers job any easier if theres no farm bill come Oct. 1. One of the more troubling things I see is the proclivity of some citizens to easily embrace conspiracies. This tendency to disregard ideas that have a rock solid foundation in facts is discouraging. What kind of education do these people have to almost blindly accept crazy plots for no other reason than they make one feel good? Here are a few of the more bizarre of the many out there. The moon landing never happened. Yes it did. Moon rocks have been studied and analyzed by scientists all over the world, not just Americans. They confirmed the rocks as not being from Earth. Why would non-Americans participate in an American fake? They wouldnt. Jet vapor trails are full of dangerous chemicals the government is feeding into the atmosphere. No, theyre not. These trails are little more than water vapor condensing in the low temperatures at high altitude. Burning of fuel not only releases energy but also gases, the biggest being carbon dioxide. These gases turn into harmless water vapor. They are not part of some government plot. Here is a nonfake result, though. They can create clouds that in large quantities may actually affect weather The 911 attacks were caused by everybody except Bin Laden and his minions. This one is baffling. The claims that Israel was involved, or there were explosives in the buildings already, or even that the president knew in advance are breathtaking. The convoluted logic conspiracy believers go through defies belief. They seize on tiny irrelevant scraps of facts and convert them into nefarious plots. The huge body of evidence points to Bin Laden. Thats the real fact here. The JFK assassination involved more than Harvey Oswald. Fidel Castros government, or maybe anti-Castro activists, or organized crime, or the CIA, or Vice President Lyndon Johnson are some of the culprits named. The Warren Commission interviewed hundreds of people and issued an 888 page report stating Oswald acted alone. This one we will never be completely sure of because he was killed soon after the assassination. But why not accept the report which far exceeds any other single work on the assassination? These are just a few examples. Back to education and critical thinking. I taught my students to critically question everything, including me. They were to research and ponder ideas and statements. I wanted them to use a combination of their education, facts, and common sense to arrive at a position. But like Sherlock Holmes, when new facts emerge, those should be evaluated and if necessary lead to reworked beliefs. Facts should always be questioned, but ultimately the best way to deal with them is to evaluate the source. Is it a source students have learned to trust? Is it a source that has reason to deceive? But importantly, does what the source says make sense? This is a good way to evaluate not only potential conspiracy theories but also the news. We are besieged with all manner of information from broadcasters such as CNN and Fox and social media like Twitter and Facebook. It really is hard to sift through all of it and try to discover what might be that elusive and vague thing we call truth. But we should try. Considering the Russian people defended President Putin and the Russian government The coup detat that the CIA, M16, and Ukrainians put together to help Prigozhin incite an armed rebellion failed. It is readily apparent that the West feeds directly into its own rhetoric that the Russian people are enslaved and fed up with Putin and that all theyre going to have to do to install a new government, is to start some sort of revolution They reportedly tweaked Prigozhins ego by assuring him that if he facilitates in a regime change, he would soon be the new leader of Russia. They genuinely did endeavor to, I guarantee. Prigozhin is an extremely dangerous egomaniac with a huge ego, has become a criminal, who dreamed about becoming the most well-known Russian Its time for President Putin, as you indicated, to remove from Russias political and administrative scenes of traitors. They are those who are reveled in the impending turmoil. Mr. President Putin, the moment has come WtR People in Russia got pissed about what Prigozhin tried to do I call it weeding out the 6th Column Russian society forced Prigozhin to back down The lack of support for the rebellion forced Prigozhin to abandon the military adventure According to Yevgeny Minchenko, president of the Minchenko Consulting communications holding, Western countries were hoping for a full-fledged civil conflict in Russia and thank God it didnt happen. Today was a very difficult and very important day, publicist Nikolai Starikov summed up. Russia has literally walked on a knifes edge. A hundred years ago it did not pass, but now it has passed. The most important factor influencing the resolution of the crisis was the position of the Russian society. Representatives of Russian regions, leading politicians, religious leaders, public figures, soldiers on the front line-all of them condemned the Prigozhin adventure. Thus, the Russian society expressed a strong condemnation of the armed rebellion, clearly showed that it is on the side of the legitimate authorities and sustainable civil peace. The most important thing that saved and helped and distinguished June 2023 from February 1917 is the consolidation of the country around the president, says Starikov. The political elite, military, social activists and ordinary citizens united around the head of Russia, and the rebels were left without support, in isolation. According to Minchenko, in general, judging by social networks, Russian society shared the idea that in conditions when our fighters are holding back the enemys offensive, it is unacceptable to start any more internal quarrels. The reaction of the West and Ukraine was also significant: the media, public figures, and politicians openly gloated about what was happening. This served as an additional marker for Russian society that Prigozhins rebellion is beneficial to Russias opponents, and not at all to its patriots, as he tried to claim in social networks. However, this was not the only lie from the very beginning, a fake was exposed, replicated about the alleged strike on the locations of the Wagner PMC. Prigozhin lost not by military means, but primarily by political and informational means Russian society was convinced of the harmfulness and insincerity of his statements. As a result, Prigozhin was forced to abandon his adventure, stop the mutiny, and agree to an amicable agreement. It didnt work out to deceive and confuse the people. And then they backed out. writes Starikov. Its a good thing that this is the case we definitely dont need bloodshed and civil war. Of course, this peace will be achieved through negotiations, agreements and compromise. A compromise was necessary, among other things, because a number of decisions were made before that, which carried the seeds of potential problems, Minchenko believes. Situational conflict resolution has emerged today, but the management system associated with the SVR needs to be changed. Thus, the political and social crisis that suddenly broke out in Russia was overcome in almost a day. No civil war that was predicted in Ukraine and the West has begun, the Russian political system has proved its stability, and Russian society has proved its maturity. And the special military operation will continue and we can expect that with even greater energy. https://vz.ru/politics/2023 COLUMBUS The Columbus City Council voted in favor of naming June as Pride Month but decided to postpone a decision on flying a Pride flag during its meeting on Tuesday. Seven people spoke up in favor of the flag being raised during the meeting, with no one asking the city not to fly the flag. Councilperson Ian Gray, who had donated the Progress Pride flag last year when it was first flown, drafted the resolution asking the council to fly the flag this month as well as proclaiming June as Pride Month. Several supporters of Grays resolution spoke at last months committee of a whole meeting as well. The Pride flag beautifully represents inclusivity, acceptance and unity, Travis Heiman said. When you display the Pride flag downtown, you make a statement that you stand with the LGBTQ+ community and promote an inclusive society. It encourages dialog, understanding and empathy as well a sense of belonging and community for all. Tonight you will send a message to our LGBTQ+ citizens either positive or negative, Heiman added. I urge you to send a positive message by issuing a proclamation for Pride Month and raising the Pride flag downtown as a positive step of unity for all citizens of Columbus. Alderperson Adam Steiner opposed the resolution, saying he felt that the council should maintain a neutral stance. We have to be representative of everybody, Steiner said. The diversity we have is on this council, its on this panel, and it is in this community itself and not in our flag or banner. Steiner said that the government must be representative of everybody and that the council as well as the community embody the diversity in the city. Gray objected, and said it is the councils job to make these decisions. He added that America has never remained neutral. We have been quite the opposite of neutral, Gray said. That is just a nonstarter for me. Mayor Joe Hammer opposes the resolution and said the entire city is not on board with flying the pride flag. I support anybody their right to live their lives as they choose to live, says Hammer. Again, the [American] flag on my right represents all citizens of the United States. The flag on my left, the state flag, does represent all citizens of the United States. Alderperson Molly Finkler suggested declaring June as Pride Month, but removing flying the flag this June and revisiting the idea next April, which the council approved. Columbus celebrates Red Bud Day Red Bud001.jpg Red Bud002.jpg Red Bud003.jpg Red Bud004.jpg Red Bud005.jpg Red Bud006.jpg Red Bud007.jpg Red Bud008.jpg Red Bud009.jpg Red Bud010.jpg Red Bud011.jpg Red Bud012.jpg Red Bud013.jpg Red Bud014.jpg Red Bud015.jpg Red Bud016.jpg Red Bud017.jpg Red Bud018.jpg Red Bud019.jpg The City of Reno planted nine different species of trees to give kids some extra shade as well as bring some nature into their daily lives. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form On Monday, a judge denied Tonnochy's request for new representation. His preliminary hearing is set to happen September 15. June 24 Update: The man accused of killing an 18-year-old mother earlier this year is expected in court on Monday. Todd Tonnochy is accused of killing Hailey Nieto and leaving her body near a road in Cold Springs in March. According to court documents, Tonnochy has already made appearances in court on March 19 and June 5. Tonnochy's next court appearance will be a status hearing. Tonnochy remains in the Washoe County Jail where he is being held on no bail. May 18 Update: The man accused of killing 18-year-old Hailey Nieto is now back in Washoe County after being extradited from Texas. 39-year-old Todd Tonnochy was booked into the Washoe County Jail on Thursday on charges of open murder and concealing/destroying evidence. Tonnochy was arrested by U.S. Marshals on March 28 in Midland, Texas. As of right now, there is a no court date scheduled for Tonnochy. Nieto's body was found on the dirt extension of North Virginia Street in March, and her death was ruled a homicide. MARCH 31, 2023: Authorities say a man is now behind bars accused of killing 18-year-old Hailey Nieto and leaving her body near a road in Cold Springs last week. On March 28, 2023, through an investigation led by the Washoe County Sheriffs Office, the U.S. Marshals Service arrested 39-year-old Todd Tonnochy. On March 28, 2023, the U.S. Marshals, with the assistance of the Midland County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division and SWAT team, successfully located Tonnochy at a motel in Midland, Texas, where they took him into custody. Washoe County Sheriffs Office detectives say there are no outstanding suspects in this case, and they would like to thank the members of the public who provided tips and information. ---- A viewing was held Wednesday for the woman whose body was found north of Reno last week. The family sent us photos of the viewing they had for Hailey Nieto at Mountain View Mortuary. Her brother and parents were among those who attended the 18-year-old's viewing. As we reported, her body was found last week with a gunshot wound on the dirt extension of North Virginia Street and is being investigated as a homicide. In a statement, her family said: "Hailey was a daughter, mother, granddaughter, great granddaughter, cousin, niece and aunt. She loved her two baby girls and loved taking them to the park to see the ducks and go on the swings. She was a Reno Native, born and raised here. She was studying to be a mortician and wanted to work at Mountain View Mortuary someday. Its very sad that she ended up there in a different way. She loved doing art, makeup, fashion, loved music, camping, Hawaii and Lake Tahoe in the summer. She was so empathetic, she would occasionally go to cemeteries, read about peoples stories and show her respect. She leaves behind a two-year-old and nine-month-old, Luna & Mila." Authorities are looking for anyone who may have been in the area between 5:00 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2023. If you have any information that can help authorities, call or text your anonymous tip to Secret Witness at 775-322-4900. A $5,000 reward is being offered. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help expenses. Click below - Instagram Celebrity The oldest son of David and Victoria Beckham posts a heartfelt tribute to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of his relationship with the 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' actress. Jun 25, 2023 AceShowbiz - Brooklyn Beckham is looking forward to starting a family with Nicola Peltz. The 24-year-old star has posted on social media to celebrate the three-year anniversary since he proposed to Nicola, 28, and Brooklyn has revealed that he's eager to start a family with the actress. "3 years ago I asked my best friend to marry me x it has been the most amazing 3 years and your are my everything x I can't wait to stay young together and continue to grow together," Brooklyn - who married Nicola in 2022 - wrote on Instagram. "I wouldn't be where I am today without you x you make me a better person and man every single day and I can't wait to start a family with you at some point x happy 3 year anniversary Nicola Peltz Beckham [heart emojis] (sic)." Earlier this year, Nicola revealed that her husband is "so romantic." The actress also admitted that she was caught off guard by Brooklyn's proposal. She told Cosmopolitan UK, "So we started dating three years ago last October." "He would tell me all the time, 'I want to be with you,' or 'I want to marry you.' We got engaged eight months into our relationship, and at that point, he'd actually had the ring sitting in our room for three months. He's so romantic, so when he would plan something, I wouldn't think too much of it." "So he was like, 'Oh, let's have a date night at your house.' And he tricked me, because we were in New York but my whole family was in Florida. But he'd told my family to fly up, so they were all hiding to celebrate with us." "He really wanted both of our families to be there when he asked me, but it was so complicated with the border restrictions. So the morning after we got engaged, we flew to London so that we got to celebrate with his family, too." You can share this post! Celebrity The 'Apocalypse Now' actor is announced to have passed away at the age of 86 at his home in Santa Monica on June 23 after suffering from an illness for a long time. Jun 25, 2023 AceShowbiz - Frederic Forrest has passed away. The "Apocalypse Now" actor - who played Jay "Chef" Hicks in Francis Ford Coppola's 1979 war epic - died at his home in Santa Monica on Friday, June 23 at the age of 86. Frederic, who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Sgt. Huston Dyer in "The Rose", had been ill for a long time although his cause of death has not been disclosed, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Frederic's co-star in "The Rose", Bette Midler - who made her movie debut as Mary Rose Foster in the 1979 musical drama - was the first to break the news of her "brilliant" friend's passing. She tweeted, "The great and beloved Frederic Forrest has died. Thank you to all of his fans and friends for all their support these last few months. He was a remarkable actor, and a brilliant human being, and I was lucky to have him in my life. He was at peace." Last September, Frederic's friends organised a GoFundMe page to help pay for his ongoing care costs. The page explained that any contributions helped "maintain Fredric's home care for the past six months by paying caregivers to be with him 8 hours a day, 7 days a week (sic)." Frederic missed out on both the Best Supporting Actor Oscar and Golden Globe for "The Rose" to "Being There' 's Melvyn Douglas. His other appearances included his film debut "When the Legends Die", and three other collaborations with Coppola, "The Conversation", "One From the Heart", and "Tucker, The Man and His Dream". His final big screen appearance came in "All the King's Men" while Frederic - who was born in Texas on 23 December 1936 - also had TV roles in the likes of "21 Jump Street", "Lonesome Dove", and "Larry, Quo Vadis?". He is survived by his sister. You can share this post! Cover Images/Adam Nemser Celebrity Civilian hikers have discovered human remains in the area where the 'Room with a View' actor was allegedly missing in the Mount Baldy of California in January. Jun 25, 2023 AceShowbiz - Human remains have been discovered in the area where Julian Sands went missing. The "Room with a View" star was last spotted in the Mount Baldy area of California on January 13, and now the local sheriff's department have revealed civilian hikers had contacted the authorities on Saturday, June 24 morning after making a tragic discovery. The remains have been taken to the coroner's office for identification, with the process expected to be completed next week and then a further announcement will likely be made, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Julian, who was a keen hiker and mountaineer, was reported missing on January 13 after he failed to return home from walking in the Mount Baldy area. Since then, eight searches by ground and air have taken place to look for the "Leaving Las Vegas" actor but have been hindered by poor conditions in the area and were even halted in March due to the risk of avalanches. As recently as June 17, 80 search and rescue volunteers, deputies and staff, as well as two helicopters and drone crews, set out to look for Julian. The sheriff's department said in a statement at the time, "Despite the recent warmer weather, portions of the mountain remain inaccessible due to extreme alpine conditions," the sheriff's department said in a statement at the time. Multiple areas include steep terrain and ravines, which still have 10-plus feet of ice and snow." Earlier this week, the "24" actor's family said they continued to keep him "in our hearts with bright memories." They added in a statement, "We are deeply grateful to the search teams and co-ordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian." "We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer." You can share this post! To launch his career as a star podcaster and to fulfill his end of the reported $20 million deal he and Meghan Markle signed with Spotify, Prince Harry floated several ideas for shows that didnt impress producers and that may have contributed to the companys decision to part ways with the couple. According to a report by Bloombergs Soundbite newsletter, one questionable concept would be for the renegade British prince to focus on the issue of childhood trauma and to interview a series of controversial global figures about their early formative years and how those experiences resulted in the adults they are today. Some of Harrys dream guests included recently indicted former U.S. President Donald Trump, autocratic Russian President Vladimir Putin and polarizing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, according to newsletter writer Ashley Carman, citing sources with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The California-based Duke of Sussex also had an idea for a show centered on fatherhood, while another would tackle a major societal issue per episode, ranging from climate change to religion, Carman also said. For the big issues podcast, Harry hoped to interview Pope Francis. This report about Harrys curious podcast ideas comes a week after news broke that Spotify was ending its deal with Harry and Meghan, effectively canceling a second season of Meghans 12-episode Archetypes podcast. The report also provides a backdrop to last weeks surprising outburst by fellow Spotify podcaster Bill Simmons, who took to his eponymous show to call Harry and Meghan grifters. Simmons, a former sportswriter and founder of the The Ringer podcast network, suggested that he had an absurd Zoom meeting with Harry to help him formulate his podcast ideas. I gotta get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. Its one of my best stories, Simmons said. Back in January 2023, Simmons also said on his podcast that he was so embarrassed to be on Spotify with Harry. He said that the only way the duke can get attention is to write a book or give interviews, dishing about his unhappy life in the British royal family. Its one of those things where its like, wheres your talent Simmons said on his podcast in January. Why are we listening to you? So you were born in a royal family and then you left. ... You sell documentaries and podcasts, and nobody cares what you have to say about anything unless you talk about the royal family, and you just complain about them. After Harry and Meghan signed their deal with Spotify in late 2020, they expressed their appreciation for the potential of audio storytelling, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They said they wanted to embrace the extraordinary capacity of podcasts to elevate underrepresented voices. They promised to produce and host podcasts note the plural, Bloomberg said and deliver their first full series in 2021. Initially, Harry and Meghan co-hosted a half-hour Christmas podcast in 2021. But their first full series didnt come until August 2022. It was Meghans Archetypes podcast. Just 12 episodes, it was entirely Meghans show, leading people to wonder whether her husbands podcasting career had been put on the back burner. From the Bloomberg report, it sounds like Harry was eager to do his own shows, but none of his ideas came to fruition. Bloombergs Carman was told that Harry spoke with multiple producers and production houses and heard various concepts. But he wanted to stick to his own idea about childhood trauma. He apparently wanted to be the one person in the world who could engage Trump, Putin and Zuckerberg in meaningful conversations about their personal histories. Its hard to fathom Harrys reasoning, but he had to expect that such conversations could allow these men to present themselves in a sympathetic light. The practicality of these ideas struck some people in the Harry-podcast cosmos as questionable at best, given that people like Putin and Zuckerberg rarely give wide-ranging interviews about the topics theyre passionate about let alone about their upbringings and personal childhood traumas, Carman wrote. Its probably no surprise that no podcast from Harry materialized. The difficulty of nailing down a workable idea and actually recording a show over nearly three years of a production deal speaks to the broader reckoning around celebrity-driven content, Carman wrote. Meanwhile, those 12 episodes of Meghans Archetypes podcast remain the extent of the couples output for Spotify, giving Simmons and other veteran podcasters and broadcasters, such as Stephen A. Smith, to characterize them as lazy and greedy. As reports emerged over the weekend that Meghan didnt do some of the interviews on Archetypes, Will Page, another former Spotify executive, told the BBC that she and Harry possibly earned more from their Spotify deal than the companys most streamed song ever, Blinding Lights, by The Weeknd. Not bad for 12 hours work, Page said. ___ (c)2023 Silicon Valley, San Jose, Calif. Visit Silicon Valley, San Jose, Calif. at https://www.siliconvalley.com/ Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Get John Archibalds newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to Johns weekly newsletter: This is an opinion column. We should have known from the get-go this Alabama medical marijuana venture would be a trip. Long. Strange. Fuzzy. When the Alabama Legislature decided to legalize medical marijuana in 2021, it demanded that cannabis gummies be shaped into cubes or lozenges, to be less appealing to kids, and that each and every one of them be peach flavored. Not because peaches are delicious. Not because peaches are Alabamas leading commercial fruit, which they are. Not even because of peach pride. The Alabama Legislature chose peach flavoring because it demanded that gummies may not be processed into a form that is attractive to or targets children. And peaches, according to those dopes, are the pits. Bunch of fuzzkills. Its an affront to peach lovers everywhere. Then again, as John McMillan, the director of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission put it Friday, Unfortunately its a bad year for peaches. He was joking. But it is fitting still. It has now been two years since the passage of the law, and the AMCC, the group that decides what companies get to join Alabamas legal pot businesses, is under fire from a series of lawsuits that claim ineptitude and poorly handled applications. Plaintiffs argue the commission outsourced decision-making power rather than making its own picks, that it gave some companies special treatment and operates in a purple haze of secrecy. In the last three AMCC hearings, for instance, the body convened and went almost immediately into executive session, according to minutes and lawsuits. And while companies that apply for licenses are posted on the AMCC site, most have been redacted beyond all recognition, striking through names, locations, everything. McMillan said the choice of whether to redact information was left up to the applicants, but said neither the evaluators nor the commissioners were encumbered by the redactions. As I was encumbered by confusion, I asked for clarity. Meaning they werent redacted to you? I asked. Thats right, McMillan said. Everybody that counted. Ouch. What about the other 5 million of us? I mean, why does the state want to do business with people who dont want to be seen? That seems a lot like the pot business before this law. And here I thought paying taxes in this lovely land made us stockholders in the states success and failure. I must be high. At issue in the latest lawsuit is how the AMCC, despite being charged under the law with administering the cannabis rules, used the University of South Alabama to score the applications. USA then advertised for evaluators to do the job, as long as they completed one online training session. McMillan serves on the Board of Directors of the University of South Alabama Foundation, along with USA President Jo Bonner, former chief of staff to Gov. Kay Ivey. A suit filed Thursday by Alabama Always LLC argued the commission on June 12 went behind closed doors to rubber stamp the list vetted by the South Alabama group. The Commission emerged from an hours-long executive session meeting and voted with no debate to accept a slate of applicants to be granted licenses, the suit says. In fact, it was not clear to many observers that a vote was taken in public as opposed to executive session. The slate approved by the Commission consisted of the applicants that a group of anonymous graders or scorers had rated highest on a set of criteria. The commission has acknowledged the process was flawed. In a meeting last week it said it would no longer issue licenses based on the June 12 meeting because it found problems with the way the applications were scored. The lawsuits and other delays may push the launch of Alabamas medical marijuana program to next year. McMillan said he couldnt talk about the lawsuits, but said Its been as clean and clear a process as you could possibly have, and politically free for that matter. He defended the AMCCs work and said some applicants are sure to be dissatisfied simply because of the numbers. There are 38 applicants for the highest level of marijuana growth and distribution, but only five available licenses. It means no matter what happens were going to have five happy people and 33 unhappy people, he said. In other words, everything is just peachy. It would be easier to believe if we could just peel away the fuzz. John Archibald is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner for AL.com. A Birmingham man was killed early Saturday in a single-vehicle crash in Shelby County. Alabama State Troopers identified the fatality victim as Devan L. Fields. He was 36. Senior Trooper Justin ONeal said Fields was driving a Honda CBR1000 motorcycle that left the road and struck a ditch. Fields was pronounced dead on the scene. The investigation is ongoing by state troopers. The girlfriend of a dentist convicted of killing his wife on an African safari in 2016 was sentenced Friday to 17 years in prison. Lori Milliron was found guilty by a federal jury last year of being an accessory after the fact to murder and obstruction of justice in connection to the killing of 57-year-old Bianca Rudolph. She was also found guilty of lying to a grand jury about her relationship with the victims husband, Lawrence Larry Rudolph. The 68-year-old was convicted of fatally shooting his wife of 34 years while the two were on a hunting trip to Zambia. The victims daughter, Ana Rudolph, said on Friday Milliron plotted to eliminate her mother. Addressing the 65-year-old directly, Ana said she might have taken her parents, but despite everything you have done you will never take my soul. This might be difficult to understand ... because you dont have one. Millirons defense attorney, John Dill, said the prison sentence seemed excessive and that he would appeal. Judge William J. Martinez said Millron deserved the long sentence because evidence showed she seemed to have encouraged the killing. On Friday, Milliron maintained her innocence adding she was sympathetic to the Rudolph family. Last summer, federal prosecutors presented evidence during a three-week trial in Colorado that Rudolph killed his wife so he could claim her death was an accident and pocket nearly $5 million from nine life insurance policies. He claimed his wife died as a result of the accidental discharge of a firearm. However, evidence showed she was shot once in the heart with a 12-gauge shotgun on Oct. 11, 2016 the final day of the couples two-week hunting trip. The disgraced dentist was also set to be sentenced this week, but his hearing has been postponed. With News Wire Services 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A company that performed electrical, concrete and mechanical work for Montgomery Whitewater, a rafting and kayaking park opening in July, has alleged that the general contractor treated minority-owned subcontractors inappropriately and did not pay them. MDG Contracting & Environmental Solutions filed the lawsuit against the Montgomery County Community Cooperative District. Montgomery Whitewater is located within the district and was created through a partnership with Southern Whitewater Development Group, according to the website. The lawsuit describes it as a quasi-public project that required at least 30 percent of subcontractors to be owned by women or minorities. MDG is a minority-owned business that was selected to perform work on the whitewater park. According to the lawsuit, the general contractor, the Mississippi-based company JESCO, mismanaged scheduling of the work, including construction scope sequencing, and blamed resulting cost overruns on [minority business enterprises]. The general contractor used that as a pretext not to pay MDG and to scale back work performed by minority subcontractors, according to the lawsuit. JESCO then used self-inflicted cost overruns as a pretext to not pay MDG and reduced MBEs scopes of workinvariably awarding the MBEs former work to JESCO to self-perform or send to those within its good ol boy network, and at times performing the work with unlicensed subcontractors, including using a largely undocumentedand cheaper work force, the lawsuit said. JESCO is not named as a party in the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that the general contractor made it clear they did not want to work with MDG, failed to provide accurate and detailed construction plans and than threatened to remove work from their contract. MDG said it was not given enough time to do some parts of the work required for the project. On other occasions, other contractors failed to coordinate so MDG could complete its portion of the project. As a result, the companys subcontract was terminated in July 2022, according to the lawsuit. Later, the park of the companys contract was restored. In late 2022, MDG officials submitted a complaint stating they were owed $7.6 million in construction costs. In a court document, attorneys for the Montgomery County Community Cooperative District said MDG had reached an agreement in July 2022 when they reversed the companys termination, signing a letter that has been followed by all parties. As part of the agreement, the developers and the subcontractor agreed not to seek back payments from the disputed work, the motion said. The letter of agreement should have resolved the disputes between the companies and made the lawsuit unnecessary, according to attorneys for the district. MDG refuses to honor the Letter Agreement, according to the court documents. First, MDG filed a verified statement of lien. Second, roughly two weeks later, it brought this lawsuit seeking $7,666,762.00 to enforce its already-released lien, and otherwise making claims for unjust enrichment and breach of contract. Lawyers for the district are seeking a dismissal of the lawsuit. A hearing related to the case is scheduled for August. An airline worker is dead after being pulled into the engine of a plane at San Antonio International Airport in Texas, officials told news outlets. A flight from Los Angeles had just landed at about 10:30 p.m. on June 23 and while it was taxiing, a worker on the ground was ingested into an engine, the National Transportation Safety Board told WOAI in a statement. The plane belongs to Delta Airlines, and the NTSB said it is communicating with the airline as they investigate the deadly incident, KENS reported. The worker was employed by Unifi, a company that Delta contracts with, the company told McClatchy News. We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family members life in San Antonio, Delta said in an email. Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. Unifi Aviation said in a statement obtained by KENS that the incident was unrelated to Unifis operational processes, safety procedures and policies. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time, the company said, according to the outlet. The airport said that it will release more information when its available, WOAI reported. We are deeply saddened by this incident and are working with authorities as they begin their investigation, the airport said, according to the outlet. McClatchy News has reached out to the NTSB for more information. Courtney 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 Montgomery Regional Airport. According to OSHA records, Piedmont Airlines was fined $15,625 for a safety breach that led to the death of the passenger service agent. AL.com contributed to this report. 2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The downtown Birmingham location of Revelator Coffee Company closed without warning this weekend, according to social media posts and signs taped to the shops front windows. Handwritten notices announced that the coffee shop was closed forever and said employees had been given no notice or severance. The employees thanked customers for their love and support and apologized for the inconvenience. Revelator Coffee Company operates a handful of coffee shops across the South. We threw a show there last night for them taking our job out from under us pic.twitter.com/xBbVL75XoX Will and 600 others (@fakebrowser) June 25, 2023 In addition to the location across from McWane Science Center in Birmingham, the website also lists shops in New Orleans and the campus of Birmingham-Southern College. The downtown location was the companys first, according to its website. It also opened a 15,000-square foot roasting facility in Birmingham in 2015. In a 2015 interview, the companys spokeswoman announced plans for locations all across the South, including Chattanooga, Atlanta and Nashville. Revelator sold craft coffee roasted in small batches. Officials from the company have not yet responded to requests for comment. David Shers ComebackTown for a better greater Birmingham Click here to sign up for newsletter. (Opt out at any time) Todays guest columnist is Maury Shevin. If there is any dream that I have for my hometown it is this: Birmingham, Alabama is a metropolitan area where its young people do not leave home for other cities; rather young people move to Birmingham for its world class job opportunities and vibrancy. Is this still only a dream or is it becoming reality? Let me step back in history for just a moment. For my entire life, too many of the best and brightest young people have exited Birmingham for perceived brighter futures in Atlanta, and more recently in Charlotte, Nashville and other Sunbelt cities. Notwithstanding our having the same temperate climate and similar natural resources, other cities have beckoned our young people with their offers of better job opportunities and a more progressive social atmosphere. For too many years, political dysfunction and passive indifference by those in positions of power, and often outright discrimination, fostered this less-than-ideal place for personal and professional growth. But, is this changing? Have we in Birmingham found our groove? Maybe we have. Birmingham today As many recent Comeback Town columnists have noted, Birminghams landscape is changing. And this change is opening job opportunities for young people. Our entrepreneurs develop new venues of all types, and our political leaders have used their political capital to support change. This combination has given us the Parkside, Midtown and Lakeview transformations, the Crossplex, Uptown and Protective Stadium, and now the redevelopment of Southtown and Carraway. And of critical importance there is the steady leadership of UAB and its related entities that play a strategic role in keeping our region competitive. UAB is a world class center for medicine and education. If you travel at all, you know this to be a factnot just my opinion. Our corporations including ONeal Industries, Brasfield & Gorrie, Shipt and Landing continue to welcome new hires to Birmingham. Job opportunities in technology and the arts are here in Birmingham for those who are looking. Our social scene, including the celebration of Pride and Juneteenth speak volumes to our changing sense of place. These changes have not come about easily, nor overnight. Mayor Woodfin, Mayor Brocato and other political leaders are working tirelessly to draw business opportunities to the Birmingham Metropolitan area to create a welcoming future for Birminghams next generation. Because of their efforts, we are more self-assured, more self-confident. We are not afraid to try new thingseven if some are problematic. So, how does Birmingham build on its successes? First, lets quit bemoaning that we are not Atlanta, Georgia. And, just why would anyone want to be? Who wants hours in traffic and the paving of our backyards with freeways and strip malls, particularly when job opportunities and cultural enrichment are virtually 15 minutes away from everyones home? Next, lets play to our strengths. For example, by all rights, we should have a world class human rights and civil rights tourism industry in Birmingham. Why isnt our Civil Rights District already the dominant one in the USA? Couldnt, shouldnt a world class Civil Rights District be every bit a major driver of the Birmingham economy that UAB is? Lets demand it. And, lets demand that our Jefferson County and Shelby County Legislative delegations work together. Mobile and Huntsville have proven that when their counties legislators work together they accomplish their goals. We in Metropolitan Birmingham do not need to be subjugated to the will of Montgomery. Retention of our young adults should be our prime directive. This is accomplished by providing them with excellent job opportunities in a welcoming and progressive social environment. Other Sunbelt cities are doing this. We are too. Lets better market our story. Maury Shevinpassionate about the City of Birminghamlives, works, thinks and plays on Birminghams Southside. David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP). Click here to sign up for our newsletter. (Opt out at any time) This is a guest opinion column The Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce presents an annual Armed Forces Celebration recognizing those serving in the military as well as government contractors. Its a time to reflect on how much we owe these many people who live in our community. And all of those people are not being treated fairly. As Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said, for far too long, its been far too hard for innovators and entrepreneurs to work with the department. And the barriers for entry into this effort to work with us in national security are often too steep far too steep. Everyone knows its not easy working for the government, but small businesses, including veteran owned small businesses, have an especially hard time. This past April, the Pentagon released a report calling out the many problems facing smaller contractors while extolling the innovation small business contractors bring. In Huntsville alone, small businesses government contractors support major initiatives at the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency, not to mention other Federal agencies. One issue, bluntly stated, is that small businesses serving the military are not always paid promptly. I recently spoke with a small business owner who is a subcontractor for a large defense firm. While something called the Prompt Payments Act is supposed to ensure he gets paid quickly, he is a subcontractor and the prime contractor he works for is making him wait 90 days. This three-month gap until payment will cost him about $200,000 in annual financingthe equivalent of a highly skilled full-time employee with annual salary and benefits. Getting paid promptly is just one of the many problems small businesses serving the military face today. In fact, there are a raft of policies that need to be revamped. While my friends delayed payment was both irritating and expensive, it is by no means his most significant barrier to growth. Small businesses are getting squeezed because we are closed out of many prime contract vehicles, he fumed, reprising a frequent complaint of local subcontractors in the Huntsville area. Huntsvilles small business leaders endure something akin to second-class citizenship in the federal marketplace. These businesses, many run by veterans, end up indentured either as subcontractors or shoved into joint ventures (JVs) or teaming arrangements, because they dont have sufficient past performance that would allow them to successfully bid on big prime contracts. So, with a thicket of regulations blocking their pathway and industry giants thundering past them, they struggle in David and Goliath contests. Some of them go out of business. Lets be honest and accept an inconvenient truth. It is better to be a prime contractor providing services or goods to the Pentagon than a subcontractor actually doing the work. During this Armed Forces Week, its time to rethink many of the rules and regulations that govern small businesses serving the federal customer. Its also past time to say out loud that this is a national emergency. As we look at challenges as complex as threats to our space satellites, cyber attacks on our national infrastructure, tensions with Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, and more, America needs the energy and agile problem solving that small businesses deliver. Americans actually have more confidence in small business than they do the police, public schools, the medical system, church or even our US military, according to Gallup. If the Pentagon truly shares that confidence as they say they do, then the federal government must end the current second-class status of small businesses serving the defense sector. Sharon B. Heaton is the CEO and Founder of sbLiftOff, a national mergers and acquisitions advisory firm, specializing in commercial and government contracting companies. She was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in M&A by BDO and one of the Top 25 Women in M&A by Opus Connect. I cant be the only one wondering what has happened to us. The denizens of Washington and for that matter, the people who virtually live and breathe politics, are not your average Americans. Average Americans desire to live their lives with minimal government oversight, except when it might benefit them; this is the lamentable nature discussed herein. As for myself, I hope I stay on the outside of the political event horizon. Let me ask: is everyone corruptible? My father, a self-described king of philosophy, once told me the answer is Yes! He postulated that need and opportunity would overcome any societal restraints if the need was great enough, and the opportunity presented itself. I disagreed with him for decades but eventually came to witness and understand an essential truth. A simple example can be found in the famous 1862 Victor Hugo classic Les Miserables, which chronicles a man who stole a loaf of bread to feed his sisters starving family, and receives a 19-year-long prison sentence in return. Who wouldnt steal a loaf of bread in such circumstances? Perhaps this is how the situational ethics crowd views all such disparities and injustices without regard to severity. Today, there are far fewer circumstances analogous to the plight of Valjeans family. Help is everywhere. Whether its from private individuals, groups, or the government, no one in America needs to starve today. However, situationists use disadvantaged cases like Valjean to symbolize a somehow righteous permission to shoplift, cheat, rob, loot, and demolish. And corruption is no longer limited to the poor. Perhaps the worst thieves are found within the middle and upper classes. Why? Weve allowed the left to create a society that begs you to be dishonest and sees reduced consequences, if any. Here are just a few ways our current system exploits us and, in the process, continues to destroy our societal fabric and morality: Higher education is incredibly expensive. Financial aid allows people to take out loans they could not otherwise carry, breeding fiscal irresponsibility and disregard per Pew Research, 60% of students taking out loans they may never be able to repay. It lowers academic and intellectual standards and saturates the market with college graduates; when schools can get just about any price for tuition because the federal government is paying, everyone gets accepted, and rates go through the roof. Did you know that only 41% of students graduate within four years? Students want loan forgiveness or refunds, or they simply default, believing educational and opportunity promises made were unfulfilled; this is how we train people to think they are owed something for nothing. Taxes. The majority of us, the middle-incomers, pay less than a third of the income tax revenue. The top 20% pay over two-thirds, and the bottom 20% pay less than 2%. Yet, we constantly hear how the rich dont pay their fair share. How much should they pay? 75%? 100%? Too often, there is little (if any) rational and unemotional discourse, and greedy whims end up dictating policy, facts be damned! After all, our betters know best. Such is the root of political demagoguery amplified endlessly, to our detriment. An activist-entrenched bureaucracy is perhaps our most dangerous adversary. Treachery on all fronts: trillions of dollars needed to support it which puts a drag on any economic progress that could be made; and the support and cover it gives to communist schemes that threaten our lives, pocketbooks, and fraternal bond and belief that America is still exceptional. Bureaucracies ostensibly exist to carry out the needs of the people; how many of us still believe that? Government agencies, departments, and their subdivisions have morphed into amorphous parasites which primarily have an imperative to live on, procreate, and extend their reach. This is not what our Founding Fathers intended, but this is what we have now. Is it any wonder bureaucracies fight against the people, Congress, and even the president when threatened? The domestic weaponization of our government must cease. We must restrain all federal agencies, from the FBI to the Education Department, that act as political persecutors rather than civil servants. Narcissism. From selfies to TikTok, and from live your truth to you do you, weve been instilled with narcissism. An apparent truism is that a healthy society must be concerned with the betterment of the whole; this cannot happen when our focus is on ourselves. Yet, thats precisely what our advertising screams at us, and we have leaders that never mention sacrifice, but just what theyll do for you. Then, we reward anti-societal behavior like homelessness, crime, and sloth with protected class status. Have you heard that obese people are now demanding special status? Where does it end? The opposite of narcissism is self-sacrifice. We see far too little of that today. In fact, we subsidize our narcissists. Allans ruleyou only get more of what you subsidize. Marriage and family. Is there a correlation between the conundrum of divorce and being a good parent? Maybe. The divorce rate in America is actually down, but so is the rate of marriage. Heres an interesting tidbit from Forbes: Living together before marriage is one predictor of the likelihood of divorce. 57% of couples who did not cohabitate before marriage had a union that lasted 20 or more years, compared with just 46% who did live together before tying the knot. Another telling point is that about a third of children live in single-parent households. Progressives dont see anything wrong with that statistic, but I do. Worldwide, that number is only 7%. What has happened here? I believe we have forgotten the importance of children, focusing instead on perpetual immaturity and instant gratification. We are all paying for that hubris. Having a father is still very important. Discredited institutions. Something fundamental has been lost for us all, and that is too many people have lost faith in our system. Many election officials are openly partisan with little to no interest in open, free, and fair elections. According to the Census Bureau regarding the 2020 presidential election, Many voters used alternative voting methods, and there was a large shift to early voting and voting by mail. Voting by mail is an invitation to fraud and disproportionately benefits Democrats. It undercuts the importance of taking the time and effort to show up at the polls on a particular day and participate in a sacred manner enshrined within the American experience. I could go on endlessly. Who we are will largely be determined by the effort we are willing to put into fixing this broken process which has robbed us of the trust we so desperately want and need in our systems, our fellow citizens, and, ultimately, ourselves. Dark forces surround us. Its happened before, and weve come back. You are the sleeping giant that can change things. Will we wake up in time and right the ship while there is still time? The jury is truly out on this most consequential of issues. God Bless America! Allan J. FeiferPatriot, Author, Businessman, and Thinker. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. This week, as accounts of the whistleblowers who blew the lid off the hampered investigations of the Presidents crackhead son Hunter were made public, I imagined a writer making a pitch to producers for a dramatic program called Wilmington, a political version, if you will, of Dallas with more than a hint of the Godfather. Clearly, my proposed dramatization covers so much ground, it will have to be serialized. For one thing, theres a very sordid background to the story. The family has a long history of corruption and drug use unhampered by legal prosecution. Informed by writers like Jonathan Turley, Julie Kelly, Miranda Devine, Margot Cleveland, and Paul Sperry, this week the story reads like the sleaziest of television series. Theres incest, the president showering with his young daughter per her diary which she left behind in a hotel room; tax cheating and sexual peccadillos -- Hunter writing off payments to prostitutes and sex clubs as business expenses; millions in undisclosed bribes by Chinese and Ukrainian figures, often seemingly as part of a Mafia-type Biden muscling in which benefits and/or consequences are promised and/or threatened for non-payment. There are more than a few hints of lawfare vendettas: Attorney General Merrick Garland, embittered at having been denied a seat on the Supreme Court, appears to have helped shove under the carpet extensive evidence of the Biden corruption. The newest revelations from whistleblowers to Congress follow on the Durham Report, which can provide the series with a female villain always a necessary subplot for noir tales: Former President Barack Obama and his director of national intelligence, James Clapper, were both briefed in 2016 on reports that then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton planned to vilify Donald Trump by claiming he was colluding with Russia to win the election in 2016. Intelligence and FBI heads -- Brennan, Clapper and Comey -- fabricated Russiagate to tie up President Trump and prevent him from exercising fully his rightful office. The Hunter Biden laptop by itself, which the FBI knew in 2019 was authentic despite 51 former intelligence officials publicly suggesting it was likely Russian disinformation details multiple business, sex, and drug crimes. You can download it for free. How could the government not know after having obtained a copy of this, that Hunter was a security risk? There was evidence received this week that a credible account of the familys receipt of foreign bribes was kept hidden from investigators by DoJ officials. Professor Margot Cleveland summarizes: The Delaware U.S. Attorneys Office hid an FBI report that the Ukrainian oil and gas company Burisma paid Hunter and Joe Biden each $5 million bribes, documents released by the House Ways and Means Committee reveal. [snip] Most recently, former Attorney General Bill Barr provided an interview in which he stated that information provided by a Confidential Human Source (CHS) concerning an alleged bribery scheme by President Joe Biden was received through the Pittsburgh [U.S. Attorney Office] and was determined it was not likely to have been disinformation, Shapley said in his affidavit. Barr noted the FD-1023 was provided to the ongoing investigation in Delaware to follow up on and to check out, the affidavit continued. But according to the IRS whistleblower, the CHS information Barr referenced was never provided to Shapley, nor to any of the IRS agents acting under his supervision, nor to the FBI agents working with the IRS investigators. Shapley added that he and other IRS criminal investigators had asked to participate in the briefings the Pittsburgh U.S. Attorneys Office was providing Delaware, but their requests were denied. Had they participated in those briefings, Shapley stressed, they would have undertaken proper investigative steps to determine the veracity of the CHSs claims. According to Shapleys affidavit, however, because the information was never provided to the investigators, the agents involved took no steps to determine if the CHSs allegations could be substantiated. Someone in the DoJ is not telling the truth about who hid this. Every successful series needs some humor, and this week we also got that. The Bidens obviously find most damning an email in 2017 from Hunter demanding payment or else from a corrupt Chinese businessman and threatening that his father, who was sitting there with him, would retaliate if the promise to pay was not kept. Just days following these inducements, millions of dollars flowed into the coffers of the family members through a series of LLCs and a bank in Malta. (Im not sure how to show the money channeling. I keep seeing an old timey movie technique on the order of Flash Gordon -- a map of the world with flying dollars flitting from one account to another.) In any event, the response by Hunters lawyer seems particularly laughable. Any verifiable words or actions of my client, in the midst of a horrible addiction, are solely his own and have no connection to anyone in the family. Of course, the defense -- hes a crackhead and you cant believe anything he says -- conflicts with Hunters claim that the millions he received for consulting, legal, and board fees were for some expertise and good judgement. David Burge (Iowahawk to his legion of fans, of which I am part) hits the satirical nail on the head: Your honor, did I mention that the alleged event took place during a full moon and my client is a werewolf. The Washington Post finally got around to covering the story in a few graphs, in my hard copy on p. 15, highlighting instead, almost two full pages on the effects of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Maybe because the papers CEO has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats, including the head of this corruptocrat clan, Big Guy Joe. In any event, for those of us who are older and have still retained some of our mental faculties, it is a sharp contrast to the papers coverage of the far less scandalous Watergate which, as I recall, ran on the front page day after day after day, made Woodward and Bernstein (stenographers for a bitter Associate FBI Director Mark Felt who had been passed over for FBI head) into make-believe heroes in press and film. For any remaining movie producers who like to pretend we have a free press, we might do a shot of CNN and the New York Times belatedly covering the story. Or this weeks presser where for a couple of minutes the press gallery got off its duffs and started asking real questions. For all that has been revealed so far, its clear the Department of Justice whiffed over and again, but Congress can and probably will subpoena a number of witnesses the attorney generals troops chose not to or were kept from, and in time the press may be forced into doing its job more assiduously. In the meantime Hunter and Garland were both guests at a White House dinner Thursday night, where Hunter, due to be sentenced this week on seriously watered-down charges, can be seen smiling and chatting with guests. Optics, but for what message? To suggest the government has nothing on Hunter, that Garland is not corrupt, or happy faces to disguise concern over what is coming? It certainly doesnt help Garland to have attended. To be continued.... There is a new documentary out, Enemies within the Church, which documents the decline of evangelical Christianity and the rise of liberalism within the church. Every Christian who is concerned about liberty needs to watch this film and share it with his friends. The film makes the point that the modern church has neglected any teaching about the law. Truly, the Ten Commandments were given to Israel, but they are important to the Christian church as well. Although no one was ever saved by keeping the law, the Ten Commandments were important to the founders of America. The men who founded America knew their Bibles well. They knew the importance of the Ten Commandments, not only in God's relationship with Israel, but as a foundation of law in any community. This evident fact was so important that in time, the Ten Commandments became the basis of criminal law in every state of the Union. While the law is important, the idea of keeping the law leading to salvation is contrary to the Christian narrative. The early evangelists preached the importance of repentance. Their message was to repent and believe the gospel. Repentance is a change in thinking. Before anyone can believe the truth about what Christ did on the cross of Calvary, he has to change his thinking. Our salvation depends on believing in what Jesus did in bearing our sins on the cross. Love is an important part of the message of the film. The world would have us believe that love is the only message of importance. They, therefore, insist that we love them enough that we will accept their deviant lifestyle, that we accept their sin. But the Bible has a contrasting message. We are told not to love as the world loves: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). Love is rarely found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but it is found often in the writings of the apostle John and throughout the New Testament. It begins with God's love for the world and demonstrating that love by giving His son to die for our sins. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) God loved us, and He gave us His son. We are to demonstrate that same love to one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35) It is love that distinguishes the Christian from others. The film laments the fact that many in the church have emphasized love to the exclusion of other very important teaching. After John 3:16, we are told some other things that explain what is happening in our world today. First, Jesus did not come to condemn, but to save (v. 17). Then the one who believes is not condemned, but the one who does not believe has already been condemned (John 3:18). The development ends with this verse, which describes our present age and what is happening in the church. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). Evil has entered the church and masqueraded as truth. Many have fallen into sin because of it. Love is an important teaching of the New Testament. In fact, the apostle Paul spends most of First Corinthians, chapter 13 talking about the importance of love, translated as "charity" in the King James Bible. The Bible teaches the importance of love all through the rest of the New Testament. The message of the film is important. Marxism in all its forms has made a strong entrance into the organized church. Many parents have sent their kids off to seminary or Bible school, only to have them come home and deny God. This movement called "liberalism" began at the beginning of the twentieth century. Church groups that stood squarely on foundational principles gradually became more liberal. Some even denied that the Bible is true. As noted in the film, some believed that the Old Testament was just a collection of myths. There are important changes that have taken place over the past twenty-five years. This has been helped along by some decisions by a more liberal Supreme Court. One example is the Bible's position on homosexuality. Some have claimed that homosexuals (gay men) are just born that way, and there is nothing they can do about it. In actual fact, people grow up with all sorts of native sins, homosexuality being just one of them. One man in the film, who was molested as a young man and grew up believing he was gay, came to Christ and ultimately got away from the gay lifestyle. He later married and raised a family. The Bible teaching is clear, yet the modern church has made excuses for gays. Some churches have even ordained gay pastors, as well as women, which is contrary to sound biblical teaching. The transgender issue has brought most of this to a head. Committed Christians began to realize that all this is wrong. It gradually became clear that there are some who would subvert the basic science of biology, claiming that there are multiple genders. Facts are stubborn things. And the fact is that God created only two sexes, male and female (Gen. 1:27), and that is evident in every cell of our bodies. Doctors can mutilate a person's body, but they can never change his sex. June has been called "pride month." We are supposed to support homosexuality and transgenderism. But this is a great evil. The church must take a principled stand against this evil. While these conditions are attractive to certain people, the end result is the destruction of the church. Churches need to have clear doctrinal statements and work to ensure that they do not deviate from the teaching of the Bible. Now some who have stood for truth have lost their jobs or their positions. These were following the clear teachings of the Bible. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15:58) The first disciples knew the truth and what God required of them. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29) Some churches have preached that the Christian should not have anything to say about the government, yet a careful study of the Old Testament indicates that the prophets spent a lot of effort condemning the established authority. We need to be careful that we do not accept a watered down message so that we can accept the gay or LGBT lifestyle. It is time for the church to stand for truth without wavering. Jim Hollingsworth holds a master's degree in Biblical Studies from Pensacola Christian College. He has written five books. Climate Change: A Convenient Truth Cortez: A Biography The Ancient Culture of the Aztec Empire Abortion Compassion Book of Romans: Commentary A sixth book, Commentary on the book of Galatians, is with the publisher. Image via Pexels. There is a hardwired instinct in all men that drives them to give their lives and use their strength in projects and ambitions beyond themselves. This drive is built into them by their creator, because he made them in his image, and it exists around the world, across all religions, nations, and generations. It is part of masculinity. All men have this instinctive drive, it is only a matter of how they use it. For a few hundred years, Christianity held influence over American masculinity. Men used their strength and ambition to build, bless, provide for, and protect the weak. This is not the only kind of masculinity there is, but it is the kind that develops from a worldview centered around Christ, who used his power to serve and not to be served, and who gave up his life for the sake of others, knowing his eternity was secure. Men who follow Christ will use their strength the way he did for the same reasons he did. Christian masculinity built the United States from its infancy, starting over a century before it became a nation. Christian masculinity fought wars for independence, not wars for dominance. This is a unique trait found nowhere else in history. Christian masculinity shed its own blood to set others free, and built businesses to serve their neighbors and provide jobs and wealth to their communities. After several centuries of unprecedented wealth, freedom, and security, Christian masculinity died of a thousand cuts, many of them self-inflicted by a lukewarm and passive church. This leaves a masculinity vacuum to be filled. Christian masculinity will either be replaced by non-Christian masculinity, or it will resurrect, but something will fill the void. It is only a matter of what. Woke Feminism Feminism will not fill the masculinity gap. If feminism could do this, it would have. Feminism is a false religion that attacks Christian masculinity and Christian femininity but builds nothing in its place. Feminism has nothing to offer. It is an empty worldview. Women cannot be men. They can be bad women or good women, but they cannot be men. The harder they try the stupider all of it gets. China China has a surplus of about 30 million men. These are men who have no chance of marriage and family, because the previous generation aborted murdered all the girls. When the Chinese government ordered a one-child policy for an entire generation, the parents chose to have boys, and if they were pregnant with a girl, they killed her. The Chinese government removed the existence of God from their minds, and became futile and evil in their thoughts. God said It is not good for the man to be alone, and China raised up a generation of 30 million men to be alone. The results will not be good. China did not raise these men to use their strength for building, providing, and protecting. China raised them as atheists who fear and obey the state instead of God. What will these surplus and godless men do with their strength? They will do what all men do who have no direction, no eternal worldview, and no domesticating influence in the home. They will kill and die in wars or be enslaved. The ones who survive these evils will become the enslavers and destroyers themselves over whatever is left. It is not because they are Chinese, but because they are statists with no fear of God. The only reason they are alive is because their parents sacrificed their sisters in their place, and these men live every day in that worldview. If American men give up their Christian masculine identity, they run a real risk of being conquered and replaced by men who were taught to kill to live. It is not whether men will fill the gap, it is which kind of men. Islam Christian masculinity went soft, grew ashamed of itself, and quit, but Islamic men have not gone soft. It is noteworthy that Moms for Liberty and other such groups that protect children in the government schools, have found Muslim men joining in on the same side. Where are the Christian men? Historically speaking, a cultural clash involving Muslim men and Christian women does not usually find them on the same side. Muslims worship a god who rules by force and demands submission. Men who follow that god naturally behave the same way. It demonstrates how serious and evil the woke leftist government schools have become that a group of smart and upright women would find ground with Muslim men. Who Will Win? The battle of masculinity will be won by the men whose core convictions are strongest. The first to lose will be the woke, because they have no core convictions and no unifying standard. The woke, feminized manhood of the USA will disappear in a moment. It has no core. This is why there are no transgender, gay, and woke activists in China or the Islamic world. These cultures are dominated by men with unbending convictions, for better or worse. The soft, post-Christian, feminist man of the USA will not survive forever. He will either resurrect his Christian masculinity, or be replaced by non-Christian masculinity. Lessons of history teach that when soft men are replaced, they are replaced by hard men, usually quite suddenly, and not on favorable terms. The passive and feminized manhood of the USA will not go on forever, therefore it will stop. Who stops them, and who replaces them are the only questions. Signs of Hope If there is hope for Christian masculinity in the west, it is because at its core, Christianity believes in the resurrection. The hope of the resurrection is the ground motive that built Christian masculinity in the first place. Christian men, of all the men in the world, ought to be the most joyful, bold, courageous, and serious. Christian men believe in a resurrection, so they laugh at fear. They have no fear of man, no fear of death, and eternal hope in the making of earth as it is in heaven. This provides an infinite degree of hope, joy, and courage. It also provides a heavenly tether to morality that holds Christian men to high standards. Secular Statism does not offer this eternal hope at all, and Islam corrupts it. In many evangelical circles there is frequent talk of revival. The word revival has connotations all over the map, but the kind of revival that is necessary at this hour is a full-scale revival. It must be a revival of manhood and womanhood, skilled trades, faithful men, large families, small businesses, private schools, laughter, and a parallel economy that is distinct and better than the slop and tyranny being produced everywhere else. This kind of revival will need men to lead it, because that is the nature of Christian masculinity. It will either rise and take on the mantle of faithful and bold leadership, or it will passively stand by while men of greater resolve take over. T.S. Weidler is a pastor in Pennsylvania who writes regularly at City on a Hill. https://tsweidler.substack.com Image: Manfred Werner (Tsui) Were learning more about the actual origins of the Ukraine war, and they reveal Western governments contemptible and failed leadership. The conclusion is that this remains a completely unnecessary war with the American government operating using an out-of-date Cold War mentality that benefits only the military-industrial complex. Nevertheless, most establishment Democrats and Republicans continue to support a war that NATO deliberately orchestrated. This is a war that could have and should have been avoided, yet it marches us down the path to nuclear holocaust. Colonel Jacques Baud, a Swiss Intelligence Officer, has written a comprehensive book about how the war started: Operation Z: The Hidden Truth about the War in Ukraine. In it, he explains how Europeans hated and feared Vladimir Putin, which saw the EU insist that Ukraine should not trade with Russia but must, instead, enter into a trade agreement with them. This European trade dispute first impinged on the American consciousness when Victoria Nuland, acting for the Obama Administration, orchestrated the 2014 coup, ousting the pro-Russian government. In December 2014, George Friedman, president of the U.S. geopolitical intelligence platform STRATFOR, said in an interview with the Russian magazine Kommersant: Russia defines the event that took place at the beginning of this year [February 2014] as a coup organized by the U.S. And in truth, it was the most blatant [coup] in history. Then, in 2016, while Obama was still in the White House, the US deployed a land-based air defense systemthe Aegis Ashorein Deveselu, Romania. In early 2022, America set up the same system in Redzikowo, Poland. The system can launch Tomahawk nuclear missiles that need only 10 minutes to fly to Moscow. Can you spell provocation? This situation is like the October-November 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. The Soviet Union, then led by Nikita Khrushchev, placed approximately forty nuclear missiles less than one hundred miles from Florida. Image: Mass grave in Mariupol, Ukraine. YouTube screen grab. In 1961, the US government put Jupiter nuclear missiles in Italy and Turkey. It had also sponsored a CIA-led force of some 1500 Cuban exiles, who were armed and trained to overthrow the Castro regime that had seized power in 1959. The Bay of Pigs (Bahia de Cochinos) invasion lasted only five days, from April 15, 1961, to April 19, and was an unqualified disaster. Castro feared American forces would try again, so he welcomed Soviet missile placements on his island. The 61-year-old Khrushchev believed he could do this with impunity, having engaged with the 44-year-old, naive John Kennedy in a summit some six weeks after the Bay of Pigs fiasco. For Kennedy, the summit was also a disaster. The Soviet leader rolled Kennedy, and the latter said that Khrushchev beat the hell out of me. In a spectacular turnaround, Kennedy negotiated his way out of the nuclear crisis without firing a shot. We removed our missiles from Italy and Turkey while promising not to invade Cuba again. For his part, the Soviet leader removed his missiles from Cuba. Fast forward 61 years, and the West again baited a despot. One year later, were getting service announcements in the United States about what to do during a nuclear strike. Last August, Liz Truss, then Englands Foreign Secretary, said she would hit the nuclear button even if it meant global annihilation. It was as if they were trying it out on the public to see if people would accept nuclear war. All this drama and fear-mongering could have been avoided. Whats clear, though, is that the West both wanted and still wants this war. If the West had let Zelensky continue with his proposal to Russia at the end of March 2022, Ukraine would have retained its pre-February 2022 configuration. (Remember, Zelensky had first requested negotiation on February 25, the day after the invasion began, which the Russians had accepted.) However, the European Union negated the idea of negotiation by providing the first package of 450 million euros in arms. In March, Zelensky made another offer that Russia welcomed and was ready to discuss, but the European Union once again responded with a second aid package of 500 million euros for arms. Then, on April 2, Boris Johnson called Zelensky, asking him to withdraw his proposal; otherwise, the West would stop their support. Then on April 9, during a visit to Kiev, Johnson reiterated the Western position. Ukraine was willing to negotiate an end to the war, but the West would not have it. Meanwhile, Ukraines military successes are not what they appear to be. Baud explains that Ukraines retaking the Kharkiv region was a hollow accomplishment because Russian forces had essentially withdrawn from the area to the Donbass, an ethnic Russian region in the east that was their real objective. When Ukrainian troops went after the remaining Russian troops, they found themselves drawn into a killing field. Russians bombarded them with artillery, inflicting huge casualties to the tune of an estimated 5,000 men. Similarly, 2,000 were lost in Khersn flinging themselves at a reinforced Russian line earlier. This slaughter happened after Zelensky overrode his military leadership because of Western pressure. He sent his men to die so that Western political leaders could claim a false victory to keep their war politically viable. The only European leader exhibiting rational behavior is Hungarys Victor Orban, who refuses to engage in actions detrimental to his nation. For this, he is hated outside Hungary, although not inside. In contrast, our American President has now abandoned the no-first-use policy and reserves the right to use nuclear weapons first. According to Baud, Russia maintains a no-first-strike nuclear policy. The Ukraine war has dangerously depleted our weapons supply to the extent that it will take several years to replenish. This threatens our ability to reinforce our allies in Israel, Taiwan, and the Republic of South Korea. Nor is this a future problem. Its a current problem. On May 7, 2023, John Solomons Just the News reported that we are falling substantially behind in committed armaments shipments to Taiwan. Western leaders orchestrated an unnecessary war and risk nuclear confrontation with an enemy whose nuclear arsenal is superior to Western powers. America once had tactical nuclear superiority over Russia because of our advanced nuclear submarine fleet. However, our Naval capabilities have not kept pace with those of our enemies. While America has wasted nearly $10 trillion on mostly useless military adventures and green energy initiatives, the Chinese and Russian governments have built up their military capabilities and are jointly superior to ours. In Ukraine, Putins army is gradually destroying the opposition. His troops fight with superior strategy and tactical skill. Simply put, Russian leadership is superior to that of the West. It seems the only parties benefiting from this war are corporate globalists. On its face, the indictment of Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents is less persuasive than might at first appear. I spent most of my professional life as a legal scholarincluding more than three decades as a professor at a top-ten law schoolwith a special focus on the separation of national security powers. Three presidents of the American Bar Association appointed me to chair their prestigious Standing Committee on Law and National Security, and I edited their National Security Law Report for several years thereafter. Some of the former Presidents critics emphasize that not even the President is above the law. And that is certainly true. But what is the controlling law in this case? In our system, we have a hierarchy of laws starting with the Constitution itself. As the Supreme Court noted in the landmark 1803 case of Marbury v. Madison, an act of the legislature, repugnant to the constitution, is void. Space limitations will not allow me to elaborate on the content of the nations executive Power vested in the President by Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution. But it was a central focus of my 1,700-page, 3,000-footnote doctoral dissertation written decades ago, and I have discussed it at some length in congressional testimony and elsewhere. See, e.g, here and here. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, John Marshall, and many other of the most respected Founders of this country noted, as Professor Quincy Wright observed in his 1922 classic, The Control of American Foreign Relations, When the constitutional convention gave executive power to the President, the foreign relations power was the essential element in the grant. And that included complete control over intelligence matters. Image: Donald Trump by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. The record is clear that the Founding Fathers did not trust Congress with the nations secrets. Indeed, in Federalist 64, John Jay explained that, while the Senate would have a negative vote over concluded treaties, the President will be able to manage the business of intelligence in such manner as prudence may suggest. The Senate did not even have an intelligence committee until the mid-1970s. As a Senate staff member at the time, I worked to limit the resolution. When the First Congress appropriated money for foreign intercourse in 1790, the statute read in part: [T]he President shall account specifically for all such expenditures of the said money as in his judgment may be made public, and also for the amount of such expenditures as he may think it advisable not to specify. Congress realized it could not be trusted with sensitive national security secrets and that the Constitution had entrusted such matters to the President. Indeed, in the 1988 Navy v. Egan case, the Supreme Court expressly recognized the constitutional basis of the authority to classify and declassify information, explaining, The authority to protect such information falls on the President as head of the Executive Branch and as Commander in Chief. The Trump Indictment includes numerous references to three Executive Orders governing the classification and declassification of national defense information issued between 1995 and 2009 by Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama. But none of these were in any way binding upon subsequent Presidents. They were exercises of the constitutional grant of executive Power to the incumbent President, and Presidents routinely modify or repeal such Orders issued by their predecessors. The Constitution establishes no procedural constraints on how that is done in cases like this, and Congress lacks the constitutional power to usurp the Presidents discretion in this area. Congress does have an important role related to the protection of classified information because, while Presidents may terminate Executive Branch employees who violate relevant Executive Orders or agency regulations, the Fifth Amendment prohibits depriving Americans of life or liberty without due process of law. Thus, only Congress can provide for the incarceration (or execution) of Americans who mishandle classified informationincluding spying for our Nations enemies. But sitting presidents are free to make public and even share with our nations enemies our most sensitive secrets. And there have been cases where presidents have shared highly classified information with people lacking appropriate security clearances and even foreign governments without formally declassifying it. Doing so may or may not be in the national interest, but that decision is ultimately the Presidents call. Donald Trump was Americas President until noon on January 20, 2021, when he and his family had already vacated the White House. Prior to that time, while still clearly possessing the nations constitutional executive Power, Trump decided to take certain classified documents with him to Florida. I dont sense there is any serious contention that he could not have formally declassified them and so informed relevant governmental departments and agencies. Nor am I aware of any provision of the Constitution that requires him to give such notice or follow any other formalities. Intentionally taking the documents with him, in my view, constituted presumptive declassification, and thus his continued possession was not a crime. The Presidential Records Act might have required Trump to provide copies of the documents he removed to the National Archives, but that issue is not addressed by this Indictment. However, that presumption of declassification is rebuttable. And, based on information in the Indictment, Trump appears to have gravely undermined his own case. According to Paragraph 6 of the Indictment, on two occasions in 2021, Trump showed documents marked classified to visitors lacking appropriate clearances and, in one instance, declared: [A]s President I could have declassified it, but Now I cant, you knowthis is still secret. The account came from a Trump loyalist, not his political opponents, and it is thus difficult to see how his lawyers will persuade a jury that he declassified these documents before leaving office. I am not addressing the serious procedural crimes with which Trump is also charged, like conspiracy and making false statements to investigators. Nor am I addressing the very troubling double standard by which the Department of Justice seems to have largely ignored the mishandling of classified information by Hillary Clinton and a range of apparent criminal misconduct by Joe Biden and/or his family. Trump appears to be a victim of his own notorious ego. When I was Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs during the Reagan Administration (1984-1985), I dealt with legislators who sought to impress visitors (or to win the goodwill of journalists) by disclosing classified information. It was a serious problem, and Joe Biden was one of the worst offenders. I find it remarkable that, even after serving as President, Donald Trump continues to be so insecure that he engages in similar misconduct to impress visitors. It may cost him dearly. Prior to his 2020 retirement, Professor Turner was a Distinguished Fellow at the University of Virginias Center for National Security Law, which he co-founded in 1981. He authored the chapter on Access to National Security Information in the 1600-page law school textbook National Security Law & Policy, which he co-edited. For the past 2,000 years, essentially all progress on behalf of human rights and the spread of moral truth have depended on Christian involvement. Some of historys most fortuitous moments resulting in the betterment of the human condition have come about when followers of Christ inserted themselves into governmental and cultural affairs. Many today, however, would vehemently disagree with that statement. Sadly, most pastors today stunt their congregations' potential for impact by staying silent on cultural issues. Many evangelical celebrities use their social media platforms to remind Christians that our hope is not in politics. It does sound pious to say that Our allegiance is to God, not man. Our priority is the Gospel, not government. For many a zealous Christian today, the churchs position in relation to politics amounts to one of two choices: either you love the Lord and His Kingdom, or you have gotten in bed with the state and supposedly have your eyes only on this world. Dichotomizing the landscape to only these two options is unnecessary and, I believe, misleading. The churchs posture should be, as Augustine taught, that believers are accountable to both the city of God and to the city of man. For the Christian believer, of course our true home is heaven, and certainly our number one priority is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Savior. But should the church be politically vocal, and can we do this without compromising our loyalty to our King and His Kingdom? Absolutely. In fact, we have inherited many blessings today from courageous Christians before us who were intensely politically engaged. Consider Melito, ancient Christian leader and pastor from Sardis (now Turkey). In 175 AD, Melito met with Emperor Marcus Aurelius, urging him to make Christianity the official religion of Rome. Melito reasoned that church and state were complimentary works of God for mankinds benefit. He saw no conflict in meshing Christian beliefs with political discourse. Most have heard of William Wilberforce and his crusades before Parliament to end slavery in Britain. Perhaps less well-known is his colleague Thomas Clarkson, but together they acted on their deeply-held Christian convictions, speaking publicly about (and to) the British Empire. They successfully engaged the help of Parliament member Thomas Buxton in their establishment of abolitionist societies, their work on behalf of child rights, and ultimately, the ending of slavery. Good thing that these men (and their contemporaries) were eager to have their Christianity shape their cultural involvement. In his book Discovering An Evangelical Heritage, historian and theologian Donald Dayton documents the pronounced political involvement on the part of Christian converts to during the second Great Awakening of the 19th century. Dayton notes that evangelists such as Charles Finney were instrumental in adding thousands to the active ranks of American churches, but also urged that these new converts become active participants in every forward movement of their time. Do we serve Jesus and live for heaven, or do we immerse ourselves in current events and cultural involvement? I believe that the answer is both. For those who advocate political disengagement, it is helpful to remember all the immeasurable good done by Christians who were courageous enough (and wise enough) to understand the churchs responsibility to a lost world: servant of the poor Mother Theresa, civil rights reformer Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., evangelist Billy Graham, educator Jerry Falwell, prison ministry champion Charles Colson to name but a few. May the Lord empower us to also make a tangible mark for Christ in our world today -- in our culture and government as well. Children and youth need to be raised to believe in Jesus, but also to know that the call to discipleship also comes with a call to bold patriotism. Dr. Alex McFarland is a youth, religion and culture expert, a national talk show host and speaker, author of more than 20 books and Exploring the Word on the American Family Radio Network, airing daily on nearly 200 radio stations across the U.S. He is also the host of the Alex McFarland Show, which airs weekly on NRB TV. Graphic credit: Simplecon CC BY 3.0 license Operation Frankton is virtually unknown in the US, though a well-regarded British movie based on it was released in 1955. It was a daring raid that began on the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This, however, was a 100% British operation. The team was selected from among the members of a special detachment of the Royal Marines. Just as the OSS in WWII was the precursor of both the CIA and US Army Special Forces (de oppresso liber) these Royal Marines were one of the predecessor units of the UKs Special Boat Service (SBS,) now more comparable to US Navy SEALs. 13 men trained for the mission. Their job was to be positioned at the mouth of the Gironde estuary that led to Bordeaux, France. They were to exit the HMS Tuna submarine with six two-man canvas and plywood kayaks and embark on an operation to paddle some 70-80 miles away in the dead of night, hiding their kayaks by day, traveling only in darkness. Their mission was to destroy German vessels in Bordeaux harbor with limpet magnetic mines. Still from the film The Cockleshell Heroes The 13th man was there to replace any of the team that was too sick or injured to go in. On the way out of the hatch, one of the folding kayaks was mangled beyond any ability to fix it. That two-man team remained behind. That left just ten men. The commander of the team, Major Herbert Hasler, told the men left behind that he would see them in 3 months, and they should book a table at the Savoy Hotel for the reunion. Sadly, that table would be much smaller than they hoped for. The plan of egress, after completing their mission, was to make their way inland, escape overland into Spain and move onwards to Gibraltar. It was hoped that they would be able to contact one of the escape lines along the route. The 10 men remaining paddled off into the night. For the first two hours, they made good progress but just miles from the mouth of the Gironde, still some 70 miles short of Bordeaux, the team was caught in the churning waters of vicious tidal rapids. One of the craft disappeared in the melee. The team searched but could find nothing. Back on course, they ran into a second tidal race even more powerful than the first. Major Hasler and Marine Corporal Sparks, his #2, led the canoes into the tidal race. With waves crashing over them, three of the group weathered the rapids only to find that their fourth vessel was capsized, and its crew was in the water. That kayak, with all its gear, was scuttled. The two-man crew, still in the freezing December water, clinging to the remaining boats, were taken as far inshore as they could be without detection. Both men swam to shore. Six men remained. The next obstacle they encountered was four German ships at anchor in the estuary. Hasler decided they would paddle past them at full speed. However, the third boat was missing after the dash. As Cpl. Sparks later wrote: During that first night we had lost two-thirds of our strike force. It began to look as though the operation was doomed to failure. Worse, the HMS Tuna had been detected on radar. On heightened alert, the Germans captured the two Royal Marines who first disappeared in the heavy seas. The Germans were now on heightened alert for the intrepid raiding party. With dawn breaking, a hide location was seen. After camouflaging their kayaks in the scrub brush the men, exhausted, tried to get some rest. In too short a time, however, the voices of fishermen brought them to full alert. At the risk of compromising the operation, they identified themselves as British Royal Marines and asked that they not be betrayed to the Germans. They were not betrayed. The following night the team had to carry their kayaks, with all the munitions and gear in them, for nearly a mile to bypass patrols. Even so, they made more than 20 miles that night. The next night they were not so lucky. Three hours of flood tide, six hours of ebb tide, and three hours of flood tide before daybreak meant only the fittest and the most mentally tough could finish the next 20 miles plus. The team was now behind schedule. They launched their canoes earlier than full darkness the next night and were spotted by a French civilian, who upon finding who they were offered food and drink. They had to refuse but were likely inspired by the mans offer. They were too close to success now to tarry. Their maps were marked with German watchtowers, anti-aircraft batteries, and long stretches of the riverbank where German ship and infantry patrols were known to operate. These dangers were even greater now, as they approached Bordeaux. The team continued cautiously along the river their final night and found a lay-up position in thick reeds -- just a short distance from two large German equipment ships. Their new plan of attack was for one team to take the shipping on the east bank, and the other the shipping on the west bank. In this, their audacious plan was a complete success. They placed 19 limpet mines with 9-hour fuses before they began their egress. These resulted in extensive damage to at least five large ships, one of which was a German Navy minesweeper. Adolf Hitler was spewing spittle when he was informed of the loss. One of the scuttled kayaks was discovered, and Hitler demanded to know how this childs boat could have breached all German defenses in this part of occupied France, at night, in rough seas, against the tide, through numerous maritime and ground patrols, then attack and sink these vessels without ever being discovered. Welcome to the Royal Marines, Mein Fuhrer. Except these Royal Marines were not out of the woods yet. An intercepted German High Command report read, A small British sabotage squad was engaged at the mouth of the River Gironde and finished off in combat. As a result, the entire team was reported as missing, presumed dead. In fact, we know that at that moment the four remaining members of the team were still alive. They decided to travel in pairs to improve their chances of making it out of France. Now I know how a cowboy feels when he has to shoot his horse because its broken its leg, Cpl. Sparks later wrote of cutting up and burying his faithful kayak, named CATFISH. (Each team of two had a code name for their kayak.) As they made their way further into the interior of France, a farmers wife gave the CATFISH team of Hasler and Sparks dry clothes. They buried their military uniforms, knowing if they were caught, they would face execution as spies. On December 18, the two men reached the French town of Ruffec, where they made contact with the Marie-Claire Escape Line. Mary Lindell, code-named Marie-Claire and Comtesse de Moncy, was not the typical young woman trained by the SOE or MI-9 or in the resistance. These women in the escape networks had arguably the most dangerous form of resistance work in occupied Europe. Many of them, still in their teens, escorted Allied servicemen hundreds of miles across enemy territory to Spain and back again, to pick up another cohort, and another. Ms. Lindell, however, was a 47-year-old Englishwoman who had been a front-line nurse in World War I. She founded and led the Marie-Claire Line. During the war, Marie-Claire was run over by a car, shot in the head while attempting to escape, imprisoned twice, and finally captured and sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp, from which few survived. She did. She ran her escape line with an iron fist. After contact was made with Major Hasler and Corporal Sparks via local resistance members, Sparks wrote about her. He said it was amusing to see his tough and dangerous commander being imperiously told by Marie-Claire she was in command, and she alone would decide when and how they would be conducted out of France and into Spain, then on to Gibraltar. It is a good thing they placed their trust in her. Marie-Clare had the men moved to Lyon, then to Marseilles, then to Perpignan, and finally across to Spain -- and on to home. Sadly, there would be no grand reunion at the Savoy. Only Hasler and Sparks survived. Here is what happened to The Other Eight: Team CRAYFISH: Corporal Laver/Marine Mills reached the target area, destroyed the German ships. Last seen landing. Captured by the Vichy French Gendarmerie and handed over to the Germans. Executed, even though captured in military uniform, , either in Paris 23 March 1943 or near Bordeaux on 12 December 1942. Team CONGER: Corporal Sheard/Marine Moffat capsized. Last seen swimming to shore off Pointe de Grave. Moffats body was found later. Sheards body was never found. Team CUTTLEFISH: Lieutenant Mackinnon/Marine Conway last seen off The Mole at Le Verdon. Later captured by Germans. Executed, even though in military uniform, either in Paris 23 March 1943 or near Bordeaux on 12 December 1942. Team COALFISH: Sergeant Wallace/Marine Ewart missing after first tidal race. Later captured by Germans. Executed, even though in military uniform, near Bordeaux 12 Dec1942. The US and its Allies were victorious in World War II because of men like these who knew the odds of success were remote, survival even more remote. Their deeds were theirs, their successes ours to respect. Joseph L. Shaefer, B Gen, USAF, Ret. If you spend any time on Twitter, youve become acquainted with Taylor Lorenz, a Washington Post reporter who is almost a parody of the white leftist women who are so toxic to American discourse. They were the screaming harridans on the BLM frontlines but, when not protesting, they were also the mask and vaccine fanatics. Showing that its never too late to relive 2020, Lorenz gave the world the gift of her mask paranoia once again, this time after the TSA practically murdered her. Lorenz is a decidedly odd bird with a bully pulpit at the WaPo, having worked her way there after stints at the New York Times and the Daily Beast. At each of these venues, her specialty has been and is internet culture. I first learned about Lorenz when she doxed Chaya Raichik, who, until then, had been known only by her nom de cyber of Libs of TikTok. Once her identity went public, Raichiks reach soared, but thats obviously not why Lorenz outed someone who had dared to expose leftists using public social media posts to display their beliefs and behaviors to other leftists. Lorenz doxed Raichik to hurt her. Image: Taylor Lorenz (edited). Twitter screen grab. Because Lorenz got pushback on Twitter for her doxing of Libs of TikToks Chaya Raichik, Lorenz now claims to have PTSD. Watching her, youd have to have a heart of stone not to laugh. NEW: Taylor Lorenz says she has "severe PTSD" from being a journalist and breaks down in MSNBC interview pic.twitter.com/G9FymoSdH8 Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) April 1, 2022 Unsurprisingly, given what Lorenz had done to Raichik, sympathy for Lorenz was limited. And, despite her trauma, Lorenz did not quit Twitter. Shes still, there, which is how, three years after COVID hit, and two and a half years after everyone with any intelligence figured out that masks were useless against the virus, we learn that Lorenz was practically murdered by a TSA agent. They were also telling people to take their masks off to go through the metal detector. I personally didnt and they didnt say anything, but others were listening to the lady and doing it just to follow directions Taylor Lorenz @ VidCon (@TaylorLorenz) June 18, 2023 I should add that I highly doubt this is any sort of official policy, the whole way airports are run seem to be by random TSA agents, etc who impose whatever rules they choose bc passengers are at their mercy. Wish Covid forced airports to reconsider this sort of security theatre Taylor Lorenz @ VidCon (@TaylorLorenz) June 18, 2023 It seems worth noting that only pre-approved people were allowed to comment on Lorenzs take. No dangerously contrary ideas are entering Lorenzs world. For her, its always May 2020. The funniest thing is how Lorenz saved her life from this biological warfare attack: No idea! Its so insane I tried to just hold my breath but I had to breathe a couple times Taylor Lorenz @ VidCon (@TaylorLorenz) June 18, 2023 However, when it came to the Cannes Film Festival, which Lorenz apparently attended, masks werent an issue (shes fourth from the left, in the back row): Thanks to @kathygriffin and Randy for a fabulous dinner and great conversation my daughter and i had an incredible time I should have taken off my glasses for the picture pic.twitter.com/OXdfN7O537 Diedrich Bader (@bader_diedrich) March 23, 2023 Within days, though, Lorenz announce she was super immunocomprised and that the lady at the blood draw center was maskless and dangerous: Last week, @TaylorLorenz hung out with @kathygriffin and others unmasked. This week, Taylor Lorenz is complaining about the lady at the blood draw center for not wearing a mask. pic.twitter.com/uBkSTtWP9V siraj hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) March 30, 2023 I think Lorenz is correct that shes immunocompromised. However, the thing that frightens her isnt COVID. Although she cannot say it out loud, what shes really scared of is American people germs. Ordinary Americans, who are out and about, doing their jobs, going on their vacations, and not agreeing with everything she says, threaten her very being. Shes doing her bit to protect herself by wearing a mask, and, as far as shes concerned, its time for the hoi polloi to do their bit, by wearing masks whenever theyre near her. It's easy to laugh at Lorenz, but you should take her seriously: Most establishment leftists feel as she does; they just hide it better. With the news cycle dominated by the latest developments regarding the classified documents indictment of former president Donald Trump and President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, reaching a plea deal with federal prosecutors over his failure to pay roughly $1 million in taxes and falsifying information in the process of purchasing a handgun, some very important news regarding the overall security of America has consistently flown under the radar so far this year. Security has seemingly been far from top of mind for the administration, as evidenced by the utter disregard for the security of the southern border, where, according to a document titled "Biden's border crisis is the worst in American History," prepared by the Senate Republican Conference, "[i]n Fiscal Year 2021 alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection experienced 1.7 million encounters with aliens at the southern border, the highest number ever recorded in a single year." Most Americans living outside of border states are well aware of this issue however, as, according to a May 2023 Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 26% said they approved of Biden's handling of immigration. That's mainly because the news is consistently reporting on the physical border crisis, unlike the issues facing our digital borders, which have reached zero hour. Unfortunately, the average citizen is blissfully ignorant of the fact that there are literally 560,000 thousand new pieces of malware created daily. This includes viruses, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, and crypto miners, which are all developed to steal data and currency, conduct spying operations, or disrupt critical infrastructure. The Biden administration has largely failed in the first half of 2023 in properly addressing these threats, as recent reports indicate that multiple U.S. government departments and several hundred private and public entities have recently been victimized as part of a slew of new Russian-based hacks. The attacks were enabled, in part, due to vulnerabilities in MOVEit software. According to the executive assistant director for cyber-security for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Eric Goldstein, CISA "is providing support to several federal agencies that have experienced intrusions affecting their MOVEit applications," while noting, "we [CISA] are working urgently to understand impacts and ensure timely remediation." The Department of Energy was among the more high-profile victims of the attacks. According to a spokesperson for the agency, "[t]he Department has notified Congress and is working with law enforcement, CISA, and the affected entities to investigate the incident and mitigate impacts from the breach." The Russian ransomware gang known as CLOP has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The hackers gave their victims until last Wednesday to contact them regarding ransom payments. They then began listing alleged victims on their dark web site. Among the alleged victims are Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Georgia's statewide university system; British Airways; the Shell Oil Company; and state governments in Minnesota and Illinois. The software maker behind the exploited MOVEit applications, Progress Software, recently discovered a second vulnerability in its software which it's actively working to fix. "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. Much like the SolarWinds attack, it will likely be months or even years before we know the full extent of this wave of Russian cyber-attacks. This is only the latest example of the Biden administration failing rise to the challenge regarding America's cyber-defenses. Among the attacks against the U.S. this year were espionage operations carried out by a Vietnamese hacking group, a North Korean cyber-gang targeting American cyber-security research firms, and Chinese state-sponsored hackers attacking "critical" cyber-infrastructure in several industries, including government and communications organizations. The U.S. government must lead the world on the cyber issue especially as hackers seem to be indiscriminately attacking anyone they can. Big Tech must do its part as well, especially as 2023 has seen a rise in "Malvertising" via Google Ads. One thing the average American can do to protect himself online is to exercise basic safety measures like using an ad-blocker to avoid malware-laced advertising. But on the international level, the ongoing cyber-wars necessitate increased cooperation. One of the most promising recent developments is the bipartisan Abraham Accords Cybersecurity Cooperation Act. Born out of groundbreaking Trump administration diplomacy, the act is a major step toward enhanced international communication in real time to mitigate damages from large-scale cyber-attacks. Cyber-security is just another matter where Joe Biden has failed. Luckily for America, for the time being, America has merely bent and not broken in the cyber-sphere. Whether or not we can hold the fort through the next year and a half of Biden remains to be seen. Julio Rivera is a business and political strategist, editorial director for Reactionary Times, and a political commentator and columnist. His writing, which is focused on cyber-security and politics, has been published by many of the most heavily trafficked websites in the world. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. The insurrection of the Wagner PMC Russian mercenaries threatening to take Moscow ended with a fizzle. After taking over at least military facilities of Rostov and Voronezh, and marching to within 124 miles of Moscow, their piratical leader, Yevgeny Prigoshin, suddenly announced they'd all turn back, being concerned with bloodshed and all, which nobody believes. According to Reuters: "They wanted to disband the Wagner military company. We embarked on a march of justice on June 23. In 24 hours we got to within 200 km of Moscow. In this time we did not spill a single drop of our fighters' blood. "Now the moment has come when blood could be spilled. Understanding responsibility [for the chance] that Russian blood will be spilled on one side, we are turning our columns around and going back to field camps as planned." Prior to that, he expressed defiance in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's address to the nation, which called the mutiny "a stab in the back" and compared it to the disastrous revolution of 1917. CNN reported: After Putins speech, Prigozhin said on Telegram that the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our Motherland, we fought and are fighting, he said in audio messages. And no one is going to turn themselves in at the request of the president, the FSB or anyone else. According to Peter Baker at the New York Times, he had other nasty things to say about Putin, too: Once a key lieutenant of the Russian president who orchestrated the interference into the United States election in 2016, Mr. Prigozhin publicly debunked Mr. Putins entire rationale for the war, refuting the notion that the invasion was a justified reaction to supposed threats to Russia by Ukraine and NATO. So that was quite an about face. After calling his march a march for justice and making many nationalist noises, appealing to the little guy, he just stopped, and the entire march vanished, just like that. The deal itself, supposedly brokered by Belarus's dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, a close Putin ally and frequent puppet, is that Prigozhin would now live in Belarus. Wagner mercenaries and Russian troops who joined him would be granted amnesty from prosecution and offered safe passage to Belarus. Mercenaries who didn't join him would be offered contracts with the Russian army. Prigozhin's main demand, that Russia's military leaders be removed from power, was not addressed. It was strange stuff, because Prigozhin almost had control of Russia. His troops were within 124 miles of Moscow. Moscow had set up embattlements and roadblocks, and mined its bridges. Air support was revved up and jets streaked the skies. Prigozhin had already shot down three Russian army helicopters, and taken over two cities, where locals greeted his troops with food and flowers. Air traffic tracking showed that much of Moscow's elites, including at least the jet of Putin, had fled the capital. If Prigozhin had the power, why did he just drop it, without any firings of generals announced? The only explanation seems to be that perhaps he didn't have the power. His reportedly 25,000 mercenary force apparently only had 1,000 or 2,000 people. It lacked significant artillery. While Russian troops were peeling off to join Wagner, apparently it wasn't enough of them. Putin seems to have been on alert that something would happen and swept out and made arrests of Prigozhin's allies around the country a few days earlier. Meanwhile, other paramilitary irregular outfits, such of that of Ramzan Kadyrov's Chechens, had announced their fealty to Putin. And the road to Moscow is pretty open and bombable, meaning, the Wagner army may not have had a great chance of making it into the capital. Insurrection is pretty hard. But Prigozhin still seems to have had power within his grasp. Putin's response, citing all the deepest fears of Russian history and comparing his activity to the nightmare of Lenin, signaled that the Russians did seem to be alarmed. But then came the deal, brokered by Putin's puppet in Minsk. Prigozhin did a lot of damage -- not just the helicopters, but a mistaken Russian firepower assault on a car that was believed to hold Prigozhin -- which incinerated a Russian family. He took over the Rostov military headquarters which was a humiliation for Putin. That he got off so easily -- into Belarus, is believed to be a sign of Putin's weakness, and perhaps his need for Wagner's competent troops on the Ukraine front still. Still, Putin seems to be the winner here, the stronger one really, given that Prigozhin seems to have gotten nothing. Why did he take nothing? Was he losing? Bill Browder, a former financial services professional who writes riveting good books on Russia, summed it up well with bond traderly logic: Whenever something doesnt make sense on the surface, it means we just dont have all the information https://t.co/rTCrgru6VW Bill Browder (@Billbrowder) June 24, 2023 If Prigozhin wasn't losing earlier, he sure seems to be losing now. His Wagner business is unlikely to gain new clients in places like Africa, given that busy despots there buy his services on the implicit suggestion that they have the backing of the Russian state. That won't be operational at this point. He's now going to Belarus? That's not exactly a Black Sea resort town. How safe is he going to be in Belarus, given that the regime there is, if anything, even more tyrannical and murder-inclined than Putin's Russia? Why did he take the deal -- and what did he get for it? That's the big question, given that he had some power to rattle Moscow around with. While Putin may seem to be weakened by this, and in some ways is, given that stable states don't deal with these kinds of mercenary problems, it's pretty obvious he's strengthened against potential revolt-minded gangs and mercenary groups that threaten his regime. The regime is still pulling together behind Putin, if for nothing else, their own self-interest. There may or may not be a military shakeup, as Prigozhin demanded earlier. Perhaps a general or two will fall out a window. On the other hand, perhaps Prigozhin will turn up with a bad case of radiation poisoning. Mark Wauck had some pertinent observations: So, all rather weird. However, two points that may be very important: Putin did not speak directly with Prigozhin, if we accept the Belarus account. That comports with Putins speech, in which he never once mentioned Prigozhin by name. Prigozhin may officially now, in Russia, be a non-personwith an arrest warrant out for him, accused for the moment of fomenting armed rebellion but perhaps later of treason? If I were advising Putin I would certainly tell him not to back down in any way. The Belarus accounts speaks of security guarantees for Wagner PMC fighters. It says nothing about security guarantees for Prigozhin. Strictly speculation: Is it possible that the Wagner rank and file dupes in these smallish columns took some attacks from Russian aviation and realized that they were being used by Prigozhin? Prigozhin then realized on his part that the jig was up and headed for the only exit that seemed available at the moment? I dont know, but we should find out fairly soon. This probably isnt overIMO the FSB will certainly be commissioned to root out any Prigozhin supporters. One analyst on Twitter Spaces, named Jessica Berlin, summed it up pretty well: "Let's see who's alive in the morning." Image: Twitter screen shot Stockton Rush, the now-deceased CEO of (the probably soon-to-be-defunct) OceanGate, once said that he didnt hire 50-year-old white guys with military experience to captain his vessels because they werent inspirational. Well, five people are now dead in the 'Titan' tragedy, and it will forever remain a mystery if so-called "uninspiring" 50-year-old white guys with extensive submarine experience could have made a critical difference to the safety of the vessel's ill-fated voyage. Nonetheless, the event shows that woke D.I.E. (diversity, inclusion, equity) initiatives may now be starting to live up to its macabre-tinged acronym. And as for all the "uninspiring" 50-year-old white men out there, even ChatGPT is here today to tell you that's all a bunch of bologna. I found this on ChatGPT: List five ways how 50-year-old white men are inspirational. Leadership and Experience: Many 50-year-old white men have had decades of experience in various aspects of life, such as their careers, relationships, and personal growth. This wealth of experience often equips them with valuable leadership skills and the ability to mentor others. Their guidance and expertise can be truly inspirational to those around them. Overcoming Challenges: By the age of 50, many white men have faced numerous challenges and obstacles in their lives. Whether it be personal setbacks, professional difficulties, or health issues, their ability to overcome these challenges can serve as an inspiration to others who may be facing similar struggles. Demonstrating resilience and perseverance, they show that it is possible to overcome adversity and thrive. Role Models for Family: White men in their 50s often play significant roles as fathers, husbands, and family leaders. They can inspire younger generations by demonstrating qualities such as love, commitment, responsibility, and dedication to their families. Their actions and behaviors serve as positive examples of how to navigate and prioritize family life, fostering strong relationships and creating a supportive environment for their loved ones. Professional Accomplishments: Many 50-year-old white men have reached significant milestones in their professional lives. They may have achieved high positions in their careers, become successful entrepreneurs, or made valuable contributions to their industries. Their accomplishments can inspire others by showcasing the rewards of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to personal growth and development. Community Engagement: At this stage of life, many 50-year-old white men become increasingly involved in their communities, volunteering, mentoring, or contributing to social causes. Their active engagement demonstrates a desire to make a positive impact beyond their immediate circle. By dedicating their time and resources to helping others, they inspire individuals of all ages and backgrounds to get involved and work towards the betterment of society. A company called "OceanGate" -- which took submarine tours to the 'Titanic' wreckage at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean -- didn't want to hire 50-year-old white men for their business because they weren't "inspirational" in the CEO's words. List five ways how that CEO is wrong for taking that stance, and possibly putting his company at risk. Ageism and Discrimination: The CEO's stance on not hiring 50-year-old white men based on their age and race is discriminatory. It goes against principles of equal opportunity and fairness in the workplace. By engaging in such discriminatory practices, the CEO exposes the company to legal and reputational risks associated with violating employment laws and fostering a discriminatory work environment. Missed Diversity and Inclusion Opportunities: By excluding a specific demographic based on age and race, the CEO disregards the value of diversity and inclusion. Diversity brings different perspectives, experiences, and skills to the table, fostering creativity, innovation, and better decision-making within a company. By limiting their hiring pool, the CEO may miss out on valuable contributions from talented individuals, potentially hindering the company's growth and competitiveness. Negative Public Perception: Discriminatory practices can result in negative public perception and backlash. In today's society, there is increasing awareness and scrutiny around issues of diversity and inclusivity. If the company's hiring practices are seen as discriminatory, it could lead to boycotts, damage to the company's reputation, and loss of customer trust. Consumers are increasingly conscious of supporting organizations that prioritize fairness and inclusivity. Decreased Employee Morale: The CEO's stance on hiring can create a hostile work environment and diminish employee morale within the company. Employees may feel undervalued, overlooked, or insecure about their own future prospects based on arbitrary criteria. This can lead to lower productivity, higher turnover rates, and difficulty in attracting top talent, negatively impacting the company's overall performance. Missed Business Opportunities: By disregarding the skills and experiences of 50-year-old white men, the CEO may overlook valuable expertise that could benefit the company. These individuals may have extensive industry knowledge, leadership capabilities, and networks that could contribute to the growth and success of the business. By excluding them, the CEO may miss out on opportunities for mentorship, valuable insights, and potential partnerships that could enhance the company's operations and profitability. It is important for businesses to recognize and value diversity, promoting a fair and inclusive workplace where talent and potential are recognized based on merit rather than arbitrary characteristics. Discriminatory practices not only harm individuals but can also hinder a company's growth, innovation, and reputation in the long run. Could these so-called "uninspiring" 50-year-old white men also have a high level of expertise and skills in regards to the infrastructural safety of the vessels which the company would deploy? We awoke with a shock to the political system. Putin is being challenged by his lapdog, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who heads Putin's extra military, Wagner. Last year, I wrote twice about Putin's world-dominating aims. History may have caught up with him in the form of an unlikely foe who possesses the one quality most world leaders don't have: Prigozhin does not fear death. In this way, he is like Putin. But Putin has obtained everything he wants, while Prigozhin hasn't. This makes him a dangerous adversary. He is a dead man if he does not succeed. And so are his inner circle of officers and co-conspirators. Mercenaries are largely unfamiliar to most Americans. Wagner operates on three continents doing basic military work and sometimes the kind of wetwork that we don't like to talk about but happens all the time in other less civilized countries. Putin has cultivated a persona of control, especially in the international community and particularly against any public enemies, like Alexi Navalny, currently in prison in Russia and the victim of a near poisoning widely believed to have been ordered by Putin. American political types and intelligence sources appear to have been caught flat-footed. I don't understand this. Why? Putin is an existential threat to his own citizens, especially the oligarchs and political class that owe their existence to Putin's continued reign. It can't be emphasized enough that Putin is a dictator, as much as Xi Jinping, recently called such by President Biden. Putin faces rising international pressure from the West to end the war in Ukraine on terms favorable to the forces of freedom. Cast aside all the rhetoric you've heard about China's "no limits" partnership with Russia by witnessing China's utter lack of munitions delivery to Russia to read the tea leaves. Russia has financial help from China and India, among others; that much is true. Still, the kind of help it needs is arms, ammunition, and manpower, with only Iran and North Korea willing to take Russia's money so far. The issue on everyone's mind is the nuclear wild card, which Putin waves around regularly with his move this month to deliver tactical nukes to Belarus. The issue that should be on everyone's mind is, what are the checks and balances on Putin himself? Students of Russian history know that the assassination of Russian leaders and party functionaries and sometimes their disappearance is more common than you can imagine. Everyone has children; everyone wants a future, and very few want a madman to commit nuclear Armageddon. As I have written, the process has at times been averted by someone in the kill chain more than once. Call it a miracle or, as I do, an act of self-preservation, but Russians love their families as much (or maybe even more) as we do. Remember, Russia is a land of poets. Putin has many enemies. Who's to say that Putin's time in office might be shorter than he anticipates? We can hope for a more Western-looking successor who does not seek to create a new empire and believes in freedom and democracy for his people. Wouldn't that be a good thing? This is possible but can't be taken for granted. Putin, an ex-KGB operative, sees the world as open to plunder and sees Biden as weak and ineffective. This is a dangerous combination when nuclear weapons and wars are being talked about. The possibility of miscalculation is ever present for all parties. However, the West has no choice but to resist Putin's territorial ambitions. That's something everyday Americans likely don't understand well enough. The next few days will tell the story. Putin beats back Prigozhin, or we'll see a new leader appear in Russia. Largely, we are along for the ride in any case. What we can do is quickly recognize new leadership if it appears. Not to do so risks giving Putin more time to regroup and retain his leadership. As long as he is in power or alive, Putin remains an existential threat to the free world. One more thing: China will be watching what happens with keen interest. We have no idea how firm Xi's grip on power is. Popular conclusions are frequently wrong; witness what is happening right now in Russia. On the current trajectory, we will be fighting China within 1525 years, perhaps much sooner if Taiwan is the trigger. Adventurism is curbed when leaders start to realize how mortal they are and how fleeting power can be. What is happening in Russia could help defuse a future situation in China. We all watch with more than transitory interest as history is made right before our eyes. Putin has cultivated a carefully curated version of Russia that is largely untrue. Like a dam bursting, we saw the legend of the ten-foot-tall Russian soldier crumble before our eyes as Ukraine dispatched two hundred thousand Russians, dead or wounded. Leadership, which commences from the top, has been found not just wanting, but largely a fantasy. None of us saw that coming. Putin is surrounded by his "yes" men. His insiders tell him he is brilliant, a historical figure on the verge of a new world order. None of that is true. The Russian people, shielded from much of the war news, are slowly coming to understand that they live in a Potemkin village of their own. In that situation, all bets are off as the dam breaks with the forces of billions of gallons of water behind it. Pray that peace finds its way out of this mess. Allan J. Feifer patriot, author, businessman, and thinker. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com. Image: World Economic Forum via Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. I recently read a comment from one of our experts who said the flood of migrants at our southern border could easily be settled in a certain Midwestern "fly-over" state, where there is an abundance of land. Obviously, this person has never visited the heartland where I grew up. Our county ranked 10th in population in the state. The county had two principal cities, two secondary cities, and numerous smaller communities. Many of the people stilled lived on small, family-owned farms. We still had many smaller two-room schools outside the established communities. If people worked off the farm, it was at the local refinery, the cement plant, or other of the small businesses that produced the goods and services we needed. One of the principal communities had a Coca-Cola plant and a Montgomery Ward store. The other had a Pepsi-Cola plant and a Sears store. Both had busy downtown areas filled with shops providing us with everything from dry goods to screws and bolts. Almost all the businesses were locally owned and operated. Many people visited the principal cities only a few times a year, as they could generally get most of the goods and services they needed from stores in the small communities. The farm machinery stores were the most frequented. We had one of the larger farms and survived for several years, beyond some others, as we did a lot of commercial farming. I can remember my father going to town in the morning to get a crew of day laborers. It was not unusual for us to have 10 to 20 working on a given day. Today, my brother does this same work by himself from the comfort of his air-conditioned tractor. In the last few weeks, I have had the opportunity to visit some of the heartland, away from my comfortable suburban home in a large metropolitan area. What I saw was empty stores and boarded up houses, communities without hospitals or, in many cases, not even emergency care. The people have moved to larger communities, as they no longer have to be so close to their farmland. They have raised their children and seen them go off to colleges where they earned degrees offering employment only in the larger cities. The quality of the schools has deteriorated because they cannot attract top-level graduates willing to live in the small communities. Those still living in these more rural areas must often travel many miles, in some cases up to 80 miles per day, each direction, to find employment that allows them to stay in the still shrinking smaller communities. There is very little demand for petroleum engineers in most areas, as their centers for employment are the large cities. This is true for most who go off to college. Yes, the heartland could stand an infusion of new people. All it would take is for businesses to locate in these more rural areas. This would provide jobs but would require building new infrastructure to support them. New residents would require new schools, which would require more teachers. New residents would require water, sewer, and electricity. There would need to be new shops opened to provide them the goods and services they would need. But, most critically, the new immigrants (we'll call them) would need to be willing to live in these smaller communities and be trained for the jobs that might be made available. They would need to learn the language and culture of rural America and be comfortable with it. But American business and industry have been going the other direction larger plants in fewer locations serving larger areas. Modernization has reduced the demand for "common labor," and I would guess that many of these new immigrants are not equipped to fill such jobs without training.. That said, what can we do? First, we must retake control of our southern (and possibly now the northern) border. We must then identify the skills industry today requires and prepare our population to fill the positions. No longer may we be able to send everyone to college because traditional college training is not required. I have recently had contact with a number of people working in medical jobs that did not exist when I was young. They received their training at community colleges or private schools within much shorter timeframes than required for traditional college. Second, we must become proactive and speak out to elect officials who will govern in accordance with our wishes. We must stop listening to the mainstream media and return to thinking for ourselves, and then making sure our positions are recognized and implemented. Yes, we can return our nation to the greatness so many of us remember, but we must act now. Mr. McCorkill is a first-time contributor but longtime follower of American Thinker. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas. He served as a local government manager, operated his own business, and had a career as a teacher and education administrator. He may be reached at tmccorkill42@gmail.com. Image via Pxfuel. The battle between communism and freedom has many chapters, from people jumping The Berlin Wall to Mariel, Cuba in 1980. I saw the ugly face of communism as a boy, when my father's cousin was thrown in jail for publicly denouncing Castro. He was arrested in 1961 and released in 1975. Never had a trial, and forget about anybody reading him his Miranda rights. They don't do that in communist countries. We remember a great moment from the 20th century, or the day that U.S. and U.K. planes began dropping supplies to the people of West Berlin isolated by the USSR blockade. The Soviets were trying to break the back of the residents of West Berlin. Instead, they met a resolute President Truman, who would not allow the Soviets to get away with it. Eventually, the planes started to drop more than food and heating oil. At some point, the pilots saw kids and returned with something for them. Those men came to be known as "the candy bombers." They dropped candy for the children in their supply bags One of the pilots was Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen (19202021). This is his story: After the United States entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Halvorsen trained as a fighter pilot and served as a transport pilot in the south Atlantic during World War II before flying food and other supplies to West Berlin as part of the airlift. According to his account on the foundation's website, Halvorsen had mixed feelings about the mission to help the United States' former enemy after losing friends during the war. But his attitude changed, and his new mission was launched, after meeting a group of children behind a fence at Templehof airport. He offered them the two pieces of gum that he had, broken in half, and was touched to see those who got the gum sharing pieces of the wrapper with the other children, who smelled the paper. He promised to drop enough for all of them the following day as he flew, wiggling the wings of his plane as he flew over the airport, Halvorsen recalled. He started doing so regularly, using his own candy ration, with handkerchiefs as parachutes to carry them to the ground. Soon other pilots and crews joined in what would be dubbed "Operation Little Vittles." After an Associated Press story appeared under the headline "Lollipop Bomber Flies Over Berlin," a wave of candy and handkerchief donations, followed. The airlift began on June 26, 1948, in an ambitious plan to feed and supply West Berlin after the Soviets one of the four occupying powers of a divided Berlin after World War II blockaded the city in an attempt to squeeze the U.S., Britain and France out of the enclave within Soviet-occupied eastern Germany. Allied pilots flew 278,000 flights to Berlin, carrying about 2.3 million tons of food, coal, medicine and other supplies. Finally, on May 12, 1949, the Soviets realized the blockade was futile and lifted their barricades. The airlift continued for several more months, however, as a precaution in case the Soviets changed their minds. The Berlin Airlift, and the work of the candy bombers, was a beautiful chapter of an otherwise ugly war that killed millions. It's a nice story to share with your kids about the character of the men who fought that war. PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image via Pxfuel. The Bahia Honda Rail Bridge is an abandoned bridge in the lower Florida Keys connecting Bahia Honda Key with Spanish Harbor Key. The bridge was originally built between 1905 and 1912 by billionaire Henry Flagler, who was a partner in Standard Oil with John D. Rockerfeller, as part of the Overseas Railroad. It was intended to carry a single track of the Florida East Coast Railway across the Big Spanish Channel from Bahia Honda Key to Spanish Harbor Key. Due to the channels depth, being 24-feet at its deepest point, the Bahia Honda Bridge was built with a steel truss construction as apposed to a concrete arch form that was predominate throughout the Overseas Railway. Photo credit Building the railroad was a stupendous labor and engineering challenge. The Florida Keys were periodically swept by storms that killed thousands of workers during the construction period. On Labor Day, in 1935, one of the strongest hurricanes on record hit the Florida Keys, damaging the bridge and killing hundreds of WWI veterans working on a WPA bridge project. The overseas railroad came to an end and the bridge was sold to the State of Florida in 1938, who converted it for highway use. Rather than completely rebuilding the bridge after the hurricane, the existing structure was repaired and the deck for the highway was added on top, as the existing deck inside the truss was too narrow for vehicular traffic. The bridge served as the primary mode of transport to the islands of the lower Keys, and as a primary evacuation route. When a new four-lane bridge was built in 1980, a few hundred yards north of the old bridge, two spans of the bridge were removed to accommodate boat traffic and make the majority of the bridge inaccessible to pedestrian traffic. While most of the bridge has be abandoned, the easternmost section of the bridge is open to pedestrian traffic and provides a scenic overview of the area. Also see: Seven Mile Bridge in Florida Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Sources: Wikipedia / Abandoned Florida This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. (ANSA) - ROME, JUN 25 - An alleged taboo preventing the Vatican mentioning the name of Emanuela Orlandi has ended after Pope Francis on Sunday voiced his closeness to the family of the 15-year-old girl who disappeared from the Vatican 40 years ago, her brother Pietro said. "The Emanuela Orlandi taboo has finally fallen. The Pope has remembered Emanuela Orlandi, the fact of praying is a sign of hope to get to the truth", said Pietro Orlandi, commenting on the words of Pope Francis at the Angelus. Francis said: "These days mark the 40th anniversary of the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi. I would like to take advantage of this occasion to express once again my closeness to the family, especially to the mother, and to assure her of my prayers. I extend my remembrance to all the families who feel the pain of a loved one who has died". Pietro Orlandi commented: "It was a positive sign, I did not expect it, I think this is a good step forward". The Vatican has recently pooled resources with Rome prosecutors in a fresh probe into one of Italy's longest-running mysteries. (ANSA). Princess Beatrice has been spotted at Glastonbury, as she greeted friends with a hug near the hospitality interstage area of the festival. Beatrice, 34, was seen with husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi on Sunday afternoon the last day of the festival which sees Sir Elton John set to close the event as the headline act. Beatrice (second left) with husband Edo (right) greeting friends at Glastonbury (Edd Dradcott/PA) The Duke of Yorks daughter was dressed in a long sleeved black top, black skirt, white Adidas trainers and a cross-body handbag, and was wearing a pink wristband. She smiled as she embraced friends before heading in the direction of the Left Field area. Beatrice, who also attended the festival last year, is not the only royal to have descended on the Worthy Farm site in the past. The then-Prince of Wales with Michael Eavis (centre) as Charles visited Glastonbury Festival 2010 to mark the 40th anniversary of the event (Yui Mok/PA) Her sister Princess Eugenie has been previously, and their cousin the Duke of Sussex was pictured in the crowds in 2013 with his then-girlfriend Cressida Bonas. In 2010, even the King then the Prince of Wales made an appearance, touring the site with founder Michael Eavis and taking to the Pyramid Stage to wave to revellers and meet the behind the scenes team. Human remains have been found in the area of the San Gabriel mountains where British actor Julian Sands went missing more than five months ago. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said civilian hikers had contacted authorities on Saturday morning after finding the remains in the Mount Baldy area. The remains have been transported to the Coroners Office, pending positive identification, the department said. It is expected that identification should be completed next week, at which point the department will issue a press release. Hikers Discover Human Remains in the Mt. Baldy Wilderness Area https://t.co/bFcFocH8EI San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) June 25, 2023 Sands, 65, failed to return from a hike in the Mount Baldy area of the southern Californian mountains on January 13. The actor is known for his roles in films A Room With A View, Leaving Las Vegas and Warlock, as well as TV appearances on 24, Smallville and Banshee. Earlier this week his family released a statement saying they were continuing to keep him in our hearts with bright memories. We are deeply grateful to the search teams and co-ordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian, a family statement, issued on Wednesday by the sheriffs department, read. We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer. Although missing hiker, Julian Sands, was not located during the recent search mission, the case remains active. We want to thank all the individuals who assisted in the June 17th search and the previous search missions. pic.twitter.com/TQqSvA1wAR San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) June 21, 2023 The sheriffs department added although Sands had not been found during searches on June 17, the case remained active. The search had included over 80 search and rescue volunteers, deputies, and staff, with their efforts supported by two helicopters, and drone crews. Despite the recent warmer weather, portions of the mountain remain inaccessible due to extreme alpine conditions, the department said in a previous statement. Multiple areas include steep terrain and ravines, which still have 10-plus feet of ice and snow. Searches have been hampered by poor conditions in the area and were halted in March due to the risk of avalanches. Eight searches by ground and air have taken place for Sands since his disappearance, with volunteer searcher hours exceeding 500 hours. A spokesperson for the sheriffs department previously said its goal was to bring closure to Sands family. Hundreds of mourners have gathered in east London for a silent walking vigil in honour of murdered law graduate Zara Aleena. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Labour MP Wes Streeting joined family, friends, campaigners and well-wishers in Valentines Park, Ilford, to remember the 35-year-old, who was killed on June 26 last year just minutes from her front door on nearby Cranbrook Road. Crowds wore white and carried pictures of Ms Aleena reading I am Zara, with many dressed in T-shirts printed with photographs in her image. Members of Ms Aleenas family led the crowd on the route home she would have taken on that night, inviting Mr Khan to walk alongside them at the front. Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Aleenas aunt Farah Naz said the family remembered Zara as so sweet and for her belief in social justice. Ms Naz said: She was so sweet, her voice was so sweet and at the same time she was a proponent for justice. She was an aspiring lawyer, she had finished her qualifications, so we would also like to remember her as a fighter for justice and to stand in resistance with her, to stand in solidarity today with her, in their hearts and to work towards a vision of ending violence towards women and girls. Mr Khan, who attended with his wife and daughter, said there exists an epidemic of violence for which men were responsible. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (Jonathan Brady/PA) In a speech, Mr Khan said: Zaras not the first woman to be brutally murdered on our streets, and shes not the last woman to be murdered on our streets. We have in our country an epidemic of violence against women and girls and my gender, my sex is responsible for violence against women and girls, so the mission today is to remember Zara, the mission is to give some comfort to Zaras family. He added: Today is also a day for us to really, really, really redouble our efforts to end violence against women and girls. Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence against Women coalition, told PA: Theres an awful lot of systemic change that needs to take place, but what we can never do is make women responsible for these changes. It starts with men taking accountability and with agencies that exist to protect all of the public stepping up and ensuring that they stop making all of the same mistakes. Zara Aleena (Family handout) Ms Simon added: Within communities were coming together to say that we dont want more womens lives taken by male violence. Before her death, Ms Aleena had started work with the Crown Prosecution Service in a two-year placement to qualify as a solicitor, having completed her legal practice course, according to her family. She was sexually assaulted and killed by recently released offender Jordan McSweeney, 29, as she returned from a night out. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 38 years. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting speaks during the vigil (Jonathan Brady/PA) Mr Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North, made a speech at the end of the vigil in which he highlighted the political actions needed to reduce male violence, while thanking the police officers involved in Ms Aleenas case. He said: So often the perpetrators dont even see the inside of a courtroom, let alone the inside of a prison cell. The police know, theyve got lot to change too. Not just more policing on our streets, but better policing. He then told the PA news agency: If the criminal justice system had done their job properly he (McSweeney) wouldnt have been walking the streets and so I think weve got to look very seriously at whether the laws in the right place, but also that the resourcing of the system, particularly probation is in the right place. I hope that out of this awful awful disaster for Zaras family we can make sure that changes are made so that other families dont have to go through this unimaginable loss. Actor Sir Mark Rylance has said he was not convinced he needed the Covid-19 vaccine and being told to have it caused alarm bells to ring. Sir Mark, 63, told the Sunday Times: I was not convinced I needed it. I took a very distilled garlic solution every morning, and vitamin C, and I sailed through Jerusalem. He added that he eventually had the jab so he could visit his father in America. The actor reprised his role as Johnny Rooster Byron in Jez Butterworths Jerusalem last year to widespread critical acclaim. Often labelled the best stage actor of his generation, Sir Mark is rehearsing for Dr Semmelweis, a play he co-wrote, which opens in the West End at the end of this month after a successful run at the Bristol Old Vic. The play is about a 19th-century Hungarian doctor who is driven mad by the medical establishments refusal to listen to him about the importance of sanitation in preventing the spread of germs. Sir Mark told the Sunday Times that the play acts as a warning not to take the overweening scientific establishment at its word, particularly since the pandemic. Speaking about the response to coronavirus, he added: Science started to sound like a religion. And really science is no different than religion, just an attempt by men to describe reality. The Oscar-winning star of Steven Spielbergs Bridge Of Spies also admitted being sceptical about the benefits of chemotherapy. He told the paper about a friend who broke up the cells of a tumour using vibrations from a Tibetan sound bowl. He said: The body knows how to heal itself. We dont need to go in and bombard it with poison. Its like bombing a city to try and get rid of a little sect of terrorists. You may wipe them all out, but youre going to breed 25 or 30 [more]. Speaking about Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Olivier Award-winning actor laid much of the blame on Nato for moving in on the Russians and suggested the West has never taken Russias wartime sacrifices seriously enough. He said: Look how vulnerable your Jewish people are having lost six million the Russians lost 26 to 40 million people killing fascism in Europe. We didnt do it. The Americans didnt do it. We stood back until the Russians had really knocked the shit out of them. Vladimir Putin addresses the Russian people on TV (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) And yet all my life, have we ever celebrated and thanked the Russians for dealing with fascism? No, weve just glorified ourselves. Of course the people will fall for a dictator like Putin and believe his narrative because of the way weve behaved. Sir Mark also defended Jeremy Corbyn, saying he cant believe the former Labour leader was labelled antisemitic. He told the Sunday Times: His record to me was clear: he was always only interested in society and socialism and people getting on. The actor, who served as the first artistic director of The Globe Theatre in London between 1995 and 2005, also cast doubt on the authorship of Shakespeares plays. It comes after the publication of Shakespeare Was A Woman And Other Heresies, a book by US author Elizabeth Winkler, which suggests Mary Sidney, the sister of poet Philip Sidney, was probably involved in the publication of the plays. Sir Mark said: So the question of, was Mary Sidney or other women involved, I think its a very, very reasonable, rational question. A system of mutual enforcement on post-Brexit trade by both the UK and EU merits serious and sustained consideration, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said. The suggested replacement for the Northern Ireland Protocol/Windsor Framework is set out in a report drawn up by pro-Brexit think tank the Centre for Brexit Policy. The group contends the current arrangements, which involve checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, have failed and only a radical redrawing of the trading arrangements will be enough to convince the DUP to return to powersharing at Stormont. The DUP has been blockading devolution in Northern Ireland for more than a year in protest against the protocol. Leader of the DUP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the proposals could end the logjam (PA) The party says the Windsor Framework, struck by the EU and UK earlier this year as a way to reduce red tape on trade between GB and NI, does not go far enough. Sir Jeffrey has made clear the DUP will not return to Stormont until the Government provides further legislative assurances around Northern Irelands place within the UK internal market. The mutual enforcement system would see the UK and EU implement the others trading rule and regulations to protect their respective markets. Under the proposals, UK officials would enforce the laws of the EU in the UK, and EU officials would enforce UK laws inside the single market. That would see UK exporters to the EU who break EU rules being punished by UK courts, with no role for the European Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, while EU exporters to the UK would be policed by EU officials inside the bloc. The paper, which has been presented to the UK Government, will be launched at Westminster on Tuesday. The think tank insists mutual enforcement would address DUP concerns about Northern Irelands sovereignty as part of the United Kingdom and still provide for a free flowing border on the island of Ireland. Sir Jeffrey, who has penned a foreword to the report, said the corrosive impact of the protocol has been undeniable. The DUP wants to see Stormont back up and running again as soon as possible and on a sound and stable foundation, he wrote. The stakes are extremely high and this necessitates a willingness on all sides to engage constructively with proposals that could help end the logjam and protect our place in the internal market of the United Kingdom. Although the DUP has set out criteria against which we will assess any proposal, we have been clear throughout that mutual enforcement is a concept worthy of serious and sustained consideration in terms of delivering a longer-term solution. The vast majority of trade from Great Britain is destined for, and remains, within Northern Ireland. There is a negligible risk to the integrity of the EU market. Indeed it is hard to find a single reported case of goods crossing the border since 2020 which have been a threat to their Irish and EU consumers despite many EU rules not having been applied. The DUP has been blockading devolution at Stormont for more than a year over the protocol (PA) Even where goods are destined for the EU, it seems reasonable that each side could maintain regulatory autonomy whilst enforcing whatever rules the other seeks to impose on only those goods crossing the border. In the longer term, this would sustainably address the potential problems caused by the imposition of regulations by an entirely separate regulatory regime and respect our constitutional position as part of the UK. David Jones, the deputy chairman of the ERG, has also written a foreword. It is clear that the protocol is not a sustainable long-term arrangement, he said. Sooner or later and preferably sooner it will have to be replaced by something better. This paper presents a workable solution to the problem. Mutual enforcement is an elegant and effective arrangement that respects the sovereignty of the United Kingdom and restores the full place of Northern Ireland in our Union. Equally, it protects the integrity of both the EU single market and the UK internal market. It dispenses with the anomalous state of affairs whereby the court of one party to the Withdrawal Agreement has jurisdiction over the other. Mutual enforcement, in short, will normalise relations between the UK and the EU, thrown out of kilter by the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Prime Minister has said his NHS Long Term Workforce Plan will be the biggest workforce training expansion in the history of the health service. Pointing to the countrys reliance on attracting talented people from overseas rather than recruiting at home, Rishi Sunak outlined the vision of his 15-year plan to build the health workforce of the future. Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Sunak said: This week, in conjunction with the NHS, well announce a series of new policies to transform the way we deliver healthcare. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan will be the biggest workforce training expansion in the NHSs history. It will ensure we train, retain, reform and make the most of our talented and experienced staff. It will be a 15-year plan to give the NHS certainty, because we recognise it takes time to train these staff, who are among the most highly skilled in our society. We will be using the latest techniques and innovations to streamline the journey from classroom to clinic, to get more patients the care they need. And it will be backed by government funding and support, balanced against the wider pressures on the economy. Mr Sunak described the plan as the cornerstone of his Governments vision for a better, more modern healthcare system, adding: I feel a great responsibility to ensure our NHS endures. It comes days after junior doctors in England announced they would be staging a five-day strike next month in a dramatic escalation of their dispute with the Government over pay and staffing. Members of the British Medical Association will walk out from July 13 to 18 in what the association said is thought to be the longest single period of industrial action in the history of the health service. The Australian government has slapped financial sanctions on three men involved in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) in 2014, foreign minister Penny Wong said on Saturday. The flight was brought down by a Russian-made missile over Ukraine killing 298 people onboard, including 38 Australian residents. In November last year, a Dutch court convicted Russian intelligence agents Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinskiy, and Ukrainian separatist leader Leonid Kharchenko in absentia for murder, and sentenced them to life in prison. Presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis said evidence presented by prosecutors at the trial proved the Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was brought down by a Buk missile fired by pro-Moscow Ukrainian rebels on 17 July 2014. None of the defendants appeared for the trial that began in March 2020 and it is deemed unlikely that the men will serve a prison sentence any time soon. The plane was one of 160 flights that crossed the airspace of eastern Ukraine that day. MH17 crashed near the Ukrainian village of Hrabove. There was an exclusion zone at 32,000ft because of the conflict between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed rebels. Five countries the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the tragedy. On 24 May 2018, the JIT announced that the Buk missile installation that brought down the flight belonged to the Russian army. The missile, which can reach a height of 80,000ft, was fired from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine at a target that may mistakenly have been assumed to be a Ukrainian military aircraft. A man walks among the debris at the crash site near the village of Hrabove, in Ukraine (AP) Ms Wong said the sanctions announced Saturday targeted Sergey Dubinskiy and Leonid Kharchenko, two of those convicted by the Dutch court last year. Australia had already sanctioned Igor Girkin, for his involvement in supporting separatism in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Ms Wong said. The government has also sanctioned Sergey Muchkaev, a colonel with the Russian Armed Forces who commanded the brigade that supplied the missile system responsible for downing the plane, she said. These sanctions demonstrate the Australian Governments ongoing commitment to hold to account those responsible for the downing of Flight MH17, Ms Wong said in a statement. Australia is steadfast in our commitment to seek truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17. While the international investigators earlier in February said there were strong indications that Vladimir Putin decided to supply the Russian missile system that downed MH17 over Ukraine, Moscow has previously denied involvement in the downing of the civilian jet. The international team said it was suspending its investigation this year, claiming to have insufficient evidence to launch any fresh prosecutions. Additional reporting by agencies For roughly two decades, developers and urban planners considered bulldozing many of downtown Boises historic buildings to make way for a shopping mall. A handful of Boise icons, such as Chinatown, were lost in the push to revitalize the area amid a lull in downtown business patronage in the 1960s and 1970s. But the ultimate failure of the plans preserved the historic integrity of downtown, which has allowed it to flourish as an attractive destination among locals and tourists today. Our downtown is one of the finest downtowns in the country, and its because it kept much of its historic integrity, said Clay Carley, a prominent Boise developer and former president of the Downtown Boise Association. A mall would have forever changed that. Right now, people would be saying, How do we undo this? Mall craze comes to Boise From 1965 to the mid-1980s, the Boise Redevelopment Agency later rebranded as the Capital City Development Corp. planned to level most of the buildings within eight city blocks downtown. The area, bounded by Bannock and Front streets and Ninth Street and Capitol Boulevard, would become a regional shopping mall. In the late 1970s, the Winmar Co., a Seattle-based development firm, proposed the most feasible plans to date: a 780,000-square-foot indoor shopping center anchored by three department stores. Winmar Co. was the fifth developer tapped for the mall project, and by then confidence in the idea was deteriorating. One city council candidate, running in opposition to the plans, called the mall concept a loser, the Idaho Statesman reported at the time. But the urban renewal agency pushed forward, fueling what a Statesman columnist later called a bitter, ugly battle. The mall was meant to revitalize shopping and property values that had withered downtown, and many central merchants supported it, according to Statesman reporting at the time. There was a feeling that malls were this huge generator of traffic, both local and tourist, said Bob Aldridge, a lawyer and former chairman of the Boise Historic Preservation Commission. They saw that as this huge economic thing that would just boost Boise. The Fidelity Building was targeted for demolition during Boises redevelopment area. The shopping mall planned for the area never came to fruition, and today, several historic buildings host bars and restaurants within the popular Eighth Street pedestrian corridor. American shopping malls had their heyday after World War II. Most U.S. states opened their first mall during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Several cities pursued indoor shopping centers downtown, where central business districts were declining in popularity. Kiwanis Magazine, reporting on the downtown mall trend in 1961, hailed shopping malls as the beautifier of cities and a solution to the deterioration of urban life driven by traffic jams and grimy downtown buildings. Boises downtown was looking over the edge of abyss if city planners didnt come up with a central mall plan before one popped up in the suburbs, a Los Angeles consultant told local officials in 1965, the same year the Boise Redevelopment Agency was founded. Over the next decade, the urban renewal agency acquired downtown properties and leveled buildings to make way for redevelopment. At various times, plans called for the demolition of the Alexander, Idaho, Simplot and Fidelity buildings as well as the Union Block, the Romanesque Revival strip along Idaho Street with a gray sandstone facade thats home to Moons Kitchen Cafe. But actionable mall plans were slow to materialize, giving historic preservation groups time to organize in opposition to the destruction of historic buildings, the Statesman reported in 1974. Historic icons lost to redevelopment The Boise Redevelopment Agencys aggressive use of the wrecking ball gained national attention in 1974, when Boise native L.J. Davis published an article in Harpers Magazine entitled Tearing Down Boise. If things go on as they are, Boise stands an excellent chance of becoming the first American city to have deliberately eradicated itself, Davis wrote at the time. Locally, the Save Old Buildings Association and Preservation Idaho lobbied against demolishing historic sites, like Boises Chinatown. Founded in 1901, the laundry and restaurant district provided services and connections for Boises Chinese residents and planted memories of a distinctively different culture in the minds of many other residents, wrote Ann Felton in an urban studies report for Boise State University. Aldridge was an Idaho Supreme Court law clerk when justices considered whether the Boise Redevelopment Agency could condemn the Hop Sing Tong building, one of Chinatowns last remaining structures. The owners of the building fought its destruction in court, and Hop Sing Tongs last resident, Billy Fong, a former cook at Chinatowns most popular restaurant, Shanghai-Low Cafe, refused to leave until the wrecking ball arrived, the Statesman reported at the time. Aldridge said he felt a tremendous sense of guilt for his role in the courts decision allowing the Hop Sing Tong building to be destroyed. It would have been wonderful to preserve Chinatown in Boise, along with other things, Aldridge said by phone. Downtown Boises C.W. Moore Park displays artifacts from buildings demolished during the urban renewal era, including a turret from the W.E. Pierce Building, torn down in 1975, and the name stone from the Central School, demolished in 1973. Aldridge later joined the Historic Preservation and pushed for tax credits and other financial incentives to restore aging structures rather than destroy them. Urban renewal loans financed a remodel of the Alaska Center in 1983. The Alexander and Hoff buildings were also refurbished in addition to the Egyptian Theater and Jefferson Place, which all remain standing today. We did save some things that wouldnt have been saved, Aldridge said. We got some changes made, and Im happy about that. The losses hurt but its over and done. Downtown Boises C.W. Moore Park displays artifacts from buildings demolished during the urban renewal era, including a turret from the W.E. Pierce Building, demolished in 1975. Mall plans abandoned, downtown reenergized Winmar Co. abandoned its mall plans in 1983, after struggling for years to secure commitments from department stores to anchor the shopping center. J.C. Penney Co., The Bon Marche and Montgomery Ward & Co. had each expressed interest, but a competing suburban shopping center proved more attractive. The Boise Towne Square mall opened in 1988. Winmar Co. President Frank Orrico also blamed Boise residents persistent skepticism for the failure of the downtown mall. The whole community must shoulder the blame, Orrico told the Statesman in 1984. There was always somebody with sufficient authority or clout raising a question in the press. Boise ultimately did get a downtown shopping center, although on a much smaller scale. After a decade of construction stagnation which left the area studded with debris-littered lots where decaying buildings once stood, as a Statesman editorial put it construction began on Capitol Terrace in 1988. Today known as Main and Marketplace, the two-story, open-air retail building that takes up about half of a city block is home to Rediscovered Books, Stellas Ice Cream and other popular stores and eateries. The historic Falks Building was destroyed to make way for the shopping center and next-door parking garage, but many considered the aging structure beyond preservation, according to Statesman reporting at the time. Bars, restaurants and shops within the boundaries of the original mall plans bustle with activity today. Business Insider recently called the area surrounding Eighth Street the coolest neighborhood in Idaho. The Grove Plaza, the Boise Centre and the Grove Hotel attract locals and tourists where Chinatown once stood. Travel blogs regularly rank Boises downtown among the most attractive in the country. Its No. 6 on Livability.coms Top Downtowns, and No. 19 on Attractions of Americas Top 20 Best Downtowns in the USA alongside New York, Chicago and Savannah, Georgia. Meanwhile, the number of indoor shopping malls in the U.S. has dropped from roughly 2,500 in the 1980s to about 700 today, and itll likely continue to decline, the Wall Street Journal reported last year. It would have been a disaster, Carley said of a downtown mall. It would have kept downtown from being as great as it is. Carley credits the city of Boise, the Capital City Development Corp. and the Downtown Boise Association for reenergizing the area in recent decades. Its interesting to walk anywhere because the architecture is interesting, Carley told the Statesman by phone. Its very walkable, its compact, its vibrant, its lively. This whole community is proud of its downtown, and it shows. Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Progozhin has left Russia after a failed attempt to march into Moscow in what he called a "march for justice" against the Russian Defense Ministry. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media late Saturday (June 24) the restaurateur-turned-mercenary boss has agreed with the Kremlin to relocate to Belarus in exile after its president, Alexander Lukashenko, brokered a deal between him and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko held two meetings with both parties to negotiate the deal, which included "security guarantees for the Wagner PMC fighters." The deal also meant all of Prigozhin's criminal charges related to the Wagner mutiny would be dropped. Prigozhin, on the other hand, did not say anything about the deal and if his demand for Putin to sack Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was acted upon but said the about-face was decided to prevent any bloodshed between Russians. Rostov Gives Prigozhin a Hero's Farewell Wagner contractors have left the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don after over 24 hours of occupying it. Many people lined the streets of Rostov to cheer Prigozhin and send the mercenaries off as they were ordered to return to field camps in Ukraine. Prigozhin earlier occupied a Russian Defense Ministry building in the city before leaving with his troops. The Wagner column came to about 100 miles (160.9km) short of entering Moscow before Prigozhin ordered them to turn back. While Prigozhin was promised safe passage into Belarus as agreed upon in the deal, his exact whereabouts remain unknown as of this report. Read Also: Wagner Chief Claims Russian Missile Attack Killed Mercenaries; Moscow Says Leader Is Inciting Civil War Putin Weakened by Wagner Uprising While the Wagner mutiny was unsuccessful, the incident proved to be a massive blow to Putin's power projection, exposing his weakness in dealing with Prigozhin. In recent months, the Wagner boss was given free rein to criticize Shoigu and Russian Armed Forces chief General Valeriy Gerasimov for using Wagner troops as cannon fodder. Such remarks were part of Putin's apparent power play of "divide and conquer." As a result of the mutiny, Ukraine was emboldened to strengthen its counteroffensive against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Putin was "very afraid" after Prigozhin's attempt to storm the Russian capital. "The man from the Kremlin is obviously very afraid and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself," he said in Russian. "[Putin] knows what he is afraid of because he himself created this threat. All evil, all losses, all hatred - he himself spreads it." Meanwhile, former Russian prime minister and Putin critic Mikhail Kasyanov told the BBC the Wagner mutiny spelled the beginning of the end for Putin. He said Prigozhin destroyed Putin's political stability and that his life would be under a "big question." Kasyanov added that Prigozhin might go to Africa after reaching Belarus. Related Article: Wagner Group vs. Russia: Will the Armed Uprising End Putin's Leadership? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. James Cameron emerges from the Deepsea Challenger in 2012 after making the first solo trip to the worlds deepest point (AP) In a series of stunning interviews on Thursday, James Cameron revealed he knew highly sensitive details about the Titan submersible search and rescue mission days before it was released publicly. Cameron was aware that top secret US Navy listening devices had detected an implosion near the Titanic wreckage within an hour of it occurring on Monday, and has since described the search for the five crew members as a nightmarish charade. He has also claimed that the Titan crew would have known that the submersibles hull had started to crack and were trying to resurface when the catastrophic implosion occurred. The 68-year-old told ABC News that his contacts within the community had shared details of the mission with him, a reference to the small and close-knit submersible Manned Underwater Vehicle (MUV) industry. Follow the latest updates on the Titanic sub here While best known for his filmmaking exploits, from Titanic to The Terminator and the Avatar franchise, Cameron has said his true love is deep-ocean exploration. Some people think of me as a Hollywood guy (but) I make Avatar to make money to do explorations, Cameron told The Daily Telegraph in 2018. A life-long obsession One of Camerons earliest films, The Abyss, is described as a claustrophobic survival thriller about the search for a submarine that sinks in the Caribbean. In a 1989 interview with the New York Times to promote the film, he said that scuba diving had allowed him to discover the keys to another world. In 2012, Cameron became the first person to solo pilot a sub to the worlds deepest point, Challenger Deep, in the Mariana Trench, 11km beneath the oceans surface. It was just the second time anyone had been to the most remote, isolated place on the planet after trailblazing oceanographers Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard first reached Challenger Deep 52 years earlier in 1960. I really feel like in one day Ive been to another planet and come back, he told the BBC after completing the dive. The Titan suffered a catastrophic implosion near the wreckage of the Titanic on Monday. Cameron says he had long held fears about the safety of the submersible vessel (PA Media) He described how the trip was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to travel to the worlds deepest spot in the 2014 documentary Deepsea Challenge, which took viewers on a journey to the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean through his camera lens. The documentary showed Camerons obsession with the science and technical aspects behind deep-sea exploration, where the extreme water pressure and shifting ocean currents can turn fatal in an instant. He personally oversaw the design and construction of the $10m Deepsea Challenger submarine, which had over 180 interconnected onboard systems, including batteries, thrusters, life support, 3D cameras, and LED light. The stark difference between Camerons sub and OceanGates Titan was displayed in a side-by-side comparison of the vessels interiors. The inner walls of the Deepsea Challengers steel pilot sphere are stacked with advanced safety systems. In the Titan, OceanGate CEO and founder Stockton Rush is seen in the Titans sparse hull holding a PlayStation controller, with just a screen behind him. Cameron is part-owner of Triton Submarines which makes high-tech submersibles for research and tourism, and whose vessels have made several descents to Challenger Deep. This week, he described the Titans construction out of carbon fibre composite as a major safety red flag. He explained that the lightweight composite, popular in aeronautics and sailing, was not designed to withstand the compression which occurs when subs descend to extreme depths. Pressure hulls are typically made out of contiguous materials such as steel, titanium, ceramic or acrylic, which are better for conducting tests, Cameron told told Reuters in an interview. We celebrate innovation, right? But you shouldn't be using an experimental vehicle for paying passengers that aren't themselves deep ocean engineers, he told Reuters. He said the wider submersible engineering community had raised concerns about the OceanGate Expeditions vehicle, and that he regretted not going public with his own fears earlier. The sub imploded The US Navy revealed on Thursday that top secret acoustic detectors used to track enemy submarines had picked up the fatal blast on Sunday. While not definitive, this information was immediately shared with the Incident Commander to assist with the ongoing search and rescue mission, a senior Navy official told the Wall Street Journal, who first reported the news. Four days later, the US Coast Guard revealed that a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) had located pieces of debris from the Titan on the seabed 1,600ft (about 500m) from the bow of the Titanic wreck. The five crew members confirmed to have died are, clockwise from top left, Hamish Harding, Stockton Rush, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet. Cameron called the death of his close friend Nargeolet impossible to fathom (Dirty Dozen Productions/OceanGate/AFP/Getty) The five crew members died in a catastrophic implosion soon after it lost contact with its support ship an hour and 45 minutes into the dive, officials said. In interviews with CNN and Reuters, Cameron told how he had learned of the implosion soon after it occurred. We got confirmation within an hour that there had been a loud bang at the same time that the sub comms were lost. A loud bang on the hydrophone. Loss of transponder. Loss of comms. I knew what happened. The sub imploded, he told Reuters. Cameron emailed colleagues in the MUV industry on Monday that the Titan was without doubt on the bottom in pieces right now. The system that detected the implosion is used to monitor enemy submarines, and the Navy considered it so crucial to national security that it asked that asked media not to identify it by name, the Journal reported. Its unclear whether information about implosion was shared with the families of those onboard, who continued to express hope of finding survivors. The deaths of the OceanGate CEO, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, British billionaire Hamish Harding, and French adventurer Paul-Henri Nargeolet were the first deep-sea fatalities ever recorded in the industry. Cameron said the death of his close friend Nargeolet, a 77-year-old experienced adventurer known as Mr Titanic, was impossible for me to process. He added that he had heard through the community that the Titan had dropped its ascent weights and was trying to manage an emergency when the implosion occurred. They probably had a warning that their hull was starting to delaminating and the hull was starting to crack, Cameron told ABC News in an interview. We understand from inside the community that they had dropped their ascent weights and they were coming up, trying to manage an emergency, the filmmaker said. Chilling parallels Cameron has likened the tragic fate of the Titan to the ocean liner its crew were trying to reach. Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night, Cameron told ABC News. About 1,500 people were killed when the Titanic sank in April 1912. The site of the wreck remained a mystery until 1985, when explorer Robert Ballard located its remains about 640kms off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at a depth of 4,000m. The filmmaker has visited the Titanic wreckage 33 times, making his his first trip in 1995 to shoot footage for his blockbuster film, which became the first to gross over $1bn worldwide within 74 days of its release in 1997. Cameron was inside a submersible exploring the shipwreck on 11 September 2001, when terrorists flew two passenger jets into the World Trade Centre. He would tell Spiegel International in 2012 that he was presumably the last man in the Western Hemisphere to learn about what had happened. On another dive, he described becoming trapped in the wreck for 16 hours, as the oceans strong undercurrents held his submarine at the bottom of the ocean. In Avatar: The Way of Water, Cameron said he had worked with digital visual effects company Weta FX to render water seamlessly (20th Century Studios) He later mused that he had probably spent more time on the Titanic than the captain did back in the day. Between making Titanic, and Avatar, released in 2009, Cameron took a hiatus from making Hollywood megahits to film several documentaries about his deep-sea adventures. In 2003s Ghosts of the Abyss, Cameron documented his extensive exploration of the Titanic wreck. For 2005s Aliens of the Deep, Cameron and fellow cameraman Steve Quayle teamed up with NASA scientists to explore to explore the Mid-Ocean Ridge, a submerged chain of mountains that band the Earth. The film showed for the first time ten hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that support some of the most unique organisms anywhere on the planet, including giant tube worms and swarms of blind white crabs. The latest installment of Camerons Avatar series, The Way of Water, is set on the aquatic ecosystems of a world 25 trillion miles from Earth. Cameron has said he regards all of his underwater explorations as research for The Way of Water. In an interview with Indie Wire last year, Cameron said he had worked with digital visual effects company WAtA FX to render water seamlessly. What we found was that there wasnt a magic wand technical solution. It turned out to be very artist-sensitive, meaning the individual artists working with the tools had to learn the way of water, it became this Zen archery thing, he told the film industry site. (Reuters) - A group of investors led by Apollo Global Management is making a debt investment between $1 billion to $2 billion in chipmaker Wolfspeed to support its expansion in the U.S., media outlets reported on Sunday. The financing would make $1.25 billion of cash available immediately to Wolfspeed, while another $750 million could be drawn later, Bloomberg News reported. The report added it was structured as seven-year secured notes carrying a coupon of 9.875% and can be paid back after three years. The Information reported the deal could be announced in the coming days. In September last year, Wolfspeed said it will build a multi-billion dollar factory in Chatham County, North Carolina, to make the raw materials used for chips that power things like electric vehicles as demand surges. Apollo Global Management and Wolfspeed did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that he would set the date for a China visit at an "appropriate time" as he stressed the importance of bilateral trade and expressed concerns about an Australian journalist detained in Beijing. Talks are under way about a visit by Albanese to China as Australia's centre-left Labor government pushes to end unofficial Chinese bans and tariffs placed on some Australian products in 2020 during a lowpoint in diplomatic relations. Asked about when a visit would happen, Albanese said "we'll finalise the date at an appropriate time", adding that his next overseas trip would be in July to the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Albanese refused to be drawn on whether Australians detained in China would be released prior to a visit, but reiterated a call for the release of Australian journalist Cheng Lei, detained in Beijing since being arrested in September 2020. "Cheng Lei ... should be released and should be allowed to come home to Australia," he said on Sky News television, according to an official transcript. Australia continued to advocate for the removal of any impediments to trade between the "two great nations", Albanese added. "The truth is that it is in Australia's interest to export to China, but it's also in China's interest to receive those exports," he said. China in May said it was set to resume imports of Australian timber days after Trade Minister Don Farrell returned from a trip to Beijing. A visit by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in December was followed weeks later by the resumption of coal shipments. (Reporting by Sam McKeith; Editing by David Gregorio) Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted Sunday that Wagner chief Yevgeniy Prigozhins halted march against Moscow remained an internal "Russian matter," though adding the challenge could benefit Ukraines counteroffensive as Moscow focuses on defending itself "against mercenaries of Putin's own making." Blinken, in appearances on CNNs "State of the Union" and NBCs "Meet the Press" Sunday, reacted to Prigozhin and his mercenaries reportedly coming within 120 miles of Moscow to challenge the Russian defense establishment over the weekend before an agreement brokered by Belarus was reached. "Think about it this way. Sixteen months ago, Russian forces were on the doorstep of Kyiv, Ukraine, thinking they were going to take the city in a matter of days, erase the country from the map," Blinken told CNN's Dana Bash. "Now, they had to be focused on defending Moscow, Russia's capital, against mercenaries of Putin's own making. So this raises lots of profound questions that will be answered, I think, in the days and weeks ahead." US SPY AGENCIES HAD INTEL IN MID-JUNE WAGNER CHIEF PRIGOZHIN WAS PLANNING ARMED ACTION IN RUSSIA: REPORT Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a luncheon for India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C., on June 23, 2023. "We've seen this aggression against Ukraine become a strategic failure across the board. Russia is weaker economically, militarily. It's standing around the world has plummeted," he continued. "It's managed to get Europeans off of Russian energy. It's managed to unite and strengthen NATO with new members and a stronger alliance. It's managed to alienate from Russia and unite together Ukraine in ways that it's never been before. This is just an added chapter to a very, very bad book that Putin has written for Russia. But what's so striking about it is it's internal. The fact that you have from within someone directly questioning Putin's authority, directly questioning the premises that upon which he launched this aggression against Ukraine. That in and of itself is something very, very powerful." "These are early days for the counteroffensive. It's going to play out over weeks, maybe even over months," Blinken said. "And to the extent that Russia is now distracted, that Putin has to worry about what's going on inside of Russia, as much as he has to worry about what he's trying to do, not successfully in Ukraine. I think that creates an additional advantage for the Ukrainians to take advantage of. But regardless, they are pressing forward. They have a clear plan. They're pursuing it." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Bash noted how last year, at the onset of Russias invasion of Ukraine, President Biden commented, "for Gods sake, this man cannot remain in power," regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin. The CNN host asked Blinken Sunday if that was still the "American position" after Prigozhins actions. Russian President Vladimir Putin during a June 23, 2023, ceremony marking the anniversary of German Nazi's 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union in Moscow. WAGNER CHIEF ORDERS TROOPS TO TURN AROUND FROM MOSCOW 'TO AVOID BLOODSHED' "These are decisions for the Russian people. And this entire chapter is an internal matter," Blinken responded. "It obviously has profound repercussions outside of Russia, including potentially in Ukraine. But fundamentally, this is a Russian matter. It's not our business. It's not our purpose to choose Russia's leaders. That's up to the Russian people. And we have no beef with the Russian people. On the contrary, what is one of the many, many tragedies of what Putin has done in Ukraine is what it's done to the Russian people." The secretary expressed a similar sentiment to NBCs Chuck Todd, noting Prigozhins "direct challenge to Putin's authority." Todd claimed that Putin has notably "not blamed the West" after the Wagner mercenaries marched toward Moscow. "So, I think we've seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade," Blinken said. "It is too soon to tell exactly where they go and when they get there. But certainly, we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead." Blinken insisted there's been "no change" witnessed in Russias posture regarding its nuclear arsenal and the U.S. has made no change of its own in response to Prigozhin's march. The secretary also said it "remains to be seen" whether top members of Russias military have been replaced to appease Prigozhin, as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, suggested could occur. Biden, Blinken noted, on Saturday brought together the National Security Council and allies and partners to closely coordinate on supporting Ukraines counteroffensive. "This is a challenge coming from within to Putin, and that's where his focus has been," Blinken told NBC. "Our focus is resolutely and relentlessly on Ukraine, making sure that it had what it needs to defend itself and to take back territory that Russia has seized." Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said Sunday he expected to get booed at a Faith & Freedom event Saturday when he criticized former President Trump in front of an audience largely supportive of the former president. Look, people understand that folks need to take responsibility for what they do. And my message to the folks at Faith and Freedom which did get some good reaction, too, but, of course, I expected the boos. That is predominantly a Trump crowd, but they need to hear the truth, too that character is the single most important element of a president of the United States, Christie said in an interview on ABC News This Week. Because you cant know every issue thats going to come across the presidents desk, Christie added. Its not a litmus test with check boxes in them. What you need to know is: What is the character of that person? Christie, who has been a vocal opponent of Trump continued his criticism of the former president Saturday, when he said of Trump, That is not leadership, everybody. That is a failure of leadership. You can boo all you want, he continued, responding to the crowds initial reaction. But heres the thing. Our faith teaches us that people have to take responsibility for what they do. People have to stand up and take accountability for what they do. His comments were met with mixed reaction Saturday some booing and some applause. Asked in the interview Sunday whether he thinks his anti-Trump message is resonating, he told Jonathan Karl, Absolutely evidence its resonating. Ive been in the race for less than three weeks and have already in third place in New Hampshire, only four points behind Ron DeSantis, whos been in the race for a longer time and is supposed to be the co-front-runner, he continued. In the latest poll, conducted by NBC News, 51 percent of GOP primary voters said Trump would be their first pick in a 2024 primary, up five points from April. Christie was not on the April poll, but he now is polling at 5 percent. Since April, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) dropped by 9 points. Christie, a former Trump ally, has not held back in attacking the former presidents character and calling him a loser, pointing to his track record in the most recent elections. He is a three-time loser. We do not need our party to go to a fourth loss, Christie said on ABC News, stressing he does not want four more years of this administration. Thats the stakes here. Its not about whether you think Donald Trump has been treated fairly or not by the media or by elements of the Justice Department. It is about whether he is a man of character who can lead this party to victory, and I dont believe he can. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week in Beijing. (Leah Millis / Associated Press) When Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken went to Beijing last week to try to repair the frayed relationship between the United States and China, both sides kept expectations low. For months, the two superpowers have clashed over a wide range of issues: the alleged Chinese spy balloon that wandered across the United States in February, U.S. attempts to block China from advanced semiconductor technology, and military near-collisions at sea and in the air. Read more:The U.S. population is older than ever. What that means Both countries agreed they needed to stop the rivalry from spiraling into open conflict and build a floor under the relationship which is exactly what President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping said they had already done at a summit meeting eight months ago. That floor didn't stay built hence last week's call for a repairman. By that modest standard, Blinken succeeded. The floor has been patched, but its still pretty shaky. The secretary of State asked for more frequent meetings, and he got that. But he also asked for direct exchanges between the two countries military leaders, a priority he called hugely important and the Chinese turned that down flat. And Xi deferred action on a request that should have been even easier: to curb Chinese-made chemicals that help produce the killer drug fentanyl. Its good that they recognized that they need to talk when the relationship is veering into dangerous territory, said Bates Gill, a China expert at the Asia Society in New York. But talking is still going to be very difficult. The drive toward peaceful coexistence still looks accident-prone. Only a day after Blinken left Beijing, Biden touched off a brief furor when he told donors that Xi hadnt known about the alleged spy balloon, which he called a great embarrassment for [a] dictator. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson called the remark absurd and irresponsible. The underlying problem, deeper than any Biden gaffe, is that the two countries dont merely have different goals; they view the world from different premises. In Xis view, China is rising toward its rightful role as Asias dominant country and the worlds leading economic power, while the United States is a nation in decline. U.S. officials understandably dont buy that narrative. They correctly argue that China has bullied its smaller neighbors, stolen Western technology and engaged in unfair trade practices. Even when they try to bridge those differences, the two governments often manage to talk past each other. When Biden entered the White House in 2021, his aides tried to come up with a useful, perhaps inoffensive framework for their approach to China. As Blinken put it: Well compete with confidence, cooperate when we can and confront when we must. The Chinese hated it. They see competition as meaning theres a winner and a loser, Gill said. They think our version of competition is about America winning and China losing. Beyond those differences, several major disagreements between the two countries are probably insoluble in the foreseeable future. China believes it has an inalienable right to take over Taiwan; the United States has long been committed to helping the independent island defend itself. Xis economic ambitions focus on making China a high-tech colossus; Biden believes U.S. security requires blocking Beijing from advanced semiconductor technology. Now add the Biden administrations success building alliances with other countries including India, whose prime minister, Narendra Modi, was feted at the White House last week and the European Union, even though its Chinas biggest economic partner. Xis regime hasnt done as well at making friends. Chinas only real allies are Russia and North Korea. All of these factors make it hard to find space for U.S.-Chinese cooperation, even when it should be relatively easy. For example, Blinkens request for military contacts to prevent accidental conflicts fell on deaf ears because the Chinese fear its a trap. They dont want to approach the issue from the standpoint of international law, because that might give us the right to fly or sail where they dont want us, said Bonnie Glaser of the German Marshall Fund. If it became safe for us to conduct these flights, theyd see that as a win for us. The clearest outcome of Blinkens trip will be a visit to Washington by Chinas foreign minister, Qin Gang and, with luck, a meeting between Biden and Xi in San Francisco this fall. But their agenda will be a familiar one: reducing the chances of U.S.-China conflict by repairing the same shaky floorboards again and again. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at Wolfspeed in Durham, N.C. on March 28, 2023 as part of President Joe Bidens Investing in America Tour, which included a Research Triangle Park stop. (Kaitlin McKeown/kmckeown@newsobserver.com) Run, Roy, run Over half of voters in my party, the Democratic Party, dont want Joe Biden to run in 2024. Yet, it seems inevitable. In the latest head to head polling, Biden trails Donald Trump by 2.4%. Bidens current 41% approval rating is a low only matched by President Jimmy Carter, who lost his election. Biden is a seasoned and capable politician, but hes 80. Democrats could have many strong candidates, but we need look no further than Gov. Roy Cooper to find such a candidate a candidate who in 2020 handily won a state that voted for Donald Trump. Democrats should have a choice of candidates. I will campaign for Joe Biden if he is the candidate, but I think we can do better. Run, Roy, run. Jack Wolf, Hillsborough Shaw rezoning Regarding Raleigh city leaders vote to rezone Shaw Universitys campus for taller buildings, (June 21): The Raleigh City Councils decision to rezone Shaw Universitys properties was a massive disappointment for Black, brown, Muslim, and working-class community members. Opposition to rezoning brought together a diverse coalition, ranging from Shaw students and alums who want to maintain the historic character of their campus, Muslim community members who want to save a mosque on the campus, and Raleigh community members who are opposed to gentrification in downtown Raleigh neighborhoods. Opponents of rezoning organized multiple protests against it and expressed their opposition to it during City Council meetings. After the divided vote favoring the rezoning, coalition members will redouble grassroots organizing against policies and elected officials who value development over people. Manzoor Cheema, Raleigh NC elections After reading Sen. Paul Newtons These 2 bills will restore confidence in NC elections, (June 19 Opinion), I was reminded of the audacity of the man accused of murdering his parents who asked the judge for mercy because he was an orphan. Daphne Lyon, Morehead City Gerrymandering In April, the League of Women Voters of North Carolina said: This shameful decision (by the N.C. Supreme Court) means that politicians in North Carolina now have the ultimate power to choose their voters rather than voters choosing their representatives. The solution is the Fair Maps Act, which calls for a redistricting commission to draw fair voting districts that reflect our state, protect communities, and put people above politics. Kevin Siers got it right in his June 20 editorial cartoon North Carolina Speaker Tim Moore, Senate leader Phil Berger and the NC GOP are killing democracy. Citizens must demand fair maps and save North Carolinas democracy. John White, Raleigh Mandy Cohen Regarding Biden picks Mandy Cohen, the architect of NCs COVID-19 response, as CDC director, (June 16): It is ironic that Sen. Ted Budd and U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, who have no scientific credentials, are accusing Dr. Mandy Cohen, who has impeccable scientific credentials and is not a politician, of politicizing science. When it comes to protecting our public health, I want someone in charge who is capable of weighing the scientific evidence and has the courage to make tough decisions not someone who is weighing how many votes they might gain or lose based on whatever position they take. MaryJane Selgrade, Apex Voter fraud Recent legislative efforts in North Carolina and other states have used election fraud as a rationale for increasing the difficulty of voting. I have voted for approximately 65 years and only recently have heard concerns raised about voter fraud. In fact, voter fraud only became a national issue when Donald Trump complained about the possibility of fraud if he lost in 2016, and after the election used fraud as an excuse for his loss to Hillary Clinton in the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. Since then, voter fraud has been a regular complaint from the GOP across the country. The consensus among election experts, including Trumps in 2020, is that voting is incredibly safe and fair in the U.S. Until more factual evidence of fraud is presented to justify making it harder for many people to vote, one has to assume this is purely a tactic to disenfranchise voters in the name of nonexistent fraud and it should be declared unconstitutional in all courts. Larry Wolf, Garner Pipeline into NC Regarding A disputed gas pipeline into NC appeared blocked, but now maybe not (June 13): The Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) has the potential to supply the Mid-Atlantic region with affordable, reliable energy. North Carolina is growing at a rapid pace and needs to increase its energy supply to support future economic development. MVP Southgate will help ensure the Tar Heel state has a diverse and reliable energy mix for generations to come. Its also essential to integrate additional renewable energy onto the grid, as the recent N.C. Utilities Commission Carbon Plan requires. Government and business leaders need to work together to get MVP over the finish line and secure our states energy future. David McGowan, Raleigh The march to Moscow by the Russian mercenary Wagner force of thousands came to a dramatic end on Saturday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin suffering severe dents to his armor that dispelled his indomitable image, according to critics. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Wagner, who is also known as "Putins Butcher," reportedly came within 120 miles of Moscow before he agreed to a deal to go into exile in Belarus that was brokered by the countrys authoritarian ruler Alexander Lukashenko. Garry Kasparov, who is a fierce opponent of Putins dictatorship, tweeted to his over one million followers: "Mafia is as mafia does. Whatever deal was reached today, blood has been spilled and Putin's illusion of invincibility is gone. He and his cronies tasted real fear. Moscow was threatened." WAGNER CHIEF ORDERS TROOPS TO TURN AROUND FROM MOSCOW 'TO AVOID BLOODSHED' Rebekah Koffler, former U.S. defense intelligence officer, told Fox News Digital, "Putin is perceived by the West as weaker," following the Wagner threat to his power. However, Koffler, whose expertise is on Putin and Russia, said, "Putin is perceived by many Russian people in Russia, generally, as stronger because he chased away the Wagner traitors who betrayed the president and the nation, and saved the country." A split image shows Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin; a Wagner group patrol in an area near a tank in Rostov-on-Don; and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Koffler added that the reality is "Putin is neither stronger nor weaker. His hold on power remains the same as before strong. He has taken several measures to squeeze his grip on power." She said Putin has introduced a counterterrorism operation "which augments security measures in Russia. Its a form of martial law, a legal regime that allows for a number of measures and temporary restrictions." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Putins state of anxiety about being toppled has reportedly led to a host of other measures to impede unrest in Russia. An armored personnel carrier is parked in a street as members of Wagner group patrol an area of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. According to Koffler, "Putin was always concerned about popular uprisings and stood up a special branch of service Rosgvardia, National Guard, 340,000 troops with the single purpose of monitoring key indications of an uprising and squashing it. He also stood up the National Center of State Defense, a wartime structure which conducts a 24/7 monitoring of internal and external threats." In an interview with "Fox and Friends Weekend," Ukraine born Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., echoed Kasparovs criticism, stating, "Russia is a country run by criminals." Spartz said the friction between Prigozhin and Russias minister of defense was already playing out. As a result, "Putin is afraid, you know, that he mighthave these people [Wagner] turn on him." BIDEN ADMIN, FOREIGN OFFICIALS REACT AS WAGNER GROUP MAKES MARCH FOR JUSTICE TOWARDS MOSCOW Wagner group fighters stand guard near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "When youre being challenged from within, as Putin has been over the last few days, that also raises profound questions. But weve seen, I think, lots of different cracks that have emerged in the conduct of this aggression, because everything Putin has tried to accomplish, the opposite has happened. Russia is weaker economically, its weaker militarily. Its standing in the world has plummeted." WAGNER GROUP: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT RUSSIAN MERCENARY GROUP IN UKRAINE The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War issued a series of tweets analyzing the volatility of Russia, noting: "The Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable equilibrium. The Lukashenko-negotiated deal is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution, and Prigozhins rebellion exposed severe weaknesses in the Kremlin and Russian MoD [Ministry of Defense]." Russia will remain in state of flux, according to some veteran experts of Russia. Alex Grinberg, who was born in Moscow and works as a foreign policy expert for the Jerusalem Institute for Security and Strategy, told Fox News Digital, "No one knows what will happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow because no one in the Russian authorities foresaw such a situation. It was not a revolt but a kind of mutiny. Russia is governed by a mafia." He added, "These people do not act as politicians. They never plan or have a contingency plan. As a result, what is clear is Putins authority was seriously shaken." Fox News Digital sent numerous press queries to Russian authorities for comment. Former United States ambassador to Russia John Sullivan on Sunday said the U.S. is rightfully concerned that chaos in Russia after the short-lived rebellion over the weekend is very dangerous. Moderator Margaret Brennan asked Sullivan on CBS Newss Face the Nation whether, in the current situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin is preferable for Russian leadership to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group chief who mounted the rebellion. Well, hes certainly a known quantity. Hes a hardened adversary of the United States, but the alternative could be worse, Sullivan said of Putin. So I think the Biden administration is rightfully concerned with chaos and uncertainty in Russia, with their nuclear arsenal, its very dangerous, not just for the United States, but for the world, the former ambassador said. Prigozhin launched an armed rebellion to oust Russias defense minister on Friday, accusing Sergei Shoigu of ordering a strike on Wagners field camps in Ukraine. Prigozhins fighters reached Rostov-on-Don, the location of Russias military headquarters in the southern region, and began moving toward Moscow as Russias National Anti-Terrorism Committee opened a criminal case against him. Prigozhin on Saturday ordered his forces to stop their advance on Moscow. He reportedly reached a deal with the Kremlin and has agreed to move to Belarus. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said the rebellion shows cracks in the Russian facade as Moscow also deals with a Ukrainian counteroffensive in Russias 16-month war on its neighbor. The Institute for the Study of War said Sunday that Russia is facing a deeply unstable equilibrium. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The girlfriend of a wealthy dentist convicted of murdering his wife on an African safari was sentenced on Friday to 17 years in prison. She was found guilty of being an accessory to the crime during a hearing where relatives of the slain woman told her she had destroyed their family. Ana Rudolph, daughter of 57-year-old victim Bianca Rudolph, said Lori Milliron, 65, had plotted to eliminate her mother. Lori, you have taken my parents, Ms Rudolph said directly to Milliron, but despite everything you have done you will never take my soul. This might be difficult to understand... because you dont have one. Lori Milliron encouraged Lawrence Rudolph to kill his wife for her. She told him to divorce Bianca Rudolph. When he said he couldnt afford to do that, Milliron responded by helping Rudolph procure propofol a lethal anesthetic drug that could be used as a poison before he took the trip where he did what she had wanted: get rid of Bianca, the federal prosecutors argued in their motion. Milliron was convicted last year of perjury, being an accessory to a murder after the fact and obstructing a grand jury in a case thats garnered national attention. She was charged alongside Lawrence Larry Rudolph, a US dentist who was convicted last year of fatally shooting his wife while on a 2016 hunting trip in Zambia. His sentencing, originally set for this week, has been postponed. John Dill, an attorney for Milliron, said the prison sentence was longer than what is typically doled out for such charges, calling it excessive and vowing to appeal. Mr Dill argued that the convictions were merely based on Millirons perjury charges and do not implicate her in the execution of the crime. We believe the sentence is excessive and bears no reasonable relationship to the two counts of perjury before the grand jury that formed the basis of the charges of obstruction and accessory after the fact, Mr Dill told CNN. The answers she gave before the grand jury were not false... Ms Milliron had no involvement in the death of Bianca Rudolph and she sympathizes with the family as victims of that tragedy. Defense attorneys for Pittsburgh dentist Lawrence "Larry" Rudolph head into federal courthouse with the dentist's children for the afternoon session of the trial, Wednesday, 13 July 2022, in Denver (AP) Standing in front of the judge on Friday, Milliron insisted she was innocent of the crimes, but said she was sympathetic to the Rudolph family. Judge William J Martinez argued that the long sentence was deserved because evidence pointed to Milliron encouraging the crime. Mr Martinez added that Milliron seemed unrepentant in part because he judged her emotionally unmoved when she was shown graphic images and listened to wrenching testimony during the trial. After Bianca Rudolphs death in 2016, Lawrence Rudolph claimed his wife accidentally shot herself while packing to leave Zambia for the US. Later, Rudolph collected millions in accidental death insurance payments. After an FBI investigation, however, authorities charged Rudolph in 2021 with her murder. He was found guilty in wifes death in August, last year. A jury of six men and as many women reached the verdict for Rudolph following a three-week trial and a day and a half of deliberations. Rudolph, 67, was charged with foreign murder in the 2016 death of Bianca Rudolph in Zambia as well as mail fraud for cashing in $4.8m in life insurance claims in what prosecutors described as a premeditated crime. Some of the money was paid out of Colorado so he was tried in Denver federal court. He faces a maximum term of life in prison or the death penalty. Additional reporting by agencies In Southern California, close to where detectives have been looking for missing British actor Julian Sands, human remains were discovered on Saturday, June 24. Human remains were found by civilian hikers who notified the Fontana Sheriff's Station, according to a press statement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Investigators said that positive identification of the remains is expected to be completed next week. Human Bones Discovered in California Wilderness Investigators centered their search on Sands, who had not been seen since he went hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles in January in the Mount Baldy region after following pings from his mobile phone there. In a report by CNN, the active search had been essentially idle due to poor weather and tough circumstances until it resumed last week. Two helicopter and drone crews assisted the search and rescue volunteers as they combed isolated regions of Mount Baldy and performed aerial inspections and assessments, aided by the more than 80 volunteers, deputies, and personnel that participated. Earlier this week, deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said that, despite the recent milder weather, parts of the mountain remain inaccessible owing to high alpine conditions. Also, it was said that various search sites include steep terrain coated in 10 feet of ice and snow. Department spokesperson Gloria Huerta told the media in January that search activities had to be put on hold due to bad weather and the possibility of an avalanche. See Also: Julia Sands Search Resumes Five Months After Actor Went Missing in California The Family Breaks Their Silence Five months after actor Julian Sands vanished while hiking in California, his family finally spoke out. "We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer," the statement reads, as reported by AP News on Saturday. The 65-year-old British actor has been married to journalist Evgenia Citkowitz for over three decades and has three grown children. They expressed their gratitude to the search teams and coordinators who have been so diligent in their efforts to locate Sands. Hiker and climber Sands was reported missing on January 13 after setting out to climb the enormous peak, which towered over 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) east of Los Angeles and suffered damage by harsh winter storms. TV roles that made Sands famous include those of Vladimir Bierko, a main adversary in the fifth season of 24, and Jor-El, Superman's biological father in Smallville. His acting accomplishments include Arachnophobia and Leaving Las Vegas. Moreover, he portrayed the main character in two installments of the Warlock horror film franchise. See Also: OceanGate Titan Disaster: 'Titanic' Director James Cameron Exchanges Words With OceanGate Co-Founder About Safety, Cutting Corners @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Former Vice President and 2024 Presidential candidate Mike Pence spoke on Saturday to commemorate the first anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v Wade, reinforcing his committing to protect the unborn and proclaim that to be truly pro-life in America "you must be pro-adoption." "As we celebrate this great new anniversary, let us here resolve that we will work, and we will pray as never before to advance the cause of life and the laws of the land in every state in America. That we will support women in crisis pregnancies with resources and support for their care, for the unborn, and for the newborn as never before," Pence said, speaking on Saturday, June 24 at the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Courts landmark decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. "That we will advance the cause of adoption in America, for to be pro-life you must be pro-adoption," he continued. "And we will work every day to elect leaders at every level who will stand without apology for the sanctity of human life." Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a Celebrate Life Day rally outside the Lincoln Memorial on June 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. Anti-abortion activists participate in a Celebrate Life Day Rally at the Lincoln Memorial on June 24, 2023 in Washington, DC Pence also commended pro-life activists for their work "to bring about a historic day one year ago today," noting that it took "50 years of innocent life loss, and broken hearts" to bring about the Dobbs v Jackson ruling. "It is amazing to think that we are here in this historic place, after 50 years of innocent life loss, and broken hearts. After 50 years of prayer and advocacy and a march on a dark anniversary every January," Pence said. "One year ago today, because of your work, and because of your prayers, the Supreme Court of the United States reversed Roe v. Wade and gave them a new beginning for life." TRUMP SAYS HE'S PROUD TO BE THE MOST PRO-LIFE PRESIDENT IN US HISTORY ON ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE OVERTURN READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "I came today to say thank you," Pence said. "Those looking on around the country, those that have labored in years past-for all you've done, to bring about a historic day one year ago today. We commend all the leaders for life, gathered here." Formers US Vice President and Republican Presidential candidate, Mike Pence, speaks to pro-life supporters during a rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on June 24, 2023. The 2024 presidential hopeful also affirmed his commitment against abortion. "We stand for babies, for their unalienable right to life," Pence said. "We stand for the right of every mother and father to experience the inexpressible joy of looking into the eyes of their own. We stand for families who long to open their hearts to adoption. KAMALA HARRIS RIDICULED FOR POST ON ROE ANNIVERSARY AS SHE RECOUNTS RAGE "Men and women of the pro-life movement, let us never relent in the cause of life," Pence continued. "We will elect leaders it every level who will stand without apology for the sanctity of human life. The cause of life is the calling of our time," Pence said. "We can never bring back those 62 million lives whose voices were never heard in this world." Formers US Vice President and Republican Presidential candidate, Mike Pence, speaks to pro-life supporters during a rally at the Lincoln memorial in Washington, DC on June 24, 2023. The rally was organized by anti-abortion activists and held to mark the one year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health, which overturned Roe v Wade and erased federal protections for abortions. Pence's fellow Republican presidential candidates Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) have all supported a nationwide abortion ban after 20 weeks, with some exceptions, including the life of the mother, rape, and incest. Previously, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed a six-week, heartbeat bill, abortion ban in his state. Activists and politicians are marking the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned a nationwide right to abortion with praise from some and protests from others. Advocates on both sides marched at rallies Saturday in Washington and across the country to call attention to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling on June 24, 2022, which upended the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Im absolutely livid that people think that they can interfere with medical decisions between a woman and her doctor, said Lynn Rust, of Silver Springs, Maryland, at a Women's March rally in Washington. In Chicago, dueling rallies gathered on opposite sides of a street outside a downtown federal building. There was shouting but no reports of clashes. The elected officials in Illinois are trying to turn us into the abortion capital of the middle of the country, Peter Breen, vice president of the conservative Thomas More Society, told the Chicago Tribune. Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network said people in Illinois who are pro-abortion rights can't be complacent because conservative judges have been appointed to key court positions. Thats why we have to be in the streets, he said. The Dobbs decision made abortion an unavoidable campaign issue and deepened policy differences between the states. Most Republican-controlled states have imposed bans , including 14 where laws in effect now block most abortions in every stage of pregnancy, with varying exceptions for the life and health of the women and for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Most Democrat-led states have taken steps to protect abortion access, particularly by seeking to protect doctors and others from prosecution for violating other states abortion bans. The issue is far from settled, as demonstrated by Saturday's rallies as well as the past year's battles that have played out in courtrooms, on ballots and in state legislatures. Judges are still weighing whether the bans and restrictions in several states comply with state constitutions. As soon as this fall, more voters could decide directly on abortion-related policies; last year, they sided with abortion rights in all six states with measures on the ballot. And the issue will be on the ballot in elections this year and next. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about the impact of the Dobbs ruling in Charlotte, North Carolina. We knew this decision would create a healthcare crisis in America, she said, pointing to women who were initially denied abortion access even during miscarriages because hospitals were concerned about legal fallout. The laws restricting abortion in design and effect have created chaos, confusion and fear, Harris said. While there's far from a universal consensus among voters, public opinion polls have consistently found that the majority oppose the most restrictive bans but also oppose unchecked abortion access at all stages of pregnancy. Biden has pushed for a national law to reinstate abortion access. Republicans have called for a national ban. Saturday evening, former President Donald Trump was the keynote speaker at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington. He praised his three Supreme Corurt nominees. Exactly one year ago today, those justices were the pivotal votes in the Supreme Courts landmark decision ending the constitutional atrocity known as Roe v. Wade," Trump said. He also declared: I am proud to be the most pro-life president in American history. This week, former Vice President Mike Pence, who is seeking the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, called for his party's presidential candidates to join him in backing a ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But with Democrats controlling the presidency and U.S. Senate, and Republicans holding the House, no federal change is imminent. Nikki Haley, another GOP presidential candidate and former ambassador to the United Nations, said she backs a federal ban but it doesn't have enough support to advance. Speaking at the Faith and Freedom Conference in Washington, Haley said both parties should instead look to goals such as limiting abortion later in pregnancy. Only a half-dozen states allow abortion at any point in pregnancy, and abortions after about 21 weeks are very rare. We need to make sure that our country stops demonizing this issue and we humanize this issue, Haley said. This is personal for everyone. These policies have vast practical implications. In states with the deepest bans, the number of abortions has plummeted to nearly zero. There have been more abortions in states where access has been maintained especially those closest to those with bans, as women travel for care they used to be able to get closer to home. I cant tell you how many people arrive at the clinic utterly exhausted after driving all night from Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, said Amy Bryant, a doctor who provides abortions at a clinic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. There's also been a rise in use of networks that distribute abortion pills. But because of lags and gaps in official reporting and because some of the pill use goes unreported the impact on the total number of abortions in the U.S. is not clear. ___ Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, North Carolina. Associated Press journalists Stephanie Scarbrough and Will Weissert in Washington and Michael Tarm in Chicago contributed to this article. John Eastman, a former lawyer for Donald Trump, appears on screen during a House Jan. 6 committee hearing in 2022. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images) On the day before rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021, Orange County law professor John Eastman was trying to convince Mike Pence's attorney that the vice president possessed a power that none of his predecessors had ever exercised in American history. Eastman was in Washington, D.C., in his capacity as a legal advisor to then-President Trump. He argued that Pence, as president of the Senate, could unilaterally reject electoral votes from seven contested states in which fraud was alleged, according to Gregory Jacob, who was Pences chief counsel at the time. Jacob said the vice president had flatly dismissed the idea as unconstitutional. From our very first discussion he indicated that it didnt make sense to him that he would have that authority, Jacob said, testifyingremotely last week before the California Bar Court in Los Angeles at a trial to determine whether Eastman should keep his law license. Even Eastman conceded that the Supreme Court would likely reject the theory unanimously, Jacob said. However, Eastman continued to argue that Pence had the power to delay the vote certification, which Jacob believed helped fuel the violence on Jan. 6. He said rioters were driven by the false notion that a momentous decision to determine the presidency lay in Pences hands that day. Ive seen the video footage of them shouting Hang Mike Pence, Jacob said. The vice president was my boss. He said the rioters believed the vice president had authority to decide the election in favor of President Trump, or at minimum head things in that direction. Read more:State Bar argues that former Trump advisor John Eastman should lose his law license It was one thing, Jacob suggested, to float a far-flung academic theory in the safety of a law review article. It was another to invoke the theory while advising the president at a fraught national moment. I was offended for my profession, Jacob said. I thought that it brought our profession into disrepute. Jacob was one of several witnesses called by the California Bar as it mounted its case against Eastman. Among them were election officials from Arizona, Pennsylvania and Nevada. The officials detailed audits, tabulation-machine tests and other steps to ensure the integrity of the vote count in their states, which Eastman had derided as tainted. Eastman, a former dean and professor at Chapman University law school, has been on and off the witness stand himself, his manner unapologetic and defiant under sharp questioning from Bar attorney Duncan Carling. In the aftermath of the election, Eastman made the case that contested states, where Biden had been declared the winner, had the power to decertify electors and pick pro-Trump alternates. When Carling asked what effect such a plan would have had, if adopted, Eastman replied: "It's uncharted territory." The State Bar accuses Eastman of ethics violations for attempting to obstruct the electoral count on Jan. 6 by pressuring Pence to reject electors, promoting false claims that electoral cheating cost Trump the election, drumming up slates of bogus electors, and fueling the mob with falsehoods. Eastmans defense is that he was exercising his 1st Amendment rights and acting as a vigorous advocate for his client, Trump. He maintains that he shouldnt be penalized for advancing a legal theory that a reasonable lawyer might consider viable. The Bar trial is expected to continue at least through this week. Eastman faces trouble beyond the prospect of losing his license to practice law. When Eastman appeared before the House Jan. 6 committee, he repeatedly invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination. The FBI has seized his phone, and the committee has recommended that the Department of Justice consider prosecuting him for obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter has ruled that Eastman more likely than not committed crimes in connection with the 2020 election. In addition, Eastman is a possible target of a criminal probe related to the alternate-elector scheme in Georgia. Testifying at Eastmans Bar trial last week, Jacob, the vice presidents former lawyer, said Pence did not waver in his view that Eastmans reject-the-electors proposal was baseless. Jacob said that no vice president in American history had ever exercised such authority, or expressed belief that he possessed it. Jacob said Pence never believed that the constitutional framers with their zeal for checks and balances, and loathing of King George IIIs one-man rule would want such power in one persons hands. Instead, Jacob said, Pence saw his vote-counting role as ministerial. Jacob said there were voter irregularities in various states but no evidence they were large enough to have tilted the election. In the run-up to the vote-count on Jan. 6, Trump repeatedly suggested that Pence had the power to keep him in office by sending the vote back to the states. If Vice President Mike Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency, Trump tweeted on the night of Jan. 5. Mike can send it back! Violence erupted on Jan. 6 in Washington soon after Eastman spoke at a "Stop the Steal" rally there, and as part of their case, attorneys for the California Bar are pointing to emails exchanged between Eastman and Jacob that day. Read more:How John Eastmans role in Jan. 6 still haunts the California university where he taught I share your concerns about what Democrats will do once in power, Jacob wrote. I want election integrity fixed. But I have run down every legal trail placed before me to its conclusion, and I respectfully conclude that as a legal framework, it is a result oriented position that you would never support if attempted by the opposition, and essentially entirely made up. And thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege. Eastman replied that there was compelling evidence that the election was stolen, and blamed the siege on Pence not doing what was necessary. Jacob apologized for his unbecoming language, but added that Eastmans advice had been a serpent in the ear of the president of the United States. He said it had been gravely irresponsible for you to entice the President with an academic theory that had no legal viability. Jacob asked Eastman whether he had informed Trump that Pence lacked the power to decide the election unilaterally a claim Trump and his surrogates had been making publicly. Eastman replied that yes, he had so informed Trump, but added: You know him once he gets something in his head, it is hard to get him to change course. Eastman added: When this is over, we should have a good bottle of wine over a nice dinner someplace. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The annual nude winter solstice swim at Long Beach, Hobart, Australia (EPA) Each week the picture editors at The Independent sort through hundreds of thousands images sent into us by photography agencies from all around the world. These are some of the most eye-catching and the most striking images from culture, news, politics, sport and lifestyle. You can also keep up with the latest photography making headlines via our Instagram. (AFP/Getty) People in the crowd form the word Family during the annual Pink Dot event supporting the LGBTQ+ community at Hong Lim Park in Singapore. (AFP/Getty) Performers from the Notting Hill Carnival dance at Glastonbury festival in Somerset. (EPA) Aikaterina Sotiriou of Greece competes for the ball against Petra Holesinka of the Czech Republic during the Fiba Womens EuroBasket quarter-final qualification match in Tel Aviv. (AFP/Getty) King Charles, Queen Camilla, Lady Gabriella Kingston and Thomas Kingston watch the Wokingham handicap from the Royal Box on the final day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting. (AFP/Getty) Smoke billows from rubbles of a building at Place Alphonse-Laveran in Paris after a major fire broke out. (AFP/Getty) Zebra at Paris Zoo. (AP) Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. Switzerland perform during the artistic swimming team free preliminary at the European Games in Poland (Reuters) Switzerland perform during the artistic swimming team preliminary at the European Games in Poland. (Reuters) German chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese premier Li Qiang review the troops during a bilateral summit in Berlin. (AP) People take pictures of Gustav Klimts Lady with Fan as it is displayed at Sothebys auction rooms in London. The painting is expected to fetch 65m at the 27 June auction. (EPA) A Rafale fighter jet from Frances 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. (Reuters) Pride parade in Dublin. (AP) People join a yoga class in Times Square, New York. (AP) Revellers gather at the ancient stone circle Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice near Salisbury. (PA) Katherine Jenkinson from Carlisle with her jersey calf ahead of the Royal Highland Show. (AFP/Getty) A man holds a Russian flag in front of a Wagner group military vehicle, which has Rostov written on it, in Rostov-on-Don. (Reuters) A rider from the Extreme Bike Battle team performs a stunt as part of the Royal Cheshire County Show near Knutsford. (PA) Dawn breaks at 4.25am at St Marys Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, on the northeast coast of England, the day before the summer solstice the longest day of the year. (AFP via Getty) Artists perform during the celebration Sukarnos Month at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. (EPA) Frances Yasmina Aziez competes during a virtual Taekwondo event during the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore. (AP) Members of a military band walk through a sunflower field in Paju, South Korea. Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca (AFP/Getty) (AFP via Getty) Czech driver Martin Prokop during the Safari Rally at Kasarani in Nairobi. (EPA) A Tibetan mastiff dog stands on a hill overlooking the Yamdrok Lake. (AFP/Getty) A person at a pride parade in San Salvador. (AFP/Getty) A performer entertains festivalgoers in the circus field at Glastonbury. (ANP/AFP via Getty) A woman dressed in a cosplay costume takes the subway during the Dutch Comic Con event in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht. WASHINGTON (AP) When the Supreme Court issued its abortion ruling last June overturning Roe v. Wade, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said "our work is far from done. He didn't say what might come next. A year later later, McCarthy is the speaker, Republicans are in the majority and the blanks are beginning to be filled in. In a flurry of little-noticed legislative action, GOP lawmakers are pushing abortion policy changes, trying to build on the work of activists whose strategy successfully elevated their fight to the nation's highest court. In one government funding bill after another, Republicans are incorporating unrelated policy provisions, known as riders, to restrict women's reproductive rights. Democrats say the proposals will never become law. This is not just about an attack on womens health, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Friday. I view it as an attempt to derail the entire process of funding the federal government by injecting these riders into the appropriations process. Rep. Kay Granger, the Texas Republican who heads the committee, said during a hearings this past week that the riders that were included continue long-standing pro-life protections that are important to our side of the aisle. Using budget bills this way is hardly new, but it points to a broader divide among Republicans about where to go next on abortion after the Supreme Court's decision cleared the way for state-by-state restrictions on abortion rights. Republicans for years held stand-alone votes in the House on bills to restrict abortion. Now, some in the party particularly the nearly 20 Republicans running for reelection in swing districts are hesitant, if not outright opposed, to roll calls on abortion proposals. They say such bills will never see the light of day as long as Democrats control the Senate. The GOP's new push is taking place line by line in the sprawling legislation drafted each year to fund government agencies and programs. Nearly a dozen anti-abortion measures have been included so far in budget bills. In the agricultural one, for example, Republicans are looking to reverse a recent move by the Food and Drug Administration that would allow the contraception pill mifepristone to be dispensed in certified pharmacies, as opposed to only in hospitals and clinics. Anti-abortion proposals have found their way into the defense bill, where GOP lawmakers are aiming to ban paid leave and travel for military service members and their family members who are seeking reproductive health care services. Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he warned Defense Secretary Llyod Austin about it. I told them that that was going to be a poison pill when it came to getting their legislation done over here, Rogers, R-Ala., said this past week. I told him, you know, youre asking for trouble. And now they got trouble. There are riders, too, in the financial services bill, where Republicans want to prohibit local and federal money to be used to carry out a District of Columbia law that bans discrimination over employees reproductive decisions. It seems like they cant do anything without trying to put something in there to restrict abortion rights, Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington state, chair of the House Democrats' campaign arm, said. I dont think the public is fooled by that and absolutely, this will be a critical issue in the next election. She and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are working to target the vulnerable Republicans on the issue before the 2024 election. The broad effort by Republicans to include what critics often deride as poison pills in the appropriations process steps up the confrontation with Senate Democrats and the White House come September over spending bills, potentially heightening the odds of a government shutdown with the Oct. 1 start of the new budget year. DeLauro, who headed the Appropriations Committee in the last Congress, said the decision by Republicans to include these measures is a betrayal of the agreement the parties made years ago to not include any provisions in spending bills that would block passage. She said committee Democrats who spent the past week marking up these bills late into the night pleaded with their Republican colleagues to rethink the abortion language. The Senate just last week passed the military and agriculture bills out of committee without any abortion measures attached. Sen. Patty Murray, chair of the Senate Appropriation Committee, told The Associated Press that she has made it clear that she would be a firewall against House Republicans efforts to further restrict reproductive rights. I have fought back Republican efforts to restrict access to reproductive health care and abortion in every deal or negotiation I have been a part of since I got to the Senate thats not changing any time soon, said Murray, D-Wash. In a previous statement with the committees top Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the two pledged "to continue working together in a bipartisan manner to craft serious funding bills that can be signed into law. But the growing tension between GOP factions over abortion legislation remains apparent. The Republican Study Committee the largest single group in the House GOP conference recently issued a memo to members urging leaders to hold vote on a proposal that would clarify that health insurance plans that provide elective abortion would be ineligible for federal funding. That bill would effectively codify the Hyde Amendment, which restricts government funding for most abortions. Democrats have allowed it to become part of government funding legislation for decades, as a trade-off of sorts that has enabled them to focus on securing other priorities. It is unclear whether House Republican leaders will want to take the risk of bringing anti-abortion measures to the floor for votes when the spending bill route may be a more palatable option for some in the party. At the height of the just-concluded "armed uprising" by the Wagner mercenary forces in Russia, Ukraines Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov jumped into the breach. Posting a video online addressed to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, telling them to "go home, protect your place." Adding, "Take care of your fate, you still have a chance to survive." Its the kind of active stance the 57-year-old Reznikov assumes with his position which hes held since before the war started last year. Since then, hes been known to U.S. officials and figures around the world as one of the public faces of Ukraines war effort. Shortly before the "attempted coup" by the Wagner group, and amid complaints of a slower-than-expected start to Ukraines counteroffensive against Russia, we sat down with the defense chief for his battlefield assessment. With Ukraines counteroffensive in its third week, Reznikov described the current maneuvers as "some kind of preparatory operation," acknowledging the Russians had built up "very strong defensive lines." When we asked him whether this was the main assault, for the Ukrainian military, the "blitzkrieg," he bristled, saying "No, no, no." REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: RETURN TO UKRAINE WHERE 'TRAGEDY CONTINUES TO TOUCH ALL' Ukrainian servicemen fire with a D-30 howitzer at Russian positions near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, March 21, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He added, however, that once it fully gets going, it will be successful and "one step closer to victory." He admitted early expectations were "overestimated" for the offensive, and Ukraine is very careful when it puts its brave and motivated fighting men and women in harms way. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "We try to save their lives," Reznikov said. He described the Russian approach to using its troops as a "meat grinder." This counteroffensive promises to feature Western-supplied armor like American Bradley fighting vehicles and German Leopard tanks. BAKHMUT, UKRAINE - JUNE 19: Ukrainian soldiers from the 60th Battalion of Territorial Defense, are shooting rounds into Russian positions with an S60 anti-aircraft canon placed on a truck, outside Bakhmut, Ukraine on June 19, 2023. (Photo by Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) EU UNVEILS MASSIVE, MULTI-YEAR PLAN TO REBUILD UKRAINE "They are very sophisticated maneuvering," Reznikov said. "The soldiers like them." We asked if the gear was arriving fast enough. He replied, "I started asking for these things in February 2022," the month the war started. Along with throwing all forms of conventional warfare at Ukraine, Russian President Putin has been talking about and playing the nuclear card. For example, deploying tactical nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus. We asked Defense Minister Reznikov if its for real. "I think, for me, personally, it sounds like a bluff," he replied, adding, "I think the civilized world has arguments against that to persuade him." Oleksii Reznikov, Ukrain's defense minister, speaks to Greg Palkot, senior foreign affairs correspondent for Fox News Channel, in Kyiv in June 2023. On joining NATO, a strong defense against any nuclear attack from Russia, Reznikov is realistic. "Im sure we will be a full-fledged member, but it will take time," he noted. He was not put off by President Bidens recent comments the U.S. wouldnt make it easy for Ukraine to join. "Its in their interest" for NATO countries to have Ukraine as a member because it knows how to "defeat and deter Russian armed forces," Reznikov said. Members of Wagner group inspect a car in a street of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. President Vladimir Putin on June 24, 2023 said an armed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries was a "stab in the back" and that the group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had betrayed Russia, as he vowed to punish the dissidents. Prigozhin said his fighters control key military sites in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Secretary of State Blinken recently noted gains in the counteroffensive could put Kyiv in a better bargaining position with Moscow. Reznikov was firm that there would be no talking with Russia until Ukraines original borders were restored, his "redline." "We will be ready to discuss postwar co-existence (with Russia) when they get out of our land," he said. According to Reznikov, the U.S. is a "very important" ally of Ukraine. "Number one," he said holding up his finger. "It's a serious country with serious potential," he added, "with serious resources and a serious capability to persuade other countries to join to this coalition." He said he wasnt worried about weakening of support in the U.S. for military aid to Ukraine, especially among Republicans. "I like the American invention bipartisan," he said. "For me, it sounds very familiar. I am absolutely sure we will have the same level of support." We asked Defense Minister Reznikov the most important question: Will Ukraine be victorious? "My gut feeling is we will win this war because we are fighting for our country," he replied. We asked him how long would it take. Months? Years? "This year will be a game changer," he said, indicating there would be at least some kind of pathway to the finish of this ugly war. "We have to," he concluded determinedly, "its our idea." A lot of people are hoping that "idea" is right. A woman who spoke with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about her safety concerns with the extended stay hotel she lives at is being forced to check out after she spoke out. Charlotte Smith has been living at the Red Roof Inn in White Settlement the past year with her daughter. Smith spoke to the Star-Telegram about safety concerns at the extended stay which White Settlement police say has the highest number of calls made for service for a story on the departments task force and its efforts to curb crime at area hotels, motels and extended stays. Smith told a Star-Telegram reporter Saturday that Red Roof management had previously been patient with late payments on her room. The familys next paycheck does not come in until Friday, and Smiths daughter has been out of work for the past two weeks, Smith said. Red Roof Inn manager Bhumi Jariwala said she did not have time to wait for Smiths payment and that she would have to pay the full amount for the room or check out. The patience Jariwala once had with Smith ran out, she said, after she learned of Smiths complaints in the Star-Telegram article. Jariwala said she previously thought Smith and her daughter were satisfied guests. I did say, Did you read the Star-Telegram, and if youre not safe or you dont feel safe here and if youre not satisfied and have all these complaints, then I dont know why yall are here and staying here, Jariwala said. So even if you want to stay here, thats fine, but I cant wait till Friday until you get paid anymore. Jariwala said she wished Smith had come to the hotel with complaints. When asked what type of message this sends to other guests who might feel unsafe staying at the Red Roof Inn, Jariwala said guests should express their concerns to the property first. There are few protections for those who live in hotels long term, according to an article by Scott Alagood with Denton-based law firm Alagood Cartwright Burke PC. Texas Property Code exempts transient housing, hotels and extended stays from leasing laws. Red Roof Inn is not the only hotel in White Settlement facing an issue with crime. White Settlement police have clocked nearly 3,000 calls for service across eight properties on Interstate 30 and West Loop 820 South since January 2021. Those calls include everything from assaults and burglaries to stabbings and shootings. A boat crash off PortMiami roiled travel plans during one of the busiest days for cruise ships in South Florida with about 16,000 passengers on three ships idling in the Atlantic Ocean left to wonder when they can get to shore and make it home. DJ Parker was one of 5,246 passengers on the MSC Seascape that was scheduled to dock at PortMiami at 7 a.m. on Sunday. But at 1 p.m., the real estate agent from Hampton Roads, Va., was having a buffet lunch with his family and worrying whether he could even make it out of Florida at all that day. We have a flight at 9:30 p.m. he said. Not too confident that is happening now. READ MORE: PortMiami reopens to cruise ships after sunken boat raised from fatal ferry collision The closure of PortMiami by the U.S. Coast Guard disrupted travel for an estimated 33,000 people, according to port figures released Sunday. About half of them are on the Seascape and the other two ships awaiting clearance to dock: the Carnival Celebration and the NCL Escape. Crews recovered a sunken boat following a deadly boat crash with the Fisher Island ferry that killed one person on Sunday, June 25, 2023. Nearly 17,000 people were scheduled to board those three ships Sunday afternoon in the hasty turnaround of passengers and provisions that regularly unfolds at one of the worlds busiest cruise ports. Sunday is typically the busiest day for PortMiami cruise ships, spokesperson Suzy Trutie said. #Update 2 @USCG Captain of the Port authorized reopening the South channel to resume maritime transportation system operations into @PortMiami while the North channel remains closed as crews continue efforts to remove the sunken obstruction. @MyFWC @MiamiDadeFire @MiamiDadeCounty USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) June 25, 2023 The three ships were scheduled to leave PortMiami between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., according to online schedules, but passengers were left in holding patterns by text alerts from cruise companies. PortMiami remains closed and the ship is still awaiting clearance to sail in, Carnival texted passengers shortly before noon. We will post a US $20, per person, onboard credit so you can enjoy lunch on us today. We were sit to arrive at 6am and debark at 7:30 (6hrs ago).. and they keep giving us dumb updates saying their monitoring the situation pic.twitter.com/sOWRYa5UHH amandeus Watkins (@AmandeusW) June 25, 2023 The delays threaten a wave of missed flights at Miami International Airport. Spokesperson Greg Chin said the county-owned airport notified airlines of the situation at PortMiami, and that all rebooking fees are being waived for cruise passengers impacted by the situation. Alex Berrios was eating soft serve ice cream with his family on deck Sunday afternoon on the Carnival Celebration. They live in Weston so they arent worried about logistics getting home. He described a cruiseship seeming to do a good job handling an extra day of sea as restaurants and pools reopened, children camps restarted and movies started rolling to accommodate passengers. Thank God we dont have to travel today, said Berrios, who, like other passengers in this article, were interviewed through direct messages on Twitter. Passengers did report some signs it wasnt a normal day at sea for the stranded ships. Parker said on the Seaescape, not all of the restaurants opened, leaving the cruise staple of the buffet lunch in high demand. Its extremely busy, he said. Everyone is trying to get there at the same time. The unexpected time at sea also meant complications. Cruiseships allow passengers to check luggage the night before arriving at a port to make it easier to walk off and then pick up bags in the terminal. When pools reopened Sunday on the stranded ships, many passengers were left without bathing suits for swimming. We were told to pack up and leave suitcases outside our door last night to be ready for transfer early this morning, said Angela Ludeman, a passenger on the NCL Escape. Now theyre loaded below and we were told that we cant get them back at this point. Not sure if that will change. Ludeman was heading back to Phoenix, and said she was able to rebook her Sunday flight for Monday while at sea. After PortMiami reopened around 2:30 p.m., the Escape was at the dock in Miami around 4 p.m. as passengers contemplating another full day at sea were again ashore. We were just joking about whats for dinner, said Anne Skurnick, a Pembroke Pines resident also aboard the Celebration. Skurnick said her ship docked around 4:45 p.m. and she was leaving the Celebration shortly after 7 p.m. The crew took really good care of us, she said. Passengers were friendly, too, she added. They knew it was out of anyones control. KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he discussed the weekend's turmoil in Russia in phone calls with the leaders of the United States, Canada and Poland on Sunday, and that the "weakness" of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had been "exposed". The phone calls took place after an extraordinary failed mutiny by Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin on Saturday that raised questions about Putin's grip on power as Ukraine presses a counteroffensive in its south and east. "We discussed the course of hostilities and the processes taking place in Russia. The world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored," Zelenskiy said after a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden. He said he and Biden had also discussed further expanding defence cooperation with an emphasis on long-range weapons, coordination ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius next month and preparations for a "Global Peace Summit" he has promoted. "Yesterday's events exposed the weakness of Putin's regime," the statement said. In another similar statement, Zelenskiy said he had told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a phone call about the "threatening situation" at Ukraine's vast, Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Zelenskiy warned earlier this week that Russia was considering carrying out an act of "terrorism" involving the release of radiation at the plant, an allegation denied by Russia. "Ukraine's partners must demonstrate a principled response, in particular at the NATO Summit in Vilnius," he said. The Ukrainian leader made similar comments in a statement announcing a phone call with Polish President Andrzej Duda. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Jane Merriman and Lisa Shumaker) By David Morgan and Hannah Lang WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The unprecedented challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin by Wagner fighters has exposed fresh "cracks" in the strength of his leadership that may take weeks or months to play out, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday. "I don't think we've seen the final act," Blinken said on ABC News, in one of a series of interviews after an aborted mutiny by forces led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. Blinken said tensions that sparked the action had been rising for months and the turmoil could affect Moscow's military capabilities in Ukraine. "We've seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade. It is too soon to tell exactly where they go, and when they get there. But certainly, we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead," Blinken told NBC's "Meet the Press" program. Blinken described the turmoil as an "internal matter" for Putin. "Our focus is resolutely and relentlessly on Ukraine, making sure that it has what it needs to defend itself and to take back territory that Russia seized," Blinken said. U.S. officials expect to learn more in coming days and weeks about the events that unfolded in Russia, including details of the deal with Prigozhin mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that led Wagner fighters to return to their bases. "It may be that Putin didn't want to debase himself to the level of negotiating directly with Prigozhin," Blinken said. Forces led by Prigozhin, a former Putin ally and conflict, have fought the bloodiest of battles in Russia's 16-month war in Ukraine. "To the extent that the Russians are distracted and divided it may make their prosecution of aggression against Ukraine more difficult," Blinken told ABC's "This Week" program. Blinken said neither the United States nor the Russian nuclear posture had changed as a result of the crisis. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin said the weekend turmoil in Russia does not ease Washington's need to continue aiding Ukraine as it launches its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia. "This is a critical time for Ukraine. This counteroffensive is going to be defining as to where we're going to be in the next year or two," Cardin, a Democrat who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Fox News. "So it's incredibly important that we maintain our support and not be fooled by what's happening in Russia today as to the needs of the Ukrainians." (Reporting by David Morgan, Hannah Lang and Tyler Clifford; Editing by Scott Malone, Chizu Nomiyama and Mark Porter) Greeks return to the polls Sunday (June 25) after an uncertain first round of general elections. It is likely the ruling party in the previous term, New Democracy, would win the majority after garnering close to 40% of the vote in the first round, with opposition party Syriza trailing behind at less than 30% of the vote. Voting rules for the Hellenic Parliament meant the ruling party should have an over 45% majority of the total votes to create a single-party government or create a coalition with one or multiple parties within nine days. New Democracy's prime ministerial candidate Kyriakos Mitsotakis chose to have another round of elections instead. Voters are expected to give Mitsotakis a second term in office. Read Also: 9 Survivors Arrested Over Capsized Migrant Boat Off Greece; Protests Criticize Authorities' Response Elections Overshadowed by Migrant Boat Disaster The elections pushed through in the aftermath of the migrant boat disaster off the coast of Pylos a few weeks ago, where hundreds of passengers were feared dead and only around 100 were rescued alive. Nine of the survivors were arrested for allegedly being part of the ill-fated boat's crew. The disaster has shown division in Greek society over the issue of migration in the lead-up to the election. It has also been a recurring topic during the campaign period. Mitsotakis, whose government took a strict policy of stopping the boats, has blamed "wretched" traffickers for the disaster and praised the Hellenic Coast Guard for rescuing people as much as they could. On the other hand, Tsipras, who was the prime minister during Europe's 2015-16 migrant crisis, criticized the coast guard for not intervening earlier. Other Campaign Issues Other highlighted areas during the campaign include the shortcomings of the health and public transport systems, as well as a crisis in the cost of living and economic hardship. Mistokakis urged Greeks to elect a government with a clear majority, promising to boost revenue from the country's economically vital tourist industry, create jobs, and increase wages to bring them close to the European Union average. "I am sure that Greeks will vote with maturity for their personal prosperity and the country's stability," he said after voting Sunday. As for Tsipras, the election was a "final and crucial" battle that would determine the country's future over the next four years. "What is being determined is whether we will have an uncontrollable government or balance in democracy...on whether we will have a strong opposition that can control the government," he said after casting his vote. Polling stations opened at 07:00 Greek time (04:00 UTC) and will close 12 hours later, with the earliest results expected by around 17:00 UTC. Related Article: Greek Ruling Party Leads First Round of General Elections @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A woman fatally shot an Uber driver. Police say she wrongly thought she was being kidnapped EL PASO, Texas (AP) A Kentucky woman has been accused of fatally shooting her West Texas Uber driver after mistakenly believing she was being kidnapped and taken to Mexico, according to police. Phoebe Copas remained jailed Sunday in El Paso, Texas, after being charged with murder last week in the death of 52-year-old Daniel Piedra Garcia. Court and jail records did not list an attorney who could speak for Copas, 48. The shooting took place on June 16 as Piedra was driving Copas to a location in far southeast El Paso. Copas, who is from Tompkinsville, Kentucky, was in El Paso visiting her boyfriend, according to authorities. During the ride, Copas saw traffic signs that read Juarez, Mexico, according to an arrest affidavit. El Paso is located on the U.S.-Mexico border across from Juarez. Believing she was being kidnapped and taken to Mexico, Copas is accused of grabbing a handgun from her purse and shooting Piedra in the head, according to the affidavit. The vehicle crashed into barriers before coming to a stop on a freeway. The area where the car crashed was not in close proximity of a bridge, port of entry or other area with immediate access to travel into Mexico, according to the affidavit. The investigation does not support that a kidnapping took place or that Piedra was veering from Copas destination, police said in a news release. Police allege that before she called 911, Copas took a photo of Piedra after the shooting and texted it to her boyfriend. Piedra was hospitalized for several days before his family took him off life support after doctors told them he would not recover. He was a hardworking man and really funny, Piedras niece, Didi Lopez, told the El Paso Times. He was never in a bad mood. He was always the one that, if he saw you in a bad mood, hed come over and try to lift you up." Copas, who is being held on a $1.5 million bond, was originally charged with aggravated assault. The charge was upgraded to murder after Piedra died. A GoFundMe campaign set up by Piedras family said he was their sole provider and had only recently started working again after being injured in his previous job. I wish she wouldve spoken up, asked questions, not acted on impulse and make a reckless decision, because not only did she ruin our lives, but she ruined her life, too, Lopez said. We just want justice for him. Thats all were asking. A record-breaking heat wave in Texas is likely to continue through the Fourth of July holiday and expand across eight states, weather forecasters warned. Texas has been hit by historically-high temperatures for more than 10 days, with dozens of records broken in the past week. San Angelo hit 114 degrees Fahrenheit (F) on Tuesday and Wednesday, beating the previous all-time record high by three degrees. Rio Grande Village reached a temperature of 118F, two degrees off the all-time state record. As much as we dont want to tweet this We did hit 114 here at the office in San Angelo today. So that means we have tied our all-time record high, set approximately 24 hours ago, the local National Weather Service (NWS) office said. The death of a postal worker in Dallas, where the heat index reached 115 degrees, has been blamed on the brutal heat. Around 50 million people were under heat alerts stretching from Arizona to Arkansas on Saturday. Computer models suggest the heat will expand into Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri and also eastward into Arkansas and Louisiana. Scientists say that a historically intense heat dome over northern Mexico is responsible for trapping heat underneath is and causing the heatwave. There is really no end in sight for the excessive heat that has plagued particularly Texas/southeastern New Mexico in recent days, the NWS said on Friday. And it added: Temperatures over 100F and heat indices much higher will continue expanding east into the Lower Mississippi Valley and north toward the central Plains next week. Last week Texass power grid operator asked residents to voluntarily cut back on electricity due to anticipated record demand caused by the heat. The request by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which serves most of that states nearly 30 million residents, was the first it has made this year. Climate change is making heatwaves five times more likely, according to data from Climate Central. Human-caused climate change made the extreme and extremely unusual temperatures in Mexico and the southern US much more likely. Heat this intense, this early in the year will create stressful conditions for millions of people, said Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central. Unidentified human remains were discovered by hikers in the Mount Baldy Wilderness Area in California on Saturday morning, the San Bernardino County Sheriff said. The remains were discovered near where British actor Julian Sands went missing in January. PHOTO: The snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains, with Mount Baldy the highest peak at the left, as seen from Chinatown near downtown Los Angeles, Jan. 12, 2016. (Nick Ut/AP) MORE: British actor Julian Sands, Hawthorne man reported missing in mountains near Los Angeles Hikers discovered the remains at about 10 a.m. on Saturday and contacted authorities, the sheriff's office said. "The decedent was transported to the Coroners Office, pending positive identification," the sheriff's office said in a press release. PHOTO: In this file photo, actor Julian Sands poses for photographers at the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sept. 3, 2019. (Arthur Mola/Invision/AP) Identification should be completed within a week, the release said. Sands, 65, was reported missing by his family on Jan. 13 after he'd gone hiking near the Mount Baldy Bowl area of the San Gabriel Mountains outside Los Angeles. The discovery of the remains came more than a week after authorities resumed their search for Sands with on-the-ground teams, drones and helicopters. "Since January, the Sheriffs Department has conducted eight searches (ground and air) specific to Mr. Sands, with volunteer searcher hours exceeding 500 hours," officials said in a press release on June 17. "Additionally, eight unrelated search and rescue operations have been conducted in the Mount Baldy area." PHOTO: On Saturday, June 17, 2023, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department continued ongoing search efforts in the Mount Baldy wilderness for missing hiker Julian Sands. (San Bernardino County Sheriff) The remote terrain where Sands went missing made the search difficult in January, officials said at the time. Search and Rescue teams on the ground, which are often made up of volunteers, had been pulled off the mountain in January due to the hazardous state of trails and the risk of avalanche. ABC News' Caleigh Bartash, Teddy Grant and Morgan Winsor contributed to this story. Remains found near hiking area where British actor Julian Sands went missing, sheriff says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Scooter is held up after winning first place in the "World's Ugliest Dog" contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. AP Photo/Noah Berger A 7-year-old bald pooch with backward-facing legs has been crowned the "World's Ugliest Dog." Scooter, a Chinese crested dog, was nearly euthanized after he was born with a deformity. His owner told "Today" the pup is just like any other dog and has a special love for sausage. A bald Chinese crested pooch with backward-facing legs has been crowned the "World's Ugliest Dog" nearly a decade after he was saved from certain death. 7-year-old Scooter won top honors at the annual ugly dog contest held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, Friday, much to the joy of his owner Linda Celeste Elmquist, the "Today" show reports. Scooter whose pink tongue often hangs haphazardly out of his mouth was adopted by Elmquist seven months ago after his previous owner could no longer care for the pup, per the outlet. His rise to fame comes after Scooter faced the prospect of euthanasia. Born with a deformity that has left his two hind legs facing backward, a breeder brought Scooter in to be euthanized in Tucson, Arizona, according to "Today." Luckily, the Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) rescue group, which Elmquist is a part of, intervened to save his life. According to his bio on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds website, there were initially doubts that Scooter would ever be able to crawl or walk freely by himself. But he soon proved skeptics wrong by improvising and using the strength of his front legs to propel himself forward, albeit with a wobble. Scooter struts across a stage while competing in the "World's Ugliest Dog" contest. AP Photo/Noah Berger Elmquist told "Today" that Scooter simply sits back on his backward-facing legs whenever he gets tired, which he uses like a tripod. But years of relying on his front legs means Scooter now requires some help to get around. As outlined in his bio, Scooter uses a wheeled cart to literally scoot from place to place, bought for him with funds donated by friends and rescue groups. Deformity aside, Elmquist said that the "World's Ugliest Dog" winner is much like any other pooch, except for an extreme liking for Braunschweiger sausage. Scooter is the latest victor of the quirky competition that's been running for 50 years. According to the website, the event seeks to celebrate the "imperfections that make all dogs special and unique." Contestants are often from rescue shelters and puppy mills. Last year's champion, a 17-year-old Chinese crested Chihuahua called Mr. Happy Face, was also adopted after he was saved from a hoarder's house and ended up at a shelter in Arizona. Representatives for the "World's Ugliest Dog" contest did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Suppose the conservative Republican attorney general of Kansas is successful in a legal action he initiated late Friday, June 23. In that case, transgender people born in the state might be banned from amending their birth certificates to match their gender identification. The Appeal to Nullify the 2019 Deal The state of Kansas was ordered by a federal judge to begin allowing trans people to modify their birth certificates. But Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a petition asking the judge to revoke this mandate, as reported by AP News. This mandate was part of a 2019 agreement between four transgender Kansans and three officials in the state's health department. It was issued by US District Judge Daniel Crabtree. The lawsuit challenged a provision that, according to its detractors, made it impossible for trans persons to legally change their names and receive new identification documents such as driver's licenses and Social Security cards. Black transgender activist and plaintiff in that litigation Luc Bensimon said on Saturday, June 24, that he had been bombarded with calls and emails from individuals attempting to alter their birth certificates. Apparently, they are worried they will not be able to do so. "We didn't go through that case just to have him try and change it now... I have the energy to go back and deal with it again if we have to," Bensimon told AP News. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the LGBTQ+ rights legal firm Lambda Legal have also spoken out against Kobach's decision. Omar Gonzalez-Pagan of Lamda Legal criticized it as "unnecessary and cruel." See Also: Kansas Republicans Override Gov. Laura Kelly's Veto To Pass Sweeping Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill Based on Kansas' New, Comprehensive Legislation Kobach's action seems to be in line with a new, comprehensive Kansas legislation that pulls back transgender rights, taking effect on July 1 against the veto of Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. Kobach filed a legal letter with his request to reconsider the 2019 settlement, citing the law as the reason behind it. It was contended in the letter that the state health department, which is responsible for issuing birth certificates, must implement the new state legislation since Judge Crabtree's decision made it difficult to do otherwise. In 2019, Crabtree issued an order that nullified a provision of former Republican governor Sam Brownback's administration that was among the strictest in the US regarding alterations to a person's birth certificate. The July 1 Kansas legislation bans transgender persons from accessing toilets, locker rooms, and other single-gender facilities. Nine states have similar statutes, largely for public schools. Despite having no enforcement measures, Kobach claims the new Kansas law blocks transgender persons from altering their driver's licenses. On Monday afternoon, June 26, Kobach will hold a press conference at the Statehouse to address the public on this topic. See Also: Kansas Ban on Trans Athletes From Women's Sports a Major Blow to LGBTQ Rights Movement @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Can US-India co-production eventually help make India truly atma nirbhar? Two high-level interactions last week between the United States and two major Asian nations will be remembered for some time as marking a new low in Americas global standing. First, the visit of US secretary of state Antony Blinken to Beijing and, in particular, his submissive manner in the imperious presence of Chinas President Xi Jinping. Second, the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington DC and, in particular, the exuberant reception he received, both in the White House and at the US Congress, despite questions about where Indias plural, liberal and secular democracy and its institutions are now headed. Mr Blinken bowed before Xi and in a subsequent long interaction with the media declared that (a) the United States was not engaged in the geo-economic containment of China; (b) the US sticks firmly to its One China policy and does not support Taiwans independence; (c) that US business leaders he met in Beijing want to grow their business in China and that his government would support them; and (e) that the US seeks greater people-to-people interactions, encouraging resumption of travel of tourists and students. That this happened on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the United States may have its own angle, though few have so far linked the two. Perhaps to disabuse Indians of any such thoughts, President Joe Biden balanced out Mr Blinkens gestures by calling President Xi a dictator. That may have satisfied some Indians who are now desperately trying to ignore the thaw in US-China relations, but then they could not ignore former US President Barack Obama calling out the Modi government for its treatment of the minorities and their attitude to democratic freedoms at home. Whatever reservations American political leaders may have about Mr Modis Hindutva, their fear of a rising China and the Eurasian alliance of China and Russia have prompted them to reach out to India. In 1998 President Bill Clinton had no hesitation sharing with his Chinese counterparts a confidential communication from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that named China as the nuclear adversary that prompted Indias decision to come out of the nuclear closet. This pleased Beijing and embarrassed New Delhi. During President Barack Obamas first term in office a senior state department official told me, expecting I would convey this to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, that India should get real about China. He meant come to terms with Chinas progress and power, and the consequent gap between the two Asian neighbours, and not pretend to be in the same league. When President Biden met Prime Minister Modi in the White Houses Oval Office, the dragon loomed so large that the US was ready to open its treasure chests to India. The deliverables, as they are called, from the Modi visit are significant and of value to India. At what price and on what terms these deliverables will be delivered remains to be seen. Equally relevant would be how resourceful Indian engineers and technologists would be in accessing these technologies, in learning by doing, and ultimately making India more self-reliant and less dependent on the US or any other country for that matter. Can US-India co-production eventually help make India truly atma nirbhar? That would be the Indian objective, as indeed it was Chinas when the United States and China were allies. Would the US make the mistake with India that it made with China, namely, make the technologically dependent eventually independent? That would, however, depend on the quality of investment India would make in becoming a more self-reliant technological power. Prime Minister Modi very grandly declared that AI stands for America and India cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. It is not clear whether such cooperation would in fact empower India by contributing to its atma nirbharata or would merely increase the flow of bright young Indians to research institutions in the United States. One of the odd things about the Indian demand on the US government for increased visas is that it in fact facilitates the brain drain out of India with little reverse flow from the US to India. The thousands who cheer Prime Minister Modi every time he goes to the US are quite happy to remain in the US, contributing to Americas atma nirbharta in dealing with a rising China. Their patriotism ends with chanting mantras and slogans. Important as the new agreements are, one must recognise that there is a fundamental difference between the historic significance of what Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was able to achieve in 2006 and what Mr Modi has done through this visit to the US. Sealing a defence and technology deal where the US plugs gaps in India that a half century of domestic effort has not been able to, as in the development of the jet engine, is so obviously different from getting the US to come to terms with Indias indigenous effort in emerging as a nuclear power. The deliverables from Mr Modis visit to Washington DC, that commit the US to helping India become a more robust technological and defence power, are what the US can do for India in facilitating Indias rise as a geo-economic power. India becoming a nuclear weapons power, and indeed space power, was about what India could do on its own to emerge as a global geopolitical entity. The global community came to respect India for the latter. It will view the former with sympathy, knowing well that India remains wary of the dragon in its neighbourhood. If in the coming decade the Indian political, administrative, business and intellectual leadership make good use of the opportunity presented by Western concern with the rise of China, in the manner in which the Chinese leadership used Western concern about the power and influence of the former Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s, then this could be a decade of opportunity for India. On the other hand, if we persist with policies that accentuate inequities and inequalities, divide society along ethnic, caste, communal and linguistic lines, and encourage Indian talent and enterprise to migrate to the West, even the best of bilateral relationships can do little for Indias development. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. NIO has just given an interesting and involuntary example of what may happen if anything goes wrong with its battery packs and swapping system. On June 25, a Power Swap 2.0 station saved a user from losing their BEV but did not prevent the component from presenting a thermal runaway. In fact, the first reports show it may even have made it worse: the station allegedly put the damaged battery pack to charge, which would have provoked a blaze. Photo: NIO BEV The story emerged on Weibo and was quickly shared by our colleagues from CarNewsChina. According to the first reports on the Chinese social media, a NIO driver was warned that the battery pack in their car had been damaged and that they should go to a Power Swap station as soon as possible. They followed the instructions and drove to a second-generation swapping station in Jiangmen, close to Hong Kong and Macau. The company is about to deploy the third generation of these Power Swap stations (PSSs), but at least it does not have any first-generation units still taking care of its cars.NIO users could feel reassured about this if the story ended here. After all, being able to determine whether the battery pack has a problem in real time is a great safety measure. Advising the involved customers to get them replaced immediately is probably what spared this driver from experiencing the fire with their car eventually with them or their families inside it. However, that is just the nice part of this tale.At about 2 PM local time about 10 minutes after the driver who replaced the damaged battery pack left the station a lot of smoke started pouring out from the Power Swap station. Firefighters arrived quickly and apparently managed to kill the flares. The information we have so far is that the station contained 13 battery packs: 8 regular ones and 5 hybrid components, which are composed of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells and ternary batteries. It is similar to what Our Next Energy (ONE) intends to do with the Gemini battery pack, but they have at least two major differences. The first is that NIO's ternary cells are NMC or NCA batteries. ONE does not want to see nickel and cobalt combined in its battery packs because it considers that match dangerous. The other is that all cells in the NIO battery pack work at the same time, while the manganese-rich anode-free cells on the Gemini only act to extend the range.Everything being told about the fire is coming from social media. NIO has yet to address what happened and confirm if the facts really unfolded that way. One thing I would love to know is if the damaged battery pack was actually charged after it was removed. That is allegedly what caused the blaze, even if a damaged battery pack could catch fire without any other interference. Just check puncture tests performed with several kinds of cells, and you'll understand what I am talking about. These videos show that ternary batteries explode, while LFP cells can emit smoke in some cases. In others, it remains surprisingly unaffected, like in the video embedded below. However, that is not inherent to the chemistry. There are reported cases of LFP cells catching fire.If the damaged battery pack was indeed charged, that is a massive safety failure from NIO. After all, the swap station could have other customers inside when the fire broke. If that did not occur, it is urgent to hear from NIO what it does in such cases. Is there a compartment for damaged cells to be safely stored inside the Power Swap stations? If there isn't anything of this kind, what is the company's emergency plan for similar situations that may happen in the future? NIO probably never faced anything like this, which is no excuse for not having a plan to deal with such emergencies.Unofficial reports declare that the firefighters that extinguished the blaze confirmed it started in the defective battery pack. I'd try to contact the Chinese authorities in Jiangmen if they answered, but they are predictably not very open about anything. Chinese readers could try to help us if they could beat the government's firewall and read our articles. That said, only NIO will be able to answer all the doubts this episode brought up and it should do that as soon as possible.NIO champions a system that makes BEVs more convenient with battery pack swapping. Thanks to that, they can make road trips with very short stopping times whenever Power Swap stations are on their route. Not having to purchase a battery pack also makes NIOs more affordable and gives customers peace of mind that their BEVs will keep running for way more time than regular ones. They are not limited to the battery pack's expiry date or their mileage. That's something that Tesla owners are getting in touch with more frequently now that their BEVs are out of warranty and presenting the BMS_u029 error Even with all these advantages, it is pretty concerning that a damaged or defective battery pack can cause a fire in a storage station that can have up to 13 units. The Power Swap 3.0 stations can hold 21 battery packs. As I said, NIO is dealing withlimitations in a laudable way, but it owes its customers an explanation about emergencies like this one. Built from 2000 to 2005, the Pontiac Aztek is one of the most controversial SUVs of the modern era. Often called "the car that killed Pontiac," "the worst vehicle ever built," or "the ugliest car in the world," it gets as much hate as the second-generation Ford Mustang. SUV But while I agree that it looks unusual, I don't think the Aztek deserves all the bad rap. I'm not here to explain why, but you can check out my "Five Reasons Why the Pontiac Aztek Doesn't Deserve All the Hate" blurb to learn more about that. I'm here to talk about the Aztek because of a cool rendering that takes the nameplate back to the late 1960s.Yup, that's an era when Pontiac had nothing to do with the then-emergingmarket. In fact, the company did not offer such a vehicle until the Aztek arrived in 2000, although it sold a rebranded Geo Tracker as the Sunrunner in Canada from 1994 to 1998. But here's the interesting thing: Pontiac would have had the means to make an SUV in the late 1960s or early 1970s thanks to the Chevrolet K5 Blazer.But while many Chevy products from the era were redesigned into Pontiacs, the K5 Blazer never got the red arrowhead emblem, and sharing never expanded beyond the GMC Jimmy. And that's simply because GM's strategy for Pontiac did not include anything beyond passenger cars at the time. But this rendering by Instagram's "jlord8" shows that a Poncho SUV would have looked fantastic.Sure, the hauler is nothing more than an early K5 Blazer with a Pontiac grille, but it's the shiny, center-split element that gives the Chevy a more exciting look. Especially since the artist went with a hidden headlamp layout. Yup, that front fascia doesn't come from the iconic GTO or the full-size Bonneville rig. These cars never had concealed headlamps. The structure is taken off the Grand Prix.Launched in 1962 as a performance-oriented grand tourer, the Grand Prix used the platform o the Catalina coupe and was equipped with luxury features usually offered in the top-of-the-line Bonneville. The concealed headlamps appeared in 1967 and 1968, the final years of the second-generation Grand Prix. And they were exclusive to this nameplate.Sure, the fact that the Blazer was introduced in 1969, the model year when Pontiac had already dropped the hidden headlamps, makes this rendering a bit inconsistent, but hey, everything is possible in imagination land. But I'm more curious whether GM would have allowed Pontiac to stuff the K5 Blazer with a bigger engine. The SUV arrived with a selection of inline-six and V8 engines, with the range-topping 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) V8 rated at 255 horsepower.A more performance-oriented brand, Pontiac was using much bigger powerplants in most of its midsize and full-size offerings. The GTO, for instance, came with a 400-cubic-inch (6.6-liter) big-block rated at 265 to 370 horsepower in 1969. But even if the Blazer's engine bay was too small for the 400 V8, the Tempest and LeMans were available with a high-output 350 mill good for a solid 330 horsepower.I know it probably sounds like I'm talking a lot of nonsense right now, but that's precisely why I love renderings. They give me the opportunity to think about "what if" vehicles that could have changed an automaker's history. Check out the late 1960s Aztek that never existed in our photo gallery, and let me know if it's a classic SUV you'd buy today. ICE Photo: Nico Jungel Photo: Nico Jungel kWh Photo: Nico Jungel The 8Rad tried to compensate for all these in what we could only describe as a valiant attempt at putting a car and a bicycle on equal footing. The 8Rad, which is now in its second iteration called 8Rad 2Solar, is a concept design that was first introduced in Berlin in 2014 and went on to become the world's biggest cargo bicycle. It remains a concept or, better said, a showcase design, so the plan was never to have it mass-produced.Created and built by Nico Jungel, it's an eight-wheel bicycle that can be anything you need it to be, including a tiny house with actual tiny house functionality. The first iteration was 8Rad, which required two people pedaling to get it to move, but the 2Solar model gets a 250W motor that, surprisingly so, is powerful enough to move the whole contraption with just one person at the pedals.But we all know that even electric bicycles are not as green as we'd like them to be. Even electric machines, whether cars or bicycles have a large carbon footprint from the production phase and the materials used, which is hardly news to anyone. So, the 8Rad 2Solar aims to cut that down even more by taking it off the grid in terms of charging hence the "2Solar" part of the name.The bike is based on the open-source bike project n55 by Till Wolfer for XYZ Cargo, so it uses the aluminum tubes from the company. Total measurements are 5.5 meters by 2 meters by 2.4 meters (18 by 6.5 by 7.8 feet), or about 8 square meters (86.1 square feet), with a 2-meter (6.5-foot) height inside the tiny house -like structure. It's completely removable, so if living out of your bike home is not your thing, you can still use the bike to haul cargo instead of a van.8Rad has a cargo capacity of 500 kg (1,102 lbs) and rides on independent suspension, which makes it very smooth and highly versatile. Six disc brakes provide stopping power, while a 1.2solar system and four 12V 55Ah batteries power everything from the motor to the lights. Range is unlimited, according to Jungel. Not the same can be said about speed, though.Jungel designed this unique bicycle on the premise that urban mobility has to be reconsidered to include the bicycle because it provides "cheap transport within clean, quiet, and safe cities inhabited by happier and healthier citizens." In a 2022 interview , he admitted that the project was riddled with challenges and obstacles, which resulted in countless delays and expenses , but he said that he still held on fast to that initial belief.Though he calls himself a "traffic activist," he doesn't believe in absolute measures like the one that would create car-free cities. Instead, he sees bicycles as the underdog that are not getting the chance they deserve in terms of their ability to move people and goods on a daily basis. He bases that on his experience with the 8Rad 2Solar, which he's used as his mobile studio and solar powerplant with serious off-grid capabilities since its creation while taking it to various events and trade meetings.Maybe the fate of the planet is not in having to choose between one or the other mode of transport, but in providing the people with more options. Options like the bicycle, or the bicycle-based tiny house , or cargo hauler 8Rad 2Solar. Like it or not, artificial intelligence is here and it is already changing our lives. Sure, it's not yet self-aware, meaning it can't make decisions outside its core programming, but these systems have proven they can learn and, if properly built, even evolve based on those learnings. Photo: Shield AI Photo: Shield AI It's true most of the time we humans have the tendency to mistake any complex algorithm for an AI. It's not these things or AIs the likes of ChatGPT we're here to discuss today, but something that's a lot more complex, and has the potential of having a more direct impact on the life of humans itself: the Hivemind AI.That's the name a company called Shield AI uses to designate an artificial intelligence system that is being purpose-built to power "every military asset: aircraft, drones, ships, satellites and submarines." And by "power the company means fly, navigate, and control, just like human soldiers do now.The idea of using AI to control military hardware is not bad, as it will take humans and their weaknesses out of the equation. AI-piloted aAirplanes, for instance, will be able to fly far beyond what the physical human limits currently allow, decision-making will probably be faster, and overall efficiency at a mission level will increase.True, that's not something that will happen tomorrow, but it will eventually happen, and we'd better be ready for it. That's why we thought a closer look at the tech could be just what's needed to get a better sense of far away from that moment we are at this time.Before getting into it though I should mention the technical specs of the technology, because of its sensitive nature, are not public, so I won't go into that.So, what is this AI? As said, an artificial intelligence system meant for use in military applications, more specifically as an aircraft pilot. It has been designed to work independently from human control, and unlike other systems currently on the market, it will require no communication with a ground station or controller, no GPS to find its way, and no previously-set waypoints to get where it's going and get the job done.All of the above is possible because the system uses an aircraft's sensors to create a map of its surroundings, and navigates based on that. Once it reaches its target, the system will execute the assigned mission.Shield AI says its solution learns and can execute autonomous missions on its own, and needs no prior knowledge to make decisions that will allow it to execute its goals. That means there is no preset behavior included in the programming, and the system adapts to whatever it needs to adapt to.It's unclear exactly how that is supposed to work, but it would seem Shield AI is living up to its promises. The company is already in cahoots with the American defense industry, and testing the AI as the Hivemind software ecosystem as part of projects run with the American military and DARPA.The most important such project had the AI conduct simulated dogfights against equally imagined F-16 Fighting Falcons, flown by active-duty USAF and Navy pilots. Humans got trashed by the AI in 99 percent of cases.Shield AI plans to deploy the system at first as a pilot for a series of drones it makes, called V-BAT and Nova 2. These things can be used for going past enemy air defenses or clear rooms for foot soldiers.Then, the AI should be made part of human-piloted fighter planes, where it will work as a sort of artificial co-pilot. Taking advantage of data fed to it by HUDs, flight controllers, sensors, and radios, it could help enhance the pilots' decision-making process.Not only the F-16 is targeted by this development, but also the F-18 and even the F-22. It's likely though the older airplanes will take center stage, as the AI could bring entirely new capabilities to the aging military platforms.Ultimately, entirely new aircraft could be built to be flown exclusively by this tech, effectively taking us into the era of real autonomous, machine-driven warfare. Using it to power autonomous aircraft that can team up with piloted machines is also on the table.A recent development in this respect was the announcement that the Shield AI solution will be piloting the XQ-58A Valkyrie , a jet aircraft-like stealth drone being put together by defense contractor Kratos. The drone will become the first such aircraft to incorporate the AI pilot, at least at an official level. We say that because Shield AI states on its website that the system is "the first and only fully autonomous AI pilot deployed in combat," most likely during secret missions run by the U.S. Special Operations Command.At the moment, the AI is in the process of learning "to execute a variety of missions from Beyond Visual Range strike to suppression of enemy air defense." We have no info when the tech will be fully mature, but there's only one of two ways the rest of us civilians can feel about it: either be excited at what the AI can do, or terrified of it. 25 June 2023 12:47 (UTC+04:00) An article on French colonization and imperialist policy was published on a foreign media outlet. The article mentions the events of June in France, that is, the massacre committed in Paris 175 years ago. Azernews presents the article. By Dr Katherine Connelly, On the evening of 22 June 1848, only four months after the revolution of February overthrew the last French king, barricades appeared again on the streets of Paris. The barricades were constructed in protest at the new republican governments decision to renege on its promise to the citys workers to guarantee their right to work. Four days later, the uprising was brutally crushed, not only were thousands of insurgents killed on the barricades, cannons and incendiary rockets were fired into working-class neighbourhoods, and prisoners were shot in vicious reprisals. This extreme violence had its roots in the colonial nature of the French state whether monarchy or republic. African generals Monarchy and republic both turned to Frances colonial African Army to quell unrest at home. In February 1848, the king relied on the former governor-general of Algeria, Thomas-Robert Bugeaud, to try and save his regime. In Algeria, Bugeaud led a reign of terror which historian Jennifer E. Sessions has described as the institutionalization of rape, mutilation, execution, razzia (scorched earth raids) and enfumades (blocking people up in caves and then setting the blocked exits alight). ''In a manner that resembles the coverage of warfare in imperialist countries, the censored French press did not condemn the army for shelling a densely populated city but instead repeated lurid rumours about the insurgents beheading, mutilating and poisoning that supposedly confirmed their barbarism. This colonialist register, of course, served to justify the civilising mission at home.'' When the June insurrection broke out, the Republic called upon the new governor-general of Algeria, General Eugene Cavaignac. On 24 June, the government disbanded itself, handing Cavaignac dictatorial power. Cavaignac had been in Algeria since 1832 and was an experienced practitioner of the African Armys atrocities. He had used enfumade against the Sbeah tribe in 1844. Other high-ranking figures in the African Army brought in to fight the June insurgents included Colonel Charras, General Lamoriciere (another former governor-general of Algeria), General Bedeau, General Duvivier and General Negrier. Jonathan M. Houses military study notes that during the June Days the first three colonels to be promoted to generals had all served in the African Army. Colonisation at home The establishment justified the assault on the June insurgents by ignoring their grievances and depicting them instead as the enemies of the republic and thus also of civilised society. In so doing, they drew on longstanding political and cultural representations that likened the urban poor to colonised subjects. The insurgents were depicted as the citys uncivilised natives. The newspaper Le Constitutionnel compared them to Native Americans and to Algerians. When General Negrier was shot in the fighting, the Constitutionnel mourned that the man who had been spared the bullets of the Arabs had been hit by a French bullet, as if the June insurgents had completed the work of the Algerian fighters. In a manner that resembles the coverage of warfare in imperialist countries, the censored French press did not condemn the army for shelling a densely populated city but instead repeated lurid rumours about the insurgents beheading, mutilating and poisoning that supposedly confirmed their barbarism. This colonialist register, of course, served to justify the civilising mission at home. Algerian barbarity? Almost the only individuals of any prominence to wholeheartedly defend the June insurgents were the revolutionary communists Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Writing in the Neue Rheinische Zeitung, the newspaper Marx edited in Cologne, Engels repeatedly referred to the colonial backgrounds of the generals. Recalling Duviviers role as a commander in the 1836 siege of Constantine, Engels saw parallels with his use of heavy artillery against Parisians on the Ile Saint-Louis where he acted with Algerian barbarity (by which he meant the barbarity of the French in Algeria). On one level it can be argued that Engels simply reversed the barbarian/civilised dichotomy used by the coloniser, but I think Engels was making a far more radical point. He not only likened the June insurgents to the Algerian resistance, but also to the uprisings of the Lyons silk workers over a decade earlier and to slave revolts. Workers, the colonised, the enslaved: what the liberation struggles of each of these groups had in common was the necessarily existential threat they posed to the old order, with which there could be no compromise. It was this essential fact that explained the level of violence deployed against the June insurgents, against the colonised and the enslaved. It also reveals something that the French state understood very well that these groups objectively shared the same interests. The June Days: a colonial tragedy A victory for the June insurgents against the generals of the African Army would also have struck a blow to French colonialism. But the insurgents were defeated, with a corresponding, devastating impact in Algeria. The establishments preferred alternative to the right to work, which had been demanded by an emboldened working-class in the French capital, was to resettle them in Algeria and turn them into colonists. And in 1850, the French state began deporting convicted June insurgents to Algeria. By turning a section of workers and dissidents into colonisers, the French state strengthened its power at home and abroad. The longer-term results of this included the fostering of a far-right force in French politics, the creation of a particularly Islamophobic brand of French republicanism and more than a century of colonial subjugation in Algeria. These too were the bitter fruits of the June Days. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 15:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Despite persistence and all provocations done by the Armenian side, being compassionate, Azerbaijan still gives a hug to poor Armenian minorities kept as hostages by separatists in Karabakh. The Azerbaijani side does not miss any opportunity to give a push to the integration process, but the Armenian government, separatists in Karabakh, and their mouthpiece abroad go the extra mile to interrupt it. Once again, the issue was tabled during the meeting between the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, and the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Azerbaijan Dragana Kozich. The top diplomat reiterated that Azerbaijan can provide Armenians in Karabakh with assistance. Like previous ones, the Armenian side and their promoters in the West turned a blind eye to the offer. With unknown reasons, they are keeping to demand that Azerbaijani citizens in Karabakh must integrate not into Azerbaijan, but Armenia. Speaking to Azernews on the issue, the member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Fazil Mustafa noted that the Armenian side is aware of remaining at an impasse but they resist due to the temptation of some foreign countries. However, he stated that it is their last fidget. The MP underlined that the reckless approaches of Western politicians harm the peace building process instead of promoting it. In fact, they themselves know that the Armenians have no way out. This is their last chance to fuss about. The brazen calls of some US congressmen to take decisions that threaten the sovereignty of Azerbaijan, the adoption of certain documents, the adoption of resolutions by irresponsible and lawbreaker PACE MPs in the Assembly using various means to flatter Armenians do not help in solving the issue. On the contrary, it increases the problems of Armenians. Because timely integration would be a more convenient way to solve problems, Fazil Mustafa said. Regarding this, MP Fazil Mustafa noted that neither the proposals of the Azerbaijan state nor the initiatives of the ICRC will be accepted by the Armenians at this stage. He emphasized that compactly-settled Armenians in Karabakh are under the hostage of local separatist terror organization. Therefore, the civilian Armenians are cowed to initiate any attempts toward integration. He opined that in case of cleaning the region from the terror organization, the civilian Armenians will be interested in the integration. Civil Armenians in Karabakh are under the hostages of the terrorist group, and they are not expected to take a positive approach to any civil initiative until the terrorists are purged. Therefore, the Armenians themselves, perhaps in their hearts, agree that the Azerbaijani side should clean these terrorists from the region as a whole, and after that, I don't think that Azerbaijan will have any problems with the civilian population. It will be possible to put things in order in this direction. At present, it is not credible to show an initiative related to reintegration by any non-governmental organization, civil society or individual due to the fear of terrorists. Armenians can start this process only after these terrorist groups are eliminated. Until then, there is still no hope. Because these groups can terrorize any person who initiates integration in order to terrorize others. If you pay attention, it can be seen that the Azerbaijani soldiers and medical workers provided the necessary assistance and support to a certain sick person or an Armenian who lost his way on a winter day to the post office, proving that the state of Azerbaijan has no problems with civilian Armenians. I do not think that the civilian population there will have any problems with Azerbaijan. Just the terrorist groups and military units that are there should be cleared immediately. After the cleaning operation is completed, it is possible to talk about some kind of reintegration, the official said. He also touched on legal benefits of reintegration and noted that it will be in favor of Armenian minorities in Karabakh as well. He recalled that the world does not recognize such quasi-states and it causes problem for locals. Reintegration itself will increase economic independence, freedom, and activity opportunities of Karabakh Armenians. That is, they will benefit from the opportunities of the Azerbaijani society and state. Reintegration will also enable Karabakh Armenians to live in on a legal basis. Karabakh Armenians have not been living in a legal regime for years and are in an uncertain situation. The world somehow does not recognize the self-styled state. In such a case, what can they hope for? In what form can a person who has graduated from secondary school continue his higher education? What can he do in the closed environment in Karabakh? he noted. Azerbaijani MP Fazil Mustafa also mentioned that Azerbaijans economic potential is bigger than Armenia and in terms of logistics, it is more plausible to have trade with Azerbaijani regions, instead of Armenia. There are no prospects for expanding any economic opportunities in Karabakh. It is clear to everyone how much the economic potential of Azerbaijan is superior to that of Armenia. But imagine that if relations restored and in this case Armenians in Karabakh can trade with peoples in Aghdam, Kalbajar and other districts. It may be more beneficial for Armenians to go to these areas that are logistically closer than paying a large sum to go to Yerevan. On the other hand, they will have the opportunity to realize their pension, social benefits and other rights, the MP added. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 20:00 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more Armenia, which is extremely professional in creating provocations, is also very flexible in changing positions. The official Yerevan, which first allied with the West, and then shared all grievances with Russia, somehow feels in a big void. At the moment, Armenia, which is blaspheming against its patrons in a big uproar, even accuses Azerbaijan and makes unnecessary claims based on no serious issues. Armenia's problem is actually related to the temporary closure of the border checkpoint on the Lachin road. Interpreting the closing of the border checkpoint for investigations after the recent provocations by Armenians as a big event, Yerevan allegedly declared it as national ethnic cleansing. However, Armenia knows very well that its goal is different. Even its allies are aware of Armenia's secret desires. However, within the framework of certain interests, their slightly indifferent approach to the issue has greatly shaken Armenia. Even now, Yerevan is in such a situation that it does not trust the West, even though it makes many efforts to bring it to the South Caucasus with its own hands. As for Russia, it is not worth mentioning at all...Finally, one issue remains outstanding: the peace process, which Armenia is trying to hinder by all means. George Tuka, a Ukrainian political analyst, commented on the processes speaking to Azernews. According to him, Armenia's contradicting political views can make it an unreliable partner for all its allies. "With their inconsistent and unbalanced policy, the Armenian authorities seem to be losing all possible allies, including the West and Russia. I have always advocated and advocate the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. From my point of view, there are no "disputed territories". There is a fact that Armenia has occupied the territory of a neighboring state," the pundit said. The expert added that another reason for the delay in the processes in Karabakh is that the peacekeeping mission there is not precise in its work. "The peacekeeping units have never been able to maintain neutrality since they started operating in Karabakh. Whether it is the Azerbaijani side or Armenia, such activities have always led to the deepening of the problem between the two sides. It seems to me that it is for this reason that Armenians intend to see the West as an alternative in the region. But I have little faith that the West will agree with an unreliable partner like Armenia and come to the region," Tuka stressed. In conclusion, the pundit who touched on the general intention of Armenia in the provocations and hindering the peace processes, called it a step without perspective. "If we talk about Armenia, then it is rather difficult to find a "goal" in their policy, since the actions of the authorities are sometimes illogical, emotional in nature. It is rather difficult to find explanations for illogical actions," the expert concluded. -- Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 1 killed, 3 wounded in crude bomb blast in India's West Bengal Xinhua) 09:33, June 25, 2023 NEW DELHI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and three others were wounded on Saturday after a crude bomb went off in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, police said. The blast took place inside a mango orchard in Murshidabad district, about 204 km north of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal. Rural elections are scheduled to be held in West Bengal in July. Media reported that over the past two weeks the state saw an increase in violence which has left at least eight people dead and several injured. Political parties are blaming each other for the violence. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Russia allegedly tried to cover-up Russian President Vladimir Putin's worst daily air force losses of the war. Some Russian pilots and other personnel were killed after the Wagner Group reportedly attempted a military coup. The Russian mercenary organization claimed that they shot down Russian helicopters during the deadly attack. Videos showing huge black plumes of smoke even circulated on the internet. Meanwhile, Russian seemingly confirmed the assault, saying that three of their helicopters were taken down by the Wagner PMC. Russia Allegedly Tries To Cover-Up Putin's Worst Daily Air Force Losses According to The Daily Mail UK's latest report, the Russian military reportedly tried to cover-up the deadly Wagner attack. Related Article: Wagner Group vs. Russia: Will the Armed Uprising End Putin's Leadership? A pre-recorded interview of Vladimir Putin was even aired after reports about the Wagner assault spread. In his interview, the Russian leader talked about stepping up efforts in Ukraine. "We feel confident, and, of course, we are in a position to implement all the plans and tasks ahead of us," said Putin via Reuters. "This also applies to the country's defense, it applies to the special military operation, it applies to the economy as a whole and its individual areas," he added. Despite his aired interview, numerous sources were still able to acquire information about the attack of the Wagner Group against Russian troops. 39 Russian Pilots Dead Based on numerous reports, the Wagner attack led to the death of 39 Russian pilots and crew. Some of these airmen are believed to be Russia's leading air force crew members. The Wagner PMC assault against the Russian military also destroyed six helicopters. These include three Mi-8 MTPRs, which are specialized in electronic warfare, as well as a sophisticated Il-22 aircraft, which is used for battle planning at altitude. Although Wagner Group's attack is very serious, the potential bloodbath between the Russian military and the mercenary group was avoided since Prigozhin halted their march on Moscow. However, some Russian analysts said that the Wagner attack killed 39 Russian pilots and took down six helicopters took a great tool for Putin. This just shows how the deadly assults of the mercenargy organization drastically affect Vladimir's reputation. If you want to learn more about the deadly assault of the Wagner PMC, you can click here. Related Article: 'Putin's Chef' Exiled: Prigozhin Leaves Russia for Belarus After Aborting Wagner's March to Moscow; Putin Severely Weakened by Mutiny @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 25 June 2023 13:34 (UTC+04:00) Introduction In this article, I touch upon both local and international instruments that deal with the investment. Specifically, the main regulatory act applicable to the investment in Azerbaijan - the Law on Investment Activity, dated 22 June 2022 (the Investment Law) is summarized herein. Furthermore, bilateral investment treaties, as well as international multilateral treaties are generally discussed. Scope and definitions The Investment Law sets out legal and economic grounds of investment activity and guarantees rights and interests of the investors. It applies to investment activities carried out by local and foreign investors in the territory of Azerbaijan. Investment activities in the Alat Free Economic Zone (AFEZ) is regulated in accordance with the requirements of the Law on Alat Free Economic Zone, dated 18 May 2018. Upon entry into force of the new Investment Law, the Law on Protection of Foreign Investment, dated 15 January 1992 and the previous Law on Investment Activity, dated 13 January 1995 ceased to have effect. However, in accordance with the new Investment Law, the more favorable conditions granted to investors based on the Law on Protection of Foreign Investment and the previous Law on Investment Activity when those laws were in effect, remain in force for a period of 10 (ten) years. The Investment Law defines the investment as funds, securities, other property, including property rights and other rights of monetary value, invested in objects of entrepreneurial activity for the purpose of obtaining income. In accordance with the Law, investor means local (a citizen/legal entity of Azerbaijan carrying out investment activities) and foreign investor (foreigners, stateless persons, foreign legal entities and their branches and representative offices, international organizations, as well as a foreign state) carrying out investment activities in the territory of Azerbaijan. Main principles, goals and directions The main principles related to the investment activities are: (a) inviolability of property; (b) legality; (c) protection and provision of human and civil rights and freedoms; (d) protection of confidential information. The main goal of the state policy in this regard is to ensure sustainable economic development at the expense of local and foreign investments, to develop competitive production and service areas, and to apply new technologies and innovations in the economy. The main directions of the state policy in relation thereto are the followings: (a) formation of favorable investment environment, including strengthening of free competition environment; (b) protection of investors' rights and legal interests, as well as investments; (c) creating equal opportunities for investors; (d) ensuring the stability of conditions of investment activity; (e) privatization, restructuring and rehabilitation of the state property; (f) supporting investment projects in priority areas of the economy; (g) digitalization of services provided to investors and their provision on the basis of the "one-stop shop" principle. Investment promotion measures For promotion of investment, the following measures are implemented under the Investment Law: (a) setting out concessions on tax and other state payments; (b) providing loans on preferential terms; (c) establishment of special economic zones, industrial parks and other regime zones; (d) expansion of the public-private partnership mechanism; (e) providing local and foreign investors with advice and information through online platforms about the investment potential of Azerbaijan, as well as normative legal acts regulating investment activities, investment projects and potential partners, and organization of investment related events; (f) other investment promotion measures. Priorities Under the Investment Law, priority is given for the following investment projects: (a) increasing the technological capacity of the economy aimed at the application and development of innovations; (b) based on the application of environmentally friendly technologies, envisaging the improvement of the environment, efficient use of natural resources; (c) supporting the development of a healthy lifestyle of the population; (d) aimed at the development of social infrastructure and various sectors of the economy; (e) requiring the formation of knowledge and skills in accordance with modern requirements; (f) supporting the development of regions. Forms of investment activities Investment activity can be carried out in the following forms: (a) establishment and reorganization of legal entities; (b) acquisition of shares in legal entities; (c) establishment of a branch and representative office of a foreign legal entity in Azerbaijan; (d) individual entrepreneurship; (e) entering into an agreement on the implementation of investment activities (the Investment Agreement); (f) acquisition of property, including property rights and other rights of monetary value; (g) other forms not prohibited by law. Rights and duties of investors The Investment Law grants the following rights to investors: (a) freely determine the form of investment activity, the volume of investment, the field and form of entrepreneurial activity; (b) freely determine sources of financing that are not prohibited by law; (c) suspend or terminate the investment activity at any time, in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Law and the terms of the Investment Agreement; (d) gain income from investment activities, goods produced, work performed and services provided, property, including property rights and other rights of monetary value; (e) reinvest the income from investment activity; (f) in relation to foreign investors, after payment of taxes and other state payments of income and other funds obtained therefrom, transfer to a foreign country in free currency or in other form in accordance with the requirements of the Law on Currency Regulation, dated 21 October 1994 and the Investment Agreement; (g) participate in the privatization of the state property; (h) obtain information from state authorities, local self-government bodies necessary for the implementation of investment activities and the disclosure of which is not prohibited by law; (i) exercise other rights set out in the Investment Law and the Investment Agreement. Investors have the following duties: (a) carrying out the types of activities for which a license or permit is required in accordance with the Law on Licenses and Permits dated 15 March 2016; (b) payment of statutory taxes and other mandatory payments in accordance with the laws in force at the time of the transactions; (c) protecting the life and health of the population, the environment, historical and cultural monuments, compliance with mandatory requirements in the field of urban planning and construction, labor legislation, technical safety, safety of goods (works, services), fire and radiation safety, as well as state security; (d) not to allow unfair competition, as well as not to damage the rights and interests of other persons protected by law; (e) compliance with other duties set out in the Investment Law and the Investment Agreement. It is prohibited to impose duties on investors that are not contemplated by the laws of Azerbaijan. Guarantees under the Investment Law Under the Investment Law, the State guarantees the protection of the rights and freedoms of investors as set out therein, and prohibits unreasonable and discriminatory treatment, intimidation, persecution and violence against investors and their investments. Foreign investors and their investments are subject to a regime (national regime) no less favorable than the regime applied to local investors and their investments in similar situations. A regime that is not less favorable than the regime applied to other foreign investors and their investments (the most favorable regime) in similar situations is applied to foreign investors and their investment. The application of the national and the most favorable regimes does not affect the application of laws related to protection of the life and health of people, the environment, public order, as well as the protection of the state's security and economic interests in the event of an important threat, provided that such application is carried out without discrimination and prejudice. Guarantees against nationalization and acquisition of investment by the State Acquisition and nationalization of investment in the territory of Azerbaijan is not allowed without the consent of the investor, with the exception of acquisition of investment for state needs, as well as requisition as set out in the Civil Code. In accordance with the Civil Code, in the event of natural disasters, technological accidents, epidemics and other emergency situations, by the decision of the relevant state authorities, the property can be acquired from the owner for the benefit of the society by payment of the value to the owner in the manner and under the conditions established by law (requisition). No discrimination is allowed during the nationalization of the investment and acquisition by the State. In exchange for nationalization and acquisition of investment by the State, compensation must be paid to investors in accordance with the Law on Acquisition of Land for State Needs, dated 20 April 2010. Such compensation must be equal to the fair market value of the investment at the immediately preceding time after the nationalization or acquisition by the State of the investment or if these are known to the public (whichever occurs sooner) and must be paid without delay in the freely convertible currency in relation to foreign investment, and for local investment, it is paid in the currency of the investment. Guarantees regarding the transfer of investment income Investment income is guaranteed to be freely transferred abroad out of Azerbaijan in free currency in accordance with the Law on Currency Regulation, dated 21 October 1994. Amounts freely transferred abroad include: (a) profits, dividends, interests, royalties and other income; (b)profit resulting from the full or partial sale or other alienation of the investment, or the full or partial termination of the investment activity; (c) compensation and payment for damages; (d) earnings of migrant workers in connection with the investment; (e) other payments not prohibited by the Investment Law. Dispute resolution In the absence of any other agreement between the parties, as well as after the exhaustion of the legal remedies provided for in the Civil Procedure Code of Azerbaijan, the foreign investor may submit the dispute related to the investment activity between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the foreign investor to an international arbitration. If the bilateral international treaties on the promotion and mutual protection of investments signed between Azerbaijan and foreign countries sets out different rules for the settlement of disputes than those specified in the Investment Law, the rules established by the international agreement shall apply. Awards of the international arbitration on disputes related to investment activity are recognized and enforced in accordance with the international treaties to which the Republic of Azerbaijan is a party and the Civil Procedure Code of Azerbaijan. Bilateral and international treaties Azerbaijan is a party to the 1965 Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States, known as the ICSID Convention and the member State of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) as of 18 October 1992. Azerbaijan is also a party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (10 June 1958), also known as the New York Convention as of 29 February 2000. In accordance with ICSID Database, Azerbaijan is a party to 44 bilateral investment treaties (BITs). Azerbaijan entered into BIT with the following states: Turkiye (1994), Russian Federation (2014), Pakistan (1995), UK (1996), Georgia (1996), Germany (1995), Kazakhstan (1996), Ukraine (1997), Kyrgyz Republic (1997), Poland (1997), Italy (1997), France (1998), Iran (1996), Lebanon (1998), Moldova (1997), Austria (2000), Romania (2002), Bulgaria (2004), Saudi Arabia (2005), United Arab Emirates (2006), Switzerland (2006), Israel (2007), Tajikistan (2007). For the full list of the States please see the following link: https://icsid.worldbank.org/resources/databases/bilateral-investment-treaties Investment promotion agency in Azerbaijan The Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan - AZPROMO is a public legal entity operating in the direction of export and investment promotion, providing a number of services to exporters and investors. The Agency operates under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan. For further information about the Agency please see the following link: https://azpromo.az/en/page/haqqimizda/azpromo About the author: Fuad Gashamov is a professional lawyer with over 13 years of experience in consulting industry. He mainly specializes in dispute resolution, real estate, contracts, regulatory, intellectual property and compliance. He is the founding partner at Legalize Law Firm. He is a member of the Bar Association since 2014 and also a member of the newly established Business Committee of the Bar Association. Fuad Gashamov is also a member of the Commission on Business Environment and International Ratings of the Republic of Azerbaijan Enforcement of contracts, resolution of disputes, closure and bankruptcy of an enterprise, judicial system and rule of law. For more information about the author please see the following link: https://www.legalize.az/en/team/fuadgashamov --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 11:56 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Assistant Director-General for UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Gabriela Ramos and the Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli have expressed their willingness to cooperate in the cultural field. Addressing the meeting, Adil Karimli stressed Gabriela Ramos's visit to Baku will further boost the partnership between Azerbaijan and UNESCO, Azernews reports. Speaking about cultural cooperation, the minister specially noted the importance of the Baku Process and World Intercultural Dialogue Forums initiated by President Ilham Aliyev. Despite the break caused by the global pandemic, preparatory work has already started to organize the forum in May, 2024. Taking into account that the forum is traditionally organized jointly with the main partners, including UNESCO, the organization can make an appropriate contribution to the preparation process. Gabriela Ramos emphasized the significance of the forums held in Baku in the field of intercultural dialogue. She expressed her confidence that UNESCO will actively participate in the next forum, which is expected to be rich in discussions that show more practical solutions to the changing world. The sides outlined Azerbaijan's support in the creation of UNESCO's e-platform, partnership within UNESCO Silk Roads Programme as well as the country's participation in the events timed to the programme's 35th anniversary. The meeting also discussed the effects of artificial intelligence and modern technologies on global culture, as well as global institutional initiatives in the direction of ethical and legal regulation of these effects. Assistant Director-General for UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Gabriela Ramos invited the Culture Minister Adil Karimli to take part in the International Conference on the Ethics of Neurotechnology to be held on July 13 and Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination scheduled for November 29. Note that Azerbaijan and UNESCO have established a fruitful partnership since 1992. In 2003, they signed a comprehensive framework agreement covering areas such as culture, science, education, and communication. Many Azerbaijani cultural sites have been included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, including Icharishahar (Old City) with Maiden Tower, Shirvanshah's Palace, Gobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve, etc. Furthermore, the Pomegranate Festival and Art of miniature were inscribed in UNESCO Representative List, while the city of Shaki was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List. In 2021, Lankaran District was included in the UNESCO list "Network of Creative Cities". UNESCO also honors Azerbaijan's outstanding personalities like the poet and thinker Imadaddin Nasimi, Fikrat Amirov, great philanthropist and oil magnate Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, etc. UNESCO also recognizes Azerbaijan's outstanding personalities such as renowned poet and philosopher Imadaddin Nasimi, prominent composer Fikrat Amirov, philanthropist and oil magnate Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 16:09 (UTC+04:00) Today, in the heart of Baku, at the foot of the Maiden Tower, numerous believers gathered. They came to pay their respects to the Apostle Bartholomew. At the place where the saint passed away in the Old City, a prayer service was performed with choral chanting to the saint, Azernews reports, citing local media outlets. Baku demonstrated a high model of multiculturalism and religious tolerance. Almost all religious confessions are represented in Azerbaijan. Today one can hardly name any other city on earth where representatives of different religious communities live in peace and harmony and treat each other with the utmost respect. Each Azerbaijani can be proud of this - there has never been a single conflict in the history of Azerbaijan that has arisen on religious grounds. According to the Baku and Azerbaijan Diocese, after a two-year break due to quarantine restrictions, clergymen and laity of the Baku Diocese again had the opportunity to gather for collective prayers on the foundation of the chapel dedicated to the Apostle Bartholomew, erected in the 19th century and demolished in 1936. Hundreds of Baku residents and residents of Sumgait came to Icherisheher in the early morning to pray to the saint and ask for his help. The ruins of Bartholomew's Chapel in the Old City were discovered by Azerbaijani archaeologists during excavations in 1964 near the Maiden Tower, a symbol of Baku. The Apostle Bartholomew, who was martyred for his faith two thousand years ago on the site of the modern capital of Azerbaijan, is considered by local Orthodox Christians to be the patron of the city. Apostle Bartholomew - one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ was crucified on this spot in 71 AD for spreading Christianity in the city of Baku. Later, an Albanian temple was erected at the place of his crucifixion, and in 1892, Saint Bartholomew Chapel was erected on the site of the ancient temple. The Christian Church has consecrated St Bartholomew as a saint and every year the 24th of June is celebrated as St Bartholomew's Day. Photo by Irada Asadova --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 22:57 (UTC+04:00) The performance of Azerbaijani pianist Laman Seyidova at the Geneva Conservatory was greeted with applause from the audience. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Switzerland Fuad Iskenderov has shared a post on his Twitter page, Azernews reports . The post reads: "Proud of amazing performance of 16 years talented star Lyaman Seyidova in In Conservatoire de Musique de Geneve.Her professionalism as soloist of Conservatoire de Musique de Geneve Orchestra in playing Mendelssohn Concerto N.1 for piano has met standing ovation of spectaculars," he tweeted. Proud of amazing performance of 16 years talentedstar Lyaman Seyidova in In Conservatoire de Musique de Geneve.Her professionalism as soloist of Conservatoire de Musique de Geneve Orchestra in playing Mendelssohn Concerto N.1 for piano has met standing ovation of spectaculars. pic.twitter.com/XyUbhHfjhU Fuad Isgandarov (@fuad_isgandarov) June 25, 2023 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 11:10 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Azerbaijan Dragana Kozich have discussed the situation around the Lachin road. Speaking about the Lachin border checkpoint, Jeyhun Bayramov stressed that with its opening all conditions were created for a transparent, safe, and orderly crossing of Armenian residents in both directions, with hundreds of Armenian residents using the checkpoint since April 23, Azernews reports via the Foreign Ministry. The minister noted that Armenia, which could not tolerate the establishment of normal relations between Armenian residents and Azerbaijani border guards, shelled the BCP on June 15, and thus created obstacles to the safe crossing of the border crossing. It was brought to Dragana Kozic's attention that the Azerbaijani side is currently taking measures to investigate the Armenian attack. At the same time, the need for Armenia to provide guarantees to the Azerbaijani side that such provocations will not recur in the future was stressed. Alongside this, the readiness of the Azerbaijani side to allow Armenian residents through the ICRC to cross the border crossing point for medical purposes and to provide them with the necessary medical supplies was expressed. Regarding the other needs of the Armenian residents, it was noted that the Azerbaijani side can provide assistance through the ICRC, using the Aghdam-Khankendi road. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 11:34 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Natasa Pirc Musar, the President of the Republic of Slovenia on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Slovenia, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Dear Madame President, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my most sincere congratulations to You and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Slovenia - Statehood Day. I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts towards the development of Azerbaijan-Slovenia relations and the expansion of our mutually beneficial cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral levels in line with the interests of our peoples. On this joyful day, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your activities, and the friendly people of Slovenia everlasting peace and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 22 June 2023 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 12:20 (UTC+04:00) Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with a delegation led by Hassan Kleib, Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Azernews reports. Ministry of Foreign Affairs told that the meeting discussed international partnership in the field of intellectual property protection, as well as existing cooperation relations between Azerbaijan and WIPO. Jeyhun Bayramov noted that there are extensive cooperation relations between relevant structures of Azerbaijan, and informed of a number of areas of activities carried out in Azerbaijan, in the field of improvement of intellectual property. At the same time, the Minister drew attention to the change of our toponyms during the 30-year occupation of our territories by Armenia, the plundering or renaming of cultural values and objects of cultural heritage belonging to Azerbaijan, and the appropriation of other examples of cultural heritage belonging to Azerbaijan by Armenia. At the same time, the Minister informed his colleague of the intensive reconstruction and rehabilitation processes undertaken by Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period, noting the start of the return of internally displaced families back to their homes, and reminds the danger of anti-personnel mines planted by Armenia as the main obstacle to this process. The opposing side, in turn, expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the organization, as well as with the fact that the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan is an example for a number of countries in this field. Minister says that Azerbaijan made a valuable contribution to international cooperation in the field. At the same time, Hassan Kleib says, there is potential for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the organization in the field of education in the field of intellectual property. The meeting also included an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 14:17 (UTC+04:00) The ship fleet of the Azerbaijani Navy will be updated, new reconnaissance systems will be purchased. Azerbaijani Navy commander, Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov told media, Azernews reports. According to him, meetings are being held with advanced defense industry companies on the renewal of the ship's fleet, the acquisition of system, surveillance, intelligence, and communications. "Some of the projects named will be phased in in the near future," the Vice Admiral said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 15:23 (UTC+04:00) The Ministry of Defense prepared a video on the occasion of June 26 - Armed Forces Day. Azernews presents that video: Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 18:33 (UTC+04:00) The State Water Resources Agency of the Open Joint Stock Company "Azersu" will work in a reinforced mode on non-working days in connection with the Armed Forces Day and the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha), Azernews reports, citing Azersu OJSC. On non-working days, there will be a 24-hour duty in the central office, provincial and local departments. For this purpose, a duty schedule of Azersu JSC at the level of deputy chairmen, heads of departments, and divisions has been approved. in connection with the Armed Forces Day and the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha), Azernews reports. For this purpose, the staff schedule of Azersu OJSC at the level of deputy chairmen, heads of departments, and divisions has been approved. "We would like to inform subscribers that all organizational and technical measures will be taken to ensure a stable supply of drinking water on holidays and non-working days, and the emergency services will work without interruption. Scheduled repair, maintenance, connection, and preventive maintenance works on hydro-technical constructions, warehouses, and mains will not be carried out during the holidays," said the statement. Consumers are requested to contact the Call Centre 955 of Azersu OJSC about problems arising in the sphere of drinking water supply and sewerage. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Even if the death of a 23-year-old woman with a miserable terminal illness proves that the new Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 is beneficial, one advocate for euthanasia thinks more has to be done. Lily Thai, from South Australia (SA), peacefully passed away after a lengthy struggle with autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG), a rare disorder in which the body attacks its own nerve system, which rendered her bedridden and unable to drink or eat without becoming ill. The Girl's Death Is Meant To Alleviate Worries About the Law On Wednesday, June 21, Thai died at Laurel Hospice at the Flinders Medical Centre with the help of the state's new assisted dying laws, as reported by the Daily Mail. Thai's case, says Dr. Philip Nitschke, who is known as "Dr. Death" for his controversial support for euthanasia in the medical field, is meant to ease people's fears about assisted dying and build confidence in the legislation allowing it. He told The Advertiser, "I note that of the 12 or so who have used the legislation, they had terminal cancer or degenerative neurological diseases and in all these cases it's hard to find anyone who would not approve of the SA law." According to a doctor who practiced in Adelaide but now resides in the Netherlands, the enactment of such laws has not diminished the desire of the elderly to die with the assistance of the state. Dr. Nitschke explained that the elderly want autonomy over their death, meaning they do not want to be at the mercy of health officials or state legislation. Dr. Nitschke added that there has been no change in the widespread belief among the elderly that they should have the last say in such matters and that such matters should not be subject to a cumbersome legislative procedure. There are precautions in place for voluntarily assisted dying in South Australia, including the need for the patient to make three requests and be evaluated by two doctors. See Also: HCA Hospitals Accused of Pushing Hospice Care on Patients Who Don't Need It Lily Thai in Her Last Days Thai spent her last days in hospice, surrounded by loved ones, where she eventually passed away after receiving a quick-acting IV drug. She "passed away peacefully," according to a death notice published in the Adelaide Advertiser by her family. Lily Thai was the child of renowned chefs Le Tu Thai and Kate Sparrow. Le Tu is a Vietnamese immigrant to Australia who established himself as one of Adelaide's finest cooks. Their daughter's excruciating agony from the very uncommon AAG illness broke their hearts. Thai's life has been severely compromised by her chronic ailments since she was 17. She was admitted to the Laurel Hospice for palliative care in the weeks leading up to her death. In her dying days, Thai was unable to leave her bed and was instead comforted by her loved ones from afar. See Also: CDC Advisers Approve RSV Vaccines for Seniors, Offer New Prevention Option @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 25 June 2023 18:08 (UTC+04:00) The ombudsman's office has issued appeals to the international community for the immediate release of our servicemen captured and illegally imprisoned in Armenia, Azernews reports, citing Ombudsman. The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva says: "We are in regular contact with the Baku office of the International Committee of the Red Cross and demand to ensure the rights of our soldiers illegally detained and tortured in Armenia. Their inhumane treatment is contrary to international law". According to Ombudsman, Azerbaijan is fulfilling all its international obligations in relation to the Armenians detained while attempting to commit sabotage in the country. "We regularly bring this issue to the attention of the leadership of the World Association of Ombudsmen and all regional and international organizations of which we are members. We demand that they strongly protest the situation with the Azerbaijani military," Aliyeva added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 17:11 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on awarding servicemen of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. According to the decree, for special merits in the protection and preservation of the independence, territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, distinction in the performance of official duties and tasks assigned to the military unit, military servicemen of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan are awarded. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Kyrgyzstanis will be able to legally work in Kuwait, Azernews reports, citing 24.kg news agency. An agreement was signed between the Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad and the Kuwaiti recruiting company Al-Huqooq International Company. The organization of safe working conditions abroad is a task assigned to the ministry within the framework of the relevant decree of the President of Kyrgyzstan. And today, the ministry already provides an opportunity to legally, safely find a job in South Korea, the UK, the Persian Gulf countries and the EAEU, the Labor Minister Kudaibergen Bazarbaev said. As part of the signed agreement, Kyrgyzstanis will be provided with vacancies in the field of tourism, medicine and hotel business. The main requirements are knowledge of English and age from 18 to 45 years old. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 18:55 (UTC+04:00) Qatar said it had shipped the last batch of mobile homes prepared for the victims of the Feb. 6 earthquake disaster in Turkiye and Syria, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. In a statement, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) said the mobile homes had arrived in Hatay in southern Turkiye on Saturday. Over the course of three months following the earthquake, QFFD delivered 10,000 fully furnished, insulated shelters to over 15 different cities and towns across southeast Turkiye, QFFD said. QFFD continues to improve the livelihood of vulnerable communities worldwide by providing the necessary aid to save lives, give hope, and promote peace and justice through sustainable and inclusive development, it added. Following the earthquake disaster, Qatar has pledged 10,000 mobile homes for the victims. The first batch of 306 fully equipped homes arrived in Turkiye on Feb. 12. On June 13, the Qatar Red Crescent Society launched a donation campaign for establishing the Hayat Sehir city in Istanbul, to house orphans affected by the earthquakes. More than 50,000 people were killed in two powerful earthquakes that struck southern Turkiye on Feb. 6. The 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude quakes that were centered in Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 11 provinces. Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that struck in less than 10 hours. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 19:25 (UTC+04:00) One of the four PKK terrorists, who escaped from PKK hideouts in northern Iraq, had joined the terror group in France, according to the Turkish National Defense Ministry on Sunday, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. The terrorist codenamed Munzur B. joined the terrorist organization last year while living in France and was sent to terror camps in northern Iraq, the ministry said in a statement. He also stayed in a camp in Greece for a while before going to Iraq. Also, one of the PKK terrorists, who was neutralized in northern Iraq last week, was a German citizen. Another terrorist joined the terror group from France. On June 22, four members of the PKK laid down their arms at the Turkish border posts in Habur and Silopi. PKK terrorists have hideouts in northern Iraq, across the Turkish border, which they use to plot attacks against Turkiye. Ankara has launched a series of operations to root out terrorists hiding out in northern Iraq and plotting cross-border attacks in Turkiye. In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkiye, the PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and EU has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 25 June 2023 23:15 (UTC+04:00) For the third year in a row, the town of Bratsigovo, Southern Bulgaria, will host the international architectural forum dedicated to immovable cultural and historical heritage, titled "Bratsigovo - The Stone Flow of Time," Azernews reports, citing BTA. It begins on June 26, and will continue until July 2. From this year, the event is under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture. Architect Desislava Dimitrova is the main organizer of the forum. The forum will begin with an exhibition of the Thracian treasure from the village of Ravnogor, which will be presented in the Regional History Museum in Pazardzhik. This is the only day in the current year when the priceless archaeological find can be seen. The treasure from the 2nd century BC, entirely of silver and gold, consists of nine objects, part of a decoration for horse ammunition - a bridle, a head and seven round appliques. On six of them, grouped in pairs, used for breastplates on either side of the horse's head, are depicted busts of the goddesses Athena, Artemis and Nike. From June 27, the forum's programme continues in Bratsigovo with lectures and presentations dedicated to immovable cultural heritage, art and the future perspective for restoration of historic buildings, also related to energy efficiency. Three exhibitions will be opened in the Vasil Petleshkov community centre - "Architecture for education and culture" by Belin Mollov, "Contemporary Italian Art" and "International experience of energy efficiency in cultural monument buildings". On June 30, a round table will be held between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, universities, industry organizations, head architects, associations and experts from Bulgaria and Italy on the topic "Energy efficiency in buildings with the status of immovable cultural heritage". On July 1, there is a series of diverse events - a theoretical and practical workshop on "Clay, lime plasters and hemp concrete", led by Georgi Georgiev and Dimitar Mihailov, children's architectural workshop - "Classroom of the Future" competition and watercolor plein air with Belin Mollov in the courtyard of the museum of the Bratsigovo Professional High School of Construction and Architecture. The programme of the forum wil end with a theatrical performance by a visiting Italian theatre in the style of commedia dell'arte of TeatroImmagine di Venezia in the community Vasil Petleshkov centre on July 2, with no entrance fee. The organizers of the forum are the Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Construction Chamber, Bratsigovo Municipality, the Embassy of Italy, the Italian Cultural Institute in Bulgaria. Official partners of the event are the Regional History Museum - Pazardzhik, the University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy, the National Association of Municipalities and the Cultural Heritage Society, an associate partner of Europa Nostra. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Jeanne Kuang reports for CalMatters, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization with a focus on stories that examine, explain and explore solutions to Californias quality-of-life issues while holding state government accountable. For more, visit calmatters.org. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The 12th International Conference on Information & Communication Technologies and Development (ICTSD 2022), to be hosted at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA on June 27-29, 2022, invites you to submit research papers and notes. ICTSD 2022 provides an international forum for scholarly researchers to explore the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in social, political, and economic development. The ICTSD conferences have been taking place approximately every 18 months since 2006. Recent proceedings have been published in the ACM Digital Library. ***A selection of the best papers will be invited to publish on the journal Special Issue Information & Communication Technologies and Development better world with better technologies of Information Systems Frontiers*** 15 January 2022 22 January 2022 ( extended!): Deadline for submission of Full Papers and Notes 25 February 2022: Notification of acceptance for Full Papers and Notes 15 March 2022: Camera-ready deadline for Full Papers and Notes All submissions are due 11:59 pm AoE (Anywhere on Earth). Submission details are below. If you have any questions, please contact the Papers Chairs at [email protected]. Background For the purposes of this conference, the term ICT comprises electronic technologies for information processing and communication, as well as systems, use of big data, interventions, and platforms built on such technologies. Development includes, but is not restricted to, the process of improving peoples lives through poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, communication, gender equality, better governance, improved infrastructure, improved agricultural practices, environmental conservation, and sustainability. The conference program will reflect the multidisciplinary nature of ICTSD research and publishing traditions, with anticipated contributions from fields including (but not limited to) anthropology, sociology, communication, geography, HCI, data science, design, economics, computer science, electrical engineering, information systems, political science, public health, and relevant different methodological approaches. Considering the character of the conference, papers need to address and appeal to a wider multidisciplinary audience. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are ever more pervasive in the lives of people around the world. ICTs can facilitate different areas of peoples daily lives, ranging from economics to health care, education to governance, advocacy to work, family life to artistic expression. The disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have further increased the need and the presence of ICTs and the Internet in all aspects of peoples lives, as many sectors were forced to a rapid digitization. At the same time, the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and divides, especially for underserved social groups who may lack meaningful and quality access, and for communities who are not represented or are suffering from historical and structural forms of oppression. There are multidisciplinary challenges associated with the research, design, engineering, application, and adoption of ICTs by underserved communities or by social groups in low- and middle-income regions and other resource-constrained settings. These have implications for methodologies, design, policy, and practice. ICTSD provides a forum for analyzing, critiquing, refining, and inventing new ways in which individuals, communities, and societies interact with and make use of ICTs. Full Papers To be accepted, a Full Paper must make a new research contribution and provide complete and substantial support for its results and conclusions. Accepted papers typically represent a major advance for the field of ICTSD. Full Papers will be evaluated via double-blind peer review by a multidisciplinary panel of at least three readers, one of whom will come from outside the papers disciplinary domain in order to ensure broad readability. Reviewers will have 4 weeks to complete their reviews. Full Papers will be evaluated according to their novel research contribution, methodological soundness, theoretical framing and reference to related work, quality of analysis, quality of writing and presentation, and relevance to a broad audience of researchers. Manuscripts considering novel designs, new technologies, project assessments, policy analyses, impact studies, theoretical contributions, social issues around ICT and development, and so forth will be considered. Well-analyzed negative results from which generalizable conclusions can be drawn are also sought. Authors are encouraged to address the diversity of approaches in ICTSD research by providing context, implications, and actionable guidance to researchers and practitioners beyond the authors primary domains. Full Papers typically present mature work whereas Notes (see below) are used for presenting preliminary research that is still work-in-progress. All acceptance will be conditional , the final version of the paper will be checked by the initial reviewers before final acceptance. To be considered Full Papers, contributions should be more than six pages long (single column template, as specified in the Submission Instructions section below). There is no hard page limit, but long papers without a proportional contribution are more likely to be rejected. Previous papers (if converted to the new ACM single-column format) would have run 14-18 pages in length. Notes With a shorter six-page limit (single column template, as specified in the Submission Instructions section below, and excluding references), Notes are intended to introduce work-in-progress that may be published later in a journal, as well as to document shorter project write-ups. An ICTSD Note is likely to have a more focused and succinct research contribution to the ICTSD field than Full Papers. For example, Notes on novel ICTSD systems may not cover the entire design of the system but may instead go into depth in specific areas (e.g., how the system was evaluated with real users or how the formative work to create the system was conducted). Notes are also not expected to include a complete discussion of related work that is as broad as that of a submission to the Full Papers venue. (single column template, as specified in the Submission Instructions section below, and excluding references), Notes are intended to introduce work-in-progress that may be published later in a journal, as well as to document shorter project write-ups. An ICTSD Note is likely to have a more focused and succinct research contribution to the ICTSD field than Full Papers. For example, Notes on novel ICTSD systems may not cover the entire design of the system but may instead go into depth in specific areas (e.g., how the system was evaluated with real users or how the formative work to create the system was conducted). Notes are also not expected to include a complete discussion of related work that is as broad as that of a submission to the Full Papers venue. Notes will be evaluated by at least two multidisciplinary reviewers in a double-blind fashion and will be assessed according to their research contribution, methodological soundness, quality of analysis, and quality of writing, and presentation. Reviewers will have 4 weeks to complete their reviews. Manuscripts considering novel designs, new technologies, project assessments, policy analyses, impact studies, theoretical contributions, social issues around ICT and development, and so forth will be considered. However, Notes need not necessarily be as comprehensive, novel, or generalizable as Full Papers. Accepted notes authors will be invited to present a poster. All acceptance will be conditional , the final version of the note will be checked by the initial reviewers before final acceptance. Submission Instructions Please submit your papers and notes using this portal. Paper contributions are expected to be in proportion to the papers length. Disproportionately long papers with few contributions will not be reviewed as favorably as the same set of contributions expressed in fewer pages. Full Papers and Notes must use the ACM templates and reference formatting (LaTex and Word available). Please, note: As described in the page linked above, manuscripts for review should be submitted in a single column format . Manuscripts submitted for review should use the Submission Template (Microsoft Word) or Primary Article Template (Latex -\documentclass[manuscript,review,anonymous]{acmart} ) as described at the link. Please, note: As described in the page linked above, manuscripts for review should be submitted in . Manuscripts submitted for review should use the Submission Template (Microsoft Word) or Primary Article Template (Latex -\documentclass[manuscript,review,anonymous]{acmart} ) as described at the link. Upon acceptance, you will receive instructions on how to prepare your paper for publication. Papers must be submitted in a form suitable for anonymous review. No author names or affiliations may appear on the title page, and papers should avoid revealing their identity in the text. When referring to your previous work, do so in the third person, as though it were written by someone else. Only blind the reference itself in the (unusual) case that a third-person reference is infeasible. Publication as a technical report or in an online repository does not constitute a violation of this policy. Submissions that are not anonymized will be rejected without full review. Submissions not in the template format, not related to the conference themes, not anonymized, and/or not meeting a minimum bar of academic research writing will be rejected without full review. For each accepted submission, at least one of the authors will be required to register and present it at ICTSD2022. Else, the submission will not be published in the final proceedings. For Full Papers, see the ACMs copyright policies and options. Copyright for Notes will be retained by the authors. Only original, unpublished, research papers in English will be considered. Human Subjects and Ethical Considerations Authors are strongly encouraged to read and follow the community-defined minimum ethical standards for ICTSD research. These standards are the result of a three-year participatory process to co-define ethical standards in ICTSD, and were voted on and adopted at the ICTSD conference in Ahmedabad in January 2019. You can also read more about how these standards were created. In addition, submissions that describe experiments with human subjects, that analyze data derived from human subjects, or that otherwise may put humans at risk should: Disclose whether the research received an approval or waiver from each of the authors institutional ethics review boards (IRB) if applicable. Discuss steps taken to ensure that participants and others who might have been affected by an experiment were treated ethically and with respect. If a paper raises significant ethical concerns, it might be rejected based on these concerns. Program Committee Program Committee Chairs: Sara Vannini (University of Sheffield) Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed (University of Toronto) Program Committee: State regulators took action this week against two companies they say are responsible for oil wells found late last month to have been leaking With the Midterm Elections less than one week away: What do you consider the top issues that you will be voting on to be corrected by your better representation? Education Crime Big Government getting Bigger Biden /Democrat controlled Spike in Energy Cost Inflation created by Legislation of Majority in Power Gender Reassignment Corrupted Bureaucratic /Service (DOJ, FBI, etc.) Institutions Abortion Discredited Legacy Media Ending the Corruption of Dishonest Politicians Corruptive Influence of Social Media Wide Open Southern Border 425 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? Senate Bill 678,currently in the N.C. House Rules Committee, could pave the way for more investment in nuclear energy in North Carolina.The bill would relabelasin the State's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and add nuclear fission and fusion into the definition of clean energy. If approved by the state legislature, this bill would make nuclear energy a viable option toward replacing coal-fired power plants with new cleaner sources.S.B. 678 would also help further the proliferation of nuclear energy by eliminating statutes that had previously restricted the construction of nuclear facilities in House Bill 951, which passed in 2021.The N.C. Senate passed S.B. 678 in late April, but it is now seeing opposition from Gov. Roy Cooper. At the State Energy Conference last month, Cooper told business leaders that he did not want politicians to be seen as influencing which energy sources are prioritized over others.Environmental activist group CleanAIRE NC told the Wilmington Star-News in a statement thatA Cooper spokesperson stated that the governor would not look at the bill until it reached his desk.Cooper has committed North Carolina to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as part of his campaign against climate change through H.B. 951, which was signed into law in October 2021.Before S.B. 678 passed the Senate, Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, stated that the billand that it also recognized thatwrote Emmet Penney, editor-in-chief of Grid Brief, a daily energy newsletter.Studies looking at the human deaths per terawatt-hour of different energy production show a large difference from nuclear's mortality deaths of 0.03 per terawatt hour and and gas and hydropower's mortality rates at 2.82 and 1.30 deaths per terawatt hour.North Carolina is in a solid position to become the leader in nuclear technology. GE Hitachi, a partnership between General electric and Hitachi, is based in Wilmington and is a world-leading provider when it comes to advanced reactor technology, fuel, and nuclear services.Isaac Orr, policy fellow for energy and environmental issues at the Center for the American Experiment, called the measurehe said. STEWART WHITSON, writing at The Federalist reports: When it comes to elections, the U.S. Constitution is clear: Determining their time, place, and manner falls squarely upon the shoulders of the state legislatures with limited oversight from Congress. Nowhere is the president granted the power to regulate elections. Yet through Executive Order 14019, President Joe Biden has ordered federal agencies to engage in overtly political activities that will affect elections, while violating the Constitution and federal law in the process. The bad news is this executive order brings the threat of federal election interference to every states doorstep. And with the countdown to 2024 well underway, time is running out to stop Team Bidens scheme. The good news is Congress and the states can stop the threat if they work together and work quickly. In one of his first acts after taking office, Biden signed Executive Order 14019, titled Promoting Access to Voting. His order commanded every federal agency to use taxpayer-funded resources to engage in voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts. These are overtly partisan activities reserved for political parties, not government. Through food stamps, public housing, Medicaid, and other welfare programs, federal agencies have the resources and ability to target millions of potential voters across every state in the country potential voters whose information is required to enroll in these programs and who are statistically more likely to vote Democrat. The order went even further by requiring agencies to allow third-party groups, hand-selected by the White House, to engage in voter registration activities on federal agency premises. To date, the administration has refused to disclose the full details of the agencies plans to carry out this order, nor has it disclosed which groups the White House has approved for special access and taxpayer-funded resources to carry out their mission. But Team Biden has a big problem. The executive order is illegal. State attorneys general, with the help of congressional allies, can work together to stop this scheme. Using the power of the courts, state attorneys general should sue the Biden administration seeking a permanent injunction barring agencies from carrying out Executive Order 14019. There are at least three legal claims they can make. First, Bidens executive order violates the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), as the executive order directs all agencies to assist in registering voters whether or not they are legally authorized to do so under the NVRA, which goes beyond the statutory authority of these federal agencies that have been neither explicitly authorized under current law to register voters nor designated by the state to do so. Second, the executive order violates the elections clause of the Constitution, since the order commands executive agencies to engage in activity that affects the time, place, and manner of elections without statutory authority to do so. It infringes on the constitutional rights of state legislatures to regulate elections with limited oversight from Congress. Even if the administration could point to a federal statute clearly granting it the secretive, unbridled power over elections that it is seeking to exercise through this executive order, such a delegation of power would be unconstitutional regardless. The powers at issue here, outlined in the elections clause, are clearly legislative powers. Congress cannot delegate powers that are strictly and exclusively legislative, even if it wished to. Third, the executive order violates a federal law known as the Anti-Deficiency Act, since it requires agencies to expend funds that Congress never authorized these agencies to spend. The Anti-Deficiency Act strictly forbids this. There are certainly other legal claims that can be made, besides the three outlined above. A lawsuit requires only one. So, what can Congress do to help? Besides advancing legislation to cut off the funding needed to carry out this executive order, which Sen. Ted Budd and Rep. Claudia Tenney have done in recent weeks, Congress should use its subpoena and oversight power to gather evidence, including sworn testimony and documents that can be shared with state attorneys general to help strengthen their case. Not only would this help aid a lawsuit, but it would also draw attention to the executive order and discourage the overzealous execution of the order by unaccountable political appointees and bureaucrats. Such evidence might include specifics on what the agencies are doing in the states to carry out the plan, a list of the third-party groups the White House has approved or disapproved for the special advantages the executive order affords, and the amount of funding and other resources being used to carry out this effort. Through this executive order, the president is abusing the power of his office and using taxpayer-funded resources to transform federal government agencies into get-out-the-vote machines for the left. It is a ticking time bomb threatening the integrity of the 2024 presidential election. And its up to the states and Congress to work together to stop this unprecedented scheme before time runs out. Leaders at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque have taken a pay cut as part of efforts to improve the organization's financial picture. UNM Health System spokesperson Chris Ramirez told Becker's the 5 percent pay decrease applies to chiefs, associate chiefs and executive directors. It took effect in April and will continue through next fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2024. "About January, it became evident we're going into fiscal year 2024 in July with a deficit," said Mr. Ramirez, adding that the hospital experienced high contract labor costs and a respiratory virus surge last fall. As of the end of May, UNM Hospital's operating margin was negative $27 million. "With compounded layers of fiscal issues, our leadership understood they had to begin making cuts in all kinds of different ways," said Mr. Ramirez. He said the pay cut for leadership was also a way to ensure no pay cuts for front-line staff. UNM Hospital's fiscal year 2024 budget does not include any pay decreases for front-line staff, but it also does not include pay increases. Mr. Ramirez said UNM Hospital leadership has also reduced contract labor costs (which includes travel nurses), not filled some vacant positions, and continues to closely manage overtime costs. "We know this is not news anyone wants to hear," a statement from the hospital says. "As a public health system, we have an important and mandatory obligation to our community to be good stewards of public dollars and to continue delivering critical healthcare for New Mexicans. While these decisions are always difficult, UNM Hospital leaders strongly believe these moves are vital to honoring those important commitments." Edward Calloway, former financial director for G.B. Cooley Hospital in Monroe, La., has been sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for federal wire fraud. According to prosecutors, Mr. Calloway, 44, was the hospital's financial director from 2016 through October 2019. From 2010 until 2016, he served as its first staff accountant. In 2012, Mr. Calloway began stealing from Cooley Hospital by transferring money from its general fund, sinking fund and payroll accounts to his personal accounts, according to the Justice Department. He used a computer to initiate the automated clearing house bank transfers. The bill of information filed in the case charged Mr. Calloway with causing an ACH transfer of $1,945.34 to be transferred by an interstate wire from a Cooley Hospital account to his personal bank account. His theft continued until October 2019 and resulted in a total loss of more than $892,000. Mr. Calloway pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Dec. 12. Human remains found in the area where actor Julian Sands went missing (Ian West/PA) Human remains have been found in the area of the San Gabriel mountains where British actor Julian Sands went missing more than five months ago. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said civilian hikers had contacted authorities on Saturday morning after finding the remains in the Mount Baldy area. The remains have been transported to the Coroners Office, pending positive identification, the department said. It is expected that identification should be completed next week, at which point the department will issue a press release. 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 Sands, 65, failed to return from a hike in the Mount Baldy area of the southern Californian mountains on January 13. The actor is known for his roles in films A Room With A View, Leaving Las Vegas and Warlock, as well as TV appearances on 24, Smallville and Banshee. Earlier this week his family released a statement saying they were continuing to keep him in our hearts with bright memories. We are deeply grateful to the search teams and co-ordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian, a family statement, issued on Wednesday by the sheriffs department, read. We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer. 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 The sheriffs department added although Sands had not been found during searches on June 17, the case remained active. The search had included over 80 search and rescue volunteers, deputies, and staff, with their efforts supported by two helicopters, and drone crews. Despite the recent warmer weather, portions of the mountain remain inaccessible due to extreme alpine conditions, the department said in a previous statement. Multiple areas include steep terrain and ravines, which still have 10-plus feet of ice and snow. Searches have been hampered by poor conditions in the area and were halted in March due to the risk of avalanches. Eight searches by ground and air have taken place for Sands since his disappearance, with volunteer searcher hours exceeding 500 hours. A spokesperson for the sheriffs department previously said its goal was to bring closure to Sands family. An English-based doctor convicted of prescription fraud at a Ballymena pharmacy has been suspended from practising for a further nine months. Disgraced GP John McClelland (50) pretended to be another doctor with the same name when he tried to get 200 tablets, which he claimed were for his mother, from Lloyds in Ballymena. But a suspicious pharmacist alerted police and it emerged that McClelland a GP in Gateshead and with an address in Newcastle Upon Tyne had committed similar prescription frauds in England. The Newcastle-based GP received a 12 month suspension by a Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in July 2021 over his misconduct and criminal convictions. Barred from working as a doctor, he started doing shifts at a Tesco supermarket where he was still working last July when his suspension was extended by 12 months. Earlier this month, Dr McClelland told a fitness to practice review hearing that he loved his medical career, his biggest fear was being stuck-off and the prospect of not practising in the future was horrifying to him. He apologised for not fully engaging with proceedings previously saying they were stressful for him and he had stuck his head in the sand. The MPTS panel found he was still impaired and extended his suspension by nine more months. The 50-year-old who graduated from Aberdeen University in 1996 and worked at a Gateshead practice from 2013 has described his fraudulent actions as outrageous and expressed remorse. In evidence at this months hearing, Dr McClelland agreed that a further period of suspension would be appropriate and said he would use the time to undertake intense study, engage with GP groups and take a GP refresher course. He said his personal life has improved, he has managed to repay his debts and that his family and friends are very supportive. The tribunal panel said Dr McClellands dishonesty was repeated, pre-meditated, complex and sustained over a period of time and an abuse of his professional position. It added: The tribunal considered that while Dr McClellands remediation remains incomplete, it cannot be satisfied that there was no risk of him repeating his misconduct. Dr McClelland had previously had restrictions placed on his registration including being barred from writing prescriptions for family and friends. But between June and December 2018, while working as a GP in Gateshead, he created fake drug prescriptions 22 times to get drugs for himself. On August 2019 at North Tyneside Magistrates Court, he received a three month community order and was electronically tagged over the fake prescriptions. In October 2019, this time at Ballymena Magistrates Court, he was given a two-year conditional discharge after admitting making a false representation to an employee at a Lloyds pharmacy in the town the previous August. The tribunal heard he wrote a prescription for 200 tablets which he presented at the Ballymena pharmacy, telling staff he was on holiday in the area and the pills were for his mother. He gave the name Dr McClelland and a GMC number. He also showed photo ID confirming his name. But after he left the store, the pharmacist checked the General Medical Council register and saw there were two doctors by the name given on the prescription. The pharmacist had become suspicious as there was no surgery address on the prescription. The doctor whose GMC number had been used was contacted and he stated that he had not attended the pharmacy. The concerned pharmacist then called the police. Dr McClelland told previous tribunals he was filled with shame over his behaviour and convictions. He said his criminal conviction was reported in the local newspaper in Northern Ireland and so many family and friends became aware of his situation. In June 2022, he wrote to the Tribunal saying: Ive been working in Tesco for this past year, initially on night shift, more recently on days. At the latest hearing he said his biggest concern was that he may be erased from the medical register. In its June 2023 finding, the panel said: The tribunal has borne in mind that Dr McClellands misconduct and conviction arose as a direct result of (redacted by tribunal). The tribunal acknowledged (he) had developed some insight and has demonstrated his remorse. However, it has taken into account that there were a number of very serious matters such as using the GMC number of another doctor of the same name and deleting patient records. It also appeared there was an escalation of his deception in order to obtain prescription medication for his own personal use. His actions were dishonest and had the potential to put patients at serious risk of harm. Extending his suspension, it added: Dr McClelland will have the opportunity to demonstrate full remediation and to bring his medical knowledge and skills up to date. A high-profile unionist has accused the Irish government of being led by Northern ultras over its criticism of the controversial Troubles Legacy Bill. Jeff Dudgeon hit out at threats from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that Ireland will consider taking an interstate case if the legislation is passed. He said there was hypocrisy in the Republics attacks on the Bills proposed immunity. The Bill proposes an effective offer of immunity from prosecution for perpetrators of crimes during the Troubles who co-operate with a truth-recovery body. It has been opposed by victims groups, human rights experts, Amnesty International and all political parties in Northern Ireland. Mr Varadkar said this week: "The Bill has not yet been enacted, and certainly if it is enacted, if it does become law, we will then at that point give consideration to whether an interstate case is appropriate, so we certainly don't rule that out. But Mr Dudgeon, who served for five years as a UUP councillor on Belfast City Council, said he was saddened by the Taoiseachs comments. There is a strong element of hypocrisy in attacks on the Bills proposed immunity, given the three 1920s amnesties in the Irish Free State for soldiers, on all sides - a topic not brought up during recent discussions in the decade of centenaries, he wrote in a letter to The Irish Times. Since the 1998 Belfast Agreement, there have also been a large number of part-amnesties to which the Irish government has subscribed, like the early release of convicted prisoners, or even demanded, like an end to UK requests for extradition. This is not to mention the On the Run letters of comfort for those who fled across the Border. Mr Dudgeon said an interstate case is inappropriate for various political and practical reasons. He noted that Irelands last interstate case against the UK was a demand in 2014 to re-examine a 1978 ruling that the UK did not torture the so-called 'Hooded Men. It failed by seven votes to one and took four years to decide. Mr Dudgeon wrote: "Such a timeframe suggests the new arrangements proposed in the Legacy Bill would be near conclusion before any further Strasbourg judgment and thus a further application would be practically pointless. Dublin, in its diplomatic policy, seems increasingly led by Northern ultras on these issues but the end result is more likely to undermine support for the Council of Europe in Britain, already a live and fraught debate, than force London to radically amend its Bill. Mr Dudgeon said interstate cases were rare - the only current one, not involving Russia or Armenia, is Liechtenstein v the Czech Republic which concerns the seizure in 1945 of the art treasures of head of state Prince Hans-Adam II. Strasbourg is best kept as a guardian, a court of last resort regarding extreme denials of rights where governments concerned are not minded to compromise and not for repetitive point-scoring, he wrote. Questioned on the Bill in the Dail this week, Mr Varadkar told TDs: "I just want to reiterate and restate the government's opposition to this Legacy Bill. "We think it's entirely the wrong approach to give former army servicemen, former IRA and paramilitary terrorists immunity from prosecution. "We owe it to the victims to make sure that we all do everything we can to make sure that any information that can be given to the police is given to the police and that those people are prosecuted if at all possible. "And that's why we're very much against this legacy Bill and I've made that very clear to the Prime Minister, as has the Tanaiste (Micheal Martin) with his counterparts. "It's been discussed with the US president, and is discussed at European level as well." Since the 1980s tech boom, global communication has gone through an evolution that few could have anticipated. The primary mode of communication across continents went from weeks to instantaneous in 100 years. The past decade has held even more rapid communication evolution with the integration of smartphones into most developed countries' lives. Access to information & global communication opportunities gave the world the idea that communication could happen at any time and on demand. In the post-pandemic world, there was an even more drastic shift in the need for communication. The COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously disconnected people from one another and drove a need for constant digital communication to combat the disconnect. People were unable to interact with one another for so long that many turned to digital communication as their main source of communication. While this was helpful regarding interpersonal connectivity, it brought up an interesting new hurdle for businesses. Without the ability to help people in-store, businesses, too, moved to online help. But with an increase in global customers (and even domestic customers with odd working hours), customers began seeking out a more consistent conversational relationship with the brands they bought from. To combat this, many brands opted to migrate to social media and other globally holistic messaging apps. But then came a further problem - how would brands keep their messaging consistent across apps? The answer comes from omnichannel messaging companies like Mitto and their partnerships with significant communication companies like Viber. Viber Business & Mitto Mitto has recently partnered with several big commerce companies, like Shopify, to better provide customer communication across the globe. However, they've also turned to messaging brands like Viber to further enhance and connect global companies with their customers in a post-pandemic world. Mitto's goal in its partnership with Viber is to continually enhance two-way dialogue between brands and their customers by building relationships on mutual trust and customer care. How do Mitto & Viber achieve this with their product offerings? By offering personalized content, like marketing campaigns tailored to specific demographics (and even individual customers), and enhancing the company's time to respond. As companies have navigated globalization, personalization and communication have been key in companies sticking out from their competition. Using chatbots and tools like Mitto conversations, modern companies can easily find their right conversational rhythm with customers. About Mitto AG Mitto AG was founded in 2013 by CEO Andrea Giacomini and COO Ilja Gorelik. Both Gorelik and Giacomini have a background in telecommunications, and their small team of telecom experts started Mitto to support business growth through omnichannel communication solutions. Since its birth, Mitto has gone from a small team to a considerable array of experts and technicians worldwide - with tech support available 24/7 from people experts located in 18 countries worldwide. This goal hasn't wavered since 2013, when Mitto started; however, how Mitto addresses customer pain points has continuously shifted. Says Andrea Giacomini of Mitto and its goals, "As borders continue to blur, nearly every business is now global and thus must continue to engage with their increasingly global customers on a range of channels and in ways that continue to drive value and loyalty. " About Viber Whereas Mitto AG addresses the question of "How do we best engage with customers?" Viber tackles the physical needs of global communication. Viber is a communications platform, like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. However, it does differ in one substantial way: it is an encrypted messaging platform, which offers an extra layer of security apart from many other messaging platforms. Because of its encrypted messaging offerings, many users use Viber to send business files, personal pictures, and voice messages that they want to keep safe. In technology, security often equals consumer trust - and consumer trust is something Mitto strives to achieve in every interaction. Viber has over 1 billion users worldwide and records about 70 million interactions every hour on its platform. With this type of reach, it's clear how the app could be useful to businesses. So, Mitto and Viber came together as Viber Business to address this potential area of growth. "With the addition of Viber Business, Mitto is enabling these brands to expand their global reach and empowering them to have meaningful interactions with their customers. By adding this additional channel, Mitto continues to offer the deepest and most complete omnichannel communications platform that helps brands meet their customers exactly where they are in today's digital world," said Andrea Giacomini. A Look Inside the Partnership Viber recently surveyed their customers, a majority of whom live in Eastern Europe & Greece but who also live and work in other large countries worldwide. Viber provides service to customers in 193 countries in total. The results of the survey showed 90% of its customers want to be able to use Viber to communicate with their regular brands. App data showcases how this is a useful tool to reach out to customers, aside from their excitement to use the app for business communication: as much as 96% of Viber messages read on mobile devices are opened and read within three minutes. So, Viber expanded with the help of Mitto to Viber Business, which allows businesses to message customers about promotions, orders, and customer service from a single channel. Business Inbox, one offering from Viber Business, allows businesses to organize & store conversations, customer service chats, information about discounts, order confirmations, and more from one inbox. It also allows businesses to efficiently monitor their brand conversations with the use of push notifications and unread message icons. The Viber Commercial account allows brands to search all brand information and communication history from one place. Perks of the app include: Users can send up to 1,000 characters in messages at a time. Messages can include expressive content, such as emojis and memes, which are popular among younger consumers. Brands can add interactive buttons & links to their messages to facilitate better brand communication. Order confirmation, updates, and delivery notices that can be personalized. Enhanced customer care that includes 1:1 messaging and the opportunity for customers to provide feedback. There are several reasons why Viber's messaging platform is an ideal addition to Mitto's suite of business integrations. William Jones, head of product marketing at Mitto, gave an impassioned response as to why Viber is a contender in a sea of more popular apps, "We understand the need for broad communication channels. That's why we strive to make every A2P channel available for our customers. SMS, WhatsApp, Google Business, Voice, Viber, RCS, Instagram, FB Messenger - the list goes on. In today's hyper-digital world, the ways to communicate are nearly limitless, so why limit your business?" The goal of Mitto is to make communicating with customers less complicated and more rewarding for customers and brands alike. While adding another messaging app into the mix might seem like it would complicate things, with the help of an omnichannel messaging platform like Mitto, it isn't as hard for brands to utilize the vast swath of available messaging apps out there as it may seem. Investigators looking into the implosion of the Titan submersible are taking all precautions in case they find bodies on the sea floor, it has emerged. Captain Jason Neubauer, who is chairing the US Coast Guard investigation into the implosion of the vessel, made the comments as the search and rescue aspects of the response came to an end. British adventurer Hamish Harding and father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood were killed on board the submersible, alongside the American chief executive of the company responsible for the vessel, Stockton Rush, and French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet. Hamish Harding (Action Aviation/AP) Salvage operations are continuing and investigators have mapped the accident site, Cpt Neubauer told a press conference in Boston. He also said the convening of a Marine Board of Investigation is the highest level of investigation conducted by the US Coast Guard. It is unclear how long it will take. The US Coast Guard said it does not charge for search and rescue operations. Investigators are working in close co-ordination with the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch as well as the US National Transportation Safety Board, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the French Marine Casualties Investigation Board. Cpt Neubauer told reporters: Im not getting into the details of the recovery operations but we are taking all precautions on site if we are to encounter any human remains. (PA Graphics) At this time a priority of the investigation is to recover items from the sea floor. We have already mapped the accident site in the field so the other factors would be part of the investigation. Concerns over the safety of the vessel have emerged since the tragedy. Earlier this week emails from Mr Rush emerged which dismissed safety concerns over the deep-sea vessel. The exchanges with deep-sea exploration specialist Rob McCallum, reported by the BBC, show the companys chief executive say he was tired of industry players who try to use a safety argument to stop innovation. Mr McCallum told Mr Rush he was mirroring that famous cry of the Titanics builders: She is unsinkable. Stockton Rush (Bill Sikes/AP) Cpt Neubauer said the investigation could lead to tougher regulations. He told reporters: Its an opportunity to learn from the incident and then work with our international partners worldwide to improve regulations or international safety standards so that they have improved oversight over these operations and to prevent a similar occurrence. On Saturday, Canadian police said they were looking into the circumstances of the implosion. Superintendent Kent Osmond, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), said a team of investigators had been established with the sole purpose of determining whether a criminal investigation would be warranted. The officer said interviews took place with people on board Titans main support ship, the Polar Prince, on Saturday as part of the investigation. Superintendent Kent Osmond (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The ship returned to St Johns Harbour in Newfoundland on Saturday morning and safety investigators made inquiries on board. Confirming preliminary inquiries were being made, Mr Osmond told reporters: Today, the RCMP initiated an examination of the circumstances that led to the deaths of the five individuals on board the submersible. A team of investigators has been established with the sole purpose of answering the question of whether or not a full investigation by the RCMP is warranted. Such an investigation will proceed only if our examination of the circumstances indicate criminal, federal or provincial laws may possibly have been broken. Once a determination has been made as to whether or not a full investigation will be launched, we will provide an update at that time. Asked whether the force had any suspicion of criminal activity, he replied: There is no suspicion of criminal activity per se, but the RCMP is taking initial steps to assess whether or not we will go down that road. Before police announced they would be making inquiries, safety investigators said family members of those who died had been on board Titans main support ship. A memorial service will be held next month for SNP politician Winnie Ewing. Known famously as Madame Ecosse, the 93-year-old former MP, MEP, and MSP died on Wednesday. Tributes to the politician, who became Scotlands first female parliamentarian after her shock victory at the Hamilton by-election in 1967, have flooded in and those attending the SNPs special conference at the weekend also paid their respects. A private family funeral service will be held on Thursday. Tributes were paid to Winnie Ewing at the SNP convention in Dundee on Saturday (Jane Barlow/PA) The family said a public memorial service will take place at Inverness Cathedral on July 15, from 2pm. Mrs Ewings family thanked everyone who has sent messages of condolence, and said all are welcome at next months service. A family spokesman said: We have heard a myriad of anecdotes of happy experiences of Winnie over her long and successful time as MP, MEP and MSP. These have been of great comfort to the family. Flags outside the Scottish Parliament were lowered to half-mast last week following the death of the veteran SNP politician (Jane Barlow/PA) Following her death, SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said he was heartbroken that we have lost a shining light of our party. He added: No words can truly capture the unique and unparalleled contribution that Winnie made to Scotland and Scottish politics. Her work over many decades including in the UK, European and Scottish parliaments shaped the modern nation we have today. Without Winnie without her breakthrough by-election victory in Hamilton in 1967, her dedication to the cause of Scottish independence, and her promotion of Scotlands interests in Europe over many years the SNP would never have achieved the success we have, and self-government for Scotland would never have become the priority it did. Mrs Ewing, who is survived by three children and four grandchildren, was surrounded by her family when she died, they said. Members of the Wagner Group military company took Rostov-on-Don before their retreat (AP) The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of miles towards Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend Russias capital. Under the deal announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Mr Prigozhin will go to neighbouring Belarus, which has supported Russias invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry. Mr Prigozhin ordered his troops, many of whom had been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers in Ukraine, back to their field camps. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the weekends events as extraordinary, recalling that 16 months ago Mr Putin appeared poised to seize the capital of Ukraine and now he has had to defend Moscow from forces led by his onetime protege. I think weve seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade, Mr Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press. It is too soon to tell exactly where they go and when they get there, but certainly we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead. By Sunday morning there were still no reports of Mr Prigozhin arriving in Belarus. Many other questions remained unanswered, including whether he would be joined in exile by any of Wagners troops and what role, if any, he might have there. Mr Prigozhin, who sent out a series of audio and video updates during his revolt, has gone silent since the Kremlin announced the deal had been brokered for him to end his march and leave Russia. Video posted on Russian messaging app channels from Rostov-on-Don showed people cheering Wagner troops as they departed. Some ran to shake hands with Mr Prigozhin. The regional governor later said all of the troops had left the city. Mr Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his former protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. Yevgeny Prigozhin looks out from a military vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia (AP) In allowing Mr Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Mr Peskov said, Mr Putins highest goal was to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results. The risk for Mr Putin is whether he will be seen as weak, analysts said. Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair, former US ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armoured vehicles and troops on the citys southern edge. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early on Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Crews dug up sections of roads to slow the march. Wagner troops advanced to just 120 miles from Moscow, according to Mr Prigozhin. But after the deal was struck, he announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood. By Sunday afternoon, the troops had withdrawn from the capital, and people swarmed the streets and flocked to cafes. Traffic returned to normal and roadblocks and checkpoints were removed, but Red Square remained closed to visitors. On roads leading to Moscow, crews repaired roads ripped up just hours earlier in panic. Mr Prigozhin had demanded the ousting of defence minister Sergei Shoigu, whom he has long criticised in withering terms for his conduct of the 16-month war in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the nation amid the turmoil (Pavel Bednyakov/Sputnik/ Kremlin pool/AP) The US had intelligence that Mr Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time. That conflicts with Mr Prigozhins claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by the Russian military. In announcing the rebellion, Mr Prigozhin accused Russian forces of targeting the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Mr Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defence Ministry denied attacking the camps. US Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner build-up earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said. A possible motivation for Mr Prigozhins rebellion was the Russian Defence Ministrys demand, which Mr Putin backed, that private companies sign contracts with it by July 1. Mr Prigozhin had refused to do it. Roads leading to Moscow were blocked as the fighters made their advance (PA) It may well be that he struck now because he saw that deadline as a danger to his control of his troops, Mr Herbst wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council. Meanwhile, Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military, said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He said that even with a deal, Mr Putins position has probably been weakened. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late on Saturday, shortly before Mr Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs that it is easy to capture Russian cities and, probably, arsenals. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Mr Prigozhin has increasingly criticised the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. The 62-year-old has longstanding ties to Mr Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname Putins chef. Jailing of two main operators on gun rap a hammer blow for New IRA in Belfast Terror gang havent carried out any attacks in capital in the five years since Hutchinson and Johnston arrested Matt Johnston and Eamonn Hutchinson Sunday Life Investigations Sun 25 Jun 2023 at 09:30 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. A boy studies English at his home in Seoul in this Feb. 20 file photo. Korea Times file By Lee Yeon-woo Kim, a housewife in Seoul who asked to be identified only by her surname, has recently found herself clashing with her husband over tutoring expenses for their 13-year-old child. "Tutoring expenses are now the largest burden on our household budget. I am trying my best to reduce the number of classes that my kid attends, but it's hard to decide which ones to drop. Each subject is considered important to have good grades in middle school, and I don't want my child to be left behind," Kim told The Korea Times. She said that her child is taking English, mathematics, writing and taekwondo classes, emphasizing that other children in her neighborhood are "doing this much or even more." Another mother, who has a three-year-old and a seven-year-old, expressed her anxieties to The Korea Times. Despite being a devoted mother who quit her job to fully commit to the job of raising her children, she cannot help but feel overwhelmed as she becomes aware of other mothers investing millions of won in privately educating their children, known in Korea as "hagwon." "If I try to keep up with other parents, I don't think I could ensure financial security for my old age," said Yoon who also asked to be identified only by her surname. "I hadn't realized that children would need so much private education as they move up in grades. At one point, I even regretted staying at home, instead of continuing to work." Kim and Yoon's anxiety reflects the reality that Korean households are spending a significant proportion of their income on tutoring their children. According to recent data from Statistics Korea, private tutoring expenses even exceed spending on food or housing for the first quarter of this year. A student passes by a street lined with private tutoring academies, known as "hagwon," in Daechidong, southern Seoul, Friday. Yonhap The Associated Press reported on posts circulating online incorrectly claiming Hunter Biden is pleading guilty to the same gun charge previously faced by rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, despite facing different penalties. Scholars point to King Solomon as the author of Proverbs in the Bible. Solomon is Israels wisest king. We find in I Kings 4:32 that Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. We know from a previous chapter in I Kings 3 that Solomon had prayed to God for wisdom. He prayed for an understanding heart to judge the people. He wanted to be able to discern between good and bad. God was so pleased by the prayer that He gave Solomon what He asked for and more. He also promised Solomon even more if He lived up to the standards that He set. God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen they days(I Kings 3:11-14, KJV). Did King Solomon Write All of Proverbs? Solomon wrote most of the Proverbs. His name appears at the beginning of three sections of Proverbs: Proverbs 1:1, Proverbs 10;1, and Proverbs 25:1, thus solidifying his authorship. A few of the Proverbs came from other contributors. Anonymous writers contributed Proverbs 22:17-24:22. Agur wrote chapter 30. In this proverb, he highlights how little he knows. He admits that he does not know God. The first verse in this Proverbs states that. King Lemuel wrote Proverbs 31 according to the first verse. His name means for God. Some scholars believe that King Lemuel is King Solomon. Photo credit: SWN/Bible Study Tools Who Was King Solomon and What Happened during His Reign? King Solomon was the son of King David and Bathsheba. He was the third king of Israel. He reigned for 40 years and lived to be about 60 years old. According to Overviewbible.com, he probably led Israel around 970 to 931 B.C. He also established Gods first temple in Israel. Solomon was very wealthy and wise. These are things that God had promised him. Much also came because he was the son of David. Much of what is recorded about King Solomon comes from the first 11 chapters of 1 Kings in the Bible and the Second Book of Chronicles (Brittanica.com, 2020). He became King of Israel while his father David was still alive. Solomon also had older brothers. Even though Solomon was rich, very wise, and had favor with God, he had many wives. According to I Kings 11:3, And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. One highlight of a Scripture reference to King Solomon is his visit from Queen Sheba. There are references to a child being produced from this relationship. Another of Solomons downfall was going after other gods. God did warn him about this. And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice (I Kings 11:9). What Is Proverbs about? And How Many Proverbs Are There? The book of Proverbs is mainly about wisdom. This book will make one wiser if you read and study it. Proverbs 1-7 lays down foundational wisdom principles about wisdom. It describes how great it is to have wisdom and the benefit of getting wisdom. To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding: To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtility to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels (Proverbs 1:2-5). Throughout the book, wisdom is praised. Proverbs 11-19 compares wisdom to evil and describes why it is better to have wisdom. Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will be condemned (Proverbs 12:1-2). Proverbs 31 highlights what a virtuous woman is and how a godly man will benefit from her. Many references to this book can be attributed to the modern-day woman. The Proverbs 31 woman is not just a stay-at-home mom, but she also appears to be a businesswoman. Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands (Proverbs 31:10-13). Photo credit: SWN/Crosswalk.com Why Should We Read this Book? As Christians, we are always growing and trying to please God by the way we conduct ourselves. The book of Proverbs is instrumental in teaching Christians how to conduct themselves not only as Christians but also in everyday living. The book is intended to help Christians avoid many of the pitfalls that await them if they will heed the instruction listed in this collection of Proverbs. Proverbs is different from any other book of the Bible because it does instruct man in his living. Proverbs 1:7 states, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 22:6 tells you how to raise children. Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Through Proverbs, wisdom is highlighted as the principal thing. Proverbs 4:7: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all they getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. Proverbs teaches you how to prosper. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine (Proverbs 3:9-10). According to Proverbs, man should seek guidance from the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). Proverbs gives us confidence. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keep they foot from being taken (Proverbs 3:25-26). The book of Proverbs highlights things that the Lord hates: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19). There is clearly something in Proverbs for everyone. Each time you study the book of Proverbs, you are bound to pick up something additional or see from a different perspective. It provides wisdom for many areas of our lives. Further Reading Praying through Proverbs: The Art of Living Wisely Everyday Who Is the Author of the Book of Proverbs? How These 10 Proverbs Help in Every Day Life Photo credit: SparrowStock Dr. Sandra Hamer Smith is a Christian and wife to Sylvester Smith. She has one stepson, Greg. Smith lives and resides in Memphis, Tennessee. The University of Memphis alumnae has been in education for about 20 years after receiving the call to teach. Dr. Smith primarily teaches language arts. Prior to education, she worked in local and national television news for 13 years including positions as an overnight news anchor, reporter, and assignments editor at two local network affiliate stations. Smith was also a freelance correspondent for BET news. Dr. Smith has freelanced for the Tri-State Defender newspaper and Contempora magazine. She is the author of the self-published novel GLORYTHE HAIR. Smith is also a playwright and poet. The Tennessee native is a member of Temple of Deliverance COGIC, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Omicron Delta Kappa, The Golden Key International Honour Society, and Kappa Delta Pi. Foreign Minister Park Jin speaks during a plenary session of the diplomacy and unification committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, May 24. Yonhap The government of President Yoon Suk Yeol sees "no need" to sour ties with China, Foreign Minister Park Jin said Sunday, as a Chinese envoy's controversial remarks on South Korea's U.S. policies fueled a diplomatic spat earlier this month. Park also stressed that Seoul will continue to step up communication with Beijing to boost their friendly ties during an interview with Yonhap News TV. "The basic stance of the Yoon Suk Yeol government is to advance South Korea-China relations into that of a mature and healthy one based on mutual respect, reciprocity and common interest," he said. Earlier this month, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming said those who bet on Beijing's loss in its rivalry with Washington would "definitely regret it," apparently accusing South Korea of aligning with the U.S. and shifting away from China. Park reiterated his criticism of Xing, saying it was inappropriate behavior as a "diplomat." When asked about what U.S. officials told South Korea on Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent visit to China, he emphasized the "key takeaway" is the commitment to "building a stable U.S.-China relationship toward competition and cooperation rather than confrontation or conflict." "We shared the view that close coordination between South Korea and the U.S. as allies, as well as the constructive role of China, is very important in resolving North Korea's nuclear issue," he said. During Blinken's rare visit to China last week, he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and agreed to work toward stabilizing their ties so that it "does not veer into conflict." Following the meeting, a senior U.S. diplomat came to Seoul to brief government officials in person about the outcome of the discussions while Blinken held phone calls with Park to explain his recent trip. Park also said the ministry is "keeping close tabs" on the escalating tensions in Russia after the Wagner mercenary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, once a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, staged an apparent insurrection on Saturday to topple the Russian military. (Yonhap) A hospital consultant is preparing to climb the highest peak in every county on the island of Ireland in one week in memory of his sister-in-law. Richard Horgan, a Cork-based consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, will take on the challenge next month, almost five years on from the death of wifes youngest sister, 38-year-old Orla Gosnell. Advertisement The consultant and father of three, who is aged in his 40s, will be raising money for Cork University Maternity Hospital, through the CUH Charity, with the hope of using funds raised to create dedicated spaces for patients and staff. Orla Gosnell died months after delivering her fifth child at CUMH in 2018. Photo: Richard Horgan/PA. Ms Gosnell, a social care worker, died in December 2018, five months after delivering her fifth child at CUMH. Advertisement Dr Horgans 32 County Peaks in a Week challenge will see him attempt to scale summits in four to five counties each day. Advertisement It will conclude with one of Irelands highest mountains, the 918-metre high Galtymore on the Limerick/Tipperary border. He hopes to be joined by Ms Gosnells husband Robert and other family members on that final ascent on July 22. The medic, who is an avid hill walker who previously conquered Kilimanjaro, hopes to raise at least 10,000 euro for the CUH Charity. Advertisement Failure is not an option, he said. All 32 peaks represent a combined climb of around 16,000 metres, which is almost twice the height of Mount Everest. The doctor, who will be supported by a colleague throughout, will camp overnight at the base of the following mornings first peak. He said inspiration for the challenge came from his nine-year-old son. Advertisement Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Richard Horgan is an avid high walker (Richard Horgan/PA). Dr Horgan said the week will be emotional and he will carry treasured memories of drama and singing enthusiast Ms Gosnell with him. She was so dynamic, it was always about the solution rather than the problem with her, he said. Advertisement She was never one to leave things slide, she would ask about things and was never one to avoid sensitive conversations if something needed to be said and I admire that. She loved kids, was brilliant with them, loved being pregnant but always wanted to be involved and to know everything about her care. This lives on in her five fabulous kids. Advertisement What has always been to the forefront in my work is the patients experience, the mothers experience, even in bad outcomes and to make the experience as positive as we can. When I walk into the maternity hospital, there are magnificent glass corridors and theres an opportunity to install benches or seats, we have three floors to work with and could do it on all floors. It is simply somewhere patients, their partners and staff can go and sit, take a moment, have a chat, take a phone call, have those few minutes. Dr Horgan said he hopes the new space will include a symbol specifically remembering Ms Gosnell and her experiences in CUMH. For more information or to support the challenge visit www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/DrRichardHorgan32CountyPeaks Uisce Eireann has failed to meet more than half of its targets for delivering drinking water and wastewater services to customers, according to the latest annual assessment of its performance by the industry regulator. The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities has expressed concern at the level of underachievement by Uisce Eireann in its progress towards meeting a range of targets by 2024. Advertisement A new report by the CRU found Uisce Eireann previously known as Irish Water met only nine out of 19 targets in 2021. While some areas have observed improvements and targets have been met, there are metrics where targets have not been met and the gap that remains against targets set is of concern, the CRU said. In particular, the regulator highlighted the large number of urban areas with no wastewater treatment as well as the number of both once-off and recurring incidents in relation to wastewater. Advertisement However, Uisce Eireann said it had been set challenging and stretching targets, some of which it claimed were unattainable due to known constraints. Advertisement According to the company, they included the early stage of its development, the absence of full operational control and continuing limitations on funding as well as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest annual performance assessment report of Uisce Eireann for 2021 showed it met its targets in relation to most drinking water standards, while the company reduced the level of leakage. It is estimated that leakage was reduced by 79 million litres per day during 2021, although 637 million litres are still lost in the network daily. However, the report revealed there were 33 towns and cities where sewage was being discharged untreated against a target of zero. Advertisement The CRU said the company had set an annual target of providing treatment to four areas during 2021 which would have resulted in 31 sites continuing to discharge untreated wastewater. The regulator said it was concerned at consistent delays in providing wastewater treatment in the remaining areas as Uisce Eireann no longer plans to provide treatment at the remaining 33 sites before the end of 2024. The report showed that Uisce Eireann recorded 1,108 single incidents relating to wastewater in 2021 almost double the target of a maximum of 585. Advertisement In addition, 249 incidents of recurring problems with wastewater were reported compared to the targets of a maximum of 170. Advertisement The CRU also criticised Uisce Eireann for its failure to provide data on sewer incidents as well as over delays on reporting on security of supply. While the regulator acknowledged improvements in the quality of water supply, it said it shared the concerns of the Environmental Protection Agency about progress by Uisce Eireann in eliminating the overall amount of lead pipework in the network. The CRU also expressed concern at a drop in Uisce Eireanns customer service performance including in relation to handling complaints, restoring supplies after unplanned interruptions and lifting boil water notices or drinking water restriction notices within 30 days. The regulator said it was particularly concerned at the drop because of the companys ability to maintain its performance between 2019 and 2020 despite the initial challenges and uncertainties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisement The CRU said it was not satisfied with the reasons provided by Uisce Eireann for its worsening performance. The report showed the utility fell significantly short of meeting its targets for resolving both operation and billing issues on the first call from customers. Uisce Eireann claimed it was due to a trend of customers only calling to resolve more complex queries with more straightforward queries often being resolved through dedicated online channels. Advertisement The report also revealed that Uisce Eireann delivered its lowest five-day response rate to customer complaints since such figures were first reported in 2018. The report shows 6% of domestic customers and 10% of business customers did not have their complaints responded to with a resolution or proposed resolution plan within five days in 2021. The CRU said it was concerned at the companys declining performance in relation to customer service given the substantial decrease in the number of complaints received from customers from 9,000 in 2020 to 6,500 in 2021 as well as over how it classified complaints. It said it no longer considered that Uisce Eireann was on track to meet the target of answering 85% of calls from customers within 20 seconds by 2024 after a drop of six percentage points in 2021 to 76%. The report also showed that only 85% of customers received at least one bill based on a meter reading during 2021 compared to the target of 100%. The performance of Uisce Eireann is assessed under its allowed expenditure of over 8 billion for the period 2020-2024, past performance and the performance of other water companies in a similar timeframe. The regulator added: The CRU would therefore expect Uisce Eireann to meet or get close to the targets set. However, it acknowledged that the targets, while fair and appropriate, were only decided in August 2021 which meant Uisce Eireann was not in a position to put in place all improvements that year. The CRU said its role was to protect the interests of customers and to ensure the delivery of water services in a safe, secure and sustainable manner as well as ensuring that Uisce Eireann operates in an economic and efficient manner. A man sustained a stab wound after being attacked by burglars, one of whom was wielding a hatchet. The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday at a house in the Northwick Drive area of north Belfast. Advertisement Some time between midnight and 3am, two men entered the property and one was armed with a suspected hatchet, police said. A PSNI spokesperson added: It was reported that a man in his 40s was assaulted and received a stab wound injury to his shoulder and facial injuries. A number of windows and the front door of the property were damaged during the incident. Police appealed for anyone with information or who might have dashcam footage from the area to come forward. Advertisement An increase in sea levels and temperatures is resulting in rare sightings of mammals turning up on Irish coastlines more common. The latest discovery of a dead juvenile humpback whale on a Co Mayo beach comes from the recent news about such species expanding their range to Irish northwest waters. Advertisement An Irish Whale and Dolphin Group spokesman explained that this was a significant stranding record and strandings officer, Stephanie Levesque confirmed it is only the 11th humpback whale stranding record for Ireland. It was found on Doughmakone Beach, south of Roonagh Point in Mayo last Thursday evening. The site was visited on Friday by Mark Reed, of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) and Miguel Blasques from Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and what was gleaned was that the whale measured 8.45 meters in length, which would make it a juvenile or sub-adult. Advertisement Much of the dermal layer was gone, which suggested the animal had been dead for some time. Advertisement A IWDG spokesman said that thankfully, its position made it possible to obtain fluke images, alas almost all the skin is gone from the ventral surface and with it went our best chance of trying to match it to the Irish humpback catalogue. "(This) may have enabled us to establish whether this is a known individual or indeed a new humpback for Ireland." The spokesman continued that each such event provides an opportunity to learn more about humpback whales. Despite the nature of this event, we have to remind ourselves that most animals in the wild die of natural causes and as we are experiencing an increase in sighting reports of this iconic species in the northwest, this stranding likely reflects on the increase in their numbers. Advertisement It seems reasonable to say that with the increase in humpback sightings, we are likely to witness a parallel increase in their strandings, as one is a subset of the other. Mayo County Council delayed burying the whale carcass so that IWDG had an opportunity to examine it in greater detail for clues as to a cause of death and to obtain skin and blubber samples for genetic analyses. Advertisement Also, last week members of the public were asked to report any sightings of a pod of 20 whales spotted in the Waterford Estuary by marine experts. The pod of long-finned pilot whales was spotted by Wexford man, Damien Quinn who was flying a drone over the estuary at the time on Monday evening. Advertisement The Group were concerned as the most critical time for intervention is before they live-strand, or beached and there is very little experts can do to keep them alive. In an appeal the Group asked that any fresh sightings along Dunmore East and Creadan Head in Waterford, Duncannon and Arthurstown in Wexford to notify to them. As the most critical time for intervention is before they live-strand, and so if we know in advance where they are and feel that a stranding is imminent we have the option to cut them off from the shoreline and attempt to coax them to deeper and safer waters, the Group noted. They added that once whales have live-stranded, it is really too late and in most circumstances, most will not survive due to their large size and bulk, with adult bulls weighing up to three tonnes. Advertisement According to the IWDG the pod was in a very "tight formation and behaving in a manner suggesting they are stressed. Advertisement The second largest of our oceanic dolphins, pilot whales are generally found in deeper waters off the continental shelf edge (around 1,000m), and sightings under these circumstances are often associated with mass live-stranding events. IWDG have, through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Dublin, officially requested the assistance of the local RNLI in Dunmore East to try and encourage them back into deeper offshore water as light faded on Monday. An initial search of the area early last Tuesday morning by a Group member resulted in no further sightings of the pod, however it is a huge area and is certainly too large for one person to cover the Group explained. The systematic warming of the planet is directly causing global mean sea level to rise in two primary ways, mountain glaciers and polar ice sheets are increasingly melting and adding water to the ocean. The warming of the water in the oceans leads to an expansion and thus increased volume. Global mean sea level has risen approximately 210 to 240 millimeters since 1880, with about a third coming in just the last two and a half decades. Currently, the annual rise is approximately 3mm per year. Regional variations exist due to natural variability in regional winds and ocean currents, which can occur over periods of days to months or even decades. But locally other factors can also play an important role, such as uplift (continued rebound from Ice Age glacier weight). Other factors include subsidence of the ground, changes in water tables due to water extraction or other water management, and even due to the effects from local erosion. A man has been killed and a second remains in critical condition following in a collision in Kilbonnane, Beaufort in Co Kerry. The deceased man, aged in his 50s, was the driver and sole occupant of one of the vehicles involved in the collision shortly after 1pm on Sunday. Advertisement The man's body has been taken to the mortuary at University Hospital Kerry (UHK) where a post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course. The driver of the second vehicle, a male aged in his late teens, was also taken to UHK where he remains in critical condition. A female passenger in the car, also aged in her late teens, was hospitalised with injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening. The road has been closed to allow for a forensic examination of the scene to take place. Local diversions have been put in place. Advertisement Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Killarney Garda station on 064-667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666 111, or any Garda station. Want to immerse yourself in some summer romance? Theres a raft of new novels to choose from, whether youre after contemporary, historical or word-of-mouth recommendations. Here are 10 of the best Advertisement 1. Talking At Night by Claire Daverley This cover is A beautiful, lyrical story of first love, we can't wait to share @ClaireDaverley's gorgeous debut, #TalkingAtNight, with you all this summer. Pre-order your copy via @Waterstones now: https://t.co/1y4DvSh4TN pic.twitter.com/XOXUwlwYAh Penguin Books UK (@PenguinUKBooks) May 5, 2023 Advertisement Talking At Night is a generation-spanning romance about opposites Will and Rosie who meet as teenagers and fall in love over secret walks and phone calls. Despite events outside their control driving them apart, their lives come back together at different stages, rekindling that romantic chemistry. 2. The Rachel Incident by Caroline ODonoghue Advertisement Advertisement 'It's funny and nostalgic and the sex scenes are actually sexy ... it's everything I want from a summer book' @monicaheisey #TheRachelIncident by Caroline O'Donoghue is out a week today! Email lilly.cox@littlebrown.co.uk for last minute POS or proof requests for bookshops. pic.twitter.com/nG4ZiIQHX1 Little, Brown: Book News (@LBBookNews) June 15, 2023 Advertisement This novel centres on Rachel and her gay best friend James, who form a close relationship while he tries to help her get closer to an attractive married professor, with complications and emotional turmoil following in their wake. Its set in Catholic Ireland so there are even more crosses to bear, but it will make you laugh and wince with its depiction of 20-something life, from the author of Promising Young Woman. 3. Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood Advertisement It's official - Love Theoretically by New York Times bestselling author Ali Hazelwood is OUT TODAY Get it now https://t.co/D6OFInfIrn #lovetheoretically #thelovehypothesis #alihazelwood pic.twitter.com/pniYlOzjGN The Little Book Cafe (@littlebookcafe) June 13, 2023 A science-backdrop romcom from the author of TikTok hits The Love Hypothesis and Love On The Brain sees a theoretical physicist by day make up her earnings as a fake girlfriend to her clients. All goes swimmingly, until she meets an attractive, arrogant older brother of her favourite client. Advertisement 4. The Situationship by Taylor-Dior Rumble cover reveal! shout out to @hollydrawsinink and the whole penguin team for their hard work on this. it feels so real now! preorders are super important for debut authors so hit that link in my bio to order your copy of #thesituationship! pic.twitter.com/i5rK1gNrDx taylor-dior rumble (@taylordiorr) April 28, 2023 Contemporary romcom in which a 20-something heroine goes on a dating app and instantly connects with a handsome photographer, who is everything she wants. He seems to be on the same page, but they remain two people dating who are more than friends but less than official. Its a fun read which explores emotional vulnerability and the pitfalls of modern romance. 5. Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth This tender debut set in a small Irish town in the early 1990s over one long, hot summer, sees a young woman struggling with her relationship with the handsome boy next door, when she becomes obsessed and falls in love with a female school friend and begins to lead a double life. Advertisement 6. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (Bloomsbury/PA) A love story told in two time frames sees a married woman and three grown-up daughters return to the fold on a fruit farm in Michigan during Covid. To pass the time, the children ask their mother, a former actor, about her time in the 1980s in a theatre company, when she had an on-off romance with an actor who went on to become a famous film star. Through the timelines, she relives her earlier life as a promising young actor and the romance which she encountered. 7. A Song Of Me And You by Mike Gayle Joyful to toast TWENTY FIVE YEARS of @mikegayle, his silver jubilee @HodderBooks. I asked everyone all the important questions eg Temptation by New Order or Temptation by Heaven 17 #ASongofMeandYou pic.twitter.com/6wIfMWMBn7 Katie Espiner (@kesp) June 8, 2023 Its 25 years since the bestselling authors debut, My Legendary Girlfriend, put Gayle at the forefront of a new trend emotional, funny and uplifting stories from male authors, with male characters at the heart of the narrative. His latest charts the fortunes of Helen and Brad, who parted as 18-year-olds and meet up 20 years later, when Helen is a part time teacher with a love rat husband. When Ben now a multi-millionaire rockstar turns up on her doorstep, can they rekindle the past? Advertisement 8. Ever After by Kate Eberlen 'Heartbreaking and heart-mending. I adored it!' Laura Jane Williams Fall head over heels for the new novel from @KateEberlen, author of the runaway hit #MissYou This summer, fall in love with #EverAfterhttps://t.co/k2FQCU5teU pic.twitter.com/HragjOqMrG Orion Publishing (@orionbooks) June 15, 2023 The bestselling author of Miss You is back with an escapist, emotional, romantic story which follows Tess and Gus, who have a holiday romance but is their love strong enough to survive the challenges of two complicated lives? Set between Florence, Sicily, Margate and London. 9. The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka (Macmillan/PA) TikTok stars and married couple Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka bring readers a tale about two erstwhile bright literary writers whose co-written book had topped the bestseller list. But following this, their partnership ended on bad terms (for reasons neither would divulge to the public) and they havent spoken since. However, theres one final book to deliver on contract and, facing crossroads in their lives, they are forced to reunite and end up in the tiny Florida town where they wrote their previous bestseller. Working through the reasons theyve hated each other for the past three years isnt easy, especially not while writing a romantic novel. Advertisement 10. Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan So I missed #NoraGoesOffScript but kept hearing how great it was, and then @ollie__martin sent me #SameTimeNextSummer, @AnnabelMonaghans latest, and I cannot tell you how much I loved it. But Ill try. pic.twitter.com/qznC73EOAk Laura Pearson (@LauraPAuthor) June 13, 2023 This nostalgic read from the bestselling author of Nora Goes Off Script centres on a buttoned-up, engaged woman whos due to marry her conventional fiance. He wants to get married in Manhattan, but she takes him to her parents beachside holiday home on Long Island to look for an alternative venue and runs into her first love, who she hasnt seen for 14 years. The wife of Julian Assange has said it is now or never at a protest outside Parliament demanding his release. Stella Assange was among many campaigners and supporters who marched through central London, as Assange faces extradition to the United States and potential life imprisonment after losing his bid to appeal against a judges ruling earlier this month. Advertisement Assange, 51, has been held in Londons high security Belmarsh Prison for more than four years while US authorities seek to extradite him to face trial on espionage charges linked to the publication of hundreds of thousands of documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The Wikileaks founder is wanted on 18 charges by the US government, which accuses him of conspiring to hack into military databases to acquire sensitive information. He denies any wrongdoing. Advertisement A sculpture called Anything To Say, which features life-sized bronze figures of whistleblowers Edward Snowden, Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. Photo: James Manning/PA. Advertisement Mrs Assange said: Julian could be a few weeks away from extradition. We dont have a clear timeline, but this really is the end game. She added: The stakes are very high. Theyre high on all sides, not just for Julians life and his freedom, but all the press freedoms and the freedom of speech rights that go with him. There are lots of people around the world, presidents, prime ministers of Australia, of Brazil, of Mexico, and also European institutions who are speaking out and saying that Julian should be released. So the general consensus, of course, from the human rights groups, from the press freedom groups, is that Julian should be released, but that the case has to be dropped. Advertisement Apsana Begum, the Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, spoke at the event, with John McDonnell, the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, also addressing the crowd. Apsana Begum speaks at the protest. Photo: James Manning/PA. Whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning were represented by life-sized bronze sculptures alongside a figure of Assange, each standing on their own individual chair. Advertisement In front, a banner read: Free Julian Assange. Journalism is not a crime. Adjacent to them was an empty chair representing the general population, with a caption which read stand up instead of sit like the others. Advertisement The sculpture, which was conceived by author and broadcaster Charles Glass, was brought to life by artist Davide Dormino. Speaking of his work, entitled Anything To Say, Mr Dormino said: As an artist, I feel I have a duty to defend freedom of speech and the right to know. Advertisement That is why I have created an empty chair, which allows us to stand taller and raise ourselves. It changes our perspective and prompts us to look beyond what we are shown and what is hidden. Christians protest against U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg outside the Seoul Queer Culture Festival last July 16. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar By Ellie Goodwin Discrimination towards the LGBTQ community is a countrywide issue, with fears of ostracism and abuse motivating many individuals to hide or repress their sexual identity. It's a prejudice that foreign sexual minorities also face after arriving in Korea. Though Korea currently has no law explicitly criminalizing homosexuality, this should not be perceived as an expression of tolerance or acceptance. Same-sex marriage has not been legalized and the anti-discrimination law has not been passed, which leaves this community vulnerable to discrimination with the awareness that legal retribution is out of reach. "Dating is an issue for me," Tom, a German national who has identified as gay since the age of 14, told The Korea Times. "I wish I could just go out on a date and act freely without the worry of being verbally attacked. It was something that I took for granted back home." Culture shock is inevitable when moving abroad and best confronted with an adaptable mindset. But that can't help when facing prejudices toward one's sexuality. Offensive attitudes towards the LGBTQ community should be seen for what they are: an infringement. For some, the option of hiding their sexuality is a choice that they are cornered into, motivated by concerns for their own safety. Speaking to The Korea Times under the condition of anonymity, K.L., who has been living in Daejeon for almost two years, said, "It's hard to suppress such a huge part of my identity I can't risk being open about it because I don't know the opinions of my employer I could find myself out of a job." Instances of workplace dismissal on account of an individual's sexuality are not unheard of, and technically not illegal. Similarly, Korean conscripts can be dishonorably discharged from their mandatory military service for their sexuality and face the possibility of imprisonment. Media coverage certainly helps combat ignorance with awareness. Since the late 1990s, Korea has seen increased coverage of same-sex relationships in television shows and films. These measures give the illusion of change when, in reality, they are a means of placating by permitting the bare minimum. Effective progress comes in the form of legislation whereby the rights and safety of the community are protected and persecutors prosecuted. "Why have I kept my sexuality a secret? Because I don't want to get physically or verbally assaulted," K.L added. Gemma Lowes, 28, identifies as heterosexual, but has several LGBTQ friends in her social circle. "I'm conflicted because I feel morally obligated to attend events like pride and show my support, but I'm also worried for my safety," she said. Approval for Queer Culture Festival events and their Pride Parades in Korea are a laborious fight for the organizers. Outright demands for their events to be banned through means of petitioning as well as under the guise of safety concerns have to be contested and then overturned. During the events themselves, there are often cases of violence from far-right protesters who try to disrupt their festivities. The majority of individuals who comprise these opposition groups are religious, identifying as conservative or traditionalist Christian. Christians anti-LGBTQ activists hide behind a giant cross near the Seoul Queer Culture Festival last July 16. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar Sarah Ferguson has undergone an operation after being diagnosed with breast cancer, her spokesman has revealed. The 63-year-old discovered she had an early form of the disease during a routine mammogram. Advertisement She reportedly left the King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, central London which has treated the British royal family for decades, on Sunday and is said to be recovering with her family at Windsor. Before going to hospital, she spoke about her diagnosis on her new podcast Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah, which is released on Monday. Episode 2 of our podcast Tea Talks with the Duchess & Sarah is out now on all streaming platforms. Or, listen & subscribe at the link in my bio.#TeaTalksPodcast #Podcasts #SpillTheTea pic.twitter.com/MSG3KP28ET Advertisement Sarah Ferguson (Fergie) (@SarahTheDuchess) June 8, 2023 Advertisement It was reportedly recorded before her operation and had been due to air on Thursday, before being put off until after she was discharged. Advertisement A spokesperson said: Sarah, Duchess of York was recently diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer detected at a routine mammogram screening. She was advised she needed to undergo surgery which has taken place successfully. The duchess is receiving the best medical care and her doctors have told her that the prognosis is good. She is now recuperating with her family. The duchess wants to express her immense gratitude to all the medical staff who have supported her in recent days. Advertisement She is also hugely thankful to the staff involved in the mammogram which identified her illness, which was otherwise symptom free, and believes her experience underlines the importance of regular screening. Sarah and Britain's Prince Andrew at Royal Ascot in 2015 (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The Sun reported that Britain's Prince Andrew (63) and their daughters Princess Beatrice (34) and Princess Euegnie (33) are by her side as she recovers. Advertisement The duchess is a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust and spoke at a Breast Cancer Foundation gala in 2019. Beatrice was spotted with friends at Glastonbury on Sunday, the final day of the festival, and was at Royal Ascot earlier this week. Donald Trump has declared himself the most pro-life president but failed to provide details on any national abortion restrictions he would back if re-elected to the White House. On Saturdays anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning the national right to an abortion, the former president told a group of influential evangelicals the federal government should play a vital role in opposing abortion. Advertisement But Mr Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, has been reluctant to support a national ban unlike his former vice-president turned 2024 rival Mike Pence, who earlier challenged all the partys candidates to support the passage of a national ban on abortions, at least as early as 15 weeks of pregnancy. Republican presidential candidate former vice president Mike Pence speaks during the Faith and Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington. Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP. Mr Trump, who has suggested pushing for increased restrictions would be a political liability, continued to offer a muddled answer at the Faith & Freedom Coalitions annual conference in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Taking full credit for his role in the overturning of the landmark Roe v Wade ruling last year, the former president said he was proud to be the most pro-life president in American history and added there remains a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life. He said he supports three exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases involving rape and incest or when the life of a mother is in danger. During his speech, he promised that if elected he would appoint rock-solid conservative judges and repeated false claims that abortion rights supporters want to kill a baby in the ninth month of pregnancy or even after a birth. Fellow candidate Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, was met with boos when he criticised Mr Trump at the conference on Friday while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vowed to appoint Supreme Court justices in the mould of conservative appointees Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas, saying well do better than those appointed by Mr Trump. Advertisement The new revelations about her case give a rare insight into the intelligence wars being waged between the West and Russia, and come after the Albanese government cancelled the lease at the site of a proposed second Russian embassy in Canberra. Former Australian diplomat Peter Tesch, who represented Canberra in Moscow from 2016 to 2019, said Russia was aggressively targeting Australia. Peter Tesch leaves the Russian foreign ministry building during his time as Australias ambassador. Credit: Reuters: Maxim Shemetov Russia has certainly been interested in and active in our country for some time, he said. The Russian foreign intelligence services are very capable, highly professional, very well resourced, and of course, their ability to work angles of opportunity is probably unparalleled. Sologub, who boasted in her resume of close ties to the Russian government and who spent months cultivating Australian government and business contacts, has challenged the cancellation of her distinguished talent visa at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. She will remain in immigration detention in Melbourne until her appeal is heard and she is either deported or her visa is reinstated. Government sources said they had no reason to doubt the allegations that Sologub had interacted with Russian intelligence officers in Ireland. The sources said it was likely her appeal would fail and she would be forced to return to Ireland, the country she moved to from Kazakhstan as a teenager. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Asked by 60 Minutes why ASIO had issued the adverse advice that had landed her in immigration detention, Sologub said: For nothing. Just because I am speaking Russian language. And that I worked with a Russian agency back in Ireland. However, when pressed on her dealings with a suspected Russian intelligence officer when she worked at the National Space Centre in Cork, Sologub said she did have contact with the Russian diplomat outside of work hours between 2011 and 2014. She also confirmed the man was a Facebook contact, and she had asked him to arrange for her son to have Russian language lessons. I have, on my Facebook, I have people from America with whom I worked as well. From Europe, with whom I worked as well. We exchange happy birthdays, thats it, she said. Marina Sologub is in immigration detention. Credit: 60 Minutes This is normal working relationship. Its not a friend. While the intelligence gathered by ASIO about Sologub remains classified and has not been disclosed to her, she described being the subject of ASIO interviews. Sologubs phone was seized and her house in Adelaide searched. The first time they came to me in September [2021]. Then they broke in my house in November. And they confiscated all the stuff from me, all electronic devices, everything. Despite the intense ASIO interest in Sologub, there is no suggestion she is linked to the hive of suspected Russian spies operating out of Moscows diplomatic posts in Australia, whose members have been quietly deported over the past 18 months. Sologubs husband Alex is living in Adelaide. Credit: 60 Minutes This masthead reported in February that a suspected Russian spy ring in Australia, whose members used their diplomatic status to conduct espionage, was dismantled in an aggressive ASIO investigation. Information provided by Sologub and government sources suggests ASIO suspects the Irish woman is one of many Western businesspeople, diplomats and officials who Russian spies cultivate to gain access to sensitive information. Russia has a storied space industry and has previously co-operated with Australias key ally, the US, in the space arena, although Washington recently placed sanctions on Russias aerospace industry. Sologubs application to obtain a distinguished talent visa was signed by a South Australian government official based in London. It describes how Sologub would contribute to South Australia given her background and because the state hosts the National Australian Space Agency headquarters, Mission Control Facility, Space Discovery Centre, Defence and Space Landing Pad. The visa document also describes how Marina is an exceptionally organised [and] is well known globally and have a direct access to the key decision makers in major space agencies. THESE ARE THE PLUNDERERS: How Private Equity Runs and Wrecks America Author: Gretchen Morgenson and Joshua Rosner Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pages: 383 Price: $30 PLUNDER: Private Equitys Plan to Pillage America Also Read National Brother's Day 2023: History, celebration and other details inside Defence sector was like a 'club' for Congress to 'plunder nation': PM Modi International Women's Day 2023: Theme, Whatsapp safety features, much more Xiaomi Redmi Smart Fire TV 32 review: Among the best smart TVs on budget Multiples Alternate closes over $640 million for new private-equity fund A calculating look at literature On terror firma Beyond tribal instincts A soft tale of hardware FTAs beyond the zero-sum game Author: Brendan Ballou Publisher: PublicAffairs Pages: 353 Price: $30 In These Are the Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs and Wrecks America, by Gretchen Morgenson and Joshua Rosner, the arguments are about as subtle as a wrecking ball. Its a measure of just how inflamed the rhetoric can be that when I arrived at the chapter called Like When Hitler Invaded Poland in 1939, I assumed the authors were the ones drawing the analogy. In addition to the plunderers of the title, their book is full of money-spinners, buyout boys, pirates, pillagers and marauders. But it turned out that the line about Hitlers invasion of Poland came from Stephen A Schwarzman, the chairman and chief executive of Blackstone, one of the worlds largest private equity (PE) firms. He said it in 2010, in response to President Barack Obamas proposal to eliminate a tax loophole that favoured billionaires. Some of the billionaire behaviour depicted in this book is so self-regarding and over-the-top spending $3 million on a birthday party that I have to admit the overheated language isnt entirely out of step with the world the authors describe. Besides, Morgenson and Rosner marshal considerable evidence for their case, which is bolstered by another book that bears a similar argument and title: Plunder, by Brendan Ballou. Morgenson is a financial reporter for NBC News and a former columnist for The Times; Rosner is a financial analyst; Ballou is a federal prosecutor who served as special counsel for PE at the Justice Department. Both books show the damage PE can do. They describe how firms like Apollo Global Management, KKR and the Carlyle Group buy up companies using very little of their own money, load the companies with debt and then squeeze them for profits. People in favour of PE will say that the firms serve a crucial function, making troubled businesses more robust and efficient. The authors of these books allow that this does happen, but they counter that the industry has grown so enormous, with so much money chasing the same deals, that many PE firms will acquire healthy companies and essentially make them sick, forcing them to pay off the money that was borrowed to buy them. The business model isnt so much investment, Ballou says, but extraction. Roughly one in five large companies acquired through leveraged buyouts go bankrupt in a decade, he writes. Toys R Us is such a vivid example of private equitys predations that it appears in both books a storied company that was bought by KKR, Bain and Vornado Realty Trust in 2005. By 2017, after years of layoffs, crushing debt and being charged regular management fees by the private equity firms for the privilege to be owned by them, Ballou writes, Toys R Us was bankrupt. (It has recently emerged from bankruptcy.) Ballou adds that the rise of online retail wasnt as much to blame as people said it was. Toys R Us had steady sales and decent market share. But almost all of its operating income was going to service the interest payments on its debt (to say nothing of those preposterous management fees). The company went from having $2 billion in cash when it was acquired to having no money to maintain its stores. If the results are bad when the product is toys, they can turn deadly when the product is care. PE firms have acquired nursing homes, provided staffing for hospitals and services for prisons. Morgenson and Rosner quote David Rubenstein, a co-founder of the Carlyle Group, whose acquisition of HCR ManorCare, a chain of nursing homes, ended with bankruptcy after years of cascading health-code violations. There are so many outrages enumerated in these books that reading them may have you looking for a pitchfork, though I prefer Ballous crisp prosecutorial delivery to Morgenson and Rosners name-calling and sarcastic asides. Ballou also does an admirably clear job detailing how PE firms use legal wrangling to their advantage. They compel their customers into arbitration, while pursuing their own interests in the courts. And the firms are structured in a cleverly lawyered way to avoid liability. To take just one example: After a family sued Carlyle for the death of their loved one, a resident at a ManorCare facility, Carlyle argued that it didnt actually own ManorCare or its facilities, Ballou writes. Rather, it claimed, it simply advised a series of funds that did. Government, these books say, has been remarkably supportive of an industry that has helped hasten downward mobility and widen economic inequality. Lobbying and campaign contributions have done their part to ensure this support, Ballou says, along with the fact that senior government officials have found lucrative employment at PE firms after leaving public service. This observation reminded me of a book about private equity that was published in 2010 by Josh Kosman, called The Buyout of America. Kosman began by imagining a scene in which President Obama, up for re-election, is faced with PE-owned companies starting to collapse because they have been saddled with so much debt. The bearer of this dire news in Kosmans scenario is Obamas unnamed Treasury secretary who, at the time, happened to be Timothy Geithner. Little could Kosman have known that a few years later, Geithner would become the president of Warburg Pincus, whose website states up front: Private equity is the firms only business. 2023 The New York Times News Service Go Firsts lenders have agreed in principle to support the airlines request for Rs 400 crore interim funding to restart its operations. The airline temporarily halted operations on May 2, and its insolvency plea was admitted by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on May 10. On Wednesday, the airlines resolution professional Shailendra Ajmera submitted a business plan and a request for over Rs 400 crore funding to airlines committee of creditors (CoC). The CoC comprises Go Firsts lenders Bank of Baroda, Central Bank of India, Deutsche Bank, and IDBI Bank which collectively have an exposure of over Rs 6,500 crore to the airline. Bank representatives met again on Thursday to discuss the airlines funding request. While the lenders have given an in-principle nod, the additional funding would require approval from respective bank boards. This will happen once the DGCA clears the plans. The additional funds would be treated as interim finance, which has priority over all other debt under the insolvency process. Lenders are trying for a unanimous decision, so that all lenders loan extra funds, said a source. Go First plans to operate around 150 daily flights with 22 aircraft. The airline also plans to operate charter flights for defence forces in the initial phase. Also Read Bank of Baroda Q3: What to expect from the lender's Dec quarter result? Bank of Baroda reports highest-ever quarterly profit of Rs 3,853 cr in Q3 Bank of Baroda Q4 preview: PAT may soar up to 2x YoY on healthy loan growth Go First has history of missing financial obligations: P&W on allegations Go First saga: SpiceJet to revive 25 grounded aircraft, mobilises Rs 400 cr Goldi Solar investing Rs 5k cr to boost module manufacturing capacity: MD Coal India executives' body threaten to hold strike over pay conflict Adani eyes Rs 90,000 cr EBITDA in 2-3 yrs on the back of robust biz growth Paytm can add 15 mn new customers for soundbox devices in next 2-3 years Edtech major Byju's tells investors it will file 2022 earnings by Sept Ajmera and senior executives have also apprised DGCA officials about their efforts to restart operations, and addressed their concerns. For the regulator, the main concern is airlines financial sustainability, airworthiness, and consumer interest. Go First intends to start operations on July 1 and needs DGCAs approval for it and sale of tickets. While revival efforts are underway, Go First is also challenging engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitneys (P&Ws) application for a stay on an arbitral award. On March 30, it secured interim relief from the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, which directed P&W to supply the airline with a certain number of spare engines until December 2023. P&W was ordered to take all reasonable steps and release without delay at least 10 serviceable spare leased engines within 28 days of the order and further 10 spare leased engines each month until December. P&W and Go First did not respond to queries. Earlier in May, while opposing Go First's enforcement application in a US court, the engine manufacturer said the airline has no right over engines. Go First is opposing P&W's application before SIAC citing its revival efforts, it has been learnt. Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said the BJP-led government has created an employment-generating economy in the country. Speaking at an event in Nagpur city of Maharashtra, Gadkari referred to a road project being constructed to connect Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, and the automobile industry. "We have created an employment-generating economy in the country. I am constructing a road project (worth) Rs 12,000 crore connecting Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The (Uttarakhand) chief minister told me that the number of tourists visiting these places got doubled. Earlier, the Yatra to these places used to go on for only six months, but now roads are accessible throughout the year," said the Minister of Road Transport & Highways. He said people in passenger traffic, tourism, restaurants, hoteling, buses, railways and aviationall got businesses because the footfall has gone up at these places. "Automobile industry in the country is Rs 7.50 lakh crore, 4.50 crore people got jobs. This industry gives the highest GST to the Central and state governments. I will double the industry's size in the next five years to Rs 15 lakh crore. All automobile brands in the world are coming here," Gadkari added. Also Read No proposal before govt to lower threshold for generating e-invoice: CBIC Incorporate cutting edge tech in revenue generating departments: Andhra CM Threat calls to Gadkari: Nagpur cops take custody of suspected caller Threat calls to Gadkari: Accused remanded in police custody till Apr 24 Researchers created practicable superconducting material in lab: Study PSBs have a human capital problem: Do their top execs need a pay overhaul? India to remove retaliatory customs duties on eight US-origin products Balasore aftermath: Railways eases execution of Kavach and safety works At 23% spend, Andhra Pradesh leads laggards in state capex in FY23 US space tie-ups may open global mkt to Indian pvt sector, says industry On Sunday, the concluding day of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modis two-day visit to Cairo, India and Egypt signed a landmark strategic partnership treaty, which the two sides had agreed upon during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis visit to New Delhi in January this year as chief guest for the Republic Day parade. Cairo is keen on increased Indian investments. It has suggested New Delhi use Egypts geographical location as a springboard to three regions: Europe, West Asia, and the whole of Africa, and offered the possibility of an industrial zone for India in Egypt. Egyptian support would bolster Indias claim to the leadership of the Global South and closer relations with an Arab country beyond those in the Persian Gulf. However, the pomp of Modis visit to Egypt had a message for his critics back home. The Egyptian President conferred the Order of the Nile Award, Egypts highest state honour. Bharatiya Janata Party social media chief Amit Malviya tweeted that Modi has 13 such international awards from different countries, more than any other Indian PM has ever had. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that of the 13 awards he has been given as PM of the country, six have been given by countries where Muslims are in the majority. Also Read India eyes economic, military ties with Egypt during El-Sisi's visit Together we stand stronger: PM Modi as he leaves for US on 1st state visit Leadership at global institutions like UN needs to be re-evaluated: PM Modi PM Modi in the US: Semiconductors to drones, here's what will be in focus India-Egypt bilateral trade to top $12 billion in next 5 years: PM Modi PM Narendra Modi's US visit: Why Amazon, Google raised their India bet US-India defence cooperation: Fighter jet engines to ship repairs Central govt created employment-generating economy: Nitin Gadkari PSBs have a human capital problem: Do their top execs need a pay overhaul? India to remove retaliatory customs duties on eight US-origin products Modi also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt, a meeting that comes within days of former US President Barack Obamas interview to CNN, where he said he would look to raise the subject of Indian Muslims with the Indian PM. At a press conference in the national Capital, Sitharaman slammed Obama. A former President under whose rule six Muslim-majority countries were bombed with more than 26,000 bombs. How will people trust his allegations? she asked. On Sunday, Modi and the Egyptian President held a private one-on-one conversation, a follow-up of the latters January visit to New Delhi. Over two days, the two sides discussed increased economic cooperation, including Indian investments in infrastructure, especially in the Suez Canal Authority, and signed agreements in agriculture and health care. On Saturday, the first day of his two-day visit to Egypt, the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM since 1997, Modi met the India Unit in the Egyptian Cabinet, set up earlier this year after El-Sisis Delhi visit. The unit proposed new areas of cooperation, while Modi welcomed this whole of government approach to take forward bilateral relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The Egyptian Prime Minister and seven Egyptian Cabinet ministers attended the meeting, as did the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) Chairman Waleid Gamal Eldien who visited India earlier this month. They discussed ways to strengthen trade and investment, cooperation in renewable energy, green hydrogen, information technology, digital payment platforms, and pharmaceutical. The Indian side promised Egypt its continued support for its request for membership in BRICS (acronym for the regional economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said while there were several requests, India was looking actively at BRICS membership for its friendly and strategic partner like Egypt. The PMs other engagements included meeting the Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Ibrahim Allam on Saturday. The Grand Mufti also appreciated the PMs leadership in fostering inclusivity and pluralism, the MEA said. Their discussions focused on issues related to social and religious harmony in society and countering extremism and radicalisation, the MEA said. Kwatra said the Grand Mufti recently visited India, where he had first-hand experience of Indias diverse and strong social and cultural fabric. Modi said India would set up a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology at the Dar-al-Ifta, which the Grand Mufti heads. On Sunday, the PM visited Al-Hakim mosque in Cairo, where he also met the leaders of the Bohra community, who are actively involved in the upkeep of the Fatimid-era Shia mosque. Modi has had close links with the Bohra community since his days as chief minister of Gujarat. The PM met Tarek Heggy, a renowned Egyptian author and petroleum strategist, and their discussion covered issues related to global geopolitics, energy security, radicalism and gender equality, the MEA said. He also met Hassan Allam, chief executive officer of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies in West Asia and North Africa. In recent months, apart from visits from Egypt, including those of the Grand Mufti and the chairman of the SCZONE, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have visited that country. Egypt has also been invited as a special guest during the Group of Twenty meetings in India. Indias bilateral trade with Egypt stood at $6.06 billion in 202223, down from the previous year's record high of $7.26 billion. India has maintained a trade surplus with Egypt, with exports of $4.1 billion, against imports of $1.95 billion in 2022-23. Exports from India to Egypt are broad-based, but diesel is followed by organic chemicals ($311 million), heavy machinery ($256 million), iron and steel ($223 million), and cotton ($201 million). Refined petroleum is the single biggest import item from the country. According to the Indian Embassy in Cairo, around 50 Indian companies have invested upwards of $3.2 billion in apparel, agriculture, chemicals, energy, automobiles, and retail. Directly and indirectly, they employ approximately 35,000 Egyptians. Major Indian investments in Egypt include TCI Sanmar Chemicals, Alexandria Carbon Black, Kirloskar, Dabur India, Flex P Films, scib Paints, Godrej, Mahindra, and Monginis. Retaliatory tariffs by India in 2019 on farm produce from the US have led to trade diversion, with countries like Turkey, Italy, and Chile replacing America as the key source of apples, walnuts, and almonds while imports from the US have seen a substantial decline in the past five years. During Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US last week, both sides agreed to partially withdraw the market access barriers built during the Donald Trump presidency. Before the retaliatory tariffs came, the US had the top share in imports of fresh apples by India at 39.5 per cent in FY18. India and the five-member South African Customs Union (SACU) nations are exploring a free-trade agreement (FTA) and are expected to begin talks in the next three to four months, people aware of the matter said. SACU, which comprises South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and Eswatini, is the worlds oldest Customs union, dating back over a century. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks at a national ceremony marking the start of the Korean War on June 25. Yonhap Marking the 73rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday vowed to defend the nation with "strong self-defense" capabilities. The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, when tank-led North Korean troops invaded South Korea. The United States and 20 other allied countries fought on the side of South Korea under the U.N. flag. The conflict ended in a cease-fire three years later. "The government will protect our security with strong self-defense, not with fake peace based on North Korea's false good intention," Han told a national ceremony marking the start of the war. Tensions have continued to ripple through the Korean Peninsula over North Korea's weapons testing, including last month's botched launch of a military spy satellite. For families that have a member with a mental illness, nearly a fifth of monthly household expenditure is spent on health care, on average, according to a study published in March this year. Because of out-of-pocket expenditure on health care, about 21 per cent of these households dropped below the poverty line, the study found. The report, Catastrophic Health Expenditure and Poverty Impact Due to Mental Illness in India, published in the Journal of Health Management, highlights the financial impact of mental health care and the need for financial risk protection for households with members suffering from mental illness. The study uses data from the 76th round of the National Sample Survey, conducted between July and December 2018. During the survey, 6,679 households self-reported a person with mental illness as part of the Persons with Disabilities in India survey. On average, the 2023 study found that Rs. 2,115 is spent each month on health care by a household if a member has a mental illness. This adds up to 18.1 per cent of the households monthly expenditure. Among affluent households, the monthly expenditure is Rs. 3,754, but the burden is highest among poorest households, where a quarter of the monthly expenditure is on health care. Also Read Health workers facing Covid 'burnout', must address health concerns: Expert To cover mental illness, buy health insurance policy offering OPD coverage Amid rising suicides, here are initiatives by IITs for mental health Entrepreneurs create wealth; it is time to celebrate their spirit Household wealth optimism collapses, finds Edelman Trust Barometer Statsguru: Adequate groundwater buffers can help reduce pain of drought India, Egypt elevate ties to 'strategic partnership' during PM Modi's visit PM Narendra Modi's US visit: Why Amazon, Google raised their India bet US-India defence cooperation: Fighter jet engines to ship repairs Central govt created employment-generating economy: Nitin Gadkari The expense of mental health care includes both direct and indirect costs. The amounts spent on treatment, medication, travel to hospitals, etc, are direct costs. Indirect costs include the monetary value of the loss of productivity of patients or caregivers and intangible costs in terms of stress, stigma, etc, borne by those affected. The study also states that one of the critical factors leading to increased costs of care in lower- and middle-income countries is that people do not receive health care for mental illness, leading to chronicity and suffering. The defence cooperation highlight of Prime Minister Narendra Modis State visit to the US last week was the agreement between US firm General Electric (GE) and Indias aerospace giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture the GE F414 jet engines in India. Besides powering HALs Tejas Mark 2 (Mk2) fighter, the F414 could also be chosen to power other combat aircraft being acquired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy. The Bihar government will initiate a slew of measures to strengthen the education sector such as carrying out regular inspection of government schools and deduction of a day's salary for teachers found absent during the exercise, a circular said. Officials of the department will need permission directly from the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) even if they travel outside their district headquarters for appearing before a court. District Magistrates were urged to ensure inspection of all schools, at least twice every week, and take steps for deduction of a day's salary for teachers found absent during the inspection. According to a circular issued by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) on June 24, all officials and other staff at the SCERT have been asked to report for work at 9.30 in the morning and continue till 8 pm on weekdays. The offices will function till 6 pm on Saturdays. The new work schedule will be effective from June 26. Also Read Centre cutting its share in funding education: Bihar FM Vijay Choudhary BSEB Bihar Board 12th Result declared on official website DoPT asks UPSC to recruit private sector specialists for top jobs Bihar Board 10th Result 2023 to be announced soon on official website Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to skip 'Namami Gange' event chaired by PM Modi World Bank approves $255.5 mn loan to improve technical education in India AP SSC supplementary results 2023 released today on bse.ap.gov.in Osmania University releases CPGET 2023 exam dates, check full schedule here IISc Bangalore top Indian institute in THE's Asia University Rankings 2023 72% students prolong studies to improve their career prospects: Survey All officials would have to strictly adhere to the new work schedule and the attendance of the officials will be reviewed weekly, the circular said. In a letter issued to the officials, including District Education Officers, they have been directed to take permission from the ACS to avail leaves. "Only in emergencies, they can take permission from their immediate bosses, the letter says. In another letter sent to all District Magistrates (DMs) on June 23, K K Pathak (ACS, Bihar Education department) has requested the former to monitor the functioning of government schools, implementation of the mid-meal scheme, condition of toilets in schools, availability of drinking water and attendance of teachers and other staff in their respective areas at least twice in a week. "This monitoring will start from July 1. The DMs can engage other staff also for the purpose. All DMs are requested to get details about government schools, teachers, and other education department officials falling in their respective districts at the earliest," says the letter, a copy of which is available with PTI. The letter also said all government schools must be inspected at least twice a week. "If a teacher is found absent during inspection, the district education officer should immediately deduct a day's salary from the absent teacher. And disciplinary action should be initiated against the absentee teacher," it read. Despite repeated attempts, Bihar Education Minister, Chandra Shekhar, was not available for his comments . The third G20 infrastructure working group (IWG) meeting under Indias presidency begins in Narendranagar (Uttarakhand), on Monday. Sixty-three delegates from G20 member countries, invitee nations and top global universities, such as Cambridge and Oxford, will take part in the meeting. They will hold further discussions on the 2023 infrastructure agenda and follow up on the talks held during the previous IWG meeting in Visakhapatnam in March. The discussions in Narendranagar will be held across seven sessions and involve two side events. The flagship priority to be taken up at the third IWG meeting is Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable, along with other priorities. Solomon Arokiaraj, joint secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, while briefing the media, said, The group will deliberate on various aspects of infrastructure investments, including developing infrastructure as an asset class, promoting quality infrastructure investment, and identifying innovative instruments for mobilising financial resources for infrastructure investment. Also Read Budget 2023 to increase capex for infra projects for growth: Experts Three-day-long G20 event in Kashmir to begin today: All you need to know Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov UP govt approved investment proposals worth Rs 36 lakh cr: CM Adityanath Third G20 infrastructure working group meeting between June 26-28 Greed for power characteristic of Congress: Piyush Goyal on Emergency K Annamalai, Arman Malik take part in Young Leaders Forum in London Himachal contemplating forming task force to combat drug menace: CM Sukhu On the sidelines of the IWG meetings, two side events have also been planned. On Monday, the High-Level Seminar on Roadmap to Sustainable Cities will be organised in partnership with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The discussions, across three sessions, will allow G20 decision-makers to hear key challenges, from climate change to infrastructure resilience, fast urbanisation, and inclusiveness. They will also explore the role of technology, infratech and digitisation. On Tuesday, the ministry of civil aviation is also set to host a roundtable on Making India a maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) hub on the sidelines of the event. The outcomes of the final IWG meet will be presented in the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors to be held in Gandhinagar in July. Fifty per cent of the global population already lives in urban areas. Nearly 70 per cent is projected to move into urban areas. We are looking into ways in which we can make this more feasible, Arokiaraj told Business Standard. We look to involve private players in the exercise as well. This is why we are taking suggestions from dignitaries from Washington and London. We want to involve private players, especially for tier-II and tier-III cities. For example, we have a road, and maybe, lease it out to a private player. The firm maintains the road for 20 years and decides its own toll charges. These models can work only if we involve private players. Wed also make sure that the prices dont pinch the pockets of the poor, he added. Air connectivity to Rajasthan's Bikaner and Kishangarh airports from other parts of the country is likely to enhance as the Airport Authority of India along with the Ministry of civil aviation has put up both the airports for bidding in order to start new fights. The development came after the Rajasthan government's resident commissioner in New Delhi held a meeting with the secretary of the union ministry sometime back regarding the expansion and development of airports in the state, an official said here. Commissioner of Rajasthan Foundation Dhiraj Srivastava said Bikaner and Kishangarh airports have been included in the bidding process for starting new flight services. Rajasthan Foundation is a body of the state government to address the needs and concerns of non-resident Rajasthanis (NRR). "The bidding process will go on till July 15. By August 15, it is expected that airlines will come up to operate more flights from these two airports," Srivastava said while referring to the outcome of the meeting of the resident commissioner in Delhi with the secretary of the union minister of civil aviation. He said the foundation has requested the chief minister to expedite efforts to enhance air connectivity to the cities of Rajasthan, following which the meeting in Delhi took place. At present, one flight is being operated at Kishangarh and Bikaner airports each, which, too, is irregular, he said, adding that in view of the high footfall of tourists and celebrities, international flights should be operated from Udaipur Airport. Also Read Airports to boost infra to handle higher number of passengers: Aviation min India to join international climate action in civil aviation from 2027 Industry expects Budget to provide thrust to UDAN, help more airports Need to reduce airports' operating costs by 30-50%: Adani Airports CEO Udaipur, Bikaner schools close till Jan 18 as mercury drops in Rajasthan India in bilateral talks with Brazil to resolve sugar dispute at WTO Home Minister Shah speaks to Assam CM over flood situation, assures help Flood situation in Assam continues to remain grim, over 400,000 affected PM Modi's visit will go down in history as 'turning of a page': Garcetti 3 injured as restaurant roof collapses after heavy rains lash Thane "There is one flight for Surat from Kishangarh while a flight for Delhi operates from Bikaner airport. The flight operations are also irregular. In view of the high potential of tourism in the state, enhanced air connectivity to various destinations of the state will be very useful," he said. Srivastava said a joint team of the state government and AAI will conduct a visit to Sriganganagar airport to look into some technical issues so that flights could be made operational. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday visited various ongoing development projects in the capital city and called for timely completion of the work along with ensuring good quality. He also offered prayers at Govind Devji temple in the city and interacted with devotees. On the lines of Mahakal and Kashi Vishwanath, a grand corridor and other development work will be done here at a cost of Rs 100 crore. This will provide more facilities to the devotees, Gehlot told reporters. He also visited Rajasthan Heritage Museum in the Old Assembly (Sawai Mansingh Town Hall), IPD Tower at Sawai Mansingh Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences and Gandhi Darshan Museum. The chief minister said such work increases tourism and employment opportunities. He also visited the under-construction Gandhi Darshan Museum in Central Park. Also Read Decision will be taken in party's interest: Cong Prez on Gehlot, Pilot Checking rising crime: 8,000 Rajasthan cops round up 2,051 miscreants Timely decision ensured India among early responders in Turkey: Army Chief 2022 saw delimitation process' completion, electoral rolls' revision in JK BP-Reliance's giant deep-water project offshore nears completion 3rd G20 infra working group meet kicks off with eye on 'cities of tomorrow' UP govt approved investment proposals worth Rs 36 lakh cr: CM Adityanath Third G20 infrastructure working group meeting between June 26-28 Greed for power characteristic of Congress: Piyush Goyal on Emergency K Annamalai, Arman Malik take part in Young Leaders Forum in London The work of this project costing about Rs 82 crore is expected to be completed by August 15, he added. Union minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday recalled the imposition of Emergency by the then Indira Gandhi government, saying greed for power is a characteristic of the Congress party. Goyal, who interacted with a group of intellectuals here, said the Emergency was imposed as the court declared the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government a corrupt one and said that she could not hold any post for six years. He claimed the Congress always wants to remain in power and this greed for power is a characteristic of the party. On June 25, 1975, the Indira Gandhi government imposed Emergency, which lasted for the next 21 months, during which fundamental rights of the people were provisionally suspended and curbs were put on the press. The commerce and industries minister was here as part of the BJP's campaign for highlighting the nine-year rule of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Talking about the Emergency era, he said the day is observed as a black day in independent India. Also Read UK phones to get emergency alert system to warn of life-threatening events Goods and services exports may cross $750 bn-mark this fiscal: Piyush Goyal Piyush Goyal, US trade representative Tai to hold virtual meet today Union Minister Piyush Goyal pitches for startup database in country Large companies must take responsibility to handhold MSMEs: Piyush Goyal K Annamalai, Arman Malik take part in Young Leaders Forum in London Himachal contemplating forming task force to combat drug menace: CM Sukhu Over 100 cows died, 8,000 infected in Meghalaya due to lumpy skin disease Trainer aircraft makes emergency landing in K'taka, no casualties reported Phogat shares letter seeking additional time from Asian Games trials He said on June 25, 1975, the Congress government declared the Emergency and more than 1.40 crore people were jailed without following any legal procedure, adding that the minorities were also targeted. People of the country were also forcibly sterilised, he added. Goyal said the intellectuals have gathered on Sunday to condemn the decision to impose the Emergency by Indira Gandhi who destroyed freedom of speech and expression as well as personal liberties and rights. He also took potshots at Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari's statement that there should be a separate law for the Gandhi family in the country. He said neither Rahul Gandhi nor Mallikarjun Kharge or Sonia Gandhi had rebuffed Tiwari's statement, which reflected the mindset of the Congress party. I understand that 140 crore people of this country and the people of Rajasthan will not accept that there should be a separate law for the Gandhi family, he said. Asked about the Congress' often-repeated claim that whoever opposes Modi is either put in jail or silenced and that there is an undeclared emergency' in the country, Goyal said the media is free to ask questions, and elections are being held transparently and in a time-bound manner. Every party is losing and winning elections. During the Emergency, elections were postponed. The Indira Gandhi government gave extensions to the government in an illegal manner. MPs were not allowed in Parliament, he said. He further added that the people of the country today know that they have freedom. The Union minister also targeted Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and said his government's corruption is getting exposed day-by-day. He also accused the chief minister of keeping the state deprived of development. He claimed the promises made in Gehlot's 2018 election manifesto have not been fulfilled yet. I completely hold Ashok Gehlot ji responsible for making Rajasthan a laggard state, he said. Goyal added that the youth have lost faith in Gehlot and in coming days, a strong, decisive and corruption-free government will be formed in the desert state. Rajasthan will go to the polls later this year. Unsubscribe to continue This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp The southwest monsoon strongly picked up pace over the past two days, covering almost all major parts of the country, including Delhi and Mumbai. As the monsoon has again become active, there is a possibility that it will cover the country by the first week of July, which is normal, D Sivananda Pai, scientist at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and a well-known authority on Indian monsoons, told Business Standard. The rains reached Delhi and Mumbai on June 25, something, according to meteorologists, that has not happened since June 21, 1961. The normal date for the onset of the monsoon in Mumbai is June 11 and for Delhi it is June 27 (according to the data sourced from 1961-2000). The historical data that meteorologists have shared shows 1961 was an El Nino-neutral year. Till 0830 hours today (Sunday), the highest rainfall recorded was 18 cm in Mumbai and 5 cm in Delhi, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said at a press conference on Sunday. Also Read Monsoon rains over Kerala likely in next 48 hours, says IMD forecast IMD disagrees with Skymet, says India will have a normal monsoon this year 2023 monsoon to be 'normal'; NW India might get 'below normal' rains: IMD Monsoon rains to be 'slightly delayed', hit Kerala on June 4: IMD Six of the past 15 El Nino years have had normal monsoons, says IMD Protesting wrestlers rule out hitting roads again, say fight will be legal PM Modi's Egypt visit: Expanding ties in trade, renewables, IT discussed China helping Pak Army build defence infrastructure along LoC: Officials NDRF rescues over 120 people, nearly 400,000 affected from Assam floods Modi's US tour impactful for realising of national goals: Sitharaman The northern limit of the southwest monsoon is little short of covering the entire country. The pick-up in the southwest monsoon, mainly over the rain-fed western, central and some parts of southern India, augurs well for the sowing of kharif crops, particularly paddy, oilseeds, and pulses. Sowing has seriously fallen behind. The rains would bring relief to northern, eastern, and central parts of the country. The heat wave over the past few days has caused deaths. Till last week (June 23), the sowing of crops was below par, with the acreage under key pulses such as urad, arhar, and soybean, and rice leading the drop. Traders and market sources said as long as the ideal time frame for sowing was not breached, any delay in planting might not cause any big impact on yields. The southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Central Arabian Sea, some of north Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana, remaining parts of Uttarakhand and most parts of Himachal Pradesh and some more parts of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, today, the 25th June, the IMD said in its latest weather update. It added the conditions were favourable for a further advance of the monsoon into more parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, and the remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir, during the next two days. The sharp pick-up in the rains has also narrowed the deficit, which till June 25 stood at around 28 per cent. Till June 16, the monsoon was almost 47 per cent less than the normal. It means in less than 10 days, the rains have recovered 19 per cent of the deficit. The Nagpur cyber police probing a "task fraud" have unearthed a transaction involving the transfer of crime money to a Chinese individual through cryptocurrency and arrested six men from Mumbai, Gujarat and Rajasthan, a senior official said. Three of the six arrested men hail from Mumbai and suburban Nallasopara and the others from Rajasthan and Surat in Gujarat. The police seized 19 debit and credit cards, nine mobile phones, a laptop, and cash worth Rs 7.87 lakh. Additionally, the police have frozen Rs 37.26 lakh from the bank accounts of the accused individuals, the official said on Saturday. On the modus operandi of such a crime, Deputy Commissioner of Police (cyber) Archit Chandak at a press conference said fraudsters employ different teams to handle various tasks, including an IT team to monitor transactions and a banking team to facilitate their activities. The fraud involves promise of money for performing tasks like liking videos and giving reviews for products. Later, the fraudsters lure the targeted individuals with "prepaid" tasks. They keep on increasing the fees and the victims keep paying the amounts expecting higher returns till they realise they have been cheated. "The task fraud involves a systematic process consisting of three key steps- trust building, laying trap and treachery. Cyber criminals first entice individuals with tasks promising lucrative monetary rewards. Also Read Iran's navy seizes oil tanker with 24 Indian crew members near Oman Tinder removes 5 mn spam, bot accounts in Q1 to combat online fraudsters Narcotic drugs worth Rs 60 lakh seized in Jharkhand's Hazaribag: Police FinMin wants PSBs to enhance recovery rate from written-off accounts to 40% Indian, Israel, US researchers developing drug for GNB1 Encephalopathy PM Modi to visit Egypt's Al-Hakim Mosque, to pay homage to cultural site Take all measures to restore normalcy in Manipur: Meghalaya CM urges Centre 1 killed, over 30 admitted to hospital after inhaling ammonia gas in Bihar World Bank approves $255.5 mn loan to improve technical education in India Top headlines: Standoff in Imphal ends, Wagner chief orders to halt march "In the second stage, they set a trap wherein they win the victims' trust over a month and persuade them with prospects of an elevated profile in exchange for various fees. This ultimately leads to the third step- treachery- wherein the accused absconds with the money and cuts off all communication with the victim," said Chandak. He said the modus operandi resembles the operations of corporate entities. "These criminals employ different teams to handle various tasks, including an IT team to monitor transactions and a banking team to facilitate their activities," the official said. While conducting probe into a complaint lodged by a Nagpur-based chemical engineer, the police got a breakthrough when they traced the money trail to Meet Vyas, one of the arrested men, who had transferred the funds to a Chinese individual using cryptocurrency, Chandak said. The police arrested Akash Tiwari and Ravi Verma from Mumbai, Santosh Mishra from Nallasopara, Meet Vyas from Surat, and Ankit Tater and Arvind Sharma from Rajasthan. Further investigation is underway to bust the entire criminal network and any potential international connections, a police official said. Members of the Korea Military Song Choir (KMSC) pose in front of a Korean War Memorial in an army compound in Chonburi, Thailand, Thursday, after paying respects to fallen Thai soldiers who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted the conflict, the KMSC performed at the Royal Thai Army Club in Bangkok the following day. Thailand dispatched a total of 6,326 troops to help South Korea, with 129 killed and 1,139 wounded. Courtesy of Korea Military Song Choir Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began his maiden state visit to Egypt by holding discussions with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers on deepening trade relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership. Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Modi began his visit with discussions with Egyptian Prime Minister Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers to deepen trade relations and further strengthen the strategic partnership. The Prime Minister also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam and interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora. He also met the members of the Indian diaspora and the Bohra community. The Prime Minister's meeting with the Bohra community members comes ahead of his visit on Sunday to Cairo's historic Al-Hakim Mosque, restored with the help of India's Dawoodi Bohra community. Also Read Egyptian president to witness Republic Day Parade as chief guest today Modi meets Egyptian counterpart, discusses deepening bilateral trade ties Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi witnesses Republic Day parade Egyptian Prez, 180-member military contingent to be part of Republic Day PM Modi's first state visit to Egypt to boost bilateral ties: Indian envoy LIVE: Wagner boss turns his fighters back from Moscow to avoid bloodshed Navy carries out navigability assessment of Yamuna river, say officials UP CM Yogi Adityanath hails PM Modi's tenure as 'full of achievements' EC discusses Telangana Assembly poll preparations, assures logistic support Assam flood situation grim, death toll at 3, over 4 lakh people hit The Bohra community in India actually originated from the Fatima dynasty and they have renovated the mosque from the 1970s onwards. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Earlier, in a special gesture, Modi was welcomed at the airport here by Egypt's Prime Minister with a warm embrace, accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour. "I am confident this visit will strengthen India's ties with Egypt. I look forward to talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attending other programmes," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after landing in Cairo. Modi's first official engagement was a meeting with the India Unit, a group of high-level ministers constituted by President El-Sisi in March to further enhance the relationship with India. The two leaders had decided to elevate the relationship to the level of strategic partnership during El-Sisi's visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations this year. Seven members of the Egyptian Cabinet, led by Madbouly, were present at the meeting with Modi. At the outset, the Prime Minister thanked Egypt for setting up the dedicated high-level India Unit and appreciated the whole of the government approach. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation across a range of areas including trade & investment, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, digital payment platforms, pharma and people to people ties, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter. Modi will meet Egyptian President El-Sisi on Sunday. Earlier, the Indian diaspora, dressed up in traditional attire, gathered in large numbers at the Ritz Carlton Hotel here to welcome Modi. Waving the Indian tricolour, members of the Indian community welcomed the Prime Minister to chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Vande Mataram' when he reached the hotel here. An Egyptian woman, Jena, dressed in a saree, greeted Modi with the popular song 'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chhodenge' from the movie 'Sholay'. Impressed by the rendition of the Kishore Kumar-Manna Dey number, the Prime Minister expressed surprise when Jena said she knew very little Hindi and had never visited India. "Kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega ki aap Misr ki beti ho ya Hindustan ki beti ho (Nobody will be able to tell whether you are a daughter of Egypt or a daughter of India)," Prime Minister Modi said. He will visit the Heliopolis War Cemetery to pay respects to the Indian troops who gave their lives in the ultimate act of valour for Egypt during World War-1. This memorial was built by the Commonwealth, although it is dedicated to the 3,799 Indian troops who lost their lives in different First World War conflicts in Egypt. El-Sisi is also scheduled to travel to India in September for the G-20 Summit where Egypt has been invited as a special guest. Greater cooperation in trade and investment, renewable energy, and information technology between was discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly and the Egyptian Cabinet on Sunday. On his way back from the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Egypt for two days beginning June 24. On Sunday, he met a select group of high-level Egyptian ministers called the 'India unit' created by Egypt to fast-track relations with India. Headed by Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, who in a special gesture received Modi at the airport on Saturday, the India Unit comprises a number of Ministers and senior officials. "Prime Minister appreciated the setting up of the India Unit and welcomed this whole of the government approach to take forward bilateral relations with India, and shared Indias readiness to work closely with Egypt in various areas of mutual interest," the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said in a release. Green hydrogen, digital payment platforms, pharma, and people-to-people ties also figured in the talks, the release said. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi had a comprehensive bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who also conferred Modi with the highest state honour of Egypt, the 'Order of Nile.' Also Read Egypt to offer exclusive industrial cluster to India in Suez Canal EZ Centre to come up with a single trade body to promote exports: Report India-Australia comprehensive trade deal negotiations from February 20 India-Egypt bilateral trade to top $12 billion in next 5 years: PM Modi India-Australia interim trade deal kicks in today after eight-month wait China helping Pak Army build defence infrastructure along LoC: Officials NDRF rescues over 120 people, nearly 400,000 affected from Assam floods Modi's US tour impactful for realising of national goals: Sitharaman G20 infra summit: Yoga retreat to Ganga aarti, Rishikesh gets a makeover 2 dead as heavy rain lashes Himachal, state incurs Rs 78 lakh damage The Egyptian President had been the chief guest at the 2023 Republic Day celebrations in Delhi as part of his second state visit to India. After his return to Egypt, he constituted the India unit. It is focused on quickly expanding business and political engagement with India. In the ensuing months, ministerial meetings with the country had picked up pace, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visiting the country. Egypt has also been invited as a special guest during the Group of Twenty meetings in India. Egypts Grand Mufti also visited India in May. A ministerial-level delegation, led by the Chairperson of Egypts Suez Canal Authority visited India last week. Expanding trade India's bilateral trade with Egypt stood at $6.06 billion in 2022-23, down from the record high of $7.26 billion in the previous year. India has maintained a trade surplus with Egypt with exports of $4.1 being more than double that of imports ($1.95 billion) in FY23. Exports from India to Egypt are broad-based, but diesel and followed by organic chemicals ($311 million), heavy machinery ($256 million), iron & steel ( $223 million), and cotton ($201 million). Refined petroleum is the single biggest import item from the country. The India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 but trade has been slow to take off. Officials told Business Standard the PMs meeting with the India Unit saw discussions on how both nations can work on expanding trade beyond the oil sector. India was Egypt's fifth-largest trading partner in 2022. According to the Indian Embassy in Cairo, around 50 Indian companies have invested upwards of $3.2 billion in apparel, agriculture, chemicals, energy, automobiles, and retail. Directly and indirectly, they employ approximately 35,000 Egyptians. Major Indian investments in Egypt include TCI Sanmar, Alexandria Carbon Black, Kirloskar, Dabur India, FLEX P. FILMS, SCIB Paints, Godrej, Mahindra, and Monginis. Indian companies are present in a range of sectors like As of 2022, 4401 Indians lived in Egypt. On Saturday, the PM visited the historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo, which was restored with the help of Indias Dawoodi Bohra community. He later paid tributes to Indian soldiers who fought World War I in Egypt and Palestine at Cairos Heliopolis War Cemetery. PM Narendra Modi tours Egypt's iconic Pyramids built by ancient Pharaoh's Cairo, Jun 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made an unscheduled trip to the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World built more than 4,000 years ago and among the most recognisable tourist icons in the world like the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The largest of the three Pyramids -- built on a rocky outcrop just outside Cairo -- is the Great Pyramid, soaring to a height of 146.5 metres or 481 feet. It was built by Pharaoh Khufu, the ruler of Egypt at the time. Qutub Minar in New Delhi,built in the early 13th century is 72.5 metres (238 feet) high. All three pyramids were built between 2600 BC and 2500 BC during the rule of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Ancient Egyptian history is divided into three main periods, Old Kingdom (about 2700 to 2200 BC), Middle Kingdom (2050 to 1800 BC) and the New Kingdom (1550 to 1100 BC). Ancient Egyptian kingdoms were ruled by omnipotent Phraoahs or kings who were seen as semi-divine figures, and throughout history indulged in magnificent building projects, including temples, mostly in a bid to immortalise their rule and legacy. Also Read PM Narendra Modi meets Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo PM Narendra Modi arrives in Egypt's Cairo on a two-day state visit Microfinance grows by nearly 10 times in 10 years to cross Rs 5 trn mark PM Modi's first state visit to Egypt to boost bilateral ties: Indian envoy Prime Minister Modi leaves for Egypt after concluding US state visit Gauhati High Court stays the Wrestling Federation of India elections Predator drone deal to bring countries to India's doorstep: Ex-defence secy BIS warns the world economy at critical juncture in inflation fight PM Narendra Modi visits Egypt's historic 11th century Al-Hakim Mosque Constantly monitoring situation: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Assam floods Khufu's predecessors also built smaller Pyramids but they were imperfect structures, which are now in ruins. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is notable for its symmetry, size and engineering perfection. The Pyramids were used by the Pharaohs as their tombs, in which they would be buried along untold riches of gold jewellery and finery in the belief that they would need them in afterlife. The Great Pyramid stood as the tallest structure in the world for more than 4,000 years before modern buildings came up. The other two pyramids are those of Pharoah Khafre standing 136.4 metres or 448 feet, and that of Pharoah Menkaure, rising 65 metres (213 feet). Despite their age, the pyramids, made of massive stone blocks weighing roughly 3 tonnes each, are the only Ancient wonder that have remained largely intact. Located in the Giza Necropolis, or burial grounds, just outside the city of Cairo, the Pyramids mark a glorious time in human civilisation. The ancient ruins of the Memphis area, including the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, a half-human-half-lion figure, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. The Great Pyramid was built by quarrying an estimated 2.3 million large blocks, weighing 6 million tonnes in total. Millions of tourists from around the world visit the Pyramids every year. Modi visited the pyramids on the second day of his two-day state visit to Egypt, following a successful state visit to the US. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly accompanied Modi during the visit. "I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after the visit. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said that the southwest monsoon has advanced over Mumbai and Delhi. Earlier the weather forecasting department also said that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of the Central Arabian Sea, some more parts of Maharashtra, remaining parts of Karnataka, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, parts of East Madhya Pradesh, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh, most parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, some parts of Haryana and Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall with lightning and thunderstorm lashed parts of the national capital on Sunday, bringing respite from the scorching heat. The NCR (National Capital Region) like Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad also witnessed heavy rainfall. Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) predicted, light to moderate intensity rain would occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and NCR. IMD issued an Orange alert for Raigad and Ratnagiri as heavy rainfall lashed parts of Maharashtra. Also Read 17 flights diverted from Delhi airport as heavy rains lashes parts of NCR Monsoon rains over Kerala likely in next 48 hours, says IMD forecast IMD disagrees with Skymet, says India will have a normal monsoon this year 2023 monsoon to be 'normal'; NW India might get 'below normal' rains: IMD IMD predicts southwest monsoon arrival likely in Mumbai city in 72 hours Orange alert issued for Raigad, Ratnagiri as heavy rain lashes Maharashtra Infiltration bid in J-K's Poonch foiled in joint operation, soldier injured Two goods trains collide at Onda railway station in West Bengal's Bankura Heavy rainfall, thunderstorm lash parts of Delhi-NCR, brings respite 12 cadres of banned extremist group KYKL released after mob stops Army The weather department issued a 'yellow alert' for Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and Sindhudurg. "Moderate to heavy rain in the city and suburbs, possibility of very heavy rainfall at isolated places today," said IMD. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai city received 104 mm of rain and eastern suburbs and western suburbs received 123 mm and 139 mm of rain respectively in the last 24 hours. Earlier on Saturday, Andheri subway in Mumbai was closed for vehicular movements after waterlogging was triggered by heavy rainfall. The traffic was diverted towards the Swami Vivekananda road. Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department issued a 'yellow alert' for Mumbai and predicted heavy rainfall in the next 4-5 days. The southwest monsoon is likely to reach today, as per the weather department. "Rainfall intensity to gradually increase over parts of Maharashtra during next 4-5 days. Indication of expected severe weather in the next 5 days, " said Regional Meteorological Centre. On Saturday, some parts of Mumbai witnessed rain showers. Notably, the monsoon hit several parts of the country a few days back, giving people relief from the scorching heat. Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) chief Conrad K Sangma on Saturday urged the Centre to take necessary measures to restore normalcy in Manipur and ensure the safe return of those affected. Sangma made the appeal at a meeting called by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, to address the concerning situation in Manipur. During the meeting, various political parties, including the National People's Party (NPP), expressed their concerns regarding the prevailing conditions in Manipur. The Meghalaya CM informed that one of the primary concerns raised by the political party was the need for adequate relief materials for the affected population. "We have also urged the Government of India to ensure that all the relief materials that are needed by the people and all the other essential commodities which are required, we must make sure that the supply of these materials is done in a sufficient and smooth manner to all the locations and more importantly to the relief camps that are there," the NPP chief said. Sangma also added that it is essential that all political parties, different organisations and religious groups, reach out to all sections of society and to appeal for peace and tranquillity in the State of Manipur. The Meghalaya Chief Minister also called for strict actions against any armed groups involved in violent activities, urging the Government of India to bring them under control. Also Read People's trust in govt forced Mukul Sangma to leave Congress: Meghalaya CM As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today NPP chief Conrad Sangma likely to take oath as Meghalaya CM on Tuesday BJP fumes after permission for PM Modi's rally at Meghalaya stadium denied NPP's Conrad Sangma takes oath as Meghalaya CM, cabinet sworn-in 1 killed, over 30 admitted to hospital after inhaling ammonia gas in Bihar World Bank approves $255.5 mn loan to improve technical education in India Top headlines: Standoff in Imphal ends, Wagner chief orders to halt march Stand-off in Imphal East's Itham ends as Army leaves with seized weapons Isolated rainfall in East Central, parts of NW India in next 5 days: IMD "We should also ensure that all different kinds of armed groups which are involved in any kind of violence, that strict action should be taken from the government of India side to ensure that none of them can go ahead with any kind of violent activities and to ensure that they are brought under control, so all different kind of armed groups which are creating different kinds of situation there must be brought under control and government of India must take necessary steps," asserted Sangma. Sangma proposed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with other political leaders to visit Manipur, if possible, to personally address the situation and appeal to the people to strive for peace. He said that such a visit would go a long way in rebuilding trust and restoring normalcy in the state. The third G20 infrastructure working group (IWG) meeting will be held between June 26-28 in Uttarakhand, which among other things will deliberate on innovative ways towards infra investment. The flagship priority to be discussed in this meeting is Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable, along with other priorities, the Finance Ministry said. A total of 63 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and international organisations will participate in the meeting to further the discussions on the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the Indian G20 Presidency and follow up on the discussions held during the second IWG meeting held in March 2023 in Visakhapatnam. "The third G20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting under G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to take place in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, from 26th to 28th June 2023," the finance ministry said in a statement. The G20 Infrastructure Working Group deliberates on various aspects of infrastructure investments, including developing infrastructure as an asset class, promoting quality infrastructure investment, and identifying innovative instruments for mobilizing financial resources for infrastructure investment, the statement added. The outcomes of the IWG feed into the G20 Finance Track priorities and promote infrastructure development. Also Read G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Guests welcomed with dance performance G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet Three-day-long G20 event in Kashmir to begin today: All you need to know LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Greed for power characteristic of Congress: Piyush Goyal on Emergency K Annamalai, Arman Malik take part in Young Leaders Forum in London Himachal contemplating forming task force to combat drug menace: CM Sukhu Over 100 cows died, 8,000 infected in Meghalaya due to lumpy skin disease Trainer aircraft makes emergency landing in K'taka, no casualties reported Prigozhin orders Wagner mercenaries to halt Moscow march, return to Ukraine The head of the private Russian military force Wagner said Saturday he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine to avoid shedding Russian blood. The announcement from Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin's leadership in his more than two decades in power. Read more Stand-off in Imphal East's Itham ends as Army leaves with seized weapons After a stand-off between a mob led by women and security forces that had cordoned off Itham village in Imphal East where a dozen members of militant group KYKL were hiding, the Army took "a mature decision" to not risk civilian lives and left with seized weapons and ammunition, officials said on Sunday. The Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei militant group, was involved in a number of attacks, including the ambush of a 6 Dogra unit in 2015, they said. Read more PM Modi meets Egyptian counterpart, top ministers; discusses trade ties Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began his maiden state visit to Egypt by holding discussions with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers on deepening trade relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership. Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Read more 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 Egypt to offer exclusive industrial cluster to India in Suez Canal EZ Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems LIVE: Wagner boss turns his fighters back from Moscow to avoid bloodshed Stand-off in Imphal East's Itham ends as Army leaves with seized weapons Isolated rainfall in East Central, parts of NW India in next 5 days: IMD Wise policies being adopted by Modi in bringing co-existence: Grand Mufti Spreading wrong things against us: Sakshi Malik slams Olympic medalist Dutt 'You are a hero', Indian diaspora tells PM Modi as he arrives in Egypt Banks may finance Go First's request for Rs 400 crore interim funding Go First lenders are likely to support the airline's request for Rs 400 crore interim funding to restart the operations. Go First temporarily halted operations on May 2 and was admitted under the insolvency process on May 10. On Wednesday, the airline's resolution professional Shailendra Ajmera submitted a business plan and a request for over Rs 400 crore to the airline's committee of creditors (CoC). Read more Amazon to invest an additional $15 bn in India over the next 7 years Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday termed the nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "full of achievements in the history of independent India". He made the statement while addressing a gathering after inaugurating 41 projects worth Rs 121 crore and layinh the foundation stone of 39 projects worth Rs 86 crore. "Prime Minister's successful tenure of nine years has been full of achievements in the history of independent India," he said. Speaking of the Prime Minister's recent visit to America, Adityanath said the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a rousing reception in the USA and the way he received compliments from senators, is not only unprecedented, but it is also a matter of pride for every Indian. The way the entire world, including top-class people from different countries, participated on the International Yoga Day on June 21, is a rich tribute to "rishi parampara" (ascetic tradition), the chief minister said. Referring to the projects like the construction of Ram Temple and the development of the Braj region, Adityanath asserted that upon the successful completion of these projects, Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Nandgaon, and Barsana will once again rejuvenate the memories of the Dwapara Yuga. Also Read Yogi Adityanath govt to present its largest-ever annual budget today Quality education that values nationalism alone is 'meaningful': CM Yogi UP industrial development authority receives investments worth Rs 3 trn Residents or migrants, UP ensured everyone's safety in pandemic: CM Yogi 'The Kerala Story' to be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh, after MP EC discusses Telangana Assembly poll preparations, assures logistic support Assam flood situation grim, death toll at 3, over 4 lakh people hit Modi meets Egyptian counterpart, discusses deepening bilateral trade ties Siddaramaiah uses 'inauspicious' south door of his office in Vidhana Soudha Did not ask for exemption from trials, just for time to prepare: Wrestlers He emphasised the need to work once again for the development of pilgrimage sites. The UP Chief Minister mentioned that they are soon going to start helicopter services for Mathura-Vrindavan, which will allow people from Agra, Delhi, Noida, and Greater Noida to visit and connect to these places. During the event, the Chief Minister presented the symbolic keys of houses to the beneficiaries of PM Awas Yojana. Later, kits were distributed to the beneficiaries of the Kanya Sumangala Yojana and 100 Adarsh Anganwadi centres. He also distributed tablets and smartphones to meritorious students. Members of the Indian community in Egypt showered fulsome praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hailing him as India's hero', as he began his two-day visit here on Saturday. Modi, the first prime minister to undertake a bilateral visit to Egypt in 26 years, was given a rousing welcome at the Ritz Carlton hotel, where he interacted with the Indian diaspora in separate groups. Most of the members appreciated the Prime Minister's address to the US Congress and the economic progress of the country under his leadership. You are India's hero, a member of the Indian diaspora told Modi, who responded by saying that efforts by every Indian, including those living overseas, have contributed to the country's success. Saara Hindustan sabka hero hai. Desh ke log mehnat karte, desh ki taraqqi hoti hai (Entire India is everyone's hero. The people of the country work hard and the nation progresses), the prime minister said. This is a result of your hard work. Your devotion is paying off (Yeh aapki mehnat ka natija hai. Aapki tapasya kaam kar rahi hai, Modi said. Also Read Egypt to offer exclusive industrial cluster to India in Suez Canal EZ Firm says cargo vessel 'MV Glory' ran aground in Egypt's Suez Canal 'Use India made goods and services': FM Nirmala Sitharaman tells diaspora PM Narendra Modi arrives in Egypt's Cairo on a two-day state visit Khalistani extremist attack in UK; Indian diaspora calls solidarity meet Assam cabinet nod to Rs 823 crore investment in Numaligarh Refinery PM Modi meets Egyptian counterpart, top ministers; discusses trade ties LIVE: Wagner boss turns his fighters back from Moscow to avoid bloodshed Navy carries out navigability assessment of Yamuna river, say officials UP CM Yogi Adityanath hails PM Modi's tenure as 'full of achievements' Modi also met the members of the Bohra community, who have strong linkages with his home state of Gujarat. Earlier, waving the Indian tricolour, members of the Indian community welcomed the Prime Minister to chants of 'Modi, Modi', 'Vande Mataram' when he reached the hotel here. An Egyptian woman, Jena, dressed in a saree, greeted Modi with the popular song 'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chhodenge' from the movie 'Sholay'. Impressed by the rendition of the Kishore Kumar-Manna Dey number, the Prime Minister expressed surprise when Jena said she knew very little Hindi and had never visited India. "Kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega ki aap Misr ki beti ho ya Hindustan ki beti ho (Nobody will be able to tell whether you are a daughter of Egypt or a daughter of India)," Prime Minister Modi said. "Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy was people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly, a celebration of our shared cultural linkages," the Prime Minister tweeted. On Sunday, Modi will visit the 11th Century Al-Hakim mosque, which was renovated with assistance from the Dawoodi Bohra community. The Bohra community in India actually originated from the Fatima dynasty and they have renovated the mosque from the 1970s onwards. He will visit the Heliopolis War Cemetery to pay respects to the Indian troops who gave their lives in the ultimate act of valour for Egypt during World War-1. This memorial was built by the Commonwealth, although it is dedicated to the 3,799 Indian troops who lost their lives in different First World War conflicts in Egypt. India should consider negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with Egypt as the Mediterranean nation holds huge potential for the domestic industry in various sectors like agri products, steel items and light vehicles, according to exporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Cairo for a two-day state visit at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said that India and Egypt have historic trade relations, which are robust and fairly balanced. India's exports increased to USD 4.1 billion in 2022-23 from USD 3.74 billion in 2021-22. However, imports from that country declined to about USD 2 billion against USD 3.5 billion in 2021-22. Fertiliser, crude oil, chemicals, raw cotton, and raw hides are major import items from Egypt. The main export items include wheat, rice, cotton yarn, petroleum, meat, flat-rolled products, ferroalloys (related to iron) and light vehicles. "The prime minister's visit is significant as Egypt is the gateway to Africa and Europe. A cementing of economic relations and possibly a feasibility study for FTA can be undertaken as Egypt has such FTAs with countries in West Asia and Africa," Sahai said. Also Read Together we stand stronger: PM Modi as he leaves for US on 1st state visit Trade agreements with Australia, UAE to help boost exports, says EPCs PM Modi in the US: Semiconductors to drones, here's what will be in focus Leadership at global institutions like UN needs to be re-evaluated: PM Modi PM Narendra Modi's US visit: Top points for Indian diaspora in US 408 infra projects show cost overruns of Rs 4.80 trillion in May: Report 'We need to go for root cause analysis instead of testing cough syrups' Indian Staffing Federation asks firms to engage with ethical staffing firms Self-regulatory body for pharma industry on cards: Mansukh Mandaviya Scindia inaugurates SAIL's Rs 149-cr beneficiation plant in Chhattisgarh Besides cooperation in agriculture, biotechnology, pharma, and renewable energy, India should explore tie-ups in logistics with Egypt, he added. "We should look at taking trade to USD 15 billion in the next three years from the current over USD 6 billion," he said. Engineering exporter and Director of Geco Trading Corporation Khalid Khan said that Egypt is a major trading partner of India in Africa. Ludhiana-based engineering exporter and Hand Tools Association President SC Ralhan suggested that Egypt should consider starting trade with India in domestic currency. About 50 Indian companies are operating in Egypt. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, center, waves the Korean flag with veterans of the Korean War and other attendees during an event marking the 73rd anniversary of the war's outbreak at eastern Seoul's Jangchung Gymnasium, Sunday. Yonhap President honors heroes who died defending freedom against communist forces By Jung Min-ho Marking the 73rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War on Sunday, President Yoon Suk Yeol said only "strong power" can guarantee peace on the peninsula and honored those who died while defending South Korea against communist forces. "We should never forget the tears and blood of those who participated in the war and their families. We should remember the meaning of all of the blood that was shed by those in uniform, which made freedom in the Republic of Korea possible," Yoon said in a message posted on social media. "Only strong power can guarantee true peace. We will defend the free Republic of Korea resolutely and contribute to bringing prosperity and freedom to the citizens of the world so that the sacrifice of the heroes who defended (South Korea's) freedom against the invasion of the communist forces will not be in vain." President Yoon Suk Yeol signs a guest book, with first lady Kim Keon Hee watching by his side, at a special exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance in the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, Sunday. Yonhap He expressed particular gratitude to former U.S. President Harry Truman, who sent more than 1.7 million American soldiers. Fighting alongside those from 15 other countries under the U.N. flag, they helped save South Korea, which was, at one point, on the verge of losing its sovereignty to the North. After Chinese "voluntary" military forces intervened to help its communist ally, the war eventually ended in a ceasefire on July 27, 1953. The other countries to send combat troops to participate in the conflict were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Thailand, the Philippines, Colombia, Belgium, Ethiopia and Luxembourg. Echoing the president's message, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said South Korea's relations with "countries that share free democracy and other universal values," will remain the key to its security policy. "The government will protect our security with strong self-defense, instead of relying on the North's goodwill," Han said during an event marking the anniversary at eastern Seoul's Jangchung Gymnasium. "President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the U.S. in April strengthened our 70-year alliance as a nuclear-based one." Having secured a nonpermanent seat on the U.N. Security Council for the 2024-25 term, South Korea now has an opportunity to make much progress in that effort, he added. Their statements come at a time when South Korea's two political blocs are strengthening their respective visions for peace, with the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) criticizing the Yoon administration for "playing its part" in fueling tensions by taking a confrontational position. "The government should manage the inter-Korean relations through diplomatic efforts such as dialogue," said Rep. Park Sung-joon, a spokesman for the party. Terms used in the statements, such as "communist" and "free democracy," also suggest key differences in the parties' foreign policy strategies for peace. In less diplomatic terms, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, chairman of the governing People Power Party, denounced the liberal politicians for their conciliatory policy toward North Korea and its allies such as China. "I'm reflecting on the day the North Korean communist forces invaded the Republic of Korea with the unwavering support of the Soviet Union and China," Kim said in social media post. "Despite this, some still deny the obvious fact that North Korea and the Soviet Union were responsible for starting the Korean War, with radical (communist) sympathizers even regurgitating the North Korean view (of the war) to defend it over its responsibility and war crimes." Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, left, chairman of the ruling People Power Party, and Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, attend an event marking the 73rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War at eastern Seoul's Jangchung Gymnasium, Sunday. Yonhap Pharmaceutical exports from India have come under the scanner after sporadic cases of contaminated or substandard medicines. These incidents have led the government to ask cough syrup exporters to test their batches at central drugs laboratories (CDLs) before them shipping abroad. Udaya Bhaskar, director general of the Pharmaceutical Exports Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) in a telephonic conversation with Sohini Das shares his views on the matter. Edited excerpts: How are pharma exports from India doing in 2023-24? Revolutionary gains in word prediction by large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are all around us. What will these do for working and exporting from India? What will these do for the learning process? Gains are available but the landscape needs to be navigated with caution. There is a lot of amazement when a question is put to ChatGPT and a coherent-sounding answer comes. In terms of accessing the world of knowledge at your fingertips, this is only as amazing as running a Google search and finding those same things. Whats new is that the pieces are wrapped together in a coh India and US Limits in the sky Hindustan Aeronautics' Dhruv choppers to get monitors to dodge obstacles Hindustan Zinc dividend record date today; company's shares in the red Will the iCET get a boost during PM Narendra Modi's visit to the US? HAL hits new high on stock split plan; zooms over 700% from March 2020 lows Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US unambiguously signals another reset in relations between India and the worlds sole superpower. The shift was in evidence in the Biden administrations invitation for a state visit, including an address to Congress, despite Indias refusal to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine and decisions to buy increasingly larger quantities of Russian oil and the S400 defence shield. The liberalised renewable visa regime for Indian professionals and the decision to end six trade disputes at the World Trade Organization with India lifting retaliatory tariffs point To read the full story, subscribe to BS Premium now, at just Rs 249/ month. Key stories on business-standard.com are available only to BS Premium subscribers. Already a BS Premium subscriber?LOGIN NOW Register to read more on Business-Standard.com Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the Congress which imposed the Emergency was now falsely accusing the BJP government of suppressing democracy. Singh addressed two rallies in Agra in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday and trained his gun on the Congress. Describing the Emergency, which was imposed on this day in 1975 by the Indira Gandhi government, as "the dark phase of Indian democracy", the senior BJP leader said, "I was jailed for 16 months and kept in isolation for about two-and-half months during the Emergency.... Many innocents were kept in jails." "But today the Congress party is falsely accusing the BJP government of suppressing democracy...if the BJP was strangulating democracy then how was it possible for the Congress to form governments in states like Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan," he said. He said the Congress and other opposition parties are coming together with the singular motive of defeating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and grabbing power. Highlighting various achievements of the Narendra Modi government in its nine years, Singh said India has now become a powerful country and all nations across the globe look towards it for solutions to various issues. "Every Indian felt proud when PM Modi addressed a joint session of of the US Congress. It was an honour for the nation," he said. Also Read Fadnavis falsely claiming that warkaris weren't lathi-charged in Pune: Cong China accuses US of spreading disinformation, suppressing TikTok UK phones to get emergency alert system to warn of life-threatening events More competitive Congress must for revival of healthy democracy: Guha Was thrown in jail for 18 months during emergency, says Rajnath Singh Kite-flying to spymaster: Meet Ravi Sinha, Secy, Research & Analysis Wing SP's moves to embrace symbols of Hindutva are targeted at the 2024 polls Record number of OBC ministers serving in Modi government: Fadnavis Emergency in 1975 only time in India when democracy was trampled: Puri JP Nadda to inaugurate exhibition in Bhopal on 9 years of Modi govt Before Modi came to power in 2014 the Indian economy ranked 11th globally but in nine years since it has become the fifth largest economy in the world, he said. He also highlighted the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine during its war with Russia and India supplying COVID-19 vaccines to several countries during the pandemic. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday attacked the Congress over the imposition of Emergency in 1975, while asserting that it was the only time when the country's democracy was trampled". Addressing a public meeting in north east Delhi, he called the Emergency a "black day" in the country's democracy. Not only political activists but students and journalists were also put behind bars, he said. The then Indira Gandhi government imposed the Emergency on this day in 1975, suspending civil liberties and censoring the press. The morning after a crackdown began on opposition leaders and activists with scores of them being jailed across the country. The Emergency was lifted on March 21, 1977. Recalling those days, Puri said he was a student of the Delhi University. "I was around 22-years-old. Our generation and the generation after won't forget what happened at that time. Arun Jaitley, who is no longer with us, was put in jail. Our leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani were also jailed in Karnataka, he said. Puri said India is the "biggest democracy and went on to quote Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said India is the mother of democracy'. "But some people of that family and party worry about democracy and minorities when they go out of the country. I want to remind the youth leader of that party that on June 25, 1975, your grandmother had imposed the Emergency. It was only at that time in the country's history when democracy was trampled," he claimed in an apparent reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Also Read Dark days of Emergency unforgettable period in India's history: PM Modi UK phones to get emergency alert system to warn of life-threatening events Fine or imprisonment: What happens if you open emergency door of a flight? Elections in India, Turkey and Thailand show democracy is not dead More competitive Congress must for revival of healthy democracy: Guha JP Nadda to inaugurate exhibition in Bhopal on 9 years of Modi govt Opposition parties meeting in Patna: An opportunity to build bridges Haryana CM Khattar announces approval to metro between Ballabgarh, Palwal Manipur CM briefs Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on prevailing situation Never seen PM who speaks lies: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah targets Modi The housing and urban affairs minister said when the youth leader was 13, around 2,000 people from the minority community were killed in Assam and when he was 14, "3,000 people from my community were massacred. He was apparently referring to Nellie massacre in central Assam in 1983 where minorities, especially Muslim immigrants of East Bengal origin, were targeted. The anti-Sikh riots in Delhi following the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984 had also claimed many lives from the Sikh community. "Who are these people to talk about minorities and democracy?" Puri asked. The Union minister also highlighted the achievements of nine years of the Modi government, while asserting that the prime minister's schemes are appreciated across the world. He also attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over non-implementation of the Centre's ambitious Ayushmann Bharat scheme. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a national public health insurance scheme of the Government of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low income earners in the country. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said his government had given approval for metro connectivity between Ballabgarh and Palwal and added it would ensure better connectivity and speed up development in the area adjoining Delhi. Addressing a rally at Gajpuri village in Palwal, Khattar said the central and state governments were taking steps for ensuring inclusive development. Big projects such as metro connectivity and national highways are coming up in Haryana with the help of the central government, he said and extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Our government has made unprecedented development in Palwal and Faridabad region. With many major state highways, better connectivity has been ensured. Development of the Jewar airport will also speed up industrialisation and other development works in the area. "It is a matter of pride for the region that the Mumbai Expressway passes through these districts, he said. The chief minister announced that metro connectivity between Ballabgarh and Palwal had been approved. Also Read Chennai metro passengers can buy tickets on WhatsApp: Here's how to book 6 of 7 Independents support Khattar govt unconditionally: Haryana min Signs of recovery: Delhi Metro regains 90% of pre-pandemic ridership levels DMRC to get over 100 cops in plainclothes to monitor, prosecute offenders Haryana CM Khattar keeps Sports portfolio held by Minister Sandeep Singh Manipur CM briefs Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on prevailing situation Never seen PM who speaks lies: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah targets Modi SP expert in 'Chipko Movement': Adityanath on anti-BJP Opposition meet Dark days of Emergency unforgettable period in India's history: PM Modi Will continue as KPCC chief, file defamation case on Govindan: Sudhakaran Following the slogan of "Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek", he said, development works are being carried out in the entire state without any disparity. By implementing the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) scheme, Haryana is playing an active role in giving benefits of government schemes directly to the last person, he added. The chief minister said his government is always executing development works in the spirit of "antyodaya" and with the goal of public service. "We left no stone unturned in matters of public interest, that is why Haryana is achieving new milestones in every sector.... Our government has done the work of eliminating corruption, fear and nepotism which were dominating during the previous Congress tenure," he said. He spoke about providing good governance to people and said they are availing benefits of government schemes while sitting at their homes. Khattar said that when he meets villagers during his visits to different areas, they praise the schemes of the Haryana government. He said his government gave jobs to people based on merit as he attacked the previous Congress regime for allegedly distributing jobs. Khattar attacked the Congress for the imposition of the Emergency on June 25 in 1975. The Emergency remained an unforgettable phase in the history of the nation and it was "totally opposite" to the constitutional values, he said, adding, People suffered torture in jails and did agitations for the restoration of democracy, we should remember all such warriors. The chief minister said families with an income of less than Rs 1 lakh are considered as "antyodaya" families, while families with an annual income of Rs 1.80 lakh are considered as BPL families. "Our focus is on providing facilities like education, employment, health and security to such families in order to connect them with the mainstream society," he said, adding that his government was committed to ensure their overall development. Speaking on this occasion, Union Minister of State Krishan Pal said PM Modi has been working for the upliftment of every class for the last nine years as a "pradhan sevak". "India has made a different identity on the global stage under PM Modi," he added. "Today, the government is giving due respect to every class. Unmatched progress has been achieved in the whole country during the past nine years, he added. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda will on Monday inaugurate an exhibition here showcasing achievements of nine years of the Narendra Modi government. Talking to reporters, MP BJP president VD Sharma said Nadda will reach Bhopal by a special plane at 4 PM on Monday and hold a meeting of party functionaries apart from inaugurating the exhibition. Meanwhile, the BJP held a meeting of prominent citizens in the state capital during the day in the presence of party national general secretary Tarun Chugh. Those who attended the meeting sported black ribbons to protest the imposition of Emregency on the night of June 25 in 1975. Chugh said the nation would never forget the dark days of the Emergency during which the Congress suppressed the Constitution and killed democracy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in MP on Tuesday and Sharma said he would hold a road show from Raj Bhawan to Police Control Room here. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday took a jibe at the Samajwadi Party joining a meeting of Opposition parties at Patna to forge unity against the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, saying the Akhilesh Yadav-led party is an "expert in Chipko Andolan". BJP leader Adityanath was addressing a public rally in Gautam Buddh Nagar's Noida during which he inaugurated over 124 development projects worth more than Rs 1,719 crore across Noida and Greater Noida. When the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Lok Dal, the Janata Dal (United) and others who are called followers of JP (socialist icon Jayaprakash Narayan) collude with those (Congress) who trampled the democracy, the public also begins to see how they tried to hide their misdeeds and corruption," he said. "The Samajwadi Party has a long history. Like in 2004, they had extended support to the Congress without even being asked for it. Although the Congress did not want their support the Samajwadi Party forced it. This party is an expert in 'Chipko Andolan'," Adityanath said. The Samajwadi Party has done it in the past and they have done it once again this time. But brothers and sisters, we should not deviate from the positive approach and continue our development journey," he told the event. The Chipko Movement refers to a non-violent agitation in 1973 by local communities in present-day Uttarakhand for the protection and conservation of trees in response to increasing deforestation. The locals, including women, hugged trees in their effort to save them. Also Read The Chipko legacy Green activists stage 'Chipko' agitation to protest tree cutting in Pune All-party Opposition meet ahead of 2024 elections today; all you must know As Nitish tries to bring Opposition together, here's a look at his journey CM Yogi Adityanath framing Samajwadi Party leaders in false cases: Akhilesh Dark days of Emergency unforgettable period in India's history: PM Modi Will continue as KPCC chief, file defamation case on Govindan: Sudhakaran UP CM bats for media freedom, renames Noida road after Ramnath Goenka Modi govt 'sabotaging' Anna Bhagya scheme in Karnataka, says Congress Time has come to take pledge to change corrupt govt in Odisha: Pradhan "Today, I have come with that message only. In the last six years in Gautam Buddh Nagar, the perception has changed. Major works are being done in infrastructure development, investments are coming in and Noida and Greater Noida are poised to dominate the world. This district has given Uttar Pradesh a new identity in the last six years," he said. On June 23, a joint meeting of over a dozen political parties was held in Bihar's Patna and they resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 general elections. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (JD-U) and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) hosted the meeting which was attended Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, TMC's Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin (DMK), Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), RJD's Lalu Prasad Yadav and the SP's Akhilesh Yadav. Jharkhand's Hemant Soren (JMM), Maharashtra's former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena-UBT), National Conference Leader Omar Abdullah and NCP president Sharad Pawar, Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti, CPI general secretary D Raja, CPI (ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya and CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury were also among the leaders who attended the nearly four-hour-long meeting. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati (BSP), Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik (BJD), K Chandrashekar Rao (BRS) and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy (YSRCP) were not invited, while RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary did not attend the meeting due to a "predetermined family programme". The BJP reacted strongly to the Opposition meeting, calling it a "multi-headed selfish alliance" and said it was wolves hunting in packs. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will visit Pandharpur and Tuljapur temple towns during his two-day visit to Maharashtra starting from Monday, a functionary of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) said. The BRS has been trying to make inroads into Maharashtra ahead of the state Assembly polls due next year. Rao, popularly known as 'KCR', will arrive at Omerga in Osmanabad district on Monday and will then leave for Solapur. On Tuesday, he will visit the Lord Vitthal temple in Pandharpur town of Solapur and offer prayers to the deity, the BRS functionary said. The CM will also attend a locally arranged programme in Sarkoli village of Solapur. Rao will later depart for Tuljapur in Osmanabad, where he will visit the famous Tulja Bhavani temple on Tuesday afternoon, he said. Also Read Telangana celebrates state formation day, KCR launches 21-day fete CM KCR is more dangerous than Atiq Ahmed, says Telangana BJP chief KCR hits out at BJP over 'privatisation' moves in coal, energy sectors Telangana ranks number one in per capita income in 2022-23, says KTR Rs 6,000 aid for farmers by Maharashtra govt insufficient: Telangana CM Manipur is burning: AAP hits back at Rajnath as he takes on Mann govt Nadda to address public rally in Telangana today to highlight achievements Oppn meet attendees disagree with AAP's charge against Cong on ordinance Wolves hunt in packs but they can't hunt lion: Smriti Irani on Oppn meeting Even God not spared in MP, says Digvijaya as Congress holds protests On June 15, BRS president Rao inaugurated his party's first office in Maharashtra at Nagpur as part of his ambitious plan to increase the organisation's footprint outside his home state. He had expressed concern over farmer suicides in Maharashtra and pitched for his "Telangana model" of development in the state. Rao said 24-hour power and water supply in Telangana had reduced farmer suicides considerably there. In December last year, the KCR-led party changed its name from Telangana Rashtra Samithi to Bharat Rashtra Samithi to underline its intention of becoming a pan-India party. Last month, Rao announced a month-long programme to expand the BRS party's network in over 45,000 villages in urban civic bodies in Maharashtra. On May 22, the BRS began its drive to form party committees in the state as part of its exercise to go beyond the confines of its traditional stronghold Telangana. KCR recently held rallies in parts of Maharashtra, mostly in Nanded, where he slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre and the one in Maharashtra led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for neglecting farmers and the downtrodden. Union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani on Saturday took a jibe at the meeting of opposition parties held in Patna, saying wolves hunt in packs but they do not know that they cannot hunt a lion. She also alleged that the target of Friday's opposition conclave was not Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "but the people of the country and the exchequer". "As soon as I came to Indore, the media asked me what my reaction was to the Opposition's gathering in Patna yesterday," Irani said addressing a public gathering organised here to mark the completion of the Modi government's nine years in power. There is a saying in English that wolves hunt in packs but they do not know that they can't hunt a lion," Irani said. She also spoke at an event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party to mark the completion of nine years of the Modi government. Prominent women from Indore were invited to this programme. Also Read Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra aims to unite country: Farooq Abdullah Opposition has to unite to win elections against BJP: Farooq Abdullah Rahul Gandhi takes a late-night truck ride to speak to drivers; see video Rahul Gandhi has insulted entire OBC community, says Smriti Irani Rahul Gandhi convicted in Modi surname defamation case: What we know so far Even God not spared in MP, says Digvijaya as Congress holds protests Sat next to Mehbooba Mufti purposely, says Uddhav; attacks Fadnavis Congress let Kartarpur Sahib go, PM Modi reunited it: Rajnath Singh AAP slams Rajnath Singh as he takes on Mann govt over law, order issue Oppn have recognised need to fight together to protect Constitution: D Raja "There has been a gathering (of Opposition parties), but its target was not Modi, but you (the public) and India's treasury," Irani claimed. "I know that when a person casts an evil eye on treasury....just alert the woman of the house and the enemy automatically fails," the Women and Child Development minister added. She claimed deep differences existed among the Opposition parties. "Those who can't handle even their own homes, how will they handle Hindustan?" she asked. Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for touching the feet of (RJD chief) Lalu Prasad Yadav in Patna, Irani said, "Those of us who are in Parliament know that Banerjee had declared Yadav a corrupt leader. She also targeted former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah. "There was a great camaraderie between these parties in Patna. Prime Minister Narendra Modi removed Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. Today, I humbly want to ask the Gandhi family whether they are with India or Article 370? Irani asked. Referring to the under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya, Irani asked the Opposition parties whether they are with Lord Ram or with those who have submitted affidavits questioning the existence of Lord Ram in the court. Talking to reporters after the general meeting, Irani said, "The fractured opposition gathered in Patna indicated that Opposition parties are trying to unite for personal interests." She said the Aam Aadmi Party's stand in the opposition meeting has come to the fore and the opposition innings in this meeting started with "political blackmailing". Referring to Lalu Prasad Yadav's advice to Rahul Gandhi to get married soon, Irani said, "Lalu Prasad Yadav has ridiculed the heir of the Gandhi family in the opposition meeting. This shows that the opposition does not have concrete national, political and economic issues. Irani also participated in another BJP programme and released a report titled "Nari Sashaktikaran Se Rashtra Utthan (Women Empowerment to Nation Upliftment)", which is based on data on women's development during the last nine years. At the Patna meeting, a total of 17 opposition parties resolved to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly to defeat the saffron party and work with flexibility by setting aside their differences. Irani also said India's credibility in the world has increased due to the US visit of the prime minister and cited announcements made by various foreign companies to invest in India. Action urged on financing gap 09:54, June 25, 2023 By Cao Desheng in Paris ( China Daily Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the closing ceremony of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua] Premier outlines to Paris summit proposal to help developing nations Premier Li Qiang on Friday called for the international community to take concerted action to jointly address the difficulties faced by developing countries particularly fragile nations in the face of the global development financing gap. Li made the remark in Paris while addressing the closing ceremony of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, which was initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron. Invited by the French government, Li is on a three-day official visit to the country that began on Wednesday. The premier put forward China's proposed solutions to addressing the widening global development financing gap. He said that efforts should be made to promote reform of global financial governance and create a stable financing environment for developing countries. "China is willing to work with all parties to build a fair and efficient global financial governance pattern and strengthen international macroeconomic policy coordination," he said. International financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should implement the consensus of the G20 leaders, complete the new round of quota and voting rights reforms, and improve the voice of emerging market countries and developing nations, he added. Li called for building a global development partnership and providing more resources for developing countries. Developed countries should effectively fulfill their commitments to provide assistance and funding to developing countries, while developing countries need to enhance their own development capabilities, he said. "China will continue to provide various forms of support to other developing countries through practical measures to the best of its ability," Li said. The premier also urged promoting economic globalization and free trade to inject new growth momentum for developing countries. "China is willing to work with the international community to promote liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, firmly oppose trade protectionism and all kinds of 'decoupling' and disruption of industrial and supply chains," Li said. In a world full of turbulence and uncertainties, China and the European Union should seek common ground while reserving their differences and promote more creative cooperation to respond to the uncertainty of the international situation with the stability of China-EU relations. Both sides should also jointly promote sustainable human development. As an important engine of the global economy, China has injected sustained power into the world's economic development, Li said. Regardless of how the world changes, China is steadfast in promoting high-quality development and expanding high-level opening-up so that all countries can share in China's development opportunities, he added. On Thursday, Li met with Macron and called for the two countries to strengthen communication on international affairs to jointly cope with global challenges, while enhancing bilateral exchanges and cooperation. Li said his visit to France aims to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and have in-depth discussions on strengthening China-France cooperation. While deepening cooperation in traditional areas such as nuclear energy, space and aviation, they should also tap the potential of cooperation in new fields, including environmental protection, the digital economy, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, Li said. The Chinese side encourages its enterprises to invest in France, and French companies are welcome to share in China's development opportunities, he added. Macron recalled his visit to China in April, saying France attaches great importance to relations with China and is ready to enhance coordination and deepen cooperation in various fields. In a world full of challenges, France and China should adhere to multilateralism, promote international solidarity, improve global governance and strive to find solutions to global issues, Macron added. On the same day, Li also met with President of the European Council Charles Michel and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the two-day summit in Paris. During his meeting with Michel, Li urged the EU to view its cooperation with China in an objective and rational way and work with China to safeguard the sound environment of China-EU pragmatic cooperation. While meeting with Sharif, Li called for advancing major projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a luncheon meeting for people of national merit and their families at the former presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, in Seoul, June 14. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday lauded the sacrifice of fallen troops from the 1950-53 Korean War and called on the nation to remember their "bloodshed uniforms" on the 73rd anniversary of the war's outbreak. In a Facebook post, Yoon said the "blood and tears shed by the war veterans and their families shall never be forgotten," stressing that "only strong power can guarantee real peace." He also vowed to further defend South Korea and contribute in bringing prosperity and freedom to the people so that the "sacrifices of the heroes who fought against the invasion of the communist forces do not go in vain." Yoon noted that 1.95 million U.N. soldiers, including 1.78 million U.S. soldiers, came "rushing to protect" the freedom of South Koreans during the Korean War. Ephrat Livni, Ravi Mattu & Michael J de la Merced The tragic deaths of five people on a tour to see the Titanic shipwreck this week have put the risks of extreme travel into focus. But despite the dangers, travel to out-there locations like the South Pole, remote mountaintops, shark-infested waters and space is becoming more popular. Adventure tourism is expected to bring in more than $1 trillion of revenue globally by 2030, up from an expected $316.6 billion in 2022, according to the market research firm Grand View Research. And as interest grows, so, too, will the number of search and rescue missions, says Mikki Hastings, president of the National Association for Search and Rescue. Whether its space or Everest, every person deserves to be found, she said. The number of businesses aiming to mitigate the danger and potential emergency costs of extreme travel are starting to rise. Some offer rescue and medical evacuation from remote locations. Others are working out new types of insurance policies for pursuits like space travel. Traditional travel insurance wont swoop in with paramedics, even though it typically covers the cost of an emergency. Dan Richards, the chief executive of Global Rescue, told DealBook that he wanted to fill that gap when he founded the emergency travel management company in 2004. For a $360 annual fee, it provides members with evacuation services. Upgrades, including one that promises military special operations veterans will retrieve you from dangerous locations like war zones, can raise the fee to about $1,800. Similarly, Medjet, a medical evacuation service, sells annual memberships, and companies like AirMed International, SkyMed and others offer emergency extractions. Also Read 2023 may see an M&A surge in insurance sector: Shriram General Insurance MD Composite insurance licence regime may trigger M&A activity: HDFC Life CFO New tax norm to hurt insurers; stocks attractive for the long run: Analysts KTM India launched a more accessible 390 Adventure V with low seat variant Irdai grants permission to Go Digit Life Insurance to commence business Russia back in financial investors' focus after the weekend mutiny Cash-strapped Pakistan Parliament approves Rs 14.48 trn budget for 2023-24 Seven killed, 42 injured in bus collision in Pakistan's Sindh province K Annamalai, Arman Malik take part in Young Leaders Forum in London Anti-graft body takes over Pashupati temple; devotees not allowed inside Travel insurance is going to space. With companies like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic selling tickets for trips, the market for space tourism is expected to grow to about $3 billion by 2030, according to estimates from UBS. The space travel insurance market is still small, but Lloyds of London, which insures space businesses, began underwriting space travel insurance in 2021, and last year the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance said they would jointly develop space insurance offerings. Taxpayers will end up footing the bill for some rescues. The cost of search and rescue typically falls on state and local agencies, Ms. Hastings said. About a half-dozen states have laws that allow agencies to charge a rescue recipient, though few do, and there is no cost to those rescued by the federal park services, for example. Last year, lawmakers from Hawaii and Utah introduced legislation to allocate federal funds to help states pay for search and rescue operations, a burden that the drafters said disproportionately fell on less populous places, but the bill failed to gain traction. The search for the submersible this week most likely cost millions of dollars. The Coast Guard, which led the rescue effort, has jurisdiction over search and rescue in navigable waters in the United States and beyond. But thats just the definition of their mission, Ms. Hastings argues. We dont encourage charging for search and rescue because we want people to seek help regardless of socioeconomic status. Mr. Richards said a client of Global Rescue had signed up for the Titan trip this week, but withdrew his deposit because of safety concerns. Though his team would have worked with international rescuers if the customer had followed through with his plans, the company would not have had the requisite deep sea capabilities. There are some journeys where risk cant really be mitigated yet, he said, adding, If theres an emergency in space, no one will be able to necessarily reach people. There is a need to rectify the notion that countries with large populations contribute more to emissions, a senior UNFPA official said, underlining that developing nations face the worst impact despite being some of the lowest producers of greenhouse gases. According to United Nations estimates, India has become the most populous country in the world with over 142 crore people. However, the government is yet to conduct a census for an official figure. Speaking to PTI, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Director of Technical Division Dr Julitta Onabanjo said one of the things "we definitely are trying to also correct is this notion that because you have a large population, it's contributing to climate emissions". "What matters is the pattern of consumption. And we know that, for the most part, it's the developing countries that face the worst impact, yet, they have contributed the least to greenhouse gases," she said. "We would like to build more awareness on this issue." Onabanjo added that the richest nations, many of which have populations that are stable or declining, are those with the highest emissions, the highest consumption patterns, and the largest carbon footprint. "Data shows that the richest half of nations account for 86 per cent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions even though they have the lowest fertility rates," the official said. 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 Top 5 GHG emitting nations responsible for 40% food supply emission in 2019 IndianOil top bidder for Reliance's KG gas for second auction in row 'The Kerala Story' to be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh, after MP Musk, Tata & Mittal on one side, Ambani on other for satellite spectrum Taliban leader claims women provided with comfortable, prosperous life Netanyahu briefly freezes Golan wind turbine project that set off clashes With record heat, Spain's Catalonia faces perfect wildfire conditions Wagner group's revolt against Moscow fizzles but exposes vulnerabilities "However, the nations with younger populations, and relatively higher population growth, also have the lowest rates of carbon emission, the smallest footprint and yet they bear the brunt of climate vulnerabilities and impact. Placing the burden of climate change mitigation efforts on women's bodies diverts responsibility from governments and the private sector, particularly those with financial investment in fossil fuels," she explained. On India becoming the most populous nation, Onabanjo said the country has a large youthful population that has so much to offer in terms of human capital. "India's investment in its youthful population, especially in health, education, capacities, skills and employment and entrepreneurship, will make a real difference to how India reaches its aspirations of a developed country," Onabanjo said. The other characteristic of India's demography, she said, is that its national average fertility rate has gone below the replacement rate but there are significant variations in the fertility rate that opens up new opportunities for development. She said, "The southern states of India in particular have had low fertility rates for decades now while most of the northern and eastern states have higher fertility from where most of the population growth is coming." "This is an opportunity for India to invest and gain from well managed migration policies. What we see is a lot of internal migration prospects, again, for jobs, rural-urban movements, etc and I think that's healthy," the UNFPA official added. Onabanjo is on a visit to India and has a number of engagements, including a field visit to Rajasthan. However, she also flagged risks such as exclusion and discrimination. "...as we have seen with any migration, there are risks of exclusion or discrimination. If a young person is going to move from the north to the south, they must feel safe to do that. They must feel part of a community and a country so that all sense of patriotism will be very useful. This is where India is managing well and should continue to do so, valuing its diversity and democracy," she said. Onabanjo stressed on the need for investment in proper abilities for women and their partners to access contraceptives and enable them to make better fertility choices. Looking at the fertility trends, the UNFPA official highlighted the need to "ensure that ultimately the desires and choices of women and families, in terms of their fertility preference, are met through various family planning programmes that really ensure rights and choices". She added, "And to be able to then also look at that relation to the movements, population, what we see is a lot of internal migration prospects, again, for jobs, rural urban movements, etc and I think that's healthy." India has a varied demography with Kerala having an ageing population in comparison to other parts of the country while states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar having a younger population that often leads to migration from the north to the south. Onabanjo also underscored the critical role of data in effective planning. She stressed on the need to disaggregate data -- whether through big data, census data, civil registration and vital statistics data or household population surveys -- to understand and address the specific needs of different population segments. She also urged governments to utilise and believe in the data provided as evidence-based policymaking is vital for progress. Imparting new momentum, India and Egypt on Sunday elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership' after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held wide-ranging talks with a particular focus on enhancing political and security cooperation. Modi, who made a state visit to Egypt at the invitation of the President, held a private one-on-one conversation with El-Sisi at the Ittihadia Palace during which they reviewed important developments in the region and the world. This was the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Modi and El-Sisi inked the strategic partnership document after their wide-ranging talks encompassing further enhancing political and security cooperation, defence collaboration, trade and investment ties, scientific and academic exchanges and strengthening people-to-people contacts. "Besides the agreement on strategic partnership, the two countries also signed three more pacts on -- agriculture and allied sectors; protection and preservation of monuments and archaeological sites; and competition law," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters here. El-Sisi also conferred the Order of the Nile' honour on Modi, the 13th highest state honour to be awarded to the Prime Minister. "It is with great humility that I accept the 'Order of the Nile.' I thank the Government and people of Egypt for this honour. It indicates the warmth and affection they have towards India and the people of our nation," Modi said in a tweet. Also Read Egyptian president to witness Republic Day Parade as chief guest today PM Narendra Modi meets Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi witnesses Republic Day parade PM Modi, Egyptian President Sisi call for zero tolerance towards terrorism India eyes economic, military ties with Egypt during El-Sisi's visit Chinese threat in South China Sea increasing rapidly: Taiwan's FM Wu PM Narendra Modi tours Egypt's iconic Pyramids built by ancient Pharaoh's PM Narendra Modi visits Egypt's historic 11th century Al-Hakim Mosque Egypt's highest honour 'Order of the Nile' conferred on PM Modi 'Large population does not automatically contribute more to emission' Modi and El-Sisi also discussed further cooperation in G-20, highlighting the issues of food and energy insecurity, climate change and the need for the Global South to have a concerted voice. The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to El-Sisi to attend the G-20 Summit in New Delhi in September. "My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President El-Sisi, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection, Modi said on Twitter as he departed for India Sunday evening. Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency Ahmed Fahmy said the two leaders held talks at the summit level, during which they confirmed the distinct joint historical relations between the two countries and the mutual commitment to pushing them to broader horizons across various fields, especially through intensifying mutual visits by senior officials from both sides. Modi's visit to Egypt follows the state visit by President El-Sisi to New Delhi in January. It also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and India. The meeting between the two leaders touched on ways to enhance bilateral relations across many fields, mainly communications and IT, pharmaceutical industries, vaccines, higher education, renewable energy including green hydrogen, in addition to tourism and culture through direct flights between Cairo and New Delhi, Fahmy said in a press statement. This is in addition to boosting trade and the exchange of strategic goods between the two countries, as well as developing Indian investments in Egypt in the coming period. Views were exchanged on the developments of a number of regional and international issues of common interest. President El-Sisi expressed Egypt's confidence in India's active presidency of the G20 summit; one that contributes to containing the negative repercussions of international challenges on the global economy, the spokesman said. The President stressed Egypt's full readiness to cooperate with India to advance talks in a constructive direction, in a way that allows reaching optimal ways to address energy crises, climate change, food shortages, and access to financing for developing countries. Earlier, Modi visited the historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque, which was recently renovated with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community, which has strong links with India, particularly the prime minister's home state of Gujarat. The Prime Minister also visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery where he paid homage to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in Egypt during the First World War. "A tribute to India's brave soldiers, whose courage will never be forgotten. At the Heliopolis War Memorial, I paid homage to our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War in Egypt, Modi said on Twitter. Modi and his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly also toured the iconic pyramids of Giza on the outskirts of Cairo. "I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come, Modi said. The Prime Minister arrived here on Saturday afternoon to a ceremonial welcome at the airport, where he also inspected the guard of honour. Madbouly welcomed him with a warm embrace. Later, Modi held a meeting with the Madbouly-led India Unit, a special group of high-level ministers set up by El-Sisi to further improve the relationship with India. On Saturday, the Prime Minister met with the Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, and discussed issues related to promoting social harmony and countering extremism and radicalisation. Modi met members of the Indian community in Egypt who showered fulsome praise on him, hailing him as India's hero'. The Prime Minister also met prominent personalities in Egypt, including Hassan Allam, CEO of one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region, and Tarek Heggy, a renowned author and petroleum strategist. Prime Minister Modi also held a warm conversation with two young prominent Yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel. He praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. The head of the private Russian military force Wagner said Saturday he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine to avoid shedding Russian blood. The announcement from Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin's leadership in his more than two decades in power. Moscow had braced for the arrival of a private army led by the rebellious mercenary commander by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on its southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads. Prigozhin said that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid shedding Russian blood. He didn't say whether Moscow has responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin. The announcement followed a statement from the office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko saying that he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin after discussing the issue with Putin. Prigozhin agreed to halt the advance in a proposed settlement that contains security guarantees for Wagner troops, Lukashenko's office said. It didn't elaborate. Also Read Russia urges Wagner forces to return to 'points of permanent deployment' Russia's Wagner Group boss threatens Bakhmut pullout in Ukraine Prigozhin who called for rebellion confirms his troops reached Russian city Infighting among Putin's lieutenants reveals signs of 'deep dysfunction' Russia accuses Wagner Group chief Prigozhin of mounting an armed uprising LIVE: Wagner boss turns his fighters back from Moscow to avoid bloodshed Biden, Macron, Sunak discuss rebellion declared by Russian mercenary Himalayan Airlines resumes flight from Kathmandu to Beijing after 3 years Pak to raise Rs 215 bn through taxes to fulfil IMF loan conditions: FM Dar Beijing sizzles under heat wave, authorities ask people to stay indoors Putin had vowed harsh consequences for organizers of the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, who brought his forces out of Ukraine, seized a key military facility in southern Russia and advanced toward Moscow. In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment, Putin said. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders. Authorities declared a counterterrorist regime in the capital and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. On the southern outskirts, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and set up machine guns. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that traffic could be restricted in parts of the capital and declared Monday a non-working day for most residents. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march of the Wagner mercenary army. Access to Red Square was closed, two major museums were evacuated and a park was shut. Prigozhin's private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow that runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain's Ministry of Defense said. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow, where authorities are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population," said regional Gov. Igor Artamonov, via Telegram. He did not elaborate. The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe's largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for its army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow was suffering full-scale weakness and that Kyiv was protecting Europe from the spread of Russian evil and chaos. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, called for Prigozhin's arrest Friday night after he declared the armed rebellion. Prigozhin said earlier Saturday that his fighters would not surrender, as we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy. Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland, he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel. Prigozhin's private army has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine. His goals weren't immediately clear, but the rebellion marks an escalation in his struggle with Russian military leaders, whom he accused of botching the war in Ukraine and hobbling his forces in the field. This is not a military coup, but a march of justice, Prigozhin said. Prigozhin said he had 25,000 troops under his command and urged the army not to offer resistance. He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city. Other videos on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets. We didn't kill a single person on our way, Prigozhin said in one of his several messages posted as the day went on, adding that his forces seized the military headquarters without a single gunshot. His claims could not be independently verified. The Russian authorities haven't reported any casualties so far, either. The rebellion came as Russia is fighting the toughest battle for its future, Putin said, with the West piling sanctions on Moscow and arming Ukraine. The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us, Putin said. A Muscovite who gave only his first name of Khachik called the situation scary. Another man who didn't want to be identified at all denounced Prigozhin's move as a betrayal and said he supports the Defense Ministry. State-controlled TV networks led their newscasts with Putin's statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Some showed social media videos of residents denouncing Wagner troops. Broadcasters also carried statements from top officials and lawmakers voicing support for Putin and condemning Prigozhin. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin said he wanted to punish Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu after he accused Russian government forces of attacking Wagner field camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He claimed that a huge number of our comrades got killed. Prigozhin said his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter that fired on a civilian convoy, but there was no independent confirmation. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu, where they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defense Ministry denied attacking the Wagner camps. The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has long ties to the Russian leader and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname Putin's chef. He gained attention in the U.S. when he and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election victory. He formed the Wagner mercenary group, which sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine. After Putin's address, in which he called for unity, officials sought to reiterate their allegiance to the Kremlin and urged Prigozhin to back down. Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the lower house of parliament, said lawmakers stand for the consolidation of forces? and support Putin. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed that, saying in a Telegram post that we have one commander in chief. Not two, not three. One.? Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of the Chechnya region who used to side with Prigozhin in his criticism of the military, also expressed his full support of Putin's every word. The mutiny needs to be suppressed," Kadyrov said. While the outcome of the confrontation was still unclear, it appeared likely to further hinder Moscow's war effort as Kyiv's forces probed Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive. Wagner forces have played a crucial role, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. Zelenskyy noted the rebellion in his Telegram channel and said anyone who chooses the path of evil destroys himself. For a long time, Russia used propaganda to mask its weakness and the stupidity of its government. And now there is so much chaos that no lie can hide it, he said. Prigozhin's actions could have significant implications for the war. Orysia Lutsevych, the head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank in London, said the infighting will create confusion and potential division among Russian military forces. Russian troops in Ukraine may well now be operating in a vacuum, without clear military instructions, and doubts about whom to obey and follow,? Lutsevych said. This creates a unique and unprecedented military opportunity for the Ukrainian army. Ukrainian soldier Andrii Kvasnytsia, attending a funeral for a comrade, said Prigozhin's intentions toward Ukraine might be worse than Putin's, but that the infighting would still benefit the country. Prigozhin, whose feud with the Defense Ministry dates back years, had refused to comply with a requirement that his forces sign contracts with the ministry before July 1. He said Friday he was ready for a compromise but they have treacherously cheated us. In Washington, the Institute for the Study of War said the violent overthrow of Putin loyalists like Shoigu and Gerasimov would cause irreparable damage to the stability of Putin's perceived hold on power. Western countries monitored developments closely. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts in the other G7 countries and the European Union's foreign affairs representative, his spokesman said, adding that Blinken reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change. Latvia and Estonia, two NATO countries that border Russia, said they were increasing security at their borders. The Kremlin said Putin spoke by phone with the leaders of Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan about the events. Although there was speculation that Putin had left Moscow, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied it. Modified On Jun 26, 2023 11:00 AM By Ansh for Hyundai Creta Due to high import taxes, even non-luxury cars can cross the Rs 1-crore threshold in the neighbour nation Nepal, our mountain-sharing neighbouring country, is a market for a lot of international carmakers and some India-made ones as well. Carmakers that operate in both India and Nepal have a similar lineup in both countries, but when it comes to prices, there is a massive difference. So much so that some of the popular cars sold here are three times more expensive in Nepal. Here are five such examples of eye-watering price differences due to the import tariffs: Hyundai Creta Price In India Price In Nepal Converted Price Rs 10.87 lakh to Rs 19.20 lakh NPR 49.96 lakh to NPR 78.96 lakh Rs 31.23 lakh to Rs 49.36 lakh The Hyundai Creta, launched in Nepal back in 2015, is more than 2.5 times as expensive as in India. In Nepal, the Creta gets the same powertrains as the India-spec compact SUV. It comes with a 116PS, 1.5-litre diesel engine mated to a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic transmission; and a 115PS, 1.5-litre petrol engine which comes with a 6-speed manual and a CVT gearbox. Maruti Grand Vitara Price In India Price In Nepal Converted Price Rs 10.70 lakh to Rs 19.79 lakh NPR 63.99 lakh to NPR 88.29 lakh Rs 40 lakh to Rs 55.13 lakh The Maruti Grand Vitara was launched in India back in September last year, and this year in March, the strong-hybrid compact SUV landed in the Nepal market as the Suzuki Grand Vitara. As seen in the table above, the price of the top-spec variant of this Maruti model is close to three times of that in India. Also Read: Did The Maruti Jimny Prices Miss Their Mark? In Nepal, the Suzuki SUV gets the same petrol and strong-hybrid powertrain options as the India-spec model. It also gets the same variant list and variant-wise feature distribution. Tata Safari Price In India Price In Nepal Converted Price Rs 15.65 lakh to Rs 25.02 lakh NPR 92.49 lakh to NPR Rs 1.09 Crore Rs 57.74 lakh to Rs 68.04 lakh Except for the Tata Tigor EV and Punch, Nepal gets the full lineup from the carmaker. The Tata Safari launched there six months after its home launch in India in 2021. In Nepal, its price crosses the NPR 1-crore mark and when converted to Indian currency, its top-spec is close to Rs 70 lakh. Also See: Facelifted Tata Safaris Cabin To Be Heavily Revamped According To First Spy Shots Just like in India, the Tata Safari gets a 2-litre diesel engine (170PS/350Nm) in Nepal mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, the carmaker doesnt offer any special editions in Nepal like the Dark, Red Dark and Adventure editions. Hyundai Tucson Price In India Price In Nepal Converted Price Rs 28.63 lakh to Rs 35.46 lakh NPR 1.08 crore to NPR 1.63 Rs crore Rs 67.50 lakh to Rs 1.02 crore Unlike India, Nepal gets more of the premium Hyundai SUV lineup. The biggest SUV sold by the Korean carmaker in India, the Tucson, is also sold in Nepal for a much higher price tag. The top-spec variant of the SUV, which is priced at Rs 35.46 lakh in India, demands a sum of Rs 1.02 crore in Nepal. Also Read: Hyundai Exter SUV Starts Rolling Off The Production Line Ahead Of Launch In Nepal, the Hyundai Tucson gets the same 2-litre petrol engine (156PS/192Nm) and diesel engine (186PS/416Nm) as offered here. However, it also gets a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine (180PS/265Nm) in Nepal, which we dont get in India, and we also miss out on the manual gearbox offered with the larger petrol unit. Toyota Fortuner Price In India Price In Nepal Converted Price Rs 32.59 lakh to Rs 50.34 lakh NPR 2.22 crore to NPR 2.32 crore Rs 1.39 crore to Rs 1.45 crore Lastly, the Toyota Fortuner, which has become incredibly costly in India, is the most expensive model on this list. Even the base-spec model, in Nepal, starts from Rs 1.39 crore in Indian currency. The Nepal-spec Fortuner comes with only the 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine (204PS/ up to 500Nm) paired with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmission, and gets 4WD. Also Read: You Will Have To Wait For Up To 8 Months For A Toyota Innova Hycross The India-spec model also gets a 2.7-litre petrol engine (166PS/245Nm) with a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmission, and gets an option of a two-wheel-drive system with this powertrain. The Nepal market misses out on the Fortuner Legender. Reason For Such High Prices None of these models are manufactured in Nepal and are brought into the country as imports. While there are a lot of factors involved in the pricing of a car, import tariffs play a very big role. Due to the high import tariffs imposed by Nepals government, they become very expensive. Also Read: Elon Musk Confirms Tesla India Debut After Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi While the Indian government also imposes heavy tariffs on imported cars in the country which makes those cars cost almost double, the tariffs put by the government in Nepal outweigh the Indian ones by a big margin. Let us know which one of these models surprised you the most with its prices in the comments below. Read More on : Creta on road price Apply for 386 Junior and Senior Assistant positions. Through the KFCSC official notification in June 2023, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited welcomed applications from qualified and interested applicants to fill Junior Assistant and Senior Assistant positions. Job seekers interested in working for the Karnataka Government can take advantage of this chance. Interested applicants should apply online by 22 July 2023. Overview Organization Name Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limited, Bangalore Post Names Assistant Manager, Quality inspectors, Senior Assistant (Accounts), Senior Assistant and Junior Assistant No.of Posts 386 Posts Application Closing Date 22nd July 2023 Official Website cetonline.karnataka.gov.in Recruitment Eligible applicants can apply for the KFCSC Karnataka Recruitment 2023 by completing the online application form. Aspirants should go to the official website to obtain the KFCSC online form and follow the instructions to apply for their desired position. Along with competitive pay rates and government work perks, successful individuals will have the opportunity to contribute to Karnataka's Food and Civil Supplies industry and make a real contribution in their particular roles. How to Apply? You must first visit the official website. Obtain all of the application form's information. If you want to fill out an application form online, do so. If the form is unavailable, download it and then apply. The documentation required to apply for the form can be found on the official website. After correctly completing the application form, the required documents must be self-attested. The envelope holding the application form should be superscribed with the correct address and forwarded to the address listed below. Vacancy Details Assistant Manager 10 Senior Assistants 57 Senior Assistants (Accounts) 33 Quality Inspector 23 Junior Assistants 263 Salary Toyota Motor Philippines has introduced one of its most important new models of the year: the all-new Wigo. As Filipinos seek to become more... Korea Meteorological Administration Administrator Yoo Hee-dong / Courtesy of Korea Meteorological Administration KMA chief aims to issue public weather warnings 20 minutes faster than now By Ko Dong-hwan There are only a handful of countries which are ahead of Korea in terms of weather prediction technologies. The country launched its first geostationary satellite Chollian-1 in 2010 for oceanography and meteorological observation, while supercomputers calculate the chances of typhoons, droughts and floods weeks in advance. Plus, a domestically developed numerical weather prediction model has proven essential. According to Yoo Hee-dong, administrator of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the country has achieved significant advancements in a short period of time. But the weather expert says the technologies must be improved further as the climate crisis has made weather more unpredictable than before and its influence on human beings has proven more extreme than ever, prompting him to believe that the phenomenon requires increasing perfection from all meteorological agencies. "Our meteorological technologies are still behind the global leaders like the United States and the United Kingdom," Yoo, 61, said in an interview with The Korea Times, June 15. "We must knit our forecasting network tighter, improve our numerical weather prediction models and educate our officials. These three should be pursued together. Anything shortfalls will halt the entire progress." With greater technologies comes greater responsibility. But to maintain the precision of weather prediction, his agency now "must analyze 15 things when it previously did just 10," according to Yoo. He said the job is as difficult as wringing out a drop of water from a dry towel. The authority first aims to issue public weather warnings 20 minutes faster than now, making the current 20-minute advance warning into a 40-minute one. That, Yoo said, can save more people and money. With earlier weather warnings, people can evacuate more effectively. It also means less financial burden for the central government as it can build shelters in a wider range of locations and in fewer numbers than when people have only enough time to evacuate to nearby shelters. "It's why the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is under the U.S. Department of Commerce," Yoo said, hinting at how the idea's financial merit is shared in America. Korea Meteorological Administration Administrator Yoo Hee-dong, right, debriefs Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, third from bottom, about how the administration plans to predict this year's monsoon season at the National Meteorological Satellite Center inside the administration's headquarters in western Seoul, Friday. Newsis By Simon Hutagalung Alarming ballistic missile tests recently conducted by North Korea have reignited concerns about the state of international security. In response to the growing threat posed by these tests, the United States has deployed a nuclear submarine equipped with Tomahawk missiles. However, two neighboring countries and major East Asian stakeholders, Russia and China, must take action to effectively restrain North Korea's reckless behavior. It is crucial to comprehend their reactions regarding North Korea's nuclear ambitions so as to effectively address this pressing problem. This paper compares and contrasts the approaches taken by Russia and China in response to North Korea's nuclear activities. By analyzing Russia and China's prior relationships, strategic interests and stances to North Korea's nuclear activities, we can propose strategies to convince them to play a more proactive role in reducing the nuclear threat from North Korea. We hope that through diplomatic efforts, economic incentives and regional cooperation, we can create an environment in which they are more likely to help us address this serious security issue. Russia's actions are better understood by looking at its past relations with North Korea. Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has kept open diplomatic relations with North Korea. This connection, however, has evolved. Russia's interests shifted from supporting North Korea as a buffer against Western influence to promoting economic cooperation and regional stability after the end of the Cold War. Russia has a wide range of regional strategic interests. It views North Korea as a potential partner for economic cooperation and energy projects as a means to maintain its influence in East Asia. Further, Russia worries about the repercussions, such as refugee flows and regional instability that North Korea's nuclear activities could cause. The Russian government's stance on North Korea's nuclear program is unclear. Regarding its stance on U.N. sanctions against North Korea, it has also advocated for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Preventing further escalation and maintaining regional stability are both priorities for Russia. China and North Korea have had a history together going back to the Korean War. Historical ties, geopolitical considerations and fears of regime collapse and refugee influx in the event of North Korean instability are reasons given for China supporting North Korea. To comprehend China's actions, one must first learn the country's strategic objectives in the area. Its goal is to maintain a peaceful and cooperative relationship with the bordering state. Also, the presence of U.S. forces in South Korea and the potential for the unification of the Korean Peninsula under South Korean control are two things that China sees in North Korea as a deterrent. China has taken a nuanced approach to the issue of North Korea's nuclear activities. It has supported UN sanctions against North Korea while prioritizing dialogue and peace over harsher measures. China is wary of creating a power vacuum and refugee crisis if it applies pressure, thereby toppling the North Korean regime. It will take a combination of strategies to convince Russia and China to take the lead in addressing North Korea's nuclear activities. As a means of fostering mutual understanding, diplomatic initiatives and negotiations are indispensable. The international community, led by the United States, has the potential for direct talks with Russia and China about the benefits of a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and the importance of containing North Korea's behavior. Russia and China could benefit from working together if they were subjected to economic sanctions and incentives. Offering economic opportunities and trade benefits is one way to show why aiding in the resolution of the North Korean nuclear crisis is worthwhile. Pressure can be applied to both nations at once through targeted sanctions, highlighting the significance of their partnership in restraining North Korea's reckless behavior. Alliances and regional cooperation are essential for resolving the nuclear crisis in North Korea. North Korea's nuclear ambitions will be met with a united front if existing alliances are strengthened, such as the U.S.-South Korean alliance, and closer cooperation with neighbors is fostered. Russia and China's participation in regional security dialogues will promote trust and advance common goals for the region's stability and peace. In the end, an analysis of Russia and China's reactions on North Korea's nuclear activities reveals complex motivations based on historical ties, strategic interests and worries about stability. To solve this issue, one must think like a problem solver. Diplomatic initiatives, economic incentives and regional cooperation can be used to convince Russia and China to take a more active role in containing North Korea's reckless behavior. A peaceful resolution and a denuclearized Korean Peninsula will require a multifaceted approach centered on dialogue, incentives and cooperation. Simon Hutagalung serves in the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. The views expressed in this article are his own and do not represent those of the ministry. Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: AGUSTIN-PEREZ, ALEX ALEXANDER 1806 S ORCHARD KNOB AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 27 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) BRANDENBURG, AARON 3340 EASTON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374154718 Age at Arrest: 38 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE BUNCH, ANGEL 8793 DAYTON PIKE LPOT 6 SODDY DAISY, 37379 Age at Arrest: 24 years old Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy ASSAULT BYERS, TEAIRA JAQUESE 7339 BRITISH RD OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff THEFT OF PROPERTY CHRISTOPHER, JERRY WILLIS 6013 WALDEN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 28 years old Arresting Agency: East Ridge DISORDERLY CONDUCT ASSAULT ON FIRST RESPONDER CLARK, AARON NATHANIEL 37 DEXTER LANE TUNNEL HILL, 30755 Age at Arrest: 22 years old Arresting Agency: Tenn Hwy Patrol DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE SPEEDING CLAYTON, BRITTANY NICHOLE HOMELESS ROSSVILLE, 30741 Age at Arrest: 27 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) CORONA ROJO, ROBERTO 41001 WATSON RD SODDY DAISY, 37415 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) CORSAW, WILLIAM PHILLIP 2105 COOLEY ST #A CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 53 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD FRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD FRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD THEFT OF PROPERTY THEFT OF PROPERTY FALSE REPORTS CRANE, DAVID LAVAN 3245 WATERFRONT DR CHATTANOOGA, 374191538 Age at Arrest: 51 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) CREEL, PATRICK BURT 7477 COMMONS BLVD APT 1137 CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 38 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DAWNN, A VANCE 1259 E 35TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37407 Age at Arrest: 32 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DOMESTIC ASSAULT FLETCHER, JOHN C HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37412 Age at Arrest: 56 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD AGGRAVATED BURGLARY FORGERY THEFT OF PROPERTY FORSHAW, JESSICA NICOLE 11TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37401 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff THEFT OF PROPERTY THEFT OF PROPERTY GARREN, TIMOTHY ANDREW 118 RODEO DRIVE ROSSVILLE, 30739 Age at Arrest: 35 years old Arresting Agency: VIOLATION OF PROBATION (AGGRAVATED BURGLARY CA VIOLATION OF PROBATION (AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CAS GRAVETT, RYAN CHASE 3311 BLYTHE FERRY RD DAYTON, 373217310 Age at Arrest: 26 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT HAMRICK, SAMANTHA JORDAN 22 STARVIEW LN CHATTANOOGA, 374191925 Age at Arrest: 26 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) HARROLD, JASON LYNN 5837 RAGNAR DRIVE HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 49 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE HUNT, SPENCER S 1027 READS LAKE RD CHATTANOOGA, 37415 Age at Arrest: 28 years old Arresting Agency: Red Bank PETITION TO REVOKE (POSS OF DRUG PARA) HUNTER, AUSTIN LEE 402 CHARLIE SWANNER RD OLD FORT, 37362 Age at Arrest: 38 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA PUBLIC INTOXICATION HYTER, COURTNEY CORTEZ 1020W 37TH ST, APT B103 CHATTANOOGA, 37410 Age at Arrest: 42 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DISORDERLY CONDUCT PUBLIC INTOXICATION POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE INGLE, JOSHUA MATTHEW 7333 STERLING RD HIXON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 36 years old Arresting Agency: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE JAMES, ERIC DEONTA 8833 MILLARD LEE LN CHATTANOOGA, 37416 Age at Arrest: 45 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) JASMYN, LORENE BICKHAM 1449 BIG RIDGE ROAD SPRING CITY, 37381 Age at Arrest: 32 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD FUGITIVE CATOOSA CO GEORGIA) JOHNSON, ADAM BOBBY 201 POPLAR ST DUNLAP, 37327 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy FAILURE TO APPEAR JOHNSON, CANDICE MARIE 727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37415 Age at Arrest: 39 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD THEFT UNDER 1000 FAILURE TO APPEAR KELLOGG, DOMINIC 263 E EDISON ST ALCOA, 377011938 Age at Arrest: 46 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT AGGRAVATED BURGLARY KELLY, JAMES JARON 3982 ARBOR PLACE LN CHATTANOOGA, 37416 Age at Arrest: 23 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD BURGLARY POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE KELLY, MICHAEL EUGENE 727 EAST 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37402 Age at Arrest: 50 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD THEFT OF PROPERTY LANKFORD, MARY FRANCES 8901 BRAMLETT ROAD HARRISON, 37341 Age at Arrest: 52 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff VIOLATION PROBATION (FELONY THEFT OF SERVISES) LEGRA, TRENT NMN 1368 SOLAR DR HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 22 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) LEIDNER, CHARLES WILLIAM 727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37406 Age at Arrest: 53 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff OBSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAY OR OTHER PASSAGEWAY LOPEZ, ELMER ALFREDO 5929 BROWNTON RD REDBANK, 37415 Age at Arrest: 29 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) MCCARTER, KELLY RENEE 113 HAMILTON AVE SODDY DAISY, 373794638 Age at Arrest: 48 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DUI MCCROBEY, PERRY LAMAR 615 DODSON AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374041515 Age at Arrest: 34 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE SPEEDING MCLEAN, TABITHA LEIGH 5703 LEE HWY CHATTANOOGA, 37411 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD ASSAULT DOMESTIC ASSAULT ASSAULT (ON POLICE) MENDEZ, SANTOS GABRIEL 2003 HUFF PLACE CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 26 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) MYLES, SCOTT AVERY 230 GLENN LANE SPRING CITY, 37381 Age at Arrest: 35 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD THEFT OF PROPERTY OTIS, WAYNE HOWARD 8 PINEWOOD DR FT OGLETHORPE, 30742 Age at Arrest: 62 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE REGISTRATION, EXPIRED FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PAYNE, CHRISTOPHER EDWARD 727 E 11TH STREET HOMLESS CHATTANOOGA, 37404 Age at Arrest: 45 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) PEREZ-SAMAYOA, DEIVY 9607 BARBEE RD SODDY DAISY, 37379 Age at Arrest: 20 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) PITTMAN, ISAIAH JACOBY 6220 SHALLOWFORD RD CHATTANOOGA, 374215484 Age at Arrest: 22 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD CAR JACKING RAY, JOHNNY THOMAS UNKNOWN CHATTANOOGA, 00000 Age at Arrest: 57 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) RODDY, JACOB TYLER 201 EADS ST APT 336 CHATTANOOGA, 37412 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) RODRIGUEZ, ALANNA MICHELLE 727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37403 Age at Arrest: 30 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DOMESTIC ASSAULT SALES, CADARRIUS LAMOND 8343 TROUT LILY DR OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 29 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT SANDERS, DAVID ALEXANDER 6761 HICKORY CREEK RD CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 25 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD THEFT OF PROPERTY AGGRAVATED BURGLARY SARGENT, TIMOTHY JOEL 1645 LONG ISLAND RD SOUTH PITTSBURG, 37380 Age at Arrest: 41 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD FUGITIVE (ARREST FOR CRIME IN WALKER CO GA) SHIN, ELLEN VOONAH 17708 THRASHER PIKE HIXSON, 37343 Age at Arrest: 23 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE REGISTRATION, EXPIRED DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE POSSESSION OF FOR RESALE SHVED, PAVEL I 8470 MAPLEWOOD TRAIL OOLTEWAH, 37363 Age at Arrest: 36 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) STONE, BRIAN ALEX 5101 MIMOSA CIR CHATTANOOGA, 37416 Age at Arrest: 52 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DISORDERLY CONDUCT PUBLIC INTOXICATION STURDIVANT, MONTARIUS LAJUAN 805 MAGNOLIA ST Chattanooga, 374032723 Age at Arrest: 32 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD THEFT OF PROPERTY POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED STOP SIGN VIOLATION DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE TAYLOR, NATHAN JAMES 807 DEAN DR GEORGETOWN, 37336 Age at Arrest: 18 years old Arresting Agency: Collegedale Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) THOMAS, JENNIFER 1409 NORWOOD AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 51 years old Arresting Agency: Red Bank AGGRAVATED ASSAULT TRAVIS, ROYCE BULLINGTON 6495 BARCELONA BLVD BROOKSVILLE, 34602 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: Tenn Hwy Patrol POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE WATKINS, TEVIN TREMAYNE 1501 LILIAN LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37411 Age at Arrest: 32 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE WHEELER, DONNA LOUISE 7405 SONIA LN CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 42 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD INDECENT EXPOSURE DISORDERLY CONDUCT Here are the mug shots: BUNCH, ANGEL Age at Arrest: 24 Date of Birth: 11/22/1998 Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): ASSAULT CLARK, AARON NATHANIEL Age at Arrest: 22 Date of Birth: 12/20/2000 Arresting Agency: Tenn Hwy Patrol Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE SPEEDING COUSIN, RAVON MALEICK Age at Arrest: 25 Date of Birth: 12/03/1997 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): DISORDERLY CONDUCT PUBLIC INTOXICATION CRANE, DAVID LAVAN Age at Arrest: 51 Date of Birth: 02/14/1972 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED ASSAULT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) DAWNN, A VANCE Age at Arrest: 32 Date of Birth: 03/09/1991 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT FLETCHER, JOHN C Age at Arrest: 56 Date of Birth: 04/19/1967 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED BURGLARY FORGERY THEFT OF PROPERTY FORSHAW, JESSICA NICOLE Age at Arrest: 33 Date of Birth: 08/20/1989 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY THEFT OF PROPERTY GARREN, TIMOTHY ANDREW Age at Arrest: 35 Date of Birth: 10/01/1987 Arresting Agency: Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF PROBATION (AGGRAVATED BURGLARY CA VIOLATION OF PROBATION (AGGRAVATED ASSAULT CAS GRAVETT, RYAN CHASE Age at Arrest: 26 Date of Birth: 08/19/1996 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT HAMRICK, SAMANTHA JORDAN Age at Arrest: 26 Date of Birth: 02/03/1997 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) HARROLD, JASON LYNN Age at Arrest: 49 Date of Birth: 04/18/1974 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE HODGE, BRIAN ANTHONY Age at Arrest: 47 Date of Birth: 07/15/1973 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE HUNT, SPENCER S Age at Arrest: 28 Date of Birth: 09/30/1994 Arresting Agency: Red Bank Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): PETITION TO REVOKE (POSS OF DRUG PARA) HUNTER, AUSTIN LEE Age at Arrest: 38 Date of Birth: 08/16/1984 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA PUBLIC INTOXICATION INGLE, JOSHUA MATTHEW Age at Arrest: 36 Date of Birth: 06/29/1986 Arresting Agency: Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE JAMES, ERIC DEONTA Age at Arrest: 45 Date of Birth: 02/04/1978 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) JASMYN, LORENE BICKHAM Age at Arrest: 32 Date of Birth: 05/26/1991 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): FUGITIVE CATOOSA CO GEORGIA) JOHNSON, CANDICE MARIE Age at Arrest: 39 Date of Birth: 06/13/1984 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): THEFT UNDER 1000 FAILURE TO APPEAR KELLOGG, DOMINIC Age at Arrest: 46 Date of Birth: 03/16/1977 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT AGGRAVATED BURGLARY KELLY, MICHAEL EUGENE Age at Arrest: 50 Date of Birth: 07/21/1972 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 06/24/2023 Charge(s): THEFT OF PROPERTY Maggie Haimelin First Runner-Up Maggie Haimelin of Chattanooga and Distinguished Young Woman of America 2023 Carrington Hodge of Helena, Al. Maggie receives her $20,000 scholarship as First Runner-Up. She has won $31,000 in scholarships through her participation in the Distinguished Young Women program. As Tennessee's winner she received a $4,000 scholarship and won $27,000 in scholarships at the national program. Previous Next Tennessees Distinguished Young Woman Maggie Haimelin of Chattanooga was named the First Runner-Up at the 2023 Distinguished Young Women of America finals on Saturday evening in Mobile, Alabama. The recent graduate of Notre Dame High School and incoming Dance and Biology major at the University of Alabama Honors College received a total of $27,000 in scholarships: $20,000 for being First Alternate, $5,000 for being a top eight finalist and $2,000 for her preliminary round awards in Talent and Fitness. Vanderbilt University freshman Carrington Hodge of Helena, Al., is the 2023 national winner receiving over $40,000 in scholarships. Miss Haimelin became the fourth consecutive Tennessee entrant to place among the top eight national finalists. Her placement was the highest since 2011 when Katye Brock Bodak of Tullahoma won the national title. Ms. Bodak co-hosted the finals at the Mobile Civic Center. The two-year captain of the nationally renowned Scenic City Dance troupe performed to the Whitney Houston classic I Will Always Love You from the film The Bodyguard. She was also a standout with her Jazzercise routine in the Fitness round. Miss Haimelin has won several regional StarQuest titles as a Senior Soloist. The 2024 Distinguished Young Women of Tennessee program will be held on July 21and 22at Lee University. Cherokee Nations first-ever Ribbon Skirt Fashion Show will hosted at the Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center on July 1. 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 Earlier this year, this twenty-one-year-old woman and her two friends, Becky and Anna, all thought that it would be a great idea to plan a trip to Las Vegas. So, they spent months working out all of the details together and looking forward to the girls vacation. But, we didnt commit to anything where we would need a deposit or reservation other than the hotel. Becky put her credit card on hold for it, and we planned to just give her money before they charged her at the hotel, she clarified. She never ended up paying, though, because just two weeks before they were set to fly to Vegas, Becky reached out to her with good news. Well, the good news was not so good for her. She learned that Anna had gotten a new boyfriend and invited him to tag along on their trip. Becky framed this new development as a great way to save money since the hotel room would be split between four people instead of three. She, however, did not feel nearly the same way. I immediately told Becky I was not comfortable staying in a hotel room with a guy I didnt know, and I was surprised they already trusted someone Anna had just started dating, she recalled. Totally understandable. But Becky and Anna did not see the problem. In fact, they accused her of making a huge deal out of nothing and claimed that Annas boyfriend had already bought his plane ticket. So, it was too late for him to back out of the trip. At that point, she just kept reiterating that the entire arrangement made her very uncomfortable. Still, Becky and Anna would not let up. The pair suggested that she all go out for a drink to get to know each other before the trip and claimed that they had mutual friends so she should trust that Annas boyfriend was not a bad guy. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. When college students had to start taking online classes during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people couldnt stand it and hated the online format. However, theres still a population of students who love taking online classes and those who actually need online classes to get other things done throughout the day. One young woman recently signed up for online community college courses because of her busy job schedule, and her mom gave her grief about not attending school in person. Shes 20 years old and lives with her mom. Since she was 18, she had to take on paying a lot of the household bills and rent because her mom struggles to keep a job and only works between two to four hours a week. Meanwhile, she works 30 to 35 hours a week at a fast-food restaurant and recently got promoted. Because of all the responsibilities shes had to take on, she didnt go to college at 18 as many teenagers do. However, her mom has been pushing her to enroll for a while now. Her mom originally wanted her to start classes for the Spring 2023 semester, but because of bills and having to purchase a new car, she knew it would be too much of a financial burden. After giving it some thought, she reluctantly decided to sign up to take classes for the Fall 2023 semester at her local community college. I just felt pressured to choose something because Im tired of arguing about it, she explained. The rent and bills are not going to go away, so I need to still maintain full-time hours at my job, and I cant be at two places at once, so I figured the best solution is to do fully online classes. Doing full-time school and full-time work both in person is just setting myself up for failure, in my opinion. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. By Bernard Rowan My wife and I visited recently with friends who have retired. They are traveling the continental United States in a comfortable RV or recreational vehicle. For the last year and a half, they have journeyed from one end of this great land to the other, visiting national parks, meeting and making friends, and enjoying what they describe as a nomadic existence. Recreational vehicles in the U.S. today are small homes, really. They have all the conveniences and then some, depending on one's preferences and budget. My wife and I marveled at the comfort of the vehicle and its thoughtful and thorough design. Visiting the 50 states, seeing national monuments and sites, and enjoying life at campground stays seems appealing. Most surprisingly, the people our friends have met while staying in campsites have been nearly uniformly kind, respectful and neighborly. Many people in advanced countries are making such life adjustments. Fatigue with the pace or the endless "rat race" of present-day work ("work til you drop"). Falling real wages and incomes compared with past generations seem a reality for most of us. Concerns about life in urban environments, from crime to pollution and others, all incline people to make changes. I looked at information on the internet, and I've learned that Koreans also have taken to living in RVs. South Korean companies also have begun to produce more RVs. More Koreans are taking on the camping life. Yonhap News reported in 2019 that RV sales accounted for nearly half of South Korean automakers' domestic sales. A 2020 article in New Atlas notes that the Korean government's decision to allow converting cars to campers has spurred Korea's move to recreational vehicles. This has been accompanied by a growing interest in camping and related activities. A March 2023 Statista online report had the Kia Carnival as the top seller, with about 95,000 units in total for all brands in 2022 reported. One can see various models of RVs: the Hyundai Porest and Staria Lounge Camper, Neoauto Beyer, the Kia Ray micro-campervan and the Kia Bongo Camper are some of the models. Various YouTube videos feature "Van Life in Korea," "Rough Camping," and more. They are interesting and helpful to those wanting to explore this way of living. Koreans are undertaking changeovers of automobiles or buying automobile-sized RVs more. Similarly, luxury carmakers like Mercedes now produce smaller-sized RVs too. South Korea also has many, many beautiful national, provincial and local parks and sites. I am not familiar with Korean campsites. It is a safe bet there are more than people would think. There are several articles about camping and glamping sites in South Korea. One site lists some of the best campsites including Surfyy Beach Camping, Gongju Hanok Village, Seogwipo Natural Recreation Forest, Daecheong Lake Lohas Camping and Campa Jeju. I think it would be wonderful to camp on Jeju Island. The notion of nomads also needs qualification. Perhaps because of the film, "Nomadland," a 2021 Academy Award winner, and opinions of campgrounds as housing for poor people, or for budget travelers, many think campsites pose dangers or lack convenience. After working for so many months or years, people on vacation or in retirement look forward to comfort. That can mean many things to many people. Most would not begin to think of campsites as places to go. However, what I am learning online and offline is that communities exist on campgrounds and at campsites. I do not think we need to describe those sites in idyllic terms, but life there is decent, and increasingly, it has the kinds of conveniences 21st-century travelers want. These are often available at better prices for an extended stay. There is also security. Nevertheless, the main benefit is that people show respect for and concern for each other. My wife and I learned much from our friends. We are thinking of spending some time traveling with our friends in their RV this winter. My wife is even more gung-ho. She now wants to buy an RV in the future! Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and academic services and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Kenyan suspect in End Times cult deaths dies in custody after hunger strike A Kenyan suspect who was among the leaders of a Christian sect and alleged to have instigated the deaths of hundreds of his followers by encouraging them to starve themselves in order to meet Jesus has died in police custody following a 10-day hunger strike. Joseph Buyuka, accused alongside self-styled Pastor Paul Mackenzie and 28 other individuals, was implicated in the deaths of 337 followers of the church, senior prosecutor Jami Yamina said, according to CNN. Buyuka, Mackenzie and the other suspects were detained on charges of orchestrating the deaths and overseeing the illegal disposal of the victims bodies in Shakahola forest, located in southeast Kenya. Authorities have been exhuming bodies from the forest since April, with the death toll most recently crossing 300 after the discovery of 19 additional bodies earlier this month, as reported by The Associated Press. Yamina announced that Buyuka died at a hospital in Malindi, a town situated roughly 72 miles from the port city of Mombasa, where he had been transferred from a nearby prison. His death was allegedly a result of complications from hunger strike and starvation. Two other suspects have also been taken ill. Police believe it is related to their hunger strike, Yamina disclosed. Mackenzie, the leader of the sect, is accused of ordering his followers to starve their children and themselves to death, allegedly promising they would reach Heaven before the end of the world. In a bizarre parallel, his fellow culprits' refusal to eat mirrors the treatment that allegedly led to their members deaths. Mackenzie handed himself over to the police in April after the starvation deaths of two children in their parents custody. Initially released after posting bail, Mackenzie was rearrested on April 15 following the discovery of four additional bodies. The followers of the church had established their residential community in the expansive forested land of Kilifi County, located on Kenyas coast. In April, local law enforcement intervened at Mackenzies property, acting on a tip about mass starvation, and discovered dozens of emaciated followers. The law enforcement had received the tip-off that ignorant citizens were starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by Mackenzie. The controversial televangelist has been under investigation for propagating a doctrine that encourages followers to abstain from food to reach Heaven faster. Kenyas interior minister, Kithure Kindiki, expressed concern last month that some of Mackenzies rescued followers were refusing food, with one confirmed death due to starvation at the time. While Mackenzie and the other suspects have not yet been required to enter a plea, authorities continue their investigations and work to assess the full extent of this emerging humanitarian crisis. Presidential candidate, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez: 'My parents met at a pro-life rally' WASHINGTON A newly declared presidential candidate told a crowd of conservative Christians that his Christian faith is at the center of his life as he highlighted his personal experience with the pro-life movement and the faith community's role in reducing his citys homeless population. Francis Suarez, the mayor of Miami, Florida, was one of several Republican presidential candidates to address the Faith & Freedom Coalitions Road to Majority Conference Friday. After expressing support for the pro-life cause, Suarez outlined his personal experience with the pro-life movement. I am literally a product of the pro-life movement myself, he said. My parents actually met at a pro-life rally. Suarez explained that his parents have bravely lived their pro-life ethic by raising a family of four, consisting of himself and his three sisters. He told the audience that my parents and the difficulties of my own life taught me that faith must be at the center of our lives and that faith in Jesus Christ is the center of my life. I can tell you without hesitation that the most important part of my day is the time that I spend with Jesus. Its the relationship that shapes all other relationships, that allowed me to find and marry the love of my life, Gloria, who is here with me today, Suarez added. Suarez credited his faith with helping him form his commitment to the culture of life from its inception until its end. Noting that many people claim to be pro-life, he insisted that youre not pro-life until youre truly tested. In my case, my wife and I were tested at the challenge of infertility, he recalled. We struggled with infertility for four years. We accepted the possibility that we would not feel the joys of parenthood, that our only children may be the forgotten children of my city. Suarez described waking up on Fathers Day 2013 to discover his wife repeatedly screaming, I dont know if its true! After opening the door, she proclaimed in a hysterical voice, If its true, its going to be your first Fathers Day, celebrating that they had successfully conceived a child. There are moments in life where Gods intervention is so powerful, so tangible, and this was one of the many moments for me, he said. My immediate family has also been inspired by the power of the pro-life witness of family. Suarez told the story of one of his sisters, whom he characterized as one of his heroes, discovering that her newly conceived fourth child would be born with a genetic deficiency, which would severely handicap her throughout her life and undoubtedly increase the burden on an already large family. In what he referred to as one of the most incredible acts of faith and courage I have ever witnessed, Suarezs sister elected to go through with the pregnancy and named the child Gianna. She taught all of us how to truly live our faith. Her faith was so great that she even went on to have a fifth child, he said. Suarez delivered a message to his niece on stage: Gianna, I went to tell you today your parents love you, I love you, God loves you. Later in his remarks, Suarez discussed how he witnessed a home invasion as a child, where he witnessed his mother and grandmother held at gunpoint. While the home invasion left him scared and scarred, the future mayors life was transformed after meeting Father Pat Angelucci, who taught him how to be reborn in Christ. Angelucci also instilled in Suarez that my faith needed to be the bedrock of my strength and self-worth. See the list of declared 2024 presidential candidates here Suarez added, He taught me that we find God when we focus on the least, the last, the lost. Throughout his speech, Suarez touted his record as mayor of Miami, specifically highlighting the dramatic reduction of the homeless population in the city from 6,000 to 608. Vowing that we will not stop until we get to zero, he credited churches and faith-based organizations with helping to solve the homelessness problem in Miami: We did it by applying Christian values and by joining hands with churches across the city and faith-based organizations, like Hermanos de la Calle, who have taken over 1,000 people off the streets and placed them in permanent housing. As he concluded his address, Suarez proclaimed, In todays America, we need to lead with loving truth in a world of soft lies, he continued. We need Christians who speak clearly and calmly in a time of confusion and despair, and we need Christians who lead and who love courageously, even to those who persecute us and prosecute us. Our country is bruised and battered right now, but our faith is strong. Our values are under relentless attack, but our faith is strong. We face oppression and persecution, but our faith is strong. And all of us here today, I promise you, have been attacked, but our faith is strong. Additionally, Suarez expressed gratitude to the audience for keeping the faith and keeping us strong as well as keeping America one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Suarez, who was first elected mayor of Floridas second-largest city in 2017, announced that he was seeking the Republican nomination for president last week. A growing culture of impunity: NGO highlights disturbing trend in global religious persecution Western leaders willful deafness and blindness toward autocrats condemned In a report published this week, Aid to the Church in Need sheds light on the escalating culture of impunity surrounding religious persecution worldwide. It reveals that over 4.9 billion people reside in countries with severe violations of religious freedom. These 4.9 billion people live in 61 countries, where the state of religious freedom, as secured in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, looks grim, says the report, titled the 2023 World Religious Freedom Report, that covers the period from January 2021 to December 2022. It means that 62% of humanity lives in countries where people are not free to practice, express or change their religion, ACN says. Culprits of religious freedom violations range from armed terror groups to authoritarian governments, but the rule continues to be one of impunity for attackers who are rarely, if ever, brought to justice or criticized by the international community. Of the 61 countries, 28 are marked in red, denoting hot countries where persecution is rampant, while an additional 33 are marked in orange, indicating high levels of discrimination. The situation has worsened in 47 of these countries since the previous report, with only nine showing signs of improvement, the report says. The growth of impunity has been remarkable over the last two years, said Marcela Szymanski, ACNs head of advocacy, in a virtual press conference where the report and its executive summary were presented. Normally, the West would be at least saying something Oh, you don't do that, or Im looking at you, Im going to impose some sanctions, Im going to reduce your trade facilities, etc. Now, they are not doing anything, she said. There is willful deafness and blindness towards these autocrats because they (leaders in the West) need them. Political leaders in Europe, the United States, and other nations often readily jeopardize their commitment to civil rights and religious freedom, swayed by their policy imperatives, she continued. United States President Joe Biden hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who departed on Saturday, at a time when a spate of violence in the northeastern state of Manipur was ongoing. The visit occurred amid criticism of the Biden administration for purportedly overlooking severe violations of religious freedom in India. Szymanski added, Its unbelievable that the same countries that you see (marked in red and orange) are the same countries where you have material for sustainable energy development and for fossil fuels. So there you are in a very dangerous combination of dependency and wishful thinking about principles. The ACN report reveals that half of the countries with the most severe restrictions on religious freedom are in Africa, where a rise in jihadist activity, especially in the Sahel region, continues to be of great concern. But Asia where China continues to try to exert totalitarian control over all areas of society, including religion, and India, where state-sponsored ethno-religious nationalism manifests itself, among others, in the form of harsh anti-conversion laws is also a continent of particular concern. The study attributes this alarming trend to a combination of factors, including the global climate impacted by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fallout of the war in Ukraine, the military and economic concerns around the South China Sea, and the rapid increase in the cost of living worldwide. Autocrats and fundamentalist group leaders view religious communities as threats to their power and authority and retain and consolidate power globally, the report highlights, saying they were found to be responsible for increased violations of religious freedom. The oppression of religious communities was facilitated by a range of tactics such as terrorist attacks, destruction of religious heritage and symbols, electoral system manipulation, mass surveillance, anti-conversion laws and financial restrictions, ACN points out. The report also identifies several significant trends that have emerged during the study period. Firstly, it highlights the emergence of hybrid cases of persecution, characterized by a combination of polite restrictions on religious freedom through controversial laws and the normalization of violent attacks against individuals of certain faiths. Governments in various regions discriminated against religious communities through the implementation of laws that restricted their freedom of religion, while violent attacks against these communities went largely unpunished, ACN explains. The report also notes a shift in the profile of persecuted religious communities, with majoritarian religious groups now increasingly experiencing persecution alongside traditional minority communities. This trend was observed in countries such as Nigeria and Nicaragua. Another troubling aspect highlighted in the report is the muted response from the international community toward religious freedom violations by strategically important autocratic regimes such as China and India. This growing culture of impunity allows key countries like Nigeria and Pakistan to escape international sanctions despite revelations of severe violations against their own citizens, the report points out. The rise of opportunistic caliphates was also observed during the study period, particularly in Africa. Transnational jihadist networks altered their tactics by focusing on hit-and-run attacks to establish isolated communities in poorly defended rural areas with valuable mineral resources. This shift in strategy has led to increased insecurity, revolts and military coups in affected regions. The report further highlights divergent trends within Muslim communities, with disenfranchised youth increasingly attracted to Islamist terrorist and criminal networks in Africa, while growing numbers of Muslims in Iran and elsewhere identify as non-religious. The Jewish community in the West has not been spared from religious persecution either, according to the report, which shows an increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes following the COVID-19 lockdowns, with reported incidents rising from 582 in 2019 to 1,367 in 2021 in countries belonging to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Abductions, sexual violence, and forced religious conversion remain rampant and largely unpunished in various regions, particularly West Africa and Pakistan, the report continues. Worsening poverty and increased armed conflicts have fueled abductions and human trafficking, with religious minority women and girls disproportionately affected. The report also sheds light on the manipulation of religious data in some countries as a means of maintaining political power. Faith communities seeking to preserve their status have exaggerated the number of faithful by providing misleading information during official registrations or postponing population census indefinitely. Lebanon, India and Malaysia are cited as examples of this trend. Furthermore, the study reveals an increase in scrutiny and mass surveillance targeting faith groups, particularly in Western countries. Social media platforms have been used to marginalize and target religious communities, undermining fundamental liberties such as freedom of conscience, thought, religion, expression, movement and assembly. In Western nations, the emergence of "cancel culture" and "compelled speech" has further threatened religious freedom. Individuals who hold differing views for religious reasons have faced harassment, legal threats, and job loss for failing to conform to prevailing ideological demands. Social media has played a significant role in driving this trend. The report highlights the insertion of derogatory content about minority faiths in school textbooks in countries like India and Pakistan, which could have far-reaching consequences for inter-faith relations in the future. The proliferation of anti-conversion legislation and reconversion initiatives has also been noted, particularly in Asia and North Africa. Harsher implementation of existing laws and new legislation aim to consolidate political power for religious majorities, while economic benefits are offered to those who join or return to the majority religion. The welfare of entire families, particularly in poverty-stricken areas, is compromised when individuals convert or revert, CAN says. Religious leaders and Church personnel have increasingly become targets of organized criminal groups in Latin America, the report adds. Those who champion the rights of migrants and other disadvantaged communities have been subjected to abductions and even murder for speaking out against criminal gangs and taking action against them. On a positive note, the report indicates record participation in popular religious celebrations following the COVID-19 lockdowns. After years of restrictions, the return of major religious feasts has attracted millions of faithful worldwide, serving as a public expression of popular religiosity. The report concludes by underscoring the global rise of authoritarian governments and fundamentalist leaders. This deadly effect on religious freedom is exacerbated by a culture of impunity, with perpetrators of religious persecution rarely facing prosecution in 36 countries. The silence of the international community toward violations of religious freedom, particularly in strategically important countries, contributes to this culture of impunity. Africa remains the most violent continent in terms of religious persecution, with jihadist attacks intensifying and spreading to neighboring countries. Nearly half of the "hot countries" identified in the RFR map are located in Africa, with regions such as the Sahel region, Lake Chad, Mozambique, and Somalia being particularly affected. Archbishop of Canterbury honours late OM founder with posthumous award The late Operation Mobilisation founder George Verwer has been posthumously awarded the Archbishop of Canterbury's Alphege Award for Evangelism and Witness. Verwer died on 14 April at the age of 84 after decades spent spreading the Gospel around the world and inspiring others to do the same. He was nominated prior to his death for the award that recognises "outstanding services to Christian ministry and evangelism". It was collected on his behalf at an awards ceremony on Thursday night at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The other recipients of the annual Lambeth Awards were: George Barber, Stockton-on-Tees, England: Thomas Cranmer Award for Worship for sustained excellence over 57 years in his service to church music in Stockton-on-Tees and in the Durham Diocese. Brother Christopher John, Society of St Francis, Australia: Dunstan Award for Prayer and the Religious Life for a lifetime of outstanding service through SSF across the Anglican Communion. The Venerable Dr Hirini Kaa, New Zealand: The Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship for outstanding service as a Church Historian and Educator and for outstanding scholarship in the research and publication of the award-winning book, "Te Hahi Mihinare the Maori Anglican Church", chronicling the struggle to establish the Maori Church and the appointment of the first Maori Bishop. The Rev Canon John Kafwanka Kaoma: Cross of St Augustine for Services to the Anglican Communion for his outstanding leadership in the Anglican Communion as Director for Mission at the Anglican Communion Office. Professor Amy-Jill Levine, PhD, United States of America: Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation for developing awareness about Jesus' Jewish identity and the Jewish contexts of the New Testament, and for unflagging education efforts in church and popular settings. Ms Clair Malik, Cairo, Egypt: Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship for committing her whole life to the Education of Special Needs Children, especially the hearing impaired in Egypt. Mrs Margaret Riordan-Eva, MA, England: Canterbury Cross for Services to the Church of England for outstanding voluntary service as calligrapher to two Archbishops of Canterbury and to Lambeth Palace. Commenting on the awards, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, "We live in a troubled world, where all around us we see conflict, war, discrimination, division, poverty and deep inequality, but our faith in Jesus gives us hope. We see that hope exemplified in the wonderful service of the people we have recognised today. "Many of the people who have received awards today have worked unseen and unsung, striving for justice, peace, reconciliation, advances in education, worship and prayer. "Not all are followers of Jesus Christ, but, through their endeavours, they have made significant contributions to the mutual respect and maintenance of human dignity, which is so vital to spiritual and social health and the flourishing of mankind. The Lambeth Awards shine a light on their outstanding efforts and dedication." Christian students slaughtered in attack on high school in Uganda Islamist terrorists on the night of June 16 killed at least 37 students, most of them Christians, at the dormitories of a private high school in Uganda, and kidnapped six others, sources said. Shouting the jihadist slogan "Allahu akbar [God is greater]," according to the BBC, the assailants killed the students at Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, Kasese District, hacking the girls with machetes and burning the boys to death by setting their dormitory on fire. Five non-students at the school were also killed, Ugandan officials said, and four students were wounded. A survivor, student Edgard Mumbere, told Morning Star News that armed assailants shouted for the boys to open their dormitory door, with one attacker saying, "This school is propagating Christianity in Uganda and getting support from Christians in the West Islam should be the dominant religion in Uganda." The boys kept silent while one student went to peek out the door, Mumbere said. The student rushed back saying the attackers were armed with machetes, axes and guns. "This prompted us to hide under the beds, and shortly we heard gun shots followed by fire on dormitories," Mumbere told Morning Star News. "They threw a bomb on our dormitory, and the whole room was full of smoke, and we couldn't breathe. Some of us managed to get out of the dormitory but were shot and managed to survive bad injuries." Mumbere said initially he found a way to climb up to the ceiling area and hid there, but he fell down from too much smoke. "I tried to smear blood on my face and whole body, and I pretended to be dead," he said. "One came and checked and saw nothing, and that is how I survived." Most of the victims belonged to fellowships of the Church of Uganda, Crossway Church, Kasese Pentecostal Church, All Saints Kasese Town, Independent Baptist Church and Kasese Central Baptist Church, a Morning Star News contact said. Mpondwe is close to Uganda's border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the Islamic State affiliate Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is based, and Uganda President Yoweri Museveni on June 17 blamed an ADF splinter group for the atrocity. Neither the ADF nor the Islamic State took responsibility for the massacre as they normally would, and First Lady Janet Museveni, who is also Education Minister, said at a press conference that parties seeking to take over the school might have used the terrorists to achieve their ends. President Museveni said the success of a joint Ugandan-DRC effort to defeat the ADF had compelled the group to attack a "soft target" on the Uganda side of the border. "It is safer for them to splinter into small groups which, they hope, may not be seen by our eyes," he told local press. "That is how their desperate, futile, criminal and terrorist schemes come in. They start imagining that if they flee Congo, re-enter Uganda, kill people that are not armed (soft targets), that action would force us to recall our army from Congo to defend the Uganda villages, and that would save them from the losses they are now suffering." Police have reportedly arrested at least three people in the course of ongoing investigations. A pastor at Crossway Ministries Churches in Kasese said great fear among Christians has swept across the area. The families of the deceased requested financial support and prayer. The ADF is considered one of the most lethal of more than 120 armed groups in the eastern DRC. Originally based in western Uganda, the ADF has operated in the DRC's North Kivu Province near the border since the late 1990s. In 2019 the ADF split into two factions, with one merging into the Islamic State Central Africa Province. The U.S. government in 2021 designated the ADF as a foreign terrorist organization with links to the Islamic State. The June 16 attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Uganda's constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate one's faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Uganda's population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. 2023 Morning Star News Top German court strikes down prayer ban near abortion clinics (CP) A top German court has ruled that blanket bans prohibiting peaceful prayer gatherings near abortion clinics infringe upon the constitutional right to freedom of assembly, a landmark win for the pro-life organization 40 Days for Life. The judgment, delivered this week by the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, marks the end of a protracted legal battle for a Pforzheim-based chapter of 40 Days for Life, led by Pavica Vojnovic. The international human rights organization ADF International supported her in her legal case. "The court in Leipzig has once again made clear that peaceful prayer vigils cannot be banned," said Dr. Felix Bollmann, director of European advocacy for ADF International. "In view of the clear findings of the court, the federal government would be well advised to abandon its plans to massively restrict fundamental rights in the vicinity of abortion organizations." The organization's right to peaceful assembly had been previously recognized by a regional court last August, a decision later contested by the city of Pforzheim. The ruling arrives as the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Lisa Paus, has been pushing for what critics call "censorship zones" around abortion clinics throughout Germany, effectively banning prayer vigils and offers of support in those areas. "I'm truly relieved. Our prayers really help, as affected women have told us over and over," Vojnovic said. "I am grateful that we can continue our prayer vigils. Every human life is precious and deserves protection." Historically, 40 Days for Life would gather twice a year to hold silent prayer vigils in front of a Pro Familia facility a branch of Planned Parenthood in Germany. In 2019, despite a four-lane road separating the group from the Pro Familia building, the city of Pforzheim banned the prayer group from praying within sight and sound of the facility. Vojnovic went to court to challenge the prohibition, stating it violated their right to freedom of assembly. "I am shocked that we are being prevented from supporting vulnerable women and their unborn children in prayer. It's discouraging to hear that silent prayer vigils in a public place are restricted by local authorities. Our society must offer better support to mothers in difficult situations," Vojnovic said earlier. Tomislav Cunovic, Vojnovic's lawyer, said in a statement that "blanket bans on prayer assemblies based on mere allegations are contrary to fundamental rights." "The courts have recognized this," he said. The court's ruling contrasts sharply with the government's desire to ban prayer vigils near abortion clinics. Paus has repeatedly stated her intention to introduce measures to restrict prayer and support services through legal measures near abortion clinics. She also has called for the repeal of section 218 of the German criminal code, which currently regulates abortions. "The economic self-interests of an organization like Pro Familia cannot take precedence over the German citizen's fundamental right to freedom of assembly and expression," Bollmann said. "This most recent ruling sends a clear signal to Berlin that blanket bans on peaceful prayer vigils for women in vulnerable situations have no place in a free and democratic state." The Christian Post The frigate Seoul (FF952) is on display at Battleship Park in western Seoul's Mangwon-dong, April 2019. Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff Following the French-Korean conflict known as "Byeonginyangyo" in 1866, Heungseon Daewongun, the Joseon regent, became painfully aware of the need to strengthen and modernize the country's own navy in order to fend off foreign intrusions and maintain its self-imposed isolation. He needed his own "vessels moved by fire." In 1867, an immense but innovative project began at the small naval base at Yanghwajin using technology allegedly obtained from the General Sherman an ill-fated American merchant vessel that had dared to sail up the Taedong River the previous year. Unlike the French warships, the General Sherman never left Korea or did it ? It has been suggested that the General Sherman was towed from Pyongyang to Yanghwajin where Kim Gi-du, a weapon and ship designer, was able to use it as a guide for the construction of three modern steam-driven warships. However, it seems more probable that the General Sherman's steam engine (or part of it) was salvaged and brought to Seoul which allowed Kim Gi-du to do some reverse engineering. It was an expensive effort; siphoning much money from the already-dwindling state coffers and using up the entire copper and iron stocks in the armory. His first attempt was dismal. A stamp issued by North Korea in 1964 depicting the destruction of the General Sherman. Robert Neff Collection The ship was too big and heavy so Kim took drastic measures to try lightening the weight and save his own head. Soldiers and hunters were sent out along the river presumably the marshes around Nodeul (near Dongjak) to shoot cranes and other large birds for their feathers. These feathers were then glued to the hull of the ship in the belief they would make it more buoyant. The experiment was not a success; one report blamed the failure on the glue melting which allowed the feathers to float away. According to Horace H. Underwood in the late 1920s or early 1930s, he heard the above account or a similar one from I. P. Cheung, one of the professors of the Chosen Christian College who claimed to be related to Kim or one of his colleagues. Undaunted by these earlier failures, Kim persevered and, in early October 1867, declared his ships were ready for a demonstration before the royal court. Heungseon Daewongun and many of his officials, along with crowds of commoners, traveled to Yanghwajin to witness this initial step towards the modernization of Joseon's navy using Western technology. According to one contemporary account, the engine succeeded in turning the paddlewheel but it moved extremely slowly and other vessels were required to help tow the modern warship. The crowd laughed with amusement. To his credit, the Daewongun did not show his disappointment but merely turned away his interest in the project was gone and the ship was eventually melted down and turned into cannons. The cramped interior of SSM-051, a Dolgorae (Dolphin) class submarine on display at Battleship Park, February 2023. Robert Neff Collection However, the above account differs from other sources including Seungjeong-won Ilgi (The Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat) and Gojong Sillok (Veritable Records of Gojong) and implies that the witness was biased and intent on denigrating the royal court as comically inept. These other accounts described the ship as being very strong and lightweight and as the perfect defense against the enemy. Officials responsible for its construction were praised for their efforts. We also learn that there were three ships and upon the completion of the demonstration they were assigned to the unit responsible for the pontoon bridge and ordered to be repaired. A marker in February 2021 indicates the location of the Jugyosa Office which was responsible for the pontoon bridge and where the three steam-powered warships were temporarily located. The marker is located at the south end of Dongjak Bridge. Robert Neff Collection Flags of China and the U.S. are displayed on top of a printed circuit board with semiconductor chips, in this photo illustration made Feb. 17. Reuters-Yonhap Law enforcement agencies plan to strengthen punishment for economic espionage By Kim Yoo-chul A few weeks ago, a 66-year-old semiconductor expert, who previously worked at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, was indicted and eventually detained by South Korean prosecutors for allegedly stealing top industrial secrets worth millions of dollars to set up a "copycat" semiconductor-making facility in China. The expert, described as a "master in production yields," was formerly a senior executive at Samsung Electronics, the world's top memory chip manufacturer. He was a three-time winner of Samsung's annual "proud Samsung men" awards. After 18 years at the electronics powerhouse, in 2001 he joined Hynix Semiconductor, which later became SK hynix, Samsung's toughest competitor in the global memory chip sector. There, he was a "hidden force" in improving SK's chip production yields. When he was named chief executive of a company invested in by a regional Chinese government in 2020, Seoul's intelligence agencies raised the alarm about economic espionage and technology theft. Local prosecutors said the former executive hired some 200 ex-Samsung and SK engineers, and allegedly stole Samsung's key factory specifications as well as clean-room designs. While the prosecutors have said the suspect "unsuccessfully tried to establish" a copycat chip line in the Chinese city of Xi'an, where Samsung operates advanced chip facilities, sources said millions of data sets had already been stolen. "This case is an alarm bell to major South Korean tech companies and South Korea itself. Technicians, researchers and engineers at Samsung and SK are being targeted by Chinese agents. The main concern is that understanding the whereabouts of skilled workers and knowledge is much harder than controlling the movement of products through restrictive measures and tightened export controls," said a former senior executive at Samsung, who has also been approached by Chinese agents to work at a Chinese semiconductor company. A Samsung Networks 5G Anechoic Chamber which is a special facility used to conduct various inspections and tests of radio equipment, is seen during a media tour at Samsung Electronics' headquarters in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, June 13. AP-Yonhap "Because semiconductor- and battery-related technologies, viewed as crucial for defense and backbone industries, have become much more difficult to steal or even acquire via acquisition deals, I would presume efforts by the Chinese government to scout skilled semiconductor and battery engineers will accelerate," he added. As South Korea is home to world-class memory chip and battery manufacturers including LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI, the country is situated to better protect tech intellectual property. Data provided by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) showed 93 cases of suspected industrial espionage were detected from 2018 to last year. The semiconductor, display and battery industries were the prime targets. The impact on the country's economy through the loss of intellectual property is one of the main concerns among South Korean officials. According to estimates by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), a leading business lobby, the annual costs of intellectual property theft for the country are somewhere between 56 trillion won and 60 trillion won. China is responsible for at least 85 percent of that figure. "Industrial espionage has already become a major flashpoint in U.S.-China relations, and will be the same for Seoul's relationship with Beijing," said Park Hyeong-kwan, a professor in the department of police administration at Gachon University. He added that China's growing business intelligence targeting of U.S. officials and experienced U.S. business executives has become a major justification for U.S. technology restrictions. Potential security threats Government officials contacted by The Korea Times said the country is acknowledging the possible and potential security threats posed by China-based industrial espionage activities. Chinese President Xi Jinping is trying hard to advance Beijing's display, battery and more importantly semiconductor industries as he views the U.S. as its chief competitor, especially in advanced sciences and military capability. A man passes by a display of surveillance technology equipment made by Huawei, one of the Chinese tech companies sanctioned by the U.S. government for its role in Beijing's suppression of China's far western Xinjiang region, during its Security China 2023 review, June 7. AP-Yonhap Why Supreme Court Justice Russell Brown got punched at a hotel bar will never be known because hes chosen to resign rather than face a public hearing to defend his denial of the attackers allegations of inappropriate attention to two women. LG Chem's factory in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of LG Chem By Park Jae-hyuk Korea's leading petrochemical firms are reorganizing their business portfolios, as uncertainties around the recovery of global manufacturing industries continue, according to industry officials, Sunday. LG Chem is reportedly considering redeploying workers of its second naphtha cracking center in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, which halted its operation recently. Earlier this month, the company also decided to sell its in vitro diagnostic device business to Glenwood Private Equity. In addition, the chemical unit of LG Group is pushing ahead with the sale of its cathode materials factory in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, to New Power Plasma, a local semiconductor manufacturing equipment supplier. The series of restructuring measures came after LG Chem CEO Shin Hak-cheol repeatedly emphasized the company's plans to focus on three new growth engines: battery materials, eco-friendly materials and innovative novel drugs. "Due to the structural oversupply amid the sluggish global demand for petrochemical products, it is difficult to predict the timing of a recovery," LG Chem petrochemical business head Noh Kug-lae said in an email to employees last Monday. "We will reform our business structures and redeploy the workforce." LG Chem is not ruling out the possibility of selling around a 2 percent stake in LG Energy Solution to secure around 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion) worth of cash for investments. The chemical firm currently holds an 81.84 percent stake in the battery maker. "For our investments in the three new growth engines, we are considering various measures to raise funds, but nothing has been decided yet," LG Chem said in a regulatory filing last Wednesday. Lotte Chemical decided recently to sell its entire 75 percent stake in its purified terephthalic acid manufacturing subsidiary in Pakistan to a local company there. Through the deal, the Korean firm is looking to secure around 200 billion won in order to invest in its new growth engines of hydrogen and battery materials. In addition, the chemical unit of Lotte Group plans to cope with a liquidity crisis caused by its worsening credit rating. After Lotte Chemical suffered quarterly losses for the fourth consecutive quarter, domestic credit rating agencies downgraded its credit rating this month. Lotte Group's other affiliates also faced credit downgrades as they have relied heavily on the chemical firm's cash flow. "Lotte Chemical's second-quarter performance is expected to be better than the previous quarter's, but it is likely to face low profitability for a considerable amount of time," Kiwoom Securities analyst Chung Kyung-hee said in a report last Friday. SKC is in talks with multiple potential buyers to sell SK Pucore, a polyurethane subsidiary. Last year, SKC also sold its industrial film business to Hahn & Company for $1.3 billion. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, left, poses with Le Quan, president of the Vietnam National University Hanoi, after the two agreed to increase cooperation in fostering local experts, at the Vietnam National University Hanoi, Friday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group By Kim Hyun-bin Hyundai Motor Group plans to establish a cooperative center with the Vietnam National University Hanoi, aiming to expand education and social contribution initiatives and secure specialized personnel for local production facilities in the region. Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun met with Le Quan, president of the Vietnam National University Hanoi, in Vietnam Friday, to discuss the necessity of fostering the next generation of innovative workers and potential cooperation methods. "This collaboration aims to nurture local future experts and expand opportunities to secure specialized personnel in response to the increasing need for skilled workers in Vietnam's business expansion," Hyundai Motor Group said in a press release. "Furthermore, it aligns with Chairman Chung's philosophy that 'substantial CSR activities that benefit the local community are crucial,' and we will actively promote skill development in Vietnam." Both Chung and Le Quan recognized the importance of systematic training of technical specialists for the Vietnamese automotive industry and economic development. They reached a consensus on establishing the Hyundai Motor Group-Vietnam National University Hanoi Cooperation Center. Chung expressed hope for fostering skilled workers for the future through industry-academia collaboration with the university, which is considered one of the top schools in the country. He stated that not only Hyundai Motor Group but also many other partner companies will be able to recruit workers in Vietnam, ultimately contributing to enhancing the competitiveness of the Vietnamese automotive industry. During the meeting, Chung explained how Hyundai Motor Group contributes to Vietnam's economic and social development through its automotive business. He also introduced various corporate social responsibility activities being carried out in the Southeast Asian country. Hyundai Motor Group holds a strong position in the Vietnamese car market. It surpassed Toyota and became the top seller, with 22,903 vehicles sold through May this year. Kia, meanwhile, holds the fourth position with 13,951 vehicles. Last year, Hyundai sold 81,582 vehicles, and Kia sold 67,290 vehicles, ranking second and third, respectively. Hyundai plans to strengthen its leadership in the Vietnamese market by expanding sales as its local production capacity increased to 100,000 vehicles with the completion of the Hyundai Thanh Cong Vietnam plant last year. NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- Police said victims killed in a suspected Giant Eagle murder suicide had been divorced for nearly 20 years. During a Sunday afternoon press conference, North Olmsted officials provided more information regarding the early morning shooting inside the grocery store. Bob Wagner, chief of police, confirmed the identity of the shooter as 60-year-old Bernard Edward Smith of Cleveland. The female victim was identified as 63-year-old Susan Petterson, who had been a Giant Eagle employee for three years. According to Wagner, the pair had previously been married, but divorced in 2004. We dont believe it was a very amicable divorce and was potentially what may have led up to this, Wagner said. At 9:35a.m. police responded to a call of shots fired at Giant Eagle located on the 27000 block of Lorain Avenue. A male and female, were found inside the store with gunshot wounds. We were on scene right away, Wagner continued. The information that we were given at the time came into our dispatch and they were immediately dispatched in there within seconds. Officials said it appeared that a male shot a female in the store before taking his own life. The woman would die of her injuries and the incident is being classified as a murder-suicide. Authorities added that at the time of the shooting there were 67 employees and approximately 200 customers inside the store. No other injuries were reported. I am deeply saddened about the events that took place this morning at the North Olmsted Giant Eagle supermarket, Nicole Dailey Jones, North Olmsted Mayor said at the press conference. First and foremost, my heart goes out to the victim of this tragedy and her family, and friends. I know that all North Olmsted residents join me in sending their prayers and support to them. We also remember the employees and customers who were at the store at the time of this terrible incident. Giant Eagle has been a pillar in the North Olmsted community for many years. Wagner also noted that this incident is not a Giant Eagle or city of North Olmsted problem. This type of incident could happen anywhere, anytime, he said. North Olmsted Fire Department, Bay Village, West Lake, Fairview Park and Rocky River Police Departments also responded to the incident. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to those involved, the North Olmsted Police Department said in an earlier statement. This is a developing story. NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- Police said victims killed in a suspected murder-suicide inside a Giant Eagle store in North Olmsted had been divorced for nearly 20 years. During a Sunday afternoon press conference, Bob Wagner, chief of police, confirmed the identity of the shooter as 60-year-old Bernard Edward Smith of Cleveland. The female victim was identified as 63-year-old Susan Petterson of Olmsted Township. She had worked at the Giant Eagle where she was shot for three years and eight months. According to Wagner, the pair had previously been married, but divorced in 2004. We dont believe it was a very amicable divorce and was potentially what may have led up to this, Wagner said. At 9:35a.m. police responded to a call of shots fired at Giant Eagle located on the 27000 block of Lorain Avenue. A male and female were found inside the store with gunshot wounds. We were on scene right away, Wagner continued. The information that we were given at the time came into our dispatch and they were immediately dispatched in there within seconds. Officials said it appeared that Smith shot Petterson in the store before taking his own life. Petterson would die of her injuries and the incident is being classified as a murder-suicide. Authorities added that at the time of the shooting there were 67 employees and approximately 200 customers inside the store. No other injuries were reported. I am deeply saddened about the events that took place this morning at the North Olmsted Giant Eagle supermarket, Nicole Dailey Jones, North Olmsted mayor said at the press conference. First and foremost, my heart goes out to the victim of this tragedy and her family, and friends. I know that all North Olmsted residents join me in sending their prayers and support to them. We also remember the employees and customers who were at the store at the time of this terrible incident. Giant Eagle has been a pillar in the North Olmsted community for many years. Wagner also noted that this incident is not a Giant Eagle or city of North Olmsted problem. This type of incident could happen anywhere, anytime, he said. North Olmsted Fire Department, Bay Village, West Lake, Fairview Park and Rocky River Police Departments also responded to the incident. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to those involved, the North Olmsted Police Department said in an earlier statement. Later in the day, Giant Eagle released the following statement: We offer our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of our Team Member who lost her life today while working to serve the North Olmsted community. It is incredibly difficult to process and understand any event involving violence, but it becomes unfathomable when our Giant Eagle family is directly impacted. Our thoughts and hearts are with everyone affected by this terrible tragedy. We are shocked and deeply saddened that such a senseless act of violence occurred in one of our stores. Our top priority remains the safety of our Team Members and our Guests. We are grateful for the quick response of local authorities and are committed to providing all available resources to law enforcement to assist in their investigation. The store will be closed on Monday, June 26 so that we are able to provide on-site support to our impacted Team Members, with ongoing support for all Team Members continuing in the days ahead. The drive-thru pharmacy window will be open on Monday for Guests that need to access important medications. This is a developing story. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Federal prosecutors are seeking a 16-20 year sentence for former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, convicted of conducting the $61 million FirstEnergy bribery scheme to pass HB6. Householders attorneys seek just 12 to 18 months. Or, better yet, the probation deal Hunter Biden got. Trump appointed Delaware federal prosecutor David Weiss approved the plea deal Hunter Biden has agreed to in his taxes and firearms case that had lasted 5 years. Hunter Biden will plead guilty to 2 misdemeanors for failure to pay federal income taxes. For a felony firearms offense, Hunter Biden will enter a pre-trail diversion program. On both the tax and firearms offenses the D.O.J., under Delaware fed prosecutor Weiss direction, has recommended probation. COLUMBUS, Ohio The word abortion wont appear on the ballot this August. But roughly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Ohio is gearing up for a summer election that could prove to be a major national test case for the political fight over abortion. In the upcoming Aug. 8 election, Ohioans will be voting on State Issue 1. The measure would make it harder to amend the state constitution by requiring a 60% supermajority for proposed changes to pass, compared to the current 50% standard thats been in place for over 100 years. Early voting is just weeks away, beginning on July 11, and voter registration for the election closes on July 10. The success or failure of State Issue 1 could reverberate through the abortion fight not just in Ohio, but across the country. If the issue backed by Ohio Republicans passes, it would set a much higher bar to clear for the groups pursuing an amendment in November to guarantee abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution. It also will show the rest of the country whether tightening ballot access rules could be a viable strategy for abortion opponents to head off a wave of ballot issues guaranteeing abortion rights in individual states. Read more: Coverage of State Issue 1 Abortion opponents otherwise have seen a string of losses, with voters in California, Michigan and Vermont last year voting to expand abortion rights, and with voters in Kansas, Kentucky and Montana rejecting measures restricting them. I just had a conference call with National Right to Life yesterday, Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, said in a Thursday interview. Everybody is watching, according to them. What happens in Ohio in August and what happens here in November could be the road map to protecting life in the future. I think Ohio is ground zero from where these battles go in other states, he added. Weve taken losses in the other states, but no state as big as Ohio is on the chopping block right now, and I think our strategy can be duplicated in other states if were successful. Both those who care about defending direct democracy and those care about reproductive freedom will be watching what happens in Ohio closely, said Sarah Walker, policy and legal advocacy director for the liberal Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, which is advising the campaign in Ohio working to defeat State Issue 1. If the attempt to restrict direct democracy in Ohio fails, it could send a strong message that Americans reject attempts from politicians that abuse the levers of power to restrict any freedoms. State Issue 1, which also would make it much harder for amendment campaigns to qualify for the ballot by expanding mandatory signature-gathering requirements for amendment campaigns starting in 2024, would have major ramifications for any number of issues. Redistricting reform and labor regulations are just some of the potential issues that have pulled in groups to get involved on both sides of the issue. But the election widely is being viewed as a proxy vote on abortion, given that Republicans specifically fast-tracked it to try to spoil an expected November measure that would ask voters to enshrine abortion rights in the constitution. Backers of that proposed constitutional amendment are working to collect the roughly 413,000 voter signatures they need to submit before a July 5 legal deadline, and have predicted they will be successful. John Dinan, a Wake Forest University professor who specializes in state constitutional issues, said the fight over ballot access rules pre-dates last years Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision that overturned national legal protections for abortion. But, he said the push has picked up steam and taken on a new dimension with abortion being added to the mix. There is no doubt that the Dobbs decision is generating additional interest in state constitutional amendment rules and efforts to change the rules for qualifying and approving initiated amendments in particular, Dinan said. The referendum this August in Ohio on a measure to tighten amendment rules is just one of several similar votes that will be held in coming years. Ohio is among the 19 U.S. states where citizens can directly propose law changes, either through constitutional amendments or through what are known as initiated statutes. At least eleven more states, with a mix of measures proposed either by citizens or lawmakers, are considering ballot issues affecting abortion rights for this year or 2024, according to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. Maryland is the only state so far that has one scheduled for this year, November 2023. Ohio could become the second state with a November election on abortion rights if the campaign behind the measure successfully gathers their signatures. The August election calendar this summer is light, leaving the issue in Ohio with little competition for national resources and attention. National media already has begun taking an interest in the State Issue 1 election, with outlets including The New York Times, the New Yorker, Fox News and CBS News producing stories about the measure, all focusing on the implications for abortion rights. An educational effort The election isnt until Aug. 8. But Ohio has a month of early voting that begins on July 11, just a couple weeks away. That means campaigns for and against the measure soon will start to ramp up their efforts to reach out to voters. Both campaigns have signaled they plan to have two sets of messages: one for the general electorate, and another for whom abortion rights are a key issue. There are signs that backers of abortion rights, however, are especially energized by the issue right now. Save Our Constitution, the group working to pass State Issue 1, said during a closed-door meeting with Columbus lobbyists earlier this month that they thought their polling showed them starting off with a lead. But, they said they found that support for State Issue 1 was relatively tepid, while the opposition was intense. Gonidakis, the official from Ohio Right to Life, meanwhile has been traveling the state in recent weeks promoting State Issue 1 to local Republican and conservative religious groups. He said hes been getting a good response, though the issue requires explanation. It does take an educational effort. But if anybody on either side tells you the average person on the street gets it, theyre not being accurate, Gonidakis said. Groups like the conservative Ohio Christian Alliance also have been promoting the issue to their members, including publishing literature that could be used as inserts in church bulletins. The group held a banquet in Akron on Thursday where Gonidakis and two other main drivers behind State Issue 1, state Rep. Brian Stewart and Secretary of State Frank LaRose, spoke. The Ohio Christian Alliance emphasized abortion in a recent email to its members while urging them to register to vote for the August election. It said if the November measure were to pass, numerous Ohio pro-life laws, including the states six-week abortion ban thats currently on hold while it goes through a legal challenge, will be struck down. Gonidakis said he thinks the messages will break through to anti-abortion voters, who he referred to as the tip of the spear for winning the August election. I dont have a crystal ball, Gonidakis said. I cant make guarantees. But I feel really good about ensuring that our people are motivated to vote. State Issue 1s backers include the Ohio Republican Party, which has built up an effective voter mobilization machine over decades of successful elections. But this summer, Issue 1 opponents have a key organizational resource: the ongoing campaign to collect signatures for the potential abortion rights amendment in November. The abortion-rights campaign has been collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures for months. Last Monday, it gathered signatures internally for pre-verification as it prepares to send them to the state. And while its hired paid signature gatherers, who often come in from out of state and leave when their work is done, the abortion-rights amendment campaign also includes a significant number of volunteers too, according to members of the coalition backing the amendment. From a pure volunteerism standpoint, this has been bonkers, said Liz Walters, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. Lauren Beene, a Cleveland-area pediatrician who co-founded Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, one of the key groups backing the amendment, said her campaigns volunteers have been encouraging people to vote in August while theyve been collecting signatures for the potential November issue. From what Ive heard from our volunteers, a lot of people were aware about [State Issue 1] That was a very popular topic of conversation while people were collecting signatures, Beene said. Slow roll of ads beginning Ballot issue campaigns in Ohio typically have been accompanied by a tsunami of TV ads. Thats why they can cost upwards of tens of millions of dollars. Campaigns for and against Issue 1 have said that TV will be part of their plan for the August election. The TV ads have yet to materialize. But a trickle of lower-cost ads have begun on both sides of the issue. On the anti-Issue 1 side, the Ohio AFL-CIO, the states largest organized labor group, recently launched a series of targeted ads on Facebook. The social media platforms ad transparency page says theyve only cost a few thousand dollars in total, but they preview some themes voters may expect to see soon. So far, none touch on abortion. The most heavily promoted ad features Richard Uihlein, the Illinois billionaire who gave more than $1 million to a Super PAC that ran ads pressuring GOP state lawmakers to place State Issue 1 on the ballot earlier this year. Uihlein has been involved with other state-level causes with major abortion-related undertones in recent months, including spending at least $4 million on a race to decide control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April. Uihleins preferred candidate lost in that race. Another ad from the AFL-CIO emphasizes that all four living former Ohio governors two Republicans and two Democrats oppose State Issue 1. Current Republican Gov. Mike DeWine supports Issue 1. Tim Burga, president of the Ohio AFL-CIO, said the Facebook ads are just part of a slow roll that his group has planned for the coming weeks, along with direct mail, yard signs, buttons and more. The groups opposition to Issue 1 is more about it being a power grab, and for now is neutral on the abortion issue. Burga said he wants to preserve organized labors ability to go to the ballot if the state legislature isnt responsive to its issues. Well be making calls to union members. Well be using our text-message ability. Well be going door-to-door and at the work site. Every opportunity we can think of to communicate this to our membership base, thats what well be doing, Burga said. The pro-State Issue 1 campaign has not yet launched ads on TV or social media. But political literature, in the form of doorknob hanger ads, have begun to show up, according to images making the rounds on social media. The ad warns that The ACLUs dangerous, anti-parent agenda is coming to Ohio. Referencing the potential abortion amendment, the ad says it would strip all health standards and safeguards and abortion clinics and allow pimps and predators to force women into an abortion. Stop their anti-parent agenda. On Tuesday, Aug. 8, vote yes on Issue 1, the literature reads. The ad was funded by a group called the Protect Women Ohio Action, a group with a similar name to Protect Women Ohio, the main campaign opposing the potential November abortion-rights amendment. Protect Women Ohio Action is affiliated with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a major national anti-abortion group, according to its state paperwork. Amy Natoce, a spokesperson for Protect Women Ohio, called Protect Women Ohio Action a key ally thats technically a different legal entity. Theyre definitely working to get out the pro-life vote for August and November, Natoce said. Pro-Issue 1 business groups downplay abortion connection The tie-in with abortion poses a fundamental challenge for the pro-State Issue 1 campaign, a coalition of business groups, socially conservative groups, business groups and Republicans. Republican Party officials believe that few voters will turn out for the August election. That means they must mobilize their most reliable supporters to win. A key bloc for the GOP are religious conservatives and other voters who oppose abortion. On the other hand, abortion rights are politically popular the yes campaign has described the issue privately as divisive even for Republican voters and a major funder of the yes coalition is the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, which doesnt weigh in on social issues. So, leaders of the pro-State Issue 1 campaign, Save Our Constitution, have said they plan to avoid talking about abortion, while letting their individual interest groups address their members directly. Theyve also accused State Issue 1 opponents of placing a dishonestly large emphasis on the abortion issue, although Republicans also have made clear that spoiling the abortion issue drove them to schedule the election in the first place. They would prefer not to touch the issue, state Sen. Rob McColley, a Northwest Ohio Republican, said during a State Issue 1 debate in Columbus on Wednesday, describing the Ohio Chamber of Commerces position. They look at this as an important enough change to make to our constitution that theyve decided to back it. Theyre not going to be a part of any campaign, I can virtually assure you of that, that addresses the abortion issue. Its not their issue. Steve Stivers, a former Republican congressman who leads the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, has said his members are split on the 60% requirement. But the group decided to back State Issue 1 because it would make it harder for amendment campaigns to qualify for the ballot by imposing some of the strictest signature collection requirements of any state in the country. Limiting citizen-initiated constitutional amendments has been a long-term goal for the organization. While talking with a blogger in Columbus last week, Stivers went so far as to suggest that the 60% threshold in State Issue 1 might not apply to the abortion measure in November. I would make the argument that somebody could say that this thing may not pertain to the abortion issue, Stivers told The Rooster, in a video that was posted on YouTube. That would have to be litigated. And Im not a lawyer, but if they change it midway through the process, that thing has been gathering signatures and been approved by the Ballot Board for months. Asked about his comment by cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, Stivers walked it back, saying it was just a rumor hed heard. You should talk to legal scholars about that theory, not me, Stivers said in a text message. I was sharing something Ive heard around. Steven Steinglass, retired Cleveland State University professor whos an expert on the state constitution, said his assumption is that the 60% threshold would apply to any future ballot issue, including the potential abortion-rights amendment in November. I dont know who is telling the chamber that But this looks like an effort to muddy the waters and take momentum away from the vote no on Issue 1 campaign, Steinglass said. Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer ATLANTA -- Over the past few years, Starbucks cafes across the country have quietly backed away from providing customers with decaffeinated brewed coffee. Today, no location offers decaf drip after the hour of noon, and at many locations it is not part of the menu offerings at all. As a former barista explains, at certain stores, sales on decaf arent significant enough to warrant brewing a whole batch. It would all go to waste. So, some stores dont sell it, and theres really nothing a barista can do about it. The caffeine level in popular energy drinks, meanwhile, has been gradually on the rise. Reach inside your convenience store fridge for a bottle of VPX Bang Energy Shot Rainbow Unicorn, for example, and you will be gulping down a whopping 100 milligrams of caffeine per ounce. Could this dearth of decaf and cornucopia of caf help explain the instances of right-wing outrage that seem to be recurring more and more frequently these days? Is all the indignation, in other words, simply due to the fact that were over-caffeinated? Co-writers and lifelong friends Rob DeWitt, now of Atlanta, and Charlie Tercek, now living in Los Angeles, discovered their passion for politics in U.S. history class at Hudsons Western Reserve Academy in 1978. Charlie is an avid drinker of decaf cappuccinos. Rob swears by decaf espresso. How else to make sense of Sen. Ted Cruzs declaration that Microsoft is woke because its Xbox game machines come equipped with an energy saving mode that reduces their energy consumption? Or the New York Posts charge that the nation of Canada was canceling booze after the Canadian Centre of Substance Abuse and Addiction published a study on the health risks of drinking? Perhaps it makes clear why conservative groups boycotted Bud Light over its advertising collaboration with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Or why Republicans boycotted the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A when it hired a DEI executive. And maybe, just maybe, it explains the fury that was unleashed upon Mars, Inc. when the candy manufacturer introduced a purple M&M in honor of International Womens Day. Its enough to make you wonder what might come out of Ted Cruzs mouth if he said no thanks to a triple shot espresso and reached for an iced oat milk instead. Or what Fox News anchor Steve Doocy might get worked up over if he asked his assistant to fetch him a can of Cran-Apple instead of a 16-ounce Rockstar Silver Ice. Unless our nation amends its out-of-control craving for caffeine, we may never know. Embrace the Sanka, America! The future of our republic may depend on it. Co-writers and lifelong friends Rob DeWitt, now of Atlanta, and Charlie Tercek, now living in Los Angeles, discovered their passion for politics in U.S. history class at Hudsons Western Reserve Academy in 1978. Charlie is an avid drinker of decaf cappuccinos. Rob swears by decaf espresso. 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 opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio My oldest grandchild, Caden, is part of Gen Z the most educated and racially/culturally diverse generation in Americas history and he has a lot of company. Currently, there are more than 68 million Z-ers in the U.S. Thats 27% of our population. About half of this generation is Latino, Black, Asian, Native American and other nonwhite genetics and 20% are LGBTQ. In about three years, this group of teens and twenty-somethings will become the largest generation. If anyone can save democracy and hold this country together, its them. And theyll do it, in spite of their pain. Gen Z has been hardened by fire, but their sensitivity towards people guides their values.. Theyve lost their peers to mass shootings, like Sandy Hook, and their homes to global warming disasters like Hurricane Sandy. Theyve watched opioid addiction ravage their communities. Theyve Marched for [Their] Lives, echoed the Me Too Movement and suffered economic scarring via the Great Recession that took their parents jobs, their homes and their financial innocence. This young, activist generation faces the failures of its predecessors. Their biggest concerns are climate change, racism, financial instability and social inequity. They lost nearly two years of their trajectory due to the pandemic, but thats not all theyve lost. Their rights have been stolen, and the thieves are still at work. Their federally protected right to abortion is gone. Their freedom to live authentically via transgender healthcare is shrinking, as state legislatures play doctor and moral judge. Their pursuit of happiness has shrunk, as their right to affordable healthcare and education evaporated. Soon, they will be the biggest voting bloc and consumer power weve ever seen. Wonder how thats gonna go. Im sure they have no grievances against anyone, especially the government. So where do Gen Z-ers stand on divisive topics? I had to do some research, but heres what came up via more than one analysis or report: 89% believe the right to have an abortion, anytime or with some restrictions, should be protected by law 75% say global warming is manmade, and 51% think climate change will pose a serious threat in their lifetimes 94% use social media with an average daily use of 2 hours and 43 minutes Nearly 100% agree weed should be legal Dont assume either of the big political parties will win their politically active hearts. It seems they dont really care that much about D or R, red or blue, as much as they care about what candidates promise, what they do, and how well they reflect and represent Gen Z. As religious conservatives continue to assail them, the pearl-clutching truth is Z-ers dont abide by organized religion. Harvards most recent Cooperative Election Study found 49% of Zs identify as atheist, agnostic or of no particular religion. Dont worry, there are still about a fourth of this generation that claims to be Protestant or Catholic. That said 30% of them identify as queer. So, that should work out really well for everyone. Generation Z has its heroes, and its members keep up with those voices and the nations current events via Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, where they form small communities of comrades, tracking trends and keeping up on news. Facebook is for old people, yknow. Caden and I recently enjoyed discussing whats happening in the political realm that affects his life, future and peers. Hes clearly frustrated with what he called the old white men in Washington D.C. He lamented about how politicians keep meddling in private lives, rather than mediating solutions to big problems, like climate change, national debt and gun violence. Listen, he said, our country is basically [screwed]. I agreed and asked what he thought would help. What we need is a woman president, because women make the majority of consumer financial decisions, and they know how to fix problems. From his lips to the electorates ears! Generation Z is bringing an avalanche of attitude and the will to change how this country does business. They know how to organize and be heard. They hate discrimination, inequity, bullying and bullies, and they are excited to vote. They squelched the red wave last November, and theyll be a major force in the next three elections. I predict our General Assemblies at the federal and state levels will be reformed over the next six years by their vote. If anyone can survive the next decade or two of upheaval required to recast Americas trajectory away from extremism and division, and into a place where all demographics are considered equal and valuable, its this generation that is a balanced mixture of tough and sensitive. Heres my unsolicited advice for these formidable young people: Beware who you listen to, and be careful what you believe. Your reliance on social media for news and information could undermine your desire to understand the issues and candidates on ballots. Between the deceitful word-wrangling by strategists and the nonhuman AI capabilities to create fodder that is foundationless, your discernment of societys needs, political ploys and economic trends could be manipulated into tangles that could be hard to untie. Your demand for equity and belonging will guide you to the honest voices. Your lack of party affinity will help you see clearly what constitutes candidates credentials or lack thereof. Your values of acceptance and respect will guide your decisions. Our perspectives about people younger than us are ALWAYS skewed by our own experience, worldview, values and emotions and too often, we underestimate them and wrongfully judge them. In this case, beware. Gen Z and their younger siblings, Generation Alpha, have the power to blow this pop stand wide open. And it wont be long. Leslie Kouba, a lifetime resident of Northeast Ohio and mother of four completely grown humans, enjoys writing, laughing and living in Cleveland with her wife, three cats and a fat-tailed gecko named Zennis. You can reach her at LeslieKoubaPD@gmail.com. WASHINGTON -- Health inequity is at a crisis level and people in communities across the nation are suffering from unequal access to health care. Studies have consistently demonstrated that there arent enough doctors, and specifically, there are not enough Black, Hispanic/Latinx, or Indigenous doctors, despite the research showing how diverse health care teams improve health outcomes. The evidence shows that exposure to racial and ethnic diversity in medical school produces physicians who are better trained to take care of individuals from under-resourced communities. And medical schools know the importance of including applicants with unique attributes and backgrounds who have lived experiences in working with members of these communities. David A. Acosta, MD, is a family medicine physician and serves as chief diversity and inclusion officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Alison J. Whelan, MD, an internist and clinical geneticist, is chief academic officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. With the Supreme Court about to rule on whether race-conscious admissions are constitutional, the implications for our nations health are clear. An adverse decision will set the nation back in what we have accomplished to date. We need to brace ourselves for the real possibility that efforts in reducing health inequities in America might suddenly get a lot more difficult. Data shows you may be more at risk depending upon where you live, your household income, and in many cases, your racial or ethnic background. Over roughly the next decade, our anticipated shortfall of doctors will worsen our inability to provide health care to people from all walks of life, every income level, all regions, and all social circumstances. In Ohio specifically, maternal mortality rate shows disparities among women, according to an analysis of state data between 2008 and 2016 by the Center for Community Services, based in Cleveland. Although 13.2% of Ohio women are Black, 34% of the maternal deaths in the nine-year span were of Black women. And Black babies are 2.7 times more likely to die before their first birthday than white infants, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Increasing the number of physicians from diverse backgrounds within the health care workforce can help reduce these barriers. Being treated by a diverse care team, or by doctors who have trained or worked with people from different backgrounds, leads to better health outcomes for everyone. In just one recent research finding, when there are more Black doctors in a community, Black people actually live longer. Studies show a diverse learning environment can improve the skills health care workers need to address health disparities. We risk losing the benefits we have gained from having racially and ethnically diverse care teams increased trust, better insights into care, improved adherence to prevention by patients, and improved patient outcomes. This scientific evidence is why medical schools have long taken an individualized approach to admissions. While good grades and high test scores are critical for physicians, so are other attributes. Schools also look for evidence of altruism, teamwork, communication skills, and leadership among other factors when considering their next class of future doctors. This often means understanding an applicants background and racial identity as part of their lived experience. At a time when the health care workforce is working full tilt to advance equitable health outcomes for a rapidly diversifying America, the Supreme Courts decisions could imperil the ability of medical schools to select who they deem to be the most qualified aspiring physicians and scientists who can address today and tomorrows health care challenges. Physicians take an oath to do no harm. A necessary factor to move past those inequities is to diversify our nations workforce of physicians and other health care professionals to best serve America as we face changing demographics. An adverse decision by the Supreme Court will be a setback we simply cannot afford to make as a country. No matter the outcome, we stand ready to support the nations medical schools in ensuring a pathway for a diverse physician workforce. Our values and commitment to justice will not waver. David A. Acosta, MD, is a family medicine physician and serves as chief diversity and inclusion officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Alison J. Whelan, MD, an internist and clinical geneticist, is chief academic officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges. 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 on this editorial board roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. There are worse state governments than Ohios. Cringeworthy places like Texas, Tennessee and Florida would easily qualify. But the moral bankruptcy that has invaded all three branches of Ohios government has created a cesspool. Never in the lifetime of anyone reading this piece has what has happened in and around the Statehouse been held in such low regard. Voter participation, at-risk children, and single moms struggling to raise a family are all under direct assault by legislators obsessed with making life worse for Ohios needy. For proof, look no further than the two-year state budget Ohios legislative lightweights are now in the final states of preparing. The version approved by the Senate would slash funding increases approved in the House for quality early childhood education, mental health resources for needy kids and health care for at-risk mothers. Through its words and deeds, Ohios government cares far more about arming Ohio with weapons used to kill kids in schools than it does investing in programs with proven success at saving young lives. And the DeWine administrations messaging is so muddled, its flirtation with efforts to weaken democracy so inexcusable, that some worthy job creation efforts are overshadowed by its glaring leadership failures. On Aug. 8, voters will decide State Issue 1, the ballot issue that would limit the ability of voters to participate in Ohios government by requiring a 60% supermajority to amend the Ohio Constitution. The document can currently be amended with the support of a simple majority of those voting. Brent Larkin was The Plain Dealers editorial director from 1991 until his retirement in 2009.The Plain Dealer Issue 1 tells us three things about the men and women in charge of Ohio: 1) They are all in on the scam. There is no longer any separation of powers, no three branches of government. With Issue 1, the Ohio Supreme Court has now embraced a scheme crafted by Secretary of State Frank LaRose and the legislatures Republican majority, then embraced by the governor and rubber-stamped by a high court that rarely bothers to even pretend it cares about the law. The courts majority members could be replaced by four trained seals, and no one would notice the difference. 2) They are all willing to lie with impunity. The mendacious designers of the ballot issue have repeatedly claimed it is needed to prevent outsiders from influencing Ohios government. Then they built a campaign for the issue funded largely by someone who lives in Illinois. 3) They will keep doing it. Because they simply do not care what you think. So even if Issue 1 fails, which is likely, the three branches of government will keep colluding. We do not yet know what the next attempt to harm Ohio will look like, only that there will be one. In future decades, historians will ponder the causes of Ohios rapid descent into the sewer of representative democracy, how it went from a center-right swing state for two centuries, to a place where officeholders make no attempt to hide their contempt for the people who elect them. They will not find the answers all that complicated. Statewide elections in non-presidential years have been unkind to Democrats since 1990. But since 2016, Democrats have also been uncompetitive in presidential election years. For that, there are two obvious reasons. First, Black voter turnout in Ohios urban areas has fallen precipitously for four consecutive election cycles, especially in Cleveland and some of the inner ring suburbs. In the 2020 presidential election, voter turnout in many East Side neighborhoods was under 50%. In the Central neighborhood, it was 36%. Overall, the turnout in Cuyahoga County was 68%. These dismal turnout numbers pose a grave threat to Sen. Sherrod Browns bid for a fourth term in 2024. Far more significant has been the well documented and seismic shift to Republican candidates among working class whites. One way to understand the enormity of this abandonment of the Democratic Party is to compare the results of the 2014 and 2020 presidential elections in the eastern border counties of Ashtabula, Mahoning, Trumbull, Jefferson, Belmont, and Monroe. In 2004, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry received 217,770 votes in the six counties in his challenge to President George W. Bush. Kerry was not a great candidate, but he won all six. Sixteen years later, Democrat Joe Biden received only 138,418 votes in those same counties, losing all of them to Trump. An uncomfortable, but undeniable truth here is the big change from bright blue to bright red counties began with the 2008 election. Barack Obama won Ohio in both 2008 and 2012, but his presidency clearly accelerated the phenomenon now known as white voter resentment, especially among white males without a college degree, that fueled Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton in 2016. No one understands Mahoning Valley politics better than Bertram de Souza, a 40-year fixture at the Youngstown Vindicator until it ceased publication in 2019. During the 2016 campaign, de Souza wrote a column warning that Trumps message of race-based resentment was resonating with voters in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, comparing that message to the one used so successfully in earlier years by the late Rep. Jim Traficant. Even though Obama helped prevent Lordstown from closing during his first term, I remember union officials telling me in 2012 of the anti-Obama pushback they got from their members when he ran for re-election in 2012, said de Souza. That was such a poignant moment for me. It was that same racial undercurrent thats now driving so much of whats happening in this country. Trump promised Lordstown would never close on his watch. General Motors shut down in 2019. For the nation, a second Trump term would bring a return of the cauldron of resentments, lies, cruelty, crazed conspiracy theories and relentless assaults on the rule of law so typical of this dangerous and unstable man. Far more worrisome is that so many millions still support him. Nearly eight years ago, after the first debate of the Republican presidential campaign, held at Quicken Loans Arena, I wrote, The country is changing fast. White males dont like it. And Trump has tapped into that vein of resentment. Its the same crowd thats fond of saying, I want my country back. They talk as if someone the Black guy in the White House is usually the prime suspect has stashed the United States in a closet and Joe the Plumber and his ilk cant find it. In 2020, every major Ohio officeholder, except Sherrod Brown, supported Trump for re-election. For them to endorse Trump again in 2024 would be an act of betrayal against the state they represent and the country where they live. There is nothing complicated about why Trump is such a unique threat to the nations future. It was as clear in 2016 as it is today. At some level, in some way, each of the nations presidents has cared about the nation and its people. Except one. Brent Larkin was The Plain Dealers editorial director from 1991 until his retirement in 2009. To reach Brent Larkin: blarkin@cleveland.com Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions, comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, back row center, poses with government officials and private business leaders of Korea and Saudi Arabia, after signing a contract between Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Aramco, June 24 (local time). Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Korean builder to build mega plant in Middle Eastern country By Lee Kyung-min Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed a $5 billion (6.4 trillion won) deal with Saudi Arabia's state oil company Aramco to build a mega complex for petrochemical production in the Middle Eastern country, the land ministry said Sunday. The deal, which will advance the Amiral project packages No. 1 and 4, is the largest contract won by a Korean builder with Saudi Arabia. Aramco is the owner of Amiral Petrochemical Plant. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Korean-Saudi cooperation will take a further mutually beneficial turn, as underpinned by Korea's expertise in construction and city planning helping the oil-rich country move away from fossil fuels. It added the deal will enable Aramco's petrochemical plant construction project in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, to produce petrochemical products including ethylene. The deal will push up the country's overseas construction orders in the first six months of this year to $13.7 billion, exceeding last year's $12 billion. Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong said the deal was a result of President Yoon Suk Yeol's commitment reiterated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last November. "The leaders of the two countries agreed to develop bilateral relations into a future-oriented strategic partnership, thereby promoting large-scale economic cooperation in the energy and infrastructure sectors," Won said at the signing ceremony. Korea launched the "One Team Korea" initiative last year to fortify cooperation with Saudi Arabia and build momentum for the "Second Middle East boom." The minister has since continued diplomatic efforts to maintain close relations with transport energy authorities of Saudi Arabia as well as private leaders, including the Aramco CEO. Won visited Saudi Arabia, June 22 (local time), and met with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud to strengthen energy cooperation. The next day, Won visited the Marjan oil and gas field located in the Arabian Gulf, off the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia. The site is where construction projects overseen by Hyundai affiliates are in progress. A total of $156.5 billion in overseas construction orders have been signed between Korea and Saudi Arabia as of March. This accounts for 17 percent of Korea's total overseas construction orders over the past five decades worth $925 billion, according to the ministry. It is twice the $83.1 billion from the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this year, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration pledged policy assistance to win $50 billion in overseas construction orders every year until 2027. Using a procedural maneuver, Republican leaders in the Ohio House of Representatives last week stalled a bill to stop electric utilities from forcing Ohio consumers to bail out two costly coal-burning power plants, one of them in Indiana. This parliamentary sleight of hand needs to be reversed. According to the Office of Consumers Counsel, which represents residential utility ratepayers, Ohio electricity customers have so far paid almost $164 million in subsidies for the two historically money-losing generating stations. The Ohio coal-burning plant, Kyger Creek, is in Cheshire, Gallia County, in the district of Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens of Kitts Hill. The other coal-burning plant, Clifty Creek, is in southeastern Indiana. The plants were opened in 1955. Among multiple owners, the single largest is Columbus-based American Electric Power Co. (which fields 14 Statehouse lobbyists.) The two coal-burning plants were built to provide electricity for the federal governments former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Southern Ohio, which enriched uranium for use in nuclear weapons. At issue at the Statehouse is House Bill 120, whose prime sponsors are Democratic Reps. Casey Weinstein of Hudson and Sean Brennan of Parma. The Weinstein-Brennan bill would end the coal-plant bailout; and refund to Ohio electricity consumers what theyve paid in subsidies so far; and forbid any revival of the subsidy by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The subsidies were required by House Bill 6 of 2019, whose aims and passage formed part of the biggest public corruption scandal in Ohios 220 years of statehood. As a result of his efforts to pass HB 6, former House Speaker Larry Householder, a Perry County Republican, was convicted on federal charges and will be sentenced Thursday (June 29). The Houses GOP-ruled Rules and Reference Committee, which Speaker Stephens chairs, at least temporarily stalled a potential House floor vote on the Weinstein-Brennan refund bill. The Weinstein-Brennan bill had been stuck in the Houses utility friendly Public Utilities Committee since March 22. But the bills backers have been circulating a discharge petition to free the bill from the committee and send the measure directly to the House floor for an up or down vote. Then, last Tuesday, with 22 of the required 50 House members petition signatures gathered, Stephens and the Rules and Reference panel, which he chairs, pulled the Weinstein-Brennan bill from Public Utilities and consigned it to Rules and Reference. That will likely slow, for at least 30 days, any further action on repeal. True, as a consequence of gyrations in fuel markets, Ohios coal-plant subsidies have, in the last year, let utilities give Ohio consumers tiny credits on their bills. For now, customers are getting credit for a few cents per month, Kathiann Kowalski of Energy News Network reported in October. Supporters of the subsidy say thats exactly how the coal-plant subsidy was supposed to work. Historically, though, the plants have been money-losers. So, Kowalski also reported, ratepayer subsidies for the coal plants will resume in July, with charges of 15 or 16 cents a month for AEP, AES Ohio and Duke residential ratepayers, and 4 cents a month for FirstEnergy residential consumers. Theres no reason to think the thirst for subsidies will change, especially given the plants ages; that big electricity customers are increasingly seeking green energy; and that without subsidies, the two Ohio Valley Electric Corp. plants likely would have shut down already -- as they should have. The fact is that OVECs owners made a bad bet and sought (and got) a bailout when Householder ruled the House. The Weinstein-Brennan bill deserves a fair vote, and not procedural game-playing by the Houses GOP leaders. The OVEC subsidies violate the very free-market tenets that Statehouse Republicans say they support. Moreover, the OVEC subsidies were folded into HB 6 not because they are good policy but because they likely would gain support from other utilities for a bill that mainly benefited FirstEnergy. This vestige of HB 6 needs to go. Now. And it will, if GOP leaders let the House, then the Senate, fairly and freely vote on Weinstein and Brennans proposal. Editors note: This editorial was updated at 9:44 a.m. to correct that Gallia County, home to the Kyger Creek coal plant being subsidized by Ohio ratepayers, is in the district of Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, not in his home county. 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 Otis Elevator Korea CEO Cho Ik-seo answers questions from lawmakers during a National Assembly audit in Seoul in this 2019 file photo. Newsis By Park Jae-hyuk Otis Elevator Korea is under government investigation over the death of a 27-year-old worker who fell 20 meters while repairing an elevator alone at an apartment building in Seoul last Friday. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Sunday that it is investigating whether the company is subject to punishment under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA). The law can send a company's chief manager to jail if a serious worksite accident occurs where the company has not taken sufficient safety precautions. "After sending our officials to the scene to check the accident, we immediately ordered the suspension of the repair work," a labor ministry official said. "We immediately began to investigate the cause of the accident and whether the company is subject to the SAPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Act." The ministry added it will take stern measures, if it discovers any illegality in this case. Unionized workers of the U.S. elevator maker's Korean subsidiary attributed the fatal accident to management's repeated refusals to accept their request to send at least two workers on elevator repair jobs. Before the accident, the deceased worker also reportedly texted his colleague asking for support. According to guidelines of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, those in charge of maintaining elevators should supervise the safety of maintenance work. In addition, they should also send at least two workers to work on maintenance. Otis Elevator Korea's manufacturing plant in Incheon / Courtesy of Otis Elevator Korea China transforms extreme frontier to renewables belt 09:55, June 25, 2023 By Zheng Xin ( China Daily Workers set up frameworks for a solar power project in Kubuqi desert in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua] Mega solar, wind projects to supply power needs, reduce CO2 emissions The Kubuqi desert, located in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has always been known for its severe heat and insufficient water sources. Kubuqi China's seventh largest desert that was earlier called "the sea of death" and the Gobi region beyond, consisting of vast expanses of rocky mountains and sand dunes, however, hold out a promise. Their large expanse of barren land rich in wind and solar resources makes it ideal for developing huge solar and wind power parks that can transform the desolate area into a bustling hub for renewable energy. And, China is doing exactly that. A mega solar and wind power base, jointly undertaken by China Three Gorges Corp and Inner Mongolia Energy Group, is currently under construction in the Kubuqi desert and is set to become the world's largest power generation base of its kind. Designed with an overall installed capacity of 16 million kilowatts, the massive solar-plus-storage project will feature 8 gigawatts of solar power and 4 GW of wind power upon completion, as well as 4 GW of upgraded coal and 300 megawatts of energy storage capacity to support steady grid operation. The capacity is equivalent to that of Baihetan, China's second-largest hydropower station, said Chen Shicheng from China Three Gorges Corp, who is in charge of the construction site. Once complete, the project, with a total investment of $11.5 billion, will be able to transfer about 40 billion kWh of electricity to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region every year, half of which will be clean energy, equivalent to saving about 6 million metric tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 16 million tons, Chen said. This is part of the country's efforts to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals under a new development philosophy. By 2030, China's carbon dioxide emissions will peak, stabilize and then decline, and by 2060, China will be carbon neutral and will have a fully established green, low-carbon and circular economy. China aims to gradually increase the share of consumption of nonfossil energy to around 20 percent by 2025, around 25 percent by 2030, and over 80 percent by 2060, according to a document released jointly by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council. The country's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP will be lowered by 18 percent from the 2020 level by 2025 and will have dropped by more than 65 percent compared with the 2005 level by 2030, according to the document. Green energy push The scenario is not unique to Kubuqi desert. The Tengger desert, the fourth-largest in China situated to the west of the Kubuqi desert, stretches toward the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. Here, the first phase of a photovoltaic power project with an installed capacity of 1 million kilowatts is nearing completion and will soon be operational. The desert belt winds through several provincial-level regions including Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Qinghai, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. China's fight against desertification started decades ago. In 1988, Elion Resources Group started combating desertification as part of China's greening efforts of the vast Kubuqi desert. The country's first solar project for sand control, with an overall planned capacity of 1,000 MW and operated by Elion, started generating power in 2016 in the Kubuqi desert. Since then, China has continued to expand its renewable energy projects in the desert and Gobi region, with a particular focus on solar energy. In 2021, China launched the first phase of wind and solar power projects of a total 100 gigawatts in desert areas that cover 19 provinces, according to a statement jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration. An employee works on the photovoltaic production line of a tech company in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua] As renewable energy has been gaining momentum in recent years, the government has vowed to further accelerate the construction of solar and wind power generation facilities in these areas. It has announced the second phase with an estimated investment of up to 3 trillion yuan ($442 billion) that will focus on related industries in the Gobi and other sandy and rocky regions. Most of the projects will be located in the northwestern part of China that has vast renewable energy resources, including the Inner Mongolia, Ningxia Hui and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions, it said. By 2025, annual power generation from renewable energy will reach about 3.3 trillion kilowatthours and the wind power and solar power generation will double, according to the country's central economic planner. As much as 33 percent of power supply to the national grid will come from renewable sources by 2025, up from 29 percent in 2020, it said in a document. After years of efforts, the vast Gobi Desert in the northwestern part of China now boasts massive wind turbines and photovoltaic panels. Local governments are not only transforming their advantages in local resources into an economic advantage, but also ensuring sufficient power supply for the country, said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University. "China has been stepping up efforts in greening the deserts with local governments aiming to turn their desert regions, as well as the Gobi region and the outdated and shut-down coal mining land, to solar and wind power bases, taking advantage of the abundant renewable energy resources in the area," he said. "The abundant renewable energy resources and preferential policies have attracted leading photovoltaic manufacturing enterprises such as GCL Technology Holdings Ltd, Tongwei Co Ltd, TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology Co Ltd, Risen Energy Co Ltd and LONGi Green Energy Technology Co Ltd, to shape up the whole industrial chain." The northern region of China has been witnessing a remarkable surge in the construction of solar and wind power parks in recent years along its desert belt, transforming the area into a bustling hub for renewable energy while burnishing China's credentials as an environmental leader, he said. Inner Mongolia, for example, has 2,600 to 3,400 annual sunshine hours, and it ranks second only to Tibet autonomous region in the country in solar energy resources, which has emerged as a primary driver of the region's energy transformation. However, Lin said the challenge at present is how to effectively and efficiently transport all the green energy produced in the western regions to the load center in East China. Energy storage, as well as ultrahigh voltage power transmission lines which could double the voltage of conventional high-voltage lines and allow them to transmit up to five times more electricity at minimal energy loss along the way are believed to be the answer to China's energy imbalance, ensuring that the green but fluctuating energy source is not wasted. As power generation using renewable energy requires the grid network to be steadier and quicker in responding to volatility and unpredictability, it is necessary to build a new power system with new energy as a principal component to help the government achieve its carbon peak and neutrality ambitions, Lin said. With additional installations of wind and solar power and greater challenges in accommodating them, the UHV transmission will help boost confidence among investors to further build wind and solar power units, he said. Yi Yuechun, deputy director-general of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute, said it was necessary to optimize the allocation of energy storage while enhancing the supporting capacity of the power grid at the mega solar and wind bases. These bases are often located in areas where power demand and power grid adjustment and absorption capacity are limited. The ultrahigh voltage power line is like a high-speed electric power railway. It has strong transmission capacity, low loss and long transmission distance for clean electricity. The transmission lines can not only transform resource advantages in western China into economic benefits, but also meet the urgent demand for green energy in the central and eastern provinces, he said. According to Yi, China has so far completed the construction of 34 UHV projects nationwide with the transmission scale more than twice that of 10 years ago. The State Grid Corp of China has been actively involved in the construction of UHV transmission lines in China in recent years. In February, it began construction of the Jinshang-Hubei 800-kilovolt UHV direct current power transmission project, stretching 1,901 kilometers to pass through four provincial regions, the highest-altitude UHV direct current power transmission project in the world. The company has been at the forefront of UHV transmission technology worldwide and has undertaken several ambitious UHV transmission line projects in China. These projects have been part of China's broader efforts to enhance its power grid infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and support the development of renewable energy sources. State Grid Corp has vowed to further step up research and development of UHV transmission technologies to further enhance the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of UHV transmission. The view of a solar power project in Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua] (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) A construction site in Seoul / Yonhap By Lee Kyung-min Cement makers and the government are locking horns over recent price hikes in construction materials, market watchers said, Sunday. Cement makers say price hikes are inevitable since the government's carbon neutrality initiatives mandate a significant investment in expensive green materials in the makeup of cement. The government's committee on carbon neutrality said greenhouse gas emissions produced by the cement industry need to be lowered by 34 million tons by 2030. In response, the government says that carbon-neutral technologies are the basis of national economic development in the construction industry, and are eligible for tax credits among other government policy assistance mechanisms. This is why the government is asking "to share the pain." The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said it held a meeting with the cement industry on June 23. Among the attendees were SsangYong C&E and Sungshin Cement, both of whom said they will raise cement prices next month, a further increase from the 40 percent jump already experienced over the past two years. They say production costs are soaring due to higher electricity fees, which make up around a quarter of manufacturing costs. Nonetheless, the ready-mix concrete and construction industry is up in arms since the 40 percent increase applied in the past two years is already eating into their profit margins. The ministry said the principle of market stability should be prioritized for the time being. "Business conditions have worsened over the past few years, but please mobilize efforts to smoothen price negotiations for the months to come," a ministry official said at the meeting. "A number of factors such as changes in bituminous coal and electricity bills should be considered. The government urges industry players to come to the negotiating table to reach an agreement." However, the guidelines for price stability are squarely rejected by the industry. "We cannot come to an agreement not because we don't want to but because we simply can't make ends meet," an industry official said. While attending Colby College in the late 1990s, Ken Allen spent half his time shooting hoops and the other half devoted to day trading. Torn when the time came to search for a job, the economics major first consulted a mentor who connected him with a former student. That connection led the Maine native to T. Rowe Price in Baltimore. Since joining the investment management firm in 2000, Allen's worked his way up the corporate ladder, taking the helm as portfolio manager of the T. Rowe Price Science & Technology (PRSCX) fund in 2009. The growth fund launched in 1987 aims to capitalize on innovation. In the wake of the latest artificial intelligence boom that's driven up last year's beaten-up technology stocks, it's skyrocketed nearly 38% in 2023. Longer-term, the fund, with a 0.84% expense ratio, offers 10- and 15-year trailing returns of more than 16% and about 13%, respectively. PRSCX YTD mountain PRSCX shares in 2023 Key to Allen's strategy since he began running the more than $7-billion fund is finding stocks he views as undervalued, hinging his investment framework around an analysis of cash flows. Allen also views solid, independent research as critical pieces of his methodology. This year, Allen has benefited from a spectacular run-up in technology stocks, fueled by a mania for all things tied to artificial intelligence. That said, "I try to stay really disciplined around valuation," Allen maintains. "I think especially in tech investing, valuation tends to get ignored or largely ignored." Betting on FAANG stocks PRSCX owns all the major FAANG names (Meta, Apple, Amazon and Alphabet), except for Netflix, and dominant chipmakers benefiting from AI such as Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices , up 189% and 70%, respectively, this year. Other key holdings include Microsoft , Salesforce and German online retailer Zalando. Just two stocks combined Microsoft and Alphabet made up nearly a fifth of the fund's portfolio as of as of March 31. Both stocks have gained more than 38% this year as investors bet on the promise of AI and the pair battle to offer the best generative AI model. But the fund's favored Microsoft since 2008 and bought Alphabet last summer, long before their latest gains. Allen expects recent technology trends to continue boosting what he regards as high-quality names, and applies the same philosophy to a position in Amazon now the fund's fourth-largest holding. Allen stood by Microsoft even as a PC-fueled down cycle and uncertainty rocked the technology sector in 2022, driving down shares in the Xbox maker by about 29%. Allen opened his position in Alphabet last year, just as the slowing advertising cycle turned many investors away from the Google parent, dropping its multiple to the low teens. Allen viewed its solid fundamentals as unchanged. "It's kind of unusual to get a great business at a lower PE than it's likely ...growth rate, and that's why I felt really comfortable having a particularly large position then in the stock," he explained. The same idea cemented Allen's faith in Salesforce last year, even as shares cratered 48%, its business slowed and the co-CEO announced his departure. The stock proved one of Allen's biggest losers in 2022, but the portfolio manager expects significant upside as IT spending improves. Salesforce has rebounded more than 58% this year. "I looked at this company that I think is a top line grower, well into the double digits, with a ton of margin expansion, trading at 15 times free cash flow, and it just didn't make sense to me that a business this good would be this discounted," Allen said. Given his devotion to valuation, Allen has lately pulled back his exposure to some technology names that have rallied, significantly reducing stakes in Nvidia, Meta Platforms, Advanced Micro Devices and Amazon. Unusual plays and new additions Not every name in Allen's portfolio is widely bought on Wall Street. Despite a recent selloff in Zalando , Allen said shares look "really cheap" and the company appears well-situated to take market share with its vast item selection. The stock, one of Allen's top 10 as of March 31, is undervalued by at least half on the basis of its long-term cash flow projections, and could potentially triple within the next few years, he calculates, he said. Accenture , which this week forecast weaker-than-estimated revenue in the current quarter , remains a "premier" technology services company able to guide businesses as they look to implement AI. It was Allen's 7th largest position at the end of March. Recent additions to the fund include Mastercard , Apple and Texas Instruments . While Mastercard lags the stock performance of many technology behemoths, Allen believes it offers similar growth potential, and less cyclicality and fewer risks. A low-risk approach also extends to Texas Instruments. While the analog semiconductor name is ahead less than 2% this year, Allen said it offers a strong track record of driving shareholder value and returning capital through buybacks and dividends. TXN yields 3%. Lately, the T. Rowe Price fund has outperformed even when it's slumped. The fund tumbled more than 35% during last year's rout, but other tech funds lost an average of 37.4%, according to Morningstar. For Allen, every investment and every cycle marks another learning opportunity to perfect his craft. "It's really important to learn over time when things go well and especially when things don't go well," Allen said. "One of the things that I focus on a lot, and have for the 23 years I've been doing this, is thoughtfully evaluating what I can do to just get incrementally better while sticking to a process that I believe in." Members of the Wagner Group prepare to depart from the Southern Military District's headquarters and return to their base on June 24, 2023 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Feodor Larin | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images Chaos in Russia works to Kyiv's advantage, Ukraine officials said on Saturday, but it remains to be seen whether President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his army can capitalize on the disorder caused this weekend as mercenaries marched towards Moscow. Late on Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, a founder of the Wagner army, said he was halting his "march for justice" on Moscow after a deal that spared him and his mercenaries from facing criminal charges. The deal also exiled Prigozhin to Belarus. Members of Wagner group sit atop of a tank in a street in the city of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. Denis Romanov | AFP | Getty Images "Today the world saw that the masters of Russia do not control anything. Nothing at all. Just complete chaos," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address, urging Ukraine's allies to use the moment and send more weapons to Kyiv. The Prigozhin unrest, the biggest internal challenge to President Vladimir Putin as Russia's paramount leader for 23 years, has spurred global security concerns and a frenzy of calls between Washington and its allies to coordinate actions. "Any chaos behind the enemy lines works in our interests," State-run Ukrinform news agency quoted Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as saying on Saturday. Read more: Mercenary boss seizes southern city in Russian insurrection Russian state media says Prigozhin to leave for Belarus A look at the mercenary group led by man accused of 'armed mutiny' Putin called Prigozhin's actions a "blow to Russia," but there were no immediate signs his rule was threatened. The defense ministry, under the helm of Putin's loyal ally Sergei Shoigu, remained silent throughout the weekend's events. Members of Wagner group looks from a military vehicle in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24, 2023. Roman Romokhov | AFP | Getty Images Even after this week's decline for the S & P 500, there are some stocks deep in overbought territory. The S & P 500 lost more than 1% for the week, snapping a five-week winning streak. The move comes as investors appear to book some profits following a massive rally stoked by enthusiasm over artificial intelligence and hope that the U.S. can avoid an economic recession. That said, a look at the relative strength index of many stocks in the index shows investors may want to trim their holdings in some other names as well. A stock is considered overbought if its 14-day RSI goes above 70, signaling investors should consider easing their exposure. A 14-day RSI under 30, however, signals that a stock is oversold, meaning there may be a buying opportunity. Here's a look at the most overbought stocks in the S & P 500. Johnson & Johnson is the most overbought stock in the index with 14-day RSI of nearly 92. The stock rose about 1% this week bucking the broader market trend. Most analysts aren't optimistic on the shares, with only 26% rating them a buy. That said, Morgan Stanley's Terence Flynn noted that its immunology drug JNJ-2113 could "be an underappreciated pipeline driver for JNJ and under a bull case scenario become a $5bn+ drug at peak for the company." Airlines Delta and Southwest also made the list, along with cruise operators Royal Caribbean and Carnival . All four stocks have RSIs of more than 83, though analyst consensus for each name varies. DAL YTD mountain DAL in 2023 For Delta, more than 85% of analysts have a buy rating on it. Meanwhile, more than half of those covering Royal Caribbean have buy ratings on the company. Only 4 in 10 analysts rate Southwest and Carnival as buy. To be sure, there are some stocks deep in oversold territory, meaning they may be due for a bounce. Here's a look at the S & P 500 stocks with the lowest 14-day RSI. Akamai Technologies is the most oversold stock on Wall Street, with an RSI of just under 12. The cybersecurity name lost more than 3% this week and is down nearly 4% for the month. Analysts, however, aren't keen on the stock. Only one-third of those covering Akamai rate it a buy, and the average analyst price target implies upside of just 7% over the next 12 months. Solar stocks Enphase Energy , SolarEdge Technologies and First Solar also made the cut, with 14-day RSIs of 21.8, 16.7 and 20.9, respectively. All three stocks have gotten crushed in the second quarter, losing more than 15% each. Enphase and SolarEdge are also down for the year. First Solar, meanwhile, is still up 23% in 2023. That said, analysts are bullish on the three solar names, receiving buy ratings from more than 60% of those covering them. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said much remains unknown about the chaos that unfolded in Russia on Saturday, but that the internal clash exposed "cracks" in the nation that "weren't there before." Russian President Vladimir Putin faced a violent, attempted insurrection Saturday by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a longtime Putin ally who led private mercenary fighters called the Wagner Group. But less than 24 hours after Wagner mercenaries seemingly took control of the strategic southern city of Rostov and began an armed convoy march towards Moscow, Prigozhin abruptly announced the armed rebellion was over. In exchange for turning back, the criminal case against Prigozhin was dropped, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian reporters, according to the state-controlled outlet TASS. Prigozhin himself "will go to Belarus," Peskov said, describing what appeared to be a sort of official exile. Prigozhin has played a central role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, so his departure could ultimately change the course of the war. And though his rebellion was short-lived, it marked the most serious challenge to Putin's regime in decades. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence gestures during the "National Celebrate Life Day Rally" commemorating the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs v Women's Health Organization case, overturning the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision, in Washington, U.S., June 24, 2023. Two Republican 2024 presidential hopefuls talked up their opposition to abortion on Sunday on the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, the decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence described last year's landmark decision as "a historic victory" that condemned Roe v. Wade to "the ash heap of history." Pence earlier this week called for all GOP candidates to commit to a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks but he said on Sunday that it was also important to "stand with compassion." "With 62 million unborn lives lost, and just about as many women who have endured the two generations under abortion, I think we need to bring a message of grace, we need to bring a message of kindness," Pence said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday." "That's how we're going to win hearts and minds. It's so much more important than politics to me, but I also think it's a winning issue." Pence said that a national 15-week limit would "align American law with most of the countries in Europe that literally ban abortion after 12 to 15 weeks." His call for tighter restrictions come even as a recent national NBC News poll found that 6-in-10 voters remain opposed to the Supreme Court removing the national right to abortion. The poll included nearly 80% of female voters ages 18-49, two-thirds of suburban women, 60% of independents and a third of Republican voters who disapprove, according to NBC News. Pence also said that he "strongly supports" Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville's effort to hold up military promotions because of Defense Department policies on abortion, including a recent decision to reimburse costs for service members who travel to other states to obtain an abortion. "We simply cannot have the federal government subsidizing abortion in this country directly or indirectly, and that includes the Pentagon," Pence said. Another guest on the Fox program, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), took issue with that comment. "We [Democrats] support Roe v. Wade," Cardin said. "We thought that was established law. It was an established law for almost 50 years. The Supreme Court decision was a radical decision that reversed the rights of women to make their own health-care decisions." That right "shouldn't be subservient to what state legislatures are doing," Cardin said. "This is a personal decision made by women with the advice of their doctors and their families. And we don't think we should try to tell women when they can make those decisions." But at least one GOP contender said on Sunday that he isn't likely to sign on to Pence's idea. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who announced his bid for president earlier this month, said that while he supports the decision in Dobbs, he will oppose the concept of a federal abortion ban until a "national consensus" develops on the issue. "Conservatives like me, for the last 50 years, have been arguing that this is not a federal issue. It's a state issue. It's something that states should decide. The Dobbs case one year ago gave us the opportunity to let each state make this decision," he told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. "What I hope to see is that with each of the 50 states, but more importantly the people of each of the 50 states deciding this issue, we then could see a national consensus develop," Christie said. "If a national consensus develops, I have no problem with the federal government stepping in and confirming that national consensus." Bank of America has named the European companies whose stocks are expected to perform robustly in the face of a possible economic downturn. It comes amid increasing signs that the European economy could be headed for a period of extended recession. Preliminary data last week pointed toward a slowdown in business activity growth for June , and earlier this month, the euro zone group of nations reported a quarter-on-quarter contraction , taking it into a technical recession. Bank of America's proprietary Style Cycle model also shows that the region is facing a "recession phase." This model, which tracks the stages of the economy, indicates that Europe's economy is now in a downturn for the first time since the second quarter of 2020. During such an economic environment, the Wall Street bank's strategists said they favor large companies that are considered value over growth, high quality, and low risk. The firms selected by the bank stand out because they are expected to offer high cash yields in the face of a looming recession. This means that they should provide investors with a steady flow of cash through dividends or buybacks, even if the overall economy is not doing so well. These companies are all part of the Europe Stoxx 600 index, have a market capitalization of at least 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion), and offer a 12-month forward cash yield higher than the average for their respective sectors. The forward cash yield measures how much cash a company is expected to generate for its shareholders over the next year compared to its current market price. Among the companies named by BofA are: KBC from Belgium, Intesa Sanpaolo and Eni from Italy, Nordea Bank from Finland, Repsol from Spain, Barclays and Aviva from the United Kingdom, and BNP Paribas from France. These companies, among others, fall into the banks, energy, and insurance categories. Banking and insurance group KBC tops the list with a 12-month forward dividend yield of 8.1% and a total cash yield of 14.2%, according to the bank's forecasts. The cash yield also includes returns through buybacks. According to Paulina Strzelinska, Bank of America's quant strategist, the difference between the company's dividends and the bond yield has turned negative for the first time since 2011. In other words, companies are now paying their shareholders more than investors can earn from bonds. This year alone, 133 new buyback programs have been announced, with 27 coming from banks, 15 from energy companies, and 13 from industrials, according to Strzelinska's research note to clients on June 21. Based on BofA's historical data, specific sectors like food, beverages and tobacco, healthcare, and personal and household goods stores have performed better during economic downturns. The investment bank's strategist added that some cyclical sectors, such as automobiles, basic resources, and energy may also be attractive in this phase due to their higher cash yields. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) Philippine authorities will help repatriate the remains of Japanese soldiers who died in the country during World War II, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said on Sunday. "Japan remains one of the closest partners and allies of the Philippine government and we are ready to assist them in the recovery of the remains of their fallen soldiers," Abalos said in a statement. Abalos met with the officials of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) on Thursday. He said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Foreign Affairs assured the MHLW that the "recovery and repatriation of the Japanese war-dead remains will be carried out smoothly." In 2018, the Philippines and Japan signed a memorandum of cooperation on the "collection, handling, storage, and shipment" of the Japanese solders' remains. According to the memorandum of cooperation, should the remains not be confirmed to be that of a Japanese soldier's "based on evidence available on the spot, the MHLW may collect a sample of the remains and conduct scientific DNA analysis in Japan." According to the DILG, over 300,000 remains of Japanese soldiers are still in the Philippines. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) Dredging activities have caused the surfacing of flounder, or flatfish, in Manila Bay but further study needs to be done on how this may affect the livelihood of fisherfolk in the area, a marine biologist said. With the ongoing dredging activities in Manila Bay, sand is being extracted as filling material for reclamation projects, which disturbs the habitats of flatfishes and other demersal fish and benthic invertebrate species, marine scientist Jerwin Baure told CNN Philippines. It may be possible that with the loss of bottom sediments, flatfishes would be driven away from their habitats, said Baure, who is also a public information officer of scientists group Advocates of Science and Technology for the People. According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), there are at least 108 species of flatfish in the country. However, the size of its population is not well documented. Despite their diversity, these species have low abundance and contribute insignificantly to the countrys overall fisheries production, BFAR told CNN Philippines. Fisher's group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) earlier raised the alarm after fisherfolk in Cavite reported the sighting of flatfish, locally known as "tampal-puke" or "isdang dapa," in Manila Bay. The struggle is real Baure said fisherfolk will suffer if fish are driven away from their habitats. They (fisherfolk) only have a limited area where they are allowed to fish. If they are caught fishing in a different municipality, they could be punished for illegal fishing, Baure said. According to PAMALAKAYA, average fish catch in the area was reduced by 80% since dredging operations started two years ago. Small fishers have been fighting the dredging and reclamation projects in Manila Bay. The dredging activities resulted in drastic decline of fish catch and other ecological damages," PAMALAKAYA tweeted. However, BFAR said the direct effects of dredging activities on fish behavior "have not been evaluated critically. This phenomenon requires a specific scientific study to generate results that can serve as the basis for developing appropriate management strategies, BFAR said. Pamalakaya has recorded a total of 187 reclamation projects in the country, which covers more than 25,000 hectares of fishing waters. Among those, at least 30 reclamation projects are located in the Manila Bay area. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, looks out from a military vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, leaving an area of the headquarters of the Southern Military District. AP-Yonhap The rebellious Russian mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow before abruptly reversing course will move to neighboring Belarus and not face prosecution, the Kremlin said Saturday, as part of a deal to defuse a crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. The charges against Yevgeny Prigozhin for mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped and the troops who joined him also will not be prosecuted, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced, and fighters from his Wagner Group who did not take part in the uprising will be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Putin had vowed to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, whose forces seized a key military facility in southern Russia before advancing on the capital. In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a "betrayal" and "treason." In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said Putin's "highest goal" was "to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results." Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city's southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he had decided to retreat to avoid "shedding Russian blood." His troops were ordered back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. Prigozhin has demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, long the target of his withering criticism for his conduct of the war in Ukraine. On Friday, he accused forces under Shoigu's command of attacking Wagner camps and killing "a huge number of our comrades." Prigozhin did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand. Peskov said the issue could not have been discussed during the negotiations, which were conducted by the president of Belarus, and is the "exclusive prerogative of the commander in chief." Members of the Wagner Group military company load their tank onto a truck on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24,prior to leaving an area at the headquarters of the Southern Military District. AP-Yonhap If Putin were to agree to Shoigu's ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. Early Saturday, Prigozhin's private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain's Ministry of Defense said. A nighttime video from the city posted on Russian messaging app channels showed people cheering Wagner troops as they left Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin was seen riding in one of the vehicles, and people greeted him and some ran to shake his hand as he lowered the window. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow. Authorities declared a "counterterrorist regime" in Moscow and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. On the southern outskirts, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and set up machine guns. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared Monday a non-working day for most residents as part of the heightened security, a measure that remained in effect even after the retreat. The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe's largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that even with a deal, Putin's position has probably been weakened and "these events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military." Biden speaks by phone with Western leaders on Russian crisis Prigozhin 'humiliated Putin' with mutiny: Ukraine presidency Korean nationals safe in Russia's Rostov-on-Don after mercenary revolt: foreign ministry Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and "showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs" that it is easy to capture Russian cities "and, probably, arsenals." Switching into Russian in his daily video address, Zelenskyy said "the man from the Kremlin" was "very afraid." He repeated his calls for the West to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles. Prigozhin had vowed earlier that his fighters, whom he said number some 25,000, would not surrender because "we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy." "Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland," he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel. He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even "a single gunshot." Russian media, however, reported that several helicopters and a military communications plane were downed by Wagner troops. The Kremlin referred a question about the losses to the Defense Ministry, which has not commented. The short-lived rebellion came as Russia is "fighting the toughest battle for its future," Putin said, with the West piling sanctions on Moscow and arming Ukraine. "The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us," Putin said. State-controlled TV networks led their newscasts with Putin's statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Broadcasters also carried statements from top Russian officials and lawmakers voicing support for Putin, condemning Prigozhin and urging him to back down. Chechnyan strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who in the past has sided with Prigozhin in his criticisms of Russia's military, also expressed support for Putin's "every word." "The mutiny needs to be suppressed," Kadyrov said. Members of the Wagner Group military company sit in their vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, as they prepare to leave an area at the headquarters of the Southern Military District. AP-Yonhap Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defense Ministry denied attacking the camps. The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has longstanding ties to Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname "Putin's chef." He gained attention in the U.S. when he and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine. The rebellion appeared likely to further hinder Moscow's war effort in Ukraine, as Kyiv's forces probed Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive. Orysia Lutsevych, the head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank in London, said the infighting could create confusion and potential division among Russian military forces. "Russian troops in Ukraine may well now be operating in a vacuum, without clear military instructions, and doubts about whom to obey and follow, Lutsevych said. "This creates a unique and unprecedented military opportunity for the Ukrainian army." Western countries monitored developments closely. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts in the other G7 countries and the European Union's foreign affairs representative, his spokesman said, adding that Blinken "reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lauded the "unconventional warfare strategies" of the Philippine Armys Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) or SFR(A), saying these have become more relevant amid the complex threats faced by the country. Marcos also pledged his unassailable commitment to the SFR(A) during their 61st founding anniversary held in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Sunday. "To the men and women of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), we are grateful to have witnessed the efforts that leverage your expertise and demonstrate the core principles in the performance of your duties. Your mastery of unconventional warfare strategies [becomes] all the more relevant and significant in view of the complex threats that our nation now faces," he said. The president noted that the SFR(A) members have lived up to their moniker as "silent professionals." "You have not only played a pivotal role in times of battle but have also become dependable sentinels for the Filipino people," the commander-in-chief said. "Through the responses for humanitarian assistance, you have created a ripple of hope in our communities, increased our people's trust in the military and in the government." "We assure you of the administration's unassailable commitment and that of your commander-in-chief's support in all of your undertakings, strengthening your capabilities, and ensuring your welfare and that of your families," he added. The president cited the adoption of the Riverine Operations Equipment Project to further improve the capabilities of the SFR(A). He also called on the SRF(A) to continue helping Filipinos in times of crisis and "uphold the moral of the people as they maintain their standing as "experts of unconventional warfare strategies." During the event, Marcos recognized combat and civilian awardees, and watched a military free-fall capability demonstration and simulations of hostage situations. Established in 1962, the SFRA was first spearheaded by then-captain and former President Fidel Ramos. It is the first operational special forces unit with airborne capability, and one of the several units forming the Armed Forces of the Philippines Special Operations Command. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) Members of the LGBTQIA+ community, along with allies from different sectors, mounted events over the weekend to celebrate the Pride Month, with calls for the passage of the SOGIE Equality bill. Queer Filipinos and allies in Metro Manila flocked at two events on Saturday. Pride PH organized "Love Laban" at the Quezon Memorial Circle, while Metro Manila Pride conducted "Tayo ang Kulayaan" at the Circuit Event Grounds in Makati City. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Sunday said the Love Laban crowd was estimated at around 110,000. Organizers claimed it was the biggest Pride event in Southeast Asia. Drag queens, queer artists, and social media personalities performed throughout the day to entertain the crowd. Various Pride events were also staged outside the Metro, like in the cities of Baguio, Binan, Cebu, Dumaguete, and Mandaue. A protest To mark the celebration of Pride Month in Quezon City, Mayor Joy Belmonte launched the Right to Care Card program, which will empower LGBTQIA+ couples to make health-related decisions on behalf of each other. READ: QC gov't launches 'care card' for LGBTQIA+ couples "We want all of our residents, regardless of sexual orientation, to be with their partners in critical moments, and we are taking this important step to assure the rainbow community that they are cared for, recognized and valued in Quezon City," Belmonte said. Groups have explained that Pride is primarily a protest. With their witty and colorful placards, attendees marched for equality and inclusivity. Politicians pushing for the passage of the SOGIESC Equality bill a proposed measure that seeks to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics also attended Pride events. RELATED: CHR calls for 'swift progress' of SOGIESC bill Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to continue supporting, respecting, and recognizing the LGBTQ+ community and their importance to society. For Vice President Sara Duterte, "good things take time" as the LGBTQIA+ community waits for the passage of the bill. The version of the proposed measure in the House of Representatives has already passed the committee level. In the Senate, the bill was remanded to the committee on rules headed by Sen. Joel Villanueva. He is the son of CIBAC Rep. Eddie Villanueva, the founder of Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide. The senator already said he does not see any urgency in passing the SOGIESC bill. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) Four persons reportedly linked to former Maimbung, Sulu Vice Mayor Pando Mudjasan and one police officer were killed in a firefight that erupted in the municipality, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday. It said authorities on Saturday morning tried to serve an arrest warrant against Mudjasan at his home in Barangay Bualo Lipid when an undetermined number of the former politicians supporters allegedly opened fire on the police and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). READ: Deadly clash erupts in Sulu as authorities serve warrants vs ex-vice mayor Police said the shootout, which lasted from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, allowed Mudjasan to escape. He remains at large. Four men alleged to be supporters of Mudjasan and a police officer identified as Patrolman Regim Gacod were killed. Fourteen government troops were wounded, the PNP said. Earlier reports also noted that two civilians were injured. The PNP recovered a 7.62 caliber M14 rifle and ammunition from the scene. Mudjasan is wanted for multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of explosives and firearms. The PNP and AFP claimed that the former vice mayor is also a leader of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front and a supporter of the Abu Sayyaf. Police also alleged that Mudjasan was involved in arms smuggling and that members of his group were linked to the proliferation of illegal drugs and firearms in the province of Sulu. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 25) Nine mayors of Negros Oriental urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to postpone the province's Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections because of a "lingering atmosphere of terror" in the aftermath of the brutal murder of former governor Roel Degamo. The joint statement released on Sunday was signed by the governor's widow, Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, along with mayors of Dauin, San Jose, Dumaguete, Bindoy, Siaton, Ayungon, Guihulngan, and Tayasan. The mayors said the murder of Degamo and nine others in broad daylight inside his Pamplona home raised "significant" concerns about peace and security in the province. "Many other killings and harassments have occurred in the past, with most of the perpetrators still at large," the statement read. "The alleged mastermind's political machinery remains intact, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in our communities." Suspended Negros Oriental 3rd District representative Arnie Teves has been tagged as the alleged mastermind behind Degamo's killing, while his family was also accused of various illegal activities in the province, from owning a private army to controlling operations of a small town lottery and e-sabong. The mayors also cited an "atmosphere of terror" lingering in the province for over a decade from prior harassment, killings, and acts of intimidation that have instilled "deep-rooted fear" among voters in Negros Oriental. They said such fear made voters "hesitant to stand against the powerful political machinery and the accompanying harassment tactics." According to the local chief executives, deferring the polls for one month is necessary to address the peace and security concerns that have beset the province, and allow "strategic coordination" among Comelec and law enforcement agencies to strengthen security measures. "Postponing the elections provides the necessary time and space to establish a foundation of trust and security, paving the way for a more genuine and meaningful democratic experience in Negros Oriental," they said. This year's election period for barangay and youth council officials is set to begin on Aug. 28, with election day slated for Oct. 30. The Comelec earlier said a "proper hearing" on the elections' postponement in the province will be conducted in September following Senator Francis Tolentino's proposal to defer the polls due to political violence. Washington (CNN) US intelligence officials believe that Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the private Wagner military group, had been planning a major challenge to Russias military leadership for quite some time, but it was unclear what the ultimate aim would be, three people familiar with the matter told CNN. Intelligence officials briefed congressional leaders known as the Gang of Eight earlier this week concerning Wagner group movements and equipment buildups near Russia, two of the people said. US and Western intelligence officials saw signs that Prigozhin was making preparations for such a move, including by massing weapons and ammunition, one Western intelligence official and another person familiar with the intelligence said. A source familiar with the intelligence said it all happened very quickly, and it was difficult to discern how serious Prigozhin was about threatening the Russian military and where he would take his troops. Prigozhin had vowed Friday to retaliate against Russian military leadership over an alleged strike on a Wagner military camp and claimed control of military facilities in two Russian cities. Yet by Saturday afternoon, he published an audio recording claiming he was turning his forces around from a march toward Moscow, just hours after launching an insurrection that posed the greatest threat to Russian President Vladimir Putins authority in decades. We are turning our columns around and going back in the other direction toward our field camps, in accordance with the plan, he said in a message on Telegram after his forces claimed control of several military facilities and after he dispatched some of his troops towards Moscow. As the situation unfolds, US and Western officials are being careful not to weigh because of how Putin could weaponize any perceived involvement by the west in the escalating crisis, sources familiar with the administrations thinking told CNN. Officials across the administration convened emergency meetings on Friday night to assess the events, which unfolded so quickly that they caught US and European officials off guard, the sources said. President Joe Biden spoke Saturday with the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom about the unfolding situation in Russia, and they reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, according to a readout from the White House. US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens office, meanwhile, confirmed Saturday that he had spoken spoke with officials from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and the European Union. During the discussion, Secretary Blinken reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, adding that the US will stay in close coordination with Western officials. Britain also held a meeting of its emergency government task force to discuss the unfolding events, a UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson told CNN. As Russias invasion of Ukraine stalled earlier this year, US officials determined last year that there was an internal power struggle underway between the Wagner group and the Russian government, CNN previously reported. However, US and European intelligence officials did not predict that Prigozhin would move to storm the Russian region of Rostov with his forces, according to sources familiar with the intelligence. Its so hard to tell how much was talk and how much was real, one of the sources told CNN. The tension had been building for so long without anything actually happening. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed by their national security team Saturday about the latest developments in Russia and will continue to be briefed throughout the day, according to a statement from the White House. We are continuing to monitor the situation, National Security Council spokesperson Adam Hodge told CNN Saturday afternoon. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also discussed the situation in Russia with his counterparts in Canada, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement Saturday. A European intelligence official told CNN that the temperature had obviously been building, but few could have predicted what Prigozhin was planning. The official said the West will be watching how this plays out in the next 24 to 48 hours, after which supply shortages will likely start kicking in for Wagner forces. It is not clear to US or European officials how far in advance Prigozhin was planning the rebellion. One source familiar with Western intelligence said it appeared that it must have taken at least several days to organize. Another source, however, noted that Rostov is very close to the frontlines in Ukraine so it may not have required much forethought. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that this conflict has exposed Russias weakness, with a Ukrainian defense spokesperson calling it a sign of the collapse of the Putin regime. Russias weakness is obvious. Full-scale weakness, Zelensky said in a tweet. And the longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries on our land, the more chaos, pain, and problems it will have for itself later. This story was first published on CNN.com, "US and Western officials caught off guard by Prigozhins escalation in Russia" ARIZONA Female Mexican gray wolf released into wild PHOENIX A female Mexican gray wolf that a group of schoolchildren nicknamed Asha has been returned to the wilds of Arizona after she was found wandering in northern New Mexico outside of a zone set up for the recovery of her subspecies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday. The wolf was headed north into the southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico in January when the wildlife service captured her outside the recovery area. The Fish and Wildlife Service says it does not anthropomorphize wild animals by using human or pet names favored by the public and nongovernmental groups and calls her Female Wolf 2745. Cyndi Tuell, Arizona and New Mexico director of the nongovernmental Western Watersheds, and other environmentalists say the zone is arbitrary and that the animals should be able to roam freely, potentially introducing them to other wolves for breeding and increase their genetic diversity, conservationists insist. The Fish and Wildlife Service said the wolf born in 2021 had wandered into territory where there are no other wolves to breed with. She was fitted with a radio collar in the fall of 2022, and the agency will continue to monitor her movements following her release. The Mexican gray wolf is an endangered subspecies of the gray wolf whose numbers in the Southwest dwindled dangerously close to extinction before efforts to bring it back under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. The last known wild Mexican gray wolves were captured in the late 1970s, and the gradual recovery began with seven of the animals being successfully bred in captivity. NEW MEXICO State rolls out $690M in taxpayer rebates after budget surplus SANTA FE New Mexico expects to start distributing $690 million in rebates to eligible taxpayers as early as next week, state officials announced on Jun 12 as applications for a separate tax relief program opened. Any state resident who filed a 2021 state tax return and was not declared as a dependent on someone else's return will receive their rebates automatically, the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department said at a news conference. Single filers will get $500, while married couples filing jointly will get $1,000. Stephanie Schardin Clarke, the department's Cabinet secretary, said rebates will be deposited around June 21 into the bank accounts of taxpayers who received a refund by direct deposit on their 2021 return. Everyone else will get a check in the mail, which will be printed and sent out between June 20 and June 29, she said. New Mexico residents have until May 31, 2024, to file a 2021 return and still qualify for the rebates. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the tax rebates in April, as a result of a multibillion-dollar surplus in oil income. At the time, Lujan Grisham noted that prices remain high in a state with elevated poverty rates and low workforce participation, but said New Mexico "is in a fantastic financial position. Feds break up multi-state Guatemalan smuggling ring ALBUQUERQUE Federal authorities have arrested six people for their alleged roles in a human smuggling ring that brought migrants from Guatemala to the United States, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico said. Alexander M.M. Uballez, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, Texas, said the arrests followed the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment on May 24. Authorities said the six were members of the Lopez Crime Family, which allegedly has smuggling operations in Guatemala, Mexico and the U.S. that use a series of coordinated transports, stash houses and directed electronic money transfers. Authorities said all are Guatemalans and members of the family or associated with it. The arrests were made in Arizona and California through an operation that included law enforcement agencies in three states. Homeland Security Investigations in New Mexico led the investigation, officials said. If convicted, each faces up to ten years in prison. WYOMING Group that pushes alternatives opens site near Casper abortion clinic A nonprofit that aims to persuade pregnant woman to seek alternatives to abortion opened a site earlier this month down the street from the new Casper abortion clinic. The True Care Women's Resource Center, a nonprofit organization with a main location in asper, opened its second location June 1, Jessica Baxter, the center's CEO, said. The new clinic is about two blocks away from the Wellspring Health Access clinic, which opened in April nearly a year after an arson destroyed most of the building's interior. True Care has also partnered with Sidewalk Advocates for Life, a "Christ-centered" national organization that aims to end abortion. Volunteers with the local chapter of the organization have stationed themselves near the abortion clinic to intercept patients and refer them to the True Care center on Second Street. In addition to abortion services, Wellspring Health Access, which is led by founder and president Julie Burkhart, offers family planning services as well as gynecological and gender affirming care. The Wyoming Legislature passed the Life is a Human Right Act, a sweeping abortion ban, as well as the nation's first medication abortion ban earlier this year. Both became law in March, though abortion until viability is still legal in Wyoming after a Teton County judge blocked enforcement of the Life is a Human Right Act as the measure undergoes a challenge in court. Plaintiffs in the court challenge have also requested a block on the medication abortion ban, which is set to take effect next month. UTAH Rural abortion clinic closes amid staff shortages SALT LAKE CITY There is now one fewer place to access abortion in Utah after Planned Parenthood closed its only clinic outside the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The Planned Parenthood Association of Utah said on June 15 that the Logan clinic has long been staffed with one provider, who left to take another position in March. The northern Utah city of 52,000 is home to Utah State University and about 20 miles from Idaho, where abortions have been banned except for in cases of rape or incest since last year. Planned Parenthood said in a statement that it was training new staff and planned to reopen its clinic in August, in addition to a new facility in Ogden. In the meantime, it has attempted to help Logan patients schedule appointments at nearby health centers. In addition to abortion, the organization's facilities provide sexual and reproductive health services including birth control and STI and pregnancy screenings. Three abortion clinics remain open in Utah's Salt Lake City metro, including two operated by Planned Parenthood and a third, the independent Wasatch Women's Clinic. Abortion clinics are reckoning with a new state law that will ban them by gradually phasing out their licenses. A judge put the ban on hold until Planned Parenthood's lawsuit challenging it can be resolved. Lawmakers have said licenses for abortion clinics are no longer needed in post-Roe v. Wade Utah. Abortion is legal up to 18 weeks of pregnancy while challenges to a state trigger law that would ban most abortions with exceptions for rape, incest or maternal health progresses through the court system. Anti-abortion lawmakers who expect to prevail in court have said that the type of procedures allowed under the western conservative state's laws are best suited for hospitals. Abortion rights activists and counter protesters protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court on the first anniversary of the court ruling in the Dobbs v Women's Health Organization case, overturning the landmark Roe v Wade abortion decision, in Washington, U.S., June 24. Reuters-Yonhap Abortion rights supporters and opponents held dueling rallies around the U.S. on Saturday, the first anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that had legalized the procedure nationwide. In Washington, speakers from national abortion rights groups, including Women's March and NARAL Pro-Choice America, assembled in Columbus Circle to celebrate the defeat of some abortion opponents in the 2022 midterm races and to rally voters ahead of next year's congressional and presidential elections. Across town at the Lincoln Memorial, anti-abortion groups, including Students for Life America, hosted a "National Celebrate Life Day Rally." Former Vice President Mike Pence, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, was among the speakers. "We're never going to rest, we're never going to relent, until we restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law in every state in the country," Pence said on Saturday at a pre-rally "tele-townhall" for Iowa, the state that will be first to nominate a Republican candidate for president next year. A live crowd chanted "four more years" in Charlotte, North Carolina, as Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris spoke in favor of national legislation to protect abortion rights. A new Republican-backed law takes effect in North Carolina on July 1, cutting the legal window for abortions from 20 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. "We know this fight will not truly be won until we secure this right for every American, which means ultimately the United States Congress must put back in place what the Supreme Court took away," Harris said. The June 24, 2022, Supreme Court ruling allowed U.S. states to ban abortion care for the first time in nearly 50 years. Conservative states have passed a flood of legislation to restrict the procedure, while other states have moved to protect abortion access. Near-total abortion bans have taken effect in 14 states in the past year, even as opinion polls show that a majority of Americans want abortion legal in all or most cases. The issue is expected to remain central in next year's congressional and presidential races, with activists on both sides using the anniversary to mobilize their base to get more politically engaged. Leading reproductive rights groups - EMILYs List, NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund - on Friday announced their endorsements of President Joe Biden and Harris for reelection in 2024. Abortion rights demonstrators rally to mark the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the Dobbs v Women's Health Organization case in Washington, U.S., June 24. AFP-Yonhap The long history of Saturday Night Live, from John Belushis Samurai to Bill Haders Stefon, is littered with recurring characters, audience favorites who return over several episodes to reinforce (or ruin) their popularity. More unusual, however, are the recurring characters played by funny people who arent in the cast. The degree of difficulty is high the non-cast members have to be asked back to host several times. Then they have to create characters in those limited opportunities who demand repeat performances. But as the following sketches prove, the feat can be done. Here are 10 repeat characters by people who dont draw a regular check from SNL Click right here to get the best of Cracked sent to your inbox. 1 Steve Martin Georg Festrunk (one of the Wild and Crazy Guys) In the early days of SNL, you could mistake Steve Martin for a regular cast member he hosted eight times over the first five seasons. That gave him plenty of opportunities to create recurring characters such as Theodoric of York, Medieval Barber, the hairdresser who also diagnosed illnesses due to an imbalance of bodily humors, perhaps caused by a toad or a small dwarf living in her stomach. But Theodoric never had the catchphrase cachet of the Festrunk brothers, the swinging Czechs in search of big American breasts played by Martin and Dan Aykroyd. We are two wild and crazy guys became T-shirt fodder and a staple of 1978 high school variety shows. Play Advertisement 2 Buck Henry Uncle Roy Somehow lost to history is the fact that Henry hosted even more than Martin in SNLs early days, an astounding 10 times between 1976 and 1980. Like Martin, he created a character that showed up over multiple episodes but Uncle Roy, the babysitter who takes Polaroids of prepubescent girls, is the should-be-in-prison poster child for characters aging badly. Almost as bad is Henry speaking years later to the Archive of American Television, defending the character because 1) the older man and young girls really loved each other; and 2) the sketches were written by women. Those who long for the days of gonzo National Lampoon-style humor should remember that it included laughs like this, with shock as the crucial ingredient. Play Advertisement Advertisement 3 Christopher Walken The Continental Speaking of aging badly. Walkens Continental was a Pepe Le Pew cartoon come to life, chasing an unseen woman around a room (the scurrying camera was from her point-of-view) in the hopes of an amorous embrace. While the joke was on the Continental he always got the cold shoulder, no matter how suave his seduction patter he wasnt exactly the kind of gentleman who took no for an answer. Walken even wanted to make a Continental movie. The problem with the Continental is that he never leaves his house, he says in Christopher Walken A to Z. But it might be interesting to see the Continental go out and nothing works. Hes a social catastrophe. I think that would be interesting. Play Advertisement Advertisement 4 George Wendt and Joe Mantegna Bill Swerskis Superfans Mantegna was the original Bill Swerski in the sketch that launched Da Bearssss catchphrase, an adaptation of a stage skit written by Robert Smigel and Bob Odenkirk from their Chicago days. Smigel considered the sketch a one-off, but when George Wendt hosted a few months later, they brought back the Superfans with Wendt filling in as Bills brudder, Bob. Wendt kept coming back for nine total sketches predicting world dominance for da Bears, da Bulls and Mike Ditka. Play Advertisement Advertisement 5 John Goodman Linda Tripp The Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal of the 1990s was late-night comedy cannon fodder, little of which was especially fair or kind to Lewinsky. One could argue that Linda Tripp was more deserving as the brunt of jokes, but did she merit John Goodman in drag stuffing her face with Haagen-Dazs and Kentucky Fried Chicken? The real Linda Tripp was traumatized, as were her children. Kids are so sensitive about their parents ... and my kids always thought I was pretty. And they were so completely shattered by John Goodman (he made 5 SNL appearances as Tripp) and the horrible press, she told Larry King in 2001. The sketches were one reason she decided to get plastic surgery. I just felt so badly for them. I just wanted to fix it. Play Advertisement Advertisement 6 Justin Timberlake The Dick in a Box Guys Im not 100 percent convinced that Timberlake is a comic genius, but you got to hand it to him he created two recurring characters on SNL that hold up. First, theres the breathless falsetto of Robin Gibb, sidekick to Jimmy Fallons Barry on The Barry Gibb Talk Show sketches. But his truly indelible impression is the crooner who partnered with Andy Samberg for Motherlover, 3-Way (The Golden Rule) and Dick in a Box. The Lonely Island guys and Timberlake grew up with that kind of 1990s R&B group sound when we were kids, so we had this idea about those groups and how to do a joke about guys who were still stuck in that era, Timberlake says in Live from New York, The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live. The result was a sketch that could have been about The Continentals nephews, except that these guys were even more inept at romance (and eventually get arrested for their inappropriate seduction techniques). Play Advertisement Advertisement 7 Jonah Hill Adam Grossman Hill told Seth Meyers that Adam Im six! Grossman was based on Bill Haders real-life experience. In his hometown, he went to Benihana and saw a kid, but he didnt know if it was a 40-year-old man or a 6-year-old kid, says Hill. Bill started doing it as like a mafia Tony Soprano guy and then I started doing him as a Catskills comedian. And then you, Bill and I stayed up all night writing it, and we were laughing, and it was one of the joyous memories of my life. Adam has been back for Japanese food four times and counting. Play Advertisement Advertisement 8 Alec Baldwin Donald Trump The iron man of recurring characters, Baldwin played Trump a jaw-dropping 46 times (which was probably about 44 times too many). That was bad news for Darrell Hammond, who had his own recurring Trump character. When Lorne Michaels decided to bring in Baldwin for the job, I just started crying, Hammond told the Washington Post. In front of everyone. I couldnt believe it. I was in shock, and I stayed in shock for a long time. Everything wiped out. The brand, me, what I do. Corporate appearances canceled. It was a hell of a shock, and all of it was apparent to me in one breath. That ends me. Play Advertisement Advertisement 9 Tom Hanks David S. Pumpkins The SNL character that Hanks has reprised the most times (three) is actually Mr. Short-Term Memory, a one-joke premise that works thanks to Hanks total commitment to the bit. Play Advertisement But for cultural impact, well go with David S. Pumpkins, a character who barely speaks but somehow inspired two sketches, an animated special and a thousand Halloween costumes on frat row. I remember writing, Im David Pumpkins, and then Bobby (Moynihan) added the S David S. Pumpkins, Mikey Day told Vulture. Advertisement Why not? says Moynihan. At four oclock in the morning, you dont ask questions. Play Advertisement In this file photo taken Feb. 6, 2021, a health worker walks outside the Wuhan Central Hospital where Li Wenliang, the whistleblower doctor who sounded the alarm for it in the early days of Wuhan's pandemic, worked in Wuhan in central China. AP-Yonhap U.S. officials released an intelligence report Friday that rejected some points raised by those who argue COVID-19 leaked from a Chinese lab, instead reiterating that American spy agencies remain divided over how the pandemic began. The report was issued at the behest of Congress, which in March passed a bill giving U.S. intelligence 90 days to declassify intelligence related to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Intelligence officials under President Joe Biden have been pushed by lawmakers to release more material about the origins of COVID-19. But they have repeatedly argued China's official obstruction of independent reviews has made it perhaps impossible to determine how the pandemic began. The newest report angered some Republicans who have argued the administration is wrongly withholding classified information and researchers who accuse the U.S. of not being forthcoming. John Ratcliffe, who served as U.S. director of national intelligence under former President Donald Trump, accused the Biden administration of "continued obfuscation." "The lab leak is the only theory supported by science, intelligence, and common sense," Ratcliffe said in a statement. There was newfound interest from researchers following the revelation earlier this year that the Department of Energy's intelligence arm had issued a report arguing for a lab-related incident. But Friday's report said the intelligence community has not gone further. Four agencies still believe the virus was transferred from animals to humans, and two agencies the Energy Department and the FBI believe the virus leaked from a lab. The CIA and another agency have not made an assessment. Located in the city where the pandemic is believed to have begun, the Wuhan Institute of Virology has faced intense scrutiny for its previous research into bat coronaviruses and its reported security lapses. The lab genetically engineered viruses as part of its research, the report said, including efforts to combine different viruses. But the report says U.S. intelligence "has no information, however, indicating that any WIV genetic engineering work has involved SARS-CoV-2, a close progenitor, or a backbone virus that is closely-related enough to have been the source of the pandemic." And reports of several lab researchers falling ill with respiratory symptoms in fall 2019 are also inconclusive, the report argues. A security personnel in a protective suit keeps watch as medical workers attend to patients at the fever department of Tongji Hospital, a major facility for patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Wuhan, Hubei province, China Jan. 1. Reuters-Yonhap From the most exclusive enclave on the U.S. West Coast Malibu, where the median cost of a 'single family home' is $7 million comes a voice of sympathy for the everyday concerns of struggling British workers. Specifically, for their frustration at the way Just Stop Oil and other offshoots of Extinction Rebellion have been obstructing their attempts to get to work and feed their families. Why is this worth reporting? Because that voice of sympathy comes from Trevor Neilson, who co-founded the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF) in 2019. This U.S. charity has ploughed millions of pounds into Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, because it was set up specifically to fund what it calls 'disruptive' climate campaigns. One can't deny that it has got its money's worth. But now Neilson who boasted that his network of Californian multi-millionaires to fund extreme 'climate activists' in the UK and Europe was 'a wild-ass idea' has had second thoughts. Just Stop Oil activists take part in a slow walk protest in Vauxhall, London, earlier this month. In the past six weeks alone, the Metropolitan Police has had to shell out more than 4.5 million for the equivalent of almost 14,000 extra shifts by officers to deal with the protests In an interview with The Sunday Times yesterday, the 50-year-old said: 'It's become disruption for the sake of disruption. Working people that are trying to get to their job, get their kid dropped off at school, survive a brutal cost of living crisis in the UK, you know. Disgust 'If at the same time they have a pink-haired, tattooed and pierced protester standing in front of their car, so that their kid is late for their test that day, that does not encourage them to join the movement. 'It's just performative. It's not accomplishing anything. It's become counterproductive, and I just feel that has to be said by somebody that was involved in the beginning of what it has become.' Neilson stood down as chairman of the CEF in 2021 but has only now publicised his concerns doubtless to the disgust of former comrades such as Aileen Getty (of the family which made billions out of oil). Getty's donations to cause 'disruption' in this country may well have been cost-free to her because of the uniquely generous tax treatment of charitable giving in the U.S. Or, as the CEF website puts it: 'We provide a safe harbour for donors who want to fund disruptive activism. We accept anonymous donations. Your donation is safe, legal and tax-deductible.' Trevor Neilson co-founded the Climate Emergency Fund, which has ploughed millions of pounds into Extinction Rebellion What a consolation that must be for London council taxpayers, as they read that in the past six weeks alone, the Metropolitan Police had to shell out more than 4.5 million for the equivalent of almost 14,000 extra shifts by officers (some of whom will have been involved in restraining furious Londoners from physically removing Just Stop Oil protesters from the road themselves). Neilson's original point of contact with the 'disruptive' climate change campaign in the UK was Roger Hallam himself the co-founder of Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Just Stop Oil. Hallam has been recorded telling his followers that 'people who run society, run big business', whom he judged 'culpable for the climate catastrophe maybe you should put a bullet through their head'. The 'disruptive' protests by XR and Just Stop Oil, funded by Neilson's outfit, are entirely non-violent. But their members are fanatical, as can be discovered by reading their press releases. Neilson's original point of contact with the 'disruptive' climate change campaign in the UK was Roger Hallam (pictured) himself the co-founder of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil They sent one out last week, furious that Sir Keir Starmer had allegedly forbidden Ed Miliband, the Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change, from speaking on the same platform at the Glastonbury Festival with the co-founder of Just Stop Oil, Indigo Rumbelow. Labour's leader has, in fact, adopted Just Stop Oil's demand that his party, if in government, will veto drilling for any new North Sea oil or gas fields. But Just Stop Oil seems apoplectic that Starmer has said he will not revoke any new oilfield developments licensed by the current government. Its press release ranted: 'No new oil and gas is not 'a policy' it is a question of whether you decide to commit mass murder . . . Throughout history every authoritarian regime with genocidal aspirations has been facilitated by a weak political opposition. 'Putting more carbon into the atmosphere in 2023 will bring about the wholesale destruction of ordered society. It will destroy our ability to grow food. It will destroy the world trading system and create permanent depression . . . it means the loss of our pensions and savings.' But Just Stop Oil seems apoplectic that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he will not revoke any new oilfield developments licensed by the current government Alarmist This is demented drivel, every word. There is not a single reputable scientist in the field of climate change who would endorse it (or the idea that we could ever stop emitting carbon unless we all ceased breathing, which really would be the end of mankind). One of our most eminent figures in this field, Professor Mike Hulme, who founded the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research, has just written another book on the subject, Climate Change Isn't Everything: Liberating Climate Politics From Alarmism. An extract was published in The Mail on Sunday yesterday, in which Professor Hulme, who served on the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, criticised what he called 'an increasingly alarmist discourse of apocalypse just around the corner . 'I disagree with the doom-mongers,' he continued. 'Climate change is not like a comet approaching Earth. There is no good scientific or historical evidence that it will lead to human extinction or the collapse of civilisation.' He added: 'There is an anti-democratic impulse within climatism that brooks no public dissent. This is most explicit in Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil. But it has also crept into a range of businesses, charities, professions and institutions . . . such as the BBC.' Certainly I have observed that when representatives of Just Stop Oil appear on the BBC, they have never (or not since Andrew Neil and Auntie parted company) been challenged about their 'facts'. Interviewers only question their 'tactics', as if their campaign was itself unquestionably accurate in every particular. Professor Mike Hulme, who founded the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research, has criticised what he called 'an increasingly alarmist discourse of apocalypse just around the corner Someone who seems in accord with much of the hysterical rhetoric of these demonstrators is Lord Deben, chairman of the Committee on Climate Change, the official body monitoring the UK's performance in reducing carbon emissions. Just Stop Oil has put out yet another press release, quoting Lord Deben's remarks at the Glastonbury Festival: 'The whole political establishment should realise these protests come from people who are desperate because they realise our future is imperilled because we are not doing enough. 'I want everyone to realise how absolutely urgent it is. They ought to be in touch with their MPs and they ought to make themselves a nuisance in every circumstance they can because we have to act now.' Fatuous But it looks as though Lord Deben himself might be doing his bit of (non-disruptive) protest: objecting to the construction of the Sizewell C nuclear power station in Suffolk where he owns two houses, including a Grade II listed mansion, Winston Grange. Nuclear power is the only zero-carbon source of dependable, non-intermittent mass energy production, and Deben is in favour of it. But not in his back yard: he went on Newsnight last year to say our next nuclear power station should not be in Suffolk, because 'the employment there is perfectly reasonable'. That is a fatuous argument and irrelevant to his objection, which seems centred around plans to build a link road from the A12 to the Sizewell C site entrance plans which have provoked a number of wealthy landowners in the area. Given that Sizewell C is, after decades of equivocation, the only newly approved nuclear power station project that we have, any attempt to delay it further would seem extraordinary on the part of someone who says 'we have to act now'. In fact, the UK has acted faster than any other of the G7 leading economies. In the period from 1990 to 2021 we have reduced our carbon emissions by 48 per cent, more even than Germany's 38 per cent. And the U.S., where Trevor Neilson set up his Climate Emergency Fund? That enormous economy cut its emissions over the same period by . . . 3 per cent. Mr Neilson and his fellow Californian multi-millionaires should never have spent their (tax-deductible) dollars 'disrupting' us, and instead concentrated their activities at home. But perhaps that would not have gone down so well with the neighbours in Malibu. Two weeks ago the real Rishi Sunak finally stood up. Although, technically, he was sitting, on a stage, looking a bit ticked off at the London Tech Week conference. Asked about Boris Johnsons dramatic resignation, and allegations from Johnsons allies that hed betrayed him over his Honours List, he came out swinging. Look, Boris Johnson asked me to do something I wasnt prepared to do, he explained to applause. I didnt think it was right. And if people dont like that, tough. When I got this job I said I was going to do things differently because I wanted to change politics. And thats what Im doing. Some Tories thought the slap-down was a mistake. Dont poke the bear, was the view of one Tory strategist of the PMs goading of Johnson. But Sunak had correctly calibrated his tone to the moment. For one of the first times in his premiership, he looked authentic and authoritative. And prime ministerial. Which is why is his decision on Monday to bottle it over the Commons vote to censure Johnson was such a stupid and cowardly blunder. Not to mention a squandered opportunity. The rationale given for Sunaks abstention was framed in classic Whitehall double-speak. Commitments he cant move, explained a spokesman. What were they? he was asked. A meeting with the Prime Minister of Sweden, came the answer. This isnt the new kind of politics Sunak is meant to be delivering. Instead, its the same old shifty, self-serving politics that voters are sick to the back teeth with. For one of the first times in his premiership, Rishi looked authentic and authoritative Sunak was perfectly happy for Harriet Harman and her committee to plunge their knife into his truculent predecessor. But he didnt want to be anywhere near the scene of the crime when it happened, so he concocted a convenient diplomatic alibi. To Sunaks allies, this was simply smart party management. As the Prime Minister, he doesnt need to get caught up in all this, one ally told me. It would just have annoyed Boriss supporters. He played it the right way. No, he didnt. For one thing, there are very few Boris supporters any more. Johnson has done to his parliamentary base what he always does to those who align themselves with him. Hes burnt through them. If Rishi doesnt stop this kangaroo court, the parliamentary party will go to war, Boriss friends had warned darkly. Well, Rishi didnt raise so much as a finger to stop the Privileges Committee. And when it came to Mondays vote, the number of Tory MPs who came to Johnsons defence was seven. But if Rishi abandons Boris, our support in the country will collapse, was another claim of Johnsons cheerleaders. Again, this proved a fantasy. On Thursday, a YouGov poll analysing perceptions of 2019 Tory voters gave Sunak a net favourability of plus 11. Johnson was on minus 2. The reality is that Boris Johnson is no longer a political force within his party, his country, or anywhere else. And if Sunak wants more proof, he need look no further than Johnson himself. When the ex-PM dramatically announced he was stepping down as an MP, he raged: I am now being forced out of Parliament by a tiny handful of people, with no evidence to back up their assertions, and without the approval even of Conservative Party members, let alone the wider electorate. I believe that a dangerous and unsettling precedent is being set. But again, it wasnt true. Harmans Privileges Committee correctly found Johnson had repeatedly lied to the House. But its only sanction was a temporary albeit lengthy suspension. The only way he could have been forced out of Parliament permanently would have been a recall ballot, not triggered by a shadowy Westminster cabal, but by his own constituents. And even that wouldnt have completed the job. On Thursday, a YouGov poll analysing perceptions of 2019 Tory voters gave Sunak a net favourability of plus 11, while Johnson was on minus 2 Any ballot would just have resulted in a by-election. A free and fair electoral contest in which Johnson the self-styled winning machine, the most compelling Conservative politician of his generation etc could have taken his case directly to the people. But Johnson didnt seek to take his case to the people. Instead, he turned tail and bolted. And why did he flee? Because though seemingly incapable of articulating it, Johnson knows the truth. Which is that the magic has gone, the electoral stardust has faded, and the weeds are slowly but surely wrapping themselves around his political career. For his part, if Sunak doesnt make a clean and clear break from Johnsons toxic legacy, he risks a similar fate. His strategy has been to just keep a lid on the Boris saga, one ally revealed to me. But keeping a lid on things wont cut it any more. The status quo will only deliver defeat. What Sunak needs is a game-changer. When the ex-PM dramatically announced he was stepping down as an MP, he raged: I am now being forced out of Parliament by a tiny handful of people, with no evidence to back up their assertions' Again, he should learn lessons from Boris Johnson. At the start of 2019, the Conservative Party was broken and exhausted. It wasnt just Brexit. After nine years of government, Theresa Mays Tories looked out of ideas and time. At which point, new leader Boris Johnson ousted her, pulped her agenda, purged her allies and rebranded their party. And in so doing reset the political clock. The only way Sunak can hope to save himself is by doing the same ruthlessly calling time on his predecessors era. I think most objective people recognise there is a substantive difference between Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson in terms of honesty and political probity. And people yearn for integrity to return to Downing Street. I also suspect they are starting to detect something fishy in Sir Keir Starmers consistent or inconsistent political flip-flopping Harriet Harmans Privileges Committee correctly found Johnson had repeatedly lied to the House But to harness that involves Sunak telling the nation and his party some home truths. Such as these. However imperfect Harriet Harmans investigation into Boris Johnsons conduct may have been, her committees report was accurate. He misled the House when he said Covid rules hadnt been broken. He misled the House when he failed to tell the House hed attended the parties where the rules were broken. He misled the House when he pretended to have been shocked and angry at his staff joking about the rules being broken. He misled the House when he pretended hed been given repeated assurances the rules had not been broken. Everyone in the country knows this. And Sunak knows it, too. So on Monday he should have had the courage and conviction to give his apologies to Prime Minister Kristersson, turned up at the Dispatch Box at the House of Commons, and said so. Partygate will not of itself determine the outcome of the next General Election. Mortgages, the wider cost-of-living crisis, surging immigration these will be the issues that determine how Britain casts its vote in 2024. But between now and then, Sunak must take his case to the people. And it will be one that sounds familiar. We need to make sacrifices, and take tough decisions, he will say. However imperfect Harriet Harmans investigation into Boris Johnsons conduct may have been, her committees report was accurate You are going through hard times. But trust me. We will come through, he will attempt to reassure us. We will suffer, but we will prevail together, he will pledge. If people hear these words from a leader who possesses authority, integrity and authenticity, they may pause and consider them. But if they listen and discern an echo from the recent past, or reckon they have spotted a blond spectre flitting through the background, then their ears will close and their minds will be set. The real Rishi Sunak needs to stand up again. And then he needs to cast Boris Johnson into the political abyss. Because if he doesnt, in 12 months time, thats what the British people will do to him. Are we seeing the tide finally turn on gender madness in schools? Hopefully we are, in view of the widespread reaction to shocking audio footage last week from a school in Sussex that revealed a teacher calling a teenage pupil despicable for disputing the idea that a classmate could identify as a cat. Other reports poured in, from multiple schools, of children identifying as dinosaurs, animals or even moons. Of teachers afraid to challenge them for fear of being seen as discriminatory. Now, leaked draft guidelines for schools on gender identity suggest the Government is creaking into action, with a ban on embracing pupils exotic identities without involving parents. Schools are seeing phenomenon of pupils identifying as cats, with some even wearing fake ears and tails in the classroom. Some have also reported children identifying as dinosaurs, animals or even moons Audio footage last week from Rye College, East Sussex revealed a teacher calling a teenage pupil despicable for disputing the idea that a classmate could identify as a cat. The school has denied the claim. Leaked draft guidelines for schools on gender identity suggest the Government is creaking into action, with a ban on embracing pupils exotic identities without involving parents But will this be enough? I think not. The roots of this madness are far more insidious, and far more widespread. We are witnessing nothing less than an all-out war on normal. And its justified by a sinister body of thought known as queer theory. Lets be clear: most of us support gay and lesbian people living normal lives, free of unjust discrimination. But queer theory isnt about including gay and lesbian people in normal society. It sees normal society as the source of oppression. And that means dismantling normal society. The doctrine has been smuggled into schools and institutions, on the coat-tails of gay inclusion. It wants to smash every kind of rule, boundary, institution, and norm all the way to the foundations of biology itself. And it has set its sights on Britains children. Evangelists of queer theory say theres nothing natural about our bodies, or our desires. The categories male and female, they claim, are not facts of biology but cruel, oppressive fictions that cramp individual self-expression. Nor is there anything natural about who were attracted to, or why. According to queer theory, the normal pattern of attraction between men and women, and the benefit to society of stable couples raising children together, is heteronormativity, designed to lock us all in oppressive boxes. Earlier this year, a report revealed just how far this doctrine has been embedded in schools, via largely unregulated private companies delivering lessons on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). According to the report, the RSE provider School of Sexuality Education says its aim is precisely not teaching children whats normal. Instead, it sets out to teach youngsters that there is no such thing as normal sexuality or even normal sexed bodies. That sex doesnt matter. That humans can be any gender they like. That there are no better or worse kinds of relationship or sexual practice. That casual sex is just as good as marriage. Many leading advocates of such beliefs go further, attacking the idea of childhood as another oppressive construct. In practice, that means attacking the authority of parents. It is no surprise, therefore, that the School of Sexuality Education wants to end parents right to opt their children out of such lessons. None of these ideologues seem to acknowledge where this thinking leads. If you treat every norm or rule as oppressive, that means smashing even the norms and rules that protect vulnerable groups. Such as children. This includes the sense that children arent mature enough to make irreversible decisions about their own identity. Not to mention the equally obvious truth that, with rare, unfortunate exceptions, parents are best-placed to safeguard their childrens interests. The fact is that this protective instinct is a product of human evolution, helping our slow-developing offspring survive into adulthood. Sadly, there are already too many wanting to weaken that bond. As seen in places such as Rotherham, where grooming gangs have targeted girls in care, the most vulnerable children are those without attentive, loving adults watching out for them. Again and again, we discover that liberating children also creates opportunities for adults. The earliest queer theorists were at least honest. Michel Foucault, often called the godfather of queer theory, argued for the abolition of age of consent laws. (After his death, it was revealed that Foucault sexually exploited under-age boys in Tunisia.) Other leading queer theorists sought to defend boy-lovers, or condone forms of incest. Of course, not everyone who wants to liberate children has nefarious intentions. But the push to free young children from their parents protective authority ends up aiding and abetting those who do. We should take heed of the horror stories percolating out of North America and Canada, where this ideology is rampant. Take the chilling recent story of a 14-year-old American girl who was sex-trafficked by sadistic rapists, after her school hid her gender identity from her parents and helped separate her from their care. America is a global outlier in gender extremism. Thankfully, we in Britain are more moderate. Theres still a chance of resisting this tide of madness. So we must welcome every signal, however weak, that Government Ministers still recognise that normal exists. Miriam Cates MP, who commissioned the RSE report, welcomed the proposed new guidance on sex and gender in schools. But she added a note of warning, telling me: Its a positive step forward that the guidelines seem likely to ban teachers from transitioning without parental consent. She says this doesnt go far enough we shouldnt be transitioning children at all. None of this should even need saying. But while governments shy away from saying it, ideologue educators are still busy in schools, teaching the exact opposite to our children. Disgracefully, parents are not even entitled to see the lesson plans. Last week, a mother lost a court battle to get her 15-year-old daughters school to tell her what her daughter was being taught in class about gender. Its no use shoring up the roof if the problem is termites in the rafters. In much the same way, theres little gained from shoring up parents right to know that their child wants to change gender in class, if unaccountable educators can still use secret materials to indoctrinate that class. The new gender guidance will be welcome if it ever appears but its not enough. Of course, children should be taught about gay and lesbian inclusion, but as part of a wide education on whats normally true about our bodies and our nature. For the war on normal hasnt changed the basic facts. None of us gets to choose the sex we are born. Babies still arrive the same way and follow the same stages of development. And children havent stopped needing love and protection from parents, just because some dodgy theorists decided theyd be better off liberated. But we cant defend these truths while the social norms that shore up society are being turned to dust, from the inside out, by sex and gender ideologues. Every day we see new evidence of how their poisonous ideas have crept into schools, institutions, charities, and even the police. This ideology has hidden behind a rightful and justified effort to protect gay and lesbian people from cruel bullying and discrimination. And now its waging war on normal itself. And it must be stopped. It should be clear by now that the real winners of a war on normal are the kind of monsters who flourish in a world without truth, or rules, or consequences. And its ultimate casualties? Our children. Mary Harrington is a contributing editor at the UnHerd website. For all the latest Royal news, pictures and video click here Prince Charles walked Alexandra Knatchbull down the aisle on this day in June 2016 King Charles is fondly remembered for walking Meghan Markle down the aisle during her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry after her father was unable to attend. But this was not the first time the former Prince of Wales had stepped up to take on that responsibility. Two years before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding, he gave away Princess Diana's goddaughter Alexandra Knatchbull at her 2016 marriage to IT entrepreneur Tom Hooper . Lady Alexandra is the daughter of the 3rd Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma and great granddaughter of Lord Louis Mountbatten, who Charles later referred to as the 'grandfather I never had'. At the time there was much speculation as to why Alexandra's father, Earl Norton Louis Knatchbull, who is cousins and close friends with Charles, could not walk her down the aisle at Romsey Abbey. In 2016, Prince Charles stepped in to help out his cousin and friend Norton Louis Knatchbull when he was too unwell to walk his daughter Alexandra Knatchbull down the aisle (pictured) Then Lord and Lady Romsey, with their children Leonora aged four, Nicholas, aged nine, and Alexandra age seven. The family went through a series of tragedies including the death of Leonora when she was just five-years-old The then Lord and Lady Brabourne attending their daughter's wedding in 2016, where the Lord was 'not well enough' to walk Alexandra down the aisle The answer given by Reverend Canon Tim Sledge was a straightforward one: 'he was simply not well enough', the vicar declared. He added, referring to Prince Charles' offer to take on the role: 'What better than to have a family member give her away'. Alexandra's family and the royal family have been intertwined for decades. So it was not, perhaps, such a surprise that Charles, who was best man at her father's wedding, would take on the role. Others, however, speculated there was another reason why the bride may have chosen not have her father walk her down the aisle at what was said to be the society wedding of the year. The father and daughter were believed to have a strained relationship in the years leading up to the big day. In 2010, her father abandoned his 31-year marriage to Penelope Knatchbull (nee Eastwood), known as Penny, to run away to Nassau in the Bahamas with fashion designer Jeannie Nuttall. As a result, Penny had to tell staff that she would be running the 6,000-acre estate on her own from that point onwards. There was a huge pouring out of public sympathy as millions had watched Leonora on the Buckingham Palace balcony that June during Trooping The Colour months before she died. Leonora, who was also a goddaughter of Princess Diana, was dressed all in red and wore a hat to cover the loss of hair from undergoing chemotherapy Alexandra Knatchbull and Thomas Hooper leaving Romsey Abbey after their wedding ceremony on June 25 2016 Nicholas Knatchbull, who previously suffered with drug addiction, helped his his 90-year-old grandmother Countess Mountbatten, who died the following year, into the church (pictured) One local said on the Earl's departure: Not for one moment did Penny allow her husbands departure to interrupt the smooth running of the estate. She was impressive. The relationship ended in 2014 which led him back to the historic estate, where Noel Coward had played piano at weekend house parties, and the late Queen and Prince Philip were guests. But he the Earl not allowed to stay in the main home and was banished to live in a converted barn. In the lead up to the wedding, a family friend said: 'It's very unusual to be given away by someone else at your wedding even if it's the Prince of Wales. 'At the time Alexandra was absolutely furious with her father for leaving her mother, but of course she still wanted him at the wedding.' Over the decades, the Knatchbulls were hit with a series of tragedies, which undoubtedly would have made their daughter's wedding a bittersweet day. In 1979, when the Earl was 32, his grandfather Lord Mountbatten was killed in an IRA bomb attack, alongside his younger brother Nicholas, 14, as well as a local boy Paul Maxwell, who was 15. It was in the church that Alexandra was married that Lord Mountbatten is also buried. Following her daughter's death, Penny became close tp Prince Philip who taught her how to drive a horse carriage. Pictured: Philip and Penny at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2007 Penny was close to both the Queen and Prince Philip towards the end of their lives, becoming a regular visitor at Wood Farm, the cottage on the edge of the Sandringham Estate where Philip lived after his retirement from public life in 2017. Pictured: The Queen and Penny at the Royal Windsor Horse show in 2017 Penny Brabourne, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, was one of 30 guests invited to Prince Philip's small funeral a St George's Chapel in Windsor, April 17 2021 During the wedding, the Queen and Prince Philip, who was Mountbatten's nephew, paid their respects to 'Uncle Dickie', standing in silent contemplation. Following the death, Norton's wedding to Penny, the daughter of a butcher who went on to set up Angus Steakhouse, was postponed by three months. In more recent times the family have endured equally painful tragedies. In August 1990, while Penny and Norton were on holiday in Majorca with the then Prince and Princes of Wales, Charles and Diana, Leonora became ill. Just 14 months later, the bright little girl died. There was a huge outpouring of public sympathy as millions had watched the young girl on the Buckingham Palace balcony that June to watch Trooping The Colour, months before she died. Leonora, who was also a goddaughter of Princess Diana, was dressed all in red and wore a hat to cover the loss of hair from undergoing chemotherapy. The little girl was buried at the family's Broadland estate, where the Queen and Prince Philip as well as Charles and Diana spent their honeymoon in the years prior. A tall stone monument that stands on a plinth 100 yards from the house which can be seen from the drawing room. Penny makes her ritual daily visit to Leonoras grave and said she would never leave the estate. Seven years later, Alexandra and Thomas (pictured in 2019) remain happily married. They have two sons: Alden Peter Theodore Mountbatten, who was born on March 27 in 2020 and Inigo Norton Sebastian Mountbatten, born on December 21 in 2017 Following Leonora's death, her parents set up the Leonora Children's Cancer Fund in her memory - it was later merged with the Edwina Mountbatten Trust in 2010. Money poured into the Leonora Childrens Cancer Fund, which the Brabournes founded in their daughters memory. It was merged with the Edwina Mountbatten Trust in 2010, the year Norton took off. After her daughter's death, Penny became close friends with Prince Philip, who taught her how to drive a horse carriage. (He had taken up carriage racing after retiring from polo.) She became a confidantes of Prince Philip despite being 32 years his junior and was pictured on walks with the Duke over the years. Penny was close to both the Queen and Prince Philip towards the end of their lives, becoming a regular visitor at Wood Farm, the cottage on the edge of the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk where the Duke spent much of his time after retiring from public life in August 2017. They also had to help their son Nicholas Knatchbull, 41, who struggled with years of drug addiction and rehabilitation. Nicholas was once a mentor to Prince William at Eton before he became addicted to crack cocaine and heroin. He appeared at Alexandra's wedding, helping his 90-year-old grandmother, Countess Mountbatten, who died the following year, into the church. The vicar told the wedding congregation: 'They've put a huge amount of effort, thought and care into it. It's got that personal touch. 'The most important thing is that Alexandra and Thomas have the most memorable day that they possibly can.' Seven years later, Alexandra and Thomas remain happily married. They have two sons: Alden Peter Theodore Mountbatten, who was born on March 27 in 2020 and Inigo Norton Sebastian Mountbatten, born on December 21 in 2017. This photo, provided by OceanGate Expeditions, shows a submersible vessel named Titan used to visit the wreckage site of the Titanic. AP-Yonhap Canadian safety officials on Friday opened an investigation into the undersea implosion of a tourist submersible that killed all five people aboard while diving to the century-old wreck of the Titanic, raising questions about the unregulated nature of such expeditions. A debris field from the submersible Titan was found at the bottom of the North Atlantic on Thursday by a robotic diving vehicle deployed from a Canadian search vessel, ending an intense five-day international rescue effort. Fragments of Titan, which lost contact with its surface support ship about one hour and 45 minutes into a two-hour descent on Sunday, littered the seabed about 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic wreck, about 2-1/2 miles (4 km) below the surface, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said. He told reporters on Thursday the debris was consistent with "a catastrophic implosion of the vehicle," meaning the 22-foot-long vessel ultimately collapsed and was crushed under the immense hydrostatic pressure at that depth. The five who died included Stockton Rush, founder and chief executive officer of U.S.-based OceanGate Expeditions, which operated the sub and charged $250,000 per person to make the Titanic trip. He was piloting the craft. The others were British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding, 58; Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, both British citizens; and French oceanographer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77. Nargeolet was a leading authority on the Titanic, the British luxury liner that struck an iceberg and sank on its first voyage in April 1912, killing more than 1,500 people aboard. In a statement on Friday, Canada's Transportation Safety Board (TSB) said it was launching a "safety investigation regarding the circumstances" of Titan's operation because its surface support vessel, the Polar Prince, was a Canadian-flagged ship. A TSB team was dispatched to St. John's, Newfoundland, about 400 miles north of the accident site, to gather information and conduct interviews, the agency said. Guillermo Sohnlein, who co-founded OceanGate with Rush in 2009, said Rush was "keenly aware" of the dangers of exploring the ocean depths. "Stockton was one of the most astute risk managers I'd ever met," said Sohnlein, who left the company in 2013, retaining a minority stake. "He was very risk-averse." The crew of the Polar Prince lower a gangplank into place as the ship docks in St. John's, Newfoundland, June 24. AP-Yonhap Questions about risks But others in the close-knit community of submersible operators and experts noted that Stockton and his company opted to forgo certification of Titan's novel design from industry third parties such as the American Bureau of Shipping. Some have questioned Stockton's choice of carbon fiber to fabricate the critical pressure hull of his craft. "OceanGate had created its own experimental vehicle with materials avoided by others, decided to bypass the certification process designed to assure safety, and chose to ignore the warnings from many experts within the submersible community," investment manager Ray Dalio, co-founder of the OceanX sea exploration initiative, said in a LinkedIn post on Friday. British Titanic explorer Dik Barton likewise pointed to issues raised about the design and maintenance of Titan, saying, "there were many red flags flying here." One would-be Titan passenger, Las Vegas-based investor Jay Bloom, told Reuters he declined a last-minute chance to join the ill-fated Titan excursion with his son out of safety concerns. Bloom, a licensed helicopter pilot, said he was particularly worried about Stockton's use of consumer-grade parts on Titan, including a video game joystick to control the vessel, and was "spooked" by the fact that the submersible would be bolted shut from the outside, preventing passengers from getting out on their own in an emergency. Questions about Titan's safety surfaced in 2018 during a symposium of industry experts and in a lawsuit by OceanGate's former head of marine operations, which was settled later that year. The disaster marks the first known fatalities in more than 60 years of civilian deep-sea exploration. But OceanGate was free to go its own way because international waters are beyond government regulation, according to industry experts. The company has not addressed queries about its lack of industry certification or other safety issues. U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. John Mauger, commander of the First Coast Guard District, center at microphone, talks to the media at Coast Guard Base Boston, in Boston, June 22. AP-Yonhap Royal events have sent wedding searches shooting up by 500 per cent in recent weeks The Coronation has sent clicks for royal wedding dresses soaring, says a new study. Searches have shot up by more than 1000 per cent and for weddings by more than 500 per cent as the public embraces romance and nostalgia. A spokesperson for Karen Millen, which compiled the figures, told The Mail's Royals section: 'These findings shed light on the impact of a royal wedding, with the right dress capturing the internet and inspiring future brides-to-be for years to come.' So which royal wedding gowns have impressed us the most? Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten pictured after their wedding in 1947 Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones on their wedding day at Buckingham Palace after the ceremony in May 1960 1. MEGHAN MARKLE, DUCHESS OF SUSSEX Meghan Markle's wedding dress for her marriage to Harry in 2018 is the most Googled dress from any British royal wedding, receiving over 28,760 searches a month. The minimal style Givenchy dress, made of silk with minimal embellishments, was designed by Claire Waight Keller. Her veil was made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, while the look was completed by a Cartier bracelet and earrings and a Queen Mary diamond bandeau tiara, loaned to her by the Queen. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex walk down the west steps of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, after their wedding ceremony on May 19, 2018 2. KATE MIDDLETON, PRINCESS OF WALES Kate Middleton's 2011 Alexander McQueen dress is the second most-searched British royal wedding dress, receiving 16,480 estimated monthly searches. Her dress was made of ivory satin and couture lace detail, which featured the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The 250,000 intricate look, which included a lace bodice hand-stitched by the world's best seamstresses at the Royal School of Needlework, became an instant hit when it was debuted at Westminster Abbey on 29th April, 2011. Prince William and his bride Kate Middleton leaving Westminster Abbey, following their wedding on April 29, 2011 3. DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES Princess Diana's wedding dress for her marriage to King Charles in 1981 is the third most searched with 15,990 monthly Google searches. Diana's dress has gone down in history as one of the most iconic wedding gowns. A highly-confidential project designed by the then-husband and wife duo, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, it showcased the maximalist style of the 1980s. Covered in 10,000 pearls, the dress was made from ivory silk taffeta and antique lace that was embroidered with sequins. The gown was complete with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard veil - making it the longest in royal history. The wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul's Cathedral in July 1981 4. QUEEN ELIZABETH II Queen Elizabeth II's dress is searched over 2,940 times per month. Norman Hartwell made the 1947 wedding dress for her marriage to Prince Phillip. The princess-style dress was made of satin and was embroidered with pearls, silver thread and crystal beads, which was purchased using ration coupons following World War II. Hartnell cited Botticelli's painting of Primavera as his inspiration. He first drew out the embroidery design with his head embroideress, Miss Flora Ballard, and describes how 'the motifs had to be assembled in a design proportioned like a florist's bouquet'. Princess Elizabeth, and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, styled Prince Philip in November 1957, on their wedding day 5. PRINCESS BEATRICE Princess Beatrice's wedding dress from 2020 receives more than 1,500 monthly searches. The Norman Hartnell dress was originally designed in the 60s for Queen Elizabeth II, who loaned it to Beatrice for her wedding day. This gown was made using Peau De Soie taffeta in shades of ivory, complete with perfectly puffed organza sleeves (added for Beatrice), and finished off beautifully with intricate diamante embellishment to the bodice. It was remodelled by Angela Kelly and Stewart Parvin and the changes breathe a new lease of life into this archival piece. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi outside The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor, after their wedding on July 18, 2020 6. PRINCESS MARGARET It is more than six decades since Princess Margaret's marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones, but her dress still gets 1,340 searches a month. For her wedding gown, Margaret turned to Norman Hartnell - the same designer who had made her sister the then Princess Elizabeths wedding dress. While her dress may have been dubbed as simple at the time, it has stood the test of time and set trends for years to come - featuring minimal embellishments, much like Meghan's. The silk organza gown was rumored to have been fitted to showcase Princess Margaret's figures and sported long sleeves, a v-neckline, a fitted waist and a skirt so full that it needed 30 meters of fabric. Princess Margaret is accompanied by her brother-in-law Prince Philip during her wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey in 1960 7. QUEEN CAMILLA Queen Camilla's wedding dress is searched for around 1,330 times each month. The 2005 Robinson Valentine design was a knee-length cream silk dress featuring a hem of appliqued discs. Camilla wore a matching silk oyster coat with a diamond and pearl brooch and a Philip Treacy hat. She is the only royal bride to re-wear her wedding dress, as she attended the National Assembly of Wales opening in 2007. Camilla wore a second look for the blessing at St. George's Chapel: a pale blue chiffon dress, a matching coat with gold embroidery, and a gold feather headdress tipped with Swarovski diamonds. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles in silk pictured leaving the Service of Prayer and Dedication blessing their marriage at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2005 8. PRINCESS EUGENIE Princess Eugenie's 2018 wedding dress receives over 730 monthly searches. The bride stunned in the V-neck dress made from a jacquard of silk, cotton and viscose blend with a low back, designed to display the scars from her childhood operation for scoliosis by London-based Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos. The fabric of the dress - described as a 'major departure' from the choices of previous royal brides by celebrity stylist Lucas Armitage - features symbols that are meaningful to the bride and groom, including thistles. The voluminous skirt and dramatic train were very regal when teamed with the Queen Mother's Greville emerald tiara and Charlotte Olympia shoes. The wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank took place on 12 October 2018 at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle 9. PRINCESS ANNE Princess Anne's wedding dresses are searched some 490 times per month. Her first wedding dress, which she wore on November 14, 1973, for her wedding to Captain Mark Phillips, was a Tudor-style with trumpet sleeves made by Maureen Baker, the head designer for the ready-to-wear company Susan Small. The gown featured a high-collared and had an embroidered Tudor style, which was considered to be very similar to Queen Elizabeth I's fashion. Although Princess Anne's dress was said to be simplistic compared to prior royal wedding gowns. it followed the wedding trends of the 1970s. Princess Anne and Mark Philips after their wedding at Westminster Abbey in 1973 10. SARAH FERGUSON, DUCHESS OF YORK Sarah Ferguson's 1986 dress receives over 280 estimated monthly searches. The Lindka Cierach design which saw a team of five women laboring in top secret for four months was made of satin and featured intricate beadwork. Before joining the royal family, the Duchess of York wanted to pay homage to her family through incorporating elements from her family's coat of arms - a bumblebee and thistles - into her wedding dress. As well as these, anchors and waves also decorated the gown to represent Andrew's sailing background. Fergie topped off the heartfelt look by hiding the couple's initials under the 20-foot long veil, with the groom's monogram in the center. A dire national shortage of Huy Fong Sriracha is driving fans of the popular hot sauce to take desperate measures to secure the condiment. As supplies have dwindled due to a shortage of the chili peppers that are the sauce's main ingredient, shoppers have launched wide-ranging hunts for stores where it remains in stock, and faced paying sky-high prices online. In California, there have even been reports of customers swiping the iconic bottles, with their green caps and rooster logo, off tables from a local restaurant chain. 'This Sriracha chili sauce shortage is getting ridiculous now,' one Twitter user wrote. 'If you see any left in your local Asian supermarket with the green cap bottle, hoard them like toilet paper during Covid.' The shortage appears to be an extension of supply chain issues that date back to last year, when California-based Huy Fong Foods said drought conditions in Mexico caused a shortage of the red jalapeno peppers used to make Sriracha. A dire national shortage of Huy Fong Sriracha is driving fans of the popular hot sauce to take desperate measures to secure the condiment The red jalapeno peppers used to make Sriracha are seen at the company's factory in 2014. A shortage of the peppers following a severe drought in Mexico is impacting production 'Unfortunately, we are still experiencing a shortage of raw material,' the company told DailyMail.com in a statement this week. 'Although some production did resume this past Fall season, we continue to have a limited supply that continues to affect our production. At this time, we have no estimations of when supply will increase. 'Because we do not sell directly to retail/market levels, we cannot determine when the product will hit shelves again and/or who currently has the product in stock. 'We are grateful for your continued patience and understanding during this unprecedented inventory shortage. We are currently working on trying to avoid future shortages,' the statement added. According to data earlier this year from grocery delivery service Instacart, Huy Fong Sriracha is the number two most popular hot sauce in the US, second only to Frank's RedHot. The production shortage has left devoted fans scrambling to get their hands on the sauce, and some sellers have jacked up prices to take advantage of the situation. The standard 17-ounce bottles, which typically retail for around $4 to $6, are now fetching $30 or more on eBay. On Amazon Marketplace, one seller listed the hot sauce for a staggering $179 for a package of two 17-ounce bottles. TikTok user @eviesjourneys posted a video in April, describing how she visited six retailers searching for the sauce, before finally giving in and paying $35 for a two-pack of the bottles on Amazon. 'I love Sriracha, I eat Sriracha every single day,' she explained to her followers. On Amazon Marketplace, one seller listed the hot sauce for a staggering $179 for a package of two 17-ounce bottles In San Francisco, customers have resorted to stealing bottles of Siracha from local restaurant chain Senor Sisig, according to SFGATE. 'They literally disappear,' Mariel Edwards, the chain's operations manager, told the outlet. 'We haven't seen people take them, but there is a bottle that will go missing.' Other restaurants that normally stock Sriracha are facing their own dilemma as suppliers jack up costs. Michael Csau, co-owner of the restaurant Pho Viet in Washington DC, told NPR that if the price of Sriracha goes much higher, he'll have to switch to a different brand. 'Usually when I bought one case, it was roughly around $30 to $32. Now it's up to $50, almost double the price. If it keeps going up, we cannot afford it,' Csau said. 'But people, they are used to the taste right now. So when they taste [another brand], they'll know right away,' he said. Last year, Huy Fong Foods blamed weather conditions for a shortage of chili peppers, amid a historic drought. The company sources its peppers from various farms in California, New Mexico and Mexico, and said that weather conditions were affecting the quality of the peppers and deepening the chili pepper shortage. 'Currently, due to weather conditions affecting the quality of chili peppers, we now face a more severe shortage of chili,' the company said in an April 2022 letter to customers. The letter said that in addition to its Sriracha, the pepper shortage was also impacting Huy Fong's only other two products, a chili garlic sauce, and sambal oelek, based on an Indonesian recipe. It wasn't immediately clear whether the weather issues were driving the ongoing shortages this year, with the company citing unspecified materials shortages. When operating at full capacity, the Huy Fong factory in Irwindale, California can produce 18,000 bottles of Sriracha an hour (file photo) David Tran, 77, founded Huy Fong Foods in southern California after fleeing Vietnam in 1978 with his wife and son, with his life savings hidden in cans of condensed milk Huy Fong Foods was recently valued at $1 billion by research firm IBISWorld, based on estimated sales of $131 million in 2020. The company is privately owned by founder David Tran, who fled from Vietnam in 1978 with his wife and two children to start a new life in America. The wholesale price of Sriracha hasn't changed since the early 1980s, and neither have the ingredients: chili, sugar, salt, garlic and vinegar. Tran remains doggedly focused on the quality of his Sriracha, telling Forbes in a rare interview earlier this year: 'I want to continue to make a good quality product, like making the hot sauce spicierand not think about making more profits.' 'I could use less expensive ingredients or promote my products to make more money,' added Tran. 'But nomy goal is always to try to make a rich man's hot sauce at a poor man's price.' But the sea monster didn't fare well in the unnatural conditions - here's why... Great White sharks were previously kept in captivity in the USA and Japan Sheriff Brodys eyes widen and he utters the infamous words: Youre going to need a bigger boat'. The iconic line from Steven Spielbergs 1975 classic Jaws captured a haunting moment of realisation that the cop and his two buddies were rather ill-equipped to kill a monster shark when setting sail. It turns out, capturing a mighty great white is equally as problematic, with the ferocious ocean predators unable to thrive in aquariums, for a number of reasons. So, here's why these species of sharks aren't kept in captivity... Because great white's can grow to 15 feet and need cover extensive distances daily to feed - travelling 50 miles in one day - their natural habitat is not so easily replicated (File image) While displaying great whites surged in the 1970s - likely fuelled by the mania around the Speilberg movies - the sharks didn't survive long in captivity. California's Monterey Bay Aquarium managed to house a juvenile shark for six months in 2004, but it wasn't an easy task. The tank was designed for open ocean animals, holding 3.78million liters of water with a depth of 10.6 meters. But after six months on display, the aquarium released the shark back into the wild after it killed two other sharks held in captivity with it. And in 2016, an aquarium in Japan had 'The Sea of Dangerous Sharks' exhibit where they had a 11.5 foot male great white shark on display. But it died after just three days as the animal didn't feed once after being put into the tank. And, although it appeared to initially be doing well, the shark soon weakened and sank to the bottom. Sea World in San Diego has had over 12 great white sharks in captivity, with only one of them being released back into the wild after just 10 days because it didn't eat. Sea World no longer has any great white sharks in captivity. Sea World in San Diego once over 12 great white sharks in captivity, with only one of them being released back into the wild just after 10 days as it didn't eat (File image) The main reasons great white Sharks never survive in zoos are an inability to replicate their habitat and behavioural changes during captivity. Because they can grow to 15 feet and need to cover extensive distances daily to feed - travelling 50 miles in a single day - and breathe, their natural habitat is not so easily replicated. Once great whites start to slow down or stop moving completely, they start struggling to breathe and inevitably weaken. What's more, because they're used to swimming freely and at great lengths in the wild, when in confined spaces great whites have been known to swim into the walls of their enclosure, developing injuries. This is because they may ram themselves against the walls of their cages causing nasty injuries, or they may refuse to eat. The cost for maintaining a tank for a great white shark is also a huge consideration as the resources required to maintain the conditions of the environment is expensive. And the final reason why great white sharks arent kept in aquariums today is because it is considered inhumane. For those that still want to see these beasts, you can do so in the wold by going cage diving with them. It can be done in places such as the Farallon Islands in the USA, Shark Alley in South Africa or Neptune Island in New Zealand. While Dior may have denied a rumoured brand deal with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, they are far from the first royals to have had a close connection with the French designer. In fact, the brand has become quite the darling of the Windsor set. Princess Margaret is to thank for the strong bond uniting the fashion house and the royals, as she was one of Christian Dior's original muses. Other blue-blooded beauties, including the late Princess Diana and her niece Kitty Spencer, followed in Margaret footsteps. Montecito-based Meghan and Harry have also entrusted the designer with dressing them for significant occasions. The Duke of Sussex wore bespoke Dior to his father's Coronation on May 6, while his wife wore the designer as she attended the late Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on September 19. French fashion house Christian Dior, centre, counts many royals amongst its fans. Clockwise from the top left: Princess Diana, Caroline of Hanover ; Meghan Markle; Charlene of Monaco, Lady Amelia Windsor ; Prince Harry ; Lady Kitty Spencer; Queen Camilla, Princess Margaret Since Princess Margaret, pictured in 1951, first visited the Dior atelier in Paris in 1949 and became one of his muses, other members of the British family have fallen in love with the French designer PRINCESS MARGARET Princess Margaret was Christian Dior's first and most important royal muse throughout the designer's career. Whilst the French fashion house has dressed everyone from models to actresses, socialites and other blue-blooded beauties, the late Queen's sister was the only one of Dior's clients whom he identified by name in his memoir. The fashion writer Justine Picardie wrote for the Mail in 2021 that her patronage 'represented the highest acclaim.' The Princess first visited the designer's Paris couture salon during her fist European holiday, aged 18, in 1949. Her visit to the Frenchman's atelier caused a commotion, with the royal attracting swarms of photographers and journalists wherever she went, Picardie wrote. During this visit, Margaret, who had already impressed high society and the press with her sartorial flair, picked a romantic evening gown for herself. Years later, Picardie reported, Margaret recalled: My favourite dress of all was never photographed. 'It was my first Dior dress, white strapless tulle and a vast satin bow at the back. 'Underneath the huge skirt there was a kind of beehive, fixed like a farthingale [a hooped petticoat]. It meant I could move any way, even walk backwards, without tripping up. Recounting their encounter later, Dior opened up about the Princess, gushing: 'She crystallised the whole popular frantic interest in royalty She was a real fairy princess, delicate, graceful, exquisite. Princess Margaret chatting to Christian Dior in the early 1950s. The royal attended the designer's British Debut in 1950 In his memoir, he noted that she was keenly interested in fashion, and also, unlike many women, knew exactly the sort of fashions which suited her fragile height and Titania-like figure. A most fashionable friendship spanning decades was born. Margaret attended Dior's British debut at the Savoy in 1950, and the designer hosted a private show for members of the royal family a few days later at the French Embassy. The show was attended by Margaret, the Queen Mother, as well as the Duchess of Kent and her sister, Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark. While it would have been perceived as unpatriotic for the late Queen Elizabeth II to favour a French brand, Margaret, ever the royal rebel, could get away with it and sported the designer's gowns for several occasions. In November 1954, Margaret appeared as the guest of honour at a Dior show at Blenheim Palace organised by the Duchess of Marlborough in aid of the British Red Cross. One of her most romantic looks was an organza dress she was allowed to choose for her 21st birthday's portrait by Cecil Beaton in 1951. The gown took pride of place in an exhibition on Dior's legacy at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2019. The breath-taking soft pink garment was shown alongside dresses worn by actress Jennifer Lawrence, author Nancy Mitford and ballerina Margot Fonteyn - just a few of the dazzling women dressed by the French fashion house over its 71-year history. The show, called Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams was be the largest ever exhibition of Dior's work staged in the UK, featuring more than 200 dresses. GRACE KELLY Grace of Monaco was also an early fan of the brand, and even was the first royal to patron Baby Dior (pictured with Prince Rainier III in 1956 Caroline sporting a floral floor-length gown from the French designer at the Red Cross Ball of 1973 with her parents Following in Margaret's footsteps, Grace of Monaco became one of the first European royals to embrace the French couturier and to make his clothing a wardrobe staple. The 2022 exhibition Grace of Monaco, Princess in Dior, which was hosted in collaboration with the French fashion house, recounted how she became taken with the designer's work after marrying Prince Rainer III in 1956. Stylish Grace, with her Hollywood appeal, wore Dior on several official occasions throughout the 1950s, including her engagement ball in New York in 1956. The Fashion House recounted how the Monaco royal saw Dior as one of the most fashionable brands. In 1967, she agreed to become the patron of Baby Dior, two years before the birth of her third and last child, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, and attended the opening of the designer's first children's clothes in Paris. Grace was such a fan, the brand also claimed she decorated her bathroom with bottles from their perfume line, and befriended Serge Heltler-Louiche, one of Christian Dior's childhood friends who became president of Christian Dior Parfums. Monaco's love affair with Dior has transcended generations with both Princess Caroline and her very stylish daughter Charlotte Casiraghi repping the brand on several occasions. Charlene, the glamourous wife of Prince Albert II, has also kept the tradition going, sporting Dior on occasion, including a form-fitting sparkly gown she wore at the Yorkshire Variety Club's Golden Jubilee Ball in Leeds in 2011. PRINCESS DIANA Fashion writers have noted that Princess Diana's love story with Dior began in the early days of her freedom following her divorce from the King, then Prince Charles, in 1996. Pictured with the Lady Dior bag, named after her The late royal famously wore a lacy lingerie-inspired navy blue gown to New York's Met Gala in 1995 The late mother of Prince William and Prince Harry was a woman of many labels, yet Dior held a special place in this royal's heart. Over the years, Dior has become the brand of choice for British royal rebels, and few have been more rebellious than King Charles' first wife, who defied the establishment time and time again, until her tragic death in 1997. Fashion writers have noted that Diana's love story with Dior began in the early days of her freedom following her divorce from the King, then Prince Charles, in 1996. She famously sported the brand as she attended New York's Met Gala in 1996, donning a lingerie-inspired lacy navy blue gown from the designer with a fetching diamond and sapphire necklace she also wore with her impactful Revenge Dress in 1994. Diana is particularly associated with one of the brand's most iconic accessories, the Lady handbag. The piece made of quilted black leather and decorated with metal letters spelling out Dior became an instant Diana staple after she received it as a gift from the first lady of France, Bernadette Chirac in 1995, at the opening of the Paul Cezanne retrospective at Pariss Grand Palais. At the time, the bag was called The Chouchou - meaning the favourite ni French - and was not yet on sale, only available to a select few. It was love at first wear, and Diana commissioned another version of the bad in navy blue - to match her eyes, which she wore just as much as the first black edition. The bag was thereafter renamed the Lady Dior in 1996, with Diana herself conceding it 'suited her well.' It may be a testament of Diana's lasting fashion influence that the Lady is still a Dior best-seller to this day. Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, spoke of the Diana connection to British Vogue in November: 'I loved Dianas sense of freedom in fashion, using clothing as a kind of empowerment; as a way to feel confident and ready to face any situation. 'This is also true for Dior, a brand that today offers every woman the possibility of wearing clothes to consciously decide who she wants to be.' It is with Diana that Dior became synonymous with royal freedom, and the trend has been kept alive beyond her 1997 death by none other than her son, Prince Harry. PRINCE HARRY Harry in a three-piece suit from Dior at King Charles' Coronation on May 6. The choice to wear a French brand for the quintessential British event raised eyebrows The Duke of Sussex also wore 800 Dior bee shirts as he appeared at London's High Court earlier this year The Duke of Sussex followed in the footsteps of his fashionable mother when, on the day of King Charles' Coronation in early May in London, he turned to Dior to dress him. The French fashion house revealed on their social media channels shortly after the ceremony at the time that they had the 'honour' to dress the royal for the event, adding he was wearing a custom design by Kim Jones, Dior Men's Artistic Director. Harry, who left swiftly after his father's coronation for Heathrow, where he caught a flight home to California, still wore his honours pinned to the suit. The decision to wear a French designer for a quintessentially British event raised eyebrows at the time. Royal fashion expert and celebrity stylist Miranda Holder said Harry's choice of a French brand showed he 'did not get the fashion memo or was in a petulant mood' as most other guests wore British labels, adding that his decision 'spoke volumes'. Ms Holder told MailOnline at the time: 'Harry's brief appearance at the Coronation was always going to be controversial, every second that he was under the watchful eye of the many cameras, every move he made would be ruthlessly scrutinised, and due to him not wearing any sort of ceremonial uniform, his style choices would be at the top of the list.' She said most guests appeared to have 'got the memo to support the best of British brands at such a uniquely patriotic occasion'. Ms Holder spoke of the 'sea of exquisite British couture' from the Alexander McQueen that 'graced' Kate Middleton and Charlotte, to the poppy red Emilia Wickstead coat worn by actress Emma Thompson which she decorated with her MBE. But she continued: 'It seemed however that Harry did not get the fashion memo - either that, or he was in a petulant mood. 'The Prince turned up looking smart if somewhat apprehensive in an immaculate Dior suit, a potentially rebellious move on his behalf. Harry would have been well-versed in the protocol of supporting domestic businesses, and the message doing so would convey. 'In true royal family style, Harry, like his late grandmother, is a true expert in visual representation, and his decision to wear a French designer to this historic occasion spoke volumes. 'The message was clearly, 'I'm here, but I'm doing this my own way', a firm assertion that his newfound independence was not going to change, that he would run alongside the royal pack rather than within it.' Harry also wore 800 Dior 'Bee' shirts during recent appearances at the High Court in London and also wore Dior to the UN last year, further securing his alliance with the fashion house. MEGHAN MARKLE The Duchess of Sussex wearing a Dior cape dress for the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II last September Meghan Markle wearing Dior as she and Prince Harry leaving after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul's Cathedral in London last June (left) and in 2018 (right) Just like her husband, Meghan Markle has joined the ranks of royal Dior devotees. The Duchess of Sussex's association with the brand actually sparked rumours they could even be linked into a partnership with the brand - which was eventually denied earlier this week. It had been speculated any deal could be worth as much as 15million to the couple. While a deal is off the table, Meghan, 41, has favoured the brand plenty of times in the past. She has worn the fashion label on a number of significant occasions, including the National Service of Thanksgiving at St. Pauls Cathedral, London, to celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee last June. Dressed in all white, she wore a trench coat, skirt, and shirt from the Dior Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2022 collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri, a white hat from Dior by Stephen Jones, Dior gloves, and Dior D-Moi shoes. Meghan also wore Dior to the Queen's funeral, as well as her son Archie's baptism and other major events and royal tours before Megxit. She also incorporated pieces from Dior into her pregnancy wardrobe while on a tour of Morocco with Harry. Two years ago, she emulated her mother-in-law when she carried a monogrammed version of the iconic Lady Dior bag, made popular by Diana, to a Global Citizen concert in New York. QUEEN CAMILLA King Charles' wife is a longtime fan of Dior, and has worn it to several official events since marrying into the royal family in 2005 The fabric of blue-blooded ties Meanwhile a number of other royals have made Dior their go-to designer over the years. Lady Amelia Windsor, the Duke of Kents granddaughter, 27, has been a regular at Dior Fashion Week events for many years. The model and socialite has had her pride of place front row on several occasions. Meanwhile, Lady Kitty Spencer, the daughter of Earl Spencer and niece of the late Princess Diana, has also been known to sport outfits from the French designer. In Europe, it has also been favoured by the likes of Princess Olympia of Greece and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. Left: Lady Amelia Windsor, 27, attending Christian Dior's Paris Fashion Week womenswear show in September 2018. Right: The royal donning florals at Dior's Paris' Haute Couture Fashion Week in July of the same year Lady Kitty Spencer donning all-white from Dior at the brand's Paris Haute-Couture Fashion Week Spring-Summer show in 2016 Advertisement King Charles' wife is a longtime fan of Dior, and has worn it to several official events since marrying into the royal family in 2005. The Queen visited the brand's atelier on Paris' Avenue Montaigne in 2013, when Raf Simons was its Artistic Director. Dior is one of the brands Camilla has been faithful to since making her royal debut. Earlier this week, the royal opted for a soft cream coat and dress from the fashion house as she attended Royal Ascot's Opening Day. She accessorised with a matching hat, and diamond jewellery and a white clutch bag. 'Mum, I want to join Vinted, announces my 14-year-old daughter Molly. All my friends are selling their clothes on it and making loads of money. I sigh yet another app to which Ill feel obliged to sign up to and digitally trail around after her. Im already a reluctant lurker on both TikTok (horribly manic) and Snapchat (deeply tedious). But three months later, Im a convert. A Vinted obsessive. As is Molly. As is plot twist! my mother Rosemary, 74. Selling our wardrobe cast-offs on the Lithuanian-based second-hand fashion site has become a three-generational family affair and an unexpectedly bonding experience. I have made 500 from offloading my old Sezane, Whistles and Hush pieces; a sum Ive smugly banked (minus 45, for being unable to resist buying a pair of fur-lined Nike Air Max 90s). Kerry (centre) with her mother Rosemary and daughter Molly, 2015. Selling their wardrobe cast-offs on Vinted has become a three-generational family affair and an unexpectedly bonding experience Meanwhile, Molly treats Vinted as a zero-cost way to refresh her wardrobe. Shes sold a vast number of Urban Outfitters, H&M and Primark hoodies, leggings and tracksuit bottoms, while replenishing her closet with endless combat trousers and crop tops. My mother whod heard about Vinted from a friend who, post-divorce, was selling off all the clothes her ex-husband had bought her also wanted in on the act. Given that my mum isnt great at turning on her phone, she brings over bags brimming with Phase Eight, John Lewis and Mint Velvet, and Molly lists and sells them for her. Rather than paying her granddaughter commission, she is sweetly letting her keep all the money she makes. I wouldve only taken that stuff to the charity shop otherwise, she shrugs. Whenever we meet, the chat between the three of us soon turns to the latest gossip whats sold? What hasnt? And, can you believe, some chancer is selling a pair of Shein thong knickers for a quid? Its not easy to find a shared hobby that appeals equally to a 14-, 47- and 74-year-old but Vinted hits the spot. There are a lot of us superfans around. The idea for Vinted came about when Lithuanian Milda Mitkute was looking for an easy way to sell the items in her wardrobe that she never wore. She joined forces with her tech-savvy friend Justas Janauskas and the duo launched the online marketplace in 2008. The Vinted app is easy to navigate (it is possible to list an item in just two minutes), buyers and seller are friendly and honest, and there are no seller fees Vinted arrived in the UK in 2014 and it now has eight million members here up from 1.2 million in 2021. Operating in 19 countries, its global revenues have increased by 50 per cent since last year and its not hard to work out why. The cost-of-living crisis means we have less money to spend, while climate change is persuading us to use the money we do have on more sustainable options. Then theres the Vinted user experience. The app is easy to navigate (we can list an item in just two minutes Molly takes the photos, I write the description), every buyer and seller weve encountered has been friendly and honest, and, crucially, there are no seller fees. Instead, the buyer pays for delivery, plus a flat fee of 30p-80p, and also three to eight per cent of the sale price. The site is less overwhelming than Ebay and feels more grown-up than Depop, which is very much Gen Z territory with its top searches for Carhartt, bucket hats and Y2K style. And, because Vinted majors on high-street labels, it has a wider appeal than designer resale sites such as Vestiaire Collective. Vinted says the average age of its members is nudging up. In the early years, we had a younger 18- to 25-year-old demographic but now its 20 to 45 years, says its consumer lead Natacha Blanchard. Kids clothing is now the second most popular category after womens, Blanchard notes, suggesting theres a growing contingent of parents on board. There are shared mother/daughter profiles they might be selling to raise funds for the childs school ski trip, for example. And there are retirees the first person I knew who had a Vinted account was my 82-year-old mother-in-law Anne, a former model and one of the most glamorous women I know. Shes selling her cocktail dresses, hats and evening jackets that she used to wear to fancy dinners. The cross-generational appeal of Vinted points to a shift in consumer behaviour. Ive learned so much from my 20-year-old daughter about second-hand clothing sites, says fashion sustainability expert Anne-Marie Curtis, founder of The Calendar Magazine and former editor of Elle. Its a form of reverse mentoring for Gen Z their default is to shop second-hand, theyre preloved natives. 'And theyre teaching older generations to see shopping in a new, more considered way. As well as being a win for both planet and wallet, Vinted has also been a useful learning experience for my teen. Attention to detail is key, she discovered, when I pointed out she couldnt list her H&M pyjamas as silk, they were merely silky. Shes learnt to barter and negotiate, buying a never-used Eastpak backpack for just 8. Shes honed her people skills placating an angry buyer when a package took a long time to arrive. And shes had a crash course in the tedious admin of adulthood standing in the Post Office queue for 35 minutes to send your parcel. With the fashion resale market in the UK predicted to grow by nearly 70 per cent in the next three years, according to research firm GlobalData, Vinted appears to have a rosy future. So why not see what all the fuss is about? Ask your children or grandchildren to help you get set up. Sit down with them, have a glass of wine and make it a fun social experience, says Curtis. Just please dont sell my daughter any more crop tops. On 11 December 2020, the day former sub-postmaster Vipin Patels conviction for fraud was overturned in Southwark in London, I took the train to Oxfordshire to meet the family in Horspath. They had taken the unusual step of closing their shop for the morning so they could support Vipin in court, where earlier Id been the only journalist to witness his acquittal. When they arrived home in the afternoon there was a queue of schoolchildren waiting outside. Vipins wife Jayshree handed out free chocolate and posed for celebratory photos as a stream of villagers came by to wish the Patels well. At the back of the shop, I saw the closed Post Office counter, a silent monument to the familys misery. Paula Vennells, the Post Office chief executive from 2012 to 2019, has yet to be called as witness but is expected to give evidence in the coming months Vipin showed me inside, indicating the position of the long-removed computer system, Horizon. I am a third-generation postmaster, he told me. In my wildest dreams I would not believe the Post Office would do anything like this. That day was a turning point in a scandal now acknowledged as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history. I stumbled across this story in 2010 when a taxi driver told me tearfully that his pregnant wife another sub-postmaster had been imprisoned for a crime she didnt commit. It was an appalling case but, as I was to learn, not the only one. Over the next ten years, I discovered that more than 200 people had been sent to prison based on evidence from Horizon, a suspect Post Office IT accounting system. To expose the story, I worked with Private Eye, made two Panorama programmes and presented a BBC Radio 4 series called The Great Post Office Trial, about the sub-postmasters campaign. Vipin, the former sub-postmaster at Horspath Post Office and Stores, had been fighting for nearly a decade to clear his name. Terrified of being sent to prison, in 2010 he pleaded guilty to fraud when he couldnt explain a 34,000 hole in his branch accounts (he maintains the discrepancy was 70,000, 45,000 of which he had repaid through cashing in his Royal Mail pension, selling his wifes jewellery and putting in his own money). Receiving a suspended sentence, within a few weeks the stress had rendered him comatose and for five days he was unable to walk, eat or even drink. Vipin suffered permanent nerve damage and, in 2015, the resultant anxiety and loneliness made him suicidal. Now 69, he is still on antidepressants. While also being the cornerstone of many British communities, sub-postmasters are self-employed agents of the Post Office, a public corporation owned by the government. They are legally required to account for the public money which is processed through their branches. In 2000 the Post Office rolled out the Horizon accounting and point-of-sale IT system, built by the Japanese company Fujitsu, to every Post Office in the country. But the software was so badly written that it couldnt even add up, a fact the Post Office refused to recognise. When holes in branch accounts appeared, the postmasters were required to make good the discrepancies with their own money or face immediate suspension, dismissal or worse. The taxi driver who approached me in 2010 was called Davinder Misra. Seema, his wife, was the operator at West Byfleet Post Office in Surrey, and 74,000 was supposedly missing from her branch. She was charged with theft and sentenced to 15 months in jail on her eldest sons tenth birthday. When I spoke to Davinder, he was in bits, but also resolute. Seemas prosecution, he told me, was far from a one-off. He directed me to a 2009 Computer Weekly investigation by a reporter called Rebecca Thomson. This was the first piece of journalism to raise questions about the Post Office IT system. Davinder also told me about Alan Bates, founder of a campaign group called the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance. I spoke to Bates, a former sub-postmaster at Craig-y-Don in North Wales who had been sacked by the Post Office in 2003 in a dispute over accounting discrepancies at his branch. He had IT experience before buying a Post Office and was convinced there was something wrong with Horizon. Hed been gathering evidence from fellow sub-postmasters for seven years. He told me there could be hundreds of people around the country like Seema, who had been convicted with IT evidence from a computer system that simply didnt function as it should. Former Post Office sub-postmaster Seema Misra walks with her husband Davinder from The High after being cleared of theft from the Post Office Eventually we discovered that, over a 13-year period to 2013, the Post Office successfully prosecuted more than 700 people using evidence from its Horizon IT system. Not all went to prison, but the criminal conviction ruined them. This was phase one of the scandal. Phase two was the cover-up. In 2013, the campaign by Batess sub-postmasters and their constituency MPs forced the Post Office to commission a report into the IT system. Independent investigators found errors in Horizon and roundly criticised the Post Offices punitive business practices, including its apparent prosecution bias and failures to seek the root cause of reported problems. The Post Office chief executive, the Reverend Paula Vennells, ordered a series of internal reports into the prosecutions and the Horizon system. Those investigations found that the Post Office might have prosecuted innocent people, and that its IT wasnt fit for purpose. Neither independent investigation firm Second Sight, nor the campaigning sub-postmasters, nor their MPs were informed. In 2015, Vennells told the parliamentary Business Select Committee that there was no evidence of any miscarriages of justice. That was not true. While the cover-up was in full swing, the Post Office rubbished Second Sight, misled journalists and continued to dismiss the complaints of campaigning sub-postmasters. The Liberal Democrat and then Conservative ministers who ran the Business department during this period seem to have been asleep at the wheel. The motivation for the cover-up was simple: the Post Office had bet the farm on Horizon. Any suggestion that their flagship IT system was unreliable could put off the banks, energy companies and government departments who channelled millions of pounds through the system every month. Vennells, who was paid more than 500,000 a year throughout her tenure, had been given one job by her government masters: to make the loss-making Post Office profitable. She did so, ignoring the cries from a growing number of sub-postmasters, leaving in 2019 with a CBE, a 389,000 bonus, the chairmanship of a large NHS Trust and a seat on the Cabinet Office Board. The fiction maintained by Vennells during her time in office was blown apart in 2019, when more than 500 campaigners took the Post Office to the High Court over the way they had been treated. The epic litigation was characterised by the judges castigation of the conduct of the Post Office throughout their pursuit of the sub-postmasters through the criminal courts: The failures of investigation and disclosure wereso egregious as to make the prosecution of any of the Horizon cases an affront to the conscience of the court. 'By representing Horizon as reliable, and refusing to countenance any suggestion to the contrary, Post Office Limited effectively sought to reverse the burden of proof. The campaigners won, triggering a series of legal developments that led to the overturning of those first convictions at Southwark Crown Court in December 2020, with a further 39 at the Court of Appeal the following year. The Mail reported on the scandal and campaigned on behalf of the innocent men and women at the heart of the story But what should have been a period of resolution and reconciliation has, in my view, become phase three of this scandal. As well as having their names cleared, the surviving victims (there have been four suicides) demanded proper redress. An initial compensation scheme was open for a few months during the worst of the pandemic. It was massively over-subscribed. In 2021 the Post Office admitted that meeting all the claims against it would make it insolvent. It went cap in hand to the government, asking the taxpayer to step in and pick up the bill. The government, faced with the collapse of the Post Office network, reluctantly agreed. It has now set aside more than 1 billion to fund the various compensation schemes, but the time it has been taking for offers of redress to come through has become fatally slow. I was contacted recently by Will Harrison, the son of one of the successful High Court claimants. Will told me his mum Sam had died in May this year without receiving proper compensation. Sam Harrison used to run the Nawton Post Office in Ryedale, North Yorkshire. She was suspended and sacked over a discrepancy in her accounts and died at 54 after a three-year battle with cancer. When I asked him who was to blame for the torment people like his mother faced, Will had no doubt. I really despise Paula Vennells, he told me. I think its disgusting that she wont ever get really held to account. We know at least 61 sub-postmasters waiting for compensation have died without proper redress. Many continue to fight. In October last year, Francis Duff, an 81-year-old former sub-postmaster, was offered 330,000, but the Post Office withheld 322,000 to settle his bankruptcy (caused by the Post Office) and pay tax on his award. Duff was left with 8,000 and the conclusion that hed been shafted twice. Lawyer Dan Neidle was so scandalised by Duffs case that he began investigating one of the Post Offices compensation schemes. Neidle concluded it is over-complicated and deliberately misleading. People had been convicted with evidence from a system that simply didn't function as it should He has made a formal complaint to the Solicitors Regulation Authority over the role the Post Offices City lawyers Herbert Smith Freehills played in framing sub-postmaster compensation offers as confidential, something Neidle calls an attempt by the Post Office to intimidate postmasters into silence. A public inquiry has been set up. Last year we discovered that in the late 90s, when the Horizon system was still in development, senior Fujitsu executives in Japan told the Prime Minister Tony Blair that cancelling the project would be a public-relations disaster for UK plc. Despite formal warnings that it didnt work, Blair issued a personal instruction to keep the Horizon project alive. As the public inquiry enters its second year, a series of former government ministers, civil servants, Fujitsu executives and Post Office middle-managers have now given evidence, each witness carefully passing the buck up, down and around the chain of accountability. It is a depressing sight. Paula Vennells has yet to be called as witness but is expected to give evidence in the coming months. In a statement, Vennells said: I am truly sorry for the suffering caused to the 39 sub-postmasters as a result of their convictions which were overturned. I intend to focus fully on working with the ongoing government inquiry to ensure the affected sub-postmasters and wider public get the answers they deserve. Nick Read, Vennellss successor as Post Office CEO, appears to have picked up where she left off. Despite presenting himself as a new broom, Read concocted a bonus scheme that saw him (and around 50 other senior executives) handsomely rewarded for fulfilling the Post Offices legal obligation to co-operate with the public inquiry. As YOU went to press, 48 of those people had been asked to repay a proportion of this but only on a voluntary basis. Paul Gilbert, a lawyer and leading legal ethicist, described the whole bonus-scheme affair as: irredeemably rotten. 'For someone to even have the idea of monetising the inquiry is shocking. For everyone else to go along with it shows a vacuum of dignity and decency. To compound matters, the Post Office declared in its annual report that the independent chair of the public inquiry, Sir Wyn Williams, had approved the bonus scheme. Neither Sir Wyn nor the inquiry were aware of it. Read offered a grovelling apology and handed back a yet undeclared portion of his 455,000 taxpayer-funded bonus. Read has recently found something else to apologise for. After bonusgate came the revelation that while it was falsely prosecuting its sub-postmasters, the Post Office was also racially profiling them. A 2008 compliance document required security team investigators to divide suspect postmasters into categories including negroid types. The scandal in numbers More than 11,500 Post Office branches in Britain 736 sub-postmasters unsafely prosecuted for fraud or theft 4sub-postmasters took their own lives 2,500 sub-postmasters have applied for compensation from the Post Office 777 sub-postmasters have received compensation from the Post Office 61 sub-postmasters have died before receiving compensation from the Post Office 17.5 million Post Office has paid out so far compensating overturned convictions 4.5 MILLION Paula Vennells earned during her seven-year Post Office tenure 32 million spent by the Post Office trying to prove there was no fault in its IT system 100 MILLION spent by the Post Office on City lawyers 1,200 Maximum the Post Office has contributed to any sub-postmasters legal fees ZERO punitive damages Advertisement Last month, Read sent an all-staff email to his racially diverse cohort of 7,000 sub-postmasters. I know that you will not only be upset but also very concerned that such language was being used within the Post Office, he wrote. While a lot of progress has been made in ensuring that our culture is inclusive we know there is still a lot more for us to do and we must continue our efforts. The speed at which the criminal justice system is moving to quash convictions seems to have ground to a halt. No fewer than 600 convictions, secured on the back of Horizon evidence, are believed to be potentially unsafe. Six were quashed in 2020, 66 in 2021, 12 in 2022 and so far in 2023 only two, making a total of 86. Kevan Jones MP has called this extremely concerning. Last December two years after Vipins conviction was quashed Post Office lawyers offered him 200,000. (They were talked up from their initial offer of 100,000.) Vipin called it derisory. His son, Varchas, reminded me that the couple wrongfully arrested over the Gatwick drone disruption were given a 200,000 settlement. He asked how it could compare to a man whose health and finances were ruined by a wrongful conviction. Last month, Vipin had a mini-stroke. He remains in pain, at home. With nothing to fund his retirement, he still runs Horspath Stores with Jayshree. Vipin worries about her having to work more hours at their shop. It is always at the back of my mind, he says. While Vennells is free to enjoy her huge Post Office payoff and early retirement, I wonder just how much time Vipin and so many other victims of this scandal have left. With the High Street's latest collaborations, designer creations are available for a fraction of their usual price Think a wardrobe stocked full of the latest clothing from the worlds best international designers is the sole reserve of the jet-set elite? If the High Streets latest collaborations are anything to go by, it might be time to rethink that. This summer, High Street favourites such as Mango and & Other Stories, alongside some lesser-known budget-friendly brands, have launched collections in collaboration with some of the best under-the-radar luxury fashion houses from around the globe. The result? A democratisation of international high fashion, and just in time for summer whether youre spending it globetrotting or not. An international wardrobe with no air miles or foreign currency required? Yes please. Greek designer Mary Katrantzou has paired up with Lipsy to create an exclusive range of clothing available via Next. Dress, 52, next. co.uk Mary Katrantzou x Lipsy Dubbed the Queen of Print, Greek designer Mary Katrantzou seeks in her designs to create a symbiosis between the world of digital technology and traditional craftsmanship. Thanks to her collaboration with Lipsy, her digitally-created prints works of art in themselves due to their opulence and detail are now available on an exclusive range of clothing available to shop via high street chain Next. Traditional florals are reimagined in surrealist forms perfect for the modern wedding guest. A Mary Katrantzou dress at Harrods will set you back over 1,000, while her Next designs start at 52. And the prints are near identical in their intricacy. La Veste x La Redoute Every Spanish girl's favourite brand La Veste has teamed up with La Redoute. Jacket, 145, and trousers, 120, laredoute. co.uk Want to get in on the action of every Spanish fashion girls favourite brand without paying hefty import duties? Shirt, 120, laredoute.co.uk Look no further than La Veste, which has collaborated with La Redoute - Frances answer to Next - on a super chic summer collection. Founded in 2018 by the ultimate cool-girl duo stylist Blanca Miro and designer Maria de la Orden La Veste has developed a cult following amongst Spains chicest women. Inspired by vintage, La Vestes collaboration with La Redoute features sailor-collar shirts, a cherry-red collarless jacket and cropped trouser suit that Jackie O might have worn, plus Twiggy-esque mini dresses. Welcome to the 60s, continental style. Simon Miller x Mango LA-based brand Simon Miller has collaborated with high-street favourite Mango. Swimming costume, 59.99; trousers, 79.99; and sunglasses, 89.99, mango.com In a fashion landscape dominated by brands adhering to the minimalist aesthetic of quiet luxury, LA-based brand Simon Miller is a welcome antidote. A playful aesthetic thats bold enough to be exciting yet timeless enough to be worn for many years, Simon Miller is a Mods heaven. Bag, 59.99, mango.com Retro silhouettes and bright colours abound, and the brands collaboration with Mango stays true to this identity. Refreshingly, the brand hasnt compromised on responsible fabric as part of its collaboration with a retail giant - many of the pieces are made from recycled and natural materials. A dress will set you back 89.99 - a snip compared to the 475 dresses currently in Millers main collection. Design, affordability and ethics? A rare union. Farm Rio x Sezane Founded as a market stall in Rio in 1997, Farm Rio has since blossomed into one of Brazils most recognisable brands, stocked at the worlds most luxurious fashion stores, including Liberty and Net-A-Porter. And now, Brazilian high fashion has been democratised courtesy of French mid-market brand Sezane, known for their urban-meets-boho aesthetic. The feminine, wearable shapes typical of Sezane combine with the riot of colour and print synonymous with Farm Rio to make a collection that makes statement fashion approachable. Our favourite? The Mara dress (175). Looking like an ice lolly has never been so chic. More of a minimalist? The collection includes jewellery for those looking to just dip their toe in exhibitionism. Sindiso Khumalo x & Other Stories Cape Town-based architect-turned-designer Sindiso Khumalo and & Other Stories have partnered to create a fantastic range of summer clothing. Midi dress, 95, stories.com Embroidery and structure are at the heart of Cape Town-based architect-turned-designer Sindiso Khumalos designs, and her collaboration with & Other Stories is no exception. Expect smocking, crochet and ruffles a-plenty, with dresses in this collaboration costing under 100 - a bargain compared to those in her collection, which can set you back up to 590. Q At 55, my lips dont look as good as they used to. Are there treatments that can make them look youthful again? I dont want weird lip fillers! A A good cosmetic doctor has all kinds of tricks to smooth, soften and hydrate lips and reinstate their contours without creating a trout pout. Dr Uliana Gout (london-aesthetic-medicine.com), for one, uses injectable hydrators with collagen-stimulating ingredients and micro-injections of soft fillers to precision-shape and remoisturise lips that have lost their mojo. A good cosmetic doctor has all kinds of tricks to smooth, soften and hydrate lips and reinsta te their contours without creating a trout pout Inge says what is key is finding a doctor who's willing to take a personal approach with a choice of injectables and techniques People think just volumising lips will perfect them, but its much more intricate than that, she says. Her Lip Sublimation, from 500, is entirely bespoke, and can involve filler under the mouth corners to correct downturned lips and jabs to smooth dehydration lines in the lips and barcode lines in the top lip edge, among other unexpected tricks. Dr Sophie Shotter (drsophie shotter.com) has a similar tailored offering Lip Rehab Menu, which costs from 400. Around the UK, make sure your doctor takes a personalised approach with a choice of injectables (if they use just the one filler gel for all, go elsewhere) and techniques (ask just how they intend to rejuvenate and correct your lips) to treat your issues. A car enthusiast has used ChatGPT to boost the performance of his four-year-old vehicle which he claims has increased the value by $60,000. Michal Costin, 39, uses the artificial intelligence chatbot everyday for work and has always wanted to modify a car. The digital marketing specialist and self-proclaimed 'nerd' says he's turned his basic $40,000 2019 Skoda Superb Sportline 206 TSI into a supercar worth $100,000 by modifying the engine, exhaust and style. 'I had a goal in my mind of improving the car's performance to the equivalent of an Audi RS3, which can sell for about $130,000 at the moment. That car does 0-100 in 3.8 seconds and has about 290kw of power,' Mr Costin, from Sydney, told FEMAIL. 'Comparatively mine does 0-100 in 5.8 seconds and has 206kw of power - so we're talking substantial improvements.' The two cars normally sit at different ends of the market in terms of prestige and price, but after completing the modifications he claims his Skoda now sits among alternatives worth $100,000. Scroll down for video Michal Costin, from Sydney, (pictured) used ChatGPT to modify his 2019 Skoda Superb Sportline 206 TSI. 'I had a goal in my mind of improving the car's performance to the equivalent of an Audi RS3, which can sell for about $130,000 at the moment,' he said Pictured before: Mr Costin's four-year-old car was worth $40,000 prior to the modifications Pictured after: While the car looks similar to how it was before the changes began, it's what's under the bonnet that makes all the difference. Mr Costin claims the modifications have boosted the car's value by $60,000 Throughout the year Mr Costin has been playing around with AI and has been 'blown away' by how well it can instantly provide ideas and plans on any topic. 'We were kicking around use cases for ChatGPT at the office and the idea of modifying my car came up. One of those typical hare-brained ideas that come up then nothing happens with it. This time I decided to just do it,' he said. Mr Costin gave the system an extremely detailed prompt as well as a new name - 'HoonGPT' - and began his request. With a decent budget of $20,000, he wrote: 'I would like to improve the performance of the car so that it is faster than the factory version. I would like the sound the car makes to be more thrilling. The car will be driven daily, so I want to do it in a way that is as safe to the car as possible.' He also wanted to make the vehicle's exterior more 'classy'. 'We don't want the car looking over the top. More so, we want it to be fast and look that way. Do you understand?,' he added. In return ChatGPT replied out a swift response with seven comprehensive dot points, each ranked with different priority levels. The AI program suggested changing the ECU tune, exhaust system, brakes, tyres and suspension to optimise the car's engine performance and horsepower while also improving the sound and maintaining safety. As for the look, it suggested making some basic changes such as adding side skirts and a rear diffuser. The prompt: Mr Costin gave ChatGPT an extremely detailed request as well as a new name - 'HoonGPT' The plan: In return the system spat out a swift response with seven comprehensive dot points, each ranked with different priority levels However, Mr Costin admitted there was 'a lot of back and forth' to perfect the request. 'Originally it suggested to do the engine and gearbox tune THEN add parts, but on further discussion it changed its mind and said to do them all at the same time,' he said. 'It also decided brake modifications were not as important based on feedback the garage provided.' As for the style, the black colour remained but a few elements were replaced - including the badges and wheels which were also changed to black. Mr Costin managed to remain well within his budget after spending only $14,000 on the modifications. 'Not a bad investment to get the equivalent performance of cars like the Mercedes C43 AMG, Audi S4, BMW M3 which are all $100k+ cars,' he said. Mr Costin managed to remain well within his budget after spending only $14,000 on the modifications By tweaking different parts, the vehicle now performs better than it did before and compares to those at a high-end value Mr Costin started his car's transformation after selling his previous vehicle and didn't want to spend an excessive amount of money purchasing a new one. 'Before I started the HoonGPT project, I was about to sell my last car and was looking at options from Audi, BMW and Mercedes that cost well north of $100,000,' Mr Costin said. 'Instead of buying one of those new cars and being on the hook for all that money, I decided to do the modifications. 'It now really gives the same enjoyment I would get from one of them, at a fraction of the price. The wheels and badges were changed to black versions to match the car's exterior 'Every time I drive it I have a smile on my face, so Im thrilled with the results. The car is like an entirely new car to drive now. ChatGPT has done a stellar job to be honest,' he said. And while the car looks similar to how it was before the modifications began, Mr Costin said it's what's under the bonnet that makes all the difference. He admitted he's caught the bug for tinkering with cars and plans to use AI to modify another vehicle in the future. Australia is adopting new and innovative ways to lure discontent NHS medics Placing mobile billboards on picket lines and hunting down disgruntled NHS staff directly on social media they're just two brazen tactics Australia has deployed to bolster its own healthcare workforce by luring Brits Down Under. Some have criticised the 'unconscionable raid' as ethically questionable given the pressures the NHS is facing and how blows to staffing will impact patients. Speaking on Australian national radio, last week South Australia's health minister Chris Picton said: 'Not only are we replying to tweets but we've also, overnight, had some trucks out with electronic billboards outside their protests and their picket lines outside hospitals. 'A few weeks ago, a number of our junior doctors who work in SA Health came to me. '[They] really enjoy working here and want to see more people from the UK make the trip here and suggested we step up our game in terms of these more cheeky tactics.' The ad campaign run by the South Australian Government which visited the British Medical Association picket lines at St George's Hospital in London last week He has also defended the tactics, stating: 'If the UK Government wants to, you know, match what were doing, well, they can do that. 'But at the moment it looks like the UK Government is completely standoffish to their own medical workforce and refusing to even meet them.' MOBILE BILLBOARDS Mobile billboards featuring tantalizing images of crystal-clear waters and stunning hikes were deployed outside St George's Hospital in London during a junior doctors strike earlier this month. 'Take your health career to South Australia and work-life balance at its best. We can help with relocation costs,' the ad read. The ads were seen by dozens of medics from the British Medical Association (BMA), who were on the picket in the latest walkout over NHS pay. It featured 50/50 images of medics enjoying the Australian lifestyle and working in a hospital with the captions 'For Work. For Lifestyle'. A link and QR code on the billboard send interested medics to a recruitment page run by the South Australian Government, where they can enter provide their details to apply for jobs. The ads featured 50/50 images of medics balancing work with amazing pictures of the Aussie lifestyle with text saying 'discover work-life balance at its best' and offering financial assistance to relocate TRAWLING TWITTER The South Australian Government which offers one-off cash payments of up to 8,000 to help medics relocate is also trawling through Twitter to find anyone who's complained about their NHS jobs or the UK cost of living. They then reply with a glossy video advert featuring starry skies, surfing and wine-tasting intermixed with images of medics working in a hospital. One tweet by Cam Ypr, a psychiatry trainee in Yorkshire, read: 'Junior doctor strikes round 3. Strong Sheffield public support and sun is out.' SA Health, South Australia's NHS equivalent replied: 'Consider taking your medical career to South Australia and discover work-life balance at its best. We can help with relocation costs of up to AUD $15,000 (8,000) to make the move.' This reply was accompanied with their recruitment video and a link to apply for jobs as well as urging medics to get in touch with SA Health 'talent acquisition' team. Harpreet Kaur, a surgeon in South Yorkshire was also targeted with SA Health after posting: 'Passionate about surgery, but each #JuniorDoctorsStrike just reminds me of how badly we need change and #PayRestoration'. Ms Kaur even responded to the SA Health ad with: 'Thank you. Shall take this into consideration.' Some of the tweets the Aussies targeted were even quite old. MailOnline found SA Health posted their recruitment video to some posts from June 2022 in an attempt to convince medics to head to Adelaide. South Australia is also running a targeted social media campaign looking for British medics complaining about pay online and posting this glossy ad which features images of both working surfing alongside an offer of up to 8,000 to help with relocation costs One tweet by Cam Ypr, a psychiatry trainee in Yorkshire was picked up by the SA Health social media trawl Even tweets medics wrote in June last year were in the Aussies' sights, like this example by a doctor going by the username 'Noodles' One medic Tweeting under the name 'Noodles' wrote last year: 'If you're wondering why doctors are considering strike action, I've worked full time for two years. 'My pay this month is 1700. I have a job where I am responsible for your life. You do not want me worrying about how I'm going to pay for my petrol when you're septic at 4am.' To which SA Health replied urging them to apply to come work with them. Shockingly, both ad campaigns were not wholly an Australian scheme but had been requested by UK medics who already made the move Down Under. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a political event on reproductive rights ahead of the first anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 24. EPA-Yonhap U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday discussed the unfolding crisis in Russia with the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom, affirming the allies's staunch support for Ukraine. According to a statement from the White House, Biden spoke by telephone with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about "the situation in Russia." In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin is facing the biggest threat to his rule yet with rebel mercenaries advancing towards the Russian capital after seizing a key military base. Doctors who moved have been left 'isolated' and struggling with the culture shift Junior doctors say Australia is only 'marginally' better than working for the NHS Working as a doctor in Australia is not all sun and games, warn British medics who have taken the plunge. UK healthcare workers lured Down Under say promises of sunnier weather, bigger pay packets, and a better work-life balance isn't quite true. Instead of beaches and bush hikes, medics claimed it was 'serious' and still a 'full time job' and not a dream 'holiday', like some adverts have suggested. Writing on the social media site Reddit anonymously, junior doctors who made the leap confessed they didn't expect the transition to be 'such a mixed bag'. They also claimed they were drawn in by glossy social media 'highlight reels' from British medics who'd already moved touting the Australian lifestyle. Dr Michael Mrozinski (pictured), 37, says he 'felt burnt out after working in the NHS for seven years' and moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2016. One medic, who now claims to work at a hospital in Brisbane said: 'The stories of greener pastures in the land Down Under, where the sun is always shining, and pay is significantly higher were too to good to turn down. 'Ive now spent four months here and, whilst I always knew that I will be working a full time job and not going on holiday, I was not expecting my journey here to be such a mixed bag.' They had come to the conclusion that working in Australia is only 'marginally better' than the UK and not 'leap years ahead'. Having now spent four months in Australia, they said: 'It just has a lot more money and a significantly smaller population. 'I also understand no one wants to hear this but coming here has genuinely made me appreciate the NHS more. 'We are not far off in terms of quality of care given to patients, and all it needs is the money it deserves and the pay raise that all the health care staff deserve. 'Im not trying to discourage people from coming here but just trying to help people have level headed expectations. Living in Australia is class, working here is not that great.' Other junior doctors have also confessed Australia isn't as great as they expected, or had hoped. Another junior doctor who worked in an emergency department said: 'I appreciate that it might be great for some people, but it absolutely was not for me. 'With that said, Australia is a beautiful, spectacular and vast country with loads to see and do. The people are open and friendly. They speak plainly and honestly, instead of in code and passive-aggressively, like they do in the UK. 'There are wonderful things about Australia, it just wasnt for me in the end.' Some junior doctors who moved down under for the famous laidback Aussie culture have also been taken back by their 'serious' work ethics. One said: 'Aussies are very nice but very serious at work. Not much going for coffees or lunch together.' The junior doctor argues that some people love it in Australia because they treat it as a break and not a time to do exams or work. Another 'NHS refugee' junior doctor that moved to Australia in search of better pay and work/life balance also admitted it hasn't lived up to their expectations. The junior doctor said they have started to 'get cold feet' just one month after moving to other side of the planet. They wrote: 'I essentially have started getting cold feet about my decision to train out here/stay long term, due to a number of things including family members becoming unwell and fully realising the impact of being on the other side of the world when s*** hits the fan'. Other junior doctors have also described how they found it hard to break into Australian culture. One medic, who has now moved back to the UK, said: 'The people were friendly and pleasant but had zero interest in including me or other UK doctors in any social activity.' Aoibhin (pictured) has been a doctor for three years - graduating in April 2020 from Queens University, Belfast, where she studied medicine - and worked on the frontline during the Covid pandemic Popular YouTuber Dr Nora (pictured) moved from London to the Gold Coast in 2017 and has never looked back, but admits it's not for everyone 'It was depressing. I made good friends with other UK doctors but to be honest Im not really in touch with any local doctors at all, not for lack of trying.' They also highlight that it is 'the luck of the draw' where in Australia you end up as if you are not in a city you could end up feeling isolated. They said: 'Australia is really really far from everything else, and most Australian cities are really isolated. 'Flying back takes an eternity and I got very good at subtracting 9-10-11 hours from most times of the day. 'I guess once you settle there, you get used to it, but I never did. I just felt really sad and isolated the whole time.' READ MORE: The 'cheeky' tactics Australia is using to pinch NHS staff: From advertising billboards placed ON picket lines to trawling through year-old tweets to tempt medics down under The ad campaign run by the South Australian Government which visited the British Medical Association picket lines at St George's Hospital in London last week Advertisement However, not everyone who made the move is disappointed. For some doctors moving has made them realise just how accustomed they had become 'to working in a resource-poor environment where a lower standard of care is accepted'. One said: 'When I first moved to Aus I laughed at how often they would CT things that would never have been scanned in the UK. 'Eventually [I] realised that we had just been justifying not scanning things in the UK due to no scanner availability rather than good clinical reasoning.' For them, the move to Australia only made staffing and funding problems in the NHS more apparent. They said: 'Coming to that conclusion took a while. I didn't want to admit that UK medical practice was so tangibly poorer. I attribute this to the staffing and resources available, not laziness or incompetence of the staff that are there. 'I would be happy for my family to attend an Australian ED. I would pray they are able to avoid a UK ED.' As the messages were made anonymously there is no way to verify the experiences described. But British another medic who took the plunge, Dr Drew, who did not wish to give his surname, independently told MailOnline that Australia is selling UK health professionals a 'fairy tale' that is simply 'not the reality'. He said: 'It's fairy tale... ''go over it will be the life of your dreams... You'll be sitting on a beach sipping pina colada''... It's not the reality.' Another UK medic, popular YouTuber Dr Nora, moved from London to the Gold Coast in 2017 and has never looked back, but she admits it's not for everyone. The GP and cosmetic doctor, who has almost 25,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel, worked for the NHS for five years. Responding to Dr Drew's criticisms, she told MailOnline: 'These are valid concerns, not including all the different billing codes of Medicare to learn and developing a reputation for yourself as an independent contractor. 'It just depends on your mentality going in, if you're looking for safety, the NHS is a great place to be a part of. Interest in life Down Under has peaked for nurses and midwives in the most recent financial year, with some 4,000 applications made While doctors are lagging behind unions say 2023 could be a bumper year for disenfranchised medics to be lured to Australia thanks to 'cheeky' recruitment tactics Australian figures suggest roughly half of UK medics who apply for a job in Australia are successful, with nearly 950 getting in 2021-22 compared to the 1,800 who applied in the 2022 calendar year 'If you're looking for a bit more adventure, then it's another great opportunity open out there for you to explore.' For Dr Aoibhin Bradley, 27, who turned her back on the NHS for the Gold Coast, in Queensland in September 2022, the move has been well worth it. She recalled how in the UK she struggled with long shifts, sometimes even working three hours past her end time. Dr Bradley took home 2,100 a month in the UK, based on a 48.5-hour week, but now she earns $6,000 AUSD a month - 3,202.53 - for a 36-hour a week. She previously told MailOnline: 'You're working to live - not living to work. Australia is more expensive but I'm still making multiple times more than what I was making at home. 'At home, you did so many extra hours that your life consisted of working. I lived in Northern Ireland and there wasn't anything to do in my spare time. 'I was so tired - I didn't have the energy to do much. In Australia, pay-wise it's incredible. You get paid per hour that you work. It blew my mind.' Another one is Dr Michael Mrozinski, 37, who said he 'felt burnt out after working in the NHS for seven years' before he moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2016. 'I felt burnt out after working in the NHS for seven years... in Australia, management listen to my concerns and ideas for better patient care, whereas in the UK they couldn't care less about any ideas I had.' He added: 'The main difference is I enjoy my job because the work environment is fantastic, the hospitals are well staffed and they are relieving doctors if wards are short. 'This makes for more people to share the workloads, instead of less people and more work, like in the UK. With more staff, means there is more teaching and helps doctors develop even further.' Many of us know that men with low testosterone are prone to low libido and struggle to maintain muscle mass. However, having low levels of the hormone can do much more damage than just trouble in the bedroom or at the gym. Now, experts are raising awareness about low testosterone, sometimes dubbed 'male menopause,' and its debilitating effects on men's health. Testosterone is a male sex hormone primarily produced in the testicles. However, testosterone receptors are spread throughout the body. It helps to maintain bone density, fat distribution, muscle mass, facial and body hair, sex drive, and sperm production, according to the Mayo Clinic. Estimates from the University of Wisconsin show that low testosterone affects roughly 12 percent of men in their 50s, 19 percent in their 60s, 28 percent in their 70s, and 49 percent in their 80s Male testosterone levels tend to be highest around age 20 and decline naturally with age. At their highest, testosterone levels should be anywhere between 300 and 1,200 ng/dL. Once men hit their mid-thirties, testosterone declines by at least one percent per year. However, men can become deficient at any age. Experts have revealed to DailyMail.com the 10 crucial warning signs below: Testosterone levels peak in young adulthood, around age 20, but decline by about 1 percent annually after age 30 Experts told DailyMail.com that symptoms of low testosterone include low sex drive, fatigue, decreased muscle mass, depression, and weak bones, among others Low sex drive 'Testosterone is the primary driver of someone's libido, or sex drive,' Dr Helen L Bernie, director of male sexual and reproductive health at Indiana University, told DailyMail.com. This leads to men having no interest in sex or masturbation. Low sex drive is one of the most common symptoms of testosterone deficiency, and it's one of the top concerns Dr Bernie's patients have. This is due the presence of androgen receptors, where testosterone binds, in areas of the brain that process desire. Without testosterone, there is nothing to signal arousal. Erectile dysfunction 'You do need testosterone in order for a man to have an erection,' Dr Bernie said. 'If you have very low testosterone levels, it's very hard to get an erection.' While there has to be increased blood flow to the penis to maintain an erection, testosterone is also necessary since there are receptors within erectile tissue, also known as the corpus cavernosum, inside the penis. 'Erectile tissue in someone who has low testosterone can atrophy or become less healthy,' Dr Bobby Najari, urologist at NYU Langone, told DailyMail.com. This leads blood flow in the penis to become less responsive to sexual stimulation, he said. Lack of testosterone can also make medications like Viagra less effective. Low testosterone's lack of libido can also cause erectile dysfunction. Depression Low testosterone could tank your mood, Dr Najari said. Similar to with sex drive, androgen receptors are found in several areas of the brain, including the amygdala, which processes fear. However, more research is needed to understand this relationship. 'We know that there are androgen receptors centrally located in the brain,' Dr Najari said. 'But the exact mechanism of the symptoms is less well understood.' Other factors on top of low testosterone could lead to depression, he mentioned, such as poor sleep or thyroid dysfunction. Dr Helen L. Bernie, director of male sexual and reproductive health at Indiana University (left), and Dr Bobby Najari, urologist at NYU Langone (right), pointed to several lasting health consequences of low testosterone, including memory issues, diabetes, fatigue, and depression Memory issues Similar to depression, androgen receptors could lead to poor memory. These receptors can be found in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory, as well as the cerebrum, which controls thinking and reasoning. When there isn't enough of the hormone to bind to those receptors, it could lead to forgetfulness, Dr Bernie said. When there isn't enough of the hormone to bind to those receptors, it could lead to forgetfulness. Fatigue 'Testosterone is our primary driver of motivation and energy levels,' Dr Bernie said. Testosterone is a diurnal hormone, meaning that it's highest in the morning and gradually decreases throughout the day. It's also a type of androgen hormone, a steroid, meaning that it keeps us energized. Since it decreases, men with low levels are going to be more tired throughout the day than those with normal levels. 'Men with chronically low testosterone will have decreased energy levels. They'll have fatigue,' Dr Bernie said. Decreased muscle mass Testosterone promotes muscle growth and has been shown to suppress fat gain. When levels are low, muscle mass begins to dwindle, Dr Bernie said. In one study from Japan, men with low levels of free testosterone- the amount of the hormone not bound to receptors- were two to three times more likely to have muscle loss with aging as those with normal levels. This is because lean muscle mass is replaced with fatty adipose tissue, also known as body fat. Strength training can help rebuild that lost muscle. Increased belly fat Having more fat tissue, especially around the abdomen, can be a sign of low testosterone, Dr Najari said. This is due to that fatty adipose tissue that replaces lean muscle mass. One review in obese men found that low testosterone specifically increases fat deposits in the abdomen. 'One of the most common reasons for lower testosterone, as men get older, is just increasing amounts of fat tissue that that break down the testosterone,' Dr Najari said. Fat cells produce aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. Estrogen then causes more fat to be deposited in the abdomen, as well as the chest, hips, and thighs. Weak bones 'In men, testosterone is converted into estrogen,' Dr Najari said. 'And we know, in both sexes, that estrogen is involved in the maintenance of bone health. So for men who have lower testosterone levels, they'll have lower estrogen levels.' This causes the bones to thin or break down. It can also lead to osteoporosis, a condition causes by weak or brittle bones. At first, the condition may have no symptoms, but as it progresses, it can cause back pain, stooped posture, fractures, and loss of height, according to the Mayo Clinic. Diabetes Testosterone is intertwined with insulin, the hormone made by the pancreas that helps the body store sugar for energy. 'Insulin is testosterone dependent, so you have to have some testosterone in your body in order for insulin to function well,' Dr Bernie said. When insulin function is impaired, it leads to poor control of glucose, leading to high blood sugar and diabetes. A 2016 study in the journal Diabetes Care found that testosterone therapy could reduce insulin resistance in diabetic men with low testosterone. Heart disease Some studies have suggested that low testosterone can lead to greater chance of heart disease, cardiac arrest, and stroke. Research published in the American Heart Association's journal, Circulation, found that men with low testosterone had a greater risk of dying from heart disease than those with normal levels. This may be due to testosterone opening up blood vessels to the heart, allowing blood to flow more freely. The link between testosterone and heart disease has been controversial among experts, Dr Bernie said. While some studies have suggested that testosterone therapy could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, she pointed toward research published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine. This study found that testosterone therapy in men with low levels did not raise the risk of adverse cardiac events. EXCLUSIVE: Fears growing crooks have found new way to steal cars without keys Fears are growing that crooks have found a new way to steal cars after a family's Volvo was pinched despite the keys being inside a theft-proof pouch 20ft away inside their home. Father-of-three Wayne Thompson, 47, from Enfield, London, kept the keys to the family's 46,000 Volvo XC90 in a Faraday pouch 20ft from the front door. Even so, the health and safety advisor was shocked to see two crooks steal his car in the middle of the night using a relay signal trick earlier this month in footage caught on CCTV. Similarly, Harry Goaman, 25, from Clapham South, came home last month to find his second-hand Mercedes C-Class Coupe had been taken by thieves using the relay trick, even though the car keys were in a cupboard drawer 10ft inside his home. Mr Goaman also caught the crime on camera. Three criminals dressed in black with balaclavas over their faces strolled around nonchalantly as they stole his luxury car in under 30 seconds. In both cases, the Met said there were 'no further realistic lines of enquiry'. Both Mr Thompson and Mr Goaman were taken aback by the ease at which the thieves were able to steal their cars, even though they had taken precautions to prevent just that. Worries are growing that crooks have found a new way to steal cars after a number of car thefts using a relay trick Father-of-three Wayne Thompson, 47, from Enfield, London, kept the keys to the family's 46,000 Volvo XC90 (right) in a Faraday pouch 20ft from the front door Mr Thompson told MailOnline: 'We are shocked it happened. The keys were in the kitchen in the Faraday pouch' Mr Thompson told MailOnline: 'We are shocked it happened. The keys were in the kitchen in the Faraday pouch. 'What are the car makers doing to prevent it? They are not doing anything to help us. 'We have to consider a wheel lock or a post in front of the car.' He said the cunning thieves even fooled the GPS tracker, which says the car is still in the drive. He said the theft left his three children, one of whom has autism, 'panicking'. His wife, Victoria, 44, said: 'It's had more of an impact on our daughter because she thinks someone will come into the house. Everyone pays for it somehow. 'You blame yourself but we thought that having a Faraday pouch at the back of the house would be fine. I'm begrudged getting another car because I'm worried it will be stolen again.' Harry Goaman, 25, from Clapham South, came home last month to find his second-hand Mercedes C-Class Coupe had been taken by thieves using the relay trick, even though the car keys were in a cupboard drawer 10ft inside his home Even though the thieves were not standing close to the door they were able to use a super-strength signal to break into the car Relay theft is a way thieves break into cars in seconds , without using blunt force or needing a key, all by exploiting electronic key fobs. Car thefts rose by a quarter last year, in part due to this form of theft Relay theft is a way thieves break into cars in seconds, without using blunt force or needing a key, all by exploiting electronic key fobs. Car thefts rose by a quarter last year, in part due to this form of theft. Relay theft sees criminals simply stand outside a house with a car parked outside, then use a device called a keyless repeater, which works by extending the limited range of a normal keyless fob. That tricks the car into thinking the fob is closer than it is, letting criminals unlock it remotely and steal the car and any valuables left inside it. Mr Goaman told MailOnline his car had been stolen at round 5am but because he cycled to work he didn't spot the car was gone until that afternoon. He said: 'I was shocked at how pathetically easy it is to steal these cars. 'They didn't even come to the door. '[The police] didn't ask for the footage and after a phone call they closed the case within five minutes on the basis they didn't have anything to go on. 'They obviously don't investigate. It seems remarkable that serious crime gangs can steal cars routinely with very little attempt to track them down. 'It was just remarkable how brazen and calm they were. They were not in a rush at all. Relay theft sees criminals simply stand outside a house with a car parked outside, then use a device called a keyless repeater, which works by extending the limited range of a normal keyless fob That tricks the car into thinking the fob is closer than it is, letting criminals unlock it remotely and steal the car and any valuables left inside it The cost to insurers of car thefts has quadrupled from 360million in 2006 to a whopping 1.54billion in just 16 years 'They had little to no fear of being caught in the act, like they have done a hundred a day.' The cost to insurers of car thefts has quadrupled from 360million in 2006 to a whopping 1.54billion in just 16 years. Former police detective Philip Swift is the boss of the UK's oldest specialist motor insurance loss adjuster, Claims, Management and Adjusting. He told MailOnline that when he worked with some police forces on car theft claims it was 'as though you are hitting your head against a brick wall'. He said: 'Until everyone starts working together it's going to continue going on. 'I don't think it's going to be easy to overcome until the manufacturers fix the weakness. 'It's frustrating because [the police] could do much better. 'There are things that could be done but they are time consuming.' Mr Swift said the police, manufacturers, tracking companies, insurance companies and even the DVLA could work together to stamp out car thefts. He added: 'All of them are doing their own thing but in isolation. 'It's a shame. [There is] so much that could be done and that would act as a deterrent'. Mr Swift recommended installing a GPS tracker into a car or investing in a post or barrier to stop a car being driven away. The Met Police said: 'We recognise the impact that motor vehicle crime can have on victims, especially those who rely on vehicles for either means of employment or the routine of daily life. Former police detective Philip Swift (pictured) is the boss of the UK's oldest specialist motor insurance loss adjuster, Claims, Management and Adjusting. He told MailOnline that when he worked with some police forces on car theft claims it was 'as though you are hitting your head against a brick wall' 'Any allegation of crime reported to the police will be assessed to see if there are any viable lines of enquiry including forensic opportunities that can be progressed.' A spokeswoman for Mercedes said: 'All new Mercedes-Benz car keys (Keyless Go) are fitted with a built-in motion sensor which means if the key is in a drawer or on a hook and is stationary, the signals of the key cannot be hijacked. 'In addition, all Mercedes-Benz Keyless Go signals can be switched off by pressing the locking button on the key twice, which de-activates the signal: they can be reactivated by pressing any button on the key. 'We offer a range of measures where customers can find out more about Keyless Go and other vehicle features including online 'how to' videos, owner's manuals, as well as vehicle handover.' Mike Hawes, the chief of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, told MailOnline: 'Car makers take vehicle security extremely seriously, continually rolling out new features to try and stay one step ahead of criminals. 'However, technology can only do so much. 'Most car crime is still attributable to the unauthorised use of owners' keys, however, and we continue to call for action to prevent the open sale of devices which have no legal purpose but are used by criminals to steal cars.' Volvo did not respond to a request for comment from MailOnline. There are still hopes for a new battery factory in Northumberland despite fears at the weekend after a police raid on the buyer of Britishvolt. Australian entrepreneur David Collard rescued Britishvolt after the manufacturer collapsed into administration earlier this year, salvaging hopes for a new plant near the Port of Blyth. But the offices of Collard's investment fund, Scale Facilitation, were raided by Australian federal police, who seized IT and communications equipment. Deal: It has been hoped the factory will help revitalise Britain's adoption of electric vehicles Recharge Industries, the subsidiary of Scale Facilitation, still has not paid for the new factory. It has been hoped the factory will help revitalise Britain's adoption of electric vehicles. But sources close to Collard told the BBC that Recharge was hopeful a deal for the 4billion plant would be reached. They said the company was optimistic it would secure enough cash to complete a purchase of land near Blyth within the next month. Australian police were looking into concerns about tax while there were also worries that staff at the Scale Facilitation office had not been paid. But a spokesperson for Scale Facilitation denied any wrongdoing, while the BBC's sources close to the company put the raid down to a misunderstanding. Sir Rocco Forte has said he is investing overseas and giving Britain a miss due to the Government's lack of economic direction. The 78-year-old owns a chain of luxury hotels, including Brown's in London's Mayfair, as well as The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh. But Forte told the Mail that he had ripped up plans to pump money into the UK economy through opening a series of boutique hotels in regional tourist centres, such as Oxford, Bath and the Cotswolds. He said: 'I have abandoned that. I would rather invest overseas where I can get a good return.' Forte, who backed the UK leaving the EU in the Brexit referendum, said the Government was 'moving very, very slowly' to slash red tape. 'The deregulation we could have had that would have actually helped to move the economy hasn't happened.' Snub: Sir Rocco Forte revealed that he had ripped up plans to pump money into the UK economy through opening a series of boutique hotels in regional tourist centres Forte hit the headlines this summer after organising an appeal from 300 business leaders for the Government to scrap a controversial tax on tourist shoppers. More than 320 leaders have signed his open letter calling for a return of a VAT-free shopping scheme for international visitors, with tourists heading to Paris and Milan to make use of refunds and shunning London. The letter claims scrapping the tax 'would be a win for both business and the taxpayer' and signatories include Burberry, Harrods and Shakespeare's Globe theatre. The hotelier took a swipe at the Prime Minister and Chancellor, accusing them of 'not looking at the longer term picture' on the economic benefits of ditching the levy. 'It's all short term. I think they decided how they can stay in power and are looking at what is popular in the short term.' As American tourists return to Europe for holidays after Covid, Forte said he doesn't feel 'the same pressure of demand' in the UK versus his hotels in Italy. Forte pointed to Sicily, where he opened a hotel resort with the help of a 25 per cent subsidy of 40m and was made an honorary citizen after creating hundreds of jobs and invigorating the local economy. 'We can't compete with that in this country in the same way.' Forte said the UK government's policies were 'restricting enterprise' and there was no compelling economic vision from UK leaders. He said: 'People have got to be carried along with a belief in something, a belief there's a destination which we are trying to reach. There's no destination at the moment and that's been the case for the last 15 years in this country, with Labour and Conservative.' The epidemic of sex and smuggling scandals at HMP Berwyn dubbed Britain's cushiest jail is the result of naive, vulnerable and poorly educated staff, a prison training manager and an inmate have revealed. Eighteen female guards have reportedly been fired or resigned for having illicit sexual affairs with prisoners some involving smuggling phones and drugs since the 250million prison opened six years ago. Set in a sprawling industrial estate in Wrexham, north Wales, the state-of-the-art jail promised to bring a bright future of rehabilitation and training to more than 2,100 medium-risk category 'C' prisoners. However, many were left in shock after the sexually-charged criminal trials of four young prison guards Jennifer Gavan, 27, Ayshea Gunn, 25, Emily Watson, 26, and Roxanne Walker, 34 who all had relationships with prisoners. Now a prison officer training manager and a former inmate have both blamed the epidemic in sex and smuggling at HMP Berwyn on naive, vulnerable and poorly educated staff. Reformed armed robber Alex Coxon, 25, condemned HMP Berwyn as a 's***show' run by 'corrupt staff' who are 'straight out of Tesco' and 'didn't got a clue'. He told MailOnline that drugs are rife inside the jail, which is run by gangster prisoners who coerce vulnerable prison staff to do their bidding. Prison officer Ayshea Gunn, 27, (right) was caught having an affair with inmate Khuram Razaq (left) in the cells of HMP Berwyn Armed robber Alex Coxon, 25, had an affair with prison guard Jennifer Gavan (pictured). Coxon told MailOnline HMP Berwyn was a 's***show' run by 'corrupt staff' who are 'straight out of Tesco' and 'didn't got a clue' Former shop assistant manager Gavan (pictured) had fallen in love with Coxon and arranged to be alone with him when he was on cleaning duty at the prison Prison officer Ayshea Gunn (pictured) was just 25 when she fell under the spell of charismatic career criminal Khuram Razaq in HMP Berwyn Jennifer Gavan, 27, Ayshea Gunn, 25, Emily Watson, 26, (pictured) and Roxanne Walker, 34, all had relationships with prisoners at HMP Berwyn Roxanne Walker, 34, (pictured) will avoid prison after engaging in 'sexually explicit' chats with an inmate at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, North Wales Coxon had been serving eight years in jail for two robberies when he was given ten months more for his role in the smuggling of an illicit mobile phone into the jail by prison officer Jennifer Gavan. Former shop assistant manager Gavan had fallen in love with Coxon and arranged to be alone with him when he was on cleaning duty at the prison. She sent sexually explicit videos of herself to him on a phone she smuggled in for 150. During her trial, the court heard Coxon - who the judge said had an 'appalling' record - had been caught trying to pass a phone to another inmate, using dental floss to drag it across a corridor. Coxon denied there were any ulterior motives to his relationship with Gavan. He told MailOnline: 'Me and Jenny wasn't about getting stuff in. It was about spending time together and then the relationship grew from there.' He wouldn't discuss who the phone was for or why he had asked Gavan for it. He said: 'I've done my time [in prison] and I'm never going back. I've got a job now, I work in construction and I've got a future.' Gavan told the court she had felt sorry for Coxen who was struggling with the enforced lockdown during Covid. Ex prison officer Jennifer Gavan, left, was jailed for eight months after she smuggled a mobile phone into the prison for her lover Alex Coxon, right. She sent Coxon intimate messages and photographs over Snapchat Gavan told the court she had felt sorry for Coxen who was struggling with the enforced lockdown during Covid In December, mother-of-one Gavan (pictured outside Wrexham Magistrates court) broke down in tears when she was jailed for eight months for misconduct in public office Her bank account revealed she received two transfer payments totalling 200 from Coxon's sister. Gavan was not at the modest address she gave to the court at her trial when MailOnline asked her for comment, but a relative claimed, 'Jenny was used.' In December, mother-of-one Gavan broke down in tears when she was jailed for eight months for misconduct in public office. Coxon's explosive verdict on Britain's flagship jail was almost identically matched by a former prison officer training manager at HMP Berwyn. Prison officer Ayshea Gunn (pictured) was just 25 when she fell under the spell of charismatic career criminal Khuram Razaq in HMP Berwyn Prison officer Ayshea Gunn (left) was jailed for one year at Mold Crown Court in 2019 after having an affair with dangerous criminal Khuram Razaq (right) at HMP Berwyn in North Wales She exchanged 1,200 phone calls with the prisoner including explicit video calls and smuggled a pair of her knickers into her lover's cell It was 2018 when Gunn, who is from a suburb of Wrexham, was persuaded to embark on a high sexualized affair with an inmate Khuram Razaq pictured in handcuffs leaving Mold Crown Court during Gunn's trial Ayshea Gunn, 27, in handcuffs on her way to prison after being jailed for the illicit affair Senior manager John Buttress, who previously worked as a Chief Inspector for Greater Manchester Police, said the high salary offered at HMP Berwyn to unskilled workers with no life experience was attracting 'naive, inexperienced and poorly educated staff' who could not cope with the gruelling dog-eat-dog world behind bars. He told MailOnline: 'The people running the jail are amateurs. They don't understand the people they are dealing with and don't have the staff to deal with them. 'Prisoners at HMP Berwyn can be very manipulative. They are stuck in their cells for 18 hours a day and have nothing better than to do than work out how to coerce a prison officer. 'It starts very gently with a something small like a mobile phone card. Once the prisoner has them then they are hooked. 'The officer will be blackmailed and soon enough they will be bringing in whatever they are told phones, drugs, whatever. 'There are some very clever and devious men inside the prison. They are very bright, street-smart and know how operate behind bars. 'A prison is run by the inmates. Make no mistake about that.' A cell at HMP Berwyn in a photo from 2017 - rooms all have a phone for outgoing calls A cell at HMP Berwyn in a photo from 2017 - rooms all have a phone for outgoing calls A total of 18 female guards at HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, North Wales, have been fired or have resigned for having illicit affairs with inmates Roxanne Walker, 34, was spotted by colleagues giggling with 'manipulative' criminal Daniel Walker at 250m HMP Berwyn in Wrexham, North Wales The flagship prison opened with fanfare in 2017. It had been running for just five months when prison officer Emily Watson arranged at least three trysts with her gangster lover Paul McGee. McGee was serving an eight-year sentence for a hit-and-run after causing the death of charity worker Richard Bratin, 51, during a high-speed police car chase. McGee had been in prison for supplying class A drugs but was out on licence when, in December 2015, he was trying to evade arrest once more, speeding through the streets of Walton, Liverpool, and ploughing into Mr Bratin, who was walking his dog. He then drove off and left him for dead. Mr Bratin's devastated family later labelled McGee as 'vermin'. By October 2017, Watson and McGee had started to communicate via Instagram on an iPhone McGee kept in his cell, hidden in a Playstation he opened with a screwdriver disguised as a pen. At Watson's suggestion, he had put her contact details under a false name. The pair had 'virtual sex' over FaceTime, while CCTV footage showed she had visited McGee's cell alone three times. Emily Watson (left) was jailed for one year after she performed a sex act on inmate John McGee (right). McGee was serving an eight-year sentence for a hit-and-run after causing the death of charity worker Richard Bratin, 51, during a high-speed police car chase The flagship prison opened with fanfare in 2017. It had been running for just five months when prison officer Emily Watson (pictured outside Mold Crown Court) arranged at least three trysts with her gangster lover Paul McGee The pair had 'virtual sex' over FaceTime, while CCTV footage showed she had visited McGee's cell alone three times. Pictured: McGee gestures after leaving Mold Crown Court in handcuffs McGee had been in prison for supplying class A drugs but was out on licence when, in December 2015, he was trying to evade arrest once more, speeding through the streets of Walton, Liverpool, and ploughing into Richard Bratin, 51, (pictured) who was walking his dog. He then drove off and left him for dead. Mr Bratin's devastated family later labelled McGee as 'vermin' They had sex once and she performed sex acts on him on two other occasions - one of which was on Christmas Day. Watson was jailed for one year. Mr Buttress, who has worked in the crime and justice sector for more than 30 years, revealed to MailOnline how female prison officers are seduced, groomed and bullied into working for the jail's gangsters. He said: 'A newly recruited prison officer earns in excess of 28,000. 'For many of them it's their first proper job but it does not attract compliments. No one wants to praise them in the pub for being a gaoler. 'So, if a naive young woman finds the attention she is lacking inside the prison, this can lead to inappropriate relationships. 'And you must remember that the men behind bars will be showing off their glamorous lifestyles outside their fast cars, their expensive watches and clothes. 'They may be behind bars now, but they will be out in a couple of years at most, they say.' Prisoner officers also fall in love with their charges and go on to break the law because of them, Mr Buttress explained. 'The jail gangsters assess new arrivals to determine if they can be of any use. 'So, if there is a good-looking young man, he may be ordered to cosy up to a young female officer to try to recruit her. 'This is another way that some officers are coerced, conned or manipulated into forming these disastrous relationships. 'Once they're trapped the only way to stop them is by random searches on their way into work. 'That's when you can find out who is smuggling in contraband.' Gavan and Watson weren't the only guards couple to have sexual affairs with prisoners. Disgraced prison officer Roxanne Walker appeared to have suffered the same fate. Described by colleagues as vulnerable, she was spotted giggling with 'manipulative' prisoner Daniel Carter before she admitted to 'falling in love' with the inmate. She was spared jail but handed a suspended sentence. Meanwhile, prison officer Ayshea Gunn was just 25 when she fell under the spell of charismatic career criminal Khuram Razaq in HMP Berwyn. In 2008, Razaq was jailed for ten years at Birmingham crown court for armed robbery and in 2015 got twelve years for conspiracy to rob. It was 2018 when he persuaded young Gunn, who is from a suburb of Wrexham, to embark on a high sexualized affair. She exchanged 1,200 phone calls including explicit video calls and smuggled a pair of her knickers into her lover's cell. Gunn was jailed for 12 months. Criminal justice and psychology experts told MailOnline HMP Berwyn 'obviously' had a problem and an investigation into the sordid affairs is inevitable. Prison therapist Alison Blackler, 55, from the Wirral, said: 'It's obviously a problem at that prison. Most people wouldn't want to [have an affair with a prisoner] but there's something going on in that prison. 'There's something going on in the leadership for that many people to have themselves in this strange situation. 'If it's very relaxed with not a tight regime, in that is there something that's gone wrong with the culture of what's acceptable? The loose rules opens up more possibilities and more things happen. 'The governor might need to put the prison into special measures. They will have to investigate this. 'People will want to know because it's public money. 'Prisoners can be very manipulative by the nature of who they are. They teach you to know how manipulative they can be. '[The guards] should know it's wrong. They are being caught up in the drama of it. Prison therapist Alison Blackler, 55, (pictured) from the Wirral, said: 'It's obviously a problem at that prison. Most people wouldn't want to [have an affair with a prisoner] but there's something going on in that prison' Professor of Criminal Justice Dr Robert M. Worley (pictured) told MailOnline: 'Eighteen of these inappropriate relationships going on simultaneously could signify that there is something in the culture of the prison facility which is allowing these to occur' Mental health GP Hana Patel (pictured) said the draw for prison guards to have affairs would be 'the taboo and the illicitness and the secretive nature' 'Is it excitement, a kind of testing the system? Can they get away with it? 'The attention they are paid would be quite flattering.' She added: 'Prisons regularly have staffing issues and there has been a big recruitment campaign generally. 'I wonder whether the pressures that prison staff are under means that robust training hasn't been put into place for dealing with conditioning from the prisoners. 'People can be very naive and good recruitment along with adequate training about manipulation and cohesion etc is essential.' Professor of Criminal Justice Dr Robert M. Worley told MailOnline: 'Eighteen of these inappropriate relationships going on simultaneously could signify that there is something in the culture of the prison facility which is allowing these to occur. 'Male inmates are very adept at identifying female guards who are vulnerable and easy to manipulate. 'Usually, if given the right amount of time and the right opportunity, almost any prison staff member can be manipulated. 'Successful inmate manipulators are able to figure out which guards will be likely to cross the line and bring in contraband or have an illicit affair. 'Guards who have affairs with inmates usually have an emotional need that is not being met. 'By having a relationship or friendship with an inmate, these women think they are able to resolve problems they have outside of work. 'The irony is that an inappropriate relationship only compounds these problems exponentially. 'To stop inappropriate relationships, or at least slow them down, more cameras could be placed throughout the facility. 'There also needs to be more training and mentorship programs as well. These problems will likely always occur whenever there is cross gender supervision.' Mental health GP Hana Patel said the draw for prison guards to have affairs would be 'the taboo and the illicitness and the secretive nature'. She said to have 18 affairs in one prison was a 'huge number'. Dr Patel added: 'It sounds like the prison has a problem. How did it become normal to do that and is it still happening? 'They need to explore and have independent interviews with [the prisoners]. They would have to have an internal and external [investigation]. '[They need to be] exploring why these women thought it was OK to have a relationship.' The Ministry of Justice said more than 500 HMP Berwyn staff took corruption prevention training in the last 18 months. It said its 'newly bolstered' Counter Corruption Team was working around the clock and the most recent independent inspection into HMP Berwyn found security arrangements were good and the prison felt well ordered. The MoJ added that it was renewing prison staff vetting every 10 years and piloting social media checks for prison officers. It said that enhanced gate security at HMP Berwyn including staff searches, drug dogs and metal detectors was protecting the prison against staff smuggling contraband into the jail. It said its 100million investment in airport-style security had already blocked more than 20,000 attempts to smuggle contraband into prisons across the country. A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'The vast majority of Prison Service staff are hardworking and honest but we are doing more than ever to catch the small number who break the rules.' HMP Berwyn's governor Nick Leader declined to comment. Australia's population continues to expand at a record rate, despite very little new and affordable housing being built. And with house prices surging at a record pace, and rents rising six times faster than wages, many young people have given up on the Australian dream of ever owning a home. Now, some young Aussies are opting to skip rent and mortgages altogether by opting for unique housing solutions. Among those is 20-year-old Jordan Dann, who moved into a campervan 18 months ago after rent at his Sydney sharehouse became too expensive. 'It just seemed to me like there were better and greener pastures than renting a tiny bedroom in an old building for between $300 and $400 a week,' he told Daily Mail Australia. That was the light-bulb moment that he decided to move into a van. He bought a Toyota Hilux van for $30,000 but soon realised it was too small. He upgraded to a larger truck six months later for $48,000 after selling his previous vehicle for a $10,000 profit. The second truck had more facilities but was older and would leak water through the roof every time it rained - and Jordan could only stand upright if he was not wearing his shoes. But at the start of 2023, Jordan saw an advertisement for a campervan he had always wanted: a Winnebago Alpine, which cost him $70,000. 'It's what I always wanted. I saw one of these in a caravan park when I was very little, and I remembered the rocking armchairs, and I was like, 'I have to get it,'' he said. Jordan saved $50,000 and entered a loan agreement with his mum for the remaining $20,000 to buy the campervan. He clarified it was not a 'privileged' situation of a 'parent bailing me out' because his mother charges him interest on the loan like a bank. Jordan Dann, 20, has been living in a Winnebago for 18 months and has vowed to never return to conventional renting The full-time post office worker bought his Winnebago Alpine for $70,000 at the start of 2023, after trading up from two other vans Jordan said van living costs him less than $50 a week because his work gives him free water for his truck; solar panels power the lights, microwave, split-system air conditioning and TV for free; and he pays a caravan site just $15 to empty his toilet every fortnight The young Aussie is in a two-year loan agreement with his mum and pays her $480 a fortnight - which still works out cheaper than the average weekly rent in Sydney. During the week, Jordan parks his Winnebago close to his work in Merrylands, where he works full-time as a postie delivering mail on a motorbike. On the weekends, he takes his mobile home to the inner-west so he can 'boogie-down on dance floors' in Newtown or, on a sunny day, take it down to some waterfront suburbs. Jordan said van living costs him less than $50 a week because his work gives him free water for his truck. Solar panels power his lights, microwave, split-system air conditioning and TV for free, and he pays a caravan site just $15 to empty his toilet every fortnight. 'I have a truck and a home for less than the price of a house deposit, and I even have waterfront views whenever I want,' Jordan said. 'It's yours, and you can go wherever you want. Like, people pay millions for a waterfront view. 'If there's an untimed spot, and as long as you're not blocking a person's million-dollar view, you get to have one as well.' Jordan said he especially loves the 'old-style' decor of his 'studio apartment on wheels' because it reminds him of his grandmother's house, and does not see himself giving up his new style of living anytime soon. The 20-year-old recommends van living to any Australian willing to give it a go, arguing it is much more cost-effective than rent He especially loves the 'old-style' decor of his 'studio apartment on wheels' because it reminds him of his grandmother's house 'I'll only give up van living if I was I was demanded to do so by a long-term partner who I've been with long enough, and that wants to buy a house,' Jordan said. 'But for the moment, I will not rent because renting is just throwing money away. You never get that money back. 'Van living is effectively free because when I sell it, I can potentially get all my money back as long as you keep it well maintained.' Jordan said his mum, who lived in Sydney her whole life, saw his van and the lifestyle it provided him and sold her rental property to buy a van of own, which she now lives in around parts of the Gold Coast. He recommends van living to anyone who wants to escape the rental crisis, and says people are friendly as long as you remain respectful. 'Be respectful of the area, keep everything inside your van, and it's fine. Observe the parking restrictions. Don't play loud music. You know, just be a nice person and it's totally fine,' Jordan said. Self-confessed 'van lifer' Coral Lee told Daily Mail Australia she had saved a significant amount of money by living rent-free in her high roof, long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Self-confessed 'van lifer' Coral Lee told Daily Mail Australia she had saved a significant amount of money by living rent-free in her van (pictured) The 30-year-old, who is based on the Gold Coast, has been living in her van for over a year. 'I can confidently say that this lifestyle has brought me immense joy and freedom,' Coral said. 'It has allowed me to break free from the traditional housing model and embrace a more unconventional way of living.' Coral said she was able to redirect the money she would have paid on rent into starting a business, which sells special products that makes van living easier. 'One of the greatest advantages of van life is the significant cost savings on rent, which has provided me with the financial flexibility to invest in supporting myself and pursuing my dream of starting my own business,' Coral said. 'It's enabled me to redirect funds that would have otherwise gone towards exorbitant rent payments into building a solid foundation for my entrepreneurial aspirations.' Coral said she found 'immense joy and freedom' in the unconventional way of living, and has saved a significant amount of money which would otherwise be spent on rent Founder of Facebook group Van Life Australia Jon Robinson told Daily Mail Australia he had seen a huge uptick in renters turning to van living. Mr Robinson said soaring rent and low vacancy rates were pushing more Aussies away from renting. 'It's a perfect storm basically for their life,' he said. 'You have had Covid and then massive increases in rents. 'It's really sink-or-swim for a lot of people, and they see no other alternative than to buy a van. 'There are people that do it for choice and others that do it out of necessity. I think the latter is the large portion of members.' Mr Robinson, who is based in North Queensland and has previously travelled and worked out of a van, wants to destigmatise van living. He added regional towns as well as city suburbs would benefit immensely from opening their doors to the van living community. 'Sleeping in cars or vans is generally looked down upon in society, and I certainly don't think that's the case,' Mr Robinson said. 'It is a growing part of the community, whether it's by choice or force, and I think it should be embraced. 'People who live in vans spend a lot of money when they are in towns, and if communities opened up places where they could go, they would really benefit from them. Meanwhile, some young Aussies are building granny flats on their parents' property as they struggle to save for a house deposit. Data from Australian digital marketplace Oneflare shows more than 500 granny flat jobs booked were booked on the platform since July 2022 - a whopping 67 per cent increase compared to last year. Among those include Sydney newlyweds Vera, 32, and Anthony Ippolito, 36, who built a granny flat at the back of Anthony's parents' property in Ashbury. Vera told Daily Mail Australia their two-bedroom flat was still much more affordable than buying a home in Sydney's inner-west, despite it costing $200,000 to build. 'Both my husband and I were born and grew up in the inner-west area and obviously that's where we would love to stay, but at the moment everything is booming and it's really out of our budget and pretty impossible,' Mrs Ippolito said. 'The idea of building a granny flat started off just as a joke, but before we got married in May last year, we did a bit of research, did our homework and we decided it was practical and within our budget to build a granny flat.' Newlyweds Vera, 32, and Anthony Ippolito, 36, (pictured) built a granny flat at the back of Anthony's parents' property in Ashbury after realising buying a home in Sydney's inner-west was 'impossible' The couple contracted Master Granny Flats to build the building on their parent's property Mrs Ippolito said the pair built the granny flat to live in and designed it in a way that would allow them space to raise a young family. 'We're still saving towards hopefully another place, but the granny flat was the best option for us at the moment. 'It was the quickest and most affordable option and is our first place and we'll go from there. We're planning on starting a family so we can live in there with a small family. 'It's not a forever home, but who's to say it could be [for] five or six years. We don't really know where the future is really going to take us.' Jacinta Nampijinpa Price learned from her mother at an early age that not all cultural obligations fit neatly within a modern society. At just 13 years of age Bess Price was promised to a man within her community and told she must become his second wife. But she had a rebellious streak even then and resisted 'enough to have the opportunity to live her life on her terms'. She went on to serve in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, becoming an outspoken and well-respected advocate for her community. 'I think I get a bit of that [rebelliousness] from her,' she says. 'She was expected to live with her big sister and take on an apprenticeship as a wife, essentially.' Bess convinced her father otherwise, and she continued her education. In a wide ranging interview with Daily Mail Australia, the opposition spokeswoman for Indigenous affairs, Nationals senator and leader of the No campaign against the Voice to Parliament revealed why there were issues with the government's pitch that many well-meaning Aussies might not recognise on the surface. Her primary concern - shared with many Australians - is the lack of clarity about just what such an advisory body would be able to make representations on. At just 13 years old, Bess Price was promised to a man within her community and told she must become his second wife. Senator Nampijinpa Price tells Daily Mail Australia she 'got her mother's rebellious streak' Senator Nampijinpa Price, pictured with her husband Colin Lillie When Minister for Indigenous Affairs Linda Burney insisted matters as close to home for Aboriginal people as Australia Day wouldn't be in the remit of the Voice, Ms Nampijinpa Price had her doubts. 'She cannot say that,' Ms Nampijinpa Price said. 'Everything is in play. Unless there is a specific list that is pre-determined by parliament that are no-go areas, right now nothing is off the table.' But there is also a fear that well-meaning politicians may not know the weight of their words when they make references to an advisory body which is 'culturally informed'. 'There is no real detail about what being culturally informed actually looks like,' Ms Nampijinpa Price warns. 'There are elements of traditional culture that don't recognise equality between men and women. 'When it comes to decision-making, we're talking about a patriarchal society here in a lot of instances.' Ms Nampijinpa Price knows the impact of this all too well. She says a lot of her family still 'live within the confines of traditional culture'. Pictured: Ms Nampijinpa Price delivering her maiden speech in the Senate 'When there are cultural obligations like young girls being promised in marriage - my mother was 13 - payback which is often violent, punishments for premature death or illness which is often thought to have been caused through sorcery. 'There are so many elements that concern me.' Bess Price avoided a fate some women still face in traditional communities today. She would go on to marry a man who later became violent, and met Ms Nampijinpa's father, David, when she was 19. David said in 2012: 'She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever laid eyes on. But what really attracted me to her was her emotional toughness, her courage and her fair-mindedness.' Ms Nampijinpa Price acknowledges the Government's promise to deliver gender balance in any advisory body which would be formed on the back of a Yes vote in this year's referendum. But again, she wonders how this will be enforced. The Government says local communities will decide who represents them. Will the government of the day have to reject community nominations if there's not enough women to reach that quota? This is a question that was posed to Minister for Agriculture Murray Watt when the Senate sat until 4am last Friday. He said it would be a matter for parliament. Ms Nampijinpa Price is concerned that despite good intentions, the most vulnerable people in these Aboriginal communities will still not be heard, even with a body constitutionally enshrined to represent them. She can rattle off a dozen projects which could do more tangible good for disadvantaged communities. Country Liberal Party senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and 22 Indigenous community leaders at a press conference at Parliament House. Ms Nampijinpa Price said: 'w e're steaming toward this referendum and real issues are being sidelined' 'There are shovel ready-projects right now that just need the funding in order for them to get off the ground,' she says. Elders in Alice Springs have been pleading for support for 18 months for education-focused, safe accommodation for children in the community. 'We should be calling upon states to reconsider their policies around kinship care and a determination should be made on a child's safety based on whether their needs are being met, whether their human rights are being upheld and if they're not, then they should be placed in environments in homes that are meeting all of their needs,' she said. 'And it's our job to ensure those proposals are listened to and based on their merit, supported. There are issues that can be addressed straight away.' In the Senate, she addressed Yipirinya School's proposal to have a bed to go to and an adult responsible for them at that school. Bess Nungarrayi Price, a proud Warlpiri woman and Ms Nampijinpa Price's mother, is the assistant principal at the school and knows all too well the hardship students face. Ms Nampijinpa Price is concerned that despite good intentions, the most vulnerable people in these communities will still not be heard, even with a body constitutionally enshrined to represent them 'These students, they come from a hard, hard lifestyle situation. Some of them barely have a good night's sleep and (there is) everything else that happens within those town camps,' she said in January. Ms Nampijinpa Price said: 'We're steaming toward this referendum and real issues are being sidelined.' Mr Albanese has assured the public his vision is a 'modest' request which will have little impact on the lives of most Australians, but would be fundamental in bringing hope to First Nations people. The prime minister said Australians will be afforded a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to improve the lives of First Nations people at the referendum, to be held between October and December. 'Where's the downside here?' he asked. 'What are people risking here? From my perspective this is all upside.' After years of doing things 'for' Aboriginal people, often with the best of intentions, the PM said a Voice to Parliament would allow Indigenous people to take the front seat on matters crucial to them. In a wide ranging interview with Daily Mail Australia, the senator and vocal Voice to Parliament critic revealed why there were an abundance of issues with the government's pitch that many well-meaning Aussies might not recognise on the surface There have been concerns about what exactly this means. Critics of the Voice say there is not enough detail provided on just what matters the advisory body will have input on. Attorney General Mark Dreyfus tried to clear up that confusion during the press conference. He listed five key issues which will become the core focus of the advisory group: health, employment, education, housing and justice. 'No harm can come from this referendum, only good,' he said. 'The parliament has done its job and now it's up to the Australian people.' Members of the referendum working group like Thomas Mayo and Aunty Pat Anderson have painted starkly different pictures about their vision for an advisory group. Mr Mayo said a constitutional Voice will give Indigenous people a platform to 'negotiate' with the Commonwealth on their 'obligations'. In March, Mr Mayo stood shoulder to shoulder with a tearful Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the official wording of the referendum question was announced 'A constitutionally enshrined Voice is important to establish to use the truth to support treaty negotiations,' he said, detailing a desire for reparations for Indigenous people, 'rent' being paid to live on Australian land and the abolishment of 'harmful colonial institutions'. And Aunty Pat said a Yes vote will give 'the mandate of the Australian people', noting 'yes, it has to have some power'. Ms Nampijinpa Price argues the reality of the matter is that nobody truly knows the truth. 'If a committee that has been put together to give direction so far are already speaking a different language to the government, you can foresee that a Voice would be made up of individuals who all have their own ideas. 'Who knows if at some point those members... are prepared to use the full power of the Voice to litigate in the High Court against decisions being made.' Mr Albanese and Ms Burney have been critical of questions raised by journalists and politicians about the scope of the Voice. Mayo has become one of the most prominent campaigners in the Voice after contributing to the creation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017 The PM said: 'The Voice is not about defence policy. It's not about foreign affairs policy, it's not about these issues.' When asked if the Indigenous Voice would be consulted on climate policy, Mr Albanese described it as one of the most 'strange questions [he] has been asked about the Voice'. He reiterated that the purpose of the Voice was to get advice on issues that directly affected Indigenous Australians, and anything else was just a 'distraction'. But Independent senator Lidia Thorpe argued environment is one of the most important matters to First Nations people. Back in April, she told the senate: 'Climate change and its root causes cannot be separated from colonisation. 'This land is our mother, and we are killing her. Every time a new coal pit is dug, she is wounded. With every new fracking well that is driven into her veins, she bleeds.' Ms Nampijinpa Price says there is no policy issue which impacts Aboriginal people differently. Pictured: Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price during her campaign 'That's the word that concerns me most,' she says. 'Differently. That we are being treated differently based on our racial heritage.' That is not to say there aren't challenges faced by Aboriginal communities that disproportionately impact them. 'The fact remains that the further you move away from a major capital city, the more marginalised Australians become and that's everybody,' she says. 'But our most marginalised, of course, are those in the remotest parts of the country whose first language is not English who have very little access to those services.' And the idea that No voters are right-wing extremists who don't want to see Indigenous people thriving is one Ms Nampijinpa Price struggles to grapple with. Ms Burney went so far as to say No voters were like Trump supporters, while Noel Pearson described Peter Dutton's opposition to the Voice as a 'Judas'-style 'betrayal of the country'. 'It's just a distraction from the real issues,' Ms Nampijinpa Price warns. 'If the Minister for Indigenous Australians can't actually provide detail on the Voice the next thing she's going to do is attempt to provide a distraction, which is to name call. 'That's what happens when people don't have an argument or detail. It's not helpful for Australians who want answers to their questions. 'It's a big, hot mess.' They built a following as the first Americans claiming to be abducted by a UFO, transforming from a churchgoing couple to conspiracy theory darlings In questionable hypnosis sessions, they detailed being probed by the aliens On a cold September night in 1961, Betty and Barney Hill found themselves in a game of cat and mouse. The couple were driving through a deserted, winding New Hampshire road for hours without a witness in sight, convinced a terrifying UFO was circling above them. When they got home, they felt disoriented and dazed. Barney's shoes were scuffed, Betty's dress was ripped, and neither felt they could recall what exactly happened that night. In a search for answers, they enlisted a hypnotist, and their infamous sessions saw them both conjure bizarre stories about being abducted by grey, bug-eyed extraterrestrials. Their admissions made them famous as the first Americans to claim being abducted by aliens - but the next decades erupted into a twisted saga of fame, conspiracy theories and death. The saga is set to be the subject in upcoming book 'The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill' by author Matthew Bowman. He told Dailymail.com that the revival of conspiracy theories, from the JFK assassination to QAnon, can be traced back to the Hills. 'UFOs have become interwoven right with various conspiracies about politics, science, medicine, health, even religion... their case is really a pivot point,' he told DailyMail.com. Betty (left) and Barney Hill (right) were the first Americans who claimed they were abducted by aliens in September 1961 In recent years, a newfound public fascination with UFOs has seen droves of whistleblowers come out of the woodwork to tell their tales of alien encounters. And while even Barack Obama has admitted he watched UFO footage he 'can't explain', the typecast alien look has a history dating back to the Hills in 1961. In a book published five years later, Barney said the two embarked on their road trip spontaneously, as a way to steal a quick retreat from their jobs as a post office worker and child-welfare officer. They embarked on a trip through Montreal and Niagara Falls, something of a long-awaited honeymoon for the couple over a year after their wedding. But as they drove back on the third night, they reached a diner in Vermont, where Barney decided to push ahead to stay in front of a storm and aim to reach home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire at around 3am. While winding through the country roads, an ominous light emerged in the sky, described as a falling star that appeared to grow ever brighter. So the story goes, the object was an anomalous spinning disk that hovered around 100 feet in the air. The light seemed to track the car as it mazed through the wilderness, ducking behind trees and leaving the occupants completely bewildered over what they were seeing. The couple underwent extensive hypnosis sessions, where they claimed to vividly recall being beamed into the UFO and probed by aliens The ordeal is the subject of an upcoming book by author Matthew Bowman Faced with explaining the nonsensical meeting, the Hills thought it best to keep quiet. Their memories were almost completely gone, and no one had ever claimed to experience anything similar before. After recurring nightmares and anxiety crippled the couple, however, they turned to hypnosis in an attempt to dig out their suppressed traumatic memories. In sessions recorded by the hypnotist, Dr Benjamin Simon, the Hills detailed beings eerily familiar to abduction tales of years since. Betty was palpably traumatized by the ordeal, as she claimed she and her husband were beamed into a flying saucer, taken into separate rooms, and analyzed. Simon spent months piecing their story together, finding they both had oddly similar experiences. They said they were placed on examination tables in the UFO, before being subjected to scientific experiments while the aliens stripped them, plucked their hair, took clippings of their nails, and scraped their skin. Betty also claimed to have been shown an intricate star map that she knew from memory. When asked to produce it later, she identified star system Zeta Reticuli, around 39 lightyears from earth, as her abductor's home planet. Their story was picked up by a Boston reporter and spread like wildfire, propelling the Hills into fame and fascination. In 1975, a made-for-TV movie starring James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons was made about their story. Their story was turned into 1975 made-for-TV movie 'Alien Abduction' starring James Earl Jones and Estelle Parsons An image allegedly drawn by Betty Hill in 1961, depicting a UFO she claimed to have been abducted by Before the Hills came out with their claims over six decades ago, stories of alien abductions were far different - and bordered on nonexistent. Most appeared to be about more casual encounters where the extraterrestrials were friendly. After the Hills captured national attention, abductions almost all came to include issues including medical experiments and invasions. The stereotypical wide-eyed, grey beings and plate-like UFO described by the Hills also went on to become a benchmark for other alien sightings for decades to come. 'Not to carry it over too far, but they were kind of the Adam and Eve of alien abduction,' said Bill Ross, Professor Emiritus of UNH, to NewsCenterMaine. Just as with skeptics now, experts tried to explain how the couple, who were seemingly regular, stable individuals with no prior history of mental illness, could come up with such a tall tale. Even Simons, who conducted the hypnosis sessions on them, said he didn't believe their story. But after Barney's death in 1969 at the age of 47, Betty seemingly struggled with people questioning her story alone. She dove further into conspiracy theories in her later life, and she claimed to be followed by black helicopters as she became increasingly alienated from society. Betty also claimed to be abducted several more times in the years since, as she earned legendary place within the conspiracy theory world. Betty and Barney Hill are credited as forever changing UFO sightings and conspiracy theories Now, more than 60 years on from the Hills' encounter with the third kind, experts have warned their legacy has had a lasting impact on conspiracy theories today. Discussing his book, Bowman insisted that the dismissal the Hills were faced with when they came forward with their story, including from their own hypnotist, could have made them dig in. 'It would have been a real slap in the face for them, and that's the point they began giving up on the idea that the government, scientists, experts are going to help them. 'They turned to this alternative infrastructure of conspiracy theorists who will affirm to them what they remember.' He added that the revival of conspiracy theories, from the JFK assassination to QAnon, can be traced back to the Hills and the first UFO sighting. 'One of the quintessential features of the last 60 years in western history is a distrust of institutions and the emergence of conspiratorial thinking,' he said. 'The sense among many citizens in the west, that there are vast institutional powers running our lives, a major vector for that sort of discourse stemmed from belief in UFOs.' But, as put by Harvard psychologist Richard McNally to History: 'The alien-abduction phenomenon, in my opinion, shows how sincere, non-psychotic individuals can develop beliefs about, and false memories of, incredible experiences that never happened.' The 50 worst charities in America gave less than four percent of donations to their advertised recipients from 2003 to 201 From greedy executives taking huge bonuses to giving funds for victims to fatcat fundraisers, some charities are worse than others Millions of Americans generously donate a slice of their paychecks every year, offering to help those in need while maybe earning a slice of good karma. The US charity industry is worth well over $2 trillion, but many have no idea the sector is littered with greed, and their good intentions may be lining the pockets of fatcat CEOs instead. According to a study by the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative reporting, the 50 worst charities in America gave less than four percent of donations to their advertised recipients from 2003 to 2013. Over the same decade, six spent nothing at all on direct cash aid. From Black Lives Matter splashing its social media fortune on an LA mansion to executives giving themselves lucrative bonuses, these are allegedly the worst charities to hand over your hard-earned cash to. Cancer Fund of America Earning legendary status in the dodgy donations game was the Cancer Fund of America, which gave less than one percent of funds to its cause according to the Times/ CIR study. In 2013, before its president James T Reynolds was accused by the FEC of running 'one of the largest charity fraud cases ever', the Cancer Fund of America was found to have been among the worst offenders. Reynolds, who also launched since-shuttered charities Cancer Support Services, Children's Cancer Fund of America, the Breast Cancer Society, made no secret of his and his family's lucrative salaries. The Reynolds charity empire, which saw James' children spearhead several of the lucrative business', saw the family consistently take home six figure sums each. James T Reynolds, the president of the Cancer Fund of America, was accused by the FEC of running 'one of the largest charity fraud cases ever' However, like many lavish charity directors, Reynolds' charitable efforts became underpinned by for-profit fundraisers, who built his empire at the expense of donations to his charities. By enlisting the services of fundraising solicitors, charities make huge sums through tactics like robocalling, with the fundraisers then taking a huge cut that can stretch upwards of 80 percent. This tactic allowed Cancer Fund of America to rake in over $7.7million in its first year in 1984. Less than 10 percent went to actual cancer patients, while the rest was dished out to the fundraisers and Reynolds' family's salaries, according to the Tampa Bay Times. From 2003 to 2013, the charity spent just 0.9 percent of its funds on direct cash aid, the Times/ CIR study found. Meanwhile, over $80 million was paid out to for-profit fundraisers. Over the same period, the Reynolds family made nearly $5 million in salaries and bonuses, compared to just $890,000 spent on cancer patients. The shocking figures landed the charity a place on the outlet's 2013 list of the worst charities in the nation, only beaten by infamous organization Kids Wish Network. Kids Wish Network While famed kids' charity 'Make a Wish' has earned fans over the years for its star-studded efforts, its similarly named rival has been slammed for riding its coattails. Just 2.5 percent of its funds were spent on cash aid from 2003 to 2013, earning it a zero out of four-star rating from tracking site Charity Navigator. In the same time frame, the organization spent a staggering $109 million on fundraising solicitors, according to the Times/ CIR study. These funds will have gone towards services including expansive cold-calling operations. A further $4.8m went into paying the charity's founder and firms associated with him. Last year over $499 billion was donated to charities across America - meaning if every organization was run the same as Kids Wish Network was, just over $12b in donations would be given to their intended causes. Former employees of the Kids Wish Network slammed it as 'more of a money, money, money business than a children's organization' Former employees have spoken out against the company, claiming it exploits sick and dying children for profit then misleads people about where their money is spent. They said around 70 'wishes' were granted to sick kids every year, but the millions donated from the public weren't nearly necessary to meet its needs. Telling the Tampa Bay Times she was not surprised the company landed at the top of its rankings of the worst charities in America, former staffer Rhonda Erlo said people should look elsewhere when donating. 'I realized this was more of a money, money, money business than a children's organization,' she said. 'There are better organizations people can give their money to.' Black Lives Matter In October 2020, Black Lives Matter was still grappling with the national attention it was receiving in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Millions poured in from across the world as protests and demonstrations brought issues around racism to the fore. But what happened with those millions left supporters furious, and cash flowing into BLM's coffers has dropped dramatically. Donations plunged by 88 percent between 2021 and 2022, from $77 million to just $9.3 million for the more recent financial year. Patrisse Cullors co-founded the movement in 2013 before stepping down in 2021. The organization is also at risk of going bankrupt after its finances plunged $8.5 million into the red last year, while simultaneously handing multiple staff seven-figure salaries. Financial disclosures obtained by The Washington Free Beacon show the perilous state of BLM's Global Network Foundation, which officially emerged in November 2020, as a more formal way of structuring the civil rights movement. Yet, despite the financial controversy and scrutiny, BLM GNF continued to hire relatives of Cullors, and several board members. Cullors, 39, was expected to produce shows across the company's multiple revenue streams, including animated, children's content, scripted and unscripted shows. Black Lives Matter sparked backlash after it emerged the organization used donations to fund a $6 million mansion in Southern California (pictured) The property's patio and outdoor yard features an in-ground pool and cabana Cullors' brother, Paul Cullors, set up two companies which were paid $1.6million providing 'professional security services' for Black Lives Matter in 2022. Paul was also one of BLM's only two paid employees during the year, collecting a $126,000 salary as 'head of security' on top of his consulting fees. He is best known as a graffiti artist, with no background in security. Cullors defended hiring him, saying registered security firms which hired former police officers could not be trusted, given the movement's opposition to police brutality. For the previous year, 2021, tax filings revealed that BLM paid a company owned by Damon Turner, the father of Cullors' child, nearly $970,000 to help 'produce live events' and provide other 'creative services.' 'While Patrisse Cullors was forced to resign due to charges of using BLM's funds for her personal use, it looks like she's still keeping it all in the family,' said Paul Kamenar, an attorney for the National Legal and Policy Center watchdog group. A consulting firm run by BLM board member Shalomyah Bowers was paid $2.1million for providing the organization with operational support Bowers said the last BLM board approved the contract with his firm when he was not a board member. The filing also revealed that Cullors reimbursed BLM $73,000 for a charter flight and paid the foundation $390 for private use of its $6million Los Angeles mansion. Bowers, who took over from Cullors when she resigned, also benefitted handsomely from the group: in 2022, his consultancy firm was paid $1.7million for management and consulting services, the Free Beacon reported. And the sister of former Black Lives Matter board member Raymond Howard was also employed in a lucrative role as a consultant. Danielle Edwards's firm, New Impact Partners, was paid $1.1million for consulting services in 2022, the Free Beacon said. BLM GNF also agreed to pay an additional $600,000 to an unidentified former board member's consulting firm 'in connection with a contract dispute'. The non-profit group ran an $8.5million deficit, and its investment accounts fell in value by nearly $10million in the most recent tax year, financial disclosures show. The group logged a $961,000 loss on a securities sale of $172,000, suggesting the group sustained an 85 percent loss on the transaction. Further details of that security have not been shared. A year later, in May 2022, it was revealed Black Lives Matter spent more than $12million on luxury properties in Los Angeles and in Toronto - including a $6.3million 10,000-square-foot property in Canada that was purchased as part of a $8million 'out of country grant.' The Toronto property was bought with grant money that was meant for 'activities to educate and support black communities, and to purchase and renovate property for charitable use.' The group had said it was planning to use the property as main headquarters in Canada, and it has now been named the Wilseed Center for Arts and Activism. The leaders of the movement splashed out almost $6 million on a luxury mansion near Los Angeles using funds from do-gooders. Situated on a manicured three-quarter-acre lot, the estate features a pool, tree-lined yard, outdoor fireplace, 'butler's pantry', its own miniature filming studio, 24 parking spaces, and two separate guest houses along with the main house. Earlier in the year, DailyMail.com also revealed the group blew $12.7million on 'professional fees', according to its application for tax-exempt, nonprofit status in August 2020. However, neither of those reports included records of the $6million property purchase made months earlier. When pressed on the curious purchase, BLM leader Patrisse Cullors slammed criticism of her spending spree, which she branded 'racist and sexist'. In response to the backlash the group said: 'There have been a lot of questions surrounding recent reports about the purchase of Creator's House in California. Despite past efforts, BLMGNF recognizes that there is more work to do to increase transparency and ensure transitions in leadership are clear.' BLM then proceeded to blame the media for the furore and the 'inflammatory and speculative' reports that saw journalists probing the group's financials saying that it 'caused harm' The reports 'do not reflect the totality of the movement,' the organization claimed. Firefighters Charitable Foundation The Firefighter's Charitable Foundation was launched in 1991 to help families affected by fires and natural disasters. In the three decades since, however, it has faced accusations of financial mismanagement. Also achieving a zero-star rating from Charity Navigator, the charity poured over $54 million into fundraising solicitors over a decade, but gave just 8.4 percent of its funding to actual fire victims, the Times/ CRI study found. The reason for charities using for-profit fundraisers is to take in as much as possible from potential benefactors, but the practice has been criticized for lining the pockets of executives while duping donators. 'Some charities reason that if they bring in $1 million by hiring a professional fundraiser, and only get to keep $250,000 of it after paying that fundraiser's fees, it's $250,000 that they wouldn't have otherwise raised. But this logic is unfair to donors who don't view this waste the same way,' said Laurie Stryon, executive director of CharityWatch, to DailyMail.com. The Firefighters Charitable Foundation 'Charities should honor donors' intentions by keeping their overhead costs reasonable. A charity can legitimately use a for-profit professional fundraising company to supplement its other fundraising efforts or to build up its member base when it's first getting started. 'But some charities rely on these companies year after year after year and never develop other, more efficient fundraising avenues. 'They continue to pay 80% of each dollar they raise to these companies. It's such a waste. In some cases a charity's only programs consist of "educational" information it includes in its direct mail fundraising letters or telemarketing calls. 'Donors are essentially just funding more fundraising and nothing else when they make a donation.' Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, right, sits inside a military vehicle posing for a selfie photo with a local civilian on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, prior to leaving an area of the headquarters of the Southern Military District. AP-Yonhap The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of kilometers (miles) toward Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend Russia's capital. Under the deal announced Saturday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighboring Belarus, which has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a "betrayal" and "treason." In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said, Putin's "highest goal" was "to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results." The risk for Putin is whether he will be seen as weak, analysts said. "Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair," former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city's southern edge. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Russian troops armed with machine guns put up checkpoints on Moscow's southern outskirts. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. A man waves the Russian national flag as the members of Wagner group prepare to pull out from the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to their base in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24. AFP-Yonhap Wagner troops advanced to just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, according to Prigozhin. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid "shedding Russian blood." Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu , whom Prigohzhin has long criticized in withering terms for his conduct of the 16-month-long war in Ukraine . On Friday, he accused forces under Shoigu's command of attacking Wagner camps and killing "a huge number of our comrades." If Putin were to agree to Shoigu's ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. The U.S. had intelligence that Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time. That conflicts with Prigozhin's claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by the Russian military. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defense Ministry denied attacking the camps. Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner buildup earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The U.S. intelligence briefing was first reported by CNN. A possible motivation for Prigozhin's rebellion was the Russian Defense Ministry's demand, which Putin backed, that private companies sign contracts with it by July 1. Prigozhin had refused to do it. "It may well be that he struck now because he saw that deadline as a danger to his control of his troops," Herbst wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council. Early Saturday, Prigozhin's private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain's Ministry of Defense said. Activists hold a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin near Red Square in Moscow, June 24. AFP-Yonhap TikTok stars are increasingly influencing the output of major brands - with corporate decisions made based on viral videos. Many big companies find they must either give in to the whims of social media or risk losing valuable business. Trending videos are seen as a savvy business opportunity, with firms keeping a close eye on TikTok and jumping at the chance to create new products - sometimes in a matter of days. Earlier this year, Chipotle introduced a new item to its menu after being bombarded by custom orders for an off-menu 'hack' invented by food influencer Keith Lee. But with a speedy turnaround key to keeping up with what is trending on TikTok, concerns have been raised around the safety of products, and the mass creation of thousands of dud items that then go to waste when something else steals the attention of the internet. In February, beloved Mexican chain Chipotle introduced the Fajita Quesadilla - dubbed the 'Keithadilla' - after food influencer Keith Lee, who has over 13 million followers on TikTok. Lee, and fellow online reviewer Alexis Frost, went viral for their videos of Chipotle 'hacks' - or off-menu customized orders. Lee earned legions of fans, in particular, for his combination of the restaurant's sour cream and chipotle-honey vinaigrette - which he paired with a customized quesadilla order made famous by Frost. The company was soon overwhelmed with custom orders, and when some staffers refused to make the off-menu item, customers began posting angry reviews online, according to The Wall Street Journal. This led the company to add the items to its permanent menu. 'TikTok has not only changed the way we communicate with Gen Z, but it's proven it can identify areas of opportunity within our business,' said Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer. The social media app also had a big part to play in how 'pink sauce' went from a TikTok sensation to being stacked on the shelves of retail giant Walmart. The divisive Pepto-Bismol colored dressing was created by Veronica Shaw, an influencer and private chef known as Chef Pii. Videos of Shaw smothering chicken wings and tacos with the fluorescent condiment, which gets its color from dragon fruit, went viral, but the influencer hit various roadblocks when she tried to sell the product directly to her near 250,000 followers. Daves Gourmet, a Dallas-based specialty food company, saw an opportunity, according to Chief Executive David Neuman, and partnered with Shaw on the product, taking over responsibility for manufacturing. The firm turned the sauce into a nationally distributed product in 90 days, something that usually takes more than a year - and Neuman said he still has 'night tremors' when he thinks about the pace of the turnaround. Local investigators from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized samples of the sauce to be tested for any issues. Neuman believes the product satisfied all the regulators needs because he never heard back, and the FDA declined to comment to The Wall Street Journal. Fashion and makeup brands also rely heavily on TikTok trends to determine what they produce. 'Every single merchant and designer is looking at TikTok,' Corey Robinson, chief product officer for fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch told the outlet. She called the platform 'a billion-person focus group.' Last year, employees at Tarte Cosmetics noticed that color-shifting products, makeup which change and react to the wearer's skin, were going viral on the platform. In three months, the brand had created its Maracuja Juicy Lip and Cheek Shift, which changes its hue based on the skin's pH levels. Normally, the process takes more than a year, said Anna Sponaugle, a senior vice president at Tarte. TikTok stars are increasingly influencing the output of major brands - with companies making corporate decisions based on viral videos @keith_lee125 Replying to @chipotle #chipotlepartner The Keithadilla is in the chipotle app WITH the vinaigrette In my opinion it was the worth the wait #foodcritic original sound - Keith Lee Tarte Cosmetics created its Maracuja Juicy Lip and Cheek Shift based on viral TikTok trends According to the brand, the product is its fastest-selling product of all time - with three months of inventory selling out in four weeks. If companies do not work fast enough, however, they risk missing out on a craze. Fast fashion brand Edikted releases 150 styles a month based on viral clips, and even has technology which monitors TikTok to determine which styles to copy. Founder Dedy Shwartzberg told the outlet that while brands in the past have looked towards high-end fashion and catwalk shows for inspiration, they just look to the app. Edikted has an average turnaround of 12 days - it told the outlet - and often subcontract to third-party factories in China. However some products can bomb if a trend is short-lived, leaving them with excess produce which they have to sell at a discounted rate. Afghans who fought alongside British forces are being beaten, tortured and executed by the Taliban as they wait to hear if they can relocate to the UK. At least four have been murdered, one is missing presumed dead and two have been tortured as the Taliban extracts a brutal revenge on those who helped the West over two decades of conflict. Among the dead is a former member of Afghan Special Forces named as being at risk in a letter to then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and senior ministers in 2021 pleading for ex-interpreters and soldiers who fought beside UK troops not to be left behind to face the Talibans brutal backlash. Those hunted down are among hundreds of Afghans who worked with or for British troops still stranded many waiting to hear if they will be granted sanctuary 21-months after Western troops left Kabul. New UK government figures show that there are still 61,907 cases yet to receive an eligibility decision although officials believe the vast majority will not qualify to come to Britain under the flagship Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy. Ex-interpreter Nazir (far right) waits in fear for a decision from the UK over relocation Pictured is Ahmadzai, one of the members of Afghan Special Forces killed by the Taliban last month while waiting to hear if he can relocate The government estimates 4,300 eligible Afghans, including family members, are entitled to sanctuary in Britain but most are unable to escape from the country, with many living in hiding, terrified they will face Taliban revenge for working for Britain. Officials stress those trapped in Afghanistan remain the priority and an expanded ARAP team has increased significantly the number of decisions - it has made with 27,000 applications processed in the first four months of this year. But campaigners warn that for some who had been waiting to hear if they are allowed to relocate to the UK, it is too late as they have been hunted down by the Taliban. They include Riaz Ahmadzai, a soldier with Task Force 333, which often operated in conjunction with UK Special Forces and intelligence officers, who was executed last month outside his home by an assassin who shot him three times in the head at close range. His family said he had waited more than a year to learn whether he would be allowed to join other members of the Task Force in Britain. The 33 year-old had been one of those, who fought beside UK forces, behind a letter to Mr Johnson pleading not to be left in Afghanistan and warning there would be no hiding place from the Taliban. Last week another member of 333 who had applied for relocation said he believed he was going to die after being seized by two gunmen, beaten and tortured. The trooper is the second member of the force, who say they have applied to the UK for sanctuary, to be attacked in the past 16-days. He said he was only saved by the intervention of community elders and the payment of a ransom, equivalent to 4,500. A CF333 trooper was tortured and left in a very bad condition. he is alive but in a bad condition. Afghans face being 'picked off by the Taliban', as they're forced to wait to relocate to UK, as shock MOD figures show 60,000 cases awaiting decision It comes after a former interpreter for UK Special Forces, who first applied for ARAP in August 2021 before the Taliban takeover, was taken at gunpoint in Kabul beaten and tortured. He is one of four ex-translators, who risked their lives beside UK troops, to have been questioned and beaten by the Taliban. The 36 year-old, who worked with the UK for two years and is now in hiding, said he too believed he would die. They searched my phone and found emails applying for relocation in the UK, certificates from the military praising my work and contact numbers for colleagues overseas, he said. I thought it was my death sentence for helping the enemy and they bound my hands, hooded me and beat me trying to find intelligence of who else I knew who was in hiding. They gave me electric shocks to my body and neck and I was only saved when my family went to village elders begging for their intervention.' The ex-translator is one of dozens of former frontline interpreters to have contacted this newspapers award-winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign appealing for help and pleading with the government not to abandon them. Two former frontline interpreters who did not qualify for ARAP after being dismissed claim they have been beaten and their homes ransacked. One needed three weeks of hospital treatment. He is now trying to reach UK with the help of people smugglers. Nazir with his three children plead not to be left behind Former interpreter supervisor Rafi Hottak, who was blown-up in Helmand a British officer died in the blast and now campaigns for those left in Afghanistan, said: It is a terrifying time for Afghans in hiding and wondering all the time if Britain will give a positive decision before the Taliban finds them. I know of at least four cases where those who worked with UK forces have been murdered by the Taliban at a time when their families said they were waiting for a decision on relocation. Among them was a senior Afghan intelligence officer who was hoping to escape, another was the SF trooper Ahmadzai, who had warned Boris Johnson that he could be killed if Britain delayed making it relocation decisions. Mr Hottak added: The Taliban and its spies have total control and it is an incredibly dangerous time for those who worked for the West. People are being taken from the streets beaten, tortured and in some cases executed. One police officer was recently made to kneel while plastic was wrapped round his head so that he suffocated everyone is grateful for what the UK is doing but the clock is ticking. The reality for those found is stark. It was Mr Hottak, now an accountant based in the Midlands, who wrote a passionate letter to Mr Johnson and his senior ministers asking that those who risked their lives beside UK troops to be rescued. READ MORE: Hundreds of Afghan translators who helped British troops on the battlefield are still trapped in the country a year after Taliban re-took control Advertisement Written two weeks after the end of the Operation Pitting evacuation from Kabul and hours after the Taliban murdered a former sniper, who had operated alongside UK forces, Mr Hottak warned: I am pleading with the UK government to evacuate all those who have loyally served you in Afghanistan. These individuals and their families were the only people who stood shoulder to shoulder with the UK forces and government in Afghanistan. Many of our colleagues died or were injured in the past 20 years of war against terrorism. 'These individuals and their families accepted the risk and danger and did not leave you alone in that war. 'But today the entire country is under the control of the very terrorist group they have fought. With the Taliban in power, they will be hunted down, with many killed and tortured. 'Now it is time for the UK government to do the right thing, to protect and save all those who were our close friends and allies. It is a moral obligation of the UK government to save them and evacuate them. Campaigners say the revenge attacks underline the urgent needs for both applications to be processed faster and for those approved to be moved to safe countries and then swiftly on to the UK. They highlight how 1,300 ARAP-qualified Afghans are currently stuck in Pakistan hotels some for more than a year and will not be moved to the UK until housing is found for them. This, they believe, creates a logjam for those escaping Afghanistan. An average of 1,500 new ARAP applications have been received each month this year for those seeking relocation. Since the end of Operation Pitting in August 2021 where 15,000 were rescued there have been 1,060 cases approved against 26,383 rejections. More than 2,500 are subject to appeals. A government spokesperson said: The Ministry of Defence has made a commitment to relocate ARAP eligible Afghans who worked for, or with, UK forces In Afghanistan. 'To date we have relocated over 12,200 individuals to the UK and we estimate that approximately 4,300 individuals and their family members are left to relocate to the UK. We have made a commitment to relocate eligible Afghans and will honour this. The ex-president was, by far, the most popular 2024 White House hopeful with the Christian crowd Former President Donald Trump rolled out a possible new campaign slogan Saturday night at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, D.C.: 'I'm being indicted for you.' Trump headlined the conference's Saturday night gala and continued to complain about the recent federal charges brought against him for mishandling classified materials, again arguing that he was merely an ex-president 'legally keeping his own documents.' The former president also called out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg - who charged him with crimes related to the 2016 Stormy Daniels hush-money scheme - vowing to go after him and other DAs if Trump retakes the White House in the 2024 election. 'I will direct a completely overhauled DOJ to investigate every radical DA in America,' Trump pledged, calling them 'racists in reverse.' He earned a 'USA' chant from the crowd as he proclaimed, 'I'm probably the only person in history who was indicted and my numbers went up.' 'Everytime the radical left Democrats, Marxist, communists and fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of courage,' Trump said. Former President Donald Trump rolled out a possible new campaign slogan Saturday night at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference in Washington, D.C.: 'I'm being indicted for you.' Trump, by far, got the most enthusiastic reaction at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority conference in Washington, D.C. The former president headlined a Saturday night gala at the Washington Hilton Trump knocked around President Joe Biden for son Hunter's business dealings with China - portraying the president as soft on the rising power due to his family's financial entanglements. 'Joe Biden is the most corrupt president in the history of our country, by far,' he said. 'Just two days ago, a very respected IRS whistleblower revealed that Crooked Joe sat in a room while his son, Hunter, messaged a Chinese Communist Party Official,' the former president continued. Trump then read to the crowd a text message from Hunter to a Chinese business associate. In the text, Hunter says he's with his father and then tells the associate: 'and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled.' 'This is cash he's talking about,' Trump told the crowd of the 'commitment.' 'Within ten days, the Bidens got $5.1 million from China.' 'Can you believe that? I didn't know that he was that tough,' Trump said of Hunter, earning laughs. Trump then claimed that Biden 'wants to do nothing because he can't' on China wanting to build a troop training facility on Cuba, adding that nothing can be done, 'unless I get back in.' Former President Donald Trump tried to connect President Joe Biden with son Hunter's business deals with China and suggested Biden wasn't standing up to China because of his family's financial ties 'I have to ask Ralph a question, were your other candidates treated this way?' former President Donald Trump (center) said, turning to Faith & Freedom Coalition founder Ralph Reed (right), who was seated at the dais behind him, cuing cheers from the crowd 'In which case I will inform China that they have 48 hours to get any military and spying equipment out of Cuba, or I will drop the hammer, and there will be tariffs unlike anything China has seen before,' Trump said. Trump was easily the favorite speaker at the conference - which featured every major 2024 Republican presidential candidate. 'I have to ask Ralph a question, were your other candidates treated this way?' Trump said, turning to Faith & Freedom Coalition founder Ralph Reed, who was seated at the dais behind him, cuing cheers from the crowd. Trump then joked that one presidential candidate 'was booed off the stage,' alluding to New Jersey Gov. Chris Chrstie's, whose Trump criticism Friday morning at the conference got him heckled. He was joined onstage by MAGA allies - failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was presented a lifetime achievement award. The former president teased a second term agenda. He got big cheers when he pledged to 'obliterate the deep state.' Trump said he would create 'the Truth and Reconciliation Commission' that would declassify any documents that have to do with the so-called 'deep state' and unearth any 'spying.' Trump pledged to harden the border and kick illegal immigrants out of the U.S. He said he would command the 'largest domestic deporation operation' ever seen. And he would 'deny entry' to all 'communists and totalitarians.' 'My question is, what do we do with the ones who are already here?' he mused. Trump again claimed he could have the Ukraine war 'settled' in 24 hours. 'Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled,' he said. He got boisterous applause when he said he would 'be your Peacemaker.' The crowd was made up of Christian conservatives who cheered that it was the one -year anniversary of the demise of Roe v. Wade. 'I will fight against the demented late term abortionists in the Democratic Party,' Trump pledged. The former president has refused to say if he would support a proposed 15-week national abortion ban, which former Vice President Mike Pence, among others, supports. Instead Trump said that in a second term he would 'bring everybody together to protect our precious unborn babies in a very big way.' The ex-president also pledged to not allow funding to go to public schools that taught Critical Race Theory or pushed a vaccine mandate. Taking aim at the transgender community - he promised to kick transgender troops out of the military again, ban underage gender confirming medical treatments, bar taxpayer funding from going toward gender transitions and prohibit transgender women from participating in women's sports. He said he would again release a list of names for potential Supreme Court vacancies. And he also pledged to hold a 'big celebration' on the Fourth of July on July 4, 2026. A second girl, 12, was sentenced for her part in the incident on March 14 in Texas She had plotted to kill her entire family and pets in a 'murder pact' with a friend Emma Brown shot her father in the stomach before turning the gun on herself A schoolgirl who shot her father as part of a pre-planned murder-pact with a friend before turning the gun on herself can be pictured for the first time. Emma Brown, 12, shot her father, Daniel Brown, 38, in the abdomen at their home in Poolville, Texas, around 30 miles from Fort Worth on September 20, 2022. Emma shot herself in the head and died in hospital two days later. Exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com show the father, who survived, and daughter smiling as they posed with a rifle and handguns together before the horror incident. The seventh grade student had plotted to kill her entire family and pets, along with another 12-year-old girl from Lufkin, Texas, though it is unclear how they met. Parker County District Attorney's office confirmed that the second girl, who has not been identified, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Emma Brown, 12, (left) shot Daniel Brown, 38, (right) in the abdomen at their home in Poolville, Texas, around 30 miles from Fort Worth on September 20 last year The grade seven pupil had plotted to kill her entire family and pets, along with another 12-year-old girl from Lufkin, Texas, though it is unclear how they met A spokeswoman was unable to give details of the sentence handed to the girl, because of Texas state law protecting the identity of juveniles charged with a crime. They added: 'The charge was not dismissed. The allegations were fully prosecuted with a final disposition of the case occurring on March 14, 2023.' A lawyer for the surviving girl did not respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment. Brown died two days after shooting herself in the head, with police confirming that she had been planning to drive 230 miles to pick up her pal before driving to Georgia. A dispatch call from the night of the incident reveals that Brown took off on foot down the driveway, making it just a few hundred yards before shooting herself in the head. The emergency services worker can be heard saying 'the daughter just shot him' in the master bedroom, after saying 'nothing', and it was understood she had been getting ready for bed. Officers later discovered the schoolgirl lying on the dirt road, with a handgun underneath her body. The family home appeared to have installed a gate at the front of the property, with a 'No Trespassing' sign put up shortly after the tragedy. Brown died two days after shooting herself in the head, with police confirming that she had been planning to drive 230 miles to pick up her pal before driving to Georgia The family home appeared to have installed a gate at the front of the property, with a 'No Trespassing' sign put up shortly after the tragedy Brown's parents, Daniel and Lea, (pictured) have been unavailable for comment regarding the tragedy A source told DailyMail.com: 'It's an awful tragedy. Her parents didn't know anything about the other girl, they still don't.' Her father also has an FFL license, meaning that he is legally able to store and sell firearms at the family home. Brown also went to a fathers and daughters dance at Peaster Elementary, where she was a pupil, though it is unclear if she attended with her father. Daniel was released from hospital shortly after the incident and is expected to make a full recovery, according to authorities. Relatives of Brown did not respond to multiple requests for comment when approached by DailyMail.com. A cause of death for Brown was given as suicide by Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office, with the autopsy report sealed. Parker County Sheriff's Office and Peaster Elementary did not respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com. Mayor of Peaster, Don Smelly, said he was 'unable to comment' on the incident. A spokesman for Parker County Sheriff's Office said previously: 'The 12-year-old female juvenile involved in the shooting incident in northwestern Parker County on Sept. 20, 2022, succumbed to her injuries on Sept. 22, at a local hospital. Brown went to a fathers and daughters dance at Peaster Elementary, where she was a pupil, though it is unclear if she attended with her father A dispatch call from the night of the incident reveals that Brown took off on foot down the driveway, making it just a few hundred yards before killing herself Her father (right) also has an FFL licence, meaning that he is legally able to store and sell firearms at the family home A cause of death for Brown was given as suicide by Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office, with the autopsy report sealed 'The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy and ruled the cause and manner of death as a suicide by gunshot wound of the head. 'Her father, who was the victim of a gunshot wound to the abdomen was recently released from the hospital is expected to recover. 'The second 12-year-old female from Lufkin, who Sheriff's investigators believe was involved with the planning of the shooting, was taken into custody last week and has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.' It remains unclear why the girls wanted to kill their families and run away. 'It doesn't matter if they live in a small town or a big city. Things like this can happen, unfortunately,' Lufkin Communications Director, Jessica Pebsworth, said. 'I will say that this case is definitely a time to remind parents that it's very important to know who your children are friends with, whether that's in the classroom, social media apps, Snapchat, TikTok and then also gaming platforms.' Cops said they are withholding the names of the girls due to their age, and are also not releasing the name of the wounded father to protect the kids. Police didn't act when they heard the apparently outlandish claims of a psychic medium who saw the vision of a man lying face down in water... yet a month later that is exactly what they found. Alex Holland, 27, was a young dad of two who went missing from his parent's home in Deal, Kent. On November 28, 2021, he casually told his mother Rachel Holland, 54, he was popping outside for a cigarette. That was last time she would see or speak to her son. Three months later on February 18, 2022, his body was found in a water-filled ditch by dog walkers. Following a post-mortem, Alex's death was given an open conclusion and to this day, no one really knows what happened the night he went missing. Pictured, Rachel Holland who believes that her son was murdered and body dragged to his last resting place Father Alex Holland, 27, went missing from his parents home in Deal, Kent - before being found dead after a 12-week police search Alex Holland was found in a ditch nearby a pumping station in Hacklinge, near Deal In a bizarre twist of fate, the young dad of two's body was found face down in water just as a psychic medium has foreseen There were no obvious signs of violence and it wasn't shown he had taken his own life. But Mrs Holland believes she knows how her son died and is convinced that her son was drugged and murdered. Speaking to MailOnline, she said: 'I need to get the story out there. I really need to do it. 'I don't have proof but I believe my son was murdered. 'This whole situation, it just feels like I'm in a film or something. It doesn't feel real. 'It's a nightmare and it just never ends. But I feel like I just have to keep going. 'Kent Police have been awful and I've got absolutely no trust in any of them anymore.' Within 24 hours of Alex going missing, his mum officially reported it to the police. Alex told his mother Rachel Holland he was popping outside for a cigarette - that was last time she would see or speak to her son. Mrs Holland has been relentless in trying to find answers to her son's disappearance and sad passing away This was the same time that Alex was using a courtesy car, having crashed his own vehicle a few days before. But it would take the police 81 days before he was found despite a major police operation involving sniffer dogs and a helicopter to find the area. Alex's body was found approximately a mile and a half away from where his car was found, in the village of Worth - which is also 5.2 miles away from his home on Delane Road. But, the police had previously decided not to search the field where his body was discovered. Desperate for answers, the family even turned to a psychic medium Mary Lawton Johnson to help in the search. Eerily, the psychic had told police in January to search in four waterways after having a vision of Alex lying face down in water, but the police didn't act on the psychic's predictions and he was undiscovered for another month. The US psychic tweeted: 'Kent Police, if you had listened to me you would have found Rachel's son sooner. 'She and I both told you where his body was and it was in the area you never searched. I did your job for you.' Kent Police's Detective Superintendent Edward Ruffle told MailOnline: 'Kent Police made extensive enquiries after Alex Holland was reported missing in Deal in November 2021. Sadly, his body was later found near Hacklinge in February 2022. 'A thorough investigation was carried out into the circumstances of the death, including reviewing CCTV footage and examining mobile phone data and, based on the available information, nothing suggested the death was suspicious. 'Alex's family later complained to Kent Police about the investigation into his disappearance and asked for the findings in response to their complaint to be reviewed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). 'Following the IOPC's review, Kent Police sent a letter to Alex's family apologising for a breakdown in communication between officers and their family during the course of the investigation and for two date inaccuracies made in an investigation report. 'Learning around keeping the families of missing people updated about searches, as well as officers considering the language they use in such situations, has been identified by Kent Police and shared with officers. 'We offer our sincere condolences to Alex's family for their loss. It has echos of the Nicola Bulley case, the missing mum who was tragically found dead the river near in St Michael' on Wyre - exactly where psychic Jason Rothwell had claimed to have foreseen. Mrs Holland felt as though the Kent Police investigation into her son's disappearance was handled badly in both the investigative work and the way officers liaised with the family. She launched a formal complaint against Kent Police, listing 20 allegations of which the force accepted 10. For example, when Alex initially went missing, Kent Police put out a missing persons appeal but with the wrong details about the clothes he was wearing. Mrs Holland believes this could have potentially helped find her son sooner, but Kent Police argue it wouldn't have changed the outcome. Alex's family also suggested several areas for the police to search but they were ignored and generally, she felt she was frequently ignored, patronised and brushed off by investigating officers. There were also several strange occurrences which the police chose not to act on. For example, Mrs Holland flagged to the police a strange Facebook message from someone calling themselves 'Phil Coup' sent to Alex's sister which said: 'M8 was told Alex is alive and well cant say anything but the person or myself cant be named please I don't know why Alex can't just ring I no its not much but hope puts your parents at ease.' The account was later deleted and the family believe it could have been created by someone to throw them off the scent or to stop them from looking into his disappearance. But Kent Police did not look into this suspicious account. Another strange incident happened when the police received an anonymous phone call in which someone claimed Alex was killed by travellers and fed to pigs. But the family were told the phone call could not be traced and it was not investigated. There were other strange details too, such as a packet of Benson and Hedges cigarettes found in his vehicle despite his mum insisting he only smoked roll-ups. Mrs Holland also complained about the insensitivity of some of the officers. On the day her son was found, Alex's sister asked an officer if there was anything suspicious. The officer replied: 'There weren't any knives in his back if that's what you mean.' There are also several other questions that remain unanswered. The day after he went missing, Alex had a dental appointment and was planning on going to work. When he went for a cigarette, he had no coat and was wearing slippers. Mrs Holland believes that he wasn't suicidal and he wasn't on drugs or drink at the time of his disappearance. Alex's body was found in a ditch - after a psychic medium claims she had a vision of him lying face down in water Alex also left the home with his wallet and a substantial amount of money, which was around 300. His phone was found in the car near where his body was discovered, but the wallet was never found and police didn't seem interested in finding it. When the Holland family asked whether the water in which Alex's body was found would be searched, the police said: 'No, why would we?' The family believe the missing wallet could hold clues to Alex's disappearance and the family even entered the water themselves in an attempt to locate it, but to no avail. Another strange occurrence happened when the family was looking in the ditch where Alex was found, near a pumping station. 'We were looking in the water,' said Mrs Holland, 'and these people came over and said, 'oh, they found a dead body in that water the other day'. 'I said, 'yes I know, it was my son'. 'Then they told me that on the night my son disappeared, his car was reported to the police as having the engine running, the lights on and the doors open and I told the police this. 'These people who spoke to me also said that there was the sound of a commotion on the night he went missing. 'But the police said, 'no, no, the car was not on, or the lights and all the doors were shut'. 'I mean, why would they tell me that if it wasn't true?' Mrs Holland also believes the police were too quick to judge her son and started pursuing theories which she felt were highly unlikely to be true. When the police searched his room, they found three small bags of cannabis and it was initially thought his disappearance could have been drug-related or that he was suicidal. But Mrs Holland said there was nothing about his behaviour that night that led her to believe either of those things. He was a young dad with two girls who he loved and he would never abandon them, Mrs Holland believes. She also found it unlikely that he would just leave the house so abruptly in just his slippers in order to end his life. 'The police were painting all these scenarios,' she added, 'when they said he might have taken his own life, I told them that they didn't know my son. 'I do though and he would never do that to those girls.' In June 2022, there was a coroner's report into Alex's death which reach an open conclusion. There was no evidence to suggest violence or third-party involvement and no evidence to suggest suicide. Mrs Holland added: 'There was no water in him at all. He was found in water which means he must have died before he was in there. 'I asked pathologists and they couldn't explain how he died,. 'But I believe that he was placed in the water.' Perhaps the biggest unanswered question of the whole episode is why Alex was found with only one shoe. His other slipper was found near his car, which meant if Alex walked to the ditch he would have do so with a bare foot. Yet, despite being in the countryside, there were no cuts or abrasions to his feet, despite the distance from his car and having to track through wild growth with branches and thorns which could have easily left a mark. 'I know why he only had one shoe,' Mrs Holland continued, 'I think his body was dragged to the ditch. 'It is my opinion that my son was lured to that location. 'His body was found with a sheet and some planks of wood in the water. 'I believe that my son was wrapped up in those before his body was dumped after he was murdered.' What surprised the Holland family too was the police's apparent ignorance of the area. When Alex's mother mentioned that there could be CCTV around the area of Alex's disappearance, such as at the nearby pub and also a campsite, the police were allegedly unaware that there was a campsite located close by called Lillyroos. Mrs Holland said: 'When our son went missing at first, we went door knocking - ringing people's bells to see if they had seen my son driving past at a certain time. 'This was because the police gave us an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) for Alex driving around that area. 'An ANPR is when a camera picks up on a car's licence plate and can tell you when it was driving at a certain time. 'But because the police were initially treating the family as suspects, they deliberately gave us the wrong times. 'Every time we were asking if people had seen my son, they said no, but they were given the wrong time anyway.' The family launched a complaint against Kent Police in April 2022 before launching a further appeal to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on November 2022. The conclusion of the final appeal found that the outcome of the 'Kent Police investigation into the complaint was not reasonable and proportionate' therefore, the application for review was 'upheld'. The IOPC also recommended that Kent Police 'issue an apology to you acknowledging the communication failings identified in the IO report'. However, it also found that the CCTV around the nearby pub and glamping site were not near the walking routes of the location where Alex was found. But the Holland family have yet to receive a letter of apology from Kent Police. 'I just think the police are useless,' Mrs Holland concluded, 'I just feel like they didn't care. 'Whenever I contacted them they either ignored me or patronised me. 'It's my son. He was a human being and it just felt like they were talking about him like he was an object. 'The police's attitude was, "found him, don't know how he died, case closed". 'It was a complete cock-up the whole way through. I mean, what are we paying the police for?' An IOPC spokesperson said: 'In November 2022 we received a review application of a complaint investigation by Kent Police into its handling of the missing person's investigation for Alex Holland. 'In March we upheld the review as we concluded the outcome of Kent's investigation into the complaint was not reasonable and proportionate. 'To address this, we recommended that the force apologise to the complainant, acknowledging communication failings identified in their investigation into the complaint. 'We also suggested to Kent that they should ask for the now former officer's account in relation to allegations that the complainants were given the wrong ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) time for a vehicle their son was driving; and a comment made by the officer following his body being found. 'However we've advised the complainant that the force are not obliged to comply with our suggestion.' Detective Superintendent Edward Ruffle of Kent Police said: 'Kent Police made extensive enquiries after Alex Holland was reported missing in Deal in November 2021. Sadly, his body was later found near Hacklinge in February 2022. 'A thorough investigation was carried out into the circumstances of the death, including reviewing CCTV footage and examining mobile phone data and, based on the available information, nothing suggested the death was suspicious. 'Alex's family later complained to Kent Police about the investigation into his disappearance and asked for the findings in response to their complaint to be reviewed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). 'Following the IOPC's review, Kent Police sent a letter to Alex's family apologising for a breakdown in communication between officers and their family during the course of the investigation and for two date inaccuracies made in an investigation report. 'Learning around keeping the families of missing people updated about searches, as well as officers considering the language they use in such situations, has been identified by Kent Police and shared with officers. 'We offer our sincere condolences to Alex's family for their loss. Boris Johnson's Partygate interrogator was accused of cowardice last night for repeatedly dodging questions over claims he attended a lockdown-busting party. Sir Bernard Jenkin was blasted by loyalists of the former prime minister for refusing to come clean over his alleged participation in a 'birthday drinks' bash for his wife Anne, a Tory peer, on December 8, 2020. The event, held in the Commons office of Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing, took place at a time when all indoor socialising was against Covid regulations in England. But Sir Bernard, one of Mr Johnson's chief inquisitors on the Privileges Committee, which effectively ended his Commons career, was yesterday still maintaining his silence a week after The Mail on Sunday published his wife's invitation and a claim that he was present for whole party. Last night, one senior Tory MP and Boris backer said: 'It is unacceptable for someone who sat in judgment on the PM over Partygate to keep silent over claims he himself attended an event which breached lockdown rules. Sir Bernard Jenkin (right) was blasted for refusing to come clean over his alleged participation in a 'birthday drinks' bash for his wife Anne (right), a Tory peer, on December 8, 2020 Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves his house for a run in Brightwell-cum-Stowell, west of London, June 14, 2023 'He should come clean about this. To try to keep silent is not just hypocritical it's cowardice.' READ MORE: Richard Curtis admits he DOES name unlikeable characters 'Bernard' after Tory MP Sir Bernard Jenkin who stole and married his university girlfriend Advertisement Mr Johnson has called for Sir Bernard's resignation from the Privileges Committee, claiming he could be guilty of 'flagrant and monstrous hypocrisy'. Sir Bernard has refused requests to comment since his initial response 11 days ago that he did not attend any drinks parties during lockdown, with allies claiming that the December 8 function was simply a work event. However, the publication in this newspaper last Sunday of Baroness Jenkin's invitation for 'a few of our favourite people' to attend birthday drinks appeared to dismantle that claim, even though she insisted it would be 'socially distanced'. Dame Eleanor has also declined to comment after initially telling the Guido Fawkes website that she had held a 'business meeting' that evening and was strict about social distancing. Two other Tory MPs said to have been present former Cabinet minister Maria Miller and backbencher Miriam Cates have not commented so far. However, Commons insiders say it is inevitable the December 8 party will be investigated either by the police or the Commons' Standards Commissioner. Scotland Yard has said that it was assessing information regarding 'media reporting of alleged breaches in Parliament on December 8, 2020'. A white NYPD officer is taking legal action against the city claiming that his colleagues of color discriminated against him because of his race. The undercover detective, John Olsen, said that Hispanic, Asian and black officers would not back him up during violent confrontations because of his race, leading him to quit the force in fear for his life. The former Marine filed a lawsuit against the NYPD on Tuesday at Manhattan Supreme court, for unspecified damages, citing discrimination based on race and military service. The lawsuit claims the veteran could have been killed when his colleagues refused to intervene when he was attacked twice during drug buys gone wrong in 2019. 'I genuinely felt like my life was in jeopardy if I continued,' Olsen, 34, told The New York Post. Olsen first entered the force in January 2015 as a patrolman assigned to public housing in the South Bronx before being chosen for the specialized Anti-Crime Unit The former marine said that his bosses made 'his life as uncomfortable as possible' including a superior who made a comment about his military service 'They did everything in their power to make it miserable for me' he wrote. Olsen joined the force in January 2015 as a patrolman assigned to public housing in the South Bronx before being chosen for the specialized Anti-Crime Unit, according to the court records. He then became an undercover officer and was transferred to the Northern Manhattan Detective Bureau in February 2019. Olsen said he was left uncomfortable when he was the only white officer during the training for undercover work. A senior detective commented: 'A white undercover, this will be fun' Olsen alleges. In 2019 Olsen claims he was surrounded and punched in the face in front of a car full of detectives during a drug buy in Harlem. The other detectives photographed the attack but did not intervene because they didnt want to risk 'being tainted by association with a white undercover,' Olsen said in court papers. 'They watched [the attacker] walk back inside the housing projects,' Olsen said. The former Marine filed a lawsuit against the NYPD on Tuesday at Manhattan Supreme court, for unspecified damages, citing discrimination based on race and military service 'It was totally against our rules for narcotics to let that go.' 'The second an undercovers life is in danger or someone gets assaulted, the field team is supposed to move in immediately to apprehend the person and rescue the officer,' he added. Olsen alleges that the lead detective on the case said 'Sorry kid, Im not doing anything, this isnt 1992' after he raised concerns. In a separate incident in July 2019 Olsen says he was forced to chase down and fight a drug dealer who pulled a knife on him in Hamilton Heights. During a violent confrontation tore his labrum and rotator cuff during the scuffle, which sidelined him until January 2020, according to his lawsuit. 'My life was in danger and I know that no one is coming to save me because of that last time so I had to do what I had to do,' Olsen said. The former marine also claims his colleagues were offered more overtime opportunities and that his bosses made 'his life as uncomfortable as possible' including a superior who made a comment about his military service. He said Im going to make your life very miserable, Im going to be on top of you everything you do Im going to be looking for mistakes,' Olsen claims. 'And I dont know why, but at the end he said, Its because youre a military guy.' 'I did not expect that at all,' Olsen added. 'He said it was because I was a military guy, but I think it was also because I was a white undercover and they were trying to get rid of me.' John Scola, representing Olsen told The Post: 'Rather than transfer our client to a situation where he could thrive, his bosses forced him into increasingly dangerous situations without backup in an effort to force him to leave the unit due to his inability to bring in numbers due to his race.' Adding: 'This flippancy toward Detective Olsens life forced him into multiple fights with drug dealersand ultimately led to his resignation out of fear for his safety.' The NYPD declined to comment on pending litigation. The parents of a young mother killed after allegedly being driven off the road by her estranged husband have slammed domestic violence services for 'failing' their daughter. Kirsty Armstrong, 36, died only 400 metres from her home at Molong, near Orange in NSW's Central West on June 9. The mother-of-three was killed instantly when she was driving home from the school run and her green sedan collided with a ute being driven by her estranged husband Troy Armstrong. Kirsty Armstrong (pictured), 36, was killed only 400 metres from her home at Molong, near Orange in NSW's Central West on June 9 Her bereaved parents, Donna and Peter Thornell (pictured), have criticised local domestic violence services who they claim failed their daughter Armstrong, 35, who is currently in hospital with serious injuries, has been charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder after their two daughters, aged eight and 11, were injured in the crash. Now, Ms Armstrong's parents have broken their silence to criticise local domestic violence services who they claim failed their daughter. 'There was so many failures, so many failures and we finally gave her the courage to reach out and she did,' the victim's mother, Donna Thornell told 9News. Ms Armstrong applied for an AVO against her ex in November but she wasn't granted an interim order until May, court documents reveal. She was killed less than a month later. Her father Peter Thornell said they wanted to campaign for change so that the same tragedy would not be repeated for another family. 'Something needs to change because Christy's death is not going to be for nothing,' he said. Troy Armstrong (right) has been charged with the murder of his estranged wife Kristy (left) who police allege he deliberately ran off the road The mother-of-three died instantly in the horror smash Mrs Thornell praised her daughter's kind and generous nature, saying: 'If you needed anything, she would be there within minutes.' Her children are now being care for by their grandparents. A GoFundMe page set up for the family in the wake of the tragedy has so far raised almost $60,000. 'Kristy was the epitome of selflessness, always putting her children's well-being and happiness above everything else,' it notes. 'She worked tirelessly to provide for them, to create a loving and nurturing home, and to ensure they had every opportunity to thrive. 'She was so selfless that she was a surrogate for her best friend giving them the greatest gift of all. There was nothing that she wouldnt do for somebody else in need.' National Party leader David Littleproud has hosed down speculation he could soon face a challenge for his position. The Queensland MP has held the job since May 30, 2022, after the Liberal-National Coalition lost to Labor in the federal election nine days earlier. Speculation arose on Sunday Mr Littleproud could be set for a leadership challenge as he faces disapproval over claims he is being 'dominated' by Liberal leader Peter Dutton. A senior National Party source claimed it was only a matter of time before his top job is challenged claiming there was some discontent within the party. 'It's not a question of if, it's a question of when,' they told The Daily Telegraph. National Party leader David Littleproud (pictured right with his partner Amelia Dobson) tried on Sunday morning to hose down speculation he could soon face a challenge for his position Mr Littleproud took over as Nationals leader from Barnaby Joyce, who is now said to be a likely challenger if there is to be a leadership spill in the junior Coalition partner. The other name being bandied about as interested in the Nationals' top job is Mr Littleproud's fellow Queenslander Keith Pitt. The current leader was realistic, though, saying, 'We're all on borrowed time in politics. Don't worry about that. No matter your political party.' Mr Littleproud said speculation of a leadership challenge is coming from 'a couple of bruised egos, but ... I've never taken anything for granted being the leader. 'It's the greatest honour I've ever been given to lead the party that I joined 25 years ago and whatever the party room decides, I accept,' he told 9News. 'But while I'm the leader, I'm just going to focus on my job about not just holding the government to account, but being constructive where I can.' If the outspoken Mr Joyce challenges and wins it will be his third time as the National Party leader. His first outing, from February 2016 to February 2018 ended in controversy when it was revealed he was in a relationship with a pregnant former staff member, Vikki Campion. Mr Joyce returned to the leadership in June 2021 and then stepped aside after the Coalition narrowly lost the May 23 election. But there are increased rumblings in the Nationals that Mr Littleproud is not doing enough to distinguish himself and the party from Peter Dutton and the Liberals. A senior Nationals figure said a challenge to the leadership is gathering steam and will happen. Barnaby Joyce (pictured right with his partner Vikki Campion) is thought to be set to challenge once again for the National Party leadership There is a growing sense of dissatisfaction in the party that Mr Littleproud is seen as too close to Mr Dutton, and there has also been talk of him having a strained relationship with some colleagues and staff members. 'His treatment of people in general and particularly staff is concerning particularly in the current environment,' one MP said. Asked about the claims he had 'lost his temper' with MPs and staff, the Nationals leader said it was 'all in the beltway'. 'Obviously in Parliament House, there are different opinions. There's a number of things and we always ... try to express them,' he added. 'That's how parliament operates. I don't get caught up in those types of things at all.' But supporters of Mr Littleproud say there is no mood for change at the top of the party, that the party is in a good place and he is the right leader. Some Nationals, though, were very disappointed that no party MP was allowed to speak on the debate on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament last Thursday. The feeling is that it was emblematic of how Mr Littleproud and the Nationals' agenda are kept in check by Mr Dutton. Mr Littleproud said Australians would prefer the focus be on them rather than on internal party squabbles. 'If others want to focus on me well good, but I'll just keep going until ... my time comes,' he said. If either Mr Joyce or Mr Pitt become the next National Party leader, it will make for more interesting times. For Mr Joyce, it would be a Lazarus-like third go at the top job, and if Mr Pitt succeeds it would likely put nuclear power in Australia on the agenda. He was the Resources Minister under Scott Morrison, and famously had to unknowingly share that office with Mr Morrison when the then prime minister secretly had himself sworn in to five other portfolios. Keith Pitt (pictured centre) is thought to be one of the likely challengers is there is a spill in the National Party leadership Mr Pitt is a long time supporter of nuclear energy, saying that in comparison to renewables, it has a 'very small footprint'. 'You don't need to build transmission lines all over the country through people's backyards and farms,' he told Sky News last September. 'You don't have to have two million hectares of solar panels which will be expired in 20 years or under.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Littleproud for comment. He lost more than $330,000 from his education company Australian man one of seven victims of $3.3million scam An Australian man living in London has almost lost his house and business after being scammed by an employee at one of the world's largest banks. Former teacher Wayne Johncock was fleeced out of $337,000 by Rajesh Ghedia who falsely claimed to be the vice president for the Bank of America. Ghedia was actually an employee working in the technology operations. Mr Johncock was one of seven people around the world convinced by Ghedia to invest into non-existent financial funds to a total of more than $3.3million between 2016 and 2022. Ghedia also faked having terminal cancer to claim $2.2million worth of insurance payouts from numerous companies claiming he would die within 12 months. An Australian man, Wayne Johncock (right), was fleeced for more than $330,000 by a man claiming to be the vice president of the Bank of America Ghedia claimed to be a wealthy trader and vice president at the bank of America when meeting Mr Johncock at a neighbour's Christmas party. He promised to invest millions into Mr Johncock's education business, but the former teacher was suspicious from the get-go. 'To really make sure that I knew that he was absolutely honest I said "right, I want to meet you in your place of employment and I want to communicate only through your work email",' Mr Johncock told SurreyLive. 'He said, "That's absolutely perfect' he was going to suggest the same".' Ghedia then spent 15 months speaking with Mr Johncock and convincing him that he would negotiate his funds for his education company. They would meet in the Bank of America offices where Mr Johncock would be provided a security pass to eat in the cafeteria with the scammer. 'Every day I thought I was dealing with the Bank of America ... (I) never ever thought I'd be involved in something like this,' Mr Johncock told Seven. Mr Johncock's losses to Ghedia's scam almost cost him his business and house. The mental anguish of the scam caused Mr Johncock to turn to self harm, which he has since worked through. Instead of investing his victim's money, Ghedia directed it to his personal account which funded a lavish lifestyle. He used the ill-gotten gains to pay for luxury cars, property and private education for his children. Rajesh Ghedia (pictured) is currently serving a jail sentence of six years and nine months after pleading guilty to more than 30 counts of fraud in 2022 Ghedia was sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment in June 2022 after pleading guilty to more than 30 counts of fraud. During sentencing, Judge Deborah Taylor described Gedia as a 'persistent fraudster and liar'. 'You have caused them (the victims) devastation, showing utter disregard for their mental wellbeing and finances,' Judge Taylor said. 'All have been left scarred.' Ghedia had also targeted parents of school friends, a cousin and a taxi driver who were promised they could double or triple the money they provided him. To avoid conversations with his victims, Ghedia would often make 'dreadful assertions' such as claiming his daughter had been killed in a car accident. People visit Grona Lund amusement park in Stockholm, Sweden, September 5, 2009. A fatal accident took place on the park's roller coaster Jetline on June 25, according to local media. Reuters-Yonhap One person was killed and several injured in a roller coaster accident at the Grona Lund amusement park in the Swedish capital on Sunday, the TT news agency reported, citing a park spokesperson. Public broadcaster SVT, citing eyewitnesses, said the park's Jetline roller coaster had partly derailed during a ride. Ambulances, fire trucks and a helicopter were seen arriving at the park, and police said they were investigating. "We are emptying the park and we've started our investigation," a police spokesperson said. Grona Lund said in a statement the 140-year-old park was closed until further notice. A spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment. Jenny Lagerstedt, a journalist visiting the park with her family, told SVT she was nearby and heard a metallic noise and noticed the track structure was shaking at the time of the accident. "My husband saw a roller coaster car with people in it falling to the ground," Lagerstedt said. "My children were scared," she added. The steel-tracked Jetline roller coaster reaches a speed of up to 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph) and a height of 30 meters (98 feet), transporting more than one million visitors each year, the amusement park says on its website. (Reuters) Her reign was defined by discretion. Always keeping her own counsel, the late Queen rarely let any hint of her own feelings emerge into the public realm. Yet she also kept a handwritten diary, part of a treasure trove of documents at Windsor Castle that could if ever it were made public offer a compelling insight into a woman who was uniquely placed at the forefront of world events for seven decades. What secrets may be contained within them? Soon, some of these incredible documents may be released into the national archives while others, deemed too sensitive or too personal, will remain confidential, under the tight control of the King. Choosing which papers are private is a job that requires the utmost discretion, given that they may contain the late Queen's innermost thoughts. Which is why the King has entrusted the task not to a team of expert historians, but to a retired footman known in Palace corridors as 'Tall Paul'. Which is why the King has entrusted the task not to a team of expert historians, but to a retired footman known in Palace corridors as 'Tall Paul' (right) Paul Whybrew, who stands 6ft 4in, served the Queen for 44 years and was one of the handful of loyal staff who kept her company in her final days at Balmoral. In 1982, he apprehended Michael Fagan who had broken into the Queen's bedroom at Buckingham Palace, wrestling the intruder to the ground and escorting him out of the building. But to the public, Mr Whybrew will be best recognised for his role in the James Bond sketch for the London 2012 Olympics. The softly spoken page was seen introducing Daniel Craig at Buckingham Palace with the words: 'Mr Bond, Your Majesty' while the Queen was sitting at her desk writing a letter. Now Mr Whybrew, who is in his early-60s, is responsible for all the notes within that desk and many more besides. Wearing gloves to protect the paper, he spends two days a week of his retirement sifting through the priceless documents. Paul Whybrew (left), who stands 6ft 4in, served the Queen for 44 years and was one of the handful of loyal staff who kept her company in her final days at Balmoral The late Queen confirmed she kept a handwritten diary but said it was much more perfunctory than the journals kept by Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother. Nevertheless, the contents could provide a compelling account of both world politics such as her meetings with Winston Churchill to Idi Amin and Donald Trump and intimate family life. A source said: 'For this task, King Charles needed someone he could trust, someone he could be sure would never breathe a word of whatever he came across. 'Tall Paul is the legacy man the keeper of the Queen's secrets. There is no one else that the King would have trusted with such a big job. This is the ultimate reward for his loyalty.' The contents of the archive have so far remained a mystery, but they are likely to contain extraordinary information about the Queen's meeting with Princess Diana to discuss her separation from Charles; the conversations with Prince Harry surrounding Megxit; and her thoughts on her 15 Prime Ministers. The documents will fall into three categories. First, some will be made public, particularly if there is a constitutional or governmental element. Now Mr Whybrew (back left, as a younger man), who is in his early-60s, is responsible for all the notes within that desk and many more besides Secondly, some will be deemed by the King to be private and held within his own files. Finally, some will fall somewhere in between and will be filed within the restricted archives at the Windsor Castle library and shown only to a handful of academics on request. The documents most likely to see the light of day are those where copies are kept by the Government. These fall under the 20-year rule, which was reduced from 30 years in 2013. Under the Public Records Act of 1958, it is the responsibility of Government departments to appraise and select documents to be transferred to the National Archives at Kew, West London, or another approved location. Unlike the Windsor archive, documents at Kew can be accessed by anyone and already include details of Royal events including the death of Princess Diana in 1997 and the abdication of King Edward VIII. The Queen's personal diaries, however, will be an issue for the King and his family. They could be released as part of an exhibition, the details of which would be agreed with the Cabinet Office. It is the responsibility of Government departments to appraise and select documents to be transferred to the National Archives at Kew, West London (pictured) If so, they would be kept by the Royal Collection Trust which manages Royal exhibition material. The late Queen once told broadcaster, and keen diarist, Michael Palin that she wrote her diaries for about 15 minutes each night, before she got too tired. And in a documentary, she told the then Bishop of Chelmsford: 'I keep a diary, but not like Queen Victoria's. It's quite small.' 'But you write it in your own hand?' asked the cleric. 'Oh yes,' replied the Monarch. 'Well, I can't write it any other way!' Queen Victoria was said to write 2,500 words a day in letters and journals which stretched to 122 volumes, but her daughter Beatrice destroyed sections she felt were too frank or personal. Yet plenty more are today available to read at the Royal Collection Trust website. As well as handwritten diaries, Elizabeth II's archives include bundles of letters both written and received which touch on almost every subject conceivable and contain early correspondence between her and Prince Philip. In many months' time, when Mr Whybrew's task is finished, a catalogue of the documents will be presented to the King, who makes the final decisions on what to make public. Sorting the late Queen's clothing will be another big task. Many outfits are in storage in Windsor Castle but there are many wardrobes in her private chambers to clear. Items such as underwear are most likely to be destroyed while outfits and hats will be ordered and categorised to be displayed at future exhibitions. Similarly the jewellery, including Elizabeth's favoured Queen Mary tiara, will be recorded in detail. Some pieces have been bequeathed to members of the family, others will be catalogued and locked away as part of the Monarch's collection. In return for his labours, Mr Whybrew has been granted lifelong leave to remain in a modest lodge cottage within the Windsor Castle estate. A source reports that the aide was 'very pleasantly surprised' to receive what has been described as 'a very good pay-off by palace standards' after the Queen died. This is in sharp contrast to Angela Kelly, the late Queen's dresser, who might have been the obvious choice to sort through the Queen's wardrobe. But she has been installed in a grace-and-favour home in Northern England, hundreds of miles from Windsor. A source said it was 'never going to be Angela' who would be entrusted to go through the late Queen's affairs. Mr Whybrew proved his loyalty as the Queen's health failed. While some courtiers became inconsolable, it fell to 'Tall Paul' to keep a stiff upper lip and corral the staff to do the same. A well-placed source said: 'At one point, Paul had to whisk others off in case Princess Anne saw them making a fuss.' The Queen, too, gave special tasks to Mr Whybrew when it became clear that her health was failing, with one insider saying he was given the job of contacting former aides before she died. Among them was said to be Paul Burrell, the 'other Paul' who started working for Her Majesty around the same time as Mr Whybrew but was altogether a different character. It is not known what message if any the late Queen wished to convey to Burrell but some say she was looking to set her affairs in order. Palace insiders say the presence of Mr Whybrew in Windsor is particularly comforting to the King, who lost his long-serving aide Michael Fawcett when he was forced to step down from The Prince's Foundation over a cash-for-honours scandal. The King's top team is also set to change shortly, with rumours that his private secretary, Clive Alderton, may return to the Foreign Office. A source said that the King is also set to hire two people of colour to join his senior team as he seeks to promote greater diversity within the palace. As the new reign continues to unfold, lessons are being learnt from the past. There will be no repeat of the tawdry travelling exhibition of several of Diana's personal belongings after her death, with her wedding dress put on show in a downmarket casino complex in Connecticut and in Las Vegas. Perhaps chastened by the mawkish way in which rich collectors leapt on his first wife's belongings, Charles is said to be keen to ensure his late mother's memory is properly celebrated and protected. While an exhibition is planned to celebrate his parents' lives, a source has said that there is no rush for statues to be commissioned. With his mother's belongings safely being handled by Tall Paul, the King is said to be confident that the Palace can preserve her legacy while protecting her secrets. A former aide said: 'Paul is so discreet that he'll take the Queen's secrets to the grave.' Given choice of $348.80 fine or loss of driver's licence A furious single mum has warned fellow dog owners about a surprising rule that saw her threatened with the loss of her driver's licence if she didn't pay a $348.80 fine. Jo Marshall was slapped with the daunting choice because she didn't cancel the registration for her Rhodesian ridgeback, Rose, when she moved interstate from Queensland to New South Wales in 2020. Ms Marshall ignored digital reminders issued by Sunshine Coast Council about renewing her dog registration since that time - because she no longer lived there. In 2020 she moved 1,282km from her Noosa home to regional NSW for her job, bringing her daughter and her dog with her. But because Ms Marshall didn't cancel the registration, her former council continued to accrue a debt in her name for Rose's registration, even though the family resided elsewhere. Jo Marshall was slapped with the daunting choice of a $350 fine or loss of licence because she didn't cancel the registration for her dog Rose - even though she had moved across the country. Pictured, Rose with Ms Marshall Ms Marshall expressed frustration at the size of the fine, considering a year's dog registration with Sunshine Coast Council costs only $24 Eventually the debt was passed to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER), run by the Queensland Revenue Office, which issued her with the Notice of Intention to suspend her licence. But the notice warned her of an alternative punishment, stating in red writing: 'Pay your overdue debt or we will suspend your driver's licence'. Ms Marshall cannot afford to lose her licence as she drives around 1,000km a week, and visits her daughter who is enrolled at a boarding school. A frustrated Ms Marshall told Daily Mail Australia she couldn't get out of the fine even though she didn't use the service she was charged for. 'There is no way around the fine. Its in the terms and conditions and I cant afford to fight it and lose,' she said. 'I just want others to know of this terrible hidden money making scheme by the Sunshine Coast Council. 'Councils should not have the power to suspend drivers licenses something that is so crucial to daily life especially in the country or to charge such a ridiculous fine for not cancelling a dog registration.' Ms Marshall felt she was being hit in the hip pocket even though she tried to be a responsible dog owner. 'It seems they are punishing the people trying to do the right thing by registering their dog in the first place, rather than going out their and fining people who dont,' Ms Marshall told Daily Mail Australia. 'I cant believe they have to power to suspend your license in something related to pet ownership. 'I just want to really raise awareness on the whole hidden condition.' She also expressed frustration at the size of the fine, considering a year's registration for a dog with Sunshine Coast Council costs only $24. Even three years of missed dog registration payments would only equal $72, but her fine was $348.80. In February, ABC reported more than 2,800 Queenslanders received a fine from the SPER in the preceding year for not paying their dog registration fees. Of those, over 500 lost their driver's licences. Ms Marshall also posted a warning to other dog owners at a Noosa community page on social media. 'Word of warning to anyone leaving the area physically cancel a your dog registration or 2.5 years later you will get a fine for $350 or they will cancel your drivers license, no way out!' she wrote. 'In the fine print, I had no other notices only to say you need to renew your dog registration but I wasnt living there so I deleted it. 'Dont assume it just lapses like I did. 'They should be more transparent about such a disgraceful fine.' Locals on the page were baffled by the Queensland ruling. 'What has your driver's licence to do with your dog?' one man asked. 'Why would they cancel a driving licence? Makes no sense.' 'Are you sure its not a scam?' one woman wrote. 'I would absolutely dispute it,' said another. 'How can they charge you for no service?' Ms Marshall felt she was being hit in the hip pocket even though she tried to be a responsible dog owner Ms Marshall ignored digital reminders issued by Sunshine Coast Council about renewing her dog registration since that time - because she no longer lived there Ms Marshall did dispute the fine and was told the fine print in her original registration for Rose covered the council's actions. Another man posted that he copped the same fine for the same reason. 'Exactly the same happened to me and I spent hours on the phone and two visits to Noosa Council from Brisbane,' he wrote. 'All was a complete waste of time as the fine was unable to be reversed as it was now in the hands of SPER and again the threat of having my drivers licence cancelled was used.' As usual, faced with what seems like administrative unfairness, commenters resorted to humour. 'Lets all learn from this,' one man wrote. 'This wouldnt happen if you dont register your dog in the first place.' 'They have to pay for the Olympics somehow,' was another person's cheeky response. Daily Mail Australia approached the Queensland Revenue Office and Sunshine Coast Council for comment. The federal judge who freed Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter after he was convicted of triple murder has died at the age of 94. H. Lee Sarokin died in La Jolla, California on Tuesday where he lived with his wife Margie in retirement. His son Jeff Sarokin said the cause of death was pulmonary fibrosis. The judge gained notoriety in 1985 when he threw out the convictions of boxer Carter and John Artis, two Black men who were wrongly sentenced to prison for killing three white men. Sarokin also presided over a landmark liability case against tobacco companies and slammed the industry as 'the king of concealment and disinformation' for hiding the dangers of smoking. In another high-profile case the judge ruled that a homeless man could not be banned from a New Jersey library due to his odor. Federal judge H. Lee Sarokin, who freed Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter after he was convicted of triple murder, has died at the age of 94. John Artis (left) and Carter, were wrongly sentenced to prison for killing three white men. Pictured: The two men arriving at Pasaic County Courthouse Annex in Paterson, New Jersey on May 25, 1967 Carter was freed after nearly two decades in prison but Artis had already been released on parole at the time Sarokin spent 15 years as a United States District Court judge in Newark, New Jersey where he oversaw the release of Carter and Artis. The two men were convicted of the killings of three white men who were shot to death in a Paterson tavern in 1966 by an all-white jury. Carter was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison and Artis was given 15 years to life. The prosecution did not provide a motive and the two men had an alibi from several people at the time of the killings. However, they were convicted using the testimony of two men who had long criminal records and one of them said he saw Carter and Artis leaving the tavern with guns in their hands. The State Supreme Court overturned the convictions in 1976 after the witnesses recanted their testimony and evidence of misconduct from the prosecution came to light. They maintained the murders had been revenge for the killing of a black tavern owner during a retail and the witness who withdrew his testimony decided to give evidence again and both men were found guilty for a second time. Defense lawyers brought the case to the the federal court in Newark in 1985 following the failure of state appeals. They argued that the convictions be overturned because of constitutional violations and Judge Sarokin agreed. He said the prosecutors had based their evidence on 'an appeal to racism rather than reason, concealment rather than disclosure'. Sarokin added that they 'fatally infected the trial' by claiming the murders were over racial revenge without any evidence and improperly withheld information that could be used by the defense. Carter was freed after nearly two decades in prison but Artis had already been released on parole at the time. Before he died in 2014, Carter told the New York Daily News that had been 'freed from a living hell by the brave Judge H. Lee Sarokin' Sarokin overturned the conviction and said the prosecutors had based their evidence on 'an appeal to racism rather than reason, concealment rather than disclosure' A film was made based on the events in 1999 and it starred actor Denzel Washington (left) as Carter with Rod Steiger playing Sarokin Before he died in 2014, Carter told the New York Daily News that had been 'freed from a living hell by the brave Judge H. Lee Sarokin'. He used to call Sarokin every year on the anniversary of the ruling to chat. 'His calls touched me deeply,' the judge told The San Diego Union-Tribune. Carter's innocence was promoted by celebrities and his case was the basis of Bob Dylan's 1975 song Hurricane. A film was made based on the events in 1999 and it starred actor Denzel Washington as Carter with Rod Steiger playing Sarokin. The judge was also extremely critical of tobacco companies during a landmark case against them. He started a pre-trial ruling by saying that among those 'who believe that illness and death of consumers is an appropriate cost of their own prosperity' the industry 'may be the king of concealment and disinformation'. But Sarokin had to step down because an appeals court ruled his comments suggested bias against the tobacco makers. He was nominated to serve on the same appeals court two years later and said his language may have been 'unduly strong', during a senate hearing. But after he retired, he spoke out about a case where electronic cigarette companies were fighting scrutiny by the Food and Drug Administration in 2016. 'Not much has changed,' he wrote in a letter to The New York Times. 'I presided over the first tobacco litigation for about 10 years. At my Senate hearing for elevation to the Court of Appeals, I conceded quite reluctantly that my language may not have been appropriate for a judicial opinion. Carter used to call Sarokin every year on the anniversary of the ruling to chat The judge was also extremely critical of tobacco companies during a landmark case against them 'I now wish to retract that concession and declare that it wasnt harsh enough.' In 1991, Sarokin ruled that a homeless man could not be barred from the Morristown library based on his smell. He said the regulations used by the public space violated the man's rights as they were too broad. 'The policy neither contains nor refers to identifiable standards' of hygiene that constitute a nuisance to others, he said. Sarokin added: 'If we wish to shield our eyes and noses from the homeless, we should revoke their condition, not their library cards.' The judge graduated from Dartmouth College before heading to Harvard Law School where he graduated in 1953. He was a lawyer, mostly in the private practice, in Union County, New Jersey during the 60s before he was nominated to a federal judgeship by former President Jimmy Carter. He then served on the district court in New Jersey from 1979 to 1994 and later, on the appeals court until 1996. Sarokin later settled in San Diego and became a private mediator and arbitrator. He wrote about legal and political matters on his own blog and for the HuffPost. He is survived by his wife Margie, sons Jeff and Jim, daughter Abby Mantini as well as two stepchildren, Ted Schlein and Kathy Schlein and 11 grandchildren. British spies are being filmed by Chinese surveillance cameras in front of MI6 headquarters, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Cameras made by Hikvision which is banned in US federal buildings on national security grounds have been installed on a lamp post across the road from the base's front gates in London. Security experts last night warned the cameras, which rotate up to 360 degrees and can zoom in from up to 165ft away, could be used by Beijing spies to monitor all those going in and out of the HQ of Britain's foreign intelligence service. Our reporters also found Hikvision cameras installed in front of Vauxhall Underground station, which could record MI6 personnel commuting to and from work. The security blunder comes after the Cabinet Office vowed to ban Hikvision cameras from all Government buildings on national security grounds. Cameras made by Hikvision which is banned in US federal buildings on national security grounds have been installed on a lamp post (pictured) across the road from the base's front gates in London This is because Hikvision a state-owned company with strong links to the Chinese Communist Party is suspected of providing a surveillance back door to China's intelligence service, the Ministry of State Security (MSS). The Hikvision cameras near the MI6 building have been installed by Lambeth Council to monitor traffic and antisocial behaviour in the area. But security experts last night urged the council to remove them immediately. Philip Ingram, a former Army intelligence officer, said: 'The cameras pose a very serious security risk. The data that has been collected by Lambeth Council could be intercepted by the Chinese MSS, and cameras outside any intelligence service building in the UK would be high priority for them.' He added: 'Lambeth should remove them. I don't think any of our public bodies should be using cameras that come from a country that has the potential to use them against our state.' MI6 spies perform some of the most daring overseas assignments, from infiltrating terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda to running agents inside hostile states including China and Russia. Security experts last night warned the cameras (pictured), which rotate up to 360 degrees and can zoom in from up to 165ft away, could be used by Beijing spies to monitor all those going in and out of the HQ of Britain's foreign intelligence service READ MORE: Chinese surveillance cameras discovered at royal Sandringham estate and at least FIVE Government departments Advertisement For this reason, obtaining images of the men and women who operate out of the building would prove a vital source of information for enemy spies. Madeleine Stone, from the pressure group Big Brother Watch, said: 'Hikvision is owned by the Chinese state and has a history of serious security flaws. It is highly embarrassing for MI6 that these cameras are monitoring them. 'The widespread use of Chinese state-owned surveillance companies clearly poses a risk to the privacy and security of everyone.' Hikvision has to comply with China's draconian National Intelligence Law, which requires it to hand over any information, including stored data, to the MSS. Human rights groups also oppose the use of Hikvision cameras because the firm is used by the Chinese authorities to surveil millions of persecuted Uighur Muslims living in concentration camps. Last month, it emerged that Hikvision cameras were installed at the northern headquarters of GCHQ, the Government's eavesdropping service, in Manchester. Heron House, which GCHQ had leased from Manchester City Council, had at least eight Hikvision cameras installed around it. The MoS also previously revealed how Hikvision cameras were installed in Army barracks and sites across the country including the King's Sandringham Estate. The Cabinet Office vowed to remove all Hikvision cameras from Government buildings. It said it will publish a timeline for doing so, but has not yet. Last night, the Foreign Office, which is in charge of MI6, said it did not comment on security matters. Lambeth Council did not respond to our questions. One of Britain's most infamous migrant centres is being expanded so that it can house hundreds more people at the site for longer, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The Manston migrant centre in Kent, where Channel boat arrivals are brought and 'processed' before being sent to hotels across the country, is being enlarged so that it can house asylum seekers for up to five days before they are dispersed around the country. Sources have told the MoS that the Home Office is turning existing flats at the former air base into accommodation for migrants. The move comes as the Government desperately tries to find alternative accommodation for the more than 51,000 boat migrants currently running up a daily hotel bill of 6 million picked up by the taxpayer. The Home Office last year spent 3.6 billion on asylum support costs. Yesterday, as police vehicles patrolled outside Manston, the MoS saw through its perimeter fences builders working on the site. The Manston migrant centre in Kent (pictured), where Channel boat arrivals are brought and 'processed' before being sent to hotels across the country, is to be enlarged so that it can house asylum seekers for longer It is understood that staff at the site were told that the fire service training centre built on the site when the air base closed will be demolished and pre-fab buildings erected for use as flats for migrants. One source, who did not want to be named, said that construction has been delayed as builders removed asbestos found in existing buildings. At present the centre accommodates migrants in marquees for up to 48 hours before they are sent to hotels. But it is believed that once the new accommodation is ready, migrants may be kept at Manston for longer before being moved to other centres, such as offshore barges and other former air bases. Ministers hope that migrants could be accommodated there for months. Manston was at the centre of a national scandal last November when violence between staff and detainees broke out and diseases such as diphtheria spread as the 1,600-capacity site overflowed with 4,000 migrants, some of whom had been housed there for months. Hundreds of these asylum seekers are now suing the Home Office for unlawful detention and inhumane treatment. At present the centre accommodates migrants in marquees for up to 48 hours before they are sent to hotels READ MORE: Migrants will be housed in MARQUEES across the country under new Home Office plans Advertisement Ministers fear a massive influx of migrants in Channel boat crossings in the coming weeks. In the past seven days, 1,294 migrants arrived in 28 boats, according to Home Office data. The total for this month up to Friday was 3,179, compared to 3,139 for June 2022. Experts are predicting a huge surge during July and August, and there are fears that Manston could be overwhelmed. Lucy Moreton, of the Immigration Services Union (ISU) whose members work at Manston, said: 'The ISU is told by Border Force that there are adequate plans in place to ensure that this summer's predicted arrival rate can be processed and moved to onward accommodation safely. 'But they have declined to share what those plans might be. Staff fear a return to the chaotic and dangerous scenes from last year.' Last night, the Home Office said that the new facilities will contain a canteen area, recreational rooms, multi-faith prayer room and phones. A spokesman said: 'Accommodation offered to asylum seekers, on a no choice basis, meets our legal and contractual requirements.' Suella Braverman was last night embroiled in a war of words with Meta CEO and owner of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg, after she accused the social media company of putting children at risk. The Home Secretary said she was writing to the multi-billionaire to argue that his plans for end-to-end encryption on Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct would seriously restrict the ability of the authorities to detect instances of child grooming and the dissemination of sexual abuse material. End-to-end encryption is a method of secure communication that stops third parties, including law enforcement or the company itself, from reading private messages sent between users. Mrs Braverman, who has travelled to New Zealand to attend a Five Eyes security conference tomorrow, said: As a mother to young children, I wont stand by idly and watch this happen. Ms Braverman (pictured) said Meta's end-to-end encryption would restrict the ability of the authorities to detect instances of child grooming The Home Secretary said she was writing to Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) to argue that his plans for end-to-end encryption on Facebook Messenger and Instagram Direct But a spokesman for Facebooks owner Meta denied its move to ensure the privacy of its customers messages would stop it from taking action against this heinous abuse. Mrs Braverman, who will speak at the conference to allies from the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada about joint efforts to tackle online child sexual abuse, said that Facebooks plans to go dark later this year should not compromise the safety of children. In the UK, there were 34,485 offences relating to indecent images of children in the year ending December 2022 and it is estimated that up to 850,000 people pose a sexual threat to children. There are also more than 400,000 searches for online child sexual abuse material every month. Mrs Braverman said: There is no greater evil than hurting a child. The predators who operate on the internet must have no place to hide. If tech companies such as Meta proceed with plans to roll out end-to-end encryption, with minimal safeguards in place, they will no longer be able to detect or report child sexual abuse material that is shared on their platforms predominantly through private messages putting children in the UK at unacceptable risk. Make no mistake, offenders use social media platforms to target and groom children for sexual purposes. End-to-end encryption is a method of secure communication that stops third parties, including law enforcement or the company itself, from reading private messages (file image) She said that in her letter to Mr Zuckerberg she would urge Meta to embed robust detection measures as it rolls out encryption across its messaging platforms, otherwise the court of public opinion will judge its actions. She added: The UK Government is unambiguously pro-innovation and pro-privacy but this cannot come at such a serious cost to child safety. I look forward to his response. A Meta spokesman said: The majority of Brits already rely on apps that use encryption to keep them safe from hackers, fraudsters and criminals. We dont think people want us reading their private messages so have developed safety measures that prevent, detect and allow us to take action against this heinous abuse, while maintaining online privacy and security. We remain committed to working with law enforcement and child safety experts as we roll out end-to-end encryption. Former President Donald Trump made a number of second term promises during his speech Saturday night at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's gala - including throwing a giant party to mark America's 250th birthday. During his presidency, Trump pushed the idea of having North Korea-like military parades and was finally able to pull off a big Fourth of July fete in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 2019 - complete with tanks and flyovers. Noting how the U.S. would mark a big anniversary in 2026, he pledged to do it again, saying that to 'restore pride in our history and confidence in our future' he would have a 'massive year-long salute to America to celebrate the 250th annivesary.' 'And we're going to have a big celebration. And it's going to be a celebration like we really deserve in this country for everything we've gone through,' Trump said. 'With you at my side we will give our nation's founding the amazing anniversary party that America needs and so richly deserves,' the 2024 hopeful added. Former President Donald Trump made a number of second term promises during his speech Saturday night at the Faith & Freedom Coalition's gala - including throwing a giant party to mark America's 250th birthday In 2019, the then-president hosted a 'Salute to America' in front of the Lincoln Memorial, which was a departure from typical Fourth of July celebrations The event featured tanks and military flyovers, instead of the president simply addressing a crowd of supporters and military families on the South Lawn The former president also rolled out a potential new campaign slogan during his nearly hour and a half long appearance in front of the conservative Christian crowd. 'I'm being indicted for you,' he said. He continued to complain about the recent federal charges brought against him for mishandling classified materials, again arguing that he was merely an ex-president 'legally keeping his own documents.' The former president also called out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg - who charged him with crimes related to the 2016 Stormy Daniels hush-money scheme - vowing to go after him and other DAs if Trump retakes the White House in the 2024 election. 'I will direct a completely overhauled DOJ to investigate every radical DA in America,' Trump pledged, calling them 'racists in reverse.' He earned a 'USA' chant from the crowd as he proclaimed, 'I'm probably the only person in history who was indicted and my numbers went up.' 'Everytime the radical left Democrats, Marxist, communists and fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of courage,' Trump said. Trump knocked around President Joe Biden for son Hunter's business dealings with China - portraying the president as soft on the rising power due to his family's financial entanglements. 'Joe Biden is the most corrupt president in the history of our country, by far,' he said. 'Just two days ago, a very respected IRS whistleblower revealed that Crooked Joe sat in a room while his son, Hunter, messaged a Chinese Communist Party Official,' the former president continued. Trump then read to the crowd a text message from Hunter to a Chinese business associate. In the text, Hunter says he's with his father and then tells the associate: 'and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled.' 'This is cash he's talking about,' Trump told the crowd of the 'commitment.' 'Within ten days, the Bidens got $5.1 million from China.' 'Can you believe that? I didn't know that he was that tough,' Trump said of Hunter, earning laughs. Trump then claimed that Biden 'wants to do nothing because he can't' on China wanting to build a troop training facility on Cuba, adding that nothing can be done, 'unless I get back in.' Former President Donald Trump tried to connect President Joe Biden with son Hunter's business deals with China and suggested Biden wasn't standing up to China because of his family's financial ties 'I have to ask Ralph a question, were your other candidates treated this way?' former President Donald Trump (center) said, turning to Faith & Freedom Coalition founder Ralph Reed (right), who was seated at the dais behind him, cuing cheers from the crowd 'In which case I will inform China that they have 48 hours to get any military and spying equipment out of Cuba, or I will drop the hammer, and there will be tariffs unlike anything China has seen before,' Trump said. Trump was easily the favorite speaker at the conference - which featured every major 2024 Republican presidential candidate. 'I have to ask Ralph a question, were your other candidates treated this way?' Trump said, turning to Faith & Freedom Coalition founder Ralph Reed, who was seated at the dais behind him, cuing cheers from the crowd. Trump then joked that one presidential candidate 'was booed off the stage,' alluding to New Jersey Gov. Chris Chrstie's, whose Trump criticism Friday morning at the conference got him heckled. He was joined onstage by MAGA allies - failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who was presented a lifetime achievement award. The former president teased a second term agenda. He got big cheers when he pledged to 'obliterate the deep state.' Trump said he would create 'the Truth and Reconciliation Commission' that would declassify any documents that have to do with the so-called 'deep state' and unearth any 'spying.' Trump pledged to harden the border and kick illegal immigrants out of the U.S. He said he would command the 'largest domestic deporation operation' ever seen. And he would 'deny entry' to all 'communists and totalitarians.' 'My question is, what do we do with the ones who are already here?' he mused. Trump again claimed he could have the Ukraine war 'settled' in 24 hours. 'Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled,' he said. He got boisterous applause when he said he would 'be your Peacemaker.' The crowd was made up of Christian conservatives who cheered that it was the one -year anniversary of the demise of Roe v. Wade. 'I will fight against the demented late term abortionists in the Democratic Party,' Trump pledged. The former president has refused to say if he would support a proposed 15-week national abortion ban, which former Vice President Mike Pence, among others, supports. Instead Trump said that in a second term he would 'bring everybody together to protect our precious unborn babies in a very big way.' The ex-president also pledged to not allow funding to go to public schools that taught Critical Race Theory or pushed a vaccine mandate. Taking aim at the transgender community - he promised to kick transgender troops out of the military again, ban underage gender confirming medical treatments, bar taxpayer funding from going toward gender transitions and prohibit transgender women from participating in women's sports. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has said re-adjusting to life back in the UK after six years imprisoned in Iran was 'very hard', as her story was kept 'fresh on a daily basis' by Iranian unrest. Protests in Iran erupted in September last year following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody, after she was arrested for wearing her hijab too loosely. As many as 19,000 protesters have been arrested and more than 500 killed during the unrest, according to reports. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 45, pictured, who returned to the UK in March last year, said: 'Early on when I was released, the uprising in Iran happened... since then I went through stories of many other people who were arrested and then their stories came out. 'I resonated very much with what they have gone through. My story was suddenly so fresh on a daily basis and I couldn't get myself out of it it was very hard. 'I think settling down was more complicated and difficult than what I was expecting because of what is happening. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (pictured) she feels the continued unrest in Iran is no longer getting the attention it deserves from governments outside of the country READ MORE: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe recalls how she was locked up in solitary confinement Nazanin was being held as a political prisoner in solitary confinement in Evin prison Advertisement 'But I can't complain I'm free and I'm out, whereas many of my friends are still in prison.' She also said that she feels the continued unrest in Iran is no longer getting the attention it deserves from governments outside of the country. 'There was a lot of momentum but then, of course, the world moves on,' she said. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband Richard Ratcliffe also commented on a report on the Foreign Office's handling of hostage diplomacy including how the department managed his wife's case saying it had a lot of 'important' findings as he criticised the Government's 'head-in-the-sand' approach. The report, published in April, condemned its handling of cases such as Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe's and that of British-Iranian dual national Anoosheh Ashoori, who was released alongside Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe after almost three years in Iranian jail. Mr Ratcliffe said: 'At the moment, cases like Nazanin's are reasonably rare... but they're growing and that growth is something that the Government is not really dealing with. 'The head-in-the-sand, "let's hope we keep this at a low level" [approach]... doesn't work.' The NHS is to warn pregnant women that they shouldn't use gas and air because it's harmful to the environment. The health service has launched a crackdown on harmful greenhouse gas emissions from the most popular method of pain relief for women during labour. The Scottish Government has written to all health boards with an NHS plan which suggests women should be encouraged not to use Entonox for the good of the planet. It proposes expectant mothers play their part in 'a collaborative mitigation approach' to cutting the impact of Entonox. It warns: 'Future recommendations may require that education and training on the environmental impact of different analgesic techniques for labour should be made available to expectant mothers and care givers by antenatal services and delivery suite teams.' The health service has launched a crackdown on harmful greenhouse gas emissions from the most popular method of pain relief for women during labour Entonox, or gas and air, is popular with mums-to-be because it has no harmful side-effects for them or the baby. However, along with oxygen, it contains nitrous oxide a powerful greenhouse gas. Campaigners fear that the move could put women under pressure to shun Entonox for more invasive analgesics. Milli Hill, author of the Positive Birth Book, said: 'I worry that if women are told the choice of gas and air could potentially be damaging for the environment, but not offered any alternative, then this could just put more pressure on women to make compromises and sacrifices at an individual level, when we know that there are many more impactful ways in which both the NHS and the government could address climate change at a national and global level. 'Birth in the UK is becoming increasingly medicalised, and any threat to the option of gas and air could exacerbate this, as women will probably turn to more invasive forms of pain relief.' Studies show nitrous oxide is almost 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to global warming. In a letter to boards, the Scottish Government described it as a 'pollutant with a long atmospheric life' and 'an ozone depleting substance'. Attached to the letter was the NHS Scotland Nitrous Oxide Mitigation Implementation Plan which says the health service aims for zero nitrous oxide emissions by 2027. Some hospitals have tried 'cracking' technology, which breaks Entonox down into harmless nitrogen and oxygen. However, the plan said that required 'excellent technique by patients and staff to correctly use a mask system'. It then suggested mothers-to-be receive training on the environmental effect of different pain relief options, saying: 'The programme lead is keen to develop a collaborative mitigation approach working with expectant mothers, delivery suites teams and antenatal services to explore and articulate a full suite non-pharmacological and pharmacological options. 'Future recommendations may require that education and training on the environmental impact of different analgesic techniques for labour should be made available to expectant mothers and care givers by antenatal services and delivery suite teams.' A spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said it is 'vital' that all women 'have access to safe and effective pain relief'. Jaki Lambert, director for Scotland at the Royal College of Midwives, said it 'supports a move to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly NHS, but at the same time we would not want to see the pain relief options available to women reduced, until more sustainable ones are developed and available'. Last night the Scottish Government said that although there are environmental concerns about Entonox, it would continue to be made available. A spokesman said: 'Women will continue to have the same access to pain relief they always have, with staff to support them in making the best choices about their birth plan. 'Any suggestion that nitrous oxide will be withdrawn or not be available for patients is simply false.' The American entrepreneur who funded Just Stop Oil has slammed their activism as 'performative' and claimed the group is alienating those it could be winning over. Trevor Neilson co-founded the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF), a group that bankrolled Extinction Rebellion and JSO, but has since resigned his position and described their methods as 'unproductive'. The 50-year-old Californian businessman stepped down in 2021 but has since decided to speak out to criticise the groups' protest tactics, which include 'slow marches' and blocking roads. Major events have also been disrupted by JSO, including the Rugby Cup final at Twickenham and the Epsom Derby, with Wimbledon suspected to be the next sporting event under threat. 'It's become disruption for the sake of disruption,' Neilson told The Times. 'Working people that are trying to get to their job, get their kid dropped off at school, survive a brutal cost of living crisis in the UK, you know, there's a certain hierarchy of needs that they have. Trevor Neilson co-founded the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF), a group that bankrolled Extinction Rebellion and JSO after the Californian wildfires in 2018 (file image) Major events have also been disrupted by JSO, including the Rugby Cup final at Twickenham and the Epsom Derby, with Wimbledon suspected to be the next sporting event under threat Neilson was once an enthusiastic supporter of the controversial tactics employed by the climate groups, but said their activities have caused him increasing unease. 'If at the same time they have a pink-haired, tattooed and pierced protester standing in front of their car, so that their kid is late for their test that day, that does not encourage them to join the movement,' he told The Times. 'It's just performative. It's not accomplishing anything. I absolutely believe that it has now become counterproductive, and I just feel like that has to be said by somebody that was involved in the beginnings of what it has become.' The passionate environmentalist started the fund after wild fires tore through the neighbourhood where he lives in Malibu in 2018. He admitted that at the time, his work in sustainability had been being done from a safe distance from the real-world impacts of climate change, but that the experience of his home being under threat was a wake-up call. His criticism of where CEF's funding goes was rebuked by the its current CEO, Margaret Klein Salamon. She said that disruptive activism, like that carried out by XR and JSO, is 'the single most effective force in terms of moving the conversation' around the climate crisis. 'We are sleep-walking off a cliff and the activists are waking us up,' she said. 'You'd rather do that than walk off the cliff.' Members of the Wagner Group military company guard an area as other load their tank onto a truck on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, prior to leaving an area at the headquarters of the Southern Military District. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Yevgeny Prigozhin's troops who joined him in the uprising will not face prosecution and those who did not will be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. AP-Yonhap Wagner mercenaries were headed back to base on Sunday after Russia's President Vladimir Putin agreed to allow their leader to avoid treason charges and accept exile in Belarus. The agreement ended the immediate threat that Yevgeny Prigozhin's private army could storm Moscow, but analysts said Wagner's revolt had exposed Putin's rule as more fragile than had been thought. Security measures imposed under an "anti-terrorism operation" were still in place in Moscow on Sunday, and Prigozhin's exact whereabouts unclear. He was last seen late on Saturday in an SUV leaving Rostov-on-Don, where his fighters had seized a military headquarters, to the cheers of a group of young civilian bystanders, who came to shake his hand through the car window. Trucks carrying armored vehicles with fighters on them followed his car. His troops had left the Rostov military headquarters, and authorities in the Voronezh and Lipetsk regions northwards to Moscow said more forward Wagner units had also turned back. There were reports that Wagner fighters had come as close as 400 kilometers from Moscow, while Prigozhin himself claimed that "in 24 hours we got 200 kilometers from Moscow." His long-standing feud with military top brass over the conduct of the Russian operation in Ukraine boiled over on Saturday, when Wagner forces seized the Rostov base and advanced towards the capital. Putin denounced the action as treason and vowed to punish the perpetrators, accusing them of pushing Russia to the bring of civil war only to then accept a rapidly cobbled-together agreement to avert Moscow's most serious security crisis in decades. Within hours of Prigozhin's surprise announcement that his forces would return to base to avoid "spilling Russian blood", the Kremlin said Putin's former ally would leave for Belarus. Russia would drop the "armed rebellion" charges against Prigozhin and not prosecute Wagner troops, it said. Ukraine reveled in the chaos, stepping up its own counteroffensive against Russian forces in the country and mocking Putin's apparent humiliation. Analysts also said the deal had exposed weakness in the Russian president's grip on power. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he had negotiated the truce with Prigozhin. Moscow thanked him, but observers noted that an intervention by Lukashenko, usually seen as Putin's junior partner, was itself an embarrassment. Little is known about the deal, with Minsk saying simply that "negotiations continued throughout the day." Asked if Prigozhin had been given a guarantee that he would be able to leave to Belarus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told domestic media: "It is the word of the president of Russia." In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky's senior aide Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted: "Prigozhin humiliated Putin/the state and showed that there is no longer a monopoly on violence." Russia insisted the rebellion had no impact on its faltering Ukraine campaign and the day after the mutiny said it had repelled new offensive attacks by Ukrainian forces. Kyiv, however, said the unrest offered a "window of opportunity" for its long-awaited counter-offensive. Ukraine also said Sunday that the death toll on this weekend's strike on Kyiv rose to five, with two more bodies recovered from rubble in the capital's Solomyanski district. Wagner fighters were often thrown into the front of Russia's advance in Ukraine, made up of volunteers, ex-security officers as well as thousands of convicts Prigozhin had recruited. The outfit also conducts several mercenary operations in the Middle East and West Africa. These missions are seen to have the Kremlin's backing and amount to Russian influence operations to curry favour with African governments and win access to mineral resources. Independent political analyst Konstantin Kalachev told AFP: "The crisis of institutions and trust was not obvious to many in Russia and the West yesterday. Today, it is clear. "Yesterday's call for unity made by representatives of the elites only confirmed this. Behind these is a crisis of institutions and fears for themselves," he said. He noted that Russian leaders would be concerned by the sight of civilian onlookers applauding Wagner units in Rostov. "Putin's position is weakened," he said. "Putin underestimated Prigozhin, just as he underestimated Zelensky before that. He could have stopped this with a phone call to Prigozhin but he did not." The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said: "The Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable equilibrium. "The Lukashenko-negotiated deal is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution, and Prigozhin's rebellion exposed severe weaknesses in the Kremlin and Russian MoD." The United States and its Western allies, who back Ukraine, were tight-lipped about the revolt amid concerns that Putin's control over the nuclear-armed country could be slipping. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the daily Il Messaggero: "The myth of the unity of Putin's Russia is over. This internal escalation divides the Russian military alliance. "It's the inevitable outcome when you support and finance a legion of mercenaries," he said. China's foreign minister Qin Gang met Russia's deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing on Sunday, China's foreign ministry said, but released few details about what was discussed beyond "international and regional issues of common concern". Russia's foreign ministry said China had "expressed support for the efforts of the leadership of the Russian Federation to stabilize the situation in the country in connection with the events of June 24." (AFP) Humza Yousaf's flagship independence convention descended into farce yesterday after the SNP leader was heckled off stage by a furious party member during his speech. As loud boos rang out around the hall where there were hundreds of empty seats the First Minister was embarrassingly forced to abandon his speech to try to reason with the heckler. Theresa Mallett, 61, from Glenrothes, Fife, was initially jeered by SNP delegates for her interruption, prompting Mr Yousaf to plead for them to stop, adding: 'Folks, let's not boo.' He then walked into the audience to speak to Ms Mallett, putting his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. The chaotic scenes came minutes into the SNP's Convention for Independence in Dundee, billed as an 'exciting event' to 'discuss our strategy for securing Scotland's independence'. Humza Yousaf was heckled off stage by during his flagship convention yesterday However, just days before the 10-a-head event, conducted amid a muted atmosphere with 500 empty seats in the Caird Hall, the SNP was forced to appeal to people to buy tickets. The hall only has a capacity of 2,000 but most balcony seats remained empty. The SNP claimed around 1,500 people had attended. It was in stark contrast to Nicola Sturgeon's rally at the Hydro in Glasgow in 2014, when she spoke to a crowd of 12,000 after succeeding Alex Salmond as First Minister. The poor turnout comes amid dismal polling for Mr Yousaf, whose most recent approval rating was -17 per cent, down ten points since April. The event also came amid a continuing slide in the numbers backing independence. A Redfield and Wilton poll last month showed support had fallen to 43 per cent. However, Mr Yousaf yesterday claimed: 'We are now within touching distance of independence.' It later emerged the woman who heckled Mr Yousaf was a victim of rogue surgeon Sam Eljamel, who harmed dozens of NHS Tayside patients but was allowed to keep operating until removing himself from the GMC register in 2013. Accusing the First Minister of failing to call a public inquiry into the issue, she said: 'I have been an SNP member for many years but will be cancelling my membership.' The incident overshadowed Mr Yousaf's speech, in which he backed using the next general election as a referendum to negotiate Scottish independence. The poor turnout comes amid dismal polling for Mr Yousaf, whose most recent approval rating was -17 per cent, down ten points since April He said that if the SNP won the most seats in Scotland it would seek talks on separation with the UK Government. READ MORE: Humza Yousaf says Nicola Sturgeon still has a 'good contribution to make' Humza Yousaf insisted Nicola Sturgeon still had a 'good contribution to make' and denied her woes represented a 'death knell' for the SNP's independence dream Advertisement He added: 'If we win that general election we will then negotiate with the UK Government on how we give it democratic effect. 'If it is a referendum, or simply the general election, that is, of course, for the UK Government to determine. Because they have told us time and time again this is a voluntary union. If so, then prove it.' Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said: 'Humza Yousaf's latest push of his independence obsession appears to be an even more extreme version of Nicola Sturgeon's unpopular de facto referendum strategy. 'He knows Scots will be voting on a number of issues, but Humza Yousaf has thrown another slab of red meat to nationalists to deflect from the chaos engulfing his party.' Mr Cameron added: 'The SNP delegation that bothered to turn up to Dundee are speaking to themselves about their number one priority while people are struggling with the global cost of living crisis and our public services are under incredible pressure.' Aside from Mr Yousaf's address, the convention included a speech entitled The Summer Campaign for Independence by the party's deputy leader Keith Brown, a workshop on how the SNP can win the general election and a half-hour talk by Paisley MP Mhairi Black. Delegates then listened as a series of grassroots members were given three minutes each on stage to outline their own views on the way forward for the party. Ash Regan, who lost out to Mr Yousaf in the SNP leadership vote, was also given the chance to address the gathering. Theresa Mallett, 61 was initially jeered by SNP delegates for her interruption yesterday Mr Yousaf walked into the audience to speak to Ms Mallett, putting his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her The MSP told attendees: 'The future of Scotland is not in the hands of politicians or Westminster, it is in your hands, so seize it now.' Speaking about Ms Mallett's intervention, Mr Yousaf later said: 'I understand she has suffered a lot of trauma and I am happy to meet with her. While I understand her wish for a public inquiry, I believe there may be quicker ways to get answers.' Liz Smith, Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: 'Theresa Mallett, who continues to suffer due to Sam Eljamel, will have left Humza Yousaf in no doubt about the anger felt by her and others towards him.' Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, said: 'There are any number of vital domestic issues that should be the focus of Scotland's party of government. 'Instead, the nationalists have chosen to neglect those priorities to concentrate on division, grievance and their catastrophic plans to break up the UK.' Gladys Berejiklian has been spotted enjoying a relaxing coffee date with her barrister boyfriend Arthur Moses ahead of a corruption watchdog report into her conduct as NSW premier. Showing no signs of stress before the The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) hands down its findings on Thursday, Ms Berjeklian donned activewear as the loved-up couple held hands as they went for a walk. Mr Moses has also had a weight on his shoulders, having been part of war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith's legal team which lost the 'trial of the century' this month. But her date with destiny seemed far from Ms Berejiklian's mind as she was pictured touching up her makeup at a cafe table in Sydney on Saturday. Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) and her barrister boyfriend Arthur Moses (left) have been pictured hand-in-hand taking an early morning stroll in activewear The couple wore matching dark caps and designer sunglasses. Mr Moses is pictured left and Ms Berejiklian is pictured right Her date with ICAC destiny seemed far from Ms Berejiklian's mind as she was pictured touching up her makeup at a cafe table The couple wore matching dark caps and designer sunglasses, with Mr Moses donning a black jacket while Ms Berejiklian's was white. As the temperature warmed up, Ms Berejiklian took the jacket off to reveal a stylish wine-coloured top underneath. The couple both also wore activewear pants - grey for Mr Moses and black for the former premier - and both wore sneakers, blue for him and black for her. While seated at a cafe on Sydney's leafy north shore, Mr Moses at one point reached over the couple's food as Ms Berejiklian checked her phone. The investigation into Ms Berejiklian's dealings began after ICAC launched inquiries into the disgraced former Liberal MP for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire. The watchdog investigated whether Mr Maguire used his role as an MP to gain a financial benefit and whether Ms Berejiklian breached the public trust during their five-year secret personal relationship. The long-delayed final report will be delivered to the NSW Parliament on Thursday, almost two years after Ms Berejiklian resigned as premier. The Operation Keppel report will be delivered to the parliament's presiding officers at 9am and it will be available for public viewing if the officers make it public. The commission revealed in January the report would not be released before the March election as it concerned complex matters of law and thousands of pages of exhibits, transcripts and submissions. 'The commission remains conscious of its obligation to furnish the report as soon as possible after it has concluded its involvement in the matter, and continues to anticipate the report will be ready to be furnished during this quarter,' a spokeswoman said at the time. While seated at a cafe on Sydney's leafy north shore, Mr Moses at one point reached over the couple's food as Ms Berejiklian checked her phone Mr Moses (right, with Gladys Berjiklian) also has a weight on his shoulders, having been part of war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith's legal team, who lost the 'trial of the century' this month Ms Berejiklian (pictured) dressed stylishly in active wear, designer sunglasses and a Nike cap The report is scheduled to be delivered almost 21 months after Ms Berejiklian's resignation as premier in October 2021, and almost three years after she first gave evidence about her secret romance with Mr Maguire. The investigation hinges on whether Ms Berejiklian's concealment of her relationship with Mr Maguire breached the public trust, whether she improperly handled projects pursued by Mr Maguire, and if she engaged in conduct 'liable to allow or encourage corruption' by him. Ms Berejiklian has denied any wrongdoing, citing concerns about likely lengthy delays in ICAC delivering its report as a reason for her resignation. A book published last August claimed that Ms Berejiklian 'held a torch' for Ms Moses for years before they got together. 'Gladys has always held a torch for Arthur,' a senior Liberal was quoted as saying. In her book The Secret, about the rise and spectacular fall of the former NSW premier, journalist Alexandra Smith said some former staffers described working for Ms Berejiklian as like working for the Queen. 'Berejiklian would walk past them to her office; they would dare not speak to her,' Smith wrote. Gladys Berejiklian (right) and Arthur Moses both wore sneakers - blue for him and black for her Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (right) is pictured walking with her partner, barrister Arthur Moses The loved-up couple is pictured strolling hand-in-hand over a bridge in Sydney's north shore Alleged to have delayed freight trains for about two hours A climate protestor has faced court while dressed up as a possum after allegedly stopping a coal train by sitting on top of it. Caitlin McMahon, who goes by 'Kitty Kitty Meow Meow', faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday after being charged with obstructing railways, entering rolling stock not used for passengers, trespassing on a railway and serious assault. The 25-year-old is alleged to have scaled a coal train bound for the Port of Brisbane at 8:30pm on Friday causing several trains to be delayed by about two hours. A large police operation, including the use of a police helicopter, was deployed to arrest McMahon and remove her from the train. McMahon is one of several activists to recently stage dangerous protests that have disrupted the operations of fossil fuel organisations across Australia and threatened the safety of workers and the general public. A 25-year-old climate protestor, Caitlin McMahon (pictured), faced Brisbane's Magistrates Court on Saturday with possum face paint after allegedly delaying a train for about two hours Police allege McMahon was able to gain access to the train after a man wearing a high-vis vest stood on the tracks bringing the train to a screeching halt. The man allegedly told the train conductor that there was a person on the train before quickly fleeing from the area. Ms McMahon live-streamed the event for about 85 minutes, speaking about the protest's intentions and why she was dressed as a possum. 'I'm here because Australia and its many systems, governances (and) tyranny is not doing anything to stop the climate catastrophe so it's up to us to take matters into our own hands,' she said. 'We have successfully blocked all of the train and freight activity in the Port of Brisbane this evening. 'My name's Kitty but I'm actually dressed as a possum today and I'm a nocturnal creature, and I'm standing in solidarity with all my furry friends. 'It's not just us the people that are experiencing this climate catastrophe it's all the beings that co-exist and share this space.' The live-stream was posted to Youtube alongside numerous other videos of protestor's live-streams. A massive police effort, including the use of a police helicopter, was used to arrest McMahon on Friday night after she live-streamed the entire event (pictured, police at the scene) McMahon was granted bail under the condition she does not come within 50m of any Queensland Rail Infrastructure (pictured, Brisbane Magistrates Court) McMahon, who still had her face painted as a possum after spending the night in custody, was granted bail by Magistrate Andrew Moloney under the condition she doesn't go within 50m of Queensland Rail infrastructure. Police prosecutor, Zoe Rickards, opposed bail being granted alleging McMahon was part of the group which had been committing similar protests, The Courier Mail reported. Ms Rickards also noted the police effort that was undertaken to remove McMahon from the train. 'It took two hours to free the defendant from on top of the train carriage, it required 20 police units, which included Polair, again on a Friday evening, usually one of our busiest times of the week,' she said. McMahon's defence lawyer, Lauren Heaney, argued her client had no criminal history and was active in an LGBTQ+ safe space community near Nimbin, in northern NSW. McMahon is expected to face Wynnum Magistrates Court on July 17. A water company enforcing a hosepipe ban from midnight tonight leaks enough water to fill Wembley Stadium 33 times a year but is now blaming customers for shortages. The strict restrictions being brought in by South East Water with the threat of prosecution for breaking them will hit 1.3 million homes in Kent and Sussex. But while it has been revealed that the firm loses 92 million litres of water each day, chief executive David Hinton, who is paid 307,000 a year, is pointing the finger at more people working from home. In a letter to customers explaining his reasons for the ban on using hosepipes and sprinklers, he said: The rise of working from home has increased drinking water demand in commuter towns by around 20 per cent over a very short period, testing our infrastructure. An audit of companies leaks reveals that UK suppliers lose 3 billion litres a day because of holes in pipes. South East leaks 33.6 billion litres a year it would take a billion to fill Wembley. South East Water, who are enforcing a hosepipe ban from midnight tonight, leaks enough water to fill Wembley Stadium 33 times a year David Hinton, who is paid 307,000 a year, blamed more people working from home for his hosepipe ban South Easts leak rate per property is up to 21 per cent higher than neighbouring firms with similar population areas and pipe networks. In April it increased bills by 11 per cent almost double some other water companies rises. It charges an average 242 a year for water, with no sewage service almost 30 per cent more than neighbouring Affinity Waters 187 average bill. A petition calling for new ownership at South East Water has now attracted 3,000 names. Sarah Coles, consumer expert at financial services firm Hargreaves Lansdown, said: Customers are very frustrated seeing water firms bills go up while there are big profits, leaks and sewage incidents. 'Theyre asking why companies are not making more investment in controlling leaks. Thames Water, which reported 429 million profit and pays chief executive Sarah Bentley 1.5 million a year, has the highest UK leak rate, spilling 152 litres per property a day, according to data sent to the website Discover Water by the companies and industry watchdog Ofwat. Severn Trent, whose chief executive Liv Garfield is on 3.2 million a year, saw 167.9 million profits while leaking 120 litres per property a day. Cat Hobbs of We Own It, which campaigns for water firms to be publicly owned, said: Companies are more interested in extracting profits for their shareholders. Forecasters predict this summers temperature could top last years record 40C (104F). South East Water said: The ban is to ensure we can supply everyone. We are committed to reducing leaks by 15 per cent between 2020 and 25. Yorkshire Waters saving tips include using a playlist of four-minute songs to cut shower times. Thames, Welsh Water, United Utilities, Severn Trent and Anglian said fixing leaks is a priority. Watchdog Ofwat said: We are pushing water companies to do more on leaks. A puppy has made a miraculous recovery after being stabbed in the head by a cemetery manager in Oklahoma. The sixth month old puppy was attacked with a butter knife by Cody Davis, a local government employee, after it approached his fence, police said. The puppy's owner Misty Harrison claims Davis stabbed her dog Stormy on Sunday night after it was following her friend back from the store. Stormy went up to a fence near Pecan and Coffee Avenue to greet two other dogs. The other dogs' owner, Cody, appeared, jumped the fence and stabbed Stormy in the heads with the knife before jumping back over the fence and re-entering his home. The sixth month old puppy was allegedly stabbed in the head with a butter knife Police noted that the animal was 'sweet in nature' despite having a butter knife lodged 1.5 inches in her head 'Who does that?' Misty told Oklahoma's News 4. 'It was crazy. Ive never seen anything like it. Dont want to see anything like it ever again,' she said. 'He jumped the fence, stabbed her in the head with a butter knife, jumped his fence and ran back inside his house,' Harrison recalled. Chief Derrick Jolley with the Pauls Valley Police Department said 'This dog and the two in the backyard are going back and forth with each other with a fence between them.' Adding: 'This puppy is on the outside of a fence. No one can articulate to me a particular threat to the dogs or the owner.' The police were called by Harrison's grandmother Billie Davis, who witnessed the attack. 'I ran across the street and got the dog, she was in the process of being traumatized' she said. Police promptly rushed Stormy to the vet, noting that the animal was 'sweet in nature' despite having a butter knife lodged 1.5 inches in her head. Cody Davis, a Paul Valley city employee, allegedly stabbed the dog when it approached his fence 'He jumped the fence, stabbed her in the head with a butter knife, jumped his fence and ran back inside his house,' the dog's owner recalled Thanks to a generous donations the vet bill was paid and Stormy is recovering at home Chief Jolley said that Davis was too drunk to give a statement that would hold up in court, but gave one two days later. Harrison told the local news outlet that when she went to pick up her beloved pup she was presented with a $410 bill which she was unable to pay. Stormy was therefore retained at the vet until the bill was settled. However, a generous Go Fund Me page to help with the bill raised over $1,000 and Stormy has since been returned home. Carlos Montalvo-Rivera, 55, has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison, 13 years after he set his own house on fire, resulting in the death of his wife A Pennsylvania man who set his own house on fire, killing his wife while his three children were also inside has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison 13 years after the deadly crime occurred. Carlos Montalvo-Rivera, now 55, faced charges of first-degree murder, arson and three counts of attempted criminal homicide for the December 2010 blaze in which he claimed to have been tied up by intruders. The judge at his sentencing blasted his story as 'lame.' Prosecutors explained how Montalvo-Rivera decided to tie himself up in an attempt to also appear as a victim rather than the perpetrator of the sickening murder. Montalvo-Rivera continued to deny his role in the crime but the jury saw through his lies. Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker expressed his own disbelief at Montalvo-Rivera's fabricated story during the sentencing hearing, emphasizing that the jury's decision at finding him guilty also reflected their complete disbelief in his account of events. 'The lame story you concocted and continued to hold onto simply didn't hold any water. The jury didn't believe you, and I think that's how it should be,' Judge Reinaker said. Montalvo-Rivera went to great lengths to make himself appear as a victim rather than the perpetrator by tying himself up after setting home alight in 2010 He claimed intruders had broken into his home, killed his wife, Olga Sanchez-Reyes, and set the house on fire; his three young kids managed to escape the fire In his fabricated story Montalvo-Rivera claimed intruders had broken into his home, killed his wife, Olga Sanchez-Reyes, pictured, and set their house on fire - but it was all lies Assistant District Attorney Christine Wilson described the crime as a cold-blooded murder. 'This was an absolutely brutal and heinous crime that involved multiple victims. It was a cold-blooded murder. Even though the defendant refuses to admit accountability for his actions, he's been found guilty by a jury of his peers,' she stated. Wilson expressed satisfaction that justice had been served for the victim's family after years of delay. 'Justice has been delayed, but the victim's family has finally received it,' she said. In his fabricated story, Montalvo-Rivera claimed intruders had broken into his home, killed his wife, Olga Sanchez-Reyes, and set the house on fire. A lengthy nine-year investigation proved his claims to be false. He was subsequently arrested and charged in 2019 Olga Sanchez-Reyes died in the blaze at her home after her husband doused the place with gasoline before setting it alight He claimed the intruders were retaliating against his brother, who had cooperated with the Drug Enforcement Administration on an unrelated matter. He claimed to have been asleep only to wake up to the smell of smoke and the sounds of his wife arguing with a stranger. Montalvo-Rivera said he was struck on the head and lost consciousness, only coming around 45 minutes later to find himself tied up and the house ablaze. A lengthy nine-year investigation proved his claims to be completely false. He was subsequently arrested and charged in 2019. Prosecutors outlined in crushing detail how Montalvo-Rivera murdered his wife by pouring gasoline from the stairs to her bedroom before setting the house ablaze. The couple's three children, aged eight, nine, and 13 at the time, were still in the house on the third floor. Incredibly managed to escape through a door on the first floor and make it up onto the rooftop. Montalvo-Rivera then tied himself up to deceive investigators. A neighbor, Jonathan Santiago, was hailed as a hero, after hearing the children's cries for help from the rooftop. He managed to organized a rescue operation together with other neighbors. Santiago climbed along four adjacent rooftops in order to reach the two children who were stranded on Montalvo-Rivera's roof, saving their lives. 'Had it not been for the brave actions of a neighbor, the incident would have likely been even more tragic, as he helped save the lives of two of the children by assisting them to safety from the burning building,' the Lancaster Police Bureau said in 2019. After the fire, Montalvo-Rivera's eight- and nine-year-old daughters were taken to hospital in critical condition, while his 13-year-old son also required medical treatment. An airport worker who was contracted to Delta was killed after being sucked into an engine on the tarmac of San Antonio International Airport. Emergency services responded to the incident at around 10.25pm on Friday night. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed the airline ground crew member died after they went into the engine of a Delta Airlines aircraft. The agency described the worker as being 'ingested' into the engine. The plane had just arrived from Los Angeles and was taxying to a gate at the time of the accident. Delta Flight 1111 had just one engine on at the time when the worker, who is yet to be identified, was sucked in and killed. Emergency personnel on the tarmac after a worker sucked into the engine of Delta plane in San Antonio The plane remained at the gate the next morning and flights in the airport were delayed. The death of the airline ground crew member is being investigated by authorities. 'Delta Flight 1111 was taxying to the gate, with one engine on at that time, and a worker was ingested into that engine at 10.25pm,' the NTSB said in a statement. 'The NTSB has been in contact with Delta. They are in the information gathering process at this point.' The employee worked for a company that Delta Airlines has contracts with in order to support ground handling operations. It released a statement on Saturday which read: 'We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family members life in San Antonio. 'Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.' San Antonio airport officials said they were 'saddened' by the worker's death. 'An accident occurred on the ground at San Antonio International Airport tonight that resulted in the fatality of an airline ground crew member,' it said. 'We are deeply saddened by this incident and are working with authorities as they begin their investigation. We will share more information as details become available.' The worker's employee Unifi Aviation said the 'tragic incident' was unrelated to its safety procedures. 'Unifi Aviation is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee at San Antonio International Airport during a tragic incident in the late hours of Friday, June 23, 2023,' it said in a statement. Emergency services responded to the incident at around 10.25pm on Friday night The death of the airline ground crew member is being investigated by authorities 'Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time. 'From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifis operational processes, safety procedures and policies. 'Out of respect for the deceased, we will not be sharing any additional information. While police and other officials continue to investigate this incident, we defer to them on providing further details.' This is the latest incident to occur on the ground at a US airport over the past year. A subsidiary of American Airlines was fined $15,000 over the death of a ground crew worker who was sucked into the engine of one its planes. Courtney Edwards, 34, was 'ingested into the engine' at Montgomery Regional Airport, Alabama, on New Year's Eve. The mother of three was on the ramp where American Airlines Flight 3408, an Embraer E175, was parked before she died. Piedmont Airlines was fined by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration after it was found responsible for a safety breach that led to her death. Her union released a statement which said Piedmont Airlines was ruled to be 'guilty of a serious breach'. An American Airlines subsidy is facing a $15,000 fine after Courtney Edwards, an airline worker, died when she was so violently 'ingested' into the engine of a landed plane it shook the entire aircraft Edwards worked as a ground agent for Piedmont Airlines An obituary for Edwards mentions that she is survived by her three children The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a close call at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on June 14 in which a plane trying to land came within just 200 feet of another flight preparing to take off. Authorities say an American Airlines flight was arriving at the airport from Dallas, Texas at around 6.30pm Wednesday at the same time a Delta flight headed for Santa Ana, California was preparing for takeoff. Air traffic controllers could be heard in a recording of the incident telling the pilot of American Airlines flight 2406 to cancel its landing and go around the 30 left runway because Delta Air Lines flight 1163, which had been cleared to land, was still on the runway. But after the controller told the American Airlines pilot to 'go around,' the aircraft passed above and to the left of the Delta Airbus A220 coming within just 200 feet vertically and 850 horizontally from each other. The incident marks at least the fifth time this year that two planes just missed each other at American airports and came just two days before a United Airlines plane backed into a Delta flight at Boston's Logan airport. Dailymail.com has contacted Delta Airlines for comment. A 'violent' mugger has appeared in court after being arrested in connection with almost a dozen violent robberies at knifepoint in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Nicolas Giraldo, 26, was charged on Friday with six counts of robbery and two of assault, as well as grand larceny, after being identified as a suspect earlier in the week. At least seven of the incidents occurred in Manhattan with one in Brooklyn. Giraldo's alleged crime spree started last month on May 7 when he began holding people up at knifepoint, starting with a 39-year-old man on West 16th Street. The suspect threatened the victim with a knife during the incident demanding the man's watch, but the victim was able to get away safely. Nicolas Giraldo, 26, is an alleged mugger who has been arrested following an alleged series of violent robberies at knifepoint in Manhattan and Brooklyn Giraldo has been charged with six counts of robbery, two counts of assault, and grand larceny after he was finally identified earlier in the week Nicolas Giraldo, 25, is walked out of the 6th precinct in Manhattan on Friday 'He's a pretty violent guy,' NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said. 'He comes up and sticks a knife in somebody's face or body and then he removes headphones or property. He really takes off in June,' the chief said. Weeks later, Giraldo allegedly robbed another two people on June 5. A 24-year-old man standing on 57th Street close to the the entrance to Central Park was stabbed while having his cellphone stolen. The victim received lacerations to his right hand and torso and was transported to Mount Sinai West hospital in stable condition. Days later, on June 9, a cellphone and wallet was stolen from a 24-year-old man on Grand Street in Manhattan. Photos of Giraldo were distributed by the NYPD on social media in the drive to catch him Nicolas Giraldo is pictured appearing in Manhattan Criminal Court for a series of robberies at knifepoint. He is being held in custody and has not been released The suspect pushed the victim to the ground before demanding their property. Giraldo is alleged to have attacked a 55-year-old Brooklyn Heights resident on the morning of June 13. On that occasion he 'forcibly removed his bag, wallet [holding $300] and laptop,' police said. When the man tried to grab his belongings back, he was stabbed in the arm. 'To be honest with you, I was very shaken up. It just felt so violent,' one witness told the Brooklyn Eagle. Later that same week, on June 19, pricey jewelry worth $550 was stolen in two separate robberies on East 35th Street in Murray Hill in Manhattan. An NYPD investigation determined Giraldo was part of a citywide robbery pattern In many of the incidents the Giraldo allegedly threatened the victims with a knife and stabbed people on several occasions Giraldo was finally arrested in the early hours of Friday morning after allegedly stabbing a man in Brooklyn Heights A watch from a 55-year-old man was stolen. In that incident, Giraldo is alleged to have grabbed the victim, pushing him against a wall while stabbing him in the stomach. The victim was transported to Bellevue in stable condition. Later that same day and on the same street, a watch and ring worth $15,000 was stolen from a 68-year-old man. A necklace was also stolen from a 40-year-old man also on June 19, on nearby Madison Avenue. Once again, Giraldo allegedly pressed his knife against the man's stomach. In about ten of the muggings, Giraldo could be seen wearing a yellow 'Precision Electric' shirt, although it is not known if he worked for the company. Giraldo was finally arrested in the early hours of Friday morning after allegedly stabbing another man in Brooklyn Heights. A teenager who mocked the Queensland Police Service on social media after he was bailed over an alleged carjacking is back behind bars after his bail was revoked. The police successfully appealed the release of the 17-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, more than two weeks after he was granted bail on June 6. Police had opposed the teenager getting bail in the first place to the 'violent' nature of his alleged crimes and appealed the court's decision to let him walk free. They allege the 17-year-old and another male approached Angelo Justus in his Audi A3 at Bulimba, in Brisbane at about 2.20pm on Sunday, June 4. Mr Justus was reversing out of his driveway when the duo allegedly told him to get out of the car while brandishing an axe and a shovel and wearing balaclavas. A teenager (pictured centre) who mocked the Queensland Police Service on social media after he was bailed over an alleged carjacking is back behind bars after his bail was revoked A teenager accused of a violent carjacking reportedly took to social media app Snapchat to mock police within hours of being released on bail (pictured) The pair then allegedly took the car and dumped it about 15 minutes away in Stones Corner before stealing other cars. The 17-year-old was later arrested at a home in Gleneagle and charged with armed robbery and possessing dangerous drugs and two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He was released on bail after appearing in Brisbane Children's Court, despite police opposing the bid. Soon after being released, he was reportedly mocking police by posting images to social media app Snapchat. In his posts he claimed he is innocent of the crime and described his arrest footage as 'cute'. Police released bodycam footage of the moment he was arrested while a woman could be heard wailing in the background. Angelo Justus (pictured) was reversing out of his driveway when the duo allegedly told him to get out of the car while brandishing an axe and a shovel and wearing balaclavas One of the Snapchat images reportedly shows the teen holding up a peace sign while claiming police had no evidence, Courier Mail reported. 'DW (Don't worry) guys daddy is out just getting harraised (sic) for nothing no evidence no CCTV no nothing,' the post read. 'That's a cute video guys ... F**k QPS (Queensland Police Service),' a second post read. After the teenager's bail was revoked, Mr Justus said 'It's a huge relief that he is not out in the community. 'I think we have almost gotten over the incident. But everything surrounding it, the bail and no consequence for (alleged) violent crime offenders were the things bothering us the most. Queensland Police allege the 17-year-old boy and another male were part of the carjacking at Bulimba Dramatic footage has captured the moment a teenager was arrested over an alleged carjacking 'Thinking this could potentially happen again was the most worrying bit,' he told News Corp. Mr Justus had previously said he and his family were more upset seeing the social media posts than they were the day his car was allegedly stolen. 'We were slowly trying to get back to a normal life and the amount of anxiety it created ... looking at the visuals just horrified me,' he said. The 17-year-old was arrested two days after the incident with footage showing the moment he was escorted out of the house by police. 'You are under arrest at the moment, you have got multiple warrants out and you're wanted for questioning as well for burglary,' an officer said. When bail was granted to the teenager despite the police opposing it, acting chief superintendent Andrew Plotto said 'We have an avenue to appeal ... if the court doesn't support our position.' He was granted bail after facing Brisbane Children's Court, and within hours he was proclaiming his innocence and describing his arrest footage as 'cute' That appeal was successful and the teenager is now back in custody. An 18-year-old man from Redbank Plains has also been remanded in custody over the alleged armed carjacking. He was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and one count each of armed robbery, enter dwelling and commit, attempted enter dwelling and commit, receiving tainted property, trespass and possess dangerous drug. Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or by calling 131 444. Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley has been caught 'exhibiting sporadic, disturbing behavior' on a prison bodycam while awaiting sentencing next month. He pleaded guilty to killing four of his classmates and wounding seven others in a shooting on November 30, 2021. Crumbley, 17, will find out if he will spend life in prison in a sentencing hearing scheduled for July 27. His recent alarming behavior was highlighted in a court document on Thursday and at a routine monthly hearing Friday in Oakland County court. But prosecutors expect him to be competent enough to attend his upcoming hearing and sentencing. Michigan high school shooter Ethan Crumbley has been caught 'exhibiting sporadic, disturbing behavior' on a prison bodycam while awaiting sentencing next month He pleaded guilty to killing four of his classmates and wounding seven others in a shooting on November 30, 2021 Crumbley pleaded guilty in Oakland County Circuit Court to a total of 24 charges, including one count of terrorism causing death and four counts of first-degree murder on October 24 last year. He was also charged with seven counts of assault with intent to murder and 12 counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The teenager, who was 15 at the time, opened fire at Oxford High School outside Detroit with a semi-automatic handgun that his father purchased for him as a Christmas gift days before the massacre. Two boys, aged 17 and 16, and two girls, aged 17 and 14, were killed while six other students and a teacher were wounded. Prosecutors did not offer any details about Crumbley's behavior in public but shared them privately with Judge Kwame Rowe and Crumbley's attorneys. 'Recently, Defendant has started exhibiting sporadic, disturbing behavior,' assistant prosecutor Marc Keast said in the court filing. 'This behavior has been documented via report and body worn cameras from jail personnel responding to various incidents. It is not readily apparent what the impetus for or cause is of this behavior.' The filing stated that the court is required to consider Crumbley's behavior and his ability to take part in future hearings. 'These incidents relate to the defendants competence,' it said. 'To be clear, the behavior referenced in this motion is recent and was not occurring at the time defendant entered his plea. There is no evidence that raises a bona fide doubt as to Defendants competence at that time.' A prosecutor described the teenager's actions concerning during a Friday morning routine hearing which looked at his detention in an adult prison as a minor. A memorial to the four victims of Ethan Crumbley's shooting at the high school A parent hugging a child following the active shooter situation at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021 The teenager's parents, Jennifer Crumbley (left) and James Crumbley (right), both face manslaughter charges for their son's actions Crumbley's attorneys and the prosecutor agreed he is well enough to participate in his upcoming hearing and sentencing on July 27. Prosecutors will argue why the teenager should be sentenced to the harshest punishment in the state which is life in prison without parole. While his defense lawyers will present mitigating factors for a prison term of years. They declined to refer him for a forensic evaluation and potential treatment at the hearing on Friday. Crumbley made an appearance remotely via video and spoke only to confirm his name and say he could hear Judge Rowe. The teenager was charged as an adult and first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence in Michigan. But because of his age, Crumbley is entitled to a hearing where Rowe will hear testimony about his family life, mental health and other factors and decide whether a shorter sentence would be appropriate. Separately, his parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, face involuntary manslaughter charges. They're accused of ignoring their son's mental health needs and making a gun accessible at home. Greece's conservative New Democracy party leader secured a landslide victory tonight in the country's second election in five weeks, achieving a comfortable parliamentary majority to form a government for a second four-year term. Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed to speed up reforms during his renewed tenure, and promised the Greek people 'a new, historic chapter.' Jubilant supporters gathered outside party headquarters in Athens, cheering, clapping, setting off fireworks and waving blue and white party flags. Near complete results show his party has won just over 40.5 per cent of the vote, crushing his main rival, the left-wing Syriza party, which was struggling to reach 18 per cent, 2 percentage points lower than the last elections in May. It comes despite a slew of scandals surrounding the Mitsotakis government late in its term, including revelations of wiretapping targeting senior politicians and journalists. Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed to speed up reforms during his renewed tenure, and promised the Greek people 'a new, historic chapter' Mitsotakis hugs his family at the headquarters of his party in Athens following the victory Supporters of New Democracy party celebrate with flares in front of party headquarters Meanwhile, a deadly February 28 train crash exposed poor safety measures in public transport. Voters however were appear happy to return to power a prime minister who had delivered economic growth and lowered unemployment. Voters, Mitsotakis said in a televised statement, 'gave us a strong mandate to move faster on the course of the big changes our country needs. 'In a loud and mature way they have permanently closed a traumatic cycle of lies and toxicity that held the country back and divided society.' His second term as prime minister, he claimed, 'can transform Greece at a dynamic pace of development which will increase salaries and reduce inequality, with better and free public health care, with a more effective and digital state and a strong country'. Sunday's vote came just over a week after a migrant ship capsized and sank off the western coast of Greece, leaving hundreds of people dead and missing and calling into question the actions of Greek authorities and the country's strict migration policy. Supporters of the center-right New Democracy shout slogans outside the headquarters of the party in Athens, Greece But the disaster, one of the worst in the Mediterranean in recent years, did not affect the election, with domestic economic issues at the forefront of voters' minds. Mitsotakis' party was projected to win 158 of Parliament's 300 seats, thanks to a change in the electoral law that grants the winning party bonus seats. The previous election in May, conducted under a proportional representation system, left him five seats short of a majority despite winning nearly 41 per cent of the vote, and he had decided to seek a stronger mandate in a second election rather than to seek to form a coalition government with a smaller party. Voter turnout, however, was low on Sunday, at just under 53 per cent of eligible voters, compared to just over 61 per cent in the May vote. In all, eight parties were surpassing the 3 per cent threshold to enter Parliament, including an ultra-religious party and far right party backed by a jailed former lawmaker from the Nazi-inspired, and now outlawed, Golden Dawn party. Mitsotakis, 55, campaigned on a platform of securing economic growth and political stability as Greece gradually recovers from a brutal nearly decade-long financial crisis. Alexis Tripras leader of the left-wing Syriza arrives at the headquarters of the party in Athens, Greece His main rival, 48-year-old Alexis Tsipras, served as prime minister from 2015 to 2019 - some of the most turbulent years of Greeces financial crisis. His performance Sunday leaves him fighting for his political survival. After his poor showing in May elections, he had struggled to rally his voter base, a task complicated by splinter parties formed by some of his former associates. 'The electoral results is obviously negative for us,' a subdued Tsipras said in a televised statement. 'We have suffered a serious electoral defeat. But I believe that the electoral result is mainly negative for society and for democracy,' he added, pointing to the three small right-wing parties winning enough votes to make it into Parliament. It would be up to the party members, he said, to decide on his fate, and the course the party itself must now take. The party members will 'be called on to judge us all and to devise the strategy that meets these difficult circumstances,' Tsipras said. Mitsotakis, a Harvard graduate, comes from one of Greeces most prominent political families. His late father, Constantine Mitsotakis, served as prime minister in the 1990s, his sister served as foreign minister and his nephew is the current mayor of Athens. The younger Mitsotakis has vowed to rebrand Greece as a pro-business and fiscally responsible eurozone member. The strategy, so far, has worked. New Democracy routed Syriza in May, crucially winning Socialist strongholds on the island of Crete and lower-income areas surrounding Athens, some for the first time. Supporters of the center-right New Democracy shout slogans outside the headquarters of the party in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. The exit poll from Greece's second election in five weeks indicates the conservative New Democracy party has won by a landslide, gaining enough parliamentary seats to form a government for a second four-year term. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) 'Our expectations are that the country will continue the path of development that it has had in recent years,' said insurance company employee Konstantinos, who arrived early in the morning at a polling station in northern Athens with his newly wed bride Marietta, still in her wedding dress, straight from their wedding reception. He asked that his surname not be used. Sunday's vote was held under an electoral system that grants a bonus of between 25 and 50 seats to the winning party, depending on its performance, which makes it easier for a party to win more than the required 151 seats in the 300-member parliament to form a government. Supporters of the center-right New Democracy react as they watch the exit polls at the headquarters of the party in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. The exit poll from Greece's second election in five weeks indicates the conservative New Democracy party has won by a landslide, gaining enough parliamentary seats to form a government for a second four-year term. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Two supporters of the left-wing Syriza party watch the exits polls at the main election kiosk in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. The exit poll from Greece's second election in five weeks indicates the conservative New Democracy party has won by a landslide, gaining enough parliamentary seats to form a government for a second four-year term. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas) Electoral officials count the ballots at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. An exit poll from Greece's second election in five weeks indicates the conservative New Democracy party has won by a landslide, gaining enough parliamentary seats to form a government for a second four-year term. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Electoral officials open the ballot box at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. An exit poll from Greece's second election in five weeks indicates the conservative New Democracy party has won by a landslide, gaining enough parliamentary seats to form a government for a second four-year term. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Electoral officials count the ballots at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. An exit poll from Greece's second election in five weeks indicates the conservative New Democracy party has won by a landslide, gaining enough parliamentary seats to form a government for a second four-year term. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Supporters of the center-right New Democracy react as they watch the exit polls at the headquarters of the party in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Exit polls in Greek election project landslide win for conservative New Democracy party(AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A TV screen shows the exit polls outside the headquarters of the center-right New Democracy party in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Exit polls in Greek election project landslide win for conservative New Democracy party. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Kyriakos Mitsotakis leader of center-right New Democracy arrives at the headquarters of the party in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Greeks headed to the polls for the second time in less than two months on Sunday, with the conservative party in power a strong favorite to win with a wide majority after a campaign focused on economic growth and security. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Kyriakos Mitsotakis leader of center-right New Democracy, center, arrives at the headquarters of the party in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Greeks headed to the polls for the second time in less than two months on Sunday, with the conservative party in power a strong favorite to win with a wide majority after a campaign focused on economic growth and security. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Kyriakos Mitsotakis leader of center-right New Democracy party votes at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Polls have opened in Greece for the second general election in less than two months, with the conservative party a strong favorite to win with a wide majority. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Kyriakos Mitsotakis leader of the center-right New Democracy party votes at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Polls have opened in Greece for the second general election in less than two months, with the conservative party a strong favorite to win with a wide majority. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) Marietta, left, a just married woman, votes next to her new husband Konstantinos, right, at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Polls have opened in Greece for the second general election in less than two months, with the conservative party a strong favorite to win with a wide majority. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) A person votes at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Greeks return to the polls Sunday for a second general election in five weeks, with the conservative front-runners eyeing a landslide win after toppling strongholds dominated by their opponents for decades. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) Ballots are seen inside a ballot box at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Polls have opened in Greece for the second general election in less than two months, with the conservative party a strong favorite to win with a wide majority. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas) A person votes at a polling station in Athens, Greece, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Polls have opened in Greece for the second general election in less than two months, with the conservative party a strong favorite to win with a wide majority. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas) Legendary investor Warren Buffett gave another $3.5 billion to the the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this week as well as handing out millions more to four foundations connected to his family. This brings the total amount that the Oracle of Omaha has given to philanthropic organizations, mainly the Gates Foundation, since 2006 to over $50 billion. The donations have been made by handing over millions of shares of his Berkshire Hathaway investment company. The most recent gift of 10.45 million Class B shares to the bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was worth $3.5 billion. Four other foundations linked to the Buffett family also received more than 3.2 million additional shares making this years iteration of his annual charitable disbursement of stock a total of 13.69 million shares, the company revealed in a press release. Legendary investor Warren Buffet has given more than $50 billion to the the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and to four foundations connected to his family Buffett has been a trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2006 Berkshire said 1.05 million shares were given to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, that supports work in reproductive health and is named after Buffett's late wife. The Sherwood Foundation, which supports nonprofits in Nebraska, Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which focuses on alleviating hunger, mitigating conflicts and improving public safety and NoVo Foundation, which focuses on charitable causes for girls and women, received 2.2 million altogether. Buffett confirmed that despite having racked up such huge donations he will leave the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropic causes upon his death. 'Nothing extraordinary has occurred at Berkshire; a very long runway, simple and generally sound decisions, the American tailwind and compounding effects produced my current wealth, he wrote in the press release. 'My will provides that more than 99% of my estate is destined for philanthropic usage.' Buffett has been a trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2006, helping to shape the foundation's vision and ambitious strategies to tackle some of the world's most pressing crises. 'The impact of [Warrens] prodigious generosity is hard to quantify, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman said. 'Even harder to quantify is how his values have permeated the foundations culture.' Buffett confirmed that despite having racked up such huge donations he will leave the vast majority of his wealth to philanthropic causes upon his death Melinda Gates arrives for an official dinner as part of the 'New Global Financial Pact Summit', at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, on June 22, 2023 Buffett has helpied to shape the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation's vision and ambitious strategies to tackle some of the world's most pressing crises Bill Gates was married to Melinda French Gates for 27 years, but the couple made the shock announcement that they were splitting two years ago, allegedly over his infidelity and his association with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Melinda Gates later said in an interview that she had warned Gates that Epstein was 'evil personified', but that her then husband still met with him. In recent years, Gates has attempted to minimize his ties to Epstein, saying that it was 'a huge mistake to spend time with him'. Australia's oldest fishing store Bluewater Tackle World is set to close its doors after 90 years of trading. The store in Myaree, just south of Perth's Swan River, will be the last of the family-owned franchise that started in 1932 and has stretched across three generations. The state's former deputy premier and current owner of Bluewater Tackle Liz Harvey, has blamed new restrictions on commercial fishing for the business' decline. Australia's oldest fishing shop, Bluewater Tackle World (pictured), is set to close its doors after new state fishing regulations brough in a 35 per cent decrease in sales Among the restrictions introduced this year is a prohibition on catching the demersal scalefish for six months a year. It also limits the amount of West Australian dhufish, baldchin groper and pink snapper allowed to be caught per person per trip. The store was first started by Ted Harvey in 1932 in Perth's beachside suburb of Scarborough as an expansion to a news agency. After the business passed through the hands of his sons, Jack and Ross, and to Jack's son Hal and wife Liz, five new stores had opened under the Bluewater Tackle World name. After almost a century, the store is set to shut next month when its lease finishes. 'It's very bittersweet,' Ms Harvey told Nine. She blames the restrictions on recreational fishing from boats as the main reason behind the shop's steep decline in recent sales. 'Looking down the barrel at another year lease with the uncertainty of the fishing closure I couldn't make any other decision,' Ms Harvey said. 'Fisheries have made a decision to cut the quotas for what people can pull out.' The store was first started by Ted Harvey in 1932 in Perth's beachside suburb of Scarborough as an expansion to a news agency and since passed through three generations of Harveys The Department of Fisheries introduced the restrictions in order to prevent overfishing and ensure demersal fish for future anglers. A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokesman insisted the restrictions were necessary for the fish population. 'We acknowledge that the management changes will have an impact on all sectors but these changes are necessary to meet the 2030 recovery timeframe and ensure there are plenty of demersal fish for the future,' he told 9News. 'The WA Government has been actively promoting alternative recreational fishing opportunities encouraging rec fishers to 'switching their fish' to other non-demersal species such as mackerels, tuna, herring, whiting, squid and rock lobsters.' The spokesperson noted that West Australia's restrictive approach is a softer blow than South Australia's all-in-all ban which has hit businesses harder. 'Feedback from tackle stores in South Australia, where a total pink snapper ban is currently in place, indicates a far worse outcome for local businesses than Western Australia's balanced approach to restoring sustainability to fish stocks, which have been under severe threat for more than a decade.' Other Tackle World stores in Australia, which are owned independently, are unaffected by the closure. Worshippers at a synagogue in Georgia were outraged on Saturday to find Neo-Nazis protesting outside their temple. About a dozen members of the 'Goyim Defense League', a hate group which accuses Jewish people of conspiring to control the world, staged their demonstration outside the Chabad of Cobb County synagogue, in East Cobb, just north of Atlanta. Police were called to the scene but allowed the protest to continue as Jewish members of the congregation berated the Neo-Nazis and told them leave, videos posted to social media show. The racist group held signs declaring that 'Every Single Aspect' of abortion, the media, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and elected officials is Jewish. At the bottom of the signs was a Web address to the Goyim group's YouTube page, with videos including a program called 'Saturday White Live.' Around a dozen protesters stood outside a synagogue in Marietta, Georgia, on Saturday evening The demonstration was staged by a well known hate group, the Goyim Defense League When asked why they were there, one man said they were exercising their right to freedom of speech Stewart Levy said it was terrifying, and the police refused to move the Neo-Nazis on. 'Antisemitism at my synagogue,' he wrote on Facebook. 'The most frightening thing I have seen in my 65 years. 'It's very hard to believe that this is happening in Cobb County. The police are allowing it because it is 'free speech'.' Some stood on the other side of the road and yelled at the Neo-Nazis to go home. Police kept the two sides separate. One of the Neo-Nazis, Jon Minadeo II, from West Palm Beach, Florida, told Channel 2 Action News they were 'exercising our first amendment right.' The group staged a similar protest in nearby Macon on Friday night, and Minadeo was arrested for disorderly conduct and public disturbance. They say he kept shouting obscenities through a bullhorn after he was asked to stop. He was released on Saturday on a $910 bond, 13WMAZ reported. The Neo-Nazis gathered on Saturday in front of the Chabad of Cobb County, in East Cobb The Anti-Defamation League says Minadeo leads the group and travels across the country to spread his views. They describe the group as a 'small network of virulently antisemitic provocateurs', whose 'most zealous and visible actors' include some in Georgia. 'GDL's overarching goal is to cast aspersions on Jews and spread antisemitic myths and conspiracy theories,' the ADL says on its website. 'This includes frequent references to Jews having undue power through their 'control' of major institutions such as media networks, the economy or the government, or disparaging Jews as degenerates who molest children and advocate for pornography, abortion and LGBTQ+ communities.' Eytan Davidson, the southeast regional director of the ADL, told Channel 2 Action News that antisemitism was on the rise in the region. 'This is part of a disturbing trend that we have seen on the rise for over five years now,' he said. 'From 2021 to 2022, we saw more than 60 percent increase in antisemitic incidents in the state of Georgia. 'Nationally, we are seeing antisemitic incidents at an all-time record high in 2022.' Earlier this month, it emerged that a new Neo-Nazi group had been formed in the south, named Order of the Black Sun. The group staged a swastika-waving protest outside Disneyland, to the horror of many families visiting. The group of Neo-Nazis who protested outside Disney World were from a newly-established hate group identified as the Order of the Black Sun and the protest was their first The group protested an entry way into the iconic Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida ADL researcher Ben Popp told local media that the group - also known as 'OBS' - is a white supremacist network that formed just months ago and that the demonstration outside the children's theme park was its first. Popp said the hate group is 'well known' to the ADL and that it's comprised of individuals who have 'been involved in other white supremacist groups and organizations in the state of Florida for the past couple of years.' Pictures and videos posted to Twitter by a Florida state representative showed about 15 protesters waving the Nazi flag and saying 'Go back to Mexico'. The identification of those involved comes after Disney heiress Abigail Disney said her grandfather would be 'spinning in his grave' at the sight outside the famous park. Popp told the Orlando Sentinel that Florida hate groups often work together to 'make themselves appear bigger than they are to intimidate communities.' The ADL's website states that the name 'Black Sun' is a reference to a Nazi symbol often referred to as the 'sonnenrad' or the 'sunwheel.' The logo, which looks like a wheel with jagged spokes, was used by the Nazis 'in their attempt to invent an idealized 'Aryan/Norse' heritage, the website states. A police officer was allegedly assaulted while a woman fell three metres out of a window after a fight broke out at a bar. Emergency services were called to the Hideaway Kitchen and Bar at Broadbeach, on the Gold Coast, at 9.20pm on Saturday. They arrived to chaotic scenes and two men and a woman were rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital. A man in his 40s was in a serious condition with head, abdominal and chest injuries, while a man in his 20s was in a stable condition with head injuries and lacerations. The third person, a woman in her 20s, was in a stable condition with suspected spinal and chest injuries. Three people are in hospital, including a woman who fell three metres through a window, after a wild bar brawl on the Gold Coast on Saturday night, with a police officer also assaulted. The scene is pictured The emergency services were called to the Hideaway Kitchen and Bar (pictured) at Broadbeach at around 9.20pm after reports of violence She is reportedly one of several people who went through the 2.6m by 1.6m window and fell up to three metres to the ground. A 21-year-old man was charged with assaulting a police officer and obstructing police at the scene. 'It will be alleged the 21-year-old Mermaid Waters man continued trying to enter a crime scene before assaulting an officer,' a Queensland Police spokeswoman said. The police were initially told one person had fallen through the window, but when officers arrived, they found three people injured outside the bar. 'They had sustained a number of injuries and a crime scene was declared,' the spokeswoman said. The venue's owner Scott Imlach was 'dumbfounded' by the incident, saying there had never previously been a fight there in the seven years he has owned it. When he was called about it on Saturday night he initially thought there was a mistake, that it must have been some other venue. Mr Imlach said the incident, which he said 'definitely wasn't a bar brawl' happened upstairs outside the toilets. The owner of the Gold Coast venue (pictured) is hopeful it will be able to reopen on Sunday night 'I spoke to my builder before and he said: "Mate that's some serious force to go through that window," he couldn't believe it,' he told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'I'm watching the staff clean it up now there's glass everywhere it's a big window, it's 2.6metres by 1.6metres. The businessman said police had been into the bar several times last night, but that it was no longer a crime scene and could reopen on Sunday night. The 21-year-old man who was arrested is due to appear before Southport Magistrates Court on July 10. Recordings of a mum's panicked calls to emergency services begging they save her two-year-old boy have been played to a jury, with three words directed at the man accused of killing her son. In the Supreme Court of Victoria this week, recordings of Stacie Saggers' three 'hysterical' calls with triple-0 operators were played as she sat sobbing in the witness box. Ms Saggers, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, gave evidence over five days at the murder trial of her ex-boyfriend Brendan Pallant, who is accused of causing the death of her two-year-old son Jaidyn Gomes-Sebastiao. He has pleaded not guilty. Facing questions about her love life, financial problems and drug addiction, Ms Saggers kept her composure but broke down crying while listening back to the worst day of her life. Her words were mostly incomprehensible, but Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson KC returned to a five-second snippet, asking her what she thinks she said. 'You f--king pig is what I said,' she told the court. recordings of Stacie Saggers' (pictured) three 'hysterical' calls with triple-0 operators were played as she sat sobbing in the witness box When questioned who she was referring to, Ms Saggers responded with 'Brendan'. Prosecutors allege Mr Pallant struck Jaidyn with a lamp during a 'short but profound' period of frustration on September 2, 2019. Ms Saggers had left Jaidyn in the care of Mr Pallant as she went to work a cleaning job for three hours, putting Jaidyn down for a nap before she left about 12.30pm. In court, she described her son as a 'mummy's boy' who was clingy and would scream the door down when she had to leave. She said Mr Pallant had been a 'gentleman' and did a good job looking after Jaidyn when she had to work. 'He was fine, there were no signs,' she said. 'It's not like he'd yell at them or hit them. But his behaviour towards her allegedly changed a week before Jaidyn's death and she began to feel scared of him, she said. The jury was told Mr Pallant had come into Ms Saggers' life about a month earlier after the pair met at the home of a mutual friend. He moved into her Langwarren home a few days later and they began dating. Ms Saggers told the court that she'd moved her young family back to Victoria about eight months earlier after losing her partner, Chris Gomes-Sebastiao, in a motorcycle accident. She had been living with Mr Gomes-Sebastiao, a furniture removalist, in Queensland since 2015 but made the difficult decision to give up a thriving cleaning business and return to Melbourne where she had family support. She told the court her mental health had deteriorated following Mr Gomes-Sebastiao's death, and her ice habit began to escalate over the following months. Ms Saggers' ex-boyfriend Brendan Pallant (pictured) is accused of killing her two-year-old son Jaidyn Gomes-Sebastiao Jaidyn Gomes-Sebastiao (pictured) Lawyers acting for Mr Pallant say whether he inflicted the injury will be the central issue in the case. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Curriedied from head injuries in September 2019 By the time she met Mr Pallant, she told the court, she was using daily and spending the majority of her income on the drug. She agreed with a suggestion by Mr Pallant's barrister that the pair met and began a relationship 'over a pipe'. In a text message from mid-August shown to the jury, Ms Saggers tells Mr Pallant she had 'never fallen for someone so quickly before'. She agreed her drug use had affected her ability to parent and said 'sometimes' her priority would be getting her next hit. But she said she always ensured the house was clean and tidy with food in the cupboards. The jury was told that by August 2019, Ms Saggers had been banned from a childcare facility for overdue payments and failing to be at pick-up on time, leading her to rely on Mr Pallant when she needed to work. In the week leading up to Jaidyn's death, Ms Saggers said she had grown suspicious of Mr Pallant after two incidents on August 29 and September 1. Both incidents, which left bruises on Jaidyn's face, had been explained as the young boy pulling shelves down on himself while alone in his room. 'The book case was on the floor and Jaidyn was on the bed, bum in the air and sucking his thumb,' Ms Saggers said of finding him the second time. 'I wasn't sure if it was an accident or not.' Ms Saggers (pictured) said she grew suspicious of Mr Pallant after two incidents on August 29 and September 1. Both incidents left bruises on Jaidyn's face Ms Saggers left home shortly after noon on September 2 to go to a cleaning job because she was being pressured by a drug dealer to repay a debt. She told the court she felt hesitant to leave Jaidyn in Mr Pallant's care and took photos of Jaidyn's injuries. 'If something was happening to Jaidyn, there was my proof to show police,' she said when questioned why she took the photos. 'If I came home and discovered more bruises, I had the evidence to get Brendan charged.' A photo shown to the jury depicted the toddler with bruising across his face and his right eye swollen shut. Ms Saggers said, despite the injuries, he was his 'happy little self'. She told the court she felt concerned for Jaidyn's safety after calling and texting Mr Pallant for updates only to be told he was still sleeping. She said she left the job early and made her way home around 3pm. Ms Saggers said when she got home she didn't check on Jaidyn as she would usually do, saying Mr Pallant allegedly made excuses as to why she should leave him alone. 'He said Jaidyn was still in bed asleep and to not disturb him,' she told the jury. 'There was always an excuse why I couldn't go down that part of the house.' Shortly after 4pm, she said Mr Pallant went into Jaidyn's bedroom and began to panic after hearing him yell out 'what the f--k'. 'That's when I grew extremely concerned, I ran over ... he was bending down to pick Jaidyn up, and he came out of the room with his back towards me and wouldn't let me see my son. 'He placed him behind the couch and yelled 'call f--king triple-0'. That's all I remember.' The court was told paramedics and police rushed to the home, but the child could not be saved and was declared dead at the scene. Lawyers acting for Mr Pallant say whether he inflicted the injury will be the central issue in the case Mr Pallant and Ms Saggers were arrested at the scene. The court was told she faced two days of questioning over her son's death before she was released without charge. In his opening address to the jury, Mr Nathwani said questions would be raised over whether Mr Pallant was the last person to see the child alive. He said the jury would have to decide if Mr Pallant inflicted the fatal injuries, adding Ms Saggers had been 'inconsistent' with what she told people about Jaidyn's bruises. The trial, before Justice Jane Dixon, continues. A missing mother and daughter have been found after police launched a large-scale search in rural Queensland, after the pair failed to return home on Friday night. Alarm bells were raised after authorities found they found a locked Ford Falcon ute near Old Esk North Road, Nanango, containing the phones of Michelle Lyn Melbourne, 54, and Nikita May Bennett, 36. Police believed they went prospecting around at Seven Mile Diggings - an old gold fossicking area which was used between 1876 to 1900. The site is located in the state's South Burnett region, roughly 177.5km inland from the Sunshine Coast. Michelle Lyn Melbourne (pictured), 54, and her daughter Nikita May Bennett, 36, have been found after being reported missing on Friday. The pair were prospecting for gold At about 8am on Sunday morning, two trail bike riders reported finding Ms Melbourne and Ms Bennett near a structure outside the search area At about 8am on Sunday morning, two trail bike riders reported finding Ms Melbourne and Ms Bennett near a structure outside the search area. The two women were airlifted to Kingaroy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Initial fears were held for the safety of the pair, due to the area's rough and steep terrain, and freezing overnight conditions, where temperatures can drop to about 3C. A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched on Saturday comprised of Polair, the State Emergency Service (SES) and volunteers. On Saturday, the son of Ms Melbourne, Ben Melbourne issued a worrying plea on social media. Ms Bennett (pictured) and Ms Melbourne were airlifted to Kingaroy Hospital with non-life threatening injuries 'Missing: Has anyone seen my mother and sister they been missing 24 hour last seen out at Seven Mile Diggings in Nanango Qld,' he wrote. 'Please if you see them please call the police I have put in reports and I have had a rescue helicopter and SES and police and volunteers help at Seven Mile Diggings for the last 24 hours please help searching for them please repost. 'Please help me find my mum and sister there (sic) names are Michelle Diebert Melbourne Nikita Bennett.' Queensland Police thanked the public for their assistance. Irresponsible owners could face jail time under a raft of tougher measures put forward by the Queensland government to reduce dog attacks. On Sunday, Agriculture Minister Mark Furner released a discussion paper and urged Queenslanders to have their say on the proposed changes. These include banning certain breeds, increasing penalties to include jail for serious offending and requiring all dogs to be 'effectively controlled' in public. 'It's time for Queenslanders to have their say on these proposed reforms, and I'm encouraging everyone to provide feedback on the discussion paper,' Mr Furner said. Irresponsible owners could face jail time under a raft of tougher measures put forward by the Queensland government to reduce dog attacks. One of the suggestions is a ban on pit bull terriers (pictured) The Spanish mastiff Presa Canario is one of the dog breeds that would be banned under proposals in a new discussion paper released by Queensland agriculture Minister Mark Furner 'Most Queensland dog owners meet their responsibilities, however, there continues to be some distressing cases of serious dog attacks. 'We expect all animal owners to ensure their pets don't present a danger to the community.' The Queensland Government is under fire for taking too long to review dangerous dog laws. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is set to reconvene a task force after mayors across the state labelled the current legislation outdated. The review of laws was meant to be completed in coming months, but the Premier says tougher consequences for owners are needed to deter further attacks. The discussion paper was commissioned after an increase in serious dog attacks in the state and noted about 100,000 dog bites are reported in Australia each year. Around 80 per cent of these occur in the home, with children three times more likely that adults to end up in hospital. Suggested changes include creating a new offence targeting those failing to control their dog resulting in injury or death, with jail time reserved for serious offenders. Queensland is the only Australian state that does not currently have imprisonment as a penalty for dog attacks. It's also proposed to ban and remove permit options for breeds including Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, pit bull terrier and Presa Canario. The discussion paper notes this would be 'grandfathered' to allow existing dogs to be exempt from the ban. Also proposed is a statewide requirement for dogs to be effectively controlled in a public place, with on the spot fines enforceable, and clearing up rules around destroying dangerous dogs. Queensland is the only Australian state that does not currently have imprisonment as a penalty for dog attacks. One of the breeds that could be banned under new proposals include the Japanese Tosa (pictured) It's also proposed to ban and remove permit options for a range of breeds including the Fila Brasileiro (pictured) Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Alison Smith said the changes will help reduce savage attacks in neighbourhoods. 'For too long, irresponsible dog owners have been able to hold the community and councils to ransom. That needs to change,' she said. 'This is an opportunity for the community to say enough is enough - that Queensland needs to take tougher actions on irresponsible dog owners, and for there to be swift processes in place after a savage dog attack has happened.' Queenslanders will have until August 24 to submit feedback on the proposed changes. The sons of British billionaire Hamish Harding have paid tribute to the 'best father' who they say 'constantly sought to be the best man he could be'. Mr Harding, 58, was among the five adventurers on board the OceanGate Expeditions submersible that lost contact with its mothership as it reached the site of the Titanic wreckage early Sunday morning. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a 'catastrophic implosion.' One of Mr Harding's sons, who was not named on the statement issued through Action Aviation, has hailed the billionaire for being a 'tenacious, hard working businessman' and for having 'inspired me more than anyone will ever know'. The adventurer and wife Linda have two sons, Rory and Giles. Mr Harding is also the stepfather to her two kids from a previous relationship, daughter Laurena and Brian. The sons of British billionaire Hamish Harding (pictured) have paid tribute to the 'best father' who they say 'constantly sought to be the best man he could be' Mr Harding, 58, was among the five adventurers on board the OceanGate Expeditions submersible (pictured) that lost contact with its mothership as it reached the site of the Titanic wreckage early Sunday morning. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a 'catastrophic implosion His two sons, who were not named on either statement issued through the sales and operations company, said Mr Harding was the 'best father I could have ever asked for'. One said: 'My dad was a tenacious, hardworking businessman - but most importantly he was the best father I could have ever asked for. 'He inspired me more than anyone will ever know, taught me things I'll never forget, and he meant everything to me. 'Anyone who ever met my dad will praise his humorous personality, his sheer work ethic, and his constant generosity. 'My life will be a success if I'm even half the man he is. My dad is gone but I will never forget him.' Mr Harding's second son, who was also not named in the statement issued by Action Aviation, said he was a 'loving father, family man and a determined and tireless businessman'. He said: 'In all of these areas, he constantly sought to be the best man he could be and did nothing halfway. 'Constantly full of wisdom and life advice to bestow, he made my brother and I into the people we are today. The billionaire's two sons said Mr Harding (pictured) was the 'best father I could have ever asked for' and hailed him as a 'tenacious, hardworking businessman' Canadian authorities on Saturday began a probe into the implosion of the Titan submersible. Pictured: Canadian Coast Guard vessel Terry Fox (left), and Canadian vessel Skandi Vinland (right), return to St John's Port in Newfoundland, Canada, after supporting the search and rescue operation for the Titan submersible 'He was an energetic and charismatic man who by the sheer weight of his personality lifted up and supported everyone around him. 'His tragic loss will be mourned not only by myself and my family, but everyone who had the pleasure to meet him. 'The world is so much less without his larger-than-life presence and his optimistic spirit.' The heartfelt tributes come as Canadian authorities on Saturday began a probe into the implosion of the Titan submersible. 'Our mandate is to find out what happened and why and to find out what needs to change to reduce the chance or the risk of such occurrences in the future,' said Transportation Safety Board (TSB) chair Kathy Fox. 'We know everybody wants answers, particularly the families and the public,' she told reporters in St. John's, Newfoundland. Th full probe could take between 18 months to two years. TSB investigators on Saturday boarded the Canadian-flagged Polar Price cargo ship, which had set sail from St. John's last weekend to bring the ill-fated Titan to its launch point in the north Atlantic. The Transportation Safety Board routinely probes air, rail, marine and pipeline accidents with the aim of improving transportation safety. It does not assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a 'catastrophic implosion.' Five roses with the names of the passengers of the Titan are seen placed near the waterfront on Saturday A debris field was found on the seafloor, 1,600 feet (500 meters) from the bow of the Titanic. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was looking into whether any criminal laws had been broken in the chain of events that led to the deaths of the Titan adventurers. The investigators' job is to determine 'whether or not a full investigation by the RCMP is warranted,' said Newfoundland and Labrador Superintendent Kent Osmond. 'Such an investigation will proceed only if our examination of circumstances indicate criminal federal or provincial laws may possibly have been broken.' The Kremlin faces a 'deeply unstable' situation after the Wagner rebellion 'exposed the regime's weakness', analysts have warned. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's forces moved from their camps in Ukraine into Russia on Friday and took over a regional military command in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, before advancing toward Moscow. Just as suddenly, the advance was called off on Saturday, and Russian state media said the Wagner troops would return to Ukraine while Prigozhin would flee to neighboring Belarus. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) allege the 'short-term fix' of an apparent truce with the Wagner Group will likely 'substantially damage' Putin's government and war efforts, claiming it demonstrated security weaknesses and the 'inability' to repel internal threats quickly. It comes as Putin's longtime ally Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov slammed Prigozhin's 'arrogance', claiming his actions could lead to 'dangerous consequences'. The Kremlin faces a 'deeply unstable' situation after the Wagner rebellion 'exposed the regime's weakness', analysts have warned. They allege the 'short-term fix' of an apparent truce with the Wagner Group will likely 'substantially damage' Putin's government and war efforts. Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured during a televised address on Saturday PMC Wagner Group servicemen seen pulling out of downtown Rostov-on-Don and returning to their bases The chief of the rebel Wagner mercenary force Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured Saturday) will go to Belarus and will not face charges after calling off his troops' advance on Moscow, the Russian government said, easing the country's most serious security crisis in decades Residents of the southern Russian city of Rostov take photos of an armored vehicle in the street as they talk with military personnel on Saturday Wagner fighters were leaving Russia's southern Voronezh region Sunday, the local governor said, after the group halted a dramatic rebellion to bring down Russia's top brass and U-turned on a march to Moscow. 'The movement of Wagner units through the Voronezh region is ending,' Voronezh governor Alexander Gusev said. 'It is running normally and without incidents,' Gusev added, saying travel restrictions imposed during Saturday's operation against the mutiny will be lifted once 'the situation is finally resolved.' ISW analysts allege the apparent truce with Wagner forces is a 'short-term fix, not a long-term solution'. They argued: 'The rebellion exposed the weakness of the Russian security forces and demonstrated Putin's inability to use his forces in a timely manner to repel an internal threat and further eroded his monopoly on force. 'Prigozhin's rapid drive towards Moscow ridiculed much of the Russian regular forces and highlighted to any and all security figures, state-owned enterprises, and other key figures in the Russian government that private military forces separate from the central state can achieve impressive results. 'Wagner's drive also showcased the degradation of Russia's military reserves, which are almost entirely committed to fighting in Ukraine, as well as the dangers of reliance on inexperienced conscripts to defend Russia's borders.' The analysts noted how the Kremlin failed to 'respond quickly' and that in some cases Wagner fighters were 'warmly greeted' by Rostov-on-Don residents. Meanwhile, Kadyrov, the leader of the southern Russian republic, has called on mercenaries to be 'sober' in their decisions in order to avoid 'disastrous results'. Kadyrov, posting on Telegram after Prigozhin withdrew, criticised the Wagner leader for acting out of 'anger'. 'I talked with Prigozhin, urging him to leave his business ambitions and not mix them with matters of national importance,' he said. 'I thought that he heard me, but it turns out that this anger in him has only grown all this time.' Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the headquarters of the Southern Military District amid the group's pullout from the city of Rostov-on-Don People gathered to bid farewell to Prigozhin, with one man even reaching through his car window to shake the exiled Wagner leader's hand One fan of the Wagner chief even managed to snap a selfie with him, as the disgraced mercenary leader was forced out of Russia Onlookers clapped and cheered 'Wagner' as the troops were told to depart from Rostov by their leaders Tanks were hauled out of the southern city of Rostov as Prigozhin's forces retreated from Rostov Crowds lined the streets and cheered as the private military company withdrew its troops from Rostov Huge crowds gathered in Rostov-on-Don as Wagner-owned tanks rolled out of the city People gather to bid farewell to fighters of the Wagner private mercenary group as they pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District and return to their bases Onlookers said Wagner troops were being cheered out of Rostov-on-Don after their chief agreed to withdraw A renewed attack on Kyiv from Belarus could take place if Wagner Group mercenaries follow their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin into the country, a former chief of the UK General Staff has warned. Lord Dannatt told Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: 'Apparently he's left the stage to go to Belarus but is that the end of Prigozhin and the Wagner Group? The fact that he's gone to Belarus is I think a matter of some concern. 'What we don't know, what we will discover in the next hours and days is... how many of his fighters have actually gone with him. 'If he has gone to Belarus and has kept an effective fighting force around him, he then presents a threat again to the Ukrainian flank closest to Kyiv which is where all this began on February 24 last year. 'Although it would appear that this matter is closed I think it is far from closed and the aftershocks will reverberate for quite some time. 'They (Ukraine) need to watch that flank very carefully and make sure they have got some manoeuvre units such that they could repel a renewed attack from the direction of Belarus.' Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin confirmed he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow to avoid shedding Russian blood A Russian Police officer guards the Red Square near the Kremlin as forces brace for an attack before the sensational retreat of Prigozhin's forces A Russian soldier mans a machine gun post in the south of Moscow earlier, ahead of the expected arrival of Prigozhin and the Wagner troops. But Prigozhin has confirmed he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march Belarus President and key Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko (pictured) said Yevgeny Prigozhin has accepted his proposal to stop the Wagner Group's advance toward Moscow Machine gun outposts are hastily constructed on the outskirts of Moscow prior to Prigozhin's shock statement China's foreign minister Qin Gang met with Russia's deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing on Sunday, China said, in the first public meeting of diplomats from the two countries since mutinous mercenaries threatened to storm the Russian capital. 'Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko in Beijing and exchanged views with him on China-Russia relations,' China's foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that the two also discussed 'international and regional issues of common concern'. The attempted rebellion in Russia is an internal matter for Moscow and does not change the UK's position on Ukraine, a Treasury minister also said on Sunday. Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen told Sky News's Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: 'It is obviously a very unstable situation in Russia, but it is fundamentally an internal matter. 'And we've obviously urged, alongside our allies ... that obviously civilian interests are considered. 'This isn't a matter that we will be intervening in, but obviously we observe and monitor the situation on an ongoing basis very carefully.' He added: 'Nothing has changed with respect to the British Government's position on supporting Ukraine.' US spy agencies picked up signs days ago that Prigozhin was preparing to rise up against Russia's defense establishment, American media reported on Saturday. Intelligence officials conducted briefings at the White House, the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill about the potential for unrest in nuclear-armed Russia a full day before it unfolded, according to the Washington Post and New York Times. Spy agencies first began tracking indications that Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary force intended to move against the Russian military leadership in mid-June, the Post said. The Times said the information was both solid and alarming by mid-week, leading to the flurry of briefings. In an uprising that played out with dizzying speed, Prigozhin's forces moved into Russia on Friday and took over a regional military command in Rostov-on-Don. The advance was called off on Saturday, with Russian state media reporting that Wagner troops would return to Ukraine while Prigozhin would flee to Belarus. The Kremlin said it would not prosecute Prigozhin or the armed members of the Wagner group. As US intelligence officials pinned down information that Prigozhin was preparing military action, they grew concerned about chaos in a country with a powerful nuclear arsenal, the Times reported. Prigozhin c laimed to have also shot down a Russian military helicopter in the city - home to the Kremlin's headquarters for the war in Ukraine Armored cars blockade a street in the city of Rostov as the sun began to rise on Saturday Russia's defense military in Moscow is pictured as dawn breaks on Saturday. Anti-aircraft artillery are pictured on the roof Armored vehicles were seen on the streets of Moscow on Friday night outside the Cathedral of Christ the Savior amid fears of a coup An armored personnel carrier (APC) is seen on a street of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don on Friday night Armored vehicles trawl through the street of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don amid coup fears in Russia on Friday US spy agencies believe that Putin himself was informed that Prigozhin, once a close ally, was plotting his rebellion at least a day before it occurred, the Post reported. Prigozhin will go to Belarus and will not face charges after calling off his troops' advance on Moscow, the Russian government said, easing the country's most serious security crisis in decades. The feud between Prigozhin and Russia's military brass came to a violent head in the past day, with his forces capturing a key army headquarters in southern Russia on Saturday and then heading north to threaten the capital. Within hours of Prigozhin's about-face, the Kremlin announced he would leave for Belarus and Russia would not prosecute him or Wagner's members. It had been a dramatic day, with President Vladimir Putin warning against civil war, Moscow telling locals to stay off the streets and Kyiv revelling in the chaos engulfing its enemy. The tide shifted suddenly when Prigozhin made the stunning announcement that his troops were 'turning our columns around and going back to field camps' to avoid bloodshed in the Russian capital. Prigozhin, who has feuded bitterly with Moscow's military leadership even as his outfit led parts of Russia's Ukraine offensive, said he understood the importance of the moment and did not want to 'spill Russian blood'. Prigozhin, 62, made his money providing catering services and eared himself the nickname 'Putin's chef' Putin earlier described the group's actions as a 'criminal adventuristic campaign' that is 'equivalent to armed mutiny' In the shock announcement Prigozhin did not say whether the Kremlin has responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right), pictured with top Russian military commander in Ukraine,Gen. Sergei Surovikin (left) By early Sunday, Wagner had pulled fighters and equipment from Rostov-on-Don, where they had seized the military headquarters, said the regional governor. But before they left, dozens of residents were cheering and chanting 'Wagner! Wagner!' outside the military headquarters they had captured. Authorities in the southern Lipetsk region announced the lifting of restrictions after earlier reporting Wagner fighters in their territory, where the local capital is 420 kilometres (260 miles) south of Moscow. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he had negotiated a truce with Prigozhin, drawing thanks from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that the 'criminal case against him (Prigozhin) will be dropped. He himself will go to Belarus.' A local resident walks past members of Wagner group in Rostov-on-Don earlier today Russian police stand at a checkpoint on a road entering on Moscow earlier today A member of Wagner group stands guard in Rostov-on-Don with a machine gun today A line of armoured vehicles are seen as Russian forces prepare to launch a defense of the capital A traffic police officer checks a car next to an armoured personnel carrier (APC) Russian troops were seen establishing positions at a bridge across the Oka River Peskov also said that members of Wagner who had taken part in what authorities termed an 'armed rebellion' would not be prosecuted. 'Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal,' Peskov added. In Ukraine, government officials said the situation had 'humiliated' Putin. 'Prigozhin humiliated Putin/the state and showed that there is no longer a monopoly on violence,' presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter. While Russia claimed the rebellion had no impact on its Ukraine campaign, Kyiv said the unrest offered a 'window of opportunity' as the nation pressed its long-awaited counter-offensive. Analysts said there were likely to be consequences for Prigozhin and Wagner. 'There has to be, otherwise the message is that a military force can openly challenge the state, and others have to learn that the Russian state indeed has a monopoly on violence inside the country,' Samuel Bendett, a researcher at the Center for Naval Analyses, tweeted. A fighter of Wagner private mercenary group flashes a victory sign in a street near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don A group of Wagner fighters pictured on Rostov-on-Don street on Saturday morning A Wagner fighter on guard duty close to the Southern Military District HQ A military column of Wagner private mercenary group drives along M-4 highway, which links the capital Moscow with Russia's southern cities A truck transporting a military vehicle of Wagner private mercenary group drives along M-4 highway, which links the capital Moscow with Russia's southern cities, near Voronezh A still from video footage which purports to show a Russian attack on the Wagner's armed convoy There have been no reports of further attacks upon the convoy as they headed north Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group walk around a vehicle during a stop on M-4 highway An oil depot in Voronezh region was 'blitzed by a pro-Putin strike helicopter' Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the US-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, said cooperation between Wagner and the Russian military was likely to suffer. 'Putin and the security services will likely try to weaken Wagner or remove Prigozhin,' Lee tweeted. 'Given Wagner's presence overseas, the greatest effects from this event may be felt in MENA/Africa', where Wagner has a large presence. While the Kremlin appeared to have been caught on the back foot, US spy agencies picked up signs days ago that Prigozhin was planning to act, US media reported. They began tracking indications that Prigozhin and his mercenary force intended to move against the military leadership in mid-June, the Washington Post said, adding US spy agencies believed Putin was informed the Wagner chief was plotting his rebellion at least a day before it happened. The United States and its allies publicly stayed on the sidelines as officials waited to see how the revolt would play out. US President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of France, Germany and Britain amid concerns that Putin's control over the nuclear-armed country could be slipping. Moscow issued a stiff warning to the United States and allies to stay back. 'The rebellion plays into the hands of Russia's external enemies,' the foreign ministry said. Armored vehicles are seen as security measures are taken in Moscow Russian police man a checkpoint on a road leading to Moscow on Saturday Trucks are lined up, thought to be for defensive purposes, on the outside of Moscow as Russian troops begin building road blocks Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee announced on Saturday that a counter-terrorist operation regime has been introduced in Moscow city (pictured), the Moscow region and the Voronezh region Heavy, reinforced vehicles are being deployed at checkpoints across Moscow Police search vehicles at a checkpoint in the outskirts of Moscow There is a heavy armed police presence on roads across the capital city Prigozhin was once known as 'Putin's chef' - now the Wagner boss appears to be waging war on the Kremlin Police officers stand guard on roads approaching Moscow amid the ongoing military coup Pro-Putin forces on the outskirts of Moscow were seen digging in against the Wagner coup army heading towards the capital Russian policemen guard the Red Square in Moscow on Saturday morning Russian servicemen stand guard on a street in downtown Moscow Policemen guard the Kremlin, home to Russian President Putin, on Saturday Russian forces are pictured in the Lipetsk region, just a few hours from the gates of Moscow near the town of Yelets Before Prigozhin's climbdown, Russian regular forces had launched what one regional governor called a 'counter-terrorist operation' to halt the Wagner advance northwards up a main highway towards Moscow. In the capital, the mayor urged Muscovites to stay indoors and declared Monday a day off work. Security was tightened in the city centre, with armed men in flak jackets guarding the parliament building and Red Square closed off to the public. 'I don't know how to react. In any case it's very sad this is happening,' 35-year-old Yelena told AFP, declining to give her last name. All road traffic restrictions that had been imposed in Rostov, Lipetsk and other regions during the crisis have been lifted, state-run TASS reported, citing the federal road agency. The measures came after Prigozhin announced his troops had taken control of the military command centre and airbase in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, the nerve centre of Russia's offensive in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin (center) speaks with Chief of the General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov (left) and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (right) Military personnel and equipment in the center of Moscow and near the Russian MoD Prigozhin said that the Russian Armed Forces launched a missile attack on PMC Wagner forces An armoured personnel carrier (APC) is seen next to a shopping mall in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don on Friday night A military vehicle appeared to be on the streets of Moscow on Friday evening as Prigozhin called on the Russian National Guard to join his side Responding to the challenge in a televised address, Putin accused Prigozhin of a 'stab in the back' that posed a threat to Russia's very survival. 'Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood and to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia and to our people,' Putin said, demanding national unity. 'Extravagant ambitions and personal interests led to treason,' Putin said, referring to Prigozhin, who began building his power base as a catering contractor. As the insurrection force headed north through Voronezh and Lipetsk towards Moscow, the capital's mayor announced that 'anti-terrorist' measures were being taken. Critical facilities were 'under reinforced protection', TASS reported, citing a law enforcement source. While Prigozhin's outfit fought at the forefront of Russia's offensive in Ukraine, he repeatedly blamed Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, for his fighters' deaths. Premier Li wraps up visit to Germany, France 10:00, June 25, 2023 By Chu Daye ( Global Times Chinese Premier Li Qiang wrapped up his visit to Germany and France, his first overseas visit since taking position, and returned to Beijing on Saturday. During his trip, Li stressed that China will continue to open up and improve its business environment, and called on China and Europe to rise above differences, demonstrating the importance China attaches to the European market in an era of heightening geopolitical tensions. Chinese experts said the Premier's visit to Europe, which included bilateral as well as multilateral engagements, has achieved positive results in confirming the importance of strengthening economic ties with Germany and France - the two major European countries - amid the "de-risking" rhetoric and have dispelled, to a certain extent, misunderstanding over the matter. The visit highlighted China's willingness to consolidate its traditional friendship with Germany, France as well as the EU and strengthen the ballast effect of bilateral economic and trade cooperation at a crucial moment of global recession fears, protectionist headwinds, geopolitical undercurrents and unsteady global economic recovery from the pandemic, said the experts. Fruitful trip In a speech at the closing ceremony of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact on Friday local time in Paris, which was chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and attended by more than 60 heads of state, Li called on the international community to sincerely cooperate and work together to solve the problems of developing countries, especially vulnerable countries, to address the global development financing gap. China is ready to work with the international community to promote liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, and unequivocally oppose trade protectionism and decoupling and severing supply and industrial chains in any form, said the Premier. During his visit to Germany, Li co-chaired the seventh China-Germany intergovernmental consultationtogether with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, attended the China-Germany Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum and a roundtable for Chinese and German entrepreneurs, met with representatives from German industrial and business communities, and visited German companies in Bavaria. Germany rejects all forms of "decoupling," and "de-risking" is not "de-sinicization," said Scholz. "We don't think it's risky to drive in a Volkswagen, nor do we think it's unsafe to get a CT by Siemens equipment. We never regard these as risks, and China never means to 'de-risk' from them," Li said. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, June 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) In his Thursday meeting with Macron, Li said China is willing to work with France to uphold mutual benefits, continuously improve the business environment, expand cooperation in emerging areas, and push pragmatic cooperation between the two countries to a new level. Li also met with President of the European Council Charles Michel, noting that China stands ready to work with the EU to strengthen cooperation in green, economic, trade and digital fields, so as to open up new space for the development of China-EU relations. Li called on the EU to view its cooperation with China in an objective and rational way and work with China to safeguard the sound environment surrounding China-EU practical cooperation. On the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, Li told Michel that China's development brings opportunities rather than risks to the world, and sending stability rather than shocks to global industrial and supply chains. Positive signal Chinese experts said Li's trip brought into full play the face-to-face interactions to increase trust and dispel doubts and injected fresh impetus into the trade and economic ties between China and Europe. The trip also stressed common development as the way to cope with global economic woes, they noted. Yang Chengyu, an assistant research fellow at the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday that positive results have been achieved by the Premier's visit as he dispelled the noise of decoupling by further explaining China's stance. The Premier has made it clear that intensifying economic and trade cooperation does not have to be associated with national security issues, and this has dispelled some of the doubts, Yang said. Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Saturday that by stressing China's commitment to win-win cooperation with Europe in trade and economic matters, and articulating the Chinese understanding of de-risking, trust is enhanced and doubts are dispersed. It is of great significance that the Chinese Premier reiterated and reminded European leaders that China will continue to deepen its reform and opening-up, in a sign that hits back against geopolitical cold war noises and reactivates calls for pragmatic cooperation, according to Chen Jia, an independent analyst focused on global strategy. On June 20, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, unveiled a European Economic Security Strategy, which focuses on "minimizing risks" arising from certain economic flows in the context of rising geopolitical tensions. A few days earlier, the commission called on more EU nations to ban the Chinese telecoms groups Huawei and ZTE. In mid-June, the German government said it views China as "a partner, competitor and systemic rival" in its first national security strategy report. However, Yang noted that the European de-risking efforts are of a fundamentally different nature than those of the US. Liu Ying, a research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Saturday that the multiple results were achieved from Premier Li's trip, including agreements on various dialogue mechanisms, it will further enhance and deepen China-Germany and China-France trade and economic ties, and will inject stability and new growth momentum into the global economy and industrial and supply chain, which is currently rife with disruptions. Compared with some of the so-called long-term concerns, cooperation on development can best address the issue the world currently faces, Liu said. Bilateral cooperation is expected to receive a boost in vitality toward the goal of high-quality development, and it can be expected that this effect will partially offset the risks caused by US-led countries' push for decoupling at a critical time when the world faces unprecedented economic downward pressure characterized by a surge in financial risks in the West, Liu said. The stable and sound economic and trade ties between China and Europe are of great benefit to the two sides, which are seeing an unsteady recovery from the pandemic, Yang said. More foreign companies are attracted to China amid its push to better improve its business environment,. In the first five months, newly set up foreign enterprises increased by 38.3 percent to 18,532, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed on June 15. During the same period, foreign direct investment from France to China increased 429.7 percent year-on-year, the data showed. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) THE final list of successful candidates for the August 23 harmonised elections, who submitted their nomination papers during the sitting of the Nomination Court on Wednesday last week, will be gazetted on Friday. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is finalising the compilation of submissions made by prospective candidates for the Presidential, National Assembly and local authority races. Names of winners of local authority seats, who stood uncontested, are also likely to be gazetted. The ruling party, ZANU PF, said it has so far won 74 local authority seats after the candidates came out as sole nominees. After gazetting the final list of candidates, ZEC will then commence distributing the final voters roll to all approved candidates, with contestants only receiving registers that are specific to their area of contest. According to ZEC, 6 598 523 people will be eligible to vote on August 23, up from about 5,8 million who were registered during the last general election in 2018. The list of all polling stations is expected to be published two days after unveiling of the candidates. Elections for the National Council of Chiefs will then follow a day later. ZEC chief elections officer Mr Utloile Silaigwana told our Harare Bureau that the candidates will start receiving the voters roll when the commission has completed compiling submissions of all the candidates from provinces and districts. It is also important to note that candidates will be issued with voters rolls specific to their area of contest. There are 6 598 523 voters on the voters roll, he said. Eleven presidential candidates will be standing in the upcoming polls. President Mnangagwa of ZANU PF, Mr Joseph Busha of Free Zim Congress (FZC), Mr Nelson Chamisa of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Mr Trust Chikohora of Zimbabwe Coalition for Peace and Development (ZCPD) and Mr Blessing Kasiyamhuru of Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP) successfully filed their papers last week. Others are Mr Saviour Kasukuwere, an independent candidate; Professor Lovemore Madhuku of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA); Mr Wilbert Mubaiwa of National Peoples Congress (NPC); Mr Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa of the United African National Council (UANC); Mr Douglas Mwonzora of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mr Wilson Harry Peter of the Democratic Opposition Party (DOP). Mr Silaigwana said ZEC had so far accredited 30 local observers for the elections. Please, note that the accreditation of election observers commenced on June 20. As at June 22, 30 local observers had been accredited. No foreign observers have been accredited so far. Applications by prospective observers should be made no later than August 19. Sunday Mal The small boats are relentless coming almost daily. The threat of yet another civil war in the Conservative Party looms as Tory backbenchers want Rishi Sunaks Bill to stem the tide of migrant boats radically toughened up. And last week over three hundred desperate people seeking refuge died after an overcrowded boat sunk off the coast of Greece. The tragedies keep coming. Migration numbers are at their highest ever, and those who voted for Brexit demand answers. It is a Europe strafed by migration, climate change, technology and war. An explosive and important new book, This is Europe, by the author and journalist Ben Judah, shows us how the continent is being remade by two great quests for freedom: Migrants from the global south coming in search of a better life, and those from the east, fleeing from war. It details the human realities of the phenomenon once these migrants arrive in their new lands and how they are forced to adapt to make ends meet through the stories of 23 characters across 23 chapters. Through these brilliantly vivid descriptions and personal interviews, Judah creates a tale of life on the margins of our societies, from the Amazon worker from Syria to the Latvian Webcam girl. In his 20s, Ibrahim fled war-torn Syria as a teen and made his way to Germany via a long car journey, with the help of fake passports. He had big dreams of being an actor, but after struggling to find work fell into a gap in the market for Arab porn stars. Pictures top left in traditional dress and top right and bottom in his new life as a porn star. In his 20s, Ibrahim fled war-torn Syria as a teen and made his way to Germany via long car journeys with the help of fake passports. He says: It was expensive. I paid $4,000 just to get into Greece. I just drove straight to Greece with a fake passport, with my fingerprints and everything.' He finally made it to Germany where he found himself at school in Cologne and the victim of vicious bullying. Judah writes: 'They had him in classes, in a normal, everyday school, where theyd look at him because he couldnt speak German, where they had everything, but they still made fun of him, laughing at his Arab accent. It made him feel so awful that even now, he didnt even want to think about it' Ibrahim had big dreams of being an actor, but after struggling to find work fell into a gap in the market for Arab porn stars. Soon he was flown out to Prague for his first shoot but reveals he struggled to get hits on his videos, leading him to set up his own website which eventually allowed him to 'make it big'. But his career path was met with despair from his family, 'you cant do this, think of your family, they message him. 'What you are doing is disgusting. Im ordering you to stop it now'. And then there is the rage of the locals, 'disgusting Arab. we will kill you', they write.' But Ibrahim says that he is sticking at it thanks to his bullies who instilled his need to stay in control and choose his own way, not, as he says, the 'the kebab houses where he really belongs'. Ionut, a Romanian truck driver who often drives with his girlfriend Cami (together top), says he sees too many bad apples giving hard-working Eastern Europeans like him a bad reputation. Ionut sleeps in his truck during his long hard shifts, bottom left, and shares a simple meal with a co-worker in the back of an empty truck This Is Europe shows just how diverse migrants are from each other, not least in their views on migration. Ionut, a Romanian truck driver who works in England, says he sees too many bad apples giving hard-working Eastern Europeans like him a bad reputation. He recalls being gassed unconscious while resting at a truck stop in France, which allowed thieves to empty his truck of its goods. It was another immigrant-infested area,' he says contemptuously. 'Over the course of several years Ive noticed the thieves are the transitional people. The immigrants. Natives dont do this stuff in Britain or France, or at least in very small percentages. Its the people from Africa, Afghanistan, Romania, Poland . . . people from those lands are the rogues, he adds. His assessment is brutal: 'This situation baffles me. The immigrants are taken in as the workforce, cared for by England and in return they do their best to up the crime rate! Is that how they repay the country for taking them in and offering them work and proper living conditions?' But Ionuts story is ultimately a tragedy. No matter how hard he works, he cannot seem to improve his lot. 'Im picking up more debt than I can learn', he says forlornly. Pictured is the dingy block of flats and tiny room in Latvia where Nora, 16, was forced to work as a cam girl to raise money to live in Italy where she had earned a college scholarship Another shocking story is that of Nora, a 16-year-old girl from Latvia who takes up a job as a cam-girl to fund flights to Italy, where she has been awarded a scholarship for the United World Colleges campus. The book details her shifts in the dingy apartment building that houses the dilapidated cam studio. Her drive to earn the money needed to travel to Italy is all that keeps her from walking out, as her clients spam her with messages calling her 'a fat b****' and threatening to rape her and kill her. She spends the evenings crying in pursuit of this dream. The university's assumption that Nora should be able to pay for her flights demonstrates the lack of opportunities available to those like her who have the ability but not the means to better themselves. Natasha and her husband took to the streets in her hometown of Homyel against Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. All they did was peacefully protest but in Belarus that is a criminal offence. When her husband, German, is arrested and sent to prison, she is told her daughter will be next a threat that sets off a chain of events that eventually sees her arriving, exhausted and dazed, as a refugee in Lithuania. Pictured top: German before his arrest for protesting in Belarus. Pictured below: German with his daughter Natasha before their life was torn apart. Then there is the story of Aboud from Syria, who endured a treacherous journey across the Med in a small boat, almost perishing on the way. Judah recalls his near-drowning: 'There are two guys next to him. He can hear them panicking. Talking to themselves. Are those prayers they are muttering? They are not all together any more. 'Aboud, look. Theres a vulture. Its circling over them. Those huge wings. Hes looking at them. Hes hungry. And thats when you realise. It's waiting for them to die'. By some miracle, he swims to safety and finally ends up in the German industrial city of Storkow, working as an Amazon delivery driver, locked into a punishing schedule in unfamiliar surroundings. Aboud, from Syria, survived a near drowning after the small boat he was on capsized in the Med, but eventually made it to Germany where he works as an Amazon delivery driver. He says: 'Its not really like I imagined it. Its not a German city, really, any more. Its full of everyone. Its full of Turks, its full of Poles, its full of Arabs. And its full of crime. 'At work you can see it clearly. Its the Germans at the top, you can barely see them, theyre behind computers. Then the Western Europeans, the ones who think they are their equals. Then the Turks, they own so much here. Then the Eastern Europeans. Then the Asians. Then the refugees: Arabs, Africans, all of them at the bottom. Author Ben Judah spent half a decade travelling to over two dozen countries to write his book. The Europe he reveals is one totally transformed - in which the continent is blurring with the Middle East and Africa. Judahs message is as stark as it is clear: What Europe once was it no longer is. We should heed his words. This Is Europe: The Way We Live Now by Ben Judah is published by Picador and available for 18.99 at Waterstones and Amazon. Ministers are facing a storm today over plans to let children change gender at school as long as parents consent. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is preparing new guidance expected to back pupils 'socially transitioning' by changing pronouns. She has insisted that the move will be contingent on support from families, who will be at the 'heart' of new rules for England - due to be published before the end of the summer term. But there are signs of concern in government and on the Tory backbenches about the stance, with some fearing it would cause chaos in classrooms and have psychological impacts on children. The row is brewing after controversy over youngsters being allowed to identify as cats, horses and dinosaurs in some schools. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is preparing new guidance expected to back pupils 'socially transitioning' by changing pronouns Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Ms Keegan said the issue over whether teachers should enforce such demands was 'surreal'. 'Obviously, the answer to that question is absolutely not. I have been clear that doing so is totally inappropriate,' she wrote. 'We must inject some common sense back into the classroom and society more generally. The classroom is a place where fact should be taught as fact and opinion as opinion.' Ms Keegan pledged to put parents at the 'heart' of the new guidance on gender identity. 'We know that the number of children and young people questioning their gender identity and experiencing gender distress has become a growing challenge for parents, teachers and schools. 'The vast majority of teachers are doing an incredible job navigating these complex and sensitive issues. 'We have listened to their calls for further clarity on how to manage these issues. This is why I have been working with Kemi Badenoch, the equalities minister, to bring forward guidance to specifically address how schools handle these situations. This will help teachers navigate their approach to children and young people questioning their identity. 'We will be publishing the guidance for consultation before the end of the summer term. At its heart will be parents, ensuring their voices are central to decisions being made about their child in school.' The rules are also expected to say no-one should be obliged to use a pupil's preferred pronouns if they feel uncomfortable doing so. But Tory MP Miriam Cates said while parent should always be involved in decisions, schools had to set rules for the good of all pupils. 'When I was a teacher, a parent once phoned me to demand I sit with their child through my lunch break each day to help him finish his coursework which he had failed to hand in on time. It was a very short conversation,' she tweeted. 'Schools frequently do not give in to parental demands; this is not, in itself, a breach of parental consent or parental involvement, rather a function of the fact that schools have rules and policies to which all children must adhere. 'If a school decides to socially transition a child (as huge numbers of schools currently are) then of course parental consent and involvement ought to be required. 'However, it doesn't follow that schools do or should have the legal, ethical or clinical authority to transition a child. The row is brewing after controversy over youngsters being allowed to identify as cats, horses and dinosaurs in some schools (file picture of pupils in class) 'Those who are saying that schools can't refuse a parent's wishes in this regard are confusing parental consent with parental demands. 'If the government decides (and who else's job is it to decide?) that the State should not transition children... it will then be perfectly legitimate for schools to refuse to transition a child even with parental consent, just as they would refuse to allow a child to vape on school grounds, even with parental consent. 'It is a mistake to take a managerial approach to this issue by drawing up a glorified flow chart to decide who gets to transition and when. This is not a management issue, it's a safeguarding issue. 'No child is born in the wrong body and there is no evidence that social transition benefits children; if the Government really believes this then it must ban schools from transitioning children.' One Whitehall source told the paper: 'Department for Education officials have attended too many Stonewall meetings and think social transition is acceptable. 'It isn't. These are children dealing with serious changes and doctors should be involved. The guidance will reflect that.' Nick Fletcher, Tory MP for Don Valley, said: 'There needs to be a complete ban of (social transitioning) in schools. There should be no use of gender pronouns.' However, Tories have warned that 'purists' should not try to second-guess the decisions of parents about their own offspring. Parents of pupils attending the school at the centre of a cat gender row have reportedly slammed teachers for 'focusing on ''woke'' issues instead of education'. Shocking audio footage last week from Rye College in East Sussex revealed that a teacher called a teenage pupil 'despicable' for disputing the idea that a classmate could identify as a cat. The clip includes a heated exchange in which the disgruntled teacher says the Year 8 youngster needed a 'proper educational conversation about equality, diversity and inclusion'. But now parents are criticising the teacher for bringing 'gender politics' into the classroom, which they allege is 'stressing the children out'. One couple, whose daughter in Year 7 was brought to tears by the incident, added that it is 'wrong' to tell students they 'can't have an opinion'. Rye College said on Thursday 'no children' at the school 'identify as a cat or any other animal'. Meantime, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the debate, arguing that educators should not be 'shutting down debate' between pupils. Parents of pupils attending Rye College in East Sussex (pictured), the school at the centre of a cat gender row, have reportedly slammed teachers for 'focusing on ''woke'' issues instead of education' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured on Thursday) commented on the debate, arguing that educators should not be 'shutting down debate' between pupils The parents of a Year 7 pupil told The Sun that there has been too much focus on 'woke' issues and not enough of a priority on education. 'Everything has gone woke. Teachers should concentrate on teaching and shouldn't be telling them they don't belong in school,' a concerned mother said. 'All this gender politics is stressing the children out and it's wrong to tell them they can't have an opinion.' The girl's father added that the interaction between the teacher and the student 'made me angry'. He claims the educator had 'no right to say a pupil's opinion is wrong'. He revealed that although his daughter is not in the same year as the pupil involved in the debate, the fallout has left her 'crying about the fuss and stress it has caused'. He added: 'It's highlighted how gender politics has taken over schools. It's not good. I feel heads across Britain need a clear plan on this issue.' A spokesperson for Rye College, told MailOnline: 'We have already met with the Department for Education (DfE) to share a comprehensive update on the events which took place before, during and after the recording. This meeting was a positive step, and we will continue working closely with them to ensure any appropriate action is taken. In the event we receive an Ofsted inspection, we would of course, as always, fully support and engage with the process. We can confirm, no children at Rye College identify as a cat or any other animal. 'More widely, we understand that draft guidance on gender identity in schools is expected to be issued by the Government soon and we would of course welcome what we hope will be clear and helpful guidance to support all teachers and schools in addressing gender identity going forward. This will be particularly useful in developing future training to ensure staff feel confident, well-equipped and well-prepared to address these issues. 'We remain committed to offering our pupils an inclusive education in line with best practice and will continue to support our teachers in their endeavours to ensure that pupils' views are listened to, and encourage them to ask questions and engage in discussion.' Women and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch (pictured on Thursday) ordered a snap Ofsted inspection into the school Earlier last week the House of Commons heard Education Secretary Gillian Keegan (pictured last Tuesday) had 'launched an investigation' in response Women and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch ordered a snap Ofsted inspection into the school after the incident. But Rye College said it had already met with the DfE to share a 'comprehensive update' on what happened. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, slammed Ms Badenoch's decision as 'unnecessary' and accused her of 'grandstanding' over the issue. In her letter to school regulator Ofsted, Ms Badenoch said that the 'widely circulated recording of a teacher acting inappropriately regarding her pupil's beliefs about sex and gender' raised issues about 'safeguarding at the school'. She added the teacher in question was 'not acting in a way consistent' with the 2010 Equality Act's requirements, nor 'in accordance with Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework's requirements to promote respect for the different protected characteristics as defined in law.' Ms Badenoch also said by teaching 'contested political beliefs as fact' such as there being 'lots of genders', the school risked breaching political impartiality requirements set out under the 1996 Education Act. Earlier last week the House of Commons heard Education Secretary Gillian Keegan had 'launched an investigation' in response, with MPs also raising concerns in Parliament. And on Thursday, the school confirmed it had met with the DfE's regional director for the South East and shared a 'comprehensive update on the events whoch took place before, during and after the recording' and that no pupil identifies as a 'cat' or 'any other animal'. It said it would 'as always, fully support and engage with the process' should an Ofsted inspection go ahead. A female team leader at a factory was sacked after telling a younger male colleague 'I want to squeeze those buns so bad', a tribunal heard. Julie Taylor is said to have made the inappropriate comment about the male factory worker as he bent over at work while she stood behind him 'watching'. The senior employee also pinched younger men at work on their behinds and grabbed their 'private parts', a panel heard. She made 'dirty rude comments', quizzed men on whether they were married, and on one occasion told a colleague that it was such a 'pity you are not single' in front of his wife. Following an investigation into Taylor's behaviour, the middle-aged worker was fired by Stanley Black & Decker for gross misconduct. Julie Taylor is said to have made the inappropriate comment about the male factory worker as he bent over at work while she stood behind him 'watching'. Pictured: Stanley Black & Decker, where Taylor worked The senior employee also pinched younger men at work on their behinds and grabbed their 'private parts', a panel at a tribunal court in Cambridge (pictured) heard She tried to sue the manufacturing company for unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal, but the tribunal in Cambridge has thrown out her case. The hearing was told colleagues were left 'uncomfortable' by Taylor but didn't want to speak out because she was older and 'sometimes older people thought they could get away with things'. The tribunal heard on November 3, 2021, Daniel Gardos told a colleague, Daniel Lindley, that Taylor had approached him while he was sitting in a warehouse truck talking to another colleague and had 'grabbed him in a private area'. Mr Gardos said in a statement to HR: 'On October 27 I was in aisle L asking a colleague a couple of questions and then I saw team leader Julie walking down towards us. 'She approached me and made a joke, in the middle of doing it she reached into my truck area and grabbed me inappropriately on my private area, without permission. 'This incident made me feel very uncomfortable.' After the complaint, Taylor was suspended and an internal investigation was launched. Mr Lindley told the investigator that Ms Taylor made 'dirty rude comments' and 'made comments and touched him' too when he first started but because he was new, he didn't feel he could speak out. Another worker, Victor Purtulis, also said Ms Taylor inappropriately touched him. Taylor tried to sue the manufacturing company for unfair dismissal and wrongful dismissal, but the tribunal in Cambridge has thrown out her case. (file image) A tribunal report said: 'He stated that on one occasion, as he was about to put a pallet up on the racking, Ms Taylor put her hand on his leg and swiped her hand down his thigh. 'On another occasion he was bending over and felt someone watching, and when he turned around she was standing there and had said 'I want to squeeze those buns so bad'. 'He hadn't said anything to her because she was older than him and sometimes older people thought they could get away with things.' Warehouse worker Terence Brown also encountered the same experience. The report said: '[Mr Brown] said he had had a couple of experiences with Ms Taylor but he had just brushed them off. 'She had come behind him as he was wrapping a pallet and 'grabbed his bum'. He gave her a dirty look and she didn't do it again. 'When he had first started she had pointed out he was wearing a ring and said, 'you're married then'.' Another male colleague said Ms Taylor made comments in front of his wife such as 'why are you [married], such a pity, shame you are not single' which had upset his wife. Two others were interviewed and claimed similar incidents had happened to them. In a disciplinary hearing in December, Taylor denied all the allegations but even after an appeal, she was fired for gross misconduct. Employment Judge Sarah Moore said: 'In the light of all the above I am satisfied the [company] had genuine and reasonable grounds for its belief [Taylor] had touched [the male workers] in a sexually inappropriate way and that it arrived at that conclusion having carried out as much investigation into the matter as was reasonable in the circumstances. 'I find it more likely than not that the instances of sexually inappropriate touching happened as alleged. 'Sexually inappropriate touching at work constitutes gross misconduct and a repudiatory breach of contract which [the company] was entitled to accept by summary dismissal.' Ministers have been accused of 'slyly' reinstating 'Net Zero' charges worth 170 a year on energy bills. Green levies that were temporarily removed from household electricity bills will return from next month. The suspension, announced by Liz Truss's government as part of a support package amid skyrocketing prices last September, was initially meant to last for two years. But the Treasury will end the subsidy in July when the Ofgem price cap falls below 2,500 for the average household. There was a hint at a rethink this morning, with Chief Secretary John Glen saying that the government is 'looking carefully' at the issues. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will end the green levy subsidy in July when the Ofgem price cap falls below 2,500 for the average household Ofgem cap details shows that social and environmental levies make up around 170 of the average annual dual fuel bill - although the Government currently subsidises bills The average household bill has been restricted to 2,500 as part of the Government's Energy Price Guarantee (EPG). But Ofgem will cut its price cap from 3,280 to 2,074 from July 1 following tumbling wholesale prices. Although customers will again pay energy rates in full, including for green levies, the average bill will fall by 426 a year due to the drop in the price cap. A Treasury source said the Government has not 'made an active decision' to saddle consumers with the green levies again. 'That's how the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) works,' the said. 'It's part of the design of the scheme announced in September 2022.' Green and social levies make up around 170 per year per household, the department said, and go towards funding cheap renewable energy and home insulation for pensioners and low-income households. A Government spokesman added: 'Levies more than pay for themselves by driving investment in renewables and other generation technology and have saved consumers money on their energy bills overall over the past 10 years.' Former Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Green levies are part of the problem behind the UK's particularly high electricity prices. 'They ought to be abolished but should fall on general taxation until that can happen. The ambition for net zero must not make us cold and poor. Any new or re-imposed charge ought to be announced to Parliament first and not slipped through slyly.' Ofgem will cut its price cap from 3,280 to 2,074 from July 1 following tumbling wholesale prices Grant Shapps said over the weekend that he did not want to 'see people's household bills unnecessarily bashed' by the drive to Net Zero as the cost-of-living crisis continues Grant Shapps said over the weekend that he did not want to 'see people's household bills unnecessarily bashed' by the drive to Net Zero as the cost-of-living crisis continues. The Energy Security Secretary signalled a U-turn on a Government plan to impose an annual levy on energy consumers in 2025 to fund production of hydrogen. Meanwhile, the Government has said a complete ban on coal power generation 'isn't appropriate'. The Government suffered a defeat in the House of Lords earlier this year as peers narrowly backed a change to the Energy Bill banning the opening of new coal mines. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: 'While our reliance on coal is rapidly diminishing, there is still a need for it in industries such as steel and cement so now is not the right time to make changes. 'We will continue to listen to representations made by Members as passage of the Bill continues but oppose this amendment because a complete ban isn't appropriate and risks meeting future demand from our own resources.' A 5million Government service to help homeowners at risk of losing their property has been branded a 'total fiasco' for helping just three people. Ministers were accused of a 'complete waste of money' over a bid to give free legal advice to people struggling with housing-related debts. The row broke after the Government admitted the results of a five-month pilot scheme to help families avoid financial problems escalating into eviction or repossession. Justice Minister Mike Freer revealed that in the pilot areas of parts of Manchester and Middlesbrough, only 104 people completed the application process. And of those, only three individuals all to them in Middlesbrough went to get the advice offered. Labour pointed out that the 5million cost could have bought each of those people a semi-detached house in Middlesbrough with almost enough left over to do the same for 10 of their families and friends. Ministers were accused of a 'complete waste of money' over a bid to give free legal advice to people struggling with housing-related debts Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry said that given how much pressure mortgage-holders and renters were now under, the Government's incompetence was very worrying. But the Ministry of Justice hit back to insist that the pilot was 'primarily used to help us identify potential issues' before considering a 'wider roll-out' of an advice scheme. An MoJ spokesman insisting: 'Protecting vulnerable people is a priority for this Government.. Under the 'Early Legal Advice Pilot' which ran from October 31 last year to the end of this March, about 27,000 people invitations were sent to people with housing-related debts in the pilot areas of Manchester and Middlesbrough to fill in a survey for support for three hours of free advice. However, Justice Minister Mr Freer admitted that 'according to Legal Aid Agency records in May 2023', there was 'no take-up in Manchester' while in Middlesbrough just three people 'requested and attended the free legal advice sessions'. He went on to say 'this highlights the challenges of engaging individuals dealing with early-stage housing, debt and social welfare issues' Mr Freer insisted 'the evaluation has gathered valuable insights on the nature and implementation of such pilots', adding that an evaluation report on the pilot was expected to be published by the end of summer. However, Ms Thornberry said the Government had had 'three years to get this pilot scheme right but like everything else they touch, it has turned into a total fiasco - : poorly-designed, badly-executed, and a complete waste of 5 million'. She added: 'Households across the country are running out of ways to pay their rent or mortgage, and now one of the only initiatives the Treasury has backed to help them is exposed as a dismal failure.. A euthanasia advocate claims the death of a 23-year-old woman with a painful terminal illness shows the benefits of new voluntary assisted dying laws work - but he says more still needs to be done. Brave Lily Thai 'peacefully passed away' after a years-long battle with autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) - a rare condition where a person's body attacks their own nervous system - which left her unable to walk, drink or eat without being sick. The South Australian used assisted dying laws, introduced in January this year, to end her life surrounded by loved ones at Laurel Hospice at the Flinders Medical Centre on June 21. Doctor Philip Nitschke - who has been dubbed 'Dr Death' for his work in the controversial medical area - hopes Lily's case will help 'allay people's concerns' about assisted dying and 'strengthen support for the laws'. South Australian Lily Thai, 23, who was suffering from a terminal illness passed away after she decided to use assisted dying laws to end her life (pictured) Doctor Philip Nitschke - who has been dubbed 'Dr Death' for his work in the controversial medical area - hopes Lily's case will help 'allay people's concerns' about assisted dying and 'strengthen support for the laws' 'The SA laws, they are functioning, as evidenced by Lily and I think most people will be pleased such legislation was in place so she could be helped,' he told The Advertiser. 'I note that of the 12 or so who have used the legislation, they had terminal cancer or degenerative neurological diseases and in all these cases it's hard to find anyone who would not approve of the SA law.' The former Adelaide-based doctor, who now lives in the Netherlands, believes the laws have not changed older people's desire to end their life with the help of state legislation. Dr Nitschke said older people want to have control over their own death without having to seek permission from health authorities as stipulated through state laws. 'I see no reduction in the common sentiment among the elderly that they should be the ones who make the decision, and that this should not be controlled by restrictive legislative process,' Dr Nitschke said. 'Many elderly will continue to seek and occasionally use their own lethal drugs, or plan a final trip to Switzerland, the one place in the world where receiving any assistance is not controlled by the medical profession.' South Australia has safeguards in place for voluntary assisted dying which requires an individual make three requests and be assessed by two medical practitioners before their process can begin. Since the age of 17, Lily's debilitating illness had affected her quality of life, leaving her bedridden and unable to move Lily's last days were spent surrounded by friends and family in hospice before she died after doctors administered a fast-acting IV medication. In a death notice placed in the Adelaide Advertiser, her family announced Lily had 'passed away peacefully'. 'Much loved daughter of Kate and Le,' the notice read. 'Beloved granddaughter, niece and cousin. 'Treasured friend to many. 'You may have gone from our sight but you are never gone from our hearts.' Lily was the daughter of high flying culinary couple Le Tu Thai and Kate Sparrow. Mr Thai is a Vietnamese refugee who became one of Adelaide's most respected chefs. He and his partner Kate gained acclaim through their Nediz Tu restaurant before Mr Thai later took over the kitchen at the city's famous Bridgewater Mill restaurant. In a death notice, her family announced the young South Australia had 'passed away peacefully' at Laurel Hospice at the Flinders Medical Centre last Wednesday, June 21 Ambulance officer Danika Pederzolli recently took Lily out to the beach, with a heartwarming snap showing the pair sitting in the back of an open ambulance while enjoying the sight of the ocean and some McDonald's fries Their daughter had suffered 'excruciating' pain from the rare autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) condition. Since the age of 17, Lily's debilitating illnesses had affected her quality of life, leaving her bedridden and unable to move. She was receiving palliative care at the Laurel Hospice in the weeks before her death. Lily had been not well enough to go outside in her final days and instead would remain in her bed while being comforted by her friends and family. One person who' had been by Lily's side was her close friend and ambulance officer Danika Pederzolli, 28. Ms Pederzolli recently took Lily out to the beach, with a heartwarming snap showing the pair sitting in the back of an open ambulance while enjoying the sight of the ocean and some McDonald's fries. Ms Pederzolli, who met Lily through a St John's Ambulance cadet program, said she would remember her close friend as having a 'vibrant attitude, positive and warm presence'. 'She's such a positive and warm presence in your life and (such a) smart person,' she told the publication. 'She was just so happy, and she's still like that now, she's no different.' She described Lily as 'sunshine in human form' and wrote her a heartfelt note that she gifted to her along with a teddy bear. Lily also shared a friendship with fellow AAG patient Annaliese Holland, 23. Lily (right) also shared a friendship with fellow AAG patient Annaliese Hollan (right) with the pair sharing stories about the disease in the hopes of spreading awareness The pair wanted to raise awareness about the rare disease and shared their stories in the hopes it would lead to symptoms of other AAG patients being diagnosed sooner. Lily said her experience talking about AAG had been incredible with several people reaching out to show their support. 'Lots of people (who) I haven't spoken to in a long time (have reached out), which has been absolutely beautiful,' she said. The medicine used to end Lily's life under new assisted dying laws in South Australia was administered using an IV drip with the 23-year-old passing within 10 seconds. The firm has been in crisis after the tax leaks scandal Beleaguered consultancy giant PwC Australia has named its new chief executive officer and announced it will sell off its government operations to a private equity firm for just $1. The big four professional services firm on Sunday announced it would fly in a new CEO from its Singapore team as it attempts to repair the repetitional damage caused by the tax leaks scandal. PwC has been in crisis mode following revelations former taxation partner, Peter Collins, leaked sensitive and confidential government information to fellow partners and clients. Mr Collins has since been banned from acting as a tax practitioner, and federal Treasury has referred the scandal to the Australian Federal Police for a criminal investigation. In a bid to ward off further controversy, PwC confirmed on Sunday that all of its federal and state government business would be divested exclusively to Allegro Funds for a mere $1. PwC Australia has named its new CEO and announced it will sell off its government operations as it attempts to repair its reputation following the tax leaks scandal The new entity has been referred to as project 'Bell'. It will become a company and will therefore be subject to corporate governance obligations and oversight from ASIC via the Corporations Act. PwC Australia operates on a partnership model, meaning it is not incorporated and is not subject to corporate governance oversight, instead it has voluntarily adopted a code of conduct. The deal involves about 130 partners and 2000 staff. The government consulting operations arm of PwC was responsible for about 20 per cent of the firm's revenue in the 2023 financial year. The firms are positioned to sign a binding agreement by the end of July. Additionally, PwC's global leaders will parachute Kevin Burrowes into the top job after they seizing control of the troubled Australian arm of the business. Mr Burrowes will take over from Kristin Stubbins, who has been acting in the top job for almost seven weeks after former CEO Tom Seymour resigned in early May. Mr Seymour quit after he was revealed to have received emails from Mr Collins containing confidential Treasury information. Nine PwC partners were directed to go on leave immediately around the same time as Mr Seymour stepped down last month. Tom Seymour (pictured) stepped down as the CEO of the consultancy firm back in May after it was revealed he had received emails from former taxation partner, Peter Collins, containing confidential Treasury information Kevin Burrowes will take over from Kristin Stubbins (pictured) as PwC's new chief executive. Ms Stubbins had been acting in the top job for almost seven weeks after Mr Seymour resigned Mr Burrowes plans to relocate from Singapore to Sydney to become a PwC Australia partner and the firm's CEO but he is yet to complete Australia's immigration process. PwC Australia's move to divest its government operations comes after the federal government effectively barred the firm from any new contracts and the NSW government announced a temporary suspension on offering the firm any new tax work. The consultancy firm said the sale of this part of the business to Allegro Funds would impact its future size and operations. PwC Australia chair Justin Carroll said the sale was the 'right thing to do for our public sector clients' and he hoped the move would protect the jobs involved in the firm's government business operations. 'This was an extremely difficult decision, but we are determined to take all necessary steps to protect the jobs of our people and re-earn the trust of our stakeholders,' he said in a statement sent to media on Sunday. Mr Burrowes will become PwC Australia's new CEO following a stint as the PwC Network's global clients and industries leader after first joining the firm in 1986. PwC has said Mr Burrowe's priority would be improving the firm's culture, with a specific focus on 'ethics and controls'. He said he was 'honoured' to have been selected to lead PwC Australia and vowed to 'work tirelessly' to increase transparency and repair trust with the firm's stakeholders. The consultancy firm said the sale of this part of the business to Allegro Funds would impact its future size and operations PwC global chair Bob Moritz on Sunday said PwC Australia had failed to meet the global partnership's professional standards and values under its past leadership. 'Its past actions are not representative of the work and behaviours of PwC around the world and I am deeply sorry to our clients, our broader stakeholders and our people,' he said. 'PwC Australia has significant work to do and I am confident that the steps they are taking with the network's support will result in a stronger firm.' Earlier this month Ms Stubbins released a statement stating, 'I want to apologise on behalf of PwC Australia. For sharing confidential government tax policy information and for betraying the trust placed in us.' She admitted there had been a clear lack of respect for confidentiality and that PwC Australia did not have adequate processes and governance in place. A violent clash outside a drag queen story time event in south London saw protesters injured and four arrests, with two people charged. Pro-LGBTQ demonstrators and conservative activists faced off outside the Honor Oak pub in Lewisham on Saturday during the reading session, while a transgender activist alleged they were punched in the face by a Met Police officer. Turning Point UK, which assembled to argue the storytelling session is not suitable for children, claims their protesters 'were attacked by armed thugs in masks swinging sticks'. The right wing group alleged a 'concerned parent' attending their event was stabbed in the hand. A trans activist also claimed to have suffered 'serious injuries' after being punched in the face by a cop while administering first aid to fellow demonstrators. The force has said it was 'unlikely that their injuries had been sustained as a result of contact with police'. Of the four arrested, Jamie Turvey, 33, from Farnborough, was charged with using words to cause harassment, alarm or distress and Amardeep Dhillon, 28, from Lewisham was charged for failure to comply with conditions. A violent clash outside a drag queen story time event in south London on Saturday saw series of injuries, footage has revealed Pro-LGBTQ demonstrators and conservative activists faced off outside the Honor Oak pub in Lewisham on Saturday amid the reading session Clashes outside the pub between the two groups are reportedly a monthly occurrence. Demonstrators protesting against the drag story time event are pictured outside the pub Transgender activist Ada (pictured) alleged they were punched in the face by a Met Police officer while administering first aid to fellow demonstrators. The force has denied the accusation Turning Point UK alleged a 'concerned parent' attending their event was stabbed in the hand Two others were arrested in connection with the demonstrations and have been bailed pending further enquiries. Clashes outside the pub, which appeared to have suffered damage including broken windows, between the two groups are reportedly a monthly occurrence. Police confirmed in a statement on Saturday that two people had been arrested for assault and a third for a public order offence. Footage from the protest shows how chaos erupted outside the Honor Oak pub while drag queen That Girl hosted the storytelling session. Video footage shared online shows how masked demonstrators swinging sticks that appeared to double as pro-LGBTQ flags clashed with other protesters. Chaos erupted outside the Honor Oak pub while drag queen That Girl (pictured) hosted the storytelling session Turning Point UK told MailOnline that their demonstrators arrived outside the pub around 6am on Saturday to 'secure the ground' - alleging that police have 'made it clear to both sides that whoever arrives first to an area is allowed to set up there and the other side will be moved down the pavement'. The group claims that upon their arrival they were met by a 'hostile group of masked thugs brandishing wooden clubs', which some are understood to have had 'sharpened ends'. The protesters allege that members of the 'ANTIFA group' then proceeded to follow and chase them down the pavement with their clubs as they tried to 'illegally block us from setting up our speakers and banners'. 'These radical gender activists also pelted the concerned parents who had joined us with glass and plastic bottles,' a Turning Point UK spokesperson told MailOnline. 'The far-left thugs attempted to barge our protesters out of the way with their wooden clubs and then when we continued to set up they began beating people, and one even stabbed one of our protesters with a metal object.' Turning Point UK, which assembled to argue the storytelling session is not suitable for children, claims their protesters 'were attacked by armed thugs in masks swinging sticks' Turning Point UK claims that upon their arrival they were met by a 'hostile group of masked thugs brandishing wooden clubs', which some are understood to have had 'sharpened ends' The protesters allege that members of the 'ANTIFA group' then proceeded to follow and chase them down the pavement with their clubs as they tried to 'illegally block us from setting up our speakers and banners' Met Police have confirmed that three individuals were arrested at the protest. This photograph appears to show officers taking one of the demonstrators into custody 'These radical gender activists also pelted the concerned parents who had joined us with glass and plastic bottles,' a Turning Point UK spokesperson told MailOnline. Demonstrators are pictured outside the pub on Saturday The group alleged that one protester, whom they identified as a 'concerned parent', was stabbed in the hand after the left-wing activists had targeted his face. He 'managed to block the attack with his hand', Turning Point UK claimed. Similarly, the pro-LGBTQ protesters allege that their demonstrators were injured during the clash on Saturday. The Trans Safety Network - branding the conservatives as 'fascists', a term Turning Point UK disputes - alleged that activist Ada was injured during the face off. The group's reporter Jess O'Thomson was present at the pub to cover the recent protests against Drag Queen Story Hour. 'The fascists grabbed people and began attacking them, breaking the pub window and causing serious injuries,' the group tweeted alongside a photo of Ada. The left wing group further claimed that police 'targeted trans protesters whilst providing urgent first aid care'. They stated: 'Ada was providing this first aid support and was punched across the face by TSG officers trying to arrest someone.' Met Police, in a statement provided to MailOnline, seemingly denied the accusation, saying: 'We are aware of a photo on social media showing a person outside The Honor Oak pub in Lewisham with facial injuries. 'It has been alleged that they were punched by a police officer during an altercation between protest groups on the morning of Saturday, 24 June. 'Initial enquiries after the incident suggested it was unlikely that their injuries had been sustained as a result of contact with police.' The Trans Safety Network claimed that police 'targeted trans protesters whilst providing urgent first aid care'. Demonstrators are pictured outside the pub on Saturday Supporters of the drag queen demonstrate from behind a police cordon on Saturday The Trans Safety Network also claimed pro-trans demonstrators were told that protesters would 'kick the s**t out of them' if they did not 'relinquish their flags'. Pro-LGBTQ demonstrators are pictured at the protest on Saturday Turning Point UK says they 'did not antagonise' the left wing group and instead 'walked past them in an effort to set up away from them in an open space next to the Honor Oak before the protest'. The group alleged they 'were attacked and acted in self-defence', noting that is why 'none of our people were arrested'. Demonstrators are pictured outside the pub on Saturday Ada, addressing their injuries in a post online, added: 'Don't look at this picture of me and be afraid of coming down. Look at me, get angry, and come down. Make it clear that this won't stand in Lewisham' Honor Oak Pub appeared to have suffered damage including broken windows on Saturday Trans Safety Network alleges the conservative demonstrators broke their 'flags to pieces and began launching them towards people' The statement continued: 'Following further enquiries, we now believe the person was in the immediate vicinity when officers moved in to the middle of a group of protestors to detain an individual and it is possible that this is when they sustained their injuries. 'Officers attempted to engage with them at the scene about their injuries but they declined any assistance. Should they wish to contact us at any point we will be happy to speak to them.' Ada, addressing their injuries in a post online, added: 'Don't look at this picture of me and be afraid of coming down. Look at me, get angry, and come down. Make it clear that this won't stand in Lewisham.' The Trans Safety Network also claimed the 'fascists broke flags to pieces and began launching them towards people'. They added that pro-trans demonstrators were told that protesters would 'kick the s**t out of them' if they did not 'relinquish their flags'. According to a statement provided by the group, protesters arrived around 5.45am and 'began shouting insults and slurs at the trans counter-protesters'. The group alleges that they then advanced across the road to 'physically attack the counter-protesters', claiming the pro-trans protesters - who were carrying flags - linked together to 'form a defensive barrier'. 'The anti-drag protesters charged at the group shouting threats including "We'll kick the f**k out of you" and threw glass bottles and other objects,' Trans Safety Network told MailOnline, adding: 'One anti-drag protester repeatedly punched trans counter-protester Ada Cable in the face, leading to the injuries seen in our Twitter thread. 'Ada backed away and received first aid from another counter-protester. The anti-drag protesters pulled another counter-protester from the crowd and started stomping on them.' The organisation claims Ms O'Thomson was injured in the chaos after 'being crushed behind the counter-protesters as they were forced against the wall of the pub by their attackers, unable to retreat further'. However, Turning Point UK says they 'did not antagonise' the group and instead 'walked past them in an effort to set up away from them in an open space next to the Honor Oak before the protest'. The right wing group alleged they 'were attacked and acted in self-defence', noting that is why 'none of our people were arrested'. Met Police have confirmed that three individuals were arrested at the protest. It is unclear if any have been formally charged yet. Honor Oak pub has not yet responded to the violence, although photos show the establishment suffered damage during the clash. Police are pictured manning a cordon outside the pub during on Saturday's protest Honor Oak pub has not yet responded to the violence, although photos show the establishment suffered damage during the clash. Activists holding flags are pictured outside the pub on Saturday It is unclear if story time, which appears to be a routine event at the pub, will continue in the future. Demonstrators are pictured outside the pub on Saturday A statement on the pub's website published before Saturday's incident read: 'It has come to our attention that there may be some misunderstanding about the event, so we wanted to reassure you all that our popular Magical Storytelling event will be age appropriate and it isn't anything different to what families will see and experience together in a theatre. 'This event is an opportunity for families and friends to come together and listen to a reading of a storybook and have fun. The most important thing for us is that everyone is safe and happy when they are here.' It is unclear if story time, which appears to be a routine event at the pub, will continue in the future. MailOnline has approached Honor Oak pub for comment. Oxford University students this morning made their way home from Magdalen College's prestigious Commemoration Ball. Students in ball gowns and white tie dress suits walked and cycled through the streets of Oxford following a night of 'revelry' at the 565-year-old college. The 235 a ticket Narnia themed event was held last night in the grounds of Magdalen College. The event was described as a 'night of woodland revelry' in which students were invited to 'don' their 'finest white tie' outfits and 'step through' the wardrobe. Today, students were seen trudging through Oxford's historic streets on their way back from the event that ended at 5am this morning. The event was held in the grounds of the 565-year-old Oxford University college The commemoration ball last night was the first time Magdalen College has held such an event in seven years Students were invited to 'don' their 'finest white tie' outfits to the prestigious event The Commemoration Ball offered a 'night of woodland revelry' alongside an open bar Students attending the event were given the opportunity to enjoy an open bar and an array of performances from live musicians in the ground's of Magdalen College. First founded in 1458, Magdalen College is now one of Oxford University's 44 constituent colleges. The grounds of the prestigious college, which lies next to the River Cherwell, include a deer park and a more than 500-year-old tower. Commemoration balls are held by Oxford colleges in the final term of each academic year. The commemoration ball last night was the first time Magdalen College has held such an event in seven years after it was forced to call off an event in 2019. The 235 a ticket event was held in the grounds of Magdalen College Oxford students made their way home from Magdalen College's Commemoration Ball Students cycled through the streets of Oxford following the Narnia themed event TWO Midlands State University (MSU) lecturers have been suspended on allegations of emotional and sexual abuse of students as well as abuse of university resources. Mr Brighton Munaku (31) commonly known as Pablo and Mr Godknows Chera all from the Department of Media, Communication, Film and Theatre Arts, under the Faculty of Arts received their suspension letters on Friday. Mr Munaku confirmed to have received the suspension letter to Sunday News. Yes, it is true that I received a suspension letter from the institution yesterday (Friday). I have two charges, the first being the emotional abuse of students and the second being abuse of university resources, he said. Mr Chera on the other hand professed ignorance on the suspension saying he did not receive any suspension letter. The two lecturers have over the past few years established themselves as Film and Production lecturers of repute who led by example in implementing Education 5.0 which entails a five-mission model of teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation, which was established to move the nation forward towards an innovation-led and knowledge-driven economy. This was through the production of local film production Tsvakai which is premiering on ZTV. Directed by Mr Chera and edited by Mr Munaku who also plays the role of one of the main actors Dambudzo, the film features students from different programmes and a few community members. It is the story of Tsvakai (Tafadzwa Mavhura) and Dambudzo who are working on changing their community through innovations that are meant to bring back the appreciation of indigenous knowledge systems and also highlights some of the traditional costumes, food, games and household chores that existed in Zimbabwe prior to modern cultures. Given Mufori, a student is the head of the script writing team which has three other students under the supervision of the director, Mr Chera. The film featuring seven Zimbabwean official indigenous languages was shot in Mberengwas Mutsime Village under Chief Chizungu. While the production has indeed done well in the media corridors including premiering on the countrys national broadcaster, the two film lecturers are reported to have turned to alleged unprofessional conduct. Sources close to the matter alleged that the two lecturers exhibited sexual advancements towards university students. On the abuse of university resources, the film lecturers are alleged to have been abusing the universitys departmental media gadgets, among other resources. Efforts to get an effort from the institution were fruitless. Sunday News They have called for increased rights for trans people About 400 supporters flooded Sydney's Town Hall on Sunday afternoon, calling for increased rights for trans people. The large scale event celebrated the 45th anniversary of Sydney's first Mardi Gras march on June 24, 1978, as well as the 1978 Stonewall riots on June 28, 1969 after the violent police raid of a New York gay bar. The coalition of trans rights and community groups, including the Rainbow Rights Coalition, Safe Schools, the United Workers Union and Community Action for Rainbow Rights, Pride in Protest and the NSW Civil Liberties Council demanded tightened anti-discrimination laws to protect trans people when applying for jobs or housing, or when accessing healthcare and education. They also called for the reinstatement of the Safe Schools program to teach students about gender diversity, and allow trans people to identify as their chosen gender without undergoing gender reassignment surgery. Prior to the Trans Rights are Human Rights rally, the Rainbow Rights Coalition spokesperson Rachel Evans said the group had received threatening calls with blocked called IDs, which she believed were from right wing groups. About 400 trans rights protesters gathered at Sydney's Town Hall calling for more rights for trans people and tougher anti-discriminations laws on Sunday The coalition of trans rights and community groups, including the Rainbow Rights Coalition, Safe Schools, the United Workers Union and Community Action for Rainbow Rights, Pride in Protest and the NSW Civil Liberties Council They contained homophobic, and life-threatening taunts including messages like: 'You're a bunch of f*****s, we're going to come and kill you,' said Ms Evans. Ms Evans said the organisation would be monitoring for further threats and had yet to contact police. 'In my experience, I have had death threats in organising queer action, and I called police and they didn't do anything about,' she said.'If and when more threats come through, we as a collective will figure if we go to the police.' Activist, and a 78er - a term given to those who marched in the original Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1978 - Jess Hooley called for bodily autonomy. 'Trans people claim the right to choose to live our genders by claiming ownership of our bodies,' she said. 'This is the same struggle feminists have. They are struggles for rational self determination and bodily autonomy.' She called for LGBTQI+ supporters to rally together, without any 'hierarchy or status'. 'So my friends, what we must do is we have must have solidarity across a range of differences. We must have diverse alliances,' she said. Protesters and trans rights groups called for the reinstatement of the Safe Schools program and allow trans people to identify as their chosen gender without undergoing gender reassignment surgery Activist, and a 78er Jess Hooley (pictured) called for bodily autonomy, saying, 'Trans people claim the right to choose to live our genders by claiming ownership of our bodies' Earlier this week, independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich announced his intention to introduce an omnibus Equality Bill which aims to ban gay conversion therapy, allow teenagers over 16 to change their sex and gender without surgery, and tighten surgery consent laws for intersex people. Coinciding with Pride Month, Mr Greenwich said his proposed Equality Bill, which will be introduced later this year, will work to 'make life easier for a trans person'. 'Since discussing this legislation right across the parliament, I really welcome the open hearts and open minds that so many have expressed towards me,' he said. 'This is a state that really values and cares for LGBTQI+ citizens and it's time that our state's laws reflect that. 'NSW currently lags behind every other state and territory and with this bill we have a chance to really lead.' It comes as independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich (pictured) announced his intention to introduce an omnibus Equality Bill which aims to ban gay conversion therapy NSW Premier Chris Minns said his government has yet to confirm whether it will support all aspects of the bill. 'We're looking at it closely. We're not ready to announce the government's response to all aspects of the bill, as it currently stands, but I anticipate that won't be too far away,' he said. 'The reason I'm reluctant to give a blanket support to the Equality Bill is that it's important for people to understand it involves major changes to many different parts of legislation. 'Ordinarily those bills would be split into different components.' However, Mr Minns has committed to banning 'dangerous and damaging' gay conversion therapy in the lead up to the March state election, and said there would be continued consultation and collaboration with Mr Greenwich. Former Labor leader Simon Crean has died, aged 74, while visiting Europe for business and trade meetings. Mr Crean had been hiking in Germany on Sunday and is suspected to have suffered a heart attack. The shock news was met with immense sadness from leaders from across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who hailed him 'wonderful human being'. During Mr Crean's illustrious political career, he held the Victorian federal seat of Hotham between 1990 and 2013. He was the leader of the Labor Party and the Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2003 when John Howard was Prime Minister. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared a tribute to Mr Crean, writing, 'Vale Simon Crean. A great servant of the labour movement and a wonderful human being' He held a number of cabinet roles under the Hawke, Keating, Rudd and Gillard governments and was the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. His father, Frank, served as Deputy Prime Minister under Gough Whitlam. 'Vale Simon Crean. A great servant of the labour movement and a wonderful human being,' Mr Albanese wrote. 'Our condolences to Carole and all his family.' Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said: 'Shocked and saddened to hear of Simon Crean's passing.' 'Simon was a gentleman to deal with and a giant of the Labor movement.' 'I always admired Simon for his intellect and decency and only saw him recently in Melbourne.' Former Labor leader Simon Crean (pictured) has died aged 74 while visiting Europe for business and trade meetings Mr Crean was the leader of the Labor Party and the Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2003 when John Howard was Prime Minister 'Such terrible news about Simon Crean,' Labor MP Julian HIll wrote on Twitter. 'Former Labor Leader, trade unionist and giant of our movement.' Labor MP Jerome Laxale: 'Shocked to hear the news tonight of Simon Crean's passing at the age of 74.' 'He was the Labor leader who opposed Australia's involvement in the Iraq War in the early 2000s.' The member for Bennelong added: 'His considered and principled stance led me to join the Labor Party.' Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said: 'Shocked and very sad to learn of Simon Crean's death.' 'His life, cut short too soon, was filled with achievement for his members, his party and his country.' 'Post politics he was very active on the trade front as in Paris in 2022 where we were independently trying to revive the Australia/Europe relationship and FTA.' The former trade unionist held a number of cabinet roles under the Hawke, Keating, Rudd and Gillard governments Politicians and media figures have posted tributes to the Labor Party heavyweight (pictured, Mr Crean with his wife, Carole, in 2009) A defining moment in Mr Crean's career came when he voiced his staunch opposition to the Iraq War in 2003. Mr Howard committed Australian troops under the ANZUS Treaty after then-US President George Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq. Mr Crean delivered an address in Parliament condemning Mr Howard's decision in February of that year. 'You say that the US alliance requires you to respond to all requests from the US. It does not,' he told the former Prime Minister. 'We believe that Australian troops should not have been sent in advance of a UN mandate.' His political career came to an abrupt end during the dying days of the Gillard government when he sensationally called a leadership spill against her in March 2013. He announced his support for Kevin Rudd as leader despite previously supporting Ms Gillard in the 2012 leadership spill. Ms Gillard subsequently sacked Mr Crean - hours before Mr Rudd announced that he would not stand in the ballot. A notable point of Mr Crean's political career came when he delivered an address in Parliament condemning Mr Howard's decision to commit Australian troops to the Iraq War in 2003 A spokesman for Mr Crean's family said in a statement following his death: 'The Crean family are devastated to announce the passing of the Hon. Simon Crean this morning in Berlin, Germany.' 'Simon was a fierce advocate for working Australians and dedicated his life to making a difference.' 'Though his greatest achievements were as father to Sarah and Emma and loving husband to Carole. They were married for over 50 years.' 'Son of former Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Frank Crean and Mary Crean, and much loved brother of the Hon. Dr David Crean and the late Stephen Crean. 'Simon died suddenly after his morning exercise. He was in Berlin as part of an industry delegation.' A former British ambassador to Russia has questioned why Russia's response to Wagner's rebellion was so 'weak' but he does not believe Vladimir Putin will leave power 'anytime soon'. Laurie Bristow, who served as a British diplomat in Russia from 2016 to 2020, also said that he was struggling to make sense of Yevgeny Prigozhin's march on Moscow, which fell apart at the 11th hour. Prigozhin's private mercenary group had vowed to 'destroy anyone who stands in our way' on their way to Russia's capital from Rostov-on-Don - a key Russian city in the war which they were able to easily occupy. But the humiliated Wagner boss pulled out of what many branded as an attempted coup, saying he wished to avoid spilling Russian blood. As the former prisoner flees to Belarus in return for having rebellion charges dropped against him, Mr Bristow claimed that there are 'many more steps of the drama to unfold'. Laurie Bristow, British ambassador in Russia from 2016 to 2020, has questioned why Russia's response to Wagner's rebellion was so 'weak' but he does not believe Vladimir Putin will leave power 'anytime soon' He also said that he was struggling to make sense of Yevgeny Prigozhin's march on Moscow, which fell apart at the 11th hour. Pictured: Prigozhin leaves Moscow for Belarus last night Vladimir Putin's presidency was under threat as Wagner descended on Moscow but the private mercenary group pulled out after a deal was struck Speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning, Mr Bristow, who was also ambassador in Afghanistan between June and November 2021 when Kabul fell - said: 'I think we are in a very complex situation here. 'There are almost certainly several more acts of this drama to play out. One of the things we are all struggling with is to make sense of what happened in the last 24 hours. There are so many things we don't know. 'We don't know what Prigozhin was trying to achieve. We do not understand fully why the Russian response was so weak, allowing him to take Rostov - the key city to the war in Ukraine. We don't know why it was resolved so quickly. 'A day ago, Putin was accusing Prigozhin of treason, by the end the day all charges were dropped. We don't know the nature of how the deal was done, how it came to be done we don't really know what happens next.' Under the deal announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighbouring Belarus, which has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. Although the last two days have been somewhat humiliating for both Putin and Prigozhin, Mr Bristow does not believe there is an immediate threat to the Russian president's power. Wagner Group servicemen prepare to leave downtown Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia, 24 June 2023 People gathered to bid farewell to Prigozhin, with people reaching through his car window to shake the exiled leader's hand and take selfies with him The chief of the rebel Wagner mercenary force Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured Saturday) will go to Belarus and will not face charges after calling off his troops' advance on Moscow, the Russian government said, easing the country's most serious security crisis in decades 'I don't think we should get ahead of ourselves and assume from the events of the last 24 hours that Mr Putin will be leaving power anytime soon,' he said. 'There's also a very important point about being careful in the West what we say about that. The G7 leader's statement was very restrained, very carefully calibrated to underlie our continued support for Ukraine in fighting off Russia's aggression but not falling into the trap of essentially doing Russian propagandas work for it and allowing them to say the West is interfering here in Russia's internal affairs. READ MORE: If Prigozhin bends Russia to his will, the war in Ukraine could be plunged to new depths of horror says MARK ALMOND Advertisement 'This is a Russia crisis made in Russia by the failures of the Russian leadership.' But analysts at the Institute for the Study of War allege the apparent truce with Wagner forces is a 'short-term fix, not a long-term solution'. They argued: 'The rebellion exposed the weakness of the Russian security forces and demonstrated Putin's inability to use his forces in a timely manner to repel an internal threat and further eroded his monopoly on force. 'Prigozhin's rapid drive towards Moscow ridiculed much of the Russian regular forces and highlighted to any and all security figures, state-owned enterprises, and other key figures in the Russian government that private military forces separate from the central state can achieve impressive results. 'Wagner's drive also showcased the degradation of Russia's military reserves, which are almost entirely committed to fighting in Ukraine, as well as the dangers of reliance on inexperienced conscripts to defend Russia's borders.' The analysts noted how the Kremlin failed to 'respond quickly' and that in some cases Wagner fighters were 'warmly greeted' by Rostov-on-Don residents. Mr Bristow said that Putin allowed the dispute between Wagner and Russia's defence ministry to go on far too long. '[Wagner] was encouraged and allowed to be built up to essentially to help do the Kremlins dirty work for it,' he added. Onlookers clapped and cheered 'Wagner' as the troops were told to depart from Rostov by their leaders Tanks were hauled out of the southern city of Rostov as Prigozhin's forces retreated from Rostov 'That turned into a struggle for resources and power with defence ministry. Putin allowed it to run on too long. He quite often avoids difficult decisions involving his underlings. 'That then turned into direct criticism from Prigozhin of the very basis of the war. That's coming very close to criticizing Putin himself. 'What we are seeing playing out is the consequences of successive strategic failures by the Russian state and Russian leadership but also the nature of the Russian state itself, starting to produce the results of those failures.' As Russia tries to regain control following a whirlwind 24 hours, Mr Bristow believes that Putin will feel like he must now declare some form of victory in the war on Ukraine. He added: 'The impact on the morale of the army and capabilities of army of what just happened will play out in coming days. 'One thing we are absolutely certain to see in coming weeks and months is deepening of already profound repression in Russia itself as the Kremlin and people around it try to regain control over the situation and set narrative in Russia itself.' By Sunday morning there were still no reports of Prigozhin arriving in Belarus. Many other questions remained unanswered, including whether he would be joined in exile by any of Wagner's troops and what role, if any, he might have there. Prigozhin, who sent out a series of audio and video updates during his revolt, has gone silent since the Kremlin announced the deal had been brokered for him to end his march and leave Russia. Video posted on Russian messaging app channels from Rostov-on-Don showed people cheering Wagner troops as they departed. Some ran to shake hands with Prigozhin. The regional governor later said all of the troops had left the city. Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his former protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a 'betrayal' and 'treason'. A man holds the Russian national flag in front of a Wagner group military vehicle with the sign read as "Rostov" in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24, 2023 Ukrainian soldiers fire towards Russian positions on the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine on Saturday The war rages on: Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko talks with local residents next to a 24-storey building partially destroyed following a Russian missiles strike in Kyiv early on June 24 In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Mr Peskov said, Putin's 'highest goal' was 'to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results'. The risk for Mr Putin is whether he will be seen as weak, analysts said. 'Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair,' former US ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armoured vehicles and troops on the city's southern edge. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early on Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Crews dug up sections of roads to slow the march. Wagner troops advanced to just 120 miles from Moscow, according to Prigozhin. But after the deal was struck, he announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid 'shedding Russian blood'. On Sunday morning some restrictions were still in place along the main highway between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, though traffic restrictions were gradually being lifted in other places. Prigozhin had demanded the ousting of defence minister Sergei Shoigu, whom he has long criticised in withering terms for his conduct of the 16-month war in Ukraine. If Putin were to agree to that move, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. The US had intelligence that Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time. That conflicts with Prigozhin's claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by the Russian military. Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to base, in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24 In this image from video, a man sits atop an armoured vehicle in the street as residents of the southern Russian city talk with military personnel on Saturday, June 24 US Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner build-up earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of targeting the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Mr Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defence Ministry denied attacking the camps. US Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner build-up earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said. A possible motivation for Prigozhin's rebellion was the Russian Defence Ministry's demand, which Mr Putin backed, that private companies sign contracts with it by July 1.Prigozhin had refused to do it. 'It may well be that he struck now because he saw that deadline as a danger to his control of his troops,' Mr Herbst wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council. Meanwhile, Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. 'These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military,' said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He said that even with a deal, Mr Putin's position has probably been weakened. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late on Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and 'showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs' that it is easy to capture Russian cities 'and, probably, arsenals'. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticised the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. Desperate Humza Yousaf moved the goalposts again today on the SNP's bid to make the next general election a 'de facto' independence referendum. The First Minister squirmed as he was grilled on the idea, the subject of a chaotic special conference in Dundee yesterday. In interviews, Mr Yousaf suggested that the separatists winning 'the most' MPs next year would be enough to count as a mandate for breaking up the UK. That appears to be a lower threshold than the 'majority' of MPs that was mooted at the conference. And it is significantly short of the 50 per cent plus of individual votes in Scotland that Nicola Sturgeon indicated would be the bar after the Supreme Court blocked her attempt to hold a referendum. Amid turmoil in the SNP ranks, even Mr Yousaf's own MPs have been admitting that a majority of votes should be their target. The stance has been derided by other parties, who point out that voters cast their ballots on a myriad of factors at general elections. Labour's Scotland spokesman Ian Murray accused Mr Humza of 'embarrassing' manoeuvring and 'preparing for failure'. Humza Yousaf squirmed as he was grilled on his attempt to make the next general election a 'de facto' referendum today How to pursue independence was the subject of a chaotic SNP special conference in Dundee yesterday Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said Mr Yousaf had put Nicola Sturgeon's strategy 'on steroids' Mr Yousaf conceded this morning that if he does 'win' the election he would only be able to ask the UK government to 'negotiate' about holding another referendum - a prospect that has been rejected by Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. There have been signs the SNP's support is being hammered by the chaos over its finances, and issues such as gender identity rights. Backing for independence has also been running consistently below 50 per cent. Recent polling by PanelBase has predicted the SNP will take 21 of the available 59 Scottish seats at the next election, down from their current 45. Meanwhile Scottish Labour are predicted to win 26 seats, meaning the SNP could fall short of the majority sought by Mr Yousaf. The Conservatives are projected to take seven and the Liberal Democrats five. Speaking on Sky News this morning, Mr Yousaf said a referendum was his 'preferred' option. But he said that as that could not be secured 'we will put a very simply proposition to the people of Scotland a vote for the SNP is a vote for Scotland to become an independent country'. He added: 'If we win that general election we will then seek to negotiate with the UK government how we give democratic effect to that proposition.' Pressed on what exactly he meant by 'winning' the election, Mr Yousaf said: 'Every single general election, everybody knows the rules of a general election. The party that wins the most seats wins the general election. 'The rules of a general election are thus, that of course the party that wins the most seats wins that general election.' A floundering Mr Yousaf said: 'I'm not saying to you if we win that general election Scotland suddenly becomes independent. 'What I'm saying to you is that through a democratic, lawful means, we begin negotiation with the UK Government on how to give that proposition democratic effect.' Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: 'Humza Yousaf has taken up Nicola Sturgeon's 'de facto' independence referendum strategy and put it on steroids.' Nicola Sturgeon indicated 50 per cent of individual votes in Scotland would be the bar for making the general election a 'de facto' referendum Mr Murray told MailOnline that the First Minister was preparing the ground for failure. 'He admitted just a few weeks ago that Scots didn't want another referendum now, but yet he wants to have a de facto referendum where 35 per cent of the vote or less would qualify for a settled will. 'It's embarrassing. Labour offers the change and will deliver that for Scotland when we kick the Tories out at the next election.' Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said the confused proposal from Mr Yousaf was 'astonishing'. 'Humza Yousaf would try to declare independence off the back of (say) 35 per cent of the Scottish vote in a general election?' he tweeted. A South Australian mum accused of being a Russian spy has lashed out during a TV interview while being grilled about her alleged links to a Kremlin mystery man. ASIO alleges Marina Sologub, 39, is a Russian agent tasked with gathering and sharing sensitive information and passing it on to a Russian intelligence officer working under diplomatic cover. She vehemently denies the allegations but acknowledged she has spoken to the man in question. Grilled by 60 Minutes over her recollection of events, Sologub snapped at reporter Tara Brown and said: 'I am starting to lose my patience.' The Kazakhstan-born ethnic Russian arrived in Australia in 2020 on a distinguished talent visa, having forged a decade-long career in the space sector in Ireland where she lived most of her life. Sologub is currently being held in an immigration facility in Melbourne awaiting an Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision on her visa. ASIO alleges Marina Sologub (pictured), 39, is a Russian agent tasked with gathering and sharing sensitive information and passing it on to a Russian intelligence officer working under diplomatic cover. Sologub claimed she did not speak to the suspected Russian intelligence officer outside of work apart from on one occasion. 'The only time when I speak [to him] was when working and sharing what the plans are for the meetings and when they are going to happen. This is all administration,' Sologub said. She was then asked why the pair where friends on Facebook. 'Do you know how many friends I have on Facebook?,' Sologub snapped back. 'I have people from America with whom I worked as well. From Europe, with whom I worked as well. 'We exchange 'happy birthdays', that's it. This is normal working relationship. It's not a friend.' Sologub went on to say: 'If you are not interested to hear me why we doing this?,' 'I'm trying to explain to you one more time because I am starting to lose my patience. 'You can say one thing and have one thing in mind but people who want to use this against you they will use it the way they want. Doesn't matter what I say to you you're not listening to me.' Sologub said if she is deported back to Ireland, she will go to the international human rights court to clear her name. The Kazakhstan-born ethnic Russian (pictured with her husband Alex) arrived in Australia in 2020 on a distinguished talent visa, having forged a decade-long career in the space sector in Ireland where she lived most her life A dramatic raid on her home in November 2021 was conducted by ASIO, Border Force and the Australian Federal Police. Officers who seized a business card belonging to the suspected Russian diplomat and all her electronic devices including computers and phones. ASIO an intelligence agency in the Five Eyes group - consisting of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Sologub's visa was cancelled within 24 hours of her arrest and was transported to immigration detention. Since her arrest, she has been subjected to five ASIO interviews, with all intelligence gathered by the government agency remaining classified. Marina Sologub (pictured with her husband Alex) maintains her innocence and is challenging the cancellation of her distinguished talent visa Sologub worked briefly at a private space industry company, at Deloitte's Adelaide office and, finally, at a local council after arriving in Australia in September 2020. She was fast-tracked into Australia on an '858 distinguished talent visa' for her expertise in the space sector. The Australian Space Agency is based in Adelaide and the city is a hub for space research and development. She had worked for Ireland's National Space Centre and also worked for consultancy firm Deloitte on space projects when she first arrived in Australia. Sologub's husband, Alex vehemently denied the allegations against his wife claiming if she was a spy he would know. 'I know she is innocent. If she was involved I would know already,' he said. 'This is false. It is false, false, false. It's a lie an accusation. No truth.' The Administrative Appeals Tribunal is expected to make a decision on Sologub's visa in July, this year. Former Australian diplomat Peter Tesch, who represented Canberra in Moscow, said ASIO has a 'difficult' decision to make in Sologub's case Former Australian diplomat Peter Tesch, who represented Canberra in Moscow from 2016 to 2019, said ASIO has a 'difficult' decision to make in Sologub's case. 'Ultimately these sorts of decisions have quite significant ramifications for the individuals, sometimes for bilateral relations relationships, but also they always turn on issues of national security,' Mr Tesch said. 'The Russian foreign intelligence services are very capable, highly professional, very well resourced, and of course, their ability to work angles of opportunity is probably unparalleled.' Sologub's visa was cancelled by Home Affairs Minister Claire O'Neil after a negative security assessment was given to her by ASIO. The minister has the power to cancel individual visas if they believe a person does not meet a character test and it is in the national interest. Ms Solugub's lawyer said it was a tough to fight her case with the appeals tribunal because ASIO was providing very little information and the onus was on her client to provide proof she isn't a Russian spy. She has not been charged with any criminal offence. An ex-CIA analyst has claimed Vladimir Putin 'orchestrated' the coup with Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhi in a 'classic false flag' to try to make the West believe his army had weakened. Rebekah Koffler told Fox News' Eric Shawn on Saturday the coup was staged as a way for the Russian leader to boost his political power and he will eventually 'gain momentum, mobilize additional personnel, and re-energize his offensive on Ukraine.' Prigozhin's forces moved from their camps in Ukraine into Russia on Friday and took over a regional military command in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, before advancing toward Moscow. Just as suddenly, the advance was called off on Saturday, and Russian state media said the Wagner troops would return to Ukraine while Prigozhin would flee to neighboring Belarus. 'So again, what has changed from this in the last few hours? All of a sudden he decided to turn his troops around and made this deal? No, this is all staged,' Koffler said, adding that Putin wants us to believe he is weak. Ex-CIA analyst Rebekah Koffler claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin 'orchestrated' the coup with Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin as a 'classic false flag' Koffler said on Saturday that the coup was staged as a way for Putin to boost his political power and he will eventually 'gain momentum, mobilize additional personnel, and re-energize his offensive on Ukraine' The chief of the rebel Wagner mercenary force Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured Saturday) will go to Belarus and will not face charges after calling off his troops' advance on Moscow, the Russian government said, easing the country's most serious security crisis in decades 'Putin wants us to believe that he's weak, that there's an ongoing threat of a military insurrection,' Koffler claimed. While Koffler's credentials are bona fide, it's unclear why Putin would let it go so far. She continued: 'So this is a pretext to declare martial law, which Putin has already done. He made an amendment today that anybody who is violating the martial law is going to be imprisoned for 30 days. Another very interesting and revealing point is that Putin just authorized that men with a criminal record can join the military.' 'So this is a justification for extra mobilization of the Russian forces to send them to the meat grinder in Ukraine. It is also to demonstrate to President Biden that, no, Russia is not a threat. Russia is actually, you know, involved in its own domestic turmoil. But this is all a classic distraction and classic Putin,' she said. 'Prigozhin is not a stupid man. He's a highly intelligent formerly convict. He turned his life around from a prisoner to a hot dog stands owner to the owner of a multi-million catering business that served the Kremlin, including Putin himself.' A Russian soldier mans a machine gun post in the south of Moscow earlier, ahead of the expected arrival of Prigozhin and the Wagner troops. But Prigozhin has confirmed he has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march Tanks were hauled out of southern city of Rostov as Prigozhin's forces retreated from Rostov Huge crowds gathered in Rostov-on-Don as Wagner-owned tanks rolled out of the city People gathered to bid farewell to Prigozhin, with one man even reaching through his car window to shake the exiled Wagner leader's hand The Kremlin faces a 'deeply unstable' situation after the Wagner rebellion 'exposed the regime's weakness', analysts have warned. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) allege the 'short-term fix' of an apparent truce with the Wagner Group will likely 'substantially damage' Putin's government and war efforts, claiming it demonstrated security weaknesses and the 'inability' to repel internal threats quickly. It comes as Putin's longtime ally Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov slammed Prigozhin's 'arrogance', claiming his actions could lead to 'dangerous consequences'. Wagner fighters were leaving Russia's southern Voronezh region Sunday, the local governor said, after the group halted a dramatic rebellion to bring down Russia's top brass and U-turned on a march to Moscow. 'The movement of Wagner units through the Voronezh region is ending,' Voronezh governor Alexander Gusev said. 'It is running normally and without incidents,' Gusev added, saying travel restrictions imposed during Saturday's operation against the mutiny will be lifted once 'the situation is finally resolved.' ISW analysts allege the apparent truce with Wagner forces is a 'short-term fix, not a long-term solution'. They argued: 'The rebellion exposed the weakness of the Russian security forces and demonstrated Putin's inability to use his forces in a timely manner to repel an internal threat and further eroded his monopoly on force. US spy agencies picked up signs days ago that Prigozhin was preparing to rise up against Russia's defense establishment, American media reported on Saturday. Intelligence officials conducted briefings at the White House, the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill about the potential for unrest in nuclear-armed Russia a full day before it unfolded, according to the Washington Post and New York Times. Spy agencies first began tracking indications that Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary force intended to move against the Russian military leadership in mid-June, the Post said. The Times said the information was both solid and alarming by mid-week, leading to the flurry of briefings. In an uprising that played out with dizzying speed, Prigozhin's forces moved into Russia on Friday and took over a regional military command in Rostov-on-Don. The advance was called off on Saturday, with Russian state media reporting that Wagner troops would return to Ukraine while Prigozhin would flee to Belarus. The Kremlin said it would not prosecute Prigozhin or the armed members of the Wagner group. As US intelligence officials pinned down information that Prigozhin was preparing military action, they grew concerned about chaos in a country with a powerful nuclear arsenal, the Times reported. Prigozhin claimed to have also shot down a Russian military helicopter in the city - home to the Kremlin's headquarters for the war in Ukraine Armored cars blockade a street in the city of Rostov as the sun began to rise on Saturday US spy agencies believe that Putin himself was informed that Prigozhin, once a close ally, was plotting his rebellion at least a day before it occurred, the Post reported. Prigozhin will go to Belarus and will not face charges after calling off his troops' advance on Moscow, the Russian government said, easing the country's most serious security crisis in decades. The feud between Prigozhin and Russia's military brass came to a violent head in the past day, with his forces capturing a key army headquarters in southern Russia on Saturday and then heading north to threaten the capital. Within hours of Prigozhin's about-face, the Kremlin announced he would leave for Belarus and Russia would not prosecute him or Wagner's members. It had been a dramatic day, with President Vladimir Putin warning against civil war, Moscow telling locals to stay off the streets and Kyiv reveling in the chaos engulfing its enemy. The tide shifted suddenly when Prigozhin made the stunning announcement that his troops were 'turning our columns around and going back to field camps' to avoid bloodshed in the Russian capital. Prigozhin, who has feuded bitterly with Moscow's military leadership even as his outfit led parts of Russia's Ukraine offensive, said he understood the importance of the moment and did not want to 'spill Russian blood'. A 35-year-old woman has reportedly been killed and several others are injured after a Swedish rollercoaster which goes up to 56mph 'derailed'. The horrifying incident took place on the Jetline rollercoaster in Stockholm's 140-year-old Grona Lund amusement park. Ambulances, fire trucks and an air ambulance was seen arriving at the park, and police said they were investigating. Further footage showed medics urgently rushing a stretcher through the amusement park. Stockholm Police confirmed seven people, including children and adults, were being treated in hospital. 'We are emptying the park and we've started our investigation,' a police spokesperson said. Meanwhile Grona Lund spokeswoman Cecilia Bjorling confirmed: 'One person unfortunately died'. Expressen reports that a 35-year-old woman died after the carriage, which had 14 people on, derailed. Three people are seriously injured, while three children have been taken to hospital with minor injuries. The horrifying accident took place on the Jetline rollercoaster in Stockholm's Grona Lund (pictured) amusement park The steel-tracked Jetline rollercoaster (pictured) reaches a speed of up to 56 mph and a height of 98 feet Further footage showed medics urgently rushing a stretcher through the amusement park Amusement park workers appear to be carrying out some form of maintenance following the incident A fire engine is parked in front of the entrance of the Grona Lund amusement park in Stockholm The steel-tracked Jetline rollercoaster reaches a speed of up to 56mph and a height of 98 feet, transporting more than one million visitors each year, the amusement park says on its website. It is described as 'a classic roller coaster full of steep slopes and sharp curves'. Witnesses told public broadcaster SVT that the ride had partly derailed. Jenny Lagerstedt, a journalist visiting the park with her family, told SVT she was nearby and heard a metallic noise and noticed the track structure was shaking at the time of the accident. 'My husband saw a roller coaster car with people in it falling to the ground,' Lagerstedt said. 'My children were scared,' she added. A black banner on the park's website reads: 'A serious accident has taken place on the Jetline. We are working with the rescue services. The park is closed for now.' Cornelia, who had just been on the ride with her son, told the local press that people started running, adding: 'There was a lot of screaming. No one knew what was going on.' Police (pictured outside the amusement park) said they were still investigating the incident An air ambulance was dispatched to the scene. One person has died while others were injured A black banner on the park's website reads: 'A serious accident has taken place on the Jetline. We are working with the rescue services. The park is closed for now.' Pictured: The Jetline rollercoaster in 2014 Swedish publication Expressen quoted a police officer at the amusement park as saying several people had fallen off the ride and got stuck, while others were found on the floor. They also spoke to Yasin Chaudry who was queuing for another ride nearby when he started to see the wheels come off. The witness said that two people fell out while another fell on them before the rollercoaster stopped. The whole of Grona Lund was evacuated and is closed until further notice. Sweden's Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand said news of the accident was incomprehensible. 'My thoughts are with those that were affected as well as their families and loved ones,' Liljestrand said in a statement to the TT news agency. He was a key figure in the Labor Party and Unions The sudden death of Simon Crean on Sunday ended a life that was rich in its contribution to Australian politics without ever reaching the highest rung that many had predicted for him. Simon Crean's celebrated career saw him take on John Howard at the height of his popularity, speak out against the Iraq war and spark a leadership spill against Julia Gillard that led to his political downfall. The former ALP leader died on Sunday aged 74, while he was in Europe for business and trade meetings. He was hiking in Germany and is believed to have suffered a heart attack. His passing brought rich praise and tidings of sympathy from leading public figures, pointing to his achievements as head of Australia's union movement before a succession of senior portfolios in Canberra and then leadership of the Labor party. 'Vale Simon Crean. A great servant of the labour movement and a wonderful human being,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote of his long-time Labor colleague. 'Our condolences to Carole and all his family.' Simon Crean will be remembered as one of the most significant political figures of modern Labor, with his career as a parliamentarian spanning 23 years (pictured left with prime minister Anthony Albanese) Former Labor leader Simon Crean (pictured) died on Sunday while he was visiting Europe for business and trade meetings Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said: 'Simon was a gentleman to deal with and a giant of the Labor movement.' 'I always admired Simon for his intellect and decency and only saw him recently in Melbourne.' As Opposition Leader - and the son of a former Treasurer in Frank Crean - Mr Crean was poised only one step away from the Prime Ministerial office that many had forecast for him since his earliest days in public life when he drew comparisons to a young Bob Hawke. Unfortunately he was ALP leader at a time when John Howard and his government were at the zenith of their popularity, and poor polling and internal ructions within the party meant he never got to fight an election campaign. He had been elected unopposed as leader to replace Kim Beazley following Labor's third-straight election defeat. He took on the mammoth task of facing off against Mr Howard who had just won the 2001 election with an increased majority, leading a economically buoyant and self-satisfied nation after the hosting of the 2000 Olympics. A defining moment in Mr Crean's leadership came when he voiced his staunch opposition to Australia's involvement in the Iraq War in 2003. Mr Crean delivered an address in Parliament condemning Mr Howard's decision in February 2003, a month before the Iraq invasion. 'Prime minister, you committed Australia's young men and women to a war not yet declared, knowing all along that you couldn't pull them out,' he said. 'You committed them without the mandate of the Australian people, the Australian parliament or the United Nations. You committed them solely on the say so of George W Bush.' 'You have done all of this but you haven't told the Australian people. You haven't had the courage or conviction to tell them what you have done.' Mr Crean was appointed to the trade portfolio by Mr Rudd after he secured a Labor victory in 2007 (pictured, Mr Crean with his wife, Carole, in 2009) Mr Crean was elected unopposed as Labor leader and leader of the opposition after Kim Beazley lost to John Howard in the 2001 federal election Mr Crean faced continued speculation about a Kim Beazley comeback amid poor opinion poll results towards the end of the year. In November 2003, he resigned on the advice of colleagues and became the first Labor leader since 1916 to be replaced without having contested an election. Mr Crean was originally appointed to the trade portfolio by Mr Rudd after he secured a Labor victory in 2007. He held this role until 2010. But under Julia Gillard's government, Mr Crean replaced her as Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Following the 2010 election, he became the Arts minister and the Minister for Regional Development and Local Government. His political career came to an abrupt end during the dying days of the Gillard government when he sensationally called a leadership spill against her in March 2013. He announced his support for Mr Rudd returning as leader despite previously having supported Ms Gillard in the 2012 leadership spill. Ms Gillard subsequently sacked Mr Crean - just hours before Mr Rudd announced that he would not stand in the ballot. A defining moment of Mr Crean's political career came when he delivered an address in Parliament condemning Mr Howard's decision to commit Australian troops to the Iraq War in 2003 Mr Crean's political career eventually came to an abrupt end during the dying days of the Gillard government when he sensationally called a leadership spill against her in March 2013 (Mr Crean and Ms Gillard pictured together in 2011) He will be remembered as one of the architects of the Hawke government's momentous industrial relations reforms of the 1980s and one of the most significant political figures of modern Labor. His life as a parliamentarian spanned 23 years, during which time he became Labor leader from 2001 to 2003 and held cabinet roles in the governments of Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, Mr Rudd and Ms Gillard. Mr Crean followed in the footsteps of his father Frank, who served as Treasurer in the Whitlam government and as deputy prime minister in the government's last months. He started his career working a number of roles in different trade unions before he became the vice-president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in 1981 and president in 1985. As vice-president, he played a key role in bringing about The Accord between unions and employers in 1983. Mr Rudd credited Mr Crean with bringing the industrial relations system kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Then Prime Minister John Howard is pictured alongside the 2003 Opposition Leader Simon Crean Mr Crean delivered an address in Parliament condemning Mr Howard's decision in February 2003, a month before the Iraq invasion. In October 2003, he politely told Parliament with George W. Bush looking on that allies could have differences ACTU President Michele O'Neil said the former union leader was a great believer in, and fighter for fairness and justice for working people in Australia and around the world. 'He was a leader of conviction and courage and was generous and supportive to young unionists and all those who sought his support and advice,' Ms O'Neil said. Mr Crean was elected to the Victorian federal seat of Hotham in 1990 and immediately became science minister in the Hawke government. In 1991, he became Primary Industry and Energy minister and kept this position when Mr Keating took over from Mr Hawke as prime minister. Mr Keating then appointed him minister for Employment, Education, and Training in 1993. Narrowly missing out on the Labor deputy leadership after Labor's election loss in 1996, he took on the position two years later after another election defeat. His political career came to an abrupt end when he sensationally called a leadership spill against Ms Gillard in March 2013. He was subsequently sacked and Mr Rudd later announced that he would not stand in the ballot Mr Crean's family said they were devastated after his death and have remembered the prominent Labor figure as 'a fierce advocate for working Australians' who 'dedicated his life to making a difference' Mr Crean's family said they were devastated after his death on Sunday morning. 'Simon was a fierce advocate for working Australians and dedicated his life to making a difference,' the Crean family said in a statement. 'Though his greatest achievements were as father to Sarah and Emma and loving husband to Carole. They were married for over 50 years.' 'Son of former Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Frank Crean and Mary Crean, and much loved brother of the Hon. Dr David Crean and the late Stephen Crean. 'Simon died suddenly after his morning exercise. He was in Berlin as part of an industry delegation.' Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The oligarch-turned-mercenary boss is reportedly on the way to Minsk The attempted coup of Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin shows 'real cracks' in Vladimir Putin's group on power in Russia, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Sunday (June 26). America's top diplomat told CBS News' 'Face the Nation' talk show that the Russian tyrant's standing had been severely undermined by the ouster bid this past weekend. Blinken called the short-lived revolt 'a direct challenge to Putin's authority. So this raises profound questions, it shows real cracks.' 'Prigozhin himself, in this entire incident, has raised profound questions about the very premises for Russia's aggression against Ukraine in the first place, 'This is an unfolding story,' he added. 'We haven't seen the last act. We're watching it very closely.' He later told ABC's 'This Week' program that it could also hamper his military assault on Ukrainian towns and cities. 'To the extent that the Russians are distracted and divided it may make their prosecution of aggression against Ukraine more difficult,' he said. Blinken made his remarks in an interview with the popular Sunday morning CBS News talk show 'Face the Nation' Prigozhin, the boss of the feared Wagner group of mercenaries, was seen being driven out of Rostov-on-Don after calling off his short-lived uprising on Saturday evening U.S. intelligence officials had briefed the military and the Biden administration as early as Wednesday that Prigozhin was plotting a possible coup against the Russian president, the New York Times reported on Sunday. But they decided not to release the intelligence into the public domain in the hope the Wagner Group leader would secure a humiliating blow against the Russian leader, the report said. Prigozhin, who became known as 'Putin's chef' after he landed lucrative catering contracts with the Kremlin, called off his plans to march on Moscow on Saturday evening. The move came after he reportedly holding talks with Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko amid fears of a possible civil war. Putin had vowed to ' brutally' punish those behind the rebellion, accusing them of treason. Prigozhin's Wagner Group is a shady mercenary outfit accused of war crimes in Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East. The one-time Putin ally, who has been one of the biggest critics of the Russian Ministry of Defense's handling of the war, will now move to neighboring Belarus. In return, Russian officials have agreed to drop all the charges against the 62-year-old oligarch and his troops. will be dropped, It remains unclear whether the self-styled 'private military company' will continue to play a major role in Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Social media accounts linked to the group, including Telegram channel The Gray Zone, have fallen silent on what Wagner's next moves would be. The recruits, many of whom have been drafted in from maximum security jails across Russia, have been deployed to the frontline, including in the battle for the eastern Donbas town of Bakhmut. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's chief propagandist, has said that Wagner fighters could now sign a contract directly with Moscow if they so choose. The row between Moscow and Prigozhin erupted on Saturday morning when his men claimed they had seized a southern military HQ in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, close to the occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. The Wagner Group has mainly recruited convicts from Russia's most notorious jails to bolster their numbers on the frontline Wagner fighters have been filmed committing sickening atrocities in Ukraine, including beheadings and castrations. They also claimed to have taken another regional command in Voronezh, another city on the route north towards Moscow. Known for their particularly brutal tactics, Wagner fighters have been filmed committing a string of horrific atrocities Grisly videos, often shared on the Telegram messaging service, have shown their men beheading and castrating Ukrainian soldiers. Another piece of footage shows the execution of a reported deserter and alleged collaborator with Kyiv being bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer. Support for a Indigenous Voice to Parliament has drastically slumped with the Yes vote facing defeat on both the key referendum measures for the first time. In a dramatic blow for the Albanese government's cherished policy centrepiece, the Voice is now attracting less than 50 per cent of support from overall voters with the Yes vote only appearing to be ahead in two states. The referendum to create the Voice as a means of constitutional recognition for Indigenous people can only be passed with a majority of votes and also must be approved by a majority of states. Overall support for the Voice has plunged three points to just 43 per cent, according to the latest Newspoll of 2303 voters conducted between June 16 and June 24. Subsequently the No vote rose four points, to 47 per cent, putting it ahead for the time since Newspoll began tracking support. Equally alarming for the Yes case is that four of six states are now polling as favouring a No vote. Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania are all on a trajectory to reject the Voice. Support for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament has plunged in a new poll, which shows the No vote leading with voters overall and in a majority of states Only Victoria and NSW recorded a majority backing the Yes vote, according to an aggregated Newspoll of 3852 voters conducted between May 31 and June 24. Both Labor and Coalition voters moved into the No camp but there was also a steep seven-point drop in support from 35 to 49-year-old voters with the Yes vote collapsing from 53 per cent to 44 per cent. Support from women is also below 50 per cent and only rises above that for university graduates aged between 18 to 34. Victorian voters are the strongest backers of the 'Yes' case, with 48 per cent in favour and only 41 per cent against. The split in NSW is 46 per cent for and 41 per cent against but there are 13 per cent still undecided, which is the highest such number among the states. Queensland was the state most opposed with 'No' vote garnering 54 per cent against just 40 per cent in favour. Western Australia reported 52 per cent of voters being against compared to 39 per cent in support, while in Tasmania the 'No' vote was at 48 per cent compared to 43 per cent for Yes. South Australia was most evenly split state with 46 per cent against and 45 per cent for the change. The latest results are set to encourage Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to amplify his call to scrap the referendum, despite the legislation enabling it passing this week. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been forced on the defensive as questions mount about the details of the Voice Mr Dutton suggested the 'Voice is going down' and said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should cut his losses because the referendum, which will be held at date yet to be set, was only going to divide the country. The Liberal leader questioned whether campaigning for a Voice to Parliament was the best use of government time amidst a crippling cost of living crisis. '[People] can't afford their mortgages, and you've got the government running off on this frolic on the Voice and these other agendas that aren't producing national unity,' Mr Dutton told Sydney radio station 2GB on Thursday. Mr Albanese has assured the public his vision is a 'modest' request which will have little impact on the lives of most Australians, but would be fundamental in bringing hope to First Nations people. However, public pronouncements by a prominent 'Yes' campaigner and architect of the Voice have contradicted this by setting out a radical vision of how the body would shape Australian life. Unionist Thomas Mayo, who is one of the signatories of Voice template document the Uluru Statement from the Heart, previously said he envisions the body ushering in 'rent' for Indigenous people and the abolishment of 'harmful colonial institutions'. Thomas Mayo (pictured left with Indigenous Affairs minister Linda Burney) has become one of the most prominent campaigners in the Voice after contributing to the creation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017 A series of tweets dating back to 2018 from Mr Mayo show him pushing for an eventual treaty that would see land handed back to First Nations people. Members of the government have also consistently struggled to precisely answer questions on the Voice, what its scope would be and how it would function. In a tense interview that aired on Channel 10's The Project on Wednesday Mr Albanese said members of the Voice 'would be elected'. However, this is not the advice previously given, which states members will be appointed by Indigenous communities according to their customs. Residents of rural Michigan are speaking out against the construction of a planned EV plant with ties to the Chinese Communist Party - now set to go through despite concerns over its close proximity to a US military base. The unrest in Green Charter Township revolves around Gotion Incorporated, a battery part manufacturer that recently bought a swathe of land in the Big Rapids area for its planned $2.4billion factory. Now under construction, the massive plant's parent company, Guoxuan High-Tech, has previously come under scrutiny for its close connections to China's communist party - and is now at the center of a burgeoning controversy. Community members in Green Charter, the small community where the plant is poised to reside, are issuing concerns over its connection to China. Days after feds said they don't have the proper jurisdiction to review the plant's constriction, local lawmakers also got involved, and urged officials like the governor and senate to put a stop to the plant's construction to avoid a potential crisis. Scroll down for video: Residents of rural Michigan are speaking out against the construction of a planned EV plant with ties to the Chinese Communist Party - now set to go through despite concerns over its proximity to a US military base The unrest now being seen in Green Charter Township revolves around Gotion Incorporated, a battery part manufacturer that recently bought a swathe of land outside of Big Rapids for its planned $2.4billion factory. The firm's headquarters in Shanghai is seen here Set to be built on the outskirts of Big Rapids, the planned plant would be set only a few miles from one of the state's National Guard bases Were not stupid.Residents in rural parts of America are fighting Chinese owned and Chinese affiliated factories building close to military bases. Their grassroots fight coming up tonight in our one hour special investigation on @NewsNation at 9pmET. pic.twitter.com/7UuecbmP1N Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) June 25, 2023 'We're not stupid,' Green Charter resident Ormand Hook is heard telling NewsNation in a clip set to air Sunday outlining the occurrence - which the latest instance of Chinese firms purchasing acres of American land often minutes away from military installations. 'We're here, but we're not stupid,' the farmer added, while flanked by members of his family. When asked whether he thought his town was targeted for the planned EV plant due to its out-of-the way nature and rustic residents, Hook emphatically answered: 'Yes.' In another snippet, Corrie Riebow, another person living in the small, somewhat suburban town an hour's drive from Grand Rapids just off Route 131, was similarly asked: 'Why here?' She replied: 'I don't know; but somebody must be benefiting. We won't be,' she added, 'but somebody is.' Others in recent weeks have aired similar grievances, with many pointing out how close the battery plant will be to the Michigan Army National Guard base in Big Rapids, only a few minutes south. At a press conference Tuesday in Lansing, resident Julie Bryant aired similar concerns. 'There are so many issues,' Bryant told a room full of several state legislators and former U.S. ambassadors with several other citizens in attendance. 'There's corporate welfare, there's a national security. We are 12 miles away from my sensitive Air National Guard Base - a federal center - amongst other things.' The planned factory will occupy a swathe of land just outside the Big Rapids area, and will cost $2.4billion to make At a press conference Tuesday in Lansing, residents aired their concerns about the plant being set near a federal military base in Big Rapids Gotion Inc. - which is based in the US but has ties to Beijing through its Beijingbased parent - has issued a statement asserting that it will continue to hear the statements from the Green Township community as they look to erect the factory, which will create roughly 2,000 jobs The meeting was called days after The U.S. Treasury Department officially gave the go-ahead on the project, after Gotion in April voluntarily submitted information to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US to show its national security risks. At least two other government bodies at the time said they had requested the same review, resulting in all to greenlight the planned plant. Gotion Inc. - which is based in the US but has ties to Beijing through its Beijingbased parent - has issued a statement asserting that it will continue to hear the statements from the Green Township community as they look to erect the factory, which will create roughly 2,000 jobs. 'In addition to the strong work ethic among people here in the Big Rapids area, Gotion selected this site because it is ideal for development, with easy access to the freeway and a nearby airport ensuring minimal impact on local roads,' the firm said of its decision to build the factory at that specific site. The incident comes amid a period of heightened concerns about Chinese security threats on US soil. A 2019 report from the US Department of Agriculture showed China owned at least 192,000 acres US agricultural land worth over $1.9 billion. Though nation's like Canada own far more US agricultural land, a 2018 USDA report showed China's agricultural holdings in the US and other counties had increased tenfold since 2009. Lawmakers from liberal banner-woman Elizabeth Warren to conservative stalwarts like former-vice president Mike Pence have spoke about the need to curb China's ability to ingrain itself in the US food supply. 'America cannot allow China to control our food supply,' Pence in 2021, asking President Biden and Congress to 'end all farm subsidies for land owned by foreign nationals.' Florida Sen. Marco Rubio characterized Fefung's North Dakota purchase as more than a food supply encroachment, telling CNBC it was an example of a security threat that needed to be addressed. 'It is dangerous, foolish, and shortsighted to allow the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies to purchase land near U.S. military installations,' he said. 'We want to do what's best for the community, we want to do what's best for the country, it's a difficult balance right now.' North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer (above) recently spoke out against a Chinese plant's proximity to an air base in his state Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently told Fox News' Laura Ingraham he didn't think Chinese companies should be allowed to purchase US land at the rate they have Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis - considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate - told Fox News' Laura Ingraham he didn't think Chinese companies should be allowed to purchase US land at the rate they have. 'I don't think they should be able to do it. I think the problem is these companies have ties to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], and it's not always apparent on the face of whatever a company is doing - but I think it's a huge problem.' The governor's solution has been to ban what he calls 'undue influence from rogue states,' like China's ruling party. The state has already banned what's known as a 'Confucius Institutes,' public educational and cultural promotion programs designed to educate people about China, thereby giving the CCP undue influence over systems of higher learning. DeSantis added there's likely more legislative action to come: 'We're also probably going to do legislation next legislative session about our pension investments, with things that may be linked to the CCP. We don't necessarily have a lot of it, but we want to make sure that we're cutting ties so that we're not funding our number-one adversary.' Whatever the potential geopolitical implications of the Fufeng land purchase, Mayor Brandon Bochenski said he wants to bring more commerce the small city of Grand Fork. 'I mean, we're a municipality of about 60,000 people,' he told CNBC, 'You know, we don't have the budget to have an intelligence-gathering apparatus here. We do the best we can and rely on our partners.' Analysts said the market could be worth $100billion by the end of the decade Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are competing to introduce an Ozempic-like pill The pharmaceutical giant behind the sensational weight loss drug Ozempic is racing to bring a pill to the market, which would be cheaper and easier to take. Ozempic and Wegovy are brand names for similar injectable drugs that have sky rocketed in popularity, and which enable weight loss by reducing appetite. Now, companies like Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are looking to cash in on the craze by deploying the drugs in pill form. Analysts have said the market for such an oral drug could be worth $100billion by the end of the decade. Currently at the front of the pack is Danish company Novo Nordisk, which made the first advancements with semaglutide - the main ingredient in its blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. In May it completed a trial of an oral drug, which it said had been taken for 68 weeks by 667 adults, who on average lost 15 percent of their body weight. Later this year, it plans to file for US and European drug regulators to approve the tablet, it said in a statement announcing the trial. Novo Nordisk already makes a pill containing some semaglutide, called Rybelsus, but it only weighs 14 milligrams as opposed the 50 milligrams of the new pill. It therefore doesn't have the same weight loss effects as Ozempic or Wegovy. The craze around the drugs, which were first introduced within the last decade as a medication for diabetes, has been spurred by their use among celebrities including Elon Musk. Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are brand names for similar injectable weight loss drugs that have sky rocketed in popularity. Pictured is a patient injecting Ozempic Now Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are looking to cash in on the craze by deploying the drugs in pill form. Pictured are generic pills Pfizer, which does not currently have a direct rival product to Novo Nordisk's injectable Ozempic and Wegovy, is also in the race. Pfizer's pill - Danuglipron - was found to be effective in a clinical trial involving 411 adults who had diabetes, it was revealed in a study which came out in May. Shares of Pfizer rose about 4.5 percent following the news. Patients who took a 120-milligram dose of the drug twice a day for 16 weeks lost around 10 pounds or 4.5 kilograms. By comparison, in Ozempic's phase three trial, patients who received up to two milligram injections of the drug once a week for 30 weeks also lost around 10 pounds. Both Pfizer and Novo Nordisk's drugs work by mimicking a hormone in the gut that makes someone feel full. That leads to reduced appetite and food consumption. But concerns have been raised over side effects including losing muscle mass, hair loss and piling the weight back on after coming off the drugs. Some doctors have spoken out on social media about a rise in patients on Ozempic and Wegovy coming to hospitals with violent diarrhea, bloating and nausea three of the more severe side effects of the fat-loss injection. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also raised the alarm over a rise in risky counterfeit versions of the drug, which are being sold by rogue pharmacies cashing on huge demand for the treatments and also causing waves of sickness. Developing the oral version of the drug has presented additional hurdles. The Wall Street Journal reported that the pills are problematic because they travel through the digestive tract because and are swallowed and that can cause degradation of the drug. Elon Musk (left) credits his spectacular weight loss in 2020 to Wegovy. The tech tycoon looked noticeably slim when he first arrived in Twitter HQ after purchasing the company in October (right) Danish company Novo Nordisk, which made the first advancements with semaglutide and manufacturers both Ozempic and Wegovy, is preparing to file for a new pill Oasis to be approved by regulators Another horse in the race is Eli Lilly, behind the injectable tirzepatide product Mounjaro (pictured) To work around that companies have been increasing the dosage and experimenting with other molecules that degrade less easily. BMO Capital Markets analyst Evan David Seigerman told The Journal that the pill would have mass appeal. 'Some people are just needle-phobic,' he said. Seigerman estimated the pill could make up about 15 percent of the total market, which he predicts will reach $100 billion in annual sales worldwide in coming years. Another horse in the race is Eli Lilly, behind the injectable medication Mounjaro. Although it is not a semalgitude product, it is instead composed of tirzepatide, which works in much the same way. Lilly is now hoping to introduce a drug called orforglipron. It too does not contain semaglitude, but is likely to disrupt the market nonetheless. Researchers reported at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego on Friday that the orforglipron pill taken daily for 36 weeks helped volunteers to similarly lose around 15 percent of their body weight. Lilly recently started a larger clinical trial, hoping to get the pill on the market. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has called for a Congressional probe over whether to impeach Joe Biden over his son's messages with Chinese officials. Cruz, speaking on a podcast, said a string of texts show that Hunter Biden was using his access to his father to win his lucrative business deals abroad. It comes after the 53-year-old First Son struck a plea deal last week with federal prosecutors in Delaware over tax and firearm offenses. But GOP bigwig Cruz said Congress should open an investigation into whether the president himself was using his position to line his pockets. Cruz said on his podcast that Congress should open a possible impeachment probe into Joe Biden amid allegations that he may have personally benefited from Hunter's business dealings 'Look, this WhatsApp is direct evidence of Joe Biden abusing his government power to enrich his son, and, assuming 10% for the big guy, to enrich himself,' he said. 'Remember, this WhatsApp says 'we want to know.' This is not just me, Hunter, just mooching off my dad.... Of course the House needs to investigate it,' the top Republican claimed. But any idea that an impeachment motion would succeed is far-fetched because the upper house of Congress, the Senate, is currently controlled by the Democrats. Conservatives have long claimed that Hunter Biden has been guilty of using his family connections to rake in millions of dollars abroad. They are investigating his deals in Ukraine and China that they claim were struck thanks to the access he got to his father, who was vice-president under Barack Obama. The president's son was staying at the guest house of Biden's Delaware home when he wrote to Communist Party official Henry Zhao on July 30, 2017, threatening him to follow his 'orders' Hunter was reportedly texting Chinese Communist Party official Henry Zhao Hunter Biden's many controversies have been a regular headache for his father during his stint in the White House In the 2017 WhatsApp message singled out by Cruz, Hunter sent a menacing threat to a Chinese Communist Party official after Joe Biden had left the VP office. He hinted to Henry Zhao, CEO of Harvest Fund Management, that his father would see to it that he would be punished if he did not comply with the unspecified demand. 'And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang, or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction.' 'I am sitting here waiting for the call with my father,' Hunter Biden reportedly said. The allegations undercut consistent claims from the Biden family and administration that Joe was not involved in his son's foreign business dealings. Hunter's lawyers have insisted the WhatsApp was the ramblings of a troubled man in the midst of a drug addiction. On Friday, a lawyer for IRS whisteblower Gary Shapley claimed that his attempts to get to the bottom of the WhatsApp story had been rebuffed by prosecutors. 'The agents wanted to follow up on this and the prosecutors told them not to because, oh, well, maybe Hunter Biden was puffing or something like that,' said Mark Lytle, Shapley's attorney. He told Fox News on Friday: 'So the agent said, well, let's get the GPS location of the two of the father and the son, and let's see if they're actually in the same room at that time. Gary Shapley said that Hunter Biden got preferential treatment from IRS and FBI officials Chris Clark, Hunter Biden's attorney, have dismissed the allegations against his client On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee released testimony from two IRS whistleblowers - including Shapley - who said the Justice Department, FBI and IRS interfered with the investigation of the tax evasion case against Hunter Biden. Jason Smith, a Republican from Missouri who chairs the committee, claimed that testimony 'outlines misconduct and government abuse at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the investigation of Hunter Biden. 'Whistleblowers describe how the Biden Justice Department intervened and overstepped in a campaign to protect the son of Joe Biden by delaying, divulging, and denying an ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden's alleged tax crimes.' President Biden has stood by his son Hunter in the face of a series of lawsuits Last week, Hunter Biden settled a child support legal spat with his former fling Lunden Roberts over payments for their daughter Navy Joan, 4. The committee said on Thursday: 'The allegations point to a steady campaign of: unequal treatment of enforcing tax law; Department of Justice interference in the form of delays, divulgences, and denials, into the investigation of tax crimes that may have been committed by the President's son; and finally, retaliation against IRS employees who blew the whistle on the misconduct. Hunter Biden's lawyer Chris Clark, who negotiated a plea agreement on Hunter's behalf with the Justice Department, called the whistleblower 'biased' and claimed the account covered 'a time of turmoil and addiction' for the president's son. He also disputed the veracity of Hunter's claim about now-President Biden in the WhatsApp message, saying his words have 'no connection to anyone in his family.' 'An extensive, five-year-long investigation conducted by the United States Department of Justice concluded this week, which resulted in my client taking responsibility for two instances of misdemeanor failure to file tax payments, as well as a firearm charge, which will be subject to a pretrial diversion agreement,' said Clark. The First Son also managed to strike an out-of-court settlement with an alleged former fling Lunden Roberts in a long-running row over child support payments. The 53-yearold will now pay $5,000 a month to support his daughter Navy Joan, 4, who he has never met. A British man who conspired to hack the social media accounts of celebrities including Joe Biden and Elon Musk has been jailed for five years. 24-year-old Joseph James O'Connor pleaded guilty to a string of cyber crime offences in May, almost three years after his hacking group which aimed to hijack over 130 Twitter accounts in a Bitcoin scam. Those targeted including leading brands such as Apple and Uber, as well as Bill Gates, Barack Obama and other high profile figures, The Guardian reports. O'Connor, also known under an online alias as Plugwalk Joe, additionally pleaded guilty to stealing $794,000 in cryptocurrency, cyberstalking and online extortion. The Briton, who was extradited to the US from Spain on April 26, admitted to conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering. O'Connor was charged alongside fellow Briton Mason Sheppard, from Bognor Regis, West Sussex, and two Americans, Graham Ivan Clark and Nima Fazeli. O'Connor, from Liverpool, Merseyside, is also believed to be behind an attack on actress Bella Thorne where he allegedly threatened to leak nude photographs he had obtained by hacking her SnapChat account unless she agreed to various demands. Joseph James O'Connor being led by Spanish police officers in July 22, 2021 Other charges he pleaded guilty to were conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering and stalking two victims. O'Connor faced up to 20 years for the most serious of the charges. On top of his five-year term, he has also been handed three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $794,000. 'O'Connor's criminal activities were flagrant and malicious and his conduct impacted multiple people's lives. He harassed, threatened and extorted his victims, causing substantial emotional harm,' Kenneth A Polite Jr, an assistant attorney general in the US justice department's criminal division, said last month. 'Like many criminal actors, O'Connor tried to stay anonymous by using a computer to hide behind stealth accounts and aliases from outside the United States.' Florida teen Graham Ivan Clark, said to be the mastermind of the plot, was sentenced in July 2021 to three years in juvenile prison - the longest term allowed under state law. One hacked tweet from Biden read: 'I am giving back to the community. All bitcoin sent to the address below will be sent back doubled! If you send $1,000, I will send back $2,000. Only doing this for 30 minutes.' Another tweet from Bezos read: 'I have decided to give back to my community. All Bitcoin sent to my address below will be sent back doubled. I am only doing a maximum of $50,000,000.' Just days after the Twitter hack, O'Connor had laughed off any suggestion he was the one behind it. 'I don't care - they can come arrest me,' O'Connor told the New York Times in July 2020 about his links to the breach. 'I would laugh at them. I haven't done anything.' But two years later, O'Connor admitted to being behind the major hack. Briton Joseph James O'Connor, 24, (pictured) admitted to hijacking the celebrity Twitter accounts and stealing $794,000 in cryptocurrency after being extradited to the United States from Spain The July 2020 Twitter attack hijacked a variety of verified accounts, including those of then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (pictured) One hacked tweet from Biden read: 'I am giving back to the community. All bitcoin sent to the address below will be sent back doubled! If you send $1,000, I will send back $2,000. Only doing this for 30 minutes The accounts of former President Barack Obama, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jeff Bezos (pictured), Michael Bloomberg and Kanye West were also hit Jeff Bezos was targeted in the Twitter hack Scores of scam messages were pumped out from 130 Twitter accounts, including those of Kim Kardashian, Joe Biden, Elon Musk (pictured) and Jeff Bezos so that their followers would send them Bitcoin Scores of scam messages were pumped out from 130 Twitter accounts, including those of Kim Kardashian, Joe Biden, Elon Musk (pictured) and Jeff Bezos so that their followers would send them Bitcoin The attack reached over 130 Twitter accounts, including those of Apple, Uber, Kanye West, Bill Gates, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Elon Musk In 2019 O'Connor and the three other hackers also used a technique known as sim card swaps to break their way into social media accounts of two media stars, not named in court filings but named in press reports as TikTok star Addison Rae and actress Bella Thorne. The group threatened to release their private images and other information. As a result, Thorne preemptively posted on Twitter that she had been 'threatened with my own nudes,' and posted screenshots of the text messages. Thorne said she was releasing the photographs so that the hacker would not be able to 'take yet another thing from me.' O'Connor allegedly used Rae's TikTok account to post self-promotional messages, including a video in which his voice is recognisable, the US justice department said. He then threatened to release sensitive personal information related to Rae to individuals who joined a specified Discord server. O'Connor is also said to have cyberstalked a 16-year-old girl and sent her nude pictures. He also cyberstalked a minor and threatened them in June and July 2020. O'Connor called the local police several times and falsely claimed the victim was making threats to shoot people in order to put the minor in danger, the US justice department said. O'Connor later called multiple family members of the victim and threatened to kill them, the department added. In a separate case, the hackers used the same technique to steal $794,000 of virtual currency from a New York cryptocurrency company. Prosecutors said O'Connor will forfeit the money and pay restitution to the victims. In 2019 O'Connor and the three other hackers also used a technique known as sim card swaps to break their way into social media accounts of two media stars, not named in court filings but named in press reports as TikTok star Addison Rae and actress Bella Thorne (pictured) Barack Obama (left) and Bill Gates (right) were targeted in the Twitter hack in 2020 Kanye West was targeted in the Twitter hack in July 2020. O'Connor has now admitted to being behind the attack 'O'Connor's criminal activities were flagrant and malicious, and his conduct impacted multiple people's lives. He harassed, threatened, and extorted his victims, causing substantial emotional harm,' Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite said in a statement. 'Like many criminal actors, O'Connor tried to stay anonymous by using a computer to hide behind stealth accounts and aliases from outside the United States. 'But this (guilty) plea shows that our investigators and prosecutors will identify, locate, and bring to justice such criminals to ensure they face the consequences for their crimes.' 'O'Connor has left an impressive trail of destruction in the wake of his wave of criminality,' said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California. 'This case serves as a warning that the reach of the law is long, and criminals anywhere who use computers to commit crimes may end up facing the consequences of their actions in places they did not anticipate.' Al-Shabaab jihadists have reportedly killed five civilians including a secondary school pupil by 'slashing and beheading' in Kenya. The attack in eastern Kenya occurred on Saturday around 7.30 pm (1630 GMT) in the villages of Juhudi and Salama in Lamu county, which borders Somalia, a police source said. 'Five people were killed. The victims were slashed and there are others who were beheaded,' the police source told AFP on Sunday. Witnesses also described the latest horrifying attack by the Al-Qaeda linked group. Resident Hassan Abdul said that 'women were locked in the houses and the men ordered out, where they were tied with ropes and butchered'. A secondary school student was among the five people killed, Abdul said, adding that 'all those killed were slashed and some of them had been beheaded'. Al-Shabaab jihadists (file image) have reportedly killed five civilians including a secondary school pupil by 'slashing and beheading' in Kenya Earlier this month, the Al Qaeda-linked jihadists killed six civilians and wounded ten in a six-hour siege at a beachside hotel in Somalia (pictured) Another local resident, Ismail Hussein, said that the militants stole food supplies before leaving, firing their arms into the air. 'We have enhanced security in that area after the attack,' Lamu County Commissioner Louis Rono said. Based in Kenya's eastern neighbour Somalia, the jihadist Al-Shabaab group has been waging a bloody insurgency against the fragile government in Mogadishu for more than 15 years. Kenya first sent troops into Somalia in 2011 to combat the Islamist militants and is now a major contributor of troops to an African Union military operation against the group. But it has suffered a string of retaliatory assaults, including a bloody siege at the Westgate mall in Nairobi in 2013 that cost 67 lives and an attack on Garissa University in 2015 that killed 148 people. In Somalia itself, Al-Shabaab has continued to wage deadly attacks despite a major offensive launched last August by pro-government forces, backed by the AU force known as ATMIS. Earlier this month, the Al Qaeda-linked jihadists killed six civilians and wounded ten in a six-hour siege at a beachside hotel in Somalia. Seven Al-Shabaab militants launched the attack on Pearl Beach Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. Kenya's Lamu region, which includes the popular tourist beach destination of Lamu Island, has suffered frequent attacks, often carried out with roadside bombs. Security officers patrol near the destroyed Hayat Hotel after a deadly 30-hour siege by Al-Shabaab jihadists in Mogadishu on August 21, 2022 Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud speaks during a meeting with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 in Washington Saturday's killings took place near Mpeketoni, a town around 450 kilometres (280 miles) from the capital Nairobi and 120 kilometres from the Somali border. The area was hit by an attack attributed to Al-Shabaab in January 2022, in which six people were killed and homes torched. In 2014, almost 100 people were killed in a series of armed assaults on Mpeketoni and surrounding villages in Lamu County. In June, eight Kenyan police officers were killed when their vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device in a suspected Al-Shabaab attack in nearby Garissa county. Kenya and Somalia agreed last month to gradually reopen three points on their land border, which was closed in 2011 in bid to curb Al-Shabaab violence. Police are urgently hunting for a man who showed his genitals to two eight-year-old girls at a school while wearing a balaclava. Hampshire Police are appealing for help to find the man, described as white and in his 30s, who quickly fled Hightown Primary School, Southampton, after flashing the girls at around 12.30pm on Wednesday June 21. The primary school was forced to put up 'screening fencing' around its playground in response to the incident, it said. It comes as a string of incidents involving a man who has been spotted naked wearing a balaclava around Southampton have been reported, according to witnesses. Hampshire police have urged anyone with information to come forward and called on residents to check CCTV and Ring doorbell footage. Hightown Primary School (pictured), Southampton, put up the 'screening fencing' around its playground after the man exposed his genitals to the schoolgirls at around 12.30pm on Wednesday June 21 and quickly fled the scene. A spokesman for Inspire Learning Partnership, which runs the primary school, said: 'Following a traumatic incident on Wednesday, at about 12.30pm, in which a criminal act was carried out in front of two pupils by a man wearing a black balaclava who approached the school fence, we swiftly responded with a range of actions. 'As soon as the school were made aware of the incident the police were immediately contacted, with the pupils' parents informed. 'We are supplying CCTV footage to assist the police investigation and police have stepped up patrols in the vicinity of the school. 'Furthermore, additional screening fencing has been put in place and police community support officers have visited to provide reassurance to pupils. 'Pupils have received emotional support and counselling, as appropriate, and they have received reminders of stranger danger.' Hampshire Police say the girls, aged eight, were badly frightened but managed to escape his clutches. After the man fled, police searched the area to try and find him but were unsuccessful. Later the same day, just after midnight, he was seen walking naked, with a balaclava to cover his face, according to witnesses. And the next day, a woman said she saw him outside a pub while inappropriately touching himself just before midnight. Detective Inspector Emma Barrow said: 'We know news of these incidents - especially those involving the two young girls - will be extremely concerning to local residents, but locating this man is a priority for us. 'Fortunately, there was no physical contact with the victims, but they were understandably shocked by what they witnessed. 'We have already stepped up patrols in both areas and have other enquiries ongoing in relation to CCTV, and now we are appealing for your help too. 'Does the description remind you of someone? Have you seen a man matching this description in the area recently, acting suspiciously? 'We want to make a request for local residents in these areas to check their CCTV footage and Ring doorbell footage - this might hold vital information in identifying the person responsible. 'Likewise, if you were driving along Kanes Hill Road or in the other areas at the times of the offences, and you have dash-cam footage, we would like to hear from you. We're keen to hear from anyone who might be able to help.' Other notable figures to take part in the revelry included Reverend Al Sharpton and New York AG Letitia James, who preached a theme of 'strength in solidarity' New York politicians were out in full force for Pride Sunday - after the NYPD said it was beefing up security in anticipation of the event. Spotted among the amalgam of drag queens and activists marching down Fifth Avenue were figures like Eric Adams, Kathy Hochul, and Chuck Schumer - three of roughly 100,000 participants taking part in the parade's main procession. This year's march - the 53rd in the city's history - is expected to draw roughly a million spectators, while featuring some 60 floats that speak to the LGBTQ situation not only in New York, but across the country. Other notable figures to take part in the revelry included Reverend Al Sharpton and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined Gov. Hochul as she took the time to address members of the crowd. Meanwhile, both a literal and figurative dark cloud were cast over the festivities thanks to tenuous forecasts from not only the city's police force, but its meteorologists - with a storm poised to slam Manhattan around 4pm. New York politicians such as Eric Adams were out in full force for Pride Sunday - after the NYPD said it was beefing up security in anticipation of the event Notable figures taking part in the colorful procession included Governor Kathy Hochul, Chuck Schumer, Reverend Al Sharpton and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who joined the governor as addressed members of the crowd The parade comes as over the last few weeks, several Pride flags and transgender Pride flags stationed across the city have been ripped down and destroyed The streets of Manhattan transformed into a sea of rainbows with New Yorkers proudly proclaiming their love, acceptance and celebration of the LGBTQ community Members of the LGBTQ community, their allies and elected officials marched from Fifth Avenue through Greenwich Village Approximately 1 million people lined the streets of Manhattan on Sunday to celebrate Pride That said, in the interim, residents and revelers made the most of weather seen in the earlier part of the day - attending an array of outdoor parties that sprouted up all across the city. Signage plastered throughout the parade's planned route, meanwhile, touted how the city was 'protecting LGBTQ+ New Yorkers' during the festivities - a stance reiterated by Hochul and several the city tabbed to preside over the event. Included in that class were this year's grand marshals - activists Yasmin Benoit, AC Dumlao, Randolfe 'Randy' Wicker, Billy Porter and Hope Giselle. Those figures, as well as the aforementioned politicians, all sought to prop this year's 'Strength in Solidarity' theme with their own statements and colorful photo-ops - amid an alleged outpour of anti-LGBTQ sentiment in recent years. Always slated toward the end of June, the parade, as always, also commemorated the 1969 uprising by New York's LGBTQ+ communities known as the Stonewall Rebellion - while preaching the continued importance of LGBTQ+ rights. Sue Doster, co-chairperson of the city-funded Pride organization, earlier in the week explained that organizers were thrusting a spotlight on the rights associated with those of the trans community, whom have been the targets of Republican legislation as of late. Speaking of city and state-led campaigns that have sought to bar things like drag story hours geared toward kids, Doster said: 'They're attacking these people because they're less likely to stand up and fight back. '[This] is why it's important that we all come together in solidarity and speak up when we see these injustices.' Spotted among the amalgam of drag queens and activists marching down Fifth Avenue were figures like Adams - one of roughly 100,000 participants in the parade that cops have warned comes 'amid an elevated threat environment worldwide' involving the gay community People in Pride colors attend and march during the 2023 New York City Pride on Sunday This year's march - the 53rd in the city's history - is expected to draw roughly a million spectators, while featuring some 60 floats that speak to the LGBTQ situation not only in New York, but across the country Signage plastered throughout the parade's planned route, meanwhile, touted how the city was 'protecting LGBTQ+ New Yorkers' during the festivities - a stance reiterated by Hochul and several others the city tabbed to preside over the event Senator Chuck Schumer is seen posing with a citizen while marching down a cordoned off Fifth Avenue on Sunday Attorney General of New York Letitia James is seen attending the 2023 New York City Pride March Sunday Also in attendance were this year's parade grand marshals, which included activist Hope Giselle (pictured) While there were no specific threats to Manhattan's march by the time it started , an assessment by the NYPD noted the event will take place 'amid an elevated threat environment worldwide' involving the gay and trans communities - and would thus require heightened security Always slated toward the end of June, the parade, as always, also commemorated the 1969 uprising by New York's LGBTQ+ communities known as the Stonewall Rebellion - while preaching the continued importance of LGBTQ+ rights Various New York agencies also attended the event - proudly making their presence known as they marched from Fifth Avenue, through Greenwich Village, toward Chelsea Each year, the city explodes in an array of colors and activism for its LGBTQ-themed parade - and this year was no different, with this year's theme 'Strength in solidarity' The march kicked off at around noon at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, drawing a bevy of uniquely clad revelers - as organizers said they are seeking to call attention to the current plight of the transgender community Millions descended on downtown Manhattan to make their support for that and other linked causes known - all while cops urged locals to be wary of increased incidents of violence due to the greater LGBTQ climate The parade often attracts scantily clad, sometimes rowdy revelers - and this time was no different, with police this time around warning the march comes 'amid an elevated threat environment worldwide' involving to the LGBTQ community The parade, as it does each year, caused several streets to close, for not only the main procession, but an array of outdoor parties across the borough This year's march is expected to draw a million spectators, 100,000 participants and 60 floats Police officers stand guard as New Yorkers march during the NYC Pride parade on Sunday. The force is on high alert this year due to an outflow of anti-LGBTQ sentiment Between the million or so attendees and hundreds of thousands of other revelers, roughly 2million attended the parade Sunday - with an amalgam of music, dancing and rainbows Participants posed and wave as they moved down Fifth Avenue Sunday, enjoying the sunny weather as rain was forecast toward the parade's end Several couples made their orientation known during the parade - known for its proud displays of homosexuality This year, a premium was put on the T in LGBTQ - due to recent criticism leveled toward trans people Thousands took part in the main parade this year, making use of a litany of props to show their flair As usual, confetti was commonplace during the outdoor excursion, which began on Fifth Avenue, looped through Greenwich Village, and ends in Chelsea Adams and other city officials were in attendance, after his administration recently signed an executive order preventing the use of city resources for out-of-state investigations into gender-affirming care No incidents of violence were immediately reported, but officers are reportedly on high alert Billy Porter marches is seen appearing in the 2023 New York City Pride March To mark Pride, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new legislation, protecting access to gender-affirming care in New York, and urged other states to do the same At noon on Wednesday, millions descended on downtown Manhattan to make their support for that and other linked causes known - all while cops urged locals to be wary of increased incidents of violence due to the greater LGBTQ climate. While there were no specific threats to Manhattan's march by the time it started , an assessment by the NYPD noted the event will take place 'amid an elevated threat environment worldwide' involving the gay and trans communities - and would thus require heightened security. It was not clear from the department's statement what exactly that increased detail would be comprised of, though Chief of Patrol John Chell on Friday that the number will be well into the thousands. 'We have thousands of cops. We have our agency partners, our federal partners, our counter terrorism and intelligence bureau. Other agencies. Sanitation and DOT.' Chell added of the success of the city's previous Pride parade: 'I worked [it] last year. It was wonderful there were no incidents. We plan on having the same event this year.' It was not clear from the department's statement what exactly that increased detail would be comprised of, though Chief of Patrol John Chell on Friday that the number will be well into the thousands 'We have thousands of cops. We have our agency partners, our federal partners, our counter terrorism and intelligence bureau. Other agencies. Sanitation and DOT', Chell said Friday Meanwhile, both a literal and figurative dark cloud were cast over the festivities thanks to tenuous forecasts from not only the city's police force, but its meteorologists - with a storm poised to slam Manhattan around 2pm Residents and revelers made the most of weather attending an array of outdoor parties that sprouted up all across the city While there were no specific threats to Manhattan's march by the time it started, an assessment by the NYPD noted the event will take place 'amid an elevated threat environment worldwide' involving the gay and trans communities - and would thus require more security Bashing city and state-led campaigns that have sought to bar things like drag story hours geared toward kids, organizers said: 'They're attacking these people because they're less likely to stand up and fight back.' '[This] is why it's important that we all come together in solidarity and speak up when we see these injustices' Grand Marshal Billy Porter was one of many to speak Sunday about the injustices LGBTQ people have faced as of late It also comes two years after parade organizers banned NYPD officers from participating in uniform, while moving to reduce their presence on the scene. The ban will be reviewed in 2025 Adams has said that any hateful actions toward LGBTQ New Yorkers on Sunday will not be tolerated. He was seen waving flags and marching with fellow revelers as they marched Marchers made their opinions known with several strongly worded signs and posters A wide array of vehicles including motorcycles and three-wheelers also took part in the parade New York Senator Schumer was also seen riling up attendees, touting the importance of New York's LGBTQ community into a megaphone The city's mayor has said that any hateful actions toward LGBTQ New Yorkers Sunday - or any other day - will not be tolerated The parade went without a hitch, despite gloomy forecasts for later in the day The roots of the Pride Movement began with the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. One year later, the first NYC Pride March was held on Christopher Street The parade comes as over the last few weeks, several Pride flags and transgender Pride flags stationed across the city have been ripped down and destroyed. In the aforementioned internal statement sent around by the NYPD, cops cited previous acts of mass violence such as the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando as reasons to bolster security this time around. Mayor Adams has said that any hateful actions toward LGBTQ New Yorkers on Sunday - or any other day, for that matter - will not be tolerated. While some people whooped in celebration during the parade, many were mindful of the growing conservative countermovement, including new laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender children. 'I'm not trying not to be very heavily political, but when it does target my community, I get very, very annoyed and very hurt,' said Ve Cinder, a 22-year-old transgender woman who traveled from Pennsylvania to take part in the country's largest Pride event. 'I'm just scared for my future and for my trans siblings. I'm frightened of how this country has looked at human rights, basic human rights,' she said. 'It's crazy.' In Chicago, 16-year-old Maisy McDonough painted rainbow colors over her eyes and on her face for her first Pride parade. She told the Chicago Tribune shes excited to 'be united' after a tough year for the community. 'We really need the love of this parade,' she said. Young school children lines up to participate in the 52nd Chicago Pride Parade in Chicago A person participates in the 52nd Chicago Pride Parade in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday Selena Peres drinks water and twirls a rainbow skirt during Chicago's 52nd annual Pride ) People participate in the 52nd Chicago Pride Parade in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday 12-year-old Layla Williams performs with her fellow Bud Billiken dancers in Chicago's 52nd annual Pride Parade Sunday Jon Batayola, left, and Daniel Biginton embrace under an umbrella as they await the beginning of Chicago's annual Pride Parade The parade is the final event of a month of celebrating and honoring the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LBGTQ) community Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (R) and Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton (L) participate in the 52nd Chicago Pride Parade in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson greets parade goers as he walks in Chicago's Pride Parade People participate in the 52nd Chicago Pride Parade in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday Participants carry a large rainbow Chicago flag during the annual Pride Parade Many other cities held their marquee events earlier this month, including Boston, which hosted its first parade after a three-year hiatus that began with COVID-19 but extended through 2022 because the organization that used to run it dissolved under criticism that it excluded racial minorities and transgender people. A key message this year has been for LGBTQ+ communities to unite against dozens, if not hundreds, of legislative bills now under consideration in statehouses across the country. Lawmakers in 20 states have moved to ban gender-affirming care for children, and at least seven more are considering doing the same, adding increased urgency for the transgender community, its advocates say. 'We are under threat,' Pride event organizers in New York, San Francisco and San Diego said in a statement joined by about 50 other Pride organizations nationwide. 'The diverse dangers we are facing as an LGBTQ community and Pride organizers, while differing in nature and intensity, share a common trait: they seek to undermine our love, our identity, our freedom, our safety, and our lives.' U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., wave to the crowd while participating during the 53rd Annual San Francisco Pride Parade and Celebration on Sunday Entertainer Ophelia Peaches waves while riding on a float in the Pride parade through the streets of downtown Denver A smaller but no less lively LGBTQ Pride celebration took place in Silver Spring, Maryland Hundreds of LGBTQ people and their supporters are outside and enjoying the weather while being proud of who they area. Pride celebration, Silver Spring, Maryland People ride in a motorcycle with a sidecar at the 54th annual NYC Pride March, in New York A woman rides her motorcycle with a bubble maker in New York A man with a pride flag and Mexican flag can be seen cheering in this photo from Chicagi A woman in a sequined rainbow dress was pictured during Chicago Pride The colors of the rainbow were seen in virtually every direction Performers take part in the Pride parade through the streets of downtown Denver on Sunday A man attends the NYC Pride March, Sunday, in New York Participants take part in the Pride parade through the streets of downtown Denver Revelers march during the NYC pride parade on Sunday in New York The streets of downtown Denver were awash in color Youngsters marched with their own messages Participants take part in the Pride parade through the streets of downtown on Sunday The Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a national LGBTQ+ organization, reported 101 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the first three weeks of this month, about twice as many as in the full month of June last year. Sarah Moore, who analyzes extremism for the two civil rights groups, said many of the incidents coincided with Pride events. Nevertheless, Roz Gould Keith, who has a transgender son, is heartened by the increased visibility of transgender people at marches and celebrations across the country. 'Ten years ago, when my son asked to go to Motor City Pride, there was nothing for the trans community,' said Keith, founder and executive director of Stand with Trans, a group formed to support and empower young transgender people and their families. This year, she said, the event was 'jam-packed' with transgender people. Across the border in Canada, massive crowds thronged the streets of Toronto under sunny skies to take part in Canada's largest Pride parade Myles Sexton smiles for a portrait as they walk in the Toronto Pride Parade in Toronto on Sunday Participants walk in the Toronto Pride Parade in Toronto, Sunday June 25, 2023 Colourfully-clad attendees cheered, danced, fluttered rainbow fans to beat the heat Pride Toronto, the organizer of Sunday's parade featured at least 250 participating groups Displays were crisp and colorful on the streets of Toronto on Sunday during the Pride march A Pride participant is seen with a giant yellow feathered headdress on the streets of Toronto Over the last 50 years, there have been many strides towards equality as well as setbacks from the AIDS epidemic of the 80s All different colored flags could be seen along the streets of the Canadian city The Pride colors are spelled out with balloons are marchers head down the streets A feathered rainbowed participant would be seen roller blading during the parade Even pets got in on the action with this pup displaying rainbow colors Supporters liners the streets to show support and celebrate Canada's LGBTQ community 'We love our community. We want you here. We want you to do business here. We want the nightlife here. We want you to be part of the energy of this great city,' Adams said this week, 'And I am just really proud of what this administration is doing and continue to do.' As usual, confetti was commonplace during the outdoor excursion, which began on Fifth Avenue, looped through Greenwich Village, and will end in Chelsea . It comes two years after parade organizers banned NYPD officers from participating in uniform, while moving to reduce their presence on the scene. That ban - issued to address feelings of being threatened from participants - will be reviewed in 2025. CNN anchor Jack Tapper has published a column accusing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of telling a 'wild and false' story about an interaction they had in 2005. Kennedy's comments were made during an appearance on a podcast hosted by Jordan Peterson on June 5 and part of an attack on how the media covers Big Pharma. RFK Jr. said he spent three weeks working with Tapper, who was at ABC News at the time, on a documentary critical of vaccines that was suddenly axed. Tapper's account states that he did not collaborate with Kennedy but merely interviewed him over the phone for an ABC News segment, which was not axed. The attack on Kennedy Jr. comes as remarkable video has surfaced of the 69-year-old Democratic presidential candidate lifting weights at the legendary Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, dubbed 'the Mecca of bodybuilding'. A photo accompanies the video and shows RFK Jr. shirtless and well-built. The attack on Kennedy Jr. comes as remarkable video has surfaced of the 69-year-old Democratic presidential candidate lifting weights at the legendary Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, dubbed 'the Mecca of bodybuilding' Tapper's account states that he did not collaborate with Kennedy but merely interviewed him over the phone for an ABC TV segment. He is pictured in May 2019 'RFK Jr. has made so many false and wild claims about any number of vital topics,' noted Tapper in the column, published on June 22, before claiming he is 'untethered from the facts'. Tapper provided a fairly lengthy account in the column, and began explaining that their interaction stemmed from the fact that Kennedy in 2005 was co-publishing a piece with Rolling Stone magazine and Salon.com. In it he claimed that there was some connection between certain vaccines that contained mercury and autism - both publications have since retracted it over factual inaccuracies. In the Jordan Peterson podcast, which has been deleted from YouTube but remains on Twitter, RFK Jr. said he had been working 'for three weeks doing this incredible documentary' with Tapper. He then said Tapper notified him over the phone that the 'documtary' was going to be killed by 'corporate' - something that had never happened before. 'RFK Jr. has been misrepresenting the content of this call for years,' wrote Tapper. Tapper in his CNN column suggested he would never have used that word and that a number of his stories would have been axed prior. He said that though the plug was not pulled on his piece he did delay the segment for a day to interview other experts, and that it did eventually air on June 22, 2005. 'Now in his retelling, a two-minute piece was an 'incredible documentary,' a few days of work was three weeks, one remote interview was me working intensely with him, and a piece that got delayed one day so we could interview some actual experts is a piece that got killed,' wrote Tapper. Tapper also appeared on a podcast last week, Pod Save America, in which he cast similar dispersions on Kennedy. Tapper provided a fairly lengthy account in the column, and began explaining that their interaction stemmed from the fact that Kennedy in 2005 was co-publishing a piece with Rolling Stone magazine and Salon.com CNN anchor Jake Tapper is pictured with his wife Jennifer Marie Brown at the Museum of the Moving Image in New York in 2018 What do you think ... Should social media platforms censor presidential candidates? My conversation with @JordanBPeterson was deleted by @YouTube. Luckily you can watch it here on @Twitter (thank you @elonmusk). #Kennedy24https://t.co/PJFKWH6zmd Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 18, 2023 '[Kennedy] spreads dangerous misinformation about childhood vaccines,' he said, before saying he would not host Kennedy for a town hall on CNN. 'He was so dishonest in that experience and since then he lies about the experience frequently,' he said. Tapper also quoted from his own segment to reflect how he had covered Kennedy's article. Tapper claims he said over his segment: 'The medical community overwhelmingly disagrees with Kennedy, who is not a scientist or a doctor. They point out that autism rates are not decreasing, even though thimerosal has been removed from most childhood vaccines as a precaution.' He wrote at the end of his column that 'we did the fact-checking for our piece that RFK Jr. didn't do himself,' before adding: 'And he remains someone you cannot rely upon for facts, truth or accuracy.' Sarah, Duchess of York, has undergone an operation to treat breast cancer, it has been revealed. The 63-year-old duchess was diagnosed after a routine mammogram and has since undergone surgery, which her spokesperson said was successful. Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease in the UK, with around 55,000 women and 370 men being diagnosed with it each year, according to Breast Cancer Now. While breast cancer is highly treatable, it is crucial to spot it as early as possible, as the longer it goes without treatment the higher the risk it can pose. Despite years of pleas from cancer charities, more than a third of women in the UK still do not regularly assess their breasts. With thousands across the country unsure of how to spot the key signs of the potentially deadly cancer, here MailOnline gives a guide on how to check your breasts and other symptoms to look out for. Sarah, Duchess of York, has undergone an operarion to treat breast cancer, it has been revealed. Checking your breasts should be part of your monthly routine so you notice any unusual changes. Simply, rub and feel from top to bottom, feel in semi-circles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to feel for any abnormalities How and what should you check? Checking your breasts could help find signs of breast cancer early. This means you have a better chance of beating the disease, experts say. It should be part of your monthly routine so you notice any unusual changes, charity CoppaFeel says. But according to a YouGov survey commissioned by Breast Cancer Now, 39 per cent of women don't bother. More than half who do not check their breasts simply forget to, while 16 per cent do not know how to check. Dr Sarah Kayat, who, with the help of a topless cancer survivor, showed viewers on ITV's This Morning how to perform a breast exam, said at-home breast exams save 1,300 lives in the UK each year. You can check in the shower, when you are lying down in bed or in the mirror before you get dressed. Because breast tissue isn't just found in your boobs, it's also important that men and women check the tissue all the way up to their collarbone and underneath their armpit. There is no right or wrong way to check your breasts, as long as you know how your breasts usually look and feel, says the NHS. But one of the most popular methods online involves using the pads of your fingers. Simply, rub and feel from top to bottom, feel in semi-circles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to feel for any abnormalities, according to a guide shared in a blog post by the University of Nottingham. If you spot any changes you should get it checked out by your GP. Women aged between 50 and 70 should also be attending routine breast cancer screening. Symptoms of breast cancer to look out for include lumps and swellings, dimpling of the skin, changes in colour, discharge and a rash or crusting around the nipple Check for... A lump or swelling Using your fingers feel for lumps or swellings in the breast, upper armpit and chest. A lump or an area of thickened breast tissue that doesn't move easily is one of the first noticeable symptoms of breast cancer, says the NHS. And according to the American Cancer Society, it's the most common symptom. It says the lumps are often hard and painless. But when feeling for unusual lumps and bumps it is important to know what is normal for you, experts say. The NHS advises women get used to how their breasts feel at different times of the month. This is because some women have tender and lumpy breasts, near the armpit, around the time of their period. The feel of your breasts can also change after the menopause as normal breasts can feel softer less firm and not as lumpy. As well as checking for lumps, visible changes to the shape and size of the breast is also important. Changes to the skin Another common sign of breast cancer is a change the skin. This can usually just be seen in the mirror and includes puckering or dimpling of the skin. More than a third of women in the UK do not check their breasts regularly for potential signs of breast cancer, according to the charity Breast Cancer Now [File photo] The dimpling skin is often compared to orange peel and can be associated with inflammatory breast cancer, which is a rare but aggressive form of cancer. A change in colour is also a warning sign to get checked out, says Breast Cancer Now. If you notice your breast looks red or inflamed, it could be a sign of cancer. Pain is only a symptom of breast cancer in rare cases, the NHS says. But if you feel pain or discomfort in one breast that doesn't go away you should see your GP. A nipple change It's important to not just check your breast tissue for abnormalities, but also your nipples, experts say. Look for rashes or crusting around the nipple. The NHS says this could look like eczema, crusting of the skin, scaly, itchy or red skin. You should also check the position of your nipple, the NHS advises. If it is being pulled in or starting to point in a different way to usual, it could be a sign of breast cancer. Another warning sign to get checked out by your GP is discharge from either nipple. Discharge is more common in Ductal Carcinoma in situ, which is an early form of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts. Cancer Research says the discharge can also be blood stained. Norfolk County Council tweeted the advice earlier which has now been deleted The government has announced a probe after 999 calls failed to connect to emergency services - while one council tweeted that those seeking firefighters' help should 'visit your nearest fire station'. Throughout the day 999 calls have not been connecting for several emergency services and Britons have been told to call 101 instead. BT has confirmed the disruption is still ongoing and the government has launched a probe into the incident. A government spokesperson said: 'There was a technical issue with the 999 call system earlier today. This is now fully resolved and the service is running as normal, and so anyone with an emergency should call 999 for assistance in the normal way. 'A full investigation is under way to understand what caused this problem.' Norfolk County Council tweeted that anyone in need of assistance should attend a fire station, much to the surprise of Norfolk locals Norfolk County Council tweeted earlier that anyone in need of assistance should attend a fire station, much to the surprise of Norfolk locals. One resident responded: 'Ah yes! Excellent advice here from Norfolk County Council. None of this namby-pamby calling for help here! No siree. We are so tough we visit the fire station whilst in flames.' Another quipped: 'Exactly - we can fight our own fires here! #tough.' A third said: 'Maybe you could drag your burning house to the local fire station too!' A Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'This was a fast-moving situation and we wanted to reassure the public that Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service had people available at all stations to continue to support our communities on a range of incidents. 'We quickly deleted and reposted what people should do with a clearer message with the 101 number as the situation evolved.' BT has said engineers are still 'working hard' to determine the cause of the issue. A back-up system is allowing for calls to be received but the substitute location tool, which identifies a user's whereabouts with an automatic text, is 'not as effective' as the primary 999 system, the Metropolitan Police said. Met Police posted on Twitter : 'Due to a technical fault that is impacting a number of police forces, many 999 calls are not connecting' (file image) A spokesperson said: 'Earlier today we experienced a technical fault that impacted our primary 999 lines and we defaulted to our back-up system. 'The issue is ongoing, but we do know it was caused by a technical fault. 'This was not connected to any third parties and is not related to today's hot weather or the separate Android handset issue reported earlier this week. 'Our engineers and technical experts are working hard to determine the cause, but our priority is getting the primary 999 lines up and running as soon as possible. 'As with all critical national infrastructure, we can't share technical information on how the system works or give details on the architecture of the back-up solution.' The Met said the back-up system was 'not as effective at telling us where you are calling from'. 'Help us by having the address of the emergency ready,' the force added. 'If you don't know the address, look around for a street name or obvious landmark.' A Government spokesperson said: 'There was a technical issue with the 999 call system earlier today. This is now fully resolved and the service is running as normal, and so anyone with an emergency should call 999 for assistance in the normal way. 'A full investigation is under way to understand what caused this problem.' Norfolk residents responded to the bizarre tweet earlier today, with some joking that they would have to drag their burning house to the fire station for assistance Bedfordshire Police said 'Normal location services are still unavailable on 999 so please consider using what3words if the address of the emergency is unknown.' Emergency services across the country confirmed they were able to receive 999 calls again at around 10am but some warned they were still experiencing residual difficulties. BT said it had implemented a back-up platform after issues with 999 calls connecting were reported at around 8.30am on Sunday and people were told to call 101 in an emergency for police and fire, or 111 in a medical emergency. Several police forces and fire and ambulance services said they had issues and BT had reported a 'system failure'. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service warned of a 30-second delay to connect to 999, while Suffolk Police said its system may not be working to full capacity and urged people to use 999 only in a genuine emergency. A Government spokesperson said earlier: 'We are aware of a technical issue with the 999 call system today. A full investigation is under way to resolve this as quickly as possible. 'BT's back-up system for emergency calls is running and members of the public with genuine emergencies should continue to call 999 or 112 in the normal way. 'You should be able to connect when calling 999 or 112, but if you still have difficulties connecting you may contact 101 for police and fire and rescue services, or 111 for health.' It is not clear how many services have been affected by issues with the back-up system. A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: 'Please continue to call 999 to contact the Coastguard in an emergency. If you are unable to contact the Coastguard on 999 in an emergency, please call 101 (111 for medical emergencies). Please only call 999 in an emergency.' Problems with the service, which is managed by BT, were first reported at around 8.30am on Sunday and people were told to call 101 in an emergency for police and fire, or 111 in a medical emergency. Several police forces and fire and ambulance services said they were facing issues and said BT had reported a 'system failure'. A Government spokesperson said: 'We are aware of a technical issue with the 999 call system today. A full investigation is under way to resolve this as quickly as possible. 'You should be able to connect when calling 999 or 112, but if you still have difficulties connecting you may contact 101 for police and fire and rescue services, or 111 for health.' Met Police was the first to post on Twitter at 8.20am this morning: 'Due to a technical fault that is impacting a number of police forces, many 999 calls are not connecting. 'Until further notice, please call 101 in an emergency. Please ONLY call in an emergency and please wait until later to make any 101 non-emergency calls.' This was a national issue and other police forces have issued warnings. Other police forces followed suit, with Wiltshire Police tweeting: 'BT have reported a system failure in diverting 999 calls. If you need to get hold of us & can't get through on 999 please call 101. 'We're assured that they're working to get this fault resolved as soon as possible. We will update you as soon as we can.' Greater Manchester Police said BT had advised 'a number of forces' about the issues with the 999 line and added: 'If your call is an emergency, please persevere with waiting for them to connect you.' Warwickshire Police urged people to only call if it is an emergency to 'keep their phonelines clear'. At 9.08am, Wiltshire Police posted that BT had restored the 999 line and asked people to 'please call the usual number in emergencies' as well as thanking people for their patience. Other police forces followed suit with their own responses saying the 999 issue had been resolved and the lines restored around 9.40am. The group is protesting over a stall in contract talks and issues with the company allegedly removing Pride Month decorations from stores A group of striking Starbucks workers shut down 150 stores across the country More than 3,500 Starbucks workers across the country have shut down 150 stores over stalled contract negotiations and the alleged removing of Pride Month decor. In Los Angeles, a group of unionized workers protested outside their Cypress Park store while wearing rainbow clothing and holding signs. 'Starbucks has taken down Pride flags in most stores and I feel a bit lied to as a place that wants you to express yourself and it encourages inclusivity,' said one employee. The employee, who identified herself as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, said she sees the removal of the decor as a betrayal of the company's values. 'It just shows that Starbucks doesn't really have my back, or my community's back.' More than 3,500 Starbucks workers across the country shut down 150 stores over stalled contract negotiations and the alleged removing of Pride Month decor 'Starbucks has taken down Pride flags in most stores and I feel a bit lied to as a place that wants you to express yourself and it encourages inclusivity,' said one employee Last week, Starbucks Workers United alleged that the company was not allowing employees to put up pride decorations in some stores. Starbucks has denied that employees' claims that they are scaling back their support for the LGBT+ community. 'We want to be crystal clear Starbucks has been and will continue to be at the forefront of supporting the LGBTQIA2+ community,' said Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan and Executive VP and President for North America Sara Trilling said. 'We will not waver in that commitment!' the pair added. The company officials also said they have not revised their guidelines for decorations within stores and that they encourage Pride Month celebrations. 'Despite today's public commentary, there has been no change to any of our policies as it relates to our inclusive store environments, our company culture and the benefits we offer our partners,' Narasimhan and Trilling said. 'We continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities including for U.S. Pride month in June, as we always have,' they added. Workers United has alleged that stores in at least 22 states have been discouraged from decorating for the celebrations focused on the LGBTQ+ community. The union has since filed an unfair labor practice charge against the company. Pictured: A group of unionized workers protested outside their Cypress Park store while wearing rainbow clothing and holding signs Employees protest outside the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle on June 23 Protesters hold Pride Month signs while striking outside a Starbucks in Chicago on June 24 'The company refuses to sit and bargain in good faith over our contract,' said one employee The Pride Month argument comes as another employee told KTLA that the other major reason for the strike is the lack of contract negotiations for unionized workers. 'We've been unionized for a year at our store and we've yet to have a contract negotiated,' said one protester. 'The company refuses to sit and bargain in good faith over our contract,' she said. The strikes began on Friday in Seattle - the birthplace of the caffeine giant. In a statement, Starbucks denied wrongdoing and blamed the union for the employees for the strike. 'Workers United continues to spread false information about our benefits, policies and negotiation efforts a tactic used to seemingly divide our partners and deflect from their failure to respond to bargaining sessions for more than 200 stores,' the statement sent to DailyMail.com reads. The Workers United union however claims that the company is also not being forthcoming and that they are not negotiating in good faith. 'Good faith bargaining looks like both sides providing proposals and trying to meet in the middle Starbucks is not willing to do that,' Workers United hit back. He was married to Susan Peterson, 63, but the pair divorced in around 2004 A man in Ohio entered Giant Eagle supermarket and fatally shot his ex-wife who had been working there before turning the gun on himself. Police in the city of North Olmsted said after responding to a call on Sunday morning they discovered the bodies of Susan Peterson, 63, and Bernard Edward Smith, 60, on the supermarket floor. They were said to be married to each other but divorced in 2004. The mayor of North Olmsted, Nicole Dailey Jones, said the incident was being treated as a murder-suicide. North Olmsted is a city with a population of around 30,000 people just southwest of Cleveland. A man in Ohio entered Giant Eagle supermarket and fatally shot his ex-wife who had been working there before turning the gun on himself. Pictured is the scene on Sunday Pictured is the Giant Eagle supermarket in North Olmsted, described by the city's mayor as a pillar of the community Dailey Jones said 'Giant Eagle has been a pillar in the North Olmsted community for many years.' The shooting happened at the Giant Eagle grocery store on the 27000 block of Lorain Avenue in North Olmstead at around 9.30am on Sunday, police said. Members of both the North Olmsted Fire and Police Departments. Peterson, who was said to be from Olmsted township, had been working at the supermarket for almost four years and was one of more than 60 other employees in the store at the time. 'Our officers responded on scene within a minute entered the building immediately and encountered two individuals down on the ground,' he said. The North Olmsted Police Chief Bob Wagner said during a press conference on Sunday that there were also around 200 shoppers at the time. North Olmsted police said in a press release the incident was being investigated as a murder-suicide The North Olmsted Police Chief Bob Wagner said during a press conference on Sunday that there were also around 200 shoppers at the time of the shooting 'This isn't a Giant Eagle problem, this isn't a city of North Olmsted problem. This type of incident can happen anywhere, any time,' said Wagner. He also said both were married at one point in time and had separated in 2004 in a way that had not been 'amicable', which may have led to the incident. 'Our officers train for this type of thing, as the mayor said, we went through training which was identical to this type of situation earlier this year,' he said. 'We are grateful for the quick response of local authorities and are committed to providing all available resources to law enforcement to assist in their ongoing investigation. Our thoughts and hearts are with all of those affected by this terrible tragedy,' said the supermarket in a statement to 3News. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had some choice words for Donald Trump after the latter made fun of his weight - days after he was booed off stage at a Republican religious conference for bringing up his outspoken GOP rival. Less than two days removed from that ordeal, Christie, 60, appeared on Fox News to add on to some of his Friday remarks about the ex-president - whom he claimed 'let us down,' lacks 'character' and 'makes our country smaller' as a head of state. In turn, when asked by host Howard Kurtz about some of the criticism he's faced from his old GOP rival - whom he is now set to face again come 2024 - Christie scoffed, claiming he was unaffected. In particular, Kurtz pointed to recent comments from Trump, 77, attacking his Tristate counterpart's advanced weight - including a doctored video to Truth Social that appeared to show the New Jersey native at an all-you-can-eat buffet. The pair's war of words comes shortly after Christie announced he would taking on Trump in the upcoming GOP election, and after Christie took the time to chide Trump for his federal case, as well as another that recently wrapped in Manhattan. Scroll down for video: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had some choice words for Donald Trump after the latter made fun of his weight - days after he was booed off stage at a Republican religious conference for bringing up his GOP rival. The pair's war of words comes after the New Jersey native announced he would taking on Trump in the upcoming GOP primary, and after Christie took the time to chide the longtime New Yorker for his ongoing federal case, as well as his recent prosecution in Manhattan BOOM. Chris Christie responds to Donald Trump mocking his weight: Oh like hes some Adonis?...He should take a look in the mirror every once in a while pic.twitter.com/WZPvN0puSU Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 25, 2023 During the sitdown seen on Sunday's MediaBuzz, Kurtz inquired Christie - who previously endorsed Trump after losing in 2016 - about the recent, repeated attacks on his physique. He asked: 'Once Trump started hitting back at you on a number of fronts, he took aim at your weight - what was your reaction to that?' Christie immediately cast aside the question, letting out an audible scoff. 'What? Like he's some Adonis?' the conservative sniped sarcastically. 'Please.' He proceeded to tear into his fellow Republican for actions he slammed as not only childish, but banal and made without thought. 'I don't know what his point is. You know what it is? It's like a child,' Christie said, roughly a month after celebrating Trump's recent courtroom loss in the Big Apple during another spot with Fox, at which time he hinted at a second presidential bid. 'It's a bully on the schoolyard who teases you and makes fun of you.' Christie proceeded to tout what he billed as his 'message' to the firebrand former head of state. He said: 'I don't care what he says about me. I don't care what he thinks about me' - before quickly adding: 'And he should take a look in the mirror every once in a while.' In particular, Kurtz pointed to recent comments from Trump, 77, attacking his Tristate counterpart's advanced weight - including a doctored video to Truth Social that appeared to show the New Jersey native at an all-you-can-eat buffet During the sitdown seen on Sunday's MediaBuzz, Fox's Howard Kurtz asked Christie - who previously endorsed Trump after losing in 2016 - about the recent attacks on his physique, and why it took so long for him to voice his distaste about his Republican rival By doing so, Christie said, 'Maybe he'd drop the weight thing off of his list of criticisms.' Earlier on in the interview, Christie battled back questions from Kurtz regarding his credibility, considering he previously endorsed Trump, and only voiced hius distasted toward the president following the 2020 election. To that, the New Jersey Republican asserted, 'We all have different breaking points, Howie. We all have to have a moment where we say enough is enough. That was my moment.' When asked whether he waited too long to come to that conclusion, Christie said no, 'I don't think I waited too long.' Elaborating, he said: 'I think that the right thing to do is to try to make the person who is in the White House the very best president he can be for the whole country.' 'That's what I tried to do. Turned out that I failed at doing that. So if you want to criticize me for not changing Donald Trump despite my best efforts, I'll plead guilty to that.' Less than three weeks before - after Christie announced his presidential aspirations - Trump posted an edited video of Christie that was made to look as though the politician announced his campaign at an all-you-can-eat buffet. An accompanying caption posted to the ex-president's Truth Social account further poked fun at Christie - as well as his speech that linked Trump him to the Harry Potter villain 'Voldemort' and called him a 'lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog.' 'How many times did Chris Christie use the word SMALL? Does he have a psychological problem with SIZE? Actually, his speech was SMALL, and not very good. It rambled all over the place, and nobody had a clue of what he was talking about,' Trump wrote. 'Hard to watch, boring, but that's what you get from a failed Governor (New Jersey) who left office with a 7% approval rating and then got run out of New Hampshire. This time, it won't be any different!'. The comments were not the first time Trump lambasted Christie's weight, with the ex-president posting another photoshopped buffet photo in 2022. An accompanying caption read: 'Chris Christie at a Roy Rogers at 11pm in the evening trying to console himself.' On Friday, Christie was met with jeers at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington after disparaging Trump. He started his set by saying he planned to talk about 'character' before hammering the former commander-in-chief about halfway through - prompting boos and cheers of 'we love Trump!' from the crowd. Christie has been bombarded with crass weight jokes in recent weeks, including by longtime Trump advisor Roger Stone. Trump recently retweeted a post of Stone's with an image that appeared to be doctored to make Christie look larger, after criticizing his weight last year On Friday, Christie - who earlier this month announced his bid for president - was met with jeers at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington after disparaging Trump 'I'm running because he's let us down,' Christie said. 'He's let us down because he's unwilling, he's unwilling to take responsibility for any of the mistakes that were made. And any of the faults that he has. And any of the things that he's done. 'And that is not leadership everybody, that is a failure of leadership,' the former New Jersey governor added. That remark cued boisterous boos from the crowd. 'You can boo me if you want,' he shot back. 'But here's the thing. Our faith teaches us that people have to take responsibility for what they do. People have to stand up and take accountability for what they do,' he continued. Christie noted that as soon as he started to be critical of Trump, the ex-president started to call him names. 'And belittle me,' Christie offered. A handful of people started a 'we love Trump' chant. 'And you can love him all you want,' Christie responded. Christie endorsed Trump in 2016 after dropping out of the race following his own sixth place finish in New Hampshire. Trump on June 1 reposted an insult by his longtime advisor Roger Stone. Stone posted a doctored image of Christie, who has struggled with his weight. '@ChrisChristie needs to run. Not for President. He just needs to run,' Stone wrote. Trump reposted the missive without comment. Primary school children are being hospitalised with collapsed and bleeding lungs due to their excessive use of illegally sold vapes. In the year to April there were at least 15 cases where children aged nine or under had to be admitted to hospital, up from 12 last year and two the year before that. The figures from NHS England show that in total 40 young people under the age of 19 were admitted to hospital over the past year as a result of excessive vaping. Professor Andy Bush, a paediatric chest physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital in west London said that vapes are especially dangerous because we just do not know what is in most of these things. He told Sky News: If a teenager starts smoking cigarettes, probably the worst thats going to happen to them is theyre going to be sick and throw up behind the bike shed. In the year to April there were at least 15 cases where children aged nine or under had to be admitted to hospital, linked to vape abuse Professor Andy Bush, a paediatric chest physician at the Royal Brompton Hospital in west London said that vapes are especially dangerous because we just do not know what is in most of these things The acute use of e-cigarettes can put them in hospital, can put them in intensive care, things like lung bleeding, lung collapse and air leak, the lungs filling up with fat. Earlier this month paediatricians warned that youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children as they called on the Government to ban disposable vapes. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health warned that e-cigarettes are not a risk-free product and can be just as addictive, if not more so than traditional cigarettes. It called for urgent action to protect youngsters, saying experts agree that longer-term data is needed on the effects of vaping, particularly in regard to cardiovascular disease. Amanda Pritchard, NHS England chief, said: It is seriously concerning that admissions for vaping-related conditions for young people are up almost fourfold over the past two years. While to many young people vaping can seem harmless with their deliberately appealing flavours - at least two people in every year 10 classroom have vaped at one point or another - its use can lead to lung damage. So its really important we nip this in the bud so we can keep young people out of hospital and prevent future health issues. Last month Rishi Sunak announced new plans to clamp down on vapes being illegally sold to children, including the setting up of an illicit vape enforcement squad at a cost of 3million. The Prime Minister said: I am deeply concerned about the sharp rise in kids vaping and shocked by reports of illicit vapes containing lead getting into the hands of school children. He added: The marketing and the illegal sales of vapes to children is completely unacceptable and I will do everything in my power to end this practice for good. Andrew Lloyd Webber has joined calls from some of the countrys best-known theatres and hotels in heaping further pressure on the Chancellor to ditch the tourist tax. The composer has added his name to more than 320 business chiefs in calling for a return of VAT-free shopping for international visitors. The Mails Scrap The Tourist Tax campaign, which has won cross-party backing, was launched to echo business leaders pleas for the Government to change its stance. In less than two months, firms have signed an open letter, organised by leading hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, which sets out how their sectors are losing out to rival shopping heartlands such as Paris. The latest signatories include Primark, Jigsaw, the Swatch Group and department store Fenwick. Lord Lloyd-Webbers addition to the rallying cry has highlighted arguments that the levy is decimating the entire British economy, including cultural gems such as theatreland, as well as retailers. Andrew Lloyd Webber's addition to the rallying cry has highlighted arguments that the levy is decimating the entire British economy, including cultural gems such as theatreland, as well as retailers (File Photo) The 75-year-old has joined calls from venues such as Shakespeares Globe theatre, The Old Vic and The Shaftesbury Theatre. The industry is suffering from a slow return of tourists, bosses said yesterday. Neil Constable, chief executive of Shakespeares Globe, said: We have seen a direct effect in our income streams with a missing percentage of previously reliable tourist spend at the Globe. Tax-free shopping works, and so we are joining this campaign asking to see tourism return to the UK, bouncing back post-pandemic to create a flourishing economy once again. Critics say that far from the Treasurys claim that scrapping the tourist tax would cost 2billion a year there would be a net gain of around 350million. A Treasury spokesman said: We are backing high street retailers by slashing business rates bills by 75 per cent and effectively cutting corporation tax by 27billion through full-expensing. Andrew Lloyd Webber has joined calls from some of the countrys best-known theatres and hotels in heaping further pressure on the Chancellor to ditch the tourist tax (File Photo) The US Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the undersea implosion of the Titan submersible and has not ruled out finding human remains - while also hinting that the probe could lead to criminal charges. Captain Jason Neubauer, who is chairing the US Coast Guard investigation into the implosion of the vessel, made the comments as the search and rescue aspects of the response came to an end. British adventurer Hamish Harding and father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood were killed on board the submersible, alongside the American chief executive of the company responsible for the vessel, Stockton Rush, and French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet. Salvage operations are continuing and investigators have mapped the accident site, Cpt Neubauer told a press conference in Boston. He also said the convening of a Marine Board of Investigation is the highest level of investigation conducted by the US Coast Guard. It is unclear how long it will take. The US Coast Guard said it does not charge for search and rescue operations. The Coast Guard opened what it calls a marine board investigation on Friday, Neubauer said, and is working with the FBI to recover evidence. This includes a salvage operation at the debris site on the seabed about 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic wreck, about 2-1/2 miles (4 km) below the surface. The findings will be shared with the International Maritime Organization and other groups 'to help improve the safety framework for submersible operations worldwide,' Neubauer said. Captain Jason Neubauer (pictured) said the Coast Guard opened what it calls a 'marine board investigation' on Friday and is working with the FBI to recover evidence Oceangate CEO Stockton Rush led the expedition last Sunday, which is known to have resulted in the deaths of all five men on board Commander Paul-Henry Nargeolet, an expert on the Titanic, also lost his life in the Titan tragedy Shahzada Dawood, 48, (right) one of Pakistan's richest men, who along with his teenage son Sulaiman Dawood, 19, (left) died on the Titan Hamish Harding's cousin Kathleen Cosnett wrote: 'It's quite poignant that tomorrow would have been his birthday. His father died in June and my father died in June too' He said the Coast Guard is in touch with the families of the five people killed, and that investigators are 'taking all precautions on site if we are to encounter any human remains.' Earlier today, the sons of British billionaire Hamish Harding have paid tribute to the 'best father' who they say 'constantly sought to be the best man he could be'. Rear Admiral John Mauger, of the First Coast Guard District, confirmed that the Coast Guard has launched a Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) into 'the loss of the submersible and the five people on board' He added: 'The MBI is also responsible for accountability aspects of the incident and it can make recommendations to the proper authorities to pursue civil or criminal sanctions as necessary.' Mr Harding, 58, was among the five adventurers on board the OceanGate Expeditions submersible that lost contact with its mothership as it reached the site of the Titanic wreckage early Sunday morning. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a 'catastrophic implosion.' One of Mr Harding's sons, who was not named on the statement issued through Action Aviation, has hailed the billionaire for being a 'tenacious, hard working businessman' and for having 'inspired me more than anyone will ever know'. The adventurer and wife Linda have two sons, Rory and Giles. Mr Harding is also the stepfather to her two kids from a previous relationship, daughter Laurena and Brian. The sons of British billionaire Hamish Harding (pictured) have paid tribute to the 'best father' who they say 'constantly sought to be the best man he could be' Mr Harding, 58, was among the five adventurers on board the OceanGate Expeditions submersible (pictured) that lost contact with its mothership as it reached the site of the Titanic wreckage early Sunday morning. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a 'catastrophic implosion His two sons, who were not named on either statement issued through the sales and operations company, said Mr Harding was the 'best father I could have ever asked for'. One said: 'My dad was a tenacious, hardworking businessman - but most importantly he was the best father I could have ever asked for. 'He inspired me more than anyone will ever know, taught me things I'll never forget, and he meant everything to me. 'Anyone who ever met my dad will praise his humorous personality, his sheer work ethic, and his constant generosity. 'My life will be a success if I'm even half the man he is. My dad is gone but I will never forget him.' Mr Harding's second son, who was also not named in the statement issued by Action Aviation, said he was a 'loving father, family man and a determined and tireless businessman'. He said: 'In all of these areas, he constantly sought to be the best man he could be and did nothing halfway. 'Constantly full of wisdom and life advice to bestow, he made my brother and I into the people we are today. The billionaire's two sons said Mr Harding (pictured) was the 'best father I could have ever asked for' and hailed him as a 'tenacious, hardworking businessman' Canadian authorities on Saturday began a probe into the implosion of the Titan submersible. Pictured: Canadian Coast Guard vessel Terry Fox (left), and Canadian vessel Skandi Vinland (right), return to St John's Port in Newfoundland, Canada, after supporting the search and rescue operation for the Titan submersible 'He was an energetic and charismatic man who by the sheer weight of his personality lifted up and supported everyone around him. 'His tragic loss will be mourned not only by myself and my family, but everyone who had the pleasure to meet him. 'The world is so much less without his larger-than-life presence and his optimistic spirit.' The heartfelt tributes come as Canadian authorities on Saturday began a probe into the implosion of the Titan submersible. 'Our mandate is to find out what happened and why and to find out what needs to change to reduce the chance or the risk of such occurrences in the future,' said Transportation Safety Board (TSB) chair Kathy Fox. 'We know everybody wants answers, particularly the families and the public,' she told reporters in St. John's, Newfoundland. Th full probe could take between 18 months to two years. TSB investigators on Saturday boarded the Canadian-flagged Polar Price cargo ship, which had set sail from St. John's last weekend to bring the ill-fated Titan to its launch point in the north Atlantic. The Transportation Safety Board routinely probes air, rail, marine and pipeline accidents with the aim of improving transportation safety. It does not assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability. The US Coast Guard said Thursday that all five people aboard the submersible had died after the vessel suffered a 'catastrophic implosion.' Britain must prepare for the sudden collapse of Vladimir Putin's regime, government officials are warning, amid fears the 'mortally wounded' despot could carry out a 'Stalin-style' purge to cling on to power. Western officials warned that Putin's grip on Russia is crumbling as questions mounted over his whereabouts following the attempted coup by the Wagner mercenary forces, led by his former ally Yevgeny Prigozhin. A senior source in the UK Government told The Times that Britain 'must prepare for a whole range of scenarios' and that 'this could be Chapter One of something new'. Meanwhile, Alicia Kearns, the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, warned that Putin may launch a purge to survive, as his propagandists furiously question why the march towards Moscow was allowed to progress as far as it did. The senior Tory MP also suggested Russian intelligence may have hidden the coup from Putin, as it emerged that both Britain and the US had intelligence that Prigozhin was building up forces near the Russian/Ukraine border for several days. Western officials warned that his grip on Russia is crumbling as questions mounted over his whereabouts following the attempted coup US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the whirlwind 24-hour mutiny led by the head of a Russian renegade army, Yevgeny Prigozhin, showed 'real cracks' in Putin's hold on power US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the whirlwind 24-hour mutiny led by the head of a Russian renegade army, Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured), showed 'real cracks' in Putin's hold on power The Russian president has not been seen since he delivered an emergency message begging Russians not to join Yevgeny Prigozhin's failed putsch (pictured) READ MORE HERE: Putin disappears after Wagner coup chaos: Dictator hides from public view since TV address begging Russians not to back armed mutiny against him as he clings to power after biggest threat to his 23-year reign Advertisement Blindsided, the Russian military had to scramble to defend Moscow as Prigozhin's soldiers moved unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advanced to within 120 miles of the capital. Yesterday, Ms Kearns said the British Government had known for several days. Sources in the US claimed Congressional leaders were also briefed on the Wagner build-up earlier last week, contradicting Prigozhin's claim that his rebellion was a response to a Friday attack on his camps in Ukraine by the Russian military. 'I think our Government knew for a few days that something was coming,' she said. 'That means Russian intelligence should clearly have had some idea. Did Russian intelligence not believe he was capable of marching on Moscow or did they lie to Putin because they were scared of him? On Saturday Prigozhin, the ruthless head of the 25,000-strong mercenary group, was greeted as a hero after he sensationally abandoned his group's march on Moscow at the 11th hour. In a deal brokered by Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin agreed to call off his advance in return for having criminal charges against him and his followers dropped, with the additional inducement of a multi-million payout in exile. PMC Wagner Group servicemen seen pulling out of downtown Rostov-on-Don and returning to their bases on Saturday night But there are signs that Putin's battle for survival is far from over. Ms Kearns said the gates were open for others to challenge the Russian leader: 'This is definitely not over,' she said. 'This is not just a power struggle between Putin and Prigozhin. It has raised questions about the wholescale stability of the country. 'No one believes that Prigozhin is going to Belarus and live out his life quietly there. Putin... is mortally wounded but I don't think anyone can say Putin is finished. There is nothing more that Putin hates than a traitor. Yevgeny Prigozhin was last seen being cheered out of Rostov-on-Don by locals after his troops stormed the Russian military headquarters there The revelation came after an electrifying day of drama as: Jets linked to Putin returned to Moscow yesterday after fleeing the city on Saturday. In Ukraine, gleeful forces made key gains on the battlefield as Putin faced the prospect of having to remove both his defence minister and the chief of general staff as the price of halting the coup. Wagner forces claimed they had downed Russian helicopters and a military plane, reportedly killing 39 pilots and crew, inflicting the worst daily air force loss of the war. Advertisement Prigozhin's whereabouts were unknown last night, with no sign that he has arrived safely in Belarus. A spokesman for Prigozhin told Russian broadcaster RTVI he was 'out of contact'. It came as Mr Blinken said he didn't believe 'we've seen the final act' in the Wagner-Putin rebellion. 'Sixteen months ago, Russian forces were at the doorstep of Kyiv, in Ukraine, thinking they'd take the city in a matter of days, thinking they would erase Ukraine from the map as an independent country,' he told CBS News. He added: 'Prigozhin himself, in this entire incident, has raised profound questions about the very premises for Russia's aggression against Ukraine in the first place, saying that Ukraine or Nato did not pose a threat to Russia, which is part of Putin's narrative. And it was a direct challenge to Putin's authority. So this raises profound questions, it shows real cracks.' Western leaders have expressed concern over the turmoil in Russia, which has the world's largest nuclear arsenal. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that the whirlwind 24-hour mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, showed 'real cracks' in Putin's hold on power. Daniel Hoffman, the CIA's former Moscow station chief, suggested a rogue Russian leader could steal a nuclear warhead if Putin's grip on power falters. Putin has not been seen since he made a pre-recorded address on Saturday when he said he was 'confident' his forces would realise its plans related to the 'special military operation' in Ukraine. Two jets linked to the president left Moscow on Saturday but have since returned to the city, according to flightradar24 data. It is unclear whether he was on board. Grieving Boyzone star Ronan Keating was consoled by his wife at his older brother Ciaran's funeral today - after performing a heartbreaking rendition of one of his songs during the service. Ronan, 46, was held tightly by his wife Storm, 41, and hugged by loved-ones outside St Patrick's Church in Louisburgh, County Mayo, after they gathered to remember Ciaran who died in a horror car crash on Saturday. During the emotional funeral service, Ronan sang his hit This is Your Song in front of family and friends after carrying his coffin into the church. The Irish singer said the ballad was written after their mother, Marie, died of cancer in 1998. The emotional song includes the lyrics: 'You were our friend, walk with you till the end, and one day we'll all sing along, 'cause this is your song.' Earlier, Ronan had appeared overcome with emotion as he carried Ciaran's coffin into the church alongside his family while wearing a black suit and dark glasses. Ciaran, who was in his 50s and has been described as 'hero' by his grieving family, died in a car crash in the rural county at the weekend while he was travelling with his wife Annemarie to watch their 28-year-old son Ruairi play football. The father-of-three, from Louisburgh, suffered fatal injuries as he was travelling with Annemarie on the N5 near Swinford, County Mayo, on a stretch of road known as a black-spot for accidents. His wife was injured in the crash. Today, Ronan appeared emotional following his brother's funeral and was pictured being consoled by his wife Storm. During the funeral service, sang This Is Your Song during the funeral mass after telling mourners: 'I shouldn't be singing it in these circumstances but we are and we will.' A Texas pastor turned Good Samaritan after an elderly neighbor was attacked by a violent intruder who beat the victim and then fled in a pick-up truck, hitting nearby houses and cars. Heath Haynes, a movement director and elder at The Bridge HTX, was sitting at home in Houston with his wife on June 15 when they heard Sharon Koehn yelling for help. 'I started running over, thinking I'm responding to the medical emergency,' Haynes recounted. However, it turned out Koehn's 85-year-old husband Earl was being attacked by an intruder. 'So I kind of switched gears, to 'OK, this is not medical emergency. This is an attack,' Haynes told KTRK. Texas pastor Heath Haynes (pictured right) turned Good Samaritan after an elderly neighbor was attacked by a violent intruder and he sprung into action to apprehend him before making off with a pickup truck When he went over to Koehn's home, he couldn't get in the door but looked in the window and saw Earl on the floor with a coat rack over his chest while a man went through his pockets. 'I'm banging on the door yelling at [the suspect], and he's acting like he lives there, saying "I'll be right there,"' Haynes said. 'I'm yelling "I can see you." And at that point, he stops and goes to the back of the house.' Haynes whipped out his phone and started filming as the intruder attacked Koehn, who suffers from dementia. 'Hey, what do you think you're doing, man?' Haynes asked the man while recording, 'you're beating that man up.' Haynes told the suspect - since identified as 54-year-old Shane Jennings - to put down the keys to the Koehn's pickup truck and whatever else he had as the suspect tried to get into the pickup truck. The pastor attempted to stop Jennings, holding him down to the point where Jennings said he 'can't breathe' and claimed he didn't attack the elderly neighbors. Haynes said his wife Amber called the police. She eventually showed up in an attempt to help her husband keep Jennings at bay. 'At this point I know my wife called the police,' Haynes said. 'I'm just trying to contain without escalating it any further and I'm just kind of keeping him in the back area. We're just kinda cat and mousing around the truck.' Haynes, a movement director and elder at The Bridge HTX, was sitting at home in Houston with his wife on June 15 when they heard Sharon Koehn (pictured right) calling for help as her husband Earl (pictured left) was attacked The suspect - since identified as 54-year-old Shane Jennings - is suspected in the attack and robbery of the Koehns Jennings attempted to get away in the Koehns' pickup truck after allegedly robbing them However, to Haynes' surprise, Jennings made a break for the pickup truck again, got in and drove it through a fence, sideswiping the Koehns' house. Jennings then hit another parked car in the driveway before running into trash cans and trying to take off. After a short chase, authorities eventually arrested Jennings after he hit a police vehicle. He's been charged with aggravated assault of an elderly person and assault of a peace offer, among half a dozen different felony counts. The Koehns were not injured but Sharon Koehn was grateful for her neighbor's efforts. Sharon Koehn believes Haynes saved their lives by arriving on the scene to help Haynes credits his faith and divine intervention with being able to help the Koehns 'If it wasn't for him, we'd probably be dead,' she said. Haynes' letter said Jennings had tricked the Koehns by coming to their doorstep asking for a glass of water and to use the bathroom, before switching his story and claiming he owed Earl money. Earl Koehn had been mugged a few weeks earlier, but his family had been unsure if it really happened due to his dementia. 'So he knew Earl's name, and then barged his way in, and then flipped the script and said 'Earl owes me money,'' Haynes said. Haynes credited his faith with being able to assist his neighbors. 'As a Christ follower, or someone who's experienced the redeeming love of Jesus, is that He showed me what love looks like,' Haynes said. 'It says: 'There is no greater love than this than the one who lays down their life for his friend.' He also believed it was divine intervention that allowed him to help the Koehns in that moment. The NHS will undergo a recruitment drive as part of the 'largest expansion in training and workforce' in its history, Rishi Sunak has announced. The Prime Minister said the plan will 'reduce our reliance' on foreign staff, while also helping to tackle chronic NHS waiting lists. The cap on medical school places is set to be doubled from 7,500 in England to 15,000, allowing a greater number of students to train as doctors. The plan will be announced in full later this week. But Mr Sunak told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show: 'This week we're going to do something that no government has ever done. The cap on medical school places is set to be doubled from 7,500 in England to 15,000, allowing a greater number of students to train as doctors (Stock image) 'It's going to be one of the most significant announcements in the history of the NHS, and that is to make sure that it has a long-term workforce plan so that we can hire the doctors, nurses and GPs that we need, not just today, but for years into the future, to provide the care that we all need.' He added: 'What it will represent is the largest expansion in training and workforce in the NHS's history.' But he conceded the changes might take up to 15 years for patients to feel the benefits. Mr Sunak has made tackling NHS waiting lists one of his five priorities. Yet the number of people in England waiting for routine operations has soared to a record high. Official figures show 7.33million people were left waiting for operations such as hip and knee replacements at the end of March this year the highest total since NHS records began in August 2007. Mr Sunak said the backlog was partly down to the coronavirus pandemic. He added: 'The backlog that ensued was always going to take some time to work through. 'Because of our record investment today, because of the plans that we've put in place, we are seeing that waiting lists are coming down for individual people. 'I've always said the overall waiting list was not going to come down until next year.' Rishi Sunak told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show: 'This week we're going to do something that no government has ever done' Mr Sunak, the son of a GP and a pharmacist, described the plan as the 'cornerstone' of his Government's vision for 'a better, more modern healthcare system', adding: 'I feel a great responsibility to ensure our NHS endures.' Health Secretary Steve Barclay said 'significant investment' would be made 'so we can begin the process of ensuring the NHS workforce is ready to meet the future challenges'. The announcement of the long-term plan for the future of the NHS follows a decision by junior doctors in England to stage a five-day strike next month in a dramatic escalation of their long- standing dispute with the Government over pay and staffing. Members of the British Medical Association will walk out from July 13 to 18 in what the association said is thought to be the longest single period of industrial action in the history of the health service. Lung cancer could be caught early in up to 9,000 people a year under a screening programme set to be rolled out nationwide. The NHS will invite around 325,000 people for their first lung scan each year, offering checks to any current and former smokers aged 55 to 74. It follows a successful opening phase by NHS England, in which 76 per cent of lung cancers found in those tested were caught at an earlier stage. The chiefs of mercenary group Wagner faced threats to their families from Russia's secret service before leader Yevgeny Prigozhin halted his march on the capital, according to UK intelligence officials. The group was also estimated to have been equipped with just 8,500 fighters rather than the 25,000 men previously claimed and faced an almost certain defeat in their offensive on Moscow. It is understood Putin will now seek to absorb Wagner's soldiers - who are thought to have superior skills and training - into his regular army, while defenestrating the group's leaders, The Telegraph reports. This narrative from Britain's intelligence services offers some explanation as to why Prigozhin - the Wagner group leader and previously a strong ally of Putin - chose to call off the mutiny on Saturday just hours away from Moscow. Speculation is mounting over whether a deal was arranged. The Kremlin has stated that Prigozhin would be sent to Belarus in exchange for a pardon from charges of treason. Yevgeny Prigozhin (right) the owner of the Wagner Group military company, sits inside a military vehicle posing for a selfie with a local civilian after retreating to the group's base in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on Saturday Members of Wagner group prepare to pull out from the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to their base in Rostov-on-Don late on Saturday The Wagner leader himself has made no comment and it is unclear if Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister who Pirgozhin demanded be fired, is still in his post. Wagner mercenaries who took part in the armed uprising will not face charges, the Kremlin has said. Members of the private military group, who have been accused of rape, murder and torture around the world, would also be offered contracts with regular Russian forces, it was claimed. The deal was brokered by Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko who said he had persuaded Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to call off his troops to avoid bloodshed. On Saturday, they were filmed leaving Rostov-on-Don with Prigozhin to cheers from some locals. Prigozhin said he had ordered his troops back to field camps in occupied areas of Ukraine. It remains to be seen what happens to the group now and whether any troops will follow him to Belarus. Officially, Wagner formed in 2014 did not exist. But Prigozhin built it into a powerful force through interventions in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine, where it has emerged in a high-profile role. A man sits atop an armored vehicle in southern Russia as residents in the street talk with military personnel on Saturday, while awaiting news of Wagner's march on the capital Police and the military check vehicles going in and out of the city in the Yasenevo district in southern Moscow on Saturday Yevgeny Prigozhin said he had ordered his troops back to field camps in occupied areas of Ukraine. It remains to be seen what happens to the group now and whether any troops will follow him to Belarus Citizens standing near military vehicles on a street of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023 On Saturday, Vladimir Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said troops who took part in the revolt would not be prosecuted given their achievements at the front. Putin had said all volunteer units should sign contracts by July 1 bringing them under the control of the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu. This is thought to have angered Prigozhin. One ex-Wagner commander told the Guardian it was unlikely many would join the regular Russian army. He said: It is either Wagner or nothing. But there were reports that others had accused him of walking off. In one video, a Wagner unit said Prigozhin was not a man. Rumours say you walked off, lied to all the lads, one said. Lord Dannatt, an ex-British Army chief of general staff, raised concerns of whether Prigozhin was being repositioned to lead an attack on Kyiv from Belarus. The wife of one of the Titan sub disaster victims said her husband, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and their teenage son, Suleman, were excited to see the Titanic wreck before they boarded the doomed vessel. Christine Dawood and her daughter Alina were onboard Titan's mothership, the Polar Prince, when news came through that they had lost communications shortly after it began its descent at 8am on Sunday, June 18. A major search and rescue mission was launched and went on for days, and while her daughter clung onto hope throughout, Christine said she 'lost hope when we passed the 96 hours mark'. 'That's when I lost hope. That's when I sent the message to my family onshore, I said: 'I am preparing for the worst'.' Christine paid tribute to her 19-year-old son, a student at Strathclyde University who took his Rubik's Cube on the trip as he hoped to break the world record for solving the puzzle at the greatest depth. Ending her interview with the BBC, the heartbroken mother said through tears: 'I miss them. I really, really miss them.' Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Sulemanlost their lives on the Titan submersible Christine Dawood paid tribute to her son and husband in an interview with the BBC Five people lost their lives onboard the Titan submersible after it suffered a 'catastrophic implosion' 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic UK-based billionaire Shahzada and his son Suleman were two of the five victims killed instantly when the submersible suffered a 'catastrophic implosion' just 1,600ft from the bow of the Titanic, according to the US Coast Guard. Christine revealed that she had planned to go with her husband to view the Titanic wreck in the OceanGate sub, but that their trip was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. 'Then I stepped back and gave them space to set [Suleman] up, because he really wanted to go,' she said. After contact was lost with the vessel, Christine and her daughter Alina, 17, waited for news at the site where Titan was last seen during the search and rescue mission. 'We had loads of hope, that was the only thing that got us through it because we were hoping,' she said. As well as her husband and son, three others died on board Titan: OceanGate's CEO Stockton Rush, 61, British businessman Hamish Harding, 58, and Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77, a former French navy diver and experienced Titanic diver. Shahzada Dawood, 48, (pictured with his wife Christine) was a UK-based board member of the Prince's Trust charity. She said his enthusiasm 'brought out the best' in her Suleman Dawood, 19,was the youngest victim of the Titan sub tragedy. He is pictured with his mother, Christine Billionaire adventurer Hamish Harding, who lost his life onboard Titan, is pictured looking out to sea before boarding the submersible French Navy veteran PH Nargeolet (left) Stockton Rush (right), CEO of the OceanGate Expedition, also lost their lives on Titan Christine said those above water tried to remain hopeful, telling themselves: 'There were so many actions the people on this sub can do in order to surface... they would drop the weights, then the assent would be slower, we were constantly looking at the surface. There was that hope.' She and her daughter held out hope to begin with after being they did not initially return. She said: 'We all thought they are just going to come up so that shock was delayed by about 10 hours or so. 'By the time they were supposed to be up again, there was a time.... when they were supposed to be up on the surface again and when that time passed the real shock, not shock but the worry and the not so good feelings started.' READ MORE: US Coast Guard hasn't ruled out finding human remains as it probes Titanic sub implosion Advertisement Despite the bleak outlook as the hunt dragged on, she said her teenage daughter never lost hope of her father and older brother's rescue. 'My daughter didn't lose hope until the call with the Coastguard when they basically informed us that they had found debris.' Alina's mother said: 'she is such an incredible young woman, she is so self-aware. 'She believes in science, and she really believe, just like if you board a plane, that the science, the mechanics, the engineering will work.' Christine said at 96 hours she tried 'really hard' not to show her daughter that she had lost hope. After news emerged on Thursday that debris from the sub had been found, the family returned to St John's in Newfoundland, Canada on Saturday. On Sunday, they held a funeral prayer for Shahzada and Suleman, which Christine said had 'helped'. Paying tribute to her son, she admitted he had been a 'mother's boy' but that he also 'loved his father'. When asked what the family's last words to each other were, she told the BBC: 'We just hugged and joked actually, because Shahzada was so excited to go down, he was like a little child. 'He had this ability of childhood excitement, they were both so excited.' Christine and Shahzada met at university, she said, when she didn't speak any English. She recalled how the history buff knew more about her native Germany's history than she did, and that he was obsessed with documentaries. 'He would make us all watch David Attenborough, and the children loved it. 'His enthusiasm brought the best out of me, and so I really learned to love history as well. He was really able to, through his knowledge, inspire and motivate others.' Her son, she said, was practical and intellectual, and wouldn't go anywhere without his Rubik's Cube - which he taught himself to solve it in just 12 seconds. 'Suleman did a 10,000-piece lego Titanic. He applied for a world record because he wanted to solve a Rubik's Cube at the deepest point. OceanGate's Titan sub submerged at 8am on Sunday, June 18, around 400 miles southeast of St John's, Newfoundland, according to the US Coast Guard. It lost contact at 9.45am but it wasn't reported to the Coast Guard until 5.40pm While his application was rejected, they were still planning to film the attempt, with Suleman saying 'I'm going to solve the Rubik's Cube 3,700 meters below sea at the Titanic.' Mrs Dawood said she and her daughter have vowed to try to learn to finish the Rubik's Cube in Suleman's honour, and she intends to continue her husband's work. She said: 'He was involved in so many things, he helped so many people and I think Alina and I really want to continue that legacy and give him that platform when his work has continued and it's quite important for my daughter as well. 'Alina and I said we are going learn how to solve the Rubik's cube. That's going to be a challenge for us because we are really bad at it but we are going to learn it.' Prince William today launches an ambitious 3million programme to end homelessness within five years. The future king is personally funding, through his Royal Foundations charitable arm, six projects in flagship locations across the UK. They will bring together local stakeholders, experts and even house builders to eradicate rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary hostels and bring about substantive change. As a member of the Royal Family, William acknowledges his critics may question why someone from such a privileged background believes they can solve such a widespread issue. Figures suggest more than 300,000 people nearly half of whom are children are homeless, whether living on the streets, in cars, or hostels and other types of temporary accommodation. Prince William listens as he meets with Tyrone Mings, Gail Porter, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton and David Duke, ahead of the launch of Homewards - a five-year programme to demonstrate that it is possible to end homelessness in the UK As a member of the Royal Family, William acknowledges his critics may question why someone from such a privileged background believes they can solve such a widespread issue The programme, run by his Royal Foundation, will be known as Homewards. Pictured: Prince William greets television personality Gail Porter Pictured: Prince William meets with Aston Villa star Tyrone Mings William was introduced to homelessness by his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at the age of 11 on a secret visit to a homeless shelter run by The Passage, of which he is now patron. He has been involved with several organisations working in the field ever since, including Centrepoint and The Big Issue. Now the 41-year-old heir to the throne believes he can use his unique convening power as a member of the Royal Family to bring together coalitions of individuals, organisations and businesses to work together based on specific local needs. The programme, run by his Royal Foundation, will be known as Homewards. Launching the initiative today, with hopes of turning conventional thinking about the problem on its head, the prince will say: In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home, be treated with dignity and given the support they need. Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and over the next five years, give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we collaborate. Its a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated. William will unveil the six locations over the next two days on a tour of the UK. Sources say he feels inspired by his mother who would be celebrating her 62nd birthday this week. She is very much in his thoughts as he embarks on this, said one source. This isnt just his legacy, its his mothers legacy. This means so much to him and meant so much to his mother. He is committed to transforming the way we as a nation think about homelessness. The prince really is the heart and soul of [the programme]. William has been involved with several organisations working in the field ever since, including Centrepoint and The Big Issue. Pictured: Opening the Centrepoint Helpline in 2017 Diana, Princess of Wales during a visit to the homeless charity The Passage with her sons, (then) Prince Harry (2nd left) and Prince William (2nd right) in the early 1990s William was introduced to homelessness by his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at the age of 11 on a secret visit to a homeless shelter run by The Passage, of which he is now patron. Pictured: Diana speaks at the Centrepoint Conference for the Homeless in 1995 Prince William and Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin prepare for a night in freezing temperatures in 2009 Figures suggest more than 300,000 people nearly half of whom are children are homeless Although there has been no public acknowledgement from his father, sources say the King wants Homewards to serve as Williams legacy in the same way The Princes Trust, which helps young people aged 11-30 find jobs, education and training, did for King Charles. A source close to the prince told the Mail that William refused to be deviated off-course by critics who no doubt will complain that the Royal Family should use their own massive property portfolio for public good. Matt Downie, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said: Homelessness is devastating, dangerous and isolating. The factors pushing people in to it are complex. Years of low wages and insecure work have left people with little protection from sudden economic shocks and the welfare system isnt able to adequately support them when they do need help. At each of the six locations, Homewards will support local partners to form coalitions of individuals, organisations and businesses who will work together to deliver a tailored plan to prevent homelessness in their area based on local needs and expertise. Severely damaging winds are set to lash down across parts of Australia's east coast, with residents urged to park their cars undercover immediately. The Bureau of Meteorology warned the heavy wind gusts would be felt along NSW's south coast on Monday morning and last well into the night. Those living in southern Sydney, Wollongong, Nowra, Bowral, Batemans Bay, Eden and Katoomba are all expected to be impacted. The Bureau said the wild weather was a result of a 'tightening pressure gradient from a deep low pressure system' southwest of Tasmania that was producing strong and gusty winds. The Bureau of Meteorology warned the heavy wind gusts would be felt along NSW's south coast on Monday morning and would last well into the night Wind gusts of up to 90km/hour are forecast for parts of the Blue Mountains, while gusts could reach up to 100km/hour in the Illawarra region. In southern Sydney, winds of up to 90km/hour are forecast to lash down over the day. At about midnight in Nowra, on the South Coast, wind gusts were recorded at 100km/hour. Winds were also recorded at a speed of 93km/hour in Bellambi, in Wollongong, just after 1am on Monday. In Dapto, a suburb of Wollongong, part of one home's tin roof was blown off just after 12.30am on Monday. Wind gusts of up to 90km/hour are forecast for parts of the Blue Mountains, while gusts could reach up to 100km/hour in the Illawarra region (pictured are people in windy conditions in Sydney) 'The roof at the back of the house had blown off over the front and taken the wires down,' Fire and Rescue NSW Dapto Station Officer Bernie Howe told the Illawarra Mercury. 'Part of the roof was on the street when we got there.' The suburb also experienced a widespread blackout early on Monday morning. After humiliating Vladimir Putin, it seems unlikely the bloodthirsty chief of the feared Wagner Group will now slip off quietly into retirement. Yevgeny Prigozhins renegade army were within 120 miles of Moscow when he dramatically called off his armed uprising. In return, the Kremlin said he would be given immunity from prosecution and safe passage to neighbouring Belarus. But there was no sign the former petty criminal turned warlord had taken up exile there last night amid speculation he could flee to Africa or the Middle East. He was last seen in a car leaving Rostov-on-Don, the city in southern Russia he claimed to control for a day, late on Saturday. He was photographed smiling as he shook hands with cheering locals. Yevgeny Prigozhin was last seen in a car leaving Rostov-on-Don, the city in southern Russia he claimed to control for a day, late on Saturday Prigozhin, a former hot dog seller turned private militia boss, was also quiet online. He made no posts yesterday on the Wagner Groups social media channels, which were updated regularly on Saturday. Prigozhins press office told Russian broadcaster RTVI yesterday afternoon that he was not available. He sends his regards to everyone and will answer questions when he has a normal [phone] connection, an RTVI reporter was told after an inquiry. It remains to be seen if the multimillionaire warlord will travel to Belarus following the deal brokered by its dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, a Russian ally and long-time friend of Prigozhin. Experts said that even if he did travel it was unlikely he would remain there. Once a close ally of the Russian president, Prigozhins Wagner mercenary group manned with newly recruited convicts delivered battlefield success for Putin in Ukraine. His mercenaries also operated on behalf of the Russian government in Syria and Africa. But Prigozhin became increasingly critical of Russias approach to the conflict in Ukraine in recent months. Experts say his freedom and security would depend on what he decided to do next. The coup, though unsuccessful, is a huge embarrassment to Putin who had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising. Yevgeny Prigozhin was photographed smiling as he shook hands with cheering locals Some convict fighters who had expressed support for Prigozhin and his armed coup accused him of walking off after he struck a deal with the Russian president. Recruits of Storm Z, a Russian military unit of convicts, stood in combat uniform holding assault rifles as one addressed Prigozhin and said he was not a man after he called off the mutiny. Rumours say you walked off The whole of Storm Z was ready to stand behind you, and not only Storm Z, your guys also. But you walked off, he added. Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Russian prime minister turned Putin critic, said he believed Prigozhins days were numbered. I think first he will go to Belarus, but I think he will go from Belarus to Africa and be somewhere in the jungle or something like that. Mr Putin cannot forgive him for this. Filmmaker Jack Losh, who recently returned from Ukraine and has reported extensively on the Wagner Group said: Id be watching behind my back for a long time to come because we know that the Putin system does not forgive, and it certainly does not forget. A local woman posed with private military company (PMC) Wagner Group serviceman as he prepared to leave downtown Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia Prigozhin, who was born in St Petersburg, was convicted of a string of robberies and spent nine years in the Soviet prison system before setting up a hot dog stand. He went on to open a restaurant in St Petersburg where he came into contact with the citys elite including Putin, at that point an up-and-coming politician. Prigozhin, a married father of three, went on to win a contract to supply the Russian military with meals, said to be worth $1.2billion for one year earning the nickname Putins chef before establishing the Wagner Group. As of last night, there were still no reports of Prigozhin arriving in Belarus. Many other questions remained unanswered, including whether he would be joined in exile by any of Wagners troops and what role, if any, he might have there. The only message yesterday came from the Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel Grey Zone which reposted a poem headlined: Alls been decided. Almost. Our health service is failing to deliver world-leading care as it has fewer beds, scanners and doctors than many developed nations, a report warns today. The UK also spends less than average on healthcare per person and 'under-performs significantly' on key outcomes such as life expectancy and cancer survival. Researchers from The King's Fund think-tank said their analysis shows the UK is 'not by any means where we should be' on these measures. They added the 'much-loved British institution' of the NHS 'has sadly seen better days'. The findings come ahead of the 75th anniversary of the NHS on July 5 when health leaders are planning to trumpet its achievements. Our health service is failing to deliver world-leading care as it has fewer beds, scanners and doctors than many developed nations, a report warns today. File photo of hospital ward The study examines healthcare in 19 countries the original 15 European Union member states, excluding Luxembourg, plus the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. It found the NHS offers good protection from the 'potentially catastrophic costs of ill health' and is among the most efficiently run. But it has 'strikingly low levels of key clinical staff' with fewer doctors and nurses and a heavier reliance on internationally trained workers. The UK has just three doctors per 1,000 people while Greece has 6.3. Britain also comes last out of the 19 countries for the number of CT and MRI scanners per person. Meanwhile this country has 2.5 beds per 1,000 citizens compared to an average of 3.2, placing it second last. In contrast, Germany has 7.9 beds per 1,000. Of the countries assessed, the UK has among the lowest levels of life expectancy for men and women, with a notable decline since the Covid pandemic. Britain also has higher levels of deaths from treatable diseases such as heart attack and stroke than most others and below average survival rates for many major cancers, such as breast and lung. A Department of Health spokesman said up to 14.1billion is being invested to improve services and cut waiting lists. Man whose 'black widow' ex plotted to have him murdered over custody battle says he accepts he will never be free of her because of her relationship with their daughter Loved-up Brits were today told to be wary of an unexpected consequence of the Caribbean-esque temperatures this weekend. Sweltering weather triggers a phenomenon nicknamed the 'cheatwave', according to one expert who claims that sunny spells are likely to make people far hornier than usual. When Britain faced its hottest day of the year on June 10, as the mercury hit 30C, sign-ups to the nation's leading marital affairs site spiked by 64 per cent. The same thing also happened this time last year. Jessica Leoni, at Illicitencounters.com, says hot weather is directly to blame. On Britain's hottest day of the year signups to a leading UK marital affairs website soared 'Its not just ice cream sales that skyrocket during a heatwave its cheating too,' she told MailOnline. 'The hot weather causing a spike in cheating is a pattern we often see on Illicit Encounters. 'During last years heatwave also in June, we saw a 54 per cent spike in traffic to our site.' She added that the site which claims to have more than one million UK members has also spotted a correlation between 'degrees and debauchery', with cheating rates increasing as the mercury rises. Ms Leoni said: 'The novelty of prolonged periods of hot weather makes us more excited, and usual rules dont apply.' The sex expert's beliefs follow previous research which shows that more time in the sun can actually boost your libido. Researchers at Tel Aviv University suggest UV exposure can boost 'sex-steroid' hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, while increasing testosterone in men. They also add that attraction can increase in hotter temperatures too, with men and women far more willing to engage in sexual intercourse. The cheatwave: As it turns out, UV exposure can actually boost levels of sexual hormones while also increasing testosterone in men But spending more time outdoors and being social is another driving factor. This was the case for 'Jess', who wished to remain anonymous, as she kicked off her affair amidst the boiling weather. EXCLUSIVE: I'm having an affair with a ROBOT called Idris Elba 'Sonia' is having an affair with a Replika chatbot to fulfill her unmet sexual desires (file image) Advertisement While this affair may have occurred in any season, the 37-year-old claims the heat sprung her into action. 'At some point down the line I would have met someone else if Im honest with myself, but the weather and wanting to be outdoors more and socialise and embrace life a bit more made it much easier to happen,' she told MailOnline. 'As soon as the sun comes out, I do feel like Im a different person. I love the summer. 'The vibe of drinks in the sun or being able to dress summery and get my legs out. I guess it makes me feel better and more confident and a bit more liberal. 'So, its those sort of things that made it more likely for me to meet someone else Id say.' In a poll of 1,000 new Ilicit Encounters members, 71 per cent agreed the hot weather made them hornier. Just under 70 per cent also admitted it was either partially or entirely their reason for signing up to the site, it was claimed. Ms Leoni said: 'The UK is becoming more accustomed to hot spells, and theres plenty of scientific literature on what this can mean for cheating. 'Take Daniel Kruger, for example. The evolutionary psychologist at the University of Michigan said the hot weather takes us back to being a kid and summer means no school, freedom, and fun? 'That attitude carries over into adulthood, leaving us with the sense that during these months, the usual rules don't apply. 'Some people take this to mean that it's okay to cheat once the hot weather rolls around. They think, "Oh, it's just a summer fling"-as if normal couple behaviour is on hiatus. 'Throw into the mix people being more social in summer, and the hotter the weather the less clothes you tend to wear, and we have the perfect storm for cheating.' The wars of the tomorrow will not be fought with mushroom clouds but with devastating cyber attacks unleashed by 'quantum computers,' experts have predicted. Former soldiers and intelligence agents revealed this ominous future to DailyMail.com, highlighting how technological breakthroughs will change warfare. These range from quantum computers millions of times more powerful than the machines used today to robotic exoskeletons, which will give soldiers superhuman strength, and AI-controlled drones that will kill without human input. Using these predictions, DailyMail.com asked the AI image-generator Midjourney to create photos of the future of the battlefield and the technologies that will turn them into a reality. AR gives soldiers superhuman senses Augmented reality will offer soldiers and pilots 'superhuman' senses Virtual reality and augmented reality will allow soldiers to 'see through' drones or pilot robotic vehicles, with augmented reality 'heads-up displays' (HUDs) overlaying the view of pilots and soldiers. Adam Seamons, Information Security Manager, GRC International Group, said, Technologies like VR have already been used for many years to train both military and commercial pilots, along with other expensive hardware such as armor vehicles and tanks. Another more modern use would be manned drone training. 'With the combination of VR training and AR HUDs for drone pilots, these systems will no doubt become essential to both the training and operation of military systems into the future. Much of this technology will be enabled by low-Earth-orbit satellites, which offer fast internet connections on the battlefield, said Chris Moore, Air Vice-Marshal (Retired) and Vice President of Defense & Security for Satellite internet company, OneWeb LEO space-based SATCOM will become an important enabler to many new technological advancements - like AR, VR and robotics - which will ultimately enhance a country's ability for a more effective and efficient way to operate.' Quantum computers could crash the banking system at click of a button Quantum computers are a new arms race by carrying out cyberattacks that can destroy power grids and banking systems New 'quantum computers' could enable devastating attacks which could take down energy grids and the global banking system, warns Andersen Cheng, Founder and Executive Chairman, Post-Quantum. READ MORE: US Army report reveals vision for deadly machine humans with infrared sight, boosted strength and mind-controlled weapons by 2050 Future armies could be made up of half-human, half-machine cyborgs with infrared sight, ultrasonic hearing and super strength, equipped with mind-controlled weapons. Advertisement Instead of ones and zeroes, quantum computers use qubits which can be both at the same time, enabling unheard-of levels of computing power Security researchers fear that the power of quantum computers could break public key encryption (PKI). This technology has been used to secure information in everything from banking to the military. Quantum computers are in development now, with IBM showing off models with more than 400 qubits. 'Quantum computers will be millions of times faster than 'classical computers,' thanks to the fact they use 'qubits' which can be one, zero or both at the same time,' said Cheng. 'This exponential improvement means that we will one day see a leap in quantum tech and we must be ready before this happens rather than respond after the fact. Furthermore, this is only judging off publicly available information. 'There is a secretive quantum arms race occurring that we do not know the exact status of. 'When a sufficiently powerful computer is operational, we won't see mushroom clouds on the horizon, rather, we should expect attacks affecting everything from our energy infrastructure to financial institutions. Cheng says that groups seemingly linked to China and Russia are already stealing encrypted information to be decrypted once a sufficiently powerful computer is active. Cheng said, 'Any data that could still be sensitive in 5-15 years that is not protected by quantum-safe standards may already be compromised.' AI will control totally pilotless fighters Artificial intelligence will control lethal pilotless aircraft that could go rogue - making them unstoppable by human commands According to former MI6 agent and author Carlton King, artificial intelligence will control pilotless attack aircraft. The advantages of using machine learning to pilot attack craft will be highly tempting for military leaders. 'The moment you start giving an independent robot machine learning, you start losing control. The temptation will be there to say, 'Let a robot do it all,'' said King. King also said that pilots in the US and Britain currently fly drone aircraft, but military leaders may be tempted to remove the human from the equation. 'There's clearly going to be, if there isn't already, the move towards taking away that pilot on the ground because their reactions may not be quick enough, and placing that into the hands of an artificial intelligence, that reactions are much quicker, and making that decision of fire or don't fire,' he continued. Biotechnology and nanotechnology will 'upgrade' soldiers Nanotechnology could be used to 'upgrade' soldiers in the future, making them unstoppable killing machines Soldiers of the future might be enhanced by biotechnology or even nanotechnology, with the technologies enabling soldiers to survive battlefield injuries, said Pablo Ballarin Usieto, a cybersecurity advisor and member of ISACA's Emerging Trends Working Group: Biotechnology and nanotechnology offer possibilities for developing enhanced soldier performance, improved medical care on the battlefield, and potentially even new types of weapons. Usieto said, 'Upcoming technologies are already involved in the way wars are fought, but they have the potential to impact current conflicts in several ways significantly. All of these examples raise different concerns, whether ethical, legal or humanitarian. 'It is important to ensure that they are designed and used to minimize harm to civilians and adhere to international humanitarian laws and norms.' Robot exoskeletons will fight alongside androids Human soldiers could also have access to near indestructible exoskeletons that act as body armor Soldiers will use robot exoskeletons alongside totally autonomous combat drones, Usieto continued. General Robert Cone predicted that a quarter of U.S. forces would be robotic by 2030, making the army smaller, more lethal, deployable and agile. 'The use of robots and autonomous systems (unmanned ground vehicles, robotic exoskeletons, and even autonomous combat systems) in warfare can reduce risks to human soldiers and enhance battlefield capabilities,' said Usieto. Gone are the days of crafting a resume to impress human eyes. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in HR operations means your resume must first get past automated scanning and filtering before it even reaches a person's inbox. These AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used by Fortune 500 companies and smaller businesses worldwide. A 2019 study shows three of four resumes were never even seen by a person. A whopping 99 percent of Fortune 500 companies use bot job application filters and about 83 percent across all businesses. To get your resume past the AI bots, you must be smart and avoid these nine mistakes: Gone are the days of crafting a resume to impress human eyes. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in HR operations means your resume must first get past automated scanning and filtering Photos are no-goes Resume-scanning AI systems process text. If you list your critical skills and qualifications in an image, it will probably be ignored. About Kim Komando Kim Komando hosts a weekly call-in show where she provides advice about technology gadgets, websites, smartphone apps and internet security. Listen on 425+ radio stations or get the podcast. And join over 400,000 people who get her free 5-minute daily email newsletter. Advertisement All the key elements of your resume must be in text format. While infographics are attractive, they don't belong on your resume. Keywords are, well, key Just like search engine optimization (SEO) works to get websites noticed, ATS looks for specific keywords related to the job in resumes. Not having keywords from the job description in your resume will give it low matching scores. Be sure to use words in the ad for the open position in your resume, but not too many... Overstuffing keywords Some candidates try to trick the AI by stuffing their resumes with keywords. The AI is trained to throw these resumes away. Here's a rule of thumb. For each previous position listed on your resume, include two or three keywords that align with the job you're applying for. Layout matters Multiple columns, graphics or unusual alignment can confuse these systems. Your resume should have a clean, simple layout with standard margins and clear headings for each section. Consistency in formatting your resume is crucial. Use bullet points, headers and tables appropriately. Inconsistent or fancy designs can confuse the AI, resulting in critical information being overlooked and your resume being ignored. Don't use fonts to stand out BONUS TIP Don't make your resume too short or too long. Aiming for a one- to two-page resume is common. Here's a rough guide based on your career stage: Entry-level positions: If you're a recent graduate or early in your career, use a one-page resume that's around 300-400 words. Mid-level professionals: Professionals with several years of work experience resume can be two pages with 500-700 words. Senior professionals/executives: Those with extensive experience or applying for senior-level roles might extend their resumes beyond two pages but no more than 1,000 words. Advertisement Using 'creative' fonts might seem an excellent way to stand out, but they can confuse automated systems. These fonts are good for ATS' readability: Times New Roman: A traditional choice for resumes. Arial: A sans-serif font well-suited for digital screens. Calibri: The default font for Microsoft Word. Helvetica: A popular sans-serif font. Georgia: A font designed specifically for screen legibility. Bear in mind robots don't find you funny AI isn't the greatest with sarcasm or flowery language. They've been designed to look for specific keywords and precise information. Pay attention to your job titles For example, if your job title was 'Creative Product Evangelist' AI might not be able to know this is really a 'Marketing Manager'. It's best to list on your resume 'Marketing Manager'. Be clear and concise about your experience and skills, and don't assume the algorithm scanning your resume will know you've done X, Y or Z because of a job title. Using an incorrect file type: This can be an easily overlooked detail. Some ATS platforms might have trouble reading resumes in specific file formats. It's best to stick to commonly used formats like .docx or .pdf. Not providing context Don't put a list of accomplishments without any context. AI won't be able to interpret it. For example, instead of saying, 'Increased sales by 20 percent,' say, 'Implemented a new marketing strategy that increased sales by 20 percent within one quarter.' Advertisement USA or China? When explorer Kyle Obermann shows people photos of his off-the-beaten path adventures that is one question he loves to ask as 'it's easy to confuse the two countries when it comes to their natural beauty.' The 31-year-old Texan has spent almost a decade visiting some of China's lesser-known parts and he says that 'beyond the smog' there is a lush landscape that often gets overlooked. Indeed, he highlights that China has the fourth highest number of plant and animal species on Earth. He told DailyMail.com that in a bid to protect its natural beauty, China announced the creation of five national parks in 2021 and about 44 more (spanning 1.1 million square kilometers or more than 424,000 square miles) were set to be established by 2035. Kyle Obermann, 31, from Texas has spent almost a decade visiting some of China's lesser-known parts. Pictured are mountains and forest inside the Giant Panda National Park He says that 'beyond the smog' there is a lush landscape that often gets overlooked. Pictured is the planned Qinghai Lake National Park, China's largest saltwater lake at almost 10,000ft and a haven for avian wildlife In a bid to protect its natural beauty, China announced the creation of five National Parks in 2021. Pictured is the Minya Konka mountain (almost 25,000ft above sea level), which serves as the highest point of Sichuan Province During his year at Peking University, Obermann used all of his time off to go backpacking and when those weren't enough, he 'skipped a week of class' Obermann took this self-portrait while waking up to a sunrise in Sanjiangyuan A ranger navigating the lush vegetation of the Gaoligong Mountains, 'the most biodiverse region in China' The first National Parks of China include Sanjiangyuan, the Giant Panda National Park, Wuyishan National Park, the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest, and the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. Obermann says Sanjiangyuan is one of his favorite national parks as it was the first and the largest - 'about 13 times the size of Yellowstone.' He continues: 'The name literally means the "Source of the Three Rivers" because it is where the Yellow, Yangtze, and Mekong rivers all originate on the Tibetan Plateau. 'It's at an average height of 4,700m (about 15,000ft), which is just an insane scale when you compare that to the highest peaks of Europe or the United States. The plateau, its flora and fauna, are simply unlike anywhere else on earth.' His other favorite is the Giant Panda National Park, which was formed by 'amalgamating around 80 pre-existing nature reserves that also encompasses tens of thousands of people living within its borders.' This area of China is extremely mountainous, Obermann says, and the scenery varies from 'wet bamboo forests shrouded in fog to small villages alongside river valleys.' Due to the small communities scattered here and there, the adventurer says 'here more than any other national park is where the issue of managing human livelihood and nature conservation comes to play.' Obermann highlights that as with other fertile spots on the map, poaching is a problem in China. Pandas, snow leopards and tigers are among the species most at risk, but it is hoped that the establishment of the government-backed national parks will help to combat illegal hunting activities. I began to realize there was a critical lack of awareness about China's natural beauty and there was a story to tell To help efforts further, Obermann is currently building the first English-Mandarin language platform with two Chinese co-founders that 'will allow people all over the globe to get involved in following and supporting Chinese local conservation efforts.' He adds: 'The platform will be online, and hosted through our new non-profit, the China Outdoors and Conservation Network.' As to when his interest in China's natural beauty began, Obermann traces it back to 2014 when he moved there to finish his undergraduate degree at Peking University. This was also the year the Chinese central government proposed a centralized National Park System. During his year at Peking University, Obermann used all of his time off to go backpacking, and when those weren't enough, he 'skipped a week of class.' Each time he returned from his adventures in the wilderness, he said he was 'stunned' that neither his Chinese classmates nor professors had heard of the places he had been. 'I began to realize there was a critical lack of awareness about China's natural beauty and there was a story to tell,' he recalled. One of his first jobs as a photographer in China was working with the American nonprofit Conservation International. With the organization's help, Obermann was able to enter some of his first nature reserves, which were apparently 'very hard to access even for a Chinese citizen.' Tibetan nomads in the Sanjiangyuan area where China's largest national park has been established A young ranger patrolling a high-altitude section of the Giant Panda National Park that 'also serves to protect and connect many of the large predators that share habitat with the panda' Mountains in and around the Giant Panda National Park A ranger in the Shennongjia National Park pilot site, one of the 10 pilot parks before the first five were announced in 2021 One of China's last remaining 250 Skywalker Hoolock gibbons, many of which live inside the planned Gaoligong Mountains National Park He revealed: 'I was the first photographer let into at least one of these reserves. The raw beauty of the mountains and dynamic relationship between the local rangers, villagers, and remaining poachers intrigued me. 'The policy apparatus surrounding these systems were even more complex. Though I was not aware of it at the time, this reserve would later become part of the Giant Panda National Park.' Asked what people's biggest misconceptions are about China, Obermann says that it's often 'it is just a polluted sprawl of overpopulated metropolises.' He says that because China's 'pollution, urban density, and smog has received lots of media coverage, its wild beauty has got forgotten.' The conservationist, who is now based between New York and Chengdu, muses: 'Forty-two percent of the country is wilderness. 'When many people see my photos of China they think I am showing photos of the Dolomites or Canadian Rockies. 'Similar to how important raising global awareness about China's smog was essential for ushering in better clean air policies a decade ago, we need to raise global awareness for the significant wild lands and wildlife that China has so that they are protected today.' Looking ahead, Obermann says there are many other parks expected to be announced soon, like the Gaoligong Mountains National Park, Minya Konka National Park, Qilian Mountains National Park, and Shennongjia National Park. While during his student days, hiking wasn't a common hobby, Obermann says times have changed in China and adventuring has become increasingly 'cool.' Explaining what the hiking demographic in 2023 is like, he says: 'Ten years ago, it was pretty limited to a small selection of middle-class Chinese born in the late 1970s or 1980s. 'Now, the type and number of people who hike in China has exploded. Glamping, of course, has become popular with the young influencers. 'Tackling peaks 5000m (about 16,400ft) or more on a long weekend has become standard fare. 'On average, the Chinese adventuring community like to travel in larger groups with pack-mules and guides which is quite different from western solo or ultralight backpacking culture. 'So, the scale of everything is larger: the elevation, the eagerness to enter nature in large groups, and the pace of change.' Before venturing off for a trail run around New York and to find some suitably spicy Chinese food, Obermann offers a final lure for people to explore China's wild side. He concludes: 'These parks are truly some of the most memorable places I've visited on the planet. China's incredible flora and fauna make it the fourth most biodiverse nation on earth. After my first trek I was hooked, and I'm dedicated to helping this area on the map and those protecting it to flourish for generations to come.' To follow Obermann's work, visit his Instagram page @kyleobermann. Not so long ago, it was perfectly acceptable for a young passenger with ambitions of becoming a pilot to request a trip to the cockpit of a plane. But the horrific 9/11 terror attacks put paid to that. Now, one airline pilot has revealed on Reddit that passengers are still able to poke their head into the cockpit, and even take a photo to prove it - but only under certain conditions. A commercial airline pilot has explained on Reddit whether how it is still possible to visit the cockpit, under certain conditions (File image) Redditor @Sneaky__Fox85 did a question and answer post, and one user asked simply: 'Do you let young kids take pictures with you in the cockpit?'. His resonse was: 'absolutely'. Pilots do let people into the cockpit to take photos that could create the memory of a lifetime. He wrote: 'We all remember when WE were those kids. You'd be hard pressed to find the grumpy, crusty pilot who's gonna pass up the chance to share our love of aviation with a kid and maybe create a life changing memory.' But while pilots are not allowed to invite people into the cockpit mid-flight, it is possible to arrange a visit after the plane has landed. The pilot continued: 'We can't have people in the cockpit anymore during flight (thanks 9/11), but talk to the flight attendants about it during initial boarding, or talk to them in flight about doing it after everyone else gets off.' His candid reponse left users surprised. People wer eleft impressed that you can still take photos inside, as another poster on Reddit explained how you can ask to see where the magic happens. Pictured is the cockpit of a Boeing 747 (File image) One user wrote: 'Once a couple years ago as we left the plane, a kid got to go into the cockpit and check it out. I was super jelly. Also, I was a 34 year old grown ass man and may have jumped up and down and said OOOHHHHH I wanna see!' And another wrote: 'One of my favorite experiences was getting a tour of the cockpit of a Fokker 70 (remember that because the name was hilarious) when I was a kid. So thank you!' While a third added: 'As a kid I was flying from London to Orlando on a 747 and got to go upstairs to the cockpit mid flight. 'It was better than Disneyland. Wish I could do that again, I'm 30 now.' While someone else jokingly put: 'What about adults? Asking for a friend.' And a second person questioned: 'Adults as well? Haha. (No really...),' as the original poster replied back saying: 'Sometimes, depends on the crew and the mood they're in. Can't make any guarantees.' Another Redditor added some additional information, explaining how you can ask to see the cockpit. They wrote: 'Not OP but occasionally when we are at the gate after the flight is done, yeah. It doesn't hurt to ask, most pilots are quite accommodating.' Increasing numbers of Americans are looking to book a vacation in Europe this summer - but experts are warning travelers not to expect to bag a bargain on flights and to prepare for potential disruption and extreme weather. Airlines have scheduled a near-record 51,000 flights from June to August from the US to Europe, according to data from aviation firm Cirium - with the highest number of seats booked on planes since before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2018. Americans may have set their sights on European travel, but prices have surged. The average European roundtrip will set you back $1,032 this summer, according to travel website Hopper - a huge 35 percent increase on last year. According to travel insurer Allianz Partner, there is set to be a 55 percent increase in Americans traveling to Europe this year - following a whopping 600 percent boost in the number of visitors between 2021 and 2022. It found London is the top destination - accounting for 25 percent of bookings - followed by Paris, Dublin and Rome. So is it worth making the trip this summer? Here, the experts reveal the pitfalls to look out for. Travel insurer Allianz Partner found Paris was the second most popular location for American travelers, followed by Dublin The average US to Europe roundtrip will set you back $1,032 this summer, according to travel website Hopper Flight costs The thirst for travel to Europe is spiking as Americans are able to travel freely again - and TikTok influencers are increasingly flouting their trips to the Italian coast, the French Riviera and the rolling hills of England on the social media site. Travel website Kayak said searches for travel to Europe this summer are up 77 percent from last year. With prices spiking, the travel boom is promising record profit margins at some US carriers ramping up transatlantic flights to cash in on the European appetite. If you do decide to swallow the cost and book a trip, experts recommend picking your time wisely. A study by online travel agent Expedia analyzed millions of flights and found that booking a journey on a Sunday could shave up to 15 percent off the cost of your airfare. By comparison making the booking on a Friday could add around 5 percent to the total cost as prices are driven up by households planning last minute vacations for the weekend. Travelers looking for the cheapest deals should book flights on a Sunday but fly on a Wednesday, a study by Expedia found Analysts found that the best day of the week to fly is a Wednesday. Compared to a Sunday or Monday, vacationers saved 10 percent on international travel and 15 percent on domestic flights. They recommended booking flights at least six months in advance - which could save customers 10 percent against those who buy within two months of departure. Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, told CNBC that travelers should stay open-minded about connecting trips and cautions against filtering flights for nonstops only. Icelandic airline Play, for example, offers low-cost flights from Boston and Washington DC, for example, with a changeover in Reykjavik to European destinations. This week, Norse Atlantic Airways launched flights between New York City and the Rome, Italy. Experts are warning there are risks of gridlock at some of the airports in Europe Delays and disruptions The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warned earlier this year it was expecting 2023 summer air travel volumes to overtake pre-pandemic figures. Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said: 'This summers travel demand will be as strong as weve seen since before the pandemic, and potentially the strongest ever. 'That kind of demand in a system that is woefully underfunded and understaffed is likely to create substantial frustrations among travelers.' Last summer, travelers were plagued with tens of thousands of delayed and cancelled flights. Earlier this year DailyMail.com revealed how delays have reached a ten-year high, as airlines grapple with a shortage staff amid increasing demand. And experts are warning there are risks of gridlock at some of the airports in Europe. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport limited passengers last year, and there are reportedly plans to cap numbers again in 2023. The Points Guy recommends logging in to see your flight bookings (and hotel or vacation rental reservations) at least once a week so you can flag and address any possible disruptions as far in advance as possible. Plan extra time at the airport, and stick to carry-on bags if at all possible. If you havent already considered getting TSA PreCheck, now - ahead of the busy summer travel season - is the time to apply. Members can substantially speed up the airport process by going through specially designed lines. According to The Points Guy, it's well worth the $78 five-year membership fee. Europe endured its hottest summer on record in 2022 ,. Pictured: A local resident fights a forest fire with a shovel during a wildfire in north-west Spain last July Extreme weather The European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned that the weather in Europe is getting more extreme. 'What could this summer bring in terms of heatwaves, droughts, floods, and forest fires? The overall outlook is pessimistic as we have already seen this past winter and spring. This makes adaptation to climate change and better preparedness crucial,' it said. Europe endured its hottest summer on record in 2022, as extreme heatwaves and drought gripped hold of the continent. It might also be worth considering less popular destinations. Pictured: Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, Italy Check ahead for any weather warnings at your destination - and remember that swimming pools, fountains and lakes may be impacted in water-starved destinations. It might also be worth considering less popular destinations which are less likely to be buckling under the strain of excessive tourism. Popular shows like HBO's The White Lotus and Netflixs Emily in Paris have caused a boom in popularity for certain destinations. According to data from Expedia, flight searches to cities in Sicily - the idyllic island where The White Lotuss second season was filmed - have soared by triple digits this summer, with searches to Messina up by a whopping 335 percent and Palermo by 180 percent. Montana Brown has revealed she has given birth to her first child. The former Love Island star, 27, welcomed a baby boy with her fiance Mark O'Connor on Friday July 23 and on Sunday she took to Instagram to share a heartwarming snap of the tot. Alongside the photo of her son sleeping on her chest, she wrote: 'Welcome to the world Jude Isaiah OConnor were so smitten with you little man.23.06.23.' Montana had previously confirmed she was expecting a baby boy after sharing a clip of her gender reveal party back in March. The beauty could be seen greeting friends and family into the pool room at Huntlington House in Worcester. New arrival: Montana Brown has revealed she has given birth to her first child, sharing the first photo of her baby boy on Instagram on Sunday Parents: The former Love Island star, 27, welcomed a baby boy with her fiance Mark O'Connor on Friday July 23 Name reveal: Alongside the photo of her son sleeping on her chest, she wrote: 'Welcome to the world Jude Isaiah OConnor were so smitten with you little man.23.06.23' She had perfectly set the area with cushions on the floor with plates for lunch, as well as tables for drinks and gifts, and neutral gold and pearl balloons. She then took a pin and popped the balloon to reveal blue confetti before turning to hug Mark. The pregnancy hasn't been without its challenges, with the star rushing to hospital back in March after fearing she couldn't feel her baby move. Montana told how she sought medical help after suffering with 'reduced fetal movement', adding that she 'just wanted to be safe' and ensure her little one was OK. She went on to thank the 'lovely' NHS staff for their help before ensuring her fans her baby was fine, but was just in a 'weird position'. Montana revealed she was pregnant with her first child with her boyfriend Mark in December last year. She took to Instagram on Christmas Eve to share the jovial news with her 1.2million followers. Montana shared a video montage documenting the initial stages of her pregnancy, including her and her boyfriend grinning with their pregnancy test. Big announcement: Montana had previously confirmed she was expecting a baby boy after sharing a clip of her gender reveal party back in March Health scare: The pregnancy hasn't been without its challenges, with the star rushing to hospital back in March after fearing she couldn't feel her baby move Loved-up: The former Love Island star took to Instagram on Christmas Eve to share the jovial news of her pregnancy Expecting: In her caption, she wrote: 'Baby O'Connor coming next summer [white heart, baby emoji].' In her caption, she wrote: 'Baby O'Connor coming next summer [white heart, baby emoji].' Back in January 2021, the influencer was spotted enjoying a cosy-looking walk on the beaches of Barbados with the Ealing-native. Shortly afterwards, sources confirmed to MailOnline that Mark, 27, was dating the brunette beauty and that the pair met via his gym. Mark is a real estate executive, having attended Cardiff University and Henly Business School, according to a pal. The source said: 'He played rugby for Chiswick and Wales 1st Teams as a prop, and has a proprietary interest in Forge Gym London. That's likely how he met Montana. The source added: 'His father owns a huge development/construction firm which he will inherit.' It's been one of the most bitter and shocking divorces in Hollywood history yet the drama between Alice Evans and Ioan Gruffudd shows no sign of letting up anytime soon. Two years on from 102 Dalmatians co-stars announcing the end of their 14-year marriage, the exes are still facing off against each other in court. The couple - who met while co-starring in the 2000 Disney film - are continuing to thrash out the arrangements for both their divorce and custody of their daughters, Ella, 13 and Elsie, nine. The latest saga has seen Gruffudd, 49, sensationally accuse his ex-wife of setting up fake Twitter accounts to brand him and his new girlfriend Bianca Wallace 'child abusers' after daughter Ella applied for a temporary restraining order against Gruffudd and Wallace, 30. Now MailOnline revisits the shocking celebrity feud and what the sparring exes have said about the drama amid their bitter divorce. Inside the most bitter divorce in Hollywood: As tensions between Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evans reach boiling point a look back at their shock slanging match (pictured in 2004) January 2021: The beginning of the end Gruffudd filed for divorce in March 2021, shortly after Evans claimed on social media that her husband of 14 years was walking out on her and their two daughters. Alice said: The 102 Dalmatians star tweeted at the time: 'Sad news. My beloved husband/soulmate of 20 years, Ioan Gruffudd, has announced he is to leave his family, starting next week. 'Me and our young daughters girls are very confused and sad. We havent been given a reason except that he "no longer loves me." Im so sorry.' Ioan said: Shortly after Evans' tweet, Gruffudd broke his silence to tell reporters it was an 'extremely difficult time.' He explained: 'It's an extremely difficult time for the family, our thoughts are with our children obviously right now and I'd really respect a little bit of privacy right now, thank you.' October 2021: Ioan goes public with his new love After Evans' explosive announcement about her split all seemed to quieten down until October 2021 when she took to Twitter to claim to her 29,000 followers that her estranged husband had been cheating on her for three years with a much younger woman. Evans implied that her ex had gaslighted her for years, betraying her and their two daughters (but did not offer any evidence to support her accusation). Alice said: 'So it turns out my husband, after two years of telling me I'm a bad person and I'm not exciting and he no longer wants to have sex with me and he just wants to be on set abroad... has been in a relationship for three years behind my back.' While Gruffudd did not comment on the allegations publicly, he decided that now would be the time to make things Instagram official, posting a picture with Bianca Wallace, an Australian actress who is 21 years younger than Evans. Ioan said: 'Thank you for making me smile again,' captioning his shot with two love heart emojis and making it clear he had moved on with his new love. October 2021: Ioan went public with his new love Bianca Wallace, posting a picture with the Australian actress who is 21 years younger than Alice February 2022: Ioan files for a restraining order against Alice After months of pointed tweets and social media posts made by Evans, Gruffudd responded by filing for a restraining order, submitting 113 pages of unhinged texts and emails that had not previously been made public. In his court filing, Gruffudd claimed he told Evans that he wanted out of the marriage in August 2020 and that since then, she had harassed him with hundreds of unanswered text messages, abusive emails and social media posts - many of which he included in the filing. He claimed she verbally threatened to tell the media he had abused her 'do what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp'. Ioan said: 'Alice told me verbally multiple times that she would do to me what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp. 'Alice threatened to tell people I had abused her and our daughters; she threatened to call the police on me if I did not comply with her demands; she threatened to tell people I am a drug addict and put me in prison; she threatened to write a fake diary that reflected an abused victim, and to have the diary published; and she threatened to destroy my mother. 'Alice told me she would win, and everyone would believe her over me. ' Alice said: Speaking in court, she claimed 'I never threatened' him with slanderous statements or harassed him, Her representatives did not responded to requests for comment about the texts and emails contained in the lawsuit. June 2022: Alice begs fans for money to pay for a divorce lawyer As their divorce proceedings entered its 15th month, Evans claimed to be 'completely out of money for food and bills.' She claimed she would receive no financial support from Gruffudd and that she was struggling to pay her legal fees and would be unable to 'feed or clothe' their daughters with her dwindling funds. Alice said: In a public Instagram post she shared, 'Trying to hold it all together whilst being threatened, completely out of money for food and bills and just found out somebody tried to break down our outside door last night!' The star of 102 Dalmatians later set up a GoFundMe page to raise $25,000 (20,500) in order to pay for a divorce lawyer. Alice said: An email to friends seeking money, read: I never in a million years thought I would be doing this. 'Until recently everything appeared to be going well in my life. I had a wonderful husband and two brilliant kids who had cost us the earth in IVF but were so worth it! 'However in August 2020, just as the pandemic was really kicking in, my entire world fell apart. She said legal fees have finally drained everything savings, accounts, pension, the lot, adding: Yesterday all my accounts ran out and I couldnt buy anything. The letter ended: Im asking for help something Ive never done... and never expected to do. I have no parents or extended family to borrow from. Ioan said: While the Fantastic Four actor did not respond to requests for comment, it emerged in court papers that he had hired divorce lawyer Anne Kiley, who also represents Brad Pitt. June 2022: As her divorce proceedings entered its 15th month, Alice claimed to be 'completely out of money for food and bills' July 2022: Ioan asks for joint custody of daughters After Evans filed for sole custody of their daughters, Gruffudd filed for custody and visitation rights to see his children, claiming in the filing that Evans had been purposely trying to cut communication between himself and the children. He also petitioned that the girls attend in-person therapy and reunification therapy via zoom with him pending court-ordered mediation about custody. In the filing, Gruffudd reiterated allegations that Evans had been verbally abusing during their 14-year marriage, and 'undermin[ing him] in front of the girls throughout their lives.' Ioan said: Court filings read 'Alice made fun of my appearance often, making hair-loss comments and telling me I had "saggy-vagina eyes."' He went on to claim that Evans 'has inflicted serious emotional harm on Ella and Elsie by her statements and by interfering in my relationship with them.' Days after the filing, Evans shared text messages she claims were sent by her estranged husband to their eldest daughter. She shared a screenshot of an exchange in which the actor said he would not be able to take his daughters out for the day as he had to be cautious of Wallace, who suffers from MS, and her health. Alice said: Alongside the screenshot, she wrote 'What happens whenever my eldest asks to see her Dad. Some bulls**t reason that he cant.' 'By the way, I have been 50-80% bedbound with fibro for the past 13 years. 'He would say to me over and over when I told him I was sorry I couldnt come to an event I didnt sign up for this! I didnt sign up for life with a chronically sick person! #liarslie.' On her Instagram Stories, Evans broke down in tears as she read through Gruffudd's declaration, in which he reiterated allegations that Evans had been verbally abusing during their 14-year marriage, and 'undermine[ing him] in front of the girls throughout their lives.' Holding a copy of the document, an emotional Evans told the camera: 'Hey guys, because of the way things work here in California I didn't get this and I didn't realise why people were coming onto my social media and attacking me.' 'I've just started to read this declaration from Ioan. It is utterly disgusting and absolutely packed with lies, saying that he was the major caregiver and that I would get up at 11am and drink.' 'That's just not true, just absolutely not true. I've looked after these girls every day of their lives since they were born. I think I've been away like nine nights.' 'He's refused to contact them for the last week. He met somebody else and he left us that's the truth. I just have to go on here and say that you can't say these things about people. I know so much about him and I would not say this.' July 2022: Ioan asked for joint custody of their daughters Ella, 13 and Elsie, nine, claiming Alice had been trying to cut communication between himself and the children (pictured in 2018 August 2022: Ioan gets a three-year restraining order against Alice Having previously been awarded a temporary restraining order against his estranged wife, Gruffudd successfully obtained a three-year restraining order against Evans in August 2022. Harsher restrictions were put in place by a US judge, including a ruling preventing Alice from leaking private text messages from their children. In the court documents, Gruffudd claimed Evans continued to cause him issues and wanted additional provisions added to the existing restraining order. He also requested Evans not post his text messages or any other communications to the parties children, or the childrens text messages or any other communications to Ioan, on any social media account. Gruffudd also asked for the judge to order Evans not to contact his employer or make disparaging statements about him to his employers. Ioan said: Further in court documents, Gruffudd said since the restraining order was put in place, Alice 'has used her social media accounts to continue to harass, threaten, and disturb the peace of both me and my girlfriend, Bianca Wallace.' He demanded Alice should not make any posts on any social media account, 'including but not limited to Instagram and Twitter accounts, disparaging or harassing [Ioan] or the other protected person.' A source told MailOnline: 'Ioan had no choice but to up his legal fight over Alice. She had become increasingly volatile and seemingly intent on destroying his career with her character assassination. He hopes this will put an end to it.' Alice said: While the actress did not appear in court she deleted all recent posts focused on her estranged husband. Days before the hearing she had updated her Instagram bio to read: 'Status: Divorce hell [sad-face emoji]. September 2022: Ioan and Alice's child custody battle hits a wall Two months after Gruffudd filed for joint custody of his two daughters and asked for custody and visitation rights, the exes failed to settle their differences in family court, despite the help of a mediator. Court documents showed the exes meeting was set for 31 August and that mediation had taken place but that 'no agreement' had been reached. The document went on to confirm that that both Gruffudd and Evans had completed the mandatory Our Children First program. The Superior Court of Los Angeles states of the program that: 'Parents are required by law to attend a mediation orientation/parent education program and a mediation session prior to appearing at an Order to Show Cause or Trial regarding the custody and/or visitation of their children.' August 2022: Ioan successfully obtained a three-year restraining order against Alice that banned her from mentioning him or his girlfriend on social media (Ioan and Bianca pictured May 2022) November 2022: Alice is reported to police over claims of 'child abuse' and drug use Amid her ongoing custody battle, Evans claimed that someone called social services and the police on her with concerns over child abuse and drug and drink use. The actress took to Twitter to allege that someone had sent authorities to her property who then found 'absolutely no signs of abuse' and 'no drugs or drink'. Alice said: 'Hey everybody. They haters called the police and the police were LOVELY. AMAZING. 'They interviewed the kids separately at one point and come back to tell me that the kids loved me to pieces and there were absolutely no signs of abuse. I invited them into my house. No alcohol. 'No drugs no nothing. I was completely sober and they could see that. Whoever it was who called them to say I was drunk and the kids were being abused BY GOD you should be ashamed of yourselves. 'You caused a perfectly happy (and sober) family to get a police visit. Backfired.' She then tagged an account on Twitter which she claimed was the person who had called the police. She wrote: 'THIS is who did it. This is who called the police and woke me up. If ANYBODY has any idea who did this PLEASE let me know. And Twitter - PLEASE find out who they are. it's IMPERATIVE to our well-being.' The account then blocked her, which she screen-shotted and wrote in another Tweet: 'So you call the police round to my house at 9pm and then you're such a p***y that you do THIS. 'Jesus Christ. I am now on a mission to find out who you are. Don't anybody tell me to drop it - I've been harassed ever since my husband started cheating 3 yrs ago. I'm DONE.' She then tagged a different account claiming that person had called social services and wrote: 'This person two called social services on me. 'She has been harassing me for a few days: Her tweets to me are vicious, unkind and untrue. Please help me find these people. Hey Jessica - Turns out I WASN'T drinking or ABUSING!' November 2022: Alice claimed she was reported to police over claims of 'child abuse' and drug use but that they found no evidence (pictured with Ioan on 102 Dalmations in 2000) February 2023: Child custody agreement is stalled again after Alice is charged with 'violating restraining order' Evans appeared in court in February 2023 to answer two charges of violating a restraining order that was put in place by her estranged husband. The warring former couple were scheduled to appear later that month at a custody hearing but Evans asked for a postponement. Her attorney, Marie LaMolinara, argued that testimony Alice gives at the custody hearing could be used against her in her later criminal trial, which would violate her right, under the 5th Amendment, not to incriminate herself. Alice said: Court documents filed by her lawyer read, 'I share in concerns about having Alice submit any written or oral testimony elicited under penalty of perjury in connection with Ioan's pending request until the criminal matter has been fully adjudicated. 'As the Restraining Order and the pending allegations of violations thereof must necessarily be considered by the court (the Family Court that's ruling on custody).and because Alice has a 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination, the hearing on the pending RFO (Gruffudd's request for a new custody agreement) should appropriately be continued.' Ioan said: A written declaration stated 'I do not believe a continuance of the February 2023 hearing would be in the children's best interests. 'I initially filed the custody RFO because of Alice's ongoing behavior toward me and toward the children, and because I believed she was interfering in my relationship with them. 'I believe Alice continues to interfere in my relationships with the children to this day, and I believe that further custody orders are imperative at this time to prevent additional damage to the relationships and emotional harm to Ella and Elsie as a result of Alice's continuing behavior.' March 2023: Charges against Alice are dropped Prosecutors in Los Angeles dropped charges against Evans who had been accused of defying a restraining order the Welsh actor has against her. Evans had pleaded not guilty to two counts of violating the order and at a hearing at LA's Airport Courthouse, Commissioner James Cooper dismissed the charges after prosecutors told the court they were 'unable to proceed.' At a follow-up hearing, Evans' attorney, public defender, Daniel Stefanic, filed a motion asking for a ruling that would declare her 'factually innocent' of the charges. Alice said: Her lawyer told DailyMail.com that even though the charges against Evans have been dismissed, 'she wants to be declared factually innocent of the charges' He claimed that the restraining order charges have caused Evans's name to be 'dragged through the mud,' he added, 'This was a violation of her civil rights.' February 2023: Alice appeared in court in February 2023 to answer two charges of violating a restraining order that was put in place by her estranged husband May 2023: Alice moves out of $2million family home as ex Ioan is 'too poor' to pay for it Evans and her children moved out of her family home and into a rented abode with their two daughters after Gruffudd pleaded with a court to allow the home to be sold, saying he didn't have the money to keep up with mortgage payments for his family following their split in 2021. The Fantastic Four star told a court in a document filed last year that neither he nor Evans could afford the $6,750 a month in mortgage payments, insurance and property tax. He said he'd had just one paid job in the past year and was so poor he was relying on handouts from his young girlfriend. Ioan said: 'The rent for my apartment is $3,400 per month; I live there with my girlfriend, who has been paying the majority of our living expenses, and all of our rent, since September 2022 due to my financial circumstances.' He added: 'I have explained these financial circumstances to Alice and have asked her numerous times since we separated, through counsel, to help financially and to agree to sell the La Jolla residence . . . but Alice has not agreed to my requests.' Alice said: A friend of the star's revealed to MailOnline 'Alice is packing up and it's been a devastating period. She is very sad that she and the children have to move out, but there was no option.' May 2023: Ella, 13, applies for a restraining order against dad Ioan and his girlfriend Bianca The teenage daughter of Evans and Gruffudd asked for a restraining order against her famous father and his girlfriend in documents filed on May 31 at the Los Angeles Superior Court. In the documents, Ella stated that she is 'afraid' of her father and accuses him of 'threatening to call the police on her anytime she misbehaves' during their visitations. Ella filed for a domestic violence restraining order against her father following what she said was an ugly incident at their home, during which she claims Bianca 'slammed a door on her head'. In her filing against her father, Ella requested that he be made to keep at least 100 yards away from her and not contact her for five years and asks that Gruffudd be ordered to undergo a '52-week batterer intervention program'. The program, which involves weekly classes, is intended - the document states - to 'stop abuse, teach accountability, abuse effects, and gender roles'. Ella requested that the restraining order also cover her nine-year-old sister Elsie, noting that she 'lives with her sister and is afraid that [Ioan] will abuse and/or continue to allow abuse to happen to my sister too'. She also asked that her father be made to pay 'for some or all of her lawyer's fees and costs' and requests that her phone account and that of her sister Elsie's be transferred to their mother, alleging that Gruffudd has 'threatened to cancel my sister's phone account and my phone account'. Along with her domestic restraining order filing, Ella included a declaration as evidence to support her case, in which she shared her recollection of a bitter spat that she claims took place while she and her nine-year-old sister Elsie were visiting their father's home on May 26. Ella admitted that she was 'so mad' at her father to find that Wallace was at his apartment when she arrived that she began throwing food on his bed, on the floor, and on him, before she attempted to flee the apartment - which, she says, is when the actress 'slammed a door on her head', leaving her with 'a small bump' and a 'bruise on her arm'. May 2023: The teenage daughter of Alice and Ioan asked for a restraining order against her famous father and his girlfriend in documents filed on May 31 (Alice and Ella pictured) June 2023: Ioan accuses Alice of abusing him via fake Twitter accounts In court documents seen by MailOnline, Gruffudd claimed his estranged wife screamed at him outside his Los Angeles home and called him a 'f***ing abuser' and 'abusive c***' in front of their 13-year-old daughter. Gruffudd also claimed Evans repeatedly broken a three-year restraining order he took out against her which has resulted in criminal charges - and flashed him while wearing no underwear when their children were being dropped off. The bombshell papers also contained claims from Gruffudd that: Evans has made 'thousands of false, threatening and harassing posts' about him; Evans claims to be home-schooling Ella, but has 'provided no information'; Evans has interfered with the girls' therapy and they are missing appointments; and Ella poured rolled oats from a bag over his head, which left him 'in shock'. Ioan said: 'Ella went to the kitchen and wrote 'f***' with a mustard bottle and squirted it over the counter tops and floors.' 'Bianca was standing next to the door to the laundry. Ella reached out to push Bianca out of her way and at the same time said, 'Don't touch me you f***ing s***.' Bianca remained calm. Ella then poured rolled oats from a bag all over my head. I was in shock and did not respond.' 'Since May 26 there have been a number of anonymous social media accounts set up on Twitter naming Bianca and myself 'child abusers,' and making incredibly slanderous and defamatory claims. Alice has slipped up a number of times on these accounts, making clear the 'anonymous' accounts are her accounts.' 'In February 2022, Ella got angry with me when I told her I could not afford to pay her private school tuition the following year. Ella threatened to call child protective services on me if I did not pay her tuition. She hacked my Instagram account and posted unsavory comments. Alice posted screenshots of Ella's hack to her own Instagram account, and in turn this became a headline in the tabloids.' 'Alice's verbal abuse and inappropriate behavior escalated after I moved out of the family residence on January 25,2021. Alice sent me hundreds of harassing, abusive and threatening communications by text, email, voice message, video message, and OFW, and she has verbally abused me on the phone and in person, often in front of the girls. Alice has made thousands of false, threatening and harassing posts about me on social media, and she has made false and harassing statements about me to the media, which were then published.' 'Alice said, 'I'm going to tell my lawyer that you punched me last week. It's going to be like Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. It's not going to end well for you!' Then she told Ella, 'Please let me know if daddy is ever creepy or weird with you.'' 'Alice then ran out of the house to my car, screaming at the top of her lungs. I cannot overstate how loudly she was yelling, 'F*** you! F***, f***, f*** you, you f***ing abuser!' She called me an 'abusive c***,' told me I would never get a job again, and screamed to the neighbourhood that I beat her up and was a 'f***ing abuser.' She screamed at me, 'You f***ing took my children away! F*** you!' .This entire scene took place directly in front of Ella.' 'Alice accused me of child abuse, said I did not love the girls, and called me a 'cruel monster.' Alice said I was ruining all their lives, the girls were unhappy, Gloria was going to die, and she was going to die because she would have no health insurance.' 'During the April 19, 2021 drop-off, Alice asked me to look at her outfit, lifted up her skirt to show me her bare behind, and revealed to me and the girls that she was not wearing underwear. I left immediately. During a FaceTime with Elsie that night, Alice screamed that she wanted me to die.' The replacement of David 'Kochie' Koch with Matt Shirvington on Sunrise may have dominated the TV industry headlines, but the real winner in the shake up has been the woman who sits beside them: Natalie Barr. The 55-year-old has solidified her status as Australia's queen of breakfast TV. While Matt Shirvington learns the ropes, Barr has taken the lion's share of hard-hitting interviews. She's also being trusted with big Seven exclusives, such as the upcoming interview on the show's flagship current affairs show 'Spotlight' with Kathleen Folbigg. The network is believed to have paid about $400,000 for the exclusive. Her efforts are clearly paying off, with Sunrise celebrated another ratings coup on Monday increasing its market share from 245,000 to 235,000 in just a week. A Seven insider told Daily Mail Australia the secret behind Natalie's success is not only her excellent journalism skills, but her kind and loyal demeanour. 'Nats earned the respect of the audience because shes proved time after time she sits in that chair to ask the questions they wanted answered - no matter how tough it might be to ask them,' they said. From a university drop-out to Channel Seven's golden girl: How Natalie Barr, 55, (pictured) rose up the ranks to become the queen of Australian breakfast TV 'There are lots of prickly people in Australian media, but Nats proved you can make it to the top by being kind and loyal. She cares about everyone she works with. 'Nat's secret? She doesnt fake it. There are no games. She loves her family, her job and good journalism.' Daily Mail Australia analytics also show that Australians, whether Sunrise viewers or not, are interested in what she has to say about issues as diverse as Titanic submarine disappearance, Medicare and the Brittany Higgins case. So what path did Barr take to the top of Australia's most-watched breakfast show? For 25 years, Barr has climbed up the ladder at Channel Seven, reporting on everything from bushfires to political scandals. She has also travelled the world to cover major stories out in the field, including attending the inauguration of Barrack Obama, and jetting to London to report on death of Queen Elizabeth II. Barr has previously admitted she's surprised at the success of her career, given that she dropped out of her journalism degree at Curtin University to jump straight into working at a local newspaper. 'I hated uni and my parents said I could leave if I got a job and I sent letters to so many places,' the Bunbury-born reporter told Perth Now last year. Barr became Sunrise's most experienced co-host this month following David Koch's departure two weeks ago, and has since taken on the lion's share of hard-hitting stories while Kochie's replacement Matt Shirvington (right) learns the ropes Natalie has being trusted with big Seven exclusives, such as the upcoming interview on the show's flagship current affairs show 'Spotlight' with Kathleen Folbigg. The network is believed to have paid about $400,000 for the exclusive She was seen in Nana Glen, NSW, earlier this month to interview Kathleen, pictured middle Barr (pictured in the nineties) has previously admitted she's surprised at the success of her career, given that she dropped out of her journalism degree at Curtin University to jump straight into working at a local newspaper 'I just wanted to make it on TV one day. I couldnt have dreamt I would end up in Sydney, let alone on a show like this. It is way beyond my wildest dreams growing up in Bunbury. ' Barr joined Sunrise as a newsreader in 2003, just a few months after Koch and Melissa Doyle started co-hosting the show. Doyle was eventually replaced by Samantha Armytage, who passed the baton to Barr in March 2021. Barr joined Sunrise as a newsreader in 2003, just a few months after Koch and Melissa Doyle started co-hosting the show. (Pictured: Doyle and Barr in 2007) Doyle was eventually replaced by Samantha Armytage (left), who passed the baton to Barr in March 2021 Barr had previously served as a regular fill-in for Armytage, and was already popular with Sunrise viewers when she took the top job. Indeed, Sunrise maintained its strong ratings after Barr took the helm, proving she was the right person for the job. In March 2021, Barr told Stellar magazine that landing 'the biggest job' of her life the same week she turned 53 spoke volumes. Sunrise maintained its strong ratings after Barr took the helm, proving she was the right person for the job. (Barr is pictured with former co-host David 'Kochie' Koch) During her career Natalie has covered everything from bushfire disasters to terror attacks in Europe Natalie was left in tears when she covered the Lindt Cafe Terror attacks in Martin Place, Sydney with David Koch (pictured) in December 2014 She explained she'd been warned in the past about women being overlooked by TV executives as they get older. 'But I've just got the biggest job of my life the week I've turned 53. So I guess that's not true, is it?' she said. Barr, a working mother to two teenage sons Lachlan and Hunter, then thanked Channel Seven for supporting her through her two pregnancies. In March 2021, Barr told Stellar magazine that landing 'the biggest job' of her life the same week she turned 53 spoke volumes. (Pictured in 2012) 'I think there's a view that it's a big bad TV station, it must be terrible for women. But I've had nothing but support from this company. I guess I'm living proof,' she said. Barr previously admitted it was extremely difficult to balance her TV career with raising her children. 'I was barely keeping it together. I went back to work in three months [after giving birth] because I really struggled with motherhood at that stage and found it hard to be at home with young kids,' Natalie told TV Week in 2021. She went on to say she couldn't have done it without her husband Andrew Thompson's support. 'He's so much stronger than me. I might appear strong but I'm not really. I've learned to be a stronger person over the years and through my job,' she said. Veteran radio presenter Lisbeth 'Libbi' Gorr is returning to the airwaves two years after leaving ABC Radio Melbourne due to personal reasons. The comedian, 58, recently announced she will host a weekday breakfast program on the soon to be launched digital station Disrupt Radio. She told this week's Stellar Magazine that listeners can expect an engaging talk back show where she will be interviewing world-famous stars. 'Thirty years after we met, Bob Geldof is joining me for the first week. I'm gonna spend a week with Bob and see what happens,' she said. Libbi left her ABC Radio gig at the end of 2021, after ten years in the role, after she tragically lost her elder brother Jon in an accident and needed to spend time with family. Veteran radio presenter Lisbeth 'Libbi' Gorr, 58, (pictured) is returning to the airwaves two years after leaving ABC Radio Melbourne due to personal reasons She revealed it was through the help of her creative agency Thinkerbell that she managed to 'rebrand' her image ahead of her return to the air. Fortunately, they were able to help Libbi find the perfect gig at Disrupt, which launches on Monday. She said listeners can expect lots of informative interviews - but admitted she is done playing her raunchy 90s alter-ego Ellie McFeast, after an infamous interview on her ABC talk show McFeast Live with a drunk Mark 'Chopper' Read in 1998. The comedian recently announced she will host a weekday breakfast program on the soon to be launched digital station Disrupt Radio The notorious interview with the career criminal turned TV star horrified audiences after a visibly drunk Chopper rocked up and boasted about how many people he had killed. He then leered at Gorr's breasts and attempted to grope her in front of the studio audience. The ABC was inundated with complaints over the shocking segment and later apologised to audiences, admitting that screening it was 'an error of judgement'. She said listeners can expect lots of informative interviews - but admitted she is done playing her raunchy 90s alter-ego Ellie McFeast, after an infamous interview on her ABC talk show McFeast Live with a drunk Mark 'Chopper' Read (pictured) in 1998 The notorious interview with the career criminal turned TV star horrified audiences after a visibly drunk Chopper Read rocked up and boasted about how many people he had killed The aftermath saw Gorr sadly blamed by many, as people questioned why she ever thought it would be a good idea to book a notorious career criminal for a talk show. The ABC have worked hard to ensure footage of the event does not resurface on social media and it was recently pulled from YouTube over 'copyright grounds'. 'I was cancelled before it was invented. I probably lost about four years. I didn't realise I was in a dark place because no-one talked about dark places back then, but I was definitely knocked sideways by it.' Fortunately, Libbi worked hard to reestablish her image and in the years since rebranded herself as a hard-hitting journalist. Kate Mara and her husband, Jamie Bell, were seen enjoying a relaxing stroll with their seven-month-old son in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles on Saturday. The American Horror Story alum, 40, who was recently seen sharing a passionate kiss with the Billy Elliot actor, 37, was also spotted grabbing a tasty iced coffee during the weekend outing. The mother of two embraced the warmer temperatures by donning a blue and white floral-patterned sundress. She layered the ensemble with a denim flannel and slipped into a pair of white sneakers that were secured with laces to stay comfortable during the walk. Her locks were slicked back into a simple ponytail and the beauty threw on a pair of stylish shades to protect her eyes from the bright sunshine outdoors. Family time: Kate Mara and her husband, Jamie Bell, were seen enjoying a relaxing stroll with their seven-month-old son in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles on Saturday A small, cream-colored cross-body bag was easily slung over her left shoulder to hold a few items she needed, including her smartphone. The Fantastic Four actress opted for minimal accessories, and added a dainty gold-chained necklace for an elegant touch. Jamie also opted for casual comfort, and was seen sporting a pair of black sweatpants along with a red and white, Emirates jersey top. The Rocketman actor additionally tied a light gray sweater around his waist in case the weather grew a little cooler later during the day. He slipped into a pair of black socks and dark navy shoes, while also throwing on a pair of black sunglasses. The BAFTA winner was seen carrying a large brown paper bag in his right hand, as well as a bouquet of colorful flowers during the stroll. Kate lovingly carried their son in her arms as they made their way across a busy street. The two lovebirds began dating in 2015, and became engaged in January 2017. Later that same year, the couple said 'I do' in July. In 2019, the stars welcomed their first child together, a daughter, four, and announced that their son was born in November 2022. Doting mother: The American Horror Story alum flashed a cheerful smile as she carried her son in her arms and also sipped on a tasty iced coffee during the outing Lovebirds: The two lovebirds began dating in 2015, and became engaged in January 2017 and later that same year, the couple said 'I do' in July; seen in January in Los Angeles Upon tying the knot, Mara also became stepmother to Bell's other son whom he shares with ex-wife, Evan Rachel Wood. Kate jumped to her Instagram page late last year in November to reveal their baby boy had been welcomed to the world along with a cute snap of his tiny feet. In the caption of the post, the actress penned, 'Had a baby a week ago. Here are his feet,' followed by an orange heart emoji. At the time her daughter was born, Mara shared a similar post and has yet to reveal the names of her two children. While talking to E! News to promote the sixth season of Netflix's Black Mirror earlier this month in June, the beauty gushed about motherhood. 'It's the best.' 'I was very pregnant while we were filming this episode with my little boy,' she explained, referencing to the third episode of the latest season that she starred in titled, Beyond The Sea. 'So, it's cool to watch 'cause in every scene I think to myself, "Oh, there's at least two of us in this scene."' The sixth season, which contains a total of five episodes, officially dropped on the streaming site on June 15. Kate joined other stars such as Aaron Paul and Josh Hartnett in the episode which takes place in an 'alternative 1969' with Paul and Hartnett's characters embarking on 'perilous high-tech space mission.' She portrayed Aaron's wife, Lana, in the episode. 'I actually wasn't surprised how dark and twisted certain elements are,' she told E! News about the script. Parenthood: Kate jumped to her Instagram page late last year in November to reveal their baby boy had been welcomed to the world along with a cute snap of his tiny feet Recent headlines: Kate also appeared in headlines recently when Elliot Page revealed in his new memoir, Pageboy, that they had a secret relationship after coming out as gay in 2014 She later added that, 'I was sort of pleasantly surprised at the experience of let's just focus on, for Lana anyway, her relationship with her family and her desire to connect more with her husband.' Kate also appeared in headlines recently when Elliot Page revealed in his new memoir, Pageboy, that they had a secret relationship after he came out as gay in 2014 when Mara was still dating her then-boyfriend, Max Minghella. Jamie Bell also has a number of projects up his sleeve, including the upcoming biopic titled, Fred & Ginger. The premise will 'tell the untold love story between Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, both on and off the screen,' per IMDB. The British-born actor will tackle the role of Astaire while Margaret Qualley has been cast to portray Rogers. With the project still in its pre-production stages, a set release date has yet to be announced. Mindy Kaling honored her two children, including her daughter Katherine 'Kit' Swati and son Spencer Avu, on her birthday. The 44-year-old writer and actress who stars in the Max series Velma took to Instagram on Saturday to mark the milestone occasion. Engaging her 6.5 million followers, she uploaded an adorable photo of her daughter, five, and her son, two, trailing behind her as they pulled small suitcases. In the caption, she wrote: 'Look I know Im clearly materialistic but the best birthday gift to me, for the rest of my life, are these two guys.' Proud mom: Mindy Kaling honored her two children daughter Katherine 'Kit' Swati and son Spencer Avu on her birthday Birthday post: The 44-year-old writer and actress took to Instagram on Saturday to mark the milestone occasion The post has so far collected more than 143,000 likes from her loyal fan base on the photo-sharing platform. The note continued, 'I was never a 'kid' person. When my mom passed though, it just clicked in me: I wanted kids with such intense certainty. I bet some of you can relate.' The heartfelt message went on to say: 'Now Im just trying to be present for them (hard for me! Im impatient!), being up for anything (again hard for me, I am not whimsical!), and stay healthy for these two guys (ALSO hard! I just want to eat cheesesteaks every meal in front of the TV) for until Im an old gray skeleton theyre like 'mom, you gotta go." 'My doctor told me that this year I was the healthiest Ive been in years. Thats a pretty damn good gift, right?' She got candid as she shared, 'Im usually kind of low-level anxious, so Im just gonna take one minute on my birthday to acknowledge that I am happy.' Then, The Office star added, 'Man, there are ups and downs in this life!! But my ups seem to be the most important ones right now. 'Thanks for my birthday love. (Also maybe I will buy myself that trendy Dior bag that looks like a kidney bean).' Likes and comments quickly poured it from her dedicated collective of supporters. Family unit: Mindy's children pictured with her father, Avu Chokalingam Feeling good: 'I'm feeling really confident in my body these days, which is not something that I've been able to say for my whole life, unfortunately,' she revealed to People Speaking to People, the star recently got candid about the commitment she's made to her health and well-being. 'I'm feeling really confident in my body these days, which is not something that I've been able to say for my whole life, unfortunately,' she revealed to the outlet. 'I feel great.' Mindy added, 'I know people are really interested in my body and the changes in my body, and I think it's flattering and sometimes it's just a little much, so I don't try to tune it in too much.' Then she admitted: 'The truth is that I spend so much time and energy trying to be healthy.' 'It's really a big commitment,' she dished, making a point to note that that squeezing workouts into her gridlocked schedule is sometimes difficult. 'It's hard with two kids that I wake up really early and I fit it in and I basically live in workout clothes so I can get it in, get an extra mile in.' She told the outlet, 'I just tell myself I have to do basically 20 miles a week of either hiking or running. And so that's been incredibly helpful to me.' Mindy's animated show Velma was recently renewed for a second season on Max. Season 2: Mindy's animated show Velma has been renewed for a second season on Max, in spite of poor reviews The animated series will live to see another day, according to Variety. The show, which covers the origin story of Velma Dinkley and the Mystery Inc gang from Scooby Doo, has been roundly panned by critics and fans alike. It received a 40-percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and an even lower audience score of seven percent. The renewal comes despite the fact that many of the comments made about the show were negative, according to Movie Web. She recently returned to Sydney following an overseas trip to New Zealand with her family. And on Saturday, Zoe Foster Blake fought off the jet-lag as she went for a walk through Sydney's Vaucluse. The 42-year-old opted for comfort in a grey oversized hoodie and black leggings. Zoe completed her look wearing a pair of white sneakers and socks. She pulled her hair up into a bun for the casual occasion, and wore a pair of oversized cat-eye sunglasses. Zoe Foster Blake, 42, (pictured) kept a low profile in an oversized hoodie as she stepped out for morning exercise in Sydney's Vaucluse on Saturday She opted for comfort in a grey oversized hoodie and black leggings, and completed her look wearing a pair of white sneakers and socks. The brunette, along with her comedian husband Hamish, and their two children Sonny, eight, and Ruby, five, arrived back in Australia following their trip to Auckland last weekend. The family have been traveling the globe in recent weeks, and even went on a trip to Tokyo. Hamish shared a carousel of photos to his Instagram of the holiday, where the family were seen enjoying a trip to Disneyland in matching tracksuits that had 'Team Blake' bedazzled on the back. Zoe along with her comedian husband Hamish (right), and their two children Sonny, eight, and Ruby, five, arrived back in Australia following their trip to Auckland last weekend They also enjoyed a ninja class and shared photos of the various foods they tried, including Pokemon bao buns. The comedian captioned the photos: 'Blake Family Tour of Japan is in the books. Thousands of core mems, but mostly I learnt that 1. Team tracksuits are never not worth it.' '2. You might think you look really authentic and awesome at ninja school but 3. You look like Brian's Mum from Life of Brian. 'Thank you Japan, such a rad country to explore with kids.' Hamish shared a carousel of photos to his Instagram of the family holiday, where they were seen enjoying a trip to Disneyland in matching tracksuits that had 'Team Blake' bedazzled on the back Kyle Richards and sister Kathy Hilton appear to have buried the hatchet on their most recent drama that began in Aspen last year. And it looks as though a trip back to the Colorado resort town to celebrate sister Kim Richards' daughter Whitney Davis' nuptials to fiance Luke White was part of the medicine. 'Pre wedding celebration with my sisters and our offspring,' Kyle, 54, gushed in the caption of a video showing the three sisters and the rest of the brood singing Sister Sledge's classic hit We Are Family during a night of karaoke on Friday, one day before the wedding. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills sisters were joined by their respective daughters, including Kyle's four children: Farrah, 34, from her marriage to ex-husband Guraish Aldjfrie; and Alexia, 26; Sophia, 23; and Portia, 15, whom she shares with second husband Mauricio Umansky, 52. Feeling the celebratory mood in the air, Kathy Hilton, 64, didn't show any signs of an ongoing feud when she commented on Kyle's post: 'Such a beautiful night with Our Family!!! We love you @whittlesdavis@Lukewhite.' Working it out: Kyle Richards and sister Kathy Hilton appear to have resolved their feud ahead of the family's celebration of Whitney Davis' nuptials to fiance Luke White in Aspen, Colorado. The drama began last year with a RHOBH cast visit to Aspen Later Friday evening, not long after the karaoke exhibition, the ladies decided to make the rounds around town, which included a pitstop at the Kemo Sabe boutique. Still feeling playful, Kyle and Kathy went behind the bar for an impromptu photoshoot, where they both made light of the dispute from last year. A video that ended up on Farrah's Instagram Story showed them laughing and smiling as they held up bottles of Kendalls Tequila and Kathys Tequila, which reinforced the notion that their feud was a done deal. In another sign of peace, the family were seen all enjoying each other's company during the pre-wedding festivities earlier on Friday. During one particular gathering in the afternoon, Kyle could be seen smiling and laughing outside the event dressed in skin-tight blue jeans with a black sleeveless T-shirt. The reality star incorporating some of the local country style with a pair of black cowboy boots and a black cowboy hat over her long dark locks that flowed out the sides and down her back. Kyle could be seen spending a lot of her time at the event focused on the youngest of her four children. Taking a cue from mom, or maybe the other way around, Sophia wore brown patterned cowboy boots with a matching cowboy hat, to go along with her short blue denim miniskirt and fitted brown T-shirt. Opting for more a chic look, Kathy was decked out in an off-white and dark brown patterned dress that came complete with a plunging neckline and wide two-inch straps that were consistent with the rest of design. She was first seen at the event making her way up from a basement entrance, where the party was being held, to join many of her family members and other guests. She had her blonde tresses styled long and flowing well past her shoulders with added volume and a part in the middle. Stylish: Hilton, 64, was decked out in an off-white and dark brown-patterned dress Celebratory: The mother of four came up from the basement entrance of the party to chat with family and other wedding guests Festive: Many of the guests stood outside the party, which was held one day before the wedding, and chatted on the street Family: Kyle Richards spent a lot of time with the youngest of her four children, Portia, 15 Country girl: The RHOBH star incorporated some of the local style and wore cowboy boots and a matching hat, to go along with her fitted blue jeans and black top Twinning: Even Portia got in on the country style by wearing brown cowboy boots and a matching cowboy hat, to go along with her skimpy blue denim miniskirt and fitted top More Hilton sisters: Paris, 42, and Nicky Hilton, 39, appeared to arrive at the event with their respective husbands Carter Reum, 42, and James Rothschild, 37 Chic: Paris showed off her fashion sense in a pink-patterned dress and white heeled shoes, while her husband went with whit pants with a brown suede jacket and black loafers Kathy shares two daughters, Paris, 41, and Nicky, 39; and two Barron, 33; and Conrad, 29, with husband Rick Hilton. Both Hilton sisters were on hand for the wedding party celebration, along with their respective husbands: Carter Reum, 42, and James Rothschild, 37. Never one to skimp when it comes to fashion, Paris looked elegant in a pink-patterned dress and white heeled shoes that had a strap that wound around her ankles. The former Simple Life star also carried a white furry coat around with her in case there was a temperature tumble. Sister Nicky decided to go a little more casual in a blue denim skirt with a white blouse and a brown jacket over her shoulders, at times when she was feeling a bit chilly. Both Paris and Nicky added a healthy dose of volume to their dyed-blonde locks, which were both styled long, straight and flowing with parts just off to the side. The recent drama between Richards and Hilton all started last year when the cast took a trip to Aspen that included a previous stop at Kemo Sabe during the RHOBH season 12 shoot. Hilton got angry at fellow castmate Lisa Rinna when she ordered Kendall Jenners 818 Tequila instead of her own Casa Del Sol brand. Hilton's agitation only seemed to get worse after the group decided to go to a different club later that night, for which Rinna alleged sent the Paris In Love alum into an 'absolute meltdown' away from the cameras, where she griped about her ups and downs with Richards. But the former I Want To Be A Hilton star has since disputed the claims. By the time the cast returned home to Southern California, Hilton made an attempt to apologize to Rinna as the cameras were rolling. But, in the end, nothing was resolved and they left the reunion, which was broadcast in October 2022, still at odds. Say cheese: Of course the day wouldn't be complete without a Hilton selfie Casual style: Nicky Hilton showed her sense of casual style in a blue denim skirt with a white blouse, brown heels and a brown jacket over her shoulders when she was feeling chilly Wedding party: The bride, Whitney Davis, looked stylish in a white jumpsuit and a black cowboy hat over her long light brown locks Family celebration: Kim Richards, 58, was celebratory mode as her daughter was set to tie-the-knot on Saturday Pre-wedding festivities: The party was held the day before the nuptials of Whitney Davis' and fiance Luke White Peaceful party: Kyle and Kathy were all smiles as they joined family members for karaoke night on Friday in Aspen, one day before the wedding Celebration: In the caption of the post, Richard penned, 'Pre wedding celebration with my sisters and our offspring' Hilarious: A post on Kyle's Instagram page appeared to make light of the feud with Kathy: 'Balance has been restored #rhobh @queensofbavo' it read in the caption of a clip from Good Will Hunting, where Robin Williams' character tells Matt Damon's: 'It's not your fault' Bury the hatchet: Kathy and Kyle appeared to bury the hatchet by going back to the Kemo Sabe in Aspen on Friday, which is where the dispute reportedly all started last year But it appears in the months since then the ladies have mended their differences and have moved on to more a more pleasant standing, just ahead of the wedding celebration. Kyle Richards has the distinction of being the only cast member to star in all 12 seasons of the series that premiered back in 2010. Kathy Hilton recently left the show after serving as a guest star for six of the first 10 seasons, while most recently being dubbed a 'friend' of the cast for seasons 11 and 12. After having gotten engaged in December 2021, Davis and White ended up tying-the-knot in Aspen on Saturday, June 24. Former Married At First Sight star Jessika Power recently confirmed she has split from her boyfriend Connor Thompson after two years. And on Sunday, the 31-year-old, who relocated from Queensland to Manchester in 2021 after falling for the Englishman, showed her ex exactly what he's missing. Posing on Instagram in racy black lingerie and thigh-high patent leather boots, the blonde OnlyFans star wrote: '[I] Keep uploading this and taking it down.' 'I've been so worried about being too 'single' too 'happy', but I'm neither,' she continued. 'I am going to get through this with my brain intact, if not my heart.' Jessika last week confirmed she split with her English boyfriend after two years, saying that the decision was mutual. Jessika Power, 31, (pictured) took to Instagram to show her ex UK boyfriend Connor Thompson what he is missing on Saturday, sharing this image of herself posing in skimpy black lingerie and patent leather boots The former Married At First Sight star recently confirmed she has split from her boyfriend Connor Thompson (left) after two years Connor also confirmed the split to Daily Mail Australia on June 22. Jessika has since unfollowed her beau on Instagram and has also revealed her plans to move back to Australia. She also shared a post to her Instagram story asking her fans to recommend a removalist company to bring her belongings back home. 'I've been so worried about being too 'single' too 'happy', but I'm neither,' she continued. 'I am going to get through this with my brain intact, if not my heart' The reality TV star also shared a cryptic quote to her Instagram about 'happiness and respect'. 'Staying in a relationship just because you love somebody is not worth it. Love is not all you need. Respect is what you need. Time is what you need. Reassurance is what you need. Happiness is what you need. A best friend is what you need,' it read. In September last year, Jessika revealed Connor had met all of her family and they all approved. 'He's met my family in Perth and my family on the Gold Coast,' she said at the time. Last week Jessika posted to her Instagram Story asking fans to recommend a removalist company to bring her belongings back home to Australia The reality TV star also shared a cryptic quote to her Instagram about 'happiness and respect' 'I haven't introduced most of my boyfriends to my family, but every single family member, even my dad, love him.' She added: 'My nan asked me the other day when we're getting married!' Jessica and Connor returned Down Under in August last year to promote Celebrity Slim, which she is the face of. The blonde rose to fame on season six of Married At First Sight Australia in 2019. Dr Chris Brown's first TV gig at Channel Seven will be hosting the red carpet at the 2023 Logie Awards. The former Channel 10 star, 44, will return to screens as a guest presenter alongside a bevy of other talent on July 30. The TV Week Logie Awards, which will air on Channel Seven, will be held in Sydney for the first time in 37 years. The ceremony will be hosted by comedian Sam Pang. It has also been confirmed the Bondi Vet star will be hosting a new program called Dream Home - a renovation series set to rival Channel Nine's The Block. Dr Chris Brown 's first TV gig at Seven will be hosting the red carpet at the 2023 Logie Awards Brown will also be producing and hosting a new animal adventure series for Seven. 'To be able to bring my world of animals to life in an original, adventurous and breathtaking way truly excites me,' Brown said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia. 'I cant wait for the worlds wildlife and the search for Australias best Dream Home to land in our lounge rooms in 2024.' Both Dream Home and the untitled animal adventure series will go into production next year. Brown has signed a two-year contract with Seven worth more than $1million a year. He will officially join the network in July following his contractual obligations for I'm A Celebrity this year and is expected to produce 'new projects' across the network. Brown's appearance on Seven is somewhat of a homecoming. It has also been confirmed the Bondi Vet star will be hosting a new program called Dream Home - a renovation series set to rival Channel Nine's The Block - and producing and hosting a new animal adventure series on Seven The former Channel 10 star, 44, will return to screens as a guest presenter alongside a bevy of other talent on July 30. Pictured with I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! co-host Julia Morris He started his TV career in 2003 as a presenter on Harry's Practice on Seven, a role that earned him a Logie nomination for Most Popular New Talent. 'I'm not entirely sure my old access pass works, but once we get over that hurdle and I'm back from the jungle, I can't wait to sink my teeth into some exciting new projects in the second half of the year and beyond with Seven,' Brown said in an official statement earlier this year. James Warburton, Seven West Media's managing director and CEO, added: 'We are very pleased to welcome Chris back to Seven. It's been too long. 'Chris is one of the most popular and recognised people on Australian TV, bringing warmth, intelligence and a great sense of humour to everything he does. 'We can't wait to have him on board and to announce the great new content he will star in.' Pip Edwards is known for her love of designer clothes and accessories. And on Saturday, the P.E Nation founder, 42, stepped out in a pair of very expensive designer slides as she stepped out in Sydney. The activewear designer wore black Balenciaga furry sandals, which retail for $1020, as she went to a Pilates class. Pip kept warm with a brown jumper from her collection, and black track pants as she arrived to the studio. The Sydney socialite kept a low profile with sunglasses and a hoodie as she parked her car and crossed the road. Pip Edwards, 42, (pictured) wore a pair of $1000 Balenciaga slides as she went to a Pilates class in Sydney on Saturday The sighting comes on the heels of the unfortunate news of P.E Nation downsizing due to 'challenging market conditions'. 'In response to the challenging economic conditions, the board of P.E Nation has implemented measures to streamline and restructure the business,' Edwards stated in an official release to The Daily Telegraph. 'Regrettably, this has resulted in the difficult decision to make six staff redundant.' Pip added: 'These measures align with the overall restructuring efforts, which are necessary to secure the continued growth and success of the business.' The Sydney socialite launched her activewear label P.E Nation in 2016 with her friend and business partner Claire Tregoning, turning it into an international brand sold by 600 individual retailers in 95 countries. Pip kept warm with a brown jumper from her collection, and black track pants as she arrived to the studio Earlier this year, Pip was forced to deny rumours of a falling out with Claire - whose office had been cleared out and turned into a 'creative space' following a months-long absence. The pair went on a business trip to the UK together in November 2022, where they promoted their athleisure company, took selfies in London, and lunched with the likes of former foreign minister Julie Bishop. But Daily Mail Australia revealed there were rumours swirling the deep friendship at the core of the business may have crumbled during their luxury trip away. The Sydney socialite kept a low profile with sunglasses and a hoodie as she parked her car and crossed the road A source with knowledge of the company's internal dealings alleged: 'Pip and Claire have had a falling out.' The source said Tregoning took one month off in December, extended her break for another month in January, and then opted for another three months' leave. Her office in the company's Sydney headquarters has now been cleared and repurposed as a 'creative room'. A P.E Nation spokeswoman denied that the pair are feuding, insisting they remain 'committed and collaborative business partners'. The post comes on the heels of the unfortunate news of P.E Nation downsizing due to 'challenging market conditions' 'Claire is taking some well-earned time off and remains an important part of P.E Nation,' the spokeswoman said. '(She) is taking a well-earned sabbatical for a few months.' Tregoning reiterated the message when contacted for comment, adding: 'The business and Pip have both been great supporters of my sabbatical and I am grateful to have this time off with my family.' She did not respond to questions about her office at headquarters being cleared out, however the P.E Nation spokeswoman admitted it has been repurposed for the duration of her absence. 'Whilst Claire is not in the office, we are using her office space for other purposes, including a meeting and creative room,' they said. She was previously in a very public open relationship with Bachelor star Konrad Bien-Stephens. But The Bachelor's Abbie Chatfield is taking a more traditional approach to her latest romance, after recently announcing she is dating a mystery man. During an Instagram Q&A on Sunday, the radio host was asked whether she is currently in an open relationship, to which the 28-year-old replied: 'I'm now the queen of monogamy. It's so random.' The bisexual media personal later clarified that she is 'exclusive with a man at the moment', after one fan asked whether she was dating any women. She first mentioned she was dating someone in early May during the Adelaide leg of her Trauma Dump tour. The Bachelor's Abbie Chatfield, 28, (pictured) confirmed relationship status with mystery new boyfriend and branded herself the 'queen of monogamy' in an Instagram Story post on Sunday The time, the podcast host said she was 'trying out' monogamy again, but was confused by some of the terms involved. 'I don't get monogamous language,' she told the sold-out crowd at the Thebarton Theatre in Torrensville. 'I didn't know what exclusive meant.' Abbie was previously in a very public open relationship with Bachelor star Konrad Bien-Stephens (left) The Hit Network presenter did not reveal the identity of her partner, telling the audience her new relationship was still in its very early stages. 'It's been six days!' she said. She also addressed rumours she'd dated American musician Yung Gravy while he was in the country in February. The bisexual media personal later clarified that she is 'exclusive with a man at the moment', after one fan asked whether she was dating any women She first mentioned she was dating someone in early May during the Adelaide leg of her Trauma Dump tour At the time, footage surfaced online of Abbie and the Betty rapper, 27, looking cosy at several venues in Sydney. Abbie commented on the speculation at her Adelaide show, shutting down reports the two had slept together. 'I certainly didn't spend two nights at his hotel [with Gravy],' she said in a sarcastic tone, leaving the audience to speculate. 'Nothing happened. We just had Macca's.' Abbie broke up with Bachelorette star Konrad Bien-Stephen last August after dating non-exclusively for about a year. Australian model Elyse Taylor has filed a child support modification against her ex-husband Seth Campbell in New York Supreme Court. According to the Daily Telegraph, Campbell requested approval on who Taylor, 36, dated, married and spent time with as well as where and when she travelled. If he didn't receive this information, he threatened to reduce child support and evict her from the home she shares with the pair's nine-year-old daughter Lila. The New York court prevented Campbell from selling the property and ordered him to continue his child support payments. He has also filed a custody modification proceeding in Florida. Campbell and Taylor are set to appear in court on July 6. Former Victoria's Secret model Elyse Taylor (left) is continuing her child support fight against her ex-husband Seth Campbell (right) after he threatened to evict her from their home The former couple called it quits on their marriage back in 2016. The pair had been married for over a year after tying the knot in August 2014 in the US. 'Elyse's main priority is the happiness and well-being of Lila,' a source said at the time. According to the Daily Telegraph, Campbell requested approval on who Taylor dated, married and spent time with. If he didn't receive this information, he threatened to reduce child support and evict her from the home she shares with the pair's nine-year-old daughter Lila (pictured) The couple exchanged vows in front of approximately 200 guests on the manicured grounds at The Campbell Farm. A month after the nuptials, Elyse said she was very serious about her marriage to Seth. She told The Daily Telegraph at the time: 'I'll only do it once. It was such an intense experience.' Discovered at age 18, Taylor moved to New York where she was immediately booked by major labels such as Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino and Trussardi After giving birth to daughter Lila in March 2014, Elyse soon after returned to work as one of Australia's most successful international beauties. Discovered at age 18, she moved to New York where she was immediately booked by major labels such as Dolce & Gabbana, Bottega Veneta, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino and Trussardi. Since then she has featured in campaigns for Estee Lauder and Victoria's Secret, having also starred in the lingerie brand's highly coveted annual fashion show with the likes of Miranda Kerr. Margot Robbie showed off her best Barbie look wearing an all-pink ensemble in new photos uploaded onto the movie's main Instagram page on Saturday in celebration of the press tour kicking off. The Australian-born star, 32, who recently appeared in a new teaser for Greta Gerwig's live-action film based on the popular Mattel doll, was seen striking a few poses with a pastel pink convertible parked on a scenic Beverly Hills street. The blonde beauty put on a leggy display in a light pink, pleated miniskirt and donned a matching bralette top that showed off her toned frame. She slipped into a pair of open-toed, pink heels and easily slung a pink purse over her right arm for a stylish flare. The actress's long blonde locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in elegant curls. I'm a Barbie girl! Margot Robbie, 32, showed off her best Barbie look wearing an all-pink ensemble in new photos uploaded onto the movie's main Instagram page on Saturday in celebration of the press tour kicking off All about the pink: The blonde beauty put on a leggy display in a light pink, pleated miniskirt and donned a matching bralette top that showed off her toned frame Margot accessorized the fashionable, Barbie-themed ensemble by adding a pair of dainty earrings and threw on a pair of white-rimmed sunglasses for a finishing touch. The Wolf Of Wall Street star was pictured standing next to the sleek, vintage convertible and struck a pose next to the open car door next to the driver's side. She soon plopped herself onto the seat and turned around to rest her hands on the back of the vehicle. The actress flashed a cheerful smile towards the camera, while a row of palm trees stretched out behind her and lined the crystal clear blue sky in sunny Los Angeles. In the caption of the post shared on the film's official Instagram page, it read: 'Its the best day ever! The Barbie press tour has officially begun,' followed by a red heart emoji. Ahead of the film releasing in theaters next month on July 21, a global press tour will first take place to count down the days until Barbie's big premiere on the big screen to anticipated fans and viewers. Margot will make stops in cities such as London, Berlin, as well as Seoul. A special fan event is slated to be held on June 30 in Sydney, where Robbie will also be joined by fellow castmates, Issa Rae and America Ferrera, and also Greta Gerwig. Gerwig, who is known for directing past films such as Little Women (2019) and Lady Bird (2017), not only took on the role as director of the upcoming fantasy comedy, but also co-wrote the screenplay with Noah Baumbach. Hitting the road! In the caption of the post shared on the film's official Instagram page, it read: 'Its the best day ever! The Barbie press tour has officially begun' Anticipated: The movie, which stars Margot as Barbie, and Ryan Gosling as Ken, officially hits theaters later next month on July 21; the two stars seen in April in Las Vegas Counting down the days: Ahead of the film releasing in theaters next month on July 21, a global press tour will first take place to count down the days until Barbie's big premiere on the big screen During an interview with BAFTA earlier in April, per IndieWire, Margot, who is also a producer on the project, admitted that after reading the script, she assumed that the film would not come into fruition. 'The first time I read the Barbie script, my reaction was, "Ah! This is so good. What a shame it will never see the light of day because they are never going to let us make this movie,"' she stated, and then proudly added, 'But they did.' The Barbie movie not only stars Margot, but also Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Issa Rae, Hari Nef, Simu Liu and Dua Lipa. Various versions of both the Barbie and Ken dolls will be portrayed, with actress Helen Mirren narrating the film. The premise of the movie, which has a budget of $100 million, follows Barbie and Ken as they travel to the real world in order to find the true meaning of happiness. Filming began last year in 2022 at Warner Bros. Studios in England, while some exterior shots were notably filmed outdoors in Los Angeles. During an interview with Vogue last month in May, Margot explained that the movie aimed to cater to both fans of the Mattel dolls, but also those that don't like or even 'hate' the dolls. 'We of course would want to honor the 60-year legacy that this brand has,' she explained to the outlet. 'But we have to acknowledge that there are a lot of people who aren't fans of Barbie.' 'And in fact, arent just indifferent to Barbie. They actively hate Barbie. And have a real issue with Barbie. We need to find a way to acknowledge that,' the star added. Working together: Gerwig, who is known for directing past films such as Little Women (2019), not only took on the role as director of the upcoming fantasy comedy, but also co-wrote the screenplay; the two seen earlier this month in NYC Goals: During an interview with Vogue last month in May, Margot explained that the movie aimed to cater to both fans of the Mattel dolls, but also those that don't like or even 'hate' the dolls Taking on the role: She also opened up about the sexualization of Barbie, and how she aimed to portray the character in the film She also opened up about the sexualization of Barbie, and how she aimed to portray the character in the film. 'Im like, "Okay, shes a doll. Shes a plastic doll. She doesnt have organs."' 'If she doesnt have organs, she doesnt have reproductive organs. If she doesnt have reproductive organs, would she even feel sexual desire? No, I dont think she could,' Robbie further expressed. 'She is sexualized. But she should never be sexy. People can project sex onto her. Yes, she can wear a short skirt, but because it's fun and pink. Not because she wanted you to see her butt.' The live-action Barbie movie is slated to premiere in theaters on July 20 in Australia, and the following day on July 21 in the U.S. and U.K. The promotional push for the upcoming Netflix's film Nimona is now in effect. On Saturday, some of the cast and crew were on hand for a special screening at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York City. The computer-animated science fantasy adventure comedy features the voice of Chloe Grace Moretz as the titular character and Academy Award-winner Riz Ahmed as her partner and former knight. Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane from a screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, Nimona is based on the graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson. The story begins when Nimona (Moretz), a teenager with the power to shapeshift, is targeted by a knight for assassination. The knight's mission to kill Nimona becomes complicated when he is accused of a crime, and learns that Nimona may be able to exonerate him, according to Movie Web. Promo push: Chloe Grace Moretz, 26, attended a special screening of Netflix's upcoming computer-animated film Nimona on Saturday in New York City Ahead of the screening, Moretz, 26, hit the red carpet in black flared slacks and a white-patterned shirt with pinstripes that she left unbuttoned to reveal the white top underneath. The Atlanta, Georgia native also wore a pair of black pointed heels, and had her new blonde bob styled in a slight wet look, pushed back off her face, and behind her ears. 'This is a movie for anyone other than,' Moretz shared in an interview on the red carpet that was posted on her Instagram Story. 'For anyone who has ever felt felt ostracized by society, or villainized for the way they present themselves, or the way that they were born.' The Let Me In star would also take to her Instagram page to post a series of photos of herself striking various poses. '#Nimona premiere day, what a beautiful movie. So proud to be part of this so excited for you all to watch it only on Netflix June 30th!' she wrote in the caption. Along with Moretz and Ahmed the cast of voice actors also includes Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul, Sarah Sherman, Indya Moore and Julio Torres. In the film, Nimona, a shapeshifter ,insists on being the sidekick to Ballister Blackheart, who's played by Riz Ahmed Nimona is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on June 30. Premise: Moretz voices the role of Nimona (Moretz), a teenager with the power to shape shift, who is targeted by a knight for assassination. Cool cat: The actress looked stylish in a floral pinstripe shirt, flared slacks and pointed heels Coming soon: Nimona is set to drop on Netflic June 30; pictured are co-director Troy Quane, novel writer ND Stevenson, Moretz, Eugene Lee Yang, who plays Ambrosius Goldenloin, and co-director Nick Bruno Working it: The Let Me In star also dropped a few poses off to the side of the red carpet Socializing: The Atlanta, Georgia native also took to Instagram to promote the film Stylin': The actress would strike a few poses for her social media presence Resume: The former child star made her debut in debut on television 2004 and on film the following year; many fans know her for The Equalizer, which starred Denzel Washington Voice cast: Along with Moretz and Ahmed the cast of voice actors also includes Eugene Lee Yang, Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul, Sarah Sherman, Indya Moore and Julio Torres Her take: 'This is a movie for anyone other than,' Moretz shared in an interview on the red carpet that was posted on her Instagram Story. 'For anyone who has ever felt felt ostracized by society, or villainized for the way they present themselves, or the way that they were born' lead roles: The computer-animated science fantasy adventure comedy features the voice of Chloe Grace Moretz as the titular character and Academy Award winner Riz Ahmed as her partner and former knight Moretz's first acting role was as Violet in two episodes of the CBS series The Guardian (2004), while her first film role was as Molly in Heart of the Beholder. (2005). She would go on to gain recognition with her second film role in The Amityville Horror (2005). Some fans know her from her portrayal of Abby, a 12-year-old vampire, in Let Me In (2010), which was the UK/US remake of the Swedish film Let The Right One In. Her Hollywood resume also include such films as The Eye (2008), 500 Days Of Summer (2009), Clouds of Sils Maria (2014), The Equalizer (2014), Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016), Brain On Fire (2016) and Mother/Android (2021), among many others. Lara Worthington has debuted teeth bling from the early '90s and 2000s. The model, 36, took to Instagram to share the design made from Gabby Elan Jewelry, worth $4,200. Lara shared two photos of the dazzling creation in close-up photos which divided opinion. 'Not a fan at all. I'm surprised you would go for this look,' one fan wrote, clearly disapproving of the trend. 'Just soo wrong!!!' another wrote. 'How ridiculous,' added on more. Lara Worthington has divided opinion after debuted her new diamond teeth bling. Pictured However, not everyone disliked them with some fans left cooing over the teeth bling. 'Woah now I want them,' one fan wrote. 'That looks amazing,' another added. 'Looking good my friend,' yet another wrote, tagging Gabby. Fans offered mixed opinions about the bling with some calling it 'ridiculous' while others said the model inspired them to get a pair According to Gabby's website, each diamond spacer costs $700 each. Lara has been busy alongside actor husband Sam Worthington at the shows for Paris Fashion Week. The stylish pair have been seen at the OTW By Vans Party at Point Alexandre III. Lara seemed pleased with the bling as she gave a close-up look at it According to Gabby's website, each diamond spacer costs $700 each Lara and Sam share three sons - Rocket, seven, Racer, six, and River, two. The family spent most of 2021 in Australia after living in the US for several years. The family have since returned to America and are living in New York City. Fans have rallied behind Wiz Khalifa in support after he revealed that he sustained a 'small rip in the cartilage' of his pelvis. The 10-time Grammy nominee, 35, shared the health update via a series of tweets on Friday, telling followers that his injury 'f***in hurts and pain medicine ain't helping'. The Black and Yellow hitmaker is a practitioner of martial arts, he revealed last year, though it's unclear if his injury is related to his training. Revealing his accident for the first time, Wiz shared to social media: 'Told the lady i ain't need no help then proceeded to f*** my back up'. He later shared two videos of him wearing kinesiology tape and walking with two canes. Support: Fans have rallied behind Wiz Khalifa in support after he revealed that he sustained a 'small rip in the cartilage' of his pelvis Wiz could be seen wearing a pair of black Calvin Klein boxers as he took steps in what appeared to be his bedroom. Captioning the clips, he penned: 'Small rip in the cartilage of my pelvis but Ill be right back.' Stuck in bed, the rapper admitted, he later retweeted and responded to several fans who sent him well wishes. 'Much love my brother, recover fast & healthy', one wrote. Another said: 'Wishing you the best recovery youre always spreading positive vibes so Im trying to spread some to you!' He later reassured fans that he was being cautious, saying he was 'watchin movies till this swelling go down.' 'The pain isn't from the actual tear so soon as the spasms stop i should be Gu Wop,' he wrote in one tweet before adding, 'Ima finna have super hips after this.' On Saturday, he updated fans by sharing another video of himself walking at a faster speed, this time without walking sticks. Candid: The 10-time Grammy nominee, 35, shared the health update via a series of tweets on Friday, telling followers that his injury 'f***in hurts and pain medicine ain't helping' Struggling: Revealing his accident for the first time, Wiz shared to social media: 'Told the lady i ain't need no help then proceeded to f*** my back up' Alongside the clip, he wrote: '4 legs was cool but i like two better'. Khalifa, who shares a son with Amber Rose, often shares videos of himself training on his social media accounts. In April 2021, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) told Insider that Khalifa had invested in the league and would serve as an advisor. 'I'm so proud to join forces with the Professional Fighters League,' Khalifa said in a statement. 'I've been doing MMA training for years now, and am also the biggest MMA fan.' Meanwhile, his injury comes after he made a rare appearance alongside Amber as they celebrated their 10-year-old son Sebastian completing the fourth grade while showing off their co-parenting skills last month. Wiz wore a white hoody over his signature twisted braids as he posed behind his son, Sebastian, who looked handsome in a grey suit with the same black and white Air Jordans as his father. Wiz wrapped his arm around his girlfriend, Aimee Aguilar's shoulder. Aimee, 28, wore her hair up in a bun with a glamorous makeup palette and silver hoop earrings. Improvements: On Saturday, he updated fans by sharing another video of himself walking at a faster speed, this time without walking sticks Wiz's ex-wife, Amber, carried a $4200 Saint Laurent Sac De Jour tote bag and wore a long sleeve black and white turtleneck dress. Amber's mother, Dorothy Rose, is of Cape Verdean African and Scottish descent, while her father, Michael Levonchuck, is of Irish and Italian descent. The amicable exes were married for 14 months, from July 2013 until September 2014, and share 50/50 joint custody of their 10-year-old son Sebastian 'Bash' Taylor Thomaz. After their split, Amber dated music executive Alexander 'A.E' Edwards from 2018 to 2021. The couple share a two-and-a-half-year-old son Slash. Edwards, 35, recently ended his romance with Cher, 76. In the family photo, Slash wore a black long-sleeve top over a red shirt with red shorts and black and red Nike Jordans. As a tribute to their blended family and their sons' names, Rose and her baby daddy got matching 'Bash Slash' tattoos on their foreheads in 2019. The 35-year-old rapper captioned his Twitter post, 'On our way to 5th grade.' Sebastian takes after his father and is very into music. In September 2021, Sebastian was seen joining his father on stage at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. Blended family: His injury comes after he made a rare appearance alongside Amber as they celebrated their 10-year-old son Sebastian completing the fourth grade while showing off their co-parenting skills last month Exes: After their split, Amber dated music executive Alexander 'A.E' Edwards from 2018 to 2021. The couple share a two-and-a-half-year-old son Slash. Edwards, 35, recently ended his romance with Cher, 76 Both father and son sang along to the track as Wiz motioned for Sebastian to join him at the front of the stage. Amber shared a video of them on Instagram and panned to show the packed crowd at Red Rocks before the song came to an end. 'Give it up for my son,' Wiz said as the crowd cheered loudly for a smiling Sebastian, who waved to the crowd. Wiz knelt down and gave his son a hug and a kiss on the forehead before they both walked backstage to a cheering Amber as the video came to a close. These days, the buzzcut blonde is content with 'being by myself' and 'very happy to not be in my bed with anyone.' Lisa Curry has shared a moving tribute to her late daughter Jaimi on what would have been her 36th birthday. Jaimi, who she shared with ex-husband Grant Kenny, passed away in September 2020 after a long battle with alcoholism and an eating disorder. Lisa, 60, took to Instagram to share a slew of beautiful photos to honour her daughter, including a forearm tattoo of her. 'Happy birthday to my beautiful angel Jaimi,' Lisa began. She then recounted how the pair would send photos to each other of 'pretty' things. Lisa Curry has shared a moving tribute to her late daughter Jaimi on what would have been her 36th birthday 'One of the things we always did was when we saw something really pretty, a flower, leaf, door, painted toes - whatever, we would always send a photo to each other. 'In honour of those moments I've set up a new insta page so I can post pretty and beautiful things just for Jaimi,' she wrote. 'It's a place I can share photos, thoughts, and beautiful things, hoping it can help and bring joy, hope and awe to others, as that's what I know she wanted.' She signed off by wishing her a happy birthday. 'Happy 36th birthday my love. Always in my thoughts. Every sunrise, every sunset and everywhere in between. I miss you.' Lisa revealed she still feels unimaginable grief after her daughter's death in an Instagram post in April. Lisa showed her forearm with an image of a girl with the likeness of Jaimi, with the initial 'J' 'One of the things we always did was when we saw something really pretty, a flower, leaf, door, painted toes - whatever, we would always send a photo to each other,' she wrote 'In honour of those moments I've set up a new insta page so I can post pretty and beautiful things just for Jaimi,' she wrote 'Happy 36th birthday my love. Always in my thoughts. Every sunrise, every sunset and everywhere in between. I miss you.' Other photos included a close-up of purple-hued flowers 'Get up, dress up, show up and do what you need to do no matter how hard it is,' she wrote under a photo of the pair. 'Today I spoke at the Nurses & Midwives Wellness Conference in Melbourne. My topic was Demonstrating Hope - on strength and navigating through crisis. 'A very difficult topic for me but each time I speak it does get a tiny bit easier. It's still hard, and there were plenty of tears, but I knew I was safe in this conference and could be myself' she continued. 'I know I am not alone in walking this unimaginable path. Grief is a process we have to go through but over time healing starts to take place. At least I can laugh again. 'But I'm exhausted and my body aches. I feel like I'm in a hole and I just can't get out. But each day the brave face goes on and I keep going. 'I have to remind myself: the crack is where the light starts to shine through. You don't know how strong you are until that's the only choice you have.' Lisa revealed she still feels unimaginable grief after her daughter's death in an Instagram post in April. Pictured here with Jaimi Jaimi died in September 2020 following an 18-year battle with alcohol addiction and anorexia. Lisa and Grant Kenny wed in 1984, separated in 2009 and during their marriage welcomed three children together: son Jett, 28, and daughters Morgan, 31, and Jaimi. Jaimi died at Sunshine Coast University Hospital on September 14, 2020, surrounded by her family. Announcing the sad news on social media, Lisa wrote: 'Our beautiful daughter Jaimi has lost her battle with a long-term illness and passed away peacefully in hospital yesterday morning with her loving family by her side.' For confidential support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 7News has broadcast its last bulletin from the network's iconic Martin Place studio in Sydney, ahead of a move to nearby Eveleigh. News anchor Mark Ferguson signed off during Sunday night's show, telling viewers the broadcast was heading into new, exciting territory. 'We are about to launch into a new era from a new home,' the 57-year-old said. 'From tomorrow our 6pm bulletin will come from Australia's newest purpose built studios, letting us show you more than ever before'. His announcement was followed by a look back at the history of 7News at the location. 7News has broadcast its last bulletin from the network's iconic Martin Place studio in Sydney, ahead of a move to nearby Eveleigh. News anchor Mark Ferguson (pictured) signed off during Sunday night's show The move to Eveleigh, which started in 2018, will for the first time in 40 years bring all divisions of Seven Sydney together in one place. Moving out of 52 Martin Place was supposed to be completed by the end of 2022, but it now looks like it will take until May for everyone to be accommodated in Eveleigh. 'Seven Eveleigh will span seven floors and include new, purpose-built, state-of-the-art studios and facilities for our news and public affairs shows and people,' Seven West Media CEO James Warburton said when the plans were announced. The network's stars looking forward to the move, with Sunrise executive producer Sean Power saying it will allow the show to 'tell stories better'. Mr Power said moving will allow the show to make use of a much bigger space to beef up its storytelling. 'We are about to launch into a new era from a new home,' the 57-year-old said. 'From tomorrow our 6pm bulletin will come from Australia's newest purpose built studios, letting us show you more than ever before' His announcement was followed by a look back at the history of 7News at the location 'Martin Place has been a sensational home for Seven and Sunrise for a really long time, but part of any good thing is evolution,' he told Media Week. 'I think as we start to share more about what that looks like, what the set looks like, and what the show will feel like, people who are lifelong Sunrise viewers will say that we've paid a huge amount of respect to that. 'There's only so much retrofitting you can do. We're so limited with size - an incredible amount of live television comes out of a very, very small space (in Martin Place). 'In this next location, it'll be about the combination of still keeping it feeling very comfortable and homely, but bringing in all of that new technology that allows us to ultimately tell stories better.' The Channel Seven logo is pictured on its Sydney CBD location in Martin Place, but the entire operation will relocate to Eveleigh A lease sign is seen on Thursday, February 2, 2023 in front of Channel 7's headquarters in Sydney The Martin Place location has hosted some of the world's biggest acts, such as Justin Bieber and One Direction. Though Channel Seven will be gone from Martin Place within months, it still has some time left on its lease. The fact that it has been used as television studios and offices for so long means it will probably need extensive refurbishment before any other tenant moves in. The five floors and 3,500 square metres of space that Seven took up could be empty for some time before it reopens as another business. There has been interest in taking over the lease from high-end retail, supermarket chains and government agencies. The pair split after a six-year romance earlier this year. And Amber Turner has now returned to filming The Only Way Is Essex, where she had an awkward run-in with co-star and ex boyfriend Dan Edgar in Cyprus this weekend. The pair, who confirmed their breakup in May this year, were seen in the same restaurant filming scenes meters apart from one another. Amber entered the restaurant for a girls night with Chloe Meadows and Courtney Green but was forced to awkwardly walked past Dan who was at the bar with pals Jordan Brook and Roman Hackett. The girls sat the other side of the venue while the guys enjoyed drinks at the bar. The ITVBe crew have reportedly been desperately trying to keep the cast members separated so the drama could unfold in front of the cameras catching all the gossip. She's back! Amber Turner has now returned to filming The Only Way Is Essex, where she had an awkward run-in with co-star and ex boyfriend Dan Edgar in Cyprus this weekend Awkward: The pair, who confirmed their breakup in May this year, were seen in the same restaurant filming scenes meters a part from one another During the evening, Amber looked nothing short of sensational in a figure hugging patterned maxi dress which she teamed with an eye catching gold bag. She added inches to her frame in a pair of gold heels and styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves. Meanwhile Dan looked smart in a crisp white short sleeved shirt which he teamed with brown trainers and Nike Air Force trainers. Joining the former couple in the scenes was Chloe, 31, who turned heads in a white and red floral silk backless mini dress. She elevated her frame in a pair of red strappy heels and carried her belongings around in a gold handbag. Courtney, 27, looked amazing in an orange patterned maxi dress teamed with a metallic bag. The TV personality pushed her long waved brunette tresses back in a coordinated orange head scarf. Ex: Amber entered the restaurant for a girls night with Chloe Meadows and Courtney Green but was forced to awkwardly walked past Dan who was at the bar with pals Jordan Brook and Roman Hackett Separated: The girls sat the other side of the venue while the guys enjoyed drinks at the bar Drama: The ITVBe crew have reportedly been desperately trying to keep the cast members separated so the drama could unfold in front of the cameras catching all the gossip Stunning: During the evening, Amber looked nothing short of sensational in a figure hugging patterned maxi dress which she teamed with an eye catching gold bag Gorgeous: She added inches to her frame in a pair of gold heels and styled her long blonde tresses in luxurious waves Casual: Meanwhile Dan looked smart in a crisp white short sleeved shirt which he teamed with brown trainers and Nike Air Force trainers Glamorous: Joining the former couple in the scenes was Chloe, 31, who turned heads in a white and red floral silk backless mini dress Phenomenal: The blonde beauty layered two gold necklace and styled her long locks in loose waves for the evening outing The trio were all smiles as they posed up a storm for photos ahead of heading into the venue. Dan was already at the restaurant with Jordan who cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt and navy trousers. Roman arrived slightly after Dan and Jordan and opted for a bold orange and biege striped shirt with a pair of coordinated trousers and trainers. TOWIE season 32 is set to air on ITVBe later on this year with 'juicy gossip, major LOL's and serious drama' being teased. It comes after Amber took to Instagram in May and claimed that she felt forced to release a statement after split rumours swirled when Dan unfollowed her on social media. And now it's been claimed that the reason Amber ended their relationship is because she was tired of waiting for her long-term boyfriend to propose. It is said that Amber had been desperate to settle down with the hunk and 'lost her patience' after being left disappointed that he didn't pop the question after they purchased their dream home together last year. A source told The Sun: 'Amber has been desperate to settle down for years now, but Dan has always been hesitant. 'She was convinced a proposal would be coming soon after they moved into their dream home together at the end of last year. But Dan has failed to make the changes he promised to make for Amber and still seems undecided about the future.' They went on: 'Amber was always willing to give Dan time as he shied away from commitment, but she lost patience.' The insider added that the blonde bombshell knows she wants to get married and have children some day, but refused to 'waste anymore time' on a person who just 'wasn't ready'. MailOnline have contacted representatives of Amber and Dan for comment. Dressed to impress: Courtney, 27, looked amazing in an orange patterned maxi dress she she teamed with a metallic bag Coordinated: The TV personality pushed her long waved brunette tresses back in a coordinated orange head scarf Girls night! The trio were all smiles as they posed up a storm for photos ahead of heading into the venue Looking good: Dan was already at the restaurant with Jordan who cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt and navy trousers Stylish: Roman arrived slightly after Dan and Jordan and opted for a bold orange and biege striped shirt with a pair of coordinated trousers and trainers High spirits: Roman was all smiles as the boys ordered drinks at the bar Filming: TOWIE season 32 is set to air on ITVBe later on this year with 'juicy gossip, major LOL's and serious drama' being teased Having fun: Dan enjoyed tequila shots during the evening Break up: It comes after Amber took to Instagram in May and claimed that she felt forced to release a statement after split rumours swirled when Dan unfollowed her on social media Split: And now it's been claimed that the reason Amber ended their relationship is because she was tired of waiting for her long-term boyfriend to propose Amber told her followers of their split: 'I wasn't going to post anything but due to speculation and questions I feel like I need to. Yes me and Dan have split'. She continued: 'I honestly wish him the best for the future. Please respect our privacy at this time. Thank you'. Following the announcement, Amber was pictured driving away from the 'dream' Essex mansion they had recently purchased together just before Christmas. Later the same day, Dan was pictured arriving at the house. However it was previously understood that he has moved out of their home. Despite being an item since 2017, it's certainly not the first time cracks have shown in Dan and Amber's relationship. Last year, Ella Rae Wise slammed the former electrician for acting 'inappropriately' in a nightclub and claimed Amber shouldn't trust him. TOWIE star Ella, then 22, told MailOnline Dan 'needs to keep his hands to himself' and she was shocked he behaved in such a way given he's in a long-term relationship. Kendall Jenner is receiving online backlash after making comments attempting to distance herself from nepotism. In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 27-year-old supermodel - who is rumored to be dating Bad Bunny - discussed her discomfort with fame and revealed she doesn't feel like a 'Kardashian.' 'I understand that I fall under the umbrella of the Kardashian sisters. It's just weird to me because I am just like my dad in so many ways,' she said. In another part of the profile, Kendall said, 'I consider myself one of the luckiest people on the planet to be able to live the life that I live, but I do think that it's challenging for me a lot more than it's not.' Critics took to social media to highlight the contradictions of Jenner's comments in the article, which was titled How Kendall Jenner Wants to Ditch the Nepo Baby Playbook. Criticism: Kendall Jenner is receiving online backlash after making comments attempting to distance herself from nepotism Profile: In a new interview with the Wall Street Journal, the 27-year-old supermodel discussed her discomfort with fame and revealed she doesn't feel like a 'Kardashian'; pictured in 2010 at the start of her modeling career And since the piece came out, old footage from a scene of an early episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians has reemerged on social media. The outtake shows Kendall's mom, Kris Jenner, securing her a meeting with agency Wilhelmina Models. Jenner is just a teenager in the clip, busying herself with an ice pop and her cell phone as her mom enters the room as says, 'So guess who just called me. Wilhelmina modeling agency. They would love to have a meeting with you.' Then, in a confessional interview, Kris admits: 'I spent the last two days calling everybody I know so that I can make sure that I set Kendall up with the best modeling agency possible.' She adds, 'This is actually a really big deal and I'm so surprised this is happening so fast for her.' The snippet has been posted with a more recent clip from a Keeping Up With The Kardashians reunion in which Kendall insists she achieved her modeling success independently from her family. While being interviewed by Andy Cohen, Kendall stresses, 'I took my last name off of my name on all my modeling cards so that I was taken completely seriously. 'I mean, I literally went to the middle of nowhere castings. I definitely worked my way to where I am now.' Viral tweet: One person on Twitter called the model Kendall 'Pick Me' Jenner in response to the article Detail: Someone highlighted the cost of the designer tank top Kendall wore in one of the WSJ photos, which had a $1,150 price tag She added, 'I think it's just a perception that people have that I just was like, "Give it to me" and I had it. It definitely was not that.' One person on Twitter called the model 'Kendall 'Pick Me' Jenner' in response to the article. Another person highlighted the cost of the designer tank top Kendall wore in one of the WSJ photos, which had a $1,150 price tag. It was listed next to the quote of the star saying that her life as a famous person is 'challenging.' 'OK the quote followed by the price of her tank top has me so [dead],' the Twitter user said, adding a string of skull emojis. Elsewhere in the publication, the LA native noted: 'Since I was really young, I felt out of place in my family. 'I was born into this life, but I didn't choose this life. I'm not built for this by any means. I'm not good at it. I do it, and I've learned how to do it.' Cover girl: Kendall was wrapped in colorful towels for the publication's latest cover Long career: The reality television star has been modeling since she was a teenager 'I'm not going to sit here and say, "Poor me," but I do think that it's pretty intense. People are more mean to my family in general. They take everything and make it a bad thing.' Kendall compared her dislike of the spotlight to her older sister Kim Kardashian's comfort with attention. 'I think she was built for this,' Jenner mused. 'It took me [almost] 20 years to be like, "Okay, I guess I'm getting used to [the media spotlight] now and it's fine and I get it."' Longtime pals Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire partied the night away at the chic Parisian nightclub L'Arc. The friends have been in the City of Light for Paris Fashion Week, which wraps up on June 25. Both actors stuck to their 'uniform' of black t-shirts and black pants paired with black Los Angeles Dodgers ball caps. The Wolf of Wall Street actor, 48, kept the brim of his hat pulled low to disguise his famous face. The Spiderman star, 47, and Leo have been friends since they were both child actors in Los Angeles making the rounds of auditions. Nightclub: Longtime pals Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire partied the night away at the chic Parisian nightclub L'Arc The adult outing comes after Tobey and Leo spent a day shopping with Tobey's kids Ruby, 16, and Otis, 14, and Leo's niece, Normandie, 16. Tobey and Leo have also shared several late night dinners in Paris, including one with the What's Eating Gilbert Grape star's rumored girlfriend, model Neelam Gill, 28, It seems that things may be heating up with Leo and the model, as she was present at two recent gatherings in London which featured his parents. Earlier this month, she was spotted at London's Chiltern Firehouse at the same time that DiCaprio brought his father and stepmother there for dinner. And exactly a week earlier, the actor was at the same spot, but this time with his mother, though Neelam was also present at that outing. The model is two decades younger than the Academy Award winner. Leo and Tobey met when they were child actors auditioning for roles in Los Angeles. One day, Leo and his dad were driving and he spotted Tobey. 'I literally jumped out of the car,' he told Esquire. 'I was like, "Tobey! Tobey! Hey! Hey!"' Oooh la la: The friends have been in the City of Light for Paris Fashion Week , which wraps up on June 25 BFFs: The Spiderman star, 47, and Leo have been friends since they were both child actors in Los Angeles making the rounds of auditions, pictured here in 2009 Old friends: In the 1990s they were part of a group of friends dubbed the 'P*ssy Posse,' pictured here in 2012 'Oh, yeah I know you. You're... that guy.' But I just made him my pal. When I want someone to be my friend, I just make them my friend.' The two actors got a chance to act together in 1990 when they were both cast in the television show Parenthood, based on the 1989 Steve Martin movie of the same name. The became instant friends and three years later starred with Robert DeNiro in This Boy's Life. The two friends also acted alongside each other in 2013's The Great Gatsby. The Inception actor has been spending an extended period of time in Europe. Kyle Richards and Kathy Hilton seemed to have put the drama behind them while reuniting at their niece's wedding in Aspen, Colorado on Saturday. Kim Richards, 58, watched somewhat tearfully as her daughter Whitney Davis, 33, walked down the aisle to tie the knot with her new husband Luke White in an outdoor ceremony. The bride looked lovely in a white column dress with sweeping veil. Her dark blonde hair was styled in a loose bun with tendrils framing her face. The groom looked handsome in a classic black suit and white shirt and bolo type tie. Kyle Richards and Kathy Hilton appeared to be mending their rift, as both attended the wedding of their niece Whitney Davis, the daughter of their sister, former child actor Kim Richards Saturday in Aspen, CO He donned a cowboy hat was accompanied down the aisle by his German shepherd, who looked festive in a red bandana and a floral wreath. The barefoot bride chose to walk down the aisle solo, carrying a simple bouquet of white and yellow flowers. The mother-of-the-bride looked chic in an embroidered lavender lace dress with sheer mesh panels and a pair of tan western boots. Her hair was styled in loose waves. The proud mom held an infant granddaughter during the ceremony as she watched her second oldest child say 'I do.' The former child star shares Whitney and her brother Chad, 32, with ex-husband Gregg Davis. She has an older daughter, Brooke, 37, from her first marriage to Monty Brinson, and Kimberly, 38, from her relationship with John Jackson. Kyle, 54, looked fashionable in a sleeveless black and red floral maxi dress. She was spotted wiping away a tear during the ceremony. She sat next to her husband Mauricio Umansky, looking dapper in a black suit and white shirt with a black hat. The mother-of-the-bride looked chic in an embroidered lavender lace dress with sheer mesh panels. Her hair was styled in loose waves Kim cinched her waist with a brown leather belt and added a pair of tan western boots. She was preceded down the stair by Richard (Rick) Hilton, 67, in a Miami Vice inspired outfit consisting of a navy blue suit and gray T-shirt Kim was seated in the front row next to her daughter Brooke Brinson, 37 A tearful Kim hugged her adorable granddaughter for comfort during the ceremony Bright: Kathy, 64, looked bright in an ankle length pink, blue and yellow print dress with beige espadrille wedges. The reality star's hair was styled straight and she wore large dangling diamond earrings Paris Hilton, 42, looked stylish as she made her way to the ceremony, accompanied by her husband Carter Reum, 42 and her dad Rick Wedding guests: Paris chose a black frock for the big day, choosing one with small puffed sleeves, A-line skirt with a thigh high slit. Carter Reum wore a blue button down shirt and dark blue pants The influencer's long blonde hair was styled in loose curls and she wore wide black framed sunglasses and a black western hat and black boots Their daughter Farrah, 34, sat in the second row with them, looking gorgeous in a navy blue satin gown with a plunging neckline and thigh high slit. She accessorized the look with a turquoise necklace and western hat. Farrah's plus-one was her fiance Alex Manos. Kathy, 64, looked bright in an ankle length pink, blue and yellow print dress with beige espadrille wedges. The reality star's hair was styled straight and she wore large dangling diamond earrings. Her husband Richard, wore a Miami Vice inspired outfit consisting of a navy blue suit and gray T-shirt. He wore black framed sunglasses for the afternoon ceremony. Nicky Hilton, 39, and her husband James Rothschild, 37, got into the spirit of the day Western style: Nicky styled her long blonde locks in loose curls and wore a brown leather jacket and black western hat. James dressed up in a green camo print button down and jeans. He wore a tan cowboy hat as was spotted holding their son, who will turn one in July The groom looked handsome in a classic black suit and white shirt. He donned a cowboy hat was accompanied down the aisle by his German shepherd. The barefoot bride walked down the aisle solo in a white column dress, carrying a bouquet of white and yellow flowers The ceremony took place in front of a flowing river Nicky Hilton, 39, got into the spirit of the day donning a black satin maxi dress with white lace trim. The shoe designer styled her long blonde locks in loose curls and wore a brown leather jacket and black western hat. Her husband, James Rothschild, 37, dressed up in a green camo print button down and jeans. He wore a tan cowboy hat as was spotted holding their son, who will turn one in July. Paris Hilton, 42, took a cue from her little sister and also chose a black frock for the big day, choosing one with small puffed sleeves, A-line skirt with a thigh high slit. The influencer's long blonde hair was styled in loose curls and she wore wide black framed sunglasses and a black western hat and black boots. She was accompanied by her husband, Carter Reum, 42, wearing a blue button down shirt and dark blue pants. Kyle shared video on social media of the reception. Kim changed into a pair of red leather pants, a red and white checked shirt and brown leather jacket with a black hat for the festivities while Kyle added a black leather jacket and hat Guest rocked out to a silent disco at the reception. They were given headphones to listen to the music so as not to disturb the wildlife. The bride covered up in a furry jacket and added some black western boots Nicky Hilton and cousin Farrah Umansky joined in the fun Kyle's daughters younger daughters Alexia, 27, Sophia, 23, and Portia, 15, were also on hand to celebrate and party at the reception, which included a silent disco. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member shared a video of guests wearing headphones so they could dance along to the music being played by the DJ without disturbing the animals in the wooded area. The snippets show that Kim had changed into a pair of red leather pants, a red and white checked shirt and brown leather jacket with a black hat for the festivities. Whitney joined The Agency, the real estate firm owned by Kyle's husband Mauricio Umansky in February, working alongside cousins Farrah and Alexia, who star in the reality show Buying Beverly Hills. Her new husband, Luke, is the co-founder of the Evermill spice company. Advertisement Jon Hamm, 52, married Anna Osceola, 35, at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California, on Saturday. Their wedding location had a sentimental component - it was the site of the Mad Men series finale, where the couple first met. The ceremony was packed with the duo's A-list celebrity friends, including Larry David, Tina Fey and more. Larry, 75, attended the event with wife Ashley Underwood, who he married in October 2020. Tina, 53, was also present for the festivities, arriving in a white dress with a golden yellow floral pattern. Celebration: Jon Hamm, 52, married Anna Osceola, 35, at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California, on Saturday and the guest list included celebrity friends; Larry David pictured with wife Ashley Underwood A-list friend: Tina Fey attended the nuptials in a white floral dress and dark jacket Larry was dressed in a tailored gray suit, a crisp white shirt, and a dark tie while his spouse looked great in black slacks. Ashley, a Hollywood producer who met David at Sacha Baron Cohen's birthday party in 2017, teamed it with a golden shirt jacket. She looked great with her shoulder-length blonde hair styled in bangs as she and her beau held hands. For her part, Tina pulled her dark hair into a bouncy ponytail set at the middle of her head and she dressed comfortably in white sneakers. Guests were treated to glasses of champagne during the outdoor gathering, which was full of lush greenery in the expansive space. At the wedding was 88-year-old actor Judd Hirsch, who wore a three-piece gray suit with a pink tie and a blue scarf tied around his neck. The Fabelmans star was spotted toting two bags as he joined the others at the high-profile soiree. Another attendee was Hamm's Mad Men costar John Slattery, 60, who looked spiffy as he arrived in dark suit and narrow sunglasses. The location served as a fictional hippy-style retreat in the last-ever episode of the iconic Mad Men' series in 2015. The episode featured Jon as his iconic character Don Draper and Anna as a receptionist at a retreat where Draper stayed. The location where they married is just north of the real-life Esalen Institute retreat, which served as the inspiration for the series finale. Before Anna arrived to walk down the aisle, Jon took pictures with friends as the pals smiled and laughed. Invitee: Also at the wedding was 88-year-old actor Judd Hirsch, who wore a three-piece gray suit with a pink tie and a blue scarf tied around his neck Cool and collected: Judd held his phone securely in his hand as he looked on at the festivities Co-worker: Another attendee was Hamm's Mad Men costar John Slattery, 60, who looked spiffy as he arrived in a dark suit Happiness: The happy couple posed for photos as they were surrounded by friends and family As Anna headed to her husband-to-be, a band played the 1960s theme to the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. After a few words from the wedding celebrant, Anna made an impassioned speech and seemingly pointed to the location where they filmed the Mad Men finale as guests clapped and smiled. At the end of the ceremony Jon broke a glass with his foot, then he and Anna shared a passionate kiss. They walked back up the aisle as onlookers threw rice, and the newlyweds shared several more kisses. WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Donald Trump said the federal government should play a "vital role" opposing abortion but again failed to provide specifics on what national restrictions he would support if elected to the White House again. Trumps remarks to a group of influential evangelicals Saturday on the anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning the national right to an abortion stood in contrast to that of his former vice president and 2024 rival Mike Pence. Pence, speaking at the same conference a day earlier, challenged every GOP presidential candidate to support the passage of a national ban on abortions at least as early as 15 weeks of pregnancy. Trump, the GOP front-runner, has been reluctant to endorse a national ban and has suggested restrictions should be left to the states. He has even suggested that pushing for increased abortion restrictions would be a political liability for Republicans, despite his three Supreme Court nominees making up the majority of justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade last year. Trump, in his speech before the Faith & Freedom Coalitions annual conference, continued to offer a muddled answer. He said he believes "the greatest progress is now being made in the states, where everyone wanted to be." "One of the reasons they wanted Roe v. Wade terminated," he said, "is to bring it back into the states where a lot of people feel strongly the greatest progress for pro-life is now being made." Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak during the Faith & Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) But the former president also added, "There of course remains a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life." Trump said he supports three exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases involving rape and incest or when the life of a mother is in danger. He took full credit for his role in the overturning of the landmark ruling and said he was "proud to be the most pro-life president in American history." Though white evangelical Christians were initially reluctant to back Trump in 2016, his promises to appoint justices to the court who would overturn Roe - and the rulings eventual overturning - have earned him deep support in the evangelical movement. As he took the stage Saturday, he received a standing ovation from the crowd of hundreds, with some attendees standing on their chairs to see him enter. The enthusiasm was markedly higher for Trump than it was the previous morning, when Pence and a number of other presidential hopefuls addressed the conference. One candidate, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, was met with boos when he criticized Trump in his remarks Friday. On Saturday night, the crowd broke into sustained chants of "We want Trump!" halfway through the former president's remarks. "Were your other candidates treated this way?" Trump said with a smile. Trump, in his remarks, promised that if elected to the presidency again, he would appoint "appoint rock-solid conservative judges in the mold" of Justice Clarence Thomas and former Justice Antonin Scalia. He also repeated false claims that hes made before that abortion rights supporters want to "kill a baby" in the ninth month of pregnancy or even after a birth. The Republican former president also vowed that before Election Day next year, he will release the list of names of potential justices he would consider appointing to the Supreme Court. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, seen as Trumps closest rival for the GOP nomination, has made the promise of an even more conservative Supreme Court part of his pitch to attempt to differentiate himself from Trump. DeSantis, who addressed the Faith and Freedom conference Friday, declared that if elected president, he would nominate and appoint Supreme Court justices in the mold of Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization case last year that ended constitutional protections for abortion. In a recent interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, DeSantis said he respects the three judges Trump appointed, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barret, but said "I would say well do better than that." "None of those three are at the same level" of Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization case last year that ended constitutional protections for abortion. "I think they are the gold standard," he said of Thomas and Alito, who were appointed by Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. DeSantis repeated that promise in his remarks at the Faith and Freedom conference Friday, vowing to appoint justices in the mold of Thomas and Alito and said he would "stand and defend them against scurrilous attacks that youre seeing in the media and by left-wing groups." The Florida governor appeared to be referring to recent reports that Thomas and Alito accepted luxury trips from wealthy GOP donors but did not disclose them. Former President Donald Trump speaks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Former President Donald Trump speaks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) People cheer as former President Donald Trump speaks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Former President Donald Trump speaks during the Faith & Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington, Saturday, June 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) A wholesome approach is needed to check drug abuse; rehabilitation not social isolation can cure the drug addicts The problem of drug abuse has assumed a critical proportion globally. This years World Drug Day is appropriately themed People First: Stop Stigma and Discrimination, Strengthen Prevention. It is a grim reality that the victims of drug abuse suffer from familial, social isolation and repudiation. It causes a lot of mental and physical distress and trauma to them. They are also deprived of accessing the help they need. It makes their life and that of their families miserable and much tougher. Hence, there is a need for a people-centred approach to drug policies, which are focused on human rights and compassion! Helping the victims of drug abuse with a social and emotional salve and at the same time putting an effective check on the growing tentacles of drug and illicit trafficking is indeed a gargantuan task but not an impossible proposition. It requires collective efforts and a wholesome approach to achieve the goal of freeing our country from drug abuse. This years World Drug Day is a call to raise awareness about the negative impact of stigma and discrimination on people who use drugs and their families; raise awareness about the AIDS and hepatitis epidemics among people who use drugs and expand and strengthen HIV and hepatitis prevention programmes; promote evidence-based, voluntary services for all people who use drugs; educate about drug use disorders, available treatments and the importance of early intervention and support; advocate for alternatives to imprisonment for drug-related crimes such as community-based treatment and services; combat stigma and discrimination by promoting language and attitudes that are respectful and non-judgmental, and empower young people and communities to prevent drug use and addiction. Quite often we read and hear about the children of well-off, elite and middle-class families being caught consuming banned substances at pubs. The process of licensing should be stricter and the de-licensing of such entities should be expedited. At the same time, I see an important role for society in checking the menace of drug abuse. Society should boycott drug suppliers and users. A social ecosystem should be evolved where the victims of drug abuse should be rehabilitated properly and those behind supplying drugs are socially boycotted. Parents should also be counselled on how to deal with their children and keep them away from the menace of drug abuse. Strong family values will be an asset for us in our fight against drug abuse. In the ancient Indian value system, there was a lot of emphasis on building the character of children. As a child, our teacher used to make us memorize that if health is lost, something is lost; if the character is lost, everything is lost. Our forefathers were very particular about the character-building of their children. The concept of gurukul was very much rooted in the idea of creating a value-based society, which deals with social evils like drug abuse effectively. Home, school and place of worship are three key components of building a value-based social ecosystem. We need to give serious thought to our ancient ways of addressing social challenges along with usual but tested means and mechanisms to prevent the spread of any evil, which eats into our vitals. It is indeed gratifying to see a whole lot of things being done to tackle the challenge of drug abuse and rehabilitate the victims. There is, however, no scope to be complacent and miser in devoting necessary resources and attention to effectively deal with every aspect of the drug problem. There is a need to further galvanize all stakeholders to protect our people from drug abuse and break the spine of illicit drug supply chains. The Narcotics Control Bureau should act strictly against drug suppliers. Equally important is better coordination between the agencies of Central and state governments including police forces in mounting effective surveillance in vulnerable areas in particular bigger cities and bordering areas to check drug smuggling. Given the magnitude of the problem of drug abuse, we need to work with a wholesome approach where every stakeholder has a role to play. As per the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India conducted by the Ministry through AIIMS National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), Ghaziabad, in 2018, the estimated number of children and adolescents aged 10-17 years consuming alcohol, cannabis, opioids, sedatives, inhalants, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and hallucinogens was pegged at 6.06 per cent, while 24.71 per cent adults aged between 18 and 75 were found to be indulging in drug abuse. It is a matter of happiness that the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing a scheme of National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) under which financial assistance is provided to the State Government and Union Territories Administration for preventive education and awareness generation, capacity building, skill development and vocational training and livelihood support for from drug addicts. During 2021-22, there were as many as 285559 beneficiaries under NAPDDR. The majority of beneficiaries were from Andhra Pradesh (15,295), Delhi (17,019), Haryana (6940), Himachal Pradesh (12,619), Madhya Pradesh (48,929), Punjab (9,555), Rajasthan (22,103), Telangana (6620), Uttar Pradesh (16503) and West Bengal (7639). Similarly, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) was launched in August 2020 under which special emphasis is laid on the participation of stakeholders such as women, children, educational institutions, civil society organizations, etc., who may be directly or indirectly affected by substance use. Till now, through the various activities undertaken on the ground over 12 crore people have been reached out. Four thousand plus Yuva Mandals, Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYKs) and NSS volunteers, Youth Clubs have also been associated with the NMBA. The contribution of over 2.05 crore women has also been vital in reaching out to a larger community through Anganwadi Centres and ASHA workers, ANMs, Mahila Mandals and women SHGs. Over 1.19 lakh educational institutions have conducted activities with students and youth to educate them on substance use under NMBA across the country till now. As a lot is being done to check the menace of drug abuse, we should have comprehensive digital content to create awareness among people about the repercussions of drug abuse. We can also have related chapters in textbooks and films as well for cautioning the masses against falling into drug traps. The idea is to adopt a wholesome approach not only to check drug abuse but also to rehabilitate its victims. Instead of isolating them socially, we need to reach them with compassion and help so that they realize their mistakes and return to normal life. It is high time for us to rise to the occasion and end the menace of drug abuse for a healthy, wealthy and peaceful future! (The writer is the Governor of Haryana. The views expressed are personal) In Cairo, Modi and El-Sisi ink Strategic Partnership pact as two nations move towards achieving $12 billion bilateral trade target in five years India and Egypt on Sunday reviewed the entire spectrum of their bilateral ties in Cairo during talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The two leaders focused on trade and investment, Defence and security, renewable energy, cultural, and people-to-people ties. They also signed a pact to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership. An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership was signed by the leaders, Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted. Three MoUs in the fields of Agriculture, Archaeology and Antiquities and Competition Law were also signed, he added. On Saturday, Modi met his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and held a roundtable meeting in Cairo. Modi said This is a remarkable year for our shared relations. At the beginning of this year, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visited India as a chief guest in the Republic Day celebration, where we signed an agreement to elevate our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Modi added that Egypt and India were swiftly moving towards achieving the $12 billion target in bilateral trade within the next five years. He added that in the past six months alone, Indian companies have invested around $170 million in Egypt. He also emphasised that the increasing cooperation between the two sides in the field of renewable energy reflects a joint commitment to environmental protection. Modi also said many Indian companies are investing in green hydrogen and electric vehicles. The Egyptian Prime Minister said the growing trade exchange between the two countries, which reached $7 billion in 2022, shows real potential in increasing trade volume in the coming five years to $12 billion, as agreed upon during the Joint Trade Committee meeting held in July 2022. He praised current levels of Indian investments in Egypt, which stand at $3.5 billion, adding that the country is ready to receive more Indian capital. Madbouly cited agreements signed between the two sides during the recent visit by officials from the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority to India last week as an example of promising growth for Indian investments in Egypt and the region. He stressed Egypts keenness on developing a strategic relationship between the two countries in the field of strategic commodities, expressing interest that India would become a major supplier of wheat to Egypt. It also wants more cooperation with India in the fields of healthcare and pharmaceutical production. The Egyptian Government is keen on providing Indian companies with all the facilities needed to implement and expand their investments in the country, he stressed. EgyptAir, the countrys national carrier, is set to launch direct flights between Cairo and New Delhi, in addition to existing flights between Cairo and Mumbai, as a step to boost air travel between the two countries, Madbouly said. India is keen to further expand ties with Egypt, a key player in the politics of both the Arab world as well as Africa. It is also seen as a major gateway to markets in Africa and Europe. Egypt is traditionally one of Indias most important trading partners in the African continent. More than 450 Indian companies are registered in Egypt, of which around 50 are active in various sectors with a combined investment exceeding $3 billion, according to official data. The Defence and strategic ties between India and Egypt are on an upswing in the last few years. The Indian and Egyptian Armies conducted the first-ever joint exercise in January this year. Egypt has already shown interest in procuring Tejas light combat aircraft, radars, military helicopters, and other platforms from India. In July last year, the IAF participated in a month-long tactical leadership programme in Egypt with three Su-30 MKI jets and two C-17 transport aircraft. In September, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid a three-day visit to Egypt. One of KYKL ultras freed by Manipuri mob planned 2015 ambush in which 18 soldiers died In a dramatic development amidst the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, the Indian Army was forced to release a group of 12 militants belonging to the separatist organisation Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL). The militants were surrounded by a massive crowd of around 1,500 people, predominantly led by women. Initially, the security forces had apprehended the militants along with a significant cache of arms, ammunition, and war-like stores in a carefully planned operation based on specific Intelligence inputs from Itham Village in Imphal East. However, their plans were thwarted when the surrounding mob swiftly intervened, preventing the security forces from carrying out the operation despite repeated appeals. The decision to release the militants was defended by the Indian Army, describing it as a mature move that exemplified the humane approach of the armed forces. The Army cited the sensitivity of using force against a mob, particularly one led by women, and the potential for casualties as factors contributing to their decision. Consequently, all 12 militants were handed over to a local leader. One of the 12 militants who was released by the Army has been identified as the self-styled Lt-Col Moirangthem Tamba, also known as Uttam Lt-Col Tamba. He is considered the mastermind behind a notorious ambush in 2015 that targeted a convoy of the 6 Dogra Regiment, resulting in the tragic loss of 18 soldiers lives. The KYKL, to which Tamba belongs, is an insurgent group primarily comprising Meitei individuals. Established in 1994, KYKL is recognised as a banned terrorist organisation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The involvement of such a prominent figure within the group has added further weight to the concerns surrounding their activities and the need for sustained efforts to counter their operations. The Army has said, acting on specific Intelligence, it launched an operation in Village Itham (6 km East of Andro) in Imphal East. Specific search after laying cordon was undertaken to avoid hardships to other locals in the area. In the ensuing operation, 12 KYKL cadres were apprehended along with arms, ammunition, and war-like stores. Positive Identification of self-styled Lt-Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam (Mastermind of 6 DOGRA ambush cases of 2015) amongst the 12 apprehended cadres was done, the Army said in a tweet. It further said that a mob of approximately 1,200- 1,500 people, led by women and the local leader immediately surrounded the target area and prevented security forces from going ahead with the operation. A group of people set on fire a private godown of Manipur Minister L Susindro at Chingarel in Imphal East district, reducing it to ashes, police said on Saturday. An attempt was also made to torch another property of the Consumer and Food Affairs Minister and his residence at Khurai in the same district but timely intervention prevented it. Security forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells till midnight to prevent the mob from gheraoing the Ministers Khurai residence, police said. No casualty was reported in the incident. Relations between India and Egypt are set to get a major boost during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Cairo beginning Saturday. It is Modis first visit to Egypt after becoming the Prime Minister. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the chief guest at this years Republic Day parade in Delhi. The two leaders also inked a Strategic Partnership. Incidentally, it will also be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 26 years as the last one was in 1997. In a special gesture, Modi was welcomed at the airport here by Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with a warm embrace. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour upon his arrival. I am confident this visit will strengthen Indias ties with Egypt. I look forward to talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attending other programmes, Prime Minister Modi tweeted after landing in Cairo. I thank Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. May India-Egypt ties flourish and benefit the people of our nations, he said. Waving the Indian Tricolour, members of the Indian community welcomed the Prime Minister to chants of Modi, Modi and Vande Mataram when he reached the hotel here. Modi will hold talks with El-Sisi on Sunday to discuss ways to give further impetus to the strategic partnership between the two major nations. Russian Government troops withdrew from the streets of Moscow and people flocked to parks and cafes Sunday following a short-lived revolt by a mercenary forces that weakened President Vladimir Putin and raised questions about his ability to wage war in Ukraine. The march on the capital by Wagner troops led by Yevgeny Prigozhin and the late-night deal that eventually halted it severely dented Putins reputation as a leader who is willing to ruthlessly punish anyone who challenges his authority. That may open the door for others who are unhappy with Putins two-decade grip on power, especially after his ill-fated invasion of Ukraine. Under terms of the agreement, Prigozhin will go into exile in Belarus but will not face prosecution and his forces wont either. Neither Putin nor Prigozhin have been heard from since the deal, reportedly brokered by Belarussian President Aleksander Lukashenko, was announced late on Saturday night. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the weekends events as extraordinary, recalling that 16 months ago Putin appeared poised to seize the capital of Ukraine and now he has had to defend Moscow from forces led by his onetime protege. I think weve seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade, Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press. It is too soon to tell exactly where they go and when they get there, but certainly we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead. It was not yet clear what the fissures opened by the 24-hour rebellion would mean for that war. But it resulted in some of the best forces fighting for Russia in Ukraine being pulled from the battlefield: Prigozhins own Wagner troops and Chechen ones sent to stop them. Continued on page 2 Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced that the State Government has given approval for metro connectivity from Ballabgarh to Palwal, which will ensure better connectivity and pace the development of the area. Khattar, while addressing the Gauravshali Bharat Rally at Gajpuri village in Palwal, said that the Central and State Governments are taking remarkable steps towards ensuring inclusive development. Big projects like metro and national highways are coming up in Haryana with the help of the Central Government, he said while extending gratitude towards the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said: Our Government has made unprecedented development in Palwal and Faridabad region. With the coming of many major State highways, better connectivity has been facilitated. Development of Jewar Airport will also pace the industrialisation and other development works in the area. It is a matter of pride for the region that the Mumbai expressway is also passing through these districts, which will connect the region with other parts of the country. Khattar said that while following the slogan of Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek, development works are being carried out in the entire State without any disparity. By implementing the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP), Haryana is playing an active role in directly giving benefits of Government schemes to the last person. Keeping the focus on all aspects related to Property ID and PPP, their permanent solution will be done within the next two months, for this about 1000 employees have been made available to the urban local bodies department, so that information related to property ID can be collected, he said. The Chief Minister said that on this day, June 25, 1975, the Congress Government imposed an emergency on the nation. A case of rape of a 16-year-old minor girl has been reported with Ayodhya Nagar police, accused is the step father of the victim girl. The accused father committed atrocity with her after finding her alone at home. The accused threatened to kill her if she would reveal the incident. After this, he started to sexually exploit her. The girl started to remain depressed in the house and when her mother made pressure, she told the atrocity of step- father. After this the mother brought him to the police station and registered a case. Police arrested the accused father. SI Yogita Jain told that a 16-year-old minor girl living in slum, Ayodhyanagar was raped by her stepfather. The age of the accused is 55 years and he works as a guard. The victim's mother works in homes. She married the accused 15 years back after separating from her first husband. The woman has two daughters. On March 10, the minor was alone in the house, when the accused took the opportunity to have a forced relationship with her. When the girl objected, he threatened to kill her. After this, the girl was silenced by intimidation. Due to fear, the minor did not tell anything to anyone but started staying silent in the house. She never revealed anything when mother asked her for reason and at the same time accused continued to sexually exploit her. Later when the mother made pressure on Friday, the minor revealed. She told of all the atrocities faced by her father. After this, the mother took the minor to the police station with the help of child line and registered a case. The mother of the minor did not let the accused know about the whole incident. As soon as the case was registered, the police left and arrested the accused from his house. A 20-year-old youth was stabbed and his cousin sustained injuries by his neighbour following a quarrel in Delhis Brijpuri area on Friday night. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in the area to prevent any communal flare-ups. According to police, the accused, identified as Mohammed Zaid (20), got into an argument with the two victims, identified as Rahul (19) and his cousin, Sonu, over a petty issue. Their argument soon turned into a heated one, and the accused allegedly took out a knife and attacked Rahul. According to police, the accused, Zaid, allegedly stabbed him in his lower abdomen, the victims told the police in their complaint. Sonu also sustained injuries in the fight as tried to intervene and save Rahul, the victims told police in their complaint. On Friday around 10 pm, Rahul from Brijpuri had gone to have ice cream with his cousin Sonu, 19, after dinner near Shibban School, a senior police officer said. There Rahul had an encounter with a 20-year-old Mohammad Zaid who lives in the same street as he does, and got into fight with him, during which Zaid stabbed Rahul in the lower abdomen, the officer said. Sonu also got knifed in hand. The investigation so far has revealed that the two had some ego clash. Zaid works as a carpenter with his father, while Rahul supplies chips and other edibles, and his father sells candy. Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Joy Tirkey said, It was a trivial issue that led to a scuffle between them. Zaid, who was alone that time, was having a sharp object most likely a knife and attacked Rahul. When Sonu came to his rescue, he also received injury in his hand. Efforts are being made to nab him. Zaid, absconding, has been booked under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) at Dayalpur Police Station, the officer said. Rahul is currently admitted in the ICU ward of GTB hospital. Ram Swaroop, Rahul's father, said he had gone to have ice cream when the incident took place. Rahul and his cousin Sonu had gone to have ice cream after dinner. There they had an argument with a person who was having noodles. We heard that a fight broke out between them and he stabbed Rahul. When Sonu intervened he too was knifed. A 40-year-old man was mowed down by a speeding truck near Parvati temple while trying to cross the road during catering work in the night on Saturday. According to the police a man died after he was hit by a speeding truck. The locals informed the police and on receipt of the information a police team reached the spot and started investigation. The deceased was identified as Bhagwandas Saini of Badwai. Police said that the deceased was hit while he was trying to cross the road during work at Parvati temple. The accident took place at around 8 in the evening and he was taken to hospital where he died during treatment at around 3 in the night. The deceased used to work as a labourer. After the preliminary investigation the body was sent for the post mortem and the police have registered a case under section 304 A of the IPC and have started further investigation. Meanwhile a 35-year-old man died after he fell from the terrace while at AIIMS Bhopal ; he fell while working on Sunday. The man identified as Sheru Vishwakarma had gone for work and during which he accidentally fell from the terrace which proved fatal for him. Police said that in the preliminary investigation, the death of the man was found to be an accident. Body was sent for the post after the preliminary investigation and further investigation has been started. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that every possible help will be provided by the state government so that youth belonging to SC and ST category can set up their own employment and industries in Madhya Pradesh. He said that public awareness camps would be organized in every district of the state to bring the youth of these sector in maximum numbers in this area. This camp will be jointly organized by the MSME department and DICCI. He said Dr. Ambedkar was a strong advocate of social empowerment as well as economic empowerment. He wanted the youth to set up their own business and industry. According to his wish, policies have been prepared for micro and small scale industries in Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan said. Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the Dr. Ambedkar Business Fair at Bittan Market in Bhopal. Chief Minister Chouhan said that a cluster in Indore will be given to DICCI. In the remaining cluster, 20 percent space will be given to SC, ST entrepreneurs to set up industries. He said that the way grant-in-aid of Rs 18 lakh is given to women in the startup policy in the state, the same kind will be given to SC, ST entrepreneurs. Chief Minister Chouhan said that an investment grant of Rs 589 crore has been given in the MSME sector. 9 thousand 800 small enterprises have been established in the state. Additional 50 percent relaxation will be given in the development fee for SC, ST category. Referring to Ladli Bahna Yojana, Chief Minister Chouhan said this scheme is a historic initiative of social revolution. MSME Minister Omprakash Sakhalecha said in his address that special sessions of successful industrialists will be organized so that SC, ST youth can be inspired. He praised the idea of the Entrepreneurship Tree designed to inspire the youth. Padma Shree Milind Kamble founder chairman of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) praised the efforts of Madhya Pradesh government in setting up small scale industries. He said that DICCI wants to prepare business leaders in SC, ST category. DICCI is working for these purposes. Anil Sirvaiah, President of DICCI MP Chapter, in his welcome speech said that Chief Minister Chouhan always helps DICCI. DICCI now wants to take a quantum leap with its small scale entrepreneurs in collaboration with the MSME department. At the beginning of the programme, Chief Minister Chouhan visited the exhibition. He released the brochure prepared by DICCI. The DCCI signed MoUs with various industrial organizations for entrepreneurship development in front of the Chief Minister. Chief Minister Chouhan gave letters of honor to the winners of DICCI Innovation Challenge. Peoples representative Kishan Raghuvanshi, Additional Chief Secretary J.N. Kansotia, Industries Commissioner P.Narahari and dignitaries were present. The only working agricultural university of the State located at Kanke, in Ranchi, is going to celebrate its 43rd foundation day on Monday. The main program will be held from 11.30 am in the RAC Auditorium located in the Faculty of Agriculture campus of the University. Jharkhand Governor cum Chancellor, CP Radhakrishnan will be the chief guest of the function. This will be the first visit of the current Governor to the university. All the preparations for the foundation day were completed. There is an atmosphere of joy and gaiety in the entire university campus regarding the arrival of the Governor in the 43rd Foundation Day celebrations. Agriculture Minister, Government of Jharkhand, Badal will be the special guest of the function. The annual report and achievements will be presented by BAU, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Onkar Nath Singh at the function. Organizing Secretary and DSW, Dr BK Aggarwal said that during the ceremony, identified farmers, retired teachers and employees, silver medalist student of Agriunisports Satish Pahan and winner students and employees of essay competition will be felicitated. Before the main function, the country's first Giloy Processing and Research Center will be inaugurated by the Governor at 11.00 am in the Forestry Faculty premises of the University. For Congress, which sheds crocodile tears to protect India's democracy and which conspires against India on foreign soil, power is paramount from the very beginning, it has nothing to do with the service of the country. BJP state president and MP Deepak Prakash said this while addressing the enlightened people's conference organized by the party at Marwari Dharamshala in Seraikela today. He said that Congress does not believe in democracy. This Congress party is a dictatorial party which accepted the partition of the country for power. On June 12, 1975, when the Allahabad High Court canceled Indira Gandhi's election from Rae Bareilly, declaring her guilty of election rigging, and when the Supreme Court also upheld the decision of the High Court. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed emergency in the country by trampling the Constitution of India. He said that this is the same Congress party which took away the rights of citizens by imposing emergency, took away the freedom of the press, lakhs of people were arrested in which people of all classes were involved. He said that today the Congress party cries out for the protection of democracy, but the Congress wants to run the country with its own constitution and not with the Constitution of India. In which dimensions like nutrition of corruption, misuse of constitutional institutions, casteism and appeasement are included. The Congress party amended the constitution several times to implement its agenda. Misused the President's rule, insulted the decision of the cabinet, then Congress talks about democracy. He said that people with the mindset of breaking India pretend to unite India. Prakash said that India is the mother of democracy. Its roots are very deep in the country. The people of India are the nurturers and protectors of democracy. He said that the people of the country have repeatedly taught a lesson to the Congress party. In the post-Emergency elections, the Congress party was badly defeated. Even then the Congress did not change its character. Now the Congress party has become only a family party. Not only did the people throw them out of power, but they did not even leave the opposition worthy. He said that the mood of the people of the country is now of a completely Congress-free India. That's why the Congress kept asking for life force from the regional parties. He said that the people of the country are paramount. The public will never allow the conspiracy being hatched against the successful Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the true son of Mother India, to succeed. Union Minister Sardar Hardeep Singh Puri, former Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, President of Delhi BJP Virendra Sachdeva and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari addressed a public gathering on completion of 9 successful years in the service of the country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Babarpur in North East Lok Sabha constituency. Addressing the gathering, Puri on Sunday attacked the Congress over the imposition of Emergency in 1975, while asserting that it was the only time when the countrys democracy was trampled. The Union minister also highlighted the achievements of nine years of the Modi government, while asserting that the prime ministers schemes are appreciated across the world. He also attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over non-implementation of the Centres ambitious Ayushmann Bharat scheme.He called the Emergency a black day in the countrys democracy. Not only political activists but students and journalists were also put behind bars, he said. Launching a diatribe on the BJP government of Uttarakhand, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara has claimed that though BJP is consistently using the term 'land Jihad' for petty political gains, the fact is that its leaders are actually involved in land Jihad by grabbing lands in different parts of the State. The PCC president said that saints of Bada Udasin Akhada in Haridwar have accused local MLA and senior leader of BJP, Madan Kaushik of grabbing land of the Akhada. He said that the saints have claimed that hundreds of bighas of land is being illegally occupied by Kaushik and his relatives. The saints have also written a letter to the Prime Minister and Home minister and demanded an investigation in the case. The PCC president demanded that an inquiry monitored by a sitting judge of the High Court should be ordered in the Haridwar land grab case. Continuing his attack on the BJP government, Mahara said that a senior councillor of BJP Ajay Singhal is fighting a protracted battle to free a piece of government land from an influential educational society. He said that the consistent efforts of Singhal resulted in the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun conceding that 0.3196 hectare of land is illegally occupied by the education society. The PCC president said that despite the efforts of Singhal who is senior councillor of ruling party eviction action was done only on 0.030 hectare of land. He added that another precious piece of land near Dalanwala police station is being illegally occupied by an outsider but instead of taking action on him, the MCD has collected tax from the occupant which means that it has authenticated illegal occupation of the land. He said that the mayor of the Dehradun who is already under cloud for manyfold increase in his wealth should be held answerable for actions of those responsible for grabbing land of the corporation. Mahara said that these instances of grabbing of government land are a major land jihad by the BJP leaders. The Delhi BJP, led by its chief Virendra Sachdeva and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri held a protest at the Jal Board headquarters on Saturday over a shortage of drinking water in the city. Many of them held placards with messages in Hindi demanding clean water or resignation as they protested at the 'Varunalaya', the headquarters of the Delhi Jal Board. Various other senior BJP leaders such as MPs Ramesh Bidhuri, Pravesh Sahib Singh, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Municipal Corporation Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh, senior leader Pawan Sharma, MLA Vijender Gupta, Praveen Shankar Kapoor and Kuljeet Singh Chahal also joined in the stir. According to the police, around 10 to 12 protestors were detained for some time. Today, at the Delhi Jal Board headquarters, a protest was held against the Kejriwal government regarding the shortage of drinking water in Delhi, Sachdeva tweeted with pictures from the protest site. Delhi's water situation has become so bad that even in the posh Civil Line area where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lives, taps are dry and the water that comes is not potable, he alleged in his tweet in Hindi. Shame on such a Chief Minister who builds a Sheeshmahal for himself but is not even able to provide clean water to the people of Delhi. In same way, we will continue to fight for interests of people and will continue to expose the incompetent and corrupt Kejriwal government. #WaterCrisisInDelhi, Delhi BJP president wrote on Twitter. Sachdeva said that a property has been lying closed for two years but its bill has come of more than Rs 2.71 lakh. This is the biggest proof of Kejriwal's loot. Commission is fixed on every bill, so I challenge Kejriwal that instead of zero water bill of seven lakh people, he should announce that water bill of seven lakh people in Delhi will not come at all. In the coming days, BJP workers will take this movement to its conclusion by walking from street to street exposing Kejriwal's corruption, he said. Bidhuri said that the way the waves in the ocean are shaking, today the number of workers in this demonstration shows how protest against Kejriwal is rising. After Kejriwal promised to provide clean water to the people of Delhi for 24 hours, when 75000 samples were taken from the people's house, out of that 25000 samples failed and the Jal Board had to accept that 34% of Delhi's population is drinking polluted water. LOP said said that when Arvind Kejriwal came to power for the first time, Delhi's water supply was 900 MGD of water at that time and now the requirement has increased but the supply is still at 900 MGD water. Kejriwal government has done nothing to increase water availability. BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri said that Kejriwal, who came to power by talking about ending tanker mafia, promoted tanker mafia and today a gang of tanker mafia operates across Delhi including in Deoli, Sangam Vihar and is working on the instigation of Kejriwal while Verma said that today the entire cabinet of the Kejriwal government in Delhi is involved in corruption. Chief Minister Kejriwal recently had asked DJB officials to prepare a detailed action plan to resolve the issue of water contamination in parts of the capital. 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. SGPC president expressed grief over killing of a Sikh shopkeeper in Pak Amritsar: SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Sunday strongly condemned the attacks on minority Sikhs in Pakistan. Dhami said that the Sikh shopkeeper, in the city of Peshawar in Pakistan Manmohan Singh's shooting death is a very unfortunate incident. The government should be serious about the security of minority Sikhs in Pakistan. This is the second incident of attack on Sikhs in two days, said Dhami adding that it is sad that many such incidents have happened in Pakistan before. If the government had given severe punishment to the culprits, this would not have happened again. He also demanded strict action against those who killed Manmohan Singh. He also appealed to the Indias Foreign Minister to express strong objection to the Pakistan Government in this matter at the diplomatic level and ask them to take appropriate steps to protect the lives and property of the Sikhs in the future. Haryana Minister vows to accelerate rural development Chandigarh: Haryana Minister of State for Labour and Employment Anoop Dhanak on Sunday expressed the State Government's unwavering commitment to accelerate the pace of development works in rural areas and promptly address the demands of peoples representatives. Recognizing the vital role of Panchayats in expediting development work, he stressed the importance of jointly identifying the challenges faced by their respective villages. He highlighted the implementation of the Gram Darshan portal, a platform designed to enhance transparency in government-led development projects. The portal enables the common man to voice their opinions, seek resolutions for their issues, and share their demands, complaints, and suggestions, he added. Mini Secretariat to be constructed at Badkhal Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced the construction of a Mini Secretariat with state-of-the-art facilities in Badkhal. Apart from this, the Chief Minister assured to allocate Rs 100 crores to the Municipal Corporation's account by Monday (June 26) to pace the citys development works. No stone will be left unturned to pace Faridabads development works, said Khattar, while making it clear that any development projects presented to him for the benefit of the general public would be given first consideration. After the construction of mini secretariat at Badkhal, all the offices will be under one roof. Ex-serviceman fires shot at father over AC in Hoshiarpur Hoshiarpur: A 40-year-old ex-armyman allegedly fired a gunshot at his father in a fight over replacing an air-conditioner (AC) in their house Jalal Chak village in Hoshiarpur. The police on Sunday that Amarjeet Singh shot at his father Veer Singh with his licensed 12 bore rifle on late Saturday night. Veer Singh was admitted to Dasuya civil hospital from where he was referred to a hospital in Amritsar. The Police said that they have arrested Amarjeet Singh under relevant sections, including attempt to murder, of the Indian penal Code and the Arms Act. KUs Sahiba receives Best Youth Coordination Award Chandigarh: Sahiba, a Youth Red Cross Volunteer from Kurukshetra University, has been honoured with the Best Youth Coordination Award. The Indian Red Cross Society, Haryana State Branch, Chandigarh, organized a five-day state-level Youth Red Cross Adventure Camp in Manali from June 19 to 23, 2023 witnessing a participation from 88 female students from 10 universities and seven colleges, along with Youth Red Cross counsellors. The team from Kurukshetra University also took part in the camp, and Sahiba, a Youth Red Cross Volunteer from the university, was awarded the Best Youth Coordination Award, said the spokesperson. SAD cautions Centre over Chinas attempt to eliminate Sikh history from Eastern India Chandigarh: SAD leader Gurjeet Singh Talwandi on Sunday presented historical evidence regarding Guru Nanak Dev Jis Udasis to the North East while making out a case for doing justice to the Sikh community by repatriating Gurudwara Dongmar Sahib in Sikkim to the community. Talwandi said that since the matter was sub-judice, the Sikkim High court had ordered the aggrieved parties to come up with an amicable solution before next hearing on August 18, 2023. In spite of the pendency of dispute before the High Court, Tseten Tashi Bhutia (Centres Minority Commission member) has presented a fresh memorandum to the Sikkim Governor seeking construction of Buddhist shrine in total indifference to the concerns and demands of Sikhs, he added. Farmers can now complete e-KYC for PMKSN from comfort of their homes Chandigarh: Farmers of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana can now complete their e-KYC process without visiting the offices. Spokesperson said that the Central Government has introduced the PM-Kisan mobile app, aiming to streamline the entire procedure. This innovative app empowers farmers to conveniently fulfill their e-KYC requirements from the comfort of their own homes. Spokesperson explained that the app eliminates the need for OTP or fingerprint verification. Instead, it utilizes face authentication for e-KYC, enabling up to 100 farmers to complete the process. Sukhchain Singh appointed NGAIs working president Chandigarh: With the aim of invigorating and strengthening the operations and activities of the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), significant appointments have been made in the oldest registered national Gatka organization. Associations vice president Sukhchain Singh Kalsani has been elevated to the position of working president. Joint secretary Inderjodh Singh and national coordinator Simranjeet Singh have been promoted to the role of vice-president and working secretary. Besides, NGAIs executive member Yograj Singh Bhambri has been appointed as national coordinator on a vacant post after elevation of Simranjeet Singh. On the direction of Border Security Force New Delhi, the BSF Training Centre and School has decided to conduct a fortnightly programme on World Drug Day. In this series the camp has conducted a seminar in the campus. The programme was inaugurated by Commandant cum IG Inderjeet Singh Rana this programme will be over on 26th June in the campus. The Jawans in the chain try to make common people aware about the bad effect of consuming drugs in their lives. On 24th June Narcotics Control Bureau officers detailed the bad effects of consuming drugs in the life of a common person and also in the life of Jawans in the organisation. The experts said that the use of drugs has anti effects and it creates so many problems in a persons life. They further said that if you see any person in society consuming drugs, you should suggest that he leave the consumption of drugs. We also have to stop smuggling of drugs from one place to another. IG Inderjeet Singh Rana said that we will try our best to spread out the message to the last persons of the society that they should not use drugs in his life. The jawans of the centre have taken the oath not to consume the drugs in their life. He has conveyed the tanks to the officers who have delivered his speech on the anti- effects of the drugs in his life. Five organizations of the survivors of the Union Carbide disaster on Saturday talked on the recently published scientific study on the health impact of the disaster on children who were in the wombs of their mothers when they inhaled the poisonous gas. Describing the findings of the study that has been published in an international scientific journal earlier this month, Nousheen Khan of Children Against Dow Carbide said, The study has found that people who were in their mothers wombs during the Bhopal disaster were likely to have 8 times higher rates of cancer, higher rates of disability precluding employment, and lower levels of education. The study has also reported that the effects of the disaster could be seen, through data published by the Government of India, in people living as far as 100 kms from the factory at the time of the disaster." Rashida Bee, President of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh said, We congratulate and thank the five researchers who have vindicated our stand on the magnitude and long term consequences of the disaster against the deliberate downplaying of its impact by Union Carbide and the Indian government. We demand that Union Carbide and Dow Chemical pay compensation for the health damage to the generation born to the survivors after the disaster. Emphasizing the role of the Indian government, Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information & Action said, This scientific publication should be a wake up call for the governments at the state and the centre. The findings of the research are all based on data published by government agencies. The government has taken away the Bhopal survivors rights to sue Union Carbide in exchange of promise to protect the interests of the victims of the corporation. If the governments do not take legal steps to make Union Carbide pay for damages to the next generation it will be a betrayal of that promise. According to Balkrishna Namdeo of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha The publication also calls for immediate review of the decisions to abandon all medical research on Union Carbides victims in Bhopal. The government is also duty-bound to make reparations for the economic and social damage caused to the progeny of the survivors for its failure to provide rehabilitation, as remarked in the study. We will continue to struggle for justice as we have done for the last nearly four decades. We will make sure that more people in Bhopal and outside get to know about the findings on the damage caused to the unborn and have our demands heard by concerned national and international agencies. said Shahzadi Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha. US will lose its 'huge bets' on China's neighboring region 10:03, June 25, 2023 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just finished his state visit to the US, but the attention and interpretation of the trip, as well as its possible impact on the regional situation, has only started. US and Indian officials have elevated the visit to a high level, creating an atmosphere of a significant escalation in US-India relations. US officials said, "sky is the limit in India-US relations," while Modi said, "even the sky is not the limit" for partnership between India and the US. The joint statement issued by the two sides, which covers a wide range of fields, leaves such an impression in particular. But disagreements between the two sides have not disappeared or been resolved, but were deliberately covered, which was more hypocritical than if they were honestly listed; and the omnipresent, though unspoken, China-specific elements give a vague sense of unease. The US and India signed a series of agreements in areas of defense, semiconductors, key minerals, high technology and space cooperation. India will receive some key technologies that the US rarely shares with non-allies, and the US technology companies will invest in India. Some US media outlets have said that the US has placed a "huge bet" on India, an interesting term that we can read their subtext: One is that the purpose of strengthening US-India cooperation is not pure and asymmetric, and the other is that there is no confidence in their heart about whether the benefits can be obtained. Compared to the enthusiasm and optimism shown by Washington, the skepticism and attitudes of the US public opinion better reflect the reality that the US-India relationship is not so shiny. Almost all observers have noted that during Modi's trip, US and Indian officials have avoided mentioning China directly, but the issue of China is widely seen as one of the main drivers of deepening US-India relations. And China has been described in the US media as "the ghost at the US-India feast" or "the elephant in the room." In other words, it is well known that the US is now making overtures to India out of a geopolitical need to bring India in to deal with China, and both the US and India are tacitly aware of this. But this utilitarian nature of the "close ties" is temporary, unstable, and unreliable. "Shaping the strategic environment in which China operates" has become a US strategy for China, which the US is vigorously promoting. Theoretically, whether India will join in or not is crucial to whether the US can realize this plot. If India joins, the US will have geographically completed its encirclement of China, which is a KPI temptation that Washington politicians can hardly resist, so they will spare no effort to praise and court India, and even give away some benefits in exchange for New Delhi's cooperation or support. This seems perfect, but we all know that many plans concocted in imagination often fall apart in reality, just like the Chinese idiom "discussing warefare on paper." The more strategically independent a country is, such as India, the less likely it is to strictly follow the script written by Washington, especially when Washington demands actions that go against its own national interests. We believe that New Delhi will make calm and sober choices, as history has proven. New Delhi certainly has its own undisclosed plans, such as maximizing its interests in the strategic game between China and the US. However, becoming a pawn in US' containment of China does not align with India's interests and principles, nor does it preserve its dignity as a major power. Some Americans complain that India is a "swing state," expressing disappointment with India's refusal to act solely in accordance with the US' wishes. In a broader sense, the number of followers that the US can absolutely control is quite limited, and its attempt to build an encirclement against China is bound to fail. Global governance requires cooperation among major powers. We welcome US-India cooperation aimed at peace and development. However, we strongly oppose any US-India schemes targeting China, although we are not concerned because we know such schemes will not go far. India has always aspired to be a global power and is now striving to become the "leader of the Global South." China and India are neighboring countries, and the world's two largest developing countries. The US is far away and China is close. To "become the third-largest economy," India must have diplomatic considerations as a major power, and we believe India understands this point. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of Emergency on Sunday, fiercely attacked the opposition parties for attempting to forge an alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at an event held at Noida Stadium, Chief Minister Yogi said that people doing politics in the name of Jayaprakash Narayan and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia were with the Congress today that tried to smother democracy by declaring Emergency in the country on June 25, 1975. He said that on the one hand India had touched new heights of development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the other Pakistan that separated from India was struggling for every loaf of bread and would have the same fate which the mafia had in Uttar Pradesh because of its misdeeds. The chief minister paid tributes to all known and unknown persons who fought to safeguard the countrys democracy. Chief Minister Yogi said that Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Janata Dal (United) and parties that claimed to be followers of JP were colluding with those who were responsible for strangling democratic values during the Emergency period. Samajwadi Party has a long history of extending support even without parties asking for it. In 2004, the Congress did not want the support of the Samajwadi Party, still the party, the leader of the Chipko movement, supported them, he remarked. He said that in the last nine years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a new direction to the country under his visionary leadership with positive thinking. Yogi said that as Kashi, with its divine aura, was gaining prestige on the global platform, Ayodhya too was shining as a new Ayodhya. Every devotee of Sanatan dharma and well-wisher of India in the world is waiting for January 2024, when Lord Ram Lalla will sit in his grand temple, he added. He said that India was the only country which was giving free ration to its 80 crore citizens for the last three and a half years. If Indias journey continues like this, by 2027 it will become the worlds third largest economy, he remarked. Chief Minister Yogi said that in the Amrit Kaal of Independence, India was dominating the global stage with two major achievements getting the presidency of G-20 and emerging as the fifth largest economy in the world. Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday observed Black Day across Uttar Pradesh to mark 48 years since the Emergency was imposed in 1975 by the then Congress government led by former prime minister Indira Gandhi. The Emergency remained in force from June 25, 1975, until its withdrawal on March 21, 1977. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, described late Ramnath Goenka as a bright pole star of the media world, who staked everything to protect media freedom and democracy during the Emergency period. Paying rich tributes to Ramnath Goenka on the occasion of unveiling of Ramnath Goenka Marg, the chief minister said, June 25, 1975 is considered a black chapter in the history of Indian democracy because of suppression of freedom of speech. At that time, Ramnath Goenka was the bright pole star of the media world who put everything at stake to protect the media and democracy. He will be remembered respectfully whenever democracy and journalism are discussed. The chief minister said that Goenka fought a long battle and acted like a warrior in India's freedom struggle. With the inspiration of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, he launched a newspaper in the year 1936 and worked to give a new height to the voice of the common man of India. He showed the way of what should be the role of the media in a democracy, he added. The chief minister said that late Ramnath Goenka set the standards of unbiased media and had a deep association with the nationalist media mission. From the independence of the country to saving democracy, the contribution of late Ramnath Goenka cannot be forgotten, he added. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated multiple development projects worth Rs 1,717 crore in Noida in Gautam Buddha Nagar district on Sunday. He also addressed a public meeting in Gautam Buddha Nagar as part of Bharatiya Janata Partys Maha Jan Sampark campaign. Chief Minister Yogi said that peoples perception about Gautam Buddha Nagar had changed in the last six years. He said earlier people living in Delhi used to hesitate to come to Greater Noida but now the situation had changed. Now people from every corner of Delhi and the country want to come to Noida and Greater Noida where the Medical Device Park, Jewar International Airport, Film City and infrastructure facilities are coming up, he said. The development projects dedicated by the chief minister included Ved Van Park situated in Sector 78, a power sub-station in Sector 123 set up at a cost of around Rs 142 crore etc. The cable-stayed flyover on MP3 (Parthala Chowk) main road connecting Noida to Greater Noida was also dedicated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, giving a big relief to commuters coming to Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. Other projects inaugurated by the chief minister included an underpass near Advant at CH 10.300 of Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, a plant for disposal of sewage coming out of Greater Noida, internal development work of Ecotech-10 industrial sector of Greater Noida. The chief minister also laid the foundation stones of several projects which include production of 900 ton capacity torrefied charcoal (greencoal) per day from solid waste and establishment of bio CNG gas plant with 300 ton capacity. Drain, water supply, sewer line and electricity development for Industrial Sector 162 and 163 of Noida, 45-metre road widening parallel to the expressway from Sector 163 to 167 of Noida, 33/11 KV sub-station at village Nagla Charandas Phase-2, Sector-151, Sector-155, Sector-156, Sector-162 and Sector 164 of Noida. The other projects included decorative lights, tricolour lights and fountains in Greater Noida Expressway and other areas of the authority, strengthening of Renewal No 1, 4 and 6 in Noida, west to Wonder Park near flyover in Sector 94, Noida, development of green belts in Noida Sectors 150, 151 and 163 and Greater Noida (resurfacing work of Char Murti Rotary and 60-metre wide road from Balak Inter College in Dadri and service road from Prezyno Rotary to Hanuman Mandir Rotary. Chief Minister Yogi said that solving the problems of farmers was his governments top priority. We will solve their problems through dialogue. The anti-development and negative forces should not be allowed to come in between. Those who play with the future of the coming generation should not be allowed to succeed. We will solve all the problems arising between buyers of properties and builders very soon, he said In the programme, Chief Minister Yogi handed over 15 new Bolero vehicles to the Noida police for the safety of the public. He flagged off these vehicles. Apart from this, in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi, a memorandum of understanding was symbolically exchanged between Noida Development Authority, Greater Noida Development Authority and NTPC for municipal solid waste management. Among those present on the occasion were Industrial Development, Export Promotion, NRI and Investment Promotion Minister Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi', Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Industrial Development Jaswant Singh Saini, Minister of State for Public Works Department Brijesh Singh, Rajya Sabha member Surendra Nagar, Gautam Buddha Nagar MP Dr Mahesh Sharma, Noida MLA Pankaj Singh and other public representatives. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday inspected the ongoing development works in Vrindavan. Committed to the comprehensive development of Braj, the chief minister conducted a local inspection of the sewer project and instructed officials to complete work at the earliest while maintaining the quality. After that, the chief minister went to the Tourism Facilitation Centre to interact with the saints and sages. During their interaction, the chief minister enquired about their well-being and discussed the ongoing projects in Mathura. The chief minister also had refreshments with the saints, before departing for Noida. Yogi Adityanath had expressed his commitment to developing the Braj region and ensuring the safety of its pilgrimage sites as soon as he took the oath as Uttar Pradeshs chief minister in 2017. Chief Minister Yogi formed the Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad to accelerate the development of the region. Currently, a number of developmental projects are underway in the Braj region. Prior to the inspection, the chief minister also planted saplings at University Guest House premises. Initially, the chief minister had expressed his intention to visit Shri Banke Bihari Temple on Sunday to offer prayers. However, he had to cancel the programme for some reason and he proceeded to Noida. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh are now exempt from obtaining permission to extract clay for private use from their own fields. The decision has been taken in view of complaints of farmers regarding extortion and harassment in this regard. It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently expressed his dissatisfaction and had also given strict instructions to officers to take stern action against those harassing farmers and engaged in clay mining. The step has been taken in response to the complaints from farmers in various districts of the state after the chief minister had abolished the royalty on general soil mining to prevent harassment of farmers and illegal extortion for private use of soil from their own fields. Additionally, the requirement of obtaining permission from the Geology and Mining department had also been eliminated. Clear instructions have been issued to the relevant departments, district administration and the police regarding this change. Secretary, Geology and Mining department, Roshan Jacob, said that farmers should only apply for soil mining through the Mine Mitra portal. Following the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the royalty on general soil mining has been reduced to zero. Consequently, the requirement for farmers to obtain permission from the department for soil mining for their private use has also been eliminated, she said. Jacob further said that changes had been made in the rules to ensure transparency in soil mining and the Mine Mitra portal had been launched for this purpose. Farmers are now required to apply for soil mining up to a depth of 100 cubic metres solely through the Mine Mitra portal. After registration, mining and transportation are automatically authorised. Jacob also issued explicit orders stating that the local police and Dial UP 112 police personnel must obtain permission from the district magistrate and be present for the inspection of any legal/illegal transportation of soil or sand. Additionally, several other instructions have been issued by the department to ensure transparency. Mentioning the quantity of soil is essential in the work order. She said: As per the chief ministers instructions, the marking and demarcation of gates for approved areas for soil mining should be done correctly. Additionally, signboards should be installed indicating the boundaries. It should be ensured that mining is carried out as per the departmental demand issued by the responsible agencies such as the Public Works Department, and Irrigation and Rural Engineering departments, development authority/municipal body. Similarly, it is necessary to mention the quantity in the work order issued by the executing agencies for the supply of ordinary soil. Moreover, the supply of ordinary soil should be done only at the specified location mentioned in the transport permit. Farmers can apply on the Mine Mitra portal for mining/transportation of ordinary soil from their own land for personal use. Prior to registration, farmers will need to create a login by providing their name, address, and mobile number. After logging in, the form will be displayed, which must be filled with the applicants name, mobile number, quantity of ordinary soil as per land records, purpose of mining, and complete details of the applied mining area, including district, tehsil, village, plot number, and destination location. It is mandatory to fill in the information mentioned in point number three and submit the application. Subsequently, the farmer will receive the self-generated registration certificate from the portal. The registration certificate will be considered valid as the transport permit and the validity of the certificate will be two weeks. Amid confusion over the Congress' stance on the Centre's Delhi ordinance, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal told Rahul Gandhi to forget the differences and move forward together at the Opposition meeting in Patna but he did not show any interest in his request. On the other hand, Congress leader and former Union Minister Ajay Maken sought to remind Kejriwal of his support for the BJP Governments decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of similar powers in 2019. AAP sources said, Arvind Kejriwal spoke directly to Rahul (on the ordinance matter) and said if there is any issue, they can resolve it over tea. In the opposition meeting on Friday, Kejriwal said there is a need to forget the differences and move forward together. Given the situation, he said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is yet to decide if it will attend the opposition parties' next meeting scheduled in Shimla. The plan of action is expected to be formulated at another meeting to be chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, tentatively on July 10 or 12, in Shimla. According to AAP Sources, Rahul reportedly told AAP leaders Your eagerness for the meeting appears mischievous. Taking a dig at Kejriwal, Congress leader Ajay Maken said Kejriwal is doing all this to avoid going to jail. The AAP party, which has only 1 Lok Sabha member out of 542, also wanted support from the Congress- And Kejriwal ji was saying good and bad to its leaders as well? Is this the way to ask for support? Kejriwal is doing all this to avoid going to jail, the people of the country have already come to know about it! But when corruption has been committed, then the punishment has to be meted out, this is the rule of law!,Maken tweeted after the press statement issued by AAP. AAP sources claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee at the meeting intervened and said Gandhi and Kejriwal should sit together for lunch so that all the issues get addressed. But insiders said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and others to calm tempers when Congress and the AAP, which went into the meeting with a pre-condition for a grand alliance, had a heated exchange over the Centre's controversial Ordinance aimed at clipping the Delhi government's hold over its own bureaucracy. Underscoring the importance of safeguarding the interests of landowners, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said that the State government has undertaken the task of laying power lines that traverse their farmlands and fields. Khattar, addressing officers of Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam at HUDA Convention Center in Faridabad, advocated for the development of a policy that would protect the rights of landowners and ensure equitable compensation as per established regulations. The Chief Minister directed the officers to formulate policies that prioritize the welfare of farmers, ensuring their benefits. He emphasized the importance of effective coordination among the Power Corporation officials to address the concerns of farmers promptly. Reiterating that the farmers interests should never be neglected, he, accordingly, called for the creation of a comprehensive policy for all landowners affected by the power projects, accompanied by fair and proper compensation adhering to existing regulations. This approach seeks to guarantee the contentment of all landowners affected by these power projects, he said. During the meeting, Power Corporations chairman PK Das, through video conferencing, updated the Chief Minister on the current status of the power projects. Additionally, Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam managing director Mohammed Shayin provided a detailed overview of various ongoing projects undertaken by the Corporation. He highlighted the progress of the construction of a new power line for high-speed power supply, extending from the 400 KV substation at Prithla to the substation at Sector-78. Notably, the farmers from Tigaon and Dayalpur villages have requested an increase in the compensation amount. The foundation work for approximately 124 towers has been completed, covering more than a dozen villages in Prithla and Tigaon along this 29.5-kilometer-long power line. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that we all are descendants of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. Her works for the welfare of the people can never be forgotten. A grand memorial of Maa Ahilyabai Holkar will be built in Gwalior. The bus stand being constructed at Behta will be named after Ahilyabai Holkar. Along with this, a board will be constituted in the state for the welfare of Baghel and Dhangar community, whose chairman will have the status of a cabinet minister. There will be an optional holiday on the birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai. Chief Minister Chouhan was addressing the convention of Pal, Baghel and Dhangar Samaj on Saturday in Behta, rural area of Gwalior. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that I swear at the feet of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar that I will leave no stone unturned for the welfare of the community. He said that work will be done continuously for the implementation of welfare schemes for the benefit of backward classes. Ladli Bahnas are getting the benefit of Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana for empowering sisters and changing their lives. He said that along with meritorious scholarship for studies, all facilities will be made available to the students of Pal, Baghel, Dhangar community for medical and engineering education. Starting of medical and engineering education in Hindi language will benefit the students of penurious communities. The Chief Minister said that the works of good governance of Devi Ahilyabai are remembered in the country and world. Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that sacrifice, penance, dedication, justice and work are worshipped in our country. The country will never forget the justice and sacrifice of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar. He said that due to the installation of the statue of Maa Ahilyabai at Behta Tiraha in Gwalior, this Tiraha has now become Ahilya Tiraha. Union Agriculture Minister Tomar said that Devi Ahilyabai Holkar has also done exemplary work for the development of Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The state government is also doing numerous things for the upliftment of the Baghel community. Union Civil Aviation and Steel Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said that 140 crore people of the country can never forget the sacrifice of Pal and Baghel community. Mentioning the work and services of Ahilyabai Holkar for public welfare, he said that she gave the message of human welfare to the whole world. Mata Ahilyabai fought against the oppressors while leading in the battlefield. She worked for economic progress and development of Adhya and Shakti in the country. Temples and Dharamshalas were also built at different places in the country. Union Minister Scindia said that he has a close relationship with Pal, Baghel and Dhangar communities. He has family ties with this society. He said that Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia and Kailashvasi Madhavrao Scindia also did the work of spiritual upliftment of Pal, Baghel community. Minister of State for Horticulture (Independent Charge) Bharat Singh Kushwaha said that Chief Minister Chouhan has done important work to give recognition to the society in various fields. He also started numerous schemes to pave the way for the welfare, upliftment and progress of the society. Dr. Rajendra Pal, President of Pal, Baghel and Dhangar Samaj gave the welcome speech. Chouhan, Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Tomar, Union Civil Aviation and Steel Minister Scindia and Minister of State for Horticulture (Independent Charge) Bharat Singh Kushwaha paid floral tributes at the statue of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar in Behta. Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CRISP), Madhya Pradesh will provide digital certificate printing and online verification service to Haryana School Education Board with self-developed blockchain technology. For this, an agreement was signed between CRISP, Madhya Pradesh and School Education Board of Haryana on 22 June. Dr. VP Yadav, Chairman, BSEH, and Amol Vaidya, Director, CRISP were present. Shrikant Patil, Managing Director, CRISP, said, This is a first of its kind initiative with the Government of Haryana, using the blockchain technology developed by CRISP for the betterment of the students. In future we will also work with different states of India. Crisp is continuously creating new records in the field of IT. The organisation is also certified for Capability Maturity Integration Level 5, which is considered to be the best certification in the IT and e-Governance sector. Amol Vaidya, Director, CRISP explained that the blockchain-based authentication system is aimed at preventing fraudulent activities related to identity theft and giving correct certificates to students. Sandeep Jain, IT Head, CRISP informed that CRISP is providing ultramodern IT-enabled services to various departments in Madhya Pradesh and other states as well. The objective is to make CRISP synonymous with skill development. CRISP is working with various universities across India to bring such advanced technology in the education system. The blockchain-based certification system is the first of its kind to be implemented in any secondary education board, which will provide authenticity of records by BSE Haryana by verifying the individual/specific data of the candidate through a decentralized mechanism. Centre for Research and Industrial Staff Performance (CRISP) has been working in the field of Training, Research and Skill Development for the last 27 years. This institute also provides solutions in IT sector. CRISP, the futuristic technology lab, has been developing advanced IT solutions using blockchain/AI/ML/robotic automation and other futuristic technologies. Himachal Pradesh Government has reinstated the annual assessment system for Classes X and XII board exams thus eliminating the term system for the two classes. With this, the students of Classes X and XII will now only appear for their annual exams once in a year. The present State Government, which is working with the aim to revamp the system, has taken a significant decision in the field of education. The Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has approved the reinstatement of the annual assessment system, said the governments official statement. As per the statement, the Chief Minister said that the term system was not beneficial for education and students interests. Due to the term system, the children are getting less time to revise their syllabus and due to having two examinations in one academic session, the studies of the children are also getting hampered. The process of conducting exams and checking papers also took a considerable amount of time for completing the process of examination and evaluation, said the Chief Minister. Additionally, it imposed a financial burden on the students, as they had to pay double the fees for appearing in exams twice. Besides, holidays and co-curricular activities were also scheduled according to the annual pattern, he said. Himachal is a geographically-diverse State, with variations in teaching days due to different holidays and weather conditions in various regions. As per geographical condition, there are five vacation zones in the state that is summer, winter, Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, and other winter-affected areas. Sukhu said that the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, Jammu-Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand, along with the CBSE Board, already follow the annual assessment system. Considering all these factors, the decision was made to abolish the term system and restore the annual system in Himachal Pradesh also, he said. The Chief Minister said that the State Government was actively working to improve the system across various domains, aiming to provide accessible and high-quality education to students. The reinstatement of the annual system is a step in this direction, and further measures will be taken to enhance student quality and education in the future, he added. The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal will be welcoming 200 students from 23 states and union territories of the country in its flagship programs- Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management (PGDFM) and Post Graduate Diploma in Sustainability Management (PGDSM) for the academic session 2023-25 today. The students of PGDFM and PGDSM programs get an opportunity to work in diverse fields from the corporate sector to banking to FMCG to manufacturing industries at entry-level management positions. Also work in bilateral and multilateral organizations, consulting organizations, public sector undertakings, NGOs, and development organizations as development specialists. With a 100% placement record like previous years, students from the last batch were recruited from the campus by organizations like Ernst & Young, KPMG, PwC, NABARD, CEEW, ReNew, Vedanta, Aditya Birla, JK paper, Intellecap, IDFC First, and many more. The Indian Institute of Forest Management proudly announces that the students enrolled for the post-graduate programs are from diverse backgrounds covering all regions of the country. The enrollment this year has reached an all-time high. As part of the orientation program, interaction with distinguished alumni working in the field of academics, corporates, industries, entrepreneurs, and development sectors has been planned. Game-based orientation with an ice breaker, leadership, and self-development will also be provided as part of in-campus activities through the People Labs on 01.07.2023. The program will also include an exposure visit to Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve and PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action), a civil society organization working in the field of livelihood, food security, and natural resource management since 1983. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday questioned the Uttar Pradesh Government over the alleged power cuts in the State. There have been frequent power cuts in Uttar Pradesh. Electricity is not free in Uttar Pradesh. Electricity is quite expensive in UP. So why are there so many power cuts, Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. Kejriwal also said his government is providing free electricity in Delhi and there are no power cuts in the National Capital. Electricity is also free in Delhi and it comes 24 hours. There is no power cut. Delhi has a government of educated professional honest people, the Delhi Chief Minister said in another tweet. Earlier in the year, the Delhi Cabinet unanimously approved the proposal to give a subsidy on electricity. Union Minister Smriti Irani had earlier criticised Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying that Kejriwal failed to deliver on his promises of providing round-the-clock electricity and clean water. A survey conducted by a social media platform LocalCircles showed 86 per cent of the households in Noida and 94 per cent in Uttar Pradesh have experienced daily power outages in the ongoing month of June. The findings are based on responses from over 14,000 respondents located in 56 of the 75 districts of the state. As many as 100 people have died due to extreme heat in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the last three days. The war of words between the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party is far from over as Congress leader and former Union Minister Ajay Maken has now unleashed a fresh diatribe against Arvind Kejriwal and his party for taking swipes at his party and alleged that Arvind Kejriwal's proclamations on Opposition unity are not for cohesion but a ''calculated move to sabotage it to ''curry favour'' with the BJP. Maken said Kejriwal seeks the Congress' help for the ordinance yet unabashedly ridicules its leaders, including Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan, one of them is a very senior leader. ''His ministers place prerequisites on our alliance, while their chief spokesperson publicly disparages our party and leaders on the day of the Opposition party meeting. To brazenly criticise and then demand support, is this how alliances are sought, Kejriwal?'' Maken said on Twitter. "So do they (AAP) really want the support of the Congress or make peace with us?" Maken said. In a scathing attack at Kejriwal, the Congress leader further said Kejriwal betrayed Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav and the founders of the Anna Movement. The AAP-Congress face-off had dominated the opposition's first formal meeting in Patna on Friday. ''Kejriwal's political manoeuvres in recent weeks have left many baffled. However, let me elucidate the truth. His desperate attempts to evade imprisonment on corruption charges, wherein two of his colleagues are already jailed, are reasons for these actions,'' the Congress leader claimed. Kejriwal's proclamations of Opposition unity are not for cohesion but a ''calculated move to sabotage it and curry favour with the BJP. Past actions of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Parliament, the Delhi Legislative Assembly, or elsewhere only reinforce their surreptitious alliance with the BJP'', he said. Maken alleged that AAP was using corruption money to fight elections in several states to ''help the BJP'' and harm the Congress. ''Kejriwal's betrayals are infamous - just ask Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, and the founders of the Anna movement...,''' Maken said in a scathing attack on the Delhi CM. In Hindi, it's aptly said about him, 'Aisa koi saga nahin, jisko Kejriwal ne Thaga Nahin'., Maken said. ''However, be assured Kejriwal, your deeds have not gone unnoticed. Your massive corruption and utilisation of these ill-gotten funds to sabotage the Congress in Goa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Assam, just to help the BJP, won't be forgotten,'' the Congress leader said. The Congress leader said, However, be assured @ArvindKejriwal, your deeds have not gone unnoticed. Your massive corruption and utilization of these ill-gotten funds to sabotage @INCIndia in Goa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Assam, just to help the BJP, won't be forgotten. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will inaugurate the Drug-Free Haryana campaign from Panchkula on June 26 (Monday) that is on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The state governments official spokesperson on Sunday said that the Government will observe International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, 2023; and sant mahatma will address youths on the issue of drug abuse at the Sant Sammelan programme to be held at Indradhanush Auditorium, Panchkula. Spokesperson said that the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will attend the programme as the Chief Guest and will also inaugurate the Drug-Free Haryana campaign. Notably, Khattar on May 5, 2023, on his birthday had appealed to the saints to cooperate with the State Government to eliminate the social evils prevailing in the society. In this series, a programme will be organized under the guidance of Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj at Indradhanush Auditorium, Panchkula, to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking day. Dehradun police on Sunday arrested the father from Lucknow Railway station who allegedly killed his two minor daughters on Friday. The accused Jitendra Sahni (24), a Bihar native and current resident of Keshavpuri Basti in Doiwala, strangled his daughters- 3.5 years old Anchal and 1.5 years old Anusha because he reportedly wanted to pave the way for his second marriage. His wife and mother of the victims was reportedly having an affair with another man and had not returned from Hyderabad for the past two months. He wanted to remarry but was having difficulties as his daughters lived with him. The accused claimed that he had reportedly warned his wife and mother-in-law multiple times to take both girls with them or he will kill them but they never listened to him so he finally killed his daughters on Friday and escaped, said the Dehradun senior superintendent of police Daleep Singh Kunwar. He said that the police started the probe soon after getting information about the murders on Friday. He said that the police teams analysed CCTV footage and identified the accused. He said that the police also received information on Saturday that accused Jitendra had boarded Janta Express from Doiwala to go to his native village in Bihar. On getting the information, the teams immediately started chasing the Janta Express via road with their vehicles. One team chasing the train succeeded in boarding it at the Moradabad railway station while the other team continued to follow the train by road. He said that the police checked the accused on the train but could not find him at that time. The second team reached the Charbagh Lucknow railway station after which they started searching for the accused. He was trying to escape by taking advantage of the heavy crowd but the police nabbed him, added SSP. He said that the accused confessed to killing his daughters because they were becoming an obstacle in his attempt to get remarried. The police are looking into his criminal history and will present him to court soon, added Kunwar. An FIR was registered hete today at the Lower Bazar police station, alleging some people tried to capture land and building of former Supreme Court judge M Y Eqbal. Lower Bazar police station, officer-in-charge Dayanand Kumar said no one has been arrested in this connection so far. The family members of late Justice Eqbal reside in New Delhi. On May 2021, Former Supreme Court judge, Justice MY Eqbal passed away at Medanta Hospital, Gurgaon. Justice Eqbal started his legal practice in the year 1975 in Ranchi. He was elevated to the bench in May 1996, as a judge of the Patna High Court. Later, with the formation of the new state of Jharkhand in 2000, he became a judge of the Jharkhand High Court. In 2003, he was nominated by then Chief Justice of India VN Khare as one of the members of Ravi and Beas Water Tribunal to deal with water disputes among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. In his home state, he held the post of Chairman, Jharkhand Human Rights Commission, Executive Chairman of Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority and Judge-in-charge of the states Judicial Academy. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in June 2010. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on December 24, 2012 and served at the Supreme Court for close to 4 years before retiring from office on February 12, 2016. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the US Congress was simply exceptional. The entire Congress was charmed by his clarity of thought and conviction and what the India US friendship meant for the two nations and the whole world. He spoke of the achievements of his government in the last nine years making India the fifth largest economy from the tenth in 2014. He spoke of the two hundred twenty crore doses of corona vaccine in India and medical help to over one hundred fifty nations across the world. He also spoke of inclusive and equitable growth lashing at those who were raising the question of minorities in India. The spontaneous and warm applause to his statement clearly showed the hollowness of India's detractors. His speech corroborated our faith in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the actions we have taken accordingly. He minced no words while attacking China and Pakistan in a subtle manner. He said that free, safe and inclusive navigation in the Indo- Pacific as per the international laws was the need of the hour. Addressing to the threat of terrorism, he mentioned the 9/11 and 26/11 and called for striking at the roots of terrorism. The way the Congress hailed his remarks shows the anguish of the Americans against terrorism. He proudly spoke of what India has done in the field of environment management. He said that India has achieved forty percent alternative and renewable sources of energy. This is no mean achievement for a country with a population of 1.4 billion. He spoke of women empowerment and their participation in political processes and in different fields of science and technology and different service sectors. The digitisation of India is a great achievement and he said with a sense of pride that forty six percent digital transactions of the world were done in India. He specifically mentioned the street vendors who receive online payments. He said much to the pleasure of the Congress that this was an age of AI, the age of Artificial Intelligence and America India friendship. It is really an epochal moment for the oldest and largest democracies in the world. He rightly said that America and India have shown that democracies can successfully function and deliver. Modi's address clearly underlined a cardinal shift in our foreign policy. It does not mean that India would desert its old friends but it clearly shows that it is not afraid of taking new path to serve its interests. In a fast changing world, the foreign policy has to be recalibrated. No vibrant and pragmatic nation can afford to sit with fingers crossed when one of your powerful neighbours is raging like a bull in a china shop. The doubting Thomases would frighten you of your misplaced weaknesses and the untested and much flouted strength of your enemy. India need to rise to the occasion. The diversification of supply chains with stability and reliability is the global need. India can fill the slot of this diversified supply chain and Modiji has seized this opportunity with both the hands. And it is guaranteed that India would deliver given its youth power and its compatibility with changing science and technology. It is good that America has come to realise that putting all eggs in one basket is always a dangerous proposition. This is the time when India and other similarly placed countries can benefit. Modi acted like a true world leader when he advocated Africa's membership in G20. This was expected from a nation which wanted to lead the global south. The silver line of his speech was that he spoke truly like a world leader from the podium of the parliament of the most powerful nation in the world and that too on an equal footing. You need to be Modi to do this. The writer is a noted academician and political commentator. Views expressed in the article are personal. Haryana Government has appealed to the citizens to take advantage of various social security schemes namely the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana implemented by the Central Government. Application forms for the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana are readily accessible at banks and post offices across the region. By depositing the prescribed annual premium, individuals can secure insurance coverage of up to Rs two lakhs, said an official spokesperson on Sunday. Spokesperson said that the Central Government has launched two schemes aimed at extending the benefits of Jeevan Suraksha Bima Yojana to every bank customer. These social security initiatives are designed to empower families by providing crucial financial support during difficult times. Eligible individuals between the ages of 18 and 50 can enroll in the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, which offers life insurance protection of Rs two lakh upon the payment of an annual premium of Rs 436, said the spokesperson. Additionally, the spokesperson highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is an accident insurance scheme catering to citizens aged 18 to 70. By paying a remarkably low annual premium of Rs 20, participants can obtain accident insurance coverage of Rs two lakhs. The premium for these insurance schemes is automatically deducted from the consumer's bank or post office account, and in the event of a claim, the amount is directly deposited into the beneficiary's bank account. To enroll in these schemes, individuals are encouraged to visit their nearest bank branch or post office, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to Madhya Pradesh on 27th June. Prime Minister Modi will flag off two Vande Bharat trains from Bhopal, he will also interact with the booth workers here. Along with this, the Prime Minister will participate in the programs of Shahdol on 27th June itself. There Rani Durgavati Gaurav Yatras will end and Rani Durgavati's sacrifice day will be celebrated. Prime Minister Modi will launch two campaigns. Sickle cell mission will be launched for screening and treatment of people suffering from sickle cell disease. More than one crore Ayushman cards are ready in Madhya Pradesh. The distribution of these Ayushman cards will be started symbolically by the Prime Minister. On June 27, Prime Minister Modi will flag off two Vande Bharat trains, Bhopal-Indore and Bhopal-Jabalpur, from Rani Kamlapati Railway Station in Bhopal. Chief Minister Chouhan instructed the railway officials that such arrangements should be made so that the citizens of the state can listen to the Prime Minister's address in the programme to be held at the railway station. Prime Minister Modi will also launch the Sickle Cell Anaemia Eradication Mission 2047 at the national level in Shahdol. Representatives of the Central Government's Ministry of Health, Tribal Affairs, AYUSH and 17 states of the country will participate in the programme online. In the programme, sickle cell genetic counselling cards will be distributed virtually to more than 2 lakh beneficiaries of about 3 thousand health and wellness centres in 89 development blocks of 20 tribal-dominated districts of the state. These cards will contain the report of sickle cell anaemia after testing. Prime Minister Modi will also unveil the Sickle Cell Operation Guide-Line, inaugurate the National Sickle Cell Portal and Dash Board. Sickle cell manual will also be unveiled. The programme will be broadcast live at more than 25 thousand 500 places in the state. These include Civil Hospitals, District Hospitals, Health and Wellness Centres, Medical Colleges, Urban Local Bodies and Municipal Corporation Headquarters along with Primary and Community Health Centres. In the programme, a film prepared in relation to eradication of sickle cell in the state will be screened. The Prime Minister will interact directly with the villagers and public representatives and will also participate in the mass banquet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the PVC Ayushman Card Distribution Scheme in Shahdol. For the first time in the country, digital Ayushman cards are being distributed to 3 crore 57 lakh Ayushman beneficiaries in the state. After the launch of the scheme by the Prime Minister, PVC Ayushman cards will be distributed in the presence of public representatives at the gram panchayat and urban body level. For this, Ayushman Gram Sabha will be held at the Panchayat level, in which the names of Ayushman beneficiaries will be read out. Arrangements have been made for the live telecast of the Prime Minister's programme in the urban bodies. Prime Minister Modi will interact with Lakhpati Didis in Shahdol on the evening on 27th June. Didis in women self-help groups whose annual income is more than one lakh rupees in a year are called Lakhpati Didi. Didis have improved their financial condition through hard work and diligence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch Sickle Cell Eradication Mission 2047 in seventeen states across the country by giving away Health ID Card namely GIPCI (Genetic Inheritance Prediction Counselling Identification) Card used for genetic inheritance pattern identification & counselling thus preventing Sickle cell disease and thalassemia also known as Sickle cell status ID Card. On this occasion Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give away special Hemoglobinopathy genetic counselling cards to the beneficiaries innovated by doctor couple of Bhopal. The said Hemoglobinopathy Genetic counselling card also called GIPCI (Genetic Inheritance Prediction Counselling Identification) cards are patented and copyrighted specially designed cards for prevention of Sickle cell anemia and thalassemia under the call from the PM Modi Patent, Produce & Prosper. Researcher couple Dr. Nisanth Nambison, Associate professor at Government Homoeopathic College and Hospital, and Dr. Smita Nambison from capital city Bhopal have invented a forecast card that accurately forecasts the monogenic disorder that will occur in the children of a married couple. This will prove to be a revolution in medical science. Now eradication and prevention of disease without any medicine is Possible. Prior to this invention, the challenge was two folds: Genetic inheritance pattern identification and counselling requires special skills, it becomes challenging for health care workers, person with minimum education, or for the prospective parents or marriage mates to identify the genetic pattern of inheritance of putative progeny and counsel on their own. Non-availability of getting genetic counsellor who will look at the pedigree chart of couple wanting to marry, to make informed choices for reproduction to have healthy children. In the absence of education about the disease, genetically ineligible couple marries to bring a diseased child to this world and create a healthcare burden, which is 100% preventable. According to the National Health Mission Government of India, India has the highest number of 42 million Thalassemia patients in the world and about 10,000 to 15,000 children affected by Thalassemia Major are born every year. And sickle cell disease in India varies from 1 to 35% in different communities, which is an exceptionally large number. According to the National Health Mission's Policy Document 2016 and WHO, genetic counselors will have to be appointed in health centers for effective prevention of these diseases. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of sickle cell disease patients. Pradhan, Mehara, Sindhi, Punjabi, Gond, Bhil, Bharia, Korku, Kol, Bhumia, Baiga, Sahu, Panika, Chaudhary, etc. are the most affected communities, as they have many patients of these diseases. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday inaugurated multiple state development projects worth Rs 1,716.66 crore in Noida. He also addressed a public meeting in Gautambuddh Nagar on Sunday as part of BJP's 'Maha Jan Sampark' campaign. The development projects include Ved Van Park situated in Sector-78, a sub-station in Sector 123 which costs around Rs 142 crore etc. The Parthala Signature Bridge flyover was also inaugurated by UP CM Yogi Adityanath on June 25, giving big relief to commuters coming to Noida, Greater Noida, and Ghaziabad. The Parthala flyover has been opened after its inauguration. There used to be a huge traffic jam on the Parthala roundabout here in the morning and evening during office peak hours. Due to this it was not easy to travel to Greater Noida West. To end this jam, the Noida Authority has got this flyover built at a cost of Rs 81 crore. The chief minister also addressed a public meeting in Sector-21 A's Noida stadium as part of BJP's 'Maha Jan Sampark' campaign. While addressing a huge public meeting in the stadium, the CM said that today due to the improvement of law and order in UP, people want to come from abroad to invest in Noida. The weather has cooled down just like the mafia has cooled down in Uttar Pradesh. Inaugurating the Ramnath Goenka Marg, a 2.2-km road stretch in Noida Sector 10 the Chief Minister said this was a significant day in more ways than one given that Emergency was declared on June 25 in 1975 to strangle democracy. During his speech at an inaugural function of the Rs 200 crore-robot manufacturing plant of Reliance group firm Addverb, the chief minister said the government has approved investment proposals worth about Rs 36 lakh crore that emerged out of a memorandum of understanding signed during state's investor summit a year ago. Thousands of citizen volunteers joined forces today to participate in a large-scale cleaning and plantation drive on a 3-kilometer stretch along SP Marg. This initiative came in response to Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's recent visit to the area on June 17, during which he announced a comprehensive revamp plan for the Ridge along SP Marg and the Malcha Mahal. The enthusiastic volunteers, between Dhaulakuan and 11 Murti, actively contributed to the removal of solid waste and debris that had been strewn around the vicinity. They diligently cleared the ground and planted trees following a triple grid pattern. The selected tree species for this project included Gulmohar, Jacranda, Amaltash, and Chinar, strategically planted to optimise space utilisation. The presence of Lieutenant Governor Saxena himself during the drive boosted morale among the volunteers, who were commended for their dedicated efforts. Gautam Nagar police arrested two drug peddlers and seized 16.743 kg of Cannabis worth over Rs 2 lakh, accused used to sell to customers in Bhopal and nearby areas. Taking legal action under the NDPS Act, on receipt of information of illegal Cannabis dealers on Saturday in Sharda Nagar area of Nariyalkheda two accused were detained and when the two were questioned and their belongings were searched Cannabis was found from their possession. The two accused were identified as Narendra Singh and Harinarayan alias Golu the accused were arrested and Cannabis 16.743 kg was seized from their possession. The accused were produced before the Information about buying and selling marijuana is being obtained from the accused and criminal records are being searched. Meanwhile Jehangirabad police have arrested burglar and recovered stolen goods worth Rs 5 lakh, three laptops,computers tablets and cameras of Canon company were recovered. The accused was identified as Aman alias Sirajuddin, accused does housekeeping work to evade suspicion. The accused used to do cleaning work at the gym near the filter pump. Accused also stole the mobile and laptop of a worshiper from Masjid Noorbagh. The accused carried out two incidents of theft in two months in the Jahangirabad area. The accused carried out the incident of theft in Kohefiza, in Lalghati he stole a camera. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that better coordination is needed between the government and industry to run the growth engine of the State in full steam. He was addressing Doon E- 3 Expo organised by Business Network International (BNI) here on Saturday. Welcoming the entrepreneurs in the programme, the CM said that the entrepreneurs investing in Uttarakhand are harbingers of development and growth of the State. Terming the expo as the exhibition of the new mindset and entrepreneurship skills of Uttarakhand the CM said that all types of businesspersons can demonstrate their skills and find opportunities in the State. The CM said that the Indian economy has become the fifth largest economy of the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the PM has taken a commitment to construct a new India which is getting fulfilled today. He said that the State government is committed to make Uttarakhand a partner in the growth story of India and make it one of the leading States of the country. The government is making efforts to make Uttarakhand the most favoured destination for investment. He added that the State has better law and order situation, clean environment, rail, road and air connectivity and cheap and uninterrupted power supply which make it good destination for industry, work in the field of automobiles, electric vehicles, infrastructure, Ayush, Pharmaceuticals, bio technology, IT, tourism, green energy and service sectors in being done in Uttarakhand. The CM added that due to the industry friendly policies prominent companies are helping in the progress of the State. The CM emphasised that the rural economy also needed to be strengthened for the all round development of the State and for this the government has started one district- two products scheme. The objective of the scheme is to encourage local products and make them an important mode of livelihood. He said that opportunities for every investor are increasing in Uttarakhand which has a positive and transparent environment for business. The Mayor of Dehradun Sunil Uniyal Gama, Mahanagar president of BJP Siddharth Agarwal and others were present on the occasion. The Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has been honoured with a national award for excellence in cost management. The award was given at the 18th National Award for Excellence in Cost Management programme organized by ICMAI at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Friday. In the ceremony UPCL's finance officer and deputy general manager (finance) Amit Kansal, and DGM finance NK Kandpal received the award on behalf of the corporation. ICMAI is a statutory body which organises national awards every year to promote innovative initiatives related to cost and financial management in manufacturing and services sector. In March 2023, UPCL applied for nomination for this award and after reviewing various parameters by the screening committee, UPCL was selected for the second award in the field of excellence in cost management. The director (finance) Naveen Kumar Gupta said that this award reflects better management and best working style in the financial sector and indicates the positive efforts made by the department in the direction of cost management. The MD of UPCL said it is a matter of great pride for the corporation to be selected for the national award by ICMAI and congratulated the director (finance) and his team for this achievement. hief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on being conferred with the Order of the Nile, the highest state honour of Egypt. Taking to Twitter, the chief minister wrote, Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi being conferred with the highest state honour of Egypt, Order of the Nile, is a matter of pride for all Indians. This award is a symbol of the increasing prestige of New India on the world stage as well as the increasing acceptance of the prime minister as a world statesman. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day tour of the United States of America and he reached Egypts capital Cairo on Saturday where Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi presented this highest honour to Prime Minister Modi. With as many as 17 political parties and three dozen leaders in attendance, the Patna conclave marks a significant breakthrough in the effort to bring together the majority of Opposition parties on one platform against the BJP, writes Navin Upadhyay The June 23 meeting of the Opposition in Patna has set the trajectory of Indian politics, heralding the advent of a make-or-break battle for both the Opposition and the BJP in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha election. {Pushed into a corner by the onslaught of probe agencies, the Opposition is determined to confront the BJP directly in a minimum of 400 constituencies. This gathering represents a pivotal moment as the majority of influential Opposition leaders, with the exception of Arvind Kejriwal from the AAP, have chosen to set aside their political divergences and embark on negotiations aimed at ending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure next ten months. The primary objective of the meeting was to foster unity among opposition parties and devise a comprehensive strategy to challenge the ruling party in the upcoming elections. Discussions also revolved around crucial national issues, including economic policies, unemployment, healthcare, agrarian distress, and social justice. Electoral alliances, seat-sharing arrangements, and campaign coordination were also key topics on the agenda. With as many as 17 political parties and three dozen leaders in attendance, the Patna conclave is a significant breakthrough that indicates a promising development in the opposition's unity. This positive momentum is expected to continue with the reconvening of these leaders in Shimla in the second week of July, further strengthening their joint platform against Modi. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already laid the groundwork and proposed a formula for seat adjustments, which could serve as a starting point for future negotiations, testing the sincerity of these leaders in forging a united front. However, the absence of Janata Dal (Secular), Bhartiya Rashtriya Congress, Biju Janata Dal, and YSR Congress at the meeting highlights the limited scope for Opposition unity in South India. The Congress and Left parties, who were present at the Patna conclave, are also political rivals in Kerala. Since the BJP's influence in Kerala is relatively low, these parties see no need for seat adjustments in the state. Likewise, the Congress is prepared to contest elections independently in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Odisha, while maintaining its existing alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the main focus of the opposition's unity efforts will primarily be in North and Western India, particularly in states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra. In addition, the Congress will also contest elections on its own in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. A Congress and Trinamool Congress alliance in Bengal and Tripura may still be possible, but finding common ground between the Left and Mamata Banerjee's TMC presents challenges. If the opposition does manage to unite in North and West India, it could result in direct contests in nearly 400 seats. Some states where multi-cornered contests might occur include Uttar Pradesh (because of the Mayawati factor). , Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, and Delhi. Out of these 400-plus seats, the Congress is expected to contest around 310-320 seats, sharing the electoral space with the Shiv Sena-led by Uddhav Thackeray, TMC, DMK, SP, RJD, JD(U), NCP, and NC and PDP. Considering the current scenario, if the Opposition manages to unite in North and West India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to be seen as a prominent candidate for the prime ministerial role. Even if the alliance doesn't officially project him as such, the party's cadres and workers are likely to see him in that role, which could energize the party base but also considerably clear the confusion among the public about the potential leader of the nation after Modi. While BJP leaders repeatedly claim that a contest t between Rahul and Modi will be a one-sided affair, favoring the Gujarat stalwart, undoubtedly, Rahul has gained popularity following his successful Bharat Yatra. If the Congress leader undertakes a second round of Bharat Yatras from west to east, Rahul could further capitalize on his growing popularity among the masses. The Congress hopes that the appeal of leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi among the middle class and the poor voters, and Kharge among Dalit and Muslim voters will lead to a resurgence of the party, which aims to win at least 100-plus seats. This could be the best-case scenario in the Oppositions effort to end the Modi-shah era. The Opposition's desperation to join forces stems from two critical factors that drive their motivation. Firstly, they have faced relentless targeting by probe agencies in the past and fear that if Modi returns to power, their political aspirations may be further thwarted. This fear adds urgency to their efforts to unite against the ruling party. Secondly, they believe that since nearly 62 percent of voters cast their ballots against the BJP in 2019, their collective strength could make it extremely challenging for the BJP to retain power. However, politics is not a simple equation, and the Opposition will need more than just numerical superiority on their side. To truly win over the electorate, the Opposition must offer stability, strong leadership, and a compelling economic vision that convinces the nation they are united not only to oust Modi but also to formulate a comprehensive plan addressing the socio-economic divide that they talk about day and night. In addition to leadership and joint campaigns, a significant portion of the middle class, upwardly mobile, and educated voters yearn to see a clear blueprint from the opposition. They seek a convincing demonstration that the Opposition has a well-thought-out strategy to deliver on the promise of "acche din" (good days) if they were to assume power. The Patna event, with its lively discussions, idea exchanges, and shared commitment to democratic values, exemplified the determination of opposition parties to shape the future political landscape through collaboration. Leaders from major opposition parties across the country converged in Patna, representing diverse political ideologies and backgrounds. The presence of influential figures such as Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray and Sitaram Yechury added gravitas to the proceedings. The meeting showcased a remarkable spirit of unity and collaboration among opposition parties. Leaders set aside their ideological differences and focused on the shared goal of strengthening the democratic framework and safeguarding the rights and welfare of citizens. They recognized that only by joining forces could they present a credible alternative to the ruling party. Central to the discussions was the formulation of a common minimum program, a guiding document that would outline the alliance's shared principles, goals, and policy framework. This program aimed to provide a cohesive roadmap for the opposition coalition in effectively addressing the nation's challenges. While the opposition parties in Patna demonstrated unity and determination, they also acknowledged the formidable challenges that lie ahead. The ruling party's massive electoral machinery, widespread support, and incumbency advantages cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, managing ideological differences within the opposition alliance will require adept handling to maintain a united front. To overcome these challenges, leaders stressed the importance of grassroots mobilization, direct voter engagement, and addressing citizens' concerns. Efficient resource management, encompassing financial and human resources, was also a key topic of discussion. The meeting of opposition parties in Patna marks a crucial step towards forging a stronger alliance, driven by the objective of providing an alternative vision for the country. The leaders displayed an unwavering commitment to democratic values and principles, setting aside their differences to work collectively for the betterment of the nation. While challenges lie ahead, the meeting highlighted the determination and resolve of the opposition parties to build a formidable coalition. The unity demonstrated in Patna sends a clear message to the electorate that the opposition is prepared to challenge the ruling party's dominance and present a viable alternative. As the political landscape evolves in the coming months, the true impact of this meeting will become evident, potentially shaping the course of Indian politics and democracy for years to come. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU Get Rating) in a report released on Friday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the stock. Separately, Alliance Global Partners cut Almaden Minerals from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Get Almaden Minerals alerts: Almaden Minerals Price Performance AAU opened at $0.13 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $0.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $0.19. The company has a quick ratio of 23.80, a current ratio of 23.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The company has a market cap of $17.56 million, a PE ratio of -2.13 and a beta of 0.94. Almaden Minerals has a 52 week low of $0.11 and a 52 week high of $0.28. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Almaden Minerals Almaden Minerals ( NYSE:AAU Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 24th. The company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter. A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of AAU. HRT Financial LP acquired a new stake in Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter valued at $64,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter valued at $119,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Almaden Minerals by 564.4% during the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 233,188 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 198,088 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Almaden Minerals by 587.9% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 485,878 shares of the companys stock worth $119,000 after purchasing an additional 415,244 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. About Almaden Minerals (Get Rating) Almaden Minerals Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Mexico. The company's principal asset includes a 100% interest in the Ixtaca gold-silver project located in Puebla State, Mexico. Almaden Minerals Ltd. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Almaden Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Almaden Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Atento (NYSE:ATTO Get Rating) in a report published on Wednesday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the business services providers stock. Atento Stock Performance Shares of ATTO opened at $1.39 on Wednesday. Atento has a 12-month low of $0.77 and a 12-month high of $11.00. The stock has a market cap of $21.48 million, a P/E ratio of -0.16 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a 50-day moving average of $1.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.99. Get Atento alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Atento stock. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in Atento S.A. (NYSE:ATTO Get Rating) by 6.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 22,105 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,398 shares during the quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. owned 0.15% of Atento worth $611,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 48.01% of the companys stock. About Atento Atento SA is engaged in the provision of customer relationship management business process outsourcing services and solutions. The firm offers front-end and back-end services ranging from sales, applications processing, customer care, and credit management. It operates through the following geographical segments: Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), America, and Brazil. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Atento Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Atento and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated their buy rating on shares of Glencore (LON:GLEN Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm currently has a GBX 550 ($7.04) price target on the natural resources companys stock. GLEN has been the topic of a number of other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Glencore from GBX 620 ($7.93) to GBX 610 ($7.81) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 560 ($7.17) price objective on shares of Glencore in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 540 ($6.91) price objective on shares of Glencore in a report on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Glencore to a buy rating and set a GBX 560 ($7.17) price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, March 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of GBX 584.58 ($7.48). Get Glencore alerts: Glencore Price Performance LON:GLEN opened at GBX 432.65 ($5.54) on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of 53.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 420.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.96. The companys 50-day moving average is GBX 448.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 490.33. Glencore has a 12-month low of GBX 395.40 ($5.06) and a 12-month high of GBX 584.50 ($7.48). About Glencore Glencore plc engages in the production, refinement, processing, storage, transport, and marketing of metals and minerals, and energy products in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It operates through two segments: Marketing Activities and Industrial Activities. The company engages in production and marketing copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, chrome ore, ferrochrome, vanadium, aluminum, alumina, and iron ore; and coal, crude oil, refined products, and natural gas, as well as oil exploration/production and refining/distribution. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Glencore Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Glencore and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Taylor Wimpey (LON:TW Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Jefferies Financial Group from GBX 154 ($1.97) to GBX 141 ($1.80) in a research note published on Thursday morning, MarketBeat reports. They currently have a buy rating on the homebuilders stock. A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 125 ($1.60) to GBX 131 ($1.68) and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 120 ($1.54) to GBX 130 ($1.66) and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Berenberg Bank lifted their price objective on Taylor Wimpey from GBX 111 ($1.42) to GBX 122 ($1.56) and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Taylor Wimpey has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 127.33 ($1.63). Get Taylor Wimpey alerts: Taylor Wimpey Stock Down 1.9 % Shares of TW opened at GBX 100.70 ($1.29) on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of 3.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 559.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.99 and a beta of 1.81. Taylor Wimpey has a 1 year low of GBX 80.64 ($1.03) and a 1 year high of GBX 132.07 ($1.69). The businesss 50 day simple moving average is GBX 119.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 115.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a current ratio of 4.71 and a quick ratio of 0.71. Insider Activity Taylor Wimpey Company Profile In related news, insider Mark Castle acquired 1,559 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 126 ($1.61) per share, for a total transaction of 1,964.34 ($2,513.55). 0.97% of the stock is owned by insiders. (Get Rating) Taylor Wimpey plc operates a residential developer in the United Kingdom and Spain. It builds and delivers various homes and communities. Taylor Wimpey plc was incorporated in 1935 and is based in High Wycombe, the United Kingdom. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Taylor Wimpey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taylor Wimpey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD Get Rating) have received an average rating of Hold from the eleven analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $65.00. Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on BUD shares. StockNews.com downgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. HSBC cut Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, Evercore ISI cut their price target on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV from $80.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Get Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV alerts: Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Price Performance BUD stock opened at $57.12 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $99.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.35, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.24. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV has a twelve month low of $44.51 and a twelve month high of $67.09. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $59.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Increases Dividend Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( NYSE:BUD Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The consumer goods maker reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $14.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.05 billion. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV had a return on equity of 15.38% and a net margin of 12.78%. The companys revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.67 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV will post 3.16 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 4th were paid a dividend of $0.611 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.95%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 3rd. This is an increase from Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NVs previous annual dividend of $0.41. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NVs payout ratio is 16.40%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BUD. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. BOKF NA acquired a new position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Castleview Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 105.1% during the 4th quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 445 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV by 70.3% during the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 499 shares of the consumer goods makers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.53% of the companys stock. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Company Profile (Get Rating Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV produces, distributes, markets, and sells beer and beverages. It offers a portfolio of approximately 500 beer brands, which primarily include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois; Beck's, Hoegaarden, Leffe, and Michelob Ultra; and Aguila, Antarctica, Bud Light, Brahma, Cass, Castle, Castle Lite, Cristal, Harbin, Jupiler, Modelo Especial, Quilmes, Victoria, Sedrin, and Skol brands. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Asset Management Corp IL ADV acquired a new stake in Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE:DOC Get Rating) during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm acquired 13,160 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $196,000. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 80,734 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,416,000 after acquiring an additional 7,698 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its stake in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 7.9% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 181,899 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,317,000 after purchasing an additional 13,307 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 0.5% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,118,102 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $54,693,000 after purchasing an additional 15,264 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 67.4% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 139,127 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,443,000 after purchasing an additional 56,006 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Physicians Realty Trust by 77.4% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 17,778 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $312,000 after purchasing an additional 7,754 shares during the period. 94.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Physicians Realty Trust alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades DOC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Credit Suisse Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $15.00 price objective on shares of Physicians Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Physicians Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set an underweight rating and a $14.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Physicians Realty Trust from $16.00 to $15.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. JMP Securities started coverage on Physicians Realty Trust in a report on Friday, May 26th. They issued an outperform rating and a $15.50 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Physicians Realty Trust in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $16.85. Physicians Realty Trust Stock Performance Physicians Realty Trust Dividend Announcement Shares of DOC opened at $13.48 on Friday. Physicians Realty Trust has a 12-month low of $13.27 and a 12-month high of $18.30. The stock has a market cap of $3.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.64, a PEG ratio of 11.81 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The company has a 50-day moving average of $14.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $14.68. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 18th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be paid a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 3rd. Physicians Realty Trusts payout ratio is currently 209.10%. About Physicians Realty Trust (Get Rating) Physicians Realty Trust is a self-managed health care real estate company organized to acquire, selectively develop, own, and manage health care properties that are leased to physicians, hospitals and health care delivery systems. The Company invests in real estate that is integral to providing high quality health care. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DOC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE:DOC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Physicians Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Physicians Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB Get Rating) have received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $54.38. A number of research firms recently weighed in on KTB. Stifel Nicolaus raised Kontoor Brands from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $44.00 to $63.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Kontoor Brands from $48.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Barclays reduced their price target on Kontoor Brands from $51.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Kontoor Brands from $41.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on Kontoor Brands from $66.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Get Kontoor Brands alerts: Institutional Trading of Kontoor Brands Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. TCTC Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 360.4% during the 4th quarter. TCTC Holdings LLC now owns 686 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kontoor Brands during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. CWM LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 34.6% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 867 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Kontoor Brands during the 1st quarter worth $52,000. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 99.4% during the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,426 shares of the companys stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 711 shares in the last quarter. Kontoor Brands Stock Down 2.5 % KTB stock opened at $40.40 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.59, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.77. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.27 billion, a PE ratio of 9.95, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.14. Kontoor Brands has a 1-year low of $31.46 and a 1-year high of $53.83. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $42.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $44.62. Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $667.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $671.91 million. Kontoor Brands had a return on equity of 102.91% and a net margin of 8.82%. The firms revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.40 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Kontoor Brands will post 4.7 EPS for the current year. Kontoor Brands Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th were given a dividend of $0.48 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.75%. Kontoor Brandss payout ratio is 47.29%. About Kontoor Brands (Get Rating Kontoor Brands, Inc, a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brad name. The company sells its products primarily through mass merchants, specialty stores, mid-tier and traditional department stores, company-operated stores, and online. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kontoor Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kontoor Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Claro Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK Get Rating) by 97.8% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,525 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,743 shares during the period. Claro Advisors LLCs holdings in Rockwell Automation were worth $1,034,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. New Hampshire Trust bought a new stake in shares of Rockwell Automation during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN acquired a new position in Rockwell Automation in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, First Manhattan Co. increased its holdings in Rockwell Automation by 150.0% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 125 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. 79.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Rockwell Automation alerts: Rockwell Automation Stock Down 0.5 % ROK stock opened at $313.27 on Friday. Rockwell Automation, Inc. has a twelve month low of $192.90 and a twelve month high of $321.94. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The stocks 50 day moving average is $287.66 and its 200-day moving average is $281.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.99 billion, a PE ratio of 27.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.42. Rockwell Automation Dividend Announcement Rockwell Automation ( NYSE:ROK Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The industrial products company reported $3.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by $0.41. Rockwell Automation had a return on equity of 42.15% and a net margin of 15.82%. The company had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.09 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.66 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 25.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Rockwell Automation, Inc. will post 12.04 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 11th. Investors of record on Monday, August 14th will be given a dividend of $1.18 per share. This represents a $4.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 11th. Rockwell Automations payout ratio is 41.55%. Insider Activity at Rockwell Automation In related news, CEO Blake D. Moret sold 4,855 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $1,529,325.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 64,425 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,293,875. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Blake D. Moret sold 4,855 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $315.00, for a total transaction of $1,529,325.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 64,425 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,293,875. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Frank C. Kulaszewicz sold 7,729 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total value of $2,395,990.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 13,660 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,234,600. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 15,067 shares of company stock valued at $4,638,955. 0.64% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have issued reports on ROK shares. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their target price on Rockwell Automation from $250.00 to $290.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Mizuho upped their target price on Rockwell Automation from $260.00 to $270.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Rockwell Automation from $272.00 to $273.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com began coverage on Rockwell Automation in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on Rockwell Automation from $250.00 to $262.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $271.67. About Rockwell Automation (Get Rating) Rockwell Automation, Inc provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ROK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Rockwell Automation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rockwell Automation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU Get Rating) and BHP Group (NYSE:BHP Get Rating) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, valuation and institutional ownership. Risk and Volatility Almaden Minerals has a beta of 0.94, indicating that its share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BHP Group has a beta of 0.89, indicating that its share price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500. Get Almaden Minerals alerts: Insider and Institutional Ownership 6.1% of BHP Group shares are held by institutional investors. 11.0% of Almaden Minerals shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.0% of BHP Group shares are held by 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 Almaden Minerals N/A -7.05% -6.40% BHP Group N/A N/A N/A Valuation & Earnings This table compares Almaden Minerals and BHP Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. This table compares Almaden Minerals and BHP Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Almaden Minerals N/A N/A -$9.11 million ($0.06) -2.13 BHP Group $65.10 billion 1.34 $30.90 billion N/A N/A BHP Group has higher revenue and earnings than Almaden Minerals. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Almaden Minerals and BHP Group, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Almaden Minerals 0 1 0 0 2.00 BHP Group 1 1 4 0 2.50 Almaden Minerals presently has a consensus price target of $0.40, suggesting a potential upside of 212.50%. BHP Group has a consensus price target of $2,435.00, suggesting a potential upside of 4,005.55%. Given BHP Groups stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe BHP Group is more favorable than Almaden Minerals. Summary BHP Group beats Almaden Minerals on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Almaden Minerals (Get Rating) Almaden Minerals Ltd., an exploration stage company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of mineral properties in Mexico. The company's principal asset includes a 100% interest in the Ixtaca gold-silver project located in Puebla State, Mexico. Almaden Minerals Ltd. was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. About BHP Group (Get Rating) BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, silver, zinc, molybdenum, uranium, gold, iron ore, and metallurgical and energy coal. The company is also involved in mining, smelting, and refining of nickel; and potash development activities. In addition, it provides towing, freight, marketing and trading, marketing support, finance, administrative, and other services. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. Receive News & Ratings for Almaden Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Almaden Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ Get Rating) and PTT Exploration and Production Public (OTCMKTS:PEXNY Get Rating) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, earnings and risk. Institutional and Insider Ownership 71.2% of Canadian Natural Resources shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of PTT Exploration and Production Public shares are owned by institutional investors. 5.0% of Canadian Natural Resources shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get Canadian Natural Resources alerts: Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Canadian Natural Resources and PTT Exploration and Production Public, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Canadian Natural Resources 0 2 5 0 2.71 PTT Exploration and Production Public 0 0 0 0 N/A Dividends Canadian Natural Resources currently has a consensus target price of $94.14, indicating a potential upside of 76.63%. Given Canadian Natural Resources higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Canadian Natural Resources is more favorable than PTT Exploration and Production Public. Canadian Natural Resources pays an annual dividend of $2.65 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.0%. PTT Exploration and Production Public pays an annual dividend of $10.73 per share and has a dividend yield of 139.5%. Canadian Natural Resources pays out 41.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. PTT Exploration and Production Public pays out 40.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Canadian Natural Resources has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. PTT Exploration and Production Public is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Profitability This table compares Canadian Natural Resources and PTT Exploration and Production Publics net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Canadian Natural Resources 20.63% 29.39% 14.76% PTT Exploration and Production Public N/A N/A N/A Valuation & Earnings This table compares Canadian Natural Resources and PTT Exploration and Production Publics revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Canadian Natural Resources $46.95 billion 1.24 $8.41 billion $6.46 8.25 PTT Exploration and Production Public N/A N/A N/A $26.74 0.29 Canadian Natural Resources has higher revenue and earnings than PTT Exploration and Production Public. PTT Exploration and Production Public is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Canadian Natural Resources, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Canadian Natural Resources beats PTT Exploration and Production Public on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks. About Canadian Natural Resources (Get Rating) Canadian Natural Resources Limited acquires, explores for, develops, produces, markets, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company offers light and medium crude oil, primary heavy crude oil, Pelican Lake heavy crude oil, bitumen (thermal oil), and synthetic crude oil (SCO). The company's midstream assets include two pipeline systems; and a 50% working interest in an 84-megawatt cogeneration plant at Primrose. It operates primarily in Western Canada; the United Kingdom portion of the North Sea; and Offshore Africa. The company was formerly known as AEX Minerals Corporation and changed its name to Canadian Natural Resources Limited in December 1975. Canadian Natural Resources Limited was incorporated in 1973 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. About PTT Exploration and Production Public (Get Rating) PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of petroleum in Thailand and internationally. It is also involved in the gas pipeline transportation business; investment funding; and the provision of petroleum-related technology, human resource support, treasury center, technology, and solar power businesses, as well as renewable energy and related activities. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited is a subsidiary of PTT Public Company Limited. Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Natural Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Natural Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arden Trust Co decreased its stake in Eaton Co. plc (NYSE:ETN Get Rating) by 14.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,524 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 1,318 shares during the period. Arden Trust Cos holdings in Eaton were worth $1,290,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of ETN. Horan Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Eaton by 228.6% in the 4th quarter. Horan Securities Inc. now owns 161 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new stake in Eaton during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. RFP Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Eaton during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new stake in Eaton during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in Eaton during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.31% of the companys stock. Get Eaton alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets ETN has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Eaton from $180.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Eaton from $180.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Eaton from $201.00 to $221.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Eaton from $205.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Eaton from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $183.54. Insider Transactions at Eaton Eaton Stock Performance In other news, insider Michael Yelton sold 2,000 shares of Eaton stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $197.11, for a total transaction of $394,220.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 2,096 shares in the company, valued at $413,142.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock. NYSE:ETN opened at $194.46 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $176.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $168.53. Eaton Co. plc has a twelve month low of $122.50 and a twelve month high of $197.49. The company has a market capitalization of $77.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.12. Eaton (NYSE:ETN Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.10. Eaton had a net margin of 12.00% and a return on equity of 18.70%. The firm had revenue of $5.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.23 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.62 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Eaton Co. plc will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Eaton Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 8th were issued a dividend of $0.86 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 5th. This represents a $3.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.77%. Eatons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.67%. Eaton Company Profile (Get Rating) Eaton Corporation plc operates as a power management company worldwide. The company's Electrical Americas and Electrical Global segment provides electrical components, industrial components, power distribution and assemblies, residential products, single and three phase power quality and connectivity products, wiring devices, circuit protection products, utility power distribution products, power reliability equipment, and services, as well as hazardous duty electrical equipment, emergency lighting, fire detection, explosion-proof instrumentation, and structural support systems. Read More 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. Home Federal Bank of Tennessee cut its holdings in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating) by 1.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 23,588 shares of the companys stock after selling 400 shares during the quarter. Home Federal Bank of Tennessees holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,463,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the 1st quarter valued at about $77,000. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 16.7% in the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 12,227 shares of the companys stock valued at $758,000 after purchasing an additional 1,754 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 41.4% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 149,275 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,255,000 after purchasing an additional 43,680 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 385.3% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 19,032 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,180,000 after purchasing an additional 15,110 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 11.9% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,840,557 shares of the companys stock valued at $176,115,000 after purchasing an additional 301,804 shares during the period. 68.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Stock Performance NYSE KO opened at $61.20 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $62.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $61.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $264.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.84, a P/E/G ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.55. The Coca-Cola Company has a 1 year low of $54.01 and a 1 year high of $65.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.03. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.96% and a net margin of 22.69%. The company had revenue of $11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.78 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.64 EPS. Coca-Colas revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, June 16th will be given a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.01%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio is presently 80.70%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CMO Manuel Arroyo sold 734 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.40, for a total transaction of $46,535.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 114,580 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,264,372. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CMO Manuel Arroyo sold 734 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.40, for a total value of $46,535.60. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 114,580 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,264,372. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Nikolaos Koumettis sold 253,102 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.63, for a total transaction of $16,104,880.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 184,563 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,743,743.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 420,786 shares of company stock valued at $26,886,224 in the last ninety days. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth KO has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $61.00 to $63.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Evercore ISI increased their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $71.00 to $74.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $72.00 to $73.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Coca-Cola in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $67.67. Coca-Cola Company Profile (Get Rating) The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trust Co. of Oklahoma boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Canada ETF (NYSEARCA:EWC Get Rating) by 21.0% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 8,230 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 1,430 shares during the quarter. Trust Co. of Oklahomas holdings in iShares MSCI Canada ETF were worth $281,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EWC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 22.6% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 23,296,218 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $762,485,000 after acquiring an additional 4,296,147 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 190.9% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,626,898 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $105,628,000 after acquiring an additional 1,723,720 shares during the period. First Republic Investment Management Inc. increased its position in iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 319.1% in the 1st quarter. First Republic Investment Management Inc. now owns 889,952 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $35,785,000 after acquiring an additional 677,605 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 503.7% in the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 809,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,652,000 after acquiring an additional 675,000 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC increased its position in shares of iShares MSCI Canada ETF by 76.8% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 1,387,172 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $45,402,000 after purchasing an additional 602,681 shares during the period. Get iShares MSCI Canada ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Canada ETF Stock Performance Shares of EWC stock opened at $33.81 on Friday. iShares MSCI Canada ETF has a 1 year low of $29.55 and a 1 year high of $36.28. The stock has a market cap of $3.33 billion, a PE ratio of 14.06 and a beta of 1.02. The businesss fifty day moving average is $34.59 and its 200-day moving average is $34.27. iShares MSCI Canada ETF Profile iShares MSCI Canada ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Canada 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 publicly traded securities in the Canadian market, as measured by the MSCI Canada Index (the Index). Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Canada ETF (NYSEARCA:EWC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Canada ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Canada ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MGO Private Wealth LLC decreased its position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR Get Rating) by 6.6% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 76,009 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,354 shares during the quarter. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF comprises approximately 3.1% of MGO Private Wealth LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. MGO Private Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF were worth $3,981,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 21.8% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 414,120 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,114,000 after buying an additional 74,207 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 9.7% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 61,042 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,260,000 after buying an additional 5,420 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 79.7% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 52,336 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,795,000 after buying an additional 23,206 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. grew its position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 506.0% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 210,028 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,215,000 after buying an additional 175,370 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its position in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 1.9% during the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 16,448 shares of the companys stock valued at $878,000 after buying an additional 306 shares during the period. Get iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Stock Performance IEUR opened at $51.33 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $4.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 0.95. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $53.26 and a 200 day moving average of $51.62. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF has a fifty-two week low of $38.54 and a fifty-two week high of $54.81. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Profile The iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (IEUR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Europe IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed European securities. IEUR was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IEUR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Boliden AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:BDNNY Get Rating) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report issued on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. BDNNY has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Handelsbanken upgraded Boliden AB (publ) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Boliden AB (publ) from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Credit Suisse Group started coverage on shares of Boliden AB (publ) in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. They set an underperform rating on the stock. Berenberg Bank lowered shares of Boliden AB (publ) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Finally, DNB Markets downgraded shares of Boliden AB (publ) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $364.00. Get Boliden AB (publ) alerts: Boliden AB (publ) Stock Down 1.3 % Shares of BDNNY stock opened at $56.84 on Wednesday. Boliden AB has a 12-month low of $55.19 and a 12-month high of $92.60. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $67.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $75.95. Boliden AB (publ) Cuts Dividend Boliden AB (publ) ( OTCMKTS:BDNNY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.78 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.91 billion during the quarter. The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.8424 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a dividend yield of 9.63%. Boliden AB (publ)s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.82%. About Boliden AB (publ) (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. See Also 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. New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Friday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $2.62-$2.72 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.66. The company issued revenue guidance of -. New Jersey Resources Stock Down 2.6 % Shares of NYSE NJR opened at $45.98 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32. New Jersey Resources has a 52 week low of $38.07 and a 52 week high of $55.84. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $49.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $50.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 0.65. Get New Jersey Resources alerts: New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.20 by ($0.04). New Jersey Resources had a net margin of 10.94% and a return on equity of 14.22%. The business had revenue of $644.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $954.32 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.36 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 29.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that New Jersey Resources will post 2.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. New Jersey Resources Dividend Announcement Analysts Set New Price Targets The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 13th. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.39%. New Jersey Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.66%. NJR has been the subject of several recent research reports. Guggenheim raised their target price on shares of New Jersey Resources from $46.00 to $47.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of New Jersey Resources in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have issued a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $48.50. Insider Transactions at New Jersey Resources In other news, CEO Stephen D. Westhoven sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.04, for a total transaction of $250,200.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 180,372 shares in the company, valued at $9,025,814.88. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.72% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 2.5% in the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 835,892 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $44,476,000 after acquiring an additional 20,276 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 1.7% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 829,827 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $44,147,000 after acquiring an additional 13,796 shares during the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 6.4% in the first quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 8,592 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $460,000 after acquiring an additional 515 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 5.6% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 36,683 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,952,000 after acquiring an additional 1,952 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its holdings in New Jersey Resources by 2.3% in the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 17,688 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $940,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.15% of the companys stock. About New Jersey Resources (Get Rating) New Jersey Resources Corporation, an energy services holding company, provides regulated gas distribution, and retail and wholesale energy services. The company operates through four segments: Natural Gas Distribution, Clean Energy Ventures, Energy Services, and Storage and Transportation. The Natural Gas Distribution segment offers regulated natural gas utility services to approximately 569,300 residential and commercial customers throughout Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, and Sussex counties in New Jersey; provides capacity and storage management services; and participates in the off-system sales and capacity release markets. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for New Jersey Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Jersey Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Rating) in a report published on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the biopharmaceutical companys stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Stock Up 7.1 % NBY opened at $0.80 on Wednesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $0.94 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.65. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals has a fifty-two week low of $0.48 and a fifty-two week high of $12.64. The firm has a market cap of $1.50 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.14 and a beta of 2.69. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NBY Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($4.33) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $3.64 million during the quarter. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals had a negative net margin of 21.09% and a negative return on equity of 18.62%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On NovaBay Pharmaceuticals About NovaBay Pharmaceuticals A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NBY. Armistice Capital LLC purchased a new stake in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals in the 4th quarter worth approximately $289,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 103.5% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 409,544 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $102,000 after purchasing an additional 208,322 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC grew its position in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals by 260.4% in the 1st quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 163,451 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 118,099 shares during the last quarter. (Get Rating) NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and sells eyecare, skincare, and wound care products in the United States and internationally. It offers Avenova Spray, a solution for removing foreign materials, including microorganisms and debris from skin around the eye, such as the eyelid; and wound care products, which are used for cleansing and irrigation as part of surgical procedures, as well as treating certain wounds, burns, ulcers, and other injuries under the NeutroPhase and PhaseOne brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Portland General Electric (NYSE:POR Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Bank of America from $56.00 to $52.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports. Several other equities research analysts have also commented on POR. StockNews.com upgraded Portland General Electric from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday, June 10th. Guggenheim downgraded Portland General Electric from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Portland General Electric in a research note on Monday, May 8th. They set an overweight rating and a $56.00 target price for the company. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Portland General Electric presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $50.57. Get Portland General Electric alerts: Portland General Electric Trading Down 1.7 % Portland General Electric stock opened at $46.05 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.02, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. Portland General Electric has a 12 month low of $41.58 and a 12 month high of $56.37. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $49.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $48.74. The firm has a market cap of $4.45 billion, a PE ratio of 16.87, a P/E/G ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.58. Portland General Electric Increases Dividend Portland General Electric ( NYSE:POR Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The utilities provider reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.01. Portland General Electric had a return on equity of 9.06% and a net margin of 8.88%. The business had revenue of $748.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $622.50 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.67 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Portland General Electric will post 2.68 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Investors of record on Monday, June 26th will be paid a $0.475 dividend. This is an increase from Portland General Electrics previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.13%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 23rd. Portland General Electrics dividend payout ratio is currently 69.60%. Insider Activity at Portland General Electric In related news, VP John Teeruk Kochavatr sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.12, for a total value of $153,360.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 15,489 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $791,797.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.51% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Portland General Electric Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Portland General Electric by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 12,331,100 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $535,908,000 after buying an additional 348,610 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Portland General Electric by 8.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 11,268,761 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $489,739,000 after buying an additional 848,958 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Portland General Electric by 21.8% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 6,067,961 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $334,647,000 after buying an additional 1,087,996 shares in the last quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Portland General Electric by 18.4% in the 4th quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,269,606 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $209,211,000 after buying an additional 663,996 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC grew its holdings in Portland General Electric by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,550,262 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $173,572,000 after buying an additional 71,051 shares in the last quarter. About Portland General Electric (Get Rating) Portland General Electric Company, an integrated electric utility company, engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. It operates six thermal plants, three wind farms, and seven hydroelectric facilities. As of December 31, 2022, the company owned an electric transmission system consisting of 1,255 circuit miles, including 269 circuit miles of 500 kilovolt line, 413 circuit miles of 230 kilovolt line, and 573 miles of 115 kilovolt line; and served 926 thousand retail customers in 51 cities. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Portland General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Portland General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of SM Energy (NYSE:SM Get Rating) have been assigned an average rating of Hold from the twelve analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $40.82. A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Cowen lowered shares of SM Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $35.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. TD Cowen downgraded shares of SM Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $35.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and set a $50.00 target price on shares of SM Energy in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of SM Energy from $38.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of SM Energy from $37.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. Get SM Energy alerts: Institutional Trading of SM Energy A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SM. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in SM Energy by 289.7% during the first quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,647,133 shares of the energy companys stock worth $46,383,000 after purchasing an additional 1,224,422 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in SM Energy by 88.5% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,229,142 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $86,825,000 after purchasing an additional 1,046,602 shares during the last quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC raised its position in SM Energy by 875.4% in the 4th quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 1,122,600 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $39,100,000 after purchasing an additional 1,007,507 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in SM Energy by 405.0% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,183,200 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $46,086,000 after purchasing an additional 948,900 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC raised its position in SM Energy by 181.8% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,391,860 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $48,478,000 after purchasing an additional 897,855 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.10% of the companys stock. SM Energy Stock Performance Shares of NYSE SM opened at $29.09 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $3.51 billion, a PE ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 4.41. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $27.64 and a 200-day moving average price of $30.10. SM Energy has a 1 year low of $24.66 and a 1 year high of $48.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 1.34. SM Energy (NYSE:SM Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The energy company reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.14. SM Energy had a net margin of 41.07% and a return on equity of 28.22%. The business had revenue of $573.51 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $559.37 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.98 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 33.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that SM Energy will post 5.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. SM Energy Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 21st were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 20th. This represents a yield of 1.1%. SM Energys payout ratio is currently 5.89%. SM Energy Company Profile (Get Rating SM Energy Company, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids in the state of Texas. It also has working interests in oil and gas producing wells in the Midland Basin and South Texas. The company was formerly known as St. Read More Receive News & Ratings for SM Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SM Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CA reduced its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Get Rating) by 18.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,405 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,243 shares during the period. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CAs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $262,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of EFV. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 41,773 shares of the companys stock worth $2,100,000 after acquiring an additional 2,299 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 12.3% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 15,000 shares of the companys stock worth $754,000 after acquiring an additional 1,640 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 78.1% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 38,808 shares of the companys stock worth $1,951,000 after acquiring an additional 17,015 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $16,807,000. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 13.9% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 450,991 shares of the companys stock worth $22,667,000 after acquiring an additional 55,103 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Down 1.5 % Shares of EFV opened at $47.90 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a twelve month low of $49.15 and a twelve month high of $59.57. The company has a 50 day moving average of $49.27 and a 200-day moving average of $48.45. About iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF 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. See Also 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. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners reduced its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH Get Rating) by 5.8% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,237 shares of the companys stock after selling 137 shares during the period. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF were worth $560,000 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. Claro Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 7,768 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,943,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. WoodTrust Financial Corp purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF in the 1st quarter valued at about $312,000. Trust Co. of Oklahoma lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 16.3% in the 1st quarter. Trust Co. of Oklahoma now owns 13,847 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,464,000 after purchasing an additional 1,944 shares during the last quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC increased its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 19.4% in the 1st quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 121,126 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,301,000 after acquiring an additional 19,666 shares during the period. Finally, Aprio Wealth Management LLC increased its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,249 shares of the companys stock valued at $563,000 after acquiring an additional 237 shares during the period. Get iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Stock Down 1.2 % Shares of IJH stock opened at $250.62 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $66.93 billion, a PE ratio of 13.24 and a beta of 1.12. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has a 52-week low of $217.39 and a 52-week high of $272.95. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $247.92 and its 200 day moving average price is $250.39. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF 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). See Also 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. West Bancorporation Inc. lessened its holdings in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Get Rating) by 2.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 15,820 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 449 shares during the quarter. Southern makes up about 0.8% of West Bancorporation Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. West Bancorporation Inc.s holdings in Southern were worth $1,101,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of SO. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY grew its stake in Southern by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY now owns 21,982 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,570,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Northstar Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Southern by 2.1% during the first quarter. Northstar Advisory Group LLC now owns 7,415 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $516,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares during the period. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Southern by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 23,652 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,689,000 after buying an additional 150 shares during the period. Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Southern by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. now owns 5,076 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $362,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hummer Financial Advisory Services Inc increased its stake in shares of Southern by 3.4% in the first quarter. Hummer Financial Advisory Services Inc now owns 4,550 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $317,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. 63.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Southern alerts: Southern Stock Performance SO opened at $70.45 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $76.82 billion, a PE ratio of 22.73, a P/E/G ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. The Southern Company has a 1 year low of $58.85 and a 1 year high of $80.57. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $71.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $69.65. Southern Increases Dividend Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. Southern had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The businesss revenue was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.97 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th were given a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.97%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 12th. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. Southerns dividend payout ratio is 90.32%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on SO shares. StockNews.com upgraded Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on Southern from $73.00 to $79.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. VNET Group reissued a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a report on Friday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM restated a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $74.07. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total value of $3,758,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 847,592 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Southern news, EVP Martin Bernard Davis sold 1,435 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.99, for a total transaction of $100,435.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 74,246 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,196,477.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total transaction of $3,758,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 847,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 205,678 shares of company stock worth $14,888,271. Company insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock. Southern Company Profile (Get Rating) The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It operates through three segments: Gas Distribution Operations, Gas Pipeline Investments, and Gas Marketing Services. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W Get Rating) have been given an average rating of Hold by the twenty-five ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, fourteen have given a hold recommendation and ten have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $48.68. A number of analysts have recently weighed in on W shares. Truist Financial upped their target price on Wayfair from $53.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. Stephens cut their target price on Wayfair from $40.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Piper Sandler cut their target price on Wayfair from $42.00 to $35.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. DA Davidson boosted their price target on Wayfair from $49.00 to $57.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Wayfair from $70.00 to $40.00 in a report on Monday, February 27th. Get Wayfair alerts: Wayfair Price Performance W opened at $57.34 on Friday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $41.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $41.51. The company has a market capitalization of $6.44 billion, a PE ratio of -4.50 and a beta of 3.01. Wayfair has a 1 year low of $28.11 and a 1 year high of $76.35. Insider Activity Wayfair ( NYSE:W Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($2.50) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($3.14) by $0.64. The company had revenue of $2.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.74 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Wayfair will post -9.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In related news, CTO Fiona Tan sold 7,375 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.44, for a total transaction of $261,370.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 55,741 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,975,461.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CTO Fiona Tan sold 7,375 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.44, for a total transaction of $261,370.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief technology officer now owns 55,741 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,975,461.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Steve Oblak sold 1,923 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.19, for a total value of $104,207.37. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 221,662 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,011,863.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 64,433 shares of company stock valued at $2,572,613. Company insiders own 26.81% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wayfair A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Wayfair by 2.1% in the first quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 216,265 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,427,000 after acquiring an additional 4,388 shares during the period. Titleist Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Wayfair in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,575,000. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its position in shares of Wayfair by 2,834.5% during the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 20,336 shares of the companys stock valued at $698,000 after buying an additional 19,643 shares during the last quarter. Prentice Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Wayfair during the first quarter valued at approximately $343,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Wayfair by 3.2% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,068,181 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,681,000 after buying an additional 33,383 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.35% of the companys stock. About Wayfair (Get Rating Wayfair, Inc engages in an online home furnishing store. It operates through the U.S. and International segments. The U.S. segment consists of amounts earned through product sales through the companys five distinct sites in the U.S. and through websites operated by third parties in the U.S. The International segment is composed of earnings through product sales in international sites. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wayfair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wayfair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Welltower (NYSE:WELL Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $3.43-$3.56 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $3.48. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Welltower in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. They set an overweight rating and a $85.00 price target for the company. Credit Suisse Group upped their price target on Welltower from $72.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Citigroup upgraded Welltower from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $70.00 to $81.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Mizuho cut their price target on Welltower from $91.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded Welltower from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and set a $81.00 price target for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $81.20. Get Welltower alerts: Welltower Stock Down 2.8 % Welltower stock opened at $76.28 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a current ratio of 2.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 331.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.05. Welltower has a fifty-two week low of $56.50 and a fifty-two week high of $86.83. The stocks fifty day moving average is $77.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $73.34. Welltower Announces Dividend Welltower ( NYSE:WELL Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.05 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.82 by ($0.77). The firm had revenue of $1.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.57 billion. Welltower had a net margin of 1.74% and a return on equity of 0.51%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.82 EPS. Analysts predict that Welltower will post 3.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 16th were given a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.20%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 15th. Welltowers dividend payout ratio is presently 1,060.87%. Institutional Trading of Welltower A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Welltower during the 4th quarter worth about $1,104,830,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in Welltower by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,792,006 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $772,087,000 after buying an additional 237,800 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Welltower by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,088,437 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $436,482,000 after buying an additional 578,863 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Welltower by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 5,023,673 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $360,147,000 after buying an additional 144,681 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG boosted its stake in Welltower by 426.4% in the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 4,927,021 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $353,218,000 after buying an additional 3,991,041 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.16% of the companys stock. Welltower Company Profile (Get Rating) Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), an S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. The Company invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Welltower Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Welltower and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Revanth Reddy questioned the rationale behind leaving BRS MLC K. Kavitha, daughter of the Chief Minister, unscathed while arresting Aam Aadmi Party leaders though both were accused in the scam. (File Image: DC) Hyderabad: Pradesh Congress Committee president A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday accused IT minister K.T. Rama Rao of rushing to New Delhi to buy peace with the BJP central leadership in the wake of the income-tax department seizing incriminating evidence during its raids against top BRS leaders. Revanth Reddy also questioned AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisis silence over Union home minister Amit Shahs threat to scrap Muslim reservation if voted to power in Telangana. "Both Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Owaisi are silent till date on Shahs announcement. The MIM is supposed to be a party which stands for the rights of minorities," he said adding that the real intent of the two leaders was to help BJP. Revanth Reddy was addressing scores of BRS and BJP workers from Rajendranagar and Maheshwaram Assembly segments who joined Congress at his residence. On Rama Raos sudden trip to the national capital, Revanth Reddy said the agenda of seeking funds for state project was only an excuse. "The I-T department seized incriminating evidence against BRS leaders. The media was managed and stopped from reporting the details of the assets found. Following this, KCR surrendered to Modi and sent his son," he pointed out. Revanth Reddy questioned the rationale behind leaving BRS MLC K. Kavitha, daughter of the Chief Minister, unscathed while arresting Aam Aadmi Party leaders though both were accused in the scam. "Kavitha is spared from arrest. KCR is not investigated despite allegations of corruption running into a lakh crores of rupees. Leaders should come out of their illusion that the Centre will act against KCR. The relation between BJP and BRS will not strap so easily," he said. He wondered why not a single BRS leader was arrested despite series of raids by the I-T department and the ED after so many raids on BRS leaders. "It was claimed that medical colleges belonging to BRS leaders were raided. What information have they secured? They said Kaleshwaram had become an ATM for KCR. Why wasnt it probed? The Outer Ring Road was sold for a pittance," Revanth Reddy said. In a not-so-veiled message reaching out to BJP leaders like Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy and Etala Rajendar who met the BJP top brass in Delhi on Sunday, he said, "Their repeated pleas to the BJP will be of no avail as the bond between the BJP and BRS is quite strong. Only the Congress can defeat the BRS. Let us come together and fight the BRS in the State and rid the state of the scourge of KCR. The state has come to the stage of selling even roads." Revanth Reddy said that Rao had promised to increase the reservation for minorities to 12 per cent during the 2014 polls. "But now he is silent when even the existing four per cent is in danger. The Congress gave four per cent reservation after the Sachar committee gave a report saying Muslims are worse off than Dalits in education and jobs. The Congress had given loans to Muslim and Christian minorities. Even small-scale industries are being denied loans now. When municipal elections happened applications were taken to sanction double bedroom houses. Why should you give votes to BRS? The Congress party will win the Rajendranagar polls this time for sure. We will stand by you dont fall for false promises, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi PTI New Delhi: Paying homage to all those "courageous people" who resisted the Emergency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said those "dark days" remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values India's Constitution celebrates. Several BJP leaders, including Union ministers, slammed the "dark days" under the then Congress government led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, alleging that the imposition of Emergency was a "selfish" power struggle and continues to remain a symbol of Congress' "dictatorial mentality." "I pay homage to all those courageous people who resisted the Emergency and worked to strengthen our democratic spirit The #DarkDaysOfEmergency remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values our Constitution celebrates," tweeted the PM. Last week, in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio programme, Mr Modi had described the Emergency as a "dark period" in India's history. He had said that those who supported democracy at that time were tortured and a glance at such crimes endangering the country's freedom will make it easier for the young generation to understand the meaning and significance of democracy. Several Union ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Anurag Thakur, Kiren Rijiju, Smriti Irani, Pralhad Joshi, Nitin Gadkari and Arjun Ram Meghwal, lashed out at the Congress, saying its leadership had jailed millions overnight, keeping the "ego of a family above national interest." Alleging that the imposition of Emergency was a "selfish" power struggle and continues to remain a symbol of the Congress' "dictatorial mentality," Union home minister Amit Shah said, "On this day in 1975, a family imposed an Emergency in the country, taking away the rights of the people and killing democracy, fearing losing power from their hands." Tweeting in Hindi, Mr Shah wrote that lakhs of people struggled to revive democracy, facing many tortures. "I heartily salute all those patriots." Defence minister Rajnath Singh said: "Today, democracy is alive in India due to the contribution of those who fought during the Emergency, went to jail and suffered torture. The coming generations of India can never forget their contribution." External affairs minister S. Jaishankar said the days of Emergency were a "defining political experience" of his generation and "a lifelong lesson." "On the anniversary of the declaration of Emergency, recall those dark days and how the nation overcame this challenge," Mr Jaishankar tweeted, adding, "It was the defining political experience of my generation and a lifelong lesson to strengthen our democratic fabric." Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted newspaper clippings to remind about the press' struggle against curbs on it and the freedom of speech during the Emergency. "Media protested curbing the freedom of speech and Press freedom under the Emergency. Power-hungry Congress muzzled the media, jailed the entire Opposition and amended the constitution unilaterally," she said in her tweet. The Congress serves the dynasty and not the people of India, Ms Sitharaman said. BJP president J.P. Nadda in a tweet in Hindi said the Congress' "ruthlessness left behind even the tyranny of hundreds of years of foreign rule." "I bow down to all the patriots who fought for the establishment of democracy in such difficult times, enduring immense torture," he added. Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan demanded that the state government develop a bypass road in Malkipuram within 15 days. "If not, the Jana Sena would develop the road. (Image: By Arrangement) Kakinada: Jana Sena chief and film star Pawan Kalyan has stressed the need for a provision in law to recall legislators who defect from their party to another party. During his Varahi Yatra public meeting in Malkipuram on Sunday night, Pawan Kalyan said such defections amounted to a cheating of the people. He was referring to Razole MLA Rapaka Varaprasad who defected to the YSRC after getting elected to the assembly on a Jana Sena symbol. "When I lost the elections in both constituencies in 2019, I was deeply upset. But, there was some consolation as the Jana Sena candidate won from Razole constituency and Jana Sena cadres worked very hard for his victory. If such legislators, elected from any party, betrayed the people and switched their loyalty to another party, there should be a law to disqualify them." Pawan Kalyan also castigated TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy for the alleged fraud or misuse of funds of the Sri Vani Trust. The funds of temples should be spent for the salaries and welfare of the two lakh Archaka families of the temples." He said TTD released a white paper on Sri Vani Trust, but the Jana Sena would take stringent action against the fraudsters of Sri Vani Trust vis-a-vis misuse of TTD funds, based on the report of a high-level committee that would be appointed by the government after the Jana Sena assumed power. PK also said he would not allow the ruling YSRC to win even a single seat in the erstwhile East and West Godavari districts. "The party would expose the misdeeds of Jagan Reddy. It is not enough if the CM presses the button to benefit 40 per cent of the people in the name of welfare, he should take the responsibility of doing justice to the remaining 60 per cent of the people," the JS leader said. He demanded that the state government develop a bypass road in Malkipuram within 15 days. "If not, the Jana Sena would develop the road." PK said infrastructure facilities should be developed in the state to attract investors who can also provide employment to the youths. The government did not release funds for development of the Sakhinetipalli-Narsapuram bridge, the bypass road and the Kotipalli-Narsapur Railway Line, he said. The JS leader said if his party comes to power, a tourism circuit would be developed from Annavaram to Antarvedi, and this would help provide more employment opportunities to the local youth. He said that a skill-tech training centre would be developed to provide jobs in natural gas and oil companies in Konaseema. "Due to the aqua culture and oil drilling operations in Konaseema, the governments are earning more money, but the people are suffering from its pollution," he said. The JS leader also said he can provide employment opportunities to the youths with support from the central government as he has access to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and central ministers. Pawan Kalyan said that when he was going to Dindi Resorts, four goons tried to attack him with stones. His bodyguards noticed this and prevented them, after which the police intervened and caught them, he said. Pawan Kalyan said he was not afraid of such threats from the ruling YSRC. He said, "When farmers are cultivating paddy and other crops with a lot of hardships, Kakinada MLA Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara and his family are looting the farmers money at the rate of Rs 100 from each bag of paddy. Pawan Kalyan said that Jana Sena would bring changes in Aarogyasri. He said that the medical treatment would be given to the people through health insurance companies and the government would pay the premium to the companies. He said that every family can get medical treatment worth Rs.25 lakh free of cost. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. (Photo by arrangement) VIJAYAWADA: The ruling YSR Congress led by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy feels it is in an electorally advantageous position because of its welfare, development and multiple mass outreach campaigns in the run-up to the 2024 polls. The pre-election scenario has already warmed up in AP. Campaign for the assembly polls, as also parliament elections, began a year before the expected dates by the opposition Telugu Desam, BJP, Jana Sena and Communists in AP. The ruling YSRC started such an initiative much earlier. To his credit, chief minister Jagan Reddy fixed the long-pending issues like Pension Scheme and pay revision (PRC) for government employees to gather their support. He also sent his partys MLAs on visits to their constituencies for the past one year, so as to ensure they are in constant touch with the people. While the elections are 10 months away, the Telugu Desam has unveiled a part of its 2024 election manifesto, by including a host of welfare schemes on the same lines as the YSRC did in the last polls. Along with TD chief Chandrababu Naidu, Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan has also started announcing his election-related offers to the people during his Varahi Yatra. The BJP is holding public meetings by explaining the successes, welfare schemes and development initiatives of Narendra Modis governance since 2014. The Communists are seeking to impress the people by organising agitaitons against the power tariffs and other public issues. YSRC leaders claim that Jagan Reddy got a big advantage against other political parties as he started the partys Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam mass outreach programme on 11 May 2022, two years before the next assembly elections. The party is still continuing this. Every YSRC legislator is visiting houses in his or her constituency, to meet the people and explain the state governments welfare and developmental initiatives. As for the Telugu Desam, Chandrababu Naidu conducted tours of districts and announced a mini-manifesto in Rajahmundry during Mahanadu conclave on May 28, by way of the TDs first significant step forward for the 2024 polls. Analysts say that usually an MLA visits his constituency to address events or meetings in towns. They rarely visited the homes of the voters during their five-year term. "Jagan changed this scenario altogether and put an end to the feudalistic style of political functioning. He sent ruling party MLAs door to door to explain to the people what their government had done for them even at individual levels by way of welfare pensions, house allotments etc. Jagan Reddy conducted another mass outreach programme, Maa Nammakam Nuvve Jagan, which also was a big hit with the visit of every house by party and peoples representatives. He recently started the Jaganannaku Chebudam and is now launching another mass outreach Jagananna Suraksha programme. YSRC leaders hope these would all help the YSRC return to power in the next assembly polls. Jagan Reddy has planned to start a mega outreach "Why AP Needs Jagan" to explain that the CM has been trying to transform AP into a developed state. People are approached by party leaders and MLAs with documents citing the details of investment flow, development activities, infra projects and welfare schemes etc. Analysts point out that Chandrababu Naidu is now keen on copying Jagan Reddy. Naidu, who strongly opposed the welfare programmes of Jagan in the past four years, took a U-turn and began giving top priority to welfare schemes when he released TDs mini-manifesto. Analysts also feel that Naidu, unlike Jagan, did not have a track record of fulfilling his election promises. People might not believe in his words. Adviser to government (public affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna said no one will believe Naidus promises. He said YSRC was already prepared to face, on its own, any alliance of the opposition in the 2024 elections. BJP president J.P. Nadda. (PTI Photo) HYDERABAD: BJP president J.P. Nadda on Sunday dramatically offered the people of Telangana a deal, saying that if they wanted to see the "highly corrupt" Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and his family members in jail, then they should elect a BJP government in the state. Addressing a public meeting at Nagarkurnool, the BJP national chief asked the people if Rao was corrupt and whether he should be sent to jail. When the crowd roared a loud approval, he said, "unko jail janaa hai to kamal ko khilna" (the BJP should be voted to power if they have to be jailed). Naddas announcement on the timing of arrest, which according to him would be only after Assembly polls, and only if the BJP was voted to power, came in the backdrop of the principal opposition Congress questioning the delay over the arrest of Raos daughter and MLC, K. Kavitha in the Delhi liquor scam. While Naddas talk of arrest came a day after minister K.T. Rama Rao rushed to the national capital to meet several ministers, a deviation from the partys earlier stand to ignore the Centre, also left the state BJP leaders wondering if the Central leadership was rethinking on arresting Kavitha in the liquor scam. Describing the BRS as Brashtachar Rakshasa Samiti, Nadda said that the family members of Chandrashekar Rao were the only beneficiaries since the formation of Telangana state, for which so many had struggled and fought, while the development of people was totally neglected. In contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took several initiatives to reduce poverty from 22 per cent to 10 per cent. Leaders from many countries hailed Modi as a global leader, a hero and a reformer, he said. Sadly, Congress leaders were unable to digest the popularity of Modi and were criticising him on caste lines and about his humble origins, he said. As part of Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan, a public meeting named Nava Sankalp Sabha was conducted at Nagarkurnool on Sunday. Nadda said that voting for other parties meant a vote for dynastic rule. The BRS, the RJD, SP, TMC, and the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena were owned by families, and voting for any of them would only and primarily benefit their respective families, he said. A vote for the BJP, however, would benefit all of India and its people, he said. Nadda termed the opposition parties meeting held in Patna as a photo-session act. Nadda said that 140 crore Indians wished to make Modi the Prime Minister, all over again. Modi had developed India from the tenth to the fifth biggest economy in the world, he said. The Ukraine war and the Covid-19 pandemic did not affect the Indian economy due to the vision of Modi, he said. Neighboring countries were reeling under economic crises, but India had sustained its strong economic base, he said. Earlier, India used to import mobile phones and now it produces 97 per cent of mobile phones in the country, he explained. The BJP national president said that the Central government allocated `11,300 crore for developmental works in Telangana, including for AIIMS at Bibinagar, remodeling of Secunderabad railway station, MMTS and Vande Bharat trains. The Centre had developed 5,000 km of national highways, electrified and doubled the railway lines in Telangana, he explained. Industrial corridors and textile parks have also been sanctioned for the state, he said. BJP state president Bandi Sanjay, Union ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Mahendranath Pande, Rajya Sabha member Dr K. Laxman, party vice-president D.K. Aruna and other senior leaders were present. Minister K.T. Rama Rao, BJP MLA Etala Rajendar, former MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, TPCC president and MP A. Revanth Reddy, former PCC chief and MP N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao Hyderabad: What is common to BRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao, BJP MLA Etala Rajendar, former MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, TPCC president and MP A. Revanth Reddy, former PCC chief and MP N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, and the leaders without a party currently, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao? Prima facie, they are all in Delhi, negotiating to influence Telangana politics. Each of them has a mission, and with several threads connecting their trip and a larger purpose, and intertwining, many of them are at cross-purposes. First, the political twins Srinivas Reddy and Krishna Rao who have attracted and occupied more media space, attention and narrative during the last few months than perhaps in their entire career becoming the focal point of state politics. The two former BRS leaders one a former MP with considerable clout in the erstwhile Khammam district (spread over 10 Assembly seats), and another a former minister, with influence over several seats of the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district have quit the pink party and were oscillating over a decision to choose between the two principal Opposition parties before deciding to join the Congress. While the shifting of political leaders across parties is nothing shocking, the circumstances in which the duo left the BRS and the protracted timeline of the decision, all along in public glare, meant it would have a huge impact on the narrative. While the duo leaving the BRS helped the Opposition amplify growing anti-incumbency against the ruling party, which party they chose would help indicate where the public mood was going towards. They opted, finally, for the Congress. This, after BJP leaders Rajendar and Rajgopal Reddy, themselves perceived as being unhappy with their own party (which they had joined in varied circumstances not too long ago), failed to convince them to join the BJP. Rajendar and Rajgopal Reddy landed in Delhi after the high command summoned for yet another round of discussions, in which the former MLA reportedly frankly told both party president J.P. Nadda and Union home minister Amit Shah said that their party was fast losing public support. This was not the first time Rajendar had expressed his dissatisfaction with the party state leadership, arguing that it needed a new state president, a credible CM face and a strong narrative to be able to challenge the KCR government. Rajgopal Reddy also added that the reason the anti-incumbency vote was rapidly shifting to the Congress, away from the BJP, was because of inaction against the corruption of BRS MLC K. Kavitha in the Delhi liquor scam, and a growing unease that the BJP and BRS had entered some clandestine, tacit pact. The fear that BJP leaders, including these two, were beginning to negotiate to shift to the Congress set off panic in the national BJP. As per reports, Rajendar has won the tactical war and he would soon be named chairman of the election committee. Would that be enough to stop him from leaving the party? Would he not continue to demand more? Like the state party president post? A senior leader revealed, "very shortly, Rajendar would be named chief of the state election panel, an unusual post in the party. There is however only a slim chance that the state party president would be changed." As the stage is set for Srinivas Reddy and Krishna Rao to meet AICC leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday to formally join the Congress, several leaders landed in the national capital for the programme, including Revanth Reddy, who would see it as a significant triumph, besides TPCC leaders Mahesh Kumar Goud, Shabbir Ali, V. Hanumantha Rao and Eravati Anil. The two senior BRS leaders would join the Congress along with their key followers, and accept the tricolour kanduwa from Rahul Gandhi. But Revanth Reddy would be hoping for a few more lucky happenings. Firstly, that the BJP continues to waver on the key demands like change of party president or quick action against Kavitha and BRS leaders in corruption cases, which is expected to lead to an exodus of 10 plus more leaders. Revanth Reddys team is still hoping that Rajendar and Rajgopal Reddy will continue to be dissatisfied and join the Congress. That would further propel the narrative that the Congress is the only challenger to the BRS, and that its graph is rising rapidly to achieve an improbable win. "Besides the formal joining ceremony, we have a political affairs committee meeting on June 27, for which all members of the Telangana unit have been called to Delhi," said TPCC working president Mahesh Kumar Goud. But on topmost part of mind of both Revanth Reddy and Rajendar is the sudden trip of minister Rama Rao to Delhi, which officially was to meet Union ministers and seek funds and expedite policy decisions relating to Telangana. Most political observers say that the purpose of the Rama Rao delegation visit to Delhi was not meetings with ministers but a one-on-one with Amit Shah a meeting that perhaps did not materialise. Almost simultaneously, the BRS is working hard at trying to have some major Congress leaders defect, to counter the loss of Srinivas Reddy-Krishna Rao. Speculation was mildly mounted that the BRS was trying to target senior leaders from Nalgonda, which had first Congress state incharge Manikrao Thakre rush to Hyderabad and meet K. Jana Reddy and Uttam Kumar Reddy. Both of them strongly denied the rumours, calling them "rubbish leaks aimed at damaging our reputation." After deliberations in Hyderabad, Uttam Kumar Reddy was called to Delhi for the party high command to ensure its own house was tamperproof. And he may return to Hyderabad with a CWC nomination. Russian president Vladimir Putin (AP) Moscow: After Wagner mercenary force chief Yevgeny Prigozhin decided to halt his forces' march to Moscow under deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kremlin spokesperson on Saturday said the charges against the Wagner leader who led armed mutiny against the country's military leadership would be dropped, The New York Times reported. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S Peskov said Prigozhin will go to Belarus, and the fighters who rebelled with him would not be prosecuted by law given their "service at the front." "Wagner fighters who did not participate in the mutiny can sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense," New York Times quoted Peskov as saying. This comes shortly after the Belarusian president stated he was in talks with Prigozhin about an agreement to "de-escalate tensions." Taking to Twitter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus wrote, "At 9 p.m. tonight, the Presidents spoke again by phone. The President of Belarus Lukashenko informed the President of Russia about the results of negotiations with the leader of the Wagner Group. President Putin thanked his counterpart for the work done." According to several videos circulating on social media, Wagner's armoured vehicles started departing the military centre of Rostov-on-Don in southwest Russia on Saturday night. However, Prighozin did not mention about it earlier whether his forces were backtracking from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don as well, where critical military and civilian buildings were seized. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, looks out from a military vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, leaving an area of the headquarters of the Southern Military District (AP) A rebellious mercenary commander said Saturday he ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine, appearing to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. Moscow had braced for the arrival of forces from the Wagner Group, a private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin that has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine, by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city's southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads. But Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid "shedding Russian blood." He did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. There was no immediate comment from Putin's government. The announcement followed a statement from the office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko saying he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin after discussing the issue with Putin. Prigozhin agreed to halt the advance in a proposed settlement including security guarantees for Wagner troops, Lukashenko's office said, without elaborating. Putin had vowed harsh consequences for organizers of the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, who brought his forces out of Ukraine , seized a key military facility in southern Russia and advanced toward Moscow. In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a "betrayal" and "treason." "All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment," Putin said. "The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders." It wasnt immediately clear what concessions, if any, Putin may have made to persuade Prigozhin to halt his march. If he accedes to Prigozhins demand to oust Shoigu, Prigozhin would emerge from the crisis as a clear winner in a major blow to Putins authority. If Prigozhin agrees not to press the demand, Putin could award him with more lucrative government contracts like those on which he has built his fortune in the past. However, it would be awkward and politically damaging for Putin to backtrack after branding Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. Some observers speculated that Prigozhin could make concessions such as putting the Wagner Group under federal authority, or he could shift the force's activities back to Africa, where his mercenaries have been active in recent years. Early Saturday, Prigozhin's private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow that runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britains Ministry of Defense said. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow, where authorities were "taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population," said regional Gov. Igor Artamonov, via Telegram. Authorities declared a "counterterrorist regime" in Moscow and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. On the southern outskirts, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and set up machine guns. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that traffic could be restricted in parts of the capital and declared Monday a non-working day for most residents. The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europes largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for its army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow was suffering "full-scale weakness" and that Kyiv was protecting Europe from "the spread of Russian evil and chaos." The Federal Security Service, or FSB, called for Prigozhins arrest Friday night after he declared the armed rebellion. Prigozhin said earlier Saturday that his fighters would not surrender, as "we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy." "Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland," he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel. Prigozhin said he had 25,000 troops under his command and urged the army not to offer resistance. He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even "a single gunshot." Other videos on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets. The rebellion came as Russia is "fighting the toughest battle for its future," Putin said, with the West piling sanctions on Moscow and arming Ukraine. "The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us," Putin said. State-controlled TV networks led their newscasts with Putins statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Some showed social media videos of residents denouncing Wagner troops. Broadcasters also carried statements from top officials and lawmakers voicing support for Putin and condemning Prigozhin. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin said he wanted to punish Shoigu after he accused Russian government forces of attacking Wagner field camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He claimed that "a huge number of our comrades got killed." Prigozhin said his forces shot down a Russian military helicopter that fired on a civilian convoy, but there was no independent confirmation. He also alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in Rostov, where they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defense Ministry denied attacking the Wagner camps. The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has long ties to the Russian leader and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname "Putin's chef." He gained attention in the U.S. when he and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trumps 2016 presidential election victory. He formed the Wagner mercenary group, which sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine. After Putins address, in which he called for unity, officials sought to reiterate their allegiance to the Kremlin and urged Prigozhin to back down. Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the lower house of parliament, said lawmakers "stand for the consolidation of forces and support Putin. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed that, saying in a Telegram post that "we have one commander in chief. Not two, not three. One. Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of the Chechnya region who used to side with Prigozhin in his criticism of the military, also expressed his full support of Putin's "every word." "The mutiny needs to be suppressed," Kadyrov said. Even with the confrontation seemingly defused, it appeared likely to further hinder Moscows war effort as Kyivs forces probed Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive. Wagner forces have played a crucial role, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass , accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. Prigozhin's actions could have significant implications for the war. Orysia Lutsevych, the head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank in London, said the infighting could create confusion and potential division among Russian military forces. "Russian troops in Ukraine may well now be operating in a vacuum, without clear military instructions, and doubts about whom to obey and follow, Lutsevych said. "This creates a unique and unprecedented military opportunity for the Ukrainian army." Ukrainian soldier Andrii Kvasnytsia, attending a funeral for a comrade, said Prigozhins intentions toward Ukraine might be worse than Putins, but that the infighting would still benefit the country. Western countries monitored developments closely. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts in the other G7 countries and the European Unions foreign affairs representative, his spokesman said, adding that Blinken "reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change." Latvia and Estonia, two NATO countries that border Russia, said they were increasing security at their borders. The Kremlin said Putin spoke by phone with the leaders of Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan about the events. Although there was speculation that Putin had left Moscow, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied it. Pakistan's army claimed on Saturday that two civilians were killed by Indian forces in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, the first such conflict since a ceasefire in 2021 between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours. A group of shepherds in Sattwal sector at the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries, were hit, the army said in a statement, warning it reserves a right to strike back. "The Indian Army, in a display of its usual inhumane approach towards innocent Kashmiris, opened indiscriminate fire onto a group of shepherds in Sattwal Sector," the statement said. The Indian army did not respond to a request for comment. In 2021, the two sides agreed in a rare joint statement to a ceasefire along the disputed border in the scenic valley. Both India and Pakistan lay claim over the disputed territory, but each control half of it. The two countries have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, since their independence from British rule in 1947. The two armies in 2019 almost came to the brink of war, scrambling jets and shooting down a warplane after Indian planes intruded Pakistan airspace in what New Delhi said was to target a militant training camp. Condemning the killings and ceasefire violation, the Pakistani foreign office summoned the Indian envoy to register a protest, the statement said. One person was killed and several were injured in a roller coaster accident at the Grona Lund amusement park in the Swedish capital on Sunday, the TT news agency reported, citing a park spokesperson. Public broadcaster SVT, citing eyewitnesses, said the park's Jetline roller coaster had partly derailed during a ride. Also Read | Two crushed to death by tanker in Jharkhand Police said they were still investigating. "We are emptying the park and we've started our investigation," a police spokesperson said. The Grona Lund park was not immediately available for comment. The steel-tracked Jetline roller coaster reaches a speed of up to 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph) and a height of 30 metres (98 feet), transporting more than one million visitors each year, the amusement park says on its website. US intelligence officials briefed senior military and administration officials Wednesday that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the mercenary Wagner Group, was preparing to take military action against senior Russian defence officials, according to officials familiar with the matter. US spy agencies had indications days earlier that Prigozhin was planning something and worked to refine that material into a finished assessment, officials said. The information shows that the United States was aware of impending events in Russia, similar to how intelligence agencies had warned in late 2021 that Russian President Vladimir Putin was planning to invade Ukraine. But unlike with the initial invasion, when US officials declassified the intelligence and then released it to try to deter Putin from invading, intelligence agencies kept silent about Prigozhins plans. US officials felt that if they said anything, Putin could accuse them of orchestrating a coup. And they clearly had little interest in helping Putin avoid a major, embarrassing fracturing of his support. Read | Russia turmoil to fuel market volatility In this case, the information that the long-running feud between Prigozhin, who got his start as Putins chef in St. Petersburg, and Russian defence officials was about to devolve into conflict was considered both solid and alarming. Prigozhin is known for his brutality, and had he succeeded in ousting the officials, he would likely have been an unpredictable leader. And the possibility that a major nuclear-armed rival of the United States could descend into internal chaos carried with it a new set of risks. While it is not clear exactly when the United States first learned of the plot, intelligence officials conducted briefings Wednesday with administration and defence officials. On Thursday, as additional confirmation of the plot came in, intelligence officials informed a narrow group of congressional leaders, according to officials familiar with the briefings who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. By Friday night, Prigozhin had dramatically escalated his feud, launching a march on Moscow that the Russian government described as an attempted coup. On Saturday, he called his fighters off and agreed to flee to Belarus. CNN earlier reported that the United States had briefed congressional leaders about their concerns that Prigozhin was preparing to challenge Russias military leadership. For years, Prigozhin hated Sergei Shoigu, the minister of defence, and Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, and the feeling was mutual, US officials said. But it took the war in Ukraine, officials said earlier this year, for the animosity to spill into the open, frequently expressed by Prigozhin in ill-tempered posts on Telegram, a social media platform. In recent months, intelligence officials have tracked the growing animosity between Prigozhin and leaders of Russias defence ministry and spent considerable time analyzing it. The intelligence agencies conclusion was that it was a clear sign of the internal tensions caused by the war in Ukraine, a product of Russias struggle to supply its troops adequately. It was an indication, one official said, of how the war was going badly for both Wagner and the regular military. Intelligence reports released as part of the Discord leaks also showed that the United States had intercepted communications between senior Russian military leaders debating how to handle Prigozhins constant demands for more ammunition. In interviews before the current crisis, US officials said it was not just Wagner forces that faced supply shortages, but the entire Russian military. Those problems have plagued the Russian military for months, but US officials said earlier this week that they had become more obvious as the Ukrainian counteroffensive began. Putin also may have given Prigozhin the false belief he could move beyond public criticism to action against his military allies. During the fight for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the US government assessed that Putin very likely ordered regular Russian units to reinforce Wagner forces. After the capture of Bakhmut, the Russian defence ministry moved to cut down the power of Wagner. Russia forced all volunteers for its forces to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense. The move cut Wagner off from recruits and meant that for the mercenaries to return to the battlefield in Ukraine, Prigozhin would have to subordinate his forces to the Defense Ministry, said Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Placing Wagner forces under the control of Shoigu was out of the question for Prigozhin, Stanovaya said. Many of Prigozhins tensions with the military had played out in public. He used interviews and Telegram posts to berate Shoigu and Gerasimov, calling them incompetent and charging that they were misleading Putin about the progress of the war with Ukraine. US officials conceded that there was an element of theatre to Prigozhins public complaints but that it was nevertheless useful for Putin, who himself has privately criticized his military leadership for being too passive during the Ukraine war. Still, US officials concluded that Prigozhins public statements were not controlled by Putin. His fight with the ministry of defence, officials said earlier this year, was real, not political theatre, fueled by the huge casualties Russia had suffered in Bakhmut. Prigozhins critique went beyond an argument over needed supplies. He charged that the military leadership was corrupt and incompetent. For their part, some military leaders were jealous of his influence with Putin, US officials said earlier this year. But it was only in recent days that intelligence officials got the initial warnings that Prigozhin might take action. Officials said that intelligence agencies had not known what the results of Prigozhins actions might be, but they were immediately worried about how it might affect the control of Russias nuclear weapons. President Joe Biden, speaking in October, talked of the dangers that Putin would pose if he felt cornered and said the United States was looking for off ramps for Putin. Since Prigozhin took action Friday, US officials have been locked down, saying little publicly about his intentions or what they knew about events on the ground. Officials have been wary, both because events were moving fast and because they did not want to give Putin any excuse to blame the West for Prigozhins actions. But several officials said they fully expected that Putin would eventually say the uprising was the result of a foreign plot. Prigozhin is under indictment in the United States for his role in trying to influence the 2016 presidential election in favour of Donald Trump. After launching a full-scale armed mutiny against Russian armed forces and reaching within 125 miles (200 km) of Moscow on Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) halted its march on the Russian capital. The PMC turned back at the instructions of its boss after a deal was reached between Prigozhin and the Kremlin, mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Then late on Saturday, Prigozhin was seen leaving the Southern Military District headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, which he had earlier claimed his forces had captured. Follow Russia Rebellion Live here What was the deal brokered between Russia & Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group? Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that under a deal brokered by Lukashenko, the Kremlin's criminal case against Prigozhin, in which he was to be charged for armed mutiny, would be dropped. This came after President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on Saturday that the Wagner mutiny amounted to "treason" and "a stab in the back". Further, Prigozhin agreed to move to Belarus under the deal, and the fighters who joined his "march for justice" would face no consequences, legal or otherwise, in recognition of their service to the nation in fighting alongside the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine and occupying Bakhmut. Also Read | Short-lived mutiny in Russia sheds light on Putins hold on power Peskov, who termed the armed rebellion "tragic", said Putin had approved Lukashenko's offer to mediate because the Belarusian leader had known Prigozhin personally for about two decades. He added that the deal had the "higher goal" of avoiding confrontation and bloodshed on either side, echoing a statement Prigozhin himself made earlier. Also Read | Russia mercenary threat revives concern over nuclear arsenal security Further, there is speculation regarding major changes in leadership roles in the Kremlin and the armed forces, with The Spectator Index citing reports saying that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu might have to step down in return for Wagner's halt. (With inputs from Reuters) The third G20 infrastructure working group (IWG) meeting will be held between June 26-28 in Uttarakhand, which among other things will deliberate on innovative ways towards infra investment. The flagship priority to be discussed in this meeting is Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable, along with other priorities, the Finance Ministry said. A total of 63 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and international organisations will participate in the meeting to further the discussions on the 2023 Infrastructure Agenda under the Indian G20 Presidency and follow up on the discussions held during the second IWG meeting held in March 2023 in Visakhapatnam. Also Read | With nine G20 meets in kitty, Goa set for big-ticket events "The third G20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) meeting under G20 Indian Presidency is scheduled to take place in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, from 26th to 28th June 2023," the finance ministry said in a statement. The G20 Infrastructure Working Group deliberates on various aspects of infrastructure investments, including developing infrastructure as an asset class, promoting quality infrastructure investment, and identifying innovative instruments for mobilizing financial resources for infrastructure investment, the statement added. The outcomes of the IWG feed into the G20 Finance Track priorities and promote infrastructure development. India is in negotiations with Brazil to resolve a sugar dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the commerce ministry is coordinating with concerned departments for the same, government sources said. India is also following a similar process for other complainants of the sugar dispute at the Geneva-based WTO, they said. In 2019, Brazil, Australia and Guatemala dragged India into the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism alleging that New Delhi's sugar subsidies to farmers are inconsistent with global trade rules. Also Read | India, US agree to end six trade disputes at WTO; Delhi to remove retaliatory customs duties The Department of Commerce is coordinating with all the concerned line ministries to arrive at possible alternatives, one of the sources, who is aware of the development, said. The exercise assumes significance as a WTO dispute settlement panel on December 14, 2021, ruled that India's support measures for the sugar sector are inconsistent with the global trade norms. In January 2022, India appealed against the panel's ruling at the WTO's appellate body, which is the final authority on such trade disputes. Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugar in the world. India is the world's second-largest sugar producer after Brazil. Brazil, Australia and Guatemala, which are members of the WTO, had complained that India's support measures to sugarcane producers exceed the de minimis level of 10 per cent of the total value of sugarcane production, which according to them was inconsistent with the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture. They had also flagged India's alleged export subsidies, subsidies under the production assistance and buffer stock schemes, and the marketing and transportation scheme. According to WTO rules, a WTO member or members can file a case in the Geneva-based multilateral body if they feel that a particular trade measure is against the norms of the WTO. Bilateral consultation is the first step to resolve a dispute. If both sides are not able to resolve the matter through consultation, either can approach the establishment of a dispute settlement panel. The panel's ruling or report can be challenged at the World Trade Organisation's Appellate Body. Interestingly, the appellate body of the WTO is not functioning because of differences among member countries to appoint members in this body. Several disputes are already pending with the appellate body. The US has been blocking the appointment of the members. The bilateral trade between India and Brazil increased to $16.6 billion in 2022-23 as against $12.2 billion in 2021-22. Trade gap is in the favour of India. India has exported 37.75 lakh tonnes of sugar till March 9 of the 2022-23 ongoing marketing year ending September out of 60 lakh tonnes allowed by the government, trade body All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) has said in March. Mills have exported 37,75,684 tonnes of sugar between October 1, 2022, and March 9 of the 2022-23 marketing year. The sugar marketing year runs from October to September. The government has allowed the export of 60 lakh tonnes for the 2022-23 marketing year. The industry is demanding that the government should increase the export quota. WTO member countries can resolve disputes outside the dispute settlement mechanism and later inform the multi-lateral body about the same. Recently, India and the US have agreed to end their six major trade disputes at the WTO. The Congress on Sunday accused the Narendra Modi government of punishing the people of Karnataka for voting the BJP out of power by attempting to sabotage the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme that provides an additional five kilograms of free rice to the poor. It went on to allege that the union government has made good on the threat issued by BJP president JP Nadda by withdrawing the 'ashirwad' (blessings) Karnataka enjoyed under his partys rule. During the poll campaign, Nadda had said that the people of the state should re-elect the BJP so that they continue to enjoy Modis blessings. Also Read | Piyush Goyal not supplying rice to Karnataka: Muniyappa The Congress alleged that Karnataka lifted more than 95 per cent of rice procured by all states under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS-Domestic) between January 1 and May 24 when the BJP ruled the state - presumably with Modi's 'ashirwad' - but that this 'blessing' was withdrawn at 'break-neck speed' after it assumed power. It is nothing but Karnatakas Durbhagya that Prime Minister Modi is punishing the poor of the state for voting to secure their future: @Jairam_Ramesh statement @DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/5v2zU2SORS Shemin (@shemin_joy) June 25, 2023 It is nothing but Karnatakas 'durbhagya' (misfortune) that Prime Minister Modi is punishing the poor of the state for voting to secure their future," Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said in a statement. He alleged that it is "now absolutely clear" that the June 13 order issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution disallowing the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to sell rice to states through OMSS-D was targeted mainly at Karnataka, which bought the maximum quantity. The government order came a day after the FCI cleared the sale, based on requests by Karnataka, placed on June 6 and 9. Clearly, this was targeted at sabotaging the implementation of the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme guaranteed by the Congress to the people of Karnataka, Ramesh said, adding that the FCI General Manager in charge of Karnataka canceled the order on June 14. "Not only that, the FCI Chairman and Managing Director in a press conference on June 23 said that conditions will be placed such that private traders cannot sell to another state. Isnt this a clear case of sabotage?" Ramesh asked. Also Read | Is BPL card a poverty marker or does it stand for barometer for political leverage? Ramesh called the order a brazen move that not only targets the additional 5 kilos of free rice guaranteed by the Congress government in the state, but also impacts the basic entitlement of 5 kilos that is being given to an additional 39 lakh BPL beneficiaries by Karnataka, beyond what is already allocated under the National Food Security Act. The fact is that the FCI has more than enough stocks to meet Karnatakas and the countrys needs but the Modi government is trying its very best to close every single avenue for the Karnataka government to fulfill its Guarantee to the people of Karnataka, he said. Ramesh also questioned why 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice has been allocated for the production of ethanol this year at a rate of Rs 2,000 per quintal, if there is a depletion of rice stocks as claimed by the government. He alleged that it was not the first time that Modi had opposed schemes of Congress governments that benefited the poor. Ramesh said Modi, when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat, had opposed the Food Security Bill, but it was the same law that came to the rescue of the poor during the Covid-19 pandemic. "Under the renamed package of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, 80 crore people got free food grains and pulses. This would not have been possible without the architecture of the National Food Security Act and the Public Distribution System implemented by the Congress-led UPA government," he said. Why is that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is not a revdi, whereas the Congress guarantee of 10 kgs free rice through the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme is vilified and sabotaged?...The Congress government in Karnataka will do everything possible to ensure the rights of the people of Karnataka are protected, and the Guarantee of Anna Bhagya 2.0 with 10 kgs free rice is implemented at the earliest, come what may, he added. Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being a liar, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday asked about the good days that he had promised before the BJP-led NDA government came to power at the Centre. In a no-holds-barred attack on the BJP and Sangh-Parivar, Siddaramaiah said that the saffron outfits are trying to create a divide among the people of the country. According to Siddaramaiah, the Constitution and democracy in India are under threat because of the BJP. Also Read | Siddaramaiah junks vaastu, enters office through door facing south In my political career spanning 40 years, I have never seen a Prime minister who lies like Modi, Siddaramaiah said in the Sangli district of Maharashtra - which was his first political visit outside Karnataka, after coming to power earlier this year. Modi promised achhe din. achhe din ka kya hua, he asked and pointed out that the prices of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas have increased manifold, among other things. Modis popularity is waning and this was evident from the results of Karnataka polls, Siddaramaiah said in his nearly 45-minute address, which was translated in Marathi. The Maharashtra Congress accorded a grand felicitation to Siddaramaiah at a function in which the top leadership including state Congress President Nana Patole, Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan were present, among others. "BJP means corruption and corruption means BJP, Siddaramaiah said, adding that in Karnataka the BJP was running a 40 per cent commission government and now the saffron party stands exposed after the peoples mandate was out. He also said that the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra too is corrupt and asserted that it needs to be rooted out of power in the next elections. He asked the Congress leaders and workers to go to every nook and corner of the country and expose the BJP. During the Karnataka polls, I and (Deputy Chief Minister) D K Shivakumar travelled to every nook and corner of the state and explained to people the BJPs designs and its corruptionthis has to be repeated (during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and Assembly elections ahead), Siddaramaiah said. The BJP and Sangh-Parivar are trying to divide people on the basis of religion, region, caste and language, he said in his address in Kannada, which was translated into Marathi. The politics of hate and commission do not work, he said. He also slammed the Centre for intentionally depriving Karnataka of access to low-cost rice supplies through the Food Corporation of India, which affected the states plans for the Anna Bhagya scheme, which would provide an additional 5 kg of rice for BPL families. RSS leader M S Golvalkar and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar opposed the Constitution. Congress will never allow the Constitution to change and all workers should be prepared for any sacrifice to protect it, he said and invoked Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution. "We have stood by the ideals of Mahatma Phule and Savatribai Phule, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar," Siddaramaiah added. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Sunday slammed the SGPC chief for his meeting with the SAD leaders and said the apex gurdwara body president will announce an already decided verdict on opposing the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Mann's statement came a day before the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is scheduled to hold its general house session in Amritsar to decide its next course of action on opposing the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which is aimed to ensure free telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple. Reacting to the chief minister's remarks, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said he was proud of being a soldier of the Shiromani Akali Dal and told Mann that he was so scared that he was more concerned about the soldier of the "panth" (community) than Punjab's development. The Punjab Assembly had recently passed the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Also Read | Punjab govt to amend Sikh Gurdwara Act to 'ensure free telecast rights' of Gurbani from Golden Temple In a statement here, CM Mann said the SGPC will announce an already decided verdict on Monday as per directions of its masters. The chief minister said it is unfortunate that the premier organisation of Sikhs has now become a stooge in the hands of its masters. Referring to the Sunday's meeting of SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami with the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, Mann said it was just a sham as the decision had been already pre- scripted by the Akali leadership. The decision has been finalised and the announcement is just a formality, he said. The CM said this can be well judged from the fact that the SGPC president was summoned in the Akali Dal office. The SGPC president has been dictated the decision by Akali leaders Sikandar Singh Maluka, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Daljit Singh Cheema, Hira Singh Gabria and others who were present in the meeting, said Mann. These leaders are apprising the decision of the Badal family to the president (Dhami) regarding opposition of Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill 2023, said Mann. The chief minister said the decision has been dictated, decided and delivered by the Badal family. This pre-scripted decision will be announced by the SGPC president tomorrow, said Mann. The CM said the state assembly has already passed Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill 2023 which will be sent to the governor for his nod. This Bill which envisages free to air telecast of the sacred Gurbani from the Golden Temple for all the audio and video platforms, he added. Following Mann's statement, SGPC chief Dhami tweeted, @BhagwantMann I am proud that I am a soldier of the SAD. You (Mann) are so scared that you are more concerned about the soldier of the 'panth' instead of Punjab's development. But I will not ask you why you go to Delhi in a helicopter flying with the money of Punjabis. The the SGPC has been opposing it, claiming that the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, passed by Punjab Assembly to ensure free telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple, is against the law, and the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 can only be amended by Parliament. The SGPC chief had asserted that the 1925 Act was a central legislation and can only be amended by Parliament. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday hit back at former US president Barack Obama and said that no one will take him seriously since under his tenure six-seven Muslim dominated countries were bombed. In an interview, Obama said that if ethnic minorities are not protected in India, the country will come apart. Sitharaman is the second senior leader of the BJP to lash out at Obama after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. Speaking to reporters at the party headquarters, Sitharaman said that the success of Modis visit was a matter of pride for the country. Responding to a query on criticisms against the Modi government on religious discrimination, Sitharaman said that she found Obamas comments surprising. His comments came as Modi was set to address the US Congress. Also Read | New and glorious journey of India-US ties has begun, says PM Modi It was surprising that when the PM was visiting the US, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian Muslims...I will tread with caution here, since we want a good friendship with the US. But comments come from there on Indias religious tolerance. Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama). From Yemen to Syria, there was a war-like situation more than 26,000 bombs were dropped, Sitharaman said. This happened during his tenure. No one will take him seriously, she added. On Friday, Assam CM Sarma in response to a tweet from a journalist called the former president Hussain Obama, leading to a decry from the Opposition. There are many Hussain Obama in India itself. We should prioritize taking care of them before considering going to Washington. The Assam police will act according to our own priorities, Sarmas tweet read. The journalist had asked him if Assam police will be sent to Washington to deplane and arrest Obama due to his comments. Sitharaman also told reporters that very few people have had the opportunity of addressing the US Congress. The Prime Minister was invited by both the parties of America. For the second time for a PM to be called to address a joint session of the US Congress is a matter of pride for all of us in India, Sitharaman said. PM Modi's visit to the US has been historic. I am extremely happy to say that it was a visit where both India and the United States redefined their partnership and established steps which would result in greater realisation of our national goals, she added. A woman died outside the New Delhi railway station on Sunday morning after accidentally touching an electric wire following heavy rains. According to police, Sakshi Ahuja (34) was walking with her sister towards the station when she accidentally fell on the pole and came in contact with exposed wires as a result of which she was electrocuted. The family was heading to the railway station to board a train to Chandigarh. Also Read | Monsoon arrives in Delhi, Mumbai on same day An inquiry revealed that a few wires of an electric pole were lying exposed at the spot. The incident took place near exit gate number 1 of the station. Sakshi is survived by her husband, 10-year-old son and six-year-old daughter. Police received information about the electrocution and rushed to the spot. The staff and Ahujas sister Madhvi Chopra took her to Lady Hardinge Medical College where doctors declared her dead. The body was shifted to a mortuary, DCP (Railways) Apoorva Gupta said. After this, the victim's sister, Madhvi Chopra, filed a complaint alleging negligence on the part of the authorities concerned, the DCP said. Crime team and experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini inspected the spot. The team has photographed the place of incident from all angles. An investigation is under progress, DCP Gupta added. A case has been registered against unidentified persons under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday toured the great pyramids of Giza on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital, which were included in the Seven Wonders of the World. Escorted by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Modi visited the three pyramids of the 4th-dynasty erected on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River near Al-Jizah (Giza) in northern Egypt. Also Read | PM Modi visits Egypt's historic 11th century Al-Hakim Mosque, restored with help of Dawoodi Bohra community Modi was seen seeking details about the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the largest Egyptian pyramid and served as the tomb of pharaoh Khufu, who ruled under the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Built in the early 26th century B.C., over a period of about 27 years, the pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only wonder that has remained largely intact. Modi is on a two-day state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. 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. Justine Di Mayo from International Coalition of Sites of Conscience believed taking part in Derrys first ever Peace and Conflict International Summer School would inspire participants to develop a project to address the challenges in their own context. Speaking to Derry Now, Justine, who is the Coalitions senior programme manager for Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, said as a result of the experience, the attendees could now discuss how to design and conceptualise a regional project to foster truth, justice and to promote lasting peace in the Balkan Region. International Coalition of the Sites of Conscience is a worldwide network. Justine explained: What we call a site of conscience is a place of memory. It can be an historic site, a museum, a memorial, or a memory initiative, which prevents the recurrence of past human rights violations, in order to foster more just and human societies today. We have more than 350 members in 65 countries around the world. These Sites of Conscience provide safe spaces to remember and preserve traumatic memories and also to enable connection between past and related contemporary human rights issues. For example, our members could be a detention centre which would be a catalyst for a discussion on modern threats to democracy. They could be a museum of emigration. We have different historic sites, including Ellis Island, and one of our members is the Museum of Free Derry. Last year, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Coalition organised the European Regional Meeting of the network, which was hosted by the Museum of Free Derry and the Bloody Sunday Trust. Approximately 11 European sites of conscience attended that meeting. We spent three days in the city hearing about the experience of Derry and the Derry Model. Following that visit, Justine said the Coalition discussed the possibility of bringing its members from the Balkan Region to Derry. We wanted them to hear about the experience of the city because we had been very impressed and very interested by the experience of the different stakeholders here. We thought this could support our members to work and practise fostering truth, justice and lasting peace in the region. That is why we decided to collaborate with the Bloody Sunday Trust to organise this international seminar. During the Summer School, the Coalition brought together members from Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. For us it is very important to reflect on approaches, methods and challenges in coming to terms with violent past based on the Derry Model and Derry experience. She added: The exchange with the different stakeholders has been extremely important for all the participants, who are representative of their organisations and are all practitioners. They dont necessarily have the occasion to meet with people, be it combatants or people who have been involved in negotiating peace agreements. There is this tendency to work in silos. It is not necessarily easy for civic organisations or human rights organisations to have the opportunity to meet with people who talk in a very transparent manner, who really share their experiences from different perspectives. I think that was something very important for the participants to have a panel in Derry where people from all different backgrounds and communities came together and talked in front of the participants. It was a very honest conversation. It was very enriching and we would really like to continue this partnership and include all the members of the Coalition, from other regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa, who are working on conflict transformation. They would really benefit from this experience. This week was a really important experience and we would very much want to continue this partnership, said Justine. According to Justine, the final two days of the Summer School were spent discussing with the Balkan members how they could use the learning of the Derry Model, the Derry Experience, to develop a project in the Balkans on conflict transformation. Last weeks Shared Island Initiative investment in Derry is groundbreaking, says CONAL McFEELY of the Derry University Group. Others must now meet their responsibilities. Last weeks investment and intervention by the Irish government, via the Shared Island Initiative, is groundbreaking. Many of us who have been campaigning for Derry and the North West to have its own independent university regard it as the most important development in sixty years. We commend the Irish governments commitment to Magee and to the Royal Irish Academy blueprint which envisages a full cross-border university in Derry and Donegal. The support of the Shared Island Initiative is integral to developing our goal of a properly-resourced cross-border university, which will see our student population grow fully - far past the 10000 mark - to match other cities on our Atlantic coast. It is worth reminding all stakeholders that the target of 10000 full-time students at Magee by 2030 was agreed by both governments in 2020 in an international contract and must be met. There can be no revising targets downwards. Resources - and delivery vehicles, in the form of new structures - must be made available. To achieve this, we now need to fully remove all the political and economic roadblocks impeding the North Wests recovery and regeneration. Dublins decisive intervention serves to highlight the history of underinvestment by Stormont in Derry and the wider North West - and its failure to correct the economic, social and educational imbalance that exists in the North. It also highlights the failure of governance, oversight and scrutiny here by our so-called political elite, who have allowed a two-tiered society in the North to flourish and become institutionalised on their watch. We, as a watchdog campaign group active since 2013, reiterate our urgent call for a new oversight and scrutiny commission, to include the Shared Island Initiative and the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), as recommended in the recent RIA report. Ulster University must be accountable for - and judged on - what they do, not what they promise. There will be time enough for credit when the 10000 figure is delivered on time. The acid test for the current UU administration will be its ability to adapt to the new oversight measures and federal structures necessary to ensure Magee is administered independently from within the North West region. The immediate return of courses and departments, such as Psychology, History, Sociology, Modern Languages and, crucially, Incore, to Magee will be a demonstration of UUs sincerity and seriousness. The City Deal funding, when applied, will also need a new level of oversight. Effectively, this will make Derry/Strabane Council and the Irish government as the two main stakeholders in Magee, and this must be recognised at corporate management level. Very judiciously, the RIA states that the cross-border North West University must be able to operate independently of the capitals, so all-island structures will be required to assure this. A new North-South body will be required to take a lead on this and future development work in this area. The British government must also step up now and meet its obligations under both New Decade New Demand and its recent Command Paper recommending a new cross-border university. It must match the Irish governments commitment, and provide affirmative investment to ensure genuine levelling up outside of the city-state of Belfast. As we have declared, both London and Dublin will benefit from the cross-border nature of the new university. In many respects, it is the best possible mitigation for the challenges posed by Brexit. It also will be eligible for support from the EU, which has long been a guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, and will have a practical opportunity to institutionalise that support. To sum up, the Souths investment in Derry is groundbreaking. Three things remain essential to progress: A commitment to investment, such as shown by the Irish government - and lots more of it Scrutiny - to ensure that the North Wests growing university sector remains protected, and Independence for the North West university. This triple lock of money, oversight and independence is essential, and we are confident that both the Dublin government and the Royal Irish Academy share this view. It is welcome, after sixty years, to see historical injustice finally being addressed. But, as we have learned from hard experience, we must all be careful not to take our eyes off the ball. GEMX organised a female only Teacher CPD (Continuous Professional Development) day on Women in Engineering Day (23rd June) to specialist North West engineering and manufacturing companies AE Global, Nelipak and DuPont. Subsequent events will include male and female teachers but as GEMX Project Director Joanne Sweeny explained, 23rd June provided a unique opportunity. Joanne Sweeny said: It is extremely important for teachers who are delivering technology subjects and providing careers advice to experience the real world of manufacturing and engineering. Given the level of positive feedback from this event, GEMX intends to make events like this a regular occurrence in our activity calendar. Women in Engineering Day provided us with a unique opportunity to focus on female teachers. GEMX, supported by Invest NI, is a collaborative network of engineering and manufacturing companies from the North West. GEMX companies engage with students and teachers to raise the profile of the sector while also developing a pipeline of talent. Maeve Mc Menamin from Lumen Christi College said: As a careers teacher, I am delighted to get the chance to visit local companies and engage first-hand with people who can inspire and advise our young people. "I also see this as a great way of developing networks which will enable schools to arrange guest speakers and site visits to enhance curriculum delivery. Chair of GEMX, Paul Kirkpatrick from DuPont said: We welcome the support and involvement from manufacturing and engineering organisations in the region. It is our vision that the North West will become a centre of excellence for the engineering and manufacturing sectors and events like today will hopefully bring that vision a step further. Each of the three companies visited provided an overview of what they do, including details of training opportunities and career pathways. Tours were also provided to enable teachers to gain an understanding of the work that it is carried out at the various plants and well as facilitating the development of professional networks. Mark Sweeney, Production Manager at AE Global said: Companies must recognise the need for the support of education if we are going to attract the right talent into our sector. GEMX WOMEN IN ENGINEERING CELEBRATIONS. . . . .The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Patricia Logue pictured at Fridays the Women in Engineering Days Female-Only Teacher CPD (Continuous Professional Development) event to AE Global premises at Campsie, Derry. The ladies also visited Nelipak and DuPont as part of the days activities. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography) There are great opportunities for interesting, challenging careers in manufacturing and engineering, so companies need to provide schools with information and support. Gavin Killeen from NuPrint Technologies has said: This is an extremely interesting and challenging area of employment with a vast range of opportunities. We have employers in our network from areas such as agriculture, chemicals, printing, food, electronics and clothing. Employment entry levels are varied so interested students can progress their education in a flexible way, with vocational routes on the apprenticeship ladder now being available from Level 2 upwards. "Education can continue alongside work if that is how a person prefers to progress within their career. A summer of drift in the Stormont powersharing impasse is not acceptable, Michelle ONeill has warned. The Sinn Fein vice president urged the UK and Irish governments to develop a plan to secure a return to devolution following on from their engagement at last weeks British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London. There is little evidence that the DUP is poised to make an imminent return to powersharing. The party has said it will only end its ongoing blockade of the institutions when the UK government delivers further legislative assurances on post-Brexit trade. That would make it unlikely that the DUP would countenance any return to devolution until at least the autumn. Ms ONeill said the scale of the financial problems facing public services in Northern Ireland meant a summer of continued limbo must be avoided. Nobody should accept that, I certainly dont accept that, she told the PA news agency. Im going to keep pushing, cajoling, doing whatever I can. I dont accept that it should be let sit over the summer while people are struggling or people are worried about their childrens places in school or whatever else is at the top of peoples minds right now. There are huge challenges facing our public services and I think where we all need to be as political parties is working together, actually to ensure that we have proper funding for our public services. We have a big job of work to do there. Were not funded properly. Were not funded adequately. So that needs to be worked on there. But we do that collectively with one voice. The meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference took place in central London last Monday, with both governments making renewed pledges to restore governance in the region. A joint communique, issued after the meeting at the Mansion House, said that politicians discussed the serious and deepening consequences for people in Northern Ireland arising from the ongoing absence of fully functioning institutions. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton Harris stressed the importance of privacy to any negotiations to restore powersharing, declining to give a running commentary on talks with the DUP. Commenting on the meeting, Ms ONeill referenced the issues parents of children with special needs were having in securing school places as one example of why politicians need to return to Stormont The only thing that did come out of it was that the two governments agreed that there needs to be a restored executive what we need to see now is a plan to actually make that happen, she said. I think that when you look at the scale of challenges facing families, workers and families right now this last week were talking about special educational needs and places we need to be in that executive standing up for these people. So, Im not going to give up. Im determined to keep trying and I am determined to lead from the front for all the people in the north. Thousands of people have taken part in a protest in Newry against a reduction in services at Daisy Hill Hospital. The hospital has been hit by a staffing crisis and the Southern Trust has initiated an action plan aimed at stabilising service provision over the summer months. The plan involves support being offered by three consultants from Craigavon Area Hospital. Inpatient beds have been reduced from 104 to 83. Due to a shortage of stroke consultants at Daisy Hill, all suspected acute stroke patients being transported by ambulance are being diverted to an alternative emergency department. The action plan has seen the appointment of a chief operating officer for Daisy Hill and a temporary MRI scanner has been secured for the site. The demonstration heard calls for health chiefs to do more to secure the long-term future of the hospital. Protesters gathered in the centre of Newry on Sunday afternoon for speeches before walking to the hospital. Justin McNulty, the SDLP MLA for the area, said the demonstration was a show of defiance. Power to the People Well Done to all who today showed up in defiance There was Thunder in the air People are furious sick of the drip, drip, drip withdrawal of vital services from our hospital pic.twitter.com/yNU8qr5c6O Justin McNulty (@JustinMcNu1ty) June 25, 2023 People are furious and sick of the drip, drip, drip withdrawal of vital services from our hospital, he tweeted. We will not be going quietly into the night until the health authorities and the political establishment give us equality in access to essential health services. Outlining the action plan last week, Southern Trust chief executive Dr Maria OKane welcomed the strong public support for staff and services at Daisy Hill. Whilst we are now more optimistic about stabilising services, rising demand, financial and workforce pressures and the need for modernisation remain very real challenges across health and social care, she said. We continue to work with regional colleagues to address these issues and on agreeing a permanent plan for the future of all local hospitals. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. RTE is facing serious hits to its income streams in the wake of the Ryan Tubridy payments controversy, a government minister has warned. Minister of state Patrick ODonovan suggested the broadcaster would experience a decrease in money raised from the licence fee amid public anger about the scandal, while advertising revenues would also suffer. Mr ODonovan also signalled support for more systemic changes to the funding and delivery of public service broadcasting in Ireland. He suggested RTE may have to become smaller and do fewer things as part of a revised funding model, and proposed widening access to public service funding to other rival broadcasters. RTE operates on a dual funding model, with 55% of its income 200 million euro a year brought in by way of the licence fee. The rest is generated through commercial revenues. RTE loses 65 million euro annually through licence fee evasion and avoidance, and the broadcaster has called for reform of the collection system. Ultimately, the Government is the bank of last reserve here for RTE, because theres no doubt about it, theres going to be a serious hit to the licence fee, thats inevitable, said Mr ODonovan. There probably will be serious hits as well in relation to commercial revenue that can be gleaned. So the Government are going to have to take up the tab and Joe and Mary Public are going to wind up paying for this because it is a fundamental part of our democracy. Mr ODonovan insisted calls for an extension or reform of current TV licence fee arrangements were dead in the water following the salary misreporting revelations at RTE. A Government review of the RTE funding model has been ongoing, but a final decision on the outcome has now been paused pending the completion of an external review of governance and culture at the broadcaster, which was ordered at the weekend amid the furore around the under-reporting of the salary paid to its star broadcaster Tubridy. The move follows the revelation that Tubridy was paid several hundred thousand euro more than RTE had previously declared. RTE apologised on Thursday after admitting that between 2017 and 2022 former Late Late Show host Tubridy received a series of payments totalling 345,000 euro (295,000) above his annual published salary. On Friday, director general of RTE Dee Forbes was suspended amid the fallout from the controversy rocking the broadcaster. On Saturday, a senior executive emailed staff at RTE to apologise and inform them that new contracts have been paused pending the implementation of further oversight measures. Following further weekend media scrutiny, in particular over its financial arrangements with advertising partners, RTE issued a statement on Sunday insisting it was legally compliant in respect of how it operates commission and volume discounts with media ad buying agencies. Given this is a competitive marketplace, volume discounts between media buying agencies and media organisations are commercially sensitive and not disclosed, the broadcaster added. Irelands media minister Catherine Martin announced the external review on Saturday after meeting the chairwoman of the RTE Board, Siun Ni Raghallaigh, in Dublin. Ms Martin warned that the scale of the issues facing RTE was verging on an existential crisis and a root and branch review was required. Speaking to RTE Radio One on Sunday, Mr ODonovan called for full transparency from RTE. Executives from the broadcaster have been invited to appear before two separate parliamentary committees in Dublin in the week ahead. What we cant have here now is stonewalling, said Mr ODonovan. The lid has been lifted here and the sooner we get to a situation where we have full disclosure the better. RTE is a fundamental part of our democracy, it is a fundamental part of what it is I suppose that identifies us as Irish people, and it isnt without its flaws, but that doesnt mean that it is entirely incapable of being rehabilitated. Mr ODonovan said it was a bit early in the day to say whether anyone should resign over the payments issue. His comments on RTEs future funding model drew a critical response from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). NUJ Irish secretary Seamus Dooley said he was deeply disappointed by the ministers remarks. He seemed to think that reform of the licence fee is some sort of favour to RTE rather than a necessary measure to enhance public service broadcasting in Ireland, he said. Mr Dooley said politicians must resist a temptation to punish RTE and said the external review should not be used as a reason to further delay the wider reform of public service broadcasting in Ireland. He added: There needs to be a balance between addressing the corporate governance failures in RTE and ensuring that those who serve the public through their work are given the resources to do so. Fianna Fail TD Niamh Smyth, who chairs the media committee that has invited RTE executives to appear before it on Wednesday, said it was important Ms Forbes attended the hearing. This is not a witch hunt, she told RTEs This Week programme. This is not looking for somebodys head, this is looking for accountability. Minister of state Jack Chambers claimed there had been a web of deceit within parts of RTE. Thats why we need to know who was involved in this arrangement, how it came about, and that theres full disclosure of any other repeated arrangement with anyone else within the organisation and its important that we get that information very quickly from senior levels within RTE, he told RTEs The Week in Politics programme on Sunday. Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy told the same programme there was a need for total transparency. We need to get information directly from RTE, if RTE have information that is in the public interest, they need to be putting that out front and centre, he said. RTE has commissioned its own external probe, by auditors Grant Thornton, into the contracts of other higher earners at the broadcaster. On Friday, Tubridy apologised unreservedly for not asking questions when RTE published incorrect figures for his earnings. He said he would not be presenting his daily radio show on RTE Radio One this week. On Saturday, interim deputy director general at RTE Adrian Lynch apologised to staff at the broadcaster. I want to apologise to you, our staff, for the serious breach of trust that has occurred, and for this failure of corporate governance at RTE, he wrote in an email seen by the PA news agency. He said he shared the shock and anger of staff. This has been a massive breach of trust with the public, and with all of us who have the interest of the public at the centre of our jobs every day, he wrote. Ms Forbes was already due to leave her post in July. She is being replaced as director general by media executive Kevin Bakhurst. 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. ABOVE: Cillian Farrell Operations Manager Farrell Furniture, Mary Jackson Principal Ardee Community School, Brendan Farrell Joint-CEO Farrell Furniture, Anthony Durnin Construction & Woodwork Department Ardee Community School. Farrell Furniture & Ardee Community School have joined forces to provide fixed term contracts to students to introduce them to the working environment and to broaden their experience. This collaboration will give students the opportunity to work for the summer, undertake seasonal work or full-time employment in many different sectors across the company such as; warehousing, saws and veneer, combi and bore, assembly, edge finish and UV, dispatch and more. Before applying to Farrell, Ardee Community School will prepare the young people to get ready for working life by ensuring that they have their own bank account, safe pass, manual handling course, a provisional licence, a CV and good interview skills. Anthony Durnin, Construction & Woodwork Department, Ardee Community School explains that the idea was born from the school wanting to develop links with local businesses to cater for students who have no real interest in pursuing college degrees and want to enter the working environment. "Earn as you Learn is a slogan that we encourage here at Ardee Community School. We have known both Brendan and Paul Farrell over the years and how successful Farrell are as a business and important they are to the town and we had an idea to link the woodwork department in the school with Farrell and they were very happy to accept. Talking about the partnership, Brendan Farrell Joint-CEO of Farrell Furniture said: We are delighted to work with the students and teachers of Ardee Community School and to invest in the young people of the town, our future workers and leaders. Our corporate social responsibility policy is to ensure that we give back to our community and this is what this collaboration does. It is an opportunity to give back to the community that has supported our business for almost 62 years. Starting off as a passion between two brothers Ollie and Paddy Farrell in 1961, the company has come a long way. Now in its second generation, Farrell is the largest employer in the town of Ardee with over 130 staff. The collaboration is set to begin in the Summer of 2023 with meetings already underway. Students must be aged 16 years and over. For more information please visit: farrell-furniture.com A woman has died after she and her son got into difficulties in the sea off a Co Cork beach. The Coast Guard, lifeboat crews and gardai were involved in a sea rescue operation initiated at Ballycroneen Beach, Cloyne in east Cork shortly before 1pm on Sunday. The woman, who was aged in her 30s, was taken from the water in a critical condition and airlifted by Coast Guard helicopter to Cork University Hospital, where she later died. Her young son was rescued from rocks by a Coast Guard helicopter. He sustained non-life threatening injuries. It is understood the family involved are Polish but have been living in Ireland for some time. Local councillor Michael Hegarty extended his condolences. My deepest sympathies go to the family involved, the immediate family and their friends, said the Fine Gael representative. Its a very sad and difficult situation for all involved. The beaches in east Cork are beautiful beaches and its so sad that this should happen. Ive no doubt that under these difficult circumstances that the Cloyne and wider community will rally around the families involved. Gardai said investigations into the incident were ongoing. PLANNING permission for train stations at Blarney and Blackpool will be sought within the next year a local councillor has said as he surveyed the trains that could become a common sight on Leeside. A delegation of Cork councillors enjoyed a preview of the new prototype trains that could one day operate on the Cork commuter railway lines in the years to come. The prototype train is on display in the Inchicore railway works in Dublin, which was visited recently by Cork City councillors Oliver Moran, Colette Finn, and Alan OConnor, along with local area reps Louise Jordan and Honore Kamegni all of the Green Party. They were joined with Darren McAdam-OConnell of the Cork Transport and Mobility Forum, who spoke with AJ Cronin, delivery manager with Irish Rail. Its very clear that Irish Rail are committed to delivering the project exactly as its described in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy, Mr Moran told The Echo. That means new stations and a commuter service running every 10 minutes between Mallow, Cork, and Cobh/Midleton, with a train every five minutes on an overlap between Kent Station and Glounthaune. Theyre confident that the growth in rail use in Cork after covid, the take-up of the Leap card services from Mallow, and the latest 15-minute service to Little Island shows the demand is there among commuters, said Mr Moran. Theres already 185m works underway upgrading the line. However, these are all engineering works. Theyre vital to delivering the project, but theyre not visible to commuters directly. Irish Rail will look for planning permission for stations at Blackpool and Blarney in the next 12 months, he said. Planning permission for the two new stations will mean the project starts moving into the domain of changes that mean a real step-change for customers. Irish Rail were adamant they want to go for planning permission for the two stations in the next 12 months. In the meantime, theyve offered to share artists impressions of the plans. The Blarney plans will include a park and ride, finally, for the north side. That has the promise to really make a difference for people. It means people coming to Cork will be able to park up and get the train in to the city. For anyone who uses the Red Cow Luas stop to get into Dublin, theyll know how easy that makes visiting the city. Construction wont begin until 2026 because theres a sequence of engineering works that need to be in place first. Thats because the new commuter stations will need to share the line with intercity services that are already there. The new all-electric trains will also need new depots to charge their batteries. However, a very important point made is that this commitment on the part of Irish Rail needs to be followed through with continued funding in this years budget. They have the plans and theyre ready to do it. They need the same commitment to continue from the national Government. I know from talking to Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, that hes committed. Hes very knowledgeable about Cork and has family connections here. "We have other high-powered ministers based in Cork, the Tanaiste, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Enterprise and Employment. They need to make sure nothing delays the new stations in this years budget and that its full speed ahead from here, added Mr Moran. Iarnrod Eireann will shortly issue an Invitation to Tender for a Multi-Disciplinary Consultant to progress the scope of services for the projects in Cork, said a spokesperson for Irish Rail. The new stations will be at Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water Rock, along with track and civil works, a new fleet depot, and electrification. This work will include the preliminary design and statutory approvals process and is expected to be completed in Quarter Four of 2024. Remembrance event held in Ottawa to reflect on racist Chinese Exclusion Act Xinhua) 10:11, June 25, 2023 OTTAWA, June 23 (Xinhua) -- A remembrance event was held here on Friday to reflect upon the Chinese Immigration Act, which was passed in 1923, in Canada and recognize the mistakes of racism. The act, commonly known as the Chinese Exclusion Act, banned most forms of Chinese immigration to Canada and was repealed in 1947. This event, attended by representatives of the Chinese community from across the country, as well as members of Parliament, senators, and other dignitaries, was an opportunity to take action against racism. A historic plaque was unveiled in the Senate Chamber to mark the centennial and specially prepared performances took place and were live streamed to mark the occasion. "One hundred years ago a law anchored in discrimination and intolerance came into effect. This was the Chinese Exclusion Act. We are gathered today to acknowledge the harm it caused to families, communities and our country," said Governor General Mary Simon at the event. She said that in telling the stories of those who suffered as a result of racism, Canadians are not rewriting the past. "This ceremony, like so many other events that are taking place across Canada in 2023, is not only about a 100-year-old law, it is above all about the Chinese in Canada who paid the price of that vile legislation and the trauma that affected the Chinese community for years to follow," said Senator Yuen Pau Woo from British Columbia, who helped create this event. The discriminatory and racist act almost completely prevented people from China from entering Canada for nearly a quarter century. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Du Mingming) PEOPLE employed in the night-time economy need to be able to go to and from work in safety, a sentencing judge said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Helen Boyle made these comments when three young men came before the court for their part in incidents where large groups of youths attacked men on their way home in three different incidents in the city. In one incident, staff at a licensed premises were walking home on St. Augustine Street, Cork, after 2am on October 16 2021. Garda Pat Dilworth said that a week later after 2am on October 23 2021 two off-duty gardai were set upon by eleven youths. They were punched and kicked and violently set upon. One of them had his garda ID and phone taken from him. Attempts were made to rob the second off-duty garda of his badge also. Judge Boyle said an aggravating factor in this case was the fact that the attack continued even after the youths discovered that the two men were off-duty gardai. In a third incident a junior doctor was attacked by a teenager as he walked home after work during on the same morning October 23 2021 when the jazz weekend was on in Cork. He was chased by a large group of teenagers who attacked the doctors housemates who came out of their house to assist him at Mardyke Walk, Cork. Garda Dilworth said the doctor had been walking home when he was confronted by two people in the group and assaulted, cut over the eye and then chased by the larger group. When he got to the house, people came out of the house to his aid. The group then set upon the five junior doctors, Garda Dilworth said. Judge Helen Boyle said the off-duty gardai should not have been attacked in the first place but that it should certainly have stopped when they showed their garda IDs. One juvenile who cannot be named as he is still under the age of 18 was put on a probation bond for two years for his part in the incidents. 21-year-old Graham Hurley of 13 Mount St Josephs Avenue, Gurranabraher, Cork, was given a two-year suspended jail term for his part in the incidents. His brother, Dylan Hurley, 20, of the same address had sentencing in his case adjourned until November 16 as Judge Boyle said to him that he must comply with the directions of the probation service. CORK siblings Adrian Duffy and Fiona Doyle are set to shave their heads for a good cause and are inviting as many people as possible to get involved. Raising funds for various charities of their choice through their Shave for Good fundraiser, the siblings will shave their heads at the same time on Monday. Fiona, a teacher at Glounaguillagh National School in Killorglin in Kerry, will shave her head at the school and Adrian will join via video link from Murcia in Spain, where he currently resides. The pair have already raised over 7,000 ahead of the fundraising event. Speaking to The Echo, Mr Duffy said: I think the Irish people are always known for their generosity and getting involved in charity events and I am sure that someone reading this will stand up and be convinced to create their own charity event, keeping this movement going. I have worked with charities for years. From spending three years in South America volunteering in after-school projects, and in animal refuges, to my own digital marketing company where we spend 10% of our resources working for free for charity projects, giving back has always been very important to me. At times we forget how lucky we are, to have health, a roof over our heads, and food on the table. Also, a lot of these charities are suffering, fighting to survive, so any help we can give them is fantastic. We all have friends and family who have affected by cancer, leukaemia, heart disease, and a wide range of other illnesses which really impact the family life. This is my very small contribution. Ms Doyle, who originally shaved her head 20 years ago when she was in college, said: At the time I did it for Crumlin Childrens Hospital. This time I have picked two very worthwhile causes close to my heart. I think nearly every family in Ireland has had someone who has been touched by either cancer or heart issues. As a woman, it is a little daunting shaving my hair. The hair itself will be donated to the Little Princess Trust. They can use this hair to make wigs for children. I feel that if I can raise so badly needed funds for both charities then it will be well worth it. My hair will grow back hopefully as quickly as it did the last time. She said her kids are excited to see her head shaved and hopes it is something they will remember and that it teaches them valuable lessons. She also thanked Glounaguillagh National School and her principal for supporting her with the fundraising efforts. My principal, Sinead Pigott, has been amazing. She has been very supportive and has done so much to help me, she said. A man and a woman who were walking along a beach near Clonakilty in west Cork were swept out to sea by powerful currents today, but managed to make it back to shore with the aid of a kayaker. The Valentia Coast Guard Marine Rescue Coordination Centre reported that the two people, aged in their 40s, were walking along Red Strand beach at about 5.30pm on Sunday, June 25, when they were dragged out to sea by a powerful wave or rip tide. A local person took out a kayak and life rings and managed to help pull them ashore. We had the helicopter and Union Hall Lifeboat and a Coast Guard unit heading for them, said a spokesperson for the Valentia Centre. They made it ashore about sixteen minutes later. There were no reports of injuries, but they were attended to by South Doc. Red Strand beach is located east of Galley Head Lighthouse, between Rosscarbery and Clonakilty. THEY are quaint, nostalgic visions of an Ireland long gone, showing children dancing a fairy reel, women in hooded cloaks, and the art of baking in an open hearth. But for Delia Power, these iconic postcard images from the 1960s also double up as a family album, as she posed for them as a child with her brother and mother. They may have been posted out to far-flung destinations around the world, by thousands of tourists visiting south-west Ireland. but for Delia, they are simply images of home. Now living beneath Hungry Hill in Rossmacowen on the Beara Peninsula, Delia, nee Goggin, was born in Donemark Falls, near Bantry town. Ours was a small house by the river, she recalls, there were eight of us, five boys and three girls, and our grandfather also lived with us. Delia Powers brother Finbarr and her mother in a hooded cloak, along with a woman who lived at the cottage here in Ballylicky, Bantry The river was our playground, wed plenty of salmon to eat and plenty of seafood from the nearby beaches. We grew our own vegetables, we had a very simple life, but a very happy life. Delia recounted how she and her family came to become global postcard stars. There was an elderly English lady, Mrs Wills, who lived near us in Donemark. Her daughter Olivia lived in Geneva and would visit her mother every summer. One summer, when I was eight years old, Olivia arrived and said she planned to publish a range of postcards and wanted us children to pose for her, which we were only too delighted to do. The four postcards that Delia now has in her possession, shown here, are the result of that fruitful arrangement. In one of them (right), taken in Schull, she has on her Communion dress. She described how each photograph was carefully staged and posed in specific locations to showcase West Cork at its finest. Each day, Olivia would call up for myself and my brother Finbarr, who was a year younger than me. She would carefully pick the location to make the most of the scenery. It was a great time for us during our summer holidays, it was like going to Lanzarote or somewhere, we never went anywhere that time, but she took us to all the most beautiful places in West Cork. Delia Power A photograph of Delias mother, Sheila, sat by an open hearth, taking a freshly baked brown bread from a bastable pot, became the most popular of the range. That photo was taken in an old mill in Donemark, which had an open fireplace, said Delia. I was sent to the bread shop that morning to get a brown bread, but was told to make sure it was very brown, almost dark brown, so that it would stand out in the photo. All the tourists seemed to love that postcard of my mother. Sheila demonstrates traditional Irish baking in an open hearth - Delia recalls being told to buy a very brown loaf of bread for this photo so it would be clearly shown Delia remembers that during that shoot there were firelighters lit the whole time to keep the flame lighting for the photographs, and every now and then my mother would throw a small bit of paraffin oil onto it to give a flame! Delias mother also featured in the postcard showing two women wearing the traditional hooded cloaks of West Cork (left). For children growing up in rural West Cork in the 1960s, being asked to feature in the postcards was a huge adventure. We went to school in Bantry and walked to and from school, said Delia. We didnt have the opportunity to go to third level education so it was work straight after school. But we had an idyllic childhood, especially in the summer. Locations used for the postcards included Baltimore, Schull, Glengarriff, and Beara. It was a lovely day out for us, added Delia. Olivia would always buy a loaf of bread and a tin of spam for lunch for us all. I remember one day we were in Schull, half-way up a mountain, and decided it was time to eat. But when she went to open the can of spam, the key cracked so all we could eat was dry bread, and we were starving! The name most associated with these types of Irish postcard images of this era isJohn Hinde, but these particular photos were published by Cardall Ltd, based in Cope Street, Dublin. The place where Delia now lives in the foothills of Hungry Hill was a spot she first visited while en route to one of their postcards photo-shoots. Delia Power as a child in the 60s (far right) watching a Fairy Reel dance in a postcard. Sitting on the left are her brother, Finbarr Goggin and Eileen Lynch. The dancers are Ann Keohane , her sister Margarie, Deirdre OMahoney, and the boy sat on the stool was called OSullivan - all these children went to Bantry school Little did I ever realise Id end up living here, because I remember stopping here as a child and a cottage across the road had loads of bright red geraniums growing outside. Delia eventually settled in Rossmacowen after visiting her sister, who was living in the area. My sister moved here first, and I came to visit her and met Declan Power, a local fisherman, we married and built a house here and had three children. Delia worked in Castletownbere Community Hospital for more than 25 years as a health-care assistant, helping patients suffering from dementia with reminiscence therapy It was after her recent retirement that she decided to do some reminiscing of her own, when she came upon some of the postcards again, and tried to track down some more. When I started collecting the photos, I went into a shop in Bantry and bought four of the one of my mother and the shop owner told me that lady in it was from Bantry. I said, I know, shes my mother! Delia also featured in a TG4 programme Cartai Poiste, which aimed to recreate the scenes in postcards from the past. They re-enacted the one featuring us as Irish dancers (facing page), even though some of us in it are grandmothers now! The family eventually lost contact with the Wills family. Mrs Wills lived to 102, but when she died, Olivia sold the house. We all grew up and moved on, said Delia. She thinks there may still be a few postcards that she doesnt have in her collection - and perhaps Holly Bough readers can hep her track them down. I think there was one of us by the Blue Pool in Glengarriff, which would be nice to get if anyone comes across it. My family all love seeing the postcards and my grandchildren cant get over it, that its their nana in the photos. As anyone who regularly games online can attest, DDoS (dedicated denial of service) attacks are an irritatingly common occurrence on the internet. Drawing on the combined digital might of a geographically diffuse legion of zombified PCs, hackers are able to swamp game servers and prevent players from logging on for hours or days at a time. The problem has metastasized in recent years as enterprising hackers have begun to package their botnets and spamming tools into commercial offerings, allowing any Tom, Dick, and Script-kiddie rental access to the same power. It's a big internet out there, and bad actors are plentiful. There are worse things than spammers and scammers swimming in the depths of the Dark Web. In his new book, Fancy Bear Goes Phishing: The Dark History of the Information Age, in Five Extraordinary Hacks, Dr. Scott J Shapiro, Professor of Law and Philosophy at Yale Law School traces the internet's illicit history through five of the biggest attacks on digital infrastructure ever recorded. Farrar Straus Giraux FANCY BEAR GOES PHISHING: The Dark History of the Information Age, in Five Extraordinary Hacks by Scott J. Shapiro. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Copyright 2023 by Scott J. Shapiro. All rights reserved. Crime as a Service Not all Denial of Service attacks use botnets. In 2013, the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA)the online propaganda arm of the brutal Bashar al-Assad regimehacked into Melbourne IT, the registrar that sold the nytimes.com domain name to The New York Times. The SEA altered the DNS records so that nytimes.com pointed to SEAs website instead. Because Melbourne IT contained the authoritative records for the Times website, the unauthorized changes quickly propagated around the world. When users typed in the normal New York Times domain name, they ended up at a murderous organizations website. Conversely, not all botnets launch Denial of Service attacks. Botnets are, after all, a collection of many hacked devices governed by the attacker remotely, and those bots can be used for many purposes. Originally, botnets were used for spam. The Viagra and Nigerian Prince emails that used to clutter inboxes were sent from thousands of geographically distributed zombie computers. In these cases, the attacker reaches out to their army of bots, commanding them to send tens of thousands of emails a day. In 2012, for example, the Russian Grum botnet sent over 18 billion spam emails a day from 120,000 infected computers, netting its botmaster $2.7 million over three years. Botnets are excellent spam infrastructure because its hard to defend against them. Networks usually use block lists: lists of addresses that they will not let in. To block a botnet, however, one would have to add the addresses of thousands of geographically disbursed servers to the list. That takes time and money. Because the malware we have seen up till now worms, viruses, vorms, and wiruses. could not work together, it was not useful for financially motivated crime. Botnet malware, on the other hand, is because the botnets it creates are controllable. Botmasters are capable of issuing orders to each bot, enabling them to collaborate. Indeed, botnet malware is the Swiss Army knife of cybercrime because botmasters can tell bots in their thrall to implant malware on vulnerable machines, send phishing emails, or engage in click fraud allowing botnets to profit from directing bots to click pay-per-click ads. Click fraud is especially lucrative, as Paras Jha would later discover. In 2018, the ZeroAccess botnet could earn $100,000 a day in click fraud. It commanded a million infected PCs spanning 198 countries, including the island nation of Kiribati and the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Botnets are great DDoS weapons because they can be trained on a target. One day in February 2000, the hacker MafiaBoy knocked out Fifa.com, Amazon.com, Dell, E*TRADE, eBay, CNN, as well as Yahoo!, then the largest search engine on the internet. He overpowered these web servers by commandeering computers in forty-eight different universities and joining them together into a primitive botnet. When each sent requests to the same IP address at the same time, the collective weight of the requests crashed the website. After taking so many major websites off-line, MafiaBoy was deemed a national security threat. President Clinton ordered a countrywide manhunt to find him. In April 2000, MafiaBoy was arrested and charged, and in January 2001 he pled guilty to fifty-eight charges of Denial of Service attacks. Law enforcement did not reveal MafiaBoys real name, as this national security threat was only fifteen years old. MafiaBoy later revealed himself to be Michael Calce. You know Im a pretty calm, collected, cool person, Calce reported. But when you have the president of the United States and attorney general basically calling you out and saying, Were going to find you . . . at that point I was a little bit worried. Calce now works in the cybersecurity industry as a white hat a good hacker, as opposed to a black hat, after serving five months in juvenile detention. Both MafiaBoy and the VDoS crew were adolescent boys who crashed servers. But whereas MafiaBoy did it for the lulz, VDoS did it for the money. Indeed, these teenage Israeli kids were pioneering tech entrepreneurs. They helped launch a new form of cybercrime: DDoS as a service. DDoS as a service is a subscription-based model that gives subscribers access to a botnet to launch either a daily quota or unlimited attacks, depending on the price. DDoS providers are known as booter services or stressor services. They come with user-friendly websites that enable customers to choose the type of account, pay for subscriptions, check status of service, launch attacks, and receive tech support. VDoS advertised their booter service on Hack Forums, the same site on which, according to Coelho, Paras Jha spent hours. On their website, www.vdos-s.com, VDoS offered the following subscription services: Bronze ($19.99/month), Silver ($29.99/month), Gold ($39.99/month), and VIP ($199.99/month) accounts. The higher the price, the more attack time and volume. At its peak in 2015, VDoS had 1,781 subscribers. The gang had a customer service department and, for a time, accepted PayPal. From 2014 to 2016, VDoS earned $597,862, and it launched 915,287 DDoS attacks in one year. VDoS democratized DDoS. Even the most inexperienced user could subscribe to one of these accounts, type in a domain name, and attack its website. The problem is that this kind of firepower is available to literally anyone willing to pay thirty dollars a month, Allison Nixon, director of security research at business-risk-intelligence firm Flashpoint, explained. Basically what this means is that you must have DDoS protection to participate on the internet. Otherwise, any angry young teenager is going to be able to take you off-line in a heartbeat. Even booter services need DDoS protection. VDoS hired Cloudflare, one of the largest DDoS mitigation companies in the world. DDoS as a service was following a trend in cybercrime known as malware as a service. Where users had once bought information about software vulnerabilities and tried to figure out how to exploit those vulnerabilities themselves, or had bought malicious software and tried to figure out how to install and execute it, they could now simply pay for the use of malware and hack with the click of a button, no technical knowledge required. Because customers who use DDoS as a service are inexperienced, they are particularly vulnerable to scams. Fraudsters often advertise booter services on public discussion boards and accept orders and payment, but do not launch the promised attacks. Even VDoS, which did provide DDoS service, did so less aggressively than advertised. When tested by Flashpoint, VDoS botnet never hit the promised fifty gigabits/second maximum, ranging instead from six to fourteen gigabits/second. The boards that advertise booter services, as Hack Forums once did, are accessible to anyone with a standard browser and internet connection. They exist on the Clear Web, not on the so-called Dark Web. To access sites on the Dark Web you must use a special network, known as Tor, typically using a special browser known as the Tor Browser. When a user tries to access a website on the Dark Web, the Tor Browser does not request web pages directly. It chooses three random sitesknown as nodesthrough which to route the request. The first node knows the original sender, but not the ultimate destination. The second node knows neither the original source nor the ultimate destinationit recognizes only the first node and the third node. The third node knows the ultimate destination, but not the original sender. In this way, the sender and receiver can communicate with each other without either knowing the others identity. The Dark Web is doubly anonymous. No one but the website owner knows its IP address. No one but the visitor knows that they are accessing the website. The Dark Web, therefore, tends to be used by political dissidents and cybercriminalsanyone who needs total anonymity. The Dark Web is legal to browse, but many of its websites offer services that are illegal to use. (Fun fact: the U.S. Navy created the Dark Web in the mid-1990s to enable their intelligence agents to communicate confidentially.) It might be surprising that DDoS providers could advertise on the Clear Web. After all, DDoS-ing another website is illegal everywhere. In the United States, one violates the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act if one knowingly causes the transmission of a program, information, code, or command, and as a result of such conduct, intentionally causes damage without authorization, where damage includes any impairment to the . . . availability of data, a program, a system, or information. To get around this, booter services have long argued they perform a legitimate stressor function, providing those who set up web pages a means to stress test websites. Indeed, booter services routinely include terms of service that prohibit attacks on unauthorized sites and disclaim all responsibility for any such attacks. In theory, stressor sites play an important function. But only in theory. Private chats between VDoS and its customers indicated that they were not stressing their own websites. As a booter service provider admitted to Cambridge University researchers, We do try to market these services towards a more legitimate user base, but we know where the money comes from. 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 Ukrainian counteroffensive has dealt a significant blow to the Russian elites, exacerbating the internal divisions that emerged after their defeat in Ukraine. In this video, we delve into the aftermath of the Ukrainian rebuild conference in London and explore the staggering costs of rebuilding Ukraine and modernizing its economy, which may amount to a staggering 500 billion dollars over the next decade. Furthermore, we shed light on Putin's persistent nuclear bluff and blackmail tactics, examining the potential threats they pose to Europe and the world. Join us as we uncover the growing rebellion led by Prigozhin and its implications for Putin's grip on power in Russia. NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS June 24, 2023: During 2022 China increased its nuclear warhead inventory by 15 percent. At 410 warheads, China has the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world, behind Russias 4,489 warheads (including 12 added in 2022) and America's 3,708. The remaining nuclear powers have smaller warhead inventories. France has 290, Britain 225, Pakistan 170 (five added in 2022), India 164 (four added in 2022) Israel 90 and North Korea 30 (five added in 2022). China has several thousand ballistic missiles, most of them known to be armed only with a variety of conventional (non-nuclear) warheads. It turns out China has a lot more nuclear warheads than earlier believed. Another revelation is that China considers nuclear warheads much less important than previously believed. A recent effort to calculate how many nuclear warheads China has concluded that they have not been producing enough plutonium for an expansion of their nuclear warhead inventory, apparently configure their longer range (ICBM and IRBM) missiles with several types of conventional warheads, and keep a small number of nuclear warheads in a separate location. This means that even ICBMs are seen as primarily non-nuclear missiles. Recent reports of new missile silos being built inland are apparently not for nuclear missiles, but long-range missiles armed with conventional warheads. This strategy has long been suspected because for decades China openly threatened Taiwan with over a thousand short range ballistic missiles armed with several types of conventional warheads with the capability of making a surprise attack that would be able to overwhelm any BMD (Ballistic Missile Defense) capability Taiwan has, even if reinforced by American or Japanese Aegis BMD destroyers. The hundreds of new silos in central China would be more difficult to disable by airstrikes and provide longer range ballistic missiles with conventional warheads to assist attacks on Taiwan, as well as South Korea, Japan and American bases in the Pacific. This use of non-nuclear ballistic missiles is more in line with published Chinese strategy, which emphasizes avoiding the use of nukes at all costs while also using all ballistic missiles as artillery equipped with non-nuclear warheads. To maintain this large force of ballistic missiles requires regularly using some of them to test new guidance systems and conventional warhead designs. This means China carries out far more test launches than anyone else. In 2019 China was noted to have carried out more missile launches, for testing and development, than the rest of the world combined. China is a nuclear power that is not particularly concerned about boasting of how many nukes and delivery systems it has. China is also better able to keep secret most of its missile tests. Rather than firing missiles out to sea, where they have to issue a warning to ships to avoid the area where the warheads will land, China conducts most of its missile tests at an inland test site near the Gobi Desert with plenty of open space and far from prying eyes. The only nation with a good idea of how many Chinese missile tests there are each year is the United States, which has a worldwide network of early-warning satellites that can spot the heat generated from a ballistic missile launch anywhere on the planet. For a long time, the U.S. did not disclose how many Chinese missile launches they spotted each year but, in a 2018 speech, an American official commented that China launched more missiles each year than the rest of the world combined. Similar comments since then indicate that China is currently launching more than a hundred missiles a year, most of them at the remote inland test site in the northwest. The Americans also have a network of electronic monitoring satellites that can collect telemetry data. This is what the test warhead transmits back to earth about how the missile is performing. This data is encrypted and the U.S. says even less about how many of these signals it captures and decrypts. A growing number of American analysts, including the more senior ones that specialize in ballistic missile and nuclear weapons trends, have maintained that the large Chinese missile force, including the ones the West classifies as nuclear only exist mainly to support surprise attacks by missiles carrying non-nuclear warheads. Chinese military journals describe over a dozen types of non-nuclear warheads, but little is said about any nuclear warheads except basic models. The U.S. is very interested in finding out details of new Chinese missiles because some will have capabilities that the U.S. and Russia gave up for several decades because of the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) disarmament treaty signed near the end of the Cold War. The U.S. did admit that the main reason for not renewing the INF Treaty with Russia in 2019 was not just Russian cheating, but also because China never signed the INF treaty and was free to develop ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers the INF prohibits. China has openly developed a lot of ballistic missiles that the INF forbids. Originally INF was created to reduce the proliferation of shorter-range missiles with nuclear warheads. The Chinese preference for non-nuclear missiles was ignored or played down for a long time. China also insists it is unconcerned about who the target for nuclear armed missiles is. In 2009, China announced that its nuclear-armed ballistic missiles were not aimed at anyone and that was probably true. Like most countries, China has long refused to say who its nuclear-armed missiles are aimed at. Most of those missiles only have enough range to hit Russia, or India, or other nearby nations. For a long time, most were very definitely aimed at Russia, which had rocky relations with China from the 1960s to the 1990s. After the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the new, much smaller, Russia became much friendlier with the wealthier, more capitalist, but still run by communists China. Relations between China and India also warmed up then went into a deep freeze as China claimed more and more Indian territory. China is believed to have 300-400 nuclear warheads but only about 200 of them are ready for use and most of them are the new standard 400kt type, which is smaller and lighter than the megaton (1,000kt) warheads China originally produced. Fewer than a hundred of Chinese ballistic missiles could reach the United States. These include the older (and about to be retired) DF-5, plus the newer DF-31A and DF-41. Now it turns out that these missiles normally carry a non-nuclear warhead, with the nuclear warheads stored somewhere else. Some are stored near ICBMs but even those long-range missiles are kept ready to fire with non-nuclear warheads. Few Chinese ballistic missiles lacking intercontinental range are armed with nuclear warheads or apparently even equipped to handle nuclear warheads. Chinese strategy has long been to use lots of ballistic missiles armed with various kinds of high-explosive warheads. China was long believed to have about 2,000 ballistic missiles, most of them short (under a thousand kilometers) range plus over 300 cruise missiles. It turns out that China actually had about 50 percent more ballistic missiles than previously believed, mostly assigned to theater (local) commands that have these missile brigades as a form of long-range artillery. China is also developing more cruise missiles concentrating, as is the United States, on stealth and additional capabilities. In recognition of all this China created a fourth branch of the military, the Rocket Force, in 2016. At the time this was assumed to signal a major expansion of nuclear armed ballistic missiles. That didnt happen. China is also developing and deploying many new missiles. In fact, China has more types of ballistic missiles, at least 40, than any other nation. What was long overlooked was how many of these shorter-range ballistic missiles China had built. China also invests heavily in its new missile technologies, like its hypersonic glide missile, the DF-ZF. Chinas current ballistic missile inventory apparently includes about twenty DF-41 (range of 14,000 kilometers), eighty DF-31 (8,000 kilometers), thirty DF-5 (14,000 kilometers), thirty DF-4 (5,500 kilometers), about a thousand DF-26 (4,000 kilometers), 600 DF-21D Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (1,500 kilometers), 700 DF-21 (1,700 kilometers), 500 DF-16 (800 kilometers), 300 DF-15B (800 kilometers), 500 DF-15A (900 kilometers), at least 1,200 DF-11A (700 kilometers). The only cruise missile is the CJ-10A (1,500 kilometers). There are several hundred other short-range ballistic missiles as well, some of them still in development. Since the 1990s China has always had a few active DF-5 ICBMs. For a long time, these were their only missiles that could reach the United States. In response the U.S. has since installed 18 ICBM interceptor missile systems in Alaska. These mainly with North Korean missiles but could also destroy most Chinese missiles headed for the western United States. It makes sense for China to simply say that it is not aiming nuclear missiles at anyone. Modern guidance systems can be quickly (in minutes) programmed for a new target, so it doesn't really matter that, normally, the missiles have no target information in them. The DF-5s, moreover, are liquid-fueled, and the considerable activity required to ready them for launch can be detected by spy satellites. The DF-5s have been largely replaced by solid fuel DF-41s which are mobile for erection and launch from special trucks. With a 15,000-kilometer range, they can reach all of the United States. The third stage contains multiple warheads, each with an explosive yield of about 400 KT. India is of growing concern to China, but there are shorter range ballistic missiles, like the DF-21, to deal with that threat. The Chinese introduced the DF-21 in 1999 and now has nearly a thousand in service or on order. Most have non-nuclear warheads. This missile has a range of over 1,800 kilometers and was designed to use the new 400 kiloton nuclear warhead. It's a two-stage, 15 ton, solid-fuel rocket. Launched from Tibet, the DF-21 can reach most major targets in India. Back in 2006 China put the larger DF-31 into service. Sort of. This was China's first solid-fuel ICBM (with a range of over 8,000 kilometers) and roughly equivalent to the U.S. Minuteman I of the 1960s. The DF-31 weighs about 46 tons and is 20 meters (62 feet) long and 2.25 meters (7 feet) in diameter. It was designed for use on submarines, land silos and mobile launchers meant to halt at those "parking lots in the middle of nowhere" visible in satellite pictures of Qinghai province. The DF-31 has been shown stored in a TEL (transporter, erector, launcher) vehicle. Driving these vehicles along special highways in remote areas provides more protection from counterattacks than using a reinforced silo. Later, the improved DF-13A appeared, with multiple warheads and more range (up to 12,000 kilometers, which could cover all the United States.) The DF-31 was in development for over twenty years and only had its first successful launch in 1999. It's now believed to have a reliable and accurate guidance system, as well as a third stage that carries at least one 400 kiloton warhead. DF-31s are in service, along with DF-31As and most of these appear to be aimed at European Russia. Then there is a submarine-launched missile the JL (Julang) 2 SLBM (Sea Launched Ballistic Missile). This missile has had a lot of problems as have the SSBNs (ballistic missile carrying nuclear subs) that carry them. The 42-ton JL-2 has a range of 8,000 kilometers and would enable China to aim missiles at any target in the United States from a 094 class SSBN cruising off Hawaii or Alaska. Each 094 boat can carry twelve of these missiles, which are naval versions of the existing land based 42-ton DF-31 ICBM. The JL-2 was supposed to have entered service in 2015, but kept failing test launches. China decided that JL-2 was reliable enough and ordered it installed in four SLBMs. No Chinese SSBN has ever gone on a combat cruise, because these boats, as well as the SLBMs, have been very unreliable. By 2023 the JL-2 was deemed reliable enough to be carried on long range patrols by Chinese SSBN, but the SSBNs themselves ae too unreliable to safely make those. It always seemed strange to foreigners that China was not putting more resources into making its SSBNs capable of regular service. Now we know; China does not value or fear nukes as much as other nations. This is not really novel, as China continues to use classic Chinese strategies and tactics. China does not try to hide this as most of their foreign foes do that for them. There is another major problem, the reliability of nuclear warheads. Warheads contain some essential components that degrade over time. There are also a lot of electronics to monitor to assure continued reliability. During the Cold War it was discovered that reliability was difficult to monitor or maintain. Over the years it was discovered that large numbers of warheads have been, or became unreliable because there was not enough testing or the test methods were later discovered to be unreliable. Nations with a free press, like the United States, are unable to keep details of warhead reliability secret. Debates over how much money needs to be spent on maintaining warheads often become public. In the early 1990, many Soviet nuclear secrets were revealed. The Soviet warheads were less reliable and the Russian solution was to build more of them so that, if used, enough would work to get the job done. Post-Soviet nukes were more reliable because arms reduction treaties allowed for the older ones to be dismantled. Recent nuclear powers, like North Korea, India and Pakistan, not only have fewer warheads but also less reliable ones. Because of intense international scrutiny, the reliability and effectiveness of North Korean nuclear weapons is much scrutinized. It is unclear if North Korea even has reliable nuclear warheads because they only recently developed working nuclear weapons. Turning these nukes into reliable weapons for ballistic missiles is another chore and it is unclear how effective the North Korean nuclear warheads are. Rebel Wilson's dating app was inspired by her personal experiences. Rebel Wilson has launched her own dating app The 43-year-old actress - who publicly came out on Instagram in June 2022 - has revealed that her Fluid app was inspired by her own dating struggles. Speaking to E! News, Rebel - who is engaged to Ramona Agruma - explained: "I only dated men, but I didn't think in my mind like I was 100 percent straight. "But I didn't know how to categorise that. So that kind of scared me off, I guess exploring my sexuality and stuff. We wanted to make an app [where] you don't have to label yourself - very modern. It's kind of a new complex, nuanced way to look at sexuality." The Hollywood star has actually met some "really great people" on dating apps. But Rebel believes that Fluid offers a "more modern" approach to finding love. She said: "I think, hopefully, that the app will help a lot of people. Because you can be anywhere on the sexuality spectrum and you don't have to announce yourself At the end of the day, I think it's just about people finding love." Rebel previously explained how the app relates to her own love life. The actress told PEOPLE: "This is the first dating app where you don't have to actually define yourself or tick a box to say 'I'm straight, I'm gay, I'm bisexual,' and you don't have to describe what you are looking for." Rebel feels proud of the app's inclusive nature. She said: "What's really cool is, it's open to everyone. "You might just be interested in checking out a wider dating pool like I was. It covers a lot of the LGBTQIA spectrum, but I think even if you're straight you could use the app and have an amazing time." Arcapita, a leading global investment firm, has joined forces with the American University of Bahrain (AUBH) to launch a sponsorship of meritorious Bahraini students on a comprehensive 4-year scholarship programme. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to driving social and economic progress through education and is part of Arcapitas continued commitment to support Bahrain in various sectors and initiatives, mainly education and social welfare. By investing in the future leaders of Bahrain and the region, the programme will contribute to the development of a highly skilled workforce equipped to tackle complex challenges and contribute to the sustainable growth of the nation. The recipients of the scholarship will undergo a series of assessments by AUBH and Arcapita. The names of the recipients will be officially announced at the AUBH campus in Riffa, in the presence of Arcapitas Deputy CEO, Hisham Al Raee, and the AUBH President, Dr Bradley J Cook, AUBH Chief Operating Officer, William D Hurt and AUBH Dean of Student Affairs, Amal Alawadhi. Quality education Al Raee said: We are proud to partner with the American University of Bahrain in offering quality education and enriching the lives of the future generations in Bahrain. At Arcapita, we believe in the power of education to unlock opportunities and drive positive change. We seek out projects with a particular focus on education, healthcare and social welfare with an aim to create sustainable and long-term value. By sponsoring Merit students on their journey, we hope to enable talented individuals to reach their full potential and make a lasting impact in their chosen fields. Dr Cook said: Our partnership with Arcapita underscores a shared commitment to expand opportunities for exceptional Bahraini students to receive a high-quality and transformative education. Students at AUBH are afforded the experiences, skills, and knowledge necessary to have a lasting positive impact in both their local communities and professional endeavours. We are proud of our partnership and the commitment Arcapita has made to support AUBH merit scholarship students on their path towards a lifetime of success.-- TradeArabia News Service After a consistent period of growth in previous quarters, Malaysia's apparel imports from Vietnam decreased in the first quarter of the current year. The inbound shipments totalled $42.631 million from January to March 2023, down from $53.680 million in the October-December 2022 period. Although Malaysia is a net exporter to Vietnam in terms of fabric, a downward trend was observed in shipments. In the October-December 2021 quarter, Malaysia had imported apparel from Vietnam worth $22.858 million. This rose to $34.226 million in Q1 2022, then to $41.381 million in Q2, and $48.115 million in Q3, reaching a peak of $53.680 million in Q4 2022. The annual import total for 2022 was $177.404 million, an increase from the $95.307 million recorded in 2021, according to trade data from Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro. As a net exporter of fabric, Malaysia shipped textile intermediary products worth $19.204 million in the first quarter of 2023. However, these outbound shipments have been on a downward trend for the past three quarters. They were recorded at $31.940 million in Q2 2022, and then decreased to $30.807 million in Q3 and $29.080 million in Q4 2022, before dropping to $19.204 million in Q1 2023. In the first quarter (Q1) of 2023, Malaysia's apparel imports from Vietnam decreased to $42.631 million, following previous quarters of consistent growth. Despite being a net fabric exporter to Vietnam, a downward trend in shipments was noted. Also, Malaysia's trade with Vietnam included nearly identical amounts of yarn exports and imports. Malaysia's trade with Vietnam also includes yarn, based on demand. Therefore, Malaysia's yarn imports and exports to Vietnam have been nearly identical in previous quarters. Malaysia exported yarn worth $7.143 million in Q1 2023 and $8.804 million in Q4 2022. Meanwhile, its yarn imports were valued at $8.117 million in Q1 2023 and $9.590 million in Q4 2022, as per TexPro. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Amazon president and chief executive officer Andrew R Jassy in Washington, DC, recently and discussed e-commerce and the potential of further collaboration with the e-commerce giant in the logistics sector in India. The company is ready to invest $15 billion more in India, taking its total investment in the country to $26 billion, Jassy said after the meeting. It had earlier announced plans to invest $11 billion in cloud infrastructure in India by 2030, supporting an estimated average of 1.31 lakh jobs in Indian business each year. "So we are very much looking forward to future of partnering," Jassy said. Amazon is ready to invest $15 billion more in India, taking its total investment in the country to $26 billion, the company's president and CEO Andrew R Jassy said after meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, DC, recently. Both discussed e-commerce and the potential of further collaboration in the logistics sector in India. The meeting discussed how Amazon can support start-ups, create jobs, enable exports and empower individuals, he said in a tweet. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Bigg Boss OTT 2 has been witnessing a lot of twists and turns since it was launched last week. The popular reality show has some interesting ensemble of contestants in the BB house and each one of them has been putting in their best foot forward to entertain the audience. Among all the contestants, Bebika Dhurve has come out as a strong personality who has been giving a tough fight to all the housemates. In fact, she has also been doing face reading of the contestants and it has left everyone amazed. And now, Bebika is making the headlines once again as she was seen making a shocking remark about Puneet Superstar. This happened in one of her interviews which she gave just before entering the BB house. In the interview, Bebika was asked to give a one word opinion for the fellow contestants. While she called Avinash Sachdev ladies man, Jiya Shankar colouful, Bebika left everyone stunned as she called Puneet Superstar desperate. Sharing her opinion, Bebika told Telly Masala, "Door hi raho. Desperate kitna hai... Uski har ek harkat desperate hai". For the uninitiated, the renowned social media influencer was one of the contestants of the show and was kicked out of the BB house on the first day on the basis of audience votes for misbehaving in the house and allegedly damaging the BB property. Meanwhile, there are reports about Puneet Superstar entering the show once again. It is reported that he will be seen during Weekend Ka Vaar and is likely to enter the BB house as a wild card. On the other hand, Puneet shared a video regarding the wild card entry. In the video, he says "Beta, 50 lakh ka intezaam kar lena Puneet Superstar ko white card entry dene ke liye, agar tumhare mei dum ho toh. Kyunki Puneet Kumar hai king aur Puneet Kumar kisike aage jhukta nahi hai. Puneet Kumar ko salaam thokte hai log." Sreejita De Wedding: TV star Sreejita De, who entered showbiz in 2007 with Kasautii Zindagii Kay, rose to fame after essaying the role of Tapasya's daughter Mukti. However, Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 16 made her a household name. After coming out of the controversial reality show hosted by Salman Khan, the actress announced her wedding to fiance Michael Blohm-Pape. Well, the actress is set to exchange marital vows with beau in a white wedding on June 30 and July 1 in a white wedding. Sreejita De had earlier revealed inviting her Bigg Boss 16 co-contestants Shiv Thakare, Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, and Archana Gautam among others to her wedding and fans have been wondering if any of her BB 16 housemates are going to attend her special day or not. Dharti Na Hil...: After Falaq, Jiya Shankar Body Shames Bebika Dhurve In Bigg Boss OTT 2; DEETS Here SHIV THAKARE, PRIYANKA CHOUDHARY NOT ATTENDING SREEJITA'S WHITE WEDDING Well, according to the latest reports, none of them are attending the actress' wedding festivities. Yes, you read that right! While it is a well-known fact that Shiv Thakare, Archana Gautam, and Abdu Rozik are currently busy shooting for Khatron Ke Khiladi 13 in Cape Town, South Africa, Sreejita told ETimes that even Priyanka Chahar Choudhary won't be able to attend her white wedding. However, the Udaariyaan actress might attend the actress' traditional wedding in India which is supposed to be held in November this year in Goa. Bigg Boss OTT 2: Fukra Insaan Becomes 1st Contestant To Achieve THIS Huge Feat, Beats Pooja Bhatt & Others SREEJITA DE CONFIRMS NOT INVITING TINA DATTA TO HER WEDDING In the same interview, the bride-to-be also revealed that she hasn't sent an invitation to her Uttaran co-actress and Bigg Boss 16 rival Tina Datta and her mother. Revealing the same, she stated, "Before Bigg Boss 16, I had decided not to cross paths or befriend a person with whom my energy doesn't match. However, Tina and I met again on the reality show. I don't harbour any ill feelings towards her but there is no question of inviting someone non-existent on my friend list. Aunty ke saath bhi baat nahi hui na meri na meri mom ki. Though I love and respect her, I think she felt offended for certain reasons. Jab baatcheet hi band hai, then it makes no sense to invite them." Keep watching this space for more updates! Sumbul On Bond With Shiv Thakare: Colors TV's Bigg Boss 16, hosted by Salman Khan, ended in February this year and turned out to be a hugely successful season with popular names like Priyanka Chahar Choudhary, Archana Gautam, Shiv Thakare, and others making their presence felt in it. TV star Sumbul Touqeer Khan also participated in the hit show and was counted among the most popular contestants of Bigg Boss season 16. While her journey was full of many ups and downs, the Imlie star became the youngest contestant to stay inside the Bigg Boss house for over 100 days in the show's history so far. As she won many hearts during her Bigg Boss stint, viewers also loved her bonding with co-contestant Shiv Thakare. After Sumbul's friendship with Shalin Bhanot and Tina Datta went kaput, her connection with Shiv happened organically thanks to Sajid and fans shipped them as ShivSum. SUMBUL TOUQEER WAS INITIALLY SACRED OF SHIV THAKARE Lock Upp Winner Munawar Faruqui On Staying In Real Jail For 37 Days: It Is The Hell Where... However, did you know that Sumbul was initially scared of Shiv Thakare? Yes, you read that right! The actress shared the same in a recent interview and revealed the reason behind it too. Are Shiv Thakare, Priyanka Choudhary & Other BB16 Stars Attending Sreejita De's Wedding? Here's What We Know During a chat with Tellychakkar, Sumbul went on to explain that in the beginning, during their time in Bigg Boss, she had been afraid of him due to his tendency to become extremely aggressive during arguments. However, she happily revealed that they have now become close friends, and she expressed her gratitude for their current bond. SUMBUL TOUQEER KHAN SHARES MESSAGE FOR SHIV THAKARE Not just that, the actress also shared a special message for Shiv who's currently in Cape Town, South Africa for Khatron Ke Khiladi 13. She wished him well and expressed her confidence in his ability to win the show, as she firmly believes that he will excel in all the challenging stunts. On the career front, Sumbul is yet to announce her next project after Bigg Boss 16. Keep watching this space for more updates! Project K Cast Remuneration Details Photo Credit: Gallery Project K Cast & Crew Remuenration Deets: Project K, which was announced by National Award-winning Film director Nag Ashwin, with Prabhas and an ensemble cast, is in the production phase. The pan-India venture featuring stars from Bollywood is touted to be a science fiction action film. Project K makers- Vyjayanthi Movies announced that it is a bilingual being made in Telugu and Hindi. The movie also is special for the production house floated by producer C Aswani Dutt, who is taking Project K prestigiously. Project K Remuneration The movie, which is being made on a larger-than-life set-up with realistic or almost real properties by tying up with Mahindra & Mahindra and a few other technical and scientific wings to establish a futuristic set, is one of the costliest films being made in India, and the first in Telugu cinema. See below the remuneration details of the star-studded and ensembled cast of Project K (reportedly). Prabhas: Rs 150 Crore Kamal Haasan: Rs 20 Crore- Rs 30 Crore (For just a couple of days) Deepika Padukone: Rs 10 Crore Amitabh Bachchan & rest of the other crew: Rs 10 Crore Total Budget of Remunerations: Rs 210 Crore (Approximately) Production Budget: Rs 400 Crore Total Project K Movie Budget: Rs 600 Crore #Projectk(80% shooting is completed) Remunerations Prabhas -150crore Kamal hasan-20-30(for very less working days) Deepika-10crore Amitabh and rest of crew-10 cr Total remunerations-200-210cr Production budget-400cr Total budget 600cr Non theatrical offers presently at Bruce Wayne (@Sep28th2023) June 25, 2023 Project K Shooting Updates Almost 80 percent of the film's shooting has come to an end, and the remaining work is happening at lightning speed. Due to the film's genre and story, the makers will take a sweet time for Project K's post-production works. Alluring Offers For Project K's Non-Theatrical Rights Producers Aswani Dutt and Swapna Dutt are holding several discussions about the pre-release business rights, and we hear that the movie already received mighty offers. However, a decision is yet to be made on the same. Project K Cast The prestigious production Project K stars Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani, among others, in crucial roles. Project K Crew Musician Santhosh Narayanan is composing the film's entire background score and music. Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao and Djordje Stojiljkovic are handling the editing and camera department. Project K Release The filmmakers announced the release date of Project K as January 12, 2024, which falls on the Sankranthi/Pongal festival. The movie will compete with several other star-studded releases. Zurich, Switzerland--(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2023) - Pangea.ai, the pioneering platform dedicated to connecting businesses with premier remote design and engineering agencies, is pleased to announce the re-release and revamp of its website and platform. The platform caters not only to startups but also to larger tech businesses, providing access to a vetted community of remote software development companies in Europe and Latin America. With a commitment to transparency and exceptional talent, Pangea.ai enables businesses to discover and hire top agencies for projects or specific engineering roles. As a rapidly growing startup, Pangea.ai is excited about the ever-evolving tech and startup ecosystem, brimming with promising opportunities. The passion for cutting-edge technology, including AI, drives us to create an environment that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. By leveraging the unique Pangea.ai score, the platform empowers users to select the most suitable talent and companies that align with their specific needs. The highlight of the company relaunch is the complete overhaul of the platform, resulting in a sleek and user-friendly interface that enhances the overall user experience. The focus on making the hiring process more efficient and predictable has led to the implementation of new features. Users can now find vetted talent with ease, complete a smart brief, and initiate the hiring process in a matter of minutes. The revamped Pangea.ai platform includes the following key features: User-friendly Interface: The redesigned platform provides a visually appealing and intuitive interface, enabling users to navigate effortlessly and find their ideal matches swiftly. AI-Enabled Smart Brief: Pangea.ai's smart brief feature allows businesses to accurately specify their project requirements and desired skill sets, facilitating the attraction of the most suitable talent. (Beta feature) Streamlined Hiring Process: With a simplified hiring process, businesses can now swiftly review talent profiles and case studies, communicate with agencies, conduct interviews, and initiate collaboration, all within a few clicks. Pangea.ai Score: The platform's unique scoring system aims to help users assess and select appropriate talent and companies based on a range of factors, including expertise, portfolio, client satisfaction, and team health. As Pangea.ai continues to grow and expand, the company remains committed to fostering connections and driving success in the tech and startup ecosystem. By delivering exceptional talent, transparency, and user-friendly technology, they aim to empower businesses and agencies alike. To learn more about Pangea.ai and explore the revamped platform, please visit www.pangea.ai. About Pangea.ai: Pangea.ai is a leading platform connecting businesses with top-tier remote design and engineering agencies in Europe and LATAM. With a vetted community of software development companies, Pangea.ai facilitate transparent and efficient collaborations for startups and larger tech businesses. Pangea.ai's commitment to exceptional talent and cutting-edge technology enables businesses to accelerate their projects or hiring needs to achieve remarkable results. For more information, visit www.pangea.ai. Media Contact: Polina Tibets Pangea.ai Email: poly@pangea.ai To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/171100 BERLIN, June 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China Daily: The Sino-German Economic and Technological Cooperation Forum co-hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany, took place on Tuesday in Berlin, Germany. Wu Jiamao, senior vice-president of Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd, spoke as a representative of the new energy sector during the event. To build a community with a shared future for mankind and achieve a sustainable future, China and Germany are the two major forces in the global energy transition campaign. Wu said that fueled by the global pursuit of carbon neutrality, high-profile enterprises in the sector should take the lead to provide safe, efficient, stable and reliable product solutions through technological innovation and boost industrial transformation towards a green development model. As a worldwide renowned supplier of inverter and energy storage systems, Sungrow is providing key technology for the realization of zero-carbon goals, offering products and services to more than 150 countries and regions around the globe. Its total installed capacity of inverter and converter equipment exceeded 340 gigawatts across the world as of December 2022. Europe is a stronghold for global new energy development and a highland for Sungrow to promote cooperation and innovation. The company has set up more than 10 subsidiaries in Europe, where hundreds of employees of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds are working on multiple major energy projects. Around 40 percent of European employees are from its German branch. The company has won the Kununu Top 2022 Company Award and an authoritative certification of "The Great Place to Work". Sungrow has also established a research institute in Germany, carrying out research on the interaction of PV inverter, wind power converter, battery energy storage and green hydrogen, and cooperating with local universities and academic institutions. The company has been deeply involved in a number of major energy transition projects, including Germany's largest unsubsidized photovoltaic project, Germany's Smart Power energy storage project, and benchmark projects in Spain generating several hundred megawatts. As of now, the cumulative shipment volume of its inverters to Germany has exceeded 19GW, contributing to the country's green energy transition and supporting the development of local communities. These benchmark projects have become models of China-Europe clean energy cooperation and green energy transformation in recent years, providing more possibilities for China-Europe cooperation in such an area, the company said. Wu said, in order to promote the digitization and upgrade of the clean energy industry, energy storage systems must achieve full-chain security to ensure the safety, efficiency, and grid-friendliness of the entire lifecycle of energy storage systems. Sungrow is the first company to propose the concept of "triple integration", which means to combine power electronics, electrochemistry and power grid support technologies. And through professional integration, the company is creating a safe energy storage system to maintain the stability of new power systems. Wu said: "The future of the energy industry will be upgraded towards a low-carbonization, digitization model, multi-energy synergies among PV, wind, ESS and hydrogen energy. Adhering to the mission of clean power for all , we are using professional expertise to achieve long-term sustainable environmental and social value development, and to actively respond to global climate action. We also look forward to sharing technology and resource circulation, jointly promoting the green development in Europe and the world." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2139980/Sungrow_Senior_Vice_President_Wu_Jiamao.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1344575/Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sungrow-shows-the-way-in-green-energy-transformation-across-europe-301862621.html MUNICH, June 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 14-16, the European Smart Energy Expo hosted by the German Solar Industry Alliance was grandly opened in Munich, Germany. The world's top energy storage company, EVE, presented its big LFP cell "Mr big"-LF560K at the exhibition and signed a strategic cooperation of 23GWh on the booth. During the exhibition, EVE showcased comprehensive solutions for international customers, such as utility ESS, Telecom ESS, household ESS, Marine power, etc. At the same time, we held the "Next Generation ESS Cell for TWh -LF560K" themed new product launch, leading the new wave of energy TWh era. It is reported that LF560K redefines ESS with the three advantages of "Easier, Safer and Super Economic", which can effectively meet the trend of TWh era and solve the problems of management complexity, thermal runaway and economy in the era of large-scale power plants. With years of practical application and good market feedback, EVE's booth attracted many customers to communicate with us. Among them, the United States head energy storage integration enterprise Powin and American Battery Solutions (ABS) held a signing ceremony with EVE, reaching a total of 23GWh of strategic cooperation. In this collaboration, EVE will provide part of the production capacity for Powin's flagship 1850MWh Waratah superbattery to enhance its safety and performance. With the advent of the TWh era, Powin and EVE are also about to work together to build the first single energy storage system super GWh project. In cooperation with ABS, EVE LF280K cells will be used in ABS' new battery storage system, TeraStor. The system is compatible with at least 160 different operating conditions at different multipliers and temperatures, requiring the highest standards and performance of the cells. With the support of EVE products, TeraStor has passed the reliability analysis test by Reliant Labs and completed UL9540A test, making it one of the most reliable energy storage systems on the market today. Up to now, EVE has completed the layout of multi-form and multi-technology energy storage products, with full product solutions from cell, BMS, module to system, covering four major application fields: utility, telecommunication, household and marine. For different segments of the market, we provide the best adaptable solutions for different requirements such as product life, multiplier, safety, temperature control and cost. In view of its excellent product strength and ultimate manufacturing capability, EVE has reached cooperation with BMW, Daimler, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover and other international car companies, and its overseas business expansion is gaining momentum. Recently, EVE has announced the construction of factories in Malaysia and Hungary, continuing to increase its overseas layout. The appearance of EVE at THE SMARTER E EUROPE 2023 demonstrates its super strength of global layout and global delivery. In the future, EVE will continue to lead the direction of energy storage innovation, provide more cost-effective, more efficient and more stable energy storage solutions, to help sustainable development and build a green and low-carbon future. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2139997/image_5024968_28823185.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2139998/image_5024968_28823326.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eve-appeared-in-the-smarter-e-europe-2023-and-continued-to-increase-its-overseas-market---signed-23gwh-agreement-301862623.html Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day trip to Egypt after completing his first state visit to the United States on 24 June. The tour to the Arab nation assumes importance as it is the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister to Egypt since 1997. During the trip, Modi is scheduled to visit the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Cairo to pay respects to Indian soldiers who bravely fought and laid down their lives in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War. Why is Modis visit to the Heliopolis Memorial significant? Lets take a closer look. Heliopolis War Cemetery According to the news agency PTI, the Heliopolis War Cemetery comprises the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial and the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial. The Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial commemorates nearly 4,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting in Egypt and Palestine in the First World War. The Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial pays tribute to more than 600 men of the Commonwealth forces who sacrificed their lives for Aden during the First World War. This Heliopolis War Cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, reported The Statesman. It also houses 1,700 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War as well as several war graves of other nationalities, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Significance of Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial Located at the south end of the Suez Canal, the original Port Tewfik memorial was unveiled in 1926. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the original memorial sustained damages during the 1967-1973 Israeli-Egyptian conflict and was eventually demolished, according to Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. In October 1980, a new memorial with panels bearing the names of the martyred Indian soldiers was unveiled by the Indian Ambassador to Egypt in the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, as per reports. These panels stand proudly at the entrance pavilions, a reminder of the profound connection between India and Egypt and the shared sacrifices made during a tumultuous period in history, said The Statesman. Last October, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar paid tributes at Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery. Sharing pictures of his visit, the EAM wrote in a tweet at the time: Indians have made sacrifices across the world in the service of humanity. They inspire us as we strive to create a more contemporary and equitable global order. Honored the memory of Indian soldiers at the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Cairo. Indians have made sacrifices across the world in the service of humanity. They inspire us as we strive to create a more contemporary and equitable global order. pic.twitter.com/AcL2eAjheV Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 15, 2022 Prominent soldiers, regiments honoured at the memorial Indian soldier Badlu Singh, who was posthumously awarded Victoria Cross the highest British wartime gallantry award is commemorated at this memorial in Egypt. Singh, who hailed from Haryanas Rohtak, served as a risaldar in the British Indian Army, reported The Statesman. He died on the battlefield on 13 September 1918, as per the Indian Express report. Some other soldiers honoured at the memorial include Sepoy Nazara Singh of 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force); Havildar Narayan Singh of 1st Battalion 50 Kumaon Rifles; Sapper Bhaguji 3rd Sappers and Miners; and Sepoy Nikka Singh of 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force) among others, the report added. As per Indian Express, many Regiments of the Indian Army and the State Forces of the (erstwhile) princely states are commemorated at the Heliopolis memorial. Some of them are the 42nd Deoli Regiment, 58th Vaughans Rifles (Frontier Force), 3rd Queen Alexandras Own Gurkha Rifles, 2nd Battalion, 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force), 1st Battalion 50th Kumaon Rifles, Jodhpur (Imperial Service) Lancers and 3rd Sappers and Miners. Citing author Vedica Kant, Indian Express reported that, during the First World War, Indian soldiers had a prominent role in securing the Suez Canal in Egypt. The Indian troops were also a part of the 1918 Battle of Haifa in Palestine. ALSO READ: PM Modis Al-Hakim Mosque visit in Egypt and his ties to Dawoodi Bohra Muslims Indian PMs Egypt visit Speaking to PTI, a native said they are honoured to have the Indian leader visit the Heliopolis Memorial. The Commonwealth Cemetery is known to be for the soldiers who fought here during the World War. We always welcome visitors and tourists here and in Egypt in general, especially the Indian Prime Minister. We are honoured to have him visit us anywhere in Egypt, Mahmoud, who works next to the cemetery, was quoted as saying by the news agency. The Statesman noted that Modis Cairo visit symbolises a deep recognition of the shared history between India and Egypt and a heartfelt tribute to the Indian soldiers who fought valiantly in foreign lands. The maiden state visit comes following an invitation by Egypts president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi when he was in New Delhi to attend the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest in January this year. Commenting on Modis itinerary, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said earlier, Apart from his talks with President El-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, it added. 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. Marriott International, a global hospitality company, has announced five deal signings in Africa under its Protea Hotels by Marriott brand at the recent Africa Hospitality Investment Forum in Nairobi. The signed projects reinforce the companys commitment to expanding its presence across the continent and highlight the demand for the Protea Hotels by Marriott brand. Protea Hotels by Marriott has a long-established legacy in Africa, and we are excited to further strengthen the brands footprint in the continent with these five signings, said Karim Cheltout, Regional Vice President - Development, Africa & All-Inclusive, EMEA at Marriott International. While we continue to see demand for new build opportunities, the brand is seeing an uptick in conversion projects where developers are looking to rebrand their existing property into a Protea Hotel. Protea Hotels by Marriott is a leading hospitality brand in Africa and one of the most widely recognized across the continent. With properties in primary and secondary business centres and desirable leisure destinations, the brand remains a popular choice for travellers into Africa. In line with brand standards, the five projects will feature modern facilities, proactive and friendly service and consistent amenities such as full-service restaurants, meeting spaces and well-appointed rooms. Marriott Internationals current portfolio in Africa features nearly 140 properties and more than 24,000 rooms across 20 countries and 19 brands. Protea Hotels by Marriott represent more than 40 percent of Marriott Internationals portfolio in Africa with over 60 properties and more than 6,500 rooms in operation across nine countries. The projects announced during the African Hotel Investment Forum are: Protea Hotel by Marriott Serowe, Botswana Marriott International expects to grow its presence in Botswana with the signing of Protea Hotel by Marriott Serowe in collaboration with Letsatsi Partners. Slated to open in 2026, the hotel is anticipated to feature 155 guest rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, fitness centre, swimming pool and multiple meeting rooms. Protea by Marriott Serowe will be situated near the Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Serowe, between Gaborone and Orapa, one of the worlds largest diamond-producing mines. Protea Hotel by Marriott Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Protea Hotels by Marriott is expected to make its debut in Ethiopia with the opening of Protea by Marriott Bahir Dar. The conversion deal was signed with Blue Nile Resort Hotels PLC to rebrand its Blue Nile Resort to a Protea Hotel following a full renovation. The property is expected to be rebranded to Protea by Marriott Bahir Dar by 2025 and will offer 127 guest rooms and suites, multiple dining outlets, a fitness centre and nearly 1,000 sqm of meetings and event space. The hotel is situated next to Lake Tana and a short distance from Blue Nile River. Protea Hotel by Marriott Zanzibar Stone Town, Tanzania The company signed an agreement with Parklane Holdings Zanzibar Limited to convert its existing property to Protea Hotel by Marriott Zanzibar Stone Town. The project, which is anticipated to open as a Protea Hotel by the end of 2023, is located in Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist areas in Zanzibar. Plans for Protea by Marriott Zanzibar Stone Town include 26 guestrooms, an all-day dining restaurant and a rooftop bar. Protea Hotel by Marriott Abuja Jahi, Nigeria Projected to open in 2027, Protea Hotel by Marriott Abuja Jahi, Nigeria will consist of 144 guestrooms, two food and beverage outlets, a swimming pool and meeting facilities. The hotel will be situated in the developing district of Jahi which is located northwest of Abujas city centre and will be close to Gwarinpa and Jabi, two prominent commercial areas. Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta is a franchised property owned by Gold Reef Hotel Limited and will be managed by BON Hospitality West Africa Limited. Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta, Nigeria The company signed an agreement with Dutch Gate Hotel & Suites Limited to convert its existing property to Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta. The property is expected to open as a Protea Hotel in 2024 with 108 rooms, four food and beverage outlets, meeting facilities, a fitness centre and swimming pool. Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta, Nigeria will be situated in Warri, a major oil and gas hub in the South region of Nigeria. Protea Hotel by Marriott Delta is a franchised property owned by Dutch Gate Hotel & Suites Limited and will be managed by BON Hospitality West Africa Limited. TradeArabia News Service The mutiny in Russia is over. Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march to Moscow and return to their field camps in Ukraine. The militia leader will leave for Belarus; a criminal case against him will be dropped. Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. The rebellion though shortlived was the most serious challenge Russian president Vladimir Putin faced in his over two decades in power, as the Wagner mercenary group vowed to topple Moscows military leadership. Prigozhin, 62, released several messages from late Friday into Saturday claiming that he and his troops had entered the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and taken control of its military sites. What followed was a series of extraordinarily fast-moving events, with the private army initially threatening to march on Moscow. But then Prigozhin suddenly announced a pullback. Heres what happened in Russia and what the consequences could be. What started the uprising? For months, Prigozhin has been locked in a power struggle with the Russian militarys top brass, blaming them for the deaths of his troops in eastern Ukraine. He has repeatedly accused them of failing to equip his private army adequately and of holding up progress with the bureaucracy while claiming victories won by Wagner as their own. On Friday, Prigozhins anger appeared to boil over as he accused Moscows military leadership of ordering strikes on Wagner camps and killing a large number of forces. He said they had to be stopped and vowed to go to the end, and later claimed his forces had downed a Russian military helicopter. Hours later, Prigozhin said he had military sites in southern Russias Rostov-on-Don under control. The private military force reportedly then advanced on, with the governor of the Lipetsk region, whose capital is about 420 kilometres south of Moscow, saying the troops were moving across the territory. But just as suddenly, Prigozhin announced that his troops were turning back to avoid spilling blood. His fighters also began withdrawing from Rostov-on-Don. An AFP reporter at the scene saw a tank, several cargo trucks and minivans carrying fighters leave the military headquarters the group had occupied earlier. How has Putin reacted? Putin has called the Wagner mutiny a deadly threat to Russia and urged the country to unite. Branding the action by the Wagner mercenaries as treason, he vowed inevitable punishment. Security was tightened in Moscow and in several regions such as Rostov and Lipetsk, and travel restrictions were imposed in the Kaluga region, south of the capital. Putin also held talks by telephone with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. More crucially, he also phoned his ally, Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, who hours later announced that he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin to stop the Wagner troop movement and de-escalate tensions. Putin thanked Lukashenko after Wagners announcement. The President of Belarus informed the President of Russia in detail about the results of negotiations with the leadership of PMC Wagner, Lukashenkos press service said in a statement, adding Putin thanked his Belarusian colleague. What is next for Wagner and its boss? Under the deal negotiated under the mediation of Lukashenko, the Kremlin said that Prigozhin would leave for Belarus and that a criminal case against him would be dropped. Members of Prigozhins paramilitary forces who joined what Moscow described as an armed rebellion would not be prosecuted, the Kremlin added. We have always respected their heroic deeds at the front, Peskov added. An agreement has been reached that Wagner would return to its bases, he said, adding that those fighters who had not participated in the rebellion would be allowed to formally join the Russian army. How does this impact the Ukraine war? The Wagner rebellion marked the biggest challenge yet to Putins long rule and Russias most serious security crisis since he came to power in 1999. It threatened to divert Russian attention and resources away from the battlefields in Ukraine, at a time when Kyiv is amid a counteroffensive to seize back territory. However, Peskov said that it was out of the question that Wagners aborted rebellion would impact Russias campaign against Kyiv. Amid the dramatic events in Russia, Ukrainian forces launched several new offensives on their eastern front, claiming more ground. Ukraines deputy defence minister Ganna Malyar said that its forces assaulted Russian lines near the towns of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Bodanivka, Yagidne, Klishchivka and Kurdyumivka, and made progress in all directions. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin was likely very scared and is probably hiding somewhere. He has also ramped up his call for Western allies to provide all the weapons necessary for defence. Kyiv needed F-16 fighter jets and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), he said. The security of Europes eastern flank depends only on our defence. How has the West reacted? The significance of Saturdays events was also not lost on Ukraines allies, with the leaders of the United States, France, Germany and Britain holding talks over the fast-moving developments. While all eyes were on Russia, they refrained from making any public remarks. US officials carefully avoided direct comment on what some stressed was an internal situation in Russia, even as Moscow warned them to stay out of the fray. 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. New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday, lashed out at former US President Barack Obama for his comments on Indian Muslims and said that under his reign, the United States had bombed six Muslim-dominated countries. While addressing a press conference in Delhi, Nirmala Sitharaman said, It was surprising that when the PM was visiting the US and telling people about India, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian MuslimsI am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US, but they comment on Indias religious tolerance. Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama) More than 26,000 bombs were dropped. This comment came after US former President Barack Obama, during a media interview, said if ethnic minorities are not protected, there is a strong possibility of the country at some point starts pulling apart. Obamas made the remarks during an interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour and said if President Joe Biden meets with PM Modi, the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is something worth mentioning. #WATCH | FM Nirmala Sitharaman says, It was surprising that when PM was visiting the US, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian MuslimsI am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US. But comments come from there on Indias pic.twitter.com/6uyC3cikBi ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023 Meanwhile, at the conference, the union minister defended PM Modi from questions surrounding the treatment being meted out to the Muslims in India and pointed out that out of 13 honors, that the Prime Minister received from different countries, six awards were from such nations where Muslims are in the majority. Honorable prime minister himself during the press conference in US has said how his government works on Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas principle and doesnt discriminate against any community whatsoever but the fact remains that repeatedly when people join in in this debate and highlight issues which are non-issues in a way because if there are issues in states which are to be raised they are being raised at the state level, Sitharaman said at the press conference. Further, she added, Law and Order is the State subject that people are taking care of it and elected governments are there in each of the states which respond to it. To just allege without basic data in hand just tells us that these are organized campaigns which purposely are being leveled at the doorstep of the Prime Minister otherwise why would countries give such an honor to the prime minister and why would there be a distortion in understanding how India and its minority population irrespective of which religion they belong to minority population are being part of the Indian mainstream. Slamming the opposition, she said that as Congress couldnt see the possibility of winning the election, they have started such kind of campaign. The minister further slammed Congress and stated that such campaigns are being floated into the ecosystem as Congress is aware that they are incapable of wining the 2024 general elections. Congress is doing more this time than last two elections. Karnatakas talk was different but such toolkits which run in foreign countries, they are working against Prime Minister because they (Congress) are sure that the public will not support them. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Pakistans military on Sunday accused Indian troops of firing across the Line of Control separating India and occupied Kashmir on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of two civilians and the injury of another. The militarys statement explained that the Indian troops fired indiscriminately on a group of shepherds during noon, instantly killing one person and critically injuring two others. One of the wounded individuals later succumbed to their injuries at a hospital. In response, the Indian army reported via a tweet that a combined team of soldiers and police intercepted three infiltrators from the Pakistani side in the Krishna Ghati sector. They claimed to have engaged the infiltrators, resulting in them being observed falling down near the border. The Indian army mentioned that one of their soldiers sustained a gunshot wound. The conflicting details provided by both sides are currently unresolved. Pakistans military lodged a strong protest with Indian officials and asserted Pakistans right to respond as deemed necessary to safeguard the lives of Kashmiri people residing along the Line of Control. The picturesque Kashmir region, situated in the Himalayas, is divided between the two neighboring nations, both armed with nuclear capabilities. Since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947, the two countries have engaged in three wars, two of which were fought over the Kashmir region. 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 India reflects on its historical narrative, one period serves as a stark reminder of the perils associated with authoritarian rule: the Emergency imposed by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977. The emergency stands as a black hole in the history of Indian democracy. This era is marked by the suspension of democracy, curtailment of civil liberties, and unimaginable atrocities inflicted upon the common people. Today, we pay tribute to the sombre days of the Emergency and the unwavering spirit of resilience demonstrated by the Indian public at large. The Emergency had a debilitating impact on Indias political institutions as it undermined the checks and balances vital for a healthy democracy, including the rights to free speech and assembly. State governments were dissolved, and local elections were suspended nationwide. The central government assumed direct control, further consolidating power and limiting the voice and representation of the people at the grassroots level. This concentration of power eroded the principles of separation of powers and impeded the independence of the legislature and judiciary. The appointment of compliant judges, transfer of inconvenient judges, and suppression of judicial autonomy undermined the judiciarys role as a guardian of constitutional rights. Several landmark judgments that upheld citizens fundamental rights were reversed or diluted, eroding public trust in the justice system. During the Emergency, the ruling regime, led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, unleashed relentless oppression on the populace. Over 140,000 individuals, including political adversaries, activists, journalists, writers, and ordinary citizens expressing dissent, were arbitrarily arrested and detained. Violations of due process and denial of habeas corpus became widespread, leaving families in anguish and individuals uncertain about their fate. The notorious Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) allowed for indefinite detention without trial, effectively silencing opposition to the governments policies. Disturbing accounts of torture and abuse emerged from the detention centres of the Emergency era. Those who challenged the regime faced physical violence, sexual assault, and psychological torment. These acts of brutality aimed to instil fear and crush the spirit of resistance, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of the unfortunate victims. Media censorship emerged as another potent weapon used to suppress dissent during the emergency. Prominent newspapers and magazines were forced to shut down or heavily censored. Journalists faced harassment, arrests, and intimidation. The extent of censorship was so severe that even basic news coverage was affected, creating a significant information vacuum during that period. The government extended its control over broadcasting media, taking over All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, the national television network, and using them as propaganda tools to disseminate its narratives and suppress dissenting voices. The content aired on these platforms was tightly controlled, leaving little room for independent and critical journalism. The cornerstone of democracy, freedom of expression, was crushed under the weight of state control, depriving the public of unbiased information and alternative perspectives. Furthermore, it eroded public trust in the media as an impartial source of information, with long-lasting consequences for the credibility of the media in India. The emergency also witnessed a harrowing state-sponsored program of forced sterilizations. Disguised as a population control measure, men and women from marginalized communities were subjected to coercive sterilization procedures conducted without their consent or access to proper medical care. Evidence reveals that these campaigns grossly violated reproductive rights. The infamous case of the mass sterilization drive in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where over 6,000 sterilizations were performed in a single day, serves as a chilling example of the disregard for individual freedom and bodily integrity. The policy inflicted deep wounds on the masses, leaving an enduring scar on Indias social fabric. The imposition of the Emergency had a detrimental effect on Indias international image. The suppression of civil liberties and media censorship drew widespread criticism from the international community, tarnishing Indias reputation as the worlds largest democracy. International human rights organizations, media outlets, and governments expressed concerns over the erosion of democratic values and the violation of human rights during the Emergency. Consequently, Indias standing as a champion of democracy suffered a significant blow during this period. Moreover, the uncertainty created by the Emergency led to a decline in foreign investment and slowed economic growth. Foreign investors and businesses grew cautious of political stability and the governments commitment to democratic values, impacting foreign investments and trade relations. Media outlets worldwide portrayed the Indian governments actions in a negative light, further contributing to the negative perception of India abroad and impacting diplomatic relations, international cooperation, and economic ties. The tumultuous period witnessed a grave erosion of the constitution and democratic principles as power was ruthlessly pursued. The hunger for power led to a callous disregard for the very pillars that uphold our democracy. Moreover, a new culture emerged one characterized by flattery and sycophancy. Slogans like Indira is India became rallying cries, epitomizing a courtly culture that flourished during the Emergency. This culture, driven by the desire to appease those in power, inflicted deep and lasting wounds upon the democratic fabric of our nation. However, amid the prevailing darkness, the Indian public exhibited unwavering courage and resilience. Leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and L.K. Advani emerged as beacons of hope, rallying the nation against authoritarian rule. They organized protests, public meetings, and forged alliances to confront the governments oppressive policies head-on. The response from the public during the emergency was nothing short of overwhelming. People from all walks of life united in peaceful demonstrations, strikes, and acts of civil disobedience to express their discontent and demand the restoration of democracy. The Nav Nirman movement in Gujarat, led by students, epitomized the power of collective action in resisting emergency measures. Students played a crucial role in organizing protests, boycotting classes, and demanding the restoration of democratic principles. Their enthusiasm and determination resonated with the broader population and inspired similar movements in other parts of the country. The fight against the Emergency brought together people from diverse communities, transcending religious, regional, and social barriers. It fostered a sense of unity and solidarity among Indians, recognizing the importance of preserving democracy and civil liberties as shared values. This broad-based movement possessed the strength to challenge the governments authoritarian rule. Despite media censorship, courageous journalists and underground publications played a vital role in disseminating information and mobilizing public opinion against the autocratic rule. These publications clandestinely circulated banned literature, exposed government excesses, and provided alternative perspectives. By risking their lives, these journalists and publications became a lifeline of information for the public, keeping the spirit of resistance alive. The culmination of the galvanization of people against the autocratic rule came in the general elections held in 1977. The Indian National Congress, led by Indira Gandhi, suffered a resounding defeat, and the Janata Party coalition came to power, marking the end of the Emergency period. This electoral outcome was a testament to the power of the peoples resistance and their unwavering commitment to democracy. The unity, protests, and eventual electoral defeat of the ruling party marked a significant turning point in Indian history, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic values, protecting civil liberties, and preventing the recurrence of such dark periods in the future. The atrocities suffered by the common people during the Emergency, coupled with the unwavering resistance demonstrated by the Indian public, have profoundly influenced the collective memory of the nation. Presently, India stands as a vibrant democracy. Nonetheless, it is crucial for us to remain vigilant and resolute in our endeavours to protect the hard-fought freedom and rights secured through the sacrifices of those who bravely opposed the Emergency. Let us preserve the valuable lessons learned from the past and tirelessly strive to ensure that such dark days never cast their shadow upon the future of our nation. The author teaches at Kirori Mal College, 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. The Islamist voice in the US Congress, Ilhan Omar, came out with a press release and introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives during Prime Minister Narendra Modis US visit last week. The press release says: Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution today to condemn human rights violations and violations of international religious freedom in India, including those targeting Muslims, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Dalits, Adivasis, and other religious and cultural minorities. Her inclusion of just one word, Jews, is the biggest advertisement of how Western media and a section of Dem-Labour establishment have leaned entirely on their biases to talk about India and how little they care to know or research about the country they so despise. It also exposes Omars hypocrisy about pretending to care about Jews after years of anti-Semitic utterances and siding with Islamic aggression and terror against Israel. Indias 7,000-odd Jews face no discrimination. Israel has repeatedly acknowledged that Jews have been treated unjustly in almost every part of the world except India. A 2009 worldwide study commissioned by the Israeli foreign ministry showed that the greatest level of sympathy towards Israel was in India, with 58% of Indian respondents being quite positive about Israel. In February 2007, during the first Jewish-Hindu interfaith leadership summit in New Delhi, Rabbi Yona Metzger said, Jews have lived in India for over 2,000 years and have never been discriminated against. This is something unparalleled in human history. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced during his 2018 India visit that Jews in India have never witnessed antisemitism like in some other countries. This is a tribute to Indias great civilisation, tolerance and democracy. Ilhan and her ilk, who have no real experience of this nation but use lazy toolkits and templates to further their anti-India agenda, are trying to fire from the shoulders of their other target, the Jews, to tarnish the great Bharatiya civilisation, its tolerance and democracy. Whether it is Barack Obama, under whose presidency the US dropped more than 26,000 bombs on seven Muslim countries in just 2016, or Sabrina Siddique, a Muslim Wall Street Journal journalist whose question to PM Modi had nothing to do with economy or business but aboutyou guessed itMuslims, it was as if the anti-India lobby was firing from all its weaponry without even understanding the shape and nature of its target. Obama talked about Indias ethnic Muslim population, little realising that Indian Muslims are of the same ethnicity as Hindus. They simply got converted, mostly by the sword during Islamic invasions and rule. Those saying Muslims are persecuted and not allowed to practice their religion in India Obama even hinted at the possibility of civil war and balkanisation just need to walk the nations streets, especially on Fridays, to know better. Even then if they choose to shut their eyes, there is data and more data. A 2021 Pew research with a staggering 30,000 respondents found that 98% Muslims in India said they were free to practice their religion. Just 2% said they were not too free. Under Modi, the share of Muslims in prison population (convicts, undertrials, detenues) declined to 18.7% in 2021 from 20.2% in 2020. Muslims have been equal beneficiaries of welfare from housing to cooking gas, water to electricity, health cover to vaccines. The narrative of persecution only exists in the agenda of anti-India interests who seem to have converged Wahabi and Salafi Islamists, evangelical missionaries, globalist Commies, and sections of Western deep states. Their homework and respect for facts are weak, but they make it up with bountiful will to hurt India. 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 we continually strive to achieve a more integrated, connected and inclusive world, ethnicity is one of the most dominant, influential and unignorable factors one must take cognizance of. An ethnicity is essentially a social group to which individuals belong, in lieu of their culture, religion, cuisine or language. What adds to the complications of understanding ethnicity, is the fact that it is not only inextricably linked with race, but it is also confused for a subset of race, or used interchangeably. Race very specifically pertains to distinctly observable physical features of biological origin, while ethnicity is inclusive of various other markers. The partition of India and Pakistan is a historic example of religion based ethnic segregation and separation, in many ways. Being biologically determined, ones race is non negotiable. However, although ones ethnicity is also somewhat ascribed based on several of the aforementioned factors, it involves an additional role of agency that ultimately guides us in shaping our understanding of what an ethnicity is. Sociologically, agency is the capacity of individuals to engage in actions and decisions to fulfil their potential. Ethnicity is multifaceted, and agency helps us choose which aspects of our identity to selectively self assert, based on the context and appropriateness of a social situation. We often change the order of details in our introduction, depending on whom we are talking to. At times we choose to highlight our occupation, or the region we hail from, but at times also choose to hide our religion or caste, that ultimately gives us the leeway to somewhat sculpt the way others view us. The very fact that we can choose to censor what other people see of us is a matter of privilege. However, we must understand that this privilege is not available to everyone, since we rely on the visibility of ethnic markers as cues to make inferences about people in order to include or exclude them from categories and groups. Black people cannot hide their skin complexion, East Asians cannot hide their facial features, but external religious and cultural artefacts can be hidden and conveniently obscured. The privilege to be able to dissociate from an identity that has been ascribed to us, and to be able to construct a more socially accepted one, constitutes what is known as the fluidity of ethnicity. Mixed race children born from parents of different ethnicities often face problems in self exploration of their identity, and are a classic example of how this fluidity of ethnicity operates in our society. Differential race, geographical, cultural and ethnic experiences of a mixed race child collide; they are unsure of which ones to subscribe and adhere to, which ones to reject, and which ones to define themselves by, which holds potential to transform into identity confusion and risk of being bullied at school and other places as diluted versions of either of the many identities they simultaneously wield. Ethnicity and nationality are often used interchangeably, and for mixed race children who frequently change regions of countries, the challenge of identity exploration becomes even more profound. Increasingly it can be observed that ethnic markers and artefacts are now being used to further political agendas. For instance, the emotional reactions elicited from people in association to the saffron colour is being used as a politico-religious bait to get others to align with certain ideologies, many of which are divisive in nature. The consequences of which are protests, riots and political upheaval, that do nothing but feed into a vicious cycle. Blindly blaming saffron is so incorrect. Most saffronistas are in fact, patriotic nationalists who work for the larger good of the society and brave many odds every single day, to preserve their ideology, culture, legacy and civilisational ethos. The objective versus subjective notions of who belongs to what ethnicity has sparked many debates. A south Indian staying in Delhi or Uttar Pradesh for a decade, who is familiar with the local culture, cuisine and way of life may subjectively very well consider himself a north Indian after all this while, but may be rejected by the locals around as an outsider. In such a case, the question of Who gets to decide my ethnicity for me? prevails. Is it the persons themselves, those around them, or larger entities such as the State? Things get more complicated in the large scale context of foreign country immigration. The settler versus native conflict becomes more pronounced, with ethnic categories serving as separatist, exclusive and a tool for mass denial of resources, rather than a criteria that unites the masses. The example of the Uddhav Sena is rather ironic, however fitting. It was a political party created due to a Mumbai-centric Nativist Movement against migrants snatching away occupational opportunities that belonged to them, in a city that has actually been built by the blood, sweat and toil of migrants, to start with. Indias vast geographical expanse and diversity in ethnicities have proved to be a protective factor for the nation to some extent. While we may, at times, struggle to rein in inter or intra community conflicts in our own nation, it somehow, very fortunately, leaves us with little time, resources and most importantly, need to be at odds with communities outside our own nation, staving off international conflicts thereby, in the larger scheme of things. Interestingly, skin complexion also qualifies as an ethnic marker that manifests in our daily interactions with others. This can be evidently observed in Brazil, which divides its population into the five racial categories of Branco (white), Pardo (multiracial), Preto (Black), Amarelo/ Asiatico (Yellow/ Asian) and Indigenia (indigenous). Skin complexion is just one of the many objective criteria we use to distinguish between ethnicities; however what qualifies as objective or subjective also differs from society to society, whether micro or macro, as well as down to the individual level. I consider myself of xyz ethnicity, but does that make me a member of that ethnic community? I belong to the abc ethnic community, but if others dont accept me as a part of it, does that disqualify my membership from it? Unfortunately, questions like these never have a straight or pre-defined answer, and like most other sociological questions, they will have to be answered with an, It depends. It depends on the varying contexts from case to case, with an assortment of factors influencing certain situations in varying intensities. Nonetheless, it should not discourage us from looking for clearer answers, from recognising the prevalence and influence of ethnicity in our lives, and at large, in our world. The author, a multi-faceted student, is an avid commentator on various topical issues. 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. The New York Times reported on Saturday that US intelligence agencies had strong suspicions that Evgeny Prigozhin had intentions to make a significant move against the Russian government, just days before the chief of Wagner ordered his troops to march on Moscow. The information was provided by US intel sources, cited by the newspaper. Unnamed US officials, who were interviewed by the paper, stated that the administration of US President Joe Biden and military commanders were briefed about the preparations made by Wagner as early as Wednesday. As more details emerged, another briefing was reportedly held on Thursday, which was attended by a select group of congressional leaders. The situation escalated further on Friday night when Prigozhin accused the Russian Defense Ministry of launching a deadly missile strike on a Wagner camp and vowed to retaliate. However, the ministry denied the allegation, labeling it an informational provocation. Subsequently, Wagner troops captured military facilities in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, while Prigozhin announced the commencement of a march for justice with the objective of reaching Moscow. However, on Saturday, the Wagner leader agreed to cease the advance and withdraw his forces in exchange for security guarantees as part of a deal facilitated by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. According to sources cited by the New York Times, prior to the uprising, officials in Washington were hesitant to inform Russian President Vladimir Putin about the imminent threat, fearing that Moscow would accuse them of orchestrating a coup. Additionally, the article states that the US had minimal interest in assisting Putin amidst the conflict in Ukraine and Russias standoff with the West. US officials reportedly expressed concern over a potential conflict between Prigozhin and Moscow, as they were apprehensive about the risks of nuclear implications if Russia were to descend into chaos. CNN also corroborated the New York Times report on Saturday, stating that US officials had been aware of Prigozhins intentions to challenge the Russian military for a considerable period. However, they remained uncertain about his ultimate objectives. According to sources from CNN, Western officials had prior knowledge of Prigozhins preparations, including his efforts to acquire weapons and ammunition. Nevertheless, the swift unfolding of events made it challenging to determine the seriousness of the Wagner chiefs threats against the Russian military. Amidst the ongoing Wagner insurrection, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a warning to the West, cautioning that any attempts to exploit the unrest for their anti-Russian agenda would be futile. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev emphasized the potentially catastrophic consequences of a coup in a nuclear-armed nation, affirming Moscows determination to prevent such an outcome. Security forces faced a confrontation with a mob, led by women, in Itham village, Imphal East. The village was cordoned off as a dozen members of the militant group Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) were hiding there. In a prudent decision, the Army chose not to endanger civilian lives and withdrew from the area, taking with them the seized weapons and ammunition, according to officials. The KYKL, a Meitei militant group, had been involved in various attacks, including the 2015 ambush of the 6 Dogra unit, as reported. The stand-off in Itham lasted throughout Saturday and concluded when the operational commander made a mature decision considering the sensitivity of using force against a large and angry mob, primarily comprised of women, to avoid potential casualties. Among those taking refuge in the village was Moirangthem Tamba, also known as Uttam, a wanted terrorist who may have played a key role in the Dogra ambush tragedy, stated officials. According to reports, a mob of approximately 1,500 people, led by women, surrounded the Army column and prevented them from proceeding with the operation, sources revealed. Despite repeated appeals to allow the security forces to carry out their operation within the bounds of the law, the aggressive mob remained unyielding. The Armys decision to withdraw was made with the intention of avoiding collateral damage amidst the ongoing unrest in Manipur. Ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has already claimed the lives of over 100 individuals. The clashes initially erupted on May 3 after a Tribal Solidarity March was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The Meiteis constitute around 53% of Manipurs population, mainly residing in the Imphal Valley, while the Nagas and Kukis, the tribal communities, make up approximately 40% of the population and primarily reside in the hill districts. (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. Cairo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made an unscheduled trip to the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World built more than 4,000 years ago and among the most recognisable tourist icons in the world like the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The largest of the three Pyramids built on a rocky outcrop just outside Cairo is the Great Pyramid, soaring to a height of 146.5 metres or 481 feet. It was built by Pharaoh Khufu, the ruler of Egypt at the time. Qutub Minar in New Delhi,built in the early 13th century is 72.5 metres (238 feet) high. All three pyramids were built between 2600 BC and 2500 BC during the rule of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Ancient Egyptian history is divided into three main periods, Old Kingdom (about 2700 to 2200 BC), Middle Kingdom (2050 to 1800 BC) and the New Kingdom (1550 to 1100 BC). I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come. pic.twitter.com/WiXFhTP4QP Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-day visit to Egypt has been hailed by analysts as a potential game changer for bilateral ties, according to Al Jazeera. The PMs trip to Egypt is expected to pave the way for a substantial increase in Indias investment in the North African country and a ladder for Egypt to gain entry to the BRICS economic bloc. It is PM Modis first visit to Egypt as prime minister and the first by any Indian prime minister since 1997.The visit comes months after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis January visit to New Delhi when he was the chief guest at Indias 74th Republic Day celebrations. El-Sisi was the first Egyptian president accorded the honour. Prime Minister Modis visit has been viewed as strengthening the bilateral relations the two sides had already elevated to a strategic level during el-Sisis January visit. Analysts say it could also reveal the contours of how ties could unfurl in the days ahead, according to Al Jazeera. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi has said: This is a very quick, reciprocal visit coming just within six months of President Sisis visit to India. We do expect and are confident that the visit will not just ensure continuing momentum to the relationship between our two countries, but will also help expand it to new areas of trade and economic engagement. The visit from Egypts point of view is more about diversifying partnerships beyond the Western bloc. For India, observers have said it is to consolidate its position as a voice of the Global South as it gears up to host the G20 meeting in September in the capital New Delhi.PM Modi, apart from bilateral talks and the signing of various trade agreements, will interact with the small Indian community and was expected to meet some prominent leaders in Egypt. India and Egypt have enjoyed close ties as they were the founding numbers of the 1961 Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), a global forum of 120 developing countries that believed in the non-alignment of major power blocs. Egypts President El-Sisi has travelled to India three times. While Egypt has eyed increasing Indias investment in the country, experts said New Delhi is looking for deeper access to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through Cairo. Aftab Kamal Pasha, who taught Middle Eastern Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, told Al Jazeera that Egypt and India have enjoyed friendly relations historically. There are clear limits to what he [PM Modi] can get from the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] states, so he turned to Egypt, Pasha said. Pasha said El-Sisi would like to see Egypt join BRICS, a powerful grouping of the worlds major economies including Brazil, Russia, India, and China. PM Modi wants to balance China in the organisation and also to prevent Pakistan, which Beijing wants inside BRICS, from joining, he said. Expectations have been high that PM Modi will announce Indias support for Egypts desire to join BRICS. According to analysts, close ties with Cairo can also hold significance for India. The most populous country in MENA, Egypt holds a crucial geostrategic significance as 12 per cent of global trade passes through the Suez Canal. Cairo can be a gateway to major markets in both Europe and Africa for India, experts said. India has also been concerned about Chinas growing influence in Egypt. Currently, Chinas bilateral trade with Egypt stands at USD 15 billion, double that of Indias USD 7.26 billion in 2021-22. The latest bilateral trade reached USD 5.18 billion from April 22 to January 23. Senior research fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi, Fazzur Rahman Siddiqui, told Al Jazeera that India intends to emerge as a significant power in the Global South. Since Modi came to power, India has tried to broaden its foreign policy outreach. India has opened almost 20 new missions on the African continent, Siddiqui said. Egypt has lost its voice in regional affairs like in Palestine, Ethiopia, and many African countries over the years. The kind of say it used to have; they have lost their shine. And Egypt is now looking beyond the continent, and India happens to be potential for its growing stature. He said by allying with Egypt, India could have a deeper access to the Arab world, Africa, and much deeper access to Israel. After taking over the G20 presidency in December 2022, India has invited Egypt to participate as a guest country. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi/Cairo, June 25 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India is committed to improving bilateral ties with Egypt, and added that 2023 has already been a remarkable year for the two countries. The PM said this during a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday, where they held a roundtable meeting in Cairo. PM Modi said in statements following the meeting that he listened attentively to the positive opinions of his Egyptian counterpart on ways to enhance their bilateral relations and took detailed notes on the proposals, according to local reports. "This is a remarkable year for our shared relations. At the beginning of this year, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visited India as a chief guest in the Republic Day celebration, where we signed an agreement to elevate our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership," PM Modi said. He also said that he is honoured to invite President El-Sisi to India again to attend the G20 meetings, which are scheduled to take place in New Delhi in September. PM Modi said that Egypt and India were swiftly moving towards achieving the $12 billion target in bilateral trade within the next five years. He added that in the past six months alone, Indian companies have invested around $170 million in Egypt. This is PM Modi's first-ever visit to Egypt, following an invitation from El-Sisi. According to Indian Ambassador Ajit Gupte, this is the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Cairo since 1997. "Some of you have recently visited India, and here I would like to say that regular visits between the two sides will actively enhance bilateral relations" PM Modi told the attendees at the meeting. PM Modi was meeting the India Unit in the Egyptian Cabinet, which was set up earlier this year following the State Visit of President El-Sisi to India. The India Unit is headed by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly, and comprises a number of Ministers and senior officials. PM Modi added that the visit of the Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone to India last week was successful and will encourage other Indian companies to come to invest in Egypt. He also emphasized that the increasing cooperation between the two sides in the field of renewable energy reflects a joint commitment to environmental protection. He pointed out that many Indian companies are investing in green hydrogen and electric vehicles. PM Modi said he would like to visit the New Administrative Capital on his next trip to Egypt. From his side, Egyptian PM Madbouly affirmed the determination of both governments to strengthen strategic partnership between the two sides. Madbouly said growing trade exchange between the two countries, which reached $7 billion in 2022, shows potential of going up to $12 billion in the next five years, as agreed upon during the Joint Trade Committee meeting held in July 2022. He praised the current levels of Indian investments in Egypt, which stand at $3.5 billion, adding that the country is ready to receive more Indian capital. Madbouly cited agreements signed between the two sides during the recent visit by officials from the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority to India last week as an example of promising growth for Indian investments in Egypt and the region, ahram online said. He stressed Egypts keenness on developing a strategic relationship between the two countries in the field of strategic commodities, expressing interest that India would become a major supplier of wheat to Egypt. Egypt also wants more cooperation with India in the fields of healthcare and pharmaceutical production, citing partnership between an Indian company and Egypt's VACSERA to establish a vaccine production plant in the city as a model of such cooperation, added Madbouly. Egypt welcomes more investments by Indian companies in the renewable energy sector in Egypt, particularly in the production of green hydrogen in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, stressed Madbouly. The Egyptian government is keen on providing Indian companies with all the facilities needed to implement and expand their investments in the country, he said. EgyptAir, the countrys national carrier, is set launch direct flights between Cairo and New Delhi, in addition to existing flights between Cairo and Mumbai, as a step to boost air travel between the two countries, he announced.. Egypt will work with the Indian presidency of the G20 to develop optimal approaches to deal with energy crises, climate change, food shortage and securing financing for developing countries, he said. From the Egyptian side, the meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat and Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir. UNI RN The police in Canada initiated an investigation into the implosion of the Titanic sub, which resulted in the tragic deaths of five crew members. Among the victims were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, French Navy Veteran Paul-Henri Nargeolet, businessman Shahzada Dawood, and Dawoods 19-year-old son Suleman. Less than two hours into its descent to the Titanic wreckage on Sunday, the submersible named Titan disappeared. After a three-day search for the missing vessel, the US Coast Guard declared all passengers dead upon discovering debris belonging to the sub. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have now confirmed that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Superintendent Kent Osmond stated during a press conference in St Johns, Newfoundland, that an examination was underway to determine if a full RCMP investigation is warranted. He said, Our team of investigators has been established with the sole purpose of determining whether there are grounds to proceed with a criminal investigation under federal or provincial laws, based on our examination of the circumstances. He further emphasized that the police would be scrutinizing the events that led to the fatalities. Superintendent Osmond mentioned that interviews were conducted with individuals aboard the Polar Prince, Titans main support ship, on Saturday as part of the ongoing investigation. The vessel returned to St Johns harbor on Saturday morning, with safety investigators also conducting inquiries on board. With only 96 hours of life support remaining when communication was lost, search crews made desperate attempts to locate the Titan in the Atlantic Ocean. The submersible failed to resurface, and its final signal to the mothership, Polar Prince, indicated its position directly above the Titanic ruins. On Thursday, a deep-sea robotic sub discovered five significant debris pieces from the Titan, located two miles below the oceans surface. Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard stated that the debris, found 1,600 feet from the Titanics bow, was consistent with a catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber. To unravel the circumstances surrounding the subs violent demise, the debris, including a landing frame and the tail cone, must now be lifted 3,800 meters from the seabed. Investigators face the daunting task of piecing together the events that led to the ill-fated OceanGate vessels failure. Reports indicate that several safety concerns regarding the vessel were disregarded. Rob McCallum claimed that his warning about endangering passengers was dismissed by OceanGates CEO. The expert in deep-sea exploration urged Rush to obtain a safety certificate for the sub before offering rides to paying customers, but his advice was ignored. According to the BBC, Rob told Rush, You are planning to use an unclassified, prototype technology in an extremely hostile environment. Despite valuing entrepreneurship and innovation, you are potentially jeopardizing an entire industry. Rush responded by asserting that his engineering-focused, innovative approach defied conventional submersible practices, as innovation often does. In a revelation from a tycoon who declined tickets on the ill-fated Titan sub, Stockton Rush allegedly boasted that it was safer than crossing the street. Furthermore, a YouTuber shared eerie footage from his time on board the Titan during a trip that was ultimately canceled due to a series of malfunctions, just days before the sub imploded. 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 was on Sunday conferred with the Order of the Nile, Egypts highest honour, by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo. This is the 13th highest state honour received by PM Modi. Instituted in 1915, the Order of the Nile is conferred on heads of states, crown princes, and vice presidents who offer Egypt or humanity invaluable services. New Delhi/Cairo, June 25 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a State Visit to Egypt, on Saturday evening met with some important personalities in Cairo as well as two prominent yoga instructors. The PM met with yoga instructors Nada Adel and Reem Jabak, Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, and Tarek Heggy, renowned Egyptian author and petroleum strategist. On his meeting with the yoga instructors, the PM tweeted: Nada Adel and Reem Jabak are making commendable efforts to make Yoga popular across Egypt. Had a wonderful conversation with them in Cairo. Prime Minister praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. They informed the Prime Minister of the great enthusiasm for Yoga in Egypt, a statement said. On his meeting with Hassan Allam, the PM said: My meeting with Mr. Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company was a fruitful one. In addition to topics relating to the economy and investments, I really enjoyed hearing his passion towards preserving cultural heritage in Egypt. Hassan Allam Holding Company is one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region. They discussed possibilities of forging closer cooperation with Indian companies in renewable energy, green hydrogen, infrastructure and construction sectors. On his meeting with Tarek Heggy, a renowned Egyptian author and petroleum strategist, the PM tweeted: It was a delight to interact with noted thinker @heggy_tarek. He shared his insightful views on global issues. I admire his rich knowledge on issues relating to different cultures. Discussions between the two covered issues related to global geopolitics, energy security, radicalism and gender equality. On his meeting with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, he said: Honoured to have met the Grand Mufti of Egypt, His Eminence Prof. Shawky Ibrahim Allam. Had enriching discussions on India-Egypt ties, notably cultural and people-to-people linkages. UNI RN Apple Credit Card May Launch In India Via HDFC Bank And Apple Pay With NPCI UPI? Tech Biz oi -Alap Naik Desai Apple Card, a physical credit card backed by Apple Pay could soon debut in India. Currently, Apple Card is only available in the United States of America, but India could be the first foreign country for the iPhone maker to launch its financial solutions. Apple is trying to release its credit card, and as an extension, financial services, in India. The company has initiated conversations with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and HDFC Bank. Let's look at the unofficial and unconfirmed developments which would allow iPhone users in India access to Apple Pay. Apple Credit Card To Be Co-Branded With HDFC Bank In India? A report citing undisclosed sources claims Apple is keen to offer its Apple Pay services in India. The company's representatives have been holding talks with the RBI officials for necessary clearances. Back in April, when Apple CEO Tim Cook was in India to inaugurate two Apple Stores in the country, he reportedly met with Sashidhar Jagdishan, CEO and MD of HDFC Bank. It is strongly believed that Apple may partner with the bank to offer its financial services in India. Apple's talks with the RBI are reportedly about procedures to be followed to launch a credit card in India. Although the meeting details are strictly confidential, some reports suggest RBI is in no mood to bend its rules for the world's richest consumer electronics manufacturer. RBI has reportedly asked Apple to follow the standard procedure for releasing co-branded credit cards in India. This strongly suggests that Apple may have to rely heavily on an Indian bank to offer its financial services in the country. The Apple Credit Card is made of Titanium metal. It offers unlimited daily cashback with every purchase, 1% cashback when the physical card is used wherever Mastercard is accepted, 2% cashback when Apple Pay is used, and 3% cashback when used at Apple or select merchants. Apple Pay May Be Offered Via NPCI UPI Gateway The Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited, commonly referred to as HDFC Bank, is India's largest private-sector bank. The Apple Credit Card could arrive via this bank in India. It is interesting to note that the Apple Card in India would look and work differently than its US counterpart. This is because it will be would be up to the credit card issuing bank that runs the business in India to finalize and approve the designs. On the other hand, Apple Pay is a fully-digital financial solution. To get this service off the ground, Apple is reportedly in talks with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Simply put, Apple Pay in India will likely be powered by UPI. However, this would mean it would compete with PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and other instant payment apps that have been deeply entrenched in the digital payment ecosystem by now. It is important to note that Apple hasn't made any official announcement about bringing Apple Credit or Apple Pay to India. Moreover, it is reportedly discussing with HDFC Bank. Simply put, nothing has been finalized. 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 Taipei, June 25 (UNI)Taiwan is calling on Australia to send a military attache to the island so that both sides can share their assessment of the situation with China, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told The Australian newspaper on Sunday. "I think it is very important when the Australian government is paying so much more attention to the regional security issues for the two countries to be able to share their observations, their assessment of the situation," Wu said in an interview. The newspaper specified that the United States, Japan and Singapore have long placed their attaches on the island in order to maintain communication with Taiwanese intelligence services. Wu added that Taiwan also wanted to send a military attache to the Canberra office. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing regards the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous entity but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official foreign contacts with Taipei and regards Chinese sovereignty over the island as indisputable. The latest escalation around Taiwan took place in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Beijing responded by launching massive three-day military drills near the island in what it called a "warning" to Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers. 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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 Russo-Ukraine War - 24 June 2023 - Day 486 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in the early hours of 24 June 2023, the feud between Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group and the Russian MoD escalated into outright military confrontation. In an operation characterised by Prigozhin as a 'march for freedom', Wagner Group forces crossed from occupied Ukraine into Russia in at least two locations. In Rostov-on-Don, Wagner has almost certainly occupied key security sites, including the HQ which runs Russia's military operations in Ukraine. Further Wagner units are moving north through Vorenezh Oblast, almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow. With very limited evidence of fighting between Wagner and Russian security forces, some have likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner. Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russia's security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how the crisis plays out. This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day June 24, Russian forces launched a missile attack on the territory of Ukraine, using 40 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, 9x Kh-22 missiles, 2x Caliber sea-based missiles, 2x S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles and 3x Shahed type drones. Ukrainian Air Defense shot down 40x Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, 1x Caliber cruise missile and 3x Shahed strike drones. russian terrorists directed X-22 missiles at the cities of Dnipro and Krivyi Rih. As a result of the Russian terrorist attack, unfortunately, there are dead and injured civilians, including children with moderate injuries, dozens of private houses, farms, other infrastructure objects and more than 50x private civilian cars were completely destroyed and damaged. In total, Russian forces launched 53x missile and 11x air strikes. Also, russians launched more than 30 MLRS attacks. The threat of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high. Russia continues to focus its main efforts on the Lyman, Avdiivka and Mar'inka axes - more than 10x combat clashes took place during the day. Volyn' and Polissya axes: no significant changes detected. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russian forces shelled with mortars and artillery such settlements as Halaganivka, Chernihiv Oblast; Novovasylivka, Chuykivka, Fotovizh of the Sumy Oblast, as well as Okip, Chervona Zorya, Veterinarne, Pylna, Kozacha Lopan', Ohirtseve, Hatyshche, Bochkove, Budarky, Chugunivka in the Kharkiv Oblast. Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian occupiers carried out offensives in the vicinities of Berestovo, albeit without success. Krasne Pershe, Figolivka, Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Kislivka, Berestov in the Kharkiv Oblast were under Russian artillery and mortar attacks. Lyman axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensive operations near Vesely. They carried out airstrikes in the Oblast of Belogorivka, Luhansk Oblast. Nevs'ke and Bilogorivka of the Luhansk Oblast and Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'yokam'ians'ke, Spirne and Rozdolivka of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled bvy artillery. Bakhmut axis: the Russian adversary carried out unsuccessful offensives in the Ivanovsky area. Areas of Vasyukivka, Minkivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivs'ke, Ozaryanivka, New York of the Donetsk Oblast were shelled by Russian artillery. Avdiivka axis: Russian forces carried out airstrikes at Avdiivka and Severny. They shelled Novooleksandrivka, Keramik, Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Severne, Vodyane, Umans'ke, Vesele, Karlivka, Pervomaiske, Nevels'ke of the Donetsk Oblast. Mar'inka axis: Russian forces carried out unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of Mar'inka. They shelled Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobieda, Georgiivka, Kurakhove and Oleksiivka of the Donetsk Oblast. Shakhtars'k axis: the Russian occupiers carried out airstrikes at Prechistivka, Zolotaya Niva, and Makarivka of the Donetsk Oblast. Shelled the settlements of Katerynivka, Bogoyavlenka, Novomykhailivka, Blagodatne, Vugledar, Prechistivka, Zolota Niva, and Novoukrayinka in the Donetsk Oblast. Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces are on the defensive, and concentrate their main efforts on preventing the advance of Ukrainian troops. They carried out airstrikes at Orikhiv, Novodanilivka, and Robotyne of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Russian forces shelled about 40 settlements. Among them: Novodarivka, Levadne, Poltavka, Zaliznychne, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipilske, Charivne, Biloghirya, Orihiv, Primorske of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast; Nikopol', Dnipropetrovsk Oblast; Dudchany, Beryslav, Vesele, Kozats'ke, Inzhenerne, Antonivka, Zelenivka, Bilozerka, Dniprovske, Kizomys of the Kherson Oblast. The occupation army of the Russian Federation continues to rob civilians in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. For example, in the countryside between the settlements of Luhivka and Fabrychne, Russian servicemen en masse steal property and personal belongings from the homes of local residents. Ukrainian Air Force carried out 18x strikes on Russian manpower concentrations and destroyed 1x Russian anti-aircraft missile system. Ukrainian missile and artillery units hit 1x "Strila" anti-aircraft missile system, 3x concentrations of manpower and military equipment, 12x artillery systems at firing positions and 2x Russian EW stations. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Russian Aerospace Forces launched a long-range precision-guided group attack on radio engineering reconnaissance centres and aviation equipment of the AFU close to Kanatovo airfield (Kirovograd region) and Dnepr airfield. All the assigned targets have been neutralised. The goal of the attack has been reached. In addition, on 23 June, a storage of Storm Shadow cruise missiles has been destroyed at a Ukrainian airbase close to Starokonstantinov (Khmelnitsky region), in response to a strike on a road bridge across the Chongar Strait. The AFU continued unsuccessful attempts at offensive actions in South Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Donetsk and Krasny Liman directions. In South Donetsk direction, close to Vremevka salient, as a result of the competent and selfless actions by the units of the Vostok Group of Forces, as well as artillery and heavy firing systems, three enemy attacks have been successfully repelled near Makarovka, Novosyolka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Levadnoye (Zaporozhye region). As a result of the shelling of advancing AFU reserves, two tanks and six enemy armoured fighting vehicles have been destroyed near Novopol in (Donetsk People's Republic) and Novovorovka in (Zaporozhye region). In Zaporozhye direction, Russian troops repulsed an attack by the units of the 47th AFU Mechanised Brigade close to Yablokovo (Zaporozhye region). Army Aviation strikes have neutralised enemy manpower and hardware concentration areas near Preobrazhenka and Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region). One ordnance depot of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU has been destroyed near Malye Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were over 170 Ukrainian servicemen, three tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, 12 armoured fighting vehicles and three motor vehicles. Also destroyed: one Grad MLRS combat vehicle, one French-manufactured Cezar self-propelled artillery system, one US-manufactured M777 artillery system, two Msta-B howitzers and one D-20 howitzer. In Donetsk direction, as a result of the active actions of the units of the Yug Group of Forces, nine enemy attacks have been repelled close to Vesyoloye, Artyomovsk, Avdeevka, Pervomayskoye and Maryinka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were over 245 Ukrainian servicemen, one infantry fighting vehicle, seven pickup trucks, and D-20 and D-30 howitzers. In Bakhmut tactical direction, aviation and artillery have neutralised manpower and military hardware of the 35th and 36th brigades of the AFU Marine Brigades. Two ammunition depots of the 45th Artillery Brigade and the 109th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU have been destroyed close to Seversk and Sukhaya Balka (Donetsk People's Republic). In Krasny Liman direction, the units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have repulsed four AFU attacks close to Serebryansky forestry. The units of the 63rd and 66th mechanized brigades of the AFU have been hit by air strikes near Nevskoye (Lugansk People's Republic) and Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The activities of three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been disrupted close to Yampolovka, Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy losses were over 100 Ukrainian servicemen, one infantry fighting vehicle, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and one D-30 howitzer. In Kupyansk direction, the attacks, launched by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, as well as artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces, have resulted in the neutralisation of the enemy manpower and hardware close to Novomlynsk, Timkovka (Kharkov region), and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic). Three Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been neutralised close to Yagodnoye and Berestovoye (Kharkov region). The enemy losses were up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles and one D-20 howitzer. In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 45 Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS vehicle, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems and two Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 92 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 124 areas. Two storages of fuel for AFU hardware has been destroyed near Dnepropetrovsk. Air defence facilities have intercepted 24 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Zaitsevo, Artyomovsk, Novobakhmutovka, Volodino, Yakovlevka, Soledar, Belogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Ulyanovka (Kherson region), Shevchenkovo and Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region). In total, 444 airplanes, 240 helicopters, 4,775 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 10,319 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,131 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,218 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 11,152 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York, USA, June 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Drones Market Overview Market Research Future (MRFR) 's report highlights Drones Market Information By Drone Type, Industry Type, Application, Technology and Region - Forecast till 2030, the market will achieve USD 66.012 billion by 2030 at a 14.30% CAGR. The global drone market will touch USD 66.012 billion at a 14.30% CAGR by 2030, as per the current Market Research Future report. Drone industry has experienced significant growth and innovation During The Years. Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have found applications in various sectors, ranging from consumer and recreational use to commercial and industrial applications. Consumer drones have gained popularity Globally for aerial photography, videography, and recreational purposes. These drones are generally lightweight, affordable, and equipped with features like high-definition cameras, stabilization systems, and autonomous flight modes. COVID-19 Analysis The need for the contactless delivery service has increased as a result of lockdowns and social isolation policies. In certain locations, drones have been used to carry food, medication, and other necessities, lowering the danger of transmission. Due of this, interest in the drone delivery system has grown, as has the likelihood of this industry expanding. Throughout the epidemic, drones have been used for a variety of monitoring and surveillance tasks. They have even been used to remotely assess body temperatures while enforcing lockout procedures and monitoring social distance compliance. Drones have been adopted for these applications because to the requirement for monitoring & enforcing safety regulations. The drone industry's technical innovation has increased due to the epidemic. To address the increasing needs of the pandemic and beyond, researchers and businesses have been attempting to create new drone capabilities, such as the improved autonomous navigation, cutting-edge sensors, and increased cargo capacity. These are a few of the most significant ways that the pandemic has impacted the drone industry. Get Free Sample PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1124 Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market Size in 2030 2030: USD 66.012 Billion CAGR 14.30% CAGR (2023-2030) Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Historical Data 2021 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Drone Type, Industry Type, Application, Technology and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW) Key Market Drivers Increasing demand for aerial photographic surveillance Key Players Eminent industry players profiled in the global drones market report include Microdrones (Germany) DJI (China) Aibotix GmbH Limited (UK) Drone America (US) Draganfly Innovations Inc. (US) ING Robotic Aviation (Canada) Aeryon Labs Plc. (UK) AeroVironment Inc. (US) Ascending Technologies Inc. (Canada) Univision (Canada) Drivers Increasing Use in Construction Industry to Boost Market Growth The operating procedures in the construction sector have undergone a revolution due to the widespread use of drones or unmanned aerial vehicles. Traditional land-based surveillance techniques are being increasingly replaced by drones because they need far less time and labor to collect the required data while minimizing the possibility of human mistake. An increasing number of construction sites are using UAVs to undertake visual inspections in high-risk regions. The capacity of drones to gather real-time data enhances the effectiveness of on-site administration and communication. Engineers and surveyors may use drones to check tall buildings and use aerial photography to track the development of a project. Browse In-depth Market Research Report (100 Pages) on Drones Market: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/drones-market-1124 Opportunities Technological Advances to offer Robust Opportunities The industry has developed as a result of developments in drone technology, including longer-lasting batteries, better flight control systems, obstacle recognition and avoidance, and higher cargo capacity. Drones' capabilities and dependability have increased thanks to these developments, broadening the range of drone applications. Drones are becoming substantially more autonomous thanks to technological improvements, allowing these autonomous drones to function with little to no human interference. Again drone surveillance has also undergone a technological revolution, with improved high-resolution imagery, night vision, and thermal imaging capabilities. Restraints and Challenges Limited Endurance to act as Market Restraint The limited endurance, presence of several non-uniform laws & regulations which restrict the usage of these systems in airspace of specific countries, SWAP challenges, and various drone regulations related to privacy & data protection may act as market restraints over the forecast period. Market Segmentation The global drones market is bifurcated based on type, capability, capacity, application, industry, component, and technology. By type, fixed-wing will lead the market over the forecast period. By capability, the market is bifurcated into cargo drones and passenger drones. By capacity the market is bifurcated into over 100kg and up to 100 kg. By application, inspection will domineer the market over the forecast period. By industry, oil and gas will spearhead the market over the forecast period. By component, the market is bifurcated into propulsion system, guidance navigation control, payload, and airframe. By technology, software will head the market over the forecast period. Buy Now: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1124 Regional Analysis APAC to Head Drones Market In 2022, the Asia Pacific market was valued at USD 11.8 billion and is anticipated to develop at a substantial CAGR. This is a result of the growth. Recent changes to drone legislation in the area are expected to stimulate industry growth. Over the last six years, China has risen to become the top drone producer in the world. At the start of 2019, China, which dominates more than 70 percent of the civilian drone industry, had over 1,200 drone manufacturers. The recent modifications in drone rules across several nations in the area are anticipated to assist the expansion of the Asia-Pacific market. Over the past six years, China has emerged as the world's primary drone manufacturing country. China supports more than 70% of the world's civilian drone market. To encourage the use of drones in different industrial sectors, the Chinese government offers a number of subsidy programs and other beneficial domestic policies for drone purchases. The demand for such UAVs in China is being driven by the expanding drone application fields. In the past, hobbyist drones domineered the Chinese drone business. The development of commercial drones in the nation is being fueled by the rising need for drones for inspection, surveying, monitoring, and surveillance applications in the agricultural, construction, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, mining, and insurance sectors. Discover more research Reports on Aerospace & Defense , by Market Research Future: Tethered Drones Market Research Report Information By Type (Military Drones, and Commercial Drones), By Component (Sensors, Controller System, Camera, Battery, and Others), By Application (Inspection & Monitoring, Law Enforcement, Surveying, Mapping, and Others) and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World)Forecast till 2030 Medical Drones Market Research Report: Information By Logistical Application (Emergency Blood Logistics, Vaccine logistics, Emergency Organ Logistics, and Others), By End User (Emergency Medical Service, Blood Bank, Hospital, and Others) And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2032 Utility Drones Market Research Report Information By Service (End-to-End Solution, Point Solution), By Type (Multi-Rotor, Fixed Wing), By End-Use (Conventional Power, Renewable) And By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2032 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. CHICAGO, June 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) announced the 2023 winners of the MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle, including an integrated delivery system, four hospital systems, three individual hospitals, two critical access hospitals and five physician practices. HFMAs MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle recognizes providers that have excelled in meeting industry standard revenue cycle benchmarks (MAP Keys), implemented the patient-centered recommendations and best practices embodied in HFMAs Healthcare Dollars & Sense initiatives, focused their efforts on improving price transparency and achieved outstanding patient satisfaction. Award recipients are acknowledged as industry leaders and share proven strategies with their colleagues. Our MAP award winners have achieved excellence in revenue cycle by focusing on patient engagement, workforce development and innovation, said HFMA President and CEO Ann Jordan. Congratulations to all the 2023 High Performance winners. We are truly honored to be recognized with this high-performance award, said Graves-Gilbert Clinic CFO Steven K. Sinclair, CPA, upon being notified they had received the award. While our tradition of clinical excellence dates back more than 85 years, our approach to revenue cycle could not be more contemporary. Our entire revenue cycle team is dedicated to making the financial experience a seamless one for our patients. Winners of the 2023 MAP Award for High Performance include the following organizations: Winning integrated delivery system: Saint Francis Health System, Tulsa, Okla. Winning hospital systems: Ballad Health, Johnson City, Tenn. Covenant Health, Tewksbury, Mass. OhioHealth, Columbus, Ohio ThedaCare, Neenah, Wisc. Winning individual hospitals: CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System, Texarkana, Texas Liberty Hospital, Liberty, Mo. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Winning critical access hospitals: Henry County Health Center, Inc., Mount Pleasant, Iowa Van Diest Medical Center, Webster City, Iowa Winning physician practices: Alo/Avance Care, Durham, N.C. ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP, Tarrytown, N.Y. Graves-Gilbert Clinic, Bowling Green, Ky. Heart and Vascular Care, Cumming, Ga. State of Franklin Healthcare Associates, Johnson City, Tenn. The awards were presented and award recipients celebrated at the HFMA Annual Conference on June 25 in Nashville, Tenn. About HFMA The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) equips its more than 100,000 members to navigate a complex healthcare landscape. Finance professionals in the full range of work settings, including hospitals, health systems, physician practices and health plans, trust HFMA to provide the guidance and tools to help them lead their organizations, and the industry, forward. HFMA is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that advances healthcare by collaborating with other key stakeholders to address industry challenges and providing guidance, education, practical tools and solutions, and thought leadership. We lead the financial management of healthcare. Press inquiries should be directed to: Brad Dennison Healthcare Financial Management Association 630-386-2945 bdennison@hfma.org BECE candidate, her fetish priest boyfriend in court for murder Alberto Mario Noretti, KPETOE Life Jun - 25 - 2023 , 14:26 An 18-year-old candidate for the Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE), Regina Dagba, and her boyfriend Daniel Etse Datsomor, a fetish priest aged 20, appeared before the district magistrate court at Kpetoe on Tuesday (June 21, 2023), facing charges of murder of an 'okada' rider. Presiding over the case, Mr Christian Hevi-Affuflu heard that Dagba, residing in Tsotso near Kasoa in the Central Region, travelled to Akatsi where she enticed the rider to accompany her to her boyfriend in Nyatsive, located in the Republic of Togo, where he was subsequently killed. Sergeant Ernest Nketia, who prosecuted, informed the court that Dagba made the cross-border trip on April 21, 2023. The prosecution identified the victim as Louis Agbogli, aged 28. According to the prosecutor, the rider's concerned father, Lumor Agbogli, reported his son missing to the police at Akatsi a week after his absence. The police conducted an investigation and discovered that the deceased had transported Dagba to her boyfriend across the Ghana-Togo border a few days prior. Based on this information, the authorities lured the young couple to Wute in Ghana and apprehended them. During the interrogation, Dagba, who was charged with aiding and abetting, stated that she arrived at her boyfriend's home late at night on the motorbike. However, she said she did not know whether the rider immediately returned to Akatsi or not. Dagba further mentioned discovering the motorbikes keys in her boyfriend's clothes while she was washing them, which puzzled her. Meanwhile, the prosecution stated that Dagba's boyfriend, accused of murder, failed to provide an explanation to the police as to how the rider's keys were found in his clothes. As a result, the Ghana and Togo police initiated a joint investigation into the case. When the fetish priest's mother was interrogated, her account was different from that of her son. Eventually, the fetish priest confessed to murdering the rider, disclosing that he committed the act in a thick forest located at a gravel pit between Kpetoe in Ghana and Nyatsive in Togo. The collaborative efforts of the police from both countries led to the discovery of the victim's body, along with his clothes, sandals, and other belongings at the crime scene. The motorbike was also found nearby, as disclosed in court. The prosecution added that certain parts of the deceased's body were missing, and that the body had been deposited at the morgue awaiting post-mortem and DNA examinations. Dagba, who was visibly distraught in court wearing a pair of jeans and a blouse, wept uncontrollably during the proceedings, while Datsomor kept his head bowed. At one point, the judge instructed him to raise his head and face the judge's direction. The prosecution declared that the case was still under investigation and requested the court to remand the accused individuals whose pleas were not taken. The accused were subsequently remanded in police custody until July 27. National mosque: Symbol of local, international cooperation Larweh Therson-Cofie Life Jun - 25 - 2023 , 12:01 The Makola Market in Accra that was demolished by the Armed Forces Revolution Council (AFRC) in 1979 must have been named after a Makola market in Lagos, Nigeria. Tradition holds that the name of the Makola market was derived from a Ga word, ma ko la which, in translation, means going to pick fire. It was believed that cows were driven through Cow Lane, a path in Accra, to a nearby place for sale. Slaughterhouses were established at the place where the cows were put up for sale. Some of the cows were slaughtered and kebab was made there for sale. Early in the morning, according to tradition, women from surrounding areas would go to pick fire from the griddle to make fire for cooking at home. The tradition appears not logical and not in accord with historical facts. Hausa and Yoruba people from Nigeria, West Indians, Sierra Leonians and Gambians were among soldiers brought into the Gold Coast to fight alongside the British in the Sagrenti (Sir Garnet) war against the Asante kingdom in 1874. (W.E. Ward in his book, A Short History of Ghana (1954)). Second, the Makola market was established in 1924, 80 years after the Bond of 1844 was concluded and signed. That bond or treaty between the southern tribes and the British government formalised the establishment of the colonial administration of Britain in the Gold Coast that became independent Ghana in 1957. Matches or safety matches were invented by a British pharmacist, John Walker, in 1827, and were put on sale at home and abroad. A Swedish invented safety matches in 1855. By 1924, when the Makola market was built, matches were available in Accra and elsewhere in the Gold Coast alongside other imported commodities, such as guns, gunpowder, gin, textiles, bicycles and motor cars. It is certain that the kebab makers at the Makola market used safety matches as their only source of fire. There was, therefore, no reason for inhabitants of Ayalolo, Adedenkpo and other surrounding areas in central Accra, to go to the Makola market to pick fire for cooking. Hausa and Yoruba immigrants from Nigeria might have settled in the area and established the market that was named after a popular Makola market in Lagos. This account leads to the building of the old national mosque in Accra in 1924. Most of the Yoruba and Hausa settlers in the Makola area were Muslims. Muslims pray five times a day and do so wherever they find themselves. They must have built a mosque near their place of work, which is the Makola market space. Makola market and the old national mosque co-existed until August 18, 1979, when the market was demolished by the defunct AFRC to make place for a park, named Rawlings Park. Makola market was razed to the ground first. Months later, the understanding was that the AFRC and the Muslim community leaders in Accra agreed that the old national mosque should also be destroyed and a new one built on a piece of land to be donated by the government. The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) administration in 1995 gave out a 42-acre land at Kanda in Accra to the Muslim community for a new national mosque. In 2006, President John Agyekum Kufuor laid the foundation stone for the national mosque at the site. The Muslim community in Ghana contributed funds for the project. It was not indicated that the PNDC government provided seed money for the project as a form of compensation for the demolition of the old national mosque at the heart of the business centre of Accra. Construction work halted after about 40 per cent of the project had been completed. In 2013, construction work resumed. A news report online dated June 20, 2013, published in Al Hajj by News Ghana provided the details. The (Ghana) government has facilitated the construction of a $10 million ultra-modern mosque by the Turkish government at Kanda, Accra. The project will house a school complex, a residence for the national chief Imam, a mosque to accommodate 15,000 people, a car park, a library, an Islamic school, a clinic, an administration block and a conference centre. Information available to Al Hajj has it that President Mahama donated 1,000 bags of cement at the initial stage when the Chief Imam constituted a national mosque planning committee to oversee the project. In his desire to ensure that the national mosque was completed and commissioned during the lifetime of the Chief Imam, Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, led him to impress upon the Turkish government to woo Hudai Foundation (in Turkey) to aid in the construction of the project, during a working visit of the national Imam to Turkey in February, this year. The report added that the Hudai Foundation completed the project free of charge. According to the news report, a Turkish delegation led by Prof. Hassan Kamel Tilmaz, Turkish Deputy President for Religious Affairs, was in Ghana to inspect the national mosque project. At the inspection ceremony, the report stated that the then Vice President of Ghana, Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, said, This project is a brave example of a strong collaboration between Muslims and Christians. The government had, all along, been trying to create a similar situation, where we can bring Christians and Muslims together for national unity and development. We will, therefore, support this project to the fullest. The report stated further that the then President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had made reciprocated visits in 2013, probably, partly in connection with the project. President Addo Danquah Akufo Addo commissioned the national mosque project after completion in 2021. Built in an Ottoman architectural style with four minarets, the national mosque is the second largest in West Africa. It stands in Accra as a symbol of national and international cooperation, collaboration and unity. The defunct PNDC government, and governments of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) -- all contributed in some ways to get the project completed and commissioned. The project was not, initially, a public-private one. It was a private project initiated in 2006 by the Muslim community in Ghana on a 42-acre land donated by the PNDC government of the late President Jerry John Rawlings. The reported facts are that the office of the national Imam persuaded the PNDC government to liaise with the Turkish government to assist financially with the completion of the project. It was a Ghana-Turkey cooperation project. The role the Ghana government played was to liaise with the Turkish government and the Turkish Hudai Foundation to provide the funds for its completion. I hope the construction of the national cathedral project in Accra would be accorded the same spirit of national unity and international cooperation and collaboration that helped in building the new national mosque. Building of the national mosque was devoid of politicisation, partisanship and unwarranted criticism. Both the NPP and the NDC governments played different roles in the beginning and completion of the national mosque as a symbol of honour to Allah. President Kufuor laid the foundation stone to mark the beginning of the project. I do not know whether President Kufuor made a token donation to the national mosque fund, after laying the foundation stone. President Mahama donated 1,000 bags of cement and he liaised with the Turkish government on behalf of the Ghanaian Muslim community to get Turkish financial aid for the completion of the project. President Akufo Addo commissioned the completed project in 2021. It is on the records that the National Imam, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has donated some money to the national cathedral project fund. Asogli State prepares to honour Togbe Afede XIV's two-decade reign at Yam Festival GraphicOnline Jun - 25 - 2023 , 10:25 Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, is set to celebrate his two-decade reign this year, marking a significant milestone for the region. The installation of Togbe Afede took place in 2003, and the upcoming Te Za Yam Festival will be dedicated to honouring his leadership as a renowned entrepreneur and one of the nation's esteemed traditional leaders. In recent years, the annual festival has gained momentum, becoming a popular event on summer calendars. It showcases the rich traditions and cultural heritage of the Asogli State, captivating attendees with its vibrant displays and captivating customs. During a recent coronation ceremony for new leaders of the State, the Agbogbomefia emphasized the festival's role as a platform for promoting African traditional culture and wealth. GNA reports that he highlighted the growing reputation of the Asogli State and urged the chiefs and people to uphold and enhance its standing. Togbe Afede stated, "Doors are opening for Asogli because of our growing reputation, and we need to uphold it." According to Steven Tetteh, Secretary to the State, preparations are already underway for this year's festival. A media launch is scheduled in the coming weeks to officially commence the festivities. The event will feature various highlights, including the traditional ceremony of hailing the new yam at sundown, which brings the entire community together in a vibrant street procession. Additionally, the grand durbar, a major attraction, attracts political and non-political leaders, as well as corporate organizations from near and far. Tetteh shared that Togbe Afede's ascension to the throne has solidified the festival's role in unifying the Asogli State for development. The planning committee is dedicated to delivering an even more impactful event this year. In 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival returned with a series of events, including an anti-corruption day celebration, a youth forum, and a conference of traditional leaders from Ewe communities in West Africa. Sources reveal that the lineup for the 2023 festival includes the launch of a foundation and a range of activities aimed at promoting the tourism potential of the Volta Region. Visitors to the Asogli Palace have been teased with a miniature design of the "Volta City" project, which is expected to be officially unveiled by Togbe Afede. The ambitious project envisions hundreds of housing units set against a serene landscape within the Volta Region. Hajj: Over 4,000 Ghanaian pilgrims safely airlifted as final flight arrives in Saudi Arabia GraphicOnline Jun - 24 - 2023 , 21:57 The successful completion of the airlifting of Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims has been marked by the safe arrival of the final flight carrying 430 pilgrims in Jeddah. Departing from Accra on Saturday morning, the flight had been rescheduled from Thursday to accommodate additional document processing, ensuring a full flight for the journey. With a total of 10 chartered flights organized by the Hajj Board, the final flight reached maximum capacity with all 430 passengers on board. Regrettably, 27 individuals were unable to secure a seat on the last flight due to oversubscription. The Hajj Board is currently working tirelessly to find alternative means to airlift these remaining individuals and ensure their participation in the Hajj pilgrimage. Expressing his disappointment, the Chairman of the Hajj Board, Ben Abdallah Banda, acknowledged the tight schedule and proximity of the Hajj commencement. However, he assured the public that every effort is being made to find a suitable solution for the 27 affected pilgrims. In total, the Hajj Board successfully airlifted 4,190 Ghanaian pilgrims for the 2023 Hajj, with flights departing from both Tamale and Accra. Each zone, northern and southern, organized five flights to facilitate the pilgrimage journey. The official commencement of the 2023 Hajj is scheduled for the evening of Monday, June 26, 2023, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Ghanaian pilgrims, having arrived safely, will now embark on this sacred and significant religious event with gratitude and anticipation. US Treasury Secretary Yellen commends Ghana's economic progress in meeting with Prez Akufo-Addo GraphicOnline Jun - 25 - 2023 , 08:49 On the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Janet L. Yellen, held a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana. The meeting on June 22, 2023, centred around important discussions concerning the evolution of multilateral development banks to effectively address the global challenges of the 21st century. Secretary Yellen emphasized the critical need to mobilize climate and infrastructure financing for Ghana and other African nations. Recognizing the importance of sustainable development, she lauded Ghana's commitment to economic reforms under its International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, which is aimed at enhancing economic growth and resilience. During the meeting, Secretary Yellen commended Ghana's significant progress in debt restructuring, which has contributed to the country's economic stability and growth. The efforts undertaken by President Akufo-Addo and his administration were recognized as vital steps in positioning Ghana for a prosperous future. President Akufo-Addo expressed his gratitude for the support and partnership extended by the United States. He highlighted Ghana's determination to continue implementing the necessary reforms to foster economic development and attract investment. The discussions between Secretary Yellen and President Akufo-Addo underscored the importance of international cooperation in addressing global economic challenges. Both leaders emphasized the significance of leveraging financial resources to support sustainable development and climate action. President Tinubu Goes To London On Private Visit, From Paris Summit President Bola Tinubu has left Paris, France where he participated in the summit for A New Global Financing Pact hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and headed for London for a private visit. A statement by Dele Alake, Special Adviser to President Asiwaju on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, said that the President concluded the Summit in Paris yesterday, June 23 the headed to London. Alake said that in addition to participation at the Paris event where he represented Nigeria well, President Tinubu also held high-profile sideline meetings with fellow heads of state and government, global business leaders and chief executives of leading multilateral and development finance institutions from around the world. The summit afforded the President the opportunity of projecting, on a global stage, his advocacy for widening the fiscal space, economic justice for Africa as the world accelerates the pace of energy transition and the urgency of addressing the pressing issues of poverty and climate change. President Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to be back in Abuja on Saturday, will now proceed to London, United Kingdom, for a short private visit. The President will be back in the country in time for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival. Eid-el-Kabir will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 28, across the Muslim world. Dovetail Electric Aviation announced that Hyundai Motor Groups HTWO will supply a hydrogen fuel cell system for electric aviation powertrain trials. HTWO is the fuel cell system-based hydrogen business brand of Hyundai Motor Group. Rex, Australias largest independent regional and domestic airline, took a 20% stake in Dovetail in April, and has been actively working with Dovetail to advance the conversion of turbine-powered aircraft to zero-emission electric propulsion. Dovetail will use HTWOs fuel cell system for initial testing in Australia, to be integrated with Dovetails Iron Bird that was successfully tested last February, and that integrates a +250kW aviation electric motor with all the required power electronics and controls. Dovetail will run the HTWO fuel cell system as a prior step to full scale trials, and a future first flight as early as next year. This opportunity will allow Dovetail Electric Aviation to continue to develop and refine its electric propulsion system, enhancing it with the power of hydrogen and extending its applicability and value for future operators. Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a self-driving trucking company, announced that Loadsmith, a leading third-party Capacity-as-a-Service (CaaS) logistics platform for shippers and carriers, will equip 800 trucks with Kodiaks self-driving technology, the Kodiak Driver. The Kodiak-equipped autonomous trucks will serve as the foundation for the newly established Loadsmith Freight Network (LFN), the first freight transportation company built specifically for self-driving trucks. Kodiak will begin delivering the Kodiak Driver-powered self-driving trucks in the second half of 2025. The Kodiak trucks on the LFN will transport goods autonomously on the interstate portions of highway routes. Loadsmiths fleet of trucks equipped with the Kodiak Driver will complete the long-haul portions of Loadsmiths deliveries, while human-driven trucks, booked on Loadsmiths platform, will do local pickups and deliveries. By pairing autonomous long-haul trucks with local drivers that will rendezvous at hubs along and within the LFN, Loadsmith and Kodiak will enable shippers to move freight more efficiently, reliably, and safely. Loadsmiths proprietary logistics platform will deploy 6,000 trailers on the LFN to maximize the utilization of the Kodiak-powered trucks on the network. By pairing self-driving trucks and local manual trucks on the same network, Loadsmith can rapidly scale autonomous deliveries and convert significant amounts of freight volume from traditional trucking methods to a more flexible and on-demand service. This model will allow shippers to seamlessly leverage autonomous trucks for the long-haul lanes that are less desirable to many drivers. This helps reimagine the drivers job by creating attractive local driving opportunities and simultaneously relieving the driver shortage that continues to plague American supply chains, the company said. As part of the agreement, Loadsmith has joined the Kodiak Partner Deployment Program, which helps shippers and carriers establish autonomous freight operations and seamlessly integrate the Kodiak Driver into their fleets. Kodiak has recently announced partnerships with C.R. England and Tyson, IKEA, Werner, Forward and more. Interview: China offering plenty of opportunities for int'l companies, says British business leader Xinhua) 14:46, June 25, 2023 This aerial photo taken on Aug. 20, 2022 shows the Tesla Gigafactory in Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Rejecting the idea that the West can isolate China, Perry said it is only "a fantasy" and is "unrealistic." "Everywhere you go, you see China," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club noted, adding that China is investing in technologies and different ways of innovation across the world. LONDON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- China is offering plenty of opportunities for international companies to do good business, and the firms are taking up those opportunities, a British business leader has said. "What's interesting is that the business leaders have gone to Beijing. And they realize that the trade is still going on across the world, and that China is open for business in a very real way," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, told Xinhua during a recent interview. "The world's business needs China. And the world's business will continue to find that China is a good place to be," Perry said. "I think that if I was a Western businessman, I would be in Beijing today, not anywhere else in the world, and take advantage of these opportunities while they're there." When asked about recent remarks made by some U.S. politicians about the so-called "de-risking" from China, Perry told Xinhua that "the United States is trying to find out why China has advanced faster than the United States, and how did the United States with all the sophisticated capabilities get it wrong, and how did that happen." They have a tendency to blame the other person, he added. "I think that the Americans have found it easier to explain away the advances that China has made by demonizing China." However, Perry said, "once you start blaming the other person, you'll be getting to move away from reality. Once you move away from the realistic analysis of what's going wrong, then you're in trouble." "Whether one talks about 'decoupling' or 'de-risking' -- whatever words one wants to use -- the world has changed beyond all imagination," he noted, adding that people who will lose most if the world is segregated into areas will be the West, as they will lose the best new markets in the world. "What we have to recognize is that if we decouple, de-risk, separate ourselves from China and Asia, we will be the ones that lose out. Asia will have the highest amount of innovation and development. It will have the highest rises in economic development. And we in Europe and America will be cut off from it. It's not a good policy," he said. People visit the RCEP pavilions during the 19th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) "If we want to get a world that's good for the West, we have to participate in the Asian economy, and we have to recognize that at the center of the Asian economy is China. It's the biggest economy of them all, and Asians are going to be interdependent with China. And the West has to be interdependent with China," he added. Rejecting the idea that the West can isolate China, Perry said it is only "a fantasy" and is "unrealistic." "Everywhere you go, you see China," he noted, adding that China is investing in technologies and different ways of innovation across the world. "China is going to be part of the world for the next hundreds of years, and we ought to adjust that," he added. During the interview, the business leader told Xinhua that the world will get smaller, not larger, and that countries worldwide will get more interdependent with each other. "It'll change its form over the next 30 or 40 years, but it won't change its principal characteristic, which is multilateralism. It is the only way the world makes sense to work," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu) While Windows is best known as a desktop operating system, Microsofts big push with Windows 8 was to make both the internals and the user interface capable of running on a touch-based, ARM-powered device. This caused a massive rewrite of Windows Phone as it went from version 7 to version 8 and breaking app compatibility. The desktop and mobile OSes continued to move closer together and Windows 10 Mobiles Continuum feature blurred the lines between desktop and mobile. The hero of todays story well, the tragic hero, but lets not spoil the story is called the NuAns Neo. Continuum plays a big part in its story as it was one of the highlights in the Kickstarter campaign. For those unfamiliar, Continuum was a desktop mode for Windows 10 Mobile. It could pipe video out through a USB-C port and could run mobile apps in windowed mode. Better yet, it could run Win32 apps, i.e. Windows applications written for 32-bit x86 processors (which was the majority of apps at the time). NuAns Neo running Continuum We immediately encounter the problem with this plan. The Neo was powered by a Snapdragon 617, a 28nm chipset from late 2015 that featured an octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU (4+4, 1.5GHz + 1.2GHz configuration) and had an Adreno 405 GPU, plus a Cat. 7 LTE modem (300Mbps down/100Mbps up). To say that is under-powered would be an understatement NuAns wanted to launch the Neo in mid-2016, around the same time that ZTE unveiled the Zmax Pro, a $99 phone with the SD 617, 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage. For comparison, the Neo also had 2GB of RAM and just 16GB of internal storage (expandable with UHS-I microSD cards up to 128GB). Thats very little computing power for a desktop replacement. For further context of the tech scene in 2016, you could pick up a Lumia 950 for just 250 and Microsoft would have thrown in a free Display Dock for use with the Continuum feature. A Lumia 950 XL was 340. Microsoft was handing out free Docks in the US and Canada too. Admittedly, the Snapdragon 808 and 810 chipsets inside those phones were deeply flawed, but they were still miles better than the 617. And you got 3GB of RAM plus 32GB storage (expandable). A Microsoft Lumia 950 with the Display Dock running Continuum Okay, to be fair, at that time Microsoft was holding a fire sale of its Lumia inventory as it had lost confidence in its smartphone business. And the NuAns Neo wasnt an expensive phone its market value was listed as $400, but early bird backers could get it for $270. Lets look at the hardware well have more to say about the design later as that is by far the best feature on the phone. For now, lets look at the hardware. There were the requisite USB-C port and 3.5mm headphone jack. The back was removable, as was the 3,350mAh battery, this also gave you access to the SIM and microSD slots. NuAns Neo overview Interestingly, there was space for an NFC card under the rear panel. NFC was already well-established by 2016, but there is some merit to this approach e.g. the iPhone 7 had it, but Apple only opened up access to it in 2018 with iOS 12. NuAns allowed you to use, say, a public transport card or a card that opens the door to your office, even though those may have used standards not supported by phones of the day. The Neo had a 5 display with 720p resolution, which was low for a $400 (even $270) phone of the day. The Zmax Pro had a 6 1080p display, by the way. There were two cameras on board 13MP on the rear and 5MP on the front, both with autofocus. The phone measured 141 x 74.2 x 11.3mm and weighed 150g. Alright, lets talk about the design now. The rear panel was removable and there was a cool twist there were actually two panels that could be changed individually. This allowed users to mix and match panels to get a unique look with so many possible combinations. Here are the panels available for the TWOTONE look: And now an animation to drive the point home. If you had several panels, you can have a different combo for each day of the week. The NuAns team took care to pick great quality materials that offer a mix of wood, leather and suede. Those werent natural materials but instead designed specifically to handle the wear and tear of daily use. As an alternative to the TWOTONE cases, there were wallet-style FLIP cases too. This covered the back with a single piece and wrapped leather around the front. A magnet held the case closed (and was used to lock/unlock the phone) and there was a small pocket for credit cards inside. Also, the case could be used as a kickstand. We dont know about you, but we think that the NuAns team created some beautiful designs, though we question how wise it is to have a gap in the middle of the back. The Neo lacked water resistance of any kind, of course, but even just dust getting in could have been a problem. Were not the only one that think that the Neo is a looker, it won an iF Gold Award, here is what the panel of judges had to say: This smartphone by Japanese manufacturer Trinity represents a departure from most products in its category, combining complex technology with interesting haptics. It has a fresh appearance through the use of wood and other 'warm' materials, and the curved body shape feels natural and well balanced. Overall, a superbly executed product. By now you must be eager to find out what happened to the NuAns Neo. The phone was unveiled in Japan in late 2015 and then it was shown off at CES in early 2016. The plan was to launch it globally through a Kickstarter campaign in June 2016. The Kickstarter campaign had a modest goal, $725,000, but it failed to garner any interest. Only 489 backers signed on with a monetary total of just $142,368. Thats better than Meizus port-less phone, though nowhere near what was necessary to bring the phone to the global market. It seems that the Neo was sold in Japan, but we cant find any sales figures. It would be a shame to waste such a beautiful design, right? The NuAns team thought so too and had another go at it this time with Android 7.1 Nougat instead of Windows. The new model was dubbed the NuAns Neo Reloaded (apparently the team was a fan of the Matrix movies) and it was indeed a brand new model. The Reloaded was beefed up with a Snapdragon 625 chipset, 3GB of RAM and the screen was upgraded to a 5.2 1080p panel. This addressed all the key concerns about the original Neo. There were other updates too, like a fingerprint reader and Dragontrail Pro glass on the front. The new and improved NuAns Neo Reloaded The team even released CAD files to help people design and 3D print back covers for the Neo Reloaded at home, which was really cool of them. The phone was set for a May 31 2017 launch in Japan with a price tag of JPY 49,800 (around $440 at the time). History repeated itself when NuAns attempted a global launch, this time through IndieGoGo. The campaign had an even lower goal, $370,000, but it drew even less interest with only 23 backers and $7,708 in the bag. NuAns Neo Reloaded global pricing Were skeptical of post-PC designs at the best of times, but trying to position a phone with a Snapdragon 617 and 2 gigs of RAM as a desktop replacement is not even a good time, never mind best. Still, theres no denying that the NuAns Neo was a bold design, a rare thing in the last decade. Would it have been successful had it gone with Android from the get-go (and with a better chipset)? Android at the time wasnt ready for desktop mode (Android today isnt either, outside of vendor-exclusive implementations), so NuAns would have had to cut that feature. That would still leave the beautiful, customizable design, but that alone may not have been enough. Moto Maker back in the day and Samsungs Bespoke Edition phones today do offer some customization, though without the clever split design of NuAns. Those Moto X and G models and the current Galaxys started off with good hardware before focusing on the looks, however. When it comes to the NuAns Neo, beauty was only skin deep the inside was a $100 phone. Weekly deals: the best smartphone deals from the UK, Germany, Italy, the US, and India What is better a year old flagship or a current mid-ranger? If they are close enough in price, the high-end hardware tends to be the better pick as well see with a few phones this week. UK A few weeks ago the Realme GT2 was selling for 360, but its price has fallen by 50 since then. This makes is a great deal for a Snapdragon 888 chipset and a 6.62 120Hz AMOLED display (FHD+), complete with a 5,000mAh battery and 65W fast charging. The Xiaomi 12 goes to show that sometimes and old flagship is better than a current mid-ranger. This sub-400 phone is slightly smaller than a Pixel 7a with its curved 6.28 120Hz AMOLED display (12-bit, FHD+). Its powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and it offers a 50MP main cam (with OIS) and 13MP ultra wide (123), plus a 32MP selfie camera. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 successor will launch next month and Samsung usually offers solid early bird deals. However, the outgoing Z Flip4 can be had for 700 thanks to a 200 cashback deal on Amazon. Weve seen claims that the leaked price for the Nothing Phone (2) is higher than what the actual price will be. We dont know whether thats true or not, but we do know that the fully-loaded 12/256GB version of the Phone (1) is under 400. While youre at it, you can pick up a Nothing Ear (stick) for a complete the transparent look. A couple of weeks ago these stylish TWS buds were 10 more. If you want to do some work on an iPad, a physical keyboard is a must-have. Logitech has a few options available, starting with this slim folio case for the iPad 10th gen. If you have an older iPad (2019-2021), then this case will fit it. Its pricier than the one above because its more rugged Logitech claims that it exceeds the MIL-STD-810g drop test standards. Germany This one is for true believers with deep pockets the Sony Xperia 1 V is a niche device that is aimed mostly at photography enthusiasts. Sony is not in the habit of discounting its phones (its not like it is competing for market share), but MediaMarkt is offering a 223 discount, which will be automatically applied in the cart. OnePlus may have pulled up stakes, but unless you work for Nokia, you shouldnt feel bad about picking up a OnePlus 10 Pro at a lower price point. At 760 this is competing with the Galaxy S23/S23+. Of course, you still get full hardware and software support. Next up, a trio of A-series 2023 models: the Galaxy A54, A34 and A14 5G. The prices are significantly lower than MSRP, were talking 100+ discounts here. The A54 and A14 5G are sold and dispatched from Amazon, the A34 is sold by Intersa Global Store and dispatched by Amazon. The Poco F4 GT is a year old but its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 keeps its performance fresh. It has a 6.67 120Hz AMOLED display (FHD+, HDR10+) and a 4,700mAh battery with a whopping fast 120W fast charging (100% in 17 minutes). Apple may be allergic to discounts, but Amazon is not, so it has knocked 210 off the price of a 128GB iPhone 14 Pro. Pixel owners can pick up this 2nd gen charging stand, which will max out their phones wireless charging capability at 23W. This works with other brands too, of course, though they might find it a bit slow. Anyway, it also charges other gadgets like a pair of Pixel Buds, for example. Italy The stylish Realme 11 Pro+ is better liked than its sibling because it packs a 200MP main camera (vs. 100MP) and an ultra wide module (just 8MP 112 but its up against nothing). The Pro+ model also has double the resolution on the selfie camera (32MP) and faster charging (100W vs. 67W) for the 5,000mAh battery. The Realme GT2 Pro price continues to fall as the phone ages up. While its hardware may be 18 months old, the 6.7 120Hz LTPO2 display and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 are a great deal at 435. You also get 50+50MP cameras and a 5,000mAh battery with great endurance (117h) and 65W fast charging. The Xiaomi 13 Lite is just a few months old and while its 6.55 OLED panel is 12-bit, it only has FHD+ resolution. It is powered by the rare Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip and a 4,500mAh battery with 67W fast charging. The 50+8MP rear camera is nothing to write home about as it is capped at 1080p video recording. The Samsung Galaxy A34 is dubiously cheap, at 257 it is well below the 470 price over at Samsung.com. Still, this unit is dispatched by Amazon, so you can always return it. The Samsung Galaxy A14 5G enjoys a more modest discount, but its enough to make it a sub-200 5G phone. It has an 6.6 FHD+ LCD (90Hz) and a 5,000mAh battery (15W), though it is missing an ultra wide camera. There is a microSD slot and a 3.5mm jack on board. The Redmi Note 12 4G is cheaper than the A14 and is equipped with a better screen (6.67 120Hz AMOLED), plus it has an 8MP ultra wide camera to boot. However, it misses out on next-gen connectivity as the Snapdragon 685 is old silicon with a couple of coats of paint on top. The 5,000mAh battery does do 33W charging, though. USA The Samsung Galaxy A54 is down to $400, $100 less than a Pixel 7a (well not quite, hold that thought). Samsung is offering the better software support (an extra OS update compared to Googles deal). This one also has a microSD slot, but it is larger (6.4 display vs. 6.1). Speaking of the Pixels, the Pixel 7 flagship is down to $517, just a bit higher than the MSRP of the 7a. However, the Pixel 7a price is progressively falling and is already down to $470. It was $488 when we checked on it last week. You can wait a few weeks for it to fall further, but there are no guarantees with price fluctuations. The OnePlus Nord N30 is still quite fresh, so its price hasnt budged from the $300. However, Amazon is throwing in a free pair of Nord Buds 2, which is worth $60 on its own. The Moto G Power 5G is a bit cheaper than the N30. It runs on a Dimensity 930 instead of a Snapdragon 695, but neither can record 4K video. The Moto has lower resolution main cam (50MP vs. 108MP). Also, the Motorola has a smaller screen (6.5 vs. 6.72), both are 120Hz FHD+ LCDs. The final thing to note is that Motorola settled for a slow 15W charging, while OnePlus offers 50W (both phones have 5,000mAh batteries). The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is a 2021 model, but since this isnt one of the Wear OS watches it uses a proprietary OS instead its in software category that moves slowly. Anyway, the reason to get the T-Rex Pro is its 10ATM water resistance rating and MIL-STD-810G certification, plus up to 18 days of battery life (40 hours with continuous tracking). Its basically a smartwatch for the outdoors. India We have been keeping an eye on the Phantom X2 pair for quite a while now and their prices had been sitting at 50,000 for the Pro and 40,000 for the vanilla model since February. Finally, we have movement. As a refresher, both phones have massive 6.8 120Hz AMOLED displays, Dimensity 9000 chipsets and 5,160mAh batteries with 45W charging. The Phantom X2 Pro stands out with its unique 50MP zoom camera (2.5x) with a unique retractable lens. The 50MP main camera is better too with a large 1/1.3 sensor (1.2m pixels). For comparison, the vanilla X2 has a 64MP main cam (with OIS) and a 13MP ultra wide (the same UW module as on the Pro). vivo quietly launched the Y36 in India, but not quietly enough for us to miss the outdated notch. The global Y36 has a punch hole instead. Other than that, the two models are nearly identical, save for the lack of NFC and the different memory configuration. Also new this week is the Honor Pad X8. New in the country, anyway, this slate is actually from September of last year. It has a 10.1 LCD with 1,920 x 1,200px resolution and a Helio G80 chipset. The battery is quite small at 5,100mAh, but at least the tablet is thin and light (7.6mm and 460g). The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z2 are affordable neckband style headphones. In our review, we found the audio quality lacking they are way too heavy on the bass. But if thats your thing, go for it, the Z2 offer solid build quality and comfort, plus excellent battery life. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Bank of Guam continued its contribution to the community by distributing food, launching a typhoon recovery loan program and collaborating with the Red Cross. Kindness bags On Friday, Bank of Guam representatives and staff from various mayors offices coordinated a food distribution drive-thru named Operation: Filled With Kindness. The distribution took place at the former BOG Harmon Loop branch as they provided 1,500 kindness bags, one per household, while supplies were available. In each kindness bag, there was a 10-pound bag of Diamond G Calrose rice and two cans of original SPAM. Numerous residents desired the opportunity as some were even waiting since 8 a.m. despite the distribution beginning at 10 a.m. The line filled up the westbound third lane as it went all the way up the overpass. We just want to thank Mayor Jesse Alig and Mayor Robert Hofmann for giving us the idea, said Lesley Anne Leon Guerrero, BOGs Senior Vice President. We also want to thank Mayor Melissa Savares for allowing us to do this here again, said Leon Guerrero, who is also BOGs Chief Experience Officer. Weve been converting a lot of our closed facilities into ways we can help the community. Operation: Filled With Kindness members and staff conducted another distribution effort of 1,000 bags around their Hagatna headquarters on Saturday morning. Recovery loans and loan payment relief As an extension of their support for the community, the bank has also launched their Typhoon Mawar Recovery Loan Program for Guam and Rota residents. To aid with typhoon related expenses, Bank of Guam launched the program and offered two loan options. One option provided a maximum loan amount of $5,000 and is paid back over 36 months with a 7.5% Annual Percentage Rate. The second option offered a maximum loan amount of $20,000 and is paid back over 60 months with the same APR. All loan options are subject to Bank of Guam lending criteria. The offer period is effective from June 12 through June 30. Loan recipients will not need to make any payments for the first 45 days. Guam and Rota residents can apply in-branch or online at bankofguam.com. Additionally, announced earlier this month, was Bank of Guams Loan Payment Relief Program, automatically deferring payments on personal and auto loans, and personal credit cards for Guam and Rota residents for three calendar months. Donations to American Red Cross BOGs dedication and commitment did not end with the food distribution or loans as they continued their donations to the American Red Cross as well. Bank of Guam announced on Thursday that they are continuing their support of relief efforts through a $50,000 donation made to the American Red Cross Typhoon Mawar Relief Fund. As longtime supporters of the American Red Cross, we have witnessed their work and seen the impact it can have on our People during the most critical times, said Joaquin P. L.G. Cook, BOG President and Chief Executive Officer. We proudly stand beside the local businesses and organizations that have answered the call to help and be part of bringing much needed relief to our communities. Together, we can make a difference and together, we will Rebuild Stronger Every Day. In addition to their financial support, Bank of Guam has also donated their former Dededo Branch to the American Red Cross for use as a training center for volunteers. This space will allow ARC volunteers to reach more individuals and families in need. Typhoons leave behind an incredible amount of need that cannot be addressed by a single organization alone, said Maria Eugenia H. Leon Guerrero, BOG Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. We understand the path to recovery for most will be a long road ahead, and we remain committed to doing what we can to help families get back on their feet. The dedication of Bank of Guam to American Red Cross goes all the way back to the 1990s. About 25 years ago, Bank of Guam donated space to the American Red Cross after Typhoon Paka, said Chita Blaise, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross Guam Chapter. They again donated an entire floor of their headquarters in the aftermath of Typhoon Chataan. BOGs dedication, support, and commitment now and through the decades has been a testament to their preserving spirit of compassion and resilience and we cant thank them enough. For more details and access to helpful resources, visit Bank of Guams Mawar Communications page at bankofguam.com. On June 22, the University of Guam Board of Regents held a special meeting to address the selection of who will be their new president and to vote on Resolution 23-21. Pacific Daily News initial coverage on the presidential selection can be found here. Enriquez elected as new UOG president The University of Guam Board of Regents have selected their new president, effective Aug. 5, 2023. Six of the nine regents voted in favor of Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez to become president while three of the regents voted in favor of Dr. Mary Okada, who is currently the president and CEO of Guam Community College. Resolution 23-21 was also approved unanimously by the regents before the presidential election. The resolution authorizes the President to depart from the UOG General Pay Plan and to effect the 22% pay adjustment authorized by Public Law 37-3 for federally funded employees for the remainder of FY2023 whose federal grant authorities authorize the pay adjustments. This action will only cover the employees occupying the 104 classified employees within 100% federally funded positions. Any pay actions for federally funded positions must be made in coordination and with the approval of the federal grant authorities. The resolution gave credit to Public Law 37-3, which was enacted on March 31, 2023. The law adjusted the government of Guam General Pay Plan by a 22% increase. The resolution also stated that many unclassified employees were not hired at the same pay rate as their counterparts in the classified service, and in order to maintain equity between different job classifications, the Human Resources Office will develop a methodology for assigning a pay target for the federally funded unclassified employees. They noted that appropriate grant principal investigators will need to develop a plan to adjust the salaries of their federally funded unclassified employees in accordance with the 22% pay adjustment authorized by Public Law 37-3 for the rest of FY2023 if the federal grant authority authorizes and has the funds for the pay adjustment. The university will continue to work on a plan for addressing the 354 unclassified employees that are paid by locally appropriated funds not covered in this action in order to maintain pay equity among all employee groups of the university. Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen AFB Environmental Flight and the National Park Service. Haiti - Crisis : DR and Canada are committed to strengthening their cooperation with Haiti At the closing of the international competition "Fuerzas Comando 2023" organized by the Dominican Ministry of Defence, which saw the participation of 22 countries from the Americas and Caribbean region, Laura J. Richardson, the head of the Southern Command of the States, expressed concern about the situation in Haiti. Like the Dominican Republic and Canada, the Government of the United States is ready to help Haiti emerge from the crisis which is worsening every day. Although the possibility of establishing "a Canadian office" in the Dominican Republic to help Haitians has been ruled out by the Dominican Government https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39810-haiti-haitian-crisis-dominican-rep-says-no-to-the-opening-of-a-canadian-office-on-its-territory.html , the two countries have published a joint statement aimed at developing actions in favor of Haiti The Dominican Republic and Canada issued a statement this week in which they reaffirmed the strength of their bilateral relationship and pledged to strengthen their cooperation to contribute to the stability of Haiti. Both countries recognize that the restoration of stability in Haiti will reduce the "significant burden" on the Dominican Republic and that the crisis in this country requires "enhanced international development cooperation, humanitarian, and security assistance. This includes capacity building through providing equipment, technical assistance, and training." Joint statement by Canada and the Dominican Republic : "Canada and the Dominican Republic (DR) have solid bilateral relations and are long standing partners including on regional security matters. As underlined during President Abinader and Prime Minister Trudeaus bilateral call last March 30, Canada and the DR are committed to strengthening their cooperation to help address the ongoing crisis in Haiti, with a view to supporting Haitian-owned and Haitian-led solutions for a return to stability. Both countries recognize that restoring stability to Haiti will reduce the significant burden on the Dominican Republic, its sole land neighbor, including social pressure and budget strains placed on the Dominican social services. Both countries agree that the scale of the crisis in Haiti requires enhanced international development cooperation, humanitarian, and security assistance. This includes capacity building through providing equipment, technical assistance, and training. Both countries recognize that efforts are already underway in Haiti through the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and through the deployment of additional resources by Canada and other partners, including through Canada's recent announcement of an additional $100 million. Both countries acknowledge that the Dominican Republic has collaborated with the requests of Haitian authorities to consolidate security in that country, facilitate access to strategic goods such as fuel, and support the security of international diplomatic personnel stationed in Haiti, among other measures. Similarly, both countries recognize ongoing cooperation between governments of the region and the Haitian authorities including the United Nations as well as efforts led by the United States, CARICOM and others, with the aim of restoring the rule of law in Haiti and alleviating food insecurity in the country. Canada and the DR are committed to continuing to work together and with the international community to support a Haitian-led long-term solution to the ongoing crisis. We will enhance coordination in Haiti, DR, Canada and other locations as required including through increased presence at the Canadian embassies in Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-39810-haiti-haitian-crisis-dominican-rep-says-no-to-the-opening-of-a-canadian-office-on-its-territory.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... A group of young people, targeted by killers, 3 dead Friday, June 23 at Thor 10 in the town of Carrefour, a group of young people was the target of armed individuals on motorcycles. The reason for the shooting is unknown. The justice of the peace of Carrefour, Moise Jean, confirmed the death of three people in the shooting of Thor 10, this Friday, June 23. The victims are Samorat Jonville (25), Luc Berlot Boursiquor (25) and Luc Soinel Jules. Solar pumps : India alongside farmers Saturday June 24, 2023, in order to improve access to water for the local population and strengthen agricultural production, 5 solar-powered water pumping systems, financed by India with the technical support of the United Nations for Development (UNDP Haiti), were inaugurated in Aquin by the Ministry of the Environment. Paris : Speech by Ariel Henry applauds As part of the summit, on behalf of the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change, acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry spoke at the Paris summit "For a new global financial pact" which ended on Friday 23 June, to close a panel on the impact of climate change on health. His remarks on the consequences of natural disasters, on infrastructure, the supply of health care and on the spread of certain infectious diseases, were applauded. Technology in agriculture The Technical Mission of Taiwan in Haiti presented to the farmers of the South, the applications of technology in agriculture. Using field sensors, information about crop varieties, field management, harvesting, packaging and sales data is integrated to form a production traceability profile. This information is shared in a database on the internet. Consumers can get product information by scanning a QR code, allowing them to shop with peace of mind and improving the food safety of agricultural products. Distribution of materials and phytosanitary products The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - Haiti) and the Ministry of Agriculture will ensure the distribution of spraying equipment and phytosanitary products to 200 producer associations to fight against parasites. In addition, 20,000 yam plants were distributed to more than 200 farmers in the communal sections of Port-a-Piment, South Department. Remote management of GBV cases The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) organized a three-day workshop in Port-au-Prince funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti), on the remote management of cases of violence based on gender in emergencies. During this workshop, a group of 34 case managers had the opportunity to exchange and share their experiences on good practices and guiding principles of remote case management. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2023/06/25 (Photo courtesy of CJ ENM) CJ ENM's music channel Mnet's CAMP ZEROBASEONE is ready to meet with global fans from over 200 regions. Advertisement By confirming licensing deals with various global platforms from Japan, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan, CAMP ZEROBASEONE is gaining unprecedented worldwide attention, even before its premiere. In Japan, CAMP ZEROBASEONE will be simultaneously released on the local OTT platform U-NEXT and Mnet Japan. Expected to elate the fans' interests that have provided continuous support since BOYS PLANET, starting from the 26th, U-NEXT plans to provide Japanese-subtitled versions of the show through their VOD service. Revealing high expectations about the show, an official from U-NEXT stated, "We are genuinely glad to service the first reality show of' 'ZEROBASEONE', one of the most popular K-POP boy bands. We have received unbelievable attention from the fans, and sincerely believe the simultaneous launch of the show via U-NEXT will continue this excitement". Global OTT platform Rakuten Viki plans to release CAMP ZEROBASEONE in over 190 regions, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and India. PCWW's pan-regional OTT platform Viu will service the show in 16 regions, covering Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa. In Thailand, where the "ZEROBASEONE" syndrome has been prominent since the release of BOYS PLANET, TrueVisions has confirmed the exclusive TV broadcast, while in Taiwan, the show will be available on the global streaming platform iQIYI. As the first reality show of "ZEROBASEONE", a global K-pop boy band selected by fans from 184 regions through the hit show BOYS PLANET, CAMP ZEROBASEONE will showcase special moments of the 9 members traveling to different places with a specially created camping van. Meanwhile, CAMP ZEROBASEONE will premiere on June 22nd at 8:50 PM KST. Coming to Blowing Rock this week? Stop by Edgewood Cottage and visit artists Veronica Vale and Theresa Gloster at Edgewood Cottage from June 26 through July 2. As an outdoor enthusiast, Veronica has been privileged to follow adventure to many breathtaking scenes of inspiration. Shes found joy in documenting wild scenes along the way, from her former home in the mountains of Utah to her travels throughout the western United States to her current home in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Using photos and memories, she translates the powerful beauty and gentle tranquility of nature into modern, stylized paintings. Come meet and enjoy Veronicas beautifully created work this week at Edgewood Cottage. Edgewood Cottage is also excited to have Theresa Gloster returning to the Cottage this summer. Theresa is a folk artist and a memory keeper telling her stories and expressing her memories through paint and other media stories about childhood and memories sparked by things that happen in the world today. She uses paint, needles, brushes, thread, whatever she can find to create art, and to tell the stories that need to be told. Gloster is as much a chronicler as she is a painter. Come share your stories and enjoy Theresas distinctively enjoyable art from June 26 through July 2 at Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock. For a full summer schedule of artists at Edgewood Cottage, please visit www.artistsatedgewood.com. Courtesy of Edgewood Cottage. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket Sato Oyj, a Finnish real estate company, being downgraded to junk status by Moody's Investors Service was covered in an article by Bloomberg on June 23. Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week: The article explores the reason behind the downgrading of Sato Oyj, whose main owner is Swedish landlord Fastighets AB Balder. It suggests that the downgrade is a result of Sweden's ongoing real estate crisis, which is impacting the entire Nordic region. Sato Oyj, which owns 25,000 apartments in Finland, is now among a growing number of companies referred to as "fallen angels." These companies have seen their credit ratings drop from investment grade to high-yield or junk status. The article highlights that the real estate market in Sweden has been particularly affected, and the downgrades are further exacerbating the financing difficulties faced by companies in the sector, raising concerns for Europe's real estate industry as a whole. Moodys downgraded Satos rating from Baa3, the lowest investment grade, to Ba1. The downgrade was attributed to several factors, including the expected deterioration in Satos interest coverage ratio, financing challenges, and the weakening position of Balder, its majority owner with a 56.3% stake. We think that the downgrade exhibits Moodys more aggressive approach towards unsolicited ratings as Satos key credit metrics were not yet in breach with the agencys requirements, Olli Eloranta, a credit analyst at Danske Bank said. Original story was published by Bloomberg on 23.06.2023 and can be found here. Phone-free zone: Finland introduces worlds first digital detox tourist island Ulko-Tammio, a small island in Finlands Eastern Gulf of Finland, set to become the worlds first phone-free tourist zone, was covered by Euronews on June 22. The article gives details of the initiative by the island, which has declared itself a "phone-free" area for the summer in an effort to encourage a digital detox and allow visitors to truly appreciate their surroundings. Tourists will be requested to keep their smart devices in their pockets and disconnect from social media, although there will still be a functioning mobile network available. Ulko-Tammio, part of the Eastern Gulf national park, offers opportunities for overnight stays in tents or cabins. The new rules which will be voluntary will give visitors a chance to focus on nature, according to Joel Heino, from Parks and Wildlife Finland. This is a great initiative that could be implemented in other nature and recreational destinations, too. Heino told Euronews. The article also elaborates on the activities in the island, including hiking trails around the rocky shoreline and climbing bird-watching towers to check out the islands rare flora and fauna. Original story was published by Euronews on 22.06.2023 and can be found here. Drought and rising heat bring unusual wildfire warnings in Northern Europe This article about forest fire warnings been issued across Northern Europe, including Nordic and Baltic countries, due to dry conditions and rising temperatures was published in Associated Press on June 16. The article raises concerns over the rare wildfire warnings in these regions, which typically experience cooler and wetter summers. The article states that small fires are already burning in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Scotland, while experts raises alarms over the possibility of more occurrences unless theres significant rainfall in coming weeks. The lack of historical knowledge and experience in dealing with drought situations makes these countries particularly vulnerable. The Finnish Meteorological Institute has warned of a high risk of forest fires in Finland, while similar warnings have been issued in Norway, Denmark and the Baltic countries. The article also highlights that temperatures are rising in Finland and no substantial rain was expected in Finland until around the June 24 observance of midsummer. The heat wave can stay on the surface for next week as well and spread all the way to Lapland, Tuomo Bergman, the Finnish institutes meteorologist told Associated Press. The article also states that the transition from La Nina to El Nino climatic conditions in the Pacific may be a contributing factor to the drought. Original story was published by Associated Press on 16.06.2023 and can be found here. Back Russias war in Ukraine and lose aid, Finland tells African states This article about Finland's right-wing government, led by newly sworn-in Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, planning to cut overseas aid to countries that support Russia's attack on Ukraine, was published in The Times on June 24. The article explains how the new government, influenced by the right-wing populist Finns party, aims to link foreign aid to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and make it conditional on support for the international rules-based order. The move sets a precedent in using aid policy to address a specific conflict. Finland intends to increase aid to Ukraine and withhold development assistance from governments or entities supporting Russias war of aggression. The article also suggests that the approach may be coordinated with other European Union countries. Finlands primary duty is to support Ukraine and compared to the immeasurable suffering of Ukrainians, it is morally wrong for Finland to continue granting development aid to countries that support Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, Ville Tavio, the Finns partys new trade and international development minister, told The Times. Analysts argue that Western countries should be more assertive in using aid or climate policy as tools to persuade developing nations to align with their interests and values. Removing aid gives the possibility for using it as leverage. Trade and aid with swing states will be key areas in the battle for influence, and while the question with trade is more complex, with development aid it is relatively simple we shouldnt fund the development of illiberal ordering, Benjamin Tallis, a senior research fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations in Berlin told The Times. Original story was published by The Times on 24.06.2023 and can be found here. Jervois obtains 12m grant to expand cobalt refinery in Finland Jervois Finland, a subsidiary of Australian cobalt miner Jervois Global, being granted 12 million by Business Finland for the potential expansion of its cobalt refining facility in Finland was covered in an article published in Mining Technology. The article provides the details of the grant which will allow Jervois to evaluate restarting work on a bankable feasibility study for the refinery's expansion at the Kokkola Industrial Park. Jervois had previously paused the expansion plans in favor of a new cobalt refinery at its Idaho operations in the U.S., which will be funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. The grant from Business Finland will reimburse part of the feasibility study costs and future construction expenses at the Finnish refinery. The grant is contingent upon meeting various conditions, including board approval, securing financing, and obtaining environmental permits. Original story was published by Mining Technology on 23.06.2023 and can be found here. HT Guided walks focus on city's history and mystery The site of the old Wheeler Hotel is one of the stops on a guided history walk. Three popular guided history walks will be offered on Saturdays in July in Hendersonville along with a new guided walk focusing on Murals, Mosaic and Ghost Signs. The 90-plus minute walks starting at 10 a.m. explore various historic areas of town: along Main Street (Saturday, July 8), in Oakdale Cemetery (Saturday, July 15), in the Historic Seventh Avenue District (Saturday, July 22), and Murals, Mosaic, and Ghost Signs throughout the downtown area (Saturday, July 29). Main Street On Saturday, July 8, the Historic Main Street walk will start at the front steps of City Hall, corner of Fifth Avenue E. and King St. Tour guide Mary Jo Padgett will describe who donated the land where the new town would be built, what is the age of the oldest block of buildings, what was on the third floor (and in the basement) of City Hall, who the town was named for, where the old Opera House was located, and more. Oakdale Cemetery On Saturday, July 15, the walk through Historic Oakdale Cemetery will begin in the cemetery on U.S. 64 W. Oakdale is Hendersonvilles municipal cemetery, and most of the towns early residents and colorful citizens are buried here. The famous Italian marble monument which inspired the title of Thomas Wolfes Look Homeward, Angel is in Oakdale, along with both marked and unmarked graves of historic figures. The heritage of the African-American community is told in the Black section of the cemetery, while the designated Jewish cemetery reveals how the town grew to embrace ethnic and religious groups through the years. How and why the cemetery was established in 1883, names of those who helped build the town and where they were laid to rest, where the Sunshine Lady is buried, and more will be answered. Historic Seventh Avenue District On Saturday, July 22, the walk around the Seventh Avenue and Historic Train Depot district will start at the front steps of City Hall, corner of Fifth Avenue East and King St. From there participants stroll toward the depot, where the first steam locomotive arrived in Hendersonville on July 4, 1879, crammed with tourists and visitors from the low country of South Carolina. The neighborhood around the depot grew to become the commercial district during the exciting era of big-band music, dancing, numerous inns and hotels, much real estate trading, and huge agricultural growth. Hendersonville was in its heyday from that moment until the financial crash of 1929. Murals, Mosaic and Ghost Signs On Saturday July 29, the walk begins in front of the Historic Courthouse on Main Street. The tour will explore the stories behind downtown murals, including some very new ones, a mosaic made with 250,000 small pieces of glass, and numerous ghost signs hidden in plain sight on old buildings. Well step back in time through the interesting history and architecture of Hendersonville, Padgett said. Hendersonville has its own unique culture and spirit, which actually began with the lifestyle of the Native Americans, grew into a farming area due to fertile soil, and blossomed as a popular destination during the heyday of railroads. Our lives here today are influenced by all of that. A journalist and public relations consultant, Padgett served on Hendersonville City Council for eight years, was co-founder and former executive director of ECO and served as associate editor at "Mother Earth News" magazine. * * * * * Cost for each tour is $10 per person 10 years and older. There's no charge for children under 10 with a paid adult. Space is limited and reservations are suggested. To make a reservation contact Padgett at 828-545-3179 or email maryjo@maryjopadgett.com. Private tours for groups can be arranged. To see the entire schedule for this year visit www.maryjopadgett.com and click on Guided Walk. Apple growers to vote on assessment Tuesday The North Carolina Apple Growers Association will conduct a referendum on Tuesday, June 27, for the assessment of apples sold to first purchasers in North Carolina. Related Stories Apple growers to vote on assessment on June 27 Voting will take place during regular business hours at county extension offices in counties where commercial apple growing occurs, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services announced in a news release sent on behalf of the North Carolina Apple Growers Association. The method and amount of assessment being considered will remain as it has been in the past. Individuals may belong to multiple categories and are responsible to each where applicable: PACKERS 5 cents per pack bushel. This is anyone who puts apples into a box. A bulk box/volume filled carton qualifies for this charge. PROCESSORS 5 cents per hundred weight. (2.1 cents per bushel if the fruit is not weighted). This is any company that buys apples for slicers, sauce, juice, or other forms of processing. This would also be any roadside market that presses apples for fresh cider. BROKER See packer or processor depending on the market, if you are a broker that markets fruit for growers and pays the grower. The broker is responsible for paying the assessment if the customer is not paying the assessment. ROADSIDE MARKETS - $100 per year. This is anyone who grows fruit and sells direct to the general public. GROWER 5 cents per hundred weight (2.1 cents per bushel if fruit is not weighed). This is any grower who sells fruit by the bin to someone such as a roadside market or farmers market. Funds from the assessment will be used to promote marketing, research, use and sale of North Carolina apples. The votes will be collected and tabulated by N.C. State University and results published by the agriculture department. Henderson County News County OKs 'pocket' subdivision on Greenville Highway After a developer committed to conditions they demanded, Henderson County commissioners on Wednesday authorized a "pocket" subdivision of five homes on Greenville Highway in the "no man's land" between Hendersonville and Flat Rock. Read Story Henderson County News Charges and countercharges fly in domestic violence case A hospital anesthesiologist faces five counts of assault on a female after his wife reported to a magistrate and sheriffs deputies that he had pushed her, thrown her to the floor, sexually assaulted her, taken her phone to delete evidence she had kept of her injuries and threatened to either kill himself or have her killed, according to court records. Read Story Hendersonville Four Seasons Politics City hosts DEI workshops this week The city of Hendersonville and its Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee will host a series of Community Connection Workshops this week as the city develops a strategic plan for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Read Story Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra released the following statement on the anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization Supreme Court decision. Yesterday, the Secretary visited Planned Parenthood centers in Fairview Heights, IL and St. Louis, MO, including the same clinic he visited a year ago when the Dobbs ruling was announced. One year ago today, the Supreme Court cast aside a half century of precedent protecting rights and access to abortion and, in the process, undermined womens autonomy, health, privacy, and safety. I was visiting a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis, Missouri, when the decision overturning Roe v. Wade came down. I watched in real time as providers turned away patients because they were afraid what might happen if they offered even basic reproductive health care. Yesterday, I returned to Missouri one of the first states to pass an abortion ban after Roe was overturned and revisited that same clinic. We havent forgotten about the women and providers who were affected in Missouri, and all the other states with abortion bans. We continue to stand with them. In the past year, we have seen how the state you live in can block your ability to access care. Women seeking reproductive health care, including abortion care, find themselves living in care deserts, and some have had to travel thousands of miles to access basic services. We have heard the tragic cases of women being denied life-saving care because of the chaos and fear that Dobbs has created. The Biden-Harris Administration will always defend a womans access to reproductive health care because our daughters shouldnt grow up in an America where they have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers. Since the Dobbs decision, we have worked across the federal government to promote access, information, and privacy for those seeking reproductive health care, including abortion care. But we know that real and lasting progress often requires Congress to act. I urge Congress to make the protections of Roe federal law. Since Dobbs, HHS has worked to protect and expand access to reproductive care amid unprecedented efforts to restrict access to abortion and contraception. This work has been focused on three key priority areas: Reaffirming the Departments commitment to protecting the right to abortion care in emergency settings under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), Clarifying protections for birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act, and Protecting medical privacy including empowering patients to protect their medical information on smart phones, apps, and other platforms. A January 2023 report on HHS actions can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/roe-report.pdf Launching a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party for discontinuing Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic)) for states, Congress on Sunday said that it is the 'Durbhagya' (bad luck) of people of Karnataka that the Modi government is sabotaging Anna Bhagya 2.0. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. (PTI File Photo) Also Read - Centre refused to provide rice for Anna Bhagya scheme: Karnataka minister Congress leader Jairam Ramesh issued a statement on Sunday and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is punishing the poor of the state for voting to secure their future. "From January 1, 2023 till May 24, 2023, the BJP-led state government in Karnataka alone lifted more than 95 pc of the rice procured by all State governments under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) OMSS (D) at a rate of 3,400 per quintal, presumably with Modi-ji's "Aashirwaad". Once, the Congress government was formed in Karnataka, as threatened by BJP President JP Nadda, this "Aashirwaad" has been withdrawn at break-neck speed," Ramesh said. He said that the order issued by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution discontinuing OMSS(D) on June 13 mainly targeted Karnataka which procured more than 95 pc of all rice bought by state governments under the scheme this year. "Regardless of claims otherwise made by the Modi government, it is now absolutely clear that the order of 13 June 2023, by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution discontinuing OMSS(D) for states was targeted at mainly one state, Karnataka, that procured more than 95% of all rice bought by state governments under the scheme this year," he said in his statement. The Congress leader in his statement mentioned that the Ministry of Food discontinued OMSS (D) for targeting at sabotaging the implementation of the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme guaranteed by the Congress to the people of Karnataka. He said, "Actually, the Food Corporation of India(FCI) had issued orders for the sale of rice under OMSS (D) on 12th June 2023, based on the requests of the Congress-led state government in Karnataka made on 6th June 2023 and 9th June 2023. Yet a day later, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution discontinued the OMSS(D) for states". "Clearly, this was targeted at sabotaging the implementation of the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme guaranteed by the Congress to the people of Karnataka. Immediately, on 14th June, 2023, the GM Karnataka of the FCI, withdrew the earlier order of sale of rice on 12th June, 2023," he added. "Not only that, the Chairman and Managing Director of Food Corporation of India(FCI) in a press conference on 23rd June 2023 said that conditions will be placed such that private traders cannot sell to another state. Isn't this a clear case of sabotage?" the Congress leader further said. Jairam Ramesh also noted that with this brazen move, the Modi government has affected the basic entitlement of 5 kgs that is being given to an additional 39 lakh BPL beneficiaries by the Karnataka state government."This brazen move of the Modi government not only targets the additional 5 kgs free rice guaranteed by the Congress government in Karnataka(bringing it to a total of 10 kgs free rice), it also affects the basic entitlement of 5 kgs that is being given to an additional 39 lakh BPL beneficiaries by the Karnataka state government beyond what is already allocated by the Union government under the National Food Security Act," he said."The fact is that the FCI has more than enough stocks to meet Karnataka's and the country's needs but the Modi government is trying its very best to close every single avenue for the Karnataka government to fulfil its Guarantee to the people of Karnataka," he added. Hitting out at the BJP government, the Congress leader said that if there is a depletion of rice stocks then why the allocation and lifting of rice from the FCI's central pool stock for ethanol production and blending of petrol continues at the rate of 2,000 per quintal."If there is a depletion of rice stocks as claimed by the Modi Government, why is it that the allocation and lifting of rice from the FCI's central pool stock for ethanol production and blending of petrol continues at the rate of 2,000 per quintal?" he said."Why is it that 1.5L MT of rice is allocated for the production of ethanol this year if stocks have depleted? Is ethanol production more important than the food security of the people of Karnataka?" he added. Jairam Ramesh said that this is not the first time when PM Modi has opposed the schemes of the Congress."This is not the first time that the PM has opposed the schemes of the Congress that benefit the poor. On Aug 13th, 2013, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opposing the Food Security Bill. It is the same National Food Security Act implemented by the Congress party that came to the rescue of the country's poor at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic distress," he said in his statement. "Under the renamed package of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, 80 crore people got free food grains and pulses. This would not have been possible without the architecture of the National Food Security Act and the Public Distribution System implemented by the Congress-led UPA government," he added.The Congress leader said, "Why is it that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is not a 'revdi', whereas the Congress Guarantee of 10 kgs free rice through the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme is vilified and sabotaged?""It is nothing but Karnataka's Durbhagya that Prime Minister Modi is punishing the poor of the state for voting to secure their future. But the Congress government in Karnataka will do everything possible to ensure the rights of the people of Karnataka are protected, and the Guarantee of Anna Bhagya 2.0 with 10 kgs free rice is implemented at the earliest, come what may," he added in his statement. Karnataka police arrested three persons for allegedly growing Cannabis at home and selling them to students of Shivamogga. The police have seized ganja, ganja seeds and Charas from the accused and a case has been registered at Shivamogga rural police station. Three including a medico arrested in Karnataka for growing cannabis at home. Also Read - Two suspects held with 14kg marijuana in Gurugram The accused are identified as Vighnaraj, Pandidorai and Vinod Kumar who allegedly peddle ganja and other drugs to students. Speaking to news agency ANI, Shivamogga SP Mithun Kumar said, Vighnaraj is a student of a private medical college in Shivamogga was growing Cannabis (ganja) at his house with hi-tech farming techniques. The other two accused helped him in selling the Cannabis to the college students in the town. We have recovered 227 grams of ganja, 1.53 kg of raw ganja, 10 grams of Charas and a small bottle containing ganja seeds from the accused. In January this year, Mangaluru city police arrested 10 persons, including medical students, on the charges of consuming and peddling cannabis and seized 2 kg of the narcotic substance. Based on the information, Mangaluru Police commissioner said that the students of medical and dental college are involved in the drug peddling at the coastal city. The arrested were residing in PG accommodations, apartments and hostels in Mangaluru. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A day after wanted Indian travel agent Brijesh Mishra was arrested in Canada, the Jalandhar commissionerate police said its going to coordinate with its Canadian counterparts through the ministry of external affairs to bring Mishra back to India for a detailed investigation into the whole immigration nexus. Brijesh Mishra, who owned Education and Migration Services in Jalandhar is accused of duping nearly 700 Indian students by giving them fake admission letters from colleges to secure study visas. Mishra, who owned Education and Migration Services, is accused of duping nearly 700 Indian students by giving them fake admission letters from colleges to secure study visas. Mishra belongs to Thalwada in Darbhanga, Bihar and started his immigration consultancy in 2013. In 2014, he was caught committing fraud with students. His clout can be gauged from the fact that he either managed to strike a compromise with the complainant or ensure no action was taken against him. He was booked at Jaito in Faridkot and Malerkotla in 2021 and 2022, respectively, but no action was taken against him. On Saturday, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) had arrested Mishra when he was trying to sneak into the country illegally as the Indian authorities have already issued a lookout circular (LOC) following the registration of an FIR against him in Jalandhar on March 17. The CBSA has already slapped five charges, including those for counselling misrepresentation, misrepresentation and unauthorised representation or advice for consideration, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Jalandhar police commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said they are yet to receive official communication from Canadian authorities on Mishras arrest and charges framed against him. The authorities managed to track Mishras movement as the Jalandhar police swiftly issued LOC against him after registration of FIRs. We will take up his extradition plea and seek his deportation once we receive official communique from our counterparts in Canada, Chahal said. After the issue came to light, the CBSA issued deportation notices to nearly 700 students over fraudulent offer letters that had been provided to them by Mishra while processing their study visas. Last week, Canadian immigration minister Sean Fraser had announced to freeze the deportation notices to the students, terming them victims of fraud besides forming a committee to look into each case. Following the scam, Punjab Police registered three first information reports (FIRs) against Mishra and his accomplices Rahul Bhargav and Gurnam Singh on March 17 and 27 in Jalandhar. A total of 10 FIRs are registered in police stations of Jalandhar, Faridkot and Malerkotla districts against Mishra. Police arrested Bhargav, a resident of Jalandhar, on March 27, while Brijesh was arrested in Canada, Gurnam remains on the run. The cases were registered under Sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 465 (for making forged documents), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. Mishra even applied for anticipatory bail in FIR number 47 registered against him on March 17 but the Jalandhars additional sessions court rejected his bail plea on May 16, citing that there is no merit in the application. In his bail plea, Mishra contested through his lawyer that he has been falsely implicated in the present case and no offence was committed by him. Alleged occurrence had taken place in the year 2018-2019, whereas the present case was registered in the year 2023. Even as per the complaint filed by the complainant, the only allegations against him was that he had prepared the file of the daughter of the complainant for depositing the same for obtaining a visa, and even the file was deposited with the embassy by the daughter of the complainant herself. Nobody would fabricate documents for a meagre amount of 65,000 paid to Mishra, the bail plea stated. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Navrajdeep Singh Navrajdeep Singh is a senior staff correspondent. He covers agriculture, crime, local bodies, health and education in the Patiala district of Punjab. ...view detail To promote diversification and mechanization in agriculture to increase their income, Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Sunday asked the farmers to avail subsidy on various agriculture machines, under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme. Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the farmers should contact the toll-free number 1800-180-1551 and visit agriculture offices in their respective districts for more information. (HT File) He asked the farmers to apply by July 20 to take advantage of the scheme. Khudian said that the farmers in the state can apply online at the departments portal agrimachinerypb.com to avail of subsidies on the purchase of paddy transplanters, direct seeded rice drill, potato planter (automatic/semi-automatic), tractor-operated boom sprayer, PTO operated bund former, oil mill, mini processing plant and nursery seeder. The agriculture minister said that the farmers should contact the toll-free number 1800-180-1551 and visit agriculture offices in their respective districts for more information. Terming the step cost-effective for farmers, Khudian said that by adopting mechanization, farmers can increase their income and it would also go a long way to promote water-saving techniques, crop diversification and MSMEs in the agricultural sector. He also directed the department officials to ensure complete transparency in the whole process. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday said that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will announce an already decided verdict on Monday (June 26) at its special session of its general House as per directions of their masters. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee meeting s outcome can be well judged by the fact that the SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has been already summoned to the Akali Dal office. (HT Photo) SGPC, while rejecting the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023 passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on June 20, had called a special session of its general house to decide the next course of action. In a statement issued here, the CM said that it is unfortunate that the premier organisation of Sikhs has now become a stooge at the hands of its masters. He said that the SGPC meeting was just a sham as the decision has been already pre-scripted by the Akali leadership. The SGPCs decision has been finalised and the announcement is just a formality, Mann said in the statement. The chief minister said that this can be well judged by the fact that the SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has been already summoned to the Akali Dal office. He said that the SGPC chief has been dictated the decision by Sikandar Singh Maluka, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Daljit Singh Cheema and Hira Singh Gabria and others who are present in the meeting. Bhagwant Mann said these leaders are apprising the decision of the Badal family to the president regarding the opposition to the Sikh Gurudwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The pre-scripted decision will be announced by the SGPC president tomorrow, added Mann. The Chief Minister said that the state assembly has already passed the Sikh Gurudwaras (Amendment) Bill 2023, which will be sent to the governor for his nod. This bill which envisages free-to-air telecast of the sacred Gurbani from Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar, on all the audio/video platforms and this decision of the state government is already being welcomed by every section of society, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A meeting under the chairpersonship of Vinay Pratap Singh, deputy commissioner (DC), Chandigarh was held for the World Population Day campaign to be held from June 27 to July 24. The theme for the year 2023 is On the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, let us take a pledge to adopt family planning as a choice for happiness and prosperity. Special focus will be laid on providing family planning methods like Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) insertion, oral pills, condoms, tubectomy, vasectomy etc. (HT Files) It will be observed in two phases across the country, from June 27 to July 10 as mobilisation fortnight and from July 11 to July 24 as population stabilisation fortnight, with a focus on awareness of masses. Special focus will be laid on providing family planning methods like Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) insertion, oral pills, condoms, tubectomy, vasectomy etc. Department of health, Chandigarh, department of social welfare, malaria wing, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and various corporations will provide family planning counselling sessions on basket of choice, community distribution of contraceptives and pre-registration of clients for making this campaign successful as this is a very significant campaign in terms that India is amongst the most populous countries in the world. The meeting was attended by Dr Suman, director health and family welfare, Naveen, SDM (S), Dr Vandana Mohan, district family welfare officer and Dr Upendrajeet Singh.Gill, incharge malaria wing. Owing to heavy rains in Rudraprayag district, Kedarnath Yatra has been stopped at Sonprayag, informed officials on Sunday. Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dixit said, "Kedarnath has been closed till further orders till the heavy rains continue." (File Photo) Rudraprayag District Magistrate Mayur Dixit said, "Kedarnath has been closed till further orders till the heavy rains continue." Meanwhile, Haridwar received 78 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, followed by Dehradun (33.2) and Uttarkashi (27.7), as per the India Meteorological Department. Also Read | Pilgrim influx crosses one million mark at Kedarnath Dham, breaks previous records Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made a surprise inspection of the State Disaster Management Control Room located at the Secretariat and got information regarding the situation of heavy rains in the state, a press release said. Instructing the officers, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the districts under the state where heavy rains are continuing and there is a possibility of heavy rains further. "Maintain mutual communication and coordination with all those districts. So that emergency situations can be dealt with in time. He instructed the officers to always be in alert mode for disaster relief and rescue operations, CM Dhami said. Also Read | Heavy rain with thunderstorm lashes parts Delhi-NCR, IMD issues yellow alert In the ongoing Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, over 30 lakh pilgrims have visited Char Dham and more than 10 lakh pilgrims have visited Kedarnath, Ashok Kumar, Director General of Police, said on June 22. Efforts are being made to provide a safe and smooth darshan for the devotees, he further said. "Uttarakhand police personnel are dedicated to smooth darshan and a safe Chardham Yatra for the devotees. So far, more than 30 lakh (Gangotri- 5,35,327; Yamunotri- 4,65,295; Kedarnath- 10,17,195; Badrinath- 8,98,221; Hemkund Sahib- 88,455) devotees have left for their destinations after visiting Char Dham. Shri Kedarnath has been visited by more than 10 lakh devotees," said Ashok Kumar, Director General of Police. The Char Dham The Char Dham Yatra consists of the four holy shrines: Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. The Kapat (door) of the Gangotri and Yamunotri opened for devotees on April 22, on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya. The doors of the Kedarnath Dham opened on April 25 and Badrinath Dham on April 27. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The number of liquor stores in the Capital has increased from 350 in September 2022 when the Delhi government withdrew the 2021-22 excise policy and switched back to the previous 2020-21 regime to 584 in June, excise department officials aware of the matter said. A Delhi government liquor shop at INA Market. (Sanjeev Verma/ HT Photo) While switching back to the previous excise regime, the department had said that the number of liquor stores in the city would be doubled from 350 to 700. On Saturday, a senior official, declining to be named, confirmed that they are still working to meet the target. Our target is to open 700 liquor stores. Most of the 584 stores, including the 234 new ones, are bigger in size as compared to the old government-run liquor stores, and many of them have been opened in malls and commercial complexes as well, he said, adding that Delhi sees the sale of around 1.3 million bottles of alcohol every day. However, despite the increase in the number of liquor vends, consumers still face several problems in purchasing alcohol, with many complaining about poor supply as well as a lack of selection of brands. Officials also admitted that due to these issues, the Capital is losing customers to the neighbouring cities of Gurugram and Noida. Many brands are not available in Delhi because the excise department rejected the application of French spirits company Pernod Ricard, Indospirits, and Brindco for a sale license over the ongoing investigations in the excise policy case, officials said, adding that Pernod Ricard is one of the largest liquor companies in the world and offers hundreds of premium brands like Chivas Regal, 100 Pipers, Glenlivet, Absolut, and Jacobs Creek. Another excise department official said around 1,000 brands have been registered in the city so far and claimed that barring the companies whose license were rejected due to ongoing investigations, almost all other brands are available in the Capital. Nipun Sabharwal, an IT professional who lives in Naraina, said due to instability in the Capitals excise regime, many brands are unavailable in Delhi for a long time. We have to depend on neighbouring cities to buy our favourite brands, said Sabharwal. The 2021-22 excise policy aimed to replace a sales-volume based regime with a licence fee-based one for traders. The plan, however, came to an abrupt end, with lieutenant governor VK Saxena recommending a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged irregularities, which ultimately resulted in the policy being prematurely scrapped and being replaced by the 2020-21 regime. The Capitals retail liquor space is currently operated by the Delhi government through four separate agencies the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi Consumers Cooperative Wholesale Store (DCCWS), and Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (DSCSC). No private vends are allowed to operate in the city. The excise official quoted above said that under the current regime, all liquor stores are located in markets with high footfall, and in areas that are well-connected with transportation networks. The floor areas of each liquor store are above 300 square feet and some of them are also located in up to 2,000 square feet areas. In the liquor stores, the brands are on display and some of them also offer walk-in facilities, said an official. An excise official said a walk-in facility is available at the liquor store in Saket Square Mall and also at the liquor store located in A Block of Connaught Place. A 2,000 square feet liquor shop is operational in N Block of Connaught Place but permitting walk-in facility will take some time because of the ongoing renovation work, said the official. The liquor store located in RG Square Mall in Patparganj also offers a walk-in facility, said the official. A Delhi government official said there are several criteria that must be met before a liquor store is opened. One of the biggest challenges to opening liquor stores is getting suitable places on rent for opening liquor stores. The place should be located in a commercial area, should have high footfall, well-connected with the public transport network, over 300 square feet space should be available, and parking space should also be available, there should be adequate space in front of the liquor stores so that the crowd at the store does not lead to congestion, he said. The official added that they rejected several suitable places for opening liquor stores because they were located within 100 metres of religious places or educational institutions or hospitals. The site is finalised only when it checks most of the boxes in the checklist. It has been one of the main reasons behind the delay in opening several liquor stores, the above quoted official said. New policy The Delhi government in March 2023 extended the existing excise policy (2020-21), which was going to expire on March 31, for six more months till September 30 to ensure continuity and make sure that there are no liquor supply disruptions in the Capital. The excise department was asked to prepare a new policy to replace the controversial policy within a month (September 2022 end), but the process has been delayed due to various reasons including the ongoing probe and the arrest of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. An official said the preparation of the excise policy is still going on. Vinod Giri, director general, Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), said more liquor stores are required to improve buyers experience. The opening of liquor stores in the Capital under the currently in-force excise policy has been very slow. In nearly 10 months the four agencies have managed to open only 584 liquor stores. The agencies had targeted to open around 700 liquor stores. Delhi needs more liquor stores to improve the buyers experience. Poor buyers experience will affect the growth of business because it will prompt people to buy liquor from neighbouring cities, said Giri. A man on a motorcycle allegedly swallowed the two gold earrings he snatched in a bid to destroy evidence after he was caught by a 50-year-old woman and her two daughters-in-law in northeast Delhis New Usmanpur on Thursday night, the Delhi Police said. The suspect was taken to a hospital. The snatched earrings were yet to be retrieved. (HT Photo) The suspect, later identified by the police as Mohammad Nasir, had snatched the earrings from the womans ears outside her home while she was returning from a funeral. Joy Tirkey, deputy commissioner of police (northeast), said that Nasir, 34, was admitted to a hospital and being given medicines to make him excrete the swallowed earrings. He is a bad character with a criminal history, said the DCP. The woman, Phoolan Devi, is a homemaker and lives with her two sons and their families in Usmanpur. The incident happened around 10pm on Thursday. Devi told police that she was outside her house when a man on a motorcycle stopped near her. When I asked him why he had stopped, he approached me and grabbed both my ears and pulled my earrings, Devi told the police in her statement. When Devi tried to fight him, Nasir allegedly snatched her handbag as well, which contained some cash and identification cards. Devi said that her two daughters-in-law were around and they rushed to her help. We managed to fight back and dragged him off his motorcycle and called the public. However, he quickly popped both the earrings in his mouth and began chewing them before swallowing them, she said. Moments later, her son and the public allegedly punched the suspect in a bid to retrieve the earrings, but to no avail. The police were subsequently called and the suspect was taken to a hospital, while Devi was treated for the injuries she sustained on her ears at Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital. Devi was then discharged, police said. The snatched earrings were yet to be retrieved until Saturday. Police said that the suspect was under observation, but there was no apparent danger to his life on account of the swallowing. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday declared the onset of the southwest monsoon over Mumbai and Delhi. The last time both cities were hit by monsoon at the same time was on June 21, 1961. (Representative Photo) Southwest monsoon has advanced over Mumbai and Delhi today, 25th June 2023, said the IMD in a statement on Sunday morning, adding that detailed coverage of the monsoon and its progress will be revealed later in the day. While the monsoon was delayed by 14 days in Mumbai, it arrived two days early in Delhi. The normal date for monsoon onset (1961-2019) over Mumbai is June 11, and for Delhi, it is June 27. However, this has made it a highly unusual monsoon year where both cities recorded an onset simultaneously. Also Read: Heavy rain with thunderstorm lashes parts Delhi-NCR, IMD issues yellow alert The last time both cities were hit by monsoon at the same time was on June 21, 1961. Safdarjung, representational of Delhis weather, recorded 48.3mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period till 8:30am on Sunday most of it being recorded in the early hours of the day. Amid the continued rainfall, the weather department has declared an orange alert for the remainder of the day, with more rain in store. A similar orange alert is in place for Monday too, with the IMD forecasting light to moderate showers at most places, officials said. Among other stations, Lodhi road received 59.6mm of rainfall till 8:30 am, Ayanagar 54mm, Ridge 27.4mm and Palam 29.6mm. Till 8:30am on Sunday, Delhi recorded 71.4mm of rainfall so far this month. The long-period average (LPA) for Delhi for June is 74.1mm, which is likely to cross in the coming days. The IMD classifies it as very light rainfall when it is between trace and 2.4mm in a 24-hour period. Light rainfall between 2.5mm and 15.5mm; moderate between 15.6mm and 64.4mm and heavy rainfall when over 64.4mm is recorded in a single day. Forecasts show light showers on Tuesday and Wednesday too, some rain activity will continue in Delhi till Friday, making it a wet end to the month. Last year, the onset was declared over Delhi on June 30. In 2021, the monsoon reached Delhi 16 days late on July 13 its slowest onset since 2002. This is the earliest arrival of the southwest monsoon in Delhi since 2020 and 2015, when it arrived on the same date June 25. The last time it arrived earlier than this was in 2013 when it reached Delhi on June 16. The rain also meant Delhis minimum was recorded at 23.1C five degrees below normal. It was 30.4C a day earlier. Delhis maximum on Saturday was 37.4C, while Sundays forecast shows it is likely to hover around 32C. Also Read: Waterlogging, traffic snarls in many parts as heavy rains lash city In terms of air quality, Delhis air was recorded in the moderate range. The average air quality index (AQI) stood at 162 (moderate) at 10am on Sunday a slight improvement from a reading of 169 (moderate) at 4pm on Saturday. The AQI is forecast to touch the satisfactory range by Monday, dipping below 100. The IMD, in its monsoon bulletin on Saturday had said that conditions were favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon over most parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, remaining parts of Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, some more parts of Haryana including Chandigarh and Delhi, some parts of Gujarat, East Rajasthan and Punjab during the next 48 hours. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police booked a 35-year-old employee of South Asian Tollways Pvt Ltd for allegedly defrauding the company of 17 lakh by collecting toll money and deleting data from a handheld machine at the Gurugram-Faridabad toll (at Bandhwari), police said on Sunday, adding that the suspect has been identified, however, no arrest has been made so far. Gurugram toll plaza employee booked for 17 lakh fraud Ashish Bhardwaj, the director of South Asian Tollways Pvt Ltd, filed a complaint at the Gwal Pahari police post after a female commuter reported a missing slip, which was later discovered to have been deleted. According to Bhardwaj, the suspect was hired in December and assumed the role of the shift in charge in January. In addition to toll booth computer-issued slips, a handheld machine is also used to issue slips during peak hours to reduce congestion. However, the suspect manipulated the machine, issuing approximately 550 slips daily and subsequently deleting the data. The suspect then passed the device to other employees, framing them for fraud, he said. Bhardwaj suspects that an individual from the back-end office may have colluded with the suspect. Internal investigations conducted by the company confirmed that the suspect embezzled 17 lakh during the four-month period. We have collected evidence and CCTV footage to establish the fraud, he said. Police said that the suspect had been deleting records for the past four months and, when the company confronted him after conducting an internal investigation, he confessed to his crime. Dinesh Kumar, the station house officer of DLF Phase 1 police station, said, The suspect gave a written apology to his company officials, however, on May 20, during questioning by senior toll company officials, the suspect became agitated, even threatened company officials and created a ruckus in the office. The entire incident was captured on CCTV, prompting officials to file a complaint with the police. The suspect has been charged under sections 420 (cheating) and 381 (theft by a servant) of the Indian Penal Code at the DLF Phase-1 police station, SHO Kumar said, adding that they will arrest him soon and the CCTV footage is being examined to substantiate the allegations. 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 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday attacked the opposition parties for hobnobbing with the same Congress that was responsible for the imposition of the Emergency in 1975. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has said people who did politics in the name of JP are now with the Congress. (PTI PHOTO) Timed with the 48th anniversary of the Emergency, the attack came two days after the Opposition parties met in Patna on June 23 to mull over a plan to jointly take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP leaders who questioned the Opposition leaders included defence minister Rajnath Singh, who was jailed during the Emergency, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak. The BJP leadership annually observes June 25 as black day to protest against the Emergency. In Gautam Buddha Nagar, Yogi Adityanath targeted the states main opposition Samajwadi Party. People doing politics in the name of JP (veteran socialist the late Jayaprakash Narayan) are now with the Congress which killed democracy, he said. In Agra, Rajnath Singh made a similar point as did deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya. All opposition parties, be it the SP (Samajwadi Party), TMC (Trinamool Congress) or AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) are standing with the Congress that imposed the Emergency. We observe June 25 as a black day and people want a country free of Congress misrule, Maurya said. The other deputy CM Brajesh Pathak also made a similar point while former U.P. assembly speaker Hriday Narain Dixit demanded an apology from the Congress for the Emergency days. It was from Patna where Jayaprakash Narayan had launched what was known as the Bihar movement. This ultimately led to a larger movement for the overthrow of the then Indira Gandhi government at the Centre and many believe this led to the imposition of the Emergency, when most fundamental rights were curtailed. Each year on June 25, JP is remembered by most non-Congress parties and their leaders, many of whom are now part of a joint front, which is in the making against the BJP. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Manish Chandra Pandey Manish Chandra Pandey is a Lucknow-based assistant editor with Hindustan Times political bureau in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Along with political reporting, he loves to write off beat/human interest stories that people connect with. Manish also covers departments. He feels he has a lot to learn not just from veterans but from the newcomers who make him realise that there is so much to unlearn ...view detail Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday flayed the Congress for its democracy-under-threat attacks on the government and reminded it that imposition of Emergency 48 years ago (on June 25, 1975) was the darkest phase of Indian democracy. Defence minister Rajnath Singh at a public meeting in Agra on June 25. (HT photo) How Congress won elections and formed governments in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh if there is no democracy in nation, as falsely alleged by them (Congress leaders). It was the Congress which imposed Emergency and jailed opposition leaders including I for months, Singh while addressing a public meeting in Agra. I was kept behind bars in isolation for two-and-a-half months and had to remain in prison for 16 months. Opposition leaders were jailed after the then President of India declared Emergency on June 25, 1975 on advice of the late PM Indira Gandhi, he recollected. Now the same Congress is holding meetings with Opposition parties in Patna in name of saving democracy when in fact it was the Congress which throttled the democracy by imposing Emergency. In fact, the only motive of all these opposition parties is to remove Narendra Modi. The Opposition parties, including the SP and the BSP, should understand that politics cannot be under cover and should be in full public view and transparent, Singh added. Voters in India have trust in the leadership PM Modi. The outcome is that now India is the nation which is being heard globally in sharp contrast to scenario in the past when India had no voice internationally, the defence minister said. It is a matter of pride for every Indian that their PM is being welcomed with warmth globally as seen in recent past in the US, Australia and other nations. The PM has led the rise of India from 11th position in global economic world in year 2014 to fifth biggest economy in world in 2023. An expert agency has predicted that India might rise to third position by 2027, said Singh. He was accompanied by state BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary and party MP from Fatehpur Sikri Rajkumar Chahar. Pakistan was given befitting reply in its own border after our jawans were killed in Uri sector. No nation can now ask India to bend and Indians trapped in Ukraine were rescued after the intervention by our PM, Singh said. India proved itself by providing double dose of vaccine to its citizens and providing vaccines to several nations to fight the Covid pandemic, he added. Singh also praised CM Yogi Adityanath for his measures to improve law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh. Five police personnel were injured when an escort vehicle in the fleet of former U.P. cabinet minister Sidharth Nath Singh overturned in a bid to save cattle on Prayagraj-Lucknow highway in Uttar Pradeshs Pratapgarh district on Sunday, police said. were first admitted to a nearby hospital and then taken to Lucknow. (For Representation) Singh, the BJP MLA from Allahabad West assembly constituency, was going to Lucknow when the mishap took place near Rehmat Ali Ka Purwa village in Manikpur area. The injured were identified as vehicle driver Vipin Dixit (29), constables Vinit Kumar Rao (29), Padmesh Kumar (37), Virendra Pratap Singh (53) and the MLAs personal security officer Aniket Singh (40), they added. They were first admitted to a nearby hospital and then taken to Lucknow for better treatment. However, none of them were seriously injured, said station house officer, Manikpur police station, Manish Pandey. Continuing with the trend of many Hindu temples enforcing a dress code for devotees visiting them in Uttar Pradesh, a similar rule has been implemented in Digambar Jain temples of Prayagraj. The notice regarding the dress code at Shri Dighambar Jain Panchyati Mandir in Prayagraj. (HHT photo) The umbrella body Sakal Jain Samaj has banned devotees coming to Shree Digambar Jain Panchayati Mandir at Zero Road, Rishabhdev Taposthali in Andawa besides temples in Katra and Beniganj localities from wearing jeans, half-pants, frocks, mutilated or slashed clothes as well as gaudy or revealing dresses with effect from Sunday (June 25). Women and girls have been specifically requested to enter the temple with their heads covered. Only those who come wearing modest and decent clothes will be allowed entry to the temples. Notice boards have also been installed in these temples in this regard, say office bearers of the temple management committees. Secretary, Digambar Jain Samaj, Rajesh Jain confirmed the development and said that henceforth one should enter the temples only in decent clothes and with this in mind the dress code had been implemented. Devotees coming to the temple should try to have darshan with their heads covered and avoid entering wearing full black clothes. Let us try to set a good example by leading a civilised and well-educated society, he said. Likewise, secretary, Parshvanath Digambar Jain Temple, Katra, Akhilesh Chandra Jain said renowned seer of the community Acharya Vidyasagar Maharaj had also given instructions to ensure the entry of devotees wearing decent clothes. Information related to the dress code has been put up at the temple while information has also been sent to the members of the community through WhatsApp groups, he said. President of the society Dinesh Jain along with prominent members of the community, including Rajesh Jain, Pradyuman Jain, Amit Jain, Rajeev Jain and Rupesh Jain among others, have requested devotees to come in decent clothes to the temples. Dress code already in place at Mankameshwar temple Earlier, the dress code was implemented in the ancient Mankameshwar temple of Sangam city with effect from mid-June. Pilgrims have been prohibited from entering the temple wearing short and gaudy clothes. With the Banarasi silk industry witnessing a sluggish market these days, the rise in raw silk prices has further added to the woes of weavers and manufacturers. (Pic for representation) Price rise has hit the industry hard, especially the Banarasi saree makers. The silk price has increased around 1,000 per kg in the last five months which has further raised the production cost. However, the manufacturers cannot increase the price of silk clothes, including Banarasi Saree, stole, etc because the market is already sluggish. General secretary, Banarasi Vastra Udhyog Association, Varanasi, Rajan Bahal said, The price of silk imported from Vietnam and China has increased upto 1,000 per kg in last five months. Rate of Vietnamese silk was 4,200 per kg five months ago. Now, it has increased to 5,200 per kg. As a result, production cost has increased. He accepts that price rise is a matter of serious concern for the Banarasi saree manufacturers. Production cost has increased, but the product is being sold at the same rate as it was six months ago. The traders cannot afford to increase the price of the product at present, because in June, the market has been sluggish for the Banarasi silk textile industry. This trend is likely to be continued in July as well. The market will improve after August 15, said Bahal. He said that Chinese silk prices has gone up to 6,000 per kg. Therefore, Banarasi silk sari makers are using Vietnamese silk. Azim Babu, a Banarasi Sari maker and master weaver, said that the Banarasi saree makers are bearing the brunt of price rise. The market has already been sluggish for the last one month. Therefore, we cannot increase the price of the product. Eventually, the makers have to bear the loss, he said. Irfan Babu, another maker of saree said that these days Vietnamese silk is used more in weaving the Banarasi saree as it is comparatively cheaper than the Chinese silk. But at present, price of Vietnamese silk is skyrocketing. We wish these would come down soon, he said. Silk from Karnataka, Russia, Vietnam and China is used in the sarees here. But at present, many saree makers are using the old silk stock, if they have, for making new sarees. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON VARANASI Police have claimed to crack the month-old case of a 23-year-old, named Devansh Yadav, whose body was found at Chandauli. After an investigation, cops arrested three youths -- including a female BHU student, her boyfriend, and his friend. The trio was presented before the court and sent to jail, said police. (HT Photo) Police said that the accused have been identified as -- Anushka Tiwari, a student of BHU and resident of Kanpurs Kalyanpur area, her lover Rahul Seth, a resident of the Madiyahun area of Jaunpur, and car driver Sadab Alam of Madiyahun. Police said during interrogation, the accused revealed that the accused confessed to having killed Devansh, a resident of Kuiyavoot bypass of Mau Darwaza, who was missing since May 26. His father Ramkishore Yadav lodged his missing complaint with police at Bhelupur police station on May 29. As Devansh could not be traced till June 7. On June 8, his father Ramkishore lodged a case against Anushka and her father alleging that they kidnapped his son. police registered a case under the relevant section and started an investigation. Deputy commissioner of police, Kashi Zone, Ramsewak Gautam said that during interrogation, the accused revealed that she called her ex-boyfriend Devansh Yadav (23), a student of BSc third year, from Farrukhabad to Varanasi on the pretext of meeting him a month ago. When he reached Varanasi, the girl asked Yadav for an outing. In the meantime, she asked her to board the car which she arranged. As he boarded the car, she offered him juice mixed with sleeping pills in the moving car. After that, she took her to a deserted location in Chandauli. Police said that he was the only son of teacher Ramkishore Yadav at a village in Farrukhabad district. Devansh stayed at a hotel in the Assi area. He last spoke to his friend on May 26. thereafter the mobile went off. Surveillance in-charge Anjani Pandey and Assi Chowki in-charge Rajkumar Verma suspected the role of Anushka and Rahul after scanning the CCTV camera footage of the area where Devansh stayed in Varanasi. Anushka and Dewansh studied together from class 6th to class 9th in a school in Kanpur. Later, they had a relationship. In the meantime, Anushka left Kanpur and took admission to a post-graduate course at BHU Varanasi. She fell in love with Rahul Seth here. When Devansh came to know about it, he objected to it. Anushka was upset over it and shared it with Rahul. Later, they decided to remove him from her way. The trio was presented before the court and sent to jail, said police. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A local BJP leader and relative of former deputy chief minister Tarkishore Prasad was shot at and injured at a party meeting being held in Bihars Madhepura district on Sunday afternoon to celebrate nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, police said. The BJP leader who was shot at was rushed to a hospital. (HT) The police have arrested the suspect, also a BJP leader, and impounded his pistol, for which he carried a licence. Subdivisional police officer (SDPO) Ajay Narayan Yadav said the injured, identified as Sanjay Kumar Bhagat, is undergoing treatment at Madhepura district hospital, where he is said to be out of danger. Yadav said the suspect, Pankaj Kumar Nirala alias Pankaj Patel, has been arrested. According to eyewitnesses, before the function was to begin at Gol Bazar, Bhagat and Patel had an altercation over some financial transactions after which Patel took out his pistol and fired. The bullet hit Bhagat on his waist. He was rushed to the Murliganj primary health centre from where the doctor referred him to Madhepura district hospital. Soon after the incident, Bhagats supporters caught Patel and thrashed him badly. Had we not reached on time, Patel would have been lynched, a police officer said, adding that several party workers, including district party president Deepak Kumar, were injured in the fight that broke out after the incident. Murliganj police station house officer (SHO) Raj Kishor Mandal said an FIR (first information report) has been lodged and police are probing. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LUCKNOW Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Council has extended the summer vacation period in government primary and upper primary schools recognised till July 2. All primary and upper primary schools in Uttar Pradesh will now reopen on July 3, said Pratap Singh Baghel, secretary, U.P. Basic Shiksha Parishad, in a notification issued on Sunday. From July 3, the school will be operated according to the schedule/timetable fixed earlier. (Representational photo) This year, the state government has twice extended summer vacation in government primary and upper primary schools. Earlier, the schools were scheduled to reopen on June 15. However, amid a heatwave, it was extended till June 25. The schools, however, reopened for a day on June 21 for International Yoga Day. From July 3, the school will be operated according to the schedule/timetable fixed earlier. Before reopening, adequate cleanliness of toilets, facility of drinking water, and proper seating arrangements will be ensured for children. Also, the School Management Committee will be authorised to take a call regarding cleanliness in recognised schools run under the U.P. Basic Education Council. Teachers were asked to complete all the formalities at their level before the opening of the school, especially mid-day meals, proper distribution of textbooks, work related to DBT (Direct Benefit), and other works. LUCKNOW The University of Lucknow is exploring an international collaboration to start a dual degree program in Business Administration with Barcelona (Spain)-based IQS Ramon Llull University. The University of Lucknow is looking to deepen its collaboration with IQS Ramon Llull University. (File photo) Prof. Poonam Tandon, Dean Academics and Dean Students Welfare; Prof. R.P. Singh, Director of International Collaboration and ISA; and Professor Sangeeta Sahu, Head of the Department of Business Administration, represented the University of Lucknow during this online meeting. Carlos Moslares, manager of International Programs at IQS, University Ramon LLull, expressed interest in exploring a potential dual degree program in Business Administration with the University of Lucknow. Sharing further details, Prof. Poonam Tandon said, They also expressed a desire to collaborate with our Faculty of Engineering and Technology. We discussed the possibility of offering a dual masters degree to interested students, considering that official masters degrees in Spain typically span one year, while our masters programs extend over two years. As per the proposed collaboration, students completing their first year at the University of Lucknow will have the opportunity to travel to Barcelona to complete the second year of their masters program. Upon successful completion of the second year, they will be eligible to receive dual masters degrees from both universities, she said. Additionally, students who complete their masters at IQS will have the chance to extend their visa for an additional year, facilitating the exploration of job market opportunities. The Spanish partners eagerly look forward to participating in the upcoming International Conference organised by the Department of Business Administration at the University of Lucknow on December 8-9. Prof. Sangeeta Sahu, Head of the Department of Business Administration, conveyed, Both parties will engage in further deliberations to ensure a comprehensive understanding before finalizing the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. The University of Lucknow is looking to deepen its collaboration with IQS Ramon Llull University as this partnership promises to empower students and promote academic excellence on an international scale. Manipur Police on Saturday said the situation here is tense, but under control with some sporadic incidents in some districts but normal in most districts, adding that they have recovered at least five arms from the Imphal East district in the last 24 hours. A combined team of Imphal West district police and central forces conducted search operations at two locations in Imphal West district (File Photo) Fridays press note from the Manipur Police Department said they have recovered 1,095 arms,13,702 ammunition and 250 bombs of different kinds till date from several places. On Saturday too, a combined team of Imphal West district police and central forces along with the executive magistrate conducted search operations at two locations in Imphal West district. Also Read: Tackling stolen arms in Manipur a challenge for forces District security coordination committee meetings are being held regularly, along with patrolling, flag marches and cordon and search operations being conducted in vulnerable areas with special emphasis on fringe areas of both hill and valley districts, said the state police. On Friday around 8.35pm, one warehouse at Kangla Sangolmsang under Heingang police station in Manipurs Imphal East district was allegedly set on fire by a mob. Incidents of arson also took place at two other locations in the Imphal East district. However, the state police and central forces controlled the situation and dispersed the mob by using a large number of tear gas/smoke shells, said police. Informing that the search operation was conducted by a joint team of Kangpokpi district police and central forces at four locations in Kangpokpi district and four bunkers were destroyed, the state police department said that another six bunkers have been occupied by the security forces. Also Read: Women-led mob forces security personnel to let go of 12 militants in Manipur: Army Further, the movement of essential items along the National Highway 37 is ensured with strict security measures, said police. At the same time the curfew which was imposed since the beginning of the unrest in the state, was relaxed for 12 to 15 hours in five valley districts besides Jiribam and Pherzawl districts, 8 to 10 hours in Churachandpur Tengnoupal and Kangpokpi districts while there is no curfew in the remaining six hill districts, it added. Appealing to the general public to extend all possible help in bringing normalcy in the violent-hit state, the law enforcement department also asked to dial rumour free number 9233522822 of the central control room to clarify any rumours and also to return and deposit arms, ammunition and explosives to the police or security forces immediately. Meanwhile, National Peoples Party chief and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday urged the Centre to take necessary measures to restore normalcy in Manipur and ensure the safe return of those affected. We have also urged the government of India to ensure that all the relief materials that are needed by the people and all other essential commodities which are required, we must make sure that the supply of these materials are done sufficiently and smoothly to all the locations and more importantly to the relief camps that are there, Sangma said. He also assured to take strict actions against any armed group involved in violent activities. Strict action should be taken from the government of India against all different kinds of armed groups involved in any kind of violence and the government of India must take necessary steps to ensure that they are brought under control, asserted Sangma. He also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union home minister, and other political leaders to visit Manipur to personally appeal to the people to strive for peace. LUCKNOW Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that cultural warriors should make people aware of the attacks on our culture in the digital age but must not take the law into their hands as it would be help such elements get away. Participating in the Save Culture Save India Mission, which was organised by Save Culture Save India Foundation at Gautam Buddha Nagar University on Sunday, he said, On receiving any such information, inform the Cultural Warrior Police immediately. Descendants of Aurangzeb driving rickshaws in Kolkata today: Yogi (HT File) The CM said that the digital age is as beneficial as it is dangerous. Recently, an incident had come to light, in which school children were being lured to convert their religion through online gaming. The gang was busted by our police. Similarly, another gang, which was engaged in converting deaf and dumb children was exposed a few days ago. The incidents of religious conversion are not happening only in Uttar Pradesh. Such people target decent families as part of a conspiracy. The recent incidents in Delhi and Mumbai serve as an example. Our government has brought an ordinance to stop this and the law is working accordingly, he added according to the statement issued by his office after the event. CM Yogi further said that all the countries of the world have their own unique identities. For example, Frances identity is art whereas Britain is known for its business interests. Similarly, the identity of India is its culture. Sanskrit and culture are the identity of India and no one is allowed to play with this. You cant serve anything in society in the name of freedom of expression. It also has some rules and regulations, he added. The CM also said that the Mughals ruled this country comfortably until they attacked temples. Their decline started as they started destroying temple... Today, the descendants of Aurangzeb are pulling rickshaws in Kolkata, he said. Emphasising that there have been good and bad people in every period, Yogi said that it is important that good people become part of the campaign to save culture and make people aware. Cultural warriors honoured On the occasion, CM Yogi launched the website of the Save Culture Save India Mission and honoured cultural warriors. They were presented a cheque of 1 lakh and a citation by the Foundation. The awardees included -- Abhay Shah, who runs the Swachh Cyber India movement, Manish Prania, creative branding and maker of the much talked about film Ek Ladki, Vaishali Shah, senior writer and CEO of Pixel, filmmaker Praveen Chaturvedi, Hindu Janajagaran Samiti spokesperson Ramesh Shinde, journalist Swati Goyal Sharma, TV anchor Pradeep Bhandari, Sanjeev Newar, who runs the Gems of Bollywood movement and Supreme Court advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain. CM Yogi also presented the shawl and citation to the Foundations Business and revenue advisor Uttam Dave as well as industrialist Umesh Chhajje and senior advocate Amit Singh who are associated with the foundation. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Central Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar, Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Industrial Development Jaswant Singh Saini, Minister of State for Public Works Brijesh Singh and university teachers and students also attended the programme. Tripartite peace talks between the Centre, the government of Meghalaya and the proscribed rebel outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) were held on Saturday at the Dak Bungalow (rest house) of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) on the banks of the Umiam Lake. HNLC leaders demanded withdrawal of criminal charges against its leaders (Twitter/video screengrab/PTI) The meeting was held amidst demands by HNLC for amnesty for its cadres and withdrawal of all criminal charges registered against them. The seven-member rebel outfit was represented by its vice chairman, Manbhalang Jyrwa along with its appointed interlocutor Sadon Blah, while the state government was represented by interlocutor PS Dkhar, magistrate R Wahlang, and the Union home ministry was represented by retired IPS officer AK Mishra. Also Read: Meghalaya seeks transfer of land from Assam, next meeting on border talks in July Speaking to journalists after the meeting, HNLC interlocutor Sadon Blah said, The deliberation today was the immediate need for the amnesty to be considered by the government because the cases that were charge sheeted are still on. Blah is also the president of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), a pressure group in the Khasi Jaintia hills region. Mentionably, last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed charge sheets against four HNLC cadres in connection with a blast that took place behind the staff quarters of Star Cement Factory Colony Lane in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills on December 12, 2020. Refusing to divulge much information about the deliberation, Blah however underscored, The deliberation today was based on the need to open the door; to exonerate the HNLC of all criminal cases and charges. Observing that the meeting was positive, the vice chairman of the HNLC said that the governments response was positive and encouraging. This is our third meeting, and we are grateful to the government interlocutors both at the centre and state, for their attendance, he said. Stating that he has been informed that the Union homed minister has assured it to look into the matter as soon as possible, Blah said, The HNLC didnt put forward any agenda on the table today. Prior to this, we placed the political agenda because we are waiting for the door to open first. The doorway is that the government should waive off all the cases (sic). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Seeking a solution to address the ongoing crisis at Manipur, Meitei Nupi Lup, a non-profit body dedicated to assisting and uplifting Meitei Ladi irrespective of region and religion, have organised a sit-in protest at the Collectorate between 5pm and 7pm on June 26. Peace gathering of Meitei community members in Pune. (HT PHOTO) The meet is an effort to raise awareness among the Indian government and public about the ongoing crisis in Manipur where the unrest has crossed 50 days. Jashiliya Arambam of Meitei Nupi Lup said, The participants will come together to express their solidarity against violence, raising slogans. The chief spokesperson will address the crowd, narratives by the Meitei victims of the violence in Manipur. Others will also speak on the occasion. More than 100 persons have lost their lives during the ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki community which broke out a month ago. Clashes were reported on May 3 after the tribal solidarity march took place in the hill district to protest against the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the non-tribal Meitei community. PUNE: The district administration plans to issue farmers fresh notices for land acquisition for the Ring Road project by the end of June. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the district administration had completed the evaluation of land however the compensation awarded was rejected by most farmers who termed it inadequate. Subsequently, the state government issued a fresh directive seeking re-evaluation of the compensation to be awarded to farmers. The fresh compensation rates have been determined by taking on record the land value and transactions that took place during the past five years. According to the district administration, the fresh notices to be issued will have details such as how much land will be acquired and at what rate as per the re-evaluation. District collector Rajesh Deshmukh said that the re-evaluation of the eastern portion of the land to be acquired for the Ring Road project is in its final stages. (HT PHOTO) District collector Rajesh Deshmukh said that the re-evaluation of the eastern portion of the land to be acquired for the Ring Road project is in its final stages. The farmers will be paid compensation rates as per the revised directions of the state government. Notices to the farmers regarding land acquisition and compensation will be sent soon, Deshmukh said. During the 15 days after the end of June, the process of taking written consent for the land and agreement to give the land for the project will be taken from the farmers and the land acquisition process will be expedited at the same time. Those farmers who voluntarily come forward to hand over their land will be given additional compensation, Deshmukh said. The land acquisition department has also completed the re-evaluation of the western side of the Ring Road project wherein notices seeking land in lieu of increased compensation will be issued during the second week of July. Construction of the ambitious, 172 km long Ring Road estimated to be built at a cost of Rs18,000 crores has been inordinately delayed with the government claiming to schedule construction work from 2024. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) had proposed a 172 km long and 110 m wide Ring Road to decongest Pune city, including Pimpri-Chinchwad. Private land located in 32 villages will be acquired. Of the 32 villages, six namely Parandwadi, Dhamane, Urse, Pachane, Bebadohol and Chandkhed are in Maval taluka; 14 namely Kasaramboli, Ambadvet, Katwadi, Ghotwade, Moterewadi, Javal, Rihe, Pimpoli, Kemesewadi, Urawade, Padalgharwadi, Ambegaon, Marnewadi and Muthe are in Mulshi taluka; 10 namely Bahuli, Bhagatwadi, Mordarwadi, Mandvi Budruk, Sangrun, Khamgaon Maval, Kalyan, Vardade, Rahatwade and Thoptewadi are in Haveli taluka; and two namely Ranje and Kusgaon are in Bhor taluka. A total of 1,900 hectares of land is to be acquired from 87 villages encircling the city and construction is expected to be completed by May 2026. Indian Navy has invited applications for Agniveer MR 02/2023 November batch. The application process will commence on June 26 and the deadline for the submission of the application form is July 2. Candidates can apply online through the official site of the Indian Navy at joinindiannavy.gov.in. Indian Navy Agniveer Recruitment 2023: Apply for Agniveer MR posts from June 26 (MINT_PRINT) This recruitment drive is being conducted to fill 35 posts in the organization. Only unmarried male and unmarried female candidates are eligible for enrolment as Agniveer in Indian Navy. Indian Navy Agniveer Recruitment 2023 educational qualification: Candidates should have passed matriculation from the board of school education. Indian Navy Agniveer Recruitment 2023 age limit: Candidates should be born between November 1, 2002, to April 30 2006. Indian Navy Agniveer Recruitment 2023 selection process: Candidates who qualify the Stage I - Preliminary Screening will be required to undergo Stage II - Final Screening subject to qualification in Physical Fitness Test and Recruitment Medical Examination. All qualified candidates will be called to INS Kunjali, Colaba, Mumbai, for the final screening test and selection on an All India Basis tentatively scheduled on Sep 23. A merit list will be prepared from all the candidates who qualify for Final Screening in all respects depending upon vacancies. The Merit list will be available on the website www.joinindiannavy.gov.in by Oct 23. Actor Alia Bhatt, who recently travelled to Brazil, has shared a video giving a peek at her moments at Netflix's Tudum event. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Alia posted a video which also featured a few behind-the-scenes glimpses with her Heart of Stone co-stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan. (Also Read | Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani: Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra's new pics hint at major plot reveal) Alia Bhatt recently travelled to Brazil. Alia with Gal and Jamie As the video started, Alia was seen in a bathrobe getting ready for the event. She laughed and told someone, "I am feeling like I'm on a cloud. Or I am feeling like I am a cloud." The clip then showed glimpses from inside a flight. Alia said, "Let's do this" as she posed during her photoshoot in a pink outfit. She also hugged Gal Gadot and Jamie after arriving for the event. Alia and Gal shared a conversation as the latter held her earrings. In the next segment, Alia was seen in her black outfit as she clicked pictures with a camera and then made faces. She said, "Ready for round two" and blew kisses at the camera. Alia also spoke at the event, made hand hearts and signed her pictures. Later, she shared laughs with Gal and Jamie as they sat for an interview. Alia at Tudum event As she sat in her bathrobe later and feasted on dessert, Alia said, "I am going to the main event which is the Tudum event." She then wore her green outfit to the event. Jamie teased Alia and Gal making them laugh. The video ended with Alia sitting in a cart next to Gal and saying, "Bye." Fans react to Alia's new video Sharing the clip, Alia captioned it, "A recap of my #Tudum moments #HeartOfStone @netflix @galgadot, @jamiedornan." Reacting to the post, a fan said, "Go little rockstar." A comment read, "Watching you on screen is like witnessing a cloud transforming into a work of art." Another person said, "Who else agrees Alia Bhatt is growing more and more despite all negativity?" "Alia will rock in Heart Of Stone," said an Instagram user. All about Heart of Stone Alia will mark her Hollywood debut with Heart of Stone, helmed by Tom Harper. Heart of Stone is intended to be the first installment in a series akin to Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible. Apart from Alia, Gal and Jamie, the movie also stars Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighofer, Jing Lusi, and Paul Ready. It will release on Netflix on August 11. Earlier, in an interview with Variety, Alia had said, "It was my first Hollywood big English picture experience and I had quite a task at hand because I was shooting for the first time an action movie. But I'm also pregnant so there were so many layers for me to deal with. But they made it so seamless and so easy and so comfortable for me. It's something that I will never forget because of how beautifully and how well I was treated." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has joined the cast of Nag Ashwin's multilingual sci-fi movie Project K, the makers announced on Sunday. The film is headlined by Prabhas and Deepika Padukone and also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Disha Patani. It is being directed by Nag Ashwin. Also read: Project K team unveils BTS video on 'raiders', fans react: Going to give Hollywood a tough competition Kamal Haasan will probably play the antagonist's role in Project K. (PTI) The big-budget film is produced by C Aswani Dutt, founder of Vyjayanthi Movies. Production house Vyjayanthi Movies shared Kamal Haasan's casting announcement on its official Twitter page. The tweet read, Welcoming the greatest actor Ulaganayagan @ikamalhaasan. Our journey becomes Universal now. #ProjectK. The announcement video showed several clips from Kamal Haasan's critically-acclaimed movies and introduced him as Ulaga Nayagan (universal hero), the antagonist in the film. Amitabh Bachchan welcomed Kamal on board. He tweeted on Sunday, Welcome Kamal .. great working with you again .. its been a while! Did Kamal Haasan actually get a 150 crore offer? A few weeks ago, there were reports of producer Ashwini Dutt approaching Kamal Haasan with a whopping offer of 150 crore to play the antagonist in Project K. A reliable source from the films unit had told Hindustan Times that Kamal Haasan has been approached for the film but he denied the news about the 150 crore offer. Also Watch: Kamal Haasan Joins Star-Studded Cast of Nag Ashwin's Sci-Fi Epic 'Project K' | HT Lifestyle More about Project K C Aswani Dutt is backing the project in the 50th year of the production house's inception. The movie is scheduled to be released in cinemas on January 12, 2024, in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. Project K is a science-fiction thriller which is being made on a massive budget and marks the maiden collaboration between Prabhas and Nag Ashwin of Mahanati fame. Some posters featuring Deepika and Prabhas' silhouettes were enough to hype up the film. Rani Daggubati on Project K Prabhas' Baahubali co-star Rana Daggubati has said that the Telugu industry has high hopes for the film. He said at India Today Conclave South 2023, We celebrate each others cinema fully. Like there is another film called Project K, which Nag Ashwin is directing with Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone. Thats a film we are really looking forward to in Telugu. That film will, I think will break the boundaries that both Baahubali and RRR havent done. He further said, Pushing that boundary to the next edge. I am really looking forward to that film and it could really become a global film from Telugu (cinema). 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 Nandita Das is back from Shanghai after serving as a jury member at the recently concluded Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF). The actor-filmmaker feels such film festivals provide a democratic space to creators, something, which India still lacks. In our country, we either think of film festivals as the ultimate benchmark for films, or we look down upon them as a space for arty-farty elite. I think these festivals provide a great open space for filmmakers and film lovers, Nandita tells us. At the moment, filmmaker Nandita Das is in Shanghai to attend the fest When it comes to international global film festivals, while Nandita is a veteran with most of her projects securing a place at prestigious festivals including Cannes, Busan Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival, the 25th edition of SIFF was her first time as a juror in an Asian country. The 53-year-old, who has always enjoyed showing her films to an audience thats exposed to diverse world cinema, finds the QnA session post the screening quite insightful and thought-provoking. Also, its a wonderful place to meet other film professionals and enthusiasts, as it leads to stimulating conversations and, at times, even collaborations. Moreover, attending these festivals is a great way to see so many big and small places that Id probably not otherwise have been able to go to, says the director, whose last release, Zwigato, travelled to several film festivals before it got a theatrical release earlier this year. Sharing about her experience at the festival, the Manto maker says this might have been her first time in Shanghai, but she could understand the excitement of people attached with it, as the festival returned after two years of the pandemic. These days many festivals are drawing young audiences who are now much more exposed to world cinema, thanks to the OTT platforms. There was a screening of Zwigato, too. A friend who went to see the film said that it was a packed hall with audiences that watched in wrapped attention. I was told, most of the audience stayed back for the entire end credit. This is why, as a filmmaker, the joy of showing ones film to a discerning audience that gives its undivided attention, is very special. I was so delighted to be there, a city I was curious to visit, she elaborates. For Nandita, it was a proud moment to represent India at global scale, however, she asserts that she didnt let it fog her decision-making ability while being on the jury panel. When Im on a jury, Im not representing my country. We were seven jurors and we had to judge films from all over the world. So it would have been unfair to bring ones national identity to that experience that required us to be objective, irrespective of where we came from. What we brought with us was our life experiences, our taste in films, our world views and aesthetics and our way of looking at life and cinema, concludes Nandita, who admits that whenever she goes to a foreign land, she carries a piece of India with her, and with, My brown skin, dark hair and Indian clothes, I inevitably represent my country. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hollywood actress Amber Heard has made her first public appearance since losing her defamation trial against ex-husband Johnny Depp. A day before the premiere of her new film In the Fire, Heard was seen at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy on Friday. Amber Heard(Twitter) Heard was spotted wearing a white T-shirt and matching wrap-around skirt for the event. As per reports, "In the Fire" is a supernatural thriller in which Heard's character is a psychiatrist who is called to solve the case of a disturbed child following increasingly insistent accusations that the child is the devil in the film. ALSO READ| Jamie Foxx is recovering well, reveals family member: Report A Twitter user tweeted a video of Heard's appearance at the festival and posted "this is bravery and strength you're seeing in this video. this is a woman who refused to be broken no matter how hard the world tried to break her. i can only hope to be half as courageous as amber heard." Notably, Heard's first public appearance comes more than a year after she lost the widely covered defamation trial against Depp. The Pirates of the Caribbean star had sued Heard for $50 million claiming she defamed him in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed about sexual violence. Depp won the case and his ex-wife Heard was ordered to pay him $10 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. The jury had awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages for her countersuit against Depp. Earlier, reports emerged that Heard had quit Hollywood altogether as she relocated to Spain's capital city, Madrid. But in May, Never Back Down actress confirmed to fans in a TikTok video that she had several projects lined up and had not quit acting. I keep moving forward. Thats life, said Heard at the time. Tom Holland wooed his girlfriend Zendaya in a peculiar way. Holland's carpentry skills helped him impress the "Euphoria" actress. In a recent interview with Unilad, the "Spiderman" star shared that he likes doing carpentry and used the skill to help his near and dear ones including Zendaya. Zendaya and Tom Holland(Getty Images) Carpentry is something I just really enjoy. I made my mums kitchen table. I made my mums office. I built all the cupboards in my bedroom. I built a little birdhouse with my granddad. I fixed my girlfriends door once really early on in our relationship, said Holland. I was hanging out at her house and her door was broken. I was like, Im gonna fix that door for you. And now were in love, revealed Holland. ALSO READ| Amber Heard marks first public appearance since losing defamation trial against Johnny Depp Holland's relationship with Zendaya caught the public eye when the couple were photographed kissing in a car in Los Angeles in July 2021. The pair have been part of three Spider-Man movies together, which were released between 2017 and 2021. However, Holland and Zendaya want to keep their relationship under tight wraps and are very protective of their bond too. Our relationship is something that we are incredibly protective of and we want to keep as sacred as possible. We dont think that we owe it to anyone, its our thing, and it has nothing to do with our careers, Holland told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Holland recalled how he was happy that Zendaya became a part of the Spiderman franchise. Obviously, I'm very happy she came in and tested that day. I'm sure you can guess why. She's wonderful to work with. She's arguably the most talented person I've ever met, said Holland. Tom Cruise's fans are eagerly waiting the release of his upcoming movie Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One. True to his reputation, the 60-year-old has performed some jaw-dropping stunts for the movie. Tom Cruise(Twitter) In an interaction with ET , Cruise talked about his death defying stunt in which he rides a motorcycle off a cliff, free falls into the valley below and opens his parachute after getting separated from the vehicle. Cruise shared that it was the first-ever scene filmed for the movie. "Well, we know either we're gonna continue with the film or we're not. Let's know day one... Do we all continue, or is it a major rewrite?," said Cruise. "It was years preparing. I mean, I've been riding motorcycles since I was a little kid, raced cars and spent a lot of time just with aerobatics, airplanes, helicopters and parachutes... It all kind of came to that moment," he added. ALSO READ| Jamie Foxx is recovering well, reveals family member: Report "You have to be razor sharp when you do something like that, so it was very important as we were prepping the film that that actually was the first thing [to shoot], because I don't want to drop that and go shoot other things and then have my mind somewhere else. Everyone was prepped, let's just get it done," said Cruise. The upcoming movie has several other dangerous stunts that Cruise performed himself. He performed stunts, driving for an intense chase scene through the streets of Rome while his character was handcuffed to Hayley Atwell who will play the role of Grace in the movie. During the interaction, Cruise reminisced that the 1996 movie Mission: Impossible was the first film that he produced. "Mission: Impossible is the first film I ever produced. There's certain things that I felt that we could tell with motion, with action and with stories and to be able to travel the world, that I really wanted to- I hoped that I could be able to accomplish with Mission: Impossible," said Cruise. "I really always wanted to travel the world and be part of that community and then celebrate that community. Mission: Impossible allows me to do that," he added. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two will be the last film of the franchise. BTS member Suga brought his two-month-long D-Day world tour to a close with his last concert in Seoul, South Korea. As BTS ARMY gathered inside the venue, three special fans of Suga also attended the concert to show support for their 'hyung (elder brother)'. They were none other than Jimin, V aka Kim Taehyung and Jungkook. (Also Read | Suga performs in Seoul, Twitter reacts to the soulful concert) BTS' Jimin, V and Jungkook attended Suga's Seoul show. Jimin, V and Jungkook at Suga's show Several videos and pictures were shared on social media platforms by fans who attended the concert. In a video, Suga pointed at the trio standing in the audience. He said, "My brothers are here today. Thank you so much, guys." While the fans screamed, Jimin did a little dance with his ARMY bomb and made finger hearts. V and Jungkook also grooved as they made peace and heart signs. For the event, Jimin wore a grey sweatshirt and pants, V opted for a jacket with trousers and Jungkook was seen in a white T-shirt and shorts. Jungkook cheers for Suga As Suga spoke on stage after his show, Jungkook screamed from the audience. He shouted into the mic, "Yoongi, Yoongi! Well done. Good luck at KSPO Dome. Fighting!" While Jungkook cheered for Suga, Jimin and V looked at him. Fans were heard shouting and laughing at his words. Suga about performing with the BTS members At the end of the show, Suga said to the fans, "The next time I'm on stage, there should be seven of us. Shouldn't that's how it should be? Don't you agree? Anyways thank you so much. I was so happy today." He also said, "I'm sure that today will not be the last day. I mean there might be another solo concert three years from now." Suga announces Seoul concert As he said that he would wrap up the show with the last song, fans started screaming and asking him not to. Suga then announced August D-Day Tour Seoul Encore Concert on August 4-6 this year at the Olympic Park KSPO Dome. At the end of the show, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook left the venue together. Jungkook waved at the fans as he walked out of the concert venue. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Salman Khan seems to have indirectly supported Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who starred alongside him in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Nawazuddin's estranged wife Aaliya Siddiqui is currently a contestant on Bigg Boss OTT hosted by Salman. He recently scolded her during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode for going to co-contestants and telling her version (regarding her feud with Nawazuddin). He then barred her from talking about her personal life. Also read: Aaliya Siddiqui admits her identity is limited to being a star-wife: Nawazuddin Siddiqui asked me to come to Bigg Boss Aaliya Siddiqui got an earful from Salman Khan on Bigg Boss OTT. Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Aaliya had a much publicised feud over property a few weeks ago. She accused him of cornering her in his Mumbai home and then throwing her and her kids out of the house at night. He accused her of bringing their kids from Dubai and hampering their school among other things. Salman told Aaliya in Saturday's episode as per ETimes, Aaliya please listen carefully, we have no interest in knowing about your personal life. If you think that coming to this show you will speak about your personal life then that is not happening. You have spoken a lot about it inside and outside the house. You have caught hold of everyone and shared your version that you are seen and heard. But let me clear it to you that is not going to happen. "Your personal things regarding your husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and all the relatives, yeh sab idhar iss ghar mein nahi honeka (this will not be allowed in this house)," he added. Aaliya went on to have an argument with Bebika Dhurve and requested Bigg Boss to eliminate her in the coming week as she doesn't want to stay with such a torture. Upon her entry into the Bigg Boss OTT house, Aaliya had said, "My identity has always been being a star wife. When there is no respect in your relationship, that relationship weakens. I know what difficulties I have spent last 19 years. When there is no one to listen inside, then you scream it outside and I did the same. I want to end all the troubles I have had in my married life and thats why I am in Bigg Boss. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Profits from chopping down rainforests are surprisingly meagre. The land is not particularly fertile. A freshly cleared hectare of the Amazon fetches an average price of only around $1,200. By contrast, the social costs of clearing it are immense. Some 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide are pumped into the atmosphere. By a conservative estimate, that does $25,000 of harm by accelerating climate change. PREMIUM Yet still the worlds trees are disappearing. The area covered by primary rainforest has dwindled by 6.7% since 2000. (Unsplash) Yet still the worlds trees are disappearing. The area covered by primary rainforest has dwindled by 6.7% since 2000. The senseless destruction continues because, for the men wielding the chainsaws, it is not senseless at all. They receive the profits; the costs are dispersed across all 8bn people on the planet. Plainly, if the owners of the rainforest were paid not to destroy it, everyone would be better off. The world would no doubt already have funded such a deal, were rainforests in places with clear property rights and a firm rule of law. Alas, they are not. Rules against deforestation are usually strict, but seldom enforced. Consider Brazil. Until January it had a president, Jair Bolsonaro, who sided with illegal loggers and ranchers. He torched the environment ministrys budget, stopped fining forest criminals and told illegal miners on indigenous reserves he would legalise their plunder. On his watch the pace of deforestation rose by 60%. Voters have replaced Mr Bolsonaro with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who is pursuing eco-criminals. But catching them is hard. Local officials are often in league with the loggers, and may be loggers themselves. Local communities often resist the forces of law and order, since they see more benefit from deforestation than conservation. The forests remoteness makes it hard for police to penetrate. And land titling is a messin parts of the Amazon overlapping claims add up to five or six times the disputed area. When it is unclear who owns a piece of land, it is unclear whom to pay to conserve it, or whom to fine for despoiling it. Similar obstacles impede conservation elsewhere. Forests in the Congo basin have long been protected by the regions dire poverty. Unable to afford chainsaws, local farmers chop trees down slowly and laboriously by hand. But deforestation is accelerating, and if it is mechanised before local governments can regulate it, calamity will follow. The prospects are especially grim in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where vast tracts of rainforest are overrun by militias and are almost wholly lawless. The presidents of Brazil, Indonesia and Congo, the three countries with the biggest rainforests, are urging rich countries to bankroll conservation. Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, co-hosting a forest summit in Gabon this week, promised to do his bit. Activists and consumers can help: after a concerted campaign, four-fifths of Indonesian palm-oil-refining capacity is now forest-friendly. But more effort is urgently required. Leadership matters. Little progress is possible when countries with rainforests are run by the likes of Mr Bolsonaro. Yet even under better leaders, such places will struggle to enforce their own laws unless the people who live in the forests see benefits in conserving them. That will require a big, reliable flow of cash to make rainforests more valuable intact than flattened. This should come from rich-country governments and from private firms buying carbon credits to offset their own emissions. In the past such flows have been too small and ill-designed. Rather than financing lots of small projects, which are hard to monitor, more money should go to political entities large enough to make a difference, such as state or provincial governments. Such jurisdictional carbon credits could be used to accelerate the transition to a greener local economy, to clean up local land registries and to police infractions. If there is enough cash, conditionally disbursed, locals will have more incentive to protect trees and less inclination to elect environmental renegades. By one estimate, $20bn a year would slow deforestation significantly. To preserve such a huge carbon sinknever mind the biodiversity it containsthis would be a bargain. For more coverage of climate change, sign up to Climate Issue, our fortnightly newsletter, or visit our climate-change hub. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Amid a standoff with Congress over Opposition unity and rejection of the Centres ordinance, the Aam Aadmi Partys Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday took a dig at Rahul Gandhis mohabbat ki dukaan statement. Delhis health minister said Gandhi should walk the talk on opening a shop of love in the market of hatred as he often says main nafrat ke bazaar me mohabbat ki dukaan khol kar baitha hoon. Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj (L) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (ANI,PTI) In an indirect reference to Congress indecisiveness in joining hands with AAP to fight the ordinance, the senior leader requested Gandhi to show a big heart. "I always see that Rahul Gandhi talks about love and says that BJP spreads hate. If Rahul Gandhi is running 'Mohabbat ki Dukan', whoever reaches out to him can get that lovehe has to show this also," he said. Bharadwaj further said that since Congress is not in power at the Centre, there is no question of ego. But he (Rahul) may turn egoistic, once the grand old party returns to power in the next Lok Sabha election," he added. A day after Fridays mega Opposition meet in Patna, AAP leaders rued the fact that despite Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal requesting Gandhi with folded hands to fix a meeting to resolve differences, the latter declined. Congress, however, maintained that Gandhi kept mum about the ordinance. Earlier, union minister Smriti Irani had also hit out at Gandhi over his mohabbat ki dukaan remark. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Karnataka could take a cue from other states on providing rice to people under its promised Anna Bhagya scheme beyond what is mandated under the national food security law, officials in these states said. PREMIUM The Karnataka government began scouting for rice from states and other agencies after FCI discontinued the sale of rice and wheat from the central pool under the open market sale scheme (OMSS) to state governments soon after the southern state announced its Anna Bhagya schemes launch from July 1. (HT Archive) The new Congress government in Karnataka has promised to provide 10kg of rice a month to each member of families living below the poverty line, in addition to the 5kg a month mandated by the National Food Security Act. Read | To guarantee food security, a decentralised PDS is key States such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana provide additional rice to the poor from their own resources without seeking additional grains from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the countrys food grain stockist, the officials said. Tamil Nadu provides additional rice but procures it from the FCI. The Karnataka government began scouting for rice from states and other agencies after FCI discontinued the sale of rice and wheat from the central pool under the open market sale scheme (OMSS) to state governments soon after the southern state announced its Anna Bhagya schemes launch from July 1. The sale of wheat and rice under the OMSS (domestic) for state governments is discontinued, the FCI said, adding that sale of rice under the OMSS will continue for northeastern and hilly states, and those facing law and order situations and natural calamities at the existing rate of 3,400 per quintal. Because of the FCI order, the scheme will now be launched from August 1, Karnataka food minister KH Muniyappa said on Thursday. Except Karnataka, no other state has raised a hue and cry over the FCI order. Officials in these states said they procure paddy directly from farmers to sustain their grain delivery schemes after providing FCI the grains as per its quota for central procurement from each state to maintain the national food buffer stock. Odisha, for instance, provides 5kg per person free rice to eight lakh beneficiaries under the state food security scheme. They are people not covered under NFSA. To provide them free rice, the Odisha government procures paddy directly from farmers and distributes rice to the poor through the public distribution system. The Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation procures paddy from farmers, mills the same through custom millers and uses the milled rice to meet the states public distribution systems needs, which includes providing rice to NFSA, SFSA and other beneficiaries, said Rajendra Mishra, Odishas special secretary for food supplies and consumer welfare. The role of FCI has been reduced to accepting surplus rice from the state, he said. The FCI ending the OMSS will not affect Odisha as it has been rice surplus since 2009, Mishra added. Similarly, West Bengal does not seek rice from the FCI for providing food grains to 3.3 lakh families under Khadyasathi scheme that Mamata Banerjee government launched in 2016. the state government procures food grains from registered farmers by fixing a minimum support price (MSP) every year through cooperative societies, self-help groups and farmers organisations, a state official said, seeking anonymity. The MSP fixed in last paddy season was 2,040 per quintal and 49.39 million tonnes of paddy was procured. West Bengal supplies free rice to 88.9 million beneficiaries, including 60.1 million under the NFSA. Each member of the family gets 5kg of rice and wheat for free, besides pulses, under the scheme. Chhattisgarh also provides free rice to 64.25 lakh families, with 35kg of rice provided every month to a family at 1 per kilogram to below poverty line families. The state procures food grains from farmers under the decentralized procurement scheme (DCP), the government said in a response to to HTs queries. The rice is procured for National Food Security Act (NFSA) and state scheme. States provides 14 lakh metric tonnes of rice to FCI and keeps another 16 lakh metric tonnes rice for welfare schemes. Rest is sold through open market, the statement said. Telangana provides 5kg of rice to every poor person, in addition to 5kg it receives from the central government under NFSA. The state procures paddy directly from farmers. As per official figures, paddy production in the state has increased to 20.2 million tonnes in 2021-22, which was 4.57 million tonnes in 2015-16, enough to supply the additional rice. In fact, the state has surplus rice, with Telangana producing more rice than Punjab this year, and we are looking for measures to sell it in the open market, a Telangana government official said, declining to be named. Similarly, Tamil Nadu has been giving 5kg of additional rice per person to NFSA covered families since June 1, 2016. It used to procure additional rice from the FCI under its OMSS, in which rice was sold for 34 per kg as compared to 3 per kg under NFSA. Tamil Nadu buys 2.4 lakh tonnes of rice from the FCI to supplement its free ration scheme through fair price shops. As of now, we have enough stocks. We are in talks with agencies to get paddy for the scheme, said a state government official, not willing to be named. Many states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, such as Uttar Pradesh, does not provide additional rice and wheat to subsidised food scheme beneficiaries and, therefore, officials said they will not face any problem because of the end of the OMSS. Since Uttar Pradesh has no food distribution scheme in addition to the PDS under the NFSA, FCIs decision to bar states from bidding for wheat and rice auctioned from the central pool will not hit it, said Rajat Sharma, general manager, FCI. The grain stockist has enough stock to provide food grains to the northern state for another six months, by when the next paddy procurement will start, Sharma added. Karnataka was not in the position to procure rice directly from farmers to provide free rice under Anna Bhagya scheme. The state government was looking to purchase rice at 34 per kilogram along with a transport cost of 2.6 per kilo, which is the cost at which it had bought rice from the FCI, an official said, requesting anonymity. Rice grown in Raichur in the state is being sold at 55 per kiol, which is beyond the states budget, they added. In a bid to procure rice, Karnataka plans to seek rates from the National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India and Kendriya Bhandar to see whether these organisations would be willing to sell rice to the state government at an affordable price. Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said 10,092 crore is required every year to implement the scheme if the state has to procure rice at FCI rates. As of now, NFSA beneficiaries buy food grains at a subsidised rate rice at 3 per kg, wheat at 2 per kg and nutria cereals at 1 per kg. The NFSA covers about 81.35 crore people and the Centre bears the cost of 2 lakh crore to provide them with food security. Many states further subsidise the cost of grains provided under the NFSA. (With inputs from state bureaus) Kolkata: West Bengal state election commissioner (SEC) Rajiva Sinha met governor C V Ananda Bose on Sunday to discuss preparations for the July 8 panchayat elections, amid a series of incidents of political violence in the state which has claimed eight lives so far. West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose (PTI) The two-hour meeting at Raj Bhavan also took place amid speculation in the administrative circles that a delay in the arrival of the central paramilitary forces to oversee the election process, as mandated by the Calcutta high court and upheld by the Supreme Court, may compel the SEC to reschedule the single-phase election and hold it in multiple phases. While the state government sought 822 companies of paramilitary forces earlier this week, only 364 companies arrived till Sunday, according to SEC officials aware of the developments. The Centre was unable to update the state on the status of the remaining 458 companies of forces, the officials added. Hours before the meeting, Bose told reporters: I did not call him (Sinha). The SEC sought an appointment with the governor. I want to discuss certain vital points as far as the elections are concerned. I know he is busy. He may come today or any other day. The governors remark was seen as an indirect reference to Sinha avoiding a meeting with the former last week, citing his busy schedule. Sinha did not speak to reporters before or after the meeting. Officials at Raj Bhavan said the governor sought a report from Sinha on how the SEC plans to deploy the central forces. Eight people have died in various instances of political violence since the poll date was announced on June 8. On June 13, the high court had directed the SEC to immediately requisition central forces and deploy them especially in constituencies that the polling body has already declared to be sensitive. The order was challenged by the state government and SEC in the Supreme Court. The top court, however, dismissed their appeals on June 20, noting that both the state government as well as SEC were of the view that additional forces were required for proper elections. Meanwhile, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday said that 822 companies of central forces would not be adequate for free and fair polls, and demanded deployment of more forces. In proportion to the number of booths, I think that this number (822 companies) of central forces is inadequate. I demand more central forces be sent to West Bengal for the panchayat elections, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid homage to those who resisted the emergency that was declared by then PM Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975. On completion of 48 years of the dark days of emergency, PM Modi said the 21-month period remains an unforgettable period in our history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi(ANI) "I pay homage to all those courageous people who resisted the Emergency and worked to strengthen our democratic spirit. The dark days of emergency remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values our Constitution celebrates," he said in a tweet. PM Modi was joined by his party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and his Cabinet colleagues who denounced the torture, imprisonment, murder and stifling the voice of free press by an insecure and authoritarian ruler. Torture, imprisonment, murder, stifling the voice of free press - 25th June 1975 symbolises all that and more. Lest you forget, what the Emergency imposed on India and Indians entailed; do watch this video & see what the Congress party is capable of! Union minister Smriti Irani said tweeting a video. BJP also tweeted a black poster with light casted on Indira Gandhi's face along with words the darkest chapter of Indian democracy. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri shared a clip from PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat radio show where he talked about the atrocities being carried out during the period. "The emergency declared on June 25 1975 by an insecure & authoritarian ruler will always be remembered as a crushing blow to democracy & human rights. It also puts under spotlight, a particular family's & political outfit's arrogance & lust to cling to power," he said. Similarly, several ministers including Kiren Rijiju, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari along with Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also condemned the period. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian scientists are developing a prediction model to help forecast natural disasters in vulnerable regions of the country, which will have enhanced communication systems to help minimise damage and facilitate rescue operations in case of a calamity, officials said. A bridge caved in the aftermath of cyclone Biparjoy that made landfall in Gujarat earlier in June. (REUTERS) Taking into consideration the increased instances of natural disasters being reported from various parts of the country, India is in need of an indigenously developed prediction model that can send early warnings during natural disasters, help agencies issue alerts and during and after the disaster help establish a reliable communication system through which rescue operations can be conducted without impediment, an official of the department of science and technology said, declining to be named. We are witnessing climate change impacts in several states, especially in the Himalayan belt. Currently, under the ministry of earth sciences, we have early warning systems, but they do not provide predictions, which can help raise alerts if there are some advance triggers so that we can take preventive action instead of relying on remedial action, the official said. The system will work with high frequency sensors, monitors and communication systems to establish a functional network, which would work seamlessly to minimize any natural disaster-related damage. The department is in talks with state disaster management authorities to collect data and recommendations on the gaps in currently functional models. The predictive model will be able to control the loss of lives in disasters like the floods in Assam that have impacted nearly 34,000 people, scientists working on the project said. The daily flood report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said on Wednesday that almost 34,000 people have been affected in Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Sonitpur and Udalguri districts. In the past few months, parts of northern India have been jolted by tremors multiple times, the latest earthquake being reported on June 13. In March, an earthquake of magnitude 6.6 on the Richter scale struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan, the impact of which was felt in Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One person was killed and 32 people were hospitalised following a gas leak from an ammonium cylinder in a dairy in Bihars Vaishali district on Saturday, officials said on Sunday. Ashok Kumar, DSP, fire department, said several fire tenders and a quick response team from Patna were pressed into service as a safety measure. (File) The incident took place at Raj Fresh Dairy at 10.05pm on Saturday, according to the dairys manager, Rajiv Kumar. Sadar deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Hajipur Omprakash said, One person died and 32 were hospitalised in a gas leak... the exact reason behind the leak is yet to be ascertained... most of the people who were hospitalised have been discharged. Ashok Kumar, DSP, fire department, said several fire tenders and a quick response team from Patna were pressed into service as a safety measure. We are probing the cause of the leak, he said. Those affected were taken to Hajipur Sadar Hospital for treatment. Civil surgeon Dr Shyam Nandan Prasad told news agency ANI that the condition of all the patients was stable. Speaking to reporters, one of the workers, who was discharged, said, It was hard to breathe when we were inside... our eyes started burning... Two people were killed due to flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh's Solan and Hamirpur districts on Sunday. The floods caused extensive damage to crops, homes, and vehicles. It also washed away livestock. Mandi: A flooded area following heavy rainfall, in Mandi district, Sunday, June 25, 2023.(PTI) READ | Not just Mumbai and Delhi, these Indian states witnessing heavy rains READ | Monsoon covers almost entire U.P; more rains today Here are five things to know about monsoon havoc in Himachal Pradesh. The State Emergency Operation Centre said that the state has suffered estimated losses of 78 lakh in the past 24 hours. The data from the meteorological department said that Sarkaghat in Mandi district was the wettest place in Himachal, receiving 130 mm rainfall. Dhaula Kuan received 103 mm rainfall, followed by Sundernagar and Baldwara at 92 mm each and Nahan 80 mm. The Met office also issued a warning for the next 5 days in Himachal Pradesh. It cautioned about the possibility of flash floods in Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Chamba, and Kullu districts and also issued a 'yellow' alert for heavy rain, thunderstorm, and lightning at isolated places on June 26 and thunderstorms coupled with lightning from June 27-29. At least 10 trains were cancelled while the run of four others were cut short due to inclement weather. Numerous landslide incidents were reported throughout the state, and many houses downstream are at risk. 4. The Mandi-Kullu NH 3 was closed for traffic movement. Over 200 people including tourists and locals got stranded near Baggi Bridge on Mandi Prashar Road. People are being evacuated to safer places in the region. Road connectivity was lost, said Sanjeev Sood, DSP Padhar, Mandi District Police. 5. The Chabba water supply scheme in Shimla was affected due to the discharge of 150 cusecs from the Nathpa dam, damaging the submersible pumps and the inlet pipe. Water sources have been loaded with heavy silt. (With agencies' inputs) The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for Maharashtra's Raigad and Ratnagiri, while a yellow alert has been issued for Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and national capital Delhi and its adjoining areas after heavy rainfall lashed parts of above mentioned regions. Financial capital Mumbai and its suburbs received heavy rainfall on Saturday.(HT_PRINT) Read here: Heavy rain with thunderstorm lashes parts Delhi-NCR, IMD issues yellow alert Financial capital Mumbai and its suburbs received heavy rainfall on Saturday, resulting in water-logging at various places and affecting vehicular movement on some roads, as the monsoon advanced over the city. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai city received 104 mm of rain and eastern suburbs and western suburbs received 123 mm and 139 mm of rain respectively in the last 24 hours. Earlier on Saturday, Andheri subway in Mumbai was closed for vehicular movements. Meanwhile, the heavy downpour accompanied with battered the national capital Delhi and its adjoining areas including Gurugram, in the early hours of Sunday. The showers brought down the soaring temperature, bringing some respite from the scorching heat. The IMD also issued a yellow alert for June 25-27 in Delhi as light to moderate rainfall is expected. Read here: Orange alert for Ratnagiri, Yellow for Mumbai as heavy rain lashes Maharashtra Here are the warnings issued and what they mean: Red alert: Take action The red warning is the highest level of weather warning and indicates that extreme weather is expected. During a red alert, there's a significant risk to life and property, and residents are advised to take immediate action to protect . Orange alert: Be prepared The orange warning is severe level warning, indicating that the weather could potentially worsen, causing disruption and potential threat to life and property. People should be prepared for significant changes in weather conditions and ensure they are equipped to handle emergencies, according to IMD. Read here: Mumbai rain: Waterlogged Andheri subway shut; police issue traffic advisory Yellow alert: Be aware A yellow warning by the weather agency signifies that people need to stay updated about the severe weather. While the weather may not be a threat to the general population, people engaged in certain activities may be at potential risk. Green alert: All clear This is the lowest level of alert and signifies that no severe weather conditions are expected. The green warning means that it is safe for residents to carry on with their regular activities. Read here: Unusual monsoon to strike Delhi, Mumbai at same time The monsoon has advanced over Mumbai and Delhi today, IMD has said. However, the monsoon arrival is delayed by 14 days over Mumbai and is two days early over Delhi. The normal date for monsoon onset over Mumbai is June 11 and June 27 over Delhi. Monsoon is taking an unusual trajectory this year. The Madras high court held that women home makers are entitled to equal share of property purchased from their husbands income, and said that a wife being a homemaker is a job of 24 hours without holidays, which cannot be less equated with that of an earning husband who works only for 8 hours. The court observed that a wife being a homemaker multitasks with skills of a manager, a chef, a home doctor, a home economist. (PTI) Justice Krishnan Ramasamy observed that the wife contributes to the family by taking care of the household and the children.In generality of marriages, the wife bears and rears children and minds the home. She thereby frees her husband for his economic activities, justice Krishnan Ramasamy said. Since it is her performance of her function which enables the husband to perform his, she is in justice, entitled to share in its fruits. Also read | Woman judge gets appointed to Madras HC but lawyers move Supreme Court. Why? Recognising that there is no legislation enacted to acknowledge the domestic contributions done by a wife who works as a homemaker, the judge said that he is of the view that if the acquisition of assets is made by joint contribution of both the spousesone by employment, the other by caring for the family, certainly, both are entitled to equal share. The court observed that a wife being a homemaker multitasks with skills of a manager, a chef, a home doctor, a home economist. While announcing its decision on the share in properties, the court factored in the contribution which wives make towards the acquisition of the family assets by performing these domestic chores so the husbands are responsible for gainful employment, saying that the spouse who looks after the home and cares for family for decades is entitled to a share in the property. If, on marriage, she gives up her paid work in order to devote herself to caring for her husband and children, it is an unwarrantable hardship when in consequence she finds herself in the end with nothing she can call her own, the court said. The property may be purchased either in the name of husband or wife alone, but nevertheless, it is purchased with the monies saved by their joint efforts. The verdict was passed when the court disposed off a 2016 case where the plaintiff, late Kannaian Naidu had accused his estranged wife and the first defendant, Kamsala alias Banumathi, of purchasing properties with his earnings, usurping them and having an extra marital affair. After his death in 2016, their three children continued the plaintiffs case against their widowed mother. The defendants counsel V Anusha, denied the affair and submitted that the couple, who got married in 1965, had a mutual understanding that she would stay at home and take care of their children (two sons and a daughter) while the husband could work abroad. Otherwise, the defendant would have joined work as a teacher and could earn equally. The couple used to live in Tamil Nadus Neyveli. When their children were minor, the late plaintiff shifted to Saudi Arabia to work at a steel company from 1983 till December 1994, before he returned. The court said, in this case, if the wife wouldnt have agreed, the husband could not have gone abroad and earned all the money. The wife rendered her continuous services for 24 hours by cooking meals, taking care of the children, sending them to school and doing the household chores, the court said, adding that had the husband engaged maids for three shifts at 8 hours each daily, he might have spent huge money, which would not have been sufficient to purchase properties or save anything. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Madras High Court, in a recent judgement, held that when a wife contributes to the acquisition of various assets in a family by performing household chores, then she should be entitled to an equal share in the family properties, as she has also contributed to their purchase. Madras High Court (File) The court said, The contribution which wives make towards acquisition of the family assets by performing their domestic chores, thereby releasing their husbands for gainful employment, would be a factor which, this court would specifically take into account while deciding the right in the properties either the title stand in the name of the husband or wife and certainly, the spouse who looks after the home and cares for family for decades, entitled to a share in the property. Justice Krishnan Ramasamy also said that there was no provision regarding the contributions made by a wife, but that court could observe it. He said, No law prevents the Judges from recognizing the contributions made by a wife facilitating her husband to purchase the property. In my view, if the acquisition of assets is made by joint contribution (directly or indirectly) of both the spouses for the welfare of the family, certainly, both are entitled to equal share. The case The court was hearing a dispute between a couple who got married in 1965. In 2002, the husband Kannaian Naidu had filed an injunction suit stating that while he worked abroad, his wife tried to take over properties bought on his behalf by his money. LiveLaw stated that Naidu also alleged that his wife was seeking help of a man to alienate properties and had been living a wayward life. Whereas, the wife stated that she was entitled to a right over the properties since she took care of the family while the husband lived abroad and hence had given up on her employment opportunities. She further said that she sold her ancestral properties to fun her husband's trips. Adding that she saved money by tailoring and tutoring from which she bought some of the properties mentioned in the suit. Court's observation The court said that usually in marriages, The wife bears and rears children and minds the home. The court said, that the wife frees her husband for conducting economic activities. It further said that since it is her duty which enables the husband to perform his own. She is in justice, entitled to share in its fruits", the court added. The court observed, For taking care of the children and family, it is nothing like 8 hours job, what the husband was doing abroad but it is 24 hours job. The 1st defendant, being a wife, had physically contributed to the family for 24 hours. However, the husband, out of his 8 hours job at abroad, had financially contributed to the family and sent the money out of his savings, from which they had purchased the property. The said savings were done because of the 24 hours efforts put by the 1st defendant/wife for the family, whereby she had made her husband to save money without contributing much towards the house maid etc., and for payment of money towards other jobs. The court also added that the contribution made either by the husband by earning or the wife by serving and looking after the family and children, would be for the welfare of the family and both are entitled equally to whatever they earned by their joint effort. It said, The proper presumption is that the beneficial interest belongs to them jointly. The property may be purchased either in the name of husband or wife alone, but nevertheless, it is purchased with the monies saved by their joint efforts. 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 Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Sunday met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the evolving situation in the violence-hit state, and said the Centre has advised his government to seek cooperation of all stakeholders for restoration of peace and normalcy in the region. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh met Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday. (PTI) The chief ministers meeting with Shah came a day after some opposition parties condemned the state governments response to the violence between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community that has claimed 115 lives since May 9, and several political leaders sought his resignation. The opposition parties, during an all-party meeting with Shah on Saturday, also demanded an all party delegation be sent to Manipur to oversee the situation. On Sunday morning, Singh took a chartered flight from Imphal to Delhi for the meeting with Shah, which lasted for around 30 minutes at the latters residence, according to people aware of the developments. Also read | Manipur violence: Army soldier injured in unprovoked firing in Imphal west; operations on In a tweet later, Singh said that under Shahs supervision, the central and state governments were able to keep a check on the ethnic violence to a large extent. He also said that no casualty was reported since June 13 due to the violence. Called on Honble Union Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah Ji in New Delhi today and briefed about the evolving situation on the ground in Manipur. Under Amit Shah Jis close supervision, the State and Central Govt have been able to control the violence to a great extent in the past week. It may be noted that there has been no report of casualties due to the violence since the 13th of June, Singh tweeted. Honble Union HM has assured that the central government will take all possible steps to bring normalcy in Manipur. Further, Amit Shah Ji advised us to strengthen our work towards achieving everlasting peace and also sought the cooperation of every stakeholder in Manipur to ensure that peace prevails in the State, he added. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Sambit Patra, Manipur speaker Satyabrata Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba also attended the meeting, Singh said. After returning to Imphal, Singh told reporters: We are going to invite all stakeholders, existing civil society organisations, women folk organisations, religious bodies, etc, for interactions and better understanding among communities to restore normalcy. A BJP functionary, who did not wish to be named, said the state government will focus on reaching out to all communities, including the Kukis who have conveyed their concerns about the administration appearing partisan. The functionary added that given the fragile situation on the ground and the fault lines between the communities, the chief minister has been asked to engage with all sections, particularly those who seem apprehensive about their safety in the wake of unabated violence in the state. At least 115 people have died so far in the ethnic clashes which first erupted on May 3 in Churachandpur town after tribal Kuki groups called for protests against a 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 quickly clamped a curfew and suspended internet, pumping in additional security forces to force a break in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not back in the state as the state government, on Sunday, extended the ban on services till June 30. To bring normalcy, the Centre sent in personnel from the Indian Army, CRPF, Assam Rifles, and Border Security Force. At least 300 people have been injured and nearly 40,000 displaced, with 2,000 houses and shops burnt in the violence. On Saturday, Shah urged representatives of 18 political parties to have faith in him as the Centre is monitoring and taking steps to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been constantly monitoring the situation since day one, Shah told the all-party meeting where leaders from some parties, including the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) questioned the formers silence on the matter. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh met Union home minister Amit Shah at the latters residence in New Delhi on Sunday afternoon to discuss the present situation in the violence-hit northeastern state. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh called on Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi (Twitter/@NBirenSingh) This is Singhs first visit to the national capital since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur between Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3 in which over 100 people have been killed so far and over 40,000 displaced. The meeting took place a day after Shah held an all-party meeting in Delhi on the Manipur crisis and amid demands by opposition parties seeking Singhs removal and imposition of Presidents Rule in the state. Called on Honble Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah ji in New Delhi today and briefed about the evolving situation on the ground in Manipur. Under Amit Shah Jis close supervision, the State and Central Govt have been able to control the violence to a great extent in the past week, Singh wrote on Twitter. It may be noted that there has been no report of casualties due to the violence since the 13th of June. Honble Union HM assured that the central government will take all possible steps to bring normalcy in Manipur, Singh stated. In the meeting, Singh mentioned that Shah urged him to strengthen work towards achieving everlasting peace and also sought the cooperation of every stakeholder in Manipur to ensure that peace prevails in the state. The CM was joined during his meeting with Shah by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Sambit Patra, Leishemba Sanajaoba, the titular king of Manipur and BJP Rajya Sabha MP from the state and assembly Speaker T Satyabrata Singh. An all-party meeting was convened by the Union home minister in New Delhi on Saturday to discuss the prevailing situation in Manipur in which the opposition leaders criticised the Manipur CMs handling of the crisis and demanded that he be removed as the chief minister. Shah had visited the state for four days last month and met a cross-section of people in his efforts to bring back peace in the northeastern state. In the meeting, Shah on Saturday urged representatives of 18 political parties to have faith in him as the Centre is monitoring and taking steps to restore normalcy in Manipur In another development, citing security concerns and spread of rumours the Manipur government on Sunday extended the ongoing ban on internet services in the state, which started on May 3, by another five days to June 30. Since May 3, at least 115 people have been killed, more than 300 injured and over 40,000 displaced by the ethnic clashes which were triggered by a proposal to grant scheduled tribe (ST) status to Meiteis, who comprise nearly 53% of the states total population. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Meghalaya Hight Court quashed a First Information Report (FIR) pertaining to sexual assault on a minor stating that a 16-year-old was capable of making her own conscious decisions regarding the act of sexual intercourse. Meghalaya Hight Court (File) The bench of Justice W. Diengdoh was hearing a plea which was seeking quashing of an FIR which was registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The plea claimed that it was not an act of sexual assault but was rather purely consensual as the petitioner and the alleged victim were in love, LiveLaw reported. The Bench said, This Court looking into the physical and mental development of an adolescent of that age group (referring to minor of around 16 years of age), would consider it logical that such a person is capable of making conscious decision as regard his or her well-being as to the actual act of sexual intercourse. LiveLaw reported that the petitioner worked in several households and that is how he came to know the alleged victim. It has also been reported that it was the house of petitioner's uncle where the two engaged in sexual intercourse. Next day, the 16-year-old's mother filed an FIR under Section 363 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3 and 4 of the POCSO Act 2012 against the petitioner. The petitioner, in the court, claimed that it was not an act of sexual assault since the minor girl had disclosed in her statement and testimony that she was the petitioner's girlfriend as well as confirmed that the sexual intercourse took place with her consent and no force was exercised. After examining the statements and petitioner's submissions, the court stated that the minor's statements were in favour of the petitioner. "Prima facie, it appears that there is no mens rea involved," the court said as it quashed the case against the petitioner. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India and Egypt on Sunday formally elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi focused on bolstering cooperation in security, trade, investment and technology. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Great Pyramid of Giza on Sunday. (PTI) Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to make a bilateral visit to Egypt in 26 years, and Sisi, who was chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations in January, signed an agreement to upgrade ties to a strategic partnership following their discussions at Ittihadia Palace in Cairo. In a tweet, Modi described his talks with Sisi as excellent and said the two leaders reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and agreed to further augment economic and cultural linkages. A spokesman for the Egyptian president said the two leaders confirmed their mutual commitment to push relations to broader horizons across various fields. The two sides signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for cooperation in agriculture, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law. Sisi conferred the Order of the Nile, Egypts highest state honour, on Modi at a brief ceremony. Among others who have received this award are former South African president Nelson Mandela and former US president Jimmy Carter. Modi thanked the government and people of Egypt for the honour and tweeted. It indicates the warmth and affection they have towards India and the people of our nation. Modi arrived in Cairo on Saturday after a visit to the US and held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and the India Unit, a special group created within the Egyptian cabinet by Sisi, that focused on taking forward cooperation in renewable energy, information and communication technology (ICT), health, agriculture and infrastructure. A statement from the Egyptian cabinet quoted Modi as saying that India and Egypt are moving forward quickly to achieve the goal of boosting trade to $12 billion in five years. Modis discussions with Sisi on Sunday focused on deepening the partnership in trade, investment, defence and security, renewable energy, culture and people-to-people ties, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. According to a statement from the Egyptian presidents office, the talks also touched on ways to enhance cooperation in ICT, pharmaceutical industries, vaccines, higher education, renewable energy including green hydrogen, and tourism, including direct flights between Cairo and New Delhi. This is in addition to boosting trade and the exchange of strategic goods between the two countries, as well as developing Indian investments in Egypt in the coming period, the statement said. Modi and Sisi also discussed several regional and international issues. Modi invited Sisi to the G20 Summit in New Delhi under the Indian presidency. Egypt is among the guest countries included by India in the G20 process this year. Building better alliances and relationships globally is crucial, and the PMs efforts in this domain are welcome. The partnership between India and Egypt can be beneficial for both for several reasons, not in the least of which is trade. India exported $4.11 billion of goods to Egypt in the last fiscal year, while importing $1.95 billion the potential here is clear. Sisi expressed Egypts confidence in Indias presidency of G20, saying it contributes to containing the negative repercussions of international challenges on the global economy. He stressed Egypts readiness to cooperate with India to advance talks at G20 in a constructive direction to address energy crises, climate change, food shortages, and access to financing for developing countries. Foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra told a media briefing in Cairo that green hydrogen has emerged as a potential area for cooperation between the two sides in renewable energy. There are very strong possibilities of investment and technology partnership in the field of green hydrogen and experts from the two countries are looking at this evolving field, he said. There were also discussions on possible Indian investments in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, Kwatra said. Responding to a question on Egypts application to join the BRICS grouping, he said member states are discussing the criteria and and procedure for the blocs expansion. We are looking actively at all the applications, naturally including of a very friendly and strategic partner like Egypt, he added. Besides the official engagements, Modi met Egypts Grand Mufti, Shawky Ibrahim Allam, on Saturday and discussed social and religious harmony in society and countering extremism and radicalisation. Modi announced that India will set up a centre of excellence in IT at Dar-al-Iftaa, a justiciary and advisory body headed by Allam. Modi also held separate meetings on Saturday with Tarek Heggy, a leading author and petroleum strategist, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel, two young yoga instructors, and Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North Africa. On Sunday, Modi visited visited Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo, which has been renovated by the Bohra community. He met community leaders, who are involved in the upkeep of the Fatimid era Shia mosque and highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between India and Egypt. He visited the Heliopolis War Cemetery and paid homage to more 4,300 Indian soldiers who lost their lives in Egypt and Aden during World War 1. Modi also visited the pyramids with his Egyptian counterpart, Mostafa Madbouly. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come, he tweeted. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The monsoon arrived in Delhi and Mumbai, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared on Sunday, making it the first time since 1961 when the annual rains arrived on the two megapolises 1,500km apart at the same time. Dark cloud over Kartavya Path on a rainy morning in New Delhi on Sunday. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo) The normal date of monsoon onset for Mumbai is June 11 and for Delhi June 27, but this year, the rainclouds followed an unusual path to cover the country with a lag over several western states. The last time the monsoon covered both Delhi and Mumbai at the same time was June 21, 1961. That year, the monsoon covered the remaining parts of the country on the same day, said an IMD official on Sunday, asking not to be named. Till this weekend, the rains had mostly covered the southern peninsula and parts of east and northeast India. Safdarjung, which represents Delhis weather, recorded 48.3mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period till 8.30am on Sunday most of it being recorded in the early hours. Another 2.4mm of rainfall was added between 8.30am and 5.30pm, IMD data showed. These overcast conditions meant Delhis maximum stayed below 30 degrees Celsius through the day and was recorded at 29.0 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung eight degrees below normal and the lowest for June in at least 12 years, IMD data showed. The last time Delhi had a lower maximum in June was June 9, 2010, when it was 26.9 degrees Celsius. The IMD has a yellow alert in place for Monday and Tuesday, forecasting light to moderate showers across the city. A green alert is in place from Wednesday onwards, with light rain expected from Wednesday until Saturday, making it a wet end to the month, officials said. The Southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Central Arabian Sea, some parts of north Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana, remaining parts of Uttarakhand and most parts of Himachal Pradesh and some more parts of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh on June 25, said IMD in its monsoon bulletin on Sunday, stating conditions were favourable for the monsoon to advance into some more parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir in the next 48 hours. Among other stations, Lodhi road received 59.6mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period till 8.30am, Ayanagar 54mm, Ridge 27.4mm, Palam 29.6mm, Jafarpur 60mm and Mungeshpur 48mm. Between 8.30am and 5.30pm, the highest rainfall of 25mm was recorded at Mungeshpur, followed by 19.5mm at Jafarpur. The IMD classifies it as very light rainfall when it is between trace and 2.4mm in a 24-hour period. It is light rainfall when it is between 2.5mm and 15.5mm; as moderate between 15.6mm and 64.4mm and heavy rainfall when over 64.4mm is recorded in a single day. Last year, the onset was declared over Delhi on June 30, making it three days late. In 2021, the monsoon reached Delhi 16 days late, on July 13 its most delayed onset since 2002. This is the earliest arrival of the southwest monsoon in Delhi since 2020 and 2015, when it arrived on the same date June 25. The last time it arrived sooner than this was in 2013, when it reached Delhi on June 16. Till 5.30pm on Sunday, Delhi recorded 73.8mm of rainfall so far this month. The long-period-average (LPA) for Delhi for June is 74.1mm, which is likely to be breached on Monday, with more rain forecast. The rain also meant Delhis minimum was recorded at 23.1 degrees Celsius five degrees below normal. It was 30.4 degrees a day earlier. Delhis maximum on Saturday was 37.4 degrees. Forecasts show Delhis maximum is likely to hover around 30 degrees Celsius on Monday, with the minimum hovering around 23 degrees Celsius. In terms of air quality, Delhis air returned to the satisfactory category following moderate showers across the city on Sunday. Delhis 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 71 (satisfactory) as per Central Pollution Control Boards national bulletin at 4pm on Sunday. It was 169 (moderate) a day earlier at the same time. The AQI is forecast to remain in the satisfactory category on Monday too. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday hit out at former US president Barack Obama for his remarks on protection of Muslims in India amid PM Modis State visit at the invitation of President Joe Biden. Alleging that six Muslim-majority countries were attacked with over 26,000 bombs when Obama was the US president, the FM questioned how his claims can be believed. Despite passing comments on religious freedom in India, Sitharaman added that she was restraining herself as they value the friendship with the US. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses a press conference at BJP headquarters, in New Delhi, Sunday, June 25, 2023.(PTI) "...It was surprising that when the PM was visiting the US, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian Muslims...I am speaking with caution, we want friendship with the US, but we get comments from there on India's religious tolerance. Six Muslim-dominated countries were bombed under his (Obama) rule. More than 26,000 bombs were droppedhow will people trust his words?" she said. Obama in an interview to CNN had said that India may fall apart if the rights of the religious and ethnic minorities are not upheld. He also suggested that the issue is worth mentioning during Biden-Modi discussions, in a reference to the former US President's Muslim ancestry. If I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, who I know well, part of my argument would be that if you dont protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, there is a strong possibility that India would at some point start pulling apart, he said. Amid Modi being conferred with the Order of the Nile during his ongoing visit to Egypt, the FM noted that the PM had been awarded the highest civilian honours in 13 countries of which six have Muslims in majority. Obamas comments were earlier criticised by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who tweeted that there are many "Hussain Obamas" in the country and the state police will crack down on it. In a rare occurrence, Modi fielded questions from the media at a joint press appearance with President Biden in the White House during his maiden State visit to the US. The PM was questioned about reports of attacks on religious minorities and free speech in India to which he replied, Democracy is our spirit and bloods. We love democracythe government works on the basis of democratic constitution. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday after arriving in Cairo for a brief visit aimed at imparting fresh momentum to bilateral ties in areas ranging from security cooperation to trade and investment. Egypt PM Mostafa Madbouly receives PM Modi in Cairo (Twitter/@narendramodi) Modi is the first Indian premier to visit Egypt since 1997 and his trip comes about five months after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations in January. The two sides are expected to sign an agreement on Sunday to formalise the strategic partnership announced during Sisis visit. The Indian leaders visit to Cairo, which has been eclipsed by the focus on his just concluded trip to the US that led to a raft of wide-ranging agreements and understandings, is being seen as part of Indias efforts to widen its partnerships in the crucial West Asian region. Both sides are also looking at Egypt as a hub for Indian businesses to access new markets in the Arab world and Africa. Also Read: PM Modi meets Egyptian counterpart, top ministers; discusses trade ties In a special gesture, Modi was received at Cairo airport by Madbouly and given a ceremonial welcome. Modi was also accorded a tri-services guard of honour. I thank Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. May India-Egypt ties flourish and benefit the people of our nations, Modi tweeted. He said in another tweet that he was confident this visit will strengthen Indias ties with Egypt, and that he looked forward to talks with Sisi on Sunday. Soon after his arrival, Modi and his delegation, which includes external affairs minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, went into a roundtable meeting with Madbouly and the India Unit, a group of senior ministers created by Sisi to drive relations with India. The meeting reviewed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, including defence and trade, people familiar with the matter said. On Thursday, Madbouly said Egypt is hoping Modis visit serves as a solid starting point for bolstering bilateral cooperation. Officials said Egypt is keen to strengthen cooperation with India in communications and IT, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, solar energy, green hydrogen and digital transformation. Besides the agreement on the strategic partnership, the two sides are expected to sign pacts on Sunday for cooperation in IT, agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises, trade promotion, and culture. Also in Modis schedule for Saturday was a meeting with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, interaction with the Indian community, and interaction with Egyptian thought leaders. Amid an uptick in joint military exercises and military-to-military exchanges between the two countries, Indias Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has offered to set up a manufacturing line in Egypt to make the Tejas fighter jet in a bid to bag the contract for Cairos plans to acquire new combat aircraft. The Egyptian side has expressed an interest in the co-production of military hardware. Also Read: Modi arrives in Egypt on two-day state visit, first by an Indian PM in 26 years Egypt has offered a dedicated slot for India at the Suez Canal Economic Zone, where China and Russia have already established a presence. Just ahead of Modis visit, a Suez Canal Economic Zone delegation led by chairman Walid Gamal Eddin travelled to New Delhi and Mumbai to woo Indian businesses to set up base in the zone. State-run EgyptAir plans to launch a second direct flight to India from Cairo to New Delhi in July. According to the latest official figures from the Egyptian side, two-way trade was worth $6 billion in 2022, up 13.7% from $5.3 billion in 2021, with the balance in Indias favour. Egyptian exports were worth $1.9 billion in 2022, while imports from India touched $4.1 billion in the same period. Besides holding talks with Sisi on Sunday, Modi will visit Al-Hakim Mosque, an 11th-century structure that was refurbished and renovated by the Bohra community, and the Heliopolis war cemetery to pay tribute to Indian soldiers who died fighting for Egypt during World War 1. He will return to India late on Sunday. 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 Members of the Indian community in Egypt showered fulsome praise on Narendra Modi, hailing him as "India's hero", as he became the first Indian prime minister to undertake a bilateral visit to the strategically located Middle East nation in 26 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with the Indian Community, in Cairo on Saturday. (ANI) Also Read | PM Modi conferred with Egypt's highest state honour in Cairo Modi, who arrived here on Saturday after concluding a high-profile state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, was given a rousing welcome at the Ritz Carlton hotel, where he interacted with the Indian diaspora in separate groups. Most of the members appreciated Modi's historic address to the US Congress and the economic progress of the country under his leadership. Modi on Thursday became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice. His first address to a joint meeting of the US Congress was in 2016. "You are Indias hero, a member of the Indian diaspora told Modi, who responded by saying that efforts by every Indian, including those living overseas, have contributed to the country's success. "Saara Hindustan sabka hero hai. Desh ke log mehnat karte, desh ki taraqqi hoti hai (Entire India, everyone's hero. The people of the country work hard and the nation progresses), the prime minister said. "This is a result of your hard work. Your devotion is paying off (Yeh aapki mehnat ka nateeja hai. Aapki tapasya kaam kar rahi hai, Modi said. Modi also met the members of the Bohra community, who have strong linkages with his home state of Gujarat. Earlier, waving the Indian tricolour, members of the Indian community welcomed the Prime Minister to chants of 'Modi, Modi', 'Vande Mataram' when he reached the hotel here. An Egyptian woman, Jena, dressed in a saree, greeted Modi with the popular song 'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge' from the movie 'Sholay'. Impressed by the rendition of the Kishore Kumar-Manna Dey number, the Prime Minister expressed surprise when Jena said she knew very little Hindi and had never visited India. "Kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega ki aap Misr ki beti ho ya Hindustan ki beti ho (Nobody will be able to tell whether you are a daughter of Egypt or a daughter of India)," Modi said. "Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy were people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly, a celebration of our shared cultural linkages," the Prime Minister tweeted. Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as part of the efforts by the two countries to enhance their strategic partnership. In a special gesture, Modi was welcomed at the airport here by Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with a warm embrace. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour upon arrival. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. On Sunday, Modi visited the 11th Century Al-Hakim mosque, which was renovated with assistance from the Dawoodi Bohra community. He also visited the Heliopolis War Cemetery to pay respects to the Indian troops who gave their lives in the ultimate act of valour for Egypt during World War-I. This memorial was built by the Commonwealth, although it is dedicated to the 3,799 Indian troops who lost their lives in different First World War conflicts in Egypt. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to India Sunday night after his six-day visit to the US and Egypt during which several landmark agreements were signed. Modi was received at the Delhi airport by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi and BJP chief J P Nadda. (ANI/ PIB ) Watch: India, U.S. Friendship Better For Planet...': PM Modi's Response to Biden's Praise Modi was received at the Delhi airport by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi and BJP chief J P Nadda. BJP leaders and party MPs from Delhi such as Harsh Vardhan, Hans Raj Hans and Gautam Gambhir were also present. The prime minister had embarked on his visit to the US on June 20 and in New York, he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21. Read | In Cairo, PM Modi visits 11th century mosque restored by India's Dawoodi Bohra community Later, in Washington DC, he was given a red-carpet welcome at the White House by President Biden. The two leaders held a historic summit on Thursday, followed by Modi's address to Congress and a State Dinner hosted at the White House by the Bidens in his honour. The visit was marked by several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space and trade. Modi arrived in Cairo on Saturday after concluding his high-profile state visit to the US and was received at the airport by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. He concluded his first-ever visit to Egypt this evening. During the visit, he held talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and was conferred the Arab country's highest honour 'Order of the Nile'. Modi held talks with Sisi on Sunday and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries with a focus on improving trade and investments, energy ties and people-to-people ties. The two countries elevated their relationship to a "Strategic Partnership". President El-Sisi conferred Modi the 'Order of the Nile' award - Egypt's highest state honour. This is the 13th highest state honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi. Washington: The India-America partnership is one of conviction, not of convenience; it can change the world in the 21st century; and the time was now for all stakeholders to invest in the relationship and in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) event at Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, on Friday. (ANI) Modi was speaking at the Kennedy Centre in Washington at an event organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), an organisation led by Mukesh Aghi, and attended by Indian-American professionals from a range of diverse fields on Friday evening. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, too, participated in the event, and said the bilateral relationship was closer, broader and more dynamic than it had ever been. Soon after attending a lunch hosted by vice president Kamala Harris and Blinken at the State Department and meeting top American corporate leaders Modi met the chief executive officers of Google (Sundar Pichai), Boeing (David Calhoun) and Amazon (Andrew Jassy) Modi came to the Kennedy Centre, a landmark site in DC, to address members of the diaspora who had risen up in their fields. And he left them with a message of optimism and hope, but also urged them to continue playing their role in deepening the ties. The PM began by telling the diaspora that they had been an integral part of Americas development journey. You are a part of the American dream. You have lived the American dream. Saying that what had given him the most confidence through all his interactions, with President Joe Biden, CEOs, political figures, was a shared commitment to deepen ties. I am saying with full confidence that this partnership is not one of convenience. It is a partnership of conviction..of shared commitment. And you are the basis of this. Modi pointed out that there was unprecedented bipartisan support for the relationship, as witnessed in his address to the US Congress on Thursday. My belief has deepened that our partnership can change the worlds future in the 21st century. Modi then focused on what he saw as the domestic transformation in India as it marked 75 years of Independence and people committed to becoming a developed India. We are finding permanent solutions to problemswe challenge challenges. He spoke about ease of living for the poor, the ease of doing business, Indias jump from being the tenth to the fifth largest economy in the world on the way to becoming the third-largest, robust economic indicators post the pandemic, enhanced foreign direct investment including from America, unprecedented reforms, Indias young population, and its skilled workforce. The foundation and the driving force of Indias success is the aspiration of its citizens. And its not that different from the American dream, Modi said, pointing to a spike in private expansion, the ending of extreme poverty, and the expansion of the neo-middle class and the middle class. This is what, Modi said, provided an opportunity to other players and will open doors for America. If aviation demand was increasing, aircraft orders were helping American companies benefit and creating jobs in the US. If the India-US defence relationship was deepening thanks to Bidens farsightedness it was helping each state in the US. If Indian companies were growing and investing in the US, it was helping Americans. We are moving ahead as the most reliable partners. And you have to take advantage of it. Indias development can help the American dream. There are many possibilities for you. Take the first and fast mover advantage, Modi told the audience, many of whom were wealthy business leaders and investors as he told them that the governments had prepared the ground. Come and play on the ground and rise. Those who play will rise. And I am sure you will not leave this opportunity. The PM said that any country which joined India at this moment will benefit, for in India, a new university was opening every week, a college every two days, an Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management every year. This is the time. It is the right time. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prashant Jha Prashant Jha is the Washington DC-based US correspondent of Hindustan Times. He is also the editor of HT Premium. Jha has earlier served as editor-views and national political editor/bureau chief of the paper. He is the author of How the BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine and Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal. ...view detail Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Sunday conferred with Order of the Nile award, Egypt's highest state honour. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi conferred the PM with the coveted award ahead of their bilateral meeting. Both the leaders signed important memorandums of understanding (MoU) during their meeting. Modi's state visit to the African country is the first by an Indian prime minister since 1997. PM Modi's visit to Egypt: :LIVE updates Earlier in the day, the prime minister visited the country's 11th centry Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo, which has been restored with the help of India's Dawoodi Bohra community. Modi was shown around the mosque whose latest restoration was completed three months ago. The mosque mainly performs Friday prayers and all five obligatory prayers. Al Hakim is the fourth oldest mosque in Cairo and the second Fatimid mosque to be built in the Egyptian capital. It covers an area of 13,560 square metres, with the iconic central courtyard occupying 5,000 square metres. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi conferred the PM with the coveted 'Order of the Nile' award.(Twitter/ANI) The Bohra community, which is settled in India, originated from the Fatimids. They renovated the mosque from 1970 onwards and have been maintaining it since then. Later, the prime minister also paid a visit to the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery and offered tributes to the Indian soldiers who bravely fought and laid down their lives in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War. Modi offered floral tributes and signed the visitor's book at the Cemetery that comprises the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial and the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial. The memorial commemorates nearly 4,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting in Egypt and Palestine in the First World War. 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 PM Modi in Egypt: Sunday is the second and final day of prime minister Narendra Modi's maiden State visit to Egypt, where he arrived following his successful trip to the United States, which, too, hosted him for his first State visit to their country. Upon landing in Cairo, the African nation's Capital, PM Modi was received at the airport by his counterpart, Mostafa Madbouly. PM Modi leaves Egypt for India PM Modi's visit is the first bilateral one to Egypt by an Indian premier in 26 years (after IK Gujral). In January, India hosted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as its chief guest for the annual Republic Day parade. The prime minister's itinerary for day 2, meanwhile, includes visits to the Al-Haqim Mosque, Heliopolis War Grave cemetery, and other engagements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday held bilateral talks in Cairo, focussing on trade & investment, defence & security, renewable energy, cultural and people to people ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Eqyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during their meeting in Cairo, Egypt.(PTI) "Synergising - multifaceted ties PM @narendramodi held a productive meeting with President @AlsisiOfficial in Cairo on 25 June 2023 The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in trade & investment, defence & security, renewable energy, cultural and people to people ties. An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" was signed by the leaders", Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson, ministry of external affairs, tweeted. PM Modi's Egypt visit: LIVE updates Three MoUs in the fields of Agriculture, Archaeology & Antiquities and Competition Law were also signed, he added. Modi, the second Indian prime minister on a state visit to Egypt in 26 years, was conferred with the African country's highest state honour Order of the Nile by the Egyptian president Sisi. It is the 13th international award to be bestowed on the prime minister since he assumed office in 2014. Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited the 11th century Al-Hakim mosque which has been restored by India's Dawoodi Bohra community. Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture, Modi tweeted. Later, Modi visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetry and offered tributes to the Indian soldiers who bravely fought and laid down their lives in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War. "Prime Minister paid homage to over 4,300 valiant Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Aden during the 1st World War," the MEA said in a press release. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday concluded his two-day State visit to Egypt, headlined by him being conferred with the African country's highest state honour, visit to a 1,000-year-old mosque and tribute to World War 1 braves. My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection, the prime minister tweeted a video of the highlights of his visit after departing from Cairo. In the last leg of his visit, Modi visited the Great Pyramids of Giza along with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly. The prime minister tweeted, "I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come". Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Egypt's highest state honour 'Order of the Nile'. (Twitter/Narendra Modi) Modi met Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi who conferred him with Egypt's highest state honour Order of the Nile. He joined the likes of Queen Elizabeth II and Nelson Mandela as being the foreign leaders to have been felicitated with the award. ALSO READ: PM Modi conferred with 13 internationl awards since 2014. Check full list of honours "With great humility I accept the "Nile Necklace". I thank the Government and people of Egypt for this honor, which demonstrates the warmth and affection they have towards India and the people of our nation", Modi tweeted. Both the leaders held bilateral talks which centered around trade and investment, defence and security. "Imparting new momentum to - relations! PM @narendramodi and President @AlsisiOfficial held fruitful talks in Cairo. They deliberated on ways to deepen the multi-faceted partnership between both the nations. The leaders also signed agreement to elevate India-Egypt bilateral ties to Strategic Partnership, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) tweeted. Modi had arrived in Cairo on Saturday after concluding his three-day State visit to the United States. 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his maiden visit to Egypt, the first by an Indian PM to the country in 26 years. PM Modi kickstarted the first day of his visit by holding discussions with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly along with the country's top Cabinet ministers. They discussed on deepening trade relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by members of the Indian community, in Cairo on Saturday.(PIB) He also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Ibrahem Abdel-Karim Allam and the Indian diaspora in the country. PM Modi was earlier accorded a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour upon his arrival. "I am confident this visit will strengthen Indias ties with Egypt. I look forward to talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attending other programmes," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after landing in Cairo. Day 2 itinerary of PM Modi's visit to Egypt PM Modi will visit Cairo's historic Al-Hakim Mosque. His visit to the mosque is significant due to the presence of large Dawoodi Bohra Muslim population in the area, a community which has its significance in Gujarat as well. He will also meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The State visit was arranged after Sisi had invited PM Modi after he visited India as a chief guest for Republic Day 2023 celebrations. The meeting with President Sisi will be followed by delegation level talks, signing of MoUs and press statements. PM Modi will visit the Heliopolis War Cemetary. Around 4,000 names of Indian soldiers, who fought in World War I in Egypt and Palestine, are commemorated here. He will leave for New Delhi later today SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The name of the proposed opposition front could be Patriotic Democratic Alliance or PDA, and a final decision on this would be taken at the next meeting of opposition parties at Shimla next month, said people familiar with the matter. Thirty-two leaders from 15 Opposition parties came together at a mega meet in Patna on Friday. (HT PHOTO)(HT_PRINT) Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja made an assertion to this effect while addressing party workers in Patna on Saturday, said people. He also said the PDA would be given a final shape at the Shimla meeting, where the next level of deliberation of opposition leaders would take place between July 10-12. When contacted, D Raja said on the phone to HT on Sunday that the name of the alliance could be PDA but stressed a final decision had not been taken yet. We can say the new alliance could be named Patriotic Democratic Alliance (PDA). We have not taken a final decision on it. We have the primary objective of defeating the NDA and all the opposition parties have a clarity on it, he said. Also Read: CMP, seat sharing to be decided at Shimla meet: GA leaders after key Opp meeting Raja also said that the opposition parties coming on board the proposed front have a secular and democratic ideology and the new fronts name would have a reflection of it. In Tamil Nadu, there is the Secular Democratic Front whereas in Bihar, we have the Mahagatbandhan. So, we will have a name which would share our commitments as a combined opposition, he added. In 2004, after the general polls, the Congress, Left, and other regional parties formed United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to form government at the Centre. In Bihar, the RJD-JD(U), the Congress and the Left aligned together before the 2015 assembly polls to form a grand alliance or Mahagatbandhan. D Rajas announcement, coming just a day after the Patna meet, is an indication that the exercise of giving a formal shape to the proposed front has already advanced and the Shimla meeting is likely to put a stamp on its structure and various aspects of seat sharing among various constituencies, said the people mentioned above. Incidentally, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee during her address during the joint press conference after the opposition meet had insisted that they should not be called opposition but patriotic as they were all citizens of the country. RJD top leaders, aware of the developments of the meeting, said there has been no discussion on the name of the new alliance and all these matters would be taken for discussion at the Shimla meeting. Also Read: Opposition satisfied with Patna meeting, next huddle in Shimla on July 10-12 We can say the meeting was very fruitful, said Manoj Jha, RJD MP, when asked that leaders have christened the proposed front as PDA. Congress state president Akhilesh Prasad Singh could not be reached for comments. On June 23, 15 parties opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- Central government, including the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal-United [JD(U)], three major Left parties, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) represented by their party heads had gathered at a mega opposition meet on the call of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar at his official bungalow in Patna where they resolved to stay united and collectively fight against BJP led NDA government at the centre headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reacting to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement that the AAP-led Punjab government had failed to maintain law and order in the state, AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that the law and order situation has infact witnessed a "significant improvement" in the border state after his party came to power. AAP leader and Rajya Sabha Member Raghav Chadha. (ANI) "I think that Rajnath Singh has received the wrong information about Punjab. In Punjab the law and order situation has improved under the AAP-Bhagwant Mann government," Chadha said. "The law and order situation in Punjab is way better compared to the last few decades," he added. The AAP leader also reminded the Union Minister about violence in Manipur, which is a BJP-ruled state. "I request Defence Minister to see that Manipur is burning, lakhs of people are homeless, and thousands are dead. So take responsibility for it (violence) first before pointing out other states," Chadha, the AAP MP said. Pressing on the attack against Rajnath Singh, Chadha said that the "crime graph" in the national capital is on the rise, referring to the recent killings in Delhi. "In Delhi, Law and Order and police come under the jurisdiction of the Centre government. Every day murder, rape and robbery occur here. The crime graph is increasing in Delhi," he said, taking a dig at the Union Minister. "The Punjab government failed to maintain law and order. Taking the initiative to manage the law and order is the prime task of the government but this government failed," Rajnath Singh said in Chandigarh on Saturday. "The law and order situation, in both Delhi and Manipur, which comes under the jurisdiction of the BJP, is in a bad condition," AAP MP argued. Leaders of BJP and AAP have been engaged in a sort of war of words over the "deteriorating" law and order situation in Delhi. The Delhi Police comes under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The stand of the Aam Aadmi Party on Opposition unity has been made clear: if the Congress does not protest the Delhi Ordinance in Parliament, AAP will not be a part of the Congress-led opposition. Now, the party has put forward a new condition as the party's national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said Congress should not project Rahul Gandhi as the leader for the third time. At the Patna meet, Kejriwal directly spoke to Rahul Gandhi on the issue of Delhi Ordinance. "If the country is to be saved, then at first the Congress should announce that they will not bet on Rahul Gandhi for the third time and won't force the opposition. In the interest of the country, this is more crucial than saving the Constitution," the AAP leader said taking a veiled dig at Congress's of-quoted mission of saving the Constitution. AAP's tough talk on a united opposition AAP chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh attended the June 23 mega meet of the opposition parties in Patna called by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. The AAP leaders did not stay at the meeting for the joint statement and flew back to Delhi after lunch. From Delhi, AAP issued a statement that any alliance with the Congress would be very difficult if the Congress does not support AAP on the Delhi Ordinance issue. Kejriwal directly speaks with Rahul; Mamata asks them to end spat over tea, lunch While Kejriwal spoke with Rahul Gandhi directly at the meeting urging him to forget the differences and move forward, Rahul Gandhi told him that there was a process to discuss the ordinance. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who was present at the meeting, proposed that Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal should address the differences over tea or lunch. B-team charge At the meeting, reports said, Mallikarjun Kharge countered the allegations of the AAP and said AAP spokespersons had been levelling accusations against the Congress. This came as Priyanka Kakkar upped the attack and claimed Rahul Gandhi and the BJP have reached an agreement that the Congress will support the Delhi Ordinance. Congress leader Ajay Maken cited Kejriwal's support for the abrogation of Article 370 and asked who the B team was. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a historic state visit that observers on both sides expect will kickstart a new chapter in relations between the United States and India. Over the past two decades, this relationship has gone from awkward resentment during the Cold War to full-throated embrace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden (PTI)(MINT_PRINT) However, a recent essay by the veteran India hand Ashley J. Tellis in Foreign Affairs titled, Americas Bad Bet on India, warns that there are limits to US-India cooperation and Washington would be wise to wake up to them. Tellis holds the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and elaborated on his controversial essay on last weeks episode of Grand Tamasha, a podcast on Indian politics and policy co-produced by HT and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Read | PM Modi, at rare press conference with Joe Biden, hails new chapter of India-US ties When it comes to a potential US-China conflict over Taiwan, Tellis thinks India will be reluctant to engage in military terms. India will side with the US in any confrontation that we are engaged in with respect to China, said Tellis. But I think it is unlikely that India will involve itself militarily, short of any direct Chinese threats to India itself. In other words, Tellis explains, I think the distinction needs to be appreciated between support for the US and military involvement in a US-led campaign against China. I think India will do the former; I think it will not do the latter. Tellis clarified that this is a contingent judgment because it depends on so many circumstances that are hard to foresee. But a priori, it is not an unreasonable expectation to say that India will sit out active military involvement, he concluded. Of course, there is much India and the US can do short of coalition warfare when it comes to checking Chinas rise. During the state visit, there was much fanfare over the joint US-India initiative on critical and emerging technology (iCET). Tellis believes that the initiative shows promise but warns it is still early days. It is not just simply a work in progress, but we are at the earliest stages of what is a work in progress, suggested Tellis. I think it has transformational potential, but I am cautious when people describe it in dramatic terms as the next big thing. And the reason I am cautious is not that I devalue the transformational potential, but I just fear the fact that it has so many moving parts. Read | PM Modis Rare Presser In Washington With Joe Biden; Two Questions Allowed | Details Regarding Indias commitment to democracy, another question mark that hangs over the relationship, Tellis acknowledges that there are no easy answers for the Biden administration The US government faces a dilemma, and it is a dilemma that is not unique to India but is not one that is going away either. How do you deal with problems involving your friends? Problems involving your adversaries are simple: you smack them around. Problems involving your friends are far more challenging to deal with, stated Tellis. The scholar explained that the US has experience dealing with countries like Pakistan, who have been allies of convenience. But dealing with India and the challenges of its democracy are entirely new for America. Hitting out at the Centre over the situation in violence-hit Manipur, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday alleged that while the northeastern state is "burning", Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "silent", Home Minister Amit Shah is "ineffective" and Chief Minister N Biren Singh is "non-functional". Congress leader Jairam Ramesh (ANI) Ramesh made the remarks at a national convention on peace in Manipur at the Harkishan Singh Surjeet Bhawan which was addressed by leaders from different political parties. In a tweet later, Ramesh said that he participated in the convention organised by 10 like-minded political parties to share his thoughts on the political, administrative and humanitarian disasters in the state of Manipur. READ | Manipur violence: Congress's not allowed claim after all-party meet, shares '8 points' "You cannot have unanimity but you can have consensus. That is how the Constitution of India was made.... So it is through consensus, only through listening to everybody, being sensitive that you can really restore trust (in Manipur). It is going to be a long process. It is not going to happen in weeks, it is going to take months, it may take years but we have to start the process," the Congress general secretary in-charge communications said at the convention. While Manipur is burning, the prime minister is "silent", the home minister is "ineffective", and the chief minister is "non-functional", he said. Ramesh said that to move ahead, the chief minister should be replaced immediately. READ | All-party meet takes stock of situation in Manipur; govt committed to peace: Shah Then, he said, two fundamental steps need to be taken -- disarm all armed groups ruthlessly without any discrimination and begin the process of creating an atmosphere of trust, harmony and reconciliation. Ramesh said former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh took 10 years to restore some semblance of order and then the process of development was started. "We live in hope that Manipur which was an example of unity through diversity in India is brought back to the path of normalcy at the earliest," he asserted. Ramesh's remarks come a day after the Congress said peace in violence-hit Manipur is not possible under Chief Minister N Biren Singh and demanded that the prime minister replaces him immediately. Presenting an eight-point charter of demands on behalf of the Congress at an all-party meeting convened by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament building, former chief minister of Manipur Ibobi Singh had said it was unfortunate that he was not allowed more time to put across his views towards the end of the meeting. Nearly 120 people have lost their lives and over 3,000 injured since the ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3. A large number of houses were torched rendering many people homeless in the violence between Meitei and Kuki communities. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Feature: Chinese medical care safeguards Barbadians' well-being Xinhua) 15:47, June 25, 2023 BRIDGETOWN, June 25 (Xinhua) -- "The long-term Chinese medical team is really unique to our hospital," said Anthony Harris, director of medical services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, expressing his gratitude for the contribution of the Chinese medical team in the country. As a surgeon who had witnessed Chinese doctors' treatment in the operating room, Harris said Chinese medics are very enthusiastic and serious about their work, and always work closely with their local colleagues in Barbados. Since December 2016, the hospital, being the largest and highest-level public general hospital in Barbados and holding a prominent position as a leading medical center in the Caribbean, has benefited from the expertise of five batches of Chinese foreign aid medical teams dispatched by Chongqing Municipality in southwest China. These dedicated teams have effectively brought Chinese medical services to the Caribbean island country. Among the dedicated members of the Chinese medical team was He Ping, the chief surgeon of the trauma department at the Chongqing Emergency Medical Center. He joined the third Chinese medical team to Barbados, arriving in the country in July 2018 and returning to China in September 2019. During his stay in Barbados, he always worked on the front line in the operating and emergency rooms, participating in 96 emergency operations and saving 19 critically ill patients. "We had some challenges with our human resources as it relates to delivering care at the hospital," said Chaynie Williams, one of the medical staff at the hospital. "(Chinese medical teams) have contributed tremendously to sustaining and maintaining our services." Almost every Chinese doctor and nurse on the medical team to Barbados taught their skills to local colleagues. At the end of 2020, Liu Dan, an anesthetist at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University came to Barbados for medical aid. She gained many local "students" shortly after demonstrating her technical advantages. Some of the interns and the experienced consultant doctors at the hospital even needed to book an appointment to see her demonstration. "Traditional Chinese medicine also was gaining popularity with the local residents. And it's something that we want to also have as part of our holistic patient-centered care at the hospital," Williams said. According to Deng Li, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, the Chinese medical teams in Barbados have treated more than 38,000 clinical cases, and China has also sent experts to Barbados on a short-term basis to carry out knee replacement and other operations free of charge to solve local medical technical problems. The advanced medical technology displayed by the Chinese medical teams has attracted seven Barbadian doctors to study at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. "Through individual instruction, their professional theory and technical operation ability have been greatly improved, which has laid a solid foundation for them to carry out the medical techniques after returning to Barbados," said Xu Ping, party chief of the Chinese hospital. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Egypt today but the high achieved in Indo-US ties during his three-day visit this week continues to positively resonate both in Washington and on Raisina Hill with the Biden administration clearly betting on the powerful Indian leader to take the bilateral ties into a new trajectory. PM Narendra Modi gets a standing ovation from the US Congress on July 22. Unlike his US visit in 2014, when PM Modi was an untested politician at a national level, the Indian leader is now seen by the Biden administration as a global leader who delivers on ground, has taken India on a high growth path even during torrid Covid times and continues to function at a high energy level without any signs of fatigue. That US President Joseph Biden and his principals have put money on PM Modi is evident from the ceremonial reception he was given at the White House and was feted around by the Bidens as well as the US Congress with both Democrats and Republicans reaching out to the Indian leader after his second speech to the US Congress. While some of the Leftist Democrats chose to stay away from his address and were not missed, Pramila Jayapal, Congresswoman and once bitter critic of PM, was also seen giving a standing ovation to Modi at the Congress. The US Congress feted PM Modi across party lines at the joint sitting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell making it evident that there was bipartisan consensus on PM Modi. So, what has changed in the India-US relations in nine years under PM Modi and is now irreversible? The fundamental reason why India and the US have become closest allies is the post 2014 aggressive rise of China and its impact on global supply chains. With both India and US sharing wariness towards China particularly after the PLA muscle flexing towards Taiwan and in East Ladakh, it is the first time that the US business has followed the lead of US political leadership and engaged India with the intentions of investing in the worlds largest democracy. It is for this reason that the US India Business Council summit prior to PM Modis visit was headed by US Secretary of State Tony Blinken, considered to be the closest to US President, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The US Commerce Secretary Raimondo has already gone on record stating that PM Modi was an unbelievable visionary and the most popular global leader with the desire and commitment to move India forward as a global power. With the global geopolitics changing, the power politics today is centered around high technology with India and US joining hands to counter the challenge coming from China. It is not for any other reason that US semiconductors majors like Micron, AMP and LAM Research and Applied Materials have decided to bet on India in chip manufacturing and critical materials research. The biggest example that the US has trust in PM Modi is the General Electric F-414 jet engine with no country parts with aircraft engine technology to a country which is not even a NATO ally. It is considered a crown jewel, said one of the principals who participated in the India-US deliberations in Washington. The US decision to allow assembly of its top-of-the-time hunter killer drone MQ 9B in India is also another manifestation of how ties have progressed between the two democracies. It was not so long ago that the US looked towards India through the prism of Pakistan and perhaps even that of China in the first decade of this millennium. While the deliverables during PM Modis visit to Washington were coordinated by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan, the entire State Department and Pentagon were supportive of the new overtures in the bilateral ties with President Biden taking the lead. Fact is that PM Modis very successful visit to the US has not only cemented ties with Washington but also has made the Quad equally powerful with Indo-Pacific maritime domain awareness data sharing among the partners. The next step is Quad navies exercising off the coast of Sydney under the Malabar rubric with growing commonality of defence hardware. It seems that India has finally exorcised the ghost of USS Enterprise in the 1971 war. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Security forces conducted an operation to nab 12 members of the Manipur -based militant group Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) on Saturday evening, only to hand the men back to local leaders after a mob of 1,200-1,500 led by women said they would not allow anyone to take them away, according to information shared by the Army on Twitter. PREMIUM People at the site of fire in Manipur. (PTI) A day before that, the Army tweeted that a large group of women in Kangpokpi and Yaingangpokpi blocked its personnel from reaching a spot where armed miscreants were firing automatic weapons. And on Thursday, a CBI team was stopped from entering the Manipur Police Training College in Pangei, Imphal East, when it arrived to probe a case of loot of arms and ammunition from the college armoury. Read | Manipur violence: CM holds talks with Amit Shah after all-party meeting These are just a handful of several such incidents in the state, confirmed officially and narrated anecdotally, in recent days. Even as government agencies are working to restore normalcy in the state where 115 people have died and nearly 40,000 displaced due to ethnic clashes, women protesters from both Kuki and Meitei groups have blocked roads in several parts, disrupting delivery of essential items, vehicular movement and combing operations. The womens groups have taken to the streets to protest against the state government, against each other, and also the operations launched by the security forces to flush out armed miscreants and recover looted weapons and ammunition. Coincidentally, in Delhi too, two protests against the violence by Meitei and Kuki groups at Jantar Mantar and outside Union home minister Amit Shahs residence were both led by women. Read | Women-led mob forces security personnel to let go of 12 militants in Manipur: Army To be sure, in Manipuri society women are at the forefront in almost all spheres of life. For instance, in capital Imphal, one can encounter many women, old and young, at the Ima Keithel (Mothers Market). The place is regarded as the worlds largest market run entirely by women. In the stalls of the sprawling bazar, anywhere between 3,000 and 5,000 women can be seen selling all kinds of products. Besides the locals, the market is a popular destination among tourists too. In a state that has witnessed several movements of unrest, the most significant and historically important role played by women in Manipur was during the two Nupi Lan (Womens Wars) of 1904 and 1939. Manipur had come under direct British rule after the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. The First Nupi Lan was a significant revolt led by women in the Imphal West district of Manipur. It was one of the earliest uprisings in India to be led entirely by women. The protest was a result of a system in put in place by Lt Col Henry St Patrick Maxwell, the British agent of Manipur, in July 1904, which required men to perform ten days of free labour after every 30 days. On September 3, 1904, thousands of women marched to Maxwells official residence,demanding that the orders to reintroduce the so called Lallup system be taken down. As the British governments efforts to put an end to the protests failed, the proposed system was withdrawn. The second Nupi Lan was against the export of rice in large quantities outside Manipur which led to local shortages and affected the local economy. In addition, the export of cheap goods by Marwari traders affected the local cottage industry. Crop losses due to excess rain coupled with the export of rice outside led to several protests in Imphal in 1907. On December 12, thousands of women marched to the royal durbar office and demanded a ban on rice exports. Nearly 4,000 women gathered outside the durbar office and refused to leave till their demand was fulfilled. In order to bring the situation under control, personnel from Assam Rifles were brought to the area. They tried to use bayonets to remove the protesting women who in turn pelted the soldiers with stones. The incident led to injuries to several women who had to leave the protests. But the protest yielded results, with the Maharaj sending a message a day later to put a stop to the export of rice. The day of the Second Nupi Lan, December 12, is still commemorated as Nupi Lan Day. In the late 1970s, women groups called Meira Paibis (Women with Torches) started forming at several places in an unorganised manner to carry out non-violent protests for action against illicit liquor, use of drugs and more specifically the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gave unbridled powers to the Army and security forces to arrest, detain or even shoot at suspected insurgents. One of the most prominent protest by the women of Manipur was on July 15, 2004 when 12 Manipuri women disrobed in front of the Assam Rifles headquarters in Imphal in protest against the killing of Manorama Thangjam. Thangjam was a 32-year-old women who was picked up by Assam Rifles personnel four days ago and was later brutally killed after being allegedly raped. On May 30 when Union home minister Amit Shah visited the state in the backdrop of reports of violence between the tribal and non-tribal groups in the state, one of the first meetings he held was with a group of Meira Paibis. Meira Paibis are like the Resident Welfare Associations in the cities. They are everywhere and step up whenever the community wants their voices to be heard. Meira Paibis are very influential because they are there in almost every village. Most of them are homemakers and powerful in the Manipur society, said a former journalist who is also a representative of a Civil Society Organisation. Security officials, who spoke to HT on condition of anonymity, said that while Kuki women groups have blocked parts of National Highway 2, most Meitei groups have blocked the entry points to south Manipur, especially parts of Churachandpur, Tengnoupal and Chandel. The road blockades officials said, are not only causing shortage of essential items at many places but also hoarding and artificial scarcity. Almost all these protests are led by women. The official added that the road blockades at different places have led to security forces to use helicopters to supply fresh items to the jawans. The fresh items could easily have been transported by road if there were no blockades. Read | Tackling stolen arms in Manipur a challenge for forces The forces carry a stock of ration and other items with them so there is no problem now but they are currently using chopper services to carry fresh items to the security personnel. This is the situation today, an official, who asked not to be named, said. The officials said that there are innumerable cases of women protesters blocking forces from carrying out combing operations. A senior police officer, who asked not to be named, said that an informal system of bringing women together was being followed across different districts. Every family is being asked by the village/community head to send at least one or even two women. They are working in shifts. This is happening in both Kuki and Meitei homes. If any family does not send their women, they are blacklisted in the village. This is an informal system here but is working for them. Experts acknowledge the long history of women spearheading political agitations in the state. From the time they protested the new Lallup system in 1904 (the Lallup plan was to force men to do 10 days of free labour) to opposing the British exporting rice when there was not enough in the state, Meitei women have always come together against injustice, said professor Bhagat Oinam, chairperson, Special Centre for the Study of North East India, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). In the current protest, Oinam added, the protests began over reports that security forces may not be patrolling areas dominated by the tribes evenly. They heard reports of security forces only conducting operations in plains and not in the hills. They are blocking roads and stopping forces for two reasons they see Meitei insurgent groups as the ones who will protect them from Kuki militants, and second, they feel security forces are not conducting enough combing operations in the Kuki-dominated areas, Oinam said. Ngaineikim, president of the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights, said that the Kuki women groups are not protesting but conducting dharnas and are gathering to offer condolences to the people who died in the violence. When the violence started on May 3, we gave protection to Meitei people in Churachandpur. I saved a family myself. Three of my cousins were killed in Imphal. Their bodies are still lying in a hospital there. We have heard that women groups in Imphal Valley and Kangpokpi have started blocking roads and preventing security forces from reaching places where firing is taking place. I dont know what happened to the Imphal Valley women or the Meira Paibis. They are totally against security forces. I feel there can be no solution other than total separation from Manipur. If we talk of peace right now, the souls of the departed will curse us, Ngaineikim said. But a Meitei police officer said most Meitei women groups feel that Kuki groups are shielding armed militants. Nobody is talking about the role of militants in the violence in the state. The Meitei women are also blocking roads and stopping security forces from conducting operations in their area. They feel that forces are not acting against the Kuki militant groups and that anger is spilling on to the streets. The militants have large caches of weapons, which they are using in the attacks. On the other side though, the view is diametrically opposite. The Meiteis are the dominant community in Manipur. They control the bulk of the state machinery, which leaves us in a heavily disadvantaged position in any case, said a member of the Kuki community, who did not wish to be named either. Actors Kiara Advani and Kartik Aaryan travelled to the pink city - Jaipur - to promote their upcoming film Satyaprem Ki Katha. Kartik shared snippets from the grand promotional schedule of the movie and even got clicked at the airport with Kiara by the paparazzi. The pictures and videos from the occasion show Kiara and Kartik in stylish looks. However, Kiara's head-turning ensemble stole the internet's heart. Fans loved the look and showered the star with compliments. Kiara Advani and Kartik Aaryan promote Satyaprem Ki Katha in Jaipur.(Instagram) Kiara Advani and Kartik Aaryan at Satyaprem Ki Katha promotions Kartik Aaryan took to Instagram to share a picture and a video of himself and Kiara Advani from the Jaipur promotional schedule of their film Satyaprem Ki Katha. He captioned the photo, "Pakka? Sau Takka! SatyaPrem Ki Katha. 5 days to go," and the video, "Spreading love in the Pink City #SatyaPremKiKatha." The snippets from Jaipur show Kiara and Kartik doing the signature pose from their film. Meanwhile, the paparazzi video showed the two actors arriving in Mumbai and greeting the media. Scroll through to check it out. Kiara Advani's promotional look decoded Kiara's mirror-work jacket features padded shoulders, full-length sleeves, an open front with a single button closure, mirror embellishments, intricate threadwork, sequinned patterns, and a tailored silhouette. Meanwhile, she styled the jacket with a rust-orange floral-printed bra top featuring a white flower pattern, a plunging neckline, and cropped hem exposing her midriff. Kiara styled the jacket and bralette set with matching rust orange-coloured pants adorned in a white floral pattern, a high-rise waistline, and a flared silhouette. She accessorised the ensemble with embellished high heels and a mint green-coloured top handle bag. Lastly, Kiara chose berry-toned lip shade, feathered brows, mascara on the lashes, subtle eye shadow, rouged cheekbones, a dewy base, mascara-adorned lashes, beaming highlighter, and a matte base. Centre-parted open silky locks gave the finishing touch to her promotional ensemble. Meanwhile, Kartik complemented Kiara in a white round-neck T-shirt and acid-washed denim jeans with a distressed design. He completed the look with a rust-orange-coloured shacket featuring a collared neckline, black button closures with an open front, full-length sleeves, patch pockets, and a tailored fit. A trimmed beard, back-swept hairdo, and suede boots completed the look. The second most auspicious Islamic festival of Eid-ul-Adha is around the corner, and Muslims across the globe are getting ready to celebrate it with family and friends. Also known as Bakra Eid, Bakrid, Eid al-Adha, Eid Qurban or Qurban Bayarami, Muslims mark the major festival of Eid-ul-Adha in the month of Zul Hijjah/Dhu al-Hijjah - the twelfth month of the Islamic or lunar calendar. It honours and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's absolute dedication to Allah. Scroll ahead to learn about the date, history, significance and celebrations of the Bakra Eid festival. Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated on June 29 in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan and more countries. (Photo by Twitter/bol_kashmir) Eid-ul-Adha Date: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, the oldest and largest socio-religious organisation of Indian Muslims, announced that Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated on June 29. Bangladesh, Pakistan, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada and Singapore will also mark Bakrid on the same day as India. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will celebrate the festival on June 28. Eid-ul-Adha History and Significance: Abraham, or Prophet Ibrahim, had a recurring dream of slaughtering his son, Ismael, to fulfil the wishes of God. Ibrahim told his beloved son about these dreams and explained how God wanted him to make the sacrifice. Ismael, a man of God himself, agreed with his father and asked him to execute Allah's wishes. However, Shaitan (the devil) tried to tempt Ibrahim and deter him from attempting the sacrifice. But Ibrahim shunned it away by pelting it with stones. Allah saw Ibrahim's absolute devotion and sent Jibreel (Angel Gabriel), the Archangel, bearing a sheep for the slaughter. Jibreel told Ibrahim that Allah was pleased with his faithfulness and sent this sheep to be slaughtered in place of his son. Since then, cattle sacrifice during the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations commemorates Prophet Ibrahim and Ismael's love for Allah. It also shows that one is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice of what they love dearly for the sake of Allah. Eid-ul-Adha Celebrations: On the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, Muslims across the globe mark Eid al-Adha by commemorating the sacrifice of what one loves the most for Allah and the sheep sent by Allah through Jibreel by sacrificing a goat or sheep in the spirit of sacrifice. The meal prepared from the sacrifice is then distributed in three equal parts - one portion feeds the family, the second is for the relatives, and the third is for the poor and needy. Muslims believe that even though neither the meat nor the blood reaches Allah, the devotion of his people reaches him. Muslims also visit the mosque to offer Eid al-Adha namaz after the sun has completely risen and just before it enters the Zuhr time (midday prayer time). They start the festival by offering morning prayers at the mosque and follow it by performing the ritual of sacrifice, which is akin to the practice of self-sacrifice - an act of offering gratitude to Allah. Additionally, Muslims also mark the festival by eating delicious food, giving alms to the poor, and getting together with family, relatives and loved ones to share joy and love. Friends and family also sit together to enjoy a feast, including dishes like mutton biryani, mutton korma, mutton keema, bhuna kaleji and more, and the desserts include sheer khurma and kheer. Women also apply mehendi on their hands to add more beauty to the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations. World Refrigeration Day is celebrated annually on a global scale on June 26. Established by the World Refrigeration Day Secretariat in Derbyshire, England, the day honours the people and technologies responsible for creating and maintaining the world we live in and raising awareness and understanding of the significant role that the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump industry and its technology play in modern life. The event is supported globally by industry, professional groups, scientific and engineering associations, as well as by governments and individuals. World Refrigeration Day falls on June 26. Read its history, significance and theme for this year. (worldrefrigerationday.org) World Refrigeration Day Theme: According to the official World Refrigeration Day website, this year's theme for World Refrigeration Day is called 'Next Generation Cooling: The Future is in our hands'. The campaign will focus on the future of cooling technology, the industry, the people working within it, and those that benefit from cooling. The website says, "Building upon last year's theme 'Cooling Matters', this year's campaign will look forward with the aim of raising awareness of how the modern cooling industry is adapting and evolving to meet the challenges and opportunities the sector faces providing the increasing demand for low carbon cooling and heating solutions in a warming climate." Next-generation cooling will ensure a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions of cooling systems. World Refrigeration Day History and Significance: Stephen Gill, the former president of the Institute of Refrigeration in the UK, conceptualised World Refrigerator Day. The inaugural event on June 26, 2019, became an immediate monumental success as more than 800 physical events were held in at least 153 countries. World Refrigeration Day is an international awareness campaign established by the World Refrigeration Day Secretariat to raise awareness of the refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat-pump sector. Refrigeration is at the very heart of modern life. It enables people to live, travel and work comfortably. Hardly has anyone held greater sway over the hearts of those who love food and travel than Anthony Bourdain, the influential writer, chef and TV host, who would have turned 67 tomorrow. June 25 is marked as Bourdain Day by fans and followers of the iconic pop culture figure and if you want to remember Tony in style, we have the perfect at-home reckoner. Bourdain Day: At home with a world traveller His long-time associate and lieutenant Laurie Woolever tells us, Tony was known for travelling to nearly every corner of the globe, but what people sometimes forget is that travel was his work. When he had a rare few days or weeks off, he sought out places that provided comfort and familiarity, not challenge: warm-weather resorts chosen for the size of their pools and the reliability of the room service cheeseburger, or a Long Island beach community that reminded him of happy boyhood summertimes at the Jersey Shore. The food and drink were neither novel nor distinguished: sausages on a grill, mass-produced beer, local fruit. Even a world traveller can benefit from a recharge with simple comfort. With that spirit, lets dive in! To drink like Anthony Bourdain, whip up a Negroni Drink The Negroni. You may contend that a no-fuss cold beer was the iconic chefs weakness, but the old-fashioned approximation was, what he widely called the perfect cocktail. Interestingly, the Cooks Tour host despised coffee, but in case you dont, its worth trying this spin to the classic Italian aperitif called the Park Street Negroni, it marries bold, strong notes of coffee with the bittersweet classic. Throw Dewars 15 YO sweet vermouth (15-45ml), martini rosso (15ml), Campari (15ml), amaro Montenegro and coffee foam together. Give it a quick stir and voila! Recipe by Grace Muivah, brand lead, AMPM Kolkata (the coffee used is single-origin nGarum Coffee from northeastern India) Eat Give your biryani cravings the mandi rice treatment! The Yemeni rice-and-meat dish was what Bourdain enjoyed whenever he was in the Middle East. Aromatic and bursting with a medley of flavours, mandi is an Arabian staple. It typically consists of tender, spiced and slow-cooked meat (lamb, chicken or mutton), served on a bed of fragrant rice. Its tough to get your hands on an authentic version when not in the Middle East, so order in. Another country whose food the late chef and TV host adored was Vietnam. On his birthday, try a pho or banh mi, which will evoke memories of the time Bourdain sat at an eatery in Hanoi, to eat and chat with the then-President of the United States, Barack Obama. In case good Vietnamese is hard to find in your part of the world, a quick bite at the local hole-in-the-wall is a great idea. Bourdain was a big champion of food trucks and smaller joints, so step out for noodles or dumplings with a chilled beverage to wash it down with in true Tony style! World Travel: An Irreverent Guide by Laurie Woolever, Bourdains long-time associate and lieutenant encapsulates the late chef and TV hosts travels around the world, in his characteristic style Watch Both of Bourdains travel shows, Parts Unknown and No Reservations, are available to stream in India. If youd rather watch a film, go for Ratatouille, the animated comedy-drama about a rat with its sights set on the toque of the ultimate French chef. The evocative 2007 film was, in Bourdains view, the best film about food. Another of his all-time faves was Wong Kar-wais iconic Hong Kong independent drama Chungking Express (1994), which follows two cops grappling with loneliness and nursing heartbreak in a bustling metropolis. Notably, Tony shot his Parts Unknown: Hong Kong episode with Christopher Doyle, Kar-wais frequent collaborator, who also shot Chungking Express. Read Get Jiro! a satirical, dystopian graphic novel set in a futuristic city divided into warring culinary factions, which Bourdain co-created with novelist Joel Rose. To get into the Tony spirit completely, go for the Kitchen Confidential audiobook, narrated in his own voice. Or just pick a chapter (or more) from Laurie Woolevers 2021 collection World Travel a guide to some of the worlds most fascinating places, told using Bourdains perspectives. Sushi is what the late Anthony Bourdain would choose to have as his final meal, he often told outlets Learn Making sushi. We know its a bit ambitious but the versatile Japanese staple is what the man would choose to have for his final meal, he often told outlets. One place to start is by ordering a basic cook-it-yourself kit and start by following tutorials online. Bourdain, who had little patience for those who did not cook, said, Everyone should know how to make an omelette, roast a chicken properly, grill a steak properly and how to make a very basic stew or soup with basic vegetables and pasta. Spaghetti is another good place to begin try the classic, cacio e pepe, a pasta that the man favoured over all other versions. Still too much work? Then go for fried eggs with garlic, two of Tonys most cherished ingredients. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prannay Pathak Prannay Pathak works with the HT City editorial desk and writes about travel, books and films. ...view detail I was recently at the Symbiosis International University's beautiful campus to chair a session on the G-20 Education gathering of Indian and international educationists, called Uni 20. I chaired a plenary session whose theme was Making the World a Better Place to Live in. The distinguished panel consisted of David Pine, High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, Professor Dr Birgit Brock-Utne of the Department of Education of Norway, Professor Daniel Rycroft, from the University of East Anglia UK, and Professor Priyankar Upadhyaya, UNESCO Chair for Peace. PREMIUM The G20 summit logo. (File) I was a trifle surprised that all foreign panellists spoke predominantly on two themes: respect for indigenous people and preservation of cultural diversity, and the importance of ones own language in ensuring a more equitable world. It was almost as if the speakers were trying to overcompensate for the destruction of native cultures and the imposition of their own languages on other people, of which they weredirectly or indirectlyearlier a part. In fact, Professor Brock-Utne specifically gave the example of the colonial experience of India, which led to the arbitrary imposition of English, and the mutilating neglect of the great linguistic heritage of a refined and ancient civilization. The Kenyan Nobel Laureate Professor Wangari Mathai once told me that it was only the colonial rulers who truly understood the importance of a language. That it is why it was the first thing they took away from us. Mahatma Gandhi was very clear about the damage that English and English education had wrought, and in 1944 he spoke with a deep sense of foreboding: "Our love of the English language in preference to our own mother tongue has caused a deep chasm between the educated and the politically-minded classes and the masses. We flounder when we make the vain attempt to express abstruse thoughts in the mother tongue.We are too near our own times correctly to measure the disservice caused to India by the neglect of our own languages." Jawaharlal Nehru was, if anything, as emphatic. Although education at Eton and Cambridge had made English his first language, he was perceptive enough to note why this had happened. "The British had created," he wrote in An Autobiography, "a new caste or class in India, the English-educated class, which lived in a world of its own, cut off from the mass of the population." In fact, Professor Brock-Utne actually quoted these lines. The tragedy is that, in spite of this awareness, the impact of colonial rule in cultural terms is very difficult to erase. And so it was that at the stroke of the midnight hour on the intervening night of 14-15 August 1947, when India finally broke the chains of British bondage, Nehrus first words to the millions across the country waiting with bated breath to hear him, were in English: Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny. And now the time has come to redeem that pledge.. But, unfortunately, only a miniscule elite could understand what he was saying, and even fewer could be trusted to spell tryst correctly. This was, indeed, the success of the colonial venture, and the world has still not fully recovered from it, even while a new homogenization dictated by the dominant idiom of the West is imposing a neo-colonialism in the garb of globalization. The irony is that the victims are usually the last to know. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) was a patriot, but in his personal life was caught in the not unfamiliar dilemma of the colonised. It is said that he had two houses in Calcutta, one in which everything was western except him, and the other where everything was Indian except himself! This is not a diatribe against English or English culture. In a globalizing world, the knowledge of an international language is an asset, and India has, benefitted from it. But in a country with over 24 sophisticated languages, each with their own script and corpus of literature going back millennia, badly spoken English cannot become the lingua franca of our great civilization. That is why Atal Bihari Vajpayee had once quipped: "It is a myth that the English left India as a result of our freedom movement. They left because they could not bear any more the massacre of the English language!" Language is not just a means of communication. It is a window to our culture, folk-lore, history, tradition and historical memories. It is good, therefore, that we have begun the process of respecting our own languages. The session was an honest and candid discussion of the travesties of the past, and what then needs to be done to build a better world. in my opening remarks, I said that the key concepts for such a world would have to be greater equality, respect for diversity, and compassion. I stressed that this would require a change in the mind-set of human beings, from the insular to the universal. Our ancient sages had that vision. That is why our mahavakyasor great sentenceswritten thousands of years ago, spoke of Udar Charitanam Vasudhaiva Kutumbukam (For the big hearted, the entire world is a family). That is why too, we could, at the very dawn of time, have the courage to say: Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti (The truth is one, wise people call it by different names). And that is why also, we could enunciate, Aano Bhadra Krtavo Yantu Vishwatah (Let wise thought flow to us from all sides). Symbiosis, whose motto is Vasudhaiva Kutumbukam, was an appropriate venue for this important meeting. It is a matter of great pride to me, that as a Distinguished Professor at Symbiosis, I teach a course on Vasudhaiva Kutumbukam, which has now been made compulsory for all students. Pavan K Varma is author, diplomat, and former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). Just Like That is a weekly column where he shares nuggets from the world of history, culture, literature, and personal reminiscences with HT Premium readers Anand Mahindra, Mukesh Ambani and Vrinda Kapoor were among the esteemed guests at a prestigious state dinner in Washington, DC, hosted by US President Joe Biden in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The dinner, held on June 22, was a grand affair that saw the attendance of 380 distinguished guests. Following the state dinner, Anand Mahindra and Mukesh Ambani attended the India-US Hi-Tech Handshake event in the White House alongside prominent personalities like Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook. But something memorable happened after this particular meeting that Mahindra labelled as the Washington moment. Anand Mahindra clicking a selfie with Mukesh Ambani (left), Sunita Williams and Vrinda Kapoor (right). (Twitter/@anandmahindra) After the meeting, Anand Mahindra, Vrinda Kapoor, and Mukesh Ambani were engrossed in a conversation with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, unaware of the passing time. This resulted in them missing the shuttle that was meant to take them to their next lunch engagement. Faced with this predicament, they attempted to call an Uber. As they waited for cab, they crossed paths with none other than Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams. Wondering what happened next? Well, they snapped a memorable selfie together and lightheartedly asked Williams for a lift in her space shuttle. I suppose this was what they would call a Washington moment. After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement. We were trying to call an Uber when we ran into NASA astronaut Sunita Williams @Astro_Suni Time for a selfie & we also asked if we could hitch a ride on her space shuttle instead of an Uber, wrote Anand Mahindra while sharing the selfie on Twitter. Take a look at the selfie clicked by Anand Mahindra: The selfie has received immense love since being shared a few hours ago. It has been liked over 25,000 times and collected numerous comments. Check out a few reactions here: A Washington moment indeed, what an honour for Uber to have the greatest sons of India hitching a ride with them, posted an individual. Another commented, Powerful selfie Anand ji. Nice play, sir. wouldve been an uber moment for keeps! expressed a third. A fourth shared, Wow moment. It is very down to earth to call uber. She can, but you will land in the space station, not at the next destination, joined in a fifth. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a thrilling turn of events, British ufologist John Mooner claims to have captured compelling photographic evidence that supports the idea that extraterrestrial beings are visiting our planet. Mooner recently snapped eerie images of an unidentified flying object hovering over the picturesque countryside of Devon, England, leaving him convinced that "we are not alone." British ufologist John Mooner claims to have captured compelling photographic evidence that supports the idea that extraterrestrial beings are visiting our planet.(John Mooner/Pen News) According to Mooner, the encounter occurred when a glimmer of light caught his attention, drawing his gaze to a metallic-looking object emerging from a cloud. Swiftly reaching for his Nikon P900 digital camera, Mooner managed to document what he believes to be an "alien flying saucer." In his own words, he was "completely gobsmacked" by the sight before him. John Mooner called the images definitive evidence that we are not alone.(John Mooner/Pen News) The photographs reveal a craft with a distinctive dome structure featuring two black rectangular windows, as well as four black openings along the bottom. Mooner was particularly struck by what he describes as a "force field emanating around it," a detail that added to his certainty about the object's extraterrestrial origins. Despite the blurry nature of the images, Mooner remains resolute in his conviction. He claims that the saucer-shaped craft vanished at a mind-boggling speed of 1,000 miles per hour, leaving him both exhilarated and determined to capture more evidence of its existence. This latest sighting, according to Mooner, represents "definitive evidence" of regular alien visitations to Earth. Citing a recent sighting at the Torbay airshow and suggesting the presence of an alien base in the English Channel, Mooner maintains that these extraterrestrial beings are benevolent, closely observing humanity with good intentions. While skeptics may question the validity of such claims, instances of alleged UFO sightings have been reported over the years. From the sighting at a California military base to an unexplained object during King Charles III's coronation, these incidents continue to fuel speculation about otherworldly beings. NASA officials, however, remain cautious, stating that only a small percentage of reported sightings are genuinely "anomalous." Yet, for enthusiasts like Mooner, these photographs serve as a powerful reminder that the possibility of life beyond our planet is both thrilling and tantalizingly close. Also read | Ohio's close UFO encounter! Eerie green lights leave Middletown residents wondering, are we not alone? As the debate between believers and skeptics rages on, one thing remains clear: the allure of the unknown continues to captivate the imagination of those who dare to seek answers about our place in the universe. (Source: New York Post) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China on Sunday said it supported Russia in "protecting national stability", in Beijing's first official remarks on a short-lived armed uprising led by the head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin. China on Sunday said it supported Russia in "protecting national stability". "As a friendly neighbour and a new era comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China supports Russia in protecting national stability and achieving development and prosperity," the foreign ministry said in a statement. The issue was Russia's "internal affair", the ministry added. Beijing had until late Sunday refrained from commenting on the weekend's turmoil in Russia, which saw the mutiny's leader agree to go into exile after President Vladimir Putin was forced to accept an amnesty deal. On Sunday, China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Russia's deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. The two diplomats discussed "China-Russia relations," Beijing said, as well as "international and regional issues of common concern". Read | US Says Wagner uprising a direct challenge to Russian president Vladimir Putin | 10 points In its readout of the talks, Moscow said Beijing had "expressed support for the efforts of the leadership of the Russian Federation to stabilise the situation in the country." China and Russia have ramped up economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts in recent years, with their strategic partnership growing closer since the invasion of Ukraine. Beijing says it is a neutral party in the war, but has been criticised by Western countries for refusing to condemn Moscow and for its ties with Russia. Analysts say China holds the upper hand in the relationship with Russia and that its sway is growing as Moscow's international isolation deepens. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan is set to take the stage as a key witness in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial. Milchan's testimony will shed light on allegations of lavish gifts, including champagne and cigars, exchanged for political favors. The trial aims to prove that Netanyahu committed fraud and breach of trust, and prosecutors see Milchan's testimony as essential to their case. Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan is set to take the stage as a key witness in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial. Painting a Picture of Favors Prosecutors hope Milchan's testimony will reveal a web of plush favors granted to Netanyahu and his wife, suggesting an abuse of power. The defense, on the other hand, will argue that the gifts were merely friendly gestures and not related to personal interests. The courtroom drama will unfold with both sides questioning Milchan's account of events. The Videoconference Showdown Milchan will appear via videoconference from Brighton, England, near his base of operations. Prosecution and defense lawyers will question him from a hotel conference room while his testimony is aired in a Jerusalem courtroom. Notably, Netanyahu's wife, Sara, who is coincidentally in Britain, will be present for the testimony. A "Supply Line" of Lavish Gifts The indictment alleges that Milchan provided boxes of cigars, crates of champagne, and even jewelry to the Netanyahu family over several years, totaling nearly $200,000 in value. Prosecutors contend that Netanyahu used his influential position to assist Milchan in securing a U.S. visa extension and promoting legislation that would benefit him financially. Netanyahu's Denial and Political Fallout Netanyahu vehemently denies any wrongdoing, labeling the trial as a witch hunt orchestrated by a biased justice system and liberal media. The trial has taken a toll on his political career, leading to repeated elections in Israel and raising questions about his fitness to govern. Critics accuse him of trying to overhaul the judiciary to escape the charges, an allegation Netanyahu firmly denies. Trial Unveils Sensational Details In addition to the specific charges, the trial has offered insights into Netanyahu's character and his family's reliance on gifts and taxpayer-funded perks. Witness testimonies have provided sensational details that have captivated the public, giving a glimpse into the inner workings of the Netanyahu household. Prosecutors' Determination Despite challenges and warnings from judges regarding the difficulty of proving bribery charges, prosecutors remain committed to pursuing the trial. The possibility of a plea bargain has been discussed, but for now, they are determined to see the trial through to its conclusion. Also read | Netanyahu's Hollywood tax break scandal exposed in epic trial drama as opposition leader Yair Lapid testifies in court As Arnon Milchan takes the stand, the Netanyahu corruption trial enters another crucial phase. With the spotlight shining on the alleged exchange of gifts for political favors, the courtroom drama continues to captivate both local and international audiences. In a bid to tackle the rising ignorance among Indian students about Canadian laws and rules, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) is pressing the Immigration Minister to implement a mandatory clause for visa applicants. Murarilal Thapliyal, president of the esteemed Indo-Canadian organization, highlights the severe consequences of this lack of awareness. Mandatory Canada Law Awareness and additional measures to be enforced for visa applicants to ensure the safety of Indian students in Canada(Shutterstock) Tragically, a number of Indian students have lost their lives in road accidents or drowned in ponds due to their unfamiliarity with local laws. The lack of knowledge has also left students vulnerable to depression and, in some devastating cases, suicide. With the responsibility of paperwork typically falling on agents in India, students and their parents have limited understanding of Canadian legalities. The ICCC proposes an essential solution: the inclusion of an acknowledgment form in admission documents. This form would require Indian students and their parents to confirm that they have familiarized themselves with basic Canadian laws and comprehend the potential repercussions of violating them. Furthermore, the ICCC insists that this acknowledgment form should be a prerequisite for admission to Canadian colleges. To ensure the well-being of incoming students, the ICCC recommends that all Canadian colleges establish service counters at airports. These counters would provide essential post-landing assistance, offering students a booklet containing comprehensive information about Canadian laws and regulations. The booklet would cover important topics such as appropriate behavior in public spaces, traffic rule compliance, rent payment responsibilities, emergency contact numbers, and resources for mental health support, including NGO and consulate phone numbers. Murarilal, a lawyer by profession, emphasizes that any student found later violating the acknowledgment form should face strict consequences, including deportation without leniency. He expresses concern over the increasing incidents of Indian students failing to pay rent or refusing to vacate premises, which has resulted in significant community resentment towards them. The ICCC's proactive stance aims to address the knowledge gap and prevent avoidable incidents involving Indian students in Canada. By implementing the mandatory acknowledgment form and establishing airport service counters with informative booklets, the chamber hopes to empower students with essential information and foster a safer and more responsible student community. As the ICCC awaits the Immigration Minister's response, it remains steadfast in its commitment to protect the interests and well-being of Indian students while fostering a harmonious relationship between the Indian and Canadian communities. Police in Missouri were investigating two shootings with multiple victims in the same area of Kansas City early Sunday morning, although the number of dead or wounded was not immediately known, a news report said. The Kansas City Police Department responded to shootings on Prospect Avenue around 3 a.m. and again around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, KSHB-TV reported. (Representative) The Kansas City Police Department responded to shootings on Prospect Avenue around 3 a.m. and again around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, KSHB-TV reported. One of the shootings involved multiple fatalities, the station reported. The number of victims from each shooting was not immediately available, but police told KSHB that some victims with gunshot wounds transported themselves to a hospital. There was no immediate information about any arrests being made, KSHB reported. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited, an 11th century historically and culturally significant site in Egypt's Cairo, the Al-Hakim Mosque on Sunday. The mosque is a testament of the rich heritage and culture that India and Egypt share. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Al-Hakim mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, June 25, 2023. (PTI) The Dawoodi Bohra community, which is said to have been a significant vote base for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), remarkably restored the mosque which made PM Modi's visit even more significant. Shujauddin Shabbir Tambawala, one of the members of the Dawoodi Bohra community, was present at the mosque when Modi visited. He said on Sunday, It is a historic day for us as PM Modi came here today and interacted with us. He also inquired about the well-being of our Bohra community and we felt like a family when he interacted with us. Sunday was the second day of PM Modi's state visit to Egypt from June 24-25. Such visit is a first by an Indian PM to Egypt in 26 years. The Imam al-Hakim bi Amr Allah Mosque, which is a 1000-year old, holds immense religious and historical importance and is also a site where Egyptian and Indian cultures mingle. The Al-Hakim mosque was named after the 16th Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021). PM Modi also met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This State visit was arranged after Sisi had invited Modi when he visited India as a chief guest for Republic Day 2023 celebrations. PM Modi also visited the Heliopolis War Cemetary, where around 4,000 names of Indian soldiers, who fought in World War I in Egypt and Palestine are commemorated. First day of PM Modi's visit PM Modi kickstarted the first day of his visit by holding discussions with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly along with the country's top Cabinet ministers. They discussed on deepening trade relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership. He also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Ibrahem Abdel-Karim Allam and the Indian diaspora in the country. PM Modi was earlier accorded a ceremonial welcome and a guard of honour upon his arrival. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Barack Obama has condemned the global fixation on the ill-fated Titanic tourist sub, highlighting the stark contrast in the attention given to the recent tragedy involving hundreds of migrants who perished in a fishing boat accident off the Greek coast. Former U.S. president Barack Obama speaks during a discussion at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), in Athens, Greece, Thursday, June 22, 2023. Obama is visiting Athens to speak at the SNF Nostos Conference focused on how to strengthen democratic culture and the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders.(AP) Speaking at a conference in Athens, the former US president emphasized the urgent need to address the circumstances driving desperate people to embark on perilous journeys. He criticized the excessive media coverage afforded to the submarine incident compared to the tragic sinking of the fishing boat. While acknowledging the desire for the safe rescue of the submarine passengers, Obama passionately emphasized the neglect of the 700 migrants who lost their lives, expressing his disbelief at the untenable situation. His comments resonated with the audience, garnering enthusiastic applause as he challenged the disproportionate focus on sensational stories. In a subsequent interview, Obama reiterated his stance, highlighting the levels of inequality and the skewed attention given to news events. He underscored the tragic plight of the 700 migrants who attempted to reach Greece, stressing the need to confront the growing disparities that hinder people's life chances. The fishing boat tragedy, which occurred off the coast of Messenia, Greece, involved approximately 750 individuals, including men, women, and children, predominantly from Pakistan, Syria, and Egypt. The devastating incident further illuminated the refugee crisis in Europe and the perilous journeys undertaken by thousands seeking safety and opportunities. Questions arose regarding the response to the sinking, with concerns over the delay in rescue efforts despite available shipping data indicating the boat's distress. In stark contrast, the ill-fated voyage of the OceanGate ExpeditionsTitan vessel garnered significant attention. Five individuals, including British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, embarked on a costly expedition to explore the Titanic wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean. The submersible lost contact with its mother ship shortly after departure, triggering a multinational search and rescue operation. Tragically, the US Coast Guard confirmed the discovery of debris from the Titan on the sea floor, confirming the demise of the five men due to a catastrophic implosion. Media coverage and public interest largely centered around the Titanic incident, with round-the-clock reporting and a social media frenzy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON June 24, 2022, marks an important day in the history of abortion laws. Exactly a year ago, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, leading to a cascade of state-level abortion bans and restrictions. It meant that there was no federal law protecting the right to abortion in the US, leaving the states to pass their own abortion laws. The ruling has led to various kinds of effects in the year since. Abortion-rights activists demonstrate against the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 30, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)(AP) Travelling time to abortion clinics With more and more states restricting, or even totally banning abortions, women who wanted an abortion have had to cross state borders to get one safely and legally. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association mapped the average travel time from census tracts to the nearest abortion clinic. Before the overturning, the average journey to a clinic took between 10.0 to 27.8 minutes. But afterwards, it nearly quadrupled, with upper-end travel times averaging over 100 minutes. Doctors and the overall healthcare system Abortion bans have also affected the well-being of women who wanted pregnancy. In case of any obstetric emergency, doctors and hospitals are at a loss of what to do. Doctors have faced constraints while caring for patients with miscarriages and pregnancy-related emergencies. Moreover, in states with abortion bans, many doctors are constantly concerned about legal risks while making medical decisions. To avoid these issues, medical professionals are even migrating to abortion-protective states. Also Read | Why online privacy is more critical in a post-Roe world Disproportionate repercussions The country has now been more profoundly divided. Getting an abortion is a much more difficult process for women belonging to a low-income group. They cant afford long journeys to abortion clinics, during which they will not only lose their daily wages but also be forced to incur more expenses. Furthermore, people are increasingly commenting on the two-tiered legal system that this ruling has resulted in. Women have been forced to bear the children of their rapists. Those experiencing miscarriages have to wait for an abortion until they sicken to the point that life-ending health outcomes are a certainty. Women have been brutally deprived of their physical autonomy and dignity. 2024 elections According to surveys conducted by Pew, the support for abortions has gone up from 31% to 46% over the last four years. Peoples political ideologies play a huge influence on their views regarding abortion laws. 84% of Democrats believe abortion should be legal in most cases, compared to 40% of Republicans, wrote BBC. Politicians are banking on this issue to bring voters to the poll in the next presidential elections. However, while abortion bans and restrictions are popular among conservatives, Republicans risk losing the support of moderate voters who want abortion to be legal. Gunmen shot and killed a member of Pakistans minority Sikh community in an overnight attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said Sunday. Investigation is underway to determine whether the incident was a case of targeted killing or something else(istock) Gauher Khan, a local officer, said the attack on Manmohan Singh, 35, appeared to be a targeted killing. A police investigation continues, Khan said, into the motive. Read here: Pak-based gangster Haji Salim, with links to Dawood, trying to revive LTTE: Officials Khan said the assailants opened fire at Singh while he was returning home from a suburban area. The assailants fled the scene. The Islamic State group in a statement claimed responsibility for the killing, saying Singh had been a follower of what it called a polytheistic Sikh sect in Peshawar. It also claimed wounding a Sikh in the northwestern city the previous day. It's the third killing of a Sikh community member this year in Pakistan. Last month, assailants gunned down Sardar Singh in a drive-by shooting in the eastern city of Lahore. In April, gunmen shot and killed Dayal Singh in Peshawar. In the same city in May 2022, gunmen killed two members of Sikh community. Read here: Pakistani drone shot down along border in Punjabs Tarn Taran Most Sikhs migrated to neighboring India in 1947, the year British rule of the subcontinent ended and Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims in the region. Thousands of Sikhs stayed in Pakistan, where they generally live peacefully. But isolated attacks on minority Sikhs, Christians and members of the Ahmadi sect have continued. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The massive search-and-rescue operation for the missing Titanic submersible, which tragically ended with the presumed deaths of all five crew members, is expected to have incurred costs in the millions. However, experts believe that OceanGate Expeditions, the company operating the vessel, is unlikely to be held responsible for reimbursing the US government for the rescue efforts. Polar Prince, one of the ships that participated in the search for the OceanGate Expeditions submersible which was carrying five people to explore the wreck of the sunken Titanic, arrives at the port of St. John's, following the news of the vehicle's implosion, in Newfoundland, Canada.(REUTERS) Extensive Efforts and Specialized Equipment The US and Canadian authorities mobilized submarines, aircraft, and sonar buoys in their quest to locate the lost submersible. Specialized equipment, including the US Navy's Flyaway Deep Ocean Salvage System (FADOSS) and a French deep-diving robot, were utilized during the operation. The use of these resources, coupled with the scale and duration of the mission, is estimated to have resulted in costs reaching into the millions. Company's Responsibility Retired Admiral Paul Zukunft, former leader of the Coast Guard, emphasized that it would be unusual for OceanGate Expeditions to bear the financial burden of the rescue operation. Comparing it to a private citizen's boat sinking, he stated that the responsibility for recovering individuals typically falls on the government, with no expectation of reimbursement. OceanGate Expeditions and Titanic Tours OceanGate Expeditions offers exclusive tours to explore the depths of the Titanic wreckage, charging a hefty $250,000 per person. Tragically, among the five individuals who lost their lives in the ill-fated submersible were the company's CEO and at least two billionaires. The submersible, named Titan, was a carbon fiber vessel that commenced annual tours in 2021 before its fateful third expedition. Safety Concerns and Risks Former passengers have raised concerns regarding the safety and reliability of the Titan. Incidents of canceled dives due to hazardous weather conditions and intermittent communication issues with the mother ship have been reported. Safety concerns were previously expressed by a now-fired company executive and the Marine Technology Society, though it remains unclear whether these issues were addressed by OceanGate. Awareness of Risks While it is unclear whether OceanGate requires customers to obtain insurance before embarking on their trips, passengers were likely aware of the inherent risks associated with exploring the depths in a submersible. Participants, such as CBS correspondent David Pogue, have revealed signing waivers acknowledging the experimental nature of the vessel and the potential risks, including physical injury, emotional trauma, or even death. Exploration and the Quest for Knowledge Passenger Mike Reiss, a writer and producer for "The Simpsons," described the Titanic expedition as an exploration rather than a vacation, highlighting the ever-evolving nature of such ventures. Participants willingly embraced the risks associated with being at the forefront of underwater exploration and trusted their lives to the vessel's safety measures, acknowledging that unforeseen circumstances could lead to tragic outcomes. Also read | Missing Titanic sub has an uncanny resemblance to this Simpsons episode, fans shocked As the search-and-rescue operation for the missing Titanic submersible concludes with the presumed deaths of its crew members, the costs incurred are estimated to be significant. Despite the expenses involved, it is unlikely that OceanGate Expeditions will be held accountable for repaying the government for the rescue efforts. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Fifty years ago, just as the Titan submersible which was on an expedition to the Titanic shipwreck site, almost 13,000 feet below the sea level another submersible went missing for three days. In 1973, two British sailors got stuck in a submarine during a regular dive to lay transatlantic phone cables. 85-year-old Roger Mallinson recently spoke about the mental ordeal those on board went through. (File) The duo sat trapped in a deep-sea submersible around 1,575 feet below the Atlantic Ocean. The two faced an uncertain fate as an international team was looking for a way to rescue them. Roger Chapman, then 28, and Roger Mallinson, then 35, were rescued in the world's deepest underwater rescue in 1973 September, as per the Guinness World Records. 85-year-old Roger Mallinson in an interview, recently, spoke to Newsweek about the mental ordeal those on board went through. Mallinson, who currently lives in Troutbeck, England, spoke about the psychological toll such a situation taken on a person. He said, They will have absolutely not one atom of hope. Mallinson and Chapman were running extremely low on oxygen when they were found. They had only had a can of lemonade and a cheese sandwich during the three days. Mallinson told SkyNews, It took 84 hours to rescue us We didn't have enough food. We didn't have enough oxygen. We just had to really be rationing everything and look after each other. Recently, speaking about the urgency of rescue missions in such cases, Mallinson told The New York Times, If you need rescuing, you need rescuing now. Not in another three days. What happened on the submersible in 1973? The duo were laying a transatlantic telephone cable around 240 kilometers off the Cork coast in Ireland on August 29, 1973. During the task, water began to flood a section of their vessel, the Pisces III, which was around six feet in diameter. It then sunk to about 1,575 feet. Speaking to BBC in 2013, Mallinson had said that the two had got cushions and curled ourselves up to try and prevent injuries. We managed to find some white cloth to put in our mouths so we didnt bite our tongues off too. It was about 30 seconds until we hit. Once the vessel reached the sea floor, the duo could just do their best to conserve oxygen. However, they did manage to maintain communication. Since, the submersible was too deep for divers, so the rescuers began searching. Two similar submersibles Pisces II and V were also taken to the scene. Rescuers attached cables to stranded Pisces III. The rescuers then hoisted the vessel until it broke the water surface. The two had to wait for over 30 minutes as rescuers tried to break in. They were stranded in the capsule for over 84 hours and around 12 more minutes of oxygen was left in the submersible when they were rescued on September 1. All aboard Titan Submersible died Titan Submarine, which went missing within a couple hours of its dive off the Canada coast last Sunday, imploded, the United States Coast Guard confirmed. All five crew members were found dead, leaving the exploration community and their grieving families in deep sorrow. Rescue crews discovered a debris field near the Titanic, approximately 1,600 feet from the ship's bow, according to the Coast Guard. Among the recovered pieces were the Titan's landing frame and rear cover. The debris was located after the submersible was expected to have depleted its oxygen supply. OceanGate, known for providing tours of the Titanic wreck, has been offering a high-risk travel experience since 2021, attracting enthusiasts willing to pay up to $250,000 per person. The tragic events surrounding the Titan underscore the inherent risks involved in such ventures. 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 Wagner fighters were leaving Russia's southern Voronezh region Sunday, the local governor said, after the group halted a dramatic rebellion to bring down Russia's top brass and U-turned on a march to Moscow. Membes of the Wagner Group military company sit atop of a tank on a street in Rostov-on-Don. (AP) Also Read | Shametraitor: Rostov locals yell at Russian police after Wagner fighters left city The Kremlin announced Saturday that the mutiny had ended after Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin agreed to leave Russia for Moscow-allied Belarus. Little is known about what happened in Voronezh region on Saturday, where Russia said the army was deployed and led "combat" operations. A huge unexplained fire raged at an oil depot in the city during the mutiny. "The movement of Wagner units through the Voronezh region is ending," Voronezh governor Alexander Gusev said. The movement "is running normally and without incidents," Gusev added, saying travel restrictions imposed during Saturday's operation against the mutiny will be lifted once "the situation is finally resolved." Gusev said authorities will inform residents about compensation for damage and thanked them for their "endurance, firmness and reason". On Saturday, he had called for people in Voronezh to stay at home and expressed support for President Vladimir Putin. Other Russian southern regions and areas on the way to Moscow, where the fighters said they would get to, began lifting restrictions imposed during the dramatic rebellion. In southern Rostov-on-Don, where Wagner took an army HQ, train and bus stations started working normally and road restrictions were lifted, authorities said Sunday. In Moscow, however, a "counter-terrorist operation regime" was still in force. Amid the Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's vow to topple the military leadership in Moscow over its handling of the war and subsequent deal to halt the revolt, former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty said that even though Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Prigozhin to go to Belarus, but he "doesn't forgive traitors." Russian President Vladimir Putin. (via Reuters) Follow Russia Coup LIVE Updates here In an interview to US-based news channel CNN on Saturday, Dougherty said, "Even though Putin has told Prigozhin to go to Belarus, according to the Kremlin, the Wagner chief remains a 'traitor'." Calling the ongoing situation a real dilemma, she said that Putin doesn't forgive traitors and Prigozhin is a threat, the report added. "I think Putin will never ever forgive that. I think it is a real dilemma because as long as Prigozhin is acting the way he does and has some type of support, he is a threat. Regardless of where he is," she added. Read here: Wagner Group vows to topple Russian military leadership. Who are they? Meanwhile Dougherty said the turmoil that transpired on the streets of Rostov did not make Putin look like the strongman leader he has positioned himself to be. "Putin himself looks really weak. If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave," she said. She further asked why Russians are cheering people who are trying to topple the leadership, while also saying that means they maybe support them or might be like them. "Whatever it is, it is really bad news for Putin." Prigozhin on Saturday vowed to "go to the end" to topple the Russian military leadership in the country. However, he took a U-turn and returned to their base camps from Russia's Rostov-on-Don under a deal brokered by Belarus which ensured Russia dropped charges against Wagner's chief, for armed mutiny. Read here: Russia coup: Man continues to clean street while armed convoy streams in Rostov The criminal case that had begun against Prigozhin for armed mutiny would be dropped and the fighters who had taken part in the coup would not face any action, in recognition of their previous service to Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed on Saturday. The situation around the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don was calm and street traffic resumed, RIA state news agency said on Sunday after Yevgeny Prigozhin and his mercenaries left the city. Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to base.(REUTERS) In a video on the agency's Telegram messaging app, which it said was taken in the city of Rostov-on-Don, a man was sweeping a street and cars were moving along another street. Reuters could not independently verify the report. Late on Saturday, Prigozhin, the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, was seen leaving the district military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don after halting a rebellion against Russia's military establishment. Russian state television on Sunday showed Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing confidence in plans for Ukraine in an interview that appeared to have been recorded before Saturday's aborted revolt by the Wagner group of mercenaries. Russias President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address, on June 24, 2023, as Wagner fighters stage rebellion. (AFP) "We feel confident, and, of course, we are in a position to implement all the plans and tasks ahead of us," Putin said. "This also applies to the country's defence, it applies to the special military operation, it applies to the economy as a whole and its individual areas." The comments in an interview with Kremlin correspondent Pavel Zarubin were broadcast by Rossiya state television. Zarubin said the interview was done after a meeting with military graduates, in an apparent reference to an event held on Wednesday. The full interview was due to be broadcast later on Sunday. The short report did not mention Saturday's revolt, in which Wagner mercenaries took a southern city before heading toward Moscow. In a televised address before the drama was defused and the group stopped their advance, Putin said the rebellion put Russia's very existence under threat. In its daily briefing on Sunday the Defence Ministry also did not mention anything about the actions of Wagner and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Asked in the interview how much time he dedicates to what Russia calls its special military operation, Putin said: "Of course, this is paramount, every day starts and ends with this." The news of the tragic implosion of the Titan submersible, which was exploring the historic wreckage of the Titanic, has left the world in shock. However, amidst the circulating images purportedly showing the debris of the OceanGate vessel, the truth behind these viral photos has been unveiled. Amidst the circulating images purportedly showing the debris of the OceanGate vessel, the truth behind these viral photos has been unveiled.(Twitter) Unveiling the Facts The Titan submersible, developed and launched by OceanGate, met a devastating fate near the Titanic wreck site, claiming the lives of all five individuals on board. While the news of the implosion emerged on June 22, it was the images circulating online that caught the attention of media outlets and social media users alike. Unraveling the Viral Images The debris depicted in the viral images bore a striking resemblance to the structure of the Titanic submarine, leading many to believe that they captured the aftermath of the OceanGate vessel's implosion. However, careful investigation and verification have revealed the truth behind these viral images. Separating Fact from Fiction Multiple statements from the US Coast Guard, responsible for the search and rescue operations, have confirmed that no official photos of the imploded sea vehicle have been released to the press. This casts doubt on the authenticity of the viral images being shared widely. Uncovering the Source Through image search techniques, it was discovered that the viral photo in question actually dates back to 2004. The image was captured by the Institute for Exploration and Center for Archaeological Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration. Historic Connection The revealed image from 2004 showcases the wreckage of the actual Titanic ship, which sank more than a century ago. The photo specifically captures a poignant detaila shoe that could belong to one of the unfortunate victims of the tragic Titanic sinking disaster. Also read | Rescue efforts for missing OceanGate's Titanic submersible estimated in millions, but who will bear the cost? In the midst of the grief and speculation surrounding the implosion of the OceanGate vessel, it is essential to rely on verified information and steer clear of misinformation. The search for the truth continues, and investigators strive to shed light on the tragic events that unfolded deep beneath the ocean's surface. A man has been convicted of killing a Sikh taxi driver in central England in 2022, following an argument over the method of payment of his fare. British Sikh taxi driver Anakh Singh, 59, who was killed in Wolverhampton, central England, in October 2022. (PTI) Tomasz Margol, 36, was found guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court this week of 59-year-old Anakh Singh's manslaughter in an incident which occurred in October 2022. He will be sentenced for the crime next month. "This was a senseless and tragic act of violence, said Detective Inspector (DI) Michelle Thurgood, from the Wolverhampton Police CID. "Singh was a law-abiding man of good character who was simply trying to do his job. Our thoughts remain with Singh's family at this difficult time," she said. The court heard that on the morning of October 30, 2022, Anakh Singh was found collapsed in Nine Elms Lane with serious injuries, which he died of at the scene. Singh had picked up Margol in his taxi before the two got into an argument over the method of payment for the journey. This escalated to Margol subjecting Singh to a sickening assault including headbutting, punching and kicking him while he was on the floor, the police said. Having carried out CCTV enquiries, officers identified Margol and arrested him at an address a few miles away later that day. When he was arrested, Margol made a significant comment to the arresting officers: "Its about what happened today... about the beating." Anakh Singhs family paid tribute to the "loving husband, father and a well-respected member of the community". This loss has left us heartbroken and has forever changed our lives. We miss him dearly. We would also like to thank everyone who has supported us during this tough time, they said. US regulators said Sunday they are investigating an incident in which a Texas airport worker was killed after being sucked into a passenger plane engine. A Delta Airlines jet comes in for a landing in front of the Empire State Building and Manhattan skyline after flights earlier were grounded during an FAA system outage at Laguardia Airport, in New York City, New York, U.S., January, 2023.(REUTERS) A Delta flight had arrived in San Antonio, Texas from Los Angeles on Friday night and was taxiing to the gate with one engine on "when a worker was ingested into that engine," the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told AFP in a statement. "The NTSB is continuing to gather information about the event," it said. The worker was employed by Unifi Aviation, a company the airline giant contracts with for ground crew operations, according to local media. Delta told San Antonio broadcaster KENS 5 that the company was "deeply saddened" by Friday night's events and that it is "cooperating with authorities as they begin their investigation." Unifi Aviation told the broadcaster the incident was "a tragic accident." "From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifi's operational processes, safety procedures and policies," the company said. On Wednesday, regional carrier Piedmont Airlines was fined $15,625 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), another regulatory body, for the death of a ground crew worker last year in a similar incident. "Proper training and enforcement of safety procedures could have prevented this tragedy," an OSHA official said. Piedmont is a subsidiary of carrier American Airlines. Day after the Wagner group called off its mutiny against the Russian military leadership after its forced advanced to within a few hundred miles of Moscow, the Yevgeny Prigozhin-led mercenary private army had returned to the base under the deal mediated by Belarus. China's deputy foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu and Russian deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko met in Beijing a day after Kremlin managed to defuse a major mutiny by the 50,000-strong Wagner army which just stopped short of the Russian capital. Wagner Group Russia Coup Live Updates Here are the top 10 developments unfolding in Russia 1. The Wagner forces have left the southern Russian city of Voronezh, which they had overtaken yesterday. Local governor Alexander Gusev said the movement of Wagner forces was underway without any incident. News agency quoted him saying that the travel restrictions will be lifted once the situation is resolved. In Rostov where the mercenaries had taken over a military headquarter office, trains and bus services resumed and road restrictions were lifted. Members of Wagner group look from a military vehicle in Rostov-on-Don late on Saturday.(AFP) 2. Earlier in the day, foreign media outlet War Monitor tweeted that the Wagner still holds the airfield in Rostov. Later, the twitter handled informed that the airfield was functioning normally after the mercenaries had left. 3. Kremlin said on Sunday that Beijing had backed its efforts to counter the armed uprising led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Russian foreign ministry in a statement said that the Chinese side expressed support for the efforts of the Russian leadership to stabilise the situation in the country. Moscow added that Beijing 'reaffirmed its interest in strengthening the unity and further prosperity of Russia. 4. As per a latest AFP report, Wagner fighters have also left the Lipetsk region after the deal to call off the mutiny against Moscow materialised. 5. There are no reports of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin reaching Belarus after reaching a deal with Kremlin for exile and end the mutiny. It is unclear whether he would join his Wagner troops, if any of them are present there. 6. It has now come to the light that the US intelligence agencies had briefed their military and administration officials on Wednesday after Prigozhin's plans to take on the senior Russian military leadership. But the agencies kept mum about the Wagner chief's plans, as they felt Putin would accuse them of orchestrating coup, New York Times reported. 7. US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said Russia crisis reveals 'real cracks' in Putin's authority. He added that US President Joe Biden has not tried to reach out to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The uprising by the Wagner private mercenary group and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin over the weekend marked a direct challenge to Putin's authority. So this raises profound questions, it shows real cracks, Blinken told CBS News. 8. Russian troops deployed to protect the capital have withdrawn after mercenary forces headed toward Moscow retreated, AP reported. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the citys southern edge. 9. In an interview apparently recorded before the revolt, Putin was heard expressing confidence in plans for Ukraine. "We feel confident, and, of course, we are in a position to implement all the plans and tasks ahead of us," Putin said. 10. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu seen as Putin's key ally, seems to have vanished from public view. His position is apparently precarious due to the severity of the Wagner forces against him and the Russian president. The minister of defence was nowhere to be seen at the time and has, for the moment, completely vanished from the public view. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Residents of Russia's southern military district Rostov-on-Don registered their anger at the police as they were making their way to the city after the Wagner mercenary forces left on Saturday night. In a video clip that went viral on social media, people could be heard yelling at the police convoy and calling them traitors. Rostov residents yell at Russian police.(Twitter) The recent development comes after some Rostov residents hailed Wagner fighters as heroes and brought them sweets and water, despite President Vladmir Putin called their armed mutiny a stab in the back for the country. The army has been fighting incorrectly from the beginning and they put too much [pressure] on these guys. In Bakhmut, everywhere. And you see what happens? Our own army is trying to stop us from winning this war, a resident told The Guardian. The mastermind of what is now seen as a coup is Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin who earlier vowed to go all the way to topple the militray leadership in Moscow. However in a sudden turn of events, the Wagner chief put an abrupt halt to the rebellion following a deal that was brokered by Moscow's ally and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. According to the deal, Prigozhin and his troops will not face any criminal charge on condition of him to move to neighbouring Belarus. The latest deal was in the contrary to what Putin earlier said. In a televised address to the nation, he vowed to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON About This Property Welcome to 38 A Glendale Rd. Set in the heart of the beautiful Berkshires, this sprawling 9 room, 3 bed-3 bath cape includes ample living space and all of the amenities one would desire! Boasting large rooms with high ceilings and beautiful hard wood flooring throughout. The grand dining room features double French glass doors that open up to the private back yard area for an indoor-outdoor living feel. The luxurious kitchen features all stainless appliances and a wood block countertop center island w/ a farmhouse style sink. Located far enough away for an overall feeling of serenity while only being minutes from the local downtown area. Interstate highway access is only minutes away, optimal for commuting. Come see for yourself and schedule a showing today! Land Details Community Details Search More Properties With these Features Adams Board Signs Housing Authority Tax Agreement, Sets Cemetery Rules ADAMS, Mass. The town and the Adams Housing Authority this week formalized a payment in lieu of taxes agreement that's at least 40 years old. The payments to the town relate to two different types of housing programs Family Low-Income Housing and special needs, said Housing Authority Executive Director William Schrade. "What has been realized is that while doing some research because of the special assessment tax, and just make sure all those were correct, is that we realized that since the '80s, there's not been a signed agreement, even though we've been paying our taxes all along," he said. "What is exempt, unfortunately, is our elderly/disabled, which is on Columbia Street." The formula for the assessments on the properties is simple, said Schrade: half the value by the tax rate plus $100 times the number of bedrooms. Town Administrator Jay Green said the agreements were in the context of recouping municipal costs for services provided. "The Housing Authority wants to pay its share of what the costs are going to be for the municipality, even though they are technically partially exempt by law," he said. The authority owns a half-dozen or so buildings in addition to the Columbia Street complex but Schrade said it was seeking permission from the state to sell off two, a vacant lot on East Road and a building on North Summer Street, which would put them back on the tax rolls. The board voted to enter into the agreements and authorized the town administrator to sign it. The board also approved fee increases for the Community Development Department. Director Eammon Coughlin said the office had looked into the costs for special permits and site plan review, including notifying abuttors and posting notices in the print newspaper as required by state law. He recommended doubling the current fee of $100 to cover the costs and to increase various other fees for the same reasons. This will align closer with other communities and is the first increase since 2013. "I think these are really modest fee increase," Coughlin said. "It's really to cover our advertising costs." Rules and regulations recommended by the Cemetery Commission were also adopted, including a $500 fee for funerals that extended past noon on Saturday. Commissioner Bruce Shepley said most of the language changes are to align with current practices, such as interments being done between 7:30 and 2 weekdays and 7:30 to 11 on Saturdays because of Department of Public Work hours. It was also decided that a resident was someone who could show proof via tax bill or utility bill. Selectman Joseph Nowak asked about the $500 Saturday fee, what the cut off would be, would it 2 minutes or 20 minutes after noon and who would decide? "Other communities have this rule and they do have a fee, some of them charge $1,000," said Green. "It's for deterrent purposes. You know, it's a very tricky situation when you have a grieving family. The funeral director doesn't necessarily want to rush the events and our DPW employees will not, you know, interfere. But all Saturday interments are on overtime." Shepley said he had spoken to a local funeral director about the issue and that he had been "pleased to see some teeth" in the regulation. He assured Nowak that funeral directors would all be notified of the change and that would be conveyed to families. As for determining a cutoff time for the charge, "I don't know how you define that," Shepley said, "but I think if there is an issue and the DPW worker or workers assigned on that Saturday, have a complaint about it, that might warrant that surcharge." Selectman Howard Rosenberg questioned a rule stating a 48-hour notice for an interment, pointing out the Jewish faith required burial in 24 hours. Shepley said the commission had not run into that issue before but he would check with the funeral directors. "You can add language that says with exception given for religious purposes or religious needs," said Green. The board voted to amend "with exception to accommodate religious customs." Shepley was also questioned on the state of the cemeteries in relation to accommodating more burials. He responded that there has been a change in customs with fewer burials and more cremains being interred. The board could get more data on lots sold and burials, but his opinion was "there's still plenty of room in Bellevue ... there's still some families with rights to Maple Street." Finally, the board signed a sharing services agreement with the town of Savoy at $10,000 a year to provide services through the Council on Aging. Director Sarah Fontaine said an initial agreement had been for $35,000 that had spilled into another year in part because of the pandemic. Now that she could run some statistical data, her recommendation was the lower amount based on usage and proportional to the number of Savoy residents. Savoy makes up about 4 percent of the COA's clients, so it will be charged 4 percent of the budget; Adams residents make uip 92 percent and Cheshire and North Adams the other 4 percent. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This 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 Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Theyre older, but thats OK! Bill, a 22-year-old from Bristol, is telling me his thoughts on Guns N Roses, this years Saturday night headliner at Glastonbury Festival, and a band potentially more ancient than the Sphinx. Bill, though, is unbothered. You gotta have something for everyone, you know what I mean? Hes en route to see his fave anyway. Everyones seeing Fred Again, mate. I nod politely. No one can accuse this years Glastonbury of being the most cutting edge of events. Arctic Monkeys, Fridays headliner, have long been in their elder statesmen era, while Elton John, headlining Sunday, is a genius but one who was probably at his peak in 1973. This is also just one more stop on his farewell tour (although he has promised an entirely different set), and nothing screams dance-floor mood-killer faster than imminent retirement. But as I make my way through throngs upon throngs of teenagers spilling through Worthy Farm as if Lord of the Flies met up with The Belles of St Trinians and everyone was wearing Day-Glo sunglasses, I realise this is a place built on specific kinds of nostalgia anyway. The age of the headliners is irrelevant when youre on the ground. Everyone here, sartorially speaking, is representative of one of four different tribes (Getty Images) Going to Glastonbury is about the act of going to Glastonbury. Everyone is attempting to cling to a version of the world that has largely evaporated in reality, but which for five days thrives here in a very big field in the West Country. There are posters for nuclear disarmament and the advancement of Corbyn-era policies, as well as eat the rich graffiti. I speak to more total strangers than I have in years. Everyone is topless. Everything is gender neutral and no one cares. Community reigns. I watch as an older gentleman asks to buy toilet roll from a trio of girls in front of the cavernous excrement pits that we waddle up to each morning. What are you talking about buy, man? one girl replies. This is Glastonbury, everyone loves each other! She unspools a generous wad of paper, and the man seems touched. I should add that these people were all from generous, inherently friendly Newcastle, and subsequently realised they all basically live in the same area but I want to believe this was the magic of Glastonbury rather than the magic of being a Geordie. Despite show-stopping sets on Friday by fresher acts including Gabriels (a honeyed fusion of soul, gospel and rock) and Billy Nomates (a true one-off who performs bandless, and whose online abuse in the aftermath of her set is the ugliest incident of the festival so far), a yearning for the past runs rampant through the main highlights so far. Practically battery-powered Swedish garage punks The Hives confirmed they were still alive and still brilliant. The Lightning Seeds remain such sweetly nerdy Nineties indie touchstones that its easy to overlook that all their songs sound the same. The roar that erupts from the crowd when Carly Rae Jepsen breaks into her gloriously anthemic Call Me Maybe is very much the sound of thousands of people in their late twenties, no longer performatively cynical, who once convinced themselves they were too cool to love it back in 2011. Carly Rae Jepsen plays The Other Stage at Glastonbury (BBC) On Saturday morning, everyone seems to be headed to see Rick Astley for the lols, or at least to find answers to the mystery of how hell fill an hour-long slot with just one song. (It turns out he has many songs! And that he is pure joy!) Britney Spearss name is being invoked an inexplicable amount of times many convinced shell drop in for a cameo during Eltons set on Sunday, despite a Princess Diana hologram being a more realistic stage partner. A Dua Lipa appearance feels a more likely scenario, along with the conveniently-touring-the-UK-but-not-this-week Kiki Dee. Watch it be Dave Grohl, though, just to troll us all. Even Lana Del Rey, performing later (not, in a controversial move considering the all-male line-up of headliners, on the main Pyramid Stage, but on The Other Stage), feels rooted in a specific kind of nostalgia she is gloomy, romantic kitsch refracting back at us the fakeries of American myth. All of this, anyway, pulsates beneath the slightly suffocating swell of too many people in a too-hot place. It often falls on the wrong side of chaos. Clubs and bars near the Arcadia stage become untenable past 11pm, venues rammed and revellers spilling out into the makeshift streets. You can just about decipher the songs being played inside, before being swept up in the crowds of people snaking through to get to other parts unknown. Everyone here, sartorially speaking, is representative of one of four different tribes: ASOSs finest; the Kate Moss; the Lanzarote dad; the Im mad, me! The cowboy trend we kept hearing about is present but not overwhelming: I see a few flowery Wild West hats, but barely any flared trousers, and not a single ironic spur. For shame! Bathed in golden nostalgia: Revellers enjoy the sunset on day two at Glastonbury (Getty Images) Celebrity spotting also proves tricky. There are reports of Paul and Stella McCartney, Princess Beatrice (!) and Kate Hudson, who is now so synonymous with hanging backstage at Glastonbury that she may as well be the festivals mascot. I think I spy Paddy Considine, but it turns out to be some guy. I break out my deerstalker and magnifying glass to try to find Bill Murray, rumoured paramour of West Holts Stage Friday headliner Kelis, but have no luck. Her eventual set is euphoric, slinky and Bill-less. Its too busy to focus on this kind of thing anyway, when youre otherwise overwhelmed by set clashes and how long it takes to move from place to place. I had heard a rumour that Cate Blanchett would join Sparks for a song at the Park Stage (she did, of course), but seeing her in person would have meant crossing back and forth between my campsite, past the enormous flame-shooting mechanical spider and back up to Kelis, and my back was sweaty. Maybe shell duet with Elton, too, just for my personal benefit. Time here is both entirely meaningless and all anyone can talk about. Breakfast is an unholy combination of cheese, sauteed potatoes and guacamole served at 11 in the morning. Dinner is a caramel shortbread slice at 1am. Others debate how the line-up compares to last years, whether the vibes are the same as they used to be, how nothings been any good since Dolly Parton in 2014. People seem to track their lives by Glastonbury, using it as a litmus test for how theyre doing in the present moment. Rick Astley covers AC/DCs Highway to Hell on drums during an impressive Glastonbury set At around 3am in the early hours of Friday, I hear two men outside my tent having a confessional under the stars. For the last few years, Ive been working on myself pretty hard, one of them says. So this is all a bit strange. They drift off before I hear the rest of his story. I talk to Claire, a woman from Leicester who last came to Glastonbury when she was 19 today shes 28. It definitely feels different to how it used to be, she tells me. But I think I just put up with a lot less now. It feels like a big adventure when youre younger, but now it feels more like hard work. The last time I was here was when I was seven years old in 1999, tiny and anxious with a mop of blond curls. Now Im writing about it in a press tent watching Caitlin Moran chat with her mates and Zadie Smith getting her water bottle refilled. Its funny how this place puts it all into perspective. 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 Indian Army released at least 12 militants after they were surrounded by a 1,500-strong women-led mob in the northeastern state of Manipur that has been experiencing ethnic violence for about two months. The security forces confirmed they were forced to release the militants belonging to separatist group Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL). The army had earlier held with arms, ammunition and war-like stores. Under the grip of unprecedented violence, the clashes first erupted after a Tribal Solidarity March was called by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM). The march was organised in protest against the demand for inclusion of the areas majority Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, following a 19 April Manipur High Court directive. 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 Kuki community has opposed the Meitei communitys inclusion in the list, fearing opportunity and job loss due to the groups demographically and politically advantageous position. At around 2.30pm, acting on specific intelligence inputs, an operation was launched by security forces in Itham village in Imphal East after which a cordon was laid... In the ensuing operation, 12 KYKL cadres were apprehended along with arms, ammunition and war-like stores, an army spokesperson told Hindustan Times. Soon after a mob of 1,200-1,500 led by women and [a] local leader immediately surrounded the target area and prevented the security forces from going ahead with the operation. Repeated appeals to the aggressive mob to let security forces carry on with the operation as per the law did not yield any result, the spokesperson said. The army defended the move to release the militants belonging to the separatist group, calling it mature and saying that it shows [the] humane face of the Indian Army. Keeping in view the sensitivity of use of force against the mob led by women and likely casualties due to such action, decision was taken to hand over all 12 cadres to the local leader, a spokesperson told The Times of India. The widespread violence, displacement of people and destruction of property that has occurred in recent weeks has been described as one of the worst ethnic flare-ups in decades. The state has seen more than 100 deaths, and 40,000 people have been displaced in clashes between the Meitei and Kukis. Houses, churches, temples, shops and businesses have been torched amid widespread violence in the state raging over the demand of Meiteis to seek tribal status for access to economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education. Earlier on 4 June, the federal government formed a three-member judicial panel to investigate the violence. An all-party meeting was held on 24 June, with federal home minister Amit Shah saying that prime minister Narendra Modi has been constantly monitoring the Manipur situation since day one and guiding us with full sensitivity, reported Press Trust of India. The opposition Congress party has called out Mr Modi for his absence from the scheduled high-level meeting as he wrapped up his state visit to the US from where he embarked on his maiden state visit to Egypt. Rahul Gandhi, opposition leader of Congress, said: Manipur has been burning since 50 days, but the prime minister remained silent. An all-party meeting was called when the prime minister himself is not in the country! Clearly, this meeting is not important for the prime minister. Mr Modi, who has promised efforts to restore peace in Ukraine during his meeting with Joe Biden, has been criticised for his stoic silence over the violence in the region. Ten leaders of opposition parties in Manipur had submitted a letter three-page memorandum to the Prime Ministers Office to request a meeting with him before his state visit to the US. In Manipur, people raised posters showing Mr Modis face with the words: Still missing. Have you seen this man? Status: blind and deaf. 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 }} Colleen Ballinger has denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards her former fans in a bizarre musical video in which she plays the ukelele and sings a song. The influential YouTuber, who created the popular sketch character Miranda Sings, faced accusations of child grooming. In a video posted to her Colleen Vlogs YouTube channel on Wednesday (28 June), Ballinger called the allegations lies and toxic gossip all while playing the ukulele. Public allegations against Ballinger date back to April 2020 when Adam McIntyre released a video titled colleen ballinger, stop lying. But in her video addressing them, Ballinger said: Some people are saying things about me that just arent true. Even though my team has strongly advised me not to say what Im going to say, I realised they never said I couldnt sing about what I want to say. In McIntyres video, the now-22-year-old claimed Ballinger developed an imbalanced, unhealthy friendship with him when he was as young as 13. He said in a tweet addressing the YouTubers ukelele song: As much as colleen discredited & made fun of me, im glad her video did ONE thing, show you all EXACTLY the type of evil woman she is, that a lot of us have experienced over the past few years behind the scenes, the mask has slippedeveryone meet the REAL colleen ballinger. McIntyre reportedly first met Ballinger in 2014 at a tour stop in Dublin during a very professional interaction. Two years later, they spoke directly during one of Ballingers livestreams in 2016, when one of his comments made McIntyre known to the star. During the livestream, Ballinger reportedly promised she would send some of her ugly and unused clothes to a few of her fans. McIntyre received a set of her underwear shortly after, he said, during his 25-minute YouTube video posted over three years ago. McIntyre had also claimed he was part of Colleenys Weenies, a small Twitter group chat with some of her other fans. In a subsequent video posted earlier this month, McIntyre shared screenshots from the private chat, in which Ballinger allegedly asked him what his favourite position was. In 2016, McIntyre reportedly wrote in the chat that his a** looks good, to which Ballinger allegedly replied: Pics Adam. Ballinger previously admitted sending McIntyre a bra and underpants in a 2020 apology video. I dont know what part of my brain was missing at the time, she said. But I am not a monster, I am not a groomer, and I shouldnt kill myself. Ballinger with her ex-husband Joshua Evans (Getty) People accepted Ballingers apology at the time, with some turning on McIntyre who was reportedly called slurs, threatened and doxxed by Ballingers fans. Allegations against Ballinger resurfaced earlier this month, after another ex-fan, KodeeRants, corroborated McIntyres claims about the Colleenys Weenies private chat in a since-deleted video. Now, several former members of the Miranda Sings fan club have shared their own experiences with Ballinger in interviews with HuffPost UK. McIntyre said Ballinger allegedly claimed her husband Joshua Evans, who was a popular YouTuber at the time, was emotionally abusive towards her on the group chat. After everyone went silent for a second, McIntyre added: And then were like, Oh, my God, babe, Im so sorry. Im so sorry. Like [before that] we were having a conversation about homework because we were children. McIntyre said members of the chat group began to defend Ballinger during her then-ongoing divorce from Evans, while attacking her former partner on gossip sites or in the comments sections of YouTube videos allegedly spurred by Ballinger herself. Brey, who was 16 when she was part of the private message group, said she felt like Ballingers bodyguard. Evans denied he was emotionally abusive to Ballinger in an interview with the publication, recalling that he received death threats after the former couple separated. I was so involved in this womans life that its embarrassing to look back on, McIntyre said, explaining how Ballinger would trauma dump on him. There were some days, on a school night, I would be up until like 4 am trying to calm her down or try to give her advice. ... It was a private thing. Other people have come forward to highlight other incidents. In 2019, during a live yoga challenge event, Ballinger called a young fan called Becky onstage and, in character as Miranda Sings, lifted her legs over her head and spread them wide open. A fart sound was played over this moment. (Getty Images) Becky, who was wearing a romper or a playsuit at the time, told HuffPost: I looked up to her so much and I just trusted her so much that I did it. I laid down and she just spread my legs wide open for everybody to see. In a separate interview with Rolling Stone, she added: I was mortified in that position. I was in shock. But I had so many like friends through [the fandom] that I didnt want to necessarily lose. So for a little bit, I was pretending to be like Yeah, that was really funny. I was worried that I would be called ungrateful because I got to go up on stage. Social media users have been resharing this incident, calling it an example of Ballinger traumatising a minor. Some people have also opened up about allegedly problematic behaviour on the part of Ballingers family and friends specifically her brother Trent Ballinger and her best friend Kory Desoto. Oliver, who is trans and identified as a girl in 2018, said Trent allegedly complimented Olivers looks, asked him for photos and told him to text anytime. Oliver was 13 at the time, while Trent was 33. In one message, seen by Rolling Stone, Trent reportedly told Oliver: Anything we talk about stays between u and I. Another message reportedly read: You would look good preg if you ever want children one day. The Independent has contacted Trents representatives for contact. Johnny Silvestri, who worked as an assistant on Ballingers tour when he was 22, claimed Desoto screamed at him and verbally belittled him and that Ballinger witnessed this behaviour and didnt do anything about it. Silvestri also alleged Evans exploited him for free labour to manage his social media accounts, adding: I found solace and safety in this online group of people. And these grown-a** adults abused it. Evans apologised to Silvestri on Twitter earlier this month. Ballinger didnt respond to requests for comment from either publication, making her 2020 video the last time she addressed McIntyres allegations. The Independent has contacted her representatives for comment, as well as representatives for Desoto and Trent. Ballinger has not responded to The Independents request for comment. 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 }} Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evanss daughter has reportedly been denied a restraining order against her fathers girlfriend Bianca Wallace. On Friday 23 June, it was reported that a judge at the Los Angeles Superior Court rejected 13-year-old Ellas application for the civil harrassment protection order that was filed on 31 May. According to MailOnline, Wallace, who lives with multiple sclerosis, was present at the hearing and was relieved at the verdict delivered by Judge Josh Freeman Stinn. The Independent has contacted Gruffudd and Evanss representatives for comment. In her filing, Ella accused Wallace of abuse, alleging that the 29-year-old slammed a door in her head and left her with bruises as she tried to flee a heated argument on 26 May. The incident allegedly occurred during one of Ella and younger sister Elsies overnight visits at Gruffudds apartment. Ella claimed she got upset when she realised Wallace was at Gruffudds home because this was an overnight visit, and I had told him in the past that I didnt want to meet his girlfriend who was now his live-in girlfriend. She added that she got so upset with the Titanic star that she threw milk on his bed, poured mustard on the floor, and threw raw oatmeal on him. Ella alleged her father and Wallace called her manipulative, abusive and narcissistic in response. When she tried to leave the apartment, Ellas statement continued, Wallace tried to tried to block her by raising her arms. I was able to make my way around her, and I opened the door, the document reportedly continues. I was able to walk halfway out the door, but while I was still in the door frame, the Respondent slammed the door on me, causing the door to hit me on the head as well as my arm. My arm got bruised, and I had small bump on my head. After the incident, Ella requested a restraining order for her and Elsie against both Wallace and Gruffudd for a period of five years. Ioan Gruffudd of 'Liar' speaks onstage during the SundanceTV portion of the 2017 Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 29, 2017 (Getty Images) Judge Freemann Stinn reportedly decided to hear the restraining order application against her father next month, as part of wider custody proceedings. Evans and Gruffudd have been locked in bitter divorce proceedings since their split in 2021. Earlier this week, the Welsh actor reportedly filed court documents claiming his ex-wife had falsely accused him and Wallace of being child abusers. According to court documents seen by MailOnline, Gruffudd accused the Vampire Diaries star of setting up multiple fake Twitter accounts to spread these allegations. In August 2022, Gruffudd obtained a three-year restraining order against Evans, which also prohibits her from mentioning him or Wallace on social media. According to his court filing, Evans allegedly violated the terms of the order multiple times. At Fridays hearing, the judge also reportedly appointed a minors counsel to represent Ella and Elsie, as both their parents are seeking custody of the girls. Evans and Gruffudd met while filming Disneys 102 Dalmations in 2000. They married in 2007, and Evans filed for divorce 14 years later. 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 }} Sarah Ferguson has had surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram screening. The Duchess of Yorks spokesman confirmed the news to The Independent on Sunday 25 June. She was advised she needed to undergo surgery which has taken place successfully, the spokesman said. The Duchess is receiving the best medical care and her doctors have told her that the prognosis is good. She is now recuperating with her family. He continued: The Duchess wants to express her immense gratitude to all the medical staff who have supported her in recent days. She is also hugely thankful to the staff involved in the mammogram which identified her illness, which was otherwise symptom-free, and believes her experience underlines the importance of regular screening. Ferguson, 63, recently celebrated the birth of her new grandchild, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, the son of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Sharing a photo to her Instagram Stories, Ferguson observed her grandsons unusual name, in honour of his great-great-great-grandfather King George V, whose second middle name was Ernest. In her post, Ferguson wrote: Amazing The importance of Ernest. Thank you so, so much. Clever Eugenie and Jack and August Brooksbank. Earlier this year, Ferguson released her new Mills & Boon book, A Most Intriguing Lady, a historical romance whodunnit. In an interview with The Independent, she compared herself to the books protagonist, Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the duchess real-life Victorian ancestor and younger sister of the lead of her first novel Heart for a Compass. I have an absolutely extraordinary curiosity for life like Lady Mary. Thats why she is a sleuth of society crimes, she told Charlotte Cripps, When asked about her relationship with the disgraced Duke of York, who stepped down from the royal family over his alleged ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Ferguson maintained no one can break the York family. Ferguson and Andrew married in 1986, separated in 1992, and divorced in 1996. The former couple, who share daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, have remained close and continue to reside in the Royal Lodge in Windsor with him. Prince Andrew is reportedly refusing to leave the royal residence while it undergoes building works out of concern he could be evicted before he returns. He is thought to be resisting his brother King Charless wish that he and Ferguson vacate the 30-room Royal Lodge and move into Frogmore Cottage instead. During an appearance on Good Morning America in March, Ferguson said its been really difficult to watch the duke endure withering public scrutiny. Hes been very steadfast for the girls, Ferguson said, referring to Beatrice and Eugenie. We are women that also have had to see the demise of a very strong man and that has been really difficult to see. During an earlier interview, the Duchess of York claimed the late Queen Elizabeth II was very relieved by Fergusons continued support for her son. 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 British-Canadian director of Milans Brera Gallery was hired in 2015 after the Italian government launched reforms that for the first time brought in foreign museum directors. His eight-year tenure is ending as Premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing administration seeks to again reserve top cultural jobs for Italians. Admirers have credited James Bradburne, a 67-year-old architect who has run five cultural institutions in five countries, with revolutionizing the museum that Napoleon intended to make the Louvre of Italy and fill with paintings from his Italian campaigns when he expanded his French empire. Bradburne had each of the 38 rooms renovated without ever closing the museum, established in 1809. He worked to make it more user-friendly by revamping the labels beneath key works, inaugurating musical events to draw in local residents and no longer putting together exhibitions as a way to drive visitor numbers. During his tenure, popular innovations for highlighting the museums masterpieces included installing blue satin beneath Francesco Hayezs The Kiss so visitors can could get a feel of the fabric rendered so perfectly in the painting. Ineligible to reapply for the job and with only three months left before his contract ends, Bradburne is pushing another initiative: an online museum experience called BreraPlus. In effect, it is an indictment of the kind of mass tourism that turns masterpieces into backdrops for selfies. Bradburne is making an international pitch to get global visitors to a virtual version of the Brera that goes beyond images of the artworks and makes participants stakeholders in the museums future, with access to periodic online meetings to discuss the institution's direction. For the cost of one 15-euro admission, users get three months of access to the physical museum, plus one year of access to the website of the internet-accessible one, which features documentaries and films commissioned for BreraPlus. Visitors also can zoom in on selected works, read annotations and exchange views with other visitors in a chat function. Heat maps overlaying the works show which areas are garnering the most interest. I think putting museums at the service of the mass tourism is a crime, Bradburne said. For him, BreraPlus represents a return to sustainable tourism, a tourism that doesnt require everyone taking low-cost flights." He acknowledges it will take at least a year to gauge if the project is successful, at which point he will be long gone. Another pet project, the long-delayed renovations of the Palazzo Citterio across the street from the Brera to house the museums considerable contemporary art collection, also will be completed after Bradburne leaves, despite initial hopes for a 2018 opening. Does he worry that all of the ideas and work he brought to the museum will vanish after he leaves in September? If somebody came here who actually gets it, which is an open question, if somebody understands what, in fact, I have done, its completely sustainable, Bradburne told The Associated Press. In fact, it costs less" to keep the projects he oversaw in place than to remove them. The museum reforms made by a previous left-wing Italian government brought seven foreign directors to Italian museums in 2015 and were widely celebrated as overdue progress. Another breakthrough allowed museums to keep the revenue they generated, which was a breakthrough. But Bradburne thinks the changes did not go far enough. Museums were not given control in other areas, such as hiring and staffing. Bradburne set up an educational staff with a work-around, calling the team's members guards on his organizational chart. I would say that the reforms, they made a step forward. But it wasnt a big step, and it was a very mitigating step,'' he said. Bradburne's job was recently posted with 10 others, including the directorship of the Uffizi, currently run by a German, and the Museum and Royal Park of Capodimonte in Naples, run by a Frenchman. The postings specify that applicants must be European and proficient in Italian. Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano has denied that Italy is prejudiced against foreigners but also publicly lamented that the countrys top 10 cultural institutions, including the Pompeii archaeological site and Milans Teatro alla Scala Opera House, are run by non-Italians. He has argued that Italian universities that focus on art history should be able to turn out enough Italian talent to fill the positions. The answer is unfortunately, no," Bradburne said. The problem isn't that we are foreigners or not foreigners. It is that we have learned the skills to run a modern museum that Italy has not taught two generations of museum professionals. One way forward, he said, would be to use foreigners as mentors. Use them, suck them dry," Bradburne said, "and train up Italians. 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 }} Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan will testify Sunday at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus corruption trial to answer questions about an alleged supply line of champagne and cigars funneled to the Israeli leader and his wife said to have been in exchange for help with Milchans personal and business needs. Milchan, who will appear by videoconference from Brighton, England, near where he is based, is a key witness whose testimony is essential for prosecutors who are trying to prove that Netanyahu committed fraud and breach of trust in one of three cases brought against him. Prosecutors hope Milchan's account, which extends throughout this week, will paint a picture of plush favors granted to Netanyahu and his wife that allegedly spurred the Israeli leader to use his position of power to advance Milchans interests. Netanyahus wife Sara, on a private visit to Britain, is reportedly expected to sit in on Milchans testimony. According to the indictment, Milchan, whose production credits include such hits as Pretty Woman" and 12 Years a Slave, gave Netanyahu and his wife boxes of cigars and crates of champagne over a period of several years that, along with jewelry, amounted to a value of nearly $200,000 what the indictment describes as a supply line of lavish gifts. The indictment accuses Netanyahu of using his influential perch to assist Milchan to secure a U.S. visa extension by drawing on his diplomatic contacts, among them former Secretary of State John Kerry. Prosecutors also accuse Netanyahu of working to push legislation that would have granted Milchan millions in tax breaks. Considering the many links between the defendant Netanyahu and Milchan, the defendant Netanyahu should have entirely avoided dealing with Milchan's affairs, the indictment says. Milchan is testifying in one of three cases being brought against Netanyahu. The other two, for which he is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, accuse Netanyahu of exchanging regulatory favors with powerful media moguls for more positive coverage. Netanyahu, who is expected to attend some of Milchan's hearings, denies wrongdoing, claiming he is the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by a liberal media and a biased justice system. Netanyahu's legal woes have dogged him politically, putting his fitness to rule while on trial at the center of a political crisis that sent Israelis to the polls for five times in under four years. They also have fueled accusations by critics that Netanyahu is pushing a contentious government plan to overhaul Israels judiciary as a way to escape the charges. Netanyahu denies those charges. The trial, which began in 2020 and has still not heard from Netanyahu himself, has featured more than 40 prosecution witnesses, including some of Netanyahus closest former confidants who turned against the premier. Witness accounts have shed light not only on the three cases but also revealed sensational details about Netanyahus character and his familys reputation for living off the largesse of taxpayers and wealthy supporters. Milchan's aide, Hadas Klein, testified last year that the family loves gifts. The idea of a plea bargain has repeatedly surfaced, but prosecutors for now appear determined to see through the trial, despite reports last week that the judges warned them that the more serious crime of bribery will be hard to prove. 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 }} Transgender people born in Kansas could be prevented from changing their birth certificates to reflect their gender identities if the states conservative Republican attorney is successful with a legal move he launched late Friday. Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a request in federal court asking a judge to end a requirement for Kansas to allow transgender people to change their birth certificates. U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree imposed the requirement in 2019 to settle a lawsuit filed by four transgender Kansas residents against three state health department officials over a policy that critics said prevented transgender people from making changes even after transitioning, legally changing their names and obtaining new drivers licenses and Social Security cards. It wasn't clear whether Kobach's effort would succeed, given a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2020 declaring a federal law barring sex discrimination in employment also prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. That year, federal judges in Idaho and Ohio struck down rules against transgender people changing their birth certificates, but on Thursday, a federal judge in Tennessee dismissed a lawsuit challenging one of the nation's few remaining state policies against such changes. Kobach's move appears to be in keeping with a new, sweeping Kansas law taking effect July 1 that rolls back transgender rights and was enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature over Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto. A memo filed electronically with the request by Kobach shortly before midnight cited the law as a reason to revisit the 2019 settlement. The memo argued Crabtree's order makes it impossible to follow the new state law and that since the Legislature has spoken, the state health department, which handles birth certificates, is now bound to execute the law as written. Kobach already had scheduled a Monday afternoon news conference at the Statehouse to discuss enforcement of the new law. Crabtree's 2019 order blocked a policy imposed by former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback's administration that was among the toughest against birth certificate changes in the U.S. Kelly is a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and her administration agreed to settle the lawsuit less than six months after she took office. That decision came almost a year after Crabtree declared the Kansas policy violated transgender people's constitutional rights to due legal process and equal treatment under the law. His order notes that federal courts in Idaho and Puerto Rico had struck down no-change policies. Kobach's memo called those rulings outdated. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the LGBTQ+-rights legal group Lambda Legal, representing the four Kansas residents, condemned Kobach's move. Lamda Legal's Omar Gonzalez-Pagan called it unnecessary and cruel. Kansas ACLU Executive Director Micah Kubic added in a statement: Mr. Kobach should rethink the wisdom and the sheer indecency of this attempt to weaponize his office's authority to attack transgender Kansans just trying to live their lives. The new Kansas law is designed to prevent transgender people from using restrooms, locker rooms and other single-gender facilities associated with their identities. At least nine other states have such laws, mostly focused on public schools. Kobach has said he believes the new Kansas law also prevents transgender people from changing their driver's licenses, though the law contains no specific enforcement mechanisms. Lawmakers wrote the bill so it could prevent transgender people from changing their birth certificates, except for the 2019 federal court order, without specifically mentioning either birth certificates or driver's licenses. For weeks, a project of Kansas Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm, encouraged transgender Kansans to change their driver's licenses before the new law took effect. Kelly's administration, which oversees the licensing of drivers, hasnt said whether it believes such changes would still be allowed under the new law. Ellen Bertels, the attorney spearheading the effort, said that while a transgender person could sue after the law takes effect to protect people's right to change their driver's licenses, a lawsuit from a state official against Kelly's administration could seek to prevent such changes. Thats its kind of the obvious place that they would end up," Bertels said. As for birth certificates, the small number of states not allowing transgender people to change them has shrunk because of federal court challenges like the one in Kansas. In Oklahoma, GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt is being sued over his 2021 order barring such changes. The ACLU of Montana plans to challenge a rule imposed there last year barring people from changing the sex listed on their birth certificates, according Alex Rate, one of its attorneys. The state has tightened its rules since GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte took office in 2021. Previously, starting in 2017 when Democrat Steve Bullock was governor, Montana allowed transgender people to change their birth certificates by filling out an affidavit. LGBTQ+ rights advocates say changing birth certificates, drivers licenses and other records to reflect a transgender persons gender identity is key to affirming their identities and often greatly improves their mental health. Policies against changing birth certificates and other documents have practical implications for transgender residents, too. For example, Kansas requires voters to show a photo ID at the polls or when obtaining an absentee ballot. Critics of the new Kansas law contend it is designed to legally erase transgender people. It declares state law recognizes only two genders, male and female, and defines them based on a person's biological reproductive system" at birth. A woman is someone whose system is designed to produce ova, while a male only is someone with a system designed to fertilize the ova of a female. The law then declares important governmental objectives of protecting people's health safety and privacy justify having sex-segregated spaces in line with those definitions. ___ Associated Press Writer Amy Hanson in Helena, Montana, contributed to this story. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna 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 government has been urged to overhaul the law to close a loophole that allows sex offenders to change their names without detection. Data shows thousands have breached rules on altering their names or addresses. It is illegal for registered sex offenders to change their name without informing the police within three days but there is no legal requirement for victims or other organisations to be informed of any alteration. An amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill tabled by Labours Sarah Champion, exclusively shared with The Independent, calls for that to be changed making it mandatory for the police and courts to tell victims. The proposed change, which has the backing of cross-party MPs including Priti Patel, Caroline Lucas, Hilary Benn, and Philip Davies, could also require them to share the information with the passport office and DVLA so they can keep tabs on sex offenders. It comes as data shows 16,298 registered sex offenders were charged for not telling police they had changed their name, address or other personal details between 2015 and 2020. Some 1,641 sex offenders were cautioned or convicted for infringing the same rules in the year to March 2022. The amendment is due to be debated by a committee of MPs scrutinising the legislation in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Ms Champion, MP for Rotherham, told The Independent that police officers told her it was common for people to change their name before they are charged or convicted which then enables them to keep their birth name clean. All those legal criminal systems fall as soon as you change your name, she explained. If you change your name, you can get a new passport and a new driving licence, that means you can get a clean Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if you go and work in a secure childrens home with your new name and you are a prolific sex offender it is not going to show up. A DBS check allows workplaces to see the criminal record of a potential employee with social workers, teachers, medical professionals, childminders, and foster carers among those that carry out such checks. Ms Champion argued that name changing was a seemingly well-established technique of sex offenders and said such perpetrators by their very nature look for vulnerabilities to exploit. The politician, who works closely with campaign group The Safeguarding Alliance on these issues, warned it was utter nonsense to expect sex offenders to play by the rules when altering their name. Ms Champion said measures such as restraining orders, stalking protection orders, sexual harm prevention orders, as well as Clares Law and Sarahs Law the mechanisms that allow concerned members of the public to find out if someone has convictions for domestic abuse or sexual offences all become redundant if an offender changes their name. It genuinely terrifies me the government knows and understands the risks around this loophole and is just not acting on it, she added. That is utterly negligent. Jayne Butler, chief executive of Rape Crisis England and Wales, told The Independent the loophole was posing a risk to women and girls as it enables perpetrators to effectively erase their past. She added: Currently, the responsibility is on individuals to inform the police of any name change, but we know that perpetrators dont always do this, meaning they can go under the radar of authorities. A Home Office spokesperson said: Public protection is a priority for this government and we have some of the toughest powers in the world to deal with sex offenders. To ensure registered sex offenders cannot hide their criminal past, they must notify police of their personal details every year and whenever they change this includes any name changes. Failure to comply, including providing false information, is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years imprisonment. We have further strengthened the regime for managing registered sex offenders and those who pose a risk through the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act. As he stands on Abbeydale Park Rise in Sheffield, Justin Buxton considers the empty space where two of his favourite trees had once stood. They were a pair of cherry blossoms planted in the Fifties as part of a residents scheme to improve the street. For six decades, they had brought colour and life to this suburban road. At Christmas, they were decked out in lights to raise money for the local childrens hospital. Then in 2015 contractors working on behalf of Sheffield City Council came in and chopped them down. 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 }} Actor Sir Mark Rylance has said he was not convinced he needed the Covid-19 vaccine and being told to have it caused alarm bells to ring. Sir Mark, 63, told the Sunday Times: I was not convinced I needed it. I took a very distilled garlic solution every morning, and vitamin C, and I sailed through Jerusalem. He added that he eventually had the jab so he could visit his father in America. Science is no different than religion, just an attempt by men to describe reality Sir Mark Rylance The actor reprised his role as Johnny Rooster Byron in Jez Butterworths Jerusalem last year to widespread critical acclaim. Often labelled the best stage actor of his generation, Sir Mark is rehearsing for Dr Semmelweis, a play he co-wrote, which opens in the West End at the end of this month after a successful run at the Bristol Old Vic. The play is about a 19th-century Hungarian doctor who is driven mad by the medical establishments refusal to listen to him about the importance of sanitation in preventing the spread of germs. Sir Mark told the Sunday Times that the play acts as a warning not to take the overweening scientific establishment at its word, particularly since the pandemic. Speaking about the response to coronavirus, he added: Science started to sound like a religion. And really science is no different than religion, just an attempt by men to describe reality. The body knows how to heal itself. We dont need to go in and bombard it with poison Sir Mark Rylance The Oscar-winning star of Steven Spielbergs Bridge Of Spies also admitted being sceptical about the benefits of chemotherapy. He told the paper about a friend who broke up the cells of a tumour using vibrations from a Tibetan sound bowl. He said: The body knows how to heal itself. We dont need to go in and bombard it with poison. Its like bombing a city to try and get rid of a little sect of terrorists. You may wipe them all out, but youre going to breed 25 or 30 [more]. Speaking about Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Olivier Award-winning actor laid much of the blame on Nato for moving in on the Russians and suggested the West has never taken Russias wartime sacrifices seriously enough. He said: Look how vulnerable your Jewish people are having lost six million the Russians lost 26 to 40 million people killing fascism in Europe. We didnt do it. The Americans didnt do it. We stood back until the Russians had really knocked the shit out of them. And yet all my life, have we ever celebrated and thanked the Russians for dealing with fascism? No, weve just glorified ourselves. Of course the people will fall for a dictator like Putin and believe his narrative because of the way weve behaved. Sir Mark also defended Jeremy Corbyn, saying he cant believe the former Labour leader was labelled antisemitic. He told the Sunday Times: His record to me was clear: he was always only interested in society and socialism and people getting on. The actor, who served as the first artistic director of The Globe Theatre in London between 1995 and 2005, also cast doubt on the authorship of Shakespeares plays. It comes after the publication of Shakespeare Was A Woman And Other Heresies, a book by US author Elizabeth Winkler, which suggests Mary Sidney, the sister of poet Philip Sidney, was probably involved in the publication of the plays. Sir Mark said: So the question of, was Mary Sidney or other women involved, I think its a very, very reasonable, rational question. 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 }} Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy has criticised her own party for selecting five white male candidates for the upcoming by-elections forced by Tory and SNP woes. The senior shadow cabinet member said it certainly bothered her Labour had gone with an all-white male slate for the crunch votes in the months ahead insisting that diversity matters. Female Labour MPs are said to be outraged at the decision, warning that it could set back the oppositions mission to reflect the make-up of the UK population. Asked if it bothered her that Labours candidates were all white men, Ms Nandy told BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: It does. It certainly does. Diversity in politics matters. Ms Nandy stopped short of calling for a return of Labours use of all-women shortlists but praised the policy first brought in by the party for the 1997 general election landslide. Im someone who stood on an all-woman shortlist, and the reason that they mattered and that it mattered that Labour pioneered them is because it changed the perception of what a member of parliament looked like, said the shadow levelling up secretary. Ms Nandy added: We cant use all-women shortlists in the Labour Party now, but Im very committed to making sure we continue that diversity particularly at local level. If were going to hand power back to communities, the local leaders have to look like the communities they serve. Danny Beales is fighting for Boris Johnsons old seat in Uxbridge for Labour, while Keir Mather has been selected in Selby and Ainsty, where loyal Johnson supporter Nigel Adams has also quit. Meanwhile, Alistair Strathern is Labours candidate for Mid Bedfordshire by-election the seat Nadine Dorries has promised to resign but has yet to formally do so. Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves campaigning in Uxbridge with Danny Beales (PA) Neil Guild has been selected for Somerton and Frome, where David Warburton has quit following his admission of cocaine use and allegations of sexual misconduct, which he continues to deny. And Michael Shanks will compete in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, if a petition to oust the SNPs Margaret Ferrier successfully hits the threshold to trigger a vote. It is really disappointing to see that all five of our candidates for the five upcoming by-elections are men, one female Labour MP told Politico after the full candidate list emerged on Friday afternoon. It appears that we may struggle to keep the number of Labour MPs in parliament at the current 51:49 ratio of women to men, which reflects the make-up of the UK population. But we also need to make sure we do more to select disabled candidates and those from Black and ethnic minorities. Labour Womens Network said the by-election selections were a shame, adding: We might be doing better against other measures, but being prepared to put up equal numbers of women when the stakes are highest does matter. Nadine Dorries is refusing to formally resign until the government explains why she didnt get peerage (Getty) It emerged last year that Labour was dropping all-women shortlists to select candidates for the next general election, after advice received in the wake of the 2019 election, when 51 per cent of its MPs were women. The party reportedly received legal advice warning that continuing to use the process would be unlawful since the majority of their MPs are female. It comes as Ms Dorries looks to have run out the clock on a by-election coming before parliaments summer recess. Instead of taking place alongside voters in the other three Tory-held seats on 20 July, the Mid Bedfordshire battle looks set to take place in the autumn. The Johnson ally has been accused of wanting to inflict maximum pain on Rishi Sunak by prolonging the damaging campaigns and the embarrassment of another potential defeat. Ms Dorries has refused to formally resign until she has received more information from the government about why she was denied a peerage in Mr Johnsons resignation honours list lashing out at posh boys Mr Sunak and his adviser James Forsyth. 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 Labour frontbencher has triggered a furious row after he accused Rishi Sunak of weaponising trans issues in a cynical attempt to win votes. Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, said the prime minister was using equality as a wedge issue in an ugly culture war. But a senior Tory hit back at the surprising attack and said that Mr Sunak was simply trying to ensure the protection of children. It comes after a week in which leaked footage saw the PM making transphobic jokes and No 10 wading into a bizarre row about identity politics in schools. Writing for The Independent to mark Pride month, Mr Streeting said: We have a government, and a prime minister, who see an opportunity to use LGBT+ equality as a wedge issue in an ugly culture war. Meanwhile, hate crimes against LGBT+ people are on the rise once again. The issues affecting young LGBT+ people today, and trans people in particular, are more complicated than when I was coming out. They demand leadership that handles them with care and sensitivity, rather than as a punchline or a way to score cheap headlines. Mr Streeting also warned that a hard-won consensus on LGBT+ equality looks fragile at best. Wading into the row to defend Mr Sunak, former Tory cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said: I am surprised at Mr Streeting as he is normally more considered. The prime minister has rightly been measured on these sensitive matters but is also trying to ensure that children are protected. And a spokesperson for the campaign group Conservatives for Women accused Mr Streeting of being disingenuous. They said: Womens rights and child safeguarding are not part of an ugly culture war and it is disingenuous to frame this issue that way. The prime minister has been very clear that he is fully supportive of maintaining womens rights to single-sex services, spaces and sports, and we are grateful he can define the word woman something many of his opponents struggle with. Trans rights are widely expected to be an issue in the next general election campaign. During last summers Tory leadership contest, Mr Sunak repeatedly told Conservative Party members he opposed what he described as a lefty woke culture that seems to want to cancel ... our women. He appeared to confirm that stance in a leaked video which saw Mr Sunak telling a gathering of Tory MPs last month that Lib Dem leader Ed Davey had been trying to convince everybody that women clearly had penises. The PM added: Youll all know that Im a big fan of everybody studying maths to 18. But it turns out that we need to focus on biology. No 10 insisted the joke was at the expense of Mr Davey, not a minority group. But the Tory leaders comments caused outrage within his own party. A source told PinkNews, which obtained the video: We should be trying to understand and support, not belittle and demonise. The Lib Dem leader accused Mr Sunak of treating trans people like a punchline after the clip surfaced. Rishi Sunak waded into a row over gender identity (PA/Getty) Mr Sunaks comments referred to an interview Mr Davey did with LBC, in which he said trans women quite clearly can have penises and called for more compassion around the debate. Under the law, the Gender Recognition Act allows people to receive legal recognition of their acquired gender. Earlier this year, the prime minister set himself at odds with Sir Keir Starmer by saying 100 per cent of women do not have penises. The Labour leader has suggested that as many as one in every thousand do have a penis. In a separate move this week, No 10 waded into a gender identity row affecting a school in Sussex, prompted by a viral TikTok video of a teacher apparently defending a pupils right to identify as a cat. Mr Sunaks spokesperson said Downing Street expected headteachers to act, saying: Its important parents and carers are reassured that children arent being influenced by personal views of those teaching them. Any example that strays from this would be wrong and we would expect headteachers to act. Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch has urged school inspectors Ofsted to intervene. But the school has issued a statement insisting no children at Rye College identify as a cat. It comes as the government is to set out new guidance to schools on trans issues in the coming weeks, expected to force headteachers to consult parents if their child speaks of a desire to transition to a different gender. The latest official figures show sexual orientation hate crimes increased by 41 per cent (to 26,152) in the year to March 2022. A government spokesperson said: The UK has a proud history of LGBT rights, and one of the worlds most comprehensive and robust legislative protection frameworks for LGBT people. We have already taken great strides, including the publication of our HIV Action Plan, the founding of our Conversion Practice Victim Support Service, and the extension of same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland. We have also modernised the process of applying for a gender recognition certificate, reducing the cost of applying for a gender recognition certification and moving the process of applying online." 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 }} The aftermath of the Wagner rebellion in Russia is an internal matter which will not affect the UKs ongoing support for Ukraine, a Cabinet minister has said. Chief secretary to the Treasury John Glen made the comments as the fallout from the mercenary groups march on Moscow continues. The groups forces, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, were just 120 miles from Moscow before the rebellion was called off to avoid shedding Russian blood. He has gone into exile in Belarus after a deal with Vladimir Putins government was brokered at the last minute. The agreement will see charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion dropped. The Russian government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry. Yuriy Sak, who advises the Ukrainian defence minister, told the BBC the rebellion is the most ridiculous attempt at mutiny ever. Mr Glen told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that the UK will not be intervening in Russias internal affairs. He added: It is obviously a very unstable situation in Russia, but it is fundamentally an internal matter. And weve obviously urged, alongside our allies that obviously civilian interests are considered. This isnt a matter that we will be intervening in, but obviously we observe and monitor the situation on an ongoing basis very carefully. Nothing has changed with respect to the British Governments position on supporting Ukraine. However Alexander Litvinenkos widow Marina suggested this attitude suggests Western leaders remain resistant to the idea of Vladimir Putin stepping down. She told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: They accept Ukrainian people in a different country they have support, but they still want to keep Putin, and at least to have some kind of controlling of Russia. (After what happened on Saturday) we can see, Putin doesnt control nothing. If you want to save Russia from collapsing you need to take Putin out from this place. Shadow communities secretary Lisa Nandy told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the government should be doing pretty much what they are when asked about the situation. She said the events suggest it is clear that Ukraine is winning the war. The shadow minister went on: We now need to make sure that all of the Nato Allies stand not just with President Zelensky and Ukraine to send a clear message to President Putin, that we will be there and with the Ukrainian people until that war is won. Former chief of the UK general staff Lord Dannatt warned on the programme that a renewed attack on Kyiv could take place if Mr Prigozhins troops follow him to Belarus, whose government has supported Russias invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile former chief of the defence staff Lord Richards warned the UK risks woefully underestimating Russia and its armed forces. Lord Dannatt said: Apparently hes left the stage to go to Belarus but is that the end of Prigozhin and the Wagner Group? The fact that hes gone to Belarus is I think a matter of some concern. What we dont know, what we will discover in the next hours and days is how many of his fighters have actually gone with him. If he has gone to Belarus and has kept an effective fighting force around him, he then presents a threat again to the Ukrainian flank closest to Kyiv which is where all this began on February 24 last year. Although it would appear that this matter is closed I think it is far from closed and the aftershocks will reverberate for quite some time. They (Ukraine) need to watch that flank very carefully and make sure they have got some manoeuvre units such that they could repel a renewed attack from the direction of Belarus. Lord Richards told Times Radio: It seems to me that we have been at risk of woefully underestimating Russia and her armed forces. It doesnt appear as if Ukraine has been able to exploit it to achieve what it wants to do and needs to do, which is a big penetration of the Russian lines. And I suspect that whilst it might yet still happen, that we are in, despite the weakened state, arguably of (Vladimir) Putin, were in for a long haul here. And that actually is the worst of all worlds for the West. Former MI6 officer Christopher Steele told the programme: Whats changed I think is that Vladimir Putin has lost authority and legitimacy within Russia and has been challenged in a way, yes hes managed to worm his way out of it for the present. To see events unfold in Russia yesterday and the speed with which the situation seemed to spiral out of control must be very concerning for Putin and the people around him. Edward Lucas, a senior adviser at the Centre for European Policy Analysis, told BBC Radio 4s The World This Weekend that the UK must prepare for a deeply dangerous and unpredictable post-Putin Russia. He said: There will be all sorts of dilemmas and difficulties we face and we need to start thinking right now about how we deal with them. And thats everything from do we worry about Russia falling into the arms of China? Is there going to be disintegration? Will it go full-on fascist? Will we have a long period of confusion and chaos? Will they use their nuclear weapons as a bargaining chip to try and get things? And these are all the questions that we ought to be dealing with and Im just not seeing it in most western capitals. We face perhaps a decade or more of dealing with a deeply dangerous and unpredictable Russia without even the sort of superficial certainty we have of having Putin in power. 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 }} Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to stay in close contact with Western allies about the extraordinary events in Russia, where a rebellion against Vladimir Putin appeared to be defused when mercenaries turned back from Moscow and their chief was ordered to Belarus. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin will leave Russia as part of a deal to end his uprising and charges against him will be dropped, the Kremlin said. Russian authorities will not prosecute troops who joined him in the mutiny and will offer Russian military contracts to those who did not. Mr Prigozhin told his forces to halt their advance on the capital to avoid bloodshed as part of the deal, which de-escalated a growing crisis that amounted to the greatest ever security challenge to the Russian president. The sudden retreat came at the end of a dramatic day during which the rebel leader vowed to topple Moscows military leadership, seized a southern Russian city and sent a convoy towards the capital. The agreement averting a descent into civil war was mediated by the Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, who said he had his close ally Mr Putins approval. Earlier, as the mercenaries headed towards Moscow and authorities prepared defences, Mr Sunak held talks with fellow leaders about what UK defence officials described as the most significant challenge to the Kremlin in recent times. The Prime Minister spoke to US president Joe Biden, French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday afternoon to discuss the situation in Russia and reiterate their continuing support for Ukrainian sovereignty, Downing Street said. The leaders have agreed to stay in close contact in the coming days, a No 10 spokesperson said. It followed a meeting of the Governments emergency Cobra committee chaired by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who also joined a call with fellow G7 foreign ministers to discuss the fast-moving situation. The Prime Minister urged all parties involved in the Russian infighting to protect civilian lives. Were keeping a close eye on the situation, as its evolving on the ground as we speak, Mr Sunak told the BBC. The most important thing Id say is for all parties to be responsible and to protect civilians, and thats about as much as I can say at this moment. Pressed on advice for British nationals remaining in Russia, Mr Sunak said the UK has had long-standing travel advice against travel to Russia and people should keep checking the Foreign Office website for updates. Mr Cleverly tweeted that we are monitoring the situation carefully and liaising closely with our allies and we continue to urge British citizens to follow FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) travel advice. An FCDO spokesperson said: The Foreign Secretary has chaired a meeting of COBR to update on the latest situation, particularly with respect to British nationals in Russia. In the morning, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russias security forces will be key to how the crisis plays out as Wagner forces moved towards the Russian capital. In its daily intelligence briefing, the department said the feud between the Wagner group and the Russian defence ministry escalated into outright military confrontation in the early hours of Saturday. In an operation characterised by Prigozhin as a march for freedom, Wagner Group forces crossed from occupied Ukraine into Russia in at least two locations, the MoD said. It said that in the city of Rostov-on-Don near the Ukrainian border, Wagner has almost certainly occupied key security sites, including the Russian military headquarters that oversees the fighting in Ukraine. Units were almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow, according to the MoD. Over the coming hours, the loyalty of Russias security forces, and especially the Russian National Guard, will be key to how the crisis plays out. This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times. Mr Putin called the rebellion a betrayal in a televised address but Mr Prigozhin denied the claim and called his fighters patriots. Before their retreat, the mercenaries had moved north towards Moscow throughout the day, with the governor of Lipetsk province, around 225 miles south of the capital, confirming they were crossing the region. Wagner troops have been fighting alongside Russian soldiers in Ukraine and succeeded in taking the eastern city of Bakhmut, where the bloodiest and longest battles have raged. But Mr Prigozhin recently stepped up his criticism of Russias military leadership, accusing it of botching the war and shelling his fighters. The rebellion was expected to further hamper Moscows war effort as the early stages of a Ukrainian counter-offensive unfold. Ukrainian president Volodomyr Zelensky said Moscow was suffering full-scale weakness. 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 }} Sarah, Duchess of York has undergone an operation after being diagnosed with breast cancer, her spokesman has revealed. The 63-year-old discovered she had an early form of the disease during a routine mammogram. She reportedly left the King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, central London which has treated the royal family for decades, on Sunday and is said to be recovering with her family at Windsor. Before going to hospital, she spoke about her diagnosis on her new podcast Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah, which is released on Monday. It was reportedly recorded before her operation and had been due to air on Thursday, before being put off until after she was discharged. A spokesman for the duchess said: Sarah, Duchess of York was recently diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer detected at a routine mammogram screening. She was advised she needed to undergo surgery which has taken place successfully. The duchess is receiving the best medical care and her doctors have told her that the prognosis is good. She is now recuperating with her family. The duchess wants to express her immense gratitude to all the medical staff who have supported her in recent days. She is also hugely thankful to the staff involved in the mammogram which identified her illness, which was otherwise symptom free, and believes her experience underlines the importance of regular screening. The Sun reported that the Duke of York, 63, and their daughters Princess Beatrice, 34, and Princess Euegnie, 33, are by her side as she recovers. The grandmother-of-three was not at Royal Ascot earlier this week as she was being treated in hospital. The duchess is a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust and spoke at a Breast Cancer Foundation gala in 2019. Beatrice was spotted with friends at Glastonbury on Sunday, the final day of the festival, and was at Royal Ascot earlier this week. That the duchesss breast cancer was identified early via mammogram is testament to the importance of breast screening Addie Mitchell, clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Now Ann OFlynn, head of information and support at the charity Macmillan Cancer Support, said: Were saddened to hear of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of Yorks, recent breast cancer diagnosis. We know that hearing the words youve got cancer can turn peoples worlds upside down in a heartbeat. She said Macmillan does whatever it takes to support everybody living with cancer, from the moment theyre diagnosed with a support line, web chat service and online community forums available. Addie Mitchell, clinical nurse specialist at charity Breast Cancer Now, said: We send our best wishes and support to the duchess, her family and anyone affected by this news. Nothing can prepare you for the shock of hearing the words you have breast cancer, and sadly every 10 minutes one woman in the UK experiences this. That the duchesss breast cancer was identified early via mammogram is testament to the importance of breast screening. The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed the more likely treatment is to be successful, and we encourage women to attend their routine screening appointments when invited. Breast Cancer Nows free helpline is available on 0808 800 6000. 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 }} President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt met Indias prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday the second stop of a two-day trip for the latter that focused on elevating ties between the two counties. Egypt and India share deep ties that date back to the 1950s when the two nations played key roles in founding the Non-Aligned Movement, which had sought an alternative path to siding with either with communism or capitalism at the height of the Cold War. Mr Modi, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday, is the first Indian prime minister to pay a state visit to Egypt in more than two decades. His two-day stop came six months after Mr El-Sissi was in New Delhi as an official guest at Indias Independence Day. Mr El-Sissi welcomed Mr Modi on Sunday morning at the presidential palace in Cairo. He awarded the visiting prime minister the Order of the Nile, Egypts highest state honour, according to Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for Indias external affairs ministry. Mr Modis trip to Egypt has focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Cairo and New Delhi. The prime minister said both countries have been moving swiftly to increase bilateral trade to $12bn annually within five years thats up from $7.3bn in 2021-22. This is a remarkable year for our shared relations, Mr Modi told a meeting with Egyptian prime minister Moustafa Madbouly on Saturday. Earlier this year, both countries agreed to boost trade cooperation. India, the worlds most populous country, is one of the top five importers of Egyptian products, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas, salt, cotton, inorganic chemicals and oilseeds. Major Indian exports to Egypt include cotton yarn, coffee, herbs, tobacco, lentils, vehicle parts, ships, boats and electrical machinery. Mr El-Sissi and Mr Modi, who came to power in their counties in 2014, have in recent years cultivated a closer relationship and over the last 16 months, they resisted pressure form the West to condemn the Russian war in Ukraine. Both Egypt and India have decades-old ties with the Kremlin. There is a change in the global geopolitical and geoeconomic atmosphere wherein both countries wish to play a defining role, Indias defense minister Rajnath Singh said during a visit to Cairo in September. Egypts geostrategic location acts as a connecting link between Africa, West Asia, the Mediterranean, and Europe and is also an important country from the Indo-Pacific point of view. Mr Modi reached Cairo after a four-day trip to the US, where he held talks with president Joe Biden and top administration officials, addressed the US Congress and met top American executives. His meeting with Mr El-Sissi came as global attention focused on a brief rebellion by the head of Wagner Group, seen as the greatest challenge to Russian president Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. Neither Mr Modi, nor Mr El-Sissi immediately commented on the rebellion. 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 girlfriend of a wealthy dentist convicted of murdering his wife on an African safari was sentenced on Friday to 17 years in prison. She was found guilty of being an accessory to the crime during a hearing where relatives of the slain woman told her she had destroyed their family. Ana Rudolph, daughter of 57-year-old victim Bianca Rudolph, said Lori Milliron, 65, had plotted to eliminate her mother. Lori, you have taken my parents, Ms Rudolph said directly to Milliron, but despite everything you have done you will never take my soul. This might be difficult to understand... because you dont have one. Lori Milliron encouraged Lawrence Rudolph to kill his wife for her. She told him to divorce Bianca Rudolph. When he said he couldnt afford to do that, Milliron responded by helping Rudolph procure propofol a lethal anesthetic drug that could be used as a poison before he took the trip where he did what she had wanted: get rid of Bianca, the federal prosecutors argued in their motion. Milliron was convicted last year of perjury, being an accessory to a murder after the fact and obstructing a grand jury in a case thats garnered national attention. She was charged alongside Lawrence Larry Rudolph, a US dentist who was convicted last year of fatally shooting his wife while on a 2016 hunting trip in Zambia. His sentencing, originally set for this week, has been postponed. John Dill, an attorney for Milliron, said the prison sentence was longer than what is typically doled out for such charges, calling it excessive and vowing to appeal. Mr Dill argued that the convictions were merely based on Millirons perjury charges and do not implicate her in the execution of the crime. We believe the sentence is excessive and bears no reasonable relationship to the two counts of perjury before the grand jury that formed the basis of the charges of obstruction and accessory after the fact, Mr Dill told CNN. The answers she gave before the grand jury were not false... Ms Milliron had no involvement in the death of Bianca Rudolph and she sympathizes with the family as victims of that tragedy. Defense attorneys for Pittsburgh dentist Lawrence "Larry" Rudolph head into federal courthouse with the dentist's children for the afternoon session of the trial, Wednesday, 13 July 2022, in Denver (AP) Standing in front of the judge on Friday, Milliron insisted she was innocent of the crimes, but said she was sympathetic to the Rudolph family. Judge William J Martinez argued that the long sentence was deserved because evidence pointed to Milliron encouraging the crime. Mr Martinez added that Milliron seemed unrepentant in part because he judged her emotionally unmoved when she was shown graphic images and listened to wrenching testimony during the trial. After Bianca Rudolphs death in 2016, Lawrence Rudolph claimed his wife accidentally shot herself while packing to leave Zambia for the US. Later, Rudolph collected millions in accidental death insurance payments. After an FBI investigation, however, authorities charged Rudolph in 2021 with her murder. He was found guilty in wifes death in August, last year. A jury of six men and as many women reached the verdict for Rudolph following a three-week trial and a day and a half of deliberations. Rudolph, 67, was charged with foreign murder in the 2016 death of Bianca Rudolph in Zambia as well as mail fraud for cashing in $4.8m in life insurance claims in what prosecutors described as a premeditated crime. Some of the money was paid out of Colorado so he was tried in Denver federal court. He faces a maximum term of life in prison or the death penalty. Additional reporting by agencies 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 Ohio mother has been charged with murder after leaving her 16-month-old baby daughter home alone for 10 days as she went on vacation. Kristel Candelario, 31, was arrested and charged after her baby girl, Jailyn, was found unresponsive at their Cleveland home, police said. The youngsters body showed no signs of trauma, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office. Kristel Candelario (Cuyahoga County Police) Investigators stated that the child had been left alone and unattended for approximately 10 days and had subsequently died. An arrest affidavit states that the suspect had travelled to Puerto Rico and Detroit on vacation. Detective Thelemon Powell Jr stated in the affidavit that Ms Candelario told police she had left her daughter at home, all alone and unattended. Investigators said the suspect told them that when she arrived home she found her daughter to be extremely dehydrated. The detective wrote that the babys pen consisted of soiled blankets and a bottom liner, saturated with urine and feces. Ms Candelario is being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on a $1m bond, online court records showed. She had worked at Citizens Academy Glenville, an elementary school in Cleveland, since November 2022. According to WEWS-TV she has been fired from her position at the school. We couldnt believe she was gone, one neighbour, who didnt want to be identified, told News5. Jailyn, she was a happy baby, always smiling, always curious about stuff. She was a wonderful, wonderful baby. Another neighbour told the station that it is not the first time the suspect allegedly left her daughter alone. We keep telling her not to leave her by herself, not just me, my friend across the street too, but she always leave her by herself, the neighbour said. 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 }} Three police officers in San Antonio, Texas have been charged with murder after fatally shooting a woman experiencing a mental health crisis, officials said. Sergeant Alfred Flores and officers Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos were taken into custody less than 24 hours after the deadly incident. The officers had responded to a call after midnight on Friday at the home of Melissa Perez, 46, who was allegedly cutting wires to a fire alarm system at her apartment complex in the city. After initially speaking to the officers, Perez ran to her apartment and locked the door, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told a press conference on Friday. Body-cam footage released from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) appears to show the officers trying to speak with Ms Perez through a window at the rear of the apartment, urging her to come out. On the footage, she can be heard telling the officers that they do not have a warrant. Youre going to get shot, an officer can be heard saying at one point. One officer appears to try to open a window. Ms Perez threw a candleholder, then swung a hammer which hit the window and broke it, Chief McManus said. One officer then opened fire but it appeared that Ms Perez was not shot. Seconds later, Perez advanced toward the window again while still holding the hammer, and all three officers opened fire, according to the police chief. More than a dozen shots can be heard on the video. Perez was struck at least twice, according to Chief McManus. She died at the scene. It appeared that Ms Perez was having a mental health crisis, Chief McManus said. The shooting officers actions were not consistent with SAPD policies and training, and they placed themselves in a situation where they used deadly force which was not reasonable given all the circumstances as we now understand them, he added. The officers were suspended without pay and taken into custody later on Friday. Mr Flores is a 14-year veteran of the department while the other two officers have been with the force for five and two years, respectively. All three were released on $10,000 bond, according to Bexar County jail records. A preliminary hearing date has been set for 25 July. Investigations from SAPDs Internal Affairs and Civil Rights divisions and the Bexar County district attorneys Civil Rights Division are underway. From left to right: San Antonio police Sergeant Alfred Flores and officers Eleazar Alejandro and Nathaniel Villalobos were charged with murder after the fatal shooting of Melissa Perez on 23 June (AP) We have always been a pro-police family. This breaks my heart. I always trusted the police to protect me and now I dont know who to trust. We cant express how hurt we are, Perezs daughter Alexis Tova told ABC News. An arrest warrant for the officers states that Perez did not pose an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death when she was shot because the defendants had a wall, a window blocked by a television, and a locked door between them. A statement from the San Antonio Police Officers Association to The New York Times offered its deepest condolences to the victims family. At this time, this is an active investigation, and cant speak to the matter further until the investigation is complete and judicial process is underway, the statement said. The latest incident follows a history of police violence in San Antonio. Police fatally shot unarmed Black teenager Charles Roundtree Jr in 2018. Two years earlier, allegedly believing that the cellphone in his hand was a gun, an officer fatally shot Antronie Scott. In 2014, an off-duty officer fatally shot Marquise Jones in the back as he ran from a minor traffic incident. We acknowledge the speed in which these officers have been charged, but lets be honest this senseless loss of life should never have occurred, according to a statement from San Antonio criminal justice reform group ACT 4 SA. True justice would have been responding to a community member having a mental health crisis in a compassionate manner, according to the statement. True justice would be Melissa still being here with us today. 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 Ohio couple has been arrested after their three children allegedly arrived at school covered in bedbugs. Miranda Campbell, 32, and Jason Goodspeed, 39, have been charged with child endangering after officials with the Youngstown City School District reported the May incident to the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office. School authorities described in an email obtained by local news station WFMJ that the kids were reportedly covered in bedbugs, with cockroaches crawling out of their bags. The school said the children showed up at school in that condition several days, and each time, they were given clean clothes to change into. After they were alerted, law enforcement conducted a wellness check at the childrens residence. At the home, they found a large infestation of cockroaches and bedbugs that prevented them from checking the basement. Police also removed several animals from the home, which led to a charge of failure to register a dog that Ms Campbell has pleaded guilty to. The property was condemned as it is not safe to be occupied. Miranda Campbell, 32, and Jason Goodspeed, 39, have been charged with child endangering (Mahoning County Sheriff's Office) Officers also noted in an incident report that even before they arrived at the home, they could smell the stench from the sidewalk. The parents reportedly said they had been trying to get rid of the infestation to no avail. Ms Campbell claimed she was never contacted by the school district regarding the childrens condition. The children are currently under the care of a family member. 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 }} In the days after OceanGate chief executive Stockton Rush and his four-paying crew members went missing on their dive to the wreck of the Titanic, experts had several theories as to their fate. Perhaps the group had managed to surface and were awaiting rescue amid the Atlantic waves. Perhaps they were trapped underwater within the hull of their broken-down submersible, running out of air. Or perhaps they had suffered the worst-case scenario: a sudden, catastrophic hull breach, causing their sub to rapidly buckle under the crushing pressure of the water above them. Follow the latest updates on the missing Titanic sub On 26 June, those worst fears were confirmed when the US Coast Guard announced that it had found pieces of the Titan submersible scattered across the ocean floor about 1,600 feet from the bow of the ill-fated ocean liner. But what exactly caused the Titan to implode? While we dont yet know the truth of what happened, we do know enough to have some idea of what might have sealed the subs fate. An unusual design for a deadly environment The Titan set off from its mothership, the Polar Prince, on Sunday 18 June, heading for the remains of the Titanic some 3,800 metres below the surface of the ocean. Communications ceased about an hour and 45 minutes later when the sub was probably close to the bottom of its dive. At that depth, any object including a human body is subject to water pressure more than 300 times stronger than the pressure Earths atmosphere exerts on us every day. On the surface, we only need to withstand 14.7 lbs per square inch (Psi) of pressure, whereas the Titan had to withstand 5,500 Psi. The Titan was designed to survive this level of pressure, with two strong titanium domes at either end of the hull linked by a five-inch-thick cylinder of carbon fibre. According to reports, it was subjected to rigorous safety checks before every dive to make sure there were no defects or faults in the hull. Carbon fibre is an unusual material for a deep-sea submersible because it is weaker than the solid steel or titanium of which such vessels are usually made. While widely-used in aircraft, it was largely untested in deep-sea diving. OceanGates Titan sub (PA Media) That was a calculated choice by OceanGate founder Stockton Rush, who believed that the material was more viable for such dives than commonly credited. Unlike metal, carbon fibre is naturally buoyant beyond 2,000 metres, meaning the Titan could be far lighter and cheaper than previous subs. Youre remembered for the rules you break, Rush told YouTuber Alan Estrada in 2021. Ive broken some rules to make this. I think Ive broken them with logic and good engineering behind me. To offset this weaker material, the Titan was equipped with a real-time hull health monitoring system that could, in theory, detect any deformations, cracks, or other faults rapidly enough for the crew to attempt an emergency ascent. Yet such depths offer little margin for error. If even one part of the hull fails and lets in water, the pressure would be so great, and the velocity of the incoming liquid so fast, that the sub and its occupants might be torn apart in mere milliseconds, monitoring system or not. Indeed, a report in The Wall Street Journal suggests that whatever happened to the Titan, happened very fast. Despite claims that rescuers had picked up tapping sounds every 30 minutes, suggesting the crew might still be alive and signalling for help, military insiders told WSJ that a top-secret US Navy system for detecting enemy submarines had heard an implosion soon after the Titan lost communications. So what might have caused the hull to fail? The answers may lie within a lawsuit filed against OceanGate by one of its most senior former employees. Critical safety concerns about the Titans hull and porthole Now is the time to properly address items that may pose a safety risk to personnel. Verbal communication of [these problems] has been dismissed on several occasions, so I feel now I must make this report so there is an official record in place. So wrote OceanGates then director of marine operations David Lochridge on 18 January 2018, according to a complaint filed by his lawyers as part of a court battle against the underseas tourism company. Lochridge had begun working with OceanGate in 2015 and was allegedly tasked with conducting a final safety review of the Titan. His lawsuit, later settled out of court, claimed that he raised critical safety concerns about the subs experimental and untested design only to be fired for his troubles. Issues of quality control with the new submersible were raised, as there were evident flaws throughout the build process, the lawsuit alleged, noting that no carbon fibre submersible had ever achieved its target depth of 4,000 metres. The OceanGate Expeditions submersible vessel named Titan (PA Media) It argued that the carbon fibre hull was vulnerable to small defects being widened into large tears by the constant changes of pressure, and claimed that visible flaws were found in samples of the material produced for the Titan. Indeed, Mr Rush would later admit to GeekWire after test dives in the Bahamas that the Titans hull showed signs of cyclic fatigue, meaning it had been stressed by repeated pressure changes. Trips to theTitanic were delayed while these problems were addressed. Lochridge was also sceptical about the real-time monitoring system, which he believed would only show when a component was very close to failure perhaps only milliseconds before an implosion. The lawsuit alleges that he pressed for the hull to be tested more rigorously but was denied. Worse, the lawsuit claims that the Titans single porthole was only certified to withstand the pressure at 1,300 metres and that OceanGate refused to pay for a porthole certified to 4,000 metres. Paying passengers would not be aware, and would not be informed, of this experimental design, the lack of non-destructive testing of the hull, or that hazardous flammable materials were being used within the submersible, the lawyers said. In its response, OceanGate said that Lochridge is not an engineer and was not hired or asked to perform engineering services on the Titan. It said he was fired not for raising safety concerns but for refusing to accept assurances from the companys lead engineer that its chosen testing methods were better suited to the situation than he believed. OceanGate told The Associated Press that the missing Titan vessel was finished in 2020-21 - so not the same as the vessel described in Mr Lochridges lawsuit. A rule-breaking CEO who refused outside regulation Mr Lochridge was not the only person concerned about OceanGates methods. In 2018, 38 members of the Marine Technology Societys Manned Underwater Vehicles committee wrote to Stockton Rush expressing unanimous concern about the way Titan had been developed. According to The New York Times, the committee was alarmed that OceanGate had not subjected Titan to a standard risk assessment by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), an international maritime classification body that writes and maintains technical standards for undersea vehicles. While this may demand additional time and expense, it is our unanimous view that this validation process by a third party is a critical component in the safeguards that protect all submersible occupants, the letter said. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) OceanGate defended its decision in a 2019 blog post. When OceanGate was founded the goal was to pursue the highest reasonable level of innovation in the design and operation of manned submersibles. By definition, innovation is outside of an already accepted system... the company wrote. Bringing an outside entity up to speed on every innovation before it is put into real-world testing is anathema to rapid innovation. And, because the Polar Prince and the Titan operated in international waters, they were not subject to regulation by any country including a US law requiring passenger submersibles to be registered with the Coast Guard. In the early days of the Toyota Motor Company, engineers were trained to diagnose a problem by repeating the question Why? five times. If a car wont start, the first why might establish that there is a problem with the engine, but the fifth why might reveal that the engine was poorly constructed because its builders were badly trained and underpaid. Therefore asking why the Titan imploded must eventually lead us to examine Stockton Rush, his attitude to safety, and the nature of OceanGate and its goals. There hasnt been an injury in the commercial sub industry in over 35 years. Its obscenely safe, because they have all these regulations, Mr Rush told Smithsonian Magazine in 2019. But it also hasnt innovated or grown because they have all these regulations. Privately, in response to a letter from an OceanGate consultant imploring him to be more cautious, Rush reportedly said he was tired of industry players who try to use a safety argument to stop innovation. He declared: We have heard the baseless cries of you are going to kill someone way too often. I take this as a serious personal insult. The Titan was not a pure research vessel from a government agency or coalition of universities. It was a commercial vehicle, designed to help OceanGate turn regular Titanic voyages and, eventually, the exploitation of undersea resources into a profitable business, and its design followed from that reality. Already many observers are asking the next set of whys, questioning the nature of the adventure industry, the wisdom of the super-rich, and the morality of ferrying paying tourists to perhaps the worlds most famous underwater mass grave. Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night, said James Cameron, the director of the 1999 hit film about the ocean liner, who is also an experienced undersea explorer. Those questions, however, are harder to answer, and may be debated for just as long as the meaning of the Titanic itself. 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 }} Human remains have been found in the area of the San Gabriel mountains where British actor Julian Sands went missing more than five months ago while on a hike. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said hikers had contacted authorities on Saturday morning after finding the remains in the Mount Baldy area. The finding comes a week after the search for the 65-year-old actor resumed on 17 June. Efforts to find the actor had slowed around mid-February after rescue teams were repeatedly hampered by adverse weather conditions. The remains have been transported to the coroners office for identification, the department said. The identification process is expected to take about a week. Earlier last week, Sands family released a statement saying they continued to keep him in our hearts with bright memories. We are deeply grateful to the search teams and co-ordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian, said a family statement, issued on Wednesday by the sheriffs department. We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer. Sands, best known for his breakout role in the 1985 film A Room With a View, failed to return from a hike in the Mount Baldy area of southern California on 13 January. A longtime avid hiker and mountaineer, he had set out for a hike on the mountain, which is more than 10,000ft high and was pounded by storms during winter. Since Sands disappearance, the sheriffs department had conducted eight searches. The actors family previously praised the heroic efforts of Californian authorities involved in the searches, and said they were deeply touched by the support they had received. His brother, Nick Sands, told the Craven Herald in late January: He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone. A spokesperson for the sheriffs department earlier said its goal was to bring closure to Sands family. Additional reporting by The Associated Press 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 neo-Nazi group gathered outside a synagogue in Georgia and brandished swastikas during its Shabbat service on Saturday. Shocking pictures and videos showed around a dozen people waving the hate symbols outside the Chabad of Cobb synagogue in East Cobb, the non-profit Stop Antisemitism reported. Jon Minadeo II, leader of the so-called Goyim Defense League, was arrested for disorderly conduct and public disturbance the day before at a synagogue in Macon, Georgia, local station WMAZ reported. Members of Chabad of Cobb told WMAZ that the neo-Nazis were out there for a few hours. Videos posted online showed the group holding swastika flags and signs that read: Every Single Aspect of Abortion is Jewish as local residents could be heard shouting at them to go home. Officers from the Cobb Police Department responded to the scene but did not dispel the rally. Freedom of speech, even hate speech, is generally protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution although true threats and harassment are not. Officers stood between the two groups. Law enforcement has not issued any public statements addressing the incident on Saturday but Chabad of Cobbs leaders said that the police department is working with them to ensure the safety of everyone at the synagogue. This was the most frightening thing Ive ever seen in my entire life, Stewart Levy, who attends Chabad of Cobb, told WMAZ. I am shocked, absolutely shocked to see this here. When I see the amount of ignorance out there and some of the truths that they are promoting, it is just frightening the level of inaccurate knowledge that there is. Jennifer Caron Derrick, who does not attend the synagogue but lives in East Cobb, said she didnt believe any of the neo-Nazis were local residents. Its sad to see, although Im fairly certain [their] people arent from our local community, Ms Caron Derrick told The Independent. I just dont understand the hate and never will. Ms Caron Derrick said East Cobb residents have planned a peaceful gathering for Monday at 5pm EDT in support of the Jewish community. Individuals who wish to attend the protest at Chabad of Cobb are encouraged to bring signs featuring messages of love and respect, Ms Caron Derrick said. Chabad of Cobb issued a statement decrying the neo-Nazi rally and thanked members of the community for stepping up against hate. The synagogue noted that East Cobb had been a wonderful home to a flourishing Jewish community for many years and the antisemitic protest did not represent the communitys sentiment. Shocking pictures and videos showed neo-Nazis with swastikas outside the Chabad of Cobb synagogue on Friday (WMAZ) We have been in communication with Cobb County officials, who have identified these individuals as part of a small group that travel around the country in order to spread their hateful message, the statement read. Ultimately, we must remember that the most potent response to darkness is to increase in light. Lets use this unfortunate incident to increase in acts of goodness and kindness, Jewish pride, and greater Jewish engagement. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes the Goyim Defense League as a small network of virulently antisemitic provocateurs led by Jon Minadeo II, with the overarching goal is to cast aspersions on Jews and spread antisemitic myths and conspiracy theories. Minadeo was released on bond following his Friday arrest. It is unclear whether any arrests were made on Saturday. The Independent has reached out to the East Cobb Police Department for comment. Georgia ranked fourth in US states experiencing the highest number of antisemitic incidents with 44 recorded in 2022, according to ADL. 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 New York teenager had died and another has been injured after carrying out the TikTok trend of subway surfing. Windinson Garcia and Brian Crespo, both aged 14, were participating in a dangerous stunt known as subway surfing, which involves jumping on top of train cars on Thursday, ABC News reported. The pair were knocked off a moving Manhattan-bound L train when it approached a tunnel before entering the Bushwick-Aberdeen Ave stop. While Garcia survived and was transported to hospital, Crespo was pronounced dead at the scene. His waist is broken and he has like a lot of bruises and stitches all over his body, Garcias cousin Erika, who did not share her last name, told ABC. I dont know why he decided to do stuff like that ... Hes very smart. Hes like - how do I say - he likes to do dangerous things like that. Following the death of a 15-year-old under similar circumstances in February, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released data that suggested incidents of passengers riding outside of subway cars had increased by 366 per cent since 2021. Another teen, 14, was also killed in March after he fell between moving subway cars. During a press conference on Thursday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged TikTok to ban and take down videos of teens engaging in the high-stakes stunt which gather millions of views for the platform. Today we lost another child. The consequences of social media and other addictive online content are tragic and real, the mayor said. Subway surfing kills. Speaking with CBS News, Windinsons father Kleber Garcia said he had spent the last few days at his sons hospital bed, while mourning his friends death. The teen had just graduated junior high the day before his life was cut short. They were sons to him, even [the teenager who died] was like a son to him. They were like brothers and knew each other since they were young, Mr Garcia said. TikTok issued a statement to CBS, saying that moderators are actively addressing the trend and removing videos from the platform. Our deepest sympathies go out to family and friends of the young person involved in this incident. This dangerous activity predates our platform, and we strictly remove such content if we see it on TikTok, a spokesperson said. Another teenager survived the accident and is now recovering from his injuries (ABC) More than 40,000 safety professionals are dedicated to keeping our community safe and work diligently to remove harmful content when found. In March, the MTA launched a campaign to address the trend but parents who have lost their children said that more must be done to educate teens on the dangers of subway surfing. The MTA has failed us. And it continues to fail parents, Norma Nazario, who lost her son Zackery in February, told the New York Post on Saturday. The doors need to be locked, unless its an emergency then they can open ... If they had done something 15 years ago my son would still be here. The MTA has previously said that some doors are kept open in cases of emergency. The Independent has reached out to the agency for comment. 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 wedding in Nebraska turned to tragedy after the groom collapsed during the ceremony and later died in hospital. Dressed in a vibrant red dress and surrounded by loved ones, Johnnie Mae Dennis exchanged vows with her 48-year-old fiance Toraze Davis, at their wedding in Omaha on 19 June. But the couples marital bliss was cut short when Mr Davis suffered a medical emergency as he prepared to take pictures with his bride, WSOC reported. Davis was rushed to hospital where doctors determined he had suffered a blood clot. He later died. It was the happiest day of Torazes life. I could just see the smile on his face and how happy he was. And its just his energy. I just knew that he was just, it was a great day for him, a friend of the couple, Monica Miller, told the station. Ms Miller has created a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses. Both Johnnie Mae & Toraze planned on living the rest of their lives together. Unfortunately, Toraze gave his last breath shortly after saying I Do. All our hearts are aching for Mrs. Davis and her children, the GoFundMe reads. As you know, Johnnie Mae always helps others; this is our time to help her. It has received more than $20,000 in donations. Johnnie Mae Dennis exchanged vows with her 48-year-old fiance Toraze Davis during a ceremony on 19 June. Moments later, Davis suffered a fatal blood clot (GoFundMe) Relatives and loved ones said they were rallying around Ms Dennis, setting up meal trains for her and supporting her emotionally. Within a second. It happened within a second, Jewel Roberson, a friend of the bride, told local news station KETV. Shes been widowed and married in a 10-minute span. Mr Davis, who worked as a managing consultant at a health care centre for people with disabilities, will be laid to rest at a funeral ceremony on 5 July. 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 }} British-based Pakistani tycoon and his teenage son are among five people who perished aboard the Titanic tourist submarine. The US Coast Guard announced on Thursday that the remains of the submersible vessel lost in the Atlantic Ocean had been found by an ROV on the ocean bed near the wreck of the famed liner. Its support vessel, the Canadian research icebreaker Polar Prince, lost contact with it approximately one hour and 45 minutes after it submerged on Sunday morning. Follow the latest updates on the missing Titanic submarine here The wreckage of the Titanic which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after it hit an iceberg is located at a depth of 12,500 feet. First discovered in 1985, the ships remains sit in two separate parts southeast of Newfoundland, the most easterly province of Canada. Business advisor Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his 19-year-old son Suleman have been named as two of the people on board the submersible. The father and son took part in the expedition with French submersible pilot Paul-Henry Nargeolet and chief executive and founder of OceanGate Expeditions Stockton Rushton and British billionaire Mr Harding. (Family handout) In a new statement before the discovery of Titans remains, the family described Mr Dawood as a loving father and said Suleman was a university student. 48-year-old business advisor Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood died aboard the Titan (WEF) Shahzada is a loving father to Suleman and Alina, husband to Christine, brother to three siblings, and son to Hussain & Kulsum Dawood. His 19-year-old son, Suleman Dawood, is currently a university student, the statement said. Shahzada has been actively advocating a culture of learning, sustainability, and diversity in his capacity as Vice Chairman of Pakistans Engro Corporation. Passionate about social impact, he works extensively with the Engro Foundation, The Dawood Foundation, the SETI Institute, and Princes Trust International. Out of the office, he has spoken passionately at the United Nations in 2020 on International Day for Women & Girls in Science and Oxford Union in 2022. His interests include photography, especially wildlife photography, and exploring different natural habitats while Suleman is a big fan of science fiction literature and learning new things. Suleman also takes a keen interest in solving Rubiks Cubes and enjoys playing volleyball. Mr Dawood, who was a business advisor serving on the board for Princes Trust International, lived in a Surrey mansion with his wife Christine, son Suleman and daughter Alina, according to MailOnline. The Dawood family is among the richest in Pakistan but has strong links to the UK. This image shows the 4am start of the RMS Titanic Expedition Mission 5 on the morning of 18 June 2023 (Dirty Dozen Productions/AFP/Getty) Mr Dawood studied Law at the University of Buckingham in 1998, later completing a masters degree in Textile Marketing at the University of Philadelphia in 2000. Mr Dawoods father, 79-year-old Hussain Dawood, is the chairman of the Pakistan-based Dawood Hercules Corporation as well as the Engro Corporation, responsible for manufacturing chemicals and fertilisers, food and energy respectively. Mr Dawood was the vice-chairman of both his fathers companies as well as a member of the founders circle of British Asian Trust, an international development organisation working across South Asia. 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 Texas airport worker has been killed after being sucked into the jet engine of a Delta Air Lines plane at San Antonio International Airport. The plane had arrived in the Texas city from Los Angeles on Friday night and had one engine running when the worker was ingested, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The incident happened at around 10.25pm as the plane was taxiing to the gate, officials said. The victim worked for Unifi Aviation, a contractor which Delta and other airlines use for ground handling operations. Delta said that it was fully cooperating with an investigation into the death of the worker, who has not been identified. Unifi Aviation is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee at San Antonio International Airport during a tragic incident in the late hours of Friday, June 23, 2023, Unifi told KENS. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time. From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifis operational processes, safety procedures and policies, the statement continued. Out of respect for the deceased, we will not be sharing any additional information. While police and other officials continue to investigate this incident, we defer to them on providing further details. Airport officials said they were deeply saddened by the incident and are also cooperating with authorities. In December 2022, airport worker Courtney Edwards died in Montgomery, Alabama in a similar incident. Investigators say she and her colleagues had been warned about the dangers of going near a jet that had landed and been left to cool down. Edwards, a mother of three, was killed when she walked in front of one of the planes engines. The federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration issued a fine of more than $15,000 for Piedmont, a subsidiary of American Airlines. 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 1997 blockbusterTitanic will return to Netflix in July - just weeks after a doomed expedition to the ocean liners resting place on the oceanfloor. The movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is returning to the streaming platform on 1 July, according to HuffPost, along nearly 100 other titles. The Independent could not independently confirm this report, and has contacted Netflix for comment. Five crew members were killed on Oceangate Expeditions Titan submersible as it voyaged 12,00ft down in the Atlantic ocean to view the Titanics wreckage. It is unclear whether the decision to add Titanic was made before or after the Titan submersible tragedy this week but some on social media suggested Netflix couldve picked a better time and suggested that the company was seizing on the tragedy to increase viewing figures. Others said the streaming service could be merely responding to demands from viewers. The movie, which follows the fictional romance between an aristocrat and an artist onboard the Titanic, is already available on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime. Last week Titanic director, James Cameron, who claims to have spent more time inside the Titanic than its captain, told ABC News that the Titans tragedy was avoidable. The submersible, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, was on its way to the Titanic wreckage when it lost communication with its surface ship just one hour and 45 minutes into its descent. The Coast Guard announced on Thursday (22 June) that debris from the sub was located approximately 12,500 feet underwater. On board the watercraft were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman Dawood. Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet, he steamed up full speed into an ice field on a moonless night, and many people died as a result, Mr Cameron told ABC, criticising safety issues with the Titan. And for a very similar tragedy, where warnings went unheeded, to take place at the same exact site, with all the diving thats going on all around the world, I think its just astonishing, its really quite surreal. It has since emerged that the submersible relied on a design featuring key components made out of carbon fibre, which experts say hasnt been proven as a reliable material for deep-sea use. Innovation is a wonderful thing, Bart Kemper, a mechanical engineer from the Marine Technology Society, told NBC News. But everything that is new and not tried introduces uncertainty, and uncertainty is risk. A lawsuit filed by a former OceanGate employee in 2018 and obtained by The New Republic also listed visible flaws with the vessel that were reportedly ignored by senior management. Submarine experts had also signed a letter expressing unanimous concern with the companys decision not to seek outside evaluation and testing before bringing passengers down to the Titanic. The Independent has contacted OceanGate for comment on the allegations. A 2019 post on OceanGates website stated that the Titan was not classed by major marine operations because those certifications do not ensure that operators adhere to proper operating procedures and decision-making processes two areas that are much more important for mitigating risks at sea, according to CNN. Following the tragic incident, the company issued a statement mourning the deaths of the five passengers. OceanGate Expeditions Titan submersible which imploded, killing all five passengers (OceanGate Expeditions) These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the worlds oceans, the release read. Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew. Multi-agency investigations into the catastrophic implosion are now underway, Canadian and US authorities have said. Canadian officials revealed on Saturday that audio and commands between the Titan and its mother ship Polar Prince will be analysed as part of their probe. The chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Kathy Fox, said that the crew was interviewed to collect information from the vessels voyage data recorder and other vessel systems that contain useful information, according to CNN. 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 US Coast Guard says the priority in its investigation into the fatal Titanic sub implosion is the recovery of items from the sea floor. All five people aboard the OceanGate Titan submersible were killed as it dived to the wreck of the ocean liner in the Atlantic Ocean last week. The Coast Guard opened a marine board investigation on Friday and is working with the FBI to salvage debris from the sea floor at a depth of more than two miles below surface. Captain Jason Neubauer, chief investigator with the US Coast Guard, told reporters on Sunday, that that the priority of the investigation is to recover items from the sea floor. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV( discovered debris from the Titan around 1,600ft from the bow of the liner days after it lost contact with its mother ship around 1 hour and 45 minutes into the dive. Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood were killed along with CEO and founder of OceanGate Expeditions Stockton Rush, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, and renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet. Pelagic Research Services tweeted pictures of the Titan recovery mission on Sunday. PELAGIC ODYSSEUS Continues Titan Recovery Mission. Photos approved for news media release from the 4th dive completed on Sunday. (Pelagic Research Services, 2023) pic.twitter.com/kWwp9KST3z Pelagic Research Services (@PelagicResearch) June 25, 2023 My primary goal is to prevent a similar occurrence by making the necessary recommendations to enhance the safety of the maritime domain worldwide, said Captain Neubauer. He said that the Coast Guard is in touch with the families of the five victims and that investigators are taking all precautions on site if we are to encounter any human remains. Canadian investigators boarded the Polar Prince on Saturday to collect information from the vessels voyage data recorder and other vessel systems that contain useful information, said Kathy Fox, chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. US officials have said they are not sure if they will ever be able to retrieve the bodies of the victims. 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 }} In a series of stunning interviews on Thursday, James Cameron revealed he knew highly sensitive details about the Titan submersible search and rescue mission days before it was released publicly. Cameron was aware that top secret US Navy listening devices had detected an implosion near the Titanic wreckage within an hour of it occurring on Monday, and has since described the search for the five crew members as a nightmarish charade. He has also claimed that the Titan crew would have known that the submersibles hull had started to crack and were trying to resurface when the catastrophic implosion occurred. The 68-year-old told ABC News that his contacts within the community had shared details of the mission with him, a reference to the small and close-knit submersible Manned Underwater Vehicle (MUV) industry. Follow the latest updates on the Titanic sub here While best known for his filmmaking exploits, from Titanic to The Terminator and the Avatar franchise, Cameron has said his true love is deep-ocean exploration. Some people think of me as a Hollywood guy (but) I make Avatar to make money to do explorations, Cameron told The Daily Telegraph in 2018. A life-long obsession One of Camerons earliest films, The Abyss, is described as a claustrophobic survival thriller about the search for a submarine that sinks in the Caribbean. In a 1989 interview with the New York Times to promote the film, he said that scuba diving had allowed him to discover the keys to another world. In 2012, Cameron became the first person to solo pilot a sub to the worlds deepest point, Challenger Deep, in the Mariana Trench, 11km beneath the oceans surface. It was just the second time anyone had been to the most remote, isolated place on the planet after trailblazing oceanographers Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard first reached Challenger Deep 52 years earlier in 1960. I really feel like in one day Ive been to another planet and come back, he told the BBC after completing the dive. The Titan suffered a catastrophic implosion near the wreckage of the Titanic on Monday. Cameron says he had long held fears about the safety of the submersible vessel (PA Media) He described how the trip was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to travel to the worlds deepest spot in the 2014 documentary Deepsea Challenge, which took viewers on a journey to the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean through his camera lens. The documentary showed Camerons obsession with the science and technical aspects behind deep-sea exploration, where the extreme water pressure and shifting ocean currents can turn fatal in an instant. He personally oversaw the design and construction of the $10m Deepsea Challenger submarine, which had over 180 interconnected onboard systems, including batteries, thrusters, life support, 3D cameras, and LED light. The stark difference between Camerons sub and OceanGates Titan was displayed in a side-by-side comparison of the vessels interiors. On the left: the interior of James Camerons submersible, the Deep Sea Challenger. It cost $10 million. On the right: the interior of the Titan. pic.twitter.com/9WyMjbdATm Dr. Crystal Fleming (@alwaystheself) June 22, 2023 The inner walls of the Deepsea Challengers steel pilot sphere are stacked with advanced safety systems. In the Titan, OceanGate CEO and founder Stockton Rush is seen in the Titans sparse hull holding a PlayStation controller, with just a screen behind him. Cameron is part-owner of Triton Submarines which makes high-tech submersibles for research and tourism, and whose vessels have made several descents to Challenger Deep. This week, he described the Titans construction out of carbon fibre composite as a major safety red flag. He explained that the lightweight composite, popular in aeronautics and sailing, was not designed to withstand the compression which occurs when subs descend to extreme depths. Pressure hulls are typically made out of contiguous materials such as steel, titanium, ceramic or acrylic, which are better for conducting tests, Cameron told told Reuters in an interview. We celebrate innovation, right? But you shouldn't be using an experimental vehicle for paying passengers that aren't themselves deep ocean engineers, he told Reuters. He said the wider submersible engineering community had raised concerns about the OceanGate Expeditions vehicle, and that he regretted not going public with his own fears earlier. The sub imploded The US Navy revealed on Thursday that top secret acoustic detectors used to track enemy submarines had picked up the fatal blast on Sunday. While not definitive, this information was immediately shared with the Incident Commander to assist with the ongoing search and rescue mission, a senior Navy official told the Wall Street Journal, who first reported the news. Four days later, the US Coast Guard revealed that a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) had located pieces of debris from the Titan on the seabed 1,600ft (about 500m) from the bow of the Titanic wreck. The five crew members confirmed to have died are, clockwise from top left, Hamish Harding, Stockton Rush, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet. Cameron called the death of his close friend Nargeolet impossible to fathom (Dirty Dozen Productions/OceanGate/AFP/Getty) The five crew members died in a catastrophic implosion soon after it lost contact with its support ship an hour and 45 minutes into the dive, officials said. In interviews with CNN and Reuters, Cameron told how he had learned of the implosion soon after it occurred. We got confirmation within an hour that there had been a loud bang at the same time that the sub comms were lost. A loud bang on the hydrophone. Loss of transponder. Loss of comms. I knew what happened. The sub imploded, he told Reuters. Cameron emailed colleagues in the MUV industry on Monday that the Titan was without doubt on the bottom in pieces right now. The system that detected the implosion is used to monitor enemy submarines, and the Navy considered it so crucial to national security that it asked that asked media not to identify it by name, the Journal reported. Its unclear whether information about implosion was shared with the families of those onboard, who continued to express hope of finding survivors. The deaths of the OceanGate CEO, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman, British billionaire Hamish Harding, and French adventurer Paul-Henri Nargeolet were the first deep-sea fatalities ever recorded in the industry. Cameron said the death of his close friend Nargeolet, a 77-year-old experienced adventurer known as Mr Titanic, was impossible for me to process. He added that he had heard through the community that the Titan had dropped its ascent weights and was trying to manage an emergency when the implosion occurred. They probably had a warning that their hull was starting to delaminating and the hull was starting to crack, Cameron told ABC News in an interview. We understand from inside the community that they had dropped their ascent weights and they were coming up, trying to manage an emergency, the filmmaker said. Chilling parallels Cameron has likened the tragic fate of the Titan to the ocean liner its crew were trying to reach. Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night, Cameron told ABC News. About 1,500 people were killed when the Titanic sank in April 1912. The site of the wreck remained a mystery until 1985, when explorer Robert Ballard located its remains about 640kms off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at a depth of 4,000m. The filmmaker has visited the Titanic wreckage 33 times, making his his first trip in 1995 to shoot footage for his blockbuster film, which became the first to gross over $1bn worldwide within 74 days of its release in 1997. Cameron was inside a submersible exploring the shipwreck on 11 September 2001, when terrorists flew two passenger jets into the World Trade Centre. He would tell Spiegel International in 2012 that he was presumably the last man in the Western Hemisphere to learn about what had happened. On another dive, he described becoming trapped in the wreck for 16 hours, as the oceans strong undercurrents held his submarine at the bottom of the ocean. In Avatar: The Way of Water, Cameron said he had worked with digital visual effects company Weta FX to render water seamlessly (20th Century Studios) He later mused that he had probably spent more time on the Titanic than the captain did back in the day. Between making Titanic, and Avatar, released in 2009, Cameron took a hiatus from making Hollywood megahits to film several documentaries about his deep-sea adventures. In 2003s Ghosts of the Abyss, Cameron documented his extensive exploration of the Titanic wreck. For 2005s Aliens of the Deep, Cameron and fellow cameraman Steve Quayle teamed up with NASA scientists to explore to explore the Mid-Ocean Ridge, a submerged chain of mountains that band the Earth. The film showed for the first time ten hydrothermal vents in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that support some of the most unique organisms anywhere on the planet, including giant tube worms and swarms of blind white crabs. The latest installment of Camerons Avatar series, The Way of Water, is set on the aquatic ecosystems of a world 25 trillion miles from Earth. Cameron has said he regards all of his underwater explorations as research for The Way of Water. In an interview with Indie Wire last year, Cameron said he had worked with digital visual effects company Weta FX to render water seamlessly. What we found was that there wasnt a magic wand technical solution. It turned out to be very artist-sensitive, meaning the individual artists working with the tools had to learn the way of water, it became this Zen archery thing, he told the film industry site. Close Titan submersible wreckage brought ashore after fatal implosion 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 }} OceanGate Expeditions, the company that launched the doomed Titan submersible trip to the wreckage of the Titanic, has ceased operations. A small message in the top-left corner of OceanGates website reads: OceanGate has suspended all exploration and commercial operations. The announcement comes a full two weeks after the submersible imploded while carrying five people, sparking an international search, rescue and recovery operation. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British billionaire Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman Dawood all died in the implosion. The company has come under scrutiny in the weeks following the tragic accident as former employees, former passengers and experts in the industry have criticised OceanGate for embarking on a potentially dangerous trip in the questionably designed submersible. OceanGates decision to cease operations comes just after the companys former finance director claimed she quit after CEO Stockton Rush asked her to captain the Titan once he fired the crafts original chief pilot David Lochridge. 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 }} Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a brief freeze in construction on a wind turbine project in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights that set off a rare clash between Druze residents and police. Netanyahu said late Saturday he agreed to a pause on the project during this week's Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, which is meant to allow time for talks to defuse the crisis. The project is expected to resume next week. A statement from Netanyahus office said he made the decision based on advice from security officials. The Druze oppose the plan, which would install more than two dozen 200-meter (660-foot) tall turbines throughout their land. The landowners said the turbines will harm their agricultural output and that the energy company behind the project didn't consult with them in good faith, a claim the company denies. Last week, thousands of residents demonstrated against the project, storming a police station, throwing stones and fireworks, setting tires on fire, vandalizing police cars, blocking roads and even shooting live fire into the air, according to police. Israel captured the Golan, a strategic plateau overlooking northern Israel, from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel subsequently annexed the area in a move that was recognized by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. But most of the international community considers the area to be occupied territory. While Druze leaders still profess allegiance to Syria, relations with Israel are normally good. The Golan is a popular vacation destination for Israelis and is filled with hotels and restaurants, and most residents speak Hebrew fluently. Violent clashes with Israeli authorities are rare. 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 }} Guatemalans will elect a new president and vice president Sunday as well as fill all congress seats and hundreds of local posts after one of the most tumultuous electoral seasons in the Central American nation's recent history. A little more than 9 million people were registered to vote, but many Guatemalans expressed disappointment with their presidential choices after three opposition candidates were excluded by authorities. A large number of null ballots were expected, and experts said a low turnout was likely. With none of the 22 presidential candidates polling near the required 50% threshold for winning outright, a second round of voting on Aug. 20 between the top two finishers was almost certain. President Alejandro Giammattei, who could not seek re-election, made a push Friday to ease doubts about the electoral process and the widespread complaints, saying the elections are one more sign that we live in a stable democracy, something that is consolidated with periodic, free and participatory elections. He assured Guatemalans that his government was striving to assure voting would be carried out peacefully. Accusations from both inside and outside Guatemala that the vote was unfairly skewed to favor the political establishment rose after several outsider candidates were excluded by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the highest authority on the matter. Among those barred from the ballot was Thelma Cabrera, a leftist and the only Indigenous woman candidate who allegedly didnt meet requirements to run. Carlos Pineda, a right-wing populist who was leading in opinion polls, was denied a spot due to alleged irregularities in his nomination. Roberto Arzu, a conservative law-and-order candidate, was barred for allegedly started his campaign too early. The two leading candidates favored to advance to a runoff vote were Sandra Torres, who divorced social democratic President Alvaro Colom in 2011 while he was in office, and diplomat Edmond Mulet. Zury Rios Sosa, the daughter of the former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, also was considered a contender. All three are on the more conservative side of the political spectrum and campaigned promising to install tough security measures like President Nayib Bukele in neighboring El Salvador and promoting conservative family values. Torres, making her third try to win the presidency, also promised bags of basic food items for those in need and cuts in taxes on basic foods. Mulet said he would give Guatemalans free medicine and support senior citizens and single mothers. Rios Sosa campaigned to establish the death penalty, prohibit government posts for those convicted of corruption, protect private property rights and improve the health system. No leftist party has governed Guatemala in almost 70 years, since two leftist administrations from 1945 to 1954. The second of those was led by President Jacobo Arbenz, who was overthrown in a CIA-backed coup. The vote comes amid widespread frustration with high crime, poverty and malnutrition all factors in pushing tens of thousands of Guatemalans to migrate each year. There is also anger over official corruption and government moves against anti-corruption activists. What doesnt allow for free and democratic elections in Guatemala is corruption and impunity, a former Guatemalan attorney general, Thelma Aldana, who sought asylum in the United States under the grounds of political persecution, wrote in a Twitter post. 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 }} One year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade and ended the enshrined right to seek an abortion, Christian conservatives convened in Washington DC to size up the GOPs leading 2024 candidates. The Faith and Freedom Coalition held its Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton over the weekend, where every major Republican 2024 candidate appeared to try to win over the crucial evangelical wing of the party. Former president Donald Trump closed out the event on Saturday evening; former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, former vice president Mike Pence; former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, Sen Tim Scott (R-SC), Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy also made their case to social conservatives. Last years decision in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization has caused a split among Republicans. Some have said that the Supreme Courts decision likely cost Republicans the opportunity to win the majority in the Senate as the GOP failed to flip a single seat, and Republicans only won a narrow majority in the House of Representatives. An NBC News poll showed that 61 per cent of Americans disapprove of the Dobbs decision, with 80 per cent of women between the ages of 18 and 49 and two-thirds of suburban women saying that they disapproved of it. But Republican candidates did not reflect any anxiety about the decision in their remarks to the crowd of Christian conservatives who consider abortion to be murder. We have to start with tomorrows anniversary and thank God Almighty for the Dobbs decision, Mr Scott said in his speech. We are creating a culture of life in America, and thats a really good thing. Mr Pence, an ardent social conservative, said Dobbs was only the beginning. Now some you will hear from at this very podium will say that the Supreme Court returned to the issue of abortion only to the states and nothing could be done at the federal level, he said. He also criticised Republicans for saying some abortion legislation was too harsh. Recommended Trump quietly changes political fundraising site to funnel funds toward legal woes Some have even gone on to blame the overturning of Roe v Wade for election losses in 22, he said. But let me say from my heart, the cause of life is the calling of our time and we must not rest and must not relent until we restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law in every state in this country. In turn, Mr Pence called for passing a national 15-week abortion ban. But many attendees said they preferred to leave abortion to the states. Its a state issue, I think it ought to stay a state issue, Gay Dillard told The Independent. Ms Haley called herself unapologetically pro-life, but said that people needed to not demonise the issue. Trump declares himself the 'most pro-life' president in American history Ms Haley said she thought there was a place for a federal law restricting abortion, but noted it would require a House majority and 60 Senate seats to overcome a filibuster. As a result, she talked about reducing late-term abortions, focusing on adoption and foster care. We have one goal: To save as many babies as possible and protect as many mothers as possible, she said, something Ms Dillard repeated. We need to just make sure we have enough support, emotionally, physically, financially, to support women who do choose, she said. So its not just about having, not having an abortion, its about if they keep their baby. We have to embrace them and help and help surround them. Max Fisher, a candidate for state legislature in Virginia, said that the focus should be on increasing options. So make sure that adoption is an option on the table and make sure that people have the information that they need to make sure that theyre not doing, like, you go to a bar and get drunk and then you make bad decisions, he said. Its the same reason why you cant get a tattoo when youre drinking. Make sure that you have all of the information that you have available in order to make a well-educated choice for yourself from whether thats adoption, whether or not as another decision, but thats entirely up to the individual. Despite the fact that Mr Trump nominated three of the Supreme Court justices in the majority on Dobbs, the former president has at times not fully embraced the anti-abortion decision. The too harsh criticism that Mr Pence cited was how Mr Trump characterised Mr DeSantiss six-week abortion ban in Florida. In fact, Mr Trump refrained from supporting any new abortion restrictions during his closing address to the conference, but instead focused on attacking Democrats. I will continue to stand proudly for pro-life policies just as I did for four strong years, he said. They are the radical extremists. Ken Cuccinelli, who runs the Never Back Down Super PAC that supports Mr DeSantis, said the Florida governor is more sufficiently pro-life. Well, for one, he has a central core belief system that supports faith and, and you can see it reflected in policies like his pro-life stance, he told The Independent, noting how Mr DeSantis supported abortion restrictions as a member of Congress and implemented them as governor. He signed the heartbeat bill, while the resident is condemning it. And thats still the biggest issue here to these voters. And then the cultural battle that these voters care about. But Mr Trump mentioned that his actions with judges will give Republicans more power. You have tremendous negotiating power now, he said. We've now given pro-life people tremendous power to negotiate something that will be happy, that will be good for everybody and you have power for the first time. 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 }} US intelligence agencies learned weeks ago that the Wagner Group was planning an insurrection, according to a report. Multiple US officials told The Washington Post, that intelligence agencies learned in mid-June that the Russian mercernary group, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, was planning an armed rebellion to take out the countrys military leaders who he has blamed for the bungled invasion of Ukraine. There were enough signals to be able to tell the leadership that something was up, an unnamed US official told the Post, referring to the White House. So I think they were ready for it. The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment. Prigozhin led a short-lived revolt in Russia on Saturday which saw his soldiers seize control of Rostov, a key location in Russias defense strategy, and making it within hours of Moscow before turning back. The mercernary boss has been exiled to Belarus and his troops have been granted immunity after a deal was brokered by Belaruss president late on Saturday evening. Mr Putin remains the Russian leader after a whirlwind day that amounted to the greatest challenge to his rule in years. It remains unclear if he offered greater concessions to Mr Prigozhin beyond the immunity deal extended to him and his men. Many commentators in the west have suggested that the Russian leaderss days in power may be numbered in the wake of the almost-coup. The White House confirmed on Saturday that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the situation. The Department of Defense (DoD) released a statement confirming that Secretary Lloyd Austin had convened a call with his counterparts in the UK, Canada, France, Germany and Poland following news of the coup. The United States will stay in close coordination with Allies and partners as the situation continues to develop. Secretary Austin also reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change, DoD said. A senior official with the Biden administration also told the Post: Tensions between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defense are no secret. We have all seen Mr. Prigozhin publicly criticize, warn, and even threaten the Russian military on any number of occasions. In video remarks on Saturday, Mr Putin denounced the Wagner Group troops as traitors and called the operation a stab in the back. Those who mutiny have betrayed Russia and I urge anybody involved in it to cease any kind of participation in armed conflict, he said. These people will be brought to justice on behalf of our people. 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 }} Former President Donald Trump is diverting more donations from political supporters to fund his mounting legal costs as multiple court cases put an increased strain on his resources. Disclosure text on the Trump presidential campaigns WinRed digital fundraising platform now specifies that 10 per cent of political contributions will go to his legal battles via the Save America PAC. The other 90 per cent will be used for political campaigning to try to return him to the White House for a second term. The former president previously took 1 per cent for his legal troubles from political donations. Mr Trumps legal issues include his 37-count criminal indictment including violations of the Espionage Act and a sexual abuse civil lawsuit which was recently won by the writer, E Jean Carroll. The change, first reported by The New York Times, appears to have been made in February or March of 2023, according to archival footage reviewed by the newspaper. The cost of Mr Trumps court battles can be seen in Save America PACs legal expenditures, which according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), have ballooned from $1.9million to $14.6m in 2022. A Trump campaign spokesman declined to comment to the Times on the former presidents legal bills or whether his supporters understood where their donations were going. The spokesman said that the Save America PAC owns a sizable email list from Trump election campaigns in 2016 and 2020, valuable data that the Trump 2024 bid is essentially leasing from the PAC. Because the campaign wants to ensure every dollar donated to President Trump is spent in the most cost-effective manner, a fair-market analysis was conducted to determine email list rentals would be more efficient by amending the fund-raising split between the two entities, Trump representative Steven Cheung told The Independent. This saves money in the long term and is a clear contrast to what Always Back Down has done, which is frivolously waste money in an unethical manner, he added, a reference to the Never Back Down PAC run by Mr Trumps primary opponent, Ron DeSantis. Several members of Mr Trumps legal team have departed in recent days following his second criminal indictment with little explanation. Even with an increasing amount of donations being siphoned off for mounting legal expenses, Mr Trump is not expected to face a money crunch any time soon. Mr Trump remains the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP nomination, and last week, his campaign boasted that it had raised $7m from supporters since news broke of his indictment for allegedly mishandling government secrets. With the campaigns new fundraising split, that would mean around $700,000 that could be put towards his legal defence if donations were made through WinRed. Close Donald Trump reveals plan after claiming he would end Ukraine war in 24 hours 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 }} Donald Trump could be indicted by a grand jury investigating his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol riot as early as today. The Independent learned that a possible indictment could be handed down as soon as Thursday or Friday, charging the former president in his third criminal case. Mr Trump announced on Tuesday that he had been sent a letter by special prosecutor Jack Smith informing him that he is the target of a grand jury investigation. The target letter cites three statutes under which he could be charged including conspiracy to commit offence or to defraud the United States, deprivation of rights under colour of law and tampering with a witness, victim or informant, multiple outlets reported. William Russell, a former White House aide who now works for the Trump presidential campaign and spent much of January 6 with the then-president, is scheduled to testify before the grand jury when it meets today. The former president was given until today to testify but is not expected to make an appearance at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC. South Africa: Eskom welcomes DFFE decision on Minimum Emission Standards Eskom has welcomed the decision by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environments National Air Quality Officer to grant the organisation a postponement in terms of the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) pertaining to the sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission levels at Kusile power station. Eskom also noted and welcomed the issuing of an updated Atmospheric Emission Licence (AEL) to Kusile to reflect this postponement decision by the Nkangala District Municipality. The postponement means that Eskom will be able to operate the three units without the use of the Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) plant, which is equipped with emission-abatement technology for SO2, for a period of up to 31 March 2025, while the flue gas ducts in the permanent stack are being repaired, Eskom said on Saturday. The postponement was granted on 5 June 2023 and the licences were issued on 13 June 2023. The repairs to the ducts in the permanent stack will be completed by December 2024. This comes after the failure of the Unit 1 flue gas duct on 22 October 2022. The failure at Unit 1 subsequently affected Units 2 and 3, as the ducts for all these three units are in the same stack (chimney). As previously communicated, the temporary stack structures for Unit 3 will be completed by November 2023, and for units 1 and 2 by December 2023. This will enable the return of 2 100MW, further alleviating pressure on the power system and reducing load shedding by two stages, Eskom said. The postponement and licence is subject to several conditions, including the implementation of measures to mitigate the impact of SO2 emissions on air quality. Eskom said it will comply with the conditions of the MES postponement and the Atmospheric Emission Licence. Copies of the MES decision and AEL, as well as details of the process to follow to appeal either of the documents, are available on the website of Eskoms independent consultants EIMS at https://www.eims.co.za/public-participation/. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-06-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Japanese civic groups further oppose plan to dump nuke wastewater into sea Xinhua) 15:52, June 25, 2023 TOKYO, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Multiple civic groups in Japan have continued to oppose the country's plan of dumping nuclear-contaminated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, exhorting the government to take the long-term impact into account to avoid entailing endless trouble to future generations. "The problems regarding nuclear-contaminated water and the health hazards of radiation may further show their impact after a century, the situation 500 years or even 1,000 years later must be taken into consideration before judging whether the wastewater can be discharged into the sea," said Yoshitaka Ikarashi, the Japanese representative of the Somei Platform, or the Japan-China common market promotion association. Also a resident of Iwaki city in southeastern Fukushima prefecture, he made the remarks during his recent speech at Meiji Gakuin University. He has been involved in volunteer activities for disaster relief and reconstruction in the prefecture after the devastating earthquake in 2011. When referring to the water-dumping plan, Ikarashi mentioned a Japanese saying that "one cannot do things well if he only considers the immediate," citing carpenters building temples in ancient Japan as an example. In order not to be blamed by future generations, the carpenters would think ahead and will strive to leave a building that can stand the test, according to him, stressing that the century-long impact from now must be taken into consideration regarding the nuclear-contaminated water. "The sea is the common property of the world and Japan cannot make decisions alone," said Ikarashi, adding it is premature to make judgments as the possible future hazards of nuclear-contaminated water containing radioactive materials have not been verified. He added that the current treatment methods of the relevant parties are also not doing their best to protect the marine environment and human health, the viewpoint of which was echoed by other local experts. Hideyuki Ban, co-director of the Tokyo-based Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, told Xinhua in an interview that in order to prevent pollution of the marine environment, countries should use the most practicable methods at their disposal in accordance with their capabilities. The nuclear expert believes there are other ways of treating contaminated water, such as cement solidification, that are more practical than dumping it into the sea. According to Ban, the power plant in Fukushima has stored more than 1.3 million tons of nuclear-contaminated water, which will continue to increase in the future, and according to the plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the discharge is planned to continue for more than 30 years. If fish and shellfish are contaminated, it will ultimately affect the health of humans at the top of the food chain. The expert pointed out that TEPCO only assessed the uniform spread of radioactive material in the sea. "In fact, the ocean terrain is undulating, and the complex ocean currents do not flow in only one direction. It is not surprising that high concentrations of radioactive substances appear in the process," he said. Masanobu Sakamoto, president of the national federation of fisheries cooperatives known as JF Zengyoren on Thursday met with Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, and handed over to the latter a petition stating the federation's unchanged opposition to the discharge plan. The president called the planned discharge of nuclear-contaminated water "a matter of life and death" for the fishing industry, and opposed the authorities' decision to start the discharge without the full consent of the fishing industry. Ikarashi also questioned the end date of the water discharge, noting that Japan does not have the final treatment technology for decommissioned nuclear reactors, while the schedule for completing the disposal of waste reactors is completely unclear. "Under such circumstances, how can this decision-making generation bear the responsibility for the discharge after they are gone?" "I probably won't live another 30 years, but as long as I live, I will continue to call on the government to change its policy," said Ban, who is now in his 70s. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu) 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 Australian government has slapped financial sanctions on three men involved in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) in 2014, foreign minister Penny Wong said on Saturday. The flight was brought down by a Russian-made missile over Ukraine killing 298 people onboard, including 38 Australian residents. In November last year, a Dutch court convicted Russian intelligence agents Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinskiy, and Ukrainian separatist leader Leonid Kharchenko in absentia for murder, and sentenced them to life in prison. Presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis said evidence presented by prosecutors at the trial proved the Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was brought down by a Buk missile fired by pro-Moscow Ukrainian rebels on 17 July 2014. None of the defendants appeared for the trial that began in March 2020 and it is deemed unlikely that the men will serve a prison sentence any time soon. The plane was one of 160 flights that crossed the airspace of eastern Ukraine that day. MH17 crashed near the Ukrainian village of Hrabove. There was an exclusion zone at 32,000ft because of the conflict between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed rebels. Five countries the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the tragedy. On 24 May 2018, the JIT announced that the Buk missile installation that brought down the flight belonged to the Russian army. The missile, which can reach a height of 80,000ft, was fired from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine at a target that may mistakenly have been assumed to be a Ukrainian military aircraft. A man walks among the debris at the crash site near the village of Hrabove, in Ukraine (AP) Ms Wong said the sanctions announced Saturday targeted Sergey Dubinskiy and Leonid Kharchenko, two of those convicted by the Dutch court last year. Australia had already sanctioned Igor Girkin, for his involvement in supporting separatism in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Ms Wong said. The government has also sanctioned Sergey Muchkaev, a colonel with the Russian Armed Forces who commanded the brigade that supplied the missile system responsible for downing the plane, she said. These sanctions demonstrate the Australian Governments ongoing commitment to hold to account those responsible for the downing of Flight MH17, Ms Wong said in a statement. Australia is steadfast in our commitment to seek truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17. While the international investigators earlier in February said there were strong indications that Vladimir Putin decided to supply the Russian missile system that downed MH17 over Ukraine, Moscow has previously denied involvement in the downing of the civilian jet. The international team said it was suspending its investigation this year, claiming to have insufficient evidence to launch any fresh prosecutions. 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 }} One person is dead and seven others have been injured after a rollercoaster derailed in Sweden. The horror unfolded at the Grona Lund amusement park in Stockholm when the Jetline roller coaster partially came off the tracks mid-ride. Emergency services including a helicopter, ambulances and fire engines were seen arriving soon after the incident on Sunday. The incident took place at the Grona Lund amusement park in Stockholm Police confirmed seven people, including both children and adults, had been hospitalised. One of the rides carriages was reportedly seen coming off the rails at a great height before falling towards the ground. Journalist with Swedish broadcaster SVT, Jenny Lagerstedt, happened to be at the park with her family and said her husband witnessed the horror take place. My husband, who was sitting outside, saw how a carriage came loose and fell from a great height, and that there were people in it, she told local media. Another witness told Swedish outlet Expessen that he saw the rollercoasters wheels come off. The injured and uninjured passengers who were stuck in other carriages had to be removed from the ride with the help of rescue crews. Grona Lund hosted ABBA Voyage in 2021 (AP) The park has been evacuated while emergency services tend to the injured. Head of information at the park Annika Troselius, said the full extent of the injuries and damage to the rollercoaster was unclear. It is incredibly tragic and shocking. Unfortunately, we have received the news that one person has died and that several others are injured, she said. This must not happen and it should not happen. We are all very taken and shocked and are currently focusing on taking care of all those affected and our staff. Grona Lunds website now includes a black banner which acknowledges that a serious accident has taken place on the Jetline. The Jetline reaches speeds of 90kmh and is 30m high at its peak. Iris Mir could be doing better things, like surfing in the Mediterranean. Instead, she is visiting Barbastro, a small town near Huesca in eastern Spain, where her relatives live. But this is no family visit to swap small talk with her loved ones. The 39-year-old entrepreneur from Barcelona wants to find out exactly where her great-grandfather Jose Mir is buried. For most families in Barbastro this is easy. Not so for Mir. Historians estimate that like about 100,000 others in Spain, his remains lie in a mass grave where he was dumped after he was executed after the Spanish civil war. His only crime he was on the wrong side when the bloody 1936-1939 conflict ended. The silence is deafening. On Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian hotdog-seller turned mercenary, was firing off expletive-riddled voice notes and videos every other hour that were being broadcast across the world. In them, the chief of Wagner Group, a powerful private military company (PMC), blamed the Russian Ministry of Defence for bombing his troops in Ukraines eastern Donbas region. He accused them of lying to his country about the motivations for going to war in Ukraine, and he vowed to get revenge. 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 }} Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine have been supported on the battlefield by tens of thousands of mercenaries from a shadowy group led by a businessman and longtime affiliate of president Vladimir Putin. The Wagner Group is a private military company under the control of Yevgeny Prigozhin that cut its teeth in deployments to Crimea and eastern Ukraines Donbas region in 2014 and has since dispatched troops to several conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, including the Syrian Civil War. In Russias invasion of Ukraine, Wagner has proved indispensable, but an apparent power struggle between the Kremlin and the outspoken Mr Prigozhin has led to the group having its wings clipped by Moscow. Yevgeny Prigozhin and Vladimir Putin on a tour around the formers food factory in 2010 (AP) The friction escalated to a crisis point on Friday, 23 June, when Mr Prigozhin accused his countrys defence ministry, Sergei Shoigu, of destroying his fighters and concocting lies to justify the invasion of Ukraine. Mr Prigozhin called for armed mutiny in an explosive rant on Telegram in which he vowed to stop the evil of the Kremlins top brass. The Wagner Groups leader did not go after Putin in his tirade, instead alleging that for more than a year and over 350,000 casualties into the war a large part of which Mr Prigozhins group is responsible for the Russian president had been deceived by Mr Shoigu. The war was needed ... so that Shoigu could become a Marshal, so that he could get a second Hero Star the war wasnt for demilitarising or de-Nazifying Ukraine. It was needed for an extra star, Mr Prigozhin said on Telegram, per the BBC. Moscows Interfax news agency reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Mr Putin has been briefed on the matter. The Kremlins Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal action against Mr Prigozhin and asked him to stop illegal actions, according to the Tass news agency. The defence ministry has issued a denial of the accusations, calling them an informational provocation. The warnings made by the Kremlin have not hindered Mr Prigozhins threats. In a new Telegram message, he warned that his forces had crossed the border from Ukraine and were ready to destroy anyone who stood in their way as they entered the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. However, as of late Friday, 24 June, there was no firm evidence that the Wagner Group was advancing on Rostov. Onlookers around the world were trying to determine whether Mr Prigozhins alleged mutiny offered a serious threat to the status quo in Moscow, athough many agreed that the open opposition and Mr Putins initial failure to address it publicly may serve to undermine the administration. Armoured vehicles are seen on a street of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia on 24 June, 2023 (REUTERS) Mr Prigozhin a 61-year-old ex-convict sometimes known as Putins chef because his catering business has hosted dinners for the Russian president and fed the Kremlins armed forces had denied all links with the group until September last year when he announced he was proud to be its founder. He said he founded Wagner to support Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas conflict. I cleaned the old weapons myself, sorted out the bulletproof vests myself and found specialists who could help me with this, Mr Prigozhin said. From that moment, on 1 May 2014, a group of patriots was born, which later came to be called the Wagner Battalion. Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian intelligence officer, is alleged to be a co-founder who remains near the top of the groups command. Since its formation, Wagner has been accused of committing human rights abuses in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Mali and Mozambique. The group is also believed to be working for the Burkina Faso government against an Islamist insurgency. Prior to admitting his involvement, Mr Prigozhin had a history of suing Russian and Western news outlets that alleged his ties to the group. His secretive stance was to protect the Wagner soldiers, he has claimed. Wagner fighters in a Soledar salt mine after Mr Prigozhin claimed to have taken the town (Telegram) Mr Prigozhin was finally forced to confess his links with Wagner as the group rose to prominence in the Ukraine conflict. British intelligence puts the number of Wagner troops active in Ukraine at 50,000, comprising a quarter of Russias total strength. War contractors are nothing new but military analysts say the Kremlin has been heavily reliant on Wagner due to the heavy losses incurred by official Russian forces during the war, along with difficulties in recruitment. The UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) first reported that Wagner had been deployed in Ukraine on 28 March 2022, little over a month into the conflict after Russian losses had already begun to hamper the pace of the initial assault. Wagner has since then played significant roles in capturing towns such as Soledar, Popasna and Lysychansk offering relative operational competence while the Kremlin has been forced to repeatedly switch around command of its own forces in the face of losses. Graves of Wagner fighters in a cemetery near the village of Bakinskaya (Reuters) Mr Prigozhin has been at pains to claim victories for Wagner in Ukraine, sometimes putting him at odds with the Kremlin line. He has even accused Russias defence ministry of taking credit for Wagner successes. In the battle for Soledar, a small town subject to an intense assault as part of Russias still-ongoing campaign to take over the city of Bakhmut, Mr Prigozhin said his mercenaries had triumphed over Ukrainian forces days before the Kremlin said its own troops had done the same. Bakhmut is prized by Moscow as its capture would put Russian forces in a stronger position in the goal of capturing all of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas. On 12 February, Mr Prigozhin said Wagner had taken the village of Krasna Hora near Bakhmut, making no mention of Russian forces as Moscow began to launch a major offensive targeting the Donetsk town along with several other frontline settlements. A picture released by Mr Prigozhins press service shows what it said were Wagner fighters at the entrance sign to the village of Krasna Hora (Reuters) Speculation has raged over Mr Prigozhins ambitions in Russian politics and there are signs that Mr Putin is sensitive to any potential challenges by his former cook. The Kremlin has moved to clip Mr Prigozhins wings, ordering him to halt his public criticism of the defence ministry while advising state media to stop mentioning him or Wagner by name. Mr Prigozhin has since confirmed that he had also been stripped of the right to recruit convicts from prisons a key feeding ground for Wagners ranks ceding the power back to the government for its own forces. Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser who maintains contacts in political circles, said the Russian government extracted a promise from Mr Prigozhin that he would not create his own political movement or join a parliamentary party unless asked to do so by officials. They are a little afraid of him and find him an inconvenient person, Mr Markov said. The group, formally PMC Wagner, recently moved its headquarters to an imposing glass high-rise in St Petersburg, which also acts as a technology centre and holds exhibits of advanced weaponry along grey corridors filled with camouflaged personnel. The Wagner Groups headquarters in St Petersburg (EPA) Unsettling accounts of life in the mercenary group have surfaced recently from former members including Andrei Medvedev, who sought asylum in Norway in January after deserting a Wagner regiment in Ukraine. The 26-year-old said sergeants were ruthless in their attempts to recruit new fighters. They would round up those who did not want to fight and shoot them in front of newcomers, he alleged in an interview with CNN. They brought two prisoners who refused to go fight and they shot them in front of everyone and buried them right in the trenches that were dug by the trainees. The MoD said last July that Wagner was lowering recruitment standards to include formerly blacklisted individuals. Andrei Medvedev in Oslo after fleeing Wagner command (Reuters) Mr Medvedev claimed he joined Wagner as a volunteer after serving in the Russian military. He said Wagner fighters were often sent into battle with little direction. Two former Wagner fighters captured by Ukraine told CNN of devastating losses in assaults reminiscent of First World War charges. Recalling his first assault near the village of Bilohorivka in Luhansk, one said: There were 90 of us. Sixty died in that first assault, killed by mortar fire. A handful remained wounded. The other fighter said he was involved in a push for Lysychansk on the Luhansk-Donetsk border. The first steps into the forest were difficult because of all the landmines spread out. Out of 10 guys, seven were killed immediately, he said. The fight went on for five days, he said. There is no feeling attached to it. Just wave after wave. Four hundred [Wagner fighters] were brought there, and then more and more, all the time. Further evidence of brutality emerged on 14 February, as footage appeared to show a Russian convict who fought for Wagner being beaten to death with a sledgehammer after being accused of fleeing the war. The UKs opposition Labour Party is just the latest political organisation to demand the Wagner Group be classified as a terrorist organisation in response to its barbarous conduct in Ukraine and beyond. The group again made headlines in early March, following the one-year anniversary of the wars commencement, when Mr Prigozhin once more took to Telegram to undermine Moscow by warning that the entire Russian frontline in Ukraine would be in jeopardy if his soldiers are finally forced to retreat from Bakhmut amid ammunition hunger, seemingly a plea for more resources. If Wagner retreats from Bakhmut now, the whole front will collapse, he said in a four-minute video posted to the encrypted app. The situation will not be sweet for all military formations protecting Russian interests. If we retreat, then we will go down in history forever as people who have taken the main step towards losing the war. This is exactly the problem with ammunition hunger. His appeal came amid reports that Russian troops have been reduced to engaging in hand-to-hand combat with shovels due to the scarcity of weapons and bullets. The fighting has remained intense around Bakhmut for months, although local residents who have held on despite the considerable danger to their lives have finally fled as the Ukrainian militarys withdrawal began to look inevitable following a courageous fightback. But following Mr Prigozhins dismissal of Russias core justification for invading Ukraine and the repercussions his stance may have, the future of the Wagner Group and his role in the war are now uncertain. 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 }} Russia appears to have stepped back from the brink of a full-scale armed mutiny after the Wagner Group, one of the worlds most powerful private armies, halted a march on Moscow started by a vow for revenge. While the immediate threat seems to have been averted, the unprecedented attack on the Russian military establishment marks the most serious challenge to President Vladimir Putin in the 23 years he has ruled with an iron fist and the crisis is unlikely to just disappear just because the military convoy halted about 200km (125 miles) from the Russian capital. Earlier in an extraordinary day, a visibly angry Mr Putin made an emergency address to the nation railing against the attempted coup and said the very existence of the Russian state was at stake. "We are fighting for the lives and security of our people, for our sovereignty and independence, he said, comparing the Wagner mutiny to the 1917 revolution that led to the collapse of imperial Russia. The source of his ire was Yevgeny Prigozhin, the outspoken leader of the Wagner mercenary group, who had vowed to avenge attacks he claimed were perpetrated by the Russian military against his men in eastern Ukraine. Mr Prigozhin vehemently denied accusations of treason and spent the day vowing to fight until the end. However, late on Saturday his band of mercenaries halted their march and would turn back to avoid shedding Russian blood in a deal broken by Belarusian president and Russias closest ally Alexander Lukashenko. Wagner paramilitary boss orders troops to turn back from Moscow In a day, we marched to nearly 200km outside of Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters, Mr Prigozhin said in audio messages shared to his Telegram channels. Now, the moment has come when blood may spill. Thats why, understanding the responsibility of spilling Russian blood on one of the sides, we are turning back our convoys and going back to field camps according to the plan. It was unclear on Saturday night exactly what the agreement to halt the Wagner convoy entailed. But the Kremlin later confirmed that neither Mr Prigozhin nor his troops would face criminal charges over the insurrection in a humiliating climbdown by Mr Putin who had earlier vowed revenge on those responsible. The Kremlin did not confirm Mr Prigozhins whereabouts but said he would be moved to Belarus, a close ally of Russia. In a day of dramatic developments: Moscows mayor urged all residents to stay in their homes Authorities declared a counterterrorist regime in the capital enhancing security and restricting some movement Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the movement of the Wagner convoy There was confusion over Mr Putins whereabouts, with the Kremlin denying he had left the city in a plane A Wagner convoy makes their way towards Moscow along the M4 (Reuters) There were also unconfirmed reports that a number of Russian officials had left the capital, with suggestions that Denis Manturov, a deputy prime minister, may have flown to Turkey. The crisis ignited on Friday night when Mr Prigozhin, a former hotdog seller turned warlord, issued a string of expletive-riddled audio and video messages. He accused the top Russian military brass of bombing his camp in the eastern region of Donbas, lying about the motivations for invading Ukraine, and rampant corruption. As tensions mounted, Mr Putin responded by saying his former confidante was guilty of armed insurrection and treason and promised to punish those behind the stab in the back. Wagner paramilitary troops prepare to turn around from Moscow advance Wagner forces deployed along some of the toughest battle lines in Ukraine crossed back into Russia, captured the logistical hub of Rostov in the south, and then set off on a 1000km (620 miles) race to the capital. Videos shared on their channels purportedly showed a column of tanks mounted on armoured cars and an advanced Pantsir anti-aircraft missile system making its way north accompanied by as many as 5000 men, or a fifth of Wagners claimed total forces. Desperate to halt an advance, Russia's military fired on the column with helicopters, deployed tanks and even tore up key motorways with diggers according to videos posted online. Russian servicemen in central Moscow yesterday (AFP) We will destroy anyone who stands in our way, Mr Prigozhin originally vowed. We are moving forward and will go until the end, he added. The spectacular eruption of violence in Russia, came after searing tensions within the countrys top command since President Putin invaded Ukraine last February. Mr Prigozhin, once a shadowy figure who denied his role with private military companies, has fast become the most outspoken and powerful figure in Mr Putins war. His forces which first appeared in Russias initial invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2014 were stationed in some of the bloodiest battlefields like Bakhmut. There he would frequently post videos criticising the Ministry of Defence and top Russian generals for poor battle plans or not providing enough ammunition. This claim, his former troops say, was a ruse to allow him to stockpile weapons he ultimately used in Russia on Saturday. Speaking exclusively to The Independent, a former Wagner soldier, who was stationed near Bakhmut in November but managed to escape to Europe with the help of dissidents, said Mr Prigozhin was a skilful manipulator. Yevgeny Prigozhin will be moved to Belarus but will not face criminal charges the Kremlin confirmed on Saturday night (AP) The soldier said he had gained so much power due to the war in Ukraine. Everyone should understand and realise that the regular army and those who serve in Wagner now are under the rule imposed by Prigozhin. He said that Mr Prigozhin ruled by fear in a dictatorial regime and so people remain loyal to survive. They are frightened [of] reprisal if they speak out or fail to follow orders, he said, asking to remain anonymous for his own security. He added that Mr Prigozhins hysterical statements and actions were aimed at garnering support and creating the image of a strong leader. Even to this day, some people continue to view him favourably, he added. In Ukraine, commanders, officials and foot soldiers watched with amusement, confusion and trepidation, at the events as they unfolded. The extraordinary disintegration of Russias top brass signalled an unprecedented opportunity on the battlefield, but many on the ground feared what forces were supporting Mr Prigozhin and the dangers of a President Putin backed into the corner. If Prigozhin starts destroying aeroplanes and helicopters and makes it to Moscow, it means a big deal, one Ukrainian intelligence source told The Independent. Wagner Group fighters in Rostov-on-Don (Reuters) He cant be doing this on his own, he must be supported by someone, some oligarch, someone who wants to remove Putin and put him in power. We dont know who that is, and that is worrying, the source added. President Zelensky said that Saturdays events showed the world that the bosses of Russia do not control anything. Nothing at all. Its complete chaos, he wrote on his Twitter account. There is complete absence of any predictability, he added urging the West to give more support to oust Russia from Ukrainian lands. Ukrainian soldiers said Ukraine made modest gains on Saturday as the situation in Russia disintegrated. Without a doubt, we will take advantage of this, as you will see in the near future, Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesperson for the armed forces in the east, told The Independent. 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 }} Once a low-profile businessman who profitted from having Russian president Vladimir Putin as a powerful patron, Yevgeny Prigozhin has moved into the global spotlight since the onset of Russias war in Ukraine. Now the owner of the Kremlin-allied Wagner Group, the mercenary force seen fighting some of the Russian militarys toughest battles in Ukraine, most notably the drawn-out pursuit of Bakhmut, the 62-year-old has since stepped into his most dangerous role yet: preaching open rebellion against his countrys military leadership. On Friday 23 June, Mr Prigozhin finally escalated what had been months of scathing criticism of Russias conduct of the war when he called for an armed uprising to oust Russias defence minister Prigozhin has repeatedly condemned Russias regular army leaders (AP) As his men occupied Rostov-on-Don and marched on Moscow, Russian security services reacted immediately, opening a criminal investigation and demanding Mr Prigozhins arrest. In a sign of how seriously the Kremlin took the threat posed, riot police and the National Guard scrambled to tighten security at key facilities in the Russian capital, including government agencies and transport infrastructure, Tass reported. Mr Prigozhin a onetime felon, hot-dog vendor and longtime associate of Mr Putin urged Russian civilians to join his march to justice and the situation remained extremely volatile throughout the following Saturday before peace talks, seemingly mediated by Belarussian president Alexander Lukashenko, brought the standoff to a peaceful conclusion, with Mr Prigozhin agreeing to relocate to Belarus, only to subsequently return to his homeland. Details are still emerging about how exactly that played out and it has since emerged that the Mr Putin and Mr Prigozhin at the Kremlin five days after the aborted mutiny. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that a three-hour meeting had taken place on Thursday 29 June with 35 people in attendance, including Wagner unit commanders, who reiterated their loyalty to their leader. Putins chef Mr Prigozhin and Mr Putin go way back, with both born in Leningrad, now known as St Petersburg. During the final years of the Soviet Union, Mr Prigozhin served time in prison 10 years, by his own admission although he does not say what it was for. Afterwards, he owned a hot dog stand and then a series of upmarket restaurants that attracted interest from Mr Putin. In his first term in office, the Russian leader took then-French president Jacques Chirac to dine at one of them. Vladimir Putin saw how I built a business out of a kiosk, he saw that I dont mind serving to the esteemed guests because they were my guests, Mr Prigozhin recalled in an interview published in 2011. Mr Prigozhin shows Mr Putin his school lunch factory outside St Petersburg in 2010 (Sputnik/AFP/Getty) His businesses expanded significantly to catering and providing school lunches. In 2010, Mr Putin helped open Mr Prigozhins factory that was built on generous loans by a state bank. In Moscow alone, his company Concord won millions of pounds in contracts to provide meals to public schools. He also organised catering for Kremlin events for several years earning him the nickname Putins chef and has provided catering and utility services to the Russian military. In 2017, opposition figure and corruption fighter Alexei Navalny accused Mr Prigozhins companies of breaking antitrust laws by bidding for around 300m in defence ministry contracts. Mr Prigozhin reportedly has a net worth of $1 billion. Military connection The former catering entrepreneur also owns the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-allied mercenary force that has come to play a central role in Mr Putins projection of Russian influence in trouble spots around the world. The United States, European Union, United Nations and others say the mercenary force has involved itself in conflicts in countries across Africa in particular. Wagner fighters allegedly provide security for national leaders or warlords in exchange for lucrative payments, often including a share of gold or other natural resources. US officials say Russia may also be using Wagners work in Africa to support its war in Ukraine. In Ukraine, Mr Prigozhins mercenaries have become a major force in the war, fighting as counterparts to the Russian army in battles aainst Ukrainian forces. A poster of a Russian soldier with a slogan reading Glory to the heroes of Russia stands opposite the PMC Wagner Centre in St Petersburg (AFP/Getty) That includes Wagner fighters taking Bakhmut, the city where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. By May 2023, Wagner forces and Russian soldiers appeared to have largely won Bakhmut, a victory with strategically slight importance for Russia, despite the cost in lives. The US estimates that nearly half of the 20,000 Russian troops killed in Ukraine since December were Wagner fighters in Bakhmut. Mr Prigozhins soldiers-for-hire included inmates recruited from Russias prisons. Raging against Russias generals As his forces fought and died en masse in Ukraine, Mr Prigozhin increasingly raged against the Russian militarys top brass. In a video released by his team in May, Mr Prigozhin stood next to rows of bodies he said were those of Wagner fighters. He accused Russias regular military of incompetence and of starving his troops of the weapons and ammunition they needed to fight. These are someones fathers and someones sons, Mr Prigozhin said then. The scum that doesnt give us ammunition will eat their guts in hell. A bad actor in the US Mr Prigozhin earlier gained more limited attention in the US, when he and a dozen other Russian nationals and three Russian companies were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trumps 2016 election victory. They were indicted as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian election interference. The US Treasury Department has since sanctioned Mr Prigozhin and associates repeatedly in connection with both his alleged election interference and his leadership of Wagner. Masks showing the faces of Putin, Prigozhin and Chechnya's regional leader Ramzan Kadyrov on display at a souvenir shop in St Petersburg (AP) After the 2018 indictment, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Mr Prigozhin as saying, in a clearly sarcastic remark: Americans are very impressionable people; they see what they want to see. I treat them with great respect. Im not at all upset that Im on this list. If they want to see the devil, let them see him. The Biden White House called him a known bad actor and State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Mr Prigozhins bold confession, if anything, appears to be just a manifestation of the impunity that crooks and cronies enjoy under President Putin and the Kremlin. Avoiding challenges to Putin As Mr Prigozhin grew more outspoken against the way Russias conventional military had conducted the fighting in Ukraine, he continued to play a seemingly indispensable role for the Russian offensive and appeared to suffer no retaliation from Mr Putin for his criticism of Moscows generals. Media reports at times suggested Mr Prigozhins influence over Mr Putin was growing and that he was hoping to be rewarded with a prominent political post, although some analysts felt this assessment of his ambitions was overstated. Hes not one of Putins close figures or a confidant, said Mark Galeotti of University College, London, who specialises in Russian security affairs, speaking on his podcast, In Moscows Shadows. Prigozhin does what the Kremlin wants and does very well for himself in the process. But thats the thing he is part of the staff rather than part of the family, he said. Locals in Rostov-on-Don took selfies with Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and cheered as his mercenaries left the Russian city on Saturday evening (24 June). The head of the group called off the mutiny at the 11th hour as his men raced to Moscow in action Vladimir Putin had described as treason hours earlier. Footage shows Rostov residents wishing Prigozhin well and cheering his troops as they departed the city that they had moved into unimpeded on Saturday. Prigozhin will be exiled from Russia to Belarus as part of a truce agreed with Putin. Convoys of Wagner fighters were seen leaving Voronezh region overnight after rebellious mercenary commander Yevgeny Prigozhin announced that his troops were retreating. Local residents posted videos showing military vehicles and buses with flags driving on a highway in a southern direction. Under the deal announced on Saturday by the Kremlin, Wagner Group leader Prigozhin will go to neighbouring Belarus, which has supported Russias invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped, and the Russian government said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part. Former chief of the UK general staff, Lord Richard Dannatt, has discussed the fate of the head of the Wagner mercenary group after events in Russia in the last 24 hours. Yevgeny Prigozhin, who ordered his troops to march on Moscow, abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile in Belarus and sounded the retreat on Saturday evening (24 June). However, Lord Dannatt does not believe weve heard the last of the rebellious mercenary commander. We havent heard the last of Prigozhin, but we may have begun to hear about the latter days of Vladimir Putin, He told BBC Breakfast. In the space of just 24 hours, the relationship between Vladimir Putin and the mercenary Wagner Group had reached breaking point. Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin claims Putins soldiers had killed paramilitary troops in Ukraine. Putin responded, calling the march by Wagner troops towards Moscow, Treason. But what happened on the weekend that nearly saw a full-scale mutiny on the streets of Moscow? The Independent reveals the timeline that lead to Putins biggest domestic challenge since he launched an illegal offensive on Ukraine. The rainbow flag will be carried proudly on every Pride parade. Picture by Radoslaw Drewek Junes LGBTQ+ Pride month is culminating this week. New York is set to hold its Pride parade today with energetic celebrators and commemorators marching along Manhattans Midtown thoroughfares down to the West Village and Christopher Street where the Stonewall National Memorial is located. Thats where, back on June 28, 1969, patrons of the Stonewall and other gay and lesbian bars fought back against violent police raids. The following days of protests kicked off the beginning of the gay liberation movement that is now collectively marked with parades and festivals every June. Dublins parade was held yesterday. But if you missed it, Limericks parade is set for the second weekend in July, with Galway and Cork holding their self-described fabulous parades in August. So, while the rainbow banners are on full display, Im dedicating this column towards celebrating Pride in the workplace. Encouraging more communication around any topic is how people make steps toward understanding each other better. The rainbow flag itself is worth a little discussion. It was designed in San Francisco in the late 1970s by gay activist Gilbert Baker, a friend of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California who was shockingly assassinated, along with San Franciscos mayor, in the City Hall in 1978. Each colour represents an important value for the LGBTQ+ community and once discovered, these values can have meaning for anyone. Red represents life force No matter what the shade of our skin, the colour of the blood that pumps through the veins of every person flows the same tone of ruby red. Its the first colour in natures rainbow, and the first colour we see on the traditional Pride Flag. It reminds us of our common bonds as humans and our shared life force. The vital hue also signifies passion and vitality in many cultures and as any employee will tell you, it is a good thing to feel a bit of passion about our work. Orange stands for healing As I discovered the flags intended symbolism for the second colour in the spectrum, I took a little pause. I dont think I would have guessed at orange being equated with the notion of healing. Maybe a pale shade of blue for the coolness required to bring down a fever or something. By the way, years ago I chose orange as my main branding colour for my company because I think its a friendlier version of the typical business-power-tie colour of red. But when I read further to learn that orange was selected because it represents fun and celebration because these activities bring about healing, I clapped my hands in agreement. Not so much for physical, but for emotional healing. Say, Yes to encouraging more fun and celebration. Yellow represents sunlight What a lovely image. The colour yellow in the centre of the flag shines with the radiance of the brightest star we see in our sky. Its the light which wakes us up each morning with the promise, optimism and hope of a fresh new day. Similarly, the flags yellow is said to inspire new thoughts and ideas. When we think of the sunshine, we can also think of transparency and openness in the workplace. Its one of the many ways we can nurture a speak-up and innovative culture. Green is for nature When we think about a place for quiet reflection, contemplation, or recalibration from the stress of the day-to-day grind, there is no better setting than in nature. The colour of Mother Nature is also the colour often associated with money, prosperity and growth. During this upcoming holiday season, it makes sense. A re-connection with nature can recharge us, propelling us back into the office with new-found productivity. Indigo represents serenity Ah, yes, the coolness of the blue I had pictured for healing now comes into play. Hospitals often paint azure shades in patients rooms because it is a calming and soothing colour. Finding ways to reduce anxiety and stress are essential for building high-performance teams and the relaxing effect of blue makes perfect sense. Violet denotes spirit The last colour in the traditional Pride flag symbolises pride itself the royal, regal colour of purple. It also reminds me of the charming poem, Warning, by Jenny Joseph: When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple It begins. Purple denotes a fearlessness, a courage, a determination to be true yourself. To bring your full self to the workplace. In the more than 50 years since Stonewall, much progress has been made. Ireland, this past week, confirmed legislative plans to disregard all criminal records of those convicted of the nations past outlawed homosexual activities. But political candidates running on anti-diversity and inclusion platforms like American Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis threaten the very fabric of this flag. As Gilbert Baker once said, Its more than just the cloth and the stripes. The flag is an action. What actions will you take? Write to Gina in care of SundayBusiness@independent.ie With corporate clients in five continents, Gina London is a premier communications strategy, structure and delivery expert. She is also a media analyst, author, speaker and former CNN anchor. @TheGinaLondon Mining Mineral exploration firm Conroy Gold and Natural Resources has raised 400,000 to accelerate exploration on its exploration programmes for gold and other minerals. The new fundraising will be used for activity in Ireland and Finland, and is expected to increase the companys exploration capacity and strengthen its working capital position. The funds raised are to be put towards exploration programmes which are not covered by the its joint venture agreement with Turkish conglomerate Demir Export. The joint venture with Demir, agreed in 2021, is expected to fund and develop, on an earn-in basis, a gold mine at the deposit it has found near Clontibret, Co Monaghan. I am very pleased with this fundraising, said company chairman Richard Conroy. He said that exploration expenditures of over 4.5m at the Clontibret prospect would be covered by the first phase of the joint venture with Demir. The company has other exploration interests, both in Ireland and in Finland, which are not covered by the joint venture and which, for relatively low expenditures, could potentially yield highly interesting results. Other working-capital expenditures must also be covered. The fundraising sees existing shareholder Philip Hannigan grow his shareholding to more than 18pc, while a new shareholder, Jonathan Swann, was expected to hold 4.6pc. Enterprise Ireland Junior Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and some of the Irish at Money 20/20 in Amsterdam. Photo: Nils van Houts Fintech has been transformative, changing the world of finance and with it, our daily lives. And Ireland has played a pivotal role. Ireland is a global fintech industry leader, and our growing capabilities are becoming world-class. This was particularly evident at the recent Money 20/20 event, as more than 100 representatives from Irish-owned regtech, payments and other financial technology companies travelled from Ireland to the trade show in Amsterdam. Money 20/20 is Europes leading fintech industry event, with more than 8,000 attendees, including venture capitalists, financial services firms and public sector representatives from over 90 countries. We have become a global hub for fintech Some of the industrys biggest names were there, providing easy access for Irish fintech to show their innovations and make global connections. This year, 29 Enterprise Ireland supported companies attended the three-day event, an increase on the 17 companies that participated last year. This was no surprise, given that exports of fintech, financial and business services by firms supported by Enterprise Ireland rose 14pc in 2022, to 2.38bn. The Irish delegation was one of the largest national groups at Money 20/20, underlining our strength in the sector. It served as an ideal opportunity for Irish fintech to meet industry buyers and investors, grow their sales, and do international networking. Six Irish companies exhibited at the event, including B2B payments specialists TransferMate, hedging platform Alt21 (previously Assure Hedge), and digital identity experts Daon. Also exhibiting were compliance solutions specialists Fenergo and Know Your Customer, plus Keeper Solutions, which offers software development outsourcing. Junior Minister for Financial Services Jennifer Carroll MacNeill joined the Irish delegation, to further strengthen the importance of our Irish fintech sector. Its such an exciting time in the development of the fintech sector in Ireland, said Carroll MacNeill. Im so proud of our talented, ambitious and determined people who understand the trends of the financial services market and are driven to innovate to provide solutions for the challenges and opportunities in the sector. "We have become a global hub for fintech because of the hard work of over 200 indigenous Irish fintech companies and their extraordinary people expertly supported by Enterprise Ireland. With new European regulation on the agenda, this type of event is invaluable to showcase how Irish companies are not only enabling banks and financial services companies in terms of compliance and AML, but also supporting them to minimise costs related to regulation. Events like Money 20/20 drive the fintech ecosystem and allow Irish companies go global. While Irish companies in this sector have traditionally been focused on targeting opportunities in the UK and the US, many now see Europe as an extension of the domestic economy. With its single currency and lack of tariffs, the European market has never looked so strong and attractive for Irish growth. Fintech companies interested in learning more can speak with their development advisor or Daryl Egan and Emily Gallen at Enterprise Ireland. Daryl Egan is Market Executive, Enterprise Ireland Benelux An Irish patent holding firm is being challenged by a competitor over its deal to acquire intellectual property from BlackBerry. Key Patent Innovations Ltd, a Dublin-based company, and its subsidiary Malikie Innovations Ltd struck a deal with Canadian mobile phone company BlackBerry in March to acquire about 32,000 patents and patent applications for $170m (154.4m). The Irish company acquires technology patents and monetises the intellectual property by licensing it to other companies. Another patent holding firm Catapult IP Innovations from the US has challenged the validity of the deal with BlackBerry, claiming it had an agreement in place with the Canadian company to acquire the patents. Catapult filed legal action against Malikie in the state of Virginia in a bid to compel the Irish company to join arbitration talks with BlackBerry. It claims that BlackBerry backed out of the original deal in favour of Malikie and that the Irish company was aware of the existing agreement. Catapult is seeking to unwind the deal by reconveying the patents to BlackBerry in exchange for BlackBerry returning the purchase price paid by Malikie. These claims are without merit and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously, a BlackBerry spokesman said Both Malikies parent company Key Patent Innovations and BlackBerry deny all of the claims made by Catapult. A spokesman for Key Patent Innovations said the firm is not a participant in the arbitration between Catapult and BlackBerry. KPI questions Catapults and its counsels decision to embark on such a frivolous course and attempt to pull Malikie into its dispute with BlackBerry. KPI emphasised that there is no legal or factual basis to do so. These claims are without merit and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously, a BlackBerry spokesman said. BlackBerry sold thousands of its non-core patents and patent applications for an upfront payment of $170m with a further $30m to be paid within three years In the weeks following the announcement of the deal, Key Patent Innovations managing director Angela Quinlan said in a statement that significant efforts are underway to demonstrate the value of these patented inventions to potential licensees. KPI and its affiliates have already made numerous hires with specific expertise in monetising patents of this pedigree, including licensing executives and patent lawyers, she said. Ms Quinlan said that talks with companies interested in using the patents are under way. Fraudsters are using trusted brands like utility companies, banks, motorway toll companies, and delivery companies to trick you into giving them your personal and banking details. Stock image. Photo: Getty Images Q I received a text message from Electric Ireland saying that my last payment didnt go through and that Im going to be disconnected. The text included a link to a website and asked me to update my account details on that website. Should I follow their instructions or is this a scam? Caroline, Co Wicklow A That was definitely not a real text, and Electric Ireland is advising anyone who receives a text like this to ignore and delete it. Fraudsters are using trusted brands like utility companies, banks, motorway toll companies, and delivery companies to trick you into giving them your personal and banking details. The text messages might say that your account is blocked, or a payment is due, or that you have to urgently update some details on your account. Always stop, think, and check whenever you get a text or phone-call out of the blue. Take a minute to consider it and dont feel pressured into doing anything. Check directly with the company that purportedly sent the text. Bank of Ireland customers can check any text that looks like it has come from the bank by putting the word check at the start of the text and sending it to 50365. Most importantly, never give your full online banking PIN or one-time codes to anyone, no matter who they say they are or why they say they need them. Once you keep those details safe, you will be absolutely fine. I want to invest an inheritance of 20,000 and have seen attractive opportunities online and on social media. How do I know they are legitimate? Q I recently inherited 20,000 and have been looking for investment opportunities. Ive coming across some good offers online and Ive also seen ads for investment products on social media. How can I be sure that what I invest in is legitimate? Tomas, Limerick City A Youre right to be cautious with your inheritance and to be careful of any investment products that you come across online. Weve seen many examples of fake investment products often related to cryptocurrencies appearing in online search results or being promoted on social media. Even if something appears in your search results, it doesnt always mean that a legitimate company is behind it; anyone can pay to advertise products and services in search engine results. A fraudster can also create a social media account and pay to have their message advertised to you on your timeline, so be wary when you see something new popping up on your feed. Fraudsters can be very convincing and will often create company websites that appear genuine. They may send you legitimate-looking brochures or promotional material and their fake products might even appear to be endorsed by high-profile people. If you give them your contact details, a fraudster might call you to discuss your investment and their fake products will often offer very attractive returns. Sometimes, a fraudster will use the name of or a similar name to -- a legitimate firm to make their scam more believable. They might quote Central Bank authorisation numbers or give the real address of an authorised firm. You can check the Central Banks online register to make sure any firm you are dealing with is regulated and authorised to provide financial services. A fraudster might put you under pressure to commit to an investment quickly but, sometimes, they will continue the scam over a period of time to persuade you to invest with them. Always take your time with any investment, and do your research and get independent advice before you commit to anything. Listen to your instincts: if something doesnt feel right, then stop and question it. Remember that if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is. If you think youve been a victim of an investment scam, dont send any more money to the firm or person in question, even if they say you need to do that to retrieve your initial investment. Contact your bank and the Gardai as soon as you can. The buyer of clothes Im selling online sent me a link looking for my credit card details. Is it safe to do so? Q Im selling some clothes on an e-commerce site and the person buying them sent me a link to a legitimate-looking website. The buyer wants me to input my credit card details on this website so I can receive my payment. Should I proceed with it? Patricia, Co Kilkenny A This is a common scam. The website you were asked to use might look genuine, but it is a fake designed to trick you into handing over your card details. A genuine buyer wouldnt use a website like this theyd just transfer the money to your account. Be wary, too, of any emails or confirmation saying money has been sent to you. Always make sure that the money has come into your account before sending the goods to the buyer. If youre buying or selling online, its best to use reputable retailers or sellers, whether thats from personal experience or trustworthy recommendations. Aingeala Flannery clinched prize-money of 20,000 when she won the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year award for her debut novel, The Amusements, earlier this month. An award-winning journalist and broadcaster, Flannery quit her job of 16 years as a news editor and producer with Today FM to write fiction, study creative writing and work part-time in the arts. Flannery is appearing at the Clonmel Junction Arts Festival on July 9. What did you learn about money while growing up? Be self-sufficient. Double-job in case one falls through. Dont borrow unless you absolutely have to. My father was self-employed and believed in the graft and in giving someone a start. If youre lucky enough to get a start, work hard and throw the ladder down after you to help the next person who needs a chance. What are your plans for the 20,000 prize-money? The first thing I did was give my teenage son a few hundred euro for music and clothes, and I bought myself a Capulet & Montague necklace. Next, its essential house repairs. Then Ill set aside the tax I owe on the prize, and pay myself a monthly wage for writing between now and October. Did you have to make any financial sacrifices when moving from journalism to fiction-writing? The three Hs: Holidays. Home improvements. Hairdressers. When were you most broke? Crete, 1990. I lived on a fried egg, a melon, and a pack of cigarettes a day. Whats the most expensive place youve visited? Copenhagen in the early 1990s. I was inter-railing on a shoestring budget, so everywhere in northern Europe seemed expensive. Now Dublin, London, and New York are expensive, yet you can live on surprisingly little, depending how well you know the city. Aside from rent, of course. Would you buy Irish property now? No. I own a home, and one is enough for anyone. Do you still carry cash? Yes, for shopping trolleys, birthday cards, and to give to people less fortunate than I am. Also, in case I need to flip a coin. Do you use any of the digital banks? Every single day. The text I get most often is: How much is on the Revolut, Mam? What was your biggest ever financial mistake? I thought I could survive on an arts salary when I left my job at Today FM and ended up couch-surfing with my son while we Airbnb-ed our house for money. But I got a few more freelance gigs and we were able to move back in after a couple of months. What was your worst-ever job? Ive had plenty of so-called menial jobs: cleaning offices in Germany, working the fryers at KFC, bartending in the seediest dive bar imaginable. All these jobs were grand because I liked the people I worked with. My worst job, by far, was in a typing pool for a firm in New Zealand. My supervisor gave out to me and about me non-stop, because I wasnt typing fast enough. The stuff we were typing was so badly written that Id edit and redraft it. That drove your woman bananas. When I got my final pay cheque, I took off for Bali. Only then did it dawn on me that she was still sitting at her desk and I didnt blame her for hating me. Do you have a pension? Yes, from my years working in radio. I cant afford to add to it. Hopefully Ill be able to work until I drop. Id go nuts without a purpose. Argos had been operating in the Republic of Ireland for 27 years All 30 remaining Argos stores in the country closed permanently at 5pm today. The retailers parent company Sainsburys announced in January that all Argos stores would close by June 24. In a statement, they said the decision was not made lightly. Argos had been operating in the Republic of Ireland for 27 years. It is anticipated around 500 staff will lose their jobs as a result of the permanent closure today. The business began the process of winding down Irish operations at the end of March, when customers could no longer pay for orders via the website or place orders via its home delivery service. "Argos will propose an enhanced redundancy package that goes well beyond its statutory obligations. The small number of colleagues not eligible for redundancy under Irish Law are expected to receive a one-off goodwill payment, the company said in a statement in January. "To further support colleagues, Argos has also committed to a programme of wider support over the coming months. Andy McClelland, Argos Ireland operations manager, said: We understand this is difficult news for our customers and colleagues. As with any major change to our business, we have not made this decision lightly and we are doing everything we can to support those impacted. On behalf of everyone at Argos I would like to thank our colleagues, customers, suppliers and partners for their support to our business. Accounts for 2022 show the Irish arm of the retailer lost 13m last year, as revenue tumbled from 170m to 134m between March 2021 and March 2022. Three stores closed last year, costing the retailer an additional 2 million. Brendan OConnor told his RTE Radio 1 listeners today that he had not been involved in a barter pay deal, after the controversy over payments to Ryan Tubridy. OConnor was discussing the issue on his Brendan OConnor show this morning, with a panel of guests. The Mediahuis Ireland columnist read out two texts by readers, asking if he had taken part in a bartering deal, to which he responded: No, I have not, is the answer. He said he had confirmed his response on the matter to the media in recent days. Almost all of RTEs top earners have stated they had not taken part in barter deals, similar to the one agreed with Tubridy. During his show, OConnor asked one of his guests if the issue could have been avoided if an explanation had been provided months ago. Then he added that no one had RTEs version of what took place. The broadcaster has not currently gone into detail about events. Arts and Media Minister Catherine Martin has ordered an external review into the governance and culture at RTE. Catherine Martin says RTE is nearly in an existential crisis Ms Martin met the chair of the RTE board, Siun Ni Raghallaigh. OConnor said he did not feel there would be complaints from a lot of people on contracts here if they were invited to become staff. As it stands, the biggest names at the broadcaster are self-employed and this can allow for contract negotiation. If stars were made staff, this could potentially lead to a set salary. One member of the public contacted the show, to state the controversy would not affect their consuming RTE current affairs show, as they believed this debate was a matter for Tubridy and whoever knew about the deal. There is no suggestion that what took place was unlawful but questions have been raised about how ethical such a deal was, when staff at the broadcaster were told in recent months that they had to take pay cuts. Ryan Tubridy's complicated payments at RTE comes under the spotlight Vivien McKechnie, a partner at PT78, a media consultancy company, told the show that bartering is a very common practice in all sorts of industries. She said it was a legitimate practice that had become commonplace in the last 10 to 15 years. However, she added there needs to be an explanation of how the deal was carried out with regards to the payments to Tubridy. She added that while it was a relatively common practice, she could not answer if it was for a presenter to be paid in this way. OConnor said: We did look for Noel Kelly (Tubridys agent) and Ryan Tubridy this morning and they did not get back to us (for comment)... The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ruled there will no appeal over the nine-year sentence handed down to the killer of a young Limerick father-of-one, leaving the victims family forever heartbroken. The clinical lead at the National Gender Service (NGS) has raised concerns about weaknesses in a government-commissioned Trinity College Dublin (TCD) study on conversion therapy which was used to justify a new law to ban such practices. A reward for information which leads to the recovery of the vehicle and identification of the driver is available through Crimestoppers. Gardai have made a renewed appeal for information to mark the 12th anniversary of a fatal hit-and-run collision in Co Monaghan in which a young man died. Fintan Traynor from Clontibret was 20-years-old when he was walking home after a night out in Castleblayney in the early hours of Sunday 26 June, 2011. He was struck by a car on the Lemgare Road, and the driver of the vehicle failed to stop, and fled the scene, gardai said in a statement today. The Lemgare Road links the villages of Clontibret and Annyalla with Derrynoose and Keady in Co Armagh. The garda investigation remains active, and some 400 leads have been pursued in the years since Fintans death. However the vehicle and the driver have yet to be located. Investigating gardai believe that an Audi A4 1996 to 2001 model was involved in the collision. A reward for information which leads to the recovery of the vehicle and identification of the driver is available through Crimestoppers. The front lower portion of the grille of such a vehicle was recovered by gardai at the scene of the collision. Detective Inspector Adrian Durcan of the Monaghan Garda District has today appealed to the public for information, with Monday June 26 marking the 12th anniversary of the death of Fintan Traynor. I am appealing to the public that if they have any information to please come forward. "With the passage of time, perhaps someone may feel more comfortable coming forward with information in relation to this matter. "Do you know someone who may have had damage to an Audi car around this period? Did someone confide in you? The grille recovered from the scene. "In 12 years, loyalties, friendships and relationships change and perhaps now you are in a position to provide the investigation team with the vital information that would locate the vehicle and driver, he said. "You can contact us in Monaghan Garda Station on 047 77200 or alternatively you can contact us anonymously by calling Crimestoppers 1800 25 00 25. A reward for information which leads to the recovery of the vehicle and identification of the driver is available through Crimestoppers. Any person with information is urged to contact Monaghan Garda Station on 047 77200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, Crimestoppers on 1800 250 025 or any garda Station. Tens of thousands of people are at risk of problem gambling A campaign to tackle the issue of gambling addiction on an all-island basis by a couple whose son died tragically has gained significant traction. Research published last week shows how 12,000 adults in the country have been recorded as problem gamblers, with tens of thousands more recorded as being at risk from problem gambling. Pete and Sadie Keogh from Fermanagh, whose son Lewis died due to gambling-related suicide, are determined to roll out an education programme on both sides of the Border. The couple have spent years campaigning for changes to legislation so no parent has to face the same heartache they did. In 2021 they helped to spearhead a pilot education programme in schools in Northern Ireland with the charity Gambling with Lives, which was founded by families bereaved by gambling addiction. Now the charity is one step closer to introducing all-island initiatives for its life-saving campaign. Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie invited the Keoghs and Gambling with Lives to the Oireachtas to meet TDs and senators to discuss the issue. The goal being to secure a place for a gambling awareness campaign in secondary schools, similar to their successful pilot in Northern Ireland, Ms Currie said. Discussions with bodies such as Foroige a youth organisation with a presence in more than 600 communities in Ireland are ongoing. Representatives attended Leinster House last week. Having worked closely with Foroige here in places like Tyrrelstown and Blanchardstown in Dublin, I know first-hand the work they do. I think they are a perfect fit for Gambling with Lives to engage young people on the impact of problem gambling, she said. The senator said preventative action on problem gambling was needed throughout Ireland. I dont think theres a family in Ireland that doesnt know the impact a gambling addiction can have and for some, like the Keoghs, its been their worst nightmare, she said. As a mum when I hear the Keoghs ask themselves if anything could have been done to prepare their son for the way gambling can get under your skin and take hold, I believe we absolutely have to do something about it. Having met Pete and Sadie Keogh, Im determined to find a way to get this programme into local communities, whether thats through schools, youth clubs or sporting organisations like they are doing in the North. Its a message that needs to get out. The ESRIs behavioural research unit said problem gambling has likely been underestimated. Mr Keogh was optimistic that rolling out the education programme could be done quite quickly. It would be something I would like to see happening that the 32 counties have access to this programme that we think is very measured, he said. He said the schools programme, which is delivered by experts and aimed to influence the way gambling awareness education was delivered to young people, could save lives. I want this message across Ireland: it is equally important in Tipperary as it is in north Antrim. To me, it is a vital issue, he said. The first garda appointed to support the gay community recalls the battles to change hearts and minds The teacher stood at the top of the stairs, a rope in one hand and a phone in the other. A secondary school master, he had endured months of persecution by teenage pupils who had somehow discovered the pseudonym he used in his relationships. Every time he entered the classroom and went to write on the blackboard, they would call out his name and skitter and laugh. The taunting turned to blackmail when some of the schoolboys began demanding money to keep quiet. It was at that point he contacted the gardas gay liaison officer, Finbarr Murphy. He was terrified and suicidal. He gave me an undertaking that if he was going to kill himself, he would give me a phone call before he did it. And he rang me one evening and said, Im at the top of the stairs. I have the rope, Murphy said. He contacted the mans family, the school rowed in behind him and the pupils were dealt with. That was a man who, because of his sexuality, was about to take his life because of societys view that it was OK to persecute him, he said. That was Dublin in the late 1990s. Homosexual sex was no longer a crime, but its legacy was a carte blanche for homophobia, lingering fear and shame. From the foundation of the State up until 1993, more than 900 men were convicted essentially for having gay sex. There were 247 prosecutions alone between 1979 and 1987, according to papers published last week by the government working group. When gardai launched an exploratory pilot scheme reaching out to any of those convicted men, they didnt get a single response. In a week when the Government published its plans to pass laws to disregard the historical convictions of gay and bisexual men, Murphys message is that the dark days must never be forgotten. Murphy was no gay-rights activist. He was raised in a house in the Phoenix Park, he followed his father into the guards, he got married and had three children. His first posting was to Pearse Street garda station the policing area that covered many of the gay spots in the city. Patrolling the streets in the late 1980s, he never knew a man to be arrested or prosecuted for what remained the crime of consensual sex. The crimes he investigated at that time were mostly ones against gay people by gangs, often teenagers, who exploited their vulnerability. Few, if any victims, were willing to make formal complaints to allow gardai to prosecute the perpetrators. We couldnt understand why these crimes werent reported, Murphy said. He was not aware of the legacy of the oppression that had hung over these victims of crime. There were a lot of teachers, a lot of priests, a lot of people with public profiles who were victims of homophobic attacks. They didnt want it going to a court situation where they would be outed, he said. They werent coming forward because they couldnt come forward. Murphy became the gardas first liaison to the gay community in 1995, appointed by chance by an impulsive superintendent in Pearse Street. The superintendent at the time was Eugene OShea. Eugene was having a meeting with a journalist from the Gay Community News who was doing an article on homophobic attacks. The superintendent asked me to sit in on this meeting, and I did. It got a little bit fractious. The superintendent then said to the journalist, You seem to have all the answers. You tell me what I should do. And he said, Why dont you appoint a liaison officer? The superintendent nodded. Yeah, Ill appoint a liaison officer. So then the journalist says, When are you going to do it? And the superintendent said, Ill do it now. When the journalist asked who he had in mind for the role, he pointed to Murphy and said him. Thats how I was appointed. There was no thought put into it at all. According to Murphy, his boss suggested they keep his new role low-key for a while, but the Gay Community News broke the story the following week. I became known as the gay sergeant and I had a separate phone number that was known as the pink line, he said. Still, Murphy regarded his role which he took on alongside his regular duties as protecting human rights, not necessarily gay rights. Everyone should be able to live their life in peace, he said. Murphy became the channel of communication between gardai and the gay community. Attacks and robberies were often severe, often orchestrated by gangs of youths. He circulated warnings on gay chat forums about attacks, such as one in 2006, reporting that a group of five men and two women had been attacking gay men in laneways around Dame Street and Christ Church in Dublin city centre. All are aged between 15 and 18 years, some posing as if cruising, the warning went, pleading for victims to come forward. Blackmail was common, often evolving from the blackmailer exploiting a vulnerability in a partner, a marriage or a position of authority. Gardai usually told gay victims of crime that they couldnt act without a formal complaint, which meant the prospect of their names being attached to a gay crime in a public court. Murphy bluffed. His tactic was to find the blackmail suspects and leave them with the clear impression that they would be prosecuted regardless of what the victim wanted unless the blackmail stopped. Not a single blackmailer called his bluff back. We never had to go to prosecution, we were able to stop it, and that was what the victim wanted, Murphy said. The male-dominated workplace of An Garda Siochana reflected the homophobia evident in society at that time, he added, and there was a lot of slagging and joking. One guard wouldnt have his lunch with me. He left the table as soon as I arrived. It was, I wouldnt be seen having my lunch with you that type of thing. In 1995, Murphy received a letter marked confidential from an officer associated with the Garda Training College in Templemore. The author brought to his attention his concerns that a member of the gay community had joined An Garda Siochana. Murphy replied, saying it was likely there was more than one. As it happened, he knew the young man, as he had asked him for advice before he joined the force. I said, Be yourself. Even in 2002, when he helped organise a concert in the National Concert Hall, where the Garda Choir sang with Gloria, the LGBTQ+ choir, he encountered resistance in the force. The musicians were on board, the concert hall was booked, but they could not get the proposal in front of the then garda commissioner Pat Byrne to get his approval. People kept sending the file back with questions and more questions, he said. The commissioner was clearly being protected from such an outrageous suggestion. Byrne had to be door-stepped with the proposal. He said, Not only will I give permission for it, I will attend it, Murphy said. Talking about that night, with the choir bringing the house down with a version of YMCA, brings a tear to his eye. That was, as you can see, special, he said. Three years later, gay members of An Garda Siochana came together to form the support group, G Force. Murphy moved on, and eventually ended his career as a chief superintendent in Blanchardstown, one of the busiest crime districts in the country. Society has moved on too, voting in Irelands first gay taoiseach and supporting marriage equality. However, recent months have seen homophobic attacks reported in Drogheda, Co Louth, and on a 14-year-old schoolboy in Navan, Co Meath. An influencer in Cork was stunned to be gay bashed in the city. Gardai reported a 29pc increase in hate crimes last year, most motivated by race and sexuality. Society was so different back then, how people reacted to people being gay was different. That has changed phenomenally, Murphy said. But the journey must be remembered and understood in order to realise that there is a dark place we must never go back to. People will refuse to work with Ryan Tubridy: Whats next for RTEs Late Late shower after a humiliating, self-inflicted scandal? An inquiry into secret payments made to him by the broadcaster has taken the shine off the former Montrose golden boy and may yet claim big-name scalps Clockwise from left: Ryan Tubridy, Siun Ni Raghallaigh, Kevin Bakhurst, Dee Forbes, Noel Kelly, Catherine Martin, Geraldine O'Leary, Adrian Lynch Hugh OConnell, Maeve Sheehan, Niamh Horan, Rodney Edwards and Mark Tighe Sun 25 Jun 2023 at 03:30 Not all the facts have yet emerged about the RTE payments controversy, a Government minister said today, and there are many outstanding questions to which answers are required. The Cabinet will discuss the RTE crisis at its meeting on Tuesday and it is really important that all the facts are put on the table, Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said today. There are very serious issues here to be explored, very serious corporate governance issues, and real questions that need to be answered, Mr Harris said at a commemoration of former Taoiseach John A. Costello at Deansgrange Cemetery. It is really important that all of the facts are put on the table and that the Oireachtas committee receives the full cooperation of RTE, and that people at a very senior level attend and assist them with their work, he said. Minister Catherine Martin says RTE is nearly in an existential crisis Of course the Government is to further consider this matter on Tuesday, where my colleague, the Minister for Media Catherine Martin, will update us. It will be an opportunity to discuss in further detail, the external review that has been ordered and its requirements. I think the first thing we need to do is establish the facts, and they havent yet been established. There are many outstanding questions to which answers are required. He added: I think even in today's newspapers more is being learned in terms of questions that do need to be answered. I do believe in due process, however. I believe theres an opportunity now for RTE to come before the committee [on Wednesday] and for key individuals who were involved in this to also come before it to answer questions and for RTE to be forthcoming with that information. Catherine Martin had made it clear that any decisions on future taxpayer funding for RTE are now on hold pending the outcome. The most important thing now is for trust to be rebuilt. It has been an extraordinarily damaging incident in relation to public trust, Mr Harris said. Public service broadcasting matters. It matters a lot, and trust in broadcasting in general matters. I would also like to say that none of this in any way impugns the integrity and the work of those journalists in RTE who go into work today and continue to work hard to do to produce news content. 'Im thinking of all those people today who had nothing to do with this, and the environment in which they're having to currently work. Quizzed Meanwhile, senior executives from RTE will be quizzed on whether they previously misled members of the Oireachtas when discussing their finances, says Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. It was revealed this week that RTE paid former Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy 345,000 more than had been publicly stated between 2017 and 2022. Ms Murphy, the deputy chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee, said the committee will need to learn if they were provided with incorrect information from the public broadcaster during previous meetings. Speaking on The Week in Politics, Ms Murphy said: They obviously attended previously and one of the things that was reiterated on a number of occasions was the 15pc [pay] cut, which we know wasnt the case in relation to Ryan Tubridy. "Did they know about that when they met us? Did they mislead us? Is this the tip of the iceberg? She added that she does not think the situation is a one-off and is expecting that there will be more revelations to come. Ms Murphy warned that RTE cannot drip feed information to the public on the issue, saying: This crisis cannot be used to blame the wrong people or punish the wrong people. She added that the culture at RTE must be addressed if the broadcasters reputation is to be recovered. "I think that issue of culture is something that I would want to address at that meeting of the Public Accounts Committee. Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy said it is clear that certain information has been withheld from the public. "The breach of trust in this instance is so grave that there will have to be a very clear outline of people being held responsible for what has happened, he said. There should be no commercial sensitivities because at the end of the day, the taxpayers are on the hook for this in this instance licence payers. "This is what Im frustrated about this morning because weve already talked about different media reports, Mr Carthy added. We need to get information directly from RTE. If RTE have information that is in the public interest they need to be putting that out front and centre, not through selective leaks to various newspapers or otherwise. "And they absolutely must come before the Oireachtas... and outline precisely what happened in this instance, he added. Meanwhile, Junior Minister Jack Chambers told The Week in Politics that full disclosure of any other repeated arrangement with anyone else within the organisation must be made public. Independent TD Joan Collins added that the public trust in RTE could now be damaged. She asked: When did the pay scales break with these top presenters and the general RTE pay scales? She called for a thorough independent review, adding there is a clash between public service broadcasting obligations and commercial sensitivities. Andrea Martin, a media lawyer, told the Brendan OConnor Show this morning that the star power of the presenter may have been a motivating factor in what happened. "Nobody wants to be the one who loses Ryan Tubridy. Nobody wants that on their record, she said. Ms Martin said this idea of not wanting to lose a star perhaps went right up to Dee Forbes. "She has said in her statement that at all times she did what she thought was right for RTE. Nobody seems to have stood back and [asked]: Is it? Is it best for RTE to be operating in this way? "Commercial imperatives have led to poor judgement in the past. And I think this is another occasion where what was seen as commercial imperatives has led to poor judgement, she added. And it's absolutely heart breaking. She compared the situation to family being torn apart by an internal row and have total disappointment in each other, adding: Its a heart breaking thing for RTE and its a heart breaking thing for the public. Ms Martin added that there is no explanation that would make what happened acceptable. Host Brendan OConnor said Ryan Tubridy, his agent Noel Kelly and suspended RTE Director General Dee Forbes had all been contacted to come on the programme. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has refused to say whether he or Fine Gael paid for the partys long-serving legal adviser Kevin OHiggins to represent him in the ethics case over undeclared donations from businessman Michael Stone. OHiggins, a former Law Society president, features in correspondence with the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) which decided last month not to take any action against Donohoe over his failure to declare donations in two successive general election campaigns. Donohoes spokesperson declined to comment on whether or not OHiggins was paid for his services, and whether these costs were met by Fine Gael or by Donohoe personally. Records released by Sipo also show Donohoes election agent, Fergus ORourke, asked for a copy of the complaint, but that Sipo declined his request. Donohoe failed to declare in two successive election returns that Michael Stone of engineering firm Designer Group paid thousands of euro towards the cost of campaign posters in his constituency during the 2016 and 2020 general elections. The Fine Gael politician was forced to apologise over the controversy in January and gave two Dail statements. He also amended his election returns, which ultimately led Sipo to decide not to pursue the matter further. Stone subsequently resigned from the board of the Land Development Agency and as chair of the North East Inner City (NEIC) taskforce. Records show Sipo wrote to Donohoe last January 13, to inform him about the complaint regarding a possible breach of the Electoral Act in that he had failed to declare a donation in the form of services provided before and after the 2016 election. ARCHIVE: Why was Paschal Donohoe in trouble with Sipo? Eleven days later, Fine Gaels director of elections in Dublin Central John Gannon wrote to Sipo to outline details of another undisclosed donation in the 2020 campaign. He said the organisation had discovered an unauthorised corporate donation of 434.20 was unknowingly accepted by Fine Gael Dublin Central in early 2020 in the form of the use of vehicles from a registered corporate donor, the commercial value of which exceeds the maximum allowable donation limit. Gannon said the amount above the 200 corporate donation limit 234.50 was being paid back to the Designer Group. This breach was not done intentionally; we very much regret that this happened and the delay in becoming aware of it, he said, adding that an amended election expense form would also be submitted. Having considered the responses of Donohoe, ORourke and subsequent amended election returns, Sipo determined it was not in the public interest to carry out an inquiry or refer the matter to the DPP, and that it was not of sufficient gravity. On this basis, it decided to close the matter. The countrys most controversial civil servant personally intervened to end his departments sponsorship of the hit RTE show Operation Transformation. The Department of Health had been paying around 283,000 a year to sponsor the programme through its Healthy Ireland initiative but last year that arrangement was brought to an abrupt halt. Internal records reveal how Department of Health secretary general Robert Watt had severe reservations in 2022 about sponsoring the programme. Mr Watt only signed off on the deal with a heavy heart but said it should not continue beyond that, according to records released under FOI. An email from October last year said: The secretary general had severe reservations about sponsoring it in 2022, but approved it after some engagement from your predecessor. Mr Watts involvement in the sponsorship deal began in late 2021 when he sought additional information from colleagues on the background and rationale for it. The secretary general is currently paid 298,000 annually, and is due another pay rise in October, which will bring him over the 300,000 mark more than the Operation Transformation sponsorship was worth each year. He was provided with an overview by a senior civil servant. As discussed, supplementary e-submission for review and approval please, it said. Mr Watt signed off on it saying: Approved with a heavy heart!! But we need to review next year. Thank you. Robert. An email later sent by the secretary general in December 2021 reiterated his point: This is the last year! His colleague, a principal officer in the department, responded: Thanks for this, noted re: the heavy heart! I am more than happy for a full review and consideration next year to evaluate appropriateness of any future involvement and long before any discussion with programme producers. In October last year, RTE contacted the Department of Health to say that while it understood sponsorship was no longer an option, it was wondering if Healthy Ireland would still support the programme initiative. An internal department email explained how it had sponsored the show to the tune of between 270,000 and 283,000 a year. The arrangement originally stemmed from the Governments Keep Well resilience campaign during the Covid-19 pandemic. It had required significant work for the Healthy Ireland co-ordinator during the time in which Operation Transformation was being filmed, the email said. There was also large amounts of work in weekly engagements with RTE and ensuring experts provided snippet videos for social media. The email said: However the Sec Gen made it clear that he didnt support continuing the sponsorship into 2023. We informed RTE that we wouldnt be renewing the sponsorship a few months ago. Internal records also detail how the department sought to rebut suggestions the sponsorship deal had ended due to a backlash from eating disorder groups. The programme has attracted some controversy, with some saying it can be triggering for those who have suffered from eating disorders. A Department of Health spokesperson said: Operation Transformation has continued without the Healthy Ireland sponsorship for its current 2023 season. The many positive elements of the show, which align with the Healthy Ireland goals, continue to expand. They added that its Lights Up campaign with GAA clubs had been particularly successful, allowing tens of thousands of people to exercise safely away from dark and busy roads. Asked why Mr Watt was opposed to extending the sponsorship deal, the Department of Health said it had no comment. Tributes have been paid to a construction company owner and well known GAA player who died in a road collision in Co Meath on Saturday. He has been named as Denis Kealy, in his 40s, and a native of Dunshaughlin. The Rathbeggan-based founder and owner of the Keamc construction company was involved in a single car collision at Piercetown, Dunboyne, at around 2.30pm on Saturday. He was rushed by ambulance to a Hospital in Dublin, however he tragically later died of his injuries. His death comes just over six months after the death of his sister Maria, who died from an illness last December. The Kealys are a well-known GAA family with Denis featuring in the celebrated Dunshaughlin three-in-a-row county SFC successes some 20 years ago, which led to Leinster victory and an All-Ireland campaign. He continued to support the Dunshaughlin and Royal Gaels club as a sponsor. In a social media tribute to Mr Kealy this morning, the Dunshaughlin and Royal Gaels club said: "It is with deepest sadness and a heavy heart that we write on the sudden and tragic loss of Denis Kealy. "Our sincere condolences to the Kealy family, relatives and friends. As a whole community, we would ask that you remember the family at this very difficult time." Mr Kealy is survived by his wife Charlene and family. No Funeral arrangements have been made as yet. A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision in Dunboyne, Co Meath, on Saturday, 24th June, 2023. The single vehicle collision occurred on the R154 at Piercetown near Dunboyne at approximately 2:30pm." Gardai in Ashbourne have appealed to any witnesses to the collision to contact them. "Any road users who were travelling in on the R154 near Dunboyne at the time of the collision who may have camera footage (including dash cam), is asked to make this available to investigating gardai." Anyone with information is asked to contact Ashbourne garda station on 01 8010600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station, a garda spokesperson added. A WOMAN who bravely dived into the sea in a bid to save her child in difficulty in the water has died. Gardai, paramedics and units of the Coast Guard and RNLI attended Ballycroneen Strand in east Cork shortly after 1pm today after reports of two people in difficulty in the water. The east Cork strand is idyllic but can be prone to strong tides and rip currents. It is understood a 10-year-old boy got into difficulty in the water and his mother, who spotted what had happened, courageously went into the sea in a bid to save her youngster. Both ended up in difficulty. The alarm was raised by concerned onlookers and two units of the RNLI from Ballycotton and Crosshaven were tasked to attend the scene. The Coast Guard's Sikorsky sea and rescue helicopter was also launched and raced to the scene from Waterford. It is understood that two casualties were taken from the water within minutes of the emergency services arriving at the scene. One was rescued by the Coast Guard helicopter crew while the other was recovered by the RNLI units. Both were immediately brought for first aid. The woman was landed at Ballycotton Pier and given emergency medical treatment before being taken to Cork University Hospital (CUH) in a critical condition. Emergency medical attention was provided for both by paramedics who had also raced to the scene. Despite desperate efforts by medical staff to stabilise the woman's condition at CUH, she was pronounced dead a short time later. A post mortem examination will take place at CUH on Monday. The woman is not understood to be an Irish national, although she has been resident in the Cork area for some time. Her son was treated for shock and minor injuries. However, the injuries involved are not understood to be life threatening. Onlookers watched in shock as the drama of the air sea rescue unfolded directly in front of them. One official said a number of families were in tears as the rescued mother and son were recovered from the water and brought for emergency medical treatment. Locals said the emergency response to the incident was remarkable - with multiple agencies deploying units within minutes of the alarm being raised. Weather conditions in the area at the time were described as very humid with patches of sunshine and occasional thundershowers. Ballycroneen is located in east Cork a short distance from Ballycotton, Cloyne and Shanagarry. Most daytrippers and tourists head to Garryvoe strand located further east while Ballycroneen is largely used by locals as it is traditionally a much quieter beach. However, given its location just to the east of the entrance to Cork harbour, the waters off Ballycroneen can be subject to strong tides and currents. The strand is particularly noted for having very strong rip currents offshore. Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 26th Paul Waldman: Donald Trump has plan to deconstruct US if he gets second term in White House Lisa Somers and Marie Kehoe (organisers) at the Afternoon Tea event, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, in the Presentation Centre. The event was organised to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society and the organisers were very appreciative of the support show to it by local people and businesses. It was a very relaxed event and provided a great opportunity for people to get together over a cuppa and light refreshments while at the same time raise money for a very worthy cause. The event was organised by Lisa Somers and Marie Kehoe, who are both cancer survivors, and who both have teams in the forthcoming Relay For Life event. Lisa expressed delight at how the fundraiser went and said 2,010 was raised, which was a great amount of money. "We were very happy with it, she said, while acknowledging everyone in the community who gave their support to it in whatever way they did. Design and fashion summer camps in Dublin this July, for ages 8-13. For more, see creativeassemble.com The limited-edition collection is available in the Dunnes Stores Stephens Green, Dublin; Bandon Road, Co Cork, and Eyre Square, Galway Tadhg (eight) and Cliodhna (10) Cunneen from Limerick being shown around Limerick and the Castle by the animators at King John's Castle at the launch of the new Discover Limerick Pass the pass offers access to the top attractions in Limerick for a total price lower than paying for each attraction individually. See discoverlimerickpass.com Photo: Brian Arthur Failte Ireland and Limerick City & County Council have recently launched Limericks official sightseeing pass the Discover Limerick Pass, the first destination sightseeing pass of its kind to be offered on the Wild Atlantic Way. It allows access to the top attractions in Limerick for a total price lower than paying for each attraction individually, with options of one-, two- or three-day passes. LH See discoverlimerickpass.com Tadhg (eight) and Cliodhna (10) Cunneen from Limerick being shown around Limerick and the Castle by the animators at King John's Castle at the launch of the new Discover Limerick Pass the pass offers access to the top attractions in Limerick for a total price lower than paying for each attraction individually. See discoverlimerickpass.com Photo: Brian Arthur Another aisle for weddings Joanne Hynes has just launched The Wedding Collection as part of her line with Dunnes Stores. For the bride who truly wants something different, the collection includes a lace coat, suiting, a sequinned dress and embellished headbands. LH Muse Lady dress, 200, Joanne Hynes, Dunnes Stores. The limited-edition collection is available in the Dunnes Stores Stephens Green, Dublin; Bandon Road, Co Cork, and Eyre Square, Galway The limited-edition Fall Hard for Love wedding collection is available in these branches of Dunnes Stores: St Stephens Green Shopping Centre, D2; Bandon Road, Co Cork, and Eyre Square, Galway Creators assemble If you are still trapped in the panic of booking a summer camp, Creative Assemble school of design, run by designer Mia OConnell, is hosting design and fashion summer camps in Dublin this July, for ages 8-13. LH For more, see creativeassemble.com Design and fashion summer camps in Dublin this July, for ages 8-13. For more, see creativeassemble.com Head master If its more than the madness of modern life that has you scratching your head, Aveeno has relaunched its scalp-soothing haircare range, all with colloidal oats to calm irritation. Time to bring matters to a head. SC Aveeno Scalp Soothing Haircare in Fresh Greens Blend, shampoo and conditioner, 8.99 each, available nationwide Aveeno Scalp Soothing Haircare in Fresh Greens Blend, shampoo and conditioner, 8.99 each, available nationwide Midlife wisdom Theres a whole lot of menopause going on, and not all advice is created equally. Elaine Harriss book Wise is ideal for anyone experiencing both information overload and an inability to make any sense of it all, which, lets face it, is pretty common in menopause. Wise by Elaine Harris, published by Gill Books, 19.99 Harriss background as a yoga teacher is evident throughout, with excellent drawings to illustrate how those practices can ground, centre and strengthen, both mentally and physically. A particular favourite is the wood-chopper pose for anger release. SC Wise by Elaine Harris, is published by Gill Books All back to theirs If you long to relive your 1990s youth, but worry it might give you a heart attack, check out Analog Rhythms at the Racket Space basement of The Bernard Shaw in Dublin 3. Curated by award-winning music site 909originals.com and Steve Wynne-Jones, it features a huge collection of photos, memorabilia and flyers, as well as war stories from The Furnace, The Kitchen, Sides DC and the rest. There are side events too, with acid-house bingo, DJ performances and even a panel discussion, just in case you werent feeling old already. SC The Bernard Shaw, Cross Guns Bridge, D9, July 14-16, tickets from 5, see bodytonicmusic.com Summer snooze The warm summer nights are a sweat for anyone with a baby. You want them to sleep but you dont want an overheating situation either. Cork-based babyboo.ie has 1-tog SnuggleBoo sleep bags, with sleeves you can remove if the weathers really warm. The brand also has sleepsuits (50) for small ones aged up to three, with detachable sleeves and feet. SC SnuggleBoo sleeping bag, 50, see babyboo.ie There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for all counties in Leinster as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Tipperary and WaterfordSeparately, Enniscorthy in Co Wexford had reports of flash flooding following heavy hail It comes as Enniscorthy in Co Wexford also saw some flash flooding occurring, following heavy hail which was reported earlier this evening. Hailstones in Enniscorthy this afternoon. Photo: Padraig Byrne (@byrne_padraig) There is a moderate risk of thunderstorms for all counties in Leinster as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford. The weather warning is valid from 2.20pm until 7pm today. A similar warning has also been issued to Antrim, Armagh and Down by the UK Met Office. Thunderstorms may cause some localised flooding and disruption in those counties this afternoon. The warning is valid from 2pm until 7pm today. Wet and breezy conditions moved eastwards across the country this morning with bright, sunny spells and showers expected to follow. This evening, showers could turn heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures will reach between 17 to 21 degrees, becoming warmest in the east of the country. The UV Index will reach moderate to high levels throughout the day, with UV levels increasing under clear skies. Tonight, clear skies and scattered showers are to be expected, with lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees. The Indo Daily: Has the Long Island serial killer been caught at last? The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out relatively peacefully Saturday after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. Kristel Candelario, 31, was arrested and charged after her baby girl, Jailyn, was found unresponsive An Ohio mother has been charged with murder after leaving her 16-month-old baby daughter home alone for 10 days as she went on vacation. Image Credit: Indian Army Imphal: The Indian Army released a dozen militants in Manipurs Itham village in Imphal East after a mob of over 1200 people led by women gheraoed the security forces. The Army said the militants were released to ensure the safety of the civilians and end the nearly day-long stand-off. In a statement, the Army said 12 KYKL cadres were apprehended in Itham village (06 km East of Andro) in Imphal East along with arms, ammunition, and war-like stores. The operation was undertaken based on specific intelligence and a specific search was launched after laying a cordon to avoid hardships to other locals in the area. In the ensuing operation, positive identification of self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttamthe mastermind of 6 DOGRA ambush case of 2015 amongst the 12 apprehended cadres was done. However, a mob of approximately 1200- 1500 led by women and the local leaders immediately surrounded the target area and prevented the security forces from going ahead with the operation. #IndianArmy released 12 KYKL militants, including mastermind of 6 DOGRA ambush case of 2015, in #Manipurs #Ithamvillage caught with arms, ammunition, and war-like stores after 1200 people led by women gheraoed them. #ManipurViolence #Insurgency pic.twitter.com/KMpwge7kiE India Blooms (@indiablooms) June 25, 2023 Repeated appeals to the aggressive mob to let the security forces carry on with operation as per law did not yield any positive result, the statement said. Keeping in view the sensitivity of the use of kinetic force against a large irate mob led by women and likely casualties due to such action, a considered decision was taken to hand over all 12 cadres to the local leader, the Army said. The Army lauded the decision of the Operational Commander. Mature decision on the part of the Operational Commander shows the humane face of the Indian Army to avoid any collateral damage during the ongoing unrest in Manipur, it said. For over a month, Manipur has been reeling under persistent ethnic violence between the Meiteis, residing in and around the state capital Imphal Valley, and the Kuki tribe, settled in the hills. The situation went out of hand after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' on May 3 in Manipur's hill districts. Massive clashes erupted in the region as a response to the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The unrest in Manipur was preceded by conflicts arising from the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had triggered a series of smaller protests. The confrontations between the two ethnic communities have resulted in the loss of over 100 lives. Image tweeted by @narendramodi New Delhi/Cairo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his State Visit to Egypt, met with two prominent yoga instructors. On Saturday evening, the PM met with Yoga instructors Nada Adel and Reem Jabak. In a tweet, PM lauded the efforts made by the two Yoga proponents. He wrote: Nada Adel and Reem Jabak are making commendable efforts to make Yoga popular across Egypt. Had a wonderful conversation with them in Cairo. Nada Adel and Reem Jabak are making commendable efforts to make Yoga popular across Egypt. Had a wonderful conversation with them in Cairo. pic.twitter.com/rDBD2lfYEE Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2023 Prime Minister praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. They informed the Prime Minister of the great enthusiasm for Yoga in Egypt, a statement said. Narendra Modi Twitter page New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo during his State Visit to Egypt. The Prime Minister was received by Minister of Tourism & Antiquities of Egypt, Dr. Mostafa Waziri. Prime Minister also met the leaders of Bohra community, who are actively involved in the upkeep of this Fatimid era Shia Mosque and highlighted the strong people to people ties between India and Egypt. Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture. pic.twitter.com/4VgzkagHcB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Modi tweeted: "Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture." Modi arrived in Egypt after completing his US visit. Image: PIB Cairo: PM Narendra Modi interacted with Indian community members on Saturday in Cairo, during his State visit to Egypt. In his interaction with them, Prime Minister lauded the community for their contribution towards strengthening India-Egypt ties. Over 300 members of the Indian diaspora, comprising students, professionals, and businesspersons, participated in the event. Modi is currently visiting Egypt after completing his US visit. Image: UNI New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US as "historic" and said it redefined the strategic participation in various areas of common goals between the two countries. "During this visit, many important agreements have been signed on the subject of defense production, technology and employment," Sitharaman said while addressing a press conference here at party headquarters in New Delhi. Speaking over the importance of the visit, the Finance Minister said, "The agreement between HAL and GE for the joint production of F414 aircraft engines was one of the major achievements of PM Modi's visit to the US". "As a significant and meaningful milestone in the growth of the semiconductor eco-system, Micron will set up its semiconductor and test plant in Gujarat entailing a total investment of $ 2.75 billion" she added. The Finance Minister said, "It is expected to create nearly 5,000 new direct jobs and around 15,000 indirect jobs over the next few years". Talking about PM address to joint session of the US Congress, She said very few people have got the opportunity to address the Congress and the Prime Minister was invited by both the parties of America. "For the second time for a PM to be called to address a joint session of the US Congress is a matter of pride for all of us in this country" she added. On Yoga, She said Around 135 nationalities gathered at the UN Headquarters lawns to perform Yoga along with PM Modi during his visit to the US. "It is great to note that under Modi's leadership, Yoga is being popularized all over the world" Nirmala said. Over the ongoing visit to Egypt, Nirmala Sitharaman said he has been conferred with 'Order of the Nile', Egypt's highest honour. "The Prime Minister has received 13 international awards till date. It is a matter of pride for the country" she added. (With UNI inputs) Image: PIB India Vice-President of Lockheed Martin, William Blair, has said he feels the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to US will take the relationship between the two countries to the next level. Speaking to ANI, William Blair said, Prime Minister Modis visit is truly historic. This visit is going to take our relationship (India-US ties) to the next level and I think thats a cross-hold sector for supply chain resilience. We also look forward to our collaboration and cooperation in defence and aerospace. Lockheed Martin, an American multinational corporation specializing in aerospace, arms, defense, information security, and technology, has exported nearly USD 650 million worth of defence products from India to the US, Blair said. We already have two joint ventures with TATA in India for over a decade now. We are engaged in supply chains with hundreds of suppliers and we have already exported nearly USD 650 million worth of defence products from India to the US Image: PIB New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi was received by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt,Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Sunday. "The two leaders warmly recalled the State Visit of President Sisi as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations in January 2023, and welcomed the momentum it has imparted to bilateral relations," read an official statement. They agreed that the newly established India Unit in Egyptian Cabinet was a useful tool in steering bilateral collaborations. The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries, particularly in areas like trade and investment, information technology, defence and security, renewable energy, agriculture, health, culture and people to people ties. Prime Minister and President Sisi also discussed further cooperation in G-20, highlighting the issues of food and energy insecurity, climate change and the need for Global South to have a concerted voice. The Prime Minister looked forward to welcoming President Sisi in New Delhi in September 2023 for the G20 Leaders Summit. An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" was signed by the to leaders. Three MoUs in the fields of Agriculture, Archaeology & Antiquities and Competition Law were also signed. Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly and a number of other senior Cabinet Ministers were present. From the Indian side, EAM, NSA and senior officials were present. PIB Cairo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described his visit to Egypt as 'historic'. " My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial , the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection," Modi tweeted. My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection. pic.twitter.com/tpoTK3inxH Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Modi arrived in Egypt after completing his visit to the USA. The two-day visit was the PMs first visit to Egypt, and the first bilateral prime ministerial visit to Egypt from India in over two decades. PM Modi, who was conferred Egypts highest civilian honour the Order of the Nile by President El-Sisi, in a tweet expressed his gratitude. It is with great humility that I accept the 'Order of the Nile. I thank the Government and people of Egypt for this honour. It indicates the warmth and affection they have towards India and the people of our nation. pic.twitter.com/ZTh3g0nn9P Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 PM Modi, who visited the Great Pyramids of Egypt along with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly, said the two leaders had a rich discussion on their respective countries cultural histories. I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come. pic.twitter.com/WiXFhTP4QP Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come. The PM had earlier visited the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery where he paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who died fighting in Egypt and Palestine during the first and second world wars. In a tweet, he said: A tribute to Indias brave soldiers, whose courage will never be forgotten. A tribute to Indias brave soldiers, whose courage will never be forgotten. At the Heliopolis War Memorial, I paid homage to our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War in Egypt. pic.twitter.com/m1DkXbNK9g Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 At the Heliopolis War Memorial, I paid homage to our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War in Egypt. Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture. pic.twitter.com/4VgzkagHcB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Of his visit to the Al-Hakim mosque in Cairo, he posted: Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture. Image Credit: Twitter video grab Minsk (Belarus): The head of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), Yevgeny Prigozhin has accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate the situation, the Belarusian presidential office said on Saturday. On Saturday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed his Belarusian counterpart on the situation in southern Russia around the PMC Wagner, with the two leaders agreeing on coordinated actions, according to Lukashenko's office. Pool Pervogo Telegram channel quoted Lukashenko's Office as saying, "In line with the agreements and as agreed with the Russian president, the Belarusian president held talks with the head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, after additionally clarifying the situation via its own channels. Dmitry #Peskov: An agreement has been reached that #Wagner PMC will leave for their field camps, and #Prigozhin himself will leave for #Belarus. The authorities will not persecute those Wagnerites who took part in the rebellion, given their front-line merits. NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 24, 2023 As a result, agreements on unacceptability of unleashing a bloody slaughter on the Russian territory were reached. Yevgeny Prigozhin has accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of Wagner troops on the Russian territory and take further steps to de-escalate tensions." Prigozhin said he is turning the columns around and returning the "Wagner" PMC to the camps "Now is the moment when blood can be spilled. Therefore, realizing all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be spilled, on one side, we are turning our columns pic.twitter.com/yYRa6OUWQT NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 24, 2023 As Wagner mercenary group came closer, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin declared a state of emergency in Russias capital on Saturday. Moscow Sobyanin said that a counterterrorist operation had been declared in Moscow and that the situation was complicated. "Dear citizens, a counterterrorist operation has been declared in Moscow. The situation is complicated," Sobyanin wrote on social media. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of the head of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), Yevgeny Prigozhin. The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group PMC as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. (With UNI/Sputnik inputs) Image Credit: UNI Moscow: Members of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) have left Russias Rostov and are headed for field camps, Rostov regional Governor Vasily Golubev says. "The column of PMC Wagner left Rostov and is headed to their field camps," Golubev said on Telegram shortly after midnight. A Sputnik correspondent reported late on Saturday night that Wagner members had started to leave the territory of the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don and the situation in the city was calm. Earlier in the day, the Belarusian presidential office said that PMC Wagner head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had accepted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that Wagner troops were returning back to their field camps. (With UNI/Sputnik inputs) Image Credit: UNI Washington: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed the situation involving the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) and its head Yevgeny Prigozhin with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau over the phone, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "Secretary Blinken spoke today with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau to discuss the ongoing situation in Russia. Secretary Blinken welcomed Polands sustained assistance to Ukraine and its people and underscored that U.S. support to Ukraine will not change," Miller said in a Saturday statement. The spokesperson added that the US will remain in close coordination with its Allies and partners as the situation in Russia develops. Earlier on Saturday, Miller said that Blinken held a phone call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, discussing the recent events in Russia. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said on Saturday that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the situation in Russia with the defense ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom and agreed to stay in close coordination with the Allies. Blinken discussed the situation in Russia with G7 foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of Prigozhin. The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group PMC as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. Later in the day, the Belarusian presidential office said that Prigozhin accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that Wagner troops were returning back to their field camps. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday evening that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be terminated and he would leave for Belarus under guarantees given by Putin. The spokesman added that members of the Wagner PMC who were involved in the Saturday events would not be prosecuted given their distinguished service during Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. Image: Unsplash Gaborone: About 49 vehicles caught fire at Jwaneng mining town around 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday in southern Botswana, where the owners were attending the 2023 Toyota Desert Race. The owners of the vehicles returned to a shock at the designated parking spot after witnessing the Toyota Desert Race. Most of the cars were burnt to ashes, while some were still burning. No deaths or injuries have been recorded so far. The police are still investigating the cause of the fire. (With UNI inputs) Image: Unsplash Taipei: Taiwan is calling on Australia to send a military attache to the island so that both sides can share their assessment of the situation with China, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told The Australian newspaper on Sunday. "I think it is very important when the Australian government is paying so much more attention to the regional security issues for the two countries to be able to share their observations, their assessment of the situation," Wu said in an interview. The newspaper specified that the United States, Japan and Singapore have long placed their attaches on the island in order to maintain communication with Taiwanese intelligence services. Wu added that Taiwan also wanted to send a military attache to the Canberra office. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing regards the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous entity but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official foreign contacts with Taipei and regards Chinese sovereignty over the island as indisputable. The latest escalation around Taiwan took place in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Beijing responded by launching massive three-day military drills near the island in what it called a "warning" to Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers. (With UNI inputs) On a bustling street in Peshawar, the rhythmic chaos of daily life was shattered by a single gunshot. The lifeless body of Manmohan Singh, a young Sikh shopkeeper of approximately 29-30 years old, tragically bore testimony to the reality of religious persecution that has become increasingly prevalent in Pakistan. Manmohans life was taken in his own shop, a place that should have offered him safety and comfort. His story echoes a growing trend of violence against religious minorities in Pakistan, a disturbing issue that demands international attention. Manmohans family had already escaped the Orakzai Agency, relocating to Peshawar in search of security. Today, their hope has been extinguished with a bullet, in a city they considered a refuge. The tragic irony lies in the fact that Manmohan was not the first Sikh to be killed this year in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province. Two Sikhs were brutally murdered in March, as the community continues to reel under the burden of persecution. Pakistans constitution ostensibly guarantees freedom of religion, but in practice, minorities like Sikhs face tremendous discrimination. They are continually marginalized, ill-treated, and even killed because of their faith. This escalating violence has led to a slow but steady exodus of Sikhs from KPK province to places perceived to offer greater safety, such as Panja Sahib, Nankana Sahib, and Lahore. Some are even contemplating crossing borders, seeking refuge in India. Theyre being uprooted from their homes, forced to leave their businesses and livelihoods behind, all in the pursuit of a life free from the looming threat of religious intolerance. This pattern of religious intolerance is not limited to Sikhs; Christians, Hindus, Ahmadiyya, and even smaller sects within Islam face the wrath of extremists. This abhorrent mistreatment is tearing at the fabric of Pakistans societal dynamics, turning it into a monochrome blanket of oppression. The international community must take notice of this ongoing persecution in Pakistan. Silence is complicity, and the world cannot afford to stay silent while religious minorities are being systematically targeted. Efforts need to be channeled to pressurize the Pakistani government to take concrete steps to protect religious minorities and ensure justice for victims like Manmohan Singh. Pakistan needs to live up to its constitutional commitment to religious freedom, and this can only be achieved by enforcing laws that protect all of its citizens, irrespective of their faith. As we mourn the loss of Manmohan Singh and too many others like him, its critical to confront the reality of religious persecution in Pakistan. Its high time the world wakes up to the religious intolerance brewing in the nation and lends a voice to the voiceless. We must band together to fight against this onslaught of religious persecution and strive for a world where everyone, irrespective of their faith, can live in peace and security. (Text and Image: Khalsavox.com) Image: Unsplash Islamabad: At least one person was killed and 11 others injured on Sunday in an attack on a house in Bannu district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police told media. Police said that the incident took place in Mera Khel area of the district early in the morning, when unknown men attacked the residence of a local citizen with a couple of hand grenades, followed by firing, and fled. The explosion left men, women and children injured, said police, adding that the injured were shifted to a local hospital. According to the reports, police registered the case while the complainant told them that he had no enmity with anyone. No group claimed responsibility for the attack yet. (With UNI inputs) The City of Mississauga office on Friday observed the 38th anniversary of the 1985 terrorist attack on Air India Flight by lowering its flags at half-mast. June 23 is remembered as the National Day of Remembrance for victims of Terrorism, reports ANI. As Canada observed the Kanishka plane crash anniversary, posters across roads in Greater Toronto areas read: Khalistan ideology brought the largest act of terrorism on Canadians and Deadliest Terror Attack in Canadian History 329 killed by Khalistani Terrorist. Liberal MP Chandra Arya marked the day and posted a video on Twitter where he said: "Today is National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. 38 years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 operating on the Montreal-London-Delhi-Mumbai route was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists. It killed all 329 passengers and crew members, including 268 Canadian citizens who were mostly Indo-Canadians." Calling the attack the largest mass killing in Canadian history, Chandra Arya condemned the recent tableau parade in Ontario celebrating the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The bombing of this Air India Flight is the largest mass killing in Canadian history. It was the deadliest act of aviation terrorism in the world until 9/11. Unfortunately, many Canadians are not aware that even today, the ideology responsible for this terrorist attack is still alive among few people in Canada. Recent celebrations of the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Khalistan supporters, glorifying violence and hate, attacks on Hindu temples, and honouring the convicted killer of the Air India bombing, all these shows that the dark forces have been energized again and point to dreadful times ahead, he said on Twitter. I strongly urge authorities at all levels of the government to take note that the ideology responsible for the Air India bombing is very active again in Canada. We need to be vigilant. On this National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, my sympathies are with the families of the victims. Their pain never goes away. I stand in solidarity with them, said Arya. Do you know about the attack? The incident took place on June 23, 1985 and can easily be called one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in world history. All aboard airplane Kanishka, 329 passengers and crew, were killed. Since then, this day has become a day of grief and remembrance for the people who lost their loved ones in the incident. Image:Chandra Arya Twitter page Today is National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism. 38 years back, on this day, Air India Flight 182 operating on the MontrealLondonDelhiMumbai route was blown-up mid-air from a bomb planted by Canadian Khalistani extremists. It killed all 329 passengers and crew pic.twitter.com/X3YvEYiqT8 Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) June 23, 2023 In the midst of the heartbreaking sadness felt by the families of the five OceanGate Titan submarine passengers, the organisation is under fire for allegations that it has already begun the process of hiring a new sub pilot. OceanGate's job posting for submersible pilot draws flak It really dont matter if youre an office worker for the damn billionaire CEO. These jobs will replace you in a heartbeat #oceangate #titan pic.twitter.com/4FkBGf2f9w joi is over it. (@bruneaux_mahs) June 23, 2023 Tragically, the submarine went missing on Sunday while visiting the Titanic debris, and it has been established that the people on board died as a result of a tragic "catastrophic implosion." However, the internet community has voiced fury by uploading screenshots of a job posting by the company seeking a Submersible Pilot/Marine Technician to join their team, which has since been withdrawn. Twitter OceanGate posted a job listing for a sub pilot who would "help manage and operate our fleet of manned submersibles and support vessels." The ad garnered a lot of hate online The advertisement went on to say, "We are looking for a committed and competent individual with a combination of strong mechanical and interpersonal skills who can work on sensitive marine equipment, perform regular maintenance, and operate complex systems to support dive operations." It is unclear when this advertisement was uploaded online, whether before or after the sad incident. However, internet users believe it was released shortly after search teams announced their inability to locate the missing vessel. This infuriated them, and they began to criticise the corporation for its apparent insensitivity. It didn't stop there, as Twitter was bombarded with tweets condemning their behaviour. It really dont matter if youre an office worker for the damn billionaire CEO. These jobs will replace you in a heartbeat #oceangate #titan pic.twitter.com/4FkBGf2f9w joi is over it. (@bruneaux_mahs) June 23, 2023 Jobs really dont care bout you, the submarine company Ocean Gate looking for captains already on indeed. $200k a trip Deemayweather (@_Deemayweather) June 22, 2023 **Wanna Know How Quick A Job Will Replace You? #OceanGate ** This Quick: pic.twitter.com/rhxUTpgJPj Cobi V (@CobiVoid) June 23, 2023 Ocean Gate posted a job opening saying they were looking for a submersible pilot yesterday. This is why you shouldn't kill yourself for any job, bc you aren't important to the company. Ocean Gate was looking for a new employee before they announced their old employee died! Adam Scott (@justadamscott) June 24, 2023 What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Ukrainians had hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces Six of the 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims for this years hajj exercise have died in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) disclosed. The head of NAHCON medical team for the pilgrimage, Dr. Usman Galadima, disclosed this in Makkah on Saturday night, June 24, 2023. Speaking during a pre-Arafat meeting with stakeholders, he said two of the deceased pilgrims were from Osun State; and one each from Kaduna and Plateau. READ ALSO: 2023 Hajj: Saudi Arabia Restores 95,000 Slots To Nigeria After COVID Suspension He said one of them died of cardiac arrest; and others, of illnesses he did not disclosed. Galadima, whose presentation was tagged Vital Events as of June 24, 2023, said the team attended to 30 pilgrims with mental health challenge. He, however, assured that the patients would perform hajj as they are now in a stable condition. He said seven pregnancies were recorded among the pilgrims; two from Sokoto State and one each from Adamawa, Kwara, Yobe, Plateau and Katsina. Galadima also disclosed that two miscarriages were recorded; while a diabetic pilgrim had his leg amputated. He said his team offered consultations to a total of 15,860 Nigerian pilgrims and referred about 100 to Saudi hospitals. Earlier, the chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikirullah Kunle Hassan, said all the 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims had been airlifted for the exercise. I want to appreciate the support and guidance of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima for their support in many ways. Our being here today is made possible for their support and guidance on the leadership of NAHCON, he said. The Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the decision of Governor Hyacinth Alia to ban open grazing in the state. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the Prohibition of Open Grazing and Ranches Establishment Law, which was enacted in 2017 and signed into law by the former governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, was designed to curb the influx of herdsmen into the state effectively. Recall that during his election campaign, Governor Alia had noted that the possibility of reviewing the law upon assuming office, raising concerns that his administration might abandon the measure. However, Governor Alias administration has adopted the law to tackle the security crisis affecting the state. Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Saturday, June 24, PDP through its Publicity Secretary in the state, Bemgba Iortyom, commended the governor for taking a final stand on the matter of ban on open grazing of livestock in Benue State. READ MORE: Ortom, Deputy Drags, Benue Govt To Court Over Asset Recovery Moves The party urged the governor to create an enabling environment for the herdsmen who are willing to embrace ranching to do so, saying those who are unwilling should be chased out of the state. We welcome the governors stand and urge him to back his words regarding his new stand with action by getting those herdsmen willing to embrace ranching to take to the practice immediately while those unwilling to do so should leave the state, PDP said. An ex-parte motion was at the weekend granted by a Kano Federal High Court presided over by Justice S.A. Amobeda, preventing Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf from demolishing buildings and other properties in the State. A resident of Kano, Saminu Muhammad, filed the ex-parte motion through a lawyer and in response to the motion, the court ordered the State government and its representatives to stop demolishing additional properties along BUK Road. The judge, Amobeda specifically ordered the State government to halt plans for demolishing the applicants property, located on No. 41 and 43 Salanta, along BUK Road, Kano. Respondents joined in the suit are the Attorney-General of Kano State, the Solicitor General of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State, the Kano State government, and the Kano State Bureau for Land Management. Others include the Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority, Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police, Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Having listened to the motion moved by the Muhammads Counsel, Nasiru Aliyu, the court ordered an accelerated hearing of the case and adjourned the suit to July 10, 2023. READ ALSO: Kano: Declare Assets Before Screening Or Forfeit Your Posts Gov. Kabir Yusuf Directs Commissioner-Nominees The order partly reads: That Order of this Court is hereby made in the interim, restraining the Respondents by themselves, agents, servant or proxies whatsoever called from encroaching, trespassing, entering, invading, demolishing or revoking the Applicants titles or doing any other act in respect of the Applicants property, No. 41 and 43 situate at Salanta, along BUK road, Kano, covered by Certificate of Occupancy, No. KNMLO8228 and Certificate of Occupancy No. KNMLO8229, pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion. That order of this Honourable Court is hereby made granting leave to the bailiff of this Court to serve the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Respondents with all processes and all subsequent processes in this suit through any staff or officer in the office of the 1st and 2nd Respondents and deeming the service valid, personal and proper. That Order of this Honourable Court is made granting leave to the bailiff of this Court to serve the 7th and 8th Respondents with all processes and all subsequent processes in this suit through the office of the 9th Respondent and deeming the service as valid, personal, and proper. That Order of this Honourable Court is hereby made granting leave to the bailiff of this Court to serve the 10th and 11th Respondents with all processes and all subsequent processes in this suit through the office of the 12th Respondent and deeming the service as valid, personal, and proper. Accelerated hearing is hereby ordered. That Order of this Court and all the processes in this suit shall be served on the respondents. The council chairman of the Ivo Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Mr Emmanuel Ajah, announced on Sunday the arrest of eight kidnappers. It was gathered that the group was accused of killing an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff member, Emmanuel Igwe, and other related criminal activities. The suspects were believed to have abducted Igwes wife and murdered the father of the Ohanaeze youth leader, Ajah Okeafor, while he was harvesting yams. Fortunately, Igwes wife was later rescued unharmed after a ransom was paid. READ MORE: Suspected Herdsmen Kill Ohanaeze Youth Leaders Father In Ebonyi, INEC Staff In Ebonyi Ajah indicated that the kidnappers were pursued to their hideout and captured through the concerted effort of security agencies. We have apprehended eight of them, and we are still searching for the remaining two, who are the major kingpin, he added. The council chairman revealed that the arrested suspects are behind several kidnapping incidents in the area. In response, he pledged to rally security operatives to search their hideout to avert any future incidents. Ajah urged locals to avoid any involvement in criminal activities, cautioning that no one will be spared. He also asked for their assistance in providing valuable information to police to help capture the remaining suspects. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had earlier reported that Some Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have reportedly killed the father of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Leader, Damian Okafor, Pa Ajah Damia Okafor in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. It was gathered that the gunmen also killed the INEC Assistant Electoral Officer attached to Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state, Emmanuel Igwe, and abducted his wife. Demian Okeafor, leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo youth, made this known during a telephone interview with journalists in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State. He said, I was at home after church service when I received a call that my father had been murdered by suspected herdsmen. I tried to rush there but couldnt make it in time. Later, I went to the police station with my younger brother, who was already on-site, and it was confirmed. The media office of Lagos State deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat has described allegations that he renounced his Nigerian citizenship as misleading and inaccurate. Information Nigeria reports that during the Lagos governorship election petition tribunal proceeding on Thursday, Olubusayo Fasidi, an immigration lawyer in the United States, had claimed that Hamzat took an oath of allegiance in the US to renounce his Nigerian citizenship. But Hamzats media office in a statement on Saturday, said the reports circulating were untrue reflections of the proceedings that took place at the tribunal. The media office said the witness tendered two documents a blank form of application for US naturalisation and a blank oath of US allegiance document tagged forms 8CFR/337 and N400 respectively which were admitted and marked as exhibits. The statement read: When the witness was confronted with the fact that the only two documents she was basing her claims on, were merely downloaded blank documents, the witness stated that she had downloaded the blank documents from the official website of the US Embassy, the statement read. The witness was thus unable to produce the actual documents, the specific jurisdiction of the United States and the particular date when Dr Hamzat applied for naturalisation or took the purported oath of allegiance. She equally admitted that she had not attended the ceremony admitting Dr Hamzat as a citizen of the United States of America. READ ALSO: Retain Outstanding Youths From Buhari Administration Hamzat Lawal To Tinubu During her cross-examination by counsel to the 4th respondent (APC), the witness admitted to the fact that the American constitution recognizes dual citizenship with particular reference to the 14th amendment to the constitution of the United States ratified on July 9, 1868. The witness was challenged further that the documents she tendered support the process of application for naturalisation which ultimately culminates in the issuance of an American passport and nothing more. The witness in reaction to additional questions confirmed that she did not need to obtain a Nigerian visiting visa because she entered the country with her Nigerian passport. With respect to the question whether the witness was aware that Dr Hamzat fully disclosed the details of his American citizenship in the Form EC9 submitted to INEC, the witness answered in the affirmative. When the witness was again asked whether she had ever sighted the oath of allegiance of US citizenship form of the 3rd respondent, the witness responded in the affirmative. Following from the above, there is nowhere in the verifiable record of proceedings of the Lagos state governorship election petition tribunal of 21st of June 2023, when the evidence of one Miss Olubusayo Fasidi, a US immigration lawyer, was taken to support the misleading online reports that the incumbent deputy governor of Lagos state has renounced his Nigerian citizenship. The media office further advised the public to disregard the deliberate falsehood, saying the testimony of the witness is under serious challenge. The testimony of the witness in question is under serious challenge and in its final judgment, the tribunal will decide whether her testimony is admissible, given that she did not file a witness statement on oath and the self-contradiction of still using a Nigerian passport whilst claiming to have renounced Nigerian citizenship, the statement added. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has assured that the 10th National Assembly (NASS) will work with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration to modify any laws that impede the countrys growth and development. Akpabio made the submission on Saturday at the Thanksgiving Service held in his honour at the Regina Pacis Auditorium of St. Anne Cathedral Ifuho in the Akwa Ibom regions Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area. He expressed gratitude to the President, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his Senate colleagues for helping him win the position as Senate President. A statement by his media office read, The current National Assembly will rally round and support the programmes of the current administration by eliminating all inhibiting policies affecting the progress and development of the country. We would be partners in progress for the sole benefit of Nigerians. READ ALSO: I Feel Betrayed, But Life Goes On Yari Says After Losing Senate Presidency To Akpabio The former Governor of Akwa Ibom state, who arrived the Victor Attah International Airport to a rousing welcome by indigenes across party lines led by Governor Umoh Eno, assured the people of his District, quality representation as their Senator and President of the Senate. I thank you all for coming out to celebrate Gods goodness in my life and that of my family. I thank you for the support during the campaigns and election proper. To those who didnt vote for me, I will represent you well. Continue to pray for me and my colleagues as we daily navigate and steer the ship of the National Assembly for the bettermentof all Nigerians. I am humbled by this show of love. Humility is all that matters in life. You will see the difference. What I want you to take back home is the fact that Nigerians have elected an uncommon Senate President. We will run an uncommon Senate for the benefit of the uncommon people. That is why I am here today to thank God for what he has done for me, he said. As part of efforts to extend peace and harmony among Nigerians, Christians on Saturday joined Muslims to clear grasses at the Kaduna Mosque praying ground as a way to strengthen ethnic and religious relationship. It was gathered that the Christian youths, comprised of men and women, said their action was part of efforts towards promoting religious tolerance among the different religious communities in Kaduna and the country at large. Ms Jessica Akila and Mercy Bajumi, members of the community Peace Observers (CPO) in Kachia Local Government Area and working under the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) in the State, explained that they attended the exercise which took place at the Eid praying ground. According to them, this was the second time some volunteer Christian youths, women, religious and community elders in the area have joined their Muslim brothers and sisters in large numbers to clear grasses and get rid of trash in the Mosque premises which is the venue for the Eid El Kabir prayers. READ MORE: Sultan Of Sokoto Declares June 19 Dhul-Hijjah, June 28, Eidul Adha They stressed that they came to clear all the grass to beautify the Mosque premises and the general environment. Speaking also, Mr Daniel Bitrus, a Christian youth leader and the team leader of the Community Peace Observers (CPO) in the area, added that they embarked on the exercise to promote religious tolerance, and better understanding among faith adherents. We came here to support our Muslim brothers and sisters towards clearing the environment around the mosque, with sole aim of promoting peace and unity, he said. We were here last year and by the grace of God we are also here today to do the needful. The Federal Government has not lifted the ban on vehicle importation through Seme Border, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has says. Reports had posited during the week that the border was now open to vehicle importation. However, Hussaini Abdullahi, the Customs Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Seme Area Command, who clarified the situation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday, said the government has not made a pronouncement on the border reopening. Abdullahi acknowledged that a proposal was written by some freight forwarders to the FG following an advice from Ademola Adegoroye, the former minister of state for transportation. READ ALSO: FG Approves Re-Opening Of Seme Border For Vehicle Importation He furthered that the former minister had visited the border to inaugurate some projects in February when the freight forwarders complained to him about how the ban had affected them. Adegoroye, he said, advised the freight forwarders and members of the border community to put their request in writing. The customs spokesperson said during a recent visit by Ibrahim Musa, director of road transport in the ministry of transportation, it was confirmed that the letter by the freight forwarders had been received and acted upon by passing it to a higher authority. He said, no directive had been given on the matter. Former President Muhammadu Buhari had, in August 2019, shut all land borders as part of efforts to curtail smuggling and boost local production of rice. Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, has expressed remorse on behalf of church leaders for turning the church into a political platform during the 2023 elections. The cleric who highlighted that church leaders had instructed their congregations on who to vote for and how to cast their votes, expressed dismay that churches had been used as campaign hubs, with political discussions and activities becoming common occurrences. Mbaka also pointed out that priests had given religious significance to political symbols, telling their congregations that the logo of a mother, father, and child represented the Holy Trinity God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He further lamented that the power of God was being overshadowed by political influence and manipulations. As a prophet and man of God, I apologise on behalf of the whole men of God the whole pastors, the whole priests, the whole bishops. I am not worthy to apologise on behalf of the bishops, but Im apologising. READ ALSO: Fr Mbaka Narrates How Cook Tried To Poison Him Let the mercy of God descend because what we did within this political moment a lot of indescribable political brouhaha, a lot of political jingoism and a lot of atrocities we manifested. We buried the power of the sacrament beneath political forces, political hawks and vultures. They want to vulturise the church, turn the church into campaign centres, into a place of politicking. We messed up the altar, we defiled the altar of the most high God. How do you want power to move from such an altar that has been defiled? We cannot continue with such iniqui-tactics. We offended God. They were teaching people who to vote for in the church, and how to vote. Telling people that the mother, father and child picture represents God, the father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Giving Gods glory to man, then Gods anger descended on us, but Im begging for Gods mercy. I pray that God will forgive us. Forgive us, oh Lord! Forgive your church. Forgive Christianity in Nigeria. We have gotten it wrong this time. Amen! Just let it be like this. If you want to misunderstand it, that is your business. I am apologising to God, Mbaka said. The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, has denied viral reports claiming that it invited the former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike to join the party. This was made known in a statement titled APC Did Not Call For Wikes Admittance Into Its Fold, signed by the partys publicity secretary in the state, Darlington Nwauju, and made available to our correspondent on Saturday. Nwauju said the terror unleashed on APC members during Wikes administration is enough evidence to confirm that Wike has no business with Rivers State APC. The attention of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has been drawn to calls by impostors and sponsored amorphous groupings acting as fronts for the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike, that APC in Rivers State is calling on him (Mr Wike) to join the same party he had characterised as suffering from cancer, it read. Nothing can be more preposterous than this kite being flown by minions of Wike working hard to justify their pay cheque. We wish to unequivocally dismiss any such rumour or sponsored story planted in any medium that Rivers State APC had at any forum invited Mr Wike to join our party, none the least calling on Wike to take over leadership of a party he never campaigned for. The terror unleashed on our party members in the course of his eight years maximum rulership alone is enough evidence to confirm that Wike has no business with Rivers State APC. Asking him to come and take over is asking an enemy to come and finish off his victims, the statement alleged. We are aware of his schemes to escape justice over the looting of the collective patrimony of Rivers people which is the major reason for his romancing top APC members. READ MORE: APC Ready To Recieve Wike Chieftain, Okocha For those who may be suffering from amnesia, a none APC member cannot be cheerleader for the entry of Wike into APC. Nobody can decree his membership of a political party through radio or newspaper publications. All vexatious attempts at distracting our party in Rivers State will keep failing. Therefore, it is expedient for the public to be aware that village meetings or gatherings cannot equate with a stakeholders meeting of APC in Rivers State, especially a gathering that took place at a hotel belonging to such a non-APC member, it said. We therefore disassociate the leadership of our party from any so-called stakeholders meeting suggesting that our party be handed over to Mr Wike. We reiterate our partys resolve to lend 100% support to the policies and programmes of the Federal Government under the indefatigable leadership of our President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. We warn blackmailers and conflipreneurs to desist from the shameless tradition of using the name of our party to curry favour from desperate politicians seeking relevance at the centre. Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a 49-year-old woman for allegedly trying to steal a day-old baby from a hospital in the Ojokoro area of the state on Friday, June 23. Spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Ojokoro Police Division received information that the suspect arrived the hospital under the guise of being a patient and allegedly stole the infant. READ ALSO: 48-Year-Old Man, His Girlfriend Arrested For Selling Their One-Month-Old Baby In Edo She entered the female ward and carried a day-old baby boy, while the mother was fast asleep after undergoing a surgery. Another patient noticed the fast movement of the suspect with the baby in her hand, alerted the hospital authority and the suspect was arrested. Upon interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect came from Oyo State. The suspect confessed that one Alfa contracted her to get a day-old baby to be used for money ritual, he said. Hundeyin said that further investigation revealed that this was the second incident of child theft to be carried out by the suspect. He said the suspect will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed while the baby has since been returned to the mother. More council housing for people with mental health conditions is an encouraging trend, but many within this group still face homelessness, Mental Health Reform said. The advocacy group was responding to new figures provided by Munster local authorities to the Irish Examiner indicating how well a requirement to allocate 15% of housing for people with disabilities including mental health conditions is working. Since April 2021, would-be council tenants can fill out an extra form sharing medical or disability needs. The HMD Form 1 must have input from two healthcare workers who can include a mental health nurse if appropriate. Across Cork, the County and City Joint Housing and Disability Steering Group coordinates those involved. Cork County Council will endeavour to provide 20% of total allocations to people with disabilities subject to funding and approval from the (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage), a spokesman said. Last year, the council provided 111 homes for people with disabilities including 27 for mental health. This year, 69 homes have been given on disability grounds including 18 for mental health. Cork City Council last year allocated 75 homes to people with disabilities, including 11 for mental health. Up to March this year, 31 homes were allocated for disabilities including three for mental health. In Waterford, out of 621 homes allocated last year, 120 or 19% were linked to disabilities. Within that, 39 were for people with a mental health condition. This years figures are not yet available, Waterford City & County Council said. Limerick City and County Council provided 59 homes last year to people with disabilities, including ten for disability requirement mental health. So far this year, 40 units were linked to disabilities including eight for mental health. Assessment may include a face-to-face meeting and house visit. Applicants with mental health needs are referred to the dedicated Welfare Unit of Housing Support Services, a spokesman said. Disability priority category In Tipperary last year, 24% of housing was given to the disability priority category. This came to 113 homes ranging from one-bedroom to four-bedroom; 15 were linked to mental health with 11 accepted. Up to June 12, some 81 homes were allocated for disabilities; 31% of the total. This included 19 homes for mental health conditions, with 17 accepted. Housing Section administration officer Helen Butler said they aim to make sure the house goes to the right person. Local schemes including North Tipperary Intensive Tenancy Sustainment Service support tenants who may not be used to living independently. The purpose of it is to support people who are linked in with the mental health services, who maybe at risk of losing their tenancy or may need a tenancy or maybe (they are) at risk of going into a long-term care, she said. Its been hugely successful. There is no average waiting time, with allocations based on need. Housing is approved for a variety of reasons, including anxiety and depression being treated by local services. In Clare last year 94 homes, 21% of the total, went to people with disabilities including 18 for mental health. Up to the end of March, some 12 homes were allocated for medical or disability reasons, including three for mental health. Housing is offered via the standard allocations scheme but with consultation with support workers and when allocations are made tenancy support services are put in place where required and accepted, a spokesman said. Mental Health Reform CEO Fiona Coyle welcomed the positive trend in recognising peoples needs. Last year, mental health was the 6th highest need for social housing, highest of all disability areas, she said. 1,621 households needed social housing support due to a mental health difficulty, an increase from the previous year. She said people in this category may also have needs linked to physical disabilities. According to the Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027, in 2022 at least 15% of all dwellings allocated by a local authority must be allocated to disabled people. It is encouraging to see that each of the local authorities have met this target, Ms Coyle said. While this indicates a positive trend, there are still high numbers of people with mental health difficulties experiencing homelessness. Many of these individuals face significant barriers to accessing housing including poverty, discrimination and addiction issues. Housing Strategy for Disabled People The Governments implementation plan for the Housing Strategy for Disabled People 2022-2027 was published on Thursday. Ms Coyle said this represents a key development for people with mental health difficulties. She added: It will enable some of the most marginalised people in society to access high-quality housing that supports their recovery." Other organisations help tenants with mental health issues with anything from setting up a bank account to mental health supports. Cork Mental Health partners with Cork City Council on some issues. In other locations, people can access HAIL, a specialist housing association founded in 1985, in response to the needs of former residents in Grangegorman psychiatric hospital. CEO Martina Smith said: A key focus of our work is on supporting people with a mental health diagnosis transition out of HSE congregated settings and homeless services into independent living. HAIL CEO Martina Smith says her organisation aims to help people with a mental health diagnosis to live independently. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography We also provide support to those in private rented accommodation, local authority and social housing, who need help developing the skills needed to maintain a tenancy and live independently. HAIL offers 450 social housing units across six counties including Limerick. The Mental Health Commission earlier this month warned that more than 2,000 people with mental health conditions are still living in large institutions despite the Government's longstanding policy of removing people from congregated settings. Inspector of Mental Health Dr Susan Finnerty called for this to be addressed urgently. For months Yevgeny Prigozhin has theatrically railed against Russias military leaders. He has lambasted the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, and commander in chief, Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of bungling and incompetence over the war in Ukraine. In one video Prigozhin blamed Moscow for the deaths of soldiers from his Wagner mercenary unit. Their bodies were piled up behind him. In a letter, he challenged Shoigu to visit the bloody Ukrainian frontline for himself, where Wagner troops have been fighting and dying in the eastern city of Bakhmut. Read More Mercenary leader ends revolt but raises questions about weakness in Kremlin The Prigozhin-Shoigu feud appeared to be real. But in Putins opaque system more of an Ottoman court than a western-style government it was hard to tell. For more than two decades Putin has played the role of supreme arbiter-in-chief, playing off one ambitious Kremlin faction against another. It was the old tactic of divide and rule. Prigozhin had previously proven himself to be a loyal ally entrusted with special state tasks, including the attempt to sabotage the 2016 US presidential election. According to one interpretation, Prigozhins bitter public crusade against Shoigu was licensed by the man at the top. The dramatic events of the past 24 hours suggest any such deal with the Kremlin, if it ever existed, is off. Prigozhin is demanding nothing less than Shoigus condign removal and the replacement of the entire general staff. On Saturday night, Prigozhin announced he was pulling back from the Russian capital and returning to base, in order to avoid spilling blood. Earlier, an armoured Wagner column had rolled into Russia from occupied eastern Ukraine, without meeting much opposition. Wagner troops appeared to have seized key buildings in Rostov-on-Don, the headquarters of Russias southern military district command and an important logistics node for Moscows so-called special military operation. Panicked Russian generals urged Prigozhin to back down and to call off his state coup. Armoured vehicles trundled in the streets of Moscow, apparently sent in to guard the defence ministry and other bureaucratic centres from possible internal attack. Police built barricades; diggers grubbed up roads. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, addresses Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asking him to withdraw the remaining Ukrainian forces from Bakhmut to save their lives, at an unspecified location in Ukraine. Picture: Prigozhin Press Service via AP, File The extraordinary images brought back memories of the unsuccessful putsch in the summer of 1991, staged by hardliners in the KGB, in order to preserve faltering communist power. The plot fell apart. It hastened the Soviet Unions demise, months later. It is too early to say if history is repeating itself. Prigozhin is no peacenik. His manifesto is for Russia to fight a more vigorous campaign in Ukraine, with better top-level decision-making, more honesty, and fewer soldiers needlessly chucked into the mincer and sacrificed in badly-thought-out attacks. Prigozhin accuses Shoigu of covering up the scale of Russian losses. He is also unhappy at retreats last year, when the Russian army was forced to abandon the southern city of Kherson, and most of Kharkiv oblast in the north-east. Read More Russia says Wagner Groups leader will move to Belarus Whatever the outcome of this weekends astonishing drama, Putin looks weaker than at any time since he became president in 2000. His decision to invade Ukraine has proven a major strategic blunder the biggest of his career and one that may, sooner or later, force him from power. Putin gave a TV address on Saturday morning, after Prigozhins mutiny began. He accused the rebels of treason and introduced an anti-terror regime in Moscow. Even if the rebellion quickly fails, the shock waves will continue for months, fuelling political instability and raising question marks over Putins fitness to lead. In the body-strewn Shakespearean play of Putins long, Macbeth-like presidency, we are into act five. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via videoconference in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, June 22, 2023. Picture: Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP All of which raises significant and intriguing possibilities for Ukraine. Wagner forces have been based in the occupied Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Some of them have departed in the past 24 hours and returned to Russia. There are early reports that Ukrainian troops have seized back several ruined streets in Bakhmut, where a grinding battle has raged for months, and taken further enemy positions lost in 2014. Prigozhins privateer army of volunteers and released convicts has proven itself to be a more disciplined and able military outfit than the regular Russian army. It has vanished from the scene, at least for now, and turned its attention to Russia itself. In June Ukraine started a long-awaited counteroffensive, using western weapons and tanks. The goal is to seize back the land corridor connecting occupied territory in the eastern Donbas with Crimea and the southern parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces. Progress has been slow. The Russian military has mined fields, constructed anti-tank trenches and used its air and artillery superiority to slow down Ukrainian advances. Some observers were beginning to wonder if the war was heading towards stalemate, with the existing 600-mile frontline a new de facto border. Prigozhins high-stakes power grab changes these calculations. It would be foolish to dismiss the Russian military. But the chances of a Ukrainian breakthrough this summer have risen dramatically. If Russian frontline morale collapses, and soldiers are unwilling to fight, ground could be seized quickly. Putins dream of capturing the whole of Ukraine and reuniting it with Russia has not come to pass. It has turned out to be a dictators fantasy: the product of poor intelligence, messianic thinking and Putins extreme isolation during the Covid pandemic. Now Russia stands on the brink of civil strife, victory over Kyiv seems f urther away than ever. Luke Hardings Invasion: Russias Bloody War and Ukraines Fight for Survival is published in paperback by Guardian Faber Donald Trump has declared himself the most pro-life president but failed to provide details on any national abortion restrictions he would back if re-elected to the White House. On Saturdays anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning the national right to an abortion, the former president told a group of influential evangelicals the federal government should play a vital role in opposing abortion. But Mr Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, has been reluctant to support a national ban unlike his former vice-president turned 2024 rival Mike Pence, who earlier challenged all the partys candidates to support the passage of a national ban on abortions, at least as early as 15 weeks of pregnancy. Mr Trump, who has suggested pushing for increased restrictions would be a political liability, continued to offer a muddled answer at the Faith & Freedom Coalitions annual conference in Washington. Taking full credit for his role in the overturning of the landmark Roe v Wade ruling last year, the former president said he was proud to be the most pro-life president in American history and added there remains a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life. He said he supports three exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases involving rape and incest or when the life of a mother is in danger. During his speech, he promised that if elected he would appoint rock-solid conservative judges and repeated false claims that abortion rights supporters want to kill a baby in the ninth month of pregnancy or even after a birth. Fellow candidate Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, was met with boos when he criticised Mr Trump at the conference on Friday while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vowed to appoint Supreme Court justices in the mould of conservative appointees Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas, saying well do better than those appointed by Mr Trump. The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of miles towards Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend Russias capital. Under the deal announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Mr Prigozhin will go to neighbouring Belarus, which has supported Russias invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry. Mr Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. By Sunday morning there were still no reports of Mr Prigozhin arriving in Belarus. Many other questions remained unanswered, including whether he would be joined in exile by any of Wagners troops and what role, if any, he might have there. Mr Prigozhin, who sent out a series of audio and video updates during his revolt, has gone silent since the Kremlin announced the deal had been brokered for him to end his march and leave Russia. Video posted on Russian messaging app channels from Rostov-on-Don showed people cheering Wagner troops as they departed. Some ran to shake hands with Mr Prigozhin. The regional governor later said all of the troops had left the city. Mr Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his former protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, looks out from a military vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia (AP) In allowing Mr Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Mr Peskov said, Mr Putins highest goal was to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results. The risk for Mr Putin is whether he will be seen as weak, analysts said. Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair, former US ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armoured vehicles and troops on the citys southern edge. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early on Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Crews dug up sections of roads to slow the march. Wagner troops advanced to just 120 miles from Moscow, according to Mr Prigozhin. But after the deal was struck, he announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood. On Sunday morning some restrictions were still in place along the main highway between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, though traffic restrictions were gradually being lifted in other places. Mr Prigozhin had demanded the ousting of defence minister Sergei Shoigu, whom he has long criticised in withering terms for his conduct of the 16-month war in Ukraine. Mr Putin addressed the nation on Saturday before the rebellion was called off (Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) If Mr Putin were to agree to that move, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Mr Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. The US had intelligence that Mr Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time. That conflicts with Mr Prigozhins claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by the Russian military. In announcing the rebellion, Mr Prigozhin accused Russian forces of targeting the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Mr Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defence Ministry denied attacking the camps. US Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner build-up earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said. A possible motivation for Mr Prigozhins rebellion was the Russian Defence Ministrys demand, which Mr Putin backed, that private companies sign contracts with it by July 1. Mr Prigozhin had refused to do it. Roads leading to Moscow were blocked as the fighters made their advance (PA) It may well be that he struck now because he saw that deadline as a danger to his control of his troops, Mr Herbst wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council. Meanwhile, Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military, said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He said that even with a deal, Mr Putins position has probably been weakened. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said late on Saturday, shortly before Mr Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs that it is easy to capture Russian cities and, probably, arsenals. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Mr Prigozhin has increasingly criticised the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. The 62-year-old has longstanding ties to Mr Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname Putins chef. 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. Reddit Email 16 Shares By Abubakar Siddique | ( RFE/ RL ) China has played a visible role in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Beijing is among only a handful of countries to maintain a diplomatic presence in Kabul, where the Chinese ambassador regularly meets with Taliban officials. There has also been a surge in Chinese traders visiting Afghanistan to explore business opportunities and ink deals. The Taliban, meanwhile, has boasted of Beijings interest in expanding trade and investing billions of dollars in Afghanistans mining sector. Last month, the hard-line Islamist group also announced the resumption of direct flights between Afghanistan and China after a three-year gap, saying it would help strengthen bilateral relations. Despite the appearance that China and the Taliban are becoming allies, experts say the relationship is limited and largely transactional. Experts say Beijings primary concern in Afghanistan is the threat posed by members of the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) an Uyghur extremist group that Beijing blames for unrest in its western province of Xinjiang and refers to by its former name, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). The Taliban has been accused of sheltering Uyghur militants and done little to alleviate Chinas security concerns. Policymakers in Beijing also continue to worry about instability spreading from Afghanistan into South and Central Asia, where China has significant economic and political interests. Meanwhile, Beijing has provided only limited development assistance to Afghanistan and large mining projects backed by Chinese companies have failed to get off the ground. China is not a friend of the Taliban and can be relied on only to pursue its national interest, said Barnett Rubin, an academic and former adviser to the U.S. State Department on Afghanistan. Chinas economic engagement with Afghanistan is as much if not more about national defense than profit-seeking. Terrorist Forces During its rule in the 1990s, the Taliban allowed Uyghur groups to operate in Afghanistan and is believed to still have links with them. Since the Taliban regained power, the Taliban has relocated Uyghur fighters from the northeastern province of Badakhshan, which is located along Afghanistans 76-kilometer border with China, in a bid to allay Beijings fears. But China has demanded that the Taliban cut any ties with the militants and hand them over to Beijing. The exact number of Uyghur fighters based in Afghanistan is unknown, although experts believe they number in the hundreds. Chinas top priority in Afghanistan by far is to persuade the Taliban to turn these militants over to China, Rubin said. If the Taliban refuses, then Beijing expects the group to keep the activities of the Uyghur militants under strict surveillance and control, Rubin added. In April, Chinas Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Beijing hopes that Afghanistan will fulfill its commitment in earnest and take more effective measures to crack down on all terrorist forces. Rubin says Beijings fears that Uyghur militants have been integrated into the Talibans military and terrorist structures explain why China is eager to increase its diplomatic and economic engagement with the Taliban. Article continues after bonus IC video Hindustan Times: Chinas BRI to make Afghanistan entry via Pak; Beijing seeks Talibans help to fight terror Chinese interests in the Afghan economy are likely about trying to incentivize the Taliban to cooperate on counterterrorism, he said. Economic Incentives For the cash-strapped Taliban government, which remains internationally unrecognized, securing investment and economic assistance is seen as a top priority as it seeks domestic and international legitimacy. The Taliban takeover triggered an economic collapse and aggravated a major humanitarian crisis, with international donors cutting crucial financial assistance to Afghanistan. Afghanistans economic catastrophe overshadows all other problems in the country, said Hameed Hakimi, an Afghanistan expert at the Washington-based Atlantic Council think tank. If the Taliban can demonstrate that they can deliver on the economy, their popularity and support will expand considerably. Beijing has faced criticism for its infrastructure projects in developing countries around the world, which Western officials have described as exploitative. But that has not put off the Taliban, which has actively sought Chinese investment in Afghanistans vast untapped mineral resources. In April, the Taliban claimed that a Chinese firm was interested in investing $10 billion in lithium extraction, a project that it said would employ more than 120,000 Afghans. Afghans are looking forward to exploiting their lithium and other mining deposits for their benefit, Shahabuddin Delawar, the Talibans minister for mining, said that month. In January, the Taliban signed an oil-extraction contract with a Chinese firm. Under the deal, Chinas Xinjiang Central Asia Petroleum and Gas Co is expected to invest up to $150 million during the first year. After three years, the amount is expected to increase to $540 million. The Taliban claims the project will provide around 3,000 local jobs. But experts do not expect Beijing to invest heavily in Afghanistan, which lacks infrastructure and roads. Despite a dramatic increase in violence, the country is also still the scene of sporadic attacks by the Islamic State-Khorasan extremist group. The Taliban benefit from maintaining a relationship with the Chinese government and would also like to use it both as an insurance and leverage against Western nations, Hakimi said. Via RFE/ RL Copyright (c)2022 RFE/RL, Inc. Used with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036. Reddit Email 192 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The Iranian city of Zabol in the northern part of the Sistan and Baluchistan province won the global high temperature sweepstakes on June 22, according to the Spanish meteorological site OGIMET , coming in at 50.8 C [123.44 F]. It is the first time in 60 years that a city in the north of that province recorded a temperature higher than 50 C [122 F] in spring, even the last day of spring. As long as Iran has been recording temperatures, Zabol only got to 51 C [123.8 F] once, in the summer of 1970. Human-caused climate change, from burning fossil fuels such as petroleum, has raised average earth surface temperatures in Europe and the Middle East by about 3.8 F since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, nearly twice the global average of about 2 F increase. Ironically, Iran has been a major producer and exporter of petroleum, the very substance that, when burned, is helping turn parts of Iran into a hellscape. Higher temperatures dry out and harden the soil, making it less absorptive of water and so contributing to flash floods when it does rain. Some 2 billion people are in danger of suffering adverse health effects from extra heat if the world continues it current rate of CO2 and methane emissions. Climate change is contributing to water shortages and has exacerbated competition over water rights. In late May, Iran and Afghanistan got into a brief skirmish over water rights at the border between Afghanistan and Sistan and Baluchistan Province. The weather phenomenon termed El Nino has a big but variable impact on temperatures. This warming or cooling of waters in the South Pacific can cause lower temperatures (El Nina) or higher ones (El Nino) in some parts of the world. Recent El Nina years may have helped mask how bad temperatures are getting as we spew over 37 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmsosphere every year. CO2 is a greenhouse gas that interferes with the heat of the suns rays radiating back out into space, keeping the heat on earth. Article continues after bonus IC video WION: Asias record-breaking heatwaves | WION Climate Tracker 2023 is an El Nino year and so will likely set heat records. But some of those records will be achieved because the El Nino is coming on top of global heating already baked in by the CO2 emissions. Summer just started, and parts of the world have been seeing extra hot weather this spring, continuing to this day. Bangladesh, India and Pakistan (what scholars call South Asia) have been suffering from heat waves. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar states in India asked people over 60 not to leave their homes for fear that heat stroke would target the elderly. As it was, 100 people died of heat stroke during the past week in India. A British study found that climate change has made record-breaking heat waves in northwest India and Pakistan 100 times more likely. Climate change has contributed majorly to making summer hotter as extreme temperatures would occur once every 312 years without climate change. India is the third-highest emitter of CO2 and plans new coal plants. Texas and Mexico are seeing unseasonably hot temperatures. Northern China is sweltering. Heat waves are not new in history, but the likelihood they will occur, along with their severity and length have been increasing because of human-caused climate change. Reddit Email 70 Shares By Afshin Shahi, Keele University | The vibrant, brave and unyielding voice of dissent remains strong in Iran despite months of brutal repression by the clerical regime. The women, life, freedom movement is an insistent call for change that is meeting the Islamic Republic head-on with resilient defiance. Even as violence curbs the outward signs of protest, the movement is very much alive, boldly innovating to challenge the regime. The government, desperately holding on to its dwindling authority, continues its ruthless crackdown, employing a politics of fear to maintain a shaky status quo. It is predictably fighting back with all the grim weapons at its disposal. For more than four decades, Iran has made liberal use of the death penalty. After China, Iran has the highest number of executions in the world. But since the protests began after a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, was murdered by the morality police last September for wearing her hijab improperly, there has been a worrying surge in executions. In the first five months of 2023, the Islamic Republic executed more than 300 people, 142 in May alone. Accused death penalty prisoners rarely get a fair trial, in clear breach of international law. The principal method of execution in Iran is hanging, mainly in private, although the regime knows the chilling effect of killing their condemned in public. In December, protester Majidreza Rahnavard was hanged publicly in Mashhad while a group of people looked on. Amnesty International. Despite the regimes claim that half of this years executions were linked to narcotics-related offences, death penalties disproportionately target ethnic and religious minorities who have faced significant repression over the past four decades. The Islamic Republic uses state-sponsored murder to maintain a climate of fear. For months, millions of Iranians have woken up scared to check the news on their phones, fearing to hear about another young protester executed. State-sponsored rape In recent months, there have also been many reports about the use of rape against male and female detainees, a long-used tactic in the Islamic Republics prisons. Recently, the former director of the notorious Evin prison, Hossein Mortazavi, acknowledged that in the 1980s, female prisoners who were still virgins were forcibly married to jailers before execution. Clerics believed that if virgin girls were executed, they would go straight to heaven. So, they raped them in the form of forced marriage so that they would not die virgins. Various testimonies shed light on the sexual violence directed against those detained since the beginning of the uprising. Horrific practices like this may exacerbate the Islamic Republics crisis of legitimacy, but it can also make people think twice before taking to the streets. Mass arrests, many still in jail Nearly 30,000 people were reportedly detained for protesting, political activities or expressing opinions in the 12 months to the end of March. Irans head of the judiciary announced on March 13 that 22,000 detainees had been pardoned and released in the previous six months. But he didnt comment on the fate of at least 7,000 prisoners who remained in some of the most notorious prisons in the Middle East. Rapper Tomaj Salehi arrested for lyrics criticising the regime. There has been very little news about influential detainees, including rapper Toomaj Salehi, who was arrested in October 2021. On November 26 2022, Toomajs family expressed deep concern for his life, indicating that he had been tried in a closed-door proceeding. The following day, Iranian media disclosed that Salehi was indicted with corruption on Earth, a charge that could potentially result in a death sentence. Hardline approach failing to deter protest Irans hardline supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has branded the protesters as traitors and rejected calls for constitutional reform, dismissing them as the demands of his enemies. In January he appointed the infamous former Revolutionary Guard commander Ahmadreza Radan as the countrys new police chief to increase the crackdown on protests. Radan has been blacklisted by the US and EU over rights abuses. But despite the brutal repression, the women, life, freedom protests continue. Too many young lives have been lost in the past few months for us to go back to how things were before, one woman told the BBC recently. Social movements often use symbols to maintain their existence and relevance, particularly in oppressive political contexts. In Iran, removing headscarves has become one of the most important acts of resistance against a regime that still maintains versions of morality policing to confront women who do not wear a proper hijab. Despite the regimes pressure and the uncompromising supreme leader, many women defy the state and continue to return to the streets without the hijab, regardless of the consequences. The streets are now filled with facial recognition cameras to identify women who defy the regime, but there is no sign of stepping back by the women. There are also many instances of nonviolent resistance through music, dance and arts. Videos are circulating showing men and women spontaneously performing music and dancing in public. Women dancing in public is a red line for the Islamic Republic, yet they do it. Most social media platforms are blocked by the regime, But many Iranians use censorship-bypassing technology (virtual private networks or VPNs) to go online to express dissent, boost solidarity and share inspiration. Despite all odds, the strength and resilience of the women, life, freedom movement continues to challenge the regime at every step with nonviolent resistance and cultural expression. The movements refusal to back down, despite the increasing severity of the regimes actions, demonstrates a remarkable resilience. The time bomb for the Islamic Republic is the young population, many of whom are setting themselves in direct opposition to the Islamist regime in calling for change. Indeed, change is something an overwhelming majority of Iranians say they want, according to polling conducted last year. And the resilience of the women, life, freedom protesters shows they are not afraid to put their lives on the line to fight for it. Afshin Shahi, Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Middle East Politics & International Relations at Keele University, Keele University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Freight train falls into river after bridge collapses in U.S. Montana Xinhua) 15:58, June 25, 2023 LOS ANGELES, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A freight train fell into the Yellowstone River in the U.S. state of Montana after parts of a bridge collapsed on Saturday, authorities said. According to the county's Disaster and Emergency Services, the incident occurred at approximately 6:00 a.m. (1200PM GMT) on the rail bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Montana's Stillwater County. "The bridge collapsed, and there are multiple rail cars in the Yellowstone River. We have not determined the cause of the derailment," said the department on its Facebook page. There were no reports of injuries after the incident. Officials initially said at least seven cars from the freight train, including three cars of hot asphalt and four cars of molten sulfur, tumbled into the river. "Initial assessment indicates compromised rail cars contained molten sulfur and asphalt. Both substances solidify rapidly when exposed to cooler temperatures," the department said in an update on Saturday afternoon. "Two cars carrying sodium hydro sulfate are also included in the consist. Neither of these cars have entered the water, and initial air quality assessments have been performed and confirmed that there is no release event associated with those two cars," the department added. The department noted that the current focus of operations is safely responding to the emergency, controlling all releases and mitigating impacts. It added that ongoing air and water monitoring at and downstream of the site is ongoing. The department said it would work with local, state and federal partners to assess the impact on natural resources and develop appropriate cleanup, removal and restoration efforts. The train derailment into the Yellowstone River near Twin Bridges Road between Reed Point and Columbus has led to the closure of parts of the Yellowstone and Stillwater Rivers, said the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The Yellowstone River flows northward through Yellowstone National Park, one of the largest national parks in the United States. Reed Point is about 180 kilometers northeast of Yellowstone National Park. The incident came after a string of recent train derailments in the country. A freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, which resulted in a significant fire and hazardous materials release in the area and has sparked environmental concerns across the United States. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu) It's been almost three months since Ildar Rakhmatulin contacted his family. The family of a traveller who vanished after checking out of a hotel in Fiji are desperate for answers and frustrated at the lack of information surrounding his disappearance. Ildar Rakhmatulin, a 38-year-old Canadian man, had flown into Fiji from New Zealand on April 7, and spent two nights at a resort on the islands Coral Coast. However, shortly after checking out of the hotel on April 9, Mr Rakhmatulin disappeared, with several of his belongings including his phone later found on the beach. Bizarrely, his suitcase and backpack have not been found. Ildar Rakhmatulin was last seen checking out of a Fijian resort on April 9. Source: Supplied Police conduct water search He was travelling around the world, his dream was to travel, Mr Rakhmatulin's friend, Alexander, told Yahoo News Australia. The pair had attended the University of Western Ontario together and remained friends over the years. He was travelling a lot since Covid, Alexander said, adding that his friend was due to head to Malaysia after his adventures in the Pacific. Its not known if Mr Rakhmatulin, who held dual citizenship with Canada and Russia, was travelling alone or with a companion. The discovery of his belongings on the beach prompted police divers to conduct a water search, however no trace of the missing traveller was found. Police divers conducted a search of the waters near the resort, but no trace of Mr Rakhmatulin was found. Source: Fiji Police Frustration over lack of communication between authorities Mr Rakhmatulin would call his mother every three days or so, and last spoke to her the day before his disappearance. Alexander said Mr Rakhmatulin's mother was feeling grief and frustration over the lack of answers over her sons disappearance. He said they had received more information from the local Russian community in Fiji than from Fijian or Canadian police. It initially seemed like nobody cared, Alexander said. He was two days in Fiji and then he was lost. And for now its not clear, neither Fijian or Canadian police have given the information about if he actually left Fiji. They cannot confirm it. So its strange. Mr Rakhmatulin was staying along the popular Coral Coast at the time of his disappearance. Source: Getty/FILE Its kind of suspicious. So he checked out from the hotel and for him, I think he wouldnt just swim or something right after the check out. Alexander said there has been no information about Mr Rakhmatulin's other belongings, or if he has left the country. He also said his friend wasn't the type to take risks, describing him as "cautious". Mr Rakhmatulin's family and friends have been in contact with Fijian police, Canadian police, the Russian embassy and Global Affairs Canada for assistance. Its the 21st century we dont know the information. Did he leave the country? I dont see proper communication, Alexander said. Maybe he is in hospital? Unconscious? Maybe thats why no-one can find him. A Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Jeremie Berube confirmed to Yahoo News they are aware of Mr Rakhmatulin's disappearance. "Canadian officials are providing consular support to the family of the Canadian citizen and communicating with local authorities. Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed," Mr Berube said. Yahoo News has contacted the Fiji Police Force for comment. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Lee Je Hoon continues to meet his local and global supporters with a back-to-back fan meet. Dubbed SOME MORE, Summer, Lee Je Hoon's fan meet is scheduled for July 23rd at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Interestingly, as officials opened the booking site, all tickets for the actor's meet and greet were sold out in one minute. Lee Je Hoon's Fan Meet Sold Out Within 1 Minute According to a media outlet, the '2023 Lee Je Hoon Fan Meeting [SOME more, summer]" launched an online ticket booking site through Interpark Ticket on the afternoon of June 23, exactly a month before the highly anticipated event. However, right after the booking site was opened, all seats for the upcoming event were sold out within 1 minute. Even the second performance that was set for 6 p.m. has run out. This only proves that local fans are excited to meet Lee Je Hoon in person and can't wait to see him interact with his supporters. Interesting, following his sold-out meet and greet tickets, the actor delivered a short message to fans. "I plan to express my gratitude to the fans who have given me a lot of love and to the fans who have taken their precious time to find me," he said, as mentioned by the same outlet. In addition, the actor is thrilled and nervous to meet his fans. "I hope you can spend the hot summer coolly with me," he added. What's Next for Lee Je Hoon? The South Korean heathrob is currently busy touring to meet his global fans. Lee Je Hoon recently finished his Asian tour leg for his first solo fan meet called "Vacation." Among the countries he visited were the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, and more. READ MORE: Lee Je Hoon Reveals Not Getting Appearance Fee in Baeksang Arts Awards 2023 As for his on-screen projects, the actor had just wrapped up the second season of "Taxi Driver 2" where he reprised his role as the anti-hero Kim Do Gi of Rainbow Taxi Group. Interestingly, the actor is set to return with a new K-drama as he headlines the mystery drama "Chief Inspector 1963." Lee Je Hoon will transform into the renowned Park Young Han from the long-running classic Korean series "Chief Inspector." The upcoming remake will depict the story of Young Han before he became a legendary chief inspector. Helmed by Kim Sung Hoon of "Rampant," and "Confidential Assignment," the upcoming K-drama is under MBC and is planned to premiere sometime this year. Besides it, Lee Je Hoon is currently filming his big screen comeback for "Moral Hazard" and will be working alongside versatile actor Yoo Hae Jin. Will Lee Je Hoon Return in 'Taxi Driver' Season 3? On April 16, local media outlet OSEN confirmed that "Taxi Driver" season 3 got the greenlight. However, as for the cast lineup and target release date, drama officials have yet to announce plans for it. "We plan to start discussions with the actors, writer, and director from now on," as mentioned by an SBS representative. Despite this, viewers are hopeful that the SBS K-drama will retain its original members, especially Lee Je Hoon. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills With their incredible chemistry onscreen, people start comparing "King the Land" stars Lee Junho and YoonA to these iconic K-drama couples. Can you guess who they are? Lee Junho & YoonA's Chemistry Makes Viewers Swoon The old rom-com genre of K-drama is back! Viewers are praising Lee Junho and YoonA for their synergy in "King the Land." As the drama continues to give the audience swoon-worthy scenes from its lead stars, many can't stop but compare the newest onscreen loveteam to these previous iconic K-drama couples. Despite only being three episodes in, "King the Land" is amassing positive feedback. In the drama Lee Junho plays the role of Gu Won, the son of a chaebol business owner who is in an inheritance battle; and YoonA is Cheon Sa Rang, a bright and diligent employee fulfilling her dream of working at the King Hotel. Upon seeing the newest rom-com duo, viewers can't get enough of YoonA and Lee Junho's chemistry. While the romance between the two characters is yet to come, they've already got the audience hooked on the enemies-to-lovers trope between a boss and his employee. 'Big 3' K-Drama Couples: Lee Junho & YoonA, Ahn Hyo Seop & Kim Sejeong, Park Seo Joon & Park Min Young With that in mind, it's not surprising that people are comparing this new onscreen tandem to some iconic K-drama couples. First on the list are Ahn Hyo Seop and Kim Sejeong, from the 2022 hit series "Business Proposal." To recall, in the drama, Ahn Hyo Seop played as the cold and perfectionist CEO, while Kim Sejeong was Shin Ha Ri, who surprisingly dated her boss as she pretended to be her best friend on a blind date. While she tried to hide from work at work, the secret eventually came out. When i think of romcom kdrama now, business proposal just comes to my head pic.twitter.com/C2ugPJXV5c withju (@fulltymfg) June 19, 2023 Adding to the list is the 2018 K-drama couple Park Seo Joon and Park Min Young in "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim." Similar to "King the Land" and "Business Proposal," the male lead played as a narcissistic executive of a big company while the female lead was his secretary. As their romance slowly blossomed and had connections to the past, it still exhibited similar story and character tropes. Hence, in all of these three shows, it boasted a classic love story with its twists and turns. While the stars are different and add unique chemistry to their characters, they have the same characteristics. The boss is cold, cool, and charismatic, while the female lead is smart, stunning, and strong. Others even called these tandems the "Big Three" as seen in the viewers' reactions on various social media platforms. What can you say about these K-drama couples? 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. The man's friend caught the wild moment on camera before both swimmers decided to exit the water. A snorkeller has had a near-miss shark bite from a 90kg nurse shark that came within inches of his face. Freediver and underwater photographer Ibrahim Shafeeg, 37, from the Maldives was videoing his fellow diver Ali Izhaan, 25, when the shark came extremely close to biting Ali. The men were diving in the Vaavu shark point near the Dhiggiri resort in the Maldives to film and interact with the sharks when they came across a pocket of over 30 nurse sharks surrounding them. The scenes were similar to a situation caught on camera in April, where a woman was mauled by a nurse shark at the same location. The shark got a little too close for comfort for the diver. Source: mediadrumimages/@the_sharkguy Nurse sharks are generally around eight-feet long and can grow to over 100kg, but are seen as quite a docile breed of sharks. As both experienced divers, Ibrahim and Ali were not fazed by the multitude of sharks surrounding them and took the unique opportunity to swim among them in only snorkelling gear. After around an hour of swimming among the nurse sharks and other fish such as rainbow runners, Jack fish, red snappers and remoras, the pair had quite a rude awakening from one of the nurse sharks. Swimming freely, Ali was approached by a nurse shark that came within centimetres of his face, giving a warning that there is always a possibility of getting bitten and to keep their space. Ibrahim caught the near-miss on camera and the pair immediately left the water afterwards. We were on a snorkelling and freedive tour, he said. There were more than 30 nurse sharks there. We were diving for an hour in the Vaavu shark point. Although Ibrahim was not the one that nearly got bitten by a nurse shark, he acknowledges that it was terrifying to witness and would be incredibly scary to nearly get bitten, although he has never been bitten himself. Well, its scary but Ive never felt the bite yet, he said. The sharks are always there. They get distracted by us free diving and moving too close to them. My opinion is always to keep distance from sharks and be always careful while snorkelling with sharks. - Media Drum/Australscope Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. 1 of 1 : khaskhabar.com : , 25 2023 4:44 PM Eight primary schools across Kilkenny have received awards celebrating their achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) The Curious Minds Award celebrates primary schools across Ireland that have adopted innovative approaches to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) learning and engagement. Kilkenny winners: St Brendan's National School, Newmarket - Gold Award Scoil Lachtain - Gold Award St Aidans National School - Gold Award Scoil San Lionard - Gold Award Ringville National School - Gold Award St Patrick's National School - Platinum Award Scoil Naisiunta Lisnafunchin - Silver Award St Michaels NS Danesfort - Silver Award I am delighted to announce the eight winners of this years SFI Curious Minds Awards from Kilkenny," said Minister Simon Harris. "I want to congratulate all involved for their hard work and enthusiasm. Through programmes such as the Curious Minds Awards, we see first-hand teachers and schools empowering curiosity through a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to STEM learning. The high level of engagement this year can be credited to the schools and teachers who have put effort into giving their students access to STEM in a fun, interactive and educational way. The Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) programme, run in conjunction with the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO), aims to increase interest in STEM among primary school students, parents, and teachers nationwide in a fun and interactive way. The awards were granted for a wide range of innovative and engaging STEM activities from investigating renewable energy, growing vegetables, mini-beast hunts, learning about materials and maths through baking, design and make challenges, marble runs, enhancing their technology skills through coding, and using STEM to solve everyday problems. Primary Schools received awards in three categories: The Silver Award, recognising schools entering for the first time; the Gold Award, for schools further along their STEM journey; and the Platinum Award, for schools who have achieved previous awards and want to integrate STEM into the community further. This year, five Kilkenny schools received the Gold Award, two received the silver and once received the Platinum. Registration for the next Academic Year SFI Curious Minds Awards will open in September 2023. Registration for summer courses and CPD courses for 2023/2024 are open now. For more information about the SFI Curious Minds programme, the Awards, CPD, and inquiry-based resources please visit www.curiousminds.ie or contact the team on curiousminds@sfi.ie. Ireland requires an urgent step change in its approach to drug use, the chair of the citizens assembly has said. Paul Reid was commenting as the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use reached the halfway point of its programme of work after a weekend of meetings in Malahide. The weekend began with the publication of figures showing a sustained rise in drug overdose deaths in Ireland. The preliminary data from the Health Research Board (HRB) showed there were 409 poisoning deaths linked to drugs in Ireland in 2020, with a year-on-year increase in drugs-linked poisoning deaths from 2016, when 314 were recorded. The assembly, comprising 99 randomly selected citizens reflective of the Irish population, along with chairman Mr Reid, is exploring issues related to illicit drug-taking and will submit a report to the Oireachtas by the end of 2023. It will make recommendations for change covering three areas legislation, policy and operations/service delivery. Former HSE chief executive Mr Reid said information conveyed during the weekend sessions demonstrated the urgent need for a step change in the national approach to drugs use. He added: Over the course of this weekend we have heard stark new statistics on the level of drugs deaths in Ireland from the Health Research Board, perspectives from Portugal and Austria on different national approaches to addressing drugs use, and todays specific focus on recovery services. In each case, the need for changes in how we are doing things was clear. The challenge for the assembly is to turn this evidence and these testimonies into a set of recommendations that will make a difference to the people, families, and communities who are impacted by drugs use, as well as making improvements to the systems through which we provide necessary treatments, required services, and wider supports. This is not easy. But it is the challenge that has been set for us by the Oireachtas. For that reason assembly members will have the opportunity to reflect on all that they have heard over our first three meetings and return in September focused on making recommendations that will make a real difference. In the latest meetings of the assembly, members heard repeated calls from speakers for a major improvement in the co-ordination, delivery and resourcing of recovery services for people who use drugs. They were told people in recovery require a broad range of services and support, including healthcare, housing, education and training, financial, and access to justice. These are delivered by multiple different agencies and bodies, often resulting in confusion, inconsistencies and gaps in delivery, the assembly heard. The assembly was urged to address this co-ordination gap in its final recommendations. Summers offer lots to do in Cayuga County, including plenty of opportunities to immerse oneself in county history. Auburn offers excellent museum experiences, such as the Seward House, the Cayuga Museum, the Schweinfurth Art Center, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Willard Memorial Chapel. But beyond Auburn, theres also a number of local historical societies and museums that offer unique experiences to discover Cayuga County history. These historic societies and local museums are organized and hosted by local volunteers who are steeped in local history and eager to share their stories with visitors. Whether your interests focus on railroads, farming, suffrage, canals or lake life, historical sites throughout the county provide an up-close and personal engagement with the past, offering one-on-one micro-histories of county communities. They also sponsor programs covering a wide range of topics, such as womans suffrage, canal history, raptors and renegades, to name but a few. All are easy driving distances within the county, have free admission, and are kid- and family-friendly. (They have varying hours when theyre open; it's best to contact them to verify open hours, and what special exhibits or speakers might be on their schedules. Most are on Facebook, or you can visit their websites.) Heres a round-up of county sites: Starting up north, theres the Sterling Historical Society (1294 Route 104A, Sterling; sterlinghistoricalsociety.com). Its site includes the Little Red Schoolhouse Museum and the Sterling Heritage Park including a railroad signal tower, a hand-pump railroad car and, most recently, a beautifully restored railroad caboose. Further south is CIViC Heritage (11256 South St., Cato), a historical society and museum focused on the towns of Cato, Ira, Victory and Conquest. In addition to its extensive collection, it produces an engaging podcast of local stories and oral histories (find its details on Facebook). In Weedsport, theres the Old Brutus Historical Society (8943 N. Seneca St., Weedsport; oldbrutushistorical), which features revolving exhibits celebrating Weedsports local heritage. Port Byron is home to Lock 52 and the Montezuma Historical Society, two groups that are merging into the Old Mentz Heritage Center (73 Pine St., Port Byron; portbyronhistorical.org). Here youll encounter lots of Erie Canal history and memorabilia, including a terrific summer exhibit of original artworks showing scenes and landscapes of the Erie Canal. Down in Union Springs, the Frontenac Historical Society & Museum (178 Cayuga St., Union Springs; frontenacmuseum.org) has an eclectic series of programs slated this summer, including a Haudenosaunee presentation about Indigenous plants and healing and a talk on raptors of upstate New York. This former churchs bright, open space accommodates sizeable audiences for its programs, in addition to its neatly organized exhibits. Head south from Union Springs to the village of Aurora, where the Aurora Historical Society currently has an exhibit, Saying I Do Through the Ages, a collection of wedding dresses and accessories, throughout June and July (contact them on Facebook to verify when and where the exhibit is open). Then a short hop to the hamlet of Sherwood, where the Howland Stone Store Museum (2956 Route 34B, Sherwood; howlandstonestore.org) celebrates Sherwoods recent designation as an Equal Rights Historic District and focuses on National Womens Hall of Fame inductee Emily Howland, womans suffrage and abolition. Over in the hamlet of King Ferry, the Genoa Historical Association (923 Route 34B, King Ferry; genoahistorical.org), features an intact one-room schoolhouse and a restored threshing barn. On Aug. 4-5, they host, along with the New York State Draft Horse Club, the annual Wheat Harvest Festival, complete with food, games, music and wheat harvesting demonstrations with horse-drawn reapers. In the village of Moravia, visit the Cayuga-Owasco Lakes Historic Society (14 W. Cayuga St., Moravia; colhs.org). Located in The History House, it has information about the only U.S. president from Cayuga County, Millard Fillmore, in addition to extensive materials related to the village and town of Moravia. At the northern end of Owasco Lake, adjacent to Emerson Park, is the Ward W. OHara Agricultural & Country Living Museum. With its huge collection covering all aspects of rural life, work and play, the ag museum is open daily and has lots of parking, friendly volunteers and a kid-friendly environment, making it one of the most popular attractions in the Finger Lakes. So, if youre in the market for day trips, family outings and local adventures, consider visiting our community-based museums and historical attractions. Youll encounter a friendly atmosphere and amazing sights and just possibly discover that history doesnt have to be old and stuffy, but sometimes immediate, personal and relatable. The future of Cayuga County history: Apathy, digital age among challenges Ruth Bradley was organizing some photos at the Cayuga County Historian's Office when she saw a name that stumped her: "Nora." Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High around 80F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 61F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. We are almost a week into the fourth month in the biblical calendar, Tammuz. The theme, or the association, with Tammuz in Hebrew thought is vision. It is the month of the eyes. Guard your eyes, we are told; guard your heart. One story dealing with this month concerns the 12 spies sent into the land of Canaan by Moses. (One representative for each of the 12 tribes of Israel.) They were to spy out the region to determine the size of the population, the military strength and the abundance of agriculture. They were to use their eyes. (See this in the book of Numbers 13 and 14.) When the scouts return, they admit the lushness of the land of milk and honey. However, there are problems. They report seeing fortified cities and the people who live there are giants! In comparison, we look like grasshoppers. The land devours those who dare enter it. Their advice: Its not worth the risk. Christine Vales says, They believed the fake news from the ten spies network. Theres a conspiracy to stage a coup and find someone to lead them back to Egypt. Some have an alternate vision. Joshua and Caleb acknowledge the difficulties but see a different destiny. Where the others see tragedy, they see triumph. Their eyes and their hearts imagine a different reality. I would suggest one need not be a believer to appreciate the wisdom of this story. It indeed is a matter of vision. When our recollection gets called into question, we often respond, I saw it with my own eyes. That usually settles the case, at least, if were not lying! What happens when we truly believe we saw it with our own eyes? How do we know what we saw truly exists? How do we know we saw the true unfolding of events? We humans are making it even easier to not trust our eyes and ears. The falsification of images is becoming ever more elaborate and effective. One of the first major motion pictures to make those techniques a key part of the story line was "Forrest Gump." Imagine, Forrest Gump meeting JFK and LBJ and even Elvis! We could lament the technological trickery utilized for these counterfeit countenances, these fake faces, but the genie is out of the bottle. Think of it, though: Police can use sophisticated aging tools to track missing persons long lost. Still, we are at the threshold of what artificial intelligence foreshadows. Given how much more complex our ability for mimicry continues to evolve, how much more havoc can be unleashed? We are well aware of the mischievous purposes for which the internet is used. So often, we believe we are too intelligent and savvy to be taken in by bogus claims misinformation and disinformation. I wont get into discussing the ease with which the powers-that-be maneuver us into censorship by pressing those very issues. Having said that, we shouldnt imagine the end of civilization is nigh. Perhaps we need to relearn, or learn for the first time, what it means to not simply look, but to see. Is it plausible during their mission of reconnaissance that Joshua and Caleb quite literally see what the other 10 dont? Do their preliminary expectations alter what they can visualize? I dont know; perhaps not. Regardless, I have been learning (or relearning) for myself how my willingness to see affects what I truly see. Im moving closer to that type of leap of faith. For those uncomfortable with the word "faith," I find Annette Capps description of faith as an unseen energy force helpful. In any event, it is safe to say our differences in vision run deeper than the technological. I would suggest reliance on the technological, for good or ill, is helping to rewire our imaginations. Artificial intelligence is able to not only trick our eyes, but what might feed the souls of many, by composing poems and sermons the eyes of the heart. (Well, its on the way!) Are we able during this time to learn to see each other, rather than simply looking at each other? When we so easily allow ourselves to be manipulated and divided up into hostile factions, to say its a challenge is certainly an understatement. Heres a modest suggestion: In the next 24 hours, can we admit someone else might see something we dont? It is time to spy out our vision. U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney and Brandon Williams joined House Republicans in voting to censure U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat, for comments he made about investigations into former President Donald Trump's ties to Russia. The party-line vote was 213-209. The resolution was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a conservative Republican. Luna insisted that the censure vote was not retribution, although Democrats believe it is a retaliatory measure. "It is well within my right as a congresswoman to file a privileged motion and hold Adam Schiff accountable for abusing and exploiting his official position and bringing dishonor to the House of Representatives," she said. A prior attempt to censure Schiff was tabled when some Republicans opposed an earlier version of the resolution that called for fining Schiff $16 million if a House Ethics Committee investigation found that he lied. Luna revised the resolution and removed the fine provision, but it still directs the House Ethics Committee to conduct an investigation into Schiff's "falsehoods, misrepresentations, and abuses of sensitive information." Among those who voted to censure Schiff: Republican U.S. Rep. George Santos, who is facing federal fraud and money laundering charges and has been caught telling numerous lies about his background and resume. The Republican-led House has not censured Santos. Democrats attempted to expel him from the House, but the GOP succeeded in referring the matter to the ethics panel. Other votes in the House this week: The Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act passed by a 407-0 vote. Tenney and Williams voted for the legislation. The bill would codify the Small Business Administration's Boots to Business program into law. According to the agency's website, Boots to Business is an "entrepreneurial education and training program for transitioning servicemembers and their spouses." A bill to name a new Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in honor of Army Pfc. Justin Paton passed by a 409-0 vote. Tenney and Williams supported the legislation's passage. The facility, located in Indian River, Michigan, would be named the Pfc. Justin T. Paton Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic. Paton was killed in action while serving in Iraq in 2007. A House vote to override a presidential veto failed, 221-206. Tenney and Williams supported the unsuccessful effort. Congress passed a resolution to nullify the Biden administration's student loan debt relief program, which is already facing a legal challenge. President Joe Biden vetoed the resolution. To override a veto, Congress needs a two-thirds majority in both houses. The House passed the CHOICE Arrangement Act by a 220-209 vote. Tenney and Williams supported the health care legislation. Under the bill, employers would be allowed to offer individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements, known as ICHRAs. According to the legislative summary, employers would reimburse employees for medical expenses during a given period and employees would enroll in their own individual health insurance plans. U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, an Oklahoma Republican, is the bill's sponsor. He said the legislation "puts employees in the driver's seat when it comes to picking their health care plan, and lets employers financially support their decision." The Biden administration opposes the bill, calling it an attack on the Affordable Care Act. In a statement of administration policy, the White House says that "small businesses and their employees could once again face higher premiums based on preexisting conditions or gender, and employees could lose access to guaranteed coverage of key benefits, such as maternity care, mental health and substance use disorder treatment." By a 219-208 vote, the House voted to refer a resolution to impeach Biden to the House Homeland Security and Judiciary committees. Tenney and Williams voted for the measure. Some conservative Republicans are pushing for Biden's impeachment. Tenney has previously said that Biden should be impeached for his handling of the military's withdrawal from Afghanistan. A House-passed resolution condemns the use of schools to house migrants who have entered the United States. The vote was 223-201, with Tenney and Williams supporting its passage. The Middle Class Borrower Protection Act passed by a 230-189 vote, with 216 Republicans joined by 14 Democrats in supporting the bill. Most Democrats opposed it. Tenney and Williams voted for the legislation. The bill would reinstitute the fees charged by Fannie Mac and Freddie Mac for single-family mortgages that were in effect before May 1. The Federal Housing Finance Agency recently changed the fee structure to give mortgagors adjustments based on their credit score and down payment, according to the legislation. The House is taking a two-week break for a district work period. During that time, there won't be a CNY in the House column. The uprising, which Putin called a stab in the back, is the biggest threat to his leadership in over two decades in power. abrdn (OTCMKTS:SLFPF Get Rating) is one of 1,190 public companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare abrdn to related companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, risk and earnings. Institutional & Insider Ownership 27.1% of abrdn shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.6% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.0% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get abrdn alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for abrdn and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score abrdn 7 1 0 0 1.13 abrdn Competitors 1140 4864 6261 96 2.43 Earnings and Valuation abrdn currently has a consensus target price of $174.00, indicating a potential upside of 7,002.04%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 97.03%. Given abrdns higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe abrdn is more favorable than its competitors. This table compares abrdn and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio abrdn N/A N/A 9.57 abrdn Competitors $463.57 million $11.37 million 29.50 abrdns competitors have higher revenue and earnings than abrdn. abrdn is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Profitability This table compares abrdn and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets abrdn N/A N/A N/A abrdn Competitors 366.86% 7.55% 4.98% Dividends abrdn pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 6.4%. abrdn pays out 61.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.6% and pay out 1,382.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary abrdn competitors beat abrdn on 11 of the 13 factors compared. About abrdn (Get Rating) abrdn plc provides asset management services in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, and Asia. The company offers investment solutions and funds; long-term savings and investment products to individual and corporate customers; and life insurance and savings products. It provides its products through institutional, wholesale, and retail distribution channels. It also makes real estate investments. The company was formerly known as Standard Life Aberdeen plc. abrdn plc was founded in 1825 and is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for abrdn Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for abrdn and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Danaos Co. (NYSE:DAC Get Rating) major shareholder Corp Danaos bought 136,622 shares of Danaos stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 22nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of $47.89 per share, with a total value of $6,542,827.58. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 1,552,865 shares in the company, valued at approximately $74,366,704.85. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Corp Danaos also recently made the following trade(s): Get Danaos alerts: On Tuesday, June 20th, Corp Danaos acquired 44,800 shares of Danaos stock. The shares were bought at an average price of $45.44 per share, with a total value of $2,035,712.00. Danaos Trading Down 0.7 % Shares of Danaos stock opened at $66.39 on Friday. Danaos Co. has a 52-week low of $51.10 and a 52-week high of $79.04. The stock has a market cap of $1.35 billion, a PE ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 1.53. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $60.53 and a 200-day moving average of $57.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.80 and a current ratio of 1.86. Danaos Announces Dividend Danaos ( NYSE:DAC Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 15th. The shipping company reported $7.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.90 by $1.24. Danaos had a net margin of 37.13% and a return on equity of 24.69%. The firm had revenue of $243.57 million during the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Danaos Co. will post 28.84 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 26th were paid a dividend of $0.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 25th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.52%. Danaoss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.30%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Danaos Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Prelude Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Danaos during the 1st quarter worth $277,000. Toroso Investments LLC bought a new stake in Danaos during the first quarter worth about $211,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in Danaos by 11.2% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 5,146 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $281,000 after buying an additional 519 shares in the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund bought a new position in Danaos in the 1st quarter valued at about $134,000. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its position in shares of Danaos by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 6,535 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $357,000 after buying an additional 173 shares in the last quarter. 20.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, StockNews.com cut Danaos from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, June 3rd. About Danaos (Get Rating) Danaos Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates containerships in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the United States. The company offers seaborne transportation services, such as chartering its vessels to liner companies. As of March 7, 2023, it had a fleet of 68 containerships aggregating 421,293 twenty-foot equivalent units in capacity. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Danaos Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaos and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) has earned a consensus rating of Hold from the sixteen research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $84.76. GIS has been the subject of several analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of General Mills in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $95.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $76.00 target price on shares of General Mills in a report on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of General Mills in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Barclays raised their price target on shares of General Mills from $81.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on shares of General Mills from $88.00 to $96.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Get General Mills alerts: General Mills Price Performance GIS stock opened at $81.32 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $85.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $83.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. General Mills has a 52 week low of $68.82 and a 52 week high of $90.89. Insider Buying and Selling at General Mills General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.91 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $5.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a net margin of 14.04% and a return on equity of 24.51%. The businesss revenue was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.84 EPS. Analysts anticipate that General Mills will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other General Mills news, insider Jodi J. Benson sold 3,009 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.59, for a total transaction of $272,585.31. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 35,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,215,129.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CAO Mark A. Pallot sold 4,081 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.32, for a total value of $368,595.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 13,121 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,185,088.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Jodi J. Benson sold 3,009 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.59, for a total transaction of $272,585.31. Following the sale, the insider now owns 35,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,215,129.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 55,371 shares of company stock valued at $4,849,178. Company insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of General Mills Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of GIS. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in General Mills by 123,599.0% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,076,005 shares of the companys stock valued at $928,723,000 after acquiring an additional 11,067,051 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of General Mills during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $382,081,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of General Mills by 101.7% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 6,935,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $592,673,000 after purchasing an additional 3,496,741 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of General Mills by 627.7% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,536,513 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,213,000 after purchasing an additional 3,050,525 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Wealth Planning LLC increased its holdings in shares of General Mills by 42.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC now owns 3,547,188 shares of the companys stock valued at $297,432,000 after purchasing an additional 1,052,899 shares in the last quarter. 76.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About General Mills (Get Rating General Mills, Inc manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BNP Paribas lowered shares of Lloyds Banking Group (NYSE:LYG Get Rating) from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report report published on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Lloyds Banking Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, May 15th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 70 ($0.90) to GBX 69 ($0.88) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 61 ($0.78) to GBX 56 ($0.72) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Berenberg Bank lifted their target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 55 ($0.70) to GBX 58 ($0.74) in a research note on Friday, February 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $57.29. Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Lloyds Banking Group Stock Down 2.8 % LYG stock opened at $2.10 on Wednesday. Lloyds Banking Group has a twelve month low of $1.70 and a twelve month high of $2.63. The company has a market cap of $34.47 billion, a PE ratio of 5.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.29. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $2.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.35. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Lloyds Banking Group ( NYSE:LYG Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The financial services provider reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter. Lloyds Banking Group had a return on equity of 11.52% and a net margin of 21.31%. The business had revenue of $5.65 billion for the quarter. On average, research analysts anticipate that Lloyds Banking Group will post 0.41 earnings per share for the current year. Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LYG. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 91.5% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 27,526,155 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $60,558,000 after purchasing an additional 13,150,123 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 4,791.6% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 8,329,390 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $18,325,000 after purchasing an additional 8,159,110 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC raised its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 22.6% in the 3rd quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 31,629,929 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $56,618,000 after purchasing an additional 5,838,073 shares during the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Lloyds Banking Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $10,095,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in Lloyds Banking Group by 57.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 12,445,976 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,006,000 after purchasing an additional 4,519,448 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 2.18% of the companys stock. Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions, and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal and small business customers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Persimmon (LON:PSN Get Rating) had its target price lowered by Jefferies Financial Group from GBX 1,396 ($17.86) to GBX 1,192 ($15.25) in a report released on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a hold rating on the stock. PSN has been the subject of several other reports. UBS Group increased their price objective on Persimmon from GBX 1,230 ($15.74) to GBX 1,300 ($16.63) and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, June 12th. Peel Hunt restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 1,190 ($15.23) target price on shares of Persimmon in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Berenberg Bank restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 1,400 ($17.91) target price on shares of Persimmon in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Citigroup restated a sell rating on shares of Persimmon in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Barclays restated an equal weight rating and issued a GBX 1,300 ($16.63) target price on shares of Persimmon in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 1,474.33 ($18.87). Get Persimmon alerts: Persimmon Stock Performance Persimmon stock opened at GBX 1,059 ($13.55) on Thursday. 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 stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 1,259.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 1,296.88. Persimmon has a 52-week low of GBX 1,059 ($13.55) and a 52-week high of GBX 1,923 ($24.61). The firm has a market capitalization of 3.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 605.14, a P/E/G ratio of -1.74 and a beta of 1.32. Insider Activity at Persimmon About Persimmon In related news, insider Jason Windsor sold 3,740 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,213 ($15.52), for a total value of 45,366.20 ($58,050.16). 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; housing under the Charles Church brand name; and social housing under the Westbury Partnerships brand name. It also provides broadband services under the FibreNest brand; and timber frame, insulated wall panels, and roof cassettes under the brand Space4. Read More 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. MCIA Inc reduced its position in Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO Get Rating) by 7.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 27,187 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 2,060 shares during the period. MCIA Incs holdings in Rio Tinto Group were worth $1,900,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Rio Tinto Group by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 14,424,481 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,027,023,000 after purchasing an additional 271,771 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 58.9% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 12,899,694 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,037,135,000 after acquiring an additional 4,783,488 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 8,484,992 shares of the mining companys stock worth $682,195,000 after acquiring an additional 344,145 shares in the last quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC increased its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 14.4% in the 4th quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 6,247,953 shares of the mining companys stock worth $444,853,000 after acquiring an additional 787,650 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 26.9% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,475,787 shares of the mining companys stock worth $440,253,000 after acquiring an additional 1,161,737 shares in the last quarter. 10.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Rio Tinto Group Trading Down 2.5 % Shares of RIO stock opened at $63.50 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $63.64 and its 200-day moving average price is $68.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 1.64 and a quick ratio of 1.10. Rio Tinto Group has a twelve month low of $50.92 and a twelve month high of $80.51. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Rio Tinto Group Profile Several equities research analysts recently commented on RIO shares. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Friday, May 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 5th. CLSA raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Rio Tinto Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, June 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $5,790.00. (Get Rating) Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CA grew its holdings in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Get Rating) by 39.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 27,920 shares of the medical technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,830 shares during the quarter. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CAs holdings in Medtronic were worth $2,270,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of MDT. Syverson Strege & Co lifted its stake in Medtronic by 52.9% in the 4th quarter. Syverson Strege & Co now owns 341 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Community Bank N.A. lifted its stake in Medtronic by 38.9% in the 4th quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 500 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Red Tortoise LLC purchased a new position in Medtronic in the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in Medtronic in the 1st quarter worth approximately $47,000. Finally, McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Medtronic in the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. 80.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Medtronic alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $89.00 target price on shares of Medtronic in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Medtronic from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $104.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. 92 Resources reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Medtronic in a research report on Friday, May 26th. UBS Group lowered shares of Medtronic from a buy rating to a sell rating and reduced their price target for the company from $127.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Medtronic from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $89.53. Medtronic Stock Up 0.1 % Medtronic stock opened at $87.48 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $86.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $82.86. The company has a market capitalization of $116.39 billion, a PE ratio of 31.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 2.39. Medtronic plc has a fifty-two week low of $75.76 and a fifty-two week high of $95.60. Medtronic (NYSE:MDT Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The medical technology company reported $1.57 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $8.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.25 billion. Medtronic had a net margin of 12.03% and a return on equity of 13.54%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.52 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Medtronic plc will post 5.05 earnings per share for the current year. Medtronic Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be paid a $0.69 dividend. This is an increase from Medtronics previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 22nd. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.16%. Medtronics payout ratio is 97.87%. Medtronic Company Profile (Get Rating) Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MDT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Medtronic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medtronic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Wayfair Inc. (NYSE:W Get Rating) have earned a consensus rating of Hold from the twenty-five ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $48.68. W has been the topic of several research reports. Bank of America boosted their target price on Wayfair from $55.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Stephens lowered their target price on Wayfair from $40.00 to $34.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. DA Davidson boosted their target price on Wayfair from $49.00 to $57.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Loop Capital lowered their target price on Wayfair from $30.00 to $25.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on Wayfair from $53.00 to $56.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Get Wayfair alerts: Wayfair Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of Wayfair stock opened at $57.34 on Friday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $41.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.44 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.50 and a beta of 3.01. Wayfair has a 12 month low of $28.11 and a 12 month high of $76.35. Insider Transactions at Wayfair Wayfair ( NYSE:W Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($2.50) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($3.14) by $0.64. The business had revenue of $2.77 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.74 billion. Analysts predict that Wayfair will post -9.01 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other news, insider Steve Oblak sold 5,346 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.52, for a total value of $189,889.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 194,201 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,898,019.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Steve Oblak sold 5,346 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.52, for a total value of $189,889.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 194,201 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,898,019.52. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Thomas Netzer sold 4,945 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.46, for a total value of $175,349.70. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 93,832 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,327,282.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 64,433 shares of company stock worth $2,572,613. 26.81% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wayfair Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its position in Wayfair by 3,259.6% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 991,072 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,596,000 after purchasing an additional 961,572 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Wayfair during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,044,000. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. bought a new position in Wayfair during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $18,969,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its position in Wayfair by 1,447.8% during the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 431,479 shares of the companys stock valued at $14,817,000 after purchasing an additional 403,602 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP bought a new position in Wayfair during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $13,642,000. Institutional investors own 87.35% of the companys stock. About Wayfair (Get Rating Wayfair, Inc engages in an online home furnishing store. It operates through the U.S. and International segments. The U.S. segment consists of amounts earned through product sales through the companys five distinct sites in the U.S. and through websites operated by third parties in the U.S. The International segment is composed of earnings through product sales in international sites. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wayfair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wayfair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. President Yoon Suk Yeol is likely to retain the head of the intelligence agency in spite of a recent mishap in personnel appointment at the National Intelligence Service (NIS), an informed source at the ruling bloc said Sunday. NIS Director Kim Kyou-hyun has been in hot water after the spy agency reportedly summoned chiefs of its key overseas missions, raising questions over the agency's personnel management. Yoon, who returned home Saturday after visiting France and Vietnam, was briefed on the matter, according to the source. "It has been decided not to replace Director Kim," the source said on the condition of anonymity. Yoon is also likely to nominate the new chief of the state broadcasting watchdog as early as later this week. Lee Dong-kwan, a special adviser to the president and former senior presidential secretary for press affairs under the Lee Myung-bak administration, has reportedly been picked to head the Korea Communications Commission. Separately, Yoon has been weighing replacing around 10 vice ministers to give a boost to key state projects in his administration's second year in office, presidential officials have said. (Yonhap) David Wilcox Follow David Wilcox Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Rob Lyons and Jeremy Workman were making their latest movie when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade one year ago. Suddenly, their movie carried a new sense of urgency: Its subject is Assemblyman George Michaels, of Auburn, who after a dramatic floor speech cast the deciding vote to legalize abortion in New York state in 1970. Three years later, Roe v. Wade would make the medical procedure a constitutional right throughout the country. Lyons and Workman's 19-minute documentary, titled "Deciding Vote," began screening at Tribeca and other film festivals this spring, and will become available publicly this fall. Despite feeling that sense of urgency as they finished the movie, the directors told The Citizen, it didn't turn out much differently than it would have without the Supreme Court's decision. That's because "Deciding Vote" is as much about how Michaels became a profile in political courage as it is about the issue that inspired that courage. "We wanted to tell the story behind the scenes," Lyons said. "George Michaels is a reminder of people who were career politicians in a good way, committed to good legislation and healthy democracy." Lyons and Workman, of Wheelhouse Creative, said making a documentary about Michaels was suggested to them by a friend, Doron Steger, who would executive produce it. The directors were familiar with the assemblyman's story, but shared their friend's shock that it wasn't a "bigger part of the American historical discourse," Workman said. All agreed it would make "a great short film." A Queens native and a Marine who served in World War II, Michaels was practicing law in Auburn when he was first elected to the Assembly in 1960. He was the first Democrat elected by the highly Catholic and Republican district since the Civil War, his son Lee Michaels noted in the documentary. George, his son continued, would also be the last Democrat Auburn elected to the Assembly. George "knew how to serve his constituents, and they got what they needed," his son Jim Michaels said in the documentary. The assemblyman's record helped him win reelection five times. But in April 1970, he and his colleagues took up the issue that would mark, as he correctly predicted, "the termination of my political career." Abortion, at the time, was illegal in every state. Seeking to make New York the first to legalize it, Assembly members Constance Cook, of Ithaca, and Franz Leichter, of Manhattan, co-authored a bill that the Senate passed 31-26. Cook decried the "abominable circumstances" in which abortions were performed, which caused the deaths of 367 women in New York City the previous decade. The Assembly debate on the bill did not follow the partisan lines that define the issue of abortion today, Lyons and Workman said. For instance, Cook was a Republican and Leichter was a Democrat. "We were blown away," Lyons said. "It was so different from our present day where everyone is so polarized, and so few politicians are able to think for themselves and operate outside party lines." Believing that his deeply religious constituency opposed the bill, George wrote to a Cayuga County committee that he would vote against it. Lee said his father also considered the possibility that voting for the bill would cost him clients at their law firm. Lee practices today in Auburn as a partner at Michaels Bersani Kalabanka P.C., a continuation of the firm he started with his father. In conversation with his son Jim, a 1968 college graduate and frequent demonstrator for social causes, George was even more blunt about the political necessity of voting against the bill. Jim told his father he understood, he recalled during the documentary so long as his vote wasn't the one to defeat the legalization of abortion. Finally, George discussed the issue with his daughter-in-law, Sarah. Then a senior in college, she told him that several of her classmates had undergone abortions, she said in the documentary. "I was lucky I didn't have to face that problem, but I could see the look of fear in girls' eyes who did," she said. "I could see a change in him, it kind of opened his eyes. He had no idea it was so serious." The next morning, George left for Albany. The first Assembly vote on the bill was 74-74. His vote, as if predicted by Jim, was positioned as the deciding one. Then, George asked for the floor. "Many people in my district may condemn me for what I'm about to do," told the Assembly. "But ... what's the use of getting elected, or reelected, if you don't stand for something?" His voice cracking with emotion, George asked that his "no" vote be changed to a "yes." The chamber erupted in applause. On April 11, Gov. Nelson Rockefeller signed the bill into what was called the most liberal abortion law in the country. Indeed, the assemblyman was condemned for his vote by his constituents. Letters read in the documentary by Cayuga Museum of History & Art archivist Rebecca Fitzgerald called him "dirty" and "traitorous." Others told him, "A man who lets his children make his decisions for him cannot be much of a man," and, "A disgusting display of emotion you put on for the benefit of television cameras." Likewise, George's political career did promptly come to an end. He lost the Democratic primary for his Assembly seat later that year. But the letters of condemnation stopped after two or three weeks, Jim said. What never stopped was the gratitude for George's vote, particularly from women. In letters and in person, he and even his sons were thanked by countless women for decades. As the central New York chapter of the National Organization for Women wrote to him, "At a time in our history when it was unpopular to take a stand on abortion, you courageously cast a ballot that determined the fate of many women women that will largely remain anonymous to you." George later told his granddaughters that he took his stand so they "didn't have to agonize over this," Jim told The Citizen. The gratitude may be stronger now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, Jim continued, and state law is the only source of protection for abortion rights in New York. The documentary explains how the 1970 law was an "on-ramp" for the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the U.S. for 49 years, Workman said. George remained proud of the vote that ended his political career until he passed away in 1992, a year after he was named a finalist for the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. He was survived by his wife, Helen, and sons Lee, Jim and William. The youngest of the three brothers, William was a high school senior at the time of his father's vote. He passed away from cancer in 2007. Jim, meanwhile, became a rabbi and lives in Rockville, Maryland. He and Lee have attended screenings of "Deciding Vote," and praised the documentary for its handling of their father's story. "They showed how important the family connection was," Jim said. "He obviously was very troubled by it, and so it was the influence of myself, my sister-in-law and others who made it a moral decision." Lyons and Workman hope to screen the movie with the family in Auburn, where a portrait of George hangs in the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center. He is buried in Fort Hill Cemetery. "It's been so gratifying to see his legacy has stood the test of time," Lyons said. "He had to endure some pain, but his family has benefited and our country has benefited from his actions." Doosan Corp. Electro-Materials BG CEO Yoo Seung-woo, left, poses with Hai Duong Director Trieu The Hung after signing an MOU to enhance collaboration in electronic materials in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday. Courtesy of Doosan Corp. By Kim Hyun-bin Doosan Corp., a multinational conglomerate, is partnering with Hai Duong, a Vietnamese city near Hanoi, to explore new business opportunities based on the company's advanced electronic materials manufacturing technology, according to the company, Sunday. Doosan announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hai Duong, focusing on cooperation in the field of electronic materials. The MOU signing ceremony, held as part of President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Vietnam, was attended by Industry, Trade and Energy Minister Lee Chang-yang, Doosan Corp. Electro-Materials BG CEO Yoo Seung-woo and Hai Duong Director Trieu The Hung. Under the agreement, Doosan plans to expand its patterned flat cable (PFC) production facility located in Hanoi and consider further investments to contribute to job creation and regional economic development. Hai Duong plans to support Doosan's investment by providing tax benefits and other incentives to ensure smooth progress. Doosan established its Vietnamese subsidiary in 2020 and completed the construction of a factory for PFC mass production last October. PFC is a next-generation electronic material that can replace copper wiring harnesses, which are essential for various parts of electric vehicles (EV) such as batteries, doors, seats and roofs. Applying PFC to EVs can reduce the weight and volume of copper wiring by over 80 percent, enabling reduced weight and cost and increased travel distance on a single charge. Reducing weight in EVs is considered a major industry challenge, increasing the significance of PFC. AUBURN With around 100 people in attendance at a LGBTQIA+ Pride rally in Auburn Saturday, Linda Webster said she has spoken at such events several times. "But this is the first time I've felt afraid," she said, for her safety and the safety of children. Webster, mother of a transgender son, artist Blake Chamberlain, and a volunteer at local youth program Pride House, addressed the crowd at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center. She referenced laws and rulings centering on transgender's people access to public restrooms, book banning, health care restrictions for children and more. "It's going to be tough leading up to the election next year. LGBTQ+ people are the new rallying cry for political pundits. It's almost like they're realizing that LGBTQ+ have been living, working, using the restrooms, getting health care and paying taxes in our communities the whole time," Webster said. "The horror. Yes, it's true. It must be exhausting to have to find non-problems to fix." She added that she feels misinformation online related to LGBTQ+ people is assisting in prompting policy changes negatively impacting members of that community. "Laws are being passed every week to address problems that never existed in the first place. Please, don't let these bullies confuse you or make you question your own experiences. Don't let anyone cause you to stop growing and expressing yourself freely," Webster said. Adding that she sympathizes with "the families who have had to relocate just so their child can get health care" and lamenting how "this culture war" affects doctors and teachers who interact with LGBTQ+ people, Webster later addressed issues such as the idea that books with LGBTQ+ content can make children queer. "As a matter of fact, my son read a ton of straight material and it never did the trick," she said, with some audience members laughing, cheering and clapping in response. Others who gave remarks at the event included Jamie O'Donnell, Christopher Patch, founder and director of Pride House, artist Kevin Carr and Sharyol Brownlee, also known as DJ ShayKey, who had also been playing music celebrating the 50th anniversary of the hip-hop. Brownlee talked about the importance of fighting for freedom. "You have to stand up and not hide, be who you are, be comfortable in your skin and don't let anybody denounce your presence," Brownlee said. "We are here, we are proud ... We are mothers, we are fathers, we are children, we are doctors, we are lawyers, we are DJs. We take care of this country. How dare we allow other people to run us away?" After the rally, Leo Ara, who sported some rainbow face paint and cheered during different speeches at the event, talked abut why he feels these events are important. "We get to come together for a collective good and showcase that we're not afraid to come into public spaces like this and be proud of who we are and show that to allies or community members as a whole," Ara said. The table for the business Simply Delicious, run by Marissa Hall, had cookies and other baked good. Her friend Tasha Andreas and Andreas' children, Daniel Baker, 11, Lucas Baker, 9, and Onolee Baker, 7 were at Hall's table for support, with Daniel and Onolee wearing rainbows leis around their necks. Andreas said she has lived in the area for a decade and Hall said she moved to the area about 8 years ago, but both noted they hadn't seen Pride events in Auburn until a few years ago. Hall said she was glad to see the festivities in the area. "It's nice to see growth. Change is good. If we stay stagnant forever, then we're circling backwards, you know? I'd rather go forwards than backwards," she said. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on June 15, 2023, accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquisition of 31 MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for Tri-Services from the USA through Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route. The AoN included the number of UAVs to be procured along with associated equipment. The AoN noted the estimated cost of 3,072 million US dollars provided by the US Government. However, price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US Government is received. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will compare the acquisition cost with the best price offered by General Atomics (GA) to other countries. The procurement is in progress and would be completed as per the laid down procedure. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden Have Announced a Slew of Defense and Technology Deals Including Jet Engine Co-production, Armed Drones Among Others. Under the FMS route, a Letter of Request (LOR) would be sent to the US Government where Tri-services requirements, details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be included. Based on LOR, the US Government and MoD will finalise the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) where details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be negotiated and finalised in accordance with the FMS program and the price and terms offered by the US Government and GA to other countries. India, US Keen to Conclude USD 3 Billion MQ-9B Predator Drone Deal. Meanwhile, some speculative reports emerged in sections of social media referring to the price and other terms of purchase. These are uncalled for, have ulterior motives and aimed at derailing the due acquisition process. Price and other terms & conditions of the purchase are yet to be finalised and subject to negotiations. In this regard, all are requested not to spread fake news/misinformation which can have serious impact on the morale of the Armed Forces and adversely impact the acquisition process. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2023 01:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): The Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Sunday alleged that its fact-finding inquiry team was not allowed by the West Bengal state election commissioner to visit and meet the "injured" children in the Murshidabad due to model code of conduct which came into force ahead of the July 8 Panchayat elections in the state. In a series of tweets, Chairperson Priyanka Kanoonga asserted that it is the responsibility of the body to ensure help and treatment to the victims. Also Read | Assam Floods: Over Four Lakh People Affected in Nine Districts As Flood Situation Remains Grim (Watch Video). On June 20, the NCPCR sought permission to relax restrictions on the commission's team to the state for a fact-finding inquiry. While replying to the request, the state poll body had advised that the visit of the Commission's team may be deferred till the completion of the election process."With reference to the above I am directed to inform you that since the Model Code of Conduct is in place in the State in connection with the Panchayat General Election, 2023 and the entire state machinery, including the district civil and police administration is involved with the election work, it is advised that the visit of the Commission's team may be deferred till the completion of the election process," read the notice dated June 21. Also Read | Lightening Strike in Uttar Pradesh: One Killed, 12 Injured As Lightning Strikes in Jaunpur. "5 children have been injured in a bomb blast in Murshidabad, West Bengal, in this case, it is the responsibility of the body to ensure help, treatment to the victims," Kanoonga tweeted. As per the NCPCR chairperson, due to the implementation of the code of conduct for panchayat elections in the state, the permission of the Election Commission has to be taken to go there, which is a normal administrative procedure, and is generally given in matters related to the lives of children. Kanoongo termed the decision on the part of Rajeev Sinha, State Election Commissioner of West Bengal an "act of sheer cruelty and inhuman" while reminding him of his long-time association with child rights organisations. "Anyway, children are not even voters, yet the State Election Commissioner of West Bengal Mr. Rajeev Sinha did not allow us to go to meet the injured children, it is sheer cruelty, it is inhuman. And this level of insensitivity is when Mr. Sinha himself @UN has worked for a long time in a child rights organization @UNICEFIndia," Priyanka Kanoonga said in another tweet. The election will be held in a single phase on July 8, with vote counting scheduled for July 11. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The now twice-tweaked and continually debated bail law changes in New York state are aimed at bringing more equity to the criminal justice system. The underlying premise for the changes that criminal defendants access to money for bail should not decide who remains incarcerated pending the outcome of their cases was a step in the right direction. But too many violent crimes and too many habitual offenders exposed that the original reforms had some problems. Now that two rounds of changes aimed at fixing those issues have been approved by the Legislature, time is needed to allow the changes to show their effectiveness. And one area where this applies is the goal of reducing guilty pleas made by innocent people who just want to end their cases and get out of county jail. Under the old system, prosecutors had a troubling amount of leverage with respect to negotiations when they could keep minor crime defendants locked up before trials. That leads us to a new bill passed by the Legislature this year, and now under consideration for signing by Gov. Kathy Hochul. NY bill aims to help wrongfully convicted; prosecutors say it would aid guilty people ALBANY People who have pleaded guilty to crimes they didn't commit would have an easier time challenging their convictions under a bill pass The measure would make it easier for people who pleaded guilty to crimes to legally challenge their convictions. Current state case law limits such challenges to situations in which DNA evidence exonerates the person convicted. Prior to the bail law changes, wed be inclined to side with the legislators who approved this bill. Wrongfully coerced guilty pleas should not be the problem they were in past, but changes in this new bill could encourage frivolous challenges to legitimate convictions, and bring an already stressed system even more logistical nightmares. We urge the governor to veto this bill, and give new criminal justice laws a chance to work. The Citizen Editorial board includes executive editor Jeremy Boyer and managing editor Mike Dowd Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 25 (ANI): STF Kolkata Police on Saturday busted an illegal SIM box network racket operating across four places in Kolkata and arrested three people, said an official of STF Kolkata Police. Based on specific inputs, STF Kolkata Police busted a major Simbox network, operating across 4 places in Kolkata under Karaya, Tala, Purba Jadavpur, and Ekbalpur Police Station (PS) jurisdictions, said an STF official. Also Read | Maharashtra Weather Forecast: IMD Issues Orange Alert for Raigad, Ratnagiri As Heavy Rain Lashes Parts of State; Yellow Alert for Mumbai and Thane. "29 SIM boxes, 604 SIM cards of BSNL and Airtel, and multiple routers were recovered from the accused. Karaya PS: 07 Simboxes, Tala PS: 14 Simboxes, Purba Jadavpur PS: 03 Simboxes, Ekbalpur: 5 Simboxes," said the Police. The accused have been identified as Goutam Saha, Golum Moinuddin Warsi, and Md Muzaffar Hossain, said the official. Also Read | Delhi Rains Today: Heavy Rainfall, Thunderstorm Lash Parts of Delhi-NCR, Brings Respite From Scorching Heat (Watch Video). These devices were used for illegal diversion of international calls that cause both revenue loss to the government and are also potential security threats which could be exploited by anti-nationals, said an STF official. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, June 25: Five people were injured after the portion of a building's balcony at St. Braz Road, near Nanavati Hospital, collapsed on Sunday afternoon, police said. The injured residents at Vile Parle Gaothan were shifted to a nearby hospital, police informed further. Two fire engines, one response vehicle, ambulances, and the police were present at the spot at the time of filing this report. Further details are awaited. Mumbai Building Collapse: Portion of Three Floor Residential Building Collapses in Ghatkopar; No Casualty (Watch Video). In another incident, four people were safely rescued while two more were trapped after a three-storey building collapsed in Rajawadi Colony, Ghatkopar (East), Mumbai, an official said on Sunday. "A portion of a three-storey building collapsed in Rajawadi Colony, Ghatkopar (East). Four people were safely rescued while two people are still trapped inside. Rescue operation is underway," Rashmee Lokhande, chief officer of the Disaster Management Department, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, said. An NDRF team was at the spot, trying to locate and extricate other people feared trapped inside the building. Thane: Terrace Slab, Parapet of Two-Storey Building Collapse in Kharegaon Area; No Injuries. "We are trying to locate the people who are feared trapped inside. Three of our teams are at the spot, carrying out rescue operations. The ground floor has collapsed completely and search and rescue operations are underway," Sarang Kurve, assistant commandant, NDRF, said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Shivamogga (Karnataka) [India], June 25 (ANI): Three students from Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been arrested for allegedly growing and selling cannabis through hi-tech farming at their rented accommodation here in Karnataka's Shivamogga, police said on Sunday. The accused, as per the Karnataka police, has been identified as Vighnaraj (28), a resident of Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, is a student of a private medical college, and was found growing cannabis at his rented accommodation. Also Read | Delhi Rains Today: Heavy Rainfall, Thunderstorm Lash Parts of Delhi-NCR, Brings Respite From Scorching Heat (Watch Video). "Police received information that the accused was involved in the business for the last three and half months," GK Mithun Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Shivamogga said. The other two accused identified as Vinod Kumar (27), a resident of Idukki, Kerala and Pandidorai (27), a resident of Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, were arrested when they had come to buy the contraband during a raid conducted by the police after being alerted. Also Read | Bihar Gas Leak: One Killed, Over 30 Admitted to Hospital After Inhaling Ammonia Gas Leak From Cylinder in Hajipur (See Pics). "During the raid, police recovered 227 grams of ganja, 1.53 kg raw ganja, 10 grams of charas, a small bottle containing ganja seeds, 3 cannabis oil syringes, two cans used for making ganja powder from the possession of the accused," SP said. One electronic weighing machine, one exit fan, six table fans, two stabilizers, three LED lights, rolling paper, two hookah pipes, 4 hookah caps, and hemp stem and Rupess 19 thousand cash also were recovered, the official said. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at Shivamogga rural police station. Sharing more details, the official said, Vighnaraj was found growing the cannabis in pots at his rented accommodation at Siva Ganga Layout Mahadevapura. "He was growing cannabis in pots by creating an artificial environment (spider farming) inside the house without being noticed by the landlord. He sold the cannabis to college students," he said. "Further investigation is underway to see if other people are also involved," the official 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) New Delhi, June 25: Billionaire Anil Agarwal's mining conglomerate Vedanta Ltd donated Rs 155 crore to political parties through electoral bonds in the fiscal ended March 2023, according to the company's latest annual report. The donation was higher than Rs 123 crore the firm gave in 2021-22 (April 2021 to March 2022), the annual report for 2022-23 said. It did not give the names of the beneficiary political parties. Vedanta Group Inks MoU With 20 Korean Companies From Display Glass Industry, To Develop Electronics Manufacturing Hub in India. The Modi government had, in 2017-18, introduced the system of electoral bonds for electoral funding. This was to provide an alternative to the cash donations. Anyone could buy electoral bonds from the State Bank of India (SBI) and donate them to any political party. Political parties then encash them. The scheme does not require political parties to mention the names and addresses of those contributing by way of electoral bonds in their contribution reports filed with the Election Commission of India annually. In the last five years, Vedanta has donated a cumulative Rs 457 crore to political parties via electoral bonds. In the annual report, Vedanta said it made donations of Rs 160 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal. These "include contributions through electoral bonds of Rs 155 crore". In the previous financial year, the donations totalled Rs 130 crore, including Rs 123 crore contribution through electoral bonds. Vedanta Board Approves Plan To Raise Rs 2,100 Crore via NCDs. The donations to political parties were more than Vedanta's corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending of Rs 112 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 37 crore in the previous year, the report showed. Vedanta's Janhit Electoral Trust is one of the over dozen electoral trusts floated by corporates for making donations to political parties. Other corporates that own electoral trusts include Progressive Electoral Trust of Tatas, People's Electoral Trust of Reliance group, Satya Electoral Trust of Bharti Group, MP Birla Group's Paribartan Electoral Trust and KK Birla Group's Samaj Electoral Trust Association. Bajaj and Mahindra also have electoral trusts. In the annual report, Vedanta identified Janhit Electoral Trust as one of the entities "over which key management personnel/their relatives have control or significant influence". It did not give details. According to Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a total of 22,641 Electoral Bonds worth Rs 12,979 crore were sold in 26 phases between March 2018 to April 2023. As many as 22,458 bonds worth Rs 12,955 crore were redeemed during this period. Almost 28 per cent of the total value of electoral bonds were purchased in two months alone - March and April 2019 - the period of general elections. The ruling BJP received most donations made through electoral bonds, according to ADR. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) India is in negotiations with Brazil to resolve a sugar dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the commerce ministry is coordinating with concerned departments for the same, government sources said. India is also following a similar process for other complainants of the sugar dispute at the Geneva-based WTO, they said. Also Read | Monsoon 2023 in India: Conditions Favourable for Monsoon's Further Advance, Very Heavy Rainfall in East, Northwest Soon, Says IMD. In 2019, Brazil, Australia and Guatemala dragged India into the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism alleging that New Delhi's sugar subsidies to farmers are inconsistent with global trade rules. The Department of Commerce is coordinating with all the concerned line ministries to arrive at possible alternatives, one of the sources, who is aware of the development, said. Also Read | No Heatwave Recorded in Delhi This Summer, First Time Since 2011. The exercise assumes significance as a WTO dispute settlement panel on December 14, 2021, ruled that India's support measures for the sugar sector are inconsistent with the global trade norms. In January 2022, India appealed against the panel's ruling at the WTO's appellate body, which is the final authority on such trade disputes. Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugar in the world. India is the world's second-largest sugar producer after Brazil. Brazil, Australia and Guatemala, which are members of the WTO, had complained that India's support measures to sugarcane producers exceed the de minimis level of 10 per cent of the total value of sugarcane production, which according to them was inconsistent with the WTO's Agreement on Agriculture. They had also flagged India's alleged export subsidies, subsidies under the production assistance and buffer stock schemes, and the marketing and transportation scheme. According to WTO rules, a WTO member or members can file a case in the Geneva-based multilateral body if they feel that a particular trade measure is against the norms of the WTO. Bilateral consultation is the first step to resolve a dispute. If both sides are not able to resolve the matter through consultation, either can approach the establishment of a dispute settlement panel. The panel's ruling or report can be challenged at the World Trade Organization's Appellate Body. Interestingly, the appellate body of the WTO is not functioning because of differences among member countries to appoint members in this body. Several disputes are already pending with the appellate body. The US has been blocking the appointment of the members. The bilateral trade between India and Brazil increased to USD 16.6 billion in 2022-23 as against USD 12.2 billion in 2021-22. Trade gap is in the favour of India. India has exported 37.75 lakh tonnes of sugar till March 9 of the 2022-23 ongoing marketing year ending September out of 60 lakh tonnes allowed by the government, trade body All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) has said in March. Mills have exported 37,75,684 tonnes of sugar between October 1, 2022, and March 9 of the 2022-23 marketing year. The sugar marketing year runs from October to September. The government has allowed the export of 60 lakh tonnes for the 2022-23 marketing year. The industry is demanding that the government should increase the export quota. WTO member countries can resolve disputes outside the dispute settlement mechanism and later inform the multi-lateral body about the same. Recently, India and the US have agreed to end their six major trade disputes at the WTO. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) India will remove additional duties on eight US products, including chickpeas, lentils and apples, which were imposed in 2019 in response to America's measure to increase tariffs on certain steel and aluminium products, government sources said. During the recent state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, both countries decided the termination of six WTO (World Trade Organisation) disputes and the removal of these retaliatory tariffs on certain US products. Also Read | Monsoon 2023 in India: Conditions Favourable for Monsoon's Further Advance, Very Heavy Rainfall in East, Northwest Soon, Says IMD. In 2018, the US imposed an import duty of 25 per cent on steel products and 10 per cent on certain aluminium products on grounds of national security. In retaliation, India in June 2019 imposed customs duties on 28 American products. The duties on these eight US-origin products would revert to the current applied most-favoured-nation (MFN) rate after India notifies the rescinding of additional duties, one of the sources, who is aware of the development, said. Also Read | No Heatwave Recorded in Delhi This Summer, First Time Since 2011. The tariffs would end in 90 days. As part of the agreement, India will be removing additional duty on chickpeas (10 per cent), lentils (20 per cent), almonds fresh or dried (Rs 7 per kg), almonds shelled (Rs 20 per kg), walnuts (20 per cent), apples fresh (20 per cent), boric acid (20 per cent), and Diagnostic Regents (20 per cent), the sources added. The duties were increased on 28 US products in 2019 in retaliation to the US decision to increase duties on certain steel and aluminium products. US lawmakers and industry leaders have welcomed the announcement of an agreement with India to end these duties. The US is the largest trading partner of India. In 2022-23, the bilateral goods trade increased to USD 128.8 billion as against USD 119.5 billion in 2021-22. "India has announced it is lifting retaliatory tariffs that all but shut down the Indian market for Washington's more than 1,400 apple growers and now our growers will once again have access to this USD 120 million market," Cantwell, the Democratic Party lawmaker, has said in a statement. India was Washington's second export market for apples. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Maheep New Delhi [India], June 25 (ANI): As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on his first official state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the visit serves as an opportune platform to further bolster collaboration and solidify the bond between the two nations, author Maheep writes. Also Read | Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin Says He Ordered His Russian Mercenaries to Halt March on Moscow and Return to Ukraine to Avoid Shedding Blood. This engagement represents a crucial step towards realizing the shared aspirations of India and Egypt, amplifying the potential for mutually beneficial outcomes in the pursuit of comprehensive cooperation. The visit of Prime Minister Modi spans two days June 24-25. It comes as a reciprocal gesture following President El-Sisi's presence as the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations earlier this year. The visit of President El-Sisi to India proved to be highly successful, culminating in both nations mutually agreeing to elevate their relations to the status of a strategic partnership. Also Read | Vladimir Putin's Presidential Plane Spotted Leaving Moscow Amid Mercenary Group Wagner's Uprising. Historical, Cultural and Diplomatic Exchanges The roots of Indo-Egyptian diplomatic relations can be traced back to the 3rd century BC when Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great dispatched his envoys to the court of the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The Egyptian king, in a reciprocal gesture, dispatched his own ambassador named Dionysius to the Mauryan court at Patliputra. This recorded incident marks the earliest known interaction between the two ancient civilizations, laying the foundation of diplomatic engagement between India and Egypt, and highlighting the far-reaching historical ties that have endured through the ages. In a notable address, the Indian Ambassador to Egypt, Ajit Gupte, emphasized the enduring nature of the maritime connections between India and Egypt. He highlighted that these connections have transcended time, spanning across centuries and leaving an indelible mark on their shared history. The knowledge of the joint commitment between the two nations to this influential global initiative continues to resonate, symbolizing the shared values, aspirations, and their common pursuit of independent foreign policies in a multipolar world that remains an important and unique aspect of their historical narrative. Moreover, the cherished bond between Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul is still deeply entrenched in the collective memory of the Egyptian people. Notably, the Indian Ambassador underscored the genuine desire of the Egyptian population to foster closer ties with India, owing to their strong affinity for Indian culture and deeply ingrained family values. Prime Minister Modi's itinerary includes visits to significant historical and cultural sites in Egypt. He will pay homage to the awe-inspiring 11th Century Al-Hakim mosque. This architectural marvel stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage shared by India and Egypt. What adds even greater significance to this visit is the remarkable restoration of the Al-Hakim mosque, made possible through the unwavering dedication and support of the Dawoodi Bohra community. The Al-Hakim mosque, with its centuries-old legacy, serves as a beacon of religious and historical importance showcasing the intermingling of Indian and Egyptian cultures. Furthermore, the visit to the Heliopolis War Grave Cemetery pays tribute to Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during the First World War, further reinforcing the historical bond between the two countries. Prime Minister Modi will interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora residing in Egypt also. This engagement not only fosters people-to-people ties but also provides a platform for the diaspora to contribute to economic growth and cultural exchange between the two nations. Strengthening Bilateral Ties The partnership between the two nations has recently ascended to the level of a strategic alliance, encompassing critical domains such as political collaboration, defence cooperation, maritime security, food security, economic integration, and concerted efforts on global affairs. The primacy placed on these multifaceted facets underscores the fundamental importance they hold in shaping and nurturing the bilateral relations between them. Diplomatic exchanges over the past few months, India and Egypt have witnessed a surge in ministerial-level political exchanges. Notably, key ministers from both countries have visited each other, showcasing the intensified focus on strengthening various aspects of the bilateral relationship. The visits of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in September 2022 and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in October last year have yielded remarkable outcomes in the realm of defence collaboration between India and Egypt. These visits paved the way for the historic initiation of "Desert Warrior," a joint tactical exercise conducted by the air forces of both nations. Moreover, another bilateral Defence Cooperation was marked by Cyclone 2023, a two-week-long joint exercise conducted by the armies of India and Egypt. The potential for defence cooperation between Egypt and India has become a prominent focal point of their evolving partnership. Reports have surfaced that India and Egypt are engaged in discussions pertaining to the supply of India's advanced Tejas fighter aircraft to Egypt. This development signifies a momentous landmark, as it not only strengthens the military ties between the two countries but also lays the groundwork for Cairo to foster the growth of its own indigenous defence industry. In addition to the remarkable co-production of cutting-edge military equipment, the upcoming discussions will delve into a significant proposition put forth by Egypt--an exclusive slot reserved for India within the prestigious Suez Canal Economic Zone. This golden opportunity holds immense promise for advancing their economic collaboration and solidifying India's foothold in the region. In addition to the remarkable co-production of cutting-edge military equipment, the upcoming discussions between our esteemed nations will delve into a significant proposition put forth by Egypt--an exclusive slot reserved for India within the prestigious Suez Canal Economic Zone. This extraordinary prospect holds immense promise for advancing economic collaboration and solidifying India's foothold in the region. Furthermore, the realms of green hydrogen and tourism stand as fertile ground for fostering substantial growth and mutual prosperity. Indian investments in these areas possess tremendous potential, offering avenues for innovation, sustainability, and economic vitality. By venturing into the realm of green hydrogen, we can drive the transformation towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future, while the tourism sector holds immense possibilities for cultural exchange, economic stimulation, and the deepening of people-to-people connections. The convergence of ambitions in these domains holds the power to unlock new horizons of growth, prosperity, and bilateral cooperation. Economic and Trade Engagement In a truly extraordinary gesture of goodwill and benevolence, Egypt demonstrated its unwavering support by dispatching three aircraft cargoes laden with a consignment of 300,000 doses of the Remdesivir vaccine. This compassionate act of solidarity occurred during the harrowing times when India was grappling with the devastating impact of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2021. Next year, India, reciprocated by sending shipments of wheat to Egypt in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which gravely disrupted Egypt's wheat imports from Ukraine. According to author Maheep, India's eagerness to increase investment in Egypt is evident, the bilateral trade between the two nations reached an unprecedented pinnacle, soaring to a staggering USD 7.26 billion during the fiscal year culminating in June of 2022, as reported by the Egyptian newspaper, Al-Ahram. In January 2023, both leaders expressed their commitment to elevate the trade volume. They set the target of USD 12 billion within the upcoming five years. This visionary aspiration denotes their firm determination to fortify economic ties, foster mutual prosperity, and unlock a new era of fruitful collaboration. Official data reveals that More than 450 Indian companies are registered in Egypt of which about 50 are actively operating across diverse sectors. These companies have made substantial investments, exceeding USD 3 billion collectively. This significant presence of Indian businesses in Egypt has had a positive impact on the local economy, providing gainful employment opportunities to a commendable workforce of nearly 35,000 Egyptians. Such figures underscore the deep economic ties and the substantial contribution of Indian companies towards Egypt's growth and development. The vibrant Indian presence in Egypt is evidenced by a population of around 3,600 Indians who have chosen to call Egypt their home. Further accentuating this symbiotic relationship. The Indian community in Egypt embodies a diverse range of professionals including businesspersons, IT specialists, students, entrepreneurs, and a myriad of other accomplished individuals, as ascertained by the Indian embassy situated in Cairo. The Egyptian ambassador to India, Wael Mohamed Awad Hamed, highlighted the significance of an invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi to Egypt's president to serve as the chief guest for Republic Day in 2022. This invitation is viewed as a transformative event, a game-changer that holds great potential for bilateral relations. They share similar priorities including the modernization of their respective countries, industrialization, job creation, development, and environmental awareness. These pressing issues resonate with the challenges faced by the developing world. The upcoming meeting between the two leaders holds immense significance as it provides an opportunity to address these concerns bilaterally and within the broader context of the G20, where Egypt has been invited as a guest country under India's G20 presidency. This convergence of interests sets the stage for collaborative efforts aimed at tackling shared problems and fostering mutual growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Egypt represents a significant milestone in the growing bilateral relationship between India and Egypt. This visit marks a reciprocal gesture and highlights the commitment to deepening ties. Prime Minister Modi's itinerary includes visits to historic and cultural sites, such as the Al-Hakim mosque, showcasing the shared heritage between India and Egypt. The visit also focuses on important areas of collaboration, including defence cooperation and economic integration. It emphasizes the multifaceted nature of the partnership, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and diplomatic aspects. As India and Egypt continue to strengthen their relationship, the potential for further growth and diversification becomes increasingly promising, fostering mutual prosperity and cooperation in the years to come. Overall, Prime Minister Modi's visit paves the way for enhanced collaboration, cultural exchange, and mutual prosperity between the two nations. (Dr Maheep is a Leading Expert of India's Foreign Affairs with a specialisation in Middle East & North Africa). (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Moscow, June 25: After Wagner mercenary force chief Yevgeny Prigozhin decided to halt his forces' march to Moscow under deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kremlin spokesperson on Saturday said the charges against the Wagner leader who led armed mutiny against the country's military leadership would be dropped, The New York Times reported The Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S Peskov said Prigozhin will go to Belarus, and the fighters who rebelled with him would not be prosecuted by law given their "service at the front." Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin Says He Ordered His Russian Mercenaries to Halt March on Moscow and Return to Ukraine to Avoid Shedding Blood. "Wagner fighters who did not participate in the mutiny can sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense," New York Times quoted Peskov as saying. This comes shortly after the Belarusian president stated he was in talks with Prigozhin about an agreement to "de-escalate tensions." Taking to Twitter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus wrote, "At 9 p.m. tonight, the Presidents spoke again by phone. The President of Belarus Lukashenko informed the President of Russia about the results of negotiations w/ the leader of the Wagner Group. President Putin thanked his counterpart for the work done." Vladimir Putin's Presidential Plane Spotted Leaving Moscow Amid Mercenary Group Wagner's Uprising. According to several videos circulating on social media, Wagner's armoured vehicles started departing the military centre of Rostov-on-Don in southwest Russia on Saturday night. However, Prighozin did not mention about it earlier whether his forces were backtracking from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don as well, where critical military and civilian buildings were seized. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Harrison Ford is gonna get back to punching Nazis this Thursday as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny sees our favourite archaeologist returns to the big screen. Following Indy again as he is joined by his god-daughter this time around, they embark on a journey to retrieve an artifact that is currently being held by the Nazis that would allow them to travel through time. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Review: Harrison Ford-James Mangold's Film Gets Mixed Reactions From Critics at Cannes 2023. With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny being Harrison Ford's swan song as the character, many are excited to see exactly how the book will be closed on this iconic character. So, before you go and check out Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in theatres this coming Thursday, this is a guide that will tell you all about the film. Cast Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will see the return of Harrison Ford as the iconic titular character. In the film he will be joined by Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw, Mads Mikkelsen as Jurgen Voller, Amtonio Banderas as Renaldo, Toby Jones as Basil Shaw and Boyd Holbrook as Klaber. The film will also see John Rhys-Davies return as Sallah. Plot Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will follow our titular character right as he is about to retire. However, when NASA hires ex Nazis to beat the Soviet Union in the space race, he must come out of retirement and beat them to the chase before they can get their hands on a dial that will allow them to travel through time. Watch the Trailer for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: Release Date: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny directed by James Mangold starring Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen and more releases in Indian theatres on June 29, 2023. While in other countries it releases on June 30, 2023. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny To Release in India a Day Earlier Than in the US! Review: A review for the film isn't available as of now. As soon we have one, the page will be updated. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2023 07:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, June 25: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to a joint session of the US Congress was a significant event and his visit saw both India and the US redefine their partnership and established steps which would result in greater realisation of national goals. Addressing a press conference at party headquarters here, Sitharaman said: It was a bipartisan invitation which was extended to the Prime Minister to address the joint house (of the US Congress) and it was a very significant event. PM Modi at Great Pyramid of Giza VIDEO: Indian Prime Minister Tours Egypt's Iconic Pyramids (Watch). For the second time for a PM to be called to address US Congress' joint session and to receive such a standing ovation is a matter of pride for all of us," she said. Terming the Prime Ministers three-day state visit to US as historic, the Minister said, I am extremely happy that it was a visit where both India and the US redefined their partnership and established steps which would result in greater realisation of our national goals. She said that around 135 nationalities gathered at the UN Headquarters lawns to perform yoga along with Prime Minister Modi during his US visit. It is great to note that under Modi ji's leadership, yoga is being popularised all over the world, she said. On new semiconductor plant in Gujarat, Sitharaman said, As a significant and meaningful milestone in the growth of semiconductor eco-system, Micron will set up its semiconductor and test plant in Gujarat entailing a total investment of $2.75 billion. PM Narendra Modi Visits Historic 11th Century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo, Restored With Help of Dawoodi Bohra Community (See Pics and Video). It is expected to create nearly 5,000 new direct jobs and around 15,000 indirect jobs over the next few years, she said. On the PMs Egypt visit, she said: During his ongoing visit to Egypt, Modi has been conferred with Order of the Nile, Egypts highest honour. Prime Minister has received 13 international awards till date. It is a matter of pride for the country. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2023 06:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Beijing (Gasgoo)- On June 21, AICC (Automotive Intelligence and Control of China), a provider of intelligent automotive computing platforms, announced the completion of a new funding round worth hundreds of millions of yuan. Photo credit: AICC A fund backed by Chongqing city and a fund under China Capital Investment Group (CCIG) jointly led the fresh round, with participation from industrial investor CATL and existing shareholder Delta Capital. The proceeds will enable AICC to expedite the commercialization and ecosystem development of its autonomous driving operating system, as well as promote and strengthen the market presence of its computing platform products, further enhancing the company's competitive edge, said the company. As one of the leading investors, the Chongqing city-backed fund is responsible for integrating the financial resources within the Chongqing High-Tech Zone, engages in investment and financing, industry cultivation, and capital operation. Its involvement is expected to provide significant support for the establishment and business development of AICC's R&D center in Chongqing. Meanwhile, CCIG, CATL, and Delta Capital have also made substantial investments in the new energy vehicle and intelligent manufacturing industries. Collaborating with AICC, they aim to drive the development of China's intelligent connected vehicle industry. Recognizing the enormous commercial potential and social value of computing platform products in the rapidly evolving automotive industry, AICC is committed to breaking through technological barriers and helping automobile manufacturers in rapid transformation, upgrading, and industrial renewal, ultimately implementing effective solutions for the Chinese auto market. Business tycoon and Chairman of the Mahindra group, Anand Mahindra, was one of the special invitees to the lavish state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden on June 22 in the honour of PM Narendra Modi. Mahindra, on Sunday morning, shared a glimpse of "What they would call a 'Washington Moment'". Taking to Twitter, the Mahindra boss posted a selfie with Reliance head Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor, and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. He wrote about how they missed the shuttle bus for the next lunch engagement and asked Williams if they could hitch a ride on her space shuttle instead of an Uber. "After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement. We were trying to call an Uber when we ran into NASA astronaut Sunita Williams @Astro_Suni Time for a selfie & we also asked if we could hitch a ride on her space shuttle instead of an Uber(sic)," tweeted Mahindra. Mein Bhool Jaata Hoon: Anand Mahindras Quirky Take on How to Enjoy a Sunday Win Hearts Online. Washington moment I suppose this was what they would call a Washington moment. After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement. We were trying pic.twitter.com/gP1pZl9VcI anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 25, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) In an unfortunate incident that took place in the United States, a worker was allegedly killed after he was ingested into a Delta Air Lines A319 engine. The incident took place at San Antonio International Airport after the worker was reportedly sucked into a jet engine of Delta Airlines. According to a report in the New York Post, the Delta flight which had arrived from Los Angeles had only one engine running at the time of the incident. Speaking about the incident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said, "Delta Flight 1111 was taxying to the gate, with one engine on at that time, and a worker was ingested into that engine at 10:25 pm." US: Baggage Handler at Alabama Facility Dies After Being Sucked Into Plane Engine in Horrifying Mishap. Worker Ingested By Delta Jet Engine At San Antonio Airport Airport worker killed after being ingested into a Delta Air Lines A319 engine at San Antonio International Airport. pic.twitter.com/rAFpOzDLWy Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) June 25, 2023 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Islamabad, June 25: At least 10 people were killed and over 40 others injured on Sunday when two passenger buses collided in the Nawab Shah district of Pakistan's Sindh province, media reports said. The accident occurred in the district's Daur area when the two buses traveling in opposite directions on a single-lane road overtook two different vehicles at the same time resulting into the crash, Xinhua news agency reported. Pakistan Road Accident: Seven People Killed in Trailer Crash in Lodhran District of Punjab. Passengers trapped in the bus were pulled out and the injured were rushed to the local hospitals. Pakistan Road Accident: 15 Killed, 60 Injured as Bus Travelling From Islamabad to Lahore Veers Off Road in Punjab Province. One of the buses was reportedly going from Peshawar to Karachi while the other one was heading towards Punjab province from Karachi. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 25, 2023 04:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Police are investigating after the body of a Bethlehem man was reported being found Sunday afternoon in the Lehigh River in Northampton County. On Monday, Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek identified the body as 62-year-old Dale G. Moyer of Bethlehem, according to an email from Lysek. The cause and manner of death are pending completion of the ongoing investigation. Authorities were contacted at 1:42 p.m. on Sunday for the body, which was spotted by a kayaker in Bethlehem Township, a Northampton County 911 Dispatch supervisor told lehighvalleylive.com. Two senior citizens, a mother and daughter, were rescued early Saturday from their burning Warren County home, a fire official said. Independence Township Fire Chief Clyde Snyder told lehighvalleylive.com crews arrived at 9 Thomas Drive around 2:30 a.m. The single-story home had flames coming from the kitchen area, Snyder said. Firefighters had a difficult time reaching a 93-year-old woman and her daughter, in her 70s, due to severe hoarding conditions, Snyder said. The daughter was rescued by a police officer pulling her through a window, while the mother was rescued by crews. There were no reported injuries. The fire is not deemed suspicious, but its cause remains under investigation, Snyder said. The home has since been deemed uninhabitable. Several agencies responded to assist the Independence Township Volunteer Fire Dept. Among them were the Hackettstown Fire Dept; Tri-County Volunteer Fire Co.; Mansfield Hose Co.; Mountain Lake Fire Co.; Allamuchy Fire Dept.; Washington Fire Dept; and Mount Olive Volunteer Fire Dept. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. On June 8, the Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which, as all federal circuit courts, is just one step below the U.S. Supreme Court, ruled that despite the offensive, racist, and violent Facebook posts by Philly cops up through 2016, they may nonetheless raise a First Amendment free speech claim that could legally allow them to be offensive, racist, and violent on social media. An incredible 505 active duty and retired officers in 2019 were identified as having made such or similar posts. Of that number, 330 continued receiving their pay as if nothing had happened. Oh, by the way, those 330 were not all lower-level rookie beat cops. They also included 16 high-ranking officials, namely an inspector, six captains, and nine lieutenants. Because the posts at issue were so outrageously offensive, about 200 police officers were eventually disciplined, including 15 who were fired or otherwise forced out. Twelve of those 15 later filed a lawsuit, which a learned and highly respected Black federal District Court judge, namely the Hon. Petrese Tucker, justifiably threw out last year on the grounds that those posts were so hateful and vile that they undermined public confidence in those cops ability to treat all people equally under the law. But the court of appeals recently reversed her decision, thereby allowing those officers the ability to return to court to argue that they should be allowed to return to the streets- again with a license to be racist and brutal as well as hateful and vile. Here are just 10 examples, compiled by the Plain View Project, of those racist, brutal, hateful, and vile posts: Apprehended suspects, most of whom are Black men, should be dead. The image of a bruised and bloodied Black man was used as a sadistic Facebook profile photo. Blacks shopping at Walmart are creatures at the ghetto mart. Islam, whose practitioners in Philadelphia are predominantly Black. is a cult, not a religion. Death to Islam. Certain delinquent juveniles, most of whom in Philadelphia are Black (and have been found guilty mostly by white judges after having been arrested mostly by white cops), should be shot in the face. Police should have stuck a gun up [a suspects] butt and pulled the trigger. Its a good day for a chokehold. Raping women is funny. Beating women is funny. The First Amendment reads in pertinent part, [The government] shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech . But just as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes sagely wrote in 1919, [The First Amendment does] not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic. And 50 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1969 Brandenburg v. Ohio case recognized that, although laws against spoken and/or written expression should and must, in a general sense, be declared unconstitutional, there also should and must be certain limited restrictions under certain limited circumstances. And those certain limited restrictions under those certain limited circumstances should and must include cops, who- although sworn to uphold the law- speak and write about violating that very same law by advocating the use of racism, brutality, hate, and vileness. However, believe it or not, the First Amendment is not the real point here, at least not in Pennsylvania. The real point- correction, the real problem is Pennsylvanias Act 111 of 1968. That act concerns the Philadelphia police arbitration system. And it allows a civilian arbitrator from the American Arbitration Association to ignore findings of fact regarding brutality, corruption, and other misconduct deemed founded by the Internal Affairs Division (IAD) and the Police Board of Inquiry (PBI). The act also allows the arbitrator to reject the punishment assessed by IAD and PBI even if the facts as charged have been proven. For more information about the brutality/corruption/misconduct-condoning arbitration system, read a powerful and thorough legal analysis by the Philadelphia Bar Association about the systems inherent and intentional flaws. Although it was written in 2002, it is presciently timely in 2023. You can read it here. That act is not just the problem. Its actually the cancer manifested in the symptoms of police brutality. And like all forms of cancer, it must be cut out in this case, abolished. Thats precisely why the proposal set forth by state Rep. Donna Bullock is a step in the right direction. As explained in her Aug. 27, 2020 press release following the police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Jacob Blake. We must enact a statewide use-of-force policy and reform how arbitration works through Act 111. Law enforcement officials agree that Act 111 makes it too difficult to remove officers who dishonor the badge and the communities theyre supposed to protect through acts of misconduct. For me, complete abolition is required. But Ill grudgingly accept partial reform, at least as a first step toward a complete end to police racism, police brutality, police hate, and police vileness. Michael Coard, an attorney and radio host, is a columnist for the Philadelphia Tribune. His work appears biweekly on the Pennsylvania Capital-Stars commentary page. A man is living in a Volkswagen Polo car after being asked to leave an asylum centre, a sitting of Portlaoise District Court was told. Muhammad Hisham, 34, with an address at the Montague Hotel, Cappakeel was accused of being threatening and abusive and intoxicated at the Montague Hotel on May 30 last. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said gardai were called to the hotel on the date in question where they discovered the defendant roaring and shouting, causing a scene at 9.10pm. He told the guards to shut their mouths, said Sgt Kirby. He said the man has no previous convictions. Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was very ashamed and wished to apologise to gardai. He said the defendant was a Kuwaiti national who is single. The man, who is on social welfare earning just over 200 a week, was asked to leave the accommodation after the incident. He now finds himself living in a car, said Mr Meagher. He described the man as a very religious person and said he was ashamed. He said he was hoping to get notice of accommodation soon as he is living in the VW Polo car. Judge Andrew Cody imposed a six month sentence which he suspended for two years. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese mobility service provider Ontime completed its Series B funding round, raising 842 million yuan. The round was led by GAC Group, with participation from multiple industry funds and financial investors. Ontime Robotaxi; photo credit: Ontime Ontimes financing round marked the first financing deal in Chinas mobility industry in 2023. With the completion of this funding round, Ontime will further develop an open and comprehensive autonomous driving operational technology system, accelerating the commercialization of autonomous driving products. Ontime's business encompasses three major areas, including rideshare services, Robotaxi operations, and autonomous driving solutions. It has launched operations in cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Zhaoqing, and Changsha. As of June 2023, Ontime has accumulated over 21 million registered users. Since 2022, Ontime has introduced the first open Robotaxi operational technology platform, regulatory platform, data platform, and Robotaxi vehicle management system in China. It has established data integration with multiple autonomous driving technology companies. In April of this year, Ontime was granted the permission to conduct demonstration operation with its intelligent connected vehicles in Guangzhou, and its self-owned Robotaxi fleet has commenced services. In June, Ontime signed a tripartite cooperation agreement with Pony.ai and Shenzhen Qianhai, initiating a pilot operation of autonomous driving commercialization in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone in Shenzhen. Furthermore, Ontime has developed an intelligent driving toolchain, which includes data annotation, high-precision map, and AI perception capabilities for autonomous driving. It is committed to iteratively improving technology and products through data and scenario feedback, benefiting both automakers and autonomous driving companies. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, has announced the commencement of a review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Regulations and the opening of a public consultation to inform the review process. The EIA (Agriculture) Regulations apply to three different on-farm activities: - Restructuring of rural land holdings (boundary removal and/or recontouring of land), - Commencing to use uncultivated land or semi-natural areas for intensive agriculture, and - Land drainage works on lands used for agriculture (excluding drainage or reclamation of wetlands). The objective of the public consultation process is to invite stakeholders to feed into a review of these Regulations which were first published in 2011. Minister McConalogue said We have committed to a review of these Regulations in the Programme of Government and our CAP Strategic Plan, and I am delighted to announce the opening of this consultation. This review gives us an opportunity to consider and update the Regulations as necessary to ensure they are balanced in terms of allowing agricultural changes which do not significantly affect the environment while also providing protection for land and biodiversity features of environmental importance. Minister of State Pippa Hackett added, It is vital that we protect environmentally important habitats and the species that depend on these habitats. This review is an important Programme for Government commitment and it will help us to ensure that the EIA Regulations are strengthened where necessary to provide robust environmental safeguards. I encourage all interested stakeholders to get involved in this consultation process, which will play an important role in informing the future Regulations. A Palestinian assailant opened fire at an Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank on Saturday, June 24, before being shot and killed, Israeli police said. Elsewhere in the occupied territory, settlers rampaged through a Palestinian village, hurling stones, spraying bullets and setting fire to homes, the latest in a series of settler attacks this week. The Palestinian gunman approached Israeli troops stationed at the Qalandiya checkpoint outside Jerusalem early in the morning, pulled out an M16 rifle and opened fire, the Israeli police said. Israeli security forces said they shot back, killing the suspected assailant. According to the Israeli rescue service, two security guards in their 20s were hospitalized with minor wounds at least one from bullet fragments. There was no immediate word on the attacker's identity. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes In the West Bank, Palestinian villages are at the mercy of Jewish settlers Settlers open fire at civilians and medics Later on Saturday, residents of the Palestinian village of Umm Safa said that some 50 Israeli settlers armed with rifles and flammable liquid stormed through the streets and tried to set fire to at least five homes with people inside. The Israeli military said it sent security forces to the scene and arrested an Israeli citizen. Palestinian rescue teams said they evacuated small children who were suffocating and trapped inside a burning house. Some settlers also opened fire at civilians and medics. A local station, Palestine TV, said settlers fired at Mohammed Radi, its correspondent covering the attacks, shattering his camera. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that one of its medics was wounded by gunfire. Another two medics were wounded when settlers threw a large rock at an ambulance, which crashed through the windshield. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes EU to impose import labeling for products from Israeli settlements Israeli settlers also shot and killed a horse in the village, said resident Ibrahim Ebiat. This is pure terror, he said. People are scared and angry. Young Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli security forces who opened fire and unleashed tear gas at them, witnesses said. The Israeli military said it was working to disperse the friction." One soldier was wounded by a thrown stone, it said, denouncing the violence. 'Settler violence has crossed every line' The head of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn this disgrace and deal with it properly. Settler violence has crossed every line," he said. Top Israeli security officials condemned the settler violence late Saturday. They constitute, in every way, nationalist terrorism, and we are obliged to fight them, Israels military chief, police chief and the head of the Shin Bet internal security agency said in a joint statement. They said the army will divert security forces to prevent further rampages while the Shin Bet will carry out an increased number of arrests. We call on the leaders and educators in the communities to publicly denounce these acts of violence and to join the effort to fight against them, they said. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a separate statement condemning the settler violence. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Israeli government takes major step toward West Bank annexation The events capped a bloody week in the West Bank that left 16 Palestinians and four Israelis dead. A DELEGATION from the Mid-West Hospital Campaign (MWHC) held a constructive meeting with the CEO of the HSE Bernard Gloster to discuss the consistently high overcrowding at UHL. Members of the MWHC asked about the reopening of emergency departments (EDs) at St Johns, Ennis and Nenagh hospitals. We highlighted that the model for healthcare being pursued in the Mid-West, which leaves over 400,000 people dependent on just one emergency department, was unsafe, a spokesperson said. The MWHC requested to know which clinicians and what advice was the basis for the current healthcare model. A promise was made that the clinical advice directing government policy on this matter would be shared with us, the spokesperson added. We also asked for clarity on the opening of the Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) to 24/7 and about the Shannondoc out-of-hours GP service. A strong commitment was made to further enhance MAU resources, including more ambulance pathway beds. We highlighted how the downgrading of St John's had a detrimental effect on the northside of Limerick, particularly the elderly of the Garryowen area, many who fear attending UHL, they said. Several potential initiatives were discussed at the meeting, some of which will be taken on board by the HSE subject to planning and conditions according to MWHC. MWHC called the meeting a positive engagement despite not getting a commitment on the reopening of the EDs. We were encouraged by Mr Gloster's repeated assurances that this meeting marked the beginning of what will be an ongoing dialogue between himself and ourselves. We believe this is a very positive development for the MWHC, the spokesperson added. PEDESTRIANS could walk safely on the main street of Charleville on Friday afternoon as there was safety in numbers. Some 200 men, women and children gathered together to say, Enough is enough. Eight people have died in the town in the last 10 years with two fatalities within a fortnight of each other last month. The peaceful protest was organised by Charleville Community Forum following a public meeting on May 31. Eveyln OKeeffe, chairperson of the forum, said: Our goal is to try to prevent further families having to cope with such loss. The protest was led by Helen Galvin, a daughter of Pat Galvin who tragically died on April 28 on the main street. We walked down the street from the library plaza to the pedestrian crossing at the Bank of Ireland and back up again to the library plaza, said Ms OKeeffe. If Charleville Community Forums request for short-term safety measures aren't implemented in a months time on main street they will hold another protest, she said. We hoped it wouldn't come to this but we are prepared to continue our campaign. Our goal is to try to prevent further families having to cope with such loss, said Ms OKeeffe. The short-term measures include removal of angled parking on the main street danger zones; stand alone bus stops and loading bays; new warning signs and damaged signs to be repaired; immediate opening of Park Road pedestrian crossings and timeline for Smiths Road crossing. In the longer term we are campaigning for a full bypass of Charleville, removing HGVs from our main street and improving pedestrian safety overall. Charleville deserves better, said Ms OKeeffe. RATHKEALE Community Council has reorganised to help residents rejuvenate their town. The board is led by chairperson, David Lamont and the community council will add a vice chairperson for Traveller interests. The people of Rathkeale are determined to reverse the cycle of decline that affects our town, said Mr Lamont. Rathkealers will make the most of our amenities, access, and affordability, making the town a more attractive place to new residents, shoppers, and visitors, he added. Mr Lamont said Rathkeale has much in its favour, being located just off the N21 between Adare and Newcastle West on the River Deel and will soon be at the elbow of the Foynes to Limerick motorway which got the green light only last week. The new route will shorten drive times to and from Limerick city. It is the start of the Limerick Greenway, where a new visitor hub is under construction. Unlike other small towns it has a secondary school, a supermarket, hotel, restaurants, Failte Ireland tourist point, community centre, bars, post office, credit union, library, garda station, fire station, industrial estate, water treatment facility, high speed broadband, as well as enviable clubs and societies. With a low crime rate, Rathkeale is one of the most affordable towns in the county with proposed zoning to add 28% more houses, he said. Like other rural towns, Rathkeale is contending with the loss of retail space, dereliction, inadequate support from local authorities, public inertia, and activist burnout. Rathkeale Community Council now advocates on behalf of the community, petitions for support, and organises projects and events, with the intent of creating a vibrant, thriving Rathkeale where positive experiences make people want to live, shop and visit. Its expanded purpose includes rejuvenation, is supported by a new set of guiding principles, an updated constitution, and a reorganised executive committee. It also incorporated Team Rathkeale. Pat Neville is vice chair for place development; Derek Downes is vice chair for economic development; Seamus Hogan is community liaison officer; Valerie Foley is vice chair for tourism and events and Podge Doherty is vice chair for treasury. A LOCAL councillor has called on the council to identify suitable lands in Limerick for the construction of a new multi-purpose playground to meet the demands of the growing population in the Raheen/Dooradoyle area of the city. Cllr Joe Leddin has cited the quadrupling of the population over the last four decades with CSO data showing the population has increased from 5,934 in 1981 to 19,000 in 2022. He also noted the only playground in the area cannot cater for this many new families and does not include accessible facilities to aid special needs children. The current playground located on the grounds of the Crescent Shopping Centre cannot meet the growing needs in terms of its physical size, the equipment available and the lack of accessible inclusive playing facilities for children with special needs. The former mayor praised the new accessible playground which is to be installed in the Peoples Park over the summer. As a Council we must continue to invest in community facilities and the significant investment in modern accessible playing equipment planned for the People's Park must now be replicated in a new modern fit for purpose playground in the Raheen Dooradoyle area. A survey of Dooradoyle residents, carried out last year, highlighted the lack of suitable playgrounds and recreational amenities for young children as the largest issue of concern. The creditors of cash-strapped airline Go First have approved interim finance of 425 crore aimed at reviving the airline operations. While an in-principle approval for the interim finance has been granted, the plan is subject to the boards of the respective banks approving the same, according to a report by Economic Times. Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and IDBI Bank are the consortium lenders to the airline and will seek board approvals to sanction the interim finance. After the board's nod, aviation regulator directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has to give its approval for the airline to restart operations. Also Read: Go Firsts Shailendra Ajmera seeks 425 crore in interim finance to restart operations: Report Go Firsts resolution professional (RP) Shailendra Ajmera had sought 425 crore in interim finance from the airlines financiers for the revival plan. The proposal for the funds was put up to the committee of creditors of Go First at a meeting that took place earlier last week. The committee of creditors includes Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, IDBI Bank and Deutsche Bank, according to the report. In its application for voluntary insolvency with the National company law tribunal (NCLT), Go First said it had defaulted on payments of 2,600 crore to aircraft lessors and of 1,200 crore to vendors. Go First has further extended its flight cancellation on June 24. The airline said that scheduled flight operations will remain cancelled till June 28 due to operational reasons. Earlier, the flights were cancelled till June 24. "We regret to inform that due to operational reasons, Go First flights scheduled till 28th June 2023 have been cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the flight cancellations," Go First said in a tweet. "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. BANK OF BARODA More Information IDBI BANK More Information MUMBAI : Go Airlines (India) Ltd, the low-fare carrier that filed for bankruptcy last month, secured lenders approval for interim funding of 450 crore, potentially paving the way for the grounded airline to resume operations. While an in-principle approval for interim funds has been granted, the plan is subject to approval from the respective boards of the banks, said one of the people cited above. The decision was taken at a joint lenders meeting on Saturday. Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and IDBI Bank are part of the lenders consortium of Go First. A senior Go First executive said it might only need 200-250 crore to resume operation. The airline may not require the full amount as it will start generating cash after starting operations," he said. Queries to the resolution professional Shailendra Ajmera didnt elicit a response till press time. Mint first reported on 13 June that EY India had recommended the lenders for interim financing to revive the airlines operations. The funding will help Go First restart operations next month. In its latest plan submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the airline said it could start with 22 aircraft and 150 daily flights. Though the airline has 27 aircraft, it seeks to keep four-five in reserve. The plan is to be prepared for technical issues in the initial days and to earn the trust of flyers...the airline does not want on-time performance issues... it wants to be prepared for technical issues," the official said. To be sure, bankers have analysed Go Airs readiness to fly again and feel that since it retained 50-60% of pilots and a majority of ground staff, it will soon be able to resume services. Go Firsts turnaround is, however, dependent on the approval by the aviation regulator and Pratt & Whitneys initiatives to service engines of its grounded fleet, he said. According to DGCAs data for April, Go First had a 6.4% share in the domestic market and carried 829,000 passengers. The airline will need to rebuild trust among passengers and the aviation community to tide over the crisis. Go First filed for insolvency on 2 May, and the National Company Law Tribunal admitted the proposal on 10 May. The airline has a moratorium on all payments for six months. Go Firsts creditors replaced the previously appointed interim resolution professional (IRP), process adviser, and legal agency after the lead lenders visited the airlines office earlier this month. The lenders replaced Alvarez and Marsals (A&M) Abhilash Lal with EYs Ajmera as the resolution professional. IBM is in the process of drafting a policy that will define how third-party generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard are used by its employees, three senior executives at the technology giant said at its AI Innovation Day event in Bengaluru on 20 June. Speaking on the rise of generative AI and how such tools are used for internal processes, Gaurav Sharma, vice president at IBM India Software Labs, said the company is evaluating the segment and its veracity, since these tools are built on untrusted sources that cant be used." He added that a policy is still being framed" around the use of generative AI applications such as ChatGPT. Vishal Chahal, director of automation at IBM India Software Labs, further affirmed the development of an internal policy on the use of such tools. Work on the policy remains under development, but so far, no outright bans have been put in place. A general education has been conducted around not putting our code into ChatGPT, but we havent banned it," Shweta Shandilya, director at IBM India Software Labs (Kochi) said. With every new technology such as the use of other generative AI tools (beyond ChatGPT), deliberations around its usage are an ongoing process," a spokesperson for IBM said respond to a query on the framing of the internal policy on ChatGPT. IBM wont be the first company to look at regulating the use of ChatGPT. On 2 May, Bloomberg reported that South Koreas Samsung Electronics decided to ban the use of ChatGPT among employees after sensitive internal data was deemed to have been leaked. On 25 January, Insider reported Amazon to have issued a similar internal email, asking staff to not use ChatGPT due to concerns with the security of sharing sensitive internal data with OpenAI. On 18 May, The Wall Street Journal reported Apple to have also taken a similar route. Global banks Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo are also deemed to have restricted internal use of ChatGPT, out of concern regarding leakage of sensitive client and customer data to OpenAIs test bed of data. IBMs policy comes as a report, published on 20 June by Singapore-based cyber security firm Group-IB, claimed that data from over 100,000 ChatGPT accounts were scraped and sold on dark web marketplaces. However, on 22 June, OpenAI said the stolen data was a result of commodity malware on devices, and not an OpenAI breach." Explaining why such internal bans are taking place, Jaya Kishore Reddy, co-founder and chief technology officer at Mumbai-based AI chatbot developer Yellow.ai said, There are a lot of chances that generative AI tools can generate misinformation. There is an accuracy problem, and people may even misinterpret the generated information. Further, the data fed into these platforms are used to train and fine-tune responses this may result in leakage of a companys confidential information." On 27 February, Mint reported that companies are wary of deploying tools such as ChatGPT, with concerns including factors such as hallucination of data, potentially inaccurate and misleading information, and no safeguards on retrieval or deletion of sensitive corporate data. Bern Elliot, vice-president and analyst at Gartner, said at the time, It is important to understand that ChatGPT is built without any real corporate privacy governance, which leaves all the data that it collects and is fed without any safeguard. This would make it challenging for organizations such as media, or even pharmaceuticals, since deploying GPT models in their chatbots will leave them with no safeguard in terms of privacy. A future version of ChatGPT, backed by Microsoft through its Azure platform, which could be offered to businesses for integration, could be a safer bet in the near future." Since then, OpenAI has introduced better privacy controls. On 25 April, the company said via a blog post that users can turn off conversation history to have their usage data permanently deleted from its servers after 30 days. It also affirmed that a for business" version of ChatGPT is under development, which would allow companies greater control over their data. Yellow.ais Reddy added that companies are presently opting for enterprise-grade application programming interfaces (APIs) from companies like OpenAI that ensure data security, or building their own in-house models. New Delhi: When Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg agreed to engage in a cage fight with Tesla chief executive Elon Musk there was an air of amusement rather than surprise. In fact, regardless of the outcome, or speculations over who is a stronger martial artist, the prospect of witnessing the two billionaires battling it out in a cage provided enough fodder for memes to netizens. Though Musk and Zuckerberg have been anything but friends, this brawn-over-brain battle was triggered by a podcast interview with Massachusetts Institute of Technology research scientist Lex Fridman on 9 June, where Zuckerberg said: Ive always thought that Twitter should have a billion people using it..." One may recall that Musks Twitter deal concluded on 27 October 2022, accompanied by dramatic events, including the removal of chief executive Parag Agrawal, chief financial officer Ned Segal, and legal and policy head Vijaya Gadde. Musk justified the layoffs, citing losses of $4 million per day. However, while it prompted many to write-off Twitter under Musk, the microblogging site seems to have withstood the storm. That said, the fact remains that compared to Meta, which owns four of the most popular global social media platforms, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Facebook, and Instagram, with combined monthly users of over 3.5 billion, Twitter has a mere 354 million users. And, the sarcasm in the Meta chiefs podcast statement was not lost on Musk, resulting in an online exchange of words that led to Zuckerberg accepting the challenge for a physical fight. The duel may or may not take place eventually, with Musks mother, Maye Musk, insisting on a verbal duel and not physical fight. Yet, a closer look will reveal that the war of words is not just about Twitter, and hence is far from over with both companies grappling for AI mindshare, which is not as apparent as the fight for online eyeballs. Note Musk and Sam Altman had founded OpenAI in 2015, before the Tesla boss left the companys board in 2018. Now he is reportedly setting up a team to develop AI-powered chatbot BasedAI. Musk is wary of Microsofts investment in OpenAI whose generative AI bot ChatGPT took the netizens by storm with more than 100 million users within two months. Musk has also accused OpenAI of pushing for profits" instead of developing the technology for human good. In April, Musk was among a thousand people calling for a six-month window on training systems that are more powerful than GPT-4", arguing that such systems should be developed when the world believes it can contain the risks. Ironically, Musk recently founded a new AI firm X.AI Corp, which is incorporated in Nevada and lists Musk as sole director, with Jared Birchall, the director of Musks family office, as secretary. The state filing was made a few of months ago, but Musk is yet to make things public. One may argue that its hard to see synergies between the firms owned by Musk. SpaceX, for instance, builds spacecraft and rockets, Tesla designs and manufactures electric vehicle, battery energy storage systems from home to grid scale, solar panels and roof tiles, among others, and Twitter is a microblogging platform. However, on closer inspection it suggests that Musk is strategically aligning his companies, and with access to vast amounts of personal data from tweets is building an information powerhouse, slicing and dicing the data with the help of Neuralink, a firm co-founded by him, which develops brain-machine interfaces with high bandwidth to enable seamless interaction between computers and humans. By harnessing the power of intelligent data, an immense financial opportunities awaits Musk, offering a potential rationale behind the incorporation of X.AI. Zuckerberg is also far from passive. As Google focused on AI and Microsoft made strides with its investment in OpenAI, he laid his own path by launching Meta, taking a metaverse-first approach, and distancing it from its Facebook roots. Unfortunately, history was not kind to Zuckerberg, as by October, Meta had invested a staggering $10-15 billion in the metaverse, and the substantial cash burn in this endeavour left investors and shareholders less than pleased. Meta, it appears, is now striking a balance between the metaverse (which it hasnt abandoned as many think) and AI. It has created an AI Sandbox to act as our testing playground for early versions of new tools and features, including generative AI-powered ad tools". Meta Advantage is its portfolio of automation products that use AI and machine learning to help optimize campaign results, personalize ads. It also announced Meta Lattice, a new AI-driven model to improve the performance of its ads on its networks. Further, while Meta had to shut down two of its AI chatbots called BlenderBot and Galactica, due to glitches, it has got credibility back by releasing a Large Language Model Meta AI (LLaMA) and publicly sharing the code for researchers to test it. Metas LLaMA claims it requires far less computing power and resources to test new approaches, validate others work, and explore new use cases". Further, Metas Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun who is one of the so-called godfathers of modern AI and did not sign the call for a moratorium on GPT4-like models, has taken the battle for AI mindshare a step further by introducing a new model called the Image Joint Embedding Predictive Architecture, or I-JEPA, which Meta is touting as the first AI model that will bring us a step closer to human-level intelligence in AI". In a 13 June blog, LeCun explains that I-JEPA learns by creating an internal model of the outside world that compares abstract representations of images instead of comparing them at the level of individual pixels. The representations learned by I-JEPA can also be used for many different applications without the need for extensive fine tuning". LeCun cites the example of training a 632M parameter visual transformer model using 16 A100 graphic processing units (GPUs) in less than two days with only 12 labeled examples per class as compared to other methods that typically take two to 10 times more GPU-hours and achieve worse error rates when trained with the same amount of data (https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.08243)". Meta has open-sourced the training code. LeCun argues that generative architectures typically learn by removing or distorting portions of the input to the model for example, erasing part of a photo or hiding some of the words in a text passage, following which they try to predict the corrupted or missing pixels or words. In the process, though, generative methods could make mistakes a human would never make because the former focus on irrelevant details instead of capturing high-level predictable concepts". In this context, LeCun cites the example of how difficult it is for generative models to generate human hands accurately (the models often add extra digits or make other glaring errors). The idea behind LeCuns vision, as stated in his blog, is that that humans learn a lot about the world by simply observing it, which is common sense background knowledge". Meta hopes to extend the JEPA approach to other domains such as image-text paired data and video data, and thus improve on existing generative AI models. Even as Google and Microsoft are monitoring Metas AI moves, it will be interesting to see what Musk pulls out of his sleeves now. Feature: Chinese food, culture festival draws throngs of New Yorkers 16:32, June 25, 2023 By Liu Yanan ( Xinhua NEW YORK, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A brand-new Chinese food and culture festival won New Yorkers' hearts and stomachs on Saturday with its debut on a section of a street at Washington Square Park in Lower Manhattan. The festival showcased authentic Chinese food and culture like soup dumplings, dandan noodles, kebab, pastries, flower cakes, bingtang hulu (sugar-coated haws), jianbing (similar to a burrito), sugar paintings, stinky tofu and others from around 35 vendors. Foodies waited in long lines at some popular stands, and the waiting time for the jianbing event exceeded two hours. Summer showers didn't dampen New Yorkers' enthusiasm, and the street was fully crowded in the afternoon. Over 30,000 people joined the free event from 10 am to 6 pm (1400 GMT to 2200 GMT) on Saturday, according to Xu Xuan, founder of the festival, which is branded as Dragon Fest. Food is the best starting point for people to understand and appreciate Chinese culture, said Xu. Vendors from Qingmu Dessert Lab offered Chinese pastries and wore delicate traditional Chinese clothing known as the Hanfu. A set of four pastries was made to represent four seasons through ingredients collected in respective seasons, according to an associate with Qingmu Dessert Lab. Jianbing, a popular street food in China's capital Beijing, drew many people's interest as its vendor Gem Bing Shop is nearby. New Yorkers could also taste flower cake with ingredients imported from southwest China's Yunnan province. Meanwhile, staff members from the restaurant brand Mala Project were busy fulfilling orders for spicy dry pot, representing neo-Sichuan cuisine. The presence of Seattle-based frozen dumpling service MiLa at the festival illustrates the popularity of authentic Chinese food in the U.S. market. Its participation in the festival also marks the first large-scale physical promotion of the brand in New York. Founded in 2018, MiLa switched to online sales of frozen soup dumplings after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and then shipped them to customers across the United States upon its increasing popularity, said Zhang Xiaohan, brand marketing and partnership lead with MiLa. Zhang saw enormous potential for authentic Chinese food in the mainstream market, with MiLa starting to supply Costco Wholesale stores on the West Coast in June. Chinese cuisine is not merely fried dumplings, steamed buns or chow mein (fried noodles), nor does it mean American-style Chinese food, said Xu, the event founder. Xu told Xinhua that she mulled over organizing such a festival as early as 2019 to present people a one-stop experience of Chinese food. Moreover, people can also try bubble tea, Sichuan-style spicy chili fried chicken, fried skewers, egg waffles, Mochi ice cream and others. The festival is expected to be held at three other locations in Manhattan in August and September. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu) Beijing (Gasgoo)- On June 21, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) and the Chongqing Municipal People's Government signed a strategic framework agreement. Signing ceremony; photo credit: Chongqing Fabu According to the agreement, Chongqing and Geely Holding will focus on building a world-class intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry cluster, further deepening strategic cooperation in areas such as new energy ecosystem construction, new energy vehicle manufacturing, financial technology, industrial internet digital platforms, and the automotive aftermarket business ecosystem, aiming for mutually beneficial development. Chongqing boasts outstanding geographical advantages and holds strategic importance, with enormous potential for future growth. Currently, the city is fully promoting the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and the Western Land-Sea Trade Corridor, among other national strategic initiatives. The automotive industry in Chongqing has a solid foundation. The city is actively embracing the intelligent, connected, and new energy vehicle industry, and accelerating the creation of a trillion-level industrial cluster to inject strong impetus into Chongqing's position in the national economic landscape. Li Shufu, Chairman of Geely Holding, provided an overview of the companys progress and projects in Chongqing. He stated that Geely Holding attaches great importance to the cooperation with Chongqing, and the agreement signing lays a solid foundation for further deepening the partnership. Shorooq Partners, an early-stage tech venture capital investor in the Middle East, is evaluating investments in Indian gaming startups, a top executive said. The VC firm, which has in the past backed a few tech companies in South Asia, launched a Gametech-focused program in 2021, and is scouting for Indian gaming companies, said Tarek Fouad, partner and head of gaming investments, Shorooq Partners. We would love to see the next Twitch. Loco, for example, is a great company from India, building the Twitch for the region. We would like to see narrative and IP or content built with a MENA region and its culture because the majority of these games come from abroad today," said Fouad. Loco, a Mumbai-based games streaming platform startup, last year raised $42 million to scale and become what it has described to some investors as Twitch for India." It has on board several gaming publishers such as PUBG Corporation, Activision Blizzard and Riot Games for licensing. Shorooqs move comes at a time international investors are scrambling to pump money in the Indian gaming landscape, a $3 billion market as of 2023, and billed to grow to over $6 billion by 2026, according to Mordor Intelligence. Meanwhile, industry experts said Shorooq is expected to launch a $20 million Gametech Fund over the next few months. Being the largest market for online gaming globally, India overtook China in total downloads this year with a 17% share of global game downloads. Fouad and his team are looking at Indian companies under three broad categories, which includes gaming software players, streaming platforms and game studios building AA or AAA games. We would be investing in global gaming companies and help them expand into the (Gulf) region. We will definitely be looking at companies from India in three categories, one, game studios that are building for web2, or web3, applications or narratives and mainly for the PC and console genre. These are building AA or AAA games and would want to ship them on PC or console," Fouad said. In terms of genre, it is looking at first person and third person shooter games. Were looking at strategy and adventure genres, ones that have open exploration environments in it, and are kind of never-ending games in that sense. So statutory shooter games and open exploration adventure genres are the main ones that we want to focus on," Fouad said. Shorooq is also looking at Indian companies building software for games. Were also excited about companies in India that are building software for games, games engines, the next Unity or Unreal platforms in that sense, or those who are building LiveOps and DevOps software" he said. India currently accounts for 20% of the deal flow that we see globally. A report by EY-FICCI highlighted that India had over 400 million online gamers as of 2023, with around a quarter playing regularly. Real money gaming accounted for three-fourth of segment revenue. It added that Indians will spend more on online gaming than on films by 2025. The VC firm has made 180 investments so far in over 65 companies across sectors. We have around seven offices to ensure that we add value and not just invest. This is for gaming companies coming from abroad as this is not the US or India or China, where its a massive market. MENA is a very fragmented market, and you need to know the different nuances for each market," said Fouad. Ram Charan and Upasana Kamineni are elated as they welcomed their daughter into the world. The couple, who recently received a warm reception at Chiranjeevi's home in Hyderabad, expressed their gratitude on social media. Upasana shared a heartwarming photo of herself and Ram Charan with their newborn, surrounded by a beautiful setup adorned with flowers and balloons. She thanked everyone for their love and blessings. Ram Charan and Upasana Kamineni are elated as they welcomed their newborn daughter into the world on June 20. Following a heart-warming reception at Chiranjeevi's home in Hyderabad, Upasana took to social media to express her heartfelt gratitude. Upasana shared a captivating photo of herself and Ram Charan with their newborn. The couple looked radiant in white attire, with Upasana cradling their daughter while Ram Charan lovingly held their pet Rhyme. The backdrop, adorned with flowers and balloons, displayed a charming sign that read, "Welcome Home Baby." Upasana's caption read, Overwhelmed by the warm welcome for our little one. Thank you for all the love and blessings." Also read: Watch: Teaser out for Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani starring Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh The industry's well-wishes poured in through the comments section, with Priyanka Chopra offering her congratulations" and Rakul Preet Singh expressing heartfelt wishes for the newborn's joy and abundance. Designer Farah Khan Ali also extended her congratulations and prayed for the baby's health. Ram Charan, speaking to the media after the birth, expressed his gratitude to the media, friends, and family members. He conveyed his appreciation to the doctors and staff for their care, emphasizing their fortunate circumstances with no complications. Ram Charan conveyed his heartfelt thanks for the prayers and blessings received from around the world, reported The Indian Express. Looking ahead, Ram Charan is set to appear in the Telugu film "Game Changer," directed by S Shankar. The movie features a star-studded cast including Kiara Advani, Anjali, SJ Suryah, Samuthirakani, Sunil, Srikanth, Jayaram, and Nassar. Also read: OTT releases this week: Bollywood releases, Malayalam series, John Wick 4 and much more Retirement is when you stop living at work and start working at living, goes a popular saying. So, what you need is a good retirement corpus that provides regular income, beats inflation and meets all your needs. What matters more is the choice of your retirement nest and its location. Many people prefer to stay in the cities they work because its turned into a comfort zone after years of living there. They already own a house there, have friendly neighbours and like to stay near their relatives and friends. Others look to move away and spend their twilight years in the countryside, to be closer to nature in their hometown; far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. But shifting to a smaller town also means adjusting to a new way of life; a new environment that is unfamiliar. Moreover, it could be a place where elderly people may not find easy access to medical facilities. So, what would it finally be: a city or the countryside? Home is where the heart is Sandeep Mall, 58, reveals why he shelved his plan of building a retirement home in a small village near Bhimtal, Uttarakhand. I had decided to buy some land in Uttarakhand. This was during the Covid pandemic in 2020," Mall, a fitness enthusiast ever since he recovered from a near fatal accident in 2008, recalls. The businessman had even paid the advance amount for the land, but soon realized that the picturesque hills wasnt where he could spend his retirement life. For me, family is very important. I live in a joint family in a large house here in Faridabad. To be away from them wasnt something I would have liked. Also, I socialize a lot. So, being far away from family, relatives and friends, in a remote place, would not have been to my liking after a while," says Mall, who is the chairman and managing director of LNM Auto, a Faridabad-based auto ancillary company. It helped that the sellers were unable to finish the necessary paperwork on time, and so he got his advance back. Mall, an ambassador of the governments Fit India Movement since 2021, wants to continue to live in Faridabad with his entire family. I believe in family first. We are five generations living together here, from my grandmother to my grandchild. In Faridabad, we have a large 15,000 square feet house. There is room for the helps and even our pet dog," Mall says. View Full Image (Graphics: Mint) The nature lover Arvind Datta, 54, retired four years ago and settled down in Dehradun, his hometown. Datta says he had initially thought of settling down in Delhi, but the pollution and heavy traffic there played spoilsport. He decided in favour of Dehradun. The weather was good and the terrain familiar. I grew up in Dehradun. My mother retired here as the principal of the government girls school. I did my schooling and graduation here. I attended the Indian Military Academy at Dehradun. So, I am very familiar with the city. Also, my mother was still living in Dehradun and at the age of 80, she was finding it difficult to manage on her own. I also wanted to spend more time with her," says Datta, who has a mutual fund distribution and stock broking business. A tale of two places Samit Singh, 50, has just started on his retirement journey. Two months ago, he quit as executive director at JP Morgan in Bengaluru. Singh wants to spend more time away from the city, but not cut off from it totally. Singh, originally from Delhi, has lived in different cities over the years during the course of his job. But he loved Bengaluru and wanted to settle somewhere nearby. So, he started scouting for a retirement nest here. Given Bengalurus good weather and topography, I found several options. I visited at least 30 projects before finally zeroing in one," he says. I built a farmhouse at Denkanikottai, a town located on the outskirts of Bengaluru. I didnt want to be completely cut off from the city as I wanted to have access to good medical facilities for my family. That is why I chose this place. It is not in the city but not far away from it also," Singh says. Singh wants to become a financial planner to help others realize their retirement goals. He has already set up a portal www.happyretirement.in. Nestled in natures lap Akash Gautam, 45, who hails from Chandigarh, has decided that he will settle down in Kasauli, a tourist town in Himachal Pradesh, after retirement. A motivational speaker at corporate events (for large business groups), Gautam says he bought land in Kasauli in 2018 and has started to build a farmhouse there. Gautam plans to shift entirely to Kasauli about 10 years from now, when he will be doing fewer corporate events. He also wants to learn farming and grow vegetables at his Kasauli property. The 2,500 sq. ft farmhouse will be built on an 18,000 sq, ft plot of land. So, there will be lot of space where I can do farming. I intend to do a course in horticulture and floriculture before I take up farming," Gautam says. He wants to focus more on his passions: reading, meditating and Kriya yoga during his retirement phase. For now though, he wants to divide his time between both the places. I want to spend 60% of my time in Kasauli and 40% in Chandigarh," he says. Right now, he has taken a house on rent in Kasauli to oversee the construction of his farmhouse. Gradually, he plans to extend his stay in Kasauli and eventually retire there. He says his son has just finished class XII and would soon be moving out of home for further studies. His daughter is just six years old, so they will have more flexibility if they want to move as she can do her schooling in Kasauli. His wife is a professor at Panjab University in Chandigarh, which Gautam says is just about 90 minutes away from Kasauli by road. He likes the fact that Kasauli has good connectivity with Chandigarh airport. He often drives to the airport in his car, parks it there, before catching a flight for corporate events across India, Middle East and other Asian countries. The Central government on Sunday slammed former US President Barack Obama over his remark on Muslim minorities in India during PM Narendra Modis visit to the United States, saying many Muslim-dominated were bombed" under his rule. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, addressing a press conference, said it was surprising" that former President Barack Obama was making a statement on Indian Muslims when PM Modi was on a visit to the country. Asserting that she was speaking with caution, Nirmala Sitharaman said India wants a good friendship with the United States. But, Nirmala Sitharaman said, comments come from there on India's religious tolerance." "...It was surprising that when PM was visiting the US, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian Muslims...I am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US. But comments come from there on India's religious tolerance," Nirmala Sitharaman said. The finance minister said, Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama). More than 26,000 bombs were dropped..." WHAT DID BARACK OBAMA SAY? Former US President Barack Obama made a reference to the rights of ethnic minorities in India during an interview and said if these are not protected, there is a strong possibility of the country "at some point starts pulling apart". Barack Obama said if President Joe Biden meets with PM Modi, "the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is something worth mentioning". "By the way, if I had a conversation with Prime Minister Modi, who I know well, part of my argument would be that if you do not protect the rights of ethnic minorities in India, then there is a strong possibility that India, at some point, starts pulling apart. And we have seen what happens when you start getting those kinds of large internal conflicts. So that would be contrary to the interests not just of Muslim Indians but also Hindu Indians. I think it is important to be able to talk about these things honestly. Things are not going to be as clean as you like, because the world is complicated," Barack Obama said. China is believed to be helping Pakistan build its defence infrastructure along the Line of Control. Beijing has taken efforts to strengthen its position as an all-weather friend of Pakistan in recent years - consequently ensuring the safety of Chinese enclaves on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The revelations came even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the "dark clouds of coercion and confrontation casting their shadow in the Indo Pacific" during his US State Visit. Citing terrorism as a growing concern, Modi had also also asserted that there could be no ifs or buts" in dealing with the issue. According to a PTI report quoting officials, support is being given in the form of unmanned aerial and combat aerial vehicles, communication towers, and underground cables. China has also supplied Pakistan with SH-15 truck-mounted howitzer guns and is believed to be setting up infrastructure along the LoC, including building underground bunkers. Growing Chinese enclaves are believed to have been set up in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on the pretext of securing the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor road and hydel projects built in the occupied territory. Officials said that the recently developed SH-15 - a 155 mm truck-mounted howitzer gun known as a 'shoot and scoot' artillery weapon - has been spotted at some places along the LoC after it was displayed during Pakistan Day last year. Pakistan had reportedly signed a contract with Chinese firm North Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco) for the supply of 236 SH-15s and, according to London-based Janes Defence magazine, the first batch was delivered in January 2022. Some intercepts suggested that Chinese troops and engineers were setting up infrastructure along the LoC, including building underground bunkers. The report quoted sources to add that the Army has been constantly monitoring the situation and updating the intelligence agencies. No official statement has been issued thus far. India has strongly objected to the presence of the Chinese in Gilgit and Baltistan regions in the past, and officials said the Army was completely prepared to frustrate any moves from across the border. The two countries have been observing a ceasefire since February 2021. (With inputs from agencies) India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that the southeast monsoon has entered many Indian states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The weather department noted that the monsoon is likely to further progress in the next two days. IMD DG Mrutyunjay Mohapatra while speaking to news agency PTI about the monsoon said, As of today, southeast monsoon has advanced into entire Maharashtra including Mumbai, entire Madhya Pradesh, UP, Delhi and some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jammu." We are expecting the southeast monsoon to continue to advance further into some more parts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Jammu during the next two days." IMD DG added As observed by the IMD, the monsoon hit both Delhi and Mumbai together on Sunday. The national capital was hit by the monsoon two days ahead of schedule, while Mumbai witnessed a delayed onset of the monsoon. IMD's Coloba observatory recorded 86 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Santacruz weather station recorded 176.1 mm rainfall in the 24-hour period till 8:30 am on Sunday. Reportedly, Mumbai is expected to receive more rainfall during the day. Frequent showers have led to water-logging in many areas of the island city including Malad and Andheri which has led to slowing down of traffic even further. Delhiites woke up to a wet Sunday morning as rains lashed several parts of the city and the minimum temperature settled at 23.7 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. According to Delhi's Safdarjung Observatory, the national capital received 48.3 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period till 8:30 am on Sunday. The weather department has predicted cloudy skies for the rest of the day paired with moderate rainfall. Maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to stay around the 32 degrees Celsius mark while humidity was recorded at 100 percent till 8:30 am on Sunday. Also Read: Monsoon live updates Meanwhile, the Southwest monsoon entered Madhya Pradesh on Sunday and is expected to cover the entire state by June 28-29. IMD observed that the arrival of monsoon has led to rains in 16 districts in MP including Bhopal, Indore and Gwalior. The maximum temperature in the state hovered between 30 to 40 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature ranged between 21 to 27 degrees Celsius. New Delhi: India has massively expanded export markets for its refined petro products in the last one year, commerce ministry data for April showed, thanks to discounted Russian oil that came gushing in the wake of the Ukraine war. The increase was significant in the case of Argentina, Ecuador, Egypt, Iraq, Mauritius, Nigeria and Sudan (see chart alongside). There was also a rise in oil export to European countries including Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain in April. To be sure, the increase comes on a low base, considering that Indias oil product exports to several of these countries were minuscule. View Full Image Graphic: Mint Interestingly, such exports also saw a sharp rise to the UK and the Netherlands, which are already large export markets for India. The rise in oil exports to European countries could be attributed to the European Unions decision to place a ban on the import of Russian diesel, as well as other oil products in February 2023, which impacted operations of several major European refineries, said Prashant Vasisht, senior vice-president and co-group head of corporate ratings at ICRA Ltd. My interpretation (on rising oil export to new markets in Africa) is that major oil refinery hubs like the one in Rotterdam (Netherlands), which was exporting to these markets, have been impacted. So, many African countries are now getting their requirements from India," added Vasisht, who leads the oil and gas sector at the agency. India is a key refining hub in Asia, with an annual installed capacity of 250 million tonnes across 23 refineries. India has boosted oil imports from sanctions-hit Russia which is selling oil at a discount. Russia has replaced the Middle East as Indias largest oil supplier. According to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics under the commerce ministry, oil imports from Moscow rose three-fold to $4.64 billion in April from $1.2 billion a year earlier. The Netherlands continued to be Indias top export market for petroleum in April, after replacing China last year. India exported oil and oil products worth over $1 billion to the Netherlands during the month, accounting for a sixth of total outbound shipments. Oil exports to the UK grew by 204% to $199 million, and those to Italy were up 6431% to $89 million. African countries like Nigeria and Mozambique reported a 15720% and 130% growth in shipments at $353 million and $218 million, respectively. Some countries are constrained to flexibly refine crude due to inability to secure supplies from sanctioned sources", said Deepak Mahurkar, partner at PwC, and an expert in energy sector. India has mega refineries and wherewithal to decide where to buy from. Both, our capabilities and international trade freedom (India has), we can (increase) export to other countries," added Mahurkar. However, Indias overall oil exports were down 18% in April 2023 at $6.63 billion compared to $8.13 billion in the corresponding month last year, largely due to softening of international crude oil prices. Average crude oil price in April 2023 hovered at around $82 per barrel compared to $103 per barrel in April 2022. Overall, Indias crude oil imports during the month declined by 17.22% to $18.78 billion compared to $22.69 billion during the same period last year. As a result, Indias oil trade deficit narrowed by 16% to $12.15 billion during the month, compared to $13.86 billion in April 2022. IndiGo, Indias largest airline, Sunday said Flight 6e-2124 from Srinagar-Jammu entered in Pakistan airspace for a while, but was diverted to Amritsar. The airline said the flight was forced to enter Pakistani airspace due to bad weather. "IndiGo 6e-2124 entered in Pakistan airspace for a while due to bad weather and the flight was diverted to Amritsar," news agency ANI reported quoting IndiGo officials. The IndiGo official further said authorities concerned in both countries were informed before the flight 6e-2124 entered the Pakistan airspace. The flight diversion was well coordinated by air traffic controls of both the countries present in Jammu and Lahore. The flight was about to land at Jammu airport but due to bad weather, it was asked to divert to Amritsar, the report said. However, after briefly entering Pakistani airspace the flight landed safely in Amritsar, the official added. According to a report by Flight Radar 24, the aircraft involved in the incident is Airbus A321neo, registered as VT-IBN. Further, it is a new aircraft, only two months old. The IndiGo took delivery of it back on Jun 2, 2023. In a similar incident earlier this month, an IndiGo Amritsar-Ahmedabad flight entered Pakistani airspace due to bad weather. "IndiGo flight 6E-645, operating from Amritsar to Ahmedabad had to take a deviation over Atari into Pakistan airspace due to bad weather. The deviation was well coordinated with Pakistan by Amritsar ATC via telephone. The crew was in continuous contact with Pakistan on R/T and the flight landed in Ahmedabad safely post the deviation," IndiGo said in a statement on the incident. The incident took place at around 7:30 pm due to bad weather conditions with the plane going up to Gujranwala (close to Lahore). According to local media reports it eventually returned to India at 8:01 pm. The report quoted a Civil Aviation Authority official to explain that this was internationally allowed" in bad weather conditions. Several flights heading to Lahore were also diverted to Islamabad on Saturday due to poor visibility. (With inputes from agencies) A wife as a homemaker contributes to the acquisition of family assets by performing household chores round-the-clock, hence, her assistance cannot be discounted as valueless and she would be entitled to an equal share in her husband's properties, the Madras High Court said. Justice Krishnan Ramasamy observed that a husband could not have done his job and earned money without his wife's support in taking care of his family, according to a report published by Livelaw. He said that the property purchased either in the name of the husband or wife, it must be considered to be belonging to both or purchased with money saved by their joint efforts, the report said. Ramasamy further stated that if the husband and wife are treated as two wheels of a family cart, then their contribution to earning money by the husband and taking care of the family by the wife would be for the family's welfare. According to Justice Ramasamy, both are entitled to an equal proportion of whatever they earned by their joint efforts. He called it wrong if a woman is left with nothing to be termed of her own even after devoting herself to the family's assistance including her children, inlaws, and other members, Livelaw report read. So far, there is no legislation that can recognize the contributions of a homemaker, the judge said, adding that the courts can recognize their contributions very well when it comes to rewarding their sacrifices. The judge even asserted that the courts will ensure that women get a fair deal for the sacrifices they made for the family. The Madras High Court delivered its verdict while dealing with the 2016 second appeal by an individual against his estranged wife. He had married his wife in 1965 and the couple had three children including two sons and a daughter, Livelaw report added. The report stated that the husband took a job in the Middle East between 1983 and 1994. After returning back to India, he accused his wife of usurping properties purchased with his money. In addition, he also claimed that his wife had an extra-marital affair in his absence. Three students from Tamil Nadu and Kerala were apprehended for their alleged involvement in growing and selling cannabis using advanced farming techniques at a rented residence in Shivamogga, Karnataka, according to the police. The Karnataka police identified the primary suspect as Vighnaraj, a 28-year-old medical college student from Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, who was found growing cannabis at the rented accommodation, reported ANI. Also read: Singapore executes Indian-origin man for trafficking 1 kg cannabis Police received information that the accused was involved in the business for the last three and half months," Superintendent of Police GK Mithun Kumar said. The other two individuals arrested were identified as Vinod Kumar, a 27-year-old resident of Idukki, Kerala, and Pandidorai, a 27-year-old resident of Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu. The police apprehended them during a raid after receiving a tip-off while they were attempting to purchase the illegal substances. During the raid, law enforcement officers discovered 227 grams of ganja, 1.53 kilograms of raw ganja, 10 grams of charas, ganja seeds in a small bottle, three cannabis oil syringes, two cans for processing ganja powder, and various other items related to cannabis consumption. Additionally, the police seized an electronic weighing machine, one exhaust fan, six table fans, two stabilizers, three LED lights, rolling papers, two hookah pipes, four hookah caps, hemp stems, and 19,000 in cash. A case has been registered at the Shivamogga rural police station under the appropriate sections of the Indian Penal Code. The police official provided further details, stating that Vighnaraj had been cultivating cannabis discreetly inside the residence using pots and creating an artificial environment (referred to as spider farming). The landlord was unaware of these activities. The cannabis was primarily sold to college students. The investigation is ongoing to determine if others are involved in this illegal operation. Also read: Jammu cannabis research project to produce medicines for neuropathies, cancer: Minister (With inputs from ANI) In 11 short months Matthew Kent, president and CEO of Meteor Crater Enterprises, transformed Planet Science from an idea in his head into a brick-and-mortar reality with its doors open to the community. Planet Science recently opened in May 2023 and is aimed at anyone who has an interest in science. Located on North Leroux Street across from Heritage Square, this store brings science to the center of the Flagstaff community. Although Planet Science is backed and supported by Meteor Crater Enterprises, the store carries items entirely different from what customers might find at the Meteor Crater Gift Shop. The love for science has remained a constant presence in Flagstaff through its rich traditions and history for the last 100 years. Kent said when he first discovered the Flagstaff science community he immediately saw the buzz around Lowell Observatory and Meteor Crater. I think woven into us is the natural curiosity and adventure that science brings to us, Kent said. We wanna recapture that and we want to reconnect with that and we want to give everybody the opportunity to find that inner junior scientist in them. While the store does carry memorabilia for generations who have a sentimental attachment to the era of the Apollo and Artemis missions, Kent explained they have an area that caters to their younger audience as well. We call it our junior scientist area, and it's got low tables. And we encourage kids to color these coloring pages, Kent said. We've got puzzles and toys and dinosaurs and stuff. They can just hang out there while their parents look at other stuff in the store This area also contains flat-screen TVs, which were installed with the intent of the store being able to stream events such as eclipses and SpaceX launches and be a general meeting place for people to gather and watch these events. Kent also said there are hopes of hosting presentations and guest lectures. There is great potential for this space to be a beneficial addition to the downtown atmosphere especially when paired with Kents ideas, which allow the junior area to be a utilitarian space. I'm sending a challenge, an invitation out, Kent said. Festival of Science people, I want to put together a whole Festival of Science kids event and use the education departments of Lowell Observatory, Museum of Northern Arizona and Meteor Creator, and come together and do one big event dedicated to our junior scientists and our kids, sponsored by the science attractions. So I'm issuing the challenge, let's put it together and make it happen. The Festival of Science is a yearly 10-day event put on for free encapsulating a variety of events surrounding that years theme. A portion of the revenue generated at Planet Science will be going to the Meteor Crater Educational Foundation, which is dedicated to our youth, Kent said. Bringing classrooms out to Meteor Crater, creating scholarships and putting together school curriculums are some of the ways Kent said they are hoping to bring science to Northern Arizona students of all ages. Kent explained this store is one part of building the foundation for those kids' future. From the beginning, Kent said he always wanted to collaborate with other groups in Flagstaff for this store. Along with the Museum of Northern Arizona and Grand Canyon Youth, Kent also reached out to Lowell Observatory. Danielle Adams, the chief marketing and revenue officer at Lowell Observatory, elaborated on the convenient location of the new downtown store. We want any tourist who comes to Flagstaff to come on up to the observatory, but sometimes they don't have enough time, Adams said. Perhaps if they're wandering around downtown, they may still take something from Lowell home with them. Adams said this STEM-focused store makes gift-giving and science memorabilia more accessible to the community. Adams also explained how Planet Science caters to a niche section of the tourism industry called astrotourism. The City of Flagstaff has already begun marketing the town as one of the central locations for astrotourism, but Planet Science will act as a physical space where science and peoples interest can come together. The store is not focused on the science research community, Adams said. It's more focused on the popular consumption of science and appreciation of science. I think really what it wraps into is this growing movement for astrotourism. That is a special segment of the tourism industry. The largest draw to astrotourism is stargazing, which Flagstaff is internationally known for ever since it became an International Dark Sky City. This is not the first time Lowell Observatory has collaborated with Meteor Crater and engaged in this mutually beneficial partnership. Last year, the two science-oriented groups came together to put on an Arizona version of the international event, Asteroid Day. Asteroid Day is an event hosted around the globe to bring awareness to the risk of asteroid impacts along with general information about the science community. Kent said this one-day event allows visitors to buy a joint pass in order to spend the daytime exploring Meteor Crater, then travel over to Lowell Observatory to spend the night learning about the stars. Currently, the Lowell Observatory products located at Planet Science include T-shirts, mugs and Percival Lowell Mars globes, which, Adams added, have Percival Lowells drawings on them. Kent hopes Planet Science will soon be able to sell tickets for Lowell Observatory and Meteor Crater but in the meantime, the store offers everything from clothing items to photography books. We have telescopes that are significant and telescopes if you're into amateur astronomy or ones hobbyists would recognize and appreciate, Kent said. We have microscopes, but we also have Star Wars Legos. And we have key chains and we have funny alien stuff. We have incredible fossils and rocks. What we're trying to do is cover a big spectrum, but also it's not just a spectrum of interest; it's a spectrum of demographics. In the future, the products the store carries will depend on what the community wants, but Kent said the main goal, for now, is simply for Planet Science to be a hub of community science for Flagstaff. Planet Science is just the start of bringing the science community to the heart of Flagstaff. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said Rahul Gandhi to let go of any misunderstandings and work together for the future, as there appeared to be uncertainty surrounding the Congress' position on the Delhi ordinance proposed by the central government, PTI reported citing sources. As reported by PTI, the sources noted that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee intervened in the matter at the meeting and suggested that Gandhi and Kejriwal should sit together for lunch so that all the issues get addressed. "Arvind Kejriwal spoke directly to Rahul Gandhi (on the ordinance matter) and said if there is any issue, they can resolve it over tea. In the opposition meeting on Friday, Kejriwal said there is a need to forget the differences and move forward together," a party source said. In light of the circumstances, the AAP has not yet made a decision regarding its participation in the upcoming meeting of opposition parties scheduled to take place in Shimla. The proposed plan of action is anticipated to be discussed and finalized in a subsequent meeting chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, tentatively scheduled for July 10th or 12th in Shimla. During a significant meeting held in Patna, opposition parties had firmly resolved to confront the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) collectively in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, effectively delineating the battle lines. Following a heated exchange with the Congress over the contentious Delhi ordinance, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) expressed their skepticism about the possibility of forming an alliance with the grand old party. During the opposition gathering in Patna, several parties had urged the Congress to openly criticize the "black ordinance," but the party declined to do so. This refusal has led to suspicions about the true intentions of the Congress, as stated by the AAP in their post-meeting statement. Sources in the AAP also claimed that at the end of the meeting, Kharge alleged that a spokesperson of AAP was making 'wrong' statements about the Congress. "In response, our national convener Arvind Kejriwal clearly stated that Congress spokespersons had also made misleading statements against AAP. Having said that, there is a need to forget the differences and come together," the source added. The source said Rahul Gandhi stressed that there was a process to discuss about the contentious Delhi ordinance. "Kejriwal asked the Congress to specify the time for the next meeting, but the Congress leaders were non-responsive. All the top opposition leaders present during the meeting had urged the Congress to clarify its stand on the ordinance and fix a meeting to discuss the same," the source said. The AAP source also said that party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal specified that his party had always stood by the Congress in the right matters. "Even when Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha membership was cancelled, Kejriwal had opposed it. If Gandhi and the Congress are afraid to meet AAP leaders, forging of opposition unity is doubtful. We have been constantly asking for an appointment with the leadership, but the Congress has refused to budge," he said. The AAP source also said that although the Kharge-led party has maintained that it has always raised its voice against any draconian law, but it has largely remained mum on the Delhi ordinance issue. Although Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP's Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chaddh attended the opposition meeting, they remained conspicuous by their absence at the joint press conference held by the opposition parties later. The BJP took a potshot at the absence of Kejriwal at the opposition parties' joint press conference in Patna and said the AAP's "blackmailing" at the beginning of the meeting itself showed the future of the "unholy alliance". Kharge, however, said a decision on whether to oppose the Centre's ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi would be taken before the Parliament session and wondered why it was being talked about elsewhere when the matter pertained to Parliament. (With inputs from PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party appeared to strike a reconciliatory note with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, invoking mohabbat ki dukaan. The remarks come mere days after a massive Opposition meet that was attended by leaders from both parties. The AAP and Congress are also embroiled in an ongoing tussle over the Centre's Ordinance seeking to diminish the powers of the Arvind Kejriwal government. "I always see that Rahul Gandhi talks about love and says that Bharatiya Janata Party spreads hate. So if Rahul Gandhi is running 'Mohabbat ki Dukan', then whosoever reaches out to him, can get that love," he said. "When he (Rahul) said that his party spreads love, then he has to show this also. "Rahul Gandhi's Congress party is not in power at the Centre. So there should be no question of ego. But he may turn egoistic, once the grand old party returns to power in the next Lok Sabha election," the APP leader added. The Centre had earlier 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'. This amends the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act and circumvents the Supreme Court judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case on the control of services. The ordinance will be brought into the Parliament during the monsoon season. AAP is counting on the other party's support in the upper house of the parliament where the BJP does not have the majority. The Congress has the highest number of MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has already met various opposition leaders to seek their support. During the recent Opposition meeting, the party had also indicated that it's support for the group would hinge on the Congress' handling of the matter. Meanwhile the Congress has lashed out the the AAP in no uncertain terms, with senior party leader Ajay Maken asserting that the Kejriwal-led group was only looking to break Opposition unity. On one side, AAP is seeking Congress' support; on the other, they are speaking against the party. What do they want by doing this, do they want to take our support or make distance from the party (Congress)...The thing is very clear that Arvind Kejriwal does not want to go to jail so he is with BJP," he said. (With inputs from agencies) According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there is a possibility of isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over East Central and parts of Northwest India, including the national capital, in the next three days. According to a statement from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the following weather conditions are expected: From June 24-28, there will be light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorm and lightning over the western Himalayan region. From June 25-28, the plains of northwest India (except west Rajasthan) will experience light to moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorm and lightning. On June 25, Uttarakhand is likely to experience isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls. From June 24-28, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh can expect isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Himachal Pradesh due to heavy to very heavy rainfall, lightning, and thunderstorms expected on June 25 and 26. The met department has also issued a yellow alert for the state indicating thunderstorms and lightning on June 27 and 28. From June 24-26, West Uttar Pradesh will have isolated heavy rainfall. On June 25-26, East Uttar Pradesh will experience isolated heavy rainfall. On June 25-26, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi will have isolated heavy rainfall. From June 25-28, East Rajasthan can expect isolated heavy rainfall. Also read: Mumbai rains: IMD issues yellow alert for the city; heavy rainfall warning in parts of Maharashtra in next 4-5 days Ahead of the 2024 general elections, a minimum of 14 Opposition parties will make efforts to reach a consensus among themselves. However, leaders from both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have suggested that forming a pre-election alliance between the two parties will be challenging due to the intricacies involved in their relationship. Following a large Opposition gathering in Patna, members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) expressed disappointment as senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declined Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's request for a meeting to address their differences. Despite Kejriwal's earnest plea and a gesture of folded hands, Gandhi refused to denounce the contentious Delhi ordinance. However, Congress leaders clarified that Gandhi remained silent on the ordinance issue during the event, and party president Mallikarjun Kharge did not announce the party's stance, emphasizing that any decision must first be discussed within the party. Lately, the AAP has been urging Congress to publicly reject the ordinance in question. AAP functionaries claimed that Rahul Gandhi questioned the urgency in seeking the Congress's stance on the ordinance. However, Congress leaders have not confirmed any such interaction or exchange taking place between the two parties regarding this matter. While Arvind Kejriwal expressed a desire for an immediate decision, leaders from other parties believed that more time should be given to address the matter, as stated by the sources mentioned above. Subsequently, the AAP conveyed that it would find it challenging to participate in future Opposition meetings where the Congress is present unless the Congress publicly denounces the ordinance. On Saturday, two senior leaders from the Congress party conveyed that the likelihood of any pre-election arrangement with the AAP was extremely low. Instead, the party intends to focus on reinforcing its existing alliances in states like Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. Additionally, the Congress will make efforts to form an alliance with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. Ajay Maken, former Union minister, We should have no understanding with the Aam Aadmi Party." Maken also alleged, Time and again, it has been established that AAP has deep-rooted links with the BJP-RSS. Even before he formed AAP, he took support from Kiran Bedi (BJPs CM face for Delhi in the last election), Gen VK Singh (now a Union minister)." In previous instances, the AAP positioned itself as a viable alternative to both the BJP and the Congress, and its emergence in Delhi and Punjab resulted in the loss of support for the Congress party. The AAP is now strategizing to participate in the upcoming assembly elections in Congress-ruled states such as Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Moreover, they plan to contest in Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress party is aiming to regain power. In a recent development, the central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued an ordinance that granted itself authority over services in Delhi. This was achieved through substantial amendments made to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act, 1991. The ordinance effectively reversed a Supreme Court verdict, which had previously granted control of the bureaucracy in the capital to the elected government, with the exception of departments related to police, public order, and land. The ordinance is expected to be presented in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament for approval, posing a significant hurdle for Opposition unity. While parties like the Trinamool Congress, Left parties, and Bharat Rashtra Samithi have pledged their support to the AAP, the Congress has not made a public statement regarding its stance on the matter. This situation presents a challenge to the unity of the Opposition parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi after concluding his visit to US and Egypt during which several landmark agreements were signed. The prime minister was received by MoS for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi and BJP chief J.P Nadda at the Delhi airport. BJP leaders and party MPs from Delhi such as Harsh Vardhan, Hans Raj Hans and Gautam Gambhir were also present at the airport to welcome the prime minister. PM Modi had embarked on his US visit on June 20. He led a historic event at the UN Headquarters in New York to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21. Later, he was given a red-carpet welcome at the White House by President Biden in Washington DC. The two leaders held a historic summit on Thursday, followed by his (PM Modi) address to Congress. Later, a State Dinner was hosted at the White House in his honour. Prime Minister Modis visit was marked by several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space and trade. Modi arrived in Cairo on Saturday after concluding his high-profile state visit to the US and was received at the airport by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. He was conferred the 'Order of the Nile' award - Egypt's highest state honourby President El-Sisi, Modi held talks with Sisi on Sunday with a focus on improving trade and investments, energy ties and people-to-people ties between the two countries. Following the talks, the two countries elevated their relationship to a "Strategic Partnership". PM Modi concluded his first-ever visit to Egypt this evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday visited the iconic pyramids of Gizaconsidered to be the Seven Wonders of the Worldon the outskirts of the Egyptian capital. PM Modi is on a two-day state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The Indian prime minister was escorted by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. "I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come," the prime minister tweeted. PM Modi was seen seeking details about the Great Pyramid of Giza. The Pyramid of Giza served as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled under the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. The Great Pyramid of Giza is considered to be the largest Egyptian pyramids. Prime Minister Modi also shared some pictures of his visit to the Pyramids in Egypt. Built in the early 26th century BC over a period of about 27 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only wonder that has remained largely intact. PM Modi also visited the other two pyramids of the 4th-dynasty erected on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River near Al-Jizah (Giza) in northern Egypt. Separately, earlier in the day, he was conferred with the 'Order of the Nile' by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Thanking the Egyptian government and people for conferring him with the 'Order of the Nile', the country's highest state honour, the Indian prime minister said the honour bestowed upon him indicates the "warmth and affection" that Egypt has towards India and the people of the country. Taking to his official Twitter handle, PM Modi tweeted, It is with great humility that I accept the 'Order of the Nile.' I thank the Government and people of Egypt for this honour. It indicates the warmth and affection they have towards India and the people of our nation." NEW DELHI : Protesting wrestlers Sunday said the fight against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be fought in the court and not on roads, and announced that they are taking a break from social media for a few days. Posting an identical tweet on social media, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia said the government has fulfilled its promise of filing a chargesheet against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. "In this case, the wresters' will continue till we get justice but it (fight) will be in court and not on road," the statement on twitter read. "Regarding the reform in WFI, the election process, as promised, has begun. We will wait for fulfilment of promises made by the government regarding the July 11 elections," they added. A few minutes after posting the statement, Vinesh and Sakshi tweeted that they are taking a break from social media for a few days. Earlier, on Saturday the Protesting wrestlers had asserted that they could hit the streets again to resume their agitation against WFI chief. In a live address on social media on Saturday, the trio of Vinesh, Sakshi and Bajrang had attacked former wrestler and now BJP leader Yogeshwar Dutt for questioning the IOA ad-hoc panel's decision to grant them exemption from Asian Games trials. During the near 40-minute address, the protesting wrestlers had asserted that their fight against Singh will continue and they will deliberate how to continue this fight after evaluating the chargesheet filed against Singh. "People are asking us why are we silent. The time (to suspend protest) was till June 15. This fight will continue, whether it is on the mat or off the mat, but the fight for justice will continue," Vinesh had said. "Till Brij Bhushan is not put behind bars, he doesn't pay for his sins, it will continue. We are waiting for a copy of chargesheet. We will evaluate if it is strong enough for justice. Whether we will sit on road or put our lives at stake, we will decide. That's why we are silent. Our fight has not ended," she had said. She also alleged that Dutt was targeting them because of his self interest. "You (Dutt) had scared wrestlers that's why they did not come in the second protest (from April 23). You put pressure on them that they will lose their jobs. People told us that they were with us but they have compulsions that they can't come," Vinesh said. "I will tell you why you are doing this. Brij Bhushan might have offered you the post of WFI President and that's why you have sided with him." The wrestlers, who got massive support from farmer leaders, khap panchayats and several other organisation, sat on Jantar Mantar for 38 days before Delhi Police detained them for violating law and order on May 28. United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Sunday that the rebellion in Russia against the military establishments may not be over yet" and the world has not probably seen the final act" yet. Anthony Blinken said Russian turmoil could take weeks or months to play out. Anthony Blinken also said that the challenge to Vladimir Putin by the Wagner Group has exposed cracks" in the strength of his leadership. Anthony Blinken said the cracks" could take weeks or months to play out. During an interview, Anthony Blinken said, "I don't think we've seen the final act. The US Secretary of State also noted that the rebellion which played out in Russia could affect the countrys military capabilities in Ukraine where it has declared a military operation. Anthony Blinken said, "We've seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade. It is too soon to tell exactly where they go, and when they get there. But certainly, we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead." Anthony Blinken described the turmoil as an "internal matter" for Putin. "Our focus is resolutely and relentlessly on Ukraine, making sure that it has what it needs to defend itself and to take back territory that Russia seized," Anthony Blinken said. The United States also expects more on the Russian rebellion will be learnt in the coming days and weeks including what was discussed in the deal between Prigozhin and Belaru President Alexander Lukashenko. Anthony Blinken said, "It may be that Putin didn't want to debase himself to the level of negotiating directly with Prigozhin." Meanwhile, US Senator Ben Cardin said the weekend turmoil in Russia does not ease Washington's need to continue aiding Ukraine as it launches its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia. "This is a critical time for Ukraine. This counteroffensive is going to be defining as to where we're going to be in the next year or two," Ben Cardin said, adding, So it's incredibly important that we maintain our support and not be fooled by what's happening in Russia today as to the needs of the Ukrainians." (With agency inputs) As American pop idol Taylor Swift added more shows to her three-day Singapore, some of her fans have urged the Education Minister, Chan Chun Sing, to declare a school holiday on the days of her concert, prompting a reply from her the minister. Taylor Swift added three more nights to her Singapore tour early next year, matching British rockers Coldplay who are set to perform six shows in January. As requests for school holidays on the days of Taylor Swifts concert poured in, minister Chan Chun Sing gave a challenge to her fans in exchange for school holidays. I hear you," Chan wrote on Facebook Friday. How about this? If any creative and enterprising fan can invite her (or any other A listers just to be fair) to your school to perform free of charge, we can have your school declare a school holiday?! Then everyone gets to enjoy this inclusive concert!" An extension of Taylor Swift doubling her concert days was announced by her organizers. This, even before the sales of tickets for her first three performances in March even started. Limited pre-sales for cardholders of a local bank begin July 5, while the general public get their chance two days later. Singapore is Swifts only Southeast Asian stop of her Eras Tour." Taylor Swift has expanded her Singapore tour with extra nights, following a pattern similar to Coldplay, who added concerts last week due to overwhelming demand. The newly added dates for both artists sold out in under three hours, leading concert promoter Live Nation to hint at the possibility of releasing additional tickets. The concert fever is helping to re-heat the MICE meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions sector thats a boon for the host-happy city-state. And its had local politicians excited about the knock-on benefits in a post-Covid economy. (With agency inputs) Instead of cracking down on porn websites, governments should take pride in sexual expression and help to make porn normal and boring, said the new owner of Pornhub in an AFP interview. In his interview he said that the society has moved to a direction where people are proud of sexual expression. I think society has moved in the direction where we are proud of sexual expression," said Ethical Capital Partners' Solomon Friedman. The fact that it's adult is going to be boring, just like the fact that (legalised) cannabis in Canada has become boring," he added. Months ago, Porhnub's parent firm MindGeek was bought by a Canadian private equity firm Ethical Capital Partners (ECP). The move made ECP the sole controller of other sites including YouPorn. Recently, ECP founder Solomon Friedman talked openly in an interview with AFP about the problem his company faced after the acquisition and what all it had done to remove sexually abusive and violent content on its websites. Underage porn sites users main concern for governments Notably, most of its websites faced action in different countries because of a wide number of its underage audience and a large content related to sexual violence and abuse. Soon after the acquisition, ECP ended up in a sea of legal troubles. Several of its websites were pulled from the US state of Utah in May after they were ordered to verify the ages of users. In France, website owners and regulators have been locked in talks for months on how to make a 2020 age verification law work in practice. Two of MindGeek's sites have not put in place any age verification and face a court ruling on July 7 that could ban them. Solomon Friedman made it clear in the AFP interview that the company doesn't want any underage users on its websites. We do not want any underage users on our websites whatsoever," ECP founder Solomon Friedman told AFP. However, he pushed back on the idea that responsibility should not only lie on the websites. Instead he demanded for the operating systems to find a solution. "We are strongly in support of age verification solutions that do two things: protect children effectively and do not expose personal data," he said. "The only solution that accomplishes both of these goals is device or browser-based verification," he said, adding that it would be "a very simple step for Google and Apple". High content of rapes and minor sex on porn websites Other major problem for MindGeek was the presence of a vast material related to rapes and minor sex on the websites. The company got into hot water in 2020 when the New York Times published allegations that its sites were hosting material depicting rapes and sex involving minors. The article sparked heavy pressure from regulators in several countries and Visa and MasterCard stopped processing payments. The owners spent two years trying to sell the firm, which is largely based in Canada but has a complex corporate structure spanning many of the globe's tax havens, with its official headquarters in Luxembourg. The new owners of the company include two lawyers, an ex-police officer and an Italian investor who made his fortune in the legal sale of cannabis. The investors are keen to distance themselves from the New York Times allegations. Friedman claimed that his company has taken massive steps to limit the content related to rape and minor sex in website. He boaseted that eight million pieces of content had been taken down in 2021 -- a claim AFP cannot verify. 'We review it after its removed,' says Pornhub owner Friedman also emphasised on the company-owned websites' mechanism where a content removal request automatically results in removal of the content immediately. He made it clear that the website "reviews it after it's removed." He also said that uploaders had to provide identification, all content was scanned by algorithms to filter out copyright-protected material, and it is then viewed by company staff before it hits the web. Solomon said his firm was brought in initially only to check that MindGeek was working within the law. "And what we found is not only does it comply with the law but it was an extraordinary investing opportunity, but it's an opportunity that required specialised skills," he said. After discovering the investment opportunity in the website, ECP bought it and it has been a rough ride for the company since then. The Utah exit followed an early battle in Louisiana, which has a similar age verification law. Solomon said their sites were still online in Louisiana as the rules are slightly different -- they are not required to collect personal information. He said he did not want to prejudge any outcomes in France, but could not rule out the possibility his sites would have to pull out. In France, the issue became a political agenda after President Emmanuel Macron's commitment to reduce the exposure of porn content to children in France. (With AFP inputs) 100 years ago 1923: The Great White Father at Washington is displeased with his red-skin children on the Arizona reservation. He believes they play too much; that they cling too closely to ancient, time-honored rites and customs. And his long arm is reaching out to curtail their pleasures; to demolish some of the strange, weird and beautiful ceremonies they in their own superstitiously reverent way believe to be marvelously potent influences in their lives. U.S. Commissioner of Indian Affairs Burke not long ago wrote the Arizona Indian tribes, asking them to give up their tribal dances. He particularly mentioned the famous Hopi snake dance, saying he believed the handling of poisonous reptiles is wrong. He said if his request is not observed it will be followed by executive order. This action, if such action is taken, as it now seems certain it will be, will be a surprise and disappointment not only to the people of Arizona and the Southwest, but to thousands all over the world. The Hopi snake dance, held in August each year, is probably the most widely featured and popular Indian ceremonial held anywhere. Each year visitors come from all over the world to view it. Many come again and again. Members of the Snake Clan who take part in the dance are specially prepared by a rigorous system of training against death or even serious illness in the event one is bitten. 75 years ago 1948: To observe interesting behind-the-scenes operations that are of key importance in the administration of a national park, 42 students of geology and principles of natural resource management at Arizona State College at Flagstaff left Thursday for an all-day field trip at Grand Canyon. Agnes Allen, head of the science department and instructor of the two classes, is in charge of the trip. The students will learn of the Grand Canyon water system, sewage system, water reclamation plant, naturalists workshop and techniques of properly handling large numbers of visitors. Harold Bryant, superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park, who lectured to the resource management class earlier this week at the college, and his staff will act as lecturers and guides on the trip today. Sam B. Dunham, of Anderson-Dunham Company, Hollywood firm specializing in boarding and supplying movie location companies, told the Daily Sun through United Press today that the several movie studios have an iron-clad agreement to stand pat on refusing to make pictures in Arizona until the state compensation law is changed. Dunham said that the Arizona Supreme Court ruling of yesterday, to the effect that the movie companies may set the amount of insurance at $1,000 per week or less for the highly paid actors, doesnt limit the film companies liability in case of serious injury or death. 50 years ago 1973: The Flagstaff City Council will be asked for stricter enforcement of the citys leash law when representatives of a citizens group appear at its regular meeting. The group held a meeting last week and decided to request the council to order a more strict enforcement of the law. The meeting was the result of a severe dog problem that seems to be prevailing in all areas of the city, resulting in dogs roaming at will, attacking people and causing problems in other ways. Fort Tuthill will become a medieval court Saturday and Sunday. In fact, it will become a rather violent medieval court. About 50 would-be knights from the Kingdom of Atenveldt (Phoenix) will converge on Flagstaff for the first tournament to be held in the history of the city. The kingdom is part of an international organization called the Society for Creative Anachronism, said Robert Munson, a lord and archaeologist for the Museum of Northern Arizona. Munson said the 50 warriors, who will be armed with such weapons as maces, broadswords, spears and lances, will be trying to earn the title of War Lord. This, he says, will be given to those who show a great deal of proficiency with all the weapons. We usually average one serious injury a tournament, Munson said. But the most common thing is exhaustion. He said individual battles have been known to go on for as long as one hour. And that is not easy wearing a full suit of armor and carrying what amounts to a heavy broadsword. 25 years ago 1998: Even after the defeat of anti-tobacco legislation in Congress earlier this week, local efforts to curb tobacco use have not dwindled. We hope this continues. More now than ever we need local, grassroots efforts to stop smoking. U.S. Sen. John McCains bill would have raised $516 billion over 25 years, in part by raising the price of a pack of cigarettes by $1.10 over five years. It also would have granted the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate nicotine and severely limit the industrys ability to advertise their products, especially to children. To those who objected to the extra $1.10 as too steep for the low-income smoker, we should note that there are taxes and then there are taxes. If the tax on a pack of cigarettes cuts into your grocery bill, cut back on the smokes. For the time being, though, cigarettes wont get any more expensive and tobacco companies will once again be able to target minors in their Joe Camel ads. But even though local authorities arent quite sure what the benefit of the bill was, because it changed so many times and was so complex, its major aim was one we could all agree on: Stop kids from smoking. In his first maiden visit to Egypt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday. Notably, it is the first visit of an Indian PM to Egypt in last 26 years. The meeting is set to open new avenues for the two countries to bolster their ties and strengthen relationship. PM Modi's visit came as a reciprocal a reciprocal gesture following President El-Sisi's presence as the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations earlier this year. The two nations are also historically connected with Indian emperors sending their convoys to Egypt centuries ago. The two nations are also working to boost their ties in terms of economic and trade agreement along with defence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit significant historic sites including the awe-inspiring 11th Century Al-Hakim mosque. This architectural marvel stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage shared by India and Egypt. He will also interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora residing in Egypt. With an indepth knowledge of India's foreign affairs and specialisation in Middle Eas and North America, Dr Maheep, has shared some valuable inputs related to India-Egypt relations. Historical, Cultural and Diplomatic Exchanges India and Egypt shared a crucial diplomatic relation since 3rd century BC. During that era, Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great dispatched his envoys to the court of the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The Egyptian king, in a reciprocal gesture, dispatched his own ambassador named Dionysius to the Mauryan court at Patliputra. This recorded incident marks the earliest known interaction between the two ancient civilizations, laying the foundation of diplomatic engagement between India and Egypt, and highlighting the far-reaching historical ties that have endured through the ages. In a notable address, the Indian Ambassador to Egypt, Ajit Gupte, emphasized the enduring nature of the maritime connections between India and Egypt. He highlighted that these connections have transcended time, spanning across centuries and leaving an indelible mark on their shared history. The joint commitment between the two nations continue to resonate with the current deals and ties between India and Egypt. The two nations share similar values, aspirations, and their common pursuit of independent foreign policies in a multipolar world that remains an important and unique aspect of their historical narrative. Moreover, the cherished bond between Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul is still deeply entrenched in the collective memory of the Egyptian people. Notably, the Indian Ambassador underscored the genuine desire of the Egyptian population to foster closer ties with India, owing to their strong affinity for Indian culture and deeply ingrained family values. What adds even greater significance to this visit is the remarkable restoration of the Al-Hakim mosque, made possible through the unwavering dedication and support of the Dawoodi Bohra community. The Al-Hakim mosque, with its centuries-old legacy, serves as a beacon of religious and historical importance showcasing the intermingling of Indian and Egyptian cultures. Furthermore, the visit to the Heliopolis War Grave Cemetery pays tribute to Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during the First World War, further reinforcing the historical bond between the two countries. India-Egypt Bilateral ties The partnership between the two nations has recently ascended to the level of a strategic alliance, encompassing critical domains such as political collaboration, defence cooperation, maritime security, food security, economic integration, and concerted efforts on global affairs. The primacy placed on these multifaceted facets underscores the fundamental importance they hold in shaping and nurturing the bilateral relations between them. Diplomatic exchanges over the past few months, India and Egypt have witnessed a surge in ministerial-level political exchanges. Notably, key ministers from both countries have visited each other, showcasing the intensified focus on strengthening various aspects of the bilateral relationship. The visits of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in September 2022 and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in October last year have yielded remarkable outcomes in the realm of defence collaboration between India and Egypt. These visits paved the way for the historic initiation of "Desert Warrior," a joint tactical exercise conducted by the air forces of both nations. Moreover, another bilateral Defence Cooperation was marked by Cyclone 2023, a two-week-long joint exercise conducted by the armies of India and Egypt. The potential for defence cooperation between Egypt and India has become a prominent focal point of their evolving partnership. Reports have surfaced that India and Egypt are engaged in discussions pertaining to the supply of India's advanced Tejas fighter aircraft to Egypt. This development signifies a momentous landmark, as it not only strengthens the military ties between the two countries but also lays the groundwork for Cairo to foster the growth of its own indigenous defence industry. In addition to the remarkable co-production of cutting-edge military equipment, the upcoming discussions will delve into a significant proposition put forth by Egypt--an exclusive slot reserved for India within the prestigious Suez Canal Economic Zone. This golden opportunity holds immense promise for advancing their economic collaboration and solidifying India's foothold in the region. In addition to the remarkable co-production of cutting-edge military equipment, the upcoming discussions between our esteemed nations will delve into a significant proposition put forth by Egypt--an exclusive slot reserved for India within the prestigious Suez Canal Economic Zone. This extraordinary prospect holds immense promise for advancing economic collaboration and solidifying India's foothold in the region. Furthermore, the realms of green hydrogen and tourism stand as fertile ground for fostering substantial growth and mutual prosperity. Indian investments in these areas possess tremendous potential, offering avenues for innovation, sustainability, and economic vitality. By venturing into the realm of green hydrogen, we can drive the transformation towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future, while the tourism sector holds immense possibilities for cultural exchange, economic stimulation, and the deepening of people-to-people connections. The convergence of ambitions in these domains holds the power to unlock new horizons of growth, prosperity, and bilateral cooperation. Economic and trade engagement between India and Egypt In a truly extraordinary gesture of goodwill and benevolence, Egypt demonstrated its unwavering support by dispatching three aircraft cargoes laden with a consignment of 300,000 doses of the Remdesivir vaccine. This compassionate act of solidarity occurred during the harrowing times when India was grappling with the devastating impact of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2021. Next year, India, reciprocated by sending shipments of wheat to Egypt in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which gravely disrupted Egypt's wheat imports from Ukraine. According to author Maheep, India's eagerness to increase investment in Egypt is evident, the bilateral trade between the two nations reached an unprecedented pinnacle, soaring to a staggering USD 7.26 billion during the fiscal year culminating in June of 2022, as reported by the Egyptian newspaper, Al-Ahram. In January 2023, both leaders expressed their commitment to elevate the trade volume. They set the target of USD 12 billion within the upcoming five years. This visionary aspiration denotes their firm determination to fortify economic ties, foster mutual prosperity, and unlock a new era of fruitful collaboration. Official data reveals that More than 450 Indian companies are registered in Egypt of which about 50 are actively operating across diverse sectors. These companies have made substantial investments, exceeding USD 3 billion collectively. This significant presence of Indian businesses in Egypt has had a positive impact on the local economy, providing gainful employment opportunities to a commendable workforce of nearly 35,000 Egyptians. Such figures underscore the deep economic ties and the substantial contribution of Indian companies towards Egypt's growth and development. The vibrant Indian presence in Egypt is evidenced by a population of around 3,600 Indians who have chosen to call Egypt their home. Further accentuating this symbiotic relationship. The Indian community in Egypt embodies a diverse range of professionals including businesspersons, IT specialists, students, entrepreneurs, and a myriad of other accomplished individuals, as ascertained by the Indian embassy situated in Cairo. The Egyptian ambassador to India, Wael Mohamed Awad Hamed, highlighted the significance of an invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi to Egypt's president to serve as the chief guest for Republic Day in 2022. This invitation is viewed as a transformative event, a game-changer that holds great potential for bilateral relations. They share similar priorities including the modernization of their respective countries, industrialization, job creation, development, and environmental awareness. These pressing issues resonate with the challenges faced by the developing world. The upcoming meeting between the two leaders holds immense significance as it provides an opportunity to address these concerns bilaterally and within the broader context of the G20, where Egypt has been invited as a guest country under India's G20 presidency. This convergence of interests sets the stage for collaborative efforts aimed at tackling shared problems and fostering mutual growth. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Egypt represents a significant milestone in the growing bilateral relationship between India and Egypt. This visit marks a reciprocal gesture and highlights the commitment to deepening ties. Prime Minister Modi's itinerary includes visits to historic and cultural sites, such as the Al-Hakim mosque, showcasing the shared heritage between India and Egypt. The visit also focuses on important areas of collaboration, including defence cooperation and economic integration. It emphasizes the multifaceted nature of the partnership, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and diplomatic aspects. As India and Egypt continue to strengthen their relationship, the potential for further growth and diversification becomes increasingly promising, fostering mutual prosperity and cooperation in the years to come. Overall, Prime Minister Modi's visit paves the way for enhanced collaboration, cultural exchange, and mutual prosperity between the two nations. (With inputs from ANI) Beijing topped 40 degrees Celsius (104F) on Saturday for a record third day as the Chinese capital sweltered in extreme heat, while uncommonly high temperatures for June grilled an area the size of California in northern China. At 1:51 p.m. (0551 GMT), the temperature measured by Beijing's benchmark weather station in its southern suburbs briefly soared above 40C. Until Saturday, the city of nearly 22 million people had never logged three straight days above 40C since setting up the southern observatory in 1951. Aside from Beijing, parts of nearby Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Inner Mongolia and Tianjin either raised or kept their hot weather alert at "red", the highest in China's four-tier warning system. A red alert signifies the temperature could exceed 40C within 24 hours. As of 1:13 p.m., an area of 450,000 square km (174,000 square miles) had recorded temperatures over 37C, according to local media. "Last year's heatwave gives some sense of the risks to China's food supply and the potential impact on prices," Capital Economics wrote in a note on Friday. "Another drought would hurt crop yields while livestock are vulnerable to high temperatures." On Saturday, state media reported ground surface temperatures in excess of 70C in parts of Shandong - China's most populous province after Guangdong, and a key grower of grain. The heatwaves, the second round in about 10 days, were caused by warm air masses associated with high pressure ridges in the atmosphere. The effect was amplified by thin cloud cover and long daylight hours around the summer solstice, according to Chinese meteorologists. In Beijing between 1990 and 2020, the average number of days with temperatures of 35C or more was 10.6, the official Beijing Daily reported, citing official data. June is not yet over and that number has already been beaten, the newspaper said, after temperatures in Beijing surpassed 35C for the 11th day this year on Saturday. On Friday, Beijing baked in temperatures as high as 40.3C, after sizzling at 41.1C on Thursday, the second-hottest day recorded by the Chinese capital in modern times. Beijing's all-time high of 41.9C was recorded on July 24, 1999. The heat waves in northern China are expected to abate by Monday before regaining strengthen later in the week. Well known Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan testified before an Israeli court on Sunday in connection with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial. The development came even as the PM reintroduced legislation to restrict the power of Israels courts - dubbed it a bid to whitewash corruption by Opposition leaders. Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu wrongfully received almost 700,000 shekels (around $200,000) worth of gifts from Milchan and another Australian billionaire. The indictment describes as a "supply-line" of champagne, cigars and even jewellery that the PM and his wife received. In exchange, they allegedly helped the Pretty Woman" producer with personal and business needs. While the trial is being held in Jerusalem, Milchan joined the proceedings remotely from Brighton. The testimony is expected to last several days. Netanyahu however dismisses the gift-giving among friends as normal conduct and his trial as a political witch-hunt. The PM has denied any wrongdoing in this case as well as two others that are being heard in the same trial. Milchan hinted at a deeper, patriotic cast to the relationship during the trial, greeting the PM off-screen with "Shalom, Bibi!" "I can't tell you how many things Bibi and I did in secret for the country," he said in his testimony, using Netanyahu's nickname. After a cycle of inconclusive elections and an 18 month-stint in the opposition, Netanyahu had returned to power in December at the head of a hard-right government. Netanyahu has denied any link between his trial and reforms to the justice system that his coalition is seeking and that have drawn strong opposition. He has been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust for allegedly granting regulatory favours to businessmen in return for positive favourable media coverage. (With inputs from agencies) The Wagner Group fighters who vowed to oust Russia's military leadership on Saturday, took a U-turn and returned to their field camps from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don under a deal brokered by Belarus which ensured Russia dropped charges against Wagner's chief, Prigozhin , for armed mutiny. According to the deal, Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin will move to Belarus which will bring an end to the armed mutiny led by him against the Russian military. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has offered to mediate with Russian President Vladimir Putin's agreement. The criminal case that had begun against Prigozhin for armed mutiny would be dropped and the Wagner fighters who had taken part in his "march for justice" would not face any action, in recognition of their previous service to Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed on Saturday. He also said that the criminal case will be dropped against Prigozhin for armed mutiny because the Russian president knew him personally for more than 20 years. Reuters reported that fighters who did not take part would enter into a contract with the Defence Ministry, which has been seeking to bring all autonomous volunteer forces under its control by July 1. Hence, Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood." His troops were ordered back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. Prigozhin, however, did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand. The Krelim Spokesperson said the issue could not have been discussed during the negotiations, which were conducted by the president of Belarus, and is the exclusive prerogative of the commander in chief." The deal was brokered by Belarus, and Wagner fighters pulled out of Rostov to avoid bloodshed and de-escalate the crisis. The private military group on Saturday seized Rostov's military headquarters. Rostov's military HQ was the key to operating Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The heavily armed Wagner fighter took control of Rostov, while some of them began marching towards Moscow in a rebellion against Russia's military establishment. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked cash-strapped Pakistan to revise the budgetary framework for 2023-24 before its passage from the parliament in order to strike a staff-level agreement, according to a report published by The News International, an English-language newspaper in the crisis-hit country. Without changes in the Pakistan budget, the staff-level agreement with the Washington-based financial body cannot be achieved," the IMF said in the report. Pakistan and the IMF are making efforts to evolve a broader agreement on the budgetary framework which, if struck, could pave the way for approval of the budget for 2023-24 with revisions, including jacking up the FBR's tax collection target and slashing expenditures. A top official privy to the ongoing negotiations between Pakistan and the IMF held virtually from Islamabad and Washington on Friday, said, The Pakistani side shared the revised budgetary estimates for next fiscal year with the IMF but so far a broader agreement is yet to be achieved." In the aftermath of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's meeting with the IMF's MD in Paris, Pakistan, and the IMF held two rounds of virtual talks in the last 24 hours in an effort to move towards a staff-level agreement, ANI reported. The Pakistani authorities shared revised budgetary estimates for the next fiscal year with the IMF review mission with expectations to evolve a broader agreement on the budgetary framework, it is yet to be seen to what extent both sides reconcile their differences and evolve a consensus on major thorny issues. Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that the country will raise 215 billion through taxes in a final attempt to meet the loan conditions set by the IMF. Two days ago, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva appealed to PM Sharif to address policy disagreements among the global lender's staff before obtaining a crucial loan for economic stabilization. The global lender has signed a deal with Pakistan to provide it USD 6 billion if it fulfills certain conditions. The plan faced multiple setbacks and the complete reimbursement is yet to be finalized due to the donor's insistence on Pakistan fulfilling all formalities. (With ANI inputs) Indian agencies have discovered a connection between Haji Salim, a gangster based in Karachi, and the notorious underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim. They reveal that Salim is actively involved in endeavors to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) insurgent group in Sri Lanka and India. His key role involves the extensive smuggling of drugs and weapons. As per a report by Hindustan Times, operating as the mastermind behind a lucrative narcotics network spanning Pakistan and the Indian Ocean, Salim is frequently spotted at Dawood's residence on Clifton Road in Karachi. There are suspicions that both individuals mutually utilize each other's resources for smuggling activities. These operations are believed to receive active support from Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as per anonymous sources. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence (DRI) are collaboratively engaged in identifying Indian associates of Salim and dismantling the entire criminal network connected to Ibrahim's D-Company. In a collaborative operation conducted recently, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the navy successfully confiscated a substantial quantity of high-purity methamphetamine weighing 2,500kg, valued at 12,000 crore. The drugs were sourced by intercepting a vessel commonly referred to as a "mother ship" in the Indian Ocean. The shipment originated from the "death crescent," a term coined by India's Home Minister Amit Shah, which refers to the smuggling route encompassing Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The drugs were dispatched from the Makran coast in Balochistan province. In a recent development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet last week against 13 individuals as part of an investigation into the revival of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in India. The accused used various foreign WhatsApp numbers to carry out the clandestine trade," it said. Even though D-Companys network was eliminated by Indian agencies in the late 90s, it is possible his old contacts may be working with Salims syndicate as the drug trade via maritime and land route has exploded after Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. Salim has been seen at Dawoods residence in Karachi and is protected by armed guards round the clock," said an officer, who didnt want to be named. According to an earlier report by HT on April 30, Salim collaborates with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba. He is responsible for supervising the smuggling operations to various destinations, including India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and certain Middle Eastern countries. Salim's cartel is known to operate numerous covert laboratories in Balochistan. These facilities are involved in the packaging of heroin parcels originating from Afghanistan, which are often marked with distinct symbols or inscriptions such as '555', '999', 'Unicorn', and 'Dragon'. Approximately 70% of drug trafficking in India occurs via maritime routes, with a significant portion attributed to the operations of Salim's network. The modus operandi used by Salims cartel is similar to that of D-Companys in 90s, where exchange of contraband took place mid-sea from a mother boat (large vessels) to small fishing boats and dhows," said a second officer. The maritime drug trafficking in Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal poses new challenges to drug law enforcement agencies and they anticipate further increase of this route by international drug trafficking syndicates operating from Pakistan and Afghanistan," a special edition of NCBs annual report 2022 said. In order to strengthen the surveillance of Indian waters and combat drug trafficking, the government has allocated extra funds to agencies such as the NCB. As part of this initiative, suspected containers are now being subjected to 100% inspection at ports. Additionally, the NCB has identified specific sites along international borders and inland areas where mobile vehicle scanners will be installed. Furthermore, the Ministry of Home Affairs is actively exploring technological solutions for scanning containers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Egypt, visited Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo today, the 11th-century mosque which was repaired with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community, an important cultural site for the community in Cairo. The Dawoodi Bohra community is considered a significant support base for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). PM Modi has had a long-standing relationship with the Dawoodi Bohras, from when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. As Gujarat CM in 2011, he invited the community to celebrate the 100th birthday of the then-religious head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Burhanuddin. After Burhanuddin's passing in 2014, PM Modi visited Mumbai to offer condolences to his son and successor, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. In 2015, PM Modi visited Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the current religious head of the community, with whom he has always shared a cordial relationship. In 2016, Syedna called on the PM, who fondly reminisced about his relationship with four generations of Dawoodi Bohra religious heads. Even during his visit to Bangladesh, PM Modi met with a delegation of Dawoodi Bohras. The PM's trip to Egypt is expected to pave the way for a substantial increase in India's investment in the North African country and a ladder for Egypt to gain entry to the BRICS economic bloc. Notably, it is PM Modi's first visit to Egypt as prime minister and the first by any Indian prime minister since 1997. The visit comes months after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's January visit to New Delhi when he was the chief guest at India's 74th Republic Day celebrations. El-Sisi was the first Egyptian president accorded the honor. The two nations are also historically connected with Indian emperors sending their convoys to Egypt centuries ago. They are also working to boost their ties in terms of economic and trade agreement along with defence. India and Egypt shared a crucial diplomatic relation since 3rd century BC. During that era, Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great dispatched his envoys to the court of the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The two nations share similar values, aspirations, and their common pursuit of independent foreign policies in a multipolar world that remains an important and unique aspect of their historical narrative. Although 'China' was not categorically mentioned during the whole state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States, there was a 'strong' signal sent to Beijing, in a quiet and subtle way, Ellen Nakashima wrote in the Washington Post. "Joint statements issued by the United States and India over the last several years have condemned North Korea's missile tests, called for the Taliban to respect human rights and appealed for an end to the violence in Myanmar. But never has there been an outright mention of India's primary adversary: China," she stated. It has been China in recent years that has supplanted Pakistan as India's main security threat. China's clashes with India along its border have turned the world's two most populous countries into rivals again in the Indo-Pacific. It is the resurgence of that rivalry -- after decades of detente -- that has made for a convergence of strategic interests between the United States and India. Just before PM Modi's state visit to the US, President Biden on Tuesday called Chinese President Xi Jinping a "dictator." Despite that, during the whole state visit, neither Biden nor PM Modi framed their engagement as primarily being about containing the China challenge, but the subtext is plain. Rather, officials say, it is about lifting up a rising power -- the world's largest democracy, if an imperfect one -- and showcasing the momentum in the relationship based on a set of shared interests, the Post stated. "This visit is not about China," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview with reporters this week. "But the question of China's role in the military domain, the technology domain, the economic domain will be on the agenda." Among the several major deals that took place during the visit, includes the ones to manufacture General Electric fighter-jet engines in India and that of purchasing General Atomics armed drones are of huge prominence, as India has always wanted the platform for years and which can help them detect and counter moves by China's military. The GE deal, worth billions of dollars, involves the provision of sophisticated jet engine technology that has never been shared even with treaty allies and has the potential to bind the two countries' defence industries for years to come. "It's coveted sensitive technology -- something India's been asking for, for almost two decades," the Post quoted Sameer Lalwani, a senior expert at the U.S. Institute of Peace. "If it works, it could lead to multiple future generations of jet engines. This is a way for the United States to both be a partner to and shape India's defence innovation developments over the next 20 to 30 years," he said. The Modi government realizes that to compete with China, which is well into a decades-long military modernization campaign, it will need to figure out how to advance tech start-ups so they can design technologies at a military scale, the piece added. Nakashima states in her piece that pulling down hurdles to tech and defence collaboration is a key theme of PM Modi's visit. Administration officials, from Biden and Sullivan to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, have met with Delhi counterparts, and officials in both countries have worked to cut through licensing, export control and other barriers to cooperation. On the technology front, another major announcement is the one involving Micron Technology Inc., the biggest US memory chipmaker. The deal represents the first major investment by an American firm as part of the administration's "national mission on semiconductors" to rebalance supply chains away from China, which sealed itself off from the world for almost three years during the coronavirus pandemic. From India's perspective, these initiatives fulfil two broad objectives, said Arvind Subramanian, Modi's chief economic adviser from 2014 to 2018. The GE deal, for instance, is part of a long-running effort to wean India off its reliance on Russia for military equipment, said Subramanian, now a senior fellow at Brown University, the Washington Post reported. The chip plant and defence deals serve Delhi's goal of revitalizing a moribund manufacturing sector. To entice foreign investment, the government several years ago launched a major program of subsidies -- just as investors were seeking alternative locations to China during the pandemic. Meanwhile, China casts an outsize shadow on the region, with its aggressive actions against Taiwan after a visit last year by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to Taipei. Nakashima states that India, which will host the G-20 summit of world leaders this year, aspires to great-power status in its own right. Eschewing explicit alignment with either Russia or China, it has positioned itself as a champion of the developing world. "India is clearly in a category of its own, in terms of our alliances and partnerships in a number of ways," said a senior US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity. "I think we are like-minded on the balance of issues." She points out that PM Modi was warmly greeted when he visited a number of Pacific Island nations last month, a region in which both the United States and China are vying for influence. He flew to Papua New Guinea -- a stop that was supposed to be in tandem with Biden after both leaders attended the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. But Biden cancelled that leg of his trip to return to Washington to deal with a debt ceiling crisis. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape hailed Modi as "the leader of the Global South," the Post stated. The US administration officials preferred to stress the strategic role India can play as a key economic and military partner in the Indo-Pacific and bulwark against China, though they rarely -- if ever -- in joint statements explicitly mentioned China. "You hear us talking a lot about a free and open Indo-Pacific," the Post quoted Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner said in an interview. "A strong India and a strong U.S.-India partnership is central to achieving that vision." That's why, he said, "the relationship matters." Nakashima states that officials in Washington are clear that India will "never be a treaty ally" in the manner of Japan or Australia. And they understand that Delhi has no intention to give up its strategic autonomy or seek to be seen as aligned with NATO and the West. Modi's government has refused to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine or join in sanctions. What's manifestly changed in the last decade is how India perceives China as a threat. The two countries have been fighting a bitter, bloody battle along their Himalayan border since 2020, one that has claimed 20 Indian lives. Public opinion in India on China is the lowest it has been since the 1962 war. Delhi has banned TikTok, along with more than 100 Chinese apps. It has effectively barred Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks, the Washington Post reported. Though observers are tempted to reduce the US-India relationship to a shared interest in countering China -- a version of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" -- the US investment in India does not involve any expectation that Delhi will aid Washington in defending Taiwan should China invade, the Post quoted administration officials. "We're not making a bet on some future war and whether we're fighting alongside each other in that war," NSA Sullivan said. "We're making a bet that in a variety of areas that matter fundamentally to the economic resilience of the United States, to the success and vitality of an open technology ecosystem, to diversified and resilient supply chains -- the things that are core to the Biden foreign policy, that India can play a very constructive role in those areas." Countering Chinese military aggression is an effort that has engaged a number of countries around the world in ways that do not involve them shooting at ships in the Taiwan Strait, officials point out. "There's a convergence of ... interests that can protect the autonomy of India while at the same time deepen the strategic partnership with the United States," Sullivan said. "And we see no contradiction between those two things," the Post piece further added. ARVIND More Information This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Wagner Group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to go to Belarus after a deal to end an armed uprising, however, the head of the rebellion mercenary group still remains a traitor, said former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty in an interview to the US-based news channel on Saturday. Calling the ongoing situation a real dilemma, she also said that Putin doesn't forgive traitors and Prigozhin is a threat, according to a report published by CNN. "I think Putin will never ever forgive that. I think it is a real dilemma because as long as Prigozhin is acting the way he does and has some type of support, he is a threat. Regardless of where he is," Dougherty said as quoted by the news organization. The former CNN Moscow bureau chief said that the turmoil created on the streets of Russia makes Putin looks really weak, not a strongman leader as he always positions himself to be. Putin himself looks really weak. If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave," she told CNN. Dougherty further asked why average Russians are cheering people trying to carry out a coup, while also saying that means they maybe support them or might be like them. "Whatever it is, it is really bad news for Putin." The head of the Wagner mercenary group vowed Saturday to "go to the end" to topple the Russian military leadership in the country. However, he took a U-turn and returned to their field camps from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don under a deal brokered by Belarus which ensured Russia dropped charges against Wagner's chief, Prigozhin, for armed mutiny. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has offered to mediate with Russian President Vladimir Putin's agreement. The criminal case that had begun against Prigozhin for armed mutiny would be dropped and the Wagner fighters who had taken part in his "march for justice" would not face any action, in recognition of their previous service to Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed on Saturday. He also said that the criminal case will be dropped against Prigozhin for armed mutiny because the Russian president knew him personally for more than 20 years. Hence, Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood." His troops were ordered back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. Mental Health Court, a specialty court program operated out of Coconino County Superior Court, is nearing the end of its first year of operations. Starting in July of 2022, certain felony offenders who faced mental health challenges and/or substance abuse issues became eligible to take part in the brand-new specialty treatment court. In specialty courts like Mental Health Court, offenders are placed on probation, offered resources, tested for drug and alcohol use, treated in a non-adversarial manner, and in exchange for program completion face lesser charges or reduced sentences. In some cases, people who plead into Mental Health Court will be able to escape incarceration. The program in Coconino County is one of many that have gained popularity throughout the country. Its designed specifically to serve people who can be categorized as high-risk, high-need by criminal justice professionals -- signifying theyre likely to re-offend and need supervision and treatment for mental health and substance-use disorders. Right now, there are 12 Mental Health Court participants. The limit is 25. We get most of our referrals from the public defenders office. They are the clients they represent that they feel are appropriate or eligible for our program, explained Sydney Ciarniello, the Mental Health Court coordinator and clinical liaison. They go through a screening process. If they are screened eligible, theyll plead and be sentenced to our program. Then they are on probation and supervised by our whole team. Participation in Mental Health Court is voluntary -- in no small part because its intense. Mental Health Court is broken into phases. The first phase is between 60 and 90 days long, and its designed to immerse the newcomer in the processes and the supports theyll use in the program to obtain sobriety and stability ideally. Thats our most structured phase. So youre coming to court every single week. Youre seeing probation every single week. There's a lot of communication with treatment. What youre seeing is very eyes-on and hands-on in the beginning," Ciarniello said. "As people move through the phases with their compliance, all that supervision gets reduced. People will go to court every other week, then way at the end of the program theyll go once a month. As they gain compliance throughout the program, well see them less and less, but its designed to be very intense at the beginning. The Arizona Daily Sun spoke to a man who opted into Mental Health Court in September of 2022. His name was Brian, and hes currently in the third phase of the program. I got the paperwork and I was like, 'Wow. Thats a lot. I dont know if I can do this,' Brian said. Ultimately, he said, he decided participating in Mental Health Court was better than going to jail; he braced for the time commitment. According to Ciarniello, the Coconino County Attorneys Offices buy-in and help in negotiating reduced charges has helped to create important incentives for people like Brian. That makes it maybe more desirable for people who are saying this may be a lot of work. We try to give them as many carrots to participate, then they generally come around to it more once theyre in the program. Our county attorneys are really great at offering fair plea agreements to the individuals who are going to participate, Ciarniello said. As far as coming around to the program goes, Brian is perhaps a prime example. By participating in Mental Health Court, he has a team of people assigned to his case that check in on him and offer him resources and support. We have our designated judge who does our calendar every week, we have a designated county attorney from the county attorneys office, we have a designated public defender. I participate in court. We have our designated probation officer, and then I work with two behavioral health providers and their case managers participate in court with us. We also have participation from Hope Lives, which is a local peer support agency, Ciarniello said. As a participant, Brian sees Judge Brent Harris regularly and can see that judge as someone invested in his success and not simply a person in a punitive position. He has a similar relationship with his probation officer and the attorneys on his case. As the judge of the Mental Health Court, I have seen the positive impacts the court can have on our communities as a whole. A team approach with tailored support, access to treatment, and compassion for those involved allows us to facilitate healing and empowerment that extends far beyond the courtroom, promoting health, reducing recidivism and victimization, and enhancing community safety, Harris said. The structure of Mental Health Court follows national standards for treatment courts, curated by the National Association for Drug Court Professionals. That guidance determined the makeup of the team that works each case. In Brians case, interaction with Hope Lives has been life-altering. Going through [Mental Health Court] brought something out of me that I havent had when I was a kid -- a joy to help people, he said. He said he found his calling working with other people whove been where hes been at shelters and at Hope Lives. He wants to continue to work with people struggling with mental health and substance use disorders once he finishes Mental Health Court. My dream is going to be great because thats going to reward me all the time. It feels good. I am happier with my sobriety working with Mental Health Court and Hope Lives. Working with the homeless and the addicts and the mental health groups, I just want to do my part and share what I have and the knowledge that I have, Brian said. Mental Health Court is designed to take about a year and a half to complete, but the timing is flexible. We try to have overall guidelines, but we understand that every single person is different, and everybody is going to achieve their goals at different rates, Ciarniello said Brian hasnt graduated yet, but his assigned team of supporters are hopeful that hell be among the first success stories for the relatively new specialty court. Curbing incarceration Helping the homeless and addicts kind of keeps me on my toes. Im not trying to go back to that life. I deal with alcoholics every day and mental health issues. I work every day. Im tired, but then again, its a reward working with them in the peer support program. I have a mission now, to help as many people as I can. Get them into treatment instead of going straight to jail if they get a chance, Brian said. According to one study published in 2011 in Justice Quarterly, specialty courts have been found to reduce recidivism a persons likelihood to re-offend and become justice-involved again by 9%. Other studies have found treatment courts can be effective for up to 60% of participants, but methodologies for both the studies and the treatment courts vary widely throughout the country. The consensus remains, specialty courts generally help curb incarceration rates and keep successful participants more permanently out of the criminal justice system. All the research shows that these kinds of treatment courts reduce recidivism. I think its very beneficial for the court to employ programs like these the recovery court, the veterans court. These are the kinds of programs that reduce recidivism among this high-need, high-risk population. Its extremely beneficial to the court, Ciarniello said. Ciarnello started working at the Coconino County Adult Probation Department straight out of college. She spent six years there, supervising a caseload of people who were dealing with serious mental illnesses. Now she acts as a kind of formal program coordinator, while remaining on the team to support people in recovery from mental illness and substance use. Her position was created with American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding. We dont have any additional funding for the mental health court, so these individuals are doing this within their current positions and roles, said Coconino County Court Administrator Sharon Yates, in reference to people like Judge Harris. Still, she said she believes the courts investment of time and resources are ultimately worth it. I think its beneficial because these individuals are already involved in our criminal justice system, in the court system, so giving them these resources will help them in the long run when theyre not involved in the criminal justice system, Yates said. Because the first round of Mental Health Court has not concluded, its hard to say whether the teams hard work is going to pay off. Not everyone who pleads into Mental Health Court makes it through the program. According to Ciarniello, a few people have already exited Coconino Countys version. It works for some people and some people it dont work for. I really believe youve gotta be ready for it, because not everybody is ready for it, Brian said. Still, the team in Coconino County remains invested in the people whose lives they hope to change for the better. I believe in them. I think they work and I love that we have a court that is giving us the opportunity to run these kinds of programs, Ciarnello said. Brian himself is perhaps the most optimistic about the future outcomes of the burgeoning program. Theyre going to help a lot of people. I hope theres more people like me, he said. The law-enforcement authorities in the US are investigating bomb threats received by grocery operators and other stores across the United States demanding gift cards, bitcoin or money, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. The report said retail firms including Kroger, Walmart, Amazon's Whole Foods Market, and some others, received bomb threats at their stores in recent months. The caller threatened to detonate bombs if payments were not made, the report added. In Chicago, a caller told a Whole Foods Market employee that a pipe bomb had been placed in the store and demanded $5,000 in bitcoin, the WSJ reported. At a Kroger-owned store in New Mexico, an employee received a call from a suspect who asked her to wire money and said a bomb would go off if she called the police, the WSJ report added. The police found no suspicious items in the store after they searched the location following a complaint from the employees. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States) said it is working with local and state law-enforcement officials over the threats. The FBI has requested public to maintain awareness of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. The police said they are investigating the threats, but the callers have been difficult to track down because they use blocked phone numbers. The authorities are also unclear to whether the threats are part of an organized effort and where the callers are located. So far individual stores havent received more than one threat and some callers didnt demand payment, police added. Law-enforcement officials said every call should be taken seriously. They appealed the businesses not to give money to the callers; and asked the store staff talking to the callers to get as much information as possible to help identify the culprits. Etihad Airways issued an apology to a UK woman recently after a contractor working with the carrier accessed her personal information. The worker had then gone on text Hannah Smethurst via WhatsApp as she waited to board a flight from Abu Dhabi to Manchester. A guy who works for Etihad airline used my personal data which he found via the airline database after seeing my passport to get my phone number and proceeded to text me. Terrifying experience travelling alone," she tweeted, sharing a screenshot of the conversation. The messages came from an unknown United Arab Emirates number and explained that they had searched" for Smethurst in the airline system" to get her phone number. "I have seen you from Abu Dhabi" the worker added. He has access to all my details including home address via the airline system its terrifyingI definitely wont be flying with Etihad again thats for sure. From the details they take for the booking he has access to my full name, date of birth, home address and telephone number it really is very scary," she added in follow up comments. The 23-year-old also faced some difficulties while registering a complaint. With her flight set to depart shortly, Smethurst was told by airport staff said she could be taken off the flight so that she could file a police report. She was however warned that the next flight to Manchester would only leave after 24 hours and ultimately opted to travel. The Etihad team at Manchester were amazing once I landed!" she assured a Twitter user who was responding to her post. As a result of the investigation, the relevant employee involved has been disciplined in accordance with the contractor's disciplinary procedures. The privacy and safety of our guests is our No 1 priority and we sincerely apologise for the distress caused to our guest," The Guardian quoted an Etihad spokesperson as saying. Former President Donald Trump said the federal government should play a vital role" opposing abortion but again failed to provide specifics on what national restrictions he would support if elected to the White House again. Trumps remarks to a group of influential evangelicals Saturday on the anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning the national right to an abortion stood in contrast to that of his former vice president and 2024 rival Mike Pence. Pence, speaking at the same conference a day earlier, challenged every GOP presidential candidate to support the passage of a national ban on abortions at least as early as 15 weeks of pregnancy. Trump, the GOP front-runner, has been reluctant to endorse a national ban and has suggested restrictions should be left to the states. He has even suggested that pushing for increased abortion restrictions would be a political liability for Republicans, despite his three Supreme Court nominees making up the majority of justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade last year. Trump, in his speech before the Faith & Freedom Coalitions annual conference, continued to offer a muddled answer. He said he believes the greatest progress is now being made in the states, where everyone wanted to be." One of the reasons they wanted Roe v. Wade terminated," he said, "is to bring it back into the states where a lot of people feel strongly the greatest progress for pro-life is now being made." But the former president also added, There of course remains a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life." Trump said he supports three exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases involving rape and incest or when the life of a mother is in danger. He took full credit for his role in the overturning of the landmark ruling and said he was proud to be the most pro-life president in American history." Though white evangelical Christians were initially reluctant to back Trump in 2016, his promises to appoint justices to the court who would overturn Roe and the rulings eventual overturning have earned him deep support in the evangelical movement. As he took the stage Saturday, he received a standing ovation from the crowd of hundreds, with some attendees standing on their chairs to see him enter. The enthusiasm was markedly higher for Trump than it was the previous morning, when Pence and a number of other presidential hopefuls addressed the conference. One candidate, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, was met with boos when he criticized Trump in his remarks Friday. On Saturday night, the crowd broke into sustained chants of We want Trump!" halfway through the former president's remarks. Were your other candidates treated this way?" Trump said with a smile. Trump, in his remarks, promised that if elected to the presidency again, he would appoint appoint rock-solid conservative judges in the mold" of Justice Clarence Thomas and former Justice Antonin Scalia. He also repeated false claims that hes made before that abortion rights supporters want to kill a baby" in the ninth month of pregnancy or even after a birth. The Republican former president also vowed that before Election Day next year, he will release the list of names of potential justices he would consider appointing to the Supreme Court. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, seen as Trumps closest rival for the GOP nomination, has made the promise of an even more conservative Supreme Court part of his pitch to attempt to differentiate himself from Trump. DeSantis, who addressed the Faith and Freedom conference Friday, declared that if elected president, he would nominate and appoint Supreme Court justices in the mold of Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization case last year that ended constitutional protections for abortion. In a recent interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, DeSantis said he respects the three judges Trump appointed, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barret, but said I would say well do better than that." None of those three are at the same level" of Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the ruling in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization case last year that ended constitutional protections for abortion. I think they are the gold standard," he said of Thomas and Alito, who were appointed by Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. DeSantis repeated that promise in his remarks at the Faith and Freedom conference Friday, vowing to appoint justices in the mold of Thomas and Alito and said he would stand and defend them against scurrilous attacks that youre seeing in the media and by left-wing groups." The Florida governor appeared to be referring to recent reports that Thomas and Alito accepted luxury trips from wealthy GOP donors but did not disclose them. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. In a U-turn, Wagner group fighters on Saturday returned to their field camps from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don under a deal brokered by Belarus. The deal also ensured Russia dropped charges against Wagner's chief, Prigozhin, for armed mutiny. As per the deal, Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin will move to Belarus which will bring an end to the armed mutiny led by him against the Russian military. Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko, has offered to mediate with Russian President Vladimir Putin's agreement. The criminal case that had begun against Prigozhin for armed mutiny would be dropped and the Wagner fighters who had taken part in his "march for justice" would not face any action, in recognition of their previous service to Russia, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Saturday. Kremlin spokesperson also said that the criminal case will be dropped against Prigozhin for armed mutiny because the Russian president knew him personally for more than 20 years. In a major update in Russian forces' autonomy, fighters who did not take part would enter into a contract with the Defence Ministry, which has been seeking to bring all autonomous volunteer forces under its control by July 1, reported Reuters. Key points of the mutiny deal brokered by Belarus -As per the deal, Wagner mercenary force chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, will relocate to Belarus, the Kremlin said on Saturday. -Under the deal, the criminal cases against Prigozhin, which were registered on Satturday, will be dropped. -The deal also ensured that other Wagner troops don't face any punitive action for the rebellion by Russia. -It was also confirmed by Kremlin's spokesperson that the military assault plans against Ukraine will remain unaffected by the mutiny. -After the deal, Wagner forces began to leave the city and leave the Russian military facilities, it had occupied under the rebellion. Earlier, the private military group seized Rostov's military headquarters on Saturday. Rostov's military HQ was the key to operate Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The heavily armed Wagner fighter took control of Rostov, while some of them began marching towards Moscow in a rebellion against Russia's military establishment. The deal was brokered by Belarus, and Wagner fighteres pulled out of Rostov to avoid bloodshed and de-escalate the crisis. We are urgently working to deliver more for people and the planet. Multiple shocks have strained countries ability to address hunger, poverty, and inequality; build resilience; and invest in their future. Debt vulnerabilities in low- and middle-income countries present a major hurdle to their economic recovery, and to their ability to make critical long-term investments. We are working to fight poverty and inequalities. An estimated 120 million people have been pushed into extreme poverty in the last three years and we are still far from achieving our United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We must place people at the centre of our strategy to raise human welfare everywhere on the globe. We want a system that better addresses development needs and vulnerabilities, now heightened by climate risks, which could further weaken countries ability to eliminate poverty and achieve inclusive economic growth. Climate change will generate disasters that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable. These challenges pose existential risks to societies and economies. We want our system to deliver more for the planet. The transition to a net-zero world and the Paris goals on climate change offer an opportunity to unlock a new era of sustainable global economic growth. We believe that just ecological transitions that leave no one behind can be a powerful force for alleviating poverty and supporting inclusive and sustainable development. This requires long-term investment everywhere. We are convinced that poverty reduction and protection of the planet are converging objectives. We must prioritize a just and inclusive transition to ensure that the poor and most vulnerable can fully reap the benefits of this opportunity, rather than disproportionally bearing the cost. Countries may need to pursue diverse transition paths in line with the 1.5 Celsius limit, depending on their national circumstances. There will be no transition if there is no solidarity, economic opportunity or sustainable growth to finance it. As leaders of diverse economies, we are united in our determination to forge a new global consensus. We are clear on our strategy: development and climate commitments should be fulfilled. Grants and loans at preferential rates should be prioritized in the fight against poverty; and to strengthen health, education and food security; and to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Next, long-term loans must be available to middle-income countries to bring forward sustainable investment in economic, social and physical resilience. In line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, we recognize the need to leverage all sources of finance, including official development assistance, domestic resources, and private investment. Delivering on that consensus should start with existing financial commitments. Collective climate finance targets must be met in 2023. Our total global ambition of $100 billion of voluntary contributions for countries most in need, through the rechanneling of special drawing rights or equivalent budget contributions, should also be reached. No country should have to wait years for debt relief. We need greater and more timely cooperation on debt, both for low- and middle-income countries. A top priority is to reform our system of multi-lateral development banks (MDBs). We are asking development banks to do much more with existing resources and increase financing capacity and private capital mobilization based on clear targets and strategies. These resources are essential, but this reform is about far more than money. It should deliver a more effective operational model, based on a country-led approach. MDBs need to work together as an ecosystem, closely with other public agencies and vertical funds, and, where appropriate, with philanthropists, sovereign wealth funds, private finance and civil society. Once this is done, we may consider capital increases to maximize impact and strengthen the institutional capacity of each organization. Technology, skills sustainability and public and private investment will be at the core of our partnerships to promote technology transfers and a free flow of talents, and to contribute to an inclusive, open and fair economy. We will promote an agenda of sustainable and inclusive investment in developing and emerging economies, based on local economic value added and local transformation, such as fertilizer value chains. Public finance will remain essential to achieving our goals. We should start with strengthening our instruments, like the International Development Association, IMFs Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust and Resilience and Sustainability Trust, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the Green Climate Fund, and other concessional windows of our banks, as well as the Global Shield against Climate Risks. But meeting our development and climate goals (including in the fight against hunger, poverty and inequality), adapting to climate change, and averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage, will require new, innovative and sustainable sources of finance, such as debt buy-backs, engagement from sectors that prosper thanks to globalization, and more trusted carbon- and biodiversity-credit markets. Increasing resilience through a comprehensive suite of financial instruments is a priority. We need a stronger global safety net, based on pre-arranged approaches, to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. This implies climate and other disaster-resilient deferral mechanisms, insurance nets and emergency-response financing, including a more stable financing model of humanitarian aid. Achieving our goals will also depend on scaling up private capital flows. This requires enhanced mobilization of the private sector, as promoted by the G20 Compact with Africa. This also requires improving the business environment, with common standards and adequate capacity building, and reducing perceived risks, such as in foreign-exchange and credit markets, which may require public support, as well as sharing reliable data. Overall, we must lower the cost of capital for sustainable development. Our work is about solidarity and collective action to reduce the challenges facing developing countries and to fulfil our global agenda. We will continue to press for progress, leveraging major events, including the G20 Summits in India and Brazil, the SDG Summit, and CoPs, starting with CoP-28 in the UAE this year. In all our upcoming international works and negotiations, we will seek to advance concrete actions that deliver on the promise of the SDGs for prosperity, people and the planet. project syndicate Mia Mottley of Barbados, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Charles Michel of the European Council, Olaf Scholz of Germany, Fumio Kishida of Japan, William Ruto of Kenya, Macky Sall of Senegal, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE are co-authors. Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak & Joseph Biden are, respectively, President of France, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and President of the United States of America. Prime Minister Narendra Modis historic visit to the US came at a crucial juncture. It had several strategic dimensions, with diplomatic, economic, defence and technology tie-ups, etc. It is to be viewed in the backdrop of Chinas geopolitical shenanigans, vaulting ambitions, quest to expand influence, threatening postures, and the Russia-Ukraine war. It is critical for India to acquire defence self-sufficiency, sustained indigenous deterrence and strike-weapon capabilities, while minimizing armament imports. While the role of our defence public sector enterprises is crucial, it is important to encourage and support larger private sector participation. The role of Make in India so far in achieving an Atmanirbhar Bharat, especially for Indias defence industry, MSMEs and startups has been impressive. The government is making efforts to move away from a plain buyer-seller defence relationship with the US to one involving joint research, co-development and co-production of advanced defence platforms and technologies. India has the worlds second-largest standing army, and is its largest arms importer. As per a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India is the worlds top importer of military equipment, accounting for 11% of global weapon imports. For a country as large as India with vast land frontiers and hostile neighbours, it is critical to acquire self-reliance without delay. Viewed thus, Modis historic visit last week to the US, where he was honoured as a State Guest and accorded the select privilege of addressing the US Congress a second time, acquires special strategic significance. Of historic value are defence deals designed to bolster Indian capabilities, increase strategic technology transfers and help us procure prized defence equipment. The government is encouraging private sector collaborations with foreign manufacturers for technology transfers. During the Prime Ministers visit, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd entered a pact with General Electric to manufacture jet engines in India. This technology is considered the holy grail of advanced aviation and will help India leap ahead with indigenous aircraft manufacturing. Our Defence Production and Export Promotion Policy, 2020 (DPEPP 2020), aims to achieve a turnover of 1.75 trillion, including export of 35,000 crore in aerospace and defence goods and services by 2025. In it, the private sectors role is vital. The government has placed over 400 items of defence equipment on the positive indigenization list, throwing open our defence sector to greater private investment. Several prominent Indian companies have achieved significant indigenous potential in various fields. For instance, the successful development of Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO) advanced towed artillery gun system (ATAGS) by Bharat Forge and Tata Group is testimony to Indian industrys capability in developing our own advanced weapon platforms. With a range of 48km, ATAGS is counted among the worlds best artillery guns in the 155mm/52cal category. Leveraging its experience of designing it, Pune-based Bharat Forge claims to have developed a full suite of artillery platforms. Particularly noteworthy is the companys defence subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems Ltd, having bagged major export orders for artillery guns, a first-of-its-kind achievement for any Indian private company. Similarly, L&T has invested over 8,000 crore in its defence operations to make indigenous missile systems, aerospace components and radar systems that play an important role in modern warfare. In the context of modern warfare needs, Indias private sector must focus on future technologies like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Another private player, Adani Aerospace, is developing drones and counter-drone systems. It aims to implement artificial intelligence and swarm technology in this project. The Tata Group is also collaborating with startups to create drone-based solutions. Engaging the private sector is critical for India to achieve and sustain self-reliance in defence preparedness. However, as the government is the countrys sole buyer, it is important to provide a sustained flow of orders for private investment and growth. Wider private sector participation will also encourage innovation and stimulate the growth of a robust defence industrial base, supporting MSMEs in this sector. By leveraging the synergies of the research and innovation eco-system comprising DRDO, defence public sector units, private companies, MSMEs and start-ups, the country needs to undertake a whole of nation approach towards the development of futuristic and critical systems/platforms in select domains. This will add heft to our defence preparedness. In an era of geo-political tensions, the world will need India to help with peace and stability, and also counter balance rising threats in the Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Modis visit to the US can be said to have greatly added to these efforts. Dhanendra Kumar is chairman of Competition Advisory Services, former secretary in the ministry of defence and former chairman of the Competition Commission of India. Light does not pass through the Indian maid, even though many Indians may want that. Light strikes her and is reflected back, creating one of the most inconvenient apparitions for them. That was always a property of light, but somehow there was a time, not long ago, when household helps knew how to be invisible. They would stay in the kitchen, merge with the backdrop, walk without noise, and never speak unless answering a question. But now they take breaks, talk on their phones with friends, and walk in the parks of their masters. As a result, they feature in Indias ongoing servant-master conflicts. A few days ago, a somewhat affluent residential society in Bangalore issued a statement: "Its difficult to see them (maids) hang out everywhere in the park, amphitheatre and gazebos. Residents can feel uncomfortable when being surrounded by maids everywhere we walk Cooks, carpenters, plumbers sit on the sofa at the building reception. Most of us have probably stopped sitting on the sofas by now" When this leaked, there was familiar outrage. India appears to be such a fair place on social media. Many pointed out that the maids" were human too". I find this taunt odd. The upper-class knows servants" are humans. In fact, they have problems only with humans. If, say, deer walked around their parks, amphitheatre and gazebos, and sat on their sofas, people would find it very cute. What the residential society was trying to hint at was that the poor bring down the aesthetics of a place. And because of mobile phones, they are not only seen but also heard laughing, crying, fighting, loving. They also hog the meagre private resources of a community whose country has few urban spaces of beauty to offer. This is a country where the middle-class pays a premium not for the quality of things, but to ensure other Indians are not allowed entry. The housing societys notice reflects an effort to restrict the visibility of the poor in posh colonies. Not only is the effort doomed to fail, it creates a new class of aesthetic degradationlike notices and noticeboards that ask servants and dogs" not to take the lift. Class is ugly everywhere, but unlike in the West, we in India have not figured out how to hide this ugliness. Even as Indias affluent worry about the increasing visibility of support staff, they cannot survive without them. I remember the first time I walked on Malabar Hill in Bombay, in the mid-90s. It was funny because I had heard for many years that this was the most expensive residential area in India, but the only people I saw on the streets were mostly poor men. Drivers and other kinds of attendants. This was still a time when an Anglicized elite lived on Malabar Hill, who discussed French cinema and stuff like that. Today, the gentry has left, priced out by richer people, and the human representation of its streets is even more impoverished. In the Gurgaon colony where I live, this is how the morning breaks as I go for a run. A whole slum troops in. First, scores of security guards, almost all of them migrants from poor north Indian states. Then dozens of dog-walkers arrive, almost all male and chiefly Bengali speaking. Most of them seem to despise dogs. They often drag the animals, talking to other dog-walker friends, or in the trance of their phones, or flirting with rare female dog-walkers, usually from the North East. Then, part-time maids come on their cycles, to be harassed by the guards who flirt by making life difficult for them. Drivers come in next, a group that appears the most self-assured for some mysterious reason. Most have very little work, and they linger about playing cards with other drivers, or stand on roads and peer into homes. Meanwhile, the colony invests in watering parks and creating flower beds and other such things in a futile attempt to elevate the aesthetics of the place. When I return from my run, I find a poor person squatting on the floor, mopping it. It resembles an exercise some people attempt in the park. To save myself from this sight, I have offered a long-handle" mop. I used to offer it to every new maid, until I gave up because they prefer the old way. In the kitchen, another poor person is doing something, or on the phone. I go about muttering that the only thing that happens in this house is cleaning or cooking. I feel I am living with two poor cousins. One consolation is that we dont have a permanent driver. Or that would be the third poor person whose life is filled with dying brothers and children, or debt, and other real or made-up tragedies. A strange nature of Indias affluent is that even as they worry about their support staff bringing down the aesthetics of their habitats, they do not do much to help them look any better. So we often see in malls and airports the Indian family trailed by a melancholic maid in shabby clothes. It would not cost much to groom them, but somehow we do not do that. The typical Indian house-help looks far more impoverished than, say, the Filipina maid who is a familiar sight in places like Dubai and Singapore. Recently, I came to know of a non-resident Indian couple who landed in Delhi with their Filipina maid. The whole extended family was abuzz with descriptions of the very sexy" maid, who looked" more affluent than the people she was serving. It appears that Indias support staff are chosen by a process of Darwinian selection to ensure they do not threaten their masters, who then worry about the egalitariamaiden property of light. Manu Joseph is a journalist, novelist, and the creator of the Netflix series, Decoupled Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing reception last week at the White House from US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, and later from lawmakers too, when the PM addressed a joint session of the US Congressa rare honour for a visiting leader from overseas. Modis speech on Capitol Hill got standing ovations and was applauded numerous times. The visit had the world glued for clues of how a deepening US-India engagement will influence a global order being reshaped in a century that may soon have more Asian characteristics than American. Biden has framed todays global challenge as one of democracy versus autocracy. In ignoring, at least publicly, 75 fellow Democrats who called on him to raise Indias human rights record with Modi, the US leader made it clear that Washington had a long-term prism for a strategic partnership" which is set for an upshift that could tilt outcomes in our mutual interest. Away, that is, from Chinas, whose autocracy got a pointed mention from Biden on the eve of Modis visit and explains why democracy was its theme music. Both leaders being up for re-election in 2024 gave it the stamp of a favourable political calculus, too. Even former President Barack Obamas reference in a TV interview to minority rights in India was packaged as friendly advice on national unity. For an emergent India to act as what US strategists call a swing state" in the Indo-Pacific, friction had to be kept minimal and the regional balance of arms adjusted accordingly. Notably, while China is a common threat, New Delhis ties with Russia did not get in the way. Indian purchases of Russian oil mitigated the Ukraine wars economic impact, after all, while our defiant deal with Moscow for S-400 anti-missile firepower in the face of US sanctions may have upped the ante in a global market for weaponry where India is the biggest buyer. Even as hostilities in Europe revived Americas Cold Warrior frame of reference, a no limits" clasp between Russia and China lent urgency to securing the Indo-Pacific, where tension has mounted over Beijings designs on Taiwan. Meanwhile, Ukraines stout resistance to Russianow facing a mercenary crisiscould be decoded as a wonder of US backing in an age of warfare aided by live data. It is no big wonder India and America are now in a close embrace. That hesitations belong to history has been obvious for quite a while. Commerce is entwined in the relationship not just for its own gains, but also for a mutually consonant geo-strategic agenda to be served. Indias economic rise would be in Americas interest just as much as US leadership of technology enablers and global affairs would be in ours. For the partnership to endure and gain, this reality must not be lost in noise over Indias neutrality on the world stage and refusal to be bound by a Nato-like blocbest taken as a signal of sovereignty. Durable ties draw strength from principles, as both countries have underlined. Yet, while early stirrings of Cold War II may be upon us, globally, US support for free trade and open markets has wobbled in a way that does not bode well, going by what unfolded in the first half of the previous century. Sure, India would welcome a smoother path for exports to the US, with bilateral trade disputes speedily resolved, not to speak of business gains from fraught Sino-US ties. All the same, both must eschew zero-sum formulations that leave the world worse off or endanger peace. South Korean consumer electronics brand Samsung is gearing up to expand its M series smartphone range in India. The company has started teasing the launch of Samsung Galaxy M34 5G in the country as the devices landing page has emerged on Amazon. As per the Amazon webpage, Galaxy M34 5G will equipped with a three camera setup on the back. One can also see a fingerprint scanner mounted on the power button of the phone. The page does not reveal the launch date of Samsung Galaxy M34 5G, but mentions that it is coming soon. Other than this, it does not reveal any other information. Separately, alleged features of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy M34 5G have been shared by tipster Abhishek Yadav. Heres what the handset may offer Samsung Galaxy M34 5G is rumorued to come equipped with a 6.6-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display. The phones screen may offer a refresh rate of 120Hz. The handset is tipped to run on Android 13 operating system based OneUI. Further, the handset may feature a waterdrop-style cutout at the front to house the selfie camera. Samsung Galaxy M34 5G may be powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC. for camera duties, the phone may have a 48MP primary camera at the back. It is said to be paired with an 8MP secondary sensor and a 5MP third sensor. For selfies and video calls, the phone is said to include a 13MP camera at the front. Samsung Galaxy M34 5G could weigh 199 grams and may measure 199 grams. The device is tipped to house a 5,000mAh battery and may offer 25watt fast charging support. The handset may offer Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 5 as connectivity options. Recently, support page of the handset was spotted on Samsung India website with the model number SM-M346B/DS, hinting at the devices imminent launch. SALT LAKE CITY On some parts of the Navajo Nation, where roughly a third of the people lack reliable access to clean water, people have to drive for miles on red dirt roads to lug water home. Others rely on unregulated wells or water delivery trucks. Already facing some of the most severe water scarcity in the drought-stricken Southwest, the tribe now has to deal with a Supreme Court ruling this week that will make securing water even harder for the 170,000 enrolled tribal members who live on its reservation. I know the battle and the strategy moving ahead is going to be a lot more difficult, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren told The Associated Press. The tribe argued that the permanent home promised in treaties the U.S. government signed more than 150 years ago includes a right to some of the water crossing the reservation. The question before the court was whether the federal government had to quantify the tribes water needs and come up with a plan to meet them. Two decades after the Navajo Nation sued the federal government to force them to act, their frustrating, meandering journey through the federal courts ended with the 5-4 decision authored by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, saying an 1868 treaty contains no language imposing a duty on the United States to take affirmative steps to secure water for the Tribe. The decision is a win for states that rely on the Colorado River, which cascades down from the Rocky Mountains through southwestern U.S. deserts. So much water is siphoned off that it rarely reaches Mexico's Gulf of California anymore. The ruling maintains the status quo in already difficult negotiations brokered by the Biden administration over how to share the rivers shrinking flows. Arizona joined by Nevada and Colorado argued that requiring them to accommodate the Navajo Nations water needs would upend future negotiations over water for 40 million people and a $15 billion-a-year agricultural industry that grows most of the nations winter vegetables. But it leaves the tribe at a serious disadvantage. Where do the Navajo go from here? Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the dissent. They have waited patiently for someone, anyone, to help them, only to be told (repeatedly) that they have been standing in the wrong line and must try another. As a result of the ruling, if the Navajo Nation wants access to water from the lower Colorado River, Congress must act or the tribe needs to ask the Supreme Court to reopen a prior case that allocated water between states, said attorney Rita McGuire, who represented southwestern states that opposed the tribe. Were very pleased, she said. Gorsuch found one "silver lining," writing that the majority did agree that the Navajo Nation may be able to assert such a claim. After today, it is hard to see how this Court (or any court) could ever again fairly deny a request from the Navajo to intervene in litigation over the Colorado River, he wrote. This case was just one of many legal challenges to agreements over water rights established more than a century ago. The Navajo Nation and other tribes were left out of a landmark 1922 treaty that divided the Colorado River between seven U.S. states, and have long protested that states treat them as an afterthought at a time when all the stakeholders face a future with less water and greater demand. The National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp said the justices helped the federal government escape its promises to tribes by stating that treaties only secure access to water, but do not require the United States to take any steps to protect or provide that water to our people. Kavanaugh said Congress could still help the Navajo Nation. Congress has allocated billions to help tribes secure water rights and build infrastructure to reliably deliver clean water to their people. But Congress is unlikely to help the tribe, according to Grant Christensen, an Indian law expert at Stetson University. Theres not enough water now, Christensen said. Congress isnt going to take further steps to go ahead and secure Indian water rights away from the neighboring states. And supplying water across the Navajo reservation is particularly challenging because of its arid environment and the great distances involved its the largest in the U.S. at 27,000 square-miles an area larger than West Virginia. The Navajo Nation has already reached settlements for water from the San Juan River in New Mexico and Utah. Now it will focus on settling water rights over a Colorado River tributary in Arizona while that case proceeds in court, Nygren said. It's a familiar position for tribes, said Heather Tanana, a University of Utah law professor and citizen of the Navajo Nation. No ones contesting that Navajo Nation has those rights to water, she said. But in order to actually make them a reality, theyre on their own. When I told friends and family I was reporting on the first chicken meat grown from animal cells, their first comment was "Eww." Their second comment was: "How does it taste?" The short answer (you've probably heard this sentence before in other contexts): Tastes like chicken. The longer answer, which folds in the "Eww" response, is more nuanced. Yes, it's strange to think of eating a totally new kind of meat chicken that doesn't come from a chicken, meat that will be sold as "cell-cultivated" chicken after the U.S. Agriculture Department on Wednesday gave the green light to two California firms, Upside Foods and Good Meat. But it's also interesting (and exciting!) to taste test the first offerings of a new era in meat production, which aims to eliminate harm to billions of animals slaughtered for food and to dramatically reduce the environmental effects of grazing, growing feed for those animals and dealing with their animal waste. FACING UP TO THE 'MEAT PARADOX' I'm a lifelong meat eater. I'm also a victim of the "meat paradox," a term scientists use to describe the psychological conflict that occurs in people who like to eat meat but don't like to contemplate the animals that died providing it. As someone who has reported on food-borne illness outbreaks and slaughterhouse safety, I'm keenly aware that the chicken on my dinner plate probably suffered to get there. And that fact makes me uneasy if I dwell on it too much. So I was open to trying a different kind of meat and also curious to see if it would taste like the real thing. I've tried plant-based options like the Beyond Meat sausage and the Impossible Burger and liked them, even though I didn't think they were perfect substitutes. To be honest, the Beyond Meat sausage tasted good, but a little mealy. And the Impossible Burger was dry, although I may have cooked it too long. In both cases, I enjoyed the taste of the products but was still aware that I wasn't actually eating pork or beef. What about the artificiality of it all? It didn't bother me that this new cultivated meat is made from cells that grow to epic proportions in big steel vats, only to be shaped and formed "extruded" is the somewhat unfortunate verb that came to mind into familiar cutlets, filets and nuggets that would look right at home on the dinner table. But as with all food, in the end it would come down to taste. And in this case, to the larger question behind it: Is this new material in fact chicken, or is it an impostor? TIME FOR THE ALL-IMPORTANT MOUTH TEST In January, I traveled to the Upside Foods manufacturing plant in Emeryville, California. There, chef Jess Weaver sauteed a cultivated chicken breast in a white wine butter sauce with tomatoes, capers and green onions. The aroma was enticing, just like any filet cooked in butter would be. And the taste was light and delicate with a tender texture, just like any chicken breast I'd make at home if, that is, I were a chef trained at the Culinary Institute of America. Last week, I visited the Alameda, California, plant where Good Meat is poised to begin production of its chicken products. Chef Zach Tyndall was ready with a smoked chicken salad with mayonnaise, golden raisins and walnuts. He followed it with a chicken "thigh" dish darker meat served on a bed of potato puree with a mushroom-vegetable demi-glace, golden beets and tiny purple cauliflower florets. The taste was richer than a chicken breast, more like the dark meat of a thigh. And the texture was both tender and chewy, like a well-cooked chicken thigh should be. That, says Tyndall, is the whole point. "It needs to be as lifelike as possible for it to catch on," he said. While "lifelike" is an interesting word, from my side of the fork I think this will catch on. There are still huge hurdles how to scale up manufacturing and pare back costs, experts say, and the lingering question of whether chicken without the bird is, in fact, chicken but if you're basing it on authentic taste, I'll leave you with this: Please pass the "chicken." ___ The top 10 fast-food restaurants for customer satisfaction 1. Chick-fil-A 2. Jimmy John's 3. Domino's 4. KFC 5. Chipotle 6. Panera Bread 7. Pizza Hut 8. Starbucks 9. Arbys 10. Five Guys Open house at the St. Jude Dream Home for those who were part of the construction and design Nearly 1,000 accidental 911 calls were made last week during Bonnaroo, many coming from iPhones An application by Ulster Bank to progress with a number of alterations to their former premises on Longford town's Main Street has been approved by Longford County Council planners. The plans were held up earlier this year when planners said the initial submission was an incomplete application. Planning permission was sought to carry out external and internal works at the Longford town bank premises. The Ulster Bank branch in Longford town officially closed its doors back on April 21. The approved plans includes the removal of the outdoor ATM which will be in-filled with stone to match the existing wall. The bank's permission allows for the removal of blue lettering and signage from the facade of the building. The remaining aspects of the planned works include the removal of ATMs in stud walls, loose furniture and merchandise on all floors. The application was made in April of this year, with the decision reached last week. The planning office received just one submission on the application, from local architect Liam Madden. Mr Madden had issue with what he saw as a number of errors in the original application. Included in his submission was that the designated address of 54 Main Street, Deanscurragh, Longford was incorrect. The James Bell designed building is 160 years on Main Street. The Main Street branch was built in 1863. Its facade is ashlar limestone with the beautiful carved sandstone Riverine heads as keystones to the ground floor window. The local authority planners agreed to the proposed development subject to five conditions. There was genuine regret in the parish and wider area at the news of the death of John Dowd. John who had been ill for only a short time passed away peacefully at Cavan General Hospital on Wednesday, May 24. John was born on April 4 1936 in Killycasson, Loughduff to parents John & Julia (Masterson) Dowd and along with his older brother Kevin helped out on the family farm. Sadly his mother passed away when he was only 10 and his father just two years later. This was a severe blow to the two boys but their uncle Brian was a steady hand when needed. In his young days John spent some time in England, returning home later to marry his sweetheart and near neighbour Anne (Baby) Sheridan. Following another spell in England they returned home with their son Sean and settled down in Killycasson and later son Vivian and daughter Gemma arrived to complete the family. With farming in his blood John built up the farm with great skill and taste. A forward thinking and enterprising man he set up a business as an agricultural contractor and when turf-cutting machines became popular in the 70s John readily took on this challenge too. A highly respected member of the local community John was a man of many talents, well read and softly spoken he could relate tales to enthral, he had a great grasp of history and could go back with ease to the penal times. Indeed it could be said that he was a historian at heart. He regularly contributed historical articles for local publications and one The Ulster Plantation and the Connolly Family received widespread acclaim. He had great rapport with Fr Owen Devaney, former parish priest who was also like- minded. Locally John founded the Mullahoran Heritage Society in 2005 as a result of his knowledge of and interest in local and Irish history. He spearheaded numerous historical projects as the chairman of the society, including the Middletown and Drumhowna Dolmens' surroundings' restoration. John had a knack of presenting a story that captivated the listener and his local historical knowledge goes back to the 1600s. His expertise in history will be greatly missed. An ardent GAA supporter he was a former chairman of the minor board and was also a county board delegate for many years. He was especially proud when his sons Sean and Vivian took to the field, sadly Vivians death in 2004 was a great blow to John and indeed to the whole family, however a strong faith and the support of his extended family and community helped them cope with this great loss. Indeed the untimely death of Dr Vivian aged only 37, who was an integral part of the local and county teams in the 80s/90s, sent shock waves throughout the local and wider communities at the loss of this inspirational sportsman who was hailed as one of our local heroes.. John had a great love of traditional Irish music and song and when the GAA launched Scor, promoting the cultural side of Irish life, John along with Anne readily became involved and remained as one of its kingpins until recently, welcoming groups from Clubs not only from Cavan but all over Ulster. A favourite ballad of his was The Green Fields Round Ferbane which he would sing with great gusto. John took a great interest in all community affairs and was very active when the new Central school was being erected which was a watershed in the parish replacing the 3 existing old schools and which was the cause of much debate and controversy. He presided over several parish councils and took a great interest in the politics of the day. A staunch republican he was greatly influenced by local Sinn Fein T D Caoimhghin O Caolain attending meetings over a wide area and taking part in the rancour and debate that followed. He loved a ceili and chat in the neighbouring houses and could keep track of family connections and relations at home and abroad many generations back. A good neighbour in times of trouble or a meitei, John was always available no matter how busy he was. When the carnivals and dances were all the go John and Anne were a familiar sight as they took the floor regularly winning old waltz competitions. John Dowd was a man in his own right, tall in stature and strong in faith, a family man with a quiet relaxed manner whose presence will be greatly missed. John was predeceased by his brother Kevin just over a year ago. To his wife Anne, Sean and Gemma, daughters in law; Maeve and Cathy, sister-in-law Breda, his treasured grandchildren; Sean Jr, Kirsten, David, Nathan, Aaron, Amy, Sarah, Cameron, Dylan and Vivienne, and extended family members we offer our condolences. Johns funeral mass was celebrated in St Josephs church, Loughduff on Sunday, May 28 and there was a poignant moment as a song he composed By the Banks of the River Erne' was sung, and then he was laid to rest in the local cemetery. Solas na bhFlaitheas da anam uasal. Nature & Weather By Ls Cohen Published: June 25 2023 2023 Long Island Sound Beach Report released on June 21. A biennial report released by Save the Sound, an organization that leads environmental action in the Long Island Sound region, offered generally positive news for swimmers and beachgoers, noting that 78% of the Long Island Sound beaches monitored earned A or B grades for water quality. Nine of the top ten beaches in New York on the Long Island Sound were in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Four were in Southold, one in Brookhaven, three in Oyster Bay and one in Smithtown. A far cry from decades past when people were not comfortable swimming in the Sound the 2023 Long Island Sound Beach Report demonstrates that water quality at most swimming beaches in the Sound is good to excellent in respect to safe swimming, the organization said in a statement. On the flip side, the report revealed that rain events over the past three years have triggered an increasing number of beach sample failures. The overall failure rate of beachsamples was nearly three times as high in wet weather than in dry weather, an even greater disparity than monitored in the 2021 Beach Report. Beach closures and failures after rain events (often the day after rainfall ends, sometimes lasting several days) are concerning for several reasons: First , elevated levels of fecal contamination after rain can often indicate untreated sewage has made its way into a system of pipes only designed for stormwater Second , beaches with abundant wet weather failures have large swaths of impervious surfaces (e.g. roads, roofs, parking lots) that are leading to high volumes of stormwater flow to beaches Third, rainfall intensity and frequency are increasing due to climate change, raising the stakes. From 2020 to 2022, the region experienced the most rain during a three-year period that has been recorded in a decade Save the Sound encouraged investments towards improving local stormwater systems to help preserve water quality. Save the Sound has created a dedicated website, which features interactive maps listing beach water quality at all 207 monitored beaches, and from which the full Beach Report can be downloaded. The site also features a beach access section including information on which beaches offer public access, fees, the location of kayak and canoe entry ramps, and more useful information. The site highlights two decades of water quality data for Long Island Sound. Learn more at www.savethesound.org. Mayor Bill Cole delivers remarks during the headstone rededication and commemoration ceremony for Civil War Lt. James F. Rowe at Mountview Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. Rowe is recognized as one of the first Union soldiers wounded in the Civil War. The Civil War officer was born in Baltimore on Apr. 19, 1861, and later died in Billings in 1891 of a gunshot wound. According to a March 26, 1891, article in the Billings Gazette, Rowe was shot following an argument with a roommate over a $6 grocery bill. The Montana Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and American Legion Post No. 4 along with family and friends from Michigan, California and Utah gathered to pay their respects on Saturday. Jaime Martinez is the new mayor of Palma. To him, as he has said, falls the burden of responsibility for Spain's eighth largest city in terms of population. A one-time Balearic tourism minister, he will head a Partido Popular administration that will govern Palma in minority. In reference to Vox, he insists that he hasn't excluded anyone from the administration. "What I have done is to comply with what I said during the campaign, which was that if I had a sufficiently large majority, and the left did not have enough to govern, I would do so in minority. I don't know why anyone should be surprised that I have done what I promised." Other promises include getting tough on security, vandalism, antisocial behaviour, cleanliness and scooters. "We will need as much support as possible from the local police. One of my first visits as mayor has been to the San Fernando headquarters to give my full support to the force and to learn what is needed so that objectives can be met. When we talk about getting tough, we are talking about enforcing the rules. But to do that we must have police presence and control." Crash plans that the mayor intends include one for graffiti. The new councillor responsible for the Emaya municipal services agency has been asked to develop a strategy to eliminate graffiti from the city. "At the same time, we must amend ordinance and toughen sanctions. A clean-up crash plan is needed to reverse the current image of the city. There has been inertia and neglect. It is difficult to tackle some things immediately - such as cleanliness, squatting and abandoned cars - so the first thing we have to do is slow down the dynamics and then improve. All of this has to be done through ordinance and enforcement. Last year, Palma was the third dirtiest city in Spain, and the previous administration has now managed to make us the first. Stopping this dynamic is obviously complex, but we have already started." Asked if he has declared war on scooters, he is very clear. "Absolutely. What is certain is that pedestrians cannot coexist with bicycles and scooters; they are incompatible. These vehicles cannot be allowed on pavements. They need segregated lanes, so that will entail studying technical alternatives. You have to find a balance and, through the municipal mobility plan, ensure that those who ride a bike or scooter can circulate in the best way and have an adequate network of lanes." In his view, the previous administration was announcing mobility measures without endorsement by technical reports compiled by people who know their subject. A key issue for the mayor is the lack of affordable housing. For him, the housing problem is structural. Crucial for tackling it will be the investiture of Marga Prohens as president of the Balearic government, so that she can approve a decree law on urgent housing measures that has been worked on in recent months. "I will need this legal tool in order to, among other things, facilitate public-private cooperation to create housing for affordable rent, enable change of use, and provide incentives for housing development without consuming more land. There is a range of proposals aimed at a rapid implementation of solutions, including providing legal certainty to owners of empty homes so that these can enter the rental market. We have to ensure that owners are paid the monthly rents and to establish incentives. Anyone who joins this programme will have a cap on the rental price so as to make the property affordable. But we will do this through incentive, not obligation. We will not force anyone to rent a property at a given price. It will be voluntary and with incentives." Among other issues is the tram project. Martinez said during the election campaign that he didn't want the tram system as it has been planned. The Spanish government has promised 185 million euros, and he will demand this investment for Palma's mobility. "But not for a tram that would create more problems in areas through which it would pass. My proposal is to allocate that money to electrify the EMT bus fleet. A tram is a fixed structure, and that is from the last century. We have to address frequencies and bus routes so as to improve the service. The tram, as it has been presented, would double the time it takes to get to the airport, so we would not be improving public transport. And if 4,500 parking spaces were to be eliminated, we would not be improving mobility either." Police are investigating after three people were found dead in a home in Newton Sunday morning, the Middlesex District Attorney said. At 10:14 a.m., Newton Police Department responded to a home on Broadway Street, where they found three elderly people dead in what was described as an apparent homicide in a press release. BOSTON As she prepares for her first trade trip as governor, Gov. Maura Healey got a jumpstart on travel this week by circumnavigating the Legislature. Supporters of overhauling and modernizing the states dusty sex ed curriculum last updated 24 years ago have tried for years to get a bill through the House of Representatives. The legislative push to update the states sex ed guidelines is so old, (state) Rep. Katherine Clark was backing it before she started in the state Senate, which was before she won a seat in the U.S. House, where shes now in senior leadership of the Democratic caucus. Its a bill that always gets a lot of cosponsors but never gets over the finish line. The Senates passed it term after term after term, and last session it was cosponsored by around 70 representatives. But as one of its chief proponents, state Rep. Jim ODay, said during a lobbying push in 2018, some of his colleagues were still skittish about legislating in the area of what school instructors teach kids about sex. And the Globes editorial board opined a couple years ago that too many grown-ups on Beacon Hill have heard the words sex education and headed for the exits as if it were a fire drill. The House doesnt have to talk about sex now. In an end-run around the Legislature, Healeys trying to accomplish much of the same substance through a regulatory framework that just needs approval from the state Education Board, which could vote next week to open a 60-day public comment period. The framework wouldnt be a diktat to towns and cities. However, if approved by the board, local districts would need to follow this framework if they offer sex ed. For older students, the lessons deal with sex, romantic relationships, gender identity, and substance use. Curriculum for younger kids would be aimed at lessons like healthy eating, gender-role stereotypes, responding to emergencies, and personal cleanliness. Senate President Karen Spilka was there for Healeys big announcement Wednesday, along with a couple members of House Speaker Ron Marianos leadership team, but not the big man himself. Mariano had a scheduling conflict, his office said. Healey made a lot of news last week, and one wonders to what extent her office pushed out such a burst of headlines to make up for her week-long absence from the Bay State. Healeys three-pronged voyage to the Emerald Isle will feature several commerce-related events along with a speech to the Seanad Eireann (thats the Irish Senate) marking the 30th anniversary of the republics decriminalization of homosexuality, and a reception for the 60th anniversary of President John Kennedys Irish homecoming trip. A posse of officials will join her overseas between Sunday and Friday, including her energy and environmental affairs secretary, economic development secretary, the president of UMass, and heads of the MassTech Collaborative and Mass. Competitive Partnership. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll will stick around in Massachusetts as acting governor. Capital investments On Thursday, Healey laid out an annual update of the states capital plan, a roadmap to spending $14 billion over the next five fiscal years on infrastructure like roads, housing, and climate projects. A $1.5 billion slice of the plan directed at housing which the governor has identified as a priority includes $97 million for a new HousingWorks grant program that aspires to generate up to 300 new housing units every year. The plan also calls for $840 million to fix up public higher ed campuses, $307 million to relocate the old Shattuck Hospital from Jamaica Plain to the South End, and a $262 million contribution toward the federal governments efforts to replace the Bourne and Sagamore bridges to Cape Cod. More immediate than some of that far-off capital spending is the life-and-death concern of the opioid crisis, which was underscored by new opioid death data published by the Department of Public Health. Massachusetts saw 2,357 fatal and estimated opioid overdoses in 2022. Thats a fatality rate of 33.5 per 100,000 Bay Staters, and the new record spike is 9.1 percent more than in 2016. The latest numbers also marked seven years in a row that Massachusetts has seen more than 2,000 opioid overdose deaths. The fresh evidence of the still-raging opioid epidemic prompted the Healey administration to have the government take another look at feasibility of supervised drug-use sites, along with plans to create a statewide overdose prevention hotline and an order for DPH to come up with some kind of comprehensive plan for stopping the climbing death toll. The drug sites are known by many names, with terminology ranging from safe injection to harm reduction. The concept is to limit potential risk of overdose with supervision from medical professionals. While packing for Ireland, Healey also prepared for the Legislature to again miss its deadline on the state budget. She filed a miniature $6.66 billion spending plan that the House and Senate can use as a stopgap to keep the governments lights on and payrolls funded during July if they fail to reach a budget deal before the calendar flips to July 1. Fiscal new years is on a Friday night this year. Nearly six months into the term (thats a quarter of the entire session and about a third of the time allotted for formal sessions), lawmakers on Thursday just sent their 18th bill to Healeys desk. Most of those 18 are low-stakes matters dealing with a particular town or individual state employee, and the latest would authorize a sixth liquor store in Mansfield. But the Eagle Tribune had a nice story this week of how those tiny bills can have a big local impact. The paper chronicled how a court officer from North Andover is now realizing his lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter, thanks to a custom-tailored piece of legislation from last year. The bill exempted Marcel Cuffy from the maximum age requirement to get on the department. Cuffy knows how it works here, now. He told the paper that [w]hen it goes to the House and the Senate, that can take some time but credited district Rep. Christina Minicucci with helping get it through the slow-moving cogs of Beacon Hill. The body of an East Longmeadow man who went missing after his canoe capsized at Hampton Ponds State Park on Wednesday has been found, according to Massachusetts State Police. The body of the 20-year-old unidentified man was found by professional bass fisherman Mario Santaniello, who volunteered to use his sonar equipment to assist the search, according to a press release from the Westfield Fire Department. Santaniello found what he believed to be the body using sonar and dropped a marker at the location, about 50 yards from the point where the canoe capsized. The body surfaced on its own a short time later and was recovered just before 11 a.m., police said. On behalf of the Westfield Fire Department and all our partner agencies, I want to express our deepest condolences to this young mans family, Westfield Fire Chief Patrick Egloff said in a statement. This is a very sad day, but I hope they can take some comfort in the knowledge that people from across Western Massachusetts supported the efforts to find their loved one. Read more: Day 3 of search concludes without missing East Longmeadow man at Hampton Ponds Police had previously searched the location where the body was found earlier in the week, authorities said, but had encountered low visibility, heavy vegetation and logs at the bottom of the pond. The man was with two other men in the canoe when it capsized. Both of the other passengers made it to shore, and one was brought to the hospital with minor injuries. A train trestle over the Yellowstone River collapsed early Saturday morning sending a passing freight train into the Yellowstone River. The trestle is about five miles east of Reed Point and collapsed at about 6:45 a.m., said Stillwater County emergency officials. At least eight tanker cars from the Montana Rail Link train plunged into the river along with twisted railroad tracks, steel beams and concrete from the trestle. No injuries were caused by the collapse, said emergency officials. Several of the tanker cars ruptured on impact sending molten sulfur and asphalt into the river. "Both substances solidify rapidly when exposed to cooler temperatures," said Montana Rail Link in a statement Saturday. Sulfur is a common ingredient in detergents, fungicides and fertilizers. It is shipped in a molten state to prevent it from crystallizing, which would make it difficult to load and unload. Several other tanker cars were also carrying toxic petroleum products, but apparently didn't spill, said Stillwater County Emergency Services Director David Stamey. How much of the contents of the burst tankers were discharged into the river hasn't yet been determined, he said. Montana Rail Link hazardous materials crews were onsite Saturday afternoon assessing the damage and contamination. At least two tanker cars involved in the crash were carrying hydro sulfate, MRL said. "Neither of these cars have entered the water and initial air quality assessments have been performed and confirmed that there is no release associated with the two cars," the railroad said. The train was traveling westbound when it derailed while on the bridge. "The present focus of operation is safely responding to the emergency, controlling all releases and mitigating impacts," the railroad said. "MRL will work with local, state and federal partners to assess impacts to natural resources and to develop appropriate cleanup, removal and restoration efforts." On an offramp from Interstate 90 near the crash site, a long line of trucks carrying heavy equipment was staging Saturday to help clear the trestle and the train cars from the river. It's unclear what caused the bridge to collapse. The wreckage from the fallen train and bridge is so mangled, and much of it now underwater, that it will take a lengthy investigation to determine what failed, said investigators at the scene. Water-users along the river have been encouraged to shut off their flood gates and public access locations along the river have been closed. Because of the high volume of water and swift current in the run-off swollen river, trapping the contaminants with a boom across the river was impossible, said Columbus Fire Rich Cowger. But, the high water is also helping to dilute and disperse the chemicals, he added. "The chemicals will be fairly benign with the river as high as it is," Cowger said. The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office said early Saturday morning there was no immediate threat to the county. Water treatment plants, irrigation districts, and industrial companies are taking appropriate precautions, officials said. In Billings, Public Works Director Debi Meling said she expects the chemicals that washed into the river would pass through the city at about 8 p.m. City workers planned to test the water upstream to determine what may have spilled in the river and when exactly it would pass through Billings, Meling said. "Out of a super, extreme, amount of caution, we may shut down the water treatment plant briefly just to make sure whatever it is has passed us," she said. The city has enough treated water in storage to last the city 12 to 18 hours, she said. The Yellowstone River remains closed to boat traffic until the crash is cleared. On Saturday morning, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks officials also closed the Stillwater River from White Bird Fishing Access Site to the confluence with the Yellowstone River. From Twin Bridges Road to Buffalo Mirage FAS, the public should avoid the water due to potential contaminants, FWP said. This story will be updated The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting its highest-level investigation, working together with other international agencies, following the discovery of the wreckage of the Titan submersible on Thursday. At a press conference in Boston Sunday afternoon, Captain Jason Neubauer explained that the Coast Guard officially convened a Marine Board of Investigation, commonly known as an MBI, on June 23, the day after the wreckage was discovered. Neubauer will serve as chief investigator on the MBI. I want to express my deepest condolences to the loved ones of the five individuals who perished in this tragic incident, Neubauer said. As a senior investigator, Ive witnessed the personal impacts associated with these types of events, and my primary goal is to prevent a similar occurrence by making the necessary recommendations to enhance the safety of the maritime domain worldwide. The MBI is currently in its initial evidence collection phase, Neubauer said, which will include salvaging what can be found from the wreckage site and collecting evidence at the Port of St. Johns, Newfoundland, in Canada, and conducting interviews with people involved. After the evidence collection phase, the MBI will typically hold a formal public hearing to gather witness testimony. During the course of the MBI, the board will first and primarily work to determine the cause of this marine casualty and the five associated deaths, Neubauer said. The MBI, however, is also responsible for accountability aspects of the incident, and it can make recommendations to the proper authorities to pursue civil or criminal sanctions as necessary. Any subsequent enforcement would involve a separate investigation, he added. The MBI is working with other agencies including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, Canadian Transportation Safety Board, French Marine Casualties Investigation Board, and the United Kingdom Marine Accident Investigation Branch. Rear Admiral John Mauger declined to say how much the search and rescue and investigation efforts cost. The Coast Guard doesnt charge for search and rescue, nor do we associate a cost with human life. We always answer the call, Mauger said. We conduct disciplined operations with warranted risk to put our resources and our lives at risk to save others. Thats who we are. Mauger said the search and rescue operations covered approximately 13,000 square miles before the submersible was found. Neubauer could not give an estimate of how long the investigation will take. A Massachusetts State Police trooper was injured Sunday morning when they were hit by a vehicle while responding to another crash. According to a press release, the trooper responded to a crash on Rte. 93 north in Milton between exits 3 and 4 at about 3:15 a.m. While the trooper was standing outside his cruiser on the scene, an approaching vehicle hit him, injuring him. The trooper was brought to a Boston hospital for treatment of serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. Three lanes of the highway were closed during an investigation, with only the breakdown lane open. This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face every time they leave home and assume their role as public safety professionals, State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr. said in a statement. The LGBTQ+ community isnt going anywhere. That was the message attendees and organizers at Small Town Pride in North Brookfield had for opponents Saturday. Neither the continued community opposition, including a group of protestors at the event, nor a day of rain showers could throw a wet blanket on the spirits of the celebration. For Samson Michael Melendez, LGBTQ+ people maintaining visibility is the key to dispelling bigotry. I thought it was very empowering for the community as a whole to gather and make inclusive spaces for an intergenerational focus on the LGBTQ+ community, Melendez said. Recent weeks have featured continued opposition both from North Brookfields selectmen and in failed petitions from community members, much of which centered on the events drag performance. The town initially approved the event, rescinded its approval then approved the event without a drag show, before the ACLU stepped in threatening legal action. The town then said there was no permit needed for the event. This opposition really came out of a political platform trying to gain movement and momentum under fear, under bigotry, under misunderstanding, Melendez said. Gav D., another attendee at the event, said they tend to see hatred come in waves, often as backlash to significant gains for LGBTQ+ people. When I was younger the events were a lot harder to put on and you would have never seen it in a town like this, they said. I really think its important that we showed up today. People that are growing up in small towns that are queer, trans, anything like that, can see that they have some future. Rob Orpilla, one of the events organizers, said a group of protestors he estimated at 10 to 20 showed up to oppose the event, but a group carrying rainbow umbrellas kept them out of sight until they left when rain became heavy. Read More: 2023 Pride roundup in Western Massachusetts Their numbers were dwarfed by the estimated 250 who attended the celebration, Orpilla said. Among the participants was U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, who tweeted photos and words of support from Saturdays event. Im thankful for the community in North Brookfield who rallied together for Pride celebrations to go on as planned. Free expression includes drag and it should be protected and valued like any other art form, McGoverns tweet said. North Brookfield Police Chief Mark Smith said officers were stationed at the event in positions to be able to handle any threats but not to dampen the spirit of what it is. He said there were no arrests or incidents. Everything went very well, he said, including the drag show, despite the rain causing schedule changes. Im thankful for the community in North Brookfield who rallied together for Pride celebrations to go on as planned. Free expression includes drag and it should be protected and valued like any other art form. pic.twitter.com/6wkMn0IcxH Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) June 24, 2023 Orpilla said he hopes through continued experience with the visible LGBTQ+ community, some of those who have opposed Pride events can gain a better understanding of the people theyre setting themselves against. Not only do these events get bigger every year, but people get more educated on what these communities are really like, Orpilla said, adding he plans to bring the events to other nearby small towns and eventually help towns learn how to plan and hold their own events. The more exposure they get to things the more people can learn, and adapt and understand each other. Melendez said he hopes to show protestors that inclusion includes everybody. I would personally be the first to invite them to pride, and the first drink would be on me. The message, Melendez said, is that we exist and we have existed. We go to the grocery store We pay our taxes. We have contributed to our community in the same way that other folks have. Were just looking for the same basic human rights, for health care, to be able to go to work, live. SPRINGFIELD Two people were killed and two injured in separate shootings Saturday evening in the troubled neighborhood near High and Union streets. The two shootings took place less than two hours apart and about a block from each other. Police Department Spokesman Ryan Walsh said they are not believed to be related. The first occurred at 7:45 p.m. near 100 Spring Street. Police were alerted to the gunfire through the ShotSpotter system and arrived to find two men had been wounded in the shooting. They were taken to Baystate Medical Center by ambulance where one victim died. The second is recovering from his injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening, Walsh said. Police returned to the area after being alerted by a second ShotSpotter activation. They found two men suffering gunshot wounds at about 9:20 p.m. near the intersection of Temple and School streets. The victims were also taken to Baystate Medical Center and one died at the hospital. The second man suffered injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, Walsh said. The Springfields Homicide Unit under the direction of Capt. Trent Duda is investigating both crimes with the assistance of the Murder Unit attached to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gullunis office, Walsh said. The neighborhood has come under police scrutiny over the past three weeks following a June 7 double homicide on Union Street, which left Alexander Rodriguez, 19, and Khidhr Moultrie, 40, dead. Adrian Perez, 19, has been charged in Moultries death while the Rodriguezs homicide remains under investigation. Following the double homicide, local and state police converged on the area in an effort to crack down on illegal guns, drug dealing and prostitution. In eight days, they made 44 arrests and seized 14 firearms, including four ghost guns. On Friday, the day before the shootings, the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit seized a loaded gun on Temple Street and arrested three people who are suspects in a June 11 carjacking, Walsh said. Anyone with information or with home video connected to either homicide is urged to contact police at 413-787-6355. People can anonymously Text-A-Tip by texting CRIMES (2-7-4-6-3-7) and then typing solve followed by the tip, Walsh said. Police are investigating after two people were shot and killed in Braintree early Sunday morning, authorities say. According to a press release from the Braintree Police Department, multiple 911 callers at about 1:30 a.m. reported hearing multiple gunshots on Alfred Road. Read more: Hazmat team called into Springfield Postal Service distribution center At the scene, officers found two people who had been shot inside a parked vehicle. Both victims were brought to a nearby hospital, where they eventually died, police said. A third person in the car was not injured. The victims names have not been released. Read more: Day 3 of search concludes without missing East Longmeadow man at Hampton Ponds The incident is under investigation, but police do not believe there is a threat to the public. Anyone with information about the shooting should call Braintree Police at 781-794-8620 or Massachusetts State Police at 781-830-4990. The two victims in a fatal shooting in Braintree early Sunday morning were teens from Braintree and Dorchester, police say. Jahzier Porter, 16, a Braintree High School Student, and Jayden Santos-Andrade, 19, of Dorchester, were killed when they were shot in a parked vehicle on Alfred Road. Santos-Andrade would have been 20 next month, police said. We have two families grieving today, said Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey in a statement. We have detectives in the field from Braintree and State Police trying to gather evidence of what happened and who may have been involved. Police responded to Alfred Road at about 1:30 a.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls about shots fired. Porter, who lived in the neighborhood where the shooting occurred, and Santos-Andrade were found in a parked vehicle at the scene and brought to a hospital, where they both died. A third person in the car was uninjured. Mayor Charles Kokoros said at a press conference that he had spoken with the superintendent of schools about making resources available to members of the school community. The shooting is under investigation, but police do not believe there is any threat to the public. Anyone with information about the shooting should call Braintree Police at 781-794-8620 or Massachusetts State Police at 781-830-4990. A woman who police say was driving the wrong way on the Everett Turnpike in Nashua, New Hampshire has been charged after a five-car collision, according to New Hampshire state police. At 10:34 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a report of a wrong-way driver driving north on the southbound side of the highway. On their way to the scene, police learned that the car had struck another vehicle near Exit 7W. At the scene, police said the driver of the car that was going the wrong way was trapped inside her vehicle, a Subaru Impreza, which had caught fire. Troopers were able to get her out of the car quickly. A preliminary investigation showed that the Subaru was driving north on the southbound side of the highway when it hit a pickup truck in the left lane, police said. Immediately after, three other vehicles crashed into the first two. The driver and passenger of the pickup truck received serious injuries, and the occupants of the other vehicles received minor injuries, police said. A five-vehicle crash was caused by a wrong-way driver on the Everett Turnpike in Nashua on Saturday night, police said. (Courtesy New Hampshire State Police) Jennifer Pratka, 29, of Litchfield, New Hampshire has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence and reckless conduct. She was brought to St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua for treatment of minor injuries. She will appear in Hillsborough Superior Court next month. The southbound lanes of the highway were shut down between Exits 7W and 7E for about three and a half hours during the investigation and cleanup. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is encouraged to contact police at 603-223-8308 or Ryan.R.Karnoen@dos.nh.gov. In Massachusetts, as in the rest of the country, the ability to enjoy good health differs greatly by race, ethnicity, income, education, geography and other factors. These differences mean that some groups, especially people of color, experience more illness and disability and have a greater chance of dying early than others. Thats the tragic human toll of health inequities. We have known about these impacts for decades and yet have not seen any significant reduction in them. In addition to the human impact, there is also an enormous economic toll. According to a new study, the total is staggering: nearly $6 billion a year in Massachusetts. The research by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is the first to put a dollar figure on the cost of health inequities for individuals, families and the economy. The study was done in collaboration with the Massachusetts Health Equity Compact, a group of over 70 leaders of color across a diverse set of organizations including hospitals, health centers, payers, academic institutions and public health to advance health equity. What does the economic toll mean, and why does it matter? This column aims to provide the answers: What exactly did this study find? Researchers have totaled the annual economic burden associated with health inequities faced by Black, Hispanic/Latino and Asian populations in Massachusetts and it adds up to $5.9 billion. This figure includes avoidable health care spending due to poorer health in these populations, time lost on the job due to illness, and the economic value of lost years of life due to premature death. While these factors also exist among the White population, they are disproportionately experienced among populations of color. Why put a cost on health inequities? We have years of evidence about poorer health and lower life expectancy among communities of color. While we would hope that this would be enough motivation to address these issues, some may view this as a problem that doesnt affect them. But it affects us all. In addition to the emotional impact of illness and premature deaths among our family members, friends and neighbors, this study was done to describe how the costs associated with health inequities in Massachusetts are also a significant drain on our economy. Beyond the unacceptable human price of premature death, the families not built, and milestones not celebrated, racial and ethnic health inequities cause a major drain on the commonwealths economy, compromising the ability to invest in areas such as housing, education, transportation and other sectors vital to the health of our residents and economy. Why is this study important? The findings put into stark terms what persistent health disparities are costing us. Leaders in Massachusetts have known for decades about the human cost of health disparities between communities of color and the White population. Now we understand the economic cost. These findings highlight just how enormous the toll has become and add urgency to the need to fix longstanding health gaps. Given demographic trends in Massachusetts, if we dont take steps to reduce health inequities, the economic burden that falls on Black, Hispanic/Latino and Asian populations will almost double in a generation, from $5.9 billion annually today to $11.2 billion annually by 2050. What does this study mean for the average person or employer? The economic burden associated with poor health in Massachusetts is not limited to a few groups or types of business. It has broad implications for all residents and all businesses. The cost of avoidable medical spending due to poor health is shared by every Massachusetts resident in the form of higher health insurance premiums for those with private insurance through employers or the Health Connector; increased out-of-pocket spending on deductibles and copayments for all insured residents; and increased cost to state and federal governments and ultimately taxpayers to fund public coverage and services for people without health insurance. The cost of lost productivity on the job is spread across employees and employers in all kinds of industries. The study found that lost productivity, due to higher rates of poor health, is equal to losing about 27,000 full-time workers every year. Massachusetts also misses out on the contribution those workers would have made to our society and economy. What should happen now? Massachusetts has been a national leader on many healthcare reform efforts. We have led the way in expanding health insurance coverage and improving access to care, and now we have a responsibility to act similarly to achieve health equity and eliminate health disparities. It is time for action on solutions to reverse the human and economic toll of health inequity. We will do better and have a stronger economy when all residents have better health. Audrey Shelto is president and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure equitable access to health care for all those in the Commonwealth who are economically, racially, culturally or socially marginalized. The birth control implant is prescribed as Nexplanon , in the United States. It was earlier sold in Australia, as Implanon, which contained Etonogestrel , a progesterone-like hormone. The doctor or nurse injects an anesthetic to make a small patch of the arm numb. Then, they use a special inserter tool to slide the implant under the skin. It is the most convenient and effective method to control pregnancy. The birth control or contraceptive implant gives protection from pregnancy for a period of about four years. It is a type of long-acting reversible contraceptive like an intrauterine . A birth control implant is a small thin rod that is inserted under the skin on the inside of the upper arm and releases hormone gradually into the body. This hormone, Progestin or Progestogen, prevents pregnancy or contraception. How Does an Implant Prevent Pregnancy? The implant releases the hormone Progestin, which prevents pregnancy in two ways: Progestin thickens the mucus in the cervix which prevents the sperms from swimming to the egg. Thus, the sperm and egg do not get fertilized. Progestin prevents the eggs from leaving the ovaries and thus, there is no egg to fertilize. The implant is convenient and confidential - It is concealed under the skin The birth control implants or chips are long acting - they last for 3 to 5 years - Implants make the periods better - Nexplanon reduces period cramps and makes the period lighter Implants are insert and forget type of contraceptives - Once implanted, there is no need think about contraception every day Advertisement Implants have only one hormone, Progestin - The other birth control methods have two hormones, Estrogen and Progestin. Estrogen is not tolerated by many people; hence, Nexplanon becomes the preferred choice when Estrogen has to be avoided as a medication Nexplanon is not permanent- it is reversible - The implant does not affect fertility and the woman can become pregnant as soon as the implant is removed Implants work better than birth control patches, pills or vaginal rings Implants do not interfere with sexual intercourse The disadvantages of birth control implant include: Irregular or longer than usual periods could occur in the first 6 months Insertion and removal has to be done with a minor procedure No protection against sexually transmitted diseases Slight bruising or pain when first inserted into the arm; there is a small risk of infection Advertisement The doctor must be consulted if any of the following symptoms are noted: Pus, redness or bleeding in the arm where the implant was inserted Irregular or heavy bleeding from vagina Implant seems to have shifted position Yellowing of skin or eyes How Effective is a Birth Control Implant? The implant is very effective in protecting from pregnancy all day, for up to four years. It is not permanent, hence, if one wants to get pregnant, the doctor or nurse can remove the implant from the woman and she can become pregnant. The implant is about 99% effective in controlling pregnancy. Statistical reports indicate that 1 in 20 women may still get pregnant, in spite of having implants. However, the effectiveness of an implant can be reduced by certain medications: TB medicine HIV medicine Mental disorder medicine Antiseizure medicine Herbal medicine like St. Johns Wort Side effects with the arm implants are rare. Some side effects which could occur include: Breast pain or tenderness Headaches Weight gain Nausea Infection where implant was inserted Ovarian cysts Mood changes Pain or bruise around the area where implant was inserted How long does it take for the Birth Control Implant to work? If an implant is inserted during the first five days of the period, the woman is protected from pregnancy immediately. However, if the implant is inserted at any other time of the menstrual cycle, some other form of birth control, e.g. female condom, will have to be used during the first week. After that week, the implant starts working and the woman is protected from pregnancy, for a period of about 4 years. The situation is aggravated by the fact that most government hospitals, especially in rural areas, lack the infrastructure and are ill-equipped to tackle complications of dengue infection. Therefore, the availability of a dengue vaccine in the public sector will bring about a paradigm shift from treatment to prevention . This is likely to dramatically bring down the number of dengue cases as well as substantially reduce the mortality and morbidity. The burden of dengue in India is huge and the cost of treatment for complications like dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) is astronomical and can run into thousands of rupees, especially in corporate hospitals, where the expenses have to be borne out-of-pocket in the absence of health insurance. Impediments in Developing a Dengue Vaccine Several dengue vaccine candidates have been under development over the past few decades, but none have been successful, until now. The difficulty in developing a dengue vaccine stems from the fact that there are four kinds (serotypes) of dengue virus (DENV) that circulate, of which one type predominates in a particular dengue season. Weakening the virus (technically termed as attenuation) by chemical treatments so that it does not cause disease, yet is still strong enough to stimulate the immune system (defense system of the body) to generate a protective immune response is very tricky, especially since there are four serotypes that require equal levels of attenuation. This problem has been solved in the new dengue vaccine developed by Sanofi Pasteur. Advertisement Dengvaxia: The Sanofi Pasteur Dengue Vaccine An internationally available dengue vaccine called Dengvaxia (CYD-TVD), developed by Sanofi Pasteur, Lyon, France has been extensively evaluated in more than 40,000 individuals in 15 different countries, including India. The Sanofi vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for use in individuals aged between 9 and 45 years in areas of the world where dengue is prevalent. Dengvaxia is a live-attenuated tetravalent (containing all four DENV serotypes DENV1, DENV2, DENV3 and DENV4) dengue vaccine produced by recombinant DNA technology or genetic engineering. The vaccine has been evaluated in a 3-dose schedule (0/6/12 months) in Phase III clinical trials and was first registered in Mexico in December 2015 and first commercially available in 2016 in the Philippines and Indonesia. The vaccine has since been adopted in 7 other dengue-endemic countries around the globe, namely, Brazil, Paraguay, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, Guatemala, and Singapore, where more than 500,000 people have already been vaccinated with over 1.5 million doses distributed so far. The Government of India is exercising caution on the introduction of the Sanofi dengue vaccine, as the company is seeking exemption from carrying out Phase III clinical trials in India, arguing that it has already been extensively tested and that the exemption would fast-track the introduction of the vaccine. Early introduction of the vaccine will help in tackling the disease in India, where dengue is a huge public health problem. Other Dengue Vaccine Candidates Several other dengue vaccine candidates are under different stages of development in various countries. A few important ones are briefly highlighted below: DENVax: This vaccine, developed by Takeda, consists of a chimera (mosaic) of the four dengue serotypes. This dengue vaccine candidate is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials. This vaccine, developed by Takeda, consists of a chimera (mosaic) of the four dengue serotypes. This dengue vaccine candidate is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials. TV003: This vaccine has been developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), USA. TV003 is a live-attenuated vaccine that contains a mixture of the four dengue serotypes as separate vaccine formulations. The vaccine is currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials. This vaccine has been developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), USA. TV003 is a live-attenuated vaccine that contains a mixture of the four dengue serotypes as separate vaccine formulations. The vaccine is currently undergoing Phase II clinical trials. TDENV PIV: This is an inactivated (killed) tetravalent (containing DENV1-4) vaccine formulation developed jointly by GlaxoSmithKline and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, USA. It is currently undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials. This is an inactivated (killed) tetravalent (containing DENV1-4) vaccine formulation developed jointly by GlaxoSmithKline and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, USA. It is currently undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials. V180: This is a subunit (fragment of a protein antigen) protein vaccine produced in the cells of fruit fly (Drosophila). This vaccine, developed by Merck, has completed Phase I clinical trials as of December 2014. Indian Efforts The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi has developed a dengue vaccine candidate, which has been extensively evaluated in various animal models, including monkeys. This vaccine candidate is currently awaiting clinical trials in humans. The scientists are hopeful that a Made-in-India dengue vaccine could be available within a span of 4-5 years from now. Advertisement What is Dengue? Dengue is a viral disease caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The disease has a global distribution in all tropical and sub-tropical regions where the Aedes mosquito is present. The virus has an affinity for the blood and its components, which results in disease manifestation. Dengue Burden in India The disease burden is staggering as revealed by a 2014 study conducted by the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW), New Delhi. The study found that the annual average clinically diagnosed dengue cases in India was almost 6 million, or 282 times the annual reported number during 2006-2012. Most common - The most common form of the disease is dengue fever, which is characterized by severe bone and joint pain (for which it is also called breakbone fever), muscle pain, headache, fever, swollen lymph nodes, rash, and generalized fatigue and exhaustion. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) - Presence of fever, rash and headache are the three characteristic symptoms (dengue triad) of dengue. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a more severe form of the disease, largely affecting children below the age of 10 years. As the name suggests, the condition is characterized by widespread hemorrhage (bleeding), abdominal pain, in addition to fever, rash and headache. A potentially fatal complication is dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which is characterized by circulatory collapse and death, if not treated promptly. There is no specific treatment for dengue and NO antivirals against dengue are currently available. Dengue must be treated in a hospital setting and it primarily involves supportive therapy. Currently, the mainstay of prevention is mosquito vector control. Health Tips A plan to share stewardship of Yellowstone National Parks bison between tribes and federal agencies is being proposed by a Montana bison advocacy group. Buffalo Field Campaigns executive director, James Holt Sr., a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, mailed a letter on June 16 to 31 tribes proposing a summit in November at Fort Hall, Idaho, to discuss the idea. The time has come for Tribal Nations to come together, to share our hearts and unite on behalf of Yellowstone Buffalo, Holt wrote. The group said in a press release that including tribes in bison management would be the beginning of true reparations for the long-standing practice of cultural genocide, or ethnocide, that is still being perpetuated by the cattle industry to preserve their monopoly on public lands forage in the West. The statement goes on to specifically target the Montana Department of Livestock for its involvement in bison management, the only wildlife species in the state overseen by the agency. And more Dallas Gudgell, who sits on the Buffalo Field Campaign board and is a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, said the gathering and bison proposal is a first step toward an even larger objective tribal co-stewardship that also includes wolves and grizzly bears, with the goal of increasing protections for the keystone species. The group is hoping that a growing recognition of traditional ecological knowledge will provide momentum, Gudgell said, despite the obvious headwinds the group will face from state officials. The Buffalo Field Campaign was founded in 1997 by Mike Mease and Lakota elder Rosalie Little Thunder. The proposal to co-manage wildlife species has come as tribal voices have been elevated at the nonprofit, Gudgell said. After founding the nonprofit, Mease spent the next 12 years living in a tepee near Yellowstones West Entrance as he fought through litigation, advocacy and education to protect park bison from shipment to slaughter. At issue In his letter, Holt called the current management of Yellowstone bison politicized. Montana manages the species unlike any other wildlife because they may carry brucellosis, a disease that can cause pregnant cattle to abort. As a result, bison are allowed to roam only so far outside of Yellowstone in Montana before being killed or herded back into the park. Elk, which also carry brucellosis, are not similarly managed, although the state does track infections and attempts to keep elk and cattle separate in the spring. Scientists believe the disease is most easily transferred from an infected pregnant animals birthing tissue and fluids. Spring is when elk and bison give birth to their calves. Yellowstone officials, under a court-mediated settlement with Montana in 2000, agreed to reduce bison populations to limit their presence outside the park. To that end, the National Park Service captured Yellowstone bison and shipped them to slaughter for years, with the meat provided to cooperating tribes. The framework for the program was outlined under the Interagency Bison Management Plan, or IBMP. In 2005, the state of Montana began allowing limited bison hunting on public lands outside the park. The following year, the state recognized the Nez Perce Tribes treaty rights to hunt Yellowstone bison. At the time, then Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath said the state wasnt granting the Nez Perce the right to hunt. Instead, Montana was pre-empted by superior federal law from interfering with the rights certain tribes have from their treaties with the United States. Transfer More recently, Yellowstone officials have moved away from shipping bison to slaughter and are instead capturing bison for brucellosis testing. This winter, 282 bison were segregated for the program. Bison that pass repeated tests while in quarantine are eventually allowed to be shipped to the Fort Peck Tribe. From there the bison can be trucked to tribal partners through whats called the Bison Conservation Transfer Program. Montana will not allow the transport of live bison that have not completed quarantine protocols, unless they are going to slaughter. Since 2019, the Bison Conservation Transfer Program sent about 300 Yellowstone bison to 23 tribes in 12 states. Although the Park Service reduced its shipments of bison to slaughter, this past winter members of eight tribes shot around 1,100 bison that migrated outside the parks boundaries (hunting is not allowed inside the park). In all including hunting, culling and wounding loss the Park Service estimated the loss of bison this winter at around 2,300 animals. Yellowstones fall bison population was estimated at about 6,000 animals. Tribes must not settle for 6,000 wild buffalo when management should target populations of 50,000 or more, Holt wrote. Tribes must not settle for a few thousand barren acres outside Yellowstone National Park, when buffalo should have access to 8 million adjacent acres of suitable habitat on open and unclaimed federal lands. The unclaimed federal lands Holt referred to are mostly Forest Service acreage adjoining Yellowstone. In Montana, that would include portions of the 1.8 million-acre Custer Gallatin National Forest to the north and west of the park. Adding another wrinkle to the whole discussion, Yellowstones wild bison are being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency cited several reasons for providing protection, including: loss of migration routes, lack of tolerance for bison outside Yellowstone National Park, and habitat loss. Memo Included with Holts invitation to tribal leaders was a memo outlining Buffalo Field Campaigns legal basis for its idea. The memo pointed to Interior Secretary Deb Haalands order in March recognizing the importance of wild bison restoration on prairie grasslands through collaboration among state and federal agencies, landowners and tribes. Haaland is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. She is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna. Haalands order was criticized in March by Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte. In a letter to the secretary, Gianforte said, Montana is a sovereign entity that exercises full authority over the management of bison within its borders. The utter lack of meaningful engagement from USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and NPS (U.S. National Park Service), and now the issuance of S.O. 3410, seems to demonstrate DOIs ill-advised and predecisional commitment to forcing any bison agenda it sees fit. His letter goes on to call the parks bison diseased and the animals increasing population as leading the Yellowstone ecosystem into ecological crisis. In May, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle obtained documents showing the National Park Service was concerned in 2022 that Montana may litigate if Yellowstone bison were not vaccinated and aggressively culled toward a target population of 3,000 animals. In 2016, bison were named the national mammal, further elevating discussions and work to preserve and restore a species that for thousands of years was essential to Native Americans livelihood on the Great Plains. The animals were nearly extirpated by Euro-Americans in the 1800s before conservation actions were undertaken. Yellowstones bison are a result of that conservation success, one of the few herds to remain relatively wild. Their genetics are also valued because they have only a tiny percentage less than 1% of cattle genes, a remnant of ranchers attempts to crossbreed the animals in the early 1900s. Treaties Treaty rights granted to tribes through agreements with Congress are at the center of the tribal push. Tribes have the legal authority to assert the implicit right of habitat protection for Yellowstone Buffalo under Treaty laws that are acknowledged as the supreme law of the land, the memo from Buffalo Field Campaign stated. Tribes can and should insist upon the recovery of the migratory species in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem where theyve become functionally extinct due to State and federal government actions. The argument is based on tribal sovereignty, the right of Native Americans to govern themselves. States have no authority over tribes unless authorized by Congress. However, in 2022 the U.S. Supreme Court expanded states authority to prosecute nonnative people who commit crimes against a native person on tribal lands. Buffalo Field Campaign is arguing that sharing management of bison would lay the foundation for true cultural reparations for the numerous tribes who negotiated treaties with the U.S. government in good faith in the 19th Century. After studying Buffalo Field Campaigns first announcement of its plans, Kekek Stark, a law professor at the University of Montana, said in February the groups arguments are legitimate. In comparing BFCs legal contentions to Northwest tribes claims regarding salmon fishing, Stark said, If a regulation is restrictive of treaty rights it must be necessary for conservation purposes. Holt wrote, A holistic co-stewardship model would be ecosystem-wide, population-based, honor treaty-reserved rights, continue to facilitate on-reservation restoration via the Ft. Peck Program, be co-created among tribal sovereigns, and respect the participation of all 28 Yellowstone-affiliated tribes. Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly had no comment on the proposal. When asked about the tension the plan would cause with states surrounding Yellowstone and involved in the Interagency Bison Management Plan, Gudgell said Montana had disqualified itself from buffalo management based on its past actions. The IBMP is not working and hasnt worked for quite some time, he said. Erythroblastosis fetalis, also called hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), usually occurs in the fetus, but can also occur in the neonate (erythroblastosis neonatorum). It is a type of anemia in which the red blood cells (RBC) of the fetus are destroyed by maternal antibodies in an immune response targeted against the fetus. This occurs due to incompatibility of the blood groups of the mother and fetus, which arises when the fetus inherits a certain blood group factor from the father that is absent in the mother. As a result, the baby can suffer from severe anemia , brain damage, or even death. Erythroblastosis fetalis can be caused due to incompatibility of either of two major blood types. These include Rh incompatibility and ABO incompatibility. Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn An Example of Rh Incompatibility The Rh system of blood grouping is based on the presence or absence of the Rh factor on the surface of RBC. This factor is an inherited protein antigen that was first discovered in rhesus monkeys, hence called Rh based on the first two letters of the word rhesus. Not all people have the Rh factor. Those who have this factor are said to be Rh-positive (Rh+) or D-antigen positive and those who do not, are said to be Rh-negative (Rh). An Rh mother can conceive an Rh + fetus, if the father is Rh + . mother can conceive an Rh fetus, if the father is Rh . During delivery, the fetal RBC may enter the maternal circulation due to leakage. As a result, the immune system of the mother generates antibodies against the fetal Rh factor-bearing RBCs. The first born is usually spared since the maternal antibodies are formed only after delivery. If the mother again becomes pregnant with an Rh + fetus, her antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the fetal RBCs, thereby causing severe hemolytic anemia. fetus, her antibodies can cross the placenta and attack the fetal RBCs, thereby causing severe hemolytic anemia. The fetal bone marrow reacts to the hemolytic anemia by releasing immature RBCs called erythroblasts into the fetal peripheral circulation, causing erythroblastosis fetalis. Advertisement ABO Incompatibility The ABO system is another system of blood grouping discovered by Karl Landsteiner, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the year 1930. This system is based on the presence or absence of the A and B protein antigens on the surface of RBC. When only the A antigen is present, the blood group is A. When only the B antigen is present, the blood group is B. When both A and B antigens are present, the blood group is AB. If both A or B are absent, the blood group is O. ABO incompatibility disease is almost exclusively limited to fetuses with A or B antigens whose mothers have blood group O. Approximately one-third of fetuses have the mothers antibodies in their circulation, but only a small percentage develop symptoms of ABO incompatibility disease. ABO incompatibility is considered to be less harmful to the fetus than Rh incompatibility. Incompatibility arising from Minor Blood Groups There are other minor blood group antigens that the fetus may carry, which can increase the risk of erythroblastosis fetalis. These blood groups include Kell, Duffy, Kidd, Lutheran, Diego, Xg, P, Ee, Cc and MNS. The clinical features of erythroblastosis fetalis result from destruction of fetal RBCs by maternal antibodies against them. They can range from mild anemia and jaundice to fetal death in utero. The major symptoms of erythroblastosis fetalis are briefly discussed below: Jaundice: This occurs due to the deposition of bilirubin (breakdown product of hemoglobin from RBC) in the skin and the whites of the eyes. This imparts a yellowish color to these structures. This occurs due to the deposition of bilirubin (breakdown product of hemoglobin from RBC) in the skin and the whites of the eyes. This imparts a yellowish color to these structures. Hemolytic Anemia: This occurs due to the destruction of RBCs. Untreated anemia can cause heart failure, enlarged liver and/or spleen, generalized swelling and respiratory distress. This occurs due to the destruction of RBCs. Untreated anemia can cause heart failure, enlarged liver and/or spleen, generalized swelling and respiratory distress. Kernicterus: This occurs due to the deposition of bilirubin in the brain and spinal cord. This can lead to nerve cell degeneration, hearing loss, mental retardation, and even death. Hydrops Fetalis: This is the severest form of the disease in newborns and is characterized by extreme edema (abnormal accumulation of serous fluid) in unusual places like the abdominal cavity, heart and lungs. This can lead to congestive heart failure as the extra fluid causes increased pressure on the heart, reducing its pumping ability. Moreover, fluid accumulation in the lungs prevents normal breathing, because the lungs cannot expand fully. Blood Tests Indirect Coombs test is done on the mothers blood if she is found to be Rh - , during the antenatal visit and the father is Rh + . It measures the number of antibodies in the maternal blood. If the Rh mother does not have antibodies during initial testing, then she will be tested again at 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy and again at 26 to 27 weeks. If anti-Rh antibodies are detected at any of these time-points, then treatment is initiated. is done on the mothers blood if she is found to be Rh , during the antenatal visit and the father is Rh . It measures the number of antibodies in the maternal blood. If the Rh mother does not have antibodies during initial testing, then she will be tested again at 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy and again at 26 to 27 weeks. If anti-Rh antibodies are detected at any of these time-points, then treatment is initiated. Direct Coombs test is carried out on the fetal blood sample which measures the level of maternal antibodies attached to the babys RBCs. This test is done if the fetus shows features of anemia and jaundice. is carried out on the fetal blood sample which measures the level of maternal antibodies attached to the babys RBCs. This test is done if the fetus shows features of anemia and jaundice. Tests to determine fetal blood counts to check for anemia and serum bilirubin levels to check for jaundice. In another scenario, the baby may develop jaundice after birth, in spite of the fact that there is no Rh incompatibility. Under these circumstances, the symptoms can be attributed to ABO incompatibility. However, the symptoms are much milder than in case of Rh incompatibility. Doppler Ultrasound The doctor may recommend a non-invasive test to detect fetal middle cerebral artery blood flow by means of Doppler ultrasound. If the babys blood flow is affected, then erythroblastosis fetalis is suspected. Advertisement Amniocentesis This procedure is used to sample the amniotic fluid that surrounds the developing fetus inside the uterus. A needle is inserted into the amnion (the sack filled with amniotic fluid) using ultrasound guidance to take a fluid sample. This is tested in the lab to assess the babys risk of anemia. Moreover, analysis of the amniotic fluid can measure the bilirubin concentration to predict the severity of the disease. If the levels are elevated, then intrauterine transfusion with Rh blood can be given until premature delivery can be induced. Before the baby is born, the following treatment strategies may be adopted: Blood Transfusion: The baby may require blood transfusions before birth in order to treat anemia. Intrauterine blood transfusion is given through the umbilical cord. The baby may require blood transfusions before birth in order to treat anemia. Intrauterine blood transfusion is given through the umbilical cord. Pre-term Delivery: In certain situations, the baby needs to be born before its full-term. Therefore, when the babys lungs and heart mature enough for delivery, the doctor may advise delivering the baby pre-term (usually between 32 to 35 weeks). After birth, the baby may need to be given further blood transfusions. Fluids may be administered intravenously to increase low blood pressure. Mechanical respiratory support may need to be provided to treat respiratory insufficiency. Some specific strategies that may be adopted are briefly highlighted below: Exchange Transfusion: This is a special type of transfusion in which the babys blood is exchanged with that of the donors blood. In this procedure, the anti-Rh antibodies (produced by the mothers incompatible blood) that are destroying the babys RBC are removed, along with excess bilirubin. Small samples of the babys blood are taken out and simultaneously replaced with the donors blood. This procedure may have to be repeated several times. Phototherapy: This is also called light therapy and is used to treat jaundice. The light treatment helps to convert the bilirubin in the babys skin to a form that can be excreted by the baby. The baby is usually placed on its back and illuminated from above by a special light. Nowadays, flexible light pads are also available that wrap around the baby. The eyes are kept covered to protect from contact with the light. This is also called light therapy and is used to treat jaundice. The light treatment helps to convert the bilirubin in the babys skin to a form that can be excreted by the baby. The baby is usually placed on its back and illuminated from above by a special light. Nowadays, flexible light pads are also available that wrap around the baby. The eyes are kept covered to protect from contact with the light. Immunoglobulin: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) to neutralize maternal anti-D antibodies. These can be administered with the aim of reducing RBC breakdown and lowering the levels of circulating bilirubin. IVIG can be used to reduce the need for exchange transfusion and to shorten the length of phototherapy. Erythroblastosis fetalis can be prevented by carrying out screening tests and by the administration of Rh factor immunoglobulins to the pregnant mother. These aspects are briefly discussed below: Screening: The pregnant mothers blood type should be tested at the first prenatal visit. Besides testing for Rh type, other blood types may also be tested. In case of previous pregnancies or a history of blood transfusions, further tests may be required. The fathers blood may also be tested for ABO and Rh types. During pregnancy, the babys blood may also need to be tested for ABO and Rh types and as well as to see if it reacts with the maternal blood. The pregnant mothers blood type should be tested at the first prenatal visit. Besides testing for Rh type, other blood types may also be tested. In case of previous pregnancies or a history of blood transfusions, further tests may be required. The fathers blood may also be tested for ABO and Rh types. During pregnancy, the babys blood may also need to be tested for ABO and Rh types and as well as to see if it reacts with the maternal blood. Rh Factor Immunoglobulins: If the pregnant mother is at risk of Rh sensitization, it is recommended that Rho (D) immunoglobulin (RhoGAM) be administered at 28 weeks of gestation and within 72 hours of delivery. This medicine contains high titers of anti-Rh antibodies, which neutralize Rh+ fetal RBCs. Because fetal-maternal transfer and likelihood of sensitization is greatest at termination of pregnancy, the preparation is given within 72 hours after delivery or termination of pregnancy due to miscarriage, abortion, or ectopic pregnancy. The standard dose is 300 g of RhoGAM by the intramuscular (IM) route. A rosette test can be used to rule out significant fetal-maternal hemorrhage (FMH). However, it should be noted that there is no comparable immunotherapy available for other blood group incompatibilities. Health Tips: NiV infection, also known as NiV encephalitis, is an important emerging viral zoonotic disease that affects both humans and animals. NiV is spread by fruit bats (also known as flying foxes), which belong to the Family Pteropodidae and Genus Pteropus . These bats are the natural reservoir host of NiV. Currently, NiV encephalitis is on the WHO list of Blueprint priority diseases. Nipah Virus (NiV) derives its name from a village called Kampung Sungai Nipah in Malaysia, where it was first isolated from an infected person in 1998, who succumbed to the infection. NiV is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus, belonging to the Family Paramyxoviridae and Genus Henipavirus . NiV is closely related to the Hendra virus, which was previously known as Equine morbillivirus. This virus causes pneumonia and acute respiratory infection in horses as well as humans and has been reported mainly from Australia . History and Origin of Nipah Virus History of Nipah Virus The history of NiV goes back to the year 1998, when the first outbreak of NiV occurred in peninsular Malaysia during the period between September 1998 and April 1999. A total of 265 cases of NiV encephalitis were reported from Malaysia, among those who had close contact with infected pigs or had physical contact with NiV infected patients. Importantly, the disease has devastating zoonotic potential, which is reflected by the fact that over 1 million pigs were culled and destroyed to control the disease in Malaysia, causing huge economic losses and adverse social disruption. In March 1999, 11 abattoir workers in Singapore became infected after handling imported pigs from Malaysia. It is interesting to note that NiV infections can cause high mortality, such as in the Malaysian outbreak, or low mortality as in the Singapore outbreak where the abattoir workers primarily presented with neurological complications and pneumonia. Since May 1999, no new NiV outbreaks have been reported from Malaysia and Singapore till date. However, evidence of the virus, without clinical disease, has been found in fruit bats in Madagascar, Cambodia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia. Advertisement Origin of Nipah Virus Since there have been no reports of circulation of NiV prior to 1998, scientists have hypothesized that the virus remained largely within the fruit bat population in the tropical forests of Malaysia. However, due to mass deforestation activities to develop settlements, farming and rearing of domestic animals including pigs for food production, the natural habitat of the fruit bats was encroached by humans. Consequently, pigs became infected with NiV from the urine and feces of these bats. The virus replicated rapidly within the pigs, as a result of which the virus became amplified and eventually spilled-over to the farmers rearing the pigs, who become infected by animal to human transmission. Eventually, more and more people became infected by human-to-human transmission and when it reached the tipping-point, the explosive Malaysian outbreak occurred. Transmission of Nipah Virus Nipah virus is carried by fruit bats, which are the natural reservoir hosts. The virus is present in bat urine, feces, and saliva. It has been reported that fruit bats can infect date palm sap, while being extracted from palm trees. Upon consumption of raw sap, the infection can spread to humans. Likewise, fruits bitten by fruit bats can become infected, which upon consumption can cause NiV infection in humans. The intermediate hosts are usually pigs. Infected pigs can infect other pigs as well as domestic animals. This is an example of animal-to-animal transmission. Infected pigs can also transmit the disease to humans, especially to pig handlers or through consumption of pork. This is called animal-to-human transmission. Importantly, the disease can also be spread between humans by nasal discharges and other body fluids. The virus can also be transmitted via fomites such as clothing, equipment and shoes. This transmission between humans is called human-to-human transmission. NiV infections can be caused by various factors. These are briefly highlighted below: Close contact with the excretions and secretions of individuals potentially infected with the virus. Consumption of partially-eaten fruits by bats. Undercooked meat of infected animals. Drinking of raw date palm sap/juice/toddy, which may be infected. Uncovered containers used for collecting raw date palm sap can potentially cause NiV infection if the contents become infected by fruit bats. The initial presentation of NiV infection is non-specific. It is characterized by sudden onset of fever, often called brain fever . This is accompanied by headache, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting. The patient can also experience photophobia (an aversion for sunlight). Neck rigidity and severe muscle pain/spasm can also occur. The patients condition deteriorates rapidly and is accompanied by mental confusion and disorientation, often leading to coma within a couple of days. In the absence of prompt supportive care, the patient may die. The consequences of NiV infection can be very grave. Serious complications such as encephalitis, associated with brain fever can occur, where there is inflammation of the brain. When these complications occur, control of NiV replication is not possible. A consequence of this is altered consciousness, sometimes even causing the patient to become unconscious. In very severe cases, the patient can slip into coma within a matter of 24 to 48 hours. The ultimate consequence of this is death! The disease is very difficult to diagnose based on clinical symptoms alone. However, a definitive diagnosis can be made based on laboratory tests, which are briefly highlighted below: ELISA: ELISA stands for Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay. It is a very accurate and sensitive immunological test for detecting antigens or antibodies, depending upon the format of the ELISA technique used. Advertisement In case for NiV infection, antibodies will be generated against the virus surface proteins (antigens). These antibodies circulate within the patients blood. So, a small sample of blood can be used for detecting as well as quantifying the level of virus-specific antibodies in the patients body using the ELISA test. The level of these antibodies is technically termed as titer, which gives an idea of the amount of virus present in the body the higher the titer, the higher the severity of the disease. RT-PCR: RT-PCR stands for Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction. This is one of the most sensitive molecular tests currently available for detection of viral infections. Since NiV has an RNA genome, a minute sample of blood is taken from the patient, which will contain the viral RNA. The RNA is unstable, so it has to be converted to DNA, which is more stable. This is done by reverse transcription of the RNA to produce complementary DNA (cDNA), which is subsequently amplified by PCR using a thermocycler to generate millions of copies of the DNA from even a single strand of DNA molecule. This DNA is quantified by a procedure called agarose-gel electrophoresis. A positive test indicates that virus is definitely present in the patients body. In any outbreak situation, these tests are generally carried out at the National Institute of Virology, Pune, which is the National Reference Laboratory for viral diseases in India. These is no specific treatment for Nipah virus infection. Primary treatment involves intensive supportive care with continuous monitoring. The drug ribavirin has been shown to be effective against viruses in in vitro studies. However, its effectiveness in human clinical trials remains inconclusive and therefore lacks clinical applicability. There is currently no vaccine available for preventing NiV infections. However, recent research has indicated that a subunit protein vaccine, using the Hendra virus G protein, produces cross-protective antibodies against Hendra virus as well as NiV. This experimental vaccine has been recently used in Australia to protect horses against Hendra virus infection. Importantly, this vaccine also has a great potential for protecting humans against NiV infection. You can prevent NiV infection by taking the following precautions: Avoid contact with sick people, infected animals such as pigs and horses, as well as the natural host, namely, the fruit bat. Do not drink raw date palm sap or toddy. Use netting on the opening of containers used to collect date palm sap, so that the fruit bats cannot cause contamination. Maintain personal hygiene and hand washing practices. Do not consume raw fruits. Eat cooked, homemade food until the outbreak passes away. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) like goggles, head covering and masks e.g. N95 mask while traveling and working in public areas to reduce the chances of human-to-human transmission. Immediately report to the nearest health facility if you develop symptoms of NiV infection. Nipah Virus Outbreaks Malaysia Outbreak: It is the first outbreak of Nipah in the world (discussed above). The disease was primarily spread by infected pigs. Besides pigs there is evidence of NiV infection in several species of domestic animals, including dogs, cats, goats, horses, and possibly also sheep. However, following the initial Nipah outbreaks, the virus has primarily affected human populations around the globe. Meherpur (Bangladesh) Outbreak: NiV was isolated during an outbreak in April-May 2001 in Meherpur district of Bangladesh. In this Bangladesh outbreak, there were 13 cases and 9 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 69%. Since then, NiV encephalitis has been reported almost every year in many districts in Bangladesh. Siliguri (West Bengal, India) Outbreak: The Siliguri outbreak is the first Nipah outbteak on Indian soil. It occurred from January to February in 2001. The patients presented with fever and neurological symptoms. Blood samples were obtained from the patients and analyzed by ELISA and RT-PCR. NiV-specific antibodies were detected in 9 out of 18 patients by ELISA. RT-PCR detected viral RNA in 5 patients. In this outbreak, there were 66 cases and 45 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 68%. Nadia (West Bengal, India) Outbreak: This is the second Indian outbreak, which occurred in Nadia district of West Bengal. In this outbreak 30 patients initially presented with febrile illness, of which 5 were confirmed as Nipah cases. All 5 cases proved to be fatal. All the fatal cases tested positive for NiV by RT-PCR. Therefore, the case fatality rate in this outbreak was 100%. Important Details in Nipah Outbreaks: In the outbreaks reported in Bangladesh and India, so far 263 NiV encephalitis cases and 196 deaths have been reported since 2001. NiV encephalitis exhibits a case fatality rate of 0-100%, with an average case fatality rate of 74.5%. In the Bangladesh and Indian outbreaks, there was no involvement of pigs in the transmission of NiV infection, unlike the Malaysian outbreak. Consumption of raw date palm sap infected by fruit bats was the primary cause of the spread of NiV. Kozhikode (Kerala, India) Outbreak: This is the third outbreak to occur in India and is currently ongoing in Kozhikode district in Kerala. Of the 20 patients who had presented with symptoms of NiV infection, 12 have so far died, including a nurse who got infected while treating patients. The Kerala government has assured the public that it is safe to travel to Kerala, but has nevertheless issued a travel advisory to preferably avoid 4 districts in Kerala, namely, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur. It is believed that the virus has the potential to spread to other states. One case of Nipah has already been detected from Mangalore in Karnataka, which has stepped-up surveillance and case detection efforts in the state as well as the neighboring states of Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Experts from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi are currently in Kozhikode to assess the situation. The outbreak is presently under control and the Union Health Ministry has urged citizens to remain calm and not to panic. Telemedicine, which literally translates to healing at a distance, involves the use of modern information and communication technology to make health care and health information accessible to people from a distance. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined telemedicine as follows - The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities. The following features characterize telemedicine: Provides clinical support Involves using information and communication technology for the purpose Connects persons who are not in the same place, thus overcoming geographical barriers to provide health care. Aims to improve the health outcome for the patient The terms telemedicine and telehealth are often used interchangeably. Broadly, telemedicine refers to provision of mainly clinical services from a distance, while telehealth also provides non-clinical health-related services such as administrative meetings, continuing medical education and training programs in addition to clinical services. Among the earliest recorded accounts of telemedicine is the use of telemedicine in the early part of the 20th century to transmit electrocardiographic (ECG) data through telephone wires. Modern telemedicine derived its impetus from the advancements in the field of information and telecommunication technology, especially the internet boom in the 1960s. The early forms of telephonic and radio communication in telemedicine have largely been supplanted by video telephony and telemedical gadgets that enable in-home health care access. Advertisement Broadly telemedicine can be classified into three major types, namely: Store and forward Remote patient monitoring Interactive or real time services Store and forward In this type of telemedicine, there is no physician-patient interaction or the presence of both the parties concurrently. The patient information in the form of medical images or bio signals are transmitted via electronic media to the physician, who reviews it at a convenient time and provides expert opinion. A precise and well-structured history and clinical background of the patient, preferably in electronic form is included along with the images for the benefit of the physician. The store and forward type of telemedicine is useful in the medical diagnostic fields of pathology and radiology, and dermatology. The major drawback of this form of telemedicine is that the physician cannot obtain the medical history directly from the patient or perform a physical examination, but instead has to rely on the information provided in electronic form. Remote patient monitoring This type of telemedicine involves monitoring the patient remotely using various technological devices. It is especially useful in the follow-up of chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. The outcomes appear to be comparable to traditional physician-patient encounters. It might be cost-effective and saves patients the trouble of traveling long distances with their health condition for frequent follow-ups. Other applications of remote patient monitoring include management of joint disease and home-based nocturnal dialysis, to name a few. Interactive and real time services In this type of telemedicine, there is an interaction between the physician and the patient, for example, over videoconferencing, with the need for both to be present simultaneously. It is possible to obtain a history and perform several assessments in this form of telelmedicine. Statistics according to the WHO region related to the four fields of telemedicine - teleradiology, telepathology, telepsychiatry and teledermatology are mentioned below: Regions of Southeast Asia, Europe and Americas had the highest proportion of established telemedicine services. Southeast Asia and Europe had high level of established teleradiology programs compared to the global rate. African and Eastern Mediterranean had the lowest proportion of established telemedicine services. Additional facts on telemedicine are mentioned below: High income countries have a higher proportion of established telemedicine programs, probably due to presence of well-developed information and communication technology systems, and allocation of funds for health care. Store and forward initiatives are generally implemented with lesser difficulty, compared to real time services, since they require less bandwidth for data transfer compared to real time services requiring higher bandwidth for videoconferencing purposes. Telepathology, teleradiology and teledermatology services are less bandwidth intensive and more often employed than telepsychiatry, which requires a real time doctor-patient interaction. Globally, 25 percent of countries reported having a national telemedicine policy or strategy. The global revenue from the telemedicine market is expected to reach around 4.5 billion U.S. dollars by 2018. In a survey conducted in the US, more than 70 percent of respondents aged 18 to 44 were open to the idea of telemedical services. In the UK, 10.2 percent of healthcare professionals employed health information collected via smartphones as of January 2015. More than half of the hospitals in the US have an established telemedicine program. Insurance companies in the US are required to pay for telemedicine services with certain limitations in at least 29 states. Telemedicine is used in the following specialties: 1. Telenursing involves the use of information and communication technology to provide nursing care and services to patients even in the presence of physical distance. 2. Telepathology is another area where the transmission of high quality microscopic images through the internet can be used for teaching, diagnostic and research purposes. It is necessary for a qualified pathologist to choose the appropriate, representative high quality image to be sent for analysis. 3. Teleradiology As discussed earlier, radiology is one of the areas where telemedicine is employed in a big way. Radiological images such as x-rays, CT scans and MRI are transmitted via the internet to a radiologist or physician, who needs to have a computer with a high quality screen display, and if possible, a printer that prints high quality images. 4. Telepharmacy - In telepharmacy, pharmaceutical care is made accessible to patients at locations where they may not have access to a pharmacist. The pharmacist can monitor treatment, counsel patients about intake of medications, and authorize prescription drug refills using teleconferencing or video conferencing. Remote dispensing of drugs using automated packaging and labeling systems is also an example of telepharmacy. These services can be provided at retail pharmacies or at hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other health care outlets. Telepharmacy may also be used for education, training and providing management services to pharmacists at remote locations. Advertisement 5. Teleophthalmology - Using digitized medical equipment and communication technology, optimal eye care facilities and monitoring of chronic eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy can be done for patients living in remote locations. This helps in providing low-cost eye care and access to eye specialists for poor and uninsured patients. 6. Telecardiology Specialist care and opinion in fields such as cardiology may be made accessible to patients by transmitting their ECGs and other test results using the internet to experts at the receiving end. Before the advent of internet, the then available technology employed wireless transmission of ECG images from the patients home or the ambulance to a central location in the hospital for cardiologist review. Interestingly, telemedicine was used way back in 1906 by Einthoven, the inventor of the ECG, to transmit electrocardiographic data from the hospital to his lab via telephone wires. Telecardiology can also be used to monitor the heart rhythm of patients implanted with pacemakers living in remote locations. In developing nations, electronic stethoscopes may be used as recording devices to transmit heart sound of the patient. 7. Teledentistry involves the use of electronic media for the purposes of dental care, and consultation and creation of public awareness regarding dental health. 8. Telepsychiatry Videoconferencing and other communication technologies can be used to make accessible specialist psychiatry services to persons living in underserved locations. Diagnosis, follow up and monitoring of drug intake of such patients is possible. Such facilities also permit consultation between psychiatrists and for the provision of educational programs. 9. Teledermatology - involves the use of audiovisual data transmission of skin conditions for specialist consultation, diagnosis and treatment. Teledermatology can also be used for educational purposes. In this way, patients living in places where specialist care is inaccessible can be served. 10. Telerehabilitation refers to the use of communication technology to provide rehabilitation services to patients that include speech therapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychology, physical therapy and audiology. Telerehabilitation enables health care to be delivered to patients unable to travel to the clinic or hospital due to their disability, and for expert consultation at a distance. 11. Teletrauma care uses modern communication tools to provide expert health care to patients in a trauma or disaster situation. Doctors and health personnel at the scene of disaster or trauma can interact with specialists via the internet or smartphones to help in assessing the severity of injuries and to determine management, and whether a particular patient might have to be shifted to a secondary or tertiary care center for further management. Telemedicine is also being employed in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting to minimize the spread of infection. A specialist with his team of doctors, nurses and residents can watch live video stream of vital signs and other data from the patients bedside, sitting in a conference room. They can offer inputs on management and patient care to the clinicians at the bedside. Some trauma centers use telemedicine to deliver trauma education and management lectures to doctors and health personnel at remote locations via videoconferencing. Operative procedures may also be beamed live to residents in distant locations for educational and training purposes. Telemedicine offers the following benefits namely: Availability of healthcare to patients living in rural or underserved areas without necessity to travel to the hospital. Useful in post-disaster, natural calamity situations or other emergency situations when traveling is not possible. Elderly patients and persons with chronic illnesses can have regular follow-up and monitoring through telemedicine. Monitoring of drugs and dose management can be done through telephone. The time for travel is saved and the cost of treatment may also come down. Facilitates health education by allowing students or health workers to observe and listen to experts in their respective fields. Medical teaching is possible by making available academic material and case presentations through webcasts, and teleconferencing. Electronic search engines, online medical sites and journals provide latest research news helping health professionals to stay updated. Specialists can also communicate with each other to solve difficult cases. Allows patients to participate in the decision making process since knowledge is made available to them. Presence of computerized database, especially in primary care settings allows the physician to access patient records and for multidisciplinary collaboration whenever needed. This could improve the quality of patient treatment. Home-based dialysis options are available to patients through video link supervision, whenever needed. Can possibly overcome the risk of transmission of infection between health care professional and the patient, or between patients. The following may be considered as possible downsides of telemedicine: Lack of direct interaction between the physician and the patient High cost of communication and data management equipment and its maintenance, which may not be easy for older people living alone Necessity to train personnel technically to handle communication and data management equipment Possibility of error when health care is delivered in the absence of a trained health professional Possibility of misuse of patient data through electronic transmission In certain instances, time taken to provide health care through telemedicine may actually be longer than traditional consultations because of increased time taken to assess and treat patients through virtual interactions Poor quality of records or images made available to the physician at the receiving end and omission of relevant clinical information might affect the quality of health care delivered Absence of proper legal regulations for some of the telemedicine practices Difficulty in claiming insurance or reimbursements in certain fields Telemedicine is being increasingly adopted in many centers across the globe, and gradually becoming an acceptable form of health care delivery. Telemedicine can offer a suitable alternative to traditional curative as well as preventive care, and could result in better health outcomes for the patient. In the developed world, it is possible that telemedicine might one day shift healthcare delivery into the confines of the patients home from the hospital. Extensive research and studies have been conducted on the use of telemonitoring of remote patients, with most of them showing how valuable remote healthcare could be. Results have shown a decreased need for hospital readmissions, reduced home nursing visits and lower overall health costs. Additionally, patients and their caregivers using telemedicine technology have reported higher satisfaction with quality of treatment provided. These findings have in fact encouraged many countries such as the United Kingdom to integrate remote healthcare into their present healthcare systems. If anything, the one question that begs answering is when will telemedicine become an integral part of standard health care? Recognizing the seriousness of the problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a resolution in 1998 to eradicate trachoma as a public health problem by 2020. Trachoma is one of the oldest diseases known to mankind and has occurred in many parts of the world including the United States and Europe as recently as the 20 th century. With advancements in treatment and improvements in hygienic conditions, many countries have succeeded in eradicating trachoma but it still remains a serious health concern in nearly 42 countries worldwide. Trachoma is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium found in the discharge from the eyes and nose of infected individuals. The infection is contagious and spreads from person to person via hands, clothes or shared bedding. It can also be spread by flies which have been in contact with the infected discharge. In areas where the disease is endemic, it usually affects pre-school children and infection spreads from one child to the other in the family setting, usually in overcrowded and poor sanitary conditions. The following are the risk factors of being infected with trachoma: Poor hygiene Unclean hands and faces increases risk of spread of trachoma Unclean hands and faces increases risk of spread of trachoma Poverty The disease is endemic in developing countries amongst the very poor due to overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions, not to mention malnutrition The disease is endemic in developing countries amongst the very poor due to overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions, not to mention malnutrition Lack of sanitation Absence of toilets increases the incidence of the disease Absence of toilets increases the incidence of the disease Gender In many populations, women are more susceptible, possibly because they are the primary caregivers for the affected children In many populations, women are more susceptible, possibly because they are the primary caregivers for the affected children Age The disease is most commonly seen in children between the ages of 4-6 years The disease is most commonly seen in children between the ages of 4-6 years Flies In places where there are many flies, the risk of transmission is much higher Trachoma is an endemic disease and a major public health concern in 42 countries globally. More than 200 million persons living in trachoma endemic areas are at risk. It has caused the blindness of nearly 2 million persons worldwide. globally. More than are at risk. It has caused the blindness of nearly 2 million persons worldwide. The disease is highly endemic in the most backward and poorest regions of Africa, Asia and Middle East, South and Central America, and Australia. Africa remains the most affected continent. It is a common and preventable cause of blindness. The WHO adopted a resolution in 1998 to work towards global eradication of trachoma as a public health issue by the year 2020 . . The health cost due to trachoma and the economic impact due to loss of productivity following blindness and visual deficit caused by trachoma is estimated to be between US $ 3-5 billion annually. Blindness due to trachoma is irreversible, and can only be cured through corneal. In 2015 alone, approximately 56 million persons worldwide were treated with antibiotics and nearly 200,000 persons underwent surgery for advanced disease. The WHO theme for the elimination of trachoma encapsulates the acronym SAFE S Surgery for advanced disease Surgery for advanced disease A Antibiotics for C trachomatis infection Antibiotics for infection F Facial cleanliness Facial cleanliness E Environmental improvement to decrease risk of spread. Advertisement Following infection, symptoms appear within a week or two. Initially the symptoms are mild and include mild irritation and pain in the eyes and the eyelids. Repeated attacks or untreated infection ultimately leads to scarring and visual impairment. Symptoms of trachoma include the following: Mild irritation and itchiness of eyelids Pain in the eyes Light sensitivity (photophobia) Swelling of the eyelids Mucoid or mucopurulent discharge from the eyes A single infection of trachoma is easily treated with antibiotics. Repeated and recurrent infections, as is bound to occur in highly endemic zones, can lead to long-term complications such as the following: Thickened eyelid and scar formation on the inner aspect of the eyelid. The upper eyelid is more commonly involved Indrawing of the eyelid (entropion) and ingrowing of the eyelashes (trichiasis) Opacity or clouding of the outer layer (cornea) of the eye Blindness or visual impairment Dryness of eyes In endemic areas, diagnosis is usually made based on physical examination. The Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium cannot be detected by routine laboratory tests that are employed for other bacterial agents. Confirmation of the diagnosis necessitates sending a sample of the eye discharge to specialized labs for tests which may not be available in these areas.. Recognizing the appearances and prompt treatment with antibiotics is essential to prevent complications. The WHO has identified 5 stages in the evolution of trachoma infection. Stage of follicular inflammation Presence of tiny follicles (tiny bumps) 5 or more in number on the inner surface of the upper eyelid. Presence of tiny follicles (tiny bumps) 5 or more in number on the inner surface of the upper eyelid. Stage of intense inflammation The eye becomes infectious and the upper eyelid becomes thickened and swollen. The eye becomes infectious and the upper eyelid becomes thickened and swollen. Scarring of eyelid Repeated episodes of infection cause scarring of the upper eyelid which may become drawn inwards. Repeated episodes of infection cause scarring of the upper eyelid which may become drawn inwards. Stage of ingrown eyelashes The deformed and scarred eyelids cause the eyelashes to grow inwards and rub against the outer transparent surface of the eye, the cornea, through which light normally enters the eye. The deformed and scarred eyelids cause the eyelashes to grow inwards and rub against the outer transparent surface of the eye, the cornea, through which light normally enters the eye. Clouding of the cornea Due to repeated irritation by rubbing of the ingrown eyelashes, the cornea becomes clouded or opaque. This can lead to loss of vision. With the evolution of the disease through the various stages, the cornea becomes opaque resulting in gradual loss of vision. Typically, the visual impairment occurs between 30-40 years of age but may occur earlier in highly endemic regions where the transmission is intense. The treatment of trachoma depends on the stage. In the initial stages, the disease is easily treated with antibiotics. Medications The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends one of two antibiotics for trachoma treatment namely, oral azithromycin or local application of tetracycline as an ointment. The advantages of azithromycin are that it is administered as a single dose under the supervision of the health care authorities; therefore, the health care worker can be sure that the patient has taken the medication. It is highly effective and has very few side effects which may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and rash. It is also effective against incidental skin, respiratory or genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections that might be present. infections that might be present. Tetracycline is a cheaper agent but its use by patients cannot be confirmed as it is not administered under the supervision of healthcare workers. The WHO recommends treating the entire population in communities where more than 10 percent of the children are affected. This measure is to reduce the spread of the disease. Surgical treatment Surgery is recommended in advanced disease with complications. The various surgical options include the following: Eyelid rotation surgery (bilamellar tarsal rotation) A tiny cut is made on the scarred eyelid and it is rotated away from the cornea. This will prevent rubbing of the eyelashes against the cornea and reduce or prevent corneal scarring and opacities, thereby halting the progression of loss of vision. (bilamellar tarsal rotation) A tiny cut is made on the scarred eyelid and it is rotated away from the cornea. This will prevent rubbing of the eyelashes against the cornea and reduce or prevent corneal scarring and opacities, thereby halting the progression of loss of vision. Corneal transplant If the cornea has become severely opaque, corneal transplant is an option to restore the vision. Unfortunately, this procedure does not show good results in trachoma. If the cornea has become severely opaque, corneal transplant is an option to restore the vision. Unfortunately, this procedure does not show good results in trachoma. Epilation This procedure is done to pluck out the ingrowing eyelashes rubbing on the cornea; it will need to be repeated regularly. This procedure is done to pluck out the ingrowing eyelashes rubbing on the cornea; it will need to be repeated regularly. Placing an adhesive tape over your eyelashes to keep them from touching the corneal surface is a temporary option when surgery is not available. Advertisement The adage, prevention is better than cure is very applicable to trachoma. The disease can be easily prevented and rate of transmission reduced by following the measures outlined below: Keeping face and hands clean to prevent re-infection. Access to clean water for bathing, washing and for use in toilets Proper disposal of human and animal waste to reduce spread through flies Fly control measures. The WHO has adopted a resolution to prevent trachoma infection and eradicate it by 2020. It is actively implementing the SAFE strategy to make its goal a reality. Trachoma is easily treatable with antibiotics, and complications such as blindness can be avoided. However, in the poorest population, lack of awareness, poor sanitary conditions and access to health care results in advanced disease with complications leading to blindness and visual impairment. Trichotillomania (TTM) , commonly known as hair pulling disorder , is an impulse control disorder in which hair loss occurs because the patient cannot resist the urge to pull out their own hair, despite trying to stop. The most common areas affected include the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelids . This results in noticeable hair loss, clearly visible as irregular bald patches. TTM is not an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) per se , but the two conditions can coexist. TTM resembles another similar condition called compulsive skin picking, technically termed as dermatillomania. TTM often runs in families , in which case a family member is more likely to be affected by the disorder. Origin of the Term "Trichotillomania" The term trichotillomania was coined by the French dermatologist Francois Henri Hallopeau in 1889. The name is derived from the Greek thrix (hair), tillein (to pull), and mania (madness). Epidemiology of Trichotillomania Comprehensive, large-scale epidemiological studies for TTM are lacking. However, from smaller studies, it has been estimated that 13.5% of adolescents and young adults are affected by TTM. Although anecdotal evidence is available that TTM occurs in younger children, solid evidence is still lacking. Females are affected more the males. Advertisement Classification of Trichotillomania TTM is classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) as an impulse control disorder. Thus, TTM falls in the same category as the obsessive-compulsive spectrum, which includes OCD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), nail biting (onychophagia), dermatillomania, tic disorders, and eating disorders. However, this classification system is far from being complete and has not been unanimously accepted by all psychiatrists because of the peculiarity of the disorder. This is because TTM may seem, at times, to resemble a habit, an addiction, a tic disorder or an OCD, as a result of which a proper classification is very difficult. TTM is undoubtedly a mental disorder, associated with changes in behavior. However, the exact cause is still unknown. Some possible causes are briefly highlighted below: Emotional Stress: TTM can be regarded as an external manifestation of coping with mental stress, anxiety, and/or depression. This can be seen as an addiction for inflicting self-harm (hair pulling), which can provide relief from emotional distress. Importantly, TTM can overlap with the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, where hair pulling has been observed. Neurotransmitter Imbalance: TTM could result from an imbalance of chemicals (neurotransmitters) present within the brain that convey messages from one part of the brain to another part. Imbalance of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine can cause changes in our mood e.g. happiness or sadness, which is often associated with TTM. Hormonal Imbalance: It is well-established that TTM affects women more than men. Therefore, changes in the hormonal patterns in teenage girls at the time of menarche during puberty can precipitate this mental disorder. Altered Gene Function: TTM could be caused by altered functions at the genetic level. A genetic link has been suspected for TTM, since this disorder is sometimes associated with similar disorders like OCD, which could affect the pathogenesis, disease progression, and prognosis. Habit Formation: Since hair pulling gives a feeling of relief or satisfaction, the more the person indulges in it, the greater the urge and the stronger the habit becomes. These observations can be explained by the Neurocognitive Model, which regards TTM as a habit disorder. This stems from the fact that the basal ganglia of the brain are responsible for habit formation, while the frontal lobes are responsible for suppressing or inhibiting such habits. Advertisement Some of the major symptoms and signs of TTM include the following: Intense Urge to Pull Ones Hair: Persons suffering from TTM have an intense urge to pull their hair. This can be due to a stressful condition that may act as a trigger, while it can also occur without any apparent trigger. Until and unless the person is able to pull their hair, they feel very tensed and irritable. After pulling-out the hair, the person feels a sense of pleasure, gratification, relief and/or satisfaction. Presence of Bald Patches: Repetitive pulling of hair causes bald patches on the scalp. These can be irregular in shape, often occurring disproportionately on one side. These patches are also evident on the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, moustache, and even the pubic and perianal areas. Abnormal Behavior: The affected person may exhibit strange behavioral patterns pertaining to TTM. These include rituals that may accompany hair pulling and patterns of hair pulling, including preference for a certain type of hair. Others include inspecting the hair root, twirling the hair, pulling the hair between the teeth, biting, chewing, and swallowing the pulled hair. It has been demonstrated that swallowing the hair can cause gastrointestinal complications arising from trichobezoars or hairballs. Disruption of Social Functioning: TTM causes significant disruption and impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. This manifests as avoidance of work, school, or other public and social gatherings. Sense of Embarrassment: Individuals suffering from TTM feel a great sense of embarrassment, often bordering upon depression. They try to conceal their bald patches from public view, often avoiding contact with anyone. They may also exhibit feelings of shame, guilt, frustration, and low self-esteem that may affect self-image, which is akin to body dysmorphic disorder. Preference for Seclusion: Sometimes, the sufferers are so ashamed of themselves that they may prefer to live in seclusion. They avoid friends as well as any physical relationships, for fear of exposure of their condition. For the same reason, they may not even want to get married. Diagnosis is essentially based upon good clinical practices, such as an accurate assessment of patients in order to gather information for planning treatment and to evaluate changes in severity of symptoms. The doctor assesses the presenting symptoms, severity of the symptoms, functional impairment (if any), differential diagnosis, and comorbidities. Briefly, a diagnosis of trichotillomania can be considered if the following are present Repeated hair pulling results in noticeable hair loss Feeling of anxiety or distress just before pulling out the hair or trying to resist the behavior Sense of relief and pleasure when pulling out the hair No other obvious mental or medical condition found to explain the symptoms Socially impacts the life of the person There are several diagnostic approaches that are currently used to diagnose and evaluate the condition of patients suffering from TTM. All these are based upon a set of questionnaires that are given to the patients to fill-up. These questionnaires are aimed at assessing the mental state of the patients with reference to the disorder. Based upon the patients responses, the doctor makes a diagnosis. Besides these questionnaires, photographic evidence is also gathered. These diagnostic approaches are listed below: Trichotillomania Diagnostic Interview (TDI) National Institute of Mental Health Trichotillomania Severity Scale (NIMH-TSS) Massachusetts General Hospital Hair pulling Symptom Severity Scale (MGH-HS) Milwaukee Inventory of Subtypes of Trichotillomania (MIST) Premonitory Urge Scale (PUS) or Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) Photography: Photographs are taken not only for diagnostic purposes, but also to monitor the progression of treatment. Photographs are generally taken of the patients primary pulling sites and the bald areas. There are a wide variety of treatment options for TTM that are currently available for children, adolescents and adults. These include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, support groups, hypnosis, pharmacotherapy, and combined approaches. Some of the major strategies for the treatment of TTM are briefly discussed below: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a three-pronged approach: Awareness Training: This uses techniques that make the patient aware of his/her condition by way of self-monitoring. For example, maintaining a diary where the patient records the number of urges he/she experiences. This uses techniques that make the patient aware of his/her condition by way of self-monitoring. For example, maintaining a diary where the patient records the number of urges he/she experiences. Impulse Control: This aims at finding out the triggers that cause hair pulling and learning how to avoid them. This aims at finding out the triggers that cause hair pulling and learning how to avoid them. Competing Response Training: Also known as habit-reversal training, this involves teaching the patient to replace hair pulling with a physically incompatible behavior, like squeezing a stress ball. Pharmacotherapy: This approach uses medicines to treat TTM. Some of these pharmacological molecules are briefly highlighted below: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI): These drugs are typically used as antidepressants to treat anxiety disorders and major depression. However, it is now generally accepted that SSRIs are not considered as first-line therapy for TTM per se . However, combination therapy with SSRI and CBT has been found to be superior to SSRI or CBT alone. These drugs are typically used as antidepressants to treat anxiety disorders and major depression. However, it is now generally accepted that SSRIs are not considered as first-line therapy for TTM . However, combination therapy with SSRI and CBT has been found to be superior to SSRI or CBT alone. Clomipramine: This is a tricyclic antidepressant with serotonergic and other properties that has been found to be efficacious for treating TTM. However, due to its unfavorable side-effects, it has been relegated to a second-line therapy for TTM. This is a tricyclic antidepressant with serotonergic and other properties that has been found to be efficacious for treating TTM. However, due to its unfavorable side-effects, it has been relegated to a second-line therapy for TTM. New Pharmacological Agents: Recent research has revealed the efficacy of three new pharmacologic agents for the treatment of TTM. These include an opioid antagonist (naltrexone), a glutamate modulator (N-acetylcysteine [NAC]) and an atypical neuroleptic (olanzapine). There may be several complications arising from TTM. These are briefly highlighted below: Decreased Quality of Life: The quality of life can become decreased substantially, because the patient is always bogged down by feelings of guilt, shame, isolation, and embarrassment. This greatly hampers social functioning, such as absenteeism from school/work, fewer friends, and difficulty in intimate relationships. Many of the sufferers become frustrated and angry in not being able to control their urges, which often leads to substance abuse, such as alcohol, smoking, and drug abuse. Importantly, this situation is a vicious circle, escape from which is very difficult. Traction Alopecia: Alopecia means hair loss. TTM results in extensive hair loss due to constantly pulling-out the hair, in which case it is termed as traction alopecia. This causes bald patches on the scalp, which leads to substantially reduced self-confidence and self-esteem. Trichobezoars: These are hair balls that can form in the stomach or intestine as a result of eating the pulled hair. This can cause serious problems such as peptic perforation, obstructive jaundice, and acute pancreatitis. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove the trichobezoars. Psychiatric Complications: Psychiatric complications are common sequelae of TTM. These include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders and personality disorders. In case of teenagers, disruptive behavior disorders are the most prominent complications. The Chief Ministers Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme is launched through the United Insurance Company Ltd. The United Insurance Company is a public sector Insurer which is headquartered at Chennai; its aim is to provide free medical and surgical treatment in Government and Private hospitals to family members whose yearly income is less than Rs. 72,000/- (as certified by the Village Administrative Officers). This health insurance scheme covers all expenses related to the hospitalization of the beneficiary as mentioned in the Scope of the Scheme. The new insurance scheme will replace the previous ''Kalaignar Insurance Scheme'' that covered 642 medical procedures and which expired on 5th July 2011. The State Government of Tamil Nadu has introduced a new Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme for the residents of the state. A sum of Rs.150 crores has been allotted for this. This was announced in the Assembly by the Finance Minister Mr. O. Panneerselvam on 4th August 2011. This scheme will cover 1,016 procedures, 113 follow-up procedures and 23 diagnostic procedures. The cost of tests necessary for treatment would also be part of the insurance cover. The Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme provides cashless hospitalization facility for specified diseases/procedures. This scheme permits a coverage up to Rs. 1,00,000/- per family per year on a floater basis for the diseases and medical procedures which are covered under the Annexure C. For few specified critical diseases and medical procedures which are covered under Annexure D in this health insurance scheme, the limit is increased from Rs.1,00,000 to Rs. 1,50,000/ In this scheme free health camps/screening camps will be organized by the network hospitals as per the instructions given by the project director of Tamil Nadu Health Systems Society. At least one camp per month per empanelled hospital will be held in the districts in every policy year. Priority for Government Hospitals The new scheme also seeks to give government hospitals priority over those in the private sector. Certain types of treatments will be permitted only in government hospitals and special wards will be set up for this in hospitals approved by the Government. Advertisement Under the scheme, certain medical procedures will be allowed to be performed only at government hospitals, which will help in their upgradation and special and exclusive areas will be earmarked in the government hospitals identified under the scheme. Interim Period The State Government would identify an insurance firm for implementing the new insurance scheme. During the interim period, till the insurance firm is selected, those requiring treatment will be allowed under the existing scheme at recognized hospitals limited to the amount fixed under the scheme. The required amount incurred on treatment would be sent directly to the hospital. Every family member whose annual family income is less than Rs.72,000/- according to Village Administrative Officer or any other person who is eligible for coverage under the "Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme" by the Government will be "Eligible Persons" under the Scheme. The family includes the eligible member and the other members of his or her family as follows: Legal spouse of the eligible person Children of the eligible individual till they get employed or married or reach 25 years of age, whichever is earlier, and others who are dependent on the eligible person. Dependent parents of the eligible person. The prevalent 642 types of surgeries have been reformed with a number of 950 types of procedures permissible in the scheme including the treatment for infants. All the tests for patients undergoing treatment will be confined to the stipulated amount. Also the amount incurred by the patients for the test undergone through government and private hospitals will be included in the insurance even in cases where surgeries were not done. This was not available in the earlier scheme. Expenses Being Covered The expenses will be covered, if the patients are recommended to undergo these tests through government hospitals or medical camps; do not need to undergo surgery following the diagnostic procedures. The earlier scheme does not cover such treatment if the patient does not undergo surgery. Other Additional Features Other additional features in the proposed scheme include cover for expenses incurred by the patient a day before being admitted to the hospital and for 5 days following discharge from the hospital; and cover for treatment that may be needed following surgery. This was not there in the old scheme. The amount required for post operative treatment for certain diseases would be fixed and paid later. Advertisement Dedicated Facilities Government hospitals will also be upgraded with dedicated facilities created under this scheme to encourage the public to use the services of Government hospitals. The insurance cover will also be paid to government hospitals apart from certain types of treatments, which will be extended only in Government hospitals under this scheme. Separate Fund Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa said the system of providing the treatment charges directly to the private hospitals would also be extended to the government hospitals. Under the scheme, certain medical procedures will be allowed to be performed only at government hospitals which will help in their upgradation. A separate fund is earmarked for the continuation of surgeries which may be needed in selected cases. There was no provision for that in the previous scheme. This will attract more patients to the government hospitals, she said. Improvement of Primary Health Care Facilities in Urban Areas By implementing the new insurance scheme, the people of Tamil Nadu are assured of quality medical facilities, Ms Jayalalithaa added. The government will focus on improvement of primary health care facilities in urban areas. The 60 centers already sanctioned under the National Rural Health Mission, will be shifted under the administrative and technical control of the Directorate of Public Health. Further, the Urban Primary Health Care centers will be set up in 75 more small urban towns. A super-specialty center, at a cost of Rs.100 crores, would be set up in Annal Gandhi Government Hospital, Tiruchi. Infrastructure and Equipment Upgradation Infrastructure and equipment upgradation has been planned for district hospitals and poison treatment centers at a cost of Rs. 55 crores, under the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project. Also, under public-private partnership agreements, diagnostic facilities at the major hospitals will be improved, and state-of-the-art computer aided laboratories established in all districts in a phased manner. Emergency Transportation Emergency transportation provided through the 108 ambulance service will further be extended to offering inter-facility transfer for all emergencies. Additionally, special vehicles will be put into service in tribal and hilly areas, and one vehicle will be provided per district for transporting new born babies. Tamil Nadu State Population whose annual family income of less than Rs 72,000/-, and all the families including welfare board members who were enrolled early are eligible to get benefit in this interim period. New families can also get benefit with production of income certificate and ration card. They are eligible to get benefit up to Rs. 1 lakh in this interim period. The State Government plans to give a big impetus to healthcare, with accent on modernization and accessibility of services. The Government had proposed an outlay of Rs 4,761 crore for healthcare this year, during the recent Budget session. Key among its various initiatives is the revamped health insurance scheme and the proposal to convert the new Secretariat complex into a multi-specialty hospital and medical college. 1. Super Specialty Centers The multi-specialty hospital in Chennai's Anna Salai proposes to provide specialty treatment free of cost to the needy, will house modern equipment; medical experts, nurses and technical staff will also be appointed. The hospital will match the facilities at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, said the Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa. In the recently presented Budget, the State Government had also announced setting up of a super-specialty centre in Annal Gandhi Government Hospital, Tiruchi, at a cost of Rs 100 crore. 2. Universal Healthcare Two major schemes, the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM) and Tamil Nadu Health System Project are being implemented to achieve the goal of universal healthcare in the State. During 2011-12, the Government proposes to spend Rs 900 crore under NRHM. The State Government says it will focus on improving primary healthcare facilities in urban areas as they are inadequate at present. 3. Hospital on Wheels A Hospital on Wheels' scheme will be launched by the Government to provide healthcare services at the doorstep in remote areas. The Government also proposes to distribute sanitary napkins free of cost to rural girls. A sum of Rs 46 crore has been provided in the Revised Budget Estimates for this purpose. Bids Invited A tender inviting bids from insurance company to implement the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme in Tamil Nadu has already been announced. The coverage will be up to Rs 1 lakh per family per year with provision to pay up to Rs 1.5 lakh per year per family for certain specified procedures. The Project Director, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Society, will pay the insurance premium on behalf of the eligible persons to the successful bidder. The premium will be paid every year in 4 quarterly installments. "The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who, in their grueling travels across trackless lands in prehistoric times, looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space, at full speed, above all obstacles, on the infinite highway of the air." - Wilbur Wright The aviator is correct! Probably this 'constructive envy' made the Wright brothers invent the first mechanical bird that flew the predecessor of the modern aircraft. Air travel is the quickest means of transportation- and today, with airlines targeting the 'common man' by reducing airfares, it certainly is an exciting and attractive travel prospect. Nevertheless, a word of caution! It is no flight of fancy that illness or medical conditions may be exacerbated during flights. So, before you book your flight tickets, review the compatibility of your (or companion's) health with air travel . Just following a few precautions may save you an uncomfortable flight. Here's an overview of some aviation- related medical conditions and advice for commercial air travelers. Always consult your physician if you have a health condition and want to fly. Be sure to carry all required medication and other accessories to help you enjoy a pleasant flight. Classic CJD was first recognized as early as 1920. The risk of CJD escalates with age; in people above the age of 50 years, the annual rate is 3.4 cases per million. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare form of degenerative brain disorder that leads to a rapid decrease of mental function and movement. CJD occurs, approximately, in 1 out of 1 million people. Symptoms usually begin around the age of 60 years and they include memory problems, vision problems, behavior changes and poor muscle coordination. These quickly progress to dementia, coma and eventually death within a year. CJD is brought about by prion, a protein that brings about abnormal folding of other proteins, thus causing them to function abnormally. There are three forms of CJD and they include the following - Sporadic or classical CJD occurs due to unknown reasons. It is not in any way related to the mad cow disease. Hereditary CJD - occurs when an abnormal prion is inherited from a parent. Acquired or Variant CJD appears to be related to mad cow disease and occurs due to contact with infected tissue, especially during a corneal transplant or a blood transfusion. It can also be acquired from contaminated electrodes used during a brain surgery. Advertisement Symptoms and Signs Some of the signs and symptoms of CJD are listed below: Blurred vision Disorientation Changes in gait Memory loss/ dementia Sleepiness Decline or lack of coordination Muscle stiffness /twitching Hallucinations Jerks /Seizures /Nervousness Personality changes Speech impairment Nervous, jumpy feelings The dementia seen in CJD patients is different from that seen in Alzheimers disease patients as the symptoms worsen with great speed in those with CJD, leading to a quicker death. Complications of CJD include infection, inability to interact with others or to take care of oneself, and death. Diagnosis Early on during the disease, mental problems and related dysfunctions can be observed. As the disease progresses, a motor system exam may reveal abnormal reflexes, increased muscle tone, strong startle response, muscle twitches or spasms, loss of co- ordination and muscle wasting. Symptoms due to changes in the cerebellum, an area of the brain which controls co-ordination, can be noted. An eye examination is likely to reveal areas of blindness that the patient is unlikely to notice. Some of the tests that a doctor might recommend include CT scan, electroencephalogram (EEG), MRI, spinal tap or aspiration to detect the presence of the protein. The final diagnosis is done with a brain biopsy or after death, with an autopsy. Treatment and Prognosis Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease has no cure although interleukins and other medications may help to slow the progress of the disease. Medications to control aggressive or agitated behavior may be required. Providing a safe environment is an absolute necessity for these patients. Almost all of them require assistance, in the form of visiting nurses, volunteer services, adult protective services be it in their homes or in a care facility. They may even require help getting oriented to their immediate surroundings. Counseling may help family members to cope with the trauma. The prognosis of CJD is usually a poor one. Half a year after the symptoms show up, patients become disoriented and unable to take care of themselves. Death comes soon due to infection, respiratory failure or heart failure, after approximately eight months of symptom onset. However a few people have survived for a year or more. False pregnancy (or pseudocyesis) is the presence of clinical signs and symptoms associated with pregnancy without actually being pregnant. Phanthom pregnancy and hysterical pregnancy are older terms used to refer to pseudocyesis. When the false signs and symptoms of pregnancy are seen in mammals other than human beings, the term is referred to as pseudo pregnancy. Dogs and mice are the most commonly seen mammals presenting with false pregnancy. False pregnancy in men is also possible and could be caused by pheromones (chemicals that help communicate to change the behavior of other animals of the same species) that specifically increase estrogen, prolactin and cortisol levels. Pseudocyesis in men is more common if their partner is expecting a baby and such a condition is called the Couvade syndrome. The person with pseudocyesis believes that she or he is expecting a baby when they are not really carrying a child. Most of the symptoms of pregnancy occur in pseudocyesis with the exception that there is no fetus in the uterus. It is different from malingering in which a woman knows that she is not pregnant but feigns pregnancy for certain benefits. Pseudocyesis excludes delusions of pregnancy that may occur in schizophrenia or any other related psychotic disorders. Doctors suspect that some types of psychological factors may trigger the body to believe that it is pregnant. The condition can be a result of the woman feeling an intense desire to get pregnant. This desire in turn can be triggered due to Repeated miscarriages Impending menopause Pressure from family to have a child Desire to get married Diagnosis of infertility Factors like poverty, lack of education, sexual abuse in early life and interpersonal relationships can also be a cause of pseudocyesis. Some of the pregnancy signs may occur in a woman with a strong desire to get pregnant. They may be enlarged breasts, interruption of the menstrual period or even feeling fetal movements. The brain misinterprets these signs as pregnancy and releases the relevant hormones such as estrogen and prolactin, which further enhance the symptoms of pregnancy. Advertisement The symptoms of false pregnancy are almost the same as a natural pregnancy with the exception of the absence of the fetus. They include: Swollen abdomen and abdominal distension Feeling of fetal movements Interruption of menstrual period Morning sickness Nausea and vomiting Weight gain Enlarged breasts and tenderness, changes in the nipples Sometimes milk production Rarely a person may arrive at the doctors office with what feels like labor pains Symptoms in a false pregnancy can last for a few weeks, for nine months or sometimes for several years. A doctor evaluates symptoms of pregnancy, performs a pelvic exam and abdominal ultrasound, as performed for a real pregnancy. Physical examination may reveal uterine enlargement and softening of the cervix, similar to the pregnancy symptoms. Urine pregnancy tests will be negative, except for rare cancers that can produce hormones similar to pregnancy. Pregnancy ultrasound tests can reveal the absence of the formation of the fetus and the heartbeats. Other medical conditions that mimic symptoms of pregnancy include ectopic pregnancy morbid obesity and cancer. These conditions can be easily identified in a regular or specialized pregnancy ultrasound scan. Diagnosis of false pregnancy must be done after ruling out delusions of pregnancy. In delusions, the pregnancy-like changes in the body are not seen, while pseudocyesis presents with the exact somatic symptoms of pregnancy except for the absence of the fetus. Breaking the news of absence of pregnancy to a woman who believes that she is pregnant can be a challenge for the doctors. If the doctor tries to convince that the woman has tested negative in the urine test, she would argue to claim that it could be a false negative pregnancy test. A confirmatory serum pregnancy test is often performed to strengthen the diagnosis. It is important that the underlying cause of the condition is identified and handled with care. The person needs psychological support such as counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy for handling the situation that has given rise to the need to believe that she is pregnant. Sometimes antidepressants are also given. Pseudopregnancy in Other Mammals: Some animals may present false pregnancy due to the corpus luteum. The remains of the ovulated ovarian follicle, called corpus luteum, trigger brain to produce hormones and cause development of maternal behavior and lactation. Pseudo pregnancy is seen to occur in dogs, cats, mice and swine. They manifest the signs of pregnancy following an estrus phase (sexually receptive phase) in which the female either has not been bred or mated with an infertile male. The corpus luteum triggers the production of progesterone and development of characteristics and behaviours required for the care of the offspring. Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR) or Insertable Cardiac Monitor is a small implantable device which monitors electrical heart activity and records the arrhythmias. It is a USB-sized device. Abnormal heart rhythm is called arrhythmia. There are many devices to evaluate the electrical rhythm of the heart. The Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a routine test which aids in the recording of the electrical activity of heart. ECG alone is not adequate in patients who experience arrhythmias less frequently. Holter Monitoring helps in the continuous electrocardiographic (the graphical record of electrical heart activity) recording for 24-48 hours or more. Cardiac event recorder is a portable external device, which helps to record the electrical activity of the heart whenever the patient experiences the symptoms. Cardiac event monitor helps to detect the arrhythmias, which occur less than daily. Implantable Loop Recorder (ILR) is an implantable device that can be used in patients with arrhythmias, which occur once in months or year. Advertisement ILR is useful in patients who present with the following symptoms and when ECG, 24 hour Holter monitor or a 30-day event monitor are not enough to capture the problem because of the less frequent occurrence. Recurrent Unexplained Syncope: Syncope is temporary unconsciousness. It can be due to multiple reasons. Cardiac causes of syncope are arrhythmias, obstructed blood flow within the heart, heart failure, myocardial infarction, diseases of the valves of the heart, cardiomyopathies, aortic stenosis or blood clot. The diagnostic tests like electrocardiogram and echocardiogram can help to detect the underlying cause of the cardiac syncope. ILR is useful in recurrent unexplained syncope. Syncope is temporary unconsciousness. It can be due to multiple reasons. Cardiac causes of syncope are arrhythmias, obstructed blood flow within the heart, heart failure, myocardial infarction, diseases of the valves of the heart, cardiomyopathies, aortic stenosis or blood clot. The diagnostic tests like electrocardiogram and echocardiogram can help to detect the underlying cause of the cardiac syncope. ILR is useful in recurrent unexplained syncope. Recurrent Palpitations: In patients with infrequent unexplained palpitations, ILR is safe and cost effective diagnostic option. Cryptogenic Stroke: ILR is found to be useful in patients with unexplained stroke (decrease in the blood supply to the brain) due to undetected atrial fibrillation. ILR is found to be useful in patients with unexplained stroke (decrease in the blood supply to the brain) due to undetected atrial fibrillation. Atrial Fibrillation: In patients with Atrial Fibrillation ILR can be used as a monitoring device. The battery life of the ILR is two years which gives ample time to detect the problem and hence it allows the physician to diagnose the condition to provide proper treatment. ILR records the electrical heart activity. It works by two ways. ILR monitors the heart rhythm and records any rhythm that crosses the set threshold parameters in the device. ILR records both the tachyarrhythmias (abnormal increase in the electrical heart activity) and bradyarrhythmias (abnormal decrease in the electrical heart activity). ILR also records the electrical heart activity when the patient triggers the patient activator. The patient should trigger the activator after placing it close to the chest and near the ILR. The patients are instructed to trigger when they experience lightheadedness, dizziness or skipped beats. The implantation of ILR is performed in the hospital. It is done under complete aseptic precautions and local anesthesia. The area left to the breastbone and below the collar is cleaned sterile. A local anesthetic agent is injected at the incision site. A skin incision of about 1-2 cm is made, and a pocket is created below the skin to hold the device. ILR is placed in the pocket; skin is sutured and dressed. It takes around 20-30 minutes to implant ILR. Advertisement The discharge is usually on the same day of the procedure. The doctor usually suggests the patient for a check-up after 1-2 weeks to make sure that the incision has healed. Later, the patient will be asked to visit once every three months.The device will be programmed to a threshold heart rate level to detect the low and high heart rates. It will be programmed to detect the arrhythmias. The device records when the heart rhythm reaches the set programmed parameters and also when the patient triggers the activator. The device check is called interrogation. Interrogation can be done at physicians office or remotely from the patients place. No special precautions are necessary. ILR does not interact with electronics like microwave ovens, laptops, washers, phones or metal detectors. It is suggested to carry an ILR Id card. The card helps when the patient travels and has to go through the metal detectors. Id card allows the doctor in the emergency room to find the abnormal recordings during the symptoms. ILR can be useful for a longer time. Once it is implanted, it can be a useful tool for around two years. In patients with arrhythmias that occur once in months or more, it can be the best diagnostic tool. Since it is an implantable device, the patient compliance issues are minimal. Hummingbirds may loom large in our minds thanks to their fast and flashy nature, but in truth these birds live life on a small scale starting with their eggs. Weighing in at less than one-fiftieth of an ounce, hummingbird eggs are easy to overlook, but these tiny wonders deserve our attention. To learn more, take a look below at our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about hummingbird eggs and the reproductive cycles of these extraordinary birds. Don't forget to make it to the bottom where you'll find important tips about how you can help protect hummingbirds. Hummingbird nest, egg, and hatchling. Photo by Damsea/Shutterstock How big are hummingbird eggs? Tiny. Hummingbird eggs are typically compared in size to small jelly beans. However, more than 350 different species of hummingbirds inhabit the Western Hemisphere the only part of the world they are found and their eggs vary somewhat in size. The smallest of hummingbirds, the Bee Hummingbird, found only in Cuba, lays eggs the size of coffee beans. The largest hummingbird, the nine-inch-long Giant Hummingbird, which lives in the Andes and weighs more than a Barn Swallow, lays eggs the length of a penny. Given their size, it shouldn't be surprising that these eggs don't weigh much. Ruby-throated Hummingbird eggs tip the scales at half a gram, about one-fifth of a penny's weight. Hummingbird nest and egg, with finger for scale. Photo by Barbara Ash/Shutterstock How often do hummingbirds lay eggs? Most hummingbirds lay eggs one to three times each year, depending on the species. Anna's Hummingbirds, for example, which live and breed in Pacific Coast states, usually have two to three broods annually. This is also the case with some non-migratory hummingbirds living in the tropics that breed several times each year. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, which migrate each year, typically have only one brood. But this isn't always the case. If a nest is destroyed early in the breeding season, female Ruby-throats may build another and lay more eggs. Female Anna's Hummingbird and chicks. Photo by Sen Yang/Shutterstock How many eggs do hummingbirds lay? Hummingbirds lay small clutches that range from one to three eggs, although two is the more typical size. Their eggs may appear miniscule when placed beside those of other birds, but when you factor in the tiny size of adult hummingbirds, they are actually quite large, proportionally speaking. An American Robin egg, for example, weighs 3.6 percent as much as the adult that laid it. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird's egg, on the other hand, is nearly 17 percent the weight of a mature Ruby-throat. Hummingbird nest and eggs. Photo by Daniel Lamborn/Shutterstock When do hummingbirds lay eggs? The time of year that hummingbirds lay eggs depends on their location. The Ruby-throated hummingbird, the sole breeding hummingbird in the eastern U.S., typically lays eggs between March and May. The exact date depends on a multitude of factors, not least of which is latitude. If this seems surprising, consider that most Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are migratory, spending winters in Mexico and Central America, and that northern destinations require more travel time and stay cold longer. In the West, breeding and egg-laying dates vary. Costa's Hummingbird, which is in found throughout the Southwest, lay their eggs from February to June. Rufous Hummingbirds, which breed in the Pacific Northwest, as well as Alaska and Canada, tend to lay their eggs later in the year, usually between April and July. Hummingbird chick with egg. Photo by Alison Thai/Shutterstock Where do hummingbirds lay their eggs? Like many but not all bird species, hummingbirds lay their eggs in nests. Woven with spiderweb thread and camouflaged with lichen, these tiny, well-hidden structures measure only a few inches in diameter making them the smallest bird nests in the world. To learn more about hummingbird nests, check out another of our posts, Hummingbird Nests 101: A Beginner's Guide, which uses photos and video to answers a range of common nest-related questions. Hummingbird nest and egg. Photo by Leonardo Dantas Teixeira/Shutterstock How long does it take for hummingbird eggs to hatch? Before hummingbird chicks can hatch, a period of incubation is required to regulate egg temperature and ensure healthy embryonic development. Depending on the species, this process can last from two to three weeks. Because males play no part in the incubation process, females pull double duty, responsible for both maintaining eggs and feeding themselves no little task. Female Black-chinned Hummingbirds in California balance these needs by embarking on brief but frequent food-gathering trips, usually six to nine times per hour, while nesting. In the tropics, where lower temperatures are less of a problem, things are easier for incubating females, allowing them to leave nests for longer periods of time. Male Black-chinned Hummingbird. Photo by Sumikphoto/Shutterstock What color are hummingbird eggs? Hummingbird eggs are usually dull white. Considering the incredible diversity of colors and patterns found on other bird eggs, the fact that these eggs lack pigmentation may tell us something about the impact of sunlight on embryonic hummingbirds. Researchers believe that egg coloration represents a delicate balancing act: Darker colors protect embryos from harmful UV rays, but also heat faster; lighter colors do the opposite, keeping eggs cooler, but potentially exposing them to greater UV dangers. If so, evolutionary pressure to keep eggs cool may have played a role in producing the white color of modern hummingbirds' eggs. Hummingbird eggs. Photo by Damsea/Shutterstock What do you do if you see a hummingbird egg? Consider yourself lucky if you catch a glimpse of hummingbird eggs it doesn't happen often. But don't touch! It is against the law in the U.S. to touch, relocate, or remove active nests. Apart from legal issues, human visitors can stress out female hummingbirds, which are already juggling multiple needs. Making matters worse, your presence can alert predators, such as jays, to the nest's location. For these reasons, it's best to keep away from hummingbird nests, observing from a distance with binoculars. Hummingbird chick in nest. Photo by Jocelyn Freeman/Shutterstock Do hummingbirds nest in the same place every year? Migratory hummingbirds often do return to favored nesting grounds annually, but they don't build their nests in the exact same location. Because their nests are built for one-time use, females need to construct new nests each year, usually in different trees or bushes, but within the same general vicinity. Hummingbirds' ability to faithfully repeat these long-distance journeys is no small feat especially considering that they're operating with brains the size of rice grains. How do they do it? Researchers believe that multiple factors at likely in play. These include the Earth's magnetic field, the sun's location, the use of topographic clues, and perhaps even smell, among other things. What happens after hummingbird eggs hatch? Hatchlings emerge from their shells nearly devoid of feathers and with their eyes closed. Unable to stand, these chicks are entirely dependent on their mother for food and warmth. In the weeks that follow, hummingbird chicks quickly develop in preparation for their first flight. If you'd like to learn more about hummingbird chicks, take a look at our post From Tiny Egg to Fledgling: Amazing Facts About How Hummingbirds Grow which provides a great introduction to the fascinating lives of these tiny, rarely seen chicks. Hummingbird chick. Photo by Jadimages/Shutterstock What threats do hummingbirds face? As mentioned above, hummingbird eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predators. Once fledged and out of the nest, hummingbirds face a multitude of human-caused threats. These include window collisions (birds can't see glass), unrestrained outdoor cats, toxic pesticides, and habitat destruction, among other things. How can I help? We all can do our part to protect hummingbirds. American Bird Conservancy and our Joint Venture partners have improved conservation management on 6.4 million acres of U.S. bird habitat an area larger than the state of Maryland over the last ten years. This is a monumental undertaking, requiring the support of many, and you can help by making a gift today. Policies enacted by Congress and federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have a huge impact on America's birds. You can help shape these rules for the better by telling lawmakers to prioritize birds, bird habitat, and bird-friendly measures. To get started, visit ABC's Action Center. Finally, don't overlook the impact you can have at home. If you have a garden, you can help hummingbirds by following eight simple steps, which include adding native flowering plants to your garden and reducing pesticide use. How ABC is helping hummingbirds ABC protects hummingbirds throughout their entire life-cycle. In the U.S., ABC helped establish the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Arizona, a space that educates the community about these wonderful birds. In Latin America, we work with partners and local communities to ensure there is habitat for the rarest species, including the Marvelous Spatuletail and the Blue-throated Hillstar. We support a reserve network with our partners that spans Latin America, covering more than 1 million acres and helping to protect 234 hummingbird species! With our partners, ABC also conducts field expeditions to search for new, and monitor known, hummingbird populations. These efforts allow us to detect population changes and to identify new threats or land-use changes that might affect species and their habitats. Parkinson's Disease (PD, is also known as idiopathic or primary parkinsonism , hypokinetic rigid syndrome /HRS, or paralysis agitans) is a brain disorder and a progressive disease that leads to persistent movement disorder and worsens over time. It is caused by the loss of dopamine brain cells (neurons). The patient usually experiences uncontrollable shaking and tremors, slow movement, problems in standing up, difficulty in balancing and stiffness in the limbs. It mostly affects the middle-aged and elderly. Idiopathic Parkinsons disease is the most common type and causes tremors, rigidity and slowness of movement. Although there is no permanent cure, medication and surgery are both available to manage its symptoms. Dr Richard Wade-Martins, University of Oxford is conducting a research on TRAPing Parkinsons why do some cells die? and he aims to find out why some cells die while others live. Parkinsons (PD) is a slowly progressive disease caused by the loss of dopamine brain cells (neurons). Dopamine, are brain cells produced in the substantia nigra of the brain. It is a neurotransmitter and a chemical messenger. Messages are transmitted between the substantia nigra and other parts of the body by dopamine. Dopamine brain cell death causes lesser dopamine. This causes impairment of movement in body parts. Advertisement The symptoms of Parkinsons disease begins when about 50 to 80 percent of dopamine neurons have died and it is hard for doctors to detect PD at its early stages. However, about 70 percent of people with the disease experience slight tremors in the hand and the foot over one side of the body. The symptoms are branched out to Primary Motor Symptoms and Secondary Motor Symptoms. The Primary Motor Symptoms are as described here: Resting tremor is usually experienced and happens when a persons muscles are completely relaxed. Typically, tremors on one finger are prominent. is usually experienced and happens when a persons muscles are completely relaxed. Typically, tremors on one finger are prominent. Slow movement also known as bradykinesia or movement disorder is another symptom that results in abnormal stiffness and decreases facial expression. A persons repetitive movements and routine functions are also often affected. This condition of slow movement may often lead to reduced speech. also known as bradykinesia or movement disorder is another symptom that results in abnormal stiffness and decreases facial expression. A persons repetitive movements and routine functions are also often affected. This condition of slow movement may often lead to reduced speech. Rigidity is yet another condition resulting in stiffness and the muscles do not relax like in a normal person. The person experiences rigidity in the neck, shoulder and legs. is yet another condition resulting in stiffness and the muscles do not relax like in a normal person. The person experiences rigidity in the neck, shoulder and legs. Postural instability is the most important sign of a PD patient. The person with this condition loses some reflexes essential for maintaining an upright posture. Patients with balance problem may have difficulty when turning around or pivoting or during quick movements. Here is a list of Secondary Motor Symptoms: Freezing causes fear to put the foot forward. The person feels that their feet are stuck to the ground. However it is a temporary feeling. causes fear to put the foot forward. The person feels that their feet are stuck to the ground. However it is a temporary feeling. Micrographia is the result of a Parkinsons patient whose handwriting shrinks. Mask-like Expression happens due to decreased and unconscious facial movements. A PD patient exhibits flexed posture resulting from rigidity and bradykinesia. is the result of a Parkinsons patient whose handwriting shrinks. Mask-like Expression happens due to decreased and unconscious facial movements. A PD patient exhibits flexed posture resulting from rigidity and bradykinesia. Unwanted accelerations occur in PD patients and cause trouble in speech and movement. People who experience festination face greater risks to falls. Advertisement Stage I: This is the mildest stage of PD which least interferes with routine tasks. Tremors and other symptoms are restricted to one side of the body. Stage II: It is a moderate stage in PD where stiffness, tremors and trembling can be noted and facial expressions may change. The symptoms are sensed on both sides of the body. Stage III: This is the mid-stage in PD, which symbolizes a major change point in PD progression. In addition to loss of balance and decreased flexes, the symptoms mentioned in stage II also occur. Occupational therapy combined with medication may help in decreasing the symptoms. Stage IV: In this progressive stage, it becomes difficult for the patient to move without a walker or other assistive device. However, the person can stand without assistance. Stage V: This is the most advanced and debilitating stage of PD. Stiffness in legs may cause freezing when standing. Patients are frequently unable to stand without falling. They may experience hallucinations and occasional delusions. In order to diagnose Parkinsons disease, the physician takes a neurological history and executes an examination. Clinical information provided by the PD person and findings from neurological examination plays a key role in the diagnosis, as there are no standard diagnostic tests available. The observations carried out include: The doctor examines the PD patients expression The patients arms are observed for any tremors that may occur at rest or when extended Stiffness in limbs or neck are observed It is checked if the patient can rise from a chair easily The patients pattern of walking is observed; the patient may be walking in short steps. It is examined if the patients arms swing symmetrically Also, the patients quickness in regaining balance is checked Over the years, it has been concluded that most PD patients respond to medications. However, the duration of drug efficiency varies from one person to another. Movement disorder and also non-motor symptoms vary from person to person. These affect PD patients at all stages of the disease. For some PD patients, fatigue or depression may be more complicated to deal with than movement disorders. In order to manage the symptoms of PD, it is common for PD patients to take an assortment of medications at different times and in different doses. A proper medication schedule provides great benefits to the patient. Certain classes of medication are available to treat PD. However, the exact condition of the patient and symptoms are diagnosed before prescribing the right combinations of medication and treatments. Some of the Medications are mentioned below: Carbidopa/ Levodopa Therapy Dopamine Agonists Anticholinergics MAO-B Inhibitors COMT Inhibitors Drugs 3D and 4D ultrasounds use sound waves to create an image of the baby in the womb, like the traditional ultrasound procedures. However, the difference between 3D and 4D ultrasound is that while the 3D ultrasound pictures are three-dimensional still images of the baby, 4D images show real-time movements like facial features, limbs and body in detail and sometimes, the babys expressions. The images of the 4D scan line up in such a way that they look like a video. 3-Dimensional ultrasound and 4-Dimensional ultrasound are obstetric ultrasound procedures that provide clearer insights into the developing fetus than the traditional sonography. 3D and 4D ultrasounds are optional and are not included in the standard prenatal tests. The doctors prescribe 3D and 4D ultrasound scans if the parents are interested. This type of ultrasonography is prescribed if the doctor suspects any birth defects like cleft palate or other structural birth anomalies. The sound waves during 3D and 4D ultrasonography are directed at various angles, unlike the 2D ultrasound, where the sounds are directed at a single angle. The advanced software creates images from the sound waves that are reflected off from various surfaces. This technique, called surface rendering, is used in the 3D and 4D ultrasound procedures. Except for the dimension of the motion, the procedures of 3D and 4D ultrasounds are similar. When can a 3D or 4D ultrasound be performed? The best time to get a 3D and 4D ultrasound scan is during the 26 weeks to 30 weeks of pregnancy. At 26 weeks of pregnancy, the baby has very little fat under the skin and the bones are clearly visible. However, the face may not be visible at 30 weeks as it goes deep down in the pelvis. The visibility of the face also depends on the direction the baby is facing, inside the womb. Limbs and extremities can be seen very clearly during this stage of pregnancy. Since viewing the 3D images and 4D images of the baby is more about bonding with the baby rather than diagnosing problems, this kind of sonogram is not generally covered in the insurance. Also, the special transducers and software required for 3D and 4D ultrasounds are expensive, these procedures are done at exclusive or private clinics. Most of the hospitals do not go for sex determination of the fetus until 20th week of pregnancy. One might want to go for 3D and 4D ultrasound for determining the gender. While the chances of sex determination of the fetus are only 50% during 15 weeks, it rises to almost 99% at 16 weeks. Advertisement Preparing for 3D and 4D Ultrasound Unlike the regular sonogram procedure, the woman ready to undergo a 3D ultrasound is not advised to have a full bladder before their 3D ultrasound appointment. She is advised to take regular amounts of water for one or two weeks prior to the appointment. This is to ensure an adequate amount of amniotic fluid around the fetus and also ensures the clarity of the fluid. The woman may be asked to expose her belly for the placement of the probe, otherwise, there is no undressing required. Advantages of 3D/4D Ultrasound during Pregnancy and Prenatal Check up Most of the time 3D and 4D ultrasound prenatal scan is done for the purpose of viewing the baby in the womb. Such sonogram images make a wonderful collection of keepsake photos. Sometimes, the medical professionals use ultrasound scans as a medical diagnostic tool. A 3D ultrasound and 4D ultrasound give a great deal of precise information about various internal organs or pathological structures. Better visualization of various structures like fetal skeleton is possible with these techniques. Sufficient information about the condition of the fetal heart is obtained from the 3D ultrasound images, to find out any structural or valve defects. Superficial fetal anomalies like cleft lip, neural tube defects, tumours etc are better visible in 3D ultrasound scans than 2D scans. The following information about the growing fetus can be accessed with 3D and 4D scans. During Prenatal check up: Developmental anomalies Bone shape abnormalities like club feet, cleft palate, spina bifida, dwarfism, fusion of bones Dysplasia Location of the placenta and evaluation of placenta previa 3D placental insertion and inferior segment analysis For fetal biopsy: Umbilical cord sampling puncture is easily viewable, Kidney dilatation, Uropathy and amniocentesis Umbilical cord sampling puncture is easily viewable, Kidney dilatation, Uropathy and amniocentesis Fetal health: Abnormal gestures of fetus, sleep-wake patterns of the fetus Abnormal gestures of fetus, sleep-wake patterns of the fetus Movements of the fetus: Deglutition (swallowing), respiratory movements, fetal digestive peristaltic motion, movements of eyelids, limbs and mouth Deglutition (swallowing), respiratory movements, fetal digestive peristaltic motion, movements of eyelids, limbs and mouth Fetal neuro-myopathy diseases, muscle reactions and tonicity (tightness of muscles) Fetal cardiac function: Fetal cardiac activity and abnormality: correlation between valves, chambers and vessels, volume of heart cavities, communication between atrial and ventricular communication, assessment of valvular function. Efficient and accurate information of fetal heart function Visualization of 2-3 planes, enabling spatial orientation of the fetal heart Volume calculation of cavities of the heart Correlation between valves, chambers and vessels Outflow of blood from left ventricle and right ventricle, opening and closing of valves are better viewed Communication between atrial and ventricular chambers Diagnosis of fetal heart defects like in utero Advertisement Gynecological uses of 3D and 4D ultrasound Endometrial hyperplasia can be better viewed and exact equivalent volume measurement can be done Equivalent hysterosonography realization Location and measurement of ovarian and endometrial tumours Exact volume measurement of cysts, polyps, myoma or fibroma Tumour monitoring after chemotherapy with 4D scans and also using contrast media Contrast media also used for evaluating fallopian tubes Positioning of Intra-uterine devices Clinical Uses 3D and 4D ultrasonography apart from Obstetric ultrasound Apart from its use in prenatal assessment, 3D and 4D ultrasonography have been used in detecting problems and evaluating post-operative and post-chemotherapy progress in patients. In Children: Measurements of the neonatal brain, symmetry and volume Ophthalmology Volume measurement of normal structures of the eye Tumour findings Foreign particle detection within vitreous humor Retinal detachment evaluation Breast Breast tumour evaluation, diagnosis and pre and post chemotherapy evaluation Contrast media use on breast tumours Compression and retraction patterns of tumours viewed in 3D and 4D ultrasound Urology Exact seed implantation can be done in Brachi therapy Accurate 4D biopsy Accurate volume measurement of prostate and bladder, growth and tumours in these locations Checking the position of urinary catheter Exact assessment of the post-micturitional residue Musculoskeletal Musculoskeletal biopsy guidance Examination and measurements of rotator-cuff, meniscus positioning (knee), hip measurement Bone microsplit evaluation Evaluation of partial tendon separation Fetal bone shape abnormalities Evaluation of arthritis Post-operative assessment of bone screw placement Internal Medicine A combination of Physical, Mental, and Social wellbeing contributes to a good Quality of Life . When it is related to Health and Disease, we call it Health-Related Quality of Life or HRQoL. Quality of Life quite simply means the evaluation of the positive and negative aspects of life. It can have a different meaning for every person and the interpretation depends on the personal, cultural, and socioeconomic factors. Essentially, Quality of Life literally means wellbeing. Wellbeing includes the physical, mental, and social aspects of a persons life. Physical wellbeing contributes to the vitality, health, and energy of a person. Mental wellbeing includes self-belief, self-satisfaction, self-acceptance, and a balanced attitude. Social wellbeing involves relationships between family, friends, and integration in the community. Wellbeing in all these areas contributes to a good Quality of Life. In the context of health and disease, it is referred to as HRQoL or Health-Related Quality of Life. Relevance of Health-Related Quality of Life Chronic disease can leave a patient physically exhausted, mentally drained, and socially isolated thus impacting his Quality of Life. Advertisement HRQoL becomes significant in patients with chronic disease especially when it is terminal and life limiting. Examples of these are end stage liver disease, end stage kidney disease, and patients with cancer, AIDS among others. Here, the disease, the treatment and the co-morbid factors can affect the Quality of Life immensely because the impact of the disease is not just physical. It disturbs the patient emotionally and causes mood swings along with a feeling of anger and dejection. It can cause social isolation and role reversal in the family too. Spiritually the patient cannot find an answer as to why he is going through this. Moreover, perception about Quality of Life also varies between people. Two patients may respond very differently to the same kind of disease and its treatment. The attitude of the patient, the social support, and milieu also contributes to the wellbeing of the patient. Importance of measuring HRQoL HRQoL is a quantified response to a predesigned, self-administered questionnaire which covers the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of a patient with chronic disease and helps evaluate, assess and treat the patient better. To help understand what the patient is going through and how he can be helped, there are questionnaires which are multidimensional and designed to take into account the patients physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing, which are called domains. Each domain has questions pertaining to that area. The answers are noted and the results are quantified thus giving the physician an insight into the patient's Quality of Life. This helps to understand the burden of disease or the impact of treatment on the patient. A well-designed self-administered tool like a quantified questionnaire can help the physician understand and assess the patient better. The patients responses over a period of time help the physician in the line of treatment and counseling. As time goes by and treatment continues, the expectations of a patient may change and goals need to be reset accordingly. For example, in a patient who has just been diagnosed with cancer, the hope is for a cure. A patient who has had his treatment and is in remission hopes to prolong his life. A patient with advanced cancer and at the end of his life aspires to be independent for as long as he can and hopes to be free from pain and symptoms. Thus when the hopes and aspirations of an individual are matched and fulfilled by the present experience, a good Quality of Life can be achieved. When there is a wide gap between aspirations and present experience, the Quality of Life is poor. To improve the Quality of Life, this gap between aspirations and what is possible has to be made as narrow as possible. Today, with an increase in longevity of life and advanced medical treatment options, Quality of Life needs to move to the forefront in patient care. The healthcare professional should be aware of the impact of the disease and treatment on the patient and address these issues compassionately. Advertisement Tools for measuring Health-Related Quality of Life There are Generic tools used across diseases and populations along with Specific tools relevant only for particular disease conditions to assess HRQoL. The Questionnaires used to study HRQoL can be Generic Type or Disease Specific Type. The Generic Tool summarizes Quality Of Life across different illnesses, patients and population in various cultural and demographic settings. Examples are the WHO-BREF and the SF-36 tools. Disease-specific tools are designed for those with a specific disease. For example, there are questionnaires for diabetes, various types of liver disease, for different types of cancer and many others. The generic and disease-specific tools can be used separately or together. Uses of HRQoL studies HRQoL studies are used to quantify and assess the patients sense of physical, emotional social, and spiritual wellbeing and provide support in all the required areas during treatment in chronic disease. This helps to bridge the gap between patients aspirations and what can be done by the physician. These HRQoL studies can be a good public health and surveillance marker to study the impact of chronic disease. An analysis of these studies can help to guide interventions to improve health-related situations and prevent serious consequences. HRQoL studies can thus help in understanding and treating the person with the disease and not just the disease. Technology enhances protection of cultural relics in China People's Daily Online) 12:56, June 25, 2023 A forum on scientific and technological innovation related to cultural relics was recently held in Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province. China's scientific research ship, Tansuo-1, carrying the crewed submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior), is seen in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. The ship completed the first archaeological survey of the No. 1 shipwreck, located near the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea, May 21, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Cheng) The forum centered on the country's major research and development (R&D) program accomplishments regarding the protection and utilization of cultural heritage. It aimed to encourage the sharing of research results, stimulate cooperation, and invigorate innovation related to cultural relics. Since 2019, the Ministry of Science and Technology has robustly supported 36 projects within the R&D program dedicated to the protection and utilization of cultural heritage, according to an official with the National Cultural Heritage Administration. Over 200 research teams across China from cultural heritage institutions, museums, universities, and research institutes have made achievements and breakthroughs in various areas. These include the development of a risk monitoring, prevention and control system for cultural heritage; the advancement of key technologies for protecting murals in temples and tombs; the implementation of earthquake protection for cultural relics; and the creation of technologies and equipment for deep-sea archaeology. A "cultural relics doctor" desalinates metallic relics at the Guizhou Provincial Museum, located in southwest China's Guizhou Province, in 2022. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Experts presented their latest research findings at the forum, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary research in key projects, including a notable project tracing the roots of Chinese civilization. "Through the use of Bayesian statistics and kernel density estimation in dating analysis, along with comprehensively analyzing the ages of archaeological remains, we have gained new insights into the important periods of key ruins," said Chen Xingcan, director of the Institute of Archaeology under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Chen noted that significant breakthroughs had been made in dating a number of ruins including the Shimao Ruins in Shenmu, Shaanxi Province, and the Sanxingdui Ruins in Guanghan, Sichuan Province. Technology is accelerating the preservation of cultural relics, which are vital conduits to China's rich history and culture. A woman wearing traditional Chinese clothing visits a digital exhibition featuring Dunhuang relics at the Gansu pavilion during the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liang Xu) Su Bomin, director of the Dunhuang Academy, which administers the Mogao Grottoes, a 1,600-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site in northwest China's Gansu Province, shared research on key technologies for tomb mural conservation. Su said researchers had developed various innovative tools and methods, including mobile irradiation sterilization devices, air sterilization equipment, mural protection materials with self-sterilization functions, and environmentally friendly sterilization materials. They have also developed microbial control methods such as preventive control and electron beam irradiation. Furthermore, researchers have developed smart environmental adjustment technology to protect tomb murals, while formulating effective reinforcement materials for their plaster and paint layers. Hu Gang, an associate professor at Peking University's School of Archaeology and Museology, showcased non-destructive testing technology for evaluating the electrochemical corrosion resistance of metallic relics. He added that the technology shows promising prospects for protecting and monitoring metallic relics. Wan Liang, a professor at the College of Intelligence and Computing at Tianjin University, spoke about intelligent analysis, digital cultural heritage data and end-to-end copyright protection. Wan's team developed a high-quality image dataset of the Dunhuang murals, a smart computing engine, and copyright protection technologies using blockchain and digital watermarking. These developments can track online data usage and provide copyright recognition for offline data. Wan said the team's software, hardware platforms and technologies have been implemented in the digital asset management platforms of the Dunhuang Academy and the Hunan Museum. These efforts have played a significant role in creating "Digital Dunhuang," an open platform for sharing cultural heritage. In 2021, the General Office of China's State Council issued a plan on cultural relics protection and sci-tech innovation during the country's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). China will continue to strengthen basic and applied research, the application of sci-tech achievements, and promote the latest scientific research achievements regarding cultural relics. This allows advanced science and technology to inject new life into protecting and utilizing cultural relics, said an official with the National Cultural Heritage Administration. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, after turning his troops against Moscow and vowing to unseat Russian president Vladimir Putin, has changed his mind after a call with Belorusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Prigozhin, smarting over the Kremlin's handling of the war in Ukraine, announced early on Saturday that his mercenaries had seized the major southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, a logistics hub for Putin's war, and threatened to push on to Moscow. Wagner forces also appeared to be well established in the city of Voronezh, 500 kilometers south of the capital. After a day of heightened military tensions with shells fired in Voronezh and Chechen fighters being dispatched to take on Wagner in Rostov the uprising suddenly fizzled out in the evening. Ultimately, Moscow appeared an improbably ambitious target for Prigozhin and Russian regular forces appeared unable to do much to counter Prigozhin in the south. Always take the deal! Tapping the same sign I tapped yesterday, Machiavelli warning of mercenaries and their grandiose kayfabe. The millionaire mercenary chief who long benefitted from the powerful patronage of President Vladimir Putin has moved into the global spotlight with a dramatic rebellion against Russia's military that challenged the authority of Putin himself. Yevgeny Prigozhin is the 62-year-old owner of the Kremlin-allied Wagner Group, a private army of inmate recruits and other mercenaries that has fought some of the deadliest battles in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On Friday, Prigozhin abruptly escalated months of scathing criticism of Russias conduct of the war, calling for an armed uprising to oust the defense minister, and then rolling toward Moscow with his soldiers-for-hire. As Putin's government declared a counterterrorism alert and scrambled to seal off Moscow with checkpoints, Prigozhin just as abruptly stood down the following day. As part of the deal to defuse the crisis, he agreed to move to Belarus and was seen late Saturday retreating with his forces from Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia where they had taken over the military headquarters. It was unclear what was next for Prigozhin, a former prison inmate, hot-dog vendor and restaurant owner who has riveted world attention. PUTINS CHEF Prigozhin and Putin go way back, with both born in Leningrad, what is now St. Petersburg. During the final years of the Soviet Union, Prigozhin served time in prison 10 years by his own admission although he does not say what it was for. Afterward, he owned a hot dog stand and then fancy restaurants that drew interest from Putin. In his first term, the Russian leader took then-French President Jacques Chirac to dine at one of them. Vladimir Putin saw how I built a business out of a kiosk, he saw that I dont mind serving to the esteemed guests because they were my guests, Prigozhin recalled in an interview published in 2011. His businesses expanded significantly to catering and providing school lunches. In 2010, Putin helped open Prigozhins factory, which was built on generous loans by a state bank. In Moscow alone, his company Concord won millions of dollars in contracts to provide meals at public schools. He also organized catering for Kremlin events for several years earning him the nickname Putins chef and has provided catering and utility services to the Russian military. In 2017, opposition figure and corruption fighter Alexei Navalny accused Prigozhins companies of breaking antitrust laws by bidding for some $387 million in Defense Ministry contracts. MILITARY CONNECTION Prigozhin also owns the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-allied mercenary force that has come to play a central role in Putins projection of Russian influence in trouble spots around the world. The United States, European Union, United Nations and others say the mercenary force has involved itself in conflicts in countries across Africa in particular. Wagner fighters allegedly provide security for national leaders or warlords in exchange for lucrative payments, often including a share of gold or other natural resources. U.S. officials say Russia may also be using Wagners work in Africa to support its war in Ukraine. In Ukraine, Prigozhins mercenaries have become a major force in the war, fighting as counterparts to the Russian army in battles with Ukrainian forces. That includes Wagner fighters taking Bakhmut, the city where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. By last month, Wagner Group and Russian forces appeared to have largely won Bakhmut, a victory with strategically slight importance for Russia despite the cost in lives. Prigozhin has said that 20,000 of his men died in Bakhmut, about half of them inmates recruited from Russias prisons. WHAT IS THE GROUPS REPUTATION? Western countries and United Nations experts have accused Wagner Group mercenaries of committing numerous human rights abuses throughout Africa, including in the Central African Republic, Libya and Mali. In December 2021, the European Union accused the group of serious human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, and of carrying out destabilizing activities in the Central African Republic, Libya, Syria and Ukraine. Some of the reported incidents stood out in their grisly brutality. In November 2022, a video surfaced online that showed a former Wagner contractor getting beaten to death with a sledgehammer after he allegedly fled to the Ukrainian side and was recaptured. Despite public outrage and a stream of demands for an investigation, the Kremlin turned a blind eye to it. RAGING AGAINST RUSSIAS GENERALS As his forces fought and died en masse in Ukraine, Prigozhin raged against Russias military brass. In a video released by his team last month, Prigozhin stood next to rows bodies he said were those of Wagner fighters. He accused Russias regular military of incompetence and of starving his troops of the weapons and ammunition they needed to fight. These are someones fathers and someones sons, Prigozhin said then. The scum that doesnt give us ammunition will eat their guts in hell. CRITICIZING THE BRASS Prigozhin has castigated the top military brass, accusing top-ranking officers of incompetence. His remarks were unprecedented for Russias tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin could air such criticism. In January, Putin reaffirmed his trust in the chief of the Russian militarys General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, by putting him in direct charge of the Russian forces in Ukraine, a move that some observers also interpreted as an attempt to cut Prigozhin down to size. Asked recently about a media comparison of him to Grigory Rasputin, a mystic who gained influence over Russias last czar by claiming to have the power to cure his sons hemophilia, Prigozhin snapped: I dont stop blood, but I spill blood of the enemies of our Motherland. A BAD ACTOR IN THE US Prigozhin earlier gained more limited attention in the U.S., when he and a dozen other Russian nationals and three Russian companies were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trumps 2016 election victory. They were indicted as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian election interference. The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned Prigozhin and associates repeatedly in connection with both his election interference and his leadership of the Wagner Group. After the 2018 indictment, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Prigozhin as saying, in a clearly sarcastic remark: Americans are very impressionable people; they see what they want to see. I treat them with great respect. Im not at all upset that Im on this list. If they want to see the devil, let them see him. The Biden White House in that episode called him a known bad actor, and State Department spokesman Ned Price said Prigozhins bold confession, if anything, appears to be just a manifestation of the impunity that crooks and cronies enjoy under President Putin and the Kremlin. AVOIDING CHALLENGES TO PUTIN As Prigozhin grew more outspoken against the way Russias conventional military conducted fighting in Ukraine, he continued to play a seemingly indispensable role for the Russian offensive, and appeared to suffer no retaliation from Putin for his criticism of Putins generals. Media reports at times suggested Prigozhins influence on Putin was growing and he was after a prominent political post. But analysts warned against overestimating his influence with Putin. Hes not one of Putins close figures or a confidant, said Mark Galeotti of University College, London, who specializes in Russian security affairs, speaking on his podcast In Moscows Shadows. Prigozhin does what the Kremlin wants and does very well for himself in the process. But thats the thing he is part of the staff rather than part of the family, Galeotti said. Members of Klamath Falls American Legion Post 8 stumbled over a World War II mystery two months ago after deciding to replace the floor in the 100-year-old building. First, though, a massive safe had to be emptied and moved. The job fell to Samanthea Totten-Perry, adjutant finance officer, and her husband, Earl Perry, an executive board member. When the couple swung open the heavy door and rooted through the items, they discovered far in the back a jewelry box. Totten-Perry pulled it out, opened it and saw a Purple Heart. Taped to the inside lid was a handwritten note: "This Purple Heart was found by the YMCA. The owner cannot be located. His name is Dale R. Hoeye. If you know him please contact our commander in order to claim." For the next few days, Totten-Perry asked post members about the medal. She got nothing but puzzled looks, told the name meant nothing. The only clue, if you could call it that, came from the legions oldest member. In the post for 55 years, he said he remembered once seeing it in the safe when he joined the legion. This was no ordinary trinket. One of the most honorable military awards, the Purple Heart is given in the name of the president of the United States to a recipient injured or killed in combat. Totten-Perry did some checking on her own. Her research showed there was no Hoeye living in the area. In addition to volunteering at the post, she has a full-time job as a construction site manager and is always busy. She could have put the jewelry box back in the safe and been done with it. But Totten-Perry believed she had a moral obligation to return the Purple Heart to the servicemans family. She sat at the computer and logged onto the posts official Facebook page, seen by American Legion posts across Oregon. Can you help us? We have the purple heart of Dale Hoeye stored at the American Legion Post 8 for many many years. It was found by the YMCA which was unable to locate the owner or the owners family, so they gave it to us (we dont know when this occurred) - we have no other information than that. Can you help us return this to the rightful owner or next of kin? The Purple Heart changed hands Friday afternoon at American Legion Post 158 in Tigard. In addition to revealing the vagaries, injustices and pain of war, it was an moment that hinted at the possibility long after the battles have ended of a chance for a family to heal. WAR IS WAR Days after Totten-Perry hit send, Karen Grange, who lives in Tigard, received an email from a southern Oregon American Legion post friend. The friend had copied the Facebook post and sent it to Grange, a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary, a member of American Legion Tigard Post 158 and a volunteer at Portlands Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During World War II, Granges Japanese family was imprisoned in the Minidoka camp in Idaho. She was born there in 1944. The email regarding the Purple Heart haunted Grange. She decided to look for the next of kin of the man, a choice she believed was the right thing to do. War is war, she said Friday. Bad things happen to everyone. She showed the email to Lisa Clarke, another volunteer at the VA Center. An Air Force veteran, Clarke enjoys doing genealogical research. She got to work. Unbeknownst to her, Janine Kidd with American Legion Post 116 out of Newport also saw Totten-Perrys Facebook post. She began her own research and emailed Totten-Perry. I dont want you to think Ive forgotten really, just the opposite! Ive had so much fun (and luck!) researching this family, and I could just keep going. It is a fascinating family; they are Oregon pioneers, and many, many of the Hoeye family have served in our armed forces. They are (at least) a two-time Gold Star family. I have the utmost respect for their service for our country. TRACKING THE FAMILY TREE The sleuths learned that Dale Robert Hoeye was born on Jan. 18, 1925, in Pendleton. On Jan. 27, 1942, less than two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, 17-year-old Hoeye enlisted in the Navy. Three months later he was assigned to USS Laffey. On Nov. 13, 1942, the ship was destroyed in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The ship had a crew of 245 and 59 died. The ship came to rest at the bottom of Iron Bottom Sound. Hoeyes body was not recoverable. I dont know if there was ever a ceremony for Dale, said Grange. He gave his life for his country and what did he get? Probably nothing. Clarkes extensive research led her to Ellen Sedell, 79, of Portland. Sedell is part of the complicated Hoeye family and has been researching it for more than 50 years. She has an extensive family tree posted publicly on ancestory.com, which is where Clarke found her. Clarke left Sedell a message on the site and explained what she was doing. Sedell responded and soon she and Grange connected. Grange learned that Dale R. Hoeye had a younger brother, Wesley Hoeye, who was 12 when his older brother enlisted. When he later married, Wesley named his son Dale A. Hoeye in memory of his dead brother. Dale A. Hoeye later had a son named Brian Hoeye. The dead sailors father, Dean R. Hoeye, had three children two boys and a girl with his first wife. Following a divorce he later met another woman and started a second family and had three more children. We never knew much about the other side of our family, said Sedell, part of the second familys side of the tree. Call it a family schism. We never saw them. After talking with Grange, Sedell agreed to take possession of the Purple Heart. Kidd, the other researcher, found Dale R. Hoeyes side of the family, tracked down Brian Hoeye the dead veterans great nephew and passed the information on to the Klamath Falls Legion post. Totten-Perry called Brian Hoeye, 37, of Oregon City and told him about the medal. It seemed insane, he said. It just didnt seem true. He agreed to take possession. How do you split a medal? Two people who knew nothing about each other, who had never met were about to come together because of a dead man and a Purple Heart found in a safe. IT SHOULD GO TO HIM The plan was to have everyone meet Friday afternoon at the Tigard American Legion post. But then Brian Hoeye had to go to Baker City for work and couldnt attend. Sedell would accept the Purple Heart from Totten-Perry. Brian Hoeye said hed hoped to meet Sedell. It would be nice to get to know each other a bit, he said. Sedell said at this point Brian Hoeye is just a name on my ancestry chart. But that will change. In the coming weeks, she plans to meet this obscure branch on the family tree and give him the Purple Heart. It should go to him, she said. The man who died is his fathers uncle. In the Tigard Legion hall Sedell was adamant. Yes, she said. It belongs with him. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. When millionaire Steve Fossetts plane went missing over the Nevada range in 2007, the swashbuckling adventurer had already been the subject of two prior emergency rescue operations thousands of miles apart. And that prompted a prickly question: After a sweeping search for the wealthy risktaker ended, who should foot the bill? In recent days, the massive hunt for a submersible vehicle lost during a north Atlantic descent to explore the wreckage of the Titanic has refocused attention on that conundrum. And with rescuers and the public fixated first on saving and then on mourning those aboard, it has again made for uneasy conversation. Five people have just lost their lives and to start talking about insurance, all the rescue efforts and the cost can seem pretty heartless but the thing is, at the end of the day, there are costs, said Arun Upneja, dean of Boston Universitys School of Hospitality Administration and a researcher on tourism. There are many people who are going to say, Why should the society spend money on the rescue effort if (these people) are wealthy enough to be able to ... engage in these risky activities? That question is gaining attention as very wealthy travelers in search of singular adventures spend big to scale peaks, sail across oceans and blast off for space. The U.S. Coast Guard declined Friday to provide a cost estimate for its efforts to locate the Titan, the submersible investigators say imploded not far from the worlds most famous shipwreck. The five people lost included a billionaire British businessman and a father and son from one of Pakistans most prominent families. The operator charged passengers $250,000 each to participate in the voyage. We cannot attribute a monetary value to Search and Rescue cases, as the Coast Guard does not associate cost with saving a life, the agency said. While the Coast Guard's cost for the mission is likely to run into the millions of dollars, it is generally prohibited by federal law from collecting reimbursement related to any search or rescue service, said Stephen Koerting, a U.S. attorney in Maine who specializes in maritime law. But that does not resolve the larger issue of whether wealthy travelers or companies should bear responsibility to the public and governments for exposing themselves to such risk. This is one of the most difficult questions to attempt to find an answer for, said Pete Sepp, president of the National Taxpayers Union, noting scrutiny of government-funded rescues dating back to British billionaire Richard Bransons hot air balloon exploits in the 1990s. This should never be solely about government spending, or perhaps not even primarily about government spending, but you cant help thinking about how the limited resources of rescuers can be utilized, Sepp said. The demand for those resources was spotlighted in 1998 when Fossetts attempt to circle the globe in a hot air balloon ended with a plunge into the ocean 500 miles off Australia. The Royal Australian Air Force dispatched a Hercules C-130 transport aircraft to find him. A French military plane dropped a 15-man life raft to Fossett before he was picked up by a passing yacht. Critics suggested Fossett should pay the bill. He rejected the idea. Late that same year the US Coast Guard spent more than $130,000 to rescue Fossett and Branson after their hot air balloon dropped into the ocean off Hawaii. Branson said he would pay if the Coast Guard requested it, but the agency didnt ask. Nine years later, after Fossetts plane vanished over Nevada during what should have been a short flight, the state National Guard launched a months-long search that turned up the wreckage of several other decades-old crashes without finding the millionaire. The state said the mission had cost taxpayers $685,998, with $200,000 covered by a private contribution. But when the administration of Gov. Jim Gibbons announced that it would seek reimbursement for the rest, Fossett's widow balked, noting she had spent $1 million on her own private search. We believe the search conducted by the state of Nevada is an expense of government in performance of government action, a lawyer wrote on behalf of the Fossett estate. Risky adventurism is hardly unique to wealthy people. The pandemic drove a surge in visits to places like national parks, adding to the popularity of climbing, hiking and other outdoor activities. Meanwhile, the spread of cellphones and service has left many feeling that if things go wrong, help is a call away. Some places have laws commonly referred to as stupid motorist laws, in which drivers are forced to foot the emergency response bill when they ignore barricades on submerged roads. Arizona has such a law, and Volusia County in Florida, home to Daytona, enacted similar legislation this week. The idea of a similar stupid hiker law is a regularly debated item in Arizona as well, with so many unprepared people needing to be rescued in stifling triple-digit heat. Most officials and volunteers who run search efforts are opposed to charging for help, said Butch Farabee, a former ranger who participated in hundreds of rescue operations at the Grand Canyon and other national parks and has written several books on the subject. Searchers are concerned that if they did charge to rescue people "they wont call for help as soon as they should and by the time they do its too late, Farabee said. The tradeoff is that some might take that vital aid for granted. Farabee recounts a call in the 1980s from a lawyer who underestimated the effort needed to hike out of the Grand Canyon. The man asked for a helicopter rescue, mentioning that he had an important meeting the following day. The ranger rejected that request. But that is not an option when the lives of adventurers, some of them quite wealthy, are at extreme risk. At Mount Everest, it can cost tens of thousands of dollars in permit and expedition fees to climb. A handful of people die or go missing while hiking the mountain every year prompting emergency response from local officials. While the government of Nepal requires that climbers have rescue insurance, the scope of rescue efforts can vary widely, with Upneja estimating that some could cost multiple dozens of thousands of dollars. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a message seeking comment. On the high seas, wealthy yachtsmen seeking speed and distance records have also repeatedly required rescue when their voyages run astray. When the yacht of Tony Bullimore, a British millionaire on a round-the-world journey, capsized 1,400 miles off the Australia Coast in 1997 it seemed he might be done for. Clinging to the inside of the hull, he ran out of fresh water and was almost out of air. When a rescue ship arrived, he swam desperately toward the surface. I was starting to look back over my life and was thinking, Well, Ive had a good life, Ive done most of the things I had wanted to," Bullimore said afterward. "If I was picking words to describe it, it would be a miracle, an absolute miracle. Australian officials, whose forces rescued a French yachtsman the same week, were more measured in their assessment. We have an international legal obligation, Ian McLachlan, the defense minister said. We have a moral obligation obviously to go and rescue people, whether in bushfires, cyclones or at sea. Less was said, however, about the Australian governments request to restrict the routes of yacht races in hopes of keeping sailors to areas where they might require less rescuing. ___ Associated Press writer David Sharp in Portland, Maine contributed to this story. Tony Hawk recently posted this video from his "Vert Alert" event, which is happening this weekend in Salt Lake City. The video shows skater Nick Mullins dropping in for a practice run. Accompanying the video, Hawk wrote: An inspiring moment during @thvertalert practice last night: @nicholasmullinss dropped in for this solid three-piece that included a Miller Flip. Unrelated: he's blind. : @crismateus Nick Mullins' story is definitely inspiring. This short documentary, "You and the Thing that You Love" (a film about Nick Mullins from Nicholas Maher) explores how Mullins was injured in a skating accident, lost his eyesight due to a subsequent MRSA infection, and then worked his way back on a board. Maher describes the film: A decade ago, Nick Mullins was one of the most promising skateboarders to come from the Midwest. Then, overnight it all changed. Shot by two strangers on weekends, across three states over two years. This is a story of pain, grit, fight, uncertainty, fear, desperation, and most importantly love. To learn more about Mullins, follow his Instagram, where he describes himself as, "Athlete, blind and skating, motivational speaker, comical, adventure seeker, inquisitive natured, and always pushing limitations." 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 Dec. 5: The Reds have formally announced the agreement and confirmed the reported contractual terms. Moustakas has agreed to a four-year, $64MM deal the largest free-agent signing in Reds franchise history. Bobby Nightengale Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer breaks down the yearly details: Moustakas will earn $12MM in 2020, $14MM in 2021, $16MM in 2022 and $18MM in 2023. Theres also an unannounced club option for the 2024 season that is valued at $20MM and comes with a $4MM buyout. Dec. 2: The Reds have agreed to a deal with free agent infielder Mike Moustakas, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter links). Its a four-year, $64MM pact for the Scott Boras client, according to reports from Heyman and Jeff Passan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). After two disappointing trips through the free agent process, it seems Moose has finally secured a long-awaited long-term agreement. His recently demonstrated ability to line up at second base was a game changer for the long-time third baseman. Moustakas now appears likely to pair up with Freddy Galvis to form a bit of an unlikely double-play combo in Cincinnati. We predicted a five-year pact for Moustakas after the 2017 season, when he was a high-quality and still youthful third baseman. After he was forced into a pillow deal, we downgraded expectations to a two-year deal entering the 2018-19 winter. Moustakas again settled for a single-season guarantee from the Brewers. On the heels of another solid, but hardly otherworldly season, we doubled down on that two-year guess only to see Moustakas absolutely smash expectations. Having seen him up close over the past two seasons, the Reds clearly believe that Moustakas is not only capable of holding down the fort at second base, but doing so well and for some years to come. The corners are already locked up for the foreseeable future with Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez. And the Cincinnati front office is also going all-in on the bat of Moustakas. He has now twice exceeded thirty home runs and has topped the .200 mark in isolated power in each of the past four campaigns. The power is real, but so are the on-base struggles. Moustakass .329 OBP from 2019 was a career high-water mark but barely topped the league average. Over the course of his career, Moustakas has reached base at a marginal .310 clip. Can he sustain and even extend his relatively productive 2019 in the OBP arena? Moustakas did carry a personal-best 9.1% walk rate in 2019, though his swinging-strike rate also crept up to a new high-water mark (11.0%). He has never hit much for average, so continued commitment to drawing free passes may be the ticket. Even at his best, Moustakas has never rated as a true star. He has topped 2.0 fWAR in each of the past three campaigns but hasnt gone past 3.0 since 2015. While bWAR put him at 3.2 wins above replacement in 2019, it took a dimmer view of his prior three seasons. And at this point, youth isnt really on Mooses side. But the Reds obviously feel that Moustakas will continue to be a steady producer and were willing to pay for his consistency. It stands to reason that other teams did as well, since the bidding pushed so far north. FLINT, MI The life and legacy of Michigan business pioneer Willie E. Artis will soon be celebrated. A ceremony honoring Artis will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 30, at the Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 E. Kearsley St. During the celebration, a film will be shown featuring reenactments with actors and video segments of key moments from Artis life. Artis was the founder of Genesee Packaging, a significant minority-owned corporation with General Motors. He died in 2022 at the age of 88. Related: Willie Artis, who helped GM build better boxes, dies at 88 Heather Buchanan, owner of Detroit-based film production company AUXmedia and the films executive producer, said it will showcase various scenes and locations to add authenticity, including Artis childhood in Tennessee. He grew up in Memphis, and he went through a lot of challenges in terms of what they call Jim Crow back then, and discrimination and violence, Buchanan said. He was able to escape all of that and came north and made a life for himself as a young man in Michigan. Prior to his death, Artis wrote a memoir recounting his life. Buchanan said the program will also feature reenactments of stories from the book. This man who overcame a lot of obstacles and rose to the top in his industry, and hes only one of the handful of black businessmen that did what he achieved, Buchanan said. He made it to the CEO level and had his own company in Flint, which is still there and is a multimillion dollar company, Genesee Packaging. During his life, Artis was also recognized and celebrated by multiple U.S. presidents, including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Buchanan said creating the film was a labor of love. We shot on location Most of the actors are from the Detroit area, Buchanan said. We use some historical costumes and things like that to really recreate, particularly, the times of his childhood. Buchanan said the production group hopes to create a full feature film based on Artis life in the future. The celebration is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased for $20 each by contacting auxmedia1@gmail.com. Read more at The Flint Journal: Flint celebrates Juneteenth with music, food and more in Max Brandon Park Family Fun Fest in Grand Blanc highlights carnival rides, charity dunk tank Ruth Mott Foundation distributes $5M to Flint impact investments New Grand Blanc outdoor Fitness Court promotes wellness in community Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. FLINT, MI -- Twenty-four years after the last Buick LeSabre rolled off the assembly line at Buick City, what could be the most extensive redevelopment in Flint history has started with a critical six months immediately on the horizon. Earlier this month, local, state and federal officials broke ground on the Flint Commerce Center, the first in whats expected to be a series of spec buildings in a $300-million industrial park, and a representative of Ashley Capital, the project developer, told a community meeting that its preparing for a critical summer of next steps. Theres a lot of problems here, no doubt, Mark Quimby, development manager for Ashley, said during the June 21, meeting. But theres a lot of value too. Youve got rail, youve got power, youve got water and sewer. Youve got everything you need. Well, not everything. During the summer and fall, as construction continues on the first 20 acres of the property, Ashley officials are expecting to push for a new brownfield tax credit plan that must be approved by the Flint City Council for the building to continue. Its negotiating its next purchase of 273 additional acres of the site, working through a materials management plan that will determine how the redevelopment will be handled with state environmental officials, and planning to start the painstaking process of tearing out building foundations, slabs and utilities left behind by General Motors, which owned the property for decades. Heres the working to-do list spelled out by Quimby during the June 21 meeting: Agreeing to a materials management plan with the state of Michigan Quimby said Ashley wont agree to buy the rest of the Buick City property without agreeing first to a materials management plan with the state and the Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) Trust. RACER is the trust created to manage properties like Buick City, which were abandoned by GM during its bankruptcy more than a decade ago. The trust was tasked with remediating and containing pollution on the property and marketing it for future redevelopment. The materials management plan is designed to spell out how Ashley will handle any environmental issues it encounters as it redevelops and builds on the property. Buick City contains soil and groundwater contaminated with various petroleum products, chemicals and metals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which had initially overseen environmental work on the property. The site is also one of more than 230 properties in the state where PFAS -- a family of man-made forever chemicals -- has polluted groundwater at elevated levels. Were going to have to deal with the environmental contamination that we disturb ... Thats why the materials management plan has to be in place for how were going to do it, Quimby said. Closing on the purchase of the remaining Buick City land Ashley has 273 acres of the 350-acre Buick site under contract for purchase with a tentative closing date scheduled for July 31. That purchase wont include two parcels of land where officials for RACER have been working to monitor and contain PFAS contamination -- a section of property in the Hamilton Avenue area and a lagoon dug decades ago by GM off James P. Cole Boulevard. We want to own it and we want to close on the purchase, Quimby said. But there are several things we need before we are willing to close ... Obviously, theres a lot of risk with the site. Theres a lot of pitfalls and what we need is certainty. Part of that certainty is tied to the materials management plan and delays in reaching a final agreement with the state and RACER could push back the closing date. What we cant do is move forward without that ... We wont close without that document being approved, Quimby said. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is working with us. We wish it was going quicker, but its a complicated site. The company expects to be protected from future liability associated with PFAS and other environmental issues on the Buick property with RACER continuing to hold that responsibility. Quimby said the purchase of the Hamilton Avenue and lagoon properties are a part of Ashleys long-term plans but said a sale could take up to a decade to complete as RACERs remediation work continues in those areas. Removing infrastructure left behind by GM Ashley officials have said GM left Buick City in worse condition than a typical brownfield because while it demolished buildings that made up the complex, it left behind building slabs, foundations and underground utilities. The company said in October that removing that infrastructure will cost roughly $17 million and it secured funding to complete the work from the state ($8.5 million), the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation ($2 million), and from American Rescue Plan Act funds from the city and Genesee County ($3.25 million from each). The site is not buildable in its current condition ..., Quimby said. All the slabs in place, (GM) left. All the underground infrastructure ... all the foundations remain on site. Assuming the materials management plan and closing on the sale of additional property occur this summer, Quimby said, Ashley wants to begin that site work this fall. We are going to get 150-acres pad-ready for redevelopment, he said. We want to have this site positioned so that were shovel-ready for prospective tenants. Brownfield tax incentives Quimby said another requirement for Ashley to continue with its work will involve a brownfield plan and tax incentives to support the redevelopment of the property. He said he expects the Flint City Council to take up that issue soon -- sometime after it resumes meetings in July. A spokeswoman for the city said on Friday, June 23, that information about brownfield incentives wasnt immediately available, and Quimby did not discuss the request in detail during the community meeting he spoke at Wednesday. Without (the brownfield incentives) we cant do the job. It just doesnt work out, he said. The Buick City complex on Flints north side opened in 1904 and became known as Buick City in 1985 after company and union officials launched a plan to bring supplier plants on the property, cutting down on potential supply chain issues. At its peak, nearly 30,000 GM employees worked at the site. The last Buick rolled off the plants assembly line on June 29, 1999, and the plants operations ceased completely in 2010, ending more than 100 years of manufacturing at the site that once produced every Buick built by GM. Previous efforts to redevelop the property never came to fruition, including a proposal backed by local business officials to convert it into an international rail-to-truck freight facility. Mahindra Automotive North America, Indias largest SUV manufacturer, was also in talks to build a new factory at Buick City but the company dropped out of a competition to build the next-generation delivery vehicle for the U.S. Postal Service in 2020 and ended its pursuit of the project. Boosters of the Ashley redevelopment plan have said it has the potential to create more than 3,000 new jobs over time with progress dictated by the demand for light industrial and distribution space. Read more at The Flint Journal: Trust that owns Buick City site looks for PFAS solutions in contaminated lagoon GM left Buick City in worse condition than a normal brownfield, buyer says Buick City redevelopment that will generate $300M local investment breaks ground Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. MASON COUNTY, MI An Indiana couple was hospitalized with severe burns after a spark caused an explosion on the boat they were on, Mason County sheriffs deputies reported. The couple, who were not immediately identified, are in serious but stable condition as of Sunday, June 25, police said. Police were first called at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23, for a report of a boat explosion with someone on board at the Ludington Municipal Marina. Upon arrival, police found an Indiana couple on C Dock with severe burns. Police said the couple had just arrived at their vessel and noted a strong fuel smell. They tried to disconnect the batteries on the vessel and in doing so, a spark caused the explosion. The 38-foot vessel was towed from the marina to Copyeon Park boat launch. The sheriffs office Dive Team returned to the scene on Saturday, June 24, for underwater recovery operations to recover debris and any other personal items from the explosion. Several pieces of debris from the explosion were recovered underwater. Read more on MLive: 3 injured in rollover crash on I-196 after tire blowout 1 injured after ORV crash in Southwest Michigan Unions find foothold in marijuana industry, but growth is slow ALBION, MI -- Two children and their 35-year-old mother were hospitalized Saturday after police allegedly found the woman holding her daughter underwater in a bathtub. At about 10:30 a.m. June 24, officers from the Albion Police Department and the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office responded to a 9-1-1 call in which children were screaming and asking for help to be sent to Bluestem Ct in Albion. Officers arrived to hear a commotion coming from behind a locked door in the residence, police said in a news release. Police kicked the door open to find a 35-year-old woman holding a 2-year-old girl underwater in a bathtub, police said. An officer quickly grabbed the 2-year-old from the woman and took her into the living room to begin CPR, police said. After giving a few quick breaths, the child coughed up water and began breathing on her own. A deputy detained the woman, who appears to be the mother of four children in the house, police said. The 2-year-old girl had two stab wounds to the chest and throat and a 4-year-old boy had also suffered cuts, police said. Evidence also suggests both children possibly ingested cleaning fluid, police said. Two other children at the scene -- an 8-year-old and a 15-year-old girl -- did not appear to have suffered any injuries, police said. The 15-year-old had been the one to call 9-1-1 for help. The mother was put under arrest and taken to a hospital as she might have also ingested cleaning fluid, police said. The 2-year-old and 4-year-old were taken to a hospital in Jackson and later flown to Ann Arbor, where they were last listed in stable condition, police said. Albion police chief Scott Kipp commended the quick actions of both ADPS Lt. Aaron Phipps and Deputy Dave Winder of the Calhoun County Sheriffs Department in a statement, adding their quick response and decisive actions helped save the life of the 2-year-old child. Police and deputies were assisted by the Marshall Police Department, the Michigan State Police, the Calhoun County Dispatch Authority, the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Tribal Police, CAMJET, Albion Community Ambulance, the Sheridan Township Fire Department and the Marshall Area Firefighters Ambulance Authority. More on MLive: 2 dead, 15 others injured after large street party in Saginaw, state police say Michigans Best Local Eats: Moo and Cluck sandwich from Midlands Amazing Deli Woman killed after being struck by vehicle, police say Where rent is most, least affordable in Michigan A person of interest in the homicide of a Battle Creek woman was arrested Saturday, June 24 in Georgia. An update from the Battle Creek Police Department on Sunday, June 25 said police and the Calhoun County Prosecutors Office are coordinating with local agencies in Georgie to extradite the subject back to Calhoun County. On June 17, Battle Creek Police officers found Arely Hernandez inside a car on the edge of Riverside Park with apparent gunshot wounds. Despite life saving measures, police say the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say no additional updates will be provided until the extradition is finalized. Read more from MLive: When Michigan mans brain tumor spread, Toad the Wet Sprockets frontman was there Man found dead in car outside of McDonalds in Portage New Tornado Watch for Ann Arbor, part of Detroit area, Intense tornado possible How to Watch the 2023 BET Awards for free The Michigan Department of Transportation has more than 80 road and bridge projects that require lane closures scheduled to begin between Monday and Friday, June 26-30. This weeks projects include a lane closure on I-94 near Battle Creek thats expected to cause significant delays, as well as closures on I-696 in Oakland County, I-75 in Genesee and Monroe counties, U.S. 127 in Jackson County, and U.S. 2 in the Upper Peninsula. Folks planning to drive into or out of downtown Detroit on Monday evening may also encounter congestion from the 2023 Ford Fireworks event that will close a number of roads beginning around 6 p.m. Below are some of the road projects to watch out for this week based on the the states construction schedule. All projects are weather dependent. For a full schedule of upcoming projects, visit MDoTs online map, here. I-94 in Calhoun County A single-lane closure on westbound I-94 is expected to cause significant delays between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 27. The area of the highway is between Riverside Drive in Battle Creek and F Drive North in Emmett Township. Road workers advise taking alternate routes to avoid the area Tuesday. I-696 in Oakland County Eastbound I-696 will be closed at M-10 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, and again between 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, and 5 a.m. Friday, June 30. The project involves a bridge beam replacement over the Rouge River. Drivers will be detoured using southbound M-10 before returning to the highway. Additionally: The northbound Orchard Lake ramp to eastbound I-696 will be closed from 7 a.m. Monday through 3 p.m. Friday. Drivers will be detoured onto Orchard Lake, 12 Mile Road, and M-10 (Northwestern Highway) before returning to the highway. The eastbound I-696 ramp to southbound M-10 will be closed starting 7 a.m. Wednesday and continuing into late July. Drivers will be detoured via eastbound M-5, to 8 Mile Road (M-102), to northbound Telegraph Road (U.S. 24) and back to M-10. The work is part of a $275 million project rebuilding the highway from I-275 to east of Telegraph Road, as well as rebuilding connecting ramps along the way. Work on eastbound lanes is scheduled for this year, with work on westbound lanes coming in 2024. Special event in downtown Detroit There will be a number of road closures Monday evening beginning at 6 p.m. as droves of people flock to downtown Detroit for the annual Ford Fireworks event. Southbound M-10 (John C Lodge Freeway) will be closed from I-75 to Jefferson Avenue, as will Jefferson Avenue in both directions from I-375 to M-10, southbound Randolph Street (M-3) from Gratiot Avenue to Jefferson Avenue, and southbound I-375 from I-75 to Jefferson Avenue. A number of ramps in the area will also be closed. U.S. 23 in Livingston County Workers will begin shifting northbound traffic on U.S. 23 to the southbound side of the highway as part of an ongoing $162 million project to extend the U.S. Flex Route from north of 8 Mile Road to I-96 near Brighton. Starting in the early morning Tuesday, northbound U.S. 23 will have one lane closed from Grand River Avenue to Spencer Road until about 2 p.m. During that time, eastbound and westbound I-96 ramps to U.S. 23 will have intermittent closures. Then on Thursday, northbound U.S. 23 will be closed between Silver Lake and I-96 from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. During that time, the ramp to eastbound I-96 will have intermittent closures. U.S. 127 in Jackson County Shoulder work will require a single-lane closure on part of southbound U.S. 127/M-50 next week in Jackson County. The closure is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday between Parnall Road and Springport Road. The closure will be identified via a portable changeable message sign both days. U.S. 2 in Gogebic County The resurfacing of about 3.3 miles of U.S. 2 from Bessemer to Ironwood in Gogebic County begins Monday, with an estimated end date in early August. Its a $1.8 million project that includes hot mix asphalt overlay and shoulder aggregate. Another 5.2 miles of U.S. 2 will begin resurfacing work Wednesday. That work, which will cost about $1.4 million and begins at Wakefield, should take about two months to complete. During the work period there will be intermittent single-lane closures on both stretches of U.S. 2 with a lane width restriction of 12 feet in place. I-75 in Genesee County Workers are scheduled to close the right lane of northbound I-75 in Genesee County for about 12 hours starting at 2 a.m. Monday. The work will stretch between Dort Highway and U.S. 23. Southbound lanes in the same area will be closed for a similar period Tuesday, as will a stretch of I-475 from Hill Road to I-75. Then on Wednesday, there will be a 12-hour closure of the left lane on northbound I-75 between Dort Highway and U.S. 23. Its scheduled to reopen around 2 p.m. I-75 in Monroe County Drivers should expect a single-lane closure on I-75 between Swan Creek Road and Joann Drive from Monday through Friday next week. Road work is scheduled for 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, before wrapping up around 3 p.m. Friday. M-91 in Montcalm County A small stretch of M-91 between Belding and Greenville will be down a lane over Wabasis Creek next week for road and bridge work. The closure is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday through 4 p.m. Thursday. U.S. 31 in Ottawa County A small stretch of U.S. 31 over the Pigeon River in West Olive will be closed for about eight hours Monday, starting at 8 a.m. Workers expect the right lane closure in each direction for road work, and all lanes back open around 4 p.m. 12 Mile Road in Rockford The segment of 12 Mile Road over U.S. 131 will be closed for bridge work next week, beginning Monday morning. The project is scheduled to continue through July 3, with a detour that sends drivers onto Algoma Avenue, 10 Mile Road and Wolven Avenue. Telegraph Road in Monroe County Telegraph Road will be without one lane in each direction next week between Labo Road and Harvest Circle. Work is scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. Read more on MLive: Huron River Drive rebuild and Textile teardown: Washtenaw County road work for June 23 More people are dying in traffic crashes. Officials blame risky behavior. New roundabout project near Tanger Outlets begins to take shape Infected monkeys at Michigan research lab threaten health and science Alexis Springer tried organizing a union at a Muskegon marijuana shop last October. She researched the process, found a labor union and gathered support from 12 coworkers who wanted higher wages and better safety practices. But then Springer, 29, says her hours were cut down to zero for 14 days until she got a call from management in December that they were ending the exchange of services. She was fired. I expected a booming industry where there were no shortages of opportunities for workers to get involved and also rise up in the ranks, Springer said. But it was pretty much like any other conglomerate. Unions are gaining traction at Michigan dispensaries, bringing legitimacy to an industry that still isnt federally recognized. Since March 2022, several Michigan dispensaries have formed unions with the United Food & Commercial Workers, which has more than 1,000 locals in the U.S. and Canada. But some employees have faced resistance to organizing. In early June, Springer filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board and the Michigan Employment Relations Commission after she lost her job at Cloud Cannabis in Muskegon. She claims the store retaliated against her for trying to form a union. The complaints say five other workers who were union sympathizers have also lost their jobs since December. Cloud Cannabis did not respond to a request for comment. Other dispensaries have also faced setbacks. Workers at a Lume Cannabis store in Monroe successfully unionized last year, but other Lume workers are reportedly struggling to negotiate with the company one of the biggest weed producers in Michigan. Filings with the National Labor Relations Board show workers at additional companies have tried and failed. In January, for example, Liberty Cannabis in Madison Heights lost an election with a 6 to 8 vote. If this extremely lucrative and profitable industry can do this to their workers, then where can I go where they dont do that? Springer said. The movement to unionize seems to be mirroring the industrys gains and setbacks. Recreational marijuana has bloomed into a $2 billion behemoth since the first Michigan recreational store opened in December 2019. But cracks are forming as businesses struggle with an oversupply of weed and plummeting prices. This has pushed some businesses into a debt safety net known as receivership, a court-ordered agreement for creditors to recover defaulted funds. From 2019 to present, eight licensees have entered a receivership, according to the Cannabis Regulatory Agency. The industrys financial instability and its interest in unionization go hand-in-hand, said John Cakmakci, president of United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 951. With more than 35,000 cannabis jobs, Michigan is second in the nation behind Californias 85,000 jobs. So far, only a handful of retail employees have been able to organize with United Food & Commercial Workers labor union. Growers and processors have not entered the union discussion. Cannabis workers have been contacting the labor union since the inception of Michigans industry, Cakmakci said. The calls spiked after the state legalized recreational use in 2018. Workers cited complaints varying from payment in marijuana to sexual harassment. At times, the industry felt like the wild west, Cakmakci said. Some of the sleazy behavior has been stymied by competition and regulation, according to Cakmakci, but the union is still regularly fielding complaints from workers. I think some of these owners are backing off, or are selling out, theres a little less of that kind of predatory behavior from some of these owners. I literally mean, little. Theres been some improvement there, nothing much, Cakmakci said. Momentum for unions stall when retail stores are purchased or swallowed by larger companies before organization takes hold, Cakmakci said. Theres been a pattern of employees leaving the store, or the industry, before they ever reach a union vote. We drop our contracts, and theyll look at it, say this is awesome, but getting them from point A to point B has been a real fight, Cakmakci said. Cakmakci also recognizes that the number of calls from workers were outstripping union resources as they were focused on repealing Right to Work legislation, which secured the governors signature this year. He expects to make gains in the cannabis industry now that the union can re-prioritize its efforts, he said. Despite momentum for labor organizing at Starbucks, Amazon and Apple, national union membership hit a historic low of 10.1% last year, federal data shows. Thats half the membership rate from 40 years ago. Michigans union membership, historically above the U.S. rate, bumped up to 14%. Much like regulation, unionization further legitimizes the cannabis industry, Heritage Provision CEO Willie McKenzie said. After Heritages Manistee store, Authentic 231, became the first in the state to unionize, the other two locations in East Tawas and Stanton followed suit. Now about 30 of the 80 retail employees are unionized. McKenzie initiated contact with the United Food & Commercial Workers when he heard other cannabis retailers were considering unionizing. Having experience with cannabis unions in his home state of California, McKenzie said he wanted to work with, rather than fight against, a union effort at his three stores. Partnering on the contract gave McKenzie more of a voice and allowed him to make suggestions specific to the cannabis industry, he said. The unions are going to have a place in the cannabis industry because theres a lot of evolving that the industry as a whole has to do to professionalize and to kind of rise to the occasion of becoming a big industry in the United States, he said. The union hasnt changed much for the economics of the company, McKenzie said. Heritages starting salary of $15 an hour was already in line with the union contract, as were health benefits, he said. The most appealing part of unionization for McKenzie was tamping down the industrys high turnover and elevating training to make cannabis a career path. The food and commercial workers union is looking to start an apprenticeship in the industry for similar reasons. This industry is emerging from the shadows, McKenzie said. As a whole, [the industry] doesnt necessarily have a good track record of treating employees very well. Which is one of the reasons that its important to me to have a really good culture in our business. A lucrative, up-and-coming industry is what drew in Springer, who worked for Cloud Cannabis for a year and half before her termination. The alleged union busting efforts have soured her experience in the industry. Six months later, Springer has two part-time jobs to cover her bills. Until we better regulate the labor situation in the cannabis industry, Im not participating in it, Springer said. More on MLive: Skymint cannabis taken to court over $127M debt, enters receivership Michigan revokes marijuana companys license after inspectors find illicit, untagged cannabis Michigan judge reverses media ban on remaining marijuana testing lab hearings Another tornado watch has been issued with the line of severe thunderstorms. The northern end of the tornado watch covers the far southeast part of Lower Michigan. The Storm Prediction Center even mentions an intense tornado possible somewhere in the tornado watch area. RELATED: Radar forecast shows timeline of possibly tornado-producing, very large hail storms over Michigan The severe storms are moving quickly out of northern Indiana into southeast Lower Michigan. If a thunderstorm does produce a tornado it will be between now (4:43 p.m.) and 7:00 p.m. While the thunderstorms have the potential to produce a tornado, very large hail is more likely. Also we could have wind gusts up to 80 mph even if a tornado doesnt develop. Be ready to move quickly to the safest interior part of your house in the next few hours. Here is the tornado watch outline. The tornado watch continues until 11 p.m. Note that the rest of the counties in southeast Lower including the rest of the Detroit area, Flint, Saginaw and Bay City are under a newly issued severe thunderstorm watch. Tornado Watch until 11 p.m. for the red outlined counties of Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw and Wayne. (Note- radar is not updated in the screen shot. It is the initial radar image at time of watch issuance.) Heres what the Storm Prediction Center says in the tornado Watch: Note that they forecast the possibility of an intense tornado. The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Tornado Watch for portions of Southeast Indiana Northeast Kentucky Southeast Lower Michigan Western to central Ohio Lake Erie * Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 420 PM until 1100 PM EDT. * Primary threats include... A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 80 mph likely. Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2.5 inches in diameter possible SUMMARY...A broader convective line with embedded intense supercells will move east from Indiana and southwest Lower Michigan. Greatest tornado threat will be near the Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio border area. The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles east and west of a line from 50 miles south southeast of Cincinnati OH to 10 miles north northeast of Detroit MI. " Prepare right now for an intense thunderstorm anywhere from Lansing and Jackson to Ann Arbor, Detroit and Monroe. This severe storm will happen in the next two hours (5p-7p) Wont you celebrate with me, opens a Lucille Clifton poem of the same name, what I have shaped into/a kind of life? Clifton, a writer born in Depew and raised on Buffalos East Side, is the inspiration for a sculpture created by internationally acclaimed artist Olalekan Jeyifous. The public artwork was formally dedicated Thursday in Reading Park outside the Central Library. The project was the result of nearly eight years of planning by Just Buffalo Literary Center, which commissioned the sculpture and officially gave it to the City of Buffalos public art collection. Lucille Clifton was one of the most important poets of the 20th century period, said Barbara Cole, Just Buffalos artistic director. We feel at Just Buffalo that everyone should know who Lucille Clifton is, but the fact that she has this Buffalo connection makes it all the more important for us to lift up her memory and her work and celebrate her extraordinary legacy. On Thursday, more than a dozen of Cliftons family members and friends came to celebrate the Spirit of Inspiration sculpture, alongside Jeyifous and the Buffalo literary community. Gathering celebrates life of poet Clifton Lucille Clifton returned often to Buffalo, long after she left the city on a literary journey that would see her become one of the nations most lauded poets. Clifton died Feb. 13 at age 73, and on Sunday, about 100 longtime friends and admirers of her work gathered in the auditorium of Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Public Library on Sidney Clifton, the eldest daughter who was integral to the project, returned to Buffalo for the first time since she was a child to attend the ceremony. She spoke of how moved she was to see her mother honored in Buffalos downtown, from the banners that line Washington Street to the sidewalks adorned with Cliftons poem let there be new flowering. I think my mom would be proud and humbled by the celebration of her life and her work, and also I think she would love the sculpture because it is extraordinary, Clifton said. The sculpture really represents that people are inspired to live their lives the way she lived hers, which is authentically and with courage and audacity. Spirit of Inspiration, the fifth and final of the Buffalo Renaissance Foundations Spirit of Buffalo sculpture series, stands 12 feet high, depicting a typewriter and leaves, which Jeyifous said was inspired by the Clifton poem, The Lesson of the Falling Leaves. The sculpture differs from the tonal choices typically present in his work, he noted, due to Cliftons favorite color being that of an abalone shell, a preference he honored in the iridescent purple-to-turquoise gradient of the piece. When I was contacted to produce this artwork, I was deeply honored and felt a very strong sense of gratitude, Jeyifous said to the crowd Thursday, his voice full of warmth. This is the kind of project that I really love, one that is very much connected to a community, but also one that is commemorating a life and a lifes work that has had an incredible and profound impact. Clifton produced more than a dozen poetry collections, 18 childrens books, and a memoir edited by Toni Morrison. She was first discovered when her friend and Buffalo poet Ishmael Reed shared her poems with Langston Hughes, who published them in the anthology The Poetry of the Negro. She would go on to be the first author to have two books of poetry named finalists in a single year for a Pulitzer Prize; the first Black woman to receive the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize for lifetime achievement; and to win awards such as the Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award and an Emmy. Editors Choice: Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton 1965-2010 edited by Kevin Young and Michael S. Glaser, foreword by Toni Morrison, afterword by Kevin Young, BOA Editions, 768 pages ($35). Prophets, we know from the Book of Matthew, are not without honor save in their own country. Thus, all too often, with poets. The profusion of neglected and misunderstood poets is Clifton, who died in 2010, spent 32 of her 73 years in Buffalo. She grew up on Purdy Street and graduated from what is now City Honors. In 1958 she married Fred James Clifton, a philosophy professor at the University at Buffalo, and the two had six children. The city is a continuous character in Cliftons work, one example being Lots Wife 1988, in which Clifton writes, Our name is spinning away in the wind/blowing across the vacant lots/of buffalo, new york,/that were my girlhood homes. Babel literary series: 'We're not London. We're not New York City. Yet these writers come here.' Luminaries of the literary world know Buffalo and Buffalo has come to know them. Every year, a parade of stars of the written word make a path to Kleinhans Music Hall, offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for book mavens and teaching opportunities for educators. In the process, the Babel literary series, presented by Just Buffalo Literary Center and now in I think a lot of Western New Yorkers are aware that, Oh yeah, Mark Twain spent some time here, but I dont think they realize the full breadth of just how many writers have called Buffalo home and what a destination Buffalo has been for writers for over a century, Cole said. The Reading Park, designed with the sculpture as the centerpiece, literally cements some of these writers into the ground. Joyce Carol Oates, Leslie Feinberg and Susan Howe are just some of the names lodged into this pathway of Buffalos literary history, which lead up to the Spirit of Inspiration, a token of Cliftons memory gleaming for all who pass. Buffalo is not only a city of good neighbors, Cole said, but a city of great writers. Nia Pearl, a rising artist from Umtata in the Eastern Cape, is quickly making a name for herself in the South African music industry. With a love for music that started in primary school, Nia Pearl has been perfecting her craft and building a career in the industry. After studying contemporary music at Damelin College,Nia Pearl started working with industry heavyweights like DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small, Tyler ICU, Major League, Mas Musiq, Dj Stokie and Daliwonga on various hit tracks. Her delivery can be best described as creative, with incredible stage presence and vocal talent, as well as a unique fashion sense that sets her apart from her peers. In December 2021, Nia Pearl released a two-track EP titled "Dreamers and Believers," dedicated to her loyal fans who have supported her throughout the years. The EP is a testament to her unique artistry and serves as a reminder to her fans to keep chasing their dreams and never give up on their purpose In a recent interview, she revealed her passion and described her style of music as unique and infectious. "My aim is to continue growing and possibly getting to the top, Piano keeps growing and is starting to reach different corners of the world, I cant wait to share my very special take on what the genre has to offer. I love making good music, Id love nothing more than to bring out a combined Amapiano and Afrobeat sound to the music scene. Though Piano may have originated from my country South Africa; i relate with other sounds and want to create an infectious blend of all indigenous sounds which perhaps would mask me out". Currently, Nia Pearl is working on her upcoming album with some of the best producers in the country. Akeju Abass, founder prime music partners, a distribution agency managing Nia Pearl's branding and media engagement, described the artist as "rare creative talent", enunciating her fast-paced rise in the music industry. With her undeniable talent and growing fan base, Nia Pearl is poised to become a household name in the African music scene and beyond. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea has described as absurd allegations by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the court is against the candidacy of deposed Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), James Gyakye Quayson in the upcoming by-election. According to the communication team member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), the NDC has been unfair to themselves and the people of Ghana with such allegations. Speaking on Metro TV, Nana Akomea said the NDC was irresponsible for putting up a candidate who was not qualified at the time of filing to contest the 2020 elections. They are telling themselves and are telling Ghanaians that actually, the court has fixed the date in such a manner that Quayson cannot campaign so the court is in collusion. How unfair can you be to yourself and to the people of Ghana? You have been unfair by being irresponsible. Fielding a candidate who was not qualified by the time of filing and then you are telling the court they are working against you, Nana Akomea argues. According to him, what NDC needed to do is to follow the timelines agreed. All you do is to apply to say that look, when we were fixing the timelines the Electoral Commission had not brought the date. Now they have brought the date. Its not my fault that it has affected the timelines. They should have applied to the court for the time to be varied. The Assin North by-election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 27. Palgrave Frimpong Boakye-Danquah, a parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Abuakwa North Constituency has called on NPP delegates to reject politics of ethnicity and tribalism. He asserted that if we introduced ethnicity into our politics, we would be planting a poisonous seed, and the fruits we would bear would be bitter. He urged the delegates to vote for the best candidate without considering the candidates background. He made this call when he met with the NPP delegates on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at Akyem Tafo. Speaking to the delegates and party members, Palgrave Frimpong Boakye-Danquah vowed never to forget the traditions of the founders notably R.S. Dombo. He emphasized that they shouldnt ever be used as the foundation for racial or tribal politics. Tribal politics is something we must not entertain in NPP, since 1992 we have remained a nation; one nation, he stated. Extreme temperatures have killed at least 133 people in two populous Indian states as weather experts warned climate change had made parts of southern Asia 30 times more prone to searing heatwaves. The hot weather has reportedly claimed 68 lives in four days since 15 June in Uttar Pradesh, but officials contested this figure saying they were still looking into the cause of deaths in the northern Indian state, where temperatures hovered between 41 and 45 degrees celsius. Most deaths were reported in Balia, where the district's only state-run infirmary has been swamped by patients since the onset of the brutal conditions this month. A majority of them were elderly people suffering from issues such as diabetes and respiratory illnesses, hospital chief SK Yadav told reporters at the facility packed with 400 newly arrived suspected heat stroke patients aged between 17 and 75 years. Doctors have advised the elderly not to step out in the extreme heat, with private pharmacies reported running low on stocks of medicines and fluids to treat life-threatening dehydration. On 17 June a railway track melted due to the intense heat after a high-speed Express train hurtled across the damaged section in state capital Lucknow. State of denial The media has reported 47 heat deaths since 31 May in nearby Bihar, where officials also insisted only four people perished in the heatwave that broke an 11-year record in the eastern state of 119 million largely poor people. Hospitals overflowed with patients as healthcare workers sought medical supplies. We don't have enough staff ... Please help arrange for more oxygen cylinders Our situation is really pitiful, a doctor named Ashutosh was heard pleading over the phone, NDTV reported. In April, heat stroke killed 13 people at an open-air event in Mumbai, while five died earlier this month in West Bengal state, prompting the local government to shut schools and colleges. On Wednesday, the national government went into a huddle with five provincial administrations as rising mercury, a delay in June-September monsoon rains and power blackouts affected hundreds and millions of people. With coordinated actions between the centre and states, we can surely ensure there are no deaths due to heatwave, said Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as he sought data from the stricken states on the number of people killed. The weather office, meanwhile, predicted severe to very severe heatwave conditions in 11 of India's 28 states and eight federal territories. Heat deaths are politically sensitive as they are seen as a commentary on inadequate preparations and deep-seated corruption. The National Crime Records Bureau reported 20,615 heat-linked deaths between 2000 and 2020, but the figures do not tally with data from the National Disaster Management Authority, which put the toll at 17,767 for the same period. Warning from experts Twenty-two researchers, including those from Britain, France, Germany and the US, said warming had made humid heatwaves at least 30 times more likely in parts of southern Asia. Temperatures were at least two degrees warmer in India, Bangladesh, Laos and Thailand because of climate change, the World Weather Attribution Group said in a study this month. Earth has warmed by 1.2 degrees since the preindustrial era and if warming reaches 2 degrees the severe heat and humidity as seen in April will become three times more likely in India and Bangladesh and 10 times more likely in Laos and Thailand, it added. The report came as Cambridge University said 90 percent of India was in the "danger zone" of heatwaves which was putting 80 percent of its 1.4 billion people at risk. The Marche des Fiertes LGBTQ, France's largest LGBTQ Pride parade, attracted thousands of spectators. But it was not the same as other editions. This year's edition was slightly different from the usual format as there were no floats, decorated trucks with people dancing or performing on them. Organisers made the change to show eco-responsibility and decarbonization. Despite the absence of the floats, the parade's official website assured attendees that the vibrant atmosphere will remain intact. Numerous marching orchestras filled the procession, boosting the atmosphere. The parade kicked off at 2pm from Place de la Nation, marching through the streets of Paris and ended at Place de la Republique. Halfway, the demonstrators observed three minutes of silence to pay tribute to the victims of HIV and AIDS. Homophobic remarks During the march, six young men were arrested for attacking a woman who, holding a rainbow flag, was heading to the march, police sources told the French press agency AFP. All six young men are minors, and one of them is known to be associated with the far-right movement, the same source added. 24.06.2023 LISTEN Christian Asare Bempong was crowned the "Overall Best Graduating Student" and the "Best in Academics" at the recently held graduation ceremony for the Advanced Batch Four Group 2023 of National Ambulance Service. The two year program,which has a minimum requirement of a first degree, is for training Senior Officers of the Service. Training emergency and pre-hospital professionals has become one of the core competencies of the Paramedic and Emergency Medical Training School (PECTS) located at Nkenkaasu in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The school is known regionally as the premier paramedic training school in West Africa. Over the 2 year period, students received immense training in Patient Assessment, Anatomy and Physiology,Vital Signs,I.V. Access, Pharmacology,Trauma and Emergency Care,Medical Emergencies, Behavioral Emergencies, Obstetrics, Gynecological Emergencies and several others. This requires non negotiable high levels of hard work, dedication and commitment.Clearly, it is no walk in the park. Students had to consistently burn the midnight candle because of the importance of their role as AEMT's in emergency and pre-hospital care nationwide. The valedictorian, Christian Asare Bempong was born on 28th January 1991 at Bantama,Kumasi. His parents Madam Regina Azu and Mister Prosper Asare Bempong, should be proud of this amazing feat.He has equally brought honor to Bethel Preparatory School, Opoku Ware M/A Junior High School (2006 Batch) and Kumasi Anglican Senior Secondary School (2009 Batch). Christian is a proud alumnus of University of Cape Coast and has a Bachelor in Management Studies (2014 Year Group ).Christian who goes by the nickname "Counsel" joined the institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana ICAG in 2016 and became an Associate Member in 2017.The calm and well composed young man has a liking for video games, enjoys sight seeing and loves fufu with light soup. Besides Christian Asare Bempong,other outstanding students received awards on the day of graduation. Miss Fati Larley received the "CEO's Award".This is an award reserved for the Best Female Student.This was initiated and instituted by the CEO of the National Ambulance Service,Prof. Ahmed Nuhu Zakaria as a form of affirmative action geared towards empowering hardworking female students. Zakaria Pihkaga Kassim, was also very outstanding and received the award for "Best in Practicals". John Kobena Quansah, also made history as the "Best in Foot Drill" for the year group.Congratulations to the awardees,instructors and all graduates. Long Live Mother Ghana. Dumenu Charles Selorm 24.06.2023 LISTEN Geneva, 24 June 2023: Press Emblem Campaign, the global media safety and rights body, while expressing its concern over the blockade on Asia Sentinel, an independent online media outlet focusing on Asian news coverage, urges the Singapore government (precisely the interior minister K. Shanmugam) to withdraw the ban immediately and unconditionally. Access to Asia Sentinels website has apparently been blocked in Singapore by the countrys Ministry of Communications and Information, according to local media, after we refused to comply with an order to correct a May 24, 2023 article concerning the use of government power against dissenters, said the media outlets on 3 June. It also added, Asia Sentinel cited statements confirming the veracity of our reporting. The government demanded that Asia Sentinel carry the correction at the top of our website for 30 days, which we refused to do. Currently Asia Sentinel remains inaccessible throughout the city state due to the government diktats. The development started with a piece titled Singapore Kills a Chicken to Scare the Monkeys, which was uploaded on 24 May, where the Singapore governments inherent pressure on the media was criticized. Its very unfortunate that the Singapore government wants to read only favourable stories about them and it has seemingly decided to reject all kinds of critical journalism. The concerned ministry should withdraw the arrogant approach to the acclaimed media outlet and allow its access to the interested Singaporian nationals, said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch). Asia Sentinel was created to provide a platform for news, analysis, and opinion on national and regional issues in Asia and its independent of all governments and major media enterprises. It has twice won the top award for investigative and interpretive reporting from the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) and its highly respected in the business, economics and diplomatic communities across the region. Singapores home affairs minister Shanmugam issued a statement threatening to take stern action against Asia Sentinel under a new law on online falsehoods and manipulation, which has been used by the government to tame the press, critics & political opponents. Asia Sentinel made a correction post on the concerned piece. Although the media outlet posted the Singapore governments demand, it stood by the story. Speaking to PECs south & southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria, veteran journalist and Asia Sentinels editor John Berthelsen informed that the blockage has definitely denied general Singaporean readers to access its website, but its published on the substack platform as a newsletter (meaning its available in email accounts). There is a proverb that states, "Whatever a man can do, women can do it better," and this statement is not hyperbole. I'm happy to have joined the group of travelers who boarded the trip on June 2, 2023, from Brussels' Zaventem Airport to Accra's Kotoka International Airport. After multiple turbulences brought on by terrible weather, the female captain and her female co-pilot, as well as the friendly cabin crew, who included Sophie Schmit, assured passengers that everything would be alright. Why did I travel to Ghana? Apart from seeing the family, I want to travel to Ghana to investigate the situation for myself, even though my writings and warning to Ghanaians about the consequences of Akufo Addo's rule since 2020 have come to pass. To be honest, a journalist or writer living abroad can stay current on the political and economic conditions of the nation; but, nothing is more correct than to be in Ghana and investigate the problems facing the populace. Joel Savage at the Kotoka International Airport- Since I have been there and experienced it, every post that follows from my trip to Ghana contains nothing but the truth. The six-and-a-half-hour flight from Brussels Airport's Zaventem was a smooth flight with amusing facilities to make guests enjoy the worth of their money well spent. However, before arriving in Accra, the capital, events took a drastic turn. The passengers' initial excitement quickly gave way to anxiety and nervousness, as the pilot faced bad weather with torrential rain. There was heavy rainfall throughout that day in Accra; therefore, visibility was quite limited. I am aware that the plane is being flown by two female pilots because the identities of the pilot and co-pilot were announced before takeoff. Even though Belgian pilots are among the greatest in the world, she made her first attempt to land but was unable to do so; as a result, she instantly aborted the landing and shot back up into the air. She was in mid-air for about 35 minutes before making a second attempt, which, regrettably, also failed. This time, we hovered in the air for a little longer, roughly 45 minutes, and it was announced that the Accra-Lome bound plane would continue to Togo, before returning the passengers to Accra if the weather kept making landing problematic. However, it appears that luck is on our side because the pilot successfully made her third attempt at a landing, to loud applause and congratulations for the pilots and cabin crew. I spent three weeks in Ghana before departing for Belgium from Kotoka International Airport on June 23. I learned a lot in just three weeks, therefore; I'll be publishing several articles on the grave problems that the average Ghanaian must deal with in the nation without any immediate or long-term answers. Being in Ghana is fantastic, but the terrible circumstances don't inspire me with pride. Debating politics has never been easy on the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, where the question of independence is a thorny issue. With talks between those who support separating from France and those who want to remain part of it still deadlocked, writer Jenny Briffa has turned to comedy to say the unsayable. Caledonian writer Louis-Jose Barbancon dubbed New Caledonia the pays du non-dit a country where much goes unsaid. And you can see why. France planted its flag on the rock in 1853, converting it into a penal colony and displacing thousands of indigenous Kanak people from their land to make way for the ensuing waves of French settlers. It wasn't until 1946 that Kanaks ceased being subjects and became French citizens. Tensions between the indigenous population and European settlers, known as Caldoches, culminated in four years of civil war between 1984 and 1988. The troubles, as they were known, ended with a 1988 peace agreement, followed by the 1998 Noumea Accord that laid out the path to decolonisation through three independence referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021. All three rejected full sovereignty though the most recent results are contested by pro-independence parties, who had called on their supporters to boycott the vote. Few people want to risk inflaming the divisions, not least on a small territory of just 170,000 people. But journalist and writer Jenny Briffa is part of a younger generation looking to go beyond the historical pro- and anti-independence divide. I wanted to shake the coconut tree because my country is a kind of taboo land, says Briffa, who grew up in New Caledonia amid the tensions of the 1980s. Later, working as a journalist, she saw that while people were divided politically, they are much closer to one another than they thought. Briffa has written a triptych of plays around the three referendums, each aimed at saying the unsayable. And with humour. Listen to a conversation with Jenny Briffa in the Spotlight on France podcast Her first play, Fin mal barres! (Off to a bad start), written in 2018, was a one-woman show starring a Kanak actor, Maite Siwene, that took potshots at local politicians and media prone to self-censorship. The combination of Kanak performer and white European author was a perfect match, Briffa believes. No one could say you are against independence or against France. We were saying: 'We want things to change in our country, we want people to talk together and we're fed up with our politicians because they're not up to the task'. The second play, Fin mal geres (Badly managed), in 2020, showed another protagonist torn between his Kanak father and loyalist mother struggling to decide how to vote. There aren't just two paths, there are thousands, the character says. Briffa wrote her third play, Fin bien ensemble! (Getting on together), in the wake of New Caledonia's third referendum. The play features a couple Marguerite, a pro-independence Kanak, and Kevin, a loyalist. The couple is an allegory of New Caledonia, Briffa explains. A black woman, white man, married and deeply in love, but when it comes to politics they fight. They can't separate, they love each other too much. I think that's us. A patchwork of cultures People looking at New Caledonia from the outside tend to see it as white against black, Briffa says, but it's much more than that... we're very mixed. A 2019 census showed 41 percent of the territory 's inhabitants identify as Kanak, 24 percent as European and 8.3 percent as from the French Pacific islands of Wallis and Futuna, while the others are divided between Tahitian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Ni-Vanuatu and other Asian communities. The country is no melting pot, but interactions between cultures are part of everyday life. Briffa describes a custom where you'll be served a traditional Kanak dish known as bougna, bami from Indonesia, sugar pork from Vietnam and a French baguette. You could say, ' so what? ' But those little things of daily life are also important, she insists. Creolisation is in our hearts, we cannot imagine living apart from one another. And yet New Caledonia's politicians, whether loyalist or pro-independence, have exaggerated differences between the different communities and divided us for electoral gains, Briffa says. Hence the mockery. Her plays also highlight Caledonians' contradictions: the Caldoches who want to remain part of France, but disparage mainlanders as Zoreilles in reference to their sunburned ears; and supporters of independence who want to break away while hanging on to hefty French subsidies. Comedy as catharsis The same gags make audiences from New Caledonia ' s different communities laugh, recounts Briffa, who says that m ore than 17,000 New Caledonians have seen the three plays 10 percent of the population. Her pieces were performed in the capital Noumea, but also in the bush and in tribal communities, with the idea of helping to decolonise mentalities on both sides. Briffa calls them a form of group therapy. In New Caledonia we're neurotic about identity and the three plays were a cathartic moment for all Caledonians, she says. Of course the people who suffered the most through colonisation are the indigenous Kanaks. We accept they are more legitimate than us on this land, but we all suffer from this neurosis from the legacy of colonisation. Freedom of speech Briffa's desire to break taboos began early. At 12, she noticed that different communities where she grew up didn't seem to mix much, and set up a school newspaper to get them sharing more. By the age of 16 she was hosting a TV programme. She became a household name in 1997 when she dared to question loyalist Jacques Lafleur about political pressure on the media. Lafleur, who had signed the peace agreement with his Kanak counterpart Jean-Marie Tjibaou in 1988, was also a business tycoon. When he dodged her question, she pushed back. People were shocked and I became a sort of freedom of speech figure in New Caledonia, she laughs. It led to her forging friendships with supporters of independence. She went on to become the first white Caledonian journalist to work for the Kanak radio station Radio Djiido. We can do things together with our double culture, and that's the richness of New Caledonia today, Briffa notes. For me the march of history is much more to progress with this combination of our two worlds, our two civilisations, because we're already mixed. Her next play will feature passages in Nyalayu, one of the 28 Kanak languages that she sees it as her duty to promote and defend. Future of independence Despite close ties to the Kanak community, Briffa voted against independence in each of the referendums. We're not ready for independence, she argues, citing public services like health and education, which are heavily subsidised by the mainland. She doesn't rule out an independent New Caledonia further down the line, but she suggests it will involve moving beyond the binary politics of the past. We're in a dead end, not politically, but intellectually, Briffa says. Our leaders didn't make the effort to think about decolonisation, now in 2023. What does it mean? It doesn't mean the same as during the ' 80s, things have changed, the world has changed, China is now everywhere in the Pacific, there's a lot of interdependence between countries. So we need to think differently. Asked whether France should apologise for colonising New Caledonia, she pleads for a custom of reconciliation drawn from the Melanesian civilisation the archipelago belongs to, similar to Australia's formal apology to indigenous peoples in 2008. It would allow for reconciliation but does not involve repentance, she says. Briffa left New Caledonia two years ago and now lives in the south of France. I could no longer breathe. Unfortunately there are quite a lot of us. But even far from our country, we're working for New Caledonia. She's currently adapting Fin bien ensemble! for audiences here on the mainland, which has a lot to learn about its distant overseas territory. Children's health and development depend on how much time they spend doing physical activity, being sedentary and sleeping. Research on movement behaviours in children is essential. It helps us to understand what influences these behaviours, and their contribution to health and development. Most evidence on movement behaviours comes from high-income countries. Here children have different lifestyles, environments and cultures from those in low- and middle-income countries. For example, children in African countries face different challenges in achieving healthy levels of physical activity and sleep. Safety, transport, infrastructure, culture, climate, nutrition, and different levels and types of screen time exposure may all present challenges. Africa, as a continent, contributes less than 1% of research worldwide. This means over 16% of the world's population has been excluded from the research. The international SUNRISE study , which we are part of, aims to bridge this gap. It conducts studies on movement behaviour in collaboration with researchers in several African countries, including Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa, where we are based. We bring a collective expertise across disciplines such as public health, physiotherapy and child development. SUNRISE findings so far show that the proportion of children in low- and middle-income countries meeting recommendations for movement behaviours is low, compared to high-income countries. This highlights the need for research and intervention in Africa. But since the beginning of this study we have faced a wide range of challenges. In each country, the target number of children for the study is around 1,000. Researching their movement behaviour requires technology. The challenges include access to devices to track movement, the lack of awareness of such tools and what they do, difficulty in securing funds, and institutional challenges. Solutions include local collaboration, reducing financial barriers, developing new low-cost devices, and using contextually relevant methods. The following sections describe the challenges and possible solutions in detail. Challenges Access to devices Accelerometers are a type of digital wearable device, similar to Fitbits and smart watches. But they measure movement more accurately than commercially available devices. This is why they are more commonly used in research. These devices are generally more expensive because they are research-grade, and upwards of US$250 each (before software and delivery). This is a major challenge for those of us working in African countries, as at least 50 devices would be needed to conduct large scale studies like SUNRISE. There is no local manufacturer or distributor of accelerometer devices. Researchers need a legal licence to import or export them. The SUNRISE study is able to loan devices. But exorbitant customs and shipping charges for moving this equipment to and between African countries makes sharing difficult even when it's only for research. This leads to unnecessary costs and delays, which means Africa gets left behind in this scientific field. Lack of awareness about the benefits of accelerometers These devices are often novel in African settings. Some parents and caregivers in our study areas have been sceptical about using them. For example, caregivers have asked whether the devices attract lightning, or whether they have some physical effect on the body. This may lead to another challenge in recruiting sufficient participants for the study. And data collection can take a long time when the shortage of devices is added to the time to get local buy-in. Difficulty in securing funds SUNRISE study researchers in Africa battle to get funding. They rely on highly competitive international funding, which seldom prioritises movement behaviour research in young children. It costs a lot to attend conferences internationally and to publish research in reputable academic journals. Open access journal fees can even exceed the monthly salary of a research assistant in an African country. Institutional challenges Within African research institutions, another challenge is how to build capacity. Few research institutes focus on movement behaviours in Africa. Accelerometer data is often complex to manage, and needs trained staff. High-income countries typically have access to support staff and students who can assist with this. This is not the case in many African countries. So it is difficult to conduct high-quality research and translate it into policy and practice. Possible solutions A possible solution is to collaborate with local partners and stakeholders to identify the most appropriate devices for each context and population. All stakeholders, including local government and non-government organisations, ought to remove barriers so that the researchers can focus on the quality of evidence to inform policy and practice that is anchored to the local context. Establishing some type of research equipment hub in Africa would go some way to help. But even moving equipment within Africa is not easy. Governments should consider waiving import and export charges for research equipment. The development of low-cost devices that can be produced and used efficiently in Africa is the best way forward. Researchers in Africa could also examine other new data collection methods that are customised to the local context. Qualitative research (interviews and focus groups) can provide valuable insights into the factors that influence movement behaviours in different contexts. These insights are vital for the development of measurement tools and interventions that are culturally appropriate and effective. Conclusion There are many other pressing needs in Africa. But the contribution of movement behaviours to population health and development is significant, particularly as there is growing evidence of the global economic costs of physical inactivity . We need local research on these behaviours, starting in the early years, when patterns of behaviour are established. Without addressing barriers to robust research, researchers in this region will continue to lag behind in this field. This means that we lose opportunities to learn how to promote movement behaviours that support health and development, thus setting children on the best path for life. Catherine Draper receives or has received funding from the British Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences, the South African Medical Research Council, the Jacobs Foundation, and the European Commission. Anthony Okely receives funding from NHMRC, Research Council of Norway, World Health Organization, and UNICEF. Aoko Oluwayomi receives funding from ISBNPA-PIONEER PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP 2022 Chalchisa Abdeta receives funding through HDR Scholarship from the University of Wollongong, Australia. By Catherine Draper, Associate Professor at MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand And Anthony Okely, Distinguished Professor of Public Health, University of Wollongong And Aoko Oluwayomi, PhD Candidate (Exercise Physiology), University of Lagos And Chalchisa Abdeta, PhD candidate, University of Wollongong The Buffalo AKG Art Museum was closed for more than 3 years as the art world, sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement, went through a period of re-examination of the artistic representation of people of color and women in museum collections. The remade modern and contemporary art museum, formerly Albright-Knox Art Gallery, grappled with these issues as well, but also made huge strides in diversifying the artists it presents long beforehand. Since 2000, some 47% of all works acquired by Buffalo AKG have been artists who are people of color, compared to 10% represented in the collection between 1862 and 1999, according to Holly Hughes, senior curator for the collection. The acquisition of works by women artists jumped to 33% from 20% over the same period, in a collection that now numbers 7,868 artworks, roughly half paintings, sculptures, installations and video works and the other half artwork on paper. We acquire works because they are great, and you cannot build a great collection right now without representing the diversity of artistic production, including artists of color, women artists, indigenous artists, nonbinary artists and others, Chief Curator Cathleen Chaffee told The Buffalo News. Many of the artists coming into the collection use their art to reflect on current and historic conditions, Associate Curator Andrea Alvarez said. The art world and the museum world are so deeply shaped by the legacy of colonialism, capitalism and imperialism, Alvarez said. Thats something that, even though we are not an encyclopedic museum, we have a responsibility to think about, and it is something the artists that are living and working today are very much addressing in the global contemporary art world. It is certainly something that manifests in the collecting practice and the exhibition practices of any contemporary museum worth its salt. Serving diverse audiences is especially important for a museum whose mandate is to collect and exhibit modern and contemporary art, Alvarez said. That means all kinds of diversity, so its not just racial diversity, although that is very much on our mind, she said. Its also the diversity of artistic practices, artists from different regions, artists using different media. The museum is cognizant of the broad audience it seeks to do a better job attracting, which in Buffalo includes a large Spanish-speaking public and refugee and diaspora populations, Alvarez said. We have a new and expanded notion of who our public is as we reopen as the Buffalo AKG, she said, and these wider and more diverse audiences deserve to see themselves and their experiences reflected in the exhibitions and the collections and the programs that we offer. Change blossoms in 90s Few people of color in the United States and Europe were trained in art in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, due to centuries of racist educational practices and economic factors, Chaffee said. The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, which began in 1862, opened its doors as the Albright Art Gallery in 1905. But it wasnt until 1942 that the museum acquired its first work by an African American artist, folk painter Horace Pippens 1941 self-portrait. My grandfather was pretty involved with that decision because he owned a Horace Pippen himself, said Charles Banta, a longtime board member and former board president, of his grandfather Philip J. Wickser, who also served on the board. The self-portrait was acquired through the museums Room of Contemporary Art Fund, as was Jacob Lawrences Going to Work, painted in 1943 and purchased by the museum the following year. Both are on view at the entrance to the north galleries that feature post-World War II work, along with Icarus, a 1956 work by Black sculptor Richard Howard Hunt. The first major artwork by a woman in the collection occurred in 1911, with Gertrude Kasebiers 1899 The Manger. Banta credited then-director Douglas Schultz for turbocharging the acquisition of an array of diverse artists working in a variety of media in the late 1990s. Successors Louis Grachos and Janne Siren went even farther, he said. The museum started on that course before anyone put pressure on them, Banta said. Some museums are trying to play catch-up, but the Buffalo AKG instinctively thought it was important to do. They werent buying these artists because they were checking a box, but because they thought they were great, he said. Alvarez said she follows the work of Latina artists particularly attuned to the legacies of colonialism and how the experience of being either an immigrant or the children of immigrants shaped their experience. An example, she said, is the large glass tile mosaic on the wall of the Cornelia cafe by Dominican artist Firelei Baez, titled Chorus of the Deep (something ephemeral and beautifully whole, when seen from the edge of ones vision, too full when taken head on). The artwork calls for a re-examination of colonialism and the history of the world as written, Alvarez said. I think its so important that the AKG has put her artwork in such an important place on our campus, she said. We are platforming that in a way that people cant help but experience the work when they see us. Reconsidering artwork The museum, which reopened June 12, acquired some 504 works while being closed for the $195 million expansion, restoration and renovation. The curators were able to use the time to both improve and enrich the collection and build relationships with artists they didnt previously have, Chaffee said. The acquisitions will continue to reflect an increasing turn toward diversity, Alvarez said. It is a really energizing mandate that we have for ourselves to continue moving in this direction. Some works in the collection present challenges when looked at from a 21st-century perspective. Spirit of the Dead Watching, a work by post-impressionist Paul Gauguin, is one. The painting portrays a 13-year-old Tahitian girl lying nude on her stomach, with a hooded male spirit of the dead gazing upon her. Gauguin, married at the time, lived with her though she was barely a teenager, a partnering considered accepted practice in Tahiti at the time though the artist concealed his marriage to the girl and her family. Feminist and post-colonialist studies of the past 30 years have described the relationship as the target of Gauguins sexual exploitation and sense of entitled possession characteristic of the colonialist mentality, said Heather Lemonedes Brown, chief curator at the Cleveland Museum of Art, in a contributing essay in the Buffalo AKGs new Collection Handbook. An audio tour, titled Spotlights includes an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, rather than an art historian, discussing the painting. A Portrait of a Man by Theodore Gericault, circa 1822-1823, retitled A Portrait of a Man (Possibly Joseph), had an earlier historical title when purchased by the museum in 1952. Translated from French, it was essentially A Portrait of a Negro, Chaffee said. We discussed for many years the correct retitling of this work that hadnt been on view for a long time, she said. For the reinstallation and the new Collection Handbook, which was published in conjunction with the museums reopening, the curators concluded the man was almost certainly a model named Joseph used by the artist. Hughes, senior curator for the collection, said Gericault took portraits of people he felt were being marginalized in society by humanizing them in an attempt to elevate their status. The title could have been given by the person who purchased the painting. Through research it was 99% clear its Joseph, Hughes said. We thought it was really important to say its not a portrait of a Negro, its a portrait of a man. 25.06.2023 LISTEN The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed keen interest in providing all forms of assistance to Persons With Disabilities (PWDs). According to Dr. Bawumia, past governments have not given much attention to PWDs. "For many years, I have followed with keen interest your efforts in providing assistance devices, medical care, and other essential items for this vulnerable group across the country by organizing the "Day of Help" for persons with disabilities, which is commendable. "Unfortunately, our society's actions and inactions while others also find to integrate disabled into the community they live in, Dr. Bawumia pointed out during a groundbreaking ceremony for constructing the CEM Ability Village, a charity that focuses on supporting persons with disabilities. "As a Government, we are responsible for upholding the rights of persons with disability in Ghana. We must also continue to address the various challenges, such as discrimination, stigmatization, lack of skills training, unemployment, negative attitudes, and lack of access to buildings (both public and private) and facilities in this country. "It has become expedient to tackle these issues head-on with concrete actions that will deal with all these prejudices and barriers impeding the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in our communities. Therefore, CEM Ability Village shows that we do not have to wait for the Government to do everything. We are all responsible for our fellow brothers and sisters living with a disability. "People with disabilities face a variety of social, attitudinal, physical, educational, transportation, and communication barriers in their everyday lives, which affects their full inclusion in our communities. These barriers result in negative consequences such as social exclusion, physical and mental health challenges, discrimination, stigmatization, low self-esteem, and financial difficulties," he stated. The Vice president added "We are therefore witnessing a fine example of responsibility sharing to address challenges facing persons with disability, and this calls for our overwhelming support from us as Government. We will partner with this Charity to realize this game-changing initiative and bring it to reality. This shining example of helping others irrespective of gender, tribe, religion, and background calls for corporate Ghana and individuals to support the construction of this Empowerment Centre." Three persons including an officer of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) have been confirmed dead, with one missing after a heavy downpour on Friday evening in parts of the Ashanti Region. The three according to report, were swept away by divastating floods and was later discovered dead on Saturday morning while the other one is still missing. The NADMO officer , identified as Sulemana Ahmed, was tragically swept away togetger with his motorbike in Duase, located in the Kumasi Metropolis, while on his way home from work. The Assembly Member Prince Osei, the Assembly Member for the Duase Electoral Area, Prince Osei in an interview with this reporter said residents in the area discovered his body in a drain Saturday morning. Sulemana Ahmed, in his 40s, not only served as an officer with NADMO but also held the position of former Organizer of the National Democratic Congress in the Old Tafo Constituency. Atofoa incident A yet to be identified man also lost his life after he was swept away by floods at Atafoa in the Kumasi Metropolis. The sad incident according to report occurred when four persons crossing the Owabi River at Atafoa in the bucket of a KIA truck ended up in the heavyily flooded river. One of the surviving victims in an interview with OTEC News said four out of the six persons who were in the vehicle jumped out at a point where the flood was dragging the car into the river. The two out of four according to the victim, were saved while the other two were dragged away by the food. One person has been found dead while the other is still missing. Offinso casualty Meanwhile, another man in his late 30s was found dead at Offinso Mpeha in the Ashanti Region. The deceased according to residents in the area went missing during a heavy rainstorm and was later discovered dead with body buried in sand in a gutter. Bodies of the victim have been deposited at mortuary for autopsy. The issue of flooding in urban areas, particularly in Accra, Ghana, persists unabated, causing extensive damage to the environment and posing a significant challenge. The causes of this recurring problem are multifaceted and the resulting consequences are severe. One prominent factor contributing to the problem is inadequate planning in the capital city. The haphazard arrangement of buildings and structures lacks proper organization and spacing, disrupting the smooth flow of water during intense rainfall due to the disorderly layout. Compounding the issue is the insufficiency of drainage systems in Accra. The construction of drains has been subpar, failing to accommodate the substantial volume of water. Consequently, even areas that are typically arid experience water overflow during heavy downpours. Improper waste disposal practices also play a substantial role in exacerbating the flooding problem. Both individuals and businesses frequently dispose of solid waste, including garbage and plastics, in inappropriate locations such as gutters, streets, and drains. This improper disposal obstructs the natural flow of water and contributes to flooding in affected communities. Another significant factor is the obstruction of drains caused by silting and debris. The improper disposal of waste leads to the accumulation of rubbish in drains and gutters, impeding the smooth flow of water. As a result, heavy rainfall causes flooding in areas where water cannot escape freely. Poor architectural practices further contribute to the recurrent floods in Accra. In some instances, buildings are constructed in unsuitable locations, such as watercourses, obstructing water pathways. Consequently, water overflows and floods occur during periods of intense rainfall. Additionally, the inadequate enforcement of building construction and sanitation laws exacerbates the problem. Authorities often fail to rigorously enforce these regulations, allowing individuals to construct buildings without adhering to proper guidelines. This lack of enforcement contributes to the disorderly development of Accra, intensifying flooding issues. The flat topography of Accra also exacerbates the flooding problem. Low-lying areas below sea level are particularly susceptible to submersion during periods of heavy rainfall. Furthermore, drains filled with silt and debris worsen flooding in these areas. The environmental effects of flooding are far-reaching and destructive. Loss of life and extensive property damage are frequent outcomes of these events. Buildings and vehicles are destroyed, leaving many people displaced and homeless. The loss of livestock and other animals further compounds the devastation caused by floods. Crop destruction and damage to agricultural lands are additional consequences of flooding. The swift water flow uproots plants and carries them away, leading to diminished agricultural productivity and food scarcity. As a result, food prices skyrocket, and concerns regarding food security emerge. Furthermore, flooding cannot be discussed without acknowledging the significant impact of soil erosion. The forceful flow of water removes the nutrient-rich topsoil essential for plant growth, resulting in infertile soil. Soil erosion weakens buildings and gives rise to channels and gullies on streets and roads, rendering them impassable and causing additional infrastructure damage. In conclusion, addressing the root causes of flooding is imperative for sustainable development in Accra and the well-being of affected communities. While the implementation of effective strategies requires robust commitment, adequate funding, and collaborative efforts, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the government must prioritize the following actions: Enhance urban planning and zoning, allocating sufficient space for proper waterways. Upgrade drainage systems and ensure regular maintenance to improve their capacity. Establish green spaces and implement green infrastructure to absorb excess rainfall. Enforce building regulations and preserve natural floodplains. Raise public awareness and educate communities on proper waste disposal practices and adaptation to changing weather patterns. Establish early warning systems to provide timely flood risk information. Foster collaboration among stakeholders and strengthen governance structures to effectively address the issue. By diligently implementing these measures, Accra can mitigate the persistent flooding problem, promote resilience, and pave the way for a safer and more sustainable future. Top of Form BY : Emmanuel Kwame Appiah Teacher, AAK JHS-Nsein, Axim. Turkey's re-elected president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is standing by his policy to give shelter to millions of refugees. Bordering Syria and spanning Europe and Asia, Turkey is the world's biggest host of people seeking international asylum but public unease over the policy could threaten that. Syrian refugees who fled to Turkey lost their homes, their country, and in some cases, their limbs. At the Istanbul Orthotic Prosthesis Centre, Syrian refugees patiently wait to be measured and fitted with replacements, including 18-year-old Semir. His parents and four siblings were killed in the civil war; he lost his legs, but now hopes to walk again. "They helped me a lot with everything; praise be to God, everything will be fine, praise be to God," he said. "We are training a little bit on the new limbs, and with progress, they will change to the new prosthesis and I will start walking step by step." The Istanbul centre was set up by Turkish charities the Humanitarian Relief Foundation and the Alliance of International Doctors, with financial support from Kuwait. Since its foundation five years ago, it has been working flat out. Specially trained staff carefully craft each artificial leg and arm. The centre uses state-of-the-art technology, including 3D printers, all under the supervision of Professor Yasar Tatar, who says the brutality of the civil war has brought unique challenges. "Especially in Syria, there is a high number of amputees, involving multiple limb loss," Tatar explains. "Burns caused by barrel bombs also posed major challenges for us." He adds: "We have served around 2,050 amputees, and we have made approximately 4,000 prosthetic limbs. This is a huge number. Few centres in the world can make so many prostheses in such a short time." February's deadly earthquakes near the Turkish-Syrian border added to the centre's work, with many refugees badly injured in the disaster. 'Reclaim our country' Turkey hosts over three million Syrian refugees, along with large numbers of Iraqis and Afghans. However, anti-refugee sentiment is growing. On a wall near the centre, graffiti has been sprayed: "Reclaim our country from refugees". "There can be societal problems arising from the arrival of a large number of refugees. Turkey's recent economic problems have added to this," warns Mustafa Ozbek, a spokesperson for the Humanitarian Relief Foundation. "On top of this, the elections saw some politicians especially bring up the issue of refugees, which has added to tensions," Ozbek said. EU interests In May's presidential elections, Erdogan's challengers vowed to repatriate millions of Syrian refugees. According to analysts, his re-election it will be a relief to refugees and the European Union, which pays Turkey to host refugees. "The Europeans probably were relieved when Erdogan was re-elected because that means the refugee deal, which matters a lot for the EU leaders, will remain intact [and] operational. So they will be continuing to enjoy the benefits of their comfort zone," suggests Serhat Guvenc, a professor of international relations at Istanbul's Kadir Has University. He argues the refugee deal is key to underpinning Turkey's relations with the EU. "It will also mean the continuation of transnationalism in Western-Turkish relations in particular. And both sides have learned to deal with each other on a transactional basis," added Guvenc. Possibly mindful of public unease over refugees, Erdogan has vowed to step up the building of homes in a "safe zone" along Syria's border with Turkey to facilitate the voluntary return of a million Syrians. How many will take that offer remains to be seen. The Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) Secretary General, Mr. Abraham Koomson, has emphasized the need to revive the labour unions' organizational setup in order to streamline their interactions with other tripartite partners. In order to establish a consensus and strategically address the issues affecting workers in the nation, he said there was a need for increased coordination among labour movements. During a media event that was observed by the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema over the weekend, Mr. Koomson made the statement. He emphasized that by forming a united front, the unions would be better able to defend the interests of all Ghanaian workers by fighting for higher salaries, fair working hours, and safer working conditions. He claimed that as a result of globalisation, labour unions should be forced to alter how they interact with other tripartite members, namely the government, employers, and other labour unions. The GFL Secretary-General emphasised that there wouldn't be any labour unions absent employment. "At this time, robots and now artificial intelligence mechanisms are gradually replacing people as factors of production in the world." "We cannot form workers' unions with robots," he said, "so we must change our game plans for recruiting membership and engaging with management and governments on labour issues." He added that digitization, digitalization, and artificial intelligence have all hit the front banner of labour unions globally. He bemoaned the fact that unions found it difficult to claim that parties negotiating on behalf of workers represented the collective interests of sizable groups of workers in the absence of widespread representation. "When we have structures properly positioned, issues will be discussed at levelscommittee level, council leveland the recognised structures will be there," he continued, "and the representation to push for public interest will be there." The GFL Secretary-General continued by saying that when unions have a large base of support, they frequently represent the most effective means of achieving more goals at all levels through increased collective bargaining power. He also emphasised that the welfare of the Ghanaian worker must come first and warned against political biases that appear to interfere with the activities of the various unions. He continued by saying that it was past time for the unions to take a cue from the American unions, which had amalgamated and were in a strong position to advocate for the rights of American workers. We support democracy and freedom of speech, so it is impossible for us to agree that voting is better than not voting; that is the beauty of democracy, Mr Koomson stated. Avidbank Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:AVBH Get Rating) Investment analysts at DA Davidson issued their Q2 2023 earnings per share estimates for shares of Avidbank in a report issued on Wednesday, June 21st. DA Davidson analyst G. Tenner forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $0.70 for the quarter. DA Davidson has a Buy rating and a $24.00 price objective on the stock. The consensus estimate for Avidbanks current full-year earnings is $3.00 per share. DA Davidson also issued estimates for Avidbanks FY2023 earnings at $2.96 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $2.89 EPS. Get Avidbank alerts: Separately, Piper Sandler dropped their price target on Avidbank from $21.00 to $19.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Avidbank Stock Down 0.6 % Shares of OTCMKTS AVBH opened at $16.40 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $126.44 million, a PE ratio of 4.44 and a beta of 0.70. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $15.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $17.97. Avidbank has a twelve month low of $10.70 and a twelve month high of $22.80. Avidbank (OTCMKTS:AVBH Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $19.98 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.92 million. Avidbank Company Profile (Get Rating) Avidbank Holdings, Inc operates as a bank holding company for Avidbank that provides financial products and services to businesses and individuals in the Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco counties. The company offers business and personal deposit products, such as checking, money market, and savings accounts; and certificates of deposit. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Avidbank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avidbank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Box, Inc. (NYSE:BOX Get Rating) has been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the eight brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and seven 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 $33.44. BOX has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com raised BOX from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, May 26th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on BOX from $39.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on BOX from $24.00 to $21.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. JMP Securities reiterated a market outperform rating and set a $32.00 target price on shares of BOX in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $36.00 target price on shares of BOX in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Get BOX alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CFO Dylan C. Smith sold 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.49, for a total transaction of $344,370.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 1,533,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $40,633,011. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Jack R. Lazar sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $29.95, for a total transaction of $149,750.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,555 shares of the companys stock, valued at $645,572.25. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Dylan C. Smith sold 13,000 shares of BOX stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.49, for a total transaction of $344,370.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 1,533,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $40,633,011. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 49,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,360,120. Company insiders own 4.90% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On BOX BOX Stock Performance Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of BOX by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,922,747 shares of the software makers stock valued at $363,967,000 after purchasing an additional 48,626 shares during the last quarter. RGM Capital LLC increased its stake in BOX by 27.9% in the first quarter. RGM Capital LLC now owns 4,998,881 shares of the software makers stock valued at $133,920,000 after acquiring an additional 1,090,814 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. increased its stake in BOX by 4.9% in the first quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 3,379,511 shares of the software makers stock valued at $90,537,000 after acquiring an additional 158,270 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its stake in BOX by 2.8% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,051,147 shares of the software makers stock worth $81,740,000 after buying an additional 82,813 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in BOX by 4.7% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,644,197 shares of the software makers stock worth $70,838,000 after buying an additional 119,823 shares during the last quarter. 86.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. BOX opened at $28.73 on Friday. BOX has a one year low of $24.00 and a one year high of $34.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.16 billion, a PE ratio of 221.00, a P/E/G ratio of 14.51 and a beta of 1.00. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $27.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.15. BOX (NYSE:BOX Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 30th. The software maker reported $0.32 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $251.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $249.58 million. BOX had a negative return on equity of 4.75% and a net margin of 3.97%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.10) earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that BOX will post 0.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. BOX Company Profile (Get Rating Box, Inc provides a cloud content management platform that enables organizations of various sizes to manage and share their content from anywhere on any device. The company's Software-as-a-Service platform enables users to collaborate on content internally and with external parties, automate content-driven business processes, develop custom applications, and implement data protection, security, and compliance features to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, internal policies, and industry standards and regulations. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BOX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BOX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com lowered shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM Get Rating) (TSE:CM) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Wednesday morning. Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from $69.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, CIBC raised Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 9th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $70.40. Get Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce alerts: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Trading Down 1.4 % Shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce stock opened at $41.87 on Wednesday. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 1 year low of $39.40 and a 1 year high of $53.36. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $42.16 and its 200-day simple moving average is $42.85. The company has a market cap of $38.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.57, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Increases Dividend Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ( NYSE:CM Get Rating ) (TSE:CM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 25th. The bank reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $4.21 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.15 billion. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 14.13% and a net margin of 11.14%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 5.12 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.642 per share. This represents a $2.57 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.13%. This is a boost from Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces previous quarterly dividend of $0.64. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 27th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerces dividend payout ratio is currently 62.88%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 8.8% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 8,361 shares of the banks stock worth $1,017,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE raised its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 14.7% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 4,323 shares of the banks stock worth $527,000 after acquiring an additional 554 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 24.1% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 6,630 shares of the banks stock valued at $807,000 after acquiring an additional 1,287 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its stake in Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 20.4% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 4,512 shares of the banks stock valued at $549,000 after buying an additional 763 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 308,427 shares of the banks stock valued at $37,532,000 after buying an additional 18,653 shares during the period. 37.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Company Profile (Get Rating) Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is a financial institution, which engages in the provision of banking and wealth management services. It operates through the following segments: Canadian Personal and Business Banking, Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, Capital Markets, and Corporate and Other. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT Get Rating) and Mercialys (OTCMKTS:MEIYF Get Rating) are both real estate companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and analyst recommendations. Institutional and Insider Ownership 86.8% of Federal Realty Investment Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 19.3% of Mercialys shares are held by institutional investors. 1.0% of Federal Realty Investment Trust shares 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. Get Federal Realty Investment Trust alerts: Profitability This table compares Federal Realty Investment Trust and Mercialys net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Federal Realty Investment Trust 35.65% 13.82% 4.78% Mercialys N/A N/A N/A Earnings and Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Federal Realty Investment Trust $1.09 billion 6.73 $385.49 million $4.69 19.21 Mercialys N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A This table compares Federal Realty Investment Trust and Mercialys top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Federal Realty Investment Trust has higher revenue and earnings than Mercialys. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Federal Realty Investment Trust and Mercialys, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Federal Realty Investment Trust 0 7 4 1 2.50 Mercialys 0 0 0 0 N/A Federal Realty Investment Trust currently has a consensus price target of $111.79, indicating a potential upside of 24.07%. Given Federal Realty Investment Trusts higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Federal Realty Investment Trust is more favorable than Mercialys. Summary Federal Realty Investment Trust beats Mercialys on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Federal Realty Investment Trust (Get Rating) Federal Realty is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation and redevelopment of high-quality retail-based properties located primarily in major coastal markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston as well as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Founded in 1962, Federal Realty's mission is to deliver long-term, sustainable growth through investing in communities where retail demand exceeds supply. Its expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods like Santana Row in San Jose, California, Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland and Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. These unique and vibrant environments that combine shopping, dining, living and working provide a destination experience valued by their respective communities. Federal Realty's 103 properties include approximately 3,300 tenants, in 26 million square feet, and approximately 3,000 residential units. Federal Realty has increased its quarterly dividends to its shareholders for 55 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry. Federal Realty is an S&P 500 index member and its shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol FRT. About Mercialys (Get Rating) Mercialys is one of France's leading real estate companies. It is specialized in the holding, management and transformation of retail spaces, anticipating consumer trends, on its own behalf and for third parties. At December 31, 2022, Mercialys had a real estate portfolio valued at Euro 3.1 billion (including transfer taxes). Its portfolio of 2,087 leases represents an annualized rental base of Euro 168.1 million. Mercialys has been listed on the stock market since October 12, 2005 (ticker: MERY) and has SIIC real estate investment trust (REIT) tax status. Part of the SBF 120 and Euronext Paris Compartment B, it had 93,886,501 shares outstanding at December 31, 2022. Receive News & Ratings for Federal Realty Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Federal Realty Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Valmet Oyj (OTCMKTS:VOYJF Get Rating) is one of 150 public companies in the Specialty Industrial Machinery industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Valmet Oyj to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, valuation, risk and analyst recommendations. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Valmet Oyj and its rivals revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Valmet Oyj alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Valmet Oyj N/A N/A -127.81 Valmet Oyj Competitors $4.37 billion $346.27 million 605.03 Valmet Oyjs rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Valmet Oyj. Valmet Oyj is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Institutional & Insider Ownership Profitability 23.1% of Valmet Oyj shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 41.9% of shares of all Specialty Industrial Machinery companies are held by institutional investors. 24.6% of shares of all Specialty Industrial Machinery companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. This table compares Valmet Oyj and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Valmet Oyj N/A N/A N/A Valmet Oyj Competitors -18.65% -3.47% -1.36% Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Valmet Oyj and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Valmet Oyj 0 0 0 0 N/A Valmet Oyj Competitors 1040 3764 5065 65 2.42 As a group, Specialty Industrial Machinery companies have a potential upside of 79.19%. Given Valmet Oyjs rivals higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Valmet Oyj has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Dividends Valmet Oyj pays an annual dividend of $0.11 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. Valmet Oyj pays out -38.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Specialty Industrial Machinery companies pay a dividend yield of 3.4% and pay out 28.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Summary Valmet Oyj rivals beat Valmet Oyj on 6 of the 10 factors compared. Valmet Oyj Company Profile (Get Rating) Valmet Oyj develops and supplies process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries in North America, South America, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. The company's Process Technologies segment offers pulping process equipment, process islands and complete pulp mills, individual board, tissue and paper machine sections, complete production lines and machine rebuilds, boiler islands, power plants, heating plants, environmental solutions, and technologies for converting biomass to fuels, chemicals, and materials. Its Automation segment offers distributed control systems, quality management systems, analyzers and measurements, industrial applications, and automation services and industrial internet solutions, as well as valves, pumps, valve controls, actuators and limit switches, valve spare parts, and services and industrial internet solutions. The company's Services segment provides spare and process parts, workshop and roll services, fabrics, maintenance development and outsourcing, field service, process upgrades, and industrial internet solutions. It serves pulp, board and paper, energy and industrial gas, biomaterials and fuel, chemical, and mineral industries. Valmet Oyj was founded in 1750 and is based in Espoo, Finland. Receive News & Ratings for Valmet Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valmet Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tuesdays primaries wont decide any big-ticket races like governor, president, mayor or county executive. But that doesnt mean they arent interesting. In fact, the outcomes of multiple races will serve as barometers for where voters from the Democratic, Republican and minor parties are headed politically going into the 2024 election cycle. Here are a few things to watch for Tuesday night: Will India Walton finally get to City Hall? Not if Mayor Byron W. Brown or the Erie County Democratic Committee have anything to do with it. Party forces are working on behalf of Waltons opponent, Zeneta Everhart, in the race for a Common Council seat representing the Masten District. Walton, a progressive star who pulled off the unthinkable in 2021 by defeating the four-term mayor in the Democratic mayoral primary only to lose to Brown and his write-in campaign in the general election is back in the center of things after spending a year out of city politics. She moved to Masten in 2022 and has singled out the lack of affordable housing as a main issue. She told The Buffalo News that she will work with public and private partnerships to increase homeownership and address the racial wealth gap. Everhart is an equally high-profile candidate who has deep roots in Masten through her position as director of diversity and inclusion for State Sen. Timothy M. Kennedy. Most Buffalonians, though, probably know her from the May 14, 2022, mass shooting at Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue. Everharts son, Zaire Goodman, an employee at the grocery store, was shot in the neck as he tried to help an older customer with her groceries. Everhart later testified before Congress about gun violence and was Sen. Charles E. Schumers guest for President Bidens State of the Union Address in February. Everhart told The News that housing is a No. 1 priority for her and that she aims to help renters navigate the system. She said she has been developing a program for about a year and a half to establish a fund that renters on the East Side could access for buying empty lots and dilapidated houses in the neighborhood. If there is a big-ticket race to be decided Tuesday, its probably this one (though dont forget: the winner still needs to beat Murray Holman, a Democrat running on the Conservative line, in November). Who will succeed Council President Darius Pridgen? Pridgens departure from the Common Council is a major one, and who manages to succeed him will say a lot about whether Brown will have a friendly or more adversarial Council on his hands in January. It also will say a lot about which faction of Democrats appears to have the upper hand these days in the city, especially on the East Side. Browns forces have lined up behind Leah Halton-Pope, top adviser to Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes. She has raised big money from Albany and elsewhere, though Erie County Democrats (in a rare move) held off on endorsing her or any other candidates for the seat. Some county Democrats particularly those aligned with Legislature Chair April N.M. Baskin are pulling for Cedric Holloway, a community activist and former police officer who says he has been running a grassroots effort focused mostly on door-to-door campaigning. Holloway is Baskins cousin. While Eddie Egriu, a candidate who has run unsuccessfully for multiple offices, is also running, recent momentum seems to favor Matt Dearing, a former staffer for Assembly Member Patrick B. Burke who is more aligned with left-leaning candidates. Dearings campaign received an unexpected boost last week with the endorsement of The Buffalo News editorial board, which is a group of editors and editorial writers that operates independent of the newsroom. Looking beyond Tuesday, Rev. Michael Chapman, pastor of St. John Baptist Church, has submitted independent nominating petitions to run in Novembers general election on an independent party line. If Walton and Dearing win the Masten and Ellicott seats on the Council, its likely a more adversarial Council member than Pridgen will make a play for the Council presidency. If Browns critics fall short, expect one of the mayors supporters in the legislative body to fill that position. The Republican vs. Conservative battle in the Erie County Legislature. On the other side of the political aisle, two hotly contested primaries for the Republican and Conservative parties are playing out for the 10th District seat on the Erie County Legislature. Former Elma Council Member James Malczewski faces former Legislature staffer Lindsay Bratek-Lorigo for the seat previously occupied by her husband, State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Lorigo. Bratek-Lorigo is the daughter-in-law of Erie County Conservative Party Chairman Ralph C. Lorigo. The race has seen an influx of money from the state Conservative Party, which has funded more than a dozen mailers, most of them depicting Malczewski in a negative light. A late wrinkle is the resignation of Christopher M. Grant, who was the campaign consultant for Bratek-Lorigo, over the decision to send out a mailer Thursday touting an endorsement by controversial real estate developer Carl Paladino. Malczewski, meanwhile, sent voters a mailer stressing his endorsement by Erie County Sheriff John Garcia. This race is also a battle between Erie County Conservatives and Republicans, who clashed after Republican Chairman Michael Kracker sided with Malczewski when the seat opened upon Joe Lorigos election to judge. (Kracker and Lorigo said they have since patched things up). What this tells us about Novembers general election. The Republican-Conservative contest could continue on to the November general election because, theoretically, one candidate could win the Republican primary and another could win the Conservative primary. But even if that doesnt occur, there will be plenty of races to focus on. The biggest is the campaign for Erie County executive between three-term incumbent Mark C. Poloncarz and Republican challenger Chrissy Casilio. That campaign has been quiet in recent months but is expected to pick up after Primary Day. Also of note is the contest for Cheektowaga supervisor between Council Member Brian Nowak, a left-leaning candidate who will appear on the Democratic line, and Michael Jasinski, a Republican. First International Bank & Trust boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 8.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,033 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 491 shares during the period. First International Bank & Trusts holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $418,000 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. Hunter Perkins Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. Hunter Perkins Capital Management LLC now owns 49,185 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,409,000 after acquiring an additional 2,875 shares during the period. Transform Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Transform Wealth LLC now owns 135,820 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $9,414,000 after buying an additional 4,174 shares during the period. Beech Hill Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Beech Hill Advisors Inc. now owns 19,914 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,380,000 after buying an additional 650 shares during the period. Nepsis Inc. grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. Nepsis Inc. now owns 204,614 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $14,182,000 after buying an additional 20,492 shares during the period. Finally, Congress Wealth Management LLC DE grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 15.9% during the 1st quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 12,281 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $851,000 after buying an additional 1,683 shares during the period. 74.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BMY has been the subject of several research reports. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $66.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. 51job reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $78.62. Insider Activity Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance In other news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $3,378,818.10. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 47,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Shares of BMY opened at $65.04 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $136.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.96, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52-week low of $63.07 and a 52-week high of $81.43. The businesss 50 day moving average is $66.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $69.74. 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, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.96 EPS. Analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.51%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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. Featured Stories 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. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (OTCMKTS:PBCRY Get Rating) is one of 297 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare PT Bank Central Asia Tbk to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership and risk. Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.0% of PT Bank Central Asia Tbk shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 38.1% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 13.4% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get PT Bank Central Asia Tbk alerts: Dividends PT Bank Central Asia Tbk pays an annual dividend of $2,128.64 per share and has a dividend yield of 14,219.4%. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk pays out 13.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 10.9% and pay out 17.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score PT Bank Central Asia Tbk 0 0 0 0 N/A PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Competitors 1284 4238 3912 64 2.29 This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for PT Bank Central Asia Tbk and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.com. As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 238.41%. Given PT Bank Central Asia Tbks peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe PT Bank Central Asia Tbk has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Profitability This table compares PT Bank Central Asia Tbk and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets PT Bank Central Asia Tbk N/A N/A N/A PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Competitors 29.31% 11.26% 1.02% Earnings & Valuation This table compares PT Bank Central Asia Tbk and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio PT Bank Central Asia Tbk N/A N/A 0.00 PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Competitors $2.92 billion $629.73 million 220.76 PT Bank Central Asia Tbks peers have higher revenue and earnings than PT Bank Central Asia Tbk. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk 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 PT Bank Central Asia Tbk peers beat PT Bank Central Asia Tbk on 8 of the 10 factors compared. About PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (Get Rating) PT Bank Central Asia Tbk, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking products and services to individual, corporate, and small and medium enterprise customers in Indonesia and internationally. It offers savings accounts; motorcycle financing, as well as car, housing, working capital, and investment loans; mutual funds and bonds; electronic money services; credit cards; business collection services; and home and eBanking, remittance, and customer services. The company also provides investment financing, working capital financing, auto and multipurpose financing, operating lease, other financing activities, money lending and remittance, securities brokerage dealing and securities issuance underwriting, general or loss insurance, life insurance, Sharia banking, and venture capital services. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. PT Bank Central Asia Tbk is a subsidiary of PT Dwimuria Investama Andalan. Receive News & Ratings for PT Bank Central Asia Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Bank Central Asia Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund (NYSE:CTR Get Rating) is one of 1,208 public companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund to similar businesses based on the strength of its risk, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation and institutional ownership. Profitability This table compares ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund N/A N/A N/A ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund Competitors 357.16% 7.38% 4.97% Valuation and Earnings This table compares ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund and its competitors revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund $85.71 million N/A 21.80 ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund Competitors $512.09 million $20.13 million 33.81 Insider & Institutional Ownership ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Funds competitors have higher revenue and earnings than ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund. ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. 32.8% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by institutional investors. 17.8% of shares of all Asset Management companies are held by 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 breakdown of current ratings and target prices for ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund 0 0 0 0 N/A ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund Competitors 1263 5422 6950 110 2.43 As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 96.85%. Given ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Funds competitors higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Dividends ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund pays an annual dividend of $2.18 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.4%. ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund pays out 160.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.6% and pay out 1,272.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Summary ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund competitors beat ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund on 9 of the 10 factors compared. ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund Company Profile (Get Rating) ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund Inc. is an open ended equity mutual fund of funds launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC. The fund is co-managed by ClearBridge Investments, LLC. It invests in the public equity markets of the United States. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the energy sector. It primarily invests in equity securities of MLPs, stocks of entities holding primarily general partner or managing member interests in MLPs, and securities that are derivatives of interests in MLPs such as exchange traded funds. ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund Inc. was formed on April 10, 2012 and is domiciled in the United States. Receive News & Ratings for ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ClearBridge MLP and Midstream Total Return Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Issuer Direct (NYSE:ISDR Get Rating) in a report published on Thursday. The firm issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. ISDR has been the subject of several other reports. Northland Securities decreased their price target on shares of Issuer Direct from $30.00 to $27.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. TheStreet cut shares of Issuer Direct from a b rating to a c rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Get Issuer Direct alerts: Issuer Direct Stock Performance Shares of ISDR opened at $19.50 on Thursday. The firms 50 day moving average is $20.07 and its 200-day moving average is $24.06. The stock has a market capitalization of $73.92 million, a P/E ratio of 57.35 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.83. Issuer Direct has a 12-month low of $17.03 and a 12-month high of $29.20. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Issuer Direct Issuer Direct ( NYSE:ISDR Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $8.62 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.56 million. Issuer Direct had a net margin of 4.75% and a return on equity of 10.43%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Issuer Direct will post 1.21 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ISDR. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Issuer Direct by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 167,671 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,985,000 after buying an additional 1,487 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Issuer Direct by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 42,429 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,261,000 after buying an additional 2,626 shares during the period. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Issuer Direct by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. now owns 57,000 shares of the companys stock worth $1,198,000 after purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in shares of Issuer Direct by 25.0% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 39,038 shares of the companys stock worth $994,000 after purchasing an additional 7,800 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Issuer Direct by 15.1% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,998 shares of the companys stock worth $238,000 after purchasing an additional 1,050 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 28.60% of the companys stock. Issuer Direct Company Profile (Get Rating) Issuer Direct Corporation operates as a communications and compliance company, provides solutions for both public relations and investor relations professionals in the United States and internationally. The company provides press release distribution, media databases, media monitoring, and newsrooms through media advantage platform; ACCESSWIRE, a news dissemination and media outreach service; and VisualWebcaster Platform, a cloud-based webcast, webinar, and virtual meeting platform that delivers live and on-demand streaming of events to audiences of various sizes, as well as allows customers to create, produce, and deliver events. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Issuer Direct Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Issuer Direct and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed their overweight rating on shares of The Berkeley Group (LON:BKG Get Rating) in a research note released on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 4,800 ($61.42) target price on the stock. Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on BKG. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a GBX 4,350 ($55.66) price target on shares of The Berkeley Group in a report on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of The Berkeley Group from GBX 4,651 ($59.51) to GBX 4,474 ($57.25) and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of The Berkeley Group from GBX 4,450 ($56.94) to GBX 4,580 ($58.61) and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, June 12th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upped their target price on shares of The Berkeley Group from GBX 4,500 ($57.58) to GBX 5,100 ($65.26) and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 4,551.57 ($58.24). Get The Berkeley Group alerts: The Berkeley Group Trading Down 2.6 % The Berkeley Group stock opened at GBX 3,773 ($48.28) on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of 4.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 915.78, a PEG ratio of -0.87 and a beta of 1.15. The Berkeley Group has a fifty-two week low of GBX 3,120 ($39.92) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 4,549 ($58.21). The firms fifty day moving average price is GBX 4,186.07 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 4,119.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.73, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 3.36. The Berkeley Group Company Profile The Berkeley Group Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the residential-led and mixed-use property development activities in the United Kingdom. The company is also involved in land selling activities. It operates under the Berkeley, St Edward, St George, St James, St Joseph, and St William brand names. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for The Berkeley Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Berkeley Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO Get Rating) had its price objective trimmed by Morgan Stanley from GBX 5,800 ($74.22) to GBX 5,670 ($72.55) in a report published on Wednesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an underweight rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 6,600 ($84.45) target price on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. UBS Group set a GBX 5,000 ($63.98) target price on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Rio Tinto Group from GBX 5,100 ($65.26) to GBX 5,000 ($63.98) in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group to a buy rating and reduced their price target for the company from GBX 6,200 ($79.33) to GBX 6,000 ($76.78) in a research report on Monday, June 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Rio Tinto Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 6,109.23 ($78.17). Get Rio Tinto Group alerts: Rio Tinto Group Trading Down 2.1 % RIO opened at GBX 4,971.50 ($63.61) on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of 62.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 834.14, a PEG ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 23.47. The companys 50 day moving average is GBX 5,058.23 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 5,547.86. Rio Tinto Group has a 1-year low of GBX 4,424.50 ($56.62) and a 1-year high of GBX 6,406 ($81.97). Insider Buying and Selling at Rio Tinto Group About Rio Tinto Group In related news, insider Peter Cunningham sold 5 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, April 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 5,586 ($71.48), for a total transaction of 279.30 ($357.39). In related news, insider Ngaire Woods bought 500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 11th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 4,921 ($62.97) per share, with a total value of 24,605 ($31,484.33). Also, insider Peter Cunningham sold 5 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 5,586 ($71.48), for a total value of 279.30 ($357.39). Insiders have acquired 1,410 shares of company stock valued at $7,259,580 in the last quarter. 14.67% of the stock is owned by insiders. (Get Rating) Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. It offers aluminum, copper, iron ore, diamonds, gold, borates, titanium dioxide, salt, silver, molybdenum, and lithium. The company also owns and operates open pit and underground mines, refineries, smelters, and concentrator facilities, as well as power stations, research, and service facilities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Rio Tinto Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rio Tinto Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fresnillo (LON:FRES Get Rating) had its price target reduced by Morgan Stanley from GBX 690 ($8.83) to GBX 620 ($7.93) in a report published on Wednesday, Marketbeat reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an equal weight rating on the stock. A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on FRES. Peel Hunt reissued a hold rating and set a GBX 800 ($10.24) price objective on shares of Fresnillo in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Fresnillo from GBX 700 ($8.96) to GBX 650 ($8.32) and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Fresnillo has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 735 ($9.40). Get Fresnillo alerts: Fresnillo Stock Up 0.1 % Fresnillo stock opened at GBX 609.60 ($7.80) on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of 4.49 billion, a PE ratio of 2,102.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -1.58 and a beta of 0.21. Fresnillo has a 12 month low of GBX 605 ($7.74) and a 12 month high of GBX 996.80 ($12.75). The business has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 689.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 775.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 32.64, a current ratio of 2.82 and a quick ratio of 3.28. Fresnillo Company Profile Fresnillo plc mines, develops, and produces non-ferrous minerals in Mexico. It operates through seven segments: Fresnillo, Saucito, Cienega, Herradura, Noche Buena, San Julian, and Juanicipio. The company primarily explores for silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates. Its projects include the Fresnillo silver mine located in the state of Zacatecas; Saucito silver mine situated in the state of Zacatecas; Cienega gold mine located in the state of Durango; Herradura gold mine situated in the state of Sonora; Noche Buena gold mine located in the state of Sonora; San Julian silver-gold mine situated on the border of Chihuahua/Durango states; and Juanicipio mine located in the state of Zacatecas. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Fresnillo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fresnillo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Navios Maritime (NYSE:NM Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the shipping companys stock. Navios Maritime Price Performance Shares of NYSE:NM opened at $1.69 on Thursday. Navios Maritime has a 1 year low of $1.53 and a 1 year high of $2.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.10, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The stocks 50-day moving average is $1.77 and its 200 day moving average is $1.90. The company has a market cap of $26.87 million, a PE ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.63. Get Navios Maritime alerts: Navios Maritime (NYSE:NM Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 24th. The shipping company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter. Navios Maritime had a net margin of 31.38% and a return on equity of 97.48%. The business had revenue of $65.41 million for the quarter. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Navios Maritime About Navios Maritime Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NM. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in Navios Maritime by 83.4% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 908,070 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $3,296,000 after buying an additional 412,836 shares in the last quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP boosted its position in Navios Maritime by 155.5% in the first quarter. Engineers Gate Manager LP now owns 112,258 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $407,000 after purchasing an additional 68,324 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. purchased a new position in Navios Maritime in the first quarter worth about $328,000. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in Navios Maritime in the first quarter worth about $202,000. Finally, Privium Fund Management UK Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Navios Maritime during the 4th quarter valued at about $72,000. 12.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Rating) Navios Maritime Holdings, Inc is a seaborne shipping and logistics company, which engages in the transport and transshipment of dry bulk commodities including iron ore, coal, and grain. It operates through the Dry Bulk Vessel Operations and Logistics Business segments. The Dry Bulk Vessel Operations segment transports and handles bulk cargoes through the ownership, operation, and trading of vessels, freight, and forward freight agreements. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Navios Maritime Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Navios Maritime and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. O Connor Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Timothy Plan International ETF (NYSEARCA:TPIF Get Rating) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 317,526 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,935,000. Timothy Plan International ETF makes up approximately 6.0% of O Connor Financial Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest position. O Connor Financial Group LLC owned approximately 10.41% of Timothy Plan International ETF as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. UBS Group AG increased its position in Timothy Plan International ETF by 178,400.0% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,785 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 1,784 shares in the last quarter. Disciplined Investments LLC bought a new stake in Timothy Plan International ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $87,000. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in Timothy Plan International ETF by 1,875.6% in the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,813 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,000 after buying an additional 3,620 shares in the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in Timothy Plan International ETF by 30.0% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 6,286 shares of the companys stock valued at $146,000 after purchasing an additional 1,451 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new position in Timothy Plan International ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $209,000. Get Timothy Plan International ETF alerts: Timothy Plan International ETF Stock Performance TPIF stock opened at $24.67 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $82.64 million, a P/E ratio of 11.01 and a beta of 0.90. Timothy Plan International ETF has a 52-week low of $19.69 and a 52-week high of $25.76. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $25.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.68. About Timothy Plan International ETF The Timothy Plan International ETF (TPIF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in large cap equity. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of international stocks screened for defined Christian values. TPIF was launched on Dec 2, 2019 and is managed by Timothy. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Timothy Plan International ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Timothy Plan International ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Olin (NYSE:OLN Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Royal Bank of Canada from $76.00 to $63.00 in a research note released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on OLN. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on shares of Olin from $83.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Olin from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Olin from $89.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $67.17. Get Olin alerts: Olin Stock Performance Shares of OLN opened at $48.24 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The firm has a market cap of $6.24 billion, a PE ratio of 6.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.45. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $52.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $55.14. Olin has a 12-month low of $41.33 and a 12-month high of $64.70. Olin Announces Dividend Olin ( NYSE:OLN Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.28 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.05 billion. Olin had a return on equity of 42.24% and a net margin of 12.45%. The businesss revenue was down 25.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.48 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Olin will post 5.45 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 11th were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 10th. Olins dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.62%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Olin Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Olin during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Olin during the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Olin during the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Olin during the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Quarry LP raised its stake in shares of Olin by 508.6% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 706 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 590 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.77% of the companys stock. About Olin (Get Rating) Olin Corporation manufactures and distributes chemical products in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Canada. It operates through three segments: Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls; Epoxy; and Winchester. The Chlor Alkali Products and Vinyls segment offers chlorine and caustic soda, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride monomers, methyl chloride, methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products, potassium hydroxide, and chlorinated organics intermediates and solvents. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Olin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Olin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Melinated Moms will host its second annual Western New York Community Baby Shower on Saturday to bring community resources and support to Black and brown mothers through advocacy, education and awareness. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Delavan-Grider Community Center, 877 East Delavan Ave. Local experts will provide information on nutrition, breastfeeding and safe sleep practices for moms and their babies. Our commitment to bringing together diverse community resources empowers moms with knowledge and support they need to make informed decisions, ultimately working toward the reduction of black maternal mortality rates in Western New York, said Melinated Moms Vice President Alexcia Harrod. "By fostering collaboration and providing accessible resources, Melinated Moms is creating a safer, more equitable environment for all mothers. Those interested in attending can register on Eventbrite by searching Melinated Moms Western New York Community Baby Shower or visiting https://mmwnybabyshower23.eventbrite.com Sponsorship, donor, and volunteer opportunities are available for people and organizations interested in supporting the Community Baby Shower. For more information, contact Harrod at alexciah@melinatedmoms.com or 716-245-5394. Signet Financial Management LLC grew its position in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) by 1.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 50,103 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 725 shares during the quarter. Signet Financial Management LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $2,624,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Carlson Capital Management grew its holdings in Charles Schwab by 94.4% in the first quarter. Carlson Capital Management now owns 7,227 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $379,000 after purchasing an additional 3,510 shares during the last quarter. H&H Retirement Design & Management INC purchased a new position in Charles Schwab in the first quarter worth $206,000. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CA grew its holdings in Charles Schwab by 45.2% in the first quarter. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CA now owns 66,995 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,509,000 after purchasing an additional 20,849 shares during the last quarter. Signature Wealth Management Group purchased a new position in Charles Schwab in the first quarter worth $1,058,000. Finally, AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Charles Schwab by 46.4% in the first quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 151,792 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,951,000 after purchasing an additional 48,080 shares during the last quarter. 82.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the companys 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 transaction, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of 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 the SEC website. Also, Director Marianne Catherine Brown purchased 5,000 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were bought at an average price of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,984 shares in the company, valued at $533,844.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Stock Performance NYSE SCHW traded down $0.04 on Friday, reaching $53.17. 21,942,895 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 11,039,975. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $52.40 and a 200-day moving average price of $65.44. The firm has a market cap of $94.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.53, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 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. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $5.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.13 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.83%. The companys revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.77 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.29 EPS for the current fiscal year. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.88%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.32%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have issued reports on SCHW. The Goldman Sachs Group cut 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. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $99.00 to $68.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Credit Suisse Group raised shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $81.50 to $67.50 in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $83.00 to $75.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $65.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.19. About Charles Schwab (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. Recommended 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. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TARO Get Rating) from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Thursday. Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Stock Up 1.2 % Taro Pharmaceutical Industries stock opened at $38.77 on Thursday. Taro Pharmaceutical Industries has a 52-week low of $22.89 and a 52-week high of $42.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 57.87 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $32.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $29.89. Get Taro Pharmaceutical Industries alerts: Taro Pharmaceutical Industries (NYSE:TARO Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 23rd. The company reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.23 by ($0.05). Taro Pharmaceutical Industries had a return on equity of 1.48% and a net margin of 4.44%. The business had revenue of $146.59 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $150.69 million. On average, research analysts anticipate that Taro Pharmaceutical Industries will post 1.27 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Company Profile A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. UBS Group AG boosted its position in shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries by 71.6% during the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 925 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 386 shares during the last quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries by 73.4% during the 1st quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 1,184 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 501 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries by 154.5% during the 3rd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,275 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 774 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries by 126.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,506 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 841 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG acquired a new position in shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries during the 4th quarter valued at about $51,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.45% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., a science-based pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and markets prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical products in the United States, Canada, Israel, and internationally. The company also develops and manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients primarily for use in its finished dosage form products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taro Pharmaceutical Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Trust Co. of Oklahoma lessened its stake in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Get Rating) by 0.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,673 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 16 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Oklahomas holdings in BlackRock were worth $1,789,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Horan Securities Inc. grew its holdings in BlackRock by 72.7% during the 4th quarter. Horan Securities Inc. now owns 38 shares of the asset managers stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd bought a new position in BlackRock during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. HBC Financial Services PLLC grew its holdings in BlackRock by 55.6% during the 4th quarter. HBC Financial Services PLLC now owns 42 shares of the asset managers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Steward Financial Group LLC bought a new position in BlackRock during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in BlackRock by 168.1% during the 4th quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 47 shares of the asset managers stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.37% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have issued reports on BLK. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of BlackRock from $868.00 to $920.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of BlackRock from $583.00 to $542.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 17th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of BlackRock in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on shares of BlackRock from $662.00 to $673.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on shares of BlackRock in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating and a $750.00 price target on the stock. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $755.92. BlackRock Stock Up 0.2 % BLK stock opened at $680.45 on Friday. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52 week low of $503.12 and a 52 week high of $785.65. The company has a quick ratio of 4.20, a current ratio of 4.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $101.90 billion, a PE ratio of 21.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 1.27. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $669.55 and a 200 day moving average of $690.07. BlackRock (NYSE:BLK Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The asset manager reported $7.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $7.71 by $0.22. BlackRock had a net margin of 28.13% and a return on equity of 13.66%. The company had revenue of $4.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.24 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $9.52 EPS. BlackRocks revenue for the quarter was down 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that BlackRock, Inc. will post 34.28 earnings per share for the current year. BlackRock Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 8th were given a dividend of $5.00 per share. This represents a $20.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 7th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is presently 62.03%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other BlackRock news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 35,799 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $694.50, for a total transaction of $24,862,405.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 484,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $336,363,712.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director J. Richard Kushel sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $696.00, for a total value of $2,088,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 71,307 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $49,629,672. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Laurence Fink sold 35,799 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $694.50, for a total transaction of $24,862,405.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 484,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $336,363,712.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About BlackRock (Get Rating) BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WoodTrust Financial Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Lockheed Martin Co. (NYSE:LMT Get Rating) in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 832 shares of the aerospace companys stock, valued at approximately $393,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Lockheed Martin by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 22,885,865 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $8,840,580,000 after acquiring an additional 289,110 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,849,054 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,821,626,000 after purchasing an additional 382,510 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,387,684 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,132,545,000 after purchasing an additional 11,855 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 81,305.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,907,328 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $927,896,000 after purchasing an additional 1,904,985 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP increased its stake in shares of Lockheed Martin by 26.9% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 886,300 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $431,176,000 after purchasing an additional 188,100 shares in the last quarter. 75.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Lockheed Martin alerts: Lockheed Martin Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of NYSE LMT opened at $459.36 on Friday. Lockheed Martin Co. has a 52-week low of $373.67 and a 52-week high of $508.10. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $460.10 and a 200-day moving average of $469.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $116.33 billion, a PE ratio of 20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61. Lockheed Martin Announces Dividend Lockheed Martin ( NYSE:LMT Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 18th. The aerospace company reported $6.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.08 by $0.35. Lockheed Martin had a net margin of 8.60% and a return on equity of 67.75%. The company had revenue of $15.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $15.01 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $6.44 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Lockheed Martin Co. will post 26.76 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st will be issued a dividend of $3.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $12.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.61%. Lockheed Martins payout ratio is 54.84%. Analysts Set New Price Targets LMT has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $480.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Lockheed Martin from $422.00 to $419.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. StockNews.com raised shares of Lockheed Martin from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Sanford C. Bernstein lifted their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $478.00 to $496.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on shares of Lockheed Martin from $510.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $494.79. Insider Activity at Lockheed Martin In other Lockheed Martin news, Director John Donovan bought 506 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 19th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $495.17 per share, for a total transaction of $250,556.02. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,401,331.10. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Lockheed Martin news, Director John Donovan bought 506 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 19th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $495.17 per share, for a total transaction of $250,556.02. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,401,331.10. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Stephanie C. Hill sold 2,391 shares of Lockheed Martin stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $490.84, for a total transaction of $1,173,598.44. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 12,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,186,547.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.17% of the companys stock. About Lockheed Martin (Get Rating) Lockheed Martin Corporation, a security and aerospace company, engages in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of technology systems, products, and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Mission Systems, and Space. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lockheed Martin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lockheed Martin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. In a big relief for embattled Go First, the beleaguered airline's lenders have granted approval for an interim funding of approximately Rs 400 crore, marking a key step in the ongoing efforts to keep the struggling airline afloat, at least three persons familiar with the development told Moneycontrol. The Committee of Creditors (CoC) that include Central Bank of India , Bank of Baroda, Deutsche Bank and IDBI Bank on Saturday night approved the request for additional funding, the people quoted above said. Go First had knocked the lenders door for survival capital recently promising to get back to normalcy in operations at the earliest. A top banker whose bank is part of the consortium told Moneycontrol that the lenders have approved around Rs 400 crore to Go First based on the business plan and to support revival of operations. Also Read | MC Exclusive: Wadia Group approaches lenders for funds to restart Go First operations (Lenders have agreed for fresh funding) based on the business plan and to revive operations. The amount is around Rs 400 crore, said the banker on strict condition of anonymity. A second person aware of the development too confirmed this development. " Yes, the committee of creditors have given the go ahead to the interim finance request following a voting process which took place on Saturday," the person said. He too declined to be named. A third person, who too spoke on condition of anonymity, told Moneycontrol , " For now, the amount approved is around Rs 400 crore to 450 crore, and lenders may be open to additional contingency funding as and when required later for specific events." Go First owes Rs 6,521 crores to its lenders. Central Bank of India had the highest exposure of Rs 1,987 crore, followed by Bank of Baroda at Rs 1,430 crore, Deutsche Bank at Rs 1,320 crore and IDBI Bank at Rs 58 crore, Acuite Ratings and Research said in a January 19 report. Ball now in DGCAs court With lenders extending a helping hand, all eyes are now on the Director General of Civil Aviation or DGCA which is currently examining an application submitted by the airline to get back in business. "All eyes are now on DGCA which is likely to take a call on clearance following inspection of fleet and other checks. The hope is to start flying as soon as possible," the second person said. Go First needs the aviation regulator's nod to kickstart operations and sell tickets. The former plans to start operations on July 1 across 78 routes using around 22 aircraft, sources added. Moneycontrol could not elicit an immediate comment from Go First's resolution professional Shailendra Ajmera of EY and the committee of creditors. This article will be updated as soon as we hear from all the parties. Also Read | How did IndiGo grab the market share left by Go First Earlier this week, Ajmera backed by EY had submitted a business plan with a request for over Rs 400 crores to restart operations. How the crisis unfolded On May 2, Go First announced that it has filed an application for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Delhi. The announcement was made by the airlines CEO Kaushik Khona shortly after the Wadia Group-owned carrier said it will temporarily suspend flight operations on May 3 and 4 due to a "severe fund crunch". The low-cost carrier had said its financial crisis was sparked by "faulty" Pratt & Whitney engines that grounded about half its 54 Airbus A320neos. The US engine maker, a part of Raytheon Technologies, has called the claims without evidence. Explaining why it is facing a fund crunch, Khona told news agency PTI that the airline has grounded 28 planes, which is more than half of its fleet, due to the non supply of engines by Pratt and Whitney.(P&W). Also Read | 'Severe fund crunch': Go First files for voluntary insolvency resolution before NCLT GoFirst is the latest Indian airline that is facing a crisis-situation in the highly competitive airline business. In the last decade, lenders had faced challenges with recovering money lent to airlines like Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher and Jet Airways following operational failures. While in the case of Kingfisher, lenders have recovered a significant part of the money by attaching the assets of promoter Mallya, bid to save Jet Airways is currently on at the bankruptcy court. Recently, the NCLT permitted more time to bidders of Jet airways to pay their dues. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on June 25 said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to a joint session of the US Congress was a significant event and his visit saw both India and the US redefine their partnership and established steps that would result in "greater realisation of national goals." Addressing a press conference at party headquarters in New Delhi, Sitharaman pointed out to the media various highlights of Prime Minister's visit to the US, agreements and MoUs which were signed during the course of the visit ranging from defense production, employment, technology transfer, etc. She said, It was a bipartisan invitation which was extended to the Prime Minister to address the joint house (of the US Congress) and it was a very significant event," adding that for the second time for a PM to be called to address a joint session of the US Congress was a "matter of pride for all of us in India." Terming the Prime Ministers three-day state visit to US as historic, the Minister said, I am extremely happy that it was a visit where both India and the US redefined their partnership and established steps which would result in greater realisation of our national goals. She said that around 135 nationalities gathered at the UN Headquarters lawns to perform yoga along with Prime Minister Modi during his US visit. Further, on boosting India-US ties in lines of defence, Sitharaman pointed out to the agreement between GE Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for joint production of F414 engines. These engines will be used for Tejas aircrafts of HAL - a company about which Indian opposition often sheds crocodile tears, the FM said. India is funding the establishment of a Tamil Studies Chair at the University of Houston, she highlighted. Apart from listing various agreements signed between India and the US in several fields of work, including defence and technology, the finance minister also said that the rapid investment in semiconductor and other technologies is benefitting the people of India. As per NASSCOM, if 100 Global Centres are being established globally for the purpose of data protection & related matters, 50 are already close to completion in India. The remaining 50 too have majorly Indians working in them. It's testament to our increasing leadership in this sphere, she added. On the PMs Egypt visit, she said: During his ongoing visit to Egypt, Modi has been conferred with Order of the Nile, Egypts highest honour. Prime Minister has received 13 international awards till date. It is a matter of pride for the country. PM Modi, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday after concluding a high-profile state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, was received at the airport by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. The Prime Minister started his five-day visit on June 20. He visited the US from June 21-24. Kolkata-based jewellery player Senco Gold will file papers with the capital markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), for the third time now, for an initial public offering (IPO) worth Rs 400 crore, a person familiar with the development told Moneycontrol. The stock shall be listed on the NSE and the BSE. Rs 265 crore of the Rs 400- crore IPO will be a fresh issue, and Rs 135 crore is expected to be an Offer For Sale (OFS). An OFS is when promoters sell their shares and reduce their holdings in a transparent manner through the bidding platform for the Exchange. The offer proceeds will be used to fund working capital requirements, expand the companys presence in north India, and to grow the diamond jewellery business, he added. Read more | Seven IPOs totalling over Rs 1,600 crore to hit Dalal Street next week About 85 percent of the companys revenues comes from gold jewellery, and about 10 percent from diamond jewellery a high-margin business, said the person on condition of anonymity. A dominant player in Kolkata and one of the largest players in eastern India, the company runs 75 stores on its own, and 61 through franchisees, across 96 cities in 13 states and union territories. The company has tried raising funds through the IPO route twice in the past. In 2022, Senco Gold filed papers with SEBI for an IPO worth Rs 525 crore, and in 2018, for Rs 600 crore. Read more | HMA Agro Industries | Check the share allotment & listing dates, grey market premium here According to industry participants, the Kolkata-based company was not able to raise money in the past, which is what prompted them to reduce the size of the offer this time. Senco Gold is primarily involved in manufacturing and selling jewellery made of gold, diamond, silver, platinum, and precious and semi-precious stones. The companys products are sold under the Senco Gold & Diamonds trade name. West Bengal contributes the maximum to the companys coffers. About 63 percent of the stores are in West Bengal, which means that their revenue contribution would be higher than 63 percent considering that these stores generate higher earnings per outlet, the person explained. Read more | ideaForge Technology raises Rs 254.88 crore via anchor book ahead of IPO Thus, geographical concentration is certainly a risk, however, that has reduced over the years with the setting up of stores outside Bengal and focus on a pan-India presence. In FY22-23, revenue from operations came in at Rs 4,075.56 crore compared to Rs 3,534.64 crore in the previous fiscal. Meanwhile, profit after tax rose to Rs 160.91 crore from Rs 130.15 crore. The market continued its southward journey for yet another session on June 23, falling around half a percent, but took a support at 18,650 on the Nifty50, which is near its 21-day EMA (18,631). Hence, if the said support gets broken then it can see correction up to 18,500-18,450 levels, while the resistance remains at 18,700-18,800 levels, experts said. The weakness in global counterparts and correction in most of key sectors weighed down the market. The BSE Sensex fell 260 points to 62,979, while the Nifty50 declined 106 points to 18,666 and formed bearish candlestick pattern on the daily scale, while there was Double Top kind of pattern formation on the hourly charts and Dark Cloud Cover candlestick pattern on the weekly timeframe, which is broadly negative. "For traders, 18,650 would act as a sacrosanct support level. If the index trades above the same then it could retest the level of 18,880 and move up to 19,000. Below the 18,650, the market could slip till 18,500-18,450," said Amol Athawale, Technical Analyst (DVP) at Kotak Securities. Additionally, the relative strength index (RSI) indicates negative divergence, indicating a weakening bullish momentum. If the index breaks below 18,500, it could potentially drop towards 18,200, Rupak De, Senior Technical analyst at LKP Securities said. The broader markets also corrected for second straight session, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices declining over 1 percent each on weak breadth. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks in this article are the aggregates of three-month data and not just the current month. Key support, resistance levels on Nifty The pivot point calculator suggests that the Nifty may get support at 18,648, followed by 18,622 and 18,580, whereas in case of upside, 18,731 can be a key resistance area for the index, then 18,757 and 18,799. Nifty Bank The Bank Nifty fell over 100 points amid consolidation and closed at 43,623, forming Doji kind of candlestick pattern on the daily charts, while bearish candlestick pattern on the weekly scale. "Bank Nifty has been moving in a lower high formation since June 8 and consolidating between the 43,400-44,050 zones since last 7 trading sessions. A decisive breakout on either side of the range will set the tone for the next move," said Ashwin Ramani, Derivatives & Technical Analyst at SAMCO Securities. The pivot point calculator indicated that the Bank Nifty is likely to take support at 43,539, followed by 43,467 and 43,351, whereas 43,772 can be the initial resistance zone for the index, followed by 43,844 and 43,960. Call options data The monthly options data showed that we have maximum Call open interest (OI) at 18,800 strike, with 1.43 crore contracts, which can act as a crucial resistance area for the Nifty50 in coming sessions. This was followed by 1 crore contracts at 19,000 strike, while 18,900 strike has 89.31 lakh contracts. We have meaningful Call writing at 18,700 strike, which added 65.38 lakh contracts, followed by 18,800 strike and 19,000 strike, which added 38.8 lakh contracts, and 29.65 lakh contracts, respectively. Maximum Call unwinding was at 19,600 strike, which shed 38,500 contracts, followed by 17,600 and 18,500 strikes, which shed 30,650 and 24,900 contracts, respectively. Put option data On the Put side, the maximum open interest was at 18,000 strike, with 76.11 lakh contracts, which can be a crucial support level for the Nifty50 in the coming sessions. This was followed by the 18,800 strike, comprising 75.54 lakh contracts, and the 18,700 strike, which has 75.05 lakh contracts. Put writing was seen at 18,700 strike, which added 29.6 lakh contracts, followed by 18,400 strike and 18,500 strike, which added 23.6 lakh contracts and 22.95 lakh contracts, respectively. We have Put unwinding at 18,800 strike, which shed 25.74 lakh contracts, followed by 18,900 strike and 19,000 strike, which shed 9.07 lakh contracts, and 2.94 lakh contracts, respectively. Stocks with high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in the stock. We have seen the highest delivery in Ipca Laboratories, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, SRF, and Cipla among others. 21 stocks see a long build-up An increase in open interest (OI) and price indicates a build-up of long positions. Based on the OI percentage, we have seen a long build-up in 21 stocks including Aurobindo Pharma, Astral, Bharti Airtel, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, and Trent. 67 stocks see long unwinding A decline in OI and price generally indicates a long unwinding. Based on the OI percentage, 67 stocks including Oracle Financial, Rain Industries, Hindustan Copper, Coforge, and ACC saw a long unwinding. 90 stocks see a short build-up An increase in OI along with a price decrease indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the OI percentage, we have seen a short build-up in 90 stocks including Dr Lal PathLabs, Hindustan Aeronautics, Ramco Cements, MCX India, and Mahanagar Gas. 9 stocks see short-covering A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering. Based on the OI percentage, 9 stocks were on the short-covering list. These included HDFC, Marico, Alkem Laboratories, Can Fin Homes, and NTPC. Bulk deals Landmark Cars: Global private equity firm TPG Growth II SF Pte Ltd has exited the automotive retailer by selling entire 44.56 shares or 11.25 percent stake at an average price of Rs 658 per share, which amounted to Rs 293.2 crore. Promoter Sanjay Karsandas Thakker (HUF) also offloaded its entire 1.41 percent stake or 5.6 lakh shares at same price. However, Unifi Capital, Societe Generale, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company, Goldman Sachs Funds - Goldman Sachs India Equity Portfolio, Abakkus Diversified Alpha Fund, Abakkus Asset Manager LLP, and 3P India Equity Fund 1 bought 38.62 lakh shares or 9.7 percent stake in the company at an average price of Rs 658 per share, which amounted to Rs 254.13 crore. Indiabulls Housing Finance: Florintree Insurtech LLP has acquired 30.5 lakh equity shares or 0.64 percent stake in the housing finance company via open market transactions at an average price of Rs 115.54 per share. Parag Milk Foods: Sixth Sense India Opportunities III, a venture capital fund managed by Sixth Sense Ventures, has bought additional 6.8 lakh shares or 0.58 percent stake in the milk products company at an average price of Rs 121.23 per share. Sixth Sense India Opportunities III already held 2.3 percent stake in the company, and Sixth Sense India Opportunities II has 1.54 percent stake as of March 2023. Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy: Promoter Shapoorji Pallonji and Company offloaded 35 lakh shares or 1.84 percent stake in the renewable energy company at an average price of Rs 295.25 per share, which was worth Rs 103.33 crore. However, Sahastraa Advisors bought 9.9 lakh shares and Setu Securities purchased 17.1 lakh shares in the company at same price. Easy Trip Planners: Promoter Nishant Pitti has sold 6.25 crore equity shares or 3.6 percent stake in the travel agency company via open market transactions at an average price of Rs 42.6 per share, which amounted to Rs 266.58 per share. However, Wilson Holdings was the buyer in this deal, acquiring all shares at same price. Harsha Engineers International: Foreign portfolio investor Abu Dhabi Investment Authority exited the precision bearing cages manufacturer by selling entire 17.76 lakh equity shares or 1.95 percent stake at an average price of Rs 435.02 per share. The stake sale was worth Rs 77.25 crore. However, Plutus Wealth Management LLP bought 16.04 lakh shares in Harsha at an average price of Rs 435 per share. 63 Moons Technologies: The Miri Strategic Emerging Markets Fund LP, the hedge fund owned by US-based Miri Capital Management LLC, has bought 4.46 lakh shares in the 63 Moons via open market transactions at an average price of Rs 190.68 per share. Antony Waste Handling Cell: The Miri Strategic Emerging Markets Fund LP has bought additional 6.27 lakh shares or 2.2 percent stake in the solid waste collection company at an average price of Rs 318.99 per share. In previous session, Miri already bought 2.5 lakh shares of Antony Waste, taking total stake 3.1 percent in two days. (For more bulk deals, click here) Investors Meetings on June 26 Radiant Cash Management Services: Officials of the company will interact with Systematix, Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund, Alchemy Capital, and ITI Mutual Fund. Rolex Rings: Officials of the company will be meeting ICICI Prudential Life, Nippon Mutual Fund, SBI Mutual Fund, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, and HSBC Mutual Fund. Uno Minda: Company's senior officials will interact with Phutnam Investments, Singapore. Five-Star Business Finance: Officials of the company will be meeting Sundaram Mutual Fund, and Nippon Life Insurance. Finolex Industries: Company's officials will meet Nomura Asset Management, Blackrock Asset Management, Aregence Capital, and Sixteenth Street. Som Distilleries & Breweries: Senior officials of the firm will interact with Envision Capital. Stocks in the news Ipca Laboratories: The US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has issued Form 483 with eight observations for company's Pithampur formulations manufacturing facility in Madhya Pradesh. The USFDA conducted the inspection of said facility during June 15-June 23. Asian Paints: The paint manufacturer has acquired additional 11 percent equity stake in Obgenix Software (brand name White Teak) for Rs 54 crore, from promoters Pawan Mehta, and Gagan Mehta. The company now holds 60 percent stake in White Teak, up from 49 percent earlier and as a result, White Teak has become a subsidiary of Asian Paints. Rail Vikas Nigam: The state-owned railway company has emerged as the lowest bidder a project of design and construction of elevated metro viaduct, from Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation. The cost of project is Rs 394.9 crore and the said project is expected to be executed in 30 months. Cambridge Technology Enterprises: The IT firm received board approval for acquisition of US-based Appshark Software Inc for Rs 41 crore. Appshark is primarily engaged in salesforce consulting and custom software development. The said acquisition is expected to be completed by March 2026. It also acquired RP Web Apps for Rs 3 crore and the said acquisition is expected to be completed by July 30, 2023. AU Small Finance Bank: The small finance bank said the board members will meet on June 29 to consider raising of funds by issue of equity shares or debt instruments. HDFC Life Insurance Company: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) granted its approval for transfer of shares of HDFC Life, from HDFC to HDFC Bank in view of the proposed amalgamation between HDFC and HDFC Bank. IRDAI also granted approval for HDFC to acquire additional shares in HDFC Life, so the holding to be more than 50 percent of its total share capital. Godrej Properties: The real estate developer has acquired approximately 15 acres of land in Gurugram, Haryana through an outright purchase, for the development of premium residential apartments. Zydus Lifesciences: Subsidiary Zydus Animal Health and Investments has entered into a share purchase agreement with Rising Sun Holdings and Mylab Discovery Solutions to acquire 6.5 percent stake in Mylab from Rising Sun Holdings, for Rs 106 crore. The proposed investment in Mylab will help Zydus to participate in growing diagnostics space. Fund Flow FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FII) sold shares worth Rs 344.81 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DII) offloaded shares worth Rs 684.01 crore on June 23, provisional data from the National Stock Exchange shows. Stocks under F&O ban on NSE The National Stock Exchange has added Hindustan Aeronautics to its F&O ban list for June 26 and retained Hindustan Copper, L&T Finance Holdings, Punjab National Bank, and RBL Bank on the list. Securities thus banned under the F&O segment include companies where derivative contracts have crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Memorial Pool in North Tonawanda has seen its last summer of swimming fun. The historic above-ground pool will not open this summer or ever again, North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec and Department of Youth, Recreation and Parks director Alex Domaradzki told city residents Friday during a Facebook Live stream on the pool deck. Were concerned about safety, Tylec said of the Payne Avenue pool. The pool is deteriorating here. Instead, the city is resurrecting its plan to build a new, modern and accessible outdoor aquatic facility where the current pool is. In 2018, North Tonawanda officials worked with a Kentucky architectural firm, Brandstetter Carol, to complete a feasibility study to determine what the citys options were for the pool. The study found it would cost about $2.5 million to renovate the existing pool and $6.5 million to build a new facility. The city put the pool project on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic but earlier this year rehired the Kentucky architectural firm to continue the project. The city has so far established a steering committee for the project and drafted some drawings showing what the new facility may look like. The proposed design includes a lap pool with diving boards and a water slide, a kiddie pool with play features, a large deck with shaded areas for sitting, a concession area and locker rooms. We dont know exactly what its going to turn out to be in the end, Tylec said, stressing the designs are preliminary. Thats where we need our community to get involved as this process continues. A 2018 survey found 43% of residents wanted the city to build a new pool facility, while 38% wanted to keep the existing pool. The city plans to hold more public meetings this year to get community input for the project. Its not just a swim facility for the community, but its a breath of fresh air for the central area of North Tonawanda, Domaradzki said. Its going to change the whole dynamic of (Payne Park). This park is our central location for all our youth activities and family activities. Last year, residents asked the North Tonawanda Common Council to grant the pool landmark status, but the Council tabled the request. North Tonawanda Common Council to consider landmark status for its iconic outdoor pool Residents are asking the North Tonawanda Common Council to grant the Memorial Pool on Payne Avenue landmark status. The pool is eligible for historic landmark status through the National Register of Historic Places, but is not on the list, Domaradzki said. Memorial Pool was built in 1947 as a memorial to World War II veterans. It was designed by Michigan engineer Wesley Bintz, who built more than 100 above-ground pools across the country in the 20th century. The North Tonawanda pool was one of the last Bintz pools in operation. The city wants to incorporate part of the existing pool facility into the new design, perhaps by keeping some of the brick pool structure as an entryway to the new facility. Tylec said the city is seeking grant funding to pay for the pool. Anyone out there thinking were gonna raise taxes to buy a pool, thats not the case, he said. Construction is expected to be complete in 2025. Swim options this summer in North Tonawanda Even though Memorial Pool wont be open, the mushroom splash pool will remain open daily from noon to 8 p.m. with lifeguards on duty. The city will host swim lessons and open swim at North Tonawanda Intermediate School. For more information about summer swimming in North Tonawanda, visit northtonawandany.myrec.com. [content][quote]Big Story[/quote][title]Google, Amazon announce major investments in India after meeting with PM Modi in US[/title][body] In an exciting development for India's digital landscape, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, and Andrew Jassy, CEO of Amazon, have announced significant investment plans following their meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the US. These investments aim to foster digital transformation, promote local language content, create employment opportunities, and boost the export of Indian products globally. Details here. [/body][/content] [content][quote]Watch Out[/quote][title] Take a look at these key events[/title][body] Today PM Modi's Egypt visit: - PM Modi to visit Al Hakim mosque in Cairo - PM Modi to visit Heliopolis War Memorial in Cairo - Welcome of PM by Egyptian President at Presidential Palace - Arrival in New Delhi from Cairo Go First flight cancellations till today due to 'operational reasons' Manipur unrest: Internet ban till today Tomorrow International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 360 ONE Asset flexicap fund NFO subscription last day Ideaforge Technologies IPO to open Last day to apply for higher pension under Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) YouTube to bid farewell to its Stories feature New 5 Vande Bharat trains to be launched SAT to review Zee Entertainment promoterss' plea challenging Sebi order Pentagon Rubber IPO to open for subscription Coal pilferage case: WB law minister to appear before ED Toyota next gen C-HR debut Realme to launch next Narzo phone in India Vivo X90s launch in China Vivo Y36 4G launch in India [/body][/content] [content][quote]Market Buzz[/quote][title]These smallcaps up 10-32% as Sensex hits fresh record high despite volatility[/title][body] Amid intensified volatility, the market hit record highs in the week ended June 23 but failed to sustain at higher levels on prevailing concerns over global issues. The BSE Small-cap index shed 1 percent dragged by IIFL Securities, Udaipur Cement Works, Future Consumer, IDFC, Aptus Value Housing Finance India, Manaksia, Aegis Logistics, Mishtann Foods, MPS, Reliance Power and Ador Welding. On the other hand, Antony Waste Handling Cell, Subros, Ddev Plastiks Industries, DMCC Speciality Chemicals, HPL Electric & Power, Sintex Plastics Technology and LG Balakrishnan and Brothers rose 23-32 percent. Read more here. [/body][/content] [content][quote]IPO Watch[/quote][title]Seven IPOs totalling over Rs 1,600 crore to hit Dalal Street next week[/title][body] The primary market seems to be gathering steam, with three main board initial public offerings (IPOs) and four from the small and medium enterprises (SME) segment set to hit Dalal Street in the coming week, starting on July 26. The seven issues are expected to raise a total of over Rs 1,600 crore. The SME issues are slated to mop up Rs 110 crore. Read here for details. [/body][/content] [content][quote]Your Money[/quote][title]ITR filing: Claiming tax deductions without proofs can backfire, warn CAs[/title][body] Many salaried employees make requests to chartered accountants to help them file for refunds even when they dont have documentary evidence to back their claims. But, Annual Information Statement (AIS) captures all income details, leaving no room for tax-payers to hide. Read here. [/body][/content] [content][quote]Tech Tattle[/quote][title]Xiaomi Pad 6 Vs OnePlus Pad: Which Android Tablet To Buy?[/title][body] Watch the full hands-on review of Xiaomi Pad 6 and the OnePlus Pad. Which Android tablet triumphs? Roobina Mongia gets you the details. [/body][/content] [content][quote]Tail Piece[/quote][title]Man sets Guinness World Record by covering all Delhi Metro stations. The time taken was...[/title][body] A man got his name into the Guinness World Records after covering a total of 286 stations of the Delhi Metro. The man, identified as Shashank Manu who works as a freelance researcher and likes traveling in the Delhi Metro, completed the feat in April 2021. Read here. [/body][/content] Here is a collection of the most important stories this evening: Egypt's highest honour 'Order of the Nile' conferred on PM Modi Instituted in 1915, the 'Order of the Nile' is conferred upon heads of states, crown princes, and vice presidents who offer Egypt or humanity invaluable services. This is the 13th highest state honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi. Read more here. Byju's tells investors it will file 2022 earnings by September: Report Deloitte said on Thursday it was severing ties with Byju's, one of India's most successful startups, over its "long-delayed" financial statements for the year ended March 2022. Board members representing Peak XV Partners, earlier known as Sequoia Capital India, Prosus and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative also stepped down, without publicly expressing their reasons. Read more here. Exclusive: The outrageous monthly living expense of fugitive Winsome Diamonds' Jatin Mehta & family In an exclusive find, Moneycontrol accesses a short order from March 2023 made by Justice Edwin Johnson on the exorbitant monthly allowance to diamond merchant Jatin Mehta and his family to cover living expenses, which excludes legal payments. Read more here. Mcap of 6 of top-10 most valued domestic firms erodes by Rs 1 lakh crore; Reliance takes biggest hit From the top-10 pack, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, Hindustan Unilever, ITC, Infosys and State Bank of India faced erosion from their market capitalisation (mcap). However, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, HDFC and Bharti Airtel emerged as the gainers. Read more here. Exclusive: 3rd Time Lucky? Senco Gold to file papers for Rs 400 cr IPO The stock shall be listed on the NSE and the BSE. Rs 265 crore of the Rs 400- crore IPO will be a fresh issue, and Rs 135 crore is expected to be an Offer For Sale (OFS). An OFS is when promoters sell their shares and reduce their holdings in a transparent manner through the bidding platform for the Exchange. Read more here. Dalal Street Week Ahead | 10 key factors that will keep traders busy next week We have the first weekly loss in the last five consecutive weeks, largely due to profit taking after the BSE Sensex hit a new life high and Nifty was just one point short of establishing a new record high. The cautious mood in global counterparts post rate hikes by the central banks, and hawkish commentary by Fed Chair also dented sentiment. Read more here. Liquidation scheme for AIFs to aid in deriving maximum value for unliquidated investments: Experts The new scheme provides flexibility to AIFs to deal with investments that are not sold due to a lack of liquidity during the winding-up process.Also, it allows such unliquidated investments to be either sold to a new scheme of the same AIF (liquidation scheme) or to be distributed in-specie to investors of the AIF. Read more here. About 10 months before he was arrested on fraud charges, cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried posed for a photograph at the 2022 Super Bowl in Inglewood, California. On one side of him were Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, the celebrity couple. On the other was actor Kate Hudson. Standing in the center, with his arm slung over Bankman-Frieds shoulder, was a lesser-known figure: Michael Kives. Kives, a Hollywood agent turned investor, played an unusual role in Bankman-Frieds business empire: super connector. He and his business partner, Bryan Baum, helped the young founder cultivate relationships with Bloom, Perry and former President Bill Clinton, and offered introductions to a whos who of celebrities and business leaders. The relationship was mutually beneficial. Bankman-Fried invested $700 million in Kives venture capital firm, court records show. Kives, the founder and face of the firm, and Baum each received $125 million as part of the deal. Kives, 42, and Baum, 34, were part of an under-the-radar network of middlemen who introduced celebrities and other power brokers to the once highflying crypto industry. Before cryptocurrencies crashed last year, a drumbeat of endorsements from Hollywood stars, professional athletes, business titans and politicians created an aura of credibility around the volatile and largely unregulated market. On Thursday (June 22, 2023), FTXs bankruptcy lawyers sued Kives firm, K5 Global, to recover the money that Bankman-Fried had invested. The $700 million was among the largest sums the FTX founder contributed to any group; the lawsuit said he had made the investment to burnish his own political and social influence. Bankman-Fried agreed to invest as much as $3 billion over three years in K5, according to the lawsuit and a version of the crypto moguls contract with Kives and Baum that was reviewed by The New York Times. The complaint argued that Bankman-Fried had done no meaningful due diligence and excessively overpaid Baum and Kives, describing the transactions as a fraudulent scheme to enrich executives. Federal prosecutors have charged Bankman-Fried, 31, with a sweeping fraud in which he siphoned billions of dollars from FTX customers to make charitable donations, political contributions and large investments. He has pleaded not guilty. A spokesperson for K5, Elizabeth Ashford, said that the lawsuit was without merit and that K5 had believed it was entering a legitimate, long-term business relationship with Bankman-Fried. A spokesperson for Bankman-Fried declined to comment. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. By David Yaffe-Bellany and Erin Griffith c.2023 The New York Times Company Almost a third of visitors denied entry into New Zealand are Indian passport holders: Of the 664 foreign nationals denied entry on arrival in New Zealand between August 1, 2022, and June 10, 2023, 202 held Indian passports thats one-third of the total entry denials, according to Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Indians also accounted for a large number of those denied boarding while attempting to travel to New Zealand during the same period 796 of the total 2,727 passengers who were not allowed to board the flight to New Zealand. It may be noted that possessing a visa does not guarantee entry into a foreign country. The main reasons why people are refused entry include not being considered to be genuine temporary entrants and are likely to breach the conditions of their visa or fail to meet character requirements for entering New Zealand, Richard Owen, general manager, INZ, said in a statement. In 2022, Indians filed over 6 lakh Schengen visa applications, the third highest in the world, but also faced a steep rejection rate of 18 per cent. Estonia, Malta and Slovenia rejected the most number of Schengen visa applications from India, while Germany, Italy and Hungary accepted the most. Travelling to the US? Apply for ESTA through Mobile app: All foreigners who can enter the country under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) will now be able to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) directly from their smartphones. The ESTA Mobile App is available for download on all Android and iOS devices in 24 languages. ESTA is the main requirement for citizens of 40 countries who can enter the US under VWP. Those who do not hold a valid ESTA are not permitted entry to the US even if they meet the other requirements of the VWP. Pay 1 rent in Sardinia: Located in the heart of Sardinia (Italy), the village of Ollolai is offering a rental fee of 1 per month for 10 selected newcomers. The incentive comes in the wake of a sharp decline in the population of Ollolai, the current population being a meagre 1,174. This is not the first incentive offered to foreigners by the village. Previously, Ollolai had made international headlines after it said that it was selling houses that have been abandoned for 1 provided that the owners renovate them. Since then, the council of the village has sold a total of 13 homes. Move to remote Irish island, get paid cash: The Irish government has announced its Our Living Islands policy, a 10-year initiative under which people could get paid more than 80,000 (roughly $86,400) to move to one of the countrys remote islands and join its offshore community full-time. The Our Living Islands policy covers 23 smaller islands that are disconnected from the mainland altogether. Remote locations available to scheme participants include Arranmore off the coast of Donegal and Clare Island off the coast of County Mayo. The incentive seems very tempting but it comes with very strict clauses: 1. The money is not for relocation purpose, it has to be used to restore run-down or vacant properties around an island of your choice. 2. The money can only be used for building work such as structural improvements, redecorating and installing insulation. 3. The property that you choose must have been built before 1993 and been vacant for a minimum of two years. Towns in Spain offering incentives to move: Ponga: A town and municipality in the province and autonomous community of Asturias (north-western Spain), Ponga is offering couples who want to settle there a grant of 3,000 and an additional 3,000 for every baby born in the town. Rubia: Located in the historic region of Galicia (northern Spain), the town of Rubia is supplementing new residents income by an extra 100-150 per month, just for living there. A Xesta, Galicia: The hamlet of A Xesta is offering new residents rentals for as little as 100 per month if they settle there. Plots of land are also available just for 200, an incentive for people to build homes and live in this hamlet. Griegos, Teruel: Situated between Madrid and Valencia, the village of Griegos is offering new residents the possibility of a job and three months free rent. After three months, the rent will be only 225 per month and will be reduced by 50 for every school-aged child that the couple have. Switzerland and Italy offering money to move Switzerland: Authorities in Albinen village in Valais are offering expats under 45 years of age 20,000 Swiss Francs (roughly USD 21,000) for moving, and 10,000 Swiss Francs (USD 10,000) for moving their children. The catch is that one has to live there for, at least, 10 years. Italy: Struggling with a declining population and abandoned homes, Presicce-Acquarica, a municipality comprising the two towns of Presicce and Acquarica del Capo in Puglia region is offering up to 30,000 to those willing to relocate there. The maximum age for applicant is 40 years and should be ready to either start a business from scratch or participate in an existing business. On the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency, BJP leaders on Sunday went on a tweeting spree to turn the table on the Congress which has been accusing the Narendra Modi government of suppressing dissent, stifling democracy, and curbing freedom of speech in the country. On June 25, 1975, the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government imposed Emergency, which lasted for the next 21 months, during which fundamental rights of the people were provisionally suspended and curbs were put on the press. "I pay homage to all those courageous people who resisted the Emergency and worked to strengthen our democratic spirit. The dark days of Emergency remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values our Constitution celebrates," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet. Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that the imposition of Emergency was a "selfish" power struggle and continues to remain a symbol of Congress' "dictatorial mentality." "On this day in 1975, a family imposed an Emergency in the country, taking away the rights of the people and killing democracy, fearing losing power from their hands," Shah said in a tweet in Hindi. "Imposition of Emergency for selfish power struggle is a symbol of Congress' dictatorial mentality and an indelible taint on the party," he said. Shah said that lakhs of people struggled to revive democracy facing many tortures. "I heartily salute all those patriots." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the days of Emergency were a "defining political experience" of his generation and "a lifelong lesson. "On the anniversary of the declaration of Emergency, recall those dark days and how the nation overcame this challenge," Jaishankar tweeted, adding, "It was the defining political experience of my generation and a lifelong lesson to strengthen our democratic fabric." Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted newspaper clippings to remind her followers about the press' struggle against curbs on it and the freedom of speech during the Emergency. "Media protested curbing the freedom of speech and Press freedom under the Emergency. Power hungry Congress muzzled the media, jailed the entire opposition and amended the constitution unilaterally," she said in her tweet. The Congress serves the dynasty and not the people of India, Sitharaman said. BJP chief J P Nadda in a tweet in Hindi said the Congress' "ruthlessness left behind even the tyranny of hundreds of years of foreign rule." "I bow down to all the patriots who fought for the establishment of democracy in such difficult times enduring immense tortures," he added. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on June 25 criticised former US President Barack Obama's remarks on minority rights in India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent US visit, and pointed out that six Muslim-majority countries had faced US military actions during his tenure. Sitharaman expressed her surprise at the timing of Obama's statements about Indian minorities, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was meeting US President Joe Biden on a State visit. "I was surprised when Prime Minister Modi was... talking about India in front of everyone, a former US president was giving statements about Indian Muslims at that time," Sitharaman said while addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. ALSO READ: PM Modi's visit to US historic; redefined India-US ties: FM Sitharaman "Didn't bombings happen in six countries - Syria, Yemen, Saudi and Iraq and other Muslim countries - during his term (as US President)?" she asked. "When he makes such allegations, will the people trust him?" she added. Obama reportedly during an interview with CNN on June 22 stated that if India fails to safeguard the rights of minorities, there is a chance that the country may eventually face internal divisions. ALSO READ: PM Modi's State Visit will go down in history as 'turning of a page' in India-US relations: Garcetti Sitharaman drew attention to the fact that PM Narendra Modi has received the highest civilian honours from 13 nations, including six nations with predominantly Muslim population. The finance minister asserted that the Opposition was involved in "organised campaigns" to spread unfounded claims about the treatment of minorities because it was unable to defeat BJP led by PM Modi in elections. Sitharaman emphasised India's intention is to maintain a positive relationship with the US while expressing her disagreement with the claims made by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). "We want good friendship with the US. But from there also, USCIRF's comments about religious tolerance in India comes and the former president is also saying something," she said. Sitharaman reaffirmed that during Modi's state visit to the United States, while attending a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden, in response to a question, PM Modi reiterated that the Indian government follows the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (Collective Efforts, Inclusive Development) and does not practice any form of discrimination against any community. (With PTI inputs) India and Egypt on Sunday elevated their relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership' as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi held wide-ranging talks with a particular focus on enhancing political and security cooperation. PM Modi, who is visiting Egypt at the invitation of President Sisi, held one-on-one conversation with El-Sisi during which they also took stock of what is happening on important issues of the region and the world. Addressing a media briefing on the visit by PM Modi, the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said four MoUs and agreements were signed, including the "most important and landmark" one on the "Strategic Partnership" between India and Egypt. "The two leaders had a private one-on-one conversation during which, following up on the India visit of President Sisi earlier this year, the two leaders discussed a whole range of bilateral cooperation and also took stock of what is happening on important issues of the region and the world," Kwatra said. "It was clear from those discussions and the MoU and agreements signed later on that the two leaders gave a particular focus on enhancing the political and security cooperation, defence collaboration, trade and investment ties, scientific and academic collaboration and strengthening of people to people ties," he said. Besides the agreement on strategic partnership, the two countries also signed three more pacts on -- agriculture and allied sectors; protection and preservation of monuments and archaeological sites; and competition law, the Foreign Secretary said. 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 on Sunday left for India after concluding his first-ever visit to Egypt where he held talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and was conferred with the Arab country's highest honour 'Order of the Nile'. PM Modi, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday after concluding a high-profile state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, was received at the airport by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. "My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection," PM Modi tweeted. His two-day state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is also the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister since 1997. PM Modi held talks with President El-Sisi on Sunday and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries with a focus on improving trade and investments, energy ties and people-to-people connections. The two countries elevated their relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership'. President El-Sisi conferred Modi with 'Order of the Nile' award - Egypt's highest state honour. This is the 13th highest state honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi. Earlier in the day, Modi visited Egypt's historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque, restored with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community. He also visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery in Cairo and paid homage to over 4,300 valiant Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Aden during World War I. He also took a tour of pyramids at Giza. On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi met with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, and discussed issues related to promoting social harmony and countering extremism and radicalisation. Later in the evening, Modi met members of the Indian community in Egypt who showered fulsome praise on him, hailing him as India's hero'. He also met prominent personalities in Egypt, including Hassan Allam, CEO of one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region, and Tarek Heggy, a renowned author and petroleum strategist. Modi started his five-day visit on June 20. He visited the US from June 21-24. His visit to the US started in New York, where he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21. Later, in Washington DC, he was given a red-carpet welcome at the White House by President Biden. The two leaders held a historic summit, followed by Modi's address to Congress and a State Dinner hosted at the White House by the Bidens in his honour. The visit was marked by several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space and trade. Prime Minister Modi and President Biden hailed the "landmark" pact to jointly produce jet engines in India to power military aircraft and the US drone deal. PM Modi on Thursday became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice. His first address to a joint meeting of the US Congress was in 2016. During his address, he sought action against state sponsors of terrorism. PM Modi also made a strong push for reforming multilateral institutions, including the UN, and spoke glowingly of India's ties with the US. On Friday, US Vice President Kamala Harris along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted a luncheon for the Indian leader at the State Department. Modi also met top CEOs of the US and India at the White House. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said the maiden state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington will go down in history as the starting of a "bold new chapter" in US-India strategic relations. Prime Minister Modi concluded a high-profile state visit to the US on Friday after he held talks with President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday. The two countries took a giant leap in their strategic partnership as both leaders hailed the landmark pact to jointly produce jet engines in India to power military aircraft and a deal to purchase armed drones from the US to bolster India's national security. PM Modi and Biden also lauded the growing relations between India and the US with the President saying it was among the "most consequential" in the world that is stronger, closer and more dynamic than at any time in history. "I think this visit will go down in history as the turning of a page and the starting of a bold new chapter in America and India relations. It's the culmination of years and even decades of work," Garcetti told PTI in an interview here. The former mayor of Los Angeles city also said that it is more than a relationship between the two countries. "It's a friendship, it's genuine and it's deep," Garcetti, also a close confidant of Presidnet Biden, said. He said the visit has leapfrogged beyond many of the expectations, whether it's been a personal relationship between Prime Minister Modi and President Biden, whether it was breadth and depth of the work done by the governments, or whether it was the people-to-people ties, business leaders and cultural leaders and everyday Americans and Indians. "This really is about the future. And I think America and India are the future, stronger together and showing a vision of how we can create a more prosperous world for everyone if this relationship deepens," he said. On the takeaways from the visit, Garcetti, 52, noted the four Ps - peace, prosperity, planet, and people. He said when it comes to peace, real defence deliverables and the sharing of deeper technology than the United States has done, even with most of its closest allies, on prosperity, finally putting trade disputes behind us, deepening the technological cooperation and supply chains, on the issue of the planet, both sides have agreed to work of climate, space and ocean. In the people-to-people ties front, both sides have decided to open new consulates. "This is an all-arena relationship now. And it's more than a relationship. It's a friendship, it's genuine and it's deep," he said. Garcetti said this moment is defined by optimism and "I don't see that optimism waning in the years ahead. But I think there is a realisation that we do have to plan not just for this moment, that we have to plan for the next 20-25 years." He said that there are people who don't share our values who have planned for the long term, who aren't democracies, that don't see technology as something to help people's lives, that maybe are not interested in helping or moving our work to combat climate change. He noted that for the next 25 years, India and the US must prepare for much more than what they have today. "The number of good things we need to do together, we need to prepare for the rise of the middle class in India... we have to prepare for a way that US and India can really build supply chains that helps the world de-risk," he said. He further said that New Delhi and Washington have to make sure that our military cooperation isn't just aspirational and occasional, but it's a true deterrent to bad actors and can help preserve a world based on the rule of law and order. On the relationship between Modi and Biden, Garcetti said while world leaders need to talk to each other, from what I saw reflected in that they (Modi and Biden) love to talk to each other. They need to spend time together. But they also love to spend time together. And that is so important. Whether it's for things that are easy to talk about or some of the more difficult challenges that we face. He said during the visit, President Biden and Prime Minister Modi were together on about six or seven occasions, and it was as enthusiastic and warm to the very end as it was the first moment they saw each other. The US envoy said that "the Indian dream to me in 2023 mirrors what the American Dream has been for so long. This idea that doesn't matter where you come from, if you set your sights high and work hard, with a little luck, anybody should be able to go as far as she wants." When people say they know India, I always doubt that because there are so many Indias. And if people want to simplify India, I would say what's beautiful about India is its complexity, to see the difference in culture, cuisine and language, to understand the vibrancy of the political opinions that people hold, to spend time with those that are struggling to build the kind of world and country they want to see - that to me is very inspiring," he said. "It's not always a perfect picture, no country is. But to me, it's an inspiring picture. I couldn't think of a better job. I'm having the time of my life. This is the best job I could ever imagine having, and the best country I could ever imagine the President sending me to represent our country," Garcetti said. On March 16, Garcetti was confirmed by the US Senate as the country's next ambassador to India, filling the key diplomatic position that had been vacant for more than two years. The glazed pottery was dying with each passing day in Kashmir until a 28-year-old youth from Srinagar city infused new life into the art through his innovative and breathtaking designs. Mohammad Umar Kumar who hails from Ishber in the picturesque Nishat area of Srinagar is currently working on glazed pottery also known as Dalgate pottery or Khanyar pottery at his decades-old fathers shop. Glazed pottery locally known as Rogan-i-Keam is a skill that is exclusive to the region and is an integral part of the cultural heritage and vernacular building traditions of the Valley. Kumar, a commerce graduate, used to work with his father in his pottery shop and ultimately stepped into fathers shoes. Everyday I used to spend some hours with my father, Abdul Salam Kumar, a seasoned potter who began his journey in the art of pottery at the age of 10 at his pottery shop but I never thought of pursuing my career in pottery. I studied commerce and completed graduation but I saw the art which was quite famous during the 1980s dying a slow death. I eventually decided to continue the family legacy and learn the art to make it my profession, says Kumar with a smile. Kumar while reviving Kashmirs traditional craft makes various items by using waste products like glass panes, battery cells, eggshells, dry cell rods and a metal for colour combination. Such is the popularity of Kumars exquisite glazed pottery that during the recent Group of Twenty (G20) tourism meeting in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir his products were displayed during the event. For the first time since the Indian government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) scrapped the special status of Jammu & Kashmir and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories J&K and Ladakh on August 5, 2019, the scenic region hosted G20 event, bringing the worlds major economies accounting for more than 80 per cent of world GDP and 75 per cent of global trade to an international forum between May 22-24, which was attended by a number of dignitaries from across the world. During the three day long G20 summit in Srinagar Kumar displayed different items crafted by his golden hands. The G20 dignitaries from various countries while visiting the craft centre were impressed to see my handmade items, mainly clay made chinar, glazed tile and clock. Taking advantage of this prestigious opportunity, I have meticulously painted the G20 logos on pottery items with a hope that this will enhance our market appeal. Kumar claims that his handmade items are competitively priced compared to products from other states yet the market is sluggish, leaving potters and artists frustrated. The rate of clay made items Kumar sells costs anywhere between Rs 50 to Rs 3,000. During the previous year Kumar had crafted and delivered 15,000 earthen lamps (diyas) for the festival of Diwali. "I received an order of 15,000 lamps for Diwali from a dealer in south Kashmirs Kulgam district. Making thousands of lamps in a short period of time was a tough challenge but I completed the task within the deadline, Kumar tells Moneycontrol. Inside his unit in Nishat and also at the main showroom in Hazratbal area of Srinagar Kumar has displayed a number of his creations on the potters wheel which includes glazed clay rice bowls, flower pots, jugs, tiles and a variety of hand-made decorative items made from clay. Umar, besides working on the earthen lamps also make Tumbaknaris Kashmiri musical instruments made from clay and used for singing in Kashmiri weddings, with its roots believed to stretch far back into Iran or Central Asia. He also makes earthen pots for kangris, traditional wicker-based firepots to keep people warm throughout the winter and one of his most popular items are decorative tiles that have a design of chinar leaves. Kumar attributes the fading craft a shot in the arm for the family, intricately involved in the art for decades. According to Kumar the families involved in common pottery in Srinagar city have reduced from 500 to just 40. I learnt glazed pottery from a senior artisan Ghulam Muhammad Kumar, the only artisan alive to know the art in Kashmir Valley. The 81-year-old artist from Khanyar area of Srinagar made me learn the art of making colours. After learning it from an octogenarian, I decided to teach the skill to youngsters in a bid to keep it from sliding into obscurity. The art had almost vanished when I reintroduced it a few years before, he says. Currently only Kumar and his aged teacher are are engaged in the making of glazed pottery in the region. During the past two years Kumar claims to have trained around 17 people, mostly youths who are now shaping up their careers in glazed pottery. Regarding the crafting of glazed pottery items Kumar says that a clay made item is created and then the item is coloured in fire. The tiles Kumar makes are made from different raw materials including zinc, glass and copper, besides iron dust for red colour and black from dry (battery) cells. Our pottery pots are very cheap compared to machine-made items from China and America which are way expensive and unhygienic. According to Kumar the glazed pottery of Kashmir while comparing with the pottery from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat are different in various aspects. We only rely on traditional ways of making glazed pottery in Kashmir. For example, our formula and raw materials used in glazed pottery is different from other states of India. Also, we make items as per our regional demand and market. Kumar adds that while making young people in the Valley learn the art he found young boys and girls reluctant to get their hands dirty with clay. To learn a skill or art, hard work and patience is a must and on top of that hand-made pots made of clay are hygienic and beneficial for health. Even doctors are recommending patients to use earthen pots for daily use, Kumar claims. He suggests that young people who are looking for jobs can learn the art and create enormous opportunities for themselves. While acknowledging the support and promotion of glazed pottery by the department of handicrafts Kashmir, Kumar seeks help from the government to obtain a modern pottery-making machine due to which he believes he would preserve the fading art form. Kumar now hopes to give the pottery industry a new lease of life by introducing more young people to the craft. I want to see our hand-made pottery items from Kashmir Valley being sold across the world. The American people owe a special debt to Black Americans. The key word here is special. The African American case is unique: There is nothing to compare with centuries of state-sponsored slavery followed by a century of state-sponsored discrimination. Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer Reparations for Black Americans for the legacy of slavery are in the news with Evanston, Ill., and Amherst, Mass., passing reparations measures and San Francisco and Oakland, Calif., seriously considering multimillion-dollar compensation as are other cities. California Gov. Gavin Newsom also signed a bill to study reparations at the state level. A sharp national debate is probably coming. Beginning in the early 1990s, Detroit Rep. John Conyers annually sponsored a reparations bill; it never came close to passing. About the same time, conservative writer Charles Krauthammer proposed a Grand Compromise of a lump-sum payment of $100,000 from the federal government to every African American family in exchange for ending affirmative action. There is some historical precedent for reparations. For example, Germany paid reparations to Israel for the Holocaust. Also in 1988, Congress passed a bill to compensate Japanese Americans for their internment during the Second World War. The cost of paying each Black family $100,000 is estimated to be roughly $2 trillion. The politics This idea does have some simple appeal: It delivers immediate benefits to a group that has suffered much. But it also has numerous flaws. First, it would never pass. A Congress that in the last year refused to extend President Bidens child tax credit at an annual cost of approximately $60 billion is not likely to endorse a multitrillion-dollar program that would be the single largest federal expenditure ever. Second, would a nation where white voters are strongly opposed to affirmative action (just about every time it has been put to a statewide vote, it has been repealed) really support a direct payment to descendants of slaves? In fact, a Pew Research Center national poll showed that overall, Americans opposed the idea of reparations by 68% to 30%. Blacks favored the concept by 77% to 17%, while non-Hispanic whites opposed it by 80% to 18%, as did Hispanics (by 58% to 33%) and Asian Americans (by 65% to 33%). Third, do highly successful Black Americans like Barack Obama, Michael Jordan or Oprah Winfrey really need reparations? All these flaws would almost certainly undermine support for cash reparations, and Krauthammer concluded: I doubt that anyone on either side of this debate is prepared to accept this deal. But I defy anyone to present one that more cleanly and fairly cuts the Gordian knot. Another idea Here is one proposal that is much more practical and fair. A more realistic approach is one that would combine opportunity with fairness. Guaranteeing qualified Black Americans access to free higher education does exactly that. I once served as a research assistant to William Schneider of CNN. After the 1986 elections, when a 90% bloc vote from Blacks swung control of the Senate back to the Democrats, Republicans took note. A then-obscure Republican congressman named Newt Gingrich asked Schneider the obvious question: How could Republicans win over the Black vote? Schneider knew that Republicans opposed affirmative action and redistribution of income programs. He suggested a Lincoln Scholarship that would create special opportunities for Blacks while also rewarding academic excellence. The plan would work like this: If any Black student qualified for college, the federal government would pay all of their expenses tuition, books, room, board, etc. Schneiders plan emphasized that these Black students would have to qualify academically. But if they did so, their education would be paid for by the government in a direct payback for slavery. (This program would also be extended to trade and professional schools). A $1 trillion investment The 2020 census recorded approximately 25 million Americans of African descent under the age of 40, the target group for the Lincoln Scholarships. A full ride to college for all of these people would cost, on average, $50,000 per person. The maximum possible total cost of the program that is, if every Black student qualified for it is estimated to be a cool trillion dollars, but spread over the next 30 years. This is obviously a massive expenditure, but it would be well worth it. Census data shows that in many fields, income is directly related to higher education. The Lincoln Scholarship program would begin the end of the racial divide in the United States by creating a stable Black working and middle class forever, and do so within the American tradition of individual merit. Liberals should like this program because it will guarantee young Blacks a stake in the future. Conservatives should endorse it because it encourages academic achievement. Young Blacks will be earning their future via a free college ride. (Conservatives like vouchers; here they are). The same Pew survey showed that among reparations supporters, educational scholarships were seen to be most popular and most effective. True, free tuition wont do anything to compensate older Blacks for opportunities lost to past discrimination, but rare is the idea that is perfect. For whatever reason, probably financial, Gingrich never pushed this idea. But if Republicans were to pass this, they could easily win 30% of the Black vote in 2024 a net gain of 10 million votes and guarantee Republicans national victory. Apart from getting a chance to work with Hollywood director Ric Roman Waugh (Felon, Snitch, Shot Caller), one of Ali Fazals reasons for working in Kandahar now streaming on Amazon Prime Video was his interest in the film's treatment of the futility and the business of war. The 36-year-old actor has been a part of some big-budget films in the West also has his hands full with some interesting projects here. Fazal lets us in on his experience of shooting Kandahar with his co-actor Gerard Butler and why he had to let go of the third installment of Fukrey. Edited excerpts: For your role as a Pakistani agent in Kandahar, you had to be present both mentally and physically. Is it scarier and more exciting when your role demands so much out of you as compared to other roles which might not? It is exciting but I think all the parts I have played have been great in different ways. For instance, working on Victoria & Abdul was far more draining than Kandahar because I literally had locked myself up in a hotel room for a month just reading about history. I thought I didnt know enough to do this part. In Kandahar, it was physically more evident so it seems harder but thats our job. It is amazing when you come out of a film with a skill. Its almost like being reborn. These are the responsibilities the actors take to be able to play all these different people. Of course, they are fictionalised lives but taken from actual people thats the scary part! Otherwise, it's great learning for me. You have worked with quite a few Hollywood actors, including Gerard Butler in this film. How was your working experience with him? He is amazing. He is also the producer of the film and one of the most generous actors I have worked with. I am lucky that I get to say this about most of the actors I have worked with on this scale, whether it is Vin Diesel, Dame Judy Dench or Gal Gadot. They are devoid of any vanity. They are all big stars but when they come on the set, they are there on time, eating together, staying together. Here too, we would keep visiting each others villas and there were a lot of conversations about different things including the kind of action this film required. As a producer, he got to see the dailies each day and so, he would end up watching my work. For me, to have someone at that level of stardom to champion me every other day was amazing. Gerard and you only face off right at the end of the movie. Tell us about that. That particular duel was shot right at the end. The entire build up was for that and we didnt want to juice that exchange the way they do typically in slow motion or from this or that angle. It had to be quick because one had to keep the flavour and urgency of the film. The problem for me while shooting was in getting off the bike while it was running and that was really hard. I was so scared! (Laughs) My stunt double brought it down the cliff and then I had to drive it straight from a distance but going straight in the desert is the hardest thing to do. The sand is like water when you are against it, it is scary! Luckily, it was a slightly rocky area so I could find a straight patch, lift off from one side, keep the balance with my other hand on the handle and carry the momentum forward. It was fun. We did a total of three takes. Its becoming more common now to see Indian actors in Hollywood films. Do you think that is going to be the norm rather than the exception in the years to come? It has to. Thats the idea. We have to claim ourselves outside on the world stage and we have to do the work. Theres a reason why we have been trying to get in there and make our presence felt. Theres a reason why Shashi saab (Kapoor) was one of the first leading men in India to do that and then of course, the rest of us came. It has been hard for me because we dont have those kinds of references to take from. Having said that, the world is getting smaller and cinema is widening. We have seen what has happened with the Chinese dream or the Korean dream. Their films have come to the forefront and now its a normal thing. As a member of the Academy myself, I feel very proud to say that India is already out there on the map in a big way, especially in the arts, and even more so in terms of cinema. Some interesting work is being churned out despite all the barricades. It is in tough times that one gets a chance to tell tough stories. You also turned producer with Girls will be Girls. How do things look when you are behind the camera? (Laughs) Oh man! I can tell you one thing. If someone is producing, it is the most humbling experience on the planet! I am on the other side and I have seen what my actor is demanding and feeling. It is all about managing people. You can get all the money, the best of filmmakers, but if you cannot manage people, then it is a s**tshow! I think that has been my biggest takeaway as a producer. As far as our first film goes, I was breaking my FDs trying to fund our first project. It was a hard one but totally worth it and we cant wait for the world to see it. You had to leave Fukrey 3 because the dates were clashing with Mirzapur. Can you tell us how that happened and how disheartening was that for you? I was upset at the time; anyone would be. A very significant direction in my career began from Fukrey. I had sat on the readings of the third film a couple of times and I knew the script inside out. We were supposed to shoot in April and then the second wave of pandemic just hit us and everything got pushed. It was a tough decision to take. Mirzapur and Fukrey had the same production house and they were really kind and generous and let me figure this out. They understood that it was really disheartening for me to take that step but Mirzapur really required me, so we had to make that decision. You recently completed the shoot of Vishal Bhardwajs spy thriller Khufiya. Can you tell us about working with the director and what he brings to the table? Firstly, it is a big check off of my list. I love working with people who can see something that I cant. Vishalji has a penchant for showing things to you which change the course of the scene in very interesting ways. He wont tell you what to do. It is almost controlled manipulation! (Laughs) Both parties know that some manipulation is happening but it is taking us to a very interesting destination. You recently revealed in another interview that you are doing something Off-Broadway. Do tell. I would love to talk about it when the time is right. I really hope it works out because it is a long commitment. It is my dream and when it happens, main dhindhora peetoonga (smiles). Celebrity-owned liquor brands are not uncommon. While Sting, Jon Bon Jovi and Emma Watson sell wine, David Beckham has been churning out a single grain scotch, Fast and Furious actor Dwayne Johnson owns a tequila brand, Kate Hudson a gluten-free vodka, Bruno Mars a white rum and Bob Dylan is the owner of a whisky that feature his own artwork on the bottle. Sanjay Dutt is the latest celebrity to enter the pantheon of booze brand owners. The actor has invested in alcobev startup Cartel & Bros and launched a Scotch whisky named The Glenwalk. The company which is looking to import and retail liquor brands into India, runs in a shared partnership of Manesh Sani and Mokksh Sani of Living Liquidz, one of the largest liquor retail chains in India; Jittin S Merani of Drinq bar academy; and Rohan Nihalani, the owner of Morgan Beverages. The timing is crucial. India has been ranked as one of the fastest-growing markets for alcohol sales. The country overtook France to become the UK's largest Scotch whisky market in terms of volume, with a 60 per cent surge in imports in 2022 over the previous year, according to Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) data. All about The Glenwalk Cartel & Bros has hired a distillery in Scotland to produce and bottle The Glenwalk. Unlike other Scotch whiskies in India, where the alcohol comes at a higher ABV from Scotland and is then bottled in India with Indian water, The Glenwalk is made and bottled in Scotland with Scottish water. This guarantees an authentic taste of Scotch, says Jittin S Merani. The biggest challenge for the company was to get the blend right. The partners made three visits to Scotland just for this. The Glenwalk contains 85 per cent grain and 15 per cent malt. The price point of Rs 1,550 was arrived at after studying the Indian whiskey market. One of our partners is Living Liquidz which gives us an inside view of data on the bestselling whiskies in India. The Blenders Pride category market in Maharashtra is almost 50,000 cases a month. We wanted to launch a whisky that is close to this price point and also encourage this whisky-drinking category to upgrade to Scotch at a small premium. Our target is to get 10 per cent of the 50,000 cases which will come to 5,000 cases a month, explains Merani. The company plans to launch the whisky in their home turf, Mumbai, roll it out in other parts of the state and then expand their footprint across the country. A single grain whisky and Glenwalk finished in six different casks are on the cards by the end of this year. Cartel & Bros will also be getting a brand of vodka called Rodchenko in November to coincide with the festivities and party season in India. The category they are looking to target is the Rs 3,200 between Grey Goose and Absolut. Celebrities and alcohol While Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan have been asking us to "make it large", and Ajay Devgn extolling the virtues of friendship (Khoob Jamega Rang), celebrities in India have rarely moved beyond brand endorsements for alcohol brands. The only exception is actor Danny Denzongpa who owns breweries in Sikkim and Assam. Dutt being a whisky drinker himself tested multiple blends of the scotch to settle on the final one for The Glenwalk. In fact it was at one of the tastings that Dutt volunteered to be an investor in the company. And why not? The alcoholic beverage industry is unquestionably a profitable one. Online alcohol sales, takeout cocktails and alcohol apps all flourished during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Statista predicts that by 2025, the global market size for alcoholic beverages will surpass $2.2 trillion. It makes sense, then, that celebrities looking for big profit potential would flock to this market sector. We caught up with the actor himself on the boozy association! Why whisky? Theres a large market for whisky in this country. India is the largest whisky consumer in the world. I personally started my alcohol journey with whisky when I was a teenager. I remember sneaking out with friends to have my first taste of the amber spirit. Is whisky still your drink of choice today? Yes I love it, but I cant have it everyday because of my illness. Now a days I have shifted to small amounts of tequila and vodka. Wine is the best. I sometimes like to have a glass or two of red wine. Whats your favourite chakna (munchies) with whisky? My all-time favourite is a plate of chicken tikka. Boiled watana (green peas) with chopped onions, masalas and a splash of lemon comes very close. How involved were you in the blend for The Glenwalk? It was a very long process. From ideating to multiple tastings, making changes we worked together. I wanted the whisky to be smooth so it can be had on the rocks. But most importantly it had to be priced right. The idea was to make it accessible to a wider section of consumers and not just the elite. At Rs 1,550, you have priced it dangerously on the brink of affordability and cheap. People may think its cheap only till they taste it. Once they taste it, I have no doubt in my mind that they will love it. Lastly, when can we see you on the screen? My film Leo will release in October. Then there is the Kannada movie KD with Dhruva Sarja. A 23-year-old British woman, returning from a holiday in Abu Dhabi, was left shocked after receiving creepy messages from an Etihad Airways worker who found her number from the airlines database. In an incident that highlights how unsecure a passengers private data can be, Hannah Smethurst received unsolicited WhatsApp messages from a man who identified himself as an Etihad Airways worker. She received the messages while waiting to board a flight from Abu Dhabi to Manchester. The 23-year-old student paramedic shared a screenshot of the exchange on Twitter. According to The Guardian, the texts were sent on Wednesday from a United Arab Emirates number that Smethurst did not recognise. The name displayed next to the number was Muhammed. Heyyy. I have seen u from abudhabi, the first two messages read. When Smethurst asked how the sender got her number, they replied: Sorryyy. I searched u in the system. On being questioned further, the sender clarified that he had looked up Smethursts contact information on the airlines system. A guy who works for the Etihad airline used my personal data which he found via the airline database after seeing my passport to get my phone number and proceeded to text, Smethurst wrote while sharing the screenshot, calling it a terrifying experience. A guy who works for the @etihad airline used my personal data which he found via the airline database after seeing my passport to get my phone number and proceeded to text me , terrifying experience travelling alone. pic.twitter.com/qPWdg1rJlN Hannah (@hansmeths) June 21, 2023 If am disturbing u Just block me, the sender told Smethurst. Around 10 minutes later, he texted: FYI Ur flight is boarding. The 23-year-old student said the incident left her concerned about safety and the use of her private data. I was alone, so I just felt really vulnerable because it stuck in my mind that he knows my number, knows my home address and my full name and email address and obviously everything you give the airline when you book, she was quoted as saying by The Guardian. She added that airport staff did little to help her when she complained. She spoke to a manager who offered to take her off the flight so she could file a complaint, but also warned her that the next flight to Manchester would leave only after 24 hours. In the end, Smethurst decided to take her original flight out of Abu Dhabi and reached out to Manchester Etihad customer service upon landing. [They] were great and they helped me out loads, she said. In 2013, researchers at Oxford University published a startling number about the future of work: 47% of all U.S. jobs, they estimated, were at risk of automation over some unspecified number of years, perhaps a decade or two. But a decade later, unemployment in the country is at record low levels. The tsunami of grim headlines back then like The Rich and Their Robots Are About to Make Half the Worlds Jobs Disappear looks wildly off the mark. But the studys authors say they didnt actually mean to suggest doomsday was near. Instead, they were trying to describe what technology was capable of. It was the first stab at what has become a long-running thought experiment, with think tanks, corporate research groups and economists publishing paper after paper to pinpoint how much work is affected by or exposed to technology. In other words: If cost of the tools werent a factor, and the only goal was to automate as much human labor as possible, how much work could technology take over? When the Oxford researchers, Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne, were conducting their study, IBM Watson, a question-answering system powered by artificial intelligence, had just shocked the world by winning Jeopardy! Test versions of autonomous vehicles were circling roads for the first time. Now, a new wave of studies follows the rise of tools that use generative AI. In March, Goldman Sachs estimated that the technology behind popular AI tools such as DALL-E and ChatGPT could automate the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs. Researchers at Open AI, the maker of those tools, and the University of Pennsylvania found that 80% of the U.S. workforce could see an effect on at least 10% of their tasks. Theres tremendous uncertainty, said David Autor, a professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who has been studying technological change and the labor market for more than 20 years. And people want to provide those answers. But what exactly does it mean to say that, for instance, the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs could be affected by AI? It depends, Autor said: Affected could mean made better, made worse, disappeared, doubled. One complicating factor is that technology tends to automate tasks, not entire occupations. In 2016, for instance, AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton considered new deep learning technology capable of reading medical images. He concluded that if you work as a radiologist, you are like the coyote thats already over the edge of the cliff but hasnt yet looked down. He gave it five years, maybe 10, before algorithms would do better than humans. What he probably overlooked was that reading the images is just one of many tasks (30 of them, according to the U.S. government) that radiologists do. They also do things like confer with medical professionals and provide counseling. Today, some in the field worry about an impending shortage of radiologists. And Hinton has since become a vocal public critic of the same technology he helped create. Frey and Osborne calculated their 47% number in part by asking technology experts to rate how likely entire occupations like telemarketer or accountant were to be automated. But three years after their paper was published, a group of researchers at the ZEW Center for European Economic Research, based in Mannheim, Germany, published a similar study that assessed tasks like explain products or services and found that just 9% of occupations across 21 countries could be automated. People like numbers, said Melanie Arntz, the lead author of the ZEW paper. People always think that the number must be somehow solid, you know, because its a number. But numbers can really be very misleading. In some scenarios, AI has essentially created a tool, not a full job replacement. Youre now a digger who can use an excavator instead of a shovel. Or a nurse practitioner with access to better information for diagnosing a patient. Its possible that you should charge more per hour, because youre going to get a lot more done. In other scenarios, the technology is replacing your labor rather complementing it. Or turning your job from one that requires special skills to one that doesnt. That is not likely to go well for you. In either case, said Autor, technological developments throughout history have tended to mostly affect wages and wealth distribution not how many jobs are available. This kind of exercise risks missing the forest by focusing on one very prominent tree, he said of studies that look at how much human work could be replaced by AI. What he considers to be another key focus how artificial intelligence will change the value of skills is difficult to predict, because the answer depends partly on how new tools are designed, regulated and used. Take customer service. Many companies have handed the task of answering phones to an automated decision tree, bringing in the human operator only to troubleshoot. But one Fortune 500 enterprise software company has approached the problem differently. It created a generative AI tool to provide the agents with suggestions for what to say keeping humans, and their ability to read social cues, in the loop. When researchers at Stanford and MIT compared the performance of groups who were given the tool with those who werent, they found the tool significantly improved the performance of lower-skilled agents. Even if a job becomes completely automated, how displaced workers fare will depend on how companies decide to use technology in new kinds of work, especially work we cant yet imagine, said Daron Acemoglu, a professor at MIT and an author of Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity. These choices will include whether to automate work entirely or use technology to augment human expertise. He said that the seemingly scary numbers predicting how many jobs AI could eliminate, even if its not clear how, were a wake-up call. He believes that people could steer in a better direction, he said, but he is not optimistic. He does not think we are on a pro-human path. All estimates for how much work AI could take over are very dependent on humans: the researchers making the assumptions about what technology can do. Frey and Osborne invited experts to a workshop to score the likelihood of occupations becoming automated. More recent studies rely on information such as a database tracking AI capabilities, created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit digital rights group. Or they rely on workers using platforms like CrowdFlower, where people complete small tasks for money. The workers score tasks on factors that make them prone to automation. For instance, if its something with a high tolerance for error, its a better candidate for a technology like ChatGPT to automate. The exact numbers are not the point, say many researchers involved in this type of analysis. I would describe our methodology as almost certainly precisely wrong, but hopefully directionally correct, said Michael Chui, an AI expert at McKinsey who was an author of a 2017 white paper suggesting that about half of work, and 5% of occupations, could be automated. What the data describes is, in some ways, more mundane than often assumed: Big changes are coming, and its worth paying attention. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. By Sarah Kessler c.2023 The New York Times Company Sawantwadi Palace Boutique Art Hotel, Maharashtra A glorious sanctuary where English arches meet red laterite stones and wooden corridors, celebrating art, design and culinary prowess, is the Sawantwadi Palace, originally built by Khem Sawant III in 1755. The historic Taisaheb Wada a wing dedicated to the 5 Queens of Sawantwadi, now houses a boutique art hotel since January 2023, with six suites and a host of engaging experiences. Yuvraj Lakham Khem Bhonsle and his wife Shraddha Lakham Bhonsle, the youngest generation of the Royal family, both qualified chefs, have lovingly restored the place and oversee the daily operations. The suites: Based on the incarnations of Vishnu, are specially curated with Ganjifa Art and Woodworks, the Royal Family holds so dear. The Matsya suite, paying tribute to the fish avatar, comes with a fish-shaped door knob and a large painting, adorning the wall. The rare furniture, is a part of the familys collection-either crafted by the former Raja, Shivaramraje Bhonsle or collected, as part of their travels. The Durbar Hall or the ornate Museum in the adjoining building, transports you back to that era, whether, it is through the carefully preserved, pink Benarasi saree of one of the queens or the Tiger models, reminiscent of their shikaar stints. For the ultimate experience for history aficionados, there is a Ganjifa art workshop with the in-house artists or enjoy an Afternoon Tea with the Royal family, listening to historical anecdotes. Treat your taste buds to a Rajwada Thali or perhaps a 7-course Tasting Pan Asian Menu by Chef Shraddha, herself. Tariff: Suite rooms ranging from Rs 12,000-15,000 per night, exclusive of taxes The Belgadia Palace, Odisha Enter the drive way and you are in a time-capsule from a bygone era. An iconic white edifice-a Victorian neo-classical double-storied structure- The Belgadia Palace, home to the erstwhile Royal family of Mayurbhanj. built in 1804, confronts you. The sister duo, Akshita Bhanj Deo and Mrinalika, Princesses of Mayurbhanj, 48th descendants of the Bhanj dynasty, began renovating the palace in 2015. They repurposed furniture and upholstery from the original palace, restoring it in accordance with the original designs referring to their grandfathers sketchbook, with a view to opening the palace for people to come and experience the past and discover Odisha. This boutique homestay which opened in 2019, introduces the idea of purposeful travel by engaging with the local tribal community. Windows embossed with royal insignia, dark mahogany staircases, massive oil paintings, add to its grandiosity. The original 25 rooms have been broken down and redesigned to create five rooms and six luxury suites, a Library and other areas, reminiscent of tropical art deco. An artists treasure trove, the palace and the familys involvement in curating the guests experience, makes it a destination by itself. Tariff: Rooms and suites range from Rs 12,500-22, 000, plus taxes, on double occupancy. Inclusions: Breakfast, lunch and dinner, evening high-tea with cultural performance, morning bed tea and a palace historical tour. Figueiredo Mansion, Goa If the fascinating history of Goa and a slice of real Indo-Portuguese culture, piques your interest, head to the Figueiredo Mansion in Loutolim, South Goa. Figueiredo House, also called the Old House, was built by Manuel Joao de Figueiredo, in 1590, who hailed from one of the prominent families. Two centuries later, Caetano de Figueiredo added 2,500 sq. m to the original 2,500, creating what is today, the Figueiredo Mansion. Keen that it be preserved as a heritage home, today, the sole living descendant, Fatima Figueiredo de Albuquerque, and her son, Pedro, own and manage it as a museum and homestay (eight rooms named after the ladies of the house, including a suite). With stunning interiors, yet a homely vibe, a beautifully-restored dining hall, complete with imposing, carved wood furniture, Belgian chandeliers, occupies centre stage and the rooms adorned with antique furniture that harken back to the days, subtly blend modernity, if only to enhance comfort. The piece de resistance is the Museum, which makes you step back in time. Surrealist sculptures, striking art and gothic chandeliers, porcelain crockery, being just some of the unique touches you can expect. Tariff: Rs 6,500 plus taxes from March-October, and Rs 8,500 plus taxes from October-March. Inclusions: Breakfast and a guided tour of the Museum. The Bangala Table, Karaikudi Youll be wandering the same hallways where many dignitaries stayed, as this place has metamorphosed over the years from a Gentlemans Club into a heritage hotel. Housed in a century-old mansion, the charming, Bangala Table, isnt a boutique hotel or a home stay, but an experience, managed like a household. It showcases the lives and times of the Chettiar community of Tamil merchants with a tradition of embarking to faraway lands to trade. Two enterprising women from the MSMM or Mena Sena Mena Mena family of Chettinad, Visalakshi Ramasamy and Meenakshi Meyyappan, decided to revive Senjai Bangala in 1998; in 1999, it was reborn as The Bangala, a heritage hotel with 25 luxury rooms, catering to visitors to Karaikudi, in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. A masterpiece of Chettinadu architecture and craft, with intricate carvings in Burma teak, each corner reflects the rich traditions, making it a dream stay for those who want to soak in history. The rooms dotted around the courtyard are nothing short of grand, flaunting their traditional Athangudi flooring and antique colonial furniture; a perfect blend of modern amenities and old-style comfort. Apart from showcasing the Chettiar traditions, it is known for its mouth-watering Chettinad cuisine. Tariff: Rs 9,449 including taxes and breakfast for superior rooms and Rs 8,890 for heritage room on double occupancy Jehan Numa Palace Hotel, Bhopal Sprawled over several acres on the slopes of the Shyamala Hills, lies the regal neo-classical dazzling white structure of Jehan Numa Palace Hotel, with 100 rooms, including six suites. Built in 1890 by General Obaidullah Khan, commander-in-chief of the Bhopal State Force, and the second son of Nawab Sultan Jehan Begum, it was never their residence. Late Yawar Rashid and his brother Nadir Rashid, grandsons of the General, converted the Palace into a luxury hotel in 1983 to give guests a taste of the hospitality and royal life of Bhopal. Soaked in grandeur, the bold and original decor in the rooms, reflects the opulence of yesteryears, yet imbued with modern luxuries. The well-preserved Museum, displaying Royal History through old portraits, artefacts, memorabilia, arms and robes, spanning more than 250 years of the feisty Nawab Begums and the Generals legacy, promises an immersive experience. The familys international travels, and penchant for high-class experiences, has made them introduce diverse global cuisines. The Tribal Museum nearby, and the old city with its Palaces and Mosques, is equally full of history. Tariff: Rs 8,000 for the base category Regal room, 45,000 for the Palace Suite, taxes excluded. Inclusion: Breakfast Mukesh Ambani and Anand Mahindra - two billionaires, among Indias wealthiest people - travelled in an Uber recently in the US. The Reliance Industries chairman and the head of Mahindra Group were in Washington DC to attend a State Dinner held in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After Thursday nights State Dinner, Anand Mahindra and Mukesh Ambani joined the likes of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook in the East Room of the White House on Friday for a India-US Hi-Tech Handshake meeting. However, Mukesh Ambani and Anand Mahindra, while engaged in a conversation with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and 3rdiTech co-founder Vrinda Kapoor, lost track of time and missed the shuttle that was supposed to take them to their next lunch engagement. They were therefore trying to hail an Uber when they ran into NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who was also part of the India-US Hi-Tech Handshake meeting. The result of this run-in was a powerful selfie which Mahindra shared on Twitter while relating the incident. I suppose this was what they would call a Washington moment. After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement, wrote Anand Mahindra. We were trying to call an Uber when we ran into NASA astronaut Sunita Williams. Time for a selfie & we also asked if we could hitch a ride on her space shuttle instead of an Uber I suppose this was what they would call a Washington moment. After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement. We were trying pic.twitter.com/gP1pZl9VcI anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 25, 2023 The power-packed selfie has collected over 11,000 likes in less than an hour of being posted online. Take a look at some of the reactions it has collected: Great personalities and the pride of India in one frame. Rafique Ahmad (@TheRafiqueAhmad) June 25, 2023 Proud Indian Selfie Wokeflix (@wokeflix_) June 25, 2023 A Washington moment indeed, what an honor for @Uber to have the greatest sons of hitching a ride with them Siddharth R Mayur (@h2eSid) June 25, 2023 Anand Mahindra had earlier also shared a selfie with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman that was taken during the Hi Tech Handshake meeting. He said that he and Altman discussed the challenge that Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani had accepted. Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder and chief of the mercenary Wagner Group, has reportedly forged a deal with the Kremlin to defuse the groups rebellion. Wagner said he ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine, appearing to defuse the dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. The Wagner Group, a private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has fought some of Russias toughest battles in Ukraine alongside regular Russian troops. Here is what we know about Yevgeny Prigozhin, the hot dog seller-turned-millionaire who threatened Putins rule in Russia: Prigozhin, 62, is a Russian oligarch and mercenary chief who was a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin until he launched an alleged coup to unseat him from power. He controls a network of influential companies, including the powerful Wagner Group and several restaurants that cater for the Kremlin. This has also earned him the nickname of Putins chef. Born and raised in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in the Soviet Union on June 1, 1961, Prigozhin once aspired to be a professional cross-country skier. As an 18-year-old, Prigozhin was caught stealing and handed a suspended sentence. He was caught stealing again two years later and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for robbing apartments in an upscale neighbourhood along with other accomplices. He was released in 1990 shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union after spending nine years behind bars. After his release from prison, Prigozhin began selling hot dogs at an open-air market in Leningrad along with his mother and stepfather. This hot dog stand would eventually lead to other successful ventures like restaurants and convenience stores. It was during the 2000s that Prigozhin grew closer with Vladimir Putin, who, incidentally, was also born in Soviet-era Leningrad. One of Prigozhin's companies, Concord Catering, began winning lucrative government contracts. Meanwhile, Prigozhin had grown from one hot dog stand to several fancy restaurants that drew interest from Putin. In his first term, the Russian leader took then-French President Jacques Chirac to dine at one of them. In 2010, Putin helped open Prigozhin's factory that was built on generous loans by a state bank. In Moscow alone, his company Concord won millions of dollars in contracts to provide meals at public schools. He also organized catering for Kremlin events for several years earning him the nickname Putin's chef and has provided catering and utility services to the Russian military. Prigozhin also owns the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-allied mercenary force that has come to play a central role in Putin's projection of Russian influence in trouble spots around the world. In Ukraine, Prigozhin's mercenaries have become a major force in the war, fighting as counterparts to the Russian army in battles with Ukrainian forces. Prigozhin, with his shaved head, has become one of the most recognisable faces of the war. (With inputs from agencies) (Bloomberg Opinion) -- To grasp the danger of this moment, wrap your mind around the following split-screen: In Russia proper, Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Russian mercenary force Wagner, is attempting a putsch against the Kremlin. He says its not aimed directly at his former protector, President Vladimir Putin, but the latter has declared him to be a traitor and promised severe punishment. What happens next is anybodys guess. Meanwhile in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy just warned that the Russians appear to be hatching another act of mass terrorism, this one involving a radiation disaster. Last week, Ukraines spy chief, Kyrylo Budanov, revealed that the Russians have mined that is, attached explosives to the cooling system of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which the Russians seized just after their attack on Ukraine last year and have held ever since. Why would they strap bombs to something unless they want the option of blowing it up? Since last summer, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the world have been worrying about another Chernobyl-style radiation disaster at that plant. Such a catastrophe could occur by accident, because the Russians are shooting from it and the Ukrainians are shelling back. Or it could happen by design if, say, the Russians have to retreat and decide to deny the territory to the Ukrainians by destroying and contaminating it. Sound familiar? Last fall, the Russians also mined the Kakhovka dam just downstream from the nuclear station on the Dnipro. At the time, Zelenskiy warned that the invaders appeared to be preparing to demolish the barrier to wreak havoc on the surrounding regions. This month, the dam did blow up. Experts agree that the explosions detonated inside the structure, where only those in possession of it the Russians had access. The cataclysm ranged from flooding downstream to dropping water levels upstream. Owing to the latter, less water has been available to cool the nuclear plant, which increases the danger of a meltdown. And now that thing is also booby-trapped. The increasing scale of Russian atrocities suggests that Putin feels hes either losing the war or failing to win it. Prigozhins coup, even if it fizzles, will multiply Putins panic. He may escalate yet again, perhaps in a desperate attempt to change the narrative before withdrawing. Theres a term for the form of warfare that would involve: scorched-earth tactics. The scorching metaphor has its limits. These days, belligerents neednt necessarily burn a country to deny it to their enemies although the Russians have certainly done that already to much of Ukraine with their indiscriminate bombing. Putins forces can also flood, starve, irradiate or otherwise defile a landscape and its population. Theres nothing new about scorched-earth tactics. Among the earliest to use them on the record, two-and-a-half millennia ago, were the Scythians, who in modern-day Ukraine, as it happens, right near the current frontline retreated from Darius the Great of Persia, burning food supplies and poisoning wells as they went. Since then, theres hardly been a major war without such tactics. In 1069, William the Conqueror wanted to pacify his recently vanquished realm of England, and did so with a campaign called the Harrying of the North. Harry is an understatement the Normans laid waste to everything between Humber and Tees and reduced the survivors to cannibalism. Some historical figures are indeed remembered primarily for their earth scorching. When Vlad the Impaler, who inspired the Dracula legend, retreated from the Ottomans in the 15th century in what is today Romania, he left behind a forest of the impaled that is, tens of thousands of men, women and children spitted on stakes. During the American Civil War, the Union general William Tecumseh Sherman razed a wide swath of land from Atlanta to Savannah with his March to the Sea. At least when its the defending side doing the scorching, the practice may seem militarily warranted. In 1812, the Russians absorbed and expelled Napoleons invasion army only by retreating and destroying their own land, including Moscow, and then pursuing the French on the way back. But thats not the situation of the Russian army today. This time, Putin is the imperialist invader who launched an unprovoked attack, only to discover that he cant subdue the victim nation with brute force. He seems to be reacting by becoming more genocidal over time, abducting and deporting Ukrainian children and rendering much of Ukraine uninhabitable no matter who wins the war. And now Putins also facing Prigozhin, a ruthless and ambitious Russian Rambo leading battle-hardened soldiers of fortune, many of whom Prigozhin hired out of prison and blooded in the slaughter of Bakhmut. If Putin survives this blatant defiance, hell be even more paranoid. Let the whole world but especially those calling for negotiations in this conflict take note of what this modern-day Vlad appears capable of. From Beijing to New Delhi, Pretoria, Brasilia and beyond, neutrality is simply not an option. For Putin is a man who will scorch the earth, even with the fire of atomic fission. Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics. A former editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist, he is author of Hannibal and Me. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Pranay Sharma Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis resolve to stand by Russian President Vladimir Putin by refusing to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine was once again on display during his recently concluded visit to the United States. During Modis visit last week, US President Joe Biden tried to bring him into a tighter strategic embrace by praising Modi as a close friend and promising to take the relations to a higher level. But despite his efforts, the Indian Prime Minister refused to budge from Indias stated position on Russia and Ukraine. Modi has been to the US a number of times since becoming prime minister in 2014, but this was his first state visit to the country. Biden, who invited him for this state visit a rare honour reserved by American presidents for close allies had laid out the red carpet to welcome the Indian Prime Minister. Apart from a private dinner and a state banquet, Modi was also invited by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, to address the joint session of the US Congress, indicating bipartisan support for strengthening India-US ties. Biden is a Democrat. But despite the optimism about the future of the bilateral relations, the Biden administration and many in the US establishment are disappointed with Indias refusal to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, and its continued comradeship with the country. Also read: Subtle shift in India's position on Ukraine: US official Biden made it a point to mention Russias invasion of Ukraine while receiving Modi for the ceremonial welcome ceremony. He also raised the issue with the Indian Prime Minister during their bilateral discussions. India is the only close partner of the US that has refused to condemn Putin. This has embarrassed the US President, who has pitched the Ukraine war as a conflict between democracy and autocracy. Also, as the largest democracy in the world, Indias refusal to join the anti-Russian bandwagon has led many other countries to follow suit and diluted his campaign. Modi did not yield to the cajoling, nudges, and pressure during his engagements with the US leaders. The joint statement issued by the two sides during his visit had a paragraph on Ukraine. But it repeated Indias known position on the war, and dwelt on the tragic humanitarian consequences of the conflict. It also spoke about its impact on the global economy, particularly on food and energy security. The statement called for greater efforts to mitigate the consequences for the developing world and said that the two countries would provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. It also spoke of respect for international law, the principles of the UN charter, and territorial integrity and sovereignty, which have already figured in Indias statements in the UN and other forums. Reiterating these points during his address to the joint session of the US Congress, Modi said this was not an era of war but of diplomacy and dialogue, and outstanding issues should be resolved through peaceful negotiations. The Indian Prime Minister had raised these points in a bilateral meeting with Putin in September last year during the SCO summit in Uzbekistan. His decision to repeat the same at the US Congress helped explain Indias stand on the Ukraine war. But did not indicate any shift in its stance. Russia is a close and traditional strategic partner of India and its largest arms supplier. Despite the growing presence of the US in the Indian defence market standing at about $20 billion over 2008-2020 Russia remains Indias main arms supplier and accounts for nearly 50 percent of its weapons. India also sees Russia as a major partner in meeting the challenge posed by China, despite the growing proximity between Moscow and Beijing in recent months because of the Ukraine war. Observers point out that though the Biden administration failed to make India change its stand on Russia, it has still gone ahead with backing India at the United Nations. Biden did not hesitate to support India in playing a bigger role at the UN as a permanent member. He also supported Indias candidature as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term. This indicates that despite the difference between the two countries on Russia, the US is keen to have India as a close partner as China continues to pose a threat to its global hegemony. News / Local by Staff reporter Delhi High Court has suspended the 10-year jail term of a Zimbabwean woman in a narcotic recovery case, noting there was an alleged non-compliance with the procedure for sampling the seized substance and that the accused has already undergone over four years in custody.Justice Anish Dayal said the standing orders issued by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Ministry of Finance ought to be respected by the probe agencies and the lack of compliance of these provisions imports an element of reasonable doubt, which would also impact the issue of proving the guilt of the accused."Besides the fact that the appellant may have a case to argue on defective sampling at the time of seizure, the appellant has also undergone a substantial period of sentence and the appeal is likely to take some time for hearing," stated the court in its recent order passed on an appeal by the accused against her conviction and sentencing by a trial court.In August 2021, she was convicted and sentenced to 10 years with a fine under the (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) NDPS Act. June 25, 2023 The MoA Week In Review - (Not Ukraine) OT 2023-149 Last week's post on Moon of Alabama: --- Terror Alarm @Terror_Alarm - 19:35 UTC Jun 23, 2023 BREAKING: Russia attacks PMC Wagner. Moscow strikes kill a huge number of Wagner forces. PMC Wagners are now considered Freedom Fighters and can ask the Free World for support. --- Terror Alarm @Terror_Alarm - 0:59 UTC Jun 24, 2023 "Wagner forces are coming to take Moscow and we are going to have a new President soon" - Wagner freedom fighters ... Terror Alarm @Terror_Alarm - 18:19 UTC Jun 24, 2023 Wagner terrorists reach a ceasefire deal with Moscow. --- Terror Alarm @Terror_Alarm - 21:12 UTC Jun 24, 2023 The moment Wagner chief terrorist Prigozhin betrays the Free World and leaves Rostov. --- Other issues: Empire: Social Media: Middle East: India: Congress Redux? - New Left Review EU: The EU Sows the Seeds of Its Own Destruction - Naked Capitalism Sick with Covid-19 or a flu? Use as open (not Ukraine related) thread ... Posted by b on June 25, 2023 at 12:32 UTC | Permalink Comments next page June 25, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-150 Only for news & views directly related to the Ukraine conflict. The current open thread for other issues here. Please stick to the topic. Contribute facts. Do not attack other commentators. Posted by b on June 25, 2023 at 12:34 UTC | Permalink Comments next page News / Local by Staff reporter EXILED former Zimbabwean cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere has dismissed allegations that he has two pending arrest warrants, insisting that no form of intimidation will stop him from coming back home to contest for the presidency in the upcoming elections.Responding to State media reports on Saturday, that he is a fugitive, Kasukuwere through the chairperson and convenor of his presidential campaign, Walter Mzembi, who also in exile, said his journey back to Harare is imminent."No amount of threats or intimidation will deter him from his impending travel to Harare," said the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Saturday evening.Mzembi accused Justice Secretary Virginia Mabhiza of trying to resurrect "archival warrant of arrests" issued during the now concluded criminal cases.He said the State was instead in contempt for failing to release title deeds to his Nyanga holiday home after charges against him were quashed.He explained, "For the avoidance of doubt, the charges related to the warrants of arrest against president Kasukuwere were quashed by the High Court in its judgement No" HH562/19 which the State has not appealed against. We call upon all Zimbabweans to ignore these attempts to weaponise the criminal justice system by creating a public perception that president Kasukuwere is a fugitive from justice."After his charges were quashed president Kasukuwere's bail conditions fell away."His bail deposit was reimbursed and the High Court ordered the state to release his title deeds which order the state is in contempt this day," said Mzembi.The former minister also said the passport which Mabhiza told the state media about expired and was renewed by the same state with no challenges at all confirming that all was in order.He also called on the international community to look into this "unprovoked intimidation of an electoral candidate and competitor which has the net effect of discrediting the election before it has even began."Kasukuwere is one of the 10 opponents, who President Mnangagwa will be facing in the August 23 general elections. Coffee drinking keeps pace with the frenetic lifestyle of Shanghai People's Daily Online) 14:22, June 25, 2023 The aroma of coffee has blended with the culture of east China's Shanghai, where coffee has gradually evolved from a functional beverage into a conduit of social interaction, and a lifestyle choice for many people. The metropolis, a magnet for foreign capital and enterprises, has become the city with the highest number of coffeehouses in the world8,530. There are 1.35 coffeehouses per square kilometer and 3.45 coffeehouses per 10,000 people in Shanghai. A woman waits for her coffee to go at a coffeehouse in a business area of east China's Shanghai. (Photo/Qian Youyi) Phenomenal popularity Each Chinese person drinks an average of four cups of coffee a year, while in Shanghai its around 20 cups. In recent years, coffee chain brands have raced to launch new products, open new stores, and leverage the internet to innovate services and make breakthroughs in localization in Shanghai. With the numbers of takeout orders for coffee and online searches for "coffee" continuing to surge, coffee has become the hottest among all categories of catering products in Shanghai, according to data from China's service-focused e-commerce giant Meituan. Since the Shanghai Coffee Culture Week in May 20, 2023, Shanghai has seen a 63 percent year-on-year increase in online searches for coffee, and group consumption in coffeehouses in the city ranks first in the country. Coffeehouses in Shanghai's Pudong New Area receive more orders than their counterparts in the other 15 districts of the city throughout the day as well as at night, the data shows. "A latte, please." Among the top five most well-received coffee beverages in Shanghai, three are different types of latte. Data from Meituan indicated that raw coconut latte is the most popular choice of takeout coffee among citizens in Shanghai, with the two types following it being latte and extra Americano. "She" drinks more coffee than "he" does In Shanghai, female citizens enjoy coffee more than males. Data shows that more than 65 percent of the orders for takeout coffee received by coffeehouses in Shanghai come from female consumers. People aged between 25 and 30 place 25.7 percent of the orders for takeout coffee in Shanghai, representing the predominant group of coffee drinkers of the city, according to Meituan, which disclosed that the proportion of people under the age of 20 and people between the ages of 20 and 25 who consume takeout coffee are 3.2 percent and 17.5 percent, respectively. More than 96 percent of takeout coffee drinkers aged between 25 and 30 in Shanghai are office workers, according to data from Meituan. "I used to think they must be joking when some netizens say their blood vessels are filled with iced Americano and refer to coffee as the 'life-giving drink' for people who need to clock in by 8 a.m. Since I entered the workplace myself, I've realized how coffee is increasingly important to my daily life," said a female lawyer surnamed Zhang, who works in Shanghai's financial district Lujiazui. "Here's your takeout coffee" Besides enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee at a coffeehouse, ordering takeout coffee online has become a popular choice for more coffee drinkers in Shanghai, where people live a fast-paced life. Data from Meituan indicated that the numbers of online orders for takeout coffee and online searches for coffee products in Shanghai surged 101.9 percent and 78.1 percent, respectively, year on year during January and February this year. The data suggests that people in Shanghai have varying preferences for their coffee. For example, a consumer repeated "no ice" 25 times in a message for coffeehouse regarding an online order for takeout coffee, while another consumer requested an extra cup of ice cubes for his (her) takeout coffee ordered online. Coffee drinkers in Shanghai often have clear and specific requirements for their coffee. Information provided by Meituan shows a total of 78,919 consumers typed more than 40 characters in their messages for coffeehouses regarding takeout coffee orders during the Shanghai Coffee Culture Week. Orders for takeout coffee are placed with mobile phones by people in Shanghai every hour of the day. The number of orders for takeout coffee in the city starts to climb between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. every morning and reaches its first peak, which is also the peak of the day, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., according to data from Meituan. The second peak of takeout coffee orders comes between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., as most citizens prefer to begin studying or working in the afternoon with a cup of coffee. (Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming) News / Local by Staff reporter STRIVE Masiyiwa, the founder and chairperson of the Econet Group and Cassava Technologies, has expressed his appreciation at the recognition he received at the Afreximbank's Pan-African Business and Development Awards during the bank's 30th annual event in Accra, Ghana, early this week."I am greatly honoured at receiving this recognition from Afreximbank," the Zimbabweborn billionaire telecoms and tech magnate, entrepreneur, pan-African businessman and philanthropist said."I have been involved with the bank for most of its 30-year history, and I have been proud to watch it grow into a globally respected African institution."This is probably the best example in our time of the kind of institutions that Africa needs to build in order to realise its full economic potential; an institution financed by Africans and managed by the most skilled people in its field, from across Africa", Masiyiwa said.He added that the vision of the bank would not have been achieved without the extraordinary leadership of its executive management team, led by Professor Benedict Oramah, who has been at the bank from the beginning.The inaugural awards, which were hosted by Afreximbank in association with the Business Council for Africa, recognised and celebrated excellence among outstanding organisations, industry leaders and businesspeople in various business sectors on the continent.Afreximbank (the African Export-Import Bank) was established in October 1993 as a pan-African, multilateral financial institution with a mandate to finance and promote intra-African trade and commerce. The bank has over the years disbursed billions of dollars in support of African trade and businesses, with more than US$86 billion disbursed between 2016 and 2022 alone.Masiyiwa, who founded Liquid Intelligent Technologies, the largest cross-border fibre optic cables company in Africa was recognised alongside other African business leaders, including Togolese Koffi Gervais Djondo, who founded EcoBank and regional airline Asky, as well as Nigeria's Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group, who recently commissioned the continent's largest petrochemicals refinery in the west African country. Cassava Technologies is the largest digital systems integrator in Africa. It works with some of the largest global and African companies to provide services such as cloud computer storage, data centres, cybersecurity, fintech and renewable energy. The technology company employs more than 7 000 people across 47 markets, the majority of which are in Africa.Although Masiyiwa could not make it in person to the awards ceremony (due to a pressing family commitment) senior executives from the company attended the event, including Hardy Pemhiwa, the group's chief executive officer. News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's 36 000 village heads who have been accused of intimidating their subjects to support Zanu-PF are earning a paltry $5 000 in allowances, which is less than US$1 at the official exchange rate.Village heads who spoke to Standard People said their earnings were as good as having been struck off the government payroll.Some of the traditional leaders have resorted to charging hefty fines for offenders at their village courts to make a living.Chiefs, however, earn over US$200 and receive other perks such as top-of-the range cars, fuel, boreholes, farms and mines, among other incentives from government.Local Government minister July Moyo referred this publication to the ministry's permanent secretary Zvinechimwe Churu, who did not pick calls.Government has since last year been promising traditional leaders United States-dollar allowances, but critics say this was a vote-buying gimmick.Zanu-PF victories in rural areas have been largely attributed to the role played by traditional leaders in intimidating their subjects to vote for the ruling party.Zanu-PF vice-president and second secretary Kembo Mohadi has since last year been crisscrossing the country addressing traditions leaders and ordering them to support Zanu-PF.Analysts expressed mixed feelings over the village heads' meagre earnings with some saying they were not entitled to government allowances.Social commentator Effie Ncube said the low allowances for traditional leaders made them vulnerable to political manipulation."Village heads in particular are very poor and isolated from sources of credible information about their functions and this has seen the ruling party take advantage of them for unconstitutional and illegal activities," Ncube said.The constitution says traditional leaders should not participate in partisan politics."The solution is not just to robustly enforce the constitution without fear or favour, but also to wean them away from dependence on partisan sources of income by pushing the state to pay traditional leaders better," Ncube added.Political analyst Vivid Gwede said this was a wake-up call for the village heads."The governance situation and its impact on the economy and livelihoods is bad for everyone but one would expect that the village heads would wake up and smell the coffee," Gwede said.Political commentator Ruben Mbofana urged traditional leaders to also support the opposition ahead of the elections in protest."By day they can pretend to be loyal to Zanu-PF, but during the night organise pungwes to enlighten and organise with the masses," Mbofana said. Canada is investigating why the Titanic-bound submersible imploded View Photo The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said Saturday that its conducting an investigation into the loss of the Titan submersible and has been speaking with those who traveled on Titans mothership, the Polar Prince. The development comes as authorities from the U.S. and Canada began the process of probing the cause of the underwater implosion and grappled with questions of who was responsible for determining how the tragedy unfolded. Maritime agencies are searching the area in the North Atlantic where the vessel was destroyed, killing all five people aboard. Debris was located about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater, several hundred feet away from the Titanic wreckage it was on its way to explore. We are conducting a safety investigation in Canada given that this was a Canadian-flagged vessel that departed a Canadian port and was involved in this occurrence, albeit in international waters, said Kathy Fox, chair of the transportation board. Other agencies may choose to conduct investigations and thats up to them. The Polar Prince left Newfoundland on June 16, towing the ill-fated Titan. There were 41 people on board 17 crew members and 24 others including the five who died when Titan imploded. Fox said she understands the international interest and that the TSB will share information they collect with other agencies, like the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Coast Guard, within the limits of Canadian law. Voice recordings and witness statements are protected under Canadian law, she said. Our investigation will go where the evidence leads us, she added. We dont want to duplicate efforts. We want to collaborate. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also announced Saturday that theyve initiated an examination of the circumstances that led to the Titan deaths to decide whether a full investigation is warranted. That full probe will only take place if it appears criminal, federal or provincial law may have been broken, officials said. The Coast Guard led the initial search and rescue mission, a massive international effort that likely cost millions of dollars. It was not entirely clear who would have the authority to lead what is sure to be a complex investigation involving several countries. OceanGate Expeditions, the company that owned and operated the Titan, is based in the U.S. but the submersible was registered in the Bahamas. OceanGate is based in Everett, Washington, but closed when the Titan was found. Meanwhile, the Titans mother ship, the Polar Prince, was from Canada, and those killed were from England, Pakistan, France, and the U.S. The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday that the U.S. Coast Guard has declared the loss of the Titan submersible to be a major marine casualty and the Coast Guard will lead the investigation. The Coast Guard has not confirmed that it will take the lead. The deep-sea investigations promise to be long and painstaking, given the murky depths of the ocean. This is an incredibly unforgiving environment down there on the seafloor, said Rear Adm. John Mauger, of the Coast Guard First District. How the overall investigation will proceed is complicated by the fact that the world of deep-sea exploration is not well-regulated. A key part of any investigation is likely to be the Titan itself. Questions have been raised about whether the vessel was destined for disaster because of its unconventional design and its creators refusal to submit to independent checks that are standard in the industry The Titan was not registered as a U.S. vessel or with international agencies that regulate safety. And it wasnt classified by a maritime industry group that sets standards on matters such as hull construction. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was piloting the Titan when it imploded, complained that regulations can stifle progress. Bringing an outside entity up to speed on every innovation before it is put into real-world testing is anathema to rapid innovation, Rush wrote in a blog post on his companys website. One question that seems at least partially resolved is when the implosion likely happened. After the Titan was reported missing, the Navy went back and analyzed its acoustic data and found an anomaly Sunday that was consistent with an implosion or explosion in the general vicinity of where the vessel was operating when communications were lost, said a senior U.S. Navy official. The Navy passed on the information to the Coast Guard, which continued its search because the data was not considered definitive, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive acoustic detection system. The Titan launched at 8 a.m. that day and was reported overdue that afternoon about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. Johns, Newfoundland. Rescuers rushed ships, planes and other equipment to the area. Any sliver of hope that remained for finding the crew alive was wiped away early Thursday, when the Coast Guard announced that debris had been found near the Titanic. Killed in the implosion were Rush, two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet. A flurry of lawsuits is expected, but filing them will be complex and its unclear how successful they will be. Plaintiffs will run into the problem of establishing jurisdiction. At least 46 people successfully traveled on OceanGates submersible to the Titanic wreck site in 2021 and 2022, according to letters the company filed with a U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Virginia, that oversees matters involving the Titanic shipwreck. But questions about the submersibles safety were raised by both by a former company employee and former passengers. ___ LeBlanc reported from Boston. Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor in Washington; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire; David Sharp, in Portland, Maine; and Gene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report. By PATRICK WHITTLE, JENNIFER McDERMOTT and STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press Yosemite Conservancy logo View Photo Yosemite, CA Got a memorable story of a visit to Yosemite National Park, the Yosemite Conservancy wants to know it. The Conservancy is celebrating 100 years of service and partnership with the park by collecting hundreds of Yosemite visitor stories and then sharing them with the public. Conservancy officials added that the sharing of peoples stories makes their work possible and could make others want to experience the magnificent beauty of the park. The group is asking for visitors to tell their Yosemite experiencesfrom the life-changing to the mundane, from the heights of Half Dome to the depths of the Merced Riverby answering the questions on our story form. (Click here for the form.) While the conservancy is accepting stories all year. If the story is received by June 30th, it will be entered into a random drawing for a Yosemite Conservancy swag bag. Accepted submissions can come via emails, publications, social media, and other communications. CHP patrol car View Photo Sonora, CA Two men were arrested after getting into a fight on Phoenix Lake Road, with one of the suspects jumping on the windshield of the other individual involved. Tuolumne County Sheriffs Deputies responded to the area of Phoenix Lake Road near Meadow Brook Drive for multiple reports of a crash and brawl between two men in the roadway. CHP officers were already on the scene and had detained one of the suspects, 29-year-old Jarrett Bravo, a Sonora transient, when deputies arrived. CHP officers determined that it was not a crash but an act of vandalism after questioning both parties. During the investigation, it was learned the Bravo had lunged onto Mi Wuk Village resident 38-year-old Jonah Battles SUV, breaking the windshield, according to sheriffs officials. Bravo then allegedly opened the drivers side door and began fighting with Battle, which continued when the men fell to the ground. Deputies noticed that both men smelled of alcohol and were displaying symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. CHP officers arrested Battle for DUI, and during handcuffing, they say he became combative and added felony battery of a peace officer to his charges. Meanwhile, deputies arrested Bravo for felony vandalism, battery and being under the influence of an intoxicating drug with alcohol in a public place. Prescribed burning with torch View Photo Tuolumne, CA In an effort to protect the Tuolumne community and nearby natural resources, firefighters will ignite the Mt. Havalia prescribed burn next week. CAL Fire crews set ablaze about 50 acres in the Mt. Havalia Vegetation Management Program (VMP) site in Tuolumne County, adjacent to the community of Tuolumne. The goal of the prescribed burn is to maintain the Mt. Havalia Fuel Break along the top of the North Fork Tuolumne River Canyon, according to state fire officials. Crews will begin burning on Monday, June 26, and Tuesday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Resources assigned to the burn will include fire engines, hand crews, and cooperating agencies. This project adds to significant work underway throughout the state and brings California one step closer towards meeting or exceeding state fuel reduction goals directed by the California Fire Plan and the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, noted CAL Fire officials. Smoke will be visible from Tuolumne and surrounding areas during the burning operation. California doctor convicted of illegally prescribing opioids, including to one person who overdosed SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) A California physician who wrote more than 8,200 prescriptions in a one-year span has been convicted on 12 counts of distributing opioid pills without a legitimate medical purpose, including to one person who died of an overdose, federal prosecutors said. A federal jury found Donald Siao, 58, guilty after a weeklong trial, according to a statement Friday from the U.S. Attorneys Office. Siao, who practiced family medicine in San Jose, prescribed oxycodone and hydrocodone in increasing quantities to undercover law enforcement agents posing as patients, prosecutors said. The undercover agents received prescriptions from Siao despite complaining of only vague pain or discomfort, requesting specific opioids by name, and admitting to sharing the pills with friends and coworkers, the statement said. Eight of the 12 counts against Siao involved a mother and son who received prescriptions from the physician even after claiming to have lost or had pills stolen, prosecutors said. The son died from an overdose of opioids in December 2019. Each of the 12 counts against Siao carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Sentencing was set for Nov. 7. Ismail J. Ramsey, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California, said he would seek to have Siaos medical license forfeited. REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (AP) More than two decades after a womans body was found at a construction site near Los Angeles, police have identified her as a mother who last had contact with her family in 1981. Catherine Parker-Johnsons remains were identified earlier this year through DNA comparisons with her daughter and sister, Redondo Beach police said in a statement Friday. The last time her family was in contact with Parker-Johnson was May 1981 in the Lennox area of Los Angeles, the statement said. She had not been reported missing, police said. The body was discovered Aug. 29, 2001 during a construction project on a residential street in the city of Redondo Beach. Police said there was an investigation at the time but they were not able to identify the body. There is now an active homicide investigation into Parker-Johnsons death, officials said. Additional details were not immediately available. Police have scheduled a news conference for Monday morning to discuss the case and ask for help from the public. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu In an effort to invigorate entrepreneurship and foster economic growth in Zimbabwe's Matebeleland region, the Bulawayo Business Network (BBN) has announced a significant partnership with Uniglobe Accounting Services. This collaboration aims to facilitate the registration of 1000 new companies with the aid of Uniglobe's accounting services, thereby offering a much-needed boost to Zimbabwe's economic prospects.The BBN, an organization deeply committed to supporting business development in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, operates as a business community-based entity. This newly formed partnership perfectly aligns with the organization's objective to assist entrepreneurs in establishing and expanding their businesses by granting them access to essential resources, particularly accounting services.Uniglobe Accounting Services boasts a remarkable track record of providing accounting assistance to businesses throughout Zimbabwe. Their expertise in various areas, including tax planning, auditing, bookkeeping, and business advisory services, will prove instrumental in supporting the registered businesses in Matebeleland.The primary goal of this partnership is to create a favorable environment for entrepreneurship by facilitating the registration of 1000 new companies within Zimbabwe's Matebeleland region. Through this plan, new business owners will receive comprehensive support and training, guiding them through every step of establishing and managing successful enterprises.Nicholas Ncube, a representative of the BBN, expressed confidence in the partnership with Uniglobe Accounting Services, stating, "By joining forces with Uniglobe Accounting Services, we are certain that we can provide our registered members with top-quality accounting support, empowering them to confidently run their businesses."In addition to accounting support, the collaboration between BBN and Uniglobe Accounting Services will provide a range of other benefits to registered businesses, including access to funding, business mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Both organizations firmly believe that their combined resources and expertise can effectively stimulate economic growth and job creation in the region.Eddie Nyakabau, Director of Uniglobe Accounting Services, expressed excitement about the opportunity to collaborate with the Bulawayo Business Network, emphasizing their shared vision of nurturing new businesses in Zimbabwe. Nyakabau stated, "We firmly believe that this partnership will lay a strong foundation for the region's entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and contribute to the country's economy."The BBN and Uniglobe Accounting Services are confident that this agreement will usher in a new era for Zimbabwe, enabling entrepreneurs with ideas but limited access to financial and structural support to establish successful small and medium-sized enterprises. Conor here: The following article is a nice summary of just how difficult it will be to deal with PFAS Contamination, although it skips over the history of destructive behavior by companies like 3M and DuPont: Major corporations knew cancer-causing forever chemicals were toxic for years before they alerted the public. Now, theyre found in water supplies, 330 animal species and the blood of most Americans. pic.twitter.com/q61bK6PUut AJ+ (@ajplus) June 20, 2023 By A. Daniel Jones and Hui Li. Jones is a professor of biochemistry at Michigan State University, and Li is a professor of environmental and soil chemistry at Michigan State University. Originally published at The Conversation. PFAS chemicals seemed like a good idea at first. As Teflon, they made pots easier to clean starting in the 1940s. They made jackets waterproof and carpets stain-resistant. Food wrappers, firefighting foam, even makeup seemed better with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Then tests started detecting PFAS in peoples blood. Today, PFAS are pervasive in soil, dust and drinking water around the world. Studies suggest theyre in 98% of Americans bodies, where theyve been associated with health problems including thyroid disease, liver damage and kidney and testicular cancer. There are now over 9,000 types of PFAS. Theyre often referred to as forever chemicals because the same properties that make them so useful also ensure they dont break down in nature. Facing lawsuits over PFAS contamination, the industrial giant 3M, which has made PFAS for many uses for decades, announced a US$10.3 billion settlement with public water suppliers on June 22, 2023, to help pay for testing and treatment. The company admits no liability in the settlement, which requires court approval. Cleanup could cost many times that amount. But how do you capture and destroy a forever chemical? Biochemist A. Daniel Jones and soil scientist Hui Li work on PFAS solutions at the Michigan State University and explained the promising techniques being tested today. How do PFAS get from everyday products into water, soil and eventually humans? There are two main exposure pathways for PFAS to get into humans drinking water and food consumption. PFAS can get into soil through land application of biosolids, that is, sludge from wastewater treatment, and can they leach out from landfills. If contaminated biosolids are applied to farm fields as fertilizer, PFAS can get into water and into crops and vegetables. For example, livestock can consume PFAS through the crops they eat and water they drink. There have been cases reported in Michigan, Maine and New Mexico of elevated levels of PFAS in beef and in dairy cows. How big the potential risk is to humans is still largely unknown. Scientists in our research group at Michigan State University are working on materials added to soil that could prevent plants from taking up PFAS, but it would leave PFAS in the soil. The problem is that these chemicals are everywhere, and there is no natural process in water or soil effective at breaking them down. Many consumer products are loaded with PFAS, including makeup, dental floss, guitar strings and ski wax. How are remediation projects removing PFAS contamination now? Methods exist for filtering them out of water. The chemicals will stick to activated carbon, for example. But these methods are expensive for large-scale projects, and you still have to get rid of the chemicals. For example, near a former military base near Sacramento, California, there is a huge activated carbon tank that takes in about 1,500 gallons of contaminated groundwater per minute, filters it and then pumps it underground. That remediation project has cost over $3 million, but it prevents PFAS from moving into drinking water the community uses. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed establishing legally enforceable regulations for maximum levels of six PFAS chemicals in public drinking water systems. Two of these chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, would be recognized as individual hazardous chemicals, with regulatory actions enforced when levels of either exceed 4 parts per trillion, which is substantially lower than previous guidance. Filtering is just one step. Once PFAS is captured, then you have to dispose of PFAS-loaded activated carbons, and PFAS still moves around. If you bury contaminated materials in a landfill or elsewhere, PFAS will eventually leach out. Thats why finding ways to destroy it is essential. What are the most promising methods scientists have found for breaking down PFAS? The most common method of destroying PFAS is incineration, but most PFAS are remarkably resistant to being burned. Thats why theyre in firefighting foams. PFAS have multiple fluorine atoms attached to a carbon atom, and the bond between carbon and fluorine is one of the strongest. Normally to burn something, you have to break the bond, but fluorine resists breaking off from carbon. Most PFAS will break down completely at incineration temperatures around 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,730 degrees Fahrenheit), but its energy intensive and suitable incinerators are scarce. There are several other experimental techniques that are promising but havent been scaled up to treat large amounts of the chemicals. A group at Battelle has developed supercritical water oxidation to destroy PFAS. High temperatures and pressures change the state of water, accelerating chemistry in a way that can destroy hazardous substances. However, scaling up remains a challenge. Others are working with plasma reactors, which use water, electricity and argon gas to break down PFAS. Theyre fast, but also not easy to scale up. What are we likely to see in the future? A lot will depend on what we learn about where humans PFAS exposure is primarily coming from. If the exposure is mostly from drinking water, there are more methods with potential. Its possible it could eventually be destroyed at the household level with electro-chemical methods, but there are also potential risks that remain to be understood, such as converting common substances such as chloride into more toxic byproducts. The big challenge of remediation is making sure we dont make the problem worse by releasing other gases or creating harmful chemicals. Humans have a long history of trying to solve problems and making things worse. Refrigerators are a great example. Freon, a chlorofluorocarbon, was the solution to replace toxic and flammable ammonia in refrigerators, but then it caused stratospheric ozone depletion. It was replaced with hydrofluorocarbons, which now contribute to climate change. If theres a lesson to be learned, its that we need to think through the full life cycle of products. How long do we really need chemicals to last? A thawed rat organ frozen for 100 days was successfully transplanted in game-changing world first ZME Science The Hunga Tonga eruption sparked the highest-altitude lightning ever recorded Science News Earths thermosphere reaches highest temperature in 20 years after being bombarded by solar storms Space.com GREAT, THEYRE PUTTING FLAMETHROWERS ON ROBOT DOGS NOW The Byte (Dr. Kevin) The Loony Conspiracy Theory Threatening Wall Street Forbes Climate/Environment Toxic Bomb Trains NEW A Train Has Derailed Into Montanas Yellowstone River and Is Leaking Petroleum Products Yellowstone County DES was notified of a train derailment in Stillwater County early this morning. Multiple tanker cars were damaged and are leaking petroleum products near the pic.twitter.com/G2FRekFs0G Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) June 24, 2023 EXCLUSIVE: EPA Official Admits Theres No Evidence to Support Norfolk Southerns Detonation of Five Vinyl Chloride Cars in East Palestine, Railroad Performed Prohibited Open Burn Status Coup. The deck: Four of [the cars] were not showing signs of stress yet, EPA official says in video obtained by SC. Admission shows they did this to get the [train] lines open, hazardous waste expert tells SC. #COVID-19 A COVID-like virus recently leaped from animals to humansand we can expect more spillover, scientists say. Will Langya cause the next pandemic? Fortune Old Blighty India China? New Not-So-Cold War Westerners Cheering For Prigozhin Want Another World War Andrew Korybkos Newsletter Alas, it was not meant to be: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: Accusations were dropped against Prigozhin, who is leaving Russia for Belarus The people of Wagner who did not participate in the uprising will sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense Wagners fighters who participated were not pic.twitter.com/1gypmkJbvP Sprinter (@Sprinter99880) June 24, 2023 I cannot understand the widespread notion that Prigozhin was sent into exile. 1) If he was guilty of an armed insurrection, then he would and should be imprisoned awaiting an eventual execution. I categorically reject the idea that a deal was made which dismissed the pic.twitter.com/xGx8h7wbCn Will Schryver (@imetatronink) June 24, 2023 Isnt the standard story of Turkey after the 2016 attempted coup that Erdogan went on to significantly strengthen his rule? Michael Tracey (@mtracey) June 24, 2023 Photos of the previously destroyed Leopards and Bradleys, now from up close. 1/ https://t.co/m0EolphN8d pic.twitter.com/iDhAloAoL3 Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 24, 2023 Syraqistan Imperial Collapse Watch Unilateral Coercive Measures: Effects and Legality Issues Yale Journal of International Law South of the Border The US Senate just approved a tax treaty that will make it easier for US corporations to exploit Chiles lithium Chiles President Boric is a young anarchist turned pro-imperialist liberal. Hes the most right-wing of Latin Americas wave of leftist leaders in the past 2 decades https://t.co/3vcJgyv9nI Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) June 24, 2023 Spook Country New Docs Link CIA to Medical Torture of Indigenous Children and Black Prisoners Truthout Biden Administration Realignment and Legitimacy The Supremes Libertarian Squillionaire Titanic Submersible Darwin Award Winner Healthcare Obama Judge Ronnie White sides with giant pharmacy benefit managers over small pharmacies. https://t.co/ENBFNwh9CY Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) June 24, 2023 Big Brother Is Watching You Watch Crapification Groves of Academe AI Tech Our Famously Free Press Class Warfare Rich people stuff like this where workers are made into anonymous hands serving champagne gives me the ick in a major way pic.twitter.com/f0VKQjQloJ Stop Cop City (@JoshuaPHilll) June 24, 2023 There Is Always An Alternative Cory Doctorow Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. AMC Theatres pulls documentary about detransitioners after trans bullies demand NO SPEECH that questions their twisted religion A documentary film about transgenders who regret their bad decision and are now trying to detransition was pulled by AMC Theatres this week after the LGBT mob launched a pressure campaign against the nation's largest movie chain. The film No Way Back: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care was set to open on July 21 but no longer will after The Queer Trans Project accused the movie of promoting "hateful" and "harmful content." "We did it!" the group celebrated on Instagram. "Our community's swift action is a testament to the power of advocacy and the importance of raising our voices against harmful content." "Your collective efforts have made a significant impact, and the decision to pull No Way Back from AMC theaters [sic] is a step towards fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to creating positive change." The Queer Trans Project apparently defines "creating positive change" as abolishing free speech and the right of individuals who fell for LGBT propaganda to express their regret as a warning to others in the hopes that they avoid making the same mistake. (Related: Back in May, The New York Times attacked detransitioners for telling their stories because it could deter some children from getting LGBT mutilated.) The Queer Trans Project is full of "intolerant, illiberal, histrionic ignorant loudmouths," say creators of No Way Back The official website for No Way Back confirmed that AMC is no longer going to show the movie, which also no longer shows up on the official AMC website as a coming new release. The creators of No Way Back posted a statement about all this aimed specifically at The Queer Trans Project, blasting its leaders and members as the hypocrites they are. "Intolerant, illiberal, histrionic IGNORANT loudmouths who have not even seen the film have pressured AMC theaters [sic] to make the hard decision to cancel our dates," they wrote. A bit about the film: it tells the story of several detransitioners whose doctors erroneously diagnosed them as transgender. These physicians "mindlessly ushered them along the path of medical transition: so-called 'gender-affirming care' the only treatment recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics," the film's description states. The film's producers still hope to make the movie available via DVD and streaming services, though no dates have yet been announced. Our readers are encouraged to contact AMC Theatres to let them know how they feel about this important documentary film being removed simply because the trans mob demanded it. "The thug mob wins again," one upset commenter wrote. "Way to be spineless, AMC." "It has started escaping in Britain children who were mutilated are now suing those that mutilated them. But, in America, the cult won't let that truth bomb out anything to continue the abuse of mentally ill minors. Amazingly, this is the same crowd that is shrieking because Florida doesn't want actual porn in their elementary school libraries but, now they are screaming that paying customers cannot view a documentary that they choose to pay for." Another cited Romans 1:18, which perfectly encapsulates what happened here, as well as what has happened to modern Western society as a whole: "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness." Someone else aptly pointed out that despite their ignorance and loudness, the LGBT mob's numbers pale in comparison to the number of people who oppose their filth. "We outnumber them," this person wrote. "How can we get a group message to them that we oppose their discrimination against those detransitioners and will take a stand against AMC?" The LGBT mob is becoming more violent the more accepted they become. Resist and learn more at Transhumanism.news. Sources include: Breitbart.com Newstarget.com Right Now with Ann Vandersteel: Bidens DOJ showing double standard in Trump indictment Brighteon.TV Ann Vandersteel has accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Biden administration of showing double standard when it comes to former President Donald Trump. She made this statement on the June 13 episode of "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" on Brighteon.TV. Florida congressional candidates Lavern Spicer and Rubin Young, who were the guests on that program, agreed with the host. Both also showed their displeasure toward the federal indictment against Trump. "Trump [is] getting hit with that 37-count indictment. Thirty-one counts of willful retention of national defense information and six other counts, including conspiracy and false statements," Vandersteel told Spicer and Young, both running under the Republican Party for congressional seats in Florida's 22nd and 25th districts. Spicer agreed with Vandersteel about Americans seeing a double standard in the justice system. According to her, the former president's latest indictment is a politicized and baseless abuse of power. "They are doing everything that they could do to keep him from running and keep him out of this race because we know he is the leader," she said. "He is fighting for this country, and he is going to continue to fight. And what we must do is also stand up and support him." Vandersteel also mentioned how the Miami judge in Trump's federal indictment hearing banned cameras, phones or electronic devices in the courtroom, a violation of the First Amendment that allows people to know what is happening to the former president. Again, Spicer described this as a double standard. "So clearly, we're seeing a double standard when it comes to Trump. Anything he says, anything he does, everything that's in the public spotlight because they are using all of this to stop him once again. To do anything to handle him, to stop him from running because they know that he is going to get this country back on the right track. And they don't want that. They want to go ahead and proceed with their communist agenda." DOJ turning a blind eye to Democrats' misdeeds Another double standard on the part of the DOJ is the lack of investigation on the crimes of President Joe Biden and his family. (Related: Political double standard: Trump raided by FBI over classified materials, but Bidens DOJ failed to report hes been caught with some, too.) Young, a former Army soldier and the founder of Blacks Organizing Leadership Development, expounded on this double standard. He said Biden, former President Barack Obama and others should stand for the crimes they committed including their 2020 coup that overthrew Trump during the elections that year. Aside from the double standards, Young said Trump's indictment shows a broken judicial system. The courts and Congress permitted the indictment of a former president based on the Presidential Records Act, something he said carries no criminal penalties or fines. The congressional candidate ultimately warned that the government is out of control and the American people need to act now if they want to change it. Vandersteel told Young that Americans are seeing an unconstitutional lawyer system in the American Bar Association (ABA). She outlined the existence of a ruling class where judges must be lawyers in order to become part of the system. Young agreed, pointing out that the ABA is not an entity in America. He added that judges are supposed to enforce and respect the law, not make it. Follow Trump.news for more news about former President Donald Trump. Watch the June 13 episode of "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" below. "Right Now with Ann Vandersteel" airs weekdays at 8-8:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related stories: Right Now with Ann Vandersteel: Durham Report rebukes DOJ, FBI for launching Trump investigation without verified intelligence Brighteon.TV. Poll: 55% of independents find Trumps indictment politically motivated because IT IS. Former federal prosecutor finds numerous problems with indictment documents against Trump. Trump could face 100 YEARS in prison if convicted of federal charges, including espionage. Sources include: Brighteon.com Ballotpedia.org Democrats BULLYING Target over removal of childrens Pride wear, telling retailer to keep on grooming kids and promoting pedophilia The attorneys general of 15 states have sent a threatening letter to Target expressing outrage over the retailer's decision to pull certain LGBTQ+ "Pride-themed" clothing items from some of its stores. The AGs of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington state are accusing Target of "succumbing to bullying" with the move, while also calling boycotters "hateful and disruptive." According to Target, the reason it decided to pull the Pride apparel for kids from stores is not because its executive leadership suddenly grew a conscience, but rather because some customers were allegedly threatening employees over the displays. The AGs did not indicate in their letter why they decided to send it in the first place as there are no allegations of legal wrongdoing, which is the strict purview of an attorney general's duties. "Target's decision to remove certain Pride merchandise in response to hateful backlash is wrong," declared Attorney General Letitia James of New York, veering well outside of her jurisdiction concerning the matter. (Related: Check out our earlier coverage about Target's "Satanist Pride" line of LGBTQ+ clothing for children.) Why are Democrats so hellbent on turning America's children into LGBT Pride symbols? In the letter to Target CEO Brian Cornell, James and the other 14 AGs complained that taking away "tuck-friendly" bathing suits and Satan-themed onesies for babies constitutes a major setback for the "march on social progress." "While we understand the basis for this action, we are also concerned it sends a message that those who engage in hateful and disruptive conduct can cause even large corporations to succumb to their bullying, and that they have the power to determine when LGBTQIA+ consumers will feel comfortable in Target stores or anywhere in society," they wrote in the letter. The letter goes on to accuse Target of "betraying the LGBTQ+ community" by moving some of the Satanic LGBTQ+ children's clothing to the back of the store rather than featuring it on large displays right at the entrance, which is where they were previously placed. The boycott against Target has been so massive that the company's stock was downgraded by JPMorgan Chase. On June 5, KeyBanc Capital Markets also reduced the retailer's shares from "overweight" to "sector weight" due to the resumption of student loan payments. "I cannot state enough how important is for people to choose not to shop at Target," stated conservative commentator Candace Owens about the matter back in May. "There has never been a company that has been more pro-transgenderism than Target." While the boycott against Target has had a similar impact as the one against Bud Light, which infamously promoted LGBTQ+ "influencer" Dylan Mulvaney, a male pretending to be a female, it might not last simply because people need to shop and there are very few alternatives in corporate-controlled America. "What really came to bite Bud Light is that wasn't a hard boycott," said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) in a recent episode of his podcast. "It's difficult for nobody on planet Earth if you were going to order a Bud Light to say, 'I'll have a Coors Light.' That's a very simple substitution." "Target? We'll see how prolonged and easy a substitution it is. There's Walmart. You know, there are alternatives. I will say Targets are located in a lot of areas and very convenient for a lot of shoppers. So we'll see if this becomes a persistent consequence or not. Conservatives have typically been not very good at boycotts." The latest news about LGBT pride can be found at Evil.news. Sources include: 100percentfedup.com Newstarget.com TheEpochTimes.com Hate speech bill passes the Michigan House, conservatives warn it threatens First Amendment rights The Democrat-controlled Michigan state House of Representatives just passed a bill that would make it easier for prosecutors to bring supposed "hate crime" charges against dissident speech , in a 59 to 50 vote on June 20. The proposed legislation, HB 4474, would amend the state's Ethnic Intimidation Act of 1988 to consider it a hate crime if a person is accused of causing "severe mental anguish" to another individual through perceived verbal intimidation or harassment. The amendment defines the words intimidate or harass as a "willful course of conduct, involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable individual to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested." A convicted violator could receive a fine of up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both and the legislation does provide the court with the option of an alternative sentence that may include an order requiring the offender to complete a period of community service intended to enhance the offender's understanding of the impact of the offense upon the victim and wider community. "Community service under this subdivision must be performed with the consent of and in support of the community targeted in the violation," the text read in part. In his remarks on the House floor the same day, bill sponsor Democratic state Rep. Noah Arbit talked about why he feels this legislation is particularly important, especially with regard to recent alleged incidents of vandalism at places of worship and supposed attacks against the LGBTQIA community. "I'm sick of checking for hiding spots at the gay bar should a gunman open fire. I'm sick of my Chaldean constituents being murdered in their place of business," said Arbit, who represents a community of Christian refugees from the Middle East. "I'm sick of reading headlines about mosques and churches being desecrated Michigan can be so much better, and it's about time that we were." Democratic State Rep. Emily Dievendorf echoed the sentiment. "We know that at this time in history, extremism is on the rise. But also, our hate speech has translated into hate actions that put our most vulnerable populations at risk," she said. (Related: Judge strikes down New York online hate speech law for violating the First Amendment.) Michigan State Senate Republicans vow to fight bill Even prior to the bill's passage, Michigan Republicans have warned of the possible implications for preachers, school administrators, teachers, parents, politicians and citizen activists. Republican State Rep. Steve Carra told CBS News Detroit warned that if the hate speech bill's expansion goes too far, the Senate should immediately vote it down. "Scrap this bill. This is not a bill that we need for the state of Michigan," he said. Attorney David Kallman of the Great Lakes Justice Center, a non-profit legal organization dedicated to preserving liberty in America, agreed and emphasized how words can be malleable. "Under the proposed statute, 'intimidate and harass' can mean whatever the victim, or the authorities, want them to mean. The focus is on how the victim feels rather than on a clearly defined criminal act. This is a ridiculously vague and subjective standard," Kallman said. "The absence of intent makes no difference under this law. You are still guilty of the crime because the victim felt uncomfortable." Moreover, law professor and former Assistant U.S. Attorney William Wagner, in written testimony submitted to the Michigan House Criminal Justice Committee, said the proposed speech law is "wholly inconsistent with fundamental principles of constitutional good governance under the rule of law." He told independent media outlet Epoch Times that fear of prosecution would "chill" free speech and result in "self-censorship" by people who may express the belief that sex is based on biology and determined by a person's chromosomes and that marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman. Wagner further warned: "Make no mistake about it those with an anti-Christian agenda will wield a weapon capable of extinguishing Christian expression in the state of Michigan." He testified that the harassment provision permits authorities to "make moral determinations and arbitrarily transforms a citizen's protected political expression or sincerely held faith-based beliefs" into a prosecutable offense. Visit FirstAmendment.news for more news on the suppression of the freedom of speech. Watch the video below that talks about Michigan's law that criminalizes criticisms against homosexuality and transgenderism. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DHS engaged in massive censorship laundering scheme your government is trying to erase your First Amendment rights. New York passes law protecting obese people from criticism comment on someone's fatness and risk getting sued. Ireland passes controversial hate speech law: Those caught "misgendering" someone will face five years in prison. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com CBSNews.com Brighteon.com Person responsible for mailing suspicious white powder to GOP lawmakers, Trump, may be another transgender terrorist It's looking once again like the latest act of domestic terrorism was not committed by an 'America First' patriotic conservative but by another 'woke' leftist who is all in with the transgender ideology. According to ABC News earlier this week, which quoted unnamed officials, Republican lawmakers in Kansas and across the nation who received them are being targeted by someone cryptically calling themselves your secret despirer.' The report said that since Friday, about 100 letters have been received by Kansas GOP lawmakers and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who is also a Republican, officials said. ABC News added: Similar letters containing a cryptic note and a suspicious powdery substance were addressed to former President Donald Trump, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and other high-profile individuals, though the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted them before they were delivered, the sources said. Postal inspectors have possession of the letters and have deemed them harmless, the sources said. At this point, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service are monitoring the situation. There is some message. The message is somewhat unclear, but it was intended to be threatening, Republican state Sen. Molly Baumgardner, who also received one of the letters, told ABC affiliate KMBC in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, along with the FBI, are trying to determine who sent the letters and the motive behind them. Now we may know. Buried in the fourth paragraph of a story by The Witchita Eagle reporting the incident is this passage: "At least some of the letters were in envelopes with the names of transgender individuals who were killed or are prominent on the return address field, according to interviews with legislators and images posted online." There's our answer: A trans terrorist is likely behind these attacks, because even though the powder has been determined to be harmless, sending it in letters only to Republican congressmen and congresswomen is a political statement. Kansas legislators that are Republican are being targeted, Baumgardner told the media. She added that the letter sent to her contained the powder and noted, It is important not to choke on your ambition. She went on to say that the note referred to the contents as a gift and the sender referred to himself as your secret despirer, which derives from the word despise. Everybody has to be concerned, Baumgardner told KMBC. Everyone has to take this and any subsequent threats like this very seriously. Preliminary tests have returned from this lab indicating the substance is presumptively negative for common biological agents of concern, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said in a statement over the weekend. [The] Kansas Highway Patrol alerted director of Legislative Administrative Services Tom Day on Friday that the letters or packages of three or four other lawmakers had been submitted for further investigation. Day told legislators the letters had return addresses in Topeka and Kansas City, the Kansas City Star reported last week. The outlet noted further: Rep. Samantha Poetter Parshall, a Paola Republican, said she was the sixth or seventh person to report receiving a letter to Day. She discovered the message while checking the mail with her 7-year-old son. She thought the local address on her envelope meant it was safe to open. Once I read something about Choking on your ambitions, I realized there was another piece of paper folded up inside of it and put it back together, she told the outlet. And for the record, authorities suspect the same person who sent a cryptic letter and mysterious white powder to dozens of Kansas state Republican lawmakers also sent one to former President Donald Trump and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The left is full of sick, deranged people. And the Democratic Party is their home. Sources include: Kansas.com MSN.com KMBC.com Pseudo-scientist Peter Hotez promotes UNLIMITED COVID JABS for kids as part of the Fauci disinformation agenda and vaccine violence propaganda campaign Self-admitted "junk-food-aholic" Peter Hotez is addicted to junk science food stuff, yet thinks his advice on health topics, such as junk-science vaccines, holds water and is worthy of disseminating to the masses. He claims there are no chemicals in vaccines, only "antigens, macro-molecules, and saline." Yet, one glance at the CDC's own vaccine ingredients web pages and we see all kinds of chemicals, heavy metal toxins, blood from humans (abortions) and animals (albumin), monosodium glutamate, and genetically modified viruses and bacteria. So, you were saying? Now vaccine shill Peter Hotez is claiming humans can get unlimited Covid jabs and be good to go. Sounds like the old vax-pharma-shill Paul Offit, who said he could get 10,000 vaccines all at once and walk away just fine. Due to vaccine "technology," many chemicals get pumped directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the body's main defense organs, the lungs, the skin, and the digestive tract. These chemicals get shot into adults, kids, babies, and pregnant women all the same, doesn't matter about age or body weight, it's "once size fits all" when it comes to vaccines. Chemicals in vaccines include 2-methyl-butyraldehide, ethyl ethanoate, tocopherol, alpha-terpanine, and terpinyl-acetate, but Peter Hotez says there are no chemicals in vaccines. It's say anything "science" these days, and nobody backs anything up with valid clinical trials, data, safety, or efficacy proof when it comes to toxic jabs. Recently, Joe Rogan, the most popular podcaster in the world, challenged Hotez to debate Democratic presidential candidate RFK Jr. about vaccines on the show. There's no chance Hotez will agree, knowing the millions of people who listen to Joe Rogan's show will learn the truth about the dangers of vaccines, including Covid jabs, that are NOT really vaccines at all. Pseudo-scientist Dr. Peter Hotez called out for lying about vaccines and promoting them with no science to back it up Big Pharma snake oil salesman Peter Hotez wants every American child to get dosed with as many Covid jabs as possible, and this comes after science proves that the more Fauci Flu jabs you get, the weaker your immune system can become. Millions of excess deaths around the world are happening ever since the Covid jabs began being administered. Still, Peter Hotez dedicates his career to pushing vaccines, while claiming just the opposite. Isn't this illegal? Hotez claims he's an anti-parasite vaccine specialist, but ivermectin is a medication that kills parasites and works quite effectively against Covid, so why not talk about that? Well, that's because the institutions that Hotez runs have received over $100 million in grants from the Gates Foundation and government health "institutions," that are all part of the depopulation agenda. Joe Rogan Calls BS on Pseudo-Scientist Peter Hotez: Hotez is a very unhealthy man for promoting "medicine" in America. Shouldn't someone who claims what he claims also practice what he preaches? This is absurd. Anyone who listens to his advice about vaccines will most likely suffer the consequences of following a vaccine shill to an early grave. Anyone who lies about chemicals in vaccines, while those chemicals are readily seen at the CDC's own vaccine ingredients website, is covering up all kinds of other vital information about the dangers of vaccines. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental gene therapy injections the CDC and fake news claim are "safe and effective" when they're really dangerous and health-damaging. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news NaturalNews.com Dossier.today Vermont sues Monsanto over toxic PCB contamination in schools Vermonts attorney general has filed a lawsuit against agrochemical giant Monsanto over its production and sale of toxic chemicals despite knowing that they were damaging to human health as well as the environment. The suit is aimed at polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, which have been found in some Vermont schools as well as the environment. The state is pursuing compensation for economic losses related to the contamination and its cleanup. PCBs were used for industrial production for many years before being banned in the late 1970s. Some of their applications included dyes, caulks, sealants, lubricants, fireproofing, paints, plasticizers and coolants. They first came onto the market around 1929, and Monsanto was responsible for the manufacture of at least 99 percent of all the PCBs that were sold and used in the U.S. from 1929 to 1977. Exposure to these chemicals causes cancer in animals and damages endocrine, reproductive and immune systems, prompting a classification by the Environmental Protection Agency as probable human carcinogens. Compounding their danger is the fact that they do not break down easily. The suit alleges that Monsanto knew that the formulations were extremely toxic and prone to leaching into the environment and would lead to the widespread contamination and health problems that have ultimately come to fruition. Attorney General Charity Clark noted: Monsanto manufactured, marketed, sold, and distributed PCBs while knowing that its products would cause significant, long-term damage in Vermont. She wants the company to foot the bill for repairing the damage caused by their actions. She added: This lawsuit seeks to hold Monsanto accountable for knowingly misleading the public about the harmful impacts of its products. The cost of cleaning up after Monsantos deception will be considerable and should be borne by the multibillion-dollar company that profited from the misconduct, not by Vermont taxpayers. According to the complaint, the chemicals are present in dangerous amounts in fish, wildlife and sediment throughout the state. Its presence has resulted in a fish consumption advisory for the Hoosic River and Lake Champlain, widely considered one of the states most beautiful natural landmarks. In addition, the state has been spending millions of dollars to test all of its schools for contamination with PCBs after the toxin was discovered in high levels at Burlington High School and other schools. The Burlington School District filed a lawsuit of its own against Monsanto last year. Act 74, which was passed by the Vermont Legislature in 2021, requires every school that was built before 1980 to test its indoor air for the chemicals; this testing will not be completed until July 2025. So far, around 50 schools have been tested, and a third of them have high levels of PCBs. While many states have already sued the company over PCB contamination, Vermont is the first one to file a suit over damages in schools. Clark said: "I am using the authority of the Office of Attorney General to recover harms done to schools that are traceable to PCBs and that has not been done before." More school districts set to sue Monsanto Vermonts Attorney General and the Burlington School District will soon be joined by several other school districts in suing Monsanto. Pietro Lynn of Lynn Lynn Blackman & Manitsky has been retained by several school districts throughout Vermont and will file a suit in the next few weeks over PCBs. In an interview, he said: Who bears the risk of cleanup for a product that was sold by Monsanto? Is it going to be Vermont schools and Vermont communities, or is it going to be Monsanto? We think it ought to be Monsanto. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org VermontPublic.org VTDigger.org Binance Forced to Stop Providing Crypto Services in Belgium by Financial Regulator Source: AdobeStock / prima91 The financial regulator in Belgium, the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) had forced the cryptocurrency exchange Binance to halt its services in the country alleging that the exchange has violated the law by serving Belgian customers from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA). The FSMA has noted that Binance is offering and providing exchange services in Belgium between virtual currencies and legal currencies, as well as custody wallet services, from countries that are not members of the European Economic Area. The FSMA has therefore ordered Binance to cease, with immediate effect, offering or providing any and all such services in Belgium, the FSMA said in a statement. According to the statement, companies that are from countries outside the EEA are prohibited from offering exchange services between virtual currencies and legal currencies to customers within Belgium. The FMSA is blaming the exchange for violating Article 136 of the Belgian Law and thus imposing sanctions to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. A Binance spokesperson said in a statement to CoinDesk: We are disappointed to learn that the FSMA has come to this decision despite our ongoing conversations. We are reviewing the details of their notice and will continue to work collaboratively with regulators in Belgium and around the world in compliance with our obligations. EU Authorities Are Targeting Binance Last week, Binance was forced to exit the Dutch market following its unsuccessful attempt to obtain a virtual asset service provider (VASP) from the Dutch regulator. In addition, the company was also forced to close its services in Cyprus. According to a statement published by the countrys regulator, the Cyprus Securities and Commission (CySEC), Binance was under examination for application for deregistration. Binance is registered and operating in six European countries including France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania. However, the company is under investigation in France for allegedly providing digital asset services in an illegal manner. How is the Binance Token Reacting? In the past 24 hours, the BNB cryptocurrency has won around 0.55% of its value back since falling down to $241.79 on 23 June to $245.16 on the morning of 24 June, data on CoinMarketCap showed. In the past week, however, the cryptocurrency has seen minor losses, down by 0.19% from highs of $248 on 18 June. Toxic algae have been suspected by scientists to be responsible for sea lion and dolphin deaths along the southern California coast, where the marine mammals washed up on its shores this month alone. U.S. authorities blame an algae neurotoxin to be specifically behind the incurred sickness and deaths inflicting the animals. It also poses a health risk to humans once exposed. Reports indicate the algae, called Pseudo-nitzschia, can produce the neurotoxin known as domoic acid, which can travel along the marine food chain, including fish. Once consumed by large sea creatures like sea lions, dolphins, or potentially other species, it can cause various symptoms ranging from lethargy to vomiting, seizures, disorientation, and death. Also called a harmful algal bloom, toxic algae can inflict negative health hazards to other living organisms since they can produce toxins, in addition to the domoic acid mentioned earlier. In recent years, cases of sickness and fatalities, affecting both humans and animals, have been recorded due to consumption of either terrestrial or marine algae. Sea Lion, Dolphin Deaths Dozens of dolphins and hundreds of sea lions have died along the southern California coast, where local authorities received multiple calls of the marine mammals either sick or dying. Authorities believe they were caused by the domoic acid produced by the Pseudo-nitzschia algae, The New York Times reported. Rescuers involved in the ordeal stated the incident is the worst mass poisoning they have encountered ever. Details of the animal deaths came also when over 1,000 concerned beachgoers informed the Channel Island Marine and Wildlife Institute, according to The New York Times. Also Read: New Study Reveals Algae-Eating Fish 'Not Enough' to Protect World's Coral Reefs What are Toxic Algae? Toxic algae or cyanobacteria, also sometimes called blue-green algae, can produce poisons that affect not only people and animals but also the environment. These dangerous plant-like organisms live in water and can quickly grow out of proportion, a phenomenon called "bloom," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Humans and animals (pets, livestock, and wildlife) can acquire the harmful algal bloom when they contact food or water contaminated by the deadly marine organisms. On land, people can still be affected by eating contaminated fish, shellfish, or supplements, the CDC explains. Toxic Algae Deaths Toxic algae-related animal deaths have been reported in other parts of the U.S. and the world in previous years, aside from southern California. In Texas, thousands of dead fish have washed up dead along the state's Gulf Coast area in Quintana Beach, it was reported earlier in June and a story also covered by Nature World News. Local authorities linked the deaths to "low dissolved oxygen event," the United Press International reported. However, the said deoxygenation phenomenon is linked with excessive algae growth due to the presence of phosphorus and nitrogen, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Back in May, dog owners were warned to avoid bringing their pets in some U.K. lakes due to the presence of toxic blue-green algae, which have already killed a number of pet dogs, the BBC reported. Related Article: Evolution of Brown Algae Has a Big Help to Biofuels Two destroyed sea turtle nests were discovered by officials in North Carolina, prompting them to offer a $1500 reward for information leading to the capture of the perpetrators. $1500 Reward for Identifying Culprits A sea turtle nest was harmed, and the Ocean Isle Beach Sea Turtle Protection Organization is looking for the person responsible. On Thursday morning, OIBSTPO volunteers discovered a smashed sea turtle nest along with hundreds of beer cans strewn across the beach. OIBSTPO Island Coordinator Deb Allen reports that this is the third nest that has suffered damage in the past week. Two of the nests perished. She said it is quite rare for individuals to harm nests. Allen voiced her displeasure at how many other factors, including predators, pollution, and climate change, are working against turtles. According to Allen, the turtles being in danger while they're still incubating in a nest is equivalent to a puppy being trampled on. The cash reward for information that results in an arrest is $1,500. Additionally, they are providing a prize for information on anyone seen harming a nest. The endangered species legislation protects sea turtle nests. The penalty for endangering an endangered species is a $50,000 fine and up to a year in jail, WECT News 6 reports. Locals with any information are urged to call either the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission or Ocean Isle Beach Police Department. Allen claims that they have received several images and videos of the alleged perpetrators of the crime. She claims they want to pursue legal action to the utmost degree possible, WWAY3 reports. Also Read: More Yellowstone Wildlife Being Harassed by Visitors, Officials Hunt Offenders as Park Posts Rules Again Sea Turtles On the North Carolina coast, the nesting season lasts from mid-May until August. The main visitors are loggerhead turtles, however occasionally nests are also built by leatherback, green, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. The 330 miles of sandy beaches in North Carolina that face the ocean are ideal for nesting. Each nest contains about 120 eggs the size of ping pong balls. Except for their distinguishing footprints, females conceal the nest by digging a chamber that is 1-2 feet deep and covering the eggs with sand. In one season, a female turtle may lay 4-7 nests and return every few weeks. The eggs hatch after around 60 days of incubation, however, some nests may require up to 100 days, according to Oak-Island NC. Several government organizations, including the US National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Marine Corps, and the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, along with the University of North Carolina - Wilmington, are in charge of administering nesting surveys and nest protection measures in the State. Numerous individuals and private groups are also actively working to conserve sea turtles, including some very significant volunteer activities near Bogue Banks. Nesting survey information is used to maximize reproduction, create protective restrictions, monitor populations, and make management choices. Related Article: Box Turtle Sightings Increase as Nesting Season Starts in Tennessee, Officials Discourage Human Interference As a result of climate change stimulating a toxic algal bloom in the region on Thursday, Thailand's coastline is lined with thousands of dead fish. Toxic Algal Bloom in Thailand A plankton bloom that resulted in millions of dead fish washing up over a nearly 2.5-mile length of beach in Thailand's southern Chumphon province on Thursday may have been triggered by climate change, according to one expert. The fish deaths were ascribed to the bloom, a natural event that decreases oxygen levels in the water and kills fish by suffocating them, said Thon Thamrongnawasawat, the Kasetsart University deputy dean of the Faculty of Fisheries. According to Thamrongnawasawat, certain natural events, like coral bleaching or plankton bloom, have happened on their own for tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years. Global warming, on the other hand, amplifies and makes existing events more frequent. Plankton blooms endure two to three days on average and occur once or twice a year, according to the local authorities. Seawater has been collected by officials for additional evaluation and analysis. Algal Bloom in the US This year, concerns about maritime heatwaves have spread around the globe. According to the British Met Office, the onset of the natural climate phenomenon El Nino, which has a warming effect on the entire planet, as well as human-caused climate change, which results in higher temperatures for oceans and land, are both contributing factors to the global ocean surface temperatures for April and May being the highest on record for those months. This month, many dead fish ended up on Texas beaches, and owing to increased ocean temperatures. Scientists are forecasting algal outbreaks throughout the British coast. A poisonous algal bloom in Southern California has caused hundreds of dolphins and sea lions to show up on beaches dead or sick. Although significant coastal upwelling rather than high temperatures were more of a contributor to California's algal blooms, experts believe that climate change would likely increase harmful algal blooms as some thrive in warm water. Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales in Australia, cautions that the impact of this phenomenon on local ecosystems will be grave. Whether it pertains to Australia, including renowned sites like the Great Barrier Reef or regions near England currently grappling with intense marine heatwaves, the detrimental effects on these ecosystems cannot be overstated, CNN reported. Also Read: Fin Whaling Ban Decision By Iceland Minister Implemented Until Aug 31 Climate Change and Toxic Algal Blooms According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, in fresh, salt, and brackish water, toxic algae and cyanobacteria can develop more quickly due to climate change. It can increase the frequency and severity of blooms. For instance, the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa has seen large-scale blooms in Lake Erie that persist throughout the first few months of winter as a result of higher lake temperatures. Such blooms have increased in frequency and distribution across the country during the last few years. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a warming water temperature, changes in salinity, increased carbon dioxide levels, variations in sea level rise, rainfall, and coastal upwelling are some of the climatic factors that might have an impact on algal blooms. Related Article: Fish Kill in Louisiana Due to Lack of Oxygen, Experts Say Possible Uptick as Oceans Warm Renee Breen doesnt trust the judicial system in Iron County. Its easy to understand why. In March, the sheriff and two of his deputies in this southeast Missouri community were arrested and charged with criminal street gang activity, in an alleged plot to help a friend in a custody dispute. Attorney General Andrew Bailey is now trying to remove the sheriff, Jeff Burkett, from office something the local prosecutor also tried to do shortly after Burketts election. Burkett and his deputies have pleaded not guilty. Their attorneys allege others in the judicial system are out to get them. Its quite a mess. Three months before those men were arrested, Breen found herself in the jail they used to run. The 63-year-old got in a spat with a man with whom she was living in a trailer. She was drinking. There was some pushing and shoving. A door was broken. The sheriffs office was called. According to the police report, she was put in the Iron County Jail for 12 hour safe keeping because of her intoxicated state. In other words, she wasnt arrested. She wasnt charged with a crime. To call the Iron County facility a jail is a stretch. Its more like a dungeon, Breen says. Its been that way for a long time, with limestone walls that date to the 1800s, little sunlight, leaks, black mold and bat guano. Its a Civil War-era facility that is hot in the summer, cold in the winter and is finally due an infusion of money from the budget that the Missouri Legislature passed this year. I just stood in the corner for hours and hours, Breen remembers. There was nowhere to sit. After 12 hours, after she had sobered up, Breen was still in jail. In fact, she was there for days. Thats because, according to the police report, a deputy and a jailer decided to go through her purse looking for a set of car keys. The report doesnt say why they were looking for the keys, or whether they asked Breens permission to dig through her purse. But it alleges they found a container with methamphetamine in it. Breen says theres no way that's true. She owns up to her drinking. She has a medical marijuana card. I dont do drugs, she says. Breen was charged with felony drug possession. She spent almost two weeks in the dungeon before her public defender could get the judge to let her out on a personal recognizance bond. The public defender, Ayla Chadbourne, also filed a motion to suppress the evidence, which she argues was obtained without due process in an "unlawful" search. Defendant did not consent to the search or seizure and any alleged consent was not voluntary and understandingly and knowingly given," the motion reads. "The items seized were not in plain view and the seizing officers were not at a place the officers had a legal right to be. The case highlights a constant problem in our nations legal system, in which people with money can get different results than people of lesser means. Wealthy people, or those who know somebody in the system, dont often end up in jail in these situations. Once youre in jail, bad things can happen. Breen is one of those people of lesser means. Shes bounced around from state to state Nebraska, Colorado, California, Missouri. She had been working as a fry cook in Caledonia. By the time she got out of jail, she had no place to live and no job. Her daughter in Texas sent her a train ticket. Thats where Breen was when we spoke, and thats what her current problem is, even in a case that appears to be a slam-dunk loser. In Iron County, and many rural counties in Missouri, its common practice for a judge to require weekly drug testing for defendants on pre-trial release, often through a private, for-profit probation company. In this case, Breen was told to come to the Iron County Jail every Monday to be drug tested. By the time the first Monday came, she was in Texas. Now theres a warrant out for her arrest. Her public defender has told her that they might be able to get the charges dismissed but Breen first has to come back to Iron County. Who in the hell wants to be 63 years old and have a warrant out for your arrest in another state? Breen says. But I had to run, man. I had no other choice. I had nowhere to go. The prosecutor, of course, could drop the charges. The judge could rule on the motion to suppress and wipe the case away. But none of that probably happens if Breen doesnt come back to Iron County and turn herself in where she believes she will end up in the dungeon again, for however long it takes for justice to occur in a place that sometimes lacks it. Im not a nefarious person, Breen says. I know I probably have to come back at some point, but I just dont trust anybody in that county. This has ruined my life. Its been a nightmare that wont end." Shalini Chandran By Online Desk When the Kochi Metro project took off with much fanfare in 2017, the media was agog with reports of the project throwing open the doors of opportunity for trans persons by offering them jobs. In fact, Kerala credits itself as the first Indian state to introduce such a policy for transgender people. These jobs offered by Kudumbashree for the upkeep of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) were on a contractual basis. Still, it seemed to be a harbinger of good fortune, a leap-of-faith moment for the trans community, one of the most discriminated against in India. Reality, sadly, was to prove grim. The rapid transit company might have been the first government-owned entity in India to offer jobs (outsourced) for trans persons. But, out of the 21 trans people who joined KMRL at the time, only seven remain. The reasons for others falling by the wayside are many. Their Metro tale The daily wage paid to a housekeeper and ticket counter staff member was Rs 359 and Rs 388 respectively, after the deduction of PF and ESI. Every year, they were promised an increment of 5 percent. This has proven hardly enough as the trans persons have found it quite hard to find accommodations they can afford. They also have to deal with the burden of regular medical expenses. Although, at present, the salary has gone up to Rs 482 and Rs 520 respectively, life remains difficult. How it began The recruits were provided training in general knowledge, communication, and computer skills at Rajagiri College in Kalamassery, Kochi. They were then taken in as contractual employees under the Kudumbashree Mission (Kerala's poverty eradication and women empowerment programme). The hiring is handled by the Kudumbashree Mission. Those selected after training were posted to respective departments based on their educational qualifications. Their travails In the beginning, the Kudumbashree Mission arranged accommodation in Kakkanad. The place was difficult to access. With the limited frequency of city buses, the commute to and from Kakkanad to the different metro stations on a daily basis was tedious. "Many chose to opt out of the accommodations due to the difficulty in commuting from Kakkanad," said Regina, the Kudumbashree Mission coordinator at the Kochi Metro. It didn't help that there were no shelter homes in the city for the transgender community. Many don't have the support of their families as well. On most occasions, they are compelled to opt for accommodations that are beyond their means. "The cost of living in a city like Kochi plus the expenses for our hormone treatments left us drained every month. My salary was hardly enough to pay off the debts I had run up as a result. I borrowed from friends. Eventually, I quit my job at KMRL," said Faisal, an ex-employee of Kochi Metro. He was not alone. In fact, two others who joined KMRL (among the 21 others) quit in the very first week. One of them found the micro-aggression within KMRL unsettling. "I joined the Metro hoping to change my life for the better. Every month, I used to have around Rs 9000 in hand after all the pay cuts. But after paying for rent, food, and hormone treatments (which cost between Rs 2000-3000 every month), I was left with next to nothing," Faisal elaborated. Sweethy Bernad shared a different concern. "People were scared to be around me. They left when I walked into the room. I couldn't take it anymore. I left. Now, I work as a reporter with Jeevan TV. I am married and live a better life," she said. Another ex-employee, Amirtha also quit the job because she like Faisal didnt find the salary adequate. She later set up a small shop selling fruit juices in Kochi. With the help of Kudumbashree, she also puts up stalls when the self-help group conducts events across the city. Besides this, she also owns a farm where she rears lovebirds and rabbits. The employees who continue to work in the Kochi Metro remain contractual employees. "I have been working here for six years now. But I am still a contractual employee under Kudumbashree. I continue to work here in the hope that they would make me permanent one day," said Ragaranjini, a ticket counter staff at the Kochi Metro. Ragaranjini, a ticket counter staff at the Kochi Metro Having completed her M Com and Hotel Management courses, Ragaranjini worked as a General Manager at a hotel in Kanyakumari. Hotel management was her passion. But ever since she 'came out', she could no longer continue working there and had to quit the job. She couldn't return to Kerala either. "Back then, there was no visibility for people like us, in Kerala," she recounted. This was in 2010. Ragaranjini then moved to Coimbatore with her friends from the transgender community and underwent a gender reassignment surgery. Post-2014, a wave of change swept over Kerala. Soon, the Kochi Metro began recruiting people like her. A sociable person, Ragaranjini loves to work at the ticket counter of the Kochi Metro, where she gets an opportunity to meet hundreds of people every day. "There are some children who stare and ask their parents questions about me. That is okay, they are bound to ask, they are children," she says with a radiant smile. It is hugely to her credit. Six years on, there are still no accommodation facilities or shelter homes for people like her in the city. Cabs are provided now, but they are few in number. Kudumbashree again advertised job openings at the Kochi Metros ticketing counter and housekeeping departments for trans people recently. But, of the 20 people from the community who attended interviews for the same, none were promised a job. "We applied and went for the interview on June 8, 2023. But they didn't give a positive response to any of us. Some of us were even told our attire wasn't appropriate," says Sheeba (name changed), one of the applicants. Sheeba, an orphan who moved to the city eight years ago, is a sex worker. She used to work in the housekeeping department of a hotel for ten years until she revealed her gender identity and lost her job. Now, she does sex work because she has no choice. All she wants is a respectable job. She has been applying to the Kochi Metro for three years now. Each time she was rejected. In May 2023, Sheeba applied again. She was informed after her interview that she is 39 years old and the age limit for the job was 40. "They asked me if I have the strength to lift a bucket if I join the housekeeping department. I have ten years of experience in housekeeping. I am not old. Now what should I do? Continue being a sex worker for the rest of my life? I can't. Every night, I cry. I am ready to even sweep floors. All I am asking for is a respectable job," Sheeba said. ALSO READ | Liberal yet homophobic: Kerala far from being God's own country for the LGBTQI community There has been one positive development. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has allocated funds in its latest budget to build a hostel for trans persons, a first in the state. "The objective of this hostel is to provide a safe haven for the transgender community in Kochi. The nitty-gritty of the hostel management will be handled by the Kudumbashree," confirmed K Chandran Pillai, GCDA Chairman. But the fear is this outsourcing model could leave Kudumbashree Mission overburdened. "Under Kudumbashree, we have other people also to take care of. If you ask me, as long as we don't keep the concerns of the transgender community separate from that of the other staff and address them, they won't be able to reap the benefits of any policy that's headed their way," Regina observed. It certainly is food for thought. When the Kochi Metro project took off with much fanfare in 2017, the media was agog with reports of the project throwing open the doors of opportunity for trans persons by offering them jobs. In fact, Kerala credits itself as the first Indian state to introduce such a policy for transgender people. These jobs offered by Kudumbashree for the upkeep of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) were on a contractual basis. Still, it seemed to be a harbinger of good fortune, a leap-of-faith moment for the trans community, one of the most discriminated against in India. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Reality, sadly, was to prove grim. The rapid transit company might have been the first government-owned entity in India to offer jobs (outsourced) for trans persons. But, out of the 21 trans people who joined KMRL at the time, only seven remain. The reasons for others falling by the wayside are many. Their Metro tale The daily wage paid to a housekeeper and ticket counter staff member was Rs 359 and Rs 388 respectively, after the deduction of PF and ESI. Every year, they were promised an increment of 5 percent. This has proven hardly enough as the trans persons have found it quite hard to find accommodations they can afford. They also have to deal with the burden of regular medical expenses. Although, at present, the salary has gone up to Rs 482 and Rs 520 respectively, life remains difficult. How it began The recruits were provided training in general knowledge, communication, and computer skills at Rajagiri College in Kalamassery, Kochi. They were then taken in as contractual employees under the Kudumbashree Mission (Kerala's poverty eradication and women empowerment programme). The hiring is handled by the Kudumbashree Mission. Those selected after training were posted to respective departments based on their educational qualifications. Their travails In the beginning, the Kudumbashree Mission arranged accommodation in Kakkanad. The place was difficult to access. With the limited frequency of city buses, the commute to and from Kakkanad to the different metro stations on a daily basis was tedious. "Many chose to opt out of the accommodations due to the difficulty in commuting from Kakkanad," said Regina, the Kudumbashree Mission coordinator at the Kochi Metro. It didn't help that there were no shelter homes in the city for the transgender community. Many don't have the support of their families as well. On most occasions, they are compelled to opt for accommodations that are beyond their means. "The cost of living in a city like Kochi plus the expenses for our hormone treatments left us drained every month. My salary was hardly enough to pay off the debts I had run up as a result. I borrowed from friends. Eventually, I quit my job at KMRL," said Faisal, an ex-employee of Kochi Metro. He was not alone. In fact, two others who joined KMRL (among the 21 others) quit in the very first week. One of them found the micro-aggression within KMRL unsettling. "I joined the Metro hoping to change my life for the better. Every month, I used to have around Rs 9000 in hand after all the pay cuts. But after paying for rent, food, and hormone treatments (which cost between Rs 2000-3000 every month), I was left with next to nothing," Faisal elaborated. Sweethy Bernad shared a different concern. "People were scared to be around me. They left when I walked into the room. I couldn't take it anymore. I left. Now, I work as a reporter with Jeevan TV. I am married and live a better life," she said. Another ex-employee, Amirtha also quit the job because she like Faisal didnt find the salary adequate. She later set up a small shop selling fruit juices in Kochi. With the help of Kudumbashree, she also puts up stalls when the self-help group conducts events across the city. Besides this, she also owns a farm where she rears lovebirds and rabbits. The employees who continue to work in the Kochi Metro remain contractual employees. "I have been working here for six years now. But I am still a contractual employee under Kudumbashree. I continue to work here in the hope that they would make me permanent one day," said Ragaranjini, a ticket counter staff at the Kochi Metro. Ragaranjini, a ticket counter staff at the Kochi Metro Having completed her M Com and Hotel Management courses, Ragaranjini worked as a General Manager at a hotel in Kanyakumari. Hotel management was her passion. But ever since she 'came out', she could no longer continue working there and had to quit the job. She couldn't return to Kerala either. "Back then, there was no visibility for people like us, in Kerala," she recounted. This was in 2010. Ragaranjini then moved to Coimbatore with her friends from the transgender community and underwent a gender reassignment surgery. Post-2014, a wave of change swept over Kerala. Soon, the Kochi Metro began recruiting people like her. A sociable person, Ragaranjini loves to work at the ticket counter of the Kochi Metro, where she gets an opportunity to meet hundreds of people every day. "There are some children who stare and ask their parents questions about me. That is okay, they are bound to ask, they are children," she says with a radiant smile. It is hugely to her credit. Six years on, there are still no accommodation facilities or shelter homes for people like her in the city. Cabs are provided now, but they are few in number. Kudumbashree again advertised job openings at the Kochi Metros ticketing counter and housekeeping departments for trans people recently. But, of the 20 people from the community who attended interviews for the same, none were promised a job. "We applied and went for the interview on June 8, 2023. But they didn't give a positive response to any of us. Some of us were even told our attire wasn't appropriate," says Sheeba (name changed), one of the applicants. Sheeba, an orphan who moved to the city eight years ago, is a sex worker. She used to work in the housekeeping department of a hotel for ten years until she revealed her gender identity and lost her job. Now, she does sex work because she has no choice. All she wants is a respectable job. She has been applying to the Kochi Metro for three years now. Each time she was rejected. In May 2023, Sheeba applied again. She was informed after her interview that she is 39 years old and the age limit for the job was 40. "They asked me if I have the strength to lift a bucket if I join the housekeeping department. I have ten years of experience in housekeeping. I am not old. Now what should I do? Continue being a sex worker for the rest of my life? I can't. Every night, I cry. I am ready to even sweep floors. All I am asking for is a respectable job," Sheeba said. ALSO READ | Liberal yet homophobic: Kerala far from being God's own country for the LGBTQI community There has been one positive development. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has allocated funds in its latest budget to build a hostel for trans persons, a first in the state. "The objective of this hostel is to provide a safe haven for the transgender community in Kochi. The nitty-gritty of the hostel management will be handled by the Kudumbashree," confirmed K Chandran Pillai, GCDA Chairman. But the fear is this outsourcing model could leave Kudumbashree Mission overburdened. "Under Kudumbashree, we have other people also to take care of. If you ask me, as long as we don't keep the concerns of the transgender community separate from that of the other staff and address them, they won't be able to reap the benefits of any policy that's headed their way," Regina observed. It certainly is food for thought. Amit Mukherjee By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Innovations are undoubtedly helping in making lives better for citizens across the globe, but its also being used by lawbreakers to evade the law. The Indian government; on a war footing. is in the process of arming its anti-narcotics wings with at least 10,000 portable hand-held analysers that will enable sleuths of the customs, border control guards, and personnel of various anti-drug cells to detect more than 400 categories of suspected controlled and banned substances. These high-valued contraband substances, it is suspected, are being smuggled in large quantities with drug cartels deploying innovative methods to smuggle them into India, that are going undetected. According to sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), three companies that supply these analysers were called for a demonstration in April this year before the nodal drug regulator Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), representatives of the state Anti-narcotic Task Forces (ANTFs) and others anti-drug wings including Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to demonstrate the capabilities of their equipment. This equipment, slightly bigger than the size of a regular novel, works on the principle of Ramans Spectrometry and was first developed by UK and Swiss authorities some years back for effective drug policing and detection. "The government has prioritized the acquisition of this equipment amidst instances of smugglers deploying innovative techniques which are extremely difficult to detect, except on the basis of intel inputs and tip-offs, says an official of Delhi Customs. To nab the smugglers...(Photo | EPS) While the three companies - Serstech, Thermofisher, and Rigaku - have given the demonstration of their products, the drug monitoring agencies have asked them to make modifications. During demonstrations, the equipment showcased by the companies were unable to detect some of the most hot-listed drugs, for which we have asked them to make tweaks to make the gadget more effective, and report with the upgraded version at the earliest, said an official of the NCB. The acquisition of these analysers has become all the more important in the wake of a recent drug haul in which a young Kenyan woman was arrested this month at the Delhi airport for smuggling cocaine dissolved in two whiskey bottles she was carrying. The woman was intercepted following a tip-off after her arrival from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). A search resulted in the recovery of cocaine from the two bottles, worth approximately Rs13 crores. Though this is just the second case since a Nigerian man was arrested in November last year with cocaine worth Rs 20 crore dissolved in sealed whisky bottles a senior officer in the Customs said: We believe that this could have been popular modus operandi of inbound smuggler that has been going undetected due lack of proper equipment. Not only whisky bottles, of late officials of anti-narcotics wings have been detecting heroin and cocaine being smuggled in as consignment of salt, talcum powder, milk powder, tomato sauces packs, and tetra-packs of apple and pomegranate juice originating from Afghanistan. India has been sandwiched between the Death (Golden) Crescent comprising Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan and Death (Golden) Triangle comprising Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar and has been flooded with drugs, especially heroin and methamphetamine, from these two regions. Now African nations are being used as re-routing hubs, says the MHA official. Though according to the latest report by the NCB, drug trafficking through sea routes in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is estimated to account for around 70% of the total illegal drugs smuggled into India, there is a significant number of consignments which are being re-routed through African nations which are coming in undetected due to innovative means with young peddlers including students being engaged in it, said the MHA official. The analysers, in the process of being procured, would definitely equip the anti-drug sleuths in a better way, he added. NEW DELHI: Innovations are undoubtedly helping in making lives better for citizens across the globe, but its also being used by lawbreakers to evade the law. The Indian government; on a war footing. is in the process of arming its anti-narcotics wings with at least 10,000 portable hand-held analysers that will enable sleuths of the customs, border control guards, and personnel of various anti-drug cells to detect more than 400 categories of suspected controlled and banned substances. These high-valued contraband substances, it is suspected, are being smuggled in large quantities with drug cartels deploying innovative methods to smuggle them into India, that are going undetected.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), three companies that supply these analysers were called for a demonstration in April this year before the nodal drug regulator Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), representatives of the state Anti-narcotic Task Forces (ANTFs) and others anti-drug wings including Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to demonstrate the capabilities of their equipment. This equipment, slightly bigger than the size of a regular novel, works on the principle of Ramans Spectrometry and was first developed by UK and Swiss authorities some years back for effective drug policing and detection. "The government has prioritized the acquisition of this equipment amidst instances of smugglers deploying innovative techniques which are extremely difficult to detect, except on the basis of intel inputs and tip-offs, says an official of Delhi Customs. To nab the smugglers...(Photo | EPS) While the three companies - Serstech, Thermofisher, and Rigaku - have given the demonstration of their products, the drug monitoring agencies have asked them to make modifications. During demonstrations, the equipment showcased by the companies were unable to detect some of the most hot-listed drugs, for which we have asked them to make tweaks to make the gadget more effective, and report with the upgraded version at the earliest, said an official of the NCB. The acquisition of these analysers has become all the more important in the wake of a recent drug haul in which a young Kenyan woman was arrested this month at the Delhi airport for smuggling cocaine dissolved in two whiskey bottles she was carrying. The woman was intercepted following a tip-off after her arrival from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). A search resulted in the recovery of cocaine from the two bottles, worth approximately Rs13 crores. Though this is just the second case since a Nigerian man was arrested in November last year with cocaine worth Rs 20 crore dissolved in sealed whisky bottles a senior officer in the Customs said: We believe that this could have been popular modus operandi of inbound smuggler that has been going undetected due lack of proper equipment. Not only whisky bottles, of late officials of anti-narcotics wings have been detecting heroin and cocaine being smuggled in as consignment of salt, talcum powder, milk powder, tomato sauces packs, and tetra-packs of apple and pomegranate juice originating from Afghanistan. India has been sandwiched between the Death (Golden) Crescent comprising Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan and Death (Golden) Triangle comprising Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar and has been flooded with drugs, especially heroin and methamphetamine, from these two regions. Now African nations are being used as re-routing hubs, says the MHA official. Though according to the latest report by the NCB, drug trafficking through sea routes in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is estimated to account for around 70% of the total illegal drugs smuggled into India, there is a significant number of consignments which are being re-routed through African nations which are coming in undetected due to innovative means with young peddlers including students being engaged in it, said the MHA official. The analysers, in the process of being procured, would definitely equip the anti-drug sleuths in a better way, he added. Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The much talked about MQ-9B armed drones deal with the US is in process and best price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US Government is received, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Sunday. Meanwhile, the speculative media reports can have an adverse impact on the acquisition process, added the MoD. The MOD said, The procurement is in progress and would be completed as per the laid down procedure. Meanwhile, some speculative reports emerged in sections of social media referring to the price and other terms of purchase, MoD pointed out, adding that these reports are uncalled for and can adversely impact the acquisition process. These reports have ulterior motives and aimed at derailing the due acquisition process. Price and other terms and conditions of the purchase are yet to be finalised and subject to negotiations. MoD said MoD requested all not to spread fake news/ misinformation which can have a serious impact on the morale of the Armed Forces and adversely impact the acquisition process. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on June 15, 2023, accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquisition of 31 MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for Tri-Services from the USA through Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route. The DAC is the top government body for approval of capital procurement for the Military. The AoN included the number of UAVs to be procured along with associated equipment. AoN means the government has accepted the need for the equipment and is the first step towards initiation of the procurement process. The AoN noted the estimated cost of 3,072 million US dollars provided by the US Government. However, price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US Government is received. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will compare the acquisition cost with the best price offered by General Atomics (GA) to other countries. Of the 31 MQ-9B for procurement 15 will go to the Indian Navy and rest 16 will be divided eight each between Army and Air Force. This deal is being done under the Foreign Military Sales route which is the US Governments program for transferring defense articles, services, and training to our international partners and international organizations. Under the FMS route, a Letter of Request (LOR) would be sent to the US Government where Tri-services requirements, details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be included. Based on LOR, the US Government and MoD will finalise the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) where details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be negotiated and finalised in accordance with the FMS program and the price and terms offered by the US Government and GA to other countries. The drones have high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) and can be armed with missiles. They can operate for around 30 hours in all weather conditions. The overall deal is expected to cost around USD 3.5 billion with the drones and associated support services, once acquired, enabling the strengthening of surveillance capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and deep into the Indian Ocean. India is operating two Predator drones which were hired on lease. Those have been in use by the Navy to keep track of activities in the Indian Ocean region. NEW DELHI: The much talked about MQ-9B armed drones deal with the US is in process and best price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US Government is received, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Sunday. Meanwhile, the speculative media reports can have an adverse impact on the acquisition process, added the MoD. The MOD said, The procurement is in progress and would be completed as per the laid down procedure. Meanwhile, some speculative reports emerged in sections of social media referring to the price and other terms of purchase, MoD pointed out, adding that these reports are uncalled for and can adversely impact the acquisition process.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); These reports have ulterior motives and aimed at derailing the due acquisition process. Price and other terms and conditions of the purchase are yet to be finalised and subject to negotiations. MoD said MoD requested all not to spread fake news/ misinformation which can have a serious impact on the morale of the Armed Forces and adversely impact the acquisition process. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on June 15, 2023, accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquisition of 31 MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for Tri-Services from the USA through Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route. The DAC is the top government body for approval of capital procurement for the Military. The AoN included the number of UAVs to be procured along with associated equipment. AoN means the government has accepted the need for the equipment and is the first step towards initiation of the procurement process. The AoN noted the estimated cost of 3,072 million US dollars provided by the US Government. However, price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US Government is received. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will compare the acquisition cost with the best price offered by General Atomics (GA) to other countries. Of the 31 MQ-9B for procurement 15 will go to the Indian Navy and rest 16 will be divided eight each between Army and Air Force. This deal is being done under the Foreign Military Sales route which is the US Governments program for transferring defense articles, services, and training to our international partners and international organizations. Under the FMS route, a Letter of Request (LOR) would be sent to the US Government where Tri-services requirements, details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be included. Based on LOR, the US Government and MoD will finalise the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) where details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be negotiated and finalised in accordance with the FMS program and the price and terms offered by the US Government and GA to other countries. The drones have high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) and can be armed with missiles. They can operate for around 30 hours in all weather conditions. The overall deal is expected to cost around USD 3.5 billion with the drones and associated support services, once acquired, enabling the strengthening of surveillance capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and deep into the Indian Ocean. India is operating two Predator drones which were hired on lease. Those have been in use by the Navy to keep track of activities in the Indian Ocean region. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged that a few men from the Indian army stormed into a mosque in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday and forced Muslims to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. Shocked to hear about army troops from 50 RR storming into a mosque at Pulwama & forcing Muslims inside to chant Jai Shree Ram, Mehbooba tweeted. Such a move when @AmitShah is here & that too ahead of the yatra is simply an act of provocation. Request @RgGhai to immediately set up a probe, the tweet further read. Shocked to hear about army troops from 50 RR storming into a mosque at Pulwama & forcing muslims inside to chant Jai Shree Ram. Such a move when @AmitShah is here & that too ahead of yatra is simply an act of provocation. Request @RgGhai to immediately set up a probe. Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 24, 2023 Mehbooba has tagged @RgGhai ( Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai), who had recently taken over as General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based Armys 15 Corps. Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president said the reports of Indian army personnel entering a mosque in Pulwama are deeply distressing. Its bad enough they entered but then forcing people to chant slogans like Jai Shree Ram as reported by the locals there, is unacceptable. I hope @rajnathsingh ji will issue instructions for these reports to be investigated in a timely & transparent manner (sic), Omar tweeted. Reports of security force personnel entering a mosque in Zadoora in Pulwama are deeply distressing. Its bad enough they entered but then forcing people to chant slogans like Jai Shree Ram as reported by the locals there, is unacceptable. I hope @rajnathsingh ji will issue pic.twitter.com/POyuN3srA3 Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 25, 2023 The incident allegedly has taken place when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. There has been no official statement from the army on the allegations levelled by Mehbooba and Omar so far. Meanwhile, several Twitter users questioned the authenticity of the tweet and demanded Mufti provide evidence. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged that a few men from the Indian army stormed into a mosque in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Saturday and forced Muslims to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. Shocked to hear about army troops from 50 RR storming into a mosque at Pulwama & forcing Muslims inside to chant Jai Shree Ram, Mehbooba tweeted. Such a move when @AmitShah is here & that too ahead of the yatra is simply an act of provocation. Request @RgGhai to immediately set up a probe, the tweet further read.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Shocked to hear about army troops from 50 RR storming into a mosque at Pulwama & forcing muslims inside to chant Jai Shree Ram. Such a move when @AmitShah is here & that too ahead of yatra is simply an act of provocation. Request @RgGhai to immediately set up a probe. Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 24, 2023 Mehbooba has tagged @RgGhai ( Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai), who had recently taken over as General Officer Commanding (GoC) of Srinagar-based Armys 15 Corps. Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president said the reports of Indian army personnel entering a mosque in Pulwama are deeply distressing. Its bad enough they entered but then forcing people to chant slogans like Jai Shree Ram as reported by the locals there, is unacceptable. I hope @rajnathsingh ji will issue instructions for these reports to be investigated in a timely & transparent manner (sic), Omar tweeted. Reports of security force personnel entering a mosque in Zadoora in Pulwama are deeply distressing. Its bad enough they entered but then forcing people to chant slogans like Jai Shree Ram as reported by the locals there, is unacceptable. I hope @rajnathsingh ji will issue pic.twitter.com/POyuN3srA3 Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 25, 2023 The incident allegedly has taken place when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. There has been no official statement from the army on the allegations levelled by Mehbooba and Omar so far. Meanwhile, several Twitter users questioned the authenticity of the tweet and demanded Mufti provide evidence. By PTI NEW DELHI: More than 120 people were rescued and shifted to safer places in Assam by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which has deployed ten teams to undertake flood relief operations in the state, an official said on Sunday. Over four lakh people have been hit by the deluge across nine districts of the state, even though water levels started to recede on Sunday. #WATCH | Assam | Water level of river Brahmaputra in Guwahati marginally decreases, slightly easing the flood situation. Locals fear that the water level will increase again if the rainfall continues. pic.twitter.com/4FMzsJr8Fc June 25, 2023 "A total of ten teams have been deployed in Assam that are conducting rescue and evacuation from low-lying areas. So far, 123 persons and several cattle have been shifted to safer places," an NDRF spokesperson said in an update issued at 6:30 pm. Each NDRF team has about 35-40 rescuers. The spokesperson said these teams are also assisting the local authorities in distribution of relief material. The situation is currently under control and the teams are carrying out reconnaissance of the low-lying areas, he said. ALSO READ: Flood situation in Assam remains grim; around 5 lakh affected So far, three persons have lost their lives in this year's first wave of flood in different parts of the state, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said. According to an ASDMA report, over 4,07,700 people are impacted by the deluge in nine districts of Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nalbari and Udalguri. NEW DELHI: More than 120 people were rescued and shifted to safer places in Assam by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which has deployed ten teams to undertake flood relief operations in the state, an official said on Sunday. Over four lakh people have been hit by the deluge across nine districts of the state, even though water levels started to recede on Sunday. #WATCH | Assam | Water level of river Brahmaputra in Guwahati marginally decreases, slightly easing the flood situation. Locals fear that the water level will increase again if the rainfall continues. pic.twitter.com/4FMzsJr8Fcgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023 "A total of ten teams have been deployed in Assam that are conducting rescue and evacuation from low-lying areas. So far, 123 persons and several cattle have been shifted to safer places," an NDRF spokesperson said in an update issued at 6:30 pm. Each NDRF team has about 35-40 rescuers. The spokesperson said these teams are also assisting the local authorities in distribution of relief material. The situation is currently under control and the teams are carrying out reconnaissance of the low-lying areas, he said. ALSO READ: Flood situation in Assam remains grim; around 5 lakh affected So far, three persons have lost their lives in this year's first wave of flood in different parts of the state, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said. According to an ASDMA report, over 4,07,700 people are impacted by the deluge in nine districts of Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nalbari and Udalguri. By Associated Press CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Sunday bestowed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Egypt's highest honor as the two countries tightened their partnership. El-Sissi welcomed Modi at the presidential palace in Cairo with the Order of the Nile, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. The leaders signed a declaration elevating Egyptian-Indo ties to a "strategic partnership," under which the two nations agreed to intensify their cooperation and hold periodic talks, the statement said. Egypt and India share deep ties that date back to the 1950s, when the two nations played key roles in founding the Non-Aligned Movement, which had sought an alternative path to siding with either communism or capitalism at the height of the Cold War. Modi, who arrived in Cairo Saturday, is the first Indian prime minister to pay a state visit to Egypt in more than two decades. His two-day stop came six months after el-Sissi was in New Delhi as an official guest at India's Independence Day. Modi also invited the Egyptian leader to attend the G-20 summit, which India will host in September. Following his talks with el-Sissi, Modi visited a historic mosque, Cairo's Al-Hakim, which was recently renovated with the help of the India-based Dawoodi Bohra community. He also paid tribute to Indian soldiers who died in World War I and are buried in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo. Modi's trip to Egypt has focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Cairo and New Delhi. The prime minister said both countries have been moving swiftly to increase bilateral trade to $12 billion annually within five years that's up from $7.3 billion in 2021-22. "This is a remarkable year for our shared relations," Modi told a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly on Saturday. Earlier this year, both countries agreed to boost trade cooperation. India, the world's most populous country, is one of the top five importers of Egyptian products, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas, salt, cotton, inorganic chemicals, and oilseeds. Major Indian exports to Egypt include cotton yarn, coffee, herbs, tobacco, lentils, vehicle parts, ships, boats, and electrical machinery. El-Sissi and Modi, who came to power in their counties in 2014, have in recent years cultivated closer relationship. And over the last 16 months, they resisted pressure form the West to condemn the Russian war in Ukraine. Both Egypt and India have decades-old ties with the Kremlin. "There is a change in the global geopolitical and geoeconomic atmosphere wherein both countries wish to play a defining role," India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said during a visit to Cairo in September. "Egypt's geostrategic location acts as a connecting link between Africa, West Asia, the Mediterranean, and Europe and is also an important country from the Indo-Pacific point of view." Modi arrived in Cairo Saturday after a four-day trip to the United States, where he held talks with President Joe Biden and top administration officials, addressed the Congress and met with top American executives. His meeting with el-Sissi came as global attention focused on a brief rebellion by the head of Wagner Group, seen as the greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. Neither Modi not el-Sissi immediately commented on the rebellion. CAIRO: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi on Sunday bestowed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Egypt's highest honor as the two countries tightened their partnership. El-Sissi welcomed Modi at the presidential palace in Cairo with the Order of the Nile, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. The leaders signed a declaration elevating Egyptian-Indo ties to a "strategic partnership," under which the two nations agreed to intensify their cooperation and hold periodic talks, the statement said. Egypt and India share deep ties that date back to the 1950s, when the two nations played key roles in founding the Non-Aligned Movement, which had sought an alternative path to siding with either communism or capitalism at the height of the Cold War.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Modi, who arrived in Cairo Saturday, is the first Indian prime minister to pay a state visit to Egypt in more than two decades. His two-day stop came six months after el-Sissi was in New Delhi as an official guest at India's Independence Day. Modi also invited the Egyptian leader to attend the G-20 summit, which India will host in September. Following his talks with el-Sissi, Modi visited a historic mosque, Cairo's Al-Hakim, which was recently renovated with the help of the India-based Dawoodi Bohra community. He also paid tribute to Indian soldiers who died in World War I and are buried in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo. Modi's trip to Egypt has focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Cairo and New Delhi. The prime minister said both countries have been moving swiftly to increase bilateral trade to $12 billion annually within five years that's up from $7.3 billion in 2021-22. "This is a remarkable year for our shared relations," Modi told a meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly on Saturday. Earlier this year, both countries agreed to boost trade cooperation. India, the world's most populous country, is one of the top five importers of Egyptian products, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas, salt, cotton, inorganic chemicals, and oilseeds. Major Indian exports to Egypt include cotton yarn, coffee, herbs, tobacco, lentils, vehicle parts, ships, boats, and electrical machinery. El-Sissi and Modi, who came to power in their counties in 2014, have in recent years cultivated closer relationship. And over the last 16 months, they resisted pressure form the West to condemn the Russian war in Ukraine. Both Egypt and India have decades-old ties with the Kremlin. "There is a change in the global geopolitical and geoeconomic atmosphere wherein both countries wish to play a defining role," India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said during a visit to Cairo in September. "Egypt's geostrategic location acts as a connecting link between Africa, West Asia, the Mediterranean, and Europe and is also an important country from the Indo-Pacific point of view." Modi arrived in Cairo Saturday after a four-day trip to the United States, where he held talks with President Joe Biden and top administration officials, addressed the Congress and met with top American executives. His meeting with el-Sissi came as global attention focused on a brief rebellion by the head of Wagner Group, seen as the greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. Neither Modi not el-Sissi immediately commented on the rebellion. By PTI NEW DELHI: Droupadi Murmu was not a frequent mobile phone user and probably "missed the most important call of her life" - that from the Prime Minister's Office to inform her about her nomination as the official NDA candidate for the president's post, claims a new book. But her former officer on special duty in Jharkhand, Bikash Chandra Mohanto, came running to Murmu's house with his phone in hand, saying he had received a call apparently from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and was asked to connect with her. This incident of June 21, 2022, finds mention in the biographical work "Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands to Raisina Hill" by journalist Kasturi Ray, published recently by Rupa. Through interviews and analysis, Ray tracks Murmu's life, following her through school and college, from being a teacher to social worker, councillor to minister, from taking charge as the governor of Jharkhand to becoming India's first tribal president. On that day in June last year, Murmu was in Odisha's Rairangpur, 14 km from her native village Uparbeda and nearly 275 km from capital Bhubaneswar. The BJP was to announce the NDA's presidential candidate. All were waiting for an official announcement. "Unfortunately, Murmu and her family were not able to watch the news because of a power cut. Yet the indications were apparent. The sense of serendipity was palpable," the book says. A little later, television channels started broadcasting the news. "As people gathered, she invited everyone in, met them and spoke to them. Not a frequent mobile phone user, she had kept hers away and probably missed many calls, including the most important one of her life. But as her daughter Itishree's phone was constantly ringing, Murmu managed to respond to a few," the book says. But the official confirmation was still awaited. "The hour of reckoning finally came when her former officer on special duty for a brief stint at Jharkhand and currently a medicine store owner in Rairangpur, Bikash Chandra Mohanto, came running to Murmu's house with his phone in hand. "He had apparently received a call from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and was asked to connect with Murmu. Taken by surprise and unable to fathom the urgency, he lowered his store's shutter and rushed to Murmu's house to connect her to the PMO," the book says. "She had not realised by then that she had missed the most important call of her life on her phone. Mohanto handed over his phone to Murmu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the other end -they spoke," Ray writes in the book. "She knew she was the NDA's choice as the presidential candidate. At a loss for words, Murmu expressed her doubt if she would be able to shoulder the responsibility as expected and Modi assured her that she could," she writes. Much later, during a meeting of legislators and parliamentarians in Ranchi, Murmu said that the "prime minister told me that the way you groomed Jharkhand while being Governor of the State, I am confident that you will also be able to fulfill this responsibility quite efficiently". On July 25, 2022, Murmu was administered the oath of office of the 15th President by the then Chief Justice of India N V Ramana. NEW DELHI: Droupadi Murmu was not a frequent mobile phone user and probably "missed the most important call of her life" - that from the Prime Minister's Office to inform her about her nomination as the official NDA candidate for the president's post, claims a new book. But her former officer on special duty in Jharkhand, Bikash Chandra Mohanto, came running to Murmu's house with his phone in hand, saying he had received a call apparently from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and was asked to connect with her. This incident of June 21, 2022, finds mention in the biographical work "Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands to Raisina Hill" by journalist Kasturi Ray, published recently by Rupa.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Through interviews and analysis, Ray tracks Murmu's life, following her through school and college, from being a teacher to social worker, councillor to minister, from taking charge as the governor of Jharkhand to becoming India's first tribal president. On that day in June last year, Murmu was in Odisha's Rairangpur, 14 km from her native village Uparbeda and nearly 275 km from capital Bhubaneswar. The BJP was to announce the NDA's presidential candidate. All were waiting for an official announcement. "Unfortunately, Murmu and her family were not able to watch the news because of a power cut. Yet the indications were apparent. The sense of serendipity was palpable," the book says. A little later, television channels started broadcasting the news. "As people gathered, she invited everyone in, met them and spoke to them. Not a frequent mobile phone user, she had kept hers away and probably missed many calls, including the most important one of her life. But as her daughter Itishree's phone was constantly ringing, Murmu managed to respond to a few," the book says. But the official confirmation was still awaited. "The hour of reckoning finally came when her former officer on special duty for a brief stint at Jharkhand and currently a medicine store owner in Rairangpur, Bikash Chandra Mohanto, came running to Murmu's house with his phone in hand. "He had apparently received a call from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and was asked to connect with Murmu. Taken by surprise and unable to fathom the urgency, he lowered his store's shutter and rushed to Murmu's house to connect her to the PMO," the book says. "She had not realised by then that she had missed the most important call of her life on her phone. Mohanto handed over his phone to Murmu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the other end -they spoke," Ray writes in the book. "She knew she was the NDA's choice as the presidential candidate. At a loss for words, Murmu expressed her doubt if she would be able to shoulder the responsibility as expected and Modi assured her that she could," she writes. Much later, during a meeting of legislators and parliamentarians in Ranchi, Murmu said that the "prime minister told me that the way you groomed Jharkhand while being Governor of the State, I am confident that you will also be able to fulfill this responsibility quite efficiently". On July 25, 2022, Murmu was administered the oath of office of the 15th President by the then Chief Justice of India N V Ramana. By ANI NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday, lashed out at former US President Barack Obama for his comments on the BJP government's treatment of Indian Muslims by saying that under his reign, the United States had bombed six Muslim-dominated countries. While addressing a press conference in Delhi, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "It was surprising that when the PM was visiting the US and telling people about India, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian Muslims...I am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US, but they comment on India's religious tolerance. Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama)... More than 26,000 bombs were dropped." This comment came after US former President Barack Obama, during a media interview, said if ethnic minorities are not protected, there is a strong possibility of the country "at some point starts pulling apart". Obama made the remarks during an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour and said if President Joe Biden meets with PM Modi, "the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is something worth mentioning". Meanwhile, at the conference, the union minister defended PM Modi from questions surrounding the treatment being meted out to the Muslims in India and pointed out that out of 13 honors, that the Prime Minister received from different countries, six awards were from such nations where Muslims are in the majority. "Honorable prime minister himself during the press conference in the US has said how his government works on 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' principle and doesn't discriminate against any community whatsoever but the fact remains that repeatedly when people join in in this debate and highlight issues which are non-issues in a way because if there are issues in states which are to be raised they are being raised at the state level," Sitharaman said at the press conference. Further, she added, "Law and Order is the State subject that people are taking care of it and elected governments are there in each of the states which respond to it. To just allege without basic data in hand just tells us that these are organized campaigns which purposely are being leveled at the doorstep of the Prime Minister otherwise why would countries give such an honor to the prime minister and why would there be a distortion in understanding how India and its minority population irrespective of which religion they belong to minority population are being part of the Indian mainstream." Slamming the opposition, she said that as Congress couldn't see the possibility of winning the election, they have started such kind of campaign against the government. NEW DELHI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday, lashed out at former US President Barack Obama for his comments on the BJP government's treatment of Indian Muslims by saying that under his reign, the United States had bombed six Muslim-dominated countries. While addressing a press conference in Delhi, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "It was surprising that when the PM was visiting the US and telling people about India, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian Muslims...I am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US, but they comment on India's religious tolerance. Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama)... More than 26,000 bombs were dropped." This comment came after US former President Barack Obama, during a media interview, said if ethnic minorities are not protected, there is a strong possibility of the country "at some point starts pulling apart".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Obama made the remarks during an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour and said if President Joe Biden meets with PM Modi, "the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is something worth mentioning". Meanwhile, at the conference, the union minister defended PM Modi from questions surrounding the treatment being meted out to the Muslims in India and pointed out that out of 13 honors, that the Prime Minister received from different countries, six awards were from such nations where Muslims are in the majority. "Honorable prime minister himself during the press conference in the US has said how his government works on 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' principle and doesn't discriminate against any community whatsoever but the fact remains that repeatedly when people join in in this debate and highlight issues which are non-issues in a way because if there are issues in states which are to be raised they are being raised at the state level," Sitharaman said at the press conference. Further, she added, "Law and Order is the State subject that people are taking care of it and elected governments are there in each of the states which respond to it. To just allege without basic data in hand just tells us that these are organized campaigns which purposely are being leveled at the doorstep of the Prime Minister otherwise why would countries give such an honor to the prime minister and why would there be a distortion in understanding how India and its minority population irrespective of which religion they belong to minority population are being part of the Indian mainstream." Slamming the opposition, she said that as Congress couldn't see the possibility of winning the election, they have started such kind of campaign against the government. By PTI LUCKNOW: It has been nearly 50 years but Lucknow-resident Tej Narayan Gupta vividly remembers the evening a police team knocked on his door and picked him up. A nationwide crackdown had begun on June 26 in 1975, a day after the Emergency was imposed in the country, with scores of opposition leaders and activists put behind bars. "Around 9 pm I had just returned home when a police team raided my house and arrested me," Gupta, who was then an activist and lawyer, said. A policeman took him on a bicycle to Bazar Khala police station, two km away from his home. He was then taken to Kaisarbagh police station and finally lodged in the Lucknow district jail along with other arrested persons. "The policeman was riding the bicycle, which was taken from a labourer, and I sat on the rod in front of him. He was riding the cycle very slowly. The motive was to create terror in the minds of the residents of my locality," Gupta, 83, told PTI. Equating the imposition of the Emergency with dacoity, he said, "Generally, dacoity is carried out around midnight. Similarly, this dacoity of democracy in the country also took place around midnight." The Indira Gandhi government imposed the Emergency on June 25 night, suspending civil liberties and censoring the press. The morning after a crackdown began on opposition leaders and activists with scores of them being jailed across the country. "In jail, we were not sure about the future and whether we will ever walk out of it," Gupta said. Months later the situation changed and the Emergency was lifted on March 21, 1977. In his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast on June 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Emergency as a "dark period" in India's history and said those who supported democracy at that time were tortured. According to the Political Pension Department of Uttar Pradesh, 4,755 of those arrested during the Emergency in the state are still alive. They are now called "loktantra senani or fighters of democracy". Among them are 83-year-old Ramdeen and 74-year-old Kedar Nath Srivastava. "An atmosphere of fear and uncertainty prevailed in the minds of people during the Emergency. The forced sterilisation made people go against Congress in the subsequent general elections," Ramdeen said. Srivastava said, "After being arrested, many of us wondered whether we are going to live in jail forever!" Hriday Narayan Dixit, a former speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, also recalled his incarceration during the period. "I was lodged in Unnao jail. The parliamentary elections were announced and we were hopeful that the Congress and Indira Gandhi would be defeated. On the night of counting of votes, I somehow managed to get a radio and was listening to the announcement of results." "Late in the night, the deputy jailor came and said 'agar transistor mila toh danda kardoonga' (If a radio is found, you will be beaten with club). At around 4 am, we got the news that Indira Gandhi lost the election in Rae Bareli. The same deputy jailor came running towards my barrack and said 'badhaai ho, sir' (congratulations). When I asked how your tone changed so soon, he said 'You are forming the government'," Dixit, then a Jana Sangh leader, recalled. The Emergency was imposed on the pretext of internal disturbance though there was no such issue, he said. "It was a situation for which the country was not prepared, it had never happened before. The new generation should know about it so that in future no ruler gets the audacity to commit such an act," Dixit, 76, said. Senior Samajwadi Party MLA from Itwa in Siddharthnagar district Mata Prasad Pandey told PTI that "uncertainty and fear" prevailed during the days of the Emergency. Pandey, also a former speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, was lodged in Basti jail. Referring to the mass sterilisation drive during the Emergency, he said, "Police used to harass people. People used to hide atop trees or in sugarcane fields. Such was the fear." "However, at that time, only the leaders were arrested and their family members were not harassed," Pandey, 70, said. LUCKNOW: It has been nearly 50 years but Lucknow-resident Tej Narayan Gupta vividly remembers the evening a police team knocked on his door and picked him up. A nationwide crackdown had begun on June 26 in 1975, a day after the Emergency was imposed in the country, with scores of opposition leaders and activists put behind bars. "Around 9 pm I had just returned home when a police team raided my house and arrested me," Gupta, who was then an activist and lawyer, said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A policeman took him on a bicycle to Bazar Khala police station, two km away from his home. He was then taken to Kaisarbagh police station and finally lodged in the Lucknow district jail along with other arrested persons. "The policeman was riding the bicycle, which was taken from a labourer, and I sat on the rod in front of him. He was riding the cycle very slowly. The motive was to create terror in the minds of the residents of my locality," Gupta, 83, told PTI. Equating the imposition of the Emergency with dacoity, he said, "Generally, dacoity is carried out around midnight. Similarly, this dacoity of democracy in the country also took place around midnight." The Indira Gandhi government imposed the Emergency on June 25 night, suspending civil liberties and censoring the press. The morning after a crackdown began on opposition leaders and activists with scores of them being jailed across the country. "In jail, we were not sure about the future and whether we will ever walk out of it," Gupta said. Months later the situation changed and the Emergency was lifted on March 21, 1977. In his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast on June 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Emergency as a "dark period" in India's history and said those who supported democracy at that time were tortured. According to the Political Pension Department of Uttar Pradesh, 4,755 of those arrested during the Emergency in the state are still alive. They are now called "loktantra senani or fighters of democracy". Among them are 83-year-old Ramdeen and 74-year-old Kedar Nath Srivastava. "An atmosphere of fear and uncertainty prevailed in the minds of people during the Emergency. The forced sterilisation made people go against Congress in the subsequent general elections," Ramdeen said. Srivastava said, "After being arrested, many of us wondered whether we are going to live in jail forever!" Hriday Narayan Dixit, a former speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, also recalled his incarceration during the period. "I was lodged in Unnao jail. The parliamentary elections were announced and we were hopeful that the Congress and Indira Gandhi would be defeated. On the night of counting of votes, I somehow managed to get a radio and was listening to the announcement of results." "Late in the night, the deputy jailor came and said 'agar transistor mila toh danda kardoonga' (If a radio is found, you will be beaten with club). At around 4 am, we got the news that Indira Gandhi lost the election in Rae Bareli. The same deputy jailor came running towards my barrack and said 'badhaai ho, sir' (congratulations). When I asked how your tone changed so soon, he said 'You are forming the government'," Dixit, then a Jana Sangh leader, recalled. The Emergency was imposed on the pretext of internal disturbance though there was no such issue, he said. "It was a situation for which the country was not prepared, it had never happened before. The new generation should know about it so that in future no ruler gets the audacity to commit such an act," Dixit, 76, said. Senior Samajwadi Party MLA from Itwa in Siddharthnagar district Mata Prasad Pandey told PTI that "uncertainty and fear" prevailed during the days of the Emergency. Pandey, also a former speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, was lodged in Basti jail. Referring to the mass sterilisation drive during the Emergency, he said, "Police used to harass people. People used to hide atop trees or in sugarcane fields. Such was the fear." "However, at that time, only the leaders were arrested and their family members were not harassed," Pandey, 70, said. By PTI NEW DELHI: India is yet to finalise the cost and specific terms of purchase of 31 MQ-9B long endurance drones from the US and it will examine the "best price" offered by the manufacturer to other nations before concluding the procurement, the defence ministry said on Sunday while trashing reports in a section of social media on the price as well as the acquisition process. It said the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) accorded to the procurement by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) noted the estimated cost of USD 3,072 million (one million=10 lakh) as provided by the US government, adding the price will be negotiated once policy approval from Washington is received. The DAC headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on June 15 accorded the AoN or initial approval for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones from the US under the foreign military sale (FMS) route. The AoN included the number of unmanned aerial vehicles to be procured along with associated equipment. India and the US firmed up the drone deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile visit to Washington. The defence ministry, in a statement, described the reports in social media on the price and the terms of purchase relating to the drones as "speculative" and said they are being spread with "ulterior motives". "These are uncalled for, have ulterior motives and are aimed at derailing the due acquisition process. The price and other terms and conditions of the purchase are yet to be finalised and subject to negotiations," it said. "In this regard, all are requested not to spread fake news/misinformation which can have a serious impact on the morale of the armed forces and adversely impact the acquisition process," it added. 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. While the Navy will get 15 Sea Guardian drones, the Indian Air Force and the Army will each get eight Sky Guardian drones. The ministry said it will compare the acquisition cost of the drones with the "best price" offered by manufacturer General Atomics (GA) to other countries and that the procurement process would be completed as per the laid down procedure. "The AoN noted the estimated cost of 3,072 million US dollars provided by the US government. However, the price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US Government is received," it said. "The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will compare the acquisition cost with the best price offered by General Atomics (GA) to other countries. The procurement is in progress and would be completed as per the laid down procedure," it added. ALSO READ | India clears deal to buy armed Predator drones from the US The ministry said under the foreign military sale (FMS) route, a Letter of Request (LOR) would be sent to the US government where tri-services requirements, details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be included. "Based on the LOR, the US government and MoD will finalise the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) where details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be negotiated and finalised in accordance with the FMS programme and the price and terms offered by the US government and GA to other countries," it said. ALSO READ | Ahead of PM Modi's visit, India approves USD 3 billion deal for 30 armed drones from US 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 kg of bombs. 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. NEW DELHI: India is yet to finalise the cost and specific terms of purchase of 31 MQ-9B long endurance drones from the US and it will examine the "best price" offered by the manufacturer to other nations before concluding the procurement, the defence ministry said on Sunday while trashing reports in a section of social media on the price as well as the acquisition process. It said the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) accorded to the procurement by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) noted the estimated cost of USD 3,072 million (one million=10 lakh) as provided by the US government, adding the price will be negotiated once policy approval from Washington is received. The DAC headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on June 15 accorded the AoN or initial approval for the acquisition of 31 MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones from the US under the foreign military sale (FMS) route.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The AoN included the number of unmanned aerial vehicles to be procured along with associated equipment. India and the US firmed up the drone deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's high-profile visit to Washington. The defence ministry, in a statement, described the reports in social media on the price and the terms of purchase relating to the drones as "speculative" and said they are being spread with "ulterior motives". "These are uncalled for, have ulterior motives and are aimed at derailing the due acquisition process. The price and other terms and conditions of the purchase are yet to be finalised and subject to negotiations," it said. "In this regard, all are requested not to spread fake news/misinformation which can have a serious impact on the morale of the armed forces and adversely impact the acquisition process," it added. 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. While the Navy will get 15 Sea Guardian drones, the Indian Air Force and the Army will each get eight Sky Guardian drones. The ministry said it will compare the acquisition cost of the drones with the "best price" offered by manufacturer General Atomics (GA) to other countries and that the procurement process would be completed as per the laid down procedure. "The AoN noted the estimated cost of 3,072 million US dollars provided by the US government. However, the price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US Government is received," it said. "The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will compare the acquisition cost with the best price offered by General Atomics (GA) to other countries. The procurement is in progress and would be completed as per the laid down procedure," it added. ALSO READ | India clears deal to buy armed Predator drones from the US The ministry said under the foreign military sale (FMS) route, a Letter of Request (LOR) would be sent to the US government where tri-services requirements, details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be included. "Based on the LOR, the US government and MoD will finalise the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) where details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be negotiated and finalised in accordance with the FMS programme and the price and terms offered by the US government and GA to other countries," it said. ALSO READ | Ahead of PM Modi's visit, India approves USD 3 billion deal for 30 armed drones from US 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 kg of bombs. 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. By PTI KOHIMA: As the Law Commission sought views of various stakeholders on the need for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, a church body and a tribal organisation of Nagaland asserted that implementation of such a code will violate fundamental rights of the minorities and tribal people. The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) expressed fear that if the UCC comes into existence, it will violate the right of the minorities to practice their religion. The Nagaland Tribal Council (NTC) asserted that the UCC will dilute the provisions of Article 371A of the Constitution which states that no Act of Parliament would apply to the state in matters relating to religious or social practices of Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, and others. A UCC means having a common law for all citizens of the country that is not based on religion. Personal laws and laws related to inheritance, adoption, and succession are likely to be covered by a common code. "Codifying the social-cultural and the religious practices by way of negating the deep-rooted values and norms of the people, especially that of the tribals and the religious minority, will amount to violation of the fundamental rights of the marginalised minority in the country", the NBCC said. The move by the Centre is to manipulate the social, cultural, and religious rights of the minority, NBCC general secretary Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho claimed in a statement. Once implemented, the UCC will dilute Article 25 in the Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion, he claimed. The NTC demanded that Nagaland be excluded from the purview of the UCC so that the "hard-earned inalienable provisions" of Article 371A remain undisturbed. "Nagaland was granted Statehood as the 16th State of the Indian Union on December 1, 1963, by a political agreement popularly known as the 16 Point Agreement of 1960." "By this deed of agreement, special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland was accorded vide Article 371A of the Constitution of India," the NTC said in a letter to the 22nd Law Commission on Saturday. The tribal body said it had made the same representation to the 21st Law Commission in 2016. The 21st Law Commission, the term of which ended in August 2018, had examined the issue and solicited the views of all stakeholders on two occasions. Subsequently, a consultation paper on "Reforms of Family Law" was issued in 2018. Implementation of a UCC has been part of the BJP's election manifestos. KOHIMA: As the Law Commission sought views of various stakeholders on the need for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country, a church body and a tribal organisation of Nagaland asserted that implementation of such a code will violate fundamental rights of the minorities and tribal people. The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) expressed fear that if the UCC comes into existence, it will violate the right of the minorities to practice their religion. The Nagaland Tribal Council (NTC) asserted that the UCC will dilute the provisions of Article 371A of the Constitution which states that no Act of Parliament would apply to the state in matters relating to religious or social practices of Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, and others.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A UCC means having a common law for all citizens of the country that is not based on religion. Personal laws and laws related to inheritance, adoption, and succession are likely to be covered by a common code. "Codifying the social-cultural and the religious practices by way of negating the deep-rooted values and norms of the people, especially that of the tribals and the religious minority, will amount to violation of the fundamental rights of the marginalised minority in the country", the NBCC said. The move by the Centre is to manipulate the social, cultural, and religious rights of the minority, NBCC general secretary Rev Dr Zelhou Keyho claimed in a statement. Once implemented, the UCC will dilute Article 25 in the Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion, he claimed. The NTC demanded that Nagaland be excluded from the purview of the UCC so that the "hard-earned inalienable provisions" of Article 371A remain undisturbed. "Nagaland was granted Statehood as the 16th State of the Indian Union on December 1, 1963, by a political agreement popularly known as the 16 Point Agreement of 1960." "By this deed of agreement, special provision with respect to the State of Nagaland was accorded vide Article 371A of the Constitution of India," the NTC said in a letter to the 22nd Law Commission on Saturday. The tribal body said it had made the same representation to the 21st Law Commission in 2016. The 21st Law Commission, the term of which ended in August 2018, had examined the issue and solicited the views of all stakeholders on two occasions. Subsequently, a consultation paper on "Reforms of Family Law" was issued in 2018. Implementation of a UCC has been part of the BJP's election manifestos. Express News Service By BHOPAL: The BJP has decided to rope in the services of the partys best booth-level workers in Lok Sabha constituencies across the country for booth management in the five poll-bound states, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. On June 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address over 2,700 booth-level workers from 543 constituencies at the Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal. Party workers at 10 lakh booths across the country will be simultaneously connected to the PMs event live. The PM will interact with the five top-performing booth-level workers, BJP sources in Bhopal told this newspaper. On the eve of the event, BJP national president JP Nadda will address the same 2,,700-plus best booth-level workers and render them a detailed role of Vistaraks in the coming assembly polls in the five states. While 400 workers (hailing from 83 LS seats of the five poll-bound states) will work in their own states, the five best workers from each of the 460 remaining LS seats in other parts (total of around 2,300 workers) will be assigned the role of Vistaraks to work for booth management in the these five states. The detailed role will be assigned to them by the national BJP president in his interaction with them on June 26 in Bhopal. The exposure and experience of booth management attained from these five states will add to their expertise. This marks broad-basing of the existing practice of just roping in the key organizational leaders from different states for poll management in election-bound seats. Utilizing the services of best booth-level workers selected through a long process of interviews for booth-level management in states other than their own states means actual empowerment and recognition of the grass-root workers of the party and rendering them learning experience to replicate best practices in their constituencies for the actual target, the 2024 general elections, a senior MP BJP leader said. BHOPAL: The BJP has decided to rope in the services of the partys best booth-level workers in Lok Sabha constituencies across the country for booth management in the five poll-bound states, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. On June 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address over 2,700 booth-level workers from 543 constituencies at the Motilal Nehru Stadium in Bhopal. Party workers at 10 lakh booths across the country will be simultaneously connected to the PMs event live. The PM will interact with the five top-performing booth-level workers, BJP sources in Bhopal told this newspaper. On the eve of the event, BJP national president JP Nadda will address the same 2,,700-plus best booth-level workers and render them a detailed role of Vistaraks in the coming assembly polls in the five states.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While 400 workers (hailing from 83 LS seats of the five poll-bound states) will work in their own states, the five best workers from each of the 460 remaining LS seats in other parts (total of around 2,300 workers) will be assigned the role of Vistaraks to work for booth management in the these five states. The detailed role will be assigned to them by the national BJP president in his interaction with them on June 26 in Bhopal. The exposure and experience of booth management attained from these five states will add to their expertise. This marks broad-basing of the existing practice of just roping in the key organizational leaders from different states for poll management in election-bound seats. Utilizing the services of best booth-level workers selected through a long process of interviews for booth-level management in states other than their own states means actual empowerment and recognition of the grass-root workers of the party and rendering them learning experience to replicate best practices in their constituencies for the actual target, the 2024 general elections, a senior MP BJP leader said. Ejaz Kaiser By RAIPUR: With the Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh due after four months, the rift evidently surfaced within the ruling Congress as the PCC chief Mohan Markam, instead of heeding to the command given by the party in-charge Kumari Selja, chose to continue with his decision that reshuffled as many as six key office bearers in the organisation. Selja has asked the PCC chief to immediately revoke all new appointments made by him and asked him to assign senior Congressman Ravi Ghosh the responsibility as the general secretary (administration and organisation). Markam had shifted Ghosh as in-charge of Bastar. Seljas letter addressed to Markam carries an implied thrust that the approved list issued by him is not acceptable to her. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is said to be unhappy with Markams list that ruffled many feathers within the Congress. The speculations were rife about the strong differences persisting between Baghel and Markam and the recent development has apparently brought the tussle to the fore. According to the party insiders, the Baghel camp followers expressed their resentment claiming the PCC president neither consulted the chief minister nor discussed or brought it to the notice of the state party in-charge. However Markam seems firm to continue with his opted choice and said that till the next list is not issued all the newly appointed office bearers will continue working in their given respective position. The list issued (by him on June 16) is based on the effective utility of the party office bearers during the polls. The work division within the organisation is carried out based on their performance, that gets reviewed. Till the another list is issued, those who are given the responsibility will continue to deliver their roles for the party, said Markam, MLA who represents tribal seat Kondagaon in north Bastar. The BJP state president Arun Sao addressed the issue , said that peoples welfare has suffered owing to the alleged internal strife within the Congress. RAIPUR: With the Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh due after four months, the rift evidently surfaced within the ruling Congress as the PCC chief Mohan Markam, instead of heeding to the command given by the party in-charge Kumari Selja, chose to continue with his decision that reshuffled as many as six key office bearers in the organisation. Selja has asked the PCC chief to immediately revoke all new appointments made by him and asked him to assign senior Congressman Ravi Ghosh the responsibility as the general secretary (administration and organisation). Markam had shifted Ghosh as in-charge of Bastar. Seljas letter addressed to Markam carries an implied thrust that the approved list issued by him is not acceptable to her. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is said to be unhappy with Markams list that ruffled many feathers within the Congress. The speculations were rife about the strong differences persisting between Baghel and Markam and the recent development has apparently brought the tussle to the fore.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to the party insiders, the Baghel camp followers expressed their resentment claiming the PCC president neither consulted the chief minister nor discussed or brought it to the notice of the state party in-charge. However Markam seems firm to continue with his opted choice and said that till the next list is not issued all the newly appointed office bearers will continue working in their given respective position. The list issued (by him on June 16) is based on the effective utility of the party office bearers during the polls. The work division within the organisation is carried out based on their performance, that gets reviewed. Till the another list is issued, those who are given the responsibility will continue to deliver their roles for the party, said Markam, MLA who represents tribal seat Kondagaon in north Bastar. The BJP state president Arun Sao addressed the issue , said that peoples welfare has suffered owing to the alleged internal strife within the Congress. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By NEW DELHI: Slamming the state and the Central governments for their failure to restore peace in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, the Congress on Saturday demanded that an all-party delegation visit the state. The party also demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Biren Singh. Former Manipur CM and senior Congress leader Okram Ibobi, who represented Congress at the all-party meet, said, The PM, who has not uttered a single word on the Manipur violence, should have presided over the meeting. We also requested more time to present our partys stance, but our request was denied. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told the media at the party office that Manipur has been in the grip of violence for the last 52 days. There is a need to form a common consensus with the people of Manipur and a road map should be prepared in a sensitive way, Ramesh said. Congress has raised 10 points of demand in the all-party meeting. This meeting that was held today should actually have been chaired by PM Modi and held at Imphal to give a message to the people of state in distress. The PM is speaking in foreign countries but has not spoken a single word on Manipur violence, Ramesh said. He further said that it was a matter of regret that only seven minutes were given to Ibobi Singh out of three hours at the meeting. All armed groups must be disarmed immediately without any compromise. And all the arms should be seized by the government, Ramesh said, adding that as long as CM Biren Singh continues on the post, return of peace in the state is not possible. Besides Congress, opposition parties like TMC and RJD also demanded an all party-delegation be sent to Manipur. The TMC in a statement accused the Centre of deliberately ignoring the peoples needs in Manipur and demanded that all steps be taken to restore peace. NEW DELHI: Slamming the state and the Central governments for their failure to restore peace in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, the Congress on Saturday demanded that an all-party delegation visit the state. The party also demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Biren Singh. Former Manipur CM and senior Congress leader Okram Ibobi, who represented Congress at the all-party meet, said, The PM, who has not uttered a single word on the Manipur violence, should have presided over the meeting. We also requested more time to present our partys stance, but our request was denied. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told the media at the party office that Manipur has been in the grip of violence for the last 52 days. There is a need to form a common consensus with the people of Manipur and a road map should be prepared in a sensitive way, Ramesh said. Congress has raised 10 points of demand in the all-party meeting. This meeting that was held today should actually have been chaired by PM Modi and held at Imphal to give a message to the people of state in distress. The PM is speaking in foreign countries but has not spoken a single word on Manipur violence, Ramesh said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He further said that it was a matter of regret that only seven minutes were given to Ibobi Singh out of three hours at the meeting. All armed groups must be disarmed immediately without any compromise. And all the arms should be seized by the government, Ramesh said, adding that as long as CM Biren Singh continues on the post, return of peace in the state is not possible. Besides Congress, opposition parties like TMC and RJD also demanded an all party-delegation be sent to Manipur. The TMC in a statement accused the Centre of deliberately ignoring the peoples needs in Manipur and demanded that all steps be taken to restore peace. Express News Service By NEW DELHI: The exclusion of the Communist Party of India (CPI) from the all-party meeting on the prevailing situation in Manipur has drawn criticism from the party. The CPIs national general secretary D Raja expressed disappointment with Home Minister Amit Shah for not inviting the CPI to the meeting, stating that it reveals Shahs indifferent attitude towards the pressing issues in Manipur. Raja emphasized that the CPI is a recognised party in Manipur and plays a significant role in promoting peace and harmony in the state. He highlighted that a delegation from Manipur had recently met with the CPI leadership, and the party had actively engaged in peace-building efforts, including organising a demonstration in Delhi to appeal for peace and harmony. Raja called on Shah to explain the exclusion of CPI and the lack of transparency surrounding the Manipur issue. He questioned whether the fear of the CPI exposing the failures of the ruling double engine in Manipur was the reason for their exclusion. Furthermore, Raja criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a foreign trip while Manipur was in turmoil. He stated that the Union Home Minister should be held accountable for the situation in Manipur under his watch, and both Shah and Modi should answer for their failures to the people of Manipur. NEW DELHI: The exclusion of the Communist Party of India (CPI) from the all-party meeting on the prevailing situation in Manipur has drawn criticism from the party. The CPIs national general secretary D Raja expressed disappointment with Home Minister Amit Shah for not inviting the CPI to the meeting, stating that it reveals Shahs indifferent attitude towards the pressing issues in Manipur. Raja emphasized that the CPI is a recognised party in Manipur and plays a significant role in promoting peace and harmony in the state. He highlighted that a delegation from Manipur had recently met with the CPI leadership, and the party had actively engaged in peace-building efforts, including organising a demonstration in Delhi to appeal for peace and harmony.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Raja called on Shah to explain the exclusion of CPI and the lack of transparency surrounding the Manipur issue. He questioned whether the fear of the CPI exposing the failures of the ruling double engine in Manipur was the reason for their exclusion. Furthermore, Raja criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a foreign trip while Manipur was in turmoil. He stated that the Union Home Minister should be held accountable for the situation in Manipur under his watch, and both Shah and Modi should answer for their failures to the people of Manipur. DeLapp strong. Thats the DeLapp family motto, and their message to each other after the death of one of their own: Laura DeLapp. Were DeLapp strong, Jessica DeLapp Cannon, DeLapps aunt, told The Daily Progress on Saturday, recalling a recent text message from DeLapps mother to the familys group chat. Thats how well get through this. We will continue to pray, well continue to lift one another up. Im not going say its going get any easier. Well still have our moments. But well make it through. DeLapp was killed in a domestic-related shooting Tuesday afternoon near the Rio Hills Apartments north of Charlottesville, according to Albemarle County police. She was a mother of five and a manager at the Haven, a local day shelter for Charlottesvilles homeless population. The Albemarle County Police Department named Jemarcus Devonte Butler as a person of interest in the shooting Thursday, and arrested the 33-year-old Friday. Butler has an extensive rap sheet and has faced dozens of charges over the years in Virginia and along the East Coast, many of them violent crimes. People arent always who they say they are, Cannon said. And he really wasnt who he said he was. Domestic violence is real, and it comes in all different shapes, forms, sizes. And a lot of times you just dont know whats going on in someones home, Cannon added. DeLapps sister has taken custody of her 9-year-old twins, 13-year-old son and two daughters ages 10 and 16. This is going to be a long road for them, but the goal is for them to stay in the area, Cannon said. Were going to try to make this as normal a life for them as possible. A GoFundMe campaign to raise money for DeLapps burial and memorial has surpassed its $40,000 goal, part of which will go to her children. The campaign will remain live until the day of the funeral, which will be at the Haven on Market Street in downtown Charlottesville. A date has not yet been set. We couldnt even have imagined the number of people that she touched, Cannon said. It is just overwhelming. We had no idea how many people, in so many walks of life. DeLapp was a fierce advocate, working at the nonprofit and having previously volunteered at People And Congregations Engaged in Ministry, or PACEM, an organization that provides shelter in the winter for people experiencing homelessness. Being an advocate and giving back to the community was her true passion, Cannon said, and DeLapp treated her clients and fellow staff members like family. While working at the Haven, DeLapp was nationally recognized by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and sat on various committees to advocate for the homeless and less fortunate. The Haven closed temporarily this past week to allow staff and clients time to grieve. Laura was an amazing force for good, Anna Mendez, executive director at the Haven, said in an email. I am a better person for having known her and she made Charlottesville a better place. Mourning with those who mourn is sacred work; thank you for allowing us the time we need. Cannon thought of DeLapp as a little sister, being only 10 years apart. DeLapp was the kind of person who could have fun, she said, and they spent lots of time together. DeLapp even convinced Cannon once to get on a mechanical bull. She could be very professional and dress to the nines, or she could go ride her four-wheeler with her shorts on, Cannon said. But if she was going to be on that four-wheeler, she would still have her nails and makeup done. DeLapp imparted her passion on her children, taking them camping and swimming not in pools but in rivers and lakes. She let them help out in the kitchen, taught them to ride four-wheelers, motorcycles and dirt bikes, and was supportive of who they wanted to be, Cannon said. We have a very close-knit family, Cannon said, with 35 to 40 family members in the Charlottesville area alone. DeLapp was the oldest of her cousins, who followed her around as children and looked up to her. Years later, DeLapp became the host for the familys game nights and get-togethers which would always end at 9 oclock so the kids could get to bed. She was a stickler about bedtime, Cannon said. In the wake of DeLapps death, Cannon urged individuals, especially young women, to be careful with who they deal with and for family and friends to look out for one another. She urged people to do your due diligence to find out about a person and call hotlines if illegal activity is suspected. Her youngest boy told me, Aunt Jess, this seems like a dream. I said, I know baby, it does. It seems like a bad dream but were gonna get through this. Your mommys with you. Put your hand on your heart, and close your eyes, and think about what shed say to you. DeLapps son told Cannon he thought of times when he was bad and laughed, remembering his mom saying, Jeremiah, what are you doing? Cannon said shes trying to make DeLapps children remember the good times they had with their mother. I think shes smiling that were all together, and that her kids are going to be OK. Jaison Wilson By NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has recently denied bail to a foreign national in an alleged drug trafficking case, noting that no reasonable grounds for believing he is not guilty of the offence. Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar said the accused, Kingsley Nwannes presence at the spot, from where he was arrested, prima facie shows his involvement in the case. As per the case, 8 kg of heroin and 1,070 grams of cocaine, which is considered commercial quantity, were recovered from the co-accused -- two women from Uganda -- in the case with whom he was in touch and had also come to receive the baggage containing the contraband from them. ..there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioner is not guilty of the offence. That being the case, the limitations prescribed for the grant of bail under Section 37 NDPS Act are not satisfied and thus, no benefit can be given to him at this stage. The bail application is, therefore, dismissed, the recent high court order stated. According to the prosecution, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had received information that on January 27, 2021, two women from Uganda were expected to arrive at the IGI Airport carrying a significant quantity of contraband drugs. The women were stopped at the airport and the heroin and cocaine were recovered from their baggage, it said. NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has recently denied bail to a foreign national in an alleged drug trafficking case, noting that no reasonable grounds for believing he is not guilty of the offence. Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar said the accused, Kingsley Nwannes presence at the spot, from where he was arrested, prima facie shows his involvement in the case. As per the case, 8 kg of heroin and 1,070 grams of cocaine, which is considered commercial quantity, were recovered from the co-accused -- two women from Uganda -- in the case with whom he was in touch and had also come to receive the baggage containing the contraband from them. ..there are no reasonable grounds for believing that the petitioner is not guilty of the offence. That being the case, the limitations prescribed for the grant of bail under Section 37 NDPS Act are not satisfied and thus, no benefit can be given to him at this stage. The bail application is, therefore, dismissed, the recent high court order stated.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to the prosecution, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had received information that on January 27, 2021, two women from Uganda were expected to arrive at the IGI Airport carrying a significant quantity of contraband drugs. The women were stopped at the airport and the heroin and cocaine were recovered from their baggage, it said. Yeshi Seli By NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US concluded with enhanced economic ties, collaboration in manufacturing, enhanced diplomatic presence with more missions and a historic welcome that exceeded the expectations of everyone. From Yoga to PM Modis address in the Congress, the trip will go down in history. India and the US are united by a common destiny. When our partnership progresses, the world will be a better place, said PM Modi. Both PM Modi and US President Joe Biden took part in the India-US Hi-Tech handshake event at the White House which was moderated by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and saw the participation of leading Indian and American CEOs of tech companies and startups. The thematic focus of the forum was on AI for All and Manufacturing for Mankind. Those who attended the event from the Indian side included Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra, Nikhil Kamath and Vrinda Kapoor. The American CEOs included Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Thomas Tull, besides astronaut Sunita Williams. PM Modi underlined the immense potential of harnessing Indo-US tech cooperation for socio-economic growth. He also applauded the contribution of Indias talented youth in fostering a culture of innovation. President Biden called on CEOs to help expand India-US tech tie-up to new fields, including biotechnology and quantum. Both leaders underscored that the India-US partnership would play an instrumental role in building a better future for our people and the world. PM Modi invited Google CEO Sundar Pichai to explore further avenues of collaboration in Artificial Intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity and mobile device manufacturing in India. He also discussed a possible collaboration between Google and academic institutions in India to promote R&D and skill development. Meanwhile, while addressing a gathering of over 1000 professionals in the US at the John F. Kennedy Centre, PM highlighted the progress made in India. This is the moment, he said and invited the professionals to forge partnerships with India. While addressing the diaspora, in the Ronald Reagan Centre, PM Modi said that those attending the meeting have created a mini-India as there were representatives from across all states in India who are now settled in the US. In the past four days in the US I have met President Biden, CEOs of leading companies and am impressed by the India-US partnership which is based on conviction, compassion and shared commitment for a better world, said PM Modi to the diaspora adding that the foundation of the partnership was the Indian diaspora. The major takeaways of this trip include the US deciding to return over 100 antiquities to India, besides major deals in defence, trade and space. Key takeaways from the visit The Prime Ministers US visit has resulted in some big-ticket announcements in the following areas Defence Joint production of fighter jet engines in India: GE Aerospace inked an MoU with Hindustan Aeronautics to jointly produce fighter jet engines for IAFs Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mark 2 Armed drones India and the US may announce a mega deal on the purchase of General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (armed drones) by India, a move which would further bolster Indias national security and surveillance capabilities not only in the Indian Ocean but also along the frontier with China Space The nations will collaborate on sending an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station in 2024. India has also decided to join the Artemis Accord on civil space exploration Business PM Modi invited Americas Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India. The Prime Minister also invited Applied Materials to India for the development of process technology and advanced packaging capabilities Aviation Modi also invited General Electric to play a greater role in the aviation and renewable energy sector in India Diplomacy The US will open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India will establish a mission in Seattle H-1B visa: The US will introduce in-country renewable H-1B visas, which will help Indian professionals in the US to continue with their jobs without having to travel overseas for renewal of work visas NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the US concluded with enhanced economic ties, collaboration in manufacturing, enhanced diplomatic presence with more missions and a historic welcome that exceeded the expectations of everyone. From Yoga to PM Modis address in the Congress, the trip will go down in history. India and the US are united by a common destiny. When our partnership progresses, the world will be a better place, said PM Modi. Both PM Modi and US President Joe Biden took part in the India-US Hi-Tech handshake event at the White House which was moderated by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and saw the participation of leading Indian and American CEOs of tech companies and startups. The thematic focus of the forum was on AI for All and Manufacturing for Mankind. Those who attended the event from the Indian side included Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra, Nikhil Kamath and Vrinda Kapoor. The American CEOs included Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Thomas Tull, besides astronaut Sunita Williams.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); PM Modi underlined the immense potential of harnessing Indo-US tech cooperation for socio-economic growth. He also applauded the contribution of Indias talented youth in fostering a culture of innovation. President Biden called on CEOs to help expand India-US tech tie-up to new fields, including biotechnology and quantum. Both leaders underscored that the India-US partnership would play an instrumental role in building a better future for our people and the world. PM Modi invited Google CEO Sundar Pichai to explore further avenues of collaboration in Artificial Intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity and mobile device manufacturing in India. He also discussed a possible collaboration between Google and academic institutions in India to promote R&D and skill development. Meanwhile, while addressing a gathering of over 1000 professionals in the US at the John F. Kennedy Centre, PM highlighted the progress made in India. This is the moment, he said and invited the professionals to forge partnerships with India. While addressing the diaspora, in the Ronald Reagan Centre, PM Modi said that those attending the meeting have created a mini-India as there were representatives from across all states in India who are now settled in the US. In the past four days in the US I have met President Biden, CEOs of leading companies and am impressed by the India-US partnership which is based on conviction, compassion and shared commitment for a better world, said PM Modi to the diaspora adding that the foundation of the partnership was the Indian diaspora. The major takeaways of this trip include the US deciding to return over 100 antiquities to India, besides major deals in defence, trade and space. Key takeaways from the visit The Prime Ministers US visit has resulted in some big-ticket announcements in the following areas Defence Joint production of fighter jet engines in India: GE Aerospace inked an MoU with Hindustan Aeronautics to jointly produce fighter jet engines for IAFs Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mark 2 Armed drones India and the US may announce a mega deal on the purchase of General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (armed drones) by India, a move which would further bolster Indias national security and surveillance capabilities not only in the Indian Ocean but also along the frontier with China Space The nations will collaborate on sending an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station in 2024. India has also decided to join the Artemis Accord on civil space exploration Business PM Modi invited Americas Micron Technology to boost semiconductor manufacturing in India. The Prime Minister also invited Applied Materials to India for the development of process technology and advanced packaging capabilities Aviation Modi also invited General Electric to play a greater role in the aviation and renewable energy sector in India Diplomacy The US will open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, while India will establish a mission in Seattle H-1B visa: The US will introduce in-country renewable H-1B visas, which will help Indian professionals in the US to continue with their jobs without having to travel overseas for renewal of work visas Harpreet Bajwa By CHANDIGARH: A Punjab-based immigration agent Brijesh Mishra, who duped more than 700 Indian students by allegedly preparing fake college admission offer letters and bringing them at risk of deportation, has been arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on charges of immigration-related offences. Mishra who owns an immigration agency called EMSA in Jalandhar had gone missing just before this scam came to light. There were about 30 such students facing deportation proceedings and an additional 130 more cases that were being investigated due to the fake college admission letter scam. They arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019 and started getting notices from CBSA in 2021 as the agency said that the letter were fake, said sources. Sources said that Mishra was arrested when he attempted to enter the country and is being held by the Canadian authorities in British Columbia. Since he has been criminally charged, his custody has been transferred from the Canada Border Services Agency to law enforcement agency. The effected students had held demonstrations in Canada. CHANDIGARH: A Punjab-based immigration agent Brijesh Mishra, who duped more than 700 Indian students by allegedly preparing fake college admission offer letters and bringing them at risk of deportation, has been arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on charges of immigration-related offences. Mishra who owns an immigration agency called EMSA in Jalandhar had gone missing just before this scam came to light. There were about 30 such students facing deportation proceedings and an additional 130 more cases that were being investigated due to the fake college admission letter scam. They arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019 and started getting notices from CBSA in 2021 as the agency said that the letter were fake, said sources. Sources said that Mishra was arrested when he attempted to enter the country and is being held by the Canadian authorities in British Columbia. Since he has been criminally charged, his custody has been transferred from the Canada Border Services Agency to law enforcement agency. The effected students had held demonstrations in Canada. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mayank Singh By NEW DELHI: In its attempts to strengthen its relationship with African countries, India has conducted maritime exercises with the Kenyan Navy. The exercise coincided with the official visit of Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, Indian Navys Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS). In a statement, the Indian Navy said, The crew of both Indian and Kenyan navies conducted drills in firefighting & damage control, boarding exercises and asymmetric threat simulations. Indigenous INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya from June 20-23 towards boosting bilateral ties with maritime neighbours on the theme of Ocean Ring of Yoga, the Navy said. The Commanding Officer called upon Brigadier Y S Abdi, Deputy Commander of Kenya Navy, and highlighted the significance of yoga towards bringing the world together. On the occasion of International Day of Yoga on June 21, a joint yoga session was conducted onboard with the participation of Indian Navy personnel and Kenyan defence forces. The official visit of DCNS was from June 21-23 during which he oversaw the Harbour Phase activities of the ongoing Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) between the two countries navies. He called on Aden Bare Duale, cabinet secretary, Ministry of Defence, Kenya. The two discussed avenues of strengthening bilateral defence relations. Vice Admiral Mahindru also called on General Francis O Ogolla, chief of defence forces. Key aspects of enhancing coordinated operations in the maritime domain and bolstering interoperability between the Indian Navy and the Kenya Navy were discussed. A reception in honour of General Francis Ogolla, Chief of Defence Forces Kenyan Defence Forces was hosted onboard Sunayna by Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru. The event was attended by HE Ms Namgya Khampa, High Commissioner of India, Nairobi. During his address, the CDF conveyed his gratitude towards friendly gestures by the Indian Navy in training the Kenya Navy personnel and expressed his commitment towards continuous cooperation between both countries. NEW DELHI: In its attempts to strengthen its relationship with African countries, India has conducted maritime exercises with the Kenyan Navy. The exercise coincided with the official visit of Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, Indian Navys Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS). In a statement, the Indian Navy said, The crew of both Indian and Kenyan navies conducted drills in firefighting & damage control, boarding exercises and asymmetric threat simulations. Indigenous INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya from June 20-23 towards boosting bilateral ties with maritime neighbours on the theme of Ocean Ring of Yoga, the Navy said. The Commanding Officer called upon Brigadier Y S Abdi, Deputy Commander of Kenya Navy, and highlighted the significance of yoga towards bringing the world together. On the occasion of International Day of Yoga on June 21, a joint yoga session was conducted onboard with the participation of Indian Navy personnel and Kenyan defence forces.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The official visit of DCNS was from June 21-23 during which he oversaw the Harbour Phase activities of the ongoing Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) between the two countries navies. He called on Aden Bare Duale, cabinet secretary, Ministry of Defence, Kenya. The two discussed avenues of strengthening bilateral defence relations. Vice Admiral Mahindru also called on General Francis O Ogolla, chief of defence forces. Key aspects of enhancing coordinated operations in the maritime domain and bolstering interoperability between the Indian Navy and the Kenya Navy were discussed. A reception in honour of General Francis Ogolla, Chief of Defence Forces Kenyan Defence Forces was hosted onboard Sunayna by Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru. The event was attended by HE Ms Namgya Khampa, High Commissioner of India, Nairobi. During his address, the CDF conveyed his gratitude towards friendly gestures by the Indian Navy in training the Kenya Navy personnel and expressed his commitment towards continuous cooperation between both countries. Rajesh Asnani By Venugopals visit raises many eyebrows A sudden visit to Jaipur by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has created a flutter in Congress circles in Rajasthan. After talks with Sachin Pilot in Delhi, Venugopal reached Jaipur to attend a wedding in the family of minister Bhajan Lal. But its his long meeting with CM Ashok Gehlot that has sparked lots of curiosity. After Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge met Gehlot-Pilot in Delhi on May 29 and the duo agreed to fight elections together, the formula for their reconciliation has been eagerly awaited. Many link Venugopals visit with the quest for an agreeable formula. Jodhpur hosts first LGBTQ rally While the debate about gay marriage rages in the country, representatives of the community reached Jodhpur to participate in a unique rally of LGBTQ community. The rally was taken out to create awareness, mutual understanding and promote equal rights in society. While dancing in this rally, people of the transgender community attracted peoples attention in Jodhpur, the hometown of CM Ashok Gehlot. The month of June is celebrated as Pride Month of LGBTQ community and the Jodhpur rally was organised under the Garima Project of Sambhali Trust. Sambhali Trust founder Govind Rathod said that We want to promote a message of peace and equal rights. UN, Raj Police sign MoU for effective probe The United Nations Population Fund and the Rajasthan Police have signed an MoU for effective investigation of cases of violence against women in the state and for prevention of such cases. The MOU will pave the way for the establishment of a Gender Unit in the Rajasthan Police Academy. The MoU was signed by Andrea Wojner, Director of Bhutan and Indias representative at UNFPA and P Ramjee, Director of Poes Academy. DGP Umesh Mishra said that womens desks and reception rooms have already been set up in police stations. Through this MoU, research work will be done to see how well women are getting the benefits of new police policies. Venugopals visit raises many eyebrows A sudden visit to Jaipur by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has created a flutter in Congress circles in Rajasthan. After talks with Sachin Pilot in Delhi, Venugopal reached Jaipur to attend a wedding in the family of minister Bhajan Lal. But its his long meeting with CM Ashok Gehlot that has sparked lots of curiosity. After Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge met Gehlot-Pilot in Delhi on May 29 and the duo agreed to fight elections together, the formula for their reconciliation has been eagerly awaited. Many link Venugopals visit with the quest for an agreeable formula. Jodhpur hosts first LGBTQ rally While the debate about gay marriage rages in the country, representatives of the community reached Jodhpur to participate in a unique rally of LGBTQ community. The rally was taken out to create awareness, mutual understanding and promote equal rights in society. While dancing in this rally, people of the transgender community attracted peoples attention in Jodhpur, the hometown of CM Ashok Gehlot. The month of June is celebrated as Pride Month of LGBTQ community and the Jodhpur rally was organised under the Garima Project of Sambhali Trust. Sambhali Trust founder Govind Rathod said that We want to promote a message of peace and equal rights. UN, Raj Police sign MoU for effective probe The United Nations Population Fund and the Rajasthan Police have signed an MoU for effective investigation of cases of violence against women in the state and for prevention of such cases. The MOU will pave the way for the establishment of a Gender Unit in the Rajasthan Police Academy. The MoU was signed by Andrea Wojner, Director of Bhutan and Indias representative at UNFPA and P Ramjee, Director of Poes Academy. DGP Umesh Mishra said that womens desks and reception rooms have already been set up in police stations. Through this MoU, research work will be done to see how well women are getting the benefits of new police policies. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Yeshi Seli By NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Cairo from the US on Saturday for a two-day state visit and was welcomed at the airport by his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly with a warm embrace. This is the first bilateral visit to Egypt after 1997 by any Indian PM. India hopes to sign a $5 billion defence deal with Egypt. It has already escalated the African Unions request to become a member of the G20. New Delhi has invited Cairo as a guest for the G20 meeting. India could announce a credit line for Egypt to help their economy and boost trade. Egypt need food and wheat and India could go for a swap deal, said sources. I thank PM Madbouly for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. I hope the Indo-Egyptian relations will flourish for the benefit of the people of our two nations, Modi said. Modi then met the Indian diaspora before holding bilateral talks with his counterpart Madbouly. I am deeply moved by the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy was people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly a celebration of our shared cultural linkages, said Modi. A video of an Egyptian woman singing a popular Hindi numbar, Yeh dosti hum nahi todenge from the iconic Bollywood film Sholay went viral. Modi listened to it attentively and expressed his appreciation. Members of the Indian diaspora flocked around the Ritz Carlton hotel, where Modi is staying. The PM will hold bilateral talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday. Sisi was the chief guest at the Republic Day this year and has been to India twice before that since 2015. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Cairo from the US on Saturday for a two-day state visit and was welcomed at the airport by his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly with a warm embrace. This is the first bilateral visit to Egypt after 1997 by any Indian PM. India hopes to sign a $5 billion defence deal with Egypt. It has already escalated the African Unions request to become a member of the G20. New Delhi has invited Cairo as a guest for the G20 meeting. India could announce a credit line for Egypt to help their economy and boost trade. Egypt need food and wheat and India could go for a swap deal, said sources. I thank PM Madbouly for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. I hope the Indo-Egyptian relations will flourish for the benefit of the people of our two nations, Modi said. Modi then met the Indian diaspora before holding bilateral talks with his counterpart Madbouly.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); I am deeply moved by the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy was people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly a celebration of our shared cultural linkages, said Modi. A video of an Egyptian woman singing a popular Hindi numbar, Yeh dosti hum nahi todenge from the iconic Bollywood film Sholay went viral. Modi listened to it attentively and expressed his appreciation. Members of the Indian diaspora flocked around the Ritz Carlton hotel, where Modi is staying. The PM will hold bilateral talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday. Sisi was the chief guest at the Republic Day this year and has been to India twice before that since 2015. Amit Mukherjee By NEW DELHI: Political parties on Saturday suggested an all-party visit to the violence-torn Manipur as a part of the confidence-building measure as Home Minister Amit Shah briefed leaders on the situation in the state and made a presentation on the steps taken by the Centre. Shahs initiative came against the backdrop of unabated violence since the ethnic clashes broke out on May 3. The presentation on the current situation covered Manipurs existing demography and historic facts. The briefing also dwelt on the reasons leading to the flare-up in the northeastern state. Amit Shah told representatives of political parties that a 10-km-long fence has already been completed along the Myanmar border from where illegal migrants enter the country. We have taken suggestions from all parties and steps will be taken in the right direction, he said. In the absence of a clear plan to stabilize the volatile situation, almost all parties were unanimous on a visit by an all-party delegation. They suggested calibrated use of force to instil confidence among people. Several members stressed the need to form a team to start dialogues with communities affected by the conflict. Though the government had formed a peace committee, many members withdrew citing various reasons. Union ministers Nityanand Rai, Pralhad Joshi and JP Nadda from BJP were part of the meeting. Other leaders included O Ibobi Singh (Congress), Priyanka Chaturvedi from Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, his Sikkim counterpart Prem Singh Tamang, Derek OBrien from TMC, C Lalrosanga from Mizo National Front, Pinaki Mishra from BJD, M Thambidurai from AIADMK, Tiruchi Siva from DMK, Manoj Jha from RJD, Ram Gopal Yadav from SP and Sanjay Singh of AAP. NEW DELHI: Political parties on Saturday suggested an all-party visit to the violence-torn Manipur as a part of the confidence-building measure as Home Minister Amit Shah briefed leaders on the situation in the state and made a presentation on the steps taken by the Centre. Shahs initiative came against the backdrop of unabated violence since the ethnic clashes broke out on May 3. The presentation on the current situation covered Manipurs existing demography and historic facts. The briefing also dwelt on the reasons leading to the flare-up in the northeastern state. Amit Shah told representatives of political parties that a 10-km-long fence has already been completed along the Myanmar border from where illegal migrants enter the country. We have taken suggestions from all parties and steps will be taken in the right direction, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In the absence of a clear plan to stabilize the volatile situation, almost all parties were unanimous on a visit by an all-party delegation. They suggested calibrated use of force to instil confidence among people. Several members stressed the need to form a team to start dialogues with communities affected by the conflict. Though the government had formed a peace committee, many members withdrew citing various reasons. Union ministers Nityanand Rai, Pralhad Joshi and JP Nadda from BJP were part of the meeting. Other leaders included O Ibobi Singh (Congress), Priyanka Chaturvedi from Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, his Sikkim counterpart Prem Singh Tamang, Derek OBrien from TMC, C Lalrosanga from Mizo National Front, Pinaki Mishra from BJD, M Thambidurai from AIADMK, Tiruchi Siva from DMK, Manoj Jha from RJD, Ram Gopal Yadav from SP and Sanjay Singh of AAP. Ashish Srivastava By NEW DELHI: On the day when 30 nurses received top honours in their profession, the Florence Nightingale Award, an order by the health ministry disheartened their colleagues in four Central hospitals in the city. According to the order, the ministry dissolved the post of Deputy Nursing Superintendent (DNS) at four centre-run hospitals, Safdarjung, Ram Manohar Lohia, Lady Hardinge and Kalawati Saran. The post merged them with the Assistant Nursing Superintendent (ANS), which downgraded 40 nursing professionals to a rank lower than their position. I convey the approval of the competent authority to merge the two posts as Assistant Nursing Superintendent (ANS) at Level-10 with immediate effect. This is with the approval of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, said the order, a copy of which TNIE accessed. The nursing professionals have questioned the decision, saying it is against the governments own norms and will break the hierarchy. It is a big blow for the nursing profession. Never in history has a promotional post merged with the feeder cadre and the promotional post is downgraded. Its like a person who is holding the post of deputy director being ordered to serve as an assistant director from the next day. It is humiliating, said Anita Panwar, president, the All India Government Nurses Federation. Both the positions are different in the hierarchy and have separate recruitment rules. One is a feeder cadre and the other is a promotional post. This is injustice, said Panwar. The DNS is our third promotion in clinical nursing. The merger will put a stop to the growth in the nursing cadre. The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) also states that a government employee should get three promotions in service time, said Panwar. The nurses also highlighted that the responsibilities entailing the posts cannot be clubbed posts-merger. In the absence of DNS, who will manage the administrative work since the ANS are responsible for only effectively managing the patient care mechanism, asked a nurse. Seven ANS are under one DNS. One section is responsible for preparing the duty roster of nurses, handling medico-legal cases, all logistics of the hospital, the supervision of purchase, storage and management of drugs and medical items, said Panwar. NEW DELHI: On the day when 30 nurses received top honours in their profession, the Florence Nightingale Award, an order by the health ministry disheartened their colleagues in four Central hospitals in the city. According to the order, the ministry dissolved the post of Deputy Nursing Superintendent (DNS) at four centre-run hospitals, Safdarjung, Ram Manohar Lohia, Lady Hardinge and Kalawati Saran. The post merged them with the Assistant Nursing Superintendent (ANS), which downgraded 40 nursing professionals to a rank lower than their position. I convey the approval of the competent authority to merge the two posts as Assistant Nursing Superintendent (ANS) at Level-10 with immediate effect. This is with the approval of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, said the order, a copy of which TNIE accessed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The nursing professionals have questioned the decision, saying it is against the governments own norms and will break the hierarchy. It is a big blow for the nursing profession. Never in history has a promotional post merged with the feeder cadre and the promotional post is downgraded. Its like a person who is holding the post of deputy director being ordered to serve as an assistant director from the next day. It is humiliating, said Anita Panwar, president, the All India Government Nurses Federation. Both the positions are different in the hierarchy and have separate recruitment rules. One is a feeder cadre and the other is a promotional post. This is injustice, said Panwar. The DNS is our third promotion in clinical nursing. The merger will put a stop to the growth in the nursing cadre. The Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) also states that a government employee should get three promotions in service time, said Panwar. The nurses also highlighted that the responsibilities entailing the posts cannot be clubbed posts-merger. In the absence of DNS, who will manage the administrative work since the ANS are responsible for only effectively managing the patient care mechanism, asked a nurse. Seven ANS are under one DNS. One section is responsible for preparing the duty roster of nurses, handling medico-legal cases, all logistics of the hospital, the supervision of purchase, storage and management of drugs and medical items, said Panwar. Narendra Sethi By DEHRADUN: The state government, in a solution to the noise disturbance caused by helicopters to schools lying in the catchment area in Kedarnath Dham, has put the task of soundproofing the classes on the heli-operators. In order to maintain uninterrupted academic work in schools affected by the roaring noise of helicopters flying to Kedarnath Dham, the Uttarakhand government has decided to make the schools in the catchment area soundproof and has given them an ultimatum to respond within 15 days. According to sources, Heli companies have been instructed to prepare soundproof classrooms in schools near the helipad which comes under the purview of flights operated to Kedarnath. The government order also warned that failure to comply would result in a ban on the concerned helicopter company for the Kedarnath yatra for at least three years. Issued by Mayur Dixit, Rudraprayag District Magistrate, the order also directed the heli company operators that for the betterment of public facilities in the villages of Kedarghati, heli companies will have to contribute five per cent of their total earnings during the journey to the CSR fund. State Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj told this newspaper, After studying the long-standing complaints of public representatives and suggestions of parents, the administration has written to all the seven heli companies operating in this area and instructed them to prepare soundproof classrooms in schools affected by the loud noise near the helipads. It has come to my notice that the schools affected by the loud roar of the helicopters include Government Primary and Junior High School Dewar, Primary School Masta, Primary School Narayanketi, GIC Narayankoti, Junior High School Maikhanda, Primary School Khat and Khadia, GIC Phata and Primary School Shersi, Maharaj told this daily. Minister Maharaj stressed, Childrens education is of utmost importance, on the other hand, religious belief cannot be delimited. Therefore, the government has decided that the classrooms of the schools falling under the helicopter roar area should be soundproofed as soon as possible. DEHRADUN: The state government, in a solution to the noise disturbance caused by helicopters to schools lying in the catchment area in Kedarnath Dham, has put the task of soundproofing the classes on the heli-operators. In order to maintain uninterrupted academic work in schools affected by the roaring noise of helicopters flying to Kedarnath Dham, the Uttarakhand government has decided to make the schools in the catchment area soundproof and has given them an ultimatum to respond within 15 days. According to sources, Heli companies have been instructed to prepare soundproof classrooms in schools near the helipad which comes under the purview of flights operated to Kedarnath. The government order also warned that failure to comply would result in a ban on the concerned helicopter company for the Kedarnath yatra for at least three years. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Issued by Mayur Dixit, Rudraprayag District Magistrate, the order also directed the heli company operators that for the betterment of public facilities in the villages of Kedarghati, heli companies will have to contribute five per cent of their total earnings during the journey to the CSR fund. State Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj told this newspaper, After studying the long-standing complaints of public representatives and suggestions of parents, the administration has written to all the seven heli companies operating in this area and instructed them to prepare soundproof classrooms in schools affected by the loud noise near the helipads. It has come to my notice that the schools affected by the loud roar of the helicopters include Government Primary and Junior High School Dewar, Primary School Masta, Primary School Narayanketi, GIC Narayankoti, Junior High School Maikhanda, Primary School Khat and Khadia, GIC Phata and Primary School Shersi, Maharaj told this daily. Minister Maharaj stressed, Childrens education is of utmost importance, on the other hand, religious belief cannot be delimited. Therefore, the government has decided that the classrooms of the schools falling under the helicopter roar area should be soundproofed as soon as possible. Amit Pandey By NEW DELHI: The rift between the Congress and AAP over the Central ordinance on Delhis administrative matters shows no signs of abetting, said AAP sources on Saturday. They said despite repeated requests from Arvind Kejriwal for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader has not shown any interest. At the Opposition meeting in Patna on Friday, Rahul reportedly told AAP leaders: Your eagerness for a meeting appears mischievous. Kejriwal urged the Congress to clear its stance on the ordinance and sought a meeting. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge responded by referring to recent comments of AAP leaders, terming them unacceptable, sources said. If we recount the criticisms attributed to Congress leaders against AAP, then there is no possibility of constructive politics, said an AAP source. Kejriwal also had a personal word with Rahul, urging him to schedule a meeting over tea. Sources said Kejriwal told Rahul that even if it is a half-an-hour meeting, they could resolve all issues between the two sides. Rahul reportedly showed reluctance saying that Congress has a process for all such things that need to be followed, remarking that your eagerness to the meeting appears to be mischievous. Other senior leaders, including NCPs Sharad Pawar and Mamta Banerjee, also advised Congress to talk over lunch. But, the Congress leader disagreed. Another senior party leader said Congress leaders, including Kharge and Rahul, voiced their opposition to the ordinance, emphasising their commitment to upholding democratic values. However, they hesitated to publicly acknowledge their stance. NEW DELHI: The rift between the Congress and AAP over the Central ordinance on Delhis administrative matters shows no signs of abetting, said AAP sources on Saturday. They said despite repeated requests from Arvind Kejriwal for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader has not shown any interest. At the Opposition meeting in Patna on Friday, Rahul reportedly told AAP leaders: Your eagerness for a meeting appears mischievous. Kejriwal urged the Congress to clear its stance on the ordinance and sought a meeting. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge responded by referring to recent comments of AAP leaders, terming them unacceptable, sources said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); If we recount the criticisms attributed to Congress leaders against AAP, then there is no possibility of constructive politics, said an AAP source. Kejriwal also had a personal word with Rahul, urging him to schedule a meeting over tea. Sources said Kejriwal told Rahul that even if it is a half-an-hour meeting, they could resolve all issues between the two sides. Rahul reportedly showed reluctance saying that Congress has a process for all such things that need to be followed, remarking that your eagerness to the meeting appears to be mischievous. Other senior leaders, including NCPs Sharad Pawar and Mamta Banerjee, also advised Congress to talk over lunch. But, the Congress leader disagreed. Another senior party leader said Congress leaders, including Kharge and Rahul, voiced their opposition to the ordinance, emphasising their commitment to upholding democratic values. However, they hesitated to publicly acknowledge their stance. University of Virginia is kicking off its summer programming with a course that teaches high school students the history of slavery and the university. The Cornerstone Summer Institute offers students a way to learn about the universitys story, its impact on the surrounding community and the modern-day legacies of slavery, according to UVa. During the weeklong program, students will participate in activities such as historical investigation, archaeological excavation and community engagement to better prepare them for college and beyond. The Cornerstone Summer Institute presents opportunities for young people to learn about the Universitys rich and complex history, while gaining invaluable skills in teamwork, analytical thinking and exploration that will aid them on their path to becoming tomorrows citizen leaders, Kirt von Daacke, assistant dean and professor of the department of history at UVa, told The Daily Progress. UVa has said students will get the complete UVa experience: living in dormitories, eating in dining halls, exploring Grounds and the surrounding city of Charlottesville. The program has about 50 students each year, according to Daacke. We want to keep it small because some of what were talking about is slavery, racism and those are difficult topics, and we want it to be a safe space where they can feel comfortable talking about that and learn and connect with each other, Daacke said. The program that aims to leave students with new knowledge, a passion for history, friends from across the country and new memories starts June 23 and lasts until June 30, according to UVa. Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible to attend. Those attending the camp were required to submit an application including five short-answer questions. The camp offers financial assistance to those in need to help with the programs $950 tuition. We are pleased to offer the program to high school students each summer to expand on their eagerness to learn while advancing the knowledge of our university, Daacke said. By Associated Press JISR AL-SHUGHUR: Russian air strikes Sunday on Syria's northwest killed at least 11 people including five civilians, in retaliation for deadly drone attacks blamed on rebel forces, a war monitor said. "Six civilians were killed in Jisr al-Shughur and three rebel fighters were killed nearby by Russian air strikes," Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. Ahmed Yezidi of the civil defence in Jisr al-Shughur, a city in rebel-held Idlib province, said the strikes killed nine people, without specifying whether fighters were included in the toll. A fruit and vegetable market in the city was hit by the Russian strike, said the Observatory and an AFP correspondent at the scene. Yezidi called it "a direct attack on the popular market, which is a basic source of income for farmers" in the area. One civilian and one rebel fighter were also killed in a strike on the outskirts of Idlib city, said Abdel Rahman, whose Britain-based monitor has a wide network of sources inside war-torn Syria. At least 30 civilians were wounded in Sunday's strikes, he said, adding that the death toll was likely to rise. Russian forces, which back the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, were responding to rebel drone strikes over the past week that killed four civilians including two children, according to Abdel Rahman. Damascus, with Russian and Iranian support, has clawed back much of the ground lost in the early stages of Syria's conflict, which erupted in 2011 when the government brutally repressed pro-democracy protests. The last pocket of armed opposition to the regime includes large swathes of Idlib province and parts of the neighbouring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, headed by ex-members of Syria's former Al-Qaeda franchise, is the dominant group in the area but other rebel groups are also active, with varying degrees of Turkish backing. Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and forced around half of the country's pre-war population from their homes. JISR AL-SHUGHUR: Russian air strikes Sunday on Syria's northwest killed at least 11 people including five civilians, in retaliation for deadly drone attacks blamed on rebel forces, a war monitor said. "Six civilians were killed in Jisr al-Shughur and three rebel fighters were killed nearby by Russian air strikes," Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. Ahmed Yezidi of the civil defence in Jisr al-Shughur, a city in rebel-held Idlib province, said the strikes killed nine people, without specifying whether fighters were included in the toll.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A fruit and vegetable market in the city was hit by the Russian strike, said the Observatory and an AFP correspondent at the scene. Yezidi called it "a direct attack on the popular market, which is a basic source of income for farmers" in the area. One civilian and one rebel fighter were also killed in a strike on the outskirts of Idlib city, said Abdel Rahman, whose Britain-based monitor has a wide network of sources inside war-torn Syria. At least 30 civilians were wounded in Sunday's strikes, he said, adding that the death toll was likely to rise. Russian forces, which back the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, were responding to rebel drone strikes over the past week that killed four civilians including two children, according to Abdel Rahman. Damascus, with Russian and Iranian support, has clawed back much of the ground lost in the early stages of Syria's conflict, which erupted in 2011 when the government brutally repressed pro-democracy protests. The last pocket of armed opposition to the regime includes large swathes of Idlib province and parts of the neighbouring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, headed by ex-members of Syria's former Al-Qaeda franchise, is the dominant group in the area but other rebel groups are also active, with varying degrees of Turkish backing. Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and forced around half of the country's pre-war population from their homes. Railway Ministry allots Rs 153.84 cr for new India-Bdesh rly line in NE Guwahati/Agartala, June 24: The Railway Ministry has allocated Rs 153.84 crores for the under-construction railway line between India's Tripura to Bangladesh, officials said here on Saturday. Railway Ministry allots Rs 153.84 cr for new India-B'desh rly line in NE The Rs 862.58 crore Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) railway project is expected to be operational by the end of this year or early next year.Northeast Frontier Railway's (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Sabyasachi De said that the funding of the project is being done by the Ministry of DONER (Development of North Eastern Region) and already about Rs 708.74 crores of the anticipated cost has been provided and utilised.He said that the new rail project would boost relations between India and Bangladesh which would help growth of small scale industries in the border area and boost tourism of the northeastern region.It would also help in export and import of commodities faster and help the local producers to export their products outside the country faster, he added.De said that Indian Railways is significantly working towards PM's vision of 'Act East Policy' and 'Neighborhood First Policy' by executing several new railway line projects connecting the neighboring countries. Constructing the Agartala-Akhaura international connectivity rail line project between India and Bangladesh is one such of the crucial project that is at an advanced stage of completion.The 15.064 km long railway line (5.05 km in India and 10.014 km in Bangladesh) would link Bangladesh's Akhaura through an international immigration station at Nischintapur (on the outskirts of Agartala), which would be a dual gauge station for both passenger and goods interchange between India and Bangladesh. The project includes one major bridge and three minor bridges.After completion of the project, the travel time between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka of about 31 hours would get reduced to 10 hours, De said.Currently, the people of the region, especially those in Tripura and its adjoining areas, go to Kolkata via Guwahati by rail, spending more than 31 hours.The Maligaon (Guwahati) headquartered Northeast Frontier Railway is the nodal agency of the Agartala-Akhaura railway project, which was finalised in January 2010 when Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during her visit to New Delhi.The NFR officials in Agartala said that over 90 per cent work of the Agartala-Akhaura railway project on the Indian side has already been completed.IANS24 June 2023 Shared Recently! TN to procure 6 lakh tonnes rice from NCCF, other states to meet ration demands Chennai, June 24: The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) is negotiating with the National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF) and states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana to procure 6 lakh tonnes of rice to be distributed among ration card holders. TN to procure 6 lakh tonnes rice from NCCF, other states to meet ration demands Tamil Nadu has been allocated 2.97 lakh tonnes of rice for the public distribution system under the National Food Security Act but it needs an additional 50,000 tonnes per month as it has 2.2 lakh ration card holders to whom rice has to be distributed.The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had taken a position that it will not be providing more food grains to states under its Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS).Sources in the TNCSC told IANS that after the FCI reiterated its position that it will not supplying more food grains to states other than the allocated quota, they have to knock the doors of other states and the NCCF.However, the rates of rice supplied from the FCI under OMSS was only Rs 34 per kg while that of the NCCF will be Rs 35.95 which is Rs 1.95 higher per kg compared to the FCI scheme.While the NCCF is willing to supply rice at the previous year's rate of Rs 35.45, the cooperative federation insisted that it would delivery the rice only to the respective rail heads in the district headquarters. This will lead to an increase of 0.50 rupees per kg for transportation leading to rice costing Rs 35.95 as compared to the FCI rates.Another proposal with the TNCSC is to retain the paddy procured from the farmers of the state instead of supplying it in the central pool.Tamil Nadu has, at present, 5.4 lakh tonnes of rice in its warehouses and the department is planning earlier procurement to prevent any shortage.IANS24 June 2023 Shared Recently! Security forces all set to continue anti-naxal operations during monsoon Jagdalpur, June 24: Changing the assumptions associated with operations during monsoon, security forces in insurgency-hit districts under Bastar division will be carrying out extensive operations in forest patches in rains, informed officials. The experiment of conducting operations during monsoon has brought fruitful results to police on the naxal front, said a police officer, adding that Bastar Police have chalked out a foolproof strategy in this connection.The officer further elaborated that security personnel deployed in the region have been given special training in jungle warfare, wherein they were taught about how to cross raging rivers, seasonal nullah and other water bodies in the forest. Moreover, the security personnel were also trained to deal with other challenges in the forest that may surface during the operations. Security forces all set to continue anti-naxal operations during monsoon In addition, the jawans have been equipped with multiple resources and modern weapons, the officer stated."The security forces will not just conduct operations in interior (restive) patches of Bastar, instead, it will focus on areas sharing borders with Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha," informed the officer.Notably, the rough terrain and challenging geography of Bastar (which comprises dense forest, hills and valleys) have witnessed the highest numbers of naxal incidents in the country. Military battalions of the outlawed organisation are active in the region and there was evidence that they conduct training camps in these places. Moreover, the top leadership of the banned organisation also registered its presence in the Bastar region.In the last one-and-half years, security forces have established camps at over 60 places resulting in choking supply chains of insurgents."There was a mindset that security forces cannot conduct anti-naxal operations during monsoon because rivers-nullahs in the forest are flooded," said Bastar Range Inspector General of Police (IG) Sundarraj P, elaborating that due to this reason, operations between June and September (three-four months) were stopped.Overcoming this assumption, security forces are carrying out operations during the rainy season for the last 3-4 years bearing significant results, stated the IG."Owing to the previous breakthroughs, security forces will continue the operations during monsoon this year," said IG Bastar."Security personnel have been given special Jungle warfare training related to their movement in the forest at the time of rains and crossing flooding rivers and other water bodies," said Sundarraj, adding that special forces like CRPF, CoBRA and others are capable of doing the operations due to which the campaign against naxalism will continue this monsoon too.The IG said that the security personnel are well-prepared mentally as well as physically to deal with the challenges."We have an action plan ready to take effective action against the banned organisation. Definitely, we face serious challenges during monsoon, but our security personnel are well-prepared mentally as well as physically to deal with these challenges," said the IG, adding that jawans are well-equipped."Despite CoBRA personnel suffering casualties while crossing river-nullah in the past, their morale is very high this time and we are capable of going inside and taking action during monsoon," said Sundarraj.ANI24 June 2023 Shared Recently! The dust is beginning to settle after the June 20 Democratic primary, and some numbers can help shed some light on how the races played out. First things first: money. In every state house race in the region, the better-funded campaigns came out on top. Despite getting big checks from Democratic donor Sonjia Smith and two national political action committees, Del. Sally Hudson couldnt keep up with state Sen. Creigh Deeds financial backing. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, as of June 8 Hudsons campaign spent over $850,000, a daunting figure for a state senate race. But Deeds spent more. Just over $1 million, with his biggest donors being state Sens. Scott Surovell and Mamie Lockes candidate committees. He also received $36,000 from Virginia Realtors, a political action committee. In House District 55, Kellen Squire spent nearly $200,000 of his donations. But he was still outspent by victor Amy Laufer to the tune of $30,000. Laufers biggest donation came from Emilys List, a political action committee dedicated to getting pro-abortion women elected to office. While spending in those two races was relatively close, House District 54 saw a very lopsided fundraising matchup. Katrina Callsen spent $120,000 more than both of her opponents combined. Nearly half of her total donations came from Smith. One of Callsens opponents, Bellamy Brown, pointed to the huge gap in funding on his Facebook page. With a screenshot of the total spending, he wrote, Dont tell me theres no magic there. Asked to clarify, Brown told The Daily Progress he meant that his campaign achieved a greater return on investment. All told, Callsen spent $27.29 per vote, while Brown spent $5.49 and Dave Norris spent $5.05. Money matters, but it alone does not decide races. A good ground game can also help a candidate get across the finish line. Callsens team knocked on more than 15,000 doors during her campaign, likely outpacing Brown and Norris. Brown estimates that he knocked on upwards of 4,000 doors. Norris was unsure of his total, telling The Daily Progress that his team definitely focused more on meet and greets as an outreach strategy. Naturally, a bigger team can cover more ground and knock on more doors. Financing helps with that, and may explain why Callsens campaign was able to canvass so many homes. Laufers campaign did not respond when asked for its door-knocking total, but in an interview with The Daily Progress a week before the election, Laufer said, I just found out from the caucus that Im the number one candidate that has knocked on the number one amount of doors myself. In a Facebook post, Squire said his campaign knocked on 12,097 doors, in addition to making 6,367 phone calls and sending 7,485 personal letters. Hudson told The Daily Progress she knocked on 40,000, but cautioned that, doors arent where real persuasion happens. Instead, she said that her teams organizing campaign was more centered around 90 neighborhood house parties, which over 1,500 people attended. Digital messaging can have an impact too, although social media engagement is harder to quantify. Hudson had almost 2,000 more followers than Deeds on Twitter, but 10,000 less on Facebook. Squire had a 2,000-follower advantage over Laufer on Twitter, and no one in the 54th District race had a significant social media following. But do those follower numbers and a candidates social media presence have any bearing on a race? My experience generally has been if youre a candidate you dont want to be too online. The online audience of Twitter is much more politically engaged than your average voter, said J. Miles Coleman, media relations coordinator at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. In local races, where candidates have a smaller area to target, Coleman suggested candidates should meet people at coffee shops rather than tweet online. People like to say Twitter is not real life, and thats absolutely true, said Chaz Nuttycombe, director of CNalysis, a group that specializes in predicting state legislative elections. But if youre talking about Democratic Primary, where it can be a little bit of real life is where you have a lot of liberal white people. Because thats a lot of Twitter, he said. For that reason, Nuttycombe expected Laufers attacks on Squire to backfire. Anecdotally, he said he saw Laufer receiving criticism on Twitter and Facebook for mailers she released that questioned Squires commitment to abortion access. But if those people on social media were actually upset with Laufer, not many of them voted. The number that matters more than any whether it be doors knocked, money raised or Tweets sent is the vote total. Laufer won by 40 points. PM Modi holds roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly Cairo [Egypt], June 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo on Saturday. PM Modi holds roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly The Prime Minister, who arrived in Egypt on Saturday (local time), is scheduled to address the Indian community.Indian Ambassador to Egypt Ajit Gupte on Friday said for the first time, a roundtable meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Egyptian Prime Minister is taking place.On Sunday, Prime Minister will spend nearly half an hour at the Al-Hakim Mosque-- a historic and prominent mosque in Cairo named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985-1021), the 16th Fatimid caliph. The mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah is an important cultural site for the Dawoodi Bohra community in Cairo.During his first Egypt tour, the PM will also visit the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice fighting for Egypt during the First World War.The visit is of significance as Egypt has traditionally been one of India's most important trading partners in the African continent. India-Egypt Bilateral Trade Agreement has been in operation since March 1978 and is based on the Most Favored Nation clause, according to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).India was Egypt's fifth largest trading partner in the period April 2022-Dec 2022. It was the 11th-largest importer of Egyptian goods and the 5th-largest exporter to Egypt during the same time.The two countries share a close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional and global issues.India and Egypt share close political understanding based on a long history of contact and cooperation in bilateral, regional and global issues. The joint announcement of the establishment of diplomatic relations at the Ambassadorial level was made on August 18, 1947.Since the 1980s, there have been four Prime Ministerial visits from India to Egypt.Rajiv Gandhi visited the country in 1985, PV Narasimha Rao in 1995, IK Gujral in 1997, and Manmohan Singh in 2009. From the Egyptian side, President Hosni Mubarak visited India in 1982, in 1983 (NAM Summit), and again in 2008.High-level exchanges with Egypt continued after the 2011 Egyptian Revolution and then President Mohamed Morsi visited India in March 2013. External Affairs Minister (EAM) visited Cairo in March 2012 and the Egyptian Foreign Minister visited India in December 2013.On April 14, 2022, Egyptian Cabinet announced the inclusion of India in the list of accredited countries which can supply wheat to Egypt, thus ending a long pending Non-Tariff Barrier.India cleared a shipment of 61,500 metric tons of wheat to Egypt on May 17, 2022.ANI24 June 2023 Shared Recently! A seamlessly personalised hair colour experience New Delhi, June 24: Professional beauty tech brand, L'Oreal Professionnel announced the launch of My Hair (iD) - the newest hair colour diagnosis app. Set to make its debut in premier salons nationwide, designed by Modiface Technology, this game-changing app tackles the unpredictability of hair colour results, making it easier for the colourists to provide a detailed consultation to their clients. Users can virtually try an assortment of colours, empowering them to experiment before committing to any hair colour transformation. A seamlessly personalised hair colour experience Customized for Indian skin tones with a diverse range of curated looks, the My Hair (iD) tool works towards providing the most interactive colour consultation for its clients. The tool offers a five-step diagnosis which covers a percentage of gray hair, type of coverage expected, the pace of hair regrowth, length shade and the hair reflect. Post this, the app recommends a personalized shade recipe which aids the colourist for mistake-proof results. This app makes the hair colour result highly predictable, allowing the hair experts to demonstrate their expertise and experience.In conjunction with the app the brand launched new iNOA formula launch of their new renovated iNOA hair color. Launched in 2009, iNOA is the first no-ammonia hair colour in the market. After 14 years, iNOA has been reformulated making it 60% oil-based which utilizes the unique quality of oil to nourish the scalp and results in high impact colour leveraging the Oil Delivery System Technology. This oil-powered base adds an element of luxury for a personalized in-salon hair colour experience. This new innovative formula will successfully counter the number one consumer barrier to hair coloration the fear of hair damage.To demonstrate the new formula along with the innovative app, the brand organised Look and Learn events across major metro cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi. The event was attended by a whopping number of 3000+ hair professionals wherein Global iNOA Ambassadors demonstrated various chic and trendy hair looks on models using the all-new iNOA hair colour range followed by a Qiamp;A.Sharing her thoughts, Mathilde Barthelemy-Vigier, General Manager A L'Oreal Professionnel India said, "L'Oreal Professionnel has been a pioneer in developing the professional beauty market, investing in groundbreaking research, technological advancements, and innovations. The launch of the new iNOA is our next big step to establishing our vision of providing science-backed innovations and technological breakthroughs. While we have improved the formula for an improved sensorial experience for the consumers, iNOA is truly now at the forefront of tech with the launch of an all-new hair colour diagnosis iamp; consultation app - My Hair (iD). The app will change the way we consult for colour, empowering our Pros with tech that truly elevates them iamp; the consumers."Shedding light on the launch, Shweta Sahni, National Education Head - L'Oreal Professionnel said, "L'Oreal Professionnel has always strived to empower and elevate the skills of hairdressers. With the introduction of My Hair (iD), the brand continues its commitment to enabling professionals in the hair industry to perform their jobs effortlessly while fostering a creative environment. This AI-powered tool revolutionizes the diagnosis into a more scientific and technology-driven approach. Our primary focus remains on empowering an increasing number of enthusiastic hairdressers. To achieve this, we will be organising L'Oreal Professionnel 'Look n Learns' across 50 cities, where over 50,000 hairdressers will be trained on the new iNOA. Through these initiatives, we aim to empower our Pros to become champions of their craft. More so, we are looking to update the app iamp; make it locally relevant with looks that complement the Indian consumer's skin tones; created in-house with our hairdressers across the country at the iNOA Recipe Studios!"Commenting on the launch, Aditi Anand, General Manager Marketing - L'Oreal Professionnel India said, "Clean and personalized beauty are the top two emerging trends in India. With the new INOA launch, we are not just elevating but transforming the consumer experience and expectations with professional in-salon colouration.(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)IANS25 June 2023 Shared Recently! Amit Shah to address public meeting in UPs Bijnor on June 30 New Delhi, June 24: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor on June 30 as part of the 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan'. Amit Shah to address public meeting in UP's Bijnor on June 30 Under the 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan', all the prominent leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are doing programs across the country.Earlier, the Home Minister's program was to be held on June 29, but due to Eid, there has been a change in the program.On the occasion of the completion of nine years of the Modi government at the Centre, party leaders and ministers of the government will hold a grand rally across the country from May 30 to June 30 to inform about the achievements of several welfare schemes and development works launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in the country, sources said.On Thursday, BJP national president JP Nadda held a virtual meeting with the party's MPs to review the 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan', informed sources.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.ANI25 June 2023 Shared Recently! Save Earth Mission: Uniting the world in the biggest movement for a sustainable future PNN, New Delhi, June 24: In an era defined by pressing environmental challenges, the Save Earth Mission, led by Sandeep Choudhary, has emerged as the world's biggest mission. Save Earth Mission: Uniting the world in the biggest movement for a sustainable future With its ambitious goal of eradicating carbon emissions from the planet by 2040, this global movement is dedicated to creating a sustainable and eco-friendly future for Earth. Let's explore why the Save Earth Mission holds such prominence and what makes it a force to be reckoned with.The Save Earth Mission stands apart due to its unmatched scale and worldwide reach. With millions of dedicated participants spanning countries, cultures, and backgrounds, this mission has rapidly grown into the fastest-growing community committed to combating climate change. Operating in 69 countries, the Save Earth Mission showcases its global presence and its ability to connect people across borders in pursuit of a sustainable future. Its global community of 10 Million+ people demonstrates the significant scale of its movement. Furthermore, the mission targets to achieve a community of 1 Billion people in the coming 3 years, highlighting its aim to mobilize even more individuals in the fight against climate change.At the heart of the Save Earth Mission lies its audacious objective to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. This ambitious target is grounded in a comprehensive plan that encompasses multiple aspects of sustainability, ranging from energy transition to waste management and conservation. The mission's goal to achieve World Netzero Carbon emissions by 2040 showcases its dedication to addressing climate change on a global scale. By setting such an ambitious goal, the mission challenges the status quo and encourages society to take immediate and decisive action to protect our planet.What sets the Save Earth Mission apart is its multi-faceted approach to addressing the challenges of climate change. Sandeep Choudhary and his team recognize that combating carbon emissions requires a holistic strategy. Consequently, the mission focuses on various fronts, including renewable energy adoption, sustainable transportation, circular economy practices, and reforestation efforts. This comprehensive approach ensures that no aspect of sustainability is overlooked, enabling the mission to make a profound impact. The mission's dedication and commitment are clear they will not stop until they achieve their goal.The Save Earth Mission has garnered significant support from international leaders, organizations, and celebrities who share a common vision for a sustainable future. Through strategic collaborations and partnerships, the mission has amplified its reach and influence. This global support serves as a testament to the urgency and relevance of the mission's objectives, transcending geographical boundaries and uniting diverse stakeholders in a common cause.The Save Earth Mission has successfully organized impactful events and initiatives that raise awareness, drive action, and inspire change. These events serve as platforms to showcase innovative solutions, share knowledge, and mobilize resources towards sustainable development. The upcoming event in Ahmedabad, India, promises to be a momentous gathering, featuring renowned personalities, global celebrities, and musicians who will lend their voices to the mission's cause, further fueling its momentum.One of the most remarkable aspects of the Save Earth Mission is its emphasis on individual empowerment. The mission recognizes that meaningful change begins with each person's actions and choices. By promoting sustainable practices in daily life, encouraging eco-friendly habits, and providing resources for education and engagement, the mission enables people to become agents of change in their communities. This focus on individual empowerment is pivotal to driving widespread transformation and creating a sustainable future.ConclusionThe Save Earth Mission, led by Sandeep Choudhary, has earned its reputation as the world's biggest mission due to its unmatched scale, ambitious goals, global support, and multi-faceted approach. By uniting millions of individuals, organizations, and governments in a shared commitment to combat climate change, the mission has become a powerful force driving the transition.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI25 June 2023 Shared Recently! Wagner group agrees to end insurrection after Lukashenko holds talks with Prigozhin Moscow, June 24: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced on Saturday that he had arranged a deal whereby Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin will abandon his mutiny in exchange for security guarantees for his fighters. Wagner group agrees to end insurrection after Lukashenko holds talks with Prigozhin "Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal of President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of armed men of Wagner in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate tension," read a statement from Lukashenko's office, RT reported.According to the statement, Lukashenko and Prigozhin held talks for the "whole day", and "came to an agreement on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloodbath on the territory of Russia".Lukashenko's office said that the talks were held in coordination with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that Prigozhin was offered "an advantageous and acceptable option of resolving the situation, with security guarantees for the Wagner PMC fighters", RT reported.The news came as a Wagner convoy drew closer to Moscow, several hours after members of the private military outfit passed through the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. In a series of video statements released since Friday, Prigozhin declared that he was advancing on Moscow to confront Russian military officials he deemed corrupt.Prigozhin garnered no support from the Russian establishment. Instead, Putin accused the Wagner chief of "backstabbing our country and our people", while Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal investigation into Prigozhin for "calling for an armed rebellion".Senior Russian political and military figures denounced Prigozhin's mutiny, and called on Wagner fighters to lay down their arms.Shortly after Lukashenko's announcement, Prigozhin confirmed that his troops were abandoning their push to Moscow and returning to their field camps, RT reported.IANS25 June 2023 Shared Recently! Nagaland: Constitution of Autonomous Council for 6 eastern districts to be discussed on June 30 Kohima (Nagaland), June 24: Nagaland State Home Department through its Principal Secretary has proposed a consultative meeting on the provisions of the proposed proposal of the Government of India for the Constitution of an Autonomous Council for the Six Eastern Districts of the State. Nagaland: Constitution of Autonomous Council for 6 eastern districts to be discussed on June 30 The six districts namely Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Shamator and Noklak have been in talks of creating an Autonomous Council.The meeting is scheduled to be held on June 30, 2023, at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima.Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, alongwith the Deputy Chief Ministers, Speaker, all the Ministers, MP Lok Sabha, MP Rajya Sabha, Chief Secretary and senior officials of the State Government will attend the meeting.Further, the meeting will also be attended by Advisors and MLAs, while it has also requested the Tribal Bodies/Organizations to make it convenient to attend the meeting.Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO), which represents the seven Naga tribes, has been demanding a separate Frontier Nagaland state since 2010.ANI25 June 2023 Shared Recently! Ashes 2023: Nasser Hussain advises Robinson to minimise off-field distractions for remainder of series New Delhi, June 25: Former England captain Nasser Hussain has advised the under-fire fast bowler Ollie Robinson to let his actions on the field do the talking and keep the off-field distractions to a minimum for the remainder of the Ashes 2023 Test series against Australia. Ashes 2023: Nasser Hussain advises Robinson to minimise off-field distractions for remainder of series Robinson picked up five wickets for the match in England's narrow loss to Australia during an enthralling series opener in Birmingham earlier this month, but he received some criticism for celebrating the wicket of centurion Usman Khawaja excessively during Australia's first innings.While the celebration on its own raised some eyebrows, the fact that England pacer doubled down on his antics and even attempted to pass the blame over to the Australian team and their former skipper Ricky Ponting drew further criticism.The former England skipper believes the right-armer only made an error in judgement by bringing Ponting's name into the discussions when asked about the issue at the end of day's play.He's not the first cricketer to give someone a send-off in an Ashes battle and there's a few Aussies that have given send-offs over the years, Hussain said in the latest episode of The ICC Review.I've sort of enjoyed the to-ing and fro-ing from Ricky. We had Ricky working with us at Sky (Sky Sports) and the WhatsApp group was going ballistic that night... of all the Australians Ollie Robinson could mention, he mentioned Ricky.Our WhatsApp group was very, very funny that night and I can't tell you some of Ricky's responses, he added.Hussain is now interested to see how Robinson responds for the remainder of the series and wants the ongoing war of words to be kept to a minimum.I wouldn't be saying anything to Ollie Robinson (if I was England captain), apart from which end would you like to bowl and show us your skills. But I might be having a word with the media guy and saying I'm hearing too much from Ollie Robinson off the field and we have 10 other cricketers that can do the press and the media, he said.The problem nowadays are the various outlets he might be writing or doing one of the websites...you get asked by various media outlets and then that's magnified on social media.Just whoever is in charge, I don't want to be hearing about Ollie Robinson off the field, so can we just keep him away from the press just for the next four Ashes games as it builds through the series and it becomes the centre of attention, he added.The 55-year-old knows how emotional cricketers can get in the heat of the battle and thinks it can often bring the best out of players if handled well.The former England skipper pointed to the emotion that India stalwart Virat Kohli displays on the field and even raised the incident that saw South Africa pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada suspended for one match for his over the top celebration when dismissing Joe Root back in 2020.It's the emotion of a cricketer and especially a fast bowler bowling on a turgid pitch in an Ashes battle, Hussain noted.The emotion of a moment, like Kagiso Rabada in the face of Joe Root in Port Elizabeth, and I backed him up for that very reason because it's an emotional game and people want to see your emotion as it matters and you should care.Look at Kohli in India and the way he reacts, and there is emotion to the sport. He (Robinson) gave someone a send-off and I'm never a big fan of send-offs as when you get someone out, that's enough. You've done it. You've got him out and you don't have to tell him where the pavilion is, he added.IANS25 June 2023 Shared Recently! Heatwave: All schools in Patna closed till June 28 Patna, June 25: The Patna District Magistrate on Saturday extended the closure of all academic activities up to Class 12 in the district till June 28 due to the ongoing heat wave. Heatwave: All schools in Patna closed till June 28 Earlier the order was effective till June 24."In continuation to the order vide memo no.-8534/1. dated June 16, 2023, it has been made to appear to me that due to the prevalent high temperature with high humidity in the district, the health and life of children are at risk. Therefore, I, Dr Chandra Shekhar Singh, District Magistrate, Patna under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 do hereby prohibit the academic activities of all the Private and Government schools (Including Pre-school and Anganwari Centers) of Patna District up to Class- 12 till June 28. The order as mentioned above will come into force w.e.f. June 26, 2023, and will remain effective till 28," the District Magistrate said in an official notice.Earlier this month, two persons died in Bihar's Gaya district at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College due to exposure to extreme heat, doctors have informed.A total of 58 patients were admitted at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College on Monday.Notably, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital to review the preparedness of public health services for heatwaves across the country.Mandaviya, while chairing the meeting said that a team of officers will be sent to states-- Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar-- experiencing heatwaves to assist the state governments."A team of experts from the Union Health Ministry, ICMR, IMD and NDMA will visit the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to support them in public health response measures to address heat-related illnesses," the minister said.Mandaviya has also directed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct research on how to minimise the effect of heat waves on health, with specific short, medium and long-term action plans.ANI25 June 2023 Shared Recently! PM Modis state visit to Egypt to foster mutual prosperity, strengthen bilateral ties By Maheep, New Delhi, June 25: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on his first official state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the visit serves as an opportune platform to further bolster collaboration and solidify the bond between the two nations, author Maheep writes. PM Modi's state visit to Egypt to foster mutual prosperity, strengthen bilateral ties This engagement represents a crucial step towards realizing the shared aspirations of India and Egypt, amplifying the potential for mutually beneficial outcomes in the pursuit of comprehensive cooperation.The visit of Prime Minister Modi spans two days June 24-25. It comes as a reciprocal gesture following President El-Sisi's presence as the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations earlier this year. The visit of President El-Sisi to India proved to be highly successful, culminating in both nations mutually agreeing to elevate their relations to the status of a strategic partnership.Historical, Cultural and Diplomatic ExchangesThe roots of Indo-Egyptian diplomatic relations can be traced back to the 3rd century BC when Indian Emperor Ashoka the Great dispatched his envoys to the court of the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus. The Egyptian king, in a reciprocal gesture, dispatched his own ambassador named Dionysius to the Mauryan court at Patliputra. This recorded incident marks the earliest known interaction between the two ancient civilizations, laying the foundation of diplomatic engagement between India and Egypt, and highlighting the far-reaching historical ties that have endured through the ages.In a notable address, the Indian Ambassador to Egypt, Ajit Gupte, emphasized the enduring nature of the maritime connections between India and Egypt. He highlighted that these connections have transcended time, spanning across centuries and leaving an indelible mark on their shared history.The knowledge of the joint commitment between the two nations to this influential global initiative continues to resonate, symbolizing the shared values, aspirations, and their common pursuit of independent foreign policies in a multipolar world that remains an important and unique aspect of their historical narrative.Moreover, the cherished bond between Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul is still deeply entrenched in the collective memory of the Egyptian people. Notably, the Indian Ambassador underscored the genuine desire of the Egyptian population to foster closer ties with India, owing to their strong affinity for Indian culture and deeply ingrained family values.Prime Minister Modi's itinerary includes visits to significant historical and cultural sites in Egypt. He will pay homage to the awe-inspiring 11th Century Al-Hakim mosque. This architectural marvel stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage shared by India and Egypt.What adds even greater significance to this visit is the remarkable restoration of the Al-Hakim mosque, made possible through the unwavering dedication and support of the Dawoodi Bohra community. The Al-Hakim mosque, with its centuries-old legacy, serves as a beacon of religious and historical importance showcasing the intermingling of Indian and Egyptian cultures. Furthermore, the visit to the Heliopolis War Grave Cemetery pays tribute to Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during the First World War, further reinforcing the historical bond between the two countries.Prime Minister Modi will interact with the vibrant Indian diaspora residing in Egypt also. This engagement not only fosters people-to-people ties but also provides a platform for the diaspora to contribute to economic growth and cultural exchange between the two nations.Strengthening Bilateral TiesThe partnership between the two nations has recently ascended to the level of a strategic alliance, encompassing critical domains such as political collaboration, defence cooperation, maritime security, food security, economic integration, and concerted efforts on global affairs. The primacy placed on these multifaceted facets underscores the fundamental importance they hold in shaping and nurturing the bilateral relations between them.Diplomatic exchanges over the past few months, India and Egypt have witnessed a surge in ministerial-level political exchanges. Notably, key ministers from both countries have visited each other, showcasing the intensified focus on strengthening various aspects of the bilateral relationship.The visits of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in September 2022 and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in October last year have yielded remarkable outcomes in the realm of defence collaboration between India and Egypt. These visits paved the way for the historic initiation of "Desert Warrior," a joint tactical exercise conducted by the air forces of both nations. Moreover, another bilateral Defence Cooperation was marked by Cyclone 2023, a two-week-long joint exercise conducted by the armies of India and Egypt.The potential for defence cooperation between Egypt and India has become a prominent focal point of their evolving partnership. Reports have surfaced that India and Egypt are engaged in discussions pertaining to the supply of India's advanced Tejas fighter aircraft to Egypt. This development signifies a momentous landmark, as it not only strengthens the military ties between the two countries but also lays the groundwork for Cairo to foster the growth of its own indigenous defence industry.In addition to the remarkable co-production of cutting-edge military equipment, the upcoming discussions will delve into a significant proposition put forth by Egypt--an exclusive slot reserved for India within the prestigious Suez Canal Economic Zone. This golden opportunity holds immense promise for advancing their economic collaboration and solidifying India's foothold in the region.In addition to the remarkable co-production of cutting-edge military equipment, the upcoming discussions between our esteemed nations will delve into a significant proposition put forth by Egypt--an exclusive slot reserved for India within the prestigious Suez Canal Economic Zone. This extraordinary prospect holds immense promise for advancing economic collaboration and solidifying India's foothold in the region.Furthermore, the realms of green hydrogen and tourism stand as fertile ground for fostering substantial growth and mutual prosperity. Indian investments in these areas possess tremendous potential, offering avenues for innovation, sustainability, and economic vitality. By venturing into the realm of green hydrogen, we can drive the transformation towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future, while the tourism sector holds immense possibilities for cultural exchange, economic stimulation, and the deepening of people-to-people connections. The convergence of ambitions in these domains holds the power to unlock new horizons of growth, prosperity, and bilateral cooperation.Economic and Trade EngagementIn a truly extraordinary gesture of goodwill and benevolence, Egypt demonstrated its unwavering support by dispatching three aircraft cargoes laden with a consignment of 300,000 doses of the Remdesivir vaccine. This compassionate act of solidarity occurred during the harrowing times when India was grappling with the devastating impact of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2021. Next year, India, reciprocated by sending shipments of wheat to Egypt in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which gravely disrupted Egypt's wheat imports from Ukraine.According to author Maheep, India's eagerness to increase investment in Egypt is evident, the bilateral trade between the two nations reached an unprecedented pinnacle, soaring to a staggering USD 7.26 billion during the fiscal year culminating in June of 2022, as reported by the Egyptian newspaper, Al-Ahram. In January 2023, both leaders expressed their commitment to elevate the trade volume. They set the target of USD 12 billion within the upcoming five years. This visionary aspiration denotes their firm determination to fortify economic ties, foster mutual prosperity, and unlock a new era of fruitful collaboration. Official data reveals that More than 450 Indian companies are registered in Egypt of which about 50 are actively operating across diverse sectors. These companies have made substantial investments, exceeding USD 3 billion collectively. This significant presence of Indian businesses in Egypt has had a positive impact on the local economy, providing gainful employment opportunities to a commendable workforce of nearly 35,000 Egyptians. Such figures underscore the deep economic ties and the substantial contribution of Indian companies towards Egypt's growth and development.The vibrant Indian presence in Egypt is evidenced by a population of around 3,600 Indians who have chosen to call Egypt their home. Further accentuating this symbiotic relationship. The Indian community in Egypt embodies a diverse range of professionals including businesspersons, IT specialists, students, entrepreneurs, and a myriad of other accomplished individuals, as ascertained by the Indian embassy situated in Cairo.The Egyptian ambassador to India, Wael Mohamed Awad Hamed, highlighted the significance of an invitation extended by Prime Minister Modi to Egypt's president to serve as the chief guest for Republic Day in 2022. This invitation is viewed as a transformative event, a game-changer that holds great potential for bilateral relations. They share similar priorities including the modernization of their respective countries, industrialization, job creation, development, and environmental awareness. These pressing issues resonate with the challenges faced by the developing world.The upcoming meeting between the two leaders holds immense significance as it provides an opportunity to address these concerns bilaterally and within the broader context of the G20, where Egypt has been invited as a guest country under India's G20 presidency. This convergence of interests sets the stage for collaborative efforts aimed at tackling shared problems and fostering mutual growth.Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Egypt represents a significant milestone in the growing bilateral relationship between India and Egypt. This visit marks a reciprocal gesture and highlights the commitment to deepening ties. Prime Minister Modi's itinerary includes visits to historic and cultural sites, such as the Al-Hakim mosque, showcasing the shared heritage between India and Egypt.The visit also focuses on important areas of collaboration, including defence cooperation and economic integration. It emphasizes the multifaceted nature of the partnership, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and diplomatic aspects. As India and Egypt continue to strengthen their relationship, the potential for further growth and diversification becomes increasingly promising, fostering mutual prosperity and cooperation in the years to come. Overall, Prime Minister Modi's visit paves the way for enhanced collaboration, cultural exchange, and mutual prosperity between the two nations.(Dr Maheep is a Leading Expert of India's Foreign Affairs with a specialisation in Middle East and North Africa).ANI25 June 2023 Shared Recently! Study reveals regular naps linked to increased brain volume London, June 25: According to a new study conducted by academics at UCL and the University of the Republic in Uruguay, daytime napping may assist to protect brain function by slowing the speed at which our brains shrink as we age. Study reveals regular naps linked to increased brain volume The study, published in the journal Sleep Health, analysed data from people aged 40 to 69 and found a causal link between habitual napping and larger total brain volume - a marker of good brain health linked to a lower risk of dementia and other diseases.Senior author Dr Victoria Garfield (MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL) said "Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older."Previous research has shown that napping has cognitive benefits, with people who have had a short nap performing better in cognitive tests in the hours afterwards than counterparts who did not nap.The new study aimed to establish if there was a causal relationship between daytime napping and brain health.Using a technique called Mendelian randomisation, they looked at 97 snippets of DNA thought to determine people's likelihood of habitual napping. They compared measures of brain health and cognition of people who are more genetically "programmed" to nap with counterparts who did not have these genetic variants, using data from 378,932 people from the UK Biobank study, and found that, overall, people predetermined to nap had a larger total brain volume.The research team estimated that the average difference in brain volume between people programmed to be habitual nappers and those who were not was equivalent to 2.6 to 6.5 years of ageing.But the researchers did not find a difference in how well those programmed to be habitual nappers performed on three other measures of brain health and cognitive function - hippocampal volume, reaction time and visual processing.Lead author and PhD candidate Valentina Paz (University of the Republic (Uruguay) and MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL) said "This is the first study to attempt to untangle the causal relationship between habitual daytime napping and cognitive and structural brain outcomes. By looking at genes set at birth, Mendelian randomisation avoids confounding factors occurring throughout life that may influence associations between napping and health outcomes. Our study points to a causal link between habitual napping and larger total brain volume."Dr Garfield added "I hope studies such as this one showing the health benefits of short naps can help to reduce any stigma that still exists around daytime napping."The genetic variants influencing our likelihood to nap were identified in an earlier study looking at data from 452,633 UK Biobank participants. The study, led by Dr Hassan Dashti (Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital), also an author on the new study, identified the variants on the basis of self-reported napping, and this was supported by objective measurements of physical activity recorded by a wrist-worn accelerometer.In the new study, researchers analysed health and cognition outcomes for people with these genetic variants as well as several different subsets of these variants, adjusted to avoid potential bias, for instance avoiding variants linked to excessive daytime sleepiness.Genetic data and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the brain were available for 35,080 individuals drawn from the larger UK Biobank sample.In terms of study limitations, the authors noted that all of the participants were of white European ancestry, so the findings might not be immediately generalisable to other ethnicities.While the researchers did not have information on nap duration, earlier studies suggest that naps of 30 minutes or less provide the best short-term cognitive benefits, and napping earlier in the day is less likely to disrupt night-time sleep.Previous research looking at the UK and the Netherlands found that nearly a third of adults aged 65 or over had a regular nap.ANI25 June 2023 Shared Recently! REPUBLICAN PRIMARY Now that nearly every major Republican has either be-gun their presidential campaign or bowed out, the "testing the waters" phase of the 2024 Republican primary is over. Next up: dropout season. Between now and the Iowa caucuses in January, candidates must raise funds, build voter bases and stand up professional campaigns or risk being forced out of the race. It's impossible to say which candidate will exit first. But a quick tour through the data provides three insights about what could happen. 1. At least one strong candidate is likely to fail early. Most candidates who drop out before the Iowa caucuses are obvious long shots: They're forgettable backbenchers seeking fame or has-beens attempting to relive their glory days. Typically, these campaigns begin with little fanfare, generate minimal support and end quickly. But, in most primaries, at least one seemingly strong candidate fails early. In the 2020 Democratic primary, it was then-Sen. Kamala Harris.. In 2016, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) famously flopped against Donald Trump. And, early in the 2012 campaign, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty a supposed alternative to Mitt Romney left the race after just four months. Oftentimes, journalists are at fault. In some ways, they function as voters' talent scouts, and they often overhype uncharismatic contenders. In other cases, the candidate is to blame for their own loss. Harris, for instance, briefly broke out as a top candidate in the 2020 race, but she failed to find a unique message, slid in the polls and ran out of money. This pattern should be sobering for Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former vice president Mike Pence, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley and maybe even Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Each of them might look great on paper, but if historical patterns hold, at least one of them will prove to be in over their head and fizzle sooner than anyone expects. 2. Hucksters and oddballs often outlast serious candidates. The least serious candidates might be the most likely to make it to Iowa. To see why, compare the 2020 candidacies of Harris and businessman Andrew Yang. In the first three quarters of 2020, Harris raised much more money than Yang: Yet Yang outlasted the future vice president, and even nearly matched her polling figures at the end of her campaign: The reason: Harris's donors wanted her to be president, but Yang's just wanted him to be. When Harris's path to the nomination disappeared, donors noticed and cut her off. Yang, by contrast, never had a viable route to the presidency. His supporters loved his fun, nerdy presence and his willingness to non-mainstream policies such as universal basic income. The lesson for 2024: Don't underestimate the longevity of Vivek Ramaswamy or any other candidate using the race as an exercise in personal branding. 3. If DeSantis and Trump stay strong, others are likely to hang it up. No candidate at the lower end of the polls will say so, but their decision to stay in the race will hinge on how Trump and DeSantis fare in the next three to six months. Trump has around 52% in national primary polls, and DeSantis has around 22%. Together, that's almost three-quarters of the overall GOP electorate. If Trump and DeSantis keep hogging that much of the vote, there will be little space for anyone else to make a plausible run. The field which now features 11 candidates will contract. This basic dynamic has shown up in other presidential primaries. When the top two candidates dominate poll numbers as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama did in the 2008 Democratic primary, and Clinton and Bernie Sanders did in 2016 the field clears. But when the leading candidates show some initial weakness, others try their luck. Expect similar developments this year: If GOP primary voters clearly communicate that they want Trump or DeSantis and nobody else expect the field to drop to two, or maybe three, candidates. But if Trump or DeSantis starts to bleed supportperhaps Trump's indictments prove too much to overcome or DeSantis's standing in the polls continue to deteriorateother candidates will see themselves as the next up-and-comer. The race would then start to look like 2012 or 2016: Long-shot candidates will stay past their expiry, and the party will settle in for a grueling battle. Study demonstrates how folate receptors in brain tumours are identified Turku [Finland], June 25: Folate-based radiopharmaceuticals can be used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to identify folate receptors in brain tumours. The identification of folate receptors and its potential application in brain tumours is a fresh and significant scientific breakthrough. Study demonstrates how folate receptors in brain tumours are identified Hundreds of genes have been linked to limb girdle muscular dystrophy. While genetic testing may discover a handful of rare genetic variants in each patient with the disorder, there is no way to know which, if any, of those variants is responsible for a patient's symptoms without invasive, time-consuming additional tests. Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive catalogue of all the variants of all the genes connected to limb girdle muscular dystrophy, and whether each of those variants can cause disease or is harmless."Prior to this discovery, the presence of folate receptors and their increased presence in gliomas had not been recognised, and thus they have not yet been used for imaging nor treatment purposes," summarises Doctoral Researcher Maxwell Miner from the Turku PET Centre at the University of Turku in Finland.According to research group leader and InFLAMES PI Professor Anne Roivainen this presents an especially exciting target for potential future treatments."Our results show an average of 100-fold increase in folate-based radiopharmaceutical accumulation in glioma tissue versus that of adjacent healthy brain tissue," says Professor Roivainen.Glioma brain tumours originate from the non-neuronal glial cells in the brain, which outnumber neurons in quantity. Gliomas comprise numerous subgroups, with even a high degree of morphological and receptor variability within a single cancerous lesion.This exceptional cellular heterogeneity can make treatment difficult. There is an urgent need for new chemotherapy treatments particularly for the most malignant brain cancers as they often grow in an infiltrative web-like manner on their periphery making distinguishing the boundaries between glioma and non-glioma difficult. The researchers at the Turku PET Centre hope that this recent discovery will lead to further investigation into folate-targeted brain tumour detection and treatment.The results were obtained in a multidisciplinary joint project involving researchers from the Turku PET Centre at the University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, InFLAMES Research Flagship, and collaborators from Purdue University, USA. The glioma samples were obtained from the Auria Biobank.ANI26 June 2023 Shared Recently! Champaign, IL (61820) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low around 60F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. After a monthslong back-and-forth between Millersburg and Linn County over redrawing the citys map so a toilet paper company could set up shop, the city has withdrawn its efforts, alleging Linn County erred in processing the request. It's not that the county shouldn't have voted no. It's that the county shouldn't have considered the application at all, the city alleges. The city's next steps are unclear. The idea was to swap 167 acres of land along the Willamette River and inside the city boundaries described by some as "swamp land" for 163 acres of high-quality farmland outside city limits but inside the city's urban growth boundary. The latter currently is home to a hazelnut farm. Had the swap gone through, Millersburg hoped to see the farmland built out as an industrial center, with a European tissue paper company called Sofidel eyeing the location. The proposal attracted loud opposition, both from residents and area farmers, despite the company pitching itself as a job creator. Many of those opposed said they wanted to keep the area as prime farmland. In March, the Linn County Board of Commissioners rejected the city's application. Commissioners Roger Nyquist and Sherrie Sprenger voted no because they felt that it fell short of a requirement that such proposals can't significantly and adversely affect nearby water quality and quantity. The property the city wants to jettison was once used to capture water coming from the former International Paper Mill. Nearby farmers claim that the land is filled with ravines and flooded for most of the year. However, that did not seem the end of Millersburgs efforts to bring in the toilet paper company. The city's first idea was to get the county to reconsider. On March 31, Millersburg Mayor Scott Cowen penned a letter to commissioners, asking for a joint meeting to address their concerns through possible zoning designations and other compromises. The county declined. Since then, the city of Millersburg has withdrawn its application with the county, according to a letter the city sent the county on May 22. The letter alleges the county erred in processing the application and misconstrued its role in the process when using their grounds of denial of the application. Commissioners identified the size of the Urban Growth Boundary adjustment as part of their reasoning for denying the application. The jurisdiction to review land use decisions greater than 50 acres belongs to the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission, the city said in its letter. Such an assertion certainly is a "new approach," Kevin Young, senior urban planner with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, said by phone. "That would be a different process than what we have seen in the last 50 years," Young said. Gordan Howard, manager of the Community Services Division at the Department of Land Conservation and Development, said the state Department of Justice is reviewing the matter and declined to comment further. A Linn County representative said officials there were not aware the Department of Justice was involved, and at the moment there was no further action for the county to take because the application was withdrawn. The county doesn't believe an error was made, Linn County Planning Manager Alyssa Boles said by phone. In its letter, Millersburg alleged county staff mischaracterized the property as being used for filtration, implying it was used to filter out contaminants. Boles acknowledged she had misspoke and meant to characterize the property as a rapid infiltration basin. Boles said the county had not received any new applications regarding the land swap. When asked about any further action the city of Millersburg may take, the city attorney declined further statement. The city has no further statements currently, as it is an ongoing land use case, Alan Sorem said. DLSD's Young said the city has a number of options available. For example, other areas already within municipal boundaries were identified as possible candidates for industrial uses like the toilet paper plant. While it's possible that the current proposed location could still be a factory, "it's clear the city and county don't see eye to eye," Young said. Related stories: Indias prestigious university, Banaras Hindu University has added 12 new scholarships for the students. The decision comes as the university received donations worth Rs 50 lakh from Kishori Jhunjhunwala, wife of industrialist Dhinanath Jhunjhunwala. Under BHUs Pratidana Initiative, the family of alumni contributed the money to incorporate more scholarships for the benefits of students. On Saturday, Kishori Jhunjhunwala visited the university and handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh to vice chancellor of Prof Sudhir Kumar Jain. For the establishment of ten scholarships of Rs 25,000 each, Kishori Jhunjhunwala has given a total of Rs 50 lakh. Eight of these scholarships will be given to Mahila Mahavidyalaya students who qualify based on merit and financial need. Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnana Sankaya (Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan) students of Acharya will receive two scholarships. Sh. Dhinanath Jhunjhunwala, the owner of Jhunjhunwala Oil Mills Ltd., graduated from the university in 1954 with a degree in industrial engineering. He is the husband of Mrs. Jhunjhunwala. Two scholarships for female BSc (Hons) Physics students have expressed gratitude for a donation of Rs 10 lakh from Jagdish Jhunjhunwala, MD of JJ Plastalloy Pvt. Ltd. and alumnus of the university. Further, BHU has started to offer a new scholarship for students pursuing their first year in Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). The university plans to launch this scholarship for meritorious students, especially for those belonging to the economically weaker background of the first year MBBS. Selected students will receive Rs 25,000, as a part of the scholarship. The idea behind this scholarship is to help and support meritorious students coming from financially weaker backgrounds. This scholarship aims to help deserving candidates who aspire to become doctors, aiming to relieve their financial constraints claims the university. Dr Ramesh Chandra Gupta, former head of department of Metallurgical Engineering at IT-BHU (now IIT BHU), had donated Rs 5 lakh to the varsity. The new scholarship scheme Dr. Bhoj Raj Varma and Smt. Shanti Varma Memorial Scholarship is named after the close relatives of Gupta, stated an official notice released by BHU. When it comes to achieving our goals and securing a stable job, most of us look for government job opportunities. So, if you are currently seeking a career change, then we have gathered a list of job opportunities that may be of interest to you. This week, CSBC Bihar, Bharat Electronics Limited, State Bank of India and others are actively hiring. Look no further as we have compiled a list of jobs for you to apply for. CSBC Bihar Police Constable Recruitment For 21,391 Posts The Central Selection Board of Constables (CSBC), Bihar, has started accepting applications for the recruitment of constables. There are 21,391 openings for Bihar Police Constables in the Bihar Special Armed Police and other units. Applications for the Bihar Police Constable Vacancy 2023 can be submitted by both male and female aspirants. The application form needs to be submitted on the official website at csbc.bih.nic.in till July 20. Candidates must have cleared their intermediate (class 12) from a recognised Board/Madrasa Board to apply for the above post. BEL Recruitment For 24 Vacancies Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a Navaratna firm, is looking for candidates for the position of Deputy Manager and Senior Engineer. The company has released a detailed advertisement on its official website at bel-india.in and there are 24 available positions. The deadline to register for Deputy Manager and Senior Engineer posts is July 4. While applying online, applicants need to pay a registration fee of Rs 600 plus 18 per cent GST. KVBG Government Job Recruitment Telanganas Commissioner and Directorate of School Education has declared that government teacher recruitment would begin on June 26. The recruitment campaign is for Urban Residential Schools (URS) and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KVBGs) in the state of Telangana. Candidates who match the qualifying recruitments can apply for the 1,241 positions on the official website at schooledu.telangana.gov.in. The minimum age requirement is 18 years while the maximum age limit is 44 years as on July 1, 2023. BPSC Bihar Teacher Recruitment 2023 The Bihar Education Department has postponed the registration deadline for the Bihar Public Service Commission Bihar Teacher Recruitment exam. Previously, the registration process for BPSC Teacher Recruitment was scheduled to begin on June 15, however the application process will now begin on July 12. This recruitment campaign will fill 1,70,461 vacancies of teachers in the state education department. Candidates can apply via the official site of BPSC at bpsc.bih.nic.in. SBI RBO Recruitment For 194 Officer Posts The State Bank of India (SBI) has started the application process for the recruitment of Retired Bank Officer (RBO) posts. The registration process will conclude on July 6. Candidates can register for the 194 vacancies by visiting the official websites of SBI at bank.sbi or sbi.co.in. The selection process comprises shortlisting of eligible candidates and conducting an interview. Jharkhand Public Service Commission Notifies 56 Vacancies The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has started accepting applications for the role of Food Safety Officer (FSO). The Commission aims to fill a total of 56 vacancies through this recruitment drive. The registration process will remain open until July 14. Candidates can apply for these positions by visiting the official website at jpsc.gov.in. The selection process for the above vacancies will include a written exam, document verification, an interview, and a medical examination. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay will begin construction of hostels in its campus in the coming weeks. The project is known as Project Evergreen and is funded by alumnis of the premiere institute. On June 24, the management of the institute inaugurated the project via a ceremony. For the construction, IIT Bombay has partnered with IIT Bombay Alumni Association and IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation based in USA. The partnership will aid the technology institution to build, develop and design the hostel complex. As reported by IIT Bombay, the complex will consist of 3 hostels complex with 1100 rooms. These hostels are named as Hostel 7 and 8 with a women hostel numbered 21. This women hostel complex will be constructed on the erstwhile ground of hostel 8. The development is taken in the backdrop of increasing number of students. The yet to be build complex will provide students with modern rooms, spacious courtyard, ergonomically designed study rooms, dining areas and other facilities. During the inauguration, team IIT Bombay cited the data that in the last two decades, the number of students have drastically increased from 3000 to 13,000 plus candidates. Thus the management claims to transform the lives of the student studying in the institute. In its press release the institute said this is the first of its kind project wherein alumni of IIT Bombay will seek to raise Rs. 120-135 crore and take the lead roles in project planning and implementation. The new hostel complex will come up in the old location of H8. It will be close to Powai Lake, which has been one of the key features of H7. In addition to wings for male students, it will also have a wing for accommodating the growing number of women students at IIT Bombay." Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri, Director IIT Bombay said, Students are the essence of all academic institutions. IIT Bombay has been recognized as an Institution of Eminence, owing to the hard work put in by the best and brightest of the country. We strive to provide world-class learning as well as living atmosphere to our students. We are grateful to our alumni for taking the stewardship role in building the new hostel complex which is the need of the hour. IIT Bombay sincerely thanks IITBHF and IITBAA for the roles that they have played over the years in various initiatives of the Institute. The results for the public examination for Class 10 secondary and Class 12 senior secondary classes for April/May 2023 were announced by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). The class 10, 12 exam results have been published on the official website results.nios.ac.in and nios.ac.in. To access the NIOS results 2023, students must have their enrolment number and admit card handy. This year, the public examination for Class 10th and 12th was held from April 6 to May 8. Hindustani Sangeet was the first examination for Class 10 or secondary school students, and the final exam was for bakery and confectionery, a Certificate in desktop publishing, Indian embroidery, hand and foot care, and Certificate in Yog. NIOS April/May 2023 Result: How to Check Step 1: Visit the official website- results.nios.ac.in. Step 2: Click on the admission tab then go to the student portal. Step 3: Click on NIOS April/May 2023 exam and the result tab. Step 4: Look for the NIOS Class 10 or Class 12 result option. Step 5: Click the respective result link to access your marksheet. Step 6: Enter your NIOS class 10 or class 12 enrollment number and other required credentials on the results portal. Step 7: The NIOS April/May 2023 exam results will be displayed on your device screen. Step 8: Download your makrsheet and take a printout of the same for future record. The various Accredited Institutes (AIs) will notify students when they may pick up their migration-cum-transfer-certificates and marks sheet-cum-certificates. The class 10, 12, and report cards must be thoroughly checked by candidates after being downloaded. They should seek assistance from the appropriate authorities if they notice any irregularities. Students name Enrollment number Fathers name Mothers name Subject-wise marks in theory Course/Class (secondary or senior secondary) Total marks Exam month and year Qualifying status Date of birth Subject-wise marks in practical Students are suggested to visit the National Institute of Open Schoolings official website nios.ac.in for additional details. Salman Khan recently schooled Nawazuddin Siddiquis ex-wife Aaliya Siddiqui in Bigg Boss OTT 2 for discussing her failed marriage with Nawazuddin Siddiqui. In the first Weekend Ka Vaar episode, Salman called her out. During the episode, Salman scolded Aliya for speaking about her past relationship and failed marriage with Nawazuddin Siddiqui before the housemates. He said, Aap bahut baat kar chuki ho ghar ke andar bhi aur bahar bhi. Aapne ek-ek ko pakad-pakad ke apna version diya. Taaki hum woh version ko dikhaye. Woh jo ghar ke baatein hai, husband-wife, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, father-in-law, mama ka, chacha ka, iska-uskaidhar iss ghar mein nahi hone ka." Aaliya Siddiqui whos currently locked inside Bigg Boss OTT 2 house broke down while missing her children. She was seen crying and sitting alone when her co-contestant Abhishek Malhan noticed and asked if everything was fine. Aaliya told Abhishek that she was missing her children. She talked at length about her son and mentioned how he does not share his problems with anyone else. Aaliya argued that if her son would be missing her, he would not tell anyone and rather fall sick. My young kid (son) is like me. He keeps everything inside him, if hes missing me he will not share it with anyone. I am also like that I keep my problems inside me and do not share them with anyone. He does not talk, my daughter shares everything. He then falls sick, and gets unwell thinking about the problems. He will fall sick and thats the time he needs me," she said as quoted by E-Times. If I would not have taken divorce, I would not have come here ever.never never. It is because of my career. I was taking a shower when the thought came to me. But it is very important in life to finish the job which you have taken up," Aaliya added. Prior to entering Bigg Boss OTT 2 house, Aaliya and Nawazs divorce battle caught everyones attention. The two levelled several allegations against each other. Aaliya claimed that Nawazuddin disowned their children and alleged that the actors mother Mehrunisa harassed her by not giving her access to the actors Mumbai home. However, the Tiku Weds Sheru actor denied the charges and claimed that Aaliya only wanted money. Bigg Boss OTT 2 Eviction: TV actor Palak Purswani has been eliminated from Salman Khan-hosted Bigg Boss OTT 2 after receiving the least number of votes. Salman Khan announced Palaks eviction on Sundays Weekend Ka Vaar. Palak was nominated alongside Jiya Shankar, Bebika Dhurve and Avinash Sachdev. The actress broke down in tears as she bid adieu to the house. Palaks journey on Bigg Boss OTT was very short-lived as she entered the house along with Akanksha Puri on day 2. She was initially barred from entering the house after a guest panel put her in the holding area. Palak shared a good bond with Akanksha, Abhishek Malhan, Jiya Shankar and Aaliya Siddiqui in the house. Her fights with ex Avinash and Bebika grabbed many eyeballs on the show. Earlier in one of the episodes, Palak Purswani shared details about her breakup with Avinash. There were a few things which were non-negotiable for me. I felt I was done. We gave chances to each other. I was the one who broke up, and I havent got closure, shayad idhar mil jaye (perhaps I got it here). We were together for four and a half years." Further, she shared that the duo met through a common friend when Palak had just come out of a relationship. Palak expressed that she was jumping from one relationship to another. When the friend introduced them, they instantly struck a chord and found a lot of similarities with each other. He was calm to my storm. He was everything that I wanted to settle for," she said. Avinash and Palak ended their relationship in 2021 after having a roka ceremony earlier that year in Mumbai, during which they also unveiled their business venture. Popular comedian and actor Krushna Abhishek found himself in hot water after a video of him calling a monkey as Puneet Superstar went viral. The comment has made fans angry who felt offended by the comparison. Social media platforms were soon ablaze with angry fans expressing their discontent and trolling Krushna Abhishek. In the video, shared by Voompla, the comedian was seen walking when he suddenly saw a monkey who was trying to climb a bus. He said to him, Hello, Yeh Puneet Superstar toh nai the. All the people standing burst into laughter. But looks like Puneets fans have not liked it and in no time they started trolling him. One of the fans wrote, Puneet superstar Tujhse Jyada famous hai. Another wrote, Tune apna kariyar suru hone se phele hi khtam kar liya Punit ka name lekar .. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Voompla (@voompla) Talking about Puneet Superstar, he was the first contestant to be evicted from the house within 24 hours. Popular social media influencer Puneet Superstar was shown the door to exit after being voted out by the majority of the contestants due to his rash behaviour inside the house. He was also seen damaging the house property, triggering the call for his eviction. But some of his fans have demanded his return to the show. And now, it is being reported that he may make a wild card entry inside Bigg Boss OTT 2 house. Krushna Abhishek, as reported, will be joining Salman Khan to host entertaining segments during the weekend episodes. ETimes quoted a source as saying, Krushna has entertained the audience with his comic timing on various episodes of Bigg Boss. Last season, he was seen as the face of Bigg Buzz. Now, he will be seen on the weekend episodes of Bigg Boss OTT 2. Along with anchoring special segments, he will also on some occasions share the stage with Salman Khan. American historian Granville Austin, in his magnum opus Working of a Democratic Constitution one of the finest books that dwell into the vicissitudes of the national emergency quotes an obituary published by the Bombay edition of the Times of India a few days after the emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975, by the Indira Gandhi-led government. It read: D.E.M OCracy, beloved husband of T Ruth, loving father of L.I.Bertie, brother of Faith, Hope, and Justice, expired on June 26. This obituary remains the grimmest reminder of how the imposition of emergency led to the subversion of all democratic values. Marked as the darkest hour of Indian democracy, it led to a crackdown on the opposition, censorship of media and subversion of all democratic institutions of India. It had a wide-reaching effect on different aspects of polity, especially centre-state relations, and the fundamental rights of citizens. Here is an analysis of the various aspects of the national emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution: Constitutional provision Article 352 of the Indian Constitution states: If the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India or of any part of the territory thereof is threatened, whether by war or external aggression or armed rebellion, he may, by Proclamation, made a declaration to that effect in respect of the whole of India or of such part of the territory thereof as may be specified in the Proclamation. It is important to note two points here: An emergency can be imposed even before the actual occurrence of war or external aggression or armed rebellion, if the President is satisfied that there is an imminent danger The phrase armed rebellion was inserted by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978, replacing the original phrase internal disturbance. The change has made the ground of imposition of national emergency more clear and precise. Imposed in 1962, 1971, 1975 As stated by Indian jurist DD Basu in his book The Constitution of India, the first proclamation of emergency under Article 352 was made by the President on October 26, 1962, in view of the Chinese aggression in NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency). The second proclamation of emergency was made on December 3, 1971, when Pakistan launched an undeclared war against India. And the third was made on June 25, 1975. While the first two emergencies in 1962 and 1971 were imposed on the ground of external aggression, the one imposed in 1975 was imposed on the ground of internal disturbances. 44th Amendment Act Through the 44th constitutional amendment act of 1978, the words internal disturbance have been substituted by the words armed rebellion. So, now it is not possible to issue a proclamation of emergency on grounds of internal disturbance, short of armed rebellion. Effects of proclamation of emergency As stated above, the effect of emergency is prominently on two areas of polity: centre-state relations and fundamental rights. Articles 358 and 359 enunciate the effects of the imposition of a national emergency on fundamental rights. According to Article 358, when a proclamation of national emergency is made, the six fundamental rights under Article 19 are suspended. These six rights are freedom of speech and expression; right to assemble peaceably and without arms; to form associations or unions or cooperative societies; to move freely throughout the territory of India, to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business. The 44th amendment act stated that Article 19 can only be suspended when the national emergency is laid on the grounds of war or external aggression and not in the case of armed rebellion. Under Article 359, the president can suspend the right to move the court for enforcement of rights except those stated under articles 20 and 21. Effect on centre-state relations According to DD Basu, in normal times, the union executive has the power to give directions to a state, which includes only the matters specified in articles 256 and 257. However, during a national emergency, the union government has the power to give direction to a state on any matter. The state government is functioning but is under complete control of the central government. During the emergency, parliament may extend the tenure of Lok Sabha beyond five years. Judicial review of imposition of national emergency The 38th Amendment Act was passed by the Indira Gandhi-led government in July 1975, which made the declaration of national emergency immune to judicial review. But the 44th Amendment Act of 1978 removed this exception. In the Minerva Mills case of 1980, the Supreme Court held that imposition of the national emergency can be challenged in court if it seems to be made on grounds that appear malafide or if the declaration was based on wholly extraneous and irrelevant facts. Over three years after the mysterious disappearance of a woman in Sonarpur in the South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal, the states Criminal Investigation Department (CID) recovered her skeleton from a septic tank and arrested her husband for murder. The CID made the recovery soon after the womans husband confessed to the crime following an intense grilling session, according to media reports. The woman, Tumpa Mandal, went missing in March 2020, after which her father, Laxman Halder, registered a missing complaint with the local police. After a preliminary investigation, the police arrested the womans husband, Bhombal Mandal in April 2020, however, due to a lack of evidence against him, the man was granted bail by the court. Tumpa Mandals father then approached the Kolkata High Court seeking a higher investigating agency probe into the case, following which the case was handed over to West Bengal CID. The CID took over the probe of the incident on July 13 and questioned the womans husband again. After an intense grilling session, Bhombal Mandal confessed to murdering his wife and disclosed he stored her body in a septic tank. The CID has registered a murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code against Bhombal Mandal, according to a report by India Today. As per the report, the man told cops that he killed his wife in 2020, by suffocating her with a pillow when the couple used to stay in a rented house in Sonarpur and then dumped her body in a septic tank. In a search operation led by CID, the womans skeleton was recovered along with ornaments that belonged to her from the septic tank in the location disclosed by the accused It is expected that the accused killed his wife over the suspicion of an extra-marital affair. In a bid to destroy evidence, a man swallowed the gold earrings he snatched from a 50-year-old woman after he was caught in northeast Delhis New Usmanpur, police said. The incident happened at 10 pm on Thursday night when the man on a motorcycle was caught by the victim Phoolan Devi, and her two daughters-in-law after he snatched her both earrings, according to reports. The suspect has been identified as Mohammad Nasir, 34, who allegedly also snatched the womans handbag, which contained some cash and identification cards, from outside her home while she was returning from a funeral, according to a report by Hindustan Times. The suspect, who has a criminal history, was admitted to a hospital and is being given medicines to make him excrete the swallowed earrings, HT reported quoting Joy Tirkey, deputy commissioner of police (northeast). In her complaint, Devi, a homemaker who lives with her two sons and their families in Usmanpur, told the police that she was outside her house when a man on a motorcycle stopped near her. He then approached her and grabbed both her ears and pulled her earrings, Devi told police. The elderly womans two daughters-in-law were around and they rushed to her help and managed to drag the man off his motorcycle and called the public. However, he quickly popped both the earrings in his mouth and began chewing them before swallowing them, she said, according to the report. Later, police was called who took the suspect to a hospital, while Devi was also treated for the injuries she sustained on her ears. As per the police, Devi has been then discharged, but her snatched earrings are yet to be retrieved. Police said that the suspect was under observation, and there was no apparent danger due to the swallowing. More than 200 wildland firefighters and instructors will convene in Sweet Home during the last week of June to participate in the annual five-day Mid-Willamette Valley Interagency Wildland Fire School. Officials from the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service host the yearly training to prepare firefighters for the rigors of fighting fire, both in Oregons forests and in rural-urban interface areas. Co-Incident Commanders Chris Mushrush, fire planner for Northwest Oregon Interagency Fire Management, and Craig Pettinger, unit forester for the Oregon Department of Forestry in Sweet Home, are leading the effort to train firefighters in tactical skills and safety. Fire School provides crucial education and training in wildland fire to new firefighters and gives veteran firefighters a chance to refresh their skills and explore leadership opportunities," Mushrush said in a statement. "Its also an important time to strengthen interagency ties and collaboration." Trainees will learn about fire behavior, suppression tactics, weather, map and compass use, teamwork, leadership, safety, use of engines, tools and hose lays, and fire investigation. To mimic life in a real fire camp, students will sleep in tents at Sweet Home High School and eat their meals communally. The training will culminate with a live fire exercise on Friday, June 30, just outside Sweet Home. The live fire will be a controlled burn of slash piles created by forest management activities. This presents trainees with a final challenge: applying their newly acquired skills and techniques to suppress and mop up a real fire. Cascade Timber Consulting, a local forest landowner, provides a new field site each year, and we are very grateful, Pettinger said in a statement. The live fire exercise provides an invaluable training experience working in smoke, hiking through uneven terrain, and working closely with crew members to dig fireline these are all things theyll experience this season as wildland firefighters. Safety principles of fire training include wearing protective gear, safe use of tools and looking out for hazards. Safety is paramount in every aspect of wildland firefighting, and it begins with our training exercises, Pettinger said. Working together in a collaborative training setting improves communications and builds effective relationships for all agencies to draw on during fire season. This years field site for the live fire exercise is north of Foster Lake, approximately 2 miles northeast of Sweet Home. Fire officials urge the public to use caution, as there will be increased fire traffic in the area and the potential for visible smoke on June 30. Delhi-NCR weather turned pleasant on Sunday morning as monsoons arrival brought overnight rainfall for the national capital and adjoining areas. India Meteorological Department (IMD) said today that Southwest Monsoon has advanced over Mumbai and Delhi. Waterlogging, traffic snarls and other rain-related mishaps and woes, meanwhile, have hit Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra that have been receiving heavy downpour due to the advancement of monsoon. While monsoon had a slow start, it has now made swift progress and covered entire Maharashtra, entire Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, northeast India, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, east Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, most parts of Himachal Pradesh, some parts of Haryana, and now Delhi as well, as per IMD. Track Weather Updates: -Woman Dies of Electrocution in Delhi A woman died of electrocution at New Delhi Railway Station after she touched an electric pole at a waterlogged area on Sunday morning. The incident is said to have taken place at the Paharganj side entry, near the taxi stand, at the New Delhi Railway Station. An unnoticed naked wire at the waterlogged area led to the mishap. The victim, identified as Sakshi Ahuja, had reached the railway station at around 5 AM to catch a train. She was accompanied by two more women and three kids. READ MORE HERE -ON VIDEO | Car Washed Away in Haryanas Panchkula A car was washed away in Panchkula, Haryana, today amid heavy rainfall. News18 has learnt that a woman was swept away along with car .She has been rescued and has been sent to hospital in Panchkula. VIDEO | Car washed away in Panchkula, Haryana today amid heavy rainfall. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/8sB3FoFhL8 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 25, 2023 Unconfirmed reports said the woman had come to immerse something in the river and had parked the car on the bank when the flow increased suddenly, taking her along with the car. Dramatic visuals of the incident have surfaced. Today morning at Panchkula. a woman came to immerse in river ghaggar and parked the car near the river and was swept away by a sudden flow under the majri bridge . Rescued with the help of our save ghaggar volunteer Arjun n his team & the police . @saveghaggar @replyakhil pic.twitter.com/dyyFboEAAL Mohit Gupta (@mohitgupta1962) June 25, 2023 -Southwest Monsoon Active Now, Entire Maharashtra, Delhi Covered IMD DG Mrityunjay Mohapatra said Southwest Monsoon is active now and has covered entire Maharashtra, including Mumbai. Monsoon has also arrived in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and parts of Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu, Mohapatra said, adding that it will move forward in the next two days and will cover other parts also. Mohapatra added that rain will continue in Delhi for the next two days. Maximum rainfall of 18 cm was recorded in Mumbai region and even today there may be heavy to very heavy rainfall. Monsoon is active in Central India," Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said. -House Collapses in Mumbais Ghatkopar East, Some Residents Stranded A portion of a ground-plus-three storey house collapsed in Rajawadi colony of Mumbais Ghatkopar East today morning. No injuries were reported at the time of writing this report. The building collapse incident took place at around 9:30 am today morning. Some portion of the building collapsed. Some residents are stranded in the building and a rescue operation is in progress, an official update said. Two people have so far been rescued using angus ladder, while three people are still stranded on the first floor of the building, an official said. -Waterlogging in Gurugram Even as rain brought the much needed relief for Delhi and adjoining areas, reports of waterlogging in Gurugram came in after the overnight downpour. Severe waterlogging has been in many areas including Narsinghpur, Rajeev Chowk, Sector 31 located on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway in Gurgaon. IMD has said that rain is likely to continue in Gurugram for the next two days. #WATCH | Haryana: Severe waterlogging witnessed in several parts of Gurugram after incessant rain(visuals from near Civil Hospital, Gurugram) pic.twitter.com/zYiDPnSSut ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023 -Mumbai Latest Weather Info Moderate to intense spells of rain is very likely to occur at Sindhudurg, Palghar, Mumbai, Thane over the next three-four hours, IMD has said. #WATCH | Today I am here at Milan Subway and yesterday it rained about 70 mm within 1 hour here but traffic movement has not stopped as a water storage tank has been built here. Floodgate has also been installed here. I have directed the department to ensure that people do not pic.twitter.com/rSPpSrRB5b ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023 A day after waterlogging in subways of Mumbai, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde was on a round to take of stock of the situation in the city after heavy rain. CM Shinde said, Today I am here at Milan Subway and yesterday it rained about 70 mm within an hour but traffic movement has not stopped as a water storage tank has been built. Floodgate has also been installed here. I have directed the department to ensure that people do not face any problems during rain". -Mumbai Receives Heavy Rain, 2 Drown in Drain; Yellow Alert for Today Heavy rainfall hit parts of Mumbai on Saturday, leading to traffic snarls, incidents of trees falling, short circuits and also the death of two persons who were washed away in a drain. Mumbai suburbs recorded 162 mm of rain till 6.15 am on June 25. Mumbai city recorded 80.5 mm of rain till 6.15 am. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for Raigad and Ratnagiri and a Yellow alert for Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and Sindhudurg for today. The two deaths took place in Govandi in the afternoon and the bodies were fished out by fire brigade and police personnel later, an official said. #WATCH | Maharashtra: Waterlogging in Andheri following heavy rainfall; Andheri Subway is closed for vehicular movement. The traffic has been diverted towards Swami Vivekananda Road. pic.twitter.com/T2znW8k2S8 ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2023 According to officials, Chembur received 80.04 millimetres of rain through the day, while the figure was 79.76 mm for Vikhroli, 61.98 for Sion, 61.68 for Ghatkopar and 61.25 for Matunga. In a statement issued in the evening, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said 11 trees have fallen due to the rains, while seven incidents of short circuit have been reported till 8pm. It said the eastern suburbs of the metropolis received 69.86 mm rain, while it was 73.57 mm for the western suburbs. Traffic was diverted to SV Road after Andheri subway got flooded, while movement of vehicles was slow on BD Road, in the vicinity of Mahalaxmi Temple and areas like Asalpha, Sakinaka junction, and Gaffar Khan Road Near Worli Sealink. Similar scenes were witnessed in Kurla, Santacruz and SV road, while waterlogging was reported from Dadar TT, Sion Road, Tilak Nagar and Dahisar subway. Many people took to Twitter to share visuals of the situation. Some asked traffic police for updates, while some of them mentioned about traffic snarls at some areas like Ghatkopar, Link Road from Bangur Nagar in Goregaon to Mith Chowki in Malad as well as Pantnagar. -Delayed Monsoon in Central India Normally, monsoon reaches Kerala by June 1, Mumbai by June 11, and the national capital by June 27. This time, even though significant portion of North India has been covered, monsoon is running slightly delayed for a considerable part of central India, where a significant number of farmers heavily rely on it. DS Pai attributed Cyclone Biparjoy to the impact on monsoons progress over southern India and the adjoining western and central parts of the country. #WATCH | Maharashtra: Rainfall lashes parts of Mumbai. Visuals from Eastern Express Highway. pic.twitter.com/0NGMLvLfhf ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2023 He said, Since the system absorbed most of the moisture, the monsoons progress along the west coast was slow." However, the Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon, responsible for bringing rains to northeast and east India, remained stronger between June 11 and June 23. Pai attributed this to a low-pressure system that formed over the Bay of Bengal in mid-June and the remnants of cyclone Biparjoy, which aided the monsoons advancement over east India. Pai noted that the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon is now gaining strength with a low-pressure system developing over the Bay of Bengal. -Isolated Heavy Rainfall In These Regions for Next 5 Days: IMD Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected over East Central and parts of Northwest India, including Delhi, over the next five days, the IMD said on Saturday. As per IMD forecast, -Light/moderate fairly widespread to widespread rainfall with isolated thunderstorm and lightning very likely over the western Himalayan region during June 24-28, and over the plains of northwest India (except west Rajasthan) during June 25-28. -Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls very likely over Uttarakhand on June 25. -Isolated heavy/very heavy rainfall very likely over Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh during June 24-28. -Isolated heavy rainfall over West Uttar Pradesh during June 24-26; over East Uttar Pradesh on June 25-26; over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on June 25 and 26 and East Rajasthan during June 25-28. (With PTI inputs) Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Sunday conferred with the Order of the Nile, Egypts highest honour, by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo. Instituted in 1915, the Order of the Nile is conferred upon heads of state, crown princes, and vice presidents who offer Egypt or humanity invaluable services. This is the 13th highest state honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi. The Order of the Nile is a pure gold collar consisting of three-square gold units comprising Pharaonic symbols. The first unit resembles the idea of protecting the state against evils, the second one resembles prosperity and happiness brought by the Nile and the third one refers to wealth and endurance. The three units are connected to one another by a circular gold flower decorated with turquoise and ruby. Hanging from the collar is a hexagonal pendant decorated with flowers of the Pharaonic style, and turquoise and ruby gems. In the middle of the pendant, there is a protruding symbol representing the Nile that brings together the North (represented by the Papyrus) and the South (represented by the Lotus). Over the past nine years, the Prime Minister has been conferred the Companion of the Order of Logohu, the highest civilian award of Papua New Guinea; the Companion of the Order of Fiji; the Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau; the Order of the Druk Gyalp, the highest civilian decoration by Bhutan. Modi has also been conferred with the Legion of Merit by the US Government; the King Hamad Order of the Renaissance by Bahrain; the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin, the highest honour of the Maldives; the Order of St. Andrew award, the highest civilian honour of Russia. Modi has also received the Order of Zayed Award, the highest civilian honour of the United Arab Emirates; the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award, the highest honour of Palestine; the State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan, the highest civilian honour of Afghanistan and the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud, the highest honour of Saudi Arabia awarded to non-Muslim dignitaries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been accorded with the Order of the Nile, which is Egypts highest honour, by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo. The Order of Nile is conferred upon heads of sates, crown princes, and vice presidents who offer Egypt or humanity invaluable services. It was instituted in 1915. PM Modi is on his maiden two-day visit to Egypt, which marks the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister in 26 years. This is PM Modis 13th highest state honour in the last nine years. Lets take a look at other nations where he was accorded the same. Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea conferred PM Modi with the Companion of the Order of Logohu for championing the cause of unity of Pacific Island countries and spearheading the cause of Global South. This was given in May 2023. Fiji PM Modi was accorded with the Companion of the Order of Fiji, which is the highest honour of Fiji in recognition of PM Modis global leadership. This was also awarded in May 2023. Palau PM Modi was given the Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau in May 2023. Bhutan Coming closer to home, Bhutan awarded PM Modi with the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, its highest civilian decoration in December 2021. United States Apart from this, the United States has awarded the Indian prime minister with its Legion of Merit, which is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements in the year 2020. Bahrain In the gulf nations, Bahrain has awarded PM Modi its King Hamad Order of the Renaissance, which is a top honour in the country. This was given in 2019. Maldives The island nation of Maldives gave PM Modi the Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin, which its highest honour awarded to foreign dignitaries in 2019. Russia Russia has also given PM Modi its highest civilian honour, Order of St. Andrew award, in 2019. UAE In 2019, the United Arab Emirates presented PM Modi with the Order of Zayed Award, which is its highest civilian honor. Palestine Palestine in 2018, accorded PM Modi with the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award, the highest honour given to foreign dignitaries. Afghanistan Afghanistan has also accorded PM Modi with the State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan, which is the highest civilian honor of the nation. This was given in 2016. Saudi Arabia Last in the list, Saudi Arabia accorded PM Modi with the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud, which is the countrys highest honor for non-muslim dignitaries. This happened in 2016. A little more on Egypts Order of the Nile The Order of the Nile is a pure gold collar consisting of three-square gold units comprising Pharaonic symbols. The first unit resembles the idea of protecting the state against the evils, the second one resembles prosperity and happiness brought by the Nile and the third one refers to wealth and endurance. The three units are connected to one another by a circular gold flower decorated with turquoise and ruby. Hanging from the collar is a hexagonal pendant decorated with flowers of the Pharaonic style, and turquoise and ruby gems. In the middle of the pendant, there is a protruding symbol representing the Nile that brings together the North (represented by the Papyrus) and the South (represented by the Lotus). An angry mob led by women prevented a military operation led by security forces in Manipurs Imphal East. Acting on specific intelligence, a military operation was launched in the village Itham (6 km East of Andro) in Imphal East by the security forces on Saturday morning, Army said in a statement. The area was cordoned off before the search was undertaken to avoid any hardships to other locals in the area, Army said. In the operation, 12 Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) cadres were apprehended along with arms and ammunition, the statement said. Self Styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam (mastermind of 6 DOGRA ambush cases of 2015) was identified amongst the 12 apprehended cadres, the statement added. Army said that afterwards, a mob of approximately 1200-1500 led by women and the local leader surrounded the target area and prevented the security forces from going ahead with the operation. Repeated appeals were made to the aggressive mob to let the Security Forces carry on with the operation but to no avail, the statement said. Keeping in view the sensitivity of the situation, a decision was taken to release all 12 apprehended cadres, Army said. The security forces, however, left the area with the ammunition seized from the insurgents after lifting off the cordon from the area. Acting on specific intelligence, operation was launched in Village Itham (06 km East of Andro) in Imphal East by Security Forces today morning. Specific search after laying cordon was pic.twitter.com/7ZH9Jp8nOI SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) June 24, 2023 Indian Army appealed to the people of Manipur to assist the security forces in maintaining law and order to bring peace and stability. Amid the fresh flare-up, Manipur CM N Biren Singh is likely to meet Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi today. Earlier on Friday, a group of armed men from Imphal East district advanced towards the hills, firing from automatic weapons. The action prompted the army to cordon off the area in order to stop the mob. Area under surveillance by own columns and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The situation is under control and being closely monitored. Additional columns inducted in the area and joint operations under progress," tweeted the army. After the magic in the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday concluded his first-ever and highly successful visit to Egypt and shared the best moments from his tour on Twitter in a wrap-up video. It was the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in the last 26 years. My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection. pic.twitter.com/tpoTK3inxH Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Calling his Egypt visit historic," PM Modi wrote, My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President Al-Sisi, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection." Also Read | PM Modi in Egypt: Prime Minister Gets Order of Nile Award, Egypts Highest State Honour : Top Points During his highly anticipated tour, PM Modi held bilateral talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and signed four MOUs, agreements on trade, investment and security partnerships. The biggest highlight of the visit included PM Modi getting honoured with the Arab countrys highest honour Order of the Nile. Modi held talks with President El-Sisi on Sunday and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries with a focus on improving trade and investments, energy ties and people-to-people connections. The two countries elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. PM Modi also visited Egypts historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque, which was restored with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community. He also visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery in Cairo and paid homage to over 4,300 valiant Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Aden during World War I. He also took a tour of the pyramids at Giza. Earlier, the prime minister met with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, and discussed issues related to promoting social harmony and countering extremism and radicalisation. (With PTI inputs) The rebellion by the Wagner Group, the so-called militia in Russia that has threatened Vladimir Putin, will only further consolidate the presidents hold, citing threat to the unity of the country, according to the observation by the Indian intel sources. They feel Russians will unite behind Putin, whose popularity as a leader may further grow in the country, as people will perceive the Wagner Groups act as a threat to Russia. The sources further reveal that the West and the media may want to create a narrative around the mutiny led by the Wagner Groups chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, but Putin may just become stronger after this. Wagner Group chief may be tagged rebellious and his act may be considered as treason. Prigozhin, who has agreed to de-escalate the situation, according to the office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, is acting too big for his boots, and the current problem is between a private military contractor and the Russian army, said the Indian intel sources. Moscow has been all quiet ever since the Wagner issue has erupted, the sources further said. Prigozhins troops, who fought the bloodiest battles in Ukraine, on Saturday invaded Russias Southern Military District in Rostov without firing a shot". Rostov has played a primary role in operations in Ukraine since 2014 when Russia began the separatist war over the border in the Donbas region. The citys importance as a military hub has increased manifold since Russias invasion in February 2022. How the Rebellion Unfolded Prigozhin released a video on Friday that he is stepping up his feud with Russian militarys top brass, and rejects Putins justification of invading Ukraine for the first time. Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case against Priogozhin, announcing that the 62-year-old called for armed mutiny against the state, according to Al Jazeera. On June 24, Prigozhin said his men crossed the border from Ukraine to Russia, and ready to go against the Russian military. Later, the Wagner fighters entered Rostov-on-Don, according to the audio released by Prigozhin on Telegram. He announced that his troops have captured the army headquarters in Rostov without fighting a single shot. Putin, in a televised address, accused Prigozhin of treason and a stab in the back. Putin signs a law permitting 30-day detentions for breaking the martial law in places where it has been imposed, the RIA news agency reports. After the Belarusian president brokered a deal with Prigozhin, the Wagner fighters vacate Russias military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday called Prime Minister Narendra Modis two-nation tour an honour for India and slammed Opposition parties for raising non-issues" for their own benefits. Defending PM Modi on his answer on the treatment of Muslims in India, Sitharaman, while addressing a press conference, said he has shown that his government works on the Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" principle and doesnt discriminate against any particular community. But, the finance minister adds, some people join the debate just to highlight issues which are non-issues in a way. #WATCH | FM Nirmala Sitharaman says, It was surprising that when PM was visiting the US, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian MuslimsI am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US. But comments come from there on Indias pic.twitter.com/6uyC3cikBi ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023 To just allege without basic data in hand just tells us that these are organized campaigns," Sitharaman said, adding that the Opposition parties cannot compete with BJP electorally, that is why they are running these campaigns. Congress is playing a special role in running these campaigns," the BJP minister claimed. Sitharaman on Barack Obama Apart from slamming Congress and other parties, Sitharaman also targeted former US President Barack Obama for his interview, in which he comments on Indian Muslims, saying that under his rule, six Muslim-majority countries were bombed with more than 26,000 bombs." .. I am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US. But comments come from there on Indias religious tolerance. Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him from Syria to Yemen. More than 26,000 bombs were dropped" she said. How will people trust his (Obamas) allegations," Sitharaman added. Sitharaman also said that it was a matter of pride that PM Modi was conferred with Egypts highest state honour, which is his 13th such award. The finance minister also pointed out that out of the 13 awards that he has been given to PM Modi, six have been given by countries where Muslims are in the majority." This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his maiden tour to Egypt, making it the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister in 26 years. The Egyptian President conferred PM Modi with the Order of the Nile award, which is Egypts highest state honour. In the second leg of his two-nation visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Cairo on Saturday, after wrapping up his historic US visit. Two teenagers were killed and three members of their family injured when the roof of their home collapsed amid rain in the districts Nai Mandi area, police said on Sunday. Subdivional Magistrate Parmanand Jha told PTI that 14-year-old Uvais and 13-year-old Aslam were killed and three members of their family injured in the roof collapse in the Naseerpur village during the early hours on Sunday. The police have sent the bodies for post-mortem. The injured are undergoing treatment in a hospital, they said. Anand Mahindra and Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani recently attended the US State Dinner held in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington DC on Thursday night. The two Indian business tycoons were among the 400 guests invited for the dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a specially decorated pavilion on the South Lawn of the White House. After the grand dinner, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra group, and Mukesh Ambani joined the tech leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook in the White House for a India-US Hi-Tech Handshake meeting. Anand Mahindra said he, along with Mukesh Ambani and 3rdiTech co-founder Vrinda Kapoor, continued a conversation with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and missed the shuttle that was supposed to take them to their next lunch engagement. The two Indian personalities were trying to call an Uber when they bumped into the renowned NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who was also part of the India-US Hi-Tech Handshake meeting. I suppose this was what they would call a Washington moment. After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement. We were trying pic.twitter.com/gP1pZl9VcI anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 25, 2023 The result of this run-in was a powerful selfie which Mahindra shared on Twitter on Sunday while calling it a Washington moment. The selfie is viral on social media and has received over 31,000 likes and around 2,000 retweets. I suppose this was what they would call a Washington moment. After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement. We were trying to call an Uber when we ran into NASA astronaut Sunita Williams @Astro_Suni Time for a selfie & we also asked if we could hitch a ride on her space shuttle instead of an Uber, Anand Mahindra wrote in the tweet sharing the selfie of the four prominent leaders. The selfie has drawn a lot of reactions praising the prominent personalities in one frame. Great personalities and the pride of India in one frame. Rafique Ahmad (@TheRafiqueAhmad) June 25, 2023 Great personalities and the pride of India in one frame, one Twitter user wrote. A Washington moment indeed, what an honor for @Uber to have the greatest sons of hitching a ride with them Siddharth R Mayur (@h2eSid) June 25, 2023 A Washington moment indeed, what an honor for @Uber to have the greatest sons of hitching a ride with them, another user wrote. Anand Mahindra has been active on Twitter and has been sharing glimpses of his US visit keeping his followers on Twitter updated with pictures and videos from the events. He also shared pictures of the mesmerising art displayed inside the grand White House. Back in the White House this morning for the Tech Handshake meeting Soaking in the heritage atmosphere of the rooms named by their colours. The most poignant Presidential portrait is of JFK. Painted posthumously and a pensive pose unlike the others," he said in another tweet. Monsoon made an early arrival in several Indian states, including Gujarat, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana and Uttrakhand, as heavy rains lashed roads affecting vehicular movement. Meanwhile, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued orange alerts for Delhi for Monday (June 26) in addition to a yellow alert for Wednesday (June 27) and Thursday (June 28). An orange alert was issued for Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh as well indicating heavy to very heavy rain, thunderstorm, and lightning at isolated places on June 25 and 26. Monsoon also arrived in southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Odisha as well as West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh. Early Monsoon in Delhi The monsoon arrived in the national capital on Sunday, two days before its scheduled onset, bringing respite to Delhiites from the scorching heat. The rains which started early morning brought the maximum temperature down to 29 degrees Celsius, eight notches below normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Gujarat Weather Updates The southwest monsoon entered Gujarat on Sunday with parts of Saurashtra and some districts in the southern region of the state receiving heavy rainfall, officials said. Conditions are now favourable for the progress of the monsoon in the next two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Heavy Rains lashes Uttarakhand Heavy monsoon rain lashed various parts of Uttarakhand on Sunday amid an orange alert issued by the Met Office for several districts. The weather office has forecast intense spells of rain at isolated places in Nainital, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Dehradun, Tehri and Pauri districts on Sunday. Mumbai receives heavy rains in last 24 hours, and vehicular movement affected The early arrival of the monsoon brought heavy rains to Mumbai in the last 24 hours, resulting in water-logging at various places that affected vehicular movement on some roads. The vehicular movement remained affected on some roads in Mumbai. Water-logging in areas like Malad and Andheri slowed down the traffic further, a PTI report said. (With PTI inputs) The term vitiligo, means loss of colour on the skin, causing loss of pigment and melanin. In December 2022, an observation study conducted by the Indian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology found the Indian subcontinent has the highest prevalence of vitiligo in the world, at about 8.8 per cent. This years theme, Looking into the future, focuses on paving way for technological advancements in treating vitiligo by end of this decade with an observed effort for increasing healthcare facilities across the country to uphold a positive approach towards vitiligo patients, increasing awareness, breaking social stigma and providing right mental health tools for vitiligo patients to live a de-condemned life. According to Dr. S. Madhuri, Consultant Dermatologist, KIMS ICON Hospital, Vizag, The reason for occurrence of this skin disorder is widely unknown. But, it is observed that severe patterns of stress, neurohumoral factors and autoimmune factors have been some contributing factors. Prolonged consumption of protein and copper minerals by Indians are the other major reasons. About 40 of patients get vitiligo through family history or drug usage. The most common type of vitiligo,vulgaris is found on the lower limbs followed by upper limbs. According to Dr. Ravindra Kumar, Consultant General Physician & Diabetologist, Amor Hospital, medication and light-based therapies are the best options to restore the colour of the skin or maybe even out the affected areas. Applying corticosteroid cream to skin might return the colour with no possible side effects. Phototherapy was introduced in India where a narrow band ultraviolet B (UVB) has shown signs to stop vitiligo. Depigmentation therapy is also done for prolonged months to cure vitiligo. Surgery is considered on occasions when the above options dont work. In the surgical procedure, the following techniques are intended to even out the skin tone. Skin grafting, blister grafting and cellular suspension transplant. Talking about the life of patients with vitiligo, Dr. Parveen Sultana, Consultant General Medicine, Century Hospital, said, Vitiligo is classified as an autoimmune disease,a skin disorder distributed equally amongst the Indian diaspora, affecting adults of both sexes and children. However, more women and young females are prone to have this condition. Nearly 50 per cent of females develop it before 20 years of age. 70-80 per cent develop it during 30s. Patients possibly experience periods of extended social exclusion from peers and at workplaces, which results in isolation and body image problems. Which is why mental health workshops, awareness programmes and partnerships with global charities happen at schools and offices, to normalize and break the social stigma for those affected with vitiligo to cultivate an inclusive and positive approach. Treatments being studied include a drug to stimulate colour-producing cells. This treatment is currently under development in India, where the treatment is implanted under the skin to promote growth of melanocytes. A drug that helps control melanocytes is also being studied. A gel is being developed for use to restore skin color in people with vitiligo where the disease isnt that widespread. These are the two cost-effective medical advancements that are currently under development in India. By the end of this decade, treatment options will expand into using robotics technology in therapy options and light rays that are safe for sensitive skin types (white light incorporation). Workplaces and education institutions will increase awareness and best self-help options for all vitiligo patients. On June 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured at a special ceremony that was hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Along with a number of other notable people, Mukesh and Nita Ambani attended the event. Nita Ambani not only dazzled us with her stunning ivory-gold Banarasi brocade saree but also displayed the vibrant pink Patola saree the countrys rich culture. Check out the post right here- View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (@nmacc.india) Mrs. Nita Ambanis sartorial choice reflecting her vision of promoting Indian artisans also found a place of pride at the State lunch co-hosted by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris where she wore an ethnic Patola saree from Patan, Gujarat. This Patola saree is a contemporary representation of the centuries-old Indian craft. Woven in pure Indian silk by our skilled traditional artisans Dushyant Parmar and Vipur Parmar, this beautiful weave with bright hues, animal patterns, and geometric perfection has taken 6 months of hard work to be finished to perfection, read the caption of the post shared by NMACC. The story also mentioned how Reliance Foundations SWADESH programme, which honours arts and crafts that are essential to Indias cultural heritage, promoted the distinctive art form. With her husband, businessman Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani radiated ethnic charm when attending the State Dinner at the White House on Thursday. She chose a silk ivory saree for the meal, with an elaborate border and subtly placed golden accents all over the breadth. She paired the outfit with an identical blouse. The saree she was wearing was part of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centres (NMACC) Swadesh display by the Reliance Foundation. ALSO READ: Nita Ambani Exudes Grace in a Gorgeous Banarasi Sari at the White House State Dinner For PM Modi The US State dinner was also attended by Anand Mahindra, Indra Nooyi, Nikhil Kamath, Satya Nadella, and fashion designer Karishma Swali. Hundreds of same-sex couples and transgender people in Mexico City celebrated weddings and the completion of administrative processes to change their gender on Friday, in a mass ceremony a day before the citys annual gay pride march. Some 120 couples met the requirements to get married under the slogan Hand in hand, we march with pride," the city government said in a statement. Marriage helps to regularize a couples civil status and provides them with legal benefits. Keila Espinoza, a 38-year-old who married her partner Vaneza Garcia, said it was very emotional to step into marriage after having lived together: I didnt think it would happen like this. Its very exciting." One groom, Edgar Mendoza, said he tied the knot after 10 years with his partner. This is a very important document, more than a piece of paper or a symbol of marriage. It is security that I can give to my family," he said. In 2009, Mexico City became the first jurisdiction in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage. It took until last year, however, for the rest of the country to follow suit with Tamaulipas becoming the final state to do so in October. Another 131 people in the capital are set to complete administrative gender-change processes, the city government said. Transgender people face many hurdles when they cannot update legal documents such as ID cards to reflect their gender identity. The process, which is free in Mexico City, comes after legal reform in 2014 allowing adults to change their gender on birth certificates and electoral cards if they identify as a different gender from the one assigned at birth. On Saturday, supporters of LGBTQ+ rights are set to march down one of Mexico Citys main avenues to the central square to raise awareness of violence and discrimination against the community and push for equality. Abhishek Bachchan opened up about his family and said that Aishwarya Rai has allowed him to work and make movies while she takes care of their daughter Aaradhya Bachchan back home. Abhishek and Aishwarya welcomed Aaradhya in 2011. Since their daughter was born, Aishwarya has taken a back step from her acting career, starring in only a handful movies. She is also often spotted at events, such as Cannes, with her daughter by her side. Speaking with ETimes, Abhishek Bachchan was speaking about Aaradhya adapting to the world of stardom when he credited Aishwarya for helping Aaradhya to get acustomed to it all. Thankfully, her mother has seamlessly eased her into this world. I think it was very important and Aishwarya handled it beautifully that it wasnt made into a big deal for her that both her grandparents are from the film world and both your parents are from a film world. We didnt make it into a big thing," he said. The actor went to add that he credits this to Aishwarya. She allows me to go out and make my films and she takes care of Aaradhya," he added. When he was asked if Aaradhya is a movie buff or has a favourite film of the actor, Abhishek said, She doesnt really want to compulsively watch movies, shes happy doing other things. At some level, I dont want to ask her which is her favourite film of mine. I dont think I want to because Ill get a brutally honest answer and I dont think Im ready for that (with a laugh)." Aaradhya was born in November 2011. Unlike most star kids, Aaradhya has stayed away from the limelight and makes most appearances with Aishwarya. She was recently seen accompanying Aishwarya to Cannes and was also a part of the Ponniyin Selvan 2 screening in Chennai before that. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor are currently enjoying some quality time in Dubai. Their viral photos are trending on social media. Well, keeping with the trend the actress today treated herself to a delightful moment of relaxation during her vacation, as she enjoyed a slice of cheesecake with the song Tum Kya Mile from Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani playing in the background. In the picture shared by Alia Bhatt on her social media handles, a cheesecake can be seen with the song Tum Kya Mile playing in the background which is adding an extra touch of tranquillity to the moment. The photo is captioned as very appropriate lyrics for my feelings currently. Recently, a picture of them with fans in Dubai surfaced on the internet. In the picture, they can be seen at a club. While Ranbir opted for a white tee, Alia slipped into a white, floral dress, perfect for summers. This time, she kept her hair tied back in a neat bun and sported gold hoops. She didnt have an iota of makeup on and carried a sling bag. Take a look at the photo here: Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have been occupied with their respective films. Alia recently took off on a work trip to Brazil, where she joined Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan for the teaser launch of Heart of Stone" as part of Netflixs Tudum event. Apart from this she also has Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani co starring Ranveer Singh. The film is a romantic drama and will be releasing in July. The trailer has already created a lot of buzz among fans. She will be next seen in Jee Le Zaraa with Priyanka Chopra and Katrina Kaif. The shooting is yet to start. Ranbir, on the other hand, is gearing up for the release of Sandeep Reddy Vangas Animal. Meanwhile, fans were thrilled on Saturday when a photo of Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Sandeep Reddy Vanga and the Animal film team posing together, went viral on social media. In the picture, Ranbir Kapoor is seen sporting long hair and thick beard, his look for the film. Alia Bhatt is making waves globally. The actress is all set to make her much-awaited Hollywood debut with Heart Of Stone. For the film, she would be seen sharing screen space with Gal Gadot. The action entertainer is all set to release on Netflix on August 11. Ahead of the films release, she recently attended the trailer launch event in Brazil. Now she shared a glimpse of her visit on her Instagram handle. She wrote, A recap of my #Tudum moments #HeartOfStone @netflix. The video opens with Alia getting ready, where she says, I am feeling like I am on a cloud. She then shares a bundle of all the press days and fan meets with her Heart Of Stone co-stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan. Have a look at the video: Alia had earlier shared her excitement for being a part of Heart Of Stone. She said, It was a very special film in the first place for me to be a part of. I shot it at a very exciting time when I was feeling like it was a nice time to break into another language, into Hollywood, as you call it. But I was having a lot of fun and met some amazing people while I was doing that. Speaking of Alia Bhatts Heart Of Stone trailer, we see Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone and her fervent allegiance towards a furtive peacekeeping force called the Charter. The trailer deftly captures some high-octane action sequences involving flying jets and glider suits. One of the major highlights of the clip is Alia Bhatt essaying a tech-savvy hacker Keya Dhawan responsible for stealing Charters most potent weapon. An exchange between Gal Gadot and Alia Bhatt is bound to charge you up when Rachel yells over phone,"Heart or no heart, I am coming for you. Earlier, according to a report in India Today, Alia opened up about bagging Heart Of Stone in an interview. She shared, My team sent me the script and they said, You know they would like for you to read the script and if you are interested, we can get you to Zoom meet with the director. Thanks to Zoom, a lot of this has become possible. She added, You dont have to fly to a meeting. You can do a virtual meeting. I read the script and, of course, I heard that Gal Gadot was going to be starring in it and was also producing it, which I was extremely excited about because I am such a huge admirer of her work and just the person, the force that she is. Alia Bhatt shot for the film during her pregnancy. In an interview with Variety she earlier revealed, It was my first Hollywood big English picture experience and I had quite a task at hand because I was shooting for the first time an action movie. But Im also pregnant so there were so many layers for me to deal with. But they made it so seamless and so easy and so comfortable for me. Its something that I will never forget because of how beautifully and how well I was treated. Right from the trailer to the songs, Sajid Nadiadwala and Namah Pictures upcoming Satyaprem Ki Katha truly raised the excitement of the masses to witness this soulful musical romantic pure love story on the big screen after a long time. Currently, the entire nation has been taken over by the mind-blowing trailer and the songs of the film. Now to spread the color of love around the corners, the makers that kickstarted their promotional tour from Jaipur are heading to Ahmedabad with none other than Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani. The duo were spotted at the Mumbai airport where a pap performed the hook step of one of the songs from their upcoming film. In a clip shared by Viral Bhayani, we can see Kartik and Kiara arriving at the airport. While Kiara opted for a pearly white top and white pants as her airport look, Kartik looked dapper in a mustard shirt, blue denim jeans and a cap. They were pleasantly greeted by a pap who danced to the song Gujju Pataka. Kiara can be seen praising the guy by saying, kya baat hai. Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan also briefly joined him and taught him a step or two. The guy received applause from both the actors before heading inside. Watch the clips here: Taking to the comment section, fans flooded it with compliments and reactions. One of them wrote, Kitne cute hai yaar ye". Another one commented, He is so simple!BAlways no fake, no chochle, no nautanki. Isliye log dekhne jaate hai isse!" Someone else said, Pefercttt!!" As the promotional tour of Satyaprem Ki Katha had commenced from the Pink City, Jaipur, the cast Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani had graced the grand event with their presence. The lead cast visited the historic landmark, Jal Mahal. As Jal Mahal stands as the epitome of love, it was indeed a moment worth capturing with the most admirable couple, Kartik Kiara. Undoubtedly, Jal Mahal was the best destination for a film like Satyaprem Ki Katha to showcase the story of pure love that the film is all set to bring on the big screen with its release. The trailer of Satyaprem Ki Katha that was dropped earlier this month, gave a glimpse of an intense romantic film in the making. In the film, which reunites hit on-screen pair Kartik and Kiara a year after Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, features the duo playing a married couple. However, it doesnt seem that Kiaras character Katha is very happy in the marriage. The trailer begins with Kartiks SatyaPrem and Kiaras Katha on a vacation in Jammu and Kashmir. They are seen having the time of their lives while Katha makes it clear that she is already dating someone. Not completely heartbroken by the revelation, SatyaPrem decides to wait for her if she wants to get into a serious relationship. Soon enough, the trailer cuts to the couple getting married and it is obvious by now that SatyaPrem was very desperate to get married. At a point in the trailer, SatyaPrem is seen in bed with Katha and confessing that he is still virgin for he was saving himself for his wife. The trailer goes on to show that their marriage is filled with highs and lows. Satyaprem Ki Katha also marks a massive collaboration between NGE and Namah Pictures. Interestingly, Sajid Nadiadwala and Shareen Mantri Kedia with Kishor Arora & director Sameer Vidwans won a National Award for their respective feature films. Satyaprem Ki Katha will be released in theaters on 29th June 2023. The pride of India, the iconic maestro Padmashree Shankar Mahadevan who has consistently rocked the nation with his scintillating music was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate last evening by the Birmingham City University for outstanding contribution to Music and Arts at a formal ceremony held at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. This degree is proof of his legion of fans globally who are inspired by his music, artistry and creative ethics. Shankar Mahadevan is leaving solid imprints in the sands of time all across the globe; creating a timeless legacy. The world is sitting up to take notice of our music and with Shankar leading the way; the future looks bright! The occasion was also attended by the Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain and the legendary guitarist, John McLaughlin. After the formal felicitation ceremony, the students of Birmingham City University performed Mitwa from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. The student choir was joined by the legendary Shakti trio- Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan and John McLaughlin on stage who performed Bollywood numbers and Shankar also enchanted the audience with his timeless classic Breathless. It was truly a proud moment for the family in the audience- his wife Sangeeta and sons Siddharth and Shivam who travelled from Mumbai for this special occasion. Clearly Shankar Mahadevan is making a habit of leaving his audiences Breathless"! This degree isnt just a reaffirmation of Shankar Mahadevans sterling work and growing international influence but is a realisation of him taking India to the world; quite literally - a matter of immense pride not just for him or our music industry but the entire country at large! Suffice, to sayhe came, he conquered and hes here to stay. Over the years, Shankar Mahadevan along with Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendosa have churned out music for films like Kal Ho Na Ho, Bunty Aur Babli, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, My Name Is Khan, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag to name a few. Varun Dhawan recently wrapped up shooting for his upcoming web series Citadel India in Serbia. The actor has finally returned to India and was spotted at the airport today. While coming out of the airport, the actor was seen surrounded by fans. The video has gone viral on social media. The actor, who is known for his friendly and approachable nature, took a moment to pose for a selfie with fans. In the video, shared by Viral Bhayani, we can see a fan approaching him for a selfie. The actor was seated in the car but still obliged them with pictures. The video has been garnering a wave of positive reactions from fans and followers. Viewers were touched by the actors down-to-earth nature. One of the fans wrote, Super star Varun Dhawan. Another wrote, I Love You VD. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Citadel, a collaboration between the Russo brothers and Raj and DK, promises to be a gripping espionage thriller that transcends borders. The series combines the storytelling prowess of these acclaimed creators with the stellar performances of an exceptional cast, including Sikandar Kher and Samantha Prabhu. On the work front, Varun will be next seen in Bawaal with Janhvi Kapoor. The makers have skipped theatrical release and opted for the digital route. The romantic drama is set to release on Prime Video next month. The date is yet to be announced. Apart from this his film Bawaal with Janhvi Kapoor is all set to release on OTT. Prime Video took to its Instagram handle and shared the poster writing, Badlega sabke dilon ka haal kyunki duniya bhar mein hone wala hai Bawaal. Iss July banega mahaul as #BawaalGoesGlobal Produced by #SajidNadiadwala and directed by @niteshtiwari22, #BawaalOnPrime to premiere worldwide in over 200 countries and territories only on @primevideoin. In the poster, Janhvi can be seen wearing a mauve colour kurta and Varun is seen wearing a brown colour shirt. They are holding each other. But we can also see war in the poster. Back in the year 1995, Pooja Bhatt opened up on her love-hate bond with Salman Khan. At that time, she was then in a serious relationship with his brother Sohail Khan. She is now one of the contestants in Bigg Boss OTT, which Salman is hosting. In the 1995 interview with Stardust, Pooja had said, I agree Salman and I hated each other initially for some weird reason. We just didnt get along. And that was made out to be this great war between us. I guess it started because I didnt do the film Love or whatever. But, today we get along very well too. In fact, were one big happy family. In the same interview, she had also opened up about her relationship with Sohail. She had shared, Marriage is definitely on my mind, but Sohail is just on the threshold of an exciting, new career as a director and I want to work two more years before deciding on the venue and the menu. We do want a future together. Not just as in the normal culmination of any relationship but in wanting to be together. I want it and so does he. She had added, Our relationship has flourished due to trust, respect, and understanding. In the end, we are fully aware of the value of our bond. However, there will always be ill-wishers and negative people. You can see certain lawyers who hope that their clients commit crimes or get divorced so they can support themselves. Voyeurism is a global pastime. But I am an adult, and I only answer to myself, whether its personal or professional. I make agreements only with myself because I am accountable to no one else. The rest of the world can go to hell, as far as Im concerned." Despite their deep connection, Pooja and Sohail never go married. Pooja Bhatt however got married to Manish Makhija in 2003. And almost after 11 years, they announced their divorce. Sohail on the other hand got married to Seema Khan in 1998. They announced their separation in 2022 and got divorced. On the work front, Pooja Bhatt was last seen in Chup: Revenge Of The Artist which was helmed by R Balki. She was seen sharing screen space with Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Deol and Shreya Dhanwanhary. She was also seen the Netflix series Bombay Begums which marked her comeback to acting. Pooja is currently locked inside Bigg Boss OTT 2 house. The keenly watched meeting of the opposition parties in Patna on June 23, by all accounts, was pleasant and very good, except for one the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which not only boycotted the joint press conference, but even released a statement saying until the Congress publicly denounces Centres ordinance and declares that all 31 of its Rajya Sabha MPs will oppose it, it will be difficult for AAP to participate in the future meetings of like-minded parties where Congress is a participant. The statement further said its high time that the Congress decides whether it stands with the people of Delhi or with the Modi government. This single act of the AAP has cast a shadow on the much underlined claims of the opposition unity by the other 14 political parties. In fact, the stage for a tussle was set two days ahead of the Patna meeting, when AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to all parties, except to the Congress, thanking them for their support against the Central governments promulgation of the ordinance. Targeting the Congress, he also said all parties must make their stand clear on the ordinance in the June 23 meeting, and the strategy to defeat the same in Parliament must be discussed first. One the day ahead of the meeting, highly places sources indicated that AAP may stage a walkout unless the Congress formally declares its opposition to the ordinance. Given the deep distrust between the AAP and Congress, the statement of its national spokesperson just hours ahead of the make or break meeting alleging that an understanding between Rahul Gandhi and the BJP had already happened on the ordinance set the tone for the talks between the two that took place later. Else what is the difficulty in Congress clearing its stand?, asked AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar, who was responding to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who while leaving for Patna, had said even Kejriwal would be aware of the fact that the ordinance cannot be proposed or opposed outside Parliament. He further said before the Parliament session begins, all parties will meet to decide the agenda, which will be raised during the session, and a decision on the issue will be taken in that meeting. In the June 23 Patna meeting, Kejriwal was the second person to speak. According to a top source with the AAP, Kejriwal presented his views on opposition unity, how to defeat the BJP, and made a direct appeal to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for a meeting. Chai par toh bulalijiye (invite us for tea). We have misunderstandings. We can solve them together when we meet. We know that Congress cannot support this ordinance. Place this this in public domain. In fact, the Delhi CM has been waiting for a meeting with the Congress leader for nearly a month since May 27 when he had first tweeted requesting for the meeting. Kejriwal also listed the number of times that AAP has come out in support of the Congress when Rahul Gandhi lost his membership of Parliament, when Congress government was toppled in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Arunachal Pradesh, and when Congress was not able to form the government in Goa despite being the single largest party, when Puducherry CM sat on a dharna, how AAP government in Punjab responded positively to Karnataka Congress chief minister Siddaramaiahs request for the rice scheme to meet the commitment of the partys election promises. Finally, when Congress turn came to speak, Kharge spoke ahead of Rahul and confronted Kejriwal with the most recent statement on June 23 morning by Kakkar and two other statements by the AAP. Kejriwal shot back saying if there is a competition between the two parties on statements against each other, then the Congress would win hands down Your leaders (Sandeep Dixit, Ajay Maken) have been demanding a CBI enquiry, NIA enquiries against me. There is no point in this tu tu main main. Whatever has happened has happened. We must forget and come together in the interest of this country. We must end this matbhed and manbhed . According to a highly placed source with AAP, Kejriwal then requested again for an appointment, saying, I am requesting with folded hands, lets sit together, let us know the venue of the meeting today, we will resolve all issues, after that there will be no misunderstanding. Congress state units in Delhi and Punjab are fiercely opposed to any support for AAP, the ordinance issue included. Congress did not budge on either of Kejriwals requests for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi or to make the partys stand public on the ordinance issue. At the Patna meet, Rahul, in response to Kejriwals request, said that we have processes for meetings and declaring stand on ordinances,Your (Kejriwal) tremendous eagerness for a meeting shows you are up to some mischief. It was then that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who tried to broker peace between the two let us make you sit together for lunch. At least the ice would be broken and pointed towards Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who was the host of the Opposition Unity meet. However, Congress refused to break bread with Kejriwal. Rahul ji ne mana kar dia, uske lie haan nahi bhari," (Rahul ji did not agree), Kejriwal said. And, after that, it was all downhill even though Akhilesh Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Banerjee and Uddhav Thackeray spoke with the Congress on the ordinance issue, said an AAP official. Moreover, AAPs posture has not gone down well with other leaders who were part of the June 23 meeting, 10 of whom have already declared their opposition to the ordinance following Kejriwals meetings with them. It is very disappointing that they have released a statement, it is understood that Congress will oppose the ordinance. I dont understand the need for this, said a leader. In fact, highly placed sources in AAP also conceded that the Congress, in the meeting, had made it clear that it would oppose the ordinance without specifically mentioning which one. On June 23, Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal were under one roof only for the second time. However, the lack of confidence and distrust between the two continued with neither conceding to the others stand. Meanwhile, late Saturday evening, continuing AAPs attack on Congress, Kakkar tweeted, If you have to save the country, then Congress must be told not to bet on Rahul Gandhi for the third time and not put pressure on the opposition parties. In the interest of the country, this is more important than even saving the Constitution. There is no answer yet on whether AAP would attend the next meeting of the opposition parties scheduled to be held in Shimla. Can we as a party come to an understanding with the leader of a party (Congress) not willing to have a cup of tea to remove misunderstandings and, not declare its stand against ordinance? said a party official remarking that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi had a knack of carrying the opposition together. The Congress on Sunday alleged that the Centre is sabotaging" its Anna Bhagya guarantee in Karnataka and asserted that the 10 kg free rice scheme of its state government would be implemented at the earliest, come what may". The Opposition party also asked why is that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is not a revdi (freebie), whereas the Congress guarantee of 10 kg free rice through the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme vilified and sabotaged". In a statement, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that it is nothing but Karnatakas durbhagya (misfortune) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is punishing the poor of the state for voting to secure their future". From January 1, 2023 till May 24, 2023, the BJP-led state government in Karnataka alone lifted more than 95 per cent of the rice procured by all state governments under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) at a rate of Rs 3,400 per quintal, presumably with Modi-jis aashirwaad'", Ramesh said. Once, the Congress government was formed in Karnataka, as threatened by BJP president JP Nadda, this aashirwaad has been withdrawn at break-neck speed," he alleged. Ramesh argued that regardless of claims otherwise made by the Modi government, it is now absolutely clear" that the order of June 13 by the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution discontinuing OMSS(D) for states was targeted at mainly one state, Karnataka, that procured more than 95 per cent of all rice bought by state governments under the scheme this year. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) had issued orders for the sale of rice under OMSS (D) on June 12, 2023, based on the requests of the Congress-led state government in Karnataka made on June 6, 2023, and June 9, 2023. Yet a day later, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Food Distribution discontinued the OMSS (D) for states," he said. This was targeted at sabotaging the implementation of the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme guaranteed by the Congress to the people of Karnataka," Ramesh alleged. Immediately, on June 14, the FCI general manager Karnataka withdrew the earlier order of sale of rice on June 12, he said Not only that, the Chairman and Managing Director of Food Corporation of India (FCI) in a press conference on June 23, 2023, said that conditions will be placed such that private traders cannot sell to another state. Isnt this a clear case of sabotage?" Ramesh said. He alleged that this brazen move of the Modi government" not only targets the additional 5 kg free rice guaranteed by the Congress government in Karnataka, bringing it to a total of 10 kg free rice, but it also affects the basic entitlement of 5 kg that is being given to an additional 39 lakh below poverty line beneficiaries by Karnataka government beyond what is already allocated by the Union government under the National Food Security Act. The fact is that the FCI has more than enough stocks to meet Karnatakas and the countrys needs but the Modi government is trying its very best to close every single avenue for the Karnataka government to fulfil its guarantee to the people of Karnataka, Ramesh alleged. If there is a depletion of rice stocks as claimed by the Modi government, why is it that the allocation and lifting of rice from the FCIs central pool stock for ethanol production and blending of petrol continues at the rate of Rs 2,000 per quintal, he asked. Why is it that 1.5L MT of rice is allocated for the production of ethanol this year if stocks have depleted? Is ethanol production more important than the food security of the people of Karnataka?" Ramesh said. This is not the first time that the prime minister has opposed the schemes of the Congress that benefit the poor, he claimed. On August 13, 2013, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opposing the Food Security Bill. It is the same National Food Security Act implemented by the Congress party that came to the rescue of the countrys poor at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic distress," Ramesh asserted. Under the renamed package of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, 80 crore people got free food grains and pulses, he said in his statement and added that this would not have been possible without the architecture of the National Food Security Act and the Public Distribution System implemented by the Congress-led UPA government. Why is that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana is not a revdi, whereas the Congress Guarantee of 10 kgs free rice through the Anna Bhagya 2.0 scheme is vilified and sabotaged?" he said. Ramesh stressed that the Congress government in Karnataka will do everything possible to ensure the rights of the people of Karnataka are protected, and the guarantee of Anna Bhagya 2.0 with 10 kg free rice is implemented at the earliest, come what may". A day, after the Centre refused to give rice to Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday, had said the state had invited quotations from three central agencies to supply rice for the Anna Bhagya scheme offering five kg extra rice to the BPL families. He had said the negotiations for prices were underway with these agencies. Siddaramaiah had also slammed the Centre for refusing to provide rice to his government for the scheme which is one of the five guarantees, that was supposed to start immediately after the Congress came to power in Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Delhi past midnight after completing a successful visit to US and Egypt. PM Modi was received at the Delhi airport by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi and BJP chief Nadda. BJP leaders and party MPs from Delhi such as Harsh Vardhan, Hans Raj Hans and Gautam Gambhir were also present. Those present at the airport received the Prime Minister with the honor that Modi brought back home for the nation after his successful visits to the US and Egypt, which yielded substantial outcomes in the areas of trade, food security, technology, and defence. PM Modi asked BJP president JP Nadda and other leaders what was happening in India, party leaders, who had gone to receive him at the airport, said. The first thing that he asked all of us is how the work was going and how the nation was going, an MP said. It may be remembered that the BJP is currently undertaking a month-long programme to mark the nine years of the Modi government focused on Susashan and Seva - working for the development and welfare of the people. He asked Nadda ji how it is going here, and Nadda ji told him that party leaders were reaching out to people with the report card of the nine years of his government, and the country is happy," BJP MP Manoj Tiwari told reporters when asked what the prime minister asked them after meeting them at the airport. The sources also told us the Prime Minister asked BJP national president, JP Nadda about his Telangana visit. On Sunday Mr Nadda addressed a rally in the state. He also discussed with the BJP national president about his upcoming trip to Kerala on Monday amongst other party issues. While all the MPs circled around the PM in a brief discussion, the message to each of them was clear- there was lots of work needed to be done ahead. Sources suggest that the Prime Minister has a packed schedule on Monday. He is expected to hold a number of key review meetings apart from the scheduled meetings for the day. The political temperature in Andhra Pradesh is on the rise with the main opposition party TDP gunning for ruling YSR Congress over the death of a minor boy and a prominent Kapu leaders strongly worded letter to Jana Sena Chief Pawan Kalyan on the latters commitment to the community. Maintaining the political tempo, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government on June 23 launched Jagananna Suraksha, a month-long programme to reach out to all 1.6 crore households in the state to check for their unresolved grievances and solve them. Scheduled across all the 15,004 village and ward secretariats, Jagananna Suraksha will entail volunteers, and village and ward secretariat employees visiting all the 5.3 crore people in the state in the next 10 days to identify unfulfilled eligible beneficiaries. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu tore into Reddy and the state government on June 19 following an incident in which a 15-year-old boy was allegedly found burnt to death at Cherukupalli village in Bapatla district and alleged deterioration of law and order situation in the state. After visiting the boys home, Naidu sought to know why the Chief Minister did not visit the victims family and announced any financial aid, besides raking up the recent acid attack on a woman in Eluru town. Reacting to Pawan Kalyans appeal to people to give him a chance as Chief Minister for the betterment of the state, former minister and influential Kapu community leader Mudragada Padhmanabham in a letter on June 20 questioned how the Jana Sena chief could unilaterally ask people to make him the CM when he is apparently keen to contest the 2024 Assembly elections in a coalition with the TDP and the BJP. You should ask to be made the chief minister while contesting 175 seats (Assembly) but not while contesting in a coalition. It is ridiculous to think of yourself as the CM while contesting in a coalition, noted Padmanabham. The letter drew the ire of Jana Sena party leaders while the Kapu leaders in the ruling YRSC demanded answers from Pawan Kalyan over the issue raised in it. Kalyan, who is on a yatra atop his Varahi vehicle, continued his tirade against the CM and YSRCP leaders. The actorpolitician is scheduled to address a public meeting in Malikipuram village today in the Konaseema district. During a recent meeting, Kalyan announced that he is ready to become the chief minister, promising that he would make Andhra Pradesh the number one state in the country. Meanwhile, demonstrating BJPsambitions for AP, several saffron party leaders actively took part in the Yoga Day celebrations across the state. In good news for Apple fans in India, the Cupertino-based tech giant is reportedly planning to launch its payment service, Apple Pay, in the country. The reports suggest that Apple is planning to hold discussions with Indian authorities and officials, including the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). Currently, the market is dominated by Walmarts PhonePe, Googles GPay, and Paytm. Now, Apple is developing a localised version of Apple Pay that will work with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This will allow iPhone users in India to conveniently scan QR codes and make UPI transactions directly, without relying on any third-party payment service provider (PSP) application. According to a report from Moneycontrol, Apple is also in talks with banks to launch Apple Card in India. The report claimed that Apple CEO Tim Cook met with HDFC Bank CEO and MD Sashidhar Jagdishan during his trip to India in April to discuss the possibility of bringing the credit card to the country alongside Apple Pay. The company also proposed the integration of Face ID for UPI authentication on iPhones, potentially adding an additional layer of security to transactions. Another report revealed that Apple exploring the possibility of launching its Apple Card there as a co-branded credit card with HDFC Bank. The iPhone maker is also said to have held discussions with the central bank and regulatory body the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the modalities" of the card. The regulator has reportedly asked Apple to follow the regular procedure for co-branded credit cards, without offering any special considerations for the company. The Apple Card was introduced in the United States in August 2019 and has remained exclusive to the country. However, there is speculation that Apple may be contemplating launching the Apple Card in India before considering Japan or European countries. This decision could be influenced by the fact that Apple currently does not accept card payments in India. Instead, most App Store purchases in the country are powered by the national Unified Payments Interface (UPI) due to regulations prohibiting third-party websites from storing credit card information on their platforms," MacRumors said. Farmers from Uttar Pradeshs Lakhimpur Kheri area are facing monkey terror and it seems like they have come with just the right way to cope with it. To prevent monkeys from damaging their sugarcane crop, the farmers are resorting to a bear costume. News agency ANI posted a few images of these farmers wearing bear suits. The images show farmers sitting in the middle of the fields, in this bear suit. Also Read: Ahmedabad Teenage Sisters Beat Molester in Public, Video Goes Viral Farmers in Lakhimpur Kheris Jahan Nagar village use a bear costume to prevent monkeys from damaging their sugarcane crop, wrote ANI while posting the images. Uttar Pradesh | Farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri's Jahan Nagar village use a bear costume to prevent monkeys from damaging their sugarcane crop40-45 monkeys are roaming in the area and damaging the crops. We appealed to authorities but no attention was paid. So we (farmers) pic.twitter.com/IBlsvECB2A ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 25, 2023 The images, since being uploaded, have gone viral and gathered over 492K views. Not a great idea in Lakhimpur Kheri which is near to Dudhwa National park. Tiger and bear fighting is a very common sight in the National park, wrote a Twitter user. Another person mentioned, Who is responsible for the ongoing man animal conflict ? Dinosaurs ? Sparrows ? Dodo? None of them but humans are solely responsible for this situation. Its high time they should realise why forests are essential. Speaking with ANI, a farmer said, 40-45 monkeys are roaming in the area and damaging the crops. We appealed to authorities but no attention was paid. So we (farmers) contributed money and bought this costume for Rs 4,000 to protect our crops. Sanjay Biswal, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Lakhimpur Kheri said, I assure farmers that we will take all measures to stop monkeys from damaging the crops. Also Read: Delhi Man Travels All Metro Stations in 15 Hours, Sets New Guinness World Record China on Sunday said it supported Russia in protecting national stability", in Beijings first official remarks on a short-lived armed uprising led by the head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin. As a friendly neighbour and a new era comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China supports Russia in protecting national stability and achieving development and prosperity," the foreign ministry said in a statement. The issue was Russias internal affair", the ministry added. Beijing had until late Sunday refrained from commenting on the weekends turmoil in Russia, which saw the mutinys leader agree to go into exile after President Vladimir Putin was forced to accept an amnesty deal. On Sunday, Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Russias deputy foreign minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. The two diplomats discussed China-Russia relations," Beijing said, as well as international and regional issues of common concern". In its readout of the talks, Moscow said Beijing had expressed support for the efforts of the leadership of the Russian Federation to stabilise the situation in the country." China and Russia have ramped up economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts in recent years, with their strategic partnership growing closer since the invasion of Ukraine. Beijing says it is a neutral party in the war, but has been criticised by Western countries for refusing to condemn Moscow and for its ties with Russia. Analysts say China holds the upper hand in the relationship with Russia and that its sway is growing as Moscows international isolation deepens. An Indian student who was pursuing post-graduation at a university in the United Kingdom died after he was retrieved from a canal in Birmingham. 25-year-old Jeevanth Sivakumar from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, was pulled out of the Worcester and Birmingham canal at Matrons Walk, Selly Oak by police personnel in critical conditions on Wednesday, The Times of India said in a report. The police spokesperson said that they pulled out Jeevanth from the canal and called for an ambulance, which arrived at the scene six minutes after the call. The first ambulance was followed by a second ambulance, a paramedic officer, a specialist trauma doctor, critical care paramedic and other teams trained to provide life-saving medical care in challenging environments. On arrival, crews discovered one patient, a man, who had been pulled from the water by police colleagues and was in a critical condition. Ambulance staff immediately began providing advanced life-support. However, despite their best efforts, it sadly became apparent nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead at the scene," a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said. Jeevanth stopped responding to treatment and died on the spot. The West Midlands Police said they are not treating the death as suspicious. The report said that Jeevanth told his friends he was going to the library at 6 pm and when they asked him for dinner, he said he would come later. However, his phone was not available at midnight which is when his flatmates started to worry. Jeevanth Sivakumar was doing a one-year full-time strategy and international business MSc at Aston University, Birmingham. He had studied BE in electrical, electronics and communications engineering at the Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore. He arrived in the UK in September last year and it was his first trip to Britain. His family allege that there is a foul play behind his death and questioned why his body was found in a Birmingham canal. We received the information through the Indian embassy (sic) in England and we dont know what the procedures are to bring the dead body to India. Friends of Jheevanth are updating us about the situation in Birmingham, Rohan, Jeevanths brother reportedly said. The Indian community is supporting the repatriation process to bring the body back to India. No one knows why he was by himself at the canal at that time of night. No one knows what happened. It is still being investigated, Kishore Dattu, Indian National Students Association general secretary said. The West Midlands Police are likely to send Jeevanths mortal remains only after the investigations commence. The revolt by Russias Wagner mercenary group against President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine has revealed divisions within the Russian leadership, French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday. The abandoned march on Moscow shows the divisions that exist within the Russian camp, and the fragility of both its military and its auxillary forces", Macron told the Provence newspaper. He added that the situation is still developing" and that he was following the events hour by hour". All this should make us very vigilant, and fully justifies the support that we are giving to the Ukrainians in their resistance," he said. The private army led by Yevgeny Prigozhin was headed back to its base on Sunday, after Putin agreed to let its chief seek refuge in Belarus, though Prigozhins exact whereabouts remain unclear. The mutiny was the culmination of his long-standing feud with the Russian militarys top brass over the conduct of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Several analysts have said the affair exposed weakness in Putins grip on power. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a similar point to Macron in comments earlier Sunday, saying the crisis raises profound questions, it shows real cracks" in the regime. A Pakistani court on Saturday acquitted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a 37-year-old case related to him allegedly transferring a precious state land to one of the countrys leading media house owner as a bribe. The court ruling came days after the federal government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, made crucial amendments to laws to lift the life-long ban on politicians. Nawaz Sharif was disqualified in 2017 by the Supreme Court. In 2018, he became ineligible to hold public office for life after a Supreme Court verdict in the Panama Papers case. An Accountability Court in Lahore acquitted three-time premier Nawaz Sharif in a case related to illegal transfer of 54-kanal (6.75 acres) precious state land to Jang/Geo media group owner Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman in Lahore while he was the chief minister of Punjab 37 years ago, a court official told PTI. Judge Rao Abdul Jabbar acquitted him after the countrys anti-graft body (National Accountability Bureau) informed the court that after recent amendments to its law (by the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government) the case does not fall in its preview, the official said. The court has already acquitted Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman in this case. NABs earlier charge sheet accused Nawaz Sharif, who was also the chairman of Lahore Development (LDA) in 1986, of misusing his authority and rendering undue benefit to Rehman by approving the exemption of 54 precious plots measuring one kanal each in a single block (compact form) situated at canal bank H- Block of M A Jauhar Town, Lahore. Nawaz Sharif, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader, has been living in self-exile in the United Kingdom since November 2019. Before his departure to London on a four-wheel bail by the Lahore High Court on medical grounds, Sharif was serving a seven-year jail term in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: chief and ousted prime minister Imran Khan alleged that former army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had manoeuvred Sharifs ouster from jail and later struck a deal with him. The PML-N says its supreme leader will return to Pakistan once the date of the general elections is announced. Elections in the country are due in October after the tenure of the incumbent government ends on August 13. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh left Vietnam on Sunday noon for an official visit to China and to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF). PM Chinh is set to visit China and attend the 14th WEF in Tianjin on June 25-28, following an invitation from Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab. This is Chinhs first official visit to China, which takes place during the 15th anniversary of Vietnam and Chinas comprehensive strategic partnership. According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, the visit continues the tradition of high-rank communications and exchanges between Vietnam and China, demonstrating the appreciation and determination to develop relations between the two countries to become more sustainable, stable, and substantive. Chinhs visit will focus on finding concrete solutions to promote economic and trade cooperation, especially between the borders, and between localities abroad as well as removing and promoting the implementation of major infrastructure projects that still exist between the two countries. This activity also contributes to strengthening political trust, promoting finding solutions to different issues, including those at sea, strengthening the two countries relations, contributing to peace and stability, and regional and global cooperation. Deputy Minister Vu said PM Chinh was one of four key government leaders invited to the WEFs 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, demonstrating the importance of the WEF as well as the international business community to Vietnam's position and role in the economy, as well as Vietnam's determination to reform and open up. At WEF, Chinh will share his experience and learn from other economies and major enterprises in creating, activating and taking advantage of new growth engines. He will also call on the global business community to increase investment in Vietnam, making recommendations related to public-private partnership models as well as measures to attract green and sustainable financial resources into the country. Vietnam is Chinas biggest trading partner in Southeast Asia, and China has been its top trading partner for long. Last year their trade was worth $175.6 billion, according to the Vietnam Customs. According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as of March, China poured $23.85 billion in 3,651 projects in Vietnam, ranking sixth among the countries and territories that have invested in Vietnam. US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reaffirmed strong bilateral ties between the two countries following a four-day landmark visit by the Indian leader. This comes two days after Modis official state visit to the US. The friendship between the United States and India is among the most consequential in the world. And its stronger, closer, and more dynamic than ever," Biden tweeted after PM Modis state visit. The friendship between the United States and India is among the most consequential in the world. And its stronger, closer, and more dynamic than ever. pic.twitter.com/6B8iLCos3f President Biden (@POTUS) June 25, 2023 In response, PM Modi said that he fully agrees with the US President that the Washington-New Delhi partnership is a force of global good." I fully agree with you, Joe Biden. The friendship between our countries is a force of global good. It will make the planet better and more sustainable. The ground covered in my recent visit will strengthen our bond even more," PM Modi replied to the US President via a tweet. I fully agree with you, @POTUS @JoeBiden! Friendship between our countries is a force of global good. It will make a planet better and more sustainable. The ground covered in my recent visit will strengthen our bond even more. https://t.co/iEEhBIYG17 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 During his four-day trip, the Prime Minister visited the White House where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome. In Washington, Prime Minister Modi had productive discussions with President Biden, in restricted and delegation-level formats. The leaders highlighted the long-standing friendship and growing cooperation between the two countries, spanning areas such as trade and investment, defense and security, energy, climate change, and people-to-people ties. Both leaders appreciated the rapid progress made through initiatives such as the Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) and the keen desire to elevate strategic technology collaborations to build resilient supply chains. They welcomed the deepening cooperation in critical minerals and space sectors. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to combating climate change and achieving a sustainable future. They discussed ways to promote clean and renewable energy and collaborate on climate initiatives. Both leaders expressed their determination to further deepen the multifaceted Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US for the benefit of their peoples and the global community. In Washington, PM Modi also addressed the joint session of the US Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during his two-day tour to the country where the two leaders discussed India-Egypt strategic partnership and held wide-ranging talks with a particular focus on enhancing political and security cooperation. Modi and El-Sisi caught up on political and social issues happening in the world and the region. Addressing a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that both the leaders agreed on four MoUs and agreements including the most important and landmark" one on the Strategic Partnership" between India and Egypt. The MoU and agreements were particularly focused on enhancing political and security cooperation between India and Egypt in addition to defence collaboration, trade and investment ties, scientific and academic collaboration and strengthening of people-to-people ties. The two leaders had a private one-on-one conversation during which, following up on the India visit of President Sisi earlier this year, the two leaders discussed a whole range of bilateral cooperation and also took stock of what is happening on important issues of the region and the world," PTI quoted Kwatra as saying. Besides strategic partnership, the leaders signed three more pacts focused on agriculture and allied sectors; protection and preservation of monuments and archaeological sites; and competition law, the Foreign Secretary said. Modi arrived in Egypt on a two-day visit after a successful visit to the US. It is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Earlier, Modi met Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly-led India Unit, a group of high-level ministers constituted by El-Sisi to improve the bilateral relationship between the two countries. For the unversed, Egyptian President El-Sisi was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi this year when he and Modi decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership and extended him a formal invitation to visit the country. (With PTI inputs) Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Sunday midnight after concluding his two-nation state visits to the US and Egypt, which yielded substantial outcomes across various fields including trade, food security, tech and defence. PM Modi arrived in the national capital from Cairo, marking his first visit to Egypt. He was received by BJP chief JP Nadda and other party leaders. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to Delhi after concluding his state visits to US and Egypt, received by BJP chief JP Nadda and other party leaders pic.twitter.com/H0FsEyzRqz ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2023 During his two-day stay, he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egyptian ministers appointed to an India unit" after Sisis state visit to India in January. Discussions on Sunday encompassed trade and investment, renewable energy, information technology, and pharmaceuticals. Modi was also conferred the Arab countrys highest honour Order of the Nile. The leaders also signed an agreement to elevate India-Egypt bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership." An Official statement highlighted that PM Modi and President Sisi also explored further cooperation within the G-20, emphasizing issues such as food and energy insecurity, climate change, and the need for a unified voice from the Global South. Before his visit to Cairo, Modi had embarked on his visit to the US on June 20. While in New York, PM Modi participated in the 9th International Day of Yoga at the UN headquarters on June 21. During this trip, he later received a ceremonial welcome at the White House. During the bilateral meeting, PM Modi and US President Joe Biden reviewed the entire spectrum of India-USA ties and discussed ways to further deepen the partnership. Productive conversations between the two sides were held in both restricted and delegation-level formats and a number of deliverables were announced in the state joint statement. He also engaged with top American businesses and tech CEOs, promoting India as a premier investment destination worldwide. Additionally, Modi interacted with members of the Indian diaspora. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day tour to Egypt, visited the historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. The mosque holds great significance for India as it was restored with the help of Indias Dawoodi Bohra community. Modi was shown around the mosque by the Muslim clerics and also interacted with members of Indias Dawoodi Bohra community, who told them about the history of the place. He also shared pictures of his visit to the mosque on Twitter. Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture. pic.twitter.com/4VgzkagHcB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 The Bohra community, which is settled in India, originated from the Fatimids. They renovated the mosque from 1970 onwards and have been maintaining it since then. Egypts Historic Al-Hakim Mosque The Al-Hakim mosque is the fourth oldest mosque in Cairo and the second Fatimid mosque to be built in the city. The mosque covers an area of 13,560 square metres, with the iconic central courtyard occupying 5,000 square metres. The restoration of the historic Al-Hakim Mosque was completed about three months ago and the prime minister was seen appreciating the intricate carved inscriptions on the walls and doorways of the structure. It was built in 1012. Why did PM Modi visit Al-Hakim Mosque? Prime Minister Modi visited the Al-Hakim mosque as it has an Indian connection and it is a testament to the rich heritage and culture that India and Egypt share. PM Modi also shares a special and close relationship with Indias Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community, which was involved in the restoration of the Al-Hakim mosque. The Prime Minister has a very close attachment to the Bohra community who have also been in Gujarat for many years and it will be an occasion for him to again visit a very important religious site for the Bohra community," Indias Ambassador to Egypt Ajit Gupte earlier said. The historic Mosque has been named after Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, the 16th Fatimid caliph and is an important religious and cultural site for the Dawoodi Bohra community. (With PTI inputs) Read more As part of the deal announced on Saturday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighbouring Belarus, which has supported Russias invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. The announcement followed a statement from the office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko saying he had negotiated a deal with Prigozhin after discussing the issue with Putin. Prigozhin agreed to halt the advance in a proposed settlement including security guarantees for Wagner troops, Lukashenkos office said, without elaborating. Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said, Putins highest goal was to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results. The risk for Putin is whether he will be seen as weak, analysts said. Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN. Meanwhile, Moscow had braced for the arrival of forces from the Wagner Group, a private army that has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine, by erecting checkpoints with armoured vehicles and troops on the citys southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor had urged motorists to stay off some roads. But Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometres (120 miles) from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid shedding Russian blood. He did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Putin had vowed harsh consequences for organizers of the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, who brought his forces out of Ukraine, seized a key military facility in southern Russia and advanced toward Moscow. In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment, Putin said. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders. It wasnt immediately clear what concessions, if any, Putin may have made to persuade Prigozhin to halt his march. If he accedes to Prigozhins demand to oust Shoigu, Prigozhin would emerge from the crisis as a clear winner in a major blow to Putins authority. If Prigozhin agrees not to press the demand, Putin could award him with more lucrative government contracts like those on which he has built his fortune in the past. The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europes largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for its army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow was suffering full-scale weakness and that Kyiv was protecting Europe from the spread of Russian evil and chaos. The Federal Security Service, or FSB, called for Prigozhins arrest Friday night after he declared the armed rebellion. Prigozhin said earlier Saturday that his fighters would not surrender, as we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy. Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland, he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel. Prigozhin said he had 25,000 troops under his command and urged the army not to offer resistance. (With AP Inputs) Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who turned his Wagner force against the Russian military leadership, has created a trouble for the Kremlin during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The feud between Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russias military top brass had boiled over Saturday after which the mercenaries captured a key army headquarters in southern Russia and then headed north to threaten the capital. The Wagner rebellion posed the most serious challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putins long rule and Russias most serious security crisis since he came to power in 1999. However, before the crisis could turn into a disaster for Kremlin, the Belarus president intervened and the rebellion was resolved as it was decided that Prigozhin would leave for Belarus and a criminal case against him will be dropped. The Saturday crisis didnt erupt all of a sudden. Rather, the crisis was imminent as it unfolded after several months of friction between the Wagner group and the Russian defence ministry while war went on in Ukraine. First Signs Prigozhin, who was known as Putins chief and his private army, fought for Putin in Crimea and Syria though he does not enjoy any official ranks in the Russian military ranks. He was granted a certain degree of autonomy to operate in the Ukraine war. However, the Wagner chief got into conflict with the military leadership and his rift with Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu intensified as the war progressed. After more than six months of Ukraine War, Yevgeny Prigozhin raised concerns about the way the war is progressing with the Russian president. The Russian military had suffered huge casualties and losses of critical military equipment after the first months of war. Prigozhin criticised the Russian militarys war efforts in an attempt to rope in the Wagner mercenary into the Ukraine war. Control of Soledar Since the first signs, the rift between the mercenary boss and Russian officials has continued to grow as Prigozhin made repeated statements condemning Russias Ministry of Defense. Wagner group, in January, said that it completed the takeover of the Ukrainian town of Soledar and took credit for the success in the Ukraine war. However, Putin during a live television address on January 13, failed to mention Wagner troops role in the fighting and instead attributed the gains to the Russian Defense Ministry. This led to Prigozhin saying the Kremlin was not giving Wagner mercenaries the rightful credit for making battlefield gains. Battle of Bakhmut The Wagner group spearheaded the fight for Bakhmut, which was one of the longest and fiercest battle in the Ukraine war, and where the group suffered huge losses in the months-long storming of the city. During the fight in Bakhmut, Prigozhin went vocal in criticising Russian military of denying ammunition and other resources to the mercenaries fighting on the battlefront. He also threatened to pull out his soldiers from Bakhmut blaming Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for tens of thousands" of Russian casualties in a series of blistering, profanity-laced videos. Prigozhin announces that the Wagner Group will withdraw from Bakhmut on May 10th. pic.twitter.com/mtentaCKDG Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) May 5, 2023 After winning the battle in Bakhmut, Prigozhin said that Russias top generals were trying to deceive" Putin over the Kremlins Ukraine campaign. He also questioned the Kremlins ability to defend the country as Ukraine prepares for a spring offensive. Russian Could Face Revolution In the light of Ukraine readying for a counteroffensive, Prigozhin cautioned that Russia was in danger of turmoil and warned that the country could face a revolution similar to those of 1917 and lose the conflict unless the elite got serious about the war. He warned of Ukraine counteroffensive, wherein Kyiv would try to encircle Bakhmut and attack Crimea. Most likely of all, this scenario will not be good for Russia so we need to prepare for an arduous war," he said in an interview posted on his Telegram channel. He has reiterated that Russias military leadership had fucked up" repeatedly during the war and called for more military and resources to increase the aggression against Ukraine. Russias Grandpa Yevgeny Prigozhin has also been believed to have insulted Russian president Putin last month while ruining over the lack of ammunition for the Wagner soldiers. Prigozhin reportedly issued an expletive-filled diatribe on his Telegram channel, where he said, Theyre collecting (artillery shells) in warehouses - why, no one knows. Instead of spending a shell to kill the enemy and save the lives of our soldiers, they let our soldiers die - and the happy grandfather" thinks this is good for him. Prigozhin went on with his criticism of Vladimir Putin and labelled him a complete a**hole If he turns out to be right, then God bless everybody but how will we win the war, if, by chance - and Im just speculating - it turns out that this grandfather is a complete a**hole? Prigozhin further said. He added, The shells give freedom. And if they dont give freedom with the shells if they keep holding onto them then first we need to shove it up their a*** and then throw them in jail. However, he quickly backtracked on grandfather comment and clarified that he was referring to the former Defense Minister Deputy Mikhail Mizintsev or Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. Putins butcher The Wagner chief has been referred to as Putins chef for a long time, owing to his past associations with Kremlin where he began taking contracts in the Russian military. However, Prigozhin said his nickname Putins chef" was stupid as he could not cook and had never been a chef and added that Putins butcher" might be a more apt nickname. #WagnerGroup financier Yevgeny #Prigozhin denied former Russian officer Igor #Girkins May 27 accusation that Prigozhin could stage a military coup against the #Kremlin by arguing that #Wagner lacks the personnel needed to start a coup. https://t.co/yvUY7gZdts https://t.co/jClvvEgT5W ISW (@TheStudyofWar) May 30, 2023 Prigozhins contempt for Kremlin and the Russian military ranks didnt go unnoticed. Former Russian commander Igor Girkin claimed last month that Russia will face a mutiny" from the Wagner group and chief Prigozhin. The former Russian commander claimed that Prigozhin was laying the ground for a mutiny" and to carry out a coup" against the Kremlin. Militia leader Yevgeny Prigozhin who turned his Wagner force against the military leadership in Moscow, will leave for Belarus and a criminal case against him will be dropped, the Kremlin said Saturday. Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Under the agreement, brokered by Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko, Wagner fighters will not be prosecuted, Peskov added. We have always respected their heroic deeds at the front." An agreement has been reached that Wagner would return to its bases," Peskov said, adding that those fighters who had not participated in the rebellion would be allowed to formally join the Russian army. Prigozhin called off his troops advance toward Moscow on Saturday, pulling Russia back from its most serious security crisis in decades. The feud between Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russias military top brass had boiled over Saturday, with mercenaries capturing a key army headquarters in southern Russia and then heading north to threaten the capital. Peskov also said it was out of the question" that Wagners aborted rebellion would impact Russias campaign against Kyiv. Moscow was grateful to Lukashenko for his role in mediating the crisis, he added. A Sikh shopkeeper was shot dead in Peshawar in Pakistan on Saturday, in second such attack in the last two days. The man, identified as 32-year-old Manmohan Singh was gunned down in Rashidgarhi Bazaar of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) raising questions about the safety of members of the minority community in the neighbouring country. Earlier on Friday, a Sikh shopkeeper, identified as Tarlok Singh, was shot at by unidentified men in Peshawar, but had managed to survive. Manmohan Singh ran a grocery store in Rashid Garhi in Peshawar and was the sole breadwinner for his family, United Sikhs, a humanitarian group, said on Twitter. **We are deeply saddened to hear about the cold-blooded murder of Manmohan Singh in Peshawar, Pakistan today.** Manmohan Singh was a Sikh man who ran a grocery store in Rashid Garhi, Peshawar. He was the sole breadwinner for his family. He is survived by his wife, a child, pic.twitter.com/V3EN5s0qRX UNITED SIKHS (@unitedsikhs) June 24, 2023 The incident happened when Manmohan was on his way home after closing his shop. Two motorbike-borne assailants first followed him and then opened fire at him, after which he died on the spot. He is survived by his wife, a child, elderly parents, a sister and a disabled brother. United Sikhs said that they will be meeting the Pakistan consulate with other groups to seek the state departments intervention to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan. We are appalled by these targeted attacks on Sikh men in Pakistan. These attacks are not only horrific, but they are also a violation of human rights. We call on the Pakistani government to do everything in its power to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, the group said. This pattern is very scary and seems to be part of a nefarious conspiracy. Sikhs have lived as a minority in Pakistan in peace since 1947. All of a sudden, we have these deadly attacks on hard-working Sikhs? Who is behind them? What is the message? the group added calling the for an investigation on an emergency basis. Around 300 Sikh families, mostly Pashtun Sikh, are currently living in colonies in Peshawar. The community members have been living under the constant threat of violence as they are targeted multiple times by gunmen in the recent years. UK fighter jets have been scrambled to respond to Russian aircraft 21 times in the last three weeks, under NATOs air policing operations in Europes Baltic region, Britain said late Saturday. The Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters, currently operating out of Estonia, are part of so-called quick reaction alert" aircraft used by the Western alliance to secure its eastern European flank. Their response comes amid heightened tensions with Moscow over its ongoing war in Ukraine, which has been temporarily overshadowed this weekend by a mutiny within Russia by the Wagner paramilitary group. The UK Typhoons, which have been operating out of an Estonian air base since March, were launched to monitor the Russian aircraft when they failed to respond to air traffic agencies, Britains Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement. They are policing the skies above the Baltics alongside Portuguese and Romanian air forces based in Lithuania, it noted. The Russian aircraft intercepted included Su-27 fighter jets as well as long-range bombers, and transport and intelligence collection aircraft. Quick reaction alert missions see NATO air force crews maintain constant high readiness to ensure they can get airborne at a moments notice," according to Britains defence ministry. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the intercepts were a stark reminder of the value of collective defence and deterrence provided by NATO". The RAF has operated alongside our allies over the last three weeks to ensure both member states and our partner nations are protected, and they can be assured of our ongoing commitment to strengthening European security alongside those who share our values," he added. While deployed to Estonia, the RAF has also taken part in several major aerial exercises with NATO allies, including Exercise Air Defender", which the ministry described as the largest since the end of the Cold War. It featured more than 250 aircraft and 10,000 personnel from 25 nations. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden on Sunday discussed a brief revolt of mercenary troops in Russia that sparked Moscows largest political crisis in decades. I spoke with US President Joseph Biden. A positive and inspiring conversation," Zelensky tweeted. We discussed the course of hostilities and the processes taking place in Russia," he said, adding the two had also discussed long-range weapons. The White House confirmed the talks in a separate statement. The world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored," Zelensky added. An armed rebellion by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had vowed on Friday to topple the Russian military leadership, sparked Russias largest political crisis in decades. At the weekend, Prigozhin ordered his forces to take over a key military headquarters in southern Russia and launch a march on Moscow, before suddenly telling his mercenaries to turn around after a deal with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The aborted revolt has left many in Russia and abroad stunned. Zelensky also said that the two leaders also discussed more US aid with an emphasis on long-range weapons" and coordinated the two countries positions on the eve of a NATO summit in Vilnius next month. He also discussed the crisis in phone conversations with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sharing Ukraines assessments of the attempted coup in Russia and the impact of this situation on the course of hostilities". And in a separate conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda, they discussed the situation on the battlefield and the threat to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, in southern Ukraine, held by Russian forces. It was 2 a.m. when Ngan got out of bed, lit a scented candle for the third time, sprayed fragrance on her pillow, and took two sleeping pills. The 29-year-old real estate sales executive in Ha Dong District, Hanoi, has been suffering from insomnia for the past eight months. She cant send herself to sleep unless she takes pills because shes under pressure at work and cant stop thinking at night. The company she works for is going through hard times and she could be laid off any day. Ngan initially sought help from herbal tea and lotus seeds, which are believed to help calm the mind, but nothing improved. An acquaintance of hers then introduced her to scented candles. She soon became reliant on them and then could not sleep without them. But after a while, they didnt work for her anymore either. Ngan then bought a massage bed, which was advertised as a sleep aid, for more than VND20 million ($850). She also registered for a meditation course, and paid VND300,000 per month for a sound therapy mobile app that promises to help users relax and sleep more easily. All of these remedies only worked for a short period of time and eventually Ngans insomnia situation got even worse. She struggled getting deep sleep and often stayed up all night. Her health began to deteriorate. Desperate, she bought sedative pills from a drugstore. However, after taking the pills for a few days, she experienced panic attacks and had to be hospitalized. Vietnamese young people are increasingly suffering from insomnia. Photo illustration by Pexels Hoang An, 24, is also experiencing insomnia caused by work-related stress. She has spent tens of millions of dong on meditation and yoga courses, as well as massage pillows, but none have been effective. After around a year of suffering, her physical and mental health got so bad she had to quit her job. "I try to think positively to send me to sleep every night, but I cant," she said. "I stay up all night and cry out of hopelessness in the morning." After an examination at Bach Mai Hospital, An was diagnosed with moderate depression and sleep disorder. They are partly post-Covid effects, and partly caused by work-related stress. She began taking pills and supplements prescribed by her doctor, but they cost around VND2 million a month a d the side effect include shaking hands, lower blood pressure and shortness of breath. A study done by Wakefield Research pointed out that around 37% of Vietnamese youth are suffering from symptoms of insomnia, and around 73% of this group admitted that they were stressed because of their lack of sleep. According to a survey by VnExpress, the number of young people visiting Hanoi-based hospitals including Bach Mai, Central Psychiatric, and Hanoi Medical University Hospital because of sleep problems has increased recently. Around 20-30 people visit Mai Huong Daytime Psychiatric Hospital for sleep problems per day, twice the number before the pandemic. A similar trend has been observed in Ho Chi Minh City, where a survey on insomnia revealed that around 33% of the population were suffering from at least one symptom of insomnia. Doctors at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital have estimated that around 15% of the patients visiting the hospital were seeking treatment for insomnia. Among the patients visiting to check-up on other health matters, around 35-40% were diagnosed with insomnia. An lost 5 kilograms in two months because of insomnia. Photo courtesy of An Tran Thi Hong Thu, vice president of the Mai Huong Daytime Psychiatric Hospital, said the causes of insomnia could be divided into physical, mental, and environmental reasons. The most common reasons for young people are normally bad academic performance, failing to get into a university, going through a break up, becoming unemployed, or bearing the pressure of making money or aging. Certain habits including staying up late to scroll on mobile phones or watching films could also contribute to the problem. Insomnia might affect many aspects of the patients lives and develop into mental disorders. Research has shown that insomnia increases the risk of death by 13%. Thu said that most of the insomnia patients of Mai Huong Daytime Psychiatric Hospital reported that they had registered for mediation and yoga courses as well as buying Eastern medicines and supplements to increase sleep. But rarely did they see these methods prove to have long-term effects. Some sedative pills bring temporary effects, as they help relieve stress and by doing so, send people to sleep more easily. However, overusing these pills could cause over-reliance and affect the patients ability to sleep after ceasing usage. Not to mention that these pills do not solve the underlying actual reasons for insomnia. Dr Ngo Quang Hai at the Vietnam Acupuncture Association suggests that people suffering from insomnia symptoms should visit doctors as soon as possible to be examined before their situations get worse. "Unfortunately, many patients leave their insomnia situation untreated for years before seeking help from doctors," Hai said. People can avoid getting insomnia by trying to follow a sleep pattern and keep their bedroom quiet. They should also practice things like reading books, listening to calm music, having a bath, exercising, and avoiding using digital devices for at least 30 minutes prior to their bedtime. A healthy lifestyle, including avoiding eating too little or too much and cutting down on food and drinks that contain caffeine, should also be prioritized. An's doctor encouraged her to exercise along with taking the medicines. "I feel jealous of people around me who can sleep deeply every night," An said. "Now all I wish for is a normal sleep." Members of the Indian community in Egypt showered fulsome praise on Narendra Modi, hailing him as Indias hero", as he became the first Indian prime minister to undertake a bilateral visit to the strategically located Middle East nation in 26 years. Modi, who arrived here on Saturday after concluding a high-profile state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, was given a rousing welcome at the Ritz Carlton hotel, where he interacted with the Indian diaspora in separate groups. Most of the members appreciated Modis historic address to the US Congress and the economic progress of the country under his leadership. Modi on Thursday became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice. His first address to a joint meeting of the US Congress was in 2016. You are Indias hero, a member of the Indian diaspora told Modi, who responded by saying that efforts by every Indian, including those living overseas, have contributed to the countrys success. Saara Hindustan sabka hero hai. Desh ke log mehnat karte, desh ki taraqqi hoti hai (Entire India, everyones hero. The people of the country work hard and the nation progresses), the prime minister said. This is a result of your hard work. Your devotion is paying off (Yeh aapki mehnat ka nateeja hai. Aapki tapasya kaam kar rahi hai, Modi said. Modi also met the members of the Bohra community, who have strong linkages with his home state of Gujarat. Earlier, waving the Indian tricolour, members of the Indian community welcomed the Prime Minister to chants of Modi, Modi, Vande Mataram when he reached the hotel here. An Egyptian woman, Jena, dressed in a saree, greeted Modi with the popular song Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge from the movie Sholay. Impressed by the rendition of the Kishore Kumar-Manna Dey number, the Prime Minister expressed surprise when Jena said she knew very little Hindi and had never visited India. Kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega ki aap Misr ki beti ho ya Hindustan ki beti ho (Nobody will be able to tell whether you are a daughter of Egypt or a daughter of India)," Modi said. Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy were people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly, a celebration of our shared cultural linkages," the Prime Minister tweeted. Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi as part of the efforts by the two countries to enhance their strategic partnership. In a special gesture, Modi was welcomed at the airport here by Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with a warm embrace. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour upon arrival. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. On Sunday, Modi visited the 11th Century Al-Hakim mosque, which was renovated with assistance from the Dawoodi Bohra community. He also visited the Heliopolis War Cemetery to pay respects to the Indian troops who gave their lives in the ultimate act of valour for Egypt during World War-I. This memorial was built by the Commonwealth, although it is dedicated to the 3,799 Indian troops who lost their lives in different First World War conflicts in Egypt. UPDATE Jun 25, 2023 6:40 AM CDT The girlfriend of a Pennsylvania dentist convicted of murdering his wife on safari has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for her role in the killing, reports CNN. Lori Milliron had previously been convicted of being an accessory after the fact to murder, obstruction of justice, and perjury. Prosecutors asked for and received a hefty sentence because they say Milliron encouraged Lawrence Rudolph to murder wife Bianca, and has shown no remorse since. Rudolph awaits his own sentencing after being convicted of murder and insurance fraud. Aug 2, 2022 12:01 AM CDT A Pittsburgh-area dentist was on Monday convicted of murdering his wife of 34 years during an African safari they took in 2016. Lawrence "Larry" Rudolph fatally shot Bianca Rudolph as they prepared to leave Zambia, where they were on a big game hunting trip in Kafue National Park; he claimed she accidentally shot herself with a hunting rifle when she dropped it while packing, but prosecutors argued she was shot from slightly above and 2 to 3.5 feet away, making it impossible for her to have shot herself, Fox News reports. He was also convicted of mail fraud for cashing in on his wife's $5 million in life insurance policies, the Denver Post reports. Because the insurance companies he defrauded are located in Colorado, the trial took place in Denver. Adam Rich, the child actor with a pageboy mop-top who charmed TV audiences as "America's little brother" on Eight is Enough, has died. He was 54. Rich died Saturday at his home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, said Lt. Aimee Earl of the Los Angeles County Medical-Examiner Coroner's office. The cause of death was under investigation but was not considered to be suspicious, the AP reports. Rich had a limited acting career after starring at age 8 as Nicholas Bradford, the youngest of eight children, on the ABC hit dramedy that ran from 1977 to 1981. A medical examiner has determined that former child star Adam Rich of Eight Is Enough fame died of the effects of the drug fentanyl, reports NBC News . The 54-year-old's death in January at his residence also was found to be accidental, according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office. Rich had long talked openly about his decades-long battles with substance abuse and depression. Betty Buckley, who played his stepmother on the show, said on Instagram that she was shocked to learn of his death Sunday and referred to Rich as a "light," her "young pal" on set and friend ever since. "I adored him and loved working with him," said Buckley, who posted photos from the show of the two of them together on a swing set, on horseback, and with her arm around him while he was sleeping. "He was so sweet, funny, fresh and natural. He brought a lot of joy to all of us on the show and to our audiences." Rich's public life after stardom was similar to that other child actors whose promising careers are later derailed by drugs and alcohol, and run-ins with the law; he said on Twitter in October that he'd been sober for seven years. He suffered from a type of depression that defied treatment and he had tried to erase the stigma of talking about mental illness, said publicist Danny Deraney. He unsuccessfully tried experimental cures over the years. "He was just a very kind, generous, loving soul," Deraney told the AP. "Being a famous actor is not necessarily what he wanted to be. ... He had no ego, not an ounce of it." (Read more obituary stories.) A new report by Climate Central has alarming news for anyone who has ever found themselves on the receiving end of a flurry of mosquito bites: Warming temps are giving the pests more time throughout the year to find new sources of blood to feed on. As Georgia Public Broadcasting notes, Climate Central found in a survey of 242 US regions between 1979 and 2022 that most areas (173) have seen increased "mosquito days," sometimes more than two weeks' worth. The Southeast has it the worst, now coping with mosquitos for 218 days, or 60% of the year, but there were notable jumps in the Northeast and the Ohio Valley as well. The West didn't escape. In fact, in USA Today's list of the cities with the biggest jumps, the top ones in California: Santa Maria, California, 43 extra days San Francisco, California, 42 days State College, Pennsylvania, 33 days Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, 32 days Manchester, New Hampshire, 31 days Birmingham, Alabama, 30 days Burlington, Vermont, 29 days Clarksburg-Weston, West Virginia, 28 days Salinas, California, 28 days Wheeling, West Virginia, 28 days Axios points out that some areas might actually be getting too hot for mosquitoes, using Texascurrently in the throes of a stunning heat waveas an example. Mosquitos don't like temperatures above 95, and the Lone Star State has been experiencing heat index readings in excess of 120. Austin, for example, is seeing a notable drop in days friendly to mosquitos. In all, 61 locations saw a decrease in such days in the survey, most of them in the South, per USA Today. University of Georgia public health specialist Elmer Gray told GPB that mosquito "growth is related to the temperature and the amount of food available to them, so the higher the temperature (but not too high), the faster an insect grows." Gray added tips for warding off what the CDC has dubbed "the world's deadliest animal," including eliminating standing water sources such as old tires and keeping storm drains clear. (Read more climate change stories.) Yevgeniy Prigozhin has long complained about Moscow military leaders' decision-making on the war, but it wasn't until Ukraine began its counteroffensive that the Wagner Group chief launched his armed rebellionat a time when dealing with two challenges at once could strain Russian resources. That wasn't a coincidence, the Atlantic reports: There are indications the operation had been planned for months. US intelligence saw those signs, officials said, and were able give White House officials and various agencies a heads-up that Prigozhin had something in the works, per the Washington Post . "So I think they were ready for it," one US official said. The advance on Moscow, which Prigozhin called off Saturday, may have had the look of a spontaneous reaction by an angry mercenary, but it couldn't have been. Military supplies had to be built up and in place, including armored vehicles and air defense systems, to support the operation. Prigozhin's public rants about the generals seem, at least in hindsight, to have been performances. And Wagner's logistical network was prepared to make it possible for its columns to move hundreds of miles in a day. Russian forces struggling with Ukraine's counteroffensive, Phillips Payson O'Brien writes in the Atlantic, "must be looking on in envy." Still, US officials didn't have much notice; the warnings came this month, with agencies wrestling with potential fallout from Prigozhin's action over the past two weeks. Pentagon, State Department, and congressional leaders were briefed, per the Post. The US debate include whether President Vladimir Putin would retain power and whether control of Russia's nuclear weapons would be affected. "There were lots of questions along those lines," a US official said. And though they thought Prigozhin was planning something, the officials didn't know when it would happen. American agencies suspect Putin knew, too. It's not clear when he was warned, but it was "definitely more than 24 hours ago," a US official said Saturday. (Read more Russia rebellion stories.) 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. Premier outlines to Paris summit proposal to help developing nations Premier Li Qiang on Friday called for the international community to take concerted action to jointly address the difficulties faced by developing countries particularly fragile nations in the face of the global development financing gap. Li made the remark in Paris while addressing the closing ceremony of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, which was initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron. Invited by the French government, Li is on a three-day official visit to the country that began on Wednesday. The premier put forward China's proposed solutions to addressing the widening global development financing gap. He said that efforts should be made to promote reform of global financial governance and create a stable financing environment for developing countries. "China is willing to work with all parties to build a fair and efficient global financial governance pattern and strengthen international macroeconomic policy coordination," he said. International financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should implement the consensus of the G20 leaders, complete the new round of quota and voting rights reforms, and improve the voice of emerging market countries and developing nations, he added. Li called for building a global development partnership and providing more resources for developing countries. Developed countries should effectively fulfill their commitments to provide assistance and funding to developing countries, while developing countries need to enhance their own development capabilities, he said. "China will continue to provide various forms of support to other developing countries through practical measures to the best of its ability," Li said. The premier also urged promoting economic globalization and free trade to inject new growth momentum for developing countries. "China is willing to work with the international community to promote liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, firmly oppose trade protectionism and all kinds of 'decoupling' and disruption of industrial and supply chains," Li said. In a world full of turbulence and uncertainties, China and the European Union should seek common ground while reserving their differences and promote more creative cooperation to respond to the uncertainty of the international situation with the stability of China-EU relations. Both sides should also jointly promote sustainable human development. As an important engine of the global economy, China has injected sustained power into the world's economic development, Li said. Regardless of how the world changes, China is steadfast in promoting high-quality development and expanding high-level opening-up so that all countries can share in China's development opportunities, he added. On Thursday, Li met with Macron and called for the two countries to strengthen communication on international affairs to jointly cope with global challenges, while enhancing bilateral exchanges and cooperation. Li said his visit to France aims to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and have in-depth discussions on strengthening China-France cooperation. While deepening cooperation in traditional areas such as nuclear energy, space and aviation, they should also tap the potential of cooperation in new fields, including environmental protection, the digital economy, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, Li said. The Chinese side encourages its enterprises to invest in France, and French companies are welcome to share in China's development opportunities, he added. Macron recalled his visit to China in April, saying France attaches great importance to relations with China and is ready to enhance coordination and deepen cooperation in various fields. In a world full of challenges, France and China should adhere to multilateralism, promote international solidarity, improve global governance and strive to find solutions to global issues, Macron added. On the same day, Li also met with President of the European Council Charles Michel and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the two-day summit in Paris. During his meeting with Michel, Li urged the EU to view its cooperation with China in an objective and rational way and work with China to safeguard the sound environment of China-EU pragmatic cooperation. While meeting with Sharif, Li called for advancing major projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Babasons, a distributor of leading brands in Bahrain has announced acquiring the distribution rights of Optima and Meenumix brands under home appliances & kitchen tools category. By acquiring the distribution rights of household products maker Optima in Bahrain, Babasons said it reinforces its dedication to providing customers with a comprehensive range of high-quality home appliances and houseware products. Similarly, with Meenumix, Babasons said the deal marks a significant milestone in providing customers with a world class Mixer Grinders from India. The acquisition was completed in March 2023. The samurai are often admired for the idea that they all adhered to honorable morals and virtues, yet in reality, the culture of the samurai was often one of brutality, cruelty, and oppression. This video contains mature content such as some graphic descriptions and artwork that is only intended for educational/informative purposes. Viewer discretion is advised. Japanese Magician WOWS Judges with Incredible Card Trick! Magician's Got Talent - Jul 20 Magician KiLa WOWS Judge Alice Hirose with incredible card trick on Japan's Got Talent! Magician KiLa WOWS Judge Alice Hirose with incredible card trick on Japan's Got Talent! Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening | Samurai Game Review The Shogunate - Jul 20 Nobunaga's Ambition Awakening has arrived in English after being released last year in Japan as "Shinsei". Nobunaga's Ambition Awakening has arrived in English after being released last year in Japan as "Shinsei". Horror Full movie | Observation Diary- FUUIN EIZOUCursed Footage51 YABAI JAPAN HORROR - Jul 20 From psychic phenomena to bizarre incidents, a collection of terrifying images that are not allowed to be broadcast on TV. From psychic phenomena to bizarre incidents, a collection of terrifying images that are not allowed to be broadcast on TV. Red Dog casino - short review newsonjapan.com - Jul 20 Red Dog is a reliable licensed online casino with a solid track record. Red Dog is a reliable licensed online casino with a solid track record. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead: This new Japanese zombie film promises to be very amusing list23.com - Jul 18 Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a story about an office worker who is content that zombies have arrived on Earth to escape a job that is too demanding. With two acolytes, he will write a list of goals to achieve before becoming the living dead in turn. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is a story about an office worker who is content that zombies have arrived on Earth to escape a job that is too demanding. With two acolytes, he will write a list of goals to achieve before becoming the living dead in turn. Pokemon competitors heading to Japan for World Championships CBS New York - Jul 18 Thousands of Pokemon competitors and fans from all over the world will travel to Japan for the World Championships in August. Thousands of Pokemon competitors and fans from all over the world will travel to Japan for the World Championships in August. Suzuki Ryohei wins New York Asian Film Festival's 'Rising Star' award NHK - Jul 17 Japanese Actor Suzuki Ryohei has won the Screen International Rising Star award at the New York Asian Film Festival for his performance in the gay romance drama "Egoist." Japanese Actor Suzuki Ryohei has won the Screen International Rising Star award at the New York Asian Film Festival for his performance in the gay romance drama "Egoist." Onnagata: An Introduction to Kabuki Role TypesPart 2 Kabuki In-Depth - Jul 16 Let's continue our overview of the yakugara system of role types in kabuki, turning now to the onnagata or female roles. Let's continue our overview of the yakugara system of role types in kabuki, turning now to the onnagata or female roles. Is Oppenheimer banned in Japan? screenrant.com - Jul 15 There is speculation that Oppenhimer will not be released in Japan. There is speculation that Oppenhimer will not be released in Japan. Japan animator Miyazaki's first film in a decade released todayonline.com - Jul 14 Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki's highly-anticipated film -- his first feature in a decade and probably his last -- was released in Japan on Friday (July 14). Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki's highly-anticipated film -- his first feature in a decade and probably his last -- was released in Japan on Friday (July 14). Mamoru Miyano and Eriko Matsui Go Behind the Scenes | Ooku: The Inner Chambers Netflix Anime - Jul 14 Mamoru Miyano (Arikoto Madenokoji) and Eriko Matsui (Iemitsu Tokugawa) break down their inspiration and process in Ooku: The Inner Chambers. Mamoru Miyano (Arikoto Madenokoji) and Eriko Matsui (Iemitsu Tokugawa) break down their inspiration and process in Ooku: The Inner Chambers. The Scariest Japanese YouTube Channel Ever Sora The Troll - Jul 14 The scariest part is probably the comments more than the channel itself The scariest part is probably the comments more than the channel itself Godzilla Spotted Approaching America! New Japanese Production Arriving In December forbes.com - Jul 12 The worlds favorite hundred foot tall rampaging kaiju is about to make landfall just in time for the holiday movie season, according to an announcement today from Japans Toho International. The worlds favorite hundred foot tall rampaging kaiju is about to make landfall just in time for the holiday movie season, according to an announcement today from Japans Toho International. Her Highness Arrives | Ooku: The Inner Chambers Netflix Anime - Jul 12 In an alternate history where the male population is nearly decimated, eligible men serve as concubines to the woman shogun inside the walls of the Ooku. Her Highness Yoshimune arrives and meets Mizuno. In an alternate history where the male population is nearly decimated, eligible men serve as concubines to the woman shogun inside the walls of the Ooku. Her Highness Yoshimune arrives and meets Mizuno. Transfer Student Beats The #1 Student On His First Day Anime Explained - Jul 12 At Academy Island, everything is settled through "Games" waged for a certain number of stars, with the strongest student being granted the ranking of Seven Stars. Hiroto, a transfer student, unexpectedly beats the strongest empress and becomes the pseudo-strongest in the school! A mind game of lies and bluffs begins! At Academy Island, everything is settled through "Games" waged for a certain number of stars, with the strongest student being granted the ranking of Seven Stars. Hiroto, a transfer student, unexpectedly beats the strongest empress and becomes the pseudo-strongest in the school! A mind game of lies and bluffs begins! Indonesias Deputy Minister of Trade, Jerry Sambuaga, delivers his remarks at the 'Dissemination of the Results of Indonesia's ASEAN 2023 Chairmanship Priority International Trade Negotiations' at Brawijaya University, in Malang city, East Java province, on June 22 (Photo: ANTARA) Indonesias Deputy Minister of Trade, Jerry Sambuaga said on June 22 that Indonesia should take advantage of ASEAN chairmanship to turn its MSME products into superior products on an international level. Domestic handicrafts, snacks, and clothing products have the potential to be exported to countries in the Southeast Asian region, he said, adding that Indonesian online games also have great and promising economic potential. According to Sambuaga, President Joko Widodo has directed the Ministry of Trade to strive to ensure that Indonesias export products are processed ones that have added value. The value of Indonesias exports to ASEAN countries reached 3.97 billion USD in May, an increase of 26.02% compared to the previous month, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). Indonesia's exports to some of the main trading partners in the region were on the rise. Its exports to Singapore climbed by 25.78% month-to-month to top 688.6 million USD while exports to Malaysia reached 958.1 million USD, up 19.23% against the previous month./. The Russian government says criminal charges against Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenary group, have been dropped, and he will move to Belarus. Speaking with journalists in the early hours of Sunday, Dmitry Peskov, presidential spokesperson, said the conditions were part of a deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to end the rebellion led by Prigozhin against Russias military leadership. On Saturday, the Wagner leader and his troops were advancing towards Moscow, the Russian capital, after reportedly taking control of Rostov-on-Don, a city of more than a million people close to the border with Ukraine. The private army, which had been fighting for Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, vowed to topple Vladimir Putin. However, less than 24 hours after the uprising began, Prigozhin said the fighters would return to base, citing the risk of blood being spilled. Putin had earlier described the militias mutiny as a stab in the back, adding that measures taken by Russia to address the situation would be brutal. In the latest development, Peskov, who did not offer much details on the deal, said the charges brought against the Wagner leader by the federal security service had been dropped. You will ask me what will happen to Prigozhin personally? The criminal case will be dropped against him. He himself will go to Belarus, the spokesperson said. Representatives from agencies at the opening ceremony of the Automechanika Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA) This year, the annual fifth edition sees a record number of exhibitors which is 28% higher than that of the previous one. Fiona Chiew, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said that since Automechanika Ho Chi Minh City was launched, Vietnam has been considered one of the fastest growing markets in Southeast Asia. Through the process of urbanisation development, the domestic auto industry is preparing to enter a new era, getting opportunities from the integration of development in electric vehicles, digital technology, manufacturing and automation industries into the supply chain. Automechanika Ho Chi Minh City has also become a trade promotion platform, a place to exchange and develop technology and business in Vietnam. Exhibitors can launch a wide range of the latest products, services, technologies and solutions, including components, accessories, diagnostic and repair equipment, electric vehicles and automobile manufacturing and automation. Visitors to Automechanika HCM City (Photo: baotintuc.vn) Within the framework of the trade fair that runs until June 25, there will be a conference on automobile production, digital transformation and automation, focusing on the Government's goals to improve domestic production and raise Vietnam's position in the international arena. It also includes event to connect businesses with digitisation and electrification. Representatives from Vinso Global Limited, IBM, TecAlliance Asia Pacific and VINAI will introduce the blueprint for electric and mobile vehicles of Vietnam, digitalisation of manufacturing, connectivity and self-driving in Asia. RoK retains leading position as largest investor in Vietnam With 9,666 projects capitalised at over US$81.5 billion, the Republic of Korea (RoK) has retained its position as the leading foreign investor in Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). MPI statistics show Vietnam has so far attracted 37,238 valid FDI projects capitalised at US$447.65 billion from 143 countries and territories around the world as of the end of May 2023. The RoK took the lead with 9,666 projects valued at US$81.5 billion, followed by Singapore (3,240 projects - US$73.384 billion) and Japan (5,091 projects - US$69,628 billion). RoK retains leading position as largest investor in Vietnam (Photo: VOV) During the five-month period, Korean investors injected US$666.52 million into 167 newly-registered projects, 122 projects which had their capital adjusted, and 364 capital contributions and share purchases in the country. The MPI statistics also show that Korean investment into the Vietnamese market has witnessed a 20-fold rise from US$3.8 billion in 2013 to US$81.5 billion in the 2013 - 2022 period, turning it into the nations largest foreign investor. Most notably, several leading Korean business groups including Samsung, LG, Posco, and Keangnam have initiated projects worth billions of US dollars in Vietnam. Samsung Electronics alone views Vietnam as its global production base. Korean giants like Samsung and LG have actively contributed to Vietnamese socio-economic development, accelerating the development of the electronics industry, which currently contributes nearly 20% of the total value of the industrial sector. Furthermore, RoK enterprises have also assisted Vietnamese firms in joining the global supply chain, as more than 250 Vietnamese enterprises have become tier-one and tier-two vendors for Samsung. Hong Sun, chairman of the Korean Chamber of Business in Vietnam, said Korean enterprises are upbeat on the Vietnamese business climate, especially in the countrys green growth strategy. Moreover, Korean investors are also interested in high-tech fields in the country, such as semiconductor chip production and car batteries. Sharing this perspective, Choi Joo Ho, general director of Samsung Vietnam, also praised the investment environment in the country, affirming that the RoK continues to view Vietnam as an attractive investment destination moving forward. The visit made by a delegation of 205 leading Korean businesses accompanying the RoK President Yoon Sul-yeol from June 22 to 25 therefore proves their keen interest in the Vietnamese market. According to economic experts, Vietnam needs to continue to improve its infrastructure, including transport and electricity infrastructure, to meet the requirements necessary for the high-quality projects of Korean enterprises. Vietnams mam nem hailed by foreign media Renowned food and drink website Tasting Table has published an article, noting that mam nem, a bold Vietnamese sauce, takes sweet and savory tastes to a new level, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam. According to the website, Vietnam has long been praised for a variety of sauces, which are able to balance savory, sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors all at once. Vietnams mam nem hailed by foreign media (Photo: bachhoaxanh.com) However, it says mam nem creates the perfect example of how an array of tastes can come together to create a daring sauce. Initially, mam nem walks a fine line - this pungent yet crave-able sauce is no doubt an acquired taste. But, those who have dipped their beef soup noodles or grilled catfish into this sauce have never gone back, says Tasting Table. The website reveals that foreign food lovers may be able to find it bottled when browsing around a local Asian specialty grocery store. In addition, lots of online retailers also sell this sauce via Amazon, meaning consumers worldwide can have it at their dinner table in no time. And, we assure you, you haven't tried a sauce with a similar ingredient list to this on. Tasting Table concludes. Vietnam promotes tourism via Viber platform The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has introduced its account on Viber platform as a new channel for holidaymakers to access official information and recommendations about the country's tourism, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam. With the Viber account, VNAT will send messages recommending interesting destinations and tourist activities for tourists during this summer tourism season. Viber platform is used to promote Vietnam tourism. (Photo: VNAT) The VNAT account is authenticated with a green checkmark. Its messages will be displayed with vivid frames in a message interface, providing interactive buttons and automatic replies. Users can interact, get more information, images, choose to watch videos or access the website of the VNAT through simple and convenient steps. Previously, VNAT had also established communication channels on many social networks such as Zalo, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, showing its determination in applying digital transformation and information technology to promote tourism in Vietnam./. A stakeholder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, from the southeast, Obiora Ugwu, has written to President Bola Tinubu, on the lingering intra-party crisis ravaging the national leadership of the party. It comes on the heels of a court judgement, which purportedly sacked Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa, and affirmed Edozie Njoku as the authentic APGA national chairman by the court of the land. In an open letter, signed and addressed to Tinubu and made available to newsmen on Saturday, Ugwu berated an alleged abuse of the judiciary arm of the Nigerian government by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in respect to the leadership tussle between Edozie Njok, Victor Oye and Barr Sly Ezeokenwa. According to him, The leadership tussle has been going on since 2018, the Supreme Court delivered a judgement on March 24, 2023, that settled the matter, reaffirming Njoku as the national chairman of APGA and the Supreme Court directed INEC to recognize him with immediate effect. Ugwu regretted that the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, has refused to carry out the order issued by the Supreme Court since then. He said: This has become ridiculous to the entire world and Nigeria in particular. No sane nation disobeys the Supreme Courts judgement. This open letter is for you, Mr President, to wade into this matter to save the face of the Nigerian judiciary. The Governor of Anambra State and also the leader of APGA, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has continued to use money to prevent the INEC Chairman from carrying out the directives of the court, thereby ridiculing the Nigerian judiciary. Southeast and all APGA stakeholders are hanging on, expecting that the orders must be respected. Mr President, please, we ask you to save APGA from the hands of Soludo and INEC chairman, Yakubu. Former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has accused his successor, Hyacinth Alia, of launching a media attack against him. In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Terver Akase, the former governor alleged that Alia has, since his assumption of office, subjected him to all forms of persecution. According to Ortom, If the governor is not accusing him of looting the states treasury and assets, he is blaming him for providing employment to Benue youths. This comes amid allegations that the former governor embezzled public funds while in office. Ortom had last week honoured an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following his alleged involvement in looting the state treasury. He was reacting specifically to the move by Alia to inaugurate an Assets Recovery Committee where the former governor was accused of looting government assets. The statement reads partly, Since May 29, 2023, Governor Alia and his team have been intent on tarnishing Ortoms hard-earned reputation by putting him on trial in the media. Our advice to Governor Alia remains the same: focus on governance and deliver on the numerous promises he made to the people during the campaigns. Blaming Chief Ortom for the governments lack of progress in addressing development issues does not lend credibility to the current administration. The media office of Obafemi Hamzat has described the claim that the Lagos deputy governor renounced his Nigerian citizenship as misleading and inaccurate. During the Lagos governorship election petition tribunal proceeding on Thursday, Olubusayo Fasidi, an immigration lawyer in the United States, claimed that Hamzat took an oath of allegiance in the US to renounce his Nigerian citizenship. But in a statement on Saturday, Hamzats media office said the reports circulating are not the true reflections of the proceedings that took place at the tribunal. The media office said the witness tendered two documents a blank form of application for US naturalisation and a blank oath of US allegiance document tagged forms 8CFR/337 and N400 respectively which were admitted and marked as exhibits. When the witness was confronted with the fact that the only two documents, she was basing her claims on, were merely downloaded blank documents, the witness stated that she had downloaded the blank documents from the official website of the US Embassy, the statement reads. The witness was thus unable to produce the actual documents, the specific jurisdiction of the United States and the particular date when Dr Hamzat applied for naturalisation or took the purported oath of allegiance. She equally admitted that she had not attended the ceremony admitting Dr Hamzat as a citizen of the United States of America. During her cross-examination by counsel to the 4th respondent (APC), the witness admitted to the fact that the American constitution recognizes dual citizenship with particular reference to the 14th amendment to the constitution of the United States ratified on July 9, 1868. The witness was challenged further that the documents she tendered support the process of application for naturalisation which ultimately culminates in the issuance of an American passport and nothing more. The witness in reaction to additional questions confirmed that she did not need to obtain a Nigerian visiting visa because she entered the country with her Nigerian passport. With respect to the question whether the witness was aware that Dr Hamzat fully disclosed the details of his American citizenship in the Form EC9 submitted to INEC, the witness answered in the affirmative. When the witness was again asked whether she had ever sighted the oath of allegiance of US citizenship form of the 3rd respondent, the witness responded in the affirmative. Following from the above, there is nowhere in the verifiable record of proceedings of the Lagos state governorship election petition tribunal of 21st of June 2023, when the evidence of one Miss Olubusayo Fasidi, a US immigration lawyer, was taken to support the misleading online reports that the incumbent deputy governor of Lagos state has renounced his Nigerian citizenship. Hamzats media office advised the public to disregard the deliberate falsehood, saying the testimony of the witness is under serious challenge. The testimony of the witness in question is under serious challenge and in its final judgment, the tribunal will decide whether her testimony is admissible, given that she did not file a witness statement on oath and the self-contradiction of still using a Nigerian passport whilst claiming to have renounced Nigerian citizenship, the statement added. Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Sunday urged President Bola Tinubu to undo the injustice of his predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. Ejimakor said Tinubu should undo Buharis injustice by releasing Kanu. He pointed out that the constitution has empowered the president to stop any criminal trial. Tweeting, Ejimakor said Tinubu does not have to wait for the Supreme Court to release the IPOB leader. According to Ejimakor: Under the Constitution, the AGF (in practice: the President) has the power to stop any criminal trial. So, President Tinubu doesnt have to wait for the Supreme Court to undo the grave injustice (rendition) done by his predecessor by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu @officialABAT. Kanu has been locked up since he was arrested and repatriated two years ago from Kenya. The IPOB leader was picked up over his agitation for the actualization of Biafra. Despite courts ordering his release, the Nigerian Government has refused to set him free. Five persons have reportedly died after a speed boat capsized in Calabar, Cross River state. The accident took place on Saturday while the boat was en route to Oron in Akwa Ibom state. According to NAN, 20 persons boarded the boat at Marina Resort in Calabar. NAN quoted a senior naval officer as saying the eastern naval command played a major role in rescuing some of the victims. The source reportedly said 14 of them were rescued. The navy partook in the rescue mission; we at least rescued 14 of them, he said. I cant give you the exact position of the boat because we only rushed for the rescue mission, but Im sure the command will soon release a statement to this effect. Emmanuel Ogbeche, chief press secretary to the state governor, said three medical students aboard the boat were yet to be found. He said Bassey Otu, the state governor, has ordered an investigation into the mishap. The medical students were said to have travelled to Calabar for the Nigeria Medical Students Games. The news of a cruise boat mishap at the Marina Resort, a tourist and relaxation destination in Calabar, is saddening and calls for concern not only as your governor but as a parent, the statement reads. To imagine that the boat was overcrowded and some of those on it were without life jackets is of even greater concern, and the more reason why the state government will be investigating the incident and all those found culpable of having compromised on safety standards will face the wrath of the law. As a government, our administration remains committed to protecting the sanctity of life and providing an enabling environment for business, tourism and peaceable living. Therefore, any untoward action that could derail our objective will not be tolerated. On June 13, over 100 passengers returning from a wedding died after a boat capsized in Egbu village, Patigi LGA of Kwara state. The victims including women and children were said to be returning to their base in Patigi from Egboti, a community in Niger state. The boat was said to have been overloaded. Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, says Aliko Dangote has been an invaluable partner for many years. In a note posted on his blog, the Microsoft co-founder said his non-profit and Dangote Foundation have worked together on issues like malnutrition, food fortification, and polio in Nigeria. Gates was journaling about his latest visit to Nigeria and Niger. Ive been lucky to call Aliko Dangote a friend for many years. We have a ton in common: Both of us started successful businesses, and then, for our second acts in life, we chose to start foundations aimed at improving health and education, he wrote. I got to spend lots of time with him this week, and its always super fun to catch up with him in person. Hes been an invaluable partner to our foundation over the yearsespecially in his native Nigeriaworking together on issues like malnutrition, food fortification, and polio. During the visit to Nigeria, Gates, alongside Dangote, met with President Bola Tinubu. He also met governors and traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, and urged governments to deal with challenges facing the health system. In 2019, Gates described himself as lucky for having Dangote as a friend. At the time, he narrated how they met and hit it off from their first conversation. Have you ever met someone new and immediately felt like you could talk to them for hours? That happened the first time I met Aliko Dangote. A couple of years ago, he and I ended up going to the same event in New York, Gates wrote. A mutual friend suggested that I meet him because he knew we were both super interested in global health. So we made sure to sit next to each other at dinner. As soon as we shook hands, it was clear we had a ton in common. We both started successful businesses in the late 1970s. For our second act in life, we both chose to start foundations aimed at improving health and education. The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh, at the weekend stated that Igbo are a legitimate part of Nigeria and are entitled to live and carry out their businesses in any part of the country. He said the Igbo would resist any form of xenophobic attack on them from any quarter, describing them as indigenous people of Nigeria who are not migrants. Umeh spoke during the 2023 Umunri Cultural Fiesta, a programme meant to bring together some communities in Anambra State, which was held at the weekend in the Enugu-Agidi community of Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State. He described the Igbo as peace lovers, promoters of national integration and inter-tribal relationship while maintaining that the Igbo believed in hard work and that there should be no reason they should be subjected to attacks. The Senator was referring to recent rumours that Igbo people may be sacked from residing in Lagos State. He said, Igbo people didnt come from a new place outside Nigeria to become Nigerians, rather, they are the aborigines of Nigeria, who have the rights to reside in any part of the country to do their business. Lagosians should allow Ndigbo to do their businesses because they pay their taxes to the Lagos State Government; anybody that is attacking the Igbo is drawing anarchy to themselves and Nigeria at large. Igbo people live everywhere in Nigeria. There is no village in Nigeria the Igbo people dont live in, and do their businesses and also contribute to the development of those places, by building houses and becoming part of their host community. Opposition senators have vowed to resist any attempt to foist compromised leadership on the minority caucus. The four principal positions reserved for the opposition parties in the Senate are minority leader, deputy minority leader, minority whip and deputy whip. In a move to get his political associates into minority leadership positions in the Red Chamber, the immediate past governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, met Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday. The meeting, which held at the National Assembly, lasted for several hours. Wike left the parliament around 6.30pm without talking to newsmen. The former Rivers State governor is said to have successfully pushed his associate, Kingsley Chinda, as minority leader in the House of Representatives. But opposition senators vowed to resist any attempt to foist compromised leadership on them by forces within and outside the National Assembly. The lawmakers, in a joint statement, said the minority caucus would select its leaders after consultation with their respective political parties without undue interference from anti-democratic forces. They emphasized that no senator has yet been endorsed or selected for any minority position. The statement was jointly signed by Mohammed Adamu Aliero, Henry Seriake Dickson, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Abdul Ningi, Patrick Abba Moro, Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, Sumaila Kawu, and Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah. It said, It has come to the notice of the Minority Political Parties in the Senate of an attempt by forces inside and outside the Senate to divide the Minority Parties and foist a pliant and compromised leadership on them. We have pledged to work constructively with the new Senate leadership and the Executive branch to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people. We consequently hereby advise and caution that they should not aid any group inside or outside the Senate to divide and destabilise the minority parties and the Senate institution. Senators of the minority parties would meet when the Senate reconvenes and, in consultation with our respective political parties, would select its leaders without undue interference from anti-democratic forces within or outside the Senate. For the avoidance of doubt, no Senator has yet been endorsed or selected for any Minority position as this would await due process as agreed by all Minority Parties in their last meeting. Attempt to foist a one party dictatorship would be resisted and would fail. We call on all members of the Minority Political Parties to work together in unity to defend the democratic institution of the Senate and Nigeria. A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has insisted there is no political relationship between him and the immediate past governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha. Okorocha stated this while speaking with journalists at his Spilbat mansion in Owerri, the state capital. He explained that his relationship with Ihedioha was not political. According to Okorocha, he visited Ihedioha to commiserate with him over the death of his mother. I have no political romance with Ihedioha. I dont have one and I dont intend to have any. I visited Ihediohas house because of the death of his Mother. I know what it means to lose a mother and it was incumbent on me to identify with him at the moment of his grief. It is biblical. There is nothing special about it, Okorocha said. President Bola Tinubu has been urged to allow for a full-scale investigation into the immediate past administration led by the former president, Muhammadu Buhari. Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, who made the call in a tweet on his verified handle on Sunday, said the investigation should begin with Buhari, members of his cabinet, service chiefs and other cabals in the administration. According to Sani, if the probe is not extended to other aspects of the previous government, the president may be accused of being selective. He wrote, The President should courageously allow a full-scale investigation of the plunder that occurred under the Buhari administration, beginning with Buhari, his ex-ministers, his service chiefs and the cabal wing of his Government. The President should not also shield former Governors who are now at liberty, even waiting for political appointment as entitled men. One or two persons in the cage cant answer for the crime perpetrated by others in the last eight years.The current investigation can easily be stained as selective if the probe net is restricted. The simple question is; what about others who also contributed in ruining the economy? Or may be some of us are just too impatient because of lack of knowledge of what is ahead. Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang stated that the Vietnamese Revolutionary press is closely associated with the cause of the Party and the Vietnamese people. Over the past 98 years, the Vietnamese Revolutionary press has made great contributions to the cause of national liberation struggle, as well as to the renovation, construction and development of the country. According to the Ambassador, over the past years, reporters and journalists in Cambodia have made important and effective contributions to reporting on the situation of the host country, as well as communicating about the good relations between Vietnam and Cambodia. He highly appreciated the efforts and contributions of Vietnamese press agencies in Cambodia. Mr. Tang emphasized that in the process of working, Vietnamese reporters in Cambodia always promote the role of journalists as well as the spirit of community, responsibility and solidarity, cooperating and coordinating with the domestic press to timely report and ensure the right orientation. The Ambassador expressed his hope that in the coming time, Vietnamese press agencies in Cambodia will continue to promote their roles, working closely with the Embassy and agencies beside the Embassy to always provide positive and objective information, contributing to strengthening the good relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as countering wrong and negative viewpoints that affect the relations between the two countries. In addition, the diplomat noted that Vietnamese reporters in Cambodia need to use their pen to objectively and timely reflect "hot" issues in the area, without causing panic for people in Vietnam, but still reflecting the reality of the situation, and coordinate with the domestic press to warn and raise people's awareness and help them avoid the trap of bad elements. On the occasion of the 98th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, Ambassador Tang congratulated the journalists and correspondents of Vietnamese press agencies in Cambodia, and wished their families good health, success in work, and happiness in life, contributing together with the Embassy to fulfilling the responsibilities assigned by the Party and State. In Cambodia, there are four Vietnamese press agencies with representative offices, including Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television Station, Radio the Voice of Vietnam and Nhan Dan newspaper./. The immediate past Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has denied dragging President Bola Tinubus administration to court over the appointment of Service Chiefs. Keyamo said those circulating the claim on social media are mischief makers. Keyamo was accused of dragging Tinubu to court over the appointment of Service Chiefs without the approval of the National Assembly. However, Keyamo said his tweet on the matter was misconstrued, stressing that he only praised the Federal Government for obeying a ruling he instituted in the past. Tweeting, Keyamo said he instituted the legal action during the administration of late President Musa YarAduas administration. According to Keyamo: Some mischief makers are circulating fake news on Social Media that I have dragged the Tinubu-led Federal Government to court over the appointment of Service Chiefs without the approval of the National Assembly. This is such a dumb misrepresentation of what I tweeted a few days ago. My tweet was rather to praise and commend the Federal Government for complying with the judgment in the case I instituted during the YarAdua administration and won during the Goodluck Jonathan administration to the effect that Service Chiefs appointment must also get the approval of the National Assembly. I noted the compliance with that judgment when the Press Release was made last week on the appointments. It was the YarAdua administration I took to court after I wrote several letters to the Attorney-General at that time and the National Assembly, drawing their attention to the anomaly and I was ignored. I hope the mischief makers can now rest on this issue. Nollywood veteran actress, Rita Edochie has warned Judy Austin, Yul Edochies second wife to stop claiming and deceiving people that Pete is her father-in-law. Rita, who is an aunt to Yul Edochie, made this known in a post on her Instagram page on Sunday. According to her, Pete Edochie did not approve of the marriage. Drama Devil, Pete Edochie is not your father-in-law, so stop claiming and deceiving people because he did not approve of it. Have you taken the time to find out what happened? They were living peacefully before a forbidden fruit was eaten by now drama king that was given by the drama devil. Happy Sunday from us, she said. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu will next week open their defence in the petition challenging the outcome of the presidential election. Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes in the election to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had 6,984,520, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,101,533. Subsequently, Obi, Atiku and their respective political parties lodged petitions before the tribunal. The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) also filed a petition and closed its case after calling one witness on Wednesday. While Atiku and the PDP closed their case after calling 27 witnesses, Obi and the LP presented 13 witnesses before closing their case on Friday. At the last tribunal session, counsel to all the parties told the court that instead of opening defence on June 31 as stated in the pre-hearing schedule, they had agreed that it was better to adjourn further hearing until after the Muslim holiday. My lords, all of us took into consideration some salient factors, especially the fact that some of us will love to travel to celebrate with our families and loved ones, Wole Olanipekun, counsel to Tinubu, said. Moreover, there is likely to be a two day public holiday next week. We will therefore plead your lordships to adjourn the case till after the Sallah celebration. We also want to assure your lordships that on our part, we will not exceed the days allotted to us. We will start and close out case the same week. The five-member panel of justices led by Harunna Tsammani granted the request and adjourned to July 3 for continuation. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to open its defence first. Richard Montgomery, British high commissioner to Nigeria, says the UK is awaiting the appointment of ministers by President Bola Tinubu before taking necessary steps toward strengthening collaboration. Montgomery spoke on Saturday during an interview with NAN in Abuja. He said the UK government has identified six areas in which both countries could strengthen cooperation and explore new areas to build upon for mutual benefits. The envoy said the UK is more interested in the bilateral ties with Nigeria as informed by Tinubus recent economic decisions. We have very long-standing ties being wired by history and we do have a very strong foundation on which to build and I am very optimistic about Nigerias direction in the coming years, NAN quoted Montgomery as saying. We wish to build on our economic relations in particular and the first decisions by the new administration show that it is going to take big decisions on the economy which I think will give us the opportunity to grow our trade, investment, and economic relations. And I think there are a number of areas where the UK government can step up our diplomacy, our bilateral relations with Nigeria. But of course, we await the appointment of new ministers so that we can have the diplomatic dialogue necessary to lay the grounds for some of those. I will say that there are six areas we would like to explore. The first is, long-standing development cooperation. And I think what the UK always needs to do when a new administration comes into place is, we need to understand the priorities of that administration and how we can adapt and work in mutual partnership and with our development programmes. The second is the economic area. We already have a good economic dialogue but we would like to take the next step and develop a form of a more enhanced trade and partnership something I am quite keen to discuss with the new minister of trade and industry. The third area is security and defence, which we would like to evolve and take forward. We already have a good relationship on home affairs, with your interior ministry and other agencies, and that is an area where we would like to continue our collaborations. Finally, we would like to have a more systematic dialogue on foreign policy. Nigeria has played a very valuable role in regional and continental issues and the UK would like to have a more systematic foreign policy dialogue with the government of Nigeria once the ministers and advisers are in place. Bill Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), says the Foundation gets value for the funds it spends in Nigeria. Speaking during an exclusive interview with select journalists in Lagos, Gates said the Foundation strives to get the right people to commit to the work that is being done. He said so far, he can confidently say about 80 percent of the funds expended are being used judiciously. We are lucky to have the resources, we can have credible teams. We have a malaria team that is amazing, a tuberculosis team that is amazing, teams working with various governments, Gates said. We have an office in Nigeria, and right now we have three big offices in Africa. Because of the stuff we work on, it engages people for more commitment and weve been able to see the project so it is kind of like the way I built Microsoft, when Im off working on Malaria, the TB team is doing great work. My impact is more in terms of picking the goals and making sure we get the right people. In terms of the impact, fortunately, with our staff, the vaccines get shipped into the country theres no black market for vaccines where they get taken somewhere else. Tracking to make sure that the healthcare budgets, the workers are there, and the equipment are maintained. Overall in health, most of the money gets into what it is for. We see the results; children surviving. We feel good that the money is well spent. KICK OUT POLIO TO FOCUS ON MALARIA, TB Gates, who met with the president, vice-president, governors, and traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, said governments have more to do to deal with challenges facing the health system. He noted that the foundation is in talks with Nigerian governors about getting rid of polio once and for all so that it can focus on other health challenges. The biggest single thing we have done in Nigeria is getting rid of polio and of course, we got rid of it once and now its come back in certain form so once again we need to get rid of it again, Gates added. During the pandemic, the number went up a lot but now they are coming down. Feeling hopeful and talking to the new governors. Lets get that behind us so we can focus on other health challenges like Malaria, measles. On how young innovators in the country can market their ideas globally, Gates said Nigeria can encourage the youth by training them, building data skills, and investing in new companies. Its never economical to do a vaccine for just one country. It is very complicated. We do have vaccine capability in Africa, Gates said. We found that group in Senegal that actually does yellow fever vaccine and we are looking at putting polio vaccine production there. So, I think for Nigeria, it is more about being part of the global ecosystem than individual entrepreneurs doing that. A lot of things in health can be invented or created here. But it will be more of a global thing. He said the youths can come up with innovative ways to solve problems peculiar to their locality if they are motivated and given the educational and health opportunities they need. The biggest thing for African youth is that if we give them the health and nutrition they deserve, and they have the educational opportunity, it is up to them to see these opportunities, both formal and informal access to the internet; ability to learn things, training and being motivated. If you pick what you are good at, what you are passionate about, not everyone should be an entrepreneur but being a doctor, a teacher, or even working for a big company, theres a lot of ways to contribute. AI IS GREAT FOR HUMANITY On the fear that artificial intelligence (AI) could take over jobs and render many unemployed, Gates said advancement in technology should be seen as a welcome development. Mostly, we should be super excited. I mean if we can speed up discovery for infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and other diseases like cancer, Alzheimer, and so many others, then thats a great thing for humanity, he said. The government being super efficient, people getting access to medical advice, and that shortage of white-collar workers means that over the next five years where all these will be dramatically improved. Im not at all disagreeing with the focus on the challenges like deep fakes, and cyber attacks. Like all technologies, it can be used by criminals so we have to make sure the defense is staying ahead of the offense. He added that the public can focus on the upside of such a dramatic innovation and how incredible things can be done better and faster. Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), says his institution is ready to establish an entrepreneurship investment bank in Nigeria. Adesina said the establishment of such a bank is in alignment with President Bola Tinubus plans and vision for young people in Nigeria. Adesina, who was also attending the new global financial pact summit in Frances Palais Brongniart, spoke after he paid a visit to President Tinubu. The AfDB president said he is impressed with the presidents plans and vision for Nigeria, pledging his support to the administration to achieve its goals. I discussed with his excellency, the president a couple of things. First of course is agriculture; to see what we can do to support the government with regard to the presidents vision in agriculture, Adesina said. We discussed the special agro-industrial processing zone for which we already have about $520 million dollar for Nigeria and how we are going to make sure that the project gets accelerated to give quick wins to the president. We also talked about the power sector and how we will support his effort and vision. The president wants to make sure there is an improvement in the access to electricity in Nigeria, and therefore, he talked to us about how we can support him and we gave him the assurance that we will support significantly in the power sector in Nigeria. Adesina also commended Tinubus desire to impact the industrial sector. I discussed with the president also with regard to the industrial sector in Nigeria. I was impressed with his vision in terms of trying to grow the industrial sector in Nigeria and also having an export-orientated industrial manufacturing stance, which is very important for growing the forex in Nigeria, he added. We also discussed about the youth. I have heard him speak quite a lot about young people his heart for young people and what he wants to support them. He asked for our support in regard to what we can do about that and I explained to the president that we will support him with the establishment of a youth entrepreneurship investment bank in Nigeria. This is going to be new financial institutions that will support the access to financing for the business of young people. He had the desire to grow the wealth for young people which is actually very good. One of New Jerseys largest convenience store chains will soon shutter one of its stores. Wawa is preparing to close its location in the Collings Lakes neighborhood of Buena Vista Township, a store employee told NJ Advance Media. A Kean University scholarship fund for aspiring educators, inspired by the death of a young teacher in 2002, is getting a major boost via the estate of the late teachers parents. The Damarys Vazquez Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund recently received an $850,000 posthumous donation, a gift that will increase the number of scholarships awarded annually and the financial package offered to students, a spokesperson at the university said. Nine Kean University students have received the scholarship, some for multiple years, since it was first awarded in 2008, totaling $27,371, said Margaret McCorry, Keans assistant vice president for university relations. To be eligible, a student must be an incoming female freshman majoring in early childhood education and living in Elizabeth, the city where Damarys Vasquez resided with her parents, Damaryz and Alcibiades Johnny Vazquez. The average yearly amount of the scholarship has ranged from $1,500 to $2,000, McCorry said. Damarys Vazquez was an early childhood education major and graduated in 1998 from Kean University. She was a fourth grade teacher in Elizabeth prior to her death, in 2002, from complications of lupus, the university said. A year later, her parents created the memorial fund in her name. As a daughter and only child, Damarys was the light of our life. She was very special to us and to everyone who knew her kind and gentle spirit, Damaryz and Alcibiades Vazquez wrote in a letter to prospective donors, dated Nov. 11, 2003, and provided to NJ Advance Media. Damaryz Vazquez died in 2021, four years after the death of her husband. Due to the estate donation, the fund now has a total value of nearly $1 million, McCorry said. This outstanding contribution comes at a time when there is a widespread teacher shortage across the state and our nation. The Vazquez estate gift will have a tremendous impact on increasing the number of scholarships awarded to aspiring teachers in Damarys name, said Bill Miller, CEO of the Kean University Foundation. Posthumous, large-scale donations to higher education institutions or scholarship funds are not unheard of in New Jersey. William Paterson University recently announced a nearly $1 million gift from the estate of Carol Mathews LeBeau, a 1945 graduate. In her will, LeBeau LeBeau had stipulated that the money in her estate would first go to her daughter, Juliet, and after Juliets death she died in June 2022 that 35 percent of whatever remained would be transferred to William Paterson University. The 2003 letter from her parents outlined how Damarys grew up participating at a dance studio owned by her mother, who had been a professional ballerina in Cuba, and how her years at the studio developed her interest in children and becoming a teacher. She pursued a teaching degree and career despite the complications stemming from her illness. Even as she battled lupus, a disease that took a tremendous toll on her body, her soul and spirit triumphed. There were days when she even found it difficult to walk, her parents wrote in their letter. She taught at Robert Morris School No. 18. Her parents, in their 2003 letter announcing the scholarship fund, described her teaching career as the fulfillment of a dream she had envisioned years before. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. A motorcycle rider was killed in a collision with a car in Gloucester County on Thursday night, according to police. Johnathen P. Oliver, 36, of Williamstown, was riding a motorcycle east on Lake Avenue near Florence Boulevard in Monroe Township shortly after 10 p.m. when he tried to brake for a car backing out a driveway on the 300 block of Lake Avenue, township police said. After a roughly 80-foot skid, the motorcycle fell on its side before hitting the front drivers side of the car, police said. Oliver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities. The car driver, a 27-year-old Williamstown woman, suffered minor injuries. No charges have been filed, but the crash remains under investigation, police said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. The Hudson County Prosecutors Office and Jersey City police were investigating a fatal shooting Saturday in the city, a report from investigators said. The incident was reported at 8:12 p.m. near Coles and 16th streets, the agencies said. The victim was a male, but no other information was released as of 3:25 p.m. Sunday. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Delegates at the event (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand) The event is held to introduce the image of tourist destinations, update new tourism products and services of Vietnam in general and HCMC in particular, especially promotion of medical tourism to travel organizations, agents, companies, hospitals, prestigious and professional medical facilities on medical tours from Thailand. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh said that Vietnam and Thailand have close geographical locations, well-developed land and air transport connections. Tourism products of the two countries are suitable for people's tastes, so bilateral tourism cooperation, including medical tourism, has great potential and favorable conditions for development, he said. He expressed his hope that through the cooperation, the two can jointly develop the medical tourism industry, bringing benefits to both local people and international visitors. The Ambassador affirmed that HCMC is not only the leading economic and political center of Vietnam, but also a remarkable medical tourism destination in the world. With a modern and high-quality medical system, along with the continuous development of medical centers, HCMC will become an ideal destination for tourists wishing to improve their health and experience high-quality medical therapies, he added. The organizing board also screened short films introducing the tourism, culture and cuisine of Vietnam-HCMC. In addition, representatives of businesses, hospitals and medical facilities in Vietnam shared and introduced tourism products and services at the event. Moreover, within the framework of the program, there is also a business connection activity, helping businesses of the two countries to explore and promote cooperation opportunities in the field of medical tourism. Previously, the delegation held a promotion program in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh./. No matter how the battle of an endangered Delaware Bay lighthouse turns out, give some cheers to the Maurice River Historical Society, which is in its fifth decade as keeper of the flame or, the beacon. The society may need some cheering up if it loses a bid to run the East Point Lighthouse from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which claims ownership of the 174-year old, two-story Cape Cod-style building atop which the lighthouse structure sits. The society has long had questions about lease terms with the DEP but, more urgently, perhaps, is worried about shore erosion that is advancing toward the structures front door. All of this first came to light in 2020, when the societys last full-term lease expired. The society, at that time, balked at signing a renewal with the DEP. The major sticking point was how DEP planned to deal with the erosion. The preservation group says it was ineffective, and would make the first floor inaccessible to the public preventing operation of the building for tours and as a museum. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." The society did, indeed, close the interior to the public for a while, but officials including U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., did some diplomacy between the parties to reopen the site. Two years later, the overall situation remains pretty much status quo. The society is hoping for a long-term operational license or lease from the state, which oversees the lighthouse because it is located within the Heislerville Wildlife Management Area. But this year, the DEPs Division of Fish and Wildlife added a new wrinkle, deciding that the Maurice River group would have to bid against other parties to run the lighthouse it faithfully restored. One could understand the society for wanting to exercise a version of possession is 9/10ths of the law or squatters rights. The historical group spearheaded a $650,000 drive to restore the lighthouse, which was finished in 2017, and ultimately funded by the New Jersey Historic Trust Fund and the federal Department of Transportation. In 2021, Nancy Patterson, the Maurice River groups president, told NJ Advance Media, Its so, so, one-sided. Weve taken it from a dilapidated building to a fully furnished museum The state also wants a piece of the financial action. Apparently, you cant fund a $1.2 billion property tax cut without exacting a monetary tribute from well-meaning volunteers. The Maurice River Historical Society and other potential lease bidders had to agree to give back at least 5% of revenues from tours, gift shop sales, etc., back as a management fee. One wonders if this fee was the whole rationale for the competitive bid demand; a potential way for the state to get the historical society out of its hair. In any event, East Point generates less than $50,000 annually in outside income, and 5% represents a pittance for the state. But, its a blow for people who have worked work hard to cobble together donations and grants and operate the lighthouse on a $43,000 budget. Last week, the society said it still didnt know if it had won the lease or if anyone else has submitted a bid. The proposals were due May 1; a DEP spokesman declined to comment on the status last week. Its hard for me to fathom anybody bidding against the historical society, Patterson said last week. But, I mean, do I need to be packing boxes or am I planning events? I really dont know what to do. Is this any way to treat a gem that is the states second-oldest lighthouse after Sandy Hook? The Maurice River Historical Society is not the first entity to encounter a DEP description famously attributed to a Gloucester County judge in a 1980s landfill case. Dealing with the agency, the judge declared, is like trying to shovel out a room full of Jell-O. Unless there is some hidden disqualifying factor, the historical society has the experience, the investment and the sweat equity to continue operating the lighthouse. Even if that doesnt happen, the state is obliged to correct the erosion problem in a way that will preserve the landmark and keep it functioning for visitors, tourists and educational purposes. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. As Usman (a pseudonym) was describing his harrowing 10-week journey from Ghana through 10 countries to get to the U.S., Mama Jill was kindly asking the Spanish-speaking children running around the living room to calm down en espanol. It worked for a few minutes. A Guatemalan mother brought me some tea and a snack from the kitchen. It felt like being in a home where there is a lot of love shared by grateful people. This is the Lighthouse in Union City run, indirectly, by the Newark diocese of the Episcopal Church. Its the brainchild of Mama Jill, a.k.a. the Rev. Deacon Jill Singleton, the Lighthouses founder and director. At the Lighthouse, we welcome our brothers and sisters from around the world who have been forced to flee their countries due to persecution and violence of all sorts, said Singleton, a Hoboken resident who stepped down last year as the head of All Saints Episcopal Day School. For a petite woman, she is a dynamo. She cares for the 15 residents as if they are her own. And it was not different for Usman, 29, who arrived the night before I met him after flying in from California. His cousin had just left the Lighthouse after 15 months and so he was able to provide Usman with an address for immigration services to give him a date for his asylum hearing. The Lighthouse paid his airfare. Burns on the body of Usman (not his real name), an asylee at the Lighthouse in Union City who was tortured in Ghana. (Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal) Usman became active with other young adults in Ghana to protest corrupt government activities and was jailed three times for several days each. The first time he was tortured by roasting his lower leg over an open flame so that when released he needed plastic surgery by grafting flesh from his thigh. He rolled up his pants and lifted his leg to show me. The third time his family was threatened and he showed up where he was told to report only to be blindfolded and driven to an unknown location. He was so sick he could not eat. Good thing. Two days later a cat wandered in, ate the food and became paralyzed. He was able to escape. Determined to flee the country, he brought his family to a neighboring country and took the $5,000 American dollars he had saved by farming and selling used electronics. He traveled through several African countries before stowing away on a freighter with his own life raft to land on shore in South America. He then walked, took buses, taxis and occasionally waded or took speedboats through Central America, Mexico and into the U.S. through San Diego. Though he entered unofficially, he then presented himself to immigration authorities and asked for asylum. A significant challenge, Singleton said, is getting people to understand that asylum seekers are here in this country legally. The Lighthouse only houses people who here legally. Singleton enumerated the other challenges. It can take months or years for asylum seekers to obtain working papers, so finding sustaining work is difficult and thats what Usman and many others simply want. In addition, its hard to find legal support that is pro- or low-bono. And there is little affordable housing in this area. Even with work, salary cannot cover rent alone. The migrant crisis has been poisoned so that many Americans do not understand the severity of their (the migrants) economic and social vulnerability, Singleton said. For example, Juanita and Jose have been here for nine months; their son, Juan, was born here. They had no work in Colombia and simply wanted a better life. The tipping point was when a gang attacked Jose to steal his motorcycle and he was in a coma for three days. He eventually lost hearing in one ear. He lost a job he had in our area because he could not keep up with all the restaurant orders. Lighthouse founder and director the Rev. Deacon Jill Singleton and social worker Jacob Pirogovsky pose outside the home for migrants seeking asylum in the United States. (Photo by Nina Nicholson | Episcopal Diocese of Newark) At the Lighthouse, we are able to provide hospitality and a space for much-needed healing, an active acknowledgement that God did not intend for borders to be created between his people, Singleton said. But they need help with monthly financial sponsorship of a migrant or family, possible paid work for them and space for people to rent affordably. Singleton and a social worker are both part-time. They also provide English instruction, access to laptops, financial literacy education, technology assistance, social programs and cultural field trips, she said. They have housed more than 110 asylum-seekers from 30 different countries since they started the Lighthouse in Jersey City back in 2017. Singleton oversees one big, relatively happy family and celebrates Christmas, birthdays and other special holidays. She recalled celebrating a childs 10th birthday when he gushed, This is the best day of my life; I have never had a birthday party before. Mama Jill provides the migrants with the love they have heard about the U.S. and also as a Christian. The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken. How you can help Donations to help the Lighthouse and its mission can be made by going to St. Pauls Church in Bergen, stpaulsjc.org, the online giving page of the website for the Episcopal Church of St. Paul & Incarnation in Jersey City. Last week the University of California at San Francisco released a study on the causes of homelessness in California. The conclusion is hardly surprising. People are homeless because their rent is too high, said the lead investigator, Margot Kushel. The study said a person earning minimum wage would have to work nearly 90 hours a week to afford the average one-bedroom rental in the Golden State. There are a lot of reasons for those high housing costs. But Henry Grabar has one you dont hear every day: Parking. Grabar is the author of the recently released book Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World. The title of course comes from the Joni Mitchell song, Big Yellow Taxi in which the refrain states They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Mitchell has said the song came to her on her first visit to Hawaii, when she looked out her hotel window and saw the beautiful mountains in the distance but only row after row of empty parking spaces in the foreground. Grabar writes that the reason all those extra spaces get built is zoning laws all over America that require a minimum number of parking spaces for new construction. Laws that require every building to include parking prevent us from creating housing, even affordable housing, because parking costs so much to construct and takes up so much space, he writes. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: He cites the sad tale of a woman named Ginger Hitzke who tried to build a complex of 18 townhouses in the coastal town of Solana Beach. Hitzke wanted to sell the units at affordable prices but the NIMBY crowd and the California Coastal Commission teamed up on her to demand she provide parking not just for her tenants but for people who want to go to the nearby beach. By the time the bureaucrats were done with her, what Hitzke was really building was a fifty-three-space underground garage with a few apartments on top, Grabar writes. Those apartments would have cost $1.1 million each. But after five years of battling the bureaucracy, Hitzke abandoned the project. The book is packed with similar examples, with plenty to outrage both liberals and conservatives. Grabar cites a North Carolina developer saying to the town fathers in a conservative city, Its a free country. Let me build my apartment the way I want to and if people dont want to live here because theres no parking, well thats my problem. To liberals, the developer would say, This project will get more expensive if I have to build parking up to code. Or it wont get built at all. Here in New Jersey, high parking minimums can thwart the goal of getting people to use mass transit, says state Sen. Paul Sarlo. The Bergen County Democrat is co-sponsoring a bill that would cut parking minimums in half for new projects within walking distance of mass transit. Were trying to get some folks to migrate back to mass transportation, Sarlo told me. Parking garages these days are expensive - $40,000 a parking space. When we talked on the phone, Grabar told me those parking minimums cause sprawl and long commutes. The inner-ring suburbs dont want new housing, so it gets pushed out to the outer ring, he said. But, were now at a time when the housing affordability crisis is so real we cant afford to put these restrictions on housing, Grabar added. Another potential problem will be where to park all those electric vehicles that are coming online. Its going to be really challenging to accommodate electric vehicles in places where people park on the street, he said. And its going to be a real challenge to convince politicians to stop mandating parking spaces with new development. But a number of cities have done that. They include San Francisco and San Jose in California as well as Buffalo, N.Y., and Hartford, Conn. Here in New Jersey, we are already well-positioned to get by without new parking because of all the older housing stock that was built before minimums were put in place, Grabar said. Hudson County is where New Yorks housing market has blown off steam, he said. Anyone buying one of those units has to provide his own parking or walk. As for New York City itself, Grabar points out that if parking minimums existed back in the days when the Empire State Building was being built, twelve entire blocks of lower Manhattan would have had to be devoted to parking. Grabar says commercial uses, particularly malls, are often forced to construct way more housing than they need. The book is packed with lots of other interesting details, such as why parking garages are so often run by organized crime: They take in lots of cash that can be easily laundered. There are a lot of other interesting anecdotes as well, some about disputes over parking spaces that ended with one of the disputants dead. By the end of the book, I was glad I live in Ocean County, where both parking garages and parking meters are rare. I like cars. We have four in our two-person household. No need to pave paradise. They all fit in the driveway. ADD - Heres a good interview of Grabar by Terry Gross of Fresh Air. BELOW: Joni Mitchell sings Big Yellow Taxi. More: Recent Paul Mulshine columns. Paul Mulshine may be reached at pmulshine@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mulshine. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook and on Twitter If you think like a detective, you can find several clues that suggest Democrats in Trenton will never deliver the big tax break they just promised. For one, its not scheduled to go into effect until 2026, three years from now. That start date was pushed back a year during negotiations between legislators and the governor, who had been fiercely opposed to the credit at first. Ask them why, and they huff and puff about how complicated tax codes can be. But please dont believe that -- previous tax credits went into effect right away. This is all about providing wiggle room, leaving plenty of time to change course. Another clue: That date means that Gov. Phil Murphy will be gone. A new governor will take office in January of 2026, and he or she is under no obligation to honor this deal. Before the money can flow, the Legislature will need to strike a new deal with a new governor. Who can guarantee that? And a final big one: The text of the agreement explicitly puts this tax credit first in line on the chopping block if money is short, as budget experts in both parties predict. Full funding for pensions and education comes first, along with a modest 6 percent surplus. Thats not legally binding, but it is a political signal. Is the state budget likely to be that robust in coming years? Unlikely. Revenues are dropping like a rock, federal pandemic aid is running out, and a grim report from budget experts of both parties released a week ago predicts giant shortfalls in coming years even before the heavy cost of this program is layered on top. Theres no way the state could support the extra spending, said Richard Keevey, who served as chief budget officer for two governors. No way you can support this. The numbers are just too big, without making substantial cuts in other programs, or tax increases. Substantial cuts in other programs? If youve been watching Murphy and the Democratic Legislature, you know thats just not in their nature. They have never cut spending. What about increasing taxes to cover this cost? Murphy promises that wont happen. Its crazy to raise taxes to deliver tax relief, he said at a press conference Wednesday, as Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, and Senate President Nick Scutari, D-Union, nodded in agreement. Dont miss the best in editorials, opinion columns and commentary from NJ.com writers. Add your email here: Perhaps Ive grown cynical covering Trenton since the Civil War era, but my guess is this promise will be broken. It aint going to happen, says Sen. Declan OScanlon, the Republicans chief budget officer. This is all smoke and mirrors. Vote for us and well give you this shiny thing. Just dont pay attention to the fact that you may never get it. Still, some good will come of this fight. Coughlin started the ball rolling by proposing enormous tax credits for all senior homeowners, even the super-rich. The promise was to pay half their property tax bills, up to a limit of $10,000. Seniors should have freedom to stay in their homes, he says. Im a new grandfather so I understand what it means to be around the grandchildren you love so much. I make excuses to go over to their houses, like Kids need ice cream. Murphy went ballistic at first, promising to shut down the government before he would sign it. But he folded after Coughlin and Scutari agreed to make modest changes an income cap of $500,000, and a trim in maximum benefits to $6,500. That cut the cost from $1.7 billion to $1.3 billion, Treasury says. More importantly, he negotiated some breaks for middle-class folks who are claiming credits through the Anchor program. Both renters and homeowners will get an extra $250 a year. Its not much, but this one is more than a promise; it will be in the coming budget. And who knows, maybe the budget experts are all wrong. Keeveys warning was based on the higher initial costs. Maybe the state budget will be flush enough in 2026 to fund this thing. The plan calls for setting aside $600 million between now and then, and put it in a lock box, so thats a start. But if youre a senior, or planning for retirement, dont bank on this. Theyve rescinded rebates in tough times before. Its likely to happen again in 2026. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 986-6951. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. 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. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 64F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. The Essence Festival of Culture returns to New Orleans Thursday, June 29, through Monday, July 3, with a celebration of Black music, Black women, Black-owned businesses and, this year, 50 years of hip-hop. The festivals mainstage concert series, taking place June 30-July 2 at the Caesars Superdome, is topped by a trio of powerhouse women rappers: Lauryn Hill, celebrating the 25th anniversary of her landmark debut solo album; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Missy Elliott; and Megan Thee Stallion, one of todays biggest pop stars. Mixed into the daily lineups are several showcases commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, with performances by Ice Cube, Big Boi, Ice-T, KRS-One, Eve, Remy Ma and New Orleans own Mia X and Juvenile. Meanwhile, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will be filled with day-long marketplaces, panels, workshops and other experiences. And Essence Fest will again present a virtual portion of the festival for those not traveling to New Orleans. Tickets to the evening concert series start at $80 per night. Most in-person experiences at the convention center are free but a general admission pass is needed to get in. Find more information at essence.com or on the Essence Fest mobile app. Below, Gambit previews the festival with musician profiles, an overview of the hip-hop anniversary celebrations, information about the experiences at the convention center and more. +2 Essence Festival 2023 Evening Concert Series: Saturday, July 1 Missy Elliott, Jill Scott, Monica and Coco Jones play the Caesars Superdome on July 1. +2 Essence Festival 2023 Evening Concert Series: Sunday, July 2 Megan Thee Stallion, WizKid, Muni Long and more play the Caesars Superdome on July 2. +4 Essence Festival 2023: Previewing the Experiences The fest hosts 'experiences' with keynote speakers, vendors, panels, workshops and more across the Convention Center. Ambassador Luong Quoc Huy exchanges with delegates at the Agofood 2023 (Photo: baoquocte.vn) This is an annual event held to connect cooperation and business opportunities between agricultural and food businesses under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture of Iran. The National Date Association of Iran is one of the largest business associations in the country, operating under the management of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mine and Agriculture (ICCIMA). At the exhibition, Ambassador Huy was invited to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the booths of date manufacturing enterprises. The exhibition area of the National Date Association of Iran is one of the largest in Agrofood, with more than 40 businesses under the Association participating in promoting business and exporting opportunities of date products. Talking to the Ambassador, Mr. Mohsen Rashid Farrokhi, Director of National Date Association of Iran, expressed his wish that the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran would support Iranian date enterprises to find partners to export dates to Vietnam. Ambassador Luong Quoc Huy said that he is ready to support Iranian businesses to connect with Vietnamese partners./. FILE - Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, speaks to guests during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House, April 18, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. The "112" hotline of the Ministry of Emergency Situations has received information about the discovery of ammunition in the village of Haji Zeynalabdin in Azerbaijans Sumgayit city, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan told Trend. An operational group for mine clearance of the Rescue Service of Special Risk immediately went to the scene of the incident. During the events held in this area together with law enforcement officers, one piece of an 85-mm OF-365 artillery shell and one piece of a 76-mm OF-350 artillery shell were found. The ammunition was seized and removed from the territory for neutralization by specialists of the mine clearance task force of the Rescue Service of Special Risk of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. No other dangerous or suspicious items were found during an additional inspection of the scene and the surrounding area. VIDEO: BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a letter to Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar on the occasion of Statehood Day in Slovenia, Trend reports. Dear Madame President, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my most sincere congratulations to You and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Slovenia - Statehood Day. I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts towards the development of Azerbaijan-Slovenia relations and the expansion of our mutually beneficial cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral levels in line with the interests of our peoples. On this joyful day, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your activities, and the friendly people of Slovenia everlasting peace and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the letter says. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. David Bell, whose own family dynamics are much more peaceful than the mysteries he writes, does it again in his latest, Try Not to Breathe. His mysteries often are centered around fractured familial relationships and deep secrets coming to light after being buried for a long time. Avery Rogers, a former Kentucky State Police officer who is now working as a security guard in a small college town where her duties include breaking up fights amongst drunken fraternity boys, is emotionally on the run. She left her job and relationship after a traumatic incident while working for the state police and she is still reeling from what happened. So maybe the call from her father about her half-sister, Anna Rogers, didnt come at a good time. Her father, a former policeman whose disappointment in Averys career crash is always at the forefront in their relationship, has called to say Anna is missing and most likely in danger. He wants Avery to help find her but Avery believes Anna is just off with friends and that everything is fine. In this, Averys professional judgement is clouded by her own perceptions of Anna. Yes, taking a break from her family would be in character but Anna is being pursued by a stranger and is actually in danger. It will be up to Avery to help find and save Anna but both women also have to grapple with their own negative perceptions and feelings about each other. Anna has her own set of complaintsher father is overly-controlling and Avery barely tolerates her. I chatted with Bell who was in Warsaw, Indiana at his wifes book signing. She is the young adult author M. Hendrix. The two live in Bowling Green, Kentucky where Bell, a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author, is a professor of English at Western Kentucky University and co-founder of the schools MFA program. He says he has step-siblings and though they all get along very well, that was part of the inspiration for his book. I started thinking about what it would be like if we didnt and one of them was in danger, says Bell, noting that many families, even happy ones, have long-held secrets which is part of the mix when he develops his plots. He also gets the ideas for his 11 novelsand counting--from numerous places such as news stories, academia and musings on the personalities of people he knows and then riffs off of them to create his compelling and fast moving mysteries. His books have been translated into multiple languages and include The Finalists and Shes Gone. He is at work on his next mystery. Learn more at davidbellnovels.com. Despite some industry headwinds, U.S. Steel is bullish about a "pivotal year" for the company. The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker, which operates Gary Works and the Midwest Plant in Portage, just released strong second-quarter guidance projecting earnings of $1.81 to $1.86 per share. The company said it is benefiting from rebounding auto sales and near-record appliance sales. "We're bullish for U.S. Steel's future as we look forward to an even stronger second quarter. We are pleased but not satisfied. Our main challenge to transition to a less cost-, capital- and carbon-intensive business remains," U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt said in a recent conference call with investors. "And we're making progress. We know what it takes to be the best steel competitor: focus, focus, focus. We're focused on creating stockholder value." The company has been working to transform its business by diversifying beyond the vertically integrated steel mills it has long focused on, such as Gary Works on Lake Michigan. It's been investing heavily in mini-mill production in Arkansas. "2023 is the pivotal investment year in delivering on our commitments to create value for our stockholders. With each passing quarter, we deliver on our best for all future, incremental EBITDA generation, improved free cash flow and increased earnings resilience through cycle. We are committed to getting to the future faster. That's more than just a motto for us, Burritt said. "It's the objective of every strategic decision we make as we unlock earnings and free cash flow growth and continued returns for our stockholders. That commitment is further supported by our excellent operational performance, a healthy market backdrop, strong trade enforcement, and a solid balance sheet. We are well positioned to deliver on our best-for-all goals." U.S. Steel is starting up a non-grain-oriented or NGO electrical steel line for electric vehicles this summer. It's working to start a new dual-coding line at the Big River steel mill. "We are excited about what's taking shape. U.S. Steel is well positioned for where the market is headed," Burritt said. The company is investing $3 billion in Big River 2, an expansion of its state-of-the-art mini-mill in Arkansas. The Big River campus will generate $1.3 billion in EBITDA a year, including $1 billion in free cash flow by 2026. Burritt said it's an unprecedented level of cash generation for the 122-year-old company. "What used to be a soybean field is really starting to feel like a steel mill. This is a game-changing investment that will bolster U.S. Steel's financial performance and environmental sustainability for years to come. Once complete, this cutting-edge facility, in combination with the existing Big River Steel, will form a green steel campus capable of supplying some of the most advanced and sustainable steels in North America," he said. "With the first use of endless casting and rolling technology in the United States, Big River 2 will bring significant energy and operational efficiencies and capability enhancement to our operations, a distinct competitive advantage." Big River Steel consumed more than 25,000 tons of pig iron from the new pig iron caster at Gary Works. "Our furnaces have seen a seamless transition, as the Gary pig is high quality and a lower cost than external pig purchases. This project is key to our metallic strategy. It's a tremendous opportunity for us to unlock significant benefits across U.S. Steel's entire footprint," he said. "Our Gary Works facility benefited from operational efficiencies and fuel rate savings in the first quarter as the project started several months ahead of schedule. It's an example of U.S. Steel's flexibility and creativity, repurposing our existing facilities to unlock tremendous value in our mini-mills. This investment also creates surety of supply in a pig iron market that we know is vulnerable to supply chain shock." The company has been lowering its operational costs across its footprint. "Gary Works has been operating for more than a century, and Big River 2, of course, will be a brand new mini mill. Innovation is happening at both," Burritt said. "And today, both are essential for our strategy. Our steelmaking footprint combines integrated and mini-mill steelmaking and provides diverse capabilities for our customers. And our steel is mined, melted, and made in the USA, positioning us at the heart of the domestic manufacturing resurgence. We're also one of the few steelmakers with access to our own iron ore natural resources and the only one with mini mill steel, mini mill sheet production. We believe our iron ore is lowest cost in northern Minnesota and will be increasingly in demand." The steelmaker remains committed to its legacy assets like those in Northwest Indiana as part of its diversification strategy. "We believe, as electric arc furnaces move up the value chain, they will need to consume more and more virgin iron units to produce the cleaner and thinner steels. Customers are demanding. Iron ore is finite, and we're one of the few steel producers that own iron ore mines," he said. "It's a competitive advantage today, and it will be an even greater advantage tomorrow. At U.S. Steel, we know that diversity is also a competitive advantage. That applies to the diversity of our workforce, the diversity of our suppliers, and the diversity of our customers. This diversity provides us a hedge against the ups and downs of various sectors in the economy. Again, our balanced order book means we serve many strategic markets. We aren't vulnerable to concentration risk. Instead, we leverage our diversity to create value for auto OEMs, appliance manufacturers, construction, and energy customers, and other important partners." BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Conditions are being created for medical evacuation through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) through the checkpoint established at the beginning of Lachin road, Trend reports. This morning, ICRC trucks and cars drove from Azerbaijans Khankendi district in the direction of Armenia. This proves that the road is not closed, as some circles claim. Currently, investigative measures are being carried out there in connection with the latest provocation of Armenia. 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. There were 252 new Indiana laws approved this year by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and enacted by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, mostly during the month of April. While a few laws took effect immediately, such as Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 2 reclassifying certain Indiana business taxes to enable some companies to qualify for a larger federal tax deduction, the bulk of the new state statutes as usual take effect July 1, including the two-year budget in House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1001. Here's a look at some notable new laws Hoosiers should know: Book bans Every public school board and charter school governing body is required to establish a procedure for the parent of any student, or any person residing in the school district, to request the removal of library materials deemed "obscene" or "harmful to minors." School districts must also post a list of the complete holdings of its school libraries on each schools website and provide a printed copy of the library catalogue to any individual upon request. (HEA 1447) Speed cameras The Indiana Department of Transportation is authorized to use camera enforcement to ticket motorists exceeding the speed limit by at least 11 mph in highway work zones. Speeding motorists would get off with a warning for a first violation, a $75 fine for the second and a $150 fine for each subsequent violation. (HEA 1015) Juror pay The pay for prospective jurors is doubled to $30 a day while seated jurors must be paid $80 a day for the first five days of a trial, and $90 for each trial day thereafter. Prospective and seated jurors also continue to be entitled to a daily mileage reimbursement for travel to and from the court. It's Indiana's first juror pay increase in a quarter-century. (HEA 1466) Lake County convention center The Lake County Board of Commissioners must begin soliciting proposals to construct and operate a convention center and adjacent hotel. The Lake County Council may increase the innkeepers' tax rate on hotel stays up to 10% from 5% to partially fund the convention center. The city of Gary can obtain up to $3 million a year for blighted building demolition from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, so long as the city puts up a matching amount. (SEA 434) 21st Century Scholars Eligible students automatically are enrolled in the state's 21st Century Scholars program that guarantees a low- or no-cost college education to individuals who comply with program guidelines. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education must inform eligible students and their families of their enrollment in the program, along with the academic requirements the student must meet to obtain and maintain a college tuition scholarship. (HEA 1449) Public health More state resources are available to local public health departments to prioritize preventative health care and enact other organizational and mission-driven reforms following the COVID-19 pandemic. Altogether, $225 million is appropriated over two years to begin the work. (SEA 4) AirTags The unlawful use of a remote tracking device, such as an Apple AirTag, is in most cases a felony, punishable by up to two and a half years behind bars for a repeat offense or if the person being tracked has a protective order against the tracker, or six years in prison if the equipment is used for stalking. Prosecutors may also seek a penalty enhancement of up to six additional years in prison if the person employing a remote tracking device commits another felony causing serious bodily injury while using the equipment. (SEA 161) Charter schools The proceeds of each new voter-approved school funding referendum in Lake County must be shared with local charter schools in proportion to the number of children living in the school district who attend charter schools. Beginning July 1, 2024, all incremental property tax revenue growth at Lake County school districts must be shared on a proportional basis with local charter schools. (SEA 391, HEA 1001) Encroachment Twenty-five feet is set as the minimum bystander distance if a police officer orders a person to stop approaching when the officer is lawfully engaged in the execution of his or her official duties. Police and firefighters may clear an area 25 feet away from any emergency incident, such as a car crash or fire, or a greater distance if the area is marked using flags, barricades or emergency tape. (HEA 1186) Pension investments The $45 billion Indiana Public Retirement System is prohibited from contracting with investment managers who consider environmental, social or governance (ESG) factors such as reducing air pollution or ensuring diverse corporate board membership when making investment decisions, unless the INPRS board determines ESG investments are in the financial best interest of its members. INPRS also is required to divest all of its holdings that are closely associated with the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party. (HEA 1008, SEA 268) Domestic violence Individuals arrested for any of 13 domestic violence-related offenses must be jailed without bail for at least 24 hours after arrest triple the state's former eight-hour cooling-off period. The crime of invasion of privacy also is a Level 6 felony, instead of a Class A misdemeanor, if the person has a prior, unrelated conviction for stalking. (SEA 158) Gary schools A five-member, appointed school board is reestablished for the Gary Community School Corp. to eventually replace the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board as the governing body for the formerly cash-strapped school district. Garys mayor and the Gary Common Council appoint one member each, and the three others are chosen by the Indiana secretary of education, including at least one Gary resident, one resident of Gary or Lake County, and a final member from anywhere. (SEA 327) Illiana Expressway All references in state law to the never-constructed Illiana Expressway, a public-private toll road that would have connected Interstate 65 in south Lake County to Interstate 55 near Joliet, Illinois, in an effort to relieve through-truck congestion on the Borman Expressway, are deleted in the hope of ending Illiana uncertainty that has depressed property values and slowed development in south Lake County. (SEA 44) Animal facilities All newly constructed or remodeled facilities for dogs and cats, including animal shelters, veterinary offices, pet shops and boarding centers, must have an operating fire alarm system that automatically contacts the local fire or police department, or staff present in the building any time a dog or cat is on site. The mandate follows a 2021 inferno at an Indianapolis pet shop that killed more than 100 animals. (SEA 277) Throwing stars The easily concealable, star-shaped, knife-like weapons with blades set at different angles are treated the same as other types of knives recognized by Indiana ending a nearly four-decade state throwing star ban. Throwing stars still cannot be brought to a school, on a school bus or another student transport vehicle. (SEA 77) Meet the 2023 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores LAPORTE Another deadline has been set over what appears to be a contested plan to annex the 39 North Conservancy District outside LaPorte. LaPorte Mayor Tom Dermody has set a June 30 deadline for the district to sign a Memorandum of Understanding over the citys intentions to annex more than 900 acres of partially developed ground along Ind. 39 from Severs Road to the Indiana Toll Road. Dermody said the next steps will be decided if the district board fails to meet the deadline. He said he established the deadline recently after his repeated attempts failed to get conservancy district board members to return to the negotiating table. Dermody also said playing a role in his decision was a post on social media containing the names of every district property owner who signed a petition requesting annexation. He said the post was made after the city responded to a public information request from the district to release the names. Its clear in my opinion that the only reason they wanted these names was to shame the individuals who signed, he said. The city started moving forward in the process after obtaining the signatures of 57% of property owners in the district wanting to be annexed. Dermody vowed to back away from annexation and focus on other much-needed projects if property owners did not sign the petition by May 31. Under state law, the signatures of 51% of property owners wanting to be annexed is required to move forward. In previous discussions, the city agreed to compensate the district $2 million for the water and sewer lines property owners in the conservancy had installed for about $4 million over 20 years ago. The city provides water and sewage treatment in the district. As hoped, the infrastructure brought a considerable amount of new industry and higher end housing to the district. More growth cannot occur, though, unless lines larger in diameter and a water tower are installed to meet demand for water from new customers. The district could finance the estimated $10 million in necessary improvements on the backs of property owners. If allowed to annex, the city has promised to pay all costs and compensate property owners for their investment in the infrastructure with credits on their water and sewer bills. Dermody said homestead land owners would also see a reduction in their property taxes. Shaw Friedman, attorney for the 39 North Conservancy District, said he doesnt know why the deadline was set because the board decided a month ago not to resume talks unless given a copy of the citys fiscal plan for servicing the district. The board also wants to know in writing from the state whether its legal to compensate property owners with credits on their utility bills. Friedman said the fiscal plan was recently handed over, but remains under review by the districts financial advisor. Were also wondering how the city intends to pay for all of the promised improvements without raising taxes on city and districts residents, he said. Additionally, he said no answer has been provided yet on the legality of the citys proposed method of compensating property owners. We still dont have that, he said. Friedman said there is no way the deadline is going to be met because of the still resolved uncertainties. The city needs to stop imposing ultimatums and negotiate in good faith, he said. Friedman denied he or any board member posted the names of the property owners on the petition. It simply didnt happen, he said. He did say whoever did it, though, posted a public document. Friedman said he warned the city not to pursue annexation because of the immense friction such an effort can generate. Instead, Friedman said he urged the city to negotiate a new water agreement with the district that addresses improvements to the infrastructure. One year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, former President Donald J. Trump reminded a gathering of evangelical activists in the nations capital how he had shaped the courts conservative supermajority that ended nearly 50 years of constitutional protections for abortion. Appearing at a Faith & Freedom Coalition gala in Washington on Saturday night, he cited his appointment of three of the six justices who voted to strike down the law as a capstone of his presidency. And he cast himself as an unflinching crusader for the Christian right in a meandering speech that lasted nearly 90 minutes. No president has ever fought for Christians as hard as I have, he said, adding, I got it done, and nobody thought it was even a possibility. It was the eighth appearance by Mr. Trump in front of the group, whose support he is seeking to consolidate in a crowded G.O.P. competition for the 2024 nomination, though he is the front-runner in the field. He said that Republican voters were skeptical of claims by some of his rivals that they were stronger opponents of abortion, and suggested that the skepticism had arisen on the campaign trail. American intelligence officials briefed senior military and administration officials on Wednesday that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the mercenary Wagner Group, was preparing to take military action against senior Russian defense officials, according to officials familiar with the matter. U.S. spy agencies had indications days earlier that Mr. Prigozhin was planning something and worked to refine that material into a finished assessment, officials said. The information shows that the United States was aware of impending events in Russia, similar to how intelligence agencies had warned in late 2021 that Vladimir V. Putin was planning to invade Ukraine. But unlike with the initial invasion, when U.S. officials declassified the intelligence and then released it to try to deter Mr. Putin from invading, intelligence agencies kept silent about Mr. Prigozhins plans. U.S. officials felt that if they said anything, Mr. Putin could accuse them of orchestrating a coup. And they clearly had little interest in helping Mr. Putin avoid a major, embarrassing fracturing of his support. Crisis abates in Russia The day after an armed rebellion by Wagner mercenaries against Vladimir Putins government was defused at the last minute, neither Putin nor the mercenary leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, made a public appearance, adding to the sense of uncertainty and confusion pervading Russia. The swirl of events over the last few days has left questions about Putins authority and the future of the war in Ukraine. The armed uprising, which Prigozhin led, called into question Russias justifications for its war in Ukraine and the competency of its military leadership. Wagner forces marched toward Moscow with the aim of challenging Russias military leadership, and while they took control of a midsize Russian city, Rostov-on-Don, they failed to gather much public support. By Saturday night, Aleksandr Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, had stepped in and arranged for Prigozhin to go to Belarus and avoid criminal charges, and for the Wagner fighters to avoid repercussions. Reaction: Residents cheered and embraced the mercenaries as they left Rostov-on-Don on Saturday. My colleague Roger Cohen writes that Prigozhins description of his actions as a march for justice will have resonated with some, perhaps many, Russians. Don Harold, a subway aficionado who sometimes used subterfuge to save vintage train cars from the junkyard cars that are now among the star attractions of the New York Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn died on June 14 in a nursing home in Bayside, Queens. He was 91. Thomas Jablonski, a close friend, said the cause was congestive heart failure. Mr. Harold, whose maternal grandfather was a Brooklyn trolley motorman and inspector, adored the hulking relics that once rumbled and screeched on subway and elevated tracks. To him, they were as essential a part of New Yorks history as the Statue of Liberty. When she was falling apart, they fixed her, he said in an interview with The New York Times in 2003. You dont sell her for scrap. He got his chance to save train cars when he was hired in 1965 in the public affairs office of the citys Transit Authority. His supervisor already knew about his passion for the old rolling stock and felt that he could be an effective preservationist. Nothing about a seven-to-14-day hospitalization is going to change the arc of the life of somebody whos homeless and has schizophrenia, said Mitchell Katz, head of the citys public hospitals. Outreach groups have seldom invoked the power to have clients removed, because their work a delicate dance of getting someone to accept help and move indoors relies on trust. If the hospital would not help the patient, damaging that trust did not seem worth it. If youre going to forcibly take away somebodys rights and take them to the hospital against their will, you want to make sure youre not making the situation worse, Mr. Auwarter said. BronxWorks sent its first person to the hospital under the mayors directive on Christmas night, when the wind chill was 12 degrees. Outreach workers at an elevated subway station approached a woman in her 60s who had refused to talk to them for five years. Her legs were covered with ulcers and so swollen she could not get socks on, and one foot was bare. She screamed when the police arrived, but she got in the ambulance. At Jacobi, as treatment and medication took hold, the woman warmed, said Olivia Cooley, BronxWorkss clinical coordinator for outreach: She went to saying, When are you going to visit again and see me next? After five months in a new state-run bed at Manhattan Psychiatric Center, the woman was accepted into permanent supportive housing this month. An unbroken parade of marchers some dancing and jubilant, some set with determined purpose filled Fifth Avenue and the streets of Greenwich Village in Manhattan on Sunday for the New York City Pride March, even as a foreboding backdrop from threats both local and national hung over the days slate of events. The march, with its flags and bright floats, marks the 1969 Stonewall riot that spurred the modern L.G.B.T.Q. rights movement. It is the largest of its kind in the United States, with 75,000 marchers and roughly two million spectators, according to organizers. The event is even now broadcast on network television, a reflection of the fact that public support for L.G.B.T.Q. people has never been higher, coming in between 60 and 70 percent in recent polls. But backlash to those gains has grown since same-sex marriage became legal nationwide in 2015. In recent years, each successive Pride Month has seemed to go on in defiance of new and ever greater challenges to the L.G.B.T.Q. community. The heart of his research was grounded in the basic relationship between risk and reward. He showed that the risk in any portfolio is less dependent on the riskiness of its component stocks and other assets than how they relate to one another. It was the first time that the benefits of diversification had been codified and quantified, using advanced mathematics to calculate correlations and variations from the mean. This breakthrough insight and its corollaries have now permeated all aspects of money management, with few professionals unfamiliar with his work. Modern portfolio theory has gone from the halls of academia to investment management mainstream, or from gown to town, Robert Arnott, chairman of Research Affiliates, a large investment manager in Newport Beach, Calif., said in a videotaped interview with Dr. Markowitz. When Dr. Markowitz heard one of his peers describe how his work had brought a process to what had been, until the 1950s, the haphazard creation of institutional portfolios, he knew he deserved his reputation as the father of modern portfolio theory, he said. That moment was one of these things where you feel a chill run up your spine, he said. I understood what I had started. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on awarding servicemen of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Trend reports. According to the decree, for special merits in the protection and preservation of the independence, territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, distinction in the performance of official duties and tasks assigned to the military unit, military servicemen of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan are awarded. Will be updated Rita Reif, who worked her way up from low-rung newspaper jobs to spend decades covering the worlds of antiques and auctions for The New York Times, and who made news herself in the late 1990s when she challenged the ownership of an Egon Schiele painting thought to have been stolen from a relative of her late husband by the Nazis, died on June 16 in Washington. She was 94. Her son Timothy M. Reif said she died at his home, where she had been in hospice care since last year for congestive heart failure and dementia. Ms. Reif accumulated thousands of bylines in her half-century at The Times. She started working at the newspaper part time in 1947, pasting stock tables onto layout boards for the financial section. In 1950 she was hired full time as a clerk in the newspapers archive, and three years later she moved to the womens news department as a clerk. Soon she was writing bylined articles. One of her earliest, from April 1954, was a look at how engineers kept the Wollman Memorial Skating Rink in Central Park frozen when the temperature was in the mid-60s. Among the tidbits she noted in that article: Flared skirts tended to drive heat down into the ice, causing melting. Donald Trump this month became the first former or incumbent American president to be charged with crimes against the nation that he once led and wishes to lead again. He cynically calculated that his indictment would ensure that a riled-up Republican Party base would nominate him as its standard-bearer in 2024, and the last few weeks have proved that his political calculation was probably right. The former presidents behavior may have invited charges, but the Republicans spineless support for the past two years convinced Mr. Trump of his political immortality, giving him the assurance that he could purloin some of the nations most sensitive national security secrets upon leaving the White House and preposterously insist that they were his to do with as he wished all without facing political consequences. Indeed, their fawning support since the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol has given Mr. Trump every reason to believe that he can ride these charges and any others not just to the Republican nomination, but also to the White House in 2024. In a word, the Republicans are as responsible as Mr. Trump for this months indictment and will be as responsible for any indictment and prosecution of him for Jan. 6. One would think that, for a party that has prided itself for caring about the Constitution and the rule of law, this would stir some measure of self-reflection among party officials and even voters about their abiding support for the former president. Surely before barreling headlong into the 2024 presidential election season, more Republicans would realize it is time to come to the reckoning with Mr. Trump that they have vainly hoped and naively believed would never be necessary. But by all appearances, it certainly hasnt occurred to them yet that any reckoning is needed. As only the Republicans can do, they are already turning this ignominious moment into an even more ignominious moment and a self-immolating one at that by rushing to crown Mr. Trump their nominee before the primary season even begins. Building the Republican campaign around the newly indicted front-runner is a colossal political miscalculation, as comedic as it is tragic for the country. No assemblage of politicians except the Republicans would ever conceive of running for the American presidency by running against the Constitution and the rule of law. But thats exactly what theyre planning. If we wish to shield our eyes and noses from the homeless, we should revoke their condition, not their library cards. H. LEE SAROKIN, a federal judge in New Jersey who died Tuesday, wrote in a 1991 ruling that a homeless man could not be barred from the Morristown, N.J., library because of his odor. Amanda Hansen loves a hot pink moment. I think I just naturally am such a pink froufrou girl. All my stuff. Everything I buy is always a little bit Barbie-esque, she said. So it has taken over. Ms. Hansen, a graphic designer in Tacoma, Wash., infused her home with colors fit for Barbies Dreamhouse, from pink Smeg appliances in the kitchen to purple and pink floral wallpaper in the dining room and tons of colorful accents in between. The piece de resistance, though, is the backyard Barbie oasis. There, Ms. Hansen, 31, installed a hot pink aboveground pool, which she purchased on Amazon for about $150, and shaded it with a banana leaf print umbrella. She painted a pink and white checkered floor on the concrete patio and, soon, a pink cabana with a striped curtain will round off the space. Mx. LaRochelle originally devised the visual project as a class assignment while they were a student at Concordia University in Montreal, where they live. This month, the site surpassed half a million submissions, with the United States alone accounting for more than 180,000 of the markers. Mx. LaRochelle said the milestone was a testament to the absolutely lifesaving potential of digital platforms like Queering the Map, which can provide L.G.B.T.Q. people with comfort and solidarity that can be difficult to find in the real world. But it didnt happen all at once. Mx. LaRochelle contributed the sites first few entries: the tree at which they first encountered their partner and later had a life-changing realization about their nonbinary gender identity, the shipping container in the woods where they met with a secret lover in their youth. Then others found the site first friends, then strangers. Hundreds of pins were added to locations around the world, then hundreds of thousands. Theres definitely a style in how a Queering the Map post reads: Its often emo, sometimes funny, Mx. LaRochelle said. Its fascinating to me the way that the confessional mode of writing in the first couple of stories that I added has persisted. Increasingly, political consultants, election researchers and lawmakers say setting up new guardrails, such as legislation reining in synthetically generated ads, should be an urgent priority. Existing defenses, such as social media rules and services that claim to detect A.I. content, have failed to do much to slow the tide. As the 2024 U.S. presidential race starts to heat up, some of the campaigns are already testing the technology. The Republican National Committee released a video with artificially generated images of doomsday scenarios after President Biden announced his re-election bid, while Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida posted fake images of former President Donald J. Trump with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former health official. The Democratic Party experimented with fund-raising messages drafted by artificial intelligence in the spring and found that they were often more effective at encouraging engagement and donations than copy written entirely by humans. Some politicians see artificial intelligence as a way to help reduce campaign costs, by using it to create instant responses to debate questions or attack ads, or to analyze data that might otherwise require expensive experts. At the same time, the technology has the potential to spread disinformation to a wide audience. An unflattering fake video, an email blast full of false narratives churned out by computer or a fabricated image of urban decay can reinforce prejudices and widen the partisan divide by showing voters what they expect to see, experts say. The technology is already far more powerful than manual manipulation not perfect, but fast improving and easy to learn. In May, the chief executive of OpenAI, Sam Altman, whose company helped kick off an artificial intelligence boom last year with its popular ChatGPT chatbot, told a Senate subcommittee that he was nervous about election season. She stared ahead out the window at the windswept prairie as a familiar anxiety came rushing back into her chest and throat. She spent the last two decades losing her son to addiction, imagining him in abandoned houses, writhing in withdrawal or smoking the fentanyl dose that would kill him. Her one solace with Askins in jail was the belief that he was in some ways protected from his disease. He was trapped. He was safe. You just have to confront reality, she said. Theres no escaping. Theres no other choice. Well, actually, he said, and then he started to tell her a story from several weeks earlier, when he first arrived at the Oklahoma County Jail with the same shooting pains and nausea that drove him to buy fentanyl that morning with Drake. He had prepared himself for full-fledged withdrawal in jail, but then he saw his roommate smoking synthetic marijuana and heard about other inmates making alcohol out of hand sanitizer. It turned out that the jail had treated more than 130 inmates for drug overdoses in the last year, and more than a dozen had died since 2021. Within a few days, Askins figured out that fentanyl was all over the facility, sold by every jailhouse gang in every variety and available for purchase by trade or by favor. He started snorting small doses at night so he could drown out his surroundings for long enough to sleep. The nightmares kept coming. His doses got bigger. He took a little more to keep himself from thinking about Drake. He took more each time he heard his mother crying on the phone. More for the bedbugs. More for the loneliness and the shame and the anger and the fear, until one night he sat on his roommates bed and snorted two lines of white powder, numbing himself into oblivion with four times his typical dose. His vision went dark. When he awoke a while later, he was strapped into a restraining jacket and staring up at a team of nurses and medical assistants in the jail. They said it had taken four doses of naloxone, the opioid-reversal drug, to revive him. He immediately went into withdrawal and said he hadnt used fentanyl since. I almost died, he told his mother. They had to bring me back. Thank God, she said. Yeah, he said. I guess. She looked out the window at the red dirt roads of Oklahoma, where fentanyl was everywhere, and she listened to her son breathe until her exhaustion and her anger formed into the same desire for accountability that had swept across the country and put her son in jail. How? Who did this to you? she asked, and this time, Askins was sure of the answer. It was me, he said. Blame me. Audio produced by Tally Abecassis . The authorities in Southern California recovered human remains on Saturday near the mountain where search crews have been looking for the British actor Julian Sands, who was reported missing in January. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said in a statement that it had been contacted around 10 a.m. local time on Saturday by hikers who had found human remains in the Mount Baldy wilderness, which is more than 40 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The remains were brought to the coroners office and were expected to be identified this week, the department said. Dangerous conditions, including a series of severe storms in the winter and lingering ice and snow in June, have complicated search efforts for Mr. Sands. But lawyers for Mr. Bowers suggested that their main argument that there are things in Mr. Bowerss life that make his culpability more complicated than it may seem was still to come. We know there is more than that to the story, Judy Clarke, one of his lawyers, said in the defenses opening statement. But, she added: The evidence about who he is is very limited in this phase of the case. The jury will be asked to consider two questions. The first is whether Mr. Bowers, a 50-year-old former truck driver who lived in the Pittsburgh suburbs, is eligible for the death penalty based on the circumstances of the crimes he committed. Those factors include whether he planned the attack and whether he intended to kill his victims. If the jury finds factors that do make him eligible for a death sentence, they will then decide whether he should be executed or spend the rest of his life in prison. This stage of the trial is expected to last about six weeks. The prosecution will feature extensive testimony about the people who were killed in the attack and the impact of their loss on those around them. Witnesses for the defense will likely testify at length about Mr. Bowerss troubled background and his mental health. The defense team has written in filings that Mr. Bowers suffers from schizophrenia, epilepsy, and structural and functional impairments of the brain, and that they intended to present evidence about his mental illness in the penalty phase. In May, the judge, Robert J. Colville, allowed the government to conduct its own examination of Mr. Bowers, suggesting that the penalty phase may entail a battle of interpretations over these findings. Facing multiple intensifying investigations, former President Donald J. Trump has quietly begun diverting more of the money he is raising away from his 2024 presidential campaign and into a political action committee that he has used to pay his personal legal fees. The change, which went unannounced except in the fine print of his online disclosures, raises fresh questions about how Mr. Trump is paying for his mounting legal bills which could run into millions of dollars as he prepares for at least two criminal trials, and whether his PAC, Save America, is facing a financial crunch. When Mr. Trump kicked off his 2024 campaign in November, for every dollar raised online, 99 cents went to his campaign, and a penny went to Save America. But internet archival records show that sometime in February or March, he adjusted that split. Now his campaigns share has been reduced to 90 percent of donations, and 10 percent goes to Save America. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) carried out transportation of people in need of medical assistance to Armenia across Azerbaijan's Lachin-Khankendi road, Trend reports. The ICRC ambulances passed through the Lachin checkpoint and delivered 15 patients from Karabakh to Armenia. At the same time, 16 people who were previously sent to Armenia for treatment will be returned to Khankendi today, accompanied by the ICRC. Armenia has repeatedly made false accusations about the alleged "humanitarian crisis" in connection with Armenian residents living in Karabakh, in particular, after the provocations that led to the serious injury of the Azerbaijani military serviceman at the Lachin checkpoint and the closure of the checkpoint by the decision of Baku. However, developments in the region prove that the road is open for humanitarian purposes, contrary to what some circles claim. 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. 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 checkpoint, was injured. To some Ukrainian forces, soldiers from the Wagner Group were the best-equipped fighters they had seen since Russia invaded last year. To others, it was their training that distinguished them: Ukrainian soldiers recalled battlefield stories of aggressive tactics or a sniper downing a drone with a single shot. But after the short-lived mutiny led by the head of the group, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, it is not clear whether Wagner will still be a fighting force on the battlefield with its fate now in question. For now, the uncertain status of Wagner is bound to be a relief for Ukrainian soldiers. Though the front lines in Ukraine are likely to remain unchanged in the short term, depending on how events unfold in Russia, the Ukrainian military may be able to capitalize on the chaos and weakening morale to try to make some gains, according to independent analysts and American officials. Still, it is too soon to determine the long-term implications of the feud between Mr. Prigozhin and the Russian military establishment, American officials said. In Bakhmut, Wagner played an outsize role in the campaign to take the eastern city, Moscows one major battlefield victory this year, and solidified an uneasy alliance with the Russian military only to see the partnership break once the city was captured. Kevin Randal, a construction worker in Houston, has his routine. Mr. Randal, 60, who works on air-conditioning, roofing, flooring and kitchens, spent Saturday inside an attic, drenched in sweat in 100 degree temperatures, fixing an air-conditioning unit. He takes breaks every 20 minutes, drinks a mix of lime juice, salt and water to keep him hydrated and takes little sips of water to prevent nausea and throwing up, he said. If you dont calculate time correctly, you will faint, Mr. Randal said, adding, The heat comes and goes, and the jobs come and go with it. But for now, the heat is mostly coming and staying. An onslaught of record heat that shows no sign of easing has united all strata of society with the same fundamental purpose of staying cool, comfortable and safe, while putting particular strains on the poor and those without air-conditioning. Voters in Guatemala, the most populous nation in Central America, cast ballots on Sunday in presidential elections that are drawing attention to what many observers called the erosion of the rule of law. In a field of more than 20 candidates, none were expected to secure a majority to win in the first round of voting, with observers predicting a runoff on Aug. 20 between the top two finishers. The electoral authority barred several top candidates who were viewed as threatening to the political and economic establishment. That move was seen as another assault on Guatemalas fraying democracy. Under an increasingly authoritarian government, the judiciary has forced into exile dozens of prosecutors and judges focused on battling corruption. Press freedom has also come under attack. This month, the founder of a leading newspaper that exposed many instances of graft was sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of money laundering. Vladimir V. Putin is known for his tight control over the news media in Russia. His onetime ally, the Wagner military group founder Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, is himself the owner of a conservative media outlet and a flamboyant showman on social media. But it was an unlikely figure who emerged with a public relations victory in the wake of Mr. Prigozhins mutiny: the longtime dictator of Belarus, the neighboring country that is firmly in Moscows orbit. The Belarusian leader, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, is viewed largely as the Kremlins docile satrap. But on Sunday, he took credit for brokering an agreement between Mr. Putin and Mr. Prigozhin, averting a scenario that the Russian leader had compared to the civil war that followed the Revolution of 1917. Now Mr. Lukashenko, an international pariah, is trying to use the P.R. victory to burnish his credentials as a credible statesman, mediator and above all, loyal ally to Mr. Putin. Greek voters on Sunday overwhelmingly re-elected the conservative New Democracy party, preliminary results showed, setting the stage for its leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to strengthen his grip on power with an absolute majority and what he called a strong mandate for the foreseeable future. With his landslide victory, voters appeared to have overlooked his governments ties to a series of scandals and embraced his promise of continued economic stability and prosperity. With 91 percent of the votes counted at 9:45 p.m., the party had 40.5 percent, and was poised to win 158 seats in Greeces 300-member Parliament, far ahead of the opposition Syriza party, which was in second place with 17.8 percent, with 47 seats. The socialist Pasok party took third place, with 12.5 percent, and got 32 seats. In a statement from his partys headquarters in Athens, the capital, Mr. Mitsotakis described the results as a strong mandate, to move more quickly along the road of major changes. Pope Francis on Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the kidnapping of Emanuela Orlandi, the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee whose disappearance remains one of Italys most enduring mysteries and recently was the subject of a Netflix series. In remarks after his Angelus prayer and blessing, Francis expressed his closeness to the family, above all, the mother, assuring them as well as all families who carry the grief, the disappearance of a loved one of his prayers. His remarks may have been brief, but they were words that Emanuelas family had long waited for. Its a very positive thing, said Pietro Orlandi, Emanuelas older brother. He had come to St. Peters Square with hundreds of supporters hoping that the pope would say something, anything, words of hope, he said. The Orlandi family first her parents and then her four siblings has been tireless in its search for Emanuela. Family members have lobbied judicial and parliamentary authorities to investigate, gone on countless television programs to plead for tips and pursued even the most outlandish of claims. Over the course of a month I spent in the Russian capital, the red-and-black billboards of Yevgeny V. Prigozhins Wagner paramilitary group multiplied. Join the team of victors! they said, beneath an image of menacing mercenaries in balaclavas and masks, only their eyes visible. A possible implication was that the Russian forces on the other mushrooming Moscow billboards regular soldiers recruited by the Ministry of Defense pictured above slogans like Real Work! or Be a hero! were the losers of President Vladimir V. Putins reckless gamble in Ukraine. As heedless Muscovites headed for their offices and gyms, their Italian or Japanese restaurants, their bars and nightclubs, this military recruitment drive on two fronts offered the sole image in the capital of the Russian scramble to contain the fallout, and hide the full impact, of the invasion that began 16 months ago. Easier to order a latte than dwell on lost lives in Mariupol. Now, with his blunt depiction of that invasion as a racket that wasnt needed to demilitarize or denazify Ukraine, and his apparently short-lived armed uprising, Mr. Prigozhin has played on one of Mr. Putins worst fears: division and rebellion, with tanks on the streets, as in the mayhem of the 1990s from which Mr. Putin, a former K.G.B. officer, abruptly emerged as the inscrutable president and Mr. Stability. Confusion and uncertainty pervaded Russia on Sunday, with neither President Vladimir V. Putin nor Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the head of a mutinous mercenary group, appearing anywhere in public a day after the most profound government crisis in three decades an open military rebellion appeared defused. Even as state television tried to trumpet the fact that Russian unity and maturity had prevailed, independent commentators assessing the damage concluded that Mr. Putins aura of infallibility and invincibility had been punctured. And some wondered aloud why much of Russias leadership was being neither seen nor heard. Aside from Mr. Putin, neither Sergei K. Shoigu, the minister of defense, nor Valery V. Gerasimov, the military chief of staff, had put in a public appearance since the uprising started on Friday night. Many heads of the countrys security services also proved invisible. Where was the leadership of the Ministry of Defense during the approach of the armed unit to Moscow? wrote Yuri Kotenok, one of a small tribe of influential military bloggers who have emerged as a supportive if critical voice regarding the war in Ukraine. Could a foreign enemy, he asked, march with equal ease on the capital? President Vladimir V. Putin long styled himself as Russias guarantor of stability and the uncompromising protector of its statehood. This weekend, Russian stability was nowhere to be found, and neither was Mr. Putin, who after making a brief statement on Saturday morning vanished from sight during the most dramatic challenge to his authority in his 23-year reign. In his absence, he left stunned Russians wondering how the leader of a paramilitary group, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, could stage an armed mutiny on Saturday that threatened to reach Moscow. And it raised uncomfortable questions about the Russian presidents future: What did his failure to prevent the revolt mean for their security and his staying power? Russians with ties to the Kremlin expressed relief on Sunday that Mr. Prigozhins uprising did not spark a civil war. But at the same time, they agreed that Mr. Putin had come off looking weak in a way that could be lasting. In one of the more dramatic moments in the yearslong corruption trial of Benjamin Netanyahu, Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood movie mogul, billionaire spy and old friend of the Israeli prime minister, took the stand on Sunday as a key witness for the prosecution in an alleged gifts-for-favors affair known as Case 1000. In the opening hours of his testimony, Mr. Milchan described his relationship with Mr. Netanyahu as close friends, almost brothers, and confirmed that he had given cigars and Champagne to Mr. Netanyahu and his wife, Sara. Much of the case hinges on whether such gifts were given in friendship or in return for favors, and that will most likely be the focus of the questioning during Mr. Milchans testimony and cross-examination, which is expected to take about 10 days. Mr. Netanyahu, on trial in three separate but interlocking corruption cases, has been charged with fraud and breach of trust in the case involving Mr. Milchan. Mr. Netanyahu has denied all wrongdoing. If convicted, he could face jail time. Mr. Milchan, 78, who produced blockbusters like Pretty Woman, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Bohemian Rhapsody, also worked for years for Israeli intelligence as a weapons procurer. His colorful life and relationship with Mr. Netanyahu has helped turned the Case 1000 trial into a showcase of the nexus of money, power and influence in Israel. details added, first published at 11:50 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan responded to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia on June 24, Trend reports. "We strongly condemn Armenia's accusation of hatred and hostility against Azerbaijan. Armenia has held our territories under occupation for almost 30 years, pursued a policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis, contrary to its obligations, has not yet fully withdrawn its armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, has long neglected Azerbaijan's proposals on the peace process and its unfounded claims are currently hindering the process," the MFA said. To present as a "blockade and ethnic cleansing" the temporary restriction of the operation of the Lachin border checkpoint in connection with security and investigative measures carried out by Azerbaijan after the provocation of the Armenian side is part of the falsified propaganda of Armenia. It is obvious that the Armenian side, since the installation of the checkpoint, cannot accept the passage in both directions of hundreds of residents of Armenian origin in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation with the Azerbaijani border guards. Armenia is interested in persistently continuing its provocative steps. The allegations about the existence of "humanitarian threats" against Armenians living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan also have no grounds. The fact that those who call themselves representatives of the Armenian residents in every way refuse Azerbaijan's offers to help the residents if necessary. It suggests that the Armenian side is using this issue for its political purposes. Along with this, attempts to abuse the issue of the "rights and security" of Armenian residents are unacceptable. The Azerbaijani side is making efforts to reintegrate the Armenian residents, and it is necessary to stop the destructive interference of the Armenian side in this process under various pretexts. Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner private military company, led an armed rebellion in Russia on Saturday and claimed that his forces came within 125 miles of Moscow. Here is how the events unfolded. 1 11 a.m. Friday Prigozhin questions war rationale In a 30-minute video released at 11 a.m. on Friday, Mr. Prigozhin challenged the wisdom of the Russia-Ukraine war. Telegram In a series of posts on social media starting at 11 a.m. Friday Moscow time, Mr. Prigozhin questioned the Kremlins motives for the war in Ukraine and accused the Russian defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, of ordering deadly airstrikes on Wagner fighters. The evil borne by the countrys military leadership must be stopped, he said in a voice recording posted around 9 p.m. 2 Just after midnight Friday Russia orders Prigozhins arrest Russias security agencies denounced Mr. Prigozhin in a series of announcements on state media. The Federal Security Service, Russias main intelligence agency, opened an investigation against Mr. Prigozhin for armed rebellion. Videos circulating on social media showed armored vehicles from the military and national guard being deployed in Moscow and Rostov-on-Don, where Mr. Prigozhin said his fighters were approaching. 3 7:30 a.m. Saturday Wagner forces take Rostov-on-Don Concord Press Service Despite the defense measures, Wagner forces took Rostov-on-Don with little resistance. Around 7:30 a.m., Mr. Prigozhin posted a video from the regional military headquarters, claiming to have control of key city installations. Videos on social media showed armed Wagner fighters blending into the metropoliss bustle: controlling traffic at key intersections, walking around the city with takeout coffee and ordering fast food. Wagner armored vehicles in Rostov-on-Don on Saturday. Reuters 4 Saturday morning Wagner forces push to Moscow As Wagner consolidated control of Rostov-on-Don, its forces pushed north toward Moscow. One column of armored and personnel vehicles appeared to depart from Rostov. Another column crossed from occupied Ukraine into Russias Voronezh region further north. They met little resistance and appeared to have shot down a number of Russian military aircraft along the way. Moscow russia belarus Elets Voronezh M-4 HIGHWAY Pavlovsk Kyiv Volgograd UKRAINE Bakhmut Rostov-on-Don Sea of Azov 100 miles Moscow russia Elets Voronezh M-4 HIGHWAY Pavlovsk Volgograd UKRAINE Bakhmut Rostov-on-Don Sea of Azov 100 miles The New York Times 5 10 a.m. Saturday Putin addresses the nation Russian Pool Mr. Putin made a televised address to the nation, asking for unity in the face of what he called a war against Ukraine and its allies. Actions that split our unity, he said, are a stab in the back of our country and our people. 6 Early Saturday afternoon Wagner convoy reaches Elets Wagners armored columns pushed through the Voronezh region without entering major cities and stopped on the side of the highway in Elets, a town in the Lipetsk region about 250 miles south of Moscow. The column included mounted tanks, armored vehicles, at least one self-propelled rocket launcher and numerous personnel trucks. It had met little resistance to this point. Moscow russia belarus Elets Voronezh M-4 HIGHWAY Pavlovsk Kyiv Volgograd UKRAINE Bakhmut Rostov-on-Don Sea of Azov 100 miles Moscow russia Elets Voronezh M-4 HIGHWAY Pavlovsk Volgograd UKRAINE Bakhmut Rostov-on-Don Sea of Azov 100 miles The New York Times 7 8:30 p.m. Saturday A surprise deal Belarus state media unexpectedly announced that the countrys president, Alexsandr G. Lukashenko, had negotiated Mr. Prigozhins agreement to halt his forces advances. Mr. Prigozhin said in an audio message that his forces had come within 125 miles of Moscow and were turning around to head back to their training camps. 8 11 p.m. Saturday Prigozhin leaves Rostov-on-Don Wagner forces left Rostov-on-Don as some residents came out to show their support. Mr. Prigozhin was among those leaving, driving out of the city in a heavily guarded black S.U.V. 24-Year-Old Man Electrocuted To Death While Using Treadmill In Gym In Delhi 34-Year-Old Delhi School Teacher Dies of Touching Electric Pole At Railway Station India oi-Prakash KL A school teacher died at the New Delhi Railway Station complex after touching the electric pole on Sunday morning amid rainfall. The incident occurred when the victim identified as 34-year-old Sakshi Ahuja was on her way to catch a Chandigarh train with her family members, officials informed PTI. It took place near exit gate number 1 of the station and her father, mother, brother, sister, and two children were with her at the time of the incident. In the wake of the incident, the authorities have ordered a safety audit of all-electric poles and electricity infrastructure to prevent any such incident in the future. The victim worked as a teacher at Lovely Public School, Priyadarshani Vihar, Laxmi Nagar. The woman is survived by her husband Ankit Ahuja who works as an engineer in a Japanese firm and two minor children, her family said. Meanwhile, Ahuja's sister, Madhvi Chopra, lodged a complaint alleging negligence on the part of the authorities. A case under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against unidentified persons and an investigation has been initiated, Gupta added. "We have spoken to officers in the Indian Railways, who are enquiring into the matter at their end to determine who was responsible for the negligence," she said. "Crime team and experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini, have inspected the spot," the DCP added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, June 25, 2023, 21:42 [IST] Fake News Aimed At Derailing MQ-9B Drone Deal: Govt Thrashes Social Media Reports On Pricing India oi-Deepika S India on Sunday rejected speculative reports which emerged in sections of social media referring to the price and other terms of purchase of the 31 MQ-9B long endurance drones from the United States. India is purchasing 31 drones made by General Atomics, 16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian variants. Several media reports said it is worth $3 billion. However, now the defence ministry has refuted the fake claims saying that an amount has not been announced yet. "The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on June 15, 2023, accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquisition of 31 MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for Tri-Services from the USA through Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route. The AoN included the number of UAVs to be procured along with associated equipment," the defence ministry said in a statement. "The AoN noted the estimated cost of 3,072 million US dollars provided by the US Government. However, price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US Government is received. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will compare the acquisition cost with the best price offered by General Atomics (GA) to other countries. The procurement is in progress and would be completed as per the laid down procedure," it added. "Under the FMS route, a Letter of Request (LOR) would be sent to the US Government where Tri-services requirements, details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be included. Based on LOR, the US Government and MoD will finalise the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) where details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be negotiated and finalised in accordance with the FMS program and the price and terms offered by the US Government and GA to other countries," the statement read. Meanwhile, some speculative reports emerged in sections of social media referring to the price and other terms of purchase. These are uncalled for, have ulterior motives and aimed at derailing the due acquisition process. Price and other terms and conditions of the purchase are yet to be finalised and subject to negotiations. "In this regard, all are requested not to spread fake news, misinformation which can have serious impact on the morale of the Armed Forces and adversely impact the acquisition process," the statemenet added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, June 25, 2023, 14:51 [IST] When Will Modi Govt Stop Acting Like All Is Well: Cong On Manipur Video What Happened With Daughters Can Never Be Forgiven: PM Modi On Manipur Parade Incident If Govt Does Not Act, We Will: Supreme Court Warns After 2 Manipur Women Paraded Naked By Mob Manipur Violence:12 Militants Released After Women-Led Mob Stops Security Forces India oi-Deepika S Security forces were forced to release 12 Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) militants after a women-led mob of around 1,500 surrounded them and thwarted the combing operation in ethnic violence-hit Manipur. 12 Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei militant group, they apprehended earlier in the day included Moirangthem Tamba, alias Uttam, a mastermind of the 2015 ambush that killed 18 army personnel. The stand-off in Itham went on throughout Saturday, and ended after a mature decision by the operational commander keeping in view the sensitivity of use of kinetic force against large irate mob led by women and likely casualties due to such action, said an Army spokesperson. Among those holed up in the village was self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, the mastermind of ambush on 6th battalion of the DOGRA case in 2015. "Mob of approximately 1200-1500, led by women and the local leaders surrounded the Army column and prevented forces from going ahead with the operation, despite repeated appeals. However, it did not yield any positive result. Keeping in view the sensitivity of use of kinetic force against large irate mob and envisaged casualties due to such action, the officer on ground made a considerate decision to hand over all 12 cadres to local leader: PRO (Defence), Kohima & Imphal The Army's decision to leave was taken, keeping in mind the need to avoid any collateral damage during the ongoing unrest in Manipur. Nearly 120 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far. 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: Sunday, June 25, 2023, 8:39 [IST] What Will Be The Name Of The Alliance Of Opposition Parties Against BJP? India oi-Prakash KL The leaders from the Opposition Parties on Friday had a meeting in Patna with the aim to build unity among like-minded parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It has now been reported that the alliance or the proposed opposition bloc could be called the "Patriotic Democratic Alliance" or PDA, Hindustan Times reported citing people familiar with the matter. Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja has told the daily over phone that the group might be called as "Patriotic Democratic Alliance". "We can say the new alliance could be named Patriotic Democratic Alliance (PDA). We have not taken a final decision on it. We have the primary objective of defeating the NDA and all the opposition parties have a clarity on it," the daily quoted him as saying. He highlighted that the opposition parties joining the proposed coalition possess a shared commitment to secularism and democracy and the name of the new coalition would reflect these values, drawing parallels with existing alliances such as the Secular Democratic Front in Tamil Nadu and the Mahagatbandhan in Bihar. The Congress, the Left and many regional parties had formed the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) in 2004. On Friday, a total of 17 opposition parties resolved to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly to defeat the BJP and work with flexibility by setting aside their differences. These parties will meet in Shimla next month to chalk out a joint strategy. After the meeting, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said they will meet in the next few days to give final shape to their plan of fighting together. "We had a good meeting and several leaders expressed their views during the meeting. Seventeen parties have decided to work together and contest the Lok Sabha elections unitedly," he told reporters. The meeting is viewed as a starting point for Opposition unity ahead of Lok Sabha polls to unitedly take on the Narendra Modi-led BJP. It has to be noted that the combined strength of these parties accounts for less than 200 of the 543 seats, while the BJP has over 300 seats. Will Sue Channels For Claiming Pro-Aurangzeb Slogans Were Shouted At AIMIM Rally, Says Owaisi India pti-PTI All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday accused some news channels of falsely reporting that slogans in support of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb were shouted at his rally in Maharashtra's Buldhana district. Owaisi threatened to sue these television channels for circulating fake news. "The police was there at the time (in the rally at Malkapur). You (channels) have been broadcasting lies. How much will you hate Muslims? I will file cases against you," he said. Meanwhile, queried about the episode, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was wondering from where these "sons of Aurangzeb" had cropped up suddenly in the state. "The Muslims of Maharashtra and all of India are not descendants of Aurangzeb. It will soon be revealed who are shouting such slogans and at whose behest," Fadnavis, who also holds the state home portfolio, said. Seema Haider Once Been To Jail, Now Out On Bail: UP Cop On Pakistani Woman Sikh Man Shot Dead In Peshawar; Second Attack In Two Days International oi-Deepika S A Sikh shopkeeper was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Rashidgarhi Bazaar of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, in the latest incident of targeted attacks against minority communities in Pakistan. The man, identified as Manmohan Singh (32), was on his way to the interior city area of Peshawar from Rasheed Garhi, a suburban locality of Peshawar, when some armed men attacked him near Guldara Chowk Kakshal, which comes under the jurisdiction of Yakka Toot police station. Singh was shifted to a hospital where he was pronounced dead by the doctors, police said. This is the second incident of armed attack on a Sikh man in the Yakka Toot area in the last 48 hours. A Sikh man was injured after he sustained bullet wounds on his legs on Friday. Acting on specific intelligence, operation was launched in Village Itham (06 km East of Andro) in Imphal East by Security Forces today morning. Specific search after laying cordon was pic.twitter.com/7ZH9Jp8nOI SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) June 24, 2023 About 15,000 Sikhs live in Peshawar, mostly in the Jogan Shah neighbourhood of the provincial capital Peshawar. Most of the members of the Sikh community in Peshawar are involved in business, while some also have pharmacies. In September last year, a well-known Sikh 'hakeem' (Unani medicine practitioner) was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside his clinic in Peshawar. United Sikhs said that they will be meeting the Pakistan consulate with other groups to seek the state department's intervention to protect the rights of minorities in Pakistan. "We are appalled by these targeted attacks on Sikh men in Pakistan. These attacks are not only horrific, but they are also a violation of human rights. We call on the Pakistani government to do everything in its power to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice," the group said. "This pattern is very scary and seems to be part of a nefarious conspiracy. Sikhs have lived as a minority in Pakistan in peace since 1947. All of a sudden, we have these deadly attacks on hard-working Sikhs? Who is behind them? What is the message? The Pakistan Government needs to investigate this on an emergency basis and put an immediate stop to this attempt of Ethnic Cleansing," it added. "We also call on the international community to stand with the Sikh community in Pakistan. These attacks are not only an attack on the Sikh community, but they are also an attack on the values of tolerance and respect for all people," it said. "We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Manmohan Singh. We pray for his soul and for the safety of all Sikhs in Pakistan," the group said. "Our team in Pakistan will continue working with impacted families to offer relief. Here's a link to read more about our work with families who lost their loved ones to targeted violence in the last couple years in Pakistan," it said. NATO Set To Unite With Ukraine For Military Assistance Only, Not Membership: Here's Why Wagner Chief Is Likely Dead After Rebelling Against Putin: Former US General Where In The World Is The Wagner Group Active? International dwnews-DW News The Wagner Group isn't just active in Ukraine. It also has a presence in many other countries, including Syria or Mali. And it's not the only Russian private military company either. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in these kinds of groups, also known as PMCs, in Russia, a report from the US-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says. It is not always possible to accurately track the exact activities of the Wagner Group, headed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, and other PMCs because they allegedly act independently of the Russian government and conventional military forces. However analysts believe that the group is likely active in more than 30 countries around the world. In Europe Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Wagner Group has increasingly appeared in headlines. The mercenary organization was first spotted in 2014, in the Donbas region of Ukraine, where it supported pro-Russian separatists. Since then the private army has steadily grown. "Wagner almost certainly now commands up to 50,000 fighters in Ukraine and has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign," the UK's Ministry of Defense wrote on Twitter earlier this year. Prigozhin himself recently talked about just 25,000 fighters. (5/5) Wagner almost certainly now commands up to 50,000 fighters in Ukraine and has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign. The registration likely aims to maximise Prigozhins commercial gain and to further legitimise the increasingly high-profile organisation. Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) January 20, 2023 The Wagner Group has recruited extensively in Russia's penal system and senior leaders include disgraced former members of the Russian military. In Ukraine, the mercenaries played an important role in the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and declared victory there in May, saying they would hand the territory over to the regular Russian military. In Africa The Wagner Group is particularly active in Africa. The private military company is thought to act in Russian interests there by doing things like engaging in the extraction of raw materials, undermining democratic actors and investing in disinformation campaigns. Sudan Sudan is considered one of the African countries most influenced by Russia. The Wagner Group has been active in Sudan for years and supports the country's military government. According to observers, the main aim of the Wagner Group here is to secure Russian access to valuable raw materials including gold, manganese, silicon and uranium deposits "Yevgeny Prigozhin and his network are exploiting Sudan's natural resources for personal gain and spreading malign influence around the globe," former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in 2020, while announcing sanctions on Prigozhin. At the time, the US government also noted that a Russian company, M Invest, based in St. Petersburg, had links to the Wagner Group. It had been granted a concession in 2017 by the former Sudanese government to explore gold mining sites. Wagner operatives also provided security at the gold mines. "M Invest serves as a cover for PMC Wagner forces operating in Sudan," the US Treasury statement said, "and was responsible for developing plans for former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to suppress protestors seeking democratic reforms." Mali Mali's military rulers, who took power in a 2021 coup, also work with the Wagner Group. Earlier this year, members of the United Nations' Working Group on the use of mercenaries called for investigations into crimes committed by Wagner Group fighters and Mali government forces. Since 2021, the UN experts had "received persistent and alarming accounts of horrific executions, mass graves, acts of torture, rape and sexual violence, pillaging, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances perpetrated by Malian armed forces and their allies," a UN statement said. Central African Republic In a February 2023 interview, the Russian ambassador to the Central African Republic said that there were 1,890 "Russian instructors" in the country. Wagner Group fighters came to the country officially as advisors and military trainers and they also serve on the security detail of President Faustin-Archange Touadera. In return for this kind of support, the Wagner Group is alleged to have gained access to contracts to extract resources such as diamonds, gold and timber. As in Mali, the incidence of reports of human rights violations by the Wagner Group has risen. A 2021 UN report noted acts like excessive use of force, rape, torture and widespread looting. In Latin America Venezuela According to news agency Reuters, Wagner Group members were in Caracas in 2019 to provide security for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after protests against him. The Wagner Group has also trained elite combat units in Venezuela. Venezuela and Russia have had close ties, both military and economic, for years. Russia is one of the largest creditors of the Venezuelan government, extending about $17 billion (15,6 billion) in loans to Caracas since 2006. Russia is also interested in securing access to Venezuela's oil. The Latin American country has the largest proven oil reserves in the world. In Asia According to analysis by various think tanks, the Wagner Group is also active in Asia. There are several PMCs working in Sri Lanka, a report by Molfar, a Ukrainian consultancy, said in a catalogue of 37 Russian military companies working abroad. Open source investigators have found links between Russian operators working for the PMCs based in countries like Sri Lanka and the Wagner Group. The network of connections is complex. In the Middle East Syria Wagner Group fighters were first confirmed to be in Syria in late 2015 after a number of them were identified as having been killed by anti-government militias. Russia, a longtime ally of the country's authoritarian government, had come to the aid of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad earlier that year. Mercenaries from the Wagner Group fought alongside regular Russian soldiers during Syria's civil war and saw active combat. The Syrian conflict is now at a kind of stalemate and since the start of the war in Ukraine, fighters from Russia, including from the Wagner Group, have been pulled out of the Middle Eastern nation. At its peak, the Wagner Group is thought to have had more than 5,000 fighters in Syria. Libya In Libya, the Wagner Group has acted as a standalone force supporting one side in the country's ongoing conflict. Since 2014, after dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in a revolution, Libya has effectively been split into two. There are opposing governments located in the east and west of the country. Wagner Group fighters are thought to have been in Libya since 2014 and were tasked with supporting the eastern-based government and its de-facto head, former Libyan warlord Khalifa Hifter with tasks like security and training. In 2019, they openly took part in Hifter's attack on the western Libyan government based in Tripoli. It's unclear how many Wagner Group personnel remain in Libya previously there were around 2,000 in the country but it is thought that the group was able to extend its operations into countries like Sudan, from its base in Libya. In both Libya and Syria, Wagner Group fighters have been accused of torture, indiscriminate killing and other war crimes. It is also highly likely the Wagner Group has ties to individuals in the United Arab Emirates, the US Department of Defense has previously said. The US government believes that the Wagner Group was being paid by the UAE to support Hifter in Libya. This story was originally published in German. Source: DW BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Chairperson of the UNESCO Executive Board Tamara Rastovac Siamashvili paid a visit to Azerbaijan and met with the country's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Trend reports. Siamashvili shared information about the visit on Twitter. The UNESCO official expressed delight with the visit and meeting with the Azerbaijani minister. "We exchanged views on several important issues for the work of UNESCO's Executive Board," she added. Azerbaijan has a number of properties inscribed on the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Among them are the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, the Historic Center of Shaki with the Khans Palace, the Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, etc. Such elements of Azerbaijani culture as Mugham (a traditional musical form, characterized by a large degree of improvisation), Art of Azerbaijani Ashiqs (combines poetry, storytelling, dance, and vocal and instrumental music into a traditional performance art that stands as a symbol of Azerbaijani culture), Novruz (a traditional holiday which is celebrated with coming of spring), the traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving, craftsmanship and performance art of the Tar and Kamancha (national music instruments), Chovqan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game, and others were inscribed in the UNESCO list of intangible heritage. Who Averted Bloodbath In Russia, Making Wagner Chief Pull Back His Troops? International oi-Prakash KL After much drama, Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) founder Yevgeny Prigozhin called off a rebellion against Russian military leadership, reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. It has been reported that the bloodbath was avoided due to the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the Belarusian President volunteered as he has been acquainted with Prigozhin for about 20 years. "You will likely ask me why precisely President Lukashenko [became the mediator]? The thing is that Alexander Grigoryevich has known Prigozhin personally for a long time, about 20 years, and this was his personal initiative which was coordinated with President Putin," he said. Putin's press secretary stressed that June 24 was a "rather difficult day, literally filled with these tragic events." "You know that as a result, it was possible to resolve this situation without further losses, without further escalating the level of tensions," he said. "The two presidents, indeed, agreed on President Lukashenko providing mediating efforts on settling the situation [with the Wagner PMC]. We hold this readiness in high esteem," the Kremlin official concluded, as per TASS News Agency. If not nipped in the bud, the mutiny could have escalated into a civil war which Kremlin cannot afford to go all out against Prigozhin and Wagner after their victories in Ukraine, informed Russian watchers. Scott Ritter suggests that Prigozhin was supposedly "turned" by MI6, who allegedly offered him significant rewards in exchange for becoming the Minister of Defence and initiating negotiations with Ukraine. However, these claims lacked any substantiated evidence and seemed aimed at undermining Russian morale. The intention was for Prigozhin to position himself as Russia's savior, granting him unlimited authority to take whatever actions he deemed necessary to halt the ongoing conflict (likely by hastily striking a deal with the West), the informed Russia watchers say. Earlier on Saturday, the head of the Wagner mercenary group said that he entered Russia and he was inside key military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia. "We are inside the (army) headquarters, it is 7:30 am (0430 GMT)," Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video posted on Telegram. "Military sites in Rostov, including an aerodrome, are under control," he added. This military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don serves as a key logistical base for its offensive in Ukraine. Responding to the unexpected situation, Putin in a televised address to the nation said the "armed mutiny" by the Wagner Group is a "stab in the back", and vowed to punish those who were on the "path of treason" or anyone who takes up arms against the Russian military. According to Scott Ritter, Prigozhin had been 'turned' by MI6 which had promised him the highest reward if he could get himself appointed as Minister of Defence and start negotiations with Ukraine. There was no basis for those claims but the goal was to demoralise the Russians and proclaim himself the saviour of Russia with a blank cheque to do what he would deem fit to stop the war (presumably rush into a deal with the West), as per informed Russia watchers. However, later in the day, the Wagner chief ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreated to their field camps in Ukraine to avoid shedding Russian blood. The announcement from Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin's leadership in his more than two decades in power. Oneindia 24 Jun 2023 Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning. He said that those on the path of treason or armed rebellion will be.. Uncertainty is growing around the future of Russian President Vladimir Putin's leadership after the strongest challenge to his stranglehold on the country in 20 years. The owner of the Wagner private military contractor and leader of a massive internet troll farm called for an armed rebellion to oust Russia's defense minister. But is he a threat to President Vladimir Putin? A deal brokered by Minsk will ensure that the private military group won't be punished for the mutiny in Russia. Wagner fighters had been heading to Moscow for a confrontation with the Kremlin. The Russian leader survives, but the brazen challenge from the Wagner militia just adds to the disaster of his war in Ukraine. The brief rebellion against Vladimir Putin adds to pressure on him over the unpopular Ukraine war and could weaken his grip on power, analysts said. 9to5Mac 29 Jun 2023 Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apples Podcasts app,.. Habanero Achieves ISO-27001 Certification for Expansion into Regulated Markets Published June 24, 2023 by OCR Editor Habanero, a leading premium slots and table game provider, has obtained ISO-27001 certification. This certification allows Habanero to expand into regulated markets, providing optimal security measures and adhering to the latest regulations. Valletta, 20th June 2023 - Habanero, the renowned supplier of high-quality slots and table games, has achieved ISO-27001 certification as part of its strategic plans to enter newly regulated markets. The certification will enable Habanero to offer its certified portfolio to a wide range of jurisdictions that require this accreditation as part of their regulatory requirements. The ISO-27001 certification is a testament to Habanero's unwavering commitment to upholding the highest security and compliance standards. The provider underwent a rigorous assessment process to meet the stringent criteria for the certification, ensuring that its operations meet industry-leading information security standards. By obtaining the ISO-27001 certification, Habanero can expand its presence in regulated European markets, including Greece and Switzerland. The certification provides an added layer of security and efficiency, reinforcing the company's commitment to protecting its partners and players. Arcangelo Lonoce, Head of Business Development at Habanero, highlighted the significance of the certification, stating, "The ISO-27001 certificate is a major milestone for leading providers in terms of IT governance, security protection, and brand reputation. Ensuring compliance and embracing regulations allows us to deliver the safest and most efficient operations for our partners and players as we strive to provide exceptional service." Habanero's ISO-27001 certification comes on the heels of a highly successful year for the MGA-licensed provider. The company has secured multiple partnerships with major European operators, including renowned brands like Betsson, Snaitech, and Betway, solidifying its position as a trusted and sought-after provider. With a talented team of designers, developers, and mathematicians, Habanero continues to deliver top-notch content for online, mobile, and land-based casinos. The company offers a diverse portfolio of over 140 slot games, various table games and video poker, innovative marketing tools, and a unique trademarked jackpot system. With decades of experience in the betting and gaming industry, Habanero's management team brings extensive expertise to its operations. As Habanero expands its footprint into newly regulated markets, the ISO-27001 certification will testify to its commitment to security, compliance, and exceptional gaming experiences for players worldwide. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amending the "Regulations on the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan", Trend reports. According to the decree, in the first sentence of paragraph 5.5 of the "Regulations on the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan", approved by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 4, 2012 No. 646, the word "two" is replaced by the word "one", and the word "four" - the word "three". Islamabad: Pakistan's army claimed that two civilians were killed by Indian forces in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir on Saturday. This is the first such conflict since a ceasefire in 2021. A group of shepherds in Sattwal sector at the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries, were hit, the army alleges in a statement, warning it reserves a right to strike back. "The Indian Army, in a display of its usual inhumane approach towards innocent Kashmiris, opened indiscriminate fire onto a group of shepherds in Sattwal Sector," the statement said. The Indian army did not respond to a request for comment. In 2021, the countries agreed in a rare joint statement to a ceasefire along the disputed border in the scenic valley. Both India and Pakistan lay claim over the disputed territory, but each control half of it. The two countries have fought three wars, two over Kashmir, since their independence from British rule in 1947. The two armies in 2019 almost came to the brink of war, scrambling jets and shooting down a warplane after Indian planes intruded Pakistan airspace in what New Delhi said was to target a militant training camp. Condemning the killings and ceasefire violation, the Pakistani foreign office summoned the Indian envoy to register a protest, the statement claimed. When farmers choose to grow food, not tobacco, sustainable development wins SHOBHA SHUKLA - CNS When farmers choose to grow food, not tobacco, sustainable development wins! (Image by CNS) Details DMCA "We need food, not tobacco," was the theme of the World No Tobacco Day 2023. The UN health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO), rightly points out that tobacco contributes to increased food insecurity. Apart from being a deadly health hazard that is responsible for over 8 million deaths every year globally, tobacco production also adversely impacts economic stability, food security, gender equality, and our environment. Grow food, not tobacco, a new report by WHO, recalls that globally 349 million people are facing acute food insecurity, many of them in countries where tobacco cultivation has increased by 15% in the last decade. Tragically, 9 out of the 10 largest tobacco producers are low- and middle-income countries, and 4 of these are also low-income food-deficit countries. It is deplorable that 3.5 million hectares of fertile land across 124 countries are converted for tobacco growing each year - even in places where people are starving. Tobacco cultivation also contributes to deforestation of 200,000 hectares a year, that is cleared annually for tobacco growing and curing. Growing tobacco requires heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers, leading to soil degradation. As soil fertility is depleted, land used for growing tobacco becomes infertile for growing food crops. The tobacco industry often touts itself as an 'advocate' for the 'livelihood' of tobacco farmers while it hides the fact that tobacco consumption results in a loss of over USD 1.4 trillion to global economy and devastates lives, and our planet. Some farmers and government officials also see tobacco as a cash crop that can generate economic growth. But this is far from the truth. Contrary to tobacco industry claims, research from across the globe shows that tobacco cultivation is neither safe - it can result in green tobacco sickness - nor lucrative. It does not provide a prosperous livelihood for most smallholder farmers and most of them struggle economically. They either incur losses, or generate small profits that are insufficient to support a household. A WHO report on tobacco and the environment found that "short-term benefits of the crop are offset by long-term consequences of increased food insecurity, frequent sustained farmers' debt, illness and poverty among farmworkers, and widespread environmental damage. Moreover 1.3 million child labourers are estimated to be working on tobacco farms, instead of going to school. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director for WHO Southeast Asia region, had said that tobacco farmers and tobacco growers and workers are often used by the tobacco industry as front groups to rally against tobacco control. "It is time that the governments and policymakers across the region hold the tobacco industry accountable for the health, environmental and economic costs of tobacco cultivation and use, including the deepening food crisis," she said. Even though the pace is slow, tobacco-growing countries in the southeast Asian region are taking initiatives towards providing alternative livelihoods to tobacco growers and workers. There are success stories from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, where tobacco-growing farmers have successfully shifted over to economically viable alternative crops. My interviews with farmers who quit growing tobacco During the 7th APCAT Summit of Mayors in Bali (held in December 2022), I spoke with some Indonesian farmers, who had switched from growing tobacco to other crops. This Summit was organised by Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT). Growing sweet potato, not tobacco One of them, Istanto, a farmer from Indonesia's Magelang Regency, had transitioned to growing sweet potatoes. On being asked why the switch from 'bitter' and deadly tobacco to 'sweet' and life-nourishing sweet potato, this is what he had to say: "I started this in 2012. That year the weather was not good for tobacco cultivation so I thought of growing sweet potatoes. And now there are 8 villages that have joined me and switched over to growing sweet potatoes and other crops like corn, pepper, and vegetables. Tobacco is harvested only once a year, but sweet potatoes grow all the year round and can be dug out every day. "From my personal experience, operational costs for both crops are the same, but profits are much higher from other crops as compared to tobacco. The operational cost per 10 hectare (1000 square metres) is around Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) 2 million for both. But it is at least three times more profitable to grow sweet potatoes as compared to tobacco. While the profit from growing tobacco on a piece of 10 hectares land is IDR 2.5 million (USD 168), from the same land I am able to make a profit of IDR 6-7 million (USD 470) by growing sweet potatoes, even when the weather is not very good. The profit is even more, when the weather is optimum. When I was young I smoked but now I do not. Now my mission is to #EndTobacco," he added. The region from where Istanto comes (Magelang Regency) has reduced the area of tobacco plantation from 7,573 hectares in 2012 to 5,265 hectares in 2022. Growing sweet potatoes (not tobacco) and making snacks Another young farmer, who I spoke with, had gone one step ahead. He has not only switched to growing sweet potatoes but also processes them to make snacks from them and sell them. "Sweet potatoes that are smaller in size, do not fetch a good price. So I make sweet savouries from them and supply them to traders in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Semarang, Kalimantan and even to Trans Mart in Central Java. I have employed 30 youth to manage this work and so I am generating employment as well. Moreover, unlike tobacco, which requires heavy use of pesticides and fertilisers and contributes to soil degradation, sweet potatoes do not need chemical fertilisers at all. I have also quit smoking, once I switched to growing sweet potatoes," he said proudly. Growing coffee, not tobacco Yet another farmer I met had switched to growing coffee. He said that, "Tobacco crops are very much weather dependent. If it rains during harvest time, we get poor quality tobacco and so its price automatically goes down and the farmers experience heavy losses. So, since 1999 I, along with 14 other farmers, started transitioning to growing coffee. In 2002 we started intercropping it with other plants. We had to fight 20 lawsuits filed by the tobacco industry against us. Today there are 800 households in my village who have shifted to growing other crops, including vegetables. Now with the presence of other horticultural crops, and with coffee prices getting better, our profits have increased. We started with coffee but have now shifted to growing vegetables too. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Citizen News Service - CNS Social Media Pages: Citizen News Service (CNS) specializes in in-depth and rights-based, health and science journalism. For more information, please contact: www.citizen-news.org or @cns_health or www.facebook.com/cns.page The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors. OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help. If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership. STAY IN THE KNOW If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content. Daily Weekly OpEd News Newsletter Name Email (Opens new browser window) U.S. air travel finally topped pre-pandemic levels this year, erasing a historic decline and fueling a broad rebound for the airline industry and tourism. Its a different story at Portland International Airport, where passenger volumes are still nearly 18% below 2019. Its one more way in which Portland has been slower than other parts of the country to return to normal after COVID-19. Approximately 1.4 million people flew through Portland last month, up 7% from May 2022 and the highest tally in 40 months. The Port of Portland, which runs PDX, says June has been even busier recording 7 of the airports 8 busiest days since the pandemic this month. Those are hopeful signs but severely lag the national figures, which show air travel through the first five months of the year was up slightly from 2019. Whats holding PDX back? Portland tourism declined precipitously during the pandemic. Visitor spending in the city was $5.2 billion last year, according to the latest data from Travel Portland. Thats an increase of $1.5 billion from 2021 but still below the $5.6 billion visitors spent in 2019, reflecting diminished perceptions of Portlands appeal and a steep decline in business travel. California business travel demand has been deeply impacted by the shift to more remote working in both states, and the decline in travel demand from the tech industries, port spokesperson Kelley Bonsall wrote in an email. Portland also suffers because of its status as a regional airport rather than a major hub, according to Bonsall. Amid a prolonged pilot shortage, she said airlines prioritize their hubs over spokes like PDX. Some prominent routes havent returned at all. Portland has no direct flights to anywhere in Asia, though the port expects one route to begin flying next spring contingent on business travel picking up. The port says PDXs outlook is improving as summer begins. Portland has more direct flights to Europe than ever before, with daily flights to Amsterdam and London and seasonal flights to Frankfurt and Reykjavik. American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have each just announced direct flights between Portland and Miami, beginning this fall. And the port said more than 1 million passengers flew to Mexico and Hawaii last year, the airports highest totals ever. So while other routes continue to lag, Oregonians appetite for sunny getaways appears undiminished. This is Oregon Insight, The Oregonians weekly look at the numbers behind the states economy. View past installments here. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Portland resident Keith Dean remembers attending the first few Good in the Hood festivals in the early 90s, back when it was held at Holy Redeemer Catholic School on North Rosa Parks Way. It was big, but it wasnt all of this, Dean said with a chuckle. The celebratory remarks by Multnomah County commissioners last week suggested the county had finally cracked the code for solving homelessness or something. This is really exciting, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson gushed. This is an amazing day, concurred Multnomah County Commissioner Lori Stegmann, adding that it has been a long time coming. Their comments, however, werent about the single, most-pressing concern under the countys purview the 6,200-plus people in the county who have no home. Rather, the reason for their exuberance was the boards approval of a $51 billion lawsuit against ExxonMobil, Shell and other oil companies for causing the triple-digit temperature heat dome in 2021 that killed hundreds, including 69 in Multnomah County. The lawsuit, the commissioners crowed, is a step for climate justice that will help hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for their role in causing the deadly heat wave and for decades of what the complaint calls false and deceptive consumer advertising misinformation. As many scientists concluded, the heat dome that descended on the Pacific Northwest was exacerbated by human-caused climate change, with some saying the event would have been virtually impossible without it. But the talk about accountability for the loss of life points only in one direction away from Multnomah County despite failures in its response at the time. And the fanfare with which commissioners announced the lawsuit contrasts sharply with their sluggish leadership in confronting the life-threatening crises of homelessness, untreated mental health and substance abuse addiction that are within their authority and obligation to address. While filing a lawsuit against Big Oil may scratch a populist itch, this isnt the kind of governance residents need. Commissioners should save their self-congratulatory excitement and focus on the less flashy nuts and bolts of delivering solutions to the crises and realities facing county residents every day. As lawsuits go, this one holds little financial or political risk for Multnomah County commissioners. Staff attorneys are coordinating with three outside law firms, but the county is not paying the firms, which will be compensated only if theres a payout from the defendants. Any resolution is likely years down the road, so theres little negative consequence if the outcome is disappointing. And county residents broadly recognize oil companies self-serving behavior and the global havoc of climate change, with the 2021 heat wave as the communitys most horrific symptom of a carbon dioxide-choked environment. And clearly, climate change intensified the heat wave, increasing temperatures by a minimum of 2 degrees Fahrenheit, said Michael Wehner, a senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who has studied the heat dome as part of his research into extreme weather events. At such high temperatures, that 2-degree increase plays a significant role in human mortality, he said. But while mathematical models allow for estimating the temperature increase attributable to climate change, its harder to quantify how much it affected the likelihood of this incredibly rare event occurring, Wehner noted. Those scientific unknowns, along with the legal and jurisdictional questions that always arise in such cases, make victory far from certain. What is known, however, is that the countys missteps in responding to this and other emergencies reflect weaknesses in governance. Despite forecasts warning of intense heat, Multnomah County opened only five of its 19 neighborhood libraries the free, air-conditioned refuges that residents often seek to escape summer temperatures at the start of the heat wave. It was not until the second day of triple-digit temperatures that officials recognized the urgency of the heatwave should outweigh their overcautious COVID-19 practices, leading them to open four more branches. The high that day, according to the countys lawsuit, was 112 degrees. The countys shortsightedness extended to its 211 call line. Although county officials for days urged residents to call the number if they needed help getting to a cooling center, the outgoing phone message was ridiculously convoluted and suggested the center was closed. More than 750 calls were abandoned, county officials acknowledged, while many callers reported long waits to get help or received inaccurate information. The county has sought to rectify its mistakes, improving 211 processes, investing in heat pumps for low-income homes and committing to incorporate libraries as respites for extreme weather events. Its heartening that the county is taking those steps now, but the lack of diligence ahead of the heat wave is exactly the kind of lackluster oversight that we see playing out across too many county functions. For example, county leaders still have no plan for how to disburse the $40-plus million of homeless services tax dollars that they were supposed to spend over the past year. County leaders have cut back on the number of people that the countys new Behavioral Health Resource Center downtown can serve at any one time. Overdose deaths in Multnomah County are on track to outpace those in 2022. These all cry out for problem-solving, not PR. While Multnomah County should not forget or dismiss the 69 lives lost in the 2021 heat wave, we also should not forget or dismiss the 193 homeless people who died that same year. Ninety-six of those deaths were related to drug or alcohol consumption; 18 due to homicide; and five were attributed in whole or in part to the heat dome, according to the countys Domicile Unknown report. Who should the county sue for those other losses? So, sure, call for accountability for ExxonMobil and the rest. But residents should call for it from county leaders as well. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: The rise of artificial intelligence, or AI, has sharpened a concern for journalists: How do we know if information found online or submitted to us is generated by a human being? What is real and what is created by, say, robots (or bots)? Using artificial intelligence, people can generate false images, make fake videos of real people saying things they never said, or even populate websites with supposed news articles to bolster bogus claims. The answer for journalists, of course, is good, old-fashioned shoe-leather reporting to verify the facts. It was against this new and uncertain backdrop that The Oregonian/OregonLive newsroom received an email over Mothers Day weekend with the subject line: Urgent legal request. The note came from an Italian email address and the sender said, I contact you on behalf of my client John Babikian. The sender requested that we remove from OregonLive an article written by reporter Jeff Manning in 2014. Mannings article reported in meticulous detail a dispute over a proposed vineyard near The Dalles, in an area where road access and a well would be shared with neighbors. One investor in the planned development of nearly 500 acres in Wasco County was named John Babikian, Manning reported. One county resident searched online and found articles about Babikian that concerned him, Manning reported at the time. The resident raised those concerns to officials in The Dalles. Manning learned of the controversial development and began his reporting. Accused fraudsters money tied to Columbia River Gorge vineyard, fuels feud between neighbors, Manning wrote. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accused a 26-year-old Canadian stock promoter and multi-millionaire named John Babikian of masterminding a massive penny stock promotion. Babikians location is unknown. Last months email to The Oregonian/OregonLive argued the article violated my clients rights of privacy and integrity and that it included inadequate allegations about Babikian. The article was published in 2014 and has no value as for today, the email said. Its not unusual to receive requests to remove or review older news on OregonLive. In fact, the newsroom started a clean slate program to allow people to request that we review and potentially remove articles about minor crimes from the distant past. Because Mannings article mentioned accusations, rather than official findings, we decided to find out how the allegations were resolved. Manning checked with the Securities and Exchange Commission and heres what he found: The findings at SEC.gov about the named defendant, John Babikian. On July 7, 2014, the SEC announced that a federal judge in New York had found against Babikian and ordered $3.73 million in payments and penalties against him. Babikian consented to the final judgment without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC complaint, according to the findings at SEC.gov. And then it gets strange. Manning noticed what appeared to be a news article online that reported the Babikian ruling was supposedly vacated and all charges dropped. It seemed weird to me, said Manning, a longtime investigative reporter. So I called the federal judge quoted in the story. Kelly Easton, judicial assistant for Judge Glenn Suddaby, at the U.S. District Court in Syracuse, N.Y., was not surprised by my call. Theyve gotten many similar calls inquiries about his Babikian ruling. But there is no such case and no such ruling. The judge has never heard a case involving Babikian, Manning was told, and the judges office has no idea why someone would randomly choose him to quote. The article tried to lay the blame for Babikians woes on a messy divorce. It carries no byline and is not written in traditional newswriting style (Mrs. Babikian was super ecstatically happy). Dated November 2022, the article quotes an executive at a global PR firm. But an executive by that name died in a plane crash almost 10 years ago. The site that carried the article, the European Business Review, says on its website it accepts guest posts and receives multiple submissions on a daily basis from contributors all over the world. If you think you have an interesting story to tell, send us an email, the site says. I emailed the editors there, asking about how submissions are reviewed and fact checked. I did not hear back. We dont know whether this and similar articles were generated by humans or AI, but the rise of artificial intelligence means the potential for more and more authentic-looking news articles will undoubtedly increase. Add to this the increasing pace and vast scale of information distribution, and the potential for bad actors to spread misinformation quickly reaches a scope never seen before. I responded to the sender of the urgent legal request email to ask a few questions. The email bounced back as undeliverable. Mannings editor, Elliot Njus, searched for the name of the person who sent us the email. He could find no evidence of that person or the firm online. Then, I contacted an attorney who represents Babikian in an ongoing Oregon court matter and asked him to let Babikian know I wanted to ask him some questions. The attorney told me his client would let the public record speak for itself. We can find nothing in the public record other than the formal SEC findings, permanently barring Babikian from dealing in penny stocks and imposing penalties. Mannings initial story on the Oregon vineyard project was strange enough. Now, it has become curiouser and curiouser. Perhaps like a fine wine, the story continues to ripen. Here is a cheap way for the Legislature to put an end to the Greater Idaho movement, (Opinion: Legislators should hear from Oregonians on Greater Idaho proposal, June 14). Remind our fellow Oregonians that by joining Idaho the following things will happen: You will have to pump your own gas; you will start paying sales tax; you will no longer be able to purchase marijuana legally in your home state; womens reproductive freedom will be no longer be a choice. Perhaps after Eastern Oregon joins Idaho, the rest of us Oregonians will get to meet our former co-residents as they cross the border to buy gas, untaxed goods and marijuana. MaryAnn Gernegliaro, Ashland To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. The Oregon Senate on Saturday passed a bill that would clamp down on paramilitary activity and give law enforcement and private citizens tools to combat illegal intimidation, including through civil actions. House Bill 2572 has the goal of preventing armed activity that interferes with law enforcement or infringes on a persons constitutional rights, such as voting. The bill goes to Gov. Tina Koteks desk after the Senate passed it with a 17-8 party line vote, with all eight Republican senators present opposed. The Oregon Senate narrowly approved a 40-cent monthly fee on phones to expand the 988 suicide prevention hotline to operate all days and times statewide, sending the tax to the governor for her signature. The monthly fee, which will start in January, applies to cell phones, landlines and phones operating over the internet. People in crisis can call or text 988 to get help from a trained mental health worker or volunteer. Because the measure raises revenues, it required approval from three-fifths of both House and Senate members. In the Senate, that required 18 yes votes. It got 19 in Sundays vote, including from Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp of Bend. He acknowledged the monthly fee might be too high or the collection method imperfect. But Knopp said he had not talked to any person who said they were unwilling to pay $5 a year to fund a service that can save lives. In addition to funding the crisis hotline, the trust fund the phone fees will go to can be used in some cases to help fund mobile mental health crisis units like Portland Street Response and Lane Countys Cahoots program. -- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OrPolEds Oregon voters will decide whether to use ranked choice voting to elect people to national and statewide offices after the Legislature referred the question to the 2024 ballot Sunday. Both the state House and Senate gave final approval to House Bill 2004 just hours before the close of the session. In November 2024, voters will decide whether to use ranked choice voting in races after January 1, 2028 for president, seats in Congress, governor, Oregon secretary of state and some others. The bill would also require the secretary of states office and county clerks to educate voters about the new system and allow local governments to opt in. Ranked choice voting is already used for city council elections in Corvallis and for county commissioners in Benton County. A variation of the method will also be used to elect Portlands mayor and 12 city council members starting in 2024. In the system proposed for statewide Oregon elections, voters would mark their ballots for candidates in their order of preference. If necessary, candidates are eliminated to select one that captured more than 50% of votes cast. Advocates say the system will boost participation in elections and cut down on negative campaigning. In the Senate, the 17 lawmakers who agreed to send the proposal to voters were mostly Democrats, and the 8 who voted no were primarily Republicans. But Lynn Findley, R-Vale, broke with Republicans to approve the bill and Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, voted against it. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, said ranked choice voting would allow Oregonians to feel like their votes actually matter. Fred Girod, R-Stayton, said he couldnt imagine a worse election bill. According to Fair Vote, a Maryland nonprofit that advocates for voting reforms, more than 50 jurisdictions in the U.S. use ranked choice voting including red-state communities in Utah and Wyoming as well as San Francisco. Portland and Multnomah County voters approved moving elections to ranked choice voting last year. Grant Stringer; gstringer@oregonlive.com; @Stringerjourno BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on amending the "List of Legal Entities under Public Law Exempted from Value Added Tax for Performing Works and Providing Services through Funds Allocated from the State Budget", Trend reports. Will be updated The Senate voted overwhelmingly Sunday to ask Oregon voters next year to give the Legislature power to impeach statewide officeholders including the governor and secretary of state. Oregon is the only U.S. state without some form of impeachment powers in its state constitution. In 16 months, after every member present in both the House and the Senate voted to put it on the ballot, the states voters could change that. If they say yes, the state House would be able to impeach statewide elected officials with a two-thirds vote, and the Senate would subsequently hold a trial and vote whether to eject the person. The Oregon Supreme Court chief justice would preside and two thirds of senators would have to vote yes for the ejection to take effect. All the details are laid out in House Joint Resolution 16. It will leader to greater accountability for the people of Oregon, Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber said ahead of the Sunday morning Senate vote. Currently, if a statewide official wont resign, they can be removed from office only by a tough-to-mount recall election. Since 2015, two statewide elected officials have resigned due to scandals. In 2015, then-Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned barely a month into his fourth term over ethics lapses related to First Lady Cylvia Hayes and the couples profiting from his role in office. And this spring, Secretary of State Shemia Fagan resigned after she benefitted financially from her public and private dealings with troubled cannabis company La Mota, a conflict first disclosed by Willamette Week. The Senate vote to put the measure on the ballot was 25 to zero, with four Republicans and Independent Brian Boquist absent. -- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OrPolEds Oregons semiconductor industry came into this years legislative session asking for a lot and lawmakers delivered. The Legislature set aside more than $500 million for grants, loans and tax credits in hopes of luring new chip factories and a share of the $52 billion in CHIPS Act money the federal government began allocating this spring. Lawmakers also gave Gov. Tina Kotek unprecedented authority to designate rural property for industrial development, upending the states well-established land-use process to fast-track new projects. Theres quite a few triumphs in this session, said Andrew Desmond of the Oregon Business Council, which convened a task force last year on reviving the states semiconductor industry. The task force wrote a 26-page report laying out a plan of action, which became a roadmap for lawmakers this spring. The task forces report also suggested chipmakers were contemplating $8 billion in new Oregon projects, contingent on state assistance and access to industrial land. The new incentives represent one of Oregons most ambitious economic development projects in many years. The question now is whether the Legislatures generosity will prompt those unnamed companies to follow through. Oregon doesnt appear to be in line for any mega-fabs like those big manufacturers plan in Arizona, Texas, Ohio and New York. Those states acted sooner than Oregon and each offered billions of dollars in incentives and hundreds of acres of shovel-ready industrial land. Still, industry boosters said this week they are confident Oregons new inducements will produce quick results as chipmakers and their suppliers look to expand. We think that were in a good position to compete for investments that are going to be pulling down funds from that first tranche of federal CHIPS Act money, Desmond said. Semiconductors are among Oregons economic pillars and the states largest export, worth approximately $14 billion last year. But with the notable exception of Intel, no company has built a chip factory in the state this century. In a contentious legislative session, distinguished by a six-week Republican walkout in the Senate, the semiconductor legislation won broad, bipartisan support. Heres what lawmakers approved: $240 million in grants and loans for the chip industry. The Legislature approved $190 million in April, then added $50 million in a final budget bill because of strong interest from companies pursuing new projects. $255 million in tax credits for semiconductor research , restoring and expanding incentives that expired in 2017. The legislation, which won final Senate approval on a 22-3 vote Saturday, allows companies to use the credits to offset up to $4 million in Oregon tax liability. Smaller companies that dont owe Oregon taxes can take a portion of the tax credit as an outright grant. Nearly $73 million in state funds for a new supercomputer lab at Oregon State University, adding to $50 million Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, an Oregon State alumnus, pledged last year $10 million for university semiconductor research, and another $10 million for industrial site readiness. The task force had sought many times those sums. Authority for Kotek to designate up to eight rural sites for the semiconductor industry. The land-use provision was initially contentious, but land-use advocates relented after lawmakers limited the number of projects and gave the governor only until the end of 2024 to act. The Legislatures actions put Oregon in a prime position to take full advantage of the federal CHIPS law I worked to pass so our state can keep building on its well-deserved status as the beating heart of domestic semiconductor production, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said in a statement. Ampere Computing, a fast-growing chip engineering firm with offices in Portlands Pearl District, lobbied hard for the research tax credits approved in the sessions final hours. The company said they will help small and midsized Oregon companies become major players. Ampere was founded in Oregon in part due to the strength of a strong talent pool and an existing ecosystem around research and development, the company said in a statement. The Legislatures semiconductor package will enhance and accelerate this ecosystem and provide positive economic benefits for the long term. " Already, though, Oregon has suffered one major setback in pursuit of new semiconductor investment. Microchip Technology was contemplating a new $5 billion factory in either New York or Oregon, but the company shelved the project in December, opting to outsource new production to a contract manufacturer instead. Two other chipmakers are publicly contemplating new Oregon expansion. HP Inc. says it will return some manufacturing jobs to Corvallis from factories overseas if wins a share of the federal CHIPS Act money. And Intel wants federal support for a major new lithography lab in Oregon, which is already home to Intels most advanced research. Oregon economic development officials that theyre negotiating with other companies, too, that dont want their business plans disclosed before theyre ready to act. But officials are hopeful of winning new projects later this year, perhaps as soon as this summer. John Calhoun of Tax Fairness Oregon testified against the research tax credits during this years session, voicing skepticism they would be determinative in landing new semiconductor investment. But Tax Fairness Oregon didnt oppose other grants and loans, and Calhoun said this week that guardrails on the tax credits will keep them from getting out of hand. It gives the economic development people something to talk about. Theyll be able to say weve got something, and companies that were thinking about expanding, like an HP or an Intel, they will expand. Because the state said yes, we love you, Calhoun said. But it doesnt compete with the states like Ohio and New York that are giving two or three billion dollars. A broad appropriations bill that passed the Senate on Sunday and was awaiting final passage in the House includes a $2 million grant for semiconductor workforce development, focused on summer classes and college preparations for science and math students at historically Black colleges and universities. The Biden administration has made developing a diverse workforce a key priority in allocating CHIPS Act funding. Oregon lawmakers didnt take up separate requests for hundreds of millions of dollars for industrial site readiness and workforce development. Desmond, from the Oregon Business Council, said he hopes lawmakers will take up those issues in the future warning that a shortage of land or skilled workers could impede long-run economic growth. We should celebrate the steps that we took in this session, but we cant rest on our laurels, Desmond said. Theres more work to be done. Otherwise, theres going to be jobs left on the table for Oregonians. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | 503-294-7699 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Theres new life in the old Wallowa Lake Lodge. Located in the far northeastern corner of Oregon, nestled into the trees at the southern end of Wallowa Lake, pressed up against the towering Wallowa Mountains, the historic lodge is celebrating its 100th birthday emerging from something of an identity crisis. General manager Madeline Lau, who took over in 2019, said the lodge had been transitioning out of an era spent as a quiet mountain retreat for travelers, reemerging as a hub of activity for locals and tourists alike. In the last few decades, locals rarely visited, she said, and the lodge ceased to be a part of the community. In our community, if a business isnt supported and used by locals, it wont last very long, Lau said. First built in 1923, when it was accessible only by boat, the lodge was part of an ambitious development at the south end of Wallowa Lake that offered restaurants, a dance hall, a skating rink and access to unparalleled natural beauty. In 1935, The Oregon Journal called it the center of recreational and social activity in the Wallowas, a region the newspaper called the Switzerland of America. Today, the lodge is one part of a bustling tourism hub that includes Wallowa Lake State Park, the Wallowa Lake Tramway and a number of cabins, hotels and campsites. The Wallowa Lake Lodge aims to merge rustic charm with modern amenities.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Chairs provide a peaceful creekside setting on the lawn at Wallowa Lake Lodge. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian The Wallowa Lake Lodge, originally constructed in 1923, still serves tourists and locals on the south end of Wallowa Lake in Joseph. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian The lodges 22 rooms are available during the open season, from Memorial Day to the end of September. A group of eight cabins, open year round, are also available on the property. Guests can dine at the lodges restaurant, The Camas Room, from Thursday to Sunday for dinner or daily for breakfast. A lobby bar, The Redd, serves drinks and small plates from 1 to 9 p.m. every day. Its also a place where guests might find live music, yoga classes or presentations on local history. Occasionally people throw weddings or reunions there. Even on normal weekend, its meant to be a gathering place, rather than just someplace for tourists to sleep. We know that visitors from out of town love coming here and love using the lodge, Lau said. But to know that the locals are using it too is huge. With its many social amenities, the Wallowa Lake Lodge sounds like a lot of newer boutique hotels popping up across the Pacific Northwest. But here theres a twist: the 100-year old building itself. Structures this old often run into a Ship of Theseus dilemma: If you replace all the floorboards, the walls, the beams, is it still the same building as before? But the Wallowa Lake Lodge has yet to reach that point. In some ways, it very much shows its age: The ceiling occasionally leaks, the roof needs replacing and the old stone chimney is slowly coming undone. Its like never ending maintenance in this space, Lau said. Honestly Im not going to say, whats the next 100 years look like, because I really, truly dont believe this building has another 100 years in it. But at least, what does the next 10 years look like and where do we want to go from here? Lau, who came aboard in 2019, has already accomplished a lot. In just the last few years, she oversaw the rebuilding and expansion of the deck, overhauled the restaurant and bar menus, and evicted a colony of bats that had been living in the attic for generations. Lau also overhauled the lodges decor. She painted beige walls white, replaced old floral comforters, swapped out art, and removed what she called brothel-y curtains and lamps. The trick, she said, was bringing the Wallowa Lake Lodge into the 21st century without losing its rustic charm. And while she wanted to make the rooms cozy, shes also made a concerted effort to nudge people to the communal spaces. On any given summer day, you may see people reading in the lounge, drinking at the bar, hanging out on the deck or playing games on the lawn. Slowly but surely, those spaces have been populated not just by travelers but by locals as well, the result of what Lau said was the best form of advertisement in a small town: word of mouth. To know that the locals are using it too is huge, she said. Our goal is to be as accessible as possible to the widest number of people. So, for me the lodge belongs to everyone. I want everyone to come here. A new, expanded deck offers more gathering space at the lodge. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Mushroom pizza, salad and watermelon are just a few of the weekday dinner options at the Wallowa Lake Lodge in Joseph. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian The Camas Room is the lodge's dining room, serving breakfast daily and dinner from Thursday through Sunday. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Its something of a return to form for the Wallowa Lake Lodge, which has gone through several changes in its century of use. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the lodge survived brutal winter storms, flooding, economic fluctuations and war. The Wiggins family, which owned the lodge for nearly 45 years, oversaw additions to the building, construction of new cabins and the ceding of some property for what would become Wallowa Lake State Park. They sold the lodge in 1988 to a trio of owners who refocused on creating a quiet retreat for travelers, which lasted for another 28 years. In 2015, following the sudden death of one of the owners, the lodge was put up for sale, spurring fears locally of an outside hotel chain swooping in and demolishing the old building. Instead, a group of more than 100 local investors, including the Nez Perce Tribe, raised $3.1 million to purchase the place, running the Wallowa Lake Lodge with a board of managers. In 2020, the tribe secured a conservation easement on the property that protects the land there from further development, essentially locking in the existing footprint of the lodge. That land is known to the Nimiipuu people as Waakakamkt, or where the braided stream disappears into the water, according to the tribe. The main reason we have wanted this easement is for protection of the inlet for sockeye salmon and protecting the waters and the habitat around that area expressly for sockeye reintroduction and for the fisheries, Shannon Wheeler, Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee chairman, told the Wallowa County Chieftan in 2020. The other reason its a place thats very meaningful to the tribe. The easement also serves to maintain the Wallowa Lake Lodges focus on working with what it has, instead of expanding further onto its 9-acre property. And while that means more headaches maintaining the aging building, Lau said the efforts are rewarded by seeing the lodge continue to be a community gathering space, where she hopes people of different cultures and backgrounds can commingle. Im proud of our community, I love the people that live here. I think were a unique place with a unique set of values and a unique idealogy, Lau said. She said her 10-year-old son liked to call the lodge the heirloom of Wallowa County, and while he might be right, shes bothered by the implication that the building is some treasured possession thats rarely used, like an antique China hutch or an old wardrobe. We want Wallowa Countys heirloom to be an heirloom that Wallowa County uses, Lays said. And people are. The Wallowa Lake Lodge is located at 60060 Wallowa Lake Highway in Joseph, Oregon. The lodge is open from Memorial Day to the end of September, and cabins are open year-round. To book a room visit wallowalakelodge.com or call 541-432-9821. Jamie Hale 503-294-4077; jhale@oregonian.com; @HaleJamesB BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. The return of former internally displaced persons to Azerbaijans Lachin continues, Trend reports. On June 25, another group of former internally displaced persons returned to Lachin. Another 15 families out of 53 people experienced the joy of returning to their native lands. Residents who returned to Lachin could not hold back tears of joy on this significant day. They were met in a solemn atmosphere and congratulated on their return to their native land. The residents of Lachin were told that all the necessary conditions for life have been created in the city, the houses have been restored in accordance with modern standards while preserving the historical architectural style. The families who returned to Lachin were settled in the houses where they once lived and which were restored or reconstructed. Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Sudan on Sunday welcomed the statement issued by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemning the violations and flagrant abuses committed by groups supported by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who attacked civilians fleeing the massacres in Genaina, West Darfur State, to Chad Photo: (Photo : Carmen Mandato / Getty Images) Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has taken a bold step to bolster abortion rights in the state by signing an executive order that restricts the prosecution of abortion cases. The order, signed on Thursday, effectively bars county attorney generals in Arizona from pursuing legal action against individuals involved in seeking or providing abortion care. This move comes just before the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Executive Order Shifts Abortion Prosecution Authority According to The New York Times, under Governor Hobbs' order, the power to prosecute abortion-related cases will be centralized, with the state's Democratic attorney general assuming all duties in this regard. By granting authority to the state attorney general, Hobbs aims to address concerns regarding inconsistent decisions and potential restrictions on lawful abortions. The order seeks to avoid disparate outcomes resulting from varying interpretations of Arizona's abortion laws by different county attorneys, thus ensuring that the fundamental rights of Arizonans are protected. In addition to limiting prosecution efforts, Governor Hobbs' executive order aims to shield abortion providers from legal consequences. State agencies are also prohibited from assisting in abortion-related investigations, and extradition requests from other states seeking to prosecute individuals involved in seeking or providing abortion care will be blocked. Furthermore, as Axios reported, the order establishes an advisory council tasked with making recommendations to expand reproductive healthcare in Arizona, emphasizing the state's commitment to comprehensive reproductive rights. State Attorney General Kris Mayes, who now assumes a central role in prosecuting abortion-related cases, voiced support for Governor Hobbs' executive order. In a statement, Mayes condemned the actions of anti-abortion extremists and pledged to remain on the offensive in protecting reproductive rights. She emphasized that the order effectively grants Arizonans the freedom to seek abortions and access reproductive healthcare without fear of criminal prosecution. Mixed Reactions to the Executive Order According to NBC News, the executive order has garnered mixed reactions from various organizations and individuals. SBA Pro-Life America criticized Governor Hobbs' decision, arguing that the order undermines the existing legal restrictions on abortion in Arizona. However, Brittany Fonteno, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, expressed appreciation for the order, stating that it would alleviate the fear and uncertainty that have plagued the state since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Read Also: CDC Advisory Committee To Endorse Pfizer, GSK RSV Vaccines For Older Adults Pending Review by the Arizona Supreme Court It is worth noting that the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled last year that licensed physicians who perform abortions before 15 weeks of gestation and in cases of a medical emergency cannot be prosecuted under the state's near-total abortion ban. This case is currently awaiting review by the Arizona Supreme Court. While Governor Hobbs' executive order represents a significant step forward in protecting abortion rights, the legal landscape surrounding abortion in Arizona may evolve further depending on the outcome of this ongoing legal battle. As Governor Katie Hobbs signs the executive order, Arizona becomes a focal point in the ongoing national debate over abortion rights. The order, which limits the prosecution of abortion-related cases and strengthens the rights of individuals seeking reproductive healthcare, underscores the state's commitment to protecting and expanding access to abortion services. It remains to be seen how this executive order will shape the future of reproductive rights in Arizona and potentially influence other states grappling with similar issues. Related Article: Wyoming Judge Blocks Law Banning Abortion Pills; Lawsuit Continues Photo: (Photo : AFP Contributor / Getty Images) A search is underway in New Jersey for Lara Emanuele, a grade school teacher who has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. The 46-year-old educator was last seen in Roxbury, New Jersey, on June 7, 2023, and was reported missing when she failed to return home after work. As per Disappeared, Lara Emanuele, a dedicated third-grade teacher at Alexander Hamilton Elementary School in Morristown, has sparked a community-wide effort to locate her. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office has intensified their search, focusing on a heavily wooded area near where her car was found abandoned. Community Aids in Search for New Jersey Missing Teacher According to Daily News, the search for Emanuele has been ongoing since her vehicle was discovered on June 8 in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express in Roxbury, just five miles from her residence. Authorities have emphasized that Emanuele's disappearance is not currently considered suspicious. However, concerns for her well-being continue to grow as the search intensifies. Emanuele, who stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall, has distinctive red hair and weighs approximately 125 lbs. The missing teacher's husband, Brian Emanuele, has actively sought the support of the community in locating his wife. On social media platforms, he has shared information from the county prosecutor's office, urging individuals to come forward with any relevant information that could aid in finding Lara. Efforts to find Lara Emanuele have been coordinated among various law enforcement agencies, including the Morris County Prosecutor's Office, the Roxbury Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff's Office, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, and the New Jersey Search and Rescue Team. Together, they have been conducting daily searches in the Berkshire Valley State Wildlife Management Area, a sprawling expanse of 2,030 acres characterized by wetlands and upland mixed hardwood forests. The area, which lacks marked trails, presents challenging terrain for search operations. Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll has appealed to the public to refrain from conducting independent searches in the wildlife area, citing both the danger posed by the terrain and the presence of potentially hazardous wildlife. Instead, he has urged individuals to report any relevant information to the Roxbury Police Department or the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. Read Also: CDC Advisory Committee To Endorse Pfizer, GSK RSV Vaccines For Older Adults Mysterious Circumstances Surrounding Emanuele's Disappearance Lara Emanuele's disappearance has raised additional questions due to the recent lifting of a restraining order she had filed against her husband, according to People. Although she was reportedly in the process of getting a divorce, the circumstances surrounding her decision to remove the restraining order remain unclear. Furthermore, it has been discovered that Emanuele's home was listed for sale over the Memorial Day weekend, but the listing was subsequently removed on June 10. The implications of these circumstances for her disappearance remain under investigation. As the search for Lara Emanuele intensifies, the community's concern and support continue to grow. The efforts of law enforcement and the collective determination of residents to find the missing teacher highlight the unity and resilience of the local community. Authorities remain committed to utilizing all available resources and capabilities to locate Emanuele. Morris County Prosecutor Carroll has assured the public that updates regarding the investigation and search will be provided whenever possible. In the meantime, the community waits anxiously for any leads or information that could help unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Lara Emanuele, a beloved teacher who is dearly missed. Law enforcement agencies and residents alike are committed to finding answers and bringing her back safely. Related Article: Alopecia Areata Treatment for Teens: FDA Approves Groundbreaking Litfulo by Pfizer Tullow and the Jubilee Partners are working to increase daily average production to over 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) from the Greater Jubilee Field during the second half of 2023, when the Jubilee South-East (JSE) Area development is up and running. The leap in production will result from the successful development of the Jubilee South-East (JSE) area, which is an extension of the Jubilee Field, offshore Cape Three Points in the Western Region. Benefits The increase in production is expected to bring significant benefit to the country including increased revenue from oil production, local capacity development which will be reflected in the companies in the production value chain, skills transfer, more jobs, and local content development through the participation of indigenous companies. The JSE project, which Tullow Ghana Limited and its partners are developing under the Ghana Volume Maximisation Plan, is part of the Greater Jubilee Field located in the Tano Basin. The Managing Director of Tullow Ghana, the lead operator of the Jubilee and Tweneboa, Enyera and Ntomme (TEN) oilfields, Wissam Al-Monthiry, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said the partners are optimistic about the success of JSE, saying the execution of the JSE project is an example of how a big field can get bigger The lead operator of Jubilee, Tullow Ghana Limited, told the Daily Graphic that the first commercial oil is expected around the middle of the year. Background Tullow and its partners on the Jubilee Field have been investing in Greater Jubilee Field to increase production over the past two years. Under Tullow Ghanas Value Maximisation Plan, the company has earmarked $4 billion investment over 10 years. The successful development of JSE, according to industry experts, will be a remarkable achievement as it portends significant benefit for the countrys oil industry and for economic growth. An official of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) stated that the new production wells will be good news for the country. We all know that since 2018 no field has been added, so this is actually good news, the Technical Manager of PIAC, Mark Obeng Adu Agyemang, told the Daily Graphic. Big field just got bigger Mr Al-Monthiry said when the JSE project is completed, the Jubilee Field could be placed in a completely different category as a world-class oil and gas field. Asked why Tullow Ghana decided to invest more, he said, as an operator, after a find, the decision would be taken about which parts of the field to develop in a phased approach. That approach gives the operator the opportunity to learn more about the field as production continues, the Tullow Ghana MD added. From the mid-2000s to about 2016, it started to become clear to us that there was an opportunity to develop Jubilee further to the South-East area, Mr Al-Monthiry explained. In the field trajectory, in 2020, a project was put together to receive a final investment decision to be sanctioned to develop Jubilee Southeast, which progressed even through the COVID-19 period and to the point now that we are looking at the possibility of welcoming first oil from the JSE area in the coming weeks, Wissam said. Subsea infrastructure Mr Al-Monthiry again explained that after the project was sanctioned in December 2020, it went through engineering, design, procurement, and fabrication of the different parts of equipment for the installation of the subsea infrastructure. He added that the engineering, design, procurement, and fabrication works of the different parts of the subsea infrastructure took place on three continents, but with a significant local content component. Let me say that one of the worlds most complicated subsea equipment was fabricated in Takoradi for the project and has since been installed, Mr Al-Monthiry said. Value maximisation With Jubilee SE project, we expect that it will bring jubilee's production back to more than 100,000 barrels a day and keep it there for the foreseeable future, which is an exciting milestone, he said. Mr Al-Monthiry said almost $1.5 billion had been spent on the project in line with the $4 billion Ghana Value Maximisation Plan unveiled in 2021, a significant portion of that going into the drilling and completion of wells in the Jubilee SE area, as well as the fabrication and procurement of equipment as part of the Jubilee SE programme. The Strategy Regarding sustainability, and Partners possible consideration of other basins, he said: Our strategy in Ghana is to focus on exploiting the Jubilee and TEN fields to the maximum. First oil in the next few weeks looks quite imminent and we are all very excited about it and after that, you will start hearing much more specific plans from us on the next phase of growth for Jubilee and beyond, Mr Al-Monthiry added. Currently we feel that there is a lot of room to run on the existing fields and a lot of capital to possibly invest if we can. So, we focus on that as a priority and we are considering other opportunities as well, he said. TEN Field On the TEN fields, the Tullow Ghana Managing Director said it was doing well, and that while oil production was on the decline, the partners were working with the government on a multi-year gas contract as well as oil development. We will be submitting a revised plan of development for the field to the Ministry of Energy, Mr Al-Monthiry stated. Once that is approved, it would give a significant lifeline to the TEN Field to grow in its own right and produce higher levels of oil and gas throughout to the end of the licensed period, he added. Background In December 2010, history was recorded after President Atta Mills turned the valves on the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah to indicate the beginning of the production of crude oil in commercial quantities on the Jubilee Oil Field. It was discovered in 2007 under President John Agyekum Kufuor. Oil from the countrys oil is the light sweet crude, which is a global quality, with high demand in the international market. The Jubilee Field at the time produced 120,000bopd. However, after more than a decade of production, its daily output has gone down naturally, hence the investment. PIAC Technical Manager When reached for comments, Mr Agyemang welcomed the good news, explaining that PIAC and other relevant stakeholders had been worried for the past few years that production kept dwindling. Our recommendation to government and its agencies has been that we need to bring on stream new fields, because if the current trends continue, probably in the next 10 years, well have to come to the end of production in the fields that we have lost. The technical manager at the PIAC Secretariat commended Tullow and its partners for their commitment to the country, saying while other investors were pulling away, Tullow and partners committed to invest that kind of money into the petroleum sector. More fields should come on stream, and we hope that as part of the Ghana Volume Maximisation Plan, other fields in the Greater Jubilee area will come on stream in the shortest possible time to give impetus to our upstream petroleum industry and help us raise the needed revenue as a country, Mr Agyemang stated. Source: Graphiconline 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 25. Meetings are being held with leading defense industry companies to upgrade the fleet of ships, and purchase surveillance, intelligence and communications systems, Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov said, Trend reports. "I can say with confidence that the naval forces successfully fulfill the requirements of the maritime security strategy approved by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, and also adequately cope with all tasks in accordance with the training plan approved by Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov," Bakirov said. In order to accelerate and improve the fulfillment of the requirements, research is being conducted on the acquisition and introduction of new modern technologies of the defense industry. Some of the mentioned projects will be implemented in stages soon," he said. Bakirov pointed out that during the exhibition held recently in Italy, new vessels, naval weapons, underwater vehicles, coastal artillery installations, radars, sonars and other defense technologies were reviewed and instructions were given to relevant specialists. "Visits to factories and infrastructure of the leading companies of the Italian defense industry were organized during the event, we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the products produced by these enterprises on the spot. In particular, along with underwater marine platforms, our attention was attracted by the presented means of surveillance, reconnaissance and communications, and we will have more meetings about these means in the future," he said. Buying a house on an Off-plan basis refers to when a buyer commits to buying a house based on the drawings and the architectural renderings of the would-be property. In our practice over the past three years, we have come across a number of key concerns for homebuyers in Ghana with the main one being that, most estate houses arent well built. This may be true in some cases and it is the reason why you need to know the background of the developer and their track record before you hand them the job or purchase their houses. To solve this problem, buying a property Off-plan is one of the ways to ensure that you are a part of the building process from start to finish and we dare say this is our niche at Baobab PSC. In this blog post we will seek to outline the advantages of purchasing a house on an Off-plan basis. We will also show you some of the pitfalls to avoid if you decide to go on this route. Let us now dive into the major issues. Capital Appreciation You buy the house for a price that is below market value which may range from 10% to 15% less. Then there is the Increased value of the building by the time it is finished in Accra as is the case in most cities in Ghana. When the property is completed, the value can go up to as high as 30- 50% for single family homes within gated communities in the Greater Accra Metro Area. A property was sold on the Spintex Road on an Off-plan basis at an agreed price of USD85,000.00. When the project was done in 10 months, the value shot up to USD110,000.00 if the owner had wanted to sell and oh, there were offers for it. Flexible Payment Terms There is also the ability to get flexible payment terms from the developer since your payment may be tied to key milestones that are to be achieved during the building process. Following from our example above, we were able to negotiate a payment term which was spread for a year which is rare in that part of Accra. We are truly grateful to the developers we work with who offer such terms to our clients. Customization of the Property Customization of the building to your taste where you can vary the plan, choose your own finishing especially tiles and sanitary wears. One customer who bought a 3-bedroom house Off- plan on the Spintex road asked that the kitchen which was enclosed in the previous houses that the developer had already done was to be changed to an open kitchen and the number of washrooms reduced to three from the four that would have been done. For one property in Pokuase, the buyers were able to put in a state-of-the-art kitchen since they bought the property Off-plan. Had the house been completed prior to the purchase they would have had to settle for a brick-and-mortar kitchen cabinets which clearly would have been a deal breaker. We have seen deals fall through because a house the buyer wanted did not have a kitchen store room. So, the very little things matter to buyers and buying a house on an Off-plan basis provides a solution to this challenge. Saves Time As with buying a home from a seasoned developer, buying a house on an Off-plan basis saves you the time and headache of dealing with different artisans and tradesmen on a project (read our earlier article on whether to build or buy a home baobabpsc.com/news). This enables the buyer to supervise the project whilst holding the developer responsible for the work of the artisans. The Downside of Off-plan Purchasing It goes without saying that all will not be rosy with the process of buying a property on an Off- plan basis. There are pitfalls that a potential buyer should be mindful of. We will mention a few to conclude this blog post. You may lose your deposit if the developer is shady or has not overseen a number of developments. They may fail and your money could be gone with the wind. Furthermore, have a qualified architect check the plan of your would-be building to confirm all the dimensions and amenities. The completion of your dream house could be delayed. This may be due to a number of factors some of which include; the prices of building materials increasing ridiculously in an economy like the Ghanaian economy. Conclusion Buying a house is a one in a lifetime investment and as much as possible get it right the first time. It pays to talk to a professional realtor, legal advisor and any other expert in the field when you set out on your quest to own a home. Our years of experience makes this enadeavour less stressful by connecting home buyers to vetted and trusted developers who deliver good results You can talk to Boabab PSC LTD on Call/Whatsapp 0544031269 to start your property rental or purchase journey. Our years of experience makes this enadeavour less stressful by connecting home buyers to vetted and trusted developers who deliver good results. We also host a number of houses on our website baobabpsc.com for sale and rental. We wish you all the best in your quest to buy an Off-plan house. All rights reserved, Baobab PSC LTD June 2023. 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 nation stands the risk of not achieving the HIV-AIDS target by 2030 due to inadequate investment in the proven strategies, the Director-General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, has said. In fact, Ghana is way behind the 2020 target of 90-90-90. Between 2019 and 2022, the country was only able to progress by less than 10 percentage points, and at the current rate of progress, we are unlikely to achieve the 90-90-90 targets by 2030, by which time we should rather achieve the global target of 98-98-98 and end AIDS, he added. The D-G said the HIV pandemic control remained unachieved in three project regions and the country as a whole. The regions are Western, Western North and Ahafo. Dr Atuahene was speaking at a USAID Strengthening the care continuum project at its closeout meeting in Takoradi in the Western Region. The programme was attended by health managers from the three regions who discussed interventions, strategies and achievements in the areas of care identification, active linkage to treatment and optimisation, among others. Concerns Dr Atuahene expressed concerns over the fact that although many African countries had achieved the 2025 target of 95-95-95, the nation was yet to even achieve the 90-90-90 targets. Many factors account for our inability to achieve these targets, it is quite obvious that those countries have enjoyed huge combined resources from Global Fund and PERFAR for more than 20-years. The estimated funds available for the national HIV response for the next three years is just 33 per cent of the needed fund for the period, he said. Dr Atuahene, however, said that the government was evaluating all available options to address the yawning funding gap, adding that the commission was aggressively embarking on a resource mobilisation drive. He further said that the commission would continue to explore innovative financing options, including establishing public private partnerships. Effort The USAID/Ghana Mission Director, Kimberly Rosen, commended the government for its continued effort to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat in the country by 2030. Over the past four years, PERFAR has supported the government to test more than 46,000 individuals, diagnosed more than 18,000 HIV-positive people and initiated 17,000 antiretroviral therapy courses, she said. Ms Rosen said that the US partnership with Ghana had made some impact within the first three years of the implementation of the USAID Care Continuum project which covered about 30,700 people with HIV services. The Chief of Party, USAID Care Continuum Project, Dr Henry Ajewi-Narh Nagai, said over the past seven years, we have worked with our collaborators to improve health outcomes in the three beneficiary regions and the country at large. 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 Mali's military-led government on Thursday seized the diplomatic passport of influential and outspoken Muslim cleric Mahmoud Dicko, who is a vocal critic of the ruling junta. Community-based station Radio Nostalgie reported that the authorities seized Mr Dicko's passport at an airport in the capital, Bamako, upon his return from neighbouring Mauritania. Mr Dicko was issued the passport by the government of the late President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Less than a week after vehemently criticizing the transitional government, Dicko is more than ever in the crosshairs of the authorities, privately-owned channel Renouveau TV reported. In May, Mr Dicko and several Islamic groups launched an "anti-secularism" movement to oppose plans to designate the country as a secular state as envisioned in a draft constitution. Mr Dicko also played a leading role in the protest movement that led to Mr Keitas downfall in 2020. Source: BBC 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 Sierra Leoneans are voting in a general election following a tense campaign marred by violence. On Wednesday, the main opposition party alleged that one of its supporters was shot dead by police, which the police have denied. Supporters of both main parties have been accused of attacking opponents. This election is taking place against the background of a troubled economy, the rising cost of living, as well as concerns about national unity. The voters are choosing a president, MPs and councillors in the West African country's fifth election since the civil war ended in 2002. The 11-year conflict cost an estimated 50,000 lives, but since then the country has a tradition of largely peaceful, free and credible elections, according to Marcella Samba Sesay, chairperson of the NGO National Elections Watch. With strong party loyalty among the 3.3 million registered voters, the campaigns have focused on shoring up their parties' bases rather than articulating and debating policy issues. Who are the candidates? President Julius Maada Bio, 59, of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) is running for a second five-year term. His main rival among the 12 challengers is Dr Samura Kamara, 72, of the All People's Congress (APC). This is a repeat of the race in 2018, which saw Mr Bio narrowly win following a second-round run-off. How much violence has there been? There has been an uptick in violence compared to five years ago, according to the West Africa Network for Peace-building Sierra Leone. It has counted 109 violent incidents since April. This week, the APC said one person was killed by security forces as its supporters gathered for a protest at its headquarters in Freetown on Wednesday. The police alleged the shots were fired from the direction of the APC building. Dr Kamara has also said that his motorcade came under attack and there were reports that the APC office was set ablaze in the city of Bo last weekend. The SLPP has said that it too has faced attacks in opposition strongholds. President Bio has called for "peaceful elections" and "no violence". The African Union has also expressed concerns over reported incidents of violence and intimidation in parts of the country. Sierra Leoneans have been alarmed by campaigners' rhetoric, the Reuters news agency reports. "All I want is peace. I am scared by the high level of hatred I see being exhibited on social media by political extremists on both sides," a student from Freetown who wanted to remain anonymous told Reuters. What about women? This election comes months after a landmark law which says women must make up 30% of all positions in both the public and private sector - including in parliament. But analysis from Sierra Leone's Institute for Government Reform (IGR) suggest the next parliament will fall short of this. Parties have put forward lists of candidates running in each of the country's districts to be elected on a proportional representation basis. But according to the IGR, not enough women are placed high enough on those lists to make sure the 30% threshold is crossed. Out of the 13 candidates running for president only one is a woman - the little-known Iye Kakay. How does the election work? The APC has also expressed concerns about the transparency of the counting process and has cast doubt on the electoral commission's ability to hold fair elections. The commission has defended itself, saying measures have been put in place to ensure the credibility of the voting and counting process. Results should be known within 48 hours of polls closing. To be declared the winner of the presidential race, the leading candidate must secure 55% of the votes cast, otherwise a run-off will be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. Source: BBC 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 several weeks of nationwide strike action, the caterers of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) have finally called off the strike. This latest development was confirmed by the National President of the GSFP, Charlotte Ashiakie Asante, at a press conference held recently. Mrs Ashiakie Asante, while addressing the press, tendered an apology to all affected schools over the period that the caterers were not working, and urged them to resume their duties effectively and efficiently when the schools resumed. However, Mrs Ashiakle Asante revealed that the association still stood by their earlier demand for an increment in the amount allotted to every child under the programme. She urged the government to facilitate the necessary processes to increase the amount from the proposed GH1.20 to GH3, considering the prevailing cost of items on the market. Furthermore, she reminded the caterers that the programme had only one association acknowledged by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the national secretariat. Hence, she enjoined them to remain united and have a common goal. She stressed that all caterers must desist from spreading falsehood and using the media for wrong purposes or as a tool to denigrate the programme, instead of using dialogue and acceptable rules of engagement. Mrs Ashiakle also requested that the gender ministry engaged with the caterers to bridge the gaps within the programme, and to foster better working relations between the caterers and the government. The caterers of the GSFP across the country went on strike over demands for better conditions of service and the increment in amount spent on feeding school kids. With the end of the strike, normal operations are expected to resume across the country, relieving many children who depend on the programme for food when school is in session. 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 Ugandan government has announced plans to increase the legal age for consuming alcohol from 18 to 21. The World Health Statistics 2023 Report ranks Uganda among the leading countries for high rates of alcohol consumption. According to the WHO report, it is estimated that Ugandans currently consume 12.2 litres of alcohol per person annually, which is significantly higher than the global average. Research has shown that if someone has not taken an addictive substance by 21, they are much less likely to use addictive substances later in life, Dr Hafsa Lukwata, the Ministry of Health commissioner for mental health, alcohol and substance abuse, told the BBC. There has been a public outcry over substance abuse in young people," Dr Lukwata added. She said that parliament will discuss the age limit, among other measures, in the soon-to-be-presented Alcohol Control Bill. Source: BBC 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 BBC has seen evidence supporting claims of bodies left lying out in the open after serious violence in the Darfur region of Sudan between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army. In Darfur, some Arab militia groups have supported the RSF. We have verified two videos from one location in the city of El Geneina posted on Twitter earlier this month showing bodies lying on a road. We were able to match buildings and objects in the videos to satellite images of El Geneina. In one video, there is a mention of the local branch of the Bank of Khartoum, which we were also able to locate. Its not possible to say either when the videos were filmed or who did the filming. But one appeared on Twitter around the same time the West Darfur governor Khamis Abakar was killed on 14 June. In this video, the person filming makes derogatory comments about non-Arabs living there. The Darfur Bar Association (DBA) said this week that corpses remain on the streets, inside homes and in various public places. Source: BBC 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 UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC), a member-based trade association that promotes trade between Ghana and the United Kingdom, has hosted its 2nd annual charity fundraiser, the Royal Ascot Ladies Day Experience, to raise funds to support the establishment of a clinical trials unit (CTU) at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) Medical and Scientific Research Centres (MSRC). Ascot, one of Britains most well-known racecourses, holds a special week of races in June each year called the Royal Ascot, attended by members of the UKs royal family. This week has become Britains most popular race meeting, welcoming over 300,000 visitors all dressed in their finest attire. The UKGCC commemorated this great British Tradition in a specially curated Royal Ascot Ladies Day Experience held at The Savannah. Set up as a high tea garden party, the event which was sponsored by SuCasa Properties LTD., showed the Ascot races live on a large screen and offered business networking opportunities with UKGCC member companies and other key stakeholders. Executive Director of the UKGCC, Adjoba Kyiamah, remarked that The event supports the UGMC MSRC because their planned clinical trials unit will be at the fore front of helping identify the best treatment for diseases in our environment. Given the backdrop of recent global health pandemics, now more than ever, we need more clinical trials in our country to help develop suitable treatment regimes ready made for us in Ghana. The UGMCs work, in undertaking research, will discover new treatments, methods and procedures to improve the health status of Ghanaians, Africans and the world and so we must support their efforts. Isaac Preko Boateng, the Chief of Staff of SuCasa Properties LTD., the headline sponsors of this years Royal Ascot Experience, said his company supported the event as part of their profound commitment to their corporate social responsibility. Underscoring the essence of a clinical trials unit for Ghana, Mr. Boateng remarked that It is important for us, as a country, to have a facility like this. SuCasa Properties feel that as a nation, we have come of age to be able to take the lead in such matters. Furthermore, supporting the establishment of a CTU is something that SuCasa Properties would even like to take up directly with the UGMC and discuss how we can be of further assistance, he added. Mr. Boateng called on corporate bodies and individuals who seek the betterment of Ghanaians, especially in healthcare, to support the UGMC. Prof. George Boateng Kyei, the Director of UGMC MSRC Board, expressed gratitude to the UKGCC for organising the charity fundraiser to support UGMCs bid to raise funds to establish the CTU. We have been able to source collaboration with MDS-Lancet-Cerba to partner with us to have a state-of-the-art clinical trials laboratory that will be internationally certified for trials. When we achieve this goal, we envisage a situation whereby Ghanaians will have access to the latest experimental treatments for breast, lung, prostate, and other cancers, as well as the latest treatments for autoimmune disease. Prof. Boateng Kyei appealed to the business community, who are passionate about building a strong Ghanaian economy through a culture of robust business development and constant human capacity building, to contribute to this honourable endeavour for our country. The 2nd Royal Ascot Ladies Day Experience in Ghana, which was supported by Golden Exotics LTD., Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC, Voltic (GH) LTD., So Fraiche Media, and GOIL PLC, concluded on a high note with memorable highlights that included awards for Best Dressed Lady, Best Hat, and Best Dressed Male. UKGCCs next Royal Ascot Ladies Day Experience charity fundraiser is slated to occur on Saturday, 22nd June 2024. Interested donors to the UGMC MSRC may reach out to the UKGCC. Source: Peacefmonline com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Police Administration has mounted a manhunt for four suspected robbers behind the killing of a policeman at Ablekuma in the Ga West Municipality in the Greater Accra Region. The alleged robbers killed the policeman yesterday in broad daylight. The policeman, who a source at the Ghana Police Service named as Lance Corporal Calystus Amoah, is said to have been shot multiple times in a suspected robbery attempt on occupants of a vehicle at a fuel service station at Ablekuma. The suspected robbers are said to have followed the bullion van, which went to refill at the fuel station, where the shootout occurred. The policeman was seated in the passenger seat in front of the vehicle on security duties when he was shot at close range. The incident attracted some residents of the community, drivers of both commercial and private vehicles, and traders after the four robbers bolted and news of the incident went round. Statement The police in a statement issued a warning to the robbers behind the killing of the policeman to turn themselves in. The police are on a manhunt to arrest a gang of four robbers who attacked a bullion van at Ablekuma Fanmilk, a suburb of Accra, and shot the police escort who has unfortunately passed on, a statement from the police said. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of our deceased colleague in particular and all personnel of the Police Service in general, the statement added. The police also assured the public that they would surely get the robbers arrested to face justice. Brief profile Lance Corporal Amoah, the source disclosed to the Daily Graphic, was stationed at the National Protection Unit (NPU) headquarters of the Ghana Police Service. He passed out from the Pwalugu Police Training School in 2017. The source disclosed further that L/Cpl Amoah got married last year and is survived by a baby. 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 Two communities in the Mfantseman Municipality in the Central Region, Amprefu and Kyekyewere, have been declared free from avoidable blindness. This brings to three the communities declared avoidable blindness free in the country. Asafra, another community in the municipality, was earlier declared avoidable blindness free a few months ago. Blind population About 230,000 of the country's population are blind, with about 300,000 others having severe visual impairment caused by cataract, and uncorrected refractive errors, glaucoma, cornea diseases and posterior segment diseases. More than 124,000 people, representing 54 per cent of cases, is as a result of cataract, a preventable condition. For a community to be declared avoidable blindness free, all persons with visual acuity of 6/60 or worse in the community must have been identified and treated. Also, at least 75 per cent of the community should have received education on eye care and blindness, and treatment provided to everyone who needs care in the entire population of the community. The declaration followed a project undertaken under Operation Eyesight Universal's flagship programme, Hospital-Based Community Eye Health Project (HBCEHP), being implemented in the Mfantseman Municipality since 2017, in collaboration with the Mfantseman Municipal Health Directorate. Operation Eyesight Universal seeks to partner local health institutions to eliminate avoidable blindness on a sustainable basis from vulnerable communities. So far, 738 eye surgeries have been undertaken by Operation Eyesight Universal in the municipality in collaboration with the municipal health directorate. The beneficiaries include the Chief of Kyekyewere, Nana Egyir Mensa VII, who said he got totally blind in the left eye but could now see after seeking eye care services. The Head of the National Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Services, Dr Afake Hornametor, said eye health was crucial for individuals, stressing that its impact on the individual and communities was enormous. He noted, for instance, that many children did not excel in school due to bad eye sight, while many elderly people with eye sight problems often became dependent on others. Eye care habits Dr Hornametor advised the communities to continue to adopt habits that would prevent blindness by promptly seeking medical attention for eye problems. He indicated that the National Cataract Outreach Programme was being undertaken across the country to reduce the prevalence rate of 0.74 blindness. The Technical Director of Operation Eyesight Universal, Dr Boateng Wiafe, said those who needed surgeries had it done, while those with glaucoma and other conditions were on the relevant treatment to ensure there was no avoidable blindness. Commendation The Medical Director of the Saltpond Government Hospital, Dr Michael Gyasi Danso, commended Operation Eyesight Universal for the renovation of its eye unit, where the surgeries were done, and the training of its personnel for improved eye care services in the municipality. He said the project had improved access, equitable and quality health care for all. Dr Danso expressed the hope that at least 10 communities would become avoidable blindness free in the municipality. The Municipal Director of Health, Gifty Ankrah, said the eye was the light to the whole body, and when adversely impacted it would affect the patient socio-economically. She urged the communities to promptly seek eye care services to sustain the health of their sights. Another beneficiary of the project, Kofi Kyah, advised the community to seek professional eye care services before a situation deteriorated. 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 details added, first published at 10:16 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Meetings are being held with leading defense industry companies to upgrade the fleet of ships, and purchase surveillance, intelligence and communications systems, Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov said, Trend reports. "I can say with confidence that the naval forces successfully fulfill the requirements of the maritime security strategy approved by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, and also adequately cope with all tasks in accordance with the training plan approved by Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov," Bakirov said. In order to accelerate and improve the fulfillment of the requirements, research is being conducted on the acquisition and introduction of new modern technologies of the defense industry. Some of the mentioned projects will be implemented in stages soon," he said. Bakirov pointed out that during the exhibition held recently in Italy, new vessels, naval weapons, underwater vehicles, coastal artillery installations, radars, sonars and other defense technologies were reviewed and instructions were given to relevant specialists. "Visits to factories and infrastructure of the leading companies of the Italian defense industry were organized during the event, we had the opportunity to get acquainted with the products produced by these enterprises on the spot. In particular, along with underwater marine platforms, our attention was attracted by the presented means of surveillance, reconnaissance and communications, and we will have more meetings about these means in the future," he said. The momentum of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the NPP Flagbearership primaries continued on Thursday with massive reception and endorsements on Thursday. Enthusisatic party delegates turned up in their numbers to receive Dr. Bawumia in Bortianor-Ingleshie-Amanfro, Gbawe and Anyaa Sowutuom constituencies respectively. However, the most tumultuous reception was at Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfrom constituency where one of Mr. Alan Kyerematen's national coordinators is Member of Parliament. Delegates in the constitutuency met Dr. Bawumia with wild cheers. The Constituency Chairman praised Dr. Bawumia for his commitment and hard work to the party and on behalf of polling station, electoral area coordinators and executives, declared support for the Vice President. "We all know what Dr. Bawumia has done for this country," Mr. Bright Ofori Ampofo, the Chairman of Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfrom constituency said. "Dr. Bawumia has also done well for the party and he has supporters Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfrom. It is time for him to see the results of his investment; not just here, but in all the constituencies. The ground is fertle for harvest and we will do it together," he added. At the other two constituencies, their Chairmen also assured the Vice President of their strong support stressing they will work hard to ensure he wins massively. "My members here, especially the polling station executives, have vowed to help you by working for you and when the time comes, we shall all give you the needed support for you to lead the party. Weija Gbawe will join the others and give you the key to break the 8," Michael Danquah, Chairman of Weija Gbawe constituency said. The Chairman for Anyaa-Sowutuom, Tony Boadu was equally emphatic in declaring the constituency's support for Dr. Bawumia. "I stand here today, together with my people and declare that Anyaa Sowutuom is for you. We are for you not because you're the Vice President today, but because we know you are competent and with you, we will break the 8," he said. Sylvester Tetteh booed by his constituents in absentia Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Boartianor Ngleshie Amanfrom Constituency, Sylvester Tetteh was booed by his constituents during the visit of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to interact with constituency delegates on Thursday. During the introductory remarks of the constituency Chairman, he said the NPP MP for the area, Sylvester Tetteh who is a leading coordinator for the Alan Kyerematen campaign, could not be present because the MP is out of town on assignment. However, the mention of the MP's name sparked furious reactions with spontaneous boos and jeers from the delegates. "No, no, no, no", "he should go; away! away! away!", and "don't mention his name here", the angry delegates charged with some getting off their seats to "warn" the Chairman not to mention Sylvestre Tetteh's name. 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 An Accra High Court has issued a witness summons against former Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia and two others at the request of former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to testify for him in his ongoing trial before the court. The other two are Seidu Kotomah, former Controller and Accountant General and Patrick Nimo, the current Chief Director at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. Both Mr. Segbefia and Mr. Nimo are to appear before the court on June 29, 2023, while Mr. Kotomah is scheduled to appear on July 6. Dr. Ato Forson, Sylvester Anemana, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, as well as private businessman, Richard Jakpa, are standing trial for willfully causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the state, through a contract to purchase 200 ambulances for the Ministry of Health, among other charges. He was expected to call his second witness yesterday but his lawyer, Dr. Abdul Basit Aziz Bamba, told the court that they were not able to secure the attendance of the witness, Mr. Kotomah, to testify. He said upon realising that they would not be able to have the witness testify in court yesterday, they made diligent effort to get other witnesses to appear in court to testify but it was unsuccessful. He indicated that he approached Alex Mould who has already filed a statement in the trial to enquire whether he would be available but he also indicated his inability to do so. Dr. Bamba told the court he also got Dr. Forson to talk to other witnesses despite the short notice to get others, but did not get a positive response. He, therefore, apologised to the court and the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame for the inconvenience. Dr. Aziz then moved an application for witness summons against Mr. Segbefia, Mr. Kotomah and Mr. Nimo to appear and testify in the trial, and it was granted. The court ordered Dr. Forson to direct service, and the summons may be served in electronic format via WhatsApp number. Alex Mould and former Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper, would be testifying for Dr. Forson after the three summoned witnesses are done with their testimonies. An Accra High Court on March 30, 2023, ordered Dr. Forson and two others to open their defence in a trial in which they are accused of purchasing defective vehicles as ambulances for the Ministry of Health. The main issue raised during the prosecutions case was whether the defective vehicles were purchased in accordance with the purchase agreement approved by Parliament. The other was whether Dr. Forson was authorised by the substantive Finance Minister or any superior officer to write a letter to the Controller and Accountant General directing the establishment of irrevocable Letters of Credit (LCs) which led to the payments. The Attorney General (AG), in a written submission to establish the prosecutions case, asserted that Dr. Forson was criminally reckless in not ensuring that the terms of the agreement were adhered, and that resulted in the institution of the criminal case against him. Dr. Forson, in his submission, argues that he wrote the letter on behalf of the then substantive Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper. The AG disagrees with the assertion and argues that the letters were written with no authorisation from any quarters. 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 Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has raised questions about the bullion van attack at Ablekuma Fanmilk in Accra which resulted in the death of a Police officer. Four armed robbers shot and killed a Police officer guarding the bullion van which reportedly stopped at a fuel station to refill its tank. A CCTV camera captured the moment when robbers riding a motorcycle ambushed the van immediately after it parked at the fuel station. The robbers made away with a sum of money and a gun belonging to the late Police officer. Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Kwesi Pratt asked some questions worth answering as he found the incident perplexing. "The robber who got down was wielding a gun, is that the Police officer didn't see him approaching the vehicle? Also, what was the bullion van doing at a fuel station and if it was going to collect money, what precautionary measures were taken? Why wasn't the Police officer wearing armored uniform?", he asked, stressing he cannot fathom the incident. "If the Police officer was wearing a bulletproof vest, maybe he might not have died", he added. Mr. Pratt also expressed concerns over the treatment of Police officers in the country, lamenting about how they are under-resourced and the need for them to be protected. "What sin have the Police committed against us to deserve all these?", he further asked and demanded "the Police also need protection...It is about time to take good care of the Police". 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 Popular social commentator, A Plus, has lashed out at critics for attacking him over his controversial take about Yvonne Nelsons book. Earlier in what many perceived as an attack, A Plus labeled Yvonne Nelsons mother promiscuous for not knowing who the actress father is. He said Sarkodie was right to have rejected a pregnancy from Yvonne, who exhibited similar characteristics as her mother, adding that, it was evident in the number of boyfriends the actress had. A Plus' statements were in reaction to portions of Yvonne Nelsons book where she disclosed conducting DNA tests in the quest to unravel the real identity of her father, after the man whose surname she bears turned out not to be her father. In response to the heavy backlashes he has received for what has been termed as disrespecting Yvonnes mother, A Plus still stands by his opinions. He said the insults would not deter him from speaking his mind. Me I write book about my "moda" sleeping with multiple men to sell and make money??? No! E be who write? E be Yvonne Nelson write. I take my money buy some. Yes! I will comment paa. If you want to insult my "moda" insult! Go ahead. Go ahead. Do I care? Life is very simple for me ooo. I'm not here to please anyone!! What haven't I done for individuals and communities in Ghana? Do you even remember? Monfa mo gyimie nfri me so!!!, he wrote in a mixture of Twi, pidgin and English. He established that just like Ghanaians have forgotten previous important events, they are likely to toss the issue to the wind in a matter of weeks, adding that Yvonne shouldnt feel special about the manner in which Ghanaians are commiserating with her. Me I just don't care ooo. Say what you want. mfa me ho barko sei!!! I only care about those very few people who like me for who I'm because those are the few sensible Ghanaians. There is not a single sensible person in Ghana who doesn't like me. Nyansani biaa p masm. Moa moaka no nyinaa mo y mboa!! In two weeks or less, they will forget this one too. Tweaaa!! When dealing with these people called Ghanaians, be as hard as 4ck! They will forget!! Don't you see what Akufo Addo is doing to them? He will leave power and they will miss him! They have forgotten about Atsu. If you ask them who is Abrokwa, 90% of them won't remember that he is Afia Schwarzenegger's ex-husband who threatened to bathe her with acid which trended for weeks. They don't even remember that they have a nude video of Afia Schwarzenegger on their on their own phone! Wei nom? They have forgotten that Agradaa was arrested not long ago, and those who remember that she was, don't remember her offence. 99% of them don't remember the Charles Adu Boahen story, one of the biggest stories in 2022, he added. Read the full post below: They have forgotten about Atsu. If you ask them who is Abrokwa, 90% of them won't remember that he is Afia Schwarzenegger's ex-husband who threatened to bathe her with acid which trended for weeks. They don't even remember that they have a nude video of Afia Schwarzenegger on their on their own phone! Wei nom? They have forgotten that Agradaa was arrested not long ago, and those who remember that she was, don't remember her offence. 99% of them don't remember the Charles Adu Boahen story, one of the biggest stories in 2022. If Jesus Christ comes to Ghana right now they will be at the airport in their numbers to welcome him. (That guy self he go come by air or land?) Few weeks later they will start insulting him on social media; masa fa wo Yesu Yesu no fri h k. Jesus will say, "I'm the way." They will be like, "masa, you miss road abi?" Ghanaians! You don't know these people. Me I just don't care ooo. Say what you want. mfa me ho barko sei!!! I only care about those very few people who like me for who I'm because those are the few sensible Ghanaians. There is not a single sensible person in Ghana who doesn't like me. Nyansani biaa p masm. . Moa moaka no nyinaa mo y mboa!! In two weeks or less, they will forget this one too. Tweaaa!! When dealing with these people called Ghanaians, be as hard as 4ck! They will forget!! Don't you see what Akufo Addo is doing to them? He will leave power and they will miss him! Me I write book about my "moda" sleeping with multiple men to sell and make money??? No! E be who write? E be Yvonne Nelson write. I take my money buy some. Yes! I will comment paa. If you want to insult my "moda" insult! Go ahead. Go ahead. Do I care? Life is very simple for me ooo. I'm not here to please anyone!! What haven't I done for individuals and communities in Ghana? Do you even remember? Monfa mo gyimie nfri me so!! 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 WASHINGTON When the Supreme Court issued its abortion ruling last June overturning Roe v. Wade, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said our work is far from done. He didnt say what might come next. A year later later, McCarthy is the speaker, Republicans are in the majority and the blanks are beginning to be filled in. In a flurry of little-noticed legislative action, GOP lawmakers are pushing abortion policy changes, trying to build on the work of activists whose strategy successfully elevated their fight to the nations highest court. In one government funding bill after another, Republicans are incorporating unrelated policy provisions, known as riders, to restrict womens reproductive rights. Democrats say the proposals will never become law. This is not just about an attack on womens health, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Friday. I view it as an attempt to derail the entire process of funding the federal government by injecting these riders into the appropriations process. Rep. Kay Granger, the Texas Republican who heads the committee, said during a hearings this past week that the riders that were included continue long-standing pro-life protections that are important to our side of the aisle. Using budget bills this way is hardly new, but it points to a broader divide among Republicans about where to go next on abortion after the Supreme Courts decision cleared the way for state-by-state restrictions on abortion rights. Republicans for years held stand-alone votes in the House on bills to restrict abortion. Now, some in the party particularly the nearly 20 Republicans running for reelection in swing districts are hesitant, if not outright opposed, to roll calls on abortion proposals. They say such bills will never see the light of day as long as Democrats control the Senate. The GOPs new push is taking place line by line in the sprawling legislation drafted each year to fund government agencies and programs. Nearly a dozen anti-abortion measures have been included so far in budget bills. In the agricultural one, for example, Republicans are looking to reverse a recent move by the Food and Drug Administration that would allow the contraception pill mifepristone to be dispensed in certified pharmacies, as opposed to only in hospitals and clinics. FILE - House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger, R-Texas, and her panel begin work on fiscal 2024 spending bills, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)AP Anti-abortion proposals have found their way into the defense bill, where GOP lawmakers are aiming to ban paid leave and travel for military service members and their family members who are seeking reproductive health care services. Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he warned Defense Secretary Llyod Austin about it. I told them that that was going to be a poison pill when it came to getting their legislation done over here, Rogers, R-Ala., said this past week. I told him, you know, youre asking for trouble. And now they got trouble. There are riders, too, in the financial services bill, where Republicans want to prohibit local and federal money to be used to carry out a District of Columbia law that bans discrimination over employees reproductive decisions. It seems like they cant do anything without trying to put something in there to restrict abortion rights, Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington state, chair of the House Democrats campaign arm, said. I dont think the public is fooled by that and absolutely, this will be a critical issue in the next election. She and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are working to target the vulnerable Republicans on the issue before the 2024 election. The broad effort by Republicans to include what critics often deride as poison pills in the appropriations process steps up the confrontation with Senate Democrats and the White House come September over spending bills, potentially heightening the odds of a government shutdown with the Oct. 1 start of the new budget year. DeLauro, who headed the Appropriations Committee in the last Congress, said the decision by Republicans to include these measures is a betrayal of the agreement the parties made years ago to not include any provisions in spending bills that would block passage. She said committee Democrats who spent the past week marking up these bills late into the night pleaded with their Republican colleagues to rethink the abortion language. FILE - Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walks with reporters after votes in the House, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 22, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)AP The Senate just last week passed the military and agriculture bills out of committee without any abortion measures attached. Sen. Patty Murray, chair of the Senate Appropriation Committee, told The Associated Press that she has made it clear that she would be a firewall against House Republicans efforts to further restrict reproductive rights. I have fought back Republican efforts to restrict access to reproductive health care and abortion in every deal or negotiation I have been a part of since I got to the Senate thats not changing any time soon, said Murray, D-Wash. In a previous statement with the committees top Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the two pledged to continue working together in a bipartisan manner to craft serious funding bills that can be signed into law. But the growing tension between GOP factions over abortion legislation remains apparent. The Republican Study Committee the largest single group in the House GOP conference recently issued a memo to members urging leaders to hold vote on a proposal that would clarify that health insurance plans that provide elective abortion would be ineligible for federal funding. That bill would effectively codify the Hyde Amendment, which restricts government funding for most abortions. Democrats have allowed it to become part of government funding legislation for decades, as a trade-off of sorts that has enabled them to focus on securing other priorities. It is unclear whether House Republican leaders will want to take the risk of bringing anti-abortion measures to the floor for votes when the spending bill route may be a more palatable option for some in the party. Farnoush Amiri of The Associated Press wrote this story. More: Upper Allen police report bear sightings Bridge over Yellowstone River collapses, sending freight train into the waters below Work to add sand to Ocean County beaches has now been put on pause while the Federal Army Corps of Engineers tries to resolve a bid protest over the award of the projects construction contracts. The project in both Brick and Toms River has been suspended after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection notified township officials of the bid protest in a June 15 email viewed by NJ Advance Media. Researchers are increasingly using small, autonomous underwater robots to collect data in the worlds oceans. NOAA Teacher at Sea Program,NOAA Ship PISCES, CC BY-SA Rescuers spotted debris from the tourist submarine Titan on the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic on June 22, 2023, indicating that the vessel suffered a catastrophic failure and the five people aboard were killed. Bringing people to the bottom of the deep ocean is inherently dangerous. At the same time, climate change means collecting data from the worlds oceans is more vital than ever. Purdue University mechanical engineer Nina Mahmoudian explains how researchers reduce the risks and costs associated with deep-sea exploration: Send down subs, but keep people on the surface. Why is most underwater research conducted with remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles? When we talk about water studies, were talking about vast areas. And covering vast areas requires tools that can work for extended periods of time, sometimes months. Having people aboard underwater vehicles, especially for such long periods of time, is expensive and dangerous. One of the tools researchers use is remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs. Basically, there is a cable between the vehicle and operator that allows the operator to command and move the vehicle, and the vehicle can relay data in real time. ROV technology has progressed a lot to be able to reach deep ocean up to a depth of 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). Its also better able to provide the mobility necessary for observing the sea bed and gathering data. Autonomous underwater vehicles provide another opportunity for underwater exploration. They are usually not tethered to a ship. They are typically programmed ahead of time to do a specific mission. And while they are underwater they usually dont have constant communication. At some interval, they surface, relay the whole amount of data that they have gathered, change the battery or recharge and receive renewed instructions before again submerging and continuing their mission. What can remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles do that crewed submersibles cant, and vice versa? Crewed submersibles will be exciting for the public and those involved and helpful for the increased capabilities humans bring in operating instruments and making decisions, similar to crewed space exploration. However, it will be much more expensive compared with uncrewed explorations because of the required size of the platforms and the need for life-support systems and safety systems. Crewed submersibles today cost tens of thousands of dollars a day to operate. Use of unmanned systems will provide better opportunities for exploration at less cost and risk in operating over vast areas and in inhospitable locations. Using remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles gives operators the opportunity to perform tasks that are dangerous for humans, like observing under ice and detecting underwater mines. How has the technology for deep ocean research evolved? The technology has advanced dramatically in recent years due to progress in sensors and computation. There has been great progress in miniaturization of acoustic sensors and sonars for use underwater. Computers have also become more miniaturized, capable and power efficient. There has been a lot of work on battery technology and connectors that are watertight. Additive manufacturing and 3D printing also help build hulls and components that can withstand the high pressures at depth at much lower costs. There has also been great progress toward increasing autonomy using more advanced algorithms, in addition to traditional methods for navigation, localization and detection. For example, machine learning algorithms can help a vehicle detect and classify objects, whether stationary like a pipeline or mobile like schools of fish. What kinds of discoveries have been made using remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles? One example is underwater gliders. These are buoyancy-driven autonomous underwater vehicles. They can stay in water for months. They can collect data on pressure, temperature and salinity as they go up and down in water. All of these are very helpful for researchers to have an understanding of changes that are happening in oceans. One of these platforms traveled across the North Atlantic Ocean from the coast of Massachusetts to Ireland for nearly a year in 2016 and 2017. The amount of data that was captured in that amount of time was unprecedented. To put it in perspective, a vehicle like that costs about $200,000. The operators were remote. Every eight hours the glider came to the surface, got connected to GPS and said, Hey, I am here, and the crew basically gave it the plan for the next leg of the mission. If a crewed ship was sent to gather that amount of data for that long it would cost in the millions. In 2019, researchers used an autonomous underwater vehicle to collect invaluable data about the seabed beneath the Thwaites glacier in Antarctica. Energy companies are also using remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles for inspecting and monitoring offshore renewable energy and oil and gas infrastructure on the seabed. Where is the technology headed? Underwater systems are slow-moving platforms, and if researchers can deploy them in large numbers that would give them an advantage for covering large areas of ocean. A great deal of effort is being put into coordination and fleet-oriented autonomy of these platforms, as well as into advancing data gathering using onboard sensors such as cameras, sonars and dissolved oxygen sensors. Another aspect of advancing vehicle autonomy is real-time underwater decision-making and data analysis. What is the focus of your research on these submersibles? My team and I focus on developing navigational and mission-planning algorithms for persistent operations, meaning long-term missions with minimal human oversight. The goal is to respond to two of the main constraints in the deployment of autonomous systems. One is battery life. The other is unknown situations. For battery life, we work on at-sea recharging, both underwater and surface water. We are developing tools for autonomous deployment, recovery, recharging and data transfer for longer missions at sea. For unknown situations, we are working on recognizing and avoiding obstacles and adapting to different ocean currents basically allowing a vehicle to navigate in rough conditions on its own. To adapt to changing dynamics and component failures, we are working on methodologies to help the vehicle detect the change and compensate to be able to continue and finish the mission. These efforts will enable long-term ocean studies including observing environmental conditions and mapping uncharted areas. Nina Mahmoudian, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Azerbaijani navy sailors are able to prevent any threat directed against the sovereignty of Azerbaijan, both from the sea and from land, Commander of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov said, Trend reports. He said that the heroism of the naval special forces during the 44-day second Karabakh war can be described as the strength of the Azerbaijani Navy in addition to maintaining maritime security, defense, and a favorable operational regime in the Caspian Sea sector belonging to Azerbaijan. "Thus, during the battles that began with a counter-offensive operation, the special forces of the Navy, having shown dedication, perseverance, steadfastness, and heroism in the battles, took an active part in the liberation of the Zangilan, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Gubadly districts and the city of Shusha on September 27, 2020," Bakirov said. The commander of the Naval Special Forces, speaking with a video message to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, announced the liberation of the Gubadli district from occupation on October 25, 2020," he added. I want to note that during the fighting, a total of 9 of our servicemen became martyrs, 50 were injured. According to the relevant orders of the president, for special merits in the second Karabakh war, junior midshipman Fagan Zalov, who became a martyr posthumously, and two more servicemen were awarded the title of "Hero of the Patriotic War", the rest were awarded various orders and medals," he said. Qvist Lavelle Ref Bikes Formula Beast & Pirope Elite The Jet Green bottle is made from sugar cane. And the new Cannibal XC bottle cage is made from castor bean oil. One-K Wheels Gregario Intend Not a bad fleet of bikes to have on your rack. The Qvist team was not too happy with the quality they got from suppliers, so they bought the right machines to make their hubs in house. On the top right you can see the prototype from last year, which has a double sided ratchet system with 120 points of engagement. The hubs will become available later this year.The Lavelle wheels did look very good last year, but they made quite a few subtle changes to their wheels in the meantime. The totally silent and instantly engaging hub is very promising. Once the wheels become available, they are planning to offer custom layups for the spokes and rims so you can decide what kind of ride feel you want.These interesting made-in-France frames use huge lugs, but the lack of seat stays is even more impressive. All Ref frames come with a belt drive, which is easy to install due to the lack of seat stays. The same frame can be built as E-Version (rear hub motor) or as a regular bike.The new Formula Mod DH shock doesn't have a lockout, but you can still change the CTS units and change the damping characteristics at home.Beast carbon rims are now also available with Pirope spokes, including the Enduro ED30 rims, gravel and road options.The Elite Neto kit lets you sterilize bottles in your microwave. Add some water into the Neto kit, place it in your microwave at 700 W for one minute and the steam will eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and molds.One-K has introduced a new gravel wheelset that also uses their proprietary carbon spokes. The new coating is said to make them more resistant.This is totally not a mountain bike, but it's exciting to know that Gregario has a special process that allows them to make custom-sized monocoque carbon frames in Italy. They say that they would love to make MTB frames in the future, so stay tuned.In addition to being able to choose your measurements independently or with the help of a trusted bike fitter, it is possible to use an app, which detects the measurements of body segments with AI and a camera. Nick Pupillo Wins First Bracelet In $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw for $181,978 June 25, 2023 Liam Gannon Live Reporter This years iteration of Event #52: $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas saw a total player tally of 353 create a prize pool of $785,425. That money was divided up between the final 53 players, of which 19 returned to the Horseshoe for Day 3. At the end of it all, it was three-time WSOPC ring winner Nick Pupillo who took down his first WSOP bracelet for $181,978. Its pretty surreal, it feels good, the newly minted champion said with tears in his eyes. I love the mixed games, it really felt like my tournament. I late regged and ran really well. The Illinois-born poker professional has amassed over $4,675,902 in lifetime earnings, with WSOP cashes dating back to 2014. Often in the conversation of best player without a bracelet, Pupillo recently final-tabled the $10,000 Limit Holdem and finished in sixth place for $62,255. Its definitely a sense of relief, it feels good to win a bracelet, and Ill try to win more. Pupillo was supported by rail of Midwestern friends that included the likes of Sarah Stefan, Josh Reichard and Michael Perrone. Im thankful for everyone that supports me and roots for me. Ive had ups and downs, but Im just grateful. While the photos were being taken, Pupillo pulled up a picture of his family, his biggest supporters. Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Nick Pupillo United States $181,978 2 Ryan Moriarty United States $112,472 3 Aaron Mermelstein United States $74,545 4 Tomomitsu Ono Japan $50,608 5 Hye Park United States $35,212 6 Brant Hale United States $25,126 Day 3 Action The day's early action saw the end of many a notable player's run. Matt Vengrin (19th-$6,948) became the first player to bust just before the final three-table redraw. Others who fell included Cary Katz(18th - $6,948), Robert Mizrachi (17th - $8,495), John Monnette (16th - $8,495), Joao Vieira (10th - $10,690), and Ray Henson (9th - $13,834). The last player to fall before the final table was WSOP bracelet winner Andrew Brown who got in his final few chips in at 2-7. He held an eight-seven against Aaron Mermelsteins eight-five. Brown collected $13,834 for his eighth-place finish. Andrew Brown finished the tournament in eighth place, Final Table Action It did not take long for the final table to lose its first player. The only prior bracelet winner at the table was Anatolii Zyrin, who came in as the shortest stack. He ended up staying pat during a 2-7 hand with a nine-six against Brant Hale who drew an eight-seven on the end. The two-time bracelet winner collected $18,398 for his seventh-place finish and the official final table was set. Hale would be the next one out the door after a massive pot with Nick Pupillo would leave him with just a quarter of a small blind. He ended up being forced all in from the big blind in A-5 and made a nine-eight against Aaron Mermelstein six-five, and he exited the tournament in sixth place for $25,126. Hye Park came into the final table as one of the shorter stacks, but his undoing came in multiple hands. The first saw a Badugi hand where he accidentally mucked the winner against Pupillo, the next was when Mermelstein caught a seven-six in 2-7, and the final hand saw him run into the wheel in 2-7 against Ryan Moriarty. The 2021 WSOP Main Event 6th place finisher wished his table well and collected $35,212 for his fifth-place finish. Tomomitsu Ono saw a few coolers in Badugi end his chances of the bracelet. The final cooler saw him get in a blind versus blind confrontation with Pupillo when Ono was dealt a pat ten, and Pupillo was dealt a pat seven. All the chips went in on the second round of betting, and Ono took home $50,608 for his fourth-place finish. Ryan Moriarty Mermelstein was the next to depart the field in third place. As the blinds progressed, many hands did not go his way and as his chip stack got shorter, he found himself in a multiway pot in Badugi while Pupillo and Moriarty would play for a side. Pupillo made a perfect jack which bested Mermelsteins three-card ten and Mermelstein collected $75,545 for his efforts, while Pupillo went into heads up with a massive lead. Heads up did not last long as the players never left the round of 2-7 Triple Draw. The final hand saw Moriarty make a king-nine on the final draw, while Pupillo made a nine-seven which secured Pupillo his first bracelet and saw Moriarty take home a career-best score of $112,472 for his second-place finish. Thank you for reading along here on PokerNews. Stay tuned for all updates regarding the 2023 WSOP. Check out our guide to the Best Online Casinos around the world. For US players, online real money casino is available in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey and West Virginia. If you're looking to start playing Online Casino right now, then we recommend FanDuel Casino. If youre in a State where real money online casino isnt an option, then you still have the chance to play via Social Casino sites such as Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots. Sharelines Nick Pupillo is the latest champion at the 2023 World Series of Poker. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Chris Christie got laughs on Fox News by calling out Trump for being overweight as the former president mocked the weight of the former New Jersey governor. Video of Christie: Christie said when asked on Fox Newss Media Buzz about Trumps criticisms of his weight: Like hes some Adonis? There are tens of millions of Americans who, like me, struggle with my weight. I continue to struggle, I continue to try to do better and so do they, and whats that got to do with my competence for office? I ran the governorship in New Jersey for eight years, I think, in an energetic, successful way, responded to Hurricane Sandy working 20 hours a day for weeks. I dont know what his point is. You know what it is? Its a bully on the schoolyard who teases you and makes fun of you. But heres my message to him, I dont care what he says about me, and I dont care what he thinks about me, and he should take a look in the mirror every once in a while, maybe hed drop the weight thing off of his list of criticisms. Chris Christie isnt going to win the Republican nomination, but according to the latest NBC News poll, he has risen to fourth place in the Republican primary. Christie is polling at 5%. He is two points behind former vice president Mike Pence for third. Christie is ahead of Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, and everybody else not named Trump, DeSantis, or Pence. Christies willingness to unload in Trump has gotten him tons of free media and appearances on TV. If Christie manages to get double-digit support, he will show that there is a constituency for blunt criticism of Trump in the Republican primary. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. The comprehensive operational search and preventive measures carried out on the territory of the regions of Azerbaijan bordering with the Russian Federation under the conditional "Border-Shield" name have been completed, Trend reports. The operations were carried out in accordance with the mutual agreement reached between the Ministers of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. In connection with the ongoing operations, police posts were established in the relevant places in the territories of Guba, Gusar, Khachmaz, Balakan, Zagatala, Gakh, Shaki, Oguz, and Gabala districts. The main purpose of the operations, which lasted a week, was to identify and neutralize transnational organized criminal groups and members of terrorist organizations, to identify and suppress channels for the receipt of financial and material resources aimed at the sale of weapons, explosives, and devices, narcotic drugs, etc. Such complex operational search activities are carried out regularly, with strict observance of the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, as well as the national interests and laws of Azerbaijan. Comprehensive operational-investigative and preventive measures under the conditional "Border-Shield" name began on June 19. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 94F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 73F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Apart from finalizing a big order that had already been announced, Boeing Co. left the Paris Air Show last week with only a handful of new deals including a pair for its North Charleston-built 787 Dreamliner jet. Air India confirmed its agreement to buy 220 Boeing planes on the second day of the event. The order, which was disclosed in February, includes 190 737 Max jets, 20 Dreamliners and 10 777X models. The carrier also has options to purchase an additional 50 737s and 20 787s. All told, the deal is Boeing's biggest-ever with a South Asian airline. That same day, Taiwan-based China Airlines said it agreed to firm up options for another eight Dreamliners adding to a previous order for 16 of the widebodies in a deal that had already been booked by Boeing as an "unidentified customer" order. The carrier is adding Dreamliners to replace aging Airbus jets and expand its regional network. Boeing notched two more 787 orders on the show's third day from AirLease Corp., which already has 33 of the planes in its fleet. Overall, Boeing recorded 356 commercial plane orders and options including 50 for Dreamliners during the biennial air show, according to an order tracker compiled by FlightGlobal.com. French rival Airbus announced deals for 846 jets. Despite the lack of big orders during one of the industry's biggest sales and marketing events, Boeing's Dreamliner is now selling at the highest rate in the program's history, according to a report by SimpleFlying.com. That's largely due to a trio of big orders in recent months, including upstart Riyadh Air's plan to buy up to 72 787s, a deal with Saudia Airlines for up to 49 more and a United Airlines agreement in December to purchase as many as 200 Dreamliners. Supply chain issues have been the biggest concern when it comes to Boeing's ability to fulfill those orders. That took another hit last week when Spirit Aerosystems shut down its Wichita, Kan., plant when workers represented by the International Association of Machinists union voted to strike. Spirit makes the forward fuselage for the Dreamliner. Waste shipment A contaminated drum of nuclear waste that's been sitting in the parking lot of a New Mexico repository for nearly a year is headed back to South Carolina. The barrel was sent in August 2022 from the Savannah River Site in Aiken to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, N.M., where it was scheduled to buried in an underground vault. But when nuclear waste managers pried opened part of the drum's outer containment vessel to sample what was inside, the test "came back with detectable airborne plutonium-238 and americium-241 contamination," according to a June 2 letter from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The sample was taken through a process called "venting," in which air from the head space between the drum's outer and inner containment vessels is tested. When that test came back positive, safety protocols wouldn't allow the Carlsbad site's waste managers to fully open the inner containment vessel for processing. So, the decision was made to send the drum back to South Carolina. Trouble was the drum's five-year transportation certification expired between the time it arrived in New Mexico and when it was tested. That meant the NRC would have to either inspect and recertify the drum or the Department of Energy would have to come up with an alternative transportation plan, according to a report in the Carlsbad Current-Argus newspaper. Ultimately, the two agencies decided to repackage the drum in yet another container to be trucked back to the Aiken site. That configuration "is not currently approved" by federal regulations, according to the June 2 letter, but the agencies decided to make a one-time exception in this case. The shipment date has not been made public. The 310-square-mile Savannah River Site specialized in the production of plutonium and tritium for use in making nuclear weapons starting in the 1950s until the end of the Cold War. In 1992, its focus shifted to environmental cleanup, nuclear materials management and research and development. Port statistics The number of loaded import containers moving through the Port of Charleston fell by 21.5 percent in May compared to a year ago, according to data released by the State Ports Authority. Loaded imports, which drove cargo growth throughout the pandemic, amounted to 99,130 20-foot containers last month. Loaded exports totaled 55,201 containers a 3.5 percent increase from last year. All told, the port's terminals moved 198,824 containers loaded and empty in May for a 22 percent year-over-year decline. Through the first 11 months of fiscal 2023, the port has handled nearly 2.4 million containers. That is about 10 percent fewer than the same period last year. The port also handled 20,026 vehicle imports and exports in May, up 14 percent year-over-year, and saw an 8 percent jump in cruise ship passengers to nearly 26,000 people. Charleston, SC (29403) Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 94F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 79F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 93F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 79F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. A preliminary reporting meeting of the commission, established by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 21, 2023, chaired by the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, has been held to investigate the situation in Soyudlu village (Gadabay district) on June 25, Trend reports. Chairman of the Commission, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev informed the prime minister about the preliminary results of the monitoring and assessment of the current situation carried out at the landfill in Soyudlu village. He noted that in this area, the relevant authorities assess the impact on the environment, taking water and soil samples and conducting analyzes, as well as checking the air quality. The minister emphasized that the company operating in the area, in accordance with the signed agreement, assumed the obligations reflected in the Environmental Impact Assessment Document to fully comply with water, soil and atmospheric air quality standards, as well as all other environmental standards. The meeting participants discussed the preliminary results of the monitoring, as well as the tasks facing the commission. The commission was established to address the concerns of the village residents about the potential negative environmental affect of the creation of an artificial lake in the village territory. If given a final OK from City Council, Charleston voters will see a $70 million parks bond referendum this fall. City Council on June 20 voted unanimously to give initial approval to placing the referendum on the Nov. 7 ballot, which will also include races for half of city council and mayor. The bond referendum will see a final vote of approval from council at the next meeting July 18. If approved by voters, the bond program will fund a series of parks projects and upgrades throughout the city. That list includes a recreation and aquatic center on Johns Island, new parks for Daniel Island and the Cainhoy peninsula, a new recreation center on James Island and a new park on a 207-acre property on Bear Swamp Road in West Ashley. It also includes upgrades to the existing James Island Recreation Complex and the McMahon Playground and Corrine Jones Playground. A new pool is proposed at the Bees Landing Recreation Center in West Ashley and a new aquatic center at Forest Park in West Ashley. The list is still subject to adjustments from council. Following are examples of how much taxes would go up annually in Charleston and Berkeley counties if the bond passes: $42 on a $350,000 owner-occupied home. (4 percent) $63 on a $350,000 rental home. (6 percent) $60 on a $500,000 owner-occupied home. $90 on a $500,000 rental home. Those figures could decrease over time as city's tax base grows. The projects identified for potential bond funding are guided by a parks master plan the city published in 2021, in addition to council member feedback. The plan tallies up maintenance and repair work costs as well as areas in need of new projects. City leaders worked to identify the highest-impact priorities. "We identified some of the larger projects that would serve a greater population of people," said Charleston Parks Director Jason Kronsberg. Some of the projects are targeted toward areas where the city's population is expected to grow, including the Cainhoy peninsula and Johns Island. The document identified nearly $220 million worth of immediate and long-term needs for the citys parks. Of those, $130 million was identified for new parks and facilities and about $90 million for maintenance. The bond can fund some maintenance projects but not routine weekly or monthly maintenance. The proposed referendum is much lower than those numbers because the parks department does not have the available resources to pursue all the identified projects at once. City Council does have the discretion to approve putting the bond funds toward other projects on the master plan list should extra funding be available. Last year, Mount Pleasant voters approved a $50 million parks and recreation bond by just a 1 percent margin. The question pitted recreation advocates against those opposed to higher taxes, with some even calling public parks socialism on the social media site NextDoor. Other voters opposed the measure because they hoped to see a 120-acre park site owned by the town since 2010 remain as undeveloped green space. PAWLEYS ISLAND The beach at Pawleys Island is longer than it's been in more than a century. Those shifting sands carry a steep cost. As Pawleys grows, neighbors to its south are watching their beach wash away. It's a slow-motion disaster: First the water came for the live oaks, the parking lot and sand dunes, then it knocked over the boardwalk leading from the first house to what used to be the beach. And the rushing waters of the inlet that flows on the backside of Pawleys haven't let up. Trapped in a new path by the growing southern tip of Pawleys Island, the water claimed a second boardwalk during high tide earlier this month. The northern tip of Prince George is fortified with rocks and sheets of metal to prevent the water from rushing into homes that were built 200 feet from the sea. A rebuilt wooden structure slightly farther south to serve a similar purpose began leaning as soon as it was erected this winter. It fell within weeks. The changes began shortly after Pawleys hauled in more than a million cubic yards of sand for a beach renourishment three years ago, twice as much sand as the town used in its previous four projects combined. But while Pawleys faces three lawsuits from Prince George homeowners who say the town, state agencies and firms that performed the work should have known better, the town is poised to add even more sand by the end of this year. The federal government has committed $14 million to bring offshore sand to Pawleys Island because homes there were left more vulnerable to storm surge after Hurricane Ian blew through last summer. "There's no way you should be doing anything else until you solve this particular problem," said Rob Young, a professor at Western Carolina University who has been studying shorelines for three decades. "There's no doubt in my mind that it's a result of all that beach nourishment sand coming down the spit very quickly, pushing the inlet south towards Prince George. I wish they could figure out how to fix that sooner rather than later. It's been going on for too long." The fix is relatively simple: dig a path across the southern tip of Pawleys to create a new path for the inlet. But there's no plan in place to do that. Town leaders aren't convinced they're responsible for the inlet's shift. Town Administrator Dan Newquist, who was hesitant to say much about the issue because of the lawsuits, said the town's position is that inlets are constantly moving, and nature's course can't conclusively be linked to their decision to pile so much sand onto the beach. The town obtained permits from the state to ensure the project was safe beforehand, he said. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control, which issued the permits, declined to talk about the issue because it's a defendant in the lawsuits. Inlets and beaches constantly move, and in South Carolina, that movement drifts to the south. Five times more sand washes out of South Carolina to the south than the north. In Charleston County, Isle of Palms is working on a plan to haul in truckloads of sand this summer to protect a handful of homes where dunes have been washed away by the movement of Breach Inlet. But the changes there haven't been nearly as rapid as at Pawleys. Prince George residents say the timing of the inlet's incursion onto their beach is no coincidence. The issue wasn't just predictable, it was predicted. They point to a report from over a decade ago by the firm that oversaw Pawleys' beach renourishment. It said the town should designate an area south of the island's last home for clearing to control the inlet alongside any plans to add large amounts of sand to the beach. The same company that made that recommendation is watching over the work it did to dump more sand on Pawley's. Coastal Science and Engineering boasts on its website that it has overseen more than 50 beach renourishment projects in North and South Carolina over the past 35 years. It has a longstanding contract with the state to monitor the results of beach projects. Steve Traynum, the company's president, said he's been advised not to say anything because of the pending lawsuit, but added that the company is working to find a solution that would satisfy everyone. The competing interests storm protection for Pawleys, inlet protection for Prince George at their core raise a single question. Does Pawleys Island have too much sand, or not enough? 'Looking out the window is nauseating' From inside the second home on Prince George, Beth Henry could see the walkway from the house to the beach swaying during high tide on June 4. She walked outside to take a look, and a chunk of it had washed away before she got out there. Video from a camera mounted on the house and pointed toward the beach captured the collapse and the waves crashing violently against the fortifications her neighbor built. Henry's family has been visiting this beach since her parents bought the house here 24 years ago. She's seen the inlet shift over the years, but never so quickly or violently. The rip currents caused by the force of the inlet make swimming in front of the house dangerous. "Sometimes I just don't recognize it anymore," said Henry, who watched 20 more feet of dunes collapse in the three days after the boardwalk fell. "You're just at the mercy of the Lord to stop the waves, basically." Bud Watts, who owns the first home on the island, feels certain the water would be underneath his home if he hadn't built a wall with rocks and sheets of metal. He doesn't visit much now, either. Photos from before Pawleys' renourishment show rolling dunes covered with vegetation far beyond his home. It's all gone, swallowed by the inlet. "Sitting in my living room and looking out the window is nauseating," he said. "It's just painful to be there." Watts had to get a court order to prevent the state from stopping the fortifications he installed. Initially, he buried them under more sand, but they're totally exposed now. The courts will ultimately decide whether he and his neighbors are right about the sand on Pawleys Island. But the water isn't waiting. Every week, it encroaches a little farther. Homeowners say their experience should be a lesson for the state, where the pace of adding sand to save beaches is sure to increase with climate change and rising sea levels. In the past two decades, adding sand to beaches in South Carolina has cost $284 million, according to a database kept by Western Carolina University. That database also shows that Pawleys' recent renourishment poured four times as much sand there as it has on any other occasion. State law requires planning, and money set aside, for unforeseen problems when anyone adds a physical structure to the beach to slow erosion. But that requirement isn't in place if the only thing being added to the beach is sand. "Those kinds of policies are requirements that, frankly, we need to have for nourishment, so that in the future we can understand what's happening once we place sand somewhere," said Emily Cedzo of the Coastal Conservation League. "The trouble right now is everyone's going to point the finger and there's no clear consensus because there was never that requirement to understand the potential consequences of that project." Cedzo was part of a state work group on beach preservation that wrapped up its work this winter. She said the state plans to form another group specifically to study renourishment projects. That group will also consider ways to protect nesting sea turtles and shorebirds as the frequency of renourishment increases. It likely won't happen soon enough to protect Prince George. Traynum told The Post and Courier last year that digging a trench through Pawleys to solve the issue could likely be done for under $1 million. Newquist, the Pawleys Island administrator, said there's no plan in place for that work. Adding sand instead of moving it The federal government set aside $14 million for new sand to protect homes after Ian swept away the dunes meant to combat storm surge. The sand from a few years ago helped protect homes from 6 feet of storm surge during Ian, but it's gone in many spots now. Not a single grain for the federal project will come from the expanding southern tip of Pawleys that experts agree is trapping the inlet and sending water rushing toward Prince George. Most of the area south of the last house on Pawleys and beyond the public parking lot are in a protected zone that bars federal workers from touching it, said Jeff Livasy, chief of civil works for the Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District. Regulations require all the new sand to be pumped in from a designated offshore area. Livasy said the Army Corps is working through design for the project and hopes to have the sand in time for next year's storm season. He said analyzing the impacts of the southern tip of Pawleys on its neighbors falls outside the scope of the Army Corps plan. "I can't speculate on what's happened there," he said. "It's not something we've examined." The plan to add more sand has permits and congressional authorization, so the Corps is moving forward to protect the homes on Pawleys with about a quarter-million cubic yards of sand unless they're directed to stop. The thought of more sand on Pawleys Island horrifies homeowners on Prince George. They've vowed to fight it. With this year's hurricane season just beginning, Pawleys and Prince George have one piece of common ground: They're both more exposed to high water than they'd like to be. Charleston City Council sent West Ashley a disturbing message on Tuesday, and not just the obvious one. You know, that Sumar Street sleeps with the fishes. On a deadlocked vote, City Council scuttled plans for the redevelopment of that former Piggly Wiggly site off Sam Rittenberg Boulevard a proposal for green space, a municipal building, shops and restaurants. Council members gave various excuses for refusing to invest $45 million in this gathering place: West Ashley deserves something better (but presumably less expensive); the city shouldnt be in the development business; underground parking is too fancy, and pricey, for Sam Ritt. There were varying degrees of sincerity in their arguments, but make no mistake this was mostly a political hit. The only thing missing was someone saying: Leave the gun. Take the cannoli. A couple of councilmen, particularly Karl Brady, suggested mayoral election politics were at play. As in, some people might want to deny Mayor John Tecklenburg a signature win going into his reelection campaign. If that was the plan, it could backfire. Because this gives Tecklenburg the citys first mayor to live in West Ashley an issue to stir up voters. See, City Councils vote seemed to confirm the perception many West Ashley residents have held for years, that the citys largest suburb is in many ways its least important. Its always been in the abstract, the idea that West Ashley always gets the raw end of the deal, says Councilman Ross Appel. But that was real proof in a concrete way. Yep. While downtown, Daniel Island, even James and Johns islands have seen significant investment and improvements in recent years, much of West Ashley remains a desert of strip malls in various states of repair. West Ashley cant even get the nicer chain restaurants, but its about to welcome its 15th car wash. Somebody call Guinness cleanest cars in the world, right here. When he took office, Tecklenburg established the West Ashley Revitalization Commission to remedy this, and the Sumar Street redevelopment was one of its largest efforts to date. But City Council said, in essence, West Ashley doesnt deserve a nice gateway development that could perhaps spark more revitalization. Even if thats not what council meant, thats how some people took it. And Tecklenburg has suggested hes going to make sure people read: voters know that. Since 2018, more than a thousand of our residents have worked hard to create and support the revitalization plan they wanted for West Ashley. And last night, some of our council members decided to just throw that citizen-led plan in the trash, Tecklenburg said Wednesday. That was wrong. And I intend to keep fighting every day until our West Ashley residents get the plan they asked for and deserve. Yeah, thatll come up again. Some Tecklenburg opponents already have claimed the Sumar Street debacle was due to a lack of leadership not mentioning that their own supporters on council opposed it. And itll be hard for Councilman Peter Shahid, perhaps the highest-profile Tecklenburg opponent in the mayoral race, to use this ... seeing as how hes chairman of the revitalization commission. Thats a draw. More conservative council members and mayoral candidates argue the city shouldnt be in the development business, that the market should decide what goes there. Fair point, but dont expect that to win many West Ashley votes. As Appel reminded his colleagues, the market had decided what belonged there: A developer was going to turn it into a lovely convenience store and gas station. Which is why residents demanded the city buy the land and build something better. City staff and a private developer came up with plans for shops, restaurants, a municipal building and an underground garage to make room for a large green space. On Tuesday, some council members suggested just building the municipal offices the least attractive part of the plan and some green space. Which would basically make it a rest stop between Sam Ritt and Old Towne Road. Honestly, most West Ashley residents probably arent paying much attention to this fight. But the ones who are engaged read: who vote wanted this. As for the rest, well, Appel says the details matter less than the idea that West Ashley got disrespected. Again. Thats a powerful message, one that could fire up folks who otherwise might not vote in an off-year municipal election. And the guy fighting hardest for West Ashley will likely be the beneficiary. Because West Ashley is where the most city residents live ... and vote. And theyre tired of this lack of respect. That could become a deciding factor when the mayors race cranks up this fall and all these candidates go to the mattresses. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision throwing out Alabamas congressional district map demonstrated that the hair-on-fire response to its 2013 ruling in the same state was a partisan misinterpretation of what the court was doing. That first ruling didnt gut the federal Voting Rights Act, as liberal critics on and off the court insisted. It merely said Alabama, South Carolina, seven other Southern states and a smattering of communities across the country no longer had to prove their innocence before they change their election laws; instead, the federal government or individual plaintiffs had to prove their guilt. Which is how our legal system is supposed to work. This months ruling in Alabama v. Milligan also demonstrated anew what a warped view of the Constitution Associate Justice Clarence Thomas and his allies have attempted to impose on our nation arguing for an ignore-race approach that is every bit as extreme as the ignore-everything-but-race approach on the left. Contrary to those justices claims, the courts interpretation of the federal Voting Rights Act doesnt require states to give minority voters a leg up in electing candidates of their choice; in fact, it prohibits that. What it requires, as Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the court's June 8 opinion, is that states not make it artificially difficult for racial minorities to elect candidates of their choice. Thats a crucial difference that partisans refuse to acknowledge. Indeed, although partisans on the left and the right were shocked by the latest ruling, objective court watchers were not. They were instead gratified to see the court continuing its decades-long effort to pull the United States back from the extremist readings that both left and right have tried to give to the Voting Rights Act. We were particularly gratified to see the ruling because it also upheld the logic behind a three-judge panels 2022 decision to strike down South Carolinas new 1st and 6th congressional districts as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders. And that reinforces our call for the Legislature to redraw those districts rather than continuing to squander tax dollars appealing the decision. Of course, its always possible that the Supreme Court could uphold the S.C. districts; while the Alabama order demonstrated a clear philosophical divide over the question of race in district drawing, it was also fact specific. Columbias State newspaper reports that although Alabama and South Carolina have roughly the same portion of minority voters and both have six out of seven districts drawn with such high proportions of white voters as to make it virtually impossible for black votes to matter, three-judge panels struck down their congressional districts for different reasons. What makes a South Carolina win seem unlikely at the Supreme Court is that the high court refused to depart from its decades-long reading of the Voting Rights Act, as Alabama officials had requested. That means the odds of a S.C. win are greatly diminished, which makes it all the more inappropriate for the Legislature to continue defending a map that is morally bankrupt for reasons that have nothing to do with race or whether the plan violates the Constitution. Those reasons center around the whole idea of gerrymandering, where the party in power spreads its supporters out so there are just enough of them in as many districts as possible to ensure a win, while simultaneously cramming as many of the other party's supporters as possible into the smallest number of districts possible. This results in the majority party winning more seats than it otherwise would based on the portion of the voters who support it. The process is accomplished by cobbling together census blocks little boxes on a map that represent a few dozen people each with the help of ever-more-sophisticated computer mapping software and ever-more-detailed voter behavior information based on how often we vote, which primaries we vote in and our income, race, age and other census data. Whether its based on race or not and whether the motivation is racial or merely partisan gerrymandering disregards voters' interests to satisfy the interests of the political party in charge. It turns the entire idea of a representative democracy on its head, allowing legislators to select their voters instead of giving voters the opportunity to select their legislators. As such, it betrays the trust of voters and is inherently immoral. This is why our Legislature should turn the district-drawing process over to an independent redistricting commission whose recommendations it would have to accept or reject without modification. We'd still end up with mostly Republicans in our congressional delegation and in our Legislature, but the gap might not be as large, and more importantly, its size would depend more on the quality of the nominees. In those states that have done this, it has resulted in more races that are decided in November as opposed to what we have in South Carolina, where the real decisions too often are made in the primaries and you can count on two hands how many legislative seats are truly up for grabs in the fall. And its why our Legislature should stand down from its costly appeal of the 2022 order to redraw the 1st and 6th congressional districts in a way that no longer makes it extra difficult for black voters to have their voices heard and in a way that respects all voters. For a change. Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier. Editor's note: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly said Gov. Henry McMaster and Attorney General Alan Wilson were also parties to the lawsuit. FLORENCE A federal grant could possibly reduce the amount of railroad crossings in the city. The $66,000 grant will fund a study that will take about a year to complete. It will look at crossings to determine the best way to make them more safe for pedestrians and traffic. This could result in some crossings being eliminated, which has been done in the past, or putting up extra signage. The study will be performed by a third-party hired by the city. Florence is a railroad town, Assistant City Manager Clint Moore said. That's why we're here. With that came all of the social issues that come along with railroads and the bisecting communities and everything that occurs with that. Florence began at the intersection of two separate rail lines. The president of the company that owned one of those lines eventually built his home at the stop and named the growing area after his daughter. The social issues Moore mentioned are the problems that may come with the perception of a community being seen as on one side of the railroad tracks," which Moore said historically had contributed to segregation. These issues can look like less businesses coming to areas beyond the artificial boundaries set by the tracks. [Business owners] feel that they would only be welcomed, or even sometimes allowed to open up a business in a certain area, Moore said. The railways in the city run along the Baroody Street and Highway 52 heading into the city and across East Palmetto Street on an overpass moving north. These rails converge at the Florence Station behind McLeod Family Medical Center. Portions of city Districts 1 and 2 both have areas that sit north of the tracks that run along the Baroody Streets. These are areas Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin said she wanted to bring new housing development to when she ran for city council, serving from 2010 up until 2020 when she became the mayor. You had minorities on one side, and the majority on the other, Ervin said. Ervin said the city met with rail lines last year to discuss solutions to stopped trains at stations from blocking multiple crossings. As a result, she said shes noticed less cars attached to the trains in recent months, resulting in less intersections being blocked at once. The study is one piece of the larger downtown revitalization the city is pursuing. Multiple attempts in the past have been made to improve the historic downtown district. One project in 1976 attempted to create a covered concrete promenade attached to storefronts to attract shoppers from malls that had caused the initial decline of the downtown. It and three other attempts later failed. A master plan for downtown was written in 2006 that created the Florence Downtown Development Corp. The group helps interested parties create business plans and apply for grants and tax credits to renovate historic buildings in the downtown area. Other projects coming to the downtown area include Project Urban Square, which will include apartments, a parking garage, hotel and business/retail space. Site preparation began May 1. The Carolina Theatre on Dargan Street will also be renovated starting this fall. Ervin said the Save-a-lot grocery store in 2021 and Hope Health in 2016 were some examples of development pushing past the tracks running across the Baroody Streets and growing those neighborhoods. The largest CSX rail yard in South Carolina is located in Florence. The city has 33 crossings. South Carolina has almost 2,300 miles of rail, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerces website. Three crossings in the Dargan corridor were eliminated years ago due to safety concerns. Four people died when a car crashed into a stopped train on North Dargan Street last year. Moore said the city sees one to two car related incidents at crossings every year. Moore said the city wants to get more, bigger grants to help fund physical changes to locations the study may say need to be looked at. Some cities received grants as large as $40 million. Moore said he wants this study to be finished before the next application cycle for grants opens. DARLINGTON Darlington County is bursting with history decades of African American pioneers and role models, a nationally-renowned racetrack and ties to presidents and high-level military officials. The Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum was bequeathed $4 million to build a first-of-its-kind museum for the city to house its history. As far as a functioning, freestanding museum like this, it was never in the playing cards for us, Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum Director and County Historian Brian Gandy said. A big surprise People in Darlington had long considered adding a museum aspect to the commissions existing facility at a repurposed jail, Gandy said. Ideas about adding a small room were thrown around. Now, the commission is almost done building a nearly 9,000 square-foot expansion, a far cry from a tiny room. The museum expansion was made possible because of an estate bequest from lifelong Darlington resident, Carolyn Bet Philips, after her death in 2018. The commission used to be strictly archival. In fact, the Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum didnt add museum to the title until it received Philips gift. Since getting the Phillips gift, the commission has been given numerous artifacts and pieces from county residents who want to help fill the museum expansion, Gandy said. We had a fair collection of artifacts, Gandy said. With an archive you're primarily worried about paper documents. Most of the commissions focus is on local historical and family genealogy research gathered from its nearly 15,000 family name files and other city documents. Approximately 12,000 people per year reach out to the commission from across the country with research requests, Gandy said. Darlingtons archive is so large that it has to be measured in miles, not feet. The collection of documents would be a mile and a half long, standing straight up, Gandy said. A museum filled with artifacts couldnt coexist with the commissions behemoth collection of documents. There just wasnt enough space, Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum Chairman Bill Segars said. [Philips] realized that it was her desire to have a museum proper, he said. We have followed her wishes, hopefully to the 'T'. Pinching pennies Carolyn Bet Philips was born and raised in Darlington. Her home was full of Darlington County historical material that she would share with Gandy, he said. [Philips], who I knew, had always been very interested in history, Segars said. Philips had hinted at giving a donation to the commission before her death. She would ask Gandy what he could do for the people of Darlington County with different sums of money, he said. The highest number shed ever questioned him about, $20,000, is less than 1% of the $4 million she left the commission. Gandy and the commission never expected to get that much money, he said. Building an expansion to an existing, nearly 100-year-old building is not a cheap task. After material and labor costs, hiccups and shortages, $4 million can disappear fast. The goal is to make it look like it's always been there, Segars said. Planning and construction operated with an understanding that theyd have to use the money wisely, Gandy said. The commission pinched pennies to make the budget work since the expansions construction began in early 2022. Gandy said he compromised when necessary, cut costs and shopped every supplier. Gandy and his mother, former Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum Director and County Historian Doris Gandy, spent two years traveling to museums across the Southeast to get an idea of how to build one with a budget. The pair went to 392 museums and took exhaustive notes and photographs. Gandy asked the curators what worked for them and what they would change, he said. He compiled all of that information into a plan, a 1-inch-thick stack full of what should be achieved for a museum expansion. What were going to get here is the byproduct of good from all that, he said. Niche walls inspired by a museum in Berkeley County. A center wall division inspired by a museum in Charleston. Black ceilings inspired by a museum in Gaffney. The museum will be full of Darlington County history with bits and pieces of other South Carolina locales. Never-before-displayed Darlington County is home to just over 62,000 people, according to Census data. But its history is plentiful and rich. The new museum expansion will have some of the countys most notable artifacts on display, most have never been available to the public before, Gandy said. The oldest known document in the Pee Dee, a more than 370-year-old Bible, will be on display for the first time. It belonged to Morgan James, whose son brought the Bible to the Pee Dee with the first group of area settlers in 1736. A pistol bought at a Darlington hardware store, engraved with the name, date and location a Darlington man was standing at the first shot of the Civil War also will be on display for the first time. Other artifacts from notable African American pioneers from Darlington will be on view as well. Furniture from Zachariah Wines living room, one of the first free African American merchants, will fill a portion of the gallery. The gallery wont be the only source of information for guests. What we're aiming for here is the use of QR codes and interactives that will allow patrons to dive as deep as their curiosity commands them to dig, Gandy said. The interactives and QR codes will be integrated into the displays, he said, and allow guests to get more information even if a member of museum staff isnt available Most of the exhibit niches also will sport audio boxes that guests can use to listen to detailed explanations of artifacts and exhibits. The commission plans to expand those audio boxes with different languages, Gandy said. Gandy said he hopes people in Darlington will be able to realize their greater connection to the county, the state, the nation and the world through the exhibits and artifacts, he said. I think, ultimately, people are good, he said. And I think that with this, it's gonna give us the opportunity to present some of those role models. Annie Vann Reid is a figure that Gandy hopes guests remember as a role model, he said. She, an African American florist and entrepreneur, provided flowers to the South Carolina State House throughout the financial hardship of the Great Depression. Her business, Darlington Florist, is still selling flower arrangements nearly 100 years later. That is a role model, Gandy said. Because if she can do it, then why can't people do it today? The commission hopes having an expansion dedicated to artifacts and exhibits will inspire children and adults to learn more, Segars said. School districts from around the area will be welcome at the museum, he said. The expansionconstruction should be complete by the middle of July. The gallery is expected to be fully designed and completed by November. FLORENCE If you take a right just up North Williston Road from Buc-ees, youll see a historical marker for the Roseville Plantation. Turn right, and youll be greeted by a gravel road flanked by oaks, some more than a 100 years old, leading toward a white gate and past that, a plantation house with a green tin roof, the Roseville plantation. The plantation's restoration was a project Britt Tucker and his father had undertaken. Sometimes they spent seven days a week on the task. Its about the only place I can go to get close to him, Tucker said. Tuckers father began refurbishing the house in 1990. It took four years to complete. Tucker would help with refurbishing the rooms during the last year. Doing things like sanding the floors and furnishing the rooms. The plantation hosted weddings and served as a home for Tuckers mother and father until they passed away. Plantation for sale Tucker wants to sell the house with a legal guarantee that the house will not be demolished. The entire 13.5-acre area the house sits on will be sold and the new owner will be able to develop any commercial venue they wish on the property as long as the house is not demolished. Tucker is 66 and wants to enjoy his retirement rather than keep the house in shape and manage what he hopes would be a bed and breakfast at the plantation once it sells, he said. The nearby Back Swamp and Pocket Road Community, which has fought off development attempts in and around their neighborhood for decades, also wants the house to stay and serve as a line in the dirt to where development near their community stops. The area the plantation sits on was established by a royal grant in 1771. Richard Brockinton, a state representative, bought the plantation in 1821. The house burned down, though, and a new one was built in 1835. The plantation was passed down to Brockintons nephew, whose daughter was Ada White Bacot Clarke. She was born in Roseville and would later serve as a Confederate nurse and diarist who depicted hospital life in the Confederacy through her diary. Plantation on National Register of History Places Tuckers father bought the plantation in 1986, He put the plantation on the National Register of Historic Places. Tuckers father bought and remodeled multiple plantations throughout his life. The plantation is surrounded by commercial property and sits next to the Taco Bell and Buc-ees off Interstate 95 and has been a target for development in the past. Honda sought to build a 600-acre plant manned by 700 people in 1997 on the land the plantation sat on. When the Back Swamp and Pocket Road community protested, though, Honda left. David Andrews has lived in the area for over 30 years and was there when the community protested against Honda moving onto the land. I was amazed that a group like this, a grassroots group like this, was able to fight a company like Honda, Andrews said. The Back Swamp and Pocket Road community has been home to multiple generations of families such as the Dargans and Williamsons. Property has been passed down from family member to family member. Louise Dargan Thompson is the eighth generation of her family to live on their land in the community. Shes a portrait painter who also does scenes of wildlife in a studio by her house, which was built by her great uncle and great aunt and sits next to her grandparents house. She even has cousins in the area in the form of the Dargan family. Some of the families in the area are related. Bluegrass concerts in the local school house, which serves as a meeting spot for the community and paths through the forest to other peoples houses keep the community connected. We look out for each other, Thompson said. Everybody kind of has a mutual respect for the place. So we feel answerable in a good way to our neighbors. And I think that that's really unique. Jo Jeffers, Thomspon's mother, grew up in the area. She lived in the Charleston area for 33 years before moving back in 2000. Continued development in and around the community makes her concerned about whether future generations would want to live in the area. Wed like it to stay in a place that's good to live, raise your family, go to church, Jeffers said. If we have more and more development coming from both of those old roads, that'll destroy some of it. Fending off development The community is no stranger to fending off development attempts. Between 1994-1995, the community fought against a proposed pipeline for SCANA that wouldve gone through the neighborhood. A recreational lake was proposed in 1996 in the area that wouldve put several peoples houses underwater, including some of Jeffers neighbors. A developer in the past also wanted to put a high-density neighborhood next to the school house. Thompson helped to share the negative effects the neighborhood would have on the community, saying the resulting high traffic and the area itself didnt fit the character of the community. When the developer moved on, The Pee Dee Land Trust donated a conservation easement of over 90-acres around the schoolhouse to protect it from future development. The Trust, founded in 1998, is a 501c3 non-profit that manages easements for private landowners. The Trust has easements in nine counties in the Pee Dee Watershed. The Watershed includes The Great Pee Dee River, Little Pee Dee River, Black River, Lynches River and Waccamaw River. The Trust has issued easements on 6,680 acres in the Backswamp and Pocket Road Community. Conservation easements are legal documents that say what can and cannot be done on a property. They generally do not allow any industrial or commercial development outside of agriculture. The Trust is not an advocacy organization, Lyles Cooper, the executive director, said, despite requests from other land owners to be more active in convincing landowners to protect their lands through an easement. She said the Trusts largest base of support is in Darlington and Florence counties. Once [I-95] was built in the 60s, it was inevitable that that intersection was going to be developed, sadly, Cooper said. Because there's just so much beautiful property and very well managed property out there. The Buc-ees is part of a larger project called Indigo Circle, which is a 600-acre planned multi-use development including the Francis Marion University Freshwater Ecology Center and 250 acres reserved for corporate or research developments. There is also 125 acres reserved for any future development. Construction is underway on smaller parcels adjacent to the Buc-ees. The continued development of the area near Roseville, and possibly of Roseville itself, could invite more development into and around the community, which Andrews said he and the community dont want. A more than 100-acre parcel directly across the road from the plantation, designated 00202-01-003 on a tax map, also is of concern to the Back Swamp and Pocket Road community. The parcel is zoned as RU-1 community. The mailing address is located in Washington, D.C. The parcel is for sale as of June 26. RU-1 is a zoning district in Florence County that is meant to "sustain and support rural community centers as an integral part of the rural environment," and address the social commercial, service and agricultural needs of nearby residents. The minimum acreage for this type of zoning is 15,000 square feet. Members of the community will attend a Florence County planning commission meeting July 25 to advocate for maintaining the rural zoning the parcel holds. Thompson said the continued development of the area could cause more traffic and litter. She said she's already seen more trash ending up on the side of the road. The Georgetown and Pocket roads are also both used as detours for I-95 when needed. Thompson called development in the area, which is where her family now lives, a huge mistake. Once you open that door you can never get it back, Thompson said. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly said the parcel of land across from Roseville was slated to be rezoned. COLUMBIA The S.C. Legislature's conservative push to ban abortion roughly six weeks into a pregnancy goes back before the state Supreme Court only five months after justices tossed out the last one. A major difference spotlighting the justices this time is the lineup is all men. Justices will hear arguments June 27 on whether the latest law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster violates privacy rights in the state constitution. The hearing comes exactly one year and three days after the U.S. Supreme Court threw out Roe v. Wade, returning the legality of abortions to state legislators. With the exception of the newest justice on South Carolina's now-all-male high court, they may experience deja vu. They will again hear about a law that bans abortions once an ultrasound detects cardiac activity which can occur around the sixth week and its limited exceptions covering victims of rape or incest, saving the mother's life or when a fetus is diagnosed with a fatal anomaly. The central new question for Round Two of Planned Parenthood vs. the state of South Carolina may be whether justices set precedent with their ruling, which court filings on both sides refer to by number, as in Planned Parenthood 1. "The ink on the court's Jan. 5, 2023, decision was barely dry" when legislators started debating "a nearly identical law," reads the introduction of Planned Parenthood's June 20 filing. The abortion provider contends there is no reason to depart from precedent. "Just as the General Assembly has recycled its six-week ban, (the state's attorneys) have repurposed the same legal arguments they used in Planned Parenthood 1," the provider's attorneys wrote, asserting the state's newest abortion law remains "an unreasonable invasion of the constitutional right to privacy." Attorneys for McMaster and the Legislature's GOP leaders contend no precedent was set due to the rarity of justices' splintered paths in reaching their conclusion. While a 3-2 majority found the prior six-week ban unconstitutional, all five justices wrote separate opinions explaining their reasoning. There's no "single rationale for a majority of the court," McMaster's attorneys wrote in their June 14 filing. "Significantly, no majority of the court resolved the legal question regarding the meaning of the (constitution's) privacy provision," wrote attorneys for House Speaker Murrell Smith, R-Sumter. Lawmakers' attorneys again argued the voter-approved 1971 amendment which added the privacy guarantee to South Carolina's constitution was intended to guard against electronic surveillance by the government. It's "nearly inconceivable to think" legislators who put the question on the ballot meant for it to extend to abortion, they wrote. As further evidence, they noted abortion remained illegal in state law at the time and the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that trumped the ban was still several years away. In January, now-retired Justice Kaye Hearn wrote the court's decision isn't bound by what the men who proposed the amendment were or weren't thinking in 1970. "We cannot relegate our role of declaring whether a legislative act is constitutional by blinding ourselves to everything that has transpired since the amendment was adopted," she wrote in the decision's lead opinion, noting the South Carolina Legislature didn't even ratify women's right to vote until 1969. But the fate of the latest abortion ban may hinge on the thinking of her male replacement, former Appeals Judge Gary Hill. The ruling Hearn's lead opinion particularly brought new and intense scrutiny over who would succeed Hearn, whose 72nd birthday forced her into retirement due to South Carolina's age limit for judges. A month after the decision, the Legislature elected Hill and made the state Supreme Court the nation's only all-male high court. Republican legislators have said they hope Hill is not the deciding factor. Changes they made in the law McMaster signed last month were geared toward addressing the concerns of Justice John Few, who was considered the swing vote. The governor's attorneys contend the new law "rectifies the three specific issues" in Few's opinion. Specifically, it deleted outdated language left in state law from 1974 when the Legislature codified Roe's trimester framework. It also adds that the state "has a compelling interest from the moment of conception in protecting the unborn," and it deleted references to women being able to make an "informed choice." They don't dispute that many women don't know they're pregnant by six weeks, as the abortion providers stress. But it is possible for them to know, since over-the-counter pregnancy tests can discern the hormones to confirm it as early as 10 days from conception. And with the "informed choice" language gone, it no longer legally matters whether women have time to know they're pregnant and act on that knowledge, according to the state's attorneys. Such tweaks shouldn't matter, the other side contends. "These cosmetic differences cannot dictate a different result when the substance of the act is identical to the one struck down five months ago," wrote the attorneys for Planned Parenthood and the Greenville Women's Clinic. The governor's attorneys argue bans in other states are a reason the January ruling lacks the weight of precedent. By throwing out the 2021 law that temporarily took effect last summer, justices made South Carolina the second-least restrictive state in the Southeast for abortions, other than Virginia. Abortions remain legal in South Carolina through 5 months, though the three clinics operated by Planned Parenthood and the Greenville Women's Clinic do not provide abortions past the first trimester. Later abortions occur in hospitals. The latest data from the state's public health agency shows abortions rising in South Carolina, with about half of the women getting an abortion here coming from another state. "Changes in the law have led to an evolving factual situation in South Carolina," the governor's attorneys wrote. "Our state is becoming an abortion destination across the Southeast," they continued. "It is inconceivable that the framers or the people intended for the (constitution's privacy guarantee) to make South Carolina a sanctuary state for abortions." McMaster is still separately trying to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving any money through South Carolina's Medicaid program for their non-abortion health care services. His 2018 order attempting to remove Planned Parenthood from the Medicaid provider list for services such as cancer screenings and birth control remains blocked by the courts. He's lost at every level. The U.S. Supreme Court has previously denied to hear an appeal on the case. But on June 20, the nation's high court sent it back to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for a third review. McMaster claimed a win, saying he's confident he'll eventually prevail. But a Planned Parenthood spokeswoman said nothing's changed. "It leaves in place a lower court's ruling allowing Medicaid patients to come to Planned Parenthood," Molly Rivera said. "We are confident the Fourth Circuit will affirm their decision for a third time." Lai Oso, a Nigerian communication scholar and professor at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS), Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, is dead. Though the authorities at LASU are yet to confirm what many have described as an unfortunate development, some of Mr Osos colleagues on the campus confirmed the news in separate interviews with PREMIUM TIMES. The newspaper gathered that the don died in a ghastly auto accident Saturday evening on his way back to Lagos from Delta State University (DELSU), Abaraka, where he reportedly went to serve as an external examiner. Confirmation One of Mr Osos colleagues and a senior lecturer at the faculty, Omolade Atofojomo, confirmed that the unfortunate incident happened Saturday night and that the dean just informed the faculty. From God we came to him we will return but this is so painful, Mrs Atofojomo said. Another lecturer in the faculty, Tunde Akanni, said he just received the news from another lecturer in the faculty who he referred to simply as Dr Thanny. Mr Akanni, an associate professor, was dumbfounded by the news, as he could not speak further on the matter. Meanwhile, a statement in a student WhatsApp group also confirmed the news, as members who are students of the faculty, commiserated with the late dons family. We commiserate with Mummy Oso, the children, and his entire family, the communication family worldwide, LASU community, and all others. Baba, your sudden exit is painful, but we rest in the comfort that you have gone to be with the Lord. Rest in Peace, messages on the WhatsApp group read in part. However, when contacted, the head of the Centre for Information and Public Relations in LASU, Yemisi Thomas-Onashile, expressed shock at the news and promised to get back to the reporter. As of the time of this report, Mrs Thomas-Onashile was yet to revert, and did not reply a message sent to to remind her. About Oso Mr Oso was a deputy rector at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, formerly Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, later before joining the services of the Lagos State University. He was appointed the dean of the LASU School of Communication and now Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, between 2011 and 2015. Mr Oso also served as the President of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN). He attended the University of Lagos for his BSc in Mass Communication and obtained Masters in International Relations at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. READ ALSO: Nigerian professor awarded Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship He also bagged his PhD degree from Leicester University, United Kingdom, and was a former Dean of Students Affairs at Caleb University a private university located in Imota area of Lagos State. Mr Oso was a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, African Council of Communication Education, International Association for Communication Research, and Lagos Communication Forum. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Details added: first version posted on 14:02 BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. A preliminary reporting meeting of the commission, established by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 21, 2023, chaired by the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, has been held to investigate the situation in Soyudlu village (Gadabay district) on June 25, Trend reports. Chairman of the Commission, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev informed the prime minister about the preliminary results of the monitoring and assessment of the current situation carried out at the landfill in Soyudlu village. He noted that in this area, the relevant authorities assess the impact on the environment, taking water and soil samples and conducting analyzes, as well as checking the air quality. The minister emphasized that the company operating in the area, in accordance with the signed agreement, assumed the obligations reflected in the Environmental Impact Assessment Document to fully comply with water, soil and atmospheric air quality standards, as well as all other environmental standards. The meeting participants discussed the preliminary results of the monitoring, as well as the tasks facing the commission. The commission was established to address the concerns of the village residents about the potential negative environmental affect of the creation of an artificial lake in the village territory. Counting of votes is ongoing across polling stations in Sierra Leone where elections were held Saturday across the different districts in the West African country. The election is considered a straight contest between the president and candidate of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), Julius Bio, and Samura Kamara, the flagbearer of the All Peoples Congress (APC). Other presidential candidates in the elections are Bah Mohamed Chernoh of the National Democratic Alliance; Coker Prince, Peoples Democratic Party; Jonjo Mohamed, Citizens Democratic Party; Kabuta Henry, United National Peoples Party; and Kakay Iye, Alliance Democratic Party. Also on the ballot are Kamara Musa, Peace and Liberation Party; Margai Francis, Peoples Movement For Democratic Change; Saccoh Dougakoro, Revolutionary United Front Party; Sandy Patrick, National Unity and Reconciliation Party; Sowa-Turay Mohamed, United Democratic Movement; and Williams Victor, Republic National Independent Party. In addition to the presidential ballot, Sierra Leonean voters will also elect members of parliament and local councillors in what will be the fifth election since the end of the countrys civil war, 21 years ago. Peaceful Conduct Despite the pre-election tension and violent rhetoric, the election has largely been peaceful across different parts of the country. In Freetown, the nations capital city, PREMIUM TIMES observed that voters trooped out peacefully to cast their votes for their favourite candidates. In few places where voting was delayed such as the SOS Children Village in Lumley, electoral officials eventually arrived to salvage the situation before noon. In many parts of the Western District of Sierra Leone, voting has ended as of press time Saturday night while counting of votes was ongoing. At Salam Secondary School, Kossoh Town Western Rural, polling center 15124, three people were disenfranchised. According to ECSL workers at the center, the Identity cards (ID) presented by the voters were not valid as the information on their voters register didnt match the ID Cards of the three voters. At Constituency 105, Polling Center 15003, Ward 372, three people were caught trying to engage in double voting. The ECSL voters register at the center showed that the three men had voted, or other people might have voted on their behalf earlier, and they were handed over to the security forces for further investigation. At Waterloo, Western Rural District, polling center 15005, Ward 373, Constituency 105, there were reported cases of suspected ballot stuffing, which resulted in violence. But PREMIUM TIMES understands that the security forces promptly contained the situation. Voting was also delayed at Constituency 127, New England Ville, due to the late arrival of polling materials. Although the election has been relatively peaceful, with high voter turnout, late arrival of voting materials remains a concern, says John Kamara, a resident of Waterloo. Announcement of Results Results of the election are expected to trickle in at the end of the manual counting of votes, says Jalloh Mohamed, an election observer in Freetown. If no presidential candidate secures 55 per cent of valid votes cast in the first ballot, the top two candidates will slug it out in a run-off two weeks after the announcement of the first-round result, according to the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL). Many voters and analysts expect the presidential elections to spill into a run-off, due to the pre-election tension and popularity of the two leading candidatesPresident Julius Bio of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) who is seeking a second and final term and Samura Kamara, 72, the flag bearer of the All Peoples Congress (APC). Ahead of the polls, security agencies had advised radio stations to desist from announcing the results of the elections until the electoral umpire makes official announcement. While voting in the elections is scheduled to end by 5:00pm, the ECSL on Saturday said that voters in queues must be allowed to vote. The electoral umpire, in a press statement posted on its Twitter handle, also acknowledged the late arrival of polling materials in some parts of the Western District due to logistic reasons. It called on Sierra Leoneans to eschew violence and allow the process to run peacefully. Manual counting of votes was ongoing in many of the polling stations across the country as of press time Saturday night. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A total of 11 out of 14 medical students were rescued on Saturday after a speedboat capsized at Marina Resort in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria. The students, members of the Nigeria Medical Students Association (NIMSA), were on a boat cruise when the incident occurred around 3 p.m., Channels Television reported. The Cross River police spokesperson, Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the incident to Channels, said efforts are being intensified to rescue the missing students. According to Channels, the medical students, who are from different universities across the country, were in the state for the NIMSA annual Health Week. The students were on a boat cruise, exploring the city, when the incident happened. Government orders investigation Meanwhile, the Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has ordered an investigation into the boat accident. In a statement on Saturday, the governors spokesperson, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said Mr Otu has vowed to sanction anyone found guilty of compromising safety. The governor, who is saddened that three of the medical students, who are in Calabar for the Nigeria Medical Students Games, are yet to be found, charged security and rescue agencies as well as local villagers involved in the operations to find the missing students and reunite them with their families. As a government, our administration remains committed to protecting the sanctity of life and providing an enabling environment for business, tourism and peaceable living. Therefore, any untoward action that could derail our objective will not be tolerated, Mr Otu said. The governor commended personnel of the Nigerian Navy and local villagers who responded swiftly and rescued 11 of the 14 passengers on the boat. The incident is the second fatal boat mishap reported in the country in less than two weeks. PREMIUM TIMES ten days ago reported how 103 persons died in a boat accident at Egbu village in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State. The deceased were returning from a marriage ceremony when a boat conveying them to the event capsized. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Dutse division of the Federal High Court, Jigawa State, has awarded a N400,000 fine against one Ahmad Garba for filing a frivolous fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The NSCDC arrested Mr Garba after he refused to honour an invitation in a case of impersonation and fraud involving him. The NSCDCs spokesperson in the state, Adamu Shehu, in a statement to reporters on Saturday, said the court considered Mr Garbas suit an abuse of court process. Justice Hassan Dikko, in a judgment, directed that the money should be paid to the respondents in the suit, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Jigawa State commandant of the NSCDC and Alh Aminu Basirka. NSCDC has every right to investigate any criminal allegation provided a formal complaint is lodged. Any citizen who has a criminal complaint has every right to lodge same before any appropriate law enforcement agency. According to the judge, exhibit A tendered by the NSCDC clearly shows that an invitation letter inviting the Applicant to answer the criminal allegations against him was sent but refused to honour same and there is no iota of law supporting his action and was consequently arrested and released administratively in accordance with the laid down procedures of law. He, therefore, dismissed the suit for lacking merit and being an abuse of court process with a cost of 400,000 against the Applicant. It may be recalled that sometime in 2021, one Aminu Basirka lodged a criminal complaint of fraud, cheating, and impersonation at the NSCDC State Headquarters against the Applicant ( Ahmad Garba alias Iyal Ibrahim Ringim), who is a staff of Jigawa State Judiciary and as a result, an invitation was sent to him but instead of him to honour the invitation he ended up filing fundamental rights enforcement before the Federal High Court, the spokesperson said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Eight senators from opposition parties have raised the alarm over an alleged plan to impose a minority leader on members of the 10th Senate. In a statement jointly signed on Saturday, the senators said some persons within and outside the Senate chamber are planning to cause a crisis among the minority parties in order to weaken their strength in the upper house. The senators that signed the statement are Mohammed Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central); Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) ; Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South) and Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central). Others are Abba Moro (PDP, Benue North); Ezenwa Onyewuchi (PDP, Imo East); Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) and Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra South). It has come to the notice of the Minority Political Parties in the Senate of an attempt by forces inside and outside the Senate to divide the minority parties and foist a pliant and compromised leadership on them, the statement read. The senators cautioned against causing crisis within the minority parties, stressing that they have all pledged to work and support the Godswill Akpabio-led senate leadership. We have pledged to work constructively with the new Senate leadership and the Executive branch to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people. We consequently hereby advise and caution that they should not aid any group inside or outside the Senate to divide and destabilise the minority parties and the Senate institution. Senators of the minority parties would meet when the Senate reconvenes and, in consultation with our respective political parties, would select its leaders without undue interference from anti-democratic forces within or outside the Senate, the statement added. The senators noted that the minority parties are yet to arrive at a consensus for the position of the minority leader of the 10th Senate. For the avoidance of doubt, no senator has yet been endorsed or selected for any minority position as this would await due process as agreed by all minority parties in their last meeting. Attempt to foist a one party dictatorship would be resisted and would fail. We call on all members of the minority political parties to work together in unity to defend the democratic institution of the Senate and Nigeria. There are six opposition parties with 50 seats in the 10th Senate. They are PDP, LP, SDP, NNPP, APGA and YPP. The APC has 59 seats. The alleged move to impose a pliable minority leader may not be unconnected with the need for the APC to push through its decisions and those of the Executive smoothly in the upper chamber. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has released a new guideline on the process of pelting the Jamaraat, a major activity in performing the Hajj. The Jaamrat are three stone structures in Mina, a valley outside the City of Makkah. They are the symbolic representation of the devil. These structures are pelted by pilgrims with small pebbles during the days of Hajj as part of the rites. Muhammad Musa, the spokesperson of NAHCONs office in Makkah, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the Saudi authorities have introduced new modalities to reduce cases of stampedes and other accidents associated with the ritual. In 2015, about 2,400 pilgrims lost their lives due to the stampede that occurred at the pedestrian bridges where pilgrims normally stand while stoning the devil. Mr Musa explained that the new guidelines involves the systematic movement of pilgrims to be led by appointed guides in strict compliance with approved movement timetables and route schedules. He further explained that pilgrims from Nigeria have been divided into 18 field offices, with each office containing between 5,000 and 7,000 pilgrims. He added that the pilgrims will be further divided into smaller groups for easy movement. Each field office will liaise with the states or tour operator companies under it to divide its pilgrims into groups of 188 pilgrims only. Each of these groups will have a guide from the field office and an assistant from the officials or pilgrims who understands Arabic and the pilgrims local language that will lead the group at their appointed time from their tents in Minw, through their approved route to the Jamaraat and back to their tents. Each group guide will hold a signpost containing three (3) fundamental pieces of information that every official and pilgrim should understand. The first (1st) and topmost is the logo of the Mutawwif Company; The Second (2nd) is the Field Office Number boldly written in red and the third (3rd) is the group number, he said. To ensure compliance, Mr Musa disclosed that the government of Saudi Arabia has deployed 3,000 supervisors to monitor and evaluate the level of compliance of each Hajj contingent. Over two million pilgrims from across the globe are participating in the 2023 Hajj. Of the figure, about 95,000 are from Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Six Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2023 Hajj have died in the course of the exercise, an official of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has disclosed. The head of the NAHCON 2023 Hajj medical team, Usman Galadima, disclosed this on Saturday during a meeting of the commission in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Mr Galadima, in his presentation, said the delegations from Osun and Kaduna states for the 2023 Hajj recorded two deaths each, while Plateau State recorded one. To address the mortality rate, Mr Galadima called for the strengthening of the pre-hajj medical screening of intending pilgrims. He added that there is a need to restrict those deemed to be not fit to travel. What we are asking is that the pre-hajj medical screening should be strengthened. Any particular pilgrim is either fit or not fit to perform hajj. It is a pre-requisite for the hajj, to be healthy and have the means. We advocate for strong or very effective pre-hajj screening for hajj, Mr Galadima said. Speaking further, he added that the team also diagnosed 30 patients with mental challenges currently undergoing treatment and expected to perform hajj. We have been managing them in our facilities. We have about four psychiatrists in the team. We have been managing them and all of them would likely perform hajj because they are a bit stable now, Mr Galadima said. The official also said that the 2023 H ajj clinic recorded two miscarriages and delivered one baby. One of the babies was delivered through the Caesarian section it was a seven-month pregnancy, he said. He disclosed that one patient was amputated due to diabetes complications. Aside from the one case of amputation, Mr Galadima said the team is also worried about the rising cases of fractures among older pilgrims. He said eight cases of fractures have been recorded by the medical team. We airlifted every Nigerian with a valid Hajj visa NAHCON Chairman In his opening remarks, the chairman of the commission, Zikrullah Hassan, said every Nigerian with a valid visa for the 2023 Hajj has been airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We brought in every available Nigerian that has a visa we have been able to bring them to the Holy Land. In this town today, we have more than 95,000 Nigerians, Mr Hassan said. Over two million pilgrims are expected to participate in the 2023 Hajj exercise. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Christians on Saturday joined Muslims to clear grass at the Kaduna Mosque praying ground as a way to strengthen ethnic and religious relationships. Jessica Akila and Mercy Bajumi, members of the Community Peace Observers (CPO) in the Kachia local government area and working under the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) in Kaduna State, explained that they attended the exercise which took place at the Eid praying ground in Kaduna They disclosed that their action was part of efforts towards strengthening peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance among different faith communities in Kaduna and the country. According to them, this is the second time some volunteer Christian youth, women, religious and community elders in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State have taken part and joined their Muslim brothers and sisters in large numbers to clear grasses and get rid of trash at a Mosque premise which is the venue for the Eid-El-Kabir prayers. They stressed that they came to clear all the grass in order to beautify the mosque premises and the general environment. Speaking also, Daniel Bitrus, a Christian youth leader and the team leader of the Community Peace Observers (CPO) in the area, added that they embarked on the exercise to promote religious tolerance and better understanding among faith adherents. We came here to support our Muslim brothers and sisters towards clearing the environment around the Mosque, with sole aim of promoting peace and unity, he said. We were here last year and by the grace of God, we are also here today to do the needful. The event was attended by members of the Conflict Mitigation Management Regional Council (CMMRC) in the state, whose responsibility includes working on linkages between the two religions. Responding, the Secretary, Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI), Kachia local government area chapter, Ibrahim Tasiu, expressed delight over a large number of both Christian and Muslim youth and their elderly members who turned up for the exercise. READ ALSO: Leaders of troubled Kaduna town task new service chiefs on improved security He said it is remarkable to see that this is the second time the Christian youth are arriving here on time to ensure that they continue to explore ways to foster unity among the people in Kachia and its environs. I must confess to you that am truly impressed and may Allah bless them abundantly. He commended the gesture, saying that it is the first of its kind in the history of Southern Kaduna, known for its ethnoreligious crisis in the past. Mr Ibrahim called on all Muslims and Christians to continue to live in peace and harmony while appreciating the efforts of the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), Kaduna Peace Commission (KAPECOM), the Mercy Corps, and other humanitarian organizations for their contributions and selfless service to humanity in the interest of peace. On his part, Samson Auta, the Coordinator of the Community Peace Action Network with the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), Kaduna, wished all Muslims in the state and around the country a peaceful Eid El Kabir celebration. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has attributed the success of the outbound movement of Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to the tremendous support of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. The Chairman of NAHCON, Zikrullah Hassan, made this known during a Pre-Arafat meeting with all stakeholders held on Saturday in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He said that the commission had successfully transported all the 95,000 eligible Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. He disclosed that a few days ago the commission out of determination to transport all pilgrims to Saudi Arabia made a reservation of five flights extra in the event that there was any Nigerian who had a visa but had issues with flights so that the commission would bring them to Saudi Arabia. According to him, the commission after confirming that all pilgrims had been transported to Saudi Arabia decided to cancel the five extra flights on June 23. I want to appreciate the support and guidance of President Bola Tinubu and his Vice President, Kashim Shettima, for their support in many ways where the mention of it could be very unnecessary. Our being here today is made possible by their support and guidance on the leadership of NAHCON, he said. Mr Hassan also applauded the executive chairmen of the 36 states and the FCT pilgrims welfare boards, agencies and commissions for their support towards ensuring the successful transportation of all Nigerian eligible pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage. Similarly, he commended the Association of Umrah and Hajj Tour Operators of Nigeria for working round the clock to ensure the success of the first phase of the 2023 Hajj operation. When the situation of flight was troublesome, we were together up to the last moment, he stated. On his part, the Chief of Operations and Head of the Nigerian Medical Team for the 2023 Hajj, Usman Galadima, revealed that the medical team recorded 30 cases of pilgrims with mental health challenges. He also said that the team recorded six deaths, seven cases of pregnancies, two miscarriages, and eight communicable diseases and offered consultation to 15,860 patients. Earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal, commended the leadership of NAHCON for its tireless efforts in ensuring the successful transportation of Nigerian pilgrims for this years hajj. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a directive requiring financial institutions to collect customers social media handles, email addresses, phone numbers, residential addresses, and other relevant information. This initiative, it said, will strengthen customers due diligence measures and combat money laundering and terrorism financing. But the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)- a non-governmental organisation, has described the directive as unlawful and a violation of Nigerians rights to freedom of expression and privacy. CBNs directive In its recently released Customer Due Diligence Regulations, 2023, Nigerias apex bank said money deposit banks must obtain comprehensive information about their customers, including their social media handles. The regulation, it claimed, contained measures that are designed to improve the ability of financial institutions to identify and monitor potential risks linked to customer activities. CBN said the requirement applies to both individuals and legal entities. The new regulation states, in part, that; By including social media handles as part of the customer identification process, banks seek to gain further insights into customers online presence and activities, helping to assess potential risks and monitor for suspicious behaviour. For individuals, the CDD process now encompasses gathering information such as legal name, addresses (permanent and residential), contact details (telephone, email, and social media handles), date and place of birth, Bank Verification Number (BVN), Tax Identification Number (TIN), nationality, occupation, public position held, name of employer, official personal identification number, and a unique identifier contained in a valid government-issued document bearing the customers name, photograph, and signature. CBN said the decision to include customers social media handles recognises the roles online platforms play in communication and transactional activities. In the case of corporate entities, CBN said the CDD process entails gathering information such as the institutions name, mailing address, email and social media addresses, phone numbers, registration number, registered address, business address, valid identification (e.g., tax identification number), nature and purpose of business or activities, and certified true copies of documents confirming legal existence (e.g., certificate of incorporation), memorandum and articles of association, list of directors and shareholders, among others. Meanwhile, CBN has assured customers that banks will handle the collected information in accordance with applicable data protection regulations and ensure the security of customers data. SERAP kicks In its statement issued on Sunday morning, SERAP called on the CBN Acting Governor, Folashodun Shonubi, to remove the controversial provisions in the regulations, even as it gave a three-day ultimatum. SERAPs statement, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, reads in part, We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within three days of the receipt and publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest. The mandatory requirement of social media handles or addresses of customers does not serve any legitimate aim. Such information may be used to unjustifiably or arbitrarily restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy. The organisation said collecting social media information could impede citizens online rights, potentially leading to misuse of personal data for political or unlawful purposes. SERAP urged the CBN to fulfil its statutory duty while upholding the rule of law and human rights rather than undermining or violating them. The organisation emphasises that identification methods such as passports, drivers licenses, and Bank Verification Numbers already serve the purpose of Know Your Customer requirements. It warned that obtaining social media information as a means of identification would disproportionately infringe upon freedom of expression and privacy rights. The organisation expressed concern that the CBNs directive could restrict constitutional and international rights, as well as victim rights to justice and effective remedies. It argued that the CBN has failed to demonstrate how collecting social media handles would enhance banks ability to implement customer due diligence regulations effectively. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Trade and commercial activities returned to the streets of Freetown Sunday morning as Sierra Leoneans await the result of the general elections held Saturday. A PREMIUM TIMES reporter who moved around the city observed that motorists, commuters and traders occupied major roads and open markets across the Freetown metropolis as vote counting continues in the various regions across the country. Although most shops and commercial outlets remain shut Sunday morning, street traders took over the major roads to display their wares. At Lumley, in the heart of the capital city, traders told PREMIUM TIMES that the elections have been peaceful hence their decision to begin trading while the process is still ongoing. There is peace and no incident of violence so we are happy, said a fruit seller who identified herself simply as Fatima. A commercial bus driver, Kamara Jacob, explained that he is ready to accept the result of the election because the process was peaceful. I voted and there was no incident of election fraud or violence in my polling centre so I will accept the result, he said. When PREMIUM TIMES visited the ever-busy Sani Abacha Street, off Regent Road, Freetown, traders were seen haggling prices with their customers as motorists moved slowly through the people. At the Presidential Lodge area of Freetown, residents moved about peacefully in anticipation of the regional and presidential election results. At strategic points across the metropolis, there were security operatives conducting random checks on some vehicles. Tallying On Sunday, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that tallying of the election results would take place in the various regions across the country. For the Western Area, the exercise holds at the National Data Centre, Industrial Estate, Wellington, Freetown. In the Southern Region, the exercise holds at ECSL Regional Office, Reservation Road, Bo City; while the Eastern Region collation exercise holds at the ECSL Regional Office, Reservation Road, Kenema City. For the Northern Region, the exercise holds at the ECSL Regional Office, Azzolinni Highway, Makeni City while the North Western Region collation exercise holds at the District Council Hall, Port Loko City. Contest Saturdays election is considered a straight contest between the incumbent president and candidate of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), Julius Bio, and Samura Kamara, the flagbearer of the All Peoples Congress (APC). Other presidential candidates in the election are Mohamed Chernoh of the National Democratic Alliance; Coker Prince, Peoples Democratic Party; Jonjo Mohamed, Citizens Democratic Party; Kabuta Henry, United National Peoples Party; and Kakay Iye, Alliance Democratic Party. Also on the ballot are Kamara Musa, Peace and Liberation Party; Margai Francis, Peoples Movement For Democratic Change; Saccoh Dougakoro, Revolutionary United Front Party; Sandy Patrick, National Unity and Reconciliation Party; Sowa-Turay Mohamed, United Democratic Movement; and Williams Victor, Republic National Independent Party. In addition to the presidential ballot, Sierra Leonean voters are also electing members of parliament and local councillors in what will be the fifth election since the end of the countrys civil war, 21 years ago. Many voters and analysts expect the presidential elections to spill into a run-off, due to the pre-election tension and popularity of the two leading candidates, SLPPs Mr Bio and APCs Mr Kamara. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Companies operating in Azerbaijani Soyudlu village (Gadabay district) must fully observe environmental norms, Trend reports. This issue was emphasized at a preliminary reporting meeting of the commission, established by a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan dated June 21, 2023, to investigate the situation in Soyudlu village, which has been held on June 25. During the meeting it was noted that the relevant authorities assess on the spot the environmental condition, taking water and soil samples and conducting analyzes, as well as checking the air quality. It was also emphasized that the company operating in the village territory must observe all obligations assumed in accordance with the signed agreement and reflected in the environmental impact assessment document. The commission was established to address the concerns of the village residents about the potential negative environmental effect of the creation of an artificial lake in the village territory. The world is in a mourning mood. After a fruitless five-day search for a missing deep-sea submersible vessel with five passengers on board, its wreckage was eventually found last Thursday. The five occupants on board were killed in the process. The search had been spearheaded by a robotic diving vehicle deployed from a Canadian ship. The five were on a voyage to see the century-old wreckage of the famous Titanic by the time this catastrophic implosion occurred. The robotic vehicle had found the debris of the submersible Titan on the seabed, some 1,600 feet (488 metres) from the bow of the Titanic, reported Reuters. Named the Titan and operated by OceanGate Expeditions, a U.S.-based company, its passengers included the companys founder and chief executive officer, Stockton Rush who also doubled as pilot of the Titan; British billionaire and explorer, Hamish Harding; Pakistani-born businessman, Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son, Suleman, as well as French oceanographer and famous Titanic expert, Paul-Henri Nargeolet. They had gone on the adventurous undersea expedition at the cost of $250,000 to each of the passengers. The original British passenger liner named the Titanic, which its moulders claimed was unsinkable, had sunk on April 15, 1912, 111 years ago. It had collided with an iceberg. After several unsuccessful years of efforts to discover the wreckage, 73 years after, in 1985, a joint French-American expedition eventually found it out. Salvage operations to recover items in the Titanic which is said to lie in the ocean at a depth of about 12,500 feet on the coast of Newfoundland, have resulted in thousands of items found and now conserved by being put on public display. The bodies of the passengers could however not be recovered. A total of 2,208 passengers had sailed in the early morning of that day, on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City. Out of them, 1,503 died. The crash of the deep-sea submersible vessel has provoked some interests and comments. One of such was a piece entitled The Titan disaster shows the effect of human hubris in the deep sea, written by Karen Attiah, a columnist with The Washington Post. In it, she drew an inference of a probable anger of the Yoruba goddess of the ocean, Olokun as cause of the disaster. This connect was further reinforced when renowned Hollywood director and Titanic researcher, James Cameron, told the BBC in an interview that there was a definite link between the tragic crash of the two Titans as well as similarities in the crashes circumstances. Cameron, a submersible designer, had directed the Oscar-winning blockbuster Titanic. He had said: Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet, he steamed up full speed into an ice field on a moonless night. And many people died as a result and for us very similar tragedy where warnings went unheeded to take place at the same exact site. Samuel Johnson, the iconic Yoruba historian, in telling the story of the dreaded Bashorun Gaa of the Old Oyo Empire, unknowingly explained the Atlantic economy of centuries ago among the Yoruba. In his narration, Johnson drew a link between the river goddess, Olokun and ancient Yoruba cowries, the only legal tender of transaction that began in the 16th century. As Prime Minister of Old Oyo from 17541774 circa, Gaa, according to Johnson, once requested his babalawo to make charms that would enable him acquire plenty of cowries. He had complained to them that, in spite of his enormous powers and wealth, he had little cowries to flaunt as symbol of his political power. In reality, this was a manifestation of the competition Gaa faced from other power wielders in the empire, that they might use their financial capacity to undermine his political base. Gaas cash crisis was also said to have been worsened by his incorrigible children, who, like the biblical sons of Eli Hophni and Phinehas lorded it all over the country (Old Oyo provinces) (and which) deprived him of the revenues which might have come to him. Anyway, these medicine men then gave the Prime Minister ose dudu, a medicinal soap, with which he was to take his bath. They thumped their chests as they asserted that, before sunset, humongous wealth would flood his palace. Unconfirmed reports claimed that the babalawo had secured the soap from the bowel of the Atlantic, specifically from the hands of Olokun. After the bath with the soap, a mysterious fire suddenly engulfed the Gaa compound which burnt virtually all his belongings to the hilt. However, due to the awe and dread of the Prime Ministers powers, virtually all sectors of the Empire, from the capital to all the innumerable provinces, upon hearing of this destruction, rose in his support. Gaas venomous powers were such that, he could incinerate provinces that failed to contribute to the rebuilding of his lost assets and compound. Not only did they rebuild the compound, but the gifts Gaa also received in cash and materials were overwhelming. Ultimately, the Prime Minister emerged, like the mythical Phoenix, from the ashes of the disaster richer than he once was. Astounded by the link between his Olokun-given wealth and the disaster, Gaa had asked his babalawo for an explanation. According to Johnson, he had asked, Is this the way you promised to get me cowries? and their reply was, Yes by what other means could you have amassed such an abundance in so short a time? In a journal article written for the Boston University African Studies Centre by Akinwumi Ogundiran, entitled Of small things remembered: Beads, cowries and cultural translations of the Atlantic experience (The International Journal of African Historical Studies, Vol. 35, No. 2/3 (2002), pp. 427-457) the author told the story of how Benin oral traditional history also speaks to the intervention of the Olokun in the prosperity recorded during the reign of Oba Eresoyen. He ruled from 1735 to 1737. By the way, Olokun, in Yoruba-Edo belief, was not only revered as the deity of the ocean, she was also known as goddess of wealth. Eresoyens cowry boom was said to have occurred when he made a peace pact with the Olokun. Palace remembrancers speak of how Oba Eresoyen initially engaged in an unending tiff with Olokun by using his spiritual powers to close tributaries in his kingdom which denied Olokun access to her waters. A palm wine tapper then mediated between Eresoyen and the Olokun which resulted in the restoration of water to the goddess. In appreciation, Olokun made a pact with Eresoyen that she would requite his restoration of access to her waters with massive wealth. She then heaped mounds of cowries, which were within her territorial grip, in the sky for Eresoyen which his palace courtiers shouldered into the palace in massive quantity. I gave the two anecdotes above to highlight, not only the fertile beliefs, imaginations and rumours that thrived centuries ago, especially in the Atlantic commerce of the time, but also the dominant perception of the powers of the Atlantic Ocean called Okun and the lord of the ocean. Attiah had delved into what she called the Yoruba religious tradition where divine spirits known as Orishas (sic) rule over various cosmic forces and elements of nature. There is Shango (sic) the king orisha of thunder and fire; Yemaya (sic) the orisha of the ocean; and Oshun (sic) who rules rivers and lakes and what she called a lesser-known orisha, Olokun, who is androgynous and rules the deepest parts of the ocean where light does not penetrate. Attiah further wrote that the Olokun is an extremely fearsome and vengeful orisha, upset with humans for not showing proper reverence (and) chained to the bottom of the ocean so as to restrain (her) from destroying humanity. The pressure of the deep ocean represents the origins of life and threatens gruesome, instant death for humans. It is for all these reasons Olokun is rarely challenged or disturbed, even by the other orishas. She concluded in this piece that the submersibles disaster is a reminder to the world that in spite of humanitys inventions, it cannot dominate the deep, deep sea. How true is Attiahs linkage of Olokun to the submersibles disaster and how dissimilar or similar is this tragedy from centuries-old mythic perception of traditional Africa? This debate about the existence of gods, goddesses and attempts to spiritize disasters like the Titanic of 1912 and last weeks have provoked philosophical debates about the existence of spirits and metaphysical objects. Are spirits real? Are there evil spirits? Is the physical the only real thing? If it isnt, what then makes Attiahs explanation for the crash of the Titanic unreal, mythic and fabulous, while we concentrate on what we are only able to cognize? While the particular configuration of the Olokun is unknown, the Yemoja, another goddess of the river or water deity, is widely iterated in Yoruba folklores. Many claimed to have encountered this fish goddess who also, like the Olokun, resides in the heart of the waters. Indeed, the Yemoja, taken from Yeye Omo Eja mother of fishes has devotees who honour her as a source of life, fertility and abundance and built temples for her. Some people even claimed to have encountered her in the depths of rivers with dual features of a fish, complete with fins but with human shoulders and head. She is carved out as the Mother with weeping breasts and venerated for her kindness. Yemoja is also the Queen Mother who lives in the depth of the water the Ayaba ti ngbe ibu omi. Yemoja shares her maternity renown with three other water goddesses, Osun, Oba and Oya water deities. Janet Langlois, of the Folklore Institute, Indiana University, citing ethnographer Ellis A. B, retold the Yemoja story that had often been told as folklore in Yorubaland. Ellis had narrated the legend in his 1894-written The Yoruba-speaking Peop1e of the Slave Coast of West Africa. It goes thus: Oduduwa, the Earth, given birth to by Obatala, who was the Heavens, also gave birth to a son and daughter. The son was named Aganju and he represented dry and barren land. He then married the daughter, Yemoja, who was life-giving water. They both jointly had a son named Orungan, who was the sky between heaven and earth. One sad day when Aganju was far from home, Orungan ravished his mother, Yemoja. She sprang from him and ran quickly, blindly away. He pursued her and was overtaking her and about to touch her when she slipped and fell, striking her head against a stone. The impact sent jets of water gushing up from her huge breasts. These waters joined to form a sweet lagoon. Her huge belly burst open and many Orisas sprang from her. Among the Yoruba, water has a powerful force. Waters are sacred sites with presiding spirits which act as intercessors with the ultimate divine. This provides the reason for the worship of the Yemoja in Osun as the river goddess of fertility. She is referred to as the Ajeje, a mother who has herbs in the river with which she takes care of her children and gives them longevity. Devotees say they revere the waters of Osun just as Christianity reveres rivers in its baptism phenomenon and River Jordan in particular for its spirituality. In Africa, many groups dont go to the rivers on certain days, believing that those were the days the water spirits come out. From their manifestations, Olokun and Yemoja are different. The differences are in their temperaments and habitation. While Olokun resides in the Atlantic, Yemoja lives in rivers. Yemoja is benign while Olokun, though is mythically perceived as the god of wealth, could also be a jealous woman who can be deadly. In spite of scientific explanations of the Bermuda Triangle, otherwise known as the Devils Triangle, traditionalists believe the calamities wrecked by it in the mid-20th century were caused by the Olokun who, in her anger, and in mysterious circumstances, brought about the disappearances of some aircraft and ships. Some meteorological studies have however referred to Olokun and the Bermuda as an urban legend, ascribing the calamities to diffraction heat patterns (which) give rise to corresponding weather and ocean patterns which, to a large extent, account for the mysteries already noted in the Bermuda region. The Bermuda is located in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean. So, could Attiah have been right about the anger of the Olokun as cause of the crash of the two Titanics? Should we be bothered and seek extra-scientific answers to these tragedies so as to guard against them in the future? Attiah buttressed her claim with allusions to what she called the social value of certain perilous journeys. On the social media, many have wondered why such potentially perilous elite fancy should detain the rest of humanity. The world had literally been frozen due to the deaths of these voyagers while thousands of immigrants have perished in the Mediterranean without as much as a whimper from the same world. These were, in the words of Attiah, migrants who are arguably much braver but have far fewer resources demonized and left to die, despite the fact that all they want is the opportunity to work, to contribute value, to live. In the same vein, the west has literally shut its ears from cries of reparations for sunken slave ships which Attiah calls the true symbols of Europes ability to enslave people and exploit nature in faraway lands. Brandon Presser, an Op-ed writer with the Post, had joined in affirming the reckless audacity of man in going behind its province to seek to dominate the aquatic province of fishes. Water is our birthright but also a force of great destruction, holding a record of everything it claims. To visit the depths of the ocean is not an act of arrogance, then, but something quite the opposite: an acknowledgment of our obsolescence. Its fitting that the desire to blindly careen toward the ocean floor goes hand in hand with our curious obsession with the Titanic. The felled ship, once touted as the worlds greatest, has remained a parable for natures power over the mightiest efforts of humankind to assert its dominance over the planet, he had written. While the world is shedding tears about the recent Titanic disaster, Attiah has given us thoughts to ponder on. Why is the world obsessed with technological dominance like the Titanic, which allow(ed) Europe to explore and pillage other countries, wipe out entire peoples and enrich itself by exploiting the Earths resources? The Titanic, she said, might be a reminder that the deep ocean is the only resource-rich realm on Earth with the power to keep White men from exploiting it. Is Olokun then that power? So, is Olokun angry that man is going beyond their earthly borders? Or, in the words of Attiah, are (there indeed) some realms on Earth that are meant to be mysteries not to be mastered? Is humanity suffering from what the Yoruba call agbere, arrogant audacity? Or, is this absolute nonsense, in the words of Austrian philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein, who saw anything metaphysical like the link being drawn between the Titanic and an angry sea goddess, as such? Akinteye: Toast to a Humble Judge On Friday, the creme de la creme of the Nigerian bar, its first chapter, fondly called the Premier Bar, having been formed in 1954, converged to honour Honourable Justice Solomon Adegboyega Akinteye (Rtd) on his 70th birthday. Born on June 23, 1953, in Igbo-Ora, Ibarapa Central Local Government of Oyo State, Akinteye is an alumnus of the then University of Ife, graduating in 1980 and called to the bar in 1981. From a legal practice that began in 1982, he got elevated to the bench of the High Court of Oyo State on January 30, 1997 and got sworn in as one of eleven judges on that day by the then Military Governor of Oyo State, Colonel Hammed Usman. While he was at the High Court of the Oyo State judiciary, Akinteye served in Ibadan, Ogbomoso, and Oyo judicial divisions, as well as serving as Chairman of Election Petition Tribunals at the state and federal levels. He was Member, Governorship and Legislative Houses of Assembly Election/Tribunal in Enugu State in 1998; Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal, 2004; Chairman, Oyo State Local Government Election Petition Appeal Tribunal in 2009; Chairman, National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Katsina State in 2011; Chairman, National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal 2, Cross River State, in 2011. Akinteye was subsequently appointed by the then Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as the pioneer President of the Customary Court of Appeal of Oyo State, a position he occupied from February 12, 2018 to the date of his retirement. He spent 21 years, four months and twenty days on the Bench, out of which he spent four months and ten days as President of the Customary Court. The Nigerian judiciary, especially the bench, is today being pelted with rotten tomatoes. This is especially coming against the backdrop of a recent outlandish confession by a Nigerian senator, Adamu Bulkachuwa, that he influenced judgments in matters before his wife, Zainab, a retired judge and President of the Court of Appeal. There is no doubt that the Bulkachuwa confession has totally destroyed public confidence in the Nigerian judiciary. Apart from financial inducements that have become a pestilence in the judiciary, many judges have also rubbished the ancient Lord Denning qualities in a judge, becoming indistinguishable from social rats. Not only do some of them mingle openly and without any restraint in places of comfort, they daily drag down the renown of the judiciary. An Akinteye is a testimony that there are still persons in the Nigerian judiciary who wear their judicial chastity proudly on their lapel. During the birthday celebration, the humility, modesty and incorruptibility of Akinteye were on hand for celebration. On a personal note, he has taught me the lessons in contentedness with the modesty that is his life. Here is wishing MiLord a happy celebration. Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print I wish to, therefore, advise Governor Abba and the new Kwankwasiyya administration in Kano to re-examine their actions and not allow the activities of lawless youth to degenerate into what we are currently witnessing in most Northern states of Borno, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara, to mention but a few that are bedevilled by activities of violent criminals. And fear the fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong. Quran 8 verse 25 The above is a verse from the Holy Quran, which my late father, Imam Abdulhameed Shuaib Agaka usually cited when trouble brewed and the community kept silent, without seeking to address it. The Quranic verse cautions society against failure to act when atrocities are being committed because the repercussions of silence and inaction could be severe (painful), not only for the perpetrators but the society at large. Since the return to a democratic system of government over two decades ago, Nigeria has witnessed unbecoming violent attitudes that were seemingly tolerated by the society, before they later snowballed into the nightmarish monsters that we have today. For various reasons, including cultural, religious, social and political dispositions, the society had been displaying a nonchalant attitude to most of the ills that have come to afflict it presently. One wonders if the past inactions of the government, community leaders, traditional institutions and youth activists were not the enabling factors for the perpetration of the rot that we are witnessing today in society. We can easily remember the introduction of political sharia rather than true Islamic Law in Zamfara State in 2000, which imposed discriminatory punishments for offences including the amputation of the hands and limbs of the poor for lesser offences of theft, while the rich, who could be politicians and public office holders, rob the people of their collective patrimony through the pen, yet barely get a slap on the wrist when they are caught. The rich easily get granted bail, which is usually one step to their gradual discharge from the crimes committed. Today, Zamfara is the headquarters of banditry in the country. We can recall the activities of the lawless kids of Maiduguri over a decade ago, which had then influenced my article, Killing in the Name of the Devils, in 2006, when they killed and destroyed the assets of non-indigenes and others in the city over flimsy excuses which triggered reprisal attacks somewhere else. Today, Borno State, with Maiduguri as capital, is regarded as the epicentre of terrorism in Nigeria. Kaduna, which was earlier one of the most peaceful and secure states in Nigeria, has also tasted the fruit of lawlessness, when after the massacre of Shiite in December 2015, including pregnant women and kids by Nigerian soldiers, young miscreants sought recourse in looting the assets and corpses of the dead, yet the government and community kept mum as if the carnage was no big deal. Kaduna today hosts the dens of kidnapping kingpins and is location to recurrent ethnic flares of violence. In Eastern Nigeria, we noticed how ferocious secessionist activities were condoned and celebrated in the past, but the region has woken up to the reality of control of non-state actors and vicious armed groups who have taken to imposing sit-at-homes on the people on Mondays. This has been going on alongside some of the most ruthless campaigns of extermination of the people and security personnel on a regular basis. Immediately after the election, as if in some coordinated form of assault on the social order, the properties of politicians, and celebrities like the popular musician, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, among others, were not only looted, they were also vandalised by youths in broad daylight, without being checkmated in the least by security agencies. That early period also witnessed a frenetic spate of daylight robberies, including phone-snatching. In the North-Central, while farmers and cattle herders had initially co-existed peacefully, however with the antagonism of political crusades, it was not long before states like Plateau and Benue become the hotbeds of communal clashes. I can go on and on about how governments, community leaders and even different societies have failed to act decisively when the unbecoming attitudes of our kids, especially the youths, were gradually becoming a source of concern. At this point in our collective experience, I am seized by a sense of foreboding in contemplating the disturbing activities of lawless kids and youth following the election of Abba Yusuf as governor of Kano State under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Immediately after the election, as if in some coordinated form of assault on the social order, the properties of politicians, and celebrities like the popular musician, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, among others, were not only looted, they were also vandalised by youths in broad daylight, without being checkmated in the least by security agencies. That early period also witnessed a frenetic spate of daylight robberies, including phone-snatching. Still, at the inauguration of Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf as the state governor on 29 May, 2023, many youthful miscreants, suspected to be supporters of NNPP, heckled the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and his younger brother, Emir of Bichi, Alhaji Nasiru Ado Bayero. As security operatives went about rescuing the descendants of the most revered and longest-ruling Emir of Kano, the late Ado Bayero, these lawless urchins and guttersnipes kept shouting derogatory remarks at the humble traditional rulers, at the top of their voices. A few days after the inauguration, Governor Abba gave a marching order to security agencies in the state to immediately take over all public properties believed to have been unduly sold by the previous administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Shortly thereafter, and particularly by midnight, the new state government rolled out bulldozers for the demolition of what it described as illegal structures, towards restoring the Kano master plan. Some of the structures pulled down included multibillion naira hotels, business premises, residential accommodations and even monuments. It is necessary to point out that most activities of banditry and terrorism are engineered by aggrieved victims of injustice, inequality and the burning desire for vengeance. As many might be aware, the targeted abductions of the family members of politicians, public officers and the rich in neighbouring states are usually perpetrated by faceless aggrieved sponsors. In other common incidents, youths from far and nearby invaded some of the sites, vandalised and looted the premises, while others removed valuable building materials. In fact, in some of the videos that were trending at the time, a number of the miscreants could be seen struggling and fighting the police and other security personnel who were trying to stop them from their insidious plunder. What is more worrisome is that these lawless kids are now awake most nights, either stationed close to or following bulldozers to planned demolition sites. The majority of these wretched-looking kids are drug addicts, poor, unemployed and untrained. It is also shocking that school children too and other youths have joined them in the looting spree that they popular tag Ganima. Meanwhile, Ganima or Ghanima is an Arabic word for spoils of war, which may include land, wealth, cattle, women and children. The governors spokesman, Comrade Sanusi Bature, has said that the ongoing demolition across Kano was not an act of vendetta against any individual or group in any way. Bature emphasised that these demolitions were first set of many to come in fulfilment of the governors campaign promises. This article is not about the merits or demerits of the governors action but rather the hasty manner in which some of the actions gravely impacting the state are being undertaken, which are neither sanctioned by the state executive council nor the legislators. It is about the fear of what would become of Kano if more destructions are unleashed under the guise of restoring a masterplan when those at the receiving end of the destructions are folks who actually have lawful official approvals for the structures now being pulled down. While the administration of Abdullahi Ganduje ensured the safety and security of the state from banditry and terrorism, Governor Abba Yusuf should rather try to concentrate his energies on employment generation, wealth circulation and urban development to enable survival and prosperity in the state. It is very doubtful if potential investors would be willing to put their money in the current state of confusion that defines Kano as one of Nigerias most peaceful and populous states. It is necessary to point out that most activities of banditry and terrorism are engineered by aggrieved victims of injustice, inequality and the burning desire for vengeance. As many might be aware, the targeted abductions of the family members of politicians, public officers and the rich in neighbouring states are usually perpetrated by faceless aggrieved sponsors. I wish to, therefore, advise Governor Abba and the new Kwankwasiyya administration in Kano to re-examine their actions and not allow the activities of lawless youth to degenerate into what we are currently witnessing in most Northern states of Borno, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara, to mention but a few that are bedevilled by activities of violent criminals. The governor should put in place programmes for social and economic inclusion, youth empowerment, improved local governance, reconciliation and conflict mitigation, towards a more peaceful and prosperous state, which is much loved by all. Yushau A. Shuaib is an author of An Encounter with the Spymaster; http://www.YAShuaib.com; yashuaib@yahoo.com. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Some residents of Trademore Estate in Abuja have shared their experiences and thoughts on the flood that ravaged the estate in the early hours of Friday following a downpour across the Nigerian capital. A large part of the estate, located in the Lugbe axis of the capital city, along the airport road, was flooded after the downpour which lasted hours. During a visit to the estate on Saturday morning, PREMIUM TIMES observed that several houses, vehicles, shops and other properties were damaged and displaced by the flood. While our reporters were interviewing residents of the estate, residents discovered a corpse, at about 12:30 p.m., stuck beneath the drainage at the entrance of the estate. Alhaji Ashiru, a police inspector recently posted to the area, who was narrating how he lost all his properties to the flood, rushed to pull out the corpse from the canal with the help of other residents around. Upon witnessing the recovery of the body, our reporters called the attention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The spokesperson of NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel, assured that the agency will deploy its officers to the estate to continue searching for other missing persons. Mr Ezekiel said NEMA is also collaborating with other agencies and residents of the area to prevent further disaster. However, this is not the first time the estate would experience flooding. It has become an annual occurrence during the rainy season. Last year, several fatalities were recorded from a similar incident with residents describing it as the worst in the last decade. Residents speak Audu Faruk, a resident and witness of the flood, said he saw several people being dragged away by the flood but he could only rescue a few. He said he was sleeping when the flood started, and all of a sudden he saw his bed floating. Mr Faruk said while he was trying to rescue his pregnant neighbour, he saw many people in the water, struggling to escape. I saw many people that were struggling inside the water. I wanted to rescue but I was able to rescue just a few, he said. Narrating his experience, Mr Faruk said: I just came back from work and I wanted to take a short nap around 8:30 a.m. I saw that the weather had changed and It was about to rain and I decided to take a short nap. Few minutes after I laid on the bed to relax, I noticed that my body was wet and the room was cold, so I stood up to see what was happening. I saw that the room had been filled with water. I was surprised and I decided to check what was going on outside. Then I opened the door and I saw that everywhere had been flooded. On his part, Mr Ashiru, the police inspector, said the flood could have claimed many lives if it occurred in the night. If the flood had occurred in the night, it could have claimed the lives of many of the occupants of this estate, he said. My brother (Audu) was sleeping when he noticed that his mattress was soaked with water. He immediately jumped up and by the time he opened the door, the flood gushed into his house. He was even the person that saved all of us in this house. Mr Ashiru said he was not aware that the estate is prone to floods of such magnitude because he was newly transferred to Abuja. Im not aware something like this used to happen in this area, this is my first time witnessing flooding in this area. I am new here, I was transferred here about four months ago, he told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview. Another resident who identified himself as Isah, described the flood experience as a terrible episode. He said the estate is located on a waterway and that lives and properties are at stake. I heard they do experience flooding once in a while here. I had a first-hand experience of the flood yesterday and it was terrible, he said. Mr Isah said a few children were stuck in a school located near the road, about 100 metres from the major drainage. He added that the children were rescued through the school fence. The water was too high. The school bus parked here was floating like a balloon on the water. It was so massive and I have not seen anything like that before, Mr Isah said. Lip service The Chairman of the Trademore Estate Association, Adewale Osinaike, said the amount of work that the developer of the estate was asked to do internally was done but that the government is yet to do what they are supposed to do to stop the flood from reoccurring. The government has always paid a lip service to things like this. This has been a recurring decimal for us over the years, he said. Mr Osinaike told PREMIUM TIMES that each time a flood incident occurs, all the agencies of government (FERMA, NEMA, and FCDA) would come and make promises without taking any action. In fact, there was an incident when the minister of state for FCT came as well. They all come and they would talk big but talk is cheap but at the end of the day, they dont do anything, he said. Source of the flood Speaking on the source of the excess water causing the area to be flooded annually, Mr Osinaike said residents believe that the water that comes into Trademore is from other parts of Abuja. He said the water is a flash flood that comes from somewhere else (from upstream) and that they have always informed the authorities that there is a need to divert waters coming from Lokogoma and Piakasa areas to another direction. He explained that waters from surrounding estates gather to become a confluence within Trademore. When Trademore was built, he said, they did not envisage that there would be another estate within, but that right now they have over 74 estates around Trademore estate. These are hilltop grounds and all the waters in those areas were like a valley. So all the surface water will head in the direction of Trademore, he narrated. We have told them ( the government) time and time again that there is a need for intervention at the source of this water. Nothing is done. The only reaction the government is giving to us is that there is a need to demolish buildings on the floodplain. The estate chairman explained there is no one in Trademore who built his own house as the houses were built by the government-approved developer. He said the developer built over 3,000 houses but was not properly supervised by the statutory authorities in Abuja. Where was the Development Control when houses were being built on a flood plain? Where was FCDA? Where were the statutory agencies that were responsible for the construction of these buildings? he queried. He said the authorities are now demolishing peoples homes, noting that after the flood incident on Friday, they were already taking photos of the houses they would demolish. Demolition is not the answer. Demolition is a lazy way. It shows intellectual laziness. It shows they are not interested in nipping it in the bud by going to where the problem is to sort this out. We have spoken to them over and over again. It appears they are pushing us to a point where our reaction to their inaction would be very swift and they may not like the consequences of our actions, Mr Osinaike said. He explained that they are happy that for the first time, the senator representing the Nigerian capital, Ireti Kingibe, came and that she promised to set up a committee to review the problems. Weve had senators in the past. She came today and we went around and she promised that she would set up a technical committee that will holistically look into the problems. It is not just about Trademore. It gets a lot of attention because of the size of the estate. There are other estates around us that suffer exactly the same thing, he noted. Mr Osinaike emphasised that there is a need for the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and all the necessary agencies to look at the whole area and redesign the drainage architecture. It is important that it is done. You can come and pull down all the buildings in this estate. It does not take away this flood issue, it will still happen. We are ready to work with them, they must be ready to work with us, he said. As of Friday, he said, they were not aware anyone died from the latest flood until the Saturday body was recovered. The police have taken the corpse away and I believe they will do the necessary things, Mr Osinaike said. Richard Nduul, the spokesperson of the FCDA, refused to comment on the issue when contacted by our reporters on Saturday. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has asked indigenes of Anambra who own businesses in Lagos State to consider investing in their home state. Mr Soludo stated this during a town hall meeting with Anambra people resident in Lagos State, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime, on Friday. The governor was in the state on Thursday to attend the Nigerian Academy of Engineering Annual Lecture with the theme: Financing Engineering Infrastructure, held at the University of Lagos, Akoka. He would later meet with the business people from Anambra, but residents in the South-west state. At the town hall meeting, the governor stressed that it would be in their best interest to invest in their home. READ ALSO: Your host will never respect you if you dont have a livable and prosperous homeland, Mr Soludo told the people. The governor further urged them to do everything possible to invest in Anambra State to contribute to the growth of the state. This is the same question I ask myself every day. And we have a responsibility to leave Anambra State better than we met it, he said. Background Mr Soludos comment is coming in the heat of controversy over the ongoing demolition of 17 shops at Alaba International Market in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State. The Lagos State Government earlier explained that it would demolish the buildings in the market because they were physically distressed and that the lives of businessmen and women within the market would be put at risk in the event of imminent collapse. The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Gbolahan Oki, had said the distressed buildings also threaten other adjoining structures in the market. The market has a high population of Igbos. Since the demolition began in the market, there have been speculations that the governor was carrying out the exercise to punish Igbos for allegedly voting against him in the 18 March governorship election in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A man has beaten his pregnant mistress to a pulp in Anambra State, south-east Nigeria. The man, Chukwuemerie Anunobi, was seen in a video clip beating up the victim, Nebechi Achu, in a compound. The incident happened last week in Aguluezechukwu Community, Aguata Local Government Area of the state. Mr Anulobi was responsible for the victims pregnancy and had been staying with her in the community, although they were yet to be married, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. Ms Achu, the victim, hails from Ozalla, Isuofia, another community in the same council area of the state. This newspaper gathered that her family members chased her out for getting pregnant for the man outside of wedlock, prompting her to move in with the man. The viral clip In the clip, which has been circulating on various WhatsApp groups, Ms Achu was seen rolling on the ground and gasping for breath after she was being beaten by Mr Anulobi. A voice in the clip accused the suspect of constantly beating the victim. The victim would later recover from the pain but remained seated on the ground. Her face was swollen with injuries all over her body, including her head. Anambra govt intervenes Confirming the incident, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in Anambra State, Ify Obinabo, said the pregnant woman had been rescued. Mrs Obinabo spoke through a statement from her media aide, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, on Saturday. She said the womans rescue was in response to the viral video clip. The commissioner said Mr Anulobi was arrested by the ministry but was released later. READ ALSO: The ministry facilitated the arrest of the culprit, but after a passionate plea from the woman, the women and social welfare boss decided to give the man a second chance on very stringent conditions, the statement said. Mrs Obinabo also warned the man never to beat the woman again or face legal action, explaining that the decision not to initiate his prosecution was because the victim had pleaded that he be forgiven. The commissioner subsequently reunited them and asked the man to end his relationship with the woman or marry her properly, pointing out that what they were doing was cohabitation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print NEW YORK, June 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The cellulose fiber market size is forecast to increase by USD 15,353.68 million from 2022 to 2027, at a CAGR of 9.18%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the growing demand from the textile industry, the environment-friendly properties of cellulose fibers, and rising disposable income coupled with rapidly changing fashion trends. Charts & data tables about market and segment sizes for a historic period of five (2017-2021) years have been covered in this report. Download The Sample Report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Cellulose Fiber Market 2023-2027 Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd., Celanese Corp., Celotech Chemical Co. Ltd., CFF GmbH and Co. KG, Daicel Corp., Eastman Chemical Co., Formosa Plastics Corp., Fulida Group Holding Co. Ltd., Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd., International Paper Co., JELU WERK J. Ehrler GmbH and Co. KG, Kelheim Fibers GmbH, Lenzing AG, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., RGE Pte Ltd., Sappi Ltd., Sateri Shanghai Ltd., and Tangshan Sanyou Group Xingda Chemical Fibre Co. Ltd. Get a holistic overview of the Cellulose Fiber Market from industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample Key Benefits for Industry Players & Stakeholders The report offers information on the criticality of vendor inputs, including R&D, CAPEX, and technology. It also provides detailed analyses of the market's competitive landscape and vendors' product offerings. The report also provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak. Expand operations in the future - To get requisite details, ask for a custom report. Cellulose Fiber Market- Segment Overview This report extensively covers market segmentation by application (apparel, industrial, hygiene, and others), type (synthetic and natural), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market share growth by the apparel segment will be significant during the forecast period. Cellulose fibers used in the textile industry incorporate natural (cotton, hemp, and linen) and manufactured (viscose, rayon, Tencel, lyocell, and modal) materials. Cellulose-fiber-based textiles have special properties, such as moisture-absorbing features. The capacity of cellulose fibers to absorb water is far better than that of traditional cotton. Dresses made from cellulose fiber are soft and smooth. The industry is majorly focusing on a sustainable strategy to lower its impact on the environment. For instance, nitrocellulose, which is an innovative technology for the production and processing of cellulose extracted from algae, fungi, invertebrates, and bacteria, has the potential to lead to changes in the global cellulose industry and offer an environmentally sustainable alternative to plant-based cellulose materials. Therefore, such factors will improve the adoption of cellulose fiber in the textile industry during the forecast period. To get detailed insights about inclusions and exclusions, buy the report Cellulose Fiber Market Market dynamics Leading drivers - The increasing demand for cellulose fiber products is the major factor notably driving the global cellulose fiber market growth. Due to their excellent comfort and strength and silky luster, they are used to produce textiles. Further, cellulose fiber delivers heat resistance and hygroscopicity to textiles. Clothes made with cellulose fiber are soft and smooth. However, they are used in the production of garments, apparel, and medical dressings. Generally, natural fibers are used in garments, apparel, construction fabrics, medical dressings, and automotive interiors. The growing use of natural fibers, such as cotton, hemp, and linen will boost demand for textiles during the forecast period. Key trends - Growing environmental awareness and social concerns are key trends influencing the Cellulose Fiber Market. The adverse impact on the environment has increased the need to develop green and sustainable approaches in the textile industry. Due to the rapid growth in population and the increase in the consumption of textile fibers, new sustainable raw materials and processes must be found. Thus, cellulose fibers are being used to replace petrochemical fibers owing to their environment-friendly and universal nature. However, due to their environment-friendly nature, sustainable cellulose sources, such as bacterial nanocellulose, will witness high adoption in the textile industry. Therefore, such factors will drive market growth during the forecast period. Major Challenges The stringent standards and guidelines imposed by regulatory bodies are a major challenge that may impede the global cellulose fiber market growth. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation in the EU impose strict regulations on the use of cellulose fibers. Sustainable biodegradation of cellulose fibers is crucial for composting after the end of a product's lifecycle. The rigid guidelines and standards on the use of cellulose acetate, including in food packaging applications, will hinder market growth during the forecast period. What are the key data covered in this Cellulose Fiber Market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the cellulose fiber market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the cellulose fiber market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour Growth of the cellulose fiber market across APAC, Europe , North America , Middle East and Africa , and South America , , and , and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of cellulose fiber market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The global carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) Market size is estimated to grow by USD 509.15 million and the size of the market is forecast to increase at a CAGR of 5.62% between 2022 and 2027. This report extensively covers market segmentation by application (food & beverages, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics, oil, and gas, paper, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The new product launches in the carboxymethyl cellulose market will notably drive market growth. The aramid fiber market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.85% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 1,191.78 million. report extensively covers market segmentation by product (para-aramid and meta-aramid), end-user (automotive, aerospace and defence, electrical and electronics, and others), and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The miniaturization of electronic components is notably driving market growth. Cellulose Fiber Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.18% Market growth 2023-2027 USD15,353.68 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 8.53 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 40% Key countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd., Celanese Corp., Celotech Chemical Co. Ltd., CFF GmbH and Co. KG, Daicel Corp., Eastman Chemical Co., Formosa Plastics Corp., Fulida Group Holding Co. Ltd., Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd., International Paper Co., JELU WERK J. Ehrler GmbH and Co. KG, Kelheim Fibers GmbH, Lenzing AG, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., RGE Pte Ltd., Sappi Ltd., Sateri Shanghai Ltd., and Tangshan Sanyou Group Xingda Chemical Fibre Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Application Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global cellulose fiber market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global cellulose fiber market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 Application Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size Application Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Application 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Application - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Application 6.3 Apparel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Apparel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Apparel - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Apparel - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Apparel - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on Industrial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Industrial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Hygiene - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Hygiene - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Hygiene - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on Hygiene - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Hygiene - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 46: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.7 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 50: Market opportunity by Application ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by Type 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 51: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 52: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 53: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 54: Data Table on Comparison by Type 7.3 Synthetic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 55: Chart on Synthetic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Data Table on Synthetic - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Chart on Synthetic - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 58: Data Table on Synthetic - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Natural - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 59: Chart on Natural - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Data Table on Natural - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 61: Chart on Natural - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 62: Data Table on Natural - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 63: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 64: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 65: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 66: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 67: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 68: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 69: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 72: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 73: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 74: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 76: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 77: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 78: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 80: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 81: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 82: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 84: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 85: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 86: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 88: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 89: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 90: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 92: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 93: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 94: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 95: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 96: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 97: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 98: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 99: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 100: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 101: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 102: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 103: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 104: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 105: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 106: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 107: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 108: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 109: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 110: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 111: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 112: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 113: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 114: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 115: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd. Exhibit 116: Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 117: Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 118: Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.4 Celanese Corp. Exhibit 119: Celanese Corp. - Overview Exhibit 120: Celanese Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 121: Celanese Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 122: Celanese Corp. - Segment focus 12.5 Celotech Chemical Co. Ltd. Exhibit 123: Celotech Chemical Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 124: Celotech Chemical Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 125: Celotech Chemical Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.6 CFF GmbH and Co. KG Exhibit 126: CFF GmbH and Co. KG - Overview Exhibit 127: CFF GmbH and Co. KG - Product / Service Exhibit 128: CFF GmbH and Co. KG - Key offerings 12.7 Daicel Corp. Exhibit 129: Daicel Corp. - Overview Exhibit 130: Daicel Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 131: Daicel Corp. - Key news Exhibit 132: Daicel Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 133: Daicel Corp. - Segment focus 12.8 Eastman Chemical Co. Exhibit 134: Eastman Chemical Co. - Overview Exhibit 135: Eastman Chemical Co. - Business segments Exhibit 136: Eastman Chemical Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 137: Eastman Chemical Co. - Segment focus 12.9 Formosa Plastics Corp. Exhibit 138: Formosa Plastics Corp. - Overview Exhibit 139: Formosa Plastics Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 140: Formosa Plastics Corp. - Key offerings 12.10 Fulida Group Holding Co. Ltd. Exhibit 141: Fulida Group Holding Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 142: Fulida Group Holding Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 143: Fulida Group Holding Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.11 Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. Exhibit 144: Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 145: Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 146: Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 147: Indorama Ventures Public Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.12 JELU WERK J. Ehrler GmbH and Co. KG Exhibit 148: JELU WERK J. Ehrler GmbH and Co. KG - Overview Exhibit 149: JELU WERK J. Ehrler GmbH and Co. KG - Product / Service Exhibit 150: JELU WERK J. Ehrler GmbH and Co. KG - Key offerings 12.13 Kelheim Fibers GmbH Exhibit 151: Kelheim Fibers GmbH - Overview Exhibit 152: Kelheim Fibers GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 153: Kelheim Fibers GmbH - Key offerings 12.14 Lenzing AG Exhibit 154: Lenzing AG - Overview Exhibit 155: Lenzing AG - Business segments Exhibit 156: Lenzing AG - Key news Exhibit 157: Lenzing AG - Key offerings Exhibit 158: Lenzing AG - Segment focus 12.15 Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Exhibit 159: Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. - Overview Exhibit 160: Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 161: Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. - Key offerings 12.16 RGE Pte Ltd. Exhibit 162: RGE Pte Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 163: RGE Pte Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 164: RGE Pte Ltd. - Key offerings 12.17 Tangshan Sanyou Group Xingda Chemical Fibre Co. Ltd. Exhibit 165: Tangshan Sanyou Group Xingda Chemical Fibre Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 166: Tangshan Sanyou Group Xingda Chemical Fibre Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 167: Tangshan Sanyou Group Xingda Chemical Fibre Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 168: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 169: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 170: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 171: Research methodology Exhibit 172: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 173: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 174: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio Reality show style competition showcases novel diabetes business ideas with potential funders as part of ADA 83rd Scientific Sessions SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) announced the winner of its inaugural pitch competition at the 83rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in San Diego, CA. The first-ever Innovation Challenge highlighted six business concepts for diabetes care before a panel of potential funders, with the goal of connecting innovators and startup companies with transformative solutions and ideas. The winners, Minutia, Oregon Health & Sciences University and Go Pen presented three unique and impactful solutions to a variety of diabetes challenges. The competition comes at a time when more than 37.3 million Americans are impacted by diabetes and digital health innovations have been on the rise to address the growing rates of the disease with technological advancements. As a result, diabetes startups continue to be a growing market. "This pitch competition aims to accelerate the path from concept to commercialization around new ways of looking at diabetes care. Our goal is to support innovation and expose these potentially life-changing ideas to partners who can provide the resources and guidance needed to move forward and advance patient care," said Charles "Chuck" Henderson, Chief Executive Officer of the ADA. "We congratulate the winners for their work and celebrate all that's ahead." The Innovation Challenge included six finalists selected from a competitive pool of applicants. During the session, the contestants had five minutes each to pitch an idea, followed by questions from a panel of judges. The judges represented the three potential funders: Helmsley Charitable Trust, Swiss Diabetes Venture Fund, and Startup Health. The final three contestants, voted on by a live audience, earned a private presentation with the judges to determine a winner. Winner: Go Pen GO-Pen will be the only insulin pen where people with diabetes can buy insulin in vials and fill their own reservoirs for use with an insulin pen. GO-Pen will be the only insulin pen where people with diabetes can buy insulin in vials and fill their own reservoirs for use with an insulin pen. Winner: Minutia Development of the first functional cure that can be given broadly for Type 1 diabetes through subcutaneous transplants of immune evasive insulin-producing cells managed in real-time by proprietary cell-based sensors. Development of the first functional cure that can be given broadly for Type 1 diabetes through subcutaneous transplants of immune evasive insulin-producing cells managed in real-time by proprietary cell-based sensors. Winner: Oregon Health & Sciences University Distal and proximal interventions that occur across all systems including healthcare, social services, home/neighborhoods, schools, employers, and communities all to improve diabetes outcomes. Distal and proximal interventions that occur across all systems including healthcare, social services, home/neighborhoods, schools, employers, and communities all to improve diabetes outcomes. Finalist: Angel Watch Company Novel technology using a cellular device specifically designed for children as a bridge between a child's CGM device and a parent's phone. Novel technology using a cellular device specifically designed for children as a bridge between a child's CGM device and a parent's phone. Finalist: Devyn A four-part virtual care model including (1) mobile-first consumer experiences (2) virtual, synchronous medical appointments with women's cardiometabolic health experts (3) remote monitoring (4) labs and medications at home to support women with gestational diabetes. A four-part virtual care model including (1) mobile-first consumer experiences (2) virtual, synchronous medical appointments with women's cardiometabolic health experts (3) remote monitoring (4) labs and medications at home to support women with gestational diabetes. Finalist: Neurovalens The first neurostimulation device that has been created to non-invasively use electrical stimulation to treat T2DM. It provides a drug-free, safe, and low-cost therapeutic intervention, that actively treats the root cause of T2DM in the patient's own home and is used for only 60 minutes per day. Watch here to learn more about additional outstanding challenge entrants. Stay tuned for more on applications for next year's Innovation Challenge. About the ADA's Scientific Sessions The ADA's 83rd Scientific Sessions, the world's largest scientific meeting focused on diabetes research, prevention, and care, will be held in San Diego, CA on June 2326. More than 12,000 leading physicians, scientists, and health care professionals from around the world are expected to convene both in person and virtually to unveil cutting-edge research, treatment recommendations, and advances toward a cure for diabetes. Attendees will receive exclusive access to thousands of original research presentations and take part in provocative and engaging exchanges with leading diabetes experts. Join the Scientific Sessions conversation on social media using #ADA2023. About the American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 82 years, the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for the over 133 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociacion Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). Contact: Rebecca Fisher, 703-253-4918 [email protected] SOURCE American Diabetes Association CANNES, France, June 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2019, there has been a significant acceleration in the digitization process of the Chinese consumer market, driven by changing consumer behaviors and market dynamics. This transformative shift has further intensified in recent times, creating new opportunities and challenges for brands to adapt and thrive in the digital landscape. Dai Lijuan Interviewing Zhang Guohua and Zeus Jiang Kiki Fan speaking at Cannes Lions Dan Shu sharing insights at the press conference Reconnecting after three years, Tencent Marketing Solution made a remarkable presence at the 70th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, where Zeus Jiang, Corporate Vice President of Tencent, joined industry leaders in a discussion on Long-termism in Digital Marketing on June 20th. The discussion emphasized the significance of digitization and scientific marketing for sustainable brand operations. Kiki Fan, General Manager of Industrial Sales Operations at Tencent Marketing Solution also delivered a keynote speech entitled "China's Digital Market: A Growth Roadmap" on June 21st, where she shared invaluable insights from years of marketing expertise in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, Tencent Marketing Insights (TMI) collaborated with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to unveil the "A New Chapter to Digital Future - 2023 Report on Digital Trends of China's Luxury Market," providing profound analysis and predictions. Tencent Marketing Solution also utilized the occasion to enhance its Joint Business Partnership (JBP), reinforcing its collaborative efforts with partners as part of its ongoing commitment. Industry Leaders Explore Long-Termism in Digital Marketing: Insights from Zeus Jiang and Prominent Advertising Figures On June 20th, Zeus Jiang, Corporate Vice President of Tencent, participated in a discussion organized by "Modern Advertising" media alongside Zhang Guohua, the president of the China Advertising Association and the global vice chairman of the International Advertising Association, and Dai Lijuan, the editor-in-chief of "Modern Advertising." The discussion centered around the concept Long-Termism in Digital Marketing. Zeus Jiang said: "On the one hand, brands should focus on the digitization of commodity assets and crowd assets, leveraging technology to enhance the recommendation efficiency and optimization capabilities of advertisements. On the other hand, brands can utilize scientific marketing to fully leverage Tencent's multi-traffic scenarios, effectively linking product characteristics and desired outcomes to achieve sustainable long-term operations." Social Commerce Innovation Seamlessly Connecting with Consumers through Weixin Brand.com 2.0 "Weixin has become brand zone areas to distribute useful information to their customers. Through friend recommendations, article browsing, video watching, information searching, product purchases, and loyalty programs, we are redefining the new online customer journey for our clients, and forging a deeper connection with their customers," explained Kiki Fan, General Manager of Industrial Sales Operations at Tencent Marketing Solution. Today, consumers increasingly seek brands that align with their values, making effective communication between brands and consumers crucial. Weixin Mini-Programs have emerged as a space for explosive growth and the evolution of Brand.com 2.0. Data reveals that in 2022, Weixin Mini-Program sales reached trillions RMB of transactions, experiencing a remarkable 460% increase since 2019. Global brands have established official flagship stores and customer service centers within Weixin Mini-Program, seamlessly integrating social elements with Tencent's robust service ecosystem. This innovative approach represents a new paradigm in social commerce, paving the way for customized brand management in China's digital era. To support brands in their marketing endeavors, Tencent Marketing Solution has introduced an intelligent tool called RACE. Leveraging on various data from its diverse platforms, RACE provides valuable insights into science-driven marketing strategies. These insights guide brands in optimizing ad placement and maximizing marketing efficiency. Resilient Growth in China's Luxury Market Spending Digital Innovation Brand Equity and Sustainable Growth To help luxury brands harness the potential of the Chinese market, Tencent Marketing Solution organized a press conference themed "A New Chapter to Digital Future" on June 20, unveiling the 2023 Tencent Luxury Report and sharing valuable insights and effective strategies for luxury brand marketing. In today's ever-changing digital landscape, where consumer-brand interactions are increasingly digitalized, it's crucial for brands to elevate their digital marketing strategies. "Over the past three years, Weixin has introduced a lot of innovative advertising formats to improve the impact to our customers. Moreover, our intelligent data tools enable us to assist our clients in measuring the extent of this impact and other relevant metrics," said Ms. Fan. The report points out that the Chinese market has fully recovered and demonstrated strong resilience. It is estimated that luxury spending by Chinese consumers is expected to grow by 15-20% and reach 550 billion RMB by the end of 2023. Veronique Yang, BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner, said, 'The underlying forces behind luxury spending are the upper middle class and affluent consumers in China. We find that despite the ups and downs in the macro environment, this group of consumers remains relatively intact, and the luxury experiences in China are almost on par with the international markets right now.' The thriving digital ecosystem is one of the key drivers behind the strong performance of the Chinese market. Lin An, BCG Managing Director and Partner, emphasizes the importance of understanding the key consumer journeys of each brand and the role of diverse touchpoints. He said: "We need to know exactly what the key consumer journeys of our brand are, what the role of all the diverse and complicated touchpoints is, how to allocate resources, and what kind of products and services to provide. We believe this group of consumers is the future driver of growth in China, and capturing and activating them will pose challenging questions for brands." Regarding the catering of consumer demand for digitalization and the business needs of brands, Dan Shu, Head of the Luxury and Beauty Goods Industry at Tencent Marketing Solution, emphasized the importance of focusing on brand assets for the long-term development of luxury brands. He said: "We realize that we should focus more on brand asset over just sales volume by promotions, so we are doing the sustainable work to formulate sustainable strategies for luxury brands within the Tencent ecosystem." To establish brand equity, various approaches such as festival marketing, event marketing, and youth activation are adopted. Brands can leverage Weixin Mini-Program, paid traffic, Weixin Search, and travel retail to drive business growth. George Xie, Head of the Luxury and Beauty Goods Industry Planning at Tencent Marketing Solution, highlighted the impact of the digital wave on luxury consumption. He said: "Under the development of digital wave, the transformed online channels, evolving consumer behaviors and innovative digital marketing strategies have jointly shaped a new luxury consumption experience." Global Joint Business Partnership Upgrade Empowering Brands for Sustainable Growth During the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Tencent Marketing Solution engaged in extensive discussions with its four strategic partners, GroupM, Publicis Groupe, Omnicom Media Group, and Dentsu, resulting in an upgrade to its global Joint Business Partnership. Ethen Zhang, Deputy General Manager of Channel Sales Department, Tencent Marketing Solution, emphasized the collaborative potential. "With Tencent's product ecosystem and our partners' global client network, we have the opportunity to deepen our collaboration in areas such as integrated marketing strategies, content partnerships, leveraging marketing science and advertising technology, and more. Together, we'll deliver sustainable solutions that truly make a difference for our esteemed clients." SOURCE Tencent WROCLAW, POLAND, June 25. Azerbaijani women athletes have performed at the qualification stage in skeet shooting at III European Games, Trend reports. Regina Meftahaddinova Nurlana Jafarova competed in skeet, while Nigar Nasirova competed in pistol shooting from a distance of 25 meters. Meftahaddinova hit 115 out of 125 targets, Jafarova - 109 accurate targets. Thus, they could not get into the number of 8 athletes who advanced to the next stage. About 7,000 athletes from 48 countries take part in the third European Games, which will last until July 2. Azerbaijan is represented at the tournament by 86 athletes in 13 sports. The first ever European Games were held in 2015 in Baku and the second in 2019 in Minsk. The Azerbaijani national team took second place at Baku-2015 and 10th at Minsk-2019, winning a total of 84 medals: 26 gold, 25 silver, and 33 bronze. 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 A Tesla Model X, which is one of the vehicles consumers can purchase at Autos of Dallas. Autos of Dallas is a renowned pre-owned luxury dealership in Dallas, Texas, committed to delivering top-quality vehicles and exceptional customer service. Autos of Dallas, the premier destination for pre-owned luxury vehicles, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new research pages. Unlock a world of automotive excellence right at your fingertips. Autos of Dallas takes pride in offering the finest selection of pre-owned vehicles in the $20-25k range. Our research page highlights exceptional models that deliver both quality and affordability. Experience the perfect balance of style and value at Autos of Dallas. Discover the epitome of electric luxury with the pre-owned Tesla Model X. Our research page showcases its cutting-edge features, exhilarating performance, and spacious interior. Immerse yourself in the future of automotive innovation with a Tesla from Autos of Dallas! Experience the perfect combination of elegance and performance with our pre-owned Mercedes-Benz SUVs. Our research page presents an array of luxurious SUVs known for their sophistication, comfort, and unmatched driving dynamics. Explore the epitome of automotive excellence at Autos of Dallas with our extensive collection of Mercedes vehicles. Discover the Autos of Dallas Advantage Autos of Dallas invites potential and current customers to explore our new research pages, designed to provide you with an immersive and informative experience. Uncover detailed information, high-quality images, and valuable insights about our pre-owned luxury vehicles. Unmatched Quality and Assurance At Autos of Dallas, we understand the importance of trust and transparency. Each vehicle in our meticulously curated inventory undergoes a rigorous inspection process to ensure the highest quality. With our commitment to excellence, you can have peace of mind and confidence in your purchase. Expert Guidance and Exceptional Service Our knowledgeable team of automotive experts is dedicated to helping you find the perfect vehicle to match your preferences and lifestyle. Whether you need assistance with financing options or want to schedule a test drive, we are here to provide unparalleled customer service every step of the way. About Autos of Dallas Autos of Dallas is a renowned pre-owned luxury dealership in Dallas, Texas, committed to delivering top-quality vehicles and exceptional customer service. With a passion for excellence and an extensive selection of luxury brands, we strive to provide an unparalleled automotive experience. Trust Autos of Dallas to fulfill your automotive desires. Luxury vehicle owners looking for high-quality pre-owned vehicles are welcome to visit Autos of Dallas. The dealership has a large selection of many kinds of luxury makes and models. Interested parties can contact the dealership by dialing 972-484-9200 for further information. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Autozoners, LLC call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The San Diego employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Autozoners, LLC violated the California Labor Code. The Autozoners, LLC class action lawsuit, Case No. 37-2023-00021114-CU-OE-CTL, is currently pending in the San Diego County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit filed, Autozoners, LLC allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse employees for required expenses, (f) failed to provide wages when due, and (g) failed to pay sick wages, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-204, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. The Complaint alleges Defendant failed to fully relieve Plaintiff for his legally required thirty (30) minute meals breaks. Employees were also allegedly required, from time to time, to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided the legally required ten (10) minute rest periods. The California Supreme Court defines off-duty rest periods as the time during which an employee is relieved from all work-related duties and free from employer control. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Autozoners, LLC call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Immune resilience explains why some people, regardless of age, have impact immune systems and reduced inflammation. The blue-clad spheres are T-cells. The lower sphere is COVID-19. Immune resilience is the capacity to maintain good immune function ... and minimize inflammation while experiencing inflammatory stressors. Weijing He, MD Researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, working with collaborators in five countries, revealed that the capacity to resist or recover from infections and other sources of inflammatory stress called immune resilience differs widely among individuals. The researchers developed a unique set of metrics to quantify the level of immune resilience. This will aid in decisions for health care and help researchers understand differences in life span and health outcomes in persons of similar ages. These findings were published in Nature Communications. The study was supported by a MERIT award and other grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health; awards from the U.S. Veterans Health Administration; and a Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Not age-dependent Although age plays an important role in the bodys response to infectious and other inflammatory stressors, some persons preserve and/or restore optimal immune resilience regardless of age, noted first and senior author Sunil K. Ahuja, MD, professor at UT Health Science Center San Antonio with a specialty in infectious diseases. He is director of the Veterans Administration (VA) Center for Personalized Medicine, a national center within the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. Immune resilience is the capacity to maintain good immune function, called immunocompetence, and minimize inflammation while experiencing inflammatory stressors, said Weijing He, MD, co-author and senior research scientist at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine and Foundation for Advancing Veterans Health Research. We found that during aging and when experiencing inflammatory stress, some persons resist degradation of immune resilience. Results The laboratory tests developed to assess levels of immune resilience were evaluated in nearly 50,000 persons of differing ages and types of challenges to their immune systems. This evaluation demonstrated that individuals with optimal levels of immune resilience were more likely to: Live longer. Resist HIV and influenza infections. Resist AIDS. Resist recurrence of skin cancer after kidney transplant. Survive COVID-19 infection. Survive sepsis. The researchers measured immune resilience in two ways: By measuring the balance between CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells, which are types of white blood cells. T-cells fight infections, but an imbalance in their levels occurs in many infectious and autoimmune diseases. The balance between CD8+ and CD4+ T-cells, divided into four distinct categories called immune health grades, was measured in varied infection cohorts and across the age spectrum. By measuring the expression levels of genes linked with immunocompetence and a greater chance of survival versus those linked with inflammation and a higher risk of death. The gene expression markers signifying high immunocompetence and low inflammation were identified with the immune health grade tracking optimal immune resilience. Many people think of inflammation alone when considering disease outcomes, explained co-author Grace C. Lee, PharmD, PhD, research investigator at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine and assistant professor at The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. However, the concept of immune resilience captures levels of immunocompetence and inflammation together. A step forward The study introduces the novel concept of immune resilience, which looks at the balance between immunocompetence and inflammation as a critical contributor to health outcomes, regardless of age. This is an advantage and a step forward because by looking beyond inflammation, we may uncover new prevention and treatment strategies for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, COVID-19, HIV/AIDS and cancers, Lee said. Framingham analysis Muthu Saravanan Manoharan, MS, coauthor and senior research scientist at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine and UT Health Science Center San Antonio, noted that the study team divided participants from the Framingham Heart Study into four groups based on the gene expression markers of immune resilience. Participants with optimal immune resilience, defined by gene expression markers signifying high immunocompetence and low inflammation, lived longer after controlling for the effects of age and sex, Manoharan said. Participants with metrics signifying low immunocompetence-high inflammation died sooner, whereas those with a combination of high immunocompetence-high inflammation, or low immunocompetence-low inflammation, had life spans that fell in between. Influenza The study team also examined gene expression markers of immune resilience in a population of healthy college students and individuals in the community, all under age 50, who had blood drawn before the influenza season started. On the day of the first symptoms, most participants, including those with optimal immune resilience before the flu-like illness, had gene expression profiles indicating low immunocompetence and high inflammation, which is noted in persons with shorter life spans. Many people restored their initial level of immune resilience during recovery; however, even some of those who had optimal immune resilience before influenza infection failed to do so. Six months after their flu, some people continued to have gene expression signatures of poor immune health, noted Nathan Harper, MS, coauthor and senior biostatistician at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine and Foundation for Advancing Veterans Health Research. This is rather striking, because it means that inflammatory stressors like influenza can degrade a vulnerable persons immune health long term. Sex workers The study examined female sex workers from Kenya. During a long-term study, the immune health grades of those with unprotected sex decreased. Most of the HIV acquisition occurred in women who had lower immune health grades, said Lyle R. McKinnon, PhD, coauthor and associate professor in the Max Rady College of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, at the University of Manitoba, Canada. With guidance and tools for safe sex practices, women with a lower frequency of unprotected sex over a 10-year time frame had restored optimal immune resilience, suggesting that removal of an immunological stressor could lead to the restoration of a healthier immune status. HIV-AIDS In one of the cohorts, the authors observed a rare ability to maintain a high level of immunocompetence with a low level of inflammation despite chronic inflammatory stress, termed elite immune health status. Interestingly, we found that some younger adults preserved optimal immune resilience markers despite HIV infection, said Jason F. Okulicz, MD, U.S. Air Force infectious disease physician and senior member of the study team. The preservation of these markers associated with resistance to developing AIDS and a low level of HIV in the blood. Remarkably, we found that after starting antiviral therapy early, some HIV-positive persons manifested markers of optimal immune resilience typically observed in younger adults without HIV infection. COVID-19 The association between immune resilience and the response to infection was noted during other infections. About 80% of individuals had poor immune health grades at presentation with acute COVID-19, and their immune grade predicted mortality, regardless of age. Even among patients with serious community-acquired pneumonia and sepsis, those who had higher levels of gene expression markers of immune resilience at admission to the intensive care unit were more likely to survive, noted coauthor Justin Meunier, BS, research scientist at the VA Center for Personalized Medicine. Additional reading on this research: Kidney transplant recipients Immune resilience was also measured in kidney transplant recipients, who have a 100-fold excess risk of developing skin cancer. Each of the participants had developed this cancer once after transplant. We explored the risk of getting a second cancer, dependent on immune health grades at the time each participant had the first cancer, said Matthew J. Bottomley, MD, DPhil, academic clinical lecturer in the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford. We found that, if someone had optimal immune resilience at the time of the first cancer, they resisted getting their second cancer. In collaboration with investigators from Sardinia, the authors examined blood immune cell profiles of nearly 4,000 otherwise healthy individuals. We found that irrespective of age, persons with poor immune resilience had immune cell profiles reflecting increased immune activation, noted coauthor Edoardo Fiorillo, PhD, of the Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research, National Council of Research, Lanusei, Italy. Interestingly, we observed that nonhuman primates with poor immune resilience also manifested similar immune cell profiles. Females show greater immune resilience One consistent finding throughout the populations studied was that age was not the single determinant factor in a persons response to inflammatory stress. Some younger persons with poor immune resilience had the same signatures and immune health grades commonly seen in older persons. This finding suggests that the ability to restore and maintain immunocompetence at younger ages may be linked to life span. Another factor noted across the populations and species was that higher levels of optimal immune resilience were observed more often in females than males. Genetic studies in humans and evaluation of mice with a genetic basis to have lower immune resilience suggest that immune resilience may be calibrated by variations in genes. Notably, mice with lower immune resilience were most susceptible to severe Ebola infection. Understanding risks Public health ramifications of immune checkups could be significant, Ahuja said. He noted that assessment of immune health grades estimated by CD8+ and CD4+ counts is a simple way to monitor immune resilience. These assessments have utility for understanding who might be at greater risk for developing diseases that affect the immune system, how individuals are responding to treatment, and whether, as well as to what extent, they will recover. Funding This research was supported by the following funders: 1) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) through grant number R37AI046326 (MERIT award); 2) the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Personalized Medicine through grant number IP1 CX000875-01A1 and a VA MERIT award; and 3) a Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The study with COVID-19 patients was supported by an inter-agency agreement (IAA) from the NIAID Division of Allergy, Immunology and Transplantation (DAIT) to the VA. DAIT manages this IAA; the IAA number is AAI21051-001-00000. Immune resilience despite inflammatory stress promotes longevity and favorable health outcomes including resistance to infection Sunil K. Ahuja, MD; Muthu Saravanan Manoharan, MS; Grace C. Lee, PharmD, PhD; Lyle R. McKinnon, PhD; Justin A. Meunier, BS; Maristella Steri, PhD; Nathan Harper, MS; Edoardo Fiorillo, PhD; Alisha M. Smith, PhD; Marcos I. Restrepo, MD, MSc, PhD; Anne P. Branum, BS; Matthew J. Bottomley, MD, DPhil; Valeria Orru, PhD; Fabio Jimenez, BS; Andrew Carrillo, BS; Lavanya Pandranki, MS; Caitlyn A. Winter, MS; Lauryn A. Winter, MS; Alvaro A. Gaitan, MD; Alvaro G. Moreira, MD; Elizabeth A. Walter, MD; Guido Silvestri, MD; Christopher L. King, MD, PhD; Yong-Tang Zheng, PhD; Hong-Yi Zheng, PhD; Joshua Kimani, MD, MPH; T. Blake Ball, PhD; Francis A. Plummer, MD; Keith R. Fowke, PhD; Paul N. Harden, MD; Kathryn J. Wood, PhD; Martin T. Ferris, PhD; Jennifer M. Lund, PhD; Mark T. Heise, PhD; Nigel Garrett, MBBS, PhD; Kristen R. Canady, MD, PhD; Salim S. Abdool Karim, MD, PhD; Susan J. Little, MD; Sara Gianella, MD; Davey M. Smith, MD, MAS; Scott Letendre, MD; Douglas D. Richman, MD; Francesco Cucca, MD, PhD; Hanh Trinh, MD; Sandra Sanchez-Reilly, MD; Joan M. Hecht, RN; Jose Cadena, MD; Antonio Anzueto, MD; Jacqueline A. Pugh, MD; South Texas Veterans Health Care System COVID-19 team; Brian K. Agan, MD; Robert Root-Bernstein, PhD; Robert A. Clark, MD; Jason F. Okulicz, MD; Weijing He, MD First published: Nature Communications, June 13, 2023 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38238-6 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), is one of the countrys leading health science universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, patient care and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated more than 42,200 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways We make lives better, visit UTHealthSA.org. Stay connected with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 26. The processes taking place in Azerbaijan, the region, and in the world reveal the fact that in order to preserve the independence of a country, to take its rightful place on the world stage, it's always necessary to have a strong army, and the establishment of a strong army is not a matter of one or two years. To do this, a purposeful, reasonable and resolute policy, with all the risks calculated, is important. It can be said with full confidence that Azerbaijan today, is making a big leap forward in army building. Determination of correct political strategy for maintaining independence, freedom of the country and its effective implementation, ensuring economic development that serves national interests, building self-confidence among the people, establishing political, economic, social, military stability within the country, implementing a sound foreign policy, a set of measures aimed to the protection and development of national interests and sustainable development in general, and the criteria for sustainable development necessary for the realization of all this are considered the main driving factors in army building. Naturally, strong management is very important. Depending on historical conditions, the environment, various influences, objective and subjective reasons, any shortcomings in the administration of the state, requiring great responsibility and sensitivity, will also affect its army. The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, which have passed difficult tests in history, are marking their 105 years anniversary (on June 26, 1918, by the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the first regular military unit, the Separate Azerbaijani Corps, was established). Despite that the national army was established in a short time, together with the Caucasian Islamic army of Nuru Pasha, it saved Baku from the Armenian-Bolshevik occupation. These military formations showed great courage in suppressing uprisings against the national government in Mughan and Asgaran. They defeated parts of the Armenian regular army, which violated the Azerbaijani border in Gazakh. Unfortunately, after the fall of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in April 1920, the Bolshevik government disbanded Azerbaijani National Army. Most of its leaders, including 15 generals, were shot on Nargin Island. The traditions of the Azerbaijan Army, laid down during the period of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, were preserved and developed later. During the years of Soviet Azerbaijan, great leader Heydar Aliyev strove with great foresight to train national officer staff and achieved this. The goal of Heydar Aliyev was to achieve the training of military personnel from among the Azerbaijanis, so that they would have a deep understanding of military affairs and be able to handle modern weapons. The great leader soon after coming to power in Azerbaijan - on June 20, 1971 - achieved the establishment of a specialized military school named after Jamshid Nakhchivanski. He also achieved the admission of Azerbaijani youth on preferential terms to the Baku Higher United Command and the Baku Higher Naval School, as well as to other military educational institutions of the USSR. However, despite the fact that in 1991, after the restoration of state independence, it was decided to create the Azerbaijani army, in the first years of the restoration of independence, the useless policy of the then leadership of the country, internal squabbles had a negative impact on the army, and as a result, while Armenia occupied Azerbaijani lands, they could not cope with the work of building an army, they could not unite the military around a single command, which resulted in numerous problems with defending the country. As a result, 20 percent of the lands were occupied, there was unrest in the society, and Azerbaijan faced the threat of losing independence. At this time, Heydar Aliyev, who returned to power at the insistence of the people, abolished the armed formations and began the process of building a regular army. A rather important support for the great leader in this matter of the future army building of Azerbaijan were the professional military servicemen, including graduates of the specialized military school named after Jamshid Nakhchivansky, which showed the far-sighted policy of Heydar Aliyev. At his call, a large-scale mobilization was carried out, military units were fully staffed. Inspired by this, Azerbaijani army carried out successful offensive operations and delivered crushing blows to the Armenian occupiers. The first test of the Azerbaijani army under the leadership of Heydar Aliyev took place in January 1994. As a result of a successful operation carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the night of January 5-6, 1994, 20 villages of the Fuzuli district, including Horadiz village, and Jojug Marjanly village of the Jabrayil district were liberated from the occupation. In accordance with the Decree of Heydar Aliyev dated May 22, 1998, June 26 was declared the Day of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. During the leadership of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the process of establishing an army in independent Azerbaijan, the basis of which was laid down by Heydar Aliyev, entered a completely new stage. Thanks to the attention and care of President Ilham Aliyev, who successfully continues and develops the military development policy of the great leader, improving the professionalism of military servicemen, combat spirit and morale-psychological training of personnel, provision of Azerbaijani Armed Forces with modern weapons and equipment has always been in the foreground. Thanks to this policy of President Ilham Aliyev, which further increased attention and care for the army, the foundation of which was laid by Heydar Aliyev, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan have become the most powerful army in the region in a short time. As a result, three years ago, the Azerbaijani army ended a 30-year occupation with a 44-day second Karabakh war, restoring Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. This heroism of the Azerbaijani army attracted the attention of the whole world. One of the priority issues facing the Azerbaijani state at the present time is the further improvement of army building, bringing it into line with more modern requirements and holding a permanent place among the strongest armies in the world, because people with a strong army will never be broken. Azerbaijan also needs a strong army to prevent the insidious plans and intentions of neighboring Armenia, which set its sights on the strategic heights liberated by Azerbaijani army from Armenian occupation during the second Karabakh war and during subsequent anti-terrorist operations. It's also not a secret that there are forces interested in this region, located in a favorable geographical zone, pursuing an anti-Azerbaijani policy. All these factors also confirm that Azerbaijan is probably facing the biggest pressure in its history, but along with the correct foreign and domestic policy pursued, important steps in building an army allow Azerbaijan, by not only defensive, but also offensive diplomacy, to put an end to injustice against it within the framework of international law, and to establish justice. The task of further strengthening our Army remains the number one priority, said President of Azerbaijan, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev on June 23, as he addressed a ceremony to present the battle flag to one of the commando military units of the Ministry of Defense. Naturally, this is based on the development of Azerbaijan's Armed Forces on the basis of a single program, the purpose of which is to achieve in the near future a higher level of development of our Armed Forces, because it is very important to overcome pressure and threats against Azerbaijan, consistently respond to provocations and prevent all possible threats to Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Just like having favorable positions along the border with Armenia gives Azerbaijan a strategic advantage, it's just as important to maintain these positions. Unlike Armenia, today neither the "civilian mission" of the European Union, nor the military forces of other states protect Azerbaijan's borders. 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Price: $ 1,850 Seller State of Residence: Florida Property Address: 1430 Ocean Dr Number of Bedrooms: 1 Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 33139 City: MIAMI BEACH State/Province: Florida Location: 331**, Miami Beach, Florida You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Florida It has been nearly 50 years but Lucknow-resident Tej Narayan Gupta vividly remembers the evening a police team knocked on his door and picked him up. IMAGE: Indira Gandhi with her son Sanjay in Delhi. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images A nationwide crackdown had begun on June 26 in 1975, a day after the Emergency was imposed in the country, with scores of opposition leaders and activists put behind bars. "Around 9 pm I had just returned home when a police team raided my house and arrested me," Gupta, who was then an activist and lawyer, said. A policeman took him on a bicycle to Bazar Khala police station, two km away from his home. He was then taken to Kaisarbagh police station and finally lodged in the Lucknow district jail along with other arrested persons. "The policeman was riding the bicycle, which was taken from a labourer, and I sat on the rod in front of him. He was riding the cycle very slowly. The motive was to create terror in the minds of the residents of my locality," Gupta, 83, told PTI. Equating the imposition of the Emergency with dacoity, he said, "Generally, dacoity is carried out around midnight. Similarly, this dacoity of democracy in the country also took place around midnight." The Indira Gandhi government imposed the Emergency on June 25 night, suspending civil liberties and censoring the press. The morning after a crackdown began on opposition leaders and activists with scores of them being jailed across the country. "In jail, we were not sure about the future and whether we will ever walk out of it," Gupta said. Months later the situation changed and the Emergency was lifted on March 21, 1977. In his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast on June 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Emergency as a "dark period" in India's history and said those who supported democracy at that time were tortured. According to the Political Pension Department of Uttar Pradesh, 4,755 of those arrested during the Emergency in the state are still alive. They are now called loktantra senani or fighters of democracy". Among them are 83-year-old Ramdeen and 74-year-old Kedar Nath Srivastava. "An atmosphere of fear and uncertainty prevailed in the minds of people during the Emergency.... The forced sterilisation made people go against the Congress in the subsequent general elections," Ramdeen said. Srivastava said, "After being arrested, many of us wondered whether we are going to live in the jail forever!" Hriday Narayan Dixit, a former speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, also recalled his incarceration during the period. "I was lodged in Unnao jail.... The parliamentary elections were announced and we were hopeful that the Congress and Indira Gandhi would be defeated. On the night of counting of votes, I somehow managed to get a radio and was listening to announcement of results. "Late in the night, the deputy jailor came and said 'agar transistor mila toh danda kardoonga' (If a radio is found, you will be beaten with club). At around 4 am, we got the news that Indira Gandhi lost the election from Rae Bareli. The same deputy jailor came running towards my barrack and said 'badhaai ho, sir' (congratulations). When I asked how your tone changed so soon, he said 'you are forming the government'," Dixit, then a Jana Sangh leader, recalled. The Emergency was imposed on the pretext of internal disturbance though there was no such issue, he said. "It was a situation for which the country was not prepared, it had never happened before. The new generation should know about it so that in future no ruler gets the audacity to commit such an act," Dixit, 76, said. Senior Samajwadi Party MLA from Itwa in Siddharthnagar district Mata Prasad Pandey told PTI that "uncertainty and fear" prevailed during the days of the Emergency. Pandey, also a former speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, was lodged in Basti jail. Referring to the mass sterilisation drive during the Emergency, he said, "Police used to harass people. People used to hide atop trees or in sugarcane fields. Such was the fear." "However, at that time, only the leaders were arrested and their family members were not harassed," Pandey, 70, said. 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. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko became the mediator and avoided a possible bloodbath by convincing the increasingly isolated Wagner Private Military Company founder Yevgeny Prigozhin to give up his command and withdraw to Belarus, reported TASS News Agency. IMAGE: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Photograph: Reuters Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the Belarusian President volunteered because he has been acquainted with Prigozhin for about 20 years. "You will likely ask me why precisely President Lukashenko [became the mediator]? The thing is that Alexander Grigoryevich has known Prigozhin personally for a long time, about 20 years, and this was his personal initiative which was coordinated with President Putin," the Kremlin official said. Putin's press secretary stressed that June 24 was a "rather difficult day, literally filled with these tragic events." "You know that as a result, it was possible to resolve this situation without further losses, without further escalating the level of tensions," he said. "The two presidents, indeed, agreed on President Lukashenko providing mediating efforts on settling the situation [with the Wagner PMC]. We hold this readiness in high esteem," the Kremlin official concluded, as per TASS News Agency. According to informed Russia watchers, the Kremlin could not afford to go all out against Prigozhin and Wagner after their victories in Ukraine and the heavy price they paid for Russia. The mutiny could have escalated into a civil war if not nipped in the bud, given Prigozhin's highly unstable and abrasive character and the support he obviously had from the West. According to Scott Ritter, Prigozhin had been 'turned' by MI6 which had promised him the highest reward if he could get himself appointed as Minister of Defence and start negotiations with Ukraine. There was no basis for those claims but the goal was to demoralise the Russians and proclaim himself the saviour of Russia with a blank cheque to do what he would deem fit to stop the war (presumably rush into a deal with the West), as per informed Russia watchers. Earlier, on Saturday morning, Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a Telegram post, announced that his men had crossed the border from Ukraine into southern Russia and were ready to go "all the way" against the Russian military. He said he and his men would destroy anyone who stood in their way. "But we will destroy anyone who stands in our way," he said, adding, "We are moving forward and will go until the end." As the Wagner troops were said to be driving into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, Prigozhin said border guards greeted his mercenaries, reported ABC News. He said young conscripts at checkpoints stood back and offered no resistance, adding that his forces "aren't fighting against children. "After Prigozhin's statement, Russia's President Vladimir Putin in a televised address to the nation said the "armed mutiny" by the Wagner Group is a "stab in the back", vowing to punish those who were on the "path of treason" or anyone who takes up arms against the Russian military. (ANI) Stating that 822 companies of central forces would not be adequate for free and fair panchayat elections in West Bengal, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday demanded deployment of more central forces. IMAGE: Central forces personnel conduct a route march ahead of the West Bengal panchayat elections, at Raipur village in Birbhum, June 24, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The state government employees deployed on election duty also demanded that Central forces be deployed in every polling booth in West Bengal in the panchayat polls slated to be held on July 8. The Congress leader also sought an increase in the number of phases, over which the polls will be held, from one to at least six. "In proportion to the number of booths, I think that this number (822 companies) of central forces is inadequate. I demand more central forces be sent to West Bengal for the panchayat elections," Chowdhury said. The State Election Commission on Friday informed the Calcutta high court that it has requisitioned 822 companies of central forces for the July 8 panchayat polls in West Bengal. Widespread violence over the filing of nominations for the three-tier panchayat polls has left at least eight people dead and several injured in various parts of the state in the past two weeks. Speaking to journalists at a meet the press programme organised by the Press Club Kolkata, the leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha said SEC Rajiva Sinha should use the central forces "strategically" for free and fair polling. "The central forces should be deployed in the same manner as in assembly or Lok Sabha elections. Then only, the panchayat elections will be free and fair... I believe the polling should be conducted in six or more phases," he said. If the people are allowed to cast their votes freely in the panchayat polls, the ruling Trinamool Congress will be found nowhere and that was why the government had moved the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order for the deployment of central forces, Chowdhury claimed. A government which is claiming to be bankrupt is paying through its nose to move the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court orders. It is ready to spend money to bring in forces from other states, but is reluctant to get central forces free of cost," he said. The SEC recently informed the high court that it has arranged to bring police forces from Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha to be deployed during panchayat polls. In the Sagardighi assembly by-election held in February, central forces had reached the constituency at least 18-19 days before the polls and that helped in instilling confidence in voters, the Congress leader claimed. The Congress had won the Sagardighi by-poll and got its only MLA in the current assembly. However, the legislator joined the ruling TMC late last month. "In West Bengal, no election can be organised by the state police, Chowdhury claimed. Unwilling to take questions on the June 23 meeting of non-Bharatiya Janata Party parties in Patna where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared the dais with TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, he stressed that the party in West Bengal would continue to be with the Left Front. Meanwhile, the forum of joint action committee of state government employees also demanded that Central forces be deployed in every polling booth in West Bengal in the panchayat polls. The forum is a platform of 20 state government employees organisations. The state government employees are put on election duty in different polls -- assembly, Lok Sabha or local bodies -- conducted by the Election Commission of India or the State Election Commission respectively. A spokesperson of the forum told reporters a five-member delegation met State Election Commission officials during the day after over 100 state government employees marched to the SEC office threatening they won't participate in the panchayat voting process if central forces are not posted in every booth. Five-six representatives from the forum, consisting of around 20 state employees organisations belonging to the Left, Congress and BJP, went to meet a senior SEC official but the SEC did not give any concrete assurance. "The state election commission said we will ensure your safety during polling but that is not enough. We want assurance that central forces will be deployed in every single booth. The safety of every polling official is of paramount importance. The SEC asked for some more time and we have agreed. Let's see," the representative said after meeting the SEC official. The joint action committee had been on a sit-in near Sahid Minar for over 130 days to press for their demand for a hike in Dearness Allowance of state government employees in commensurate with the DA of their counterparts at the Centre. Reacting to the demand of the forum for the deployment of central forces, Trinamool Congress state spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar said the employees should not speak in the language of political party activists while performing the duties of state government. "These agitating employees should decide whether they should introduce themselves as political party activists first if they end up echoing political demands of CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) and BJP or act as state government employees," Majumdar told reporters. He said the authorities will certainly look into the safety issue of the polling personnel as voting will be underway. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the demand of the state employees was "justified as the state police has failed" to contain violence by ruling TMC activists ahead of the panchayat polls. Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Sunday briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi about the "evolving situation" in Manipur and said the state and central governments have been able to control the violence to a "great extent". IMAGE: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in New Delhi, June 25, 2023. Photograph: Courtesy Biren Singh/Twitter Singh, who arrived in the national capital from Imphal on Sunday morning, went to meet Shah at his residence in New Delhi. "Called on Hon'ble Union Home Minister, Shri @AmitShah Ji in New Delhi today and briefed about the evolving situation on the ground in Manipur. Under Amit Shah Ji's close supervision, the State and Central Govt have been able to control the violence to a great extent in the past week," he tweeted. Singh said there has been no report of casualties since June 13 due to the violence. He said the home minister assured him that the central government will take all possible steps to bring back normalcy in Manipur. The chief minister said Shah "advised us to strengthen our work towards achieving everlasting peace" and also sought the cooperation of every stakeholder in Manipur to ensure peace prevails. "I was joined by BJP national spokesperson Shri @sambitswaraj Ji, Hon'ble MP Rajya Sabha Shri @MaharajaManipur Ji and Hon'ble Speaker Shri Th Satyabrata Singh Ji," he said. This comes a day after the home minister chaired an all-party meeting in New Delhi over the Manipur situation. Eighteen political parties, four MPs from the northeast and two chief ministers from the region attended the three-hour-long meeting. The home minister told the all-party meeting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been monitoring the situation in violence-hit state since day one and "guiding us with full sensitivity" to find a solution to the problem. Shah told the meeting the situation in Manipur was slowly returning to normal and not a single person has died since June 13 in the violence in the northeastern state. The home minister, who had convened the meeting, sought the cooperation of all the political parties to help defuse the situation and restore peace and trust among various communities in Manipur at the earliest. Shah told the meeting the Modi government is committed to solve the Manipur problem by taking everyone together. China has been helping the Pakistan Army build its defence infrastructure besides providing Unmanned Aerial and Combat Aerial Vehicles, setting up communication towers and laying underground cables along the Line of Control, officials said. IMAGE: Army personnel patrol on a snow-covered path at the Line of Control, in Poonch, January 25, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo This, according to the officials, is part of efforts to further shore up China's position as an all-weather friend of Pakistan while ensuring the safety of the growing Chinese enclaves on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir set up on the pretext of securing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor road and hydel projects built in the occupied territory. The officials said that the recently developed SH-15, a 155 mm truck-mounted howitzer gun, has also been spotted at some places along the Line of Control after it was displayed on Pakistan Day last year. Known as a 'shoot and scoot' artillery weapon, Pakistan had signed a contract with Chinese firm North Industries Group Corporation Limited for the supply of 236 SH-15s and, according to London-based Janes Defence magazine, the first batch was delivered in January 2022. Though the presence of senior PLA officials at forward posts, as was detected in 2014, was not found, some intercepts suggested that Chinese troops and engineers were setting up infrastructure along the LoC, including building underground bunkers, the officials said. The Army has officially maintained silence on the issue but has been constantly updating the intelligence agencies, sources said. The Chinese military's presence, according to experts, is due to Beijing's 46-billion-dollar CPEC under which Gwadar Port in Karachi will be linked to China's Xinjiang province through the Karakoram highway, an area under the illegal occupation of China. The officials suggested that Chinese experts were digging some tunnels in the Leepa Valley located in PoK, preparatory to building an all-weather road that will serve as an alternative route to reach the Karakoram highway. It may be mentioned here that a Chinese telecom company took over Pakistan's telecom company in 2007 and formed China Mobile Pakistan, which is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of China Mobile Communications Corporation. In August last year, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, while renewing the mobile licence of CMPak (Zong) for PoK, gave permission for expanding Next Generation Mobile Services in the region. India has strongly objected to the presence of the Chinese in Gilgit and Baltistan regions in the past, and officials said the Army was completely prepared to frustrate any moves from across the border. India and Pakistan have been observing a ceasefire since February 25, 2021. Srikanth Kondapalli, professor of Chinese studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University who has been part of a think-tank on Indian policy towards China, feels that arms transfers to Pakistan are part of a design to secure China's interests in the region. He said that in line with its often-stated stand of being Pakistan's "all-weather" friend and to balance India by pursuing the overall regional dominance policy, Beijing has stepped up its arms transfers to Pakistan. "China had initiated an Economic Corridor in 2014 in violation of sovereignty concerns of India in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "In addition to road expansion of the Karakoram Highway, China has sent an estimated 36,000 'security guards' into PoK to protect its hydro-electricity projects and other infrastructure projects from terror attacks," he said. Kondapali said that China had also been constructing "well-off society" villages in PoK. "Modern warfare also requires 24/7 surveillance and China has been supplying 10 CH-4A drones, specifically designed for high-altitude missions over land and sea that can fire from up to 5,000 metres, in addition to 48 Wing Loong-II drones, used as a surveillance and aerial reconnaissance and precision strike platform, to Pakistan since 2018," he said. Foreign-made vaccines were not procured during the COVID pandemic as the firms were demanding indemnity, which was not made available to Indian vaccine manufacturers, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has said, asserting that the "same rule applies for all". IMAGE: An elderly citizen receives the Covid vaccination at a hospital in Mumbai. Photograph: Ashish Vaishnav/ANI Photo He also said that it was wrong to suggest that India stopped foreign made vaccines like that made by Moderna and Pfizer from coming to India. "We may have certain requirements and strengths and other countries may have some other strengths and needs. It is wrong to say that India stopped any country from coming to India. When they applied with required data, we gave them emergency use approvals just like we gave to Indian companies," Mandaviya said in an exclusive interview to PTI recently. However, their demands for indemnification and sovereign immunity waivers were a major impediment and eventually the government did not go ahead with it, the minister stated. "At that time, Sputnik vaccine was also there and so were Indian vaccines. Whichever global company wants to come to India, they can come and sell their products, whether they are medicines or vaccines, we have no problem with that. But all need to follow India's rules and regulations. Our own companies did not ask for an indemnity. Sputnik did not ask for it," Mandaviya said. "If our own companies are not seeking such relaxations and following our rules and regulations, then it is natural that global companies also do the same," he said. The minister stressed that countries need to cooperate with each other in the health sector in times of globalisation. Highlighting that India wants to expand its relationship with the world in the pharma and health sectors, Mandaviya said, "We are not against anyone or in favour of anyone". India is such a country that applies the same rules and regulations for Indian and foreign companies with equal rights. "Not many countries give such equal rights, but India does. The world also appreciates this position of our country," Mandaviya stated. Recounting the fight against the pandemic, Mandaviya, who took charge of the health ministry in the middle of the coronavirus crisis in July 2021, said COVID management was a big challenge for a vast and diverse country like India, but its success story has now become an example for the entire world. The minister also dismissed suggestions that approvals for vaccines were rushed without taking into account long-term side effects and that the recent spate of heart attacks was linked to it, saying the entire process from vaccine research to its administration followed all established international standards. He said vaccine development and approvals used to take much longer earlier due to various physical and manual processes but the authorities and scientists made full use of the latest technology, including artificial intelligence, this time and, therefore, the entire process could be fast-tracked. Mandaviya, a BJP leader from Gujarat known to enjoy the trust of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "Let me tell you that PM Modi followed scientific ways for all procedures from the very beginning, from Covid management to vaccine research to approvals to the vaccination drive." "It was the PM's direction because of which INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium) and several other taskforce and empowered groups were set up for vaccine approvals and other protocols. In the entire Covid journey, we followed scientific ways to fight this pandemic. "Scientists told us when the vaccines should be approved, and the entire data and data analysis was done as per international standards. India followed the same international standards that were followed by global companies," he said. The minister said it all indeed happened very fast in India but those questioning the speed must understand why the approvals came early. "The times have changed. Earlier, data would get collected, their physical analysis would take place, and a lot of procedures would happen manually, but today we have artificial intelligence, the latest modelling methods, and digital technology, and we thought how can we speed up things by using all of these," he said. "Whatever international practice is there for vaccine research and vaccine approval, India followed the same. India's vaccines are now known as the best in the world as they not only saved India but helped save the rest of the world also. Not just one, but five Indian-researched and manufactured vaccines are in the market today," he said. "Our vaccination journey has been based on scientific data while following all scientific protocols and methods, that I can assure you," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, and discussed issues related to promoting social harmony and countering extremism and radicalisation. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam. Photograph: @PMOIndia/Twitter On a two-day state visit to Egypt, the Prime Minister apprised the Grand Mufti that India would set up a Centre of Excellence in IT at the Dar-al-Ifta - an Egyptian advisory body for Islamic legal research -under the Ministry of Social Justice of Egypt. They discussed the strong cultural & people to people relations between India and Egypt. Discussions also focused on issues related to social and religious harmony in society and countering extremism and radicalisation, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said. He said the Grand Mufti appreciated the Prime Minister's leadership in fostering inclusivity and pluralism. I was honoured to meet Prime Minister Modi. It was a very nice and interesting meeting. In fact, he reflects a wise leadership for a big country like India, the Grand Mufti said. He said he had earlier met Modi at one of the Sufi conferences in Delhi. Between the two meetings, I have noticed that there is a great development in India. It reflects that he is continuously working in India. It also reflects the wise policies being adopted by Prime Minister Modi bringing co-existence between various factions in India, he said. At the religious level, we have strong cooperation between us and India and we are looking forward to further enhancing and deepening this cooperation, the Grand Mufti said. He said the Indian side has said it would provide Dar-ul-Ifta with a Centre of Excellence in Information Technology. The Grand Mufti visited India last month at the invitation of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. In an article written ahead of his visit to India, the Grand Mufti referred to statements by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the need for cooperation and bridge-building in a challenging world. Though such overtures have been welcomed by many, he said practical steps were needed to turn such good wishes into a sustained relationship of mutual trust and respect. This is the message I wish to deliver on behalf of the Muslim world in India this week, he had written. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday left for India after concluding his first-ever visit to Egypt where he held talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and was conferred with the Arab country's highest honour 'Order of the Nile'. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs from Egypt for New Delhi after state visit, June 25, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Modi, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday after concluding a high-profile state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, was received at the airport by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. "My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection," Modi tweeted. His two-day state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is also the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister since 1997. Modi held talks with President El-Sisi on Sunday and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries with a focus on improving trade and investments, energy ties and people-to-people connections. The two countries elevated their relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership'. President El-Sisi conferred Modi with 'Order of the Nile' award - Egypt's highest state honour. This is the 13th highest state honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi. Earlier in the day, Modi visited Egypt's historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque, restored with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community. He also visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery in Cairo and paid homage to over 4,300 valiant Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Aden during World War I. He also took a tour of pyramids at Giza. On Saturday, Modi met with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, and discussed issues related to promoting social harmony and countering extremism and radicalisation. Later in the evening, Modi met members of the Indian community in Egypt who showered fulsome praise on him, hailing him as ndia's hero'. He also met prominent personalities in Egypt, including Hassan Allam, CEO of one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region, and Tarek Heggy, a renowned author and petroleum strategist. Modi started his five-day visit on June 20. He visited the US from June 21-24. His visit to the US started in New York, where he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21. Later, in Washington DC, he was given a red-carpet welcome at the White House by President Biden. The two leaders held a historic summit, followed by Modi's address to Congress and a State Dinner hosted at the White House by the Bidens in his honour. The visit was marked by several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space and trade. Modi and President Biden hailed the "landmark" pact to jointly produce jet engines in India to power military aircraft and the US drone deal. Modi on Thursday became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice. His first address to a joint meeting of the US Congress was in 2016. During his address, he sought action against state sponsors of terrorism. Modi also made a strong push for reforming multilateral institutions, including the UN, and spoke glowingly of India's ties with the US. On Friday, US Vice President Kamala Harris along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted a luncheon for the Indian leader at the State Department. Modi also met top CEOs of the US and India at the White House. US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said the State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go down in history as the turning of a page and starting of a bold new chapter in India-US relations. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum event, at Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, USA, June 23, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo He also said that it is more than a relationship between the two countries. "It's a friendship, it's genuine and it's deep. I think this visit will go down in history as the turning of a page and the starting of a bold new chapter in America and India relations. It's the culmination of years and even decades of work, Garcetti told PTI in an interview. He also said that it has leapfrogged beyond many of the expectations, whether it's been a personal relationship between Prime Minister Modi and President Joe Biden, whether it was breadth and depth of the work done by the governments, or whether it was the people to people ties, business leaders and cultural leaders and everyday Americans and Indians. This really is about the future. And I think America and India are the future, stronger together and showing a vision of how we can create a more prosperous world for everyone if this relationship deepens, 52-year-old Garcetti said. On the takeaways from the visit, Garcetti noted the four Ps - peace, prosperity, planet, and people. He said when it comes to peace, real defence deliverables and the sharing of deeper technology than the United States has done, even with most of its closest allies, on prosperity, finally putting trade disputes behind us, deepening the technological cooperation and supply chains, on the issue of the planet, work of climate, space and ocean. In the people-to-people ties opening up of new consulates. This is an all-arena relationship now. And it's more than a relationship. It's a friendship, it's genuine and it's deep, he said. Garcetti said this moment is defined by optimism and I don't see that optimism waning in the years ahead. But I think there is a realisation that we do have to plan not just for this moment, that we have to plan for the next 20-25 years. He said that there are people who don't share our values who have planned for the long term, who aren't democracies, that don't see technology as something to help people's lives, that maybe are not interested in helping or moving our work to combat climate change. He noted that for the next 25 years, India and the US must prepare for much more than what they have today. The number of good things we need to do together, we need to prepare for the rise of the middle class in India... we have to prepare for a way that US and India can really build supply chains that help the world de-risk, he said. He further added that New Delhi and Washington have to make sure that our military cooperation isn't just aspirational and occasional, but it's a true deterrent to bad actors and can help preserve a world based on the rule of law and order. On the relationship between Modi and Biden, Garcetti said while world leaders need to talk to each other, from what I saw reflected in that they (Modi and Biden) love to talk to each other. They need to spend time together. But they also love to spend time together. And that is so important. Whether it's for things that are easy to talk about or some of the more difficult challenges that we face. He said during the State Visit, President Biden and Prime Minister Modi were together on about six or seven occasions, and it was as enthusiastic and warm to the very end as it was the first moment they saw each other. The US envoy said that "the Indian dream to me in 2023 mirrors what the American Dream has been for so long. This idea that doesn't matter where you come from, if you set your sights high and work hard, with a little luck, anybody should be able to go as far as she wants." When people say they know India, I always doubt that because there are so many Indias. And if people want to simplify India, I would say what's beautiful about India is its complexity, to see the difference in culture, cuisine and language, to understand the vibrancy of the political opinions that people hold, to spend time with those that are struggling to build the kind of world and country they want to see - that to me is very inspiring." It's not always a perfect picture, no country is. But to me, it's an inspiring picture. I couldn't think of a better job. I'm having the time of my life. This is the best job I could ever imagine having, and the best country I could ever imagine the President sending me to represent our country. On March 16, Garcetti was confirmed by the US Senate as the country's next ambassador to India, filling the key diplomatic position that had been vacant for more than two years. The Aam Aadmi Party's shrill indictment of the Congress over alleged apathy towards the central ordinance issue seems to have few takers among those present at the opposition meeting in Patna. IMAGE: Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Yadav, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, NCP Sharad Pawar, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann attend the Opposition leaders' meeting in Patna on June 23, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo At least five leaders, who represented their respective parties at Friday's meeting hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seemed unimpressed with the AAP going into a sulk over the ordinance which seeks to curtail the powers of the Delhi government headed by its founder Arvind Kejriwal. It is very unfortunate that the AAP seems to be looking at the issue through the prism of rivalry with Congress in Delhi and Punjab, said CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar. He asserted that it was wrong on AAP's part to say in an official statement that the Congress refused to oppose the ordinance at the meeting, despite being asked to do so by many parties. All parties were unanimous in the condemnation of the ordinance. But the AAP leadership must place the issue in a broader context. It is about the attacks on the Constitution and the principal of federalism by the BJP government, a reason why we all buried our differences and joined hands," said the Left leader. "I would admire the maturity shown by our friends from Jammu and Kashmir, who did recall with pain that AAP had voted in favour of the bill, in Parliament, that stripped the northern state of its special status, its statehood and its integrity, said Dipankar. The Left leader also said he had requested the AAP delegation to stay back for the press conference after the meeting. "They did not agree to do so. But we are happy that overall, the meeting remained fruitful," the CPI(ML) Liberation leader said. Notably, the AAP delegation, comprising Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chaddha, boarded the return flight immediately after lunch and the party came out with a statement voicing its suspicions over the Congress' intentions. CPI general secretary D Raja, a veteran leader who was among those present at the meeting, also agreed that all parties, without exception, did criticise the ordinance. The Congress, too, was with us in criticising the ordinance which aims at snatching power away from an elected government. In all probability, all parties present at the meeting will vote against a bill seeking to replace the ordinance. The Congress may just be taking its own time to make a public announcement to the effect," Raja said. He also took exception to a section of the media using the word boycott to describe AAP's stance and asserted that Kejriwal and his colleagues were present all through the meeting and had lunch with us. They did leave early because of other engagements elsewhere. Similar views were expressed by People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, one of the two delegates from Jammu and Kashmir, the other being Omar Abdullah of the National Conference. Arvind Kejriwal did raise the issue of the ordinance at the meeting. Nobody flinched from criticising the ordinance. I also did not hold a grudge against his party having voted in favour of scrapping of Article 370. Though the agenda of the meeting was opposition unity, she said. Another attendee of the meeting, Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan, national president of Nitish Kumar's JD(U), noted that the ordinance was never the main agenda. Though Arvind Kejriwal is entitled to have a personal opinion and act on the same. Notably, the Bharatiya Janata Party has expressed glee over AAP's tantrums as evident from a statement issued soon after the meeting. Former Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi claimed, An angry Kejriwal refused to join the press conference.. the meeting is a flop. Leaders like (RJD president) Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar who had fought the Congress during Emergency are now aligning with the same party." Lalan, however, pointed out, It was not the Congress, per se, that we were fighting against. We were fighting against the assault on democracy and the Jana Sangh, the BJP's previous avatar, was with us in that fight. Now that they are guilty of the same offence, we must fight against them. Nitish Kumar had vowed to defeat the BJP upon snapping ties with that party. Yesterday, all parties lent support to his drive. Kumar's deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who is Lalu Prasad's younger son and heir apparent, avoided giving out too much on the exchanges with AAP but asserted that there was no bitterness shown by anybody. All issues were discussed in a cordial manner and all parties agreed to meet again in Shimla to take the fight against fascist forces forward. - The Punjab police on Sunday raided several suspected hideouts of persons linked with gangsters-turned-terrorists Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Harwinder Singh alias Rinda. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo The raids were conducted simultaneously from 6 am to 11am across several districts of the state on the directions of director general of police Punjab Gaurav Yadav. All residential and other premises linked with associates of both criminals were thoroughly searched in the raids. Special DGP (law and order) Arpit Shukla said all police commissioners and senior superintendents of police were directed to depute strong police parties to make the operation successful, which was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers based in India and abroad. The raids were made by 364 teams involving around 2,000 police personnel. "Today's searches were planned after the questioning of several persons arrested during recently busted modules backed by Lakhbir Landa and Harwinder Rinda," Shukla said. He said several persons were detained during the operation for further verification and incriminating materials found on them were seized. Meanwhile, the Tarn Taran police arrested two associates of Rinda, identified as Arshdeep Singh and his brother Wattandeep Singh, both residents of Kulla village. The police also recovered two pistols with 285 live cartridges of different bores, 100 grams of opium, and 250 kilograms 'lahan' (raw material used to make liquor) from their possession. After Wagner mercenary force chief Yevgeny Prigozhin decided to halt his forces' march to Moscow under deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. IMAGE: Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pull out of the headquarters of the southern military district to return to base, in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters The Kremlin spokesperson on Saturday said the charges against the Wagner leader who led an armed mutiny against the country's military leadership would be dropped, The New York Times reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S Peskov said Prigozhin will go to Belarus, and the fighters who rebelled with him would not be prosecuted by law given their "service at the front." "Wagner fighters who did not participate in the mutiny can sign contracts with the Russian ministry of defence," New York Times quoted Peskov as saying. This comes shortly after the Belarusian president stated he was in talks with Prigozhin about an agreement to "de-escalate tensions." Taking to Twitter, the ministry of foreign affairs of Belarus wrote, "At 9 pm tonight, the presidents spoke again by phone. The president of Belarus Lukashenko informed the president of Russia about the results of negotiations w/ the leader of the Wagner Group. President Putin thanked his counterpart for the work done." According to several videos circulating on social media, Wagner's armoured vehicles started departing the military centre of Rostov-on-Don in southwest Russia on Saturday night. However, Prighozin did not mention about it earlier whether his forces were backtracking from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don as well, where critical military and civilian buildings were seized. Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday slammed former US president Barack Obama's statement about minority rights in India, saying his remarks were surprising as six Muslim-majority countries had faced US "bombing" during his tenure. IMAGE: US ex-president Barack Obama. Photograph: Courtesy Barack Obama on Twitter She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the highest civilian awards from 13 countries, including six with predominantly Muslim population. The finance minister alleged that "organised campaigns" were being run to level "baseless" allegations on the treatment meted out to minorities in India at the behest of the Opposition as it cannot electorally defeat the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party. In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Obama reportedly said if India does not protect the rights of ethnic minorities, there is a strong possibility at some point that the country starts pulling apart. Sitharaman said it is also important to look into the past of people who are levelling such allegations against India. "I was surprised when Prime Minister Modi was... talking about India in front of everyone, a former US president was giving statements about Indian Muslims at that time," the BJP leader said at a press conference at the party headquarters here. Sitharaman also took exception to the allegations by US Commission on International Religious Freedom, saying India wants to maintain a good relationship with the US but she is surprised to hear such statements. "I am exercising restraint while speaking on foreign matters. We want a good friendship with the US. But from there also, USCIRF's comments about religious tolerance in India comes and the former president is also saying something," she added. "Didn't bombings happen in six countries - Syria, Yemen, Saudi and Iraq and other Muslim countries - during his term (as US President)?" she asked. "When he makes such allegations against India, will the people trust him," she said. The minister alleged that the Congress is deliberately raising "non-issues" and levelling allegations "without basic data" to vitiate the country's atmosphere because the opposition party cannot defeat the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. "The Congress party is running such campaigns and it was clearly visible in the last election and the previous elections where they went to Pakistan seeking their help to change the government in India," she charged while replying to questions on allegations of discrimination against minorities. She said whenever there is an issue, it is addressed at the state level by elected governments as law and order is a state subject. "I find this deliberate attempt to vitiate the atmosphere in the country because they think they cannot win against the development policies of prime minister Modi," she alleged, adding, "They (Congress) have deployed their tool kits which operate abroad". "Going abroad, our Opposition does not talk in India's interest because they cannot defeat Prime Minister Modi." "They bring up these people who go to these debates without ground-level details," she charged. Sitharaman said Prime Minister Modi has received the highest civilian awards from 13 countries and six of them are Muslim majority. "These (targeting of the Modi government over minority issues) are organised campaigns. Otherwise, why would countries accord such an honour to PM Modi and why would there be a distortion in understanding about how the minority population is part of the Indian mainstream," she said. During his US visit, Prime Minister Modi said at a press conference how his government works on 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' principle and doesn't discriminate against any community whatsoever, the Union minister added. Asked about the Opposition meeting held in Patna on Friday to forge unity against the BJP, Sitharaman said, I don't know for what they are coming together. Their one point agenda is to defeat the BJP, " she said and asked, Are they saying what they will do for the people. During their tenure, the highest level of corruption prevailed in the country while in the nine years of the Modi government, only development-related activities are happening and there is not one whisper of corruption, the minister said. A negative agenda cannot be what people want to hear. So first let them offer as to what they will do for the people, she added. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday batted for the freedom of media as he recalled June 25, 1975, as a "black day" in the history of Indian democracy -- when the nationwide emergency was imposed by the Indira Gandhi-led government. IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspected the ongoing development work in Mathura, June 25, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Adityanath said this at an event at the office of The Indian Express after officially renaming a key road in Noida as 'Ramnath Goenka Marg' after the founder of the publication. Formerly known as Amaltash Road, the busy route connects Rajnigandha Chowk in Noida's Sector 16 to Sector 12 and comes under the management of the local Noida Authority, which functions under the Uttar Pradesh government. The office of The Indian Express is located on this route. Adityanath also remembered and paid tribute to those who worked to restore democracy during the Emergency period, which lasted till 1977. "The day of June 25, 1975, is known as Black Day in the history of Indian democracy. But during that time, India had witnessed the struggle and sacrifices of those who had put their everything on the line to save democracy and the freedom of media. They showed their will to go to any extent to fight for democracy," he said. "This day is also important since the Goenka family contributed to saving democracy and set parameters for what could be the clean and dignified role of the media ever since the founding of this media group. Along with this, Ramnath Goenka ji was also associated with the nationalist mission with which we are associated," he added. The chief minister further said, "Today is an emotional day for me. It is an important day from the point of view of saving democracy. I do not consider this a coincidence that this road had to be named after Ramanth Goenka today only on June 25. It has been 48 years." "I say this with full commitment and assure you that for the media -- the fourth wheel, the fourth pillar of democracy -- we also should get the opportunity to work together for it," Adityanath said. He remembered Goenka's contribution in fighting for freedom of the media and democracy during the Emergency. Goenka was born in 1904 and passed away in 1991. "Today, it is a matter of pride for me that I am getting the opportunity to inaugurate this road named after him in Noida, which is known as the financial capital of Uttar Pradesh. On this occasion, I pay humble tribute to all those 'fighters of democracy', including Goenka, who fought for democracy in this country," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said. "Ramnath Goenka ji is a shining pole star of the media world. Whenever there will be talk about freedom of the media and democracy, Ramnath Goenka ji's name would always be remembered with reverence and respect," he added. Adityanath also remembered Goenka's journey as the founder of The Indian Express Group in 1936 and his role as a participant in India's freedom movement. "Not only for the media's freedom, he also got elected to the Parliament to amplify the voice of India's democracy. It is an important day for me that India's most populous state where anti-democracy conspiracies were being hatched, the voice which had risen prominently against it was of Uttar Pradesh," he added. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. The Chinese threat in the South China Sea is increasing significantly as a large number of armed maritime militias are operating in the region at China's behest besides its deployment of an array of warships and other military assets, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu has said, calling for united efforts by all stakeholders to deal with the challenge. Wu also cited China's growing military activities in the Indian Ocean Region including its attempt to control key ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Djibouti and hoped that New Delhi is paying "close attention" to it. In an interaction with an international media group, the Taiwanese foreign minister said the countries having stakes in the South China Sea must join hands in combating the challenge emanating from China's rising military muscle-flexing in the region and that Taiwan is ready to share its experience in dealing with the Chinese threat. There have been growing global concerns over China's sweeping claims of sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons. Several countries in the region including Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei, have counterclaims. "India is also facing a threat in its northern borders with China. It is not only the military threat coming from the North; but it is also the Indian Ocean that India might face some challenge," Wu said. The Taiwanese foreign minister said time has come for democratic countries to join hands to face the common challenges from China including through sharing of resources with each other. "China is trying to secure ports along the Indian Ocean -- in Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and all the way to Djibouti. The lessons that we learnt from port Hambantota in Sri Lanka are significant to us," he said. China considers Taiwan as part of its territory. The self-governed democratic island has positioned itself as a democratic power that is ready to contribute its part in the world's fight against China's expansionism. China's ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is a province of the country and has repeatedly warned that the island must unite with China, by force if necessary. Beijing has threatened to attack if Taiwan declares formal independence or delays talks on unification. Wu said China was responsible for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka as well as that Beijing does not care about the financial situations in these countries. It is repeating the same model in Myanmar and some other countries. "We should pay close attention to these developments. This is also something I am sure the Indian government is paying very close attention to and in that regard, I would like to say that the federal democracies facing common challenges from the PRC (People's Republic of China), need to work with each other," he said. The Taiwanese foreign minister said the growing Chinese military activities in the South China Sea should be a matter of concern to all countries in the region. "If you look at China's naval activities in the South China Sea, it is something for all of us to feel worried about. From the data that I can see, from the briefings that I received, I can say that there are more than a dozen Chinese military vessels that are patrolling the South China Sea region. "And it is not only the military vessels. China also has a large number of maritime militia with fishing boats. There are hundreds of them and they listen to orders of the PLA (People's Liberation Army)," he said. The Taiwanese foreign minister said the Philippines had plenty of problems with the maritime militia as hundreds of them in fishing boats come and surround some areas, adding it is a "hard problem for the Philippines." He said there is a possibility of Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia facing the same problem and that "this requires all of us to find ways to deal with the challenges posed by the Chinese in the maritime domain." Wu also referred to China seizing control of Sri Lanka's southern deep-sea port of Hambantota and said there are lessons to be learnt from it, adding Beijing is also responsible for causing financial difficulties for Colombo. "There has been a relentless military threat against Taiwan. If you see the situation in South China Sea, China has been flexing its military muscle, especially trying to intercept military vessels or surveillance aircraft coming from other countries in an undemocratic and unprofessional manner, creating tensions in the South China Sea. The tensions in the South China Sea have been rising tremendously," he said. In 2017, Sri Lanka signed a USD 1.1 billion deal with China for the control and development of Hambantota port for 99 years. The deal triggered concerns in India as well as many neighbouring countries. India does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but both sides have trade and people-to-people relations. Following the eastern Ladakh border row with China, some experts in India have been pushing for upgrading New Delhi's ties with Taipei, especially in the trade and investment sectors. Though India and Taiwan do not have formal diplomatic ties, the bilateral trade relations have been on an upswing. In 1995, New Delhi set up the India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei to promote interactions between the two sides and to facilitate business, tourism and cultural exchanges. India-Taipei Association has also been authorised to provide all consular and passport services. In the same year, Taiwan too established the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Delhi. Chinese are overtaking the market in Kachin state, driving some out of business. Jade mines near Hpakant in Kachin state in July 2020. More Chinese national jade traders have come to Myanmars jademine town of Phakant in Kachin state after the military coup and started making illegal purchases which hurt the local dealers, local jade traders told RFA. Burmese gemstone dealers are frustrated over the influx of Chinese jade traders who have set up shop in a northern mining town in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, residents say. The traders are purchasing gems illegally at lower cost, making already tight margins razor thin for brokers in Hpakant township in Kachin state, driving some out of business out of business, they say. Myanmars Law for Gemstone Trading, enacted by the countrys parliament in 2019, limits foreign nationals seeking to buy stones to gem fairs in Mandalay and Naypyidaw. The illegal export and sale of jade is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, but the junta has held few offenders accountable in Kachin nestled between India to the west and China to the east since coming to power. A resident of Hpakant told RFA that, in the past, only Myanmar nationals bought raw stones directly from township mines and then washed, cut, or transported them for resale in the countrys official gem fairs. But these days, Chinese buyers use the WeChat messaging app and come to buy everything, including loose soil, directly from the mines, said the resident who, like others interviewed for this article, spoke on condition of anonymity citing security concerns. Its only natural that the prices directly offered by major traders are better than local dealers in the sale of any goods, including rice, beans and other crops, he said. The price gap is hurting local dealers. According to a report by international rights group Global Witness, from 2014-2017, the annual revenue from the legal sale of jade and other gemstones in Myanmar ranged from US$346 to $417 million, while the illegal jade market netted US$1.73 billion to $2.07 billion annually. Black market The situation presents a conundrum for Myanmars jade dealers, who rely heavily on demand from Chinas domestic market for their gems. That demand has led to entrepreneurs seeking to eliminate the middleman by going straight to the source of the jade, to the point where approximately half of the people traveling to Hpakant to buy gemstones are Chinese, residents said. Aung Hein Min, a former lawmaker who was elected to represent Hpakant in Myanmars 2020 election, told RFA that it is critical for authorities to enforce the ban on the illegal purchasing of gemstones. Jade night market in Hpakant in Kachin state, in July 2020. Credit: Ye Aung Thu/AFP The jade and gemstones purchased directly from jade-mining towns by Chinese nationals will not be transported via legal routes, they will arrive in China through the black market, he said. Thats why it doesnt do any good for our country or our people. However, junta Social Affairs Minister and Kachin state spokesman Win Ye Tun told RFA that foreigners are restricted from traveling to Hpakant, and that those caught skirting the ban are arrested and deported. He also noted that not all of the Chinese using WeChat in Hpakant are foreign nationals. They may be [ethnic] Chinese Myanmar nationals, he said. We carefully inspect the situation and take action against them in accordance with the law, rather than criticizing baselessly And it isnt just Chinese we do not accept any foreign nationals in those areas and we have always taken action accordingly. Jade night market in Hpakant in Kachin state July 2020. Credit: Ye Aung Thu/AFP Win Ye Tun said that some Chinese nationals had been arrested and deported during the more than two years since the military coup, although he could not provide an exact number. He claimed that the junta has not granted any extensions or new permits for jade mining in Hpakant since the takeover. Industry is hurting Meanwhile, traders in Hpakant told RFA that the domestic jade market has declined since the coup and that only bright, translucent jade is selling in China, adding to the pressure faced by local brokers. If you buy stones for resale, you can only earn money for a days worth of meals and you wont make a living to provide for your family, one local trader said. The gemstone industry is hurting. There is no longer demand for the opaque stones that used to sell and could earn us an income. Complicating matters further, Myanmars military and a joint force of anti-junta Kachin Independence Army and paramilitary Peoples Defense Force fighters have been locked in a standoff in Hpakant since early this year. Imports of food and fuel from Myanmars heartland are regularly blocked from entering the region by military checkpoints. But despite the conflict, jade traders said Chinese nationals are freely entering and exiting Hpakant and illegally shipping jade from the area back home. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. The United States has imposed new sanctions targeting 18 individuals and more than 120 entities based in Russia and Kyrgyzstan in a move aimed at inhibiting Moscows access to products and technology that support its war efforts. The entities include several based in Kyrgyzstan that the U.S. Treasury Department on July 20 said have operated as intermediaries to provide foreign-made electronics and technologies to Russia. At least six of these companies were featured in a recent investigation by RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service into Kyrgyz and Kazakh companies that revealed how sanctioned Western electronics make their way to Russia via Central Asian firms. The Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said on July 20 that, in addition to curtailing Russia's ability to obtain technology, the sanctions aim to reduce its revenue from mining, degrade its access to the international financial system, and starve it of technology produced by the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, particularly items needed in the aerospace and defense sectors. The latest sanctions build on a wave of global actions imposed on Moscow. Since Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine, the United States, working with our allies and partners, has taken unprecedented steps to impose costs on Russia and promote accountability for the individuals and entities who support its illegal war, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, he said. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said in the OFAC news release that the actions "represent another step in our efforts to constrain Russias military capabilities, its access to battlefield supplies, and its economic bottom line. The individuals designated for sanctions include former Russian Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin, a longtime confidant of President Vladimir Putin. Kudrin headed the governments official watchdog, the Audit Chamber, until late last year when he resigned to become the head of Russian tech giant Yandex. Kudrin joined Yandex during a restructuring as the Kremlin cracked down on independent news and reporting on the Ukraine war. Yandexs search engine and main news portal were among the leading sources for Russian-language content. Yandex ultimately decided to sell its main news and entertainment portals and undertook an attempted restructuring that would essentially split the company into a wholly Russian unit and an overlapping, but independent, foreign unit. But that deal, which Kudrin has been intimately involved in negotiating, has been contingent on finding deep-pocketed Russian buyers for the Russian unit. Until recently, a group of Kremlin-connected oligarchs, and state investment bank VTB, were reported to be in the running to take control of the new unit. But, according to reports this week in Meduza and The Bell, Yandexs board has been wary of falling afoul of existing U.S. sanctions that had previously targeted some of the main contenders, and the board has been casting about for other options. Its unclear how Kudrins sanctioning would affect his role at Yandex or the companys restructuring efforts. A Yandex spokeswoman declined to comment on the Treasury announcement. The six companies designated for sanctions by OFAC that were featured in the RFE/RL investigation are LLC RM Design and Development, Basis Trade Prosoft LLC, Region-Prof LLC, ZAO GTME Tekhnologii, OOO Radiotekhsnab (RTS), and Technologies Systems and Complexes Limited (TSC). ZAO GTME Tekhnologii (GTME Tekhnologii) is a Kyrgyz-based entity established in June 2022. It has made dozens of shipments of goods to Russia, including high-priority items such as tantalum capacitors and electronic integrated circuits, the RFE/RL investigation found. GTME Tekhnologiis primary customer has been Russia-based TSC, a vendor of electronic and digital equipment. OFAC said LLC RM Design and Development, established in March last year, has been a "prolific shipper" of electronics such as semiconductors and integrated circuits to Russia, including to firms that have supplied electronics to Russian-based defense companies. Earlier on July 20, Kyrgyzstan denied helping Moscow circumvent sanctions imposed over the Ukraine invasion, but did admit to "the "possible involvement of private companies" and said it was investigating the matter. The other individuals targeted for helping to supply munitions to Russia include Russian and North Korean national Yong Hyok Rim, who is linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mutinous leader of the Wagner mercenary organization. Also designated are two other private Russian military companies, including Okhrana, owned by Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom. Sergei Korolev, first deputy director of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), and Smolensk regional Governor Vasily Anokhin also were targeted, the State Department said. The sanctions freeze any property in U.S. jurisdictions owned by the individuals and entities named. They also bar U.S. citizens from any dealings with the people and entities. With reporting by Reuters and AFP BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) held a meeting with the heads of the Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association (AMFA) and its member organizations, CBA Governor Taleh Kazimov tweeted, Trend reports. "We discussed the development of the financial sector in Azerbaijan, including the expansion of the activities of non-bank credit organizations, the expansion of entrepreneurs' access to finance in the regions," he said. AMFA is a public association for the purpose of advancing the interests of the microfinance industry in support of sustainable and equitable economic growth in Azerbaijan. The role of AMFA is to support its members in understanding this environment and bringing structure to the overall microfinance industry. As of today, AMFA has 29 members including 21 non-bank credit organizations, 7 banks, and 1 credit union. After Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, ordered -- and then called off -- his forces to march on Moscow, RFE/RL's Georgian Service spoke to Konstantin Eggert, an independent journalist and political analyst, about how this has significantly weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin's grip on power. Eggert provides regular commentary and analysis on Russian affairs for Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster, and was previously head of the BBC Russian Service's Moscow bureau and hosted a program at the independent Russian television channel, Dozhd (Rain). RFE/RL: What have we just seen? What are we witnessing? Konstantin Eggert: It is very difficult to determine what we've seen; we have definitely seen something that looked like a real military rebellion against Putin, in spite of the fact that Putin was not directly mentioned. But it is clear that this undermined and continues to undermine the Putin system. For some reason, Prigozhin [has told us] that he is stopping the advance of his mercenaries and he wants to avoid bloodshed, as if he didn't understand that when he was speeding toward Moscow. And the intermediary seems to be [Belarusian President Alyaksandr] Lukashenka of all people. The question of what we've seen becomes really important and really unanswerable in some ways, because there are mechanisms here which we just don't understand. However, let me say one thing: This event has significantly weakened Putin's grip on his own system. It has significantly weakened his ability to prosecute the war. It has created chaos among the millions of Russian civil servants on whose shoulders this regime stands. I think that the Putin regime, as we knew it, is over, and something new is starting in Russia. Maybe, by the way, worse, although it's difficult to imagine something worse, especially if you are Ukrainian. But I do not think we can presume anymore that Putin is in full control of the country and that he is really the master of his fate. RFE/RL: Why would Prigozhin do all of this in the first place? Eggert: At this moment, we don't know. But the mere fact that at least on the surface of it, it was Lukashenka who stopped the advance on Moscow, means that, in the eyes of the Russian bureaucracy, Putin is no longer tops. He depends on Lukashenka to communicate with Prigozhin, and this means Putin -- who was saying in the morning that Prigozhin was essentially a traitor -- is now negotiating with this traitor [via] an intermediary who is supposed to be his junior partner. The Tavberidze Interviews Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vazha Tavberidze of RFE/RL's Georgian Service has been interviewing diplomats, military experts, and academics who hold a wide spectrum of opinions about the war's course, causes, and effects. To read all of his interviews, click here. There is no way to explain it [other] than to say that Putin was really afraid and he really needed a way out. And Prigozhin was also afraid, because although, let's say 15,000 well-trained fighters is a force that could force its way into Moscow, I do not think it is enough to hold the city and to command the full control of the country. I do suppose that all this means [is] that both sides understood [that] for now, [and] it is best for them to pretend that they have come to an agreement. But this elevates Prigozhin to the level of Putin. And this, of course, also hits Putin very hard. We're dealing with a new political reality. It doesn't matter, in these circumstances, whether the rest of the country, the so-called ordinary people, whether they really understood what happened or not; a lot of them will continue to remain passive. But a lot of them, especially in the south of Russia, were very much disturbed by what happened. Secondly, it is clear that those who Putin relied on running Russia, that means the local FSB (Federal Security Service) directors, policemen, heads of state corporations, people like that, they now know that Putin is no longer at least in full control. It's not the end of the story. RFE/RL: Can Putin sleep at night knowing that Prigozhin is out there? As long as he breathes, as long as he is alive, can Putin sleep at night? Eggert: Everything you've seen so far looks [like] a better version of a Tom Clancy novel. I cannot imagine how Putin sleeps and whether he will continue to sleep, or whether he will resign, or whether Prigozhin will be eliminated. I think that Prigozhin understands that his chances of survival are probably not that high. I suppose that an important element of all this is that we'll be seeing what happens with the [Ukraine] war. I suppose that somehow it all has to do with the aggression against Ukraine. I think we'll see very soon some kind of indication of what's going to happen, because without some kind of decision on that, other things will be difficult. RFE/RL: You say that cracks are showing in Putin's system. There's one particular aspect that was always brought up whenever people tried to explain the longevity of Putin and his system: that average Russians tolerated Putin for so long because of the premise that he brought stability. That, as bad as he was, at least things were stable in the country. This time, however, buildings are burning, not in Ukraine but in Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh. What will that do to Putin's so-called stabilocracy? Eggert: The situation in Russia, as far as society is concerned, is very simple. The society, the majority of it, was dormant. We haven't seen, let's say, a lot of pro-Prigozhin demonstrations. We haven't seen any anti-Prigozhin demonstrations or anyone demonstrating in Moscow for Putin. We haven't seen a lot of massive mutinies in the Russian Army. It is a society that will probably agree that OK, thank God the bloodshed was averted. So, we'll try to go back to normal. "Narod bezmolvstvuet" -- the people are silent -- is the final line of Aleksandr Pushkin's to my mind most important play, Boris Godunov, which is about the Time of Troubles in Russia in the early 17th century. The fact that "the people are silent" is not relevant to the power struggle that will continue. This is no longer the regime we've seen before. Lots of people will be looking at Putin now from a different angle. We'll be trying to understand what happened. This stability, at least as far as significant decision-makers in the country, is gone. And you will not be able to recuperate it. Because if this was a huge play staged by Putin, which I think is unlikely, then how can you trust the person that can play such tricks on you? If it wasn't, then it's clear that Putin had to basically scramble and save himself. In both cases, I think we'll see more cleavages inside the Russian system. Whatever happens, Putin has shortened his stay in the Kremlin, that is if he will stay in the Kremlin. RFE/RL: Finally, a somewhat philosophical question, or a moral conundrum. In a nutshell, whatever Prigozhin's real motivations might have been, it boils down to Russians killing other Russians because they disagree about how to kill Ukrainians. What does that say about modern Russia? Eggert: It just adds to the picture: that of a very significant moral crisis inside society. A moral crisis that, I'm afraid, may lead to Russian society never being able to rise again and do something good about its own country. What's happened definitely shows to us the depths of the moral crisis that Russian society is undergoing: It is not for Putin, it is not against Putin, it is OK to kill others as long as it basically doesn't touch upon me that much. It is OK for armed gangs to capture the cities and then for them to retreat. It is a society where citizens are in the minority. This means that whoever is in the Kremlin will be able to basically present society with any choice he or she chooses, and there is a very high chance that society will just accept it. This is the main issue here. It's not an issue so much of arms or demographics, as important as they are. It is an issue of a society that basically agrees to any order coming from above -- some gladly, some grudgingly, some actually want to isolate themselves from reality and did it pretty successfully until recently. Any change that may come in such circumstances will definitely come from intra-elite struggles rather than some kind of popular democratic revolution. This, to me, is probably the perspective we will be facing in the coming weeks and months. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. The return of the so-called morality police to the streets of major Iranian cities has brought back fear and stress for women who choose to ignore the requirement that they wear the hair-covering hijab. But it has also been met with resistance by men and women alike, while lawmakers have questioned the effectiveness of the hard-line approach to enforcing compliance. Iranians who spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Farda said the presence of the morality police -- officially known as "guidance patrols" that usually include male officers and women wearing black chadors -- is not as visible as it was before the patrols were scaled back after nationwide protests first broke out against the hijab law last autumn. I really don't know where they want to get with this method, but in my opinion, if they want to continue this way, confrontations will start again." "Before, when we went on the street, they had a stationary vehicle, or a vehicle that was moving on the street," Leila Mirghaffari, a women's rights activist who lives in Tehran, told Radio Farda on July 17, a day after the return of the morality police was announced. "They haven't yet dared to encroach like before. But they are present, mostly in main squares." Mirghaffari described the decision to redeploy the morality police, coming after the monthslong protests had largely wound down, as a distraction aimed at creating "fear and terror" among the population. "It creates mental and emotional problems for us. It's stressful, and it occupies our thoughts and those of our families," Mirghaffari said. "When we want to leave home and come out to the street, at any moment we may travel a route where morality police patrol and are stationed to arrest people." Nevertheless, Mirghaffari and others suggested, the patrols are largely ineffective and have even given new life to resistance against the authorities' efforts to enforce the countrys strict Islamic dress code. Some Tehran residents who spoke to Radio Farda said that many women simply put on a hijab when they spot the morality police before quickly removing them once out of sight. And in some cases where women have been harassed or threatened by morality police, fellow citizens -- male and female alike -- have pushed back. Almost immediately after the authorities announced on July 16 that the morality police patrols would resume, residents of the northern city of Rasht took to the streets to protest an attempt to arrest three women for allegedly violating the hijab requirement. The situation reportedly escalated into clashes between demonstrators and police, who used tear gas to disperse protesters, some of whom were chanting against Iran's clerical establishment. "I really don't know where they want to get with this method, but in my opinion, if they want to continue this way, confrontations will start again," said a male Tehran resident who requested anonymity while answering questions on WhatsApp. "Personally, if I see them taking a girl into a van, I will step forward and shout so as not to let them take them. That's how things are, and I think most people now are like me. They don't want the Mahsa incident to happen again and for another innocent girl to be killed." The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September, soon after she was arrested for allegedly violating the hijab law, sparked the nationwide protests that lasted months and prompted a crackdown that led to the deaths of more than 500 people. Amini's death became the cause celebre for thousands of women and men who took to the streets to show their opposition to the hijab law. Amid the protests, there were reports that the authorities had disbanded the morality police, although other reports indicated that they never really went away in some cities. But the issue also prompted the clerical establishment, which views the hijab as key to its interpretation of Islam, to introduce revisions to the country's Chastity and Hijab Law that would introduce stiffer penalties for noncompliance, including up to three years in prison for repeat offenders. While the hijab has been compulsory in public for women and girls over the age of 9 since 1981, shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution ushered in the clerical establishment, the requirement is often flouted, particularly in urban areas. The Chastity and Hijab bill, which is awaiting parliamentary approval, has been fodder for intense debate -- with some lawmakers saying it does not go far enough to make women comply with the hijab requirement and others questioning the effectiveness of forcing women to comply. Following the announcement that the morality police patrols would resume in many Iranian cities, lawmaker Vali Esmaili, who heads the parliament's social commission, said that the body would unlikely be involved in the effort. He also said that before resuming the patrols, "we should first look at the state of society to see if such actions have been effective in the past 43 years." The Chastity and Hijab bill also proposes penalties, including the confiscation of automobiles, against drivers or passengers of vehicles in which women are not in compliance with the hijab requirement. "When I'm driving, I have to wear a hijab," a woman who resides in Tehran told Radio Farda following the redeployment of the morality police, explaining that she has had her vehicle impounded four times for failing to wear the hijab. "But when I get out and move away from the car, I take off my head scarf. Many times, I just put it in my bag. Sometimes, when I see that the conditions are bad, I keep it around my neck, but I am still without a hijab in the street." The woman said that she has not personally seen any morality police since they returned to the streets of Tehran. But she has heard eyewitness accounts of the presence of marked morality police vehicles in the northern city of Shahriar, in Tehran Province, where she said most women wear head scarves and those who do not could be seen without a hijab not far from the morality police. WATCH: Masses of demonstrators are turning out throughout Iran, where some are shouting down police enforcement of strict religious dress codes for women. "There are the odd ones out who are without a hijab, and they were 100 or 200 meters away from the morality police," she recalled being told of the current situation. She said that even before the morality police returned to the streets, her experience in dealing with them showed that they were reluctant to enforce the hijab requirement. "It's pretty clear that they're tired of this matter, but it seems like they have orders from above," she said. That is far from the norm, according to the activist Mirghaffari, who painted a dark picture of the morality police, whose involvement in human rights violations has led to Western sanctions. "The morality police are truly violent. They are really repressive. They have no humanity," said Mirghaffari, who added that she has been arrested by the force several times. "The morality police are really trained for savagery and for causing distress to the point that someone like Mahsa Amini could be killed. And they have no fear at all." Others who spoke to Radio Farda were incredulous that the authorities would reintroduce the morality police amid public frustration over Iran's dire economic situation. "The issue is not the hijab. The real issue is the terrifying inflation and high prices," said the man who answered questions by WhatsApp. "But they are only fixated on the hijab. They are playing with everyone's nerves, whether man or woman, whether with a hijab or without, they are bothering everyone." The renewed protests, which included women carrying placards bearing the "We won't go back!" slogan that became popular during anti-hijab demonstrations, suggests that efforts to force women into compliance will be met with continued resistance. "Look, our girls are fighting and know that there is no way back for us and we are not going back, and our answer to them wanting to forcibly put a hijab on us is, 'No!'" said Mirghaffari. "This is a big step we have taken to reach our other desires and we will never go back." Written by Michael Scollon based on reporting by Mehdi Tahbaz and other Radio Farda correspondents. On August 17, 1991, a group of KGB officers, hard-line Communists, and top Soviet government officials calling itself the State Committee on the State of Emergency moved to detain Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Two days later, an elite military unit was thwarted from seizing key buildings in Moscow by protesters who toppled buses into the streets, and the soldiers withdrew. The effort to seize power and oust Gorbachev collapsed on August 21. Russian leader Boris Yeltsin was propelled to prominence. Gorbachev's power was fatally weakened. The teetering Soviet Union was pushed off the cliff into collapse four months later. It was an attempted coup, and it failed. On June 24, several thousand heavily armed mercenaries loyal to the Wagner Group and its bellicose owner Yevgeny Prigozhin made a thunder run toward Moscow, an effort that President Vladimir Putin outright called "a stab in the back." Prigozhin, a former convict and restaurateur, is also known as "Putin's chef" and was previously seen as loyal to the Russian president. Prigozhin's mutiny raises a legion of questions. Was it even a coup and, if so, did it fail? Is this the beginning of the end for Putin? And what about the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Russians wounded or killed? The Dust Settles The 24 hours that shook Putin's presidency -- his greatest challenge in 23 years as Russia's preeminent leader -- came to an end late on June 24, when the Kremlin announced that Prigozhin had agreed to call off his campaign. Under the deal that was first announced by Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Prigozhin agreed to go to Belarus, Wagner forces would withdraw from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and pull back from the Moscow region, and Russian authorities agreed to drop the prosecution of Prigozhin. The deal also stated that there would be no prosecutions of Wagner soldiers who joined the effort. "There was a higher goal: to avoid bloodshed, to avoid internal confrontation, to avoid clashes with unpredictable results," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a conference call with reporters late on June 24. As of mid-evening Moscow time on June 25, Putin had made no public statements about the agreement; in fact, the last public statement or appearance Putin made was mid-morning on June 24, when he gave a five-minute televised speech in which he called Prigozhin and his fighters traitors who should be punished: "They will answer for it," he said. Nor was there any sight of Prigozhin, whose whereabouts were unknown. He was last heard from him in a pair of audio messages released on his Telegram channels on June 24, and then an appearance in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24, where people mobbed his armored SUV and took selfies. Was It Or Wasn't It A Coup? Prigozhin had been a thorn in the side of Russian commanders and the Kremlin for months, blasting out slashing and aggressive criticism of how the Defense Ministry has waged war in Ukraine, and the periodic lack of support and supplies his troops have gotten. He has also challenged Putin to put the entire country on a war footing. But was that cause to try to overthrow him? It's not fully clear what endgame Prigozhin had in mind when he ordered his men to seize military buildings in Rostov-on-Don and then dispatch a group of a few thousand to travel north toward the Moscow region. There were unconfirmed reports that Prigozhin was spurred into action after a Wagner camp somewhere near the Ukrainian border was attacked, allegedly by Russian missiles or rockets. Igor Girkin, a former Russian intelligence officer who fought in the early years of Russian-stoked conflict in eastern Ukraine, called it a coup. "In general, now there was no 'mutiny.' There was a coup d'etat. Whether it ended or not, we will soon (maybe even tomorrow) find out," said Girkin in a post to his Telegram channel on June 24. Prigozhin's actions fit the definition of a mutiny almost perfectly, military experts say. In his televised statement, Putin himself described what was happening as a mutiny, or a rebellion. In other words, though Prigozhin threw down the biggest gauntlet Putin had faced since catapulting to prominence in 1999, it's not clear Prigozhin wanted to oust the Russian leader. However, he may have been seeking the heads of other top officials: Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and the country's top military officer, General Valery Gerasimov. The Wagner chief has regularly feuded with them, questioned their competence, and even managed to get his preferred general, Sergei Surovikin, put in charge of the Ukraine war briefly. The Defense Ministry factions that don't support Prigozhin have tried to clip the mercenary leader's wings in the past, most recently with an order that all volunteer fighters should sign contracts with the ministry. That would essentially cut off Wagner from new recruits. In other words, according to Tatyana Stanovaya, who runs a political consultancy called R.Politik and is now a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Prigozhin would lose his autonomy by making his troops subordinate to the Defense Ministry. "When we talk of coups, we imagine armed men rushing into the Kremlin to arrest or kill Putin and installing a new leader," Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College London, wrote in a blog post. "In that sense, it is not a coup and Prigozhin has insisted that he is not mounting one. His aim is solely to remove Shoigu and Gerasimov and replace the 'meat-grinding' strategies they have followed in the war." Russian military bloggers have circulated rumors that Shoigu or Gerasimov, or possibly both, could end up being cashiered or merely pushed out, with Putin agreeing to a long-standing gripe of Prigozhin. Roughly 24 hours after the announced end to the mutiny, there was still no confirmation that those dismissals were in the offing. And roughly 24 hours later, Shoigu and Gerasimov were nowhere to be seen or heard. But if it does happen, watch to see who steps in. One possibility is Aleksei Dyumin, a former Putin bodyguard who is now governor of the Tula region. Another is Surovikin, Prigozhin's favored general, who was also the military commander who led the elite unit into Moscow's center in 1991, clashing briefly with protesters before withdrawing. The End Of The Putin Era? The parallels to the events of August 1991 only go so far. Gorbachev was weakened. Yeltsin was empowered. And the Soviet Union ceased to exist that December. There's another historical parallel, one that both Prigozhin and Putin have invoked, separately from one another: 1917, when a demoralized and battered Imperial Russian Army was racked by mutinies and collapsed, while back in Russia a revolution toppled the tsar and paved the way for the Bolshevik Revolution a few months later. Over his two decades as preeminent leader, Putin has fashioned himself as a bulwark against turmoil, and the antidote to the chaos that gripped Russia in the 1990s, after the Soviet collapse. But Putin's invulnerability has been tarnished as the Ukraine war has dragged on. Prigozhin has now directly challenged the Russian president, not just in words but in deeds. The fact that several thousand of Prigozhin's heavily armed men were able to rush nearly into the capital unhindered is also problematic for Putin's administration. "The Kremlin's dedicated internal security organs failed to respond to an independent military force capturing the headquarters of the [Southern Military District] and advancing on Moscow; and Wagner likely could have reached the outskirts of Moscow if Prigozhin chose to order them to do so," the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said on June 24. Prigozhin's challenge ended with negotiation, not gunfire, and Putin labeled him and Wagner mutineers and traitors. Yet they are all being essentially absolved. And, for now, Wagner remains a potent, well-armed fighting force. "Putin's weakness has been shown up and his authority diminished," Rodric Braithwaite, who served as British ambassador to Moscow between 1988 and 1992, wrote in a blog post. "Much of the detail is still murky. The right-wing extremists who used to support Prigozhin are still around. We don't know what the soldiers in the field or the wretched Russian people really think or how they will finally jump. We still have no idea how or when Putin will go, or who will succeed him," he wrote. "But the end of the Putin era is surely heaving into sight." "It's a betrayal from someone who owes him their career: his war dog turned on him," Alissa de Carbonnel, deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia Program at the International Crisis Group, said in a statement. "By challenging Putin personally, Prigozhin has done the unthinkable and shown a weakness: exploding the illusion that division within the ranks is tolerated and even encouraged by Putin to keep his people on edge." "There is a consensus opinion in the world that Russia has now moved into a new dimension," Sergei Markov, a former Putin adviser, said in a Telegram post. "Now it is a country where coups are possible. It is believed that the crisis showed a sharp weakening of President Putin. And that Putin at some point was on the verge of removal from power." "They don't think that, in Russia, by the way," that they've entered a new dimension, he added. What About The Ukraine War? Across the border in Ukraine, now in its 17th month of war, there was gloating, perhaps unsurprisingly, as Ukrainian officials hoped that the turmoil would impact the Russian invasion and allow Ukrainian forces to seize the advantage during their ongoing counteroffensive. "Prigozhin humiliated Putin [and] the state and showed that there is no longer a monopoly on violence," Mykhaylo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, said in a Twitter post. Still, it's too early to say what the battlefield implications of the mutiny will be. Ukraine's counteroffensive, which Kyiv hopes will turn the tide of battle, is still warming up, about three weeks in. Ukrainian commanders have yet to commit the bulk of their newly equipped, NATO-trained brigades. Wagner forces, meanwhile, have played a small but critical role in several offensive operations: in the urban warfare to capture the port of Mariupol, the Luhansk region cities of Syevyerodonetsk and Lyychansk, and more recently, Bakhmut, a Donetsk city obliterated during a 10-month grinding effort. Prigozhin has said 20,000 Wagner troops were killed in the fight for Bakhmut. Experts say Wagner forces may now play a diminished role, as ammunition supplies are curtailed and its fighters are pressured to fall under regular military command. It's an open question whether discipline or morale among frontline Russian forces -- already major systemic issues for Russia's military -- will be further eroded by the domestic turmoil. Moreover, in their rush northward, Wagner troops managed to down or damage seven Russian helicopters, as well as an IL-22 airborne command plane, resulting in the deaths of 13 airmen. Yet those fighters, according to the deal first announced by Lukashenka, should be cleared of responsibility, which will likely anger some within Russian command structures. "Everyone understands that it is also luck that so few people died," Markov wrote. "If there is a second rebellion, many more will die. And if nothing is seriously changed, if the reasons for the rebellion are left behind, then the second rebellion will be necessary." A video obtained by Reuters shows Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the mercenary Wagner Group, being greeted by locals as he left Rostov-on-Don in the back seat of a car late on June 24. Supporters gathered around Wagner tanks and trucks withdrawing from the Russian city following a brief mutiny. Eight-year-old Halima was devastated to learn that after overcoming numerous obstacles to her education under Taliban rule, her path to learning had been blocked with the closure of her private school. "We all went home crying," she told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi of the day she and her fellow students learned that their classes in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar Province had been terminated. "Our schools were closed first by the coronavirus [pandemic], then there was fighting, and now they have been shut again," she said. "We just want to study." The rural classroom where she studied was a lifeline for learning basic mathematics, Afghan languages, science, and Islamic studies despite the ruling Taliban's efforts to restrict girls' and women's access to education. But on April 16, classes ended when the hardline Islamist authorities announced that the school, among Afghanistan's thousands of Community-Based Education (CBE) centers, would be closed following unspecified "complaints from locals." Unrest and poverty in Kandahar and neighboring Helmand Province made the two regions a focal point for the development of CBE centers over the past three decades, with funding coming primarily from Western donors via the United Nations and international nongovernmental organizations. Countrywide, more than 500,000 Afghan children currently attend CBE centers, which were established in cooperation with the communities in which they were based and are often held in private homes, mosques, or large tents. Aid groups pay teachers' salaries, provide educational materials, and offer the same curriculum taught in Afghan state schools. The centers, typically made up of a single classroom catering for up to 50 students, half of them girls, also filled an education void in remote areas where there were no state schools. But since mid-April, nearly 1,600 CBE centers in Kandahar Province have been closed, depriving 50,000 students of an education. Similar numbers have been recorded in neighboring Helmand Province in a nationwide trend. 'It's Heartbreaking' The termination of classes at Halima's school and others like it appears to show that the narrow window for learning in remote areas is being closed as the Taliban looks to impose full control over how children are educated. Munir Ahmad, who ran a literacy class inside his mudbrick home in Dand, a rural district in Kandahar Province, said he was forced to close his doors to students in April. "It is heartbreaking to lose these classes because they serve children in remote areas where there are no other education opportunities," he told Radio Azadi. The Taliban, approaching two years in power, has not commented on whether it has ordered the school closures. But aid workers, rights campaigners, and education experts suggest that the hardline group is trying to ensure that young students receive an Islamic education even though the CBE centers follow the state model. This, in turn, has led to concerns that the Taliban either intends to permanently shut down the schools or use them as venues to spread its extremist worldview and ideology. "It is alarming," said Heather Barr, associate director of the women's rights division at Human Rights Watch. "The Taliban will likely change these schools in a way that is harmful to students, particularly girls." Education has been a main target of the Taliban's extremist policies since it seized power in August 2021 and took steps to root out secular education. Teenage girls were promptly banned from attending school despite the Taliban's promises to the international community, which has listed the Taliban's stance on girls' and women's education as a key obstacle to officially recognizing its government. 'Jihadi Madrasahs' Since taking power, the Taliban has consistently enforced strict gender segregation and replaced professional educators with clerics. Last year, Taliban supreme leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada appointed key loyalists Mawlawi Habibullah Agha and Nida Mohmmad Nadim to lead the education and higher education ministries, respectively. The two have diligently worked to expand the ban on womens education and attempted to turn schools into a tool for indoctrination by tweaking the curriculum, critics say. In some cases, modern schools have been converted into madrasahs. In December, the Taliban upped the ante by prohibiting women from receiving a university education. And in the latest move, a Taliban official said this month that its government had established "jihadi madrasahs" in at least five provinces. Many Islamist militant groups, including the Taliban, emerged from such religious schools in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan in the 1980s. Wazhma Tokhi, an Afghan human rights activist with a particular focus on women's rights and education in Afghanistan, suggests that the recent school closures can be seen as another example of the groups determination to root out secular education. "They want to turn the schools into madrasahs," Tokhi said. The UN agency for children, UNICEF, which funds many CBE centers, says it is now holding discussions with the Taliban over "timelines and practicalities" for possibly handing them over to Afghan NGOs, many of which receive outside funding and have some protection from the Taliban. Tokhi sees disastrous consequences if the Taliban assumes direct control over CBE centers. "Our future is destroyed," she said. KYIV -- Along with the summer heat, Russian attacks and the wail of air-raid sirens frequently make for sleepless nights in Ukraine's capital. Overnight into Saturday, June 24, loud blasts rang out as Russia launched more than 20 missiles at Kyiv, and debris from the rockets killed at least five people and wounded several others. After dawn broke, residents who might otherwise have slept were kept alert all day -- this time by mayhem in Russia, where a mercenary force that has been heavily involved in some of the deadliest fighting in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine turned against Moscow's own military in a stunning mutiny. As Wagner forces crossed out of Ukraine and into Russia, seizing military facilities in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and heading toward Moscow, many Ukrainians were glued to their phones, following the news with a mixture of hope and trepidation -- and laughter. On social media, mocking memes proliferated as Ukrainians turned to humor, one of the weapons they have used to blunt the attacks and handle the horrors of an unprovoked full-scale invasion that has killed tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched it on February 24, 2022. One joke played off that date and the events unfolding in Russia on June 24: "I like this 24th much more than that one before," television journalist Nelli Kovalska wrote on Facebook. Multiple popcorn memes were posted as Ukrainians watched the dramatic events -- as spectators of Russia, for a change, rather than its targets. One video showed a man meant to be a camouflage-clad Ukrainian soldier sitting on a military vehicle and munching popcorn overflowing from one of several of what appeared to be ammunition containers. Another post featured a photo of big bales of popcorn and a caption reading: "NATO prepares to airdrop more popcorn into Ukraine." Major Ukrainian online retailer Rozetka got into the act, issuing a post that said popcorn sales were surging. Another meme took aim at the Russian military, suggesting its failure to stop Wagner fighters from entering Rostov and marching toward Moscow was in line with its performance in Ukraine, where it has fared far worse than many analysts expected and has suffered numerous setbacks since February 2022. "Russian Army: 2021, second best in the world; 2022, second best in Ukraine; 2023, second best in Russia," the Facebook post by creative designer Oleh Postyrnak read. Several social media posts contrasted the apparently weak resistance Wagner fighters faced as they headed toward Moscow with the way Ukraine stymied the Russian advance toward Kyiv early in the invasion, in which Putin is believed to have expected Russian forces to capture the capital and subjugate the country within days or weeks. Another made reference to the fact that many Wagner mercenaries are convicted criminal recruited by Prigozhin from prisons across Russia. It asked, "If they jail Prigozhin, who will recruit him into Wagner?" It looks like Prigozhin won't be jailed, though. On the morning of June 24, Putin vowed to crush what he called an "armed mutiny" and bring the "traitors" behind it to justice. But late in the evening, after Prigozhin abruptly announced he was ordering Wagner forces to abandon their march to Moscow and return to their camps in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said an agreement had been reached under which the mercenary leader would avoid prosecution and leave Russia for Belarus. The rebellion, which drew both Wagner forces and Chechen forces away from the front during a nascent Ukrainian counteroffensive, could still have repercussions for the course of the war. "In the beginning, I thought it was fake, but then I hoped it may be an actual coup," Roman Chulipa, 30, who works in one of the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, told RFE/RL in central Kyiv on June 25. "I think it shows the fragility of Putin's regime," he added. "The seeds of the crisis have been sown, and we will see the fruit in a few weeks." In his nightly video address late on June 24, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggested the dramatic developments underscored the dangers Russia poses to the region and the planet. "The world has seen that the owners of Russia do not control anything. Nothing at all. Just complete chaos. The complete absence of any predictability. And this is on Russian territory, which is packed with weapons," he said. Inside and outside of government, meanwhile, some Ukrainians hope the domestic disarray could weaken Russia's war effort, lead to further setbacks for the invading forces, and bring the war closer to its end. "This story boosts hopes for a quicker end to the war and the return of our soldiers from the front line back home," said sales manager Andriy Romanovych, 24, who said many of his friends are fighting in Ukraine's south and east. Kyiv pensioner Natalia Osadcha, meanwhile, suspects the mutiny was staged to obscure Russian setbacks in the war. "The situation on the front line is not great for Russia, so they decided to divert attention from it," said Osadcha, 72. "It was a full-blown stage play, but something went wrong," she said. "Someone went a bit too far, and they had to cut the show short." RFE/RL Ukrainian Service editor Rostyslav Khotin and Steve Gutterman, regional desk editor for Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus at RFE/RL's Central Newsroom, contributed to this report from Prague. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Kyrgyzstan exported 118.9 tons of natural honey for $423,300 from January through April 2023, Trend reports. The data from the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan shows that the volume of the exports rose by 20 percent compared to the same period of 2022 (98.5 tons), while the value declined by 3.3 percent in comparison with the last years indicators ($437,700). In the specified period, the primary destination for honey exports from Kyrgyzstan was China, with a quantity of 48 tons. According to the statistical data, Kyrgyzstan did not export any honey to China during the same months in 2022. Kyrgyzstan exported honey to the following countries from January through April 2023: Country-importer Volume of the exports Value of the exports China 48 tons $116,600 The US 17.6 tons $91,600 The UAE 17.2 tons $49,700 Saudi Arabia 16.7 tons $33,500 Japan 8.4 tons $85,800 Qatar 5.6 tons $22,400 Kuwait 2.2 tons $11,000 Kazakhstan 0.9 tons $4,600 Bahrain 900 kg $2,500 South Korea 900 kg $3,500 Malaysia 500 kg $1,500 During the period from January to April 2023, the trade turnover of Kyrgyzstan amounted to $3.9 billion, showing a year-on-year increase of 25.5 percent. Exports experienced a growth of 18.9 percent, while imports saw a more substantial rise of 26.8 percent. A third-grade student accused of sexually assaulting a classmate at Enrique Camarena Elementary School last summer has not been enrolled in the school since July, according to an email from Principal Jonathan Strout. Strout sent the email Sunday, before students returned from Spring Break on Monday, to add more information about the incident because we felt it critical to share some additional information to allay fears that some of you may be feeling. The email comes less than a week after The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on a lawsuit filed by the parent of a student they say was sexually assaulted at the school after lunch on July 25 and July 27. Advertisement In both cases, the school allegedly noted that the victim and another boy, both 8 years old, were alone and unsupervised for 15 minutes but did not tell the parents, according to the lawsuit. The Chula Vista Elementary School District has previously said that school officials contacted law enforcement as soon as they learned about allegations. The principals email sheds light on how the school responded to the incident, why they chose not to tell the public about it, and whether the student accused in the lawsuit was still in school. Strouts email says neither of the students involved in the incident have been enrolled in the school since July. It also says the school chose not to tell parents about the incident, in part, because no other students were involved. In order to ensure compliance with student privacy laws, and because no other students were in danger of being harmed, this incident was not shared with the public in collaboration with discussions with (the Chula Vista Police Department) and Child Protective Services, Strout wrote. Strouts email also describes what policies are in place to keep children from being unsupervised for an extended period of time. When teachers realize that a student is out of class for a period of time longer than expected, they contact the office, the principal wrote. Administration and staff work to locate the student immediately. Strout concluded the email by asking parents for their trust and debunking rumors about other incidents at the school, specifically an email he received claiming a student had a knife on campus. This is false, he wrote of the rumor. I encourage parents to communicate with the school directly before making such statements. I ask for your trust that we will share critical information, but we will not alarm the public regarding isolated incidents or regarding rumors that are simply not true. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide Tajikistan with up to $18 million to support and develop entrepreneurship in the country, Trend reports. According to the USAID document, the initiative will primarily target young citizens of Tajikistan and returning labor migrants. "The main goal of this program is to create decent and productive employment opportunities for Tajik youth, women, and men by fostering business creation and growth, promoting entrepreneurship, imparting skills training, and facilitating access to financing in sectors with significant potential for economic growth," explained the agency. Experts from the US agency believe that the private sector in Tajikistan, particularly its competitiveness and job creation potential, has been significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the situation in Ukraine. The USAID project is expected to assist local financial institutions in providing access to financial services for young entrepreneurs and those planning to start their own businesses. The-city spotlight Sex, gold, and drag San Francisco's humble beginnings Craig Lee/The Examiner The Wok Shop at 718 Grant Avenue in Chinatown during the Barbary Coast tour with drag queen Countess Lola Montez (aka Rick Shelton) in San Francisco on Friday, June 9, 2023. When Rick Shelton walks down the street in San Franciscos Chinatown, heads turn. Fully ensconced in his drag-queen alter ego, Shelton greets tourists and passersby as one of San Franciscos iconic historical characters: Countess Lola Montez, a notorious dancer who landed in San Francisco in 1853. Shelton has led a walking tour of Chinatown and the Barbary Coast, San Franciscos former red-light district, for the last 12 years. But his tour is not like the rest. Craig Lee/The Examiner Barbary Coast Trail medallions such as this one on Washington Street in Chinatown dot the sidewalks along the route, which traverses some of The Citys most historical neighborhoods. This is not just because he hikes the hills of San Francisco, donning a voluminous skirt and petticoat. He also adopts an Irish accent Montez was originally Eliza Gilbert from Ireland that he can slip in and out of at a moments notice, grinning gleefully behind his tinted spectacles. Sheltons Drag Me Along tour is adults-only. Unlike other tour guides, Shelton doesnt shy away from San Franciscos grittiest history: the sex workers, the madams, and the early LGBTQ community that set up shop just steps from the waterline at the height of the Gold Rush. I love sharing The City with people, and I love history, he said. I think that the underbelly of our history is not talked about, like gay rights and sexual freedom, the sex work that happened here which still does and people dont really talk about it very much. These stories have molded The City, and Shelton wants visitors to know that, he said. In all the history books that Ive read, much of this is not ever mentioned, he said. Unless you really dig a little deeper, youll never know how fascinating it can be. Sheltons tour takes about two hours, though he could (and does) go longer if given the opportunity. The Gold Rush Craig Lee/The Examiner The Goddess of Democracy statue in Portsmouth Square during the Barbary Coast tour with drag queen Countess Lola Montez (aka Rick Shelton) in San Francisco on Friday, June 9, 2023. On a recent Friday morning, Shelton was idling at the Goddess of Democracy statue at Portsmouth Square, where the Gold Rush began. Though the Portsmouth Square of today is known as a meeting place for The Citys Asian community to talk, play chess, or throw mahjong tiles under sloping red pagodas, it has always been, according to Shelton, a gathering place first as part of the Ohlone tribes territory, then as the place where Samuel Brannan launched the Gold Rush in 1847. As the story goes, Brannan stood on top of a box holding a quinine bottle filled with gold dust and announced, Theres been gold discovered, according to Shelton. Now, he did not make this money out of the gold, said Shelton. He had bought up all the shovels and the picks and the axes and the tools and then sold it to the people. Normally, a pan would go for 20 cents, he added. He sold it for $15. People would come from all over the world to make their fortunes, changing San Francisco forever. Chinatown became what it is today because the news of gold spread from Europe to Asia, and Chinese immigrants landed in The City. They came in trickles at first following the Gold Rush announcement, but a major crop failure in China in 1852 led to a surge in immigration, according to reporting by PBS. a regular smorgasbord As men arrived in droves in search of fortune, sex trafficking took off in full force. Women were brought in from South America and elsewhere with the promise of legitimate jobs and were forced to set up shop along city streets, first operating out of flimsy tents. One of these women was Ah Toy. She arrived in The City in 1848 from China, starting as a sex worker. But she quickly became one of The Citys most powerful madams, running several brothels and amassing a fortune of her own. Capitalizing on the ignorance of mens notions of Chinese women, she used her appearance to rake in cash. For one ounce of gold, they could gaze upon her countenance. Well, thats worth $16, said Shelton as we walked through one of Chinatowns many alleyways between the dim sum restaurants and tourist shops. Sex is a lot like food: You can go to a quick food place; its cheap, its fast, its gratifying, he said. But then if you go to a fine-dining restaurant, that food is selected, its savored and spiced, and maybe youll enjoy that meal and think about it a long time. That happened in San Francisco, he said. We were a regular smorgasbord. Forgotten Portals As we move past the square and deeper into Chinatown, Shelton points out areas of interest to him, the parts of history that dont always get highlighted. Craig Lee/The Examiner East West Bank at 743 Washington Street in Chinatown. Take, for example, the East West Bank on Washington Street, the former home of the Chinese Telephone Exchange. Along with being reportedly haunted by the old telephone operators and their clicking high heels, the building was also the most popular tourist attraction before the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937 due to its pagoda-styled exterior. This eastern-style facade was a deliberate choice made by not just the owners of this business but a lot of the merchants in Chinatown following the 1906 earthquake. The earthquake decimated The City, including Chinatown, and city officials proposed moving the neighborhood to BayviewHunters Point. The merchants refused, said Shelton, asserting that we have been here since the beginning. Drags Beginnings As we continue walking through the neighborhood, merchants and residents greet the tour guide with smiles. But it wasnt always this way for those like Shelton in the neighborhood. The lawlessness of San Franciscos early days allowed for the rise of crime, but it also paved the way for people to explore different identities and sexualities at times to the disapproval of others and their own peril. During World War II, hordes of young men arrived in San Francisco, some leaving home for the first time as they prepared to fight in the Pacific. They came here, and they were trying things they had never had, said Shelton. They were not being looked over as closely by church and state, so people were able to explore ... This was a place that people were able to come and be themselves for the most part. But with that freedom came backlash, as some persecuted them for their sexuality and gender identities. Craig Lee/The Examiner Bars such as Li Po Cocktail Lounge on Grant Avenue still operate in the area once known as the Barbary Coast. There were boys of the evening, said Shelton, pointing at Li Po Cocktail Lounge on Grant Ave. They used to come here dressed as women, and the sailors in World War II would come into the bars, and they would pick them up and try to earn a living. One of these boys was Issan Dorsey. Born Tommy Dorsey in 1933, he was kicked out of the United States Navy for being gay in the 1950s, and he and his lover wound up in North Beach. Tommy soon discovered he liked to perform and became a drag queen and would come around all the bars and entertain and that sort of thing, said Shelton. Dorseys life would take several dramatic turns from a sex worker to a heroin addict to a Zen monk and teacher. He eventually created a hospice center for gay men dying from AIDS before succumbing to complications from the illness himself in 1990. But he got his start like many others in drag in and around North Beach and Chinatown. Some establishments welcomed them. But others, like the former owner of Li Po, didnt. When a lot of the boy girls would come in there at night, he would call up the vice cops when he had enough of them, and hed get a payoff, said Shelton. The Rebirth of Lola Montez Shelton isnt the only one who adopts a persona for his tours. His partner, Joseph Amster, is a well-known figure in San Francisco for his interpretation of a prominent historical figure Emperor Norton. Amster runs his own tour. Both history buffs, the pair decided to start their businesses after taking a tour of The City. It was a horrible tour, Shelton remembers, his face aghast. The woman was making things up. The duo set out to make tours better. This meant assuming new personas. Eliza Montez herself is an interesting part of The Citys rich historical tapestry. Born Eliza Gilbert in Ireland in the early 1800s, she was raised in India, then shipped to school in Scotland. To quell her rebellious spirit, her mother tried marrying her off to an older man, but she married another instead, embarking on a long career of affairs from there. She rebranded herself as Lola Montez after a stint performing in Spain and had high-profile trysts across Europe with composer Franz Liszt, author Alexandre Dumas, and Ludwig I of Bavaria. Fleeing from scandal in Europe, she wound up in San Francisco in 1853, settling in Grass Valley with a shiny new husband. She was very rebellious. She loved men. She knew how to have a good time. And she was an entertainer. She was exceedingly beautiful. Not so talented, Shelton said with a laugh. She was booed off the stage sometimes like in England because she didnt know how to dance ... But did she did find her niche in San Francisco. Montezs star eventually faded, and she died in relative poverty in 1861. But her legend lives on in The City, in part, due to Shelton. Like Montez, Shelton found his niche in The City. In his tour, he covers the parts of San Franciscos history that might be unsavory but also integral to what makes it so unique. We dont write history, he said. History writes itself. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 26. Azerbaijan welcomed a total of 299 tourists from Tajikistan in May 2023, which is 2.1 times more than in the same month of 2022 (137 tourists), Trend reports. According to the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, a total of 294 individuals from Tajikistan traveled to Azerbaijan as tourists in April 2023. Meanwhile, during March 2023, Azerbaijan was visited by 317 tourists from Tajikistan, followed by 177 tourists in February 2023 and 165 tourists in January 2023. In total, 1,252 tourists from Tajikistan were registered to visit Azerbaijan from January through May 2023, which is an increase of 2.6 times, compared to the same period in 2022 (468 tourists). Meanwhile, the number of tourists from Tajikistan visiting Azerbaijan reached 2,736 individuals in 2022, marking a growth of 3.3 times compared to the 820 tourists in 2021. However, it was still a decrease compared to the pre-COVID-19 levels, when the number of tourists traveling from Tajikistan to Azerbaijan stood at 3,450 individuals in 2019. At the same time, only 42 Azerbaijani citizens traveled to Tajikistan in 2022, and 59 citizens in 2021. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. With graduations and school now behind us, take a deep breath and sit down to dine. Here are the restaurants to put on this summers restaurant dance card. 8 1 / 8 Brooklyn Italian Heroes STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Thousands of New York City public school students and school staff were among millions of victims who had their personal information compromised through a recent MOVEit data breach. The New York City Department of Education announced Friday that approximately 45,000 students -- in addition to school staff and related service providers -- were affected by the breach. All individuals whose confidential information was compromised will be notified. You had one job, McDonalds! When the fast-food giant announced it was celebrating Grimaces birthday with a limited-edition purple shake, I was excited. Could it possibly be an Ube-flavored shake? The delicious and nutty purple sweet potato from the Philippines and my youth has become the it ingredient in foodie culture of late, popping up in everything from cheesecakes and ice cream to cookies and waffles. But after finally trying Grimaces Birthday Shake, I can report its definitely not Ube. Whats its deal then? The backstory: Grimace made his debut in 1971, appearing in an ad campaign along with other McDonaldland characters such as Ronald McDonald, Hamburglar and Captain Crook. The big, fuzzy blob originally had four arms, which he used to steal milkshakes from customers. In fact, the purple bestie loves milkshakes so much, he celebrates every birthday at McDonalds. So, in honor of the characters 52nd trip around the sun, the chain introduced the Grimace Birthday Meal on June 12. It comes with a choice of a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, plus fries and that purple, not-Ube shake. What you need to know: Knowing a social media opportunity when it sees one, McDonalds has been intentionally coy about the shakes flavor. The creamy concoction is inspired by Grimaces iconic color and sweetness, the company said in a press release. And the menu items nutritional info page is of no help, indicating its made with vanilla reduced-fat ice cream and Grimace Shake Syrup. Scrolling down, theres nothing in the ingredients of Grimace Shake Syrup that provide any clues of the intended flavor either. Its just the usual sugar, water, corn syrup and the ominous natural flavor. A company spokesperson, however, recently told the Today show the sweet treat contains berry flavors. OK, but I wanted to be sure. The taste test: Fast-food shakes can often be too thick or too runny. But this one was right in that sweet spot of moderately creamy. The first flavor that popped into my mind was grape jelly, but that was probably just the purple talking. I took a second and third sip and noted how sweet the shake is. So, I mixed the whipped cream on top and the vanilla ice cream at the bottom into the purple midsection and that balanced it out nicely. I then tried to narrow in on the flavor with each subsequent sip. Birthday cake? Maybe. Cereal milk? Perhaps. But its more like if someone dropped a Wild Berry Pop Tart into a fairly standard vanilla milkshake and then hit the pulverize button on the blender. Nice, as Dom DeLuise in History of the World Part I might say. Not thrilling, but nice. If you go: Grimaces Birthday with Special Meal & Shake is available at participating McDonalds restaurants nationwide while supplies last via the app, in-restaurant or delivery. I paid $12.79 for my Big Mac Meal & Shake, while the McNuggets option costs $13.49. Prices may vary by location. After three years, the pandemic-era freeze on student loan payments will end soon. Student loan interest will start accruing on Sept. 1 and payments are starting in October. It might seem tempting to just keep not making payments, but the consequences can be severe, including a hit to your credit score and exclusion from future aid and benefits. More than 40 million Americans will have to start making federal student loan payments again at the end of the summer under the terms of a debt ceiling deal approved by Congress. Millions are also waiting to find out whether the Supreme Court will allow President Joe Bidens student loan forgiveness plan to go ahead. But payments will resume regardless of what justices decide. That means tough decisions for many borrowers, especially those in already-difficult financial situations. Experts say that delinquency and bankruptcy should be options of last resort, and that deferment and forbearance which pause payments, though interest may continue to accrue are often better in the short term. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DONT MAKE STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS? Once the moratorium ends, borrowers who cant or dont pay risk delinquency and eventually default. That can badly hurt your credit rating and make you ineligible for additional aid and government benefits. If youre struggling to pay, advisers first encourage you to check if you qualify for an income-driven repayment plan, which determines your payments by looking at your expenses. You can determine this by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. If youve worked for a government agency or a non-profit organization, you could also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives student debt after 10 years. Carolina Rodriguez, Director of the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program at the Community Service Society of New York, emphasizes that anyone temporarily unemployed should be able to qualify for a $0 payment plan. And many others qualify based on income and family size. The repercussions of falling into delinquency can be pretty severe, Rodriguez said. The federal government can administratively intercept tax refunds and garnish wages. And it can affect Social Security, retirement, and disability benefits. Does it make financial sense at that point? Probably not. Rodriguez says her organization always advises against deferment or forbearance except once a borrower has exhausted all other options. In the long term, those financial choices offer little benefit, as some loans will continue to accrue interest while deferred. Abby Shafroth, senior attorney and director of the Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project at the National Consumer Law Center, said that, of the two, deferment is generally a better option. Thats because interest generally does not accrue on Direct Subsidized Loans, the subsidized portion of Direct Consolidation Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, the subsidized portion of FFEL Consolidation Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans. All other federal student loans that are deferred will continue to accrue interest. Forbearance allows you to postpone payments without it being held against you, but interest does accrue. So youre going to see your balance increase every month. WHAT ABOUT DECLARING BANKRUPTCY? For most student loan borrowers, its still very difficult to have your loans discharged, or canceled, through bankruptcy. Borrowers must prove a very hard standard of financial circumstances, called undue hardship. That doesnt mean people shouldnt look into it, Rodriguez said. But they may not be successful at discharging their loans. For borrowers who show that level of financial strain, chances are they have other options, Rodriguez said. She advises that borrowers make sure they are speaking to a bankruptcy attorney who understands student loan bankruptcy, which requires a different proceeding than other types of bankruptcy. Shafroth, of the NCLC, says that new guidance on student loan bankruptcy has been coming out in recent years. Though it is difficult to get your loans discharged through the bankruptcy process, an increasing number of borrowers are eligible to get their loans discharged that way, she said. A lot of people write that off as theres no way, its impossible. But its increasingly possible. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A LOAN GOES INTO DEFAULT? When you fall behind on a loan by 270 days roughly 9 months the loan appears on your credit report as being in default. At that point, its not just behind, its in collections, Shafroth said. Thats when you become ineligible to take out new federal student aid. A lot of people go into default because they werent able to complete their degree the first time. This prevents them from going back to school. Once a loan is in default, its subject to the collection processes mentioned above. That means the government can garnish wages (without a court order) to go towards paying back the loan, intercept tax refunds, and seize portions of Social Security checks and other benefit payments. WHAT ARE OTHER OPTIONS IF I CANT MAKE PAYMENTS? Shafroth said that many borrowers may still be eligible to have loans canceled via a patchwork of programs outside of the Biden administrations proposed debt relief program. If your school closed before you could complete your program, youre eligible for relief. If your school lied to you or misrepresented the outcome of what your enrolling would be, you can file a borrower defense application, and request your loan be canceled on that basis, she said. If you have a disability, you can sometimes have your loans canceled on that basis. Shafroth encourages borrowers to look at the Student Aid website to see what their options might be before missing payments. WHAT IF MY LOANS WERE IN DEFAULT BEFORE MARCH 2020? Under the Biden administrations Fresh Start program, borrowers with federal student loans who were in default before the pause have a chance to become current. Borrowers who were in default will not be subject to collection processes or have wages garnished through about August 2024, or roughly one year after the payment freeze ends. These borrowers have also been granted permission to apply for federal student loans again, to complete degrees. Lastly, these defaulted loans are now being reported to credit bureaus as current. That said, borrowers must take action if they want to stay out of default after this year-long leniency period ends. To eliminate your record of default, you should contact the Education Departments Default Resolution Group online, by phone, or by mail, and ask the group to take the loans out of default via the Fresh Start policy. In four to six weeks, any record of default will be removed from your credit report, and the loans will be placed with a loan servicer. This will also give you access to income-driven repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, if applicable. WHAT IF I WAS BEHIND ON PAYMENTS OR DELINQUENT BEFORE MARCH 2020? The Fresh Start program also applies to borrowers who were delinquent prior to the payment pause. Those accounts will be considered current, and borrowers will have the option to enroll in income-driven repayment plans that can lower bills to as little as $0, or to apply for deferment, forbearance or bankruptcy. A group of neo-Nazis held rallies and brandished antisemitic propaganda including swastika outside multiple synagogues in Georgia over the weekend, the New York Post reported. Members of the hate group Goyim Defense League gathered outside Chabad Lubavitch of Cobb County and Temple Beth Israel in Macon on two seperate days, the outlet reported. According to the New York Post, Jon Minadeo II, leader of Goyim Defense League, led the protest at Chabad Lubavitch a day after he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and public disturbance in front of Temple Beth Israel. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp condemned two neo-Nazi demonstrations that took place outside synagogues in Macon and near Atlanta on Friday and Saturday, according to the Associated Press. There is absolutely no place for this hate and antisemitism in our state. I share in the outrage over this shameful act and stand with Georgians everywhere in condemning it, the Republican tweeted Sunday morning. We remain vigilant in the face of these disgusting acts of bigotry. Jewish faith leaders shared images of the hateful incidents in front of Chabad of Cobb on social media, to spread awareness about these type of hate based beliefs, the NY Post said. The Anti Defamation League has said in the past the Goyim Defense League is a network of individuals connected by their virulent antisemitism. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In the words of Dr. Henry Thompson, CEO of Community Health Center of Richmond (CHCR), bridging maternal and infant health disparities is about action. There shouldnt be one mother [who goes] into labor and ends up [at] the morgue, said Thompson. Black women lose their life from pregnancy-related causes at higher rates than their peers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The New York State Department of Health said that Black, non-Hispanic women are five times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than white, non-Hispanic women. The disparity in health outcomes doesnt happen in isolation, as there are multiple underlying factors that create these realities, such as lack of access to resources, education and non-toxic environments, according to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights 2021 Statutory Enforcement Report. The infant mortality rate on the North Shore -- defined by the current boundary of the City Council district -- is double the rate of the South Shore, standing at 5.8 deaths for every 1,000 live births compared to 2.6 on the South Shore, according to 2019 data released by the Health Department. To bridge the gap across Staten Island, CHCR is allocating a $500,000 grant from the Empire BlueCross BlueShield Foundation to support healthier pregnancies and create positive birth outcomes. The money will go toward growing maternal health education; expanding postpartum follow-up; implementing the group prenatal-care model; supporting Staten Island Perinatal Network for Better Birth Outcomes; and cultivating innovative partnerships with select chapters of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity to increase breastfeeding education and awareness. Jennifer Millan, a single mother of two who lives in Port Richmond, said the support she received from CHCR throughout her second pregnancy meant everything. She explained that her first child was delivered by cesarean-section, but she wanted to have her second child delivered vaginally. It all started when I wanted to do a VBAC [vaginal birth after cesarean], and the minute I expressed what I wanted to do, it felt like the medical professionals in charge were kind of against me, Millan recalled. They said to me that there is a big percentage that I will fail and so on ... just a lot of negative words. I feel like when you are pregnant, you are in a very vulnerable state, and these words really have an effect on you, especially when your support system is not that solid, and in my case I am a single mom. Millan received the support of a doula from CHCR, who she said was attentive throughout her pregnancy, during birth, and even in the postpartum period. She said she also received free diapers and baby food from the health center. A NEW FACILITY Currently, CHCR has four locations on the North Shore of Staten Island -- two in Port Richmond and two in Stapleton -- with a diverse group of staff, who speak over 15 different languages, providing primary health care, pediatrics, dental care, maternal health, podiatry and nutrition services. CHCRs two locations in Port Richmond, located directly across the street from one another, will be consolidated and replaced by the Grove Avenue Health Center, a new 22,000-square-foot facility, slated to open in 2026. The new facility will offer integrated medical services, including primary care, dental care, OB/GYN care, podiatry, pediatrics, wound care and more. A new birthing facility will also be located within the Grove Avenue Health Center. The new birthing center is being developed as a result of the Staten Island Infant Health Equity Action Plan, an ongoing project that is a collaboration of 21 grantees who were awarded funds to create a plan centered on reducing the racial/ethnic disparities in perinatal outcomes, including rates of infant mortality, and promoting womens, infant and family health. Millan, who gave birth to her second child over six months ago, recalled how she strongly wanted to give birth through a VBAC, but she didnt feel her choices were heard by physicians throughout her pregnancy. She added she ended up having an emergency c-section for her second child. Non-Hispanic Black women in the United States continued to have the highest cesarean delivery rate from 1970-2021, according to the CDC. And according to the World Health Organization, no more than 15% of child births should be through cesarean section, but in the United States, the rate is two times that number, according to data. While there are many underlying reasons for these statistics, Monique Welbeck, CHCRs chief nursing officer and licensed adult health and womens health nurse practitioner, said access to health care, early prenatal care and doctors who provide patient education are some factors that can help alleviate the larger issue. The perceived risks for repeat c-sections are infection, bleeding, adhesions and problems with the placenta that can develop as a result of having a c-section, called placenta accreta, leading to serious complications during labor delivery or even during c-section surgery, Welbeck said. Thats why after three c-sections, you stop, because the risk of placenta accreta is high. According to Welbeck, once you have a c-section, there is more of a persuasion to have a repeat c-section, due to the convenience and the controlled predictability of the situation. And with VBACs, although yes there is some risk involved -- and there is also risk with just being pregnant of course -- being able to achieve a vaginal delivery after a c-section now allows that woman for her next pregnancies to result in a vaginal birth, which generally speaking is less risky, she said. Dr. Michael Cabbad, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Richmond University Medical Center who has been practicing in the field for over 40 years, said there are multiple circumstantial factors that go into weighing whether a VBAC delivery after a previous c-section will be successful or not. These factors include the babys position in the birth canal; how large the baby is; how long ago the previous c-section was; whether there were post-operative complications after previous c-section; and more. I think if people are made aware of the risks, then its their choice, he said. Liability does place a very dramatic cloud over vaginal birth after cesarean section. The other side of it is that you have the extreme end of it, where people say you can deliver vaginally without really evaluating the full picture of what youre dealing with. If someone has a vertical scar on the uterus, Cabbad said he will not deliver vaginally due to weakness in the wall itself, which could increase the risk of uterine rupture. The risk of rupture is not 100%. The risk of rupture is not even 33%. The risk of rupture is elevated, but its a kind of risk that your obstetrician, I think, would be a little lax in not advocating for delivery by cesarean section, if in fact its a vertical incision in the uterus, Cabbad said. According to Cabbad, the rate of c-sections in the United States is much higher than the optimal rate because of incidents of obesity in the country. He recalled being a first-year resident in 1980, when instances of c-sections at that time were much less. The United States c-section rate rose from 5% in 1970 to to 32% in 2023, according to the Journal of Perinatal Medicine. WEIGHING OPTIONS Welbeck emphasized the importance of explaining options to patients. Because if the patient understands the plan and was part of the decision making, they are more likely to follow it, she said. If the option is available to them, then they should know it, and if an option is not available to them, then I think an explanation is warranted ... Some providers are like, Its what I say and thats that, whereas other providers may be more open to having that conversation, Welbeck added. Cabbad said he believes it is necessary for an obstetrician to go over a patients risk factors if the doctor feels strongly that a vaginal delivery should not be attempted. DOULA SUPPORT Milan said she doesnt know what she would have done without the support of her doula, Marcia Santiago. I met Jennifer close to the end of her pregnancy. We did a lot of educational support and helped her prepare for her birth. She mentioned she really wanted a VBAC and wanted a doula to support her with that and give her information about what her real options are, so I supported her with that, Santiago recalled. I was with her during her labor and birth, and during the postpartum period as well. "Having support during maternity gives you confidence to overcome the many challenges of motherhood," Millan said. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi Santiago is a doula at the CHCR and was trained by Debra Pascali-Bonaro, a doula trainer and child-birth educator, through the citywide doula initiative. Santiago supports families throughout their pregnancy, birth and postpartum period by giving educational, emotional and physical support. She said it is fulfilling to support other women, because she didnt get that support throughout her own pregnancy. It helps me recover from what I went through, and what I didnt get, so its empowering for me to empower others, Santiago said. Its really about being present for someone and being their support and holding their hand. Thats what being a doula is all about. Inspired by how her doulas support touched her life during her most vulnerable period, Millan also went on to get a doula certification, and is now an official postpartum doula. Theres a reliable network of doulas who support each other, and I realized I can be of great help to mothers, Millan said. Support changes everything. Having support during maternity gives you confidence to overcome the many challenges of motherhood. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. E-cigarette monthly sales rose by 46.6% between the start of 2020 and the end of last year, found a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study released last week, a concerning increase as teens and young adults report using the addictive products in greater numbers. Unit sales climbed precipitously from 15.5 million in January 2020 to 22.7 million in December 2022, said the CDC study, with sales of flavors that appear to younger individuals from fruit and chocolate to other candies and desserts raising in presence. During the same span, disposable device sales leapt upward while prefilled device sales dropped. Recent studies have found more than one in every 10 middle and high school students in 2022 recently used tobacco products, including vapes, underscoring the significant influence of e-cigarette products on youth. The dramatic spikes in youth e-cigarette use back in 2017 and 2018, primarily driven by JUUL, showed us how quickly e-cigarette sales and use patterns can change, Dr. Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of CDCs Office on Smoking and Health, said in a release. Retail sales data are key to providing real-time information on the rapidly changing e-cigarette landscape, which is essential to reducing youth tobacco use. The top-five e-cigarette brands were Vuse, JUUL, Elf Bar, NJOY and Breeze Smoke. Elf Bar, which is marketed as EBDESIGN, was the top disposable brand among a sample of people between 16 and 19-years-old in the United States helping to drive up e-cigarette use among younger individuals, said the CDC. Numerous lawsuits brought against JUUL have yielded billions in settlements, including a recent case that forced the company to pay $462 million to six states and the District of Columbia for its role in the youth vaping epidemic. Despite the overall increase during the studys span, researchers said unit sales between May 2022 and December 2022 fell 12.3%, likely due to multiple factors, including local and state restrictions. Flavored vaping products are illegal in New York and have been the target of recent law enforcement raids. Researchers continue to collect data on the potential health effects of vaping products, especially on younger children. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has regulated vaping products marketed as tools to help wean cigarette users off of smoking, the agency said there is not yet enough evidence to support claims that e-cigarettes ... are effective tools for quitting smoking. The FDA has also launched public campaigns designed to prevent teens from using e-cigarettes, which have been associated with lung issues and other health problems. Still, growing use of the products in younger age groups is undeniable. The surge in total e-cigarette sales during 2020-2022 was driven by non-tobacco flavored e-cigarette sales, such as menthol, which dominates the prefilled cartridge market, and fruit and candy flavors, which lead the disposable e-cigarette market, said Dr. Fatma Romeh Ali, a lead author of the CDC study. Data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey also highlight the popularity of these flavored e-cigarettes among U.S. middle and high school students. The CDC said commercial tobacco control strategies, from restrictions on flavored tobacco products to evidence-based prevention efforts, should be focused in a manner that ensures the approach reaches all groups equitably. Just seven states California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Utah had implemented some form of restriction on flavored e-cigarette sales by the end of 2022, the CDC said. The FDA has reportedly struck down millions of applications for vaping products to get to market, though the products are overwhelmingly available in smoke shops throughout the five boroughs. The tobacco industry is well aware that flavors appeal to and attract kids, and that young people are uniquely vulnerable to nicotine addiction, said Robin Koval, CEO and President, Truth Initiative. While we are encouraged by FDAs recent actions to curb unlawful marketing of flavored e-cigarettes, we all must work with even greater urgency to protect our nations youth from all flavored e-cigarettes, including disposables. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New Yorkers have one last chance to comment on the MTAs proposed fare and toll increases during a Monday night hearing. The MTA will host its fourth and final public hearing to solicit feedback on the agencys proposed fare and toll hikes on Monday, June 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. The hybrid hearing will be held both virtually and in-person at the MTA Headquarters, located at 2 Broadway in Manhattan on the 20th Floor in the William J. Ronan Board Room. To comment on the proposed fare and toll increases at the hearing, residents must pre-register online or by calling the Public Hearing Hotline at (646) 252-6777. Registration to speak will close at the start of the hearing. Each speaker will be given a maximum of two minutes. Residents who are unable to attend the public hearings, but still wish to comment, can do so online, by email, mail, or phone. Customers can submit written or video comments online via the MTA website. Residents can comment by phone from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. by calling (646) 252-6777. All mailed comments should be addressed to: MTA Government & Community Relations Attn: Fare Hearings, 2 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10004 ABOUT PROPOSED CHANGES During Mays MTA Board Finance Committee meeting, agency officials outlined the proposed fare and toll increases that are designed to increase the agencys fare revenue by 4%, while increasing toll revenue by 5.5%. The MTA had initially planned to increase fare revenue by 5.5%, but additional funding allocated in the new state budget has allowed the agency to bring that number down to 4%, which was the standard biennial increase prior to the onset of the pandemic. Under the proposal, the base fare for buses, subways and paratransit would increase from $2.75 to $2.90, a 5% increase. The price of seven-day MetroCards would increase 3%, from $33 to $34, while the price of 30-day MetroCards would jump 4%, from $127 to $132. For express bus riders, the base fare would go up 4%, from $6.75 to $7, while seven-day express bus MetroCards would increase 3%, from $62 to $64. Additionally, the agency has proposed adjusting its OMNY fare capping pilot program to operate on a rolling basis. Currently, OMNY users are charged $2.75 per ride for their first 12 trips of the week, starting every Monday. Once the rider has paid for 12 trips throughout the week, all subsequent trips are free through the following Sunday. Under the proposed changes, the rides would be counted on a rolling basis, meaning riders would receive free rides any time they pay for 12 trips within a seven-day span, regardless of the day of the week. For bridge and tunnel tolls, the MTA outlined two potential scenarios, one of which would implement higher increases for those without E-ZPass. The first scenario would increase tolls by 7% for both E-ZPass and Tolls-By-Mail users, while the second scenario would raise E-ZPass rates by 6% and Tolls-By-Mail rates by 10%. Under Scenario A, E-ZPass tolls on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel would increase 7%, from $6.55 to $7.01. Tolls-By-Mail would also increase 7%, from $10.17 to $10.88. On the Henry Hudson Bridge, E-ZPass tolls would go from $3 to $3.21, while Tolls-By-Mail would increase from $7.50 to $8.03. On the Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge, E-ZPass rates would go from $2.45 to $2.62, with Tolls-By-Mail rates jumping from $5.09 to $5.45. Under Scenario B, E-ZPass tolls on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel would increase 6%, from $6.55 to $6.96. Tolls-By-Mail would increase 10%, from $10.17 to $11.19. On the Henry Hudson Bridge, E-ZPass tolls would go from $3 to $3.19, while Tolls-By-Mail would increase from $7.50 to $8.25. On the Cross Bay Bridge and Marine Parkway Bridge, E-ZPass rates would go from $2.45 to $2.60, with Tolls-By-Mail rates jumping from $5.09 to $5.60. Once the public comments are reviewed, the MTA Board will vote on the proposed fare and toll increases at the agencys July Board Meeting. If approved, the changes are expected to be implemented no later than Labor Day. MORE MTA NEWS MTA to pilot 5 free NYC bus routes, with 1 on Staten Island, as part of state budget deal MTA bus-mounted camera program expanded to ticket double-parkers, bike lane blockers, more MTA now allowing e-bikes on buses, subways, commuter rails MTA removes free Wi-Fi from all NYC buses, citing low usage NYC mass transit riders, heres how to recover items lost on MTA buses and subways NEW YORK, N.Y. Police are seeking a suspect in connection to a fatal Manhattan shooting of an 18-year-old man that occurred shortly after midnight Sunday in the Lower East Side. At approximately 12:51 a.m., the NYPD responded to an emergency call of a man shot on 210 Rivington St., where, according to a spokesman for Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, Upon arrival, officers observed an 18-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the neck. ABC 7 New York reported the teen collapsed in front of a smoke shop on Rivington, near Pitt Street. According to DCPI, EMS responded and transported the teen to New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, where he died. A witness described the chaotic scene to ABC 7 New York News, saying [I was] Ready to duck, ready to get out of here, ready to run because this is a bad neighborhood. I thought it was a firecracker, but this was something different. When I turned the corner, I see my man on the floor, one man said. There are no arrests; the investigation remains ongoing. The struggle for control of baby formula producer Bubs descended into a battle for the hearts and minds of the shareholders who will settle the issue at next months extraordinary general meeting. The latest haymaker came on Sunday afternoon when James Jackson, the former Elders chairman who chairs the Save our Bubs group, led by Kristy Carr, the company founder who was ousted in a boardroom coup in May, announced he wanted to lead the board. Shareholders have looked on in bewilderment at the very public fallout between Bubs Australia founder Kristy Carr (right) and her board of directors, now led by chair Katrina Rathie (left). Credit: Nine Jackson penned a note to shareholders in response to a missive to investors a few days earlier from Katrina Rathie, the incumbent chair who leads the group that did the ousting. Jacksons letter accuses Rathie of malicious and misleading claims in bagging his experience and skills set and even includes a cheat-sheet for investors to study, comparing his boardroom experience against that of Rathie, whose CV he insists lacks substance. Universities in Victoria and Queensland have to disclose their consultant spending, but elsewhere the use of consultancy firms can be hard to spot in annual reports, sometimes listed under ambiguous titles such as business services or lumped in with other figures. Loading The University of Western Australias annual report says it spent $34 million on professional fees in 2022, for example, but it declined to confirm its consultancy spend when asked. The University of Adelaide spent $23 million on consultancy and specialist services and Macquarie University paid $47 million for consultants and contractors but did not provide a figure just for consultants. The Australian National University said it couldnt disclose its 2022 spend until its annual report was tabled in parliament, but previous reports reveal it spent $50 million in 2021 and $65 million the year before that. At universities that did publish a detailed breakdown of their spending, specialist consultants such as architects and cybersecurity experts were often brought in, but business consulting was even more common. Dr Alison Barnes of the National Tertiary Education Union said there would always be some reasons to hire consultants. But she said the union was particularly concerned about a growing use of expensive firms to handle restructures and redundancies, shifting more decisions about the future of higher education into the hands of auditors who rarely understand the sector. Thats how bad decisions happen, Barnes said. One UNSW staffer who was not authorised to speak publicly recalled how PwC rolled through the university in 2015. The firm was paid $25 million to help create its new 10-year strategy, leading to a major round of redundancies. Were still dealing with the fallout but it was a gravy train for them. They were carnivorous. On at least one occasion, a PWC consultant who had worked on the restructure moved into a high-ranking job at the UNSW soon afterwards. A spokeswoman for UNSW did not comment on the restructure, but said the university used consultants for a wide range of projects critical to student education and experience. This included future student recruitment, enhancing cybersecurity, academic program reviews and enriching the campus environment, the spokeswoman said. In 2022, UNSW ramped up spending on its core IT infrastructure, and the increased use of consultants in part reflects the difficulty of recruiting IT staff in a tight IT labour market. PwC did not respond to questions put to it by this masthead, saying it did not comment on client work. UNSW spent $38 million on consultants in 2022. Credit: James Alcock Professor Sharon Bell has been following the rise of consultants in universities, and said the revolving door between the Big Four firms, government departments and universities is well known. You even see vice-chancellors going over to firms, she said. Experts such as Bell warn big consultancy firms sometimes overhype their expertise. This is especially stark when consultants are hired by the university sector, as the countrys top experts may already be on staff. Universities now also make lucrative revenue from consulting themselves. Still, consultants put university executive boards at ease, Bell said. When they came under pressure to slim down after Howard-era reforms, they turned to the same consultants trusted by governments. So a big firm consulting became like a tick of approval on their application for infrastructure funding, say, Bell said. But now consultants have expanded beyond auditing, which is really their core expertise, into actual education and strategic planning. Loading Firms will often apply corporate templates that dont suit public universities, said Bell, who has sat through many consultant reviews during her in 30 years in academia. Theyre always beautifully presented, with great graphics, but that polish hides the noise, the context, you need for complex decisions. At the University of Melbourne, some academics have questioned why a real estate and investment firm was hired to run a teaching and learning strategy review of the Faculty of Engineering and IT, for example. A University of Melbourne spokeswoman said using a wide range of consultants to better inform and guide our processes and operations ... allows the university to focus on its research and teaching. The university spent $10 million across the Big Four firms in 2022, she said, but about half of that was the first phase of a major IT and HR replacement system project. The university spent $15.6 million more on consultants in 2022 than it did in 2019. But the spokeswoman said this still only represented 1 per cent of total expenses. Monash Universitys consultant bill has also been ramping up, rising from $11.7 million in 2019 to $16.6 million last year, and La Trobe Universitys jumped from $7 million to $10.8 million in 2022. La Trobe and the University of Queensland said much of their consultancy spending last year related to major infrastructure builds. Across NSW universities, the state auditor-general found that spending on both consultants and contractors was also rising after a pandemic lull, jumping by $92.9 million or 25 per cent between 2021 and 2022. At The University of Sydney, where the spending disclosed sat in the lower end for Australias top 10 universities in 2022 (at $17 million), a spokeswoman said: We are fortunate to have a range of expertise at the university. But, she added, bringing in consultants could introduce an objective perspective or allow staff to upskill through relationships with industry experts. A tiny lizard species described as the "most endangered reptile in the world" has been found in grasslands west of Melbourne in a development that scientists are comparing to rediscovering the Tasmanian tiger. The first Victorian grassland earless dragon to be sighted in more than 50 years, was discovered in February by two early career ecologists who captured a photo of the reptile which was thought to be extinct. The Victorian grassland earless dragon was last sighted in 1969. Credit: Melbourne Zoo The photo was passed on to Peter Robertson, the states premier reptile expert, who identified it as a Victorian grassland earless dragon which only grows as long as an iPhone. The last confirmed sighting of the dragon was near Geelong in 1969 as the swinging 60s were drawing to a close. It was the year humans first set foot on the Moon, John Gorton was prime minister, and the Beatles recorded their final studio album, Abbey Road. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began his maiden state visit to Egypt by holding discussions with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers on deepening trade relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership. Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Modi began his visit with discussions with Egyptian Prime Minister Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers to deepen trade relations and further strengthen the strategic partnership. The Prime Minister also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam and interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora. He also met the members of the Indian diaspora and the Bohra community. The Prime Minister's meeting with the Bohra community members comes ahead of his visit on Sunday to Cairo's historic Al-Hakim Mosque, restored with the help of India's Dawoodi Bohra community. The Bohra community in India actually originated from the Fatima dynasty and they have renovated the mosque from the 1970s onwards. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Earlier, in a special gesture, Modi was welcomed at the airport here by Egypt's Prime Minister with a warm embrace, accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour. "I am confident this visit will strengthen India's ties with Egypt. I look forward to talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attending other programmes," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after landing in Cairo. Modi's first official engagement was a meeting with the India Unit, a group of high-level ministers constituted by President El-Sisi in March to further enhance the relationship with India. The two leaders had decided to elevate the relationship to the level of strategic partnership during El-Sisi's visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations this year. Seven members of the Egyptian Cabinet, led by Madbouly, were present at the meeting with Modi. At the outset, the Prime Minister thanked Egypt for setting up the dedicated high-level India Unit and appreciated the whole of the government approach. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation across a range of areas including trade & investment, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, digital payment platforms, pharma and people to people ties, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter. Modi will meet Egyptian President El-Sisi on Sunday. Earlier, the Indian diaspora, dressed up in traditional attire, gathered in large numbers at the Ritz Carlton Hotel here to welcome Modi. Waving the Indian tricolour, members of the Indian community welcomed the Prime Minister to chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Vande Mataram' when he reached the hotel here. An Egyptian woman, Jena, dressed in a saree, greeted Modi with the popular song 'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chhodenge' from the movie 'Sholay'. Impressed by the rendition of the Kishore Kumar-Manna Dey number, the Prime Minister expressed surprise when Jena said she knew very little Hindi and had never visited India. "Kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega ki aap Misr ki beti ho ya Hindustan ki beti ho (Nobody will be able to tell whether you are a daughter of Egypt or a daughter of India)," Prime Minister Modi said. He will visit the Heliopolis War Cemetery to pay respects to the Indian troops who gave their lives in the ultimate act of valour for Egypt during World War-1. This memorial was built by the Commonwealth, although it is dedicated to the 3,799 Indian troops who lost their lives in different First World War conflicts in Egypt. El-Sisi is also scheduled to travel to India in September for the G-20 Summit where Egypt has been invited as a special guest. Three people have been taken to hospital one with spinal injuries after falling three metres through the window of a Gold Coast bar overnight, the Queensland Ambulance Service said on Sunday. Paramedics and police arrived at the Broadbeach bar about 9.20pm on Saturday after reports that several people had fallen about three metres from a window after an alleged assault. Police were initially told one person had fallen, but when they arrived, they found three injured people. The three patients were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital. A man in his 40s was in a serious condition with head, stomach and chest injuries. A woman in her 20s was in a stable condition with suspected spinal and chest injuries, while a man in his 20s was also in a stable condition with head injuries and cuts. A year ago, just after Anthony Albanese had become prime minister and Peter Dutton had become opposition leader, the two men were publicly quite nice about each other. Dutton said they had a good relationship and that he thought Albanese would say that weve got a respect for each other. Albanese seemed to confirm this, saying he had a much better relationship with Dutton than with Scott Morrison, and that Peter Dutton has never broken a confidence that Ive had with him. Illustration by Joe Benke Credit: Publicly, at least, that relationship seems to have been deteriorating for some time. A month ago, Albanese said Dutton was making statements unworthy of the alternative prime minister of this nation. Last week he repeated this, adding that Duttons new comments about the Indigenous Voice to parliament were devoid of empathy and without a heart. Dutton, for his part, had accused Albanese of being tricky and displaying contempt towards Australians. In high school we were taught about the pathetic fallacy: the way, say, rain in a novel could seem to meaningfully reflect the moods of the characters falsely, of course, because rain is just rain. Last week, Canberra had its own pathetic fallacy. There was a cold snap, which seemed to capture the mood. In a column, journalist David Speers wrote that, during the bitterness of the recent housing debate, something between the Greens and Labor had snapped. Something between Dutton and Albanese had seemed to snap too. And then there was the way most MPs and journalists seemed suddenly to snap out of the feverish madness that had come upon them the previous week, consumed with the various disputes around denied allegations of sexual violence and parliament. The Authority of the UN must be upheld. But this statement is a justification for war, not a plan to secure the peace, and it is on this point that the prime minister and I fundamentally disagree. And this explains the prime ministers actions to date. Two weeks ago, prime minister, you committed Australias young men and women to a war not yet declared, knowing all along that you couldnt pull them out. You committed them without the mandate of the Australian people, the Australian parliament or the United Nations. You committed them solely on the say so of George W Bush. You committed them to a command structure you cant withdraw from if George Bush decides to go it alone and pursue a military solution regardless of the UN. You have done all of this but you havent told the Australian people. You havent had the courage or conviction to tell them what you have done. Here we are finally with the chance to debate the troop commitment in parliament, and you still havent told them. You go to media conferences and tell them you want peace but you have committed the troops to war. Not with any UN mandate but through a US request. And now you are going to the US. The pity is, prime minister, that you wont be here to answer questions in this parliament. My question for you - and the question the Australian people want answered is this: when you go to Washington will you tell George Bush that no Australian troops will be involved in the war in Iraq without a UN mandate? You must insist in your discussions with George Bush that no troops should be sent to war without a UN mandate. I will keep asking my question because its the question the Australian people want answered. Its your obligation as the prime minister to do the right thing by the troops youve committed to war. You say that the US alliance requires you to respond to all requests from the US. It does not. The very first clause of the ANZUS treaty makes it clear that all alliance decisions must be in conformity with the United Nations. This clause commits all presidents and prime ministers, but you havent fulfilled it. This alliance has stood the test of time and it should be honoured fully. There is no graver decision that a prime minister can take than sending men and women to a war. And there is no greater breach of trust than committing them to war without telling them the full extent of your commitment. You have breached the trust that exists between a nation and its leader. George W. Bush, at the time the US president, with John Howard, the Australian prime minister, in Washington in 2001. Credit: Getty You claim that you have committed our troops to bring the maximum pressure to bear on Iraq to dispose of its weapons of mass destruction. You claim that if there is no UN mandate for military action, you can bring the troops back, even if the US decides to go it alone. Youve said that you would withdraw Australian forces if there was a possibility that nuclear weapons could be used. But wheres the guarantee? How do you propose to achieve this? What assurances have you personally sought from the Bush administration? You had the chance today, perhaps your last chance, to tell the Australian people the truth. But you chose not to. I believe - and the Australian people believe - that youve already made the commitment to war. You have no credibility with the Australian people on this issue. Members of your own party know it. Members of your backbench know it. We believe that Australian troops should not have been sent in advance of a UN mandate. We believe the weapons inspectors are still doing their job and should be given the chance to finish it. We believe in the authority of the United Nations Security Council to deal with issue of disarming Iraq. And we have repeated this since April last year. You havent consulted the Australian people. You havent consulted your party. But you have consulted President Bush. You said you were sending these troops because it was in the national interest. I want to know, prime minister, which nation? Lets not understate the size of the con thats being played on the Australian people. We are sending more than 2,000 troops. For a nation with a military the size of ours, its an awesome commitment. Its twice what we committed to Afghanistan. And three times what we committed to the Gulf in 1991. This is the largest single commitment of combat troops since Vietnam. Such a decision should only be established once a just cause has been established. That has not yet happened. No link has yet been made between Iraq and al-Qaeda, although we are waiting for Secretary of State Colin Powells report to the Security Council later this week. The weapons inspectors have not been given the chance to complete their job. It has not been authorised by the United Nations. You said yesterday that you are going to Washington to inform George Bush of the views of the Australian people. Well let me tell you what those views are. The Australian people dont want peace at any cost, but they dont your war at any price. Loading The majority want to see Iraq disarmed, but they want it done under the mandate of the United Nations and with the authority of international law. Thats the position that Labor has been consistently arguing since last April. Youre not going to the US to tell President Bush what the views of the Australian people are. Youre going to get your riding instructions. Everybody knows it. Lets look at the governments flip-flopping on war on Iraq. Last year, when Labor released its detailed policy statement on Iraq, the foreign minister and the treasurer said we were appeasers and we were talking like Saddam Hussein because we wanted the issue to go back to the UN Security Council. The prime minister spent half the year constantly saying that if he received a request from the US to participate in a war against Iraq, he would consider it. No mention was ever made of the United Nations. No attempt was made to convince the Americans to take the issue back to the Security Council. But in September when George Bush decided to address the General Assembly the prime minister changed his tune. Suddenly the prime minister was saying the UN should be the vehicle to disarm Iraq - six months after Labor first articulated that exact position. Even then, the prime minister refused to be honest with the Australian people because he continued to say that he had not yet made a commitment to war because it was hypothetical. But behind the scenes he was actively planning to deploy Australian troops. The governments rhetoric has now finally come around to what Labor has been saying since April. But not its real intentions. The people know that you dont mean what you say. They can sense it in the mealy mouthed way you claim that our military commitment is really a peace mission. They can sense it in the way you avoid answering the question: if the UN doesnt back the war, will you bring the troops home? You are treating the Australian people like mugs. And they dont like it. The prime minister is playing on the fear of Australians - the fear of the threat of terrorism. By threatening war alongside George Bush he isnt addressing the fear, hes adding to it. He is heightening the risk. He is increasing our vulnerability. He is adding to the instability in our region - an area his intelligence shows us is increasingly vulnerable to that threat. This premature action taken by Australia comes at the expense of our more immediate and critical concerns about terrorism in the region. Only three weeks ago the Singaporean government released a paper showing the extent of terrorist networks across the region - they are much greater than previously thought. But we hear nothing from this government about dealing with these more immediate threats. Our strongest defence against regional terrorism has always been the joint commitment we hold with countries in the region to pursuing common goals and cooperative outcomes. The best way to combat terrorism is to work closely with the police and security agencies of neighbouring countries. But the prime minister hasnt done that. The prime minister should do more than offer his thanks to President Megawati, he should discussing with her how to strengthen the fight against terrorism in our region. Several months ago I called for a regional summit of leaders to tackle terrorism. I urge the prime minister to convene such a summit. But the prime minister undermines this with his talk of pre-emptive strikes and his support for action outside the authority of the UN. The path to security is not unlilateralism but multilateralism. Its a complex issue that no one country can solve alone. The issue of Iraq, perhaps unlike any issue of recent times, defines the differences between the two major political parties in this country. This difference comes from a fundamental divergence of principle. Labor has always supported the role of the United Nations and the rule of international law. We helped create the UN out of the rubble of the Second World War. That attempt to settle international disputes through peaceful means was the great tribute our nation paid to the men and women who died in World War Two. Its one of the proudest pieces of our history that a Labor foreign minister, Dr Evatt, was the founding president of the General Assembly. But while we always support the role of the UN, the Liberals always support their great and powerful friends. The parallels between Howard and Menzies are there to see: cow-towing to London and Washington, the constant sojourns at the Savoy, the nod and wink in support of military action - even if it doesnt have legitimacy. That is the Liberals political tradition. The Liberal Party has never had the courage to state an independent foreign policy that is in Australias interests. Its only ever asked: whats in the interests of the US? Labor supports the US alliance, but we want a mature one, not a toadying one. The US alliance has endured for over 50 years. It has always had bipartisan support. But it does not mean that we have to agree with every policy position of every US administration. We have had our differences in the past but the alliance will endure, because Australians and Americans believe in the same things - democracy, freedom and respect for the rule of law. Why is the UN so important? If the US flaunts the decisions of the UN, it sends a signal to other nations not to be bound by its decisions. It is in the interests of nations the size of Australia for the rule of international law to be strong. A strong UN can ensure that nations disarm and can stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction to our region. The prime minister says that his main reason for deploying Australian troops to Iraq was to stop the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. But what has his government done in seven years to strengthen UN arms control? Nothing. He has remained silent on the Canberra Commission Report. The Canberra Commission said it clearly - The possession of nuclear weapons by any state is a constant stimulus to other states to acquire them. Where is John Howards brave new initiative to push forward on nuclear arms control? Labor has called for the Canberra Commission to be re-convened, with a new mandate to decide what steps are needed to prevent the further proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and ballistic missiles. The prime minister has been unable to convince the US government to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty - which Foreign Minister Downer has called a major milestone and said will bring the nuclear arms race to a definite end. The prime minister said nothing when last year the US government walked away from negotiations towards a verification protocol to the Biological Weapons Convention which would have provided transparency and confidence that all countries were working towards eliminating these terrible weapons. The prime minister says hes been told that nothing in US preparations for war with Iraq include the possible use of nuclear weapons. But the White House spokesman admitted that all options were on the table. And the Bush administration has made it clear that it reserves the right to respond with overwhelming force - including through the use of nuclear weapons. The prime minister has made a great mistake in committing our troops ahead of the UN. Labor does not support that decision. We do not support the deployment of Australian troops in advance of any UN authority. I took my case directly to the troops themselves on the HMAS Kanimbla. I had a difficult decision to make about what to say to them. But I knew what the right thing was to do. I was truthful with them in a way the prime minister was not. I believe that political leaders should always tell the truth. This is especially so when committing troops to war. The prime minister failed that test. He treated the Australian people like mugs and he continues to do so. And what of our security now? The prime minister has taken his eye off the ball in the fight against terrorism in our region. He has failed to adequately prepare our defences against terrorism and neglected regional security measures. He is instead sending our forces overseas. Singapore: When diners run their eyes over the menu at Burnt Ends, Dave Pynts acclaimed modern barbecue restaurant in Singapore, there is often head scratching over one of the signature offerings. The Burnt Ends Sanger draws questions about the Australian vernacular, but uncertainty tends to go out the window once diners have tasted the pulled pork favourite. Dave Pynt, the chef and owner of Singapore restaurant Burnt Ends, where online bookings are made 45 days ahead. It definitely [prompts] a fair bit of confusion and warrants that sort of explanation so that people understand its Australian slang for a sandwich. Its just a part of creating that identity of who we are, said Pynt, the 39-year-old Perth-born chef and owner. The reason it actually came about is we were doing a pop-up in east London in 2012 and there were crazy burger wars going on. Everyone was competing to be the best burger. I was like, I dont want to be a part of this, but we kind of needed that sort of format, a sandwich, burger-style offering. So I was just like, You know what, Ill call it a f---ing sanger, and itll just remove us completely from being compared or judged in that sort of realm. From that point, its really just stuck. The Ukrainian leader made similar comments in a statement announcing a phone call with Polish President Andrzej Duda. In Russia, government troops withdrew from the streets of Moscow and people flocked to parks and cafes on Sunday following the short-lived revolt. The mayor of Moscow declared all restrictions in the city had been lifted on Monday afternoon (AEDT). Meanwhile, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu made his first public appearance on Monday since the mercenary uprising demanded his ouster, inspecting troops in Ukraine. The Defence Ministry released a video showing Shoigu flying in a helicopter and then attending a meeting with military officers at the headquarters of a military headquarters in Ukraine. The march on the capital by Prigozhin and the late-night deal that eventually halted it severely dented Putins reputation as a leader who is willing to ruthlessly punish anyone who challenges his authority. That may open the door for others who are unhappy with Putins two-decade grip on power, especially after his ill-fated invasion of Ukraine. A man holds a placard in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit: Reuters US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the weekends events as extraordinary, recalling how Putin had appeared poised to seize the capital of Ukraine 16 months ago. Now, hed been forced to defend his own capital. I think weve seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade, Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press. It is too soon to tell exactly where they go and when they get there, but certainly we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead. Under the terms of the agreement, Prigozhin will go into exile in Belarus. Neither Putin nor Prigozhin has been heard from since the deal, reportedly brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, was announced on Saturday night (local time). Most of the troops deployed in Moscow to protect the capital from Wagner mercenaries had withdrawn by Sunday afternoon, allowing regular life to resume. Credit: AP It was not yet clear what the fissures opened by the 24-hour rebellion would mean for the war in Ukraine, but it resulted in some of the best forces fighting for Russia being pulled from the battlefield: Prigozhins own Wagner troops and Chechen ones sent to stop them. These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military, said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Another question is what will happen to the Prigozhin-owned Wagner company. The military contractor has forces in several countries where they are believed to fight for Russian interests. Loading Under the terms of the deal that stopped Prigozhins advance, Wagner troops who did not back the revolt will be offered contracts with the Russian military, putting them under the control of the military brass that Prigozhin had tried to oust. The deal appears to be a hasty arrangement designed to protect Prigozhin and safeguard his money and his family, Phillips OBrien, a professor of strategic studies at St Andrews University in Scotland. What we dont know is if he saved Wagner, OBrien wrote in his online newsletter. Its not clear how many of his mercenaries are coming with him to Belarus, or how many will be forced to now sign contracts with the Russian military. In their lightning advance, Prigozhins forces on Saturday took control of two military hubs in southern Russia and got within 200 kilometres of Moscow before retreating. In a scene that plays into Putins fear of a popular uprising, video taken by the Associated Press on Saturday in Rostov-on-Don showed people cheering Wagner troops as they departed. Some ran to shake hands with Prigozhin as he departed in an SUV. The regional governor later said that all of the troops had left the city. Russian news agencies also reported that Lipetsk authorities confirmed Wagner forces had left that region, which sits on the road to Moscow from Rostov. Moscows Red Square was closed on Sunday, but the military presence was otherwise greatly reduced compared to Saturday. Credit: Reuters Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armoured vehicles and troops on the citys southern edge. About 3000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early on Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. By Sunday afternoon, the troops had withdrawn from the capital, and people swarmed the streets and flocked to cafes. Traffic returned to normal and roadblocks and checkpoints were removed, but Red Square remained closed to visitors. On highways leading to Moscow, crews repaired roads ripped up just hours earlier. Loading Anchors on state-controlled television stations cast the deal ending the crisis as a show of Putins wisdom and aired footage of Wagner troops retreating from Rostov-on-Don. People there who were interviewed by Channel 1 hailed Putins role, but the US-based Institute for the Study of War warned that the Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable equilibrium. Vladimir Putin has often been called the puppet master of Russian politics, but now one of his puppets has turned on him and savaged him. His wounds ultimately could be fatal to his rule. The abortive coup by his most effective military commander, the mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, has exposed the void at the centre of Putins regime. Putin launched a war aimed at removing Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky and taking his country, today Zelensky is more secure than ever and it is Putin whose grip is endangered. Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a televised address in Moscow. Credit: Reuters He has been grievously wounded, says Kyle Wilson, a Russian-speaking former Australian diplomat and intelligence analyst. Whatever eventuates, its impossible for Putin to re-establish his authority. Just when it looked as if Russian President Vladimir Putins hold on power was seriously threatened for the first time in two decades, an eccentric ally strode in to save the day: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. A revolt led by Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to be on the verge of blossoming into a full-blown coup on Saturday, Australian time, as his mercenary troops stormed towards Moscow. With most Russian troops deployed in Ukraine, Prigozhins soldiers encountered remarkably little resistance and quickly seized key military facilities in southern Russia. Clearly rattled by the chaotic scenes, Putin took to television to urge Russian police officers, members of the public and all remaining soldiers to help suppress the armed rebellion that was under way. 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 For one week in 2022, the world thought Yevgeny Prigozhin was dead. The oligarch known as Putins chef had finally admitted he owned the fearsome mercenary group Wagner and was photographed at its base in Ukraine, head to toe in tactical gear, shaking the hands of troops. But the photo op also unwittingly gave away the position of that Wagner base to Ukrainian bombers. After the site was reduced to rubble, rumours swirled that Prigozhins rise from a hot dog seller ex-con to one of the most influential tycoons in Russia might be at an end. Until he popped up at a high-profile funeral in Moscow. Now, for one day in 2023, the world thought Prigozhin was something else altogether: rebel. If hed succeeded in his extraordinary June 23 coup attempt against Russias army chiefs, he might have also done what has been thought next to impossible for two decades: unseat Russian President Vladimir Putin. Footage of a bombed Wagner base was again in play, only this time Prigozhin was accusing Russia itself of firing on his mercenaries, not Ukraine. He vowed revenge. As Wagner forces seized a city and military headquarters and advanced on Moscow, Putin took to state television to denounce for treason the man once known as his loyal fixer. Then, just as suddenly, the coup was off. Prigozhin and the Kremlin had struck a deal, brokered by Russias neighbouring ally Belarus. Prigozhin would accept exile in Belarus in exchange for Russia dropping charges against him. Putins attack dog had been muzzled. Advertisement Yet exactly what kind of threat the Wagner boss posed to Putin and why he was allowed to walk away after the coup attempt remain live questions. Prigozhin has tapped into anger in Russia over Putins costly Ukraine invasion, an anger suppressed in civil society under Kremlin crackdowns. Hes been able to actually say it, says Russia expert Dr Robert Horvath at Latrobe University. But hes not a voice of democracy however much he denounces the Kremlins elites and their corruption. Hes a war criminal. Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the headquarters of the Southern Military District after aborting his move on Moscow. Credit: Reuters Now, he seems to have given up control and is at the mercy of Putin, adds Russian military expert Katarzyna Zysk. Still, many pieces of this story do not stick. Did he have any support [in his coup attempt]? And [why was] the Kremlin response so weak? Wagner rolled hundreds of kilometres deep into Russia practically unopposed. Horvath says the fact Prigozhin was allowed to live suggests he remains a threat to Putin. And he may not so easily be separated from the powerful organisations he has built over the past decade in service to his president. Prigozhin isnt like the other oligarchs in Russia. Where most got rich snapping up Russias state-owned assets after the fall of the Soviet Union, he rose through the ranks by virtue of knowing Putin. Prigozhin had been in prison for armed robbery and other offences in the 1980s. But by the late 90s, hed turned a hot dog stand into a string of high-class restaurants and then a lucrative Kremlin catering contract. And he set about making himself even more useful to Putin. Horvath says Prigozhin saw an opening in 2011 during large pro-democracy protests in Russia. The legion of online bots he sent out after Kremlin critics, to disrupt the movement, would later morph into the sophisticated troll farm known as the Internet Research Agency, which interfered in the 2016 US presidential election. (Prigozhin was sanctioned and indicted over his role as founder and financier.) Advertisement In 2014, when Russia seized Crimea, Prigozhin created his most powerful entity yet, the Wagner Group, hiring mercenaries from across Russia to join the wave of unmarked little green men taking Ukrainian territory. Since then, his fighters have left a brutal trail of atrocities behind them, serving as an unofficial arm of the Kremlin not just in Ukraine, but across Africa and Syria, where they have also taken over lucrative oil fields or gold and diamond mines. Criminality has been a constant feature of Prigozhins career, says Horvath. And terror has become part of the Wagner brand, adds researcher Isabella Currie, who tracks the group online. There, the mercenaries are known as the cleaners because they do the Kremlins dirty work. They post pictures with sledgehammers after using them to murder deserters or enemy soldiers. Prigozhin calls his mercenaries patriots. Prigozhin serves Putin at his restaurant in 2011. Prigozhin is known as Putins chef for hosting the president at his restaurants and for his catering contracts with the Kremlin but reportedly hates the nickname. Credit: AP Up until 2022, he had always vehemently denied owning Wagner. But after Wagner joined Russias invasion of Ukraine, he decided to bring the group out of the shadows. Suddenly, his face appeared on posters, social media and state television. Propaganda films produced by Prigozhin-owned studios painted his mercenaries as the real heroes of the war. Wagner T-shirts (and sledgehammers) were even being sold in Russian stores. Having reportedly fallen out of favour with Moscow, Prigozhin was back in the fold. The Russian army had proven weaker than anyone guessed, hollowed out by decades of corruption, and increasingly it was Wagner filling the gaps, leading charges against Ukraines seasoned soldiers. Prigozhin was awarded a Hero of Russia medal last June. But Prigozhin was also stridently arguing with Russias generals on tactics, with each claiming credit for what few Russian victories there were. Kremlin elites reportedly questioned why Prigozhin got away with so much, but experts say Putin didnt just need Wagner to prop up his failing war. He liked to keep him warring with the generals, wary of any one figure emerging as a hero to the people. Leaving the dogs fighting around him has always been Putins style, says Katarzyna Zysk. Advertisement More and more though, Prigozhins rants had been straying uncomfortably close to criticism of Putin himself. After Wagner seized the Ukrainian town of Soledar to exaggerated fanfare in January, Putin appeared to recognise Prigozhin was becoming too popular. He elevated some of the Wagner bosss enemies in the military and appointed an overall commander for the invasion, General Gerasimov. It didnt work. With Russias offensive still failing in Ukraine and the army pushing for Wagner mercenaries to sign government contracts, Currie says Prigozhins attacks on the top military brass, including the defence minister, boiled over. US intelligence chiefs reportedly collected intel of an impending coup earlier in June. Loading Jon Richardson, formerly a senior Australian diplomat in Russia, wonders how the Kremlin missed Prigozhins shift from Putin pawn to warlord. Its like Frankensteins monster, he says. For a long time, I think people rightly assumed he was still directed by the Kremlin. As Prigozhin called on Russias National Guard and soldiers to join his mutiny, he insisted this was not a coup against Putin but a march for justice to save Russia. Yet, in the same breath, he raged that the war on Ukraine was built on a lie: Russia had never been under threat from Ukraine; Moscows elites just wanted to get rich off its resources and so had deceived Putin. We know Putin made the decision to invade, says Horvath. That meant casting Putin as the foolish old tsar tricked by bureaucrats was a dangerous move indeed. To Currie, the Wagner coup looks like the gamble of a man backed against a wall. Advertisement Even if the bombing of the mercenary base Prigozhin raged about was faked, as the Kremlin insisted, Prigozhin may still have been in fear for this life, Richardson says. We still dont know what really happened but he might have thought this is a last throw of the dice. People say he has no obvious protectors, apart from perhaps Putin himself. And hed seemed to side with the generals. Or perhaps Prigozhins soaring social media stardom had gone to his head. Was he just deluded into thinking he could take power while the army was away in Ukraine? Loading Still both Zysk and Richardson question how far a Prigozhin takeover would have gone. I dont think Prigozhin had a shot at a real coup without support from within, says Zysk. The big question is whether he had any. Some experts have noted that Prigozhin has his own connections in the security services and certain Russian elites took their time to publicly denounce the coup attempt, as if waiting to see how things unfolded. Prigozhin has cracked the foundation of the regime and shown Putins supporters its not as solid as it appeared, says Currie. If Prigozhin had succeeded in unseating Putin, someone else in the more established elite might have soon after staged their own coup, says Richardson. Even if he made it to Moscow, I dont think he would have survived. But will he survive now hes left his soldiers, his power base, for Belarus? Advertisement When I graduated from Duntroon in 1989, a senior officer assembled the graduates and gave us some words of wisdom. His final advice was to never march on Moscow. While French and German armies have proven why this is a military maxim, it turns out that it is an easier proposition for Russian mercenaries. In the past 48 hours, Yevgeny Prigozhin the head of the Wagner mercenary group issued multiple communications denouncing Russian military leadership and the unnecessary slaughter of his soldiers and occupied the Russian city of Rostov. Prigozhin then launched his gang on a short but epic advance on Moscow. The social media commentariat who follow such things hung on every image and Twitter or Telegram post as helicopters were shot down, tanks rolled into city centres and Russian authorities rapidly assembled roadblocks and forces to block Prigozhins advance. It was therefore anti-climactic when Prigozhin issued the following statement on Saturday evening: We came out on 23 June to the March of Justice. In a day, we walked to nearly 200 kilometres away from Moscow ... Now, the moment has come when blood may spill. Thats why, understanding the responsibility for spilling Russian blood on one of the sides, we are turning back our convoys and going back to field camps according to the plan. While more bloodshed has been avoided for now, the last 48 hours have contained a few revelations. 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 Washington: Kathryn Archer was 21 weeks into her second pregnancy when her doctor delivered the devastating news. Having made it through her first trimester with what seemed like a healthy baby on the way, an anatomy scan on January 4 suddenly changed everything. Hope Neyer marks the first anniversary of the Supreme Courts decision that overturned Roe v Wade, by displaying a neon sign in support of abortion access in front of the US Supreme Court. Credit: AP I will never forget the moment when my amazing doctor walked into the room and said: Kathryn, we need to talk. This baby has abnormalities from head to toe, she recalls. Our baby girl, Cecilia, had extensive brain developmental issues; a large spina bifida; her bladder was outside of her body; and there were many other issues related to her lower body and stomach. If she were to somehow miraculously make it, her life would have looked like major surgery after major surgery, with minimal chance of her surviving a life of pain. As much as Archer and her husband wanted another baby and a sibling for their three-year-old daughter they came to the conclusion that the best thing they could do was terminate the pregnancy. Advertisement But due to laws enacted last year after the US Supreme Court overturned federal abortion rights, she couldnt get the healthcare she needed in her home state of Tennessee, where abortions are now banned and doctors face jail if they try to assist in such procedures. An anti-abortion supporter sits behind a sign that advises the Jackson Womens Health Organisation clinic is still open in Jackson, Missouri. Credit: AP Archers only option was to travel to another state where abortion remained legal, which ended up costing her about $US10,000 ($15,000) for travel, hotels, food, childcare and the procedure itself. After an agonising weeks-long wait for an appointment, she ended her pregnancy. Such is the reality of life in the US one year after the nations highest court struck down Roe v Wade, the 1973 landmark ruling that gave women the constitutional right to access abortion in America. The monumental decision threw abortion policy back to the states, undoing 50 years of precedent and seismically shifting the social and political landscape in America. Since then, about 13 states have enacted near-total bans on abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest while others have bans with gestational limits. In Georgia, for example, abortion is prohibited after six weeks; in Nebraska its after 12 weeks. Advertisement Clinics across the country have shut down, forcing women to travel hundreds of kilometres away if they want treatment. In states where abortion is still legal, such as Illinois or New Mexico, women are waiting longer for an appointment because of the surge in demand. And many are unable to terminate pregnancies despite growing health risks, or face unwanted pregnancies if they cant find the money or a provider to help them. In Ohio, a 10-year-old rape victim last year had to get an abortion in neighbouring Indiana because her state now prohibits abortions from the time cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, which is typically around the sixth week of pregnancy. In Texas, which bans all abortions from the moment of conception except in cases of a life-threatening physical condition a group of women is suing the state, with some claiming they almost died because they couldnt get timely procedures. And in Florida, which banned abortion at 15 weeks but has now sought to reduce it to six, another woman had to carry her baby to full term because she was denied an abortion, despite doctors knowing her child wouldnt survive. He stayed alive for 99 minutes after she gave birth. Advertisement All this comes despite polls showing most Americans dont support the Supreme Courts decision. With 17 months until the presidential election, the issue continues to galvanise Democrats, who were able to fend off an expected Republican red wave at last years US midterms, partly by campaigning on the issue of reproductive freedom. Donald Trump and Mike Pence as president and vice president in April 2020. Credit: AP Speaking at an event with pro-choice advocacy groups on Friday, the eve of the anniversary of the Supreme Courts decision, President Joe Biden said abortion would once again be on the ballot at next years poll. Make no mistake, this election is about freedom We cant let them take us backwards, he told the crowd at Washingtons Mayflower Hotel. Earlier, the president who is limited in terms of what he can do federally given Democrats dont have the votes in Congress also issued an executive order aimed at protecting and increasing access to contraception. Republicans, meanwhile, used a Friday gathering at the Faith and Freedom Coalitions annual conference to highlight their own views as they jockeyed for the partys nomination to run for the White House against Biden next year. Former vice president Mike Pence, an evangelical Christian, took the staunchest position, urging all candidates who are seeking the Republican presidential nomination to endorse a national ban that would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks as a minimum nationwide standard. Advertisement Republican Nancy Mace has urged her party to find middle ground. Credit: AP We must not rest and we must not relent until we restore the sanctity of life to the centre of American law in every state in this country, he said, effectively challenging Donald Trump to assert his position. Trump has long avoided being drawn into answering questions on a national ban, opting instead to focus on his presidential legacy in nominating three of the judges who helped overturn Roe v Wade: Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch. Loading Asked repeatedly about the issue during a CNN town hall interview last month, the former president, who is now frontrunner for the Republican nomination, merely replied: What I am willing to do is negotiate, so people are happy. Republican strategists say Trump is well aware of the balancing act that all the candidates face: keeping the base of the party onside, without alienating large chunks of the broader electorate. But over the weekend, in a speech to evangelical Christians, the former president said theres a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life. Advertisement BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya from June 20-23 for strengthening bilateral ties with maritime neighbours on the theme of Ocean Ring of Yoga. INS Sunayna is a Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy. On arrival, the ship was received by representatives of the India High Commission. The Commanding Officer called upon Brigadier YS Abdi, Deputy Commander of the Kenya Navy and highlighted the significance of Yoga towards bringing the world together. On the occasion of International Day of Yoga on 21 Jun 23, a joint Yoga session was conducted on board with the participation of Indian Navy personnel and Kenyan Defence Forces A Maritime Partnership Exercise was also conducted between the two navies. The crew of both Indian and Kenya Navy conducted drills in Firefighting and Damage Control, boarding exercises, asymmetric threat simulations and VBSS during the harbour phase. A 'HADR capsule' was also conducted on board for the Kenya Navy. A reception in the honour of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) of Kenyan Defence Forces, General Francis Ogolla, was hosted on board Sunayna by Vice Admiral Sanjay Mahindru, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. The event was attended by HE Ms Namgya Khampa, High Commissioner of India, Nairobi. During his address, the CDF conveyed his gratitude towards friendly gesture by the Indian Navy in training the Kenya Navy personnel and expressed his commitment towards continuous cooperation between both the countries. The DCNS gifted 200 life jackets to Maj Gen Jimson Muthai, Commander of the Kenya Navy. In line with the Indian Navy's social outreach activities and community wellbeing, provisions were distributed to an orphanage at Mombasa. On departure from Mombasa, INS Sunayna undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Kenya Naval Ship Jasiri on 23 Jun 23. The visit to Mombasa reaffirms the strong and longstanding relationship between India & Kenya and will further consolidate bilateral cooperation in the maritime domain. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said on Saturday (local time) that its conducting an investigation into the loss of the Titan submersible and has been speaking with those who travelled on Titans mothership, the Polar Prince. The development comes as authorities from the US and Canada began the process of probing the cause of the underwater implosion and grappled with questions of who was responsible for determining how the tragedy unfolded. Maritime agencies are searching the area in the North Atlantic where the vessel was destroyed, killing all five people aboard. Debris was located about 3810 metres underwater, several hundred metres away from the Titanic wreckage it was on its way to explore. We are conducting a safety investigation in Canada given that this was a Canadian-flagged vessel that departed a Canadian port and was involved in this occurrence, albeit in international waters, said Kathy Fox, chair of the transportation board. Other agencies may choose to conduct investigations and thats up to them. Dutch Quarter:--- Member of Parliament William Marlin also known as the legend of the National Alliance officially passes on the baton to his son Cloyd Ohndhae Marlin on Saturday evening when Ohndhae launched his political campaign at the Dutch Quarter Community Center. Marlin who began his political career some 45 years ago as the founding secretary of the St. Maarten Patriotic Movement which later changed to the St. Maarten Patriotic Alliance now known as the National Alliance said it gives him joy to officially pass on the baton to his son. Marlin said his son Ohndhae was his mascot during political campaigns, he said his son got much more involved as he aged, and he became a prominent part of his campaigns and the National Alliance. Eventually, Ohndhae became his fathers campaign manager, he is also known as the one who had a key eye in identifying new candidates to join the party slate and he also played a major role in their campaigns as well. Marlin told the large gathering that his son Ohndhae has more than 20 years of experience in the political arena, he is considered to be a seasoned politician that is very much solution-oriented. After officially declaring that he has given the baton over to his son so that he could finally contest the January 2024 Parliamentary Elections, Marlin was honored by the founding members of the SPM/SPA/ NA. Founding members that attended the community event on Saturday evening were Richard Gibson Sr, Leo Friday Sr., and Nilda Arduin Lynch. The National Alliance youth wing showed their appreciation to William Marlin by presenting him with 45 white roses and a plaque from the founders of the National Alliance. While the National Alliance honored Marlin for his contributions, dedication, and service to the party and people of St. Maarten, Marlin will remain in the parliament of St. Maarten until this governing period ends in January 2024, he will remain an advisor to the party, and his son Ohndhae campaign manager. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 26. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned about the developments in Russia and urges to avoid further escalation of tensions, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN General Secretary Farhan Haq said, Trend reports. He said that the UN Secretary General is aware of the steps being taken to reduce tensions. Secretary-General calls on all parties to act responsibly and avoid escalating tensions. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Ukrainian officials hailed the opening of a BTA press club in Odessa, Ukraine, on Saturday. They commended the Bulgarian national news agency for doing that in the difficult days of the war and expressed hope that it will help improve the media landscape and contribute to the development of the region, Trend reports via BTA. The opening event was attended, among others, by Oleg Radkovskiy, First Deputy Chairperson of the Odessa Oblast Concil and Odessa First Deputy Mayor Sergiy Tetyukhin. The Director General of the Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform, Olexandr Kharchenko, was also there and signed a cooperation agreement with BTA Director General Kiril Valchev. Following is a soundbite of their remarks at the opening event. Oleg Radkovskiy: The expansion of media space will contribute to the development of the region. In times of war, it is not only important to win with combat actions, but it is also important to win in the information space. All the people who contribute to the development of the information space understand that such centers will become the epicenter of the media landscape in the Odessa Region, they will get first-hand information about the situation here. He thanked BTA for opening a press club amid the sound of the air raid sirens. Sergiy Tetyukhin: In the first days of the tension in Ukraine, Bulgaria took in many of our compatriots. They received a warm welcome. The Odessa Mayor is very thankful and hails from the bottom of his heart the opening of this press club so that you can provide real information about what is happening in Ukraine. You can rely on every support from the local administration. Olexandr Kharchenko: This is no ordinary event for the city. At the moment I see more than a few reasons to open this press club. Since the very beginning of the Russian aggression, Odessa has become something of a frontier city. The presence of our friend and partner BTA has great significance for the city. You have stood by us and we are hand in hand against Russian propaganda and disinformation that is being waged in this complicated time. Odessa is an international city, representatives of different nationalities have always worked and lived here, and with the opening of the press club Bulgarians in this region will now have many more opportunities to use their knowledge. You can find various facts about Odessa everywhere, but these sources dont give you information about the city and the people who inhabit it. You can feel the atmosphere of the city only when you are in it. H uman remains have been found in the area of the San Gabriel mountains where British actor Julian Sands went missing more than five months ago. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said civilian hikers had contacted authorities on Saturday morning after finding the remains in the Mount Baldy area. The remains have been transported to the Coroners Office, pending positive identification, the department said. It is expected that identification should be completed next week, at which point the department will issue a press release. Sands, 65, failed to return from a hike in the Mount Baldy area of the southern Californian mountains on January 13. The actor is known for his roles in films A Room With A View, Leaving Las Vegas and Warlock, as well as TV appearances on 24, Smallville and Banshee. The discovery of the remains comes shortly after his family released a statement saying they were continuing to keep him in our hearts with bright memories. We are deeply grateful to the search teams and co-ordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian, a family statement, issued on Wednesday by the sheriffs department, read. We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer. The sheriffs department added although Sands had not been found during searches on June 17, the case remained active. Searches have been hampered by poor conditions in the area and were halted in March due to the risk of avalanches. Eight searches by ground and air have taken place for Sands since his disappearance, with volunteer searcher hours exceeding 500 hours. A spokesperson for the sheriffs department previously said its goal was to bring closure to Sands family. Review at a glance T he irony: over on the Other Stage it was Lana Del Rey who once recorded a song called Axl Rose husband who was late and had her headline set cut short. Meanwhile, former perpetual latecomer Axl Rose turned up bang on schedule and did what needed to be done reliably. You have to feel slightly for Guns N Roses. In her pre-festival interviews, Emily Eavis made no secret of the fact that they were last minute subs for a headliner (rumoured to be Rhianna) who pulled out at the 11th hour. They continue a not-so-grand tradition of hard rock/metal on Worthy Farm: a musical genre that has long been underrepresented here. And it was clear from the word go that this was a band who knew this and were very much here to please. For all of his ostensible menace and badassery, Rose was a polite, almost affable presence at odds with the persona presented in the likes of opener Its So Easy. Said song Turn around bitch, I got a use for you was not the only lyric he sang exhibiting wildly outdated, late-Eighties-in-Los-Angeles style misogyny. Slash in action / PA But though Guns N Roses may have sounded and looked like a band out of time the heavily ripped denim jeans , cut off shirts... Slash they also have a fistful of songs that are truly timeless. When Welcome To The Jungle arrived five songs in, it sounded absolutely titanic. Ditto Live And Let Die sadly not featuring, as the rumour mill had it, Paul McCartney and Sweet Child Of Mine and November Rain and a closing, epic Paradise City The problems came in-between these anthems. Too often when not playing a song that even their detractors couldnt resist, Guns N Roses descended into guitar noodling of the type that time has forgotten. Nobody on planet earth does this kind of thing better than Slash, but part of the reason this is true is that in 2023 its an obsolete artform. Songs such as Velvet Revolvers Slither thus tested the patience somewhat. Glastonbury 2023 | Best Pictures 1 / 52 Glastonbury 2023 | Best Pictures Elton John and Rina Sawayama Leon Neal/Getty Images Axl Rose with Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns N Roses Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP Blondie Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP Yusuf Islam, known during his early musical career by his stage name Cat Stevens, performs during Glastonbury Festival Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters Getty Images The Chemical Brothers AFP via Getty Images Stormzy watches fellow British rapper Aitch performing on the Pyramid Stage AFP via Getty Images Lizzo Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP Anya Taylor-Joy watches Elton John perform during Glastonbury Festival Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP Lana Del Rey Samir Hussein/WireImage Crowds sing along and dance on shoulders watching Fred Again on the Other Stage as the sun sets over the Glastonbury Festival PA Sophie Ellis-Bextor performing on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, at Worthy Farm PA Tilda Swinton performing with modern classical instrumentalist Max Richter on the Park Stage PA Lewis Capaldi Getty Images BRITAIN-MUSIC-FESTIVAL-GLASTONBURY DJ Quentin Leo Cook aka Fatboy Slim and Rita Ora AFP via Getty Images Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders with Johnny Marr PA Wire Damiano David of Maneskin Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP Crowds sing along and dance on shoulders watching Fred Again on the Other Stage as the sun sets over the Glastonbury Festival PA Arctic Monkeys perform during the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset REUTERS Rick Astley performs at the Glastonbury Festival REUTERS Festivalgoers watch performers in the Silver Hayes area on day 2 of Glastonbury AFP via Getty Images Notting Hill Carnival performers pass through the site at the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP Festivalgoers attend Day 2 of Glastonbury AFP via Getty Images People gather at the Glastonbury REUTERS Revellers enjoy the evening sun on Day 1 Getty Images Revellers celebrate as they pass through gates after the 8am public opening of the campsites on Day 1 of Glastonbury Getty Images A reveller stands at the Glastonbury Festival site REUTERS A festivalgoer enjoys the weather in the circus area at Glastonbury PA Festivalgoers listen to music from an installation called Carhenge as a reference to Stonehenge on the first day of the Glastonbury festival AFP via Getty Images Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis waves from a Land Rover as festivalgoers arrive AFP via Getty Images A festivalgoer eats whilst sheltering from the rain beneath an advertising board outside a food stall on the first day of Glastonbury AFP via Getty Images A general view on the first day of the Glastonbury festival in the village of Pilton AFP via Getty Images A festivalgoer watches the sunset from the Stone Circle on the first day of the Glastonbury festival in the village of Pilton AFP via Getty Images A festivalgoer attends the first day of Glastonbury AFP via Getty Images Festivalgoers carry inflatable mattresses in the rain on the first day of Glastonbury AFP via Getty Images Festivalgoers watch the sunset from the Stone Circle on the first day of the Glastonbury AFP via Getty Images A general view on the first day of the Glastonbury festival AFP via Getty Images People gather at the Glastonbury PA Wire Emily Eavis opens the gates on the first day of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset PA Still, while drawing a huge (if not as huge as Lizzos) crowd and providing Glastonbury with its first bona fide anthems, Guns N Roses was a triumph of sorts. You sense that they made some new admirers here, which was surely the point of them doing this show. The older people who loved them from the start, meanwhile, were well served. Dave Grohls arrival on Paradise City for two years running now he has contributed to the Pyramid Stage headline set on Saturday Night provided a reminder of how much has changed since said glory days. Long ago, long before many people here were born, he was playing drums in Nirvana: a band whose main purpose was to bury the hair metal of Guns N Roses. Tonight though, he, Axl, Slash, Duff and some other fill-ins were together, united as old school rock and rollers in a world and at a festival where that kind of thing doesnt really exist anymore. They were outsiders once again. It suited them. T he mother of a teenager with Tourettes has said that Lewis Capaldis Glastonbury performance left her in tears because of the amazingly powerful impact it will have on raising awareness for the condition. On Saturday, Capaldi, who himself has Tourettes, a neurological condition which causes involuntary muscle movements and sounds known as tics, sang ballads including Someone You Loved to Glastonbury festival-goers while performing on the Pyramid Stage. During the performance, he stopped singing due to losing his voice earlier in his set and repeated tics, and the crowd responded by belting out the lyrics of his hits to show their support. For Laura Hummersone, whose 19-year-old son Harry has the condition, the performance had an emotional impact on them. Watching Lewis yesterday, in that moment, I think he did more for Tourettes than any charity or education on the topic in all the times Ive known about Tourettes. I was in tears, the 50-year-old who works in the criminal investigation department of the police force told the PA news agency. The pair watched Capaldis performance on TV together from their home in Farnborough, Hampshire, with Ms Hummersone adding that Harry gradually started smiling from seeking solace in the fact that he and Capaldi both had similar tics. [Capaldi] was openly ticing and my son tries to suppress his most of the time when hes out, which means that when he comes home, he has these huge tic attacks where he can barely do anything, she said. Some of the tics that Lewis was doing were tics that my son does on a regular daily basis, jerking the head. Harry was diagnosed with Tourettes when he was five and a half and Ms Hummersone said that her sons tics were so bad at one point that she had to quit the job she had at the time for 12 years to look after him. Because of his head tics at one point, he couldnt stand up, she said. It was so violent and also he couldnt feed himself and sometimes he would hit his head on the door frame and knock himself out. Thats what Tourettes is like to live with. Ms Hummersone said she was particularly struck by how much the crowd supported Capaldi. The acceptance, tolerance, understanding, empathy and compassion which the crowd showed yesterday was phenomenal, she said. She added: Harrys friends have been really sweet about his tics, but during primary school we had parents taking their kids out of school because they didnt like the ticing. I wanted Harry to see the love from that crowd nobody cared about Lewis ticing, they were carrying him through and little things like that show it is nothing to be ashamed of. Thats the big thing. She said that Capaldi also did a brilliant job of highlighting that Tourettes does not necessarily mean that you will have swearing as a tic. Most of the time, it isnt about swearing, she added. I think the condition is still so misunderstood and people think you only tic when stressed. With Lewis, he was ticing doing something he loved sometimes it distracts you from what youre doing, other times it doesnt. So his performance was amazingly powerful. The powerful performance also had an impact on 11-year-old James Craven, who was formally diagnosed with Tourettes on Friday. He watched Capaldis performance on TV with his mother Kate at their home in Teesside, which prompted him to write a letter to the singer to tell him: I like that you have Tourettes and you keep going with it. Ms Craven, a 42-year-old teacher, told PA: [James] sat there this morning while I was doing the ironing and wrote this letter without any prompting or anything like that. I was really proud of him because it absolutely came from his heart. Other lines from the letter which was written on A4 lined paper include: Whenever I see you struggling but continue going, it brings a smile to my face and you are a role model to everyone with Tourettes and it shows them that they can be successful. Ms Craven said James is a fan of Capaldi and is even a musician himself as hes learning the piano. When the crowd at Glastonbury sang Capaldis lyrics on Saturday, so did James. He was singing along, the whole living room was singing along with him, she said. Also, everybody watching held their breath a little bit, I think, because James knows what having tics is like and when attention is drawn to them, it just makes them worse. Ms Craven added that when her son was diagnosed with Tourettes, he was absolutely over the moon. We had a little celebration, she added. Ms Craven said she hopes Capaldis performance raises awareness for Tourettes. I would like people to see that having a condition like Tourettes has a massive impact on your mental health and sometimes its absolutely fine, but sometimes it isnt. James did his SATs and supressed his tics and afterwards, his body was just broken and he slept for 13/14 hours. Id also like people to be more aware of the fact that tics are not necessarily the extreme ones and that you can be successful with the condition and it is also only one facet of who you are. Review at a glance I ts a running joke that Coldplays Chris Martin always finds a way into Glastonbury, whether its popping up as a surprise guest during Stormzys 2019 headline set, rocking up for impromptu performances at north Somerset pubs post-festival, or headlining of his own accord. Though hard evidence is yet to emerge, Twitter rumours account Secretglasto even claimed that he was busying himself this year as an Oxfam steward on one of the festival gates. While Martin didnt join Lizzo in person, his presence was still felt at her Pyramid Stage slot, in its own way. Its safe to say that the Atlanta pop star performing a flute-heavy rendition of Yellow complete with an improvisational, groove breakdown probably wasnt on many peoples bingo sheets, but there you go. This is Glastonbury, after all, where anything can happen. Following 2 Be Loved (Am I Ready), three songs in, Lizzo paused and took a brief moment to drink in the monumental scenes in front of her, but was otherwise an energetic ringleader hellbent on keeping the energy at fever pitch; with the help of relentless choreo, multiple costumes changes, and a burst of classical flute for good measure. And thats word to Sir James Galway, bitch! she yelled, referencing the Irish flute virtuoso. Grasping the opportunity to co-headline this is how Lizzos set has been touted amid an all-male bill of headliners she came prepared, having clearly done her homework on Glastonburys party atmosphere. Its Pride, right? she asked shortly before launching into a cover of Chaka Khans Im Every Woman, and wrapping herself in a rainbow progress flag for her own song Everybodys Gay. From the arcade-game electro-pop of Boys, to the bass-heavy Tempo (sadly sans Missy Elliott) and the celebratory Special, she flexed every last banger in her back catalogue. Getty Images Throughout, Lizzo frequently set out a message of body positivity, offering up a specific shout-out to the big girls at Worthy Farm. Im talking piss off the internet big, she declared with visible relish. At another stage, she asked the crowd: When was the last time you said something kind about yourself. This celebratory atmosphere spread all the way through the crowd. During Good As Hell, an enterprising punter in the crowd fired a bubble gun into the air, while another distributed jelly shots from a basket nearby, a mother and daughter collaborated on a TikTok dance video complete with choreography to match Lizzos lyrics. The question on everyones lips will be this: should Lizzo have been given a punt in the headliner slot, over one of the other acts in the bloke-heavy top billing? Though her set doesnt quite have all the bells and whistles that make a winning headline show at the moment there are no special guests, for instance its clear that the hits are certainly in place, with About Damn Time wrapping things up in triumphant style. In a couple of years, perhaps, with one more album under her belt? You have to admit, it would feel like the perfect headline party. T he Metropolitan Police has confirmed that its 999 service is now working after it briefly went down due to a technical fault. Londoners were told to call 101 in an emergency and avoid making non-urgent calls until further notice after a number of forces across the country were impacted. The 999 system which is run by BT - was hit by a technical glitch on Sunday morning. A spokesperson for BT said their back up platform was now working and people could continue calling 999 as usual. The Met Police has confirmed that services have been restored. Forces outside of London, including South Wales Police and Greater Manchester Police, also faced the same problem. Until further notice, please call 101 in an emergency, the Met Police wrote in a post on Twitter. Please only call in an emergency and please wait until later to make any 101 non-emergency calls. The following services told people to call 101 in case of emergency: Greater Manchester Police, Hampshire Police, and Bedfordshire Police, West Yorkshire Police, West Midlands Police, Norfolk Police, and South Wales Police. Bedfordshire Fire Control and Leicestershire Fire Control also warned of the fault. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service also told people not to call 999 if there is a fire, but to dial their control rooms directly. On Twitter, the service said: The national 999 system is experiencing technical issues, many calls are not connecting. In the case of a fire emergency, please contact the below numbers until further notice. North: 01382 835804; East: 0131 228 1367; West: 01505 331661. A spokesperson for BT said: Early this morning we experienced a problem with the 999 service. The situation is fast-moving as we fix the problem and our back up platform is now working so people should call 999 as usual. We will provide updates as the issue is resolved. The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) opened Saturday a National Press Club in Odessa, Ukraine. This is the first permanent bureau of a Bulgarian media outlet in Ukrainian Bessarabia, which is home to some 200,000 ethnic Bulgarians, Trend reports via BTA. In his opening remarks, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said that having a BTA press club with a permanent correspondent in Odessa is a sign of support from Bulgaria for the Bulgarians in Ukraine. "There are 200,000 - 250,000 of them here, and perhaps many more, if we count all those with Bulgarian roots from generations back. And we have to be here - passing on knowledge about their difficult days during the war in Ukraine and trying to provide them with knowledge about Bulgaria. Because war does not stop life," said Valchev. "News about the Bulgarians in Ukraine, which will be regularly present in the BTA news flow with the possibility to reach all media outlets in Bulgaria, and through the BTA English service, the whole world, will not be limited to Bessarabia, where the Bulgarian diaspora has been concentrated since the 18th century, but will also come from other parts in Ukraine, including those currently under Russian occupation. The news will cover all Bulgarian organizations in Odessa, Bessarabia and other parts of Ukraine," Valchev said. He went on to say: "We begin with one correspondent, Svetlana Dragneva, but BTA is ready to expand the team with contributors to fully cover all events of all Ukrainian Bulgarians. We are opening the BTA press club on a symbolic day when the Bulgarian Orthodox Church - whose Holy Synod asked us to bring here a consecrated icon of St. Clement of Ohrid, and the Rila Monastery asked us to bring icons of the patron saint of the Bulgarian people St. John of Rila and the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius - celebrates the birth of St. John the Baptist in a feast day called Enyovden in Bulgaria". Valchev used references to the Bible in his speech: "St. John the Baptist prepared the ways of Christ which, according to the Gospel, lead to salvation through the forgiveness of sins. This should be an example to Bulgarians everywhere, including here, where, as in any free society, there are contradictions and quarrels, that we must find a way to forgive one another in order to go forward together stronger. And Odessa is a city that has given much strength to Bulgaria through its sons who found refuge here: Hristo Botev, Georgi Rakovski, Vasil Aprilov, Ivan Vazov, whose memorial plaques are all over the city. We can read about them and about the other Bulgarians who connected their lives with these lands, in the special issue of the LIK magazine dedicated to the Bulgarians in Ukraine, which we presented in Odessa on March 3, and today we present in English." Valchev said that news about the Bulgarians from Ukraine will be able to reach the Ukrainian media through Ukrinform - the national news agency of Ukraine, which can freely use BTA's feeds after the two agencies sign a cooperation agreement today. The BTA Press Club will also organize information events on various opportunities - from aid for war refugees to training for students at Bulgarian universities and jobs in Bulgaria. "Its doors are also open to present events of all local Bulgarian organizations," the BTA Director General said. He announced that BTA is already planning joint events with them - a concert by the supergroup "The Foundation" for the Day of Bessarabian Bulgarians on October 29 and an exhibition dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews. Valchev said he was reminded the other day of a legend about Churchill saying, as World War II was in full swing and he was asked to cut funding for the arts, "Then what are we fighting for?!". "This is also a message to all other media that the war is not a theatrical festival, which is usually covered at the beginning and at the end, but we need a permanent narrative from the scene with permanent correspondents," Valchev added. "We hope that the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), in which BTA and Ukrinform are together, will finally follow through on its decision to hold an annual conference in Ukraine, because it is journalists who should not be afraid to be in dangerous places to report the real news," he said. The Director General announced that next year it is in Odessa that BTA plans to organize the World Meeting of Bulgarian Media - in June, as a sign of respect to the Bulgarians who organize the commemoration of Bulgarian Khan Kubrat, whose treasure was found this month in Malaya Pereshchepina in Ukraine. "We hope peace will be restored by then and we can go there together. There will be no songs at today's opening event, unlike the opening of the BTA other press clubs, because days of war are better suited to quiet prayer. That is why we have invited the writer Teodora Dimova to present her new book Prayer for Ukraine for the first time. With her presence she sets an example to all, including Bulgarian leaders, who do not dare to come to the Bulgarians in Ukraine these days for fear of the missiles," said Valchev. He went on to commend the courage of the Consul General of Bulgaria in Odessa, Svetoslav Ivanov, and thanked him, as well as Foreign Ministers Ivan Kondov and Maria Gabriel, for their help in making the necessary arrangements for the opening of the BTA press club. Valchev also thanked the local and state government of Odessa for their assistance. T he aftermath of the Wagner rebellion in Russia is an internal matter which will not affect the UKs ongoing support for Ukraine, a Cabinet minister has said. Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen made the comments as the fallout from the mercenary groups march on Moscow continues. The groups forces, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, were just 120 miles from Moscow before the rebellion was called off to avoid shedding Russian blood. He has gone into exile in Belarus after a deal with Vladimir Putins government was brokered at the last minute. The agreement will see charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion dropped. The Russian government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry. Yuriy Sak, who advises the Ukrainian defence minister, told the BBC the rebellion is the most ridiculous attempt at mutiny ever. Mr Glen told Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that the UK will not be intervening in Russias internal affairs. He added: It is obviously a very unstable situation in Russia, but it is fundamentally an internal matter. And weve obviously urged, alongside our allies that obviously civilian interests are considered. This isnt a matter that we will be intervening in, but obviously we observe and monitor the situation on an ongoing basis very carefully. Nothing has changed with respect to the British Governments position on supporting Ukraine. However Alexander Litvinenkos widow Marina suggested this attitude suggests Western leaders remain resistant to the idea of Vladimir Putin stepping down. She told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: They accept Ukrainian people in a different country they have support, but they still want to keep Putin, and at least to have some kind of controlling of Russia. (After what happened on Saturday) we can see, Putin doesnt control nothing. If you want to save Russia from collapsing you need to take Putin out from this place. Shadow communities secretary Lisa Nandy told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the Government should be doing pretty much what they are when asked about the situation. She said the events suggest it is clear that Ukraine is winning the war. The shadow minister went on: We now need to make sure that all of the Nato Allies stand not just with President Zelensky and Ukraine to send a clear message to President Putin, that we will be there and with the Ukrainian people until that war is won. Former Chief of the UK General Staff Lord Dannatt warned on the programme that a renewed attack on Kyiv could take place if Mr Prigozhins troops follow him to Belarus, whose government has supported Russias invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Richards warned the UK risks woefully underestimating Russia and its armed forces. Lord Dannatt said: Apparently hes left the stage to go to Belarus but is that the end of Prigozhin and the Wagner Group? The fact that hes gone to Belarus is I think a matter of some concern. What we dont know, what we will discover in the next hours and days is how many of his fighters have actually gone with him. If he has gone to Belarus and has kept an effective fighting force around him, he then presents a threat again to the Ukrainian flank closest to Kyiv which is where all this began on February 24 last year. Although it would appear that this matter is closed I think it is far from closed and the aftershocks will reverberate for quite some time. They (Ukraine) need to watch that flank very carefully and make sure they have got some manoeuvre units such that they could repel a renewed attack from the direction of Belarus. Lord Richards told Times Radio: It seems to me that we have been at risk of woefully underestimating Russia and her armed forces. It doesnt appear as if Ukraine has been able to exploit it to achieve what it wants to do and needs to do, which is a big penetration of the Russian lines. And I suspect that whilst it might yet still happen, that we are in, despite the weakened state, arguably of (Vladimir) Putin, were in for a long haul here. And that actually is the worst of all worlds for the West. Former MI6 officer Christopher Steele told the programme: Whats changed I think is that Vladimir Putin has lost authority and legitimacy within Russia and has been challenged in a way, yes hes managed to worm his way out of it for the present. To see events unfold in Russia yesterday and the speed with which the situation seemed to spiral out of control must be very concerning for Putin and the people around him. Edward Lucas, a senior adviser at the Centre for European Policy Analysis, told BBC Radio 4s The World This Weekend that the UK must prepare for a deeply dangerous and unpredictable post-Putin Russia. He said: There will be all sorts of dilemmas and difficulties we face and we need to start thinking right now about how we deal with them. And thats everything from do we worry about Russia falling into the arms of China? Is there going to be disintegration? Will it go full-on fascist? Will we have a long period of confusion and chaos? Will they use their nuclear weapons as a bargaining chip to try and get things? And these are all the questions that we ought to be dealing with and Im just not seeing it in most western capitals. We face perhaps a decade or more of dealing with a deeply dangerous and unpredictable Russia without even the sort of superficial certainty we have of having Putin in power. T wo Russian men have been arrested and charged after becoming drunk and unruly on an EasyJet flight from Manchester to Turkey, authorities have said. The two men, aged 48 and 39, were so disruptive that the flight had to be diverted to Greece early on Sunday. The passengers started shouting at other passengers and crew, AP reports. The pair were arrested after the plane, on a scheduled flight from Manchester to Dalaman in southwestern Turkey, touched down in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. They faced a prosecutor who charged them with disturbing the peace, disrupting transport and disobeying the crews instructions. There was no physical altercation, authorities said. After they were charged, the two men were released pending trial, which will take place in November. They are not obligated to attend, but will be represented by their lawyers. Having arrived in Greece without a visa, they were led to a police precinct but were expected to be put on a flight to Turkey later on Sunday. Its not the first time EasyJet has had to divert a flight over drunken behaviour. In 2017 a late-night flight from Barcelona to Liverpool was forced to divert to Bristol and a passenger was charged over disorderly behaviour. A year later Ryanair called for an airport booze ban before 10am after an Ibiza bound plane was forced to divert to Paris. EasyJet told the Standard: EasyJet can confirm that flight EZY2147 from Manchester to Dalaman on June 24 diverted to Thessaloniki and was met by police due to two passengers behaving disruptively onboard. The flight continued to Dalaman after refuelling. EasyJets cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. Whilst such incidents are rare we take them very seriously and do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew is always EasyJets priority. A 15-year-old girl has died after being pulled from the sea at Cleethorpes beach in Lincolnshire. Search teams rescued the girl from the North Sea and airlifted her to the hospital just after 7.30pm on Saturday but she later died. A teenage boy was also rescued and taken to hospital. He has since been discharged. Humberside Police said in a statement: We can confirm that a girl, aged 15, has sadly passed away following a multi-agency search to locate two missing children off the coast of Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire. Detective Inspector Nathan Reuben said: Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the family at this incredibly difficult time. We ask that they are given the time and space to process this tragic news. The family is being supported by specially trained officers. The boy who was also recovered from the water was taken to the hospital to receive medical care. He has since been discharged. We are working together with all the relevant agencies including Humberside Fire and Rescue services and the Coastguard to fully understand the circumstances of the tragic accident. The girl will not be named at the request of the family, police said. A rebellion by the Wagner mercenaries in Russia has exposed real cracks in Vladimir Putins authority, the US Secretary of State has said. Antony Blinken told CBS News talk show Face the Nation that the uprising by the private army and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was a direct challenge to Putins authority, saying it raises profound questions, it shows real cracks. Separately he told ABCs This Week: If you put this in context 16 months ago, Putin was on the doorstep of Kyiv in Ukraine, looking to take the city in a matter of days, erase the country from the map. Now, hes had to defend Moscow, Russias capital, against a mercenary of his own making. Mr Blinken said he didnt want to speculate on where the cracks emerging would lead. Military experts have said the Russian Presidents regime has suffered substantial damage as a result of the rebellion. The events showcased the degradation of Russias military reserves, the erosion of Mr Putins monopoly on his security services and the lack of experience of those conscripts defending Russian borders, the Institute for the Study of War said. While Dr Patricia Lewis, director of the International Security programme at the Chatham House think tank, said Mr Putin has been weakened by the events in the country. AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military. The head of the Russian military company Wagner is set to move to neighbouring Belarus as part of the deal made by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Wagner fighters have now left he southern city of Rostov-on-Don where their mutiny began. By Sunday afternoon, Russian troops stationed there ahead of the anticipated arrival of the Werner mercenaries on Saturdat, had also withdrawn from Moscow, and people swarmed the streets and flocked to cafes. Traffic returned to normal and roadblocks and checkpoints were removed, but Red Square remained closed to visitors. On highways leading to Moscow, crews repaired roads ripped up just hours earlier in panic. Mr Prigozhin and his troops will not be prosecuted, the Kremlin says. Wagner troops who didnt back the revolt will be offered contracts directly with the Russian military. But questions remain over the future of Wagner in general. The military contractor has deployed forces in several countries where they are believed to fight for Russian interests. The deal appears to be a hasty arrangement designed to protect Mr Prigozhin and safeguard his money and his family, Phillips OBrien, a professor of strategic studies at St. Andrews University in Scotland. A man holds the Russian national flag in front of a Wagner group military vehicle with the sign read as "Rostov" in Rostov-on-Don / AFP via Getty Images What we dont know is if he saved Wagner, Mr OBrien wrote in his online newsletter. Its not clear how many of his mercenaries are coming with him to Belarus, or how many will be forced to now sign contracts with the Russian military. Putin has not made public comments since the deal was struck to de-escalate the crisis. Russian state television on Sunday broadcast remarks from President Vladimir Putin expressing confidence in plans for Ukraine in an interview that appeared to have been recorded before Saturdays aborted revolt by the Wagner group of mercenaries. Mr Prigozhin has for months accused Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, of incompetence and of withholding ammunition from his fighters as they battled to take Bakhmut in Ukraine. Wagner, whose men in Ukraine include thousands of ex-prisoners recruited from Russian jails, has grown into an international business with mining interests and fighters in Africa and the Middle East. This month, Mr Prigozhin defied orders to sign a contract placing his troops under Defence Ministry command. He launched the rebellion on Friday after alleging that the military had killed some of his men in an air strike. The Defence Ministry denied this. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said the rebellion by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia shows no one is in control and there is chaos. U S Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the rebellion by the Wagner mercenaries has exposed real cracks in Vladimir Putins authority. He told CBS News talk show Face the Nation that the uprising by the private army and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was a direct challenge to Putins authority, saying it raises profound questions, it shows real cracks. He has told ABCs This Week: If you put this in context 16 months ago, Putin was on the doorstep of Kyiv in Ukraine, looking to take the city in a matter of days, erase the country from the map. Now, hes had to defend Moscow, Russias capital, against a mercenary of his own making. He said he didnt want to speculate on the cracks emerging would lead. Military experts have said the Russian Presidents regime has suffered substantial damage as a result of the rebellion. The events showcased the degradation of Russias military reserves, the erosion of Mr Putins monopoly on his security services and the lack of experience of those conscripts defending Russian borders, the Institute for the Study of War said. While Dr Patricia Lewis, director of the International Security programme at the Chatham House think tank, said Mr Putin has been weakened by the events in the country. The head of the Russian military company Wagner is set to move to neighbouring Belarus as part of a deal to end his rebellion. After Yevgeny Prigozhin called off his mutiny on Saturday, Wagner fighters have left he southern city of Rostov-on-Don where their mutiny began. Mr Prigozhin and his troops will not be prosecuted, the Kremlin says. The announcement on Saturday evening followed a statement from the office of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko saying that he had negotiated a deal with Mr Prigozhin after previously discussing the issue with Mr Putin. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said the rebellion by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia shows no one is in control and there is chaos. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently engaged in a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, as confirmed by the Turkish Presidential Administration's Liaison Office, Trend reports. The discussion primarily focused on the recent events unfolding in Russia, with President Erdogan expressing optimism that these developments will contribute to the establishment of a just peace in Ukraine. Additionally, the topic of Sweden's potential membership in NATO was touched upon, with Erdogan expressing Turkiye's constructive stance toward Sweden's accession. However, he emphasized that until terrorist organizations such as PKK/PYD/YPG are effectively curtailed in Sweden and appropriate amendments are made to the country's anti-terrorism legislation, any changes in this regard would be inconsequential. Collaborative efforts for a sustainable yachting event The Monaco Yacht Show hosted a webinar exclusively for exhibitors and show suppliers to discuss its Carbon Neutrality Transition Plan. The presentation emphasized the show's unwavering commitment to sustainability and its ongoing efforts to minimize its environmental impact. With the implementation of a comprehensive three-phase transition plan, the Monaco Yacht Show is dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality, actively involving all exhibitors and suppliers in the process. The presentation was hosted by the Monaco Yacht Show and the auditing agency Nadeis which supports the show in its sustainability initiatives. Several topics were addressed during the presentation: Introduction to the carbon neutrality transition plan: The Monaco Yacht Show aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025 compared to 2022. It aligns with the Principality of Monaco's low-carbon trajectory, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Methodology of Phase 1 and 2022 Results: The presentation discussed the approach and methodology used to calculate the carbon footprint of the show. Data collection at last years MYS was conducted from various stakeholders, including visitors, exhibitors, service providers, and yacht captains. Accurate data collection is crucial for improving carbon footprint estimation. Outlook on Phases 2 and 3: The Monaco Yacht Show unveiled its vision for the next stages of the transition plan. It focused on future measures and upcoming initiatives to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability. The carbon footprint calculation for the Monaco Yacht Show reveals important data in each of the three scopes. Scope 1 represents direct emissions that MYS owns or controls, including air conditioning refrigerants. The largest emission in this scope came from the refrigerants used in air conditioning machines, amounting to 48.5 tons. Scope 2 includes indirect emissions from electricity and water consumption. The emissions in this scope were relatively low, with minimal impact from water (0.1 tons of emissions) and electricity (2.4 tons) usage. Scope 3 covers other indirect emissions from activities not owned or controlled by MYS, such as exhibitors, suppliers, waste, and transportation. The emissions in this scope were significant, with notable contributions from exhibitors, visitors, waste, and service providers. Employees contribute 1 ton, which is equivalent to 190 round trips from Paris to Bordeaux by train. Visitors generate 6,608 tons, equivalent to 6,600 round trips from Paris to New York by air (extrapolated data). Waste amounts to 5 tons, equivalent to 44,000 plastic cups. Service providers contribute 39 tons, equivalent to 741 years of power consumption of a TV (extrapolated data). Exhibitors generate 77 tons, equivalent to driving 620,000 kilometres in a diesel car (extrapolated data). These results underscore the need for comprehensive efforts to reduce emissions in all scopes, promoting sustainable practices and environmental responsibility throughout the Monaco Yacht Show. The Monaco Yacht Show emphasized the importance of collaboration with partners, suppliers, and customers to reduce its carbon footprint and waste. It highlighted the benefits of calculating and managing the carbon footprint of events, such as demonstrating commitment to climate change and accessing new markets. The show's commitment to sustainability extends to both the preparation of the event and the 4-day show itself. It featured a Sustainability Hub in the 2022 edition, aiming to raise awareness and promote sustainable practices among exhibitors and visitors. Exhibitors and partners were encouraged to attend the presentation and actively participate in achieving a sustainable and environmentally friendly future for the yachting industry. 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LOUIS A woman was shot and killed Saturday in The Ville neighborhood of St. Louis. St. Louis police were called to reports of a shooting about 9:15 p.m. in the 4400 block of Kennerly Avenue. Rosalyn Anderson, 44, of St. Louis, had been privately driven to a hospital with gunshot wounds, police said. She was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police say they've identified a suspect who is now wanted in the case. Police ask anyone with information to call the homicide division directly at 314-444-5371. People who would like to remain anonymous and are interested in a reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. ST. LOUIS A stabbing that injured one woman disrupted late-night Pride celebrations in The Grove business district just after midnight Sunday. St. Louis police were called to the stabbing at about 12:10 a.m. Sunday in the 4100 block of Manchester Avenue, home to several bars and LGBTQ-friendly nightclubs crowded with patrons after the first day of St. Louis' PrideFest downtown. Police say a 22-year-old woman was lying on the ground bleeding from a stab wound to the stomach. She told officers that a 21-year-old woman she knew stabbed her during an argument. The 21-year-old woman was taken into custody. She admitted to the stabbing but told police it was done in self-defense during a fist fight, St. Louis police said. The victim was taken to a hospital where she was stable and listed in serious condition. ST. LOUIS The chair of the citys first Reparations Commission vows not only to listen to the public, but to hold elected officials accountable for acting on its recommendations. This commission is very committed to this project, Kayla Reed, commission chair, said Saturday after the panels third public meeting. We are going to advocate for the recommendations. After gathering feedback, and doing their own research, Reed said the commission will write a full report with recommendations on how to best make up for generations of racial segregation in St. Louis. In March 2024, the report will be submitted to the mayor and the Board of Aldermen. No monies have been designated for reparations, nor an outline of how any would be handled or who would qualify. But there is political will to address the controversial topic in some fashion: Tishaura Jones, the citys first Black female mayor, created the commission in December by executive order. In March, nine commissioners were appointed, eight of them Black. Its not about revenge, its about repair, Vernon Mitchell Jr., the mayors chief equity and inclusion officer, said in an interview Saturday. About 30 people attended the meeting, held at New Northside Conference Center, 5939 Goodfellow Boulevard. One of them was white. Others watched online. The meeting featured a presentation by Commissioner Gwen Moore, a historian. She explored how a variety of public policy decisions reinforced segregation and wealth gaps between Blacks and whites. The roots of inequality, of course, go back to slavery, she told the crowd. This was an active center of the slave trade. Wealth was built on the trafficking of Black bodies in this city. Other than a few exceptions, she said, former slaves werent given anything after the Civil War. They didnt have the means to take full advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862, already underway, which provided 160 acres of federal land to anyone who agreed to farm it and pay filing fees. Instead of going West, many southern Blacks fled to industrial cities like St. Louis, where restrictive covenants and redlining limited where they could rent or buy property. Until 1968, it was perfectly legal to tell a Black person you cannot buy a house, she said. And, she said, Blacks didnt have the same access to credit as whites, even from the GI Bill that helped pull many families out of poverty following World War II with assistance for college, housing and unemployment. She said the Housing Act of 1949 was supposed to help renew the urban core, yet destroyed some Black neighborhoods and led people to segregated public housing projects. The Highway Act of 1956 also erased some communities of color, Moore said, because they were considered slums. Her presentation ended in 2023, where the fruits of unfair housing and land practices are seen in the disparities in home ownership and generational family wealth. We have to make up for these historic wrongs that were done to us, she said. Nine people from the audience also came to the podium to make recommendations. One man from the Hamilton Heights neighborhood said the time has come to make immediate cash payments to people who trace their lineage to the time of slavery. A man from Holly Hills suggested a sustainable trust fund to help people secure good housing, education and jobs. Another, noting health disparities in Black communities, called for free medical operations. Safiyah Chauvin, who said her great-great-grandparents were enslaved by St. Louis University and the Jesuits, asked that a fuller history be taught in schools. Effort to document Jesuit slaveholding in St. Louis quietly downsized The Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation project is being folded into a broader effort thats more unified and eliminates overlap. All the children should be learning their history so they wont think that their people are less-than because we dont have as much material things, she said. They should know the reasons why. The next public Reparations Commission meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. July 26 at New Northside Conference Center. WASHINGTON Ammar Rashed has a stack of letters from U.S. troops attesting to his work during some of the most dangerous days of the Iraq War. But six years after he applied to immigrate to the United States under a program for interpreters who helped America, he is still waiting. You dont have to keep me and my family suffering for, for years waiting, Rashed said during a Skype interview from Jordan, where he lives. Its really frustrating. Rashed is among thousands of Iraqis, many of whom risked their lives by working closely with Americans during the war and its aftermath, trying to enter the U.S. An estimated 164,000 Iraqis already have found homes in America. U.S. officials cite multiple reasons for the delays, including an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, a hack of a refugee database, the COVID-19 pandemic and cuts to the refugee program under then-President Donald Trump. Sometimes the process is slowed as applicants struggle to prove their ties to the U.S. Mohammed Subhi Hashim al-Shafeay, his wife and four children have been in limbo for a dozen years while he tries to document his work for a U.S. security contractor at the Iraqi Justice Ministry. This is not a life. We want a future for our children, he said. The U.S. invasion in 2003 unleashed a vicious sectarian war that engulfed Iraq. Then militants seized large swaths of territory. Iraqi forces reclaimed their country in intense fighting, but huge challenges remain, including rampant corruption, a lack of basic services, continued violence and more than 1 million people still internally displaced. Between the invasion and this year, as many as 300,000 Iraqis were killed along with more than 8,000 U.S. military, contractors and civilians. Recognizing the role Iraqis played in helping the U.S., as well as the violence they faced for it, the U.S. established ways to help them emigrate. According to the State Department, 106,000 have applied for a program, known as direct access program, intended for people affiliated with the U.S. such as those who worked for an American nongovernmental organization. There are also about 100 Iraqis who applied for a more narrow special immigrant visa program for Iraqis who worked directly for or on behalf of the U.S. government. That program stopped accepting applications in 2014, but applications already in the pipeline are still being processed. Rashed applied under yet another route, which allows for 50 visas a year for interpreters who have a recommendation from a general. Almost since the beginning there have been complaints the process to come to America takes too long. Multiple administrations have considered making the programs more efficient without compromising security. U.S. officials have noted steps such as added staff to speed up visa processing. The embassy in Iraq's capital just reopened limited consular services last fall after closing for three years following a 2019 attack. The government also noted the toll that the pandemic took on its visa processing around the world and the shifting of federal resources to the crisis in Ukraine. The U.S. refugee program, which endured historic cuts under Trump, only in recent months has started to show signs of recovery. In January 2021, the U.S. suspended the direct access program after three people were charged with stealing information from a U.S. refugee database to fraudulently help Iraqis trying to emigrate. The program was not restarted until March of last year. At the time it reopened, the U.S. said it was committed to ensuring those who sacrificed their own safety for our collective interests have an opportunity to seek refuge in the United States. For the Iraqis still waiting, it can be confusing. Al-Shafeay said he was hired by a U.S. contractor to work as a bodyguard for the Iraqi Justice Ministry from 2003 to 2006, when he left Iraq. He said he has been told the holdup is confirming his employment, but it is challenging so many years later and from afar. He and his wife are worried about their children. Jordan has played host to tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees over the years, but those refugees face challenges getting authorization to work, especially in major professions, and are essentially barred from becoming citizens. Al-Shafeay questions what future his family has there. The family relies on handouts from aid groups. Al-Shafeay said the family is scared to ever go back to Iraq because a former in-law, who is now a member of an Iranian-backed militia, has repeatedly threatened them. His oldest child is a high school senior but barely leaves his room. He says there is no point in studying because his parents cannot afford the university fees in Jordan. Rashed spent most of his life in Iraq. Now, it is too dangerous for him there due to the work he did for the American military. Rashed is both a Jordanian and Iraqi citizen, but he does not see a future for his children in Jordan. I need them to live better with a better nation and a better future, he said. Where refugees to the US come from and why Where refugees to the US come from and why #20. Central African Republic #19. Burundi #18. Honduras #17. Iran #16. Russia #15. Colombia #14. Pakistan #13. Ethiopia #12. Moldova #11. Somalia #10. Guatemala #9. Iraq #8. Bhutan #7. El Salvador #6. Eritrea #5. Afghanistan #4. Syria #3. Ukraine #2. Myanmar #1. Democratic Republic of the Congo Over the last three years, the 27 member states of the EU (European Union) have seen an increase in Islamic terrorist activity. Europol (the European Union international police organization) tracks this activity and advises EU members on how to deal with it. In 2022 380 people were arrested on suspicion of terror-related activity. Most (266) were suspected of Islamic terrorist activity. Most of those arrested were accused of belonging to an Islamic terrorist organization. This usually involved creating and distributing pro-Islamic terrorist propaganda, planning attacks or financing Islamic terrorist activity. In 2021 there were 260 arrests, only six less than in 2022. There were 254 arrests in 2020. Most of the 2022 arrests took place in countries with Moslem refugees. These included France with 93 arrests, Spain with 46, Germany with 30 and Belgium with 22. Most (13) of the sixteen attacks carried out in 2022 were by local leftist or anarchist groups. Only two attacks were carried out by Islamic terrorists and one by right-wing extremists. Most of the attacks occurred in Italy (eight) and Greece (three) and were directed at law-enforcement personnel. The EU has long had problems with a small percentage of their Moslem minorities turning to violence or openly supporting violence. Europol has tracked this activity for years and been active in detecting and discouraging it. For example, in 2019 ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) warned members and supporters to stop using the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram because it was believed that the Telegram operator was cooperating with Europol to shut down Islamic terrorist use of Telegram. It was no secret that intelligence agencies worldwide had been hard at work trying to shut down Telegram or crack its security sufficiently to go after users those nations want gone (arrested or just dead). What did happen was that Europol had not deciphered (cracked) Telegram encryption. Instead, since mid-2018,. Telegram and Europol cooperated to discover and remove ISIL users and their messages from Telegram by analyzing user patterns to determine who was ISIL and who was not. Europol has a lot of data on ISIL use of the Internet and Telegram could use that to develop algorithms that would identify ISIL members and purge them from the Telegram user community. At the time Telegram had about 200 million regular users and 5,000 ISIL related accounts were shut down. If this drives all ISIL operatives and fans off Telegram, the loss will be minor (under 100,000 users) and worth it because Telegram wants to remain on good terms with the EU. There are practical as well as moral reasons for this. Telegram was founded by a Russian entrepreneur (Pavel Durov) after he fled Russia in 2013 because of disagreements with the government over censorship and corruption. Durov noted that Russia was returning to its police state ways and disagreements with the government often turned out badly for such enemies of the state, generally them disappearing or dying unexpectedly. If a business was involved it would often be outlawed, driven into bankruptcy or seized by the state. Durov left because he could. He had several hundred million dollars in Swiss bank accounts, obtained citizenship in St Kitts (a tiny Caribbean island state) and became a citizen of the world. Durov and Telegram survived by not antagonizing too many nations at once. Telegram cannot exist unless most of its users trust the security methods (encryption and much more) Telegram employs to keep messages secret from everyone but the sender and recipient. At the same time Telegram is a legitimate business that needs to be based somewhere and the EU seemed suitable. There was one problem, police had discovered that more and more criminals were using Telegram to communicate and that this form of secure (secret) communication had become a key tool for Islamic terrorists to not only avoid detection and arrest, but also to spread their messages via the Internet along with recruiting and fundraising. Since 2016 Telegram has come under considerable pressure from nations like Russia, Iran, North Korea and China for enabling reformers in those nations to freely communicate using Telegram, but all nations are after Telegram about how Islamic terrorists and criminals using Telegram. Durov does not want to be put in a position where he has to decide who is an international outlaw and who isnt. Agreeing that ISIL is an international menace is easy, and many international criminal organizations involved with drugs, prostitution and general bad behavior would also qualify. Durov doesnt have to compromise his overall security (encryption and database security) to assist operations against international threats. The recent action against ISIL merely identified accounts used by ISIL and shut them down. The Telegram messaging security is designed to be difficult to decrypt and intercept, and Druov has to keep it that way and convince most of his users that he is doing so in order to stay in business. Telegram has some competitors but so far none have matched Telegram in overall capabilities and security. Most intelligence agencies dont want Telegram to go away but they do want some cooperation in at least blocking generally recognized threat organizations. After all the Western nations support many more Telegram users who are seeking to reform or overthrow their oppressive (by Western standards) governments. Telegram is also used by personnel working with most espionage agencies so the loss of Telegram would be widely felt. Some intelligence agencies may have cracked Telegram security and, if they have, would not publicize the fact or exploit it in a way that would reveal their decryption success. Better to just read what the enemy was talking about and make the most of that. Telegram has refused to cooperate with any nation in that department. One area of Telegram vulnerability that may have contributed to the recent ISIL crackdown was a Telegram effort to establish a cryptocurrency so that people could securely send money to each other without governments knowing. This system consisted of the TON blockchain and Gram cryptocurrency. This system could be very lucrative and Telegram had invested a lot in this operation. Yet Durov was experiencing some serious resistance from American and European financial system regulators. Whatever the case, Telegram is operating in a dangerous environment because it cannot survive as a legitimate, and legally profitable, organization unless it is tolerated by some major nations and trusted by most of its users. Telegram has been profitable for the last three years. Meanwhile, several nations, especially China, Russia and Iran are very interested in simply putting Telegram out of business. China has tried DDOS attacks to shut Telegram down but that did not work. Nor have efforts to hack into Telegram networks. As long as Telegram exists it is a very visible threat to dictatorships, especially China, Russia and Iran. These three nations have been trying to shut down, or at least shut out, Telegram for several years now. In 2018 Iranians by the thousands protested the government ban on the using Telegram in Iran. At the time it was believed that about half of all Iranian Internet users regularly employed Telegram to communicate. Telegram refused to provide any government with a way to read encrypted Telegram messages. The government issued the ban order in April and within a week most Iranian Telegram users had found ways to get around the ban and continue using Telegram. User resourcefulness makes it difficult, but not impossible, for government actions to make a temporary difference. Telegram had been temporarily blocked in Iran during late 2017 and early 2018 to help suppress nationwide protests against the government. But the temporary ban brought forth complaints from many senior government officials while the permanent ban has a lot of opposition among them too. These officials, like their Arab counterparts throughout the region, recognize that Iranians are very resourceful and those talents can be used against Iranians as well as non-Iranians. Around the same time, Russia ordered hundreds of IP addresses blocked, believing that would prevent Russians from using Telegram. It did, but not for everyone. An unexpected side effect of this censorship campaign was to disrupt a lot of vital (for many Russian users) Google services. Iran and Russia are not the only nations seeking to control Telegram and, in some cases, those two nations are after Telegram for the same reason the rest of the world is; to shut down Islamic terrorist use of it. China was more discreet in its operations against Telegram but equally ineffective. Now it appears the major threat to Telegram are financial regulators in America and Europe proposing to block Telegrams new cryptocurrency operation. That threat puts American and European intelligence and law enforcement agencies in a stronger bargaining position. For Telegram, the problem is not making a deal that would risk putting them out of business or making a deal but still going out of business if customers no longer trust Telegram. South Africa: Fort Hare council called to ensure good governance Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has called on the Fort Hare University Council to ensure that management upholds the principles of good governance and takes immediate steps to correct and hold accountable any management members and administration for breach of policy. Our universities are given powers of self-governance by the Higher Education Act (1997), which designates powers to duly constituted councils held responsible for overseeing accountability of the daily administration of universities. The statutes regulating each universitys affairs are approved by the Minister and all universities through their councils are bound to account to government for how they carry out their mandates, Nzimande said. Nzimande was addressing media at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) in East London, Eastern Cape, on Friday following a meeting with the council of the university. The follow-up meeting looked at all the issues that were previously raised by stakeholders during the Ministers visit in January 2023. The university was placed under administration in April this year following the dissolution and resignation of the council. Nzimande reported that the mandate of the UFH Administrator was confined to the role, powers, functions and duties related to the governance of the institution for an initial period of 12 months, which was extended for a further six months, with the appointment of a second Administrator. He said the close-out reports of the two Administrators, Professor Loyiso Nongxa and Nhlanganiso Dladla, were submitted on 29 June 2020 and 13 May 2021, respectively. Having taken note of the findings and recommendations of the independent assessment, Nzimande said the first Administrator developed a Consolidated Turnaround and Performance Improvement Plan (CTPIP) for the university, which was structured around a number of priority project areas intended to respond to concerns diagnosed and was envisaged to require around three years to register a meaningful impact at the university. As part of the post-administration arrangements, as the Minister, in terms of section 49I (1) of the Higher Education Act, I issued a directive to the council, that the university must report to me biannually through the mid-term and annual report on the implementation of the CTPIP and other measures which arise from the findings of the Independent Assessor. I must indicate today that significant progress has been registered in this regard. Furthermore, the new strategic plan (2022-26) was approved by council in 2021, and sets out seven institutional goals, Nzimande said. While commending positive steps taken by the university management to address some of the issues raised in the assessor report, the Minister noted that many outstanding issues remain on the agenda, and new issues have since emerged. Reporting on the outcomes of the meeting with the council, Nzimande said the meeting agreed that the university will continue to play its oversight role in the management of the university. We also agreed that Council must also assume a posture that embraces and promotes the principle of inclusive stakeholder cooperative governance, as this is the only sustainable pathway for Fort Hare's long-term stability and success. "There is no basis for an authoritarian road to the salvation of Fort Hare. An inclusive stakeholder model must be the basis for a sustainable future That principle lies at the core of the higher education system, Nzimande said. During his visit at the university in January, Nzimande reported that the department would work together with the sector stakeholders, including former administrators, researchers, university registrars, representatives from the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and Universities South Africa (USAf) to develop the Guidelines for Good Governance Practice and Governance Indicators for Councils of South African Public Higher Education Institutions in order to develop governance indicators and monitor governance practices of the countrys universities. I must say that we are yet to realise the full implementation of these guidelines by some of our institutions' councils because we still experience some governance challenges in some of our institutions, Nzimande said. Nzimande announced that the department is currently working on a project aimed at supporting and strengthening institutional governance at universities. He said the first phase of the project comprises research on higher education governance, needs analysis surveys and review of the available literature. The Minister said the outcomes of the needs analysis report will ultimately inform the interventions that must support and strengthen institutional governance at universities. These include the review of the Higher Education Act; development of resources on university governance, and development of materials that may be used or adapted by facilitators/trainers appointed by institutions for induction or training sessions of members of council and the relevant stakeholders. In ensuring the continuous management and monitoring of our institutions, we are working on the establishment of a governance unit in our department. We are also considering the establishment of an Ombud Office to deal with issues of institutional governance, Nzimande said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-06-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Experts recently called for the ramping up of funds and more supportive policies to enable children who have moved to cities with their migrant worker parents to access equitable, high-quality, suitable education near their temporary homes in the urban areas. The number of migrant workers rose to 385 million in 2021, a year-on-year rise of 9 million people, according to a report released in February by the New Citizen Program, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the welfare of migrant children. Parents seeking better-paid opportunities as migrant workers in urban areas either have to leave their children in the countryside or bring them along to resettle in an unfamiliar place. In 2020, the number of children from the migrant workforce was about 130 million, accounting for over 40 percent of all minors, the report said. Among them, the number of migrant children who moved with their parents to cities or towns was estimated to have reached nearly 71.1 million in 2020, meaning one in every four children in the country belonged to this group, the report said, adding that they still experienced difficulties accessing basic public services. For example, in 2021, only 61.6 percent of migrant children were enrolled in government-subsidized public kindergartens, which was 26 percentage points lower than the national average. Moreover, nearly 50 percent of China's migrant children have to be separated from their parents during the nine-year period of free, compulsory education from ages 6 to 15. Zhang Shouli, chairman of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said that thanks to consistent central and local government investment in the education sector since the late 1970s, nearly all school-age children can access free compulsory education. An upcoming key task is to address the education problems of migrant and "left-behind" children as the cross-regional movement of the labor force intensifies with the development of the economy and society, he said. Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics, Zhang said that about 41 percent of children age 17 and younger live in cities and towns, and their household residence known as hukou is registered locally, which provides them with access to relatively higher-quality education services. However, about 35 percent of this demographic have rural household registration and live in the countryside, meaning that they have access to stable but less-advanced education services. "A further 24 percent are migrant children who face a series of hurdles in school enrollment," Zhang said. "Some migrant parents working and living in urban areas have decided to bring their children along with them and have to send their kids to cheaper private schools." In a signed article published in Sixth Tone, an online English-language media portal, Wei Jiayu, director-general of the New Citizen Program, said, "It is important to raise the number of public school slots and guarantee a certain number of affordable, private schools close to residential areas where migrant workers and their families tend to gather." In addition, he said child care services and extracurricular activities should also be stepped up for migrant children living in cities. He added that in the long run, the rule that links school placement qualification with a child's household residence permit, as stated in the Compulsory Education Law, should be adjusted to enable migrant children to enroll at schools near their current residence in towns and cities. Lu Ming, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Antai College of Economics and Management, suggested that the children of migrant workers should be eligible for enrollment at schools near their parents' workplace or residence. In March, during this year's two sessions the annual meetings of the National People's Congress, the top legislative body, and the CPPCC, the top advisory body he said that more than 50 percent of China's migrant population has stable jobs and homes in towns and cities. "A large number of migrant children who stay with their parents in urban areas have to move back to their rural hometowns due to restrictions in school enrollment and a lack of qualifications to take official academic tests," he said. Lu said that raising the educational standards of the young migrant population could help drive China's economic development. He added that the central and local governments should dedicate more funds and resources to make sure that the primary and middle school education system can cover all migrant children. A new variation to the line: the Master Control Chronograph Calendar in pink gold with a black dial Epitomising the Maisons commitment to watchmaking excellence, the Master Control takes its name from Jaeger-LeCoultres 1,000-Hour Control Certification and was the first watch collection to undergo this rigorous testing protocol not just of the movement, but of the cased-up watch which has since become standard for all Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces. A Refined and Contemporary Aesthetic Inspired by the Maisons Rich Heritage With its harmonious proportions and restrained styling, the Master Control collection draws inspiration from the Maisons emblematic round watches of the 1950s and 60s, such as the Memovox and Futurematic. The new Master Control Chronograph Calendar with black dial subtly recalls the coloured watch dials of the mid-20th century, reinterpreting their vintage appeal in confidently contemporary style. Anchored by the clean, modern lines of the case, myriad refined details highlight the chronograph and calendar displays. The dial is framed by a pulsometric scale marked around the flange (a traditional indication originally developed for physicians to measure patients heart rates, and equally relevant for todays lifestyles), which, in keeping with tradition, is marked in red. Creating a dynamic contrast with the black dial, the red is repeated on each of the three sub-dials and in the day and month windows, drawing the eye to this valuable information. The indications for the two complications a complete calendar and a bi-compax chronograph are balanced in a dial layout that is timeless, straightforward and intuitive to read, despite the complexity of the information shown. The 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 oclock is balanced by the running seconds sub-dial at 9 oclock, while the day and month windows in the upper section of the dial are balanced by the circular moon-phase and date indicator at 6 oclock. The finely textured azurage finish on these three sub-dials, and the rich blue of the moon-phase indicator, create a subtle and pleasing contrast to the vibrant black of the sunray-brushed dial, which captures and reflects the light with movements of the wearers wrist. Legibility is further enhanced by the contrast between the warm pink gold tone of the Dauphine hands and applied trapezoidal indexes. Elegant Proportions for the Modern Sophisticate With its 40-millimetre diameter, outwardly sloping bezel and dynamically curved lugs, the pink gold Master Control case exudes a relaxed and understated elegance. Satin-brushing on the case-sides and lugs is complemented by the polished bezel, crowns and lug bevels. Refined details abound, including bas-relief engravings on the back bezel and a sapphire crystal case-back to reveal the finely finished and decorated movements. Enhancing this timeless style, rectangular chronograph pushers add a purposeful, modern air to the well-proportioned 12.05mm thick case. A black alligator leather strap adds allure to the pink gold case, honouring a classically elegant aesthetic that has been appreciated for many generations. Technical Complexity Expressed Through Mechanical Elegance A fine example of Jaeger-LeCoultres technically sophisticated and mechanically elegant watchmaking, the Master Control Chronograph Calendar is powered by the automatic Calibre 759. An integrated chronograph movement with a 65-hour power reserve, it features a column-wheel chronograph mechanism with vertical clutch, allied to a triple calendar with moon-phase display. The fine finishing, visible through the sapphire crystal case-back, includes Cotes de Geneve, blued screws, and Jaeger-LeCoultres emblematic open-worked gold rotor bearing the JL motif. Like all of the Maisons calibres, the movement was entirely designed, produced, finished and assembled within its own Manufacture at Le Sentier, in Switzerlands Vallee de Joux. XI'AN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The 6th Forum for World STM Journals, co-organized by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and People's Government of Shaanxi Province, opened in Xi'an on June 19. Themed "Jointly Building an Open and Innovative Community", the forum focused on STM journal development within the context of open science, inviting academic institutions, publishing organizations, and more from at home and abroad to discuss open science, publishing model transformations, big data and AI, and branding of STM journal. At the opening ceremony, He Junke, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of CAST, emphasized the importance of open science in knowledge dissemination and scientific discovery in a video speech. He called for consensus-building in collaboration to advance open science development, creating a more open and innovative community. In another video speech, Chang Jin, Vice-President of CAS, stressed CAS's status as an important STM journal publisher with the most published papers in China; and CAS planned to work with all sectors to promote open science. Dai Binbin, Vice-Governor of the Shaanxi Government, attended the ceremony. His speech enunciated Shannxi's willingness to invest its rich cultural and scientific resources in more collaborations with the global community. Zhang Guihua, Member of the Party Group and Secretary of the Secretariat of CAST, presided over the opening ceremony. Guests from at home and overseas attended the forum, including CAS Academicians Yang Wei, Xu Zongben, and He Manchao; CAE Academicians Tian Wei, Zhang Pingxiang, and Jiang Jiandong; President of Xi'an Jiaotong University Wang Shuguo, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee Xiang Botao, CEO of the STM Association Caroline Sutton, Publishing Director of the Cambridge University Press STM Journals Caroline Black, Publisher of the Science Family of Journals Bill Moran, Global Senior Vice-President of Elsevier Peter Harrison, and Global Senior Vice-President of John Wiley & Sons Inc. Philip Kisray. Chairman of China Editology Society of Science Periodicals, Academician Tian Wei, along with Secretary of Party Committee and President of Northwest Institute for Non-ferrous Metal Research, Academician Zhang Pingxiang, co-hosted the Keynote Report session. Yang Wei, Peter Harrison, Bill Moran, Xu Zongben, Xiang Botao, and Philip Kisray shared cases on the global trends of open science, technology and model innovation in publishing, open access, and structural construction of academic resources. Bill Moran, in his interview, highlighted the importance of creating open data platforms and repositories in China's next stage of STM journal development, which needs brand- and trust-building to elevate to the global level. He complimented the forum for its focus on sustainability, equality, and inclusion while looking forward to a future where the community can have interactive dialogues. In an interview with Peter Harrison, he explained Elsevier's AI and new technologies powered Journal Finder and other tools for content and publication analytics to assist scholarly publishing, overseen by Elsevier's principles for responsible use of AI. He felt AI can provide researchers with new insights, increase efficiency in publication workflow, and improve overall knowledge dissemination globally. In the Summit Dialogue session, Ms. Caroline Sutton, Ms. Caroline Black, Academician He Manchao, and Chief Editor Peng Bin shared their views on the impact of open science, open access, and fair access, predatory journals and research integrity issues, and the policy system construction for open science. Chief Editor of Advanced Photonics, Professor Yuan Xiaocong, moderated the session. The opening ceremony awarded the 2022 Outstanding Editor Certificate of China STM Journals Excellence Action Plan. The SciEngine 3.0 platform built by China Science Publishing & Media Group Ltd. and the full-text database of Chinese Medical Journals built by the Chinese Medical Association Publishing House were released. The exhibition on Benchmarking World-Class and Pursuing Excellence: Chinese STM Journals in Advancing was also held to showcase the latest progress in China's effort to create first-tier STM journals. The forum also included four sub-forums on The Growth Tao of World-Class STM Journals, Building Basic Conditions for Open Science, Diversification of Editorial Roles and Cultivation of Young Talents, and Application of AI in Publishing. An academic salon on High-Quality Development of STM Journals in the Five North-western Provinces was also held. They gave in-depth exchanges on trending issues in the industry, such as high-quality assurance, open science, editorial talent training, and AI application. The forum was supported by the China Periodicals Association and 13 other domestic organizations, as well as the STM Association and nine other international institutions. Representatives from domestic and international STM journal publishers, along with officials from the Publicity Department, Ministry of Education, CAS, and more involved in the Excellence Action Plan, attended the forum, with over 500 delegates in total. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230624060547/en/ Forum for World STM Journals Lian Ke http://www.world-stm-journals-forum.com/ 010-68581259 Source: Forum for World STM Journals Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Hodgson Law Offices (866-756-5661), a law firm specializing in family law cases, has recently announced its attorney services tailored specifically for couples in Spokane County who are going through divorce proceedings. Go to https://hodgsonlawoffices.com/ Hodgson Law Offices, which specializes in cases pertaining to family law, has announced its attorney services for Spokane County couples going through divorce proceedings. Offering legal counsel, negotiation, and court representation, the firm is committed to securing fair outcomes in all divorce matters, including alimony, child support, and custody. More details can be found at https://hodgsonlawoffices.com/ While Washington is a no-fault state, lead attorney Mark D. Hodgson explains that even in uncontested divorces, issues may arise pertaining to property division and custody rights, which require professional legal advice and assistance. As such, Hodgson Law Offices now offers its legal expertise and guidance throughout the entire process - from petitioning the court for a dissolution of marriage to settling all contested aspects of the divorce. Hodgson Law Offices appreciates that divorce takes an emotional and financial toll on the client and members of their family. As such, they maintain open and effective communication and strive to provide compassionate support, strategic counsel, and vigorous advocacy to achieve favorable outcomes. The firm offers legal representation for all manner of divorces - from uncontested to high-conflict. In particular, the firm recognizes the challenges and ramifications of divorce proceedings with minor or major disagreements and seeks to negotiate and settle matters in a timely and satisfactory manner. Its attorneys have years of experience handling all aspects that arise in contested divorces; this includes spousal support, child custody, and property division. While Hodgson Law Offices will strive to achieve a settlement through negotiations, in such cases where a settlement cannot be reached, its experienced trial attorneys will represent the client in court of law. At Hodgson Law Offices, we seek to provide insightful legal advice and representation throughout the entire divorce process, said Mark D. Hodgson. From initial consultations to negotiations and, if necessary, courtroom advocacy, our attorneys guide clients through each stage, ensuring their legal rights and interests are protected. About Hodgson Law Offices Led by Mark D. Hodgson, Hodgson Law Offices provides legal representation in alimony, child support, custody, and divorce cases, among others. Its team of attorneys has over 20 years of experience and serves Spokane, Lincoln, Stevens, and Adams counties. Interested parties can learn more about the firm at https://www.theattorneypost.com/mark-hodgson-experienced-family-law-attorney-providing-personalized-vigorous-advocacy-in-spokane/ Contact Info: Name: Mark Hodgson Email: Send Email Organization: Hodgson Law Office Address: 1321 West Broadway Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99201, United States Phone: +1-509-327-1415 Website: https://HodgsonLawOffices.com Release ID: 89100629 If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours. CANNES, France , June 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2019, there has been a significant acceleration in the digitization process of the Chinese consumer market, driven by changing consumer behaviors and market dynamics. This transformative shift has further intensified in recent times, creating new opportunities and challenges for brands to adapt and thrive in the digital landscape. Reconnecting after three years, Tencent Marketing Solution made a remarkable presence at the 70th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, where Zeus Jiang , Corporate Vice President of Tencent, joined industry leaders in a discussion on Long-termism in Digital Marketing on June 20th . The discussion emphasized the significance of digitization and scientific marketing for sustainable brand operations. Kiki Fan , General Manager of Industrial Sales Operations at Tencent Marketing Solution also delivered a keynote speech entitled " China's Digital Market: A Growth Roadmap" on June 21st , where she shared invaluable insights from years of marketing expertise in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, Tencent Marketing Insights (TMI) collaborated with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to unveil the "A New Chapter to Digital Future - 2023 Report on Digital Trends of China's Luxury Market," providing profound analysis and predictions. Tencent Marketing Solution also utilized the occasion to enhance its Joint Business Partnership (JBP), reinforcing its collaborative efforts with partners as part of its ongoing commitment. Industry Leaders Explore Long-Termism in Digital Marketing: Insights from Zeus Jiang and Prominent Advertising Figures On June 20th , Zeus Jiang , Corporate Vice President of Tencent, participated in a discussion organized by "Modern Advertising" media alongside Zhang Guohua , the president of the China Advertising Association and the global vice chairman of the International Advertising Association, and Dai Lijuan , the editor-in-chief of "Modern Advertising." The discussion centered around the concept Long-Termism in Digital Marketing. Zeus Jiang said: "On the one hand, brands should focus on the digitization of commodity assets and crowd assets, leveraging technology to enhance the recommendation efficiency and optimization capabilities of advertisements. On the other hand, brands can utilize scientific marketing to fully leverage Tencent's multi-traffic scenarios, effectively linking product characteristics and desired outcomes to achieve sustainable long-term operations." Social Commerce Innovation Seamlessly Connecting with Consumers through Weixin Brand .com 2.0 "Weixin has become brand zone areas to distribute useful information to their customers. Through friend recommendations, article browsing, video watching, information searching, product purchases, and loyalty programs, we are redefining the new online customer journey for our clients, and forging a deeper connection with their customers," explained Kiki Fan , General Manager of Industrial Sales Operations at Tencent Marketing Solution. Today, consumers increasingly seek brands that align with their values, making effective communication between brands and consumers crucial. Weixin Mini-Programs have emerged as a space for explosive growth and the evolution of Brand.com 2.0. Data reveals that in 2022, Weixin Mini-Program sales reached trillions RMB of transactions, experiencing a remarkable 460% increase since 2019. Global brands have established official flagship stores and customer service centers within Weixin Mini-Program, seamlessly integrating social elements with Tencent's robust service ecosystem. This innovative approach represents a new paradigm in social commerce, paving the way for customized brand management in China's digital era. To support brands in their marketing endeavors, Tencent Marketing Solution has introduced an intelligent tool called RACE. Leveraging on various data from its diverse platforms, RACE provides valuable insights into science-driven marketing strategies. These insights guide brands in optimizing ad placement and maximizing marketing efficiency. Resilient Growth in China's Luxury Market Spending Digital Innovation Brand Equity and Sustainable Growth To help luxury brands harness the potential of the Chinese market, Tencent Marketing Solution organized a press conference themed "A New Chapter to Digital Future" on June 20 , unveiling the 2023 Tencent Luxury Report and sharing valuable insights and effective strategies for luxury brand marketing. In today's ever-changing digital landscape, where consumer-brand interactions are increasingly digitalized, it's crucial for brands to elevate their digital marketing strategies. "Over the past three years, Weixin has introduced a lot of innovative advertising formats to improve the impact to our customers. Moreover, our intelligent data tools enable us to assist our clients in measuring the extent of this impact and other relevant metrics," said Ms. Fan . The report points out that the Chinese market has fully recovered and demonstrated strong resilience. It is estimated that luxury spending by Chinese consumers is expected to grow by 15-20% and reach 550 billion RMB by the end of 2023. Veronique Yang , BCG Managing Director and Senior Partner, said, 'The underlying forces behind luxury spending are the upper middle class and affluent consumers in China . We find that despite the ups and downs in the macro environment, this group of consumers remains relatively intact, and the luxury experiences in China are almost on par with the international markets right now.' The thriving digital ecosystem is one of the key drivers behind the strong performance of the Chinese market. Lin An, BCG Managing Director and Partner, emphasizes the importance of understanding the key consumer journeys of each brand and the role of diverse touchpoints. He said: "We need to know exactly what the key consumer journeys of our brand are, what the role of all the diverse and complicated touchpoints is, how to allocate resources, and what kind of products and services to provide. We believe this group of consumers is the future driver of growth in China , and capturing and activating them will pose challenging questions for brands." Regarding the catering of consumer demand for digitalization and the business needs of brands, Dan Shu , Head of the Luxury and Beauty Goods Industry at Tencent Marketing Solution, emphasized the importance of focusing on brand assets for the long-term development of luxury brands. He said: "We realize that we should focus more on brand asset over just sales volume by promotions, so we are doing the sustainable work to formulate sustainable strategies for luxury brands within the Tencent ecosystem." To establish brand equity, various approaches such as festival marketing, event marketing, and youth activation are adopted. Brands can leverage Weixin Mini-Program, paid traffic, Weixin Search, and travel retail to drive business growth. George Xie , Head of the Luxury and Beauty Goods Industry Planning at Tencent Marketing Solution, highlighted the impact of the digital wave on luxury consumption. He said: "Under the development of digital wave, the transformed online channels, evolving consumer behaviors and innovative digital marketing strategies have jointly shaped a new luxury consumption experience." Global Joint Business Partnership Upgrade Empowering Brands for Sustainable Growth During the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Tencent Marketing Solution engaged in extensive discussions with its four strategic partners, GroupM, Publicis Groupe, Omnicom Media Group, and Dentsu, resulting in an upgrade to its global Joint Business Partnership. Ethen Zhang , Deputy General Manager of Channel Sales Department, Tencent Marketing Solution, emphasized the collaborative potential. "With Tencent 's product ecosystem and our partners' global client network, we have the opportunity to deepen our collaboration in areas such as integrated marketing strategies, content partnerships, leveraging marketing science and advertising technology, and more. Together, we'll deliver sustainable solutions that truly make a difference for our esteemed clients." View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-unignorable-chinese-market-unlocking-weixins-potential-for-business-growth-301862596.html SOURCE Tencent By David Morgan and Hannah Lang WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The unprecedented challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin by Wagner fighters has exposed fresh "cracks" in the strength of his leadership that may take weeks or months to play out, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday. Blinken and members of the U.S. Congress said in a series of television interviews that Saturday's turmoil in Russia has weakened Putin in ways that could aid Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces within its territory while benefiting Russia's neighbors, including Poland and the Baltic states. "I don't think we've seen the final act," Blinken said on ABC's "This Week" program after an aborted mutiny by forces led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. Blinken said tensions that sparked the action had been growing for months and added the threat of internal turmoil could affect Moscow's military capabilities in Ukraine. "We've seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade. It is too soon to tell exactly where they go, and when they get there. But certainly, we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead," Blinken told NBC's "Meet the Press" program. Blinken described the turmoil as an "internal matter" for Putin. "Our focus is resolutely and relentlessly on Ukraine, making sure that it has what it needs to defend itself and to take back territory that Russia seized," Blinken said. U.S. officials expect to learn more soon about the events that unfolded in Russia, including details of the deal with Prigozhin mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that led Wagner fighters to return to their bases. "It may be that Putin didn't want to debase himself to the level of negotiating directly with Prigozhin," Blinken said. 'DISTRACTED AND DIVIDED' Forces led by Prigozhin, a former Putin ally and ex-convict, have fought the bloodiest of battles in Russia's 16-month war in Ukraine. "To the extent that the Russians are distracted and divided it may make their prosecution of aggression against Ukraine more difficult," Blinken told ABC. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner said Putin's future actions in Ukraine could be inhibited by Prigozhin's assertion that the rationale for invading Ukraine was based on lies. "Taking down the very premise makes it much more difficult for Putin to continue to turn to the Russian people and say, we should continue to send people to die," Turner told CBS' "Face the Nation" program. Retired U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, former head of U.S. European Command, said the turmoil demonstrates a degradation of Russian capabilities. "One of the outcomes, I believe, of the last 36 hours, maybe 48 hours, is that the institutions that we have long seen as being very secure in Russia are slowly unraveling," Breedlove said in an interview. "The whole institution of the military now, the appearance of what the Russian military is, is much diminished." U.S. Senator Ben Cardin said the weekend turmoil in Russia does not ease Washington's need to continue aiding Ukraine as it launches its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia. "This is a critical time for Ukraine. This counteroffensive is going to be defining as to where we're going to be in the next year or two," Cardin, a Democrat who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Fox News. Republican Representative Don Bacon, a former U.S. Air Force general who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, told NBC that a diminished Putin would be a benefit for Russia's neighbors including Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. "It would be different if Putin was wanting to be a peaceful neighbor. But he's not," Bacon said. (Reporting by David Morgan, Hannah Lang and Tyler Clifford; Editing by Scott Malone, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter and Chris Reese) SAN ANTONIO, Texas A federal jury on Friday found a military housing landlord did not properly maintain and repair a home at Joint Base San Antonio rented by an Army officer and ordered the company pay more than $91,000 to the soldier. Lt. Col. Shane Vinales and his wife Becky faced off in court against their former landlord, Hunt Military Communities, alleging the company failed to address mold and structural issues in the house that they moved into more than five years ago at Randolph Air Force Base, which is part of the joint base in Texas. The three-week trial did not consider possible health conditions that the couple and their two children could have developed from exposure to mold. The original complaint filed in 2019 did ask the court to consider personal injury damages. Instead, the jury of six women and one man was asked to determine whether Hunt breached its contract to repair the problems in the home that the Vinales family reported to them, such as a recurring water leak, broken fixtures and appliances, an ant infestation and replacing smelly carpet. The Vinales family filed the lawsuit against Hunt along with eight other families, yet the court decided to hear each familys case separately. The Vinaless case was the first to go before Judge Richard Farrer in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas with jury selection beginning on June 5. The trial was considered an informal bellwether for the pending litigation from other families, including one family who lived in Hunt housing at Laughlin Air Force Base near Del Rio, Texas. I feel that justice has been made. I feel like were paving the road moving forward for other military families who have suffered, Becky Vinales said sitting with her children, Landon, 11, and Savannah, 9, after hearing the verdict. The two children sat in the courtroom for the trial, during which both their parents testified. Its been a lot to deal with the military family housing company and to know that how they treat us, they treat others worse, she said. Hunt Military Communities said in a statement that it acknowledges the verdict and is committed to providing quality housing to military families. We respect the judicial process and will be reviewing our legal options, including the possibility of appeal, to seek what we believe is a just and fair resolution. We firmly believe the outcome does not reflect the facts or evidence of the case, the company said. In the nearly four years that it has taken for the lawsuit to reach a conclusion, Becky Vinales said she never wavered in her decision to sue. They put us through misery, and I wanted my day to speak, she said. It was a long road but rewarding to stick with it. It feels good to get my story heard. Lawyers for the Vinales family recommended in closing arguments that the jury award damages of $96,813. That included $40,656 to return all rent paid for the home and a minimum of $56,157 to replace the familys household goods and items that were ruined by mold. The latter also included $39,000 in clothing inventory for LuLaRoe, a clothing brand that Becky Vinales sold from her home. However, the jury decided Hunt had made attempts to remedy the situation during the last four months of the Vinales familys time in the house and did not award damages for the rent paid in those months. The jury awarded $91,654 to the family. Hunt, which operates roughly 52,000 homes spread across more than 40 Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps installations, does business locally in San Antonio as Randolph Family Housing. The company went beyond the lease agreement to compensate the Vinales family, Walter Boone, an attorney for Hunt said in closing arguments. Hunt paid them $36,653 in a gift card, fees to relocate to a camping site in their travel trailer, meal allowances, cleaning and testing damaged goods for mold and a one-month rent credit. It doesnt make sense whats being said and the evidence thats presented, Boone told the jury. The companys attorneys argued if the Vinales family was so unhappy in the house, they were free to leave. The couple first leased the house in October 2017, and the agreement turned into a month-to-month contract one year later that only required a 30-day notice to vacate. It cant be that you are concerned about your home, but you stay there when you didnt have to. It cant be because its not true, Boone said. The family also received 26 follow-up emails after work orders were completed on their home and never responded with a concern about the work done, he said. Ryan Reed, an attorney for the Vinales family, said Becky Vinales wrote there was mold in their carpet on the form that she filled out the day that they moved into the house. He also presented evidence that showed a leak in the primary bedroom had been a problem before the Vinales family moved into the home and it persisted during their time living there. (Tribune News Service) At the core of the issue is the so-called Morgan and DeVos doctrines, which have historically shielded high-ranking executive branch officials from being deposed in similar cases unless there are exceptional circumstances. A federal judge decided Friday to quash an attempt to make the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet sit for a deposition in a civil lawsuit brought by military and civilian families whose drinking water was contaminated with jet fuel from the Navy's Red Hill fuel facility in November 2021. In a legal order issued by Magistrate Judge Kenneth J. Mansfield of Hawaii's U.S. District Court, he concluded attorneys representing the families had not demonstrated that Adm. Samuel Paparo had information they couldn't get elsewhere and did not have a compelling reason to force his testimony. At the core of the issue is the so-called Morgan and DeVos doctrines, which have historically shielded high-ranking executive branch officials from being deposed in similar cases unless there are exceptional circumstances. Courts have been reluctant to require such top officials to testify out of concern it would bog down government functions and raise potential separation-of-powers concerns. Paparo, who works out of the Pacific Fleet headquarters on Oahu, oversees all U.S. naval operations across the Pacific and parts of the Indian Ocean. The fleet has been conducting nearly constant operations across its area of operations as China and its neighbors are locked in bitter disputes over territorial and navigation rights in the South China Sea, a critical waterway that a third of all international trade travels through. Paparo answers to Adm. John Aquilino, who previously commanded the Pacific Fleet before taking over U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at Camp Smith. Aquilino commands all forces in the U.S. military's largest theater of operations. LAWYERS representing the plaintiffs argued that while Paparo is a "senior leader, " he is not a high enough ranking official for the Morgan and DeVos doctrines to preclude him from going to court, arguing that in his subordinate role to more senior leaders, he is more akin to a police captain. "The Court is not persuaded by Plaintiffs' arguments that Admiral Paparo is not a high-ranking government official, " Mansfield wrote. "Although the Court readily acknowledges the significant duties that a sheriff's captain or chief deputy undertake, the Court is not willing to equate the responsibilities of those positions to those of the Commander of the largest fleet in the U.S. Navy and the world. Under the circumstances, the Court finds that Admiral Paparo is a high ranking official." The underground Red Hill facility holds about 104 million gallons of fuel that sit just 100 feet above a critical aquifer that most of Oahu relies on for drinking water. It served as the Pacific Fleet's largest fuel reserve in the region since it was built during World War II, but after decades of neglect and poor maintenance, the facility fell into deep disrepair. On May 6, 2021, fuel at the facility spilled and entered part of the fire suppression system, where it sat until a worker accidentally ruptured a pipe in November 2021, leading to the fuel contaminating the Navy water system, which serves 93, 000 people. The military is now trying to remove the fuel from the facility and transition to a "distributed " fuel logistics model by placing it in a combination of storage facilities and tanker vessels spread across the Pacific. PAPARO OFFICIALLY took on his position at the Pacific Fleet from Aquilino just one day before the May 2021 spill. After the November spill he ordered an investigation, and according to emails cited in court documents, Paparo indicated he suspected it was related to the May 2021 incident. Attorney's representing the government argue that the lawyers representing the families are trying to use the court to harass and humiliate Paparo. The plaintiffs filed a motion arguing that only Paparo "can testify to any of these critical lines of questioning ... this information is unobtainable through any other source. This deposition is not sought to annoy, embarrass, oppress, or unduly burden Admiral Paparo, who will be treated with all due deference owed to his station but should not be shielded from essential litigation questioning solely because of that station." But Mansfield wrote Friday that the plaintiffs had not established that Paparo "has unique, first-hand knowledge of their proposed areas of inquiry or how each area of inquiry is essential to the negligent undertaking claim." In his decision, Mansfield posited that while Paparo ordered the Pacific Fleet's investigation, he did not participate in it or write it. He also stated that the attorneys representing the families had not deposed other officials who had more direct and detailed knowledge of the spill and its aftermath. Mansfield wrote that "though the parties disagree whether discovery regarding Plaintiffs' proposed topics is relevant, it is apparent from this record that Plaintiffs have not attempted to obtain this information from other means of discovery. ... There are at least five separate commands below Admiral Paparo with more direct oversight of Red Hill." Kristina Baehr, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that while Paparo himself will not testify, "the evidence will speak for itself." "Navy policy requires immediate disclosure of any suspected water contamination, " Baehr said. "The admiral personally knew there was fuel in the water on November 28, 2021, and yet then approved PR messaging to residents that there was 'no immediate indication the water is not safe to drink.'" NBC reported earlier this month that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had sent President Joe Biden his recommendation to appoint Paparo as the next chief of naval operations, the Navy's senior military officer and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The White House has yet to publicly announce a nominee for the Navy's top position, and the appointment would require congressional approval, though Paparo enjoys bipartisan support among lawmakers in Washington. Army Maj. Mandy Feindt, one of the plaintiffs in the case, has vowed to lobby members of Congress to oppose Paparo's nomination. IF ASSIGNED the Navy's top role, Paparo would be in an administrative position overseeing all Navy personnel and facilitiesincluding Red Hill. Though a joint military task force led by Vice Adm. John Wade is expected to drain most of the fuel in the facility by the end of January, the Navy's remediation and closure of the facility is expected to take much longer. In addition to the lawsuit, the Red Hill water crisis has also become the subject of a federal criminal investigation. Officials have been tight-lipped on the details, but special agents with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service have been escorting witnesses to the panel and supporting the grand jury's investigation for months. The probe is being led by Krishna Dighe, senior counsel with the Department of Justice's Environment and Natural Resources Division. Those who have been called to testify include Capt. Trent Kalp, who was in charge of Fleet Logistics Center Pearl Harbor during the May 2021 fuel leak and left the job to become the Pacific Fleet's director of supply just before the November 2021 spill. Also called to testify was Sherri Eng, who serves as Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command environmental business line leader and Navy Region Hawaii environmental program manager. (c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) The U.S. Navy commissioned the newest member of its fleet in Locust Point Saturday morning in a celebration of Baltimores maritime heritage. Somebody told me this week its good to see the Navy back in Baltimore, but the Navy never left Baltimore, Admiral Michael Gilday said during the commissioning ceremony for the USS Carl M. Levin, a 500-foot steel destroyer. The ship, which cost billions to construct, equip and has a crew of 329 people, was built by contractor General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and is bound for Hawaii. The USS Carl Levin carries the weight of our citys naval heritage. Just as Baltimores shipyards once activity constructing the ships that protect our shores, this might vessel will cary forward the torch of Baltimore naval legacy, Deputy Mayor Justin Williams said to the crowd. Naval and local leaders took turns speaking at the event that drew a few thousand sailors, veterans and their families. The event was not open to the public. This is my first time in Baltimore. Im excited to take it all in. I know my grandson has put in a lot of work to get to this moment, Abel Carlo, a U.S. Army veteran from Puerto Rico whose grandson is part of the crew, said in Spanish. Local middle and high schoolers from the branch of the Sea Cadet Corps, the Navys youth program based at Fort McHenry, handed out programs and water bottles. Alyssa Haley, a Navy veteran and the units executive officer, said the kids were set to tour the ship Saturday afternoon. I was on a carrier, Haley said. So Im interested to see the propulsion. Last night they mentioned they have 10,000 horsepower. So I think were just excited to see all the new technology and a little behind the scenes about how the navy works. Levin, whose three daughters were in attendance Saturday, was a U.S. Senator from Michigan who served 1979 to 2015 and chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee. He passed away in 2021 at 87 years old. The ship is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer equipped with guided missiles, torpedoes and two helicopters. The destroyer is over 500 feet long and can travel faster than 30 knots or over 35 mph. According to the Navy, they already have 51 of the same class of destroyer in their fleet. According to a Congressional Budget Office report from November 2022, the office estimated this class of destroyers average procurement cost at between $3.1 billion to $3.4 billion. To close the ceremony, the ships commanding officer Kelly Craft reported the USS Carl M Levin ready for service. Theres nothing like being able to bring the crew together and accomplish the mission. Weve still got thousands of miles to travel before we make it to our home port of Hawaii, but I know this crew is the right crew for the job, Craft said in a news release. They will remain tenacious in the fight, and they will lead this greyhound to be the most feared warship in the world. 2023 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Afghanistan, March 9, 2012: Staff Sgt. Andy Carpenter, an Air Force joint terminal attack controller, surveys the scene on an air assault mission in Ghorak district, Kandahar province. JTACs, who embed with infantry units, played a critical role in Iraq and Afghanistan, coordinating close air support for ground troops. Read the story on JTAC's mission here. The chairman of the House select committee on China said a recent change in Commerce Department regulations appears to be aimed at allowing the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok to continue operating in the United States, despite congressional fears that Beijing could use the online service as a tool of espionage or propaganda. In a Friday letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), the panel's chairman, accused the department of watering down proposed rules on supply chain security so that the Biden administration can more easily approve TikTok's proposal to calm U.S. national security concerns through a corporate restructuring. A Commerce Department spokesperson said the department had received the letter and would respond "via appropriate channels." TikTok's planned makeover - known as "Project Texas" - is designed to address Washington's security fears by removing its U.S. business from the control of ByteDance, the company's Chinese owner. Under the plan, all U.S. user data would be stored on servers based in the United States under the control of software giant Oracle and would be off limits to the company's China-based executives. Oracle specialists also would be responsible for reviewing TikTok's software code and the algorithm that determines which videos are recommended for the company's more than 100 million American users. Considered the world's most popular app, TikTok claims 150 million monthly active users in the United States. Two-thirds of American teens say they use the app, according to a Pew Research Center survey. "The national-security threat posed by TikTok cannot be mitigated, and we urge you to abandon any course of action that stops short of fully addressing that threat," Gallagher in a letter also signed by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Starting with the Trump administration, U.S. policymakers have taken aim at TikTok as a potential weapon of Chinese spying or influence. But finding an effective response has not been easy. A federal judge in 2020 blocked President Donald Trump's effort to ban the short-video service. Likewise, the Biden administration has struggled to address any potential national security issues associated with TikTok without incurring the political costs involved in restricting a social media service that is hugely popular with young Americans, as the president prepares for reelection. For most of the past year, the interagency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has been reviewing the company's proposed "mitigation agreement," which would place TikTok's U.S. operations under a three-person board of directors, composed of American executives subject to U.S. government approval. Lawmakers from both parties greeted that plan with skepticism. But the recent revisions to the Commerce regulations may indicate that the administration is warming to Project Texas, said Paul Triolo, senior vice president at the Albright Stonebridge Group. "There's just no easy solution to this," he said. "My gut feeling is that people have decided that Project Texas is more than just a sham. It's a serious effort." Gallagher's letter followed Commerce's June 16 issuance of a final supply chain security rule for certain "connected software applications" owned or controlled by foreign adversaries. TikTok is the most prominent example of such an application, a subset of a broader product category known as information and communications technology and services (ICTS). The department began its rulemaking process in November 2021 by issuing a proposed rule. After reviewing public comments, Commerce officials revised the wording of one sentence in the draft in a way that aroused the suspicions of Gallagher and Rubio. The final version calls for the secretary to review specific ICTS transactions to see whether any risks can be "mitigated" rather than "addressed," as specified in the proposed rule. And it calls for such changes to be "verified by independent third parties" rather than "by independently verifiable measures." In his letter to Raimondo, Gallagher calls the change in verbs "alarming," since the reference to mitigation suggests a response to TikTok that would fall short of the outright ban or sale to a U.S. owner that he favors. And he said the second language change likewise appears designed to greenlight what he calls TikTok's "sham mitigation proposal." Gallagher demanded that Commerce produce "all communications" regarding the decision to rewrite the proposed rule by June 30. He also sought any Commerce communications with representatives of TikTok or ByteDance, other federal agencies or other companies about using the regulations to impose restrictions on the popular social media app. (Tribune News Service) North Korea criticized remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his trip to China, accusing him of threatening military action should China fail to put pressure on its neighbor and ally. During the visit, Blinken made "threatening remarks that the U.S. would take military measures China doesn't like, together with Japan and South Korea, if China doesn't move, saying that China is in the one and only position for pressurizing Pyongyang," North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said. KCNA attributed the comments to Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the department of U.S. affairs at the country's foreign ministry. The criticism comes days after Blinken wrapped up his two-day trip to Beijing, where he spoke with President Xi Jinping about topics including North Korea, Russia's war in Ukraine and Taiwan. President Joe Biden hailed the visit as representing progress toward restoring U.S.-China ties. Blinken spoke with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin after the China trip to update him on the discussions, including North Korea's "increasingly destabilizing actions," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on Friday. The root cause of the tensions on the Korean peninsula is the U.S., not North Korea or its neighbors, KCNA said, citing Kwon. North Korea won't refrain from exercising its right to self defense, unless the U.S. stops violating its sovereignty and takes a clear move to drop its hostile policies, it added. KCNA called Blinken a "low-class diplomat" incapable of detecting the nature of relations between countries. His words are "a manifestation of his dangerous hegemony-oriented mental state," the agency said, citing Kwon. In a separate KCNA report, North Korea slammed the U.S. for deploying strategic assets including the the USS Michigan, a nuclear-powered, guided-missile submarine, to South Korea. The deployment "presupposes irretrievable catastrophic consequences to peace and security in the region and the rest of the world," KCNA said citing Kang Jin Song, an international affairs analyst in North Korea. The move will only result in triggering North Korea to bolster its nuclear force, KCNA said. ___ 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. U.S. spy agencies picked up intelligence in mid-June indicating Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeniy Prigozhin was planning armed action against the Russian defense establishment which he has long accused of bungling the war in Ukraine and urgently informed the White House and other government agencies so they were not caught off-guard, several U.S. officials said Saturday. The exact nature and timing of Prigozhin's plans were not clear until shortly before his stunning takeover of a military command and tank run toward Moscow on Friday and Saturday, officials said. But "there were enough signals to be able to tell the leadership . . . that something was up," said one official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity citing the matter's sensitivity. "So I think they were ready for it." Over the last two weeks there was "high concern" about what might transpire whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would remain in power and what any instability might mean for control of Russia's nuclear arsenal, the official said. "There were lots of questions along those lines," this person said. The instability that might result from a Russian "civil war" was the key fear, officials said. In addition to the White House, senior officials at the Pentagon, State Department and in Congress were briefed within the last two weeks on the intelligence, officials said. A key trigger for Prigozhin, officials said, was a June 10 Russian Defense Ministry order that all volunteer detachments would have to sign contracts with the government. Though the order did not mention Wagner by name, the implication was clear: a takeover of Prigozhin's mercenary troops, who have proved essential to Russia's military campaign in Ukraine and have helped secure some of its most notable tactical victories. Ukrainian military officials also were watching Prigozhin after the June 10 announcement and increasingly believed that he might mobilize his forces against Moscow, said a senior Ukrainian official. Prigozhin had publicly protested the defense ministry's order, and Ukrainian officials took seriously the possibility that he might move against Russian positions, this person said. But the timing of a move was unclear, the Ukrainian official said, adding that he was not aware of the U.S. sharing its intelligence with Kyiv on a possible march by Prigozhin and his forces. Prigozhin is commonly known as "Putin's chef" owing to his Kremlin catering contracts, and as a master internet propagandist, who is under criminal indictment in the United States for allegedly interfering in the 2016 presidential election. But Prigozhin's real identity and future is wedded to his Wagner mercenary forces, the Ukrainian official said. Leaked intelligence documents obtained by The Washington Post earlier this year show Wagner building a veritable empire in Africa, where Prigozhin provides security for government regimes sometimes in exchange for valuable mineral rights. In Ukraine, Wagner fighters were able to prevail in the long, bloody battle for the city of Bakhmut only at tremendous cost 20,000 dead by Prigozhin's public count, a figure the Ukrainian official found credible. Throughout the fighting, Prigozhin furiously complained that the Russian ministry of defense wasn't giving him the equipment and supplies he needed to fight. He had threatened to pull out his forces all together. The leaked documents show senior Russian leaders privately fretting about Prigozhin's rhetorical attacks, which they found both credible and undermining of their authority. "Tensions between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defense are no secret," said a senior administration official, who did not comment on U.S. intelligence. "We have all seen Mr. Prigozhin publicly criticize, warn, and even threaten the Russian military on any number of occasions." U.S. intelligence agencies believe that Putin also was informed that Prigozhin was plotting something. And though it is not clear precisely when he was told, it was "definitely more than 24 hours ago," the U.S. official said. It remains unclear why Putin did not take action to thwart Prigozhin's takeover of the military command or his move on Moscow. The Wagner chief got to within 120 miles of the capital before he turned around after striking a deal, brokered by Belarusian President and Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko. The deal calls for dropping criminal charges against Prigozhin, lodged on Friday after he accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of ordering an attack on his mercenaries and issued a call to "put an end" to the minister's leadership. Putin's inaction reflected a lack of high-level coordination in the Russian government and likely internal rivalries, U.S. officials surmise. Prigozhin faced little resistance when he and his forces marched into Rostov-on-Don and took control of the Southern Military District headquarters there, Western and U.S. intelligence officials noted, calling that an indication he enjoys some level of support among regular military forces as well as Russia's security services. "If Prigozhin intended to drive a wedge between the command of Russian Federation Armed Forces and the Kremlin he failed," said the senior Western official, meaning that the 24-hour rebellion does not appear, for now, to have triggered a broader rupture between Putin's inner circle and the military leaders Prigozhin detests. Analysts nonetheless say that this appears to be the most serious challenge to Putin in the more than two decades he has served as Russian paramount leader. The last significant challenge was in 2011, when tens of thousands of Russians turned out in Moscow to protest what European and U.S. officials concluded were flawed parliamentary elections. "But having an armed group make it to within [120] miles of Moscow is pretty serious," the first U.S. official said. Intelligence analysts are watching to see what comes next. Though Prigozhin has stood down, Putin will certainly be seen as weakened, officials said. Images of Wagner tanks rolling along the Russian M4 highway toward Moscow played on social media and Putin made a televised speech to the nation on Saturday saying there had been an "armed insurrection," and accused Prigozhin of betraying Russia without mentioning him by name. Members of the Russian elite will question his leadership, asking how he could have let this happen and why he didn't stop it earlier, officials say. "This probably has given ordinary Russians a scare," said the first U.S. official. As for Prigozhin, the Kremlin said Saturday he was going to Belarus as part of the deal worked out by Lukashenko. His future beyond that is unclear. He has a solid core of loyal troops, and many of those who fought and died in Ukraine were convicts who hoped to win freedom by going to battle. Officials said they were sure he'd still be seen as the leader of Wagner. The Washington Post's Greg Miller in London contributed to this report. In a rare show of bipartisan agreement, U.S. officials and lawmakers from both parties said Sunday that the brief rebellion against Russias defense officials by a Russian mercenary group had weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin and strengthened the United States resolve to continue supporting Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the insurrection over the weekend by mercenary Wagner Group forces as well as how it was ultimately resolved showed cracks in the facade of Putins authoritarian leadership. What weve seen is extraordinary, Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday. Think about it this way: 16 months ago Russian forces were on the doorstep of Kyiv in Ukraine, believing they would take the capital in a matter of days and erase the country from the map as an independent country. Now, what weve seen is Russia having to defend Moscow, its capital, against mercenaries of his own making. Wagner Group soldiers had marched within about 120 miles of Moscow before abruptly turning around as part of a brokered deal. Criminal charges previously started against Wagners leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, would be dropped, according to a Kremlin spokesperson. President Biden has not tried to contact Putin since Saturdays unrest, but he has convened his national security advisers and key allies, Blinken said on ABCs This Week. The United States will watch internal divisions between Putin and other Russians closely to determine how much control he retains domestically and over the war in Ukraine, Blinken added. The Biden administrations reaction to the insurrection has been somewhat measured and low key. The Washington Post has reported that U.S. intelligence had picked up indications that Prigozhin was planning armed action against the Russian defense establishment; a rivalry between the two groups had been simmering for months. But on Sunday, officials focused on supporting Ukraines continued efforts to push Russian forces out of its territory. Our focus has to be and remains resolutely on Ukraine, Blinken said. There is absolute unity, both of purpose and in action, in terms of supporting Ukraine, making sure they have what they need to defend themselves. And thats where our focus is; thats where the presidents focus has been. Prigozhin is in many ways a creation of Putin, Blinken added, saying that Wagner Group forces have been responsible for horrible atrocities against Ukrainian civilians and noting that the mercenary group is in Africa as well. Western officials and intelligence analysts are still struggling to interpret the bizarre sequence of events. Among the questions they faced was why Putin backed down from ordering a military strike on Prigozhin or imprisoning him. The big unanswered question is: Would Putin have been able to order a lethal airstrike? Bob Seely, a member of Britains Parliament who serves on the foreign affairs committee, which has been investigating Prigozhins Wagner Group for two years, said in an interview with The Post. Could Putin have actually killed Prigozhin en route, or was it so bad for Putin that he couldnt, meaning that his grip on power was too tenuous. Seely added that he thinks the era of private military companies for Russia will be coming to an end. They will be put under much closer control. The Wagner Group chief was also diminished by his about-face on Saturday, retired Gen. David Petraeus, who was also CIA director, said on CNNs State of the Union. Prigozhin kept his life, but lost his Wagner Group. And he should be very careful around open windows in his new surroundings in Belarus, where hes going, Petraeus said, alluding to the tendency for Putins critics to die in violent or mysterious ways. Democratic and Republican lawmakers said the mutiny showed the United States strategy in Ukraine and its continued assistance to the country, which has been under Russian attack since 2014 is working. Vladimir Putin has bitten off a lot more than he ever thought possible when he marched into Ukraine, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said on NBCs Meet the Press. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a former Air Force general in Europe and member of the House Armed Services Committee, urged his fellow Republicans to continue providing Ukraine with military hardware. I think too many Republicans have tried to stay under the radar on this, Bacon said on Meet the Press. Bacon called U.S. aid to Ukraine a worthy investment, noting that the United States has diminished Russias military by 50 percent by spending the equivalent of 5 percent of the Pentagon budget to help Ukraine. What we saw this weekend was how fragile Putins leadership is right now, how fragile the Russian military is, Bacon said. And why is that? They have lost 200,000 troops in this year and a half. That is almost seven times more than what America lost in 20 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and former Texas congressman Will Hurd, both GOP candidates for the 2024 presidential nomination, pledged continued support for Ukraine comments that stood in contrast to those expressed by some of their GOP opponents, including former president Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Both Trump and DeSantis, along with a growing faction of Republicans, have criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine. On ABCs This Week on Sunday, Christie said an isolationist approach was the wrong stance, describing the war in Ukraine as a proxy war with China, which has neither outright supported nor condemned Russias aggression. America has never been a great country and the leader of the world by filling in the moat and pulling up the drawbridge, Christie said. . . . I am absolutely a believer in the fact that America will be bigger, stronger, richer and more influential in the world because we stood by our principles and stood by our friends. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the coup in Russia, however short-lived, should be giving Chinese President Xi Jinping pause about any military action against Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that China claims as part of its territory and has vowed to take by force if necessary. I think [Putins] closest ally, Chairman Xi, is probably having second thoughts about this alliance he made with Putin, McCaul said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures, noting that it seems as if Putin cant control his own army and his own people. The Chinese Foreign Ministry posted a statement on its website Sunday calling the rebellion by Prigozhin an internal affair. As Russias friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination for the new era, China supports Russia in maintaining national stability and achieving development and prosperity, the statement read. The Washington Posts Shera Avi-Yonah contributed to this report. Russia was plunged into a crisis when the leader of the countrys biggest mercenary army, Yevgeny Prigozhin, declared he would take down the Kremlins defense leadership. Prigozhin, who heads Wagner, a private military company that had been supporting Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, announced that Russian forces had attacked a Wagner camp in Ukraine. He claimed to have mobilized 25,000 of the groups fighters to march against the military elite in Moscow and called on Russian troops to join him. Putin vowed to crush the rebellion. But after marching through several cities on a sweeping path toward Moscow, Prigozhin published an audio recording claiming he was turning his forces around and returning to field camps in Ukraine. He said his troops had come within 125 miles of Moscow. Heres how the fast-moving events unfolded. 1. Prigozhin goes after Russias military leadership In audio messages released overnight, Prigozhin called Russias military leadership evil, adding those who destroyed our guys today, those who destroyed tens, many tens of thousands of lives of Russian soldiers, will be punished. Prigozhin did not, however, attack Putin. Russias main security agency, the FSB, late Friday accused Prigozhin of incitement to armed rebellion. After Prigozhins comments, videos showed military vehicles leaving the defense ministry in Moscow. 2. Wagner takes over the military headquarters of Rostov-on-Don Just hours later, on Saturday morning, videos emerged showing unidentified fighters outside Russias Southern Military District headquarters in the city of Rostov-on-Don. Fighters surrounded the building with military vehicles as stunned residents watched. Additional videos show armed fighters taking positions and patrolling the citys downtown area, with tanks surrounding government facilities. 3. Prigozhin releases video from Rostov Prigozhin released a video from a key southern command center saying he had control of the area. Prigozhin is seen entering the southern military district headquarters then meeting with Russias Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov. In the past, the Wagner chief has railed against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for his disorganized approach to the war effort, as well as accusing him of lying about casualties and denying supplies and ammunition to Wagner troops during the brutal fight for the Ukrainian town of Bakhmut. 4. Putin speaks At around 10 a.m. Moscow time, Putin addressed the nation. He vowed to crush the Prigozhin-led rebellion. Once a staunch Putin ally, Prigozhin earned his massive fortune through government catering contracts that included the military. Wagner helped train pro-Russian separatists who seized territory in eastern Ukraine in 2014. But throughout the invasion, he has publicly railed against Russias military establishment for their handling of the fight, even accusing them of tricking Putin into invading. Prigozhin responded to Putins address, saying the president was mistaken. He added we are patriots of our motherland, weve been fighting and continue to fight, all Wagner fighters, and no one plans to go and confess at the request of the president, the [Federal Security Service] or anyone else, because we do not want the country to continue to live in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy. 5. Wagner troops head toward Moscow The British Defense Ministry said Saturday that Wagner units were spotted traveling north through the Voronezh region, almost certainly aiming to get to Moscow. Footage showed troops traveling near Yelets, a Russian city some 240 miles from the capital. 6. Moscow prepares Moscow braced for Wagners approach. Roadblocks were put up on most routes into the capital. 7. Prigozhin backs down In an audio message, Prigozhin ordered his fighters to turn around and return to their bases in order to avoid bloodshed. He said his fighters had advanced within 124 miles of Moscow in the last 24 hours. A statement by the Belarusian government claimed that President Alexander Lukashenko, in agreement with Putin, held talks with Prigozhin and that the Wagner boss accepted a proposal to halt his march to Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of our fighters blood, Prigozhin said. Now the moment has come when blood could be spilled. Understanding the responsibility that Russian blood will be spilled on one side, we are turning our columns around and going back to field camps as planned. The Washington Posts Samuel Oakford, Dalton Bennett, Evan Hill, Joyce Lee and Meg Kelly contributed to this report. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Wednesday with officials from Chinas Wuhan Engineering Co. and Italys Ballestra the ongoing cooperation to establish the countrys third industrial fertilizer production complex in Ain Sokhna. Elon Musk said that SpaceX has made more than 1,000 changes to Starship following the vehicles first test launch in April, which failed to reach orbit. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. has changed how the vehicle operates on its path to orbit and it now stands a much improved chance of success with its second attempt, according to its chief executive officer. So I think the probability of the next flight working or getting to orbit is much higher than the last one, Musk said. Maybe its like 60 percent; it depends on how well we do at stage separation, he said on a Twitter Spaces on Saturday with Bloomberg senior reporter Ashlee Vance. Investment in the Starship project is likely to approach $3 billion this year, Musk said. Starship is SpaceXs next-generation rocket, designed to carry cargo and eventually people to deep space destinations like the moon and Mars. Musk announced that SpaceX has made a sort of late breaking change to the way that Starship separates during launch, when the large Super Heavy booster breaks free from the Starship spacecraft mid-flight. He noted that SpaceX has decided to do hot staging, a process where the engines on the Starship vehicle ignite while the Super Heavy booster is still attached. This is something that the Soviets and Russians have used in their space designs, he added. During Starships first test flight, which launched from SpaceXs Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, the rocket successfully cleared its launchpad, but suffered multiple engine failures during the vehicles climb. When Starship was meant to separate from Super Heavy, the two vehicles remained attached as the entire rocket spun out of control. SpaceX was forced to activate the rockets flight termination system, which blew up the rocket. Musk was pressed on whether his commitment to space exploration has wavered in light of his acquisition of Twitter. Were trying to get to Mars as fast as possible, he said. Musk declined to discuss several topics broached by Vance, including the status of his recently created artificial intelligence company that might rival OpenAI. He also said it would be illegal to talk about plans for a possible initial public offering for Starlink, SpaceXs constellation of satellites that provide high-speed internet access in remote areas. Dana Hull contributed to this report. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ORLANDO, Fla. (Tribune News Service) Theres still work to be done, but United Launch Alliance announced a path forward to finally get its new Vulcan Centaur rocket to its first launch. The company sent an update Saturday announcing it had figured out what went wrong, and what needs fixing at its Alabama test facility this spring that resulted in a fireball that damaged a test article of the Centaur V upper stage. Centaurs thin-walled pressure stabilized tanks require minor reinforcement at the top of the forward dome prior to flight, the company stated in a press release. That means the Centaur currently mated to the Vulcan first stage at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station that is tapped to fly on that rockets first mission has to head back to Alabama to get that reinforcement. The first and second stages recently completed a Flight Readiness Firing test at Canaverals Space Launch Complex 41, and ULA said results of that hot fire hit all of the test objectives. But now teams will de-stack the combined rocket and send Centaur V to ULAs Decatur, Alabama facility for the fix while the first-stage booster will be stored at ULAs Horizontal Integration Facility at Canaveral waiting for its return. Just sending Centaur back for the fix isnt the only hurdle before the first launch, though. What ULA called a structural test stand anomaly also damaged the facility at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on March 29, and there are more tests that need to be performed before ULA will let Vulcan fly. We need to repair the stand, whatever it takes to do that, said David McFarland, the ULA Launch Operations Chief Engineer and Anomaly Lead. But were looking at, are there alternatives to where we actually do some of the tests? So theres a lot to be established and how we get to the point where our validated testing is completed. Once ULA determines where the remaining tests can be performed, the company also needs to pick one of the several Centaur V upper stages already in production to complete the testing. Just how many more tests are needed is unclear, but ULA had stated it was in the latter half of upper stage testing when the anomaly threw progress off track in March. That delay has meant a May 4 target of the first mission dubbed Certification-1 had to be pushed, and while ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno in May said teams could be aiming for June or July, no new launch date has been set. We are going to take the time necessary to do that properly, and so that we have the least amount of risk of proceeding to the first launch, McFarland said. The Vulcan Centaur is ULAs replacement for the Atlas V and Delta IV rockets that remain in its stable. The second-to-last Delta IV Heavy made its successful launch on Thursday on a mission for the National Reconnaissance Office from Cape Canaveral. That was ULAs first launch of the year as all of its rocket plans have faced hurdles in 2023. That includes the delay of an Atlas V with Boeings CST-100 Starliner that was aiming for a July launch with its first crew on a test flight to the International Space Station. Boeing announced issues it found on Starliner, though, that need fixing, and no new target launch has been declared for that mission either. When Vulcan Centaur does get the go for launch, it will be flying up private company Astrobotics lunar lander Peregrine thats headed to the moon. Also flying are the first two test satellites for Amazons Project Kuiper, a planned massive constellation of internet satellites that will compete with SpaceXs Starlink constellation. Project Kuiper is the thing that will keep Vulcan Centaur busy over the next five years, along with Department of Defense missions and launches of Sierra Spaces Dream Chaser spacecraft. Amazon, which also bought up the remaining Atlas V rockets, has contracted with ULA for 38 Vulcan launches of its satellites. The demand means ULA looks to get Vulcan up to a pace of one launch about every two weeks. The team has been working fervently on Vulcan processing, McFarland said. There is a lot of stuff happening in the background while all of these things are being worked on. Within the next couple of years well be increasing our launch cadence quite a bit. 2023 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON Former President Donald Trump hardened his position on abortion in a speech to evangelical Christian voters, saying theres a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life. His comments to the Faith and Freedom Coalition on the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision that overturned a 50-year constitutional right to abortion follow weeks in which Trump has declined to say whether he would sign the 15-week federal ban sought by anti-abortion activists. The former president didnt offer specifics on what a federal role would look like, though he made clear in Washington Saturday night he wants to see exceptions for abortions including in cases of rape, incest and for the life of the mother. The Republican front-runner played up the fact that he appointed the three conservative Supreme Court justices who helped overturn a constitutional right to an abortion, calling himself the most pro-life president in the U.S. He promised to again release before Election Day a list of potential nominees for any Supreme Court openings, a move that helped him cement support among the evangelical community in 2016. Trumps comments contrast with the speech made by his chief rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who only touched briefly on the matter in remarks Friday. Republicans have remained divided on abortion, an issue that Democrats seized on to fuel their better-than-expected midterm performance last year. DeSantis, who is running a distant second to Trump in GOP primary polls, stressed his efforts to defend religious freedom as governor including by keeping churches open during the COVID-19 pandemic. He promised that if elected president he would wage war on what he called woke influence on schools, government and corporate boardrooms. While polls indicate Trump maintains a healthy lead in the increasingly crowded GOP field, his support has dipped 3 percentage points since April, according to an Emerson College survey released Thursday. However, he has a 31-point lead over DeSantis nationally in the RealClearPolitics average of early polls and maintains a grip on primary voters who still view him as more of a movement figure than a politician. That was evident on Saturday night when he received multiple standing ovations and cheers from the group of evangelical voters. Donald Trump is in as formidable and strong a position as any front-runner for the Republican nomination in my career, said Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition. We really have not had a front-runner like this in almost 30 years. Trump on Saturday also outlined some of his agenda for a second presidential term including what he called settling Russias invasion of Ukraine immediately; overhauling the Department of Justice; barring transgender people from serving in the U.S. military; signing an executive order to end the automatic citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants; and re-implementing Title 42 at the U.S.-Mexico border. The former president spent much of his speech rebutting the 37 federal charges that the Justice Department lodged against him this month, stemming from allegations that he mishandled classified documents after leaving office and obstructed the government from reclaiming them. He argued, incorrectly, that presidents have the right to take any documents with them once they leave office. Trump cast his two indictments as Democrats trying to weaponize law enforcement to topple him as the Republican front-runner for the 2024 presidential race. Every time they indict me, he said, I consider it a great badge of courage. I am being indicted for you, he added. Im probably the only person in history in this country thats been indicted, and my numbers went up, he said, referring to the boost his campaign saw in national polls following both indictments. Then, he quickly cast his legal troubles as a larger battle for the future of the country. In the end, theyre not after me, theyre after you, and I just happen to be standing in their way, he said. Throughout the conference, Trumps influence on the party was evident. Corey Check, 21, and Zachary Scherer, 20, came from Butler County, Pennsylvania and sat in the back row of the ballroom in red MAGA hats and applauded enthusiastically at any mention of Trump. They said most of the other candidates they heard over the two days werent taking the campaign seriously and were just running for cabinet posts or ambassadorships. I dont think a lot of these people are serious, Check said. DeSantis, he needs to wait his turn. Not this year. Traci Brown, a 60-year-old swimming school owner from Pittsburgh who came on a bus with a friend, supports Trump. Id like to see him have four more years to finish what he started. She thinks hes strongest on foreign policy, and doesnt get enough credit for the Abraham accords a U.S.-brokered deal in which Israel established ties with gulf Arab states. But she acknowledged that Trumps relationship with evangelical voters is complicated, and he doesnt speak of his personal faith in the same way as rivals like his former vice president, Mike Pence. He enjoys being the tough guy. I dont know that we will ever know how in touch he is with our creator. Trumps speech was the closing act of the two-day Faith and Freedom gathering to drive conservative voter engagement and turnout. The conference doubled as a cattle call for the growing GOP field of 2024 presidential candidates, with no fewer than 11 other contenders making appearances. With the exception of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie who was roundly booed Friday when he gave a speech that directly attacked Trump the other candidates largely avoided taking on the front-runner directly. But there was no mistaking who Nikki Haley was talking about when she said Saturday that the party needed a a new generational leader. Weve got to leave the negativity and the drama and the chaos in the past. We have to make sure that were looking forward and were looking towards solutions, said Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations. Dont complain about what you get in a general election if you dont play in this primary. Shamim Adam contributed to this report. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. LEWISTON, Idaho (Tribune News Service) The last living triple ace, now more than 100 years old, will visit Lewiston during the fifth iteration of the Radials and Rivers Fly-In on Saturday. Clarence Bud Anderson, a newly minted brigadier general and celebrated World War II fighter pilot, will make his second appearance at the event that features a mixture of antique aircraft and military planes. Also making a return visit will be a restored P-51 Mustang painted to replicate Andersons Old Crow, one of the planes he flew in the European Theater. It was a wonderful airplane, Anderson said of the P-51 during a phone interview. It probably saved the air war in Europe and affected the European war in a major respect. Before the plane was introduced, American fighter pilots were unable to fly at high altitudes nor accompany and protect allied bombers on long-range trips deep behind enemy lines. As a result, the bombers suffered high losses when attacked by the German Luftwaffe. The P-51 changed that. It could fly up to 500 mph, climb to high altitudes and make it from England to Germany and back on a single fueling. But Anderson said it wasnt the aircraft alone that helped turn the tide. A decision by Gen. James Jimmy Doolittle played a massive role. He was my hero, Anderson said. He came in and turned things around and let the fighter pilots fight and, as a matter of fact, that allowed us to defeat the Luftwaffe. Prior to Doolittle, American brass ordered fighter pilots escorting bombers to stick close to the big birds. That meant they were unable to pursue German fighter pilots. He said go for em, leave the bombers and destroy them anyway you can, Anderson said. We gained air superiority by killing their fighter pilots. Anderson shot down 16 German planes on his own and shared another kill with three other pilots, earning him the title of triple ace. The ace title is given when a fighter pilot achieves five kills. At 101, he is the only living triple ace. The event, at Hillcrest Aviation, runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Anderson will participate in a round-table discussion during intermission of the fly-in, scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. With him will be Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, the granddaughter of Jimmy Doolittle. While Doolittles call allowing American pilots to pursue attacking Luftwaffe planes was instrumental, he is best known for the daring attack he led on Japan following that countrys surprise bombing at Pearl Harbor. Doolittle, then a lieutenant colonel, and his crew known as the Raiders, flew 16 B-25 bombers from an aircraft carrier in the Pacific and attacked military and industrial sites in Japan in April 1942. Knowing they wouldnt have enough fuel to return, they planned to crash land in China. One man died after bailing out and four of eight men captured by Japanese forces were executed. The raid, the first engagement with the enemy following Pearl Harbor, was celebrated by the American public and proved an embarrassment to Japanese military leaders. As a result, they relocated some of their forces to the island nation in a defensive maneuver. Doolittle was promoted to general and awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, which he initially attempted to decline. He believed in the team. His accomplishments were on the shoulders of a team, Hoppes said in a phone interview. When awarded the Medal of Honor, he accepted on behalf of every single one of the Raiders and he never considered it his medal. He considered it their medal. She has dedicated her working life to preserving her grandfathers history and authored Calculated Risk: The Extraordinary Life of Jimmy Doolittle, a book about her grandfather. But her efforts quickly morphed into something larger. At speaking engagements, veterans would frequently share their war experiences with her. She said their stories, the things they did, were just as important as Doolittles. My whole mission changed, she said. It became the goal of getting history and recording as many stories as I could and getting people to realize how important those stories are to our history and our freedom. My message is every story, every person who has contributed, they are a thread in the fabric that make up this country, Hoppes added. They are why we are free and have options, and I think his story is a springboard to all those stories and how important they are. It is about Bud Anderson. Its about everybody who has put on the uniform or served in other ways. Hoppes second book, Just Doing My Job: Stories of Service from World War II, is part of that effort. When it comes to her famous grandfather, Hoppes said he believed that neither the raid on Japan nor his leadership in Europe were his top contributions to the country and to aviation. Instead, it was his work in the development of flight instrumentation that allowed pilots to take off and land in darkness, fog or inclement weather. He was a scientist as much as he was a pilot and a general, she said. Hoppes will fly to the event from California on a restored B-25 bomber. Radials and Rivers is organized by Gary Peters, owner of Hangar180 at the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport and chairperson of the airports Authority Board, and by Gary Groff of Hillcrest Aircraft. The event, which combines both antique aircraft and warbirds, is a mix between a traditional fly-in and an air show. Peters said those who attend are able to get relatively close to the planes and visit with pilots and those who own and restore the aircraft. These airplanes are flying monuments. There is not a better way for us to celebrate the men who flew them and the women who built them than to watch them fly, he said. You are attending a flying museum. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at bit.ly/42UH2OT or at Rogers car dealerships in Lewiston, Les Schwab tire centers in Lewiston and Clarkston, Rosauers at Lewiston, Banner Bank in Lewiston and Clarkston and Hot Shots Cafe on Bryden Avenue in Lewiston. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate but will cost $12. (c)2023 the Lewiston Tribune (Lewiston, Idaho) Visit at www.lmtribune.com Firouz Naderi, a NASA official who oversaw the successful landing of two exploration rovers on Mars, a feat that vastly expanded human understanding of the Red Planet and made him a hero to fellow Iranian Americans, died June 9 at 77. His death was announced on his social media pages. Dr. Naderi posted on Facebook last month that he had suffered a fall that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Other details were not immediately available. Dr. Naderi, who was trained as an electrical engineer, left his native Iran in the wake of the Islamic revolution of 1979 and was hired later that year by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Over nearly four decades, he emerged as a linchpin of the laboratory's missions, particularly the landing of the Spirit and Opportunity rovers on Mars in 2004, one of NASA's most momentous achievements in recent decades. "Firouz Naderi was a giant," Bill Nelson, the NASA administrator and former Democratic senator from Florida, wrote on Twitter after Dr. Naderi's death. "He helped to redefine humanity's knowledge about Mars and reinvigorate our sense of curiosity." Dr. Naderi had a wide-ranging career at NASA and served as director for solar system exploration before his retirement in 2016. But he was perhaps best known for his work as head of the Mars exploration program at JPL, a role he held from 2000 to 2005. The Mars program had previously suffered setbacks, including the loss in 1999 of the $125 million Mars Climate Orbiter because of an elementary error involving the conversion of non-metric and metric units. Another craft, the Mars Polar Lander, failed later that year, at a cost of $165 million. "If there is such a thing as institutional depression," Dr. Naderi later told the Houston Chronicle, "we felt it here at JPL after the 1999 back-to-back failures." The successes of the Mars program under Dr. Naderi included the Mars Odyssey launched in 2001, a spacecraft that is still in use and holds the record, according to NASA, for "longest continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth." The launch of Spirit and Opportunity proved even more thrilling. Designed for 90-day missions, the twin rovers outperformed expectations in spectacular fashion. Spirit lasted more than six years, and Opportunity explored the surface of Mars for nearly 15 years. Together they helped scientists gather evidence that Mars was once a warmer, wetter planet and could have been an abode of life. Recalling the emotions of the moment when the first rover landed, Dr. Naderi remarked that "it was the first time I heard my heart beat." Like many of his colleagues, he spoke of the rovers as if they were living things. He commented that Spirit, during its ascent to Mars, was like "a baby in a mother's womb with all the limbs tightly folded." When the rover landed, he noted, the limbs would unfold, like those of an infant in the moments after birth. He spoke of the rover in rest mode as having a "good night of sleep." The missions had personal importance for Dr. Naderi, who saw himself as a representative of Iranians and Iranian Americans at a time when many felt misunderstood, if not vilified, by American society. In his 2002 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush had labeled Iran, along with North Korea and Iraq, part of the "axis of evil." "I had this additional self-imposed stress," Dr. Naderi told an interviewer at the Caltech Heritage Project. "I was thinking if we fail the headlines would say 'NASA fails again at Mars and this time under a native Iranian program manager!' The pressures that we manufacture and put on ourselves over and above the real pressures." He sought "to show what is positive" about Iranian culture, he said, and became a champion of Iranian and Iranian American students and scientists. At the Academy Awards in 2017, he joined Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian American who became the first female private space traveler, in collecting the best foreign-language film Oscar on behalf of Asghar Farhadi, director of the Iranian drama "The Salesman." Farhadi had boycotted the evening in protest of the newly elected Trump administration's restrictions on travel by citizens of Iran and other Muslim-majority countries. The travel ban, Dr. Naderi said, was particularly harmful to students seeking to further their education in the United States. Until the end of his life, Dr. Naderi remained an advocate for human rights in his native country. His honors included NASA's Distinguished Service Medal, the space agency's highest recognition. When he retired, an asteroid was named in his honor. "It will be going around the Sun for billions of years after I am gone," Dr. Naderi remarked. Firouz Michael Naderi was born in Shiraz, Iran, on March 25, 1946. He described his father as a recipient of inherited wealth who "never had to work unless it amused him." Dr. Naderi's parents were divorced when he was 4. After attending elementary school in Shiraz, he was sent to a boarding school in Tehran run by Catholic priests. He decided to pursue university studies in the United States, where he was to be met in New York by a stepsister who had funds from his father. "As immigrants typically do, I had this overstuffed large suitcase, schlepping it around the airport," he recalled. Because of a miscommunication, his stepsister was not there to immediately receive him, and for a week, until her arrival, he subsisted on hot dogs purchased with the $2 he had. Dr. Naderi received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Iowa State University in 1969. He continued his studies at the University of Southern California, where he received a master's degree in 1972 and a PhD in 1976, also in electrical engineering. He returned to Iran, where he worked with earth-science satellites for the state Remote Sensing Agency. When the shah was deposed and the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini took power, Dr. Naderi left Iran and never went back. At JPL, he served in positions including project manager for mobile satellite experiments. Before his appointment to the Mars program, he was manager of the Origins program, which, among other missions, explored the formation of early life on Earth and looked for earthlike planets in other galaxies. A complete list of survivors was not immediately available. Dr. Naderi was active with the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans and other organizations promoting Iranian and Iranian American causes. "Once you go away from the Earth into space, and you look back at the Earth, you see it as a single blue marble," he said. "You see no borders, no lines, separating people." There were children in the house on the night he started the first fire and he continued to set more blazes over the following days THE brother of notorious killer and sex predator Derek the Panther Clarke has been jailed for burning a Romanian family out of their home because he didnt want them living beside him. Declan Clarke (41), who is originally from Drogheda but ironically moved to Dundalk after his own family were burnt out of their home, carried out arson attacks on a Romanian familys home for five nights in a row in September 2021. There were children in the house on the night he started the first fire and he continued to set more blazes over the following days. The final blaze caused 420,000 worth of damage to the Romanian familys home and neighbouring property at Rockfield Manor, Hoeys Lane, Dundalk. We can reveal Declan Clarke is a brother of notorious predator Derek the Panther Clarke who earned his nickname from stalking women who walked home alone at night and sexually assaulting them. Derek Clarke had been involved in various crimes in his youth and by the time he turned 18 he was appearing in court where a judge said he had got underage girls in the care system involved in a appallingly sordid subculture in the back lanes of Drogheda. He had befriended the teenagers, who he used to help him rob a man in Drogheda. Clarke got the man in a headlock while one of the girls robbed 100 from his pocket In 2002, he was jailed for four years after being convicted of sexually assaulting four women between January 29 and March 25, 2000. He preyed on them in laneways as they returned from nights out. Declan Clarke as a younger man His parents home in Moneymore, Drogheda, where Declan also lived, was firebombed after he pleaded guilty to the assaults. When Derek was released from prison in January 2014, he was rarely far from trouble. After he returned to Moneymore hundreds of locals signed a petition which was submitted to the local council calling for him to be moved out of the estate. One of those who collected signatures for the petition was then targeted in a campaign of intimidation which included her front window being smashed and her car damaged. Derek was shot in the leg following a row in Moneymore in March 2014. It is understood that incident stemmed from a row after he refused to get off a wall in the estate. On July 12, 2004, Derek killed a 57-year-old man who he attacked and beat to death on a Dublin street. Clarke tried to claim in court that he attacked Martin Reilly because he sexually assaulted his girlfriend. The court heard there was no evidence to back up this claim. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years. The court heard he had 15 previous convictions at the time. Since his release from prison he has been spotted befriending vulnerable women with learning difficulties, raising further concerns about his behaviour. Gardai arrested Derek in 2018 and questioned him about an imitation firearm and cannabis they found after raiding his home. After his release from custody his family home in Moneymore was once again damaged in a petrol bomb attack. Other innocent family members homes were firebombed around the same time as well. As a result of the firebomb attacks, one of Clarkes innocent sisters then moved to Rockfield Manor, Hoeys Lane, Dundalk, where Declan also came to live with her. He took against the Romanian family living in the estate and hatched his plan to burn them out. There was a racial element to the attack and Declan perceived the family had been mocking him over having one arm. Declan lost an arm aged 15 when he grabbed wires from a burned tyre which had been thrown across a 10,000 volt live cable. He was sentenced to six years and nine months with the final 18 months suspended. Rattigan tried to have his ex-girlfriends new partner shot by ordering hit from prison cell A FORMER target of infamous mob boss Brian Rattigan has been jailed after being caught red-handed collecting drug debts in Cork city. Paul Geraghty, who once had a hit put on him by Rattigan after starting a relationship with his ex-girlfriend Natasha McEnroe, was given a two-year sentence this week. The convicted drug dealer was caught in the city with 3,315 after travelling from Dublin to collect money from various people. Both Geraghty and McEnroe have been the target of garda investigations in the past and she had been previously named in court as being involved in Rattigans drug operations. But the couple fell foul of King Ratt when he ordered a hit on the pair while he was serving time in Portlaoise Prison. Rattigan had been incarcerated for seven years when McEnroe went to Portlaoise Prison in 2010 to break it off with him and the furious gang boss tried to attack her. Natasha McEnroe with Rattigan A hitman tried to kill Geraghty in January 2011. He narrowly escaped being shot by climbing out of a window at his home in Rathmines, south Dublin. Gardai kept Geraghty and McEnroes home under 24-hour watch amid fears they would be targeted by an enraged Rattigan from his prison cell. The protection was lifted when McEnroe made her peace with her ex, although Geraghty went to live in Cork for a time. This week, it emerged that Geraghty has since become heavily involved in heroin dealing in Cork city, as first reported in The Examiner. Following his arrest in 2021, texts were found on his phone which strongly suggested he was supplying drugs to people and collecting debts in Cork. A garda detective gave evidence in which he described the 36-year-old Dubliner as a convicted drug-dealer heavily involved in dealing heroin in Cork. Geraghty was arrested as he was about to board a bus for Dublin in October 2021, carrying a Penneys shopping bag. He was found to have 2,000 in his pockets and was then handcuffed and taken to a garda station where a search revealed more cash in the shopping bag. Using CCTV footage, officers then tracked Geraghtys movements around Cork which showed him meeting another convicted drug dealer at a DIY store. The footage also showed him collecting cash from drug users. Geraghty claimed he was getting 500 a week to collect the cash, while in court it was heard he also had addiction issues. He had pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge and was given a three year prison sentence with the final 12 months being suspended. Geraghty previously pleaded guilty after a garda raid on the home he shared with McEnroe in 2012 uncovered 2,000 worth of heroin. The Sunday World previously reported how the couple were the targets of a major garda investigation in 2015. In 2011, they had been questioned by gardai about the shooting of Declan OReilly, who had been a close friend of the couple. They were never charged with any offence related to the probe. Brian Rattigan, spent 17 years in prison after being convicted of the murder of Declan Gavin in 2001, which sparked the infamous Crumlin/Drimnagh feud. His murder conviction was later quashed and Rattigan pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but in the meantime had been convicted of a 1 million heroin deal from behind bars. During that trial it heard how he sent various instructions by text to people, including to McEnroe. When Rattigan suspected that the heroin had been found by gardai, he sent a text message to McEnroe that read: Get rid of ur phones, quick. Detectives later searched McEnroes home where they found notebooks that gardai considered to be drugs tick lists and were similar to notebooks found in Rattigans prison cell. Just five months after the Crumlin bust and the raid on Rattigans cell, officers stopped a car being driven by McEnroe. It was searched by gardai, who found 50,000 in cash. Rattigan was released in August 2021, two years after his murder conviction had been overturned, and he left for Spain. He was recently reported to have been stopped and briefly questioned by gardai at Dublin Airport after returning here earlier this month. Sporting a black eye, Rattigan told officers he was back in Ireland for business. A man in in his late teens, who was driving the other vehicle, was rushed to University Hospital Kerry where he remains in critical condition. A man in his 50s has died and a teenager has been critically injured in a horrific car crash in Co Kerry. The two-vehicle collision occurred in Kilbonnane, Beaufort, at approximately 1:10pm this afternoon Sunday, June 25. A male driver, who was the only person in one vehicle, was fatally injured. His body was removed to the mortuary in University Hospital Kerry where a post mortem will be conducted in due course. A man in in his late teens, who was driving the other vehicle, was rushed to University Hospital Kerry where he remains in critical condition. A female passenger, also aged in her late teens, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The road is currently closed while Forensic Collision Investigators carry out an examination. Local diversions are in place. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Any road users who were travelling in the area with camera footage (including dash cam), is asked to make this available to the investigation team. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 667 1160, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station. The east Cork strand is idyllic but can be prone to strong tides and rip currents. A woman who bravely dived into the sea in a bid to save a child in difficulty in the water has died. Gardai, paramedics and units of the Coast Guard and RNLI attended Ballycroneen Strand in east Cork shortly after 1pm today after reports of two people in difficulty in the water. The east Cork strand is idyllic but can be prone to strong tides and rip currents. It is understood a 10-year-old child got into difficulty in the water and a woman, who spotted what had happened, courageously went into the sea in a bid to save her youngster. Both ended up in difficulty. The alarm was raised by concerned onlookers and two units of the RNLI from Ballycotton and Crosshaven were tasked to attend the scene. The Coast Guard's Sikorsky sea and rescue helicopter was also launched and raced to the scene from Waterford. It is understood that two casualties were taken from the water within minutes of the emergency services arriving at the scene. One was rescued by the Coast Guard helicopter crew while the other was recovered by the RNLI units. Both were immediately brought for first aid. The woman was landed at Ballycotton Pier and given emergency medical treatment before being taken to Cork University Hospital (CUH) in a critical condition. Emergency medical attention was provided for both by paramedics who had also raced to the scene. Despite desperate efforts by medical staff to stabilise the woman's condition at CUH, she was pronounced dead a short time later. A post mortem examination will take place at CUH on Monday. The woman is not understood to be an Irish national, although she has been resident in the Cork area for some time. Her child was treated for shock and minor injuries. However, the injuries involved are not understood to be life threatening. Onlookers watched in shock as the drama of the air sea rescue unfolded directly in front of them. One official said a number of families were in tears as the two rescued swimmers were recovered from the water and brought for emergency medical treatment. Locals said the emergency response to the incident was remarkable - with multiple agencies deploying units within minutes of the alarm being raised. Weather conditions in the area at the time were described as very humid with patches of sunshine and occasional thundershowers. Ballycroneen is located in east Cork a short distance from Ballycotton, Cloyne and Shanagarry. Most daytrippers and tourists head to Garryvoe strand located further east while Ballycroneen is largely used by locals as it is traditionally a much quieter beach. However, given its location just to the east of the entrance to Cork harbour, the waters off Ballycroneen can be subject to strong tides and currents. The strand is particularly noted for having very strong rip currents offshore. After a deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out relatively peacefully Saturday after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The dramatic if brief revolt shifted the landscape for the Kremlin and the 16-month-old war in Ukraine and prompted Russia to pull soldiers back from the battlefield to defend the capital, a stunning recognition of the threat posed by Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin. Under the deal announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighbouring Belarus and charges of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government said it also would not prosecute fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry. Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, whose forces seized a key military facility in southern Russia before advancing on the capital. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said, Putins highest goal was to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armoured vehicles and troops on the citys southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported, signalling the Kremlins desperation as the Wagner troops advanced to, according to Prigozhin, just 200km from Moscow. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood. His troops were ordered back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. Prigozhin has demanded the ousting of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, long the target of his withering criticism for his conduct of the war in Ukraine. On Friday, he accused forces under Shoigu's command of attacking Wagner camps and killing a huge number of our comrades. Prigozhin did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand. Peskov said the issue could not have been discussed during the negotiations, which were conducted by the president of Belarus, and is the exclusive prerogative of the commander in chief. If Putin were to agree to Shoigus ousting, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. Early Saturday, Prigozhins private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city over 1,000km south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britains Ministry of Defense said. A nighttime video from the city posted on Russian messaging app channels showed people cheering Wagner troops as they left Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin was seen riding in one of the vehicles, and people greeted him and some ran to shake his hand as he lowered the window. The regional governor later said that all of the troops had left the city. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360km south of Moscow. Authorities declared a counterterrorist regime in Moscow and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. On the southern outskirts, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and set up machine guns. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared Monday a non-working day for most residents as part of the heightened security, a measure that remained in effect even after the retreat. The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europes largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that even with a deal, Putins position has probably been weakened and these events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs that it is easy to capture Russian cities and, probably, arsenals. Switching into Russian in his daily video address, Zelenskyy said the man from the Kremlin was very afraid. He repeated his calls for the West to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles. Prigozhin had vowed earlier that his fighters, whom he said number some 25,000, would not surrender because we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy. Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland, he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel. He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even a single gunshot. Russian media, however, reported that several helicopters and a military communications plane were downed by Wagner troops. The Kremlin referred a question about the losses to the Defence Ministry, which has not commented. The short-lived rebellion came as Russia is fighting the toughest battle for its future, Putin said, with the West piling sanctions on Moscow and arming Ukraine. The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us, Putin said. State-controlled TV networks led their newscasts with Putins statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Broadcasters also carried statements from top Russian officials and lawmakers voicing support for Putin, condemning Prigozhin and urging him to back down. Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who in the past has sided with Prigozhin in his criticisms of Russias military, also expressed support for Putins every word. The mutiny needs to be suppressed, Kadyrov said. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defence Ministry denied attacking the camps. The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has longstanding ties to Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname Putins chef. He gained attention in the US when he and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trumps 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine. The rebellion appeared likely to further hinder Moscows war effort in Ukraine, as Kyivs forces probed Russian defences in the initial stages of a counteroffensive. Orysia Lutsevych, the head of the Ukraine Forum at the Chatham House think tank in London, said the infighting could create confusion and potential division among Russian military forces. Russian troops in Ukraine may well now be operating in a vacuum, without clear military instructions, and doubts about whom to obey and follow, Lutsevych said. This creates a unique and unprecedented military opportunity for the Ukrainian army. The programme's third phase is worth 80 million and focuses on projects related to technical and vocational education and supporting job creation Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat held Sunday a virtual meeting with Claudia Farning, director general of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, to discuss the launch of the third phase of the debt swap programme for development between the two countries, and development financing priorities for the coming period. The third tranche of the debt swap programme is worth 80 million and focuses on projects related to technical and vocational education and supporting job creation. During the meeting, both sides reviewed projects underway in the first phase of the programme, which is worth 70 million, as well as the implementation of projects of the second phase, which are worth 90 million and which will be implemented in education, clean water and sanitation, energy, infrastructure sectors and promoting employment. Egypts Ministry of International Cooperation is committed to expand debt swaps that contribute to reducing Egypts foreign debt through using these debts to finance development projects and initiatives. Al-Mashat noted that bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Germany covers a multi-sectoral array of projects in many vital areas, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, irrigation, water resources, improving sanitation, solid waste management and supporting the private sector. The two sides also discussed procedures concerning inking a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the Middle East and North Africa region to support the private sector through a grant worth 3 million in partnership with Egypts Ministry of Trade and Industry. The current cooperation portfolio between Egypt and Germany amounts to $956.8 million, across several sectors including SMEs, the environment and clean energy, according to the Ministry of International Cooperation. Search Keywords: Short link: The former Late Late Show host was hoping to follow in the footsteps of RTE legend Mike Murphy by doing a travel series around Australia. RTE big-gun Ryan Tubridy was in talks for a TV comeback prior to this weeks scandal over his hidden payments. The former Late Late Show host was hoping to follow in the footsteps of RTE legend Mike Murphy by doing a travel series around Australia. Insiders revealed to the Sunday World that one of the features proposed for Tubridys Australia would be a link up with legendary Gladiator actor Russell Crowe, with whom he has forged a close friendship in recent years. However, a TV insider says that in the wake of the public outcry over Tubridys undisclosed earnings, RTE is unlikely to commit to funding the series if or when it lands on their desk. The idea for the travel series came after Ryan said on radio that he had never been to Australia, our source says. His team put together a proposal for the series with the content mapped out and Russell Crowe named as part of it. Russell Crowe is believed to be up for taking part in the series if it happens, as you would expect given his warm relationship with Ryan. However, I cant see how RTE could now commit to a project like this in the wake of this weeks revelations. I think there would now be an outcry from the public if a dream trip like this for Ryan Tubridy was funded from the licence fee. RTE director general Dee Forbes suspended amid furore over Ryan Tubridy salary controversy Oscar winner Crowe has appeared on The Late Late Show numerous times, and he paid a heartfelt tribute to Tubs on the final night saying: Every single time Ive come on the show, Ive loved it. I loved the vibe, I love what you have done and what you have achieved. Now forced off the airwaves by RTE and with no date set for his return, Ryan Tubridys future on the national broadcaster is uncertain. I think that when the dust settles and this scandal blows over, Ryan will be back on his RTE radio show, but it will be a while before that happens, another source says. There is no doubt this scandal will always hang over him. Id say he bitterly regrets leaving his business to others and not taking personal responsibility and action when he saw that RTE didnt publish all his earnings, with the sums omitted amounting to a staggering 345,000. What was he thinking! Id say he had shed a few tears over that in the last few days. He has badly damaged an otherwise blemish-free career in RTE. Will he be back? The biggest thing in his favour is that Ryan is likeable and I think there will be forgiveness by the majority of people. He has also said his taxes and business affairs are all in order, so there is no issue there. The odds of his return are definitely in his favour, but it has taken him down a peg or two, which some people are thrilled to see. Sitting on top of the moral high ground is always a precarious place to be. If RTE has an issue putting him back on air, what other options does Tubridy have in broadcasting? Ryan is expensive and commercial radio in Ireland doesnt have the kind of funds that RTE receive from the licence fee, our source points out. There are only one or two radio stations in Dublin that could afford him, but at a fraction of what he earns in RTE. Hes believed to be interested in doing a TV documentary on the Irish famine and maybe Netflix would be interested. But Ryan must be kicking himself, and maybe others, for ending up in this sorry mess at the age of 50. East Coast communities are again cut off from one another as heavy rain forced evacuations and saw scores of road closures amid bridge washouts, slips and cracked roads. Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz says it was heartbreaking to see families affected by severe weather again. 'We are feeling the cumulative effects both emotionally and financially. It has been raining non-stop. We are still cut off, there has been slips and landslides in areas where we don't usually see movement. This state has been ongoing since January 10, says Stoltz. 'We had Cyclone Hale, Cyclone Gabriel, heavy rain at Easter and an orange warning a couple of months ago and here we find ourselves again. There, State Highway 50 between Ongaonga and Tikokino was closed due to significant damage to a bridge. A red heavy rain warning for Gisborne ended on Sunday morning, but the region will be taking stock of significant further damage. Stoltz has declared a state of emergency in Tairawhiti, where last night 35 people were staying in evacuation centres. Many more had self-evacuated to friends and family, she says. The closure of State Highway 35 cut off communities to the north of Gisborne; crews were clearing a slip at Makorori and the highway was closed overnight. This road was washed out by the Mata River in Tairawhiti. Photo: Supplied SH2 was also closed as a result of major damage in the steep and windy Otoko Hill section, leading into the Waioeka Gorge. It was closed between Whatatutu Rd and Matawai due to severe cracking on Otoko Hill. All planned convoys through this section of road were cancelled on Saturday. A geotech team had inspected the hill and would be reporting back to Waka Kotahi. The Tairawhiti District Council had 73 roads listed as weather affected, of which 51 are fully closed. Heavy rain caused a slip on State Highway 35 north of Tologa Bay Photo:Dion Milner. Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty flew into Gisborne on Friday night and Stoltz showed him the extent of the damage on Saturday. She says she emphasised how fragile the region's roading network remained. The mayor is warning residents not to travel if they don't need to. Stoltz says the council was closely monitoring river levels overnight and will assess the damage on Sunday before reviewing the state of emergency. Fire and Emergency NZ is supporting the region with a special taskforce. McAnulty acknowledges Tairawhiti had faced three emergency weather situations in recent months. 'I saw how the local community and council have once again rallied together. The civil defence team are doing their best to support a community that's feeling tired from all that the weather has thrown at them, says McAnulty. He spoke to several people about how they were coping and what further support they needed, he says. 'This event hasn't been as bad as others, but because it's on top of so much rain it is causing so many issues. It was important that I came up to check in with everyone again, and see things for myself. The flooded Waipapa River in Hawke's Bay has washed out a bridge on SH50. Photo: Hawke's Bay Regional Council/Supplied. The National Emergency Management Agency has brought in more support staff from across New Zealand and will continue to monitor the situation closely. Tairawhiti Civil Defence controller David Wilson says Gisborne residents are being asked to reduce water use as the wastewater system reached capacity. 'To avoid overflow of sewage into private properties please do not flush toilets or do any loads of washing. Slips have closed several roads in Tairawhiti including Gordon Rd. Photo: Supplied. He says the slow moving weather event caused rivers to rise and land to move as the ground became more and more saturated. Both the Hikuwai and Waipaoa river levels had risen on Saturday and the road had washed out in the Waioeka Gorge. He says roading issues were increasing with drop-outs, slumping and landslides. About 300 customers were without power including some in areas were there was no access. 'Bushy Knoll residents are cut-off with no bridge access and no power. The roads are getting too dangerous for the contractors as slips and trees are coming down. MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker says Tairawhiti is set to beat its record for its wettest June. Its highest rainfall ever recorded was 327.9mm in June 1977. As at 5.30pm on Saturday it had reached 326.7mm. Several of MetService's weather stations Auckland Airport, Whenuapai, Napier Airport had recorded their average annual rainfall in just six months. Joanne Naish/Stuff An easterly quarter airflow still lies over the country however it is starting to ease for the South Island, says a WeatherWatch spokesperson. The bulk of the rain in the North Island over the next couple of days will be in Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, East Cape, western Bay of Plenty and Coromandel. In the South Island the heaviest rain will be around Tasman, southern Marlborough and Kaikoura areas. A front moving onto the West Coast overnight will be bringing heavy rain. North Island WeatherWatch say to expect showers for the east coast and for East Cape up through to Northland. "There will be morning rain for Auckland and Northland then easing. Taranaki has morning rain - possibly heavy -then afternoon sunny spells. "Elsewhere in the west for Wellington up through to Wanganui expect morning cloud then sunny spells Winds from the east, blustery at times, strong for East Cape through to Coromandel but easing later in the day. Easterlies in the west will be light to moderate." MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Warning for Tairawhiti/Gisborne. This is valid for 10 hours from 8am to 6pm on Sunday, June 25. "Expect a further 25 to 40 mm of rain, mainly from Tolaga Bay northwards. This is in addition to significant amounts of rain that have already accumulated during this event. Peak intensities of 5 to 10 mm/h," says a MetService spokesperson. Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous. "Note that while these expected rainfall accumulations do not meet official short term warning criteria an Orange Warning is being maintained since significant impacts such as slips, damage to roads, falling trees and damage to infrastructure such as powerlines could still occur." South Island WeatherWatch says rain for Tasman and Nelson is heavy then will be easing to showers in the afternoon. "Cloudy for the West Coast with showers pushing down from the north, overnight rain moves in with heavy falls, perhaps even some thunder. "Southland and Central Otago is mostly sunny with some high cloud however there could be morning fog. "The east coast has quite a bit of cloud, there could be a spit or shower about otherwise mainly dry. Some sun may even make an appearance from afternoon. "Marlborough has morning spits or showers then sunny spells. Winds are from the northeast mostly, fresh in the morning for Canterbury then easing." In the South Island, a front moves onto the west coast bringing heavy rain, says a MetService spokesperson. The affected area is the ranges of Westland south of Otira. The Heavy Rain Warning is valid for 33 hours from 3pm Sunday June 25 to 12am Tuesday June 27. "Expect 130 to 160 mm of rain to accumulate about the ranges, with lesser amounts near the coast. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h expected overnight. Thunderstorms possible," says a MetService spokesperson. "And the Watch there has now been upgraded to an Orange Warning. People are advised to keep up to date with forecasts in case changes are made." An Orange Warning from MetService means that heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous. People are advised to keep up to date with forecasts in case changes are made. Egypt and Italy signed mutual letters to extend the third phase of a $100 million debt swap programme for development projects until December 2024, read a statement by the Ministry of International Cooperation on Monday. The third phase of the debt swap programme includes implementing development projects in the fields of environment, agriculture, food security, education, cultural heritage, and civil society. The food security projects in the third phase include developing wheat silos and information technology management systems to the tune of EGP 416.7 million in investments. The third phase, signed in 2012, covers a project for solid waste management in Minya worth EGP 70.5 million. The first phase of the project was signed in 2001 with a value of $149 million used to fund 54 projects in Upper Egypt, while the second phase was signed in 2007 and totalled $100 million which were injected into 32 projects in different areas. Debt swap for development Debt swap programmes incorporate agreements using debt owed to Egypt's development partners to fund a series of projects. Egypt is implementing seven debt swap programmes with a total value of $100 million, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat stated in September 2022. Germany announced last year that it will support Egypt's Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) programme with 100 million ($108.74 million) in debt swaps. In a speech to the UN, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry called for the development of debt swap programmes to alleviate the debt crisis of developing countries. Egypt's debt has been exacerbated since the eruption of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in February 2022. According to the Central Bank of Egypt, Egypts external debt reached $154.9 billion in the 1Q of FY 2022/2023 (July-September 2022). Search Keywords: Short link: 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. Update: Elbridge man charged with attempted murder in shooting of his wife Update: Elbridge woman, 60, shot in head in critical condition Original article Elbridge, N.Y. A 78-year-old man shot his wife in the head in Elbridge Sunday afternoon, the Onondaga County sheriff said. Around 12:22 p.m., a 911 dispatcher told police that a man called to say he had shot his wife because she was bothering him, according to county 911 center dispatches. Sheriff Toby Shelley told Syracuse.com | The Post Standard that the man shot his 60-year-old wife in the head. Shelley said he had not confirmed a motive yet. The woman was rushed to Upstate University Hospital and was intubated when she arrived, Shelley said. He did not know her condition. The man told dispatchers that he shot his wife twice with a rifle but hadnt meant to shoot her the second time, according to dispatches. He told them his hands were shaking so bad the gun fired again. The couple was the only ones inside the home when the shooting occurred, Shelley said. The shooting was reported at the 5300 block of Kingston Road. The man also told dispatchers he thought he was having a heart attack and the dispatcher requested two ambulances at the Elbridge home. He was taken to Crouse Hospital, Shelley said. Charges will be pending until investigators have a chance to speak with the man, Shelley said. Shelley said police have never been called to the couples home for a domestic incident before. Tom Newton, a sheriffs spokesman, confirmed there is a large police presence on Kingston Road. Police are waiting for a search warrant so they can begin collecting evidence in the home, Shelley said. There is a large police presence in the Village of Elbridge after a man called 911 to report that he shot his wife on Sunday, June 25, 2023. (Anne Hayes | Ahayes@syracuse.com) Editors note: A previous version of this story stated Sherman Cottrill was 79 years old based on information from the sheriff. The story has been updated to correctly reflect he is 78 years old. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Annsville, N.Y. -- A 26-year-old man died in a single-car accident in Oneida County Saturday night, deputies said. Christopher Rhodes, of Rome, N.Y., was driving his 2008 Honda on Medows Road in Annsville around 11:45 p.m. when his car collided with a tree, according to a news release from the Oneida County Sheriffs Office. Deputies discovered that Rhodes strayed out of his lane while going around a slight curve in the road before going onto the shoulder of the road and striking a tree, they said. Rhodes was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said. Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. Turkey has escalated drone attacks on Kurdish-held regions of north and northeast Syria this week, killing 16 people including one civilian in a single day, a war monitor said Thursday. The strikes mostly targeted Kurdish-held Tal Rifaat and Manbij in the country's north near the Turkish border, areas Ankara has repeatedly threatened to attack. "Turkey has significantly escalated its drone strikes since the start of the week," with 16 killed on Wednesday alone, said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. The Turkish defence ministry meanwhile said its forces had "destroyed terrorist targets" and "neutralised 16 terrorists", referring to Kurdish-led fighters. Four fighters from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed when "a Turkish drone targeted a military vehicle" in Hasakeh province, which is run by a semi-autonomous Kurdish administration, the Britain-based Observatory said. The US-backed SDF is the Kurdish administration's de facto army, and its fighters spearheaded the battle against the Islamic State group in Syria, driving it from its last stronghold in the country in 2019. Turkish drone strikes in northern Syria's Aleppo province killed six fighters from the Manbij Military Council, which is affiliated with the SDF, according to a statement from the council. Four were killed as they were trying to transport children who were wounded in a ground attack to hospital, the Observatory said. One civilian working for the Kurdish administration was also killed in a strike in the Manbij area, added the Observatory, which relies on a wide network of sources on the ground in Syria. In the mostly Kurdish-held Tal Rifaat enclave, five Syrian soldiers died following "a Turkish drone strike on a regime military position", according to the war monitor. The enclave has Turkish-controlled areas to its north and regime-held territory to its south. Syrian state media did not immediately report the incident. Ankara has launched successive military offensives in Syria, most of them targeting Kurdish militants that Ankara links to a group waging a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. Turkey stepped up deadly drone strikes in Kurdish-controlled parts of Syria after a July 2022 summit with Iran and Russia failed to provide Ankara with a green-light for a fresh offensive, mainly on Tal Rifaat and Manbij, Kurdish officials and the Observatory said at the time. Since Syria's war erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of peaceful protests, the conflict -- which has drawn in foreign powers and global jihadists -- has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions. Search Keywords: Short link: Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, have expressed their support for the European Union's governance of artificial intelligence (AI) after engaging in discussions with European Commissioner Thierry Breton, according to a report by Bloomberg. Commissioner Breton revealed that he and Zuckerberg were both aligned regarding the EU's regulation of AI, which is currently in the final stages of negotiation. EU's Approach to AI They both agree on the bloc's risk-based approach and various measures, such as watermarking. Altman also expressed his agreement with the EU's approach to AI, acknowledging the institution's foresight and commitment to addressing the issue on a global scale. Altman further conveyed OpenAI's enthusiasm to cooperate and comply with the European market, stating, "We look forward to working with you to be running well in advance and offering a European service in compliance with the European market." OpenAI is renowned for developing ChatGPT, the viral chatbot that has generated significant interest in the capabilities of generative AI but also raised concerns industry-wide due to its rapid advancement. Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs at Meta, voiced the company's support for the objectives of the AI Pact. While acknowledging the need for a thorough examination of the details, Clegg emphasized the importance of tech companies being transparent about their AI-related work and engaging collaboratively with industry, governments, and civil society. Read Also: Malaysia Set to Sue Meta Over Harmful Facebook Content Breton's Tech Tour These discussions took place as part of Commissioner Breton's tour of technology companies. Following his visit to Meta, Breton expressed confidence in the company's preparedness to comply with Europe's stringent content moderation regulations. However, he also mentioned that Meta has agreed to undergo a stress test of its systems in the coming month to ensure full compliance. Zuckerberg committed to participating in a test in mid-July to evaluate Meta's handling of content moderation rules. Breton highlighted that Meta has a substantial workforce of around 1,000 individuals dedicated to implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA) of the European Union. Additionally, Meta's CEO expressed interest in future tests to assess how the company's platforms will adhere to upcoming competition rules outlined in the EU's Digital Markets Act. During the conversations, Commissioner Breton stressed the significance of allocating more resources to combat disinformation, specifically focusing on Russian disinformation aimed at Eastern European nations concerning the Ukrainian conflict. The issue of child predators targeting youngsters on Meta's Instagram platform, as highlighted in a report by the Wall Street Journal, was also brought up and discussed. Clegg characterized the exchange as positive and extended an invitation to Commissioner Breton's team to visit Meta's Dublin campus. The purpose of the visit would be to witness the stress-testing of their operational procedures prior to their implementation. In a separate meeting, Breton discussed artificial intelligence with Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia Corp., the leading global chipmaker specializing in processors for AI. Following the meeting, Huang expressed that it is highly likely that Nvidia will make investments in Europe. During his visit, Breton also met with Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, and the new CEO, Linda Yaccarino. He emphasized the need for Twitter to allocate additional resources to address sensitive content to ensure compliance with the EU's regulations by the August deadline. Related Article: Tech CEO Brawl: Elon Musk vs. Mark Zuckerberg, Soon in the Vegas Octagon? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots have rapidly gained popularity with the introduction of OpenAI's ChatGPT in 2022, with millions of people using it for various purposes. However, several compelling alternatives have emerged as the AI landscape evolves, offering unique features and capabilities. Considering other ChatGPT alternatives is important because it allows users to explore different chatbots with unique capabilities, customization options, and performance levels. It also provides opportunities for cost-effectiveness and accessibility and encourages competition and innovation in the field of AI chatbots. The availability of multiple chatbot options stimulates competition among developers and drives them to improve their offerings continuously. This competition fosters innovation, leading to the development of more advanced and efficient chatbot solutions. In this listicle, we present the best ChatGPT alternatives for 2023 provided by WeAreDevelopers. 1. Bard by Google Bard, a brainchild of Google, leverages the power of LaMDA and PaLM LLM models. This chatbot has witnessed significant updates, enhancing coding assistance and user interface. One standout feature is its drafting capability, enabling users to visually compare code versions while effortlessly creating new drafts. 2. Bing AI Microsoft's collaboration with OpenAI has given birth to Bing AI, an exciting development powered by GPT technology. Accessible through Microsoft Edge across various devices, Bing AI offers ChatGPT 4, promising an immersive conversational experience. With three dynamic conversational styles to choose from, Bing AI tailors responses to cater to your queries, seamlessly combining search results with AI-driven chat functionality. 3. Sparrow by Deepmind Sparrow, a dialogue agent developed by Deepmind, addresses the challenges posed by inappropriate or unsafe responses from language models. Its core mission is to provide informative and helpful responses while mitigating harmful outcomes. Sparrow promises a safer and more responsible conversational experience. 4. Chatsonic Writesonic created this AI chatbot and harnesses its power through swift data, image, and voice searches. It can generate a wide range of content, spanning from social media ad copy to intricate blog posts, solely based on simple word prompts. Read Also: Mercedes-Benz Is Adding OpenAI's ChatGPT to MBUX Voice Assistant: Here's What You Need To Know 5. HuggingChat HuggingChat, an open-source chat model developed by Hugging Face, showcases the cutting-edge GPT-3 technology from OpenAI. As a go-to hub for developers exploring AI and machine learning applications, Hugging Face offers this powerful chatbot as a gateway to the conversational AI landscape. As AI chatbots continue to evolve, these ChatGPT alternatives redefine the boundaries of conversational AI. From Google's Bard with its drafting capabilities to Microsoft's Bing AI combining search and AI chat seamlessly, each alternative presents unique features and advancements. Embrace the future of conversational AI with these compelling alternatives to ChatGPT in 2023. Related Article: ChatGPT Trained on Copyrighted Books! Memorized Harry Potter, Other Novels, New Study Claims 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria will participate in an international meeting on Syria in the Kazakh capital of Astana on June 20-21, Russian Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said. The UN special envoy Geir Pedersen will be joined by delegations from the guarantor countries Russia, Iran and Turkey and representatives of the Syrian government and opposition, according to Russian news agency TASS. UN representatives and representatives from neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq will also participate in the negotiations, TASS added. Earlier, in May, Russia proposed a roadmap to normalise ties between Syria and Turkey at the first meeting of their foreign ministers since the start of the Syrian civil war over a decade ago. Similarly, in April, Russia's defense minister hosted his counterparts from Iran, Syria and Turkey for talks that were part of the Kremlin's efforts to help broker a rapprochement between the Turkish and Syrian governments. Turkey which supported early rebel efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, maintains a military presence in northern stretches of the war-torn country that angers Damascus, launching successive military offensives in Syria, most of them targeting Kurdish militants that Ankara links to a group waging a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. Assad's government has described the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory as a prerequisite for a normalization of ties. On the other side, Moscow has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Syrian President Bashar Assads government to reclaim control over most of the country. While the bulk of Russia's armed forces have been busy fighting in Ukraine, Moscow has maintained its military presence in Syria and has also made persistent efforts to help Assad rebuild fractured ties with Turkey and other countries in the region following the civil war that has killed nearly 500,000 people and displaced half of the countrys prewar population. Search Keywords: Short link: Swimming pools provide a source of joy and relaxation, but they also carry inherent risks, especially the potential for drowning. In an effort to mitigate this danger, a German swimming pool is currently conducting a trial of an AI-powered monitoring system designed to save lives, according to a report by The Star. AI as a Lifeguard Located in Wiesbaden's Kleinfeldchen swimming baths, this facility boasts both indoor and outdoor pools. In August 2020, one of the indoor pools commenced its use of an innovative AI monitoring system developed by an Israeli start-up. Consisting of four ceiling-mounted cameras overlooking the 25x15m pool, this system aims to enhance safety through advanced technology. Thomas Baum, the operations manager at Mattiaqua, the regional pool operator, explains that the cameras detect water movements and record movement profiles for analysis using AI algorithms. When the system identifies irregular patterns, it promptly alerts the pool staff via their smartwatches. Shahabeddin Khatibi, a pool attendant involved since the system's inception, describes how the smartwatches emit an audible beep, vibrate, and display a red dot indicating the precise location of the person in distress. Additionally, three accompanying pictures provide further context to aid the response. Initially, there were instances of false alarms triggered by routine swimmer movements, such as roll turns. However, as time passed, the AI system adapted and learned to distinguish between normal swimming actions and genuine emergencies. Shahabeddin provides feedback to the system after each alarm, contributing to its continuous learning and improving its accuracy in assessing distress situations. Following the completion of the trial and learning phase, Thomas Baum aims to implement the AI system in other pools and baths throughout Wiesbaden. The plan includes equipping the non-swimmers area and the outdoor pools, with the thermal pool scheduled to adopt the technology next year. The costs of implementation depend on pool size and the number of cameras required, with the estimated annual expenditure ranging from $32,000 to $42,000 for the current pool. Read Also: NVIDIA's New AI Tech Makes NPC Interactions More Natural! Here's What To Know About Avatar Cloud Engine A Complementary Solution The AI Lifeguard system was not intended to replace human staff or water rescue services. Instead, it acts as an additional layer of protection for both staff members and swimmers. Thomas Baum emphasizes the system's significance: "If it works only once in ten years and saves a person's life, then every cent invested was worth it." Beyond its life-saving capabilities, the AI system enhances swimming supervision. Shahabeddin, a swimming supervisor, refers to the technology as their "third eye," particularly during peak periods when the pool accommodates thousands of guests. The system provides comprehensive oversight, enabling effective management even in crowded scenarios. Additionally, the technology can detect and raise an alarm if small children become separated from their parents while swimming. To address concerns regarding data protection, the cameras solely recognize the outlines of individuals. Baum emphasizes, "It's not about monitoring people but about the safety of the bathers." Related Article: G-7 Leaders Want to Develop an AI Framework Called the 'Hiroshima AI Process' After the Recent Summit 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Metro Nashville Police detained a Miami man after a determined Illinois woman's search for her stolen iPhone led them to the suspect's Jeep, which had her phone and over 20 other stolen items wrapped in aluminum foil. The MNPD reported that the arrest of Orelcy Hernandez Montero, 54, of Miami, has revealed a possible organized mobile phone stealing scheme. Authorities are still probing Montero, who is now charged with two charges of felony theft and one count of misdemeanor theft, according to WSVN. A Miami man was arrested after an Illinois woman led police to her stolen iPhone that was inside the mans Jeep along with nearly 20 other stolen phones wrapped in aluminum foil, according to Metro Nashville Police. https://t.co/TjHpQZ6xbn WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) June 20, 2023 Persistence Pays Off The event started when the 25-year-old victim noticed her $1,200 iPhone was stolen from her handbag inside the Layer Cake restaurant on 3rd Avenue South on Sunday morning. She tracked the phone's movement to a parking lot behind the restaurant using the tracking function on her Apple Watch. The victim immediately called the police and requested aid, and they arrived at the site quickly. The victim's phone was constantly pinging when they discovered a maroon Jeep Waggoneer in the parking lot. The cops saw the stolen iPhone inside the car, obviously visible. The police followed Montero's Jeep after seeing him enter and leave it on surveillance footage. Montero called an Uber to escape the cops when he returned. Before he could flee, he was apprehended by authorities. Read Also: Diablo IV Certified Hit, But Fans Frustrated With Live-Service Content Update With a search warrant, the law enforcers entered the Jeep and found 17 more mobile phones, several of which were meticulously wrapped in aluminum foil to cover up their signals, according to WSMV. The search yielded a laptop and a woman's wallet. One phone was stolen from a man's pocket inside Kid Rock's Broadway club the night before, according to the inquiry. The wallet had been stolen from an Alabama lady at Jason Aldean's club on Broadway at the same time. To locate the legitimate owners of the seized phones and laptops discovered in Montero's hands, MNPD's investigation is still underway. Tech Giants Collaborate To Curb Unauthorized Tracking In a similar trend, there has been an increase in worry about using Bluetooth location-tracking devices for unauthorized tracking. To counteract this abuse, Apple and Google co-submitted a suggested industry standard in response in May. The industry-first protocol will allow Bluetooth location-tracking devices to work with unauthorized tracking detection and alarms on iOS and Android systems, according to Apple Newsroom. The draft standard, which offers manufacturers best practices and guidelines for incorporating these defensive features into their devices, has received the backing of well-known firms, including Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Security, and Pebblebee. Apple's vice president of sensing and connectivity, Ron Huang, underlined that the industry definition expands on the proactive capabilities designed to prevent unauthorized tracking already included in Apple's AirTag and the Find My iPhone network. The joint efforts of Apple and Google represent a substantial advancement in resolving the problem on the iOS and Android platforms. Related Article: Twitter Hacker Gets 5 Years in Prison for Hijacking Accounts of Top US Political, Business Leaders 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A roller coaster accident at Stockholm's Grona Lund amusement park has sent shockwaves to the public, prompting questions about safety measures and technical aspects of park attractions. The tragic incident, which claimed one life and left nine others injured, including children, has raised concerns about the integrity and maintenance of the roller coaster involved. Roller Coaster Accident As Reuters reports, eyewitnesses recount a harrowing experience as the Jetline roller coaster, a beloved attraction at Grona Lund, partially derailed during a ride, resulting in passengers crashing to the ground. The incident unfolded before the eyes of park visitors, leaving them in shock. Emergency services promptly arrived, including ambulances, fire trucks, and a helicopter, to assist and evacuate the park. Police have initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident. Roller Coaster Technical Issues According to the park's website, the roller coaster was "an action-packed roller coaster with heights and bends that cause 1 million riders to shriek with delight each season." "Jetline is a classic steel-track roller coaster designed by the legendary roller coaster manufacturers, Anton Schwartzkopf," it also said. LadBible reports that the Jetline roller coaster, a 140-year-old steel-tracked ride, runs at speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph) and a towering height of 30 meters (98 feet). Read Also: Tesla Driver Dies in California Firetruck Crash Days After Tesla Recalled 362,000 EVs However, questions have arisen regarding its technical integrity and maintenance protocols. Reuters reports that some eyewitnesses reported hearing metallic noises and noticing shaking of the track structure before the accident, suggesting possible technical faults. Amusement Park Safety Standards This tragic incident brings attention to the broader issue of amusement park safety worldwide. According to the National Safety Council's latest ride safety report, there were approximately 130 serious ride-related injuries, including fatalities, at North American theme parks in 2021. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) establishes ride safety standards, ensuring compliance even for cutting-edge thrill rides. However, incidents like these prompt a reevaluation of the effectiveness and enforcement of these standards. Based on parks data, the IAAPA estimates that the chances of being badly injured on a fixed-site ride at a U.S. amusement park are one in every 15.5 million rides taken. Park's Response and Investigation Grona Lund responded to the accident by expressing deep regret and confirming the park's closure until further notice. The management is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. Authorities are closely examining the roller coaster's mechanical components, maintenance records, and adherence to safety protocols. The findings will shed light on any potential technical malfunctions, inadequate maintenance, or lapses in safety procedures. Public Reactions and Safety Measures Members of the public, including visitors and park-goers, expressed their shock and sympathy for the victims and their families. Sweden's Culture Minister, Parisa Liljestrand, described the news as incomprehensible and offered her condolences. This tragic event emphasizes the need for regular inspections, strict safety protocols, and training programs for ride operators to ensure visitor well-being. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: [LOOK] iPhone 14 Video Shows How Crash Detection Detects a Vehicular Accident 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a tragic incident at San Antonio's international airport, an airport worker lost their life after being sucked into a jet engine on Friday, June 23. As The Guardian reports, the incident occurred as a Delta Air Lines jet, fresh from its arrival from Los Angeles, was taxiing toward an arrival gate. The identity of the deceased worker has not been disclosed publicly, and investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of their death. Investigations Underway According to a source, the worker appeared to have intentionally stepped before the live engine. However, the authorities are still investigating this information, and an official cause of death has not yet been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has contacted Delta and is gathering information regarding the incident. The worker was employed by Unifi Aviation, a company responsible for ground handling operations for Delta and other airlines. Unifi expressed deep sadness over the loss of their employee during this tragic incident. Further details regarding the incident have not been disclosed. Local news reported that the airport already confirmed an employee's death. Emergency responders, including San Antonio firefighters and police officers, were the first to arrive at the scene following the worker's death. The NTSB has joined the investigation, and a preliminary report with more information is expected to be released in the coming days. What Happens If a Human Gets Sucked Into a Plane Engine This unfortunate incident draws attention to the risks associated with jet engines and the importance of adhering to safety protocols. A simulation video that went viral in January demonstrated the consequences of a human body being sucked into an airplane engine. The video, shared on YouTube, depicted a disintegration of the body and subsequent malfunctioning of the aircraft's engine. The footage was terrifying to many, remarking on the added sounds and visuals in the simulation. Read Also: Nepal Airplane Crash Last Seconds Livestreamed by Passenger | Data Recorder Sent to France Similar Instances Shockingly, people being pulled into jet engines has happened in the past. In 2015, an airplane mechanic from Texas suffered the same fate, losing their life after being sucked into a jet engine while passengers were boarding. Another incident took place at Alabama's Montgomery Regional Airport on December 2022, where an airport employee died after being sucked into an aircraft engine. These incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining strict safety precautions around aircraft and engines. Authorities, including the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (Osha), will investigate the San Antonio worker's death to determine if any safety breaches contributed to the tragic incident. Osha had previously determined that a safety breach led to the Alabama incident and issued a fine to the responsible party. As investigations continue into the recent San Antonio jet engine accident, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of airport workers and preventing similar incidents in the future. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: At-Home Science Experiment Accident Severely Burns 12-Year-Old Boy! Prevention Guide You Need To Follow 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. United Nations aid transited Friday from regime-controlled northwest Syria to rebel-held areas for the first time since a devastating February earthquake, an AFP correspondent and a humanitarian official said. The correspondent saw the 10-truck convoy reach rebel-held Al-Nayrab in Idlib province from the direction of regime-held Saraqib, headed for storage facilities near the Turkish border. The last such convoy was in January, according to a humanitarian official in Idlib who requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The trucks were covered with banners bearing the name and logo of the UN World Food Programme, the correspondent said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Twitter the "cross-line convoy is underway, carrying UN humanitarian supplies" to northwest Syria. A February 6 earthquake devastated parts of Turkey and Syria, including areas of the war-torn country's Idlib region that are controlled by jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Around three million of people, most of whom have been displaced by Syria's war, live in HTS-controlled parts of the Idlib region. On February 10, President Bashar al-Assad's regime said it had approved the delivery of humanitarian aid directly from government-held territory to rebel areas, but HTS head Abu Mohammed al-Jolani refused assistance through such a route. The UN largely delivers relief to Syria's northwest via neighbouring Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing -- the only way for aid to enter without Damascus's involvement. The number of UN-approved crossings has shrunk from four in 2014 after years of pressure from regime allies China and Russia at the UN Security Council. The UN chief said on February 13 that Assad had agreed to open the Bab al-Salama and Al-Rai crossings from Turkey to allow aid to enter rebel-held areas for an initial period of three months. Syria in May extended access for those two crossings, which are operated by Turkish-backed rebels, for another three months, OCHA said at the time. Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and displaced millions since erupting in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests. Despite periodic exchanges of deadly fire, including in recent days, a ceasefire deal brokered by Moscow and Ankara has largely held in the northwest since March 2020. Search Keywords: Short link: Origin of life: Have you cracked the mother of all questions, Ulrich Schreiber? Did the lioness come from private keeping? In Germany, this is hardly regulated Taste the long table banquet, appreciate the Yao song and dance... Guangdong Liannan Yao Ethnic Customs and Culture Week was launched Pedro Sanchez plants Susanna Griso at the last minute to close his television tour with Silvia Intxaurrondo in RTVE 10 yuan per hour in some scenic spots Is the hourly charging mode of the shared charging treasure reasonable? A picture that opens fire on Nancy Ajram. Is the Lebanese artist accused of normalization with Israel? Matured Vasilisa, Ivan's daughters and young Yaga: near Moscow, the filming of the series "The Last Bogatyr. Heritage" What Yolanda Diaz meant with her clothes in the last electoral debate The huge prize of the Las Vegas World Poker Championship: four times more than Alcaraz at Wimbledon Acroyoga, nine hours of swimming pool and surgical precision to perform the best artistic swimming World Cup in Spanish history New Zealander Wilkinson, a striker who wants to make football equal to rugby in her country The Football Association issued four tickets in a row, and spectators in the Jiangsu Division were fined for throwing objects at each other and attacking each other Women's World Cup: victory and records for New Zealand and Australia in the opening Claudia Zornoza: "As a result of the injuries I got rid of all the hobbies because I think they are not good" Asgreen and the agonizing triumph of an escape that tried to torpedo Philipsen with the most controversial maneuver Alonso and his first victory: "That day changed my life and I lost my privacy" Restless record holder: Isinbayeva will lose IOC privileges in the summer of 2024 and may become persona non grata in Russia Calvino now avoids confirming that next year there will be no tolls on the highways National Development and Reform Commission: A new version of the negative list for market access will be introduced National Development and Reform Commission: Two supporting policy documents to promote the development and expansion of the private economy will be issued soon After the release of the central heavy document, these supporting policies will be introduced People from private enterprises talked about China's promotion of the private economy to become bigger, better and stronger: boosting confidence and stimulating vitality The provincial and municipal dispatched agencies of the State Administration of Financial Supervision were listed LPR "on hold" in July, the market expects that the third quarter may usher in a RRR cut Netflix plummets 8% in the stock market despite adding almost 6 million subscribers in three months The 27 reopen the internal debate on how to reach out to Turkey Pyongyong: US submarine arrival in South Korea meets standards for the use of nuclear weapons Cavaillon: the CRS-8 sent to the site after the installation of a funfair by dealers Japanese nuclear contaminated water is discharged into the sea: if you insist on going your own way, it will be difficult to collect the water Speaker of Parliament: Georgia saw the ugly face of the European elite because of the situation with Saakashvili Tension between the Elysee and Matignon, hesitations of the president... Lessons learned from the redesign After the protests at the Swedish embassy: "People are angry and disappointed" Three activists arrested for sneaking into Ibiza airport sticking to a private jet and spraying it with paint The astonishing data of the time trial in which Vingegaard swept Pogacar: "He scored more watts than expected" Vingegaard and the shadow of doping: "I wouldn't take anything I couldn't give my daughter" (m+) That's it for the Internet: Oliver Samwer shuts down his start RaHDit hackers published the routes of ships from which they could hit the Crimean bridge India in shock after video of two attacked in public in Manipur War in Ukraine: New Russian "night of hell" in Odessa and the south of the country 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to punish "traitors" from the Wagner mercenary group, after its leader swore he would topple Moscow's military leadership. Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, released a series of messages from late Friday into Saturday, claiming that he and his mercenary troops had entered the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and taken control of its military sites. Here is what we know so far: What sparked the rebellion? For months, Prigozhin has been locked in a power struggle with the military top brass, blaming them for his troops' deaths in eastern Ukraine. He has repeatedly accused them of failing to equip his private army adequately, of holding up progress with bureaucracy, while claiming victories won by Wagner as their own. On Friday, Prigozhin's anger appeared to boil over, as he accused Moscow's military leadership of ordering strikes on Wagner's camps and killing a large number of forces. He said they had to be stopped and vowed to "go to the end". He later claimed his forces had downed a Russian military helicopter. Hours later, the leader of the mercenary group said he had military sites in southern Russia's Rostov-on-Don "under control". How is Moscow reacting? The Kremlin had said overnight that "measures are being taken" against the mutiny. Russia has tightened security in Moscow and several regions such as Rostov and Lipetsk. Putin has called the Wagner mutiny a "deadly threat" to Russia and urged the country to unite. Branding the action by Wagner mercenaries as "treason", he vowed "inevitable punishment". Who are the Wagner troops? The private army had been involved in conflicts in the Middle East and Africa but always denied involvement. Prigozhin last year admitted he had founded the group, recruiting the soldiers from Russian prisons in exchange for amnesty. In eastern Ukraine, the mercenary unit has been spearheading Russia's costly battles. It had been at the forefront of the months-long assault for Bakhmut, capturing the site for Russia, but at huge losses. How this affects Russia's war The rebellion marks the most serious challenge yet to Putin's long rule and Russia's most serious security crisis since he came to power in late 1999. It would divert attention and resources away from the battlefields in Ukraine, at a time when Kyiv is in the midst of a counteroffensive to seize back territory. Ukraine's army has said it was "watching" the infighting between Prigozhin and Putin. Moscow meanwhile has warned that Kyiv's army was seizing the moment to concentrate its troops "for offensive actions" near Bakhmut. The significance of the mutiny was also not lost on world leaders, with leaders of the United States, France and Germany all saying that they are watching developments closely. Search Keywords: Short link: Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Cairo Saturday afternoon where he was received by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly at the start of his visit to Egypt. After arriving, the Indian prime minister expressed his confidence that the trip will strengthen the two countries' relationship, saying he looks forward to meeting President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Landed in Cairo. I am confident this visit will strengthen Indias ties with Egypt. I look forward to talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attending other programmes. pic.twitter.com/a4j0Ylzc3i Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2023 This is Modi's first-ever visit to Egypt, which came following an invitation from El-Sisi. Modi also thanked his Egyptian counterpart for welcoming him at the airport. I thank Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for the special gesture of welcoming me at the airport. May India-Egypt ties flourish and benefit the people of our nations. pic.twitter.com/XUNHGsVtA2 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2023 The Indian prime minister tweeted the messages in both English and Arabic, after arriving from a visit to the United States. Members of the Indian community in Egypt also received the prime minister at the airport. Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy was people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly, a celebration of our shared cultural linkages. pic.twitter.com/rTqQcz3tz7 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2023 According to previous statements by the Indian embassy in Cairo, there are 3,600 Indians living in Egypt. Most are located in Cairo while the rest are in Alexandria and in Port Said. First visit by PM since 1997 Modis visit to Cairo will give new momentum to the multifaceted relationship between the two countries, Indian Ambassador in Cairo Ajit Gupte told Egypts official news agency MENA on Saturday. During his two-day visit, Modi will meet with senior Egyptian officials, as well as the Indian community in Cairo, the ambassador revealed. This visit comes in light of the unprecedented boom in relations between Cairo and New Delhi at all levels since El-Sisi assumed leadership of the country in 2014, he added. The last visit of an Indian prime minister to Egypt was in 1997, Gupte pointed out. The relationship was upgraded to the level of a strategic partnership" in January during El-Sisis visit to New Delhi. During the January visit, El-Sisi and Modi announced they would increase bilateral trade to $12 billion in the next five years. The value of trade between Egypt and India has increased to $6 billion during the year 2022, compared to $5.3 billion in 2021, an increase of 13.7 percent, according to a statement from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) on Saturday. According to CAPMAS, the value of Indian investments in Egypt reached $33.1 million during the first half of fiscal year 2022/2023, compared to $24.2 million during the same period of FY2021/2022, an increase of 36.8 percent. Around 50 Indian companies operating in Egypt provide direct employment to approximately 38,000 Egyptians, according to the Indian embassy in Cairo. Search Keywords: Short link: Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at chris@elliott.org or get help by contacting him on his site. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close SHANGHAI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai received 6.72 million tourist visits during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday that ended on Saturday, said the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism. Most travelers preferred excursions or city tours due to the lingering rainy weather, and museums and galleries in Shanghai were popular destinations during the holiday. Data from the administration shows that during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, 129 museums in Shanghai held 32 temporary exhibitions and received 292,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 4.28 percent over the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, 66 art galleries in the city held 121 exhibitions, receiving 78,800 visits. The trade exchange between Egypt and India reached $6 billion in 2022, compared to $5.3 billion in 2021, reflecting a 13.7 percent increase, the Central Agency for Public Mobilizations and Statistics (CAPMAS) said on Saturday. The statement coincided with the arrival of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Cairo on Saturday, in his first-ever visit to Cairo and the first visit by an Indian PM to Egypt since 1997 Egyptian exports to India amounted to around $1.9 billion in 2022, compared to $2 billion in 2021, a decrease of 6.5 percent, the statement added. On the other hand, Egyptian imports from India reached $4.1 billion in 2022, compared to $3.2 billion in 2021, an increase of 26.4 percent, according to the statement. The most significant commodities exported by Egypt to India in 2022 were mineral fuels, mineral oils and their distillation products ($1.1 billion); fertilizers ($242.1 million); inorganic chemical products ($240.8 million); salt and sulfur ($91.5 million) and cotton ($76.8 million). Meanwhile, Egypts top imports included meat ($669.2 million); iron and steel ($538.8 million); mineral fuels, mineral oils and their distillation products ($448.2 million); organic chemical products ($358.4 million) and boilers, machinery, mechanical appliances and tools ($274.4 million). During his visit to India in January, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and PM Modi announced they would double bilateral trade from its current level to $12 billion in the next five years. The value of Indian investments in Egypt reached $33.1 million during the first half of the fiscal year 2022/2023, compared to $24.2 million during FY2021/2022, an increase of 36.8 percent. In previous statements, the Indian embassy stated that there are currently around 50 Indian companies operating in Egypt that provide direct employment to approximately 38,000 Egyptians. Remittances from Egyptians working in India reached $6 million during FY2021/2022, compared to $5.8 million during FY2020/2021, a 3.6 percent increase. On the other hand, the value of remittances from Indians working in Egypt amounted to $16.3 million during FY2021/2022, compared to $14.3 million during FY2020/2021, a 13.8 percent increase. According to the Indian embassy in Cairo, about 3,600 live in Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: Global transport platform Uber may be good at making headlines, but on one big delivery it failed. About four years ago, the delivery and taxi firm announced, with much fanfare in Australia, that Melbourne would be its third official pilot city alongside Dallas and Los Angeles as it took to the skies with a fleet of electric air taxis. Siobhan Lyndon and Andrew Moore from AMSL Aero with the Vertiia aircraft they have designed and are now testing. Credit: Wolter Peeters Taking Ubers tech to the sky, Uber Air aims to open up urban air mobility, and help alleviate transport congestion on the ground, the company stated. Uber Airs ambitious flight plans centred around electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Once considered a flight of fancy, air taxis were about to become a reality. Uber would begin flying tens of thousands of passengers around the city from 2023 in safe, quiet electric vehicles for the same price as an UberX trip. Mums funeral in 2014 was held in an intimate funeral-home chapel that felt cavernous with the small number of mourners. It was decided I should be the one to give the eulogy, and as I sat at the computer to type I agonised over every word. Was this to be the eulogy of a colourful woman, or an alcoholic? The author as a teenager, with her mother, whose face has been blurred for privacy reasons. I was raised in the 1970s and 80s, and alcohol played a significant role in how my family functioned. Blokes would go to the pub after work before heading home for dinner, staying longer on Saturday night after the footy, with optional bar brawl. Wine was more affordable and easily dispensed from a cask in the fridge. Random breath testing was rare and easy to avoid. As the youngest, I was the only one of four siblings raised by my mum and stepdad. Their new relationship involved late nights, pubs and parties. I was dragged along like a third wheel, falling asleep on strange couches, waking to the sounds of my mother arguing, being bundled into cars and driven home by people who had no business being behind the wheel. It was marginally better when the party was at our house: my own room, my own bed, but there was never any consideration of my need to be up early for school. To Queensland, where an inquest has heard about the death of an Indigenous man in Toowoomba after he was Tasered by police. The 31-year-old man was Tasered six times by Queensland police and sedated by ambulance officers before he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest, a coroner has heard. The Coroners Court in Brisbane today held a pre-inquest conference into the death of the man on December 13, 2020 in Toowoomba. His family members, who listened to proceedings by phone, requested he be referred to during the inquest as Ashley rather than his full name. The counsel assisting the coroner, Sarah Lio-Willie, said a homeowner in the suburb of Mount Lofty discovered Ashley at 6.35pm allegedly trying to remove items from the home including sunglasses, surgical scissors and cash. Ashley left the property wearing only a pair of shorts and became aggressive towards the homeowner, who had followed him into the street. A lone officer, Senior Constable Jamie Williams, and his police dog, Turbo, were in a marked police vehicle when they located Ashley about 6.55pm. Loading Williams called out to Ashley to get on the ground, but he made unintelligible noises and walked away. Turbo made contact with Ashleys arm and chest, and he stabbed the dog repeatedly with the surgical scissors, causing the dog to retreat to the police vehicle. Officer Williams then deployed his Taser, which caused Ashley to fall to the ground briefly, and he was directed to put his hands behind his back, Lio-Willie said. While Williams attempted to restrain him, Ashley struck the officer in the face and arm with the scissors. The officer redeployed his Taser on Ashley, causing him to fall to the ground again, and then radioed that he had been stabbed and requested assistance. Officer Williams continued to cycle the Taser for four rounds, Lio-Willie said. Five other officers arrived and placed Ashley in handcuffs and pushed his legs towards his buttocks, but he continued to yell and spit blood. Paramedics administered a sedative and Ashleys heart rate went into rapid decline followed by cardiac arrest after he was put in an ambulance, Paramedics performed CPR, but Ashley was declared dead at Toowoomba Base Hospital at 8.01pm. Williams and Turbo recovered from their injuries. All of Ashleys encounters with police and paramedics were captured on body-worn cameras. A forensic examination of his body showed injuries from a Taser to the back of his neck, right upper arm, left upper buttock and right thigh. Ashley had suffered from coronary atherosclerosis, but there were no signs of an allergic reaction to the sedative. He also had methamphetamine in his system in the toxic or lethal ranges. The examination found an undetermined cause of death that could have been brought about by severe heart disease that could have caused a cardiac arrest at any time combined with stress and drug use. A police internal investigation has found the officers acted lawfully and reasonably. A Queensland Ambulance Service investigation found the paramedics failed to adequately observe Ashleys condition. But they were also faced dark, rainy conditions and there was no wilful omission of care. A three-day inquest from August 29 at Toowoomba before State Coroner Terry Ryan is due to call 10 witnesses. 13YARN 13 92 76; Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905 AAP The struggle for control of infant formula producer Bubs has descended into hand-to-hand combat for the hearts and minds of the shareholders who will settle the issue but probably not for good at what promises to be an extraordinary general meeting next month. The latest blow came on Sunday afternoon via James Jackson, the former Elders chairman whom the Save our Bubs group led by Kristy Carr, the company founder ousted in a boardroom coup in April wants to head the Bubs board. Shareholders have looked on in bewilderment at the very public fallout between Bubs Australia founder Kristy Carr (right) and her board of directors, now led by chair Katrina Rathie (left). Credit: Nine Jackson penned a little note to shareholders in response to a missive to investors a few days earlier from Katrina Rathie, the incumbent chair, who leads the group that did the ousting. Jacksons letter accuses Rathie of malicious and misleading claims in bagging his experience and skill set and even goes on to include a cheat sheet for investors to study, comparing his boardroom experience against that of Rathie, who, Jackson insists, is the one whose CV is lacking in substance. The trees stand in bushland and stock paddocks around the state, passed by thousands of unaware commuters every day. Some are recorded, occasionally venerated, though many more remain inconspicuous keepers of a once-threatened (and challenging) cultural knowledge. Kimberley Moulton sees wooden items in Museums Victorias collection as extensions of Country. Credit: Eugene Hyland Culturally marked trees, also known as scar trees, have been modified in some way usually by the removal of sections of bark to create a tool or in some cases to communicate information like directions, and special and sacred areas to First Peoples. My favourite thing to do is drive around looking out for them. When you actually start to open your eyes to them, you see scars everywhere, says Yorta Yorta woman, Kimberley Moulton. Completing a degree is challenging for many, but for Isabelle Adams it was hard to even get her foot in the door of a university classroom. Adams said she was told it was pie in the sky and that she would never make it when she first expressed interest in studying a degree in education. Isabelle Adams, Murdoch Universitys first Indigenous graduate with Justyne Eades, the 500th graduate. Credit: Murdoch University Determined to prove those doubting her wrong, she applied for university but was told that as an Aboriginal student, she would need to take a mandatory bridging course. Furious, she turned to Murdoch University and was accepted as a mature-aged student. Parliaments annual Midwinter Ball is Canberras answer to the Met Gala, with Bob Katter subbing in for Kanye West (actually I think those two would get along). This years ball was held on Wednesday night, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opened his speech with a crack about the escalating scare campaigns over the Voice. Welcome to the last Midwinter Ball before it gets cancelled by the Voice, he said, to laughter. Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon arrive for the Midwinter Ball. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Albanese noted it wasnt the silliest thing that had been claimed about the malevolent power of the proposed Voice to parliament, the legislation for which passed the Senate on Monday. He also paid sarcastic tribute to the influence of News Corp, over the federal election, the Victorian state election and the Aston byelection (all of which Labor won, despite robust anti-Labor News Corp campaigns on all fronts). The prime minister quipped that he enjoyed Sky News 2022 election night coverage, which grew unintentionally comedic as the night wore on, and it became clear that Labor would win. The right-wing after dark hosts cycled through the stages of grief on air. 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 A former personal chef turned leader of a rebellion uprising. An armed convoy of mercenaries headed towards Moscow. Vladimir Putin declaring an act of treason. The president of Belarus brokering the agreement to stand down. Its been a frenzied 24 hours in Russia, with Putin staving off a paramilitary insurrection on the Kremlins armed forces. But what triggered the march for justice? Why now? How did it end so quickly? And what happens next? The Wagner Group and its boss staged an uprising. Whats Wagner, again? The Wagner Group is a mercenary force, an illegal private army of thousands of mainly Russian soldiers. It emerged in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea and has fought in world conflicts from Syria to Sudan. It is controlled by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has been close with Putin for years including serving him food at restaurants but since the war in Ukraine has clashed with senior Russian leaders over their approach to military decisions. Advertisement While he has led a coup against Putins government, Prigozhin is no friend of the US or Western allies. He is the man who founded the troll farm that lodged a Russian disinformation campaign on social media in a bid to sway the outcome of the 2016 American presidential election. Loading But by May this year Prigozhin had serious issues with Russian leaders. In a video of himself filmed around dead bodies of Wagner troops, he criticised Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov, calling them worthless and corrupt because they could not supply his men with ammunition. Prigozhin also took particular umbrage with the Russian Defence Ministrys decision to no longer give him convicts from Russian prisons, instead choosing to send them directly into fight in the Ukraine war. Yevgeny Prigozhin (top) serves food to then-Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at Prigozhins restaurant outside Moscow on November 11, 2011. Credit: AP How does Wagner go from fighting for Putin to staging a coup against him? On Friday, Prigozhin sensationally accused the Russian military of having killed 2000 of his fighters in an airstrike and vowed to punish them. He did not produce any evidence for this and the Russian defence ministry issued a statement saying Prigozhins accusations were not true and are an informational provocation. Advertisement But Prigozhin went even further, accusing the Kremlin of using lies concocted by Russian army leaders as the basis for invading Ukraine the first time such statements had been made. What happened next? The FSB, a successor to Soviet-era spy agency the KGB, opened a criminal case against Prigozhin for the crime of calling for an armed mutiny, for which he faces up to 20 years in jail. That did not appear to deter Prigozhin, who quickly mobilised 25,000 troops, leaving their location on the battlefields of Ukraine to cross the border into Russia. They headed straight for the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, where they took control of the military there without spilling a drop of blood. A Putin spokesman called their actions an attempted mutiny. The convoy then travelled north towards Moscow, on the way shooting down a Russian military helicopter that had fired at them. Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the headquarters of the Southern Military District after aborting his move on Moscow. Credit: Alexander Ermochenko How close did they actually get to Putin? Advertisement The Kremlin had insisted that Putin remained in Moscow as the events unfolded, although there were unconfirmed reports that he may have left the capital for St Petersburg. The march on Moscow moved north from Rostov-on-Don past the cities of Veronez and Lipetsk as it headed towards Moscow. They got within 200 kilometres of the city before Prigozhin issued the order for them to halt the convoys progression to the capital. Why get so close, only to abort the mission? The simple reason given by Prigozhin was that he did not want unnecessary Russian blood to be shed in further conflict. Understanding ... that Russian blood will be spilled on one side, we are turning our columns around and going back to field camps as planned, he said in a video. Advertisement The backdown was brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a Putin ally who is often described as Europes last dictator. He has known Prigozhin for 20 years and offered to mediate with Putins agreement. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on June 9. Credit: Kremlin via Reuters What was said in the mid-coup negotiations? Prigozhin had earlier demanded that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and army general Valery Gerasimov be handed over to him. There is no sign that the Kremlin agreed to those demands, and a spokesman for Putin would not say if there would be any change among defence personnel in Russia. How can Prigozhin challenge Putin and then escape with his life? As part of the negotiations, charges against Prigozhin for staging a mutiny were quickly dropped and he had to leave Russia and reside in Belarus. Additionally, any Wagner fighters who had taken part in the alleged coup would not face any action. Others who had not taken part would be able to sign contracts with the Russian defence forces. Advertisement Nutson's Auto News Weekly Wrap-up June 18-24, 2023 Auto Central June 25, 2023; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, The Chicago Car Guy and Auto Channel Executive Producer, with able assistance from senior editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, compile The Auto Channel's "take" on this past week's automotive news, condensed into easy to digest news Nuggets. LEARN MORE: Complete versions of today's news nuggets, along with thousands of pages of relevant news and opinions, information stored in a million-page library published and indexed on The Auto Channel during the past 25 years. Complete information can be found by copying a headline and inserting it into any Site Search Box. Here are Larry's picks among the past week's important, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive universe news nuggets. Nutson's Weekly Auto News Wrap-up Week June 18-24, 2023. * Made In US Yea! For the fourth time in its 18-year history, Cars.coms American-Made Index ranks all qualifying vehicles built and bought in the U.S. for 2023. For the third year, Tesla holds firm atop the list; for the second year in a row, its Model Y SUV leads the way; and for the first time, the Texas-based automaker has swept the index, with its entire lineup locking out the top four. Behind Teslas quartet lies the Honda Passport SUV, dropping one spot from 2022; a fresh face to the list in the form of the Volkswagen ID.4 all-electric SUV at No. 6; and four vehicles from parent automaker Honda to close out the top 10: the Odyssey minivan and Ridgeline pickup truck at Nos. 7 and 9, respectively, and the MDX and RDX SUVs from Hondas luxury arm Acura at Nos. 8 and 10, respectively. The highest ranking "Detroit-brand" vehicle on the list is the Lincoln Corsair at No. 16. Of note: Cars.com research says if a car keeps jobs in the US, 70% of car shoppers are willing to pay up to 30% more. Ford Motor Co. gets 77.5% of its sales from domestically assembled vehicles. There are over 5.3 million Americans working in jobs in the automotive industry. https://www.cars.com/articles/2023-cars-com-american-made-index-which-cars-are-the-most-american-467465/ * Economic Impact Of "Foreign Cars" Autos Drive America and the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) released their 2023 Economic Impact Report, highlighting the ongoing commitment and contributions international automakers and nameplate dealers are making across the U.S. According to the report, international automakers and dealers have significantly expanded their footprint in the U.S. auto industry, with $107 billion invested in U.S. operations and 156,000 Americans directly employed an increase of 16,000 from 2021. https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2023/06/21/1294289-aiada-and-autos-drive-americas-annual-economic-impact-report-shows.html * Gasoline prices are expected to be lower this summer. AAA reports a gallon of regular is now averaging $3.58. Recession fears, China's economy, and an uninterrupted flow of Russian crude have presssured global oil prices to around $75 per barrel. GasBuddy expoects gasoline prioces to be around $3.40 to $3.80 this summer. A year ago they were $5.00 per gallon. * Pedestrian Deaths Rising, Walking Is More Dangerous Now The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) provides a first look at national and state-level pedestrian fatality data and trends through a Spotlight on Highway Safety report. During the past 11 years, federal data show that U.S. pedestrian fatalities increased from 4,302 in 2010 to an estimated 7,624 in 2021. These fatalities represent nearly 18% of all traffic deaths in 2021, the highest annual proportion during this more than decade-long period. Based on state data, GHSA projects 7,508 pedestrians were killed in 2022 among the 49 states (Oklahoma did not report) and D.C. included in this analysis. This is a projected 1% increase from the 7,443 pedestrian fatalities reported by the same states in 2021, representing 65 additional lives lost. Not since 1981 have this many pedestrians been killed on U.S. roads. https://www.ghsa.org/resources/Pedestrians23 * Initial Vehicle Quality Declines, Too Much Digital Stuff? The 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study by J.D. Power results show Dodge, Ram and Alfa Romeo as rhe the top three brands. General Motor received seven individual model awards, Hyundai got five and Toyota Motor got four. Chevrolet and Kia each had the most vehicle segment awards with four. Quality is down as it relates to features, displays and contols, and infotainment. https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2023/06/22/1294621-initial-new-vehicle-quality-tanks-tac-opines-too-much-stuff.html * Rivian is trying an unusual tactic to sell off excessive inventory of its R1T electric pickup. A one-day event held in its Normal, IL factory parking lot allowed customers to browse a few dozen pickups. They could buy one and drive it home the same day. Rivian said it had excessive inventory due to last-minute customer-order changes. It also had built up a stock of the most requested version of the R1T. The vehicles on sale were four-motor versions with a large battery pack priced at $87,000 to start. * And Rivian, joining GM and Ford, is now collaborating with Tesla to open charging for Rivian vehicles at more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the United States and Canada. Starting as early as Spring 2024, Rivian will offer an NACS adapter that allows charging at Tesla sites. In 2025, Rivian will incorporate NACS charge ports as standard in R1T and R1S and offer a corresponding CCS adapter. * Stellantis and Hyundai are both evaluating to use the Telsa NACS plug for its EVs. No matter what, Americans should have only one plug type so they can charge their EV or PHEV anywhere, just like buying gasoline from any pump. * In a surprising move, Stellantis dealers in 14 states will only receive the Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) for stocking on their lots. This decision is prompted by emissions standards adopted by the California Air Resource Board (CARB). Customers residing in the 14 states adopting CARB regulations will no longer have access to engine options such as the 3.6-liter V-6, the 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbo, or the 6.4-liter V-8. Instead, they will only be able to purchase the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and a small battery found in the Wrangler 4xe. While customers have the option to special order a Wrangler with a different engine, the wait times for such orders have been known to be extensive. * Electric Vehicle Consideration Report - Would You? The electric vehicle (EV) business is booming, and consumer interest in EVs has increased dramatically this year alone. EV sales grew from a share below 1% in 2018 to EVs representing 3.2% of sales in 2021, 5.8% in 2022, and 7.2% in the first quarter of 2023. According to a forecast by Cox Automotive, 2023 will be the year EV sales surpass the one-million mark in the United States. To help guide the ever-growing number of in-market EV shoppers, Autotrader, a Cox Automotive company, has named the Best Electric Vehicles of 2023. https://www.autotrader.com/best-cars/best-electric-cars * US DoE factoid of the week: For the 2022 model year, all-electric vehicles (EVs) classified as cars had EPA-estimated ranges from 100 to 520 miles. EVs that are categorized as sport utility vehicles (SUVs) fell into a narrower band of available ranges, from 180 to 350 miles. The span of electric pickup truck ranges is even narrower. There were so few electric pickup truck models available in 2022, however, that the small band of ranges is largely attributable to limited model availability. As additional electric pickup models enter the market, the available ranges will likely expand. * Its A Sneak Preview Video Cadillac released a preview video of the all-new ESCALADE IQ ahead of its official reveal on Aug. 9 in New York City. As the brands first-ever all-electric full-size SUV, ESCALADE IQ represents the reinvention of Cadillacs most iconic nameplate. https://youtu.be/9w_uLing4ys * Honda is recalling nearly 1.2 million vehicles due to a problem that could cause failure of the rearview camera. Affected vehicles include some 2018-2023 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Pilot, and 2019-2023 Passport vehicles. * Hot Rods and Muscle Car PBS Documentary Detroit Free Press automotive editor Mark Phelan let us know about the upcoming documentary film Detroit: City of Hot Rods and Muscle Cars Following a sold-out June 19 debut fundraiser for six Michigan charitable organizations, filmmaker Keith Famies documentary a tribute to Detroits car culture and relationships that stand the test of time, among other things makes its broadcast debut on Detroit Public Television WTVS at 8 p.m. June 23 and will air on other PBS stations around the country. MORE: Tribute To Dick "Goldie" Guldstrand And Other Hot Rodders, SoCal Pioneers of Power & Speed; By Steve Ford, The Car Guy. https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/mark-phelan/2023/06/17/city-of-hot-rods-doc-is-a-tribute-detroit-cars-and-all-of-us-keith-famie/70326992007/ * 2023 1000 Miglia The 2023 1000 Miglia has come to an end as the teams crossed Italy covering 2200 kilometers (1,365 miles), the longest in race history, over the five days of the race. Andrea Vesco won his fourth consecutive title (out of six in total), while Fabio Salvinelli equalled Giuliano Cane with a string of three victories driving their 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Zagato. Two Lancia Lambda Spider Type 221 are also on the podium: Gianmario Fontanella and Annamaria Covelli preceded Andrea Belometti and Gianluca Bergomi. The best all-female crew was Silvia Marini and Irene Dei Tos in a 1929 Bugatti T 40, who took the Ladies' Cup by finishing 27th overall. https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2023/06/19/1293576-1000-miglia-2023-andrea-vesco-recordman-victories.html * Ford Performance is heading to the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with the electric SuperVan 4.2, an all-electric demonstrator vehicle redesigned from SuperVan 4 for optimal hill climb competitiveness. Ford vehicles have been competing at Pikes Peak since the first event in 1916, which saw a Model T racing up the mountain. For 2023s effort, motorsports icon Romain Dumas will pilot SuperVan 4.2 with its 1400 horsepower. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb winds up 156 turns and 4,725 feet to a finish line sitting 14,115 feet above sea level. * The 2023 Great Race of antique vehicles began in St. Augustine, Florida on June 24, 2023, and ends in Colorado on July 2, 2023. The Great Race is not a typical race, but a controlled-speed competitive endurance rally for vehicles that were built before 1975. The nine-day, 2,300 mile endurance event has around 120 vehicles entered. * From Hemmings we read Nancy Edelbrock, wife of Vic Edelbrock Jr., passed away on Saturday, June 10, almost six years to the day after her husbands passing on June 9, 2017. Nancy was 86 years old. Nancy played an immense role in shaping and supporting the esteemed Edelbrock performance parts company. Today, the Edelbrock Group encompasses multiple brands, including Edelbrock, COMP Cams, FAST, TCI Automotive, Russel and Lunati. Stay safe. Be Well. British police said Saturday they had charged an Egyptian man accused of masterminding the smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe, following an international investigation. Officers from the U.K.'s National Crime Agency arrested Ahmed Ramadan Mohamad Eibd, 40, near his west London home on Wednesday, after a probe which also involved Italy's prosecutors, coast guard and financial crimes investigators. Eibd appeared in a west London magistrates' court early Saturday, where he was charged with facilitating illegal immigration. The court ordered him to remain in custody until his next appearance at Southwark Crown Court in south London on July 24. He is suspected of masterminding, from his home in the U.K., the smuggling of thousands of people across the Mediterranean from Libya into Italy. The NCA alleges he worked with people-smuggling networks in north Africa to organize boats to bring over hundreds of migrants at a time and was maintaining communication with criminal associates during the crossings. Several of the journeys led to search and rescue operations by Italian authorities, the U.K. police agency noted, calling the boats used "death traps." "People smuggling is an international problem and tackling this at every step of the route is a priority for the NCA," Darren Barr, senior investigating officer at the NCA, said. "The type of boats organized crime groups use for crossings are death traps and sadly many people have died after incidents in the Mediterranean, which demonstrates the level of danger," he added. "We will continue to share intelligence and take action with partners to prevent crossings and arrest people smugglers here and overseas." The arrest and referral comes after nine Egyptians were arrested in Greece last week in connection with a Mediterranean migrant boat disaster that killed at least 82 people with many others presumed dead at sea. Search Keywords: Short link: Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Thunderstorms likely. High 69F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 51F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Sunshine in the morning followed by mostly cloudy skies during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. At Least 3 Dead and 5 Injured at Early Morning Shootings in Kansas City Evidence markers filled the street as police were investigating the scene after several people died and others were injured following a shooting in Kansas City, Mo., early on June 25, 2023. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP) KANSAS CITY, Mo.At least three people have been found dead, and at least five others are thought to be injured, police in Missouri said while investigating two shootings with multiple victims in the same area of Kansas City early Sunday morning. Officers were called to the intersection of 57th Street and Prospect Avenue just after 4:30 a.m. when they found three shooting victimstwo men and one womandead in a parking lot and in the street, the Kansas City Police Department said in a news release. Police were told that five other shooting victims with injuries that were not life-threatening arrived at various hospitals by private vehicles or ambulance, the department said. Preliminary information indicates there was a large gathering of people in a parking lot at the intersection when the victims were shot, the department said. The investigation indicates the gathering took place outside an auto mechanic shop that is known to host informal after hours gatherings, though there is not a licensed club, bar or restaurant at that location, police spokesperson Jake Becchina said in an email. Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas posted on Twitter, My condolences to the families of three people killed in a shooting this morning at an apparent after-hours gathering near 57 and Prospect. If the business knew persons would be present, without security, selling alcohol, and thwarting our laws, that business should be closed. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on May 13, 2022. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo) There were no immediate arrests, Becchina said. He added that police also responded to a nearby shooting on Prospect Avenue near 31st Street around 3 a.m. where at least one person suffered life-threatening injuries. Badge of Honour: Australian Author Blacklisted by Kremlin, Denied Access to Russia People walk along a shopping street near the gates of Kremlin in Moscow, in a file photo. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) The Russian government has indefinitely banned 48 Australian citizens from entering Russia on the grounds of creating anti-Russian agenda in Australia, including individuals involved in the military-industrial industry and journalists. Paul Monk, a former intelligence analyst, author, and current contributor for The Australian newspaper, has expressed feeling honoured to be among those sanctioned. The prominent Australian, who is an Order of Australia recipient in recognition of his distinguished service to Australia, has been vocally critical of the Russian regime and President Vladimir Putin. I am officially sanctioned by the Putin regime for Russophobia. In all the circumstances, thats an honour more proudly worn than an AO, Monk wrote in a LinkedIn post in response to the Kremlins list of persona non grata. However, the good people who arranged this plainly know very little about me, describing me as a journalist at The Australian. They plainly havent done any serious homework on me. Never mind, theyve honored me anyway! Paul Monk, former senior intelligence analyst for Australias Defence Intelligence Organization speaks on Chinese Communist Party influence on Australian politics at the Perth Yacht Club, Western Australia, on Aug. 12, 2018. (Brendon Fallon/The Epoch Times) The list also includes nine highly ranked executives from engineering firm SYPAQ, which is partnered with the Australian Defence, and 16 top executives from Thales Australia, a defence contracting company. Thales Australia, a subsidiary of French defence company Thales Group, was recently granted a $160 million (US$107 million) contract by the federal government to deliver 78 Bushmaster military vehicles for the Australian Defence Force. The contract will restore Australias domestic capabilities after the government provided the Ukrainian forces with 90 Bushmasters, which President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised for performing masterfully in battle. The vehicle is described as blast resistant, using an armoured V-shaped hull to protect up to 10 passengers from landmines and other explosive devices and small arms fire. It is fully airconditioned and can run self-sustained for up to three days. Ukrainian servicemen of the 80th Air Assault Brigade stand in front of a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle near Bahmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Feb. 16, 2023. (Marko Djurica/Reuters) The Russian foreign ministry also sanctioned 12 members of the Australia Day Council of South Australia, including its chair and deputy chairs. It appeared the council members were included on the list for hosting events celebrating the local Ukrainian community. The council also reportedly banned Russian supporters from participating in an Australia Day parade, while a group of Ukrainians participated in the event. Keeping a Close Eye on Russia Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has indicated that the federal government is working closely with its allies to monitor the constantly evolving security situation in Russia. Australians in Russia should leave immediately if its safe to do so. The security situation could deteriorate further, she wrote on Twitter. Australias travel advice for Russia remains Do Not Travel. The federal government has warned that its ability to provide consular assistance for Australians who choose to travel to Russia is limited. The Australian Government will not be able to evacuate you from Russia, it said. Wongs comments come after the armed Wagner mercenary group led a rebellion against Putins head of defence before agreeing to stop its fast advance towards Moscow following a deal. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russias Wagner mercenary group, will move to neighbouring Belarus as part of a deal to end what the Kremlin said was an armed coup against Russias military leadership. Prigozhin, who has been a close ally of Putin for some 20 years, had earlier described on Telegram the advancing troops as a march for justice to topple Moscows military leadership who he blamed for destroying Russian soldiers. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday that, under a deal mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin will move to Belarus and criminal charges against him in Russia will be dropped. Russian Embassy in Australia Meanwhile in Australias capital of Canberra, Russia has launched a legal bid against the government, challenging its cancellation of the lease for the Russian embassy. A lone Russian diplomat was also found squatting on the disputed land, with the Australian Federal Police not able to move in to arrest him because of his diplomatic immunity. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed the legal challenge and said he did not consider the squatter a national security risk. Were very confident of our position, and processes are underway for the Commonwealth to formalise possession of the site, he told reporters on Friday. Australia will stand up for our values, and we will stand up for our national security. And a bloke standing in the cold on a bit of grass in Canberra is not a threat to our national security. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. ANALYSIS: Beijing Enters Systemic and Opaque Involution Chinas unemployment rate in May reached a record high of 20.8 percent for youth aged 1624. Combined with the record-breaking 11.58 million graduates this year, the pressure on the job market is unprecedented. Many college students chose to delay graduation, hoping higher education would help to guarantee a better opportunity in the job market, according to the Chinese media report. Qin Jie, born in the 90s, gave up his graduate study in investments after realizing the falsified economic yearbook data provided by the regime had hindered his progress in research and verification of the data. Like many young Chinese who invested their youth in colleges, Qin realized that the worship of academic credentials is useless, he said to the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times. Consequently, a massive number of youths are caught in a vortex of involution, Qin said, but in reality, the resources are very limited at the bottom of society. Involution Involution has become a popular term and phenomenon on Chinese social media in recent years. It refers to fierce competition, scarce rewards that strip away the rights and interests of most people. It is a phenomenon that is observed in all walks of life in todays Chinese society. Qin Jie, a Wuhan native, speaks in the Pinnacle View program in May 2023. (Screenshot) Qin believes that involution is a tactic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It forces people to engage in long hours of labor-intensive, but low-paying jobs. People lose their capacity to think or resist because of physical exhaustion. As a result, people accept the difficulties as their fate; it is a kind of learned helplessness, he said. Yu Zhiguan, a Chinese writer in Ireland, blames the expanded college enrollment policy as part of the cause of involution. China initiated its expanded college enrollment in 1999, claiming it was needed for national economic growth. As a result, Chinese universities accepted about 1.59 million students in 1999, up 47 percent from the previous year, and the trend has continued since. For instance, the gross enrollment rate for higher education jumped to 42.7 percent in 2016 from the previous 30 percent in 2012, according to the Chinese report. Yu said that the competition for good-paying jobs is like a pyramid, with only a few of the best positions at the top. The Chinese market is now filled with too many graduates competing for a very small number of available jobs. A Chinese blogger described her situation in an online video: I have worked hard, but still cant make a change. She graduated from a major Shanghai university. Shes held onto every possible job to make money, running around among several part-time jobs. She said, My grandparents rely on less than 200 yuan ($27.86) of pension in the countryside. Three years of pandemic control had a detrimental effect on the entire society which quickly geared into the mode of involution. Qin said that most people dont realize its an issue of the entire society where resources are limited. The manufacturing jobs slumped. People in general feel its hard to make a living. In fact, the CCP is reluctant to work with the West, and the trade orders are fewer. But thats whats driving the economy in China. A Systemic Struggle Ms. Ren (pseudonym), formerly an instructor of Party ideological and political work, said the universities had to fake the data of students placement because the employment rate dived. The involution is even worse for governmental workers, she said. She took the Party secretary at her institution as an example, whos been very active in doubling the workload and the complexity of duties for everyone, despite the efficiency being even lower, she said. Many workers at the universities are only temp, salary cuts are common. She said, To cover the car loan, the mortgage, and the credit card bill, youll have to take whats available. Dissident Lin Shengliang agreed the involution has had the most serious impact on those who work in the government, as best described whenever the regime launched the so-called institutional reform, military streamlining, and simpler administration. To his knowledge, many police were forced to take early retirement. He believed the acts were meant to ease the regimes fiscal demand. Some local grid stations were canceled, and grid staff were either reassigned to local communities or simply fired, he said. China adopted the digital grid management in urban housing and development in 2005 as part of its smart cities system. Grid staff are designated to work within a set geographical range and function as the peripheral nerve of governance, to serve local communities but in fact to monitor local residents. Lin explained, to ordinary people, the involution is exhausting and frustrating both mentally and physically; to the CCP, the involution is a power struggle. The information blockade within China, however, has prevented people from seeing it happening within the system. He said, Now the tigers are fighting against each other, the sheep were kept in the dark. But it wont take long before the tigers turn around and hunt down the sheep. Li Xinan contributed to this report. Biometric Data Part of Australias Plan to Protect Citizens Identity An X5 group representative demonstrates a facial recognition payment system at a self-checkout machine in in Moscow, Russia, on March 9, 2021. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images) The Australian government is pushing for the use of biometric data to fight off identity thieves amid recent waves of cyber crimes that rocked the country. In the newly released National Strategy for Identity Resilience, the federal government outlined ten principles to protect the identities of Australians, which all state and territory governments approved. Among the principles, the federal government proposed using biometrics (fingerprints, facial recognition, and more) with individuals consent to prevent criminals from stealing personal credentials. Combinations of biographic attributes (e.g. name, date of birth and licence number) do not adequately protect Australians from identity crime, and can be exposed in a data breach, the strategy states. Passwords can be forgotten, stolen or compromised. The government promised that it would ensure the safety of biometric data and protect users personal privacy. Facilitating Cooperation Between Federal and State Governments Apart from biometric data, the strategy introduced a roadmap to enhance cooperation among governments in the fight against cyber crimes. One of the principles involved states and the Commonwealth working together to ensure that different digital ID systems and credentials can be linked appropriately so that Australians can access services in any jurisdiction. In addition, the federal government planned to establish stronger and more consistent standards for issuing physical and digital credentials, as well as allow individuals to update their information conveniently across agencies nationwide. The strategy also pointed out the need for businesses and government agencies to collect and retain less personal information where appropriate to reduce the risks caused by data breaches. Other principles included streamlining the process to recover compromised identity credentials for Australians falling victim to hacks and making clear who is responsible for the cost of remediating credentials in the case of a cyber attack. While pushing for the adoption of digital identity, the federal government also promised to provide non-digital options for Australians who did not want to embrace new technologies, including older people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Minister for Home Affairs Clare ONeil during the Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra, Australia, on Sept. 2, 2022. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Our approach to identity resilience needs to keep pace with our economic and social activity and the changing nature of identity crime, Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher and Cyber Security Minister Clare ONeil said in a joint statement. It is essential we deliver a future-ready identity system. This starts with a nationally consistent and coordinated approach to identity and strong partnerships between Commonwealth and state and territory governments. The federal government has directed the Department of Home Affairs to work with states and territories to carry out the strategy. It was estimated that Australians lost $3.1 billion (US$2.07 billion) to identity crime in 2018-2019, while the total cost of cyber crimes reached $33 billion in 2020-21. Concerns About Risks Associated with Biometric Data While the Australian government holds a positive view toward biometric data, there have been concerns that this kind of information can be subject to manipulation. In a recent statement, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned that criminals could hack and manipulate biometric data collected by businesses, especially with the help of artificial intelligence. An elderly woman applies her fingerprint as she prepares to vote at a polling station in Basra, Iraq, on Oct. 10, 2021. (Hussein Faleh/AFP via Getty Images) The FTC pointed out that some technologies can use biometric information to determine characteristics of individuals, such as age, race, gender, and personality traits, which would grant criminals access to those sensitive information. Meanwhile, some IT experts believed that facial recognition surveillance was getting out of control in the UK as more public and private institutions adopted the technology. They also warned that stalkers and predators were using the technology to target women and girls across the country. The experts urged the UK government to introduce new legislation to reduce the use of facial recognition technology in the public. Cyber Attacks Targeting Australia Continue The strategys release comes as international hacker groups continue to target Australian public and private institutions, with many federal agencies appearing to be the latest victim. Russian cybercriminal BlackCat, also known as AlphV, hacked into the database of law firm HWL Ebsworth in April and later posted 1.45 terabytes of sensitive information on the dark web on June 8. Over 40 Australian government agencies and all four major banks are believed to have been impacted by the database hacking of the law firm. Due to the significant number of government agencies involved, the federal government had to acknowledge the seriousness of the incident. HWL Ebsworth is a very significant incident, and the Australian government is deeply concerned about it, ONeil said, reported The Australian newspaper. I would place it in the realm of the most significant cyber incidents that weve experienced as a country over the last year, along with Latitude, Optus, and Medibank. As the government continued to investigate the cyber attack, it appointed a new national cybersecurity coordinator to help the government respond to similar data breaches. Victoria Kelly-Clark contributed to this article. Border Patrol Releases Bodycam Footage of Fatal Nighttime Shooting of Arizona Man Autopsy report concludes Raymond Mattia had been shot at least nine times A man wears a "Justice For Ray Mattia" camouflage shirt during a rally outside of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol station in Why, Ariz., on May 27, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on June 22 released body camera footage of the fatal nighttime shooting of Ray Mattia outside his Tohono Oodham Nation home in Arizona on May 18. Ten Border Patrol agents captured the incident on their body-worn cameras, most of which was withheld from the public by CBP, pending an investigation. The footage being released today contains imagery from four of those cameras, CBP said in a press release. CBPs prompt public release of this footage is in keeping with our commitment to accountability and transparency and in compliance with CBP policy. Mattias family spokeswoman Ofelia Rivas stands while propping a sign with a picture of Ray Mattia, who was shot and killed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on May 18, 2023. The photo was taken during a protest in front of the Ajo Border Patrol Station in Why, Ariz., on May 27, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times) The images show officers with flashlights and weapons drawn approaching a man who throws an object at Border Patrol agents, determined by law enforcement to be a sheathed machete. When ordered to show his hands, the man abruptly takes his hands out of his pockets. In one hand, he appears to be holding an object. Border Patrol agents opened fire at that moment, hitting the 58-year-old Mattia multiple times. One of the agents shouts at Mattia, now flat on his stomach, Put your hands up so we can help you! Footage showed the object lying next to him was a cell phone. An autopsy by the Pima County Medical Examiners Office ruled the death a homicide, adding Mattia was shot no less than nine times. A toxicology report issued on June 2 by NMS Labs showed alcohol, methamphetamine, and oxycodone in Mattias system at the time of death. Shots fired According to the CBP statement, the Tohono Oodham Nation Police Department requested Border Patrol assistance in response to a report of shots fired west of the Menagers Dam Village at about 9 p.m., near Mattias property. Agents from the Ajo Border Patrol Station met with the [Tohono Oodham Nation) police officer and followed him to the location on Tohono Oodham National where the shots had been reported, the CBP report added. The police officer and agents encountered an individual outside of a residence who threw an object toward the officers and abruptly extended his right arm away from his body. Three agents fired their service weapons, striking the individual several times. Earlier unconfirmed reports by family members stated Mattia had been shot 38 times in an unprovoked incident after calling Border Patrol to report illegal migrants on his property. The family released a statement shortly after Mattias death, claiming Border Patrol used excessive force. Raymond called for help and, in turn, was shot down on his doorstep, the statement read. In our eyes and hearts, we believe Raymond was approached with excessive and deadly force that took his life. Mattias niece, Yvonne Navarez, told The Epoch Times on May 29 that her uncle was a kindly, spiritually oriented man who always fought for the underdog. The CBP statement said the prompt release of the officers body-worn camera footage a month after the incident reflects the agencys commitment to best practices. CBP constantly works to ensure all employees understand and maintain the highest level of professional standards with those they encounter consistent with law enforcement standards of performance and conduct, the agency wrote. Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Chased out of 13 Homes in 2 Months as Pressure Rises on Legal Advocates Disbarred human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang sit in his most recent abode as he recounts the recent escalation of harassment against him, in Beijing's Changping district, on June 20, 2023. (Ng Han Guan/AP Photo) TAIPEI, TaiwanA disbarred Chinese human rights lawyer has been forced to move 13 times in two months as part of a pattern of harassment against him and three other prominent rights advocates in Beijing that is further squeezing the countrys battered civil rights community. Wang Quanzhang said he is now living in a borrowed apartment in the suburbs where the power is frequently cut off, while another lawyer left Beijing entirely in hopes of ending the harassment. His colleague Bao Longjun said he is still in the apartment he owns, but has been barred from leaving it multiple times by unidentified groups of men who loiter outside his door. Bao said a fourth lawyer was detained along with his wife. All four are prominent members of a group known as the 709 lawyers, after the dateJuly 9, 2015when a clampdown on independent legal advocacy began in which hundreds were arrested. Such advocates are a rare source of help for people facing political charges, or trying to access benefits denied by often unaccountable bureaucracies. Their work has ranged from defending members of Falun Gong, a meditation discipline that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has brutally suppressed since 1999, to helping people lobby for increases to their pensions. All four men were disbarred after their 2015 arrests, but after being released from prison they continued to do similar work that doesnt require a law license. Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement that the lawyers ordeals coincided with a series of high-profile visits by foreign dignitaries. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beijing in early April, followed by Germanys foreign minister, and most recently U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The meetings, she wrote, were intended to signal China is open for business and engagement again. But the petty and inhumane treatment of human rights lawyers and their families show that, the authorities only want to double down on repressing the Chinese civil society. Beijings police department did not respond to a faxed request for comment. In mid-April, disbarred rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife were detained by Beijing police while on their way to the European Union Delegation, said Bao Longjun, another one of the four advocates. Around the same time, two other rights lawyers were sentenced to more than 10 years in prison on charges of subverting state power. Wang, the lawyer who was chased out of his home, and Bao faced more bewildering situations. Groups of men began hanging out in front of Baos and Wangs doors, and told them they were not allowed to go outside. Li Wenzu, wife of disbarred human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, cries as she recalls the toll of the escalating harassment on the family especially her 10-year-old child at their apartment in Beijings Changping district, on June 20, 2023. (Ng Han Guan/AP Photo) The men did not say who say who they were or why they were there. The lawyers believe they are informal contractors for the police, a practice widely used by local Chinese governments to apply extralegal pressure to people they view as troublesome. More pressure came via Wangs landlord. Around the time that the men appeared, the landlord told Wang that his lease was no longer valid and his family had to move. Initially, they refused, but after a few days the apartments electricity, water and gas were cut off. Fellow disbarred rights lawyer Li Heping and his family left Beijing after similar pressure, according to Wang and Sophie Luo, an activist based in the United States. Li declined an interview. Bao was not forced out of his home, which he owns. He says groups of men in plain clothes come and go intermittently, sometimes confining him to his house. Bao said the harassment is intended to pressure advocates to leave Beijing. He said that authorities likely hope the advocates will return to their hometowns, where they will be another local governments problem. Wang and his wife, Li Wenzu, are still in Beijing, after a month and a half during which the couple has moved from apartment to hotel to apartment 13 times. Theyve been followed to each location by groups of men in plain clothes who loiter nearby, unnerving landlords and neighbors. At times, Wang said, hotels have asked him to leave the same day hes checked in. The longest theyve managed to stay in one place was a hotel that allowed them to stay for nine days. The couple eventually sent their 10-year-old son to live with relatives. For the last week, the couple has been living an apartment in suburban Beijing owned by a friend, where the electricity is frequently cut off. The first time, Wang said, he was able to restore it by flipping a switch in a fuse box outside the apartment; on later occasions, he found a bicycle lock on the fuse box, or more complex damage that required an electrician to repair. AP journalists saw seven men hanging around the courtyard of the apartment building on Tuesday. To cope with blackouts, the couple has installed a solar panel to charge their phones, and stockpiled drinking water, rice and instant noodles. Wang was measured in describing his ordeal, though clearly frustrated. Of course, I hope I can live a peaceful life, he said. For now, Im just living one day at a time. By Huizhong Wu Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on Saturday that India is keen on strengthening its relations with Egypt on all levels, noting that 2023 was a remarkable year in cooperation between the two countries. Modi met with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, where they held a roundtable meeting in Cairo following his arrival on Saturday from the United States at the start of his two-day visit. The Indian prime minister said in statements following the meeting that he listened attentively to the positive opinions of his Egyptian counterpart on ways to enhance their bilateral relations and took detailed notes on the proposals. "This is a remarkable year for our shared relations. At the beginning of this year, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi visited India as a chief guest in the Republic Day celebration, where we signed an agreement to elevate our bilateral relations to a strategic partnership," Modi said. The Indian prime minister also revealed that he is honoured to invite President El-Sisi to India again to attend the G20 meetings, which are scheduled to take place in New Delhi in September. Modi added that Egypt and India were swiftly moving towards achieving the $12 billion target in bilateral trade within the next five years. He added that in the past six months alone, Indian companies have invested around $170 million in Egypt. India on the Nile "Some of you have recently visited India, and here I would like to say that regular visits between the two sides will actively and passionately enhance bilateral relations" PM Modi told the attendees. In this context, he added, the recent visit of the Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone to India last week was successful and will encourage other Indian companies to come to invest in Egypt. The Indian PM emphasized that the increasing cooperation between the two sides in the field of renewable energy reflects a joint commitment to environmental protection. He pointed out that many Indian companies are investing in green hydrogen and electric vehicles. The Indian prime minister said would like the opportunity to visit the New Administrative Capital on his next trip to Egypt. Stronger strategic partnership From his side, PM Madbouly affirmed the determination of both governments to strengthen strategic partnership between the two sides. Madbouly said growing trade exchange between the two countries, which reached $7 billion in 2022, shows the real potential in increasing trade volume in the coming five years up to $12 billion, as agreed upon during the Joint Trade Committee meeting held in July 2022. He praised current levels of Indian investments in Egypt, which stand at $3.5 billion, adding that the country is ready to receive more Indian capital. Madbouly cited agreements signed between the two sides during the recent visit by officials from the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority to India last week as an example of promising growth for Indian investments in Egypt and the region. He stressed Egypts keenness on developing a strategic relationship between the two countries in the field of strategic commodities, expressing interest that to India would become a major supplier of wheat to Egypt. Egypt also wants more cooperation with India in the fields of healthcare and pharmaceutical production, citing partnership between an Indian company and Egypt's VACSERA to establish a vaccine production plant in the 6th of October city as a model of such cooperation, added Madbouly. Egypt welcomes more investments by Indian companies in the renewable energy sector in Egypt, particularly in the production of green hydrogen in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, stressed Madbouly. The Egyptian government is keen on providing Indian companies with all the facilities needed to implement and expand their investments in the country, he stressed. EgyptAir, the countrys national carrier, is set launch direct flights between Cairo and New Delhi, in addition to existing flights between Cairo and Mumbai, as a step to boost air travel between the two countries, announce Madbouly at the event. India G20 Egypt believes India's presidency of the G20 would strengthen efforts aimed at containing the negative repercussions of international tensions on the global economy. Egypt will work with the Indian presidency of the G20 to develop optimal approaches to deal with energy crises, climate change, food shortage and securing financing for developing countries. From the Egyptian side, the meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat and Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir. Chairman of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone Walid Gamal El-Din, Egyptian ambassador to India Wael Hamed as well as CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones Hossam Hegazy also attended the meeting. Representing India were Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Indian ambassador to Egypt Ajit Gupte along with senior officials from the Indian Cabinet and Ministry of External Affairs. Itinerary PM Modi had arrived in Cairo earlier on Saturday in his first-ever official visit to Egypt, also the first by an Indian PM to the country since 1997, upon an invitation from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The Indian prime minister is set to meet with President El-Sisi on Sunday. He is also scheduled to hold more meetings with various officials during his visit. Shortly after arriving in Cairo on Saturday, Modi held a series of meetings with Egyptian officials and businessmen, including a meeting with Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Allam and another meeting with real-estate developer Hassan Allam. Search Keywords: Short link: US Officials React to Wagner Mutiny in Russia Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP) Top U.S. officials on June 25 reacted to news out of Russia that the Wagner Group private military company had mounted a mutiny against the Russian state before withdrawing, saying it shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin is weaker within his own nation than many thought. The conflict between Putin and Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhinformerly known as Putins chef because of the close personal relationship the two enjoyedkicked off on June 23 after a long-running feud between Prigozhin and Russias Defense Ministry appeared to reach a boiling point. Prigozhin had claimed that Russian military forces intentionally killed a huge number of Wagner group contractors as part of his justification for the assault. Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin makes a statement on the start of withdrawal of his forces from Bakhmut and handing over their positions to regular Russian troops, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on May 25, 2023. (Press service of Concord/Handout via Reuters) However, the incursion seemed to end almost as soon as it began, spanning a roughly 24-hour period in which Wagner saw huge gains into the Russian heartland before inexplicably cutting a deal with Russia and withdrawing. Prigozhin was granted amnesty from criminal action for treason as part of his deal to not continue his march on Moscow and has retired to Belarus, a Russian satellite state. Information about the sequence of events is limited in Russia, where press freedom is restricted, and many conflicting accounts of events have emerged. Top U.S. officials are contending with the dizzying speed of the advance, compromise, and withdrawal. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the rounds of morning shows on June 25, fielding questions about U.S. intelligence about the saga. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at a State Department press conference in Washington on April 11, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) Blinken called reports out of Russia extraordinary, while former CIA Director David Petraeus called them stunning. Blinken told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union that U.S. intelligence is unsure why Wagner suddenly retreated after coming, according to reports, within 125 miles of Moscow, which had begun to set up heavy fortifications in preparation for the Wagner onslaught. We dont have full information, honestly, and its too soon to tell exactly where this is going to go, Blinken said when asked about the retreat. And I suspect that this is a moving picture, and we havent seen the last act yet. Petraeus suggested that Progozhin lost his nerve. It brings to mind also Napoleons admonition, If you start to take Vienna, take Vienna,' Petraeus said. Beginning of the End for Putin As the dust begins to settle from what could have spiraled into a full-scale crisis for Putin, many observers are predicting that it could be the beginning of the end for the embattled Russian president. However, Blinken was hesitant to apply such an analysis. Do you believe that this is the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin? Bash asked. Blinken responded, I dont want to speculate about that. This is, first of all, an internal matter for Russia. However, he argued that Russian military action in Ukraine has become a strategic failure across the board. He said Russia is weaker economically and militarily, and its standing around the world has plummeted. The invasion managed to get Europeans off Russian energy, has united and strengthened NATO with new members and a stronger alliance, and managed to alienate Ukraine from Russia. This is just an added chapter to a very, very bad book that Putin has written for Russia, Blinken said. Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on monitors as he addresses the nation after Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner Group private military company, called for armed rebellion and reached the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, with his troops, in Moscow on June 24, 2023. (Pavel Bednyakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) He noted that its striking that these events transpired from within the nation rather than without, as until now, the Russian homeland has faced few military repercussions for its action in Ukraine. It adds crackswhere those go when they get there too soon to saybut it clearly raises new questions that Putin has to deal with, Blinken said. Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who recently announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, agrees. This moment shows the cracks within Russia and Putin losing his grip on that country, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) told CBSs Face the Nation that for the invasion to have gotten as far as it did, there must have been accomplices within the Russian military. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) questions Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union, during testimony before the House Intelligence Committee in Washington on Nov. 20, 2019. (Alex Edelman/Getty Images) For any government to have stability, they have to control their military, Turner said. Obviously, in order [for Progozhin] to make it that distance, he has to have accomplices. Where was the Russian Air Force in preventing this? Thats going to be an issue that Putin is going to have to deal with both internationally and domestically. His government, as an authoritarian government, depends on its assertion of power and force in order to be able to continue to wield power. And that certainly is going to be an issue. Petraeus said the sequence of events shows that clearly Putin is weakened, his government is weakened. Who knows where this could go, he said. Now, weve always asked who would be the one who would strike a blow at the Tsar, and now we know, although he failed. Nevertheless, Petraeus suggested that it creates a lot of doubts, Im sure, in the minds of those around him, particularly as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to fall below optimistic initial expectations. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said, It showed a demonstrable crack in the strength of Vladimir Putin at home. It was a visible rejection of his war policy by a guy who had been his ally, who clearly had gone insubordinate on him. Turner said, This really does hurt Putin, and not only just politically and in his leadership in Russia and his presidency, but in his efforts to continue the war in Ukraine. How Should the US Respond? Officials also offered possible U.S. responses to the instability caused by the situation as it continues to support Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Most recommended continued support of Ukraine. The Ukrainian foreign minister says its time for the U.S. and others to put their foot on the gas and give Ukraine everything it needs to finish this. Is that going to happen? Bash asked Blinken. Blinken responded, We have worked to make sure that the Ukrainians have what they need when they need it to do as well as they possibly can on the ground. Well continue to do that. Were relentlessly focused on this. Theres tremendous unity of purpose and unity of action among dozens of countries that, through the Presidents leadership, we brought together and kept together and will continue to do that. Petraeus said it shows the need for further U.S. assistance to Ukraine. What we need to do is to continue to provide everything possible to Ukraine, to enable them in this summer offensive, which is still in the early days to succeed and over time to convince Putin that hes not going to be able to out-suffer the Ukrainians, the Europeans, and the Americans the way Russians out-suffered Napoleons army and the Nazis. Bash also raised the question of how the United States should respond. Is there something that the [United States] should be doing right now, given the chaos in Russia, to help Ukraine seize this moment? she asked. Klobuchar replied, The key is that we didnt falter, Democrats and Republicans [to] work together to get that agreement to show the world that we stood with Ukraine. That was significant, and then the ongoing discussions on additional weaponry and the discussion about the planes in the last month. Burgum told Bash, We have an opportunity along with our NATO partners in this situation to really get behind and support Ukraine. Lets give them the support they need. Lets get this lets get this war over now, instead of having a protracted [conflict]. Former New Jersey Governor and 2024 GOP presidential contender Chris Christie attributed the uprising in part to the U.S. and NATOs support of Ukraine and indicated that would remain important in the future. Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority Conference at Hilton in Washington on June 23, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) Americas support, along with our allies in NATO, of Ukraine has done a great deal to cause what were seeing right now, Christie told ABCs This Week. In Russia, Putins misadventure and all the missteps that happened by the Biden administration, the Trump administration, and the Obama administration on this issue have led to this moment, and I think we have to watch this very carefully. But we have to continue to support Ukraine. We have to give them the weapons they need to fight their battle against the Russians and to repel them. And I think that what this may do is move us closer to a resolution of this battle, because of Putins weakness. Thats obvious now inside his own country, I think, in large part because of the way he has prosecuted this war. He replied to some GOP criticisms of continued support of Ukraine that America has never been a great country and the leader of the world by filling in the moat and pulling up the drawbridge. This is a fight that America needs to have. It always involves sacrifice, but in the end at the end of the sacrifice, America will be bigger, stronger, richer, and more influential in the world because we stood by our principles and stood by our friends. Reuters contributed to this report. Correction: The headline has been updated to clarify who made the remarks. Ex-SoCal Serviceman Sentenced for Exporting Military Items to Russia The United States Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the Huntington Beach Pier during the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Oct. 1, 2021. (Michael Heiman/Getty Images) LOS ANGELESA former member of the United States military who lived in Corona was sentenced on June 23 to 27 months in prison for conspiring to unlawfully export to Russia thermal imaging riflescopes, night vision goggles, and other defense items without a license in violation of federal law. Igor Panchernikov, 41, who once served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte Jr., according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Panchernikov pleaded guilty in March to one count of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act. He has been in federal custody since July 2022 after Israel extradited him to the United States. From December 2016 to May 2018, Panchernikov conspired with other individuals to knowingly export from the U.S. to Russia defense articles without obtaining from the State Department a valid license or other approval for such exports. Panchernikovs accomplices purchased defense articlesincluding thermal riflescopes, weapons sights, monoculars, and night vision gogglesfrom various online sellers located in the U.S. and directed the sellers to mail those items to Panchernikovs residence in Riverside County, according to federal prosecutors. After receiving the items, Panchernikov mailed two of the items under fictitious sender names to accomplices in Russia and mailed 17 defense articles to Elena Shifrin, 61, of Mundelein, Illinois, who then mailed these items to Russia. Shifrin pleaded guilty in February 2022 to one federal count of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act. Her sentencing hearing is expected in the coming months. Vladimir Pridacha, 58, of Volo, Illinois, has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in the case and has an Aug. 29 trial date scheduled. Two other defendantsBoris Polosin, of Russia, and Vladimir Gohman, of Israelare fugitives, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Exodus of Border Officials Continues as 4 More Quietly Resign Tijuana, Mexico seen through the US border wall near San Diego, Calif., on May 31, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Amid a record-breaking influx of illegal immigrants into the United States, four more of President Joe Bidens top border officials have quietly resigned in just the past two weeks. That brings the total to seven in recent months, along with speculation about the reasons for their departure. The latest came just this week from the deputy secretary of Homeland Security John Tien, who announced he was leaving only a year after his appointment. Tien, a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran who served as director of the National Security Council under the Obama and Bush administrations, said he was leaving to spend more time with his family in Georgia. Ira Mehlman, a senior spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), told The Epoch Times that Tiens explanation ranks right up there with my dog eating my homework. There comes a time when you have to look yourself in the mirror and say I just cant do this anymore, he said. Mehlman said he was referring to what he described as absolute chaos spreading through the United States under Bidens open border policy. On June 22, his organization, which tracks the impact of illegal immigration on the United States, released the results of a report showing that illegal immigrants cost taxpayers $163 billion. The group also reported that the population of illegal immigrants living in the United States has reached 16.8 million. Thats more than the population of 46 out of 50 states, Texas Congressman Troy Nehls posted on Twitter in response to the FAIR report. Mehlman said FAIRs advocacy office is hearing from more and more Americans who have complained they are losing housing and job opportunities to the mass of illegal border-crossers. Towns far from border states are also feeling the impact. This week in Unity, Mainea rural, nearly all-white college town with about 2,000 inhabitants and a median annual income of a little under $27,000the residents were upset to learn they were inheriting about 600 illegal immigrants from Portland, a self-appointed sanctuary city. There is also major unrest among frontline workers at the border. Out of the 9,300 border agents that responded to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) survey, one-quarter of them indicated plans to quit their jobs in the near future, according to its recently released results. Some have also accused the Biden administration of silencing whistleblowers on controversial issues such as reports of thousands of missing migrant children. The chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) recently said at a hearing that Homeland Securitys Inspector General officials involved in an investigation into border activity have reported feeling intimidated over speaking up. Grothman entitled the June 6 hearing Help Wanted: Law Enforcement Staffing Challenges at the Border. Even more signs of unrest came on May 31, when 18 states filed a federal complaint against the Biden administration for its new Circumvention of Lawful Pathways policy, which is supported by a controversial phone app that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody says allows aliens to schedule their entry into the United States and bypass vetting and safety protocols. The same day the state complaint was filed, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz announced he was resigning. A few days later, Tae JohnsonImmigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting chiefhanded in his resignation. Then came DHS Acting Deputy Commissioner Benjamine Huffmans announced retirement on June 9 after serving only years on the job. Their departure follows Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnuss controversial departure in November. Magnus stepped down after reports that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas threatened to fire him if he did not. It has never been disclosed why Mayorkas wanted Magnus off the job. Like Tien, Magnus was only on the job for a year. Ortizs resigned after his blistering testimony in front of the House Committee on Homeland Security in March that contradicted Mayorkass claim that the borders were secure. He also testified that far more illegal aliens were evading border agents than Mayorkas had reported. In response to Ortizs resignation, House Homeland Security Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Congressman Clay Higgins (R-La.) accused Mayorkas of getting rid of border officials standing in the way of turning America into a third world country. It was clear that his dedication to actual enforcement of our law did not fit well with the Mayorkas/cartel agenda to flood America with illegals and drugs, said Higgins, Chief Ortiz was an American patriot who dared to speak the truth about Secretary Mayorkas. Nicolette Grazer, an immigration attorney out of Los Angeles, told The Epoch Times, that she immediately knew the exits were political. She pointed to the lack of changeover in the immigration court system where judges and attorneys are struggling with a policy she said was, no doubt taxing the conscience of top border officials. Grazer, who has been helping illegal immigrants achieve U.S. citizenship for 23 years, said that the imbalances in Bidens immigration policies are so extreme that it is keeping migrants with job skills out while allowing unvetted migrants through. She said the same goes for those who already have a place to stay in the United States because they are trying to unite with families who are well-settled in the countries. In some cases, it has taken more than four years to process applications of relatives of naturalized U.S. citizens, according to Grazer. Right now, we really have a very backward approach, she said. Other top border officials to go include CBPs Chief of the Law Enforcement Operations Directorate Brian Hastings. Hastings, who routinely spoke publicly about what he deemed a crisis at the border was quietly replaced by El Paso, Texas, chief patrol agent Gloria Chavez, after being on the job for two years. Tony Barker, U.S. Border Patrols acting chief of law enforcement operations directorate, left his job in January over allegations of sexual harassment made against him by female staff workers. So far, the only statement from the Biden administration on the mass exodus of its top border officials came from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy Miller who thanked the existing senior border leaders for their service. I am very grateful for the service of our departing senior leaders, and look forward to what our new executives will accomplish in service of our mission to safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values, Miller said in a June 9 statement. Mehlman said he has no doubt that the outgoing border officials are all being replaced with yes men. If you cant fix it, maybe we can hide it, said Mehlman, that seems to be the policy of the Biden administration. Explainer: What Is the Wagner Paramilitary Group? Russian police officers are seen, reflected on a window, as they patrol in an area outside PMC Wagner Centre in Saint Petersburg, on June 24, 2023. (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images) Amid recent commotion around a possible coup in Russia by the Wagner private military organization, attention has turned to the shadowy group and its leader, a longtime affiliate of Russian President Vladimir Putin. After appearing to have launched an armed rebellion to force a change at the helm of Russias military, the groups leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on Saturday announced that Wagner forces would halt their advance on Moscow to avoid bloodshed. Prigozhins audio announcement on his Telegram channel appeared to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis and the most significant challenge to Putins leadership in his 23 years in power. Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group are seen atop of a tank while being deployed near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. (Stringer/Reuters) Wagner Beginnings The Wagner Group, officially known as PMC Wagner, or Wagner Private Military Company, is a Russian paramilitary organization that was first identified in 2014, when it backed pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. While private military companies are technically illegal in Russia, Wagner has operated with state backing, with some reports indicating that the groups murky legal status has allowed it to operate with plausible deniability as an unofficial armed wing of the Kremlin on sensitive foreign missions. Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2012, while serving as prime minister, told the Russian Duma that he supported the creation of private military companies as tools of Russian influence abroad. Despite its murky legal status, Wagner in November 2022 opened an office in St. Petersburg, where Putin once served as mayor and Prigozhin ran a restaurant that Putin would frequent. Visitors wearing military camouflage stand at the entrance of the PMC Wagner Centre, associated with the leader of the Wagner private military group (PMC) Yevgeny Prigozhin, during the official opening of the office block in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Nov. 4, 2022. (Olga Maltseva/AFP via Getty Images) British intelligence said that in December 2022, Wagner had formally registered as a legal entity with a Russian state registry showing that the group said its core activity was management consultancy, with no mention of combat services. Prigozhin has become a prominent oligarch in Russia, with operations that include catering services to the Russian military. He also heads Wagner, with some reports crediting him with the groups founding, although this is disputed. The company was named after the old callsign Vagner of former Russian Spetsnaz commander Dmitry Utkin, who is widely noted as the groups founder though its unclear whether he actually initiated its establishment or was only a frontman, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Utkin himself, along with Wagner operatives, took part in Russian operations in Ukraine in 2014, the year Russia took over Crimea. Since its founding, Wagner has grown considerably and has operated in the Central African Republic, Mali, and Syria, among other countries. Leader of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin makes a statement as he stands next to Wagner fighters in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in Bakhmut, Ukraine, in this still image taken from video released on May 20, 2023. (Press service of Concord/Handout via Reuters) Wagner in Ukraine Amid Russias invasion of Ukraine, Wagner forces have provided the Kremlin with key support, doing much of the heaviest fighting in the Donbass region and taking significant casualties in the fight for Bakhmut. Wagner almost certainly now commands 50,000 fighters in Ukraine and has become a key component of the Ukraine campaign, the British Ministry of Defence said in January. The U.S. National Security Council said at the beginning of the year that around 80 percent of Wagners troops in Ukraine have been drawn from prisons. Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Russias Wagner mercenary force, speaks in Paraskoviivka, Ukraine, in this still image from an undated video released on March 3, 2023. (Concord Press Service/via Reuters) In the course of the conflict in Ukraine, however, Prigozhin has ramped up his criticism of Russias top military brass, accusing them of corruption and incompetence. Faced with battlefield setbacks in Ukraine, including Wagner taking significant casualties in the fierce battles over Bakhmut, Prigozhin leveled a series of accusations against the Russian military, including that they werent supplying Wagner with enough ammunition. A culminating point was a June 23 accusation Prigozhin made in a post on his Telegram channel against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who the Wagner chief accused of destroying his fighters and called for an armed mutiny. Prigozhin amplified a video from a Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel on June 23 which reportedly shows the aftermath of a missile strike on a rear-area Wagner camp and accused the Russian MoD of conducting that strike, states an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). A longtime ally of Putin, the Wagner Groups leader did not target the Russian president in his attacks on Russian military brass. Prigozhin claimed that the Wagner Commanders Council made the decision to stop the evil brought by the military leadership who neglect and destroy the lives of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers, ISW said. In this handout photo taken from video released by Prigozhin Press Service, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP) The Wagner leader vowed to deal with those who destroyed Russian soldiers and then return to Ukraine after restoring justice. Prigozhin also notably accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of personally planning an operation to destroy Wagner and claimed that 25,000 Wagner personnel are prepared to act, ISW stated. He later posted on his Telegram channel that there was no coup but only a march for justice. Wagners March on Moscow On Friday and into Saturday, mercenaries from the Wagner Group moved closer to Moscow after seizing a southern city overnight, with Russias military reportedly firing on them from the air and setting up roadblocks but appearing to do little to blunt their rapid advance. After capturing the city of Rostov overnight, Wagner operatives set off on a 680-mile run toward Moscow, drawing rebuke from Putin, who in a speech called the armed rebellion a betrayal and vowed to punish its leaders. Russian servicemen guard an area standing in front of a tank in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. (Vasily Deryugin, Kommersant Publishing House via AP) Then later on Saturday, the Belarus Presidents Office said that Prigozhin had agreed to stop the groups lightning-fast advance toward Moscow and to deescalate the situation. Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus and an ally of Putin, reportedly held talks with Prigozhin and helped broker a deal that would provide security guarantees for Wagner fighters. Russian state media TASS reported that a tentative deal had been reached that would halt Wagners advance toward Moscow. Prigozhin himself confirmed in a statement on his Telegram channel that he ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine in order to avoid shedding Russian blood. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that charges against Prigozhin would be dropped and he will be sent to neighboring Belarus. Video shared on social media appeared to show Wagner forces withdrawing from their positions in Rostov-on-Don. GOP Lawmakers React to US COVID Origin Report: American People Deserve Better Lawmakers who have long pressed for transparency on the origin of COVID-19 said they are underwhelmed by a declassified U.S. intelligence report, saying that the administration hasnt been fully transparent with what it knows. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) released the long-anticipated report on the evening of June 23, days after a 90-day deadline mandated by the COVID-19 Origin Act of 2023. Passed by Congress and signed into law in March, the act requires disclosure of any possible links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), which has been suggested as a likely pandemic origin. Although it provides glimpses into activities at the Wuhan lab before the pandemic, the 10-page reportincluding three pages in appendicesdoesnt conclusively state whether the virus came from nature or the lab. This Friday night news dump of a mere 10-page summary is a slap in the face of Americans who deserve full transparency about what information the government possesses regarding the origins of COVID-19, said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) sponsored one of four bills calling for an end to COVID-19 emergency measures adopted by the House Rules Committee on Jan. 30, 2023. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Perhaps the most important lesson weve learned throughout the pandemic is that our government must be honest and forthcoming if we are ever to restore public trust and obtain justice for the victims of the pandemicboth those who lost their lives to the virus and those whose lives were harmed by unscientific lockdowns and mandates. This report fails to live up to either. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, noted reports earlier in the week confirming names of the Wuhan virology lab researchers who had fallen ill with COVID-like symptoms in the autumn of 2019. Although theres no definitive evidence whether those researchers had contracted the virus, one of them was identified as Ben Hu, who worked for years on U.S.-funded bat coronavirus research together with Shi Zhengli, the Chinese virologist who has been linked to the lab leak controversy. The June 23 report raised biosafety concerns with WIVs handling of SARS-like viruses, the shortage of properly trained personnel at the facility, and experiments on SARS-like coronavirus in lower biosafety labs in early 2019 despite known risks. It maintained that the presence of sick researchers neither supports nor refutes either hypothesis of the pandemics origins because the researchers symptoms could have been caused by a number of diseases and some of the symptoms were not consistent with COVID-19. Gallagher said that the intelligence officials should have released details on these researchers, including their names, symptoms, and involvement in coronavirus-related work at the Wuhan facility. This DNI release does none of that and, in many ways, obscures more than it illuminates, he said, calling it unacceptable. The American people deserve better. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kans.) likewise suggested that the administration may have withheld information. As weve seen nearly every step of the way while trying to uncover the origins of the COVID-19 virus, the Biden Administration has failed to be transparent with the American people and members of Congress, he said, stressing that the release is late and does not provide the full picture of what our intelligence agencies know. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kans.) asks questions during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington on Sept. 30, 2021. (Greg Nash/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) He added that the intelligence officials should appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, of which he is a member, to walk us through these materials so we can get to the bottom of the COVID-19 pandemic that killed over a million Americans. The Energy Department and the FBI have both determined that the virus likely came from a lab. In May 2020, the National Institutes of Health, which had funded bat virus studies at WIV, warned that the Wuhan virology institute was involved in research projects that pose serious bio-safety concerns and, as a result, health and welfare threats to the public, both in China and other countries, including the United States, according to a newly released letter. Related Coverage How the West Abetted Beijings Censorship of the Lab Leak Theory White Coat Waste Project, a nonprofit group that has been advocating for more scrutiny of WIV, called the latest U.S. intelligence report underwhelming and criticized it for failing to mention the U.S. taxpayer funding that the Wuhan lab received and details relating to the sick researchers. The report did confirm a link between the Wuhan lab and the Chinese military, contradicting a prior denial from Shi, the Wuhan virologist. Between 2017 and 2019, according to the report, WIV funded research projects to enhance Chinas knowledge of pathogens and early disease warning capabilities for defensive and biosecurity needs of the military, which some of its personnel also worked on. Justin Goodman, White Coat Waste Projects senior vice president, said, Shipping US taxpayer dollars to the [Peoples Liberation Army]-tied Wuhan animal lab was always a recipe for disaster. In this episode of ATL:NOW, I sit down with China expert Gordon Chang to discuss Secretary of State Antony Blinkens visit to China, growing fears of a Taiwan invasion, rumors of Americans being evacuated, and growing reports of large numbers of Chinese nationalsmostly male and unaccompanied by family memberscoming through the U.S. southern border. Greek Conservatives Storm to Victory in Repeat Election New Democracy conservative party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaks to supporters outside the party's headquarters, after the general election, in Athens, Greece, on June 25, 2023. (Louiza Vradi/Reuters) ATHENSGreeces conservative New Democracy party stormed to victory in a parliamentary election on Sunday with voters giving reformist Kyriakos Mitsotakis another four-year term as prime minister. With most votes counted, New Democracy was leading with 40.5 percent of the vote and 158 seats in the 300-seat parliament, interior ministry figures showed. It was more than 20 points clear of Syriza, a radical leftist party that won elections in 2015 at the peak of a debilitating debt crisis and ran the country until 2019, when it lost to New Democracy. This freely given support only increases my responsibility to respond to peoples hopes. I personally feel an even stronger obligation to serve the country with all my abilities, Mitsotakis told cheering crowds at New Democracy headquarters in downtown Athens. Sundays vote was a humiliating defeat for Syriza, which lost more than 30 Members of Parliament (MPs). Mitsotakis, 55, a former banker and scion of a powerful political family, has promised to boost revenue from the vital tourist industry, create jobs, and increase wages to near the European Union average. Mitsotakis, who was prime minister from 2019 until stepping down in favor of a caretaker premier following an inconclusive May vote, has vowed to push ahead with reforms to rebuild the countrys credit rating after the debt crisis that wracked the nation for a decade. Sundays vote was the second in the past five weeks, as a first poll on May 21 held under a different electoral system failed to give a single party absolute majority in parliament. The system used in Sundays poll gave the leading party bonus seats depending on voter support. Zoe Constantopoulou, who spent hours regaling Greeces lenders at the height of the countrys debt crisis in 2015 when she was parliamentary speaker, saw her party, Plefsi Eleftherias, gain 8 seats in parliament. Whether we are eight or nine MPs, Im good enough for 100 [MPs], she said. The COVID-19 pandemic and a deadly rail crash in February exposed shortcomings in Greeces health and public transport systems. But a cost-of-living crisis and economic hardship have more recently topped voters concerns. I expect a lot [from the new government], pensioner Giorgos Katzimertzis told Reuters. The main thing is the health system, the economy, so we can live [decently] because things are difficult. I am a pensioner, I was on the fire brigade, and now I dont have a dime. Sundays election was held in the shadow of a migrant shipwreck this month in which hundreds are feared to have perished off southern Greece. One of the worst such disasters in years, it has exposed the parties divisions over illegal immigration. The Spartans party, which said Greece was threatened by uncontrolled migration, was the surprise of the campaign. It was set to gain 4.7 of the vote and up to 13 seats in parliament, based on the early results. The group was catapulted from relative obscurity after support from Ilias Kasiadiaris, the frontman of the now-banned Golden Dawn party. His own party was barred from the elections and he endorsed the Spartans from jail. A Twitter post from Kasidiaris showed him beaming, wearing a T-shirt with a Spartans logo and giving the thumbs up, super-imposed against jail bars. Spice blends are a great shortcut for the busy cook who likes interesting flavors. Find them in the spice section of your supermarket or make up your own. The spice blends are made with all dry ingredients; spice pastes use some fresh ingredients such as onions, parsley, cilantro, or garlic, which do not keep their flavors well when dried. Store the spice pastes in the refrigerator; the dry spice blends can be refrigerated or kept on your spice shelf in airtight containers. For any spice or spice blend, the rule is the same: If it doesnt have a nice fragrance, it wont have a good taste. Rub a little between your fingers and sniff to see if its still fresh. Harissa Sauce 1 teaspoon ground caraway seed 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1 clove garlic 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup olive oil or Italian salad dressing Mix the dry spices in a small refrigerator container. Peel the garlic clove and press it through a garlic press into the dry spices. Add the oil or salad dressing and mix well. Store covered in refrigerator. Very hot! Yield: About 1/4 cup Note: A little harissa goes a long way! Stir in a tiny bit while you cook, and taste before adding any more. Or let each person mix a little dab into their own portion of any stew or soup vegetable, bean, or seafood. Be sure to caution anyone who is not familiar with harissa. The harissa will keep indefinitely in a closed container in your refrigerator. Thai Spice Paste 1/2 cup chopped onion 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves 1/4 cup chopped basil leaves 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh lemon grass, or 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon cayenne (or to taste) 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Mash all ingredients together, or process in a small food processor. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Yield: About 1 cup In recipes that call for a dry spice blend, use about three times as much of the paste. (If the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of dry Thai spice blend, use 3 tablespoons of the Thai spice paste.) Greek Spice Paste 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon dried oregano (or 3 tablespoons fresh, if available) With all of the following, use 1 tablespoon fresh if available: 1 teaspoon dried dill weed 1 teaspoon dried tarragon 1 teaspoon dried savory 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried rosemary Mash all ingredients together, or process in a small food processor. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Yield: About 1 cup In recipes that call for a dry spice blend, use two to three times as much of the paste. (If the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of dry Greek spice blend, use 3 tablespoons of the Greek spice paste.) Southwestern Spice Paste 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup onion, chopped fine 3 tablespoons mild paprika 2 tablespoons dried cumin 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon mild chili powder 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste Mash all ingredients together, or process in a small food processor. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Yield: About 1/2 cup In recipes that call for a dry spice blend, use about three times as much of the paste. (If the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of dry Southwestern spice blend, use 3 tablespoons of the Southwestern spice paste.) Cajun Spice Paste 1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves 1/2 cup onion, chopped fine 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup mild paprika 1/4 cup lemon juice 1 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste Mash all ingredients together, or process in a small food processor. Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Yield: About 1 cup In recipes that call for a dry spice blend, use about three times as much of the paste. (If the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of dry Cajun spice blend, use 3 tablespoons of the Cajun spice paste.) Many very tasty ready-made Cajun spice blends are available in supermarkets. Berbere Spice Mix 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon allspice Mix the spices together and store them in an airtight container. Yield: About 1/8 cup Various spices on a wooden table. Garam Masala Spice Blend 1 (Whole Seeds, Ground Fresh) 2 tablespoons coriander seed 2 tablespoons mustard seed 2 tablespoons fennel seed 4 tablespoons cumin seed 2 tablespoons fenugreek seed 2 tablespoons whole black pepper 2 tablespoons caraway seed 1 tablespoon whole cloves Parch the spices except for the cloves on a hot griddle or large pan (do not allow them to burn). Add the cloves and grind while still warm. Cool and store in an airtight container. Yield: About 3/4 cup Garam Masala Spice Blend 2 (Ground Spices) 2 tablespoons freshly ground black or white pepper 2 teaspoons ground cumin 2 teaspoons ground coriander 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon cardamom 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon cloves Mix all ingredients. Store in an airtight container. Yield: About 1/4 cup Dessert Spice Blend Hot breakfast cereals and whole grain desserts can be made more delicious with a cinnamon-based spice blend. Find a good Apple Pie Spice or Pumpkin Pie Spice in your supermarket or make your own with this recipe. 3 tablespoons cinnamon 1 tablespoon nutmeg 1 tablespoon dry ginger 1 teaspoon cloves 1 teaspoon cardamom 1 teaspoon mace Mix all ingredients. Store in an airtight container. Yield: About 1/4 cup Republished from DrMirkin.com What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc House Intelligence Committee Chairman: Declassified Wuhan Lab Report Is Not Sufficient Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) questions Gordon Sondland, the U.S ambassador to the European Union, as he testifies before the House Intelligence Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 20, 2019. (Alex Edelman/Getty Images) The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee declared Sunday that declassified report on the origins of COVID-19 isnt sufficient, noting that few new details were revealed. In a Sunday interview, Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) demanded more information after a 10-page report was released Friday by the U.S. intelligence community. We passed a law saying declassify the information you have about the COVID [pandemic] and Wuhan labs activities. What they did is basically went and did a paper on what they believe about the intelligence theyve looked at. To give you an example, weve asked to open the curtain and release the intelligence, and they went behind the curtain, read the stuff, and came out and said this is what we think about it, Turner told CBS Newss Face the Nation on Sunday. But the report is not sufficient, Turner added, and this is going to set up a battle between the Congress and the director of national intelligence to make certain that law passed unanimouslyboth the Senate and House and signed by the presidentis complied with, but also the American public get the answers they deserve. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence report found that there isnt clear evidence that COVID-19, which was first detected in Chinas Wuhan city in 2019, started at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. But it said the U.S. intelligence community still could not rule out the possibility that the virus came from a laboratory, however, and had not been able to discover the origins of the pandemic. The Central Intelligence Agency and another agency remain unable to determine the precise origin of the COVID-19 pandemic, as both (natural and lab) hypotheses rely on significant assumptions or face challenges with conflicting reporting, the ODNI report stated, noting that extensive work was done on coronaviruses at the lab. We continue to have no indication that the WIVs pre-pandemic research holdings included SARSCoV-2 or a close progenitor, nor any direct evidence that a specific research-related incident occurred involving WIV personnel before the pandemic that could have caused the COVID pandemic, the report said. The P4 laboratory on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on May 13, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) The origins of COVID-19, a type of coronavirus, has been a matter of debate in the United States. Critics of the federal governments response say that the National Institutes of Health provided funding to a third-party group to perform research on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan research facility, while the first reported cases worldwide were in Wuhan. The U.S. intelligence report, meanwhile, goes against what FBI director Christopher Wray said on Feb. 28 that his bureau has believed for some time that COVID-19s origin was most likely a potential lab incident in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has maintained an official narrative that the virus emerged from a so-called wet market in Wuhan. On Sunday, Turner stressed that intelligence should be declassified in order to allow people to research the origins of the virus. We want the intelligence released and their opinion about the released. If we wanted their opinion, we would have asked for it. We passed a law saying declassify it so the American public can see it. Experts out there in the community besides the intelligence community need to take a look at this and help us understand what really happened, that resulted in millions of people dying, Turner said during the CBS News interview. As head of the House Intelligence Committee, Turner said that he has not been able to see the classified annex part of the report. I havent had access to it in a classified setting, but even releasing a classified annex goes against what the law says, he added. The law says declassifynot give us more classified information. My committee has seen a significant amount of this intelligence; giving my committee more intelligence doesnt give it to the public. President Joe Biden in March signed a bill declassifying information related to the origins of the pandemic. Biden said at the time of signing that he shared Congress goal of releasing as much information as possible about the origin of COVID-19. Reuters contributed to this report. How the Internet Has Encouraged Bad BehaviorEspecially in Females Commentary Ghosting, the practice of ending a relationship suddenly, and without any explanation, cutting off all forms of communication with another person, is very costly. Analysts at SOCi, Inc., a U.S. marketing platform, recently published a report outlining the many ways in which retailers are ghosting customers and how this practice is costing the country billions of dollars. Retailers, according to the report, now ghost more than half of all customers online when they give feedback, ask questions or leave reviews, thus resulting in a rather staggering $2.4 billion annual loss for the countrys retail industry. Outside of the business world, ghosting is costly in other ways. It causes real psychological harm. Interestingly, females are far more likely150 percent more likely, to be specificto ghost than males. Ghosting is best viewed as a form of relational aggression, or alternative aggression, an insidious, manipulative way of inflicting pain on another human being. Ghosting is a destructive practice that leaves victims feeling confused and upset. From an emotional perspective, as the clinical psychologist Leigh W. Jerome recently pointed out, being ghosted triggers feelings of vulnerability and doubt. Moreover, added Jerome, ghosting also affects people at a physiological level, by depleting neurotransmitters and activating abandonment and rejection wounds. Ghosting also appears to activate the very same neural pathways as physical pain. For those who think that ghosting is a harmless activity, the results of a study by European and U.S. academics suggest otherwise. Ghosting, according to the researchers, is, first and foremost, an indirect form of relationship termination. Its cold, abrupt, and quite often brutal. The researchers found that those who reported ghosting someone in the past scored higher than those who didnt in both Machiavellianism, a personality trait intimately associated with deceit and manipulation, and psychopathy, a personality trait defined by a lack of empathy and sometimes ruthless behavior. Besides ghosting, psychopathy also plays a significant role in the act of cyberbullying, a problem thats getting worse with each year that passes. Females are three times more likely to be cyberbullied than males; theyre also more likely to be perpetrators of cyberbullying. Examples of cyberbullying include harassment (using group chats to target a specific individual, for example) and impersonation (such as by making a false account). The effects of cyberbullying are devastating. Victims are at an increased risk of developing social anxiety, having suicidal thoughts, and engaging in suicidal behaviors. Teen suicides are increasing, and cyberbullying is playing a significant role in fueling the crisis. Some analysts view cyberstalking as a form of cyberbullying. Although many men engage in acts of cyberstalkinganother serious problem that is on the risewomen are far more likely to cyberstalk a current, former, or potential lover, according to psychologist Arash Emamzadeh. An increasing number of females are committing acts of cybercrime, including phishing, identity theft, internet fraud, and sextortion, a form of blackmail in which a person threatens to share a lewd image or video of an individual who refuses to give in to their demands. Whats going on? Why are so many females carrying out so many cold, vindictive acts? In recent times, as I have shown before, the line separating males from females has become increasingly blurry. So too has the line separating traditionally male behaviors and traditionally female behaviors. Today, women are just as likely as men to suffer from alcoholism and to be heavily tattooed. They are just as likely to suffer from video game addiction. Women are more likely to be perpetrators of intimate partner violence than they were a couple of decades ago. Today, rather incredibly, one-third of domestic abuse victims in the UK are men. Women are now more likely than men to cheat on a romantic partner. This didnt use to be the case. Couple all of the above trends with the anonymous, impersonal nature of online environments (the online disinhibition effect), and you start to realize why an increasing number of females are carrying out immoral, sometimes criminal, acts. Although males are considerably more likely to engage in acts of visible, physical aggression, females are more likely to engage in the aforementioned relational aggression. Quite often, this involves using a covert set of devious tactics to destroy a persons reputation (gossiping, posting harmful content online, etc.). In many ways, the internet has been a blessing. Without it, you couldnt read this article. However, as is clear to see, it has also been a curse. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed on Sunday a joint declaration to raise the level of cooperation between the two countries to strategic partnership, said Egypt's Presidential Spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy. Such a signing reflects the two countries will to strengthen bilateral relations and affirms the shared and extended heritage between the governments and people of Egypt and India, the presidential spokesperson affirmed. We had the pleasure of receiving President El-Sisi as the chief guest at our Republic Day celebrations this year. These two visits in the span of a few months are a reflection of our rapidly evolving partnership with Egypt, which was elevated to a strategic partnership during El-Sisis visit," PM Modi also said, according to Fahmy. The declaration was signed after the two leaders met at Cairos Ittihadiya Palace to discuss topics of mutual interest such as increasing the volume of trade exchange, including of strategic commodities, as well as Indian investments in Egypt, explained Fahmy. El-Sisi and Modi also deliberated on regional and international topics, added the spokesperson. Invitation to Delhi PM Modi re-extended his invitation to Egypt to participate in the G20 meetings set to take place in New Delhi in September, said Fahmy. For his part, President El-Sisi expressed his trust in Indias leadership of the G20 as well as his countrys readiness to push discussions in constructive directions to reach optimal mechanisms to face energy crises, climate change, food shortages, as well as obtain financing for developing countries. Egypt is confident that Indias leadership will contribute to curbing the negative consequences of international challenges on global economy, El-Sisi asserted. The two leaders also probed expanding tourism and cultural exchange through easing direct flights between Cairo and New Delhi, the spokesperson continued. Other topicsb discussed included communications, information technology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, vaccines, higher education, renewable energy and green hydrogen. At the end of the meeting, the Egyptian president bestowed the Order of the Nile the countrys highest state honour on PM Modi. The Indian prime minister arrived in Egypt on Saturday on his first official visit upon invitation from El-Sisi in January. Modi was greeted by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Saturday and met with a number of other high-level government officials. This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and India. Search Keywords: Short link: Los Angeles to Implement 15 MPH Speed Limits on Streets Near Schools Students walk to their classrooms at a public middle school in Los Angeles, on Sept. 10, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) LOS ANGELESThe Los Angeles City Council adopted a resolution on June 23 to implement a 15 mph speed limit on various streets near 45 schools in the city. The move is part of an effort to enhance public safety after a string of accidents, including one that resulted in the death of a mother and severe injury to her child while they were walking to school. The council, in a 100 vote, approved the implementation of the speed limit without discussion. Council members Kevin de Leon, Heather Hutt, Monica Rodriguez, and Curren Price were absent during the vote. The councils Transportation Committee voted to recommend the speed limit after hearing a report from the citys Department of Transportation on June 14. This is the first installment of tactical improvements that Los Angeles Department Of Transportation is making this summer to enhance the safety around schools and protect school childrenthe future of Los Angeles, Dan Mitchell, assistant general manager of the department, told the panel of council members on the Transportation Committee. The department will establish School Safety Zone speed limits, and set up speed limit signs and other markings to provide drivers with notice of the new regulations. The reduced speed limit would only apply while children are going to or leaving school. Los Angeles Police Department officers will enforce the speed limit, according to Mitchell. The department estimates it will cost approximately $150,000 to purchase and install the signs near the schools. Funds are available within the departments budget for the expenditure. In 2012, the department launched its Safe Routes to Schools strategic plan to implement a data-driven process to improve safety around school campuses. The department and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) developed a methodology that considered various criteria to identify the top 50 schools in need. The council adopted a resolution to establish 15 mph school zone speed limits at 11 of the top 50 schools in 2016. Mitchell said the Department of Transportation implemented those school speed limits as part of a pilot program. The council will now implement speed limits at the remaining 39 of the top 50 schools as well as six additional nearby schoolsfive of which are in LAUSD and one private school. According to Mitchell, the California Vehicle Code defines a school zone with the default speed limit of 25 mphbut it allows a local authority to set a speed limit within the school zone that is lower than the speed limit in the surrounding neighborhood. Mitchell told the Transportation Committee that the department will share plans for installing speed humps around schools to further reduce vehicle speed and enhance safety at their next meeting. Man Shot in Neck Following Argument in San Diego SAN DIEGOA 29-year-old man suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the neck during a shooting in the East Village community of San Diego, authorities said June 25. The suspect fled eastbound on the 1400 block of Commercial Avenue riding a white bicycle, the San Diego Police Department reported. The victim and suspect were arguing about 9:45 p.m. Saturday in the 1300 block of National Avenue when the suspect allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the victim in the neck. Paramedics rushed the victim, suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, to a hospital. The suspect was described as a 5-foot, 10-inch tall Black male, about 30 to 40 years old, weighing 230 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, black jacket, and blue shorts. San Diego police urged anyone with any information regarding the shooting to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Muslims, Other Parents Stage Large Protest Against Gender Ideology Outside Justin Trudeaus Ottawa Office A large demonstration protesting against gender ideology in public schools took place outside Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus office on Wellington Street in Ottawa on June 24. A significant number of participants were Muslims, with many carrying signs and chanting, Leave our kids alone. Videos of the event were posted on Twitter. The crowd of hundreds of protesters included women of all ages in hijabs along with men and children. At times the diverse crowd yelled, No more silence. One protester carried a sign that read, Dad/noun, a human male who protects his kids from gender ideology. Another sign said, Schools to teach intellectual sciences not to teach gender. A teenage boy in a yellow shirt carried a sign that said, Theyre our kids, leave them alone. A large crowd of protesters in Ottawa gather outside Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus office in Ottawa on June 24, 2023, to protest against the implementation of gender ideology in schools. Protesters carried signs and chanted, Leave our kids alone. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times) Two other signs read, Believe what you believe, but leave our kids alone, and Stop indoctrinating/sexualizing children. One man carried a sign that said, Gender ideology does not belong in schools. At one point, protesters were directly under a rainbow flag flying from the window of a government building. A man with a megaphone could be heard saying, Thank you for coming and thank you for being here. Youre in the right place. Youre doing the right thing. Were all working together now. We all see we have the same opponent. Ongoing Protests Protests have been ongoing for three weeks since the beginning of Pride Month in June, with school walkouts and rallies taking place across the country to protest what parents say is an increased focus on gender ideology in schools. On June 15, dozens of students at an Ottawa secondary school staged a walkout to protest gender ideology they said schools were pushing on students. That crowd was described as having Muslim, white, and Asian students from every ethnicity who want to not be indoctrinated. The protest occurred after an Ottawa school board email to all staff was leaked that said teachers should call all children by they/them pronouns at the start of the next school year until children provide their preferred pronouns. The email declared that teachings about LGBT identities should be embedded in the overall learning environment and that this would not be open to debate or selective participation. A few days earlier, Muslim families and others had protested against gender ideology at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board headquarters building. And hundreds of protesters gathered in Ottawa on June 9 for a protest organized by Chris Elston, a B.C. father of two girls known as Billboard Chris who advocates against gender ideology and attempts by gender clinicians and other to transition children to the opposite sex. The Education Over Indoctrination rally saw the Ottawa police shut down Broadview Avenue for a rally consisting of hundreds of protesters holding signs with messages that included Save Canada, Christ Is King, and Dad: A human male who protects his kids from gender ideology. Mississaugua, Ontario, saw a similar protest on June 24, again with predominantly Muslim protesters joined by Christians and other parents from all backgrounds yelling, Leave our kids alone. At that event, one sign said, Put woke to sleep. Calgary Protest With Police Presence A similar protest with a giant crowd took place in Calgary outside city hall on June 24, prompting Calgary Police to be out in force with dozens of officers forming a line in front of protesters and counter-protesters. Signs there read, Hands off our kids and Every child with gender dysphoria/issues does not need gender change. Protesters stood in the crosswalk blocking a city street as motorists honked. Another sign read, Our kids are a red line, while another said, If schools hide, parents cant guide. One sign said, Protecting faith, family, freedom. Another said, Keep gender ideology out of schools. One sign called for the removal of the rainbow flag from schools, saying that only two flags should be flown, the Canadian Flag and the Alberta flag. At the Calgary event, counter-protesters were also present, as were Antifa members in black trying to block parents by holding a large white flag in front of them, as the chants of Leave our kids alone continued. A poster for the Calgary event called for people to join in a peaceful protest to protect family values and protest against the implementation of LGBTQ+ ideology in public school curriculums. Stand together, Muslims, Christians, and people of all faiths and backgrounds to send a unified message that it is time to address our concerns, said the poster. Elston has been travelling around North America and Europe wearing a sign that says, Children cannot consent to puberty blockers. Matthew Horwood contributed to this report. My Passion Has Been Stolen: California Small Business Owner Closes Stores Amid Retail Crime Wave As crime and retail theft increase throughout California, more shops are closing while others are fleeing the state. For one California entrepreneur, the states wave of increased theft in recent years was almost enough for her to forgo her dream of helping cancer patients rediscover their beauty and confidence through wigs sold at her now-closed beauty stores. Evette Ingram, owner of Evettes Beauty Supply, shut down her two beauty stores in Los Angeles County after not only losing profits from retail theft but also for fearing her personal safety. You used to see teenagers shoplifting. And now I see people from all walks of life shoplifting. People from all walks of life are breaking into my stores, from young to old. It definitely became more brazen, she said in a recent episode of EpochTVs California Insider. She said her love for selling wigs ignited after first opening a small boutique in Sherman Oaks California, where her first customer was a woman undergoing chemotherapy who was losing a lot of hair. As she sat in my chair her hair was literally falling out, and she cried. We talked for maybe an hour and once I put this wig on her head, everything about her changed, Ingram said. With the help of the wig, she said she remembers her customer feeling confident she could conquer her chemo and attend her high school reunion feeling beautiful. At that moment, my love for wigs developed into a passion especially to help those that are experiencing medical hair loss, Ingram said. But her dream was short-lived after multiple break-ins, and even being held at knifepoint, she said. Recently with all of the thefts and the burglaries and shoplifting, my passion has been stolen. Ive had so many break-ins. Ive had customers pull knives on me at my store, she said. The thefts, she believes, are a sign that leaders in the state need to rewrite laws, such as Prop. 47, which was passed by voters in 2014. The proposition turned non-violent property crimes such as retail theft under $950 into misdemeanors and lessened some drug offenses. Rethink these laws because people think that oh if its under $1,000 its not going to be a felony. Im not going to go to jail. If these criminals know that there are going to be some serious repercussions because of [their] actions Im quite sure they will stop to think before they commit the crime, she said. When her first store opened in 2016, she said, there was only the occasional theft. But after the pandemic started and her business remained open as an essential service, the thefts skyrocketed. At the beginning of the pandemic three young men came into my Pasadena store and ran out the door with four high-end wigs, and from there it just went on and on from 2020 to 2023, she said. Since then, she said, she has had 12 break-ins during late night hours when the store is closed, and numerous times when the store has been opened, thieves have entered with large bags, loading them up and running out the door. In total, she said, she has lost over $150,000 in stolen merchandise. She recalled an instance when three girls hastily filled bags full of her merchandise in the back of her store when her attention was elsewhere helping a customer. After noticing, she approached the girls but was stopped after one of them pulled out a knife. That was a very scary time, because I had to not only think about myself, but my client who was in there as well and if she got hurt, she said. Ingram said she was so shocked she didnt call the policewho had already been to her store so many times by that point. Instead, she said, she closed the store for almost a week to calm her nerves. But just three weeks later, a man shoplifting pulled a knife on her, at the same store. Sometimes it makes me want to give up and just focus on my health, she said. In February, Ingram was diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes and decided to close her stores. But, she said, shes not given up. Im going to start again but this time Im going to do things a little differently. More security because we never had a security officer, she said. Retail Theft and Crime Rise Due to California Laws: County Sheriff Like Ingram and business owners sharing similar experiences, some law enforcement leaders agree that Californias policies are to blame. Some of the legislation thats being passed are really putting law enforcement in a position where we [need] to be proactive and go out and stop crime before a business is victimized, or a person is victimized, Shannon Dicus, Sheriff of San Bernardino County, said on a different episode of EpochTVs California Insider. He said California is now seeing the long-term effects of some of the states policies passed in recent years decriminalizing things like drug crimes and retail theft. One of the most notable changes that led to an increase in these offenses, he said, is Proposition 47. Dicus said Assembly Bill 109 has also played a part, passed by the California Legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011. The law began what is known as prison realignment, which reduced sentencing for non-violent or sex-related crimes and shifted custody from prisons to jail for less serious sentences. Dicus said the combination of these policieswhich have made criminal offenses less punishablehas led to more theft and crime. Citizens in California are now beginning to actually see the underbelly of this state rotting as a result of these policies, he said. On this episode of International Reporters Roundtable, we put a spotlight on the threat of nuclear war. Those terrifying words have been appearing in the news with increasing frequency in statements made by presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin. Those whove lived through the Cold War are familiar with mushroom clouds and fallout shelters. Nuclear war was MADmutual assured destruction. We knew, if the USSR or USA pressed the button, we were all dead. Post-Cold War, nuclear tensions abated and seemed relatively low, with the possible exception of random threats from North Korea. Now, all of a sudden the prospect of a nuclear strike is reemerging. Whats changed? Do smaller, tactical weapons, for use on the battlefield, alter the first-strike calculation? Would launching a lower-impact nuclear bomb cross the line and become the trigger for annihilation? How real is the threat today? Our expert guest journalists, analysts John Rossomando, Clare Lopez, and Brandon Weichert, join us to discuss the new nuclear landscape. Then we do a deep dive into space warfare with Brandon Weichert, the logistics and vulnerabilities of the final frontier. Oceanside Police Shoot, Kill Homicide Suspect After Pursuit A murder suspect died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in Oceanside on June 23 following a multi-county pursuit and exchange of gunfire with law enforcement personnel. The events that led to the 28-year-old mans death began around 11:55 p.m. On June 22, when 911 callers reported a domestic dispute and gunshots at a home in the 500 block of Fredricks Avenue in Oceanside, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD)which investigates law enforcement shootings in the city to the north under terms of a regional agreement. Patrol officers arrived at the residence to find the body of a 34-year-old woman, and detectives soon concluded that she had been shot to death by a man she was dating, SDPD Lt. Jud Campbell said. The names of the suspect and victim were withheld pending family notifications. Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday, deputies with the Riverside County Sheriffs Department spotted the suspect driving on Interstate 15 near Winchester Road in Temecula, Campbell said. When they tried to stop him, he failed to yield, and fled south, prompting a lengthy pursuit. After entering San Diego County, the suspect continued on through Fallbrook and eventually wound up back in Oceanside. After running over a tire-flattening spike strip that Oceanside police laid out in his path, the man pulled over in a parking lot at a strip mall in the 500 block of Vandegrift Boulevard. He then allegedly got out of his vehicle, pulled a gun, and began shooting at officers. The gunfire struck at least one law enforcement vehicle, Campbell said. At that point, an Oceanside police officer and a Riverside County sheriffs deputy returned fire, and the suspect ran off, with law enforcement personnel giving chase. After running a few blocks west, the suspect collapsed and died at the intersection of Gold and Sol drives, apparently after shooting himself, the lieutenant said. It was not immediately clear if the suspect had been struck by any of the rounds fired by the law enforcement personnel. The Oceanside Police Department officer who fired on the suspect has been with the agency for about nine years. He is assigned to the Oceanside Police Departments service-dog unit. The patrol deputy involved in the shooting has been employed by Riverside County Sheriffs for roughly two years. The womans death will be investigated by Oceanside police, the lieutenant noted. One Supreme Court Justice Dissents in Major Illegal Immigration Case Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court pose for their official photo at the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 7, 2022. (Front LR) Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Samuel Alito and Justice Elena Kagan. (Back LR) Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito stood alone last week in opposing a majority ruling that Louisiana and Texas lacked standing to challenge a Biden administration immigration policy. The high court, in an 81 decision (pdf), ruled that the state challengers lacked standing to file a lawsuit against the Biden administrations immigration enforcement priorities that were unveiled in 2021. Last week, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas welcomed the the order, claiming that it clears the way for enforcement guidelines that he announced at the time. According to Texas and Louisiana, the arrest policy spelled out in the Department of Homeland Securitys 2021 Guidelines does not comply with the statutory arrest mandates in 1226(c) and 1231(a)(2). The States want the Federal Judiciary to order the Department to alter its arrest policy so that the Department arrests more noncitizens, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the majority. The threshold question is whether the States have standing under Article III to maintain this suit. The answer is no. Kavanaugh wrote that the two states cite no precedent, history, or tradition of federal courts entertaining lawsuits of this kind. But Alito disagreed, saying that the majority ignored a major precedent to boost sweeping executive power. The ruling, he also wrote, would endorse such power and accused the Supreme Court of ignoring its virtually unflagging obligation to exercise its mandate. The Court holds Texas lacks standing to challenge a federal policy that inflicts substantial harm on the State and its residents by releasing illegal aliens with criminal convictions for serious crimes, Alito wrote. In order to reach this conclusion, the Court brushes aside a major precedent that directly controls the standing question, refuses to apply our established test for standing, disregards factual findings made by the District Court after a trial, and holds that the only limit on the power of a President to disobey a law like the important provision at issue is Congresss power to employ the weapons of inter-branch warfarewithholding funds, impeachment and removal, etc., He also wrote: I would not blaze this unfortunate trail. I would simply apply settled law, which leads ineluctably to the conclusion that Texas has standing. When the administration unveiled its immigration guidance, a federal judge last year in Texas ordered a nationwide halt to the guidance and a federal appellate panel in New Orleans declined to step in. A federal appeals court in Cincinnati had earlier overturned a district judges order that put the policy on hold in a lawsuit filed by Arizona, Ohio, and Montana. This sweeping Executive Power endorsed by todays decision may at first be warmly received by champions of a strong Presidential power, but if Presidents can expand their powers as far as they can manage in a test of strength with Congress, presumably Congress can cut executive power as much as it can manage by wielding the formidable weapons at its disposal, Alito also wrote. That is not what the Constitution envisions. Concluding, the Bush-appointed justice wrote that the Supreme Court exercise[s] the power conferred by Article III of the Constitution, and we must be vigilant not to exceed the limits of our constitutional role. But when we have jurisdiction, we have a virtually unflagging obligation to exercise that authority. Hellenic police patrol the new 5-meter steel fence installed along the Evros River in Poros, Greece, on June 13, 2021. (Byron Smith/Getty Images) Eleven months ago, when the administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene, the justices voted 54 to keep the policy on hold. At the same time, the court agreed to hear the case, which was argued in December. Chief Justice John Roberts as well as Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined Kavanaugh. Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett agreed for other reasons. This decision is outrageous, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote Friday in a post on Twitter about their ruling, adding that the move would give the White House carte blanche to avoid accountability for abandoning enforcement of immigration laws. Abbott added: Texas will continue to deploy the National Guard to repel & turn back illegal immigrants trying to enter Texas illegally. In a separate immigration-related decision also issued Friday, the court upheld a section of federal law that is used against people who encourage illegal immigration. The justices by a 72 vote reinstated the criminal conviction of a California man, Helaman Hansen, who offered adult adoptions he falsely claimed would lead to U.S. citizenship. At least 471 people paid Hansen between $550 and $10,000 each, or more than $1.8 million in all, the government said. He was prosecuted under a section of federal immigration law that says a person who encourages or induces a non-citizen to come to or remain in the United States illegally can be punished by up to five years in prison. Thats increased to 10 years if the person doing the encouraging is doing so for personal financial gain. The justices rejected an appeals court ruling that the law is too broad and violates the Constitution. The Associated Press contributed to this report. PwC Australia Offloads Government Consultancy for $1 People pass the offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in St Helier, Jersey, on April 12, 2017. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) A new CEO has been parachuted in to run the embattled consultancy firm PwC Australia, which is offloading its money-making government consultancy business for $1 (US$0.67). Acting CEO Kristin Stubbins has been turfed after seven weeks and will be replaced by the parents Singapore-based global clients and industries leader Kevin Burrowes. PwC also announced it has entered into an exclusivity agreement to divest its federal and state government consultancy business to private equity firm Allegro Funds for a nominal fee of $1. Burrowes, who is still waiting on visa approval so he can relocate and will become a partner in PwC Australia, said on Sunday he is honoured to take up the role. Along with the leadership team, I will work tirelessly to increase transparency and repair trust with our stakeholders, while also enhancing our governance and culture, he said on Sunday. PwC Australia has faced immense pressure since it was accused of abusing its trusted role as an adviser by leaking information about proposed federal government tax changes to clients for financial gain. Former PwC partner Peter Collins has since been referred to federal police and nine other partners have stood down. Chief executive at the time, Tom Seymour, apologised and stepped down from his role in May, with the firm saying it needed to rebuild trust with the government and public. The sale of PwCs government contracts to Allegro, expected to be finalised by the end of next month will protect 1,700 jobs, PwC Australia board chair Justin Carroll said. This transaction will result in the first pure play, at scale, government business in the market, he said. This was an extremely difficult decision, but we are determined to take all necessary steps to protect the jobs of our people and re-earn the trust of our stakeholders. The divestment of the government consultancy business will create two separate firms. It also means PwC Australias exit from all government advisory work, at both the state and federal levels. That business generated about 20 percent of the Australian firms fiscal year 2023 revenue. But PwC said it would allow the firm to move on from the tax leak scandal and ensure stability for the rest of its clients in other parts of the business. An independent review of PwCs conduct in the scandal headed by former Telstra boss, Ziggy Switkowski, is due to be released in September. Burrowes will work with others to implement the recommendations, according to the company. Last week, a Senate committee labelled PwCs conduct in the tax advice scandal as a calculated and egregious breach of trust. The committees interim report recommended that PwC publish the names of partners who were involved, as well as cooperate with investigations by the federal police and the Tax Practitioners Board. A New South Wales government inquiry is also examining the use of PwC consultancy services and has temporarily suspended taxation-related contracts with the firm. Australian State Plans to Ban 5 Dangerous Dog Breeds Chula, a roughly 8-year-old American pit bull terrier mix at the Humane Society of Port Jervis and Deerpark on Jan. 5, 2016. (Holly Kellum/Epoch Times) Queensland plans to ban five restricted dog breeds in a nationwide first plan and is warning owners they could be held criminally responsible for the actions of their animals. In a crackdown on dangerous dogs after a recent spate of horrific attacks, the state government could include jail terms of up to five years. Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said on Sunday the government wanted community input on a discussion paper, with consultations open until Aug. 24. He said some dog owners needed to be corrected on how they see their social responsibilities around their animals. Thats why weve developed some frameworks around the discussion paper dealing with the possibility of jail time, he said. Queensland is the only state in the nation that does not have any measure dealing with jail time for those serious deaths or injury to a person as a result of an irresponsible dog attack. New South Waless five-year maximum jail term for dog owners whose animals cause grievous bodily harm or death will be considered. There are a million dogs in Queensland and in Australia, there are about 100,000 dog attacks any year, which required three percent of hospitalisation, he said. More than three times that amount is unfortunately small children. A 2021 task force dealing with dangerous dogs was revamped by the government in April after a spate of serious attacks left at least three people hospitalised. I created the task force to review our animal management laws because the Palaszczuk government takes community health and safety seriously, Furner said. He said it was essential to have community feedback so the new laws meet expectations, will be followed, and can be enforced. Funding and resources will also be allocated towards education campaigns. The breeds on the proposed banned list include: Dogo Argentino Fila Brasileiro Japanese Tosa American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier Perro de Presa Canario or Presa Canario Furner said if the law is brought in, there would be a grandfather period, where people who own those dogs before the ruling will be allowed to keep them. Alison Smith from the Local Government Association of Queensland said the call out for comments allows Queenslanders to have their say. Councils want dangerous dog breeds to be banned, and tougher restrictions on irresponsible owners, she said. She added councils also wanted to stop dog owners from challenging an order to have an animal put down. Ratepayers would be alarmed to know that Queensland councils are being forced to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees because irresponsible owners are using the courts to drag out the fate of these dangerous animals after their dog has been impounded and a destruction order made, she said. Recent attacks included a six-year-old boy who suffered chest and abdominal injuries after being bitten by two dogs in the Logan suburb of Woodridge. In another incident, a three-year-old girl was hospitalised with significant head and neck injuries after a savage attack at a Yatala property on the Gold Coast. At least two other dog attacks were reported within weeks. Profiles in history: An ongoing series of lesser known but significant figures who shaped our world This early American patriot was not known as an eloquent speaker, but Thomas Jefferson once said that he was a man who never said a foolish thing in his life. Although he received little recognition during his life, Roger Sherman would become known as the only Founding Father to sign four key documents of our foundingthe Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Born in Massachusetts, Sherman moved his family and launched his legal career in Connecticut. Sherman received no formal schooling but educated himself from the books in his fathers library. He passed the bar in 1754 and held several positions in local government, including town clerk and county surveyor. Sherman was known to be very religious as his Puritan faith was dear to him. At one point he disagreed with the appointment of Governor Morris as minister to France because Morris was of an irreligious nature. Sherman also published theological tracts, such as A Short Sermon on the Duty of Self-Examination Preparatory to Receiving the Lords Supper. Portrait of Roger Sherman, 1775, by Ralph Earl. Yale University Art Gallery. (Public Domain) In 1774, he became a member of the First Continental Congress. There, he signed the Continental Association, which placed a boycott on British trade, and he agreed that the American colonies should separate from England. He also was against slavery from the nations beginnings. Sherman then was a part of the Second Continental Congress where he was appointed to the Committee of Five, with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson, that drafted the Declaration of Independence. Later, he became a member of a committee of 13 men who were tasked with drafting a constitution for the new nation. While on the committee, Sherman staunchly stood up for the rights of small states. Hailing from Connecticut, he brought up the idea of having a bicameral legislature where small states would have an equal representation as large states. In the end, the 13-member committee disagreed. Instead, the group agreed upon adopting a unicameral legislature that would eventually become the Articles of Confederation. The Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull (1819) depicts the Committee of Five presenting its work to Congress. Sherman is second from the left. U.S. Capitol Rotunda. (Public Domain) Shortly after its passage, problems with the Articles of Confederation became apparent. Under the Articles, the central government was weak and most of the power lay with the states. States didnt respect the congress, which made it difficult to regulate trade, raise funds, or conduct foreign policy. The economy suffered because the congress didnt have the power to regulate commerce or enforce tax laws. According to Decision in Philadelphia: The Constitutional Convention of 1787: The problem with the old government was not that it had acted foolishly or threatened anybodys liberties, but that it had simply been unable to enforce its decrees. Sherman joined the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to fix the problems with the Articles of Confederation. He fought for the rights of small states, but realized that if he was to succeed, he knew he would have to negotiate. Sherman attended every session of the convention and made his voice heard. According to James Madisons notes, Sherman delivered 183 speeches. The Committee of Five, including Roger Sherman, is depicted on the pediment of the Jefferson Memorial in a sculpture by Adolph Alexander Weinman. ( Another Believer CC BY-SA 3.0) Large states wanted congressional representation based on population. Smaller states like Connecticut wanted equal representation regardless of size. The convention soon became deadlocked. Sherman would become known as one of the representatives who saved the day. He proposed the Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise) that offered a solution in the form of a bicameral legislature. His solution was eventually agreed upon when the U.S. Constitution was drafted. In 1789, Sherman was elected a U.S. Representative in the first Congress of the new nation. In 1791, he represented Connecticut as a senator. He served in the Senate until he passed away in his sleep from typhoid in 1793 at 72 years old. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Giza pyramids on Sunday, during the second day of his official state visit to Egypt. Egyptian Prime Mostafa Madbouly accompanied him on the visit, along with Minister of Tourism Ahmed Eissa. After the visit, Madbouly and Eissa gifted the Indian prime minister a replica of the famous golden mask of Ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come, Modi said on his social media accounts on Sunday, thanking his Egyptian counterpart for accompanying him. Modi started his official two-day visit to Egypt on Saturday when he met Madbouly and seven other cabinet members. They discussed deepening trade relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. Also on Sunday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Modi and conferred him with the Order of the Nile award, the countrys highest state honour. It is with great humility that I accept the 'Order of the Nile. I thank the Government and people of Egypt for this honour. Modi said in a statement on his social media accounts adding that conferring him with the Order of the Nile indicated the warmth and affection they have towards India and the people of our nation. It is with great humility that I accept the 'Order of the Nile. I thank the Government and people of Egypt for this honour. It indicates the warmth and affection they have towards India and the people of our nation. pic.twitter.com/ZTh3g0nn9P Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Before the visit to the Pyramids on Sunday, Modi, who was on his first-ever visit to Egypt, paid a visit to the 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque in Historic Cairo. Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziry welcomed him at the mosque and accompanied him on a tour inside. They viewed the significant restoration works that had been carried out in collaboration between both the ministries of tourism and antiquities and religious endowments, as well as the Bohra community in Egypt (a branch of Shia Islam with its roots in India). Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture. pic.twitter.com/4VgzkagHcB Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 The Indian prime minister also visited the Heliopolis War Grave cemetery where he paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who died fighting in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War. A tribute to Indias brave soldiers, whose courage will never be forgotten. At the Heliopolis War Memorial, I paid homage to our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the First World War in Egypt. pic.twitter.com/m1DkXbNK9g Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 Modi's visit to Cairo upon invitation from El-Sisi in January is the first for an Indian prime minister since 1997. This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Egypt and India. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian Official Says Parliament Working on Law to Regulate Wagner Mercenary Group Founder of Wagner private mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin makes a statement on the start of withdrawal of his forces from Bakhmut and handing over their positions to regular Russian troops, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on May 25, 2023. (Press service of "Concord"/Handout via Reuters) A Russian official said that the countrys parliament, or State Duma, is working on a measure to regulate the Wagner mercenary group following an uprising attempt after its leader made accusations against Moscow. Andrey Kartapolov, head of the Defense Committee in the Duma, said that the fate of Wagner has not yet been determined, according to an interview with Russian business newspaper Vedomosti on Sunday. But it is not necessary to ban it, since this is a combat-ready unit, and there are questions for its leadership, and not for the fighters, he said. His comments came after top Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow reached an agreement with Wagner for the return of the mercenary group to their locations, adding that some members will subsequently sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense. He added that it concerns those who did not take part in the march that was ordered by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Under terms of the agreement, Prigozhin will go into exile in Belarus but will not face prosecution and his forces wont either. Neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor Prigozhin has been heard from since the deal, brokered by Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, was announced Saturday night. The march, however, has drawn widespread speculation about the future of Putin or the war in Ukraine. In their lightning advance, Prigozhins forces on Saturday took control of two military hubs in southern Russia and got within 120 miles of Moscow before retreating. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the weekends events as extraordinary, recalling that 16 months ago Putin appeared poised to seize the capital of Ukraine and now he has had to defend Moscow from forces led by his onetime protege. I think weve seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade, Blinken said on NBCs Meet the Press. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, shakes hands with supporters as he prepares to leave Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters) But Blinken cautioned that it is too soon to tell exactly where they go and when they get there, but certainly we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead. Meanwhile, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War warned that the Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable equilibrium. The deal is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution, wrote the institute, which has tracked the war in Ukraine from the beginning. Another question is what will happen to Prigozhin-owned Wagner in general. The military contractor has deployed forces in several countries where they are believed to fight for Russian interests. Under terms of the agreement that stopped Prigozhins advance, Wagner troops who didnt back the revolt will be offered contracts directly with the Russian military, putting them under the control of the military brass that Prigozhin was trying to oust. The deal appears to be a hasty arrangement designed to protect Prigozhin and safeguard his money and his family, said Phillips OBrien, a professor of strategic studies at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Its not clear if Prigozhin made it to Belarus, and his whereabouts are currently not known. Lukashenko, the Belarus president, has not issued a public comment about the matter. You will probably ask mewhy Lukashenko? Peskov told reporters on Saturday. The fact is that Alexander Grigoryevich (Lukashenko) has known Prigozhin personally for a long time, for about 20 years. And it was his personal proposal, which was agreed with President Putin. We are grateful to the President of Belarus for these efforts. All your questions have been forwarded to Yevgeny Viktorovich [Prigozhin], a spokesperson for Prigozhin told CNN. He sends his regards to everyone and will answer questions when he has proper communication. Previously, Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom Prigozhin has long criticized in withering terms for how he has conducted the war in Ukraine. The mercenary chief also claimed that Russia wasnt providing enough support to his forces or Russian troops fighting in Ukraines Bakhmut, which was under siege for months. A possible motivation for Prigozhins rebellion was the Defense Ministrys demand, which Putin backed, that private companies sign contracts with it by July 1. Prigozhin had refused to do it. The Associated Press contributed to this report. San Franciscos Homeless Commentary Living on the streets is a crime. A violation of the law. To force citizens to react, or worse, not react to the plight of their fellow man and pretend to not notice, ultimately may force everyone to leave. This includes those born and raised in San Francisco and this author. It isnt OK for people to live on the streets. Earlier generations of American homeless had some integrity. Hobos during the Great Depression had the courtesy to live on the outskirts of town. Theres the solution: the outskirts of town. Abandoned housing, abandoned factories, and abandoned military bases. Build new housing for the homeless? Completely wrong. In a market economy, housing is built for those willing to pay. Pre-pandemic, a small unit might have cost $140,000, but today, that unit costs $420,000. Out of the question. Build 6,000 units in San Francisco, and immediately an additional 6,000 applicants will show up. As a song goes, If youre going to San Fran-cis-co, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair. Flowers or not, no one has the right to walk around dirty and diseased. Young and old will get sick, even die, from touching park benches or picking up something from the sidewalkwhich is why, when working with the homeless, mental health workers are instructed to always wear disposable gloves. What about the effect on children forced to observe drug addicts with needles stuck in their open-skinned arms? Still, beware of collective solutions, what progressives and fascists always offer: Round em up or Give em all a home. In San Francisco, its Housing First. No, the solution must be individual: Keep moving. Out of sight, out of mind. Escort them to a shelter on the outskirts. If they come back, escort them again, but this time, fence them in. Should they get social services? Of course, but its too late. People are homeless as a result of a series of bad decisions. Coupled with mental illness and drug addiction, they have problems that are way too complicated. Theyre dying. Force them into mental health facilities? Sure, if society agrees and is willing to pay. Think Amsterdam and Vienna. What The New York Times prints is a crime. Every edition includes full-page color photographs of slums in Africa, India, or the United States (as well as every refugee camp around the globe). Every morning, readers are bombarded, exhausted, with human misery that they can do nothing about. Unacceptable. Stop subscribing to a business, a newspaper, that sells a product to its captive readers by appealing to emotion: All the News Unfit to Print. Progressivism is a crime. Progressives every thought is like The New York Times: a full-page photo of the problems of the world. Their every anxiety is relieved by a government program. Except, Americans arent a poor depressed people. A self-selected responsible citizenry, Americans themselves fled slums precisely because they felt a duty to make a better life for themselves and their children. They dont want to be reminded. Progressives should reread Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville (1835). Rather than hate, youll feel proud of America. De Tocqueville (as interpreted by this author) starts: America, get rid of slavery; youre out of your mind; you are about to become the greatest nation on Earth. Sitting in log cabins in the backwoods of Kentucky, reading the newspaper, discussing world affairs, Americans are the most independent and responsible citizens in the world. Nothing like that exists in Europe. Americans know that no one can do for others those things they must do for themselves, such as get up in the morning. In other words, before 1933, Americans would never have asked the government for a handoutwhich is why it was so wrong in 1964 for President Lyndon Baines Johnson to declare war on poverty, that it was unconscionable for a nation as wealthy as the United States to have a poverty rate of 15 percent. Because it isnt something government can cure. For 60 years, on average, for all the expenditure, the needle didnt move. Poverty is still 15 percent. Total cost: $23 trillion, three times the cost of all the wars America has ever fought. Worse, the war today is paid for by borrowing. Except that today, interest on the federal debt absorbs two-thirds of the nations tax revenue. After paying the military, theres nothing left for Social Security, Medicare, or the Affordable Care Act. In 476 A.D. Rome, Western civilization fell because there was no money to pay Romes military to stop the Huns. All tax revenue serviced interest on the debt. America isnt going to fall, but government payments will soon be cut. Thats how Greece solved its Eurozone crisis. Social Security payments were cut in half. Half! Societies have rules. Progressives feel as though they dont have to live by them. Thats precisely why progressive cities are weak on law enforcement. Thats the unconscious attraction to living in a progressive city, and its why civic leadersSupreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, for examplewere able to declare, You do what you think is right and let the law catch up, his justification for Brown v. Board of Education. Its why progressive cities are magnets for gun-slinging police: Lax law enforcement also means lax monitoring of police departments. Think of Minneapolis, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. The laxness that allows people to live on the sidewalks also allows mugging and robbery. The consequence: Residents are chased away and dont come back. A progressives fear of enforcing the law, of passing judgment, is destroying the nations cities. San Francisco progressives are the perfect example. Rather than eliminating the problem, they think in terms of harm reduction: Provide clean needles, supervise dope injections, and decriminalize drug use. San Franciscos Housing First gives life support but doesnt give people back their lives. Stop it! These people are disaffiliated from their family and friends, despiritualized from the family of man (and Earth), isolated, and disconnected. Giving cash to the mentally ill and drug-addicted isnt sound psychiatry. Give them a home? Yeah, where the buffalo roam. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Shopify CEO Vows to Fight CRA Demand for Six Years of Canadian Merchant Records Shopify CEO Tobias Lutke participates in the company's annual general meeting of shareholders in Ottawa on May 29, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) E-commerce giant Shopify plans to fight a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) demand for six years of records from more than 121,000 Canadian merchants that work with the platform to build online stores. I dont particularly want a fight with the CRA (Canadas tax authority)- but we got asked to backchannel them 6 years of records for all Canadian Shopify stores, said Tobi Lutkey, Shopifys chief executive officer, in a tweet on June 23. This feels like low-key overreach to me. We will fight this, he wrote. In May, Shopify Inc. announced that it would cut its staff by 20 percent and sell the logistics component of its business to a supply chain management company, to focus more on its e-commerce objectives. The Epoch Times sent a request to Shopify for comments but did not hear back by press time. CRA spokeswoman Hannah Wardell told The Epoch Times via email on June 25 that the tax-collecting agency uses the information obtained through Unnamed Persons Requirements (UPRs) to identify taxpayers that may have been non-compliant, and verifies that they have appropriately reported their income and have satisfied their filing obligations under the Acts administered by the CRA. She said the CRA takes the security and privacy of all taxpayer information very seriously. We collect information where it is lawful and directly related to compliance activities. Information collected through the UPR process is managed and protected according to CRAs standard practices to protect the privacy of personal information. Due to the confidentiality provisions of the acts administered, the CRA said it cannot comment or disclose taxpayer information. The CRA must obtain judicial authorization before issuing a requirement to a third-party to get information about one or more unnamed persons. Publicly available information on this case may be obtained through the courts, as the application is governed by the process set out in the Federal Courts Rules. Tax Collector According to a search of Federal Court records, the minister of national revenue filed an action against Shopify with the court on April 14, 2023, citing sections of the Income Tax Act and Excise Tax Act. Some tax experts suggest that Shopify has data on its customers businesses that include what was sold, when it was sold, their sales and revenue, which would provide CRA with everything it needs to audit those businesses instead of looking for vendors on the platform and auditing them individually, reported Toronto Star. In 2017, online payments giant PayPal was ordered to hand over data to CRA about its Canadian business account holders. PayPal said on its website that CRA obtained a Federal Court order requiring it to disclose information within 45 days about account holders and the amount and number of payments sent or received through the platform between Jan. 1, 2014, and Nov. 10, 2017. At the time, a CRA spokesperson said the agency requested the information in order to ensure tax compliance under the Income Tax Act, saying that the agency was using third-party data to detect unreported economic activity and identify individuals and businesses not filing tax returns. The court order applied to all account holders including those whose business account had been closed, PayPal said. The CRA in 2008 made a similar request to online auction site eBay, requiring it to provide the names and gross sales figures for so-called power sellers, referring to eBay sellers who make more than US$1,000 a month in sales over three continuous months on the site. At the time, many eBay users complained that they were selling used goods or old clothes and had already paid tax when they originally purchased the items. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. Software Engineer, Fiancee Sentenced to Prison for Developing Application to Break Chinas Internet Censorship Two people, who were detained by Shanghai State Security Police in October 2021 for developing software that circumvents the Great Firewall, received six- and five-year prison sentences on June 12, 2023. He Binggang and his fiancee Zhang Yibo, along with several others, were arrested on Oct. 9, 2021, for developing and maintaining software that helps people living in China access overseas internet platforms, according to the Falun Dafa Infocenter. The Chinese regime set up Great Firewall (GFW), or Golden Shield Project, in 1998, which is managed by the regimes Ministry of Public Security to monitor and censor what can and cannot be seen in China through an online network. He and Zhang are Falun Gong adherents, a spiritual practice that has been persecuted inside China since 1999 and has been the subject of intense political propaganda. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual improvement practice based on principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, with five slow-moving, gentle exercises that have significant physical benefits. The practice has been very popular in China, with an estimated 70 million to 100 million practitioners in the country before the Chinese communist regime began to persecute the belief and its followers in July 1999. He and Zhang had developed software called oGate that allows Chinese people to freely access websites and information available outside of China but which are blocked by the GFW and otherwise unavailable inside China. Persecuted for Belief: Reports He and Zhang have been subjected to long-term persecution by the Chinese regime for their belief in Falun Gong. According to Minghui.org, the police denied Hes lawyer from visiting him at Shanghais Changning District Detention Center. On March 10, 2022, his lawyer was allowed to talk to him on the phone at the detention center, but without seeing him in person. Hes physical condition is very poor because of repeated torture by the Chinese regime. His neck issue and partial paralysis, which resulted from torture during [the] previous detention, worsened. He has now completely lost the ability to walk and has become bedridden. He has trouble falling asleep at night and suffers from constant dizziness, headache, and incontinence, Minghui reported in June 2023. He, 46, has been imprisoned two times previously. He is a gifted software engineer, according to Minghui.org, a platform that tracks the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. When he was 15 years old he created Computerized Audible Aids for the Blind. The invention won the Silver Award of the Sixth National Invention Award and the Sixth Shanghai Yilida Youth Invention Award. He obtained a certificate in computer application software engineering as a senior programmer when he was only 16. In 1994, He was admitted into Fudan University, and four years later he entered the graduate program. In 2000, he was detained by police and later given a six-year sentence at Shanghai Tilanqiao Prison. Fudan University expelled him. In 2007, He was released and he began his own technological company. But in 2010, he was detained again for his spiritual practice. According to a June report on Minghui.org, He was tortured when he was imprisoned for the second time, and the beatings caused him to become paralyzed due to severe spinal injuries. He was sentenced to five years in prison in April 2011 despite having been paralyzed. Zhang was a business manager for a foreign company. The Xuhui Court sentenced her to one and a half years in prison in 2009 for her spiritual practice, according to Minghui.org. Other Falun Gong Adherents Arrested in 2021 for oGate The arrest of He and Zhang is part of the Chinese Communist Partys nationwide suppression targeting Falun Gong practitioners who have participated in the development and support of oGate. A computer displays a message from the Chinese Great Firewall on the proper use of the Internet at an Internet cafe in Beijing. New web publishing news announced last week will bar foreign companies from publishing most forms of online content. (Ng Han Guan, File/AP Photo) On Oct. 9, 2021, the regime arrested Falun Gong adherents who were allegedly involved in the support of the software in several provinces, according to Minghui.org. In Shijiazhuang city of Chinas central Hebei Province, Zhou Li and Wang Bingcheng were arrested by local police. Wangs mother and another Falun Gong adherent were arrested at the same time. In Changsha, the capital city of Chinas southern Hunan Province, Zhang Bing was arrested by local police while she was at work. In Faku County, Chinas northern Liaoning Province, Guo Xuhong was arrested by local police at around 4 a.m. while she was on her way to work. Ms. Guos husband, who is not a Falun Gong practitioner, was taken by police and interrogated. The Minghui report said additional unnamed Falun Gong adherents who were also arrested in 2021 in other parts of the country for their involvement in oGate. Supreme Court Votes 63 to Uphold Murder Conviction Based on Another Defendants Confession The Supreme Court upheld by 63 along ideological lines the conviction of Adam Samia, who was found guilty in a murder-for-hire scheme on the strength of another persons written confession. In the June 23 ruling, the six conservative justices found that Samias constitutional right to confront and cross-examine his co-defendant while he was being tried alongside the man wasnt violated. The co-defendant filed a written confession with the trial court, which was edited so Samias name didnt appear in it. Because prosecutors took steps to protect Samias rights, the U.S. Constitution wasnt violated. The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution states, In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him. The confession was edited to say someone or the other person each time Samias name was mentioned. The jury also was instructed to disregard the confession in deciding Samias guilt. The government urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal because, among other things, Samia didnt raise Sixth Amendment objections at trial. The majority opinion (pdf) in Samia v. United States (court file 22-196) was written by Justice Clarence Thomas. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh joined the opinion in full. Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the opinion in part and wrote an opinion concurring in part and in the judgment of the court. The three liberal justices dissented. Samia had been living in North Carolina working as a security guard on a farm, according to the petition he filed with the Supreme Court. In 2011, he traveled to the Philippines, prepared to perform security work for Echelon Associates. Echelon turned out to be a front company for Paul LeRoux, a South African citizen who headed a criminal empire operating on four continents. LeRoux, who cooperated with authorities after his arrest, ordered the murder of Catherine Lee, a Filipina real estate agent who LeRoux believed stole money from him in an earlier transaction, the document stated. All three co-defendants, including Samia, were convicted by a federal jury in the Southern District of New York. U.S. law allows for defendants accused of committing murder in foreign lands to be tried in the United States. Samia was convicted of murder for hire, conspiring to commit murder for hire, conspiring to kidnap and murder in a foreign country, using or carrying a firearm in the process of committing murder, and conspiring to launder money. He was sentenced to life in prison. A court of appeals affirmed the convictions in part. Samia was convicted based on the confession provided by one of the co-defendants. But the individual didnt testify at trial in his own defense, so Samias attorney had no opportunity to cross-examine the man. The government of the Philippines also refused to compel the testimony of various witnesses who Samia said he needed for his defense. Samias attorneys argued that the evidence against their client fell short of what was needed for a conviction. In the majority opinion, Justice Thomas wrote that prosecutors have long tried criminal defendants jointly in cases where the defendants are alleged to have engaged in a common criminal scheme. However, when prosecutors seek to introduce a nontestifying defendants confession implicating his codefendants, a constitutional concern may arise, he wrote. Here, we must determine whether the Confrontation Clause [of the Sixth Amendment] bars the admission of a nontestifying codefendants confession where (1) the confession has been modified to avoid directly identifying the nonconfessing codefendant and (2) the court offers a limiting instruction that jurors may consider the confession only with respect to the confessing codefendant. Considering longstanding historical practice, the general presumption that jurors follow their instructions, and the relevant precedents of this Court, we conclude that it does not. The Confrontation Clause ensures that defendants have the opportunity to confront witnesses against them, but it does not provide a freestanding guarantee against the risk of potential prejudice that may arise inferentially in a joint trial. Here, the Clause was not violated by the admission of a nontestifying codefendants confession that did not directly inculpate the defendant and was subject to a proper limiting instruction. The Supreme Court affirmed the ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. In her partly concurring opinion, Barrett wrote that she agreed with the majority on the Confrontation Clause but argued that the cases the majority cited in support of its position dealt with the rules of evidence, not the constitutional provision. Justice Elena Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, which Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined. Of the majoritys argument, she wrote: Confessions that use a defendants name or a symbol of omissionclear Confrontation Clause violation. Confessions that replace a defendants name with another place-holderno Sixth Amendment problem, no matter how obvious the reference to the defendant. In so elevating form over substance, the majority permits an end-run around our precedent and undermines a vital constitutional protection for the accused. Kagan agreed with an aspect of Barretts critique of the majoritys reasoning. There just isnt much history helping the majority, Kagan wrote. Jackson also filed her own separate dissenting opinion. The majoritys approach inverts the constitutional principles that govern this case and disregards our well-established Sixth Amendment precedents, Jackson wrote. Samias attorney, Kannon Shanmugam of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton, and Garrison in Washington, declined to comment. The U.S. Department of Justice didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. The Supreme Court is close to wrapping up its current term, during which it has issued 49 opinions in argued cases. About another 10 opinions are expected before the court recesses for the summer, possibly at the end of the month. The court is scheduled to release more opinions on June 27. After the summer recess, its new term begins on the first Monday in October. Suspected Drunk Gunman Arrested in Long Beach LONG BEACH, Calif.A 47-year-old man was arrested for allegedly flashing a handgun to a woman at a Long Beach restaurant June 25 morning, then later firing the weapon while under the influence of alcohol, authorities said. A woman was sitting at the bar of a restaurant in the 6300 block of East Pacific Coast Highway when the suspect touched her arm inappropriately, the Long Beach Police Department reported. When the woman said she did not want to be touched, the suspect allegedly displayed a firearm, then put it back into his waistband before leaving the location. Officers were dispatched to the scene at about 12:55 a.m. Sunday. At about 1:10 a.m., officers were dispatched to a no-hit shooting call in the 7100 block of Marina Pacifica Drive, where they contacted a suspect who matched a description given by a witness. Officers arrested the suspect and a firearm was located on his person, police said. The suspect appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. Officers gathered evidence that included casings and strike marks, police added. The suspect was later identified as the same man who allegedly displayed the firearm in the restaurant. No injuries were reported in either instance. Roberto Morsquera was arrested on suspicion of exhibiting a firearm in a threatening manner, sexual battery, public intoxication, and discharging a firearm in a negligent manner. His bail was set at $25,000. Taiwan Says Chinese Air Force Approached Close to Islands Coast TAIPEIEight Chinese war planes crossed the Taiwan Straits median line and approached close to the islands contiguous zone that is 24 nautical miles (28 miles) off its coast on Saturday, the Taiwanese defense ministry said, in a further rise in tensions. Chinas air force over the past three years has routinely flown into the air space around Taiwan. Since August it has regularly sent jets across the straits median line, which had previously served as an unofficial barrier. Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as Chinas territory. Taiwans government rejects the claims and says only the islands people can decide their future. In March, Taiwan Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng warned that the island had to be on alert this year for a sudden entry by the Chinese military into areas close to its territory. Taiwan defines its contiguous zone as being 24 nautical miles from its coast. Its territorial space is defined at 12 nautical miles from its coast, though the government has not reported Chinese aircraft entering either the contiguous zone or Taiwans territorial air space. Taiwans defense ministry said in a statement that starting around 8 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Saturday, it had detected 19 Chinese warplanes, including J-10 and J-16 fighters. Eight of those crossed the median line and got close to the 24 nautical mile mark, it said. At the same time, the ministry said five Chinese warships carried out what it termed joint combat readiness patrols. Taiwan sent up its own aircraft and dispatched ships in response and activated land-based missile systems, the ministry said, using standard wording for how its forces react to Chinese incursions. Chinas defense ministry did not answer calls seeking comment. On Saturday, the Chinese militarys Eastern Theatre Command, which covers Taiwan, published pictures on its WeChat account of J-16 fighters taking off on a training mission far out at sea that happened recently. The command said the aircraft carried out tactical long-range flight training involving in-flight refueling that covered thousands of kilometers. It did not give details. During the Chinese regimes last large-scale war games near Taiwan in April, videos of the exercise released by the Eastern Theatre Command showed its vessels and planes coming within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan on all sides of the island. The Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from its giant neighbor China, is also a frequent site of U.S. military activities, especially U.S. warships which transit the sensitive waterway about once a month. The U.S. Navy this month released a video of what it called an unsafe interaction in the strait, in which a Chinese warship crossed in front of a U.S. destroyer. The Latest on the Titan Submersible Tragedy and Whats Next in the Investigation The around-the-clock search for the missing Titan submersible engrossed the world for days, but after news of the catastrophic implosion that killed the pilot and his four passengers near the Titanic shipwreck, investigators are focusing on how it happenedand if it could have been prevented. Deep-sea robots will continue searching the North Atlantic sea floor for clues. Investigators in Canada are looking at the Titans Canadian-flagged support ship. U.S. authorities are looking into other aspects of the tragedy. The Titan, owned by undersea exploration company OceanGate Expeditions, had been chronicling the Titanics decay and the underwater ecosystem around the sunken ocean liner in yearly voyages since 2021. Authorities and experts are seeking answers: Exactly when and why did the implosion occur? Will the victims bodies ever be found? What lessons are there for the future of undersea exploration? Heres what we know so far: When and Where Did the Titan Go Missing? The craft submerged Sunday morning, and its support vessel lost contact with it about an hour and 45 minutes later, according to the Coast Guard. The vessel was reported overdue about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. Johns, Newfoundland, according to Canadas Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Titan was launched from an icebreaker that was hired by OceanGate and formerly operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. The ship has ferried dozens of people and the submersible craft to the North Atlantic wreck site, where the Titan has made multiple dives. What Happened Abroad the Titan? The vessel suffered a catastrophic implosion, killing all five aboard, sometime after it submerged Sunday morning. Its not clear exactly when or where the implosion occurred, but a U.S. Navy acoustics system detected an anomaly Sunday that was likely the Titans fatal implosion. The Coast Guard announced that debris from the submersible had been found and the end of rescue efforts Thursday, bringing a tragic close to a saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search and a worldwide vigil for the missing vessel. A deep-sea robot discovered the debris, near the Titanic shipwreck, that authorities say came from the submersible. What Happened to the Occupants When the Titan Imploded? Experts say the catastrophic implosion likely killed its pilot and four passengers instantly amid the intense water pressure in the deep North Atlantic. Maritime researchers called an implosion the worst possible outcome of all the scenarios envisioned during the desperate round-the-clock search to find the missing vessel. Experts had cautioned that under intense pressure at extreme depths the Titans hull could implode, which would result in instant death for anyone aboard. While OceanGate Expeditions, which owned and operated the craft, touted the Titans roomier cylinder-shaped cabin made of a carbon-fiber, industry experts say it was a departure from the sphere-shaped cabinsconsidered ideal because water pressure is exerted equally on all areasmade of titanium used by most submersibles. The 22-foot long (6.7-meter long), 23,000-pound (10,432-kilogram) Titans larger internal volumewhile still cramped with a maximum of five seated peoplemeant it was subjected to more external pressure. The water pressure at 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) below the surface at the site of the Titanic wreck is roughly 400 atmospheres or 6,000 pounds per square inch. Who Was Killed? The Titan victims are: OceanGate chief executive and Titan pilot Stockton Rush; two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood; British adventurer Hamish Harding; and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet. Worldwide condolences have poured in, offering tributes to the men and support for their families. These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the worlds oceans, OceanGate said in a statement. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew. Who Regulates Deep-Sea Expeditions? The Titans voyage down into the North Atlantic highlights the murkily regulated waters of deep-sea exploration. Its a space on the high seas where laws and conventions can be sidestepped by risk-taking entrepreneurs and the wealthy tourists who help fund their dreams. At least for now. The Titan operated in international waters, far from the reach of many laws of the United States or other nations. It wasnt registered as a U.S. vessel or with international agencies that regulate safety, nor was it classified by a maritime industry group that sets standards on matters such as hull construction. Stockton Rush, the OceanGate Expeditions CEO and Titan pilot who was among the dead, had said he didnt want to be bogged down by such standards. Whats Next? The Coast Guard will continue searching near the Titanic for more clues about what happened to the Titan. Officials say there is not a timeframe for when they will call off the effort, and the prospect of finding or recovering remains is unknown. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said Friday its launching an investigation involving the loss of the Titan that will focus on the cargo vessel Polar Prince. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said Saturday that its conducting an investigation into the loss of the Titan submersible and has been speaking with those who traveled on Titans mothership, the Polar Prince. The development comes as authorities from the United States and Canada began the process of probing the cause of the underwater implosion and grappled with questions of who was responsible for determining how the tragedy unfolded. Experts say wrongful death and negligence lawsuits are also likely next in the Titan caseand they could be successful. But legal actions will face various challenges, including waivers likely signed by the Titan passengers that warned of the myriad ways they could die. How Much Did the Search Cost? The cost of the search will easily stretch into the millions of dollars for the U.S. Coast Guard alone. The Canadian Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and other agencies and private entities also rushed to provide resources and expertise. Theres no other comparable ocean search, especially with so many countries and even commercial enterprises being involved, said Norman Polmar, a naval historian, analyst and author based in Virginia. The aircraft, alone, are expensive to operate. The Pentagon has put the hourly cost at tens of thousands of dollars for turboprop P-3 Orion and jet-powered P-8 Poseidon sub hunters, along with C-130 Hercules, all utilized in the search. Some agencies can seek reimbursements. But the U.S. Coast Guard is generally prohibited by federal law from collecting reimbursement pertaining to any search or rescue service, said Stephen Koerting, a U.S. attorney in Maine who specializes in maritime law. Born in Englands industrial northeast in 1801, artist Thomas Cole emigrated to America as a young man. Here, he found a country brimming with unchartered and untamed wilderness. His masterful handling of light, composition, and aerial perspective captured the sublime character of the American wilderness. Cole found his unique place as one of the first artists to apply the style of European Romantism to American landscapes, and gave birth to what we know today as the Hudson River School. His Early Years View of Fort Putnam, 1825, by Thomas Cole. Oil on canvas; 27.25 inches by 34 inches. Philadelphia Museum of Art. (Public Domain) Cole had a keen eye and taught himself to paint by observing the works of other artists. In 1822, he began to work as a portraitist. One of his patrons, George Bruen, financed a summer trip for him to visit New Yorks Hudson Valley in 1825. There he painted five landscapes from scenes of the Catskill Mountains, Kaaterskill Falls, and Cold Spring (New Yorks Hudson Highland). The landscapes Lake with Dead Trees (Catskill), Kaaterskill Upper Fall, Catskill Mountains, and View of Fort Putnam were displayed in the window of William Colemans book store in New York. This exhibition became a turning point in the young artists career. The paintings caught the attention of Col. John Trumbull, an artist and president of the American Academy of Fine Arts, who purchased the painting of Kaaterskill Falls. Artists William Dunlap and Asher B. Durand were also impressed with Coles artistry and purchased the other two artworks on display. This acknowledgement earned Cole a fellowship in the American Academy when he was still in his 20s. Fathers of Conservation Friends Thomas Cole and William Cullen Bryant reminisce in the sweeping landscape of the Hudson River Valley. Kindred Spirits, 1849, by Asher Brown Durand. Oil on canvas; 46 inches by 36.2 inches. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Arkansas. (Public Domain) While traveling abroad from 1829 to 1831, Cole met a number of wealthy Americans in Europe who later became his valued patrons. His famous series The Course of Empire, chronicling the rise and fall of the ancient world, was commissioned by patron and art connoisseur Luman Reed. While painting this series (18341836), Cole wrestled with a great dilemma: The industrial development that was advancing civilization also had the power to destroy the very wilderness that he loved. This drove Cole to become an outspoken conservationist. Author James Fenimore Cooper, poet William Cullen Bryant, and Cole are sometimes considered the fathers of the conservation movement. With the wilderness being a fitting place to speak to God, as Bryant wrote, they believed nature was the manifestation of sublime providence. In their work, they described the American wilderness, once seen as limitless, but now in need of conservation. Influenced by the essays from American transcendentalist philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Hudson River School became the initial catalyst for the creation of the national park systems. Their paintings of American canonical landscapes showcased the unique relationship between the countrys people and their land, encouraging the quest for a national identity. The Voyage of Life The Voyage of Life: Youth, 1842, by Thomas Cole. Oil on canvas; 52.8 inches by 76.8 inches. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (Public Domain) The year 1836 was a momentous time in Coles life. His father as well as his beloved patron Luman Reed passed away. Later that year, Cole married Maria Bartow and the newly wedded couple made their home in the Catskills where they entertained a number of prominent artists and literary figures. Their first child, Theodore Alexander Cole, was born on New Years Day of 1838. Coles recent experiences with the death of his father and birth of his first son informed his next allegorical series, The Voyage of Life. The series represented the four stages of human life (childhood, youth, manhood, and old age) and were commissioned by Samuel Ward, a wealthy philanthropist, who passed away before the paintings were completed. While traveling in Europe again in 1841, Cole painted a second series of The Voyage of Life and shipped the canvasses to New York. He returned to America in the summer of 1842 on Isambard Kingdom Brunels first ocean-going steamship: SS Great Western. The world was changing and new modes of transportation were shortening distances while urbanizing land. Cole was all too aware of the fragility of the natural wonders of American landscapes. His work and the work of his pupils, Frederic Church and Benjamin McConkey, brought renewed awareness of American wildernessbecoming part of the call for its conservation. The Korean International Cooperation Agency's (KOICA) office in Egypt, in cooperation with the Korean company GeoGreen21, is providing a capacity building training for the Ministry of Environment employees on using geographic information systems for environmental planning and management. The training programme is the first of several the KOICA plans to provide to several Egyptian entities, including the National Training Academy, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Health and Population, according to a KOICA press release Sunday. The first part of the training, which is running 14-27 June, comprises a virtual training session. The second and third parts will take the form of in-person trainings in Korea in 2024 and 2025. The first training is being attended by 17 officials from the environment ministry. This training taught me how to create an action plan, the importance of geographic data in catastrophe prediction, and how to address various environmental issues, Mariam Safwat, an environmental researcher, was quoted in in the press release as saying. For its part, KOICA Egypt expressed its hope that this training will contribute to the development of environmental planning and management in Egypt and strengthen relations between the two countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Train Carrying Hazardous Chemicals Derails in Montana After Bridge Collapses Several train cars are immersed in the Yellowstone River after a bridge collapse near Columbus, Mont., on June 24, 2023. (Matthew Brown/AP Photo) A train carrying hazardous chemicals plunged into the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana after a bridge collapsed early Saturday morning. Officials said 10 cars belonging to Montana Rail Link (MRL) went into the river at around 6:45 a.m. Three cars reportedly were carrying hot asphalt and four others molten sulphur. Stillwater County Emergency Management reported on Saturday that the Montana Department of Environmental Quality had begun monitoring air and water quality at water intakes along the river for potential contamination. This just started and will continue over the next several hours, the agency said in a Facebook post. At this time, there is no expected hazmat impact to Stillwater County towns. This will be continuously monitored and updated as new information arrives. Emergency management confirmed three cars containing hot asphalt and four cars filled with molten sulfur poured into the river between Reed Point and Columbus, about 44 miles west of Billings. Our best course of action at this time is to be aware of the situation and prepared to act should anything change, according to emergency management. Several train cars are immersed in the Yellowstone River after a bridge collapse near Columbus, Mont., on June 24, 2023. (Matthew Brown/AP Photo) As a precaution, the Montana Department of Transportation closed Twin Bridges Road at Reed Point near the derailment site until further notice. Meanwhile, officials are trying to determine the cause of the bridge collapse. The bridge spans the Yellowstone River in Stillwater County, population 9,044. Members of Stillwater County Emergency Services, the Sheriffs Office, county commissioners, and Columbus Fire and Rescue were at the scene, along with Montana Rail Link and state and federal agencies. A unified command center has been set up to determine the next appropriate next steps. The present focus of operations is safely responding to the emergency, controlling all releases and mitigating impacts. Throughout the response MRL will work with local, state and federal partners to assess impacts to natural resources and to develop appropriate cleanup, removal and restoration efforts, MRL said in a statement reported by KULR8. MRL stretches over 900 miles from Billings to Spokane, Washington, and has 1,200 employees, according to the companys website. Shortly after the bridge collapsed, Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) issued a press release stating that water treatment facilities in Laurel, Billings, Lockwood, and irrigation companies had begun emergency measures for hazardous materials, including shutting down river head gates. DES is also asking residents to conserve water until further notice. There is no reported threat to life or property in Yellowstone County at this time. As soon as the situation is resolved, normal operations will resume, the DES statement added. There have been more than a dozen trail derailments across the United States since the year began. On June 7, a BNSF freight train carrying new vehicles defailed near Flagstaff, Arizona, heavily damaging 23 rail cars. On Feb. 3, a train pulling cars laden with vinyl chloride derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, forcing thousands to evacuate a massive chemical plume following a controlled burn to contain the spill. Trudeau Off to Iceland to Meet Nordic Leaders Ahead of NATO Summit A NATO flag is seen at the Alliance headquarters ahead of a NATO Defense Ministers meeting, in Brussels, on Oct. 21, 2021. (Pascal Rossignol/Reuters) OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau is on his way to meet with Nordic leaders ahead of an upcoming NATO summit and as uncertainty looms over the future of the Arctic. Trudeau is slated to travel to Iceland, which will host leaders from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway over the next two days for an annual gathering of Nordic prime ministers. Leaders from Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Aland Islands are also attending. Icelands government says societal resilience will be discussed at the meeting, which is being staged on a group of islands known as Vestmannaeyjar and coincides with the 50th anniversary of a volcanic eruption there. Trudeau is to appear as a guest, and his office says it is a chance to advance common interests with the Nordic nations, which range from protecting the environment and developing clean energy to tackling security challenges. The talks come a little more than two weeks before leaders travel to Lithuania to meet with NATO allies and discuss Russias invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022. World leaders also kept a watchful eye on internal strife in Russia this weekend after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin led troops from his private Wagner Group in an armed rebellion as he called for the ouster of the countrys defence minister. The move seemed poised to threaten President Vladimir Putins decadeslong hold on power, but tensions deescalated quickly on Saturday after the Kremlin announced a deal that halted Prigozhins march on the capital city of Moscow. The arrangement will see Putins onetime protege move to Belarus and avoid prosecution for his role in the shortlived rebellion, while Wagner Group troops will return to Ukraine where theyve been fighting alongside soldiers from the Russian army. Trudeau said Saturday that Canada would be monitoring the situation closely, and foreign affairs ministers from the G7 held a call to discuss the situation before the deal was announced. Theres ongoing cooperation among these countries, Roland Paris, a former senior adviser to Trudeau and director of the University of Ottawas Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, said of the leaders gathering in Iceland. The Arctic has become a strategically more important part of the world as the ice melts. Each of these northern countries has a very clear interest in ensuring the security and sovereignty of their territory. Nordic countries, including Canada and the United States, hit pause on working with Russia through the Arctic Council after its invasion of Ukraine. Trump Calls Wagner Rebellion in Russia a Big Mess Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington on June 24, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump called the conflict between the Russian military and Wagner mercenaries a big mess on Saturday. Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin called for an armed uprising against Russias military leaders, after alleging that Russias top general, Valery Gerasimov, had ordered an attack, killing some 2,000 Wagner soldiers at their field camps in Ukraine. Prigozhins forces managed to seize Rostov-on-Don, a southern Russian city near the Ukrainian border and home to the headquarters of the Russian Southern Military District, which oversees Moscows war efforts in Ukraine. Then, Prigozhin ordered his forces to march toward Moscow, a military advancement that he called a march for justice. On Saturday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko brokered a deal, with Prigozhin agreeing to move to Belarus and Moscow dropping criminal charges against him. Prior to the deal, President Vladimir Putin vowed the rebels would face inevitable punishment. A big mess in Russia, but be careful what you wish for. Next in may be far worse! Trump wrote on his Truth Social account on June 24. Trump, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the White House in 2024, has said that he would end the war between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours if elected. Recently, the former president revealed that he told Putin several years ago that there would be hell to pay if Russia invaded Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russias Wagner mercenary force, speaks in Paraskoviivka, Ukraine, in this still image from an undated video released on March 3, 2023. (Concord Press Service/via Reuters) In a separate post on Saturday, Trump claimed that President Joe Biden will deal with the situation in Russia in whatever way Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants him to do. Remember, Hunter & Joe illegally took large amounts of money from both countries, but China right now is the bigger threat, Trump said. China & Russia, until Biden came along, have always been natural enemies, with China wanting large portions of largely unpopulated Russian land to have for their much larger population. Trumps remarks came just days after an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblower revealed that Hunter Biden used his father as leverage in a 2017 business deal with a Chinese businessman with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Trump added that the chaos in Russia could present China with an unthinkable opportunity. This is Chinas heretofore unthinkable opportunity, much bigger than Taiwan, Trump wrote. China Weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Putin and Xi met in China and the two leaders improved bilateral ties by announcing that there would be no limits to their cooperation. The two leaders met again in Russia in March, with Xi telling Putin that the two neighbors are driving changes that havent happened in 100 years. Geopolitical analysts have said Xis remarksto which Putin responded by saying he agreedshow that the two leaders are pushing to create a new China-led global order. Chinese leader Xi Jinping (R) receives U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken prior to their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Gordon Chang, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, suggested on Saturday that Xi would want more control over the Chinese military after learning about Prigozhins armed rebellion. Xi, to invade Taiwan, would have to give some admiral or general full operational control over the #Chinese military. #Xi was wary before, and now, seeing #Prigozhins rebellion, the Chinese leader will be even more reluctant to cede control. We can deter #China, Chang wrote via Twitter. In a separate post on Twitter, Chang added, #XiJinping, watching events in #Russia, is going to exert even tighter control inside his own country. It would be a good time to leave #China. The CCP claims that Taiwan is a part of its territory even though the island has never been under the communist regimes rule. Internationally, Taiwan is widely recognized as a de facto independent entity, with its own constitution, democratically elected government, and military. In January, Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warned that China is more likely to invade Taiwan in 2027, the year Xi could be seeking his fourth term as Party leader. However, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), chair of the House select committee on China, told Nikkei Asia in an interview earlier this month that an armed conflict could break out between Taiwan and China before 2027. I think 2027 might be the end of the window, not the beginning of it, Gallagher said. Trump Hails Indictments as Great Badge of Courage, Accuses Biden of Election Interference Former President Donald J. Trump speaks during the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at Hilton in Washington on June 24, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times) Former President Donald Trump on Saturday accused Democrats of interfering with the 2024 presidential election and called the two indictments he received a great badge of courage during a speech at the Faith and Freedom Coalitions event in Washington. Trump claimed that authorities are investigating and charging him in an attempt to derail his presidential run in 2024. He said he was targeted because of his strong poll numbers and lead over the Democratic Partys frontrunner, President Joe Biden. Trump said Biden used law enforcement to intervene in elections, calling it the greatest abuse of power in American history. Every time the radical left Democrats, Marxists, Communists, and fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of courage, he told supporters. Trump claimed the interference was a far greater scandal than Watergate. Two weeks ago, the former president was charged with 37 felony counts related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents. And early this year, he was also charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a Manhattan criminal court. Trump has pleaded not guilty in both unprecedented cases. Additional charges could be filed against the former president as a result of ongoing investigations in Georgia and Washington, both of which are related to Trumps challenge of the 2020 election results. Trump is the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination. And he holds a slight lead over Biden, according to the RealClear Politics average. Trump asserted that prosecutors did not pursue other presidents who kept documents and tapes, including former President Bill Clinton. They went after me. They didnt go after anyone else. And they went after me criminally, Trump said, noting, however, that his poll numbers have improved following the criminal charges. According to a Quinnipiac poll on June 21, 62 percent of registered voters believed that the recent indictment against the former president for improper handling of classified materials was primarily politically motivated. Hunter Biden and China During the event, Trump also targeted the business dealings of the Biden family, citing recent text messages from the presidents son, Hunter Biden. According to an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblower, Hunter Biden sent a WhatsApp message to a Chinese businessman during a dispute saying he was sitting here with my father and threatened him to follow his direction. House Republicans are currently investigating allegations of influence peddling involving the Biden familys multimillion-dollar dealings with foreign interests. Trump had previously announced that, if elected, he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Biden and his family, accusing them of corruption. Thats probably why Bidens not complaining about the fact that China is building military bases in Cuba, Trump remarked at the event. He stated that if elected, he would give China 48 hours to withdraw its military presence in Cuba. Never forget, our enemies want to stop me because Im the only one who can stop them, Trump said. He also stated that if elected, he would obliterate the deep state and end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. In addition, he promised to keep men out of womens restrooms and stop taxpayer funding for gender transitions. Supporters cheer as Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives onstage to speak at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Anniversary of Dobbs Decision Trumps speech at the 12th annual Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference also coincided with the first anniversary of the Supreme Courts landmark decision that overturned the abortion ruling Roe v. Wade. The former president gave himself credit for the Supreme Courts Dobbs ruling. During his presidency, Trump nominated Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, all of whom voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Im proud to be the most pro-life president in American history, Trump said at the event. He referred to Democrats and pro-abortion activists as radical people who are in trouble with the Lord. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling, upheld a Mississippi law that prohibits abortion beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy, overturning 50-year old Roe v. Wade case. The decision has restored the ability of the states to regulate abortion as they see fit. The Faith and Freedom Coalition event is billed as one of the largest gatherings of Christian conservative activists advocating for a pro-family majority. Nearly 3,000 activists attended the conference, which took place from June 22 to 24. Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump concludes his remarks as Chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition Ralph Reed applauds at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., on June 24, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Other GOP Candidates This years meeting featured several other 2024 Republican presidential candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and radio host Larry Elder. Cheers and applause regularly interrupted Trumps more than an hour-long campaign-style speech. At one point, Trump asked whether the other candidates had received the same warm reception. Actually, I saw one who was booed off the stage, Trump joked, referring to Christie. Christie was booed during his speech at the event on Friday after criticizing Trump. You can boo all you want, Christie responded to the crowd. Our faith teaches us that people have to take responsibility for what they do. People have to stand up and take accountability for what they do, and I cannot stand by, Christie said. He also stated that he was motivated to run because Trump had failed the country by refusing to accept responsibility for his mistakes. During his speech, Trump focused on Democrats and Biden while avoiding attacks on other Republican candidates, including his key rival Desantis. Janice Hisle contributed to this report. Twitter Put Under Stress Test for New Censorship Regulations in Europe A phone screen displays a photo of Elon Musk with the Twitter logo shown in the background in Washington on Oct. 4, 2022. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) European Commissioner Thierry Breton has visited Twitters headquarters to check on the companys progress in complying with the European Unions pro-censorship Digital Services Act (DSA), set to be implemented in August. Twitter is the 1st platform to undergo a stress test to prepare for #DSA, Breton said in a June 23 tweet. The company is taking this exercise very seriously. Constructive dialogue in San Francisco with @elonmusk & CEO @lindayacc ahead of the real test on 25 August. The Digital Services Act, which is scheduled to take effect on Aug. 25, aims to control the power of social media networks and remove content deemed to be misinformation and hate speech. Companies that violate the rules can be subject to fines of up to 6 percent of global annual revenue. In a worst-case scenario, the platform can be banned in the EU. DSA grants the European Commission considerable powers to monitor and regulate big tech firms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram in order to make them comply with the EUs antitrust rules. In late May, French Digital Minister Jean-Noel Barrot amped up pressure on Twitter, announcing that if the company fails to follow DSAs censorship rules and remove the so-called disinformation, Twitter would be banned from operating in the EU. In an interview with Breitbart, Nicolas Bay, an EU parliamentarian from France for the Reconquete party, slammed the push for censorship in the region. The EU claims it is fighting against misinformation, but that is a pretext used by what we call the extreme center or the far center, Bay said. The real agenda is that urban elites want to enforce an authoritarian project on Europe, he said. Calling Twitter essential to free speech and true democracy, Bay pointed out that censoring the platform is an attempt to steal democracy from the people and to promote political correctness and to spread [the EUs] woke propaganda. Despite claiming to defend fundamental rights, the EU is actually restricting freedom of speech and of thought, which are the fundamentals of a real democracy. This liberticide tendency is aggravating and extremely worrying, Bay said. Pressure on Twitter Following Bretons meeting at Twitter headquarters, the official told reporters that he had asked Twitter to ensure that it has enough resources to moderate content by Aug. 25, as it risks being in violation of the DSA if it fails to do so. I spoke on this specific topic with Elon Musk, he said, according to AFP. Breton told the Twitter team that there are a few areas that will be critical immediately when the regulation will be enforceable especially everything related to child abuse which is a very hot topic for us in Europe, also disinformation in elections. In a June 23 post on Twitter, Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino said that Europe is very important to Twitter, and were focused on our continued partnership. Bretons visit to Twitter comes after Musk pulled the platform from the EUs pro-censorship Code of Practice project in May. The project, a voluntary program, sought to make tech companies take action against disinformation. Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. But obligations remain. You can run, but you cant hide, Breton said in a May 27 post on Twitter. Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be legal obligation under #DSA as of August 25. Our teams will be ready for enforcement. DSA Regulations Under the EUs DSA regulations, 19 platforms have been identified as very large online platforms that will be subject to its rules starting in late August. The 19 firms are Alphabets Google Maps, Google Play, Google Search, Google Shopping, YouTube, Metas Facebook and Instagram, Amazons Marketplace, Apples App Store, Twitter, Microsofts LinkedIn and Bing, Booking.com, Pinterest, Snap Inc.s Snapchat, TikTok, Wikipedia, Zalando, and Alibabas AliExpress. In order to ensure that they align with the DSA, platforms will have to invest in building a compliance team at a time when big tech firms have ramped up layoffs. Platforms will have to provide EU officials and researchers with access to their content decisions and algorithms. The firms will have to designate a representative to the bloc who will be responsible for content decisions in the region. Users will have the right to lodge an appeal against any takedown orders issued by platforms. US Combat Ship to Make Rare Port Call in Vietnam Amid South China Sea Tensions The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), an aircraft carrier, during a goodwill visit in Manila, Philippines, on Oct. 14, 2022. (Eloisa Lopez/Reuters) HANOIThe U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan will stop at Central Vietnams port city of Danang on Sunday in a rare visit for a U.S. warship to the southeast Asian nation, as tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea remain high. The ship will arrive on Sunday afternoon and stay at Danang until June 30, local media reported the spokesperson for Vietnams foreign affairs ministry as saying. The spokesperson did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. The visit of the USS Ronald Reagan is only the third for a U.S. aircraft carrier since the end of the Vietnam War. The USS Theodore Roosevelt stopped in Vietnam in 2020 to mark 25 years since the Vietnam War ended in 1975. This year Washington is seeking to upgrade its formal ties with Vietnam, amid Hanois frequent disputes with Beijing over boundaries in the South China Sea. China claims the waters almost in their entirety, including the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam and other countries in the region. U.S. carriers frequently cross the energy-rich sea, which contains crucial routes for global trade. The warships are often shadowed by Chinese vessels. On Wednesday, the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and a group of escorting vessels sailed south through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, Taiwans defense ministry said. Wagner Mercenary Chief to Move to Belarus, Wont Face Prosecution for Rebel March: Kremlin Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary force, speaks in Paraskoviivka, Ukraine, in this still image from an undated video released on March 3, 2023. (Concord Press Service/via Reuters) Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russias Wagner mercenary group, will move to neighboring Belarus as part of a deal to end what appeared to be an armed coup led by Prigozhin against Russias military leadership, according to the Kremlin. Prigozhin, who has been a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin for roughly 20 years, had earlier agreed to end what he described as a march for justice to topple Moscows military leadership after mediation by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenkos office stated on June 24 that the Belarusian leader had Putins blessing to broker a deal that ended up halting the lightning-fast advance of Wagner forces toward Moscow. Under the deal, Prigozhin will move to Belarus and criminal charges against him in Russia would be dropped, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on June 24. Wagner fighters who took part in the armed rebellion wont face any retribution, in recognition of their previous service to Russia. Fighters of the Wagner private mercenary group are seen atop a tank while being deployed near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. (Stringer/Reuters) Peskov declined to offer any further details of concessions made to Prigozhin in exchange for agreeing to order Wagner troops to stand down, other than a Putin-authorized guarantee of his safety. There are no more conditions that I can tell you about, Peskov told reporters in Moscow while calling the events of the day tragic. After the Lukashenko-brokered deal was struck, Prigozhin took to his Telegram channel to post an audio message saying he had ordered his men to turn back in order to avoid shedding Russian blood. The Wagner chief, who decades ago ran a floating restaurant in St. Petersburg, Russia, that Putin frequented while he was the citys mayor, said Wagner troops managed to come within 120 miles of Moscow. Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner Group military company, records a video address in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP) Putins promise that Prigozhin would be unharmed was a stark reversal from his earlier pledge to mete out harsh punishment for the mutineers. All those who deliberately stepped on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed insurrection, who took the path of blackmail and terrorist methods will suffer inevitable punishment, will answer both to the law and to our people, Putin said in a televised speech from the Kremlin. In response, a defiant Prigozhin said he and his men had no intention of backing down. In their brief but bold campaign against Russias top military brass, Prigozhins forces managed to seize Rostov-on-Don, a logistical hub in southern Russia thats key to the war effort in Ukraine. Prigozhin was seen leaving Rostov-on-Don later on June 24. Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner Group military company, greets supporters as he prepares to leave Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters) Wagner in Ukraine The Wagner Group, officially known as PMC Wagner or Wagner Private Military Company, is a Russian paramilitary organization that was first identified in 2014, when it backed pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Amid Russias latest special military operation in Ukraine, Wagner forces have provided the Kremlin with key support, doing much of the heaviest fighting in the Donbas region and taking significant casualties in the fight for Bakhmut. However, in the course of Wagners engagement in Ukraine, Prigozhin had become increasingly critical of Russias military leadership. Battlefield setbacks in Ukraine, including significant Wagner casualties in bloody shootouts in the fight for Bakhmut, led Prigozhin to level a series of accusations against the military brass, including that they werent supplying Wagner with enough ammunition. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group military company, holds a Russian national flag in front of his soldiers in Bakhmut, Ukraine, in a still from video footage released on May 20, 2023. (Prigozhin Press Service via AP) A culminating point was a June 23 accusation that Prigozhin made in a post on his Telegram channel against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who the Wagner chief accused of destroying his fighters in an alleged Russian military airstrike and called for an armed mutiny. In his criticism, the Wagner Groups leader didnt target Putin but focused his attacks on Russian military leaders. He accused Shoigu of personally planning an operation to destroy Wagner fighters. Prigozhin claimed that the Wagner Commanders Council made the decision to stop the evil brought by the military leadership who neglect and destroy the lives of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers, an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reads. The Wagner leader vowed to deal with those who destroyed Russian soldiers and then return to Ukraine after restoring justice. He stated on Telegram that Wagners push toward Moscow was no coup but only a march for justice. Some analysts have cautioned that there could be another chapter in Prigozhins short-lived mutiny. Whoever believes this will end soon is sorely mistaken, Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News in an interview. [Putin] loathes disloyalty more than anything else and [Prighozin] moving to Belarus wont guarantee that he will not also experience windows or tea, Stradner said, hinting that there could be a repeat of incidents such as those who cross the Russian president meeting a suspicious end by falling out of a window or being poisoned. A Brazilian ballerina who found her freedom and expression through dance has become a television and social media sensation, inspiring millions with her never give up attitude. Vitoria Bueno Boche, 19, was born in Santa Rita do Sapucai in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with no arms, a congenital defect diagnosed at birth. Navigating the world using her shoulders and feet for dexterity is all shes ever known. However, when her physiotherapist noticed how much the young girl enjoyed dancing, she made a suggestion that would change her life forever. She asked my mom to take me to Academia De Danca Andrea Falsarella for a trial class, Bueno explained to The Epoch Times. I come from a very humble family. At the time my physiotherapist talked to my mother, she didnt understand anything about dancing, but even so she supported me and believed in my potential. Vitoria Bueno Boche when she was young. (Courtesy of Vitoria Bueno) Recalling her trial class, Bueno said: It was love at first sight. All of the people at the dance studio received me very well, and the director awarded me a scholarship. Soon Bueno found her confidence. Before long, she was dancing every day and her teachers supported her with any exercises that required a little more effort, and she worked on overcoming her challenges. Any exercise that I found difficult I insisted and did not give up, said Bueno, who does everything, from brushing her teeth to to picking up things from the supermarket shelf, with her feet. Vitoria Bueno Boche at a performance. (Courtesy of Vitoria Bueno) An expressive performer, Bueno dances with grace and poise, accentuating her steps with her eyes and bright smile. Taking to the stage for her dance academys annual shows, she began to shine. In the winter of 2021, with the support of her dance teacher and translator, Mayara Falsarella, Bueno performed on stage in Germany for the television talent show, Super Talent, where she earned the coveted golden buzzer. After putting on a moving performance, Bueno was invited to dance for Americas Got Talent All-Stars 2023 where she became an instant sensation. The 19-year-old dancer and social media influencer, who has always had the support of her loving family and friends, has proved that nothing can hold her back. Bueno has also received an outpouring of love from fans and followers. Peoples reaction at first is surprise because they cant imagine a ballerina without both arms dancing, she told The Epoch Times, so when I dance and show that we are all capable, regardless of difficulty, people are delighted. She has also had the chance to connect with some of her own biggest inspirations: ballerinas Ana Botafogo and Ingrid Silva. Silva is a wonderful dancer who is also a reference for resilience and strength in ballet, Bueno said. In addition, she has also had the honor of meeting Thiago Soares, the first Brazilian principal dancer at the Royal Ballet in London, England. Although Bueno still faces accessibility challenges in her everyday life, her positive mental attitude gets her through it. She still performs in her dance academys annual shows, and at the time of writing, she is preparing for a dance competition that will take place in Brazil in June. Her social media presence has also been growing and she has already amassed over half a million followers on Instagram. The internet is making me cross borders! she said. Sharing her philosophy, Bueno said: We know that the walk is often not easy at all, but we have the option to move forward or give up. Regardless of the difficulty, we have to make an effort, dedicate ourselves to always do our best. We can do anything but give up! Watch some videos: (Courtesy of Vitoria Bueno) (Courtesy of Vitoria Bueno) 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 There is no future for drug addicts By Dheeraj Fartode The growing menace of drug addiction is leaving a trail of devastation on many lives in the city. As the youth find themselves in the clutches of narcotics, their promising future is being overshadowed by a dark and insecure path. In response to this alarming situation, the Nagpur police have launched an aggressive campaign known as Operation Narcos, taking aim at drug addicts and smugglers in a bid to restore hope and safety. In this backdrop, on the eve of the International Day Against Drug Abuse, The Hitavada caught up with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Detection, Mummaka Sudarshan, who threw light on the severity of the drug consumption scenario in Nagpur and the comprehensive offensive launched by the Nagpur Police. The consumption of drugs has reached alarming levels in Nagpur, remarked DCP Sudarshan, citing the concerns voiced by various segments of society. He further revealed that the most prevalent contraband substances among the citys youth are Ganja (Marijuana) and Mephedrone (MD). Speaking on the factors contributing to the distressing trend, DCP Sudarshan highlighted the attraction of an instantaneous thrill which is a key driver of drug addiction among youngsters. He expressed concern over the influence of drug-related content in popular OTT platforms, which promotes drug use within society. Such shows spreads curiosity among viewers, leading to first-time consumption of contraband substances and eventually the person becomes a drug-addict, he cautioned. The effects of drug consumption are far severe, as the initial high experienced by individuals after drug consumption influences habitual use. The Nagpur Police have recognised the urgent need to address this crisis and therefore, launched a full scale operation against the contraband substances. DCP Sudarshan underlined roles played by the police and society in countering drug addiction. The police must act as a big brother by actively preventing availability of drugs within city. Simultaneously, parents must remain vigilant and closely monitor their childrens activities, acquaintances, expenses, and party attendance, he opined. He also called for robust control mechanisms within society and hoped that it would significantly contribute in curbing addiction. The Nagpur City police have adopted an uncompromising stance against drug smuggling and consumption. In May alone, more than 100 cases of drug consumption were registered, sending a strong message of no-nonsense to potential offenders. Regular drives to combat drug consumption are being conducted to further intensify the crackdown on this grave issue. DCP Sudarshan further explained that the consequences of drug consumption extend beyond the imagination as individuals face the reality of limited job opportunities and a compromised future due to the long-term impact of a drug-related criminal record. If you are chasing drugs, there will be no future. A case of drug consumption registered against an individual would appear in their character verification. This means that drug addicts may face limitations in terms of job opportunities and a compromised future, warned DCP Sudarshan and appealed the citizens to inform the police about drug addicts and smugglers to save lives of the youngsters. Staff Reporter The Nagpur Cyber police have detected involvement of a Chinese national in an on-line task scam in which a Nagpur resident lost Rs 54.58 lakh to on-line fraudsters. Six fraudsters have been arrested by the Cyber Police from Mumbai, Gujarat and Rajasthan, on Saturday, in this connection, and recovered Rs eight lakh cash from their possession. The police have freezed their bank accounts having total balance of around Rs 35 lakh. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Archit Chandak described the arrest as a major blow to the fraudsters, and claimed that around Rs 28 lakh was transferred to a Chinese national by one of the fraudsters in the form of cryptocurrency. The amount was transferred to an on-line wallet originating from China, he said. On the complaint of Ghanshyam Narendra Govindani (32), a resident of 802, Asra Apartment, Byramji Town, the police arrested Akash Vinod Tiwari (29), Ravi Ramanth Verma (33), Santosh Rammani Meshram (39), all residents of Mumbai (East); Meet Haresh Vyas (26), a resident of Surat (Gujarat); Ankit Nihal Tater (33) and Arvind Mahaveer Sharma (24), both residents of Rajasthan. DCP Chandak said that complainant Govindani, a chemical engineer, had worked in Dubai from 2015 to 2021. While searching for a job, Govindani registered himself on on-line job sites. Eventually, he received a link from a website and joined a WhatsApp group. The fraudsters gave him tasks of movie reviews and received around Rs 1 lakh on completion of the task. Subsequently, the fraudsters trapped Govindani by luring for more such tasks after paying a particular amount. After paying a total of Rs 54.50 lakh, Govindani realised the fraud and approached the Cyber police. A case under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act was registered by the police and started investigation. The cops identified the accused persons on the basis of their bank account details and arrested them. Under the guidance of DCP Chandak, the arrest was made by Police Inspector Amit Dolas, APIs Sandip Bagul, Maruti Shelke and others. Various parts of the country will experience extremely hot daytime weather during the better part of the week-long Eid Al-Adha holiday, which starts on Tuesday. The hottest temperatures will be in the countrys deep south, in Luxor and Aswan, which will experience highs of 40-42 degrees Celsius and lows of 28-30. It will be slightly less hot in South Sinai but still hot. Expect highs of 36-39 and lows of 23-24 in Sharm El-Sheikh and Nuweibea. High humidity throughout the week will increase felt temperature by 2-3 degrees everywhere. So, if you are travelling south or heading to South Sinai: do not forget to pack extra hats and sunscreen! And if you are driving, watch out for morning fog on all major roads around the country. Expect some sporadic strong winds throughout the week in Greater Cairo, the Nile Delta and South Sinai but nothing serious. Cairenes who are not leaving the capital should expect highs of 34-35 degrees during the day and 22-23 at night. Those who live on or are heading to the North Coast will enjoy much cooler weather than the rest of the country. Expect highs of 29-30 degrees and lows of 21-22 from Alexandria to Marsa Matrouh during Eid. Minya and Assiut in the centre of the country will see 36-39 and lows of 23-24. Search Keywords: Short link: Google investing $10 bnin Indias digitisation fund: Pichai tells Modi WASHINGTON, INTERNET giant Google is investing USD 10 billion in Indias digitisation fund, its CEO Sundar Pichai has told Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a step that will recognise Indias leadership on fintech and will support small and large businesses in India, the US and around the world. Pichai met Prime Minister Modi here on Friday and also announced the opening of Googles global fintech operation centre in the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in Gandhinagar. It was an honour to meet Prime Minister Modi during the historic visit to the US. We shared with the Prime Minister that Google is investing USD 10 billion in Indias digitisation fund, Pichai said. We are announcing the opening of our global fintech operation centre in GIFT City, Gujarat. PMs vision for Digital India was way ahead of his time I now see it as a blueprint that other countries are looking to do, he added. Google today announced that it will open a Google Fintech Global Operations Center in GIFT City, Gujarat, with teams working on specialised operations supporting GPay and other product operations at Google, a Google spokesperson told PTI. This recognises Indias leadership on fintech and will support small and large businesses in India, the US and around the world, the spokesperson said after the meeting between Pichai and the Prime Minister. Monsoon arrives in district; good rains till 28th Staff Reporter The most-awaited South-West Monsoon has arrived in Nagpur district after a delay of nine days, on Saturday. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared arrival of monsoon in East Vidarbha. According to IMD, The South-West monsoon 2023 has advanced in to some more parts of Vidarbha, on Saturday. The northern limit of monsoon (NLM) now passes through Nagpur, Alibag, Solapur, Udgir, Mandla, Sonbhadra, Buxar, Siddharthnagar and Pantnagar. As per the Weather Department, The cyclonic circulation over North-West Bay of Bengal adjoining North Odisha-West Bengal coasts extending upto 7.6 km above mean sea level tilting towards South-West with height persists. Under its influence, a low pressure area is likely to form over the same region during next 24 hours. The Weather Department has predicted, Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia and nearby areas will witness good monsoon rains from June 25 to 28. Whereas, the onset of monsoon in remaining parts of Vidarbha including Buldana, Akola, and Amravati will take place in next 24 hours. After June 28, the monsoon in Nagpur city will take a break for a week and again appear on July 5, claimed a meteorologist. The monsoon rains will be scattered in the first half of July but after July 15 it will turn into widespread rains. Despite good rains on Friday in all over Vidarbha, the weather was dry on Saturday in all places of Vidarbha. However, strong thunderstorms lashed parts of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts on Saturday. Due to cloudy weather and rains on Friday the maximum temperature dipped drastically on Saturday all over Vidarbha. A couple of days ago, the maximum temperature was between 40 degrees Celsius and 42 degrees Celsius all over Vidarbha but with onset of monsoon the maximum temperature dipped by almost 10 degrees Celsius. PM Modi arrives in Egypt, holds talks with Madbouly CAIRO, PRIME Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Saturday for a two-day state visit during which he will hold talks with the Egyptian leadership, including President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, as the two nations seek to enhance their strategic partnership. Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of Egyptian President El-Sisi. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. In a special gesture, Modi was welcomed at the airport here by Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly with a warm embrace. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour upon his arrival. Prime Minister Modi discussed deepening trade and economic relations with Egypt in his first meeting with the India Unit, a new group of high-level Egyptian Ministers led by his counterpart Madbouly. Seven members of the Egyptian Cabinet, led by Madbouly, were present at the meeting with Modi, the first engagement in Egypt. At the outset, the Prime Minister thanked Egypt for setting up the dedicated high-level India Unit and appreciated the Governments approach. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation across a range of areas including trade & investment, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, digital payment platforms, pharma and people to people ties, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter. I am confident this visit will strengthen Indias ties with Egypt. I look forward to talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attending other programmes, Prime Minister Modi tweeted after landing in Cairo. Putin faces mutiny by Prigozhins pvt army MOSCOW, RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin on Saturday vowed harsh punishment for the organisers of an armed rebellion spearheaded by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led his troops out of Ukraine and advanced towards Moscow. Putin denounced the uprising as a stab in the back in an address to the nation. It was the biggest threat to his leadership in over two decades in power. As Prigozhins forces rolled toward the capital, military trucks and armored vehicles were seen in several parts of Moscow. On its southern edge, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and put up machine guns. Authorities declared a counterterrorist regime in the capital and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents not to drive and said key city services were on high readiness. He declared Monday to be a nonworking day for most residents except publice servants and some industrial enterprises. Crews also dug up parts of highways in an apparent bid to slow the march of the Wagner mercenary army. Access to Red Square was closed, two major museums were evacuated and a park was shut. Prigozhins private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow that runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britains Ministry of Defence said. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow, where authorities are taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population, said regional Gov Igor Artamonov, via Telegram. He did not elaborate. The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europes largest conflict since World War II, that has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for its army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow is suffering full-scale weakness and that Kyiv was protecting Europe from the spread of Russian evil and chaos. In his speech, Putin called the actions by Prigozhin, whom he did not mention by name, a betrayal and treason. All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment, Putin said. The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders. Russias security services, including the Federal Security Service, or FSB, called for Prigozhins arrest on Friday night after he declared the armed rebellion. Prigozhin said his fighters would not surrender, as we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy. Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland, he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel. Prigozhins private army has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine. His goals werent immediately clear, but the rebellion marks an escalation in his struggle with Russian military leaders, whom he accused of botching the war in Ukraine and hobbling his forces in the field. This is not a military coup, but a march of justice, Prigozhin said. Prigozhin said he had 25,000 troops under his command and urged the army not to offer resistance. He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city. Other videos on social media showed military vehicles, including tanks, on the streets. UNITY, REALLY? SELFISH ties dont stand the test of time. In the meeting of the Opposition parties hosted in Patna by Mr Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar and Janata Dal (United) leader, differences emerged sharply between parties that ironically had convened to set aside differences. This has rightly made common people wonder if 17 parties attending the meeting could really sustain unity till Lok Sabha elections. Rather than unity, reservations and attempts to hide discord were on display. The biggest discord was between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Mr Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, and Congress party. Mr Kejriwal wanted all Opposition parties attending the meeting to stand with AAP in opposing the ordinance on administrative powers in Delhi. In particular, he wanted Congress party represented by its President Mr Mallikarjun Kharge and Mr Rahul Gandhi to make its stand clear on the issue. As it did not happen, Mr Kejriwal threatened not to attend future meetings, reflecting that each party in the Opposition has own selfish agenda to pursue and gain from strength of others in the name of unity. Whatever the tall claims these parties might make, their combined strength is less than 200 in the 543-member Lok Sabha at present. Congress has the highest 52 seats. Whereas, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) enjoys a thumping majority with 303 seats. Even if these parties unite, the already-emerging cracks are bound to play their role. Most of these are regional parties whose politics rests on issues of local importance. Besides, one must not forget that when Congress was in power in the Centre, it had cracked down on State Governments formed by regional parties. As Lok Sabha elections draw closer, this history is bound to haunt Congress. Further, the case of Maharashtra offers better understanding of how the so-called unity may not be able to find common ground. In Maharashtra, not long ago, three of the parties attending Patna meeting had come together to form Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). However, the MVA Government of Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, and Shiv Sena (Thackeray) could not last long because the so-called unity was unnatural. The constituents of MVA differed on various issues, confusing own supporter base. Besides, they could not contest all the elections within the State together as aspirations of local leaders did not allow for ceding seats to allies. Now, despite the three parties sitting in Opposition, differences still exist on issues like Hindutva, Swatantryaveer Savarkar and others. Even among parties that attended the Patna meeting, there were some political rivals. So, even if they claim to have come together, their unity will last only as long as the choice for a leader of coalition comes up. As soon as that stage comes, the unity will vanish in thin air because personal ambitions will overshadow unity for the sake of power. Above all, one must understand that only a few of the Opposition parties have come together for Patna meeting. This so-called united block did not invite Bahujan Samaj Party, and Rashtriya Lok Dal did not attend the meeting. Some of the attendees did not even have one Lok Sabha seat to their credit. Given these things, the attempt at divided Oppositions unity may at best prepare a common ground for losing out in the battle against a strongly organised BJP. Renowned novelist Ibrahim Abdel-Meguid talked to Ahram Online about his 1974 novel "In The 67th summer" (Fi Alsaif Alsabi- welsetine), which documented the perplexing questions that the defeat of 1967 imposed on his generation. In a limited setting and in the time scope of a few days, with skilful application of a stream of consciousness narration approach, Abdel-Meguid takes a group of workers in a ship-making factory from the slow realization that defeat has beset the nation in June 1967 back to the Suez War in 1956. "In The 67th summer" screens an outburst of questions that fogged the minds of this group of protagonists upon the military defeat of 1967. Overwhelmed by utter shock from the defeat, these protagonists face a complex dual reality of having to live through a bitter defeat coupled simultaneously with anxious anticipation of reversing it quickly through Egypts War of Attrition against Israel, which started immediately after 5 June. Abdel-Meguid, who was 21 in the summer of 1967, said the 5 June defeat left a scar on the collective consciousness of a generation that was fast transported from living under a big fog of dreams to live under a pressing reality of defeat. In 2007, Dar Al-Shorouk published a most recent edition of In the 67th summer to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967 War. Ahram Online: When did you write this novel and when was it first published? Ibrahim Abdel-Meguid: I started writing the novel in 1973 and I was done with it in 1974. We lived some glorious days during the days of the War of Attrition and the subsequent October War victory. This reminded me of the days of the defeat and the dreams that were defeated in June 1967. I wanted to write something about these days to document the sentiments and thoughts of the times of defeat. I had already written a set of short stories on the War of Attrition, which was started by Nasser immediately after the defeat. I wanted to share my testimony on the defeat of 1967. I had personally gone through so many transformations on a personal level as a result of the defeat. I changed from being a Nasserist to becoming a Marxist before I later shifted to becoming a Liberal. Along this path of transformation, I was coming to see the defeat of 1967 for what it really was about. I realized that it was not just a military issue but that defeats are always possible in countries where pluralism is absent. I had wanted to publish the novel when I finished it but I could not because it kept being rejected by the censor. There was always an excuse that the censor would give me; one time the novel was rejected because it cast a negative light on our relations with the Soviets and another time it was rejected because it undermined our relations with the Americans, and so on. Finally, in 1979, when late president Anwar Sadat abolished censorship on books, I published a first edition of the novel at Dar Al-Thaqafa Al-Gedidah, which was chaired by prominent novelist Son'allah Ibrahim. In the 1990s, I republished it with Librairie Madbouli. And finally in 2007 Dar Al-Shorouk released a most recent edition. AO: The novel sheds light on the many changes that its protagonists went through in a very brief moment of time. Is it right to argue that this novel is the story of a generation that had its full faith in Gamal Abdel-Nasser before this faith crashed on the day of the 1967 defeat? IM: It is a literary testimony on what the defeat meant - for that generation. There was a group of young men who were building a ship and the ship sank just like the country drowned upon the defeat. I personally worked in a company that constructs ships. Beyond the symbolism, it is all about chasing dreams and trying to find hope to start anew. AO: In your opinion, what did the defeat of 1967 really do to this generation who had put its faith in Nasser? How did the defeat change priorities for the generation that was dreaming of changing the world and ended up faced with the need to end Israeli occupation of Egyptian soil? IM: The defeat, in a sense, was an eye-opener. Prior to 1967, our generation knew very little and paid very little attention to Nassers prisons and the fate of many opponents in these prisons. Just like the lead protagonist of the novel who learned about the reality of the defeat on the second day of the war - 6 June - when he managed to tune in to one of the foreign radio services. This was precisely what happened with me because the official press at the time - the three main newspapers of Al-Akhbar, Al-Ahram and Al-Gomhoriya - were just a mouthpiece of the regime. The defeat also allowed for the reinvigoration of politics, especially through the return of some clandestine Marxist movements, which influenced me. However, the main change that I think the defeat brought about to our generation was the realization that without pluralism things could always go wrong - sometimes in a very bad way. When we went out on demonstrations under Nasser and later under Sadat our demands were not just about the end of Israeli occupation but also about the need to embrace democracy. Democracy could have allowed for Nasser to avoid the 1967 defeat just as it allows any ruler to learn about his mistakes and maybe to avoid them. Dreams, like that of democracy, require a lot of chasing. AO: The novel somehow moves in two parallel tracks between the actual moment of the defeat of 1967 and the recollection of the 1956 Suez War. It is the story of a generation who had to live through two wars in less than ten years; with one war leading to the other? Was this a generation stained with failures? IM: It is the destiny of this generation to put up with the failures that come upon the absence of democracy. This was the case during the Nasser rule and beyond. Sadat promised democracy but his endorsement of democracy was very short lived. He opened the door for the Muslim Brotherhood in an attempt to counter the influence of the Marxists. Eventually things took a disturbing turn and he was assassinated by radical Islamists. Then, Mubarak allowed for a bit of openness. However, the management of the 2010 parliamentary elections was very disturbing. Then came the January Revolution. Mohamed Morsy was elected but he soon issued a dictatorial constitutional declaration to grant himself tyrannical powers. In this sense, the novel blames the defeat of 1967 partially on the failure to address the problems that occurred during the Suez War. At the heart of it, the novel is about the failure of the so called 'socialist-democracy' offered by Nasser where building of hospitals and schools takes precedence over political pluralism. AO: The novel carries some serious existential questions, like the issue of faith or the lack thereof. Was this issue associated with the experience of the generation? IM: I was personally highly influenced by my philosophy readings, especially on Existentialism. In general, I think there were big questions at the time about the many discrepancies between what we thought we could do, or what we were told we could do, and what was actually possible for us to do. AO: You are dedicating the novel to a generation who lived the unending summer of 1967? Is it really an unending summer? IM: Unfortunately, yes. The fact is that since then things have never really taken the right path. We had a peace treaty with Israel that has not allowed for the re-launch of the dream of development. Development, in its true sense, is still a dream. Political pluralism is still a dream. Search Keywords: Short link: The chief of the rebel Wagner mercenary force will go to Belarus and will not face charges after calling off his troops' advance on Moscow, the Russian government said, easing the country's most serious security crisis in decades. The feud between Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russia's military brass came to a violent head in the past day, with his forces capturing a key army headquarters in southern Russia on Saturday and then heading north to threaten the capital. Within hours of Prigozhin's about-face, the Kremlin announced he would leave for Belarus and Russia would not prosecute him or Wagner's members. It had been a dramatic day, with President Vladimir Putin warning against civil war, Moscow telling locals to stay off the streets and Kyiv revelling in the chaos engulfing its enemy. The tide shifted suddenly when Prigozhin made the stunning announcement that his troops were "turning our columns around and going back to field camps" to avoid bloodshed in the Russian capital. Prigozhin, who has feuded bitterly with Moscow's military leadership even as his outfit led parts of Russia's Ukraine offensive, said he understood the importance of the moment and did not want to "spill Russian blood". Wagner troops cheered By early Sunday, Wagner had pulled fighters and equipment from Rostov-on-Don, where they had seized the military headquarters, said the regional governor. But before they left, dozens of residents were cheering and chanting "Wagner! Wagner!" outside the military headquarters they had captured. Authorities in the southern Lipetsk region announced the lifting of restrictions after earlier reporting Wagner fighters in their territory, where the local capital is 420 kilometres (260 miles) south of Moscow. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he had negotiated a truce with Prigozhin, drawing thanks from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that the "criminal case against him (Prigozhin) will be dropped. He himself will go to Belarus." Peskov also said that members of Wagner who had taken part in what authorities termed an "armed rebellion" would not be prosecuted. "Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal," Peskov added. In Ukraine, government officials said the situation had "humiliated" Putin. "Prigozhin humiliated Putin/the state and showed that there is no longer a monopoly on violence," presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter. While Russia claimed the rebellion had no impact on its Ukraine campaign, Kyiv said the unrest offered a "window of opportunity" as the nation pressed its long-awaited counter-offensive. Analysts said there were likely to be consequences for Prigozhin and Wagner. "There has to be, otherwise the message is that a military force can openly challenge the state, and others have to learn that the Russian state indeed has a monopoly on violence inside the country," Samuel Bendett, a researcher at the Center for Naval Analyses, tweeted. Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the US-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, said cooperation between Wagner and the Russian military was likely to suffer. "Putin and the security services will likely try to weaken Wagner or remove Prigozhin," Lee tweeted. "Given Wagner's presence overseas, the greatest effects from this event may be felt in MENA/Africa", where Wagner has a large presence. 'Early signs of revolt' While the Kremlin appeared to have been caught on the back foot, US spy agencies picked up signs days ago that Prigozhin was planning to act, US media reported. They began tracking indications that Prigozhin and his mercenary force intended to move against the military leadership in mid-June, the Washington Post said, adding US spy agencies believed Putin was informed the Wagner chief was plotting his rebellion at least a day before it happened. The United States and its allies publicly stayed on the sidelines as officials waited to see how the revolt would play out. US President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of France, Germany and Britain amid concerns that Putin's control over the nuclear-armed country could be slipping. Moscow issued a stiff warning to the United States and allies to stay back. "The rebellion plays into the hands of Russia's external enemies," the foreign ministry said. Before Prigozhin's climbdown, Russian regular forces had launched what one regional governor called a "counter-terrorist operation" to halt the Wagner advance northwards up a main highway towards Moscow. In the capital, the mayor urged Muscovites to stay indoors and declared Monday a day off work. Security was tightened in the city centre, with armed men in flak jackets guarding the parliament building and Red Square closed off to the public. "I don't know how to react. In any case it's very sad this is happening," 35-year-old Yelena told AFP, declining to give her last name. All road traffic restrictions that had been imposed in Rostov, Lipetsk and other regions during the crisis have been lifted, state-run TASS reported, citing the federal road agency. The measures came after Prigozhin announced his troops had taken control of the military command centre and airbase in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, the nerve centre of Russia's offensive in Ukraine. 'A blow to Russia' Responding to the challenge in a televised address, Putin accused Prigozhin of a "stab in the back" that posed a threat to Russia's very survival. "Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood and to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia and to our people," Putin said, demanding national unity. "Extravagant ambitions and personal interests led to treason," Putin said, referring to Prigozhin, who began building his power base as a catering contractor. As the insurrection force headed north through Voronezh and Lipetsk towards Moscow, the capital's mayor announced that "anti-terrorist" measures were being taken. Critical facilities were "under reinforced protection", TASS reported, citing a law enforcement source. While Prigozhin's outfit fought at the forefront of Russia's offensive in Ukraine, he repeatedly blamed Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, for his fighters' deaths. Search Keywords: Short link: Photo: The mayor and key aides view damage from the deadly fire caused by a faulty e-bike battery at 80 Madison St. last week. Photo credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office. In the news this past week: Four residents ranging in age from 62 to 80 were killed in a fire at 80 Madison St. on Tuesday. The fire started in an e-bike store and, authorities said, it was caused by lithium-ion batteries. According to the fire marshal, the store had previously been cited for violations related to charging lithium-ion batteries. The owner said he doesnt believe the batteries were responsible for the fire. [The New York Times] Following the tragedy, the mayor announced new e-bike safety measures. [CBS News] A construction worker was rescued after falling at a construction site at 165 Broome St. and becoming wedged between two buildings. [AM New York] An 18-year-old man was shot and killed while standing outside a deli near Rivington and Pitt streets over the weekend. [New York Post] Prosecutors are beginning to lay out the cases against two men accused of drugging more than two dozen victims at nightlife venues across Lower Manhattan and then targeting them for robberies. Five of the victims died. [The New York Times] Voters go to the polls Tuesday in New York Citys primary election. Its your chance to have a say in your City Council district. Look up your poll site here. Beneath the layers of todays gentrification, the recently released photo book, Loisaida, recalls the universality of a time and place: its vibrancy, diversity, coexistence. [The New York Times] What will Two Bridges Luncheonette be like when it opens at 135 Division St.? Thats a mystery for the moment. The owner of the shuttered Continental Bar is behind the venue. [Eater] StockNews.com lowered shares of Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (NYSE:BVN Get Rating) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report released on Thursday morning. Separately, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. from $9.30 to $8.60 in a research note on Wednesday. Get Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. alerts: Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. Trading Down 0.5 % BVN stock opened at $7.44 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. has a fifty-two week low of $5.09 and a fifty-two week high of $8.73. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $7.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $7.68. Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. Dividend Announcement Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. ( NYSE:BVN Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The mining company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.17 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $185.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $185.52 million. Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. had a net margin of 9.29% and a return on equity of 2.31%. Analysts predict that Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. will post 0.68 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 24th were paid a dividend of $0.073 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 21st. This represents a yield of 1%. Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A.s payout ratio is 25.00%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BVN. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. by 11.5% during the 1st quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 14,506 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $119,000 after purchasing an additional 1,500 shares in the last quarter. Profund Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 26,851 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $220,000 after purchasing an additional 1,872 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 338,594 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $2,234,000 after purchasing an additional 1,994 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC boosted its position in shares of Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 100,459 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,012,000 after purchasing an additional 2,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 315,584 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $3,174,000 after purchasing an additional 2,118 shares in the last quarter. Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. Company Profile (Get Rating) Compania de Minas Buenaventura SAA. engages in the exploration, mining, concentration, smelting, and marketing of polymetallic ores and metals in Peru, the United States, Asia, and Europe. The company explores for gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper metals. It operates operating mining units, including Tambomayo located in the Caylloma province, Orcopampa Unit located in the province of Castilla, Uchucchacua located in province of Oyon, Julcani located in province of Angaraes, Peru, as well as San Gabrie located in the province of General Sanchez Cerro, in the Moquegua region. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (OTCMKTS:BXRBF Get Rating) is one of 256 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Bendigo and Adelaide Bank to similar businesses based on the strength of its valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations and dividends. Profitability This table compares Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Bendigo and Adelaide Bank alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Bendigo and Adelaide Bank N/A N/A N/A Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Competitors 36.03% 10.86% 1.01% Dividends Bendigo and Adelaide Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.31 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank pays out 37.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 12.9% and pay out 18.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank lags its rivals as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Bendigo and Adelaide Bank N/A N/A 6.96 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Competitors $1.55 billion $396.08 million 269.58 This table compares Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and its rivals revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Bendigo and Adelaide Banks rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Institutional & Insider Ownership 15.6% of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 30.1% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by institutional investors. 14.5% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Bendigo and Adelaide Bank 1 1 1 0 2.00 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Competitors 1024 2955 2928 13 2.28 As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 323.14%. Given Bendigo and Adelaide Banks rivals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Summary Bendigo and Adelaide Bank rivals beat Bendigo and Adelaide Bank on 13 of the 13 factors compared. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Company Profile (Get Rating) Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited provides banking and financial products and services to retail customers and small to medium sized businesses in Australia. The company operates through Consumer, Business and Agribusiness, and Corporate segments. It offers a range of products and services, including personal and business banking, financial planning, commercial mortgages and unsecured loans, investment products, insurance, and superannuation. The company also provides retail banking products and services; home loans for the mortgage broker and mortgage manager market; rural bank products and services; wealth management services; investments and funds management services, commercial loans, access to funeral bonds, estates and trusts management services, and corporate trustee and custodial services; and banking products and services to agribusiness participants. It operates multiple Bendigo Banks, Community Banks, Delphi Banks, Alliance Banks, private franchise branches, as well as rural bank points. The company was founded in 1858 and is headquartered in Bendigo, Australia. Receive News & Ratings for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Enservco (NYSEAMERICAN:ENSV Get Rating) in a research report released on Thursday. The firm issued a sell rating on the oil and gas producers stock. Enservco Stock Down 7.8 % Shares of NYSEAMERICAN ENSV opened at $0.33 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.96 million, a PE ratio of -0.69 and a beta of 1.53. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $0.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $0.95. Enservco has a 12-month low of $0.30 and a 12-month high of $3.22. Get Enservco alerts: Enservco (NYSEAMERICAN:ENSV Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 31st. The oil and gas producer reported ($0.14) earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $6.50 million during the quarter. Enservco had a negative return on equity of 129.30% and a negative net margin of 25.76%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Enservco About Enservco Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in Enservco in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP boosted its holdings in Enservco by 220.6% in the 1st quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 71,176 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 48,976 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in Enservco in the 1st quarter worth about $46,000. Northern Trust Corp acquired a new stake in Enservco in the 1st quarter worth about $51,000. Finally, State Street Corp acquired a new stake in Enservco in the 1st quarter worth about $76,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.14% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Enservco Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides well enhancement and fluid management services to the onshore oil and natural gas industry. It offers hot oiling and acidizing, frac water heating, pressure testing, acidizing, and water hauling services, as well as well site construction services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Enservco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enservco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Consumers Bancorp (OTCMKTS:CBKM Get Rating) is one of 279 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Consumers Bancorp to related companies based on the strength of its dividends, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings and analyst recommendations. Profitability This table compares Consumers Bancorp and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Consumers Bancorp alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Consumers Bancorp N/A N/A N/A Consumers Bancorp Competitors 31.37% 11.22% 1.00% Institutional and Insider Ownership 5.0% of Consumers Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 35.9% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 7.9% of Consumers Bancorp shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 14.5% of shares of all BanksRegional companies 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. Valuation and Earnings Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Consumers Bancorp N/A N/A 16.54 Consumers Bancorp Competitors $3.06 billion $597.40 million 238.64 This table compares Consumers Bancorp and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Consumers Bancorps peers have higher revenue and earnings than Consumers Bancorp. Consumers Bancorp 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. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Consumers Bancorp and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Consumers Bancorp 0 0 0 0 N/A Consumers Bancorp Competitors 1147 3607 3536 33 2.29 As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 250.89%. Given Consumers Bancorps peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Consumers Bancorp has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Dividends Consumers Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Consumers Bancorp pays out 44.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 11.0% and pay out 17.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Consumers Bancorp lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Summary Consumers Bancorp peers beat Consumers Bancorp on 10 of the 10 factors compared. Consumers Bancorp Company Profile (Get Rating) Consumers Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for the Consumers National Bank that provides various commercial and retail banking products and services for individuals, farmers, and small and medium-sized businesses. The company accepts various deposit products, such as checking, savings, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. It also provides commercial loans, which include financing for equipment, inventories, and accounts receivable; commercial real estate loans, including mortgage loans to farmers, owners of multi-family investment properties, developers, and owners of commercial real estate; residential real estate loans comprising one to four family residential real estate and home equity loans; and consumer loans consisting of recreation, personal, automobile loans, personal lines of credit, and unsecured consumer loans. In addition, the company invests in securities consisting of obligations of the United States government sponsored entities, municipal obligations, and mortgage-backed securities. Further, it offers small business administration, business term, commercial construction, agricultural, and equipment loans; credit and debit cards; ATMs; and online and mobile banking, as well as cash management services. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Minerva, Ohio. Receive News & Ratings for Consumers Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Consumers Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CA lifted its position in iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Get Rating) by 36.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 180,974 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 48,489 shares during the quarter. iShares Gold Trust accounts for approximately 3.3% of Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CAs holdings, making the stock its 5th largest position. Spectrum Asset Management Inc. NB CAs holdings in iShares Gold Trust were worth $6,763,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. American Trust boosted its position in iShares Gold Trust by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. American Trust now owns 11,894 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $375,000 after purchasing an additional 390 shares during the period. Advisory Alpha LLC boosted its position in iShares Gold Trust by 43.6% during the 4th quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 9,853 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $341,000 after purchasing an additional 2,992 shares during the period. Acropolis Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $108,000. Telos Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in iShares Gold Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $230,000. Finally, Phoenix Wealth Advisors raised its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Phoenix Wealth Advisors now owns 11,384 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $394,000 after acquiring an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.53% of the companys stock. Get iShares Gold Trust alerts: iShares Gold Trust Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of iShares Gold Trust stock opened at $36.35 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $37.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $36.37. iShares Gold Trust has a 1-year low of $30.69 and a 1-year high of $39.04. iShares Gold Trust Company Profile iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IAU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Gold Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Gold Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Johnson & White Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 10,417 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $722,000. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMY. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 199,886,585 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $14,209,937,000 after purchasing an additional 3,058,491 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 174,002,852 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,369,862,000 after purchasing an additional 3,357,590 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,873,696,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 114,228.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,469,785 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,544,751,000 after purchasing an additional 21,451,006 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners raised its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 35.7% in the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 13,794,089 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $992,048,000 after purchasing an additional 3,627,705 shares in the last quarter. 74.57% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insider Activity In related news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total transaction of $3,378,818.10. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 0.4 % Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $66.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, 51job reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, April 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $78.62. BMY stock opened at $65.04 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $66.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $69.74. The company has a market capitalization of $136.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12 month low of $63.07 and a 12 month high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.96 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 earnings per share for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.47%. About Bristol-Myers Squibb (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 Articles 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. NiSource (NYSE:NI Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by BMO Capital Markets from $31.00 to $30.00 in a research report released on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on NI. UBS Group upgraded shares of NiSource from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $31.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of NiSource in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, NiSource has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $29.88. Get NiSource alerts: NiSource Price Performance Shares of NiSource stock opened at $26.72 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.48. NiSource has a 1-year low of $23.78 and a 1-year high of $31.87. The firms 50-day moving average price is $27.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.57. NiSource Dividend Announcement NiSource ( NYSE:NI Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.77. NiSource had a net margin of 11.72% and a return on equity of 11.14%. The company had revenue of $1.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.94 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.75 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that NiSource will post 1.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 18th. Investors of record on Monday, July 31st will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 28th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.74%. NiSources dividend payout ratio is currently 68.03%. Insider Activity at NiSource In related news, SVP Kimberly S. Cuccia sold 11,157 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.54, for a total value of $318,420.78. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 20,329 shares in the company, valued at $580,189.66. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On NiSource Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of NI. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in NiSource by 16.3% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 18,625 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $593,000 after purchasing an additional 2,614 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in NiSource by 23.1% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 106,827 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,397,000 after purchasing an additional 20,064 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake in NiSource by 66.2% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 146,548 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,660,000 after purchasing an additional 58,398 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in NiSource by 29.7% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,952,676 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $62,093,000 after purchasing an additional 447,102 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. bought a new stake in NiSource in the first quarter valued at approximately $472,000. Institutional investors own 93.18% of the companys stock. NiSource Company Profile (Get Rating) NiSource Inc, an energy holding company, operates as a regulated natural gas and electric utility company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Gas Distribution Operations and Electric Operations. The company distributes natural gas to approximately 859,000 customers in northern Indiana, as well as approximately 2.4 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for NiSource Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NiSource and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Home Federal Bank of Tennessee decreased its position in Raytheon Technologies Co. (NYSE:RTX Get Rating) by 1.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 37,537 shares of the companys stock after selling 500 shares during the quarter. Raytheon Technologies accounts for about 1.4% of Home Federal Bank of Tennessees investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Home Federal Bank of Tennessees holdings in Raytheon Technologies were worth $3,676,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sanders Morris Harris LLC increased its holdings in Raytheon Technologies by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Sanders Morris Harris LLC now owns 9,720 shares of the companys stock worth $981,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in Raytheon Technologies by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC now owns 39,562 shares of the companys stock worth $3,993,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management increased its holdings in Raytheon Technologies by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management now owns 2,097 shares of the companys stock worth $212,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. JSF Financial LLC increased its holdings in Raytheon Technologies by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. JSF Financial LLC now owns 2,924 shares of the companys stock worth $295,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC increased its holdings in Raytheon Technologies by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC now owns 14,246 shares of the companys stock worth $1,438,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.72% of the companys stock. Get Raytheon Technologies alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth RTX has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Raytheon Technologies from $106.00 to $113.50 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Raytheon Technologies from $106.00 to $115.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of Raytheon Technologies from $116.00 to $117.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Raytheon Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their target price for the company from $115.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Raytheon Technologies in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Raytheon Technologies presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $111.88. Raytheon Technologies Stock Down 0.0 % Raytheon Technologies stock opened at $96.91 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $141.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Raytheon Technologies Co. has a twelve month low of $80.27 and a twelve month high of $108.84. The companys 50-day moving average price is $97.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $98.38. Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.13 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $17.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.98 billion. Raytheon Technologies had a net margin of 8.08% and a return on equity of 9.81%. The businesss revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.15 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Raytheon Technologies Co. will post 5.04 EPS for the current year. Raytheon Technologies Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.59 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 17th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.44%. Raytheon Technologiess dividend payout ratio is presently 62.93%. Raytheon Technologies Profile (Get Rating) Raytheon Technologies Corporation, an aerospace and defense company, provides systems and services for the commercial, military, and government customers worldwide. It operates through four segments: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Raytheon Missiles & Defense. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Raytheon Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Raytheon Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KB Home (NYSE:KBH Get Rating) had its price target boosted by Royal Bank of Canada from $37.00 to $52.00 in a research note released on Thursday, The Fly reports. Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of KB Home from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $32.50 to $42.50 in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Seaport Res Ptn reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of KB Home in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of KB Home from $45.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on shares of KB Home from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on shares of KB Home from $42.00 to $51.00 in a research note on Thursday. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $50.04. Get KB Home alerts: KB Home Price Performance KBH opened at $52.02 on Thursday. The companys 50-day moving average is $45.58 and its 200 day moving average is $39.24. KB Home has a fifty-two week low of $25.31 and a fifty-two week high of $52.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.72, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.61. KB Home Announces Dividend KB Home ( NYSE:KBH Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 21st. The construction company reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.33 by $0.61. KB Home had a net margin of 11.73% and a return on equity of 22.86%. The company had revenue of $1.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.43 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.32 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that KB Home will post 5.26 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 4th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.15%. KB Homes dividend payout ratio is currently 6.59%. KB Home declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, March 22nd that permits the company to buyback $500.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization permits the construction company to reacquire up to 15.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Activity at KB Home In other KB Home news, CEO Jeffrey T. Mezger sold 150,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.26, for a total value of $6,789,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,472,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $66,648,835.02. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 4.44% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On KB Home Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in KB Home in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Heritage Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of KB Home by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 880 shares of the construction companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. bought a new stake in shares of KB Home in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of KB Home by 45.4% in the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 922 shares of the construction companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI bought a new stake in shares of KB Home in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.74% of the companys stock. About KB Home (Get Rating) KB Home operates as a homebuilding company in the United States. It operates through four segments: West Coast, Southwest, Central, and Southeast. It builds and sells various homes, including attached and detached single-family residential homes, townhomes, and condominiums primarily for first-time, first move-up, second move-up, and active adult homebuyers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for KB Home Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KB Home and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. US spy agencies picked up signs days ago that mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was preparing to rise up against Russia's defense establishment, US media reported on Saturday. Intelligence officials conducted briefings at the White House, the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill about the potential for unrest in nuclear-armed Russia a full day before it unfolded, the Washington Post and New York Times reported. Spy agencies first began tracking indications that Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary force intended to move against the Russian military leadership in mid-June, the Post said. The Times said the information was both solid and alarming by mid-week, leading to the flurry of briefings. In an uprising that played out with dizzying speed, Prigozhin's forces moved from their camps in Ukraine into Russia Friday and took over a regional military command in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, before advancing toward Moscow. Just as suddenly, the advance was called off on Saturday, and Russian state media said the Wagner troops would return to Ukraine while Prigozhin would flee to neighboring Belarus. The Kremlin said it would not prosecute Prigozhin or the armed members of the Wagner group. As US intelligence officials pinned down information that Prigozhin was preparing military action, they grew concerned about chaos in a country with a powerful nuclear arsenal, the Times reported. US spy agencies believe that Putin himself was informed that Prigozhin, once a close ally, was plotting his rebellion at least a day before it occurred, the Post reported. Search Keywords: Short link: StockNews.com upgraded shares of Titan International (NYSE:TWI Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning. Titan International Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:TWI opened at $11.23 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.07, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The company has a market capitalization of $708.95 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.87 and a beta of 2.18. Titan International has a 12 month low of $9.23 and a 12 month high of $17.29. The firms 50-day moving average is $10.61 and its 200 day moving average is $12.74. Get Titan International alerts: Titan International (NYSE:TWI Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The industrial products company reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.04. Titan International had a return on equity of 40.65% and a net margin of 8.52%. The firm had revenue of $548.64 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $559.52 million. Research analysts predict that Titan International will post 1.83 EPS for the current year. Institutional Trading of Titan International Titan International Company Profile Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its holdings in shares of Titan International by 5,040.0% in the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,799 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,764 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new position in Titan International in the 1st quarter worth about $50,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Titan International by 65.2% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,516 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 1,388 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of Titan International by 800.3% during the first quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,780 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $61,000 after acquiring an additional 5,138 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Titan International by 1,753.1% in the third quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 5,096 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 4,821 shares during the period. 80.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. (Get Rating) Titan International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells wheels, tires, and undercarriage systems and components for off-highway vehicles in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States region, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, and internationally. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Titan International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Titan International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE:WCC Get Rating) has been given a consensus recommendation of Buy by the six brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $191.43. Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of WESCO International in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $215.00 price target on shares of WESCO International in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Robert W. Baird raised WESCO International from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $180.00 price target for the company in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Loop Capital lifted their price target on WESCO International from $170.00 to $210.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Oppenheimer lifted their price target on WESCO International from $180.00 to $190.00 in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Get WESCO International alerts: WESCO International Price Performance WCC stock opened at $167.90 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $144.59 and a 200-day moving average of $143.71. The company has a current ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22. WESCO International has a 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $175.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.96. WESCO International Dividend Announcement WESCO International ( NYSE:WCC Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The technology company reported $3.75 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.61 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $5.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.45 billion. WESCO International had a net margin of 3.98% and a return on equity of 21.33%. WESCO Internationals quarterly revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.63 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that WESCO International will post 17.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a $0.375 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. WESCO Internationals payout ratio is 9.60%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, EVP James Cameron sold 7,687 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.47, for a total transaction of $1,179,723.89. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 35,811 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,495,914.17. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in WESCO International by 3.8% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 615,883 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $95,179,000 after acquiring an additional 22,340 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of WESCO International by 28.9% in the first quarter. Eagle Asset Management Inc. now owns 244,975 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $37,858,000 after buying an additional 54,875 shares in the last quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. increased its position in shares of WESCO International by 1.1% in the first quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 189,580 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,298,000 after buying an additional 2,147 shares in the last quarter. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. boosted its stake in shares of WESCO International by 89.2% in the first quarter. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. now owns 151,224 shares of the technology companys stock worth $23,370,000 after acquiring an additional 71,289 shares during the last quarter. Finally, J. L. Bainbridge & Co. Inc. boosted its stake in shares of WESCO International by 48.5% in the first quarter. J. L. Bainbridge & Co. Inc. now owns 125,269 shares of the technology companys stock worth $19,359,000 after acquiring an additional 40,925 shares during the last quarter. 92.78% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About WESCO International (Get Rating WESCO International, Inc provides business-to-business distribution, logistics services, and supply chain solutions in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), Communications & Security Solutions (CSS), and Utility and Broadband Solutions (UBS). Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for WESCO International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WESCO International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. West Bancorporation Inc. trimmed its position in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating) by 6.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 4,172 shares of the companys stock after selling 305 shares during the quarter. West Bancorporation Inc.s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $259,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Salem Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Salem Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,359 shares of the companys stock valued at $244,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the last quarter. Kessler Investment Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Kessler Investment Group LLC now owns 2,679 shares of the companys stock valued at $170,000 after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp now owns 16,604 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,056,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Gleason Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Gleason Group Inc. now owns 14,369 shares of the companys stock valued at $891,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Perkins Coie Trust Co boosted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola by 9.3% during the 1st quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co now owns 2,011 shares of the companys stock valued at $125,000 after acquiring an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. 68.61% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of KO opened at $61.20 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The Coca-Cola Company has a 1 year low of $54.01 and a 1 year high of $65.47. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $62.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $61.69. The firm has a market cap of $264.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.55. Coca-Cola Announces Dividend Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.03. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.69% and a return on equity of 42.96%. The business had revenue of $11 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.78 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.64 EPS. The companys revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 80.70%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $71.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $61.00 to $63.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. HSBC lowered their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $77.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 7th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $72.00 to $73.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.67. Insider Buying and Selling at Coca-Cola In related news, CMO Manuel Arroyo sold 734 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.40, for a total value of $46,535.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 114,580 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,264,372. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Henrique Braun sold 16,950 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.03, for a total value of $1,085,308.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 26,272 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,682,196.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CMO Manuel Arroyo sold 734 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.40, for a total transaction of $46,535.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 114,580 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,264,372. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 420,786 shares of company stock valued at $26,886,224 in the last three months. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Coca-Cola Profile (Get Rating) The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shore Capital restated their buy rating on shares of XPS Pensions Group (LON:XPS Get Rating) in a research report report published on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. XPS has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Numis Securities raised their price objective on XPS Pensions Group from GBX 205 ($2.62) to GBX 210 ($2.69) and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. Canaccord Genuity Group reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 216 ($2.76) price objective on shares of XPS Pensions Group in a research report on Thursday, May 25th. Get XPS Pensions Group alerts: XPS Pensions Group Stock Performance LON:XPS opened at GBX 180.50 ($2.31) on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 165.49 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 159.15. The company has a market cap of 374.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,578.57 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 60.18, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a current ratio of 1.51. XPS Pensions Group has a fifty-two week low of GBX 114.50 ($1.47) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 185 ($2.37). XPS Pensions Group Increases Dividend About XPS Pensions Group The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 24th will be given a dividend of GBX 5.70 ($0.07) per share. This is a positive change from XPS Pensions Groups previous dividend of $2.70. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 24th. This represents a yield of 3.34%. XPS Pensions Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 10,000.00%. (Get Rating) XPS Pensions Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides employee benefit consultancy and related business services in the United Kingdom. The company offers advisory services to pension schemes and corporate sponsors; independent investment advisory services; DB and DC master trust schemes; and self-invested personal pension (SIPP) and SSAS pension services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for XPS Pensions Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for XPS Pensions Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Emerging reports have unravelled a potential shift of control within Nigerias Senate as over 22 senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are allegedly planning to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This claimed defection was disclosed to newsmen by a credible Senator from the Northwest. It was learnt that if the development is true, this could lead the PDP to getting majority control in the Senate. According to reports, the APC senators are believed to be planning to align themselves with colleagues who are backing Senator Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari. It could be recalled that Yari recently ran for the position of Senate President but lost to Senator Godswill Akpabio, APC anointed candidate. The source reports that the group of 22 senators have held several meetings in Abuja and London to solidify their decision to defect to the PDP. The source added that the potential defectors, who hail from across the countrys six geopolitical zones, are watching the distribution of principal offices and committee chairmanship positions, as well as the outcome of their court cases, before proceeding with their plans. Currently, the APC holds the majority in the Senate with 59 out of 109 seats, while the PDP has 36, and other parties share the remaining 14 seats. However, the alleged defection would increase the PDPs seats to 58 and reduce the APCs to 37, turning the PDP into the majority party in the Senate. According to the source, the defecting senators have agreed to cede the position of Senate President, currently held by Senator Akpabio, to one of their own upon joining the PDP. The partys senators would assume the roles of Majority Leader, Chief Whip, and Deputy Chief Whip. The election for the 10th Senate President, held on June 13, ended with Akpabio securing 63 votes against Yaris 46. Similarly, the group of senators also plans to challenge the results in court, claiming manipulation of the supposed secret ballot. Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urgedMr Folashodun Shonubi, Acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediatelydelete the patently unlawful provisions in the Central Bank of Nigeria(Customer Due Diligence) Regulations directing banks to obtain information on customerssocial media handles for the purpose of identification. SERAP also urged him to withdraw the Circular number FPR/DIR/PUB/CIR/007/076 of 20 June 2023 mandating banks and other financial institutions to implement and comply with the unlawful mandatory provisions on customers social media handles in the CBN Regulations. According to Section 6(a)(iv) of the CBN Regulations, banks and other financial institutions shall identify their customer and obtain information on the social media handle of the customer. Section 6(b)(iii) contains similar provision. In the letter dated 24 June 2023 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: The CBN Regulations and directive to banks to obtain details of customers social media address violate Nigerians rights to freedom of expression and privacy. It is inconsistent and incompatible with the rule of law. SERAP said, The CBN ought to contribute to the advancement of respect for the rule of law and human rights in the discharge of its statutory functions, and not undermine or violate these fundamental legal requirements and standards. According to SERAP, The purported mandatory requirement would inhibit Nigerians from freely exercising their human rights online. If obtained, such information may also be misused for political and other unlawful purposes. The letter, read in part: We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 3 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest. The mandatory requirement of social media handles or addresses of customers does not serve any legitimate aim. Such information may be used to unjustifiably or arbitrarily to restrict the rights to freedom of expression and privacy. SERAP is gravely concerned that the CBN Regulations and directive to banks and other financial institutions would impermissibly restrict the constitutional and international rights to freedom of expression, privacy and victims right to justice and effective remedies. Requiring social media handles or addresses of customers as a means of identification would have a disproportionate chilling effect on the effective enjoyment by Nigerians of their rights to freedom of expression and privacy online. The CBN bears the burden of justifying any restriction on peoples freedom of expression and privacy. Under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and human rights treaties to which the country is a state party, any restrictions on these rights must be applied strictly so that the rights are not put in jeopardy. There are other means of identification such as passport, drivers licence, Bank Verification Number (BVN), and Tax Identification Number (TIN), which banks and other financial institutions already require their customers to provide. The additional requirement of obtaining details of a customers social media handle or address fails to meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality. The requirement of necessity implies an assessment of the proportionality of the grounds, with the aim of ensuring that the excuse of regulations on customer due diligence is not used as a pretext to unduly intrude upon the rights to freedom of expression and privacy. The CBN Regulation does not demonstrate how the use of social media handle or address as a means of identification would serve to improve banks and other financial institutions ability to implement and comply with the laws and regulations relating to customer due diligence. The Directive by the CBN, which does not in any event carry the force of law, also fails to provide any explanation as to how social media handles or addresses can facilitate compliance with regulations relating to customer due diligence. Obtaining the details of customers social media handles or addresses would unduly interfere with the rights to freedom of expression and privacy. It would also be disproportionate to any purported legitimate aim that the CBN seeks to achieve. The facts that there are sufficient means of identification for CBN, banks and other financial institutions to rely on to meet the requirement of Know Your Customer also heighten concerns of overreach, and confer far-reaching discretion on banks and financial institutions. Obtaining information on customers social media handles or addresses as means of identification is therefore more intrusive than necessary. The cumulative effect of any attempt to access details of customers social media handles or addresses would be to undermine the letter, substance and spirit of the rights to freedom of expression and privacy of Nigerians. The effective enjoyment of these fundamental rights constitutes a fundamental pillar for building a democratic society and strengthening democracy. The CBN fails to show how details of customers social media handles or addresses would assist banks and other financial institutions to effectively implement and comply with the laws and regulations relating to customer due diligence. Human rights, the rule of law and democracy are interlinked and mutually reinforcing and central to the universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States to which Nigeria belongs. The CBN is bound to respect the constitutional and international human rights of Nigerians including the rights to freedom of expression and privacy. Under the principle of pacta sunt servanda and general principles governing the law of treaties, the CBN is also bound to uphold and apply in the discharge of its statutory functions the human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party. Indeed, under international human rights law, all public or governmental institutions including the CBN are in a position to engage the responsibility of the State. The positive obligations on Nigeria to ensure the rights to freedom of expression and privacy will only be fully discharged if individuals are protected against violations by institutions like the CBN. The Nigerian Constitution guarantees in Section 39 the right to freedom of expression and in Section 37, the right to privacy. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights also guarantee the right to freedom of expression. Article 17 of the Covenant also guarantees the right to privacy. Freedom of expression and opinion are indispensable conditions for the advancement of any person or society, as the free exercise of the right facilitates the evolution and exchange of opinions, in turn enabling principles of transparency and accountability crucial for the promotion and protection of human rights. While under certain narrow circumstances, a State may restrict the right to freedom of expression, any such restrictions must be strictly limited and meet the conditions of legality (i.e. be provided by law), legitimate purpose, necessity, and proportionality. The CBN Regulations mandating social media handle or address as a form of identification for customers fail to meet these legal requirements. In particular, Article 19(1) of the Covenant establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes Nigerias obligations to respect and ensure the right to freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers. Under article 19(3), restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be provided by law, and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others or for the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health and morals. The principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality, apply to the right to privacy in the same manner as they do to freedom of expression and other fundamental freedoms. Restrictions to the rights to freedom of expression and privacy that do not comply with the elements of legality, legitimate purpose, and necessity and proportionality shall be deemed unlawful. Kolawole Oluwadare SERAP Deputy Director 25/6/2023 Lagos, Nigeria Emails: [email protected]; [email protected] Twitter: @SERAPNigeria Website: www.serap-nigeria.org For more information or to request an interview, please contact us on: +2348160537202 The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed that six Nigerian pilgrims have died during the 2023 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. The head of the NAHCON 2023 Hajj medical team, Usman Galadima, made this known during a commission meeting in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, saying that delegations from Osun and Kaduna States each reported two fatalities. Additionally, one death occurred within the Plateau State group. Galadima revealed that the medical team identified 30 pilgrims suffering from mental health challenges. Currently, they are receiving treatment and are expected to take part in the hajj. Galadima expressed optimism, stating, We have been managing them in our facilities. We have about four psychiatrists in the team. We have been managing them and all of them would likely perform hajj because they are a bit stable now. He also reported that the clinic for the 2023 Hajj has documented two miscarriages and has facilitated one childbirth. To mitigate such incidents in the future, Galadima called for improvements in pre-hajj medical screening procedures for potential pilgrims, recommending that those who are not fit to travel be dissuaded from participating. President Bola Tinubu has accepted an investment of $520m in specialised agro-processing zones by the African Development Bank. According to a statement signed on Saturday by the Presidents Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, Dele Alake, Tinubu said this when he received Dr. Adesina after the two-day summit on A New Global Financing Pact in Paris. The statement is titled President Tinubu applauds AfDBs $520m investment in agro-industries. Tinubu noted that the agro-industrial project strengthens an area of Nigerias competitive advantage as he also listed other areas of priority that require Foreign Direct Investment. On the agro-industrial project, president Tinubu assured Dr. Adesina that the Federal Government would provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the sustenance of the projects, adding that electricity remained a priority area that needed urgent attention. Similarly, the AfDB helmsman thanked the Nigerian leader for the bold initiatives that had repositioned the Nigerian economy in three weeks and stimulated the appetite of investors from different parts of the world; removal of fuel subsidy and harmonisation of exchange rates. He said, I commend the Presidents foresight, boldness, and determination for macroeconomic policy direction by removing the fuel subsidy. Dr. Adesina also said the bank would continue to support the economic policies of the new administration in Nigeria, which had placed the people first in development targets. Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has appealled to President Bola Tinubu to release his client from the custody of the Department of State Security. Ejimakor who noted that the President has the constitutional powers to stop any criminal trial in the country, urged Tinubu to use the powers vested in him to release the IPOB leader. Kanus lawyer said the president is capable of reversing the injustice of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari. The legal practitioner made these known in a tweet on Sunday, adding that Tinubu does not have to wait for the Supreme Court to release the IPOB leader. Ejimakor wrote, Under the Constitution, the AGF (in practice: the President) has the power to stop any criminal trial. So, President Tinubu doesnt have to wait for the Supreme Court to undo the grave injustice (rendition) done by his predecessor by releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu @officialABAT. Recall that Kanu is standing trial against the federal government since he was arrested and repatriated in 2021 from Kenya. From the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 last year to the armed rebellion Saturday of the pro-Kremlin Wagner paramilitary group, here is a timeline of the main events. The biggest attack on a European country since World War II has killed or wounded over 150,000 people, according to Western estimates. February 2022: Invasion Russian President Vladimir Putin announces a "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, saying he wants to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" the country as well as protect the predominantly Russian-speaking east from "genocide". A full-scale invasion starts, with missile strikes on several Ukrainian cities that sparks a refugee crisis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stays in the capital Kyiv to lead the resistance. The West imposes unprecedented sanctions on Russia and the European Union and United States send Ukraine weapons and aid. March: Russian advances Russian forces make gains in the south, seizing the city of Kherson, close to the Moscow-annexed Crimea peninsula. Russian forces also attempt to surround Kyiv and take Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv in the northeast but meet fierce resistance. A month into the fighting, Russia withdraws from the north to focus on the eastern industrial Donbas region, partly held by Moscow-backed separatists, along with the south. April: war crimes revealed In early April, AFP discovers the bodies of at least 20 civilians lying on a single street in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha -- the first of several grisly discoveries in towns that Russian forces had occupied which spark an international outcry and war crimes investigations. May: Mariupol falls On May 21, Russia announces the fall of the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which had been relentlessly bombed, after the last Ukrainian troops holding out at a steelworks surrender. Sweden and Finland request membership of NATO, fearing they could be future targets of Russian aggression. June: Donbas battle rages In June, Russia takes the Donbas city of Severodonetsk after one of the bloodiest battles of the war, followed soon after by the neighbouring city of Lysychansk. July: gas supplies cut On July 22, Kyiv and Moscow sign a deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine, in a bid to relieve a food crisis aggravated by Russia's blockade of the country's ports. Russian gas giant Gazprom slashes its supply to Europe through the Nord Stream pipeline, fuelling fears of gas shortages in Europe. August: Battle for Bakhmut Kyiv launches a major offensive to retake Kherson as a bitter battle begins for the eastern town of Bakhmut, spearheaded on the Russian side by the Wagner mercenary group. Wagner claims to have wrested total control of Bakhmut in May. September: Annexation Ukraine retakes hundreds of towns and villages in a lightning counter-offensive around Kharkiv. Putin launches a partial draft of 300,000 reservists, sparking an exodus of young Russian men of military age. On September 30, he formally annexes the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. October: Power supply hit On October 8, an explosion causes major damage to a bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland -- a symbol of Moscow's annexation of the peninsula. Putin blames Ukrainian secret services for the attack. Russian forces retaliate with a barrage of strikes on energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities, leaving millions without power in what becomes its new modus operandi throughout the winter. November: Retreat from Kherson On November 9, Moscow orders its troops to retreat from Kherson in the face of advancing Ukrainian forces, marking a stunning defeat in one of the regions it annexed. Jubilant residents hail Ukrainian forces as liberators. December: Zelensky goes to Washington On December 22, Zelensky visits Washington on his first overseas trip since the war began. He meets President Joe Biden and addresses Congress. January 2023: Tanks on the way Russia suffers its biggest single loss of life since the invasion in a Ukrainian attack on a temporary base in the eastern town of Makiivka on January 1. Moscow says 89 soldiers were killed in the hit. On January 25, Germany finally agrees to send Ukraine some of its powerful Leopard tanks. The United States follows, announcing that it will provide 31 Abrams tanks. On May 19, Biden authorises the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. In April, Ukraine also receives anti-missile Patriot defence systems from Washington. June 6: Dam destroyed A blast at the Kakhovka dam in Russian-annexed Crimea inundates vast areas of the Kherson region, forcing thousands to flee and sparking fears of an environmental disaster. Kyiv accuses Moscow of blowing up the dam on the Dnipro River, while Russia blames Ukraine. June: Ukraine counter-offensive A long-awaited Ukrainian counter-offensive begins, aided by the supply of Western arms, according to analysts. Russia brands it a failure but Kyiv says it has retaken several areas. June 24: Wagner rebellion Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, leading a mutiny to bring down Moscow's top brass, says his fighters have captured the army HQ in Russia's Rostov-on-Don "without firing a single shot" and claims to have the support of locals. Putin warns that treason against his rule threatens Russia with civil war and accuses the Wagner boss of a "stab in the back". Prigozhin, who had threatened to march on Moscow, announces a pull-back following mediation via Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko, saying he wants to avoid spilling "Russian blood". Kyiv seizes on the chaos to launch new assaults against Russian positions in Ukraine and claims fresh advances. Search Keywords: Short link: Chinese tourists charged for handling starfish, climbing on corals PHUKET: Two Chinese tourists have been charged for handling starfish and climbing over corals during a dive trip to Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket, the caretaker Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) Varawut Silpa-archa has confirmed. tourismChinesenatural-resourcesenvironmentcrime By The Phuket News Sunday 25 June 2023 11:44 AM Three tourists that were among a 30-strong dive tour to Ao La at Koh Racha Yai operated by Jinyang Holiday Group Co Ltd were called to present themselves at Chalong Police Station to face charges, Mr Varawut said in his report. However, only two tourists Qin Sanyang and Zhang Wen presented themselves, he said. The couple arrived at Chalong Police Station on Friday, he noted. No mention was made of efforts to contact the third, so far unnamed, tourist wanted for the damaging behaviour. Under Section 29 of the Marine and Coastal Resources Management Promotion Act, the tourists face punishment of up to two years in jail or a fine of up to B200,000, or both, Mr Varawut noted in his report. Sirikwan Saengravee, manager of Jinyang Holiday Group Co Ltd, and the owner of the company held a press conference on Friday (June 23) to apologise for the incident. The tour company was new and the dive trip to Koh Racha Yai was the first conducted by the company, Ms Sirikwan said. This incident is a great lesson. The company has been open for two months Yesterday was our first trip, she said. On behalf of the company, we are very sorry that this has happened. Next time, we are ready to improve and pay more attention to our customers. The company was to explain and remind all their dive instructors to not allow their tourists to interfere with coals and other marine wildlife, Ms Sirikwan said. So far officials have made no mention of any legal action to be brought against the tour company. They have sun-bathed bare-chested together in remote Siberia, shared fishing holidays and played on the same ice hockey team. Russia's long-serving Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has long been seen not just as a political ally of President Vladimir Putin but one of the Kremlin chief's few friends within the Russian elite. But their bromance and Shoigu's decades-long political career now face their biggest test after the revolt led by Wagner mercenary group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had lambasted the defence minister's handling of the invasion of Ukraine. Putin appears to have for now survived the revolt after a surprise mediation led by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. But Shoigu's position remains deeply precarious due to the unprecedented severity of the attacks by Prigozhin against him and his ministry. Prigozhin succeeded in capturing the Russian army's southern command headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, the nerve centre of the invasion of Ukraine, and accused Shoigu of fleeing "like a coward" and vowing he "will be stopped". The minister of defence was nowhere to be seen at the time and has, for the moment, completely vanished from the public view. The Wagner chief had previously accused Shoigu and Russia's top General Valery Gerasimov, his other bete noire, of being responsible for the deaths of "tens of thousands of Russians" in the conflict and the "surrender of territory to the enemy". 'Big loser' "The big winner of the night was Lukashenko," said Arnaud Dubien, director of the Franco-Russian Observatory think tank. "The big loser was Shoigu." But even before the revolt broke out on Friday night, Shoigu had been under immense pressure due to Prigozhin's attacks and the failure of the Russian armed forces to make progress. On June 12 a video was widely shared, with Putin and Shoigu attending a handing out of medals at a military hospital, where the Russian president was shown turning his back on the defence minister in apparent disdain. Shoigu has had a career of unmatched political longevity in post-Soviet Russia and his presence at the centre of power in Moscow predates that of Putin himself. Hailing from the Tuva region of southern Siberia, Shoigu is among the few non-ethnic Russians to have occupied a top post in government after the collapse of the USSR. He began his ascent in 1994 when he was appointed emergency situations minister in the early years of the presidency of Boris Yeltsin. Shoigu became a familiar and unflappable presence for Russians, as well as one of the country's most popular politicians, as he raced around the country to deal with disasters ranging from plane crashes to earthquakes. Serving under a dozen prime ministers, he held that post until 2012, when he was appointed governor of the Moscow region before swiftly being named defence minister by Putin the same year after a corruption scandal felled his predecessor Anatoly Serdyukov. 'Verge of collapse' He was immediately named a general, despite having no high-level military experience, but successfully oversaw operations including the 2015 intervention in Syria which has kept Moscow's ally Bashar al-Assad in power. For his 65th birthday, Putin had a special present for his friend, one of Russia's highest decorations, the "For Merit to the Fatherland" medal to add to a chest already stuffed with decorations. But the far less successful invasion of Ukraine - which the Kremlin initially hoped would see Russian tanks roll into Kyiv -- has persistently raised questions about his future. "Prigozhin wanted to send the message that Shoigu and Gerasimov must be fired because they are incompetent and a change of strategy is needed," said Pierre Razoux, academic director of the France-based Mediterranean Foundation of Strategic Studies (FMES). There are no more expressions of macho friendship or pictures as in 2017 of the two men with their shirts off bronzing their chests by a river on the Siberian taiga. Instead, Shoigu has been reduced to mumbling encounters reporting to Putin or simply consigned to a video screen as the Kremlin chief oversees a video conference. Prigozhin has also taken aim at Shoigu's family, in particular the husband of his daughter Ksenia, Alexey Stolyarov, a fitness blogger who has steered well clear of the war and has been accused by opposition media of liking a post opposing the invasion. Russian-language Telegram channels have fizzed with speculation over who could succeed Shoigu, with the governor of the Tula region Alexei Dyumin, who has held top army and presidential security posts, seen as favourite. "Shoigu's group is on the verge of collapse, and Sergei Kuzhugetovich himself is in disgrace and, most likely, will resign," said the widely followed Telegram channel Preemnik. Search Keywords: Short link: Navy conducts cruise liner medivac drill off Phuket PHUKET: Adm Choengchai Chomchoengphaet, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy, was in Phuket yesterday (June 24) as Navy personnel conducted a medivac exercise with the Spectrum of the Seas cruise liner off Phuket. tourismmarinetransportSafety By The Phuket News Sunday 25 June 2023 10:28 AM The exercise, conducted in deep water just outside Ao Makham, off Phukets east coast, used a Navy S-76B helicopter to airlift a patient to safety and emergency medical services. Adm Choengchai explained that the exercise was conducted as part of Thailands obligations as a party to a convention by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). During an assessment by the IMO on Feb 20-27 this year, it was found that Thailand had no specific organisation dedicated to conducting air and sea search and rescue services for foreign passenger ships that enter and leave the country regularly. In Thailand, all air-sea rescue services are performed by the Royal Thai Navy. I chose to train with the Spectrum of the Seas because it is the largest foreign cruise ship that regularly enters Thailand, Adm Choengchai said. The ship has been regularly arriving in Thailand since Oct 29, 2022, and comes every Saturday. It is considered the ship that enters and leaves Thailand most often at this time, he added. The Spectrum of the Seas is 347 metres long and 49.24m wide, with a displacement of 169,379 tons. The cruise liner can accommodate up to 4,905 passengers (excluding crew), has 2,100 rooms, and has a travel speed of 22 knots. The ship is the first Quantum Ultra class cruise liner. It sails the Andaman Sea. and drops anchor at Patong Bay. The ship will later regularly drop anchor at Makham Bay, said an official report of the exercise. Adm Choengchai thanked Royal Caribbean International, which operates Spectrum of the Seas, and all else who took part in and made the exercise a success. Ensuring the security and safety of tourists visiting on foreign ships was an important part of Thailands economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Since October 2022, there have been 83 visits by cruise ships coming into the country, both in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing more than 310,000 tourists, which have generated more than B1.8 billion in income, Adm Choengchai noted. Navy faces 15% kickback claim over B440m armoured vehicle deal BANGKOK: The Royal Thai Navy is investigating a claim about irregularities in the purchase of armoured vehicles (AVs) worth more than B440 million. militarycorruptioncrime By Bangkok Post Sunday 25 June 2023 09:29 AM Navy spokesman Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin says navy commander Adm Choengchai Chomchoengpaet has ordered a probe into a claim about irregularities in the purchase of armoured vehicles (AVs) worth more than B440 million. Photo: Royal Thai Navy Navy spokesman Adm Pokkrong Monthatphalin said on Friday (June 23) that navy commander Adm Choengchai Chomchoengpaet had ordered a probe into a claim made by the CSI LA Facebook Page that some navy personnel demanded a 15% kickback from the supplier, reports the Bangkok Post. Adm Pokkrong said the navy has a project to procure seven 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carriers worth B448mn, manufactured by Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co. The project will be financed by funds from the 2023 fiscal year starting from Oct 1 last year until Sept 30 this year. The manufacturer will have to deliver the armoured vehicles to the navy within 270 days. Approval for the purchase is being sought from the Defence Ministry, Adm Pokkrong said, adding the project has been scrutinised by several agencies, such as the Anti-Corruption Cooperation Committee for state procurement, as well as a panel of observers. The navy has tried to ensure that budget spending is transparent and can be scrutinised. The claim about the 15% kickback is not true, the navy spokesman said. Nopparat Kulhiran, the founder of the company, dismissed the claim as baseless, saying it was intended to discredit the company and the navy. The administrator of the page should disclose the source of the information to prove the veracity of the claim, Ms Nopparat said, adding the company operates its business based on the principle of good governance and transparency. The company has manufactured and delivered products for use in government defence and security as well as providing maintenance services since 1968, she said, adding that most of its income comes from exports rather than domestic sales. The company had sold its products to the Thai military for about 50 years, and our company is also well-known worldwide, she said. Ms Nopparat threatened legal action against the CSI LA Facebook Page and any media outlets that shared false information. The media has been urged to examine the information first before sharing it. If there is any damage done, the company will reserve its rights to take legal action to protect its reputation, Ms Nopparat said. Wagner chief to leave Russia for Belarus in deal to ease crisis MOSCOW: The chief of the rebel Wagner mercenary force will leave Russia and will not face charges after calling off his troops advance on Saturday (Jun 24), Moscow said, easing Russias most serious security crisis in decades. Russianmilitary By AFP Sunday 25 June 2023 09:13 AM Members of Wagner group sit atop of a tank in a street in the city of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. President Vladimir Putin on June 24, 2023 said an armed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries was a stab in the back and that the groups chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had betrayed Russia, as he vowed to punish the dissidents. Prigozhin said his fighters control key military sites in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. Photo: AFP The feud between Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russias military brass came to a violent head in the past day, with his forces capturing a key army headquarters in southern Russia and then heading north to threaten the capital. Within hours of Prigozhins about-face, the Kremlin announced he would leave for Belarus and Russia would not prosecute either him or the groups members. It had been a dramatic day of developments, with President Vladimir Putin warning against civil war, Moscow telling locals to stay off the streets and Kyiv revelling in the chaos engulfing its enemy. The tide shifted suddenly when Prigozhin made the stunning announcement that his troops were turning our columns around and going back to field camps to avoid bloodshed in the Russian capital. Prigozhin, who has feuded bitterly with Moscows military leadership even as his outfit led parts of Russias Ukraine offensive, said he understood the importance of the moment and did not want to spill Russian blood. WAGNER TROOPS CHEERED By early Sunday Wagner had pulled fighters and equipment from Rostov-on-Don, where they had seized the military headquarters, said the regional governor. But before they left, dozens of residents were cheering and chanting Wagner! Wagner! outside the military headquarters they had captured. Authorities in the southern Lipetsk region announced the lifting of restrictions after earlier reporting Wagner fighters in their territory, where the local capital is just 420km south of Moscow. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he had negotiated a truce with Prigozhin, drawing thanks from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that the criminal case against him (Prigozhin) will be dropped. He himself will go to Belarus. Peskov also said that members of Wagner who had taken part in what authorities termed an "armed rebellion" will not be prosecuted. Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal, Peskov added. Kyiv revelled in the chaos that engulfed its enemy. Prigozhin humiliated Putin/the state and showed that there is no longer a monopoly on violence, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter. While Russia claimed the rebellion had no impact on its Ukraine campaign, Kyiv said the unrest offered a window of opportunity as the nation pressed its long-awaited counter-offensive. MOSCOWS WARNING The United States and its allies publicly stayed on the sidelines as officials waited to see how the revolt would play out. US President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of France, Germany and Britain amid concerns that Putins control over the nuclear-armed country could be slipping. Moscow issued a stiff warning to the United States and allies to stay back. The rebellion plays into the hands of Russias external enemies, the foreign ministry said. Before Prigozhins climbdown, Russian regular forces had launched what one regional governor called a counter-terrorist operation to halt the Wagner advance northwards up a main highway towards Moscow. In the capital, the mayor urged Muscovites to stay indoors and declared Monday a day off work. Security was tightened in the city centre, with armed men in flak jackets guarding the parliament building and Red Square closed off to the public. I dont know how to react. In any case its very sad this is happening, 35-year-old Yelena told AFP, declining to give her last name. The measures came after Prigozhin announced his troops had taken control of the military command centre and airbase in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, the nerve centre of Russias offensive in Ukraine. A BLOW TO RUSSIA Responding to the challenge in a televised address, Putin accused Prigozhin of a stab in the back that posed a threat to Russias very survival. Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood and to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia and to our people, Putin said, demanding national unity. Extravagant ambitions and personal interests led to treason, Putin said, referring to Prigozhin, who began building his power base as a catering contractor. Another Putin ally, Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, declared that he had dispatched his own units to help quash the Wagner rebellion. Armed Wagner fighters deployed around administrative buildings in Rostov and tanks were seen in the city centre. As the insurrection force headed north through Voronezh and Lipetsk towards Moscow, the capitals mayor announced that anti-terrorist measures were being taken. Critical facilities were under reinforced protection, TASS reported, citing a law enforcement source. While Prigozhins outfit fought at the forefront of Russias offensive in Ukraine, he repeatedly blamed Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, for his fighters deaths. Silence of PM on Manipur crisis : Children of a Lesser God ? | Laiphrakpam ongbi Nirmala Laishram During the last State Assembly elections of Manipur in 2022, there was a beeline of Central Ministers, both Cabinet and State, awaiting to visit Manipur. All the Ministers of the ruling regime during their visits highlighted achievements of the saffron party in rebuilding and reshaping the golden land Manipur. Unfortunately the State has been witnessing foreign sponsored militants cum politically motivated clashes between Zomi-Kuki-Chin-Hmar tribes vs Meitei tribe for nearly two months and there appears to be no respite. The unfortunate clashes on daily basis have left more than 100 people killed, 500 plus injured, 5000 plus houses torched and about 50,000 people rendered homeless. The State law and order machinery has failed and the people of this golden land are suffering. To add fuel to the crisis 10 MLAs belonging to Kuki community and various Kuki-Chin CSOs are making an unreasonable demand for a separate administration for Kuki dominated areas. Now when people of the beleaguered State require a healing touch from our honourable Prime Minister, he remains a mute spectator, who otherwise is a good orator and expresses his ideas, views and opinion through Mann Ki Baat on monthly basis. When the people of this State are eagerly awaiting his intervention or at least a healing balm-consoling words, there was none from him in any forums including in the last episode of Mann Ki Baat. Does the Prime Minister feel Manipur is a lesser part of India ? The silence signifies miniscule importance of Manipur as the State has only 2 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming general elections 2024 as compared to heavy weights like Uttar Pradesh or Odisha where he made an impromptu visit after the tragic rail accident on June 2. Had the weightage of peoples representatives in India been like the USA where all the 50 States have two senates from each State irrespective of size of the population and where required can veto proposed Bills approved by the House of Representatives, then perhaps the Honble Prime Minster of this great Nation would have intervened during this critical crisis of Manipur. It is almost one month since the Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah visited the State and his healing balm cum blood money to the families of those killed and injured personnel announced during his visit has failed. Instead, the Myanmar based terrorists and Kuki militant groups under SoO are becoming bolder and louder day by day indulging in rampant firing, both flat trajectory and area weapons, against defenceless Meitei villagers, besides fortifying cum constructing bunkers in new areas other than their designated camps laid down in SoO agreement. When the actions of the Union Home Minister have failed to douse the fire in Manipur the onus is on the Prime Minster to intervene immediately, instead he left on five days visit to USA and Egypt without giving an audience even for few minutes to the elected MPs and MLAs of Manipur who are camping in Delhi for last one week or so. The indifferent attitude of the Prime Minister in not granting audience by sparing few moments, instead leaving for abroad visit is unfortunate. Now the Union Home Minister has called for an all-party meet on June 24th, which could have been done so as soon as he landed at New Delhi post his visit to Manipur in first week of June 2023. It is a different story that these MLAs and MPs, taking credit for the scheduled all party meet, are preferring to be in Delhi under the garb of meeting the Prime Minister instead of facing the wrath of the public as the people feel that they are not doing enough to control the situation. The fury of angry public in Manipur is worse then a severe storm or earth quake, when unleashed the angry public of Manipur can shake the earth. In 2008 the conflict involving Bodos and Muslims in Udalguri in Assam left more than 100 people dead and about 1.5 lakh people of various communities refugees in relief camps at Darang, Udalguri, Kharupetia and other places. However, the violence was doused within a month due to immediate intervention of security forces and timely ground visit of the then Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh, hordes of his Ministers of UPA-2 regime and other political parties, besides other personalities of India. The situation was stabilised by the security forces enabling political cum social dialogue at the political level to resolve the differences between the two communities. The recent explosive revelations in the form of a letter of June 07th, 2019 addressed to Shri Amit Shah about nexus between UKLF and UPF (both Kuki militant organisations under SoO) with the Saffron Party which was attached as an Exhibit in the affidavit filed in an NIA Court on June 08, 2023 by none other than the Chairman of UKLF has cornered the ruling regime. In the affidavit it is alleged that the two Kuki militant groups had a tacit agreement with then representatives of BJP viz. Ram Madhav and Himanta Biswa Sarma which ultimately helped two BJP candidates win the Assembly elections in 2017, besides helping the saffron party in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Though, affidavit has not revealed what the Saffron Party has agreed in return, in all probability, with the Centre remaining a mute spectator hesitating to abrogate SoO, would have promised a separate administration, if not for a separate land, for Kuki dominated areas viz. Churachandpur, Chandel and Kangpokpi and peripheral foothill areas around Imphal valley connecting these districts. If this was the hidden agenda and if the Union Home Minister has any inkling to honour the deal then the Central ruling regime will be playing with fire and must be prepared for the worst situation which may lead to a full-scale civil war in Manipur. The Manipuris are very sentimental of their ancestral territory, which is a 3000 years old civilization, spanning from Chindwin river (Ningthi) in the East to Barak valley cum Brahmaputra valley in the West and South West. Many lives have been sacrificed in the past to maintain sanctity and integrity of the sacred land, the last being June 18th uprising in 2001 where 18 warriors martyred their lives for the integrity of Manipur. Despite adequate revelations by various CSOs, peoples elected representatives and electronic medias about indulgence of Kuki militants in violating CFGR and acts of terrorism on daily basis by the Myanmar based militants viz. KNA-B, PDF and KNA, no punitive actions are being taken by the Central Govt. Why is the External Affairs Minister Mr S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Mr Ajit Doval silent on these issues. Now is the time they must take confidence of their counterparts in Myanmar and warn other countries tacitly supporting the violence in Manipur and initiate full scale punitive actions against the terrorists. The Prime Minister must break his mourn barat with regard to the situation in Manipur, unless the ruling regime headed by Shri Narendra Modi is waiting for the situation to further deteriorate and exploit it for political gains for the upcoming 2024 general elections. By further remaining silent, he will be playing with the lives of innocent citizens of Manipur, instead he must immediately intervene and bring the situation under control. Russian air strikes killed at least 13 people in rebel-held northwest Syria on Sunday, the deadliest attack on the war-torn country this year, a war monitor said. At least nine civilians, including two children, were among the dead, with most killed at a fruit and vegetable market in Jisr al-Shugur in the Idlib region. "These Russian strikes are the deadliest in Syria this year and amount to a massacre," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Russian forces which back President Bashar al-Assad were responding to rebel drone strikes over the past week that killed four civilians including two children, according to the Observatory. Saad Fato, a 35-year-old labourer who survived the strike on the market, told AFP he helped efforts to try to rescue the wounded. "Russians shells rained on us," he said, recounting that he was unloading tomatoes and cucumbers at the time of the attack. "It was indescribable, seeing the dead, the wounded," he said, his hands still covered with the blood of casualties. An AFP correspondent at the scene saw plumes of black smoke rising from the site and ambulances, their sirens wailing, rush the wounded from the market to hospital. 'Direct attack' Six civilians died in Jisr al-Shughur and three rebel fighters were killed nearby by Russian air strikes, said Abdel Rahman, whose group relies on a wide network of sources inside Syria. Another three civilians, including two children, and one rebel fighter were killed in a strike on the outskirts of Idlib city, said Abdel Rahman. That fighter was a member of the Turkistan Islamic Party, a Uyghur-dominated jihadist group, he said, adding that the parents of the dead children also belonged to that group. At least 30 civilians were wounded in Sunday's strikes, said Abdel Rahman, who added that the death toll was likely to rise. Ahmed Yazigi of the civil defence in Jisr al-Shughur earlier reported that the strikes killed nine people, without specifying whether the toll included fighters. Yazigi called the assault "a direct attack on the popular market which provides a basic source of income for farmers". Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and forced around half of the country's pre-war population from their homes. The Assad government, with Russian and Iranian support, has clawed back much of the ground lost early in Syria's conflict which erupted in 2011 after a crackdown on so-called Arab Spring protests. Russia has over the years repeatedly struck Syria's last pocket of armed opposition in the northwest. But deadly attacks on civilians had been limited so far this year until the latest Russian strikes. On Saturday, a Russian airstrike killed two civilians in the Idlib region. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: The most significant outcome of Prime Minister Narendra Modis landmark first state visit to the United States of America (USA) is the inking of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between General Electric (GE) Aerospace and the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The deal, inked on Thursday, draws a line under Washingtons technology-denial regime which began after Indias nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1998 and had obstructed Delhis pursuit of advanced combat jet engine technology. As the GE Aerospace Press statement put it, the pact marks a major milestone and is a key element in strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries. This is no hyperbole. For, the deal includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospaces F414 engines in India, for which the aerospace major is working with the US government to receive necessary export authorisation, widely expected to be a formality. The IAF is in dire need of this jet engine. The indigenous Kaveri jet engine project that began in 1986 had to be shut down by the Indian government because of a lack of progress despite attempts to revive it with the help of French engine-maker Snecma. This galvanised the IAF to emphasise to the Defence Ministry the need to seek foreign engines to meet its immediate requirements. Especially significant is the need for India to maintain strategic parity in the region; it requires jet engines that can match or exceed Chinas advancements. A high-thrust engine is essential for Indias fighter jet programmes such as the Tejas Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The GE F414 offers the necessary thrust levels to meet these requirements and is expected to be a good fit for the Tejas Mk2 ~ a substantially heavier fighter jet than the LCA Tejas Mk1. Advertisement This would enable the Tejas Mk2 to carry a payload of more than six tonnes compared to the three-andhalf tonnes carried by the LCA. The increased payload and advanced electronic systems of the Tejas Mk2 demand a higher level of thrust and electrical power and the F414 engine, with a maximum thrust of 98 kN, is considered by experts as well-suited for the Tejas Mk2. It may be recalled that the indigenous Kaveri engine programme suffered from various technical difficulties and significant delays. The engine was unable to produce sufficient thrust, suffered poor performance at high altitudes, and had excessive weight. Further, it was only able to produce thrust which was much lower than the targeted 81 kN. An additional impediment was the lack of testing facilities in India; inadequate funding severely hampered the programme too. It is to the Prime Ministers credit that despite his emphasis on the Make-in-India scheme, especially for the defence sector, he has not hesitated to ensure the Indian armed forces get what they need. That Mr Modis American interlocutor President Joe Biden has delivered on the technology transfer aspect of the deal must be appreciated as well, considering the pressure on him from the left-radical (in the American context) cabal in the Democratic Party. It is a big deal. Since passing of an order by the Supreme Court on 28 April 2023 (in Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No. 15883/2023 i.e., Abhishek Banerjee vs Soumen Nandy and Kuntal Ghosh vs State of West Bengal) directing the then Acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court to reassign two cases Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay was hearing to some other judge, an issue hinging on the contours of judicial conduct of sitting judges has emerged in the public domain. The Supreme Court in its utter anguish passed the order openly expressing its displeasure after being apprised of the incident of Justice Gangopadhyay giving an interview to a TV channel in respect of the two cases. The anguish of the Supreme Court is understood to be a reflection of Apex Courts outright disapproval of the conduct of a sitting judge. There is no law prohibiting a sitting judge from giving an interview to any print or electronic media. On the contrary, a sitting judge in India, like any other individual, has his freedom of speech and expression. The pertinent question in the context is: Is his freedom of speech and expression truly at par with freedom of speech and expression of any other individual? It is however not so and the reasons are replete in the code of conduct applicable to and expected from sitting judges. Such code of conduct however has no legislative support. In India nobody including a sitting Judge has absolute freedom of speech and expression. Advertisement Freedom of speech and expression although constitutionally protected as a fundamental right in India (Article 19(1)(a)) nevertheless is not absolute as Article 19(2) expressly provides that freedom of speech and expression would not affect operation of any law imposing reasonable restrictions on exercise of the right in the interests of sovereignty, integrity and security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or in relation of contempt of court or defamation or incitement of an offence. The issue of exercise of right of freedom of speech and expression by a sitting judge boils down to two questions: (i) is there any specific law imposing any restrictions on his freedom of speech and expression?, and, (ii) does an interview given to a print or electronic media by him in respect of cases which are being heard by him fall into any of those restrictions? The Supreme Court while passing the said order has not reminded us of any such restrictions. The Supreme Courts direction means and implies stripping Justice Gangopadhyay of his jurisdiction and power to hear and decide those two cases. It may not be that impertinent for anybody to ask what then clothed the Supreme Court with the power either to make those deprecating observations openly in court or to pass the said order directing the Acting Chief Justice of the High Court to reassign those two cases to some other judge? The answers to both the questions lie not in law but in the sense of propriety of the Judge concerned and/or in code of conduct applicable to him. How come then that a code of conduct which has no backing of any law anywhere and not at least in India comes into play to guide freedom of speech and expression of a sitting judge? As opposed to a retired judge who is no more than an ordinary citizen, a sitting judge is more than an ordinary citizen because of his especially ordained current state in life and consequential demands of his occupation. He is especially selected by a legally approved process and placed in the position of an arbiter in the higher rung of his society as an adjudicating authority in respect of disputes brought before him by the people of his society for adjudication. What may be proper for an ordinary individual of that society may not be so for a sitting Judge and again what may be improper for an individual may be a virtue or a vice for a sitting Judge. This situation leads us to the question of sense of propriety applicable to and expected from a sitting judge. Absence of a sense of propriety befitting a sitting Judge is sure to be damaging and at times disastrous from the point of view of his obligation to be careful and cautious in preserving dignity, impartiality and independence of his judicial office in particular and the judiciary as a whole. All resolutions historically and unequivocally adopted at United Nations level say that a judge, like any other citizen, is entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly, but in exercising such rights he shall always conduct himself or herself in such a manner as to preserve the dignity of his judicial office, and impartiality and independence of the judiciary. Therefore, contours of a sitting Judges right to freedom of speech and expression according to those resolutions have been outlined by those three words e.g. dignity, impartiality and independence of judiciary and in particular of his judicial office obliging the Judge to conduct himself (he embraces she) accordingly. The international judicial community have shown their concern in a Judges duty to uphold rule of law and constitutionalism with a view to ensure and also enhance public trust and confidence in the judicial system of a democracy. Existence of public trust and confidence in the judicial system is a sine qua non or prerequisite of a democratic society. In 2001, at the second meeting of the Judicial Group on Strengthening Judicial Integrity held in Bangalore, the Chief Justices were unanimous on the need for standards of judicial integrity and drafted the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct endorsed by various judicial fora including the Round Table Meeting of Chief Justices held at The Hague on 25 and 26 November 2002. The Bangalore principles have set six values namely, (i)independence, (ii) impartiality, (iii) integrity, (iv) propriety, (v) equality and (vi) competence and diligence for a judicial officer. These six values are prerequisites for good conduct of a Judge to uphold rule of law and a guarantee for fair trial. Under the heading of each value there are clusters of clauses providing guidelines for good conduct of a sitting Judge. As a constituent of the judiciary he is expected not only to uphold but also to exemplify judicial independence both at his personal level and also at institutional level. All these values however do not touch upon the limited issue this essay has embarked upon. It needs to be noted that said six values are prefaced with these words: (a) The principles are intended to establish standards for ethical conduct of judges. They are designed to provide guidance to judges and to afford the judiciary a framework for regulating judicial conduct. (b) These principles presuppose that judges are accountable for their conduct to appropriate institutions established to maintain judicial standards, which are themselves independent and impartial, and are intended to supplement and not to derogate from existing rules of law and conduct that bind the judge. There are however no known existing legislative rules and conduct that bind the Judge universally. A sitting judge is required to be absolutely impartial in performing his judicial duties without favour, bias or prejudice and his conduct, both in and out of court, must maintain and enhance the confidence of all who may come in or may be expected to come in the way and field of his occupation. He must conduct himself, as far as reasonable, to minimise the occasions on which it may be necessary for him to be disqualified from hearing or deciding cases. A sitting Judge should not knowingly, while a proceeding is before or could come before him, make any comment that might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome of such proceeding or impair the manifest fairness of the process, nor should he make any comment in public or otherwise that might affect the fair trial or lead any member of the public to lose confidence in him, or disqualifying him from hearing the case. There is however need for a proviso that his disqualification may not be required if no other tribunal can be constituted to deal with the case. In other words, his integrity should be above reproach in the view of reasonable observers. Propriety and also appearance of propriety are essential to the performance of all activities of a sitting Judge. As a subject of constant public scrutiny he must freely and willingly accept personal restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by any ordinary citizen. He is also to conduct himself in a way consistent with the dignity of his judicial office giving no scope for variation in perception of impropriety. Therefore a sitting Judge: (i) shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judges activities; (ii) shall not, in the performance of his judicial duties, by words or conduct, manifest bias or prejudice towards any person or group; (iii) shall maintain order and decorum in all proceedings before the court and be patient, dignified and courteous in relation to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity and correspondingly he also shall require and/or enforce similar conduct of legal representatives, court staff and others attending the court, and (iv) shall not engage in conduct incompatible with the diligent discharge of his judicial duties. It will not therefore be an over statement if it is said that before the said order and/or direction had been passed by the Supreme Court, Justice Gangopadhyay had disqualified himself from hearing and deciding those two cases by giving an interview to the TV channel. It is equally needless to say that the Supreme Court by its said order/ direction was only affirming the said disqualification expressing its instant displeasure. Nonetheless the question remains if the Supreme Court was right in expressing its displeasure in the manner and language it did openly, apparently adversely affecting the fitness and image of Justice Gangopadhyay as a Judge in the eyes of the public at large, particularly when the issue of public confidence not only in a particular judicial officer but in the entire judiciary is of vital importance for judicial independence and a guarantee for a fair trial. Was it not also at the same time necessary for the Supreme Court to be more restrained in its language while reacting to the conduct of a sitting Judge of the High Court in the said Special Leave Petition? (The writer is Barrister-at-Law, Senior Advocate and former Advocate General of the state of West Benga) Americas decision to set up two new consulates ~ in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad ~ in addition to consular services it already offers at New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad, will prove to be a boon to Indian travellers. But the decision, announced during the Prime Ministers visit to the United States, is guided as much by Washingtons need to further bilateral ties as it is to feather its own nest. Last year, India generated Asias highest outbound travel volumes, overtaking China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Nearly two-thirds of those who travelled outside the country were on holiday and leisure tourism is always more lucrative for host countries. Only Dubai attracted more Indians than the United States did. Travel to American destinations more than 12,000 km away exceeded that to countries in the vicinity such as Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. Indians made up the third highest group of foreign visitors to America. These facts, brought out in a report by an international travel consultancy, would not be unknown to the Americans. They would similarly know that travel plans of Indians to the United States are increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of visa processing, with wait times of 337 days reported in April this year. With the prospect of earning nearly Rs 12,000 from each visa issued, with US airlines such as American, Delta and United hoping to pick up a chunk of the traffic, and with trips to the US being of longer duration than to those in the vicinity, there are spin-off benefits that the Americans cannot possibly ignore. Indeed, American Airlines had returned to India after nearly a decade in 2021 after seeing the potential for business. Data from the US Department of Commerces National Travel and Tourism Office shows that travel from India to America has crossed pre-pandemic levels in the first five months of this year, and the Americans have issued 44 per cent more visas to Indians this year than they did in the same period in 2019, the year before the pandemic struck. On the other hand, India last year drew the third highest number of foreign visitors in Asia. Driven largely by the need of members of the Indian diaspora to visit relatives and aging parents after the Covid years, most visitors to India were from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Thus, adequate provision of consular services to their own nationals would also have been a factor that helped the Americans decide to open additional consulates. The outlook for the rest of 2023 looks just as promising, with a 26 per cent jump projected in travel from India to the United States. It is not surprising therefore that the Americans have decided to up their consular game. Advertisement The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned the doctor of the Presidency Correctional Home in the case regarding the controversial letter by Kuntal Ghosh, who was caught in a recruitment corruption case. Earlier, expelled youth Trinamul Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh accused central agencies of pressuring him to name Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in a multicrore school recruitment case. The superintendent of the Presidency Correctional Home was previously questioned in the above mentioned case. This time, the jail doctor has been summoned to appear at the CBI headquarters Nizam Palace in Kolkata on Monday. According to CBI sources, information regarding Kuntals treatment and hospital facilities may also be sought. The CBI will also submit a detailed report to the Calcutta High Court on 14 July regarding the matter of expelled youth Trinamul Congress leader Kuntal Ghoshs letter. Advertisement Recently, the Calcutta High Courts single Bench of Justice Amrita Sinha directed authorities of the correctional home to submit the CCTV footage to the CBI in connection to the letters that Ghosh wrote. On Friday, the CBI counsel had informed the court that their sleuths have received all the necessary footage from the correctional home authorities and the investigating officials are examining the available footage. The court has directed CBI to submit a detailed report on this count by 14 July, following which further hearing in the matter will continue. Sources said that from the CCTV footage the CBI sleuths are trying to decipher whether Ghosh wrote the letters himself or someone else on his behalf. Ghosh has raised the allegation just a day after Abhishek Banerjee made a similar claim accusing central agencies of putting pressure on Trinamul Congress leaders like Madan Mitra and Kunal Ghosh to name him in the Saradha chit fund scam Though Purulia Police have arrested two persons named in the FIR in connection with the murder case of Adra Town TMC president Dhananjay Choubey within 12 hours, the family members and party supporters want CBI probe into the murder. In fact, Nepal Mahato, Congress district president of Purulia has also demanded a CBI probe into the murder. Arshad Hussein, the Congress candidate is innocent and is arrested in a false case, he alleged. Police have already arrested two persons, including one who is contesting in the gram panchayat elections on a Congress ticket. Two motorcycles have been seized from the murder spot by the police, but the number plates of both of them are fake and through engine and chassis numbers, the police came to know that both were stolen from Jharkhand. Both the two arrested persons have been taken on 13 days police remand for further investigation. However, till today, the murder weapon has not been seized and the third person present during the crime has not been nabbed. Six bullets pierced through the body of Dhananjay Choubey (48) and he succumbed to his injuries on the spot while his bodyguard is undergoing treatment at a Durgapur super speciality hospital. The CCTV of the Adra Town TMC office in Purulia was defunct, said police sources. Advertisement District Congress has alleged that the murder is due to syndicate raj and the railway yard control in Adra town. Since 2004, there has been a number of murders, and similar murders also took place in 2004, 2026 and in 2018. One of the arrested persons , Mohammed Jamal is a contract killer and has several murder cases in West Bengal against him. He originally belongs to Bihar. Since the TMC government came to power, Dhananjay Choubey has amassed huge assets in Adra town. He was close to former MLA Swapan Beltharia. Abhijit Mukherjee, SP of Purulia said that police have cracked this case very quickly and arrested two of the FIR-accused already. Bharat Lal Meena, IGP (Bankura) has also visited the spot and held a meeting with the SP. Sudan has cut consular fees at its embassy in Cairo by 50 percent to help thousands of its citizens who have taken refuge in Egypt since fighting began in their country in April. The decision is made amid the "exceptional circumstances" faced by Sudanese refugees in Egypt, announced the embassy of Sudan in Cairo on Saturday. Over 250,000 Sudanese have fled to Egypt due to the ongoing conflict, according to statements Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs. Meanwhile, Egypt implemented in May visa requirements on all Sudanese entering the country, whereas previously women of all ages and males under 16 or over 50 were allowed to enter visa-free. The Sudanese embassy also announced that it will become the second location beside the Port Sudan centre to issue documentation and accreditation for Sudanese citizens, they added. The service will be temporarily available until the documentation department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs resumes its duties, they affirmed. Documents eligible for accreditation include academic certificates, health certificates, and birth certificates, as long as they were previously issued by the relevant Sudanese authorities. All arrangements have been put in place to verify the authenticity of documents presented for accreditation, the statement asserted. However, the embassy cannot approve certificates issued by any court or judicial body including marriage certificates, inheritance documents, name change requests etc, and cannot grant power of attorney. The decision goes into effect on Monday 26 June, the embassy concluded. Search Keywords: Short link: Polling personnel, mostly state government employees, who have been assigned polling duty, staged demonstrations on Saturday demanding deployment of central forces at every booth during the panchayat election, scheduled on 8 July. The demonstrations took place in front of Alliah University at Park Circus, where they had gathered for election duty training programme. The agitating workers demanded adequate security coverage under central forces for their safety, from the day of joining election duty and the day of counting, likely to be held on 10-11 July. They also demanded security till they return home after the counting is over. The ministry of home affairs on Thursday night sent 315 companies of central forces and state armed police (SAP) force to Bengal for rural body polls after the West Bengal State Election Commission (WBSEC) requisitioned on Thursday for 822 companies. Advertisement With deployment of the 315 companies of central forces, the state got 335 companies in all since Tuesday. Earlier, with the request of the state poll panel, the home ministry had sent 22 companies of paramilitary forces. Central forces comprises Central Reserve Police Force (CRFF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Railway Protection Force (RPF), IndoTibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel and State Armed Police (SAPs) personnel are from states like Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Maharashtra, have already started area dominations in different districts as confidence building measures among voters particularly at the backdrop of 10 people being killed in pollrelated political clash violence. On Saturday, the central forces started a route march in violence-ravaged Bhangar in South 24 Parganas. On Friday evening, the state election commission requisitioned another 485 companies of central forces from Delhi. The polling personnel, while demonstrating, alleged that the number of central forces sent by the home ministry is absolutely inadequate for more than 61,000 polling booths across districts in the state. Political analysts felt that there might be a political strategy behind the BJP-led central governments decision to offer 315 companies of forces to Bengal initially. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday questioned the Uttar Pradesh government over the alleged power cuts in the state. There have been frequent power cuts in Uttar Pradesh. Electricity is not free in Uttar Pradesh. Electricity is quite expensive in UP. So why are there so many power cuts, Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. Kejriwal also said that his government is providing free electricity in Delhi and there are no power cuts in the National Capital. Electricity is also free in Delhi and it comes 24 hours. There is no power cut. Delhi has a government of educated professional honest people, the Delhi Chief Minister said in another tweet. Earlier in the year, the Delhi Cabinet unanimously approved the proposal to give a subsidy on electricity. Delhi Power and PWD Minister Atishi had announced that the government will continue to provide free electricity to the residents of Delhi. The southwest monsoon on Sunday arrived in Delhi and Mumbai at the same time, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The southwest monsoon is active now. It has covered the whole of Maharashtra including Mumbai. Monsoon has also arrived in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and parts of Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu. It will move forward in the next two days and will cover other parts also, said Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra, Director General, IMD. He said the maximum rainfall recorded in Delhi is 5 cm and will continue for the next two days. Advertisement 5 cm maximum rainfall recorded in Delhi, rain will continue for the next 2 days. Maximum rainfall of 18 cm was recorded in Mumbai region and even today there may be heavy to very heavy rainfall. Monsoon is active in Central India, Dr Mohapatra said. In a statement, the IMD said: The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Central Arabian Sea, some parts of north Arabian Sea, remaining parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana, remaining parts of Uttarakhand and most parts of Himachal Pradesh and some more parts of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, today, the 25th June. Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir during next 2 days, it said. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall with lightning and thunderstorms lashed parts of the National Capital on Sunday, bringing respite from the scorching heat. The NCR (National Capital Region) like Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad also witnessed heavy rainfall. Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) predicted light to moderate intensity rain would occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and NCR. The IMD issued an Orange alert for Raigad and Ratnagiri as heavy rainfall lashed parts of Maharashtra. The weather department issued a yellow alert for Palghar, Mumbai, Thane, and Sindhudurg. Moderate to heavy rain in the city and suburbs, possibility of very heavy rainfall at isolated places today, the IMD said. According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai city received 104 mm of rain and eastern suburbs and western suburbs received 123 mm and 139 mm of rain respectively in the last 24 hours. Earlier on Saturday, Andheri subway in Mumbai was closed for vehicular movements after waterlogging was triggered by heavy rainfall. The traffic was diverted towards the Swami Vivekananda road. Meanwhile, the IMD issued a yellow alert for Mumbai and predicted heavy rainfall in the next 4-5 days. The southwest monsoon is likely to reach today, as per the weather department. Rainfall intensity will gradually increase over parts of Maharashtra during the next 4-5 days. Indication of expected severe weather in the next 5 days, Regional Meteorological Centre said. On Saturday, some parts of Mumbai witnessed rain showers. This year, the Southwest Monsoon reached India on June 8 with its onset over Kerala, a week after the normal date of June 1. The Southwest Monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about seven days. Monsoon is crucial, especially for kharif crops, which are dependent on rains. India has three cropping seasons summer, kharif and rabi. The Ministry of Defence on Sunday said that some speculative reports emerged in sections of social media referring to the price and other terms of purchase of 31 MQ-9B long endurance drones from the US have ulterior motives and are aimed at derailing the due acquisition process. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on June 15, accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquisition of 31 MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for Tri-Services from the US through Foreign Military Sale (FMS) route, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The AoN included the number of UAVs to be procured along with associated equipment, it said. Meanwhile, some speculative reports emerged in sections of social media referring to the price and other terms of purchase. These are uncalled for, have ulterior motives and aimed at derailing the due acquisition process, the statement said . Price and other terms and conditions of the purchase are yet to be finalised and subject to negotiations. In this regard, all are requested not to spread fake news or misinformation which can have a serious impact on the morale of the Armed Forces and adversely impact the acquisition process, the statement added. The Ministry of Defence said the AoN noted the estimated cost of 3,072 million US dollars provided by the US government. However, price will be negotiated once policy approval of the US government is received. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will compare the acquisition cost with the best price offered by General Atomics (GA) to other countries. The procurement is in progress and would be completed as per the laid down procedure. The Ministry of Defence said under the FMS route, a Letter of Request (LOR) would be sent to the US government where Tri-services requirements, details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be included. Based on LOR, the US government and MoD will finalise the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) where details of equipment and terms of the procurement would be negotiated and finalised in accordance with the FMS programme and the price and terms offered by the US government and GA to other countries, the Ministry said. As the flood situation in Assam remains grim, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and assured all possible assistance. Amit Shah in his tweet said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis government stands firm as it has been with the people of Assam in difficult times. Due to heavy rain, the people in parts of Assam are braving a flood-like situation. I have spoken to CM Shri @himantabiswa Ji and assured all possible assistance. NDRF teams are already on the ground conducting relief and rescue operations and adequate forces are on standby. The Modi government stands firm as it has always been with the people of Assam in these difficult times, tweeted Shah. Reacting to it, CM Sarma expressed gratitude over the Home Ministers proactive response and concerns regarding the flood situation in Assam. Advertisement Gratitude Honble Home Minister for your proactive response & concern regarding the flood situation in Assam. The Assam Government is on high alert and providing all assistance to the affected persons. We are grateful to Hon PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for all the help to the state from the Government of India, Tweeted the CM. The Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Special Cell of Delhi Police said on Sunday that they have busted an entire fraudulent operational setup aimed to extort money from elderly citizens of the US by playing upon fear of hackers. The accused, identified as Suman Das, Subrat Das, Kunal Singh Gautam, and Amit, were arrested by the police. They are all experts in online cyber fraud. Perpetrators approached them on the pretext of online technical support and then engaged them in their skillfully scripted trap of fear, lies, and false promises, which cost the victims their hard-earned 625,000 USD, said H. G. S. Dhaliwal, the Special Commissioner of Police. Advertisement The official said that one Jose Antonio Cordero and Laniwati Tanudjaja of the US made a complaint with IFSO through the US Embassy in India, alleging that they had sought online help from the famous tech support website Geek Squad to resolve problems with their laptop on October 21, 2021. On the same day, they received a call from a person introducing himself as John from Geek Squad. He told them that their laptop had been hacked and all their information, including financial data, had been revealed to the hackers. He claimed that their life savings might be stolen by hackers unless funds were immediately transferred to safe accounts. The fraudster John connected the victims to his colleague Austin, introducing him as a technical expert. Both of them convinced the victims to transfer their savings to different overseas accounts to protect it from hackers, said the official. Under close online guidance, victim Jose Antonio transferred his and his friend Laniwatis funds to various overseas accounts provided by the fraudsters through wire transfers and gift cards in order to save them from the so-called hackers. To maintain the trust of the victims, another person named Christopher was introduced as a Senior Level Officer in Geek Squad. He patiently listened to the grievances of the victims and promised to help them. After some days, Christopher informed the victims that he had initiated the process to return their money. To support his claim, he sent copies of some forged cheques purported to be issued in favour of the victims. He also convinced them that in order to prevent future hacker attacks on their infected devices, they should buy new laptops, mobile phones, and routers with special software that would make these devices hack-proof. The accused got two Macbook Pro laptops and four expensive Samsung mobile phones delivered to Mehrauli, New Delhi, under the impression that they enjoy complete impunity for cybercrime committed overseas. After exhausting all the savings and even maxing out the credit cards of victim Jose Antonio, all three shared the cheated amount among them to live a lavish lifestyle, the police said. The police examined the complainants through video conferencing and learned that the accused were based in India and were defrauding US citizens. Their true identities were revealed. Accordingly, three distinct teams were formed under the guidance of Prashant Gautam, DCP/IFSO, to apprehend the accused. Kunal Singh was arrested in Mehrauli. Subrat Das was arrested in Odisha. Suman Das was apprehended in Kolkata. During their police remand, all three accused were confronted with each other, and they revealed that they received around 40-50 per cent of the total cheated amount. Other stakeholders, such as US bank account providers, blockers (who convert cheated money to cash), and call providers (who arrange these fake calls with gullible customers), also take their share, apart from other expenses, said the police. It was also revealed that the majority of the cheated amount was spent on betting and living a lavish lifestyle. The accused further divulged that one Gautam from Delhi was their blocker who had redeemed all their gift cards through the hawala network. Gautam was also arrested. He disclosed that he worked for one Amit from Rohini. Subsequently, Amit was also arrested. Interrogation has revealed that this is a big hawala racket with nodes in the US, China, and other countries. It has also been revealed that generally, all fraudulently obtained money and gift cards are redeemed in China at heavily discounted prices. Cryptocurrency is another medium used to move the proceeds of crime across the border and accumulate funds. Another revealing angle is that a large chunk of the cheated amount is being spent on online betting by the criminals, and the cash generated through online betting is circulated back in the hawala network, the police said. The police stated that the accused run online campaigns with Google ads, showing false toll-free numbers to trap victims. Good news has come to India as Google will be now opening its global fintech function centre in Gujarat, after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, the announcement was made by the companys boss Sundar Pichai. He also praised the Prime Ministers vision for Digital India, a flagship campaign of the Modi government. It was an honour to meet PM Modi during the historic visit to the US. We shared with the Prime Minister that Google is investing $10 billion in Indias digitisation fund. We are announcing the opening of our global fintech operation centre in GIFT City, Gujarat, news agency ANI quoted Mr Pichai as saying. Advertisement #WATCH | Google CEO Sundar Pichai after meeting PM Modi, says It was an honour to meet PM Modi during the historic visit to the US. We shared with the Prime Minister that Google is investing $10 billion in Indias digitisation fund. We are announcing the opening of our global pic.twitter.com/ri42wI3Adv ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2023 Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella too met with a delegation of officials from India including DPM in Washington DC discussing important topics like the power of technology particularly artificial intelligence, to help improve the lives of Indian Microsoft in its official statement said that India is home of one of the most enthusiastic development and start-up country in the world and Microsoft is deeply determined to the growth of Indian technology that will impact both India and the global market. The prime accused in the case, Vijay Yadav, the shooter who gunned down criminal Sanjeev Maheshwari alias Jeeva inside courtroom in Lucknow on Thursday, is reported to be linked to criminals based in Nepal. Vijay disclosed to the police that he had gone to Nepal a few days ago and was in touch with a big mafia there, sources said here on Friday. He said a person in Nepal had given him the contract to kill Jeeva by showing his photo. The deal was done for Rs 20 lakh, but as an advance he was handed Rs 5,000 and a loaded revolver. According to information, Vijay Yadav is connected with Nepals mafia don Ashraf, a friend of the Atiq Ahmed. Vijay had met Ashraf in Nepal. Advertisement The accused has neither a major criminal history, nor does he have any direct enmity with Sanjeev. Sources said he revealed to the police team that Ashraf told him that his brother Atif was in Lucknow jail where Jeeva disturbs him a lot. On reaching Lucknow, Ashrafs henchman gave shelter to Vijay and conducted recce of the area. Now, the police are on the lookout for the people who gave shelter to Vijay in Lucknow. Meanwhile, the Lucknow Police have suspended four head constables and two constables on Thursday night over the murder of gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari alias Jeeva in the court room. They were deployed at different gates of the court premises. The suspended policemen are head constables Sunil Dubey, Mohd. Khalid, Anil Singh, Sunil Srivastava and constables Nidhi Devi and Dharmendra. Departmental action will also be taken against them. After public outcry following a viral video where owners were seen forcing their horse to smoke weed on the Kedarnath trek route, Rudraprayag district police has registered a case against its owner Rakesh Singh and his another accomplice under the Animal Cruelty Act, 1960. Suresh Chander Baluni, Incharge police post-Sonprayag said that on the written complaint of sector magistrate, a case has been registered. But the act has brought to the fore the cruelty meted out to horses and mules used for transportation of pilgrims to the famous Hindu shrines of Char Dham namely Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamountri and Gangotri in Garhwal Himalayas and Sikh Pilgrimage site of Gurdwara Hemkund Sahib. It was found that on June 21 while returning from Kedarnath, Rakesh Singh forced his horse to smoke with the help of another accomplice. Someone shot the video of their act in which both are holding the mouth of a horse and forcing the animal to inhale a lighted cigarette through one of its nostrils. The video went viral eliciting public outcry about cruelty to animals. Actress Raveena Tandon expressed her outrage at the viral video. Advertisement It was believed that horse owners in a mad race to earn money during the Char Dham yatra season force the animals to smoke weed and intoxicate them to work extra. Already 115 horses and mules have died during Char Dham Yatra which started on April 22, 2023 and Hemkund Sahib yatra which started in mid-May. Most of the animal deaths are reported on the Gaurikund-Kedarnath 90 kms trek route. A total of 90 animals died on this route while 17 died on Yamunotri-Gangtri route and eight on the Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib treks during the ongoing yatra season. Around 300 animals had died during the yatra in 2022. The animal rights activist charge that more than 25,000 horses and mules are deployed, tortured and over worked to earn by the owners without caring for the well being of the animals. Saurab Bahuguna, Uttarakhand Animal Husbandry Minister who himself went on the route last fortnight claimed that efforts are being made to keep a check on animal health and more than 26,500 animals underwent health check- ups this year. A total of 212 horse and mule owners were challaned and cases of Animal Cruelty registered against fifteen of them. It was also alleged that dead animals are not scientifically buried but owners dispose of the dead animals in the rivers and gorges making it a health and environmental concern. As per Rudraprayag district data, a total of 6933 horses and mules were registered for this years yatra while one thousand animal were registered to be used for carrying supplies to Kedarnath. As per official records, a total of 1,83,964 pilgrims used horses and mules to reach Kedarnath till June 22, 2023 paying a staggering amount of Rs.54,88,58,800 while 134,410 pilgrims returned from Kedarnath on horse- back paying a sum of Rs.27,55,40,500 during the period. Besides the horse and mules owners, seven helicopter companies engaged in ferrying pilgrims to and fro from Kedarnath shrine have earned Rs.56 crore from April 25 till June 22, 20223. An iconic pottery factory in Fustat, Old Cairo may be demolished because it extends by just one metre into the path of new road construction. Ashraf Abdeen, the owner of one of the oldest factories in the Fustat Pottery Village, explained to Ahram Online the difficult situation he finds himself in. "Last Sunday, the head of Old Cairo municipality paid us a visit and said that the back end of our factory is in the way of the road development of the extension of El-Asher bridge." "They already dug two metres from the road on our side, leaving us only the buffer area of the factory. However, they intend to take one more metre from our side, which means that the wall of the factory will be torn down. However, Abdeen pointed out that there is a hill in front of the factory where the metre can be taken from instead. The head of the municipality, according to Abdeen, promised to pass on their suggestion that would spare the factory. The road expansion is part of a bigger plan to develop the Old Cairo district Pottery has always been one of Egypts most prosperous handicrafts. The Fustat Pottery village is part of Fustat, Egypt's first Islamic capital city, in Old Cairo. The village is located close to the Amr Ibn El-As Mosque, the first mosque to be built in Egypt, as well as Coptic Cairo. Abdeen's grandfather, who started the workshop in 1920, was one of the icons of the craft and he was referred to as the Sheikh of Pottery. In 1972, Abdeens father moved the workshop further down the block. In 1999/2000, the factory was remodeled with entrances and gateways with a grant from the European Union. "I have represented Egyptian pottery abroad in France and Italy and I was awarded from each of such countries. I have served my country the most possible way. This factory employs 40 workers in addition to single mothers, widows and youth with disabilities. Tens of artists were trained in our factory, Abdeen said. We hope our voice will reach the authorities," he concluded. Search Keywords: Short link: Three policemen in San Antonio, Texas were charged with murder after they allegedly shot and killed a woman while attending to a call that she was damaging property at her apartments complex, police said. The said police officers Eleazar Alejandro, 28; Alfred Flores, 45; and Nathaniel Villalobos, 27 were suspended from the force without pay, CNN reported. Addressing a news conference Friday night, San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) chief William McManus said: It appeared that the woman, Ms. Perez, was having a mental health crisis. Advertisement McManus said that Perez ran to her home and locked the door after speaking with officers outside. As per a body camera video released by police, officers continued talking to Perez through a rear patio window, urging her to come out. In the video, she can be heard saying twice that You aint got no warrant! When an officer attempted to open the window, Perez threw a glass candleholder at him and later swung a hammer at an officer which hit the window instead. When one officer opened fire, Perez was not hit and can be heard in the video. However, seconds later, Perez advanced toward the window again while still holding the hammer, and all three officers opened fire. Of over 12 shots heard in the video, Perez was struck at least twice, leading to her on the spot death. KPCC president K Sudhakaran on Sunday said that he would not be stepping down as KPCC president and that he would continue to lead the Congress in Kerala as desired by the party high command. Speaking to media persons in Kannur, Sudhakaran said: I expressed my willingness to stand aside because I was accused in a case. The partys senior leadership and the high command asked me not to resign. Hence, I have decided to continue in the position. Sudhakaran on Saturday expressed his willingness to resign from his post as KPCC president in the light of his arrest in a cheating case involving fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. Advertisement I wont do anything that is detrimental to the party. If necessary, I would step aside as KPCC president. Discussions are ongoing on the matter, Sudhakaran told media persons on Saturday. It has been reported that Sudhakaran had not consulted anyone in the party before making the announcement to resign to media persons on Saturday and the leadership was shocked over the development. Following this, Congress all-India general secretary, Tariq Anwar, contacted Sudhakaran and reportedly told that this was not the time to resign. Anwar also asked Sudhakaran to heed to the wishes of party leaders from the state and Centre to continue in his post. Sudhakaran also said that he would be filing defamation cases against CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan and the partys mouthpiece Desabhimani for his controversial remark targeting him in a POCSO case involving controversial fake-antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. I will be filing defamation cases within two days against CPI-M State Secretary MV Govindan and Desabhimani daily for the allegations made by them against me in connection with the POCSO case involving Monson Mavunkal, he said. CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan has alleged that K PCC president K Sudhakaran was present at fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkals house when a minor girl was sexually assaulted by Mavunkal. A Pocso court had last week sentenced Mavunkal to life imprisonment for raping the girl. Citing a report that appeared in party mouthpiece Deshabhimani at a press conference last week , Govindan said: The child herself has confirmed Sudhakarans presence at the place where she was sexually assaulted by Mavunkal. This was what I came to know from media reports. The girl has given a statement to the crime branch that Sudhakaran did not intervene to stop the crime despite her pleas. Govindan also claimed that even the Crime Branch has acknowledged the survivors statement. The agencys summons to question Sudhakaran was in connection with the survivors statement. However, in a major embarrassment for the CPI-M leader, the Crime Branch team probing the case dismissed the claims put forth by MV Govindan. The Crime branch clarified that the minor victim of the rape case in which the controversial antiques dealer Monson Mavunkal was sentenced to life term on Saturday, has not made any statement referring to KPCC chief K Sudhakaran.Sudhakaran was named as an accused in the cheating case only, the Crime branch clarified. Responding to Sudhakarans statement that he would file a defamation case against Govindan, the CPI-M state secretary said that his statement was based on a news report and that he would face it legally. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is on a two-day tour of Mathura from Saturday, inspected the ongoing development works in Vrindavan on Sunday. The Chief Minister conducted a local inspection of the sewer project in Vrindavan and instructed officials to complete the quality work at the earliest. After the local inspection, the Chief Minister went to the Tourism Facilitation Centre in Vrindavan to interact with the sants. During their interaction, the Chief Minister inquired about their well-being, and discussed the ongoing projects in Mathura. The Chief Minister also had refreshments with them. Chief Minister Yogi expressed his commitment to develop Braj region and ensure the safety of its pilgrimage sites as soon as he took the oath of office as Uttar Pradeshs chief minister in 2017. Chief Minister Yogi formed the Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad to accelerate the development of the region. Currently, a number of developmental projects are underway in the Braj region. Advertisement A 24-year-old hacker behind the massive July 2020 Twitter hack where he along with others attempted to take control of at least 130 famous Twitter accounts has been sentenced to federal prison in the US. Joseph James OConnor attacked several celebrity accounts including US President Joe Biden, American socialite and model Kim Kardashian and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. OConnor was sentenced in a New York federal court to five years in prison, after pleading guilty in May to his role in cyber stalking and computer hacking that targeted several high-profile social media accounts. Advertisement In the court, he said his crimes were stupid and pointless, and apologised to his victims, reports TechCrunch. OConnor, known by his online handle PlugWalkJoe, was part of a group that broke into dozens of high-profile Twitter accounts, including Apple, Binance, Bill Gates, Joe Biden and Elon Musk, to spread cryptocurrency scams in July 2020. He was extradited to the US from Spain in April this year, where he awaited trial for harassing, threatening, and extorting his victims. OConnor, in July 2020, wrote on Bidens account: All Bitcoin sent to the address below will be sent back double! If you send $1,000, I will send back $2,000. Only doing this for 30 minutes. Enjoy! Twitter then responded at that time by deactivating all verified accounts and disabling the tweet feature in an attempt to target the hackers. As part of his guilty plea, OConnor has agreed to pay restitution to all of the victims and forfeit just over $7,94,000. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a cordial meeting with Reem Jabak and Nada Adel, two well-known yoga instructors, during his visit to Cairo on Sunday. The Prime Minister commended their dedication to the practice of yoga and extended an invitation for them to visit India. The instructors, in turn, shared with PM Modi the immense popularity and enthusiasm for yoga in Egypt. PM @narendramodi held a warm conversation with two young prominent Yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel, in Cairo, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Advertisement Nada Adel is a well-known female yoga instructor from Egypt. Egyptian female yoga instructor Nada Adele has more than 70 thousand followers on Instagram. Apart from Instagram, Nada has also a yoga channel on YouTube. Reem Jabak has more than 11 thousand followers on Instagram. Reem Jabak regularly uploads photos and videos of her yoga training on Instagram. Reem Jabak, one of the yoga instructors who had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Cairo, expressed her thoughts on the encounter. In an interview with ANI, she praised the Prime Minister for his dedication to addressing the importance of yoga, despite his busy schedule. I was greatly impressed by his keen interest in the yoga community in Egypt and his desire to bring more knowledge and information to the yoga practitioners here, Jabak stated. She also emphasized the universal message of peace that yoga promotes, noting, All religions in the world come from peace, and this is something I have learned from yoga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently shown his enthusiasm for yoga, as demonstrated during his recent state visit to the United States. While in New York, he actively participated in a yoga program held at the UN headquarters, further highlighting his commitment to promoting the practice on a global scale. In the second attack on the Sikh community in two consecutive days in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial capital, a victim was shot dead after unidentified armed men opened fire at him, The News International reported. The victim was identified as Manmohan Singh who was murdered by unidentified assailants in Kakshal locality on Saturday. Manmohan Singh, 34, was on his way home in an auto-rickshaw on Saturday evening when unidentified armed men opened fire on him near Guldara, Kakshal, a spokesman for the capital city police said on Saturday night. He was taken to hospital but he succumbed to injuries. The official said senior police officials and investigation teams have rushed to the spot to collect CCTV footage and other evidence. Besides, a search operation was also launched in the vicinity to arrest the culprits, reported The News International. Advertisement The inspector general of police Akhtar Hayat Khan said he has tasked the capital city police to arrest the culprits at the earliest. A day earlier another Sikh was shot and injured in the Dabgari area of the provincial capital. The second incident in two days triggered concerns among the locals. The victim was identified as Tarlug Singh son of Makhan Singh was shot in the leg by unidentified armed men in Dabgari. He was taken to hospital where his condition was out of danger. In recent months, a Sikh was shot dead in his shop in Dir Colony. Also, attacks on Sikhs were reported near Kohat Adda and Sarband last year. Its the third attack on a Sikh community member this year in Pakistan. Last month, assailants gunned down Sardar Singh in a drive-by shooting in the eastern city of Lahore. Singh, 63, received a fatal gunshot to the head. Police officer Asad Abbas said the bodyguard was wounded in the attack, according to Pakistan Today. In April, gunmen shot and killed Dayal Singh in Peshawar. In the same city in May 2022, gunmen killed two members of the Sikh community. Last year, in May, May 15 recently, two Sikh tradersKuljeet and Ranjit Singh- were murdered on the outskirts of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Asian Lite International reported. This was the twelfth incident, which was reported between 2014-2022 when Sikhs were targeted by extremists in KP province alone. Moreover, in September last year, Satnam Singh, a Sikh Unani medicine practitioner was shot down inside his clinic in Peshawar, the report added, citing the local community. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain late. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. El Gouna Film Festival has named renowned Egyptian producer and director Marianne Khoury was the artistic director of the 6th El Gouna Film Festival, which will be held 12-20 October 2023. The prestigious international festival is returning for a sixth edition after a two-year hiatus following its 5th edition that was held in 2021. Filmmaker Amir Ramses had served as the festival's artistic director from its launching in 2017 through 2021. Khoury, 64, collaborated with renowned Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine in numerous capacities, including as assistant director She directed her first film, a documentary, The Times of Laura in 1999. This was followed by another documentary Women Who Loved Cinema in 2002. Since, she has directed and produced films on various social issues of identity, nostalgia and social exclusion, garnering critical acclaim and multiple awards. Shadows Khourys documentary Shadows (2010) tackled personal and social perceptions of the mentally ill. The film premiered at the Opening of Venice Film Festival (2010). It won the FIPRESCI award at Dubai Film Festival in 2010. It also won the Italian Rai award at the International Festival of Mediterranean Documentary and Current Affairs Films in 2011. Lets Talk In 2019, Khoury produced and directed Let's Talk. The film competed in the 32nd edition of IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. It received the Audience Award at the 41st Cairo International Film Festival. Very personal in character, Lets Talk is a conversation between her and her daughter about ordinary things in life: death, life, illness, identity and marriage. Instrumental Khoury is a managing partner at the prestigious Cairo-based production company Misr International Films. "Khoury was instrumental in introducing the first edition of the Panorama of the European Film in Cairo in 2004 and Zawya, an art-house cinema, in 2014, El Gouna Film Festival said in its announcement of naming Marianne Khoury as art director. Khourys latest initiative, The Dahshur Workshops, is dedicated to the mentoring and development of films made by emerging Egyptian and Arab talent. In 2022, Khoury was awarded France's Legion of Honour, in the degree of Chevalier (Knight). Search Keywords: Short link: Eissa, or I Promise You Paradise, the latest short film from acclaimed Egyptian director Morad Mostafa has clinched the Jury Prize during the closing ceremony of Bucharest International Short Film Festival held this weekend in Romania. This is the films third prize since its world premiere last month at the Cannes International Film Festivals Critics Week as it won the 27th Rail d'Or Award for best short film and the Valbonnes Audience Award. I Promise You Paradise is representing Egypt at the 45th edition of the Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), taking place at the Cairo Opera House in November. The organizers of the CIFF congratulated Mostafa for his Romanian triumph on Sunday through their social media. It will also compete in a number of festivals including the Portuguese Curtas Vila do Conde International Film Festival. I Promise You Paradise Co-written by Mostafa and Sawsan Youssef, the film revolves around Eissa, a 17-year-old African immigrant in Egypt, who races against time after a violent accident to save his loved ones at any cost. The film is an Egyptian-French joint production between Bonanza Films, producer Sawsan Youssef, French producer Margot Laurier, Red Star, Sea Cinema, Shift Studios and Film Clinic. The films crew comprises cinematographer Mostafa El-Kashef, editor Mohamad Mamdouh, art director Eman Elalby and sound designer Moustafa Shabban. World tour Morad Mostafa has been touring the world in recent years with his first three short films: Henet Ward, What We Don't Know About Mariam, and Khadiga. These films competed in over 100 festivals across the globe, earning Mostafa dozens of awards as well as qualifications for an Oscar and BAFTA awards. Mostafa previously worked as an assistant director for many important figures, including Hala Khalil, Sherif El-Bendary, Mohamed Diab and Ayten Amin in her 2020 Cannes-selected feature Souad. Search Keywords: Short link: Jean-Yves Le Drian's three-day visit comes a week after Lebanese lawmakers failed for a 12th time to elect a new president, drawing condemnation from the international community. Bitter divisions between the powerful Iran-backed Shia movement Hezbollah and its opponents now risk miring Lebanon further in a protracted power vacuum. Le Drian would discuss the crisis during meetings with officials, party heads and other politicians after arriving at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport, the National News Agency said. The former foreign minister was appointed France's special envoy to Lebanon earlier this month by President Emmanuel Macron. He was tasked with holding talks with all those able to "contribute to finding a way out of this impasse", the French presidency said at the time. A French diplomatic source told AFP Le Drian hopes his visit will be a "catalyst" for solving Lebanon's leadership vacuum after former president Michel Aoun's term expired last October with no successor lined up. The latest vote for the presidency pitted Hezbollah's candidate Sleiman Frangieh against financial official Jihad Azour, who has mainly been endorsed by Christian and independent legislators. On top of lacking a president, Lebanon, which has been reeling from three years of economic meltdown, has been governed by a caretaker cabinet with limited powers for more than a year. The international community has long urged Beirut to elect a new leader capable of enacting reforms crucial to unlock billions of dollars in loans to save its flailing economy. Macron visited Lebanon, formerly a French mandate, immediately after a deadly 2020 Beirut blast to urge leaders into radical reform. Multiple attempts spearheaded by Paris to extricate the country out of its financial and political woes have ended in failure. Le Drian, whose last official visit to Beirut was in 2021 as foreign minister to pressure Lebanese leaders into forming a government, is also set to meet Lebanon's powerful parliament speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday. Oh, utopia exists. At least in our minds. But dystopia comes and goes, in different countries, in different eras, in different hideous forms. Now we are in Technopiaa world re-engineered by the omnipresent Big Tech. Their complicity in surveillance, data theft, disinformation, addictive click-baiting algorithms and unfair competition persists. The worry now is Big Techs corrupting influence on authoritieseverywhere. European Unions whistleblowers warn that tech companies are subverting democracy. They have spun out of democratic control; they have captured governments. The EU has been relatively corruption-free and firm in bringing corporates to heel. Unimpressed by Big Techs menacing growls and chest beating, the EU regulated the tech industry somewhat, earning the regulators best in class title. While the EU has curtailed privacy invasion, critics allege it has been susceptible, like other governments, to Big Techs charm offensives intended to shape new regulations to its advantage. These dangles include innocuous treats like exclusive access to laboratories, Alpine spas, riding in self-driving cars and having gizmos like the latest augmented reality eyewear. Suddenly, grey-suited bureaucrats swagger like cool dudes with computers on their noses. But most corrupting is tempting offers of lucrative jobs or consultancies for term-ending officials. Top political leaders and bureaucrats in the UK and EU became lobbyists for Big Tech. Illustration: Bhaskaran Critics say Big Tech is imitating the American tobacco lobbys unconscionable playbook of purchasing legislators, lawyers, journalists and academics to pressure authorities against banning the sale of cancer-inducing cigarettes. Big Tech spawns dozens of similar astroturf organisationsfake grassroots groups whose real financial sponsors are tech companies. They have financed astroturf organisations that falsely represent citizens and small businesses to thwart proposed EU laws to regulate Big Tech. Six decades of fighting Big Tobacco teaches that industry interference is the biggest barrier to effective regulation. Tech power arises from innovation and financial strength, but also from governments leniency, acts of omission and incapacity. Whistleblowers say, If Big Tech has taken control, it is because we let them. Its not a level playing field: public authorities lack Big Techs algorithms and datasets. Whistleblowers prescriptions include: The EU must build independent technical agencies that analyse data and assess risks in real time. After the 2008 financial crisis, the EU acquired strong powers to investigate and prosecute financial fraud; it must acquire powers to prosecute fraud on democracy. The EU set up Finance Watch, an NGO that researched and advocated financial regulation. A Tech Watch should now be established. Governments must fund independent think tanks. When Big Tech are the main funders, research will be skewed. Technopia combines utopia and dystopia. It has enriched lives, spread knowledge, connections and opportunities in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. It helps to generate income, deliver harvests to markets and save costs. But without adequate regulation, Technopia will be more dystopia than utopia, polarised echo chambers bubbling with hatred, scams, disinformation, disparities and inequities. But astroturf campaigners furiously attack tax and regulation. Monopolistic Big Techs money and power to monitor, manipulate and monetise citizens have amplified. Big Techs conquests mean Technopia is the biggest federation in the world. Google alone is used by more than half the planets eight billion population. The market capitalisation of just the Big Five tech companiesApple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoftis $9 trillion, making it the third largest economy, after the US and China. Imagine Technopia, not as a corporate entity, but as the biggest, most powerful country in the world, with legions here, there and everywhere. Pratap is an author and journalist. Is the BJP going south? A hackneyed news headline, youd say. All of us in the print and visual media, and our wayward younger brothers on the social media, have been headlining so for the past nine years. Apologies! I didnt mean the line literally, but figuratively. Going south also means being on the decline. Before brigades of bhakts pounce on me, allow me a bit of linguistic indulgence. No one is sure of how the usage began. A few tongue-tracers say, it started from some Red Indian mumbo-jumbo by which going south meant facing death or misfortune. Why Red Indians? We brown Indians, too, have similar beliefs about the dakshina disha in lakshana sastras. In Agastyas Ramayan, when Khara asks Shurpanakha as to what had happened to the 14 demons whom he had sent to slay Ram and Lakshman, she says the brothers had packed them off to the south. Illustration: Bhaskaran My hunch about the idiom is more prosaic, and many linguists would agreethat it had its origins in the modern world of cartography and corporate governance. Since the south is shown at the bottom in maps, and since profit charts were hung like maps in boardrooms, falling fortunes came to be described as going south. Lets leave linguistics, lakshana sastras, cartography and corporate affairs; lets talk politics. The BJP is going strong in the north, the northeast, and the west, but its leaders feel the party had peaked in these regions long ago. All the seats that are available and possible are already in the bag, save perhaps a few in the east. So, if the party doesnt go southward literally and geographically, it may go southward figuratively. But where in the south? Much of the marches stretching from the Vindhyas till the shrine of the Virgin Goddess at lands end is virgin territory for the BJP. Indeed it has 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats from Karnataka and four of the 17 from Telangana, but the recent assembly polls have hinted that those cant be taken for granted. The rest of the south, where Stalin, Jagan and Vijayan are ruling the roost, is to the BJP what Mount Rishyamooka was to Valiforbidden territory. No curse from any rishi, but there seems to be a bad spell that the party has to break. The party has been trying to break the spell with Gangajalstressing on the cultural and political motifs that point to civilisational links and shared heritage. Thus we saw a month-long Kashi-Tamil Sangamam last November in Narendra Modis own Varanasi, followed by a Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam, then a Kashi-Telugu Sangamam, and finally a re-enactment of the sceptre ritual of 1947 as a state ceremony of 2023. But even those dont seem to be enough. The latest thinking is said to be to field Modi, the partys champion vote-catcher, somewhere in the south. But where? Bets are on three seatsRamanathapuram and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. All three have the right religio-cultural elements for a Modi to work his electoral magic. Ramanathapuram hosts one of the 12 jyotirlingas at Rameswaram, and overlooks the fabled Ram Setu. The Kanyakumari seat is at Bharat Matas feet, where the Virgin Goddess is enshrined guarding the southern frontiers of Bharat Varsha, and is sanctified with a rock where another Narendra performed a tapasya for Indias redemption. Thiruvananthapuram hosts the great Vishnu shrine, whose untouched riches speak of a line of selfless rulers who ruled as servants of the divine. Think of the spell of electoral eloquence that a leader like Modi can cast all around the region. prasannan@theweek.in Edtech firm BYJU'S, which recently announced the appointment of BDO (MSKA & Associates) as its statutory auditors for the next five years after Deloitte Haskins and Sells resigned as auditor over ''long-delayed" financial statements, informed investors that the company will file audited earnings for the year 2022, in September. The company further said the 2023 results will be announced in December, reported Reuters, quoting a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Deloitte , which was slated to audit Byju's until 2025, stepped down with "immediate effect" mid-term stating that "the financial statements of the company are long delayed. In another recent development, three of Byju's board members, including G.V. Ravishankar, MD of early-backer Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India), Russell Dreisenstock of Prosus and Chan Zuckerberg's Vivian Wu resigned. The reasons for the resignations were not immediately known even as BYJU'S denied the report of resignations. "BYJU'S firmly denies these claims and urges media publications to refrain from spreading unverified information or engaging in baseless speculation. Any significant developments or changes within our organization are shared through official channels and announcements. "We request media outlets to rely on verified sources and official statements for accurate information regarding BYJU'S," a company spokesperson had said. With PTI inputs Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has boarded Nag Ashwin's multilingual sci-fi movie 'Project K', the makers said on Sunday. Headlined by Prabhas and Deepika Padukone, the upcoming big-budget film is produced by C. Aswani Dutt, founder of Vyjayanthi Movies. Production house Vyjayanthi Movies shared Haasan's casting announcement on its official Twitter page. "Welcoming the greatest actor Ulaganayagan @ikamalhaasan. Our journey becomes Universal now. #ProjectK," the banner said in the tweet. 'Project K' also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Disha Patani. Later in the day, Haasan said he is happy to reunite with Dutt after five decades when he used to be a dance assistant and the latter was an assistant director. "Both of us are coming together after 50 years. A brilliant director from our next generation is at the helm. My co-stars Mr Prabhas and Ms Deepika are also of that generation. I have worked with Amit ji before. Yet every time it feels like the first time. Amit ji keeps reinventing himself. I am also emulating that inventive process. "I am eagerly waiting for 'Project K'. Whatever position the audience places me at, my primary quality is that I am a film buff. That quality will keep applauding any new attempt in my industry. Let mine be the first applause for 'Project K'. With our director Nag Ashwin's vision, I am sure that applause will echo across our country and the world of cinema," the Vikram star said in a statement. Dutt is backing the project in the 50th year of his production house. He said his dream of working with Haasan has finally come true with "Project K". "It's a great moment for any producer to be working with two legendary actors together - Mr Kamal Haasan and Mr Amitabh Bachchan. It's truly a blessing for me in the 50th year of my career," the producer said. "We are all super excited and privileged that he agreed to come onboard and complete our world," added director Ashwin. 'Project K' is scheduled to be released in cinemas on January 12, 2024, in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. The Indian Army was forced to release 12 Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) militants who were apprehended during an operation in Manipur's Itham village after a standoff with a women-led mob of 1,500 people. An official release from Defence PRO said the women entered into a standoff with the Army by surrounding the target area, thereby stopping them from continuing with the operation. "The area was cordoned before the specific search commenced to avoid inconvenience to the locals. The operation resulted in the apprehension of 12 KYKL cadres along with arms, ammunition and war-like stores," the release said. However, a mob of approximately 1,200-1,500 women and the local leader immediately surrounded the target area. Though the Army appealed to the aggressive mob to let them continue with their operation, it did not yield any positive results. "Keeping in view the sensitivity of the use of kinetic force against a large irate mob and envisaged casualties due to such action, the officer on the ground made a considerate decision to hand over all 12 cadres to the local leader. Own columns lifted the cordon and left the area with weapons and war-like stores, recovered from insurgents," it read. The statement added that Army took "a mature decision" to not risk civilian lives and this reflected its humane face of the force. The Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei militant group, was involved in several attacks, including the ambush of a 6 Dogra unit in 2015, they said. Among those holed up in the village was self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, a wanted terrorist who may have been the mastermind of the Dogra ambush tragedy, officials said. More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far. 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. (With inputs from PTI) Manipur government on Sunday further extended the internet ban in the violence-hit state till June 30 even as Chief Minister N. Biren Singh asserted that the administration has been able to control the violence to a "great extent". Singh, who arrived in the national capital this morning, met Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him about the evolving situation situation in the state. The internet ban has been extended till 3 pm on June 30 to "prevent any disturbances of peace and public order, said an official release. It further informed that the ban was extended due to the "persisting unrest". "There is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for the transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and offer situation in the State of Manipur," it said. The state government suspended internet for the first time on May 3 and since then this is the third time the suspension has been extended. After his meeting with Shah in Delhi, the chief minister said that the home minister has assured him that the central government will take all possible steps to bring back normalcy in Manipur. He also noted that there has been no report of casualties since June 13 due to the violence. The meeting came a day after Shah chaired an all-party meeting over the situation in Manipur. Eighteen political parties, four MPs from the northeast and two chief ministers from the region attended the three-hour-long meeting. The Manipur police on Saturday said that the situation was normal in most of the districts even as some sporadic incidents have been reported in some districts. Curfew has been relaxed for 12 to 15 hours in five valley districts, Pherzawl and Jiribam districts, eight to ten hours in Tengnoupal, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts and no curfew in the remaining six Hill Districts, the police said in a statement. 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. Nearly 120 people lost their lives and over 3,000 have been injured so far. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday hit out at the Narendra Modi-led central government and claimed that in his 40 years of political career he has never seen a prime minister who speaks "lies". Addressing a rally in Kannada in Sangli district of Maharashtra, where the state Congress felicitated him for the party's win in the recent Karnataka Assembly polls, the CM accused the BJP of indulging in corruption in his state. He said it was the responsibility of every Congress worker to defeat the Narendra Modi government and save the Constitution and democracy. "Never in my 40-year political life have I seen a prime minister who speaks lies. In 2014, he (Modi) spoke of depositing Rs 15 lakh into the bank accounts of people, two crore jobs and bringing acche din (good days). Did anything of this sort happen?' the Congress leader asked targeting Modi. Siddaramaiah said he and his deputy D K Shivakumar, who is the Karnataka Congress president, visited every nook and corner of their state to explain to the people about the previous state BJP government's "corruption" where "40 per cent commission" was allegedly taken (for various works). "BJP means corruption and corruption means BJP, " he alleged. The CM claimed the BJP had won in Karnataka (previously) not by people's mandate, but "operation Kamala" which meant luring MLAs with money. 'I am sure the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government (in Maharashtra) is also corrupt and it is the job of the all Congress workers to defeat them," he said. The Assembly elections in Maharashtra are due next year. "All of us have to wage another freedom struggle to save the country, Constitution and democracy. It is because of Ambedkar that I am the chief minister," he said. He further accused the BJP of dividing people on the basis of religion, region, caste and language. Siddharamaiah also accused the Centre of asking the Food Corporation of India (FCI) not to provide rice to his government for a scheme, which is one of the five guarantees, that was supposed to start immediately after the Congress came to power in Karnataka. 'In the first cabinet meeting, we decided to implement the five guarantees we gave in our manifesto, one of which is providing 10 kg rice free to the poor people. The central government's move is to ensure we don't work on this," he alleged. "The BJP can stoop to this level for politics. We were to purchase rice from the FCI and not take it for free. We want to provide the rice, purchased at a given price, free of cost to the poor,' he said while terming the BJP as "worthless". Siddaramaiah said before the Karnataka Assembly polls, PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah camped in the state for several days to defeat the Congress. But the people defeated them, he said. The BJP lost in constituencies where the PM campaigned. This means Modi's popularity in waning, he claimed. The Karnataka CM further claimed that late RSS leader MS Golwalkar and Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar had opposed the Constitution. The Congress will never allow the Constitution to be changed and all party workers should be prepared for any sacrifice to protect it, he said. "Social equality and social justice have been enshrined in the Constitution and democracy is thriving in the country," he added. In the rally, banners in Kannada language were put up with messages demanding water from Karnataka's Tubachi Babaleshwar irrigation project and 10 per cent quota to Marathi people in the boundary areas. Maharashtra Congress MLA Vishwajit Kadam, who welcomed Siddaramaiah, demanded that the Karnataka government look into the water issues of Jat taluka in Sangli, which borders the southern state, and to also ensure that Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum do not feel discriminated. The Karnataka CM also said he would look into the water issues in Jat taluka of Sangli and ensure the people get water. The border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka dates back to the 1960s after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines. Maharashtra has laid claim to Belgaum, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency as it has a sizable Marathi-speaking population. It has also laid claim to a number of Marathi-speaking villages which are currently part of Karnataka. On the occasion, senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat expressed confidence that just like Karnataka, Maharashtra will also have a Congress government (after the next Assembly polls). He also demanded that the Karnataka government consider Marathi-speaking people their own, even as the Supreme Court verdict on the boundary dispute was pending. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began his maiden state visit to Egypt by holding discussions with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers on deepening trade relations and further strengthening the strategic partnership. Modi is visiting Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Modi began his visit with discussions with Egyptian Prime Minister Madbouly and top Cabinet ministers to deepen trade relations and further strengthen the strategic partnership. The Prime Minister also met the Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr Shawki Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam and interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora. He also met the members of the Indian diaspora and the Bohra community. The Prime Minister's meeting with the Bohra community members comes ahead of his visit on Sunday to Cairo's historic Al-Hakim Mosque, restored with the help of India's Dawoodi Bohra community. The Bohra community in India actually originated from the Fatima dynasty and they have renovated the mosque from the 1970s onwards. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Egypt in 26 years. Earlier, in a special gesture, Modi was welcomed at the airport here by Egypt's Prime Minister with a warm embrace, accorded a ceremonial welcome and a Guard of Honour. "I am confident this visit will strengthen India's ties with Egypt. I look forward to talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and attending other programmes," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after landing in Cairo. Modi's first official engagement was a meeting with the India Unit, a group of high-level ministers constituted by President El-Sisi in March to further enhance the relationship with India. The two leaders had decided to elevate the relationship to the level of strategic partnership during El-Sisi's visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations this year. Seven members of the Egyptian Cabinet, led by Madbouly, were present at the meeting with Modi. At the outset, the Prime Minister thanked Egypt for setting up the dedicated high-level India Unit and appreciated the whole of the government approach. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation across a range of areas including trade & investment, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, digital payment platforms, pharma and people to people ties, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter. Modi will meet Egyptian President El-Sisi on Sunday. Earlier, the Indian diaspora, dressed up in traditional attire, gathered in large numbers at the Ritz Carlton Hotel here to welcome Modi. Waving the Indian tricolour, members of the Indian community welcomed the Prime Minister to chants of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Vande Mataram' when he reached the hotel here. An Egyptian woman, Jena, dressed in a saree, greeted Modi with the popular song 'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chhodenge' from the movie 'Sholay'. Impressed by the rendition of the Kishore Kumar-Manna Dey number, the Prime Minister expressed surprise when Jena said she knew very little Hindi and had never visited India. "Kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega ki aap Misr ki beti ho ya Hindustan ki beti ho (Nobody will be able to tell whether you are a daughter of Egypt or a daughter of India)," Prime Minister Modi said. He will visit the Heliopolis War Cemetery to pay respects to the Indian troops who gave their lives in the ultimate act of valour for Egypt during World War-1. This memorial was built by the Commonwealth, although it is dedicated to the 3,799 Indian troops who lost their lives in different First World War conflicts in Egypt. El-Sisi is also scheduled to travel to India in September for the G-20 Summit where Egypt has been invited as a special guest. Meeting leaders Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met prominent personalities in Egypt, including Hassan Allam, CEO of one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region, and Tarek Heggy, a renowned author and petroleum strategist. PM @narendramodi held a fruitful meeting with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East & North African region, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on Twitter. Possibilities of forging closer cooperation with Indian companies in renewable energy, green hydrogen, infrastructure and construction sectors were discussed, he said. Bagchi said the Prime Minister's discussion with Heggy covered issues related to global geopolitics, energy security, radicalism and gender equality. Prime Minister Modi also held a warm conversation with two young prominent Yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel. He praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. They informed the Prime Minister of great enthusiasm for Yoga in Egypt, Bagchi said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday left for India after concluding his first-ever visit to Egypt, where he held talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and was conferred with the Arab country's highest honour 'Order of the Nile'. Modi, who arrived here on Saturday after concluding a high-profile state visit to the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden, was received at the airport by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. "My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection," Modi tweeted. His two-day state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is also the first bilateral visit by an Indian prime minister since 1997. Modi held talks with President El-Sisi on Sunday and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries with a focus on improving trade and investments, energy ties and people-to-people connections. The two countries elevated their relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership'. President El-Sisi conferred Modi with 'Order of the Nile' award - Egypt's highest state honour. This is the 13th highest state honour conferred upon Prime Minister Modi. Earlier in the day, Modi visited Egypt's historic 11th-century Al-Hakim Mosque, restored with the help of the Dawoodi Bohra community. He also visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery in Cairo and paid homage to over 4,300 valiant Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Egypt and Aden during World War I. He also took a tour of pyramids at Giza. On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi met with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam, and discussed issues related to promoting social harmony and countering extremism and radicalisation. Later in the evening, Modi met members of the Indian community in Egypt who showered fulsome praise on him, hailing him as India's hero. He also met prominent personalities in Egypt, including Hassan Allam, CEO of one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region, and Tarek Heggy, a renowned author and petroleum strategist. Modi started his five-day visit on June 20. He visited the US from June 21-24. His visit to the US started in New York, where he led a historic event at the UN Headquarters to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21. The visit was marked by several major deals to boost cooperation in key areas such as defence, space and trade. Chants of 'Modi-Modi', and 'Vande Mataram' echoed in Cairo when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Ritz Carlton hotel to interact with the Indian community. Modi, who began his maiden visit to Egypt on Saturday met members of the Indian diaspora and the Bohra community. He is set to visit Cairo's historic Al-Hakim Mosque on Sunday. The Mosque was renovated with assistance from the Dawoodi Bohra community. Modi will also visit the Heliopolis War Cemetery to pay respects to the Indian troops who gave their lives in the ultimate act of valour for Egypt during World War-1. The Bohra community in India actually originated from the Fatima dynasty and have renovated the mosque from the 1970s onwards. "I have been living in Egypt for the last 27 years and belong to the Bohra community. Meeting PM Modi today came as a unique experience. The PM is closely associated with our community. I feel proud that our PM came all the way here to meet us," a member of the Indian diaspora told ANI. Modi also met the Indian diaspora in Egypt, who hailed him as India's hero. Modi is the first PM to undertake a bilateral visit to Egypt in 26 years. He was given a grand welcome by the Indian community at Ritz Carlton hotel. You are India's hero, said a member of the Indian diaspora to Modi. Efforts by every Indian, including those living overseas, have contributed to the country's success, said Modi while responding to the member. Entire India is everyone's hero. The people of the country work hard and the nation progresses, said the PM. This is a result of your hard work. Your devotion is paying off, he added. Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy was people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly, a celebration of our shared cultural linkages. pic.twitter.com/rTqQcz3tz7 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 24, 2023 "Deeply moved by the warm welcome from the Indian diaspora in Egypt. Their support and affection truly embody the timeless bonds of our nations. Also noteworthy was people from Egypt wearing Indian dresses. Truly, a celebration of our shared cultural linkages," Modi tweeted. Modi was welcomed by an Egyptian woman, Jena, dressed in a saree, by singing the popular Bollywood song 'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chhodenge' from the movie 'Sholay'. "Nobody will be able to tell whether you are a daughter of Egypt or a daughter of India," Prime Minister Modi told Jena. The Bohra community in India actually originated from the Fatima dynasty and they have renovated the mosque from the 1970s onwards. (With PTI inputs) Egypt signed on Sunday a 54 million debt swap agreement with the German Development Bank (KfW), on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), to finance Egypts transition to green energy, according to the German embassy in Cairo. Signing from the Egyptian side was the Ministry of International Cooperation, Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the Central Bank of Egypt. Under the agreement, Egypt will be exempted from repaying debts amounting to 54 million and will direct the amount into new green projects. The debt swap will help the Egyptian government achieve its goal of producing 42 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. "The purpose of the project is to develop a transmission network for integrating renewable energies into the electricity grid and enhancing its capacity," the embassy said. They pointed specifically to the construction of two sub-stations and the connection of two wind farms (Amunet and Red Sea Wind Farm) with a capacity of 500 megawatts each to the national transmission network. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, the embassy said. The embassy pointed out that the German government also pledged during the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh in November 2022 to contribute significantly to Egypt's Nexus on Water, Energy and Food (NWFE) programme. "In line with this commitment, Germany provided a funding package of over 250 million for the same purpose, including debt relief, grants and highly concessional loans," the statement read. Search Keywords: Short link: Pakistan police on Sunday arrested some suspects in connection with the murder of a Sikh man here who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, in a probable case of targetted killing. Manmohan Singh, 35, was on his way to the interior city area of Peshawar from Rasheed Garhi, a suburban locality of Peshawar when some armed men attacked him near Guldara Chowk Kakshal, which comes under the jurisdiction of Yakka Toot police station. This is the latest incident of targeted attacks against minority communities in Pakistan. Though Singh was shifted to a hospital, he was pronounced dead by the doctors, police said. Some suspects have been arrested in the murder of Singh, Ashfaq Anwar, the city police chief in Peshawar told reporters. The police chief said that they are close to arresting the main accused involved in the murder. Police have been directed to ensure the protection of life and property of law-abiding citizens in the province. They are investigating the case from different angles. This is the second incident of armed attack on a Sikh man in the Yakka Toot area in the last 48 hours. A Sikh man was injured after he sustained bullet wounds on his legs on Friday. The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) is investigating the armed attack on Sikh trader Tarlok Singh who was injured in the attack on Friday. The police believe that two attacks on Sikh men in Peshawar within 48 hours may be target killings but the real facts would come after thorough investigations. A Sikh businessman was shot dead in the city by unknown assailants in March. About 15,000 Sikhs live in Peshawar, mostly in the Jogan Shah neighbourhood of the provincial capital Peshawar. Most of the members of the Sikh community in Peshawar are involved in business, while some also have pharmacies. In September last year, a well-known Sikh Hakeem' (Unani medicine practitioner) was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside his clinic in Peshawar. In 2018, Charanjit Singh, a prominent Sikh community member, was killed by unknown men in Peshawar. Similarly, news channel anchor Ravinder Singh was killed in 2020 in the city. In 2016, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf National Assembly member Soren Singh was also killed in Peshawar. Hindus form the biggest minority community in the Muslim-majority country. Muslims account for about 96 per cent of Pakistan's 207 million population, Hindus 2.1 per cent and Christians about 1.6 per cent according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan estimates. The majority of Pakistan's 75-lakh Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with their Muslim residents. Any threats of an armed coup in Russia vanished quickly on Saturday as Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's "advance to Moscow" was called off after striking a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This saw Wagner fighters ending their march to Moscow and returning to their bases in the South. The deal will also have the Wagner chief moving to Belarus. Ending what could have been Russia's first armed coup, mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said that he wanted to avoid shedding Russian blood. "Now the moment has come when blood can be shed," he said. "Therefore, realising all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed from one side, we will turn our convoys around and go in the opposite direction to our field camps." Members of the Wagner Group military company sit in their vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia as they prepare to leave an area at the headquarters of the Southern Military District | AP Prigozhin has earlier claimed that his men reached within 125 miles (200 km) of the capital on Saturday. However, he retreated after negotiations with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday night. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later announced that the criminal case opened against Prigozhin for armed mutiny would be dropped. The over 25,000 soldiers who took part in the "march for justice" would not face any action in recognition of their previous service to Russia. Peskov added that the Kremlin has "always respected their heroic deeds" on the front lines. "An agreement was reached on the return of PMC Wagner to their locations. Part of those who will wish to do so, will sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense this concerns those who did not take part in the march, indeed, there were such formations which, from the very beginning, changed their minds and returned. They even requested to be escorted by the traffic police and other assistance in order to return to their permanent locations," he said. Prigozhin was later seen leaving Rostov-on-Don though other details are unknown. Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to base, in the city of Rostov-on-Don | AP Earlier the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin came on state television on Saturday morning, stating that the rebellion put Russia's very existence under threat, though he did not name Prigozhin. "We are fighting for the lives and security of our people, for our sovereignty and independence, for the right to remain Russia, a state with a thousand-year history," Putin said. The President vowed to punish those behind "an armed insurrection". "Its an attempt to subvert us from inside. This is treason in the face of those who are fighting on the front," Putin told the Russian public. "This is a stab in the back of our troops and the people of Russia." The response, he promised, would be "brutal". Wagner march Russia almost plunged into chaos after the Wagner army marched towards Moscow, to grab power. The mercenary force claimed it already controlled two Russian military facilities, including Rostov-on-Don, a key operations base for Russias war in Ukraine. Prigozhin also publically hit out at Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russias top general Valery Gerasimov, demanding them to come and meet him at Rostov-on-Don. "We have arrived here; we want to receive the chief of the general staff and Shoigu," Prigozhin said in one video. "Unless they come, well be here; well blockade the city of Rostov and head for Moscow." Soon visuals showed the Wagner convoy of tanks and armoured trucks moving north, smashing through barricades. "In 24 hours we got to within 200 km of Moscow. In this time we did not spill a single drop of our fighters' blood," Prigozhin, dressed in full combat uniform at an undisclosed location, said in a video. Russia too mobilized forces with reports claiming that the army dug anti-tank ditches into federal highways, erected machine-gun emplacements at the city limits, and deployed infantry fighting vehicles on the streets of Moscow. The state also instructed people to stay indoors. Sergei Sobyanin said that Monday would be a non-working day to minimise risks. On Saturday, the world braced for an unprecedented event; a coup that would overthrow Russia's strongman Vladimir Putin out of power. In possibly the first open challenge to his two-decade-long Presidency, the world watched in anticipation as Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his 25,000 soldiers marched to the Russian capital of Moscow. But, a potential mutiny dissipated as immediately as it began. By Sunday morning, it was evident that Prigozhin has halted his 'advance to Moscow' after negotiations with Belarusian President and Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko. While Prigozhin will leave Russia for Belarus - the criminal case opened against him for armed mutiny would be dropped - the over 25,000 soldiers who took part in the "march for justice" would not face any action in recognition of their service to Russia. The rebellion was aborted within hours. But, questions remain on what awaits Prigozhin despite Putin granting him amnesty. "Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't forgive traitors," according to former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty. "Even though Putin has told Prigozhin to go to Belarus, according to the Kremlin, the Wagner chief remains a traitor," Dougherty told CNN. "I think Putin will never ever forgive that," she added. "I think it is a real dilemma because as long as Prigozhin is acting the way he does and has some type of support, he is a threat. Regardless of where he is." Putin himself had promised to punish those behind the armed rebellion stating that it was "a stab in the back of our troops and the people of Russia and the response would be "brutal". But on Saturday, when asked about Prigozhin's whereabouts, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he had no clue about where the Wagner chief was. Peskov also said that he does not know who Prigozhin will work for after he leaves for Belarus. The future of the Wagner Group is also uncertain. According to Major Mike Lyons (Ret.) US Army, assimilating the Wagner men with the Russian Army has its set of challenges. Peskov had stated that Wagner fighters will face no legal action for their part in the insurrection, and will instead sign contracts with Russias Ministry of Defense. Prigozhin had vehemently opposed this move. "They're an independent fighting company. They were given better rations. They dressed differently. I don't think they'll be easily assimilated into the Russian military and sent back to the front there. So I think there is going to be an issue." Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group pull out of the headquarters of the Southern Military District to return to base, in the city of Rostov-on-Don | AP He added: "Maybe some will splinter off. Maybe some will decide to defect and provide information to Ukraine. Those people are loyal to the man, Prigozhin, not to the country, not to the mission. I think we've got a lot more questions that are not answered right now." There were already a lot of apprehensions post-Wagner's win in Bakhmut as they are designed for offensive operations rather than defensive. That being the case, regional analysts say the incident was a chink in Putin's armour. According to Dougherty, the turmoil and chaos that transpired on the streets of Russia did not make Putin look like the strongman leader he has positioned himself to be. "Putin himself looks really weak. If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave," she said, calling it a piece of bad news for Putin. Prigozhins march to Moscow itself hinted at the collapse of the institutions of the state, according to Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "The state has not been able to control its own functions. It outsourced the use of force, and more than this, it has allowed its own laws to be broken. This is a conscious loss of the states monopoly on the use of force," he told The Washington Post. Mumbai, Jun 25 (PTI) Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das has said that within a month of the recall order, more than two-thirds of the Rs 2,000 currency notes have returned to the system. In a surprise move, but as part of the clean note policy, the Reserve Bank had on May 19 ordered the recall of the Rs 2,000 banknotes worth around R 3.62 lakh crore. On June 8, announcing the second monetary policy review of the fiscal, Das had said around Rs 1.8 lakh crore worth of the Rs 2,000 notes have been returned, accounting for approximately 50 per cent of the notes in circulation as of March 31, of which 85 per cent were in deposits and the rest in exchange. "More than two-thirds or Rs 2.41 lakh crore worth of the Rs 3.62 lakh crore (as of March 31, 2023) of the now-recalled 2000 banknotes have come back to the system as of mid-last week," Governor Das told PTI Bhasha in an interview at the RBI headquarters last week. Of the total money that has come back to the system, as much as 85 per cent are in deposits and the rest in currency exchanges, he explained. Though the central bank has set September 30, 2023, as the last day for exchange/deposits, Das said the deadline is not something cast in stone and that, people need not rush to claim their money. Das also said the note recall will have no impact on the monetary stability but refused to comment on a recent analyst report that claimed that the move would lead to higher consumer spending, which has been under stress for some time, and which in turn would help prop the economy up and grow over the projected 6.5 per cent. "I don't see any negative impact of the note recall on the economy at all," Das said. The central bank and the government project the GDP to clip at 6.5 per cent this fiscal, with Q1 printing in at 8.1 per cent and then tapering off in the subsequent quarters. After issuing the recall order on May 19 and asking banks to open special counters to collect the notes from the public from May 23, the central bank said the existing 2,000 denomination banknotes would continue to be legal tender. Later, Das said he was not sure whether he would ask the government to cancel the legal tender status of these notes after the September 30 deadline. The 2000 banknotes were introduced in November 2016 (under Section 24(1) of The RBI Act, 1934) within days of the November 8 demonetisation wherein the government had withdrawn the legal tender status of all the 500 and 1000 banknotes to meet the currency requirements in an expeditious manner. About 89 per cent of the 2,000 banknotes were issued prior to March 2017 and are at the end of their estimated life span of four-five years. The total value of these banknotes in circulation has declined from Rs 6.73 lakh crore at its peak as of March 31, 2018 (37.3 per cent of notes in circulation) to Rs 3.62 lakh crore, constituting only 10.8 per cent of the notes in circulation as of March 31, 2023. The central bank's mints had stopped printing the 2,000 notes way back in 2018-19 itself. The clean note policy seeks to give the public good-quality currency notes and coins with better security features, while soiled notes are withdrawn from circulation. The RBI had earlier decided to withdraw from circulation all banknotes issued prior to 2005, as they have fewer security features compared to banknotes printed after 2005. However, the notes issued before 2005 continue to be legal tender. They have only been withdrawn from circulation in conformity with the standard international practice of not having notes of multiple series in circulation at the same time. Colombo, Jun 25 (PTI) Sri Lanka's ruling party parliamentarians have been asked to remain in Colombo for a crucial unscheduled session of Parliament on the decision on Domestic Debt Restructuring, sources from the ruling party said. Sri Lanka is currently negotiating with its external creditors on debt restructuring as required by the International Monetary Fund's bailout conditions. Before the next review in September, Sri Lanka has been asked by the Washington-based global lender to reach an agreement with all its creditors. It was said that external creditors were adamant that the government announce its Domestic Debt Restructuring (DDR) plan in advance. In March, the IMF extended a nearly USD 3 billion bailout facility over a period of four years to debt-ridden Sri Lanka to help stabilise its economy after it was jolted by a devastating economic crisis last year. According to media speculation, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ruling party members are expected to vote in a special session of parliament which is likely to happen next weekend. The government is expected to announce its plan for domestic debt restructuring (DDR) in the ongoing economic crisis. The DDR plan would be announced either on Wednesday or Thursday next week with parliament expected to take it up over the weekend. "The ruling SLPP parliamentarians have been instructed to remain in Colombo. They should get permission to leave if they want to go abroad, the Chief government whip and minister Prasanna Ranatunga told reporters. On being asked about the reason, Ranatunga said that there may be an urgent parliamentary need with regard to the Finance Ministry affairs. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, also the finance minister, who is currently overseas is expected to meet the government parliamentary group on DDR mid-next week before it would be presented in parliament. The political party leaders in parliament are to meet on June 27 to decide on the agenda in the House for the urgent move on DDR, sources said. According to official figures, Sri Lankas total debt is USD 83.6 billion, of which foreign debt amounts to USD 42.6 billion and domestic debt amounts to USD 42 billion. In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared its first-ever debt default, the worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948, triggered by forex shortages that sparked public protests. Months-long street protests led to the ouster of the then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in mid-July last year. Rajapaksa had started the IMF negotiations after refusing to tap the global lender for support. London, Jun 25 (PTI) A man has been convicted of killing a Sikh taxi driver in central England in 2022, following an argument over the method of payment of his fare. Tomasz Margol, 36, was found guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court this week of 59-year-old Anakh Singh's manslaughter in an incident which occurred in October 2022. He will be sentenced for the crime next month. "This was a senseless and tragic act of violence, said Detective Inspector (DI) Michelle Thurgood, from the Wolverhampton Police CID. "Singh was a law-abiding man of good character who was simply trying to do his job. Our thoughts remain with Singh's family at this difficult time," she said. The court heard that on the morning of October 30, 2022, Anakh Singh was found collapsed in Nine Elms Lane with serious injuries, which he died of at the scene. Singh had picked up Margol in his taxi before the two got into an argument over the method of payment for the journey. This escalated to Margol subjecting Singh to a sickening assault including headbutting, punching and kicking him while he was on the floor, the police said. Having carried out CCTV enquiries, officers identified Margol and arrested him at an address a few miles away later that day. When he was arrested, Margol made a significant comment to the arresting officers: "Its about what happened today... about the beating." Anakh Singhs family paid tribute to the "loving husband, father and a well-respected member of the community". This loss has left us heartbroken and has forever changed our lives. We miss him dearly. We would also like to thank everyone who has supported us during this tough time, they said. Moscow, Jun 25 (AP) The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of kilometres toward Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend Russia's capital. Under the deal announced Saturday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighboring Belarus, which has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said, Putin's highest goal was to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results. The risk for Putin is whether he will be seen as weak, analysts said. Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair, former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armoured vehicles and troops on the city's southern edge. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Russian troops armed with machine guns put up checkpoints on Moscow's southern outskirts. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. Wagner troops advanced to just 200 kilometres from Moscow, according to Prigozhin. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood. Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom Prigohzhin has long criticised in withering terms for his conduct of the 16-month-long war in Ukraine. On Friday, he accused forces under Shoigu's command of attacking Wagner camps and killing a huge number of our comrades. If Putin were to agree to Shoigu's ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. The US had intelligence that Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time. That conflicts with Prigozhin's claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by the Russian military. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defence Ministry denied attacking the camps. Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner buildup earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said. The person was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The US intelligence briefing was first reported by CNN. A possible motivation for Prigozhin's rebellion was the Russian Defence Ministry's demand, which Putin backed, that private companies sign contracts with it by July 1. Prigozhin had refused to do it. It may well be that he struck now because he saw that deadline as a danger to his control of his troops, Herbst wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council. Early Saturday, Prigozhin's private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometres) south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain's Ministry of Defence said. Russian media reported that several helicopters and a military communications plane were downed by Wagner troops. Russia's Defence Ministry has not commented. After the agreement de-escalated tensions, video from Rostov-on-Don posted on Russian messaging app channels showed people cheering Wagner troops as they departed. Prigozhin was riding in an SUV followed by a large truck, and people greeted him and some ran to shake his hand. The regional governor later said that all of the troops had left the city. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometres south of Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared Monday a non-working day for most residents as part of the heightened security, a measure that remained in effect even after the retreat. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military, said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He said that even with a deal, Putin's position has probably been weakened. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs that it is easy to capture Russian cities and, probably, arsenals. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticised the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has longstanding ties to Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname Putin's chef. He and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged in the United States with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine. (AP) GRS Cairo, Jun 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Cemetery here and offered tributes to the Indian soldiers who bravely fought and laid down their lives in Egypt and Palestine during the First World War. Modi offered floral tributes and signed the visitor's book at the Cemetery that comprises the Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial and the Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial. The Heliopolis (Port Tewfik) Memorial commemorates nearly 4,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting in Egypt and Palestine in the First World War. The Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial pays tribute to more than 600 men of the Commonwealth forces who sacrificed their lives for Aden during the First World War. The Cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It also houses 1,700 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War as well as several war graves of other nationalities, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Located at the south end of the Suez Canal, the original Port Tewfik memorial was unveiled in 1926. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the original memorial sustained damages during the 1967-1973 Israeli-Egyptian conflict and was eventually demolished, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. In October 1980, a new memorial with panels bearing the names of the martyred Indian soldiers was unveiled by the Indian Ambassador to Egypt in the Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery. Last October, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid tributes at Heliopolis Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery. The Prime Minister is on a two-day state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 26 years. Cairo, Jun 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi here and discussed ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries with a focus on improving trade and investments, energy ties and people-to-people connect. El-Sisi welcomed Modi, who is on a two-day state visit to Egypt, at the Presidential Palace where the two leaders were closeted for one-on-one meeting. Modi arrived here on Saturday afternoon after a successful visit to the US. On Saturday, Modi met Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly-led India Unit, a group of high-level ministers constituted by El-Sisi to improve the bilateral relationship between the two countries. El-Sisi was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi this year when he and Modi decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to the level of strategic partnership. Moscow, Jun 25 (AP) The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of kilometres toward Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend Russia's capital. Under the deal announced Saturday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighbouring Belarus, which has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. The government also said it would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part, while those who did not join in were to be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry. Prigozhin ordered his troops back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. By Sunday morning there were still no reports of Prigozhin arriving in Belarus. Many other questions remained unanswered, including whether Prigozhin would be joined in exile by any of Wagner's troops and what role, if any, he might have there. Prigozhin, who sent out a series of audio and video updates during his revolt, has gone silent since the Kremlin announced that the deal had been brokered for him to end his march and leave Russia. Video posted on Russian messaging app channels from Rostov-on-Don showed people cheering Wagner troops as they departed. Some ran to shake hands with Prigozhin, who was riding in an SUV. The regional governor later said that all of the troops had left the city. Putin had vowed earlier to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, he called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said, Putin's highest goal was to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results. The risk for Putin is whether he will be seen as weak, analysts said. Putin has been diminished for all time by this affair, former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst said on CNN. Early Saturday, Prigozhin's private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometres) south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain's Ministry of Defence said. Moscow braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city's southern edge. About 3,000 Chechen soldiers were pulled from fighting in Ukraine and rushed there early Saturday, state television in Chechnya reported. Russian troops armed with machine guns put up checkpoints on Moscow's southern outskirts. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. Wagner troops advanced to just 200 kilometres (120 miles) from Moscow, according to Prigozhin. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood. A US-based think tank argued that Prigozhin's rebellion exposed severe weaknesses in the Kremlin and the Ministry of Defence. The Institute for the Study of War said that the Kremlin struggled to put up a coherent response to the rebellion, and that one reason was likely the impact of heavy Russian losses in Ukraine. Wagner likely could have reached the outskirts of Moscow if Prigozhin chose to order them to do so, the institute said. On Sunday morning some restrictions were still in place along the main highway between Moscow and Rostov-on-Don though traffic restrictions were gradually being lifted in other places. Prigozhin had demanded the ouster of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, whom Prigozhin has long criticised in withering terms for his conduct of the 16-month-long war in Ukraine. If Putin were to agree to Shoigu's ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. The US had intelligence that Prigozhin had been building up his forces near the border with Russia for some time. That conflicts with Prigozhin's claim that his rebellion was a response to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by the Russian military. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of targeting the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defence Ministry denied attacking the camps. Congressional leaders were briefed on the Wagner buildup earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter said. The person was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The US intelligence briefing was first reported by CNN. A possible motivation for Prigozhin's rebellion was the Russian Defence Ministry's demand, which Putin backed, that private companies sign contracts with it by July 1. Prigozhin had refused to do it. It may well be that he struck now because he saw that deadline as a danger to his control of his troops, Herbst wrote in an article for the Atlantic Council. The Institute for the Study of War said the agreement that ended the crisis will very likely eliminate Wagner Group as a Prigozhin-led independent actor in its current form, although elements of the organisation may endure under existing and new capacities. Russian media reported that several helicopters and a military communications plane were downed by Wagner troops. Russia's Defence Ministry has not commented. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometres (225 miles) south of Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin declared Monday a non-working day for most residents as part of the heightened security, a measure that remained in effect even after the retreat. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for their army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. These events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military, said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs that it is easy to capture Russian cities and, probably, arsenals. The Kremlin's offer of amnesty to Prigozhin was negotiated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, which might have raised his stature in his relationship with Putin. The Institute for the Study of War wrote that the Belarusian leader's role was "humiliating to Putin and may have secured Lukashenko other benefits. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has longstanding ties to Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname Putin's chef. He and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged in the United States with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has sent military contractors to Libya, Syria and several African countries, as well as Ukraine. (AP) GRS The Harry and Meghan show is starting to lose its shine professionally, that is. A year after Netflix canceled Meghans animated series Pearl, their Spotify podcast has also been chopped. In December 2020, after the Duke and Duchess settled in California, they announced a juicy $20 million deal with Spotify, the top podcast platform. But a partnership that was touted as content-rich has not quite lived up to its promise. In two and a half years, the couples podcast only produced one season of Markles Archetypes. The project was canceled on June 16, leaving many wondering what led to the high profile flop. Spotify has been cutting costs by canceling many high-profile deals, and recently laid off 200 employees (2% of its workforce), suggesting a shift in the companys long-term strategy. But Bloombergs Ashley Carman wrote in her weekly newsletter on podcasting, the music industry and audio trends that Harry and Meghan got canceled because they never came up with any good ideas and didnt produce much content. Carman has been investigating and interviewing people to find out why Prince Harry never did anything with the Spotify platform. Both Spotify and Archewell (Harry and Meghans production company) declined to comment, although the Archewell website still has language announcing the Spotify partnership. Harry spoke with multiple producers and production houses to discuss possible shows. Along the way, Harry listened to various ideas from others but mostly stuck by his own including one about childhood trauma, writes Carman. The concept: Harry would interview a series of controversial guests, such as [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, [Facebook founder] Mark Zuckerberg, and [former US President] Donald Trump, about their formative years and how those experiences shaped their adult lives. The ideas that swirled in the princes head were quickly dismissed as unrealistic by those around him. Neither Trump nor Putin are typically inclined to grant that type of interview, much less about their private lives and childhoods. And if they did grant such an interview, it wouldnt be with an outcast prince with contrarian views. In fact, Trump openly criticized the couple shortly after they left their royal duties when they called for support of Trumps political rivals in the 2020 election. Im not a fan of hers, said Trump about Meghan Markle. Ill tell you something she probably has heard before. I wish Harry a lot of luck hes going to need it. It seems Harry also had an idea for a podcast on fatherhood, and another one that tackled major societal conversations episode by episode, ranging from climate change to religion. For the latter, Harry hoped to have Pope Francis on as a guest. None of this came to fruition. The only content they produced was 12 episodes of Markle chatting with people like Serena Williams, Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey and Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell. After some initial enthusiasm when it launched in August 2022, public interest in the podcast faded. Ashley Carman says the pandemic also negatively affected the couples podcasting project. Not just because of lockdowns and difficulties doing interviews, but also because so many celebrities at home with nothing much to do launched podcasts of their own. The surge in content produced by famous people saturated the market, and many projects fell by the wayside as platforms started canceling celebrity contracts and laying off workers like Spotify. Poor opinions about Harry and Meghans scarce output abound at Spotify. Earlier this year, the companys head of podcast innovation and monetization, Bill Simmons, didnt hesitate to criticize the royals on his own podcast. Simmons said he was embarrassed to share a platform with Harry. What does he do? Its one of those things where its like, whats your talent, he asked. Why are we listening to you? So you were born in a royal family and then you left Nobody cares what you have to say about anything unless you talk about the royal family, and you just complain about them. Simmons tore into the couple again on a recent episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast. Fucking grifters thats the podcast they should have launched One night Ill get drunk and tell the story of my Zoom call with Harry. I was trying to help him get a podcast off the ground. Its one of my best stories. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Moscow, Jun 25 (AP) Russian military company Wagner will move to neighbouring Belarus as part of deal to defuse rebellion tensions and the criminal case against him will be closed, the Kremlin said Saturday. Yevgeny Prigozhin's troops who joined him in the uprising will not face prosecution and those who did not will be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. After the deal was reached, Prigozhin said he was ordering his troops to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian troops. The deal appeared to defuse a dramatically escalating crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. The deal was mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch Putin ally. (AP) AQS AQS Taipei, Jun 25 (PTI) The Chinese threat in the South China Sea is increasing significantly as China has deployed a large number of armed maritime militias in the region besides an array of warships and other military assets, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu has said, calling for united efforts by all stakeholders to deal with the challenge. Wu also cited China's growing military activities in the Indian Ocean region, including its attempt to control key ports in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Djibouti and hoped that New Delhi is paying "close attention" to it. In an interaction with an international media group, the Taiwanese foreign minister said the countries having stakes in the South China Sea must join hands in combating the challenge emanating from China's rising military muscle-flexing in the region and that Taiwan is ready to share its experience in dealing with the Chinese threat. Wu was commenting on various issues including regional security challenges, geo-political upheaval following the war in Ukraine, and the Chinese military threats in the Taiwan Straits. "India is also facing a threat in its northern borders with China. It is not only the military threat coming from the North, but it is also the Indian Ocean that India might face some challenges," Wu said. The Taiwanese foreign minister said the time has come for democratic countries to join hands to face the common challenges from China, including sharing resources with each other. "China is trying to secure ports along the Indian Ocean -- in Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and all the way to Djibouti. The lessons that we learnt from Port Hambantota in Sri Lanka are significant to us. China caused bankruptcy in Sri Lanka, and it does not care about the financial situation in these countries. It is repeating the same model in Myanmar and some other countries. "We should pay close attention to these developments. This is also something I am sure the Indian government is paying very close attention to and in that regard, I would like to say that the federal democracies facing common challenges from the PRC (People's Republic of China), need to work with each other," he said. China's ruling Communist Party says Taiwan is a province of the country and has repeatedly warned that the self-ruled island must unite with China, by force if necessary. Beijing has threatened to attack if Taiwan declares formal independence or delays talks on unification. Wu said the growing Chinese military activities in the South China Sea should be a matter of concern. "If you look at China's naval activities in the South China Sea, it is something for all of us to feel worried about. From the data that I can see, from the briefings that I received, I can say that there are more than a dozen Chinese military vessels that are patrolling the South China Sea region," Wu said. "And it is not only the military vessels. China also has a large number of maritime militia with fishing boats. There are hundreds of them and they listen to orders of the PLA (People's Liberation Army)," he added. The Taiwanese foreign minister said the Philippines had plenty of problems with the maritime militia as hundreds of them in fishing boats come and surround some areas, adding it is a "hard problem for the Philippines". He said there is a possibility of Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia facing the same problem and that "this requires all of us to find ways to deal with the challenges posed by the Chinese in the maritime domain". "There has been a relentless military threat against Taiwan. If you see the situation in the South China Sea, China has been flexing its military muscle, especially trying to intercept military vessels or surveillance aircraft coming from other countries in an undemocratic and unprofessional manner, creating tensions in the South China Sea. The tensions in the South China Sea have been rising tremendously," he said. Wu also referred to China seizing control of Sri Lanka's southern deep-sea port of Hambantota and said there are lessons to be learnt from it, adding Beijing is also responsible for causing financial difficulties for Colombo. In 2017, Sri Lanka signed a USD 1.1 billion deal with China for the control and development of Hambantota port for 99 years. The deal triggered concerns in India as well as many neighbouring countries. India does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but both sides have trade and people-to-people relations. Their bilateral trade relations have been on an upswing. Following the eastern Ladakh border row with China, some experts in India have been pushing for upgrading New Delhi's ties with Taipei, especially in the trade and investment sectors. In 1995, New Delhi set up the India-Taipei Association (ITA) in Taipei to promote interactions between the two sides and to facilitate business, tourism and cultural exchanges. India-Taipei Association has also been authorised to provide all consular and passport services. In the same year, Taiwan too established the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in Delhi. Cairo, Jun 25 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday toured the great pyramids of Giza on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital, which were included in the Seven Wonders of the World. Escorted by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Modi visited the three pyramids of the 4th-dynasty erected on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River near Al-Jizah (Giza) in northern Egypt. Modi was seen seeking details about the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the largest Egyptian pyramid and served as the tomb of pharaoh Khufu, who ruled under the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Built in the early 26th century B.C., over a period of about 27 years, the pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only wonder that has remained largely intact. Modi is on a two-day state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Moscow, Jun 25 (AP) The rebellious Russian mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow before abruptly reversing course will move to neighboring Belarus and not face prosecution, the Kremlin said Saturday, as part of a deal to defuse a crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. The charges against Yevgeny Prigozhin for mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped and the troops who joined him also will not be prosecuted, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced, and fighters from his Wagner Group who did not take part in the uprising will be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Putin had vowed to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, whose forces seized a key military facility in southern Russia before advancing on the capital. In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a betrayal and treason. In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said Putin's highest goal was "to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city's southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he had decided to retreat to avoid shedding Russian blood. His troops were ordered back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. Prigozhin has demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, long the target of his withering criticism for his conduct of the war in Ukraine. On Friday, he accused forces under Shoigu's command of attacking Wagner camps and killing a huge number of our comrades. The Defense Ministry has denied this. Prigozhin did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand. Peskov said the issue could not have been discussed during the negotiations, which were conducted by the president of Belarus, and is the exclusive prerogative of the commander in chief. If Putin were to agree to Shoigu's ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. Early Saturday, Prigozhin's private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain's Ministry of Defense said. A nighttime video from the city posted on Russian messaging app channels showed people cheering Wagner troops as they left Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin was seen riding one of the vehicles, and people greeted him and some ran to shake his hand as he lowered the window. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow. Authorities declared a counterterrorist regime in Moscow and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. On the southern outskirts, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and set up machine guns. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that traffic could be restricted in parts of the capital and declared Monday a non-working day for most residents. The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe's largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for its army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that even with a deal, Putin's position has probably been weakened and these events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs that it is easy to capture Russian cities and, probably, arsenals. Switching into Russian in his daily video address, Zelenskyy said the man from the Kremlin was very afraid. He repeated his calls for the West to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles. Prigozhin had vowed earlier that his fighters, whom he said number some 25,000, would not surrender because we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy. Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland, he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel. He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even a single gunshot. The short-lived rebellion came as Russia is fighting the toughest battle for its future, Putin said, with the West piling sanctions on Moscow and arming Ukraine. The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us, Putin said. State-controlled TV networks led their newscasts with Putin's statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Broadcasters also carried statements from top Russian officials and lawmakers voicing support for Putin, condemning Prigozhin and urging him to back down. Chechnyan strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who in the past has sided with Prigozhin in his criticisms of Russia's military, also expressed support for Putin's every word. The mutiny needs to be suppressed, Kadyrov said. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defense Ministry denied attacking the camps. The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has longstanding ties to Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname Putin's chef. He gained attention in the U.S. when he and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine. The rebellion appeared likely to further hinder Moscow's war effort in Ukraine, as Kyiv's forces probed Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive. (AP) AQS AQS Kathmandu, Jun 25 (PTI) Nepal's Pashupatinath Temple was shut for devotees on Sunday afternoon after the Himalayan nation's top anti-corruption body took control of the temple premises to investigate a report that 10 kilogrammes of gold were missing from the ornament weighing 100 kgs. Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. The newly installed gold ornament called Jalhari was installed around the Shiva Linga inside the temple during the Maha Shivaratri festival last year. However, the government directed the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) to begin the probe after questions were raised in Parliament following a report that 10 kilogrammes of gold were missing from the ornament. The CIAA is the Nepal government's apex constitutional body for the control of corruption. The Pashupati Area Development Authority claimed that it had bought 103 kilogrammes of gold to make the Jalahari but 10 kilogrammes was missing from the ornament. Ghanashyam Khatiwada, executive director of the Pashupati Area Development Trust, told the media that the gold made Jalahari of Pashupatinath was taken by the anti-graft body to determine its quality and weight after questions were raised over the missing gold. Dozens of security personnel, including Nepal Army soldiers, have been deployed at the Pashupati Temple premises while the investigation process is in progress. Devotees have been barred from entering into the temple since 3.30 pm and sources said the temple will remain closed until midnight. Moscow, Jun 25 (AP) The latest on the armed rebellion declared by Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin: The rebellious Russian mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow said he was responding to an attack on his camps in Ukraine on Friday by rival forces from the Russian military. The US had intelligence, however, that Yevgeny Prigozhin was building up his Wagner forces near the border with Russia for some time. Officials briefed congressional leaders known as the Gang of Eight on the buildup earlier in the week, a person familiar with the matter said. The person was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The US intelligence briefing was first reported by CNN. The military preparations raise questions about Prigozhin's explanation for why he seemingly spontaneously sent his forces into Russia and whether he had instead long been planning a challenge to Russia's military leadership. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticised the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. Russian media reported late Saturday that several helicopters and a military communications plane were downed by Wagner troops during the short-lived uprising. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin previously said his forces had taken control of the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, as well as other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even a single gunshot. The Kremlin referred the question about the losses to the Defence Ministry, which has kept mum. The head of the private Russian military company Wagner will move to neighbouring Belarus as part of deal to defuse rebellion tensions and the criminal case against him will be closed, the Kremlin said Saturday. Yevgeny Prigozhin's troops who joined him in the uprising will not face prosecution and those who did not will be offered contracts by the Defence Ministry, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. After the deal was reached, Prigozhin said he was ordering his troops to halt their march on Moscow and retreat to field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian troops. US President Joe Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday about the situation in Russia. According to a statement from the White House, the four leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine during the conversation. However, the White House said US officials were wary of weighing in further on the situation and "wanted to avoid any comment that could be misconstrued to suggest the US was taking a side in the apparently internal conflict. The governor of the region surrounding Russia's capital has suspended mass public events outdoors and at educational institutions until July 1. Gov. Andrei Vorobyov issued a decree with the bans on Saturday as the chief of private Russian military company Wagner said his mercenaries were heading to Moscow in an armed rebellion against Russia's defense minister. The governor's decree doesn't apply to the city itself but the surrounding areas. However, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that traffic could be restricted in parts of the capital as part of the counter-terrorism operation prompted by the rebellion. The counter-terrorism operation allows authorities to tighten security, impose curbs on traffic and communications, and to conduct searches without warrants. There was no immediate word of whether a curfew would be imposed. The mayor also declared Monday a non-working day for most people, with the exception of public servants and employees of some industrial enterprises. The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned the West against trying to take advantage of the rebellion led by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The ministry said in a statement Saturday that we are cautioning Western countries against even a hint of using the internal situation in Russia for achieving their Russophobic goals. It argued that the mutiny plays into the hands of Russia's enemies and said that the Russian public stands behind President Vladimir Putin. The ministry said that Moscow appreciates its allies and partners voicing their understanding of the situation. (AP) GRS GRS Beijing, Jun 25 (PTI) Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry on Sunday held talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang here on the future trajectory of the bilateral ties and his country's serious economic crisis leading to its foreign debt default. Sabry is visiting China for the first time after Sri Lanka's debt crisis led to massive political and economic turmoil in the island nation last year. An official readout of the meeting between the two leaders quoted Qin calling for promoting the joint construction of high-quality Belt and Road (BRI) projects. China will continue to assist in Sri Lanka's economic and social development and the improvement of people's livelihood to the best of its capacity, the readout quoted Qin as saying. China is the biggest lender to Sri Lanka with its loans accounting for ten per cent of Colombos total foreign debt which exceeds USD 51 billion. In March this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) extended a nearly USD 3 billion bailout facility to debt-ridden Sri Lanka to help stabilise the country's economy after it was jolted by a devastating economic crisis last year. Debt-ridden Sri Lanka is still struggling to normalise its crisis-hit economy after it declared its first-ever debt default in April last year. India has rushed about USD four billion in assistance in the form of line credit and other modes to help Sri Lanka which has virtually declared insolvency and defaulted on all foreign loans. While backing the IMF loans for Sri Lanka, China was silent on reports that it will not back the global lenders debt reduction targets for it to clear the loan and has offered a two-year moratorium on repayment of its loans by Colombo. The official readout of the Qin-Sabry talks made no mention of any discussions on the issue of the loan. According to official figures, Sri Lankas total debt is USD 83.6 billion, of which foreign debt amounts to USD 42.6 billion and domestic debt amounts to USD 42 billion. In April 2022, Sri Lanka declared its first-ever debt default, the worst economic crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948, triggered by forex shortages that sparked public protests. Months-long street protests led to the ouster of the then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in mid-July. Rajapaksa had started the IMF negotiations after refusing to tap the global lender for support. Jabalpur (MP), Jun 25 (PTI) A couple and their 10-year-old son were found hanging in their house in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur district on Sunday, police said. The bodies of Ravi Burman (40), his wife Poonam (35) and their son Aryan (10) were found hanging in their house in Rampur Chappar locality under Gorakhpur police station limits during the day, City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Pratishtha Rathore said. The deaths came to light when the deceased mans brother Santosh Burman, who lives in the neighbourhood contacted the police after the family did not answer the door, she said. According to Santosh, the family was last seen on Friday, the official said, adding that no suicide note was recovered from the scene. As per preliminary information, Ravi worked as a medical representative, while Poonam was a housewife, she said. The forensic team is examining the scene. The police probe is underway to ascertain the reason for the deaths, Rathore said. Raipur, Jun 25 (PTI) BJP leader Shiv Prakash on Sunday slammed the opposition parties over their recent meeting, and said honest people had once gathered in Bihar under Jayaprakash Narayan's leadership against the Emergency, while "corrupt" persons now assembled in the same state just to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was speaking at a programme 'Prabuddh Jan Sammelan Evam MISA Bandi Samman Samaroh' held to mark the 48th anniversary of emergency, organised by the Chhattisgarh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Indira Gandhi-led government had declared a state of emergency in India on June 25, 1975. Referring to it, Shiv Prakash said India had seen a black day and this Raipur event was aimed at making people aware of the power which brought that day. "Eminent Gandhian Jayaprakash Narayan was not happy with the Congress rule and advocated for a social transformation programme - 'Sampoorna Kranti'. Soon after the emergency was declared, he was arrested," he said. "There was a time when honest people gathered under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan in Bihar to oppose the national emergency, but now corrupt people assembled just to oppose PM Narendra Modi," the BJP leader added. A total of 17 opposition parties met in Patna on June 23, where they resolved to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly to defeat the BJP and work with flexibility by setting aside their differences. Without naming former PM Indira Gandhi, Shiv Prakash said she could have chosen to resign after the court's decision, but she decided to impose emergency. A verdict of the Allahabad High Court convicting Indira Gandhi, who was then the prime minister, of electoral malpractices and debarring her from holding any elected post is widely believed to have led to the imposition of emergency. "Congress had used Article 356 for disposing of state governments 90 times and out of them, it was used by Indira Gandhi 50 times," he claimed. Totalitarianism is in the DNA of the Congress party, he said, claiming that one of its examples is Sonia Gandhi, who without holding any constitutional post had performed the 'bhoomi pujan' of the Chhattisgarh's Legislative Assembly complex. He highlighted the censorship on press imposed during the emergency and the role played by the then information and broadcasting minister, late Vidya Charan Shukla, in it. Shiv Prakash said on July 4 1975, a total of 56 social organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), were banned. "Kishor Kumar's songs, "Aandhi" movie and also films of others from Bollywood who spoke against the emergency were banned. The judiciary was oppressed brutally. Vasectomy of 60 lakh people was done forcibly during the emergency, he said. Earlier, Chhattisgarh BJP chief Arun Sao described India as the birthplace of democracy and called it the biggest democracy of the world. "The biggest attack on democracy was done by Indira Gandhi and the Congress party. June 25, 1975 was the black day when press freedom, public rights were suppressed," he said. Former CM Raman Singh, former BJP minister Rajesh Munat along with other BJP leaders and MISA arrestees also participated in the program. Imphal/Kolkata, Jun 25 (PTI) After a stand-off between a mob led by women and security forces that had cordoned off Itham village in Imphal East where a dozen members of militant group KYKL were hiding, the Army took "a mature decision" to not risk civilian lives and left with seized weapons and ammunition, officials said on Sunday. The Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a Meitei militant group, was involved in a number of attacks, including the ambush of a 6 Dogra unit in 2015, they said. The stand-off in Itham went on throughout Saturday, and ended after a "mature decision by the operational commander keeping in view the sensitivity of use of kinetic force against large irate mob led by women and likely casualties due to such action", they added. Among those holed up in the village was self-styled Lt Col Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam, a wanted terrorist who may have been the mastermind of the Dogra ambush tragedy, officials said. The 1,500-strong mob led by women surrounded the Army column and prevented forces from going ahead with the operation, they said. "Repeated appeals to the aggressive mob to let the security forces carry on with operation as per law did not yield any positive result," officials said. The Army's decision to leave was taken, keeping in mind the need to "avoid any collateral damage during the ongoing unrest in Manipur". More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state so far. 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. Pedro Reyes exhibition at the Lisson Gallery in LA combines his graphic work on amate paper with monumental sculptures carved in volcanic stone. George Darrell (Cortesia Lisson Gallery) At the center of his new exhibition, Pedro Reyes placed Detente. The sculpture is a large white dove carved from marble; here, the most recognizable symbol of the anti-war movement is also an open hand, the workers essential tool. The piece was inspired by the message with which the Carioca playwright Augusto Boal signed his letters: Peace, not passivity. We lack symbols or ways of talking about the need to curb bellicosity, explains the Mexican artist. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a race among European countries to arm themselves, undoing a lot of what the worlds peace organizations had advanced since the 1960s. Among the exhibited works there is an appreciation for a generation of diplomats who fought to limit the strength of the world powers. In The Treaty, a 6.5-foot-tall sculpture carved from volcanic stone, two hands join in a handshake that closes an agreement. It represents two peers at the same height; there are no hierarchies, says the sculptor, who points out that the majority of the 95 countries that have signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons are mostly nations from Scandinavia and the global south such as Latin America and Africa. We cannot wait for the change to come from the north. The countries of the south have significant influence. We live as hostages of the threat of nuclear winter due to tensions between the United States, Russia and China, says the creator, who has been involved with this issue for some years. Pedro Reyes in front of his sculpture Tlatoani. Luis Pablo Beauregard The Treaty, a sculpture that he completed this year, is becoming increasingly relevant. At the end of November 2023, the second meeting of the state parties to the treaty will take place before the United Nations Council. Mexico will be the president of the event. According to Reyes, this continues a diplomatic tradition of non-intervention and the fight to stop the proliferation of weapons that experienced its best moment in 1967 in Tlatelolco, Mexico, with the signing of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean. This milestone earned Mexico its only Nobel Peace Prize, which in 1982 went to Alfonso Garcia Robles, a diplomat who had world peace among his obsessions. The exhibition will be open to the public at the Lisson Gallery from Saturday, June 24, until September, with the most recent pieces that expand the themes that the artist and sculptor has been working on for a long time. It is surprising to learn that this is the first solo exhibition that a Los Angeles gallery devotes to Reyes, a prominent figure in the United States; this is thanks, perhaps, to the explosion of spaces that has occurred in the last year (Lisson itself arrived from London in mid-April), an indicator of the burning temperature of the market in one of the richest areas of the country. Before Reyes was done giving the tour to the press, a collector in sportswear and running shoes had already purchased one of his sculptures. Reyes nostalgia for the past does not end in the Mexico of the Treaty of Tlatelolco; it goes back several centuries. Among the pieces, made in the last three years in his house and studio south of Mexico City, there is also a jadeite Chac Mool figure, a red tezontle rock sculpture and some large paintings made on amate paper, which is made from the pulp of tropical trees, boiled in water with lime and flattened with rocks. Also, a sizeable piece depicting a human skull, one of the objects that, Reyes admits, obsesses Mexicans. One of the corners of the gallery is occupied by the oval face of a pre-Hispanic woman. It is Cihuacoatl, one of the fertility goddesses of the ancient Mexicans. The deity brings to mind one of the controversies that Reyes faced recently. Last fall, Claudia Sheinbaum, the head of government of Mexico City, announced that the artist was working on a piece that would replace an important statue of Christopher Columbus, a character whose historical relevance has shifted in the light of this century. When he revealed the model he was working on, that of a woman with indigenous features, the response was not as expected. The controversy forced the authorities to withdraw the commission from Reyes, who in 2022 unveiled a giant sculpture of a Nahuatl woman along the River Walk of San Antonio. Citlali was also commissioned by the authorities of the Texan city. Reyes considers his work as a sculptor to be a synthesis of the clash between the great schools of Mexican art. On one side is the nationalist school, headed by artists like Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros, who were inspired by the labor movements and the Marxist proletariat as a form of resistance to the capitalist drive. Meanwhile, La Ruptura (the Breakaway Generation) modified the technique and the creative influences for decades. With a long list of exponents, among them Vicente Rojo, Rufino Tamayo, Pedro Coronel, Manuel Felguerez, Francisco Toledo and several others, the generation had many disciples. Reyes stands between those forces. The artist, however, has inherited forms of work that unite the two groups. For example, the stone carving made by human hands in a time in which where most rock sculptures are done with robots. Every time this happens, six people lose their jobs, says the artist. His production in his stylized house in Coyoacan, south of Mexico City, has managed to revive a centuries-old trade. Many of the artisans who work with him are relatives of members of the influential School of Sculpture and Direct Carving, established in Mexico in 1927. It is a viable form of employment. I think that what is done by hand, paradoxically, has a lower risk of disappearing with artificial intelligence than someone who studied computer systems engineering, he concludes, laughing. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Guwahati, Jun 25 (PTI) Assam-based Tezpur University on Sunday announced that it is mulling to start a department of defence studies, a plan that has received assurance of support from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The central varsity is already offering Chinese language course to Indian Army personnel from April this year. "Tezpur University is planning to start the Department of Defence Studies, marking a significant milestone in the university's commitment to fostering excellence in national security education," the varsity said in a statement. The University's Academic Council and Board of Management, which is the highest executive body of Tezpur University (TU), has already ratified the decision. TU Vice Chancellor Prof Shambhu Nath Singh met the Defence minister and apprised him about the initiative. "Prof Singh during his meeting with the Defence Minister highlighted the importance of having a Defence Studies Department at Tezpur University as Tezpur is geopolitically located near China and has the presence of the Indian Army's IV Corps and Defence Research Laboratory. "The Minister has appreciated the initiative of the University and assured all support from his Ministry," the statement said. The Department of Defence Studies will offer programmes designed to provide a holistic understanding of defence policy, strategic studies, military history, conflict resolution, intelligence analysis, and related subjects. "It shall collaborate with experts, defence establishments, and policymakers to create a vibrant academic ecosystem in the field of defence studies," the statement said. New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao on Sunday said the Telangana model of development is one which is "inclusive, holistic, integrated and balanced" and exuded confidence it will pay rich dividends for the party to come to power for the third consecutive term this year. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which won the two previous assembly polls, was rechristened as the BRS last October. The next Assembly polls in the state are due by the end of this year. In an interview to PTI, Rao, who is a state minister and son of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said people in the state are familiar with the governance model of Telangana. "People in the state are aware who can provide better administration and there is nobody in the opposition(in the state) who can match what Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) can deliver for the state." Rao said the BJP and Congress are vying for power in Telangana but claimed they have nowhere showcased a governance model similar or better than the southern state even though they are in power in 20-odd states across the country. "Secondly, people will compare and contrast. If Congress and BJP are vying for Telangana state then they should also showcase. They have 20 plus states under their belt and should showcase a better model of governance than Telangana," he said, when asked how the elections will be different under the BRS banner. Asked how the Telangana model is different from the Gujarat model, he said, "I would rather not comment on the Gujarat model because it is now done and dusted. People have seen the reality." "I am very confident that this good governance model will pay rich dividends and help the BRS handsomely and KCR will become a hat-trick CM. No south CM has been able to pull off a hat-trick so far. He will be the first CM to do that, mark my word," he said. "Last time, the TRS had won 88 seats. In the coming Assembly elections, the party will win anywhere between 90 and 100 seats out of 119," he said, adding that "good work" is the key mantra for winning the coming polls. "There is no substitute for good work." Rao said able leadership and a stable government have done the magic for the party in Telangana. "There is solid pro-incumbency in the state as the party has delivered on what it promised," he claimed. That's the reason, the party holds all 32 Zilla Parishad seats in Telangana, 136 out of 142 municipalities and corporations, 9,000 plus out of 12,769 gram panchayats and the list is long, he added. Asked if the possible alliance of YSR Telangana party with Congress would be a factor in the upcoming Telangana assembly polls, Rao sarcastically aid, "I am sure it will be such a big factor that the Congress might lose whatever little it had." It is known that YSR Telangana pary chief Sharmila Reddy and her father and erstwhile unified Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajashekara Reddy "bitterly opposed the formation of Telangana," he said. "If she has an iota of self-respect, she should not have come to Telangana because she and her entire family opposed the formation of Telangana," he said, and added, "For them to seek votes in Telangana itself is a joke. And for the Congress to accept that is a bigger joke. There is a disaster lying ahead for them." Asked why the BRS was trying to take credit for the development works in Hyderabad initiated by the former AP CM and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Rao said, "Naidu was CM back in 2004. We are sitting 20 years later. If somebody says we planted sapling in the 1950s, and Chandrababu reaped it, would he agree? The point is every government ever since formation of Telangana has done its best to create something or other." "We have expedited and accelerated the progress. We have not taken our foot away from the accelerator in the last nine years," he said. In the IT sector, Rao claimed Telangana is ahead of Karnataka in terms of job creation. In the last two years, around 4.50 lakh jobs were created in Hyderabad but in Bengaluru it stood at 1.46 lakh jobs, he said. In terms of software exports, the numbers have risen from Rs 56,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 2.41 lakh crore now. So the growth has been meteoric, he said. "We have just started. In fact, much more ground to cover. We need to grow and prosper." Asked to respond to the perception that his government has not focused on development of other cities in Telangana, Rao said, "That is trash. We won 126 awards from the Union government, the second largest number in Swachh Survekshan ranking. We have focused on rural areas, not just Tier-II cities. Unlike any part of India, we have IT hubs in five cities in the state." The employment opportunity has been created and infrastructure has been added. The state is growing at a good speed, he added. Srinagar, Jun 25 (PTI) An army officer allegedly shot himself with his service weapon in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, official sources here said on Sunday. The officer shot himself around 4.50 pm inside the army's Baramulla camp. He died on the spot, the sources said. Further details are awaited. Panaji/New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) The UK government is looking forward to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's visit to New Delhi in September for the G20 summit, a British minister has said. UK's Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries, Sir John Whittingdale, who was in Goa for the G20 Tourism Ministerial meeting that concluded on June 22, also said India is doing a "fantastic job" in chairing the influential bloc. India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1, 2022. About 200 meetings under different tracks of the bloc will be hosted across the country, culminating in the September 9-10 Summit. When asked about India's role so far as the chair of the G20, the UK minister praised the country and also also talked about some of the global challenges that the whole of humanity faces. "I think India is doing a fantastic job. The meetings we have had here (in Goa), have been wonderfully organised. I know some of my other colleagues in the government have been attending meetings elsewhere. And of course, we are looking forward to the visit of our prime minister to India later in the year," Whittingdale told PTI in an interview in Goa. Sunak will be in India to attend the G20 Summit, he said. The Conservative MP representing Maldon attended the G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting on June 21 that took place following the G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting from June 19-20 in Goa. India held several bilateral meetings with various member and guest countries of the G20 on the sidelines of the two crucial tourism track events in Panaji. India's Minister of State for Tourism S Y Naik also held a bilateral talk with Whittingdale and termed it a "good meeting". Asked about his experiences at the G20 Tourism Ministerial meeting in the Goan capital, Whittingdale said, "It has been amazing. Goa is doing a wonderful job in hosting the G20 (meets). We had a very constructive discussion (on June 21) about the challenges facing tourism." A Goa Roadmap and Action Plan, and a ministerial outcome document later came out at the end of the G20 ministerial meeting. Five inter-related key priorities of the G20 tourism track, including green tourism, digitalisation and destination management, were "endorsed by all G20 countries" for achieving sustainable, resilient and inclusive growth in the sector, officials said on June 21. About 130 delegates from countries such as the US, the UK, Spain, South Africa, Russia, Mauritius, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Oman, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and top international organisations took part in the ministerial meeting. Asked about the outcomes from the ministerial meeting in Goa, Whittingdale said making tourism sector more sustainable and resilient, while reducing carbon footprint is the way forward. "The general approach to the Indian Presidency -- One Earth. One Family. One Future -- absolutely sums up challenges we will face. Things like sustainable transport is very much part of that, so there was a general agreement (in the meeting) that all the countries look to try and reduce our carbon emissions, to preserve the environment, and technology will help in doing that as well," he said. After the conclusion of the ministerial meeting, a group of G20 delegates on June 22 had visited the historic Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also holds the holy relics of St. Francis Xavier. The delegates later also visited Museum of Christian Art (MoCA) and a Portuguese-era mansion built in 1590 where a grand luncheon was hosted for them, as the G20 Tourism Ministerial Meeting concluded "successfully" in Goa. After the meeting, it is a "wonderful opportunity to see some of the heritage beauty of Goa, so I am really delighted to be here," Whittingdale said, soon after visiting the church. He was given a guided tour of the historic church by Fr. Patricio Fernandes, who also shared how the mortal remains of the holy saint, was moved from different places in the world, to finally rest in Goa. "And, to be shown around the Basilica of Bom Jesus, and to hear about the history of the relics of St. Francis Xavier, all that is hugely memorable, a great privilege to be able to see," he said. Whittingdale and other delegates later also visited the historic Mangeshi Temple in Ponda, where they also attended an 'aarti', and ended the heritage tour of Goa with a grand lunch at Figueiredo Mansion, a building from the Portuguese era whose oldest part was constructed in 1590. "Catholic churches have certain similarities, but what is interesting about this one (Basilica of Bom Jesus), and all we have seen in this museum (MoCA), is Indian influence on traditional Christian sculptures and works... you could see the Indian artists' cultures had crept in, and that's a fascinating combination," the UK minister said. Asked how G20 nations can work together for preservation of heritage, he said, "I think it's terribly important, each country has its own very special history, and its wonderful monuments, and Goa is no exception. But, indeed, it is very important for the whole of humanity that we preserve those and allow future generations to enjoy them in the way, we can today". "So, that's very much one of the very big challenges facing tourism in future, and one of the issues that we have been discussing," Whittingdale added. New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) A 34-year-old woman died of electrocution after accidentally coming in contact with a live wire at the New Delhi Railway Station complex on Sunday morning amid rainfall, police said. The incident took place near exit gate number 1 of the station when victim Sakshi Ahuja was going to board a train to Chandigarh, they said. She was with her sister at the time. As per a preliminary enquiry, it was raining and the victim was walking towards the station when she lost her balance and grabbed an electricity pole to break her fall when she came in contact with some exposed wires, a senior police officer said. A police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Gaikwad reached the spot and rushed Ahuja to the Lady Hardinge Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead, said Apoorva Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways). The body was shifted to a mortuary. After this, the victim's sister, Madhvi Chopra, gave a complaint alleging negligence on the part of the authorities concerned, she said. A case under sections 287 (negligent conduct with respect to machinery) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code was registered against unidentified persons and an investigation has been initiated, Gupta added. "Crime team and experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory, Rohini inspected the spot," the DCP added. The woman is survived by her husband and two minor children, her family said. New Delhi, Jun 25 (PTI) A Delhi court has said that the right to travel abroad is a valuable fundamental right and can be curtailed only under exceptional circumstances. Special Judge Anil Antil made the observation while allowing a businessman, accused in an alleged Rs 135 crore bank loan fraud, to travel to the US to attend the graduation ceremony of his son. The judge allowed Raman Sethi to travel to the US from June 12 to June 30 even as he directed him not to tamper with the evidence or try to influence the witnesses in any manner. "Taking note of the fact that the right to travel abroad is a valuable fundamental right and can be curtailed only under exceptional circumstances, and merely because a case is pending against him before a court of law does not dis-entitle him to enjoy his fundamental right to travel as per his desire the present applicant is allowed," the judge said. The judge also noted in an order passed on June 9 that the accused had travelled to UAE from May 6 to 12, 2023, and returned successfully. In his application, Sethi had submitted that a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him by the CBI, even though "he was in fact the whistleblower in the present case." The fraud case was filed on the complaint of Union Bank of India against a company, PCL Oil & Solvents Ltd, and its directors/guarantors for defaulting in the payment of loan. The CBI had alleged that the accused company and persons had syphoned off Rs 135.5 crore during 2012-2020 and misappropriated funds by falsifying the company's books. The probe agency had opposed Sethi's application to fly abroad, saying the investigation was at an initial stage. Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Jun 25 (PTI) A 48-year-old woman was allegedly hacked to death on a flyover here Saturday night by her son-in-law for encouraging his wife to go ahead with divorce, police said. Rajesh (37) killed Nagamani (47) on Chanumolu Venkata Rao flyover around 9 pm, they said. It is a murder committed by son-in-law. The deceased (person) is mother-in-law. A divorce petition is pending before the court, Vijayawada West ACP Hanumantha Rao told PTI. According to the police, Rajesh bore a grudge against Nagamani for allegedly encouraging her daughter to file a divorce petition. He was unhappy with his mother-in-law as he thought that she was the reason for his separation with his wife and hacked her to death with a sickle used to cut coconuts, they said. Nagamani died on the spot, police said, adding a hunt has been launched to nab Rajesh. The accused used to eke out a living by selling clothes door to door. Police have registered a case against Rajesh under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder). Unnao (UP), Jun 24 (PTI) A 25-year-old local journalist was allegedly shot and injured in Unnao in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday night, police said. He was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Kanpur and his condition was stated to be out of danger. Mannu Awasthi, a resident of PD Nagar, was shot allegedly by unidentified assailants around 10.25 pm. The motive behind the attack was not immediately known. The police said all possible angles are being looked into. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Plenty of sunshine. Areas of smoke and haze are possible, reducing visibility at times. High 83F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Milan's Brera Art Gallery director James M. Bradburne poses for photos prior to an interview with the Associated Press, at Brera's art gallery, in Milan, Italy, Friday, June 23, 2023. The British-Canadian director of Milans Brera Gallery was hired in 2015 after the Italian government launched reforms that for the first time brought in foreign museum directors. His eight-year tenure is ending as Premier Giorgia Melonis right-wing administration seeks to again reserve top cultural jobs for Italians. Admirers have credited James Bradburne, a 67-year-old architect who has run five cultural institutions in five countries, with revolutionizing the museum that Napoleon intended to make the Louvre of Italy and fill with paintings from his Italian campaigns when he expanded his French empire. Bradburne had each of the 38 rooms renovated without ever closing the museum, established in 1809. He worked to make it more user-friendly by revamping the labels beneath key works, inaugurating musical events to draw in local residents and no longer putting together exhibitions as a way to drive visitor numbers. During his tenure, popular innovations for highlighting the museums masterpieces included installing blue satin beneath Francesco Hayezs The Kiss so visitors can could get a feel of the fabric rendered so perfectly in the painting. Ineligible to reapply for the job and with only three months left before his contract ends, Bradburne is pushing another initiative an online museum experience called BreraPlus, his indictment of the kind of mass tourism that turns masterpieces into backdrops for selfies. Bradburne is making an international pitch to get global visitors to a virtual version of the Brera that goes beyond images of the artworks and makes participants stakeholders in the museums future, with access to periodic online meetings to discuss the institutions direction. For the cost of one 15-euro admission, users get three months of access to the physical museum, plus one year of access to the website of the internet-accessible one, which features documentaries and films commissioned for BreraPlus. Visitors also can zoom in on selected works, read annotations and exchange views with other visitors in a chat function. Heat maps overlaying the works will be phased in to show which areas are garnering the most interest. I think putting museums at the service of the mass tourism is a crime, Bradburne said. For him, BreraPlus represents a return to sustainable tourism, a tourism that doesnt require everyone taking low-cost flights. He acknowledges it will take at least a year to gauge if the project is successful, at which point he will be long gone. Another pet project, the long-delayed renovations of the nearby Palazzo Citterio to house the museums considerable contemporary art collection, also will be completed after Bradburne leaves, despite initial hopes for a 2018 opening. Does he worry that all of the ideas and work he brought to the museum will vanish after he leaves in September? If somebody came here who actually gets it, which is an open question, if somebody understands what, in fact, I have done, its completely sustainable, Bradburne told The Associated Press. In fact, it costs less to keep the projects he oversaw in place than to remove them. The museum reforms made by a previous left-wing Italian government brought seven foreign directors to Italian museums in 2015 and were widely celebrated as overdue progress. The reforms also allowed museums to keep the revenue they generated, which was an important breakthrough. But Bradburne thinks the changes did not go far enough. Museums were not given control in other areas, such as hiring and staffing. Bradburne set up an educational program with the museum guards, who he discovered were fortuitously highly educated. I would say that the reforms, they made a step forward. But it wasnt a big step, and it was a very mitigating step, he said, since work-arounds like his guards-as-educators are always at risk. Bradburnes job was among 10 recently posted, including the directorship of the Uffizi, currently run by a German, and the Museum and Royal Park of Capodimonte in Naples, run by a Frenchman. The postings specify that applicants must be European and proficient in Italian tighter conditions than the open call run when Bradburne was hired. Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano has denied that Italy is prejudiced against foreigners but also publicly lamented that the countrys top 10 cultural institutions, including the Pompeii archaeological site and Milans Teatro alla Scala opera house, are run by non-Italians. He has argued that Italian universities that focus on art history should be able to turn out enough Italian talent to fill the positions. The answer is unfortunately, no, Bradburne said. The problem isnt that we are foreigners or not foreigners. It is that we have learned the skills to run a modern museum that Italy has not taught two generations of museum professionals. One way forward, he said, would be to use foreigners as mentors. Use them, suck them dry, Bradburne said, and train up Italians. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that the state has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration and the U.S. Department of Education over accreditation agencies, which control federal aid for students. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale federal court, challenges a federal law that requires colleges and universities to submit to private accreditors to qualify for federal funding. It targets the U.S. Department of Education, Secretary Miguel Cardona and other federal officials. DeSantis, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said refuses to bow to unaccountable accreditors who think they should run Floridas public universities. Were asking the court to find this arrangement to be unconstitutional, DeSantis said. Under federal law, the private accrediting agencies decide which universities and colleges are eligible for approximately $112 billion in federal funding. The agencies provide a standard of requirements that universities must follow to maintain accreditation. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACS, oversees the accreditation of colleges and universities in Florida. However, Florida passed a law last year that prohibits colleges and universities from being accredited by the same agency or association for consecutive accreditation cycles. It also allows universities to sue accreditors for damages if they believe they had been negatively affected. The state law requires over half of Floridas public colleges and universities to change accreditors in the next two years. Their ability to make these changes is substantially burdened by what DeSantis described as the Biden administrations abuse of the current accreditation scheme. In order to seek a new accreditor, a university must receive permission from the U.S. Department of Education. You cannot take legislative power and delegate it to an unaccountable private body, DeSantis said. Under their theory, the accreditor can serve as a veto against the entire state of Florida, he said. He noted that the accrediting agency seeks to take the responsibility for ensuring the wellbeing of colleges and universities away from the governor, Legislature and taxpayers. So, you know, thats a view that really, this board trumps the entire state of Florida, DeSantis said. We reject that, and today we are going to do something about it. DeSantis and Moody cited as an example that SACS threatened the accreditation of Florida State University in 2021 when Richard Corcoran, then the states commissioner of education, was a candidate to be the next president of the school. The accrediting agency said Corcorans candidacy posed a potential conflict of interest if he failed to resign as schools commissioner. Florida State eventually selected Richard McCullough as its president. Earlier this year, Corcoran was selected as an interim president of New College of Florida. Earlier this year, DeSantis appointed six new trustees to run the college, which was best known for its progressive thought and creative course offerings. (AP) Agudath Israel of America is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Kaminetsky, Esq. as the organizations General Counsel. Agudath Israels legal department plays a vital role in protecting the rights and interests of the Orthodox Jewish community. From providing legal guidance to individuals and authoring briefs and memoranda, to arguing cases before the Supreme Court, Agudath Israel is at the forefront of safeguarding the rights of Orthodox Jews and ensuring that religious freedoms are protected in a diverse and evolving society. With a distinguished legal background, Mr. Kaminetsky brings a wealth of experience to Agudath Israel. Previously associated with Offit Kurman, P.A. and a founding member of Snitow Kaminetsky Rosner & Snitow, LLP, he has handled a diverse range of matters. Notably, Mr. Kaminetsky was a key member of a legal team that successfully defended the Vaad of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway in a defamation lawsuit. Through his expertise and commitment, the lawsuit was dismissed, setting an important precedent in ensuring the viability of the Vaads determinations. Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Kaminetsky is an active member of the Bergenfield/Teaneck, New Jersey, community. He has served as the past president of Congregation Beth Abraham in Bergenfield and has sat on various fundraising committees and boards of local yeshivas, demonstrating his dedication to both the legal profession and community service. Mr. Kaminetsky is the grandson of Rabbi Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky, zl, who served for decades as the national director of Torah Umesorah, establishing the yeshiva/day school movement across North America. Rabbi Yitzhok Ehrman, COO of Agudath Israel, stated, We are thrilled to have Daniel Kaminetsky join our team as General Counsel. I look forward to seeing him use his tremendous abilities and extensive legal experience on behalf of our community. Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice president of Agudath Israel, expressed his enthusiasm for Mr. Kaminetskys appointment, stating, We are delighted to welcome Daniel Kaminetsky as our General Counsel. His exceptional legal skills and commitment to serving the community make him an ideal fit for this role. Mr. Kaminetsky expressed his gratitude and excitement for the opportunity to serve Agudath Israel in this capacity, stating, It is an especially meaningful for me to further my grandfathers vision of ensuring the vibrance of Orthodox Judaism in the United States. I am eager to contribute my legal expertise and passion for advocacy towards advancing Agudath Israels mission of providing legal support to Jews across the country. Agudath Israel is confident that with Mr. Kaminetskys contributions, the organization will continue to serve as a trusted resource for legal counsel and representation within the Jewish community. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Friday he supports the idea of expunging the two impeachments of Donald Trump as hard-right Republican allies of the former president introduce a pair of proposals to declare it as though the historic charges never happened. McCarthy told reporters that he agrees with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Elise Stefanik who want to erase the charges against Trump from the former presidents impeachments of 2019 and 2021. I think it is appropriate, said McCarthy, the Republican from California. Just as I thought before that you should expunge it, because it never should have gone through. Pressed on his views, McCarthy said he agreed with expunging both of Trumps impeachments the abuse of power charges in 2019 over pressing Ukraines president to dig up dirt on rival Joe Biden and the 2021 charge that Trump incited the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol as Trump supporters tried to overturn Bidens election. In both cases, Trump was acquitted by the Senate after his impeachment by the House. But expunging the charges from his record would be an action he could further tout as vindication as he seeks another term in the White House. The effort is the latest by Trumps allies to rewrite the narrative of the defeated presidents tenure in office. And it underscores the pressure McCarthy is under from his right flank. Just this week, McCarthy beat back a proposal from Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., to impeach President Biden, sending it instead to committees for review. In explaining his views, McCarthy said the first Trump impeachment, in 2019, should have never happened, conflating it with a separate investigation by the Justice Department into Russian interference into the 2016 election. As for the 2021 trial that was conducted swiftly in the week after the riot at the Capitol, he said: The second impeachment had no due process. The speaker gave no indication he would move quickly to bring forward the proposals from Greene, R-Ga., and Stefanik, R-N.Y., who is the fourth-ranking GOP leader, for House votes. Pressed if the proposals were a priority, he shifted to listing other GOP goals. Asked if he had spoken to Trump about expunging the impeachment record, McCarthy said he had not. Trump, who is campaigning to return to the White House, is the first president in U.S. history to be twice impeached by the House, though he was acquitted by the Senate of all charges. Democrats have defended their decision to quickly impeach Trump a second time after the mob attack at the Capitol in 2021. They argue that the evidence played out for the world to see as the defeated president rallied his supporters to Washington and encouraged them to march to the Capitol as Congress was certifying Bidens election. Trump was first impeached in 2019 after it was disclosed that he encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to dig up political dirt on then-White House rival Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential campaign while Trump was withholding U.S. military aid to Ukraine as it faced Russia. (AP) Once a low-profile businessman who benefited from having President Vladimir Putin as a powerful patron, Yevgeny Prigozhin moved into the global spotlight with Russias war in Ukraine. As the leader of a mercenary force who depicts himself as fighting many of the Russian militarys toughest battles in Ukraine, the 62-year-old Prigozhin has now moved into his most dangerous role yet: preaching open rebellion against the leadership of the countrys military. Prigozhin, owner of the Kremlin-allied Wagner Group, has escalated what have been months of scathing criticism of Russias conduct of the war by calling Friday for an armed uprising to oust the defense minister. Russian security services reacted immediately, opening a criminal investigation and urging Prigozhins arrest. In a sign of how seriously the Kremlin took Prigozhins threat, riot police and the National Guard scrambled to tighten security at key facilities in Moscow, including government agencies and transport infrastructure, Tass reported. Prigozhin, a onetime felon, hot-dog vendor and longtime associate of Putin, urged Russians to join his march to justice. PUTINS CHEF Prigozhin and Putin go way back, with both born in Leningrad, what is now known as St. Petersburg. During the final years of the Soviet Union, Prigozhin served time in prison 10 years by his own admission although he does not say what it was for. Afterward, he owned a hot dog stand and then fancy restaurants that drew interest from Putin. In his first term, the Russian leader took then-French President Jacques Chirac to dine at one of them. Vladimir Putin saw how I built a business out of a kiosk, he saw that I dont mind serving to the esteemed guests because they were my guests, Prigozhin recalled in an interview published in 2011. His businesses expanded significantly to catering and providing school lunches. In 2010, Putin helped open Prigozhins factory that was built on generous loans by a state bank. In Moscow alone, his company Concord won millions of dollars in contracts to provide meals at public schools. He also organized catering for Kremlin events for several years earning him the nickname Putins chef and has provided catering and utility services to the Russian military. In 2017, opposition figure and corruption fighter Alexei Navalny accused Prigozhins companies of breaking antitrust laws by bidding for some $387 million in Defense Ministry contracts. MILITARY CONNECTION Prigozhin also owns the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-allied mercenary force that has come to play a central role in Putins projection of Russian influence in trouble spots around the world. The United States, European Union, United Nations and others say the mercenary force has involved itself in conflicts in countries across Africa in particular. Wagner fighters allegedly provide security for national leaders or warlords in exchange for lucrative payments, often including a share of gold or other natural resources. U.S. officials say Russia may also be using Wagners work in Africa to support its war in Ukraine. In Ukraine, Prigozhins mercenaries have become a major force in the war, fighting as counterparts to the Russian army in battles with Ukrainian forces. That includes Wagner fighters taking Bakhmut, the city where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. By last month, Wagner Group and Russian forces appeared to have largely won Bakhmut, a victory with strategically slight importance for Russia despite the cost in lives. The U.S. estimates that nearly half of the 20,000 Russian troops killed in Ukraine since December were Wagner fighters in Bakhmut. His soldiers-for-hire included inmates recruited from Russias prisons. WHAT IS THE GROUPS REPUTATION? Western countries and United Nations experts have accused Wagner Group mercenaries of committing numerous human rights abuses throughout Africa, including in the Central African Republic, Libya and Mali. In December 2021, the European Union accused the group of serious human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, and of carrying out destabilizing activities in the Central African Republic, Libya, Syria and Ukraine. Some of the reported incidents stood out in their grisly brutality. In November 2022, a video surfaced online that showed a former Wagner contractor getting beaten to death with a sledgehammer after he allegedly fled to the Ukrainian side and was recaptured. Despite public outrage and a stream of demands for an investigation, the Kremlin turned a blind eye to it. RAGING AGAINST RUSSIAS GENERALS As his forces fought and died en masse in Ukraine, Prigozhin raged against Russias military brass. In a video released by his team last month, Prigozhin stood next to rows bodies he said were those of Wagner fighters. He accused Russias regular military of incompetence and of starving his troops of the weapons and ammunition they needed to fight. These are someones fathers and someones sons, Prigozhin said then. The scum that doesnt give us ammunition will eat their guts in hell. CRITICIZING THE BRASS Prigozhin has castigated the top military brass, accusing top-ranking officers of incompetence. His remarks were unprecedented for Russias tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin could air such criticism. Earlier this month, Putin reaffirmed his trust in the Russian militarys General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, by putting him in direct charge of the Russian forces in Ukraine, a move that some observers also interpreted as an attempt to cut Prigozhin down to size. Prigozhin somewhat toned down his harangues against the military leadership after that, but remained defiant. Asked recently about a media comparison of him with Grigory Rasputin, a mystic who gained fatal influence over Russias last czar by claiming to have the power to cure his sons hemophilia, Prigozhin snapped: I dont stop blood, but I spill blood of the enemies of our Motherland. A BAD ACTOR IN THE US Prigozhin earlier gained more limited attention in the U.S., when he and a dozen other Russian nationals and three Russian companies were charged in the U.S. with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trumps 2016 election victory. They were indicted as part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian election interference. The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned Prigozhin and associates repeatedly in connection with both his alleged election interference and his leadership of the Wagner Group. After the 2018 indictment, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Prigozhin as saying, in a clearly sarcastic remark: Americans are very impressionable people; they see what they want to see. I treat them with great respect. Im not at all upset that Im on this list. If they want to see the devil, let them see him. The Biden White House in that episode called him a known bad actor, and State Department spokesman Ned Price said Prigozhins bold confession, if anything, appears to be just a manifestation of the impunity that crooks and cronies enjoy under President Putin and the Kremlin. AVOIDING CHALLENGES TO PUTIN As Prigozhin grew more outspoken against the way Russias conventional military conducted fighting in Ukraine, he continued to play a seemingly indispensable role for the Russian offensive, and appeared to suffer no retaliation from Putin for his criticism of Putins generals. Media reports at times suggested Prigozhins influence on Putin was growing and he was after a prominent political post. But analysts warned against overestimating his influence with Putin. Hes not one of Putins close figures or a confidant, said Mark Galeotti of University College, London, who specializes in Russian security affairs, speaking on his podcast In Moscows Shadows. Prigozhin does what the Kremlin wants and does very well for himself in the process. But thats the thing he is part of the staff rather than part of the family, Galeotti said. (AP) THE CLAIM: Photographs show the remains of OceanGates Titan submersible after U.S. authorities reported the deaths of all five people on board. ASSESSMENT: False. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that there are so far no public images of the wreckage. Two of the photographs being shared were actually taken in 2004 and show the remains of the Titanic itself; the other photograph was first shared on a Twitter account that identifies as a parody and spreads images created by artificial intelligence. THE FACTS: The submersible carrying five people toward the Titanic imploded near the wreck site, killing all five people on board, the Coast Guard said on Thursday. Any remaining hope of finding the five men alive had been dashed hours earlier, when the ships oxygen was expected to run out and debris had been found approximately 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the Titanic in the waters of the North Atlantic. After the announcement, social media users erroneously claimed, both in English and in Spanish, that a series of photographs showed the remains of the submersible. Images of the remains found of the #Titan submarine of the Ocean Gate company, reads one of the Facebook posts written in Spanish, which included two photos showing human objects covered in sand and another photo with remains of the vessel. OceanGate was found but unfortunately, no one survived, wrote another Facebook user in English in a post that also included the photos. The underwater robot found the debris of the titan on the ocean floor. Its been discovered that there was a catastrophic implosion when they tried to surface. But the Coast Guard said the search team, which also includes the U.S. Navy, the Canadian Coast Guard and OceanGate, has not released any photos or videos of the debris. Unless released from our official press releases or our social media, these photos are unconfirmed, the armed service branch wrote in an email. In a reverse image search, the AP found that two of the images, which appear to show shoes and kitchen utensils, were taken in 2004 near the Titanic and do not match the Titans wreckage. This 2004 photo provided by the Institute for Exploration, Archaeological Oceanography Center/University of Rhode Island/NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration shows the remains of a coat and boots in the mud on the seafloor near the stern of the Titanic, says the description of the image, which is available in the APs archives. The third photo, showing a boat in the sand, was uploaded from the Twitter account @prince_of_fake, which identifies as a parody and often shares AI-generated images. The Titan left Sunday afternoon and was reported late that afternoon about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St Johns, Newfoundland, on its expedition to the site where the Titanic sank more than a century ago, the AP has reported. At least 46 people successfully traveled on the OceanGate submersible to the wreck of the Titanic in 2021 and 2022, according to company letters filed in federal court in Norfolk, Virginia, which oversees matters related to the sinking of the liner. (AP) The Justice Department asked a judge on Friday night to postpone until December the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump for retaining classified documents. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon earlier this week set an initial trial date of Aug. 14 for Trump, who faces 37 felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and obstructing Justice Department efforts to get them back. Prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smiths team asked Cannon to reschedule the trial for Dec. 11. They said the delay was necessary because the case involves classified information and will require Trumps lawyers to obtain security clearances, a process that is underway. The Justice Department said this week that it has begun sharing with the Trump legal team evidence relevant to the case. But, they said in their Friday filing, Even with the prompt production the government has arranged, the inclusion of additional time for defense counsel to review and digest the discovery, to make their own decisions about any production to the government, and for the government to review the same, is reasonable and appropriate. The Justice Department said Trumps lawyers do not object to pushing the trial date back. The judge will ultimately set the trial date. (AP) The cost of the unprecedented search for the missing Titan submersible will easily stretch into the millions of dollars, experts said Friday. The massive international effort by aircraft, surface ships and deep-sea robots began Sunday when the Titan was reported missing. Searchers raced against a 96-hour clock in the desperate hope to find and rescue the vessels occupants before their oxygen supply ran out. But all hope was extinguished Thursday when officials announced the submersible had suffered a catastrophic implosion, killing all five aboard. A scaled-back search remained in place Friday as the robots remotely operated vehicles, known as ROVs continued to scan the sea floor for evidence that might shed light on what occurred in the deep waters of the North Atlantic. The search area spanned thousands of miles twice the size of Connecticut and in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep with agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard, the Canadian Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and other agencies and private entities. Theres no other comparable ocean search, especially with so many countries and even commercial enterprises being involved in recent times, said Norman Polmar, a naval historian, analyst and author based in Virginia. The aircraft, alone, are expensive to operate, and the Government Accountability Office has put the hourly cost at tens of thousands of dollars. Turboprop P-3 Orion and jet-powered P-8 Poseidon sub hunters, along with C-130 Hercules, were all utilized in the search. Some agencies can seek reimbursements. But the U.S. Coast Guard whose bill alone will hit the millions of dollars is generally prohibited by federal law from collecting reimbursement pertaining to any search or rescue service, said Stephen Koerting, an attorney in Maine who specializes in maritime law. The Coast Guard, as a matter of both law and policy, does not seek to recover the costs associated with search and rescue from the recipients of those services, the Coast Guard said Friday in a statement. The first priority in search and rescue is always saving a life, and search and rescue agencies budget for such expenses, said Mikki Hastings, president and CEO of the National Association for Search and Rescue. In the end, these people were in distress. We know what the ultimate result was. But during the search operation, there are people who are in distress, she said of the Titan submersible. Rescue agencies dont want people in distress to be thinking about the cost of a helicopter or other resources when a life is in danger. Every person who is missing they deserve to be found. Thats the mission regardless of who they are, she said. (AP) Moshe Levy, a successful Israeli businessman and philanthropist, is also an Israeli hero who is only one of 40 Israelis to receive a Medal of Valor, the IDFs highest honor, for his heroic actions in Sinai during the Yom Kippur War. Moshe was the commander of a company in the Sinai that was called to help free Israeli soldiers trapped by an Egyptian ambush. But when his tank and others arrived, they came under heavy Egyptian attack. Moshe stuck his arm out of the tank to return fire and a rocket hit him, cutting off his right arm. Certain he wouldnt survive, Moshe decided to at least attack the enemy before he died. Unable to shoot his Uzi gun and with his arm bleeding profusely, he grabbed a grenade with his left hand, approached the Egyptian position until he was only ten meters away, pulled the pin with his teeth, and threw the grenade. The grenade killed the Egyptians but also rebounded and hit Moshe in the face and chest. And as he staggered back to his tank dripping in blood, he was hit by an Egyptian bullet in his back. When medics arrived, Moshe told them to treat his soldiers first. Moshe miraculously survived his severe injuries although the Egyptian bullet remains lodged in his body until this day. Prior to the incident in which he was injured, Moshe and his comrades, who were far outnumbered by the Egyptian soldiers and tanks, came under an Egyptian attack. Moshes friend Avner Zadani, Hyd, took out a Sefer Tehillim, and said: With this, well stop the tanks. The other soldiers were inspired and put their helmets on and joined in by saying Amen [not realizing that Amen wasnt said after reciting Tehillim]. The ruchniyus of the moment prompted Moshe to say to his friend: If I come out of this war alive, Ill put on tefillin every day. Zadani was killed during the war. As Moshe recovered, the question continuously plagued him of why his friend who had inspired the soldiers to do teshuvah, was killed, and he, who had vowed to put on tefillin, lost his right arm. And as Moshe said: I didnt receive a satisfactory answer from any of the Rabbanim I spoke to. After eight months in the hospital, the IDF sent Moshe to the US to be fitted for a prosthesis. While he was in NY, the director of the Defense Ministrys office called him and said: The Rebbe wants to see you. Moshe, not knowing who the Rebbe was, said: I dont have time. Moshe was convinced to meet the Rebbe and during their meeting, he presented his question. The Rebbe said. Its simple. Zadani was born in order to be mechazeik you and the other soldiers. He completed his mission and returned his neshamah to the Creator. You were supposed to die. But you vowed to put on tefillin every day if you live and that connected you to Hashem. Hashem took your arm that puts on tefillin in order that youll understand that you dont become close to Hakadosh Baruch Hu through actions but through . I felt the Koach Elyon of the Rebbe, Moshe said. It was after the war. I didnt know what I was going to do without a right arm, I was a righty. I asked the Rebbe: Am I going to succeed in life? He looked at me and smiled and said: Youll be very successful.' The Borei Olam heard his voice. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) A terrorist opened fire at Israeli security forces at the Qalandiya checkpoint near the entrance to Jerusalem on Friday night at 2:40 a.m. Security forces returned fire and neutralized the terrorist. Two security guards were lightly wounded in the exchange of fire. After receiving emergency medical aid at the scene, they were evacuated to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital for further treatment. The death of the terrorist was declared at the scene. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Israeli officials are closely monitoring the tumult in Russia in the wake of the attempted coup by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group mercenary group. Although the crisis had apparently de-escalated after Prigozhins announcement on Saturday that he ordered his mercenaries to halt their march on Moscow and return to Ukraine to avoid shedding Russian blood, Israeli officials still anticipate a possible sharp increase in the number of Russian Jews who may want to make aliyah. Israels Foreign Ministry held a situational assessment on the situation on Motzei Shabbos and for now, had decided against evacuating Israeli diplomats from Russia. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he spoke with Israels Ambassador in Moscow Alex Ben-Tzvi on Motzei Shabbos and they are preparing for every scenario. We anticipate that many Israelis in Russia will need consular services, so we will increase the consular staff in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Cohen added. The minister also issued a travel warning to Israelis, telling them to reconsider the necessity of their arrival in Russia at this time. Walla News also reported on Motzei Shabbos that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley canceled his trip to Israel this week in order to remain in Washington and monitor the events in Russia. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Hundreds of people wearing neon green and white T-shirts and bearing flags gathered late Thursday afternoon on Esplanade 5, at the Old Army Stadium in Guatemala City, to join Zury Rios, the daughter of dictator Efrain Rios Montt, as her campaign for Sundays elections comes to an end. Before my father [died], he told me: Zury, if someday God gives you the opportunity to serve Guatemala, do it with love, do it with service, do it with dedication, do it with responsibility and do it with character and courage, she shouted. She asked her supporters to stand to end the event. Rios, one of 22 candidates vying for the Guatemalan presidency in this Sundays elections, did not hesitate to lean on the figure of her father who died at the age of 91 in 2018 while on trial for the genocide of indigenous Maya-Ixiles during the countrys long civil war (1960-1996) when asking Guatemalans to vote for the conservative Valor-Unionista coalition. In her speech, she also said that she would put God, family and life at the center of her government. The other option is any of the other political parties, which only seek to [pursue] their [own] interests and to go on living with corruption, she proclaimed before an audience in which there seemed to be more supporters for her partys candidate for mayor of the capital, Ricardo Quinonez, than for her. A little later, a few streets further east in a hotel room with a 1980s air, the Cabal party candidate, Edmond Mulet, connected virtually with his followers around the country. We already have 37,000 on Facebook and TikTok and they keep joining! he announced as a member of his team showed him the data about the number of people online. We are very concerned about the process of degradation that Guatemala is going through, said Mulet, a center-right diplomat with extensive experience; he served as the head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. Like Rios, Mulet promises to fight corruption and insecurity, two of Guatemalans main concerns. His approach is to bring the army to the streets; the conservative candidate has also proposed a war on gangs similar to the one Nayib Bukele is waging in El Salvador and reinstating the death penalty. Edmond Mulet, the Cabal partys presidential candidate, closes his electoral campaign with a virtual activity in a Guatemala City hotel. SANDRA SEBASTIAN (SANDRA SEBASTIAN) According to the latest poll, published by the newspaper Prensa Libre on Thursday, with the country fed up with corruption and a vote split among 22 options, no candidate will reach the absolute majority needed to win outright in the first round this Sunday. The poll forecasts that Mulet or Rios (who are running second and third) will advance to the second round of the elections against Sandra Torres, the favorite, who is attempting to win the Presidency for the third time; this Friday, she closed her campaign in La Terminal, the popular market in the Guatemalan metropolis. In a country with one of the regions lowest tax burdens, but where half the population lives in poverty, the candidate promised to abolish taxes on basic products, fuel and medicines. Guatemala has had three presidents who have not fulfilled their promises and who have failed you; I tell you, no more Papa Government, now Guatemala will have a Mama Government, I will take care of you, I will protect you, with me you will have more money in your pocket and for those who do not have housing, I will give you your little houses, she said before hundreds of merchants. In her first two attempts to win the Presidency, the former first ladyTorres is the widow of the late President Alvaro Colomshowed that she had the solid support of nearly 1.5 million Guatemalans, but she lost in the second round twice, first to Jimmy Morales and then to Alejandro Giammattei, the president under whom the persecution of anti-corruption judges, prosecutors, activists, journalists and human rights defenders has intensified. This Sunday, much more will be at stake beyond who governs Central Americas most populous country for the next four years. In a region besieged by authoritarianismDaniel Ortegas government goes after any critical voice in Nicaragua and Nayib Bukele has made a power grab and fights insecurity by restricting rights and freedoms in El Salvadorwhoever wins must decide whether to continue along the authoritarian path of Giammatteis four-year presidency and the attendant erosion of guaranteed rights or to return institutionality to the State of Guatemala. An authoritarian system without caudillos There is an eagerness to control the entire State. In this regard, we are not very different from Nicaragua and El Salvador, says former Foreign Minister Edgar Gutierrez. But our interference is different. We dont have caudillos and charismatic leaders. A sort of corporate dictatorship is governing, he says. He is alluding to what they refer to in Guatemala as the Pact of the Corrupt, which he defines as an informal alliance among politicians, bureaucratic elites and businessmen to protect each other in order to maintain power. According to the analyst, while the Guatemalan elections outwardly appear to comply with the formal requirements (22 candidates from different points along the political spectrum are participating), it is not a normal election, because leading candidates have been excluded and, for the first time since the return of democracy in 1985, the electoral body is being called into question. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) is one of the dominos that has fallen, and there are very credible allegations that say that the court has been bribed by President Giammatteis circle since December 2021, he argues. This Friday, two newspaper articles from The New York Times and El Faro and ConCriterio reported the alleged denunciation of a TSE magistrate at the US Embassy, in which she confessed to having received money from the current president. Candidate Sandra Torres at a rally in Guatemala's La Terminal market. JOHAN ORDONEZ (AFP) Last February, TSE magistrates refused to allow the registration of one of the parties that has been most critical of the current president, the Peoples Liberation Movement (MLP), a leftist organization led by Mayan leader Thelma Cabrera and former human rights attorney Jordan Rodas, who is in exile in Spain. In addition, Roberto Arzu Garcia-Granados, the son of former president Alvaro Arzu, and Carlos Pinedaa farmer without previous political experience who managed to climb to first place in the polls within a few months, largely because of his popularity on social media like TikTokwere withdrawn from a process that they call a fraud. The Guatemalan regime is [maneuvering] to induce a vote for candidates who reproduce the system they have created. That is what worries me, because it isa way of falsifying the vote, Gutierrez insists from exile in Mexico City. As a columnist for El Periodicoa prestigious Guatemalan newspaper known for its allegations of corruption, which was forced to shut down last Maythe former foreign minister decided to leave the country along with seven other journalists from the paper after they were mentioned in the case of Jose Ruben Zamora, who was sentenced to six years in prison for alleged money laundering this month. When Gutierrezs and the other journalists names came up in one of the cases hearings in connection with an alleged charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice, they decided to leave the country because they did not believe that their rights would be respected if they eventually had to go to court. With all that has happened over the last few years, we dont think its a question of legality but rather one of political persecution, he says. Judges and journalists in exile The former foreign minister and other sources consulted for this article estimate that there are already around 100 prosecutors, judges, justice workers, activists and journalists in exile. One of them is Flor Galvez, a lawyer who was part of the International Commission against Impunity (CIGIG), the defunct United Nations body that opened dozens of trials for major corruption cases in the country, including the one that landed President Otto Perez Molina in jail. Guatemalan citizens participate in a Zury Rios rally. SANDRA SEBASTIAN (SANDRA SEBASTIAN) Although Jimmy Morales government expelled the commission in 2019 , Galvez remained in the country. At that time, threats against judges and prosecutors who had fought corruption began gradually. But Galvez saw that criminalization increase in February 2022, when several of her colleagues were arrested, including prosecutor Virginia Laparra, whom human rights organizations consider a prisoner of conscience. After organizing with a group of colleagues to defend each other and seeing the threats against her increase, Galvez decided to leave the country for her personal safety. This week, in a Zoom call with three other exiled justice workers, an activist and a human rights defender, the lawyer nostalgically yet powerlessly recalled her work at CICIG. There were days when we didnt sleep [because we were] preparing for trials and everything. I know that we were not perfect, that there could have been some mistakes or some issues in some trials. But [it was] not how they are being treated now, she said, denouncing the quick investigations and summary trials. They are doing everything in a very lax way, without any deep investigations; that is why we realize that using penal law to frighten [people] or [against] those of us who were working for justice at some point is a brutal criminalization. Faced with this discouraging political landscape, over 9.3 million Guatemalans will go to the polls on Sunday. On the streets of Guatemala City, which are full of ads displaying the candidates faces, many say that they feel compelled to support the lesser of two evils. The same goes for those who were forced to leave the country because they felt persecuted. The consensus seems to be that the best option would be Edmond Mulet, a conservative who has publicly defended freedom of expression and judicial independence. The candidate has implied that, if he becomes president, he will not keep Consuelo Porras as attorney general; she was appointed by Giammattei, despite the fact that the US State Department included her in a list of corrupt and undemocratic actors in 2021. The idea would be to thank her for her service because there is no degree of trust, the Cabal candidate has said when considering the possible re-appointment of Porras, who is considered a key force in the persecution of judges, prosecutors and critical voices. If he becomes president, Mulet will have to make an enormous effort to strike a blow for authority from the start to neutralize the structures of corruption that he will inherit from the Giammattei government, Gutierrez notes. But at least with him, the free market of vendettas will end, says Helen Mack, a prestigious human rights activist in exile. Helen Mack in Mexico City on October 27, 2022. Hector Guerrero Internationally recognized for her dogged pursuit of justice for the 1990 murder of her sister by a Guatemalan Armed Forces death squad, Mack also emphasizes the international communitys important role in ensuring judicial independence in the country. I dont know if the U.S. and Europe have any interest in the region given what we have seen. As I once told a U.S. official, we are going through a second Bay of Pigs, she laments, referring to her sense that the situation in Guatemala is being neglected. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition There were violent clashes between Israeli Jews and Palestinians in the village of Umm Safa on Shabbos. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi HaLevi, Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar and Police Chief Kobi Shabtai issued a rare joint statement against Jewish violence in Arab villages in recent days following the murderous terror attack in Eli on Tuesday that killed four Jews, Hyd. In recent days, violent attacks by Israeli citizens against innocent Palestinians have been carried out in the territories of Yehudah and Shomron, the statement said. These attacks are contrary to every moral and Jewish value and are also nationalist terrorism in every way, and we are obligated to fight them. The security forces are working against those rioters, risking the lives of IDF soldiers, Israel Police officers and Shin Bet operatives. This violence increases Palestinian terrorism, harms the State of Israel and the international legitimacy of the security forces to fight Palestinian terrorism, and diverts the security forces from their main mission against Palestinian terrorism. The IDF, the Shin Bet and the Israel Police are committed to continuing to act with determination and with all the means at our disposal to maintain security and the law in Yehudah and Shomron. The IDF will divert and increase forces to prevent incidents of this kind in Yehudah and Shomron, and the Shin Bet will expand the arrests, including administrative arrests against the rioters who act in a violent and extreme manner inside the Palestinian villages. We also call on the leaders in the yishuvim, educators and public leaders to publicly denounce these acts of violence and join the fight against them. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said: I strongly condemn the violence that led to the burning of houses and vehicles in the village of Umm Safa this is not our way. I support the IDF soldiers who are working with determination and persistence to thwart terrorism and protect the residents of Yehudah and Sharon. I support and direct all security forces to act to maintain order and prevent incidents of uncontrolled violence by civilians in the area. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) As the Druze residents of Israels north continued to engage in protests and threaten violence, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Muwafak Tarif on Motzei Shabbos and informed him that he has decided to comply with his request and halt the work on the $400 million wind-turbine project until after Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Netanyahu also stated that dialogue will take place with the leaders of the Druze community during Eid al-Adha and the work will resume next Sunday. In a statement from the Prime Ministers Office, it was stated that Netanyahu instructed to act in the coming days to promote solutions to the planning and housing plight in the Druze settlements in Carmel and the Galil which harms the entire Druze community, including young people released from the IDF who contribute to the security of the state. Meanwhile, thousands of Druze residents attended an emergency conference in Kafr Yasif on Friday and called for war. During Tarifs speech, he said that if the government doesnt fulfill the Druze sectors demand, Israel will face a response the country hasnt seen until now. According to a Kan News report, during Tarifs speech, there were shouts against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who called to continue the work and not give in to violence. According to an investigative report on the issue by Makor Rishon on Friday, the turbine project is a cooperative initiative of the Druze residents of Ramat HaGolan, their leaders and Ramat HaGolan council leaders. The project, which will provide electricity to 50,000 homes, is being carried out on private land on the Israeli-Syrian border. Druze landowners have already been paid NIS 60-100,000, depending on the size of their holding, over the past three years. However, Druze Syrians on the other side of the border began stirring up provocations against the project, sending them videos and messages to Israeli-Druze residents to rebel against the project which they claim is on conquered Syrian land. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Terrorists opened fire at IDF soldiers from a passing vehicle at a military post near Shechem in the Shomron on Sunday morning. The soldiers returned fire and hit the vehicle but the terrorists succeeded in fleeing the scene. BChasdei Hashem, there were no injuries to IDF soldiers. The IDF post sustained damage. Additional IDF forces were deployed to the area and a manhunt was launched to locate the terrorists, who fled to Shechem. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Media outlets in Cyprus reported on Sunday morning that an Iranian terror attack on the island against Israeli or Jewish targets has been thwarted. According to the reports, the information about the attack was conveyed to Cypriot intelligence services by Israeli and US intelligence services. The Cypriot intelligence services have been closely following the squad of Iranian operatives, who were working for Irans Revolutionary Guards, over the past months. Although the attack was successfully thwarted, the main suspect managed to escape. Cyprus is planning on issuing an international arrest warrant. The thwarted attack is the second time Cyrpus stopped an attempt by Irans Revolutionary Guards to harm Israelis or Jews on the island in less than two years, with the first attempt to murder five Israelis taking place in 2021. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com This week, the entire country witnessed the tragic end of a horrible disaster unfold before our eyes. There are lessons to be learned, of course, and this article will, bEzras Hashem, address some of those lessons. But first, a brief trip back in time to almost one century ago. It is Sept. 1st, 1923, the 20th of Elul. An earthquake, a very powerful one hits Japans Kanto plain. It veritably destroys Tokyo, Yokohama, and its surrounding cities. Over 100,000 people rl die. When the news reaches the Chofetz Chaim in Radin, he fasts and says that this news should galvanize everyone. He writes a Kol Koreh about it (see Letters of the Chofetz Chaim 10-12). Now we are back in our time. On June 18th, 2023, the Titan, an engineering miracle so to speak, a submersible went missing. The submersible was on a tourist expedition to view the wreckage of the R M S Titanic which sank in 1912. Two of those killed were Isador and Ida Strauss, the co-owners of Macys. The founder and CEO of the company that made and died on the Titan was a man named Stockton Rush. Rush was married to Wendy Rush, an ur-ur einekel of the Strausses. Early on June 22nd, evidence of the wreckage began to emerge. The vessel imploded, and it seems instantly. There were no survivors. The first lesson we can draw from this tragedy is that we need to galvanize ourselves not just to do Teshuvah but to take action. How so? And in what areas? Details and facts are emerging that there were horrific shortcuts taken. Unfortunately, some of us, at times, also take shortcuts rachmana litzlan in regard to various things whether it has to do with following codes and protocols about electricity, bedikas chometz, chanukah licht, buildings, swimming pools, crowd control, or general safety. Shortcuts are a negation of six different Mitzvos in the Torah. And before we get to specific lessons, lets enumerate those Mitzvos. Please, please, do not skip this section. Hashavas Aveidah. The verse in Parashas Ki Seitzei (Devarim 22:2) discusses the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah, returning a lost object, with the words, Vhasheivoso lo, and you shall return it to him. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (73a), however, includes within its understanding of these words the obligation of returning his own life to him as well. This verse is the source for the mitzvah of saving someones life. It is highly probable that it is to this general mitzvah that the Shulchan Aruch refers in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 325. Shortcuts violate this Mitzvah in the Torah. VNishmartem meod lnafshoseichem. The Maharsha states definitely this pasuk from Devarim (4:15) refers also to following practical advice and protocols in all matters of safety. Thy Brothers Blood. There is a negative mitzvah of not standing idly by your brothers blood Lo saamod al dam reiecha (Vayikra 19:16). This is mentioned in Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 426:1) and in the Rambam. When shortcuts present a clear danger to so many around us and we do nothing, we are violating the commandment of Lo saamod al dam reiecha. Lo Suchal Lhisalem. There is yet another negative commandment associated with the positive commandment of hashavas aveidah, and that is the verse in Devarim (22:3), You cannot shut your eyes to it. This verse comes directly after the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah. The Netziv, Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin, in his HeEmek Sheeilah, refers to this mitzvah as well. Vchai Achicha Imach. The Sheiltos (Sheilta #37), based upon the Gemara in Bava Metzia 62a, understands the words in Vayikra (25:36), vchai achicha imach, and your brother shall live with you, to indicate an obligation to save others with you. The Netziv in his HeEmek Sheeilah understands it as a full-fledged obligation according to all opinions. He writes that one must exert every effort to save his friends life, until it becomes a matter of pikuach nefesh for himself. Vahavta Lreiacha Kamocha. The Ramban, in Toras HaAdam Shaar HaSakanah (pp. 4243), understands the verse of And love thy neighbor as yourself as a directive to save our peers from other danger as well. THE SHORTCUTS What were the shortcuts here? My father zl was a leading metallurgist, engineer, and physicist and chose and developed the metals for the Apollo rocket engines. He worked for Rocketdyne, JPL, NASA, and Boeing. On numerous occasions, he pointed out that the engineering and metallurgical engineering behind space exploration was much easier than that of exploring the ocean depths. Things much be tested much more for what is going on underwater than in space especially if the lives of people may be at risk. Why is this the case? The underlying issue is air pressure. And when dealing with water it is called hydro-static pressure. At sea level, air pressure is 14.7 pounds per square inch which means that a column of air with an area of 1 square inch would have a weight of slightly less than 14.7 pounds because of the weight of all that air going up to the sky. Water, however, weighs much more than does air and every square inch you go down is another 14.7 pounds per square inch. The Titan planned to go to the ocean floor next to the Titanic which is 12,500 feet below sea level. Imagine that you have back issues and your 100 pound child is walking on your back to alleviate your back pain. At the Titanics depth, that child is no longer 100 pounds. He would feel like 12500 X 12 X 14.7 X 100 on you. Thats 150,000 times 1470 which is the equivalent of 75,000 fully loaded Monsey Trail buses on top of your back. The hatch on the Titan had to be bolted down by 17 to 18 bolts from the outside. There was no other egress or exit. It had to be open by people on the outside. We too have to ensure that there are other exits whenever we build anything. For example, im NYCs building code, TITLE 27 Subchapter 6, we find the exit requirements. We need to keep to that. The Titan had no backup systems. It had no GPS, no locator, nor even a black box. In 2019, OceanGate, Titans creator, published a blog post explaining why the Titan was not certified by any ship authority. Uh-oh. PLASTIC CHANUKAH MENORAHS The craft was also controlled by a video game controller not by a well-tested military grade device. It just wasnt tested to be safe. Years ago, I called a Vaad HaRabbonim to complain about plastic Chanukah licht that were being sold in a local store. They were perhaps tested one at a time in 70 degree air conditioned weather, but when placed in close proximity to 5 to 9 other Chanukah menorahs the heat generated can very likely cause a fire. I asked that they require that they be removed, because how is it different than selling tarfus? I was laughed at. Many deaths later, rachmana litzlan we still havent learned. They need to be banned. The Titan was a carbon-fiber and titanium hold submersible. America has been testing and using high strength steel and aluminum for a long, long time, and there is engineering data on how they fail and what we should be looking for and even data on test methodologies. Whenever there is a fire in the city, there are investigators from the fire department to determine how the fire happened so that it wont happen again in the future. Engineers know what they are doing circumventing them is stupid. Quite often, products fail after one or two or three uses. There were warning signs too. Chazal tell us aid echad ne-eman bissurin when someone warns us about something lets not ignore a warning. And especially, lets not shut them up. We need to be brave enough to point out serious problems. David Lockridge, the Ocean Gate Director of Marine operations, filed a quality control report in January, 2018 stating that no non-destructive testing of the carbon fiber hole had taken place to check for voids in the carbon fiber layup that could compromise the whole strength. The day after he filed his report, Lockridge was summoned to a meeting by Ocean Gate and was dismissed from his position. To shut him up, they filed a lawsuit against Lockridge accusing him of improperly sharing proprietary trade secrets. The suit was eventually settled and we do not know the exact terms. With airplanes, there are mandated hours for retiring the craft from commercial use because it was only tested for a certain amount of hours. When the Chasam Sofer said, Chadash assur min haTorah, we can include a new or further use for an old thing. We need to always learn from our mistakes, but often, we just go right back to them, rl. Which brings us to another lesson that we can also learn from a child of a certain Reb Moshe Mabovitch. Almost 50 years ago, this child was found to be in a key leadership position and failed miserably. It was a case of possible destruction of hundreds of thousands of Jewish lives. A statement was issued by this leader which runs counter to all that we Jews, and that much of American society holds dear. Innovation is good and incredible, but let us not place our faith in our own abilities. Let us always remember to put G-d in all aspects of our lives. Let us always express that we have faith in Hashem, before every endeavor. A quick perusal of the statements made before the Titan was launched (and the Titanic as well for that matter), revealed no mention of Hashem. Nor did any statement made by Mabovitchs child. Instead, fifty years ago, the fourth Prime Minister of the State of Israel issued a statement that echoed a national sentiment of invincibility in the aftermath of the Six Day War. She said, anu botchim bekochot tzahal. The results were the horrific tragedy that was the Yom Kippur War and the deaths and injuries associated with it. The lesson here is the bravado, the brave new world that we can do anything, should and must be tempered with the knowledge that we must do our hishtablus make our best efforts, but ain od milvado Hashem runs the world. Lets never forget that, but let us never use that sentiment to make shortcuts in our observance of the six Mitzvos mentioned above. The author can be reached at [email protected] Further details about the Hezbollah post established inside Israeli territory that was revealed to the Israeli public last week have come to light. Kan News reported on Friday that the post, consisting of two tents in the Har Dov area, was set up 30 meters inside Israeli territory and are manned by armed Hezbollah terrorists, including members of the Radwan Force, Hezbollahs elite unit. The tents were equipped with electricity provided by generators placed nearby. The report added that after discovering the outpost, the IDF contacted the UNIFIL peacekeeping force but to no avail no UN inspectors arrived at the area. Israel applied diplomatic pressure via Israels Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan, and finally, UNIFIL arrived at the area and confirmed that the tents were inside Israels sovereign territory. On Thursday, Erdan sent a letter to the UN Security Council demanding that it condemn Hezbollah for its gross violation of Israeli sovereignty and demand that the Lebanese authorities remove the structures, which violate UN Resolution 1701, which was enacted after the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and signed by both countries. Erdan added that the UN must also address the fact that in the past year, Hezbollah has established at least 27 outposts along Israels northern border under the guise of branches of the Green Without Borders environmental group, another violation of Resolution 1701. Moshe Davidowitz, the head of the Mateh Asher Regional Council (in the western Galil) and the chairman of the Confrontation Line, [the Israeli-Lebanese border area] slammed the government on Sunday regarding its lack of action regarding the Hezbollah post. In an interview with Ynet, Davidowitz said: Hezbollah is trying to harm Israels sovereignty. The Lebanese border is the most sensitive, explosive and dangerous in the country, he added. As the chairman of the Confrontation Line, I say that the northern front is hefker and is not ready for war and maybe this is one of the reasons that theyre not trying to push out the Hezbollah forces. The political leadership, including Netanyahu and [Defense Minister Yoav] Gallant, need to consider this issue. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Days of violent riots by Druze-Israeli citizens in the northern Golan Heights, during which over 12 Israel Police officers were injured, were supposedly sparked by the construction of a wind turbine farm near the town of Majdal Shams in the Ramat HaGolan area of northern Israel. However, the project is being carried out by the Energix energy company on legally purchased land and not on stolen land as some of the Druze claim. As it turns out, the rage driving the riots is much deeper than wind turbines and according to Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, goes back 40 years. In an interview with Ynet on Thursday, Tarif admitted that the wind turbines are just an excuse, the problem is bigger. A document he submitted to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in a meeting on Wednesday, published by Ynet for the first time, reveals what the Druze are trying to achieve through their violent protests, with the main issue stemming from the rampant illegal construction in the sector. The document presents a series of demands, including that the State allocate land to the homeless in Druze settlements on a background of an apparent housing crisis in the sector. Most notably, the document refers to the Kaminetz Law, a law passed in 2017 to curb rampant illegal construction in Arab and Druze communities. According to the document, thousands of Druze homes were built illegally and Sheikh Tarif stated that the enforcement of fines has led to economic ruin for the members of the Druze community who wish to build residential apartments on private land. The planning procedures are progressing extremely slowly and have been going on for over a decade and have not yet ended, while the enforcement procedures are immediate and severe. There is a natural population growth in the community that has been waiting for many years for planning solutions, but there are none now or in the foreseeable future. Tarif clarified that he is against all violence. However, he added: We have to ask how we got here. How did we reach this situation? The problem is very big, but we need to understand it. The problem is the issue of planning and construction and the fines that are imposed on us, fines of hundreds of thousands of shekels. Each person receives a fine of between NIS 300,000 600,000 and becomes a criminal. They are all salt of the earth. Its not their fault that they built on private land. The issue of the wind turbines is only mentioned at the end of the document. The Druze residents who live in the area of the planned project are demanding the removal of five or six turbines, which they claim will harm the future development of Druze settlements in the northern Golan. In addition, they are demanding that Energyx compensate all the farmers in the area, and not only those whose land lies in the path of the turbines. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai wanted to surrender to Druze threats of continued violence and temporarily freeze the construction of the turbines but he was overruled on Thursday by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said: I dont want any sector to threaten the law. The two traveled to the north by helicopter on Wednesday to the Druze village of Julis for a meeting with Druze leaders. Shabtai still maintains his position to temporarily freeze the construction work until after the Feast of the Sacrifice but Shabtai is adamantly opposed to a surrender to violence. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to make the final decision on the matter. According to Ynet, police officers are the field are outraged by Shabtais recommendation, calling it shameful. A 0404 reporter wrote: Lets be clear. Whats seen in the videos are not Druze protests. With all due respect to the tribe these arent protests. Live fire, an attempt to take over a police station, harming security forces by throwing explosives and stories is what is called terror. Thank you. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Investors could be forced to pay tax on some shares sheltered in their Individual Savings Accounts (Isas) after a bizarre intervention by HM Revenue & Customs. The taxman claims that so-called 'fractional shares', where investors hold slices of shares rather than full ones, are not eligible investments for Isas. As a result, it could force investors with fractional shares to pay capital gains tax on any profits when they come to sell. The move will hit those with smaller portfolios and shallower pockets, who are often unable to afford single shares in well-known US companies such as Google, Apple and Tesla where shares cost hundreds of pounds each. Investing in a fractional share means these investors can own a slice of numerous companies, rather than single shares in just one or two. Their portfolio is then more balanced and less exposed to the fortunes of just one or two companies. Tax experts say that the move undermines the Government's commitment to opening up investing to everyone no matter their budget. A slice of the pie: Investing in fractional share means investors can own a slice of numerous companies, rather than single shares in just one or two 'Offering fractional shares is especially beneficial to the smaller investor or saver and it fits with the Isa objective to encourage investing and saving within the retail market,' says Lisa Laybourn, head of technical policy and regulation at trade body The Investment and Savings Alliance (TISA). 'It seems unfair,' adds Katharine Arthur, who runs the private client business at top accountancy firm Haysmacintyre, and advises individuals and businesses on tax compliance. 'I'm not sure why HMRC is worried about this when the Government is supposed to be encouraging share ownership and investment in business.' She says a final decision on penalties for those with fractional shares in Isas could take 'months or longer', leaving investors uncertain as to whether their current portfolios are in breach of the rules. 'There's nothing that puts people off more than uncertainty,' Arthur says, suggesting that some younger people who invest in fractional shares might stop investing altogether. A fractious argument Isa providers that allow their customers to buy fractional shares include Moneybox, Freetrade, Trading 212 and Wombat Invest. Larger platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown and Interactive Investor do not. However, HMRC has written to providers stating that current legislation means that fractional shares cannot be held in an Isa. The 1988 Isa regulations say that 'shares' can be held in an Isa, but HMRC believes this does not refer to parts of shares, meaning those who hold them breach the rules. A spokesman for HMRC says: 'Fractional shares cannot be held in an Isa. Isa managers must make sure the investments they offer are Isa eligible.' However, he was unable to comment on discussions with companies that offer the Isas due to 'strict confidentiality laws'. While HMRC is threatening action against companies if they do not comply with regulations, 'we are not able to comment on timeframes', the spokesman adds. Freetrade sought legal advice on the issue and believes the current Isa rules do not prohibit fractional shares from being held in an Isa. 'We will continue to offer fractional shares until this matter is resolved,' says a spokesman. Investment app Moneybox says: 'We would support an update of the legislation to give clarity to HMRC's decision but we do not see any rationale for the position that customers should be prevented from holding fractions of shares in Isas.' Mukid Chowdhury, chief executive of Trading 212, says the company had taken legal advice and believes fractional shares are well within the remit of existing Isa regulations. He says: 'Trading 212 is actively engaging with HM Treasury to review this situation, especially given HMRC's view seems contrary to the Government's objectives. We have also sought to engage the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffiths MP, on the matter.' However, others believe HMRC is right to prohibit tax-efficient investment in fractional shares. Grzegorz Drozdz, market analyst at investment company Conotoxia, says they are not defined as securities but rather as shares of equity interest in an entity. 'This difference may seem subtle, but it matters,' he says. The problem is believed to stem partly from the fact that fractional shares can complicate the process if an investor wants to transfer their Isa to another one. Could I be fined? Customers who hold fractional shares in Isas may be penalised if it is found they are in breach of the Isa rules. Arthur, at Haysmacintyre, says that in theory HMRC could fine individuals as well as the provider. Customers may have capital gains tax to pay stretching back for several years. The taxman can also charge interest on unpaid tax. Some individuals may also have wrongly not submitted tax returns, because their only reason to do so would be to pay the capital gains tax now due on uncompliant Isas. 'Over a number of years, the amount adds up for that individual, and might be costly,' she says. 'Hopefully, HMRC would be open to reducing penalties or suspending them or not charging them.' Freetrade says it is committed to making sure customers do not lose out if the taxman charges penalties. 'We will stand behind our customers and ensure that they are at no financial disadvantage,' a spokesman says. Future for fractionals? One way of ensuring fractional shares continue is if Isa rules are amended. This would be a job for HM Treasury, rather than HMRC. TISA says it is engaging with the Government over making simple legislative changes that would be a 'straightforward solution' and would not cost the Government anything. In the meantime, the lack of clarity and ongoing talks leave young investors who want to buy a slice of their favourite stocks in limbo if they want to invest tax efficiently. Tony Hetherington is the ace investigator of Financial Mail on Sunday, This is Money's sister title. Tony fights readers' corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. Ms B.I. writes: I had a very minor car accident in 2021 and my insurers, Privilege Insurance, advised that they were sorting it out. In the middle of 2022, I received an email from solicitors acting for the other driver, saying that Privilege had not paid up and I was being sued. Privilege told me this was a mistake and they would sort it out, so I should not engage with the solicitors or deal with what happened next, which was a County Court Judgment against me for 3,177. Privilege even paid me 750 as an apology, but now say that their own lawyers have been unable to get the CCJ cancelled. Shunt: After a minor car crash, our reader ended up receiving a County Court Judgment Tony Hetherington replies: It is one thing to advise you to ignore the other driver's solicitors. This would have allowed Privilege and its own lawyers to deal with the accident and any claims. But it is a completely different thing to advise you to ignore a County Court Judgment, a legal ruling which the other driver's solicitors would have applied for. Apart from the fact that this is a legally enforceable debt, CCJs appear on a public register and stay there for years, affecting your credit rating and very possibly barring you from getting a credit card or a mortgage. The advice you were given by Privilege was shockingly bad. Privilege itself admits this. It told you that the other driver's claim had been settled, so you should do nothing. It now says that this was 'a fundamental mistake'. It even admits that the other driver's solicitors warned Privilege about the court case, but Privilege failed to alert its own lawyers. It confessed: 'Our lack of urgency and oversight is totally unacceptable.' So where does this leave you? At age 60, you have never had a CCJ against you until now. Well, once it began to take the matter seriously, Privilege did manage to have the CCJ concealed from public records. It remained in force, but without damaging your credit record. That is the good news. The less good news is that Privilege has struggled to have the CCJ completely erased by getting the court to scrap it. Privilege's solicitors tried to get the other side to agree to a joint approach to the court, but the other driver's lawyers simply failed to respond presumably because they believed their job was done. This left Privilege to go back to the court alone. Two months ago it admitted that 'this can take a very long time as the request needs to go through the courts, and there is no guarantee the judgment will be removed as this is done at their discretion'. This really was not good enough, and I am glad to report that after fresh efforts Privilege has now persuaded the opposing solicitors to give their consent so the court can set aside the judgment. Privilege has submitted the necessary papers to the court and is awaiting the judge's decision. If you do not hear soon that the court has wiped the slate clean, let me know. It may be time for Privilege to think again whether its 750 is enough to make up for the damage it has done. Why was my 25,000 loan note delayed? K.N. writes: In October 2019, I invested 25,000 in three-year loan notes issued by Urban Village Cap 1 Limited. My notes matured last October and I requested that my 25,000 be paid back to me. I sent three emails, without reply. I phoned the company's business development manager Mr Yakoviev, but he did not answer. Can you help me recover my money? High rate: Urban Village Group was late paying our reader the 25,000 it owed him Tony Hetherington replies: You invested in an offshoot of the Urban Village Group, a property development company based in Sutton Coldfield, and you have been receiving interest at an annual eight per cent without any problem. Your loan note is signed by the group's finance director, Peter Steer, so I asked him about his company's failure to repay you. He immediately told me: 'We have taken swift action to resolve the issue, and we are happy to report that it has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.' You now have your missing 25,000, but Steer refused to say why you were not repaid last October, or why his company failed to reply to your emails and calls. He described this as an 'error', which is rather self evident, but would offer no proper explanation. VAT mystery...at my home Ms M.A. writes: I am sending you a copy of a letter from HM Revenue & Customs, which was sent to my home but addressed to a Mr Grzegorz Plata about VAT. In 2013, I received a similar letter acknowledging his VAT enrolment, and I notified HMRC that Mr Plata does not live here. HMRC apologised in 2013 and confirmed that this error had been corrected, but it would seem that this man is still using our address. Not known at this address: Ms M.A. received a letter from HM Revenue & Customs, which was sent to her home but addressed to a Mr Grzegorz Plata about VAT Tony Hetherington replies: I checked local records such as the electoral register as far back as I could, and there was no trace of the mysterious Mr Plata at your address or anywhere nearby. I also reverse-checked the VAT number and found it was still live and still registered to him at your home address. I asked officials at the Revenue head office to look into this. They told me: 'We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the customer receiving incorrect post. We have corrected our records to ensure it does not happen again.' I left it a while and have just checked the VAT number once more, and it now shows in Revenue records as no longer being a valid number. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Wind power now accounts for almost a third of all the UK's electricity, overtaking every other source, including gas. Turbines have been built, capacity has increased and costs have come down. But wind is unpredictable. On calm days, there is not enough of it. On gusty days, too much. This creates problems. When wind turbines generate more electricity than the grid can absorb or distribute, they are simply asked to stop producing. Over the past two years alone, the process has cost around 1.5billion and huge amounts of energy has been lost, enough to power over a million households, according to think tank Carbon Tracker. This problem is growing worse each year, making renewable energy more expensive than it should be and slowing the UK's path towards a fossil fuel free future. Invinity Energy Systems can help to fix the issue. The company makes vanadium flow batteries, which are safe, last for years and are capable of storing electricity for hours at a time. Invinity shares are 35p and should increase materially as the group rolls out its batteries not just here but across the world. Bright future: Invinity's battery systems can help stop wind energy worth billions of pounds being wasted Today, lithium batteries dominate the market. Used in phones, computers and electric cars, they are known for being 'energy dense' so they can store a lot of electricity for their size. But they are more suited to short bursts of power and they degrade within a few years. They are highly flammable too, so extreme care has to be taken about how they are installed and maintained. Vanadium flow batteries are constructed using completely different chemistry. Ideally suited to storing large amounts of power and discharging it over many hours, they retain their potency for decades and carry no risk of overheating and catching fire. These batteries are also about 30 per cent more expensive than their lithium counterparts. In 2021 however, Invinity embarked on a joint venture with German engineering giant Siemens to develop a battery that was both cheaper and more effective than anything that had gone before it. The new kit, known as Mistral, is being piloted in Canada and commercial sales are expected from next year. Siemens chose Invinity for a reason the company has already sold more vanadium flow batteries than any other operator and has assembled a world-class team operating out of Bathgate in Scotland. The team has delivered results. Upfront costs for Mistral will be on a par with lithium batteries, but the product will last much longer, making the lifetime cost significantly cheaper. Brokers expect Mistral to turbocharge Invinity's growth. Figures for 2022 will be unveiled this week and should show sales of around 3.6million. This year however, sales are expected to surge to 25million, more than doubling to 53million in 2024. Chief executive Larry Zulch is ploughing money into Invinity's future so the group is loss-making at the moment but prospects are bright. This year alone, there has been a surge of interest in Invinity's products. The group already operates a major project in Oxford and in April, the Government awarded Zulch a 11million grant to build the largest vanadium flow battery outside Asia. This should be delivered next year. Major projects are also under way in Australia, Canada and California, with more requests for batteries coming in thick and fast. Rising demand makes sense. When renewable energy accounts for a small proportion of a country's total power, unpredictability can be managed. As wind and solar increasingly replace fossil fuels however, the need for efficient storage rises in sync. Va-va-vanadium: This metal could be the key to longer-lasting batteries of the future In the UK, estimates suggest that 46 gigawatts (46,000 megawatts) of battery energy storage will be needed by 2035, half of which is expected to come from so-called long duration products, like vanadium flow batteries. Today, we have just 2.6 gigawatts of energy storage and the vast majority of that can only supply power for an hour or two. Nor is the need confined to this country. In the US, government subsidies are fuelling growth in renewable energy plants, with a commensurate need for efficient storage. In California alone, policymakers admit that they need to increase storage capacity eightfold by 2030 to meet their renewable energy targets. Canada and Australia are pouring money into renewable energy too, and there is mounting interest across Asia. Invinity has a troubled past. The group was born out of a merger between US-based firm Avalon and RedT, an AIM-listed vanadium battery producer which consistently disappointed. The merged business should achieve greater success. Its technology is cutting-edge, Zulch is a canny operator and demand for safe, reliable and resilient storage is growing fast. Midas verdict: Backing a loss-making business is never without risk but Invinity is now working hand in glove with engineering powerhouse Siemens and has attracted support from around the world. At 35p, the shares should go far. Traded on: AIM Ticker: IES Contact: invinity.com or 020 4526 5789 A Palestinian woman sits outside her torched home, days after it was set on fire by Jewish settlers, in the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya, Saturday, June 24, 2023. A Palestinian assailant opened fire at an Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank on Saturday before being shot and killed, Israeli police said. Elsewhere in the occupied territory, settlers rampaged through a Palestinian village, hurling stones, spraying bullets and setting fire to homes, the latest in a series of settler attacks this week. The Palestinian gunman approached Israeli troops stationed at the Qalandiya checkpoint outside Jerusalem early in the morning, pulled out an M16 rifle and opened fire, the Israeli police said. Israeli security forces said they shot back, killing the suspected assailant. According to the Israeli rescue service, two security guards in their 20s were hospitalized with minor wounds at least one from bullet fragments. There was no immediate word on the attackers identity. Later on Saturday, residents of the Palestinian village of Umm Safa said that some 50 Israeli settlers armed with rifles and flammable liquid stormed through the streets and tried to set fire to at least five homes with people inside. The Israeli military said it sent security forces to the scene and arrested an Israeli citizen. Palestinian rescue teams said they evacuated small children who were suffocating and trapped inside a burning house. Some settlers also opened fire at civilians and medics. A local station, Palestine TV, said settlers fired at Mohammed Radi, its correspondent covering the attacks, shattering his camera. The Palestinian Red Crescent said that one of its medics was wounded by gunfire. Another two medics were wounded when settlers threw a large rock at an ambulance, which crashed through the windshield. Israeli settlers also shot and killed a horse in the village, said resident Ibrahim Ebiat. This is pure terror, he said. People are scared and angry. Young Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli security forces who opened fire and unleashed tear gas at them, witnesses said. The Israeli military said it was working to disperse the friction. One soldier was wounded by a thrown stone, it said, denouncing the violence. The head of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn this disgrace and deal with it properly. Settler violence has crossed every line, he said. Top Israeli security officials condemned the settler violence late Saturday. They constitute, in every way, nationalist terrorism, and we are obliged to fight them, Israels military chief, police chief and the head of the Shin Bet internal security agency said in a joint statement. They said the army will divert security forces to prevent further rampages while the Shin Bet will carry out an increased number of arrests. We call on the leaders and educators in the communities to publicly denounce these acts of violence and to join the effort to fight against them, they said. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a separate statement condemning the settler violence. The events capped a bloody week in the West Bank that left 16 Palestinians and four Israelis dead. An hourslong gun battle between Israeli security forces and Palestinian militants in the northern Jenin refugee camp killed seven Palestinians and wounded eight Israeli soldiers earlier this week. Two Palestinian gunmen then killed four Israeli civilians at a gas station before being shot and killed. Then, a rare Israeli airstrike by a pilotless drone killed three Palestinian militants in a car. Israeli settler attacks in revenge for the deadly Palestinian shooting left one Palestinian dead, many wounded and a trail of destruction through Palestinian towns. The settler violence has drawn international criticism, including from Israels closest ally, the United States. In a conversation with his Israeli counterpart, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed deep concern over the settler violence, the White House said. He reiterated the importance of holding accountable those responsible for such acts of violence. On Saturday, Palestinian health officials also said that a 39-year-old man, Tariq Idris, died of wounds sustained in confrontations with Israeli security forces in the northern city of Nablus the day before. The Israeli military had raided Nablus to arrest three suspected Palestinian militants and fired at residents who shot at them and threw Molotov cocktails, it said. The spiraling violence has increased pressure on Netanyahus far-right government, with its hard-liners calling for a broad military operation against Palestinian militants, as well as on the Palestinian Authority, which has come under criticism for failing to protect Palestinian civilians. This year has been one of the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank in years. At least 137 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank and east Jerusalem so far in 2023, according to a tally by The Associated Press, nearly half of them affiliated with militant groups. As of Saturday, 24 people on the Israeli side have been killed in Palestinian attacks, most of them civilians. Israel captured the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek those territories for a future independent state. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition It has been five years since investment manager Zehrid Osmani got his hands on the wheel of investment trust Martin Currie Global Portfolio. Although he is pleased with the resulting returns that investors have enjoyed, he remains humble and focused on the future, rather than looking in the rear mirror. Hired from rival asset manager BlackRock in May 2018, Osmani jointly ran the trust from June to September and then took total control. His impact has been impressive, whichever way you dissect the performance numbers. Over the past five years, the 270million stock market-listed fund has delivered a return of 47 per cent. This compares with an average return from its global peers of 15 per cent. Over the past year, the respective figures are 20 per cent and 8 per cent. The fund's success is firmly built around identifying the big global themes that will drive forward economic growth and then taking stakes in those companies which it believes will benefit. The result is a portfolio comprising just 30 companies, eight fewer than when he took over. Osmani says the more concentrated fund is a deliberate move. 'The idea is to capture the very best investment ideas and take sizeable stakes in those companies which will thrive as a consequence,' he says. 'It also increases the fund's quality threshold. If a new exciting buy idea comes in from one of our analysts, it only makes it into the fund if it's better than what we hold already. What we're not prepared to do is end up with a fund that has a long tail of holdings.' Eight investment themes dictate the companies that the trust holds. These embrace everything from green energy, electric cars, healthcare through to technology, geopolitical tensions and artificial intelligence. Yet the companies Osmani selects are not always the obvious ones. For example, while he says demand for healthcare will rise as populations age especially in the developed world he is not keen on the big pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. He says patents on many existing drugs are expiring, research and development productivity is weakening, and drug prices are under pressure from governments. Instead, Osmani prefers to invest in medical tech companies that offer high growth potential and more importantly the chance to make strong investment returns. Key trust holdings in this area include US medical equipment company ResMed, which makes devices to treat conditions such as sleep apnoea and pulmonary disease; and Veeva Systems, a developer of software used in hospitals worldwide. Although technology is the trust's biggest investment theme, it has no holdings in big tech companies Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Meta but it does have a stake in Microsoft. Osmani says this differentiates the trust from many rivals that are similarly growth oriented. Not everything the trust touches turns to gold. It lost money on holdings in Chinese tech companies Alibaba and Tencent. 'Sadly, we make mistakes,' admits Osmani. But the performance numbers suggest these are more than compensated for by successful stock picks. Osmani says the chances of the world slipping into recession this year are between 30 and 35 per cent. But he believes China's re-emergence as an engine of economic growth is a positive. Although the trust pays a quarterly dividend, income is not a priority. For the past five years, it has totalled 4.2p a year. Shares currently trade at around 3.50. The stock market code is 0537241 and the ticker MNP. Annual charges total 0.67 per cent. Archie Norman: Leading the charge Marks & Spencer has teamed up with the Interactive Investor platform to give thousands of people who do not hold shares in their own name the chance to vote at annual general meetings. The move is the latest in the retailer's 'Share Your Voice' campaign backed by The Mail on Sunday, This is Money's sister title which aims to boost shareholder democracy by making it easier for private investors to have a say in how the companies they own are run. M&S chairman Archie Norman wants to improve links between companies and small shareholders who use so-called nominee accounts on platforms such as Interactive Investor, where their holdings are pooled with those of other savers. These are a popular, low-cost way of owning shares, but companies do not know the identity of nominee investors and cannot communicate with them directly. 'Nominees make up 40 per cent of the market and investor platforms are growing, so unless we act the connection between companies and private shareholders will be lost,' Norman said. 'However people own their shares, they have a right to have a say and hold their boards to account.' The pilot scheme with Interactive Investor, the UK's second biggest investment site, aims to increase shareholder participation at annual meetings. Previously only retail investors who held shares in their own name could vote at M&S annual meetings. That right is now being extended to M&S shareholders on Interactive Investor's platform. The company has been holding digital-only meetings since 2020, with three times as many shareholders taking part compared with previous in-person meetings. M&S has also joined forces with a number of trade bodies, including The Quoted Companies Alliance, to call for the Companies Act to be modernised so that shareholders have more of a voice in the companies in which they invest. You can sign the petition at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/636051 Legend: 'Biggins' loves spending but also owns a buy-to-let flat Actor and pantomime great Christopher Biggins, 74, got his big break playing Lukewarm in the 1970s BBC classic sitcom Porridge. A 50-year career has embraced everything from starring in pantomime, children's programme On Safari to being crowned king of the jungle in 2007's I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Biggins, as he is affectionately known, tells Dan Moore that after playing Nero in BBC's I, Claudius, he reckons he actually was the emperor in a previous life. He lives in East London with partner Neil Sinclair. What did your parents teach you about money? At 18, I was with Salisbury Rep on 2 a week, and drama school and both were heavily subsidised by my parents. When I left, my father said: 'Now look, son. You've done four years, but it's time to get yourself a proper job and buy a house.' I said I'm going to be an actor and I think I've been reasonably successful. They were purely looking after my interests and in a way, they were right. I advise others against joining this business because the money's terrible and there are so many out-of-work actors who are brilliant. What was your first proper job? It was the 1974 BBC sitcom Porridge. Sid Lotterby, who was the director-producer, told me about it. When he said Ronnie Barker was going to star in it, I thought, well, that's good enough for me. I used to drive to work in a convertible; I'd be at traffic lights with the roof down and lorry drivers would look down and say, 'Ello Lukewarm, how are you?' It was this that made me think I'd arrived! Did Porridge give you financial security? Not at all. When I look back and think of what I did without being financially secure, Poldark, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, stage, pantomime, there were so many things. Security only came with winning I'm A Celebrity. That's when my finances really changed. What drew you to panto? I was asked to do pantomime at Darlington Civic Theatre in 1975 when I was 26 or 27 years old and I said, 'No thank you, I'm an actor, I don't do pantomime.' They kept asking and I kept saying no. Eventually, they told me the money was 1,000 a week. I did it and, of course, fell in love with it. Pantomime is very different now. If you star in one you can make a lot of money. I feel strongly about pantomime, as it's very important for theatres. If people have enjoyed the pantomime, the chances are they'll book for next year, and they'll probably book something in between so it's a breeding ground for theatre audiences. What's your career highlight? I, Claudius, in which I played Nero, was a great, high-class television series, filled with the most wonderful actors. I absolutely adored it because I felt that in a past life, I was Nero myself! I sympathised with the character so much. It was beautifully written and the episode I did was great fun. The day after my episode was transmitted the producer of Poldark rang the producer of I, Claudius to ask what this Biggins fellow is like. He got a glowing report and of course, offered me the role of the sex-crazed vicar in Poldark. Is there anything you would change about your life? I've directed a lot of theatre, pantomime, Shakespeare, all sorts, but I'd love to direct a film. You have just one view with film. The final result is what you see through the camera lens rather than through the theatre audience's eyes. I don't really mind what genre, just whatever takes my fancy. Are you an investor? I'm a spender rather than a saver but I have invested in property. I bought my house in Victoria Park, Hackney, and when I won I'm A Celebrity, I bought a one-bedroom flat in Stratford near the London Stadium, which I rent out. King of the Jungle: Christopher Biggins won I'm A Celebrity in 2007 What luxury do you treat yourself to? Paintings. I've been collecting art for 50 years. We don't know what wallpaper looks like at home. It's just wall-to-wall paintings. They are all works by my friends or picked up at exhibitions. I get very upset when I go to people's houses and they don't have paintings or books. I think they are strange people. What is your number one financial priority? As you get older, you realise you don't need another television or fridge freezer. I've got a wonderful home, a wonderful life, a wonderful partner. All we need is enough money to go on holiday twice a year. Do you have any plans to retire? I'll never retire, but I am very picky about what I'll do. I've no ambitions to play Hamlet or give the country my Lear. I just want to keep ticking along. I've a season at the Edinburgh Festival this year hosting a show called Tea With Biggins, where afternoon tea is served while I interview famous guests such as Sir Cliff Richard, Dame Arlene Phillips, Stephanie Beacham and Gloria Hunniford. Sidoti assumed coverage on shares of USANA Health Sciences (NYSE:USNA Get Rating) in a research report issued on Friday, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage set a buy rating on the stock. USNA has been the subject of a number of other research reports. DA Davidson boosted their price target on USANA Health Sciences from $52.50 to $56.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. StockNews.com raised USANA Health Sciences from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Saturday, June 3rd. Get USANA Health Sciences alerts: USANA Health Sciences Price Performance USNA stock opened at $61.03 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $1.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.00 and a beta of 0.77. USANA Health Sciences has a 1 year low of $48.61 and a 1 year high of $76.58. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $63.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $60.51. Insider Transactions at USANA Health Sciences USANA Health Sciences ( NYSE:USNA Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.18. USANA Health Sciences had a return on equity of 15.31% and a net margin of 6.70%. The business had revenue of $248.36 million for the quarter. As a group, analysts expect that USANA Health Sciences will post 3.05 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, President Jim Brown sold 12,202 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.48, for a total transaction of $811,188.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, President Jim Brown sold 12,202 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.48, for a total value of $811,188.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Brent Neidig sold 2,694 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.96, for a total transaction of $180,390.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 21,518 shares of company stock valued at $1,427,054. Insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On USANA Health Sciences Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in USANA Health Sciences by 27.1% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 4,327 shares of the companys stock worth $348,000 after acquiring an additional 922 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of USANA Health Sciences by 56.6% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 7,088 shares of the companys stock worth $563,000 after acquiring an additional 2,561 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in USANA Health Sciences by 8.0% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 31,182 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,477,000 after purchasing an additional 2,297 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its position in USANA Health Sciences by 14.1% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 10,067 shares of the companys stock valued at $800,000 after purchasing an additional 1,241 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of USANA Health Sciences by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 566,420 shares of the companys stock worth $45,002,000 after purchasing an additional 2,390 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.50% of the companys stock. USANA Health Sciences Company Profile (Get Rating) USANA Health Sciences, Inc develops, manufactures, and sells science-based nutritional, personal care, and skincare products. The company offers USANA nutritional products that comprise essentials/CellSentials, such as vitamin and mineral supplements that provide a foundation of total body nutrition for various age groups; optimizers comprising targeted supplements that are designed to meet cardiovascular, skeletal/structural, and digestive health needs; and foods that include meal replacement shakes, snack bars, and other related products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for USANA Health Sciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for USANA Health Sciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pernod Ricard SA (OTCMKTS:PDRDY Get Rating) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the five analysts that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $219.33. Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Pernod Ricard from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Get Pernod Ricard alerts: Pernod Ricard Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS PDRDY opened at $47.12 on Tuesday. Pernod Ricard has a 52-week low of $34.68 and a 52-week high of $47.39. The companys 50 day moving average price is $47.12 and its 200-day moving average price is $47.12. About Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard SA engages in the manufacture of wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages. The firm offers products under the brands Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal, Ballantines, Beefeater, Jameson, Kahlua, Malibu, Ricard, Havana Club, Martell, Cognac, The Glenlivet, G.H. Mumm, Perrier-Jouet, Royal Salute, Brancott Estate, Graffigna, Campo Viejo, Jacobs Creek, Kenwood, Pastis 51, 100 Pipers, ArArAt, Becherovka, Blenders Pride, Clan Campbell, Imperial, Seagrams Imperial Blue, Olmeca, Passport Scotch, Amaro Ramazzotti, Ruavieja, Royal Stag, Seagrams Gin, Something Special, Suze, Wisers, and Wyborowa. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pernod Ricard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pernod Ricard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) had its price target lowered by equities researchers at Piper Jaffray Companies from $316.00 to $314.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Stock Target Advisor reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the information technology services providers stock. Piper Jaffray Companies target price would suggest a potential upside of 5.22% from the companys current price. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Accenture from $311.00 to $314.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com raised shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Accenture from $310.00 to $343.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Accenture from $290.00 to $322.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 15th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $326.55. Get Accenture alerts: Accenture Price Performance Accenture stock opened at $298.43 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $291.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $280.22. The company has a market cap of $188.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.24. Accenture has a fifty-two week low of $242.80 and a fifty-two week high of $327.93. Insider Transactions at Accenture Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, June 22nd. The information technology services provider reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.96 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $16.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.49 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.79 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Accenture will post 11.58 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.82, for a total transaction of $153,911.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 42,739 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,831,009.98. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, April 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.06, for a total transaction of $1,750,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 174,084 shares in the company, valued at approximately $48,753,965.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $276.82, for a total transaction of $153,911.92. Following the transaction, the general counsel now owns 42,739 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,831,009.98. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 15,010 shares of company stock worth $4,180,030. 0.08% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Accenture A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Accenture by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 58,473,666 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $15,045,274,000 after buying an additional 816,734 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Accenture by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 48,035,644 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $13,729,067,000 after buying an additional 634,462 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Accenture by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,453,884 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $7,560,765,000 after buying an additional 704,657 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in shares of Accenture by 14.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 16,642,841 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,440,976,000 after buying an additional 2,163,582 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in shares of Accenture by 21.7% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 11,535,663 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $3,297,009,000 after buying an additional 2,060,646 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.00% of the companys stock. Accenture Company Profile (Get Rating) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, interactive, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management, intelligent automation comprises robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents, and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprises turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UiPath Inc. (NYSE:PATH Get Rating) Director Rich Wong sold 43,451 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.98, for a total transaction of $781,248.98. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 936,242 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,833,631.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. UiPath Price Performance NYSE:PATH opened at $15.73 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $15.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.16. The company has a market capitalization of $8.77 billion, a PE ratio of -36.58 and a beta of 0.69. UiPath Inc. has a 1-year low of $10.40 and a 1-year high of $22.30. Get UiPath alerts: UiPath (NYSE:PATH Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 24th. The healthcare company reported ($0.04) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.12) by $0.08. UiPath had a negative net margin of 21.55% and a negative return on equity of 10.07%. The firm had revenue of $289.59 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $271.25 million. Equities analysts anticipate that UiPath Inc. will post -0.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Institutional Trading of UiPath PATH has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of UiPath from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $20.00 price target on shares of UiPath in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of UiPath from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $20.00 price target for the company. in a report on Friday, June 9th. DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of UiPath in a report on Thursday, April 20th. They set a neutral rating and a $16.00 price target for the company. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $27.50 price target on shares of UiPath in a report on Friday, March 17th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, UiPath has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $18.64. Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sonnipe Ltd purchased a new stake in UiPath during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in UiPath during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in UiPath during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in UiPath during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank purchased a new stake in UiPath during the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. 56.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About UiPath (Get Rating) UiPath Inc provides an end-to-end automation platform that offers a range of robotic process automation (RPA) solutions primarily in the United States, Romania, and Japan. The company offers a suite of interrelated software to build, manage, run, engage, measure, and govern automation within the organization. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for UiPath Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UiPath and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mountain Commerce Bancorp (OTCMKTS:MCBI Get Rating) is one of 301 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Mountain Commerce Bancorp to similar companies based on the strength of its profitability, earnings, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and valuation. Dividends Mountain Commerce Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Mountain Commerce Bancorp pays out 12.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 10.9% and pay out 17.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Get Mountain Commerce Bancorp alerts: Earnings and Valuation This table compares Mountain Commerce Bancorp and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Mountain Commerce Bancorp N/A N/A 25.81 Mountain Commerce Bancorp Competitors $27.04 billion $629.73 million 216.83 Insider and Institutional Ownership Mountain Commerce Bancorps competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Mountain Commerce Bancorp. Mountain Commerce Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. 37.6% of Mountain Commerce Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 38.1% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 16.8% of Mountain Commerce Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 13.4% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned 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 This table compares Mountain Commerce Bancorp and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Mountain Commerce Bancorp N/A N/A N/A Mountain Commerce Bancorp Competitors 29.31% 11.26% 1.02% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Mountain Commerce Bancorp and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Mountain Commerce Bancorp 0 0 0 0 N/A Mountain Commerce Bancorp Competitors 1284 4242 3918 64 2.29 As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 239.26%. Given Mountain Commerce Bancorps competitors higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Mountain Commerce Bancorp has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Summary Mountain Commerce Bancorp competitors beat Mountain Commerce Bancorp on 8 of the 10 factors compared. Mountain Commerce Bancorp Company Profile (Get Rating) Mountain Commerce Bancorp, Inc. operates as the holding company for Mountain Commerce Bank that provides banking services for small- and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and affluent individuals. It offers checking and savings accounts; certificates of deposit; and mortgage loans, personal loans and lines of credit, commercial real estate loans, small business administration loans, equipment lending, operating lines of credit, and credit cards. The company also provides private banking, free fraud monitoring, estatement, remote deposit capture, and online banking services; and treasury management solutions. In addition, it offers fee based investment management accounts, such as individual stocks, stock mutual funds, and stock exchange traded funds; individual bonds, bond mutual funds, and fixed income exchange traded funds; and 529 college funding plans, as well as traditional, roth, and simple IRA's. Further, the company provides retirement plan consulting services comprising 401(k) and 403(b) plan design review and search services, fiduciary, investment committee support and guidance, and participant education and newsletters; life insurance for individuals, groups, or estate planning strategies; disability insurance and long term care insurance; and financial planning products and services. It operates through branches located in Brentwood, Erwin, Johnson City, Knoxville, and Unicoi. The company was founded in 1910 and is based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Receive News & Ratings for Mountain Commerce Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mountain Commerce Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lenovo Group Limited (OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Rating)s stock price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $18.60 and traded as high as $20.46. Lenovo Group shares last traded at $20.45, with a volume of 13,051 shares trading hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have commented on LNVGY shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Lenovo Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Lenovo Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised shares of Lenovo Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. Get Lenovo Group alerts: Lenovo Group Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.64. The stock has a market cap of $12.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.98. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $20.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.62. Lenovo Group Company Profile Lenovo Group ( OTCMKTS:LNVGY Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 24th. The technology company reported $0.19 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $12.64 billion during the quarter. Lenovo Group had a net margin of 2.60% and a return on equity of 28.36%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Lenovo Group Limited will post 2.45 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Rating) Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It operates through Intelligent Devices Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group, and Solutions and Services Group segments. The company offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lenovo Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lenovo Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fragasso Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Rating) by 1.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,000 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 308 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group accounts for 1.0% of Fragasso Group Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest holding. Fragasso Group Inc.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $8,979,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Chelsea Counsel Co. purchased a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Investors Research Corp lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 51.1% in the 4th quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 71 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Bourgeon Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 192.3% in the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 76 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. 92.61% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Stock Down 0.4 % Shares of UnitedHealth Group stock opened at $477.00 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $485.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $492.31. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52-week low of $445.68 and a 52-week high of $558.10. The company has a market cap of $444.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.81, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.68. UnitedHealth Group Increases Dividend UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.24 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $91.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $89.77 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.16% and a return on equity of 27.05%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $5.49 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.86 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 19th will be given a dividend of $1.88 per share. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. This is an increase from UnitedHealth Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is currently 34.39%. Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $484.58, for a total transaction of $488,456.64. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 10,359 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,019,764.22. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other UnitedHealth Group news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 6,160 shares of UnitedHealth Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $487.49, for a total transaction of $3,002,938.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 86,564 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,199,084.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,008 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $484.58, for a total transaction of $488,456.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 10,359 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,019,764.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 8,852 shares of company stock worth $4,313,962. Company insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $592.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, April 17th. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, May 25th. They set an overweight rating and a $580.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $595.00 to $562.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. StockNews.com lowered shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Finally, SVB Securities cut their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $625.00 to $560.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $592.68. About UnitedHealth Group (Get Rating) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. It operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The conflict between Yevgeny Prigozhin head of the Wagner mercenary group and the highest echelons of power in the Kremlin has been welcomed with relief by Ukraine. The government in Kyiv sees this not only as a sign of internal weakness, but also as a clash that will have direct consequences for the invasion of Ukrainian territory. Russias weakness is obvious, said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday, just before the Wagner group announced that it was withdrawing and advancing towards Moscow. The longer Russia keeps its troops and mercenaries on our land, the more chaos, pain and problems it will have. However, after Prigozhin backtracked and announced that his mercenaries would halt their march to Moscow and return to Ukraine, President Zelenskiy released another statement: Today, the world saw that the bosses of Russia do not control anything. Nothing at all. Complete chaos. Complete absence of any predictability. He then added a message to Putin: The longer your troops stay on Ukrainian land, the more devastation they will bring to Russia. The longer this person is in the Kremlin, the more disasters there will be. Before these messages were released, Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba made an appeal to those who have aligned themselves with Moscow. On Twitter, he wrote: Those who said Russia was too strong to lose: look now. Time to abandon false neutrality and fear of escalation; give Ukraine all the needed weapons; forget about friendship or business with Russia. Time to put an end to the evil everyone despised but was too afraid to tear down. Tension has risen inside Russia at a time when Ukrainian forces are concentrating on the counteroffensive they launched three weeks ago, to recapture Russian-occupied territory. The counteroffensive also coincided with the explosive announcement that was made by the controversial Prigozhin, who briefly announced that he was withdrawing his men. Ukrainian authorities and analysts now see that the events unleashed on the other side of the border are of no benefit to Russian troop movements. In any case, the war is continuing three people died in Kyiv on Saturday after the latest Russian bombardment hit the capital. Today, Ukraine has come a few steps closer to complete victory over Russia and the complete return of its territories, including Crimea, said Anton Gerashenko an adviser to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs in comments made on his social media accounts. This is a rebellion, not just against the war criminals Shoigu and Gerasimov (heads of the Russian Ministry of Defense), but against Putin himself, whose place Prigozhin has always wanted to take to create his own regime in Russia, he added. Zelenskiys entourage is closely following the evolution of the internal Russian crisis. Everything has just started in Russia, says Mykhailo Podolyak, the presidents main adviser. He has stressed that its not possible for the Kremlin and Yevgeny Prigozhin a billionaire and controversial businessman, who was once Putins friend to save themselves from defeat. Andriy Yermak head of the Office of the President of Ukraine noted that a Russian civil war was the only plausible outcome of Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine. History shows us that all dictators eventually collapse under the weight of their contradictions and arrogance. Prigozhins short-lived uprising suggests that Moscow will be forced to look more towards its own territory and less towards Ukraine. Anything that diverts attention from the goal that the Russian president set for himself with his full-scale invasion is received almost like a blessing by the Ukrainians. That the disagreements between Prigozhin, Putin and the Russian Ministry of Defense have blown up is not just an internal Russian conflict it has direct consequences on the current war situations, as the authorities in Kyiv acknowledge. A win-win scenario for Ukraine In a country like Russia, where dissent and opposition is dangerous, Prigozhin is shedding light on underlying doubts about the military campaign in Ukraine and internal differences over Putins imperialist plans. This is according to Oleksandr Slyvchuk, a Ukrainian political analyst at the Transatlantic Dialogue Center, a think tank based in Kyiv. Slyvchuk believes that the head of the mercenaries who frequently records videos on his phone and sends challenging messages from areas of Ukraine where his men are deployed appears as a character more aware of reality than the upper echelons of power in the Kremlin. He notes that Prigozhin is more connected with normal people, with the soldiers in the trenches, who are faced with the corrupt structure made up of the commanders. The heads of the Ministry of Defense are incapable of understanding the real situation on the battlefield. That an internal civil conflict opens in Russia places Ukraine in a win-win situation. The analyst notes that it will force Moscow to focus on its own problems and not so much on invading its neighbors. Meanwhile, Ukrainian social media is celebrating the events in the neighboring country. Jokes, memes, reactions and videos depict Wagners mercenaries taking up positions in the streets and even going to fast food establishments to order hamburgers, in full gear. Slyvchuk believes that, at the moment, its not easy to predict how the conflict could evolve and if it could ultimately lead to the fall of Putin. He does affirm, however, that this is a serious open crisis with an uncertain end. I dont believe Prigozhin will achieve victory, because Russia is a huge body and he looks more like a rebel. [But] just the fact that some of the [regular Russian] soldiers dont oppose and dont resist Prigozhin shows that they arent complying with the orders of the Russian Defense Ministry, the analyst explains. This is demonstrated, according to him, by some videos in which it is seen that [Russian soldiers] dont touch the Wagner Groups vehicles, although that should be their duty. The fact that a Wagner convoy was bombed shows that Russia has lost control of its internal situation and has crossed some red lines. However, he concludes, one cannot yet expressly speak of a civil war. Gerashenko believes, however, that this attack is a setup by the businessman himself. He thinks that if Progozhin truly posed a threat, the Russian authorities would have chosen to eliminate him directly and not given him a chance to order an uprising. Im convinced that this provocation was organized by Prigozhin himself, because there was no point in Shoigu and Gerasimov attacking just one of the dozens of military camps of the Wagner military group, says the adviser to Ukraines Minister of Internal Affairs. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Venture Visionary Partners LLC lifted its stake in iShares National Muni Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:MUB Get Rating) by 10.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,924 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 269 shares during the period. Venture Visionary Partners LLCs holdings in iShares National Muni Bond ETF were worth $315,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MUB. Providence Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares National Muni Bond ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Morris Financial Concepts Inc. lifted its position in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 524.4% during the 4th quarter. Morris Financial Concepts Inc. now owns 256 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares during the period. First Manhattan Co. purchased a new position in iShares National Muni Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its position in iShares National Muni Bond ETF by 70.5% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 283 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 117 shares during the period. Get iShares National Muni Bond ETF alerts: iShares National Muni Bond ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA MUB opened at $106.95 on Friday. iShares National Muni Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $101.35 and a 1 year high of $108.82. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $106.63 and a 200 day moving average of $106.75. iShares National Muni Bond ETF Profile iShares National AMT-Free Muni Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond 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 National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index (the Index). Read More Receive News & Ratings for iShares National Muni Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares National Muni Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Resource Consulting Group Inc. reduced its position in Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:DFAS Get Rating) by 1.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,413,134 shares of the companys stock after selling 25,167 shares during the quarter. Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF makes up 19.2% of Resource Consulting Group Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. Resource Consulting Group Inc. owned approximately 1.47% of Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF worth $74,472,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. US Bancorp DE raised its stake in Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF by 3.9% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 8,789 shares of the companys stock worth $493,000 after acquiring an additional 333 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF by 7.7% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 42,080 shares of the companys stock worth $2,359,000 after acquiring an additional 2,995 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. raised its stake in Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF by 0.9% during the first quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 22,372 shares of the companys stock worth $1,254,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Mariner LLC raised its stake in Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF by 245.1% during the first quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 109,164 shares of the companys stock worth $6,120,000 after acquiring an additional 77,529 shares in the last quarter. Finally, G2 Capital Management LLC OH raised its stake in Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF by 5.9% during the first quarter. G2 Capital Management LLC OH now owns 163,071 shares of the companys stock worth $9,141,000 after acquiring an additional 9,054 shares in the last quarter. Get Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF alerts: Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF Price Performance Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF stock opened at $52.65 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $52.04 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $52.94. Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF has a 52-week low of $46.11 and a 52-week high of $58.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.16 and a beta of 0.97. Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF Company Profile The Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF (DFAS) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in small-cap stocks. The fund actively invests in small-cap US companies, selected using multiple factors and weighted by market capitalization. DFAS was launched on Dec 15, 1998 and is managed by Dimensional. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dimensional U.S. Small Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ervin Investment Management LLC lessened its position in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM Get Rating) by 0.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 11,487 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 100 shares during the period. Yum! Brands comprises approximately 1.3% of Ervin Investment Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Ervin Investment Management LLCs holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $1,486,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $552,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $297,000. BCK Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $230,000. Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $239,000. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. lifted its position in Yum! Brands by 16.6% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 1,472,973 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $156,636,000 after buying an additional 210,170 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.82% of the companys stock. Get Yum! Brands alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,884 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.87, for a total transaction of $531,603.08. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 57,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,846,072.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Yum! Brands news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,920 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.90, for a total transaction of $544,488.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,962,442.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,884 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $136.87, for a total value of $531,603.08. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 57,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,846,072.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 30,307 shares of company stock valued at $4,090,066. 0.31% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Yum! Brands Price Performance Shares of YUM stock opened at $135.60 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $37.98 billion, a PE ratio of 31.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.01. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $136.03 and a 200-day moving average of $131.62. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a one year low of $103.96 and a one year high of $143.24. Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The restaurant operator reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.14 by ($0.08). Yum! Brands had a net margin of 17.67% and a negative return on equity of 14.97%. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.62 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.05 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.06 earnings per share for the current year. Yum! Brands Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 30th were paid a dividend of $0.605 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. This represents a $2.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.78%. Yum! Brandss payout ratio is 56.94%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on YUM. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. They set a neutral rating and a $142.00 price target on the stock. Guggenheim reduced their price target on shares of Yum! Brands from $147.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Yum! Brands from $155.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Yum! Brands from $148.00 to $156.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Yum! Brands from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $146.84. Yum! Brands Profile (Get Rating) Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through four segments: the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division. It operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Yum! Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yum! Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crane Advisory LLC trimmed its position in iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SGOV Get Rating) by 97.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 12,395 shares of the companys stock after selling 441,566 shares during the period. iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF accounts for approximately 0.4% of Crane Advisory LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest position. Crane Advisory LLCs holdings in iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF were worth $1,244,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wealthsource Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF by 55.8% in the 3rd quarter. Wealthsource Partners LLC now owns 17,460 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,751,000 after acquiring an additional 6,253 shares during the last quarter. General Partner Inc. bought a new position in iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF during the 1st quarter worth $120,000. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF by 44.3% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 242,594 shares of the companys stock worth $24,324,000 after purchasing an additional 74,449 shares during the last quarter. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. bought a new position in iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF during the 4th quarter worth $89,988,000. Finally, Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel raised its position in iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF by 18,076.9% during the 4th quarter. Psagot Value Holdings Ltd. Israel now owns 28,356 shares of the companys stock worth $2,840,000 after purchasing an additional 28,200 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF alerts: iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF Stock Up 0.0 % Shares of NYSEARCA:SGOV opened at $100.54 on Friday. iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $99.96 and a 12-month high of $100.61. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $100.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $100.32. iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF Company Profile See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Citizens Financial (OTCMKTS:CIWV Get Rating) is one of 248 public companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Citizens Financial to similar businesses based on the strength of its profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, valuation and risk. Dividends Citizens Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.3%. Citizens Financial pays out 47.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 12.9% and pay out 18.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Citizens Financial lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Get Citizens Financial alerts: Profitability This table compares Citizens Financial and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Citizens Financial N/A N/A N/A Citizens Financial Competitors 36.39% 10.65% 0.99% Insider & Institutional Ownership Earnings & Valuation 5.6% of Citizens Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 33.8% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 14.5% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by company insiders. 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 Citizens Financial and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Citizens Financial N/A N/A 37.48 Citizens Financial Competitors $3.29 billion $629.91 million 281.89 Citizens Financials peers have higher revenue and earnings than Citizens Financial. Citizens Financial 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. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Citizens Financial and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Citizens Financial 0 0 0 0 N/A Citizens Financial Competitors 1070 3041 3006 18 2.28 As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 315.14%. Given Citizens Financials peers higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Citizens Financial has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Summary Citizens Financial peers beat Citizens Financial on 10 of the 10 factors compared. About Citizens Financial (Get Rating) Citizens Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Inc. that provides retail, secondary market, and commercial loan services to consumers and businesses in West Virginia. It provides various deposit products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, IRAs, and certificates of deposit. The company also offers loan products comprising auto, personal, RVS and camper, motorcycles, boats, and ATVS; and commercial loans, such as term loans, lines of credit, real estate loans, and government guaranteed loans, as well as home loans and home equity; debit and credit cards; insured cash sweep and CDARS; and remote deposit and safe deposit box services. In addition, it provides investment products, such as managed and brokerage accounts, 401K, simple and SEP IRAS, traditional and ROTH IRA, smart529 plans, insurance, and fixed and variable annuities; investment services, including retirement planning, estate planning, asset allocation, and college savings; and trust services. Further, the company offers online banking, mobile and telephone banking, mobile deposit, bill pay, notary, ATM, coin counter, night deposit drop, foreign currency, credit card processing, and other services, as well as wire transfers and digital wallet services. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Elkins, West Virginia. Receive News & Ratings for Citizens Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citizens Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oak Ridge Investments LLC increased its stake in Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL Get Rating) by 5.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,481 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Oak Ridge Investments LLCs holdings in Tyler Technologies were worth $1,235,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of TYL. Bison Wealth LLC raised its position in Tyler Technologies by 453.2% during the 3rd quarter. Bison Wealth LLC now owns 6,124 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,128,000 after purchasing an additional 5,017 shares during the last quarter. Tobam purchased a new stake in Tyler Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at $44,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 62,139 shares of the technology companys stock worth $21,594,000 after buying an additional 3,117 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 23,293 shares of the technology companys stock worth $7,506,000 after buying an additional 475 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Veriti Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies by 16.4% in the 4th quarter. Veriti Management LLC now owns 988 shares of the technology companys stock worth $319,000 after buying an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.00% of the companys stock. Get Tyler Technologies alerts: Insider Activity at Tyler Technologies In related news, CFO Brian K. Miller sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $378.62, for a total value of $1,135,860.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 15,512 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,873,153.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Tyler Technologies news, CFO Brian K. Miller sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $378.62, for a total value of $1,135,860.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 15,512 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,873,153.44. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Mary L. Landrieu sold 325 shares of Tyler Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $388.44, for a total transaction of $126,243.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 1,786 shares in the company, valued at approximately $693,753.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 33,230 shares of company stock valued at $12,830,829. 2.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Tyler Technologies Price Performance NYSE TYL opened at $396.93 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $388.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $349.10. The company has a market cap of $16.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 108.45 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.89. Tyler Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $281.11 and a 1 year high of $425.80. Tyler Technologies (NYSE:TYL Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The technology company reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.26 by ($0.01). Tyler Technologies had a return on equity of 9.02% and a net margin of 8.31%. The company had revenue of $471.85 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $473.66 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Tyler Technologies, Inc. will post 5.6 earnings per share for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Tyler Technologies from $375.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an inline rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Wolfe Research raised their target price on Tyler Technologies from $365.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Tyler Technologies from $440.00 to $470.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Barclays raised their price target on Tyler Technologies from $370.00 to $415.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on Tyler Technologies in a report on Wednesday. They set an overweight rating and a $472.00 price target on the stock. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $438.00. Tyler Technologies Profile (Get Rating) Tyler Technologies, Inc provides integrated information management solutions and services for the public sector. It operates in two segments, Enterprise Software, and Platform Technologies. The company offers financial management solutions, including modular fund accounting systems for government agencies or not-for-profit entities; utility billing systems for the billing and collection of metered and non-metered services; products to automate city and county functions, such as municipal courts, parking tickets, equipment and project costing, animal and business licenses, permits and inspections, code enforcement, citizen complaint tracking, ambulance billing, fleet maintenance, and cemetery records management; student information and transportation solutions for K-12 schools; and financial management systems. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TYL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Tyler Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tyler Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James & Associates grew its holdings in shares of SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD Get Rating) by 5.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 866,668 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 42,888 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates owned about 0.27% of SPDR Gold Shares worth $158,791,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of GLD. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 67,584.6% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,037,008 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $515,198,000 after acquiring an additional 3,032,521 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 256.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,142,717 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $206,432,000 after acquiring an additional 821,773 shares during the period. Fullerton Fund Management Co Ltd. boosted its holdings in SPDR Gold Shares by 4,847.1% in the 4th quarter. Fullerton Fund Management Co Ltd. now owns 622,043 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $105,523,000 after buying an additional 609,469 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in SPDR Gold Shares in the 1st quarter worth $100,880,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in SPDR Gold Shares by 134.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 934,636 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $168,842,000 after buying an additional 536,327 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 38.86% of the companys stock. Get SPDR Gold Shares alerts: SPDR Gold Shares Stock Up 0.3 % Shares of SPDR Gold Shares stock opened at $178.20 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $183.69 and a 200 day moving average of $178.30. SPDR Gold Shares has a fifty-two week low of $150.57 and a fifty-two week high of $191.36. About SPDR Gold Shares SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares). Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GLD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Gold Shares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Gold Shares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its position in Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Get Rating) by 18.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 310,962 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 48,858 shares during the quarter. National Bank of Canada FIs holdings in Chevron were worth $51,068,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CVX. Rebalance LLC acquired a new position in Chevron in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Chevron in the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. Red Tortoise LLC bought a new stake in shares of Chevron in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Chevron in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, JDM Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Chevron in the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.65% of the companys stock. Get Chevron alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Chevron from $206.00 to $196.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Chevron in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Chevron from $204.00 to $199.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. BNP Paribas raised shares of Chevron from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $200.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Raymond James lowered their price objective on shares of Chevron from $212.00 to $208.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $191.68. Chevron Trading Down 0.8 % Shares of NYSE:CVX opened at $151.35 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $158.94 and a 200-day moving average of $165.63. The firm has a market cap of $286.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.17, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.17. Chevron Co. has a twelve month low of $132.54 and a twelve month high of $189.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.41 by $0.14. Chevron had a net margin of 14.74% and a return on equity of 23.15%. The business had revenue of $50.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $49.49 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.36 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Chevron Co. will post 13.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Chevron Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 19th were issued a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.99%. Chevrons dividend payout ratio is 32.61%. Chevron 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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Get Rating). 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. Sara Bay Financial trimmed its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) by 6.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,825 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 575 shares during the quarter. Abbott Laboratories makes up 0.4% of Sara Bay Financials portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. Sara Bay Financials holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $792,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JDM Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. True Wealth Design LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. 73.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Abbott Laboratories Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of Abbott Laboratories stock opened at $108.05 on Friday. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $93.25 and a 12-month high of $115.69. The stock has a market cap of $187.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.84, a P/E/G ratio of 4.76 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. The businesss 50 day moving average is $106.94 and its 200-day moving average is $106.35. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.05. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 22.36% and a net margin of 13.98%. The company had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.73 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Friday, July 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.89%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is presently 62.01%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total transaction of $5,551,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,825,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $757,746,582.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.02, for a total transaction of $5,551,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,825,316 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $757,746,582.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 8,226 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.56, for a total value of $909,466.56. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at $7,786,409.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays boosted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. StockNews.com began coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $123.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, SVB Leerink lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $121.26. Abbott Laboratories Profile (Get Rating) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sara Bay Financial acquired a new stake in shares of Occidental Petroleum Co. (NYSE:OXY Get Rating) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 3,470 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $217,000. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of OXY. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Occidental Petroleum during the 4th quarter valued at about $267,173,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 4th quarter valued at about $153,255,000. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Occidental Petroleum by 87.9% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,276,078 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $185,885,000 after purchasing an additional 1,532,100 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. boosted its holdings in Occidental Petroleum by 96.7% in the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 3,094,009 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $194,892,000 after purchasing an additional 1,521,409 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Anomaly Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Occidental Petroleum in the 4th quarter valued at about $95,058,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.31% of the companys stock. Get Occidental Petroleum alerts: Occidental Petroleum Price Performance Occidental Petroleum stock opened at $56.07 on Friday. Occidental Petroleum Co. has a 52-week low of $55.51 and a 52-week high of $77.13. The companys 50 day moving average is $59.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $61.46. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The firm has a market cap of $50.00 billion, a PE ratio of 6.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.78. Occidental Petroleum Announces Dividend Occidental Petroleum ( NYSE:OXY Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.30 by ($0.21). Occidental Petroleum had a net margin of 27.06% and a return on equity of 45.10%. The firm had revenue of $7.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.37 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.12 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 15.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Occidental Petroleum Co. will post 4.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. Occidental Petroleums dividend payout ratio is presently 8.25%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Occidental Petroleum from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $79.00 to $67.00 in a report on Friday, May 19th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $70.00 to $78.00 in a report on Friday, March 17th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $62.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Susquehanna upped their price objective on shares of Occidental Petroleum from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $70.19. Insider Buying and Selling at Occidental Petroleum In related news, major shareholder Berkshire Hathaway Inc bought 614,020 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $58.66 per share, with a total value of $36,018,413.20. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 216,112,188 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,677,140,948.08. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In the last three months, insiders have bought 7,359,782 shares of company stock valued at $431,165,633. Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. About Occidental Petroleum (Get Rating) Occidental Petroleum Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and gas properties in the United States, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. It operates through three segments: Oil and Gas, Chemical, and Midstream and Marketing. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Occidental Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Occidental Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Troops of the Wagner mercenary group prepare to leave the center of Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia, on June 24, 2023. ARKADY BUDNITSKY (EFE) U.S. intelligence agencies suspected the head of the mercenary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was planning an armed rebellion against the Russian government, according to various U.S. media, which cited anonymous sources. The information was shared not only with military and government officials but also with some lawmakers, according to these sources. U.S. President Joe Biden has been closely following the rebellion since Friday. He is staying informed from Camp David, in Maryland, where he is spending the weekend, and has been in contact with U.S. allies. CNN revealed that, earlier last week, U.S. intelligence services briefed the leaders of Congress known as the Gang of Eight about the movements of the Wagner Group and the build-up of material near Russia. Members of U.S. and Western intelligence services saw signs that Prigozhin was preparing for a revolt, such as the stockpiling of weapons and ammunition. The information was confirmed later by other means. According to The Washington Post, the intelligence services collected information in mid-June indicating that Prigozhin was planning an armed attack against the Russian defense establishment and urgently informed the White House and other government agencies so that it would not would catch them off guard. More information Is this the beginning of the end? U.S. intelligence services did not have precise information about Prigozhins concrete plans or when a rebellion could take place. On Friday, Wagners forces took control of a Russian city and on Saturday, they began to move towards Moscow. However, U.S. intelligence was aware of both the discontent and instability of the mercenary group. According to The New York Times, intelligence officials informed senior military and administration officials on Wednesday that Prigozhin was preparing a military action against senior Russian defense officials. Unlike last year, when Washington chose to make public the information that the secret service had collected on Russian aggression in a bid to prevent it the invasion of Ukraine, this time they shared what had been found with a restricted circle. This decision was taken to avoid being accused of orchestrating a coup in Russia and because the government had little interest in helping Putin avoid the crisis, according to The New York Times. The newspaper reports that during the last two weeks there has been great concern about what could happen in Russia, and in particular about what instability could mean for the control of Russias nuclear arsenal. In recent months, the intelligence services have been analyzing the growing tension between the Prigozhin and the leaders of the Russian Defense Ministry, in particular Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Problems adequately supplying Russian troops added to that tension. A key trigger for the crisis was a June 10 Russian Defense Ministry order that meant all volunteer detachments would have to sign government contracts. Although the order did not mention the Wagner Group by name, it did involve the absorption and subordination of Prigozhins mercenary troops, which have proven essential to Russias military campaign in Ukraine and have helped secure some of its most notable tactical victories. After seizing official buildings in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don which borders Ukraine and is an important logistical hub for the Kremlins war effort and launching a column of armored vehicles towards Moscow, Prigozhin announced Saturday evening that he was halting the march towards the capital and that his soldiers would retreat to their camps to avoid bloodshed. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, about the situation in Russia. The group also affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made similar calls to their counterparts from allied countries. In a statement, the Pentagon said that the United States will remain in close coordination with its allies and partners as the situation continues to evolve. Biden has avoided making any statement and is following events from Camp David. The national security team informed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of the situation on Saturday before the president left the White House. The meeting was attended by the National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan; Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley; Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines; the head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, and the United States ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Transform Wealth LLC bought a new stake in ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE Get Rating) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 168,270 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $10,692,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in OKE. First Command Bank boosted its stake in shares of ONEOK by 401.0% in the 2nd quarter. First Command Bank now owns 491 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ONEOK in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ONEOK in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ONEOK in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, CI Investments Inc. lifted its position in ONEOK by 1,003.7% during the 3rd quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 596 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 542 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.15% of the companys stock. Get ONEOK alerts: ONEOK Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:OKE opened at $57.69 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.68. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $61.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $64.40. ONEOK, Inc. has a 1-year low of $50.50 and a 1-year high of $71.57. ONEOK Announces Dividend ONEOK ( NYSE:OKE Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The utilities provider reported $2.34 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.81 by $0.53. The company had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.13 billion. ONEOK had a return on equity of 36.54% and a net margin of 11.09%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.87 EPS. Equities analysts predict that ONEOK, Inc. will post 5.48 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 1st were paid a $0.955 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 28th. This represents a $3.82 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.62%. ONEOKs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 72.08%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on OKE. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of ONEOK in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of ONEOK from $71.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of ONEOK from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of ONEOK from $75.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 17th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on shares of ONEOK from $71.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ONEOK presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $73.45. ONEOK Company Profile (Get Rating) ONEOK, Inc engages in gathering, processing, fractionating, transporting, storing and marketing of natural gas. It operates through the following segments: Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids and Natural Gas Pipelines. The Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment offers midstream services to producers in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for ONEOK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ONEOK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Transform Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Get Rating) by 202.3% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 63,358 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after purchasing an additional 42,398 shares during the period. Transform Wealth LLCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $4,965,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in TJX Companies by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 90,731,283 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $5,636,227,000 after acquiring an additional 969,555 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in TJX Companies by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,499,316 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $2,826,418,000 after acquiring an additional 211,382 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its stake in TJX Companies by 88.1% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 26,619,778 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $2,118,935,000 after acquiring an additional 12,468,119 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in TJX Companies by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 20,682,355 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $1,643,008,000 after acquiring an additional 411,508 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in TJX Companies by 90,089.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 19,788,543 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $1,575,168,000 after acquiring an additional 19,766,602 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.26% of the companys stock. Get TJX Companies alerts: TJX Companies Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of TJX stock opened at $82.06 on Friday. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $54.55 and a 12 month high of $83.13. The firm has a market cap of $94.31 billion, a PE ratio of 25.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.90. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $78.64 and a 200-day moving average of $78.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. TJX Companies Announces Dividend TJX Companies ( NYSE:TJX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 17th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.76 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.05. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 62.78% and a net margin of 7.56%. The company had revenue of $11.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.68 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 3.56 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.3325 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, August 9th. This represents a $1.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.62%. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.92%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on TJX Companies from $90.00 to $93.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Barclays boosted their price target on TJX Companies from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on TJX Companies from $85.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on TJX Companies in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $86.40. Insider Activity at TJX Companies In related news, EVP Scott Goldenberg sold 26,271 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.91, for a total value of $2,073,044.61. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,580 shares in the company, valued at $5,727,287.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. TJX Companies Company Profile (Get Rating) The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, kids, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TJX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oak Asset Management LLC trimmed its stake in Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Get Rating) by 9.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,177 shares of the railroad operators stock after selling 120 shares during the period. Oak Asset Management LLCs holdings in Union Pacific were worth $237,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Koesten Hirschmann & Crabtree INC. bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Power Corp of Canada bought a new position in shares of Union Pacific in the 1st quarter worth $40,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Heritage Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Union Pacific by 152.5% during the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 202 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chelsea Counsel Co. acquired a new position in Union Pacific during the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. 84.04% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Union Pacific alerts: Union Pacific Price Performance Shares of Union Pacific stock opened at $199.89 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $198.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $201.99. Union Pacific Co. has a 12 month low of $183.69 and a 12 month high of $242.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $121.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.66, a PEG ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.50, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.54. Union Pacific Dividend Announcement Union Pacific ( NYSE:UNP Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The railroad operator reported $2.67 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.57 by $0.10. Union Pacific had a return on equity of 57.75% and a net margin of 27.91%. The business had revenue of $6.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.03 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.57 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Union Pacific Co. will post 11.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be issued a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.60%. Union Pacifics dividend payout ratio is presently 45.94%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on UNP. Citigroup raised Union Pacific from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the company from $226.00 to $257.00 in a research report on Monday, May 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $222.00 to $216.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Susquehanna reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $203.00 to $202.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Union Pacific from $191.00 to $184.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein cut their price objective on Union Pacific from $223.00 to $213.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $217.41. About Union Pacific (Get Rating) Union Pacific Corp. engages in the provision of railroad and freight transportation services. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Omaha, NE. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Union Pacific Co. (NYSE:UNP Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Union Pacific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Union Pacific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Welch & Forbes LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Rating) by 1.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 122,828 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,584 shares during the period. Welch & Forbes LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $42,182,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $107,000. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 2,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $589,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $210,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 9.9% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 53,052 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,193,000 after purchasing an additional 4,774 shares during the period. Finally, Barometer Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 1st quarter valued at about $561,000. Institutional investors own 87.25% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 107,022 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $459.28, for a total value of $49,153,064.16. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 101,248,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $46,501,553,456.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, EVP Johna Norton sold 1,647 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $444.29, for a total value of $731,745.63. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 31,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,111,094.69. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 107,022 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $459.28, for a total value of $49,153,064.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 101,248,810 shares of the companys stock, valued at $46,501,553,456.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 1,279,783 shares of company stock valued at $510,549,964 over the last ninety days. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance LLY stock opened at $458.84 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $435.56 billion, a PE ratio of 72.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67. The business has a 50 day moving average of $425.58 and a 200-day moving average of $373.87. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $296.32 and a 12-month high of $462.26. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.73 by ($0.11). The business had revenue of $6.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.87 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 20.54% and a return on equity of 61.42%. The businesss revenue was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.62 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Eli Lilly and Company will post 8.78 earnings per share for the current year. Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 15th were given a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 71.86%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth LLY has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. SVB Securities boosted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $410.00 to $458.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $430.00 to $505.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. UBS Group upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $447.00 to $498.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. Berenberg Bank upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $375.00 to $500.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $440.00 to $500.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $431.00. Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile (Get Rating) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Transform Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) by 0.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 93,907 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 350 shares during the quarter. Transform Wealth LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $4,919,000 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 company. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 20,822 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,847,000 after acquiring an additional 1,452 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,263 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $528,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 25.4% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 13,064 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,101,000 after purchasing an additional 2,648 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 267 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,239 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.77% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Insider Activity at Charles Schwab In other Charles Schwab news, Director Marianne Catherine Brown bought 5,000 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $53.47 per share, for a total transaction of $267,350.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 9,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $533,844.48. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Charles Schwab news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Marianne Catherine Brown acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $53.47 per share, for a total transaction of $267,350.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 9,984 shares in the company, valued at $533,844.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of SCHW opened at $53.17 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $94.07 billion, a PE ratio of 14.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.88. The companys fifty day moving average is $52.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $65.44. The Charles Schwab Co. has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 34.82% and a return on equity of 27.83%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.77 EPS. Analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.29 earnings per share for the current year. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors 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 1.88%. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 27.32%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 15th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $61.00 to $64.00 in a report on Monday, June 5th. Redburn Partners cut shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $83.00 to $75.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $89.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average 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 Articles 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. Transform Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Rating) (TSE:CNR) by 100.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 40,552 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 20,276 shares during the quarter. Transform Wealth LLCs holdings in Canadian National Railway were worth $4,784,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. BCK Partners Inc. bought a new position in Canadian National Railway during the first quarter worth about $2,575,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Canadian National Railway by 26.2% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 931,027 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $124,888,000 after acquiring an additional 193,116 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Canadian National Railway by 3.1% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 762,341 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $102,260,000 after acquiring an additional 22,984 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in Canadian National Railway by 1.4% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 60,441 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $8,107,000 after acquiring an additional 807 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its position in Canadian National Railway by 18.9% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 33,602 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $4,511,000 after acquiring an additional 5,349 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.89% of the companys stock. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Stock Down 1.8 % Canadian National Railway stock opened at $117.76 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $77.95 billion, a PE ratio of 19.53, a PEG ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.90. The firms fifty day moving average is $118.21 and its 200 day moving average is $118.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Canadian National Railway has a 12-month low of $103.79 and a 12-month high of $129.89. Canadian National Railway Cuts Dividend Canadian National Railway ( NYSE:CNI Get Rating ) (TSE:CNR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The transportation company reported $1.35 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.15 billion. Canadian National Railway had a net margin of 30.61% and a return on equity of 25.00%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Canadian National Railway will post 5.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be paid a $0.5835 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $2.33 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.98%. Canadian National Railways payout ratio is 39.30%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have commented on CNI. Argus decreased their target price on shares of Canadian National Railway from $155.00 to $140.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Canadian National Railway from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. CIBC decreased their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from C$185.00 to C$183.00 in a report on Friday, June 16th. Bank of America decreased their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from $137.00 to $134.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Canadian National Railway from $115.00 to $125.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $143.67. About Canadian National Railway (Get Rating) Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in rail and related transportation business. The company offers rail services, which include equipment, custom brokage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services including temperature controlled cargo, port partnership, transloading and distribution, logistic parks, customs brokerage, trucking, and moving grains in containers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Get Rating) (TSE:CNR). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI Get Rating) by 0.9% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 455,381 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 4,000 shares during the quarter. NiSource makes up approximately 0.9% of Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 29th largest holding. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in NiSource were worth $12,732,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in NiSource by 10.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 52,613,623 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,673,113,000 after acquiring an additional 5,153,843 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in NiSource by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 41,079,529 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,034,796,000 after acquiring an additional 760,163 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its position in NiSource by 8.9% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 24,192,844 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $769,332,000 after acquiring an additional 1,970,696 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG boosted its position in NiSource by 21.7% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 19,362,316 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $530,915,000 after acquiring an additional 3,455,923 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in NiSource by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,447,623 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $231,225,000 after acquiring an additional 166,255 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.18% of the companys stock. Get NiSource alerts: Insider Activity at NiSource In related news, SVP Kimberly S. Cuccia sold 11,157 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.54, for a total transaction of $318,420.78. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 20,329 shares in the company, valued at approximately $580,189.66. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.24% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. NiSource Stock Performance NI opened at $26.72 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $11.04 billion, a PE ratio of 18.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.48. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $27.67 and a 200-day moving average of $27.57. NiSource Inc. has a 52-week low of $23.78 and a 52-week high of $31.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 0.60. NiSource (NYSE:NI Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.77. The company had revenue of $1.97 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.94 billion. NiSource had a return on equity of 11.14% and a net margin of 11.72%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.75 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that NiSource Inc. will post 1.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. NiSource Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 18th. Investors of record on Monday, July 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 28th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.74%. NiSources payout ratio is 68.03%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Bank of America reduced their price target on NiSource from $32.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group upgraded NiSource from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $31.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 6th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on NiSource in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on NiSource from $31.00 to $30.00 in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Evercore ISI cut their price objective on NiSource from $31.00 to $30.00 in a report on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, NiSource presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $29.88. NiSource Profile (Get Rating) NiSource Inc, an energy holding company, operates as a regulated natural gas and electric utility company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Gas Distribution Operations and Electric Operations. The company distributes natural gas to approximately 859,000 customers in northern Indiana, as well as approximately 2.4 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for NiSource Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NiSource and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Get Rating) by 9.9% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 387,598 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 34,943 shares during the quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $6,174,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Aspire Private Capital LLC boosted its position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 169.2% during the 4th quarter. Aspire Private Capital LLC now owns 1,217 shares of the technology companys stock worth $19,423,320,000 after acquiring an additional 765 shares during the last quarter. Arlington Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. New Hampshire Trust bought a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Independence Bank of Kentucky bought a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Romano Brothers AND Company bought a new stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. 81.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Hewlett Packard Enterprise alerts: Insider Transactions at Hewlett Packard Enterprise In other news, SVP Kirt P. Karros sold 33,417 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.00, for a total transaction of $534,672.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 9,776 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $156,416. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Hewlett Packard Enterprise news, SVP Kirt P. Karros sold 33,417 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.00, for a total transaction of $534,672.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 9,776 shares of the companys stock, valued at $156,416. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, SVP Jeremy Cox sold 9,161 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.00, for a total value of $155,737.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 615 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,455. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 433,504 shares of company stock worth $6,954,746. Corporate insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Price Performance Shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock opened at $16.52 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.34 billion, a PE ratio of 21.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.23. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $15.08 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.55. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 12 month low of $11.90 and a 12 month high of $17.74. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 30th. The technology company reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.03. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a return on equity of 5.05% and a net margin of 3.46%. The business had revenue of $6.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.30 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.19 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.91%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Hewlett Packard Enterprises dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.54%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In HPE has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com upgraded Hewlett Packard Enterprise from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 23rd. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Citigroup increased their target price on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $13.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $16.00 to $15.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, Bank of America raised their price objective on Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $17.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Hewlett Packard Enterprise presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $16.50. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company Profile (Get Rating) Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HPE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hewlett Packard Enterprise and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sharper & Granite LLC grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (NYSEARCA:SUSA Get Rating) by 8.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,883 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the period. Sharper & Granite LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF were worth $516,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Capital Advisors Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $202,000. First Command Financial Services Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 27.8% during the 1st quarter. First Command Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,927 shares of the companys stock valued at $345,000 after purchasing an additional 855 shares in the last quarter. Stewardship Advisors LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF by 42.2% in the first quarter. Stewardship Advisors LLC now owns 59,989 shares of the companys stock worth $5,265,000 after acquiring an additional 17,801 shares in the last quarter. Affinity Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF in the first quarter worth $1,180,000. Finally, My Legacy Advisors LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF in the first quarter worth $213,000. Get iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF Stock Performance Shares of NYSEARCA:SUSA opened at $91.24 on Friday. iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF has a 52-week low of $73.86 and a 52-week high of $93.96. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $88.87 and a 200 day moving average of $86.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.37 billion, a PE ratio of 19.19 and a beta of 1.02. About iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF The iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Extended ESG Select index. The fund tracks an index of US companies with high environmental, social and governance (ESG) factor scores as calculated by MSCI. SUSA was launched on Jan 24, 2005 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SUSA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (NYSEARCA:SUSA Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hunter Perkins Capital Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO Get Rating) by 43.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,302 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 9,273 shares during the quarter. Hunter Perkins Capital Management LLCs holdings in Onto Innovation were worth $1,081,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Onto Innovation by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 84,116 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $7,310,000 after purchasing an additional 5,850 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 5.4% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 52,277 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $4,543,000 after buying an additional 2,697 shares in the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Onto Innovation by 88.7% during the 1st quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 3,963 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $344,000 after buying an additional 1,863 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in Onto Innovation by 23.3% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 15,977 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,392,000 after acquiring an additional 3,015 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Onto Innovation by 55.5% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 26,215 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $2,278,000 after acquiring an additional 9,352 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.44% of the companys stock. Get Onto Innovation alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director David Brian Miller sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.69, for a total transaction of $498,450.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 11,808 shares in the company, valued at $1,177,139.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Onto Innovation news, SVP Robert Fiordalice sold 768 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.20, for a total value of $74,649.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 15,152 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,472,774.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director David Brian Miller sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.69, for a total transaction of $498,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 11,808 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,177,139.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 11,746 shares of company stock worth $1,200,485 over the last quarter. 0.81% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Onto Innovation Stock Performance Shares of Onto Innovation stock opened at $105.45 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $5.16 billion, a PE ratio of 26.30 and a beta of 1.40. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $96.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $85.20. Onto Innovation Inc. has a 1 year low of $56.02 and a 1 year high of $113.87. Onto Innovation (NYSE:ONTO Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The semiconductor company reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.88 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $199.17 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $200.00 million. Onto Innovation had a net margin of 20.67% and a return on equity of 16.09%. Onto Innovations quarterly revenue was down 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.31 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Onto Innovation Inc. will post 3.64 earnings per share for the current year. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Onto Innovation from $100.00 to $123.00 in a research note on Monday, June 5th. Needham & Company LLC lowered shares of Onto Innovation from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Onto Innovation from $97.00 to $124.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Benchmark boosted their price objective on shares of Onto Innovation from $97.00 to $118.00 in a report on Friday, June 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Onto Innovation in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Onto Innovation presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $109.50. Onto Innovation Company Profile (Get Rating) Onto Innovation Inc engages in the design, development, manufacture, and support of process control tools that performs macro defect inspection and 2D/3D optical metrology, lithography systems, and process control analytical software worldwide. It offers process and yield management solutions, and device packaging and test facilities through standalone systems for optical metrology, macro-defect inspection, packaging lithography, and transparent and opaque thin film measurements; and process control software portfolio that includes solutions for standalone tools, groups of tools, and enterprise-or factory-wide suites. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ONTO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Onto Innovation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Onto Innovation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Russias war in Ukraine has escalated to a new level. In a shock twist, a rebellion led by Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared on Saturday to develop into a short-lived military coup. After seizing official buildings in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don which borders Ukraine and is an important logistical hub for the Kremlins war effort and launching a column of armored vehicles towards Moscow, Prigozhin announced Saturday evening that he was halting the march towards the capital and that his soldiers would retreat to their camps to avoid bloodshed. At the end of a frenetic day, the Kremlin announced that it planned to drop all charges against Prigozhin and the soldiers who took part in the uprising. And that the Wagner leader, whose whereabouts Putins spokesman said were unknown, would be allowed to take refuge in Belarus. Prigozhins rebellion against the Defense Ministry, which turned into the first coup attempt Russia has seen in three decades, has weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime as it faces the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Now the moment has come when blood can be shed, said Prigozhin in an audio broadcast on one of his Telegram channels. Therefore, realizing all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed from one side, we will turn our convoys around and go in the opposite direction to our field camps. According to Western intelligence sources, behind-the-scenes negotiations with the mercenary chief to halt the march took place all day long. Since Saturday morning, Prigozhin escalated his defiance and rebellion by seizing the center of the border town of Rostov-on-Don and then ignored Putins warnings to stand down. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko claimed credit for negotiating the deal, saying in a statement that an absolutely profitable and acceptable agreement had been reached and that he had been given unspecified security guarantees for the mercenaries. Prigozhins revolt was extremely risky: the businessman does not have the support of the elites. During Friday night and Saturday day, Prigozhin crossed his own personal Rubicon. Backed into a corner by his escalating dispute with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, he launched a rebellion that, even if it has fizzled out now, could not be without consequences. President Putin who until Saturday had permitted Prigozhins quarrels with his defense minister charged against the mercenaries chief, accusing Prigozhin of treason and stabbing the Russian people in the back. He promised to crush the coup, promising to decisive action to stabilize the situation. Prigozhin and his mercenaries met little opposition in their march towards Moscow. There were several attacks from the air with regular army helicopters, gunfire from a fighter plane and two fuel tanks were blown up to hinder their advance. The uprising is the most serious threat the Kremlin has faced since the Chechen war two decades ago. The situation may fuel internal conflicts in Russia, triggered by the defeats of the Kremlin forces in Ukraine and the lack of means, material and preparation of Russias troops. Prigozhin has denounced all these problems in a constant litany that has helped him gain greater visibility. The Wagner crisis and its resolution are of grave geopolitical importance, given Russia possesses one of the worlds largest arsenals of nuclear weapons. Globally, it was met with a muted global reaction. The G-7 countries held an emergency call and, together with the EU and NATO allies, said they were closely monitoring the situation. But they did not venture to say more, fearing the Kremlin could use their words in their rhetoric against the West. Instead, they described the situation as an internal problem for Russia. Meanwhile, Russias Foreign Ministry warned Western countries against trying to exploit the Wagner Group rebellion to achieve their Russophobic goals. Russian authorities on Saturday declared an anti-terrorist operations regime in Moscow, which allowed them to close roads, monitor conversations and restrict movement. Before Prigozhin announced an end to the Wagner Groups so-called march for justice, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin declared that next Monday would be a non-working day except for security forces and city services and urged citizens to avoid the streets. In a fiery speech on Saturday, Putin lashed out at what he considered the mercenary leaders betrayal until now, Prigozhin had been loyal to the Russian president and left him out of his verbal attacks against Shoigu, Moscow elites and corrupt bureaucrats. Without mentioning Prigozhin by name, Putin compared Saturdays uprising to the 1917 revolution that destroyed the Russian Empire, when the country was fighting World War I, but its victory was stolen. We will not let this happen again. We will protect our people and state from any threats, including internal betrayal. What were facing is exactly a betrayal, said Putin in a five-minute speech broadcast Saturday morning on state TV. Big ambitions and personal interests led to treason. Betrayal of ones own country and people and of the cause that fighters of Wagner were dying for alongside our soldiers. Any internal mutiny is a deadly threat to our state, to us as a nation. Its a blow against Russia, against our people. And our actions to defend the fatherland from such a threat will be brutal, said Putin, who added that security forces had been ordered to regain control of the city of Rostov-on-Don. Information from flight tracking and registration websites showed that at least two aircraft of the fleet that carries the Kremlin leadership flew from Moscow to St. Petersburg on Saturday afternoon. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov maintained that Putin was still in the capital. In response to Putins speech, Prigozhin released an audio message on his Telegram channels, in which he argued that the Russian president was sorely mistaken and defended Wagner mercenaries as the true patriots of Russia. No one is going to give themselves up at the request of the president, the [Russian secret service] FSB or anyone else. We dont want this country to go on living in corruption, deception and bureaucracy, said Prigozhin, hours before standing down, in a heated message against military elites, whom he accuses of sending Russian troops unprepared into the meat grinder of Ukraine. The decision to retreat was opposed by some members of the Wagner Group, who have accused Prigozhin of being a politician like the rest and of incriminating the mercenaries with his rebellion. Messages from mercenaries claiming they were breaking their contract with Wagner went viral on some Telegram channels, although local media footage from Rostov-on-Don, which acted as a base for the mercenaries on Saturday, showed several of them relaxing and talking to citizens. Window of opportunity for Ukrainian counteroffensive Wagners rebellion may have major consequences for the war in Ukraine due to its implication for frontline troops and the fact that it comes at a decisive moment for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Saturday that the rebellion, which exposes the cracks already pervading Russian society, is a window of opportunity for her forces. The decision to launch the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has triggered the inevitable degradation of the Russian state, she said. Kyiv, which estimates that Moscow keeps some 400,000 Russian military personnel deployed in Ukraine, welcomed the instability in the invading country. Everything is just beginning in Russia, Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said Saturday, referring to the divisions shaking the neighboring country. According to Podolyak, it was impossible for both sides to emerge unscathed from the revolt: either the Kremlin or Prigozhin had to be defeated. The split between the elites is now too obvious, said Podolyak. Someone must lose. In a message on Twitter, the adviser also pointed out that the counter-terrorist operation had already resulted in the seizure of Rostov, a number of federal highways and the military headquarters of the Southern District. British intelligence reports say that Russia is facing its biggest domestic challenge in years, in which the degree of the militarys loyalty to the Kremlin will be key. The well-known enmity between Prigozhin and the Kremlin has escalated to military confrontation and the passivity with which some Russian military personnel have accepted the mercenary uprising suggests that they accept it, according to the report. The head of the Wagner mercenary organization, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has declared his rebellion against the Russian military leadership on Saturday after accusing the Armed Forces of bombing one of his camps. In the picture, a group of Wagner mercenaries deployed in the streets of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, capital of the region of the same name. STRINGER (Reuters) Military convoy of the Wagner mercenary group drives along the M-4 highway near Voronezh on route to Moscow. STRINGER (REUTERS) Wagner members detain several civilians blocking a street in Rostov, Saturday. STRINGER (EFE) Civilians take a picture on one of the tanks of the Wagner group in the city of Rostov. ARKADY BUDNITSKY (EFE) Wagner mercenaries block a Rostov street with a tank marked 'Siberia'. STRINGER (EFE) Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary company, in a screenshot of a video he distributed this Saturday via his Telegram channel. "7.30 Moscow time, we control the military facilities in Rostov, including the airfield," he claims. HANDOUT (AFP) Wagner soldiers stand guard in the center of the Russian city of Rostov. STRINGER (EFE) A boy hugs a Wagner mercenary in Rostov. DENIS ROMANOV (AFP) Image from a video shared by the Wagner group showing a mercenary convoy under attack. Wagner (Anadolu Agency / Getty) Two Wagner members walk past a mercenary company tank in the city of Rostov on Saturday. REUTERS Russian President Vladimir Putin during his address to the nation on Saturday. In the televised message, Putin called the revolt "treason" and vowed that those responsible will be severely punished. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV (AFP) Smoke plume from a destroyed fuel depot in the Russian city of Voronezh. STRINGER (REUTERS) Two Rostov residents take a photograph with a Wagner member. In the foreground, two grenade launchers on a vehicle. ROMAN ROMOKHOV (AFP) Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin on Saturday called on the capital's residents to reduce their travel around the city "as much as possible," as he posted on his Telegram account. Pictured, the surroundings of Moscow's Red Square. Sefa Karacan (Anadolu Agency / Getty) A civilian greets a Wagner mercenary in Rostov. STRINGER (REUTERS) Wagner troops rest in a cafe in Rostov on Saturday. STRINGER (REUTERS) Wagner troops, deployed in the Russian city of Rostov, one of the southern Russian enclaves controlled by the mercenary company. STRINGER (REUTERS) Removal of a Wagner poster under the slogan "Join Wagner" on a road in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday. AP A member of the Wagner group stands guard on a street in the city of Rostov. STRINGER (AFP) Civilians in the Russian city of Rostov walk past a tank with members of the Wagner group. STRINGER (AFP) The head of the mercenary company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has called for "a march for justice" of his organization against the Russian military leadership. STRINGER (REUTERS) Russian police officers guard a road near St. Petersburg with a sign under the slogan "Join Wagner". AP Two men hold an image of Vladimir Putin on Red Square in Moscow, Saturday. NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA (AFP) Wagner group mercenaries guard an area of Rostov. "We have arrived here [Rostov-on-Don]. We want the chief of the General Staff [Valery Gerasimov] and [Defense Minister Sergey] Shoigu to be handed over to us. While they do not appear, we will be here, blockading the city of Rostov and going to Moscow," Wagner's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, threatened. Vasily Deryugin (AP / LAPRESSE) Two police officers guard Wagner's headquarters in St. Petersburg. ANTON VAGANOV (REUTERS) Russian police have stepped up security around Moscow's Red Square. MAXIM SHIPENKOV (EFE) The Wagner mercenary group controlled in the first hours of the rebellion the Russian city of Rostov, where its troops have been deployed in the early hours of Saturday morning. ARKADY BUDNITSKY (EFE) Insults and accusations The confrontation between Shoigu and Prigozhin peaked last week. After months of insults and veiled accusations that he had been outgunned in the Battle of Bakhmut, Prigozhin recorded a video on Thursday in which he accused the minister of lying about Russias successful defense on the Zaporizhzhia front. A huge amount of territory is lost. Soldiers have been killed, three, four times more than what it says in documents shown to the top, said the Wagner Group chief. Before Prigozhin announced a halt to the march, the Head of the Chechen Republic Ramzan Kadyrov broke his silence and placed his Praetorian Guard at the Kremlins disposal. The fighters of the Ministry of Defense and the Russian Guard in the Chechen Republic have already left for the zones of tension, he said on Telegram. We will do everything to preserve the unity of Russia and protect its statehood! The rebellion must be crushed, and if this requires harsh measures, then we are ready! Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Jupiter Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) by 5.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 51,200 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,600 shares during the period. Pfizer makes up about 1.9% of Jupiter Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Jupiter Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $2,089,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lam Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer during the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Mendota Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.80% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Insider Activity at Pfizer In other news, Director Scott Gottlieb acquired 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $38.58 per share, with a total value of $38,580.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $231,480. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Pfizer Stock Down 1.1 % A number of equities research analysts recently commented on PFE shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $45.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, February 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $43.00 price objective for the company. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.33. NYSE:PFE opened at $38.30 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $38.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $42.68. The company has a market capitalization of $216.22 billion, a PE ratio of 7.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Pfizer Inc. has a 1-year low of $36.17 and a 1-year high of $54.93. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $18.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.49 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.25% and a return on equity of 37.53%. The companys revenue was down 28.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.62 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pfizer Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Investors of record on Friday, July 28th will be given a dividend of $0.41 per share. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.28%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 27th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 32.28%. Pfizer Profile (Get Rating) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Get Rating) by 2.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,438,217 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after purchasing an additional 39,440 shares during the quarter. Raymond James & Associates holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $133,783,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Putnam Investments LLC grew its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. Putnam Investments LLC now owns 141,215 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $9,681,000 after purchasing an additional 5,031 shares in the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 75.9% during the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 695 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR lifted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 325.8% during the 4th quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 52,688 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $3,925,000 after buying an additional 40,315 shares during the last quarter. Hall Laurie J Trustee bought a new position in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, South Dakota Investment Council lifted its holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 10.3% during the 4th quarter. South Dakota Investment Council now owns 18,812 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,401,000 after buying an additional 1,750 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.41% of the companys stock. Get Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TSM has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. KGI Securities initiated coverage on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. They set an outperform rating on the stock. StockNews.com raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, June 3rd. Needham & Company LLC increased their target price on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $110.00 to $118.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Susquehanna raised Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from a neutral rating to a positive rating and set a $126.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, April 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $101.75. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Stock Down 1.2 % Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock opened at $101.91 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $93.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $89.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 2.04. The company has a market capitalization of $528.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.75 and a beta of 1.10. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited has a 1-year low of $59.43 and a 1-year high of $110.69. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The semiconductor company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $16.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.30 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 36.02% and a net margin of 44.72%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited will post 5.32 EPS for the current year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.489 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. This is a boost from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.92%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.79%. About Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (Get Rating) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides complementary metal oxide silicon wafer fabrication processes to manufacture logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, and embedded memory semiconductors. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Transform Wealth LLC trimmed its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Get Rating) by 1.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 14,215 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 152 shares during the period. Transform Wealth LLCs holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $8,198,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in TMO. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 104,536.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,355,245 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $4,601,150,000 after purchasing an additional 8,347,260 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,105,677,000. Polen Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,208,055,000. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 17.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,730,063 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $6,459,629,000 after purchasing an additional 1,764,312 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 107.5% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,391,587 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $759,715,000 after purchasing an additional 720,823 shares in the last quarter. 96.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Thermo Fisher Scientific alerts: Insider Activity at Thermo Fisher Scientific In related news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $545.22, for a total transaction of $5,452,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 141,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at $77,055,942.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $545.22, for a total transaction of $5,452,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 141,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at $77,055,942.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 1,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $534.82, for a total value of $855,712.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 141,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $75,586,110.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.32% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance Thermo Fisher Scientific stock opened at $524.21 on Friday. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a one year low of $475.77 and a one year high of $611.06. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $534.55 and a 200-day moving average price of $552.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $202.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.17, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.79. Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $5.03 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $5.03. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a return on equity of 19.16% and a net margin of 13.75%. The firm had revenue of $10.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.67 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $7.25 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.69 EPS for the current year. Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Thermo Fisher Scientifics dividend payout ratio is 9.13%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $670.00 to $620.00 in a report on Thursday, April 27th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $675.00 to $660.00 in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Finally, KeyCorp reduced their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $710.00 to $640.00 in a report on Thursday, May 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $631.31. Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile (Get Rating) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the United States and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, clinical next-generation sequencing, bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hunter Perkins Capital Management LLC raised its position in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK Get Rating) by 13.5% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 691,733 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 82,251 shares during the period. Graphic Packaging comprises approximately 4.2% of Hunter Perkins Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Hunter Perkins Capital Management LLCs holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $17,677,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of GPK. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the first quarter worth about $519,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the first quarter worth about $184,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Graphic Packaging by 2.6% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,105,236 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $302,709,000 after buying an additional 377,055 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 3.2% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 25,660 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $547,000 after purchasing an additional 792 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 9.0% during the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 11,619 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $233,000 after purchasing an additional 955 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.86% of the companys stock. Get Graphic Packaging alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CFO Stephen R. Scherger sold 160,492 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total value of $4,142,298.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 427,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,035,013.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. Graphic Packaging Price Performance Shares of Graphic Packaging stock opened at $23.60 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $7.25 billion, a PE ratio of 11.80, a PEG ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 0.97. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 12 month low of $19.46 and a 12 month high of $27.56. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $25.24 and a 200 day moving average of $24.03. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36. Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $0.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.62 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $2.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.40 billion. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 38.99% and a net margin of 6.46%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.48 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 3.02 EPS for the current fiscal year. Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Graphic Packagings payout ratio is 20.00%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently issued reports on GPK shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Graphic Packaging in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Mizuho increased their target price on Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Raymond James increased their target price on Graphic Packaging from $29.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn reissued a buy rating on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $29.25. Graphic Packaging Company 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. Featured 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. Unison Advisors LLC raised its position in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Get Rating) by 0.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 14,731 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the period. Unison Advisors LLCs holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $2,525,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Natixis increased its holdings in Travelers Companies by 234.3% during the 4th quarter. Natixis now owns 94,008 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $17,626,000 after acquiring an additional 65,888 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC increased its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 28,300 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $5,320,000 after purchasing an additional 1,116 shares in the last quarter. Prostatis Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $839,000. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. lifted its stake in Travelers Companies by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 3,890 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $729,000 after buying an additional 122 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commerce Bank grew its holdings in Travelers Companies by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 24,675 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,626,000 after buying an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.06% of the companys stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have recently weighed in on TRV. Citigroup boosted their price target on Travelers Companies from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $179.00 to $185.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $188.00 to $182.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Finally, Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $195.77. Travelers Companies Trading Down 0.7 % TRV stock opened at $173.72 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a market cap of $40.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.81, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.61. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $177.64 and a 200-day simple moving average of $180.47. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 52 week low of $149.65 and a 52 week high of $194.51. 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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 return on equity of 13.41% and a net margin of 7.41%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $4.22 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.23 EPS for the current year. Travelers Companies Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared 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 positive change from Travelers Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.30%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.10%. Travelers Companies declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Wednesday, April 19th that permits the company to buyback $5.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the insurance provider to repurchase up to 12.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are usually an indication that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 37,316 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $179.08, for a total value of $6,682,549.28. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 11,703 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,095,773.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Andy F. Bessette sold 11,572 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.14, for a total value of $2,061,436.08. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 17,361 shares in the company, valued at $3,092,688.54. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 37,316 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.08, for a total value of $6,682,549.28. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,703 shares in the company, valued at $2,095,773.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 59,134 shares of company stock worth $10,617,466 over the last ninety days. 1.29% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Travelers Companies Company Profile (Get Rating) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. See Also 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. Accurate Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) by 37.4% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 31,393 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 8,543 shares during the period. Accurate Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,310,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Front Street Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Front Street Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,168 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $268,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank now owns 32,775 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,435,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 7,287 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $373,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Motco boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Motco now owns 31,376 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,608,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alterity Financial Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Alterity Financial Group LLC now owns 5,474 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $280,000 after acquiring an additional 243 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.80% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Pfizer news, Director Scott Gottlieb bought 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, May 8th. The shares were bought at an average price of $38.58 per share, for a total transaction of $38,580.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $231,480. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Pfizer Stock Down 1.1 % Several research firms have recently issued reports on PFE. Daiwa Capital Markets cut Pfizer from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $38.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $43.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $45.00 target price on Pfizer in a report on Monday, February 27th. UBS Group reduced their target price on Pfizer from $41.00 to $39.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 10th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $47.33. PFE opened at $38.30 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $38.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $42.68. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The company has a market cap of $216.22 billion, a PE ratio of 7.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.64. Pfizer Inc. has a 52 week low of $36.17 and a 52 week high of $54.93. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.23. Pfizer had a return on equity of 37.53% and a net margin of 31.25%. The company had revenue of $18.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.49 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.62 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 28.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 EPS for the current year. Pfizer Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 28th will be given a dividend of $0.41 per share. This represents a $1.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 27th. Pfizers payout ratio is 32.28%. Pfizer Company Profile (Get Rating) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dakota Wealth Management increased its stake in MetLife, Inc. (NYSE:MET Get Rating) by 301.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 77,180 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 57,971 shares during the quarter. Dakota Wealth Managements holdings in MetLife were worth $4,472,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Green Square Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of MetLife by 2.6% in the first quarter. Green Square Capital Advisors LLC now owns 29,323 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,699,000 after purchasing an additional 744 shares in the last quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC boosted its stake in MetLife by 19.8% during the first quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC now owns 1,831 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 302 shares during the period. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its stake in MetLife by 23.5% during the first quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 4,538 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $263,000 after buying an additional 864 shares during the period. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC boosted its stake in MetLife by 6.8% during the first quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC now owns 95,904 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,557,000 after buying an additional 6,071 shares during the period. Finally, Accurate Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in MetLife by 39.0% during the first quarter. Accurate Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,315 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $495,000 after buying an additional 2,334 shares during the period. 87.83% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get MetLife alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on MET shares. TheStreet lowered MetLife from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 24th. Barclays dropped their price objective on MetLife from $83.00 to $79.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price target on MetLife from $79.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on MetLife from $82.00 to $74.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on MetLife from $68.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $76.55. MetLife Trading Down 1.0 % NYSE MET opened at $53.33 on Friday. MetLife, Inc. has a 1-year low of $48.95 and a 1-year high of $77.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 0.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $54.76 and a 200-day moving average of $63.19. The firm has a market cap of $40.84 billion, a PE ratio of 24.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.07. MetLife (NYSE:MET Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The financial services provider reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.85 by ($0.33). MetLife had a net margin of 2.80% and a return on equity of 16.86%. The company had revenue of $16.13 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.84 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.08 EPS. The companys revenue was down 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that MetLife, Inc. will post 7.74 EPS for the current year. MetLife declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, May 3rd that allows the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to reacquire up to 7.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. MetLife Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 9th were issued a dividend of $0.52 per share. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 8th. This is an increase from MetLifes previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. MetLifes payout ratio is currently 93.69%. MetLife Profile (Get Rating) MetLife, Inc, a financial services company, provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. It operates through five segments: U.S.; Asia; Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and MetLife Holdings. The company offers life, dental, group short-and long-term disability, individual disability, pet insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, vision, and accident and health coverages, as well as prepaid legal plans; administrative services-only arrangements to employers; and general and separate account, and synthetic guaranteed interest contracts, as well as private floating rate funding agreements. Read More Receive News & Ratings for MetLife Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MetLife and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Biltmore Wealth Management LLC cut its holdings in Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Get Rating) by 1.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 19,193 shares of the natural resource companys stock after selling 265 shares during the quarter. Freeport-McMoRan accounts for 0.3% of Biltmore Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Biltmore Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $785,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in Freeport-McMoRan in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its stake in Freeport-McMoRan by 15.2% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 11,101 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $553,000 after buying an additional 1,468 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its holdings in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 40.8% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 112,066 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $5,574,000 after buying an additional 32,474 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 73.6% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 132,043 shares of the natural resource companys stock worth $6,624,000 after purchasing an additional 55,987 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Freeport-McMoRan by 22.0% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 79,686 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $3,964,000 after buying an additional 14,388 shares in the last quarter. 79.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have weighed in on FCX. Barclays upped their price target on Freeport-McMoRan from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, June 9th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Freeport-McMoRan from $35.00 to $38.50 in a research report on Wednesday. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $32.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded Freeport-McMoRan from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $41.00 to $50.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Freeport-McMoRan has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $39.13. Insider Transactions at Freeport-McMoRan Freeport-McMoRan Stock Performance In other news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis bought 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $34.90 per share, for a total transaction of $139,600.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 17,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $621,220. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . 0.78% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Shares of FCX stock opened at $38.37 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 1.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 1-year low of $24.80 and a 1-year high of $46.73. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $37.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $39.68. The company has a market capitalization of $55.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.44 and a beta of 2.00. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 21st. The natural resource company reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by $0.05. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 12.07% and a return on equity of 11.07%. The business had revenue of $5.39 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.25 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.07 earnings per share. Freeport-McMoRans revenue for the quarter was down 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Freeport-McMoRan Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 14th will be issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio is presently 16.76%. About Freeport-McMoRan (Get Rating) Freeport-McMoRan, Inc engages in the mining of copper, gold, and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining, Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining, and Corporate and Other. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Baghdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FCX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Get Rating) by 68.5% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 161,800 shares of the energy companys stock after buying an additional 65,800 shares during the period. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in Devon Energy were worth $8,189,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Devon Energy in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $364,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Devon Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $188,000. Blair William & Co. IL increased its stake in Devon Energy by 52.1% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 99,120 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $5,861,000 after buying an additional 33,936 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in Devon Energy by 9.2% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 414,354 shares of the energy companys stock worth $24,500,000 after buying an additional 34,870 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in shares of Devon Energy in the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.00% of the companys stock. Get Devon Energy alerts: Devon Energy Stock Performance NYSE DVN opened at $47.15 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Devon Energy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $44.03 and a fifty-two week high of $78.82. The business has a fifty day moving average of $49.80 and a 200-day moving average of $54.84. The stock has a market cap of $30.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.15 and a beta of 2.33. Devon Energy Cuts Dividend Devon Energy ( NYSE:DVN Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The energy company reported $1.46 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.07. Devon Energy had a net margin of 31.39% and a return on equity of 47.42%. The firm had revenue of $3.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.88 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Devon Energy Co. will post 6.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.11%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Devon Energys payout ratio is 8.72%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Devon Energy news, EVP Dennis C. Cameron sold 8,292 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.97, for a total transaction of $414,351.24. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 218,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,914,347.46. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.63% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of Devon Energy in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set a neutral rating and a $60.00 price target for the company. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Devon Energy from $75.00 to $71.00 in a report on Monday, May 22nd. Raymond James upped their price objective on Devon Energy from $67.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on Devon Energy from $82.00 to $71.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of Devon Energy from $71.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.39. Devon Energy Company Profile (Get Rating) Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DVN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Devon Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Devon Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. grew its stake in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Get Rating) by 0.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 357,000 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,700 shares during the period. Southern comprises approximately 1.8% of Hennessy Advisors Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in Southern were worth $24,840,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Southern by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 94,652,372 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $6,436,360,000 after buying an additional 1,391,612 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Southern by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 76,360,768 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $5,192,533,000 after buying an additional 723,336 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its position in Southern by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 65,068,549 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,424,661,000 after buying an additional 1,313,036 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its holdings in Southern by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 63,002,360 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,284,352,000 after purchasing an additional 3,653,841 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Southern by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,514,403 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,394,004,000 after purchasing an additional 584,893 shares during the last quarter. 63.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Southern alerts: Southern Stock Down 1.2 % Shares of Southern stock opened at $70.45 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.69. The Southern Company has a 52-week low of $58.85 and a 52-week high of $80.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $76.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.73, a P/E/G ratio of 4.88 and a beta of 0.51. The companys 50 day moving average price is $71.85 and its 200-day moving average price is $69.65. Southern Increases Dividend Southern ( NYSE:SO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $6.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.14 billion. Southern had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.97 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that The Southern Company will post 3.61 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th were issued a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. This is a boost from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. Southerns payout ratio is 90.32%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have issued reports on SO shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. VNET Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research note on Friday, April 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Southern in a research note on Wednesday, June 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $80.00 price objective for the company. Finally, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Southern in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Southern has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $74.07. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total transaction of $359,450.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 146,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,516,356.76. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total value of $359,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 146,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,516,356.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.76, for a total value of $3,538,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 844,239 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $59,738,351.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 205,678 shares of company stock worth $14,888,271. Corporate insiders own 0.28% of the companys stock. Southern Profile (Get Rating) The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It operates through three segments: Gas Distribution Operations, Gas Pipeline Investments, and Gas Marketing Services. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Its quite possible that only the end of Putin can put an end to the absurd war he launched to devour Ukraine and return it to the Russian sphere of influence, which has been dwindling since the implosion of the Soviet Union in 1991. The ambition displayed by the president of Russia in the destruction of Chechnya, in the skirmishes in Georgia, in the annexation of Crimea and in the underground war that he waged against Ukraine in Donbas since 2014 finally culminated in the full-blown invasion of Ukraine by a European power, which has returned us to the bloody scenes of World War II. But Putins plans were cut short. What was intended to be a lightning-fast conquest and occupation ran aground on Ukrainian territory. The unexpected courage shown by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his army combined with the unconditional support of the West and the flaws in Putins military strategy plunged the conflict into a long-term war that threatens to become a lasting armed conflict, such as those that rattle the Middle East. But, a year-and-a-half after attempting to rewrite Russian patriotic history, Putin now faces his biggest challenge and, for the first time, the enemy can be found within. From the beginning, it was clear that Ukraine alone could not stop the war, not even with all the weapons and aid received from Europe and the United States. The patriotic effort of the Ukrainian soldiers and the enormous amounts of international support cannot go any further in the face of a threatening nuclear power such as Russia. Only if an internal element of dissent arose in Russia could the contrived consensus around Putin and his war be jeopardized. Lots of brave Russians tried. But many were imprisoned and thousands fled. Everyone saw the harsh punishment faced by dissidents in prison. For this reason, the challenge could only come from within the regime. The war belongs to Putin and its continuation has always depended on his internal power. For this reason, the outbreak of this short-lived rebellion by the leader of the Wagner mercenary group is the first indication of internal dissent. It also has the potential to unleash the most anticipated question: is this the beginning of the end? Prigozhins mercenaries criminals lifted from the worst Russian prisons and sent to the front lines as heroes in exchange for pardons have reached their limits. These murderers and rapists were being used as a spearhead; they were the very first line at the front, ahead of any regular troops. The Wagner Groups men have suffered the death and mutilation that they themselves have also inflicted on the invaded Ukraine and on local populations back in Russia. They are criminals and, as such, they have behaved in a criminal manner at the front. Russia will not be able to separate its image from that of these mercenaries. And, for this very reason, its even more paradoxical that the most critical link in the chain is the one that has been broken. But thats the way things go. Prigozhins defiance saw him promise to storm Moscow and finish off Russias military high command, before he quickly backtracked. Regardless, his campaign would have surely ended in disaster. However, his message reached the Russian people, who are neither fully nor objectively informed. He will certainly undermine the level of public opinion that supports the government. Coups and revolutions dont usually have a single date. But as they gather their forces while the front is exposed and while Zelenskiy and the West celebrate new signs of Russian weakness we can say that, this Saturday, a new chapter has been written in this atrocious war. The beginning of the end, hopefully. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Hennessy Advisors Inc. grew its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Get Rating) by 11.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 125,500 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 12,700 shares during the quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,600,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 159,134,691 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,425,858,000 after acquiring an additional 1,275,790 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in Altria Group by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 71,579,128 shares of the companys stock worth $2,957,671,000 after buying an additional 513,208 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Altria Group by 8.7% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 44,066,327 shares of the companys stock worth $2,000,861,000 after buying an additional 3,516,646 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 35,184,122 shares of the companys stock worth $1,606,259,000 after buying an additional 218,861 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in Altria Group by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 24,517,169 shares of the companys stock worth $990,002,000 after buying an additional 1,192,266 shares during the last quarter. 58.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts recently commented on MO shares. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com upgraded Altria Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $44.67. Altria Group Stock Performance Shares of MO stock opened at $43.42 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $77.51 billion, a PE ratio of 13.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.59. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $45.41 and a two-hundred day moving average of $45.75. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $40.35 and a 1 year high of $51.57. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 firm had revenue of $4.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.89 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 22.44% and a negative return on equity of 245.43%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.12 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Altria Group Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.94 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $3.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.66%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 120.90%. About Altria Group (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. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP Get Rating) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 1,368 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $125,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. National Bank of Canada FI grew its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 38.3% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 415 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the period. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV boosted its stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 7,112 shares of the companys stock worth $715,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the period. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI boosted its stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 5.7% in the 4th quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI now owns 2,310 shares of the companys stock worth $193,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the period. CRA Financial Services LLC boosted its stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. CRA Financial Services LLC now owns 2,709 shares of the companys stock worth $247,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares during the period. Finally, Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC boosted its stake in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 10,755 shares of the companys stock worth $899,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the period. Get iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Stock Down 1.0 % Shares of NYSEARCA IWP opened at $93.14 on Friday. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a 52 week low of $75.88 and a 52 week high of $96.30. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $91.01 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $89.32. The company has a market cap of $12.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.10. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Company Profile iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sensible Financial Planning & Management LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Get Rating) by 1.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 32,468 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 564 shares during the quarter. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF accounts for 0.3% of Sensible Financial Planning & Management LLC.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Sensible Financial Planning & Management LLC.s holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $1,312,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 311.0% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 637 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Endurance Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 303.2% during the 4th quarter. Endurance Wealth Management Inc. now owns 633 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 476 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Group LLC acquired a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA lifted its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 110.1% during the 4th quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA now owns 689 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH acquired a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Stock Down 1.4 % Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF stock opened at $40.15 on Friday. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 52-week low of $34.88 and a 52-week high of $43.22. The companys 50 day moving average is $40.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $40.41. The firm has a market cap of $71.47 billion, a PE ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69. About Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF 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. Read More 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. Meditating on a regular basis could help people stay healthier as they get older. Several minutes of meditation a day can improve peoples physical and mental health and even reduce the risk of Alzheimers and cardiovascular disease. So say scientists. Nonetheless, a lack of evidence means health services are reluctant to make meditation available to everyone who could benefit, according to the leader of EU-funded research into the matter. Push for change Im convinced meditation is one of the tools that could help make people healthier and happier as they get older, said Gael Chetelat, coordinator of the MEDIT-AGEING project. While the project ended in March 2022 after six years, Chetelat hopes the results will help bring about changes in healthcare. She continues to push for them as director of research at Frances National Institute of Health and Medical Research, or INSERM. By 2050, the global population of people over 60 years old will reach 2.1 billion, according to the World Health Organization. Chetelat and her INSERM team had been studying Alzheimers disease and aging for more 20 years when MEDIT-AGEING began in 2016. Her own experience with mindfulness a form of meditation that focuses on the present moment by tuning into the breath, sounds or bodily sensations provided inspiration to look more closely at this area. So did her knowledge of the main risk factors of neurodegenerative diseases. The more I practiced meditation, the more I thought it could be really beneficial to the aging population, Chetelat said. Evidence suggests that mindfulness meditation improves concentration and memory and reduces stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and even the risk of heart disease. These are all factors linked to an increased risk of developing Alzheimers and other neurodegenerative diseases, according to Chetelat. Trial of elders MEDIT-AGEINGs goal was to provide evidence for health authorities to incorporate mindfulness in their support for the elderly. The idea was that such a step could not only improve older peoples quality of life but also reduce healthcare costs. Between 2018 and 2020, MEDIT-AGEING conducted the worlds largest and longest trial on the effects of mindfulness meditation on seniors, focusing on people aged 65 years and over. The 18-month trial divided 137 people into three groups. One learned mindfulness meditation, a second learned English and the third received no training. Meditation and non-native-language training included two-hour weekly group sessions, practice of 20 minutes or longer daily at home and one day of intensive activity. Questionnaires, blood tests and scans of peoples brains were used to assess general health and look for signs of chronic stress and Alzheimers. Sleep quality was also measured and cognitive tests were used to gauge attention, executive function and memory. Particular attention was given to two parts of the brain known to be associated with cognition: the anterior cingulate cortex and the insular cortex. These structures tend to deteriorate with age, increasing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Meditation may slow this shrinkage as people age, according to Chetelat. Language powers A strength of the study was the use of the foreign-language learning. Like meditation, learning a foreign tongue involves cognitive mental training and has been shown to have a positive impact on some brain structures. The results of the trial confirmed that meditation had a significant effect on peoples attentiveness and ability to regulate their emotions. In the brain scans, however, no significant changes were yet apparent. While the trial results were published in JAMA Neurology in October last year, Chetelats team is now testing the 137 participants again in a bid for more insights. One question is whether some physical changes become visible only when people clock up more meditation time than they did in the trial. A second is whether such changes appear only several years after people have done a chunk of consistent meditation. Study participants interviewed for a documentary film about the trial said it had changed their lives, relationships with others, understanding of their bodies and acceptance of themselves. Things like that are extremely difficult to measure, said Chetelat. But what they say is very important, touching and positive. The MEDIT-AGEING team is developing an app of mindfulness and compassion meditations for elderly people due to be available as of early 2024. Student samples For Ivana Buric, a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, interest in mindfulness emerged while she was recovering from a traumatic traffic accident that led to several surgeries. Practicing mindfulness not only helped her physical healing but also led to positive knock-on effects in other areas of her life. Now Buric is leading a two-year EU-funded project called INSPIRER, which is due to end in October. Using similar tests as MEDIT-AGEING, she is researching mindfulness among university students. Buric, also a trained mindfulness teacher, says many of the benefits stem from people learning how to manage difficult thoughts or emotions without getting caught up in them. Practicing mindfulness lowers stress levels with important consequences yet to be fully understood. It can reduce stress-induced inflammation, which otherwise increases the risk of illnesses including anxiety, depression, asthma, cardiovascular disease, stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. It seems to help with most mental health and many physical problems as an addition to standard treatments, said Buric. Mind-body works Buric recruited 100 people 50 meditators and 50 non-meditators and carried out MRI scans, blood tests for signs of inflammation and questionnaires about the participants mental and physical health. The questionnaire results suggest that meditators have better physical and mental health and emotional regulation and lower stress levels. Buric also recruited about 80 students from the University of Amsterdam for a trial on the effects of a standard eight-week introductory course on mindfulness. We wanted to see if we can observe changes in them in that short time and compare them with long-term meditators, she said. Initial results from questionnaires suggest an increase in mental and physical health. Like Chetelat, Buric hopes that scientists will soon have enough proof to persuade policymakers to offer mindfulness to anyone with mental health or chronic health conditions. She also hopes it will become available in schools, universities and workplaces. Mindfulness meditation works, its very simple, it doesnt cost much money and anyone can do it, said Buric. Research in this article was funded by the EU and via the Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). This article was originally published in Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [June 25, 2023] GreaterHeat, Founding Member and A Leading Storage Provider of Decentralized Storage Providers Accelerator Asia (DSPA-Asia), Announces Participation in DSPA-Asia's First Filecoin Plus BootCamp Tweet SINGAPORE/HONG KONG, June 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Singapore/Hong Kong (June 24, 2023) The decentralized storage network Filecoin receives a welcome boost as Protocol Labs and Singapore-based Web3 technology company GreaterHeat announce that Decentralized Storage Providers Accelerator Asia (DSPA-Asia), of which GreaterHeat is a founding member and a Leading Storage Provider (LSP), will officially kick-start its first Filecoin Plus BootCamp at a gala dinner at Regent Hong Kong on June 25, 2003. GreaterHeats CEO David Li will officiate this launch event. The highly anticipated Asian BootCamp will be hosted at The Conrad Hong Kong, spanning two days from June 26 to 27. This event aims to gather esteemed Storage Providers (SPs) from China, South Korea, Japan, India, and other Asian regions, providing them with invaluable knowledge on successfully transitioning from being a Filecoin (FIL) to a Filecoin Plus (FIL+) Storage Provider. The event will include over 30 top international speakers from the field of Web 3.0 and Filecoin, as well as Leading Storage Providers including GreaterHeat, ND Labs, NewwebGroup, IPFS-Force, SXX, Origin Storage, Tiger VC, etc. DSPA-Asias BootCamp program promotes deep engagement in the Filecoin Plus ecosystem, provides a range of systematic Web 3.0 storage BootCamp courses as well as rich technical resources and opportunities to network with top Web 3.0 business professionals. The BootCamp is an incubator and business training program created to accelerate the Asian Web 3.0 Storage business and aims to provide professional support to Web 3.0 storage providers, helping them to learn, grow and thrive. DSPA-Asias BootCamp offers learning modules in both business and technical subjects and covers such areas as FIL+ Development History and FIL+ Financial Analysis, Dive deep into LDN, E-FIL Module, Supporting FIL+, Tooling, Deals Sending, Importing Data, and Sealing. The BootCamp program consists of two cohorts lasting 6 to 8 months. The timeframe includes program preparation and follow-up evaluation for each cohort. The genesis of this BootCamp program lies in the rapid development of the original Filecoin network. In the past, when Filecoin focused chiefly on storing cold data, over 70% of the cold data storage capacity resided in Asia. As the Filecoin network transitioned towards Filecoin Plus, some large-scale Asian Filecoin SPs faced challenges converting into fully-fledged Filecoin Plus SPs and they reached out for assistance with this transformation. In response, Protocol Labs and GreaterHeat jointly launched the DSPA-Asia initiative in April 2023 to help SPs with a program of professional support and training designed to help complete their business transformation and stimulate Filecoin Plus storage growth. GreaterHeat's Chairman and CEO David Li, said, As an Asian storage provider who have ourselves been deeply involved for four years with the Filecoin ecosystem, and having already successfully transitioned to becoming a Filecoin Plus Storage Provider in mid-2022, we have encountere the exact same challenges as other Asian SPs during their own transition. This might include, by way of example, language barriers or difficulties in interpreting information. Therefore, we already understand the pain points of Asian SPs during the transition process and so we created this BootCamp initiative to share our transition experiences and knowledge within the Filecoin Plus ecosystem and provide useful courses, consulting services, solutions, and technical support to those who need it. "We are delighted to collaborate with Web 3.0 storage experts, GreaterHeat, for the Filecoin Plus training BootCamp," said Stefaan Vervaet, Head of Network Growth at Protocol Labs, the organization behind the decentralized storage network Filecoin. "The BootCamp will provide a rapid introduction to the Filecoin Plus ecosystem, equipping participants with the knowledge needed to join our thriving community. Although it will be demanding, we have confidence in the ability of our participants to excel and succeed by the end of the program." Since 2022, GreaterHeat has successfully delivered decentralized Web 3.0 cloud storage solutions to US, Canadian, and European companies using Filecoin, the worlds largest decentralized storage network. The 760 PiB of data hosted on the Filecoin network includes 26M active data transactions and organizations including UC Berkeley, The USC Shoah Foundation, University of Utah, and many more. More than 1,500 unique clients have already uploaded their data to the Filecoin network, with 15% uploading more than 100 TiB. About GreaterHeat Pte Ltd. GreaterHeat Pte Ltd (GreaterHeat) is a Singapore-headquartered Web3 infrastructure provider, integrating blockchain distributed storage, application software development, cloud computing and edge computing. Founded in Singapore in 2021 by David Li, GreaterHeat provides customers with compliant, stable, and low-cost mining technology services. The companys mission is to drive and lead technological innovation, which creates huge incremental resources to enhance the overall welfare of humanity. GreaterHeat boasts an international team in globally distributed offices. This includes a technical team of over 100 blockchain technologists and cryptographers. For more information, please visit www.greaterheat.com About Filecoin Filecoin, the world's largest decentralized storage network, enables users to store, request, and transfer data via a verifiable marketplace. Filecoin's advanced technology provides a robust foundation to store the world's most valuable datasets. An alternative to costly cloud storage, the Filecoin network offers efficiently priced and geographically decentralized storage, minimizing financial barriers and allowing users to take advantage of its unmatched network capabilities. Filecoin is completely open source, enabling people from all over the world to participate. For more information about Filecoin, please visit https://filecoin.io/ Grace Zhou For GreaterHeat Pte Ltd grace at rafflespr.com.sg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KYODO NEWS - Jun 25, 2023 - 22:13 | All, Japan An emergency call was made Sunday by a staff member at JR Shinjuku Station, a major train terminal in Japan, reporting that a man was "brandishing a knife" inside Tokyo's busy Yamanote loop line, police said. Two men, who were apparently injured in the commotion, were transported to the hospital, the Tokyo Fire Department said, with the police questioning a man in his 50s, believed to be of foreign nationality, to gather more details about the situation. The man was seated with two knives of around 25 to 27 centimeters, wrapped in what appeared to be cloth, with part of the blades visible. The self-proclaimed chef said he had brought the two knives from his workplace to take them home, the police said. No eyewitnesses saw a knife being swung and there were no reports of anyone being stabbed or cut. According to East Japan Railway Co., operator of the Yamanote Line, the emergency alarm inside the train was pressed shortly before 4 p.m. and operations of the Yamanote, Chuo and Sobu local lines were temporarily suspended, affecting about 14,000 passengers. [June 25, 2023] EVE appeared in THE SMARTER E EUROPE 2023 and continued to increase its overseas market - Signed 23GWh Agreement Tweet MUNICH, June 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 14-16, the European Smart Energy Expo hosted by the German Solar Industry Alliance was grandly opened in Munich, Germany. The world's top energy storage company, EVE, presented its big LFP cell "Mr big"-LF560K at the exhibition and signed a strategic cooperation of 23GWh on the booth. During the exhibition, EVE showcased comprehensive solutions for international customers, such as utility ESS, Telecom ESS, household ESS, Marine power, etc. At the same time, we held the "Next Generation ESS Cell for TWh -LF560K" themed new product launch, leading the new wave of energy TWh era. It is reported that LF560K redefines ESS with the three advantages of "Easier, Safer and Super Economic", which can effectively meet the trend of TWh era and solve the problems of management complexity, thermal runaway and economy in the era of large-scale power plants. With years of practical application and good market feedback, EVE's booth attracted many customers to communicate with us. Among them, the United States head energy storage integration enterprise Powin and American Battery Solutions (ABS) held a signing ceremony with EVE, reaching a total of 23GWh of strategiccooperation. In this collaboration, EVE will provide part of the production capacity for Powin's flagship 1850MWh Waratah superbattery to enhance its safety and performance. With the advent of the TWh era, Powin and EVE are also about to work together to build the first single energy storage system super GWh project. In cooperation with ABS, EVE LF280K cells will be used in ABS' new battery storage system, TeraStor. The system is compatible with at least 160 different operating conditions at different multipliers and temperatures, requiring the highest standards and performance of the cells. With the support of EVE products, TeraStor has passed the reliability analysis test by Reliant Labs and completed UL9540A test, making it one of the most reliable energy storage systems on the market today. Up to now, EVE has completed the layout of multi-form and multi-technology energy storage products, with full product solutions from cell, BMS, module to system, covering four major application fields: utility, telecommunication, household and marine. For different segments of the market, we provide the best adaptable solutions for different requirements such as product life, multiplier, safety, temperature control and cost. In view of its excellent product strength and ultimate manufacturing capability, EVE has reached cooperation with BMW, Daimler, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover and other international car companies, and its overseas business expansion is gaining momentum. Recently, EVE has announced the construction of factories in Malaysia and Hungary, continuing to increase its overseas layout. The appearance of EVE at THE SMARTER E EUROPE 2023 demonstrates its super strength of global layout and global delivery. In the future, EVE will continue to lead the direction of energy storage innovation, provide more cost-effective, more efficient and more stable energy storage solutions, to help sustainable development and build a green and low-carbon future. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eve-appeared-in-the-smarter-e-europe-2023-and-continued-to-increase-its-overseas-market---signed-23gwh-agreement-301862569.html SOURCE EVE Energy Storage Co., Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [June 25, 2023] Vectra AI Appoints New Japan Country Manager as TDR Demand Grows Tweet Kaori Nieda joins Vectra AI Japan as market opportunities accelerate TOKYO, June 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectra AI, the leader in AI-driven threat detection and response (TDR) for hybrid and multi-cloud enterprises, has announced the appointment of Kaori Nieda as the new Country Manager for the Japan region. Nieda will officially join Vectra on June 26. Nieda brings more than 30 years' experience in IT to Vectra AI, with extensive expertise in people management, sales, security and cloud, and business growth. Most recently, from 2019-2023, she was CrowdStrike's Regional Sales Director for Enterprise. Prior to this she held positions as Japan Country Manager for Recorded Future, Infoblox and Sandvine. This announcement follows growing demand for Network Detection and Response (NDR) in Japan, with Vectra AI recently "mentioned in the report that covers 2020-2022" as the number one in market share in" NDR solution in Japan for the third consecutive year by independent IT consulting and research firm, ITR. David Sajoto, Vice President Vectra AI Asia Pacific and Japan comments, "We are delghted to welcome Kaori to our Japan leadership team. Kaori is an inspiring leader with a proven track record in building strong and capable teams that consistently overachieve for their customers. She has decades of deep technology experience combined with strong people management skills and we look forward to significant market momentum generated by her leadership." Vectra NDR (Network Detection and Response) is the industry's most advanced AI-driven attack defence for identifying and stopping malicious attacks. Vectra NDR harnesses Security AI-driven Attack Signal Intelligence empowering security teams by ensuring early visibility with clarity, precision and context to surface hidden, unknown threats, attacks and malicious activities in customers' hybrid cloud environments. Vectra NDR is bolstered by Vectra's Managed Detection and Response (MDR) offering, which provides users with crucial security functions. It enables organisations to detect, analyse, investigate and actively respond to threats quickly and effectively. Vectra AI's integrated platform covers an organisation's endpoint, network, logs and cloud, leveraging a range of techniques, and can also be tailored depending on specific needs of the business. Kaori Nieda, Japan Country Manager at Vectra AI, comments, "I'm very excited to join Vectra AI Japan, and I'm looking forward to growing the business, working closely with our team and customers. Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is, more and more, a go-to solution set and approach to security with proven benefits for numerous industries. Vectra AI's platform and MDR services, combined with exceptional and expanding functionality in artificial intelligence, makes this organisation primed for growth." Vectra AI Launches Managed Detection and Response Services In February 2023, Vectra AI Japan introduced Vectra Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Services targeting mid-sized Japanese companies without security personnel. Vectra MDR delivers cybersecurity skills to support organisations detect, investigate, and respond to threats, tailored to the company's individual needs. About Vectra AI Vectra AI is the leader in AI-driven threat detection and response for hybrid and multi-cloud enterprises. Vectra AI's cloud-native platform and MDR services - powered by our patented Attack Signal Intelligence- provide security teams with unified threat visibility, context and control across public cloud, SaaS, identity and data center networks in a single SaaS console. Vectra AI-driven Attack Signal IntelligenceTM, empowers SOC analysts to rapidly prioritize, investigate and respond to the most urgent cyber-attacks in their hybrid cloud environment. Organizations worldwide rely on Vectra AI's cloud-native platform and MDR services to see and stop attacks from becoming breaches. For more information, visit www.vectra.ai. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/vectra-ai-appoints-new-japan-country-manager-as-tdr-demand-grows-301860853.html SOURCE Vectra AI [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Right now the return of the angels inspires us to check pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . ARGUING EPIC BILLS!!! Here's how experts say you can challenge Jackson County's latest property tax assessment hike Some Jackson County residents report their property tax assessments are up 90% from two years ago. A series of workshops is connecting concerned and confused people with resources to appeal. High Stakes Local Tech Trouble Authorities investigating 'swatting' call in Jackson County Swatting call in Holton Show-Me Underwater Beast Invasive northern snakehead fish found in southeastern Missouri for second time An invasive fish that is a voracious predator capable of surviving out of water for days was recently caught in southeastern Missouri, causing worry that the hard-to-contain species will spread and become a problem. Bravely Slugging It Out For Fun & Good Cause Twenty local first responders step into the boxing ring for annual Guns N Hoses charity event All of the money raised from the fights goes to SAFE -- The Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund. The program helps families of first responders who were killed in the line of duty. Harder Season Ahead 4 nightmare scenarios for the Chiefs offense in 2023 Some of these things will seem downright unlikely. But they could happen, and if they do, we will all likely be looking to 2024 as a year we all seek redemption The Angels Await Victoria's Secret Fashion Show to return with 'new version' after 4-year hiatus The announcement was made during the company's 2022 earnings call on Friday. Prez Talks It Over Before Vacay Biden calls NATO allies about Russia mutiny before heading to Camp David with Hunter Biden and the leaders of the largest NATO countries spoke about the Wagner Group's mutiny - then took no questions from reporters as he departed for a weekend trip to Camp David MAGA Makes Connections Trump ties latest Hunter revelations to Biden inaction on China's Cuba spy base: 'Bigger than Watergate' Former President Donald Trump on Saturday tied revelations about the Hunter Biden investigation to President Biden's lack of condemnation of a Chinese base in Cuba. Fallout Expected U.S. evaluating what Wagner Group rebellion means for Ukraine war Biden administration officials also expressed concerns about what the mercenary group's actions mean for Vladimir Putin's hold on power. Fight For Life In 2024 Top Democrats, Republicans offer dueling messages on abortion a year after Roe overturned Former Vice President Mike Pence called on every GOP candidate running for president to "support a ban on abortion before 15 weeks." Our Betters Bicker Queen Camilla keeps it simple for the last day of Ascot, wearing cream and gold - but a lesser known royal brings out the sun in bright yellow Camilla wore a simple cream gown from one of her favorite designers, adding pops of color with gold accessories El Papa Cleans House Amid a rocky year, Pope's anti-abuse commission issues new framework and survey Amid what has so far been a rocky year, the pope's Commission for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons has drafted an updated version of global safeguarding guidelines and has launched a survey for feedback on the new norms. Scammers Target Swifties Lenexa police warn of ticket scams ahead of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour at Arrowhead The Lenexa Police Department has a warning for Taylor Swift fans looking for tickets ahead of her concert at Arrowhead in Kansas City. Slight Summer Reprieve FOX4 Forecast: A cold front arrives View today's latest video forecast for the Kansas City area in both Kansas and Missouri from the FOX4 weather team. Maroon 5 - Sunday Morning is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. When you travel, is where to eat at the top of your research list? These are the five best foodie travel destinations of 2023 KYODO NEWS - Jun 25, 2023 - 21:27 | All, Japan, G7, World The Group of Seven industrialized nations pledged Sunday to take measures to eliminate gender economic gaps by bolstering female empowerment, while acknowledging the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on equality between men and women. In a joint statement released after their two-day meeting in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, the G-7 gender equality ministers also agreed to continue working to realize a society where the human rights and dignity of sexual minorities are respected. The ministers called unpaid care and domestic work -- disproportionately assigned to women -- "major obstacles" to "women's economic empowerment by impairing their ability to work full-time or in leadership positions," the statement said. Technology and flexible labor times could be used as a means to amend the imbalance, it said. "Women's full, equal, and meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels is a matter of human rights and it also benefits everyone by contributing to better economic, social, and political outcomes," it added. The ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States plus the European Union called the pandemic "a serious setback" to achieving a gender-equal society. "We reaffirmed our commitment to accelerating our efforts toward full gender equality and further empowering all women and girls," the statement said. As for sexual minorities, the G-7 ministers said the rights and the safety of LGBT people are "under threat in many countries." The gathering, also attended by members from international civil groups, was chaired by Japan's gender equality and women's empowerment minister Masanobu Ogura. The Asian nation has often been bashed for lagging behind other G-7 states in the field. A survey by the World Economic Forum shows that Japan's gender gap ranking in 2023 hit an all-time low, placing 125th out of 146 countries. Its position was the lowest among the G-7 nations and the East Asia and Pacific region. It was the first time for Japan to host the G-7 meeting regarding gender issues, with the country facing criticism from equality campaigners for what they view as government inaction over the low participation of women in politics and the economy. Recently, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has started to buckle down on narrowing gender gaps by setting a target for companies listed on the top tier of the Tokyo bourse to achieve a ratio of female board members exceeding 30 percent by 2030. After a period of intense debate between the ruling and opposition parties, meanwhile, Japan's parliament earlier this month enacted legislation to promote understanding of LGBT people, with the primary aim of prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Related coverage: G-7 ministers meet in Japan to discuss women's empowerment post-COVID FOCUS: Japan LGBT law watered down amid culture war on transgender issues Japan falls to record-low 125th in global gender gap ranking Ukrainian border guards broadcast through loudspeakers an address to Belarusians, calling for the overthrow of their dictator and stand up against Russias war of aggression waged against Ukraine. Thats according to the border guards unit press service, Ukrinform reports. "On the Ukrainian border (with Belarus ed.), an appeal was transmitted to the Belarusian side, where it is stated that the poorly crafted psyop conducted by Belarus recently was lame. It was once again recalled that Belarus supports a terrorist state and remain under the influence of Russia and its propaganda," border guards said. Read also: Zelensky dismisses ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus In the audio address, it was emphasized that the one who wants to fight against the Ukrainians is not a true Belarusian because the real ones oppose arbitrary actions of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Separately, a warning was voiced against any attempts to cross into Ukraine up in arms. As previously reported, Belarusian border guards on the border with Ukraine broadcast an audio message about the same nature of the Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples, even referring to cuisine. On May 31, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine responded by stressing that Ukrainians are a freedom-loving nation and that they will not try Belarusian stew, which has become similar to shchi, Russia's traditional sour soup. Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Wagner Group, who staged a revolt against the Kremlin regime, may be physically eliminated in Belarus, where he fled after recalling his military convoys heading toward Moscow. The opinion was expressed by Jill Dougherty, former chief of CNN's Moscow bureau, a researcher of the ex-Soviet space and Russia expert, Ukrinform reports citing CNN. Putin doesnt forgive traitors. Even if Putin says, Prigozhin, you go to Belarus, he is still a traitor and I think Putin will never forgive that, said Dougherty Its possible we could see Prigozhin get killed in Belarus, she added but its a tough dilemma for Moscow because as long as Prigozhin has some type of support, he is a threat, regardless of where he is. Many things remain unclear, for example, what will happen next with Prigozhin, how his role in Wagner Group and the latters participation in the Russian war against Ukraine in general will change. The Kremlin spokesman said on Saturday that he "cannot answer" what position Prigozhin will take in Belarus. Prigozhin himself has provided little detail about his agreement to halt the advance on Moscow. Wagner Group is an "independent fighting company" with different conditions than the Russian military, retired U.S. Army Major Mike Lyons said on Saturday. For example, Wagner fighters are better fed than regular soldiers meaning a full assimilation of Wagner fighters into the Russian army would be difficult. Those people are loyal to the man, Prigozhin, not to the country, not to the mission. I think weve got a lot more questions that are not answered right now, he added. As reported, on June 23, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the "Wagner" PMC, went for a demarche against the Russian military leadership, in particular against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhins private army took control of Rostov-on-Don and part of Voronezh region on June 24, after which the Wagner leader ordered his mercenaries to advance on Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the insurrection attempt, calling it a blow to the countrys back and vowing harsh punishment for those involved. Later the same day, Alexander Lukashenko, in coordination with Putin, held talks with Prigozhin. Following these negotiations, Lukashenkos office reported a de-escalation deal involving Prigozhin being exiled to Belarus and no legal action being taken against Wagner forces. The military convoy heading for Moscow made a U-turn just over 100 miles away from the Russian capital. The mercenaries also withdrew from the captured Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don. Former British Army chief of general staff, General Lord Richard Dannatt has said that Ukraine should beware of a possible attack on Kyiv by the Wagner PMC mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who left for Belarus after the mutiny attempt. Ukrinform reports this with reference to Sky News. "The fact that he's gone to Belarus is a matter of some concern," General Dannatt said. Ukraine's leaders must guard against a possible attack led by Yevgeny Prigozhin launched at Kyiv from Belarus, said the former British Army chief of general staff. If he has "kept an effective fighting force around him then he presents a threat again to the Ukrainian flank closest to Kyiv", where the war began, General Dannatt added. According to him, it "is quite possible" that Russia may use the Wagner Group to try and take Kyiv again. Nonetheless, there were no immediate "winners" from "yesterday's fiasco", he said. "Putin is definitely much diminished. The Russian military... is clearly in some disarray," said Lord Dannatt. As reported, on June 23, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, announced a demarche against the Russian military leadership, in particular against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. He claimed his army took control of Rostov-on-Don and part of Voronezh region, after which Wagner mercenaries started heading toward Moscow. On June 24, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, in coordination with Russian President Putin, held talks with Prigozhin. Following the talks, the private army's leader announced he was turning his forces around from a march toward Moscow. Outside Bulgarias Karnobat, a fire and a number of explosions were reported in the early hours of Sunday at an ammunition warehouse belonging to Emko company owner Emilian Gebrev, who survived a poisoning attempt by Russian military intelligence in 2015. This is reported by Radio Poland, according to Ukrinform. According to the owner, the warehouse contained materials for the manufacture of defense products. After midnight, for reasons unknown, a large fire broke out in the building, followed by several loud but short explosions. The company owner said there were no explosives in the building at the moment so the explosions did not trigger additional blasts. As a result of the incident, the warehouse building burned down completely. No one was injured as a result of the explosion. The area around the facility is cordoned off by the police as prosecutors are working at the scene. The company is located a few kilometers from the city of Karnobat in eastern Bulgaria. As reported earlier, on July 31, 2022, a fire occurred in the explosives warehouse at the same plant. The police investigation is yet to establish what caused the blaze. In 2015, unknown persons tried to poison Emko company owner Emilian Gebrev, his son, as well as a business partner. The Bulgarian prosecutor's office blamed the Russian military intelligence for this. The cause of the attack is seen in Hebrew's export of weapons to Ukraine. This is an illustrative photo Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said that Latvia will not issue humanitarian or other types of visas to Russians, and will not change the restrictions on border crossing introduced last year, even amid the current events in Russia Edgars Rinkevics wrote about this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "Latvia is closely following the developing situation in Russia and exchanging information with allies. Border security has been strengthened, visa or border entry from Russians leaving Russia due to current events wont be considered. No direct threat to Latvia at this time," Rinkevics wrote. Latvia's national broadcaster reports on the reaction of other high-ranking officials to the events. In particular, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said that the eastern border is under tight control, the Latvian government, responsible authorities and services are in close coordination and are monitoring the events in Russia. The Prime Minister also urged Latvians to refrain from traveling to Russia and Belarus. Latvian Interior Minister Maris Kuchinskis instructed the State Border Guard to strengthen border control measures on the border with Russia and Belarus. He assured that, if necessary, the support of the National Armed Forces and additional resources would be mobilized. As Ukrinform reported, on June 23, the leader of the "Wagner" PMC, Yevhen Prigozhin, announced a demarche against the Russian military leadership, in particular against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to him, Shoigu flew to Rostov-on-Don, where he personally conducted an operation to destroy the "Wagnerites". "Wagner" took control of military facilities in Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin announced his intention to reach Moscow. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte mentioned the war launched by Russia against Ukraine during a speech on the occasion of Veterans Day, which is traditionally marked in the country on the last Saturday of June. This is reported by NOS, Ukrinform saw. "Never since the end of the Second World War has peace in Europe been under such threat as it is now," Rutte said. According to the government head, it has long been unfathomable for another war to be unleashed on the European continent. "As a society, we felt so safe that we thought, perhaps, less focus could be put on defense. We were wrong," the head of the Dutch government admitted. He noted that amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, the importance of a well-equipped armed force has never been more apparent. The prime minister thanked the Dutch military, which makes an important contribution to peace, freedom, and security in many countries. In particular, Dutch soldiers participate in the training of the Ukrainian forces "so that they can influence this horrific war, which can have only one outcome: that Ukraine wins, and your Ukrainian counterparts succeed." As reported, Dutch instructors in Germany take part in training Ukrainian recruits. In addition, the Netherlands, together with Denmark, plans to start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets as early as this summer and will create a training center in the territory of one of NATOs member states in Eastern Europe. KYODO NEWS - Jun 25, 2023 - 19:49 | All, Japan The Japanese government explained to ruling parties that non-combat cars and vessels equipped with lethal arms can be exported under the nation's stringent regulations on weapons exports, a source close to the matter said Sunday. The explanation indicates that the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida might have altered its stance on the country's three principles on arms exports under the war-renouncing Constitution behind the scenes amid Russia's prolonged invasion of Ukraine. So far, Japan has formally maintained its position that the three principles on overseas transfers of defense equipment and technology ban weapons exports, except for joint development or production projects with another nation. But the government informed the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition party Komeito at their meeting in May that exports of defense apparatuses with lethal capabilities are possible because there are no explicit prohibitions, the source said. Surveillance vehicles and minesweeping ships of the Self-Defense Forces, both armed with autocannons, were cited by the government as examples of such products, the source added. Japan can export defense equipment outfitted with lethal weaponry to countries with which it has security cooperation as long as the purpose of their use is rescue, transportation, vigilance, surveillance or minesweeping, the source quoted the government as saying. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the government will decide whether lethal weapons can be transferred "on a case-by-case basis," given the lack of mention of the issue in the implementation guidelines of the three principles. In April, Kishida's LDP and Komeito began talks with the potential aim of revising weapon export restrictions, more than one year after Russia launched an aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. While the LDP has been eager to relax the rules to bolster support for Ukraine, Komeito has been reluctant to change them, voicing fears that weapon sales to other nations could exacerbate armed conflicts and run counter to Japan's postwar pacifism. Against a backdrop of the regulations, Japan has provided defense products to Ukraine, such as bulletproof vests and helmets, although Western countries have supplied military apparatuses, including missiles, tanks and fighter jets. The Japanese government pledged to promote defense equipment exports to build a strong and sustainable industry in the field in its long-term National Security Strategy policy guidelines, updated in December 2022. Related coverage: Japan, U.S., Australia, Philippines vow to boost defense cooperation Japan ruling parties hold 1st talks on easing weapon export rules Japan to provide equipment to militaries of like-minded nations Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin following the talks with the leader of Wagner Group. Thats according to BelTA, referring to Lukashenkos press service, Ukrinform reports. "Today at nine o'clock in the evening, the presidents of Belarus and Russia spoke on the phone again," the report reads. As noted, Lukashenko briefed Putin in detail on the outcome of his negotiations with the leadership of Wagner Group. "The President of Russia supported and thanked his Belarusian counterpart for the work hes done," the state-run news agency added. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on the morning of June 24, tensions between Wagner Group and Russias defense ministry spilled into a full-on military confrontation. Wagners units have seized administrative and military headquarters in Rostov before moving to seize Voronezh on their declared path to reach Moscow. On June 24, Alexander Lukashenko, in coordination with Russian President Vladimir Putin, held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin. Following talks, the Wagner Group leader said he had ordered his heavily armed convoys to stop the march toward Moscow and return to their field camps. A press club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) has opened in Odesa to help convey the truth about the war to the European community and combat Russian propaganda. This is reported by an Ukrinform correspondent. BTA Director General Kiril Valchev noted that this is a sign of support for the Bulgarians in Ukraine. War does not stop life. News about the Bulgarians in Ukraine will be regularly present in the BTA news flow with the possibility to reach all media outlets in Bulgaria and the whole world, Valchev said. In his words, next year the BTA is planning to organize the World Meeting of Bulgarian Media in Odesa. Valchev thanked Consul General of Bulgaria in Odesa Svetoslav Ivanov and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel for their assistance with the opening of the BTA press club. It currently employs one journalist, but the staff is expected to expand later. Ukrinform Director General Oleksandr Kharchenko congratulated his Bulgarian colleagues on the opening of the press club. The event is indeed milestone, and I am proud of our friends from the BTA that they were not hindered by the war, enemy air attacks, or other criminal actions of the aggressor state. I see at least several reasons to open a press club and not a single reason not to do so, Kharchenko noted. In his words, the BTAs presence in Odesa is of special importance for Ukrainian colleagues. You stood side by side with us on the information front against Russian propaganda and disinformation. The BTA is 125 years old, and Ukrinform is more than 105 years old. We know each other well, work together, and are members of the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA). Now we will work together in Odesa, Kharchenko emphasized. Ukrinforms Director General mentioned that the press club is located in the former building of France Hotel. In my opinion, there is beautiful symbolism here: the Bulgarian News Agencys press club in the former France Hotel in modern Ukraine, which will soon also become a member state of the EU, Kharchenko stressed. The heads of the BTA and Ukrinform also signed an agreement on cooperation between the two agencies. During the opening ceremony, Bulgarian writer Teodora Dimova presented her new book, Prayer for Ukraine. Today, I have heard the air raid sirens for the first time. This is very frightening. And you and your relatives experience such fear every day. I believe that spirit is the weapon of Ukrainians. Ukraine needs planes and weapons, but nothing can happen without spirit, Dimova stated. Photo: Nina Liashonok, Ukrinform KYODO NEWS - Jun 25, 2023 - 18:40 | Sports, All Japanese thoroughbred Equinox lived up to his billing as the world's top-rated racehorse by claiming his fourth straight Grade 1 victory in a thrilling finish to the Takarazuka Kinen on Sunday. Piloted by Christophe Lemaire, the 4-year-old colt began making his move from out wide on the final bend at Hanshin Racecourse, chasing down the front-runners in the home stretch of the 2,200-meter race for 3-year-olds and up. The solidly favored Equinox finished a neck in front of outsider Through Seven Seas, with second-favorite Justin Palace, winner of the Spring Tenno-sho, a further length back in third. "We couldn't get a good position at the start and ended up at the back, but the pace was fast, so I wasn't worried about running from behind," Lemaire said. "He was able to show his strength as the world's best horse." After notching his third straight Grade 1 title at the Dubai Sheema Classic in March, Equinox was ranked first in the latest Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Sunday's race marked Lemaire's second Takarazuka Kinen win and the first for trainer Tetsuya Kimura. (@FahadShabbir) Buenos Aires, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Jun, 2023 ) :A cargo plane used by military henchmen during Argentina's "dirty war" to fly leftists over the ocean and push them to their deaths has been brought back to the country, where it may go on display in a museum on the horrors of dictatorship. The Belfast-built Skyvan PA-51 cargo plane landed in Buenos Aires on Saturday, AFP confirmed, after sleuths traced it to the United States, where for much of the last decade it had been ferrying skydivers with few aware of its gruesome history. An official ceremony on Monday will mark the plane's return, amid a push to exhibit it at the Museum of Memory dedicated to victims of the rightist military regime that convulsed the country from 1976 until 1983. Flight records and other documentation show that a military crew took the aircraft up on the night of December 14, 1977. Among those aboard, bound and drugged, were three members of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, a group that protested the disappearance of their children by the military, two French nuns and seven other people. All were shoved out the door of the aircraft into Atlantic waters. "The plane is something dark for us, but having found and identified it, we cannot allow it to continue flying," Mabel Careaga, one of the promoters of the repatriation of the aircraft that belonged to the Naval Prefecture, told AFP. Careaga is the daughter of Esther Ballestrino, who was thrown into the ocean from the plane, along with the other founders of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, Azucena Villaflor and Maria Ponce. "It is too horrifying to imagine my mother there," says Careaga, who together with Cecilia de Vicenti, 62, Villaflor's daughter, hopes the aircraft will be exhibited on the grounds of the Navy Mechanics school in Buenos Aires, the site of a clandestine death camp where some 5,000 prisoners were held and which today is the Museum of Memory. The initiative has the support of the government but some human rights organizations object, saying it's too gruesome. "The airplane is part of the story, which is painful, but it has to be told as it was," De Vicenti said. All the victims of that flight were singled out by a former sailor, Alfredo Astiz, who infiltrated the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. He's now serving life in prison. - 'An appalling thing' - A survivor of the Navy Mechanics School, journalist Miriam Lewin, helped launch the campaign to comb military flight records to reveal the history of the "death flights." The premise, she said, was "if there were 'death flights,' there had to be airplanes." The group located six aircraft mentioned by former navy officer Adolfo Scilingo, the first to admit having participated in the "death flights." In 2005, Scilingo was convicted in Spain for crimes against humanity and is serving a 30-year jail term. Three of the aircraft were in Argentina but beyond salvage. "Of the other three, the most accessible was in Miami. Another paradoxically was in the hands of the British armed forces and the last was in Luxembourg," Lewin said. The Florida plane was the Skyvan PA-51 that operated that fateful December 14, 1977, flight. In 2007, it was used to transport mail between Fort Lauderdale and the Bahamas. Commercial pilot and film director Enrique Pineyro studied the flight logs and found 10 to 15 suspicious entries. He took the records to prosecutors. "The aircraft is... six, seven meters (20 to 23 feet) long. There, they piled up all the bodies half anesthetized with pentothal," Pineyro told AFP. "It is an appalling thing. When you look at that box, that plane, you say: 'My God, what this must have been like.'" Some 30,000 people disappeared during the Argentine military's "dirty war" against leftist subversion. The Skyvan aircraft made some 200 unexplained night-time flights between 1976 and 1978, according to Naval Prefecture records. Military officials sought to obliterate all trace of those taken on the flights. But that December 1977 night, strong winds blew the bodies of five of the victims to the shoreline. Forensic specialists determined they had suffered fractures corresponding to falls from a great height. The bodies were buried in a common grave south of Buenos Aires but exhumed and positively identified in 2005. Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Jun, 2023 ) :He has been indicted over hush money payments to a porn star and found liable in a sexual abuse lawsuit in a tumultuous start to his reelection campaign -- but America's evangelicals just can't quit Donald Trump. The 45th president of the United States -- who is vying to be the 47th -- has spent years mired in legal and ethical scandals, from accusations that he abused his office and tried to subvert a free-and-fair election to alleged affairs. Yet the 77-year-old Republican remains as popular as ever on the Christian right, his appeal abundantly evident at Road to Majority, a weekend gathering of 3,000 evangelicals from the Faith and Freedom Coalition in Washington. "It's the difference between a representative and a leader," Suzzanne Monk, a 50-year-old conservative political activist, told AFP as she attempted to explain Trump's enduring popularity. "Many of the politicians we have seen over decades are representatives... and they do the absolute minimum to keep themselves reelected. Donald J. Trump looks at situations and tries to rectify the situation." It took some persuasion for white evangelicals to come around to Trump when he announced he was running for president in 2015. But once they were in, they were all-in. Non-Hispanic white Republicans who attend church regularly backed him by 81 percent in 2016 and 76 percent in 2020 -- statistics that astonish those who question the former reality tv star's religious credentials. - 'Cult of personality'? - Trump's famously devout vice president Mike Pence, who is running a distant third in the race for the 2024 nomination, would seem the more obvious fit for evangelicals. But he was booed at the 2021 Road to Majority over his refusal to help Trump overturn his election defeat and received largely polite applause this year. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, the only speaker to explicitly criticize Trump, was roundly booed for saying the Republican leader had let the country down. The conference was being staged on the one-year anniversary of the US Supreme Court ending the nationwide right to abortion and Trump has voiced disquiet about some of the more restrictive curbs being pushed in conservative states. He also sparked fury among some leaders on the Christian right when he blamed harsh restrictions on abortion for Republican underperformance in the 2022 midterm election -- and he has refused to commit to a Federal ban during the 2024 campaign. Yet the twice-divorced Trump, who is under indictment over hush money paid to a porn actress for an alleged sexual encounter, was undoubtedly the star of the show ahead of his keynote speech at the closing gala Saturday. In his opening remarks, Ralph Reed, the founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, denied there was a "cult of personality" around Trump among evangelicals. "The truth about us: We are a cult of only one personality. There is only one person we worship and that is Jesus Christ of Nazareth who is our Lord and savior," he said. - 'Only one candidate' - Delegates at the conference appeared to agree, with many speaking approvingly of Trump's record rather than commenting on his personality. Two theories of the case for another Trump term emerged: first, that he fights for his supporters like no one else in politics; and second, that he delivered more of their policy priorities than any other modern president, from protecting religious freedoms and nominating three of the Supreme Court justices who gutted abortion rights. Monk, the political activist, pointed to Trump being the first sitting president to attend the annual anti-abortion March for Life rally in Washington in 2020, and his early advocacy for parental choice in education. "It's not about, 'Do we match? Are we the same people?' It's about, 'Will you put my values into policy?'" she said. "And that's why these folks all love Donald Trump." Enzo Alcindor, who manages a real estate office in south Florida, said he voted twice to send Trump's main Primary rival Ron DeSantis to the governor's mansion in Florida. "That's where he belongs. He doesn't belong in this race," says Alcindor, who is in his 50s and came to the United States from Haiti in 1986. "The other (candidates) do not have the melons -- let me say it that way -- to represent us, to fight for us, to defend us against the machine. "So there is only one and only one candidate for me. It's president Donald Trump." MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th June, 2023) Air raid warnings were issued in several regions of Ukraine late on Saturday night, according to air raid data from the country's Ministry of Digital Transformation. Air raid sirens went off in the Ukrainian regions of Sumy, Poltava, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, as well as the Kiev-controlled parts of Zaporizhzhia region, at around 19:50 GMT on Saturday, the ministry's online map showed. On the night from Friday to Saturday, air raid warnings were in effect across the entire territory of Ukraine. Ukrainian media reported that explosions were heard in several regions of Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday. Precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure have been carried out by Russia since October 10 (two days after the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge). In February, the head of Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo said that direct damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure caused by Russian strikes may amount to hundreds of millions of Dollars, with economic losses ranging in billions. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th June, 2023) North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Im Chon Il met with Russian Ambassador in Pyongyang Alexander Matsegora on Sunday and expressed his country's support for the Russian leadership during an attempted armed mutiny by the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), the North Korean Central news Agency (KCNA) reported. "Im Chon Il, vice foreign minister of the DPRK, met with Alexandr Matsegora, Russian ambassador to the DPRK (North Korea), on June 25 ... During the talk, Im Chon Il expressed firm belief that the recent armed rebellion in Russia would be successfully put down in conformity with the aspiration and will of the Russian people, saying the DPRK will strongly support any option and decision by the Russian leadership," KCNA reported. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of the head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin. The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group PMC as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. Later in the day, the Belarusian presidential office said that Prigozhin had accepted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and to take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that the Wagner troops were returning to their field camps. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday evening that the criminal case against Prigozhin had been dropped and that he would leave for Belarus under guarantees given by Putin. The spokesman added that the members of the Wagner PMC who were involved in Saturday's events would not be prosecuted, given their distinguished service during Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th June, 2023) The governor of Russia's Kaluga Region, Vladislav Shapsha, said on Sunday that the authorities had decided to start lifting restrictions on private vehicles' movement in the region and that normal traffic would be restored. "We have decided to begin removing restrictions on the movement of personal vehicles in the region. During the day, together with law enforcement agencies, we will restore the normal order of traffic," Shapsha wrote on social media. Meanwhile, the Lipetsk Region authorities have resumed bus services in all directions and almost all of them are on schedule, the authorities said. "Lipetsk has resumed bus services in all directions. Almost all runs are on schedule, some are canceled by the carriers. The current schedule is posted on the website of the bus station," the authorities wrote on social media. The Voronezh Region has also resumed bus service and all runs are on schedule, the regional government said. "All bus stations in Voronezh are working as usual. Buses are running according to schedule," the authorities said. On Saturday, the governments of the respective regions restricted transport movement for security reasons. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of Wagner Group's head Yevgeny Prigozhin. The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group PMC as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. Later in the day, the Belarusian presidential office said that Prigozhin had accepted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and to take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that the Wagner troops were returning to their field camps. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday evening that the criminal case against Prigozhin had been dropped and that he would leave for Belarus under guarantees given by Putin. The spokesman added that the members of the Wagner PMC who were involved in Saturday's events would not be prosecuted, given their distinguished service during Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. KYODO NEWS - Jun 25, 2023 - 13:01 | All, World The founder of a Russian mercenary group announced Saturday that his armed troops will stop their advance to Moscow after rising up against Russia's military leadership. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private military company Wagner Group, will head to neighboring Belarus, while the charges leveled against him for mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. The troops who joined Russian President Vladimir Putin's former ally will not be prosecuted, Peskov said. Prigozhin, who on Friday claimed that Russian forces attacked his paramilitary group and announced he was leading his troops out of Ukraine and into Russia, said in an audio message Saturday that he had decided to halt operations to avoid "shedding Russian blood." On Saturday night, Wagner fighters began withdrawing from the briefly occupied city of Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, where Russia has based its military headquarters for its war against Ukraine, according to Reuters. The move came after Putin said in an emergency televised address that the "armed mutiny" mounted by the Wagner Group was an act of treason and warned of decisive action against the group, which had been fighting alongside the Russian military in Ukraine. The office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Saturday that he and Putin had agreed on joint action after phone talks, with Lukashenko speaking to Prigozhin after gaining the Russian president's approval. After the talks, Prigozhin accepted Lukashenko's proposal "on stopping the advance of Wagner's armed units in Russia's territory and on further steps meant to de-escalate tensions," according to the statement. The development follows months of public infighting between Wagner and the Russian army over the invasion of Ukraine, which began in February last year. On Saturday, the Group of Seven foreign ministers agreed to closely coordinate their response to the situation in Russia in an urgently arranged conference call, according to the Japanese government. The ministers discussed "pressing issues facing the international community, including the situation in Russia," the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. "They shared the view that the G-7 will continue to work closely together." Related coverage: G-7 says will closely coordinate over Russia amid alleged uprising An airstrike early Sunday over a busy vegetable market in northwestern Syria killed at least nine people, activists and local first responders said. Activists and Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Russia, a top ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad, launched the strike over the strategic opposition-held town of Jisr al-Shughur near the Turkish border. The strike comes a day after Moscow's top mercenary group briefly revolted against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Opposition-held northwestern Syria's civil defense organization known as the White Helmets said over 30 people were wounded, and expected the death toll to increase. "We're hearing that the critically wounded have been dying after reaching the hospital," Ahmad Yaziji of the White Helmets told The Associated Press. "It was a targeted attack in the main vegetable market where farmers from around northern Syria gather." Farmers rushed the wounded to the hospital in bloodied vegetable trucks, while activists shared urgent calls for blood donations. Neither Syria nor Russia commented on the airstrike, though Damascus says strikes in the northwest province target armed insurgent groups. The Syrian pro-government newspaper Al-Watan, citing an unidentified security source, said that the airstrike targeted militants and a weapons depot. Northwestern Syria is mostly held by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al Sham, as well as Turkish-backed forces. Saudi Arabia has ambitious plans to welcome millions more pilgrims to Islam's holiest sites. But as climate change heats up an already scorching region, the annual Hajj pilgrimage much of which takes place outdoors in the desert could prove even more daunting. The increased number of pilgrims, with the associated surge in international air travel and infrastructure expansion, also raises sustainability concerns, even as the oil giant pursues the goal of getting half its energy from renewable resources by 2030. Next week, Saudi Arabia hosts the first Hajj pilgrimage without the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. Some 2.5 million people took part in the pilgrimage in 2019, and around 2 million are expected this year. Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's wide-ranging plan to overhaul the kingdom's economy, known as Vision 2030, 30 million pilgrims would take part in the Hajj and Umrah a smaller, year-round pilgrimage. That would be an increase of more than 10 million from pre-pandemic levels. It will require a vast expansion of hotels and other infrastructure in Mecca and Medina, ancient cities already largely obliterated by high-rises and shopping malls. The additional pilgrims will require more long-distance flights, more buses and cars, more water and electricity. The Associated Press reached out to several Saudi officials with detailed questions but received no response. It's unclear what, if any, studies the government has done on the environmental impact of the pilgrimage or whether that figures into its plans. And well-intentioned measures, like a high-speed railway network, aren't enough to remove polluting traffic in and around the holy city. The trains whip through the arid landscape at top speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph), carrying pilgrims in air-conditioned comfort from Jeddah to Mecca. But they stop several kilometers away from the Grand Mosque, meaning pilgrims must either walk at least an hour or take a bus or car to the holy site. The $19 one-way price from Jeddah's airport to Mecca may also be out of reach for pilgrims on lower incomes. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims who are able to are required to undertake it at least once in their lives. For pilgrims, retracing the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad is a profound religious experience that wipes away sins, deepens one's faith and unifies Muslims the world over. The Saudi royal family's legitimacy is largely rooted in its custodianship of Islam's holiest sites and its ability to host one of the largest annual religious gatherings on the planet. Experts have found that the Hajj both contributes to climate change and will be affected by it in the coming decades as one of the hottest places on Earth gets even warmer. A study of the 2018 Hajj by experts from Victoria University in Melbourne estimated that the five-day pilgrimage produced over 1.8 million tons of greenhouse gases, roughly the amount New York City emits every two weeks. The biggest contributor was aviation, accounting for 87% of emissions. Abdullah Abonomi, a Saudi researcher and one of the authors of the study, said Saudi authorities have embraced sustainability as part of Vision 2030, which calls for preserving natural resources in order to attract pilgrims, tourists and businesses. "Everything has changed," he said, pointing to the establishment of national centers to coordinate sustainable policies, the creation of an environmental police force to crack down on violations and the integration of sustainability into university courses on tourism. "If you ask four years ago about sustainability ... no one understands what sustainability is," he said. "But today, everything is going to be better. And I know we are late, but better late than never." In the past, he says, cars and buses packed with pilgrims filled the streets around Mecca, belching exhaust into the air, but expansion of the Grand Mosque has led to bigger courtyards and increased pedestrianisation in most of the routes leading to the holy site. Still, human bottlenecks have replaced traffic, and garbage swirls in clouds of heat. For travel around Mina and Arafat, two crucial Hajj locations, cars and buses remain the two most widespread forms of transport. The journey by foot, in sweltering temperatures, is arduous but can prove faster than four wheels. In its Hajj ambitions, Saudi Arabia faces managing huge numbers of pilgrims in a rapidly warming world. During the rituals, pilgrims often walk for hours outside, scale a desert hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, where the prophet is said to have delivered his last sermon, and cast stones at pillars representing the devil in a desert plain. They pack into the Grand Mosque in Mecca to circumambulate the Kaaba. On top of the exertions, the Hajj population skews to the elderly, who are more vulnerable to heat. On an evening this week around sunset in Mecca, temperatures hovered around 37 degrees Celsius (98 degrees Fahrenheit). The crowds made it feel hotter, stifling any airflow. In a bustling basement supermarket near the Grand Mosque, pilgrims bought handheld fans that spray water on the face and every kind of umbrella. A 2019 study by experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that even if the world succeeds in mitigating the worst effects of climate change, the Hajj would be held in temperatures exceeding an "extreme danger threshold" from 2047 to 2052 and from 2079 to 2086. Islam follows a lunar calendar, so the Hajj falls around 11 days earlier each year. In 2030, the Hajj will occur in April, and over the next several years it will fall in the winter, when temperatures are milder. In recent years, Saudi authorities have installed large awnings and misters around holy sites to cool pilgrims. As temperatures climb, authorities will likely need to step up such measures or introduce new strategies like limiting pilgrim numbers in higher-heat years, the heat stress study concluded. "People who want to do Hajj should get the opportunity to do it," said Elfatih Eltahir, one of the study's authors. "Global warming is going to make it a little bit more difficult for some years, for some individuals." Muslim activists have launched grassroots initiatives aimed at a "green Hajj," encouraging pilgrims to only make the journey once, to avoid single-use plastics and to offset carbon emissions by planting trees. The Hajj "can be green and sustainable if there are smart policies and technology to lower the ecological footprint," said Odeh Jayyousi, a professor at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain who researches sustainability and innovation. The use of biodegradable plastics, reusable tents, and renewable energy would cut down on greenhouse gases, he said. Artificial intelligence could be brought to bear on logistics, streamlining travel and ensuring that planes and busses are full and do not spend too much time idling. "The young generation are mindful of the trade-offs and the need to change consumption patterns," Jayyousi said. "Hajj can offer a platform for displaying the best green practices to global audiences." Flying from Florida to Buenos Aires usually takes about 10 hours, but the turboprop landing in Argentina on Saturday was no normal plane. It had been en route for 20 days, and many Argentines eagerly refreshed flight-tracking software to keep tabs on its progress. The Short SC.7 Skyvan carried no crucial cargo nor VIP passengers. Rather, it will be another means for Argentines to reckon with the brutal history of their country's 1976-83 military dictatorship. The plane, which was discovered in the U.S., is the first proven in a court to have been used by Argentina's junta to push political detainees to their deaths from the sky, one of the bloody period's most cold-blooded atrocities. Argentina's government will add the plane to the Museum of Memory, which is in what was the junta's most infamous secret detention center. Known as the ESMA, it housed many of the detainees who were later tossed alive from the "death flights" into the Atlantic Ocean or a river One of the dozen victims linked to the returned plane was Azucena Villaflor, whose son Nestor disappeared and presumably was murdered early in the dictatorship. After he went missing, she founded the group Mothers of Plaza de Mayo to demand information about disappeared children, and then was herself detained and disappeared. "For us, as family members, it's very important that the plane be part of history, because the bodies as well as the plane tell exactly what happened," Cecilia De Vincenti, Villaflor's daughter, told The Associated Press. The plane's return was enabled by Italian photographer Giancarlo Ceraudo, who spent years searching for death flight planes. This one had later delivered mail in Florida and more recently carried skydivers in Arizona. Throughout his quest, Ceraudo said, countless people failed to understand why he remained steadfastly focused on finding the junta's aircraft, especially since the bodies of many of the dictatorship's victims are still undiscovered. "The planes had to be recovered because they were an important piece, like the (Nazi) gas chambers, a terrible tool," Ceraudo said in an interview. Argentina's junta is widely considered the deadliest of the military dictatorships that ruled much of Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s. It detained, tortured and killed people suspected of opposing the regime. Human rights groups estimate 30,000 were slain, many of whom disappeared without a trace. Some of them vanished aboard the death flights. During an extensive 2012-17 trial, survivors testified that the flights took place at least weekly. According to witnesses, prisoners often were told that they were being released and sometimes were forced to dance to loud music in celebration. Then they received a supposed vaccination that was in fact a strong sedative. As the drug took effect, they were hooded, bound and loaded aboard a plane. The trial, at which 29 former officials were sentenced to life in prison, proved that the dictatorship used death flights as a systematic mode of extermination. It specified that the Skyvan just returned to Buenos Aires was used to kill Villaflor and 11 other detainees. Prosecutors say it is impossible to know how many detainees were thrown from planes. But at least 71 bodies of suspected death flight victims washed up along the coast 44 in Argentina and 27 in neighboring Uruguay, according to the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, a non-governmental group. Between December 1977 and February 1978, the bodies of five women, including Villaflor, two other members of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo and two French nuns who were helping mothers search for their loved ones washed up. They were buried without identification, and their bodies were not identified until 2005. Ceraudo teamed up with Miriam Lewin, a journalist and ESMA survivor, in the search for the planes. The pilots of the flight that carried Villaflor to her death were convicted in part by the flight logs that Ceraudo and Lewin were able to find after tracking down the PA-51 Skyvan in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2010. Through a painstaking search that included deep dives into websites in which plane spotter hobbyists kept track of aircraft, Ceraudo and Lewin were able to locate the planes. Of the five Skyvan planes known to have been used in death flights, two had been destroyed in the 1982 war with Britain over the Falkland Islands. The three others were sold in 1994 to CAE Aviation, a Luxemburg-based firm. One of those planes was sold to GB Airlink, which used it to provide private mail services to the Bahamas from Florida. This year, after Argentina's government decided to buy the plane after a campaign by De Vincenti and other human rights activists, it was being used by a skydiving outfit in Phoenix. "What an incredible story, right?" said De Vincenti. "Because they were thrown out without a parachute, and now they're using it for that, for parachuting." In seeking justice for the junta's victims, Argentina has held 296 trials relating to dictatorship-era crimes against humanity since 2006, after amnesty laws were struck down. In those, 1,115 people have been convicted, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office. Putting the plane on display will help Argentines understand the reality of the dictatorship, activists say. "It is very important, because there are generations upon generations who were born and lived in democracy and did not suffer the terror of those years," Lewin said. U.S.-based diplomats from Central Asia, a region long dominated by Russia and more recently China, say they are eager for more engagement with the United States. Many American foreign policy experts agree that a more robust relationship would be mutually beneficial, though U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations express deep concerns about human rights and authoritarian rule in the five countries: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Michael Delaney, a former U.S. trade official, argued in favor of greater engagement this week at a webinar organized by the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce. He noted that three of the five republics are World Trade Organization members and the other two are in the accession process a goal actively encouraged by the U.S. government. "I've always believed that this is a geographically disadvantaged area. There are relatively small national economies," he said. But, he said, collectively the region represents a potentially more connected market, about 80 million people. Key issues In this virtual gathering, all five Central Asian ambassadors to Washington expressed eagerness to work on issues the U.S. has long pushed for, such as water and energy sustainability, security cooperation, environmental protection and climate, and connectivity. Kazakhstan's Ambassador Yerzhan Ashikbayev said that despite all factors, the United States does not want to leave the field to China, its global competitor, which actively invests in the region. "Recent visit by 20 companies to Kazakhstan as a part of certified U.S. trade mission, including technology giants like Apple, Microsoft, Google, but also other partners like Boeing, have shown a growing interest," Ashikbayev said. The Kazakh diplomat described a "synergy" of economies and diplomatic efforts. All Central Asian states are committed to dialogue, trade and multilateralism, he said. "As we are witnessing the return of the divisive bloc mentalities almost unseen for 30 years, it's in our best interest to prevent Central Asia from turning into another battleground of global powers." During his first tour of Central Asia earlier this year, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, meeting separately with the foreign ministers of all five countries. That was deeply appreciated, said Meret Orazov, Turkmenistan's longtime ambassador, who also praised the regular bilateral consultations the U.S. holds with these countries. Uzbek Ambassador Furqat Sidiqov sees the U.S. as an important partner, with "long-standing friendship and cooperation which have only grown stronger over the years." "The U.S. has played a significant role in promoting dialogue and cooperation among the Central Asian nations through initiatives such as the C5+1," he said, referring to a diplomatic platform comprising Washington and the region's five governments. "This is where we address common concerns and enhance integration," said Sidiqov. "We encourage the U.S. to bolster this mechanism." Tashkent regards Afghanistan as key to Central Asia's development, potentially linking the landlocked region to the markets and seaports of South Asia. Sidiqov said his country counts on American assistance. 'Possibility of positive change' Fred Starr, chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute in Washington, ardently advocates for the U.S. to adopt closer political, economic and people-to-people ties with the region. In a recent paper, he wrote that among dozens of officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs, experts, journalists and civil society leaders interviewed in Central Asia, "even those most critical of American positions saw the possibility of positive change and all acknowledged that the need for change is on both sides, theirs as well as ours." This is the only region that doesn't have its own organization, said Starr, arguing that the U.S. could support this effort. "We have not done so, probably because we think that this is somehow going to interfere with their relations with their other big neighbors, the north and east, but it's not going to. It's not against anyone." "Easy to do, low cost, very big outcome," he added, also underscoring that "there is a feeling the U.S. should be much more attentive to security." "Japan, the European Union, Russia, China, their top leaders have visited. No U.S. president has ever set foot in Central Asia," he said. He added that regional officials are left to wonder, "Are we so insignificant that they can't take the time to visit?" Starr urges U.S. President Joe Biden to convene the C5+1 in New York during the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly in September. "This would not be a big drain on the president's time, but it would be symbolically extremely important," he said. "All of them want this to happen." Starr's findings indicate that the governments need U.S. help to institutionalize Central Asia as a political-economic-social entity. "We have underused our convening power. This is what the Central Asians are telling us. They're saying, 'No, it's not just a pile of money we're after. We're after you taking an active role in using your convening power.' " Pointing to Central Asian leaders' frequent meetings and consultations with the Russian and Chinese presidents, Starr is challenging the White House to take an unprecedented step. He views the U.S. as "AWOL" (absent without leave). "The U.S. and Central Asia are in the position of living in a room with a very low ceiling. We've got to raise the ceiling. This is not some prejudice of mine. This is exactly what we're hearing at the top level all over the region," Starr said. Steve Swerdlow, a rights lawyer and associate professor at the University of Southern California, just back from Central Asia, agrees that Washington should be more active there. "But to be effective, that engagement should be principled and prioritize American values such as democracy and the rule of law, which are on a steep decline across Central Asia," he said. "Even if the focus is purely on economic goals or jockeying for alliances against Russia and China," he said, "the U.S. cannot reap real dividends or establish a climate conducive to investment without systems that allow journalists and bloggers to ask tough questions, or where courts do not act independently of the executive branch." Swerdlow said principled diplomacy means advocating consistently in the open for human rights and working "with civil society activists as much if not more than the governments of Central Asia." Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Sunday bestowed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Egypt's highest honor as the two countries tightened their partnership. El-Sissi welcomed Modi at the presidential palace in Cairo with the Order of the Nile, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. The leaders signed a declaration elevating Egyptian-Indo ties to a "strategic partnership," which means the two nations agreed to intensify their cooperation and hold periodic talks, the statement said. Egypt and India share deep ties that date back to the 1950s, when they played key roles in founding the Non-Aligned Movement, which sought an alternative path at the height of the Cold War. Modi, who arrived in Cairo Saturday, is the first Indian prime minister to pay a state visit to Egypt in more than two decades. His two-day stop came six months after el-Sissi was in New Delhi as an official guest at India's Independence Day. Modi also invited the Egyptian leader to attend a summit of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing countries, which India will host in September. Following his talks with el-Sissi, Modi visited a historic mosque, Cairo's Al-Hakim, which was recently renovated with the help of the India-based Dawoodi Bohra community. He also paid tribute to Indian soldiers who died in World War I and are buried in the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo. Modi's trip to Egypt has focused on strengthening bilateral ties. The prime minister said both countries have been moving swiftly to increase bilateral trade to $12 billion annually within five years that's up from $7.3 billion in 2021-22. The two governments also signed agreements in the fields of agriculture, archaeology, antiquities and competition law, said Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for India's external affairs ministry. "My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigor to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations," Modi wrote on Twitter before departing to New Delhi. Earlier this year, both countries agreed to boost trade cooperation. India, the world's most populous country, is one of the top five importers of Egyptian products, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas, salt, cotton, inorganic chemicals and oilseeds. Major Indian exports to Egypt include cotton yarn, coffee, herbs, tobacco, lentils, vehicle parts, ships, boats and electrical machinery. El-Sissi and Modi, who came to power in their countries in 2014, have in recent years cultivated a closer relationship. Over the last 16 months, they have resisted pressure from the West to condemn the Russian war in Ukraine. Both Egypt and India have decades-old ties with the Kremlin. "There is a change in the global geopolitical and geoeconomic atmosphere wherein both countries wish to play a defining role," India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said during a visit to Cairo in September. "Egypt's geostrategic location acts as a connecting link between Africa, West Asia, the Mediterranean, and Europe and is also an important country from the Indo-Pacific point of view." Modi arrived from the United States, where he held talks with President Joe Biden and top administration officials, addressed Congress and met with top American executives. His meeting with el-Sissi came as global attention focused on a brief rebellion by the head of the Wagner Group, seen as the greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. Neither leader commented on the Russian crisis. Conservatives eager to counter America's leading economic adversary have set their sights on a top trade priority for labor unions and progressives: cracking down on the deluge of duty-free packages coming in from China. The changing political dynamic could have major ramifications for e-commerce businesses and consumers importing products from China valued at less than $800. It also could add to the growing tensions between the countries. Under current U.S. law, most imports valued at less than $800 enter duty-free into the United States as long as they are packaged and addressed to individual buyers. It's referred to as the de minimis rule. Efforts to lower the threshold amount or exclude certain countries altogether from duty-free treatment are set to become a major trade fight in this Congress. "De minimis has become a proxy for all sorts of anxieties as it relates to China and other trade-related challenges," said John Drake, a vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who argues that the current U.S. law should be preserved. The rule speeds the pace of commerce and lowers costs for consumers. It also allows U.S. Customs and Border Protection to focus its resources on the bigger-ticket items that generate more tariff revenue for the federal government. The volume of products coming into the U.S. that benefit from the de minimis rule has soared in recent years. Congress raised the U.S. government's threshold for expedited, duty-free treatment from $200 to $800 in 2016. The volume of such imports has since risen from about 220 million packages that year to 771 million in 2021 with China accounting for about 60%, according to the government and 685 million last year. "I think everybody's got to kind of wrap their head around what kind of mistake this was," Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative during the Trump administration, told a House panel last month. "Nobody dreamt this would ever happen. Now we have packages coming in, 2 million packages a day, almost all from China. We have no idea what's in them. We don't really know what the value is." Lighthizer urged Congress to get rid of the de minimis rule altogether, or reduce it to a much lower amount, say $50 or $100. He said foreign companies are taking advantage of the threshold and "putting people out of work in stores, they're putting people out of work in manufacturing." Last year, House Democrats pushed to prohibit Chinese-made goods from benefiting from the special treatment for lower-cost goods. That move was part of a larger measure that boosted investments in semiconductor manufacturing and research. In the rush to get a bill passed before the 2022 elections, the Biden administration and Democratic leaders jettisoned provisions without bipartisan buy-in. The trade provision was opposed by important U.S. business groups and key Republican members of Congress, so it didn't make the final bill. Fast forward just a few months and it's clear the political dynamic has shifted and quickly. In its first set of recommendations, a new House committee focused exclusively on China called for legislation that would reduce the threshold for duty-free shipments into the U.S. with a particular focus on "foreign adversaries, including the (People's Republic of China.)" The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party said that exploiting the $800 threshold may be a major avenue through which Chinese companies selling directly to American consumers can circumvent U.S. law designed to prevent the sale of goods made with forced labor. The committee also said Customs and Border Protection "could not reasonably scrutinize" goods sent under the $800 threshold for forced labor concerns because of the sheer number of products coming in. The committee is most concerned about retailers Temu and Shein, which ship directly to consumers in the U.S. In a report released Thursday, it said the two companies alone are likely responsible for more than 30% of all de minimis shipments entering the U.S. each day, or nearly 600,000 a day last year. The committee also has competitiveness concerns. It points out that U.S. retailers such as Gap and H&M paid $700 million and $205 million in import duties, respectively, in 2022. In contrast, virtually all of the goods sold by Temu and Shein are shipped using the de minimis exception in which the importer pays no duty. Committees with jurisdiction over trade are also signaling a new mindset. Last year, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, since retired, warned against what he called "hasty changes in reasonable de minimis limits." But the Republican now leading the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, said he wants to "have a lot of conversations" about the $800 threshold. "Basically, when you're looking at $800 or less, that's a free-trade agreement with anyone. And you're looking at millions of products that come in per day. We need to look at it," Smith said. Meanwhile, the Senate has some bills on the issue, which were just introduced this month. One, from Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., would prevent the expedited, tariff-free treatment of imports from certain countries, most notably China and Russia. The other, from Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., not only similarly targets China and Russia, but would affect other trade partners. It would do so by reducing the threshold for duty-free treatment to the amount that other nations use. For example, if another country, say Belgium, which uses the European Union threshold of 150 euros, or about $165 currently, then the U.S. would reciprocate and use that same amount when determining whether goods coming in from Belgium get duty-free and expedited treatment. Drake, of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said that cutting back the threshold not only would represent a big tax increase for many U.S. small businesses, but many would have to hire a customs broker to process their shipments. "There's a reason Congress raised the level back in 2016," he said. "They knew in addition to it being a competitive advantage for the U.S. business community, they also recognized that collecting duties on these low-value shipments, you know, really wasn't worth the trouble." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the thwarting of what he said Sunday was an Iranian attack against Israeli targets in Cyprus. A statement from Netanyahu's office did not give any more details, but Israeli news website Ynet, without disclosing its sources, said an attack had been planned against Israelis staying in the city of Limassol. Cyprus declined to comment on whether an attack had been foiled. "Israel welcomes the foiling of the Iranian terrorist attack in the territory of Cyprus against Israeli targets," Netanyahu's office said. "Israel operates everywhere in a wide variety of methods in order to protect Jews and Israelis and will continue to act to sever Iranian terrorism wherever it raises its head, including on Iranian soil," the statement said. Asked about the Israeli statement, Cyprus government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said: "We cannot comment on issues regarding national security." In 2021, Israel accused Iran of orchestrating an attempted attack against Israelis in Cyprus after police on the Mediterranean island said an armed individual had been arrested. Iran denied the accusation. Israeli security chiefs on Saturday designated settler attacks on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank as "nationalist terrorism" that merits stepped-up countermeasures, and their remarks drew anger from far-right Cabinet ministers. A surge of violence over the past week in the West Bank included rampages by scores of Israeli settlers on Palestinian towns and villages that drew international condemnation and concern from the White House. On Saturday, settlers torched at least two homes in the Palestinian village Umm Safa near Ramallah, residents said. Israel's military said at least one Israeli suspect had been arrested. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant condemned the attack. In a joint statement, Israel's military, police and domestic security service chiefs said the settlers' actions amounted to "nationalist terrorism," which they pledged to fight. The military will boost its forces in the area to prevent such violence, they said, and the Shin Bet domestic security service will enhance arrests, including "administrative detention" in which suspects can be held without charge. That practice is largely used by Israel against Palestinian security suspects and is denounced by rights groups. The statement drew sharp rebuke by two members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist-religious government. "The attempt to equate murderous Arab terrorism with civilian counter actions, as serious as they are, is immoral and dangerous," said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. He called on security forces to step up their efforts against Palestinian attacks and on settlers to refrain from "taking the law into their own hands." National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has past convictions for support for terrorism and incitement against Arabs, echoed Smotrich's remarks. On Friday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed concerns about settler attacks on Palestinian villages in a call with his Israeli counterpart, hours after Ben-Gvir called on settlers to expand their presence across the West Bank. The settlers' assaults this week followed intense gun battles in Jenin that left seven Palestinians dead, a Palestinian shooting attack that killed four Israelis and a rare Israeli airstrike in the area against militants. Earlier on Saturday, a Palestinian militant opened fire at a West Bank Israeli checkpoint and wounded a security guard, Israel's police said. They added that the Palestinian gunman was then killed by forces at the scene. The gunman was claimed by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed group associated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party. U.S.-brokered peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, collapsed in 2014 and show no sign of revival. Most countries deem the settlements Israel built on land it seized in the 1967 war as illegal, a view Israel disputes. Latest Developments: Wagners mutiny against Russian military leadership and the subsequent negotiations between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin for the de-escalation of the revolt, has exposed fresh "cracks" in the strength of the Kremlins leadership that may take weeks or months to play out, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. "I don't think we've seen the final act," Blinken said on ABC News, in one of a series of interviews after the aborted mutiny by forces led by Prigozhin. Prigozhin will move to Belarus under a deal negotiated by Lukashenko, ending Wagners armed mutiny against Russia's military leadership, the Kremlin said Saturday. China supports Russia in maintaining Russias national stability, said the Chinese foreign ministry in a statement Sunday, after Wagners aborted rebellion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday discussed in a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden the current battlefield situation in Ukraine. Biden reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine, including through continued security, economic and humanitarian aid, according to a White House statement released Sunday . The leaders also discussed recent events in Russia, the statement said. "Yesterday's events exposed the weakness of Putin's regime," Zelenskyy said during his phone call with Biden. The Ukrainian president said the world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored. The two discussed ways to implement the Ukrainian Peace Formula and their positions on the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12. US, Ukrainian reaction to Russia turmoil The unprecedented challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin by fighters from the Wagner paramilitary forces has exposed fresh "cracks" in the strength of Putins leadership that may take weeks or months to play out, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday in a TV interview on the NBC program Meet the Press. Blinken characterized Wagner Groups mutiny and its subsequent crisis as a Russian internal matter. He added, This is a challenge coming from within to Putin, and thats where his focus has been. Our focus is resolutely and relentlessly on Ukraine making sure that it has what it needs to defend itself and to take back territory that Russia has seized. Blinken said that although it is too soon to tell what Russias internal turmoil meant, Putins distraction is to the advantage of Ukraine. He also said that at the end of the day, the reason Ukraine will prevail is that this is about their land, this is about their future, this is about their freedom, not Russias. Zelenskyy also held a phone conversation on Sunday with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with the two leaders discussing the security situation in Russia. "Volodymyr, Canada is committed to standing with Ukraine and providing Ukrainians with the support they need," Trudeau wrote on Twitter. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said he discussed the turmoil in Russia in a phone call with his U.S. counterpart Sunday, describing the Russian authorities as "weak" and saying things were "moving in the right direction." In a brief readout of the call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Reznikov said they also discussed Ukraines counteroffensive and steps to strengthen Ukraines armed forces. "We agree that the Russian authorities are weak and that withdrawing Russian troops from Ukraine is the best choice for the Kremlin," Reznikov wrote on Twitter. Kyiv death toll The death toll from an attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv early Saturday has risen to five, according to the citys mayor, Vitali Klitschko. Rescuers discovered two more bodies under the rubble of a 24-story apartment block in the citys Solomyanski district, Klitschko said in a post on the messaging app Telegram on Sunday. It was Russias eighth attack on the Ukrainian capital in June, said Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration. He added that falling debris from a Russian missile attack in Kyiv resulted in a fire on several floors of a 24-story building. He also said that air defenses had shot down more than 20 Russian missiles in the airspace around Kyiv. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Lithuania's president warned Sunday that if Belarus is to host Wagner mercenary group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin then NATO will need to strengthen its eastern flank. The head of state, whose Baltic country neighbors both Belarus and Russia and will host next month's NATO summit, spoke after a state security council meeting to discuss Wagner's aborted revolt against the Kremlin. After Prigozhin called off his troops' advance on Saturday, Moscow said the Wagner chief would leave Russia for Belarus and would not face charges. "If Prigozhin or part of the Wagner group ends up in Belarus with unclear plans and unclear intentions, it will only mean that we need to further strengthen the security of our eastern borders," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told reporters. "I am not only talking about Lithuania here, but without a doubt the whole of NATO," he said. Nauseda added that Lithuania will devote more intelligence capabilities to assessing the "political and security aspects of Belarus." Lithuania will host next month's NATO summit, and Nauseda said the general security plan for the meeting does not require changes following the Russian developments. He said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin could face even greater challenges in the future, adding: "The king is naked." The Wagner rebellion marked the biggest challenge yet to Putin's long rule and Russia's most serious security crisis since he came to power in 1999. * Xinhua reporters felt a sense of calmness in several Russian cities, although temporary restrictions and verification measures were put in place. * In southern Russia's Rostov-on-Don city, the center of the turmoil, a resident, who called himself Yevgeny, told Xinhua that "nobody seems affected ... Everything will be fine." by Xinhua writer Shi Hao MOSCOW, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Russia appears to have stabilized the situation after the country's Wagner private military group was accused of attempting to launch an armed rebellion. A compromise was reached between Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner group, through the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on late Saturday. Xinhua reporters found that the incident did not cause a major disorder in Russian society and people's life in Moscow and beyond was barely affected. CHARGE OF ARMED MUTINY In a surprise move on early Saturday, the Russian Federal Security Service announced that a criminal case was initiated against Prigozhin for incitement to armed insurrection. This photo taken on June 24, 2023 shows the headquarters of Russian Federal Security Service in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua) This came after several audio recordings were posted on Prigozhin's Telegram channel where he claimed that his units had allegedly come under attack, accusing Russia's military leadership of orchestrating the strikes. Later, Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee said that a counter-terrorist operation regime was introduced in Moscow city, the Moscow region and the Voronezh region to prevent possible terrorist acts. In a statement to Wagner troops, the Russian Defense Ministry said: "You were tricked into Prigozhin's criminal adventure and participation in an armed rebellion." "We ask you to be prudent and get in touch with representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry or law enforcement agencies as soon as possible. We guarantee everyone's safety," the ministry stressed. The headquarters of the Wagner group located in Russia's second-largest city of St. Petersburg was cordoned off by security forces. A Xinhua correspondent witnessed several police cars parked in or around the compound, with law enforcers on duty. The Wagner group made its name known to the world by fighting Ukraine on the battleground. It pioneered a prolonged Russian campaign to seize the city of Bakhmut that was hotly contested with Ukrainian forces. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin openly congratulated the Wagner assault detachments on the triumph in Artyomovsk, the Russian name of Bakhmut. "TOUGH" RESPONSE In a televised address to the nation on Saturday, Putin ordered the Russian Armed Forces to neutralize those who organized the armed mutiny. "Any actions that split our nation are essentially a betrayal of our people, of our comrades-in-arms who are now fighting at the front line. This is a stab in the back of our country and our people," Putin said. "Any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood, to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia, to our people. And our actions to protect the motherland from such a threat will be tough," he added. "All those who deliberately embarked on the path of betrayal, who prepared an armed rebellion, who embarked on the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer inevitable punishment and answer both before the law and before our people," he noted. "I urge those who are being dragged into this crime not to make a fatal and tragic mistake, but to make the only right choice -- to stop participating in criminal acts," Putin stressed. Policemen stand guard in Moscow, Russia, June 24, 2023. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua) The Russian leader had phone conversations with Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the incident. According to the Kremlin, Erdogan expressed full support for the steps taken by the Russian leadership. In response to the rebellion charge, Prigozhin said on Telegram: "We are patriots of our motherland." SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATION Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the advance of the Wagner troops and de-escalate the situation, according to RIA Novosti news agency reports. On Saturday morning, Putin informed his Belarusian counterpart of the situation in southern Russia regarding the Wagner group, and the heads of state agreed on joint actions. "The President of Belarus held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin. Negotiations lasted throughout the day. As a result, they came to an agreement on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloody massacre on the Russian territory. Prigozhin accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of the Wagner armed persons and take further steps to de-escalate tensions," the press service of the Belarusian president was quoted as saying. There was reportedly an acceptable option on the table for resolving the situation, with security guarantees for the Wagner fighters. Then, Prigozhin said that his fighters were going back to their field camps. The criminal case against Prigozhin will be dropped and he will go to Belarus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters late Saturday, without specifying what exactly Prigozhin will do in the former Soviet republic. He added that Lukashenko has been personally acquainted with Prigozhin for about 20 years and "this was his personal proposal agreed with Putin." "There was a higher goal to avoid bloodshed, to avoid internal confrontation, to avoid clashes with unpredictable results. It was for the sake of these goals that Lukashenko's mediation efforts were made and President Putin made the appropriate decision," Peskov said. According to the official, the guarantee that Prigozhin will be able to leave for Belarus was the word of the Russian president. This photo taken on June 24, 2023 shows the headquaters of the Wagner private military group being surrounded by police cars in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) The incident with the Wagner group will not affect the course of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, which will continue, he added. GENERAL TRANQUILITY Xinhua reporters felt a sense of calmness in several Russian cities, although temporary restrictions and verification measures were put in place. The Red Square in central Moscow was closed the whole Saturday, but tourists and business people were still allowed outside the police line. A traveler from St. Petersburg, who identified himself as Valery, told Xinhua that he heard about the Wagner incident from social media but did not know exactly what had happened. There were fewer people and less traffic in downtown Moscow, while the three major airports in the city -- the Sheremetyevo, the Domodedovo and the Vnukovo -- were all operating normally. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin posted on Russian social media VK that previously announced mass events were canceled, but he denied reports of traffic closures at the entrances and exits of the Russian capital. To minimize risks, he declared Monday a non-working day. In St. Petersburg, neighborhoods near the Wagner headquarters remained calm. This image captured from a video shows military vehicles running in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. (Str/Xinhua) In southern Russia's Rostov-on-Don city, the center of the turmoil, a resident, who called himself Yevgeny, told Xinhua that "nobody seems affected ... Everything will be fine." (Video reporters: Chen Qiang, An Xiaomeng, Meng Jing; video editors: Zhou Yang, Zheng Qingbin, Hu Yousong) Pope Francis offered prayers Sunday for the family of a teenager who went missing 40 years ago this week, an intervention her brother hailed as a sign the Vatican was finally engaging seriously with its most famous cold case. Emanuela Orlandi, the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee, was last seen leaving a music class in Rome on June 22, 1983. Decades of speculation followed over what happened to her, with suggestions that mobsters, the secret services or a Vatican conspiracy were to blame -- theories which sparked a hit Netflix series. After his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican, Pope Francis said he wanted to use the anniversary "to once again express my closeness to the family, above all her mother, and assure them of my prayers." "I extend my remembrance to all the families who bear the pain of a loved one who has disappeared," he added. Orlandi's family have for years campaigned for the truth and in January the Vatican's chief prosecutor opened a file into the case. On Thursday's anniversary, the Vatican revealed he had forwarded his findings to the Rome prosecutor's office, which is conducting its own probe. There had been "some lines of inquiry worthy of further investigation", the Vatican said in a statement, without giving further details. But it said it had collected evidence from Vatican institutions and accounts from senior officials at the time. The Vatican has been accused of obstructing investigation efforts over the decades, but Orlandi's brother Pietro expressed hope Sunday that some progress might finally be made. "The Emanuela Orlandi taboo has finally been broken," he told reporters after leading a sit-in near the Vatican and then going to listen to the pope. "The fact of praying is a sign of hope of reaching the truth." Pietro Orlandi told AFP "these words are already a big step that we had been asking for for years and years and it had never happened." But he added: "We expect acts after these words." Italy's lower chamber of parliament agreed in March to set up a commission to investigate Orlandi's case and that of another Vatican teenager, Mirella Gregori, who disappeared a few weeks earlier. But it remains under discussion in the upper chamber, the Senate. One person was killed, and several others injured when a roller coaster derailed in Stockholm Sunday, Swedish TV reported. Park officials told public broadcaster SVT that that one of the carriages on the Jetline rollercoaster derailed and people fell to the ground at the Grona Lund amusement park. It is incredibly tragic and shocking, park spokeswoman Annika Troselius told SVT. Unfortunately, we have been informed that one person is killed, and many are injured. Police said seven people, both children and adults, were hospitalized. The amusement park was evacuated to facilitate the work of rescue crews. SVT reporter Jenny Lagerstedt, who was standing in line for another ride, said the carriage was at a high altitude. Suddenly I heard a metallic thud and then the rides started to shake, she said. Rescuers had to remove other passengers who were stuck in other carriages on the roller coaster after the accident. Ambulances, fire trucks and a helicopter were seen arriving at the park, and police said they were investigating. Grona Lund said in a statement that the 140-year-old park was closed until further notice. A spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment. The steel tracked Jetline roller coaster can reach speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour (56 mph) and stands at a height of 30 meters (98 feet), transporting more than 1 million visitors each year, according to the amusement park website. Russia said Sunday that China threw its support behind President Vladimir Putin's efforts to stabilize the country after an aborted rebellion against the Kremlin by an army of mercenaries. The Russian Foreign Ministry said China declared support for the leadership in Moscow during a previously unannounced trip to Beijing by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko. "The Chinese side expressed support for the efforts of the leadership of the Russian Federation to stabilize the situation in the country in connection with the events of June 24, and reaffirmed its interest in strengthening the unity and further prosperity of Russia," the Russian statement said. Rudenko met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to discuss "international and regional issues of common concern," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on its website. Rudenko's visit came just a day after Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of private mercenary army Wagner Group, ordered his troops to march on Moscow in the greatest challenge to Putin's more than two decades in power. Prigozhin reached a deal Saturday with the Kremlin to go into exile. It was unclear whether Rudenko's visit to China was in response to the rebellion. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Sunday that the uprising was "Russia's internal affair." "As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner in the new era, China supports Russia in maintaining national stability and achieving development and prosperity," it said, without explicitly referencing Russia's leadership. China and Russia, while not formal allies, have maintained close ties throughout Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, which China has refused to condemn. The United States and other Western powers have urged Beijing not to supply Russia with arms that could be used in the Ukraine conflict. China in May sent an envoy to Ukraine and Russia to mediate talks to end the war. While in Beijing, Rudenko also held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu. The two sides pledged to "strengthen solidarity and cooperation" and promote the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security-focused regional group that both Russia and China belong to, according to a readout of the talks by the Chinese Foreign Ministry. "Under the complex and severe international situation, it is necessary to communicate in a timely manner, ensure the stable and long-term relationship between the two countries and safeguard the common interests of both sides," Ma said. Although short-lived, analysts say the Wagner Group revolt exposed further weaknesses of Putin, whose image has already been badly bruised by the Ukraine war, which has dragged on for 16 months and claimed huge numbers of Russian troops. Somali refugees are heading to the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya to register for IDs, in hopes of securing relocation to the U.S. and other Western countries. The rush follows the creation of a program that allows Americans to sponsor refugees arriving through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Juma Majanga reports from the Dadaab camps. The supreme leader of Afghanistans Taliban declared Sunday that their campaign against illicit drug production in the country had eradicated the cultivation of opium poppies, which are used to make morphine or heroin. Hibatullah Akhundzada's declaration follows recent media reports and satellite images backed by the United Nations and the United States, concluding that annual poppy cultivation has "significantly" decreased in the worlds biggest opium producer. The reduction is credited to a decree issued by the reclusive Taliban chief in April 2022, which strictly prohibited the cultivation, production, usage, transportation, trade, export, and import of all illicit drugs in Afghanistan. The ban allowed anti-narcotics Taliban units to eradicate poppy farming across the impoverished war-ravaged country, which accounted for 85% of global opium production until last year, according to United Nations estimates. "As a result of continued efforts of the Islamic Emirate, the cultivation of poppy has been eradicated in the country," the Taliban chief said in his statement in connection with the annual Islamic Eid al-Adha festival later this week. He used the official name of the Taliban government. "Farmers are looking for alternatives as legal cultivation continues to grow. Many citizens, especially the [Afghan] youth, are now saved from being exposed to harm," Akhundzada stated. Last week, the head of the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan told a U.N. Security Council meeting that there was "growing evidence" the Talibans opium poppy ban had been "effectively enforced," decreasing the cultivation "significantly" in many parts of the country. "At the same time, the opium economy has helped sustain parts of the rural economy in Afghanistan. Donors should consider allocating funding to alternative livelihood programs that address the specific needs of farmers affected by the ban," Roza Otunbayeva told Wednesday's meeting in New York. Thomas West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, in a June 7 tweet, also hailed the reduction in poppy cultivation. "Reports that the Taliban have implemented policies to significantly decrease opium poppy production this year are credible and important. Every country in the region and beyond has a shared interest in an Afghanistan free of drugs," West wrote. The international recognition of counter-drug efforts by the Taliban stemmed from new research and analysis published earlier this month by a geospatial analytics firm Alcis. The studies noted that recent satellite images show an "unprecedented" decrease in the cultivation of opium poppy in the country, with cultivation in the largest-producing southern provinces down by at least 80% compared with last year. "The Taliban have successfully reduced poppy cultivation by more than 99% in Helmand province, which previously produced more than 50% of the country's opium," the report said. Womens rights Otunbayeva, briefing the U.N. Security Council members on Wednesday, said, however, that the Talibans sweeping restrictions on womens access to work, education, and public life at large "obscure" their "positive achievements" such as countering narcotics and "the welcome reduction of high-level corruption" in Afghanistan. She renewed the U.N. call for the fundamentalist authorities to rescind the curbs immediately. Akhundzada has rejected calls for removing restrictions on women as interference in internal Afghan matters, saying their policies are aligned with local culture and Islamic law, or Sharia. The Taliban chief reiterated his defiance in Sunday's Eid message, asserting that his decrees have restored "the status of women as free and dignified human beings. Akhundzada added that he had instructed all government institutions to help women secure marriage, inheritance, and other rights. "Under the rule of the Islamic Emirate, concrete measures have been taken to save women from many traditional oppressions, including forced marriages and their Sharia rights have been protected. The negative aspects of the past 20-year occupation related to women's Hijab and misguidance will end soon, Akhundzada said without elaborating. The Taliban regained power in August 2021 after waging a deadly insurgency for almost 20 years against the U.S.-led NATO troops protecting the internationally backed former Afghan government in Kabul. No foreign government or global organization has recognized the Taliban as a legitimate government over restrictions on women and girls, among other human rights concerns. "I am blunt about the obstacles they have created for themselves by the decrees and restrictions they have enacted, in particular against women and girls," said Otunbayeva on Wednesday. "We have conveyed to them that as long as these decrees are in place, it is nearly impossible that their government will be recognized by members of the international community, she added. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The U.S.-backed Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria are adamant about holding trials for hundreds of foreign Islamic State group militants in their custody. VOAs Zana Omer has the story from Qamishli, Syria, narrated by Sirwan Kajjo. The United States and its allies held close consultations but publicly stayed on the sidelines Saturday as officials waited to see how the armed revolt by longtime Kremlin insider Yevgeny Prigozhin and his private Wagner army would play out. As the rebel force threatened to march on Moscow then announced a stunning pull-back U.S. officials carefully avoided direct comment on what some stressed was an internal situation in Russia, while Moscow warned them to stay out of the fray. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of France, Germany and Britain amid concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin's control over the nuclear-armed country could be slipping. A White House readout of their call said they discussed "the situation in Russia," which erupted Friday after Prigozhin announced a challenge to the Russian Defense Ministry, seized control of the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and sent an armed column toward Moscow before announcing his surprise about-face Saturday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke with his Canadian, French, German, British and Polish counterparts, according to his spokesperson. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, canceled a planned trip to Israel and Jordan, a sign of the serious concern in the U.S. capital. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a call with counterparts from Western Europe and Japan, with the partners pledging to "stay in close coordination," said State Department spokesperson Matt Miller after the call. European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell avoided direct comment on what he called an internal Russian issue. But he said he had activated the EU crisis response center and was coordinating officials in the bloc ahead of a Monday meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. "Our support to Ukraine continues unabated," he added. A 'gift' for Ukraine But beyond that, officials were mum, though clearly watching to see what would happen in Russia's most serious security crisis in decades. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with top U.S. security officials early Saturday on the Moscow crisis, including Austin, Milley, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and CIA Director William Burns. A U.S. military source said American officials need to be careful about what they say, noting that they do not want to give Putin or others any reason to cast blame for the situation on Washington. Moscow issued a stiff warning to the U.S. and allies to stay back. "The rebellion plays into the hands of Russia's external enemies," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "We warn the Western countries against any hint of possible use of the domestic Russian situation to achieve their Russophobic goals," it said. Moscow's ally Belarus, meanwhile, called the uprising a gift to the West. It was a sentiment echoed by Kyiv, where Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar called the rebellion "a window of opportunity" for Ukraine's armed forces. Analysts agreed, with James Nixey, a Russia expert at the London-based Chatham House think tank, telling AFP that Ukraine would likely try to capitalize on the situation. Nuclear weapons Western allies were also looking to see if the turmoil inside Russia would offer any advantages for Ukraine as it pushes on in its counteroffensive against invading Russian forces in the east and south of the country. A key concern, according to experts, is if Prigozhin's rebel forces seek to gain control of any of Russia's nuclear armory, particularly tactical nuclear weapons. "This is an emerging danger and is exactly what policymakers most fear, a loose-nuke scenario," wrote Alexander Vindman, a former White House National Security Council expert on Russia and Eastern Europe. "This fear has plagued U.S. policymakers since the collapse of the Soviet Union," he said. The White House did not respond when asked if there had been any communications with Moscow over the security of its nuclear weaponry. Nixey said while things remain in flux, the West should not look to Prigozhin as a hero or count on the Russian elite turning away from Putin, and toward him. Privately many Russians might consider Putin's war on Ukraine as a "dreadful mistake," he said. But "that doesn't translate into supporting Prigozhin, because of his maverick nature," Nixey told AFP. As for Kyiv, he said Prigozhin's revolt does not mean an end to their fight. "Whilst this is a useful distraction for the Ukrainians right now and they will be pleased that this has happened and they will be looking to exploit it on the front line he is not their knight in shining armor." The United States said Sunday that the brief rebellion of mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin against Russias military leadership shows very serious cracks in the two-decade rule of President Vladimir Putin and questions the very premise of his 16-month war against Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told ABCs This Week show, that the war has been a devastating strategic failure for Putin across virtually every front - economic, military, geopolitical standing. We see cracks emerging, Blinken said of Prigozhins protest targeting Putin. Where they go - if anywhere - when they get there, very hard to say. I don't want to speculate on it. But I don't think we've seen the final act." The top U.S. diplomat said the aftermath of Prigozhins Wagner Group advance Saturday on Moscow before an abrupt retreat well short of reaching the Russian capital is still a moving picture, with the outcome uncertain. Watch related video by Veronica Balderas Iglesias: Putin called Prigozhin, a longtime ally whose troops had been fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, a traitor for turning against his authoritarian regime. Then the Russian leader said Prigozhin would not be prosecuted and allowed him to go to neighboring Belarus, a Russian ally, under a deal negotiated by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. But it was not clear whether Prigozhin had arrived there and whether he had a contingent of mercenaries with him. Russia said Prigozhins mercenaries who had not joined the short-lived rebellion would be allowed to sign contracts to fight with the Russian army in Ukraine, but Blinken said it was not clear what will happen now to the mercenaries who followed Prigozhin into Russia and headed toward Moscow before Prigozhin called off his troop advance. The short answer is we dont know, Blinken said. Asked what happens to Prigozhin in Belarus, aside from his amnesty, Blinken acknowledged, We simply dont know. Blinken said U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with allied Western leaders from his Camp David retreat outside Washington and conferred with U.S. national security officials but had not called Putin. Blinken said the direct challenge to Putins authority showed that Moscows war in Ukraine has been pursued under false pretenses, that NATO was a threat to Russia. But Prigozhins frequent complaints about Moscows defense officials centered on his claim that they were not supplying his mercenaries with enough arms to fight in Ukraine. Many of the Wagner Group forces were convicted criminals that Prigozhin enticed to the war front to fight for six months in exchange for release from their prison terms, if they survived the war. But they were poorly trained and thousands of them were quickly killed on the front lines. Blinken said the turmoil created in Russia by the Prigozhin protest may help the Ukrainians on the battle front. But David Petraeus, a retired U.S. Army general and former Central Intelligence Agency chief, told CNNs State of the Union show that unfortunately it has not had a significant effect on the front lines. But he, too, said the Prigozhin protest leaves Putin more vulnerable than hes ever been in two decades. Like Blinken, however, Petraeus said there are many, many unknowns remaining in determining the overall effect of the Putin-Prigozhin showdown. The Kremlin said Saturday that criminal charges against Prigozhin for mounting the armed rebellion will be dropped, even though many Russians have been jailed for their public comments or street protests against Putins war. Lukashenko negotiated the deal with the Wagner Group chief, his office said, with Putins approval. Lukashenko said he has known Prigozhin personally for 20 years. The negotiations also guaranteed that Wagner fighters will not be prosecuted, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. We have always respected their heroic deeds at the front," he said, adding that Moscow was grateful to Lukashenko for his role in de-escalating the crisis. Those fighters who did not participate in the rebellion, Peskov said, would be offered contracts with the defense ministry, which has been seeking to bring all autonomous volunteer forces under its control by July 1. Asked if there would be any personnel changes in the Russian defense ministry as part of the deal, Peskov said, "These matters are the sole prerogative and within the competence of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief [Putin] in accordance with the constitution of the Russian Federation. Therefore, it is unlikely that these topics could have been discussed in the course of the above-mentioned contacts." The Russian spokesman did not disclose whether there were any concessions made to persuade Prigozhin to withdraw all his forces, other than the guarantees for his safety something he said Putin had given his word on and for the safety of Prigozhin's men. He called the events that unfolded since Friday "tragic." Earlier Saturday, Prigozhin and his fighters got within about 200 kilometers of Moscow before he ordered his men to halt their advance, turn their convoy around and return to their bases in Ukraine to avoid bloodshed. Prigozhin didnt say whether the Kremlin has responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu or what, if anything, Lukashenko had promised him in their negotiations. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the private army led by the rebellious commander. And Putin had said Prigozhin would face harsh consequences. By Saturday evening, the Russian mercenary fighters were seen pulling out of Rostov-on-Don, a city of more than one million people near the border with Ukraine that they had taken control of a day earlier. In Rostov, which serves as the main rear logistical hub for Russia's entire invasion force, residents had milled about, recording on mobile phones, as Wagner Group mercenary fighters in armored vehicles and battle tanks took up positions, the Reuters news agency reported. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Greece's conservative New Democracy party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis vowed to speed up reforms following his landslide victory Sunday in the country's second election in five weeks that granted him a comfortable parliamentary majority to form a government for a second four-year term. Jubilant supporters gathered outside party headquarters in Athens, cheering, clapping, setting off fireworks and waving blue and white party flags. Near complete results show his party has won just over 40.5% of the vote, crushing his main rival, the left-wing Syriza party, which was struggling to reach 18%, 2 percentage points lower than the last elections in May. "With today's electoral result, Greece opens a new, historic chapter in its course," Mitsotakis said in a televised statement. Voters, he said, "gave us a strong mandate to move faster on the course of the big changes our country needs. In a loud and mature way they have permanently closed a traumatic cycle of lies and toxicity that held the country back and divided society." His second term as prime minister "can transform Greece at a dynamic pace of development which will increase salaries and reduce inequality, with better and free public health care, with a more effective and digital state and a strong country," he added. Sunday's vote came just over a week after a migrant ship capsized and sank off the western coast of Greece, leaving hundreds of people dead and missing and calling into question the actions of Greek authorities and the country's strict migration policy. But the disaster, one of the worst in the Mediterranean in recent years, did not affect the election, with domestic economic issues at the forefront of voters' minds. Mitsotakis' party was projected to win 158 of Parliament's 300 seats, thanks to a change in the electoral law that grants the winning party bonus seats. The previous election in May, conducted under a proportional representation system, left him five seats short of a majority despite winning nearly 41% of the vote, and he had decided to seek a stronger mandate in a second election rather than to seek to form a coalition government with a smaller party. Voter turnout, however, was low on Sunday, at just under 53% of eligible voters, compared to just over 61% in the May vote. In all, eight parties were surpassing the 3% threshold to enter Parliament, including an ultra-religious party and far right party backed by a jailed former lawmaker from the Nazi-inspired, and now outlawed, Golden Dawn party. Mitsotakis, 55, campaigned on a platform of securing economic growth and political stability as Greece gradually recovers from a brutal nearly decade-long financial crisis. His main rival, 48-year-old Alexis Tsipras, served as prime minister from 2015 to 2019 some of the most turbulent years of Greece's financial crisis. His performance Sunday leaves him fighting for his political survival. After his poor showing in May elections, he had struggled to rally his voter base, a task complicated by splinter parties formed by some of his former associates. "The electoral results is obviously negative for us," a subdued Tsipras said in a televised statement. "We have suffered a serious electoral defeat. But I believe that the electoral result is mainly negative for society and for democracy," he added, pointing to the three small right-wing parties winning enough votes to make it into Parliament. It would be up to the party members, he said, to decide on his fate, and the course the party itself must now take. The party members will "be called on to judge us all and to devise the strategy that meets these difficult circumstances," Tsipras said. Mitsotakis, a Harvard graduate, comes from one of Greece's most prominent political families. His late father, Constantine Mitsotakis, served as prime minister in the 1990s, his sister served as foreign minister and his nephew is the current mayor of Athens. The younger Mitsotakis has vowed to rebrand Greece as a pro-business and fiscally responsible eurozone member. The strategy, so far, has worked. New Democracy routed Syriza in May, crucially winning Socialist strongholds on the island of Crete and lower-income areas surrounding Athens, some for the first time. Despite scandals that hit the Mitsotakis government late in its term, including revelations of wiretapping targeting senior politicians and journalists, and a deadly Feb. 28 train crash that exposed poor safety measures in public transport, voters appear happy to return to power a prime minister who delivered economic growth and lowered unemployment. "Our expectations are that the country will continue the path of development that it has had in recent years," said insurance company employee Konstantinos, who arrived early in the morning at a polling station in northern Athens with his newly wed bride Marietta, still in her wedding dress, straight from their wedding reception. He asked that his surname not be used. Sunday's vote was held under an electoral system that grants a bonus of between 25 and 50 seats to the winning party, depending on its performance, which makes it easier for a party to win more than the required 151 seats in the 300-member parliament to form a government. Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin ordered his fighters Saturday to halt their advance on Moscow, turn their convoy around and return to their bases in Ukraine to avoid bloodshed. The office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that Lukashenko had negotiated a deal with the Wagner Group chief, with the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that Prigozhin had agreed to de-escalate the situation. In an audio message released by his press service, Prigozhin said: "They wanted to disband the Wagner military company. We embarked on a march of justice on June 23. In 24 hours, we got to within 200 kilometers (124 miles) of Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of our fighters' blood. "Now the moment has come when blood could be spilled. Understanding responsibility [for the chance] that Russian blood will be spilled on one side, we are turning our columns around and going back to field camps as planned, he said in the audio message on his channel on the messaging app Telegram. Prigozhin didnt say whether the Kremlin has responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu or what, if anything, Lukashenko had promised him. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the private army led by the rebellious commander. And Putin had vowed he would face harsh consequences. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin. Earlier Saturday, the Russian mercenary fighters were seen passing the Russian city of Voronezh, rapidly advancing toward Moscow Saturday after they apparently took control of Rostov-on-Don, a city of more than a million people close to the border with Ukraine. In Rostov, which serves as the main rear logistical hub for Russia's entire invasion force, residents milled about, recording on mobile phones, as Wagner Group mercenary fighters in armored vehicles and battle tanks took up positions, Reuters reported. Prigozhin claimed that his fighters entered the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don without a shot fired and that no one was killed during what he calls a march of justice. His claims could not be verified. Putin had vowed to crush what he called an armed mutiny, which he compared to Russia's Civil War a century ago. A Reuters journalist saw Russian army helicopters open fire at an armed Wagner column, with troop carriers and at least one tank on a flatbed truck, while advancing past the city of Voronezh. The city is about 520 kilometers south of Moscow. In Moscow, there was increased security on the streets. Red Square was blocked off by metal barriers. "Excessive ambitions and vested interests have led to treason," Putin said in a televised address, comparing the insurrection at a time of war abroad to Russia's revolution and a civil war unleashed during World War One. U.S., allies react U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on Saturday, the White House said. "The leaders discussed the situation in Russia. They also affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, the White House said in a statement. Biden was briefed about the unfolding situation in Russia by his national security team on Saturday morning, the White House said, adding that the president will continue to be briefed throughout the day. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the EU to discuss the ongoing situation in Russia, according to a statement issued Saturday by the State Department. Blinken reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change and added that the U.S. will stay in close coordination with allies and partners. The top U.S. military officer, Army General Mark Milley, canceled his scheduled visit to the Middle East on Saturday due to the situation in Russia, his spokesperson said. Milley, who was meant to travel to Israel and Jordan, also spoke on Saturday with his Ukrainian counterpart, Milley's office said in a separate statement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Twitter, " Anyone who chooses the path of evil destroys themselves. ... For a long time, Russia used propaganda to mask its weakness and the stupidity of its government. And now there is so much chaos that no lie can hide it. Criminal investigation In announcing the rebellion on Friday, Prigozhin said he wanted to punish Shoigu after he accused Russian government forces of attacking Wagner field camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He claimed that a huge number of our comrades got killed. "The Minister of Defense arrived specially in Rostov to carry out an operation to destroy the Wagner PMC (private military company)," he wrote on his Telegram social media channel. Russias Defense Ministry has denied the allegations. Russia's Federal Security Services (FSB) then opened a criminal investigation against Prigozhin, accusing him of armed mutiny, citing the National Anti-Terrorism Committee. The crime is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, according to Russias chief prosecutor. The NAC, which is part of the FSB, insisted there is no basis to the allegations made by Prigozhin earlier Friday that the Russian Ministry of Defense conducted an airstrike against Wagner bases, killing 2,000 of his fighters. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. ISTANBUL, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish traders seek to boost cooperation with China by expanding their business in the Chinese market with new projects in the future, an industry insider said. "I hope our association could achieve significant breakthroughs in our cooperation with China," Jak Eskinazi, the head coordinator of the Aegean Exporters' Association, told Xinhua in a recent interview. The coordinator is particularly hopeful about the future of bilateral trade with Chinese companies in the post-pandemic era. According to Eskinazi, Turkish businesspeople have been focusing on expanding the market shares of products such as Turkish natural stones in China. Around 60 Turkish companies attended the natural stone fair at the 23rd China Xiamen International Stone Fair in Fujian Province in early June, said Eskinazi. The association also organizes seminars and webinars for Turkish companies, providing information such as storage and sales methods on doing business in China, he noted. "We also have media adverts and accounts on food and natural stone on China's social media platforms such as WeChat and Weibo," Eskinazi said. According to Eskinazi, the association also plans to organize a trade forum in Turkiye for Chinese businesspeople in the near future. The Turkish businessman expressed his optimism about the two countries' tourism cooperation. "China is a big country, and the income level in China is increasing day by day. Chinese people's desire to travel is growing, and our country is also attractive to them. If we can develop our infrastructure and present and promote our natural beauties, we hope our Chinese friends will prefer our country and spend their holidays here," he said. Aegean Exporters' Association has 7,500 member companies operating in 12 main sectors across Turkiye. The affiliated companies had exported 18.3 billion U.S. dollars' worth of products to around 210 countries and regions by the end of 2022. MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to punish "traitors" from the Wagner mercenary group, after its leader swore he would topple Moscow's military leadership. Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, released a series of messages from late Friday into Saturday, claiming that he and his mercenary troops had entered the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and taken control of its military sites. Here is what we know so far: What sparked the rebellion? For months, Prigozhin has been locked in a power struggle with the military top brass, blaming them for his troops' deaths in eastern Ukraine. He has repeatedly accused them of failing to equip his private army adequately, of holding up progress with bureaucracy, while claiming victories won by Wagner as their own. On Friday, Prigozhin's anger appeared to boil over, as he accused Moscow's military leadership of ordering strikes on Wagner's camps and killing a large number of forces. He said they had to be stopped and vowed to "go to the end." He later claimed his forces had downed a Russian military helicopter. Hours later, the leader of the mercenary group said he had military sites in southern Russia's Rostov-on-Don "under control." How is Moscow reacting? The Kremlin had said overnight that "measures are being taken" against the mutiny. Russia has tightened security in Moscow and several regions such as Rostov and Lipetsk. Putin has called the Wagner mutiny a "deadly threat" to Russia and urged the country to unite. Branding the action by Wagner mercenaries as "treason", he vowed "inevitable punishment." Who are the Wagner troops? The private army had been involved in conflicts in the Middle East and Africa but always denied involvement. Prigozhin last year admitted he had founded the group, recruiting the soldiers from Russian prisons in exchange for amnesty. In eastern Ukraine, the mercenary unit has been spearheading Russia's costly battles. It had been at the forefront of the months-long assault for Bakhmut, capturing the site for Russia, but at huge losses. How this affects Russia's war The rebellion marks the most serious challenge yet to Putin's long rule and Russia's most serious security crisis since he came to power in late 1999. It would divert attention and resources away from the battlefields in Ukraine, at a time when Kyiv is in the midst of a counteroffensive to seize back territory. Ukraine's army has said it was "watching" the infighting between Prigozhin and Putin. Moscow meanwhile has warned that Kyiv's army was seizing the moment to concentrate its troops "for offensive actions" near Bakhmut. The significance of the mutiny was also not lost on world leaders, with leaders of the United States, France and Germany all saying that they are watching developments closely. Prigozhin says men will return to base Wagner men start to pull back from Rostov army base Belarus says brokered deal in return for safety of rebels Wagner forces had taken control of Rostov ROSTOV-ON-DON/VORONEZH, Russia (Reuters) - Heavily armed Russian mercenaries who advanced most of the way to Moscow began turning back on Saturday, de-escalating a major challenge to President Vladimir Putin's grip on power, in a move their leader said would avoid bloodshed. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former Putin ally and founder of the Wagner army, said his men reached within 125 miles (200 km) of the capital. Earlier, Moscow deployed soldiers in preparation for their arrival and told residents to avoid going out. The Wagner fighters captured the city of Rostov hundreds of miles to the south before racing in convoy through the country, transporting tanks and armoured trucks and smashing through barricades set up to stop them, video showed. On Saturday night, Wagner fighters loaded tanks on trailers and began withdrawing from the Rostov military headquarters they had seized, a Reuters witness said. "In 24 hours we got to within 200 km of Moscow. In this time we did not spill a single drop of our fighters' blood," Prigozhin, dressed in full combat uniform at an undisclosed location, said in a video. "Understanding ... that Russian blood will be spilled on one side, we are turning our columns around and going back to field camps as planned." Reuters could not independently verify how far Prigozhin's mercenaries had reached. Video earlier showed convoys of Wagner vehicles less than 310 miles (500 km) from Moscow. The office of Alexander Lukashenko said the decision to halt further movement of Wagner fighters was brokered by the Belarusian president, with Putin's approval, in return for guarantees for their safety. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Prigozhin himself will move to Belarus under the deal. Peskov said Lukashenko had offered to mediate because he had known the mercenary leader personally for around 20 years. LITTLE PUSHBACK FROM ARMED FORCES Wagner's lightning insurrection appeared to develop with little pushback from Russia's regular armed forces, raising questions about Putin's hold on power in the nuclear-armed nation even after the abrupt halt to Wagner's advance. Earlier, Prigozhin said that what he called a "march for justice" was intended to remove corrupt and incompetent Russian commanders he blames for botching the war in Ukraine. In a televised address from the Kremlin, Putin earlier said the Wagner rebellion put Russia's very existence under threat. "We are fighting for the lives and security of our people, for our sovereignty and independence, for the right to remain Russia, a state with a thousand-year history," Putin said, vowing punishment for those who "prepared an armed insurrection". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the Wagner revolt, which sparked a flurry of high-level calls between Western leaders, exposed turmoil in Russia. "Today the world can see that the masters of Russia control nothing. And that means nothing. Simply complete chaos. An absence of any predictability," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. Video obtained by Reuters showed troop carriers and two flatbed trucks each carrying a tank driving 30 miles (50 km) beyond the town of Voronezh, more than halfway to Moscow. A helicopter fired on them near Voronezh, where a fuel depot exploded in a fireball shortly after a helicopter flew by, video obtained by Reuters showed. 'WILL THERE BE CIVIL WAR?' The fighters led by Prigozhin, a former convict, include thousands of ex-prisoners recruited from Russian jails. His men fought the bloodiest battles of the 16-month Ukraine war, including for the eastern city of Bakhmut. He railed for months against the military's top brass, especially Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and the chief of the general staff, Valery Gerasimov, accusing them of incompetence and of withholding ammunition from his fighters. This month, he defied orders to sign a contract placing his troops under Defence Ministry command. He launched the apparent mutiny on Friday after alleging that the military had killed many of his fighters in an air strike. The Defence Ministry denied this. He said he had captured the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District without firing a shot in Rostov, which serves as the main rear logistical hub for Russia's entire invasion force in Ukraine. The surrounding area is also an important oil, gas and grains region. Residents of the city had milled about calmly, filming on mobile phones as Wagner fighters in armoured vehicles and battle tanks took up positions. One tank was wedged between stucco buildings with posters advertising a circus. Another had "Siberia" daubed in red paint across the front, an apparent statement of intent to sweep across the breadth of Russia. "Will there be civil war?" a woman in Rostov asked the mercenaries. "No, everything will be fine," one answered. UKRAINE ATTACKS NEAR BAKHMUT Western capitals said they were closely following the situation. U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of France, Germany and Britain, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to G7 counterparts. The top U.S. military officer, Army General Mark Milley, cancelled a scheduled trip to the Middle East because of the developments. "This represents the most significant challenge to the Russian state in recent times," Britain's defence ministry said earlier on Saturday as Prigozhin's fighters bore down on Moscow. The insurrection risked leaving Russia's invasion force in Ukraine in disarray, just as Kyiv is launching its strongest counteroffensive since the war began in February last year. Ukraine's military said on Saturday its forces made advances near Bakhmut, on the eastern front, and further south. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Telegram that an offensive was launched near a group of villages ringing Bakhmut, which was taken by Wagner forces in May after months of fighting. "In all these areas, we have made advances," Maliar wrote. Oleksandr Tarnavskiy, commander of the southern front, said Ukrainian forces had liberated an area near Krasnohorivka, west of the Russian-held regional centre of Donetsk. He said the area had been under Russian control since separatist forces backed by Moscow took control of it in 2014. Reporting by Reuters journalists; Writing by Andrew Osborn, Kevin Liffey, Peter Graff and Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Giles Elgood, Frances Kerry, Alexander Smith and Daniel Wallis Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who turned his Wagner Group fighters against the military leadership in Moscow, will move to Belarus and the criminal charges against him for mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped, the Kremlin said Saturday. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko negotiated the deal with the Wagner Group chief, his office said, with the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko said he has known Prigozhin personally for 20 years. The negotiations also guaranteed that Wagner fighters will not be prosecuted, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. We have always respected their heroic deeds at the front," he said, adding that Moscow was grateful to Lukashenko for his role in de-escalating the crisis. Those fighters who did not participate in the rebellion, Peskov said, would be offered contracts with the Defense Ministry, which has been seeking to bring all autonomous volunteer forces under its control by July 1. Asked if there would be any personnel changes in the Russian Defense Ministry as part of the deal, Peskov said "These matters are the sole prerogative and within the competence of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (Putin) in accordance with the constitution of the Russian Federation. Therefore, it is unlikely that these topics could have been discussed in the course of the above-mentioned contacts." The Russian spokesman did not reveal whether there were any concessions made to persuade Prigozhin to withdraw all his forces, other than the guarantees for his safety something he said Putin had given his word on and for the safety of Prigozhin's men. He called the events that unraveled since Friday, "tragic." Earlier Saturday, Prigozhin and his fighters got within about 200 kilometers of Moscow before he ordered his men to halt their advance, turn their convoy around and return to their bases in Ukraine to avoid bloodshed. In an audio message released by his press service, Prigozhin said: "They wanted to disband the Wagner military company. We embarked on a march of justice on June 23. In 24 hours, we got to within 200 kilometers of Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of our fighters' blood. "Now the moment has come when blood could be spilled. Understanding responsibility [for the chance] that Russian blood will be spilled on one side, we are turning our columns around and going back to field camps as planned, he said in the audio message on his channel on the messaging app Telegram. Prigozhin didnt say whether the Kremlin has responded to his demand to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu or what, if anything, Lukashenko had promised him in their negotiations. Moscow had braced for the arrival of the private army led by the rebellious commander. And Putin had vowed he would face harsh consequences. There was no immediate comment from the Kremlin. By Saturday evening, the Russian mercenary fighters were seen pulling out of Rostov-on-Don, a city of more than a million people near the border with Ukraine that they had taken control of a day earlier. In Rostov, which serves as the main rear logistical hub for Russia's entire invasion force, residents had milled about, recording on mobile phones, as Wagner Group mercenary fighters in armored vehicles and battle tanks took up positions, Reuters reported. U.S., allies react U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom on Saturday, the White House said. "The leaders discussed the situation in Russia. They also affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, the White House said in a statement. Biden was briefed about the unfolding situation in Russia by his national security team on Saturday morning, the White House said, adding that the president will continue to be briefed throughout the day. Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the EU to discuss the ongoing situation in Russia, according to a statement issued Saturday by the State Department. Blinken reiterated that support by the United States for Ukraine will not change and added that the U.S. will stay in close coordination with allies and partners. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Twitter, " Anyone who chooses the path of evil destroys themselves. ... For a long time, Russia used propaganda to mask its weakness and the stupidity of its government. And now there is so much chaos that no lie can hide it. Criminal investigation In announcing the rebellion Friday, Prigozhin said he wanted to punish Shoigu after he accused Russian government forces of attacking Wagner field camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He claimed that a huge number of our comrades got killed. "The Minister of Defense arrived specially in Rostov to carry out an operation to destroy the Wagner PMC (private military company)," he wrote on his Telegram social media channel. Russias Defense Ministry has denied the allegations. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. TEHRAN, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's top forensic official said on Sunday that the country is ready to export its domestically-developed DNA testing kits to other countries, including the United States. President of Iran Legal Medical Organization Abbas Masjedi made the remarks when unveiling a number of new medical devices at a conference in the capital Tehran, according to Mizan news agency affiliated with Iran's judiciary. "Our message to the United States is that if its people need the DNA testing kits of Iran Legal Medical Organization, they can submit their requests to related Iranian authorities, and we will definitely supply the product to them in proportion to their needs, as we, under no circumstances, let political issues and sanctions overshadow peoples' health," he said. Iran is only five products away from achieving full self-sufficiency in manufacturing genetic laboratories' devices, and they will be unveiled within a year, Masjedi noted. He stressed that because of the imposition of the U.S. "cruel" sanctions on Iran, his organization was faced with significant periodic shortages in materials and devices over the past years. Speaking at the same conference, Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said Iran is currently among the world's advanced states in terms of employing modern technologies in the field of forensic medicine despite the so-called "paralysing" sanctions against the country. Iran has been under U.S. unilateral sanctions for the past four decades. The sanctions intensified following the U.S. unilateral withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal in May 2018, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Although the United States claimed that humanitarian items, including medicine and foodstuffs, are not included in the sanctions list, its embargoes on Iran's oil exports and banking sector have, in practice, prevented the country from importing such goods. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The last time that I visited the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, was almost 20 years ago. In a camp outside Bethlehem a delightful 31-year-old woman named Hanavi Ramban, mother of five children, said to me: A Palestinian state is the only hope for us the refugees, who have been waiting 50 years for it. Someone like you can come here and write about it, but you cannot understand what it is like to live with fear. I was only 15 at the time of the first intifada and I couldnt believe that my own children would see worse things. Now, I can see it continuing for my grandchildren. And so it has. The plight of the Palestinians is worsening, as is that of Arab citizens of Israel. This months escalating violence, in which both Israelis and Palestinians have died, reflect both radical new Israeli policies and responses to them by Hamas militants. And, as someone who has seen five decades of conflict around the globe, including Israelis fighting for their nations very survival, I know this bodes ill for the Jewish state just as it does for the nationless Palestinians. Advertisement Inch by inch, Israel is moving toward de facto annexation of the West Bank of Jordan. This is Arab land, viewed by most of the international community as the core of an intended Palestinian state, one element of the so-called two-state solution to a century-old struggle. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has always been, at heart, an advocate of Greater Israel I heard him say as much, more than four decades ago. Now, Netanyahu leads a coalition that constitutes the most radical right-wing government in his countrys history. His minister of security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has declared that Palestinian-ruled Gaza, too, should properly belong to Israel, and that the Palestinians can go to Saudi Arabia or other places, like Iraq or Iran. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an avowed Jewish supremacist, is charged with promoting the interests of the half million settlers on the West Bank and, implicitly, with sweeping aside those of Palestinians. Smotrich also questions the whether the two million Arabs within the borders of Israel should keep citizens rights, or even live there. Advertisement Todays strife has deep historical roots, and my own nation is still coming to grips with its prominent role. A century ago, Britains foreign secretary, Arthur Balfour, wrote the first chapter of the modern story of the Holy Land with an imperial arrogance characteristic of his generation. He publicly promised British Zionist leader Lord Rothschild that his government would support making Palestine then part of the tottering Ottoman Empire a national home for the Jewish people. My old friend Roy Jenkins, a British Labour statesman and former head of the European Commission, used to recall how, following World War II, the creation of a Jewish state seemed to his generation of liberals backed by US President Harry Truman the only possible honourable and compassionate response to the revelation of the Holocaust. Yet the story is of course far more complex. The distinguished Oxford historian Avi Shlaim, a Jew born in Baghdad in 1945 and whose family emigrated to Israel in the early 1950s, wrote in a new memoir: Britain had no legal, political or moral right to turn over the land of one people to another. When it received a mandate from the League of Nations to govern Palestine after World War I, it merely secured the power to do so. Advertisement Shlaim is a contrarian who has spent a lifetime at loggerheads with most other Israeli historians. But his background as a child in Iraq gave him sympathy for the Palestinians: I could see Arabs not just as an enemy but as a people, worthy of recognition and dignity. Shlaim deplores the policies of modern Israel toward the Palestinians, which he regards as a formula for perpetual struggle. Yet most of us who think of ourselves as realists acknowledge how little the world seems to care about what the Netanyahu government is doing. Let us be honest: There isnt great love for the Palestinians, not even among Arabs. The 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, reflected the fact that the parties common economic interests, and indeed prosperity, gave them more in common with each other than what shared Arab identity gives those states with the impoverished Palestinians. US President Joe Bidens administration has expressed strong criticism of some policies of the Netanyahu government, not least its ongoing attempt render the nations independent judiciary subject to political dominance. Advertisement But an overpowering reality is that Washington is paying less heed to the Middle East than at any time in living memory. It is preoccupied with China and Ukraine. There is no stomach for a big falling out with Jerusalem, and Netanyahu understands this. The White House appears even to accept Israels indifference to the Ukraine war, a neutrality rooted in a desire to keep open Netanyahus relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In London recently, I met an Israeli opposition leader who expressed disgust that his country does not support Ukraine: Given our own history, it is morally essential that we should be seen to stand up for the rights of a nation facing unprovoked aggression. This friend an ex-soldier, as are so many Israeli politicians asserted that there are legitimate security objections to supplying Israels Iron Dome anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has requested. But he finds inexcusable Jerusalems indulgence of Putin. Nonetheless, Netanyahus policies are unlikely to change, and the US apparently lacks the will or clout to make him do so. Advertisement Netanyahus most notable diplomatic achievement over the past four decades has been to forge a concord with US Republicans and especially Christian evangelists, founded upon mutual flattery and perceived shared interests. Not only is there no Palestinian who can match his rapport with the foreign constituency most serviceable to Israels interests; there is no one in the entire Arab world who can achieve this. European governments, and their peoples, are more exercised than Americans about the fate of the Palestinians. Again, however, most are too preoccupied with domestic issues to start a big fight about it. In March, Netanyahu, with hundreds of thousands of opponents taking to the streets to protest his proposed constitutional changes, was able to engineer a visit to Britain, to shore up his tottering domestic image. He was courteously received by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Protesters on British streets were numbered in hundreds, not thousands. Informed international opinion is today divided about whether we should admit that the two-state solution is dead; that the Palestinians will never have their own nation because Israeli military and political heft will prevent it. As a matter of common sense, it is impossible to envisage a viable Palestinian state in territory now densely populated by Jewish settlers. Advertisement Dahlia Scheindlin, a Tel Aviv-based academic and columnist for the liberal newspaper Haaretz, argues that Washingtons support for those policies only lends credibility to the Vladimir Putin school of international relations, which portrays the rules-based international order as a farce. A group of American academics headed by Michael Barnett argue in a recent issue of Foreign Affairs: Israels radical new government did not create this reality but rather made it impossible to deny. The temporary status of occupation of the Palestinian territories is now a permanent condition. An Israeli Arab, with no sympathy for Israels government, nonetheless said to me way back: The Palestinians have failed. They live in a fantasy world. When you ask them where they are from, they dont name a refugee camp, they speak of some village from which their parents were driven out in 1948. This is crazy. Advertisement When I was in Gaza in 2004, an old man living in a squalid refugee shack with 25 other family members produced for my scrutiny a rusty iron box, from which he extracted the deeds to a family property in Askelon, across the border in Israel proper. The documents were headed, beneath the British royal crest: This certificate of ownership is issued under the Land Settlement Ordinance 1928. For their own sakes, the Palestinians must be disabused of their illusions that they can ever recover what their forefathers lost and what mine promised them. I have always believed that the best hope of persuading the Palestinians to behave rationally is to give them something to lose, instead of keeping them locked in captivity with their economy, such as it is, intermittently devastated by Israeli firepower. My instinct, having known the region for so long, is that the Israeli right will, over the next decade or two, succeed in forging a Greater Israel, including the entire West Bank, because they have the military power to do so. Nations that crush their enemies on the battlefield as Israel did the Arabs in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973 have very often used their power to secure territorial booty. For Israel to do likewise does not make it a worse offender than other victors, merely no better. Advertisement My longtime friend the British historian Michael Howard, who was Jewish, once said to me, It is very dangerous for a state to base its policies upon an assumption of indefinite military superiority, as Israel has been doing for years. The creeping annexation of the West Bank entrenches Palestinian rage and institutionalizes the long-term threats from Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran. It diminishes prospects of securing foreign, and explicitly American, support if conflict with those violent forces escalates. There is no solution to these intractable problems, merely a range of expedients. We can only cling to the hope that the Israeli government can be persuaded or coerced into choosing the least base and cruel. I once knew a lovely old kibbutznik named Benny Porat, born in 1923, who emigrated from Berlin 10 years later when his father grasped the significance of Hitler. Benny must now be long dead, but when we talked at his house by the sea south of Haifa ages ago, he said: Today we have great military power, but morally in some ways we are weaker than once we were. Israel is rich in material things, poorer in others. Only the prophets know what Israels future will be. In the Middle East no one can guess, because the future is always what we do not expect. More From Max Hastings at Bloomberg Opinion: Taking Crimea From Putin Has Become Operation Unthinkable The West Cant Afford Hubris About Russias War in Ukraine What the War in Ukraine Tells Us About Deterring China This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Max Hastings is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A former editor in chief of the Daily Telegraph and the London Evening Standard, he is author, most recently, of The Abyss: Nuclear Crisis Cuba 1962. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Gift this article Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share If the Wagner Groups mutiny has set off schadenfreude in Western capitals over the predicament of Russian President Vladimir Putin, it will spread unease through the palaces of the Middle East. The regions rulers, reactionary autocrats almost to a man, tend to be nervous about uprisings of any kind not least for fear they may inspire potential rebels closer home. Leaders of the Arab world will doubtless follow the example of Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in providing Putin with reassurances of support. Nowhere is that more true than in the Gulfs petrostates, which, in addition to a dread of unrest, have strong ties to Russia through their common interest in propping up the price of oil. But the mutiny, led by Putins onetime chef Yevgeny Prigozhin, puts some Arab leaders in an awkward position because of their association with the Wagner Group. And it will boost the Biden administrations diplomatic efforts to weaken the mercenary force in the Middle East and Africa. Advertisement Wagner mercenaries are active across a swathe of countries, from Libya to the Central African Republic and from Mali to Sudan. Not all of its operatives are Russian: It also recruits fighters from Syria, its largest base of operations. While Wagner has acted mainly as a catspaw for Putin, pursuing Russian purposes while allowing Moscow to deny direct involvement in faraway conflicts, the group has also served the interests of regional leaders. The United Arab Emirates and Egypt have longstanding ties to Prigozhin and his hired guns, having cooperated with Wagner in backing the Libyan rebel leader Khalifa Haftar, who has undermined efforts by the United Nations to stabilize the country. The Egyptians and Emiratis regard Haftar as preferable to a civilian government that may include elements aligned to the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that keeps Arab potentates up at night. This partnership has been a bone of contention for the US. As far back as 2020, a report by the Pentagons inspector general for counterterrorism operations in Africa suggested the Emiratis were funding Wagners operations in Libya. (The UAEs ambassador to the US denied this.) Having designated Wagner as a transnational criminal organization, the Biden administration has been pressing the UAE and Egypt to sever ties with Prigozhin. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA Director William Burns both raised the issue in top-level meetings in Cairo and Abu Dhabi. In a warning shot, the US has imposed economic sanctions on a UAE-based aviation company for allegedly transporting Wagner mercenaries to conflict zones. Advertisement But Arab leaders have been reluctant to cut Wagner loose, not only because they see utility in the mercenaries but also because they regarded the association with Prigozhin as yet another way to please Putin. With the president having charged his old friend with treason, Arab states will not need much persuading to make a pariah of Prigozhin. They will be much more receptive to appeals from Washington, too after all, they may be getting the same message from Moscow. Prigozhins African clients, such as the junta in Mali, are more dependent on the mercenaries and may be less amenable to American entreaties. But the loss of Arab patronage not only funding but also basing, warehousing and trans-shipment facilities as well as air corridors will weaken Wagners ability to support its operations across the continent. Advertisement If Putin crushes the mutiny quickly, he could appoint another crony to take over from Prigozhin as Wagners leader and resume its international operations. But since the former chef handpicked most of the fighters, the organization will need to purge his loyalists, a potentially bloody process. It may be a long time before Putin trusts Wagner again. And until he does, neither will anybody else. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Mutiny in Russia Foreshadows Defeat in Ukraine: Leonid Bershidsky After the Wagner Uprising, Worry About the Nuclear Plant in Ukraine: Andreas Kluth Ukraine Is a Test for Future Wars and the West Is Failing: Hal Brands This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering foreign affairs. Previously, he was editor in chief at Hindustan Times, managing editor at Quartz and international editor at Time. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Gift this article Gift Article But in a companion document titled Background to the Plan, the scale of the challenges the broadcaster faces were made clear. The ABC is at a crossroads where it needs to balance the replacement of broadcast equipment with investment in digital platforms, the authors wrote. Maintaining broadcast operations while funding modernisation will be a critical challenge for the corporation. Aunty agony: Some traditional ABC jobs will need to disappear to make way for new ones more fitted to these emerging ways of connecting. It noted that evolutions in the way content is created and consumed including on and for social media were having a huge impact on the ABCs ability to connect with audiences. Recently, it has introduced new roles and skills around reporting, social media distribution, and video production, the background document notes. There is more change to come. More established tasks and methods will need to cease or be scaled back to allow for the new workflows required for the digital media environment. Loading There are challenges in every aspect of the broadcasters operation: technology, skills, content creation, distribution, and marketing. The ABC faces an increasingly complex operating environment that will continue to make long-term planning difficult. New platforms and technologies will continue to emerge and potentially disrupt the market the ABC will need to balance its resources between serving current audiences and reaching new ones. In other words, some traditional ABC jobs like national political editor and its arts editors will need to disappear to make way for new ones more fitted to these emerging ways of connecting. The assumption from management appears to be that the 120 positions made redundant are unfit for this new age, and that by implication an Andrew Probyn, for instance, cannot adapt or create content that might be adapted to suit it. That, says one Canberra bureau veteran who knows Probyn well, is patently ridiculous. Loading Chasing a younger audience doesnt mean you should get rid of the political editor, the journalist said. You need the content first, then you work out how to carve it up for different platforms and audiences. Theres a sense among some at the ABC that Probyn may have been axed because hes not an easy character to manage. Theres the old adage in business that you never waste a crisis, says one senior ABC figure. Im sure Andrew was a bit of a thorn in the side of management, and these changes presented an opportunity to remove that irritant. Hes in your face, he tells you what he thinks, and that is clearly not what the ABC wants, Probyns Canberra colleague concurs. He would push back against any crazy agenda they were trying to push. Another ABC staffer pointed out Probyn had been an early adopter of the digital strategy, spearheading the short-lived YouTube series The Brief, which took viewers behind-the-scenes at Parliament House. Loading While Probyns removal has soaked up most of the headlines in this latest wave of redundancies, other changes have left many in the ABC scratching their hands about the organisations priorities. News reporters were left bewildered after management announced it was scrapping state-based news bulletins on Sunday night, the most viewed night of the week. Others in the ABC question how seriously the organisation is committed to its pivot to digital when it scrapped its sole digital arts editor. Even the ABCs most widely respected investigative programs Four Corners and Background Briefing werent spared. Staff in other teams, including daily current affairs program 7.30, have been targeted for redundancies but are still unsure who is being shown the door. ABC redundancies have infamously become known as the hunger games because staff are pitting against one another in a battle to keep their jobs. Few in the organisation disagree that the broadcaster has to get better at attracting new audiences, but many question how it will achieve that goal with morale dealt such a big blow given this wave of cuts, and the continual slashing of resources from programs with the biggest cut-through, like Four Corners, which have become synonymous with the organisations brand. The ABCs dilemma can be reduced to a simple equation: the existing audience is ageing, and the younger audience with which it might be replenished is simply not coming on board. In part, that is because linear television where much of the ABCs resources have traditionally been focused no longer holds the appeal it did (which is why the five-year plan advocates a reallocation away from linear to digital). Time spent watching free-to-air broadcast television is in decline, and many younger viewers simply dont watch at all (catch-up viewing and broadcast video on demand is a different matter, though the ABCs success even in this space is predominantly with older viewers). ABC Managing Director David Anderson (foreground) with news director Justin Stevens, two of the key figures in the five-year plan. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen In this age of endless competition for attention, all free-to-air television broadcasters have to deal with shrinking audiences. But even the most cross-generational offerings on the ABC arent immune. Take Gruen, for instance, whose 2009 iteration The Gruen Transfer averaged 1.3 million viewers in the five capital cities alone. The most recent episode of the show, broadcast on Wednesday, pulled roughly one-third that number, 436,000. Radio audiences are similarly in decline. No less a figure than Leigh Sales, former host of flagship current affairs show 7.30, identified the scale of the issue to this masthead this week. I know the way I consume media has changed so drastically I dont watch anything now on a schedule, I literally timeshift every single thing that I watch, Sales said. We have to keep adapting and evolving and changing if we want to remain relevant to the audience. So while its always sad to see things change and change is always hard its change or death basically in the media landscape. To reach younger audiences, the ABC needs to change, and that means to go where those viewers are principally the plethora of platforms via which they consume their content, such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and, increasingly, TikTok (which is the only one of the major social media platforms, the background paper argues, that has not plateaued). And that means finding people who can work to those media. The ABC will need to scale back traditional broadcast services over time and invest more in content and distribution aimed at audiences for its own and third-party digital platforms, says the background paper. One of the greatest challenges facing the ABC right now is the generational divide that sees its established older audience resisting efforts to make the organisation more inclusive to appeal to younger audiences as wokeism. News Corp particularly The Australian newspaper and Sky News, which has outgrown the limitations of its pay TV status by finding a foothold on regional free-to-air television, airport lounges and screens on petrol station bowsers relentlessly attacks the broadcaster on this basis. Younger audiences, meanwhile, continue to resist the lure of the national broadcaster. The task ahead of the ABC is enormous. It needs to cater to its existing but declining older audience, and to maintain its decreasingly relevant traditional modes of distribution (AM radio, linear broadcast television), while developing the technological and distribution means not to mention the actual content to reach an as-yet largely hypothetical younger audience. It cant not do either, though attempting to do both puts it under enormous financial, management and operational strain. While the ABC continues to improve the value and appeal of its digital content, products, and services, it must continue to cater to important audiences for free-to-air television, says the background paper. Traditional broadcast services are still popular across some older audience segments ... the ABC seeks to maintain such services for Australians unable to access internet services. In short, the five-year plan captures the ABC in a moment in which it is staring at an abyss of irrelevance and preparing to take a leap of faith. It cant be sure where it will land, but the ground on which it was standing is crumbling fast, and it has no choice but to jump. In this, it is far from alone. But in having identified the challenges so clearly it has at least shown it is willing to make a move. Whether this five-year plan is the right one remains to be seen. The drug fentanyl has been at the heart of a deadly and devastating opioid crisis gripping the United States, but for years has had a relatively minimal presence in Australias illicit drug scene. That is at risk of changing, according to the Australian Federal Police, who say authorities are increasingly intercepting shipments of fentanyl destined for Australia. A major drug shipment was intercepted at the Port of Melbourne last August. Credit: AFP Australian Federal Police commander Kate Ferry warned the nation remained an attractive country for organised crime gangs, who were ramping up attempts globally to create a market for synthetic drugs like fentanyl. We are the biggest users of ice in the world, Ferry said. So we understand that there is a market here for illicit drugs. In such times, opposition party strategists have been known to drop everything and focus on engineering a win. They mustnt. If there is one lesson from the last decade and a half, it is that a loss is an opportunity not to be wasted. When the Coalition lost to Kevin Rudd in 2007, it wasnt because it was on the nose, but because it had delivered a period of great stability and made it look easy. Peter Dutton is looking like a new man one who could win the next election. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Armed with the Fightback agenda developed under John Hewson, then-prime minister John Howard led a philosophically coherent team which managed to turn internal disagreement into constructive debate. But its hard to develop new ideas while in government, so by the end of the Howard era, the Liberal Party was in need of some fresh policy thinking. Instead, it fell apart. The contest of ideas was replaced by a scuffle between rivals representing different streams of the conservative and classical liberal alliance that Howard called the broad church. So when Rudd ran into a knife backwards, the Liberal Party wasnt ready to govern. But that didnt stop it from campaigning. Tony Abbott proved a formidable campaigner. Backed with the credibility of the Howard government, he was able to use simple, powerful language to tell voters what the incumbent Labor government was doing wrong: stop the boats, axe the tax, put the adults back in charge. It got him closer to a win than anyone had dreamed of in 2010. By 2012, the leadership spills of Rudd-Gillard-Rudd had caused Anthony Albanese to shed his first public tears over a party that was fighting itself instead of the Tories. In 2013, Abbott won. But it soon became apparent that the policy hard yards had fallen victim to the campaign to regain government. In haste, the Liberal Party lifted a shelf-ready platform, more or less straight from the free market Institute of Public Affairs, to add substance to its slogans. This might have worked out OK if Abbott were a libertarian fundamentally aligned with that era of IPA ideas. As a proper conservative by nature, he wasnt and isnt. Loading By 2015, leadership rival Malcolm Turnbull was aghast at the lack of policy detail. Policies need to be carefully thought through, painstakingly explained and be robust enough to withstand rigorous policy debate, he decreed. But that didnt stop him challenging Abbott for the top job without having done what he accused his prime minister of having neglected. A shaky prime ministership ensued, ended by the Morrison ascendancy. Finally, there was someone in charge who didnt care enough for policy to desire it or come into conflict with it. And thats how Australia muddled through a decade on the momentum of commodities, without any significant new initiatives to get the otherwise sluggish economy moving again. Luckily, we had those commodities, so the decade didnt wipe us out; but it just about killed the Liberal Party. With so few ideas and so little to believe in, supporters bled out in all directions. With so little common cause, the Liberal Party has become a game of factions. Now the travails of the government have made a Coalition win once again look possible. But winning again without doing the policy work could finish the party off once and for all. Loading Policy work is underway to identify and propose solutions to the problems of today. Some people are stress-testing and articulating the principles and values that should anchor the party and its policies. There is even thought being given to how to overcome factional capture. That work now needs to happen on double time. A party which has lost members must woo new ones who bring good ideas. The temptation will be to drop everything and campaign on the governments weaknesses and failures. After all, the excuse always goes, its the oppositions job to hold the government to account, and you cant implement policy unless youre in government. Albaneses passion can be partly attributed to his decades-long fight with the Greens in his inner-Sydney seat, Grayndler, which could be within the Greens sights if not for Albaneses personal brand. The housing issue exploded this week when the Greens sought another delay on the housing vote, heightening tensions in a feud that may define the way in which a powerful Greens balance-of-power interplays with a Labor government that wants multiple terms in office. Labor has offered multiple concessions to the Greens and this month announced a one-off $2 billion public housing injection. But the Greens, which also halted a vote on the bill in March, last week sought to delay a vote until after a national cabinet meeting that the Greens hope will agree to cap rents (a step-down from the freeze the Greens are pushing). Rental increases are capped in the ACT and Victoria is likely to announce caps as part of a major housing reform package. NSW has ruled out the policy change. To Labor, the Greens call for another delay exposed the partys arrogance and unwillingness to settle for a compromise. If blocked later this year, the government believes it would be able to use it as a double dissolution trigger in the unlikely event it wanted an early election. For the Greens, another period of negotiation creates the possibility of more concessions and increased pressure on Labor to pursue ambitious rental reform when state leaders meet with Albanese before the housing vote. Labor MPs privately speculate that Chandler-Mathers tactics on the HAFF a stock market fund that would use earnings to fund social housing are splitting the Greens party room and causing unease among the partys more moderate MPs. But, according to several Greens sources, his colleagues are energised by the feedback they receive in their electorates and back their young colleague strongly in party room meetings in Canberra. They say Greens leader Adam Bandt believes the depth of housing stress opens up a new constituency for the Greens as it seeks to become the party of renters. At the last election, 22 per cent of renters voted Green, nearly double the level of support it won across all voters. Loading The Greens also believe they are winning the online debate, as reflected in comments from treasurer Jim Chalmers this week: They care more about retweets than renters, more about TikTok than housing stock. Chandler-Mather, whom Labor targets for opposing some developments in his own seat, says: National cabinet, chaired by the prime minister ... has the opportunity to introduce proper caps on rent increases, and the Greens are ready to work with them to do it. Parliamentary battles between Labor and the Greens inevitably raise fundamental questions about the purpose of the Greens. Are they a protest outfit empowered to block Labors agenda, or must they respect the mandate of the governing party? The author of Inside the Greens, Paddy Manning, said the common criticism that the Greens allowed the perfect to be the enemy of the good had grown stale. On climate change and the Voice, the Greens pushed the government but ended up finding consensus on policies Greens voters mostly supported. On housing, Manning argues, the Greens have found a white-hot issue on which Labor, which has abandoned policies to rein in tax breaks for property investors, is not acting with the strength the community demands. The Greens are determined to fight on this, Manning said in an interview. And where housing is different is that Adam Bandt is the first Greens leader who is unashamedly hard left on economics. He has a view the Australian public, post the financial crisis where weve also seen a rise of right-wing populism, is going through a backlash against what you might call the neoliberal agenda. The Greens call for a freeze on rents represents an extreme intervention in the private housing market and could be perceived as a bridge too far by many voters, Manning cautioned. The hardline stance aligns with what Manning explained is a particularly radical brand of politics in the Brisbane Greens where Chandler-Mather grew to prominence after quitting the Labor Party in his 20s. Adam Bandt is unashamedly hard left on economics. Credit: Eddie Jim There is a danger for the Greens in overreaching, Manning said, adding that the Greens flew under the radar at the last election and its mandate for its economic agenda would be properly tested at the next poll. Then there is the question of the legitimacy of the Greens claims. Australian National University associate professor Ben Philips challenged Chandler-Mathers claim that renters were facing a $100 a week average rent increase; Philips said it was up $23 a week. The conflicting figures stem from different methods of recording rent prices, one of which lags the other. Just as in another of the Greens left-wing economic campaigns, its push to scrap HECS debt indexation, the Greens face questions from some experts about exaggeration and misguided proposals. Coalition MPs are watching on with amusement as their ideological foes brawl. Duttons office spent time checking the Jacobin article to determine if Albanese had misleadingly quoted it. Liberals judged that he may have misrepresented a paraphrasing as a quote but that the crime did not warrant prosecution. Liberal frontbencher Dan Tehan, elected in 2010, stayed back after question time to watch the stoush between Albanese and Chandler-Mather. He told this masthead: This is unique. I have never seen a first-term MP get under the skin of a PM like Max has. It has been quite unbecoming for a PM. The hands-on involvement of the prime minister in the housing spat with the Greens has become a point of significant interest for commentators and MPs. Similar to the Voice debate, the strengths of Labors relevant minister, Housing Minister Julie Collins, are not particularly suited to an intense daily brawl. At Australian politics version of the Met Gala, the Midwinter Ball, the host jokingly referred to Bandt as Australias opposition leader. (Albanese also made fun of Chandler-Mathers hyphenated surname). Jokes are just that, but they often contain a kernel of truth. Pollster and former Labor operative Kos Samaras points out that Labor could be more defensive against the Greens than the Coalition at the next election. The Greens, who have been a thorn in Labors side long before the teals necked a swag of inner-city Liberals, will aim to win another seat in Melbourne at the next election, and potentially others across the country, to improve their record lower house haul. 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 In these Explainers weve delved into the machinations of the Kremlin and Russias invasion of Ukraine, bringing context to the news and the people behind it. See all 9 stories . There were about 40 American soldiers left at the dusty outpost in eastern Syria, and, with every hour, they were watching the enemy advance. These were pro-Assad forces on the horizon, hundreds of them, here to seize territory from US-backed Kurdish fighters. And yet, when the Americans embedded with the Kurds eavesdropped on the enemys radio waves that day in February 2018, they heard Russian voices. As the troops attacked, unleashing a fierce barrage of gun and tank fire, US military command called the Kremlin, urging them to call off the assault. The US and Russia had long avoided direct combat and there were fears this could spark a major diplomatic crisis, with both powers helping different sides in the Syrian civil war. But Moscow assured their US counterparts no Russians were in the area. So who was attacking? That battle ended in a devastating air raid by the US to protect their men. About 200 attacking troops were killed in the strikes, many of them Russian mercenaries. When the dust cleared, neither the US nor Russia were in a hurry to admit theyd just attacked one another. After all, the mercenaries were not renegades working for just anyone. They were the Wagner Group, a shadowy network of former Russian soldiers that has served as an unofficial arm of the Kremlin since it first invaded Crimea in Ukraine in 2014. From seizing diamond mines in Africa to prowling the streets of Kyiv with alleged orders to murder Ukraines president, Wagner has been turning up more and more in conflicts across the globe as Russia seeks to expand its influence. Then in 2022, the group began propping up Vladimir Putins bloody and costly war in Ukraine, recruiting from Russian prisons to continue meat grinder campaigns in the east. Wagner fighters were among the first charged with war crimes there, and an ex-commander who fled through Arctic ice and barbed wire to seek asylum in Norway claims to have witnessed executions by the group. Now, Wagners financier, Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the oligarch known as Putins chef, has stepped up from warring with Russian generals over who should take credit for wins on the field to actual rebellion: launching a coup attempt against Kremlin defence chiefs on June 23 that threatened to plunge Russia into civil war. Russian and Wagner forces fired on one another over a chaotic 24 hours before, just as suddenly, the coup was called off Wagner tanks rolling towards Moscow turned around and Prigozhin himself took a deal for exile in neighbouring Belarus, to avoid criminal prosecution back home. So what do we know about Putins shadow army from their skull logo and coded recruitment to their neo-Nazi leanings? And how did they step out into the spotlight in the Ukraine war? This explainer was originally published on Oct 9 2022 and has been updated to reflect developments. It contains graphic content. Advertisement Russian oligarch Yevgeniy Prigozhin finances Wagner Group which has deployed mercenaries to Ukraine, Syria and across Africa. Credit: What is Wagner Group? Officially, Wagner doesnt exist. Mercenaries contractors who fight wars for money rather than as part of an army arent legal in Russia (nor in most countries, including the US and Australia, in light of international bans). But private groups of this kind still operate all around the world, including Americas Blackwater (now known as Academi), whose staff were convicted of killing Iraqi civilians in 2007. Wagner has left its own (much larger) trail of war crimes across the globe, says the chair of the UN working group on mercenaries, Dr Sorcha MacLeod. Russia is not the only country with a mercenary group, she says. We know Turkey has one too, but Wagner, based on what we know about where its been and where it operates, seems to be the biggest. Its really a proxy force of the Russian state. Wagner is pronounced Vagner for Hitlers favourite composer. Its also the call sign of the groups unconfirmed leader, Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian military intelligence lieutenant, Wagner fan and suspected neo-Nazi. Wagner emerged in 2014 as Russia seized Crimea, part of the little green men (soldiers in unmarked green uniforms) sent in to take Ukrainian territory. Utkin himself was wounded in the fighting that became the long-running war of the Donbas. Its about plausible deniability ... Russia says mercenaries arent permitted under law, so they cant be doing that. Unofficially, Wagner mercenaries are sometimes called the cleaners or the orchestra, known for making noise with brutal onslaughts. In Syria, theyve backed Bashar al-Assads regime and guarded lucrative oil fields; in Libya, they joined the forces of rebel general Khalifa Haftar in 2019 after he attacked the UN-backed government in the capital, Tripoli. And across Africa, theyve been brought in to help military governments crack down on rebellion and terrorist cells (and seize diamond mines). Advertisement In Ukraine, they had been fighting in large numbers, reportedly rented out as a strike team by Russian army units and even acting as a regular part of the military. Using mercenaries means Russia can distance itself from Wagner atrocities the group often do the Kremlins dirty work and it helps quell fears at home of Russian soldiers returning in body bags. Its about plausible deniability, says MacLeod. Russia says and has said when weve sent them allegation letters [over Wagner] human rights violations that mercenaries arent permitted under Russian law, so they cant be doing that. Wagner Group fighters in Syria. Hired guns are not new popes and kings have used them and, historically, theyve been known for brutality. They do not have the same chain of command and oversight that regular armies do. But, in modern times, Wagner has taken that to a new level, says MacLeod. Theres no ID numbers, or uniforms, no accountability. Locals might recognise them as the white guys, or the Russians, even as Wagner, but usually thats as far as it goes. Fighters are made to sign non-disclosure agreements and are hired through a complex web of shell companies. In fact, many experts now understand the group as more of a network of Russian military contractors code for the Kremlin outsourcing rather than one single business entity. Of course, for an organisation like this that operates in the shadows, it suits them for there to be speculation about who they are, their size, where they are, MacLeod says. That adds to the mystique. Still, journalists and international investigators such as MacLeod have pieced together a picture of how Wagner operates. Advertisement Putins chef: Yevgeny Prigozhin, left, serves food to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during a banquet in 2011. Credit: AP Who (and how) does Wagner recruit? The group typically recruits in code, says researcher Isabella Currie at La Trobe University, offering spots to musicians on tour for the Wagner Conservatory or, more recently, for a picnic in Ukraine. Sometimes they will pose with violins or other musical instruments in photos from the battlefield. Its a joke and everyones in on it, Currie says. Its just that the joke is terrifying. Recruits tend to be ex-military personnel, in their 30s and 40s, often with criminal histories or hailing from small Russian towns without much work. They have a reputation as elite fighters, more seasoned (and better paid) than the typical Russian soldier. The bar for selection and training, though, has been lowered more and more as they take big losses in Ukraine. Before the war, Wagner personnel were thought to number around 10,000. As of December, US intelligence estimated Wagner had about 50,000 fighters in Ukraine 40,000 of them convicts freshly recruited from Russian prisons. Its casualties in combat are not recorded publicly and so, as researcher Dr Joana de Deus Pereira writes, mercenaries can vanish without a name. Sometimes bodies of slain soldiers are not recovered or their families are denied agreed compensation, told their loved one wasnt a soldier at all but was working for a gas company or some other front. When Prigozhin launched his attempted coup in 2023, he claimed he had 25,000 men ready to die to save Russia and another 25,000 after that, but the exact number of their forces now is unclear. Recent digital recruitment stickers made in an online Wagner channel based on US Uncle Sam. It says We Need You. Advertisement Who runs Wagner? Western intelligence agencies have long known Wagner is financed by Prigozhin, often called Putins chef for his lucrative catering contracts with the Kremlin and close ties to the Russian president. (Prigozhin is also wanted by the United States for funding the state-backed troll farm, the Internet Research Agency, which is accused of influencing the 2016 US presidential election in favour of Donald Trump.) But for years, Prigozhin (who turned a hotdog stand into a food empire after serving serious prison time) vehemently denied the Wagner connection. He sued journalists who made the link, even as he raked in wealth from the groups deployments overseas in Syria and Africa. Then, in September 2022, Prigozhin finally admitted he owned Wagner, having been filmed touring prisons to offer convicts early release in exchange for six months fighting alongside Wagner in Ukraine. I cleaned the old weapons myself, sorted out the bulletproof vests myself, Prigozhin said in a statement. From that moment, on May 1, 2014, a group of patriots was born, which later came to be called the Wagner Battalion. I am proud that I was able to defend their right to protect the interests of their country. Experts suspect the Russian state has directly bankrolled parts of Wagner too, supplying them with weapons, aircraft and training. The French government has accused the Kremlin of providing material support to Wagner where it operates in Mali, West Africa, for example. Back home, Wagners training base is next door to that of the Russian army, although officially the site is listed as a childrens holiday camp. And there have been cases of Wagner troops evacuated from conflict zones to Russian military hospitals, Currie says, including after that 2018 US air strike on attacking Wagner forces in Syria. Generally, private military companies would not receive such benefits, specialised military health care, from the state. In 2021, Russian journalist Ilya Barabanov, along with Nader Ibrahim at the BBC, stumbled upon a discarded Wagner tablet and uncovered a shopping list of weapons and equipment the organisation had sent Russian authorities directly. Its not the only time the group has been careless. In August, a pro-Kremlin war blogger inadvertently revealed the location of Wagners main base in eastern Luhansk, Ukraine, when he posted a photo with fighters there. Within days, Ukrainian rockets had reduced it to rubble. Currie recalls seeing the image pop up on open-source intelligence channels, as investigators around the world scrambled to identify its location. There were clues like a sign on a building we were looking at. Then I woke up the next day and someone had cracked it. The Ukrainians had taken it out. Anthony Harris, director of medical services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados receives an interview with Xinhua at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados, June 1, 2023.(Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) BRIDGETOWN, June 25 (Xinhua) -- "The long-term Chinese medical team is really unique to our hospital," said Anthony Harris, director of medical services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, expressing his gratitude for the contribution of the Chinese medical team in the country. As a surgeon who had witnessed Chinese doctors' treatment in the operating room, Harris said Chinese medics are very enthusiastic and serious about their work, and always work closely with their local colleagues in Barbados. Since December 2016, the hospital, being the largest and highest-level public general hospital in Barbados and holding a prominent position as a leading medical center in the Caribbean, has benefited from the expertise of five batches of Chinese foreign aid medical teams dispatched by Chongqing Municipality in southwest China. These dedicated teams have effectively brought Chinese medical services to the Caribbean island country. Among the dedicated members of the Chinese medical team was He Ping, the chief surgeon of the trauma department at the Chongqing Emergency Medical Center. He joined the third Chinese medical team to Barbados, arriving in the country in July 2018 and returning to China in September 2019. During his stay in Barbados, he always worked on the front line in the operating and emergency rooms, participating in 96 emergency operations and saving 19 critically ill patients. "We had some challenges with our human resources as it relates to delivering care at the hospital," said Chaynie Williams, one of the medical staff at the hospital. "(Chinese medical teams) have contributed tremendously to sustaining and maintaining our services." Almost every Chinese doctor and nurse on the medical team to Barbados taught their skills to local colleagues. At the end of 2020, Liu Dan, an anesthetist at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University came to Barbados for medical aid. She gained many local "students" shortly after demonstrating her technical advantages. Some of the interns and the experienced consultant doctors at the hospital even needed to book an appointment to see her demonstration. "Traditional Chinese medicine also was gaining popularity with the local residents. And it's something that we want to also have as part of our holistic patient-centered care at the hospital," Williams said. According to Deng Li, deputy director of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, the Chinese medical teams in Barbados have treated more than 38,000 clinical cases, and China has also sent experts to Barbados on a short-term basis to carry out knee replacement and other operations free of charge to solve local medical technical problems. The advanced medical technology displayed by the Chinese medical teams has attracted seven Barbadian doctors to study at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. "Through individual instruction, their professional theory and technical operation ability have been greatly improved, which has laid a solid foundation for them to carry out the medical techniques after returning to Barbados," said Xu Ping, party chief of the Chinese hospital. He Ping, the chief surgeon of the trauma department at the Chongqing Emergency Medical Center and a member of the third Chinese medical team to Barbados, conducts a surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados, July 31, 2019.(Xinhua) Medical staff members work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados, June 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Xin Yuewei) OTTAWA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Chinese Canadians came to the Parliament Hill on Saturday to denounce racism and reflect upon the Chinese Immigration Act, which was passed in 1923 in Canada and commonly known as the Chinese Exclusion Act. People enjoyed various forms of Chinese cultural performances, including dancing, music and lion dance, before speeches were made. "Chinese communities in Canada deserved better, and still do, which is why we must continue to fight anti-Asian racism, violence and hate," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a letter read at the event. "Today's event provides an opportunity to reflect upon the important contributions that Canadians of Chinese descent have made and continue to make, to our country's history, identity and prosperity," he added. "Today is a day of voice where we will speak out that exclusion can never happen again ... We have to take action to make sure that Chinese Canadians, Asian Canadians, all minority Canadians are not subject to any modern form of exclusion and we have to work together to make that happen," said Senator Yuen Pau Woo from British Columbia. The Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned most forms of Chinese immigration to Canada, was repealed in 1947. Today A mix of sun and clouds; warm and humid with a t-storm possible late in the day, though much of the day remains dry. Tonight Becoming mostly cloudy, warm and muggy with a few showers and thunderstorms; a heavy downpour or two. Tomorrow Clouds mixing with some sun, warm, and humid. A shower or thunderstorm may linger early in the morning, and one or two may pop up during the day. PARIS (AP) A sparkling mist of water from towering fountains cooled overheated VIP guests at Spanish luxury fashion house Loewes show on Saturday at Paris Fashion Week. Its Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson masterfully translated the essence of sculptor Lynda Benglis works into a spring collection that explored themes of sparkle and elongated form. It was a fitting showcase of his continual innovation for Loewe's and underscored Anderson's status among the Parisian design elite. Here are some highlights of the day's spring-summer 2024 menswear collections, including an interview with a fashion teacher whose school was the site of a shocking explosion earlier this week: ANDERSON REIMAGINES MENSWEAR WITH ARTISTIC SPARKLE Against the backdrop of the monumental, water-spouting sculptures, Loewes latest Paris Fashion Week show was nothing short of a spectacle and with Anderson at the helm, traditional menswear was reimagined and reshaped. High-waisted trousers bore a touch of vintage nostalgia, their surreal heights commanding attention and distorting perceptions of the human form. Mirroring the shimmering sparkle of the surrounding fountains, sequins and crystals added a festive disco-era energy to the collection. Andersons touch was evident in the deceptively ordinary blazers, coats, and knits his cuts transformed the seemingly straightforward items into gestural art works. A suede tunic with a conjoined handbag created from the same leather tickled the fancy of the audience, including actor Brian Cox, and drew a flurry of camera clicks. The collection featured a subdued palette of soft pastels, blues, blacks and khakis, dramatically offset by accessories such as crystal-embellished sunglasses and a crystal hummingbird on a shredded brocade top. An array of footwear and oversized bags added a further dimension to Andersons study of proportions. The show proved that Andersons imaginative leadership at Loewe continues to show his prowess as an innovator, with a whimsical fusion of art and daring. ART AND FASHION: LYNDA BENGLISS SCULPTURES The runway at Loewes was also a stage for the artworks of Lynda Benglis. Three modernist fountains lined the catwalk, introducing an artistic pulse that echoed through the entire show. The sculptures, made from materials ranging from bronze to glitter, showcased Benglis skill in redefining conventional sculpture boundaries. From the dramatic form of Crescendo, a sculpture resembling a crashing wave, to the stacked flower-like forms of Bounty, Amber Waves, Fruited Plane, and the algae-rock essence of Knight Mer, they provoked a visceral response and a flurry of snaps. The art-infused runway showed again Andersons penchant for blurring the boundaries of fashion. ART TEACHER PLEADS FOR HELP AFTER BLAST AT PARIS FASHION SCHOOL The global fashion community was shocked by the suspected gas explosion earlier this week in Paris 5th district that partially destroyed a building and crumpled the facade of a private academy of design and arts, the Paris American Academy. Four people remain hospitalized in critical condition after Wednesdays explosion, and at least 54 others suffered lighter injuries or psychological shock. One person, a teacher, remains unaccounted for. At the scene, Anna Barr, a 42-year-old merchandising teacher at the academy, fought back tears on Saturday. Its particularly upsetting because its such a small school, a family. I knew the director for 25 years. I even studied there, she told The Associated Press. Students flew from all over the world, including from the U.S. and Korea, to attend these couture courses." Barr said the academy was now in the "immediate need of finding an atelier space and called on the French fashion and couture federation for assistance, hoping the fashion community can rally together to overcome this devastating setback. Experts equipped with search dogs had to pause their sifting through the rubble on Rue Saint-Jacques until the site can be deemed secure, authorities said. HERMES: IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT This spring-summer, under the expert hand of veteran designer Veronique Nichanian, the Hermes menswear show unfolded with an air of cool nonchalance and subtle, sophisticated luxury. The collection offered an inviting array of pastel hues. With a soft palette of shades of steam, light grey, sage, and others graced loose silhouettes, it reflected an airy and comfortable mood. Oversized bags and sandals featuring hole motifs contributed an off-kilter feel. Gentle geometry abounded, manifesting in stripes that danced across T-shirts and coats, drawing a bold link to Hermes emblematic openwork motifs. Amidst the gender-bending themes dominating many Paris high-fashion shows, Nichanian reinforced the classic realm of menswear, maintaining instead the timeless elegance Hermes has been synonymous with since her tenure began in 1988. Summer was anticipated in tunics and beach blazers, while the allure of the collection was unmistakably sensual, with heavy silks for summer nights and loose knits for cooler hours. Nichanian Paris fashions longest-serving, non-founding designer since Chanels Karl Lagerfelds death continues to present the Hermes man with an effortless sartorial elegance, all the while enhancing the brands reputation for understated, sellable fashion. The summer, under Nichanians guidance, promises to be serene, joyfully sensual, and unequivocally Hermes. OFFICINE GENERALE: PIERRE MAHEOS MENSWEAR HAS DASH OF EASYGOING MAGIC Officine Generales spring-summer 2024 menswear show was a study in controlled simplicity, as designer Pierre Maheo presented a collection that was refreshing yet retained his signature sophistication. Starting with a monochromatic palette, the show evolved into a celebration of subtle historic elements. A knee buckle here and a neck scarf there revealed Maheo's fondness for bygone elements reinterpreted in a modern context. Loose white tapered pants and relaxed, pajama-like shirting, paired with tailored foulards, were both casual and elegant. Elasticized waistbands, knee-high socks and garters, painted a picture of comfortable chic. Maheo balanced the line between undone and done-up, always sticking with simplicity. Ultraviolet and teal hues, and breezy tank tops and shorts were a surprise touch. The designer confessed to using these as a response to a cold and rainy Parisian winter, offering a touch of warmth and sunshine. The show encapsulated an easygoing mood Maheo proved that minimalism can be impactful and that less is more when done with flair and an eye for detail. KIDSUPER GIVES A THEATRICAL TWIST ON FASHION The KidSuper collection was exhibited in a novel fusion of fashion and theater. The show was the brainchild of Colm Dillane, the house founder, whose approach to fashion often defies convention. Held at the historic Theatre de lOdeon, the show was shaped by collaborations with artist Thierry Dreyfus, theater company The Big Funk, choreographer Leo Walk, and dance company La Marche Bleue. This unique presentation served to encapsulate Dillanes vision in a narrative format. Embodying KidSupers distinctive style, the collection was characterized by its use of vibrant colors, prints, and collages. These elements found their place on a variety of pieces, ranging from streetwear staples to Dillanes tailored garments. KidSupers latest outing continues the brands trajectory since its Paris Fashion Week entry in 2020. Dillanes characteristic blend of fashion with various art forms was evident, once again confirming his alternative, multidisciplinary approach to the traditional fashion show format. "We are celebrating our 300th anniversary," said Rachel Hacker, pastor of Emmanuel's Lutheran Church. "A 300 year anniversary is a big milestone," said Christopher DeForest, bishop of Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of ELCA. For 300 years, Emmanuel's Lutheran Church of Bath has welcomed families from generation to generation. "In a world of division and struggle, these people seek to worship god together. To welcome people in of all kinds," said DeForest. The church started in 1723 by the Pennsylvania Dutch. It started out as a log cabin with a school house built not far from where today's church stands on Valley View Drive in Moore Township. "They have a strong sense of roots and history here," said DeForest. Today, the church celebrates three centuries of religion in this congregation through song, prayer and even a work of art. "The contributing artists were as young as 1 and as old as 88," said Hacker. The church says it's because of the people, the children, the families and the friends that this congregation can look forward to 300 more years down the line. "I'm really proud to be a part of a community that includes a congregation like Emmanuel's," said DeForest. Allentown, PA (18103) Today A mix of sun and clouds; warm and humid with a t-storm possible late in the day, though much of the day remains dry. . Tonight Becoming mostly cloudy, warm and muggy with a few showers and thunderstorms; a heavy downpour or two. An Idaho judge has denied a request from roughly two dozen news organizations to lift a gag order in the criminal case of a man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death. The judge did, however, significantly narrow the gag order in response to the news organizations concerns. The ruling in Bryan Kohbergers case was handed down late Friday afternoon. Second District Judge John Judge said it was legally prudent to restrict attorneys from making some statements about the case in order to preserve the Monroe County man's right to a fair trial. Still, Judge also said the original gag order was arguably overbroad and vague. POTTSTOWN, Pa. - Police say at least one person was shot and taken to the hospital on Friday night. Police were called to the 300 block of East High Street just before 11 p.m. As of Saturday afternoon, crime tape blocked off part of a grocery store and an adjacent property on East High Street. There's no word yet on a possible motive or if anyone has been arrested. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Flying from Florida to Buenos Aires usually takes about 10 hours, but the turboprop landing in Argentina on Saturday was no normal plane. It had been en route for 20 days, and many Argentines eagerly refreshed flight tracking software to keep tabs on its progress. The Short SC.7 Skyvan carried no crucial cargo nor VIP passengers. Rather, the plane will be another means for Argentines to reckon with the brutal history of their country's 1976-1983 military dictatorship. The plane, which was discovered in the U.S., is the first ever proven in a court to have been used by Argentinas junta to hurl political detainees to their deaths from the sky, one of the bloody periods most cold-blooded atrocities. Argentinas government will add the plane to the Museum of Memory, which is in what was the junta's most infamous secret detention center. Known as the ESMA, it housed many of the detainees who were later tossed alive from the death flights into the ocean or river One of the victims linked to the returned plane was Azucena Villaflor, whose son Nestor disappeared and presumably was murdered early in the dictatorship. After he went missing, she founded the group Mothers of Plaza de Mayo to demand information about disappeared children, and then was herself detained and killed. For us, as family members, its very important that the plane be part of history, because the bodies as well as the plane tell exactly what happened, Cecilia De Vincenti, Villaflors daughter, told The Associated Press. The planes return was enabled by Italian photographer Giancarlo Ceraudo, who spent years seeking out death flight planes. This one had later delivered mail in Florida and more recently carried skydivers in Arizona. Throughout his quest, Ceraudo said, countless people failed to understand why he remained steadfastly focused on finding the junta's aircraft, especially since the bodies of many of the dictatorship's victims are still undiscovered. The planes had to be recovered because they were an important piece, like the (Nazi) gas chambers, a terrible tool, Ceraudo said in an interview. Argentinas junta is widely considered the most deadly of the military dictatorships that ruled much of Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s. It detained, tortured and killed people suspected of opposing the regime. Human rights groups estimate 30,000 were slain, many of whom disappeared without a trace. Some of them vanished aboard the death flights. During an extensive 2012-2017 trial, survivors testified that the flights took place at least weekly. According to witnesses, prisoners often were told that they were being released and sometimes were forced to dance to loud music in celebration. Then they received a supposed vaccination that was in fact a strong sedative. As the drug took effect, they were hooded, bound and loaded aboard a plane. The trial, at which 29 former officials were sentenced to life in prison, proved that the dictatorship used death flights as a systematic mode of extermination. It specified that the Skyvan just returned to Buenos Aires was used to kill Villaflor and 11 other detainees. Prosecutors say it is impossible to know how many detainees in all were thrown from the planes. But at least 71 bodies of suspected death flight victims washed up along the coast 44 in Argentina and 27 in neighboring Uruguay, according to the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, a non-governmental group. Between December 1977 and February 1978, the bodies of five women, including Villaflor, two other members of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo and two French nuns who were helping mothers search for their loved ones washed up. They were buried without identification, and their bodies were not identified until 2005. Ceraudo teamed up with Miriam Lewin, a journalist and ESMA survivor, in the search for the planes. The pilots of the flight that carried Villaflor to her death were convicted in part due to flight logs that Ceraudo and Lewin were able to find after tracking down the PA-51 Skyvan in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2010. The records led us to the pilots, and from those names, we were able to locate them within the repressive structures that operated in the service of the systematic extermination plan, said Mercedes Soiza Reilly, who was prosecutor in the 2012-2017 trial. Through a painstaking search that included deep dives into websites in which plane spotter hobbyists kept track of aircraft, Ceraudo and Lewin were able to locate the planes. Of the five Skyvan planes known to have been used in death flights, two had been destroyed in the 1982 war with Britain over the Falkland Islands. The three others were sold in 1994 to CAE Aviation, a Luxemburg-based firm. One of those planes was sold to GB Airlink, which used it to provide private mail services to the Bahamas from Florida. This year, after Argentina's government decided to buy the plane after a campaign by De Vincenti and other human rights activists, it was located in a skydiving outfit in Phoenix. What an incredible story, right? said De Vincenti. Because they were thrown out without a parachute, and now theyre using it for that, for parachuting. Getting such an old plane back was not easy. It was stuck in Jamaica for two weeks after its engine broke shortly after takeoff from the island. It was also stuck for a few days in Bolivia due to inclement weather. In seeking justice for the junta's victims, Argentina has held 296 trials relating to dictatorship-era crimes against humanity since 2006, after amnesty laws were struck down. In those, 1,115 people have been convicted, according to the Public Prosecutors Office. Putting the plane on display will help Argentines understand the reality of the dictatorship, activists say. It is very important, because there are generations upon generations who were born and lived in democracy and did not suffer the terror of those years, Lewin said. BAGHDAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Interior said on Saturday that security forces had arrested 315 drug dealers and users during the past seven days across the country. The ministry's intelligence agency said in a statement that its forces also confiscated 22 kg of narcotic crystal in Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces during the week-long raids. The raids also resulted in the arrest of 83 suspected terrorists and the seizure of 102 weapons, six sites for smuggling crude oil and its derivatives and 21 vehicles, the statement said. The week-long operation followed dozens of raids launched by the ministry across Iraq from November 2022 to May 2023, during which 8,676 drug dealers and drug users were arrested. During the same period, more than 406,000 kg of various types of drugs, including 9.27 million Captagon pills, as well as 456 weapons, 118 hand grenades, and 808 cars were seized, it added. Over the past two decades, successive Iraqi governments have been unable to adequately confront the threat posed by drugs due to the chaos and conflicts that have engulfed the country since the U.S. invasion in 2003. In May, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said that waging a "war on drugs" was as important as combating terrorism. Drug dealing is one of the main ways to fund terrorism, and the circulation of drugs thrives in the shadow of terrorism, al-Sudani said. COLUMBUS, Mont. (AP) A bridge that crosses the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed early Saturday, plunging portions of a freight train carrying hazardous materials into the rushing water below. The train cars were carrying hot asphalt and molten sulfur, Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services said. Officials shut down drinking water intakes downstream while they evaluated the danger after the 6 a.m. accident. An Associated Press reporter witnessed a yellow substance coming out of some of the tank cars. David Stamey, the county's chief of emergency services, said there was no immediate danger for the crews working at the site, and the hazardous material was being diluted by the swollen river. There were three asphalt cars and four sulfur cars in the river. The train crew was safe and no injuries were reported, Montana Rail Link spokesman Andy Garland said in a statement. The asphalt and sulfur both solidify quickly when exposed to cooler temperatures, he said. Railroad crews were at the scene in Stillwater County, near the town of Columbus, about 40 miles (about 64 kilometers) west of Billings. The area is in a sparsely populated section of the Yellowstone River Valley, surrounded by ranch and farmland. The river there flows away from Yellowstone National Park, which is about 110 miles (177 kilometers) southwest. We are committed to addressing any potential impacts to the area as a result of this incident and working to understand the reasons behind the accident, Garland said. The bridge collapse also took out a fiber-optic cable providing internet service to many customers in the state, the high-speed provider Global Net said. This is the major fiber route ... through Montana, a recording on the company's phone line said Saturday. This is affecting all Global Net customers. Connectivity will either be down or extremely slow. In neighboring Yellowstone County, officials said they instituted emergency measures at water treatment plants due to the potential hazmat spill and asked residents to conserve water. The cause of the collapse is under investigation. The river was swollen with recent heavy rains, but it's unclear whether that was a factor. The Yellowstone saw record flooding in 2022 that caused extensive damage to Yellowstone National Park and adjacent towns in Montana. Robert Bea, a retired engineering professor at the University of California Berkeley who has analyzed the causes of hundreds of major disasters, said repeated years of heavy river flows provided a clue to the possible cause. The high water flow translates to high forces acting directly on the pier and, importantly, on the river bottom, Bea said. You can have erosion or scour that removes support from the foundation. High forces translate to a high likelihood of a structural or foundation failure that could act as a trigger to initiate the accident. An old highway bridge that paralleled the railroad bridge together, they were called the Twin Bridges was removed in 2021 after the Montana Department of Transportation determined it was in imminent danger of falling. It wasn't immediately clear when the railroad bridge was constructed or when it was last inspected. Bea said investigators would also want to look at whether there was wear or rust in bridge components as well as a record of maintenance, repair and inspections. Federal Railroad Administration officials were at the scene working with local authorities. As part of our investigation, we have requested and will thoroughly review a copy of recent bridge inspection reports from the owner for compliance with federal Bridge Safety Standards, the agency said in a statement Saturday, noting that responsibility for inspections lies with bridge owners. Kelly Hitchcock of the Columbus Water Users shut off the flow of river water into an irrigation ditch downstream from the collapsed bridge to prevent contents from the tank cars from reaching nearby farmland. The Stillwater County Sheriffs Office called the group Saturday morning to warn it about the collapse, Hitchcock said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that sulfur is a common element used as a fertilizer as well as an insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide. Johnson reported from Seattle. HANOVER TWP., Pa. - State police are investigating an incident at the Waffle House on Airport Road. The building, located near the Allentown-Hanover Township border at 1783 Airport Road, was sealed off with crime tape around 3 a.m. Sunday as police investigated. One of the windows had been shattered. Police have not yet confirmed reports of gunfire at the scene or said if anyone was injured. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) by 5.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 292,456 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 14,532 shares during the quarter. AE Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Walmart were worth $43,123,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WMT. My Personal CFO LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. JDM Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walmart by 105.3% in the 4th quarter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC now owns 195 shares of the retailers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Walmart by 387.8% in the 1st quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 200 shares of the retailers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the period. 31.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Walmart alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes WMT has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded Walmart from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, June 18th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Walmart from $165.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Walmart from $160.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $160.00 target price on shares of Walmart in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Gordon Haskett raised Walmart from an accumulate rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $155.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Walmart currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $166.91. Insider Activity at Walmart Walmart Stock Performance In related news, SVP David Chojnowski sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.74, for a total value of $626,960.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 39,975 shares in the company, valued at $6,265,681.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In other Walmart news, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,601,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.82, for a total transaction of $230,255,820.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 249,123,886 shares in the company, valued at $35,828,997,284.52. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, SVP David Chojnowski sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.74, for a total value of $626,960.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 39,975 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,265,681.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 10,917,280 shares of company stock worth $1,618,585,049. Insiders own 46.51% of the companys stock. WMT stock opened at $155.46 on Friday. Walmart Inc. has a 12-month low of $119.89 and a 12-month high of $158.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The business has a 50 day moving average of $151.30 and a 200-day moving average of $146.34. The firm has a market cap of $418.63 billion, a PE ratio of 37.37, a P/E/G ratio of 4.55 and a beta of 0.49. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 18th. The retailer reported $1.47 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $0.15. Walmart had a return on equity of 21.30% and a net margin of 1.82%. The business had revenue of $152.30 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $147.91 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.30 earnings per share. Walmarts revenue for the quarter was up 7.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 6.21 earnings per share for the current year. Walmart Profile (Get Rating) Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Roth Mkm initiated coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Rating) in a report released on Thursday morning, Briefing.com reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $92.00 price objective on the stock. Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on ADM. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $99.00 to $95.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $98.00 to $90.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. 92 Resources reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $100.00 price target for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $99.50. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Performance Shares of ADM stock opened at $72.90 on Thursday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $74.93 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $80.81. Archer-Daniels-Midland has a 52 week low of $69.92 and a 52 week high of $98.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.51. The firm has a market cap of $39.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.81. Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement Archer-Daniels-Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.38. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.36% and a return on equity of 18.39%. The business had revenue of $24.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.90 EPS. Archer-Daniels-Midlands revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Archer-Daniels-Midland will post 6.84 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 17th were given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 16th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.47%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is currently 22.58%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Archer-Daniels-Midland A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 135.6% in the 4th quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 318 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Glassy Mountain Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. RFP Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 655.8% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 393 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 341 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.13% of the companys stock. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Profile (Get Rating) Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arden Trust Co lessened its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Get Rating) by 17.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 13,436 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 2,844 shares during the quarter. Arden Trust Cos holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $2,606,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of UPS. RB Capital Management LLC raised its position in United Parcel Service by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 2,689 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $577,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter worth about $1,162,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC raised its position in United Parcel Service by 10.0% in the 1st quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 1,233 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $264,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. First Western Trust Bank purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter worth about $515,000. Finally, Stevens Capital Management LP purchased a new position in United Parcel Service in the 1st quarter worth about $701,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock. Get United Parcel Service alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have weighed in on UPS shares. Susquehanna decreased their target price on United Parcel Service from $180.00 to $173.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Raymond James reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $207.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Atlantic Securities began coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research report on Tuesday, June 6th. They set a neutral rating and a $162.00 price target for the company. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $180.00 to $172.00 in a research report on Friday, June 2nd. Finally, Loop Capital reduced their price target on shares of United Parcel Service from $219.00 to $212.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $191.23. United Parcel Service Price Performance UPS stock opened at $169.29 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a one year low of $154.87 and a one year high of $209.39. The companys fifty day moving average price is $175.22 and its 200-day moving average price is $180.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 1.34. The company has a market capitalization of $145.40 billion, a PE ratio of 13.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.09. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 10.90% and a return on equity of 57.68%. The firm had revenue of $22.93 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.98 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.05 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 10.78 EPS for the current fiscal year. United Parcel Service Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th were issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.83%. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.43%. United Parcel Service Profile (Get Rating) United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UPS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for United Parcel Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Parcel Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Asana (NYSE:ASAN Get Rating) had its price objective hoisted by Citigroup from $24.00 to $26.00 in a research report released on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. ASAN has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Asana from $15.00 to $23.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and set a $18.00 price target on shares of Asana in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on Asana from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Oppenheimer raised their price target on Asana from $25.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Friday, June 2nd. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their target price on Asana from $13.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Asana currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.48. Get Asana alerts: Asana Trading Down 0.9 % ASAN opened at $22.53 on Wednesday. Asana has a one year low of $11.32 and a one year high of $29.51. The company has a market cap of $4.89 billion, a P/E ratio of -12.52 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 1.90. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $20.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.62. Insider Activity at Asana Asana ( NYSE:ASAN Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 1st. The company reported ($0.09) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.18) by $0.09. Asana had a negative return on equity of 121.25% and a negative net margin of 63.97%. The business had revenue of $152.41 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $150.55 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted ($0.52) EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 26.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Asana will post -1.33 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, CFO Tim M. Wan sold 20,000 shares of Asana stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.88, for a total value of $517,600.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 801,886 shares in the company, valued at $20,752,809.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CFO Tim M. Wan sold 20,000 shares of Asana stock in a transaction on Friday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.88, for a total transaction of $517,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 801,886 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,752,809.68. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Justin Rosenstein sold 300,000 shares of Asana stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.95, for a total value of $7,485,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,336,528 shares of the companys stock, valued at $83,246,373.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have acquired 160,000 shares of company stock worth $3,768,800 and have sold 349,959 shares worth $8,703,838. Company insiders own 63.26% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Asana Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Prelude Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Asana during the first quarter worth $531,000. Capital Impact Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Asana by 51.3% during the first quarter. Capital Impact Advisors LLC now owns 44,793 shares of the companys stock worth $946,000 after purchasing an additional 15,185 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of Asana by 3.7% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 348,853 shares of the companys stock worth $7,371,000 after acquiring an additional 12,452 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC raised its holdings in shares of Asana by 27.3% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 46,405 shares of the companys stock worth $981,000 after acquiring an additional 9,941 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Asana by 5,307.2% in the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 16,438 shares of the companys stock worth $347,000 after acquiring an additional 16,134 shares during the last quarter. 24.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Asana Company Profile (Get Rating) Asana, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates a work management platform for individuals, team leads, and executives in the United States and internationally. Its platform helps organizations to orchestrate work from daily tasks to cross-functional strategic initiatives; and manages product launches, marketing campaigns, and organization-wide goal settings. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Asana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Asana 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 Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 332.35 ($4.25) and traded as low as GBX 310 ($3.97). Atalaya Mining shares last traded at GBX 317 ($4.06), with a volume of 58,262 shares. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In ATYM has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 600 ($7.68) target price on shares of Atalaya Mining in a report on Monday, May 15th. Berenberg Bank reduced their price objective on Atalaya Mining from GBX 480 ($6.14) to GBX 450 ($5.76) and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Get Atalaya Mining alerts: Atalaya Mining Stock Performance The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.42. The firms fifty day moving average price is GBX 332.35 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 339.55. The company has a market cap of 443.42 million, a P/E ratio of 2,113.33, a P/E/G ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 1.70. About Atalaya Mining 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. Featured Stories 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. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of China Pharma (NYSE:CPHI Get Rating) in a research report report published on Wednesday. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock. China Pharma Stock Down 2.9 % NYSE CPHI opened at $0.34 on Wednesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $0.35. China Pharma has a 52 week low of $0.27 and a 52 week high of $2.60. Get China Pharma alerts: China Pharma (NYSE:CPHI Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 12th. The company reported ($0.06) earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $1.96 million during the quarter. China Pharma had a negative net margin of 40.43% and a negative return on equity of 86.48%. About China Pharma China Pharma Holdings, Inc develops, manufactures, and markets generic and branded pharmaceutical, and biochemical products primarily to hospitals and private retailers in the People's Republic of China. The company offers products in the form of dry powder injectables, liquid injectables, tablets, capsules, and cephalosporin oral solutions. Read More Receive News & Ratings for China Pharma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Pharma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. YANGON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Students in Myanmar, along with their friends and family members, on Saturday gathered for the final rounds of a Chinese proficiency contest for foreign students to showcase their skills. With the students participating with excitement and anticipation to test their skills, the 2023 "Chinese Bridge" language competition for foreign college and secondary school students in Myanmar was vibrant and colorful inside the main hall of the Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce in downtown Yangon. Shoon Woo, 17, was one of the 28 students who competed in the language proficiency contest, divided into two categories -- one for secondary students and the other for college contestants. "It's my first time competing in such an event. I came to compete here as I love the Chinese language very much, and I wanted to show my talent (dances)," Shoon told Xinhua with a smile and a dancing gesture. "It's like testing my skills," the secondary school girl said, adding that she started learning the Chinese language when she was five years old. "I went to both Chinese school and Myanmar school," she said, adding that she came from Kokang, a region bordering China. "Learning Chinese is advantageous," Shoon explained, saying that she gained new knowledge and made more friends by studying the Chinese language. Thwin Naing Soe, 14, another secondary school student who competed in the contest, said that he participated in the competition to showcase his Chinese language skills as well as his singing and dancing talents. Thwin said he has been studying the Chinese language for nearly eight years. "I'm fond of Chinese dances and songs as I have watched Chinese films, particularly comedy ones, with my mom," he said. The cheers and applause that he got from the audience were memorable, he added. The Chinese language proficiency competition, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, the Fuxing Confucius Classroom and three other Chinese language centers in Myanmar, featured speeches and talent shows such as singing, poetry recitation and dancing. Due to his excellent performance, 19-year-old Min Khant Aung won the first prize in the final rounds of the 22nd edition of the Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students. "It's memorable for my life. I'm very happy. I didn't expect to win the first prize. I just did my best throughout the competition," the student from the Myanmar International Education Center told Xinhua. "Learning Chinese is good in many ways," he said. "It benefits both countries. Myanmar people will understand more about China. Chinese people will see the hard work of Myanmar people," he said. In the 16th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, Thin Kyu Hlaing, an eighth-grader from the Eastern Language and Business Center, won the first prize. "I'm extremely happy. It's unforgettable to perform dances in the competition," the secondary school girl said. "I've been interested in the Chinese language since I was young. I like Chinese culture and history," she said. "The event aims to promote Chinese language learning in Myanmar," Wu Weizhong, head of the Fuxing Confucius Classroom, said, adding that the race will help deepen China-Myanmar friendship. Partners Group (OTCMKTS:PGPHF Get Rating) is one of 1,208 publicly-traded companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Partners Group to similar companies based on the strength of its dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, risk and profitability. Dividends Partners Group pays an annual dividend of $4.71 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Partners Group pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.6% and pay out 1,350.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Get Partners Group alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares Partners Group and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Partners Group N/A N/A 68.86 Partners Group Competitors $511.98 million $20.07 million 32.10 Profitability Partners Groups competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Partners Group. Partners Group is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. This table compares Partners Group and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Partners Group N/A N/A N/A Partners Group Competitors 357.16% 7.38% 4.97% Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings for Partners Group and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Partners Group 0 4 2 0 2.33 Partners Group Competitors 1263 5422 6950 110 2.43 Partners Group presently has a consensus price target of $1,225.00, suggesting a potential upside of 33.33%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 99.70%. Given Partners Groups competitors stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Partners Group has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Institutional and Insider Ownership 28.4% of Partners Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.8% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 17.8% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned 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. Summary Partners Group competitors beat Partners Group on 11 of the 13 factors compared. Partners Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Partners Group Holding AG is a private equity firm specializing in direct, secondary, and primary investments across private equity, private real estate, private infrastructure, and private debt. The firm also makes fund of funds investments. It seeks to invest in distressed, special situations, later stage, mature, early venture, mid venture, late venture, industry consolidation, buyouts, recapitalizations, emerging growth, and seed capital. For direct private equity investments, the firm invests directly into healthcare, consumer, media & telecommunications, education, information technology, industrials, infrastructure/energy & utilities, financial and business services and real estate operating companies. For its private real estate direct investment practice, it focuses on seeking out properties globally. It also makes investments in private real estate secondaries and primaries and focuses on distressed assets in United States, Europe, and Japan. Under private debt, the firm provides senior debt financing, mezzanine financing, alongside secondaries and primaries, and also participates in add on acquisitions. It seeks to invest in middle market in Americas, Europe, and Asia. In energy infrastructure, the firm seeks to invest in the areas of midstream, power generation, gas transportation, gas export infrastructure, renewable energy including wind and solar energy. The firm seeks to invest globally with a focus on South Africa, China, India, Philippines, Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Brazil, and Chile. It seems to invest between 500,000 ($685,010) and 100 million ($137 million) in equity investment in companies with enterprise value between 100 million ($137 million) to 2 billion ($2740 million). The firm is a value-add investor targeting majority and minority stake in its investee companies. While investing in funds, it invests in venture capital, mezzanine, private equity, real estate, distressed, turnaround, and secondary funds. Partners Group Holding AG was founded in 1996 and is based in Baar, Switzerland with additional offices across North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Receive News & Ratings for Partners Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Partners Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. YouGov (OTCMKTS:YUGVF Get Rating) is one of 73 public companies in the Advertising Agencies industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare YouGov to similar businesses based on the strength of its earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership and profitability. Dividends YouGov pays an annual dividend of $0.01 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.1%. YouGov pays out 150.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, Advertising Agencies companies pay a dividend yield of 2.5% and pay out 749.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Get YouGov alerts: Profitability This table compares YouGov and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets YouGov N/A N/A N/A YouGov Competitors -8.47% -7.68% 0.32% Institutional & Insider Ownership Analyst Recommendations 38.5% of YouGov shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.0% of shares of all Advertising Agencies companies are held by institutional investors. 24.4% of shares of all Advertising Agencies companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for YouGov and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score YouGov 0 0 1 0 3.00 YouGov Competitors 199 1444 2323 26 2.55 As a group, Advertising Agencies companies have a potential upside of 108.53%. Given YouGovs competitors higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe YouGov has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Valuation and Earnings This table compares YouGov and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio YouGov N/A N/A 2,678.75 YouGov Competitors $2.48 billion $133.36 million 2,490.65 YouGovs competitors have higher revenue and earnings than YouGov. YouGov is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Summary YouGov competitors beat YouGov on 7 of the 13 factors compared. About YouGov (Get Rating) YouGov plc provides online market research services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, the Nordic countries, the Middle East, Mainland Europe, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through three divisions: Data Products, Data Services, and Custom Research. The Data Products division offers syndicated data products, which are available to clients on a subscription basis. The Data Services division provides clients with fast-turnaround services. The Custom Research division offers a range of quantitative and qualitative research services. It is also involved in the software development. YouGov plc was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for YouGov Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for YouGov and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ Get Rating) had its price objective increased by Wells Fargo & Company from $260.00 to $275.00 in a report released on Thursday, The Fly reports. STZ has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Roth Mkm raised Constellation Brands from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $216.00 to $270.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. UBS Group raised their target price on Constellation Brands from $267.00 to $280.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. Citigroup raised their target price on Constellation Brands from $265.00 to $280.00 in a report on Wednesday. Wedbush reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $255.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Friday, March 31st. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Constellation Brands in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $259.14. Get Constellation Brands alerts: Constellation Brands Stock Down 1.2 % Shares of STZ stock opened at $242.38 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $234.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $228.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 1.18. Constellation Brands has a twelve month low of $208.12 and a twelve month high of $261.32. The company has a market capitalization of $44.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -475.25, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.75. Constellation Brands Increases Dividend Constellation Brands ( NYSE:STZ Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 6th. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.12. Constellation Brands had a positive return on equity of 20.48% and a negative net margin of 0.70%. The business had revenue of $2 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.02 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.37 EPS. The firms revenue was down 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Constellation Brands will post 11.65 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 4th were given a $0.89 dividend. This is an increase from Constellation Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.80. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $3.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. Constellation Brandss payout ratio is presently -698.04%. Insider Buying and Selling at Constellation Brands In other Constellation Brands news, Director Richard Sands sold 3,858,476 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total value of $862,485,140.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 20,488,818 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,579,865,487.54. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Richard Sands sold 3,858,476 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total transaction of $862,485,140.28. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 20,488,818 shares in the company, valued at $4,579,865,487.54. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Business Holdings Lp Ajb sold 650,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.53, for a total value of $145,294,500.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 3,365,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $752,338,273.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 16.19% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Constellation Brands A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Level Four Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Constellation Brands by 2.6% in the first quarter. Level Four Advisory Services LLC now owns 10,611 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,397,000 after purchasing an additional 271 shares during the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Constellation Brands by 16.0% in the first quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 25,722 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,810,000 after purchasing an additional 3,556 shares during the last quarter. Cypress Asset Management Inc. TX increased its holdings in Constellation Brands by 1.7% in the first quarter. Cypress Asset Management Inc. TX now owns 13,587 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,069,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in Constellation Brands in the first quarter valued at about $220,000. Finally, Old North State Trust LLC increased its holdings in Constellation Brands by 500.0% in the first quarter. Old North State Trust LLC now owns 120 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 86.49% of the companys stock. About Constellation Brands (Get Rating) Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Constellation Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constellation Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Crane (NYSE:CR Get Rating) have received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the four research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $106.00. CR has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com began coverage on Crane in a report on Tuesday, June 6th. They set a hold rating for the company. DA Davidson lifted their price target on shares of Crane from $90.00 to $92.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Crane from $120.00 to $82.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Get Crane alerts: Crane Stock Performance CR opened at $82.75 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $76.13 and its 200-day simple moving average is $96.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The stock has a market cap of $4.69 billion, a PE ratio of 10.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.49. Crane has a 1 year low of $67.28 and a 1 year high of $84.27. Crane Cuts Dividend Crane ( NYSE:CR Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The conglomerate reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.41. The firm had revenue of $513.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $483.80 million. Crane had a net margin of 13.10% and a return on equity of 24.45%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Crane will post 7.87 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a $0.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.87%. Cranes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.54%. Insider Activity at Crane In other news, CEO Max H. Mitchell sold 37,495 shares of Crane stock in a transaction on Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.48, for a total transaction of $2,867,617.60. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 322,628 shares of the companys stock, valued at $24,674,589.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Crane Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Crane during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,726,000. Granite Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in Crane in the 1st quarter worth $24,331,000. Millennium Management LLC boosted its stake in Crane by 2,775.6% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 220,791 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $19,332,000 after purchasing an additional 213,113 shares during the period. Silvercrest Asset Management Group LLC bought a new position in Crane during the 1st quarter worth about $20,846,000. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Crane in the 1st quarter valued at about $19,781,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.83% of the companys stock. About Crane (Get Rating Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The company has four business segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, Payment & Merchandising Technologies, and Engineered Materials. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Crane Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crane and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KB Home (NYSE:KBH Get Rating) had its price target upped by Credit Suisse Group from $42.00 to $51.00 in a report released on Thursday, The Fly reports. Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Seaport Res Ptn reiterated a neutral rating on shares of KB Home in a research note on Wednesday, June 14th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of KB Home from $52.00 to $53.00 in a report on Thursday. Barclays increased their price target on shares of KB Home from $51.00 to $56.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of KB Home in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of KB Home from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued 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 $50.04. Get KB Home alerts: KB Home Price Performance NYSE KBH opened at $52.02 on Thursday. KB Home has a 1 year low of $25.31 and a 1 year high of $52.40. The company has a market capitalization of $4.29 billion, a PE ratio of 5.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a fifty day moving average of $45.58 and a two-hundred day moving average of $39.24. KB Home ( NYSE:KBH Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, June 21st. The construction company reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.33 by $0.61. KB Home had a net margin of 11.73% and a return on equity of 22.86%. The business had revenue of $1.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.43 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.32 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that KB Home will post 5.26 earnings per share for the current year. KB Home declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Wednesday, March 22nd that allows the company to buyback $500.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the construction company to purchase up to 15.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. KB Home Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 4th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.15%. KB Homes dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6.59%. Insider Transactions at KB Home In other news, CEO Jeffrey T. Mezger sold 150,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.26, for a total transaction of $6,789,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,472,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $66,648,835.02. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 4.44% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of KB Home A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in KB Home by 1.4% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,970,899 shares of the construction companys stock worth $258,098,000 after acquiring an additional 108,191 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in shares of KB Home by 24.7% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,188,991 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $248,674,000 after purchasing an additional 1,225,187 shares during the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of KB Home by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 4,002,669 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $103,794,000 after purchasing an additional 21,677 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of KB Home by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 2,833,760 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $90,255,000 after purchasing an additional 119,612 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of KB Home by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,793,847 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $112,257,000 after purchasing an additional 7,935 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.74% of the companys stock. KB Home Company Profile (Get Rating) KB Home operates as a homebuilding company in the United States. It operates through four segments: West Coast, Southwest, Central, and Southeast. It builds and sells various homes, including attached and detached single-family residential homes, townhomes, and condominiums primarily for first-time, first move-up, second move-up, and active adult homebuyers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for KB Home Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for KB Home and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fifth Third Securities Inc. cut its holdings in Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN Get Rating) by 0.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 464,400 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 2,914 shares during the quarter. Invesco Senior Loan ETF accounts for approximately 1.1% of Fifth Third Securities Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest position. Fifth Third Securities Inc. owned approximately 0.22% of Invesco Senior Loan ETF worth $9,660,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 27,311 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $595,000 after buying an additional 1,726 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,398,684 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,449,000 after buying an additional 40,338 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 186.1% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,156 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 752 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF by 647.6% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 646,667 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $14,078,000 after buying an additional 560,164 shares during the period. Finally, Equitable Holdings Inc. bought a new position in shares of Invesco Senior Loan ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $224,000. Get Invesco Senior Loan ETF alerts: Invesco Senior Loan ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA BKLN traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $20.80. 4,652,014 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,862,016. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $20.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $20.86. Invesco Senior Loan ETF has a one year low of $20.06 and a one year high of $21.49. Invesco Senior Loan ETF Company Profile The Invesco Senior Loan ETF (BKLN) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in high yield fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of senior loans issued by banks to corporations. BKLN was launched on Mar 3, 2011 and is managed by Invesco. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BKLN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Invesco Senior Loan ETF (NYSEARCA:BKLN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Senior Loan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Senior Loan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Greggs (OTCMKTS:GGGSF Get Rating) is one of 64 publicly-traded companies in the Grocery Stores industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Greggs to related businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, risk, profitability, dividends and earnings. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Greggs and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat. Get Greggs alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Greggs 0 1 1 0 2.50 Greggs Competitors 1164 2835 3094 114 2.30 Greggs presently has a consensus target price of $3,140.00, indicating a potential upside of 9,429.59%. As a group, Grocery Stores companies have a potential upside of 43.17%. Given Greggs stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Greggs is more favorable than its peers. Institutional and Insider Ownership Dividends 42.1% of Greggs shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.3% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by institutional investors. 22.8% of shares of all Grocery Stores companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Greggs pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Greggs pays out 91.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, Grocery Stores companies pay a dividend yield of 4.4% and pay out 61.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Greggs lags its peers as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Profitability This table compares Greggs and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Greggs N/A N/A N/A Greggs Competitors 2.08% 14.38% 4.68% Earnings and Valuation This table compares Greggs and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Greggs N/A N/A 153.72 Greggs Competitors $31.07 billion $667.28 million 192.76 Greggs peers have higher revenue and earnings than Greggs. Greggs 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 Greggs peers beat Greggs on 10 of the 13 factors compared. About Greggs (Get Rating) Greggs plc operates as a food-on-the-go retailer in the United Kingdom. It offers a range of fresh and frozen bakery products, sandwiches, and drinks. The company sells products to franchise and wholesale partners for sale in their own outlets. It is also involved in the property holding, non-trading, and trustee businesses. The company also operates through its own shops. Greggs plc was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Greggs Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greggs and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ontex Group (OTCMKTS:ONXXF Get Rating) and Estee Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL Get Rating) are both consumer defensive companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, earnings and profitability. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Ontex Group and Estee Lauder Companies, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Get Ontex Group alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ontex Group 1 0 1 0 2.00 Estee Lauder Companies 1 6 18 1 2.73 Ontex Group presently has a consensus target price of $7.75, indicating a potential downside of 3.25%. Estee Lauder Companies has a consensus target price of $263.29, indicating a potential upside of 37.17%. Given Estee Lauder Companies stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Estee Lauder Companies is more favorable than Ontex Group. Earnings and Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ontex Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Estee Lauder Companies $15.86 billion 4.32 $2.39 billion $3.01 63.77 This table compares Ontex Group and Estee Lauder Companies top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Estee Lauder Companies has higher revenue and earnings than Ontex Group. Institutional & Insider Ownership 57.8% of Estee Lauder Companies shares are owned by institutional investors. 12.8% of Estee Lauder Companies shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Ontex Group and Estee Lauder Companies net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ontex Group N/A N/A N/A Estee Lauder Companies 6.88% 23.99% 6.51% Summary Estee Lauder Companies beats Ontex Group on 10 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About Ontex Group (Get Rating) Ontex Group NV develops, produces, and supplies personal hygiene products and solutions for baby, feminine, and adult care in Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, France, and internationally. It offers baby care products, such as baby diapers and pants, and wet wipes under the Baby Pants, Bbtips, Bio Baby, Chicolastics Classic, Canbebe, Helen Harper, Kiddies, Little Big Change, Moltex, Pom Pom, Sapeka, and Monica brands; and feminine care products, including sanitary towels, panty liners, and tampons under the Fiore, Mia, NAT, Sincere, and Silhouette brand names. The company also provides adult incontinence products comprising adult pants and diapers, incontinence towels, and bed protection products under the A Lovely Day, Adultmax Maturidade, Affective, Bigfral, iD, Canped, Liberty, Lille Healthcare, Kylie, Serenity, Orizon, and Moviment brands,as well as sells face masks. It sells its products to consumers, retailers, and institutional and private healthcare providers, as well as offers products under retailer brands. Ontex Group NV was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Aalst, Belgium. About Estee Lauder Companies (Get Rating) The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers a range of skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, cleansing devices, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. The company also provides fragrance products in various forms comprising eau de parfum sprays and colognes, as well as lotions, powders, creams, candles, and soaps; and hair care products that include shampoos, conditioners, styling products, treatment, finishing sprays, and hair color products, as well as sells ancillary products and services. It offers its products under the Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, MAC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Smashbox, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, GLAMGLOW, Kilian Paris, Too Faced, Dr. Jart+, DECIEM, and The Ordinary brands. The company sells its products through department stores, specialty-multi retailers, upscale perfumeries and pharmacies, and salons and spas; freestanding stores; its own and authorized retailer websites; third-party online malls; stores in airports; and duty-free shops. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Receive News & Ratings for Ontex Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ontex Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WoodTrust Financial Corp grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Get Rating) by 1.6% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 21,561 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 345 shares during the period. WoodTrust Financial Corps holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $5,249,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. AE Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,874 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,378,000 after acquiring an additional 1,215 shares during the last quarter. Stonnington Group LLC increased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Stonnington Group LLC now owns 12,090 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,796,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLC now owns 39,686 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $9,662,000 after purchasing an additional 538 shares during the last quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE increased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 54,699 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $13,317,000 after purchasing an additional 1,429 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Donaldson Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 30.9% during the 1st quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC now owns 3,639 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $886,000 after purchasing an additional 858 shares during the last quarter. 79.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance Shares of ITW opened at $242.25 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $233.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $231.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.20. The stock has a market capitalization of $73.62 billion, a PE ratio of 24.23, a PEG ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 1.10. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1 year low of $173.52 and a 1 year high of $253.37. Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.98 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 92.13% and a net margin of 19.27%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.11 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced 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. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.40%. Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works In other news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.23, for a total transaction of $1,297,822.75. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,121,970.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages recently issued reports on ITW. 3M reissued a maintains rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $240.00 to $236.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on 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. StockNews.com cut Illinois Tool Works from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $183.00 to $181.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $228.21. Illinois Tool Works Company Profile (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. Featured Stories 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. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated their buy rating on shares of Glencore (LON:GLEN Get Rating) in a report released on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. They currently have a GBX 550 ($7.04) target price on the natural resources companys stock. Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada set a GBX 540 ($6.91) price objective on shares of Glencore in a report on Monday, April 3rd. UBS Group upgraded shares of Glencore to a buy rating and set a GBX 560 ($7.17) price objective for the company in a report on Monday, March 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 560 ($7.17) price target on shares of Glencore in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Glencore from GBX 620 ($7.93) to GBX 610 ($7.81) and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Glencore currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 584.58 ($7.48). Get Glencore alerts: Glencore Trading Down 3.0 % Shares of GLEN stock opened at GBX 432.65 ($5.54) on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.96, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 1.30. The stock has a market capitalization of 53.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 420.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 448.72 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 490.33. Glencore has a fifty-two week low of GBX 395.40 ($5.06) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 584.50 ($7.48). About Glencore Glencore plc engages in the production, refinement, processing, storage, transport, and marketing of metals and minerals, and energy products in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It operates through two segments: Marketing Activities and Industrial Activities. The company engages in production and marketing copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, chrome ore, ferrochrome, vanadium, aluminum, alumina, and iron ore; and coal, crude oil, refined products, and natural gas, as well as oil exploration/production and refining/distribution. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Glencore Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Glencore and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. This aerial photo taken on Aug. 20, 2022 shows the Tesla Gigafactory in Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) Rejecting the idea that the West can isolate China, Perry said it is only "a fantasy" and is "unrealistic." "Everywhere you go, you see China," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club noted, adding that China is investing in technologies and different ways of innovation across the world. LONDON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- China is offering plenty of opportunities for international companies to do good business, and the firms are taking up those opportunities, a British business leader has said. "What's interesting is that the business leaders have gone to Beijing. And they realize that the trade is still going on across the world, and that China is open for business in a very real way," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, told Xinhua during a recent interview. "The world's business needs China. And the world's business will continue to find that China is a good place to be," Perry said. "I think that if I was a Western businessman, I would be in Beijing today, not anywhere else in the world, and take advantage of these opportunities while they're there." When asked about recent remarks made by some U.S. politicians about the so-called "de-risking" from China, Perry told Xinhua that "the United States is trying to find out why China has advanced faster than the United States, and how did the United States with all the sophisticated capabilities get it wrong, and how did that happen." They have a tendency to blame the other person, he added. "I think that the Americans have found it easier to explain away the advances that China has made by demonizing China." However, Perry said, "once you start blaming the other person, you'll be getting to move away from reality. Once you move away from the realistic analysis of what's going wrong, then you're in trouble." "Whether one talks about 'decoupling' or 'de-risking' -- whatever words one wants to use -- the world has changed beyond all imagination," he noted, adding that people who will lose most if the world is segregated into areas will be the West, as they will lose the best new markets in the world. "What we have to recognize is that if we decouple, de-risk, separate ourselves from China and Asia, we will be the ones that lose out. Asia will have the highest amount of innovation and development. It will have the highest rises in economic development. And we in Europe and America will be cut off from it. It's not a good policy," he said. People visit the RCEP pavilions during the 19th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) "If we want to get a world that's good for the West, we have to participate in the Asian economy, and we have to recognize that at the center of the Asian economy is China. It's the biggest economy of them all, and Asians are going to be interdependent with China. And the West has to be interdependent with China," he added. Rejecting the idea that the West can isolate China, Perry said it is only "a fantasy" and is "unrealistic." "Everywhere you go, you see China," he noted, adding that China is investing in technologies and different ways of innovation across the world. "China is going to be part of the world for the next hundreds of years, and we ought to adjust that," he added. During the interview, the business leader told Xinhua that the world will get smaller, not larger, and that countries worldwide will get more interdependent with each other. "It'll change its form over the next 30 or 40 years, but it won't change its principal characteristic, which is multilateralism. It is the only way the world makes sense to work," he said. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of Kellogg (NYSE:K Get Rating) from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a report issued on Thursday, The Fly reports. They currently have $62.00 price objective on the stock. A number of other analysts have also recently commented on K. TheStreet upgraded shares of Kellogg from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Kellogg from $72.00 to $74.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Kellogg in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on shares of Kellogg in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a hold rating and a $71.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of Kellogg from $60.00 to $71.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $70.00. Get Kellogg alerts: Kellogg Stock Performance NYSE:K opened at $65.16 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $22.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.42. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $68.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.28. Kellogg has a twelve month low of $63.74 and a twelve month high of $77.17. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. Kellogg Dividend Announcement Kellogg ( NYSE:K Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.10. Kellogg had a net margin of 5.33% and a return on equity of 32.09%. The business had revenue of $4.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.95 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.10 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Kellogg will post 4.1 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st were given a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.62%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 31st. Kelloggs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 97.52%. Insider Activity In other news, SVP Kris Bahner sold 3,483 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.01, for a total transaction of $247,327.83. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 18,013 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,279,103.13. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, major shareholder Kellogg W. K. Foundation Trust sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.64, for a total value of $6,764,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 55,231,838 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,735,881,522.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Kris Bahner sold 3,483 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.01, for a total transaction of $247,327.83. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 18,013 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,279,103.13. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 603,483 shares of company stock valued at $40,770,328 in the last quarter. 1.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Kellogg by 120.0% in the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 385 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the period. Heritage Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Kellogg during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. RFP Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Kellogg during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its position in shares of Kellogg by 48.0% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 453 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Kellogg by 72.6% during the 4th quarter. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 459 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the last quarter. 83.22% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Kellogg Company Profile (Get Rating) Kellogg Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets snacks and convenience foods. The company operates through four segments: North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Middle East Africa. Its principal products include crackers, crisps, savory snacks, toaster pastries, cereal bars, granola bars and bites, ready-to-eat cereals, frozen waffles, veggie foods, and noodles. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kellogg Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kellogg and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH Get Rating) in a report issued on Thursday. The firm issued a buy rating on the medical research companys stock. Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on LH. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $277.00 to $257.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $285.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Credit Suisse Group lowered their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $304.00 to $288.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $260.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $265.00 to $240.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Laboratory Co. of America currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $273.50. Get Laboratory Co. of America alerts: Laboratory Co. of America Trading Down 0.0 % Laboratory Co. of America stock opened at $234.83 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a current ratio of 1.63. The firm has a market cap of $20.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.31 and a beta of 1.04. Laboratory Co. of America has a 1 year low of $200.32 and a 1 year high of $263.13. The firms 50 day moving average price is $223.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $232.51. Laboratory Co. of America Dividend Announcement Laboratory Co. of America ( NYSE:LH Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The medical research company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.99 by ($0.17). Laboratory Co. of America had a return on equity of 15.56% and a net margin of 6.78%. The business had revenue of $3.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $6.11 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Laboratory Co. of America will post 16.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th were paid a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.23%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 17th. Laboratory Co. of Americas payout ratio is presently 26.13%. Insider Activity at Laboratory Co. of America In related news, CEO Paul R. Kirchgraber sold 4,300 shares of Laboratory Co. of America stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $216.91, for a total value of $932,713.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 12,946 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,808,116.86. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Laboratory Co. of America news, COO Mark S. Schroeder sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $216.77, for a total transaction of $325,155.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 6,687 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,449,540.99. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Paul R. Kirchgraber sold 4,300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $216.91, for a total transaction of $932,713.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 12,946 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,808,116.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 9,697 shares of company stock valued at $2,137,850. Insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Hawaiian Bank acquired a new position in Laboratory Co. of America during the 4th quarter worth $602,000. Gabelli Funds LLC increased its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 54,270 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $12,780,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. SVB Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America during the 4th quarter worth about $253,000. D.A. Davidson & CO. increased its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 8,628 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,032,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 7,692 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,812,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.75% of the companys stock. About Laboratory Co. of America (Get Rating) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Laboratory Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laboratory Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MCIA Inc lowered its stake in shares of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) by 7.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 30,291 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,297 shares during the period. General Mills comprises about 1.2% of MCIA Incs investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. MCIA Incs holdings in General Mills were worth $2,634,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV lifted its stake in shares of General Mills by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 13,284 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,114,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI lifted its stake in shares of General Mills by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 11,193 shares of the companys stock valued at $939,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of General Mills by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 3,874 shares of the companys stock valued at $325,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in shares of General Mills by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. LCM Capital Management Inc now owns 7,262 shares of the companys stock valued at $609,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of General Mills by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 6,575 shares of the companys stock valued at $551,000 after purchasing an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.73% of the companys stock. Get General Mills alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at General Mills In other General Mills news, CAO Mark A. Pallot sold 4,081 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.32, for a total value of $368,595.92. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 13,121 shares in the company, valued at $1,185,088.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other General Mills news, CAO Mark A. Pallot sold 4,081 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.32, for a total value of $368,595.92. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 13,121 shares in the company, valued at $1,185,088.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Jodi J. Benson sold 3,009 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.59, for a total transaction of $272,585.31. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 35,491 shares in the company, valued at $3,215,129.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 55,371 shares of company stock worth $4,849,178 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth General Mills Stock Performance Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $76.00 price objective on shares of General Mills in a research note on Friday, March 24th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of General Mills from $88.00 to $96.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of General Mills in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on shares of General Mills in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $95.00 target price for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, General Mills has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $84.76. NYSE GIS opened at $81.32 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $47.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.56, a PEG ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 0.27. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $85.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $83.20. General Mills, Inc. has a twelve month low of $68.82 and a twelve month high of $90.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $5.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a net margin of 14.04% and a return on equity of 24.51%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.84 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. About General Mills (Get Rating) General Mills, Inc manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates in five segments: North America Retail; Convenience Stores & Foodservice; Europe & Australia; Asia & Latin America; and Pet. It offers ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream, nutrition bars, wellness beverages, and savory and grain snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday. Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. 22nd Century Group reissued a maintains rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Friday, April 28th. Seaport Res Ptn reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, Barclays cut shares of Northrop Grumman from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price target for the company from $580.00 to $450.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $509.00. Get Northrop Grumman alerts: Northrop Grumman Stock Down 0.9 % NOC stock opened at $454.05 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $450.79 and a 200 day moving average of $469.47. The stock has a market capitalization of $68.95 billion, a PE ratio of 14.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.35 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. Northrop Grumman has a 52 week low of $429.10 and a 52 week high of $556.27. Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend Northrop Grumman ( NYSE:NOC Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The aerospace company reported $5.50 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.16 by $0.34. Northrop Grumman had a net margin of 12.89% and a return on equity of 26.61%. The business had revenue of $9.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.19 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $6.10 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Northrop Grumman will post 22.57 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $1.87 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 26th. This represents a $7.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.65%. This is a boost from Northrop Grummans previous quarterly dividend of $1.73. Northrop Grummans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.20%. Institutional Trading of Northrop Grumman Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 14,366,015 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $6,756,624,000 after acquiring an additional 122,593 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,131,490 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $5,705,682,000 after acquiring an additional 100,116 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,353,108 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,829,490,000 after acquiring an additional 114,823 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Northrop Grumman by 65.9% in the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,142,005 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,007,854,000 after acquiring an additional 851,071 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in Northrop Grumman by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,409,862 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $663,087,000 after buying an additional 29,441 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.68% of the companys stock. About Northrop Grumman (Get Rating) Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. The company's Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems in the United States and internationally. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Northrop Grumman Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northrop Grumman and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund (NYSE:NMT Get Rating) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $10.39 and traded as low as $10.33. Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund shares last traded at $10.40, with a volume of 12,572 shares changing hands. Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Trading Up 0.7 % The businesss fifty day moving average price is $10.38 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.62. Get Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund alerts: Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a $0.026 dividend. This represents a $0.31 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Company Profile Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund by 6.0% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 19,726 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $251,000 after buying an additional 1,117 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at $295,000. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund by 25.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 118,079 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,502,000 after purchasing an additional 24,162 shares in the last quarter. UBS Group AG raised its position in Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund by 43.3% in the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 75,212 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $888,000 after purchasing an additional 22,740 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund in the second quarter worth $30,000. 9.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. (Get Rating) Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal 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 and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in the fixed income markets of Massachusetts, United States. The fund primarily invests in undervalued municipal securities and other related investments which are exempt from regular federal and Massachusetts income taxes. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Massachusetts Quality Municipal Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. O Connor Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Get Rating) in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 9,987 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $404,000. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Thomasville National Bank boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Thomasville National Bank now owns 7,120 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $288,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the period. Albion Financial Group UT boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 39.5% in the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 907 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 257 shares during the period. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Tiemann Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,183 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $372,000 after purchasing an additional 263 shares during the period. Accel Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 63.3% in the 4th quarter. Accel Wealth Management now owns 722 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the period. Finally, Colorado Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Colorado Capital Management Inc. now owns 11,514 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $448,000 after acquiring an additional 281 shares during the last quarter. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Stock Down 1.4 % VWO opened at $40.15 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $40.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $40.41. The company has a market cap of $71.47 billion, a PE ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 52 week low of $34.88 and a 52 week high of $43.22. About Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF 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. Featured Articles 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. Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE:DOC Get Rating) has earned an average rating of Hold from the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $16.85. Several research firms have issued reports on DOC. Barclays cut their price objective on Physicians Realty Trust from $18.00 to $17.00 in a report on Friday, May 5th. Compass Point dropped their target price on Physicians Realty Trust from $21.00 to $19.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 27th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $15.00 target price on shares of Physicians Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. StockNews.com started coverage on Physicians Realty Trust in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Finally, JMP Securities started coverage on Physicians Realty Trust in a report on Friday, May 26th. They issued an outperform rating and a $15.50 target price on the stock. Get Physicians Realty Trust alerts: Physicians Realty Trust Price Performance NYSE DOC opened at $13.48 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $14.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The company has a market cap of $3.21 billion, a PE ratio of 30.64, a PEG ratio of 12.65 and a beta of 0.83. Physicians Realty Trust has a 1 year low of $13.27 and a 1 year high of $18.30. Physicians Realty Trust Dividend Announcement Institutional Investors Weigh In On Physicians Realty Trust The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 18th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 5th will be given a dividend of $0.23 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.82%. Physicians Realty Trusts payout ratio is currently 209.09%. A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System boosted its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 27.8% during the first quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 100,861 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,506,000 after purchasing an additional 21,950 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. boosted its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 2.0% during the first quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 4,820,208 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $71,966,000 after purchasing an additional 92,216 shares during the period. Legato Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Physicians Realty Trust during the first quarter worth approximately $2,272,000. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Physicians Realty Trust during the first quarter worth approximately $221,000. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in Physicians Realty Trust by 2.4% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,118,048 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $16,692,000 after purchasing an additional 25,673 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.67% of the companys stock. About Physicians Realty Trust (Get Rating Physicians Realty Trust is a self-managed health care real estate company organized to acquire, selectively develop, own, and manage health care properties that are leased to physicians, hospitals and health care delivery systems. The Company invests in real estate that is integral to providing high quality health care. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Physicians Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Physicians Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SimCorp A/S (OTCMKTS:SICRF Get Rating) is one of 283 public companies in the SoftwareApplication industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare SimCorp A/S to similar businesses based on the strength of its risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and profitability. Insider and Institutional Ownership 41.9% of SimCorp A/S shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 34.9% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are held by institutional investors. 28.3% of shares of all SoftwareApplication 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. Get SimCorp A/S alerts: Dividends SimCorp A/S pays an annual dividend of $0.54 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. SimCorp A/S pays out 59.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, SoftwareApplication companies pay a dividend yield of 1.4% and pay out 57.5% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. SimCorp A/S lags its rivals as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio. Analyst Ratings Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SimCorp A/S 0 2 0 0 2.00 SimCorp A/S Competitors 496 2486 5545 77 2.60 This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for SimCorp A/S and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat. As a group, SoftwareApplication companies have a potential upside of 33.54%. Given SimCorp A/Ss rivals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe SimCorp A/S has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals. Earnings & Valuation This table compares SimCorp A/S and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio SimCorp A/S N/A N/A 116.15 SimCorp A/S Competitors $821.66 million -$87.35 million 519.88 SimCorp A/Ss rivals have higher revenue, but lower earnings than SimCorp A/S. SimCorp A/S is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Profitability This table compares SimCorp A/S and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SimCorp A/S N/A N/A N/A SimCorp A/S Competitors -30.16% -115.41% -5.40% Summary SimCorp A/S rivals beat SimCorp A/S on 9 of the 13 factors compared. About SimCorp A/S (Get Rating) SimCorp A/S, together with its subsidiaries, provides investment management solutions for asset management, fund management, insurance, life/pension, central banks, asset servicing, treasury, sovereign wealth, and wealth management companies. It provides investment management services, including portfolio management and trading, compliance management, performance and risk management, investment operations, investment accounting, fund administration, multi asset investments, alternative investments, investment book of record, and data warehouse and business intelligence, as well as environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investments. The company also offers data management, corporate actions, ESG data management, market data management, and security master services; and client communications, such as client reporting and sales enablement, and digital engagement platform. It has operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Receive News & Ratings for SimCorp A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SimCorp A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) (CVE:SKE Get Rating) had its price target lifted by BMO Capital Markets from C$16.00 to C$16.50 in a report published on Thursday, The Fly reports. Other research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. CIBC dropped their price objective on shares of Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) from C$17.00 to C$16.50 in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) from C$16.00 to C$16.50 in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group set a C$14.00 price target on shares of Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) and gave the company a speculative buy rating in a report on Monday, June 19th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of C$15.75. Get Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) alerts: Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) Price Performance Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) stock opened at C$2.62 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$2.62 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$2.62. Skeena Resources Limited has a 12-month low of C$0.38 and a 12-month high of C$3.12. The company has a current ratio of 2.28, a quick ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.52. The stock has a market cap of C$431.26 million and a P/E ratio of -9.63. Insider Buying and Selling at Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) Company Profile In related news, Director Walter Coles Jr. sold 8,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$10.21, for a total transaction of C$90,877.90. (Get Rating) Skeena Resources Limited, a junior mining exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of base and precious metal properties in Canada. The company holds 100% interests in the Snip gold mine covering an area of approximately 1,932 hectares; the Spectrum-GJ copper-gold properties covering an area of 43,500 hectares; and the Porter Idaho silver property that consists of 46 crown-granted mineral claims; and Blackdome gold mine property. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SM Energy (NYSE:SM Get Rating) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the twelve research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $40.82. SM has been the topic of a number of research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on SM Energy in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. TD Cowen lowered SM Energy from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $35.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $50.00 target price on shares of SM Energy in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Raymond James lifted their price target on SM Energy from $38.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Susquehanna boosted their target price on SM Energy from $30.00 to $32.00 in a research note on Thursday. Get SM Energy alerts: SM Energy Price Performance Shares of NYSE SM opened at $29.09 on Friday. SM Energy has a fifty-two week low of $24.66 and a fifty-two week high of $48.55. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $27.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $30.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The firm has a market cap of $3.51 billion, a PE ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 4.41. SM Energy Dividend Announcement SM Energy ( NYSE:SM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The energy company reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $573.51 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $559.37 million. SM Energy had a return on equity of 28.22% and a net margin of 41.07%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 33.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.98 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that SM Energy will post 5.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 21st were issued a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 20th. This represents a yield of 1.1%. SM Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 5.89%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On SM Energy Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royce & Associates LP raised its holdings in SM Energy by 103.8% in the 1st quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 53,658 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $1,511,000 after acquiring an additional 27,332 shares in the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of SM Energy in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,283,000. American Trust grew its stake in shares of SM Energy by 8.9% in the 1st quarter. American Trust now owns 15,782 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $444,000 after purchasing an additional 1,289 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV grew its stake in shares of SM Energy by 10.0% in the 1st quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 63,939 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $1,801,000 after purchasing an additional 5,793 shares during the period. Finally, Colony Group LLC grew its position in SM Energy by 37.5% during the 1st quarter. Colony Group LLC now owns 94,550 shares of the energy companys stock worth $2,663,000 after acquiring an additional 25,778 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.10% of the companys stock. SM Energy Company Profile (Get Rating SM Energy Company, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids in the state of Texas. It also has working interests in oil and gas producing wells in the Midland Basin and South Texas. The company was formerly known as St. Read More Receive News & Ratings for SM Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SM Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIRUT, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Hassan Salloum, a Lebanese citizen, spends hours walking among the herds of livestock in the al-Marj market in eastern Lebanon, looking for an affordable sheep to sacrifice, as the Eid al-Adha is only a few days away. However, he balked at the "shocking and insane prices" of a sheep, knowing it was nearly impossible for an average household to buy one to perform the yearly ritual of slaughtering livestock for the Eid festival, the man told Xinhua. Despite the tradition, which also bears the hallmark of sharing meat with the needy, was cherished by many, "the activity in the livestock markets is calm," Salloum lamented. Sheep prices have increased by at least three times and vendors are demanding payment in U.S. dollars while salaries paid in Lebanese pounds have lost much of their value since the collapse of the national currency, he explained. Every year during Eid al-Adha, Muslims who can perform livestock sacrifice are expected to donate at least one-third of the meat from the slaughtered animal to poor or vulnerable people, with one-third left for their own family and the final third for their neighbors. "Lebanon's economic and financial crisis changed our yearly Eid traditions by affecting a big segment of the society," said Dalal Yaghi, a mother of seven children from the eastern town of Joub Jannine, adding prices of sacrifices skyrocketed in the past three years. Meanwhile, Walid Hatoum, a man in his 50s from the town of Rashaya in eastern Lebanon, told Xinhua that he visited many livestock markets in eastern and southern Lebanon but still failed to buy a sacrifice at an acceptable price for his family of five. "Livestock of all kinds are available in big numbers, but the sheep costs around 300 dollars which is almost three times my 85-dollar salary," Hatoum said, adding livestock traders uncontrollably increased their prices. Jihad Abu Hamad, a livestock trader in eastern Lebanon, said farmers and livestock importers all prefer their transactions to be paid in greenback, which is exchanged at around 94,000 Lebanese pounds per dollar on the parallel market compared to 1,500 pounds before the crisis. Since 2019, Lebanon has suffered from the worst financial crisis in its history, plunging over 80 percent of the population into poverty. The situation was further exacerbated by the rise of unemployment and collapse of the local currency that has led to the devaluation of salaries and the steep decline of Lebanese' purchasing power. Moreover, Lebanon's food cost increased by 350 percent in April 2023 compared to last year. Ahmed Darwish, who owns a butchery in the Ghazze, a village in eastern Lebanon, told Xinhua that Lebanon's economic crisis weighed heavily on the livestock market, with the smallest sheep costing no fewer than 200 dollars. "In the years before the economic crisis, which began in 2019, I used to reserve more than 100 sacrifices for civil societies representatives on the first day of Eid al-Adha to be distributed to the needy. Today only seven have been reserved so far," Darwish said. Eid al-Adha celebrations will begin on June 28 and last three days as a public holiday this year in Lebanon. Stonnington Group LLC raised its position in Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (NYSE:FCX Get Rating) by 30.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 28,051 shares of the natural resource companys stock after buying an additional 6,501 shares during the period. Stonnington Group LLCs holdings in Freeport-McMoRan were worth $1,205,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FCX. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in Freeport-McMoRan in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. M&R Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 61.0% in the 4th quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 805 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its stake in shares of Freeport-McMoRan by 48.8% in the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 872 shares of the natural resource companys stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares in the last quarter. 79.35% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Freeport-McMoRan alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Freeport-McMoRan news, Director Sara Grootwassink Lewis bought 4,000 shares of Freeport-McMoRan stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $34.90 per share, for a total transaction of $139,600.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 17,800 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $621,220. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.78% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Freeport-McMoRan Trading Down 3.4 % Freeport-McMoRan stock opened at $38.37 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $37.37 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.71. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.00 billion, a PE ratio of 21.44 and a beta of 2.00. Freeport-McMoRan Inc. has a 12-month low of $24.80 and a 12-month high of $46.73. Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 21st. The natural resource company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $5.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.25 billion. Freeport-McMoRan had a net margin of 12.07% and a return on equity of 11.07%. The businesss revenue was down 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.07 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Freeport-McMoRan Inc. will post 1.76 EPS for the current fiscal year. Freeport-McMoRan Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. Freeport-McMoRans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.76%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $35.00 to $38.50 in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com lowered shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 9th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $32.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Scotiabank upgraded shares of Freeport-McMoRan from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $41.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of Freeport-McMoRan from $48.00 to $47.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Sunday, April 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.13. About Freeport-McMoRan (Get Rating) Freeport-McMoRan, Inc engages in the mining of copper, gold, and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining, Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining, and Corporate and Other. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Baghdad, Safford, Sierrita, and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Freeport-McMoRan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freeport-McMoRan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Stonnington Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Get Rating) by 1.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,090 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the quarter. Stonnington Group LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $2,796,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JGP Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 1.4% in the first quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLC now owns 39,686 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $9,662,000 after acquiring an additional 538 shares during the last quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE increased its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 54,699 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $13,317,000 after purchasing an additional 1,429 shares during the last quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 30.9% during the 1st quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC now owns 3,639 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $886,000 after purchasing an additional 858 shares in the last quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the 1st quarter worth approximately $143,000. Finally, Drive Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 12.8% in the first quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,212 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $297,000 after buying an additional 138 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.37% of the companys stock. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Illinois Tool Works news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,425 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,870 shares in the company, valued at $2,121,970.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.88% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Illinois Tool Works Price Performance NYSE:ITW opened at $242.25 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.20. The firm has a market cap of $73.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 1.10. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52 week low of $173.52 and a 52 week high of $253.37. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $233.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $231.59. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.33 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $4.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations 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 last year, the firm earned $2.11 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current year. Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.31 per share. This represents a $5.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 52.40%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have issued reports on ITW shares. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $240.00 to $236.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. 3M reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Barclays lowered their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $205.00 to $203.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on 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. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Illinois Tool Works from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price 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. Featured Stories 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. WP Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSEARCA:IHI Get Rating) by 1.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 19,555 shares of the companys stock after selling 269 shares during the quarter. WP Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF were worth $1,056,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,915,871 shares of the companys stock valued at $205,857,000 after acquiring an additional 245,906 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 6.0% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 2,235,217 shares of the companys stock valued at $117,505,000 after buying an additional 126,884 shares during the period. UBS Group AG boosted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,813,118 shares of the companys stock valued at $110,527,000 after buying an additional 37,743 shares during the period. Meitav Dash Investments Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 37.0% in the 4th quarter. Meitav Dash Investments Ltd. now owns 1,449,640 shares of the companys stock valued at $76,807,000 after buying an additional 391,545 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,210,875 shares of the companys stock valued at $73,815,000 after buying an additional 7,739 shares during the period. Get iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF alerts: iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF Stock Performance Shares of IHI opened at $55.58 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $55.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $53.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.21 billion, a PE ratio of 27.50 and a beta of 0.85. iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF has a 1 year low of $46.21 and a 1 year high of $57.24. iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF Company Profile The iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (IHI) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the DJ US Select \u002F Medical Equipment index, a market-cap-weighted index of manufacturers and distributors of medical devices in the US. IHI was launched on May 1, 2006 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IHI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF (NYSEARCA:IHI Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of WPP (NYSE:WPP Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning. Separately, Credit Suisse Group upgraded WPP from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, WPP currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,001.29. Get WPP alerts: WPP Price Performance Shares of WPP stock opened at $53.52 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $11.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $55.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $57.72. WPP has a one year low of $39.67 and a one year high of $64.07. Hedge Funds Weigh In On WPP WPP Company Profile A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of WPP by 187.0% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 617 shares of the business services providers stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 402 shares during the period. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of WPP in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WPP in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. lifted its holdings in shares of WPP by 78.8% in the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 642 shares of the business services providers stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 283 shares during the period. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WPP in the 1st quarter worth $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.10% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) WPP plc, a creative transformation company, provides communications, experience, commerce, and technology services in North America, the United Kingdom, Western Continental Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe. The company operates through three segments: Global Integrated Agencies, Public Relations, and Specialist Agencies. Read More Receive News & Ratings for WPP Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WPP and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tourists visit the ancient city of Kashgar scenic area in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 14, 2023. [Xinhua/Hu Huhu] KASHGAR, Xinjiang, June 23 (Xinhua) Ostangboyi, a teahouse nestled in the old town area of Kashgar City in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has become a beloved gathering place for neighbors, locals and merchants alike. Here, amid the winding streets and ancient architecture, they can savor a cup of tea, engage in lively conversations and immerse themselves in the timeless beauty of their surroundings. "With over a hundred years of history, the art of tea brewing may have evolved, but people's enduring passion for tea remains unwavering," said Memetkerim Memet, the teahouse's manager. The rich heritage of Kashgar came alive as tea from south of the Yangtze River found its way to the western region of Xinjiang along the ancient Silk Road, integrating seamlessly into the lives of the locals. In ancient times, Kashgar served as a vital transportation hub, connecting China with Central Asia and South Asia, said Xiao Xiaoyong, a professor at the Minzu University of China, adding that the confluence of diverse ethnic cultures in this region has given rise to a wealth of historical and cultural treasures. Today, Kashgar has harnessed its cultural and geographical advantages, transforming into a unique tourist destination that blends history and modernity. Through favorable policies, improved infrastructure, and the promotion of cross-border exchanges, the city has also emerged as a catalyst for Eurasian commerce. Where History Meets Modernity On the second-floor balcony of the teahouse, people joyfully sway to the enchanting melodies of the rawap, a stringed instrument, and the rhythmic beats of tambourines. However, this place may not have always been as welcoming to tourists in the past. "Houses in the old town were predominantly constructed using brick and wood structures. They lacked resilience against earthquakes and faced potential dangers, such as walls vulnerable to flood damage and limitations in fire rescue capabilities," said Memet Usman, father of Memetkerim Memet and the teahouse's former manager. In 2010, a project was initiated with an investment of over 7 billion yuan (about 975 million U.S. dollars) to revamp the dilapidated houses. It involved a population of more than 200,000 people and an area of 8 square km in the old town. As a result, more than 7,000 traditional dwellings of historical and cultural significance were repaired and reinforced while preserving their original spatial patterns. "The measures taken by the Chinese government to transform the old town of Kashgar are admirable," said Mohanad A.A. Alaklouk, permanent representative of Palestine to the Arab League, during his visit as a delegate of diplomats and officials from the Arab League and its Secretariat in May. "This transformation has not only brought great changes to the residents' living environment and conditions, but more importantly, has preserved the local cultural characteristics," said Alaklouk. Beyond the tangible architectural rejuvenation, Kashgar cherishes its intangible cultural heritage. Zulpukar Ababakri is an inheritor of the Kashgar pottery tradition, which produces both household items and ornaments. "For thousands of years, despite the evolution and innovation in earthenware techniques, the patterns of clouds, peaches, roses and grapes symbolizing fortune, good health and happiness in Chinese culture have remained intact and continue to captivate the multi-ethnic community of Kashgar," Zulpukar Ababakri said. Kashgar not only celebrates its indigenous culture but also embraces the world with open arms. Hadiya Msham Abulla, a student from Tanzania who studied medicine in China, is now married to her Uygur husband Dilshat Tursun. The couple started running a coffee shop in the old town of Kashgar this year. Through live streams and online platforms, they share their stories and products with a global audience. "The ancient city of Kashgar is a place of passion and fantasy. Despite living in a foreign land, I sense the feeling of home from the hospitable people," she said. According to the Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau of the Kashgar Prefecture, the region welcomed over 11 million tourists in the first five months of 2023, marking an 83.48 percent increase year on year, and resulting in tourism revenue of nearly 8.6 billion yuan, up 114.7 percent. Passage to Eurasia Earlier this month, 25 trucks loaded with containers departed from Kashgar. After arriving at the railway station of the city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan, containers were transferred onto trains bound for Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. It was a trial run for Kashgar to facilitate cross-border trade through the implementation of multimodal transport systems, ahead of the launch of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. "Kashgar is a passage connecting China to Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and even Europe. We are dedicated to providing support in streamlining customs clearance for foreign trade enterprises and ensuring the stability of industrial chains and supply chains," said Cao Hongjian of Kashgar Customs. Kashgar has emerged as an attractive destination for enterprises seeking to capitalize on its key location. One such enterprise is Zhongshun E-commerce Co., Ltd., a foreign trade company established in Kashgar's comprehensive bonded zone in 2020. "We collect goods from the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta and gather them in Kashgar, before dispatching them to Central Asia, Europe and other places. Presently, we process over 120,000 e-commerce orders daily," said Zhang Qi, the general manager of Zhongshun. Ma Haitao, director of the zone's management committee, said that there are currently over 350 registered enterprises in the zone, including more than 280 trade and logistics companies and nearly 40 ones for manufacturing and processing. In 2022, the value of cross-border e-commerce in the zone reached 1.29 billion yuan, up 291 percent year on year. "With the development of cross-border e-commerce, general trade and processing trade with a longer value chain have also started to release their growth potential," said Ma. An artist performs a show of intangible cultural heritage in the ancient city of Kashgar scenic area in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 14, 2023. [Xinhua/Hu Huhu] People spend their leisure time at a teahouse in the ancient city of Kashgar scenic area in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 13, 2023. [Xinhua/Hu Huhu] This photo shows tourists at the east gate of the ancient city of Kashgar scenic area in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 14, 2023. [Xinhua/Hu Huhu] This aerial photo shows a view of the ancient city of Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 10, 2023. [Xinhua/Li Xiang] Local residents play musical instruments at a teahouse in the ancient city of Kashgar scenic area in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 7, 2023. [Xinhua/Li Xiang] This aerial photo shows a view of Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 10, 2023. [Xinhua/Li Xiang] This aerial photo shows a view of the comprehensive bonded zone in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 9, 2023. [Xinhua/Hu Huhu] (Source: Xinhua) Senior residents exercise with the help of a staff member at a social welfare center in Hanshou County of Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, June 20, 2023. The city of Changde has scaled up efforts to develop an elderly care service system composed mainly of in-home cares, community services, institutional and medical cares. [Xinhua/Chen Sihan] Click the photo and watch the video. BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) The Global Development Initiative (GDI) has become a beacon of hope and a catalyst for international development cooperation in a world that has faced unprecedented challenges over recent years. The GDI was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2021. It was put forward with the hope that countries would work together to overcome the impact of COVID-19 on global development, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and build a global community of development with a shared future. China has called on all countries to increase their input in development, and advance cooperation on poverty alleviation, food security, COVID-19 response efforts and vaccines, development financing, climate change, green development, industrialization, the digital economy and connectivity. Chinese agriculture expert Chen Taihua (L) talks to Godfrey Kityo, a fish breeding technician, at the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Kajjansi, Wakiso District, Uganda, Dec. 21, 2022. [Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua] Xi hosted the High-level Dialogue on Global Development virtually in June 2022, announcing that China will allocate more resources to global development cooperation. China's efforts will include upgrading the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund to a Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, adding 1 billion U.S. dollars to the fund in addition to the 3 billion U.S. dollars already committed, and increasing its input in the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund. The High-level Dialogue on Global Development yielded 32 deliverables, including the launch of the Digital Literacy and Skills Improvement Initiative, the promotion of connectivity among customs authorities and other supply chain stakeholders, and deepened research and development cooperation on vaccines to improve vaccine self-sufficiency in developing countries. The GDI has received extensive support from the international community, prompting the world to refocus on development issues and recommit to the 2030 Agenda, according to the Progress Report on the Global Development Initiative released by the Center for International Knowledge on Development on Tuesday. The two funds have become major financial platforms through which China can support cooperation under the framework of the GDI, the report said. Half of the 32 deliverables have been completed or yielded early harvests, it said. A Chinese expert introduces desert plants to people from central Asian countries at a desert research station in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 13, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhou Shengbin] It noted that while supporting food aid programs and post-pandemic recovery in developing countries, China has prioritized enhancing developing countries' capacity to cope with climate change. For example, the China-Pacific Island Countries Climate Action Cooperation Center was unveiled in April 2022. China is also cooperating with relevant international organizations and other developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to combat desertification. "In these times of turbulence and transformation, the GDI has emerged as a platform for countries to come together, refocus on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and strive for a better future," said Awale Ali Kullane, Somali ambassador to China. The ambassador said that Somalia firmly believes in the importance of international cooperation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and creating a more equitable and just world. He said the GDI aligns perfectly with Somalia's own national development agenda, and the country is eager to actively contribute to its implementation. A launching ceremony for China contributing food and nutrition assistance, through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), to Lao school children is held in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Nov. 22, 2022. [Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua] Addressing poverty and food insecurity, mitigating the effects of climate change, and reducing technology and digital gaps require urgent attention, Zimbabwean Ambassador to China Martin Chedondo said. These problems can never be solved by individual countries, thus the proposal for a global partnership under the GDI will surely accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, he added. Chedondo said that predictable and sustainable financing for development remains a challenge, and it is assuring to note that the GDI offers concrete steps to mobilize multiple stakeholders and pool resources through innovative mechanisms. With the goal of building a global development community and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, the GDI calls for international commitment to adhere to development-first, innovation-driven and people-centered approaches and result-oriented actions, said Stephen Bainous Kargbo, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization representative to China. The GDI holds great promise to address global challenges and the development needs of developing countries, he said. (Source: Xinhua) Tina Turner to be honored by Patti LaBelle during the BET Awards on Sunday ADEN, Yemen, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni government forces on Saturday raised their combat readiness in response to a large military parade held by the Houthi rebels, state media reported. The country's Defense Minister Mohsen al-Daari visited government forces in the southwestern province of Taiz, where he met with commanders to assess the preparedness for potential Houthi attacks, the state-run Saba news agency reported. Following the visit, al-Daari emphasized the importance of boosting cohesion and morale among the forces and urged them to be on high alert for confronting any Houthi actions. The decision to raise combat readiness comes two days after a large military parade organized by thousands of Houthi fighters in the country's central province of Ibb, which is adjacent to Taiz. During the parade, Mahdi Al-Mashat, head of the Houthis' Supreme Political Council, delivered a speech in which he vowed to continue fighting for "freedom, independence, and full sovereignty" for Yemen. He also promised to introduce advanced weapons in the "next battle." The Yemeni government's decision to raise combat readiness reflects growing concerns over the possibility of renewed conflict with the Houthis. Yemen's civil war flared in late 2014 when the Houthi group seized control over much of the country's north and forced the internationally recognized government out of the capital Sanaa. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company [AP Photo] A coup attempt led by Evgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the Russian Wagner mercenary force, collapsed in the evening hours of Saturday, local time. In an agreement brokered by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin has left Russia, and the Russian Secret Service (FSB) has dropped the mutiny investigation initiated earlier in the day against the Wagner leader. There are unconfirmed reports that the deal includes the removal of Defense Minister Shoigu and the chairman of the chief-of-staff, Valery Gerasimov, and the relocation of Wagner to Africa. Prigozhin started his coup on Friday evening, local time, with a 30-minute video in which he ranted against Russias military leadership and made a direct appeal to the pro-NATO faction within the Russian ruling class. Prigozhin, who only a few weeks ago called for a mass mobilization and a full turn to a war economy in order to combat the threat from NATO, now claimed, The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not going to attack Russia with NATO. On Saturday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on television and accused Prigozhin, but without mentioning him by name, of acting on behalf of NATO. Putin stated, Today, Russia is waging a tough struggle for its future, repelling the aggression of neo-Nazis and their patrons. The entire military, economic and informational machine of the West is directed against us. Later Saturday evening, with Wagner troops having taken over Rostov-on-Don and on the outskirts of Moscow, Prigozhin announced that they would retreat. His sudden retreat clearly indicates that the level of support he was counting on for a successful coup failed to materialize. What led Prigozhin to launch his coup? First, it is evident that his escalating conflicts with the Russian state and military apparatus came to a head. The coup attempt was preceded by Prigozhins vitriolic denunciations of Defense Minister Shoigu, whom he accused of not waging the war aggressively enough. It has been reported that funding for Wagner was to be substantially cut. Earlier this month, Prigozhin refused to accept Putins demand that Wagner be placed under the control of the army leadership. There is evidence that the military was fed up with Putins long-time patronage of this foul-mouthed and disrespectful (to the military) thug. His operations in Ukraine, while useful to a limited extent, also interfered with the professional conduct of the war by trained officers. Prigozhin, one can safely surmise, attempted the coup in order to preempt actions against him. Second, it would be the height of political cluelessness to believe that NATO has been a passive bystander in the events of the last 24 to 36 hours. It has certainly been following the escalating war of words between Prigozhin and the Russian military with extreme care, and it can be assumed that it made contact with him. There is no other credible explanation for the pro-NATO justification made by Prigozhin upon launching the coup. Prigozhins NATO contacts would have had a good reason to demand that he act now. The coup has been launched less than three weeks into the NATO-backed counter-offensive by Ukraine. Having cost tens of billions of dollars to prepare, it has so far proven to be a debacle, with thousands of Ukrainian soldiers dying each day and only a few villages seized. In just over two weeks, NATO will be holding a major summit in Vilnius that, until the coup attempt, threatened to be dominated by Ukraines military debacle. The Biden administration and its NATO allies calculated that a coup attempt, even if not successful, would destabilize the regime and undermine its military operations. In any case, the coup attempt has shifted the media narrative away from the failed Ukrainian counter-offensive to the failing Putin regime. The immediate response of high-level representatives of US imperialism, the Zelensky regime and the pro-NATO opposition within the Russian oligarchy makes clear that the coup did not come as a surprise. US Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who has been a key figure in the US preparations for war against Russia for over a decade, tweeted on Friday evening, For all of those that have been wondering how the war in Ukraine is going, its going insurrection-in-Russia well. Later into the coup, he suggested that NATO use the opportunity to extend its air defenses 100 miles into Ukraine. Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, one of the leading CIA Democrats in the US, tweeted, U.S. posture at this stage should be watching events closely, assisting our Ukrainian allies in exploiting any battlefield opportunities, & staying flexible & alert at an unpredictable moment in history. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed support for Prigozhins coup attempt. London-based Russian ex-oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a central figure in the NATO-backed operation to overthrow the Putin regime, endorsed the coup attempt as a unique opportunity and called upon people to take up arms to ensure that Prigozhin could survive and reach the Kremlin. After Prigozhins retreat, Khodorkovsky celebrated the coup attempt as a major blow to the Putin regime on his Telegram account: The scale of the damage to the regime is fantastic. Negotiations with Ukraine, if they start, will come from a much weaker position. The autonomy of the military, and thus its fighting ability, will be drastically reduced. The opposition will have to draw certain conclusions... [I]f the war does not end, a new insurgency is not long in coming. The tasks are clear. We will get to work. That the coup was prepared with some significant level of NATO involvement is clear enough. But to portray the coup as primarily the product of a CIA conspiracy would be to ignore the real divisions that exist in the Russian regime and the social interests that determine its policies. Prigozhins coup attempt exposes above all the bankruptcy of the Putin regime itself, out of which Prigozhin himself emerged. He is a Frankenstein monster created by Putin and over whom the Russian president lost control. For decades, Putin and Prigozhin were close allies. Until recently, the Wagner group, which originated within the Russian military intelligence GRU, enjoyed the evident patronage of Putin and other powerful forces within the state apparatus. Prigozhin, a fascistic war-lord, billionaire and convicted criminal, represents a substantial faction of the Russian oligarchy that opposes the war solely because Putins effort to protect the capitalist classs and states privileged access to the countrys vast resources has cost them dearly. Putin has sought to balance between these factions, and this attempt to reconcile opposing oligarchic interests has determined the conduct of what he still calls a special military operation. From the beginning, the Kremlins policy in Ukraine has been based on the hope that limited military pressure could persuade the Western imperialist powers to accept the legitimate security interests of the Russian capitalist regime. Putin has persisted with this aim even as all of his red lines have been crossed, the latest red line being the attempt to overthrow him. How Putin responds remains to be seen, whether through a military escalation or with significant concessions to reach some sort of accommodation. The imperialist powers, however, are not interested in compromise. Their ultimate goal is the carve-up of Russia so as to bring the vast resources of the entire former Soviet Union under their direct control. Ultimately, both Putin and Prigozhin represent the same social class: an oligarchy, steeped in criminality and hatred of the working class, which has emerged out of the Stalinist destruction of the Soviet Union and the restoration of capitalism. Revealingly, in attacking their opponents in the ruling class, both Putin and Prigozhin have evoked above all the specter of the 1917 Russian Revolution, with Putin declaring of the coup that a blow like this was dealt to Russia in 1917, when the country was fighting in World War I. But the victory was stolen from it: intrigues, squabbles and politicking behind the backs of the army and the nation turned into the greatest turmoil, the destruction of the army and the collapse of the state, and the loss of vast territories, ultimately leading to the tragedy of the civil war. Putins latest denunciation of Bolshevism, aside from its pathologically obsessive character, exposes his own ignorance of history. In fact, the tsarist regimes catastrophic entry into war in 1914, and its criminal mismanagement of the conflict, brought Russia to the brink of collapse. Confronted in 1917 with the outbreak of revolution, the efforts of the bourgeois Provisional Government to salvage its imperialist interests produced further disasters. The attempt of General Kornilov, surreptitiously backed by Kerensky, to suppress the working class in September 1917 would have resulted, had it been successful, in the surrender of Petrograd to the armies of German imperialism. This outcome was prevented by a mass uprising of workers, mobilized by the Bolshevik Party, which crushed the coup and went on to seize power in October. It was the new Soviet state that created the Red Army, led by Leon Trotsky, that between 1918 and 1921 routed the forces of counter-revolution backed by world imperialism. The interests of the Russian and Ukrainian oligarchies preclude any progressive form of defense of the interests of the mass of the working people against the predatory policies of imperialism. The principal fear, shared by all sections of the Russian oligarchy, is that the war will create conditions for a resurgence of the powerful traditions of Marxist internationalism within the Russian, Ukrainian and international working class. The war in Ukraine must be stopped through the independent revolutionary mobilization of the international working class, not the NATO-backed overthrow of the Putin regime and a carve-up of Russia. A youth representative from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region voiced support for the national security law at a United Nations human rights meeting on Friday. Produced by Xinhua Global Service This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of the Binhai New Area in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 24, 2023 shows a view of north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a container ship berthing at the Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial photo taken on June 24, 2023 shows a view of the Tianjin Meijiang Convention Center, the venue for the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of the Binhai New Area in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a saltworks in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of the 530-meter Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Finance Centre (CTF) at the Binhai New Area in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 24, 2023 shows a view of the Binhai New Area in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of the main channel of the Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a wetland in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 24, 2023 shows a view of north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of the Binhai New Area in north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a view of north China's Tianjin Municipality. The 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, will be held in Tianjin from June 27 to 29. Approximately 1,500 leaders from both public and private sectors from more than 90 countries will come together for the three-day event. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue) LONDON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- China is offering plenty of opportunities for international companies to do good business, and the firms are taking up those opportunities, a British business leader has said. "What's interesting is that the business leaders have gone to Beijing. And they realize that the trade is still going on across the world, and that China is open for business in a very real way," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, told Xinhua during a recent interview. "The world's business needs China. And the world's business will continue to find that China is a good place to be," Perry said. When asked about recent remarks made by some U.S. politicians about the so-called "de-risking" from China, Perry told Xinhua that "the United States is trying to find out why China has advanced faster than the United States, and how did the United States with all the sophisticated capabilities get it wrong, and how did that happen." They have a tendency to blame the other person, he added. "I think that the Americans have found it easier to explain away the advances that China has made by demonizing China." However, Perry said, "once you start blaming the other person, you'll be getting to move away from reality. Once you move away from the realistic analysis of what's going wrong, then you're in trouble." "Whether one talks about 'decoupling' or 'de-risking' -- whatever words one wants to use -- the world has changed beyond all imagination," he noted, adding that people who will lose most if the world is segregated into areas will be the West, as they will lose the best new markets in the world. "What we have to recognize is that if we decouple, de-risk, separate ourselves from China and Asia, we will be the ones that lose out. Asia will have the highest amount of innovation and development. It will have the highest rises in economic development. And we in Europe and America will be cut off from it. It's not a good policy," he said. "If we want to get a world that's good for the West, we have to participate in the Asian economy, and we have to recognize that at the center of the Asian economy is China. It's the biggest economy of them all, and Asians are going to be interdependent with China. And the West has to be interdependent with China," he added. Rejecting the idea that the West can isolate China, Perry said it is only "a fantasy" and is "unrealistic." "Everywhere you go, you see China," he noted, adding that China is investing in technologies and different ways of innovation across the world. During the interview, the business leader told Xinhua that the world will get smaller, not larger, and that countries worldwide will get more interdependent with each other. "It'll change its form over the next 30 or 40 years, but it won't change its principal characteristic, which is multilateralism. It is the only way the world makes sense to work," he said. "We need to age them out because I messed up," author Colleen Hoover said of the characters in the film adaptation Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty, Nancy Rivera / SplashNews.com A split image of Colleen Hoover, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni Colleen Hoover is clearing the air. At Book Bonanza, the New York Times bestselling authors annual book festival, Hoover spoke about the upcoming movie adaptation of It Ends With Us and addressed some of the controversy surrounding the film. The movie is based on Hoovers 2016 novel of the same name, which, according to a synopsis on her website, follows Lily, a recent college graduate who moves to Boston and falls in love with Ryle, a neurosurgeon with a no dating rule. As the two grow closer, Lilys first love, Atlas, comes back into her life and threatens what they have built. Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty, Nancy Rivera / SplashNews.com Related: Blake Lively Movie 'It Ends With Us' Shuts Down N.J. Production Due to WGA Strike Since announcing that Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni will play Lily and Ryle in the film on Jan. 26, Hoover has faced backlash because of the significant age discrepancies between the actors and their It Ends With Us characters. Lively, 35, is over a decade older than the 23-year-old protagonist. Similarly, Baldoni, who is also directing the book-to-screen adaptation, is nine years older than his 30-year-old book counterpart. Atria Books Cover of novel "It Ends with Us" by Colleen Hoover Now, five months after their casting, Hoover has an explanation for the age gap. Back when I wrote It Ends With Us, the new adult [genre] was very popular, she said at the June 23 festival, according to Today. You were writing college-age characters. That's what I was contracted to do. The author continued, I didn't know that neurosurgeons went to school for 50 years. There's not a 20-something neurosurgeon. Related: Everything to Know About Blake Lively's Upcoming Movie, 'It Ends With Us' Hoover viewed the adaptation as an opportunity to remedy her error. As I started making this movie, I'm like, We need to age them out because I messed up, she said. "So that's my fault." Story continues The author also said she is extremely happy with the cast, especially Lively, who Hoover said she has been obsessed with since her turn as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl. Despite this, the self-described pessimist said she hasnt allowed herself to get truly excited about Lively joining the cast or anything else because something bad could happen. It's not done filming, Hoover said at the festival, according to Today. Anything could go wrong. 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. As for fans who are, as Hoover phrased it, "upset about outfits and whatnot, her advice is simply to wait until the film hits theaters. Though she said she loves the costuming conversations that set photos from the film generated, she had a message for fans: "You've seen a couple of outfits that are completely out of context. I'm not worried about it. Splash News Blake Lively I don't remember describing outfits at all, the author told fans, per Today. "I don't care what they have on. In my head, it's about the conversation they're having and the story." And when it comes to the story translating onscreen, Hoover said she was blown away. Related: Blake Lively Turns Redhead Filming 'It Ends with Us' with Justin Baldoni in Jersey City I got to see the footage they filmed thus far, she said, per Today. I'm not a crier. I know that I write emotional books but I'm not an emotional person. And I cried so much on set. Hoover continued, "You guys are going to be so happy. I'm extremely happy and now my expectations are up and I'm going to keep them there." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Sands, 65, was first reported missing on Jan. 13 after going hiking on the deadly Californian mountain Kurt Krieger/Corbis/Getty Julian Sands Human remains have been found in the area Julian Sands disappeared on California's Mount Baldy, authorities have confirmed. "At about 10:00 a.m., civilian hikers contacted the Fontana Sheriffs Station after they discovered human remains in the Mt. Baldy wilderness," San Fernando Police Department said in a statement released on Saturday. "Fontana Station deputies, along with the Sheriffs Departments Emergency Operations Division, responded to the scene." Although police did not mention Sands by name, the remains were discovered in the same area of the Californian mountain that the Ocean's Thirteen actor was hiking in when he was reported missing in January. "The decedent was transported to the Coroners Office, pending positive identification. Identification should be completed next week," the statement said. Representatives for Sands did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. The discovery comes after the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department shared a statement from the Sands family last week, five months after the 65-year-old A Room with a View actor went missing while hiking Southern California's Mount Baldy in January. Terry Pierson/The Press-Enterprise via Getty Mount Baldy "We are deeply grateful to the search teams and coordinators who have worked tirelessly to find Julian," they said. "We continue to hold Julian in our hearts with bright memories of him as a wonderful father, husband, explorer, lover of the natural world and the arts, and as an original and collaborative performer." The sheriff's office added in the tweet, "Although missing hiker, Julian Sands, was not located during the recent search mission, the case remains active. We want to thank all the individuals who assisted in the June 17 search and the previous search missions." Sands was first reported missing in the Baldy Bowl area on Jan. 13, by his wife, Evgenia Citkowitz. Story continues Related: Second Hiker Missing on the Same Mountain Where Actor Julian Sands Disappeared, Authorities Say Crews continued their search for the Leaving Las Vegas star over that weekend using helicopters, drones and infrared devices, but were still unable to locate the missing actor, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said. Officials had also previously attempted to retrace Sands' steps and ping his cell phone in hopes of locating the English star. In a Twitter post shared by the sheriff's department on Jan. 23, the sheriff's department confirmed that the search for the missing Sands was continuing, and added that the department would "continue to utilize the resources" it has at its disposal. 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. Along with the department's update, it shared a statement from the family of Sands who extended their gratitude to the "heroic search teams" who continued to aid in the search for the missing actor. "We are deeply touched by the outpouring of love and support," the statement read. "Our heartfelt thanks to the compassionate members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department who are coordinating the search for our beloved Julian." RELATED VIDEO: Actor Julian Sands Missing After Going Hiking on Deadly Mount Baldy in California While the sheriff's department added in an advisory notice that same day that helicopters and drones continued to use infrared devices to search for Sands, there had been no sign of the actor thus far. The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department also announced Jan. 23 that a second hiker in the area Jin Chung of Los Angeles had been missing since Sunday. (Chung, 75, was located alive the following day.) San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department public information officer Gloria Huerta told PEOPLE on Feb. 10, that they "remain hopeful but know the outcome may not be what we would like." "Conditions on Mt. Baldy remain a danger and our Aviation Division still patrols the area when they are available. We also plan to search the area by ground in the future," she added. "We are in contact with the family, and although they are grateful for the support they have received, they have no further statement for the public at this time." charley gallay/wireimage Julian Sands RELATED GALLERY: Paying Tribute to the Celebrities Who Have Died in 2023 An avid hiker, Sands told The Guardian in 2020 that a "remote peak in the high Himalayas, such as Makalu" topped his bucket list and that the closest he'd ever come to death was during an excursion in the Andes Mountains in the early 1990s, when he and three others were "caught in an atrocious storm above 20,000 feet." "We were all in a very bad way. Some guys close to us perished; we were lucky," he added. Sands also told the outlet that he would like to be remembered "as an interesting, amusing father by my children" and that the most important life lesson he has learned is "to be nice, and grab [life] with both hands, we know it is short." The actor's brother Nick Sands said in January that he believed Julian, whom he affectionately calls "Jules," was "gone," telling the Craven Herald & Pioneer on Jan. 24, "He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone." "However, sibling rivalry being what it is, it would be just like him to walk out of there and prove me wrong," Nick added. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. URUMQI, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Amid the heat of summer, a herd of Przewalski's horses roams among the low desert hills of the Karamaile Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A few kilometers away, 42-year-old ranger Adebyet climbs onto his pickup truck and peers through his binoculars. "Eighteen horses in total: one adult male, eight adult females, six subadults, three foals," he tells his colleague, who notes down the figures. "Let's go, they're all doing well. We shouldn't get any closer," says Adebyet, jumping down from the truck. The Karamaile Mountain Nature Reserve they patrol is the native habitat of the Przewalski's horse, which is a species under first-class national protection. It is also home to many endangered wild animals, including Mongolian wild asses, goitered gazelles and argali sheep. Characterized by desert plant species such as Haloxylon ammodendron and Calligonum mongolicum, as well as extensive Yardang landforms, the nature reserve is a typical example of temperate desert ecosystems worldwide. It is one of the 49 national park candidate areas identified in a spatial layout plan for China's national parks jointly issued by four national bureaus in 2022. The planned park encompasses the Karamaile Mountain Nature Reserve, the Qitai fossilized wood and dinosaur national geological park, and the Qitai fossilized wood national desert park in Xinjiang, with a total area of approximately 14,700 square km. According to the region's forestry and grassland bureau, the practical work of creating the Karamaile National Park has already been completed. With the third-party evaluation work done, it is now awaiting approval for official designation as a national park. The distinction between a nature reserve and a national park is a subtle but important one. The Karamaile Mountain Nature Reserve is focused on "closed protection," while the creation of a national park emphasizes the integration of ecological conservation, green development and the improvement of people's livelihoods. The work of improving the natural environment at the nature reserve has been going on for years, but the additional effort of making it national park has injected new vitality into its biodiversity protection efforts. The reserve has become a fine illustration of China's practice of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. By the end of 2022, the total number of Przewalski's horses in Kalamayli reached 332, with over 3,400 Mongolian wild asses and more than 11,200 goitered gazelles. The comprehensive vegetation coverage has increased from 8.2 percent in the previous year to 8.4 percent, according to the latest monitoring results from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "Now is the foaling season, and the foals may be suckling or have weak bodies. During patrols, we try our best not to disturb them," said Adebyet, adding that the continuous improvement of their habitat has boosted the Przewalski's horse population, while allowing them to be more independent. "In the past, the wild horse herds would occasionally come to us in winter for 'help,' but now it happens less and less." Przewalski's horses were once extinct in the Karamaile area. In 1985, China started bringing them back from overseas for breeding purposes, and in 2001, they were released into the Karamaile Mountain Nature Reserve for the first time. In recent years, Xinjiang has continuously conducted special ecological environment restoration and remediation work in the Karamaile reserve. Karamaile Mountain, which means "black mountain" in Kazakh, is rich in energy resources such as coal and oil. The Karamaile Mountain Nature Reserve, established in 1982, underwent multiple unauthorized reductions in size, gradually turning the protected area into a "development zone," with its area reduced by about one-third at one point. Now, due to effective rectification and potent governance, the protected area has not only returned to its original size, but has also witnessed a significant increase in the population of wildlife species. In December 2018, all oil production activities within the protected area were completely ceased, and 284 oil wells were permanently sealed, with their surfaces restored, according to Xinjiang Oilfield Company. Ayjan Erkin is a young researcher at the nature reserve who has been inspired by plans to establish Xinjiang's first national park. She studied for six years at Northeast Forestry University in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, majoring in wildlife and nature reserve management. After graduation, she returned to her hometown in Xinjiang and began supporting the reserve's work. "The purpose of building hospitals is to enable people to recover from illnesses in the short term, but establishing nature reserves and national parks allows us to have a permanently safe living environment," says Ayjan Erkin. "We are putting great effort into promoting scientific education and building information platforms to help the public understand the value of wildlife and plant conservation," she said. The International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600) named Alex Tonisson as its new National Executive Director Saturday afternoon during a meeting of its Executive Board in Los Angeles. Initially hired as the Western Region Director of the Guold in June 2019, Tonisson is described as a 19-year vet of the labor movement. He has served as the interim National Executive Director (NED) since early May, succeeding interim NED Chaim Kantor and former ICG National Director Rebecca Rhine. In the role, Tonisson will be responsible for advancing the Guilds interests during what they described today as a period of disruption, change, and opportunity for the television and motion picture industry. More from Deadline Tonisson will lead critical negotiations on behalf of the ICG and administer the guilds local agreement with producers. He will also supervise a full-time staff of more than 65 employees and work closely with other IATSE Local and International chapters to drive progress for the union. Prior to joining Local 600, Tonisson served as Director of Field Services for the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE Local 21), co-chair of the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition, and was appointed as a Commissioner to the City and County of San Francisco Citizens Government Obligation Bond Oversight Committee. He also worked as a Senior Political Community Organizer with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). In 2004, Tonisson helped pass the Mental Health Services Act as the Northern California Field Organizer on Californias statewide Proposition 63 campaign. I am excited for this opportunity to continue the important work that ICG does, including the crucial support the Guild provides during this industry-wide strike that has impacted so many of our members, said Tonisson. During this critical moment of technology-driven change in film and the arts its my honor to represent the best interests of our members who include some of the most brilliant, creative and talented individuals in our industry. Story continues Chris Silano, National Vice President of the ICG, added: Alexs appointment is a positive step forward for the ICG/ His long-standing history in the labor movement, coupled with his proven success leading the guild in multiple capacities, speaks volumes to how well positioned he is to formally take the reins as our National Executive Director. 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. The horror icon shares with PEOPLE how he helped guide Mark Hamill to a galaxy far, far away Borja B. Hojas/Getty, 20th Cent Fox/Everett Collection Freddy Krueger: full-time child murderer, part-time industry liaison? Robert Englund, 76, the horror icon who originated that hair-raising Nightmare on Elm Street villain, recently opened up to PEOPLE about his surprising connection to the Star Wars universe. Funnily enough, the story begins not with Star Wars director George Lucas, but with Francis Ford Coppolas Apocalypse Now. I had managed to read a bootleg script, and I was begging my agent and trying everything I could, pulling every string I could to get in to audition for Apocalypse Now, Englund recalls while looking back on his career as he discusses the new documentary about his life, Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story. I got in there and I was dressed in my thrift store, military secondhand clothing, and I was all tan and long blonde hair," he remembers of his audition for the Vietnam war classic. "And they thought, for a moment I might be right for the surfer role." The Freddy vs. Jason star didn't ultimate get cast in Apocalypse Now, but a casting agent thought he might be a good fit for the space movie that they were casting across the hall. It was then that a name on the audition pages caught his eye: Luke Skywalker. "What a name," he remembers thinking. "I'd never heard the name before, I didn't know what it meant, just the coolest name in the world, Luke Skywalker." As far as the casting experience for the first Star Wars film went, Englund says: "All they did was take a polaroid of me." Related: 'Stranger Things' Director Shares 'Nightmare on Elm Street' Connections in Robert Englund's Episode Englund says he went on to eventually recommend that his friend Mark Hamill ask about the Skywalker role. I'm a character actor, so I never thought of it for me, but when I went back to my apartment, there was Mark with a Heineken in his fist watching Bob Newhart. I told him about it, and he got on the phone and called his agent. Story continues Michael Tullberg/Getty "Now his agent, I believe she already had him up for the role," Englund recalls. "And that may be true, I don't know, but I know that Mark hadn't heard about it yet. And I did tell him about it, and he got on the phone. That's the story." The rest is history, with Hamill going on to play the lightsaber-wielding hero that captivated global audiences. Of course, Englund would get his big break as well, taking on the bloodcurdling role of Freddy Krueger. Related: Nancy's House from 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' Hits the Market for $3.25 Million See Inside! Englund reflects on his prolific horror-filled career in the new documentary, Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story. "A classically trained actor and director, Robert Englund has become one of the most revolutionary horror icons of our generation," reads a synopsis for the film. "Throughout his career, Englund starred in many well-known movies, but shot to super-stardom with his portrayal of supernatural serial killer Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. This unique and intimate portrait captures the man behind the glove and features interviews with Englund and his wife Nancy, Lin Shaye, Eli Roth, Tony Todd, Heather Langenkamp and more." While Krueger may have been Englunds king-making role, he continues to make waves today. The character actor was recently featured in Stranger Things and hosted the Travel Channel show True Terror with Robert Englund. Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story is available to stream on Digital. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Following Rolling Stones publication of an article linking a super PAC backing Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Republican representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and George Santos, the anti-vaccine activist lashed out at the publication on Twitter, calling it a channel for Establishment propaganda. Expect Rolling Stone to lead the corporate medias frantic crusade to vilify me to stop my White House bid, Kennedy Jr. wrote. Rolling Stone was once the premier standard-bearer of the counterculture. Now its a channel for Establishment propaganda. #TrollingStone #RollingSmear Expect Rolling Stone to lead the corporate medias frantic crusade to vilify me to stop my White House bid. Rolling Stone was once the premier standard-bearer of the counterculture. Now its a channel for Establishment propaganda. #TrollingStone #RollingSmear Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 24, 2023 The article, released Friday, pointed to filings viewed by Rolling Stone that tied the creators of the pro-Kennedy Jr. Super PAC Heal the Divide to pro-Donald Trump officials like Greene, Santos and Hershel Walker. Rolling Stone deemed it abnormal that Kennedy Jr. is running as a Democrat despite being backed by Republican-affiliated donors. The article also cites unnamed Fox News employees who told Rolling Stone that higher-ups at the right-wing news network have considered featuring Kennedy Jr.s candidacy more prominently in an attempt to make President Joe Biden look weak. Also Read: NewsNation Sets Live Town Hall with Democratic Challenger Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Story continues Rolling Stone has yet to respond to Kennedy Jr.s post, and did not immediately respond to TheWraps request for comment. Kennedy Jr.s history with Rolling Stone dates back to 2005, when the publication released a since-removed article written by Kennedy Jr. that falsely linked childhood vaccines to autism. Related to all of this, Kennedy will be a guest speaker next week at a gathering for the extremist anti-LGBTQ group Moms for Liberty in Philadelphia. Fire Fox News host Tucker Carlson made assertions similar to Kennedy Jrs on Friday, stating on his Twitter show that theres never been a candidate for president the media hated more than Robert Kennedy Jr. Also Read: CNNs Jake Tapper Would Refuse Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Town Hall: So Dishonest (Video) CUYAHOGA COUNTY POLICE A mother from Ohio is facing murder charges in connection with the death of her 16-month-old daughter, who was found dead after her mom allegedly left home alone while she went on vacation, NBC News reports. Kristel Candelario, a Cleveland native, was arrested on June 18 and charged with the first-degree murder of Jailyn, her 16-month-old daughter. Cleveland police stated in an affidavit that Candelario returned from her trip and found her unresponsive daughter at their home. The affidavit also states Candelario allegedly told investigators she had left Jailyn "at home, all alone and unattended," while she took a trip to Michigan and Puerto Rico. Once she arrived home, the 31-year-old allegedly found her daughter "extremely dehydrated." Authorities arrived on the scene and allegedly saw Jailyn's playpen had nothing but "soiled blankets and a bottom liner, saturated with urine and feces," according to the affidavit. Medics pronounced the child dead at the scene while investigators determined she was alone for 10 days. Emergency responders also said that "no signs of trauma were observed," according to a press release from the Cleveland Police Department. Candelario is being held at Cuyahoga County Jail on a $1 million bond. This isn't the first time Candelario left her child alone. A neighbor told WKYC Cleveland that the mother asked them to watch Jailyn one weekend in 2022 and left her there much longer than expected. Days had turned into weeks, as the neighbors claimed Calendario wouldn't answer their calls or would "make excuses" as to why she had yet to pick Jailyn up. The neighbor and her child allegedly took care of Jailyn for a month and-a-half and watched her several more times afterwards. "I was the one calling her saying, 'Look I need milk. I need money. I don't have money to buy milk for your baby.' What am I supposed to do?" the neighbor told the news outlet. More on this After being booed for Trump criticism, Christie says Trump voters 'need to hear the truth, too' Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Sunday that he expected to get booed for attacking Republican primary opponent Donald Trump at a conservative conference in Washington on Friday but that his message was more important. While noting that his comments to the Faith and Freedom Coalition also got "some good reaction," Christie told ABC "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl: "Of course I expected the boos. That is predominantly a Trump crowd. But they need to hear the truth, too, that, you know, character is the single most important element of a president of the United States." "You can't know every issue that's going to come across the president's desk. It's not a litmus test with check boxes in them. What you need to know is, what is the character of that person?" he said. Christie, a former ABC News contributor and Trump ally who ran for the White House in 2016, also warned that Republicans "do not need our party to go to a fourth loss" at the hands of Trump, if he is the party's nominee again. MORE: Chris Christie says path to Republican nomination means going 'right through' Trump "That's the stakes here. It's not about whether you think Donald Trump had been treated fairly or not by the media or by elements of the Justice Department," Christie said. "It is about whether he is a man of character who can lead this party to victory. And I don't believe he can." Trump, for his part, repeatedly dismisses Christie's attacks, calling him a "failed governor" and presidential candidate. Christie has made directly challenging Trump a key part of his 2024 campaign. He told Karl that he believes his message is resonating with voters, though polls so far show Trump has a wide lead. "I'm already in third place in New Hampshire, only four points behind Ron DeSantis, who has been in the race for a longer time and is supposed to be the co-front-runner," Christie said, referring to Florida's governor. Story continues Still, FiveThirtyEight's polling average has Christie receiving roughly 2% support at the national level. PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie walks on stage during the Faith and Freedom Coalition Policy Conference, in Washington, D.C., on June 23, 2023. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) On "This Week," Christie touted another break with those in his party who express skepticism about aiding Ukraine in repelling Russia's invasion. At the same time, he called out mistakes in dealing with Russia by the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. "America has never been a great country and the leader of the world by filling in the moat and pulling up the drawbridge," he said, arguing that backing Ukraine also cut down on the rising influence of China. "At the end of this sacrifice, I am absolutely a believer in the fact that America will be bigger, stronger, richer and more influential in the world because we stood by our principles and stood by our friends," he said. He said that he believes the recent domestic turmoil in Russia brought about by mercenary Yevgeny Prigozhin's temporary revolt could help expedite the war's end "because of [Vladimir] Putin's weakness that's obvious now inside his own country." MORE: Ron DeSantis, other 2024 GOP hopefuls address abortion at Faith and Freedom Coalition event Having highlighted his anti-abortion bona fides at the conference on Friday, Christie pushed back Sunday against calls by some GOP candidates, like former Vice President Mike Pence, for a federal abortion ban. He urged a "national consensus" to develop on the issue first. "Conservatives like me, for the last 50 years, have been arguing that this is not a federal issue. It's a state issue. And it's something that states should decide. The Dobbs case [overruling Roe v. Wade] one year ago gave us the opportunity to let each state make this decision," he said. "If a national consensus develops, I have no problem with the federal government stepping in and confirming that national consensus," he continued. After being booed for Trump criticism, Christie says Trump voters 'need to hear the truth, too' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Celebrate Life Day Rally Held On First Anniversary Of Roe v. Wade's Reversal Anti-abortion activists participate in a Celebrate Life Day Rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on June 24, 2023. Credit - Anna Rose LaydenGetty Images By the time the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminated the federally protected right to abortion one year ago, public-health and legal experts were armed to the teeth with predictions about what the complicated fights over reproductive care would look like in all 50 states. Experts warned that key steps of the anti-abortion movements path to a total abortion ban could include attempts to establish fetal personhood laws, criminalize pregnant women facing complications and miscarriages, and access citizens private data to enforce restrictions. Since last June, 14 U.S. states have enacted near-complete abortion bans, and nearly half a dozen more restrict the procedure to a narrow gestational window. Other, less straightforward measures such as strict clinic regulations and an interstate travel ban for minors in Idaho, have similarly limited the accessibility of care. Decades of planning and anticipation meant that the anti-abortion movement was quick to act when Roe fell, and in the last year, theyve made rapid progress through the strategic playbook. There were more than 360 anti-abortion bills filed across over 47 states, says Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood. They are pulling every single lever and trying to identify any way to restrict access. For anti-abortion organizations and politicians, if the first year post-Roe was about pulling all possible levers, the second will be about focusing on those that theyve found worked best. Here are some of the key strategies the conservative movement will use to try and restrict reproductive rights in the coming year: Electoral maneuvering Theres less doubt than ever about where Americans stand when it comes to reproductive rights. According to a June 14 Gallup poll, 69% of Americans believe abortion should be legal throughout the first trimester, while 34% support access under any circumstances. Meanwhile, just 13% of Americans want abortion illegal in all circumstances. Pro-abortion access ballot measures did well with voters in the 2022 midterm elections, with Michigan, California, and Vermont enshrining reproductive rights in their state constitutions. In Kansas, Montana, and Kentucky, voters turned out to defeat measures that would have further restricted access to care. In light of these numbers, continuing to restrict abortion will require what McGill Johnson describes as a tyranny of the minority. Story continues Many of the groups that are active on the frontlines of the anti-abortion movement are also supporting broad sweeping efforts to undermine the ability of people to vote, says Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward. For instance, explains Joanne Rosen, a legal scholar and associate lecturer in health policy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, some conservative states, like Mississippi and North Dakota, responded to the midterms by handicapping the procedures and protections that made it possible for such ballot measures to reach poll booths in the first place. Others, such as Ohio, are taking a different tack: increasing the percentage of voters that must support an initiative in order for it to pass. In Mayjust months after the right to abortion was enshrined in neighboring Michigan with a 56% majorityan amendment was proposed in Ohios state legislature that would increase the threshold for constitutional amendments from approval by 50% of voters to 60%. At least four other states are considering similar constitutional changes. Read More: What Abortion Laws Look Like in the U.S. One Year After the Fall of Roe v. Wade These sorts of tactics will be a priority in the coming year because year two introduces an element that wasnt really present in the immediate aftermath of Dobbs: the run-up to the presidential election in 2024, says Rosen. She and others believe that the anti-abortion movement understands that the majority of Americans support abortion rights, and fear that opportunities to sound off directly on abortion will continue to increase liberal voter turnout. By making it impossible for these abortion protections to appear on ballots before the 2024 race, Republicans can minimize the chances of their candidate losing to votes cast by those motivated by protecting abortion rights in their state. Expect to also see the anti-abortion movement more often attempting to skip voters and take issues directly to judges. A lawsuit filed in November by the anti-abortion group Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine in an attempt to revoke the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of the abortion medication mifepristone is a key example, says Rosen. The ongoing case was brought directly to Trump appointee Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in his Amarillo, Texas jurisdiction. There will likely be similarly strategic case filings before conservative circuit judgesespecially in areas where state lawmakers are less likely to be receptive to anti-abortion legislative measures. Unorthodox legal strategies The anti-abortion movement has launched several innovative legal attacks in the last year that its been hard to anticipate, says McGill Johnson. Part of their strategy is to defy the norms that were intended in a law, and weaponize laws for their aims. Consider, for example, a series of three petitions submitted to the FDA in 2022 and 2023 by the anti-abortion group Students for Life of America (SFLA) that attempt to make it harder to get medication abortion, the most common abortion method in the U.S., currently most often done as a self-managed at-home procedure. SFLA has been claiming medication abortions violate U.S. wastewater regulations established by the longstanding Environmental Species Act. Theyre arguing in part that any physicians who prescribe mifepristone must be ordered by the FDA to dispose of fetal remains as medical waste, which would essentially make it impossible to prescribe misoprostol because people who use it would have to wait in a medical clinic, says Rosen. SFLAs first two petitions were denied by the FDA; the third is awaiting a response. Anti-abortion activists have also been looking to halt the mail delivery of abortion medications under an 1873 law known as the Comstock Act, which prohibits the mailing of any items deemed lewd or obscene, explicitly including those used for abortion. The law was reinterpreted under Roe v. Wade to cover only supplies for unlawful abortion, and, for the most part, the law hasnt been applied for decades. However, thanks to its vague and broad wording, could affect an overwhelming roster of critical medical supplies and everyday items if enforced. In anticipation of related challenges, Democrats in states such as Wisconsin are working on bills that would protect the ability to receive and distribute contraception. I dont think any of these unusual causes of action should be underestimated, says Rosen. In early 2022, she says, the idea of a lawsuit challenging the 2000 approval of mifepristone, a medication that has been proven safe and effective in hundreds of studies would have also sounded outlandish. Expanding conservative support networks In socially conservative parts of the U.S., pregnant people seeking health care, counseling, or social services often end up in crisis pregnancy centers. These facilities, operated primarily by Christian groups, typically work to prevent abortion rather than provide care. Already, they outnumber clinics that provide abortions three to one in the U.S. On their websites, more than a third of crisis pregnancy centers neglect to explicitly mention that they do not provide abortion care. People are walking into these places, thinking that theyre receiving medical care and that theyre gonna get comprehensive, evidence-based information, says Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an ob-gyn who lives in Green Bay, Wis. and has been providing legal abortions across state lines in Minnesota. That false and misleading information is manipulating them emotionally, and its delaying their access to the care that they truly need. Experts watching this space expect to see a further expansion of crisis pregnancy centers, after they clocked numerous victories in 2022 and 2023. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a policy organization focused on reproductive rights, multiple states have increased public funding for crisis pregnancy centers since June 2022, including at least $1 million of additional direct allocation in Arkansas, Kansas, North Dakota, and Ohio. A late May brief from two leading anti-abortion organizations, the Charlotte Lozier Institute and the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Education Fund, shows how such groups are thinking about the future of crisis pregnancy centers. Among its goals is fto establish and extend a network of maternity homes across the nation that provide robust services for up to two years after childbirth. These facilities, which essentially function as live-in crisis pregnancy centers for pregnant and postpartum people, provide private and unregulated support that can vary greatly and can come at the price of close surveillance and intense Christian indoctrination, says Emma Roth, a staff attorney at Pregnancy Justice. When asked about the surveillance and religious indoctrination practices, Andrea Trudden, vice president of communications & marketing for Heartbeat International, the largest network of crisis pregnancy centers, responded in an email to TIME that Maternity Homes have been expanding over the past few years as the need for maternity housing has grown in various areas that are experiencing an increase in client homelessness. Each Maternity Home is its own organization and includes specific parameters women agree to before staying for the health and safety of all residents in the home. Criminalization of pregnancy and reproductive care Currently, 38 states allow prosecutors to charge pregnant women with a variety of crimes under fetal protection laws. Such laws, especially post-Dobbs, have greatly expanded the range of possible crimes during pregnancy. In Georgia, for example, citizens are now able to claim unborn dependents on their taxes, leading advocates to worry that this classification could be used to argue for fetal personhood, which would allow standard felony charges to be applied to pregnant women in normal circumstances. In the last 10 years, in particular, there have been more pregnancy criminalization cases than ever, says Roth, and the rate at which they occur is only increasing now that 50 states each have their own different sets of laws. States such as Texas, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Arkansas have proposed legislation that would open the door to homicide charges for people who obtain abortionslaws that could also lead to full-blown criminal investigations of nearly any miscarriage. Measures like Texass Senate Bill 8, which allows citizens to report violations of anti-abortion statutes, could also land in about a dozen more states and increase cases of criminalization as well. Experts are also on the lookout for new attempts to criminally prosecute providers of reproductive care. In anticipation, theres a chilling effect thats happened among providers, says McGill Johnson. They are consulting their lawyers or their hospital insurance risk managers in order to make decisions about whether to treat things like miscarriage. These fears have been validated just this month with the news that Indiana had launched an investigation into Indianapolis ob-gyn Dr. Caitlin Bernards decision to provide abortion care to a 10-year-old rape victim. Lyerly believes that case wont be the only attempt to handicap medical decision-making, and shes fearful of the effect that continued legal threats could have on providers ability to appropriately prioritize patients health. We spent a lot of time as a medical community trying to define things so that we could continue to practice without handcuffing ourselves to legal termsso we could still be nimble as were individualizing our care for our patients. Pro-choice advocates expect to have to use a similar nimbleness to face down the coming year, in which, as Rosen puts it, nothing is off the table. At the same time, we also are thinking a lot about what the proactive work needs to be, says McGill Johnson. We need to ensure that we have stronger shield laws to protect providers from the lawsuits and prosecutions that were going to see from even out-of-state actors. We want to make sure that we are repealing the existing abortion bans. There will still be work to codify abortion rights into state law and state constitutions. And I do think theres a lot of education that needs to happen. British bombers pulled off a raid on the other side of the planet in the UK's first major conflict since World War II A Royal Air Force Avro Vulcan bomber at an air show in the UK in June 1980. Reading Post/Mirrorpix/Getty Images After Argentina seized the Falklands in April 1982, the British began planning to retake them. Planning was complicated by the vast distances between the Falklands and British bases. So the British air force devised an ambitious, complex plan for long-range bomber raids. On the night of April 30, 1982, two British Royal Air Force bombers and 11 tanker aircraft assembled on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. Twenty-eight days earlier, Argentina had seized the Falkland Islands, a British territory long claimed by Buenos Aires. Within days, the British dispatched a naval task force to retake the islands. The British aircraft, meanwhile, were about to set out on the RAF's first contribution to the war effort an ambitious operation that involved flying more than 6,600 miles to attack Argentine targets in what would be one of the longest bombing raids in history. A daring plan British troops surrender to Argentine forces in Port Stanley in April 1982. Rafael WOLLMANN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images After Argentina seized the Falklands, British air-force leaders believed it would be mostly up to the task force, comprising more than 100 ships and 15,000 troops from the British navy and army, to recapture the islands some 8,000 miles from the UK. Michael Beetham, the chief of the air staff and acting chief of the defense staff, was concerned about the security of the task force, however. Conscious of the need to strike back quickly, Beetham devised a plan, code-named Operation Black Buck, for the RAF to knock out the airport in the Falklands' capital, Port Stanley, in one of the first military actions of the campaign. Argentine forces at Port Stanley in April 1982. Rafael WOLLMANN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images The airport was the center of gravity for the occupation. Argentina used it to fly in troops and supplies regularly, and there were concerns the runway could be extended to operate fast jets like the A-4 Skyhawk, which would allow those jets to fly farther into the Atlantic and threaten the British task force directly. The RAF tasked its Avro Vulcans and Handley Page Victors, two legs of its V-bomber force, with the mission. A single Avro Vulcan would fly from Ascension Island the British base closest to the Falklands and drop a full load of 21 1,000-pound unguided bombs on the runway. Subsequent missions would target the runway, Argentine radar installations, and Argentine aircraft and supplies nearby. Story continues To get to Port Stanley and back, the Vulcans would need to be refueled by Victors that had been converted into tankers no easy feat over the remote South Atlantic. Logistical issues An RAF Vulcan bomber at Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island. Royal Air Force The plan was rife with difficulties, starting with the aircraft themselves. The Vulcans were introduced in 1956, and many had been retired by the time of the war. They had also been reassigned from strategic bombing missions with large nuclear weapons to missions against conventional targets, such as military bases, using smaller, tactical nuclear weapons. As a result, the bombers had their aerial-refueling probes removed. The four Vulcans assigned to the raids were reequipped with refueling probes taken from bombers that were in storage and, in some cases, in museums. The crews, who had no aerial-refueling experience and hadn't done conventional bombing drills in a decade, spent two weeks learning to refuel from tankers and other newly pertinent skills, including how to attack enemy air defenses with anti-radiation missiles. (The normally five-man crews also received an extra member to oversee the in-flight refueling.) Victor tanker aircraft conduct air-to-air refueling. Royal Air Force The preparations revealed other problems. During the drills, refueling probes sometimes broke apart or spilled fuel onto the Vulcan's windscreen. The Martel anti-radiation missile was found to be unreliable. The RAF also discovered that it had no maps of the South Atlantic. The probe problems were solved through training and by adding reserve tankers. A spare Vulcan also accompanied the main bomber at the outset of the mission in case something went wrong. The Martels were swapped for US-made AGM-45 Shrikes, which were secretly supplied to the UK. The map issue was resolved by flipping a Mercator chart of the North Atlantic upside down. The RAF also came up with a complex aerial-refueling schedule involving 11 Victors flying in waves to refuel the Vulcan on its outbound and return legs. During the roughly 14-hour journey, the bomber and the tankers refueled 14 times, according to the RAF. Most of the calculations about when and how much to refuel were done using a simple pocket calculator. The Black Buck raids An Avro Vulcan bomber during a training mission. PA Images via Getty Images Black Buck One took off from Ascension the night of April 30. Shortly after takeoff, the lead Vulcan had to return because a seal leak prevented its cabin from pressurizing. The backup Vulcan approached Port Stanley early on May 1. It was picked up by Argentine radar and activated its jamming pod before dropping 21 bombs, 16 of which exploded. The Vulcan then turned for Ascension, trailed by Argentine antiaircraft gunfire. The next day, the RAF learned that only one bomb had made a direct hit, which left behind a massive hole in the runway. Black Buck Two took place on May 3. With the Argentines now alert, the Vulcan had to drop its bombs from a higher altitude to avoid antiaircraft fire. The bombs missed the airfield but wounded several Argentine troops. Black Buck Three was scheduled for May 13 but canceled because of strong headwinds off Ascension. Black Buck Four, the first mission targeting Argentina's TPS-43 air-defense radar, was canceled five hours after taking off on May 28 because a refueling hose on one of the Victors malfunctioned. Black Buck Five was launched on May 31. The Vulcan carried four Shrikes, and its mission was timed to coincide with a flight of Harriers from the task force's carriers. The Harriers were meant to be picked up by the TPS-43, ensuring the radar remained online so the anti-radiation missiles could home in on it. The military airstrip at Port Stanley after a British air raid in May 1982. REUTERS/Eduardo Farre But the Argentines turned on the radar on and off, forcing the Vulcan to loiter for about 30 minutes to get a lock on the target. It then launched two Shrikes. One missed, but the other caused light damage to the radar. Black Buck Six came three days later, alongside another Harrier flight. This time, the Argentines kept the TPS-43 off. The Vulcan crew attacked a Skyguard air-defense system instead, locking on to its fire-control radar. The bombers launched two Shrikes, destroying the radar and killing four Argentine soldiers. But Black Buck Six didn't make it home. While taking on fuel, the Vulcan's refueling probe broke, forcing it to head for the nearest airfield, which was in Brazil. Before arriving, the crew dumped their maps and codebooks into the sea and tried to jettison their two remaining Shrikes to hide the fact that the US had supplied them, but one malfunctioned and remained attached to the aircraft. The Vulcan's crew initially didn't want to divulge their origin or destination, leading the Brazilians to deny them permission to land. After an intense back and forth, the Brazilians allowed the bomber to land in Rio de Janeiro. It touched down without enough fuel left to make a full circuit of the airport. Argentina wanted to take the crew as prisoners of war, but the Brazilians released them after seven days, though they did confiscate the US-made Shrike. Black Buck Seven was launched on June 12, targeting Argentine aircraft and supplies still at Port Stanley. All 21 bombs missed, but Argentina surrendered two days later. Aftermath Royal Marines with the Falkland Islands flag in Port Stanley after the Argentine surrender in June 1982. Royal Navy/Imperial War Museums via Getty Images The RAF considered the Black Buck raids a success. Argentina was unable to extend the runway at Port Stanley though its C-130s were still able to land with supplies and to evacuate its wounded and the TPS-43 was put out of action, but only temporarily. The raids may have had greater symbolic and psychological influence than practical effect, demonstrating British resolve and showing that they could strike targets in Argentina, which forced the Argentines to redeploy Mirage III fighters to protect Buenos Aires. RAF Aerobatic Team jets with a Vulcan bomber in September 2015. Royal Air Force/Cpl. Steve Buckley At the time, the Black Buck raids were the longest-range bombing operations in history, beating Japan's Fu-Go balloon bombs during World War II. But the record was soon eclipsed. US B-2 stealth bombers flew missions of 30 hours or longer to bomb targets in Iraq and the Balkans in the 1990s and a 44-hour mission to bomb targets in Afghanistan in 2001. The record lasted much longer than the Vulcans, however. Six months after their first and only combat mission, they were relieved of their bombing role for good. Read the original article on Business Insider Brooklyn Decker was photographed by Walter Iooss Jr. in the Maldives. Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated SI Swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker made her debut with the magazine in 2006, when she won Rookie of the Year. That years photo shoot in Sacramento was Deckers first major modeling gig and it really put her on the map. The Just Go With It actress posed for the magazine for a total of six consecutive appearances and landed the cover after her 2010 photoshoot with Walter Iooss Jr. in the Maldives. She later returned to the publication for her most recent feature in 14. To be on the cover, even if someone doesnt buy it, theyre gonna see your name, so even if they choose not to buy it... its just that instant face recognition, the 36-year-old reflected. Sports Illustrated is one of the few clients that really puts a face with the name of the girls. They put profiles with the girls, they get you on camera, and its just they really want their readers to know who the models are. They want people to identify with them. Below are 10 of our favorite photos from Deckers 2010 cover photo shoot in the Maldives. Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! The wildflowers don't go away when spring turns to summer you just have to hit the mountains. Salil Bhatt/Getty Images One of the perks of long winters is the fields of wildflowers that usher in spring. And in the West, the past winter was a particularly wet one, with unusually heavy snowfall and rain. All that moisture led to a wildflower-filled spring, especially in Arizonas Sonoran Desert and southern and central California. But the fun doesnt stop once spring gives way to summer. When the low-elevation blooms die out, the color spreads to higher elevations, where the wildflower season tends to start in June and run through August. The best flower viewing depends on when and where the snow melts, Taylore Lowry, a spokesperson for the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, told The Colorado Sun. Normally, the peak bloom begins in mid-July but with all the snow this year, we think the peak will come later in the month into early August. Crested Butte, Colorado, where the wildflower festival takes place, has long been known as the states wildflower capital and is one of our top picks for where to catch the summer wildflowers this year. In addition to Crested Butte, here are a few other spots where the summer blooms are supposed to be extra vibrant this year. Albion Basin, Utah Albion Basin sits at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon near the ski resorts of Alta and Snowbird. Its high elevation and unique wetland make it one of the best places to see wildflowers in the West especially since Alta Ski Resort saw a 61 percent increase in its average annual snowfall this winter. In July, the Wasatch Wildflower Festival takes place at Snowbird Ski Resort (July 15) and Alta (July 16). Expected wildflower peak: mid-July to early August Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Skiers and snowboarders in northwestern Wyoming enjoyed a long and powdery winter, with Jackson Hole Mountain Resorts Rendezvous Bowl reporting the "snowiest winter ever." Now, wildflower lovers are reaping the rewards. In Grand Teton National Park, the wildflowers start to bloom in May and continue through September, with the national park site noting that the dominant blooming flowers change quickly from week to week. That said, up high, early to mid-July is considered to be peak wildflower season. Story continues Expected wildflower peak: early to mid-July Crested Butte, Colorado Piper Rastello/Getty Images The famed wildflower capital is an easy addition to any anthophiles dream list. This year, the annual Crested Butte Wildflower Festival takes runs July 7-16, a little before Lowry expects the blooms to peak. But as he noted in a May The Colorado Sun article, There are hundreds of species of flowers that all bloom at different times and for different durations, so you can almost always see something! Expected wildflower peak: late July to early August Beehive Basin, Montana Just north of Big Sky Resort is a wildflower site thats considered by some to be the crown jewel of wildflowers. The basin, which can be accessed via a moderate three-mile trail, has a subalpine lake and its fair share of summertime blooms. In fact, according to Montana State University botanist Matt Lavin, nearly 300 species of wildflowers grow in the basin from June through August. Expected wildflower peak: July Mammoth Lakes and the Eastern Sierra, California When it comes to wildflowers, most people reference the desert superblooms that take place in southern and Central California, but the Eastern Sierras put on their own display come summer. And thanks to record snowfall this winter, the wildflowers in the mountains surrounding Mammoth Lakes are expected to be extra vibrant. In fact, the areas Inyo National Forest botanists are hosting Wildflower Walks on June 24, July 29, and Aug. 19 at various wildflower hotspots around the area. Expected wildflower peak: late June to July San Juan National Forest, Colorado Adam Hanson/Getty Images The San Juan National Forest in southwestern Colorado encompasses around 1.8 million acres, including the San Juan Mountains near Telluride and Durango and various high alpine lakes. In late July, youll find fields of columbine, Jacob's ladder, paintbrush, and bluebells along most high-elevation trails. Expected wildflower peak: late July For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Once a kid starts using social media, is it too late to stop? Here's what parents and experts say. (Image: Getty; illustration by Aida Amer for Yahoo) Social media is ubiquitous and the temptation to use it is strong, even for kids and teens. Some parents may give in to their childs pleas to use TikTok while others may discover that their child started an Instagram account without their knowledge. While some parents accept social media use as inevitable, others want to rein in their kids social media use or stop it entirely. Parents whose children have started using social media have good reason to be concerned. Social media can increase mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, body image issues, technology addiction, cyberbullying, concentration and sleeping issues, says Dr. Asha Patton-Smith, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente in Virginia. Navigating rolling back social media once a child has started can be tricky, but its never too late to lay down ground rules. Like many parents, when Ann Wairimu needed to finish a task she would often hand her phone to her daughter to keep the young girl busy. Wairimu appreciated the ease of being able to work in peace while her daughter was occupied. She thought there was no harm in allowing her daughter to use her phone to play games or watch educational videos. Wairimu thought the system was working well, until the girls aunt casually mentioned seeing something the girl had posted on Facebook. Wairimu didnt know that her daughter, then 12, had started using social media and was immediately worried. My concerns were validated when I asked her to log in and went through her profile and direct messages. I was deeply alarmed that she was engaging in improper conversations with older men, Wairimu tells Yahoo Life. Wairimus daughter argued that she should be able to use social media like her friends, but Wairimu had a serious discussion about the negative impacts of using social media at her age" and put a stop to her social media use. It wasnt easy, but Wairimu now restricts her daughters access to cell phones and monitors her internet usage closely. She is also learning how to implement parental controls as an extra layer of protection. Still, Wairimu worries that her daughter may use social media on her friends devices. It's a concern that remains in the back of my mind, she says. Story continues Wairimu is not alone in wanting to walk a child back from social media. Sophia Tangs children also started using social media without her knowledge. Tang says she tried hard to keep her son and daughter away from the charming virtual world of social media because she was concerned about cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation online, but believes that they secretly opened their first social media accounts when they were about 10. Once Tang discovered her kids social media accounts she tried to get them offline by organizing activities like family game nights and cooking dinner together. However, Tang says this didnt work very well. Eventually, she took a different approach and sat her kids down to set limits on their use of social media, without implementing an outright ban. The conversation wasn't easy," she says. "They were upset and felt I was invading their personal space. But we reached a compromise by establishing ground rules and usage limits. Those ground rules included only using social media during certain hours, implementing parental controls and having regular discussions about her childrens online experiences. She also followed all of their accounts. Tang says she believes her children respected the rules they agreed to as a family, and when her children turned 16 she gave them more independence. According to Patton-Smith and Traci Williams, a board-certified child and family psychologist, there are several steps parents can take to get kids off social media, even if they have already started posting. Talk it through. First, Patton-Smith recommends that parents initiate an open and honest conversation" with kids about their concerns. She encourages parents to explain their reasons for wanting to limit, or stop, social media use. According to Patton-Smith, parents should emphasize the potential risks in using social media so that the decision to end social media use is not presented as a punishment. Patton-Smith emphasizes that this should not be a one-way discussion. Encourage them to share their thoughts and concerns as well, she says. Acknowledge the child's feelings. Williams says that parents expect backlash. Instead of arguing, she encourages parents to be empathetic. Let your child know that you understand they are frustrated, sad or angry. Also, remember that it is OK for your child to be upset with you. Their feelings are as valid as your decision, she says. Find offline alternatives. Parents should encourage children to explore interests and social connections that don't involve social media. Patton-Smith says that parents can help children discover activities they enjoy, such as sports, art, music or joining clubs or organizations. She also recommends providing opportunities for children to socialize offline and build strong relationships by encouraging them to invite friends over and facilitating family gatherings. When parents see their children engaging in a meaningful offline activity they should provide positive reinforcement and praise. Establish ground rules. Its important to talk with the child and agree upon appropriate screen time limits, outside of schoolwork, Patton-Smith says. For some children, this may require temporarily confiscating devices to help them learn expectations around appropriate internet use, especially if children have been using social media without permission. If parents take a device away, Patton-Smith recommends letting kids know how they can earn them back. This creates a teachable moment, rather than just imposing a punishment. If a child violates agreed-upon rules, removing your childs privileges for a short period of time is an example of an appropriate consequence, Williams says. Take a childs individual needs into account. Every child is different. Parents should trust their instincts about how much internet time their child can tolerate, Patton-Smith says. Some parents decide that children may use social media on a limited basis, only accessing certain platforms; being allowed to view content but not post any; or only using social media when being actively supervised by a parent. If thats the case, Patton-Smith recommends that parents ensure their children know basic online safety rules and that they monitor their childs social media access carefully. Williams emphasizes that any plans a family develops should aim to meet the guidelines for their kids sleep, screen time and physical activity. Make this an evolving conversation. Williams recommends keeping the dialogue open and revisiting social media use regularly as children get older and demonstrate more responsibility. She notes that there may be some benefits of social media for teenagers, especially as they develop better critical thinking skills, and have more emotional awareness around 15 or 16. Social media can provide a wealth of information your kids may not be able to access otherwise, she says, adding that teens who struggle with learning differences, medical conditions as well as sexual or gender diversity can find solace in community with peers. If parents find handling their childs social media use challenging they are not alone. Patton-Smith says that parents shouldnt hesitate to seek advice from other parents, professionals or support groups. They may provide additional guidance or strategies for dealing with similar situations, that parents would not have thought of their own, she says. Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here. This photo taken on June 25, 2023 shows the ruins of burnt cars in Jwaneng mining town about 165 kilometers west of Gaborone, Botswana. Forty-nine vehicles caught fire in Jwaneng mining town Sunday afternoon in southern Botswana, where the owners were attending the 2023 Toyota Desert Race. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) GABORONE, June 25 (Xinhua) -- About 49 vehicles caught fire at Jwaneng mining town around 1:30 p.m. local time on Sunday in southern Botswana, where the owners were attending the 2023 Toyota Desert Race. The owners of the vehicles returned to a shock at the designated parking spot after witnessing the Toyota Desert Race. Most of the cars were burnt to ashes, while some were still burning. No deaths or injuries have been recorded so far. The police are still investigating the cause of the fire. This photo taken on June 25, 2023 shows the ruins of burnt cars in Jwaneng mining town about 165 kilometers west of Gaborone, Botswana. Forty-nine vehicles caught fire in Jwaneng mining town Sunday afternoon in southern Botswana, where the owners were attending the 2023 Toyota Desert Race. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) A police officer makes a phone call at the site where cars were burnt to ashes in Jwaneng mining town located about 165km west of Gaborone, Botswana, on June 25, 2023. Forty-nine vehicles caught fire in Jwaneng mining town Sunday afternoon in southern Botswana, where the owners were attending the 2023 Toyota Desert Race. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) A firefighter tries to put out fire at a site where most of the cars were burnt to ashes in Jwaneng mining town located about 165km west of Gaborone, Botswana, on June 25, 2023. Forty-nine vehicles caught fire in Jwaneng mining town Sunday afternoon in southern Botswana, where the owners were attending the 2023 Toyota Desert Race. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) People gather at a site where cars were burnt to ashes in Jwaneng mining town about 165 kilometers west of Gaborone, Botswana, on June 25, 2023. Forty-nine vehicles caught fire in Jwaneng mining town Sunday afternoon in southern Botswana, where the owners were attending the 2023 Toyota Desert Race. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua) MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released the names of the boaters involved in the crash. Theyre included in the story below. PortMiami reopened to cruise ship traffic on Sunday afternoon after salvage crews surfaced a 32-foot-boat that sank after an early morning collision with the Fisher Island Ferry left one man dead and one man hospitalized in serious condition. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Cristian Gaston Fernandez, of Cutler Bay, died. He was 27 years old. Hialeahs Angel Dominguez, 29, was hospitalized in serious condition. The accident and cleanup delayed travel plans for tens of thousands of people for nearly a day, including more than 15,000 passengers at sea on three cruise ships that had planned to dock at the port around 8 a.m. Sunday but were left idling off the coast while crews worked on clearing the obstructed channel. The U.S. Coast Guard closed PortMiami following the 3:40 a.m. crash and announced just after 2:30 p.m. on social media that the port was now open after crews have successfully recovered the sunken vessel & removed the obstruction in the North channel. A photo of the boat that sunk off PortMiami after colliding with a Fisher Island ferry early Sunday. Salvage crews supervised by the U.S. Coast Guard surfaced the vessel Sunday afternoon, clearing the way for PortMiami to reopen to cruise traffic. An early morning accident The crash happened around 3:40 a.m. east of the Pilot House Station at Dodge Island, the island of cruise ship passenger terminals that draws the attention of many crossing the MacArthur Causeway between Miami Beach and Miami. Story continues Photos taken of the salvage operation show a mostly intact pleasure craft, with a center console control and a shade structure over the wheel known as a T-Top. Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez said the U.S. Coast Guard told Miami Fire Rescue Fireboat 15 that a 30-foot boat hit the ferry in the channel. The man later identified as Dominguez was pulled out of the water by ferry workers, handed to the Coast Guard, then to Miami Fire Rescue for transport to Jackson Memorial Hospitals Ryder Trauma Center. Though Dominguez was in serious condition, Lt. Sanchez said, he was able to say that his friend was still missing. Miami Fire Rescue dive team, leading a multi-agency search, found Fernandez, who was already dead. Video of the area directly after the accident shows a busy scene, with the ferry drifting west slowly as rescue and other boats buzz around the area. Andres Asion, a Miami Beach real estate broker, said he checked his security camera that points at Government Cut later on Sunday but found it was just west of the actual scene of the accident. He shared the video it captured, a time-lapse from 3:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m, with the U.S. Coast Guard to aid in the investigation. Somebody was seriously not paying attention, he said. It is a shame. Travel plans delayed The closed port stranded several cruise ships that had planned to arrive around 8 a.m. Sunday: the Carnival Celebration, Norwegian Cruise Line Escape and MSC Seascape ships. The closure led to a day of passengers aboard the ships worrying about missed flights while enjoying an extra day at sea with reopened pools, bars and restaurants. And it led to a day of would-be passengers planning for afternoon boardings in Miami on the same ships wondering when their Caribbean vacations would begin. By 4:30 p.m., the Seascape and Escape were docked at the port and the Celebration was preparing to dock, according to the Biscayne Bay Pilots Association website. The site listed departures Sunday for three ships between 10 p.m. and midnight. Carnival sent a message to passengers awaiting news on their Caribbean cruise leaving PortMiami on Sunday that the terminal would be open for them at 8 p.m. and that they needed to be there no later than 11 p.m. Boat crash with Fisher Island ferry is second deadly accident involving ferry since 2020 It was the first update of the day that didnt tell would-be passengers to stay put. Miami Fire Rescue at the Fisher Island Ferry tragedy, Saturday, June 24. As a result of a boating incident, PortMiami is currently closed, a morning message read. Carnival Celebration will be delayed docking this morning. This will impact your embarkation. Please do not proceed to the port at this time. With an estimated 16,000 passengers on three shifts idling off PortMiami, the delays threatened a wave of missed flights at Miami International Airport. Spokesperson Greg Chin said the county-owned airport notified airlines of the situation at PortMiami, and that all rebooking fees are being waived for cruise passengers impacted by the situation. A coast guard boat, far right, turns back boats from the PortMiami channel after the Fisher Island ferry was struck by a boat early Sunday morning, which caused PortMiami to close. Closing PortMiami on Sunday disrupted travel plans for about 33,000 people, according to figures provided by Suzy Trutie, a spokesperson for the county-owned port. Each ship expected to unload between 5,000 and 6,000 passengers from a Caribbean cruise after docking on Sunday morning, and then welcome another batch of passengers for departures in the afternoon. Vehicles wait for the Fisher Island ferry on Sunday morning after a boat crashed into the ferry early Sunday morning, which caused the closure of PortMiami. Fisher Island residents were alerted Sunday morning that the ferry would be out of service until the channel was reopened. Miami Herald staff writer Alex Harris contributed to this report. Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah offers up beautiful hikes that serve up views of the fascinating orange hoodoos in the region. This was the Natural Bridge on July 30, 2022. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News A new analysis ranked the top states in America for hiking, and Utah placed in the top 10. There were five factors that went into the analysis by travel experts at Why This Place in determining which state was the best for hiking. Connecticut claimed the top spot with a Hiking Index Score of 73.98 out of 100, while Massachusetts ranked No. 2 and Hawaii was No. 3. This data offers a fascinating insight into the best destinations in the U.S. for lovers of the great outdoors, a Why This Place spokesperson shared with Deseret News. The five factors the travel experts analyzed include: Number of hiking trails relative to state area. Number of waterfalls relative to state area. Percentage of the state covered by national and state parks. Average yearly temperature. Average yearly rainfall. The spokesperson advised considering multiple factors when deciding on a hiking destination. When planning a trip, it is important to consider other factors that can greatly impact the quality of your journey, the spokesperson said. Climate and the presence of natural landmarks are just as vital to a successful hiking trip, so taking these elements into account, ensures visitors are able to enjoy a well-rounded experience. Utah ranked No. 9, offering 87 hiking trails per 1,000 square miles, and it is listed with the third-lowest annual rainfall. The Angels Landing hike in Zion National Park offers stunning vistas. This photo was from May 28, 2016. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News According to a study by ParkSleepFly that analyzed which states have the most hidden gems, Utah has a total of 3,108 tourist attractions with 217 hidden gems. A hidden gem was quantified by the number of attractions on Tripadviser and by the number of global Google searches and given a score out of 10. Most Googled hikes in the US in June Why This Place analyzed the factors that make up for a good hike. Thrillist took to Google to gauge interest. Thrillist reported that the top hikes searched on Google in June include: Saddle Mountain Saddle Mountain State Natural Area, Oregon. Dungeness Spit Sequim, Washington. Griffith Observatory Los Angeles, California. Manitou Incline The Incline, Colorado. Lake 22 Granite Falls, Washington. Story continues What are the top 10 states for hiking in 2023? Heres the list of the top 10 states, according to Why This State, considering the five factors. A generation of flyers will remember the name Air Afrique, the pan-African airline that operated from 1961 to 2002. In its twilight years, the carrier accrued significant debt, and the downtown in air travel after the September 11 attacks in New York City eventually put the company out of business. An Air Afrique plane is pictured in Mauritania in April 1973. - Michel Renaudeau/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images But before then, the carrier which was co-owned between the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Cote dIvoire, Gabon, Mauritania, Niger, the Republic of the Congo and Senegal was known as one of the most reputable in West Africa, not only for its service (the airline flew to cities as far away as New York and Abu Dhabi, and throughout Europe) but for its reputation as a peripatetic cultural juggernaut. Balafon, its in-flight magazine, would spotlight artistic work from across the continent; its canon stands now as an early anthology of modern West African creativity and idealism. Model Ismael Savane pictured in an Air Afrique T-shirt during Paris Fashion Week Mens Spring-Summer 2023 on June 23, 2022 in Paris. - Melodie Jeng/Getty Images And today, the airline and its publication are being remembered with a new yearly title, aptly called Air Afrique and produced by an arts collective of the same moniker. With support from the Italian fashion label Bottega Veneta, the new magazines first issue launched during the Spring-Summer 2024 menswear shows in Paris on June 23, with a party at the citys Centre Pompidou, the famed arts and culture complex. It aims to uplift the work of a new generation of creatives from across the global African diaspora. We want to revive the African transcendence that Air Afrique represented, Lamine Diaoune, the founder and creative director of the Air Afrique collective, said in a statement. Our mission is to preserve this heritage, to put Air Afrique back in the cultural conversation, and to build on their example of cultural engagement. We would watch a lot of African movies from the sixties and seventies and eighties. In those films, you had a lot of references to the airline, because it was a really powerful symbol, explained Djibi Kebe, a co-founder of the Air Afrique collective and a contributor to the new magazine. We also spoke with ex-employees of the airline, and we went to Abidjan (in Cote dIvoire) and Dakar (in Senegal) to interview them. It was super helpful because they had a lot of archives of the moment. Story continues We were born in the nineties or the 2000s, so we didnt know much about it. But its really a big part of West African history, so we decided to come together in 2020, Kebe continued of the collective. Weve done exhibitions, cine-clubs, and have gotten people talking about the airline, and the way it helped African artists and African filmmakers. It really was about more than just flights. An Air Afrique stewardess, pictured during training in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, in 1971. - Air Afrique In 2022, the collective installed a sixties-style Africa-centric travel agency at the Kaleidoscope Manifesto Festival in Paris, as just one example of how theyve been able to revive and retell the airlines story. It got the fashion worlds attention. Bottega Veneta, which has publicly committed to collaborating with independent print media platforms and previously helped to relaunch BUTT, the cult-favorite magazine that documented alternative gay culture and sexuality, came calling. With our print partnerships, we recognize the craft, creativity, and quiet power of smaller-scale publications which give voice to specific communities, a Bottega Veneta spokesperson said in a statement announcing Air Afriques launch. Each magazine exemplifies quality design, editorial rigor, and a clarity and originality of vision. When Bottega approached us asking what we wanted to do with the project, we said, the magazine. Right away, says Kebe. The cover of Air Afrique magazine's first issue, featuring the French rapper Tiakola (far right). The Air Afrique collective consists of founder and creative Director Lamine Diaoune, co-founders Djiby Kebe and Jeremy Konko, editor-in-chief Amandine Nana, editors Zhedy Nuentsa and Ahmadou-Bamba Thiam and graphic designer Axel Pelletanche. - Air Afrique Air Afriques first issue is a gorgeous, lushly hued testament to the then-and-now of mid-to-late century West Africa and its modern global diaspora. The magazines content was overseen by its editor-in-chief, Amandine Nana. (All members of the Air Afrique collective have backgrounds in creative fields; each also has projects outside of the group, too.) Replications of archival pages from Balafons back issues stand alongside new work, with threads and connections neatly woven between the two. What was interesting was creating discussioms between the (Balafon) archives and now, Nana said. One example of this in the new magazine is a photo essay which pairs the work of Paul Kodjo, a post-independence photographer from the Ivory Coast, with text from the writer and archivist Marie-Helene Tusiama, who was commissioned to dream up dialogues that might have existed within the photos, Nana explained. It becomes cinematic. The visually-striking editorial, called Scenes damour a Abidjan, features a series of black-and-white compositions of the Ivorian capital in its contemporary emergence, its denizens impeccably stylish, and energizedif hesitant, in a wayby the feeling of being on the edge of something new. Beneath an image of two women standing in front of a dilapidated colonial-era building, Tusiama imagines one saying: Abidjan is the city of everything is said and everything is known. There is much more to take in: A softly-lit cover, shot by Kebe through a nostalgic lens, of the French rapper Tiakola. Theres an original photo of Pope Jean-Paul II aboard an Air Afrique jet in 1980 during one of the pontiffs African tours. A trio of vibrant blankets designed by Abdel El Tayeb. - Courtesy of Bottega Veneta And there are brand new Bottega Veneta campaign images, showcasing a capsule collection of limited-edition blankets designed by the Franco-Sudanese designer Abdel El Tayeb. El Tayeb is a member of Bottega Venetas studio, and was commissioned by the brands creative director, Matthieu Blazy, to imagine the throws from wool, leather, and shearling out of the houses own archives. Labeled under his own brand El Tayeb Nation, the blankets are Afro-futuristic in look, yet inspired by the vibrant patterns of the traditional clothing worn by El Tayebs mother. Ultimately, says Kebe, the collectives primary goal is to make a conversation. To understand the world we live in today, and to be inspired by our past I believe all points of view are eventually connected, at some point. And so, just as travel itself can open up new perspectives and enrich a persons view of the world, so can an in-flight magazine. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com After getting home from work at about 11 p.m., a Rhode Island woman said she headed to her bathroom to take a shower. But as she was in the bathroom, she heard a buzzing noise outside the bathroom window, which was slightly open, according to the Cranston Police Department. Thinking the sound might have been coming from her backyard pool, she headed outside late Wednesday, June 21, police said. Once in the backyard she noticed a drone hovering outside her bathroom window where she was preparing to take a shower, according to a June 23 news release shared to Facebook. When she approached the drone, it moved quickly away from her to get away and hit a branch of tree and fell to the ground. She quickly grabbed the drone before it took off and submerged it in her pool to disable it. The woman then called police for help. Two days later, investigators tracked the drone down to Christopher Jones, a convicted sex offender, according to the release. Jones told police he operated the drone, and he was arrested on a felony charge of video voyeurism, authorities said. In Rhode Island, police said a person is guilty of video voyeurism when that person, for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or stimulation, looks into an occupied dwelling or other building by use of an imaging device that provides images of the interior of a dwelling. While Jones is a convicted sex offender, police said his requirement to register ended in 2015. Cranston is part of the Providence metropolitan area. Man hid camera in bedroom and bathroom of home to film kids, Alabama deputies say High school coach hid a GoPro in girls locker room, WI cops say. 18 victims possible Teen spots phone recording her in gas station bathroom, Utah cops say. Employee arrested Jonathan Ernst/Reuters President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a call on Sunday, the White House confirmed in a press release. Their conversation took place after a tumultuous weekend in Russia that nearly led to a civil war. We discussed the course of hostilities and the processes taking place in Russia, Zelensky said in a tweet. The world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored. Zelensky added that he thanked Biden for the unflagging support of Ukraine amid its ongoing war against Vladimir Putins Russia. Part of that support, Zelensky said, was the support of the fighter jet coalition to protect our skies. Why Did Putin Let Prigozhin Walk Away? We discussed further expansion of defense cooperation, with an emphasis on long-range weapons, he said. In addition to reaffirming unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine, the White House said that Biden and Zelenskyy discussed recent events that transpired in Russia. Over the weekend, the mercenary Wagner Groupled by former Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhinattempted to stage an insurrection after Prigozhin accused the Russian military of firing on his men. The group claimed to take control of key military sites in Russia, with Prigozhin promising a march of justice in Moscow. But Prigozhin pulled back his forces by Saturday night, striking a deal to leave Russia in exchange for the Kremlin dropping any criminal charges against him for the attempted coup. After his conversation with Biden, Zelenskyy said in his tweet that he was thankful that the United States would stand side by side with Ukraine until the full liberation of all our territories within internationally recognized borders. 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 New York City Department of Education has become the latest organization to disclose it had private data stolen as part of the far-reaching MOVEit file transfer software hack. In an email sent to parents on Sunday, the agency said the personal information of approximately 45,000 students, including in some cases social security numbers and birth dates, had recently been compromised. The Education Department said the personal information of staff was also accessed but did not share how many teachers and other personnel were affected. The safety and security of our students and staff, including their personal information and data, is of the utmost importance for the New York City Department of Education. Our top priority is determining exactly which confidential information was exposed, and the specific impact for each affected individual, the department said Sunday. When that determination is made, we will begin preparing notifications to individuals whose confidential information was compromised. Along with the notification, individuals will be offered access to an identity monitoring service. The Education Department is one of many organizations affected by the MOVEit hack. Clop, a ransomware gang with suspected pro-Russian ties, claimed responsibility for the cyberattack in early June. The group took advantage of a zero-day vulnerability in the enterprise file transfer software to breach the servers of hundreds of companies, including the largest US pension fund. The scale of the New York City Department of Education breach is small compared to some of the other victims caught up in the hack but is notable for including the personal information of minors. In an interview with Bleeping Computer, the Clop gang claimed it would erase any data it obtained from governments, the military and childrens hospitals. Its unclear if the group includes student data in that final category. NEW YORK Thousands of effusive marchers danced to club music in New York City streets Sunday as bubbles and confetti rained down, and fellow revelers from Toronto to San Francisco cheered through Pride Months grand crescendo. New Yorks boisterous throng strolled and danced down Fifth Avenue to Greenwich Village, cheering and waving rainbow flags to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising, where a police raid on a gay bar triggered days of protests and launched the modern movement for LGBTQ+ rights. While some people whooped it up in celebration, many were mindful of the growing conservative countermovement, including new laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender children. Im not trying not to be very heavily political, but when it does target my community, I get very, very annoyed and very hurt, said Ve Cinder, a 22-year-old transgender woman who traveled from Pennsylvania to take part in the countrys largest Pride event. Im just, like, scared for my future and for my trans siblings. Im frightened of how this country has looked at human rights, basic human rights, she said. Its crazy. Parades in New York, Chicago and San Francisco are among events that roughly 400 Pride organizations across the U.S. are holding this year, with many focused specifically on the rights of transgender people. One of the grand marshals of New York Citys parade is nonbinary activist AC Dumlao, chief of staff for Athlete Ally, a group that advocates on behalf of LGBTQ+ athletes. Uplifting the trans community has always been at the core of our events and programming, said Dan Dimant, a spokesperson for NYC Pride. San Francisco Pride, another of the largest and best known LGBTQ+ celebrations in the United States, drew tens of thousands of spectators to the city Sunday. The event, kicked off by the group Dykes on Bikes, featured dozens of colorful floats, some carrying strong messages against the wave of anti-transgender legislation in statehouses across the country. Story continues Organizers told the San Francisco Chronicle that this years theme emphasized activism. The parade included the nations first drag laureate, DArcy Drollinger. When we walk through the world more authentic and more fabulous, we inspire everyone, Drollinger said at a breakfast before the parade. Along Market Street, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) were spotted riding together. In Chicago, 16-year-old Maisy McDonough painted rainbow colors over her eyes and on her face for her first Pride parade. She told the Chicago Tribune shes excited to be united after a tough year for the community. We really need the love of this parade, she said. On Saturday, first lady Jill Biden made an appearance at the Pride parade in Nashville, Tennessee, where she told the crowd loud and clear that you belong, that you are beautiful, that you are loved. Many other cities held their marquee events earlier this month, including Boston, which hosted its first parade after a three-year hiatus that began with Covid-19 but extended through 2022 because the organization that used to run it dissolved under criticism that it excluded racial minorities and transgender people. A key message this year has been for LGBTQ+ communities to unite against dozens, if not hundreds, of legislative bills now under consideration in statehouses across the country. Lawmakers in 20 states have moved to ban gender-affirming care for children, and at least seven more are considering doing the same, adding increased urgency for the transgender community, its advocates say. We are under threat, Pride event organizers in New York, San Francisco and San Diego said in a statement joined by about 50 other Pride organizations nationwide. The diverse dangers we are facing as an LGBTQ community and Pride organizers, while differing in nature and intensity, share a common trait: they seek to undermine our love, our identity, our freedom, our safety, and our lives. Earlier Sunday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill that would make the state a safe haven for transgender youth and forbid law enforcement agencies from providing information that could undermine the ability for a child to get gender-affirming care. NYC Mayor Eric Adams made a similar move this week, issuing an executive order preventing city resources from being used to cooperate with out-of-state authorities in detaining anyone receiving gender-affirming care in the city. The Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a national LGBTQ+ organization, reported 101 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the first three weeks of this month, about twice as many as in the full month of June last year. Sarah Moore, who analyzes extremism for the two civil rights groups, said many of the incidents coincided with Pride events. Nevertheless, Roz Gould Keith, who has a transgender son, is heartened by the increased visibility of transgender people at marches and celebrations across the country. Ten years ago, when my son asked to go to Motor City Pride, there was nothing for the trans community, said Keith, founder and executive director of Stand with Trans, a group formed to support and empower young transgender people and their families. This year, she said, the event was jam-packed with transgender people. A man was arrested in connection to the shooting death of an Amazon big rig driver that occurred in Lathrop earlier this month. The death captured national attention and police have scoured for clues to link a suspect to the shooting. Just before 1 p.m. on June 15, Ilkhom Shodiev, 37, was driving an Amazon semi-truck on I-5 between Highway 120 and East Louise Avenue in Lathrop. He veered off the freeway and slammed into a building, CHP spokesman Ruben Jones said. Shortly after, CHP dispatchers began getting calls that gunshots had been fired prior to the wreck. Authorities confirmed that the North Carolina man was shot at multiple times while heading down the interstate. He lost control and drove off the highway. He was rushed to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries. A fundraiser to support Shodiev's wife and two young children was set up on GoFundMe. Nearly $100,000 has been raised to date. "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 the day after Shodiev's death. "We're continuing to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate." The CHP Valley Division Investigative Services Unit (ISU) took over the deadly case and sought leads from drivers who were in the area at the time of the shooting. "Over the course of the next week, investigators utilized surveillance cameras, witness statements, and help from the public to identify a suspect's vehicle and subsequent suspect," Jones said. On Saturday, search warrants were served on Andrew Christopher Watson, 29, of Manteca. Investigators arrested Watson on suspicion of killing the Amazon Prime driver, according to CHP officers. He was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail and is being held without bail. Watson is scheduled to appear in court 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. If charges haven't been filed by then, jail officials will be forced to release the man. Story continues The motive hasn't been released. It's unclear if the men knew each other. Officials from the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office, Manteca, Stockton and Tracy police departments and San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office helped investigate the deadly crime. 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 https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow. This article originally appeared on The Record: Manteca man killed Amazon big rig driver in Lathrop, arrested: CHP US customs officers in Texas discovered several pounds of a white substance hiding in a commercial ice cream maker, authorities say and it wasnt salt or sugar. Officers working at the Bridge of the Americas cargo facility in El Paso seized 146 pounds of cocaine, according to a news release from the US Customs and Border Protection. The packages of illegal drugs were found concealed in a large ice cream machine that was being taken from Mexico to the US, according to the release. Officers seized the drugs on June 19, when a 1995 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by a 43-year-old Mexican man entered the port with the machine in tow, authorities said Thursday. An X-ray scan of the truck showed anomalies and a CBP canine searched the vehicle. A closer inspection revealed 56 bundles of cocaine stashed within the ice cream makers walls, the release stated. The cocaine was disovered in an ice cream maker on the bed of a pickup truck, according to CBP. - US Customs and Border Protection We estimate the value of this drug seizure at $1.2 million, CBP spokesperson Roger Maier told CNN in an email. CBP officers seized the narcotics and vehicle. The driver was turned over to the Texas Department of Public Safety, where he faces state charges connected to the alleged smuggling attempt. The vast majority of commercial shipments CBP officers process pose little risk, however seizures like this remind us all that drugs can be concealed almost anywhere and that we must remain constantly vigilant, said acting CBP El Paso port director Luis Mejia in the release. CBP has seized over 33,000 pounds of cocaine so far in 2023. Last year, officers seized over 70,200 pounds of the illegal substance, data shows. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON Minutes after the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade last summer, a group of West Wing aides raced to the Oval Office to brief President Joe Biden on the decision. As they drafted a speech, Biden was the first person in the room to say what has been his administrations rallying cry ever since. Passing federal legislation, he told the group, was the only thing that will actually restore the rights that were just taken away, recalled Jen Klein, director of the White House Gender Policy Council. But if the prospect of codifying Roes protections in Congress seemed like a long shot a year ago, it is all but impossible to imagine now, with an ascendant far-right bloc in the House and a slim Democratic majority in the Senate. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Instead, with the battle over abortion rights turning to individual states, officials in the Biden administration are working with a limited set of tools, including executive orders and the galvanizing power of the presidency, to argue that Republicans running in next years elections would impose even further restrictions on abortion. Make no mistake, this election is about freedom on the ballot, Biden said Friday at a Democratic National Committee event, where he collected the endorsements of several abortion rights groups. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a speech in North Carolina on Saturday encouraging Americans to use their vote to protect the right to have an abortion. Extremist Republicans in Congress have proposed to ban abortions nationwide, Harris said in the speech marking the first anniversary of the Supreme Courts decision to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion after almost 50 years. But Ive got news for them: Were not having that. She added that this fight will not truly be won until we secure this right for every American, which means ultimately the United States Congress must put back in place what the Supreme Court took away. Story continues Klein, who recalled refreshing news websites on the day the ruling came down last June, said that she was shocked but not surprised by the courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. She added that efforts to really take extreme action do not represent the majority of opinion of where people are on this. The White House has argued that Biden is reaching the legal limits of his powers through executive actions. On Friday, his latest executive action in response to the Dobbs decision ordered federal agencies to look for ways to ensure and expand access to birth control. Biden previously has issued a memorandum to protect access to abortion medication at pharmacies and taken action to protect patients who cross state lines to seek care. The Justice Department has taken legal action against some states restricting abortion. And the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the abortion-pill drug mifepristone was quickly challenged in the courts. (In April, the Supreme Court issued an order to preserve access to the pill as litigation continues.) As the White House has clarified its message around abortion rights, framing the fight as one in support of privacy, safety and civil rights, so has the president. Biden, a Catholic who attends Mass almost every week, has struggled throughout his career with defending abortion rights. Since Roe was overturned, he has grown more outspoken. I think that he is somebody who really has his own personal views, and has also been quite clear that Roe v. Wade was rightly decided, Klein said. Recent polling shows that a majority of Americans may feel similarly. A USA Today/Suffolk University poll conducted this month found that 1 in 4 Americans said that restrictive abortion bans enacted at the state level have made them more supportive of abortion rights. Another poll, conducted by PBS NewsHour, NPR and Marist, said that 61% of American adults support abortion rights. Some activists suspect that some Republican presidential candidates are paying attention to the polling. Mike Pence, the former vice president and presidential candidate, said Friday that he would support a 15-week national ban on the procedure. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina has also backed such a ban. Other candidates have avoided a definitive stance. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed a six-week abortion ban into law in his state, though he has not said whether he would support a national ban. It was the right thing to do, DeSantis said Friday of signing the law. The Republican primary front-runner, former President Donald Trump, takes credit for appointing three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, but he has so far also resisted embracing a federal ban. As the GOP field assembles, the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee will make abortion a primary focus of the presidents reelection effort. The Biden campaign this month launched advertisements focused on battleground states, including funding of billboards in Times Square that will highlight Republican efforts to restrict abortion access. The DNC is also encouraging local Democrats to press Republicans to specify what their position is on national bans, believing it will help contrast Bidens approach with extremist positions, according to a DNC official. At the White House, Klein said officials are tracking court cases in individual states and bringing abortion-rights activists together to compare notes on which policies have succeeded. Still, activists are wary that court victories can be short-lived and do not take away the threat of a wider abortion ban the way legislation would. In recent months, administration officials have regularly highlighted stories of women who have been denied emergency medical care when suffering pregnancy loss. Harris, who has made several trips and delivered speeches in defense of abortion rights, has frequently introduced medical care providers at her events to bolster the argument that the decision to end a pregnancy is a private one and not to be toyed with by local politicians. First lady Jill Biden has also been enlisted in the effort. On Tuesday, she hosted a group of women in the Blue Room of the White House and asked them to share their stories. One woman, Dr. Austin Dennard, a physician in Texas, said she was forced to travel out of state for an abortion when her fetus was diagnosed with anencephaly, a condition that causes a baby to be born without parts of the brain and skull. Another, a Houston-based Democratic campaign worker named Elizabeth Weller, had gone into labor at 18 weeks and was directed to go home until she developed an infection so severe that a hospital ethics panel allowed a doctor to end the pregnancy. Joe is doing everything he can do, the first lady told the group. Mini Timmaraju, president of the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America, agreed that the Biden administration is doing everything they can, but she said the limitations are real. We have to give them a pro-choice majority Congress, she said. Thats it. Theyve done everything they can up until that point, but without the support of Congress, they are limited and we are limited in what we can do. c.2023 The New York Times Company SVAY RIENG, Cambodia, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here on Sunday that only the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) can safeguard peace and development as the kingdom is gearing up for a general election next month. "The CPP remains the best choice for people to secure peace and development...and no other political parties can replace it," he said in a speech during a get-together with some 22,000 factory workers in southeastern Svay Rieng Province's Bavet City. He urged people to vote for the CPP in the upcoming election, saying that voting for the CPP is to continue to maintain peace and development. The CPP has ruled the country since 1979. Hun Sen said the CPP-led government has attracted investors worldwide to invest in various sectors, generating millions of jobs for local people. The government will continue to attract foreign investors to create some 300,000 new jobs a year for youths, he said, adding that the kingdom's economy is projected to grow 5.6 percent in 2023 and up to 6.6 percent in 2024. The Southeast Asian nation is scheduled to hold a general election for the 125-seat National Assembly on July 23, 2023. According to the National Election Committee, 18 political parties will contest in the election, which will see more than 9.7 million eligible people casting their ballots. In the last general election held five years ago, the CPP won all 125 seats in the National Assembly. The USS Scorpion in Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command/ASSOCIATED PRESS Searches for lost submarines haven't always succeeded. As recently as 2021, underwater vessels have gone missing during routine training exercises. There is an abundance of reasons that submarines may go missing. For the past five decades, we've been losing and looking for submarines with varying degrees of success. But losing a submarine is more common than it seems and finding one is a lot harder. Navies around the world have been regularly losing submarines in the ocean since they started using them. Though submarines and their captains take extensive measures to not get lost, despite their best efforts, there's a lot that can go wrong with a submarine and a lot more we don't know about the ocean. Important piping can bend, periscopes can get crushed by passing boats, torpedoes can get loaded wrong, and, in a very specific case, a lucky totem may get removed. In 1968 alone, four submarines from four different countries became lost within months of each other. The search for these submarines lasted days, but in some cases, the wreckage wasn't found until decades later. The loss of submarines is not something of a bygone era nor is it taken lightly. As recently as 2021, a submarine was lost in Indonesia during a training exercise, prompting an international search-and-rescue attempt involving seven different countries. Despite the best efforts of public and private entities looking for missing submarines, the oxygen limit on board the crafts and the vastness of the ocean can prove to be insurmountable barriers. Here are the times we've looked for missing submarines and come up short. On April 9, 1963, the SS Thresher, a navy submarine doing training off the coast of Cape Cod to see how far it could dive, made its preparations for its descent. The SS Thresher is launched bow first into at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. AP This was not the first time the Thresher would be going to its depth limit, but as it was making its descent, the boat above received a jumbled radio communication of a "minor problem." Story continues That was the last time there would be communication with the Thresher. The Thresher's last communication was at 9:17 a.m., and it wasn't until 7 p.m. of the same day that the families of the men aboard the submarine were notified that it was presumed missing. A search began for the missing sub, but when debris from the submarine was recovered, it became clear what had happened. It wasn't until two months later, on June 27, that the Navy was able to find the debris field from the missing sub. To this day, the cause of the wreck has not been determined, but the leading theory is that flooding in the engine room led to it sinking, according to the US Naval Institute. Source: US Naval Institute The USS Scorpion, along with its crew of 99 men, was one of four other submarines to go missing in 1968. The USS Scorpion in Claywall Harbor, Naples, Italy. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command/ASSOCIATED PRESS The Scorpion last made contact with the surface on May 21, 1968, and caused alarm when it did not resurface six days later as it was scheduled to. The declaration that the submarine was missing came on May 27, though the Navy became aware of its failure to respond to classified correspondence on May 24. The search lasted only a few hours when the Navy detected the Scorpion below its crush depth, or the limit a submarine can dive into before succumbing to the pressures of the ocean. However, the wreckage wouldn't be found until five months later in October, at a depth of 11,000 feet. Sources: Popular Mechanics, Discovery UK Theories abound as to what caused the sinking of the Scorpion, but it is still impossible to know for sure. Underwater image of a portion of the damaged snorkel-exhaust piping from the USS Scorpion. Pictorial Parade/Getty Images The leading theory for years has been that one of the torpedoes ignited while in the chamber and blew a hole in the craft. Before the USS Scorpion, the INS Dakar and its crew of 69 men went missing on January 25, 1968. The crew of the Israeli submarine Dakar boards the craft in a photo taken at the sub's commissioning. Bettmann / Contributor/ Getty Images Ships from Britain, the US, Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon aided in the search efforts for the INS Dakar, but found nothing. The search was officially declared over on February 4, 1968, 10 days after it went missing. The wreckage wouldn't be found for another 30 years. Departing from England after receiving upgrades before it joined the Israeli Navy, the sub went down somewhere between Crete and Cyprus. The reasons for the INS Dakar's disappearance, as with the other four subs in 1968, are unclear. Theories range from hostile attacks to internal damage, but most likely, it was due to human or mechanical error. The INS Dakar was originally the HMS Totem, a ship in the Canadian Navy that received a special totem they kept aboard to keep the ship safe during voyages. After the ship was re-fitted and prepared for the Israeli Navy, the totem was removed and put into a museum. Though this is not the reason for the ship sinking, it plays a role in the superstitions and conspiracy theories surrounding the disappearance of the ship. Sources: Naval Historical Society of Australia, The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz It wasn't until 31 years later that the Dakar was finally found in the depths of the ocean between Crete and Cyprus. A team of Israeli former naval officers watch TV footage taken by the US search team that found the INS Dakar south of Crete. IDF/AFP via Getty Images The wreck was located about 497 miles away from Israel at a depth of 9,800 feet. Sources: Naval Historical Society of Australia, The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz The K-141 Kursk from Russia sunk in August of 2000 with 118 of its members on board. The Russian nuclear submarine K-141 Kursk docked at a northern Russian home base port. Laski Diffusion/Liaison/Getty Images The Kursk sunk as a result of a torpedo-room explosion while it was submerged. The blast killed 95 members of the crew aboard, while 23 survived in the back rooms. Sources: The Guardian, The Navy Times Crew members were originally estimated to have survived for three days after the explosion. Russian sailor Maxim Rvanin sits at his workspace inside the Russian submarine K-141 Kursk. Newsmakers/Getty Images But upon further investigation, they were assumed to have died from carbon-monoxide poisoning within the first eight hours after the explosion. Sources: The Guardian, The Navy Times Though teams made rescue attempts to save the remaining 23 crew members, families who felt that the Russian Navy didn't act quickly enough were outraged. Russian and Norwegian sailors discuss efforts to recover the bodies of the 118 sailors from the sunken Russian submarine K-141 Kursk. Newsmakers/Getty Images In October of that same year, Russian and Norwegian sailors continued efforts to recover the bodies of the 118 sailors. In November 2017, the ARA San Juan from Argentina and its crew of 44 sailors disappeared. The ARA Sarandi sails off to take part in the search for the missing submarine ARA San Juan. EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP via Getty Images It made its last contact with the surface to communicate a mechanical breakdown on November 15, 2017. Sources: BA Times, USNI News The disappearance of the ARA San Juan prompted an international search party. A member of the US Navy walks by the pressurized-rescue module, which would take part in the search-and-rescue efforts of the missing submarine ARA San Juan. MAXI JONAS/AFP via Getty Images Aid came from the UK, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Peru, and Uruguay. The submarine was equipped with enough food and water to last crew members 90 days on the surface but only enough oxygen for seven days when submerged. Sources: BA Times, USNI News Ultimately, the search-and-rescue attempts were unsuccessful, failing to locate the submarine within the seven-day window. Relatives and comrades of 44 crew members of the missing submarine at an Argentinian naval base. EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP via Getty Images During their search, the Argentinian Navy heard a sound "consistent with an explosion" near where the San Juan was thought to be, believing it to have imploded after reaching a critical depth. Sources: BA Times, USNI News The wreckage of the San Juan wasn't found until a year later at a depth of 2,600 feet. The working theory for the event is that a faulty valve led to the implosion of the submarine. Press conference at the headquarters of the Navy confirming the discovery of the San Juan. Manuel Cortina/NurPhoto via Getty Images Sources: BA Times, USNI News Most recently, on April 21, 2021, an Indonesian submarine, the KRI Nanggala (402), went missing during a training exercise. An Indonesian Navy patrol boat arrives at a naval base to aid in the search for the missing submarine. SONNY TUMBELAKA/AFP via Getty Images There were reports of oil on the surface of the water near where the submarine went missing, but it was unclear if it was from the KRI Nanggala itself. Sources: Associated Press, Geopolitical Monitor Similarly to the missing ARA San Juan, there was an international attempt to locate the missing KRI Nanggala. A US Navy aircraft takes off to join the search mission for the missing Indonesian navy submarine KRI Nanggala (402). Johanes Christo/NurPhoto via Getty Images Australia, the United States, Germany, France, Russia, India, Turkey, and South Korea offered to assist in locating the missing craft. At one point during the search for the submarine, there were 20 Navy ships, two submarines, and five aircraft searching the area where the submarine was last detected, Reuters reported. Sources: AP News, Reuters, Geopolitical Monitor The search ended on April 24, just three days after the Nanggala and its 53 occupants went missing. Onlookers pay tribute to the crew members of the sunken KRI Nanggala (402) submarine. Xinhua/Kasidia via Getty Images Search teams found debris believed to belong to the missing submarine. At the time of the sinking, the Indonesian Navy believed the sub to be at 2,000 to 2,300 feet, which is much further than its estimated collapsed depth. Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Geopolitical Monitor Read the original article on Insider The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power has fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow agreed to go into exile and sounded the retreat Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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Yang Youguang stands on the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang picks up trash while patrolling the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) This photo taken on June 2, 2023 shows a tunnel in front of the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang observes the condition of the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Yang Youguang patrols the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang walks up the stairs to check the components of Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang prepares to pick up trash on the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang walks to the office after lunch in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang looks on as a train drives across the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Yang Youguang walks to the office in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) This aerial photo taken on June 20, 2023 shows a train driving across the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, takes turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Yang Youguang prepares to write on the work journal at his office in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang chops firewood outside his dormitory as his wife prepares to go to the office in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 21, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Yang Youguang inspects the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Yang Youguang takes a rest outside his office in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang makes a phone call at his home in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 21, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Yang Youguang looks on as a train drives across the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang patrols the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang cleans up in front of his office in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang stands in front of his office in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Yang Youguang checks the condition of the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge, built in 1907 and located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) This photo taken on June 2, 2023 shows a tunnel in front of the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang cleans his shoes after patrolling the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang takes a photo for record as a train drives across the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Yang Youguang adjusts a lamp in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang walks to the office after lunch in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang checks the condition of the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Yang Youguang patrols the tunnel with a flashlight in his hand in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Yang Youguang walks with a birdcage in front of his dormitory in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) This aerial photo taken on June 20, 2023 shows the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Yang Youguang takes a photo for record as a train drives across the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 2, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo) Yang Youguang patrols the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Yang Youguang has dinner near his dormitory in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Yang Youguang looks on as a train drives across the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Yang Youguang patrols on the Wujiazhai railway bridge in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Yang Youguang looks at insects in Pingbian Miao Autonomous County, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 20, 2023. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is the first railway in Yunnan Province and narrow-gauge trains have been running on the railway for over a century. The Wujiazhai railway bridge is located in the railway section of Pingbian Miao Autonomous County of Yunnan, which was built in 1907 and has stood between cliffs for over a hundred years. Yang Youguang, a retired soldier, has been guarding the bridge for over 30 years. His job requires him to navigate through both the interior and exterior of the tunnel, inspecting the overall condition of the bridge and examining components. When a train approaches, Yang Youguang needs to record the passing time. Now, Yang Youguang, along with his wife and colleagues, take turns to stand guard at the bridge, ensuring the safety of passing trains. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated the much awaited Parthala flyover on June 25 during his visit to Noida. Noida's Parthala suspension bridge is based on the Delhi's Signature Bridge and is the first cable-stayed bridge in Noida,. The high-tech flyover will connect Noida with Greater Noida West (Noida Extension) and is expected to reduce the traffic congestion in the area. The construction of the bridge started before Covid-19 and was expected to be completed in 2022. However, after missing several deadlines, the bridge has been opened for the public. Parthala Bridge Route The bridge is constructed on the FNG Corridor, connecting Noida to Greater Noida West and also Ghaziabad to Faridabad. It has an ability to let 2 lakh vehicles pass from over it. Those coming from Noida Sector 120, Noida Sector 119, Noida Sector 122, Noida Sector 72 can reach Greater Noida West using this bridge. Those coming from Greater Noida and Faridabad on the FNG corridor can reach Ghaziabad absolutely traffic free. cre Trending Stories High-Tech Parthala Bridge The Parthala Flyover will be constantly monitored for structural information and a structural monitoring system will be included. The high tech bridge will have various sensors and every cable that supports the bridge will be connected by a sensor. The Electromagnetic Force Monitoring System will serve as the foundation for these sensors. Through vibrations, these sensors will also be able to detect earthquakes and will also be used to activate warning alarms. Greater Noida West Metro The Greater Noida West township has seen a boom in the population in the last few years with many builders offering affordable housing. The residents have been complaining about lack of infrastructure related projects in the area, as massive jams are witnessed during the peak hours. To ease the congestion, Noida Authority announced various development projects in the area. While the signature Parthala Bridge is now open for the public, the Greater Noida West Metro is yet to receive final approval before the construction starts. The metro will connect Sector 51 on Aqua Line to Sector 3 in Greater Noida West, having a total of 5 stations in the first phase. New Delhi: Fresh troubles at Indian ed-tech startup Byju's this week have escalated concerns among employees who were already uncertain about their future after several rounds of job cuts, more than a dozen current and former staff told Reuters. Auditor Deloitte and three prominent board members severed ties with the Bengaluru-headquartered firm on Thursday, raising further questions about the once high-flying company's financial health and governance practices. (Also Read: World's Wealthiest Professor Who Became The Richest Man In China With Net Worth Of Rs 1,96,120 crore, Failed University Entrance Exams 3 Times) Byju's has already let go of several thousand employees this year due to slowing demand and it is locked in a legal battle with its lenders and faces regulatory scrutiny, even as its valuation has been slashed by at least one marquee investor. cre Trending Stories "Morale is at an all-time low. Every person has a job portal on their laptop at all times. Everyone wants to leave desperately before they are asked to pack up overnight," said a senior manager at Byju's, requesting anonymity. "Right now the situation is so dismal, subordinates are sitting with their managers and job hunting." Several employees, all of whom requested anonymity, said they had received no memos about the exits of auditor Deloitte and the board members. A Byju's spokesperson did not respond to Reuters queries on staff morale, the lack of communication from management, or other issues raised by employees. After initially denying the board exits, Byju's late on Friday confirmed in a statement that a "few" investors had vacated their board seats. "It's all been eerily quiet so far," said the manager, adding that the lack of communication from the company's leadership was heightening employee concerns. The edtech firm, valued at about $22 billion early last year, has laid off thousands of employees since October to cut costs, after seeing demand for online tutoring drop following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the employees that spoke to Reuters said performance incentives, bonuses and appraisals had stalled amid the turmoil. "The general sentiment is that the company is struggling," said one analyst at the company. "Almost 90% of us, myself included, are waiting for a performance appraisal which hasn't happened." A former employee, citing conversations with managers who are still at Byju's, said many "are insecure about their future, because top leaders have not been in regular touch with them for about four- to six-weeks." Another source, who left Byju's last month, said: "People count each day anticipating layoffs, today I may be safe, tomorrow I may not. No one is working there out of choice anymore, but due to financial commitments, or because they haven't yet found another job." Deloitte on Friday declined further comment on cutting ties with Byju's, and the board members either did not respond to phone calls or were not reachable. New Delhi: Indian education technology giant Byju's, which lost its auditor after delaying financial statements, has told investors it will file 2022 audited earnings by September and 2023 results by December, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said. Deloitte said on Thursday it was severing ties with Byju's, one of India's most successful startups, over its "long-delayed" financial statements for the year ended March 2022. Board members representing Peak XV Partners, earlier known as Sequoia Capital India, Prosus and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative also stepped down, without publicly expressing their reasons. The resignations are among the biggest crises for Byju's, valued last year at $22 billion and backed by the likes of investor General Atlantic. The episode raises questions about the edtech firm's corporate governance and comes weeks after it was raided over suspected violations of foreign exchange laws. cre Trending Stories Byju's leadership, including founder Byju Raveendran and Chief Financial Officer Ajay Goel, briefed about 75 shareholders on Saturday to address their concerns about the company's financial affairs, said the source, who attended the meeting. Goel told the investors Byju's will submit 2021-22 audited results to Indian regulators by September and 2022-23 earnings by year's end, the source said. Byju's, which became popular offering online and offline tutorials, declined to comment on Sunday. It has not commented on why its results have been delayed. Deloitte, cutting short a term as auditor that was to end in 2025, said in its resignation there was a "significant impact" on its ability to audit the firm as it did not receive financial records from Byju's despite several reminders. Byju's has appointed BDO as its new auditor. Byju's has asked three board members to reconsider their resignations, Reuters reported on Friday. They decided collectively to quit after raising concerns in recent months with leadership about the audit delays and how Byju's dealt with issues relating to its lenders, sources have said. The company told investors it was focussing on appointing new independent directors to the board, said the source. Of the investors who resigned from Byju's board, Peak XV said it would support the company "to strengthen business processes and internal control mechanisms". New Delhi: Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata, more popularly known as JRD Tata, stands as an inspiring and towering figure in Indian history, celebrated not only as a visionary industrialist and a pioneering aviator but also as a catalyst for India's remarkable development, especially after the Independence. Bharat Ratna awardee JRD Tata left an indelible mark on the nation's growth story with his determination, philanthropy, and vision. Lets read more about Indias towering businessman. JRD Tata Early Life cre Trending Stories Born on July 29, 1904, in Paris, France, JRD Tata belonged to the illustrious Tata family, renowned for their entrepreneurial spirit and philanthropic endeavors. He was the son of Industrialist Ratanji Dadbhoy Tata and his wife Suzanne Briere. From an early age, JRD Tata displayed a profound curiosity and adventurous nature, setting his sights on conquering the skies. JRD Tata Becomes Indias First Licensed Pilot In 1929, he earned his pilot's license, becoming India's first licensed pilot and laying the foundation for his exceptional aviation journey. On October 15, 1932, he made history by flying the plane from Karachi in Pakistan to Juhu, Mumbai. JRD Tata Joins Family Business In 1938 However, JRD Tata's contributions extended far beyond aviation. In 1938, he took over as the chairman of Tata Sons, steering the conglomerate to unprecedented heights over the course of his remarkable 53-year tenure. Under his visionary leadership, the Tata Group diversified its interests, expanding into industries such as steel, automobiles, chemicals, hospitality, and more. JRD Tata Works For Indias Social And Educational Development JRD Tata's commitment to social welfare and nation-building was exemplary. He firmly believed that businesses should be driven by a larger purpose beyond profit, and he championed the concept of corporate social responsibility long before it became a global norm. He established the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tata Memorial Hospital, and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, among many other institutions, fostering educational, healthcare, and scientific advancements that continue to benefit Indian society to this day. JRD Tata Awarded Indias Highest Civilian Award Bharat Ratna JRD Tata's legacy extends beyond the realms of business and philanthropy. He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, and his counsel was sought on matters of national importance. He was honored with numerous accolades, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the nation. JRD Tata Passes Away In 1993 Even after his passing in 1993, JRD Tata's influence continues to shape India's growth trajectory. The Tata Group, under the stewardship of subsequent generations, remains a beacon of corporate excellence and social responsibility. The principles he espousedintegrity, innovation, and inclusivitypermeate the fabric of the conglomerate and serve as an inspiration for businesses and individuals alike. JRD Tata's pioneering spirit, coupled with his unwavering dedication to nation-building, has left an indelible imprint on India's development. His entrepreneurial acumen, coupled with his passion for social welfare, continues to inspire generations of Indians to dream big, pursue excellence, and contribute to the nation's progress. As India thrives on the global stage, the legacy of JRD Tata stands as a testament to the transformative power of vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the betterment of society. DUBLIN, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A delegation led by Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, paid a visit to Ireland from Thursday to Saturday. During the visit, Liu held separate meetings with Speaker of the Irish Senate Jerry Buttimer, former prime minister Bertie Ahern, Leader of the Green Party and Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan, Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs Joe Hackett and Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Eddie Fitzpatrick. Liu also held a meeting and exchanged views with scholars at the Institute of International and European Affairs, a think tank in Ireland. The two sides shared the view that China and Ireland are important cooperative partners for each other. They agreed to further strengthen exchanges between political parties, governments, think tanks and local authorities, people-to-people exchanges and exchanges between various sectors of society, deepen practical cooperation in economy and trade, environmental protection, innovation and medicine, as well as promote greater development of the China-Ireland and China-Europe relations, they said. New Delhi: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said the BJP-led government has created an employment-generating economy in the country. Speaking at an event in Nagpur city of Maharashtra, Gadkari referred to a road project being constructed to connect Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, and the automobile industry. "We have created an employment-generating economy in the country. I am constructing a road project (worth) Rs 12,000 crore connecting Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The (Uttarakhand) chief minister told me that the number of tourists visiting these places got doubled. Earlier, the Yatra to these places used to go on for only six months, but now roads are accessible throughout the year," said the Minister of Road Transport & Highways. He said people in passenger traffic, tourism, restaurants, hoteling, buses, railways and aviation?all got businesses because the footfall has gone up at these places. "Automobile industry in the country is Rs 7.50 lakh crore, 4.50 crore people got jobs. This industry gives the highest GST to the Central and state governments. I will double the industry's size in the next five years to Rs 15 lakh crore. All automobile brands in the world are coming here," Gadkari added. cre Trending Stories New Delhi: India should consider negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with Egypt as the Mediterranean nation holds huge potential for the domestic industry in various sectors like agri products, steel items and light vehicles, according to exporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Cairo for a two-day state visit at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said that India and Egypt have historic trade relations, which are robust and fairly balanced. India's exports increased to USD 4.1 billion in 2022-23 from USD 3.74 billion in 2021-22. However, imports from that country declined to about USD 2 billion against USD 3.5 billion in 2021-22. Fertiliser, crude oil, chemicals, raw cotton, and raw hides are major import items from Egypt. The main export items include wheat, rice, cotton yarn, petroleum, meat, flat-rolled products, ferroalloys (related to iron) and light vehicles. cre Trending Stories "The prime minister's visit is significant as Egypt is the gateway to Africa and Europe. A cementing of economic relations and possibly a feasibility study for FTA can be undertaken as Egypt has such FTAs with countries in West Asia and Africa," Sahai said. Besides cooperation in agriculture, biotechnology, pharma, and renewable energy, India should explore tie-ups in logistics with Egypt, he added. "We should look at taking trade to USD 15 billion in the next three years from the current over USD 6 billion," he said. Engineering exporter and Director of Geco Trading Corporation Khalid Khan said that Egypt is a major trading partner of India in Africa. Ludhiana-based engineering exporter and Hand Tools Association President SC Ralhan suggested that Egypt should consider starting trade with India in domestic currency. About 50 Indian companies are operating in Egypt. NEW DELHI: Days after a mega conclave of opposition parties, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K T Rama Rao on Sunday said their fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections should be based on "principal issues" before the country but unfortunately they seem to be "obsessed" with "dislodging someone" from power. Rao, who is a state minister and son of Telangana Chief Minister K C Chandrashekar Rao, also said his party will never compromise on the issue of core welfare principles for the country, asserting it will form an alliance only with those political parties with which it sees a common agenda for the benefit of the people. "The fight (against the BJP) should be on principal issues before the country. Unfortunately, we are losing the plot there. We seem to be obsessed and worried about dislodging someone or putting somebody there and that should not be the agenda. The agenda should be how the basic priorities of the country have to be met," he told PTI in an interview here. "You should not be uniting against somebody. You should be uniting for something. What is that something, nobody is able to figure out," he said when asked to comment on the meeting of 17 opposition parties held in Patna on Friday in a bid to forge unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 General Elections. The BRS skipped the meeting that was hosted by JD(U) supremo and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to work on an opposition alliance. cre Trending Stories Rao also indicated that the BRS was willing to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on its own and try to make an impactful beginning aiming to win a sizeable number of seats. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which won the two previous assembly elections, was rechristened as the BRS in October last and two months later it was registered as a national party.The next Assembly polls in the state are due by the end of this year. He also reiterated that any united front, with the Congress or the BJP being its fulcrum, will not succeed as these national parties have been a "disaster" for the country. Rao made it clear that the political parties should align on a principle welfare agenda that matters to the country. "What matters to the country today is the creation of employment, wealth for farmers, irrigation, and rural livelihood. These are things that matter, not hijab or halal and 'bakwas' around religion." Rao asserted that the BRS is opposed to those parties which have hindered the development of India. "Those two principal parties are the BJP and Congress. The Congress governed for 50 years, while the BJP for 15 years. Had both worked properly, this situation would not have arisen." Both the Congress and BJP are responsible for the country lagging behind and not progressing as much as it should be in the last 75 years, he claimed. "On the other hand, Telangana despite being a new state has progressed on welfare fronts in a short span of time," he asserted. On the participation of regional leaders--West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC) and her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal (AAP) -- with whom the BRS has been in regular touch earlier in a bid to form an alliance at the Patna meeting, Rao said, "You have to understand they have their own agendas and set of priorities and own vision for the country. I cannot find fault with Kejriwal or Banerjee for attending the meeting. I don't think we should." These leaders want good for the country and if they believe in a certain path, they are free to pursue it, he said and added, "We believe otherwise, we should be left to pursue our own method of growing." To a question on efforts by the BRS to cobble an alliance of regional parties, Rao said, "We are not in that mindset. We want to spread our wings. Our party wants to grow at the national stage and where is the question of fighting together or fighting against?" Asked why the BRS's experiment to form a 'non-Congress and non-BJP front' has not yielded any results, the party working president said: "Rome was not built in a day. Even BJP today is a big force and nobody can deny that. They have 300 plus Lok Sabha seats. Remember they also started with two MPs. Therefore, do not discount us. Even thousand miles journey starts with a single step." "We are not going anywhere. We are gearing up towards 2024 (General Elections). We will see how much ground we can cover till 2024 and there is life beyond 2024 as well. Our life does not start and end with the 2024 parliamentary elections." On the possibility of asking Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu to join a 'non-Congress, non-BJP' front, Rao said, "I cannot answer this question." Asked why people should support a regional party like the TRS at the national level, Rao said, "We have been registered as a national party. Hopefully, we get that recognition from the media as well. We have taken a baby step and done whatever we could in Telangana. We believe we come back handsomely in Telangana." At the same time, the party has enough scope to grow at the national level as it aims to replicate the 'Telangana model of development' across the country, he added. "If you ask me if we will get a magic number of 272 numbers in the 2024 General polls. I would say 'no'. But I would definitely want to say 'yes' as there is definitely a possibility to win a sizeable number of Parliament seats and we might become important in the scheme of things in Delhi and elsewhere." The TRS bagged 9 of the 17 seats at stake in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Sharing the roadmap for the expansion of the BRS, Rao said the party president KCR has conducted four public meetings in Maharashtra and all of them were successful. "We are spreading our wings. We are waiting for the Zilla Parishad elections." The BRS wants to emerge on its own and spread wings in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, he added. On reports suggesting that the BRS was going soft on the BJP, especially after the Delhi liquor scam and recent flurry of meetings with central ministers, Rao said he has come numerous times, not once, and met the same ministers several times, but people's memory is short. KTR's sister K Kavitha is facing a CBI and ED probe in the Delhi liquor scam. "We don't oppose for the sake of opposition. We are in the state and they are the government at the Centre. The government-to-government relationships have to be maintained at some point and at some level. We are trying out best. If they deliver, we will thank them," he said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the bravehearts who resisted the "dark days of emergency" and worked to strengthen the democratic spirit. It is 48 years since the Emergency was imposed in 1975 by the then-Congress government led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. "I pay homage to all those courageous people who resisted the Emergency and worked to strengthen our democratic spirit. The #DarkDaysOfEmergency remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values our Constitution celebrates," Tweeted PM Modi. I pay homage to all those courageous people who resisted the Emergency and worked to strengthen our democratic spirit. The #DarkDaysOfEmergency remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values our Constitution celebrates. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023 The Emergency was in effect from June 25, 1975, until its withdrawal on March 21, 1977. Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda also bowed down to the patriots who fought for the establishment of democracy by enduring immense tortures. cre Trending Stories "On June 25, 1975, a family due to its dictatorial tendencies killed the country's great democracy and imposed a stigma like emergency. Whose ruthlessness left behind even the tyranny of hundreds of years of foreign rule. In such difficult times, I bow down to all the patriots who fought for the establishment of democracy by enduring immense tortures," tweeted Nadda. Emergency was declared for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The order was officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution due to the prevailing "internal disturbance." The Emergency vested upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed.The Emergency in 1975 is considered one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history. New Delhi: Nawazuddin Siddiqui is on a constant spree of delivering back-to-back releases. Having always ruled the hearts of the masses with his performances, the actor is keeping up the spree going. While the actor enjoys a huge fanbase who eagerly waits for him to come on the screen, he is all set to come up with a new song 'Yaar Ka Sataya Hua Hai' featuring Shehnaaz Gill. Nawazuddin has always made the audience go gaga over his brilliant performance. Having garnered immense love for his character in his latest release, the actor is now coming up with a song, 'Yaar Ka Sataya Hua Hai' opposite Shehnaaz Gill. As the poster is finally released we can see Nawazuddin in a new look that has indeed raised the excitement to witness him in the song. Moreover, it would be interesting to see him coming on the screen with Shehnaaz Gill for the first time. Taking to his social media, Nawazuddin shared the poster and wrote a beautiful caption - Nawazuddin's 'Yaar Ka Sataya Hua Hai' is a song from the album Zohrajabeen and is sung by BPraak. The song will be released on 03rd July 2023. Previously, Nawazuddin's first musical album 'Baarish Ki Jaaye' song was also a sensation and garnered immense love from the audience. After that, the actor is coming back with 'Yaar Ka Sataya Hua Hai' which is indeed a treat for his fans. Also Read: Bigg Boss OTT 2 Weekend Ka Vaar: Palak Purswani Gets Evicted, Akanksha Puri, Jiya Shankar Get Emotional Apart from this, Nawazuddin has an interesting lineup of films, which includes films like Noorani Chehra, Haddi, and Adbhut. Crisis-hit airline Go First has extended the flight cancellation further till June 28, 2023, informed the low-cost airline in a tweet. The airline announced that its scheduled flight operations will remain cancelled till June 28 due to the operational reasons. Earlier, the airline said that operations would remain cancelled till June 25. Go First (formerly Go Air) grounded all its flights on May 3 and the cancellations near two months now. The Wadia-owned airline cancelled all its flights, blaming the delays in the delivery of Pratt and Whitney's engines leading to the grounding of a portion of its fleet. The airline expects immediate resolution and revival of operations. Go First filed for bankruptcy at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and suspended its flight operations due to rising losses. Due to operational reasons, Go First flights until 28th June 2023 are cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and request customers to visit https://t.co/FdMt1cRjeD for more information. For any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact us. pic.twitter.com/rMAXsuiEjj GO FIRST (@GoFirstairways) June 24, 2023 cre Trending Stories "We regret to inform you that due to operational reasons, Go First flights scheduled till 28th June 2023 have been cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the flight cancellations," the airline said in a tweet. "We acknowledge the flight cancellations might have disrupted your travel plans and we are committed to providing all the assistance we can" it said. "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. We thank you for your patience," the airline said. There were reports that the grounding of the Go First flights had put pressure on airfares, particularly on select routes where the now-grounded airline had its footprint, reported ANI. There were reports suggesting Go First was planning to start its operations and sent an internal mail to all its employees informing to resume the operations soon, however, there has been no improvement in the situation as the planes remains grounded. Hyderabad: Veteran actor Kamal Haasan has boarded Nag Ashwin's multilingual sci-fi movie 'Project K', the makers said on Sunday. Headlined by Prabhas and Deepika Padukone, the upcoming big-budget film is produced by C Aswani Dutt, founder of Vyjayanthi Movies. Production house Vyjayanthi Movies shared Haasan's casting announcement on its official Twitter page. "Welcoming the greatest actor Ulaganayagan @ikamalhaasan. Our journey becomes Universal now. #ProjectK," the banner said in the tweet. 'Project K' also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Disha Patani. Amitabh Bachchan also welcomed Kamal on board and took to Twittr and shared a post writing, "Welcome Kamal .. great working with you again .. its been a while!" KAMAL HAASAN JOINS PRABHAS-DEEPIKA PADUKONE'S 'PROJECT K' cre Trending Stories Later in the day, Haasan said he is happy to reunite with Dutt after five decades when he used to be a dance assistant and the latter was an assistant director. "Both of us are coming together after 50 years. A brilliant director fromour next generation is at the helm. My co stars Mr Prabhas and Ms Deepika are also of that generation. I have worked with Amit ji before. Yet every time it feels like the first time. Amit ji keeps reinventing himself. I am also emulating that inventive process. "I am eagerly waiting for 'Project K'. Whatever position the audience places me at, my primary quality is that I am a film buff. That quality will keep applauding any new attempt in my industry. Let mine be the first applause for 'Project K'. With our director Nag Ashwin's vision, I am sure that applause will echo across our country and the world of cinema," the 'Vikram' star said in a statement. Dutt is backing the project in the 50th year of his production house. He said his dream of working with Haasan has finally come true with 'Project K'. "It's a great moment for any producer to be working with two legendary actors together - Mr Kamal Haasan and Mr Amitabh Bachchan. It's truly a blessing for me in the 50th year of my career," the producer said. "We are all super excited and privileged that he agreed to come onboard and complete our world," added director Ashwin. 'Project K' is scheduled to be released in cinemas on January 12, 2024, in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. The science-fiction thriller which is being made on a massive budget and marks the maiden collaboration between Prabhas and Nag Ashwin of Mahanati fame. New Delhi: Indian business leaders like Anand Mahindra and Mukesh Ambani were in Washington to attend the US State Dinner accorded to PM Narendra Modi by President Joe Biden. Mahindra followed through on his 'promise' as he gave some fascinating tidbits from the US visit. The Mahindra Group Chairman used the microblogging platform to post the selfie that he had taken in the street of Washington. On Twitter, he shared the selfie and captioned "I suppose this was what they would call a Washington moment. After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement. We were trying to call an Uber when we ran into NASA astronaut Sunita Williams @Astro_Suni Time for a selfie & we also asked if we could hitch a ride on her space shuttle instead of an Uber" I suppose this was what they would call a Washington moment. After the tech handshake meeting yesterday, Mukesh Ambani, Vrinda Kapoor & I were continuing a conversation with the Secretary of Commerce & missed the group shuttle bus to the next lunch engagement. We were trying pic.twitter.com/gP1pZl9VcI anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 25, 2023 cre Trending Stories As expected, the tweet garnered netizens' attention and garnered 141.8K views till the curation of this article. A few days back, the Mahindra Group Chairman also used the microblogging platform to post some additional photos that he had taken at the White House during a different meeting. Mahindra captured the exquisite and captivating art on display inside the stately White House in his photographs. "Back in the White House for the 'Tech Handshake' meeting this morning." soaking up the historical ambiance of the rooms with color-coded names. JFK's presidential portrait is the most moving. Unlike the others, it was painted posthumously and was in a reflective position. SHAHJAHANPUR: With steely courage and determination to provide for her family, Anju Verma sets up her humble shop every night to dole out mouth-watering 'kachoris', thus earning the moniker "Kachori wali Amma". Her husband Vinod Verma, the sole earning member of the family, died of heart attack five years ago, leaving her distraught and with no means to raise her four children. Not one to accept failure, Anju (60) decided to march on and continued with her husband's 'kachori' (snack) business. At 10 every night, she sets up her shop on the empty platforms in front of closed shops and serves hot 'kachoris' with potato stuffing, soyabean along with garlic sauce -- all for Rs 30 per plate. People queue up, especially during winters and monsoon, to savour the kachoris and also get them packed for home. The elderly woman manages to earn around Rs 2,000 every day. Asked why she chose to set up her outlet at night, Anju, who lives in front of Sunehri Masjid near Kotwali of Shahjahanpur, says the main reason was the unavailability of a proper shop or the means to rent one. cre Trending Stories The woman says she has three daughters and a son. She says she managed to get one of her daughters married with the earnings of her kachori business. Her youngest child is 20-years-old and he is a college student. Talking about her daily routine, she says, "I close my shop after 3 am and sleep by five in the morning. I get up in the afternoon to buy vegetables, prepare the dough and the filling before opening the shop at 10 in the night." Abhinav Gupta, who runs a social organisation in the city, says, "I am a big fan of Kachori wali Amma. She prepares the food hygienically and I often visit her shop with my friends to enjoy fresh kachoris." Superintendent of Police S Anand told PTI that he has given special instructions to provide security to the shop. "A woman setting up a shop at night is a big deal. Police officials have been instructed to ensure her safety as well that of her shop," he said. BJP's district general secretary Anil Gupta, who is also a regular customer of the shop, says whenever he passes by the area, he waits for Amma's Kachori shop to open to relish the kachoris. Anurag Aggarwal, a school principal, says if he feels like eating out, he only visits Kachori wali Amma. "The kachoris served by her are of superior taste and are reasonably priced. Even the poor can have a hearty meal at her shop," he adds. A speeding Lamborghini car caused havoc on the streets of Delhi this morning as it collided with an auto-rickshaw, leaving two individuals critically injured. The incident, now referred to as the Delhi Lamborghini accident, occurred on the Savitri Cinema flyover in south Delhi. The luxury car, driven by a 24-year-old individual identified as Rajveer, crashed into the auto, resulting in severe damage and grave injuries. Victims Hospitalized: Auto Driver and IndiGo Engineer Injured As a result of the Delhi Lamborghini accident, the auto-rickshaw driver and his passenger, an engineer employed at IndiGo, sustained critical injuries. Both victims have been swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention. The extent of their injuries is severe, rendering them incapable of providing a statement at this time, according to the authorities involved in the case. cre Trending Stories Visuals Reveal Devastating Impact of Collision Disturbing visuals captured at the scene of the Delhi Lamborghini accident depict the auto-rickshaw in a mangled state, serving as a chilling reminder of the forceful impact. The luxury car involved in the collision also suffered significant damage, emphasizing the magnitude of the accident and the subsequent injuries caused. Morning Commute Turns Tragic: Office-bound Victim Caught in Accident The Delhi Lamborghini accident occurred around 7 am, turning Prince Gautam's routine morning commute into a tragic ordeal. The 31-year-old commuter was traveling from his home in the eastern part of Kailash to his workplace at the airport when the unfortunate collision took place. Little did he expect the harrowing turn of events that would unfold on his journey. Driver Detained: Investigation Underway to Establish Liability In the wake of the Delhi Lamborghini accident, Rajveer, the driver of the luxury car, has been promptly detained by the authorities. Currently, he is undergoing a thorough medical examination to determine if alcohol consumption played a role in the collision. The outcome of this examination will be pivotal in understanding the circumstances that led to the accident. Public Outcry for Road Safety Measures The Delhi Lamborghini accident has sparked widespread public concern regarding road safety and the irresponsible behavior of some drivers on the city's streets. Citizens are demanding stricter enforcement of traffic rules and regulations to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible driving and the need to prioritize the safety of all commuters. Investigation Imperative: Seeking Answers and Accountability As the victims of the Delhi Lamborghini accident fight for their recovery in the hospital, authorities must conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Determining the exact cause and holding the responsible parties accountable is of utmost importance. The accident has deeply impacted the community, highlighting the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure road safety and prevent similar accidents from happening again. Prioritizing Vigilance and Responsible Driving The Delhi Lamborghini accident serves as a tragic reminder of the significance of vigilance and responsible driving. It is crucial for the authorities to take immediate action in implementing stricter traffic regulations and raising awareness about road safety. By doing so, the safety of all individuals on Delhi's roads can be prioritized, reducing the occurrence of devastating accidents like this one. This image captured from a video shows military vehicles running in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. (Str/Xinhua) MOSCOW, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, reached a compromise through the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko late Saturdayaccording to RIA Novosti news agency reports. Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the advance of the Wagner troops and de-escalate the situation, the reports said. On Saturday morning, Putin informed his Belarusian counterpart of the situation in Russia regarding the Wagner group and the heads of state agreed on joint actions. "The president of Belarus held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin ... They came to an agreement on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloody massacre on the Russian territory," the press service of the Belarusian president was quoted as saying. Then the Wagner fighters left southern Russia's Rostov region and were headed to their field camps, according to Russia's TASS news agency. The criminal case against Prigozhin will be dropped, and he will go to Belarus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on late Saturday, without specifying what exactly Prigozhin will do in the former Soviet republic. Lukashenko has been personally acquainted with Prigozhin for about 20 years and "this was his personal proposal agreed with Putin, " Peskov said. "There was a higher goal to avoid bloodshed, to avoid internal confrontation, to avoid clashes with unpredictable results. It was for the sake of these goals that Lukashenko's mediation efforts were made, and President Putin made the appropriate decision," the spokesman said. According to the official, the guarantee that Prigozhin will be able to leave for Belarus was the word of the Russian president. The incident with the Wagner group will not affect the course of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, which will continue, he added. This image captured from a video shows military vehicles preparing to pull out from Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, reached a compromise through the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko late Saturday, according to RIA Novosti news agency reports. Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the advance of the Wagner troops and de-escalate the situation, the reports said. (Photo by Vladimir Konstantinov/Xinhua) This image captured from a video shows military vehicles preparing to pull out from Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, reached a compromise through the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko late Saturday, according to RIA Novosti news agency reports. Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the advance of the Wagner troops and de-escalate the situation, the reports said. (Photo by Vladimir Konstantinov/Xinhua) This image captured from a video shows citizens standing near military vehicles on a street of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, reached a compromise through the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko late Saturday, according to RIA Novosti news agency reports. Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the advance of the Wagner troops and de-escalate the situation, the reports said. (Photo by Vladimir Konstantinov/Xinhua) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly criticized former US President Barack Obama's comments on the state of ethnic minorities in India. Sitharaman's rebuke came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a three-day visit to the United States. In a stern response, Sitharaman questioned Obama's record, pointing out that six Muslim-dominated countries faced bombings during his tenure. The Finance Minister expressed surprise at the timing of Obama's statement and called for serious consideration when leaders comment on India's religious tolerance. Additionally, Sitharaman took aim at opposition parties and their behaviour abroad, while acknowledging concerns expressed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about the plight of the poor and minority communities in India. Obama's Statement Criticized Sitharaman expressed surprise and criticized the timing of Obama's statement about Indian Muslims during the Indian Prime Minister's US visit. She pointed out that six Muslim-dominated countries were subjected to bombings during Obama's tenure. Sitharaman stated, "It was surprising that when the PM was visiting the US, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement about Indian Muslims." cre Trending Stories Questioning Obama's Record Sitharaman questioned Obama's record, highlighting the bombings that occurred in several countries during his leadership. She mentioned Syria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq as examples where war-like situations developed and numerous bombs were dropped. Sitharaman asserted, "From Syria to Yemen to Saudi to Iraq, did bombing not take place? A war-like situation was developed in 7 countries back then, and 26,000 bombs were dropped. When such leaders comment on India's religious tolerance, who will take them seriously?" Opposition Parties Under Fire Sitharaman also criticized opposition parties for their behavior abroad, accusing them of not speaking in favor of India. She claimed that these parties resort to alternative routes and engage in discussions abroad because they are unable to defeat PM Modi. Sitharaman stated, "They cannot defeat PM Modi, this is why they take on a different route and become part of such discussions." Rahul Gandhi's Concerns During PM Modi's recent visit to the US, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed concerns about the conditions faced by the poor and minority communities in India. Gandhi emphasized that Indians do not believe in hating each other, but blamed a small group of people who control the system and the media for stoking the flames of hatred. Obama's Remarks Obama's remarks about ethnic minorities in India came shortly after a joint press conference held by PM Modi and US President Joe Biden in Washington DC. Obama expressed his interest in discussing the rights of ethnic minorities with Modi and the potential consequences if those rights were not protected. CAIRO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has discussed Egypt-India ties as well as issues related to promoting social harmony and countering extremism and radicalisation with the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Shawky Ibrahim Abdel-Karim Allam. On his first state visit to Egypt, the Prime Minister apprised the Grand Mufti that India would set up a Centre of Excellence in IT at the Dar-al-Ifta - an Egyptian advisory body for Islamic legal research - under the Ministry of Social Justice of Egypt. The Grand Mufti also appreciated the Prime Minister's leadership in fostering inclusivity and pluralism, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release on the meeting held on Saturday. The Grand Mufti fondly recalled his recent visit to India and highlighted the strong cultural and people-to-people relations between India and Egypt. Discussions also focused on issues related to social and religious harmony in society and countering extremism and radicalisation, the press release said. "I was honoured to meet the Grand Mufti of Egypt, Dr Shawky Ibrahim Allam. We had rich discussions on the relations between India and Egypt, especially the cultural and people-to-people ties," Prime Minister Modi tweeted after his meeting. cre Trending Stories "I was honoured to meet Prime Minister Modi. It was a very nice and interesting meeting. In fact, he reflects a wise leadership for a big country like India," the Grand Mufti said. He said he had earlier met Modi at one of the Sufi conferences in Delhi. "Between the two meetings, I have noticed that there is a great development in India. It reflects that he is continuously working in India. It also reflects the wise policies being adopted by Prime Minister Modi bringing co-existence between various factions in India," he said. "At the religious level, we have strong cooperation between us and India and we are looking forward to further enhancing and deepening this cooperation," the Grand Mufti said. The Grand Mufti visited India last month at the invitation of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. In an article written ahead of his visit to India, the Grand Mufti referred to statements by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the need for cooperation and bridge-building in a challenging world. Though such overtures have been welcomed by many, he said practical steps were needed to turn such good wishes into a sustained relationship of mutual trust and respect. "This is the message I wish to deliver on behalf of the Muslim world in India this week," he had written. In 2013, Dr Allam became the first elected Grand Mufti of Egypt. He holds the office of the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide - an umbrella organisation that was created to coordinate among more than 100 fatwa authorities globally. PATNA: After the meeting of 20 odd political parties in Patna, the stature of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has increased at the national level. Moreover, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is back in politics with a bang. The way these two leaders approached and played the role of architects in the meeting is not a healthy sign for the BJP in Bihar and in the country. These two leaders have a unique style to connect with the people of the state. It was seen in the 2015 assembly poll when they stopped the "Vijay Rath" of Narendra Modi in Bihar. The situation in 2024 is worse for the BJP as anti incumbency is also at its peak. The BJP government at the Centre is facing much criticism for failing to deliver on the promises they made in 2014. In this situation, the combination of Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar will make them a formidable opponent for the BJP. Nitish Kumar was the one who played the crucial role of inviting leaders of different political parties to come to Patna on his call. It has also proved that the acceptance of Nitish Kumar among various political parties is the highest. He has a clean image with no legal or corruption charges levelled against him. He was also declared the convener of these parties which means he will play the role of mediator during seat sharing talks between two or more parties for the Lok Sabha poll. cre Trending Stories Following the grand success of Patna's meeting, Shalini Mishra, JD-U MLA, uploaded a post on social media containing a photograph of Nitish Kumar and the slogan "Desh Mange Nitish". Ashok Chaudhary, building construction minister in the Bihar government said: "A strong person is always behind every people's movement. Bihar was witness to many people's movements in the past which had shaken the ruling parties in the country." "It is necessary in a democracy that a strong opposition is there and it is possible through the efforts of Nitish Kumar," Chaudhary said. Lalan Singh, national president of the JD-U said: "JP Nadda and Amit Shah have nothing left to say to us. Hence, they talk about the Congress and the Shiv Sena coming on the same platform where we are. It is an irresponsible statement." "During the Emergency in 1975 when we were fighting, it was the fight against the situation at that time and not against any government. The situation in the current phase is worse than in an emergency. At that time, the press was free but now the press is in its control, all constitutional institutions are controlled by them. They have taken control over the managements of the media organizations. So, democracy is under threat today. The BJP is destroying democracy and asking us to remember the Emergency," Singh said. "If anyone talks against you (Centre), the CBI, ED, Income Tax target them. It was not the case during the Emergency when Indira Gandhi had used these constitutional institutions. The Centre is threatening the people of the country, the independence of the country is under threat and hence we are fighting against this situation and the Congress party is with us," Singh said. Lalan Singh while reacting to the statement of Amit Shah, said: "He is a forecaster and if he has forecast that the BJP will win more than 300 seats and Modi Ji will form the government in the country it means Modi Ji is losing the election. When the 2015 assembly election in Bihar was taking place, he stayed here for three months and forecast that the BJP will form the government till 10.30 a.m. on the day of counting. What was the result, the BJP won only 53 seats. When he went to West Bengal, he forecast his government with a two-third mandate. His party was fighting against Mamata Didi, what happened there. He forecast the same in Himachal and Karnataka and what were the results? If he is claiming that Modi Ji will form the government by winning 300 seats it means he is losing the election," Lalan Singh added. "Before the start of the opposition unity meeting in Patna, BJP leaders spread confusion about who will come and who will not on Friday. Now, you have seen every political party having an anti BJP-RSS ideology gathered on one platform. We believe that the meeting succeeded more than our expectations. The BJP leaders are now believing that their departure is near and they are feeling uneasy. The foundation of a BJP Mukt Bharat was laid at the meeting in Patna," said RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan. "We have the simple formula of one to one fights and reduce the dispersal of votes. We have a higher percentage of votes than the BJP. They had gained only 37% votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha election which means that voters having an anti saffron mindset are much higher in numbers," Gagan added. Tensions between Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Russia's Wagner private militia group, and the nation's defense establishment reached a boiling point on Friday, sparking a crisis. Prigozhin vowed to retaliate against Russian military leaders, accusing Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of orchestrating a missile attack that resulted in significant casualties among his fighters. In response, the Kremlin promptly denied the attack and labeled Prigozhin's actions as mutiny. Putin's Authority Challenged This internal conflict represents a grave challenge to President Vladimir Putin's authority, rivaling the magnitude of the troop deployment to Ukraine 16 months ago. In a televised address to the nation, Putin condemned the rebellion by the Wagner forces and their leader, branding it as an act of "treason" and promising severe consequences. cre Trending Stories Wagner Group & Russia's Ukraine Invasion To comprehend the gravity of the situation, it is vital to delve into the Wagner Group, its role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the accusations of mutiny leveled against its leader. Founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2014, the Wagner Group once boasted around 50,000 mercenaries, many of whom were former prisoners, actively participating in the Ukrainian conflict. Earlier this year, the United States classified the group as a transnational criminal organization, leading to sanctions imposed by Australia, Canada, Japan, the UK, and the European Union. Wagner has been operational across various battlefields in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, consistently facing allegations of widespread human rights abuses. Prigozhin: 'Putin's Chef' Yevgeny Prigozhin, a 62-year-old Russian businessman and former convict, earned the moniker "Putin's chef" due to his catering companies' contracts with the Kremlin and his long-standing ties with President Putin. American authorities have linked him to the control of a troll farm known as the Internet Research Agency, notorious for its interference in the 2016 US presidential election. In 2022, Prigozhin finally admitted his connection to the Wagner Group after years of denying any involvement. Strained Relations: Prigozhin's Grievances While Prigozhin had long been considered one of Putin's trusted confidants, his relationship with the Russian president's military leadership has significantly deteriorated, especially in light of mounting casualties among Wagner recruits. Prigozhin publicly accused the defense ministry of failing to provide adequate support to his forces, often using provocative videos on social media. In May, he even threatened to withdraw his troops from the operation if they did not receive essential supplies, including ammunition, although he later backed down. Wagner's Crucial Role The Wagner Group's involvement in Putin's invasion can be attributed to the assistance it has provided. Despite a substantial increase in arms production, Putin admitted this month that Russian forces fighting in Ukraine still lack sufficient advanced weaponry. With heavy losses and poorly trained and equipped personnel, Russia has heavily relied on Wagner's forces for its ground offensive. In May, after more than 220 days of fighting, the group seized control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Prigozhin's Retaliates As the crisis escalates, Prigozhin has accused Russia's defense ministry of launching a missile attack on a Wagner personnel camp. In a subsequent audio message, he claimed that 25,000 of his men were prepared to join forces with the army if met with resistance, aiming to "end this mess." Reports have emerged suggesting that Prigozhin and his fighters have reached Rostov-on-Don, a strategically important military command base near the Russian-Ukrainian border. However, these reports remain unverified. Wagner Fighters in Rostov-on-Don The situation continues to evolve rapidly, with unverified reports indicating the presence of Wagner fighters in Rostov-on-Don, a city located near the Russian-Ukrainian border and known for its strategic military command base. As tensions escalate and the conflict unfolds, the fate of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group, and their strained relationship with the Kremlin hangs in the balance. Meet Sanjukta Parashar, an IPS officer from Assam, whose name strikes fear in the hearts of terrorists. Renowned for leading 16 major operations, she has become a symbol of bravery and dedication. Let's explore the remarkable story of this encounter specialist and her unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and justice. From Assam to Delhi: A Journey of Education Born and raised in Assam, Sanjukta Parashar completed her schooling in her home state. She pursued her graduation in Political Science from Indraprastha College, Delhi, and later obtained a postgraduate degree in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University. She further went on to earn an MPhil and a PhD in US Foreign Policy. cre Trending Stories IPS Officer: The Call of Duty Securing the 85th rank in the All India Civil Services Examination, Sanjukta Parashar joined the prestigious Indian Police Service in 2006. Choosing the Meghalaya-Assam cadre, she embarked on a career dedicated to maintaining law and order. Facing Challenges Head-On During her initial posting as an Assistant Commandant in Makum, Assam, Parashar swiftly gained recognition for her fearlessness. She was later tasked with controlling the violence between Bodos and Bangladeshis in Udalgiri. Leading from the Front As the Superintendent of Police in Sonitpur district, Parashar led a team of CRPF jawans, fearlessly engaging Bodo militants. Viral photos of her brandishing an AK-47 rifle alongside her team showcased her indomitable spirit and leadership. A Nightmare for Terrorists Sanjukta Parashar's reputation as a formidable officer grew with each successful operation. She eliminated 16 militants in just 15 months, arrested 64 others, and recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition. Her name became synonymous with terror for the militants in Assam. A Humanitarian at Heart Despite her relentless pursuit of criminals, Sanjukta Parashar finds time to engage in philanthropic work. She actively assists people in relief camps, embodying compassion and love for humanity. The Unwavering Spirit Despite receiving death threats from militant organizations, Parashar remains undeterred. Her unwavering dedication to the cause of justice and her fearlessness make her an inspiration to all. A Police Officer with a Heart Sanjukta Parashar emphasizes that she is humble and compassionate, and it is only the criminals who should fear her. Her commitment to maintaining law and order is driven by her love for society and her unwavering belief in justice. Conclusion: IPS Officer Sanjukta Parashar's journey exemplifies courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication to duty. As an encounter specialist, she has fearlessly confronted anti-social elements, making a lasting impact on the security landscape of Assam. Her selfless service and commitment to justice make her an inspiring figure for generations to come. New Delhi: Actor Jamie Foxx, the 55-year-old Oscar winner, has been missing since April 11, when he suffered a medical complication while filming the Netflix action comedy 'Back in Action' in Atlanta, Georgia, as per Page Six. Since his older daughter, Corinne Foxx, posted a statement on her Instagram the next day, there has been very little news. "We wanted to share that my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday," the statement said. "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. The family asks for privacy during this time." cre Trending Stories Page Six revealed that a family member said Foxx is 'recovering well,' but there is a growing concern in Hollywood that Foxx's silence will harm his future career. The fate of his new Netflix film 'Back in Action' is also in doubt. Foxx hasn't been seen since before the disaster. At the beginning of May, Foxx's Instagram account simply stated, "Appreciate all the love!!!" "I'm grateful." Corinne, revealed on May 12, a month after revealing her father's medical emergency, that her father was well enough to play pickle ball. Foxx is said to be recovering at a Chicago clinic that specializes in stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and cancer rehabilitation. Mike Tyson claimed the star had a stroke, but this has yet to be confirmed. His daughters Corinne and Annalise, both 14, have been seen at the clinic, as has Annalise's mother, Kristin Grannis. Corinne Foxx's mother, Corinne, told Page Six that she couldn't comment on her son's recovery. His representatives told Page Six on Friday that he is not providing any new information at this time. The park's opening is far from Foxx's only public appearance this spring and summer; in fact, he should have had a full promotional schedule, with three upcoming films. "God Is a Bullet," in which he plays The Ferryman, was quietly released in a small number of theatres this week, with no red carpet premiere. In August, he will co-star with Will Ferrell in the R-rated comedy 'Strays,' which opens in theatres on August 18. According to Page Six, Foxx was not present at the film's red carpet premiere last week, and the Instagram post sparked accusations that his daughter Corinne, who replied with a "prayer hands" emoji, was purposefully keeping fans in the dark. New Delhi: In India, AliExpress is no longer allowed. But up until recently, it was a popular website among Indian techies because the well-known online store supplied inexpensive technology goods. Through AliExpress, some of the devices that were unavailable in India could be ordered from China. A man from Delhi told a fascinating incident regarding a product he purchased from the website over four years ago, in the pre-covid era. Even though it took four years, the package arrived exactly in time, when he had assumed he would never receive it. Nitin Agarwal, a technician from Delhi, recently shared an astonishing occurrence on social media. He disclosed that, following a long four-year wait, a product he had ordered from AliExpress, a website for online shopping owned by Ali Baba, had finally been delivered to him in 2019. cre Trending Stories Agarwal acknowledged his astonishment and urged others not to give up hope in a tweet. He added that although AliExpress is currently prohibited in India, he had already made the transaction there. In June 2020, the Indian government outlawed AliExpress and 58 other Chinese apps, claiming security concerns. Indian consumers now find it challenging to purchase goods from AliExpress due to the platform's restriction. There are still a few options for ordering from AliExpress in India, though. Utilising a third-party service that delivers goods from AliExpress to India is one option. Although they frequently charge a fee for their services, these businesses might make ordering from AliExpress simpler. Using a VPN is another option for placing an order from AliExpress in India. Your IP address can be hidden via a VPN, giving the impression that you are in another nation. You may use this to access AliExpress and buy things. It is crucial to remember that the Indian government has issued a warning against using VPNs to access restricted apps. You run the danger of being punished for doing this. New Delhi: The first show of 'Weekend Ka Vaar' In Bigg Boss OTT 2 was here and it was completely lit. Host Salman Khan decided to take on several contestants for their acts in the past week and showed them a mirror. He also scolded Nawazuddin Siddiqui's estranged wife Aaliya Siddiqui for talking about her marital life in an attempt to bring this to camera. The actor told her that she has been trying to bring her own version of what happened in her marriage and has been constantly discussing it on the show. While Aaliya tried to resonate it, Salman gives her stern advice by telling her not to bring up her personal life on the show again. "Aaliya, please listen carefully. We have no interest in knowing about your personal life. If you think that coming to this show you will speak about your personal life then that is not happening. You have spoken a lot about it inside and outside the house. You have caught hold of everyone and shared your version so that you are seen and heard. But let me clear it to you that is not going to happen," he tells a shocked Aaliya. It is to be noted that Salman and Nawazuddin have worked together in 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and 'Kick'. cre Trending Stories Salman also confronted Akanksha Puri and accused her of setting a false narrative in the house. Salman said that Akanksha was faking it when she said that she felt 'unsafe' around Bebika when they were locked up in jail together. Salman said Akanksha portrayed that Bebika would hurt her physically and needed medical assistance from a doctor, thereby spreading a false narrative in the house. The superstar told the 'Mika Di Vohti' winner that she doesn't hold the qualifications to recommend medical assistance to anyone. While Akanksha still tried to keep her point saying, "Bebika does some things that I have never seen normally. Once she is normal, sometimes she is extremely out of control. I think she needs a session to open up and calm down." However, Salman taunts her saying, "You were also crying and the next moment you started dancing." MOSCOW: The rebellious Russian mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow before abruptly reversing course will move to neighboring Belarus and not face prosecution, the Kremlin said Saturday, as part of a deal to defuse a crisis that represented the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power. The charges against Yevgeny Prigozhin for mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped and the troops who joined him also will not be prosecuted, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced, and fighters from his Wagner Group who did not take part in the uprising will be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry. Putin had vowed to punish those behind the armed uprising led by his onetime protege, whose forces seized a key military facility in southern Russia before advancing on the capital. In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a 'betrayal' and 'treason'. In allowing Prigozhin and his forces to go free, Peskov said Putin's 'highest goal' was "to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation with unpredictable results". Moscow had braced for the arrival of the Wagner forces by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on the city's southern edge. Red Square was shut down, and the mayor urged motorists to stay off some roads. But after the deal was struck, Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Moscow, he had decided to retreat to avoid 'shedding Russian blood'. His troops were ordered back to their field camps in Ukraine, where they have been fighting alongside Russian regular soldiers. cre Trending Stories Prigozhin has demanded the ouster of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, long the target of his withering criticism for his conduct of the war in Ukraine. On Friday, he accused forces under Shoigu's command of attacking Wagner camps and killing 'a huge number of our comrades'. The Defense Ministry has denied this. Prigozhin did not say whether the Kremlin had responded to his demand. Peskov said the issue could not have been discussed during the negotiations, which were conducted by the president of Belarus, and is the 'exclusive prerogative of the commander in chief'. If Putin were to agree to Shoigu's ouster, it could be politically damaging for the president after he branded Prigozhin a backstabbing traitor. Early Saturday, Prigozhin's private army appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles (over 1,000 kilometers) south of Moscow, which runs Russian operations in Ukraine, Britain's Ministry of Defense said. A nighttime video from the city posted on Russian messaging app channels showed people cheering Wagner troops as they left Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin was seen riding one of the vehicles, and people greeted him and some ran to shake his hand as he lowered the window. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) south of Moscow. Authorities declared a 'counterterrorist regime' in Moscow and its surrounding region, enhancing security and restricting some movement. On the southern outskirts, troops erected checkpoints, arranged sandbags and set up machine guns. Crews dug up sections of highways to slow the march. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warned that traffic could be restricted in parts of the capital and declared Monday a non-working day for most residents. The dramatic developments came exactly 16 months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe's largest conflict since World War II, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions and reduced cities to rubble. Ukrainians hoped the Russian infighting would create opportunities for its army to take back territory seized by Russian forces. Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that even with a deal, Putin's position has probably been weakened and 'these events will have been of great comfort to the Ukrainian government and the military'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Saturday, shortly before Prigozhin announced his retreat, that the march exposed weakness in the Kremlin and 'showed all Russian bandits, mercenaries, oligarchs' that it is easy to capture Russian cities 'and, probably, arsenals'. Switching into Russian in his daily video address, Zelenskyy said 'the man from the Kremlin' was 'very afraid'. He repeated his calls for the West to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles. Prigozhin had vowed earlier that his fighters, whom he said number some 25,000, would not surrender because 'we do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy.' "Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the president was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland," he said in an audio message on his Telegram channel. He posted video of himself at the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and claimed his forces had taken control of the airfield and other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even 'a single gunshot'. The short-lived rebellion came as Russia is 'fighting the toughest battle for its future', Putin said, with the West piling sanctions on Moscow and arming Ukraine. "The entire military, economic and information machine of the West is waged against us," Putin said. State-controlled TV networks led their newscasts with Putin's statement and reported the tense situation in Rostov-on-Don. Broadcasters also carried statements from top Russian officials and lawmakers voicing support for Putin, condemning Prigozhin and urging him to back down. Chechnyan strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, who in the past has sided with Prigozhin in his criticisms of Russia's military, also expressed support for Putin's 'every word'. "The mutiny needs to be suppressed," Kadyrov said. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticized the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. In announcing the rebellion, Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking the Wagner camps in Ukraine with rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery. He alleged that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff, ordered the attacks following a meeting with Shoigu in which they decided to destroy the military contractor. The Defense Ministry denied attacking the camps. The 62-year-old Prigozhin, a former convict, has longstanding ties to Putin and won lucrative Kremlin catering contracts that earned him the nickname 'Putin's chef'. He gained attention in the U.S. When he and a dozen other Russian nationals were charged with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election victory. Wagner has sent military contractors to Libya, Syria, several African countries and eventually Ukraine. The rebellion appeared likely to further hinder Moscow's war effort in Ukraine, as Kyiv's forces probed Russian defenses in the initial stages of a counteroffensive. ISTANBUL, June 25 (Xinhua) -- More than 32 million tonnes of grain have been transported to the world markets through the Black Sea grain corridor since August 2022, a Turkish government minister said Sunday. Most of the grain was transported to China, Spain, Turkiye and Italy, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu was quoted by the Ihlas news agency as saying. The grain sent to African countries doubled in the past six months, accounting for 12 percent of the total amount, the minister noted, adding 290 out of 987 vessels loaded with grain were Turkish-flagged. Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in July 2022 brokered by Turkiye and the United Nations to resume grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports, which came to a halt after a conflict broke out between the two countries in February that year. An attendee carries a sugar painting during the Dragon Fest in New York, the United States, on June 24, 2023. A brand-new Chinese food and culture festival won New Yorkers' hearts and stomachs on Saturday with its debut on a section of a street at Washington Square Park in Lower Manhattan. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) by Xinhua writer Liu Yanan NEW YORK, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A brand-new Chinese food and culture festival won New Yorkers' hearts and stomachs on Saturday with its debut on a section of a street at Washington Square Park in Lower Manhattan. The festival showcased authentic Chinese food and culture like soup dumplings, dandan noodles, kebab, pastries, flower cakes, bingtang hulu (sugar-coated haws), jianbing (similar to a burrito), sugar paintings, stinky tofu and others from around 35 vendors. Foodies waited in long lines at some popular stands, and the waiting time for the jianbing event exceeded two hours. Summer showers didn't dampen New Yorkers' enthusiasm, and the street was fully crowded in the afternoon. Over 30,000 people joined the free event from 10 am to 6 pm (1400 GMT to 2200 GMT) on Saturday, according to Xu Xuan, founder of the festival, which is branded as Dragon Fest. Food is the best starting point for people to understand and appreciate Chinese culture, said Xu. Vendors from Qingmu Dessert Lab offered Chinese pastries and wore delicate traditional Chinese clothing known as the Hanfu. A set of four pastries was made to represent four seasons through ingredients collected in respective seasons, according to an associate with Qingmu Dessert Lab. Jianbing, a popular street food in China's capital Beijing, drew many people's interest as its vendor Gem Bing Shop is nearby. New Yorkers could also taste flower cake with ingredients imported from southwest China's Yunnan province. Meanwhile, staff members from the restaurant brand Mala Project were busy fulfilling orders for spicy dry pot, representing neo-Sichuan cuisine. The presence of Seattle-based frozen dumpling service MiLa at the festival illustrates the popularity of authentic Chinese food in the U.S. market. Its participation in the festival also marks the first large-scale physical promotion of the brand in New York. Founded in 2018, MiLa switched to online sales of frozen soup dumplings after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and then shipped them to customers across the United States upon its increasing popularity, said Zhang Xiaohan, brand marketing and partnership lead with MiLa. Zhang saw enormous potential for authentic Chinese food in the mainstream market, with MiLa starting to supply Costco Wholesale stores on the West Coast in June. Chinese cuisine is not merely fried dumplings, steamed buns or chow mein (fried noodles), nor does it mean American-style Chinese food, said Xu, the event founder. Xu told Xinhua that she mulled over organizing such a festival as early as 2019 to present people a one-stop experience of Chinese food. Moreover, people can also try bubble tea, Sichuan-style spicy chili fried chicken, fried skewers, egg waffles, Mochi ice cream and others. The festival is expected to be held at three other locations in Manhattan in August and September. A worker cooks a Jian Bing, or the Chinese crepe, during the Dragon Fest in New York, the United States, on June 24, 2023. A brand-new Chinese food and culture festival won New Yorkers' hearts and stomachs on Saturday with its debut on a section of a street at Washington Square Park in Lower Manhattan. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) People attend the Dragon Fest in New York, the United States, on June 24, 2023. A brand-new Chinese food and culture festival won New Yorkers' hearts and stomachs on Saturday with its debut on a section of a street at Washington Square Park in Lower Manhattan. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) An attendee takes photos of a bun during the Dragon Fest in New York, the United States, on June 24, 2023. A brand-new Chinese food and culture festival won New Yorkers' hearts and stomachs on Saturday with its debut on a section of a street at Washington Square Park in Lower Manhattan. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) BAGHDAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi military said on Saturday that an airstrike has killed all the militants in a hideout of the Islamic State (IS) militants in the northern province of Kirkuk. Based on intelligence reports, Iraqi warplanes carried out an airstrike on the hideout in a village near the town of al-Rashad, which is about 60 km south of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, according to a statement issued by the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command. After the airstrike, an Iraqi army force found bodies of IS militants in the hideout, including one wearing an explosive belt, along with weapons and other equipment, the statement said, without mentioning the number of the killed militants. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- China's national lawmakers will deliberate on draft laws on matters such as patriotic education and barrier-free environment construction as well as draft revisions to pieces including the Law on Administrative Review at its upcoming standing committee session. From June 26 to 28, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, will convene its third session in Beijing. During the session, a draft law on patriotic education will be submitted for deliberation for the first time, according to Zang Tiewei, a spokesperson for the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee. Noting the significance of the legislation move to rallying national morale and advancing national rejuvenation, Zang said the law will stipulate on the objective, guiding principle and overall requirements of patriotic education, as well as the leadership mechanism, working principles and content of patriotic education, together with supporting and safeguarding measures for patriotic education. At the session, a draft law on the construction of barrier-free environment will be submitted for the third reading. The latest version will be laser-focused on addressing prominent issues for seniors and people with disabilities, such as using larger and more friendly prints on product manuals and textbooks for them and boosting the coverage of barrier-free facilities in more public venues, said Zang. Draft revisions to the Law on Administrative Review will also be submitted for the second reading at the session. According to Zang, the new revisions will further facilitate citizens, legal entities and other organizations to apply for administrative review, in a bid to better safeguard their legitimate rights and interests. LAMU, Kenya, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Five Kenyans were killed and houses were torched after al-Shabaab militants struck two villages in Kenya's coastal county of Lamu on Saturday evening, the police and witnesses confirmed on Sunday. The police and witnesses said the attackers raided the villages around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, dragged the victims from their houses, and tied their hands and legs with ropes behind their backs before executing them. According to the police report, the victims of the Saturday night attack on Salama and Juhudi villages are all men, including a student. Witnesses said the student had come home for a half-term break. The police said a group of over 30 men in military regalia, armed with guns, machetes, and knives, struck early in the evening. They then ordered those present to lie down and not to raise the alarm as they led women to different rooms and later let them free. The attackers killed the five men and stole some food items, chicken, and goats before setting a store ablaze. "The assailants disappeared toward the forest," the police said. Lamu County Commissioner Louis Rono said security teams rushed to the scene moments later, but no arrests were made. Lamu County has been in the spotlight for some years due to increased scathing attacks by al-Shabaab militants that have left hordes of security officers and civilians dead. DAR ES SALAAM, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The Tanzania Judicial Commission said on Friday it has sacked 32 magistrates in the last eight years for lack of discipline. Ibrahim Juma, the chairperson of the commission who is also Tanzania's chief justice, said during the same period starting from 2015 to 2022, about 37 magistrates were retired on public interest. Juma announced disciplinary actions taken against unruly magistrates during a meeting convened by the Tanzania Judicial Commission in Tabora region. The meeting was convened to enable judiciary stakeholders to give their views and discuss ways of improving the judiciary. Juma said during the period under review, the Tanzania Judicial Commission reviewed 99 complaints related to the conduct of magistrates. The Tanzania Judicial Commission has six members overseeing 5,000 judiciary servants, including 1,500 magistrates and judges. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (R) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Cairo, Egypt, June 25, 2023. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Narendra Modi on Sunday signed a joint declaration, upgrading the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, the Egyptian presidency announced. (Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua) CAIRO, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday signed a joint declaration, upgrading the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, the Egyptian presidency announced. The upgrade of the ties between Egypt and India mirrors their joint civilization heritage and willingness to promote the relationship, said Ahmed Fahmy, spokesperson of the presidency. During their meeting, Sisi and Modi discussed ways to promote cooperation in the fields of communication, information technology, pharmaceutical industries, higher education, new and renewable energy, tourism, and culture. The two sides also talked about expanding trade and boosting Indian investment in Egypt, said Fahmy. The two-day visit is Modi's first trip to Egypt as India's prime minister, who also invited Sisi to attend the G20 meetings scheduled to take place in New Delhi in September. On Saturday, during his meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Modi noted that Egypt and India were fast moving toward the trade target of 12 billion U.S. dollars. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (2nd R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd L) sign a joint declaration in Cairo, Egypt, June 25, 2023. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Narendra Modi on Sunday signed the joint declaration, upgrading the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, the Egyptian presidency announced. (Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (R) meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Cairo, Egypt, June 25, 2023. Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Narendra Modi on Sunday signed a joint declaration, upgrading the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, the Egyptian presidency announced. (Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Xinhua) CANBERRA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government should adopt ambitious electric vehicle (EV) targets to achieve its climate targets, a peak industry group has warned. In a recent submission to the federal government, the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) -- a national body representing car manufacturers, charging station suppliers, importers and retailers -- said vehicle pollution limits were needed to ensure the transport sector does its "fair share" of reducing Australia's carbon emissions. Australia has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 43 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Transport emissions in the country, driven mostly by car use, fell 13.2 percent to 86.5 million tons of greenhouse gas in the 12 months to March 2021 amid strict COVID-19 restrictions, according to the Sydney Morning Herald report. However, transport emissions bounced back to 93.1 million tons in the year to September 2022. Only about 3.8 percent of new vehicles sold in Australia in 2022 were electric, compared to about 20 percent in Europe. The EVC called for a national globally competitive fuel efficiency target to incentivize car manufacturers to export more low and zero-emission vehicles to Australia. It said a failure to cut transport emissions would increase the burden on other industries to meet the 2030 target. AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A prize-giving ceremony for Chinese proficiency of secondary school students was hosted by the Confucious Institute in Auckland on the occasion of the Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday. The 16th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition, held first time in person since the pandemic, attracted more than 100 students from 20 schools in Auckland. Three third-place awards, two second-place awards and one first-place award were presented to junior and senior student groups at the prize-giving ceremony. Colden Sapir, the first-place winner from the senior student group, said in his speech that learning Chinese has allowed him to try delicious Chinese food, make friends with Chinese people, and broadened his knowledge base. "I encourage all Chinese language learners to keep pursuing your dream in Chinese and be persistent. Your hard work will pay off, and you are living up to your youth," said Sapir. Chinese Consul-General in Auckland Chen Shijie encouraged the contestants to practice Chinese and stay passionate about the Chinese language and culture. "As the theme of this competition goes, 'fly high with Chinese,' one day, you will fly high enough to become envoys of China-New Zealand friendship!" said Chen. "This is what Global Civilization Initiative is all about. We seek wisdom and nourishment from different civilizations, learn from each other's strengths, and make progress together so that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations will become the driving force for the progress of human society and the bond for maintaining world peace," said the consul general. Through this event, China's cultural heritage and traditions are shared with Kiwi friends. Bit by bit, this kind of cultural exchange will lay a solid foundation for friendly cooperation between China and New Zealand, Chen said. Patrick English, a member of the Confucius Institute in Auckland Advisory Board, said in his speech that in this day of AI, things could be translated or interpreted in a second, but that's no guarantee of understanding and comprehension. "Maori has a saying: 'He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata,' meaning 'What is the most important thing in the world? It is about people, it is people, and it is people,'" said English, noting that the heart of the Confucious Institute in New Zealand is language and learning. Cultural performances by Mandarin language assistants from the Confucius Institute in Auckland, introduction videos of the Dragon Boat Festival and traditional food Zongzi, or glutinous rice dumplings, were staged to celebrate the festive occasions. ISLAMABAD, June 25 (Xinhua) -- At least one person was killed and 11 others injured on Sunday in an attack on a house in Bannu district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police told media. Police said that the incident took place in Mera Khel area of the district early in the morning, when unknown men attacked the residence of a local citizen with a couple of hand grenades, followed by firing, and fled. The explosion left men, women and children injured, said police, adding that the injured were shifted to a local hospital. According to the reports, police registered the case while the complainant told them that he had no enmity with anyone. No group claimed responsibility for the attack yet. NEW DELHI, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and two others trapped Sunday in two separate building collapses in India's financial capital Mumbai, officials said. Two people were killed and three others were injured on Sunday afternoon after a portion of a building collapsed on St Braz Road near Nanavati Hospital in Vile Parle Gaothan area of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra. Shortly after receiving the news about the building collapse, authorities sent the fire brigade, police and civic officials to the spot to carry out rescue work. "This afternoon a portion of a building's balcony collapsed here. The rescuers pulled out five people from the debris and removed them to a nearby hospital," said an official of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the city's civic body. "Of the five, doctors declared two (senior citizens) brought dead on arrival and admitted three others for the treatment." Separately, a portion of a building collapsed in Ghatkopar area of the city in the morning. According to BMC officials, four individuals trapped on the third floor have been successfully rescued. However, two persons were still believed to be trapped under the debris. "The rescuers of the fire brigade and National Disaster Response Force personnel are carrying out the rescue work," Rashmee Lokhande, chief officer of the Disaster Management Department of the BMC, said. The building collapses have taken place at a time when heavy spells of monsoon showers hit Mumbai, triggering waterlogging and inundation in some areas. Officials said while the rescue operation at Vile Parle was called off, efforts at Ghatkopar were still going on until the last reports poured in. NICOSIA, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus will replace its arms systems within the next five years, changing the Russian system with modern systems from Western countries, Defense Minister Michalis Georgallas said on Saturday. "All old weapons systems of the National Guard (army) will be replaced within the next five years," Georgallas said during a live interview with state-run CyBC radio. He said modern defensive systems will be acquired in line with plans to upgrade the operational potential of the National Guard. Faced with an arms embargo by Western countries since the early 1960s, Cyprus had to rely on Russian military provisions to arm its military forces. National Guard Chief Demokritos Zervakis told CyBC radio that servicing the Russian arms systems has been difficult following the European Union's embargo on Russia because of its military operation in Ukraine. The United States recently fully lifted its decades-long arms embargo on Cyprus and said that the island could purchase U.S. weapons systems for its army. The Cypriot government said that it has placed an order for a dozen Airbus H145M-type light attack and transport helicopters to replace the Russian helicopters operated by the National Guard. Description Princess Ida Comes to Commack The battle of the sexes will break out into open warfare when the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island brings its 2023 production of Gilbert & Sullivans classic Princess Ida to the Star Playhouse at Suffolk Y/JCC on Sunday, June 25, at 3 p.m. The production will feature a 23-piece orchestra. Princess Idawhich debuted in 1884 at Londons Savoy opera, with book and lyrics by W.S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivanis a favorite with Gilbert & Sullivan aficionados, with its score in particular regarded as perhaps Sullivans greatest. The current production is the Light Opera Companys first since 2007. More dramatic in tone than any other Gilbert & Sullivan work, the opera is set in Eastern Europe during the 14th or 15th centuries, and its story concerns the dynastic rivalry of two neighboring kingsnotably King Gama of Hungary, whose daughter (the title character) has fled an arranged marriage to the son of King Hildebrand and instead set up a college for women, where she teaches the then-unthinkable principles of womens rights and equality for all, regardless of rank, gender, wealth or nationality. In the end the story boils down to whether the operas young people are doomed to grow into their parents, repeating all their mistakes, or if they can escape the machinations of their parents, move beyond hatred and violence, and forge a new future for themselves. In the new production of the opera, Kara Vertucci of Lindenhurst plays Princess Ida and Joseph Anthony Smith of Freeport plays Prince Hilarion, with Chris Jurak of Brightwaters as King Gama and Ben Salers of Northport as King Hildebrand. Lady Psyche is played by Patricia Gallagher of West Hempstead, and Lady Blanche by Terry Hochler of East Meadow, with Alyssa M. Mener of Massapequa Park as Melissa; Jordan Breslow of Bellmore plays Florian and Richard Risi of Locust Valley plays Cyril. Idas brothers, the formidable Warriors Three, are played by Henry Horstmann of Lindenhurst (Arac), John Benvenuto of Floral Park (Guron) and Marc Eliot Stein of Brooklyn (Scynthius). Tamara Shyngle of Brentwood plays Sacharissa, Claudia Arroyo of Commack is Chloe and Hanna Roth of Upper Brookville plays Ada. The director is Gayden Wren, and the music director is Leonard Lehrman. Princess Ida is unlike any other Gilbert & Sullivan opera, said Wren, a longtime member of the company and also the author of an acclaimed book about Gilbert & Sullivan. Its Shakespearean in its scope, and its humorwhich combines farce, slapstick, satire and burlesqueis in the service of a story of unique emotional power. Ida and Hilarion are two sides of the same coin, young aristocrats whove been pawns in their fathers rivalry almost since they were born. The story pits them as enemies, but as the opera progresses they begin to see something of themselves in each other, and to sense the outlines of a future different from the one theyve always been told awaits them. Ultimately this is a story of generational conflict, of young people trying to get past the mistakes and hatreds of their parents, trying to forge a new world they might actually live in together, Wren concluded. When people ask me what its about, I say its about a prince, a princess and an arranged marriage ... but also about climate change, racial and ethnic rivalries, inequality, social justice and pretty much anything else thats going on in the world today. Its funny, its beautiful, but theres no Gilbert & Sullivan story thats more directly relevant to the world of today. Princess Ida will be presented on Sunday, June 25, at 3 p.m. at the Star Playhouse at Suffolk Y/JCC, 74 Hauppauge Road in Commack. Admission is $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and students. For further information, call (516) 619-7415 or visit www.gaslocoli.org. The Restaurant Group Activist investors have launched a fresh attack on the parent company of Wagamama after its finance chief stepped down and its share price plunged by 20pc in one month. The Hong Kong-based hedge fund Oasis Management, which has built up a 14pc stake in the noodle chains parent company The Restaurant Group (TRG), fired a salvo at the company for promoting a finance chief with close links to its boss Andy Hornby. Oasis, now TRGs second-biggest shareholder, said it was concerning that Mark Chambers had worked with TRGs chief executive Mr Hornby for years prior to TRG and had not held a chief financial officer role for a decade. Daniel Wosner, MD and head of Europe at Oasis, told The Telegraph: The company appointed, in a matter of weeks, a candidate who has worked with the CEO at other companies, and not in a CFO role. Was this truly a robust and healthy process to find the best candidate for the company? TRGs chief executive, Andy Hornby, has been locked in a battle with Oasis since the end of 2022 - Richard Green Mr Chambers worked under Mr Hornby from 2012 at the gambling firm Coral (which became Ladbrokes Coral and eventually GVC Group), which Mr Hornby led, before joining TRG in 2019. Mr Chambers joined TRG in 2020. Mr Chambers, who is currently TRGs leisure and concessions boss, will officially take over as chief financial officer in September. He replaces Kirk Davis, who has been the restaurant companys finance chief for five years. It comes shortly after non-executive director Alex Gersh, who chaired TRGs audit committee, also said he was stepping down, citing other work commitments. A spokesman for TRG said: The TRG board ran a thorough internal and external search process. It comes as TRGs chief executive Mr Hornby who was at the helm of Halifax Bank of Scotland when it collapsed in 2008 has been locked in a battle with Oasis since the end of 2022. Oasis has singled out the companys business strategy, low share price, debt levels and the high salaries paid to Mr Hornby and other top executives and heaped pressure on the board. Other activists have joined the fray since, including the New York-based funds Irenic Capital and Coltrane Asset Management, as well as the British Virgin Islands-based TMR Capital, which is thought to own just 1,000 shares but has met with Mr Hornby and chairman Ken Hanna. Over the last five years TRGs share price has dropped by around 80pc as it struggled to recover from the pandemic. It has also had to contend with the surging cost of everything from energy to ingredients, and, although its sales grew in 2022, losses more than doubled, hitting 86.6m. It has closed a swathe of underperforming sites this year. Mr Hornby, who was awarded a pay package of 792,000 last year as well as 1.4 million shares, narrowly won a vote on executive pay at the companys AGM last month after the companys biggest shareholder, Columbia Threadneedle, threw its support behind the board. Almost half of TRGs shareholders voted against its pay report. Oasis previously called his pay package unpalatable and disproportionate. However, since the meeting with shareholders the value of TRG shares has continued to fall, dropping by more than 20pc. Activists suggested this was linked to shareholder dissatisfaction. Derek Vago, strategic advisor at TMR Capital, said: Theyre quite clearly under huge pressure, the share price is dropping pretty fast. And I think its a reflection of the fact that people were not happy with the resolutions. Mr Wosner added: Its really concerning. Theres been a big battle [on remuneration]. The register has changed significantly into the AGM and now again post AGM. It is the Chairs responsibility to look after the best interests of shareholders and he is aware there is significant shareholder dissatisfaction. Both Oasis and Mr Vago have asked for seats on the board. However, this has not been granted by TRG. The TRG spokesman added: In recent months we have received public support from a number of our leading long-term shareholders, enjoyed a positive start to the year, set out a clear three-year margin improvement plan and are firmly focused on delivery. All consumer share prices have been under pressure over the last month and our share price remains up 16pc since the start of the year. 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 ship fleet of the Azerbaijani Navy will be updated, new reconnaissance systems will be purchased. Azerbaijani Navy commander, Vice Admiral Subhan Bakirov told media, Azernews reports. According to him, meetings are being held with advanced defense industry companies on the renewal of the ship's fleet, the acquisition of system, surveillance, intelligence, and communications. "Some of the projects named will be phased in in the near future," the Vice Admiral said. Amazon may be the largest US retailer in 2024, according to JPMorgan analysts Amazon (AMZN) is set to hit a major milestone in 2024: Becoming the largest retailer in the US, according to JPMorgan analysts Doug Anmuth and Bryan M. Smilek. If this comes to pass, Amazon will be unseating Walmart (WMT) as the country's largest retailer. It would be a seismic shift, one driven by increased e-commerce penetration, faster delivery times, and the stickiness of Amazon Prime. JPMorgan estimates show that, in 2023, Amazon's gross merchandise volume, or GMV, will grow 11.6% year-over-over to $477 billion. This kind of growth shows the sort of resilience that Wall Street has been hoping to see out of e-commerce businesses, which had a tough 2022. Though e-commerce businesses like Amazon saw major booms during the pandemic, last year saw a pullback. It was the first year since 2009 that US e-commerce grew less than 10%, the analysts noted, adding just 8.5% year-over-year, "likely driven by macro pressures, the resurgence of [brick-and-mortar] retailers, and the shift toward omnichannel retail following the pandemic," Anmuth and Smilek wrote on June 20. This year, Amazon's GMV is growing due to "solid growth in under-penetrated categories" like grocery and apparel, "faster delivery speeds, with 2023 tracking toward Amazons fastest delivery speeds ever," and the "Prime flywheel," the idea that the company's much-discussed subscription service builds momentum at every step in the experience, the analysts wrote. Amazon's e-commerce business will also benefit from increased business-to-business capabilities, new fintech offerings like Buy With Prime, and estimated growth in the number of third-party sellers operating in the company's marketplace, they added. JPMorgan estimates that there will be about 300 million Prime members globally by the end of this year. In 2021, then-CEO Jeff Bezos said the company had "more than 200 million Prime members worldwide." Amazon also has a massive grip on the e-commerce marketplace and, at the end of 2023, JPMorgan analysts expect the company's e-commerce market share to be 42.2%, an increase of 106 basis points year-over-year. View of delivery vans at Amazon Hub in North Las Vegas (DeeCee Carter/MediaPunch /IPX) JPMorgan's bullishness on Amazon also ties back to the belief that the company will leverage generative AI in its e-commerce operations, suggesting that a "ChatGPT-style product search would create an interactive conversational experience" which the analysts believe would "enable Amazon other retailers to provide a more personalized customer experience" and that AI could also "could enable Amazon and other retailers to leverage a breadth of customer purchase history and data and enhance personalized recommendations." Big tech government scrutiny There's a catch, however: in recent months, so-called "big tech" companies, Amazon included, are seeing increased scrutiny from the federal government. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said he is investigating what he called Amazon's "abysmal safety record" and, though it's far from the first time Sanders has gone after Amazon, it's certainly one of the most formal, and is unlikely to be the last. Additionally, last week the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Amazon, alleging that the company has been tricking customers into signing up for Amazon Prime and making it harder to cancel those subscriptions. The lawsuit is the byproduct of an FTC investigation that began back in 2021. For Amazon, it's a gut-punch of a lawsuit, alleging that the company violated several consumer protection laws and that the court should issue an injunction to stop Amazon's Prime subscription practices. This new Amazon lawsuit comes on the heels of FTC actions against many of tech's biggest names, including Alphabet (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META), and Apple (APPL). 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. The Florida Tomato Exchange said Mexico-based growers continue to dump tomatoes into the U.S. and undercut the domestic market. (Photo: Shutterstock) Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Florida tomato growers want the U.S. to terminate a Mexico trade deal; a Texas border bridge is shut down temporarily by migrant crossings; Union Pacific will provide rail access to an Arizona industrial park; and Tesla issues a second recall for the electric Semi truck. Florida tomato growers want US to terminate Mexico trade deal A trade group is calling on the U.S. to end the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico, saying it has failed to protect Florida growers against unfair trade practices. The Florida Tomato Exchange (FTE) said Mexico-based growers continue to dump tomatoes into the U.S. selling them for less than it costs to produce them and alleging that the cheaper imports undercut the domestic market. Despite the good faith efforts of the Commerce Department over the last four years, the 2019 Suspension Agreement has not been able to close the loopholes that have always been a problem, Michael Schadler, the tomato exchanges executive vice president, said in a statement. The FTE recently filed a request with the Commerce Department to end the agreement because it has failed to stop unfairly traded Mexican tomatoes from destroying the U.S. tomato industry, according to a news release. Its become clear that these agreements are simply not enforceable, at least when it comes to the tomato trade with Mexico, Schadler said. Suspension agreements might be an effective tool for products that can be kept in storage until market conditions improve, but for highly perishable items like fresh tomatoes, there is just too much incentive to evade the reference prices when markets are oversupplied. Tomatoes sold in the U.S. from Mexico are controlled by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Tomato Suspension Agreement, which sets minimum pricing and regulates sales between growers and importers. Florida growers have been pushing for more restrictions on Mexican-grown tomatoes for years. Since 1996, the U.S. and Mexico have negotiated five separate agreements regarding tomato imports. In 2019, the FTE lobbied for stricter quality control on Mexican-grown tomatoes and more enforcement of import pricing. As part of the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement, Mexico-based growers agreed not to sell tomatoes below a reference price, a seasonably adjusted floor price at which Mexican tomatoes cant fall underneath and still be exported to the U.S. The 2019 agreement was supposed to protect U.S. tomato growers by eliminating the injurious effects of Mexican tomatoes, as well as price suppression and undercutting, according to a news release from the Department of Commerce. The departments action brought the Mexican growers to the negotiating table and led to a result that protects U.S. tomato producers from unfair trade, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement. It also removes major uncertainties for the Mexican growers and their workers. Following the signing of the 2019 agreement, the FTE said the deal was a step in the right direction to stop further injury to American farmers caused by dumped Mexico tomatoes. In 1994, U.S. tomato growers supplied about 80% of the U.S. market while Mexico accounted for 20%, according to the FTE. Today, Mexicos share of the U.S. market is almost 70% while U.S. producers have approximately 30%. In 2022, Mexico exported $2.7 billion worth of tomatoes to the U.S., according to the countrys Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Laredo customs district in South Texas which includes Laredos World Trade Bridge and the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in Pharr accounts for the majority of tomato imports from Mexico, followed by the border crossing in Nogales, Arizona. The Laredo, Texas, customs district accounts for the majority of tomato imports arriving from Mexico to the U.S. Pictured is Laredos World Trade Bridge. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) While growers in Florida are urging the U.S. to end the 2019 agreement, officials for the Nogales-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) said killing the agreement would only result in harming American consumers. The FTE has been making the same false claims for years, but when pressed to present evidence in regulatory proceedings, they have failed to do so because their claims are untrue, nothing but propaganda intended to skew the political process to their advantage, regardless of the cost to consumers, retailers, and even other American farmers, Lance Jungmeyer, FPAA president, said in a news release. The duties that are being sought by the FTE would harm U.S. importers, but would ultimately be paid by American consumers who want better tomatoes, not higher prices, reduced varieties, and lower quality tomatoes. Texas border bridge shut down temporarily by migrant crossings Migrant issues forced the closure of the Veterans International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas, for about an hour Thursday. The commercial cargo facilities at the bridge were closed from 6 to 7 p.m., according to Armando Taboada, assistant director of field operations at Customs and Border Protections Laredo Field Office. The Veterans International Bridge resumed normal operations after 7 p.m., Taboada said in an email to the trade community on Friday. The Laredo field office and port directors continue to monitor the migrant situation and are ready to implement our business resumption contingency plans. Truck and railroad shipments continue to be consistent and increasing. Veterans International Bridge spans the border between the cities of Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico. Migrant issues forced the closure of the Veterans International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas, for about an hour Thursday. (Photo: US Customs and Border Protection) Union Pacific to provide rail access to Arizona industrial park Union Pacific (UP) railroad announced it will provide rail service to the new Buckeye Industrial Rail Park in Buckeye, Arizona. The 260-acre rail park is zoned for distribution, logistics, heavy manufacturing and technology development. Located 40 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the rail park provides access to several major highways, according to a news release. The parks first tenant, Rehrig Pacific Co., recently broke ground on a 260,000-square-foot injection molding plastics manufacturing plant. Rehrig Pacifics groundbreaking represents the first of many exciting opportunities to serve this new industrial park, Shelly Huckfeldt, UPs manager of industrial development, said in a statement. Tesla issues 2nd recall for electric Semi truck Automaker Tesla recently issued a voluntary recall of 36 of its all-electric Class 8 Semi trucks to fix a software update to ensure the side door warning system works properly. Officials for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that the door-open warning on the trucks dash only illuminates if the parking brake is disengaged. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards require the warning to be illuminated any time the door is open. Tesla issued its first voluntary recall in March due to a parking brake issue. Production of the Semi was supposed to ramp up to as many as 50,000 units starting in 2024. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently said large-scale production of the truck would not begin until 2025, citing battery supply chain constraints. Watch: How do you build a tech roadmap? Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney. More articles by Noi Mahoney Demand for global supply chain intelligence continues to rise Toyota investing $328M in Mexico to build hybrid pickups National truck dealership exits Texas, blames state regulations The post Borderlands: Florida tomato growers want US to terminate Mexico trade deal appeared first on FreightWaves. By Indranil Sarkar and Chandini Monnappa BENGALURU (Reuters) - Fresh troubles at Indian edtech startup Byju's this week have escalated concerns among employees who were already uncertain about their future after several rounds of job-cuts, more than a dozen current and former staff told Reuters. Auditor Deloitte and three prominent board members severed ties with the Bengaluru-headquartered firm on Thursday, raising further questions about the once high-flying company's financial health and governance practices. Byju's has already let go of several thousand employees this year due to slowing demand and it is locked in a legal battle with its lenders and faces regulatory scrutiny, even as its valuation has been slashed by at least one marquee investor. "Morale is at an all-time low. Literally every person has a job portal open on their laptop at all times. Everyone wants to leave desperately before they are asked to pack up overnight," said a senior manager at Byju's, requesting anonymity. "Right now the situation is so dismal, subordinates are sitting with their managers and job hunting." Several employees, all of whom requested anonymity, said they had received no memos about the exits of auditor Deloitte and the board members. A Byju's spokesperson did not respond to Reuters queries on staff morale, the lack of communication from management or other issues raised by employees. After initially denying the board exits, Byju's late on Friday confirmed in a statement that a "few" investors had vacated their board seats. "It's all been eerily quiet so far," said the manager, adding that the lack of communication from the company's leadership was heightening employee concerns. The edtech firm, valued at about $22 billion early last year, has laid off thousands of employees since October to cut costs, after seeing demand for online tutoring drop following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the employees that spoke to Reuters said performance incentives, bonuses and appraisals had stalled amid the turmoil. "The general sentiment is that the company is struggling," said one analyst at the company. "Almost 90% of us, myself included, are waiting for a performance appraisal which hasn't happened." A former employee, citing conversations with managers who are still at Byju's, said many "are insecure about their future, because top leaders have not been in regular touch with them for about four- to six-weeks." Another source, who left Byju's last month, said: "People count each day anticipating layoffs, today I may be safe, tomorrow I may not. No one is working there out of choice anymore, but due to financial commitments, or because they haven't yet found another job." Deloitte on Friday declined further comment on cutting ties with Byju's, and the board members either did not respond to phone calls or were not reachable. (Reporting by Indranil Sarkar and Chandini Monnappa; Additional reporting by Chris Thomas, Dhanya Skariachan, Arpan Varghese, Yuvraj Malik, Seher Dareen, Juveria Tabassum, Hritam Mukherjee, Navya Mittal, Biplob Kumar Das, Manvi Pant, Chandni Shah and Akriti Sharma; Editing by Tom Hogue) Canal District Wines at the Worcester Public Market. 166 While the License Commission approved moving Maker to Main's package malt and wine license to its new location at 166 Harding St., a nearby wine vendor and the executive director of the Worcester Public Market feared it could crowd the market for wine in the area. Maker to Main went before the License Commission with a request to move the package store license. Olivia Scanlon, co-owner of Canal District Wines in the Worcester Public Market said Maker to Main does not need to sell wine and beer to succeed as a grocer since it offers a variety of products. Julia Nadler, owner of 413 Cheese & Eatery in Sturbridge 413 A retail shop primarily focused on carrying local and domestic artisanal cheeses opened earlier this year in Sturbridge, with owner Julia Nadler running the day-to-day operation. The business, 413 Cheese & Eatery, is located at 413 Main St., once occupied by Jimmy Ds Ice Cream and Sandwich Shoppe. Nadler signed a lease in 2021 and began using the commercial kitchen at the property in 2022 to help with her other business Elegant Taste Catering & Events. The cheese shop officially opened in February. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday. Stephen Loya of Fitchburg works to remove old chairs from the 200 level at the DCU Center. $7M When it comes to renovations, the DCU Center doesnt take a backseat to anybody. Last week, the ASM Global-managed and City of Worcester-owned DCU Center started replacing all seats and telescopic risers on the 100 level, along with all seating in levels 200 and 300. The nearly 1,300 seats that made up the 300 section were added to the Worcester arena when it was still called the Centrum, back in August 1988. The $7 million enhancement project is scheduled is expected to finish by mid-October. The last time the arena installed new seats was 2001. The Slater Building on Main Street. 390 The Slater Building, a downtown landmark since 1907, could become the latest apartment hub in the city as its being eyed by a Boston-based developer for mixed-use redevelopment. WinnDevelopment, a branch of WinnCompanies, is looking to purchase the 10-story building at 390 Main St. to renovate for mixed use with affordable and middle-income housing, according to the developers spokesman, Ed Cafasso. The company will look to use 30,000 square feet of space for commercial purposes. Commerce Bank and Trust Co., a tenant since 1971, would continue to call Slater home. Cafasso added that WinnDevelopment would look to use historic tax credits to preserve the building's exterior. This house at 44 Sears Road in Southborough is on the market for $2.7 million. $2.7M It may be near Boston, Providence and several vacation areas, but 44 Sears Road feels like it's a "million miles" away from anything else. That's how Realtor Dee Kerner, of the Black Horse Group in Sudbury, describes a $2.7 million Southborough home that just came on the market. The home was designed by notable architect James Johnson of Rochester, New York. Its asking price is nearly three times that of the median sales price ($910,000) for a single-family home sold in Southborough through the first four months of this year, according to The Warren Group. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Business Matters: Central Mass. by the Numbers Some of the biggest names in finance are making new bets on cryptocurrencies, adding competition and momentum to an upstart industry that is under increasing pressure from US regulators. The world's largest money manager, BlackRock (BLK), wants to start a new exchange-traded fund that would use bitcoin as an underlying asset. Two other sizable money managers, Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab (SCHW), are backing a new cryptocurrency exchange with Citadel Securities. And one of the world's biggest lenders, Deutsche Bank, wants to operate a crypto custody business that would hold digital assets for its clients. These endorsements from institutions that have a track record on Wall Street are helping to push the value of cryptocurrencies higher, especially bitcoin (BTC-USD). The worlds largest cryptocurrency rose to its highest price in a year on Friday, to $31,389, after climbing above $30,000 for the first time since April. Through Friday bitcoin had risen 81% year to date. Other cryptocurrencies also surged this week, including ether (ETH-USD) and Avalanche's AVAX (AVAX-USD) token. The total market capitalization for crypto assets reached $1.2 trillion on Friday, 14% higher than where it stood a week earlier. Rising peril This new interest from mainstream financial institutions comes at a time of rising peril for an industry that struggled to regain its footing following the 2022 implosion of cryptocurrency exchange FTX and the regulatory crackdown that followed. The Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this month filed lawsuits against the biggest crypto exchanges in the US and the world, Coinbase (COIN) and Binance, alleging they both allowed digital currencies to trade on their platforms that should have been registered with the agency. That stoked new concerns that it could become more difficult to trade certain digital assets. Since the beginning of 2023 the SEC has charged 15 different crypto actors with violating securities laws. A surprise turnaround in sentiment about the industry started June 15, when BlackRock, which controls more than $9 trillion in assets, filed paperwork with the SEC to create a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Such a fund would be tagged to the value of the original digital asset instead of merely tracking bitcoin futures. Coinbase would be the custodian for the bitcoin holdings. "I think there's an element of we need institutional custodians to step in and play roles and participate in digital token economies," BlackRocks head of strategic partnerships Joseph Chalom said Thursday at the Coinbase State of Crypto Summit in partnership with the FT. The value of bitcoin soared on the announcement. Other institutional players such as Invesco and Wisdom Tree Investments quickly followed by renewing spot bitcoin ETF applications they had previously submitted to regulators. The efforts still face a significant hurdle. The SEC has denied 27 prior applications to create spot bitcoin ETFs since 2013, arguing the products are vulnerable to market manipulation. Wisdom Tree, in fact, was turned away in 2021. One asset manager, Grayscale Investments, is suing the SEC because it wasn't allowed to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot bitcoin offering. 'Conflicts of interest' Another catalyst for the industry came this week when a new cryptocurrency exchange that has backing from Citadel, Fidelity and Charles Schwab said it had begun executing trades. The venture, EDX Markets, began discussing its plans in late 2022 and touting itself as an operation that would "remove significant conflicts of interest that affect existing cryptocurrency exchanges." It made the same point again last week, citing a "non-custodial model designed to mitigate conflicts of interest." It won't handle digital assets owned by customers, instead running a marketplace where buyers and sellers deal with each other directly. As part of FTX's collapse last year it was revealed that an affiliated trading firm used customer assets to make its own trades. The SEC has also alleged that Binance misused customer funds, a charge Binance denies. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Earlier this month SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a briefing with reporters that a standard business model for crypto exchanges is "built on conflicts," "limited disclosure and at times deception." Jamil Nazarali, CEO of EDX, said in an interview that "FTX just validated our business model." What EDC is doing, he added, is "taking the best of the digital world, 24 by seven trading, many of the innovations of blockchain and combining it with the investor protections in traditional finance." EDX says it will offer trading in just four cryptocurrenciesbitcoin, ether, litecoin and bitcoin cash. None of those assets have been deemed securities by the SEC, allowing EDX to potentially sidestep some of the problems encountered by Coinbase and Binance. Together those exchanges allow the trading of 19 digital currencies that the SEC has labeled as securities, meaning they need to be registered with the agency. In total the agency has designated 55 cryptocurrencies as securities in various lawsuits, according to data compiled by Cryptorank.io. Coinbase is fighting the suit and denies the SEC's claims. On Thursday its CEO Brian Armstrong did not sound worried while speaking at a crypto conference in New York. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images) Instead he said in the next five to seven years the Coinbase platform could turn into a "superapp' like WeChat, which is used in Asia for everything from messaging to banking to ordering food. "Despite some negative rhetoric, headlines, this industry is moving forward," he said. Roger Bayston, head of digital assets for Franklin Templeton, said the scrutiny from regulators is necessary. "As much as it's been bumpy, regulatory clarity really is clearing the decks for the adoption of standards that will allow capital to flow," he told Yahoo Finance. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Technology stocks are having a bumper year. Despite a recent wobble, the share price of the Big FiveAlphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsofthas jumped by 60% since January, when measured in an equally weighted basket (see chart 1). The price of shares in one big chipmaker, Nvidia, has tripled and in another, AMD, almost doubled. Their price-to-earnings ratios (which measures how much the markets think a company is worth relative to its profits) are ten times that of the median firm in the s&p 500. The main reason for the surge is the promise of artificial intelligence (AI). Since the launch in November of Chatgpt, an AI-powered chatbot, investors have grown ever more excited about a new wave the technology that can create human-like content, from poems and chunks of code to video footage. This generative AI relies on large-language models which are trained on big chunks of the internet. Many think the technology could reshape whole industries and have as much impact on business and society as smartphones or cloud computing. Firms that can make the best use of the technology, the thinking goes, will be able to expand profit margins and gain market share. Corporate bosses are at pains to demonstrate how they are adopting AI. On April 4th Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chases boss, said his bank had 600 machine-learning engineers and had put AI to work on more than 300 different internal applications. David Ricks, the boss of Eli Lilly, has said that the pharmaceutical giant has more than 100 projects on the go using ai. Howard Schultz, who recently stood down as boss of Starbucks, had said he planned to invest $1bn to use ai to figure out how to make the perfect vegan breakfast sandwich to accompany the coffee the firm sells. Company case studies reveal only part of the picture. To get a broader sense of which companies and industries are adopting ai The Economist examined data on all the firms in the s&p 500. We looked at five measures: the share of issued patents that mention AI; venture-capital (VC) activity targeting AI firms; acquisitions of AI firms; job listings citing AI; and mentions of the technology on earnings calls. Because other types of ai could bring benefits for business, our analysis captures activity for all AI, not just the generative wave. The results show that even beyond tech firms the interest in AI is widespread and growing fast. Moreover, clear leaders and laggards are already emerging. Start with the growing interest. AI expertise already seems to be spreading widely. About two-thirds of the firms in our universe have placed a job ad mentioning AI skills in the past three years syas PredictLeads, a research firm. Of those that did, today 5.3% of their listed vacancies mention ai, up from a three-year average of 2.5%. . In some industries the rise is more dramatic (see chart 2). In retail firms that share has jumped from 3% to 11%, while among chipmakers that proportion grew from 9% to 19%. The number of AI-related patents trended up between 2020 and 2022, based on data provided by Amit Seru of Stanford University. PitchBook, another research firm, concludes that in 2023 some 25% of venture deals by s&p 500 firms involved ai startups, up from 19% in 2021. GlobalData, also a research firm, finds that about half the firms scrutinised have talked about AI in their earnings calls since 2021 and that in the first quarter of this year the number of times AI was mentioned in the earnings calls of America Inc more than doubled compared with the previous quarter. Roughly half been granted a patent relating to the technology between 2020 and 2022. The use of generative ai may eventually become even more common that other sorts of ai. That is because it is good at lots of tasks essential to running a firm. A report by McKinsey, a consultancy, argues that three-quarters of the expected value created by generative AI will come in four business functionsresearch and development, software engineering, marketing and customer service. To some extent, all these operations are at the core of most big businesses. Moreover, any large company with internal databases used to guide employees could find a use for an AI-powered chatbot. Morgan Stanley, a bank, is building an AI assistant that will help its wealth managers find and summarise answers from a huge internal database. SLB, an oil-services company, has built a similar assistant to help service engineers. While the adoption of ai is happening among many firms some are more enthusiastic than others. Ranking all the companies using each metric and then taking an average produces a simple scoring system. Those at the top seem to be winning over investors. Since the start of the year, the median share price of the top 100 has risen by 11% while for the lowest-scoring quintile it has not moved at all. The top spots are unsurprisingly dominated by Silicon Valley. On a broad definition, the s&p 500 contains 82 tech firms. Almost 50 of them make the top 100. Nvidia is the highest-scoring firm. According to data from PredictLeads, over the past three years a third of its job listings have mentioned AI. In the past year the firm has mentioned AI in its earnings calls almost 200 times, more than any other company. Other high-ranking tech firms include the cloud-computing giantsAmazon (34th), Microsoft (12th) and Alphabet (3rd). They sell access to a range of AI tools, from services that help train sophisticated models to software that lets you use ai without having to write reams of code. Beyond tech, two types of firms seem to be adopting ai the quickest. One is data-intensive industries, such as insurers, financial-services firms and health-care providers. They account for about a quarter of our top 100. These firms tend to have lots of structured datasets, such as loan books or patient files, which makes it easier to use AI, notes Ali Ghodsi of Databricks, a database firm. Around a tenth of JPMorgan Chases current job listings mention AI. The firm recently filed a patent for Indexgpt, an AI-infused chatbot that gives investment advice. Health-care firms like Gilead Sciences and Moderna use AI to discover new drugs. Others, such as Abbott Laboratories and Align Technology, build AI-powered medical devices. Americas Food and Drug Administration approved 97 such machines last year, up from 26 in 2017. A second group is industries that are already being disrupted by technology, including carmakers, telecoms, media and retail. Thirteen firms from these industries make the high-scoring 100, including Ford, GM and Tesla. The rise of electric vehicles and the prospect of self-driving cars has encouraged vehicle manufacturers to invest in technology. In March Ford established Latitude AI, a self-driving car subsidiary that might one day rival gms Cruise. In April Elon Musk told analysts that Tesla was buying up specialised AI chips and was very focused on improving their AI capabilities in an effort to improve its autonomous-driving efforts. Retail firms are using AI to bolster their core business. Nike, a sportswear giant, filed an application for a patent in 2021 for a system that can generate three-dimensional computer models of trainers. Christian Kleinerman, of Snowflake, a database provider, notes that retail firms are also taking advantage of the growth of e-commerce by collecting more data on customers. That allows more accurate targeting of marketing campaigns. Some may take personalisation a step further. In 2021 Procter & Gamble, a consumer-goods giant, applied for a patent for an AI-based system which analyses users skin and hair conditions based on photos, and recommends products to treat them. One source of variation in ai use across industries may be a result of the type of work undertaken. A working paper led by Andrea Eisfeldt of the University of California looked at how exposed firms are to ai. The researchers assessed which tasks took place in a firm and how well Chatgpt could perform them. The most exposed were tech firms, largely because AI chatbots are good at coding. Those industries least exposed tended to rely on manual labour, such as agriculture and construction. There are also clear leaders and laggards within industries too. Some 70 firms in the s&p 500 show no sign on any of our metrics of focusing on AI. That includes firms in AI-heavy industries, such as insurers and health-care firms. One distinguishing factor within industries may be investment. For the top 100 firms of our ranking, the median r&d expenditure as a share of revenue was 11%. For those in the lowest 100 it was zero. Vlad Lukic, of BCG, a consultancy, notes that there is even a lot of variation within companies. He recalls visiting two divisions of the same medium-sized multinational. One had no experience working with ai. The other was advanced; it had been using a pilot version of Openais technology for two years. Many non-tech companies AI use is growing more sophisticated. Mr Serus data reveal that about 80 non-tech firms have had ai-related patents issued which were cited by another patent, suggesting that they have some technological value. Some 45 non-tech companies in the s&p 500 have recently placed ads which mention model training, including Boeing, United Health and State Street. That suggests they may be building their own models rather than using off-the-shelf technology from the likes of Openai. The advantage of this approach is that it can produce more-accurate ai, giving an greater edge over rivals. However, a shift to in-house training hints at one of the risks: security. In May Samsung discovered that staff had uploaded sensitive code to Chatgpt. The concern is that this information may be stored on external servers of the firms which run the models, such as Microsoft and Alphabet. Now Samsung is reportedly training its own models. It also joined the growing list of firms that banned or limited the use of Chatgpt, such as Apple and JPMorgan Chase. Other risks abound. Model makers, including Openai, are being sued for violating copyright laws over their use of internet data to train their models. Some large corporations think that they could be left liable if they use Openais technology. Moreover, models are prone to make up information. In one incident a New York lawyer used Chatgpt to write a motion. The chatbot included fictional case-law and the lawyer was fined by the court. But all this must be weighed against the potential benefits, which could be vast. Waves of technology frequently turn industries on their head. As generative ai diffuses into the economy, it is not hard to imagine it doing the same thing. Mr Lukic says that the biggest risk for companies may be falling behind. Judged by the scramble in America Inc for all things AI, many bosses and investors would agree. 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 https://www.economist.com/business/2023/06/25/our-early-adopters-index-examines-how-corporate-america-is-deploying-ai Jessica Darke recently relocated to Connecticut from Arizona, where gender-affirming care has been restricted for minors and transgender athletes are effectively barred from competing in some school sports. As a trans woman, Darke feared for her safety, well-being, and future access to necessary health care. So she opted to uproot herself, and her employers relocation benefits helped her absorb the costs of a 2,500-mile move to the opposite corner of the country. It wasnt the first time Darke found support from her employer. Darke is a senior product manager for security research and development at Intuit, the Fortune 500 financial software company behind TurboTax, Mint, QuickBooks, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp. She came out as a trans woman about ten years ago, one of the first to do so at the company, which employs more than 17,300 people in the U.S. Since coming out, Darke has become a co-chair of the global pride employee resource group; she also helped form the companys Trans Advisory Board to represent approximately 120 employees at Intuit who are trans, nonbinary, or have trans-identifying family members. Since I came out, I have felt nothing but support from our HR and our benefits and our people's team, Darke said. But that support has only grown and the community that is supporting people like me and the families like ours, in this company is real. meta meta A conservative push to curb trans rights and access to health care is threatening trans people across the country, inflicting stress that Darke calls unbearable. While many efforts have targeted trans youth, a bill in Florida has impacted trans adults' access to care. Other bills that would do the same have been introduced in Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. These treatments, which include hormone treatments and gender-confirmation surgeries, are supported by major medical associations such as the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association. Several Fortune 500 companies have publicly expressed support for their trans employees in the pastand some now offer to pay travel costs for employees who need to go out-of-state to avoid bans on gender-affirming care. (Many have put similar plans in place for employees who need abortions.) But despite the imminent impact on employees and their families, many companies have stayed out of the public conversation about the new anti-trans legislation. Fortune reached out to Amazon, Target, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, and Intuit, all of which have previously committed to covering gender-affirming care. Target, which has been criticized by the LGBTQ community for retreating in the face of right-wing backlash, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Microsoft declined to comment. Morgan Stanley said it did not want to comment on an issue that relates to pending legislation. Amazon responded with general statements about the companys dedication to offering benefits that fit employees needs but declined to elaborate on trans-specific benefits. Intuit, on the other hand, had lots to share and discussed the companys approach at length. With initiatives ranging from covering vital health care costs to engaging with national trans rights advocacy groups, Intuit has emerged as a leading example of how companies can support trans employees. Its employees say that leaderships engagement, willingness to listen, and proactive partnerships with activism groups help them feel secure at work at a time when they feel under public attack. The CEO embraces the Trans Summit Darke and other Intuit employees emphasized that the leadership team at Intuit has made an intentional effort to listen to the trans community at the company. It all started when the company hosted its first Trans Summit. About a year after Tanner Arnold, a program manager for QuickBooks payroll, came out at Intuit, he started talking with other trans coworkers about the challenges in transitioning at work, from name changes in the companys systems to health care coverage. When the companys then-head of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Scott Beth, heard about these issues, he suggested the company hold a summit. The first Trans Summit hosted nearly 150 people in January 2020. Darke and Arnold were among a handful of employees who led the event and became what is now known as the Trans Advisory Board. Sasan Goodarzi, president and chief executive officer of Intuit Inc., smiles during a Bloomberg Television interview in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020. Intuit -- the software giant behind TurboTax -- said Monday it's buying Credit Karma for about $7.1 billion in cash and stock. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images After the summit, Beth facilitated a meeting with the Trans Advisory Board and top executives, including CEO Sasan Goodarzi, so that the trans employees could reiterate some of the challenges they were facing. Our instruction was to let loose, tell them everything thats been difficult. And so we did, Arnold said. And they just took notes. They didnt try to show how that wasnt true, or they didnt try to say but, but, but. They just listened. What was more surprising, Arnold said, was that the company followed through on making some changes, even as the world was being upended around them by COVID-19. By June of 2020, new benefits for trans and LGBTQ employees had been expanded, including coverage of the gender-affirming care that some states are now attempting to ban. The meeting after the Trans Summit was the beginning of a formal back-and-forth between the Trans Advisory Board and human resources that has evolved into a mutual trust to work through issues as they arise. Leaderships ongoing attention to the matter has relieved the trans community of the burden of taking the initiative to raise issues. The coolest thing is, we don't have to have regular conversations anymore because it's just part of the thought process to go into anything now, Arnold said, noting that product teams have come to the Trans Advisory Board in the past to ask how they could make language in their products more gender inclusive. When it comes to trans issues, they're coming to us. Arnold and Darke say that the companys motivation to help comes from the top. CEO Goodarzi has remained involved in the Trans Summit (now known as the Trans+ Summit), which current chief DEI officer Humera Shahid says is the only one of its kind held by a big tech company. For the 2023 summit, Goodzari tuned in remotely for a fireside chat with his adult child Aryana Goodarzi, who uses they/she pronouns and identifies as gay; the two discussed Aryanas coming out journey together. Sasan Goodarzi told the audience that Intuit, like many other corporations that celebrate Pride month and recognize LGBTQ+ customers and employees, receives a lot of backlash for its stance on inclusivity. In fact, he said, he receives emails directly from angry people who threaten to take their business elsewhere. But he doesnt back down. I respond to every customer, letting them know that this is who we are, this is what we stand for," he said at the summit. "And perhaps you should change who you are. Good luck using somebody elses product. Finding partners and advocates In 2022, Intuit donated $500,000 to the National Center of Transgender Equality, an advocacy group working to change policy and society to advance trans equality. Intuit is also a member of America Competes, a coalition of 40 businesses making the case that the anti-LGBTQ laws being passed around the country are bad for businesses. Protecting employees from the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation, however, is not as simple as donating to an advocacy group. Some bills introduced in state legislatures aim to ban gender-affirming care for people up to age 26. Others threaten to ban insurance companies from covering such procedures for people of any age. As the bills continue to expand beyond bans for trans youth, companies with national or remote workforces will have to address how this impacts employees and their families. Shahid said that Intuit is not making any sweeping policy changes in response to the legislation. The insurance that Intuit provides its employees is a national plan that might cover travel costs for care if a service is not provided in a certain state. Shahid said in cases where the employee still needs support in getting access to care, Intuit will assess the situation on a case-by-case basis. Still, the partnerships with advocacy groups are meaningful to Darke and Arnold. They both praised GenderCool, a Chicago-based nonprofit that aims to educate and advance trans rights through youth storytelling. Intuit has invited the organization and its youth champions to speak at the first two Trans Summit events. Intuit also piloted GenderCools reverse mentorship program, where company executives spend time with trans youth over the course of a month. The program is designed to help company leaders learn from young people to better understand the increasingly gender-fluid Gen Z entering the workforce. GenderCool cofounder Gearah Goldstein considers Intuit a leader in corporate support for trans employees. Intuit is part of a core group that early on in our organizations founding was interested in engaging with us to lift up trans voices in their own companies, but they also went out of their way to help us, she said. Meta meta. The anti-LGBTQ laws are putting companies in a difficult position that could soon force action beyond partnering with these groups or issuing public statements. Christy Mallory, the legal director at UCLAs William Institute researching gender policy law, said that this moment compares to the difficulty companies faced before gay marriage was legal. She said that Intuits strategy to make decisions on an individual basis rather than instituting a company-wide policy can be costly, and the anti-LGBTQ push overall can make recruiting difficult. Imagine a straight, cisgender couple with a transgender child. It's going to be hard to get those parents to come work in Florida, Mallory said. So the implications are actually really broad when you kind of think about all the different ways that employees interact with their companies. Darke and Arnold recognize that it has not been all perfect at Intuit, but they have trust in the company to deal with issues as best as they can when they arise. In the face of numerous attacks, they feel there could always be more to do to fight back. When another piece of legislation passes or a governor issues an executive order, Darke finds herself racing to check Intuits Slack channel for trans employees and their families to see who might live in that state, reminding them to reach out to HR to talk through options. It is her way of feeling like she is doing something. I don't know what can be done, other than to keep doing what we're doing. So, would I love to see more? Yes. Do I know what it looks like? No, Darke said. So I just want us to keep fighting, and keep doing what's right by our people, making sure other people know that we are a safe place to come to. That's the thing that I can ask. 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 L'Oreal, the world's largest cosmetics company, wants to utilise China's role as the world's biggest e-commerce market and a fast-developing digital economy to tackle the beauty industry's environmental problem. The company hopes a partnership with China's e-commerce platforms and major suppliers in its North Asia region will help Asian consumers better perceive the value of sustainability and make greener consumption choices, said Janet Neo, L'Oreal's chief sustainability officer for North Asia and China. "The Chinese e-commerce market has high penetration, big volume and huge market size," Neo said. "It presents a real opportunity in the sense that if we can promote the right behaviours, then lasting change could be just around the corner." Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The French company and 10 key suppliers pledged last week at China's first carbon-neutrality expo in Shanghai to reduce the industry's supply-chain emissions of greenhouse gases. Signers of the declaration include Microsoft China, internet giant Alibaba Group Holding's logistics arm Cainiao, and hyaluronic acid producer Bloomage Biotechnology. Employees work at a warehouse of Cainiao, Alibaba's logistics unit, in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, China on October 26, 2020. Photo: Reuters The move follows the signing of a three-year partnership between L'Oreal and Alibaba during French president Emmanuel Macron's three-day visit to China in April, where the companies agreed to work together to develop new products and create circular-economy solutions in China's beauty and personal-care industry. Alibaba owns the Post. Meanwhile, greenhouse-gas emissions from some of the world's biggest players in the beauty industry are rising, according to a report released by climate consultancy The Carbon Trust in January. Two of the industry's activities - sourcing of raw materials to make products and packaging from fossil-fuel based synthetic ingredients, and consumer use of products, which often requires large amounts of hot water - account for 30 per cent and 59 per cent of the beauty sector's emissions, respectively, according to The Carbon Trust. In China, fierce competition and a low barrier of entry also contribute to the challenge of reducing the industry's emissions and promoting green consumption, Neo said. "It's not easy for consumers to perceive the additional value on sustainability a brand makes through investment, and from there make sustainable choices," she said. Despite rising awareness about green consumption, Asian consumers are still in the early stages of shifting to a sustainable-consumption mindset, so more empowerment from brands is crucial, she added. L'Oreal achieved carbon neutrality in its China operations in 2019 - the first of the company's markets globally to do so - and in its North Asia region in 2022, according to the company. From 2018 to 2022, L'Oreal shipped out 149 million so-called green parcels, which use no tape or plastic foam, through a partnership with Alibaba's Taobao e-commerce platform. Both companies are also testing recyclable parcels, which can be reused up to 40 times, according to L'Oreal. The French company also developed a system of product-impact labelling in 2020 to tell consumers about the environmental and social impact of its products, and partnered with Alibaba to promote environmentally sustainable products and reward consumers for low-carbon behaviours. In 2021, the consumer-goods industry will sell 44 trillion yuan worth of goods in China, contributing 65.4 per cent of the country's GDP, according to the National Statistics Bureau. "The consumer-goods industry itself is not a high carbon-emitting industry, but the sector is still important to the national carbon-neutral goal due to the industry's huge consumption and consumer demand, as well as the varieties of products and the complex production processes," said Li Yan, professor at the school of environment and natural resources at Renmin University of China. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong plans to "fine-tune" the maximum size of mortgages available to first-time homebuyers, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in a radio interview on Sunday. Chan told Commercial Radio Hong Kong that residents want to upgrade homes after starting families so the government is discussing with the de facto central bank to adjust mortgages to sizes that balance buyer interest and financial security. Market participants have been urging the government to relax property market curbs after home prices in one of the world's most expensive markets dropped 15% last year. Chan has previously said repeatedly he had no intention of doing so. Currently buyers can borrow up to 50% of the cost of mid-sized-to-large homes priced over HK$12 million ($1.53 million). The government relaxed rules in February 2022 to allow first-time buyers to borrow up to 80% for homes costing HK$12 million or less, and 90% for homes priced HK$10 million or less. ($1 = 7.8298 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Ministers letting Huawei off the hook after scrapping release of security report huawei Ministers have been accused of letting Huawei off the hook after the publication of an annual report into the Chinese companys security risks was quietly scrapped. The Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) dubbed The Cell was set up in 2010 to monitor products made by Huawei for use in UK mobile networks. An oversight board was tasked with producing an annual report, which was drawn up by British spies and published by the Government. However, the watchdogs report has not been published since 2021. The Telegraph has learnt that the policy of publishing the report was quietly ditched by then-culture secretary Nadine Dorries. The move has sparked anger in Whitehall amid concerns about a lack of transparency over the UKs monitoring of Huawei, with one source claiming it suggested that former ministers had decided to let Huawei off the hook. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative Party leader, said: If these reports are being produced, then why are they not being published? The Government needs to explain why it is that they dont wish to publish these reports at all and whether this is a government policy. In 2020, the Government said all products made by the controversial Chinese firm must be stripped from mobile networks due to fears they could be used by Beijing for espionage or to disrupt the UKs critical national infrastructure. Huawei has always denied the allegations. But telecoms companies have until 2027 to remove the kit, meaning there is still a considerable amount of Chinese-made equipment in networks across the country. Ms Dorries was culture secretary when the decision was made to quietly stop publishing the review - ANDY RAIN/Shutterstock Telecoms operators including BT successfully campaigned to be given more time to rip Huawei tech out of so-called core parts of their networks after warning the removal process could disrupt services for millions of customers. They had originally been given a deadline of January 2023, but this was pushed back. The ban has provided a major fillip to alternative Western suppliers Nokia and Ericsson. The HCSEC, which is based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, is jointly staffed by personnel from Huawei and the National Cyber Security Centre, a branch of GCHQ. It was set up with the aim of reducing any perceived risks to UK national security arising from the involvement of Huawei in parts of the UKs critical national infrastructure. Previous reports have issued damning assessments of the companys poor quality engineering and cybersecurity, warning these could pose a risk to national security. The report for 2020 found Huawei had made no overall improvement on UK demands for better security. In its latest accounts for 2022, the company controlling the HCSEC said it had continued to provide reports to the oversight board in the usual manner. It is not clear why the reports are no longer being made public. Huawei is facing doubts over the future of its business in the UK after auditors last year said there was a material uncertainty over its ability to keep operating for another 12 months. The ban on UK companies buying equipment from the Chinese tech firm combined with US trade sanctions mean the British division is now in a state of managed decline. Earlier this year Huawei quietly shelved plans for a 1bn research campus in Cambridge, which would have been used to develop broadband technologies, microchips and artificial intelligence software. Huawei Technologies UK saw its sales halve to 481m in 2021, according to its latest accounts, while staff numbers dropped to 486 from 787. A government spokesman said: We do not comment on speculation. Thanks to new laws we now have one of the strongest telecoms security regimes in the world, which we have used to designate Huawei a high-risk vendor and issued clear directions for telecoms operators to control its presence in their networks. The UK has maintained a world leading and thorough oversight of Huaweis presence for more than a decade and that will continue. 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. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Natasa Pirc Musar, the President of the Republic of Slovenia on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Slovenia, Azernews reports. The letter reads: Dear Madame President, On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my most sincere congratulations to You and all your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Slovenia - Statehood Day. I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts towards the development of Azerbaijan-Slovenia relations and the expansion of our mutually beneficial cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral levels in line with the interests of our peoples. On this joyful day, I wish you robust health, happiness, success in your activities, and the friendly people of Slovenia everlasting peace and prosperity. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 22 June 2023 PwC sign is seen in the lobby of their offices in Barangaroo By Lewis Jackson SYDNEY (Reuters) -PwC Australia on Sunday entered an exclusivity agreement with private equity firm Allegro Funds to sell its government practice for A$1 as it brought in an executive from Singapore to lead its local firm through the fallout from a national scandal. The scandal, which broke in January, revolves around a former PwC tax partner who had been advising the federal government on laws to prevent corporate tax avoidance and shared confidential information with colleagues who then used it to pitch to multinational companies for work. Amid a growing backlash from key government clients, PwC said it had entered an exclusivity agreement to divest its federal and state government business to Allegro Funds for A$1 ($0.67) as first reported on Friday. Both PwC and Allegro are aiming for a binding agreement within a month, the professional services firm said in a statement on its website. If the deal goes through, Allegro will set up the new firm as a corporation, not a partnership, according to a source not authorised to speak with media. Ownership will be split between Allegro and the former PwC partners, although the exact split was not known, the source said. A spokesperson for Allegro Funds declined to comment. PwC said the divestment represented around 20% of revenue for fiscal 2023. The firm made A$3 billion ($2 billion) in revenue last financial year. "We have taken this step because it is the right thing to do for our public sector clients and to protect the jobs of the c.1,750 talented people in our government business," said PwC Australia Board Chair Justin Carroll. The deal attempts to insulate the firm's government consulting business and rebuild trust with the many departments and agencies that have frozen the firm out of new work. Labor Senator Deborah O'Neill, who helped release a cache of internal PwC emails last month, said the firm can't "phoenix their way out" from the scandal until it reveals the full details of those involved in the confidential document breach. "More of the same with a new name is still more of the same," she said in a statement. NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE Global PwC Chair Bob Moritz publicly apologised in a statement and said PwC Australia had failed to meet the firm's standards and values under past leadership. Kevin Burrowes, currently Global Clients & Industries leader based in Singapore, will become CEO and take up the role once he relocates to Sydney. Acting chief executive Kristin Stubbins will remain in the role until Burrowes arrives. "PwC Australia has significant work to do and I am confident that the steps they are taking ... will result in a stronger firm," Moritz said. ($1 = 1.4977 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Lewis Jackson and Sam McKeith; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Tom Hogue) Smartphone with an ASOS app and a keyboard are seen in front of a displayed ASOS log Boohoo is fighting for control of its rival Revolution Beauty even though there are plenty of questions around its own survival. Asos is fending off approaches from Mike Ashley and a Turkish bidder backed by Chinese money. The Hut Group was about to be sold to a private equity firm, and then wasnt at least for another week or two. The UKs major online fashion retailers have almost as many bids as they do cut-price summer T-shirts and shades. Offers, approaches and minority stakes whizz by at bewildering speed, making a sector once known just for its fast fashion just as noteworthy for its fast deal-making. After valuations collapsed many of the major online retailers may well look like a bargain. And yet their brands have little real value. The market is brutally competitive with wafer-thin margins, and the supply chains that used to deliver ultra-cheap clothes to their customers are a thing of the past. In reality, it is not worth all the squabbling and infighting. It would be better just to let the whole sector quietly fade away, and be replaced by businesses of greater substance. The UKs fast fashion empires, which once promised to build on this countrys traditional strengths in fashion and retailing to create major internet successes, have turned into a sorry shadow of their former selves. From almost 400p back in 2020, shares in Boohoo are down to a fresh low this month of just 34p, a catastrophic fall in value. Shares in Asos are down by 93pc over the last five years, and are hitting fresh lows this month, a dismal performance for a company that at one stage could have joined the FTSE 100 if it had been listed on the main exchange at its peak instead of on Aim. Meanwhile THG is down by a mere 90pc since its peak, helped by takeover speculation. Put them all together, and the sector has completely crashed, and shows little sign of recovering any time soon. Against that dire backdrop, it is probably not a surprise that the vultures have started circling. The private equity house Apollo offered to buy THG a few weeks ago but the deal fell through, and now its founder Matthew Moulding has lifted his golden share in the company, presumably to encourage another buyer to come in. Boohoo is locked in a struggle for control over Revolution Beauty, although it is hard to understand why anyone would want it. Meanwhile the ubiquitous retail tycoon Mike Ashley took a 5pc stake in the business, and presumably now has his eye on a full takeover. Ashley has also snapped up a 10pc stake in Asos, not long after the Turkish retailer Trendyol, backed by Chinas massive Alibaba, made an offer for the business. At this rate all three companies will soon have more bidders than they do customers. It is possible to see the appeal. The online fast fashion houses have some decent infrastructure, and a substantial online presence. They know how to source clothes and ship them out. And perhaps most of all they are very cheap. When the value of a company has fallen by 99pc it is not hard to convince yourself that it can only improve. No doubt the bankers can make a decent case for launching a takeover offer. Even so, they are not really worth all the attention they are getting. First, they dont have any real brand value. People have heard of Boohoo and Asos, but they are a long way from having the kind of loyal following that the leading designers have created, or that chains like Zara or Primark command. Even worse, their core teenage and twenty-something demographic is suspicious of their ethical and environmental standards. They much prefer buying pre-loved clothes online to what they often see as cheap tat. There is zero loyalty to any of the online retailers, and that makes customers very fickle. Next, the market is brutally competitive. In any online business the margins are always wafer thin. It is simply too easy to compare prices and a better deal is never more than a click away. But online fast fashion takes that to new levels. As well as intense competition, the marketing costs are also huge, with advertising and influencers ramping up the cost of every sale. It is a very hard way to make money. Mike Ashley has bought a 5% stake in Boohoo and is eyeing an approach for Asos - Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire Finally, costs will inevitably rise. The era of ultra cheap manufacturing in developing countries is coming to an end, and the logistics that delivered stuff around the world efficiently have never recovered from the pandemic. The one pound tee-shirt is not necessarily coming back any time soon. In fact, environmental standards, and net zero commitments, with even container ships switching fuels, means costs are likely to keep on rising for the next few years. That does not matter so much for retailers that rely on design to keep customers loyal, but if you are selling mainly on price it is a big problem. If you arent the cheapest product on the market you lose your customers. Over the last two decades, there was real money to be made from swooping on traditional retailers as they ran into trouble. It worked for Philip Green in his heyday, and it has worked for Ashley over the last few years. But those were all chains with physical shops on the high street, loyal customers and brands that had been built up over decades. They might have been losing money but there was still value there. None of that is true for the online retailers that have run into trouble. There are no easy profits to be made. It is better just to let them fade away and allow them to be replaced by newer, sharper rivals. 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. Sam Altman is AI's compelling preacher. The world is ready to bow down. Sam Altman finished a global tour in June to sell AI as a force for good to leaders. Skye Gould/Business Insider Sam Altman is a man on a mission: Sell the world on AI. The OpenAI chief completed a global tour this month akin to a mission. Insider spoke to people who met or saw Altman during his tour, who say the CEO was a convincing preacher. Sam Altman knows he's at an inflection point. On June 9, at a fireside chat in Seoul, Korea, the OpenAI CEO acknowledged he was on a "diplomatic mission." It's closer to a religious mission, one that's seen Altman and his team whiz across 16 countries in the space of three months, including, recently, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the UAE, India and Korea. In Tel Aviv, as his OpenAI commanders attended a dinner with a group of techies and entrepreneurs introduced as the "Templar Knights of Innovation," Altman prepared to meet the country's president, Isaac Herzog. He's also met with Narendra Modi in India, Yoon Suk Yeol in South Korea, Emmanuel Macron in France, Rishi Sunak in the UK and influential lawmakers. It's a reception more fitting for a world leader than a startup CEO. But Altman knows he's the man of the moment. ChatGPT has sparked a new AI era that leaders are scrambling to understand. This is a fork-in-the-road moment as they decide what's most politically expedient encouraging AI through funding and a friendly regulatory regime, or to regulate it into oblivion. OpenAI's goal is to cement AI's future importance to humanity. According to people on the ground during Altman's tour, he achieved what he set out to do. OpenAI declined to comment for this story. Pitch 1: You can be included or excluded from the AI revolution Altman's sales pitch has rested on two central pillars. The first: AI will only work for you if you work with it. The second: AI is inevitable so get onboard before it's too late. During his pit-stop in Delhi, Altman's audience heard how a tool like ChatGPT could adapt to "a land of languages like India," said Varshul Gupta, founder of AI startup Dubverse. This may be a smart way to overcome Indian wariness towards US tech firms. India has more than 100 languages and significantly more dialects, though its lingua franca remains English. The country has suffered from years of brain drain as technical and mathematical talent leave for the US, exemplified by both Google and Microsoft's CEOs being India-born. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has taken an increasingly nationalistic approach to technology and remains wary of sharing its citizens' data with US companies. Additionally, AI is a potential risk to India's outsourcing economy which dominates the IT sector and accounts for 8% of the country's GDP by replacing human customer sales reps with chatbots. Gupta said OpenAI's underlying AI model, GPT, would need to be trained on vats of foreign-language data; as it stands, the vast majority of the data GPT is trained on is in English. "The Indian government will have hoards of data which will not be there on the internet, which OpenAI will not have access to," Gupta said. "That might be why Sam is interested in doing some sort of high-level partnership, to get that data so they can make something for India and do some custom stuff." Pitch 2: This is the next internet Survival shouldn't be the focus, the OpenAI chief claimed in Seoul, when humanity is "about to enter the greatest age of human possibility, technological development, economic growth" thanks to AI. For Dovi Frances, a US-Israeli venture capitalist and founding partner of Group 11 who met with OpenAI, that much is already apparent. He thinks no nation can afford to ignore apps like ChatGPT. "If you have artificial intelligence at the highest level, if you have a workforce of people who are proficient with it then you have a competitive edge in 2030," he said. Droobi Health chief executive officer Jacob Mathew, who saw OpenAI in Doha, recalled a "memorable exchange" during a panel at the Qatar National Library where a high school student asked a question about the role ChatGPT could play in diplomacy. The response? "Sam replied that he did not know and asked the student to tell him in ten years," Mathew said. Altman's approach is working, both in terms of winning over opinion and in tangibly influencing policy despite warnings about the harms of AI for the labor market and misinformation. Time reported this month that OpenAI successfully lobbied the European Union to water down rules governing ChatGPT in its EU AI Act. And Elyas Felfoul, director of policy development and partnerships at WISE, an education initiative in Qatar, said he feels Altman was "genuine about raising awareness" on AI having hosted a panel with him. "He's humble about the fact that they created something much bigger than them," Felfoul said. "There is a serious commitment to try to broaden the conversation." Altman seems to be setting the conversation's tone. But for now, he seems to have people's trust. Or as Felfoul puts it: "The first impression is positive. I hope I'm not wrong about this." Read the original article on Business Insider This Week on Crypto Twitter: More BlackRock Banter as Ripple and Crypto.com Grow Globally Illustration by Mitchell Preffer for Decrypt From the market perspective, cryptos biggest talking point this week was a carry over from last week: top investment firm BlackRocks decision to apply to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF. While the SEC has swatted away such proposals like flies for years, theres a sense that this ones different. It helps that BlackRockthe worlds largest asset manager with a whopping $9 trillion in assets under managementhas applied for 576 ETFs and has only been rejected once. That air of experience and confidence helped propel the price of Bitcoin to a one-year high this weekend. Footage of BlackRock CEO Larry Fink made the rounds, in which he explains just how much of a PR boost his companys Bitcoin pivot is. $10 TRILLION Blackrock's CEO Larry Fink: We got 3,000 hits on our website for monetary policy, and 600,000 hits on #Bitcoin "Bitcoin has caught the imagination of many people...(they're) excited about it" pic.twitter.com/IfFcgAZS1g Bitcoin Archive (@BTC_Archive) June 23, 2023 Business analyst and popular crypto fan Adam Cochran bought an unofficial BlackRock NFT to commemorate the occasion. Ok but this is hilarious and I had to buy one to honor this moment. https://t.co/NFOnxSgsKA Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) (@adamscochran) June 21, 2023 The BlackRock news may have caused crypto prices to balloon this week, but as usual in the cryptoverse, there was also a fresh heap of skepticism. Earlier in the week, Cochran could be seen giving his two cents on a proposal by Ethereums developers to up the stake needed to be a network validator from 32 ETH to 2,048. Doesn't really help network. Lowers total validators to pull from -> lower redundancy. Means staking shops will pool more ETH on single validator -> higher slashing risk for users. Only benefits wealthy staking services and no one else. Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) (@adamscochran) June 19, 2023 Crypto sleuth ZachXBT on Monday shared some of the toxic harassment he has had to face from people trying to exploit him as supporters rally around his legal defense fund. Threats already coming in. Today some random account attempted to extort me for $100k. pic.twitter.com/qQ7I30rn0P ZachXBT (@zachxbt) June 19, 2023 Blockchain journalist Colin Wu tweeted about an interesting glitch that briefly happened on Binance.US. The formerly unshakeable Binance is being sued by the SEC for securities violations, and cracks appeared in its public image after the SEC leaked incriminating chat logs of company personnel discussing how they were apparently aware the exchange was violating securities laws. The BTC/USDT trading pair BTC price on BinanceUS briefly rose to 138,070 USDT, and then quickly returned to the norma. Since being sued by the SEC, market makers left, and the market depth of Binance US has dropped by 78.8%. https://t.co/sbDBPRUrbd pic.twitter.com/xVy3TXeLqF Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) June 21, 2023 Like fellow U.S. company Coinbase, Ripple is on a global expansion drive right now and it has everything to do with the SECs crackdown on domestic blockchain companies. Were honored to obtain In-Principle Approval of a Major Payments Institution License from the @MAS_sg allowing us to offer regulated digital asset products and services, and scale customer use of #ODL. Learn more: https://t.co/8Ylc3lZSeg Ripple (@Ripple) June 22, 2023 Bitcoiners notched another high-profile another convert in Washington on Thursday. - US Congressman Thomas Massie getting #Bitcoin books hand delivered to his office! pic.twitter.com/lVFKvaSA9O Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 22, 2023 CNBCs Mad Money host Jim Cramer had a small rant that day. Cramer was once all in on crypto. but appeared to cool off a little last summer. Understand i am not against crypto and done quite well with it. I am against BOGUS crypto and outfits that stole your money and wouldn't let you have it back Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) June 22, 2023 Singapore-based exchange Crypto.com on Saturday announced it has made inroads in Europe. We're excited to share our latest regulatory achievement in Europe! We have obtained our Virtual Asset Provider Registration in Spain Learn more:https://t.co/ZGmgE9n937 pic.twitter.com/fmkWt6npvK Crypto.com (@cryptocom) June 23, 2023 Alex Gladstein, the Chief Strategy Officer of the Human Rights Foundation, shared a video that day from his organization that warns the public about the concerning implications of a centrally-issued digital currencysomething that could spell the total end of financial independence for people living under authoritarian regimes. NEW: short video on @HRF's CBDC tracker The resource (built by @EconWithNick @J9Roem @1basemoney) will be live by Q4 as a resource for policymakers, activists, media, and the general public The world should know about the civil liberties risks of CBDCshttps://t.co/njO7YeTRQD pic.twitter.com/7xhMWqbz90 Alex Gladstein (@gladstein) June 23, 2023 A lot of big companies are dabbling in crypto now, according to a collaborative report by Coinbase and The Block, that was tweeted by the latters editor Frank Chaparro on Sunday. Key findings: - Fortune 100 companies have made 109 private VC investments - Tech financial services and retail make up ~75% of initiatives - As of Q2 2023, 70% of Fortune 100 companies with crypto initiatives were in the publicly launched stage Frank Chaparro (@fintechfrank) June 22, 2023 Finally, President Joe Biden had this to say about everyones favorite crypto-adjacent topic: BEIJING, June 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Xifeng Liquor, a renowned Chinese Baijiu manufacturer, successfully held a promotion meeting in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Tuesday, showcasing the cultural charm and unique appeal of Chinese Baijiu to the world. Photo: Zhou Yanhua, deputy general manager of Shaanxi Xifeng Liquor Co., Ltd. and general manager of Shaanxi Xifeng Marketing and Management Co., Ltd., delivers a speech during the promotion meeting in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK) on June 20. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xifeng Liquor has stepped up its overseas market expansion in recent years. The promotion meeting held in Seoul became a new attempt of Xifeng as a representative of China's liquor producer. Xifeng Liquor enjoys profound cultural heritage and exquisite craftsmanship, which has set up a bridge for the world to understand Chinese traditional liquor culture. Zhou Yanhua, deputy general manager of Shaanxi Xifeng Liquor Co., Ltd. and general manager of Shaanxi Xifeng Marketing and Management Co., Ltd., expressed Xifeng's sincerity of attaching great importance to the profound friendship between China and ROK and the willingness to strengthen cooperation in her speech during the meeting. ROK has a strong industrial base, mature market and broad development potential, which is an indispensable part of Xifeng Liquor to implement the international development strategy and explore the international market, Zhou mentioned. Xifeng is willing to make more efforts to promote pragmatic cooperation between China and ROK in more fields and achieve a higher level of mutual benefit and win-win result with the promotion of Chinese traditional brand, Zhou added. At the promotion meeting, Kim Lan-soo, president of ROK Hwagang Wine Co., LTD., introduced the achievements of Xifeng Liquor in ROK market. Since the establishment of Hwa Gang Liquor Co., LTD in August 2019, Xifeng has entered the ROK market and its sales volume have increased significantly. Gu Jinsheng, minister-counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office in China's embassy in ROK, read the congratulatory letter from Chinese Ambassador to ROK Xing Haiming during the meeting. As the economic and trade cooperation between China and ROK having been deepened with bilateral trade reaching 362.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, the Chinese Embassy will continue to support enterprises of the two countries to strengthen cooperation. At the end of the event, Zhou Yanhua awarded Kim Lan-soo the certificate of "Xifeng Liquor - Overseas Market Development Award". It is believed that with the joint efforts of Xifeng and its overseas distributors, the Chinese liquor manufacturer would gain a broader development space in overseas markets. Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/334716.html Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/xinhua-silk-road-promotion-meeting-held-in-rok-to-gain-worldwide-recognition-of-xifeng-liquor-301862551.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road There was animated discussion recently in our coffee klatch, made up of a bunch of old farts who get together regularly to drink coffee and shoot the breeze. One member recently had seen his doctor, who had administered a cholesterol test. More precisely, this was a lipid profile that measures lots of things. But this patient was all in a twitter about the results. Do I look at the total cholesterol? The LDL? The HDL? The triglycerides? he asked, peevishly. Or, I read about calculating the total divided by the HDL? Or calculating the non-HDL level? I was sympathetic. I had the same questions when I had a recent lipid panel. I figured this lipid profile topic probably vexes a lot of people and would be a good thing to write about. I contacted a fellow former member of Pratt Medical, and formerly Fredericksburgs favorite cardiologist, Dr. Bob Vranian (formerly not because hes fallen out of favor, but because hes retired). Into the weeds Vranian explained that the basic components of a lipid panel are: total cholesterol; bad low density lipoprotein (LDL-C); very low density lipoprotein (VLD actually a precursor of LDL); good high density lipoprotein (HDL-C); and triglycerides. Measuring these is all geared to assessing risk of atheroma, which is what gradually narrows the arteries and is the cause of heart attacks, strokes and impaired circulation to legs. But, when we were compatriots at Pratt and I would refer patients to Bob, they would come back with questions about arcane stuff, like particle size, apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and apolipoprotein A, or Lp(a). Stuff that was above my pay grade, but relevant to your risk, Bob told me. ApoB is a coupling molecule, he explained. It gives a precise assessment of the concentration of bad particles. Lp(a), meanwhile, is a particularly inflammatory particle that should be checked in people with, or those having a family history of, atheroma. Size of the particles is also relevant to risk, Bob told me, producing from his backpack a thing that looked like a snowball. This, I think, was meant to represent a large fluffy LDL particle one of the subtypes of LDL that are less atherogenic. In contrast, the presence of small dense particles may warn of greater risk. I was having misgivings that perhaps I should have been doing advanced lipid panels on all my patients, but Bob told me he would normally only do an ApoB on someone who was high risk. After that, he said, I would do a regular lipid panel and look at their non-LDL cholesterol, which correlates well with ApoB levels. And, he only recommends doing Lp(a) on people at very high risk. But this is all a bit of a judgement call, and what specific goals we should strive for are something a person needs to discuss with their own caregiver. Does your cholesterol level matter? There are some heretics who point out cholesterol is a surrogate end point and we put too much store in it. A surrogate being a measure of something that is assumed to correlate with the disease you want to measure, but may not. No one cares if your cholesterol is high if it doesnt indicate you are at risk of vascular disease and some studies have shown even if you lower the cholesterol, it doesnt lower overall mortality. That hasnt stopped statins being prescribed and used on a large scale to lower cholesterol. (The drugs are also a boon to their manufacturers, as worldwide sales for 2022 were estimated at $14.9 billion.) Skeptics worry: Are we just treating a surrogate? Bob is not among those skeptics. With the present state of our knowledge, we know cholesterol is a risk marker for atherosclerosis and from population studies, the lower the LDL, the lower the risk of vascular disease, he told me. The conventional thinking, along with the understanding that low HDL (good high density lipoprotein) increases your risk, seems to hold up. However, a recent study published in the Journal of the American college of Cardiology notes this may not be the case in Black adults. Remember, there are other factors that are important to your risk of vascular disease: family history, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking and diabetes. To calculate your risk, go to the website of the American Heart Association and plug your numbers in to their personal risk calculator. There is also a growing realization that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and measuring indicators of inflammation such as high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) will help clarify the risk. And, on the more touchy-feely side, Bob also notes recent studies have shown how life treats you and how you see life impact your risk of vascular disease. Cardiovascular disease, and how to avoid it, is important stuff. According to the World Health Organization, it is still the worlds leading cause of mortality, accounting for close to 20 million deaths per year. So, its probably a good idea to get a basic lipid profile from time to time. And it may also be good to heed that more arcane stuff, like particle sizes and lipoprotein levels. Anna Porter sat on a stump in the middle of a historic African American cemetery in Caroline County, wishing she knew more about those whose remains surrounded her. Since childhood, shes been a regular visitor to graveyards, intrigued by the lives and times of the people in her midst. The cemetery in the woods behind St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church in Ladysmith holds even more fascination for Porter because it contains more questions than answers. As many as 300 souls, including enslaved people and their descendants, are buried there, according to community lore. Porter, along with other members of a St. Marys committee, would like to find out as much as they can about those who lie in unmarked graves. This is a very sacred space and it should be memorialized for the people who lived here and toiled here and their descendants who are buried here, she said. We as a church family feel it is important. So do members of the Brown, Wright and Rock families whose ancestors fill the cemetery, as well as people who see the effort as a step toward healing some of the racial wrongs in this country. Like Porter, the Rev. Tony Craddock, pastor of the nearby St. Johns Baptist Church, likes the way the project has brought people of different backgrounds together. Im excited about the partnership of that Catholic church with this Baptist church, he said. Its so important that we preserve the history, not just for us but for generations to come. Hes glad the St. Marys committee has reached out to descendants many of his church members for information and to give them a voice in what type of memorials or improvements to put at the graveyard. He envisions a place where people of all colors and faiths could contemplate where society has been, and where its going. These things are necessarily for healing, Craddock said. Moral obligation The graveyard is known as the Oliver cemetery, named after the family who initially owned the plantation property. It lies in a clearing on a hillside with oak trees that provide ample shade but also allow rays of sun to to filter through. Periwinkle vines, a ground cover whose evergreen leaves symbolize eternal life, are creeping up the hill from the old wagon road, and Porter would be thrilled to see them throughout. Periwinkle produces a beautiful bluish-purple bloom in early spring, Porter said, her eyes twinkling as she visualized the image in her minds eye. For now, though, the cemetery is mostly unmarked graves with roughly chiseled pieces of fieldstone at the unnamed persons head and feet. Only a handful of stones have inscriptions; two were done by the government for veterans, including Woodson Rock, who lost part of his arm during service in Word War I. The names of the enslaved believed to be buried in the center of the cemetery, wrapped in burlap and piled, one on top of another, may be known only to God, Porter said. Thats why the church committee has made it a goal to research as much as they can about those interred. The group, which is relying on donations and grants, not St. Marys funds, also hopes to restore, maintain and make the cemetery accessible to anyone in the community who wants to visit. In Virginia, cemeteries are legal inholdings, which means they belong to the descendants, not to the property owner, Porter said. Our only obligation is to not deny descendants access to the cemetery. However, we have a moral obligation to do so much more, she said, noting the effort has produced results beyond the graveyard borders. It is bringing communities together. Decoration Days Laura Harris, 79, would like to be able to make the trek through the woods, should the committee raise enough money to put in a path accessible by older people. She lives in a neat-as-a-pin home about a mile from St. Marys and remembers going with her father, Virgil Brown, to the cemetery each year on Decoration Day. That was May 30, before Memorial Day became the official holiday for people to decorate graves, both of their war dead and loved ones. Virgil Brown and others cleared the cemetery of fallen branches, leaves or intruding weeds until the last person, Pearly Gayle, was buried there in 1984. Other descendants, including Cleveland Rock, the nephew of the WWI veteran, and Rose Morton, Harris daughter, carried on the tradition as long as they could. It wasnt like a lost, forgotten cemetery or anything like that, Porter said. Much of the information about whos buried where was passed along by word of mouth from one generation to the next. But as many of those who carried the knowledge have passed away themselves, Porter believes its vital to record information before its too late. She wants to talk to as many members of the Black community as possible. Shes already identified 32 people buried in the cemetery, which she believes includes all those from the 20th century. Porter has spent many hours in the home of Harris, talking with the matriarch, her children and other relatives. Harris drew her a map of the graves she remembered, and Porter has researched court records to fill in some other branches in family trees. In her own family, she can trace her roots back to Charlemagne, but says many people of European descent can do the same. Its different to research Black enslaved people, Porter said. Few public records include precise names of the enslaved, and the children of those in bondage didnt necessarily know who their parents were. Basically, Black people didnt know their ancestry, Harris said. For instance, her great-grandmother Nancy Brown was born into slavery. Harris has always known that. But she didnt know until recently, when Porter started researching, that Grandma Nancy was 14 when she came to the Oliver plantation from King William County. Its presumed that she and her six siblings were able to stay with their mother, at least for part of their lives, as enslaved children usually did, Porter said. I hope so, Harris said quietly. She was a very nice person. Everybody liked her, the white people and the Black people. Wonderful step Nancy Brown was freed after the Civil War, then in 1890, the property owner deeded her 10 acres of land, presumably so she would stay close by and continue to work on the farm. Many Blacks headed to cities for jobs, Porter said. That same tract of land was passed down to the oldest child in each family, and is where Harris lives. Her father and other old-timers talked about a funeral held in their front yard, under a tree, for a woman named Mary Brown. She was 19 when she died. Her twin, Martha Brown, only survived a couple days. Both are buried in the Oliver cemetery. The Rev. James Wright, founder of St. Johns Baptist Church, is believed to be interred there as well. Harris and many of her relatives are members of St. Johns and would love to know the final resting place of the man who was enslaved for about 30 years before he started the church. The University of Richmonds East End Cemetery Collaboratory already has visited the cemetery to establish GPS coordinates for whats believed to be the outer perimeter of the graveyard. When the church committee raises enough funds, itll hire someone to use ground-penetrating radar to identify soil disturbances and where actual graves are. The technique is used extensively in cemeteries, said Porter, whos documented more than 100 graves as a volunteer cemetery specialist with Shenandoah National Park. Until then, Porter will continue to gather information. Shes having knee replacement surgery next month and plans to use her recovery time to pore over public records. Linda Thomas, a Black historian in Bowling Green, praises the preservation aspect of the project, both for current and future descendants interested in tracing family genealogy. She also likes the way the St. Marys committee has involved members of the Black community, especially in the discussion about whatever improvements may be made. That is a wonderful step in the right direction for all of us to follow, she said, noting that Americans tend to avoid conversations that involve slavery. For the church to deal with it in a sensitive and Christian way is the lesson we all need at this moment in time. Anyone with information about the Oliver cemetery can contact Anna Porter at annatrublue@aol.com or 804/516-5640. The spread of data centers has made its way from Northern Virginia to the Fredericksburg area, with Spotsylvania County a primary target. There are five proposed data center projects in Spotsylvania that could amount to at least 6.6 million square feet of warehouse space. The county also approved the 314-acre Spotsy Techno Campus earlier this year, which includes plans to build warehouses, offices and possibly data centers facilities that house computer systems such as servers, routers and other components. Data centers have existed in the U.S. for more than half a century, but there has been a boom in recent years to support high-speed internet and cloud storage. As they look to attract developers seeking to build data centers, Spotsylvania officials have been working on amendments to the countys Comprehensive Plan that address issues associated with the facilities, such as noise and use of water and electricity. They have also ramped up efforts to educate and inform residents about data centers. On Tuesday, county supervisors Kevin Marshall and Lori Hayes joined county staff to host a community meeting to talk about plans and concerns related to data centers. About 30 people attended the meeting at Cedar Forest Elementary School on Massaponax Church Road, near some of the proposed data center sites. Hayes, who represents the Lee Hill District, and Marshall, the Berkeley District supervisor, said they want to make sure data centers do not adversely impact residents. The Comprehensive Plan amendments are aimed at creating guidelines to address issues. Marshall told the crowd one benefit of data centers is the tax revenue generated from businesses that arent supposed to have much impact beyond their footprint. He also added that the county wants to make sure data centers are good neighbors. Spotsylvania Planning Director Kimberly Pomatto told attendees the proposed data centers are in the early stages, with no public hearings yet scheduled. County officials also noted that not all data centers will be alike, so each has to be handled separately, with the amended Comprehensive Plan serving as a guide. One woman in the audience said some data centers in Northern Virginia are too close to homes. Another woman said she recently talked to men conducting noise monitoring near her home in the Lancaster Gate neighborhood. Shes concerned about the potential noise and impact on trees. One of the data center sites also would border the Timberlake subdivision. Pomatto said the Comprehensive Plan changes address buffering and other concerns, and leave the door open to address various issues with each proposal. We certainly dont want it to impact neighborhoods, Hayes said. It should sort of be kind of something you dont even know is there. So thats what were hoping to do. Hayes visited data centers in Prince William County, and she said the industry has come a long way concerning problems with noise and electrical and water usage. Those are the same issues she had concerns about, Hayes said. One man said he was concerned about impacts to his well water, but Pomatto said the data centers wouldnt draw from groundwater. The county is considering having the data centers use water from the wastewater treatment plant instead of drawing from the county water system. The centers still would need to pay for extensions to reach public water, officials said. Another resident asked what fiber optic lines the data centers would tap into. Marshall said fiber lines run along Interstate 95 and rail lines. He said there are nodes near two I95 Spotsylvania exits that data centers could tap into. One woman in the audience said the Comprehensive Plan doesnt have any teeth and implored officials to make sure there is some way to regulate the centers. She said the county should be forceful and ensure developers dont damage the environment or impact peoples lives negatively. Marshall said counties cant ask for proffers from developers anymore, but he thinks the companies want to be a good neighbor because they dont want you to fuss, he said. That goes for any project. Another question focused on plans developers might have to expand beyond current proposals. Marshall said the projects are planned to be built in phases through 2050. Near the end of the meeting, a woman in the crowd said approving the data centers would be a disservice to the county because it is too much saturation. That comment was the only overtly negative take on data centers during the meeting, much different from mounting backlash in Northern Virginia, Culpeper and Fauquier counties. That pushback to data centers is likely the result of the quick spread of the facilities. According to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the state hosts the largest data center market in the world and Northern Virginia is home to more than 20% (100) of all known hyperscale data centers worldwide. There are 1,859 data centers in the U.S., according to datacentermap.com, which tracks the data center and technology industry. California has the most (239) of any state, followed by Texas (186), Florida (113), New York (108) and Virginia (100). Prince William and Loudoun counties have led the way in the commonwealth. Loudoun has what is called Data Center Alley. That corridor has 25 million square feet of data centers, where more than 3,000 people work, according to the county. The data centers generate $586.8 million in annual tax revenue. Prince William has 33 data centers with 13 more planned. In November, the countys Board of Supervisors approved the Digital Gateway, a project with plans for 27 million square feet of warehouse space on a 2,100-acre corridor in Manassas, near Civil War battlefields. That project has proven unpopular with many residents. Residents in Culpeper and Fauquier also have come out recently against proposals. In an effort to contend with backlash, Amazon hosted a roundtable discussion earlier this month in Washington. Prince William Supervisor Victor Angry said data centers have proven a boon for the county, allowing it to lower its real estate property tax rate and give raises to staff. Its been very good, he said. Amazon representative Brandon Scheller said the company paid $334 million in personal property taxes in 2022. Terry L. Clower, a professor at George Mason Universitys Schar School of Policy and Government, said data centers are one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy, and the industry has had a profound impact in Northern Virginia. What weve seen in Northern Virginia in the past 15 to 20 years has been the actual emergence from nothing to an entire niche industry around construction trades related to data center development, he said. Clower added that the proliferation of data centers has reduced reliance on the federal government for good jobs in Northern Virginia. Near the end of the roundtable, former Ohio Congressman Pat Tiberi, who praised the impact data centers had in his state, cited what he thinks is to blame for the criticism. He said the problem is misinformation spread by social media and the media. Prince William Supervisor Angry agreed, saying both his county and industry officials have learned from earlier issues and have improved how data centers are developed. Scheller, the Amazon representative, agreed. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy OPENING Asteroid City (Comedy, PG-13, 104 minutes). A junior stargazer and cadet convention is disrupted by world-changing events. The Last Rider (Documentary, PG-13, 98 minutes). The story of how Greg LeMond won the 1989 Tour de France after coming back from the brink of death. No Hard Feelings (Comedy, R, 102 minutes). Maddie, who has been hired by helicopter parents to help bring their introverted son out of his shell before college, has only the summer to make him a man or die trying. SPECIALTY Grateful Dead Meet-Up 2023 (Concert, not rated). Concert footage from the Grateful Deads June 22, 1991, concert at Chicagos Soldier Field. 7 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday (Icon Cinema); 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday. (Cinemark Tinseltown). ONGOING The Blackening (Comedy horror, R, 96 minutes). Grade: B-, Adam Graham. Black friends must use their street smarts and horror movie knowledge to stay alive when they are trapped in a cabin with a killer who has a vendetta. The Boogeyman (Horror, PG-13, 98 minutes). Grade: B, Adam Graham. While two sisters are grieving the death of their mother and their therapist father, Will, is dealing with his own pain, one of Wills patient shows up at their home seeking help and leaves behind an entity that feeds on the suffering of its victims. Elemental (Animation, PG, 103 minutes). Grade: B, Adam Graham. Ember, a fiery and quick-witted young woman, begins to look at her beliefs about the world differently after she starts a friendship with Wade, who is a go-with-the-flow type of guy. Fast X (Action, PG-13, 141 minutes). Grade: B-, Katie Walsh. Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted their foe throughout their many missions but now they must face the most lethal opponent yet. The Flash (Action, PG-13, 144 minutes). Grade: A-, Mark Meszoros. When Flash travels back in time to change events of the past, he also alters the future into a world without superheroes. Now trapped in a reality where General Zod is threatening annihilation, Flash tries to coax a changed Batman out of retirement to help in the battle. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Action, PG-13, 150 minutes). Grade: B-, Katie Walsh. Although Peter Quill is still reeling from the loss of Gamora, he must rally his team to defend the universe on a mission that if not successful could mean the end of the Guardians. The Little Mermaid (Adventure, PG, 135 minutes). Grade: A-, Moira MacDonald. So she can discover the world beyond the water and impress a prince, a mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch and trades her beautiful voice for human legs. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Animation, PG, 140 minutes). Grade: A-, Katie Walsh. When faced with a new threat, Miles Morales finds he must rethink what it means to be a hero when he clashes with Spider-People who protect the Multiverse. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Animation, PG, 92 minutes). Grade: C, Katie Walsh. While working to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumber brothers Mario and Luigi get separated when they are transported down a strange pipe that lands them in the Mushroom Kingdom. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (Action, PG-13, 127 minutes). Grade: C-, Katie Walsh. New Transformers, the Maximals, join the Autobots in the battle to save Earth. (Editors note: Please contact individual movie theaters for showtimes.) CARLOTTA OLSON, THE GAZETTE Hanoi joins Wellington of New Zealand, Auckland of New Zealand, Perth of Australia, and Bucharest of Romania in the top five cities in the world to make the most significant improvements to their overall livability rankings, according to CNN. A corner of Hanoi (Photo: tuoirtre.vn) The removal of COVID-19-related restrictions has overall boded well for global livability in 2023, Upasana Dutt, head of Livability Index at EIU, said in a statement. Education has emerged stronger with children returning to schools alongside a significantly reduced burden on hospitals and healthcare systems, with some notable improvements in cities across developing economies of Asia and the Middle East, she added. The EIU's index ranks 173 cities in five categories, namely stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Earlier, Hanoi and Hue (in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue), were voted among the 10 winners in the "Best Cities" category at the 2023 Luxury Awards Asia Pacific from US travel magazine Travel Leisure. Hanoi is a destination for those who love light, poetic beauty, and the ancient appeal of time. Vietnam's capital is famous for its centuries-old temples and architectural landmarks from French colonial times as well as its unique cuisine. Hue was formerly the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's last royal family. It is famed for its imperial tombs and UNESCO heritage sites such as the Imperial Citadel. By Azernews Qabil Ashirov Despite persistence and all provocations done by the Armenian side, being compassionate, Azerbaijan still gives a hug to poor Armenian minorities kept as hostages by separatists in Karabakh. The Azerbaijani side does not miss any opportunity to give a push to the integration process, but the Armenian government, separatists in Karabakh, and their mouthpiece abroad go the extra mile to interrupt it. Once again, the issue was tabled during the meeting between the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, and the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Azerbaijan Dragana Kozich. The top diplomat reiterated that Azerbaijan can provide Armenians in Karabakh with assistance. Like previous ones, the Armenian side and their promoters in the West turned a blind eye to the offer. With unknown reasons, they are keeping to demand that Azerbaijani citizens in Karabakh must integrate not into Azerbaijan, but Armenia. Speaking to Azernews on the issue, the member of the Azerbaijani Parliament Fazil Mustafa noted that the Armenian side is aware of remaining at an impasse but they resist due to the temptation of some foreign countries. However, he stated that it is their last fidget. The MP underlined that the reckless approaches of Western politicians harm the peace building process instead of promoting it. In fact, they themselves know that the Armenians have no way out. This is their last chance to fuss about. The brazen calls of some US congressmen to take decisions that threaten the sovereignty of Azerbaijan, the adoption of certain documents, the adoption of resolutions by irresponsible and lawbreaker PACE MPs in the Assembly using various means to flatter Armenians do not help in solving the issue. On the contrary, it increases the problems of Armenians. Because timely integration would be a more convenient way to solve problems, Fazil Mustafa said. Regarding this, MP Fazil Mustafa noted that neither the proposals of the Azerbaijan state nor the initiatives of the ICRC will be accepted by the Armenians at this stage. He emphasized that compactly-settled Armenians in Karabakh are under the hostage of local separatist terror organization. Therefore, the civilian Armenians are cowed to initiate any attempts toward integration. He opined that in case of cleaning the region from the terror organization, the civilian Armenians will be interested in the integration. Civil Armenians in Karabakh are under the hostages of the terrorist group, and they are not expected to take a positive approach to any civil initiative until the terrorists are purged. Therefore, the Armenians themselves, perhaps in their hearts, agree that the Azerbaijani side should clean these terrorists from the region as a whole, and after that, I don't think that Azerbaijan will have any problems with the civilian population. It will be possible to put things in order in this direction. At present, it is not credible to show an initiative related to reintegration by any non-governmental organization, civil society or individual due to the fear of terrorists. Armenians can start this process only after these terrorist groups are eliminated. Until then, there is still no hope. Because these groups can terrorize any person who initiates integration in order to terrorize others. If you pay attention, it can be seen that the Azerbaijani soldiers and medical workers provided the necessary assistance and support to a certain sick person or an Armenian who lost his way on a winter day to the post office, proving that the state of Azerbaijan has no problems with civilian Armenians. I do not think that the civilian population there will have any problems with Azerbaijan. Just the terrorist groups and military units that are there should be cleared immediately. After the cleaning operation is completed, it is possible to talk about some kind of reintegration, the official said. He also touched on legal benefits of reintegration and noted that it will be in favor of Armenian minorities in Karabakh as well. He recalled that the world does not recognize such quasi-states and it causes problem for locals. Reintegration itself will increase economic independence, freedom, and activity opportunities of Karabakh Armenians. That is, they will benefit from the opportunities of the Azerbaijani society and state. Reintegration will also enable Karabakh Armenians to live in on a legal basis. Karabakh Armenians have not been living in a legal regime for years and are in an uncertain situation. The world somehow does not recognize the self-styled state. In such a case, what can they hope for? In what form can a person who has graduated from secondary school continue his higher education? What can he do in the closed environment in Karabakh? he noted. Azerbaijani MP Fazil Mustafa also mentioned that Azerbaijans economic potential is bigger than Armenia and in terms of logistics, it is more plausible to have trade with Azerbaijani regions, instead of Armenia. There are no prospects for expanding any economic opportunities in Karabakh. It is clear to everyone how much the economic potential of Azerbaijan is superior to that of Armenia. But imagine that if relations restored and in this case Armenians in Karabakh can trade with peoples in Aghdam, Kalbajar and other districts. It may be more beneficial for Armenians to go to these areas that are logistically closer than paying a large sum to go to Yerevan. On the other hand, they will have the opportunity to realize their pension, social benefits and other rights, the MP added. One man has been arrested Friday night after threatening police with a firearm amidst efforts to apprehend him for another crime, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. According to officials, police received reports of a domestic violence situation around 10:13 p.m. on Lenmar Drive, located on the southwest side of the city. Initial investigation efforts lead to the development of probable cause to charge the suspect, 27-year-old Austin Houge, with domestic violence-related offenses, police said. Officers on the scene said that while attempting to apprehend Houge, he told law enforcement he was armed, and prepared to shoot at police if they continued their efforts. Police escorted others on the residence to safety before locating Houge in his vehicle. A shelter-in-place alert was sent to residents in the immediate area following their initial call to the scene due to the nature of Houges threats and the potential for harm to members of the community. 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. According to an online blotter entry, officers located Houge in his vehicle on Musket Drive. He continued to be noncompliant, prompting the use of less lethal tools to take him into custody. No officers or members of the community were injured in the incident. Houge will be booked on multiple charges, including felony menacing, aggravated cruelty to animals, criminal mischief, child abuse and a DUI, according to court records. As of Saturday morning, Houge was still being processed. A motorist experiencing a medical emergency on Saturday lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a fence at the Colorado Springs police impound lot, officials said. Police initially received a call about a vehicle trying to break into the impound lot, located at 2700 East Las Vegas Street, by ramming a vehicle into the fencing. When officers arrived at the scene, they learned the driver had a medical event that caused him to swerve off the road and hit the fence, police said. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries, police said. The damaged portion of the impound lot fencing has been secured. As the Air Force and Army brace to miss recruiting goals this year, both branches are making changes to help address long-term problems of dropping interest and eligibility to serve. Last year the Army missed its recruiting goal by 25% and doesn't expect to hit it this year, either, although it is doing statistically better than at this same time last year, spokeswoman Lt. Col. Ruth Castro said. The Air Force met its goals last year, but expected to fall 10% short, the Air Force's Assistant Secretary Kristyn Jones said in congressional testimony. The Space Force, a much smaller and highly sought after branch, has not seen the same struggles. Colorado Springs, home to Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever Space Force bases and the Air Force Academy, has a significant presence of both soldiers and airmen. However, recruiting challenges persist, and both the Army and Air Force are making innovative changes, including a new preparatory program for soldiers who need to lose weight or boost test scores to enlist. The recruiting shortfalls sweep across most branches and have spurred national calls for action. Most of the trends that have created the present recruiting crisis will not change anytime soon, and if left unaddressed, they could soon threaten the ability of the all-volunteer force to protect the nation, wrote retired Army Lt. Gen. David Barno and Nora Bensahel, visiting professors of studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. The two wrote the military may find itself continuing to involuntarily shrink and may soon be too small to address the growing security challenges facing the United States, the Washington Examiner reported. For recruiters, the challenges are numerous because rising obesity and mental health issues are disqualifying more young people from service, while a falling veteran population means that fewer young people are interested in serving. Military data showed those eligible to serve ages 17 to 24 is down to 23% from 29% in recent years, with 44% ineligible for more than one reason. In addition to long-term challenges around interest and eligibility, COVID-19 restrictions limited recruiters' access to schools and many knowledgeable counselors left the field, according to a Fountain-based Air Force recruiter and ROTC scholarship officer at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. At the same time, the military is facing larger issues, such as the number of parents who believe their children need to pursue a college degree right out of high school to achieve success, said Katherine Kuzminski, senior fellow and program director with the Center for a New American Security. "I think (service) used to be almost an exclusive pathway to financial stability and kind of rising through the classes. Now, there is a variety of ways people can move socioeconomically," she said. The military will pay for a college degree, but so will Starbucks and other corporations, she noted. The rising awareness around mental health issues also means far more children and teenagers are receiving diagnosis and care. She also noted that while a military youth survey showed only 10% of those 16 to 21 years old expected to serve, the majority of people in the military said on that survey they were not interested in serving. "Recruiters are doing a lot of work," she said. Air Force Recruiter Tech. Sgt. Patrick Sullivan who works in Fountain has seen some of the issues firsthand since arriving in the area in December 2020. At the start of the pandemic, graduating seniors already had a plan in place to enlist or commission if they were interested. But younger students didn't make as many connections with recruiters in schools because they had trouble talking to classes in 2021. Sullivan said he wasn't fully allowed back in schools until 2022. He also saw lower scores on the test required to enter the military because of the online learning that followed COVID-19 and a rise in anxiety and depression. For example, he said out of a group of 10 students about four typically show interest in the Air Force and out of those four, one or two are on medication for anxiety or depression. Those students would need to come off their medications for two years to qualify, he said. The Air Force has made some changes recently to achieve some quick wins, such as loosening its tattoo policy to allow small hand and neck tattoos, which allowed him to sign up two people in the first few months of the policy change. Over the past five years, he probably turned down five people with small neck tattoos, he said. "Subtle changes can open up doors for people," he said. Less stringent rules on marijuana use have also helped. Currently, prospective recruits need to be clean for 45 days, but sometimes people miscalculate their dates and end up testing positive, he said. A waiver process allows some of those people to test a second time, Sullivan said. 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. To tackle big issues such as fitness and test scores, the Army, piloted a preparatory program at Fort Jackson, S.C., to help those who don't have the structure and time needed to meet some military standards around health and academics, said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Downin, with Army Recruiting Battalion based in Denver. During the program, prospective recruits are paid to prepare for basic training and receive professional assistance losing weight or academic help, he said. "I think its been tremendously successful," he said. The course accepted 3,206 students by the end of 2022, and 2,965 students continued on to basic training, according to an Army press release. Lt. Col. Johnny Fornes with the Denver battalion said the Army is expanding the program and other branches are interested in it. In addition, the battalion is working to expand its relationships with schools and school leaders, such as principals and guidance counselors, about the diverse and technical career options in the Army. "There is an information gap across the board," he said. Soldiers are also trying work with many different types of events and clubs. For example, soldiers have worked with students interested in health fields to show them how medical soldiers train, he said. While it's true corporations are paying for college degrees, Downin said, they tend to come with a lot of requirements, while for service members those benefits are an entitlement. In addition, Fornes said there is work to expand JROTC programs in Douglas County and Alamosa. While those programs promote citizenship and awareness about the military, they are not necessarily a pipeline to service, Downin said. "The vast majority of students in JROTC do not ever join the military," he said. On a crisp morning this spring, at the Mesa Ridge High School JROTC program, in response to "Are you ready?" the group of students shouted back "Always ready!" through their workout. JROTC is a citizenship development program, and it does introduce students to the structure and culture of the military, with students taking on military titles and roles within the program. From among about 100 students in the program, about a third will end up serving, and this year most graduates were headed off to the Army, said Heath Floray, the instructor. "What we try to do is give them as much information as possible so they can make the best informed decision that they can," he said, that includes offering tours and connections to experts in fields of interest. Mesa Ridge JROTC student Magdaelema Majerrison expected to enlist in the Army this fall after graduating, to serve as her father did and hopefully travel the world. She was excited rather than nervous for basic training, job skills training, her first duty station and all the new people she expects to meet along the way. I'm ready to start the new chapter of my life, she said. Her four years in the program also helped her mature and be nicer, said Majerrison, who served as the first lieutenant, in charge of ensuring the classroom was clean and picked up. It's a lot easier to talk to people, she said. One of the biggest challenges she sees ahead is running every day early in the morning for basic training, but she said with confidence she expected to get through it and become a military police officer or a armored vehicle driver. In the long term, she hopes to become an officer, through a program known as Green to Gold that allows enlisted soldiers to earn a college degree and commission as an officer. I know that I'm going to be told what to do for a long time. But I like telling people what to do, she said. Emirates Steel Arkan, the largest publicly traded steel and building materials company in the UAE, has announced the roll out of its new operating model to leverage the combined strengths of the steel and building materials businesses, as part of its efforts to realise its vision and strategic ambitions. The new operating model creates two separate business units Emirates Steel and Building Materials. Emirates Steel and Building Materials will each have a dedicated leadership to focus on driving growth within their respective units, who will be reporting directly to Emirates Steel Arkan Group CEO Engineer Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi. Saeed Al Ghafri will lead the Emirates Steel business as CEO, while Saeed Al Dhaheri will lead the Building Materials business as Acting CEO and Vice President Commercial. Al Remeithi said: "We carefully considered the most effective way to enable the company to leverage the combined strengths and synergies of Emirates Steel and Building Materials to realize our strategic ambitions and growth aspirations." "The result of that work is a new operating model designed to propel us forward, optimize our operations, and pave the way for future success," he stated. "The new operating model will also be guided by our new unified values, People, Accountability, and Innovation, based on the one team mentality culture, that will enable us to deliver our strategic goals effectively and efficiently while providing more opportunities for our people to thrive," he added. Emirates Steel and Arkan Building Materials had merged in 2021 to form Emirates Steel Arkan. Al Remeithi said the new business units will also be supported by centralised finance, human capital, technology, strategy and transformation, and a new projects function. Ever since the combined entity embarked on a transformation journey to unify and streamline departments, it continued to prioritise peoples safety, identified efficiencies across its operations, strengthened its financial standing and developed a decarbonization roadmap to reach net zero emissions by 2050.-TradeArabia News Service Every hour for 85 years now, a soft, sweet chime has serenaded the hills and meadows of southwest Colorado Springs for many, a familiar melody from an unfamiliar source. From his post high on the side of Cheyenne Mountain, Dakota Hurst commonly greets surprised, longtime locals. Its the No. 1 thing we hear, he says. Ive lived here all my life, and Ive never been up here. Or I never even knew this was up here. This is the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, the granite tower seen rising amid evergreens of the citys backdrop. Thats if you know where to look. Hurst is the latest in a long, proud line of caretakers dating to the shrines construction in 1937. From the high, winding road past the gates of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, he is tasked with the upkeep of one of the regions most important, most elaborate and unusual burial grounds. Like caretakers before him, Hurst speaks in reverence. He refers to the dead here as Mr. and Mrs. Penrose. Its a privilege working here, Hurst says. To take care of someones final resting place, its an honor. And the fact that its the Penroses really adds to that. Spencer and Julie Penrose are interred in the ornate chapel beside the tower. Here, Hurst might be seen polishing the wooden benches from a French monastery or brushing cobwebs from marble corners, before moving on to the subterranean home of the sound system originally built to carry chimes 5 miles across the land below. Anyone familiar with Pikes Peak region history knows the name: From his arrival in 1892, Spencer Penrose went on to make his fortune from Colorados last, great gold rush and leave a legacy with some of the regions most iconic attractions. Those include The Broadmoor, Pikes Peak Highway and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Anyone familiar might be less familiar with where the man ended up. After all, the name Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun makes no indication. Rather, the name is for another leading man of the day. Before dying in a plane crash in 1935, Will Rogers was the nations adored Cowboy Philosopher, a humorous, kindred spirit who maintained the humility of his Oklahoma farm boyhood as he moved across the stage and big screen. His words on peace and love were cherished across radios and newspapers everywhere. He was the Mr. Rogers before Mister Rogers Neighborhood. He was a Democrat who spoke at the Republican National Convention. He might best be explained by the quote on his bust outside the Shrine of the Sun: I never met a man I didnt like. Simply put, he captured the imagination and the affection of the American people, Colorado Colleges president, Thurston Davies, said on Sept. 6, 1937, during the dedication of the shrine. Davies opened with a prediction for the edifice: It will remain forever a monument to the public spirit of Mr. Spencer Penrose and the affection which he bears for America, for the West, and for the man who typified the spirit which has made this country great. The 114-foot tower is the castlelike promontory Penrose envisioned as his tomb, inspired by old architecture he envied on his world travels. In 1934, the vision became the mission of a task force and endowment Penrose established: the End of the Trail Association. 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. Penrose was facing a terminal diagnosis as Civilian Conservation Corps hands starting cutting granite from the mountain. In 1937, as construction was wrapping up, he died from throat cancer at the age of 74. Along with the shrine, Penrose would leave behind a foundation to continue his philanthropy, the El Pomar Foundation. Mr. Penrose had always intended to call it the Shrine of the Sun, says Sarah Woods, who oversees curation and archives for El Pomar. When Rogers suddenly died during the shrines construction, Penrose joined the nation in christening landmarks for the fallen hero. There was no sunnier name than Will Rogers. He reportedly visited Penrose on his stops through Colorado Springs. Though, there was never any intimate friendship between the two men, according to a 1943 letter from Julie Penroses secretary. Mr. Penrose was one of the millions of admirers of Will Rogers. And so the rooms along the towers spiral staircase are dedicated to Rogers. Pictures depict his horseback childhood before his celebrity rise. Here he is, shaking hands with people in high places and low places. Here he is, with his kids. Here he is, beside the plane that crashed in Alaska, killing him and aviator Wiley Post, his last picture. The funeral was said to be Americas most-attended since Abraham Lincolns. As for Penroses, a reported 4,000 mourners made their way up the old Cheyenne Mountain Highway to the shrine. Nowadays, the caretaking Hurst says 150 might drive up on a summer day. In the shrine, they start in a cathedral-like room and view the wide-ranging mural Penrose commissioned: frescoed figures railroading, mining, gambling and fighting for their West. The terrazzo stairs lead up to a sweeping view of the plains where those pioneers rode. Back at the pavilion, a staircase leads down to the room for the old and newer chime system. Yellowed pages of music notes remain: Home on the Range, which played at Spencer Penroses funeral, and Ave Maria, recalled as Julie Penroses favorite. Its some of the soundtrack to Hursts scenic, idyllic days up here. Every day is a good day here, he says. And yet, many are unaware many Springs residents telling him they never knew about the shrine. Here, they might reflect on the times that Davies reflected upon during his dedication speech in 1937. Those were times of economic depression and a world at the brink of war, troubled and complicated times, Davies said. Wills sudden and tragic death took something from us that we need today, he said. Will had a rare ability to see through the confusing picture of the present, Davies said, an ability to get back to plain, simple, fundamental truths and qualities to counteract political bitterness and animosity. As increasing threats to our own national structure darken our horizon, Will saw the light, Davies suggested. There before the lasting gift of Penrose, he implored his audience: Turn once more to this shrine beside us here in the sun. ARIZONA Female Mexican gray wolf released into wild PHOENIX A female Mexican gray wolf that a group of schoolchildren nicknamed Asha has been returned to the wilds of Arizona after she was found wandering in northern New Mexico outside of a zone set up for the recovery of her subspecies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday. The wolf was headed north into the southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico in January when the wildlife service captured her outside the recovery area. The Fish and Wildlife Service says it does not anthropomorphize wild animals by using human or pet names favored by the public and nongovernmental groups and calls her Female Wolf 2745. Cyndi Tuell, Arizona and New Mexico director of the nongovernmental Western Watersheds, and other environmentalists say the zone is arbitrary and that the animals should be able to roam freely, potentially introducing them to other wolves for breeding and increase their genetic diversity, conservationists insist. Jared Polis vetoes wolf reintroduction bill in Colorado The Fish and Wildlife Service said the wolf born in 2021 had wandered into territory where there are no other wolves to breed with. She was fitted with a radio collar in the fall of 2022, and the agency will continue to monitor her movements following her release. The Mexican gray wolf is an endangered subspecies of the gray wolf whose numbers in the Southwest dwindled dangerously close to extinction before efforts to bring it back under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. The last known wild Mexican gray wolves were captured in the late 1970s, and the gradual recovery began with seven of the animals being successfully bred in captivity. NEW MEXICO State rolls out $690M in taxpayer rebates after budget surplus SANTA FE New Mexico expects to start distributing $690 million in rebates to eligible taxpayers as early as next week, state officials announced on Jun 12 as applications for a separate tax relief program opened. Any state resident who filed a 2021 state tax return and was not declared as a dependent on someone else's return will receive their rebates automatically, the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department said at a news conference. Single filers will get $500, while married couples filing jointly will get $1,000. Stephanie Schardin Clarke, the department's Cabinet secretary, said rebates will be deposited around June 21 into the bank accounts of taxpayers who received a refund by direct deposit on their 2021 return. Everyone else will get a check in the mail, which will be printed and sent out between June 20 and June 29, she said. New Mexico residents have until May 31, 2024, to file a 2021 return and still qualify for the rebates. Critics: Polis' property tax plan guts TABOR refunds Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the tax rebates in April, as a result of a multibillion-dollar surplus in oil income. At the time, Lujan Grisham noted that prices remain high in a state with elevated poverty rates and low workforce participation, but said New Mexico "is in a fantastic financial position. Feds break up multi-state Guatemalan smuggling ring ALBUQUERQUE Federal authorities have arrested six people for their alleged roles in a human smuggling ring that brought migrants from Guatemala to the United States, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico said. Alexander M.M. Uballez, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, Texas, said the arrests followed the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment on May 24. Authorities said the six were members of the Lopez Crime Family, which allegedly has smuggling operations in Guatemala, Mexico and the U.S. that use a series of coordinated transports, stash houses and directed electronic money transfers. Authorities said all are Guatemalans and members of the family or associated with it. Feds give Denver $8.6 million for immigrant response The arrests were made in Arizona and California through an operation that included law enforcement agencies in three states. 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. Homeland Security Investigations in New Mexico led the investigation, officials said. If convicted, each faces up to ten years in prison. WYOMING Group that pushes alternatives opens site near Casper abortion clinic A nonprofit that aims to persuade pregnant woman to seek alternatives to abortion opened a site earlier this month down the street from the new Casper abortion clinic. The True Care Women's Resource Center, a nonprofit organization with a main location in asper, opened its second location June 1, Jessica Baxter, the center's CEO, said. The new clinic is about two blocks away from the Wellspring Health Access clinic, which opened in April nearly a year after an arson destroyed most of the building's interior. True Care has also partnered with Sidewalk Advocates for Life, a "Christ-centered" national organization that aims to end abortion. Volunteers with the local chapter of the organization have stationed themselves near the abortion clinic to intercept patients and refer them to the True Care center on Second Street. Federal judge declines to block new law against 'abortion reversal' amid state's non-enforcement pledge In addition to abortion services, Wellspring Health Access, which is led by founder and president Julie Burkhart, offers family planning services as well as gynecological and gender affirming care. The Wyoming Legislature passed the Life is a Human Right Act, a sweeping abortion ban, as well as the nation's first medication abortion ban earlier this year. Both became law in March, though abortion until viability is still legal in Wyoming after a Teton County judge blocked enforcement of the Life is a Human Right Act as the measure undergoes a challenge in court. Plaintiffs in the court challenge have also requested a block on the medication abortion ban, which is set to take effect next month. UTAH Rural abortion clinic closes amid staff shortages SALT LAKE CITY There is now one fewer place to access abortion in Utah after Planned Parenthood closed its only clinic outside the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The Planned Parenthood Association of Utah said on June 15 that the Logan clinic has long been staffed with one provider, who left to take another position in March. The northern Utah city of 52,000 is home to Utah State University and about 20 miles from Idaho, where abortions have been banned except for in cases of rape or incest since last year. Planned Parenthood said in a statement that it was training new staff and planned to reopen its clinic in August, in addition to a new facility in Ogden. In the meantime, it has attempted to help Logan patients schedule appointments at nearby health centers. In addition to abortion, the organization's facilities provide sexual and reproductive health services including birth control and STI and pregnancy screenings. Three abortion clinics remain open in Utah's Salt Lake City metro, including two operated by Planned Parenthood and a third, the independent Wasatch Women's Clinic. Data shows more people are getting abortions in Colorado - the most since 1985 Abortion clinics are reckoning with a new state law that will ban them by gradually phasing out their licenses. A judge put the ban on hold until Planned Parenthood's lawsuit challenging it can be resolved. Lawmakers have said licenses for abortion clinics are no longer needed in post-Roe v. Wade Utah. Abortion is legal up to 18 weeks of pregnancy while challenges to a state trigger law that would ban most abortions with exceptions for rape, incest or maternal health progresses through the court system. Anti-abortion lawmakers who expect to prevail in court have said that the type of procedures allowed under the western conservative state's laws are best suited for hospitals. Drought prompts Arizona governor to limit construction on outskirts of Phoenix | OUT WEST ROUNDUP Federal judge says fire retardant drops pollute streams but can continue | OUT WEST ROUNDUP Biden administration says huge lithium mine can proceed under 1872 Mining Law | OUT WEST ROUNDUP The Colorado Healing Fund will disburse nearly $1 million in additional contributions to Club Q survivors and victims' family members, the nonprofit announced Friday afternoon. The announcement comes three days after Club Q survivors and family members of those killed or injured in the Nov. 19 mass shooting at the popular Colorado Springs LGBTQIA+ nightclub gathered at City Hall, calling on the healing fund to release about $1.1 million in additional contributions it raised in their names but has not yet distributed in the wake of the tragedy. Colorado Healing Fund will disperse $811,400 to survivors and family members, $761,400 of which it will pay to victims in lump-sum cash distributions, the nonprofit's Executive Director Jordan Finegan said in a news release. It will disburse another $50,000 in contributions to cover specific victim assistance requests. Ashtin Gamblin, who was shot nine times on Nov. 19 while working as "the front door girl" at Club Q, said Friday she was skeptical the fund would deliver on its recent commitment to distribute additional donations. She told The Gazette that the fund had not contacted her about the distribution yet. "I think until I have an actual check that this is an empty promise, especially because we have yet to be notified before media was. That's not usually how these things work. We get notified well before anybody else, so I definitely feel like this is an empty promise (and) I guess we're going to see how it goes," Gamblin said. After the next round of donations are circulated, Colorado Healing Fund will have distributed about $2.9 million of approximately $3.2 million it has received to date in donations to Club Q shooting survivors and their families, Finegan said in the release. Organizers say the fund is reserving about $300,000 to support long-term victim needs. Earlier this week, shooting survivors and family members said many of them haven't been able to properly grieve, cope with or heal from the tragedy in which five people were killed and about two dozen others were wounded because they have been trying to get the funds they need to pay rent and put food on the table. Some were forced to go back to work to pay their bills and others lost their jobs because of injuries or mental trauma they endured in the shooting, survivors said. Colorado Healing Fund does not issue payments directly to victims, affected families or others impacted by a mass tragedy event. Rather, the organization issues payments to community partner organizations working directly with victims, who transfer the funds to recipients. Victims are reimbursed after they submit receipts from payments for approved expenses. The nonprofit uses funds to address survivors' and families' short-term, intermediate and long-term needs, because victims commonly experience additional trauma in the months and years following an event like a mass shooting, Finegan said in a previous interview this week. Colorado Healing Fund will distribute the additional $811,400 to Club Q survivors, victims' families and those immediately impacted through its community partners, Finegan said in the release. The organization is working on a timeline to distribute the lump-sum cash contributions and is working with state and local organizations to continue victim support, she said. From downtown Denver, the trip to Colorados western border along Interstate 70 takes 4 hours, 30 minutes, traveling roughly 280 miles of scenic mountain highway. One of the more trafficked thoroughfares in the state, there are plenty of worthwhile stops for tourists. 1. Coors, The Brewery Located in Golden just west of the Mile High City, this brewery offers an insightful tour that shows beer lovers how macro-brewery operations are able to fill so many bottles and cans. Visitors are invited to taste several beverage varieties following the tour, but make sure theres a designated driver for the group. 2. Genesee Park Home to a historic bison herd with easy access to The Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, Genesee Park boasts an impressive overlook. So pull off the interstate, shake out the legs and take in a wild west view. 3. Indian Hot Springs Found in the mining town of Idaho Springs, Indian Hot Springs not only features a large mineral water swimming pool, but its also home to unique geothermal caves. 4. Georgetown Loop Railroad Considered to be one of the most scenic train rides in the country, this narrow gauge railroad was one of the states first tourist attractions, traveling between charming Georgetown and the former silver mining camp of Silver Plume. 5. Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel While no stopping is allowed, passing through the 1.6-mile tunnel system is pretty spectacular in itself. Reaching an elevation of 11,158 feet, the tunnels are among the highest vehicular tunnels in the world and also stand as the highest point in the U.S. Interstate system. 6. Dillon Reservoir This scenic stop is an ideal place to go kayaking with a mountainous backdrop. Reserve a rental and spend a few hours paddling around, hopping from island to island. Dont forget the sunblock! 7. Dotsero Crater Just east of the picturesque Glenwood Canyon, Dotsero is home to a sage-covered pit measuring 2,460 feet wide and 250 feet deep, per the U.S. Geological Survey. Years ago, the craters depth mightve been 1,300 feet, the USGS reports. 8. Hanging Lake Make a point to visit one of Colorados most memorable destinations. Hanging Lake Trail leads hikers to a stunning waterfall scene. Be warned the hike can be strenuous and a reservation is required. 9. Glenwood Springs This mountain town is home to several family-friendly stops, including Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Iron Mountain Hot Springs and Glenwood Hot Springs Resort. Plus, there are plenty of notable choices when it comes to restaurants. 10. Rifle Falls State Park One of the greenest spots in the state, Rifle Falls State Park is a welcome stop for visitors. A short walk on a flat path offers incredible views of a trio of 70-foot waterfalls. 11. Palisade Wine Country This Western Slope town boasts more than a dozen wineries, giving locals and visitors alike plenty of options from which to choose. Kick back and relax while enjoying a glass of Colorado wine, but make sure youve got a designated driver. 12. Colorado National Monument Established in 1911, this monument features sheer-walled canyons and unique rock formations. Theyre best seen via Rim Rock Drive, which winds along the side of a plateau. 13. Dinosaur Journey Museum Go back in time way back in time. This museum in Fruita offers a hands-on experience thats all about dinosaurs. Examine real fossils, see a working paleontology laboratory and more. 14. Welcome to Colorado sign Once youve reached the border with Utah, look for one of the classic Welcome to Colorado signs. Theres plenty of room to exit safely off the interstate and snap a picture to commemorate the epic road trip. Amid nationwide civil rights affronts, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek joined area leaders and clergy in Albany on Saturday, June 24 to support the LGBTQ+ community at the city's sixth annual Pride event. "Here in Oregon, we believe in creating a state where everybody can be their authentic self," Kotek said, speaking before a packed intersection at Southwest Fourth Avenue and Broadalbin Street in front of the Linn County Circuit Court. Prior to becoming governor, Kotek was the country's first openly lesbian speaker of a state house; and in 2022, along with Maura Healey of Massachusetts, became one of the first lesbians elected governor. "And it is not easy. Good things are not easy," Kotek said. "But we are fighting everyday to make sure everyone in our state, from our youngest to our oldest, know that they have a community of support to be who they need to be." She touted the current work of state legislators to pass further protections for access to gender-affirming health care, "because everyone deserves the right to access to health care for what they need." Kotek was the first speaker of the morning after a number of clergy representing various faiths gave a blessing for the day's events and the cause in general. Following her were Lisa Avery, president of Linn-Benton Community College, former congressional candidate Jamie McLeod Skinner, Jason J. Dorsette, president of Linn Benton NAACP, and Manju Bangalore, Miss Oregon USA and an Oregon State University student. Dorsette noted that the Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest organization devoted to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans, is tracking more than 540 anti-LGBTQ legislative proposals under consideration in 34 states "just this year alone." Earlier this month the campaign reported that some 75 have already passed, prompting the organization to issue travel advisory cautioning members of the community about visiting the United States. McLeod Skinner, who lost a tight race to now-Rep. Lori Chavez DeRemer in 2022 in Oregon's new 5th Congressional District, which includes Linn County considered a critical pickup for Republicans told the crowd it is not easy for those in the community, especially those who live in rural Oregon. "We're facing challenges. Books are being banned. Athletes are not allowed to perform. We're being told to get back in the closet," McLeod Skinner said. She urged the crowd to back the librarians, athletes and storytellers on the frontlines, pushing against the tide. "This is our energy," she said. Pride is about celebrating, Kotek said. "It is about love. It is about acceptance. It is about all of us no matter who you are, being your true self, and sharing that with other people. That is what Pride is about." Related stories: Search for Justice Continues in Unsolved Disappearance of Assyrian Couple in Turkey Hurmuz Diril and his wife Simuni. It has been three and a half years since Hurmuz Diril and his wife Simuni went missing in January 2020. The lifeless body of Simuni Diril was discovered 70 days after their disappearance near the Hezil (Hizil) Stream, but the fate of Hurmuz Diril remains uncertain. No significant progress has been made in the investigation into the case of the couple, who were members of the Chaldean Catholic community. Their children emphasise that they will not give up their fight for justice until it has been achieved. The Dirils had returned to Kovankaya village, known as Meer in the Syriac language, which is located in the Beytussebap (Elki) district of Srnak (Srnex), and which had been evacuated several times by Turkey in 2011. After Simuni's body was found, her children said that it showed signs of torture and mutilation. Due to a confidentiality order initiated by the Beytussebap Public Prosecutor's Office, no information about the progress of the investigation could be obtained for more than a year and a half. Meanwhile, MPs from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) raised the issue in parliament, urging for an effective search to find Hurmuz Diril and for the perpetrators of Simuni's murder to be identified. The children and relatives of the Diril couple have launched campaigns on social media demanding justice. Within the scope of the ongoing investigation, Apro Diril, a relative of the family, has been arrested multiple times and subsequently released. He was released on house arrest during the last hearing, but then re-arrested in February following objections by lawyers. The family's lawyer has stated that the court panel has not conducted a comprehensive investigation, and the requested Historical Traffic Search (HTS) records have not been provided. They allege that significant evidence has been tampered with since the investigation process began. On the third anniversary of the couple's disappearance, thirty-two Syriac and Chaldean organisations, including organisations from France, Belgium, the United States, Sweden, Australia, and Iraq, sent a letter to Turkey calling for a "serious and effective" investigation into Hurmuz's case and an inquiry into the procedural flaws outlined in the Forensic Medicine Institute's report regarding the remains of Simuni. In addition, the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, a Syriac-based Christian civil society organisation, released a video in 12 languages, urging for the discovery of Hurmuz and for justice for Simuni. DES MOINES Maggie DeWitte spoke to a crowd at the Iowa State Capitol, celebrating the one-year anniversary of Roe vs. Wade being reduced to a pile of dung in the annals of jurisprudence. Because of all of you your endless prayers, your blood, sweat and tears and your resolve to keep pressing, that we are here today and we can celebrate the end of one of the most devastating court rulings in the history of America, DeWitte, the executive director of Iowas Pulse Life Advocates, said. Anti-abortion activists gathered Saturday at the Capitol for the annual March For Life, which marked one year since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which struck down federal abortion protections and allowed states to restrict or outlaw abortion. Republican politicians and other advocates praised that decision while at the same time denouncing an order from Iowas Supreme Court last week that rejected a bid to reinstate a six-week abortion ban in the state. Iowas Supreme Court was split 3-3 in a case brought by Gov. Kim Reynolds to reinstate the so-called fetal heartbeat law, passed by Republicans in 2018. The law would have banned abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus. I was disappointed in the court's decision, but we know that's not the end, is it? Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said. The fight does not stop there. Our work does not stop. DeWitte said Iowa lawmakers should call a special session to pass new abortion restrictions, and the three justices who opposed reinstating the six-week abortion ban should be held accountable to the fullest legal extent possible. Family Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats, an influential conservative and anti-abortion leader, called for the justices to be voted out in a recall election or impeached last week. This is a life-and-death issue and we cannot wait any longer for restrictions against this barbaric practice to be put in place, DeWitte said. The time to act is now. Iowa Republican leaders have not said whether they would call a special session to enact abortion restrictions this year, but they signaled when the court decision was announced they would push for more abortion restrictions. State Sen. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, said Republicans and anti-abortion activists had made significant gains since she entered the Legislature in 2012, when there were few restrictions on abortions in Iowa. Since then, Iowa Republicans have limited abortions to 20 weeks, required ultrasounds, instituted a 24-hour waiting period and passed further measures that were blocked by courts. Comparing the movement to World War II, she said they had landed on Omaha Beach in 2012 and were now partway across the nation of France. But folks, Berlin is our objective, she said. And we will get there. We wont stop until unborn children fully enjoy their God-given rightfully deserved protection of life. Iowa Democrats said on Friday they expected Republicans to hold a special session to pass anti-abortion measures. The Governor and GOP lawmakers have a choice to make, House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst said. They can either stand with the strong majority of Iowans who believe everyone deserves the right to make their own health care decisions, especially when it comes to reproductive care and abortion. Or, they can keep playing politics and stand with the special interests led by Bob Vander Plaats who dont believe in reproductive freedom. Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries 1980s-2000s: Legal challenges to Roe v. Wade introduce restrictions 2020s: Roe v. Wade is overturned; Postal Service allowed to mail abortion medication The evolution of abortion in America 1970s: Roe v. Wade protects women's right to abortion; politics shift 1960s: 'Back-alley butchers,' birth control, and protests Pre-1850: Abortions in early America are commonplace Mid-1800s: Birth of the American Medical Association shifts abortion oversight from midwives to doctors; abortion is criminalized A few of weeks ago as I was surfing news bits and bytes on YouTube, I clicked on a three-minute CBS Mornings blurb by Gayle King about the recent school and bank shootings in Tennessee and Kentucky, respectively. King grimly broadcast, 145 mass shootings in 101 days for 2023. No source information or citation was provided; just laid it out there as the Gods honest truth and fact. Now again over Fathers Day weekend, the Associated Press reported through our own Globe-Gazette that in the Chicago metropolitan area alone, 60 people were on the receiving end of a gunpowder-propelled projectile feloniously delivered by another human being. Then within moments of reading that account, a streaming feed from TV station ABC7 Chicago claims 75 shooting victims with 13 fatalities over the same weekend period in that same location. Then came the next news feed from Fox 2 Detroit; 24 shot, four killed in metro Detroit. And the next: feuding neighbors results in four killed by gunfire in Kellogg, Idaho (pop 2,374); then St Louis; 12 shot, one killed, all teenagers at the same party; Washington, D.C., eight shot, two killed; New York City, five shot, two killed. Even La Crosse, Wisconsin, saw six shot and injured in a drive-by shooting in old downtown. Now wait just wait a minute. I am as appalled as you all are, as every sane person must be, by the steady march of the violent acts by Americans against Americans. But, come on, some basic definitions and standard measurements are essential if we are to relate apples to apples and solve this thing. You may find it hard to believe that there is no uniform accepted definition for mass shooting. Nor is there an accepted and uniform definition to identify gun violence. Nor is there a uniform accepted definition for a deadly weapon. There is no one definition of murder, although Merriam-Webster provides the crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing a person. That definition is so full of holes and so weak, oh let me count the ways. One murder, however you want to define the term, committed in a school, or in the workplace, or in a shopping mall, or in the home, or church, or movie theater, or amusement park, or lets be honest, one murder anywhere; isnt that one murder too many? I know. That question is not only rhetorical for most everyone, but is also a loaded, argumentative short-fuse between normally unassuming, non-threatening, pleasant or not, peaceful or not friends and neighbors, or even just nondescript people with whom we cross paths in the wrong place at the wrong time. Can we just agree that violence rendered by people on other people is out of control? I suspect even that may be too much tripe to overcome in order to create the minyan of souls needed to defeat the problem. There is an abundance of jaws flapping about the root causes of human violence wanting to blame everything except humans. Number one on the hit parade is firearms. Blaming inanimate objects for human failures and flaws leaves us with no answers, nor does embracing the problematic dogma of the National Rifle Association. Who do we trust for a solution? Rather than just surrendering, I decided that Id ask a few questions of a friend that is never more than an arms length from me and every day hooked to my hip. A friend who has never hurt me, or turned on me, nor hurt anyone else, ever. That friend and constant companion is a Smith and Wesson M&P 40 holstered and carried for nearly 20 years, only fired at the range and never brandished elsewhere. Another 20 years before that, I chummed around and was inseparable from Mr. S&Ws first cousin Mr. Glock, who also never fired a round outside of the range, although always being at the ready. I have trusted these two old friends with my daily life, my familys life, and God forbid, in a situation where someone may be trying to commit murder within any space you and I might commonly share, I trust Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson to protect your life too. That may not align with your politics or your wishes. Nonetheless, how about you let me ask again if it ever comes to pass that an armed citizen saves your life and the lives of others around you in an active shooter scenario? To say that gun control is the most contentious issue in America is a slight overstatement. There are possibly two or three other flashpoint issues that divide our people with equal vitriol and torrents of obloquy. For now can we agree that its because of, and through, violence that we are killing each other? Can we discuss the uncomfortable realities regarding who, how, where and why this occurs? I doubt it. Because this section is free of charge, community events are subject to run based on available space. Religion items are published on the Saturday church page. Email events to news@registerbee.com. TODAY, JUNE 25 ART EXHIBIT AND RECEPTION: Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History, 975 Main St., will host an opening reception for the Robert Marsh Retrospective exhibit. Free and open to the public. Go to EventBrite.com to reserve a spot. MONDAY, JUNE 26 DAN RIVER-BLAIRS CIVIC LEAGUE TO MEET: The Dan River-Blairs Civic League will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. in the Bethel Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 6620 Old Richmond Road, Danville. COATES DAY CAMP-STEAM WEEK: Camp held at Coates Recreation Center June 26-30 from 7:30 to 6 p.m. for first through sixth graders at cost of $125 per child with a $10 fee for field trip to the Danville Science Center. Breakfast and lunch are provided through Danville Public Schools. Participants will need to bring an afternoon snack. Participants are welcome to bring their lunch. Registration is required, call 434-799-5150. ADVENTURE CAMP II: Camp held from June 26-30, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at cost of $175 per person. Prepare for an outdoor day-camp consisting of hiking, kayaking, zip lining, high ropes adventures and climbing wall challenges. This camp will also consist of one out of town trip to Hanging Rock State Park, arts and crafts, environmental education, and outdoor games. A supply list will be sent out, all campers are responsible for all gear on the supply list. This camp is for ages 12-14. Call 434-799-5150. TUESDAY, JUNE 27 ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION AGING IN YOUR COMMUNITY: This event provides a platform for seniors in the Danville area to hear from expert panelists on resources, services and programs available to them. A panel discussion will be followed by a question and answer session. To register, call 800-272-3900. SUNDAY, JULY 2 CLASSICAL CONCERT: Schoolfield Village presents a free Classical Concert at 917 W. Main Street in Danville at 7:30 p.m. Brothers Kevin and Bryan Matheson, on violin and viola, and Judy Clark, on piano, will entertain the audience with an "All-American" program. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Make a free reservation for the concert at https://SchoolfieldClassical.eventbrite.com. ALL-AMERICAN PROGRAM: The Chatham Concert Series will hold its annual an "All-American" program at 3:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Concert series favorites Kevin and Bryan Matheson, on violin and viola, and Judith Clark, on piano will entertain the audience. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to support the concert series. MONDAY, JULY 3 COATES DAY CAMP-LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION WEEK: Camp held at Coates Recreation Center July 3-7 (no camp on July 4) from 7:30 to 6 p.m. for first through sixth graders. Cost is $100 per person with $6 for a field trip that includes a movie, popcorn and drink. Breakfast and lunch are provided through Danville Public Schools. Participants will need to bring an afternoon snack. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch. Registration is required by calling 434-799-5150. TUESDAY, JULY 4 JULY 4 CELEBRATION: Free celebration kick off at 6 p.m. at the Carrington Pavilion; Danville Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at dusk (weather permitting). Vendors and concessionaires will be on site with items for purchase. For more information, call 434-857-3384. THURSDAY, JULY 6 PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY NAACP TO MEET: Pittsylvania County NAACP will meet at 6 p.m. at the PCCA building, 348 N. Main St., Chatham. MONDAY, JULY 10 ADVENTURE CAMP III: Camp is held July 10-14 and consists of hiking, kayaking, zip lining, high ropes adventures and climbing wall challenges. This camp will also consist of one out-of-town trip to Smith Mountain Lake State Park, arts and crafts, environmental education and outdoor games. A supply list will be sent out, all campers are responsible for all gear on the supply list. This camp is for ages 12-14 held from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at cost of $175 per person. Call 434-799-5150 to register. THURSDAY, JULY 13 MUSIC AT THE MARKET-SHELTON AND WILLIAMS BAND: Free Music at the Market concert series held at the Danville Community Market's outdoor stage, 629 Craghead St., from 7 to 9 p.m. In event of rain, concert will be moved inside the Community Market. Bring a chair or blanket. FRIDAY, JULY 14 CAMPFIRE FRIDAY: Join for a summer campfire under the stars from 8 to 9 p.m. There will be smores, campfire games and ghost stories. Bring blanket and chair and enjoy a true camper experience for ages 5 and up; parents are required to stay with their children. Call 434-799-5150. No fee. MONDAY, JULY 17 COATES DAY CAMP-ART APPRECIATION WEEK: Art Appreciation Week will be held at Coates Recreation Center from July 17-21 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. for ages first through sixth graders at cost of $125 per child, plus $5 fee for field trip. Camp will be exploring different art mediums, talking to a local artist and visiting the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, North Carolina. Breakfast and lunch are provided through Danville Public Schools. Participants will need to bring an afternoon snack and their own lunch if desired. Participants registration is required, call (434) 799-5150. MONDAY, JULY 24 HANGING ROCK OVERNIGHT CAMP: Travel to Hanging Rock State Park in North Carolina to spend four nights under the stars. Overnight camp is for ages 12 to 14 at cost of $300 held July 24 to July 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This camp is perfect for beginners and experts seeking new thrills. Due to the nature of this camp, registration ends June 30 at 5 p.m. A supply list will be sent out, all campers are responsible for all gear on the supply list. Call 434-799-5150. MONDAY, JULY 31 COATES DAY CAMP: Splish, Splash Week is from July 31 to Aug. 4 at Coates Recreation Center. Spend summer building friendships, exploring the outdoors and participating in healthy activities in a quality camp program. Breakfast and lunch are provided through Danville Public Schools. Participants will need to bring an afternoon snack. This program is for rising first through sixth grade students. Participants are welcome to bring their own snacks and lunch. Registration is required by calling 434-799-5150. In the last week of camp the group will go swimming at North East Park, learning about water safety and enjoying the Fun Wagon. Cost is $125 per person and $10 per person for field trip. THURSDAY, AUG. 10 MUSIC AT THE MARKET-OLD 97 BAND: Free concert held at Danville Community Market's Outdoor Stage at 7 p.m. Bring a chair, blanket,and picnic basket. In the event of rain, concert will be moved inside the Community Market. Call 434-857-3384 for more information. TUESDAY, AUG. 15 CROCHET FOR KIDS: Crochet for Kids at Coates Recreation Center for ages six to 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at cost of $10 per person. Get wrapped up in crochet and learn something new, while making something useful. The group will start off by making dishcloths. They will learn basics during the first class and then continue working on skills the next two classes. All yarn and crochet needles will be provided in the first class. Registration is required. Call 434-799-5150. TUESDAY, AUG. 22 CROCHET FOR KIDS: Crochet for Kids at Coates Recreation Center for ages 6 to 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at cost of $10 per person. Get wrapped up in crochet and learn something new, while making something useful. The group will start off by making dishcloths. They will learn basics during the first class and then continue working on skills the next two classes. All yarn and crochet needles will be provided in the first class. Registration is required. Call 434-799-5150. THURSDAY, AUG. 24 THURSDAY PADDLE: Thursday Paddle meets at the boathouse and will travel on the Dan River in hopes to catch glimpses of river otters, blue herons, and turtles. Registration is required. Must be at least 8 years old; all children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. From 6 to 8 p.m. at cost of $17 per person. For more information, call 434-799-5150 or email brownmc@danvilleeva.gov. TUESDAY, AUG. 29 CROCHET FOR KIDS: Crochet for Kids at Coates Recreation Center for ages six to 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at cost of $10 per person. Get wrapped up in crochet and learn something new, while making something useful. The group will start off by making dishcloths. They will learn basics during the first class and then continue working on skills the next two classes. All yarn and crochet needles will be provided in the first class. Registration is required. Call 434-799-5150. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6 STRIKING UP THE BAND: The Hows, Whats & Whys of a University Band Program will be presented at 7 p.m., Averett University Student Center Multipurpose Room; free admission. Dr. Janet Phillips, associate professor of music, started a brand new band program. Through photos, videos and stories, she will show how it was done and how the program looks moving forward. A nurse accused of killing two patients and attempting to kill a third patient told hospital officials and Winston-Salem police detectives that he had given insulin to one of the women who died and gave conflicting statements about his role in the second womans death, according to search warrants obtained by the Winston-Salem Journal. The women were patients at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center when they were given fatal doses of insulin. Two of the women died; one survived. Johnathan Howard Hayes, 48, of Ransom Road is charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Hayes is accused of giving Gwen Zelda Crawford, 60, more than 100 units of insulin on Jan. 5, 2022, according to a search warrant. Crawford died three days later. A standard dose is about 10 units. Hayes is also accused of giving more than 100 units of insulin to Vickie Lynne Lingerfelt, 61, on Jan. 22. Lingerfelt died on Jan. 28. Hospital staff saved the third woman, Pamela Jean Little, 63. Little has since died, but before her death she was able to give police a description of the male nurse who put a pill into her intravenous line, according to a search warrant. That description matched Hayes, the warrant said. Little also said she was afraid of the male nurse because he was sneaky, according to the warrants. The warrants lay out a picture of a nurse who admitted to flaunting rules, telling investigators he was off his game at one point. Hayes also moved from hospital to hospital around the Triad and the state, according to the warrants. Over the course of his 20-year career, Hayes worked at Novant Health, High Point Regional Hospital, Moses Cone Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro, Iredell Memorial/Davis Regional Hospital in Statesville and Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro. The warrants also indicate instances of violations of patients privacy. Hayes sent photos of a patients genitalia to his wife, as well as a picture of the body of an elderly man, whom he referred to as his old friend, according to the warrants. Hayes cellphone also contained images of the hospital wrist bands of 25 patients, according to the warrants. And the warrants show that Hayes requested more insulin than any other Baptist employee over a three-month period. Jason B. Crump of Winston-Salem, Hayes attorney, said that the allegations against his client are not facts. I dont talk about cases that are pending publicly, said Crump, an assistant capital defender. Mr. Hayes is an innocent man unless hes found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by 12 jurors in Forsyth County. I gave it to her In the warrants, Hayes appears to give conflicting statements. And he tells investigators that he would not have assisted anyone in getting to their death earlier than expected because he didnt believe in doing that, according to a search warrant. But, according to the warrants, Hayes had contact with all three women before they received large doses of insulin. In large doses the drug causes hypoglycemia, dangerously low glucose levels, which can lead to death. Three days before Crawford suffered her hypoglycemic event, Hayes was her nurse, according to the warrants. Hospital investigators learned that Hayes collected 12 dosage units of insulin for Crawford, and was seen on camera leaving a medication dispensing room with an entire vial of insulin that contained at least 100 dosage units, according to a search warrant. Hayes later told the hospital investigators that he threw away the vial of insulin. However, Hayes said in written statement that he may have accidentally given Crawford insulin that was meant for another patient. Hayes told police investigators Crawford was very sick and needed to go, a warrant said. He later told investigators that needed to go meant that Crawford needed to be transferred to the intensive care unit. Hayes told detectives that though Crawfords blood sugar levels were good, he drew up insulin for her anyway, a warrant said. Hayes later said that it was possible that he had given Crawford the insulin he had drawn up, but he would have had to be way off his game, a warrant said. Hayes said he may have made a mistake because he was working a lot because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hayes also told police detectives that he was partially responsible for administering insulin to Crawford, but he denied giving any insulin to Lingerfelt, a warrant said. Hayes didnt have an explanation about why he gave insulin to Crawford, and said he had never given the wrong patient medication in his 20-year career. Hayes also said he didnt remember taking full vials of insulin from the medication room. Lingerfelt, 60, had been diagnosed as diabetic, but hospital staff had no orders to give her insulin, the warrant said. Lingerfelt experienced a hypoglycemic episode and was transferred to the hospitals intensive care unit where she died. An endocrinologist attributed Lingerfelts death to her receiving more than 100 dosage units of insulin. On Jan. 22, the day Lingerfelt was given the fatal dose, Hayes accessed her medical records and he was seen on video removing a vial of insulin from a medication room, a warrant said. Hayes documented that he administered 12 dosage units of insulin to another patient. On April 12, 2022, detectives met with hospital employees, and they learned about Little, who was under Hayes care on Dec. 1, 2021. On that day, Little suffered a hypoglycemic episode, and Hayes collected insulin for her, according to a search warrant. Hayes documented in Littles chart that the insulin was given to her. The hospital staff were able to save Little by getting her blood sugar back up, the warrant said. She was later moved to a nursing facility and then to her mothers home. On May 3, 2022, two days before her death, detectives met with Little. Little told the investigators that she was scared of a male nurse because he was sneaky. Little said she saw the male nurse two times, and then she had her attack. Little said the male nurse put a white pill in her intravenous line, but when another nurse came into her room, the male nurse removed the pill. Little didnt remember the nurses name, but she described him as a tall man who wore glasses and had salt and pepper hair, the warrant said. Hayes initially told police detectives that poor nursing practices, unaccounted vials of insulin and patients dropping their blood sugar would mean an investigator would suspect him. Jonathan stated he would not have killed somebody, and he would not have tried to kill somebody, the warrant said. An investigator asked Hayes what happened with Crawford and Lingerfelt, and he said, I guess I gave it to her, that would make sense, the warrant said. When a detective pressed Hayes about what happened, Hayes responded, I gave it to her, but he didnt say whether he was referring Crawford or Lingerfelt. Hayes later said, If it would make it right for these people and their families to have someone to pin it on, he could live with that, according to a warrant. Hayes later said he was confessing because of all of the evidence that hospital and police investigators linked him to the patients deaths, and he could not confess to it if he did not do it, the warrant said. Hospital investigators determined that Crawford, Lingerfelt and Little received insulin injections, and Hayes was the only staff member present when those women experienced their hypoglycemic episodes, according to the warrants. Search of his house Hayes consented to a search of his electronic devices, and investigators found the pictures of 25 hospital patients wrist bands on his cell phone and other photos of hospital patients that he sent to his wife. A medical examiner conducted autopsies on the bodies of Crawford and Lingerfelt, and determined that their deaths were homicides, the warrants said. Investigators seized a variety of drugs at Hayes home, used syringes, two laptop computers, two iPads, two iPhones and a Dell desktop computer. The seized drugs included human chorionic gonadotropin, a pregnancy hormone, Tirzepatide, which is used to improve blood-sugar control, Lidocaine, which treats irregular heartbeats and is a pain reliever, Phentermine, a drug that reduces appetite, and Metformin, which also control blood sugar levels. They also found job applications and obituaries. The warrant doesnt say who the obituaries were for. Hayes was being held Thursday in the Forsyth County Jail with no bond allowed, the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office said. He is scheduled to appear Oct. 5 in Forsyth District Court. REIDSVILLE Fire Chief David Bracken will retire July 1 after 35 years with the Reidsville Fire Department, city officials announced on Friday. First hired as a firefighter on January 13, 1988, Bracken quickly advanced through the ranks, becoming a fire lieutenant three years later and eventually a fire captain. In November of 1997, he was promoted to fire chief, serving in that role for the past 25 years. From January 2000 to December 2001, Bracken also served as president of the Piedmont District of the North Carolina State Firemans Association. Bracken said he believes among his greatest accomplishments were building and staffing Reidsvilles two newest fire stations on Barnes Street and Reid School Road, as well as improving the citys fire rating during his career. While the Reidsville City Council was searching for a new city manager in 2015 after then-Manager Michael Pearce announced his retirement, Bracken stepped in as interim city manager to ensure city operations continued to run smoothly. He has also assisted the city as Interim Public Works Director. Whenever Chief Bracken has been called upon to help the City of Reidsville and its residents, he has stepped up to the plate, said Reidsville Mayor Donald L. Gorham. He is known for his diligence and unwavering sense of fair play, honesty and compassion in his dealings with both his firefighters and the citizens of our fair city. His leadership will be missed. City Manager Summer Woodard said: While I have only been Reidsville City Manager for the past two years, even in that short amount of time, I have learned firsthand that David is the epitome of what a member of Team Reidsville should be. He is the type of person who, when faced with obstacles, finds solutions and those solutions reflect his unfailing character and integrity. I am glad to have been able to call him a friend. The son of Gladys Bracken and the late James Bracken, he is a Reidsville native, who spent his high school years in Youngstown, Ohio. He also earned his bachelors degree in business administration from the University of Akron. In addition to his job with the city, Bracken is pastor of Jerusalem Baptist Church in Spencer where he recently celebrated his 22nd pastoral anniversary. In 2012, Bracken earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew University in Madison, N.J. Married to Jacqueline B. Bracken, he has two children, Paul and Charryse, and one grandson, Titus. It was announced last month that current Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Joshua Farmer will be Reidsvilles new Fire Chief upon Brackens retirement. A retirement reception for Bracken will be held from 4-7 p.m. at RCARE, 102 North Washington Avenue, Reidsville, on June 30. The program will start at 6 p.m. The public is invited to stop by and wish Bracken well. GREENSBORO Allan and Tracy Trepcyk urged Moore County prosecutors to take Sterling Cummings to trial so a jury could consider his fate after authorities say he critically injured his 3-week-old baby in 2012. The couple knew the details of the case because once Cummings baby was released from the hospital, the child was placed with them. They were the babys foster parents before adopting him as the case against Cummings dragged on until 2016. But instead of taking the case to trial, prosecutors chose to offer Cummings a plea deal that combined a felony child abuse charge with another case in Moore County in which he was accused of brutally assaulting a woman. The deal gave him credit for spending 45 days in jail and 60 months of supervised probation. Years later, Cummings would find himself facing new allegations involving another baby and another woman. In Greensboro, Cummings was jailed in May on a first-degree murder charge in the death his infant son in 2021, and on a charge of assaulting a local woman in 2022, according to Guilford County court records. I said it then: Something like this was bound to happen again, Allan Trepcyk said. It didnt have to happen. **** According to Greensboro police, Cummings 3-month-old son did not survive his fathers assault on May 16, 2021. Two years later, police arrested Cummings, 33, on charges of first-degree murder and felony intentional child abuse with serious bodily injury. The warrant for Cummings arrest in May states he did intentionally inflict serious bodily injury, death of infant child. The document does not provide details about the infants injuries or specific cause of death. During a recent hearing, the Trepcyks sat in a Greensboro courtroom and watched Cummings appear by video from jail as prosecutors described the charges against him. I was so sickened by it, Allan Trepcyk said afterward during a telephone interview. It was just a matter of time. Its unclear if Cummings had any history of abuse or violent behavior prior to the Moore County cases. Child abuse and neglect are often linked to other forms of violence, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2020, 1,750 children died of abuse and neglect in the United States, the CDC reported on its website. Recalling the plea deal Moore County prosecutors offered Cummings in 2016, Trepcyk described it as a major miscarriage of justice. The Greensboro cases, he said, certainly hit close to home. Its very sad all the way around, Trepcyk said. The Trepcyks were licensed foster parents when Moore Countys Department of Social Services contacted them about the critically injured baby. They knew then the challenges ahead because the baby had a long list of medical issues as a result of the abuse authorities say was inflicted on him by Cummings. The couple believes prosecutors in Moore County ultimately failed the child they named Andy, whom they have cared for and loved since bringing him home from the hospital more than a decade ago. As the case in Moore County was pending against Cummings, the Trepcyks voiced their opposition against the plea deal he was ultimately given. They thought the case was finally headed to trial in June 2016, and expected prosecutors to continue to pursue a child abuse charge against the childs biological mother, Breanne Fowler. In documents provided to the News & Record, the Trepcyks shared a letter they emailed on June 12, 2016 to Warren McSweeney, the assistant district attorney working on the cases. It read in part: Andys life was forever changed and were it not for some will somewhere deep within him to live, Sterling and Breanne would be on trial for murder. The law is unjust and the punishment will never fit the crime that Sterling and Breanne committed against our innocent, helpless, defenseless little son. A day later, McSweeney replied: I appreciate your position on these cases but after much consideration and deliberation my intent is to proceed with the plea against Sterling. We have had multiple conversations involving this case and I continue to feel that the disposition that we will get through the guilty plea is something that we should do. I understand you will not be happy with that decision, but it is something that I have thought long and hard about. The plea took place the following morning and Tracy Trepcyk a neonatal nurse read a victims impact statement during the hearing, detailing how she and her husband first met the baby who became part of their family. She reminded the court that the baby was born healthy and wouldve had a far different life if it were not for the trauma he suffered. Now, he is a broken shell of a little boy who once had his whole exciting life ahead of him, she said. He could have had the opportunity to run and play. He could have gone to school and decided what he wanted to be when he grew up. Maybe he would have gone to college, fallen in love, gotten married and had kids of his own. The world will never know that little boy. That little boy died at 23 days of life when Sterling Cummings beat and shook him so violently that his brain was damaged beyond any hope of repair. She detailed the many injuries he suffered that left him unable to talk, see, sit, stand or walk. He has a feeding tube and takes multiple medications. She said Cummings, however, would be able to go on with his life. Andy will never have that luxury. Andy has been sentenced for life, she said. **** When Andy was only six months old, his biological parents made the decision to bring another baby into the world, Tracy Trepcyk told the court. Cummings and Fowler chose not to legally fight to keep their parental rights, and that baby was also placed with the Trepcyks. Andy has a little sister who we have also been blessed with. We think of Andy as her hero, her savior, Trepcyk said. Surely there has to be some reason Andy had to endure all of this and perhaps that reason was to save his baby sister from a similar fate. Tracy Trepcyk thought she would one day get to read her victims impact statement in the case against Fowler. But she never got the chance. In a December 2018 email to the Trepcyks, McSweeney explained his decision not to prosecute Fowler, saying the evidence gathered by law enforcement pointed toward Sterling and his abuse against Andy. ... I know that I have let you down, and have let Andy down, and I am sincerely sorry for that. The only saving grace is that Sterling has been convicted and pled guilty to the crime for the abuse he inflicted on Andy. McSweeney is no longer with the Moore County District Attorneys Office and is now a District Court judge serving Moore and Hoke counties. A message seeking comment was left with his office. The Moore County District Attorneys Office was also contacted about the Cummings case. A spokesperson for the office did not return a message. Audra Padget, legal counsel for Childrens Advocacy Centers of North Carolina, said protecting children should be the highest priority of the judicial system. While these cases are of utmost importance, they are also some of the most complicated and difficult cases to handle, which is why child advocacy centers are so important, Padget said. Child advocacy centers across the state bring together law enforcement, prosecutors, medical providers and others to ensure children are protected and receive necessary services. They also help ensure that child victims receive justice through the judicial process, Padget said. North Carolina has 39 accredited child advocacy centers and 12 provisional centers, according to the organizations website. Family Service of the Piedmont is listed as the child advocacy center in Guilford County. Looking back on their journey to seek justice for Andy, Tracy Trepcyk said she commended Moore Countys Department of Social Services for the decision to place Andys sister with their family as soon as the baby girl was discharged from the hospital. **** For the Trepcyk family, they are planning to celebrate Andys 11th birthday in July and his sister Alexandras 10th birthday in August. They absolutely adore one another, Tracy Trepcyk said. We are so blessed to have them both together. She is very protective of her big brother. Allan Trepcyk said they hope that justice for Andy may be found within the Greensboro cases against Cummings. I feel like were intertwined. GREENSBORO It could be months before a judge will determine whether to release video footage from Thursdays fatal shooting of a 51-year-old man by a Greensboro police officer. Such footage is not public record in North Carolina, though the police department has pledged to petition the Superior Court of Guilford County to release all video from body-worn cameras and dash cameras at the scene of the shooting. A judge will then decide whether to release it, who can watch and under what criteria. The timing for that request will likely be after the Guilford County District Attorney makes a determination in the case based upon an investigation being conducted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. On Thursday, officers were called to the 1000 block of Tuscaloosa Street about 12:12 a.m. in reference to a suspicious vehicle. An officer saw a man later identified as Graham Thomas Roberson walking in the street. An officer in a police vehicle approached the man, and thats when police say Roberson displayed a firearm. An officer fired their weapon from inside the vehicle, striking Roberson, who was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital. The SBIs investigation into the fatal shooting is ongoing and its unclear how long it may take to complete, an SBI spokeswoman said Friday. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be forwarded to the Guilford County District Attorney for review and to determine whether any criminal charges are appropriate. In early April, the police department petitioned the court to release all video recordings 104 of them from the August 2022 night that an officer fatally shot 17-year-old Nasanto Crenshaw. The request was made after the Guilford County District Attorneys Office announced its decision March 30 not to pursue criminal charges against the officer. That decision came months after the District Attorney received the SBIs investigative report in November. A spokeswoman for the Greensboro Police Department said they will not be releasing any information at this time about the officer involved in this weeks shooting including the officers years of experience in law enforcement and the length of time employed with the department. The officer was placed on administrative duty per departmental policy. The citys police department has 705 body-worn cameras and all of its 215 patrol cars have dash cameras. Officers are required to record interactions when responding to calls for service and conducting policing activities. The police department is continuing to work on a post-critical incident policy that will outline the process and steps for the release of information following a critical incident, such as a shooting that involves a police officer(s), spokeswoman Josie Cambareri said Friday. The policy will provide for trust and consistency for our community and for officers, she said. When Mandy Cohen delivered this springs commencement address at Guilford College, her advice to the Class of 2023 was plain and simple: Give it to em straight. She would not have succeeded as North Carolinas secretary of Health and Human Services, Cohen said, without building trust among her co-workers and constituents. And she would not have effectively managed a pandemic in this state without remembering the importance of honesty and humility leveling with the public, acknowledging mistakes and taking to heart the feedback and advice of her staff and workers. Change happens at the pace of trust, Cohen said. If you want to change this world through your professional endeavors make the world safer, more just, more equitable, more beautiful, more resilient, healthier you will need to think intentionally about trust. Those lessons will be more important than ever now that Cohen is President Bidens pick to head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The daughter of a nurse and a guidance counselor, Cohen, 44, was state DHHS secretary from 2017-2021. She holds an undergraduate in policy analysis and management from Cornell, a medical degree from Yale and a masters degree in public health from Harvard. Smart and battle-tested, she not only possesses the knowledge and experience that the CDC job requires, but the ability to connect with the public in a manner that inspires confidence and credibility. As Gov. Roy Coopers top adviser on COVID, she took part in more than 150 briefings during the height of COVID. In these sessions she faced a moving target. The science evolved, as did conditions on the ground. Add swirling conspiracy theories and rampant misinformation and, well, Cohen was herding proverbial cats at the edge of a cliff. But Cohen was steady and credible from the start, on good days and not-so-good days. 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 didnt know and what we were working toward trying to understand and find out, she told Politico. And she maintained strong lines of communication on both sides of the aisle. Secretary Cohens leadership throughout her tenure at the DHHS has helped our state navigate turbulent times, state Senate leader Phil Berger, a Republican said, when Cohen stepped down from the DHHS job in 2021. She made herself available to legislators to answer questions and kept us informed about issues facing the department. She was also instrumental in successfully implementing Medicaid transformation. I want to thank her for her service to the state and wish her well in her future endeavors. What sets Cohen apart from the person she succeeds at the CDC, Rochelle Walensky, is that she is a doctor and a communicator. Good thing, too. Already 28 Republicans in Congress (including two North Carolinians, Sen. Ted Budd and Rep. Dan Bishop) have signed a histrionic letter to Biden describing Cohen as unfit for the position. North Carolina GOP gubernatorial candidate and current state Treasurer Dale Folwell also has criticized her. Because the CDC director doesnt require Senate confirmation, Cohens appointment is safe, but the letter portends only one of the hazards ahead. There are more: a national shortage of public health workers, opioid addiction, rampant gun violence and a mistrust of science stoked by opportunistic politicians. Cohen is well aware. In her Guilford speech Cohen cited a recent report ranking North Carolina second nationally behind only Vermont in its COVID response. By another measure, against a state whose approach to COVID was very different, the numbers also are impressive. Florida, with roughly twice the population of North Carolina, saw three times the number of COVID-related deaths. As for perfection, dont expect it, Cohen told Guilford graduates, because there is no perfect. There is only learning from your missteps, she said. And honesty, and using best practices based on the best available information. Dale Folwell, Ted Budd, et al., notwithstanding, the president has made a strong choice. Clear-eyed and level-headed, Cohen is well-suited to lead the CDC. A third suspicious letter addressed to a Montana Republican lawmaker has been turned over to law enforcement, state officials said Sunday. The latest letter was addressed to House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, at the state Capitols address. It had not been opened before it was turned over to authorities, officials representing Republican lawmakers said Sunday morning. On Friday, state GOP officials said two other Republican lawmakers had received suspicious letters in the mail containing a white powder. It (the third letter) was delivered to the Capitol several days ago and stored unopened in the House leadership offices, officials said Sunday in an email. Staff knowledgeable of the letter flagged it as suspicious late last night and the Montana Highway Patrol took possession of it early this morning. The state Division of Criminal Investigation, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are reportedly investigating the incident. The Republican spokespeople said the outside post markings on the latest letter follow the pattern of the first two letters addressed to Reps. Rhonda Knudsen, R-Culbertson, the House speaker pro tempore and mother of Attorney General Austin Knudsen, and Rep. Neil Duram, R-Eureka. The letter addressed to Regier also has a local Helena return address but is stamped with Kansas City post markings and uses the same kind of stamp as previous letters, officials said. Officials said earlier that Knudsen and Duram do not have any adverse effects. Knudsen received the letter at her home address and Duram received his in a P.O. box. Duram's envelope included a letter warning him "it is important not to choke on your own ambition," according to an image of the letter shared with Lee Newspapers. Reports of letters containing suspicious powder have been reported by lawmakers in other states. More than 100 state lawmakers in Kansas recently received letters containing a white substance. Law enforcement said no injuries to the legislators had been reported as of Friday, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. And on Thursday, officials reported that multiple Republican state lawmakers in Tennessee had also received letters containing a white powder. Reports of white powder in the mail are reminiscent of a time after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 when there were reports of anthrax sent in the mail, killing five Americans and sickening 17, according to the FBI at the time. In the months that followed, hundreds of hoaxes were reported worldwide. I see that train acoming, acoming down the tracks Its building up a head of steam and it aint turning back Its fair to say Montanans who own homes and businesses are in mass shock having just received the new reappraisals on their homes, businesses and property. For many, if not most, the new valuations nearly doubled and thats got people worried they may not be able to pay the subsequent taxes based on those theoretical values. If the past is any indication of whats ahead, theres another Montana property tax revolt on the way. Those with good memories will recall when a citizen property tax initiative, I-105, was on the ballot in 1986. The question facing voters was straightforward, saying taxes levied on property classes 3, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 14 could not exceed the amounts levied on those classes of property for the taxable year 1986. In other words, it was a freeze on property taxes at the 1986 level. Despite hard-fought opposition by local governments, public employees unions, and their allies who claimed the measure would lead to the collapse of government services, schools, and government supplied amenities, voters simply said enough is enough and passed the measure with a solid majority of 54.9% supporting to 45.09% in opposition. The 1987 Legislature didnt outright repeal I-105, but it did pass a series of bills to basically gut the property tax freeze. As noted in one analysis: These limits were eroded by a number of provisions enacted in 1987 and later. First the 1987 Legislature specifically excluded from the caps annexation, new construction, rural improvement districts, special improvement districts, debt service, street maintenance districts, tax increment financing districts and jurisdictions in which taxable value declined by 5% or more. The limitations of I-105 were further eased by the 1989 Legislature with the adoption of the sales-assessment. The result? The combined mill levy of state and local governments and schools increased steadily. By 1994 the average mill levy had increased 50% over its 1987 level. Already, proponents seeking to limit property taxes are before the Supreme Court arguing Attorney General Knudsen does not have authority to decide the sufficiency of a ballot initiative. As Matthew Monforton, a former Republican legislator who is bringing the challenge, told reporters: the attorney general does not have authority to make a declaration regarding the constitutionality of ballot issues and the move was a deliberate attempt by Republicans to suppress the rights of Montanans to circulate a petition. He concluded saying: The claim of the governor and Republicans desiring property tax reform is a sham. While Montanas property tax system can leave most people confused, what they wont be confused by is the shocking reappraisal for their homes and business property that basically doubled although their incomes certainly didnt double from last year. For those on fixed Social Security income, the looming tax increases are especially daunting when added to the already high cost of basic necessities such as food, utilities, rent and medical expenses. It seems unavoidable that Montanas next property tax revolt is on the way thanks to the new, sky-high valuation just placed on their homes and property. Although not a cent of that value is actually received until they sell their homes, most Montanans know they have little choice you either pay your taxes or the government takes your home and business. Assuredly it will be a hard-fought issue. But given the already-high property taxes for most Montanans and our low per capita incomes, supporting a measure to limit those looming tax increases will seem an even easier vote to cast now than it was in 1986. Two firefighters and a deputy from Catawba County were honored on Friday during a memorial bicycle ride across the Carolinas. The Carolina Brotherhood group began their 643-mile trip in Conway, South Carolina, and will end in Charlotte. All of the riders are active or retired firefighters and policemen, Carolina Brotherhood co-founder James Squid Squittieri said. The ride honored 59 police officers and firefighters in the Carolinas, Squittieri said. The group of about 20 riders stopped at the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue headquarters, the town of Catawba Volunteer Fire Department and the Catawba County Sheriffs Office on Friday to honor their fallen members. Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue Capt. Bradley Long died on June 6, 2016, when he ran out of air during a recovery mission in Lake Norman, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Catawba Firefighter Derek Poole was injured in a traffic accident on April 15, 2007. The crash occurred while he was driving back to the station after responding to an initially set fire, Catawba Fire Deputy Chief Trent Cloninger said. Poole was a paraplegic as a result of the traffic accident, Cloninger said. He died on Aug. 9, 2021. Catawba County Sheriffs Deputy Dennis W. Dixon died on Aug. 16, 2021, after contracting COVID-19, according to the Officer Down Memorial Pages website. Cloninger said he trained Poole when Poole joined the Catawba Volunteer Fire Department in 2006. In 2008, Poole began serving with the West Iredell Fire Department as well, according to his obituary. (Poole) was one you could depend on, Cloninger said. Hed be on a call if we had one and he was available. Squittieri, who is with the Charlotte Fire Department, said the Carolina Brotherhood started after he attended the funeral of Asheville Fire Department Capt. Jeff Bowen in 2011. I was so moved by how strong the department was and how behind Jeffs family they were, Squittieri said. I wanted to show camaraderie for the whole of North Carolina and South Carolina, so I started this ride. It was supposed to just be kind of a one-year thing, but it had such an impact the first year that we kept the ball rolling. Bowen was killed while fighting an arson fire at a high-rise building on Biltmore Avenue on July 28, 2011, according to the city of Ashevilles website. Bowen was the first firefighter to be honored by Carolina Brotherhood, his wife Stacy Bowen said. Stacy Bowen began volunteering with Carolina Brotherhood in 2013 to help others who were experiencing a loss similar to what she endured. This has been a tremendous part of my healing and grieving process, Stacy Bowen said. Two Palestinian assassinations took place over the weekend, and Jewish settlers set fire to two houses in a Palestinian village in the West Bank. A spokesman for the Israeli army said on Sunday morning that terrorists opened fire from a passing vehicle on their forces stationed at a military post near Shem in the West Bank. The soldiers returned fire, hitting the terrorists vehicle. No Israeli soldiers were injured, the army launched a manhunt for the terrorists, reports the Israeli Hungarian newspaper Uj Kelet. A similar attack took place on Saturday, when a Palestinian gunman opened fire at an Israeli checkpoint in the village of Kalandia, north of Jerusalem, wounding a security guard. According to the Israeli police, the terrorist was shot dead on the spot, and his M16 weapon was confiscated. The commander of the Jerusalem district, Doron Turdzeman, ordered the forces to increase vigilance in the area, and especially at the crossings around Jerusalem, the newspaper reports. At the same time, in response to recent Palestinian terrorism, extremist Israeli settlers set fire to at least two houses in the Palestinian village of Umm Safa near Ramallah, the army said. Clashes broke out during the incident, the Palestinians threw stones at the Israeli security forces sent to the scene, who responded with mass dispersal devices, Uj Kelet reports. At least one Israeli suspect was arrested. The army said it condemns such nationalistic crimes. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also condemned the attack. Both National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on security forces to do more to prevent Palestinian attacks and to teach Jewish settlers not to take the law into their own hands. In the past 15 months or so, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has intensified again. The Israeli army launched numerous operations against extremists in the West Bank, the raids resulted in several deaths. The army is responding to a series of Palestinian terrorist attacks in Israeli cities and towns. More than one-third of Australian IT leaders (35%) believe their existing IT infrastructure is not fully prepared for the demands of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, despite its widespread adoption across industries, according to the Equinix 2023 Global Tech Trends Survey. The survey comes after a year of AI breakthroughs which saw the technology deployed in applications across both B2B and B2C sectors. It examined IT leaders responses to AI advances in their organisations. Australian tech leaders are expediting AIs integration into their organisations, and it is increasingly becoming a critical capability to enable intelligent and autonomous systems that power a modern business. Those who fail to maximise its use are at risk of quickly falling behind, said Equinix Australia managing director Guy Danskine. The survey confirmed AI uptake is on the rise across all industry sectors, with IT decision-makers seeking to benefit from the advantages of AI and are already using or planning to use it across multiple key functions. According to the report, Australian organisations are most likely to be using AI, or planning to do so, in IT operations (76%), followed by cybersecurity (74%), customer experience (73%) and sales (70%). The effective development of precise AI models relies on the secure and fast accessibility to internal and external data sources, which may be distributed across various cloud platforms and data brokers, added Danskine. As Australian enterprises venture into developing their own private generative AI solutions, they may prioritise processing their sensitive data in a secure and private environment that offers fast connectivity to external data sources and AI models. Additionally, with a substantial amount of data increasingly generated at the edge, this necessitates moving AI processing nearby to ensure optimal performance, privacy, ultra-low latency and cost-effectiveness, he said. To meet these new demands, technology leaders can opt for hybrid solutions that allow AI model training and inference to take place at different locations. Ultimately, to build scalable AI solutions, businesses need to assess whether their IT frameworks can handle the significant and varied data sets involved in terms of ingestion, sharing, storage, and processing. Moreover, they must do so while considering sustainability as an important aspect, Danskine said. harrison.ai co-founder and CEO Aengus Tran explains how companies can implement complex AI strategies. Secure hosting of our compute and data storage platforms is our highest technical priority as we build AI solutions for clinicians across the world. We rely on an extremely fast and direct connection to enable hybrid cloud models as required to move remarkably large data sets on which we train and develop our AI solutions. This digital infrastructure enables us to tackle bigger healthcare problems, from medical imaging solutions to new AI healthcare solutions requiring more data and processing, helping to improve the standard of global healthcare and achieve our vision to impact one million lives per day, Tran noted. Aside from existing IT infrastructure, globally more than four in 10 IT leaders said they are not very comfortable with their teams ability to accommodate AIs growing use but in Australia, respondents were more optimistic at 36%. Looking ahead at future technology priorities in Australia, 73% plan to deploy AI technologies, up from 70% the year prior. However, when asked about threats to business success, 65% of respondents are concerned about the explosion of data from adopting new technologies, such as AI, and 67% are worried they are not moving fast enough in their digital transformation. Despite a sombre backdrop fraught with ongoing global uncertainties, Asia Pacific remains a strong and dynamic region projected to contribute around 70% of global growth in 2023. Findings from the Equinix 2023 Global Tech Trends Survey echoes that with 77% of Australian businesses planning to expand geographically in the next 12 months. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 23 June 2023. Carlos Ramirez, who was a police officer in Venezuela before he says he was persecuted by government officials, now sleeps on an air mattress on the floor of a police station in Chicago. He and his wife Betzabeth Bracho have nestled their suitcases on a bench at the 5th District police station in Pullman. About seven weeks since arriving in Chicago from San Antonio, Texas, they have established a routine for themselves. They came to the city because theyd heard its sanctuary label made it a friendly place for migrants. Before bed, they eat donated food and store-bought sandwiches in plastic containers, bathe in the public restroom, blow up their air mattress bed and call their two young sons across borders. Ramirez, 38, and Bracho, 33, havent been selected as part of the cohort of people with medical or special needs, families, or singles with other critical needs such as pregnancy who have been prioritized by the city for removal to temporary shelters, and like many recent arrivals, they are fine with that. Theyre getting better treatment at the police stations than they would at city-run shelters, they say, despite what onlookers might describe as inhumane living conditions. The Tribune spent a night at the 5th District station to observe what it is like for migrants to fall asleep on hard tile floors, with bright lights shining in their faces, residents spilling into the station at any hour of the night and police sirens occasionally blaring. As of Friday, there were 4,878 asylum-seekers in 13 city-run shelters and 460 waiting in police stations, according to a statement from Office of Emergency Management and Communications spokesperson Mary May. Police district census numbers are analyzed each morning, according to the statement, and decompression decisions are based off volume of clients at specific stations, people with special circumstances, availability of space and transportation plans. Individuals receive a service request number from 311 upon arrival in the system. This helps with tracking when they arrive, the statement said. As new arrivals and asylum-seekers continue to arrive in Chicago via bus and other means, City officials are working simultaneously to identify spaces to convert into temporary shelters and to assist individuals and families in identifying more permanent housing opportunities. Oftentimes when the number goes down, it quickly goes back up with additional asylum-seekers arriving, the statement said. Nearly two dozen buses have arrived from Texas since May 9, according to the city, including seven since the middle of this month. The city brought about 38 of the migrants to the 5th District station in early May and 12 remain, Bracho said on a recent night. 7:25 p.m. Bracho stood outside the station, and said she spent the day building houses. She said every day a man comes around 9 a.m. to pick up a group of men from the station in his truck and take them to a construction site. He drops them back off a little before 7 p.m. Ramirez can make $120 to $150 a day, and when she goes too, they make even more, Bracho said. In Venezuela, Bracho was studying to be a kindergarten teacher. Police officers mostly leave them alone, she said, but sometimes they give them bad looks. And they certainly dont try to help them, she said. Were not here because we want to be. I want to leave, she said in Spanish. My husband goes out every day to find work. I go out every day to find work. Id like to tell them were trying to make money so we can move out as quickly as possible. Two to three times a week, a volunteer brings them to a different location to shower. Tonight, they washed off using a plastic bucket of water which they fill up in the sink, then walked to a store nearby to get hot chicken. The store was closed Thursday evening, she said, so they ate the non-perishables they had saved. No es facil estar aqui, said Bracho. Its not easy living here. She pointed to a cluster of bikes leaning against the wall of the station and said a group of volunteers had donated them. Most of them were kids bikes, and the volunteers had asked if the migrants still wanted them. Theyd all said yes. Brachos sons 7-year-old Jose Ramirez and 11-year old Jubert Javier are living in Venezuela with their aunt and grandmother. 8:54 p.m. While Bracho showered and ate, others from Venezuela milled around the station. Huberth Espinoza, 65, lay on a metal bench outside with his 27-year-old son Kalil Espinoza sitting beside him. The bottom of his belly bulged out from his green T-shirt. Theyve been at the station for a month, he said. Espinoza said he also fled his country for political reasons, and is saving money to buy an apartment in the city. His face lit up when he described the way his country used to be, before Nicolas Maduro began cracking down on oppositional forces and before millions lost access to health care and nutrition. He said the inside of the police station can be loud and hostile at night, especially on the weekends. When its cold outside its worse, he said in Spanish. People urinate on the floor. Espinoza said he worked in solar electric in Venezuela. He said his 11 kids are scattered across Latin America, his wife in Chile. Like many, his journey to the United States was brutal, he said. We came through the mountains, crossing rivers, women were violated, people died, he said, recounting the months he spent passing through Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras. Crossing from Juarez to El Paso was the most difficult, he said, because he was separated from his son in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement roundup in the Franklin Mountains. When he got to the United States, he turned himself into authorities so he could be reunited with his son. They have a court date scheduled in September, he said. He cried thinking about that time without his son, looking up at the sliver of moon which shone down on the police courtyard. The two now sat side by side, tinkering with a phone and data card Espinoza bought. When it got late enough, they entered through the revolving door of the station, pulled a donated mat next to an EZ Pay kiosk and in front of a used prescription disposal box, layered it with donated blankets and laid down side by side. They scrolled on Espinozas new phone. 9:16 p.m. Police officers drove up and walked to the counter to start their shift as migrants wound down for the evening. Two women who didnt give their names to the Tribune lay close together on an air mattress and put a blanket over their heads, whispering. Later, they watched TikToks and laughed. 10:06 p.m. Sylvia Mares, a volunteer from the Chicago Police Station Response Team, entered. She walked around with a pen and paper, hoping to take down the names of people who might want to be moved to a shelter. Everyone she asked said no. They are comfortable here, they have a job and theyve had enough unknown in their lives recently, she said. And many of them have heard from their contacts that conditions at other shelters are worse than at police stations. The Tribune recently spoke to migrants from nine shelters who said that they are crowded in hotel rooms or sleeping on the ground, eating cold and unappetizing meals and unsure of where to find resources. Volunteers have said they are unable to enter shelters and provide donations such as clothes and hot meals, and the city has rejected numerous requests by the Tribune to see inside. Mares comes two to three times a day to bring migrants food and resources at Districts 3, 4 and 22, she said. Alejandra Mendez, 25, in District 5 is two months pregnant and Mares has been helping her. She took her to buy a pregnancy test, and has brought her to the hospital for routine checkups, she said. Im just doing what I can, she said. She calls them her kids and says they grow up so fast in three months. Mares was born in Chicago, but lived in Mexico for a large part of her youth. At Mares request, Ramirez gathered a group of people to go through the trash bags full of clothing donations in the back of her car. People stood outside and held up shirts and shorts for a full view. They draped corduroys and sweatshirts and plaid shirts over their shoulders. Look, so beautiful! said Mares in Spanish to a woman holding up a satin orange blouse. She whistled. This one is sexy, with a flower, she said to another, picking out a sweater. Ramirez and Bracho lingered and followed Mares to her car. She gave them rental assistance advice and tips about how to search for furniture once they have found an apartment. 10:38 p.m. Migrants refilled their trash bags after inspecting the clothing and entered the shelter to lie down. Through the windows of the station, people covered in blankets could be seen lying horizontal on the plastic mattresses. Old Easter decorations hung from the ceiling. Police officials walked briskly down the corridors on the second floor of the building, visible from the courtyard. 12:26 a.m. A man wearing mostly black came into the station and put his stuff on the bench next to Ramirez and Brachos neatly stacked suitcases. He spent a few minutes rummaging through his backpack, stretched his legs on the bench and started to snore. The station filled up and then emptied out with various residents from the neighborhood, some going up to the desk to talk to officers. One woman had an arm in a sling. A man entered and four officers urgently followed him out. 3:36 a.m. A woman walked inside and slowly staggered to the front. Is anybody going to get me a bologna sandwich? she said. Another woman entered the station, mumbling and pacing. She crumpled up on the floor at the foot of Ramirez and Brachos bed, covering herself with a light blue sheet, squirming. Officials sat at the counter and typed. The automatic door opened and closed. Some migrants covered their eyes with strips of cloth to block out the light. Mendez, the pregnant woman, got up to go to the bathroom for the third or fourth time, carrying a plastic bucket with her. 6 a.m. Sunlight flooded the station, streaming in the windows on the individuals and couples who had spent days and nights traveling miles, riding trains, crossing rivers and jungles to get here. But packaged sandwiches and a few police officers who stare is better than living in constant fear, Bracho said. Were uncomfortable, but all we can do is wait, she said in Spanish. She said she woke up feeling sad and stressed. She knew she would have to look for work, and wondered where and how she and her husband would find an apartment. Achievers Local rising high school seniors Sierra Butler of Kernersville, Kaylee Cooper Davidson of Lexington, Michelle Hartman and Hunter Smothers, both of Walnut Cove, and Lillian Farley of Walnut Cove recently were recognized for completing North Carolina Farm Bureaus Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders program. The program assists exceptional rising high school seniors from across the state in exploring agricultural-related college majors available at the states two land-grant universities N.C. A&T and N.C. State. Activities North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature members convened June 6 at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding. Invited guests included senators and representatives of the North Carolina General Assembly, the Governors Advisory Council on Aging, staff from the Division of Aging and Adult Services, NC AARP and other partners and collaborators. Founding members of the legislature, as well as past speakers were honored. Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall co-sponsor of Senate Bill 479 in July 1993 that created the nonpartisan, unicameral body was present. Past speakers present included Chuck Youse (2013-2015, Northhampton County) and Althea Taylor Jones (2015-2017, Forsyth County). Marshall delivered the address, sharing the demographics relative to the current aging population in North Carolina the population of individuals ages 65 and older is greater than those age 18 and younger. She thanked members of the organization for their past and current advocacy efforts. She likewise challenged members to continue advocacy efforts to meet, as well as exceed/advance the needs of our rapidly increasing aging population, to help them age with dignity and style. Legislature goals: To assess the legislative needs of older adults by convening a forum modeled after the NC General Assembly To promote citizen involvement and advocacy concerning aging issues before the NC General Assembly To develop a nonpartisan forum for older North Carolinians to discuss senior citizens To provide information and education to senior citizens on the legislative process and matters being considered by the NC General Assembly To provide older North Carolinians an opportunity to become more knowledgeable about the legislative process. Partial listing of the legislatures accomplishments: Increased funding to expand Adult Protective Services Provided funding for Medicaid Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults Investigations and monitoring in long-term care facilities and background checks of employees in adult care homes, nursing homes, and home care agencies Began a prescription drug assistance program Continuation of Project Care (Caregiver alternative to Running on Empty) Increased the Homestead Property Tax Exemption The legislature is comprised of delegates and alternates representing each of the 100 counties in North Carolina. The organization is supported by the Area Agencies on Aging serving the 16 service areas across the state. Announcements Reynolda House Museum of American Art will offer free admission through Labor Day to all pre-K through 12th-grade teachers at public and private schools in North Carolina. This offer is made possible in part due to the generous support from The Rotary Club of Winston-Salem. Teachers may receive one complimentary admission per visit to Reynolda House and may redeem in person upon arrival or register in advance online at reynolda.org/visit. Proper identification is required at check-in. For information, email hello@reynolda.org or call 888-663-1149. Scholarships The Clemmons Civic Club has announced the winners of its annual scholarships. Two students were selected based on their volunteer work in the Clemmons community. Each will receive $2,000 towards their first year of college. Aaralyn Russell and Abby Smith, both of West Forsyth High School, are this school years recipients. Russell will study biomedical engineering at N.C. State University. Smith will study biological engineering at N.C. State. Trans discrimination On June 21, a small group of parents traveled to Raleigh to attend a rally against private school vouchers and then to visit our Forsyth County elected representatives to support public schools and LGBTQ rights. We sat in the House gallery when they voted in favor of SB 631, a bill that restricts the use of public funding for gender-affirming care. Frankly, witnessing this vote made me sick especially since our Forsyth County senator, Joyce Krawiec, is sponsoring dangerous bills against trans children. The fact is, gender-affirming care is routinely provided to cisgender children without any opposition from our legislators. (A cisgender person has a gender identity that matches their sex assigned at birth.) For example, puberty blockers are typically prescribed when young girls start developing breasts at an early age; the practice of top surgery on boys developing man boobs is widely accepted without scrutiny. This double standard is appalling. Why treat trans children differently? The most trusted medical associations, the ones legislators should rely on when making such decisions, are all in support of gender-affirming care. The damage the current attacks are causing to these families is unforgivable. I have friends living in anguish every day, and considering having to move their families because our state wants to take away their right to make the best decision for their kids. Its wrong, cruel, and unconstitutional. These laws will ultimately be struck down as they were in Arkansas just last week but the wreckage they leave behind will be lasting. Valerie Brockenbrough Winston-Salem Slow descent I must admit, as I see our nation's morals and values continue to decline, that historian Alexander Fraser Tytler's quotes appear to be accurate on democracy: "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the treasury with the results that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith;from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependence back into bondage." Personally, I feel we are at "apathy to dependence." Pray our nation will return back to God and his principles for governing a nation before it's too late. Lawrence Overton Clemmons An astute analysis Although I seldom agree with John Hoods conclusions, I appreciate that he presents reasoned arguments rather than inflammatory allegations. His June 20 column, Elections bill ignores the NC Constitution, is an excellent example of his skillful deployment of evidence and logic. Hood examines changes in election laws proposed by Republicans in Senate Bill 749. Admittedly, he begins by criticizing the attorney general and the State Board of Elections for changing procedures due to COVID in 2020. Rather than considering this precedent as justification for current efforts to revise election laws, Hood argues that Republican lawmakers are responding to this debacle by violating the separation of powers." To summarize Hoods detailed explanation, Senate Bill 749 transfers the governors limited right to appoint the members to the state and county boards of election to the two legislative leaders. It also changes membership on these boards from odd to even numbers, thus increasing the likelihood of a tie that must be resolved by the legislature. This scenario of unlimited legislative power informs Hoods statement of principle. The administration of elections is an inherently executive function. And when these boards hear complaints about or challenges to electoral procedures and outcomes, they are acting in either executive or quasi-judicial roles, depending on how you define it, but certainly not legislative ones. I concur wholeheartedly with John Hoods astute analysis of the dangers posed to the separation of powers, a fundamental pillar of our state and national democracy, by Senate Bill 749. Denise Baker Greensboro When Congress returns to Capitol Hill after its Fourth of July district work period 17 days long for the House and 16 for the Senate members face two enormous tasks with little time to complete either. On Sept. 30, the 2018 Farm Bill expires and, simultaneously, the federal government needs a new budget in place to open its doors Oct. 1. It will take a mighty effort for either to get done. In the three months between July 1 and Oct. 1, the House is scheduled to be in session just 24 days and the Senate for 30. The biggest, most difficult fight will be passing the 2024 federal budget. In a good year, much of that wonky, tedious work goes on behind the scenes as key committee chairs, ranking members and staff debate, schmooze and compromise to hammer out a spending plan few members like but most can swallow. In a bad year, it can be hand-to-hand combat that often turns into a multi-trillion-dollar game of chicken with a government shutdown as the ultimate threat. And 2023 is a bad year but not for the usual partisan reasons. Instead, this battle features House Republicans warring with other House Republicans over how deep to cut 2024 federal spending despite the debt-raising deal hammered out between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and President Joe Biden in late May. Mr. McCarthy and his leadership team, reported The New York Times on June 15, blindsided Democrats ... by setting allocations for the 12 annual spending bills at 2022 levels, about $119 billion less than the $1.59 trillion allowed for in the (May) agreement to raise the debt ceiling. McCarthy also blindsided most Republicans especially in the Senate who thought they had a deal with the White House that gave Congress the green light to get both a budget bill and Farm Bill done before the Oct. 1 deadline. Not so. Now everyone is stuck as moderate Republicans try to remove a monkey wrench thrown into the already-creaky gears of a deeply divided government by a handful of hard-right House Republican monkey-wrenchers. And there are no easy ideas on how to do it. In fact, reported Politico recently, GOP hard-liners are still fuming over the deal McCarthy struck with Biden to raise the debt limit earlier this month, especially a provision that could expand the number of people on federal food aid. Ah, yes, food aid or SNAP, the Supplemental Food Assistance Program, that now gobbles up 80% of all Farm Bill dollars. Dems see it as an integral part of federal programming to support families in need; hardline Republicans view it as a too-costly, fraud-ridden program (despite the lack of confirming evidence) that promotes government dependency. Pragmatic members in Congress, Dem and Repub alike not to mention almost every farm and commodity group see SNAP as the political bridge to bring broad urban support to government farm programs. Without those non-farm votes, most political handicappers agree, there would be no Farm Bill. Todays same anti-food aid tactic was used by Republican hard-liners during the 2018 Farm Bill fight. The results, reminds Politico, helped to sink a partisan House GOP farm bill on the floor. It took another seven months to get the final bill done. Importantly, it wasnt Democrats that propelled the 2018 bill to victory; it was the Republican-majority Senate (that) eventually stripped the House GOPs steep SNAP restrictions from the final legislation that delivered its eventual passage. This time around, however, the Dems run the Senate and their Ag Committee boss, Michigans Debbie Stabenow, recently announced that Congress is done discussing SNAP work requirements in the wake of the (McCarthy-Biden) debt limit talks. Stabenows message didnt register with Speaker McCarthy. In private, reported Politico in mid-June, the speaker has told fellow Republicans that to appease hard-liners, the party will need to at least push for stricter work requirements. Appeasing hardliners may allow McCarthy to maintain his tenuous grip on his job, but it wont make any farmer or ranchers job any easier if theres no Farm Bill come Oct. 1. From its launch on March 30 to its first flight on June 8, Red Way, an airline created to service Lincoln Airport, sold 10,000 tickets. In its first two weeks of flying, it has sold 6,000 tickets an increase of about 300%, CEO Nick Wangler told the Lincoln Airport Authority on Thursday at its regular meeting. The numbers coincide with Red Way beginning service to Austin, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee. Wangler, an admitted numbers cruncher, said Red Way is selling about 429 tickets each day. "Our goal has always been to push that daily average to as close to 500 as we can," Wangler said. Red Way has had a solid start, says Wangler, who is happy with the early results, but he remains curious why flights to Minneapolis and Austin have not been as popular as he hoped they'd be. Airport Authority member Nick Cusick asked Wangler if Texas with Red Way flights to Houston and Dallas in addition to Austin is overserved. Wangler said it's too early to make that kind of determination. "We don't have enough information yet to conclusively say, 'Aha, this is the problem. This is the issue,'" Wangler said. "That remains a bit of an unknown." He didn't rule out Allegiant Airlines, a Red Way competitor, recently adding a flight to Austin out of Omaha's Eppley Airfield. "Price might be an issue," he said. Other nuggets that Wangler presented to the Airport Authority included the price of jet fuel, which has been well below what Red Way had budgeted. To date, Red Way is spending an average of $2.78 per gallon on fuel, he said. He also noticed an interesting trend where passengers have flown from Las Vegas to Lincoln, spent the night and taken a flight to Dallas the next day. It's more cost-effective for them to stay the night in a Lincoln hotel than to fly directly to Dallas, he surmised. "People have been asking me why we put a hub in Lincoln," he said. "I tell them we didn't. That's just the way they're flying." Top Journal Star photos for June 2023 After a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses will return to Lincoln this year for an in-person convention at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The event, which is expected to be attended by about 5,200 people, will run June 30 through July 2 with "Exercise Patience" as this year's theme, according to a news release from the organization. After more than 100 years of in-person, public events in stadiums, arenas, convention centers and theaters, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted that tradition and forced Jehovah's Witnesses to transition to virtual programing. But according to Joshua Fischer, a local spokesperson, it wasn't quite the same. "The virtual conventions were fantastic in convenience and content, yet nothing can compare to being together in person," Fischer said. "With the resumption of large gatherings this year, we bring back the joy of fellowship together." This year's convention will feature six sessions that will explore the quality of patience. On Saturday morning, a live baptism will be performed, and a two-part, prerecorded drama will be featured on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. As part of this year's convention series, Jehovah's Witnesses will hold 6,000 events worldwide. In the U.S., 708 conventions in 144 cities from May through September are being organized. Attendees are expected from portions of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota. All sessions are open to the public and attendance is free. For more information and a schedule of the 2023 "Exercise Patience" convention, visit jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/conventions. Photos: Inside Lincoln's beautiful houses of worship First Plymouth Church Mount Zion Baptist Church Holy Thursday 4.1 Westminster Presbyterian St. Patrick's First-Plymouth stars St. Mary's St. Joseph Catholic Church First Christian Church First Presbyterian Church Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Sabah Mosque St. Luke United Methodist St. Teresa's Zion Church Salem Baptist Saint Paul United Methodist North American Martyrs St. John the Apostle First United Methodist Church Christ Temple St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center Compline at First-Plymouth Tifereth Israel Synagogue St. Joseph Catholic St. Patrick's First Presbyterian Zion Church St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Newman Center Saint Paul United Methodist St. Patrick's CHICAGO School librarian Jamie Gregory has been called a "pedophile" and "groomer," bombarded with private messages threatening harm, accused of distributing pornography in schools, and her personal address was posted on social media. She takes it on the chin. "I'm just not going to quit. I'm not going to let them call me that, especially when I've worked my whole entire life to get to where I am," said Gregory, who was named the 2022 South Carolina school librarian of the year. The "shocking" allegations made her think: "My whole entire adult life, and all of my education and all my work what if this is over? I'm not going to let that happen," Gregory said Saturday to a room packed with about 100 fellow librarians at a training session on fighting book bans at the American Library Association's annual meeting in Chicago. The attendees broke into applause at Gregory's declaration. Book bans and how to fight them is a major focus of this year's ALA's conference. "The world's largest library event" provides training and education for library professionals, according to the conference website. Librarians may attend sessions, like the one Gregory spoke at, aimed at helping them confidently counter book challenges, fight legislative censorship and ensure the freedom to read. The ALA conference hosts thousands of librarians, library staff, authors, publishers and educators as several states push to restrict access to books in schools and libraries overwhelmingly those about race, ethnicity and LGBTQ+ topics. The association in March released data showing a record 1,269 demands to censor library books in the U.S. in 2022, a 20-year high. "Addressing book censorship and protecting library users' intellectual freedom, protecting librarians' ability to provide for information in their communities, is at the forefront of this year's meeting," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom and executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. All day Saturday, attendees were invited to climb atop a giant chair to read their favorite banned book. Gregory selected "Gender Queer," Maia Kobabe's autobiographical comic on what it means to be to be nonbinary and asexual, the source of the firestorm against her and the most challenged book of 2022, according to the ALA. She also chose "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Perez, a historical fiction novel about an interracial teen romance. "This one always makes them crazy," said Gregory, patting the copy of "Gender Queer" and ascending the stepladder to the massive velvet reading chair, books in hand. Librarians "make information available to people freely and equitably," and Gregory said she plans to keep doing that. "I don't impose my own personal moral system on students or patrons," she said. "They have to have their own, that's not my job." In Gregory's conservative community in Greenville, South Carolina, the public library board is pushing branches to remove Pride displays. In March, she testified against a bill that would allow parents to challenge any educational materials they say violate banned teachings around white privilege and implicit bias. Still, Gregory said she feels the majority of her community supports her, despite the vocal minority. "I've had a lot of people reach out to me who I don't even know, saying, 'We think you do a great job' even parents at the school," she said. Parents always have the right to choose what their children read, but they don't have the right to restrict access for the whole community, said Christine Emeran, director of the Youth Free Expression Program of the National Coalition Against Censorship, a First Amendment advocacy organization. "You can't just concede to demands of a particular group of parents and to censor libraries," she said. Emeran, who is scheduled to be featured in a panel discussion called "Help! They're coming for our books!" at the conference Sunday, began to notice an increase in book bans starting in 2021, at the beginning of President Joe Biden's term. She attributed the shift to "a cultural backlash" against changing views on LGBTQ+ issues, women's rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. Local libraries are calling in the National Coalition Against Censorship for help now more than ever. In the past, the organization assisted on a few book ban cases per year. "Now we're getting two or three a week," Emeran said. "Librarians are under pressure and they're feeling frustrated, discouraged," said Emeran, who encouraged readers to support local libraries, attend school board meetings and get involved in their communities to protect the right to read. Groups such as Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education and Citizens Defending Freedom have had an outsized effect on what is allowed to be read, she said. "The majority may oppose censorship as a whole. But the problem is that the majority are silent," Emeran said. Gregory and fellow panelists Lindsey Kimeri, coordinator of library services for Metro Nashville Public Schools, and Chris Chanyasulkit, an elected library trustee in Brookline, Massachusetts, advised attendees on how best to navigate book challenges in their communities. Attentive faces bent over notebooks followed every word. "No more humble brag, no being quiet, no more 'be quiet at the libraries,'" Chanyasulkit said. "Not quiet anymore. Now we're going to talk about how it's an incredible, game-changing place for communities, because you need to be loud. The others are, and we're not doing enough." Same fears, new tactics: How efforts to ban 'bad books' reached a record high in 2022 Same fears, new tactics: How efforts to ban 'bad books' reached a record high in 2022 Burned or banned: Outlawed books reflect fears and politics of the time 2022 set a record for book challenges, almost doubling from 2021 Most of the top challenged 2022 books cited LGBTQ+ and sexual content School libraries are being targeted more frequently Organized efforts are accelerating OMAHA Less than a week after voting to leave the United Methodist Church, the mood among the congregation of Omahas Living Faith Methodist Church seemed like business-as-usual on the morning of June 4. That all changed when Pastor Jaime Farias gave the official news 10 minutes into the service: the congregation, along with 155 others across Kansas and Nebraska, had been approved for disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church during a regional conference held over Zoom on May 31. The crowd of 20-some churchgoers erupted into enthusiastic applause. Despite his congregations enthusiasm, Farias has mixed emotions about the breakup, which has centered around disagreements over the denominations enforcement of sexuality laws. Im not happy, to be honest, said Farias, who has been involved with the church since he was a 15-year-old living in Mexico. God doesnt want this to happen the division, the discord, the disagreements. Along with several other Nebraska congregations, none of which are based in Lincoln, Living Faith is part of a broader disaffiliation movement in the Methodist Church that has resulted in clashes across the country. According to data from UM News, an outlet directly affiliated with the United Methodist Church, a total of 3,852 congregations have left the denomination in 2023, more than doubling the 1,826 who left in 2022 and nearly 13 times more than the 308 that left in 2021. The trend has been even stronger in the Great Plains Conference that encompasses Kansas and Nebraska, which has lost 156 congregations thus far in 2023, 67 in 2022 and four in 2021. The conferences 233 lost congregations since 2019 are the 16th most among the 55 conferences across the country. Sexuality at center stageThe crux of the issue centers around sections pertaining to sexuality within the United Methodist Churchs code of conduct, known as the Book of Discipline. While the text mandates that the church not reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends, it also asserts an incompatibility between Christian practices and homosexuality, effectively outlawing LGBTQ members from joining the clergy or marrying someone of the same sex. The specific edict has been subject to vigorous debate in the decades since it was first introduced in 1972 during the churchs first General Conference meeting, where congregations across the world gather every four years to vote on amendments to the Book of Discipline and establish other general guidelines. Multiple attempts have been made to amend the churchs laws, but every effort has fallen short, according to Great Plains Bishop David Wilson, the churchs first-ever Native American bishop who was elected in 2022. Every four years since the 70s, theres been legislation to change this, Wilson said. The conflict came to a head in 2019, when a special session of the General Conference was held to address it directly. Two factions emerged from that meeting, according to the Rev. David Livingston, a four-time delegate to the General Conference and board member of Kansas-based Mainstream UMC, a unity-focused advocacy group within the church. There were those in favor of reconciliation between the differing ideologies, known as the One Church plan, and those advocating for stricter enforcement and punishments for violations of the churchs laws. The One Church plan was an attempt to say, Can we agree to disagree? Livingston said. The traditionalists said, No, this is what you have to believe, this is how you must behave. While the meeting resulted in strengthened restrictions on ordination, it left much to be desired from both sides, according to Wilson. A subsequent discussion of a split within the United Methodist Church led to the introduction of an exemption to the Book of Discipline known as Paragraph 2553, which allowed congregations to leave without forfeiting their assets to the UMC and paved the way for the current exodus. Wilson said the exemption was meant to serve as a short-term compromise before the General Conference reconvened in 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic throwing a wrench in the process of further in-person discussions and hastening the schism within the church. Many congregations were exasperated over the reluctance of the United Methodist Churchs American leadership to punish congregations in violation of the Book of Discipline while the dispute remained under mediation. Most folks got impatient and just said, Weve got to move on this, Wilson said. (But) it was inevitable; we all knew it was going to come. Competing interpretations For Living Faith, the issue has been front-and-center since its inception in the late 90s. Many of its founding members fled from another Omaha congregation, First United Methodist Church, following a scandal involving a same-sex union performed by the churchs Rev. Jimmy Creech in 1997 that resulted in a trial and acquittal for the minister. Diane West is one such member at Living Faith. She said she believed she was leaving the issue of same-sex ordination and marriage behind when she joined Living Faith in 1998, but said the United Methodist Churchs unwillingness to enforce its rules at other churches has been a drain on her and others at Living Faith. Theres no accountability in the denomination, and that wears on people over time, she said. Living Faith is one of many departing congregations that have joined with the Global Methodist Church, a denomination officially founded in May 2022 that has placed an increased emphasis on the doctrine of Methodism. A representative from the Global Methodist Church could not be reached for comment. While many who disagreed with the One Church plan have left already, some still remain. John Lomperis is a UMC General Conference delegate based out of Oregon and a contributor to the Institute for Religion and Democracy, an American Christian conservative think tank. An outspoken critic of his denominations leadership, Lomperis claims the United Methodist Church has been hijacked by a liberal faction, citing a litmus test the church employed during last falls elections that required bishops to accept the ordination LGBTQ+ ministers as decided by the Board of Ordained Ministry, which is responsible for deciding ordinations. In doing so, Lomperis said United Methodist Church leadership is in direct opposition to the doctrine it is officially bound by. Livingston disagreed with Lomperis characterization of the situation as a matter of abiding by religious law. He said Lomperis and other traditionalists reservations towards LGBTQ+ ordination and marriage hypocritically ignore other violations of the churchs doctrine, such as the case of many congregations refusing to practice infant baptism. Infant baptism is about as foundational to our specific theology methods as you can get, Livingston said. (Traditionalists) are not going to bring them up on charges because the issue for them is about sexuality. A self-described centrist in the debate that is seen by some as a battle between progressives and traditionalists, Livingston said he personally agrees with about 95% of the GMCs stances. Nonetheless, he said their adherence to the doctrine hinders their ability to fulfill the spirit of Methodism, which he said requires an inquisitive and inclusive approach, pointing to his own shifting beliefs. If I had been at the 2004 General Conference, I would probably not have voted the way that Im voting now, but my faith journey has continued to move, Livingston said. Such a view isnt compatible with everyone. Farias, the pastor at Living Faith, said that although he doesnt judge LGBTQ people, he disagrees with their way of life, and sees acquiescence to them in the denomination as an afront to the fundamental identity of Christianity. Christ and all followers of Jesus Christ in all times, from the beginning until today, we are counterculture, Farias said. You cant compromise your beliefs trying to fit in with the rest of the people. For Livingston, he believes that Methodism itself, which he said is heavily focused on the concept of Gods grace, requires a different orientation. If Im gonna get in trouble with God, I would rather get in trouble for who I include instead of who I exclude, he said. Im convinced that God would prefer that we get it wrong in favor of love and grace, instead of rule and judgment. Peace on the Prairie While the disaffiliation process has been messy in some parts of the country, according to both Lomperis and Livingston, the breakup has been much less so in the Great Plains conference, which allowed 156 congregations to leave in a 655-to-29 vote at the May 31 virtual meeting. Phil Fisher, the chairman of Living Faiths church council, said his churchs situation was no exception. Any time I had a question over email, (UMC director of administration) Scott Brewer would fire right back to me. He made it as easy as he could, Fisher said. We had a lot of help; all we had to do was just ask for it. Livingston attributed the ease of the process in the Great Plains to factors both cultural and pragmatic. It probably has something to do with just some of our Midwest sensibilities; weve always known that we have to work together and get along, he said. And by allowing churches to leave in an amicable way, Im hopeful that they also would be able to come back in an amicable way. Nonetheless, congregations in the Great Plains on both sides of the disaffiliation vote find themselves on diverging paths. For the United Methodist Church Great Plains conference, Bishop Wilson said that while he has no ill will toward those who have decided to leave, the greater sense of solidarity within the conference will allow it to fully turn its energy toward the issues that matter most to them. Theres a great feeling in the conference, Wilson said. We believe in our work of inclusion working towards social justice, and working around building our community in our local churches. Farias, who is retiring from the United Methodist Church after two decades of service and starting anew as a pastor in the Global Methodist Church, said hes embracing the bittersweet moment as a chance to reaffirm his lifes purpose. Im here to do whatever the Lord wants me to do, he said. I hope this church keeps following and learning and doing what is in the scriptures for them to do, and I just hope that I can be a good pastor for them. PhotoFiles: Early churches of Lincoln Aerial view of Lincoln churches in 1903 Early Catholic Church All Souls Unitarian Church Caldwell Memorial United Brethren in Christ Cathedral of the Risen Christ Christ Lutheran Church Ebenezer Congregational Church First Baptist Church First Congregational Church First Plymouth Church First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church Grace Lutheran Church Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Church of the Nazarene Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Congregation B'nai Jeshurun St. John's Evangelical Church St. John Baptist Church St. Mary Catholic Church St. Matthew's Episcopal Church St. Patrick's Catholic Church Zion Congregational Church AMSTERDAM Henk Schiffmaker's needle whirrs as he tattoos the familiar lines of an elephant on Lilian Rachmaran's back. Highbrow to lowbrow is how the famous Dutch tattoo artist describes his latest project inking sketches by Rembrandt van Rijn onto the skin of visitors to the building the Golden Age master once called home. Or call it high art to body art. The Rembrandt House Museum has transformed one of its rooms into a tattoo parlor for a residency it calls A Poor Man's Rembrandt, featuring Schiffmaker and other top Amsterdam tattoo artists for a week starting Monday. For between about $54-$270, visitors can get their own permanent reminder of Rembrandt. It's a juxtaposition a jump from high to low, from highbrow to lowbrow, Schiffmacher said. And it's great that these two worlds can visit one another. Actually it's really one world because it's about art. Museum Director Milou Halbesma said the event is a way of attracting new visitors to the historic house and getting people closer to the artist. I think its a very good contemporary way to have your own Rembrandt, she said. The workshop has already proved a hit. All appointments available online were filled within 10 minutes, she said, though there are still some slots available for people who walk into the museum and wait their turn. Schiffmacher and his colleagues have adapted some of Rembrandt's sketches to make them suitable for tattooing making lines thinner so they don't grow together as the tattoo ages. They see similarities between their work and the artist's quick sketches but there is one key difference. The canvas is different, Schiffmacher said. The canvas can talk to you, move too much, float, even faint. That didn't happen for Rembrandt. Rachmaran, who works at the museum, was the first person in Schiffmacher's chair. She got his version of one of Rembrandt's famous sketches of an Asian elephant believed to be Hansken, which first arrived in Amsterdam in 1633 on a ship from Ceylon now Sri Lanka as a gift for the Prince of Orange. I love the animals, theyre so spiritual and smart and impressing and Rembrandt also made Hansken, the first elephant in Europe, she said. Getting a work by Schiffmacher in between her other tattoos was also part of the attraction Monday. Im very honored to have one made by Henk himself, she said. Who owns some of the most valuable art collections in the world? Who owns some of the most valuable art collections in the world? Steve Cohen Francois Pinault Philip Niarchos Edythe Broad David Geffen Ezra and David Nahmad In 1868, with the city of Lincoln scarcely a year old and its population less than 100, a map of the city forecasted the arrival of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad from the northeast, entering their proposed grounds at Seventh and S, continuing to the southwest where it simply terminated at Fifth and O. The depot, at an angle, was shown at Sixth and P while Salt Creek meandered, covering the intersection of Fifth and R on the edge of the railroad grounds. Today the north end of those grounds houses Pinnacle Bank Arena and the main Post Office with speculation on the fate of the post office. Alphonso S. Godfrey arrived in Lincoln from Wisconsin in the early 1870s and by 1873 operated a lumber and coal yard at about Eighth and O. In 1874 Godfrey began construction of a grain elevator on the northeast corner of Seventh and S, almost exactly where the railroad was originally projected to enter its grounds. When the elevator was announced to be nearly completed, the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad had finished a siding along the west side of the elevator while Godfrey completed a neat little office just west of the elevator. With the completion of the elevator, Godfreys advertisements featured a drawing of the above photo. Along with his offering of coal at $4.50 a ton, 1878 saw an announcement that Mr. Marshall of Wisconsin was considering buying half interest in the elevator, but Godfrey quickly stated he had a new partner, an Iowa banker. Godfrey also opened his business to the weekly meeting of the Y.P.C.A. (Young Peoples Christian Association) on Sundays at 4:30 where no collections would be taken. When rain erupted one Sunday, Godfrey invited the group inside where he moved stock and provided temporary seating. The area around the elevator was rapidly changing with housing and small businesses. One newspaper editorialized, in 1879, that those who had not visited the area for months should walk by. New houses are visible in all directions and the place looks as though a little town has sprung into existence. Further evidence of houses being built in the area came when a two-story schoolhouse was built to the north at Ninth and T in 1881. First called the T Street School, it was renamed Bancroft in 1890, becoming a metal salvage business when Bancroft moved to 14th and U in 1916. 1881 also saw the completion of the $125,000 second Burlington depot on Seventh Street. Flooding in the area brought an 1881 ad from Godfreys saying they had plenty of coal on hand, all three feet above the then high-water level. When the Burlington reached Lincoln in 1869 the Chicago & North Western Railroads branch, the Sioux City & Pacific, reached Fremont but did not extend to Lincoln thinking it would never generate sufficient freight business. In 1879 Lancaster County encouraged the Fremont connection by approving bonds for the railroad on a vote of 1,800 to 55, but it was not until the Missouri Pacific Railroad, in concert with the C. &. N. W. acquired parts of Blocks 18 and 20 and built block-long platforms on its north, east and west sides to serve both railroads. The adjacent block to the east was then still principally small houses. A business district paving contract as far north as Seventh and Q was let to Clarke & Murphy in 1887 but with no experience in such projects, the city quite forgot that gas, water, sewer, and streetcar tracks had to first be sited and installed. Public patience was tested as the streets looked like a fortified city with ditches, trenches, heaps, and ridges of earth [exposed] for weeks at a time. Finally completed in 1888, sidewalk grading then commenced. In 1885 the Burlington purchased nearly all of the land north of R Street and west of Eighth, including Godfreys Elevator, for a new freight depot. The following May, a public sale of most of the houses in the area completed the railroads expansion. Sixth to Eighth, on the north side of R was then occupied by the new freight depot and carpenter shops. The old MoPac/C. N.W. depot was razed in 1953 and the current main post office, now largely offered for rent, was dedicated in 1974. In 2002 the pedestrian bridge near Godfreys Elevators location connected to Haymarket Park and in 2013 the Pinnacle Bank Arena was completed. What was first residential, then railroads and wholesalers is again become housing and retail ... almost a complete circle. One afternoon, 65 years after the death of his father, Bill Knobbe woke from his daily nap at his home in Denver to a call from an unknown number. Taking a chance, he answered it. She asked me if my birth name was William Hodgson, and I immediately sat straight up. I was flabbergasted, Knobbe said. She told me the story and I dropped everything to go right out to Nebraska that weekend. The caller was Colette Jessen from Grant, and she had been searching for Knobbe for more than a decade. In 2012, Jessen and her husband Loren purchased land near Elsie, which is about 20 miles east of Grant, from an estate sale. While preparing the field for harvest, the two discovered a heavy, metal object partially buried in a divot. When she unearthed the 3-foot-long mystery piece, Jessen discovered an engraving on one end that read Major William Hodgson, crashed with F80 jet, Feb. 26, 1958. The metal found in the hollow is believed to be a piece of wreckage from the jets crash, later engraved by the lands then-owner to mark the crash site, she said. Hodgson had been flying for United Airlines and was a member of the Colorado Air National Guard. On the day of the crash in 1958, Hodgson was on a routine training flight for the National Guard from Denver to New York when the jet went down in western Nebraska. Witnesses in the small town reported black smoke coming from the tail and a fireball on impact. For years, Jessen tried to find Hodgsons family, with no success. Originally, little access to the internet hindered the search, but her struggles continued even as resources for finding individuals online and reconnecting people with lost items expanded. We found an article in a local newspaper saying there was a crash, but we could never find any next of kin, she said. By this time, from other articles and other information, we knew Hodgson had five children, but we couldnt find any of them on the internet. Several years ago, Jessen reached out to Stephanie Larson, of the Veteran Services Office in Grant, who posted the information in a social media group that had a history of tracking down lost individuals. The metal would just sit out in my shop or in my garage and Id bring it in and take a picture of it, try to snoop around on the internet, but I could never get anywhere looking for it, so I reached out for help, Jessen said. When she saw the social media post, Sherry Hancock said she knew she wanted to help locate the family. Together, she and Susan Sonju, another group member, searched for relatives, but they didnt have any luck until last month. After Hodgsons death, his wife remarried and her new husband adopted her children, giving them his last name: Knobbe. Once they figured that out, the rest was easy, Jessen said. She immediately reached out to Knobbe, the second oldest of Hodgsons five children, who was 6 years old at the time of the crash. At the invitation of the Jessens, Knobbe and his younger brother, Dave, traveled to Nebraska over Memorial Day weekend to retrieve the engraved piece. We were all pretty young when the crash happened, so by the time we were all adults a lot of those memories were disconnected and fragmented, Knobbe said. Being able to go up there and explore the past, especially seeing the crash site, I really think it helped us get closure. The Jessens gifted the metal wreckage to the brothers, and said they were grateful to have a heartwarming conclusion to the decade-long search. The research that has been done on our behalf is amazing, Dave Knobbe said. Were incredibly grateful to everyone involved. The trip answered many of the pairs questions, but some still remain, including what exactly caused the crash that claimed their fathers life. Knobbe said he reached out to the Air Force Safety Center in New Mexico to obtain an accident report. He said the centers spokesperson assured him they would be able to deliver the report, but couldnt give a timeline. Were also thinking about donating the piece to an aircraft museum here locally, alongside the articles and photos, to honor his memory, Knobbe said. Top Journal Star photos for June 2023 SIOUX CITY, Iowa Bob Rehan wanted a succession plan of some sort should he become sidelined in his work. One of the things that an attorney who practices primarily as a sole practitioner, such as I do, one of the key things that such a person has to do is keep an eye out for their clients, with a view toward what would happen if something unanticipated happened to me, health-wise, or I died, said Rehan, 63, an attorney who runs the Rehan Law Firm on Fourth Street in Sioux City. You have to have a plan in place. But, for all that he thought about the matter, he couldnt find the right fit. Then one day, in November 2022, his daughter, Omaha attorney Katy Rehan, had an idea while in Lexington, Kentucky, for a client meeting: What if Smith Pauley, the much-larger Omaha firm where shes a partner, merged with her fathers practice in Sioux City? She held her fathers law firm in high esteem, describing it as a wonderful practice and such a well-oiled machine. I just said it kind of wishfully, that I wish that we could somehow do something with my dad, said Katy Rehan, 37. And both my partners looked at me, and theyre like, Well, why wouldnt you? So she broached the idea with her father, not necessarily expecting any interest from him. In fact, the overture was warmly received by the elder Rehan: No. 1, its my daughter, Katy, Bob Rehan said. Ive always been very impressed with her work as an attorney, and the way she handles and cares for clients, he added. Bob Rehan went to meet with the attorneys of Smith Pauley some level of due diligence was, of course, de rigueur. It ended up being, like, the best first meeting ever. And the rest is history, Katy Rehan said. The Rehan Law Firm announced its merger with Smith Pauley this month, effective July 1. The Sioux City office will carry the Smith Pauley name. Bob Rehan himself is staying put and will continue in his work, as will his staffers. Bob Rehan has lived most of his life in Sioux City; his family moved here from Omaha when he was a year old. His entire law career has been in Sioux City, beginning after he passed the bar in 1984 and joined the law firm of Tom Vakulskas, working alongside the likes of Duane Hoffmeyer, later a district judge who has since taken senior status. Rehan worked there for five years before striking out on his own in 1989, sharing an office with attorneys Richard McCoy and Bruce Thomas, and forming a somewhat loosely unified practice they called McCoy, Thomas & Rehan; the three largely conducted their own work independently. After a few years, McCoy became a judge, the firm dissolved and Rehan established his own firm bearing his name. The practice of the Rehan Law Firm, consisting of Bob Rehan and fellow attorney Michael Jacobs, along with a longtime office manager, longtime receptionist and a paralegal, consists largely of helping people complete purchases or sales of residences, Rehan said. His focus on real-estate law began early in his career. As a young adult, Katy Rehan wasnt sure what she was going to do with her life. Born and raised in Sioux City, she studied journalism and political science for her undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa. But there was no job I could see myself as, visualize myself as, except for a lawyer. I really didnt know, to be honest, Katy Rehan said. Even when I started college I guess I didnt know outwardly, like I wasnt comfortable just committing to anything at that time. She was at Saturday in the Park, a Sioux City music festival, in July 2006 when she made up her mind. And Im like, Im going to law school! Katy Rehan said. And I think, always, it was because of my dad, she added. She passed the bar in 2010. But the economy had shifted radically, and not for the better, between her decision to go to law school on July 1, 2006, and her bar exam four summers later. At the time, a slow recovery from the Great Recession was just beginning; it was not an encouraging time to be a young, inexperienced job seeker. Right after I took the bar 2010, things were just kind of shaky then, because it was following the economic crash, so I was really nervous. So Im like, Im not going to take off any time like my friends did, she said. Soon she was practicing commercial litigation and some real-estate law in Chicago. In 2020, she moved to Omaha, keeping her job with the Chicago law firm, doing contract work and also helping her father. In 2022, a group of attorneys of the former Smith Slusky law firm in Omaha formed the new Smith Pauley. In August of that year, Katy Rehan joined Smith Pauley as a partner. The firm has a total of 22 attorneys not counting Bob Rehan or Michael Jacobs and 30 support staff. Smith Pauleys lawyers work primarily in estate planning, real estate, commercial lending, corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions and commercial and civil litigation. Now that her firm and her fathers firm are one and the same, Katy Rehan said, shell probably be working alongside her father quite a bit. I want to be in the office a lot more, I want this to feel like Im as much a part of it as my dad, starting now, she said. Her fathers firm, meanwhile, will reap the benefits of having greater resources at its disposal than it ever had before. And it kind of gives a person at my station in life, and my station in the practice, a sort of new energy, Bob Rehan said. Top Journal Star photos for June 2023 Marlyn Peters never brought just her three kids to Red Willow State Recreation Area. Each of them always had a friend along. Maybe the nieces and nephews would be there, too. Its a safe area, she said. Kids can ride bikes. They can go down and go swimming. Best of all, its an easy 12-mile jaunt from McCook, where Peters lives, to enjoy fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking or just find a place to relax. That proximity to a town is great for travelers, too, who dont have to drive far if they forgot a necessity at home. This summer, there are more than the usual visitors to the 1,628-acre lake and its surroundings. Red Willow has been drawing more than 70,000 people a year. Red Willow, which is about four hours from Lincoln, is one of 70 stops in this years Nebraska Passport program, the annual tourism promotion effort that encourages Nebraskans and others to visit a variety of attractions, parks, coffee shops, restaurants, stores and more across the state. Each week, were highlighting one or more of the locations. Passport participants collect physical or digital stamps at each stop and qualify for prizes based on how many places they visit during the program, which runs from May 1 to Sept. 30. While the 48 camping pads with electricity usually fill up each weekend, Peters said the park doesnt have the same crowded feel as some of the busier campgrounds in the eastern half of the state. Each site is 50 feet or more apart, so there isnt a lot of complaining about noisy neighbors or dogs. Its not that way out here, she said. Most people are friendly. There are also 50 basic campsites. McCook resident Janet Gray said the campgrounds are well-maintained with modern showers. She and her husband, Chuck, usually bring their camper there during the week when its not so busy. No reservations are accepted, so you might have to arrive a few days before the weekend to get what Peters calls a primo spot that overlooks the lake. The outlook from there is beautiful, says Tyler Francisco, the southwest region supervisor for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. It is just a really cool view, he said. Low water levels caused by last years drought are improving, he said. No drawdowns by the Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the land, are planned. Gray and her husband, Rod, own a fishing boat, and theyve had lots of luck catching bass, crappie, walleye, northern pike, stripers, muskie, bluegill and catfish. "We caught a 23-inch, 5-pound wiper this week," Gray said. "We fought it for 15 minutes. Just the sport of fishing is really good." Her husband pulled that one in; Gray said her big fish got away. Although all types of boats are allowed, Francisco likes that a kayaker can find areas that bigger boats don't often access. I think its one of those hidden gems if you are looking for adventure, he said. You have a nice, quiet atmosphere while paddling along the shoreline. For those who want a break from the water, theres a walking archery trail. The wildlife management area on the northwest side of the lake means theres an abundance of animals to see while hiking the hilly terrain. The park stretches across 4,320 acres. On Saturday nights, Peters likes to enjoy the live music at the marina. There's sand volleyball, too. Its very family friendly, Francisco said. There's lots to do at Red Willow Friends and family say they had never seen Toraze Davis happier than on the day he married Johnnie Mae Dennis at Ebenezer Baptist Church in North Omaha. "Toraze had a small but very tight and loving circle of friends," Jewel Roberson of Tallahassee, Florida, said Sunday. "Anyone there that day who loved Toraze could see that it was the happiest time of his life." Davis, who often struggled with anxiety and depression, married the love of his life June 19. Within an hour of exchanging their vows, he was dead. A blood clot in his lung broke apart and stopped his heart. "We called 911, and they were there so quick, but he died in the ambulance," Roberson said. "He got all the medical attention that he could have gotten, but it just happened so quickly." The funeral service for Davis, 48, will be July 5 at the Good Shepherd funeral home, 3809 N. 90th St. Visitation begins at 11 a.m. with the service, which is open to the public, to follow at noon. Davis, an Omaha native, met Johnnie Mae when they both attended Omaha South High School. He graduated from the now-closed Father Flanagan High School. Although Davis could be introverted around people he didn't know, he liked to make friends and family laugh. Even on his wedding day, Roberson said, he brought levity to the ceremony. "The minister was having him recite the vows, and at one point, Toraze said, 'Yes,' instead of 'I will.' The minister had to tell him to say I will," Roberson said. "Toraze covered his face because he was so embarrassed, but everyone broke up. It was so cute and so sweet." Davis and Johnnie Mae have a 4-year-old daughter together and five other children from their previous relationships. He doted on family life, Roberson said. Cooking, fishing, yardwork and walking his dog were the kind of everyday events in which Davis found joy. He also was known for creating YouTube and Facebook content that "gave people a good laugh," Roberson said. He also was someone who sought out other people suffering from anxiety and depression. Davis was always ready to talk with other people who were hurting, Roberson said. "That was just the way he was," she said. "Loving, funny, family oriented and caring." Johnnie Mae, who works as a client care manager at ECO Supportive Living, has been stunned by the outpouring of support from the community in the days since her husband's death. Roberson said a GoFundMe page to help the family has been a tremendous lift with donations coming from as far away as Germany. "She didn't realize how much she has impacted the community and it has really rallied around her," Roberson said. "This family has endured much, but in my heart, I know they are going to be OK." In addition to his wife, Davis is survived by his parents, Norma Ruth Davis and Walter K. Lewis; sons, Toraze Jr., Taraejun, James Jr., JVaughn and Terrel; daughters, RickL, OCeann and Chantrelle; brother, Ricky; and sister, Izetta, all of Omaha. Top Journal Star photos for June 2023 ST. IGNATIUS St. Ignatius sits in the southern reaches of the lush Mission Valley and is watched over by the towering Mission Mountains. A humble town with a rich backstory, the establishment of St. Ignatius in 1854 predates Montanas statehood, its origin story gave the Mission Mountains their name. And its influence on the developing culture reflects the settling of Americas wild west. Today the town is a nationally recognized historical site for its importance to the modern social beginnings of the region. Before Europeans entered the area, the Flathead and Mission valleys were home the Salish, Kootenai and Pend dOrielle peoples. These tribes lived and hunted in the area of what is now St. Ignatius and were able to thrive from the plentiful resources provided by the mountains and wetlands. One of the earliest white settlements in the valley was the trading post Fort Connah, opened in 1846. It was the southernmost post of the Hudsons Bay Company. Founded in 1670, this company spread across North America in search of fur, establishing villages and engaged with native peoples in the process. The fort was active until 1871. Today one of the original buildings is still in place and stands as the oldest building in Montana. Jesuit priests Pierre-Jene De Smet, Peter McGean and Andrew Hoecken developed the original St. Ignatius Mission during the winter of 1844-45 in Idaho near Lake Pend dOreille. However, unfavorable circumstances caused them to move their ministry to its current location, Upon reaching the chosen location, Fr. Hoecken said: I arrived at the place designated on the 24th of September and found it such as it had been represented a beautiful region, evidently fertile, uniting a useful as well as pleasing variety of woodland and prarie, lake and riverthe whole crowned in the distance by the white summit of the mountains, and sufficiently rich withal in fish and game. I shall never forget the emotion of hope and fear that filled my heart, when for the first time I celebrated Mass in this lovely spot, in the open air, in the presence of a numerous band of Kalispels, who looked up to me, under God, for their temporal and spiritual welfare in this new home. Like the rest of Montana, settlements grew exponentially once they started. In 1854, Father Peirre-Jene De Smet founded the St. Ignatius Mission. De Smet, a Jesuit priest, had spent much of his life converting Native people to Christianity, and his charisma and openness to learning native belief systems made him very successful. He had previously set up the St. Marys Mission in Stevensville. De Smet named the mission after Ignatius of Loyola, who was one of the founders of the Jesuits. He was born in the 15th century and was originally a soldier in Spain. St. Ignatius wanted his sect of Catholics to focus on doing good works in the world, rather than leading monastic lives. He died in 1556 and was canonized as St. Ignatius in 1609. With the mission in place the town, that began in an area advised by a Salish Chief grew. Native people came to work with the Jesuits. A church and school were soon built, some of the first in Montana, practically guaranteeing the survival and importance of the town. Though enrollment in the mission school, especially of native children, decreased during the first half of the 20th century, the church remained functioning. Over the years it has survived fires, low attendance, and other problems, but it has always been built back better. The current structure was built in 1891 and expanded in 1893. One distinctive aspect of the St. Ignatius Mission Church is its 58 original paintings on the ceilings and walls. Created by Brother Joseph Carignano, some of the art depicts Christian imagery mixed with representations of the Salish belief system. In 1919, a large forest fire destroyed almost the entire town. The only buildings left standing were a bank, a store and a hotel. The churchs location a bit west of the center of town escaped the blaze. Even with most of the town gone, residents rebuilt, and were even able to update it by building a standalone hospital, separate from the mission. Today, St. Ignatius is within the Flathead Reservation, and southwest of U.S. Highway 93. It is in close proximity to many important Montana locations, including Flathead Lake, Missoula and the National Bison Range. With a population that has hovered around 800 since the 1940s, the town has lived a quieter life since its early days. But St. Ignatius still strives to connect residents with the past. For the past few years, local middle schoolers have learned the stories of people who have lived in St. Ignatius for decades, so students can help keep these stories, and histories, alive. St. Ignatius has been a hub for native people since its beginnings, and its spectacular natural surroundings have played no small part. And often referred to as a miniature Glacier National Park, the ice sculptured Mission Mountains southern reaches are an integral part of the St. Ignatius community. Abruptly rising above town, the Mission Mountains, on St. Ignatius eastern flank, soar upwards nearly 7,000 feet in less than 10 miles from the valley floor, ranking as one of the greatest reliefs in Montana. The communitys elevation is 2,940 feet and McDonald Peak at 9,824 feet is the highest pinnacle in the Missions. Twelve other summits exceed 9,000. These peaks hide numerous waterfalls and tarns, glacial formed lakes, which are fed by the high up permanent snow fields. Two of the best-known waterfalls are the Elizabeth and Mission Falls, which both send water down a 1,000-foot drop. Western parts of the Mission Mountains, about 89,500 acres on tribal lands were designated a Tribal Wilderness Area in 1979 by The Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. This is the only Tribal Wilderness in the nation designated by a tribe. In the words of the Mission Mountains Committee: These mountains belong to our children, and when our children grow old, they will belong to their children. In this way and for this reason these mountains are sacred. The Tribal Wilderness borders areas of the range managed by the U.S. Forest Service as the 70,000-acre Mission Mountains Wilderness providing a large, protected environment. A 12,000-acre segment of the tribal wildlands are closed from mid-July to October to protect the grizzly bear population as they feast on migrating army cutworm moths who land on the slopes of McDonald Peak and other adjacent summits. Home to mountain goats, deer, elk, moose, coyotes, wolves, bears, bobcats, lynx, mountain lions, owls, eagles, and osprey, to name some species, the Missions provide outstanding high-country wildlife habitat. In addition, the area contains a variety of deciduous trees and alpine evergreens. The range is also covered with bushes of the coveted huckleberry, a decadent rarity outside of Montana but a home-grown favorite for locals, especially grizzly bears. Aside from these plants and mammals of this uplift, the Mission Mountains are also home to a few varieties of trout and other aquatic life, contained within many of the freshwater lakes and streams throughout the range. West of St. Ignatius is the National Bison Range, founded on reservation land in 1908 by the federal government. It began with bison from the reservations herd, started in the 1800s, when the bison were nearing extinction. Today the National Bison Range is co-managed by The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the USFS, but they are planning on transitioning to complete tribal control. At nearly 19,000 acres, the range has allowed bison to thrive, and though the ranges history is wrapped up in the chronicles of stealing Native land, recent years have seen joint efforts between the tribes and the state and federal governments to continue preserving bison in their natural habitat. The range now works on educating the public on the importance of bison to native peoples. St. Ignatius is east of the Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge. It was established in 1929, and ceded to the tribes in 1948, who now manage the protection of this area, along with using some of the water to irrigate other parts of the reservation. Primarily made up of small pockets of wetlands and the Reservoir, the refuge is home to waterfowl, including mallards, northern shovelers, gadwalls, redheads, and ruddy ducks. The reservoir is an important breading area for a large contingent of the Flathead Valley Canada Goose population. Bird watchers can also spot great-blue herons and double-crested cormorants, along with white pelicans during the summer. After over one and a half centuries of white settlers in St. Ignatius, the small community has created closer, friendlier relationships with communities near them. And all peoples in this area of the Flathead and Mission Valley are collaborating to protect wildlife that lives in the low wetlands, the Mission Mountains, and everywhere in between. St. Ignatius is deeply enmeshed in the history of Montana, and the residents continue the important effort of maintaining our oldest buildings and longest memories. BURLINGTON For the first time in nearly a decade, the Burlington Area School District will have a strategic plan facilitator. The Burlington Area School District Board during a special meeting Monday voted 5-1 to approve a three-year contract with Studer Education. Studer will work with district administrators, community members and the School Board to develop a long-term plan for BASD. We understand the importance of this work to collaboratively cast a shared vision for future success, and we are honored to engage with you, your district and the community and stakeholders you serve, Studer wrote in its proposal. Our approach to the strategic planning development process ensures the resulting plan is not only aspirational and forward-looking, but also actionable in terms of identifying tangible and measurable strategies for success. BASD has not had a strategic plan facilitator since 2014. Board members believe that by hiring a facilitator, community members will feel more involved in the direction of the district and be more likely to support a BASD operational referendum that will almost certainly be on ballots next April. I almost feel as though we need a strategic plan in order to get the community to buy in, board member Marlo Brown said. I just dont see how we can afford not to have a strategic plan. BASD will pay Studer just under $187,000, according to Ruth Schenning, the district's business manager. Board President Peter Turke said the board can end the contract with Studer at any time with a 30-day written notice. If we did the strategic plan for one year and we find ourselves in a situation where we really just dont have the funds to keep going, we can break the contract, Turke said. Theres flexibility there. The school district will start working with Studer next month, and more in-depth planning will take place in the fall. Multiple community sessions are expected to take place in fall and winter, including focus groups and town halls. A draft of the strategic plan likely will be available in February, and a final version is expected to be brought to the School Board in March, according to Studers proposal. The BASD strategic plan is expected to address the districts direction and ongoing challenges, including a looming financial crisis. BASD has a projected deficit of $5.4 million for the 2023-24 school year and a projected deficit of $4.77 million for 2024-25. Those financial issues are expected to worsen. The districts 2025-26 projected deficit is $6.1 million. The 2026-27 projected deficit is $7.8 million. The 2027-28 projected deficit is $9.7 million. The School Board chose Studer over the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, which also applied to be the strategic plan facilitator. Working with the WASB would have cost the school district around $10,000 per year, according to its proposal. Studers price tag is more expensive, but board members seemed to appreciate its thoroughness and accountability. The proposal from Studer was more robust, said board member Taylor Wishau. I think if were going to spend that kind of money on this, I want the plan to be perfect. I think that Studer will do it justice. Board member Rosanne Hahn abstained from the vote because she is WASB president. Barry Schmaling, board vice president, voted against the motion because he wants the permanent BASD superintendent to help write the strategic plan, but the district will not have a permanent superintendent until July 2024. I think were being short-sighted and not doing our best work if we do it now without a permanent superintendent in place, Schmaling said. Schmaling also said the School Board could receive community input without hiring a strategic plan facilitator. Earlier this month, the board selected Jill Oelslager to be the BASD interim superintendent starting July 1. She will take over for Stephen Plank, who is taking a job as principal at Wauwatosa East High School. The search for a permanent superintendent will begin this fall. Oelslager voiced support for the school district developing its strategic plan on a similar timeline to the upcoming referendum. A strategic plan pairing with an operational referendum I think is what this community and this school district desperately need, Oelslager said. I think in order for us to ensure that we start moving in the right direction with the operational referendum, we do need a lot more stakeholder input and feedback, and what better way to do that than to couple strategic planning and an operational referendum together? In this Aprils election, 55.8% of voters voted against a non-recurring operational referendum that would have authorized the School Board to exceed the state revenue limit by up to $8 million per year for the next three school years. Referendum money would have helped BASD pay employees, provide worker benefits like health insurance and helped cover maintenance costs like heating and electricity. A similar operational referendum is expected to be on ballots next spring, but its cost and length have not been determined. Turke said it was a difficult decision, but he voted for Studer because he considers contracting with the company to be an investment, and he appreciates that Studer plans to hold the board accountable. Board member Page Carriveau understood Schmalings concerns and said BASD would ideally have a permanent superintendent to help write the strategic plan. That is not the reality, though, so she said the board must move forward. I dont think that we will get the community buy-in that we need for this district in the timeline that we need it without doing (a strategic plan) now, Carriveau said. Wishau concurred. If the community doesnt see that were doing something, its over, Wishau said. I think were going to do a good job with (Studer). We better, Hahn said. If were going to spend this amount of money, we better show the taxpayers that were going to be using it. Twelve photos of Burlington HS seniors returning to Waller Elementary Class of 2023 Students walking into school Lisa Schue and Utopia Pasika High-five Lucy Busse and Angela Bies Easton Schue hugs Angela Bies Adalie Rauch smiles Reese Schuls Lucy Busse High-fives from elementary schoolers Students in gym Lucy high-fives June 19-23 This list is not comprehensive. Municipalities are listed as they appear on the criminal complaint. Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. To see mugshots of the accused, visit journaltimes.com/gallery. Additional information about the complaints can be found at: journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts. Jonathan F. Adams, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (3rd offense, general alcohol concentration enhancer), possession of narcotic drugs, misdemeanor bail jumping. Krystal E. Alford, 2000 block of DeKoven Avenue, Racine, neglecting a child (specified harm did not occur and child is under 6 years of age), misdemeanor bail jumping. Quinaysha S. Barnes, 1100 block of Park Avenue, Racine, misdemeanor retail theft (intentionally take less than or equal to $500), misdemeanor bail jumping. Keith Robert Brower, Wind Lake, Wisconsin, felony personal ID theft (financial gain), forgery, theft by acquisition of a credit card, financial transaction card (fraudulent use less than $2,500). Novella L. Calbert, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, second degree recklessly endangering safety, resisting an officer, disorderly conduct, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia. Steven Norvel Collins Sr., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (4th offense, general alcohol concentration enhancer), resisting an officer, operate motor vehicle while revoked, failure to install ignition interlock device. Pamela R. Delnegro, Appleton, Wisconsin, possession of narcotic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia. Dwayne E. Gardner, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, substantial battery, felony bail jumping. Denise Green, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, possession of cocaine, possession of THC, obstructing an officer, operate motor vehicle while revoked, misdemeanor bail jumping. Monica M. Hoffmann, 1800 block of Woodland Avenue, Racine, disorderly conduct. Billy Wayne Holland Jr., 1600 block of Phillips Avenue, Racine, possession of THC, operate motor vehicle while revoked (4th+), misdemeanor bail jumping. William D. Hunter, 1500 block of Packard Avenue, Racine, misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments). Ryan P. Jordan, 3400 block of 4th Avenue, Racine, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (3rd offense, with a minor child in the vehicle). Kassandra J. Kostos, 5100 block of Hunt Club Road, Racine, possession of drug paraphernalia, felony bail jumping. Michael A. Littleton, 1600 block of Maple Street, Racine, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (2nd offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, operate motor vehicle while revoked, failure to install ignition interlock device. Miguel Angel Maldonado-Reynoso, 1600 block of Morton Avenue, Racine, hit and run (injury), operating while intoxicated causing injury (1st offense). Terrance A. Morris, Green Bay, Wisconsin, possession with intent to deliver other schedule I controlled substances (greater than 50 grams), possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a concealed weapon. Traveail D. Oliver-Thomas, 3700 block of Victory Avenue, Racine, misdemeanor theft. Eric D. Pittman Jr., 1800 block of Chatham Street, Racine, disorderly conduct. Eric Pletz, 4600 block of Durand Avenue, Racine, failure to register (sex offender registry), tampering with a global positioning system tracking device. James Powell Jr., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, obstructing an officer. Lazarick L. Riley, 3000 block of 16th Street, Racine, misdemeanor theft, disorderly conduct, resisting an officer. Bryce E. Schilz, Brookfield, Wisconsin, second degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee or elude an officer. Andrew A. Sherrod, 1300 block of Michigan Boulevard, Racine, bodily harm to a worker in a health care facility. Azariah Lamar Smith, 900 block of Center Street, Racine, drive or operate a vehicle without owners consent, possession of narcotic drugs. Ramon A. Tilson, 1600 block of Boyd Avenue, Racine, possession of THC, vehicle operator flee/elude officer causing damage to property, second degree recklessly endangering safety, possession with intent to deliver/distribute/manufacture THC (between 200-1,000 grams). Marcelo I. Tirado, 2400 block of Eaton Lane, Racine, possession with intent to deliver/distribute fentanyl (less than or equal to 10 grams), misdemeanor bail jumping. Randall Scott Wagner, Franksville, Wisconsin, physical abuse of an elder person (intentionally cause bodily harm), disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments), second degree sexual assault (domestic abuse assessments), false imprisonment (domestic abuse assessments), strangulation and suffocation (domestic abuse assessments), misdemeanor battery (domestic abuse assessments), felony intimidation of a victim (domestic abuse assessments). Glenn A. White Jr., 5400 block of Wright Avenue, Racine, obstructing an officer. Anthony Wilks, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, knowingly violate a domestic abuse injunction, misdemeanor bail jumping. Donald L. Wright, 1500 block of 11th Avenue, Union Grove, disorderly conduct (domestic abuse assessments). 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 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. When you travel to Hawaii, its important to know your ABCs. It has nothing to do with the alphabet and everything to do with discount shopping. The ABC Stores are a Hawaii icon unknown any place else in the U.S. except for an offshoot store in Las Vegas. (Wheres theres also an Eiffel Tower and canals in Venice, so that tracks.) Inside, youll find everything from Hawaiian shirts in all sizes, patterns and fabrics, to tables piled high with $5.95 T-shirts, beach towels, flip flops, sunglasses, and even fake flowers to clip in your hair. There are not enough pages in this newspaper to list all the stuff you can buy at an ABC Store. And we havent even mentioned the food, from macadamia nuts (regular and chocolate-covered) to various snacks, beverages and Spam specialties. Dont worry about trying to find an ABC Store; it will find you. There are ABC Stores on every street in Honolulu and spread across the islands. You cant stroll a full block in Waikiki without passing two or more ABC Stores. I might even have walked into an ABC Store located inside an even bigger ABC Store! The chain is native to Hawaii, founded in 1964 by Sidney Kosasa, who opened his first store in Waikiki. The stores were originally named Mister K. To make the store name easier to remember, it was changed ABC Stores. And a legend was born. Kosasa was born in Palolo Valley, Hawaii, in December 1919, and his experience in retail began while working in his parents grocery store in Palolo. Years later, after he was operating pharmacies and was on a business trip to Florida, he noticed all the tourists near large hotels in Miami Beach and had a vision of starting a chain of resort stores in his home state. Like millions of people before and after us, we came home with a few ABC Stores tote bags. Wherever he is, I think Mister K is smiling. Although Willow Newell, Miss Kenosha, did not place in the semi-finals of the Miss Wisconsin 2023 competition this past weekend in Oshkosh, she said she still feels proud of herself for how she competed. I felt like the best reward was feeling like my best self all week, Newell said. During the preliminary talent competition, Newell sang A Change In Me from Beauty and the Beast. Her favorite part about competing for the Miss Wisconsin title was being able to meet all of the other contestants. She said she got to room with Miss Door County and she felt really connected to everyone since they spend a lot of individual time together. She said it was also great seeing several former Miss Wisconsin title winners and hearing their experiences. Newell said it gave her more inspiration to make the most of the time she has with her title of Miss Kenosha. Being on the stage for the 60th anniversary of Miss Wisconsin in Oshkosh was a once in a lifetime experience, Newell said. Despite the end of the competition phase, Newell said her work isnt. As a city title holder, she said its her goal to continue diversifying the organization and making it more accessible to different people. Newell was named Miss Kenosha Feb. 18 on her first attempt for the tittle. She is the first Black woman to hold the title of Miss Kenosha. Lila Szyryj of Madison was named Miss Wisconsin Saturday night at Oshkosh West High Schools Alberta Kimball Civil Auditorium. I was really excited to compete and Im still excited about the competition, Newell said. Im grateful for the friends Ive made and all the sponsors I had. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho, left, and Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki shake hands during the 56th annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Incheon, May 2. Newsis By Lee Yeon-woo Finance ministers of Korea and Japan will resume their annual bilateral meeting this week in Tokyo. Cooperation in the financial and foreign exchange sectors, possibly including a Korea-Japan currency swap, is expected to be discussed. According to the finance ministry, Sunday, Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho and his Japanese counterpart Shunichi Suzuki are scheduled to meet in Japan's capital on Thursday. As this is the first bilateral meeting since diplomatic relations have been on the path to recovery, all eyes are on whether the bilateral currency swap line, which has been suspended for eight years, will be restored. A currency swap line is an agreement in which two central banks to exchange currencies, providing one another with access to foreign currency in liquidity. Some market watchers believe that the benefits may not be significant due to the weakened status of the Japanese yen. However, the symbolic significance of restoring economic cooperation with Japan is expected to be substantial. "The Korea-Japan currency swap carries symbolic significance in the restoration of the economic relationship between the two countries when considering overall factors such as economic exchanges and corporate investment between Korea and Japan, rather than purely economic factors like exchange rate stability," Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor Rhee Chang-yong said at a press meeting last week. The currency swap line has ridden a rollercoaster, tied closely to the diplomatic relations of the two countries. Its value rose to $70 billion in 2011 since the two countries first agreed to a $2 billion currency swap in July 2001. However, it has been suspended since February 2015 when bilateral relations worsened. "I will do my best to achieve a meaningful result," Choo said earlier this month during a discussion forum held in Seoul. The Korea-Japan finance ministers' meetings, which started being held in 2006, were suspended temporarily after the last meeting in August 2016 due to a deterioration in diplomatic relations. Also on the agenda are the current global economic trends and the strengthening of cooperation in international forums, such as the Group of 20 (G20) meetings. Central Seoul's Haebangchon is located uphill of U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar This article is the second part in a three-part series about the past, present and future of central Seoul's Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood. By Jon Dunbar Throughout its history, central Seoul's Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood has always been welcoming to migrants and the vulnerable in search of a place to call home. It's somewhat well-known that HBC got its name, translated in English to "Liberation Village," due to its origins as a refugee camp. Two photos on display in an alley of Haebangchon show past and present views of the neighborhood. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar "Haebangchon is an urban neighborhood mostly formed by the temporary settlement of refugees from North Korea after the Korean War as well as domestic immigrants from the southern part of the Korean Peninsula," said GwangYa Han, a professor of urban design at Dongguk University. Its establishment was made possible due to its proximity to Seoul Station, which at the time was the terminal station of the Gyeongui Line connecting Seoul with Pyongyang. Residents from Pyongyang and nearby Sunchon fled here, not due to the 1950-53 Korean War but in the wake of liberation in 1945, especially after the North Korean government enacted land reforms in 1946, essentially taking land away from land owners. Another important factor in the formation of the settlement in the area was the recently vacated land following Japan's withdrawal from the peninsula. Japanese imperial forces left behind Gyeongseong Hoguk Shrine, as well as a sizeable empty military garrison just downhill. Haebang Tower in central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, June 22 / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar The shrine, built in 1943, was located at the current site of Haebang Tower and surrounded by support facilities, which Han says constituted the first settlement in today's HBC. "Upon the shrine's dismantlement after Korean liberation, it is predictable that informal temporary dwelling communities would be created on the site of the shrine whose ownership has been lost and in the surrounding area," Han said. One of the few traces that remain of this period is the 108 Stairs that had once led up to the shrine. In recent years, an inclined elevator was built in the middle of the stairs to aid elderly residents when climbing the hill to their homes. An inclined elevator now runs through the middle of the 108 Stairs, the oldest remaining relic of central Seoul's Haebangchon neighborhood, June 22. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar He refers to this area as Lower Haebangchon, while also using the name Upper Haebangchon for the other side, the area closer to Noksapyeong Station on Seoul Metro Line 6. That site has its own unique origin story as well. "It has been said that their initial settlement was the then-vacant Japanese military headquarters building and its surroundings in Yongsan Garrison," Han explained. "At that time, the United States Army Military Government in Korea (1945-48) took over Yongsan, but it must have lacked control." Yongsan Garrison was once again made off-limits to the Korean public in September 1953, when the 8th U.S. Army moved its headquarters into the garrison from Dongsung-dong (located just east of today's Hyehwa Station on Seoul Metro Line 4). The Artist House of Arts Council Korea in northeastern Seoul's Marronnier Park, April 15, previously housed the headquarters of the Eighth U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar "As a result, temporary residents within the US military base would have been evicted, and huts and shanty towns would have been built in the shooting range, a hilly area to the north," Han said. In its early years, the residents of HBC established churches, schools and various welfare facilities, some of which still exist today, even if the area is hardly identifiable anymore as a " moon village ," a term used to describe a Korean refugee camp built on the slope of a mountain. Han said the settlers of this village likely received land ownership rights from Seoul Metropolitan Government in the 1970s, as happened with many moon villages at the time. Stairs like these in Lower Haebangchon, Nov. 16, 2018, show decades of patchwork. Many such staircases have been fixed up recently. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar "However, Haebangchon has a big difference from (the others)," Han pointed out. "While Haebangchon was formed as a residential area, it produced not only casual U.S. military supplies for the adjacent U.S. military base, but also knitted sweaters supplied to Namdaemun Market and Myeong-dong, and jeans to Itaewon, in the process of industrialization of Seoul and Korea as well. In short, it functioned as an industrial production complex on Mount Nam in the inner Seoul area." Lower Haebangchon faces toward Seoul Station, Nov. 16, 2018. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, talks with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong at a restaurant in Hanoi, June 24. Joint Press Corps-Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Vietnam has produced another sharp rally of Korea's defense stocks on hopes for more arms exports, after the leaders of both countries agreed to elevate their partnerships in maritime security and defense. Hanwha Group has benefited most from Yoon's recent arms sales diplomacy. According to data from Hanwha Asset Management, its Hanwha ARIRANG K-Defense exchange traded-fund (ETF) achieved the largest weekly investment return of 13.94 percent as of June. 20. This surpasses the benchmark KOSPI's 0.54 percent drop during the same period. A group of defense industry leaders, which included Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan, Hanwha Aerospace CEO Shin Hyun-woo and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) CEO Kang Goo-young, accompanied Yoon to discuss possible exports to the Southeast Asian country due to its arms modernization plan. The Vietnamese government is pushing for the plan by budgeting $2 billion (2.6 trillion won) for the next five to seven years. In March, Vietnam's defense minister met with officials from Hanwha Aerospace and showed interest in the firm's K9 self-propelled howitzers. KAI also expects the country to show interest in its Surion helicopters. In response, major defense shares have extended a winning streak for the past week. According to data from the Korea Exchange, shares of Hanwha Aerospace closed with a gain of 15.06 percent this week from a week earlier. Other shares also attained solid stock growth. Shares of Hyundai Rotem achieved a gain of 8.87 percent during the same period. Foreign investors engaged in a buying spree of major defense stocks, even if they have driven the recent decline of the main bourse. They purchased 74.6 billion won worth of Hyundai Rotem shares for three days from June 19. They have also stood at the center of the recent rise of Hanwha Aerospace by buying 61 billion won worth of its shares during the same period. Securities firms here are on track to revise up the target stock prices of major defense firms due to growing optimism over their arms sales abroad. IBK Investment & Securities raised the target price for Hanwha Aerospace to 160,000 won from an earlier forecast of 110,000 won. The securities firm expects that the Hanwha affiliate will be able to meet the earnings expectation from the market in the second quarter with 2 trillion won in sales. "The recovery in the global aerospace industry will help the company achieve sales growth," Lee Sang-hyun, an analyst at the brokerage house, said. "The firm is forecast to receive defense orders worth 26.9 trillion won by the end of 2023, from 19.8 trillion won a year earlier." NEW YORK (AP) Thousands of effusive marchers danced to club music in New York City streets Sunday as bubbles and confetti rained down, and fellow revelers from Toronto to San Francisco cheered through Pride Month's grand crescendo. New York's boisterous throng strolled and danced down Fifth Avenue to Greenwich Village, cheering and waving rainbow flags to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising, where a police raid on a gay bar triggered days of protests and launched the modern movement for LGBTQ+ rights. While some people whooped it up in celebration, many were mindful of the growing conservative countermovement, including new laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender children. Im trying not to be very heavily political, but when it does target my community, I get very, very annoyed and very hurt, said Ve Cinder, a 22-year-old transgender woman who traveled from Pennsylvania to take part in the country's largest Pride event. Im just, like, scared for my future and for my trans siblings. Im frightened of how this country has looked at human rights, basic human rights, she said. It's crazy. Parades in New York, Chicago and San Francisco are among events that roughly 400 Pride organizations across the U.S. are holding this year, with many focused specifically on the rights of transgender people. One of the grand marshals of New York Citys parade is nonbinary activist AC Dumlao, chief of staff for Athlete Ally, a group that advocates on behalf of LGBTQ+ athletes. Uplifting the trans community has always been at the core of our events and programming, said Dan Dimant, a spokesperson for NYC Pride. San Francisco Pride, another of the largest and best known LGBTQ+ celebrations in the United States, drew tens of thousands of spectators to the city Sunday. The event, kicked off by the group Dykes on Bikes, featured dozens of colorful floats, some carrying strong messages against the wave of anti-transgender legislation in statehouses across the country. Organizers told the San Francisco Chronicle that this year's theme emphasized activism. The parade included the nations first drag laureate, DArcy Drollinger. When we walk through the world more authentic and more fabulous, we inspire everyone, Drollinger said at a breakfast before the parade. Along Market Street, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Adam Schiff of Burbank were spotted riding together. In Chicago, a brief downpour at the beginning of the parade didnt deter parade goers, who took shelter under awnings, trees and umbrellas. A little rain cant stop us! tweeted Brandon Johnson, the city's newly elected mayor. Chicago's 52nd annual celebration on Sunday featured drag performers Marilyn Doll Traid and Selena Peres, as well as the Bud Billiken dancers, who drew loud praise from the crowd as they represented the celebration of Black roots in Chicagos South Side. Its very important to have a Chicago Pride parade," Traid said. And those that wanna go against us, you have to realize that we all stand together. Thousands of people also flooded the streets Saturday night in Houston to celebrate pride parades and embrace the LGBTQ+ community. Houston is one big diverse family. Today is about celebrating people who are themselves, their authentic selves and letting everyone know that this is a city full of love, not division, not hate," said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. San Antonio also celebrated its Pride parade Saturday night, with hundreds of people lining downtown streets. "This years theme is Just Say Gay. We feel so strongly about the legislation thats occurring, not only here in Texas, but in other states throughout the United States that are trying to put us back in the closet, Phillip Barcena, Pride San Antonio president, told KSAT. Also Saturday, first lady Jill Biden made an appearance at the Pride parade in Nashville, Tennessee, where she told the crowd loud and clear that you belong, that you are beautiful, that you are loved. Many other cities held their marquee events earlier this month, including Boston, which hosted its first parade after a three-year hiatus that began with COVID-19 but extended through 2022 because the organization that used to run it dissolved under criticism that it excluded racial minorities and transgender people. A key message this year has been for LGBTQ+ communities to unite against dozens, if not hundreds, of legislative bills now under consideration in statehouses across the country. Lawmakers in 20 states have moved to ban gender-affirming care for children, and at least seven more are considering doing the same, adding increased urgency for the transgender community, its advocates say. We are under threat, Pride event organizers in New York, San Francisco and San Diego said in a statement joined by about 50 other Pride organizations nationwide. The diverse dangers we are facing as an LGBTQ community and Pride organizers, while differing in nature and intensity, share a common trait: they seek to undermine our love, our identity, our freedom, our safety, and our lives. Earlier Sunday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill that would make the state a safe haven for transgender youth and forbid law enforcement agencies from providing information that could undermine the ability for a child to get gender-affirming care. NYC Mayor Adams made a similar move this week, issuing an executive order preventing city resources from being used to cooperate with out-of-state authorities in detaining anyone receiving gender-affirming care in the city. The Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a national LGBTQ+ organization, reported 101 anti-LGBTQ+ incidents in the first three weeks of this month, about twice as many as in the full month of June last year. Sarah Moore, who analyzes extremism for the two civil rights groups, said many of the incidents coincided with Pride events. Nevertheless, Roz Gould Keith, who has a transgender son, is heartened by the increased visibility of transgender people at marches and celebrations across the country. Ten years ago, when my son asked to go to Motor City Pride, there was nothing for the trans community, said Keith, founder and executive director of Stand with Trans, a group formed to support and empower young transgender people and their families. This year, she said, the event was jam-packed with transgender people. AP writers Juan Lozano in Houston; Erin Hooley in Chicago; Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California; James Pollard in Columbia, South Carolina; Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Trisha Ahmed in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report. Justice Brian Hagedorn definitely should not resign from the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as one of his colleagues, Justice Rebecca Bradley, wildly suggested after failing to get her way on a recent case. Hagedorn stands out on the sharply divided seven-member court for his judicial independence. He doesnt neatly align with partisan political interests on high-profile cases. The court needs more Justice Hagedorns, not fewer. It also needs more decorum, something Bradley has violated in personally attacking Hagedorn when he deviates from the rest of the courts conservative majority. Bradley recently wrote an insulting dissent to a politically charged court decision that Hagedorn concurred in with the courts three liberal-leaning justices. In a fairly routine decision, Hagedorn and the three others denied a motion to bypass the court of appeals in a case involving the Madison School District and how it handles gender identity. A parent had challenged the Madison districts policy of letting students determine their names and pronouns independently of parents. A Dane County judge dismissed the case without ruling on its merits. Instead, he determined the parent didnt have standing in court because no evidence suggests her child might be transgender. She fails to show why she anticipates that the districts policies will cause even a trifling individual injury, Judge Frank Remington wrote. The parent asked the Supreme Court to take the case, bypassing the appeals process, which the conservative-leaning Hagedorn and the three liberal-aligned justices denied. The question before us is whether this case demands our intervention on an expedited basis, Hagedorn wrote. It is my judgment ... that the normal litigation process is the best path forward. That made good sense. Yet in Bradleys June 14 dissent, she suggested Hagedorn and the others in the majority decision should resign if they cant work in defense of peoples liberty. She also claimed Hagedorn fundamentally misunderstands the judicial role. Actually, Hagedorn seems to grasp the high courts deliberative and restrained mission far better than Bradley. Based on her voting record in high-profile cases, shes the one who conveniently interprets the law to favor her political supporters, not Hagedorn. Moreover, Bradley doesnt bolster any claim to judicial independence by kicking off her legal diatribe with an odd and elaborate attack on fake news, regurgitating former President Donald Trumps tired dig on fact-based journalism when it doesnt match his political rhetoric. Bradley also accused Hagedorn in her dissent of latent sexism. Hagedorn did criticize three conservative women in his court writings. But he sided with the other three women in the majority opinion, undermining Bradleys claim. The ideological makeup of the court is about to shift. Justice-elect Janet Protasiewicz, backed by $9 million in campaign spending by the Democratic Party, easily won her spring election, essentially flipping the court to a liberal majority. The conservative Annette Ziegler is likely to lose her post as chief justice, and Bradley may no longer be able to draft majority opinions. Bradley and her fellow conservatives will have far less power over cases in the near future, which could explain why they tried to move this one so fast now. Hagedorns traditional and steady approach to the law is far better for the general public than playing favorites with cases based on personal or political preferences. Hagedorn highlights a veritable explosion of emergency actions and requests that the normal process be short-circuited in recent years on the high court. Since he joined the court in August 2019, he writes, it has ruled on 39 requests to speed cases in similar situations. It granted 11 of those. In the dozen years before that, he noted, the high court ruled on 56 such petitions, granting only three. There is simply no precedent, he convincingly contends. Bradley responds that the uptick is because the world has been in a state of chaos for three years. We hope thats not a veiled political swipe at President Joe Bidens first three years in the White House, given the way Bradley parrots the disruptive Trump at the outset of her dissent. Hagedorn is a socially conservative guy who approaches each case with some independence, as nonpartisan judges are supposed to. Bradley is an ideologue who grandstands for her political pals. Wisconsin should happily keep Hagedorn and dismiss Bradleys vindictive suggestion that Hagedorn needs to go. Henk Schiffmacher is a famous Dutch tattoo artist. That means he draws pictures in permanent ink on peoples skin. Recently, he created the design of an elephant on Lilian Rachmarans back. Highbrow to lowbrow is how the artist described his latest project. The project involves inking artwork by Rembrandt van Rijn onto the skin of visitors to the building the famous Dutch painter once called home. The Rembrandt House Museum has changed one of its rooms into a tattoo area for something it calls, The Poor Mans Rembrandt. The one-week event involves Schiffmacher and other top Amsterdam tattoo artists. For between about $54 and $270, visitors can get their own permanent reminder of Rembrandt. Schiffmacher told The Associated Press, Its a juxtaposition a jump from high to low, from highbrow to lowbrow. He added, And its great that these two worlds can visit one another. Actually, its really one world because its about art. Museum Director Milou Halbesma said the event is a way of bringing new visitors to the historic house and getting people closer to the artist. I think its a very good...way to have your own Rembrandt, she said. The event has already proved a hit. All appointments available online were filled within 10 minutes, she said. However, there are still some spots available for people who walk into the museum and wait their turn. Schiffmacher and others have taken some of Rembrandts drawings and changed them to work for tattooing. For example, the artists make lines thinner, so they do not grow together as the skin of the tattooed person ages. The tattoo artists see similarities between their work and the artists quick drawings but there is one big difference. The canvas is different, Schiffmacher said. The canvas can talk to you, move too much, float, even faint. That didnt happen for Rembrandt. Rachmaran works at the museum. She was the first person in Schiffmachers chair. She got his version of one of Rembrandts famous drawings of an Asian elephant. The creature, named Hansken, first arrived in Amsterdam in 1633 on a ship from Ceylon now Sri Lanka as a gift for the Prince of Orange. Rachmaran said, I love the animals, theyre so spiritual and smart... Speaking about her tattoo, Rachmaran added, Im very honored to have one made by Henk himself." Im John Russell. Mike Corder reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tattoo n. a picture that is drawn on a person's skin by using a needle and ink museum n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public juxtaposition n. the act of placing (different things) together in order to create an interesting effect The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch a spacecraft designed to study the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy across far reaches of the universe. The launch of ESAs Euclid spacecraft is set for July 1. It will lift off from Floridas Cape Canaveral launch center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Euclid is a space telescope built to act as an orbiting observatory. It will gather data scientists hope to use to create a 3D map of the universe. The spacecraft is expected to observe activities in billions of galaxies and help researchers learn more about how the universe developed over the past 10 billion years. The main goal of the Euclid mission is to study the effects and activities of dark energy and dark matter both of which are considered mysterious forces in the universe. This is because neither of these two materials can be directly seen or felt. Astronomers believe dark energy makes up about 68 percent of the universe, while dark matter makes up around 27 percent, the American space agency NASA reports. But beyond that, very little is known about the two dark elements. Dark energy is an unidentifiable form of energy that scientists believe is responsible for helping the universe expand. Dark matter is a material that also affects the expansion of the universe. Astronomers have theorized that dark matter exists because of gravitys observed effects on galaxies and groups of galaxies. Leaders of the mission say Euclid was built to collect data on how the universe has expanded and how structure has formed over cosmic history, an ESA statement says. With this information, scientists will attempt to explain some of the properties of dark energy, dark matter and gravity, the statement added. The Euclid spacecraft is 4.7 meters tall and 3.7 meters around. It contains two main parts, called modules. One module is made up of a telescope and two scientific instruments. The other contains satellite systems, power controllers, data processors and other equipment. Euclid will travel to an orbiting spot about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. The area is called the second Lagrangian Point. This is where NASAs James Webb Space Telescope operates from, as well as ESAs orbiting observatory Gaia. Mission leaders say Euclid will capture images in optical and near-infrared light. The images will cover about one-third of the universe beyond our Milky Way galaxy. The quality of the images is expected to be at least four times sharper than others captured by ground-based telescopes, the team said. These images will be used to create a new, detailed 3D map of the universe. The first images are expected to be sent back quickly once the spacecrafts operations begin in October. In addition to studying dark matter and dark energy, Euclid will use its infrared instruments to collect data on hundreds of millions of galaxies and stars. Astronomers say this will permit them to investigate the chemical makeup and motion behaviors of many different space objects and environments in greater detail. NASAs James Webb Space Telescope is also based on powerful, but sensitive, infrared technology. This has permitted the telescope to collect data and produce images from parts of the universe that were never observable before. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the European Space Agency and Agence France-Presse and NASA. Quiz - Europe Prepares to Launch Spacecraft to Observe 'Dark Side of Universe Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mission n. a flight by an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task optical adj. of or relating to light instead of other forms of energy ____________________________________________________________________ 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. Paul Nelson runs a raspberry farm in the northern U.S. state of Minnesota. Raspberries are a popular red fruit that people like to eat in the summer. At the farm, Nelson and his team spend a lot of time worrying about fruit flies. The insect pest that hurts their berries is known as the spotted wing drosophila. The flies are from Asia and first came to the U.S. about 15 years ago. The flies hurt blueberries in Maine, as well. As winters get warmer and springtime comes earlier, farmers in states such as Maine and Minnesota are having more trouble with the flies. Warmer winters permit the fruit flies to survive and have more babies each year. They are also becoming resistant to some pesticides, which are chemicals used to kill pests. The flies cause damage by laying eggs in the fruit. Nelson said the flies can ruin fruit farms if farmers are not willing to put the time in to fight them. Farmers use chemicals to kill the flies or place covers over the fruit plants to protect them. It is a lot of work, and even with the hard work, they lose 20 to 30 percent of their crop each year. Researchers at North Carolina State University are working to solve the problem. In the laboratory, they are changing the DNA of female flies to make sure that any babies they have are not able to reproduce. The scientists published their work recently in a publication called the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They found that if they mated one of their flies with a normal fly, 99 percent of the offspring would be sterile, or not be able to reproduce. The scientists used computer models to make predictions and found that by releasing modified flies over time, they could reduce the population of fruit flies in an area like a farm in only five months. It is not the first time scientists have considered modifying the DNA of an insect. Scientists are using genetically modified mosquitoes to reduce the population of the insects that cause diseases such as yellow fever, dengue and Zika. The use of gene modification technology has not been used as often in agriculture because it is easier to use pesticides. Max Scott is a professor who studies insects at North Carolina State. He worked on the study. He said past methods for releasing genetically modified insects would be costly for farmers if they were used. However, his groups study shows a new method could reduce the population of fruit flies so fast that it would not cost so much. Were really excited about this, Scott said. The system is working really efficiently. Bill Hutchison is an insect professor at the University of Minnesota. He agreed that if the gene modification works, it will help farms in the northern U.S. that now have more flies because of climate change. Until recently, farmers in Minnesota did not think they had to worry about seeing flies in their fruit that would be ready to pick in June. But Nelson said that is no longer true. While he has not seen the flies this year, he has seen them before. Two professors who were not part of the study said the North Carolina State research looks promising. Luciano Matzkin is at the University of Arizona. He said Scotts teams plan to center on producing sterile insects is better than past plans that attempted to modify another part of the flies DNA. Lyric Bartholomay is a professor at the University of Wisconsin. She said increasingly tailored genetic approaches will be required as insects gain more resistance to chemical treatments. However, the work by the scientists in North Carolina is many years away from being used outside of a laboratory. Scott said he and his team still need to do more work. They have to confirm their computer models and get permission from government officials to test their plan in nature. The scientists need to learn more about how changing the DNA of the fruit flies will affect other insects and whether the DNA changes will work on slightly different fruit flies. Matzkin was happy to learn about the North Carolina teams research, saying that a bio-control approach is always preferable to chemicals. That is why other insect experts are working on similar projects. Nelson, the farmer, worries that all the research may take too long to help his farm. He is concerned about his farm today. He said farmers wonder if research will help the next generation. He currently works with his son, who is 24. He hopes they have an answer by the time he is older. Today, he just wants to be able to sell enough berries to keep the farm going. If we lose our sales on our crops of berries, thats a very large deal for our farm, he said. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a story by The Associated Press. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story pest n. an animal such as an insect that causes problems on farms or in homes by damaging food or other things pesticide n. a chemical that is used to kill pests efficiently adj. done in a quick and effective way tailor v. to change something so that it fits the situation very well approach n. a way of solving a problem ____________________________________________________________________ We want to hear from you. Do you think creating a generation of sterile fruit flies is a better idea than using chemicals to kill them? 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. At Extended Hands Pantry, a nonprofit organization he created with his wife, Jenny, Andy Czerkas recalls a recent visit by a large family, newly arrived from Haiti. Theyd been connected with an apartment but didnt have groceries. As they browsed the pantry shelves filled with canned goods and fresh produce, they couldnt believe the food was theirs at no cost. What a way to get introduced to a country, Czerkas said, recounting what he told them: Here please take it its free. That spirit of giving is what drives Czerkas, a Madison volunteer who was once an impoverished immigrant himself. His family, poor and battered by World War II, came to the U.S. in 1956 when he was 9. For decades, hes been giving back by making sure no one goes hungry. Twenty-four years ago, Czerkas (pronounced zer-kus) and his wife connected with two North Side developments where they began serving community meals and helping families achieve food security. In 2005, the couple founded The River Food Pantry, also on the North Side, and grew it into the areas largest food pantry before moving on in late 2017. That project also spawned The River Bakery project, which is part of FEED Kitchens today, and provided a path for many to get back into the job market with practical skills and training including a ServSafe Certificate. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the bilingual Lighthouse Christian School, located on the citys Southwest Side, launched a mobile food pantry for Latino families hard-hit by the pandemic and the Czerkases stepped in to help. Eventually, the couple took over the operation as volunteers, Andy as executive director and Jenny as operations director. Andy was out there when it was cold, when it was hot, when it was raining, said Marcio Sierra, lead pastor at Lighthouse Church, remembering when the pantry had to be held outdoors for drive-up. Andy is a blessing, said Sierra, who noted that its kind of hard to separate Andy and Jenny, as they are a team. Today, Extended Hands is housed in a brand-new, 1,600-square-foot building on the Lighthouse school grounds. Featuring culturally appropriate foods on shelves labeled in both Spanish and English, it serves more than 200 families from across the region each week, and that number is growing. Yesterday, 120 families came through in four hours, Czerkas said in early June. Thats a lot of people. Czerkas commitment today is deeply rooted in those contacts he made two decades ago at the North Side community dinners, said Mandy Nachampassack-Maloney, who works in one of the two part-time paid positions at Extended Hands. For those North Side meals, halted with the arrival of the pandemic, Czerkas would put together the menu and recipes, and purchase ingredients, she said. It soon became apparent to Andy that the dinners were just the tip of the iceberg. Through relationships he built with the residents, he came to understand that access to healthy and nutritious food was a big deal. Key to his mission are children, Czerkas said. My wife and I are really interested in making sure kids get a good education, and get the nutrition they need to get a good education. So we do a lot of stuff with kids, he said. In 2016, Czerkas helped launch a mobile lunch program called Munch, which provides lunches to children and teens on non-school days. They run a back-to-school celebration in late summer, where children receive free school supplies. At winter holiday time, he and Jenny help coordinate a gift giveaway for 500 people through their church, City Church, so no child or adult has to go without. His deep faith has been instrumental in this work, Czerkas said. Nearly 40 years ago, newly married to Jenny, he struggled with alcohol. After a rocky first year of marriage, I got tired of feeling sick and tired, he said. The couple decided to commit themselves to service, and Czerkas quit drinking. That was the answer. Sobriety was the answer, he said. It allowed me to renew my relationship with God. It just gave me a different focus in life. Now 76, he has been sober for 36 years. Czerkas earliest years were spent in post-war Germany, where his mother cleaned houses for British officers stationed there. Years of imprisonment in a German forced labor camp had devastated the health of his Polish stepfather. We were very poor, he said. We lived in one room. With the help of a sponsor, the family moved to Fremont, Ohio, in the mid-1950s. Czerkas learned English, became Americanized, attended Bowling Green State University and then came to UW-Madison to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of German literature and history. He traveled to West and East Germany to do research for that degree, but got burned out and bored. But he liked computers, so he returned to Madison and took classes at Madison Area Technical College. He was hired to teach the subject, and spent a long career teaching Information Technology at MATC. Today, along with volunteering 30 to 40 hours a week at Extended Hands, Czerkas tutors children one-on-one in reading, often those who speak another language. As part of a long, fascinating life, Were doing whats really important. We really believe that, said Czerkas. Taking a break from a morning of volunteer work at Veterans Hospital, Adrianna Marks cant emphasize enough how important it is for retirees to get out of the house, to do things and to be around people. You need to be social because otherwise, you will age fast, said Marks, 75, an Army veteran and self-described people person who spends mornings stuffing envelopes, visiting patients, teaching art and anything else shes needed to do at the VA. You need to be out in the public or someplace, not isolating yourself because thats when you start losing everything, she said. You lose your mental thinking. You start thinking bad things. Getting out and socializing can be volunteering she also volunteers at her church, the Salvation Army working at a part-time job, taking care of grandchildren or going out for coffee with the neighbors. I think thats all really important to have, Marks said. Its also important to her personally, she said, because she has PTSD, and volunteering at the VA and at church just helps so much. I dont do that stinkin thinkin as I call it. I dont do stinkin thinkin because Im out and Ive got my mind on other things instead of sitting at home and being negative and thinking of all the rotten stuff and all that, she said. A native of Fairmont, Minnesota, Ann, as she is known to everyone, came to Madison about 10 years ago after the death of her husband to be near her daughter, an administrator for the Madison Public Library. Before coming to Madison she and her husband, Kenneth, lived in retirement in Nevis, Minnesota, in the northern part of the state. As a teenager, Marks lived for a time in Washington, D.C., with an aunt and uncle. Her aunt was a private registered nurse whose patients were members of Congress. Through her aunts connections, Marks attended the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy and one of the inaugural parties. She also helped throw the switch lighting a Minnesota tree at the site of the National Christmas Tree, and afterward had hot chocolate at the White House with the president and first lady. Back home, she learned to be a pilot at 17 and for two years was part of the Minnesota Civil Air Patrol until after high school, when she joined the Army and trained as a medic. Married to her first husband at the time, she wasnt sent to Vietnam but was instead posted in the U.S. She served for two years. Marks later worked as an X-ray technician in Minnesota and in Nebraska, then while working as a cable builder for Teledyne Aerospace, she met her second husband, Kenneth. He worked in construction, and she took a job she loved caring for residents in a nursing home in Winnebago, Minnesota. She kept working even when she and her husband retired and moved north, taking a job in a hardware and goods store similar to Farm and Fleet. She said older male customers skeptically regarded her advice in the plumbing section, where she was eventually transferred, but her male colleagues would always back her advice. Flipping houses with her husband, Marks said, she had learned a lot about home repair. And her father, she said, made sure his daughters knew how to fix things. Before we could have our car, we had to know how to change the oil, Marks said. We had to know how to rotate and take the tires off, how to fix a flat. And thats the way my dad was. In 2010, after a heart attack that left her feeling depressed, Marks was taught painting by her pastors wife, who was a college art instructor in Minnesota. Now she loves to paint flowers and birds, and the occasional landscape. She leads art sessions at the VA Hospital, which are open not only to patients but to anyone who wants to come in. Her own paintings have also sold, she said, money that goes back into activities for patients. So with a lifetime of knowledge, Marks does everything she can to help at the VA. She said she begins her mornings putting medical specialist appointment notices into envelopes for mailing, then visits female patients in the hospital. Shell also visit male patients who are in critical care or in hospice. Patients typically dont stay long, so the connections are short and she doesnt get to know many very well, she said. I just like helping other people, Marks said. Ive always been a people person. If I can help them, if it means just reading a story to them, or just sitting and visiting and listening to them talk, I enjoy doing that. Helping others has always been in Bernie Hartwigs blood. Raised along with 13 siblings in Portage, her parents never had much in her youth no running water, no electricity. Her father worked seven days a week on his farm and sawmill, where Hartwig as a 9-year-old had a field of cucumbers to pick before sending them to the pickle factory. But despite having over a dozen mouths to feed, her father would still go to the railroad station to offer people experiencing homelessness room and board in exchange for doing some work. And her mother would act as a volunteer home nurse for people returning from the hospital with nobody to care for them. Now 83, Hartwig has for decades found her own way to help the community. Twice a year, she hands in changes of clothes to several schools across Madison for students who have accidents or dont have warm enough clothing. And around every Christmas, she receives a wish list from YWCA Madison long-term residents and then enlists the help of her church to fill their needs, giving them sheets, pots, pans, dishes and once a teddy bear that the recipient donated to kids in need. A lot of her giving is personal, connected to her youth, when she often relied on donated clothes. I was teased and I was this and that because I didnt have the right clothes and the right shoes and so on, she said. So I know how that feels. Hartwig began volunteering long ago. For a decade, beginning around 30 years ago, she voluntarily designed costumes and props for childrens theater sets at the now-defunct PlayTime Productions. She stayed on with the production for 20 more years, making some money during that time. Her 30 years of donating pants to schools around the Madison area began when she read a story in the Wisconsin State Journal about the influx of homeless children inadequately dressed at Henderson Elementary School, then called Glendale Elementary School. They listed four schools that needed help, she said about the article. And I asked my church if we could provide those clothes that were needed. They agreed and Ive just continued it on to this new church that Im at. At this point, she provides clothing to eight schools around Madison twice a year. She coordinates with school nurses at each school to find what the students need. Then, sometimes enlisting the help of her husband, Hartwig goes to garage sales and secondhand stores to find sweatpants, socks, underpants and whatever else the nurses request. Hartwig said the need at schools for clothing is increasing. You could actually probably gather all these sweatpants and underpants and socks and stuff and do it every month, she said. But we do what we can. Beyond just helping students become adequately dressed, providing them with the right clothing also gives them a leg up in the classroom, said Madison School District assistant health services director Martha Fillinger, a former school nurse who worked with Hartwig for seven years. When youve got your basic needs met of housing and food and shelter and clothing ... you can then take on other more challenging activities like being in school and learning, Fillinger said. The school project came about with funding from Hartwigs last church. She credits her current church, the Messiah Lutheran Church, for keeping it going. We live on a fixed income, so its not as if Im loaded with money, Hartwig said on the couch of her Madison home, where she has lived for 41 years. But our church is very generous. The leader of her church returns that same praise to Hartwig. We have all kinds of projects in the parish of 2,000 people, but Bernies kind of off on her own, Messiah Lutheran Church pastor Jeff Vanden Heuvel said. And she does these amazing things. And she doesnt ask for a ton of help. She just does it. And she asked for a little bit of financial assistance. But shes kind of like a one-woman show on those things. She has a belief that one person can make a difference, he continued. And you dont need a big project. You dont need to have a lot of organization. You just got to go out and do it. And she does, receiving thank you cards from students and nurses for her work, which she said is neat. Shes still coming to terms with the broader attention shes receiving for her work, though. I feel good inside about doing it, but I dont ever really want to toot my own horn, she said. Her intent is more simple. Sooner or later we should really get it down pat that we should do unto others as wed like others to do unto us, Hartwig said. I mean, some of these simple things that you learn in Sunday school, you got to practice them. Getting dairy from farm to table is a complex process and farmers are adapting to get it there A different way to farm: Using agritourism to bolster dairy operations Getting dairy from farm cow to your fridge is more complex than you think Technology is reinventing dairy production and its helping farmers keep pace New Madison School District Interim Superintendent Lisa Kvistad has only been on the job for two weeks, but she already has a long to-do list. Facing a budget deficit, declining enrollment and a continued controversy within the districts communications office, Kvistad said the first few days of work have been busy. She sat down with the Wisconsin State Journal last week to discuss the position and share her goals for the next year. Some of Kvistads priorities include improving early literacy, retaining teaching staff during a statewide teacher shortage and a new emphasis on effective communication. Kvistad has more than 40 years of experience in education as a former teacher, principal and administrator. She retired in 2020 after 19 years with the Madison School District. Kvistad will earn about $270,000 under her one-year contract, in addition to a $25,000 retirement contribution and an automatic $800 monthly stipend for transportation costs in Dane County, according to district spokesperson Amy Knight. The district is searching for a permanent superintendent to replace Carlton Jenkins, who is leaving the district after three years. Are you interested in being considered for the permanent superintendent position? I have committed to the board for just this interim year. So, I have a one-year contract, and I will support them when they find their permanent superintendent ... I am committed to (the Madison School District), I guess I never really left. I was doing some work with them after I formally retired. I want to see them find the best possible superintendent to move forward with them after my interim year. Looking at the next year to come, what are some of your main priorities? The first is, and always will be, supporting students to build their own achievement, particularly around literacy and also around social emotional behaviors and growth. It is really for me about putting schools, children, teachers, first. That relationship in a classroom between a child and a teacher, that is the most precious, most important relationship in the district. And I believe we need to elevate that support and lead with that all of the time. The second priority for me is to create a stable foundation and environment so that the board can hire the absolute best superintendent. This is a community superintendent; this is not just the Madison Metropolitan School District superintendent. This is someone that the community is going to wrap around, that the school district will wrap around. The third priority for me is to really strengthen the way in which we communicate with each other and strengthen our ways of working to support greater coherence in how we make decisions. Between the school district and our folks in the press, we have to work together to tell the story of whats happening in our schools, whats happening with our families, whats happening with our children. The last priority for me that Im really committed to is the idea of hiring the best staff and leaders that we can in this district to support children and families. We know that were in a time where there is a teacher shortage. But there are things that we have already done even in my short time here since I was appointed in April that I think will build confidence in our community that we are hiring the best people and working to implement strategies that will retain people. The districts communications director, Tim LeMonds, was put on leave after he reportedly routinely bullied communications staff. Is LeMonds leave a result of an action you took? What is your position on this behavior? He is on leave and we are working closely with our communications department. We are wrapping around all of our departments in the central office to create spaces in places that are healthy, that are affirming, that engage people in the right work to help lift their voices. What do you think needs to happen to improve communications with the press, and others outside the district? I think its about shared responsibility. We have a responsibility to reach out to say, Heres whats going on; wed love to talk with you. I think its important for the community to hear from other people in the district, and to hear from other leaders who are doing great work. If there are places we need to start over or rebuild to find healthy pathways forward, Im confident that we can do that. How do you plan to address the achievement gaps between students in Madison schools, specifically around literacy? We put brand new, high-quality standards-aligned materials in every single teachers classroom. We also had to support teachers to actually use those because that is a lift. ... Do we always get it right the first time? No. But the good news is we can fix it, we can go back, we can learn, we can try again. We got some federal funding related to COVID and used much of that one-time money to make these initial investments in these materials. We didnt always have that opportunity. There is an explicit focus on literacy, and its not just literacy in the classroom, its also how we communicate about that to families. Families always want to be able to help their child read regardless of age. So that is not something that is done in isolation just in the classroom, it is about literacy in the community as well. How do you plan to address declining student enrollment across the district? Going along with that, what is your plan for attracting and retaining teachers to the district amid a systemic teacher shortage? I believe that our Board of Education has made a historic investment in our staff with the 8% cost-of-living increase. So, I believe that speaks volumes to our ability to retain and attract high-quality staff. It is a fact we are declining in enrollment. I think that there are some choices that we have to make around budget and ways of working over the coming year that we will do together. When you were teaching, is there anything that you really wanted the superintendent at the time to know or understand? I think that when I was a teacher, and even when I was a principal, I wanted people to understand what a day in the life really looked like. What does it feel like to be a student? What does it feel like to be a teacher? What does it feel like to be a principal? I have all of those pieces in my portfolio of experience. I learned in all of them. I always say that being a principal was my favorite job. It was also my hardest job, but I wanted people to understand what it actually looks like day to day. How would you describe your leadership style and how might that be different from the outgoing superintendent, Carlton Jenkins? I would say I am a very communicative person and that I do also have a lot of history here. This is not a job done in isolation. I know that there are responsibilities that I shoulder, and I will do that. But I also know that this is a job about partnership. That is who I am. If there is a better way, I want to hear about that. I want to know about that. I plan to work very closely with our Board of Education, to make decisions in the best interests of students. I am a collaborative leader that needs to hear the voices from the people that have been working. I dont have all the answers. Safety continues to come up as a top concern among parents, students, the School Board and district staff. What specific changes do you think need to be made so everyone feels safe at and around schools? Its about clear communication, communicating expectations, communicating what happens in different scenarios and the cause and effect. And also helping students and staff to feel like our schools are safe, like they can make choices here, like they can speak up when they need to, like they know whats going to happen. We have significant resources around supporting mental health, supporting social and emotional behavior development and restorative justice. So, I think we can do a better job of explaining how all of those pieces fit together. We have a lot of support for students, families and schools, and I think we can do better about helping people navigate that. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Oscar Mireles has made a name for himself as an educator, mentor, professional poet, and activist. He has led several organizations and initiatives and become a beloved voice of reason in Madison. While Madison is full of community leaders, Mireless impact on the city is unique in its vastness. A lot of people know him, but its likely they dont always know the breadth of what he does, said Jan Sternbach, a friend and former colleague of Mireles. He works in poetry circles, literature circles, political circles, the arts, and then theres his work with Omega. In 1994, Mireles moved from Racine County to Madison to serve as the executive director of Omega School, a local nonprofit that has helped thousands of adult students receive either a high school equivalency diploma or a general educational development certificate. For nearly 30 years, Mireles, 67, has mentored many graduates of the program who have gone on to find jobs, pursue higher education and find success in their personal lives. Omega is giving people a second chance, Mireles said. When youre 16 or 17, sometimes you make decisions that you dont think are going to impact your life as much as it does. Having a high school credential really does make a difference. Mireles, who served as Madisons first Latino poet laureate from 2016 to 2018, has emerged as one of Madisons most fervent supporters of artists of color. In 2021, Mireles founded Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development, also known as LOUD, a statewide initiative dedicated to promoting community engagement opportunities for Latino artists. Since its founding, LOUD has led the organization of Latino Art Fair, the Community Altar Project and multiple artist talks. During the summer of 2020, Mireles advocated for the murals painted during the Black Lives Matters protests to be memorialized and recognized by local art institutions. His interest in the murals led him to create the Madison Murals community project, which provided greater visibility to the murals generated during the summer of 2020 through a special issue of UMOJA magazine, an official website and educational materials for local youth. Throughout State Street, everything was boarded up and all of this art was generated, Mireles recalled. It sort of captured the whole range and diversity of the Black experience in the United States and so it captured my interest in the arts. Along with leading Omega School and LOUD, Mireles has sat on multiple boards, including the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Wisconsin PBS. In each of these positions, Mireles has been able to build bridges between artists of color and major arts organizations. In Madison, sometimes were a little siloed in terms of race, ethnicity and class, and I feel like he just does away with it, Sternbach said. He bridges a gap thats between cultural organizations in this town like Symphony or the Overture, and conveys messages from one group to another just really organically. While Mireles acknowledges the broadness of his interests, he remains humble about his impact. For Mireles, much of his work has been driven by the relationships that hes been able to make with other Madisonians. I think its really connecting people and bringing people together, Mireles said of the motivation behind his work. Its so easy to do, but everybody sees it as work. While Mireles has no plans to slow his community-centered work down anytime soon, he does intend to step down from his executive director position at Omega School in December 2024. When that chapter ends, Mireles plans to shift his focus to growing LOUD and looks forward to traveling and spending some time in New Mexico. LOUD will be my platform, Mireles said. Its helping artists get to the next level, from an emerging artist to an established artist. For younger, up-and-coming community leaders, Mireles advice is simple. Focus on the long-term, Mireles said. Theres a lot of people that have good ideas, but the support and connections that you need to make great ideas, sometimes those take time. The millionaire mercenary chief who long benefitted from the powerful patronage of President Vladimir Putin moved into the global spotlight with a dramatic rebellion against Russia's military that challenged the authority of Putin himself. Yevgeny Prigozhin, 62, is the owner of the Kremlin-allied Wagner Group, a hired private army of inmate recruits and other mercenaries that fought some of the deadliest battles in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On Friday, he abruptly escalated months of scathing criticism of Russias conduct of the war, calling for an armed uprising to oust the defense minister, and then rolling toward Moscow with his soldiers-for-hire. As Putin's government declared a counterterrorism alert and scrambled to seal off Moscow with checkpoints, Prigozhin just as abruptly stood down. As he retreated with his forces, it was unclear what was next for Prigozhin, a former prison inmate, hot-dog vendor and restaurant owner who riveted world attention. Prigozhin and Putin go way back, with both born in Leningrad, what is now known as St. Petersburg. During the final years of the Soviet Union, Prigozhin served time in prison 10 years by his own admission although he does not say what it was for. Afterward, he owned a hot dog stand and then fancy restaurants that drew interest from Putin. In his first term, the Russian leader took then-French President Jacques Chirac to dine at one of them. "Vladimir Putin saw how I built a business out of a kiosk, he saw that I don't mind serving to the esteemed guests because they were my guests," Prigozhin recalled in an interview published in 2011. His businesses expanded significantly to catering and providing school lunches. In 2010, Putin helped open Prigozhin's factory that was built on generous loans by a state bank. In Moscow alone, his company Concord won millions of dollars in contracts to provide meals at public schools. He also organized catering for Kremlin events earning him the nickname "Putin's chef" and provided catering and utility services to the Russian military. In 2017, opposition figure and corruption fighter Alexei Navalny accused Prigozhin's companies of breaking antitrust laws by bidding for some $387 million in Defense Ministry contracts. Prigozhin also owns the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-allied mercenary force that has played a central role in Putin's projection of Russian influence in trouble spots around the world. The United States, European Union, United Nations and others say the mercenary force involved itself in conflicts in countries across Africa in particular. Wagner fighters allegedly provide security for national leaders or warlords in exchange for lucrative payments, often including a share of gold or other natural resources. U.S. officials say Russia may also be using Wagner's work in Africa to support its war in Ukraine. Prigozhin's mercenaries have become a major force in the war, fighting as counterparts to the Russian army in battles with Ukrainian forces. That includes Wagner fighters taking Bakhmut, the city where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. By last month, Wagner Group and Russian forces appeared to have largely won Bakhmut, a victory with strategically slight importance for Russia despite the cost in lives. The U.S. estimates nearly half of the 20,000 Russian troops killed in Ukraine since December were Wagner fighters in Bakhmut. His soldiers-for-hire included inmates recruited from Russia's prisons. Western countries and United Nations experts accused Wagner Group mercenaries of committing human rights abuses throughout Africa, including in the Central African Republic, Libya and Mali. In December 2021, the European Union accused the group of "serious human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings," and of carrying out "destabilizing activities" in the Central African Republic, Libya, Syria and Ukraine. Some of the reported incidents stood out in their grisly brutality. In November 2022, a video surfaced online that showed a former Wagner contractor getting beaten to death with a sledgehammer after he allegedly fled to the Ukrainian side and was recaptured. The Kremlin turned a blind eye to it. As his forces fought and died en masse in Ukraine, Prigozhin raged against Russia's military brass. In a video released by his team last month, he stood next to rows bodies he said were those of Wagner fighters. He accused Russia's regular military of incompetence and of starving his troops of the weapons and ammunition they needed to fight. "These are someone's fathers and someone's sons," Prigozhin said then. "The scum that doesn't give us ammunition will eat their guts in hell." Prigozhin also castigated the top military brass, accusing top-ranking officers of incompetence remarks unprecedented for Russia's tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin could air such criticism. Earlier this month, Putin reaffirmed his trust in the Russian military's General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, by putting him in direct charge of the Russian forces in Ukraine, which some observers also interpreted as an attempt to cut Prigozhin down to size. Prigozhin gained some attention in the U.S., when he and a dozen other Russian nationals and three Russian companies were charged in the U.S. with operating a covert social media campaign aimed at fomenting discord ahead of Donald Trump's 2016 election victory. They were indicted as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Prigozhin and associates in the alleged election interference and over his leadership of the Wagner Group. Wisconsins world class higher education system features the sprawling University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College systems. Our 13 public universities and 16 technical colleges operate on main and satellite campuses in dozens of cities. In some communities, UW and tech college campuses share a common location or have overlapping missions, raising the question: Are there innovative ways to streamline Wisconsins higher education infrastructure while still providing access to local, commuter and online students? UW System operates 13 main campuses and 13 additional branch locations across Wisconsin. The tech colleges have an even larger footprint, with facilities in many more locations. The state developed this infrastructure over time with a desire to expand educational opportunities to every corner of Wisconsin but with little coordination between the UW and Technical College systems. We are now at a crossroads where demand in some locations is far less than the capacity we built and maintain. When I was UW System president, I asked whether our facilities, personnel and educational offerings were making the best use of taxpayer funds. I argued that they were not, and called for a blue-ribbon commission to recommend a better way to deploy and fund statewide higher education, This is particularly important because the number of college-age people in the state is projected to decline. I renew that call and point to two situations in support of my position. Washington County votes to create community college program in effort to stave off possible demise The new initiative would need the approval of the University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College systems. Washington County officials are seeking a solution in West Bend where the campuses of UW-Milwaukee at Washington County and Moraine Park Technical College are separated by only a couple miles. UW enrollment there has significantly declined, but Moraine Park enrollment has remained robust. Of more concern, the West Bend School District today has 500 seniors but only 350 kindergartners. County leaders recognize the current infrastructure will become increasing inefficient. They recommend transitioning the UW programs to the comprehensive community college at Moraine Park. They want to provide a range of vocational and university options in a more affordable and sustainable way. I commend Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann and the Washington County business community who thoughtfully studied options for UW-Milwaukee at Washington County and produced an innovative solution that the states Joint Committee on Finance recently recommended to the full Legislature. Once enacted by Gov. Tony Evers, Washington County, UW-Milwaukee, UW System and Moraine Park Technical College will come back to the Legislature with a full plan for how the comprehensive community college will work. A more dire situation is playing out in Richland Center where the UW System has provided notice it will effectively close the local UW-Platteville campus. Enrollment has declined to 60 students, but local officials there point to a continuing need to provide educational opportunities for residents. A more efficient solution is needed to reduce costs, but also to maintain UWs commitment to the community. The West Bend and Richland Center situations are only two examples of communities struggling with questions surrounding access to higher education. We can expect more cities to join the discussion, particularly if the System seeks to close additional two-year branch campuses, as suggested recently. Its time to convene a commission to examine how public university and technical college opportunities are offered across the state and make recommendations to provide those opportunities broadly and more efficiently. The study should consider virtual learning and whether our higher education resources align with local industries and the workforce needs of the future. Wisconsin has the best higher education system in the nation, but it can be better with forward-looking planning. The time is now to study how we get to that better future. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rolled out endorsements from 15 South Carolina lawmakers on Thursday, hoping their support for his Republican presidential campaign will help him make his case to voters in the first-in-the-South primary state. The endorsements, shared first on Thursday with The Associated Press ahead of DeSantis' town hall in North Augusta, come from 11 state House members and four state senators from across the state, with a heavy concentration in South Carolina's conservative Upstate. It's a show of force for DeSantis in a state that current Republican front-runner Donald Trump won handily in the 2016 primary and where he has maintained popularity. Earlier this month, state GOP leaders set Feb. 24 as the date of South Carolinas Republican presidential primary, which still needs approval from national party leaders. DeSantis' list includes Sen. Josh Kimbrell, a Spartanburg Republican who has been bullish on the governor's candidacy since before he officially entered the race. On Thursday, he called DeSantis the only candidate in this race who can defeat President Joe Biden. Many of the new endorsements are from lawmakers who have introduced DeSantis during appearances in the early voting state. One of them, North Charleston Rep. Chris Murphy, praised DeSantis, a former Navy judge advocate general, this month at a Bluffton campaign event as the only candidate that has worn our nation's uniform." There's also Rep. Micah Caskey, a Marine veteran who hails from Lexington County, another strongly conservative area. It's hard to quantify how much local lawmaker endorsements sway voters' perceptions of presidential candidates, although many in the crowded primary field are intently courting them. Last week, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina heralded endorsements from more than 140 current and former elected officials in his home state, including more than two dozen state lawmakers. At Trump's South Carolina kickoff event in January, he announced his leadership team in the state, including longtime backer Gov. Henry McMaster, Sen. Lindsey Graham and several other members of Congress. Trump is returning to South Carolina on July 1 for his first campaign rally since his indictment on federal charges of mishandling classified documents and will be back in August for a South Carolina GOP fundraiser. Rob Godfrey, a longtime adviser to former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, one of the other presidential candidates, said endorsements from elected officials have short-term value in terms of associated media coverage. He said they aren't a substitute for spending quality time with voters in early states like South Carolina. You can reasonably assume the recipient is seen by colleagues as having a collaborative approach to policymaking, Godfrey said. "But the days of direct political capital transfers from elected officials to candidates seem to have passed, and the number of early primary state voters you meet face to face and ask for votes matters the most. According to his campaign, DeSantis also has backing from more than three-dozen state lawmakers in Iowa and 50 in New Hampshire, as well as dozens more in Michigan, Oklahoma and his home state of Florida. Linda Lewis, a retiree who went to check out DeSantis' appearance in Bluffton this month, said that she had previously supported Trump but was curious to hear more from the Florida governor. I still have a lot of appreciation for some of the things that he did, Lewis said of Trump. I think that some of his rhetoric is over the top ... and I think we need somebody else in there, probably, in order to win the national election. After speaking for about half an hour Thursday, DeSantis took a number of questions from the audience gathered in North Augusta on topics including the expansion of civics education in schools and his support for law enforcement. He told a questioner who said he represents broken veterans that he didn't think a DeSantis administration would support decriminalizing marijuana, despite its use as a therapeutic. Asked how we can make sure that (Vladimir) Putin takes a short jump out a tall window, DeSantis twice called the Russian president a bad guy and said he felt NATO needs to do more in terms of securing European countries. They should really be taking the lead and ensuring the security of the continent, he said. In both questions he got about Russia's war in Ukraine, DeSantis also pivoted to what he sees as threats posed by China, positing a NATO-like system in the Pacific to be able to keep China in check, because I think, in many respects, they're more of a threat to us. Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. TWIN FALLS When asked how often he wishes the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office had either dash cameras or body cameras, Capt. Scott Bishop has a simple response. The answer is, daily, Bishop said. Every time we go to court I wish we had them. The sheriffs office has been considering it for years but at present has neither type of camera for patrol deputies. An informal survey of Magic Valley law enforcement agencies reveals the office appears to be among the only ones that dont have either. Cameras would be useful, Bishop said, and not just for serious offenses. Something as simple as a citation written for a motorist running a red light will likely have more probability of success in court if it was caught on video. As recent as Friday during a preliminary hearing, a public defender asked a Twin Falls County officer whether an incident in which drugs were reportedly found in a vehicle was captured on video or audio. The response was a no. In a more serious incident, Twin Falls County Sheriffs deputies didnt have cameras that might have provided evidence during an officer-involved shooting on Aug. 26 that started off as a high-speed pursuit after a 24-year-old passenger threatened a motorist with a gun. The passenger, Caleb Tussey, was later shot during a confrontation with the deputies near Buhl. Report gives details of officer-involved fatal shooting near Buhl Man wasn't carrying gun at the time he was killed, but had fired at a deputy's car moments before, investigation concludes Deputies involved in the incident were cleared after a months-long investigation by the Magic Valley Critical Incident Task Force that was reviewed by a prosecuting attorney. Another fatal officer-involved shooting happened in mid-May as Twin Falls County deputies and officers from the Twin Falls Police Department attempted to serve a civil protection order on a 45-year-old man in Kimberly. Twin Falls Police Department officers got body cameras in 2017. The Times-News wasnt able to determine whether video or audio evidence was collected after the shooting, which is being investigated by the Idaho State Police as part of the critical incident task force. Jerome County deputies were also involved in a Sept. 20 officer-involved shooting that led to the death of 34-year-old Amos Campbell. The investigation report of the Campbell incident referenced multiple times when video from the cameras provided evidence into officers actions, and microphones recorded the sound of gunfire. Report: Hazelton man threw bombs at police before being fatally shot Report said man had discussed plans to kill police officers if they approached him Body camera footage from a Kimberly Police Department officer was also examined by investigators. No charges were filed against law enforcement officers in the incident. A costly priority Bishop says equipping deputies with cameras is high on his priority list. Making that happen, however, will depend on finding enough money. Hes hoping to squeeze something from the sheriffs offices $5.5 million budget and perhaps get additional funds from grant money. Having such a dash-camera system to equip the 50 patrol deputies would cost $500,000 for a 5-year contract, he said. The sum is not just for the cost of the cameras, but for maintenance including data storage. The cameras are relatively cheap, with the best ones costing almost $2,000. But the cost for storage adds up. There are requirements to have redundancy and in addition, rules require some of the data to be stored for 100 years. Capt. Dennis Clark of the Jerome Police Department, however, says body-worn cameras provide an invaluable service to law enforcement officers. They have worked out absolutely wonderfully, Clark said of the cameras that were issued in 2016. Officers wouldnt want to go back to the time they didnt have them, he said. They tell an accurate picture of what happened, he said. And officers can review footage from their cameras, helping with reports or when testifying in court. In todays political climate, the body cameras are definitely something you would want on your side, he said. Bishop said he leans toward installing dash cameras, which would pick up a wide-angle view and be accompanied with an antenna that would pick up audio around the car. But hes faced with tough budget decisions; retaining enough deputies to respond to calls is a bit higher on his priority list. Hoping for a grant Grant money, or leftover COVID funds, might be available to at least partially cover that cost, he said. Theres a July 1 deadline to apply for a Byrne grant, which helps fund police efforts nationwide. Just across town, the Twin Falls Police Department has body cameras issued to patrol vehicles. There are five reasons for the body cameras, says the citys website: professionalism, transparency, accountability, training and evidence. In October 2015, the Twin Falls Police Department was awarded matching funds in a Department of Justice grant for body-worn cameras (BWC). After a bidding process in 2016, Axon was awarded the bid and officers were wearing the cameras in spring of 2017. Receiving a grant might be vital for Twin Falls Sheriffs Office, Bishop said, as it is not a small department, having about 50 deputies. We didnt hesitate, said Gooding County Shaun Gough when he talked about how his agency secured both body cameras and dash cameras about 10 years ago. He said the footage obtained from the cameras can help deputies when they fill out police reports. 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. They have worked out well for the office, and he said he hasnt had a problem with the expense. The dash cameras are activated when the overhead lights are turned on, and rewind back 30 seconds. The body cameras have been of assistance, too. Although, like any technology, they arent foolproof. An officer-involved shooting occurred Feb. 23 in a physical altercation between a deputy and Roland Silas Brand II. In the struggle, the body camera fell off, but investigators were able to retrieve audio, Gough said. In addition, a bystander took video of the incident. No one was injured. Gough added that body parts and other objects, such as weapons, can obscure a body cameras lens, or at times a law enforcement officer is turned away from the action. But for the most part, body cameras do a good job at picking up important video, Clark said. Even if five officers are serving a search warrant, Gough says each one needs to have a body camera. We dont want to miss anything, Gough said. Complaints against officers Law enforcement agencies say another benefit to the cameras is that it helps resolve issues when officers are accused of improper conduct. When someone has a complaint, camera footage is reviewed, but said almost all the time it shows that officers acted properly, Gough said. Just mentioning video is sometimes enough to dispel complaints, he added. Lincoln County Sheriff Rene King said 42 minutes of bodycam footage recently quelled a complaint about a deputy. The video showed the deputy acted appropriately in the incident, King said. King said that, before he was sheriff, he was cleared with the aid of a body camera. Someone accused him of using another deputys name, but a review of the video showed he didnt. That doesnt mean that officers actions sometimes cant be improved upon, Clark said. Clips from body cameras are randomly reviewed, he said, to ensure that officers are abiding by the professionalism that we expect. 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. Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian on Sunday said there were 75,000 Chinese tourists in the Philippines in the first five months of 2023 as the Department of Tourism (DOT) aims to encourage two million by the end of this year. In a Facebook post, Huang said he takes pride that Chinese international tourism makes a strong comeback in Southeast Asia!, citing the recent announcement of the Thai government that it received one million Chinese tourists from January to May 2023. Southeast Asia has been the Chinese peoples top tourist destination since reopening, and have delivered many immediate benefits in the industry and people-to-people exchanges, the Chinese diplomat stressed. In the first five months, the Philippines received 75,000 Chinese tourists, reinvigorating many of the countrys world-class beaches and scenic landmarks, Huang said. Earlier, the DOT announced that it is targeting two million Chinese tourists when electronic visas (e-visas) become available by the end of the year. The ambassador shared that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to deepen people-to-people exchanges between our two countries in all respects during a meeting earlier this year. It is hoped that China-Philippine people-to-people exchanges achieve the goals set by the leaders at an early date and even reach greater heights, Huang said, in his Facebook post. Our countries have been working together in the tourism industry, among many other sectors, and I hope it strengthens our relations and lead to greater mutual benefits in the future!, he said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Russia urges Wagner fighters to surrender, law enforcement officers block PMC Wagner Center Xinhua) 08:11, June 25, 2023 MOSCOW, June 24 (Xinhua) -- The PMC Wagner Center in St. Petersburg was cordoned off by security forces on Saturday after the Wagner private military group was accused of attempting to carry out an armed rebellion while its fighters were urged by the Russian Ministry of Defense to surrender. The Russian Ministry of Defense denied information about the Russian Armed Forces striking the rear camps of the Wagner PMC, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed about the situation and that all necessary measures were being taken. A correspondent of Xinhua News Agency witnessed several police cars parked in or around the compound of the center, with several law enforcement officers on duty. Neighborhoods are currently calm. A criminal case is being initiated against Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, for incitement to armed insurrection, the Public Relations Center of the Russian Federal Security Service said earlier on Saturday, calling on Wagner PMC fighters not to carry out Prigozhin's orders and to take measures to detain him. The appeal came after several audio recordings were posted on Prigozhin's Telegram channel. In these recordings, Prigozhin claimed that his units had allegedly come under attack, accusing Russia's military leadership of orchestrating the strikes, according to Russia's TASS news agency. The Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement declaring that information disseminated on social networks on behalf of Prigozhin about a strike by the Russian Armed Forces on Wagner PMC rear camps is false. In addition, the ministry stated that the Russian Armed Forces continue to carry out combat missions on the line of contact with the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) in an area where a special military operation is being conducted. Kiev is concentrating units of 35th and 36th Marine Brigades UAF in Bakhmut's direction for offensive actions, "taking advantage of Prigozhin's provocation on disorganization of the situation," said the Russian ministry. Moscow's critical facilities have been put under reinforced protection, and security measures in the capital have been increased, according to TASS. "Due to the oncoming information, counter-terrorism measures, aimed at reinforcement of security measures, are in effect in Moscow. Increased traffic control has been introduced on roads. Restriction of mass events is possible," said Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin on his Telegram channel. As a result of these developments, security measures have been significantly reinforced in Moscow. Vital facilities, state institutions, and transportation infrastructure have been placed under heightened protection, with police and response units on high alert, a TASS news agency report said. Also on Saturday, Putin had a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the reported rebellion of the Wagner private military group. The two leaders discussed the latest developments in Russia, according to a statement by Erdogan's office. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday vowed his unassailable commitment to the Philippine Armys Special Forces Regiment Airborne (SFRA), noting that the units unconventional warfare strategy has become all the more relevant and significant in view of the complex threats our nation now faces. We assure you of the administrations unassailable commitment and that of your Commander-in-Chiefs support of all your undertakings, strengthening your capabilities and ensuring your welfare and that of your families, the President said in a speech during the SFRAs 61st founding anniversary held in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija. Aside from witnessing a capability demonstration of the SFRA, the President also awarded badges of honor to outstanding members of the unit. LOOK UP TO THE SKY. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watches a military free fall capability demonstration by the 33rd Special Forces Coy troops during the 61st founding anniversary of the Special Forces Regiment Airborne of the Philippine Army at Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija on Sunday, June 25, 2023. Alfred Frias / Rolando Mailo President Marcos, who once trained with the SFRA and is qualified as a Special Forces operator, also thanked the unit for demonstrating competence and professionalism even in the most challenging of times and for working as dependable sentinels for the Filipino people. You have exemplified self-sacrifice and resilience, going beyond the call of duty to safeguard communities towards the attainment of internal security and the peace of the Republic, the President said.I think it would be safe to say that you have lived up to your name as the silent professionals, he added. The President also urged the SFRA to continue supporting the Filipino people in times of crisis as he assured them of his commitment to strengthening its capabilities and ensuring their welfare and their family. Through the responses for humanitarian assistance, you have created a ripple of hope in communities, increased our peoples trust in the military and in the government, the President said. Founded by former President and then-Captain Fidel Valdez-Ramos back in 1962, the SFR(A) is an elite Army unit trained in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, as well as community relations and other unconventional warfare operations. It continues to train with its Western counterpart, the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets), which the SFR-A was based on. The most recent training of the two elite units was held in February last year. The President further said that the government has adopted the Riverine Operations Equipment Project (ROEP) to further improve the capabilities of the SFRA in riverine operations, referring to the insertion and extraction of special forces troops for rescue and other special military operations. National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. was present during the 61st anniversary of the SFRA in Nueva Ecija along with Special Assistant to the President Sec. Anton Lagdameo and other members of the cabinet. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Danang, VietnamA US aircraft carrier arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on Sunday, AFP journalists saw, weeks after Hanoi protested against Chinese vessels sailing in its waters. The USS Ronald Reagans port call in Danang comes as the US and Vietnam celebrate the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive partnership, with the two countries sharing increasingly close trade links, as well as concerns over Chinas growing strength in the region. A Chinese survey vessel, multiple coast guard ships and fishing boats operated for several weeks in Vietnams exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, prompting a demand that they leave from Vietnams foreign ministry. The boats eventually departed in early June. China claims most of the resource-rich waterway despite competing claims from other Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. The visit gives that message that Vietnam is continuing to balance against China by improving its security relationship with the US, and with other outside powers, Nguyen The Phuong, a PhD candidate in maritime security at the University of New South Wales Canberra, told AFP. The US aircraft carriers visit follows the arrival of Indian naval ships in Danang last month, as well as a port call by Japans largest warship in Cam Ranh, a city on the southeastern coast, earlier this week. Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for Vietnams foreign ministry, said earlier in the week that port calls were an ordinary friendship exchange for peace, stability, and cooperation and development in the region and the world. Strong bilateral ties between the US and Vietnam are key for Washington if it wants to remain the dominant power in the region, Phuong said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. A-Team 360 Reputation Management Firm recently won the Outstanding Leadership Award at the Marketing 2.0 conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Filipino firm headed by Brian Poe-Llamanzares was recognized alongside some of the worlds leading players in the marketing space. From left: Cleve Arguelles, CEO and President of WR Numero Research; Faye Abrihan, COO of Oracle Media Group; Brian Poe-Llamanzares, CEO of A-team 360 Reputation Management Firm; Leo Lofranco, WR Advisory Group VP for Data Analytics; Robin Garcia, CEO of the WR Advisory Group; and Jerik Santos, President of the A3 Group of companies. Poe-Llamanzares, CEO of A-Team 360, proudly noted that the secret to the success of his company was due to the support of his strategic business partners and team. What I learned as a business owner is that real leadership is knowing when to take a step back and let the real experts take the lead Brian Poe-Llamanzares (right) stands alongside other Filipino Awardees at the Marketing 2.0 conference After three years of building up the group, the firm is now comprised of strategic partnerships between 360 marketing agencies namely: A3, Oracle Media Group, and research and analytics firm WR advisory group. The owners of these companies joined Poe-Llamanzares at the conference to encourage foreign investors to consider outsourcing their marketing, data research, and creative needs to the Philippines. Faye Abrihan, COO of Oracle Media Group (left) and Leo Lofranco, VP for Data Analytics of the WR Advisory Group. Poe-Llamanzares went on to cite the amount of economic opportunity the creative industry alone provides, noting that a big chunk of that industry comes from marketing, content creation, and other related industries. The Philippines is currently one of the worlds leading providers of creative services bringing in roughly $4 billion dollars in revenue. If youre going to outsource your creative needs, I would proudly suggest investing in a Filipino team. Jerik Santos, President of the A3 Group of Companies There were other marketing firms from the Philippines that were also awarded in the same ceremony. Poe-Llamanzares noted he was even prouder to know that he was not alone in representing the country in this internal awarding ceremony. Each firm here does something that makes them stand out. Theyve achieved so much in the field of marketing. Im humbled to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with these industry experts. I have so much left to learn. Im truly grateful. Jerik Santos, President of the A3 Group of companies, took pride in their firms achievement. Its such an honor for our A-Team 360 Group to get recognized by a globally acclaimed marketing committee, Marketing 2.0 Conference. It goes to show that our group is making waves in the global arena. Meanwhile, Faye Abrihan explained that this award was a testament to all the years the group had been working together to build an efficient and effective firm. We have all been collaborating with each other the past few years and I hope we can keep showcasing our collectives expertise even more in the future. WR advisory VP for Data Analytics Leo Lofranco explained that the recognition was both reaffirming and humbling. What great pleasure and humility to see our companys efforts A-Team 360s get fully recognized and awarded up stage in an international Marketing Conference. Poe-Llamanzares expressed his heartfelt thanks to each of his business partners stating that this award would not have been possible without their support, adding that the award truly belongs to all of them. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga has called on the business community to deal with plastic pollution to avoid the destruction of the countrys ecosystems. Loyzaga sought the commitment of private companies to fully implement the the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) law of 2022 and urged them to be environmentally responsible throughout the life cycle of a product, especially its post-consumer or end-of-life stage. The DENR chief made the plea in a speech before the general membership meeting of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on June 14 in Taguig City. She said climate action for resilience is everyones business. She said the EPR law was an opportunity to curb the destruction of ecosystems by setting targets for large enterprises to cover and divert 20 percent of the plastic waste they produce in 2022 by the end of 2023, gradually increasing this by 40 percent by 2024 and setting 10 percent targets until 80 percent can be decreased and reached by 2028 onwards. Some of you have already stepped forward and committed to work with us, she said. Among the biggest threats to the environment is our unsustainable consumption and production practices that lead to production of polluting waste. This is where our partnerships would not only be strategic but critical to our survival, she said. Confronting the complex roots of the pollution on land, seas and air requires a whole of society effort that will come at a cost but will have far reaching benefits, she added. The DENR chief stressed that investments were needed not just in diversion and collection, but also in research for the substitution of single use plastic. Unless there is a product that has the same functionality and affordability as single use plastic, the demand for its use, particularly among communities that can afford no other ways to consume and store will not wane, she said. Loyzaga has also urged the countrys top business leaders to work with government on efforts to address the climate crisis and create sustainable communities. Our government needs partners who go beyond ESG (environmental, social and governance) and the fence lines of their operations to ensure ecosystem integrity and the resilience of communities that surround their operations, Loyzaga told an assembly of CEOs, COOs and other top management executives from the largest companies in the Philippines. She said the government also needs partners who go beyond compliance to achieve strategic shared values, and who are committed within their core business value cycles to going beyond just their specific contributions to GDP (gross domestic product). Loyzaga said the Marcos administrations agenda of pursuing a green and blue economy and establishing livable and sustainable communities guides the DENR in fulfilling its mandate of protecting the environment, managing risk, and building resilience in all natural domains. Our work covers the air we breathe, all life on land and below water, and all our natural resources. In sum, our priorities are to protect, conserve, restore and regenerate the ecosystems that serve as the life support for all human, social and economic development, she said. DENR news Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Marisa Womack found a job doing what she loves by working with children at the Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge. Womack was born in Richmond but moved to Martinsville when she was three years old and graduated from Magna Vista High School. Her parents are Bishop Milton Johnson Sr. and the late Clarissa Johnson, her husband is Reggie Womack and her three daughters are Maria, Kaira and Rania Womack. After graduating high school she attended Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) to earn her associates degree in early childhood education before attending Averett University through New College Institute to earn her bachelors degree in business administration. While still at P&HCC, she worked at the Collinsville YMCA from 2006 to 2007 as a lead teacher in the afterschool program and then worked in customer service for StarTech, a call center, from 2004 to 2009. She worked as a qualified mental health professional (QMHP) at a mental health agency called A New Inspiration from 2010 to 2012, and in 2009 she started working at the Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge (BGCBR) as a program leader. She stayed in that position until 2010 where she started as a club director before being named director of operations in 2013. She got an additional title of director of human resources in 2017 and in 2022 her title changed to chief of operations and director of human resources. As chief of operations, Womack handles a variety of tasks. This includes overseeing five BGCBR club sites and directors within the Martinsville and Henry County area; providing youth development training for staff to ensure the success of BGCBR clubs; ensuring all school based sites are licensed and adhere to state and federal regulations; and creating workforce opportunities for club alumni, college students and people who are interested in the wellbeing of children. But thats not all. I work with community partners to keep our youth engaged and to acquire skills that will be useful for their future, she said. She also assists with reaching fundraising goals and she influences the policies and procedures to ensure that the staff operates within our business code of ethics, she said. The Boys and Girls Club of the Blue Ridge is needed within our community to create an avenue for young people to have a place to go that will ensure their success, Womack said. Young people need advocates and they need avenues to be well-rounded. Womack said this position is exactly the position that she imagined herself in when she began her college level studies. And the reason why is in my own personal life I was already somewhat mentoring and being around young people in a church setting so when the idea was brought to me to work for the Boys and Girls Club it was an interesting idea to get paid for something that I already did in my spare time, Womack said. She has lived in both Henry County and Martinsville, though she now resides in the city. She attends Progressive Prayer Temple where her father is bishop and she is a minister, choir director of 22 years, church administrator and vice president of Nu-Zoe Ministries. She was on the board of PATHS (Piedmont Access to Health Services) from July 2018 to 2022, a board member of the Fayette Area Historical Initiative (FAHI) from Aug. 2018 to 2021, PTO president at Albert Harris Elementary School for the 2011-12 school year to the 2012-13 school year and is a band booster at Martinsville High School. In the little free time that Womack has she enjoys reading, writing inspirational words and poems and creating music. She plays instruments and write songs but her real passion is singing, she said. She said she gets her love of creating music from her mother, who passed in 2017. She could sing in two or three different languages ... and she just always was a promoter of music, Womack said. What in the world happened between the New College Institute (NCI) and the Foundation that was created to be its fund-raising arm? This is a very old story getting worse and what is most puzzling to me is why? Why is it these two organizations, supposedly with the same mountain to climb by similar but different paths, cannot seem to get along? As reported in this paper, on Wednesday the new NCI Executive Director Joe Sumner witnessed firsthand this dysfunctional relationship when the NCI Board pledged $250,000 toward what appears to be a showdown headed for court. Before Wednesday, the latest bizarre action came from the New College Foundation (NCF) in early February when it announced it was changing its name and mission to include allowing for the financial support of other educational entities other than NCI. The new MHC Academic Foundation (MHCAF) said its intentions were to take its $12.2 million and decide how to use it, apart from its original mission when it was created in 2006. That notion attracted the attention of Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and a letter from his office warned MHCAF Executive Director Kevin DeKoninck that one doesnt accept donations for a specific cause and then decide to use it for another later without at least discussing it among the stakeholders. We should be reminded that in addition to donations, the Foundation also received state money when it sold the NCI campus on Fayette Street. NCF has completely abandoned and abrogated its sole responsibility to provide support for NCI, the Institutes board said in a press release in March. So now NCI intends to expend a healthy portion of its limited funds for the purpose of consulting with outside counsel to discuss litigation matters against the Foundation. You would think a 17-year-old fuss like this would have risen to the point of some sort of disclosure by now but it hasnt and newspapers, like this one, find themselves describing the situation as an unexplained strained relationship. Deborah Kauffman, the former executive director of the Foundation was paid $79,782 a year when she left and DeKoninck, the current director, is paid $58,421, according to Form 990s filed with the Internal Revenue Service. At last report, DeKoninck had left Martinsville and returned to his home in Tennessee where he continues to serve remotely in his capacity as the director of the Foundation. On its website, the reorganized Foundation says the change adds to our ability to impact the community through more targeted and intentional financial support and relationship building with other academic initiatives in the area, whatever they may be. One would hope the Foundation has not been previously constrained to providing any unintentional financial support. While the mystery continues concerning an explanation of why there is such strife between these two organizations, it appears obvious to me that an educational institution without a close, compatible relationship with its fund-raising arm was, is and always will be hampered from achieving its potential. I cant help but think the public looking in on this wonders about it all, including the wasted expense and energy that accompanies it. I remember in the 1990s when the loss of our manufacturing base to free trade resulted in the discussion of the need for a college here. I also remember then Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine, in his quest for the governorship, anchored his base here by spearheading the legislation to establish a college in Martinsville. And I remember when the Harvest Foundation pledged $50 million to the project. I sense the community is still very much anxious to find something in this it can support, but the frustration is rising. After so many years of floundering and faltering, its time the actors on this stage get it together. Salzburg, Austria, December 1971. A young Austrian girl, radiant and beautiful, walked into the kitchen. I lost all desire for the food I had prepared. My soul sprouted wings. The visible beauty triggered a memory of a timeless Beauty. Anamnesis pierced for a moment the amnesia induced by the bodily senses. Dayton, Ohio, 1978. Gripped by the audible beauty of the Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, the solo passage near the beginning of the Larghetto (26:33), upon return from a long, hard run, I could not eat the huge salad I had prepared. I set it down, my appetite gone. Simone Weil (FLN, 318): "When once the whole of one's desire is turned toward God, one has no desire to eat when one is hungry." The metaphysical elsewhere: beyond space, before time. Space- and time-bound as we are 'at present,' we must use spatial and temporal language to point beyond the spatiotemporal. The intimations are rare. Don't ignore them, record them, honor and remember them. To dismiss them as the worldly are wont to do strikes me as the height of spiritual foolishness. A popular outdoor Burke County adventure is set to return this August with more wet and wild thrills than ever before. The Ohana Family Mud Run, which is held jointly by Alivecubed and The Rotary Club of Morganton, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Bennick Compound a private motocross facility at 5372 Roy McGalliard Ave. in Morganton. Alex Garcia of Alivecubed said the two groups came together four years ago to help plan an event to raise funds to help the community while also strengthening family bonds. We came together as we had mutual interests to lift the community, Garcia said. Alivecubed had created some great events in the past, and The Rotary has so many great people serving both the club and the community, it was an easy match. Named Ohana, which is Hawaiian for family, the word extends beyond biological lines to include work families, organizational families and friends. The untimed event is performed at each groups comfort level and teams are encouraged to vie for prizes for best costumes. Throughout the event, participants help one another through a variety of muddy obstacles and finish the course as a team, a powerful way to bring each family closer while forging indelible memories, according to a press release from event organizers. Now in its fourth year, Garcia said the event keeps adding new challenges and, of course, mud to the event. They will cap this years event at 2,000 participants. This year, we have new spinner medals, a beefed-up dress-up contest, more food trucks, and an even muddier course, he said. We encourage all to sign up prior to July 15 to ensure a medal, and shirt. The last three years have sold out, so we encourage those (who) want to participate to sign up early. Funds from the fun-filled day of family and team building will go to support a variety of good causes throughout the Unifour area. This past year we donated over $24,000 from the 2022 event to local needs, these needs include backpack food/hygiene programs, kindness initiatives, student advancement, and overall welfare of the community programs, Garcia said. Some of the 2022 fund recipients included: Burke County Public Schools STEPS Academy: Hearing and Vision Screening Equipment Catawba Science Center: Little Scientist Program Grace Episcopal Church: Hygiene Backpack Program Blue Ridge HealthCare Foundation: 500 Swaddle Kits for Postpartum Mothers YMCA-Summer Afterschool Program: STEAM Kits/Activity Buses for 2 Summer Field Trips Garcia said they will look for different ways to help the community with proceeds from the 2023 event. This year, we look to extend our reach into foster care programs and kindness projects, he said. There is also a nomination form to nominate families who may want to participate but could use a lift to enable participation, as well as a nomination form for needs to be met in the community at www.ohanamudder.com/sponsor. Aside from helping to support good causes in the area, the event also offers the opportunity for families to make memories and enjoy a day of muddy fun. Its such a fun event and I feel that it serves as an opportunity to laugh, to grow closer, and create memories, Garcia said. The combination of mud, giant sprinklers, lazy river, and overall great feel make this a super unique event. Ive also seen it challenge families, uniting in team work to overcome challenges, which can serve as a catalyst for everyday life. My favorite part is seeing the joy on the kids faces when mom and dad get in the mud. It brings the kid out in everyone. I love the philanthropy but truly it is the event itself that holds the greatest intrinsic value. Its a highly memorable event that holds value for many years to come. Its one of those moments in life that families and friends can reminisce about decades to come. As the event has continued to grow since its inception, so has the need for volunteers and sponsors. Its an undertaking. It takes over 80 volunteers to pull off the event, Garcia said. With 16 obstacles, registration, safety, parking, it truly takes a village. We have also been supported by West End Fire Department, and Burke County Rescue, taking our volunteer count to above 100. We couldnt do this event without our volunteers. Individuals or groups currently are needed to volunteer their time manning the 16 obstacles, start, finish and water stations. Volunteers also have the important responsibility of guiding, cheering and encouraging the course participants, according to a news release from Ohana Mud Run. More than 100 volunteers are needed. Shifts are in two-hour increments starting at 8 a.m. Those interested in volunteering can contact Kim Van Sickler at kimvansickler@gmail.com or 704-953-1560 to discuss options for their organization. In addition to volunteers, event organizers also are seeking sponsors to support this growing and popular summer event that continues to bring notoriety to the area. Sponsorship levels range from $2,500 for Headline Sponsor to $250 for Muddy Sponsor. Each sponsorship level comes with its own perks including your company logo on participant T-shirts, tags in social media posts and free passes. This years Title Sponsor is SanStone Health and Rehab. To become a sponsor, visit www.ohanamudder.com/sponsor or contact Tyler Barnhardt at tyler.barnhardt@edwardjones.com for more information. Contact Barnhardt for more information or go to the website at www.ohanamudder.com to register. The first wave for participants starts at 9 a.m. at the Bennick Compound. 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 Australian and international experts have released 11 recommendations on when, how, and in what situation it may be appropriate for clinicians to reduce opioid use, by placing the patient at the center of the equation. The University of Sydney led guidelines recommend that clinicians develop personalized deprescribing plans from the beginning for any patient being prescribed opioids. The guidelines also advise clinicians against abruptly stopping opioid treatment without gradually reducing the dose or transitioning to different treatments, saying it could increase risk of withdrawal symptoms. This includes people with severe opioid use disorder, as doing so without giving them access to opioid substitution therapies can lead to a higher rise of overdose related harms. Recommendations also advise clinicians not to deprescribe opioids for people nearing end-of life unless there are side effects. The recommendations and summary of the guidelines are published in the Medical Journal of Australia. The guidelines were led by 17 experts which includes general practitioners, pain specialists, addiction specialists, pharmacists, registered nurses, consumers, and physiotherapists. The Evidence-based Guidelines for Deprescribing Opioid Analgesics is the first international guideline focused on helping general practitioners to safely reduce opioid use for adults with pain, and aims to improve quality of care for patients. Opioids are commonly prescribed to manage pain, with over 1.9 million adults starting opioid therapies each year in Australia. Approximately five percent of patients who fill an opioid prescription transition to long-term use. Senior author Associate Professor Danijela Gnjidic from the School of Pharmacy says opioid deprescribing may not be appropriate for every single person with emerging evidence that abruptly deprescribing opioids in patients, without support or pain management plans is associated with overdose related harms and death. "It is possible to reduce opioid use and harms without worsening pain, while maintaining or even improving quality of life. However, pain management should not be one-dimensional," says Associate Professor Gnjidic. "Before the release of the guidelines, in Australia, clinical guidelines have focused on pain management and prescribing of opioids. We needed evidenced-based guidelines focused on safely reducing or stopping prescribed opioids, and individualized care for patients." Pain management should not be 'one size fits all' "Opioids can be effective in pain management. However, over the longer-term, the risk of harms may outweigh the benefits," says fellow senior author Associate Professor Carl Schneider from the School of Pharmacy. "Reducing the dose or discontinuing (deprescribing) opioids can be challenging, with additional complexity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. We received strong feedback on the need for specific resources for those communities on how to seek advice from healthcare professionals and be actively involved in decisions." Lead author Dr. Aili Langford says the best available evidence that was interpreted and informed by expert opinion, and refined following extensive public consultation with healthcare professionals, organizations, policymakers and people who take opioids for pain. "Internationally we were seeing significant harms from opioids, but also significant harms from unsolicited and abrupt opioid cessation. It was clear that recommendations to support safe and person-centered opioid deprescribing were required," says Dr. Langford, who worked on the report during her doctorate at the University of Sydney and is now based at Monash University. Pain management a national and international priority Pain and pain-related conditions are a leading cause of disability and disease burden globally. In Australia one in five adults report having chronic pain. Escalating opioid use and subsequent harm has been recognized as an international public health concern. The World Health Organization has set a global goal of reducing severe avoidable medication related harms. In 2020, Australia responded by identifying opioids as one of the four medicines of focus in the country. The guidelines complement the national Opioid Analgesic Stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard, released last year by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, which aims to stop inappropriate prescribing of opioids to treat acute pain in hospitals. "It is incredibly important that we prescribe opioids safely and appropriately so that we don't compromise the future health of Australians," says Associate Professor Liz Marles, Clinical Director at the Commission and a general practitioner. "These new guidelines further support appropriate use of opioid analgesics and how to safely prescribe and stop prescribing them. They ask clinicians to consider reducing or stopping opioids when the risk of harm outweighs the benefits for the individual. "Shared decision-making and ensuring that patients have ways to manage their pain are essential when a deprescribing plan is being discussed. Ultimately, we are all working to reduce the number of Australians at risk of harm from long-term opioid use, which will have broad societal benefits," says Marles. More information: Clinical Practice Guideline for Deprescribing Opioid Analgesics: Summary of Recommendations, The Medical Journal of Australia (2023). DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52002 Journal information: Medical Journal of Australia All Together Now Summer Learning Program The Summer Learning Program is part of MPLs mission to promote childrens literacy, help prevent the summer slide in reading skills, and provide lifelong learning opportunities for readers of all ages. From June 1 through Aug. 31, patrons of all ages can pick up a printed reading log for young readers or a Library BINGO card for teens and adults, as well as enjoy a variety of fantastic offerings during our Summer Learning Program, All Together Now. Visit missoulapubliclibrary.org/home/programs-events/summer-learning-program/ for details on how to participate in this years challenge and for a complete list of programs that we have to offer. The Summer Learning Program is made possible with support from the Missoula Public Library Foundation. American Red Cross Blood Drive The need for blood doesn't take a summer break. To help keep the blood supply stable during this critical season, Missoula Public Library is hosting three opportunities to give life this summer. The first donation event takes place on June 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Cooper Room A/B on Level Four of the library. Make an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code missoulalibrary or zip code 59801, or call 800-448-3543. Together, we can save lives! Thanks to the generosity of a special library fan, donors at the June 27 event may enter a drawing for a $15 Starbucks gift card. Big Sky Branch Arts & Crafts: Be a Physicist Create! Learn! Discover! This program has drop-in DIY Arts & Crafts projects for young kids and their families at the Big Sky Branch on 3100 South Avenue West in Missoula. On June 27 from 12 to 3 p.m. enjoy a special Be a Physicist program with SpectrUM! Email bdoyle@missoulapubliclibrary.org for info about upcoming projects. Mini Concert Series with the Missoula Symphony at the Swan Valley Community Library Missoula Public Library has partnered with the Missoula Symphony again to bring a free mini concert to the Swan Valley Community Library! Meet the string instruments in the orchestra as our symphony musicians perform in a quartet or group of 4 and talk about the music they play. This mini concert takes place on June 28 from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Swan Valley Community Library on 6811 Highway 83 in Condon. This intimate concert experience is designed for kids and families, where the audience can sit up close with the musicians to listen to their music and ask questions at the end of the concert. Be a Physicist! with SpectrUM at the Potomac Branch Join folks from the SpectrUM Discovery Area as they lead fun activities around the science of physics! Children and their families will learn new things, perform experiments, and receive take-home kits for continued science fun at home. This program is held on June 28 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Potomac Branch located on 29750 Potomac Road in Potomac. Mini Concert Series with the Missoula Symphony at the Seeley Lake Library Missoula Public Library has partnered with the Missoula Symphony again to bring a free mini concert to the Seeley Lake Library. Meet the string instruments in the orchestra as our symphony musicians perform in a quartet and talk about the music they play. This mini concert takes place on June 28 from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Seeley Lake Library on 456 Airport Road in Seeley Lake. This intimate concert experience is designed for kids and families, where the audience can sit up close with the musicians to listen to their music and ask questions at the end of the concert. Wednesdays with the Mayor All are welcome to join Mayor Jordan Hess for in-person discussions of current affairs and answers to your questions on all topics to do with City governance on June 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Cooper Room B on Level Four of the library. Missoula broadcast journalist Dennis Bragg will moderate. During the meeting, you may call us with questions at 406-552-6002. Visit the Citys website for the topic of the month ci.missoula.mt.us/2875/Wednesdays-with-the-Mayor. Watch the livestream or view meetings later on MCATs Facebook page or YouTube channel. Watercolor Painting Class Missoula Public Librarys popular Watercolor Painting Class will have its last class on June 30 from 12 to 2 p.m. in Cooper Room A/B on Level Four of the library before taking a break for the summer. This class will resume on Sept. 29. Summer Learning Program: Altered Books for Everyone Turn a discarded book into a work of art. This program is held on July 1 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in the Cooper Room on Level Four of the library. This program is for all ages and all books and art materials will be provided. This summer, MPL will team up with the Western Montana Fair with a Creative Reuse arts category for the Fairs exhibition, Altered Books. Participants can find this category in the Fairs Exhibitors Guide missoulafairgrounds.com/2023-exhibitor-guide under Department 121-Creative Arts, Division B, Creative Reuse, Class 1 - Altered Books. Deadline to submit your Altered Book art in the Fairs exhibition is Friday, Aug. 4 at 5 p.m. For more information on Fair entry, please reach out to the Fair Office at 406-258-3259. Photo: The Canadian Press Borer Operator cutting from Surface Tele-Remote operating stations at the Lanigan potash mine, in Lanigan, Sask., in an undated handout photo. Today, mining companies are employing everything from driverless haul trucks to remote-controlled and robotic drilling machines to remove human labour from some of their most hazardous operations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Nutrien, *MANDATORY CREDIT* Forget about the canary in the coal mine experts say the day is coming when there won't even be a need for a human. The global mining industry has come a long way since the days when coal-blackened miners would carry a bird underground with them in hopes its distress would alert them to the presence of toxic gases. Today, companies are employing everything from driverless haul trucks to remote-controlled and robotic drilling machines to remove human labour from some of their most hazardous operations. Saskatoon-based Nutrien Ltd. which has been working to develop tele-remote technology at its network of six potash mines in Saskatchewan successfully mined an entire production wing at its underground Lanigan site last fall without a single human setting foot in the area. Using a combination of radar, cameras, advanced sensing systems and cutting-edge technologies powered by artificial intelligence, Nutrien was able to operate one of its massive potash boring machines from a control room a few hundred metres away from the active mining face. "It was just a huge success for us," said Shannon Rhynold, Nutrien's vice-president of potash engineering, technology and capital. "Traditionally in potash mining, youve got these 250-tonne, massive pieces of equipment. There was always an operator sitting in the cab, running the joysticks, watching for various geological markers. And one of the big challenges has been, 'how do you remove them from that machine?' The feat the result of several years of intensive engineering work and experimentation was a company first, with the goal of making potash mining safer by removing workers from the most hazardous underground locations. Let's be honest, when youve got a 250-tonne machine thats cutting into rock, theres noise, theres dust, theres heat, theres vibration," Rhynold said. "And because youre opening that new ground, youre always at risk of whats in the ground above you, what's on the walls on the side of you." Mining has always been a dangerous occupation. The risks are most significant in underground operations, where workers face the possibility of everything from cave-ins and fires to floods and poisonous air. But open-pit mines, too, contain potential hazards including collisions and heavy equipment rollovers. Statistics from the Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada show there were 51 workplace fatalities in the mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction industries in this country in 2021 alone. That's why safety has been one of the main drivers behind an ongoing, massive transition towards automation in the industry, thanks to recent advances in AI and digital and remote technology. At the Boddington gold mine in Western Australia, human drivers have been replaced by a fully autonomous haulage fleet of 36 trucks. In Chile, mining giant BHP is installing autonomous drills at its Spence copper mine. Chinese telecom firm Huawei has been installing 5G technology to allow underground mine workers to be replaced by machines operated from the surface. Here in Canada, Teck Resources Ltd. is already using an autonomous haulage system at its Elkview steel-making coal mine in British Columbia. "Automation is changing where a mine actually gets controlled it doesnt have to be at the mine site," said W. Scott Dunbar, head of the mining engineering department at the University of British Columbia. Productivity is one reason mining companies are making the move to automation. A tele-remote operated mining machine, for example, doesn't need to take breaks, and doesn't need to pause for shift changes. At an investor presentation earlier this year, Imperial Oil CEO Brad Corson said the company's fleet of autonomously operated heavy-haul Caterpillar trucks at its Kearl oilsands mine in northern Alberta is demonstrating 10 to 15 per cent higher productivity than staffed trucks. "(An autonomous truck) can start reversing much, much more quickly than a staffed truck could do. And they can also pass by each other much more closely than you would ever allow with staffed trucks," Corson said. "So it really enables much faster loading." The swift pace of automation is changing the types of jobs available at mine sites, in some cases making software skills more valuable at some companies than the ability to drive a truck. Language in the current collective agreement between Teck Coal Ltd. and United Steelworkers Local 7884 which contains an entire section about "technological change" and lays out the employer's obligations in the event that "mechanization or automation of duties" leads to job losses illustrates the nervousness some employees may feel about the prospect of remote-operated equipment and driverless trucks. But Nutrien says its tele-remote mining program has not eliminated any jobs at all it's simply moved equipment operators from a hazardous physical location to a safe control room setting. Imperial, too, says its former truck drivers haven't lost their jobs, but have been redeployed to other parts of the organization or retrained to operate other equipment. In fact, Rhynold said he believes remote and autonomous technology has the potential to make mining a more inclusive industry that is more attractive to women, older workers, the physically disabled and more. "When you can work in an air-conditioned room, and here's the bathroom and here's the coffee maker and here's your nice ergonomic chair . . . I think that opens it up to much more diversity," he said. "It potentially makes mining interesting to a wider range of people." Mark Crouse, industry account executive for mining with software giant SAP, said he's been hearing mining customers talk about the potential for remote and autonomous technology for more than 20 years. While the industry has only recently started moving more rapidly in this direction, Crouse said, he believes a day is coming when no one will have to go underground at all to mine the earth's resources. "Remember how not that long ago people were using flip phones, and how quickly things shifted? Its not that far off," Crouse said. "The capabilities are already there. The technology already exists." Resistance is joyous. That's the message Missoula legislator Zooey Zephyr and many of her LGBTQ+ activist colleagues want to impart during this Pride season. I think first its important to acknowledge that the joy experienced this weekend is itself a concrete action, she said. Its a buffer from the attacks. It can be the difference between someone feeling like they need to leave Montana and being able to stay. It can be the difference between someone taking their life and holding on. Amid hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed nationwide, queer Missoulians are reaffirming their existence through marches, drag shows, educational courses and community-building. My biggest hope and my goal for this year is for every person to experience queer joy, said Kera Rivera, operations administrator at The Center, which organizes Missoula Pride. Because its the best joy there is. Rivera echoed Zephyr, citing the increasing need to uplift queer joy at a time when queer existence is in the political crosshairs. Obviously, Rivera said, with everything thats going on politically, in the U.S. but also across the world, with attacks left and right towards the LGBT+ community, I think its important to show western Montana/all of Montana/the world that were still here and were still going to support each other. Andy Nelson, executive director of The Center, agreed with his colleague. This juncture, this point in time seems like the most critical point to have Pride because of the recent legislative session said Nelson, who has been involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy with The Center for eight years. Ive just never in my lifetime seen so much hate and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric swarming through our state." Nelson stays motivated through community support and his conviction that the prevailing sentiment in Missoula is one of acceptance, not exclusion. Likewise, David Herrera, executive director of the Montana Two Spirit Society, believes the deluge of queer-phobic rhetoric and regulations lends extra resonance to the meaning of Pride this year. Given what weve gone through with this Montana legislative session, he said, not only here but across the country, with the hateful rhetoric and the unprecedented amount of anti-trans and anti-LGBT Two Spirit legislation that weve never seen before in the history of this country, it definitely means that now, more than ever, we need to stand up against this type of hatred and this type of discrimination and bigotry and say that we will not allow our communities to be erased and eradicated. Herrera, who lived through the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, highlighted the importance of defending the most vulnerable community members through solidarity and action. These folks are not going to stop with the trans community, said Herrera. Theyre not going to stop with the LGBT community. Theyre going to go after the Jewish community and they already are. Theyre going to go after people of color. Theyre going to go after people with disabilities, anybody who is not white male will be a target. This is what we have always witnessed with tyranny. Thats why its so important to take a stand now. Candidate Gwen Nicholson, an Indigenous transwoman running for City Council Ward 1, also affirmed the necessity of banding together as a community in the face of mounting discrimination. When our backs are against the wall, were really capable of banding together and achieving amazing, incredible, important things, Nicholson said. Its really incredible. Like her peers, Nicholson emphasized the power of experiencing queer joy, but she also pointed to other benefits of celebrating Pride, including sharing information and bridging divides between different identities entwined under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. Staying defiant and joyful through Pride is an antidote to hatred, she said. I really think people should give themselves the space to feel good, she said. The key thing is to just stay strong. Pride is not an event we put on for straight people. We put it on for each other. Elani Borhegyi, a nonbinary dragtivist who performs under the name Jackie Rosebutch, also encouraged queer Missoulians to take this time to enjoy yourselves. But Borhegyi also pushed Pride celebrants to challenge harmful rhetoric in everyday conversations and use their strengths to advocate for disenfranchised populations. For Borhegyi, that looks like performing a unique, nonbinary version of drag that they find empowering. Borhegyi also lobbied against House Bill 359 a ban on drag shows for minors during the legislative session, and they advocate for environmentalism through their performance style. For example, Borhegyis character Rosebutch wore makeup during Pride inspired by the Missoula Flox, a subalpine plant that is only found in the hills surrounding Missoula. Borhegyi said they feel inspired to use their drag talents on behalf of environmental causes and LGBTQ+ rights because they are directly impacted and they dont have the privilege to simply ignore those issues. I cant just idly sit by, Borhegyi said. Neither can LGBTQ+ allies representing Missoula. Ward 4 City Councilor Mike Nugent, whose twin brother is a part of the LGBTQ+ community, said he supports Pride now more than ever. Given everything thats happened in Montana over the last six months, said Nugent, I think its important to send that message. Nugent, a candidate for Missoulas mayor post, is proud that his 10-year-old son has always seen his uncle and his uncles husband as part of the family. He knows no different, said Nugent. Hes never gonna not see that love is love. I think the big thing is letting people know in Missoula, Montana and beyond, we support peoples right to live their lives. Ward 3 Councilor Daniel Carlino also spoke to Missoulas role as a safe haven for people of all genders and sexual identities. One of things makes Missoula so special, Carlino said, is it feels like a town and a community where everybody feels like they can be themselves. Carlino is hopeful the city can follow the communitys lead to best support LGBTQ+ Missoulians. One effort hes backing is a nondiscrimination ordinance at the city. We want to do what we can at the council level, Carlino said, to foster that community that feels like everybody is accepted and can be themselves. Mayor Jordan Hess, celebrating his first Pride as city leader, said demonstrations like the weekend-long event are fundamental to the character of the city. The thing I like about Pride is its an opportunity to celebrate our collective humanity, he said. Its just part of our DNA to care about one another and to be welcoming and to be supportive. Hess, too, felt the urgency of celebrating Pride this year in particular. I think it has just increased my resolve to make Missoula a welcoming place, he said. In Missoula we live and work and interact and govern from a place of love and support and inclusivity, and thats more important than ever. This month there is one more reason to be proud to call the Missoula community home. On June 27, Missoulas Partners Hope Foundation will break ground on a new hospice facility. This good news is the result of the unwavering commitment of a small group of Missoulians who recognized a critical need and tackled the problem head on. It has been 23 years since Missoulas first hospice facility, Mountain Valley Hospice House, closed its doors in June 2000. It was a remarkable place. In addition to meticulous treatment of pain and other symptoms, the care provided at Mountain Valley included heavy doses of fellowship. Families visited without time limits and doctors came by to check on their patients. Walking into the house, one was often greeted by smells of fresh-baked cookies or casseroles wafting from the kitchen. Mountain Valley succeeded in providing comprehensive care for dying patients with complex symptoms and social needs. Unfortunately, however, it failed to earn stable financial support from Missoulas two hospitals that co-owned it. Mountain Valleys closure left a gap in our communitys ability to offer specialized care for dying people and the families who love them. We have excellent doctors and hospitals in Missoula, and hospice programs to support families in caring for dying people at home. But not every seriously ill person has a home and not every family has the wherewithal to care for a dying loved one. The lack of a dedicated hospice and palliative care facility can leave vulnerable people to needlessly suffer. In 2013, a group of concerned community leaders felt called and determined to create a new hospice facility. Their efforts gave rise in 2017 to Partners Hope Foundation, a new community non-profit with a mission to fill the community need for a hospice house. Over the past four years, an expanding circle of board members, donors and supporters have meticulously planned, designed, and raised money. This new community-owned and operated hospice and end-of-life center will include 12 private patient care rooms with additional space to expand to meet regional needs. Fund-raising is still not complete, however, thanks to significant donations from individuals and businesses, we have reached the tipping point. Missoulas new hospice facility will be built! The center will work with area hospice programs and hospitals to serve patients from across Missoula, Sanders, Lake, Mineral, Granite, and Ravalli counties. Partners Hope Foundation honors the legacy of the Native land on which the center will stand and is working closely with the All Nations Health Center and the local health department to effectively serve our diverse community. In an early history of the field, Sandol Stoddard described hospice as an intimate transaction between human beings in community. That aptly applies to this grassroots project. Montanans understand the importance of living in community with one another, rather than merely in proximity to one another, particularly when it comes to illness, caregiving, dying and grieving. It is one reason that we have chosen to live and age right here in Missoula. We have each worked in hospice and palliative care for over four decades and are proud to serve as Honorary Chairs for the Embrace Campaign to build this new center. The generosity of our community is no surprise. To date, the Embrace Campaign has raised $12.9 million! Just $2.5 million are needed to complete initial funding and underwrite any shortfalls in operating expenses for the first few years. People of western Montana know what it means to take care of our own. Please join us by donating at EmbraceEndOfLife.org. Following another legislative session where Republican lawmakers saw fit to impose their will on wildlife management, we saw the passage of SB 295. Like so many other Republican efforts to privatize wildlife and destroy predator species, the bill is heavy on rhetoric and light on science. Grizzly bears have not recovered in Montana. Lawmakers want you to believe they are, but facts do not match rancher and outfitter-infused talking points. What has been lost in this conversation is the fact that grizzly bears should never be hunted, period. At what point is Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks willing to enter the 21st century? At what point is our governor, who lives to kill wildlife, willing to accept that certain species are so vital, so rare, that Montana has a responsibility never to allow them to be hunted? Such is the case with grizzly bears. Grizzlies reproduce far too slowly to allow any hunting. Like wolves, allowing our state to manage a grizzly season will result in the wholesale slaughter of this iconic species. The drive to kill wild predator species must be extinguished in our state. Predators are crucial to the health of all species. The state has proven it cannot manage wolves; they cannot understand that wildlife has feelings and pain and suffer; instead, they continue to cling to an 1880s approach to wildlife management. It is a disgrace and makes our state resemble a backwoods hollow rather than the modern state it has become, where wolf viewing brings more than $80 million to the state annually. Saying no to the killing of grizzlies is not a radical position. What remains radical in the 21st century is allowing species to be trapped, to be killed for prizes, and to enable faux science that allows such slaughters to continue. Trappers want a trapping season on grizzlies. What world are we living in that would allow such sadism? No, we have reached a tipping point; Martha Williams, who lacks the educational credentials to run U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is once again slow-walking a response to the grizzly situation; in the past, she was all for a hunting season. She must hear loud and clear We do not want any hunting season on grizzlies! We must put down a marker; if wildlife in our state is to have a future, we cannot continue to allow the destruction of such beautiful creatures. We cannot allow outside interests like the Safari Club, NRA, Don Peay, and the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to dictate wildlife management in Montana. Their goal is simple trophy elk and deer in a landscape devoid of predators, creating a sterile landscape prone to disease. I have hiked and camped in grizzly country for years. Never have I carried a gun. I have encountered bears within yards and awoke one night with a grizzly sitting on the edge of my tent in Alaska. The concept of killing a bear never crossed my mind; I was awed by their presence, something akin to a spiritual experience. You are a coward if killing one is your goal. Montana has made a grave mistake in handling wolves; we have a chance to get it right for grizzlies. To do that means never allowing this great bear to be hunted. A Sarasota couple has been arrested after their 8-month-old girl was found dead and tested positive for lethal amounts of fentanyl, the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office said Friday. Deputies responded to the home near Interstate 75 and Bee Ridge Road at 5:12 p.m. on May 31 after a report of the death of an infant at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. The girl was ice cold and face down on a couch cushion when she was found by a family friend, the arrest report says. In my 17 years of experience, Ive never seen anything like that, the hospital nurse told a deputy. Ive seen many deceased babies, but thats the worst Ive seen. The girl was last seen alive around midnight, the report says, when Nicholas Alexander put the girl in a playpen to sleep. At the house were the couple, their 2-year-old and 3-year-old, and four other adults. Between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., Carissa Alexander said she was up with the baby who was fussy and not willing to sleep. She was also watching the 2-year-old and cleaning the residence. She said Nicholas took over child care of the three children around 7 a.m. and she went to sleep. At 10:30 a.m., two of the other adults woke up and had breakfast, and one of them helped feed the older children. The 8-month-old was seen in a prone position on a couch cushion in the living room. Everyone in the house thought the baby was asleep, the report said, and its unknown who put the girl on the cushion. At 1:30 p.m., Nicholas woke Carissa to take care of the kids while he went to work. When he left before 2 p.m., he said the girl was in the same position on the cushion. Around 4:30 p.m., Nicholas and one of the men stopped for diapers on their way home, and met a third man waiting for them outside the home. As they all entered around 4:45 p.m., the third man went to check on the baby and found her ice cold. He called 911 and Nicholas started CPR. The man drove Nicholas and the baby to a nearby hospital, and Nicholas administered Narcan to the girl, believing she may have got into his stash. Narcan is a medicine used to treat overdoses in emergency situations. By the time the infant got to the ER, she had been dead for several hours, an autopsy showed. Both Carissa and Nicholas were impaired by drugs when deputies interviewed them, and they had slurred speech and were unable to stay awake, the report said. Nicholas admitted he had injected cocaine around 1 a.m. and smoked crack around 10 a.m., and that Carissa took a hit of crack at the same time. The other adults told deputies the couple struggled with addiction and drug abuse, particularly opiates. After being taken to the sheriffs office, both tested positive for cocaine and Nicholas tested positive for THC. Carissa had a straw with white residue that tested positive for fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone and xylaxine, a powerful animal sedative known as tranq. In April, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman held a news conference to warn Floridians about the dangers of the zombie drug. Sarasota County had the third-highest growth in xylazine deaths in the state from 2021-22. An autopsy report showed the 8-month-old tested positive for fentanyl and benzoylecgonine, which indicates the presence of cocaine. Deputies also talked to a woman who was the babys nanny until May 26. She said the baby fed every 3-4 hours and never slept more than six hours. Before her death, the adults in the home said they thought she was sleeping from about 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. She went unchecked and uncared for for approximately 10+ hours over the course of the day, while (her parents) were impaired by narcotics, by their own admissions, the report said. Nicholas and Carissa Alexander are each charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child and are being held without bond at the Sarasota County Correctional Facility. LONDON Multinational companies including Amazon, Marriott and Hilton pledged Monday to hire more than 13,000 refugees, including Ukrainian women who fled the war with Russia, over the next three years in Europe. Just ahead of World Refugee Day on Tuesday, more than 40 corporations said they will hire, connect to work or train 250,000 refugees, with 13,680 of them getting jobs directly in those companies. "Every number is a story of an individual family who left everything, seeking safety, seeking protection and wanting to be able to rebuild as quickly as possible," said Kelly Clements, U.N. deputy high commissioner for refugees. "So the commitments that businesses are going to make on Monday are absolutely essential." She said 110 million people have been displaced worldwide, with an estimated 12 million from Ukraine, nearly half of whom are living in Europe after the continent's largest movement of refugees since World War II. The hiring push in Europe was organized by the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a nonprofit founded by Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya that connects businesses and refugees, and is being unveiled at a gathering in Paris. The group's first summit in the U.S. last year led to commitments to hire 22,725 refugees. In the new round, Amazon leads the pack, vowing to hire at least 5,000 refugees over the next three years in Europe, followed by Marriott and Hilton with 1,500 each, Starbucks and ISS with 1,000 each, and smaller commitments from brands like Adidas, L'Oreal, PepsiCo and Hyatt. "This is good for us as a company because the opportunity to add diversity to our workforce will continue to make us a stronger company," said Ofori Agboka, Amazon vice president overseeing human resources. "With diversity brings innovation, creativity, different insights." He said the vast majority of jobs will be hourly roles at fulfillment and storage centers and in transport and delivery. Amazon announced 27,000 job cuts this year, part of a wave of layoffs after tech companies ramped up hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those layoffs primarily affected salaried office jobs, Agboka said. Daria Sedihi-Volchenko fled Kyiv last year and now works in Warsaw, Poland, as a senior program manager for an Amazon Web Services program providing free tech training for Ukrainians. She said about 40% of those in the program have no tech background. "I went through the same way as many of our learners are going through," she said. "I had to learn, and I took a commitment on my interview. I said that 'OK, if we can agree and I can start working for you, I promise to learn Polish and I promise to learn technical skills.'" More than a year ago, Sedihi-Volchenko woke up to explosions from Russia's invasion. "I was terrified. I was so scared for Ukraine, for the nation, for the future, for my own life," she said. "But also that was a shocking moment when I understood that everything in my life is changing." She began living in basements but left as Russian forces approached Kyiv. She drove 40 hours to reach Moldova, thankful that she "didn't drive on a single land mine and nobody shot into my car." She went to Poland to find work, embarking on an IT path after working as a project manager for government ministries and as an economist in Ukraine. Companies hope refugees can fill staffing needs after the economy bounced back from the pandemic. In Europe, unemployment is at its lowest since the euro currency was introduced in 1999. "We're seeing record levels of demand for our properties across many markets here in Europe," Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano said. European nations have welcomed Ukrainians, and while Clements applauded opening schools, workplaces and other opportunities to them, she said the same should be offered to others fleeing conflict and crises in places like Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. Sedihi-Volchenko knows the challenges ahead for refugees, even as some companies offer help with language skills, counseling and training. Job listings can be difficult to decipher, and like her, they might have difficulty securing a stable internet connection or work clothes. "It's important to give a refugee just time to learn the language, but the person can start working because if you bring experience with IT systems or finance or project management or any other area, naturally, you understand, it's not so much about the language. You understand the flow of work," she said. Burke County residents will get a chance to hear from an author who has told the stories of people on the frontline of the devastation of opioid addiction. Beth Macy, author of the book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America and Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of Americas Overdose Crisis, will kick off a series of community forums in Burke County surrounding the issue of substance use disorder, according to information from the county health department. The free event will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, at the CoMMA Performing Arts Center, 401 S. College St., Morganton. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and registration is not required. Those who attend the event can expect a casual and open atmosphere with a Q&A opportunity with the audience at the end, according to information from the health department. ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters will be present, and the session will be live-streamed and recorded, it says. Attendees can expect to gain perspective on the current state of substance use disorder in Burke County, said Ashlyn Minton, public health education specialist at the Burke County Health Department. North Carolina and Burke County have seen their share of opioid abuse and deaths. In 2021, overdose deaths increased 22% with 4,041 people dying in the state, the highest number of overdose deaths in a single year on record, according to the NC Opioid and Substance Use Action Plan Data Dashboard. That is a 72% increase in the state since 2019, with a 40% jump in 2020 during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, NCDHHS has said. The rate of overdose deaths among residents of Burke in 2021 was 67.4 per 100,000 residents. That was higher than the state rate at 38.5 per 100,000 residents, according to the dashboard. The number of actual people who died in Burke from a drug overdose in 2021 was 61, according to the dashboard. Minton said Macy also will be discussing and promoting her new book about substance use. She will have signed copies of the book available for purchase. Macys latest book, Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of Americas Overdose Crisis, is based in Batesville, Indiana, and Charleston, W. Va., but also includes parts about Burke County, Minton said. Macys book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America was made into a limited series for the streaming service Hulu. The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile and sounded the retreat. The brief revolt, though, exposed vulnerabilities among Russian government forces, with Wagner Group soldiers under the command of Yevgeny Prigozhin able to move unimpeded into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and advance hundreds of kilometers (miles) toward Moscow. The Russian military scrambled to defend Russia's capital. Under the deal announced Saturday by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will go to neighboring Belarus, which has supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Charges against him of mounting an armed rebellion will be dropped. Get the full story here: LGBTQ+ revelers and allies are partying coast to coast for the grand crescendo of Pride Month. Thousands of people filled New York's Fifth Avenue in celebration, with parades and parties cascading across the country through Chicago, Houston, and on to San Francisco. Organizers went out of their way to spotlight the importance of non-binary and transgender activists as new laws targeting LGBTQ+ rights proliferate in statehouses. Chicago, Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle are all hosting annual Pride parades. But while some people are whooping it up in celebration, many are mindful of the growing conservative countermovement to limit rights. Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - Firefighters and investigators go through the aftermath of a fire which authorities say started at an e-bike shop and spread to upper-floor apartments, Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in New York. New York City is receiving $25 million in emergency funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish scores of new e-bike charging stations across the city. Mayor Eric Adams announced the funding Sunday, June 25. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File) After a series of fires involving faulty e-bike batteries including a recent blaze that claimed four lives, New York City officials announced Sunday that they are receiving a $25 million emergency grant from the federal government to fund scores of charging stations citywide. Mayor Eric Adams hopes the stations will provide a safer way for delivery workers, who rely on e-bikes to efficiently do their jobs, to recharge lithium batteries used to power their bicycles. This means that residents will no longer need to charge the e-bikes in their apartments what we find to be extremely dangerous, particularly when you charge them overnight, Adams said at a news conference Sunday. He was flanked by the state's two U.S. senators who helped secure the funding from the US. Department of Transportation. The announcement comes after a lithium ion battery caught fire and engulfed an e-bike shop in Manhattan's Chinatown. The fire and thick smoke spread to apartments above the shop, killing four people and injuring three others, including a responding firefighter. In the days since, New York City officials sought the public's help in cracking down on unsafe e-bike shops and fire officials issued at least 10 citations to shops for improper handling of the batteries. City officials said theyd previously fined the shop for its e-bike charging practices, though inspectors reportedly did not check to see if the store was selling reconditioned batteries on a recent visit. Under new guidelines, fire officials will be directed to respond to complaints about e-bike batteries within 12 hours, rather than the previous policy of three days. New York City has seen over 100 fires and 13 deaths this year linked to e-bikes, more than double the total number of fatalities from last year, officials said. The city has issued nearly 500 summonses related to e-bikes, which can result in fines between $1,000 and $5,000. The batteries can overheat if defective or improperly charged. Adams had announced in March that the city was working to establish charging stations. The grant would fund an initial 170 charging units in about 50 locations. New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, said the charging stations proved new hope to prevent these fires that start from shoddy China-made lithium ion batteries and chargers, he said during the press conference. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said she and Schumer were working on legislation to establish safety standards for batteries. If passed, she said, it would take improperly manufactured batteries off the market. I still don't know how to shout to make them realize the situation is grave. Ombudsman of Artsakh We are ready to recognize Azerbaijans 86,600 square km, which includes Nagorno-Karabakh. Minister of Foreign Affairs The Russian Federation reaffirms its intention to contribute to the restoration of normal life in Nagorno-Karabakh Artsakh President assures: All decisions will be made jointly A handcuffed man threw himself from the 5th floor of the Investigation Department of SRC and died Ambassador of Poland was presented with the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh EU Council extends Toivo Klaar's mandate for one year Turkey slows pace of rate hikes, jeopardizing the lira EU Mission at the OSCE Council meeting: Brussels calls on Baku to ensure movement along the Lachin corridor State Revenue Committee head: Armenia cooperates with partners transparently Armenia requests OSCE Permanent Council speacial meeting: Mirzoyan made a speech Armenian Health Minister: Transport of medicine to Artsakh is disrupted Russia MFA spox on organizing Mirzoyan, Bayramov meeting in Moscow: Chances are good Russian MFA: Stability in South Caucasus should be in Turkey's interests We should specify the cartographic basis of demarcation activities in the near future. Pashinyan Brussels meeting brought no concrete results in opening Lachin Corridor, resolving humanitarian crisis in NK.Pashinyan Armenian Foreign Ministry welcomes Canadas initiative to join European monitoring mission Artsakh residents hold a protest near the UN office in Yerevan EU foreign ministers to discuss Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement in Brussels 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 Photo: The Canadian Press Capt. Jason Neubauer, chief investigator, U.S. Coast, left, speaks with the media as Samantha Corcoran, public affairs officer of the First Coast Guard District, right, looks on during a news conference, Sunday, June 25, 2023, at Coast Guard Base Boston, in Boston. The U.S. Coast Guard said it is leading an investigation into the loss of the Titan submersible that was carrying five people to the Titanic, to determine what caused it to implode. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Steven Senne The U.S. Coast Guard's immediate priority as it launches an investigation into the implosion of a submersible that was exploring the Titanic wreckage will be the recovery of evidence from the sea floor, an official said on Sunday. Captain Jason Neubauer, who is leading the Coast Guard's probe into the disaster that claimed five lives, told a news conference in Boston that crews "are taking all precautions on-site" to recover human remains if they encounter them. Canada's Transportation Safety Board has also launched an investigation into the ship, the Polar Prince, which ferried the doomed Titan submersible to its dive site, and the RCMP says it is looking to determine whether a full investigation into the deaths of the five people on the sub is warranted. Neubauer says the Coast Guard's investigation began Friday not long after it was confirmed the submersible, which had been missing since last Sunday, catastrophically failed in its exploration. He says the investigation will work to determine what led to the tragedy, as well as make recommendations to appropriate authorities to pursue civil or criminal charges, as necessary. Rear Admiral John Mauger told the news conference he was in St. John's, N.L., on Saturday to meet with some of the grieving families, and he thanked the first responders who he says "put forth their best effort" to find the submersible. "While in Canada, I met with and personally thanked members of the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Armed Forces, who demonstrated the utmost professionalism and expertise throughout the response," Mauger said. Neubauer said that, typically, once the initial phase of collecting evidence has concluded, a formal hearing is held to gather additional witness testimony. The investigation, he said, will work closely with other national and international agencies, including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, as well as marine investigation authorities in France and the United Kingdom. Its final report will be presented to the Coast Guard's commandant and other international agencies involved in the investigation. Neubauer did not say what may have been recovered from the sea floor so far, but added that evidence will not be released as it is collected out of respect for other agencies involved, and for the victims' families. He didn't provide a timeline for the investigation and said interviews are scheduled with the crew of the Polar Prince. "The resources are on-site and capable of recovering the debris," Neubauer said. Titan owner OceanGate Expeditions is based in the United States, the submersible was registered in the Bahamas and those killed in the possible implosion hailed from England, Pakistan, France and the U.S. The Polar Prince, owned by the Miawpukek First Nation in southern Newfoundland, had towed the doomed Titan to the Titanic site about 700 kilometres south of the provincial capital and had helped to launch it on its dive last Sunday. The Titan lost contact with the Polar Prince about an hour and 45 minutes into its descent to the wreck of the Titanic, almost four kilometres below the surface of the sea. All five passengers and crew were declared dead Thursday soon after a team guiding a remotely operated vehicle spotted the Titan's wreckage about 500 metres from the bow of the sunken luxury liner. Mauger did not divulge the cost of the search and rescue when asked by reporters, but said the Coast Guard doesn't charge for such operations and doesn't put a cost on human life. "The ocean remains an unforgiving environment and every weekend there are risks that are taken as people go to the water with inadequate safety gear, with inadequate training or boating while intoxicated," Mauger said. "But we still answer the call." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh welcomes the hearing on "Safeguarding the people of Nagorno-Karabakh," held on 22 June by the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress. This is stated in the message issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh. We express our deep appreciation to all organisers and participants of this congressional hearing, including US Congressmen Chris Smith, James McGovern, Adam Schiff, Frank Pallone, former US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans, for their efforts to raise awareness of the illegal and belligerent aspirations of Azerbaijan and protect the rights of the people of Artsakh. The fact that the US congressmen called on the United States leadership to take all possible measures to ensure the protection of the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh and to prevent further tension that could lead to new war and crimes deserves special attention. We are confident that holding hearings in this format is an important step both from a political and moral point of view, since the expansionist and militant policy of Azerbaijan is a serious challenge and threat not only to the Armenian people and statehood, but also to regional stability and the civilised world as a whole. We sincerely thank our US friends for their unwavering and principled position and express the hope that holding such a hearing on the eve of the upcoming meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan next week in Washington can become an important impetus for addressing the issues and overcoming the security and humanitarian challenges facing the people of Artsakh, the message says. Julien Baker of Boygenuis performs at the Re:SET concert series on June 24, 2023, in Riis Park on Chicago's Northwest Side. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune) On Saturday during the Re:SET concert series in Riis Park on the Northwest Side, two roommates awaited the nights headliners covered in blue paint in an homage to True Blue, a boygenius song about self-discovery, old friends and Chicagos L train. Maya Wanner, 26, and Madeline Lauver, 25, of Rogers Park, figured the song would get a response from concertgoers. That night, as band member Lucy Dacus sang about a friend who moves to Chicago and makes a phone call from the train platform when you called me from the train / water freezing in your eyes / you were happy / and I wasnt surprised under blue lights, the crowd did indeed erupt. Advertisement Under a tree in the park in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood, with paint streaking their foreheads and splattered in their hair, Wanner and Lauver said theyd wanted to dress up somehow for the event. Boygenius fans react to seeing the band for for the first time at the Re:SET concert series on June 24, 2023, in Riis Park in Chicago. These fans have waited over six hours to be in the front row for this concert. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune) The pair said theyd been inspired by the supergroups video featuring the song, in which Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker paint a room blue before turning brushes and cans on themselves. Advertisement Boygenius capped off the days quartet of acts alongside Bartees Strange, Dijon and Clairo. All performed in the summer heat and reminded audience members crammed against barricades to drink water. LCD Soundsystem and Steve Lacy were the other two headliners over three days worth of indie and alternative music that brought throngs of concertgoers to Riis Park. Bartees Strange performs at the Re:SET concert series on June 24, 2023, in Riis Park. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune) The Chicago Park District permitted the event about 10 days before it was set to take place after months of vocal protest from neighbors, who said event organizers didnt give them enough of a heads-up and didnt involve them enough in planning. Inside the event gates, fans in white shirts and black ties (the headliners frequent concert attire) and innumerable pairs of Dr. Martens clustered under massive trees for shade. Many incorporated teeth into their concert attire in an apparent nod to the matching tooth tattoos of boygenius group members. Julia Lakin, 23, was wearing a total of six extra teeth on her macabre earrings, paired with a hand-embroidered boys will be boys shirt. Julia Lakin attends at the Re:SET concert series on June 24, 2023, in Riis Park. Latkin shows of her teeth earrings, which is an homage to the band Boygenuis. The three members have matching tooth tattoos. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune) She had made the trip up from central Illinois Chatham for what she said was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with her girlfriend Ashley Bresnahn, 25. Bresnahn said she was most excited to hear Clairos 4EVER and a number of songs from boygenius 2018 EP. Advertisement Katie Kasendorf, 22, was sprawled out near the merchandise tent with an armload of new purchases: a Clairo sweatshirt for a friend depicting a small dog in headphones, a Re:SET bandana for her wall and several boygenius shirts. She held up a shirt that showed the group members posing together against a background of flames reminiscent of Hell. If somebody saw me wearing this, theyd totally steal my lunch and call me a loser, Kasendorf said, before clarifying that this was a plus in her book. Kasendorf had taken a Greyhound bus from Minneapolis to the concert, deeming the trip a very main character moment. She was most looking forward to hearing the boygenius number Me & My Dog, a song about going to the lengths of outer space in an attempt to forget someone, from the groups 2018 release. Advertisement Me & My Dog also topped the list for Jacob Kemiel, 25, of Chicagos Edgewater neighborhood, along with Letter to an Old Poet. Pheobe Bridgers of Boygenuis performs at the Re:SET concert series on June 24, 2023, in Riis Park. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune) Bridgers described Letter to an Old Poet later that night as a song about being in love with someone who (expletive) hated me and said how nice it was to perform it alongside two of her closest friends. The band, she said, had history in Chicago: Weve made some core memories here, and some core friends here. We love it. Then the opening chords of Salt in the Wound rang out to close the show. Three minutes and a lot of guitar shredding later, the three friends collapsed into one another onstage. Caroline Kubzansky is a reporter for the Pioneer Press papers. Legendary actor Kamal Haasan is the new addition to the action thriller film 'Project K' which also features Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan. Taking to Instagram, Prabhas, on Sunday shared an announcement video of the 'Vikram' actor joining the cast of 'Project K'. He captioned the video, "A moment that will be etched in my heart forever. Honored beyond words to collaborate with the legendary @ikamalhaasan sir in #ProjectK. The opportunity to learn and grow alongside such a titan of cinema is a dream come true moment." https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct50He8tdYB/ Helmed by Nag Ashwin, the film is all set to hit the theatres on January 12, 2024. Confirming the news, Haasan said in an official statement, "50 years back when I was a dance assistant and an assistant director the name Ashwini Dutt loomed large in the production sector. Both of us are coming together after 50 years. A brilliant director from our next generation is at the helm. My co-stars MPrabhas and Deepika are also of that generation . I have worked with Amit Ji before . Yet every time it feels like the first time. Amit Ji keeps reinventing himself. I am also emulating that inventive process. I am eagerly waiting for Project K. Whatever position the audience place me at, my primary quality is that I am a film buff. That quality will keep applauding any new attempt in my industry. Let mine be the first applause for Project K. With our director Nag Ashwin's vision I am sure that applause will echo across our country and the world of cinema." Director Nag Ashwin also shared his excitement about Kamal Haasan joining the cast of the film. He said, "For an actor like Kamal sir, who has done so many iconic roles, it's a huge honour to attempt to do something new. We are all super excited and privileged that he agreed to come onboard and complete our world." 'Project K' is a bilingual film shot simultaneously in two languages i.e Hindi and Telugu across various locations. The film will also mark Deepika's debut in the Telugu film market. Disha Patani is also a part of Project K. (ANI) Superstar Salman Khan, who is currently seen hosting the show 'Bigg Boss OTT 2' has credited it for making the audience "smart" and said that it is important to be "real" on the reality series. He said, "Big Boss has made the audience smart. Bigg Boss is all about being real - good or bad does not matter, that's for the audience to judge. But to stay on the show you must be hundred percent real. The audience enjoys the drama and fights but is smart enough to call out the fakes." During the weekend ka vaar, Salman called Akanksha Puri a false narrator. He bashed her for creating a wrong picture of Bebika Dhurve. Meanwhile, Manisha Rani has declared her aim to be an inspiration to women in her society. During a conversation, she expressed her desire to tear down barriers and urge women to pursue their ambitions. Manisha seeks to teach women they have limitless potential and encourages them to achieve their dreams with unflinching dedication and a clear purpose. She aspires to be an example who inspires and uplifts women to reach their goals. On the other hand, Jad Hadid talked about missing his daughter, Cattleya Hadid, and cherishes the memories they created in Dubai. (ANI) The Patna District Magistrate on Saturday extended the closure of all academic activities up to Class 12 in the district till June 28 due to the ongoing heat wave. Earlier the order was effective till June 24. "In continuation to the order vide memo no.-8534/1. dated June 16, 2023, it has been made to appear to me that due to the prevalent high temperature with high humidity in the district, the health and life of children are at risk. Therefore, I, Dr Chandra Shekhar Singh, District Magistrate, Patna under Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 do hereby prohibit the academic activities of all the Private and Government schools (Including Pre-school and Anganwari Centers) of Patna District up to Class- 12 till June 28. The order as mentioned above will come into force w.e.f. June 26, 2023, and will remain effective till 28," the District Magistrate said in an official notice. Earlier this month, two persons died in Bihar's Gaya district at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College due to exposure to extreme heat, doctors have informed. A total of 58 patients were admitted at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College on Monday. Notably, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting in the national capital to review the preparedness of public health services for heatwaves across the country. Mandaviya, while chairing the meeting said that a team of officers will be sent to states-- Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar-- experiencing heatwaves to assist the state governments. "A team of experts from the Union Health Ministry, ICMR, IMD and NDMA will visit the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to support them in public health response measures to address heat-related illnesses," the minister said. Mandaviya has also directed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to conduct research on how to minimise the effect of heat waves on health, with specific short, medium and long-term action plans. (ANI) "They were also involved in facilitating the movement of terrorists, providing them with transport facilities, and engaging in anti-national activities that pose a threat to the region's security," police said. The three accused have been identified as Umer Ahmad Ganaie, a resident of Setthergund Kakapora, Aftab Hussain Dar, a resident of Avangund Rajpora, and Hilal Ahmad Khan, a resident of Hakhripora. According to Kashmir Police, the accused were active as Over Ground Workers (OGW)s and facilitators of different proscribed terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Toiba, The Resistance Front (TRF), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) etc. (ANI) The Emergency was in effect from June 25, 1975, until its withdrawal on March 21, 1977. The party has decided to conduct the 'Maha Jan Sampark' campaign on the day. Under the campaign, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will address a public meeting in Gautambuddh Nagar while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and party state president Bhupendra Singh Chowdhary along with Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi will address public gatherings in Kheragarh and Agra. State's Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya will address the public meetings in Kairana, Meerut and Ghaziabad parliamentary constituencies. Several state BJP leaders will also address the public meetings in the parliamentary constituencies of Fatehpur Sikri and Agra. Emergency was declared for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The order was officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution due to the prevailing "internal disturbance." The Emergency vested upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed. The Emergency in 1975 is considered one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history. (ANI) Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have a joint High Court and two benches. One is in Srinagar and the another one in Jammu. The Jammu bench was located in the Mubarak Mandi complex in Jammu till the 1990s. In the year 1994, the High Court Complex was shifted from here to Janipur Jammu, the Janipur Court Complex premises, which is an area of several thousand kanals of land, apart from the High Court, the District Complex, the Advocate General's office, the Judicial Academy and the Registrar's Office are also located there. Now the administration has decided to shift the High Court building from Janipur and construct a new building in the Raika Jungle area on the outskirts of Jammu. On June 28, the Chief Justice of India, Justice DY Chandrachud will lay its foundation. This high court complex equipped with modern facilities is estimated to cost Rs 938 crore. This is being considered as an important step towards reforming the judicial structure in Jammu and Kashmir. To make the visit of the Chief Justice of India to Jammu and Kashmir a success, the Registrar General High Court and the Principal Secretary Chief Justice have formed several committees which are busy round the clock. Sources told a vernacular news network that this new court complex will be one of the best High Courts in the country. There will be 35 courtrooms, which can be later extended to 70 courtrooms. This complex will be made environment-friendly. It has been designed by famous architect Guneet Singh Chauhan who has designed many High Courts including Delhi High Court, metro stations and malls. Its construction will be supervised by the High Court judges through the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation and the Public Works Department. The new court complex has three auditoriums, an administrative block, a mediation centre, a medical centre, a computer centre, a judges' library, chambers for 1,000 lawyers, facilities for litigants, food courts, an archive section, and a total of 35 judges and staff. It will also be equipped with accommodation, Judicial Academy, convention facilities, a helipad, a fire station, a transport facility centre, etc. Apart from this, there will be sports, gym and yoga centre facilities for judges and lawyers. The project is targeted to be completed in one and a half years. Sources said that all NOCs (No Objection Certificates) have already been obtained from the Department of Wildlife and Forests. It should be noted that in the place where this court complex is to be built, there is a forest, for this the matter went to the National Green Tribunal where the High Court filed a reasonable reply, after which the decision came in favour of the High Court. On the other hand, the lawyers of Jammu are not in favour of shifting the High Court complex from Janipur, most of the lawyers say that it will greatly affect their work. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association Jammu has also constituted a 34-member advisory committee of lawyers which will decide on a permanent strategy against this decision, the important meeting of the committee will be held on Sunday at the High Court Janipur. Meanwhile, environmental activists and many political and social figures have also expressed their objection to the construction of the High Court in Raika forest. (ANI) The man was allegedly trying to fly with someone else's passport on Saturday. He was nabbed and handed over to police, a CISF offcial said. The police are investigating the matter. Further information is awaited. (ANI) Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday accused the Congress of letting go of Kartarpur Sahib to Pakistan during the country's partition after Independence. "When the country got independence, the line of partition was drawn on the chest of Punjab. At the time of partition, Congress leaders were in such a hurry to gain power that they let go of Shri Kartarpur Sahib. Our Prime Minister has constructed the Kartarput Sahib Corridor," he said. Lambasting the Congress, the Defence Minister said, "The Congress which has inflicted the biggest blow on democracy, that Congress is saying that democracy is being strangled in the country under the leadership of Modi ji. If democracy has ended in the country then how did you win elections in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan?" Rajnath Singh was speaking at the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) public outreach 'Sampark Se Samarthan' here, to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Speaking on Kartarpur Sahib, Rajnath Singh said, "If anyone has understood this pain for the first time, it was only Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Because of his efforts, Kartarpur Sahib has been reconnected with Punjab. People know better what BJP government has done in these nine years." On law and order in Punjab, the Defence Minister said that there existed a good coordination between the Centre and the state during the times of former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. "As far as Punjab is concerned, development here has been the BJP's top priority. Punjab is a border state and when Captain Amarinder Singh was the Chief Minister, there was good coordination in matters related to security. Whenever there is a law and order issue it is a major concern for us. Everyone knows about the present government of Punjab," he added. Lauding the Sikh community for their patriotism, Rajnath Singh said, "I am the Defense Minister of the country and I am well aware of Punjab and Punjabiyat. When it comes to the security of the country, the people of Punjab, especially the people of the Sikh community, forget all grievances and stand together. They are one of the most patriotic and brave societies in the world." This area of Chandigarh lies at the tri-junction of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. These three states, together make the biggest contribution to the Indian Army. Remembering the Sikh patriarch Parkash Singh Badal who had formed an alliance with the BJP, Rajnath Singh said, "Whichever party is included in the NDA or even separated, there was never any distance from the heart. Today, I am missing Parkash Singh Badal, one of the tallest leaders of not only Punjab but of the country. I pay my respects to him." Commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's international stature, Rajnath Sindh said, "Prime Minister Modi is called Boss by the Prime Minister of Australia. The President of America wants his autograph, and the President of Papua New Guinea touches his feet. This is an expression of how the world respects him." (ANI) Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) chief Conrad K Sangma on Saturday urged the Centre to take necessary measures to restore normalcy in Manipur and ensure the safe return of those affected. Sangma made the appeal at a meeting called by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, to address the concerning situation in Manipur. During the meeting, various political parties, including the National People's Party (NPP), expressed their concerns regarding the prevailing conditions in Manipur. The Meghalaya CM informed that one of the primary concerns raised by the political party was the need for adequate relief materials for the affected population. "We have also urged the Government of India to ensure that all the relief materials that are needed by the people and all the other essential commodities which are required, we must make sure that the supply of these materials is done in a sufficient and smooth manner to all the locations and more importantly to the relief camps that are there," the NPP chief said. Sangma also added that it is essential that all political parties, different organisations and religious groups, reach out to all sections of society and to appeal for peace and tranquillity in the State of Manipur. The Meghalaya Chief Minister also called for strict actions against any armed groups involved in violent activities, urging the Government of India to bring them under control. "We should also ensure that all different kinds of armed groups which are involved in any kind of violence, that strict action should be taken from the government of India side to ensure that none of them can go ahead with any kind of violent activities and to ensure that they are brought under control, so all different kind of armed groups which are creating different kinds of situation there must be brought under control and government of India must take necessary steps," asserted Sangma. Sangma proposed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with other political leaders to visit Manipur, if possible, to personally address the situation and appeal to the people to strive for peace. He said that such a visit would go a long way in rebuilding trust and restoring normalcy in the state. (ANI) Huberth Espinoza, 65, left, sleeps in a bed with his son Kalil Espinoza, 27, near a pharmaceutical disposal bin in the lobby of the District 5 police station on June 22, 2023. The two traveled from Venezuela seeking asylum and have been staying at the police station since arriving in Chicago in May. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Carlos Ramirez, who was a police officer in Venezuela before he says he was persecuted by government officials, now sleeps on an air mattress on the floor of a police station in Chicago. He and his wife Betzabeth Bracho have nestled their suitcases on a bench at the 5th District police station in Pullman. About seven weeks since arriving in Chicago from San Antonio, Texas, they have established a routine for themselves. They came to the city because theyd heard its sanctuary label made it a friendly place for migrants. Advertisement Before bed, they eat donated food and store-bought sandwiches in plastic containers, bathe in the public restroom, blow up their air mattress bed and call their two young sons across borders. Ramirez, 38, and Bracho, 33, havent been selected as part of the cohort of people with medical or special needs, families, or singles with other critical needs such as pregnancy who have been prioritized by the city for removal to temporary shelters, and like many recent arrivals, they are fine with that. Theyre getting better treatment at the police stations than they would at city-run shelters, they say, despite what onlookers might describe as inhumane living conditions. Advertisement The Tribune spent a night at the 5th District station to observe what it is like for migrants to fall asleep on hard tile floors, with bright lights shining in their faces, residents spilling into the station at any hour of the night and police sirens occasionally blaring. As of Friday, there were 4,878 asylum-seekers in 13 city-run shelters and 460 waiting in police stations, according to a statement from Office of Emergency Management and Communications spokesperson Mary May. Police district census numbers are analyzed each morning, according to the statement, and decompression decisions are based off volume of clients at specific stations, people with special circumstances, availability of space and transportation plans. Carlos Ramirez and his wife Betzabeth Bracho make their bed before sleeping in the lobby of the District 5 police station on June 21, 2023 in Chicago. The two traveled from Venezuela seeking asylum and have been staying at the police station since arriving in Chicago in May. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Individuals receive a service request number from 311 upon arrival in the system. This helps with tracking when they arrive, the statement said. As new arrivals and asylum-seekers continue to arrive in Chicago via bus and other means, City officials are working simultaneously to identify spaces to convert into temporary shelters and to assist individuals and families in identifying more permanent housing opportunities. Oftentimes when the number goes down, it quickly goes back up with additional asylum-seekers arriving, the statement said. Nearly two dozen buses have arrived from Texas since May 9, according to the city, including seven since the middle of this month. The city brought about 38 of the migrants to the 5th District station in early May and 12 remain, Bracho said on a recent night. 7:25 p.m. Bracho stood outside the station, and said she spent the day building houses. She said every day a man comes around 9 a.m. to pick up a group of men from the station in his truck and take them to a construction site. He drops them back off a little before 7 p.m. Ramirez can make $120 to $150 a day, and when she goes too, they make even more, Bracho said. In Venezuela, Bracho was studying to be a kindergarten teacher. Police officers mostly leave them alone, she said, but sometimes they give them bad looks. And they certainly dont try to help them, she said. Advertisement Were not here because we want to be. I want to leave, she said in Spanish. My husband goes out every day to find work. I go out every day to find work. Id like to tell them were trying to make money so we can move out as quickly as possible. Two to three times a week, a volunteer brings them to a different location to shower. Tonight, they washed off using a plastic bucket of water which they fill up in the sink, then walked to a store nearby to get hot chicken. The store was closed Thursday evening, she said, so they ate the non-perishables they had saved. No es facil estar aqui, said Bracho. Its not easy living here. She pointed to a cluster of bikes leaning against the wall of the station and said a group of volunteers had donated them. Most of them were kids bikes, and the volunteers had asked if the migrants still wanted them. Theyd all said yes. Brachos sons 7-year-old Jose Ramirez and 11-year old Jubert Javier are living in Venezuela with their aunt and grandmother. Advertisement 8:54 p.m. While Bracho showered and ate, others from Venezuela milled around the station. Huberth Espinoza, 65, lay on a metal bench outside with his 27-year-old son Kalil Espinoza sitting beside him. The bottom of his belly bulged out from his green T-shirt. Theyve been at the station for a month, he said. Espinoza said he also fled his country for political reasons, and is saving money to buy an apartment in the city. His face lit up when he described the way his country used to be, before Nicolas Maduro began cracking down on oppositional forces and before millions lost access to health care and nutrition. He said the inside of the police station can be loud and hostile at night, especially on the weekends. When its cold outside its worse, he said in Spanish. People urinate on the floor. Kalil Espinoza, and his father Huberth Espinoza, look at Kalils cellphone before going to sleep in the lobby of the District 5 police station on June 21, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Espinoza said he worked in solar electric in Venezuela. He said his 11 kids are scattered across Latin America, his wife in Chile. Advertisement Like many, his journey to the United States was brutal, he said. We came through the mountains, crossing rivers, women were violated, people died, he said, recounting the months he spent passing through Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras. Crossing from Juarez to El Paso was the most difficult, he said, because he was separated from his son in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement roundup in the Franklin Mountains. When he got to the United States, he turned himself into authorities so he could be reunited with his son. They have a court date scheduled in September, he said. He cried thinking about that time without his son, looking up at the sliver of moon which shone down on the police courtyard. The two now sat side by side, tinkering with a phone and data card Espinoza bought. When it got late enough, they entered through the revolving door of the station, pulled a donated mat next to an EZ Pay kiosk and in front of a used prescription disposal box, layered it with donated blankets and laid down side by side. They scrolled on Espinozas new phone. 9:16 p.m. Police officers drove up and walked to the counter to start their shift as migrants wound down for the evening. Advertisement Two women who didnt give their names to the Tribune lay close together on an air mattress and put a blanket over their heads, whispering. Later, they watched TikToks and laughed. 10:06 p.m. Sylvia Mares, a volunteer from the Chicago Police Station Response Team entered. She walked around with a pen and paper, hoping to take down the names of people who might want to be moved to a shelter. Everyone she asked said no. They are comfortable here, they have a job and theyve had enough unknown in their lives recently, she said. And many of them have heard from their contacts that conditions at other shelters are worse than at police stations. Sylvia Mares takes bags of clothing out of her vehicle before giving them to a group of asylum seekers staying at the District 5 police station on June 21, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) The Tribune recently spoke to migrants from nine shelters who said that they are crowded in hotel rooms or sleeping on the ground, eating cold and unappetizing meals and unsure of where to find resources. Volunteers have said they are unable to enter shelters and provide donations such as clothes and hot meals, and the city has rejected numerous requests by the Tribune to see inside. Mares comes two to three times a day to bring migrants food and resources at Districts 3, 4 and 22, she said. Alejandra Mendez, 25, in District 5 is two months pregnant and Mares has been helping her. She took her to buy a pregnancy test, and has brought her to the hospital for routine checkups, she said. Im just doing what I can, she said. Advertisement She calls them her kids and says they grow up so fast in three months. Mares was born in Chicago, but lived in Mexico for a large part of her youth. At Mares request, she asked Ramirez to gather a group of people to go through the trash bags full of clothing donations in the back of her car. People stood outside and held up shirts and shorts for a full view. They draped corduroys and sweatshirts and plaid shirts over their shoulders. Betzabeth Bracho, left, looks at her husband Carlos Ramirez, right, while the two talk with volunteer Sylvia Mares, center, as she handles a pair of shorts from donated bags of clothing she brought for a group of asylum-seekers at the District 5 police station on June 21, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Look, so beautiful! said Mares in Spanish to a woman holding up a satin orange blouse. She whistled. This one is sexy, with a flower, she said to another, picking out a sweater. Ramirez and Bracho lingered and followed Mares to her car. She gave them rental assistance advice and tips about how to search for furniture once they have found an apartment. Advertisement 10:38 p.m. Migrants refilled their trash bags after inspecting the clothing and entered the shelter to lie down. Through the windows of the station, people covered in blankets could be seen lying horizontal on the plastic mattresses. Old Easter decorations hung from the ceiling. Police officials walked briskly down the corridors on the second floor of the building, visible from the courtyard. Asylum-seekers sleep in the lobby of the District 5 police station on June 22, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) 12:26 a.m. A man wearing mostly black came into the station and put his stuff on the bench next to Ramirez and Brachos neatly stacked suitcases. He spent a few minutes rummaging through his backpack, stretched his legs on the bench and started to snore. The station filled up and then emptied out with various residents from the neighborhood, some going up to the desk to talk to officers. One woman had an arm in a sling. A man entered and four officers urgently followed him out. 3:36 a.m. A woman walked inside and slowly staggered to the front. Advertisement Is anybody going to get me a bologna sandwich? she said. Another woman entered the station, mumbling and pacing. She crumpled up on the floor at the foot of Ramirez and Brachos bed, covering herself with a light blue sheet, squirming. Carlos Ramirez sleeps next to his wife Betzabeth Bracho in the lobby of the District 5 police station on June 22, 2023. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Officials sat at the counter and typed. The automatic door opened and closed. Some migrants covered their eyes with strips of cloth to block out the light. Mendez, the pregnant woman, got up to go to the bathroom for the third or fourth time, carrying a plastic bucket with her. 6 a.m. Sunlight flooded the station, streaming in the windows on the individuals and couples who had spent days and nights traveling miles, riding trains, crossing rivers and jungles to get here. But packaged sandwiches and a few police officers who stare is better than living in constant fear, Bracho said. Advertisement Were uncomfortable, but all we can do is wait, she said in Spanish. She said she woke up feeling sad and stressed. She knew she would have to look for work, and wondered where and how she and her husband would find an apartment. nsalzman@chicagotribune.com The Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Sunday alleged that its fact-finding inquiry team was not allowed by the West Bengal state election commissioner to visit and meet the "injured" children in the Murshidabad due to model code of conduct which came into force ahead of the July 8 Panchayat elections in the state. In a series of tweets, Chairperson Priyanka Kanoonga asserted that it is the responsibility of the body to ensure help and treatment to the victims. On June 20, the NCPCR sought permission to relax restrictions on the commission's team to the state for a fact-finding inquiry. While replying to the request, the state poll body had advised that the visit of the Commission's team may be deferred till the completion of the election process."With reference to the above I am directed to inform you that since the Model Code of Conduct is in place in the State in connection with the Panchayat General Election, 2023 and the entire state machinery, including the district civil and police administration is involved with the election work, it is advised that the visit of the Commission's team may be deferred till the completion of the election process," read the notice dated June 21. "5 children have been injured in a bomb blast in Murshidabad, West Bengal, in this case, it is the responsibility of the body to ensure help, treatment to the victims," Kanoonga tweeted. As per the NCPCR chairperson, due to the implementation of the code of conduct for panchayat elections in the state, the permission of the Election Commission has to be taken to go there, which is a normal administrative procedure, and is generally given in matters related to the lives of children. Kanoongo termed the decision on the part of Rajeev Sinha, State Election Commissioner of West Bengal an "act of sheer cruelty and inhuman" while reminding him of his long-time association with child rights organisations. "Anyway, children are not even voters, yet the State Election Commissioner of West Bengal Mr. Rajeev Sinha did not allow us to go to meet the injured children, it is sheer cruelty, it is inhuman. And this level of insensitivity is when Mr. Sinha himself @UN has worked for a long time in a child rights organization @UNICEFIndia," Priyanka Kanoonga said in another tweet. The election will be held in a single phase on July 8, with vote counting scheduled for July 11. (ANI) Reacting to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement that the AAP-led Punjab government had failed to maintain law and order in the state, AAP MP Raghav Chadha said that the law and order situation has infact witnessed a "significant improvement" in the border state after his party came to power. "I think that Rajnath Singh has received the wrong information about Punjab. In Punjab the law and order situation has improved under the AAP-Bhagwant Mann government," Chadha said. "The law and order situation in Punjab is way better compared to the last few decades," he added. The AAP leader also reminded the Union Minister about violence in Manipur, which is a BJP-ruled state. "I request Defence Minister to see that Manipur is burning, lakhs of people are homeless, and thousands are dead. So take responsibility for it (violence) first before pointing out other states," Chadha, the AAP MP said. Pressing on the attack against Rajnath Singh, Chadha said that the "crime graph" in the national capital is on the rise, referring to the recent killings in Delhi. "In Delhi, Law and Order and police come under the jurisdiction of the Centre government. Every day murder, rape and robbery occur here. The crime graph is increasing in Delhi," he said, taking a dig at the Union Minister. "The Punjab government failed to maintain law and order. Taking the initiative to manage the law and order is the prime task of the government but this government failed," Rajnath Singh said in Chandigarh on Saturday. "The law and order situation, in both Delhi and Manipur, which comes under the jurisdiction of the BJP, is in a bad condition," AAP MP argued. Leaders of BJP and AAP have been engaged in a sort of war of words over the "deteriorating" law and order situation in Delhi. The Delhi Police comes under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. (ANI) Taking a dig at the June 23 mega opposition meeting in Patna called to strategize and "defeat" the Bharatiya Janata Party in the next Lok Sabah elections, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday said the opposition leaders had come together for their "own motives and issues". "They (opposition leaders) all are together for their own motives and issues," he said. Referring to the "fissures" within the Opposition, Poonawalla said, "This is not 'Gathbandhan' but 'Katbandhan' because they are not seen united after the meeting but showing differences and going away from each other". He was referring to the ongoing tussle between the Congress and the Aam Admi Party over the Centres Ordinance pertaining to control of administrative services in the Capital. After the conclave, Kejriwal skipped the joint press conference in Patna and reportedly threatened to give amiss to any such opposition unity efforts onwards in case the grand old party does not clear their stand on the Ordinance. "They all are together for their own motives and issues. Everyone is seeing how this bridge of opposition unity is collapsing," Poonawalla, said, taking a dig at the opposition meeting. The Opposition meeting decided to reconvene next month at Shima in the Congress-ruled state of Himachal Pradesh. On Friday, the Opposition meeting had been called to forge opposition unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The opposition meeting was called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar which was attended by leaders of parties opposed to the BJP. More than 15 opposition parties attended the meeting held at Nitish Kumar's official residence in Patna. The Opposition parties picked Patna as a venue for its meeting as it represents the 1974 call of total revolution by Jayaprakash Narayan that toppled Indira Gandhi's majority government. (ANI) Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday hit out at the Congress Party, reminding it of "committing a sin of subverting the Constitution" when its late prime minister Indira Gandhi imposed an emergency in the country today on June 25 in 1975 while reminding the youth how "dangerous" the party is for the nation. The Bharatiya Janata Party is observing "Black Day" across Uttar Pradesh to mark 48 years since the Emergency was imposed. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1672849384680345600 "Congress is the party that imposed an emergency in the country in 1975...They committed the sin of subverting the Constitution in the country and we (BJP) celebrate the same day as a black day," he said. "Today's youth must remember how much Congress is dangerous for the country," Union Minister for Education added. The Emergency was in effect from June 25, 1975, until its withdrawal on March 21, 1977. The party has decided to conduct the 'Maha Jan Sampark' campaign on the day. Under the campaign, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will address a public meeting in Gautambuddh Nagar while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and party state president Bhupendra Singh Chowdhary along with Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi will address public gatherings in Kheragarh and Agra. State's Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya will address the public meetings in Kairana, Meerut and Ghaziabad parliamentary constituencies. Several state BJP leaders will also address the public meetings in the parliamentary constituencies of Fatehpur Sikri and Agra. Emergency was declared for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The order was officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution due to the prevailing "internal disturbance." The Emergency vested upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed. The Emergency in 1975 is considered one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history. (ANI) Earlier, Morigaon police arrested a few cyber criminals who dumped many people using different SIM cards, PAN cards, and Aadhaar cards. Additional Superintendent of Police of Morigaon district , Samiran Baishya,inuing its operation against cyber criminals and fake SIM card racket, the police of Assam's Morigaon district arrested another criminal and recovered 238 fake SIM cards in possession from him. The accused has been identified as Aminul Hoque. said, "Morigaon police on Saturday arrested a person identified as Aminul Hoque hailing from the Goroimari area who was running a mobile SIM card retailer shop." The police said that the accused sold mobile SIM cards by using fabricated and forged documents. "He acquired and sold mobile SIM cards by using fabricated and forged documents. Earlier Morigaon police conducted operations in various parts of the district and seized more than 4000 SIM cards. During verification we found that maximum numbers of these SIM cards were used in cyber crimes," said Samiran Baishya. He said that they had earlier arrested a distributor of a mobile company, one retailer. "Earlier we arrested a distributor of a mobile company, one retailer and they had given around 24000 SIM cards in last two years. Now we have recovered and seized 238 SIM cards from Aminul Hoque and these SIM cards were used in cyber crimes, and online frauds," said Baishya. He said that the operation to nab such criminals will continue. "Our investigation is on and we will continue our operation against other persons also and will take action as per law," Samiran Baishya said. Further details are awaited. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday made a surprise inspection of the State Disaster Management Control Room located at the Secretariat and got information regarding the situation of heavy rains in the state, a press release said. CM Dhami obtained information from the Disaster Control Room about the present weather condition, rain situation, water-logging and damages caused due to rain in the state. Haridwar received 78 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, followed by Dehradun (33.2) and Uttarkashi (27.7), as per the India Meteorological Department. Instructing the officers, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the districts under the state where heavy rains are continuing and there is a possibility of heavy rains further. "Maintain mutual communication and coordination with all those districts. So that emergency situations can be dealt with in time. He instructed the officers to always be in alert mode for disaster relief and rescue operations, CM Dhami said. CM Dhami said that people living near rivers and drains across the state should be asked to be vigilant. "In case of rehabilitating the people, there should be an adequate number of night shelters and relief materials in each district. This should also be taken special care of," he added. He said that in the case of water logging, there should be adequate arrangements for drainage. "JCB machines should also be arranged in advance at sensitive places from the point of view of the disaster," CM Dhami added. He said that adequate arrangements should be made for health, police and SDRF personnel in view of the disaster. CM Dhami also inquired about the number of pilgrims in the Char Dhams and the present condition of the Char Dhams amidst heavy rains. He also observed Shri Kedarnath Dham live through online mediums, the statement informed CM Dhami obtained information about the current situation by talking to District Magistrate Haridwar, District Magistrate Pithoragarh, and Chamoli over the phone. The Chief Minister gave instructions to deal with the situation of waterlogging in various areas of Haridwar City at the earliest. He also instructed the officers to remain alert in Chamoli and Pithoragarh, the sensitive border areas from the point of view of the disaster, it added. During this, Secretary Disaster Management Ranjit Kumar Sinha, and others were present. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Minister Sourabh Bharadwaj on Sunday invoked "Mohabbat ki Dukan" to reach out to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi amid the ongoing tussle between the two opposition parties over the Centres Ordinance seeking to diminish Arvind Kejriwal governments powers. "I always see that Rahul Gandhi talks about love and says that Bharatiya Janata Party spreads hate. So if Rahul Gandhi is running 'Mohabbat ki Dukan', then whosoever reaches out to him, can get that love," he said. His remarks came after AAP and Congress locked horns over the Ordinance issue during the Opposition party meeting in Patna, days after Kejriwal asked the grand old party to clear their stand on the issue. "When he (Rahul) said that his party spreads love, then he has to show this also," Bharadwaj, the AAP leader said, referring to the Ordinance issue, without mentioning it. "Rahul Gandhi's Congress party is not in power at the Centre. So there should be no question of ego. But he may turn egoistic, once the grand old party returns to power in the next Lok Sabha election," the APP leader said, hinting at Congress's reluctance to declare their support against the Ordinance. AAP is counting on the Congress' support which has the highest number of MPs, 31, in the upper house of the parliament where the BJP does not have the majority. CM Kejriwal has met various opposition leaders to seek their support when the ordinance will be brought into the Parliament during the monsoon season. "So he (Rahul) needs to be balanced and show that he is spreading love," he said. 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 on the control of services. (ANI) The body of the woman has been sent to Lady Hardinge Hospital for postmortem, the Police added. Delhi Police said that Forensic Science Laboratory Division (FSL) team is present on the spot and a probe is underway. The deceased is identified as Sakshi Ahuja, a resident of Preet Vihar, Delhi. Sakshi Ahuja reached the New Delhi railway station at around 5.30 am with her relatives to go to Bhopal. Due to heavy rain, there was water logging on the premises. While trying to avoid drenched in the waterlogging she grabbed an electric pole which caused electrocution, said an eyewitness. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared brought dead. Lokesh Kumar Chopra, father of the deceased woman has blamed the concerned authority for negligence. "We were going to Chandigarh. I was in the parking area when I received the information that my daughter Sakshi Ahuja has died due to electrocution. This has happened due to the negligence of the concerned authority," says Lokesh Kumar Chopra, father of the deceased woman. Delhi and its adjoining states witnessed heavy rainfall on Sunday early morning. The southwest monsoon has advanced over Mumbai and Delhi bringing respite to people from heat, however, the rains caused waterlogging in several parts of Delhi and NCR. (ANI) Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary on Sunday said that in order to save the democracy of India, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has to be removed from power by all means. "Our primary objective, not only for left parties, for all secular Democratic parties must be to defeat BJP in order to save the constitution, save democracy," D Raja said while speaking to ANI. "When we approach elections, the electoral strategy, the question of alliance, the question of seat sharing, will have to be dealt at state level, striking into consideration the balance of political forces in each state," D Raja said. D Raja said that this is what the CPI has been saying in the Opposition meeting. "The situation is not the same in all states. The situation varies from state to state, but our understanding must be how to defeat BJP in the 2024 lok sabha elections," D Raja added. "As far as left parties are concerned, including the CPI, we are clear and we are of the strong view that BJP has to be defeated in forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. BJP rule has been proven to be disastrous, detrimental to our constitutional fundamental tenets, democracy, secular fabric of our society," said the CPI General Secretary. "How we can work out our electoral strategy at state level, taking into consideration the state specifics and the balance of political forces in a particular set. This is what we have been saying," D Raja added. He said that he put forward this point in the opposition meeting. On Friday, the Opposition meeting had been called to forge opposition unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "We're going to fight unitedly, all opposition parties, and for that we will be meeting once again in Shimla. We will continue our fight," Kharge told reporters regarding the opposition meeting. The next meeting of the Opposition parties would be held in Shimla next month, announced Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. After the Opposition meeting on Friday, Kharge said, that we will meet again in July in Shimla to prepare an agenda on how to move ahead together while working in our respective states to fight BJP in 2024. Earlier, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday said all the Opposition parties present in the meeting had decided to stay united against the fascist forces. "Leaders from Kashmir to Kanyakumari were present in the opposition meeting. We have decided to stay united against the fascist forces," Deputy CM said. After the meeting, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar said on Friday that the opposition parties had a "good meeting" in Patna and it has been decided to fight the elections together. The opposition meeting was called by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar which was attended by leaders of parties opposed to the BJP. More than 15 opposition parties attended the meeting held at Nitish Kumar's official residence in Patna. The Opposition parties picked Patna as a venue for its meeting as it represents the 1974 call of total revolution by Jayaprakash Narayan that toppled Indira Gandhi's majority government. (ANI) The police seized seven illegal firearms along with 17 live cartridges, one stolen car and one Motorcycle from their possession, the authorities said. The accused have been identified as Raju and Ravi. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act, said police. Earlier in March this year Delhi Crime Branch had arrested an illegal firearms supplier and recovered five country-made pistols and eight live cartridges. In February this year Special Cell of Delhi police busted three interstate firearms syndicates and arrested five people including four traffickers and one supplier along with the recovery of 38 illicit pistols during raids, the police said. (ANI) Marchers high-five people during a brief rainstorm along Broadway at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Mark Brandt, 26, and Wes Conkling, 30, got up at 7 a.m. to make it to Chicago from Aurora for Sundays Pride Parade. They sat on the sidewalk waiting for the procession to start, holding hands. Advertisement I love the oneness of it all, Brandt said. I come from a family thats pretty homophobic, if Im being honest. I havent always been able to be open with myself and who I am. The march, which is the biggest in the Midwest, lasted for hours. Dozens of attendees said they felt the historic levels of support for LGBTQ people that have grown over the past few years, despite recent anti-LGBTQ legislation and some backlash. Advertisement Brandt and Conkling said they are in a throuple but the third member of their relationship wasnt there. Conkling met Brandts boyfriend on Tinder, and the three of them have been together since February. Conkling donned rainbow suspenders and had a rainbow flag painted on his cheek. He said he remembers what it was like 10 years ago, and called todays attitude toward LGBTQ communities a radical transformation. As a transgender male, he said he appreciates Gen Zs more open attitude toward trans people. As an older person 27 or 28 starting this process, it felt really nice that there was this burgeoning community to slide right into, he said. People cheer along North Halsted Street while watching marches pass at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A marcher laughs in the rain during the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) From Uptown to Lakeview, floats, trucks, golf carts and cars decked out with streamers and flags rolled down the street. People danced, played brass and beat drums, hoisted signs above their heads, did cartwheels and honked as they proceeded. This is what Pride looks like, read one sign. Curiosity over judgment, read another. At one point, it started to pour. The crowd and the participants were unwavering, letting the rain pound down. They cheered and swung multicolored beads over their heads. One man bounced a baby on his shoulders, who cried out gleefully and spun around a small flag. [ At first Pride Parade since 2019, abortion ruling is top of mind: Were still here and vibrant and just as colorful as usual ] Laurie Hannigan, 60, from Oak Park, hadnt been to the Chicago Pride Parade in six years. She used to march with the Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association, in a float made from her pickup truck. Advertisement It feels pretty good to be back, Hannigan said. I mean, Im a little old to be marching this far, but itll still be fun. Hannigan and her niece, 26-year-old Jocelyn Davidson from Elk Grove Village, were passing out Pedialyte to passersby during the parade. Davidson, who is bisexual, said its getting scary because of recent political attacks on the LGBTQ community, making it even more important to celebrate Pride this year. Pride should be a happy, welcoming place, Davidson said. Participants ride motorcycles at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Advocates said Pride celebrations are crucial during a time when political conversations about LGBTQ rights have become more hostile. The parades history can be traced to the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a series of protests responding to a police raid of Stonewall Inn, a gay bar. Chicagos first Pride march was held on the one-year anniversary of those protests. Parade coordinator Tim Frye said that in terms of participants, this years parade is the largest in recent memory. Advertisement Its also different because of the past year of anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced in many states across the country, which Frye said has brought some anxiety. But nearly every organization that participated last year returned for Sundays parade, along with new groups and organizations, he said. There was just this anxious feeling, but (returning participants) really wanted to be out and doing it, Frye said. [ Advocates say Pride celebrations are even more important this year as attacks on the LGBTQ community intensify. Its terrifying. ] It was the first Pride Parade for 16-year-old Maisy McDonough and 18-year-old Katie Bavirsha. They both did their rainbow eye makeup and face paint in the car on the way to Chicago and said they were excited to see everyones outfits. People watch from apartment balconies during the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) A marcher fans themselves along Broadway during the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) They were marching with Cross of Glory Lutheran Church in Homer Glen. For Bavirsha, who said shes an ally to the LGBTQ community, Pride month is a time to celebrate community. Lets see where we stand as not only people in faith, but people who are uniting as individuals and coming together as people who are here to celebrate everyones differences, Bavirsha said. McDonough, who is bisexual, said shes excited to be united after a tough year for the LGBTQ community. Advertisement I think we really need the love of this parade, McDonough said. [ He was a giant: Chicago gay rights pioneer Richard Pfeiffer ran the citys iconic Pride Parade for more than 40 years ] Arshawna Brown, a 19-year-old from Georgia, said she met her best friend Shyann Moncrief when the two of them were 6. She started playing with my hair in the middle of class and she was like: Were going to be best friends! Moncrief said. Brown is now a hairstylist and the two of them are roommates in Rogers Park. They came with Browns family and set up a large speaker on the sidewalk to blare music and dance with her sister and aunt. They wore fishnet stockings and large hoop metal earrings with rainbow statement pieces: Brown in a butterfly rainbow bralette and Moncrief in a fluffy rainbow tutu. Moncrief is a recent transplant to Chicago, and said she came here mostly because she was drawn to the open environment. She calls herself a writer, and said her favorite thing to write is pretty poetry. My sister is actually nonbinary. I come from the South, where its a lot more conservative. You dont see as many open gay people, she said. The scene out here today, its striking. Advertisement Jovita Baber dances while marching at the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) The best friends are bisexual and said they are still on a learning journey. They were brought up Christian and have enjoyed attending Pride events together and discussing them after. Seeing people out here who are openly religious but still gay is very comforting. Its really cool to learn from that community and expand that knowledge, Brown said. William Tripp Kelley, 60, and Todd Armbruster, 65, wore matching rainbow jumpsuits and knee socks, grinning. We got these from my straight brother, whos gayer than I am! Armbruster said. He pulled down his pants to show off their matching Calvin Klein rainbow underwear, also from his brother. What are you doing? teased Kelley. Advertisement Marchers carry a rainbow version of the Chicago flag along North Halsted Street during the 52nd annual Chicago Pride Parade on June 25, 2023. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Kelley and Armbruster, who live in Edgewater, said they are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. They met at Touche, a gay leather bar in Rogers Park. We go back every year on our anniversary, said Armbruster, giving his partner a knowing look. Kelley is from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Armbruster from Houston. Kelley said he came here searching for a place where he could feel comfortable as he was. Chicago has always brought that. Even today, he said. We have a beautiful home. We live in a beautiful neighborhood. We have beautiful friends. He said he sometimes gets nervous coming to events like this because bad things can happen, referencing the mass shooting that took place in Highland Park almost a year ago, killing seven people and wounding dozens more. We cant let that scare us away, he said. Theres no stopping us. Were here. Advertisement vla@chicagotribune.com nsalzman@chicagotribune.com Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday said that the state government will form a dedicated special task force to combat the drug menace in the state. While presiding over a ceremony on the 'Pradhav' (Wipe out drugs) campaign against drug abuse, CM Sukhu said, "State government is contemplating to form a dedicated special task force to combat this menace. Our government has taken up the issue of making the Narcotics Act more stringent with the Central Government so that the properties of drug peddlers can be confiscated and strict action can be taken against them." "To tackle drug addiction and aid in the rehabilitation of affected individuals, the State Government plans to establish two State-of-the-art drug de-addiction-cum- rehabilitation centers in Himachal. About 50 bighas of land are being identified for setting up each center, which will focus on providing effective treatment and support to those in need," he added. CM Sukhu also highlighted the importance of modernizing the police department and said that government would extend full support to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement. "The state government has sanctioned four new police stations, with three to be located on the Kiratpur-Manali four-lane Highway and one in Bir in Kangra district," he said. He also said that despite the poor financial condition of the state, the present government was making earnest efforts to provide citizen-centric governance. "Special attention is being paid to the health and education sector. Besides, the state government has taken many green initiatives in the budget this year. It will take some time to materialize the results but Himachal would emerge as one of the most prosperous states in the country through collective efforts," he said. On the occasion, Chief Minister Sukhu also administered the anti-drugs oath to the participants. (ANI) Under the mega public campaign run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the completion of nine years of the Modi government, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, on Sunday, participated in a program held at Rajarshi Hall in Udaipur, Gomati District. The event aimed to bring together intellectuals from the region to discuss and garner support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India. The Chief Minister threw light on various achievements and initiatives taken by the BJP government in Tripura. CM Saha highlighted the government's efforts in implementing developmental schemes, improving infrastructure, and ensuring the welfare of the people in the state. He expressed gratitude to the intellectuals for their valuable contributions and urged them to extend their support to the BJP in the forthcoming elections. Admiring the BJP government, a participant stated, "Under the leadership of Chief Minister Manik Saha, Tripura has witnessed remarkable progress in various sectors. The government's commitment to inclusive growth and good governance has resonated with the people. I believe that the BJP will continue to work towards the betterment of the state and the nation." The Chief Minister further expressed gratitude towards the intellectuals for their valuable contribution and insights. He also promised to ruminate over their suggestions for policy decisions. Significantly, on the completion of nine years of the Bharatiya Janata Party government, the party launched a mega-public campaign to communicate with the public regarding their achievements and work done in the past nine years. (ANI) BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) on Sunday issued an advisory to ensure a safe and incident-free monsoon season for the consumers. Delhi and its adjoining states witnessed heavy rainfall early on Sunday morning. The southwest monsoon has advanced over Mumbai and Delhi bringing respite to people from heat, but the rains caused waterlogging in several parts of Delhi and NCR. To ensure that consumers in and around Delhi enjoy an incident-free power supply, BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), are undertaking all possible measures, an officials statement said. The discoms' monsoon action plan has an integrated and proactive approach, which is not only aimed at ensuring consumers' safety but is also aimed at minimizing the downtime of power supply arising out of exigencies during monsoon, the statement added. The advisory is as follows: Stay away from electrical installations like electricity poles, sub-stations, transformers, streetlights, etc. Caution children from playing near electricity installations, even if they are barricaded. Advise them not to play in parks that are waterlogged. Get the entire wiring in your premises thoroughly checked and tested by the Licensed Electrical Contractor. Put off the main switch in case there is water logging or leakage observed in the meter cabin. Put on the main switch only on ensuring that all faults have been rectified properly. Install an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) to help avoid shocks and mishaps. Keep a "Tester" at home. If a switch is wet, do not touch it. First, use a "Tester" to check if there is an electricity leakage. If need be, call your electrician. Power theft by hooking can be a serious safety hazard, especially during the monsoon months. In case of an emergency or a power disruption, consumers can reach BSES through- BRPL: 19123, BYPL: 19122. Explaining Monsoon plans, a BSES official said, "We are geared up to ensure reliable power supply to our over 48 lakh consumers and over 2 crore residents while taking all safety measures that are required during the rainy season. Consumers can play a very important role in ensuring an incident-free monsoon by following simple safety guidelines." Meanwhile, a woman died due to electrocution on the New Delhi railway station premises on Sunday, said Delhi Police. The body of the woman has been sent to Lady Hardinge Hospital for postmortem, the Police added. Delhi Police said that Forensic Science Laboratory Division (FSL) team is present on the spot and a probe is underway. The deceased is identified as Sakshi Ahuja, a resident of Preet Vihar, Delhi. Sakshi Ahuja reached the New Delhi railway station at around 5.30 am with her relatives to go to Bhopal. Due to heavy rain, there was water logging on the premises. While trying to avoid drenched in the waterlogging she grabbed an electric pole which caused electrocution, said an eyewitness. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared brought dead. Lokesh Kumar Chopra, father of the deceased woman has blamed the concerned authority for negligence. "We were going to Chandigarh. I was in the parking area when I received the information that my daughter Sakshi Ahuja has died due to electrocution. This has happened due to the negligence of the concerned authority," says Lokesh Kumar Chopra, father of the deceased woman. (ANI) Malay Ghatak met Choubey's family members and assured them of full support and cooperation from the party. Ghatak also extended financial support to his family from the TMC. Earlier on Saturday, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose spoke to the family members of the deceased TMC leader. Governor Bose instructed the State Election Commission to take necessary actions. Dhananjay Chaubey, who was the TMC's Adra town president was at his party office when he was murdered, the police said. The police have arrested two persons involved in his murder. West Bengal is scheduled to have its panchayat elections on July 8. (ANI) Former Manipur Chief Minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi on Sunday said that violence in Manipur has continued for over 50 days but PM Narendra Modi has not mentioned a single word about it, so it seems the Prime Minister is angry with the state. While addressing the national convention on Peace in Manipur in Delhi, Okram Ibobi said, "It has been two months, it (Manipur violence) has crossed 50 days. Till today, why the PM of this country did not mention Manipur? Not even a single word, not even a single tweet. It seems he is angry with Manipur. Though it is a small state, we feel we are protecting Myanmar's international boundary." He said a question arises why Prime Minister is silent on the violence in the state. "If the PM feels that Manipur is a part of this country, why did he not mention a single word? This is questionable. I asked him (HM Amit Shah at an all-party meeting) several embarrassing questions like this. He started saying that there is not much time and that there are more than 20 political parties," he said. Earlier today Manipur government extended the ban on internet services in the state for five more days to prevent any disturbances to peace and public order. According to an official release, the ban on internet services in the Northeast state, which has been racked by ethnic clashes and violence, has been extended till 3 pm on June 30 to "prevent any disturbances of the peace and public order in the jurisdiction of the State of Manipur". The government release informed further that the ban on mobile internet services in the state was extended due to the "persisting unrest". At the all-party meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the violence in Manipur on Saturday, he gave an assurance of restoring peace in the state while the opposition parties questioned PM Narendra Modi's 'silence' on the matter. The meeting was called by Amit Shah to take stock of the situation in the violence-wracked state. BJP national president JP Nadda, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and CPI(M) MP John Brittas among other leaders are present in the meeting. Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been constantly monitoring the situation in Manipur since day one and guiding us with full sensitivity to find a solution to this problem. Violence gripped Manipur on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). (ANI) Speaking at the inauguration event, the CM said Goenka staked everything to protect media freedom and democracy during the Emergency. Paying rich tributes to Goenka at the event, Adityanath said, "June 25, 1975, is considered a black chapter in the history of Indian democracy because of suppression of the freedom of speech. At that time, the late Ramnath Goenka was the bright pole star of the media world, who put everything at stake to protect media and democracy. He will be remembered respectfully whenever democracy and journalism are discussed." He added that Goenka fought a long battle and was a warrior in India's freedom struggle. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he launched the 'The Indian Express' in the year 1936 and worked to give voice to the common man, the UP CM said. "He showed the way the role that the media should play in a democracy," the CM added, eulogising the state stalwart. He said Goenka set the standards of an "unbiased media" and had a deep association with the Nationalist Media Mission. "From fighting for independence to saving democracy, the contributions of the late Ramnath Goenka cannot be forgotten," stated the CM. State Minister Nand Gopal Gupta (Nandi), Express Group Director Anant Goenka, Indian Express Editors Rajkamal Jha and Unnishankar, Bandita Mishra, Coomi Kapoor, Jansatta Editor Mukesh Bhardwaj and all the employees of Express Group were present at the event. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh strongly criticized the Congress party for claiming that democracy is in danger and questioned how they are having governments in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh. Speaking at public meetings in Agra on the anniversary of the 1975 Emergency and the completion of nine years of the Modi government, Singh referred to the Emergency imposed by the Congress on June 25, 1975, as a dark day for the country. "Today was the day when on June 25, 1975 democracy was strangled by declaring an emergency in the country. But the opposition says that democracy is in danger from BJP and democracy is being strangled. But I say If this was the case then how governments were formed in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Himachal," he said. He also stated that the Emergency will always be remembered as a dark chapter when millions of leaders were picked up and put in jail. Recalling the Emergency period , he said, "I also used to work as a district president in a district at that time. I was 23 years old at that time. I was kept in an isolation ward in prison for two and a half months. After being in jail for 16 months, I came out." Attacking the Congress and other like-minded parties, he said, "a meeting of opposition parties was called with an agenda to remove PM Modi from power at any cost. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has enhanced the honour of the country all across the world. India, which appeared in 11th place in 2014 in terms of economy, stands fifth in the world today". In an attack against the opposition parties, referring to the opposition meeting, he said, "Jugnuon ne sharab pee lee hai, ab woh suraj ko bhi gaaliyan denge' (Fireflies are drunk and now will abuse the sun)." He lauded the schemes of PM Modi- led government include tap water in every house, free ration and other welfare schemes. "Whatever the BJP says, it does. We promised to abolish Article 370, and we did and the tricolour is being hoisted in J&K. Similarly, a uniform civil code is part of the Constitution of India, why opposition parties are criticizing it? We are not stopping anyone from practicing their religion," he said. (ANI) Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha on Sunday said that the waterlogging situation in Mumbai due to heavy rainfall is under control and the war room is constantly monitoring the situation. Minister Lodha said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) war room is operating actively round the clock and in the last 24 hours, the war room received 1,200 calls and action was taken immediately. "As per the guidance of the Chief Minister and Deputy CM, I, as a guardian minister is here to assure that the situation is under control. As the rainfall was very heavy since last evening, the war room is constantly monitoring the situation. As we have worked properly there is no mishappening till now. 1916 is the emergency helpline number given by the government. Till now we received 1200 calls which have been immediately attended", he said. The Minister further informed that another war room is operating in Parel and added that the services are enabled to help people everywhere in the state. "There is another war room in Parel where we received 300 calls. Every call is being attended and people are happy with our services. The phone call services are there to help people anywhere and everywhere", he said. Talking about the Ghatkopar East building collapse incident, the Minister said that even though the situation happened, the rescue team reached the spot on time and rescued everyone. "Ghatkopar East incident happened but the team reached on time and rescued everyone there. It is not right to blame anyone we have to work together. With the help of the war room, tree felling incidents in Malad and Ghatkopar old were handled and provided immediate assistance. Falling of trees is natural during rains, we are working to remove them off roads and make the traffic and situation normal. The water is not struck anywhere. The buildings are being repaired and people are cooperating with us", he said. He further said that forces have been deployed in areas where there are chances of landslides. "IMD has given us a rain forecast of 5 days. Life Guards and Coastal Guards have been deployed on the seashore of Mumbai. Three NDRF teams and two additional teams have been deployed where landslides may occur", he added. Meanwhile, the IMD on Sunday said that the southwest monsoon is active now and has covered the whole of Maharashtra, it will move forward in the next two days covering other parts as well. "The southwest monsoon is active now. It has covered the whole of Maharashtra including Mumbai. Monsoon has also arrived in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and parts of Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu. It will move forward in the next two days and will cover other parts also," said Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra. (ANI) Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Sunday said that democracy was strangled and leaders were sent to jail after the Emergency was imposed in 1975. It is 48 years since the Emergency was imposed by the then-Congress government led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. While talking to media persons, Arjun Ram Meghwal said, "On the night of June 25, 1975, the press was censored during the emergency. Democracy was strangled, leaders were sent to jail." People who were sent to jail because of Congress are openly supporting Congress today." "It is not possible to imagine that the level of politics will go down to such a level. Our constitution makers would not have imagined this," he added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the bravehearts who resisted the "dark days of emergency" and worked to strengthen the democratic spirit. "I pay homage to all those courageous people who resisted the Emergency and worked to strengthen our democratic spirit. The #DarkDaysOfEmergency remain an unforgettable period in our history, totally opposite to the values our Constitution celebrates," tweeted PM Modi. The Emergency was in effect from June 25, 1975, until its withdrawal on March 21, 1977. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda also bowed down to the patriots who fought for the establishment of democracy by enduring immense tortures. "On June 25, 1975, a family due to its dictatorial tendencies killed the country's great democracy and imposed a stigma like emergency. Whose ruthlessness left behind even the tyranny of hundreds of years of foreign rule. In such difficult times, I bow down to all the patriots who fought for the establishment of democracy by enduring immense tortures," tweeted Nadda. Emergency was declared for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The order was officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution due to the prevailing "internal disturbance." The Emergency vested upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed. The Emergency in 1975 is considered one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history. (ANI) Officials said the Governing Body Commissioner (GBD) ISKCON, HH Bhanu Swami, presided over the Rath Yatra that rolled out with characteristic pomp and fervour. The annual Rath Yatra, which rolled from Palavakkam ECR, would cover Neelankarai, Vettuvankeni, Injambakkam, and Akkarai near Goyal Marble ECR, officials said. More than a thousand devotees participated in the annual chariot festival dedicated to Lord Jagannath. "The recital of the devotional songs (Kirtan) will take place until 9.30 pm, after which the prasadam (food offering with divine blessings) will be distributed to the devotees," an official said. The Rath Yatra is a calendar event celebrated with great enthusiasm and holds a special place in the hearts of the devotees. Earlier, on June 21, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the 'Rath Yatra' organised by the ISKCON temple in Agartala. Addressing the gathering, CM Dr Saha expressed the state's excitement and anticipation for the arrival of the Rath Yatra. Praising the efforts of ISKCON in organising Rath Yatras worldwide, the chief minister expressed his gratitude towards the individuals associated with the organisation. He said with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Mata Subhadra, he was fortunate to pull the rope of the holy chariot in the Baradowali, Taltala area. Despite heavy rainfall, the Rath Yatra saw a vibrant display of devotion and cultural fervour. Devotees, dressed in colourful traditional attire, pulled the decorated chariots through the streets of Agartala, accompanied by chanting and singing of devotional hymns. The procession attracted a large number of locals and tourists who eagerly joined in the festivities. (ANI) Kacy Krause turns on the faucet in her Rockton home, June 22, 2023. The Krauses, who live near the site of the 2021 Chemtool factory fire, now drink only bottled water after testing of their well water found toxic chemicals. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Testing during the past three years revealed nearly a million Illinoisans get their drinking water from municipal wells contaminated with toxic forever chemicals at levels exceeding state health guidelines. Another 1.4 million people in the state depend on private wells, including scores in the Chicago suburbs. But there has been no systematic approach to determine if any of them are unknowingly ingesting chemicals that build up in human blood, cause cancer and other diseases and take years to leave the body. Advertisement As far as the state is concerned, it is up to individual well owners to decide if its worth spending $500 or so to test their water for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. In one of only three instances when local and state health officials have stepped in, they found it difficult to persuade well owners on the south side of Rockford to get their water tested for free, even after being told some of the highest PFAS concentrations in the state had been detected nearby. Advertisement These are huge challenges we face in the modern world, said Dr. Sandra Martell, administrator of the Winnebago County Health Department. How do we ensure our communities have access to safe drinking water, and how do we get people to take steps to protect themselves? Nearly every American has PFAS in their bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Babies are born with the chemicals in their blood. [ Forever chemicals: Theyre in your drinking water and likely your food. Read the Tribune investigation ] Scientists are finding that tiny concentrations of some forever chemicals can trigger testicular and kidney cancer, birth defects, liver damage, impaired fertility, immune system disorders, high cholesterol and obesity. Links to breast cancer and other diseases are suspected. Yet PFAS remain largely unregulated. Manufacturers, users and sewage treatment agencies are fighting to keep it that way. Corporations and government agencies potentially responsible for contaminating water sources have spent the past year and a half lobbying against state regulations that would impose the first limits on six PFAS in groundwater throughout Illinois. If enacted, the standards would open the door to legal action by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and private lawsuits intended to force the cleanup of contaminated sites and steps to ensure well owners have safe water. Bad news Besides the Rockford neighborhood, several private wells are known to be contaminated in nearby Rockton, where PFAS-laden firefighting foam was sprayed after a 2021 explosion leveled a Chemtool lubricant factory. Mike and Kacy Krause are among the Chemtool neighbors who were evacuated. Late last year, officials from the Illinois EPA and county health department knocked on the couples door and asked if they could collect water samples from their well. Advertisement The request wasnt unusual, Mike Krause said. Shortly after moving in 20 years ago, he said, the Krauses discovered they had bought a house within a federal Superfund site, the governments designation for the nations most polluted industrial properties. The former Chemtool factory site in Rockton that was destroyed in a 2021 fire. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) State officials have routinely tested wells in the Wright Kiles Blackhawk subdivision since the early 1980s after finding cancer-causing solvents in groundwater near a former Beloit Corp. factory that manufactured papermaking equipment. But last year was the first time the state came looking for PFAS. The Krauses and their neighbors got the results in April. For many, the news wasnt good. It was just ridiculous, said Mike Krause, a construction contractor. Levels of one forever chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), were as high as 130 parts per trillion 65 times higher than the 2 ppt limit proposed by the state. The states proposed limit for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is 7.7 ppt. Testing in the Blackhawk subdivision found levels nearly four times higher. Advertisement PFOS once was used widely in firefighting foam and PFOA sometimes was an unintentional byproduct of foam manufacturing. Levels of both chemicals were generally highest at homes on Watts Avenue close to the Chemtool site. Mike Krause picks up some of the empty jugs he and his wife Kacy buy for drinking water, June 22, 2023, in Rockton. The Krauses, who live near the site of the 2021 Chemtool factory fire, now drink only bottled water after testing of their well water found toxic chemicals. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) Mike Krause blames the company for the 12 ppt of PFOS and 5.5 ppt of PFOA the state found in his well. It doesnt take a genius to figure out where it came from, he said, noting his family has sued Chemtool and has been drinking bottled water since being notified of the test results. State and local officials arent so sure. The now-destroyed Chemtool factory was built on the site of the former Beloit Corp. facility, and groundwater in the area generally moves to the southwest, toward the Rock River and away from nearby homes, said Kyle Rominger, chief of the Illinois EPAs land bureau. No clearly identifiable (PFAS) plume, Rominger said. No smoking gun. Unknown sources of PFAS There could be other, still unknown sources. For decades, PFOA, PFOS and hundreds of related chemicals were (and some still are) used in industrial processes and in products such as carpets, clothing, cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, fast-food wrappers, food packaging, microwave popcorn bags, paper plates, pizza boxes, rain jackets and ski wax. Results from testing in the Sandy Hollow area of Rockford were just as confounding. Advertisement The local health department asked state officials for assistance after the Illinois EPA found high levels of PFOA and PFOS in wells dug for the Family Manufactured Home Community near U.S. Route 20 and Illinois Route 251. As the health department went door to door reaching out to more than 50 nearby homes on private wells, the Illinois EPA sampled monitoring wells from the Southeast Rockford Groundwater Plume, another Superfund site. Like the Beloit Corp. site in Rockton, the one in Rockford has been in the Superfund program for decades. In 1990, about 200 homes and businesses accepted bottled water provided by the U.S. EPA to protect them from harmful solvents dumped by industries in the area, and the city later hooked up several hundred homes to the municipal water supply. When the state tested for PFAS last year in the Superfund monitoring wells and in several remaining private wells, they found the highest levels were outside the plume of solvents. It is unclear at this point how forever chemicals seeped into the wells. It would be great to find a source and stop it right there, said Martell, the Winnebago County health administrator. For now we are going to have to deal with immediate action people can take, in particular when it comes to protecting young children who are more vulnerable because their bodies are still developing. That means more people using water filters, Martell added, and eventually getting them connected to municipal sources of water. The Family Manufactured Home Community in Rockford on June 22, 2023. The Illinois EPA found high levels of PFOA and PFOS in wells dug for the development's wells. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) State officials said there are no plans to test for PFAS in private wells near the 43 other Superfund sites in Illinois or near communities where forever chemicals have been detected in municipal wells. Without PFAS-specific regulations directing them to look for the chemicals in groundwater, state officials said, they have no legal authority to do so. Advertisement By contrast, Michigan had tested more than 6,000 private wells at least once by the end of last year. Officials in that state were among the first in the nation to address PFAS contamination after high levels of the chemicals were found near a former Air Force base and in residential wells close to a former tannery. The Illinois Department of Public Health encouraged the states well owners to check its website to learn more about water filters certified to remove PFAS. The department also provides a list of laboratories approved to test for the chemicals. Companies reach settlements Government action to protect Americans from PFAS has been slow-coming in part because chemical manufacturers kept secret what they knew about the dangers. Documents unearthed during lawsuits show top executives at Minnesota-based 3M knew as early as the 1950s about the harmful effects of forever chemicals the conglomerate pioneered after World War II. 3M didnt begin telling the U.S. EPA what it knew about PFOA and PFOS until 1998 more than two decades after Congress approved the nations first chemical safety law. [ Illinois failed to take action even though it knew 3M had been polluting the Mississippi River with forever chemicals for more than a decade ] Until this year the chief manufacturers, 3M and DuPont, had paid nearly $2 billion combined to settle PFAS-related lawsuits without accepting responsibility for contaminated drinking water or diseases suffered by people exposed to the chemicals. 3M has long maintained the chemicals are not harmful at levels typically found in people. On Thursday, 3M announced the company will pay at least another $10.3 billion to settle thousands of other claims accusing the company of contaminating public water systems with forever chemicals. DuPont and two other companies earlier said they had brokered a $1.19 billion settlement in the same cases, filed by cities and water systems across the nation and consolidated in a South Carolina federal court. Advertisement The money is expected to be paid out over time to test for and treat PFAS-contaminated water. 3M said earlier this year it will stop making the chemicals by 2025. 3M agreed in November to test private wells and public water systems near one of its PFAS manufacturing plants in Cordova, Illinois, where for decades it discharged the chemicals into the Mississippi River without limits about 15 miles upstream from the Quad Cities. 3M's Cordova chemical plant on the Mississippi River upstream from the Quad Cities, on Dec. 7, 2022. For decades the company dumped highly toxic PFAS chemicals into the river and contaminated hundreds of acres near the plant by spreading the plant's sewage sludge on land owned by 3M. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) A Chicago Tribune investigation found the Illinois EPA knew more than a decade ago about PFAS-contaminated wells in and around the 3M plant. The state agency allowed 3M to enter a voluntary cleanup program and later signed off when the company said it was powerless to reduce its PFAS pollution, according to records and emails obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. The Tribune also identified more than 1,600 other potential sources of PFAS in Illinois through a national analysis of industry codes designating the type of products manufactured or used. Only California, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Florida have more facilities on the list of suspected polluters. More than 60% of the Illinois facilities are in Chicago and its suburbs, the Tribune found. There is at least one potential industrial source in 85 of the states 102 counties, yet there are still no limits on the amount of PFAS pollution released into the air or discharged into sewers. 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 > Back in Rockton, the state found two PFAS in a municipal well but at concentrations well below health guidelines. Low concentrations of arsenic and radium also have been detected over the years. Advertisement The results prompted Dan Enderle, a teacher at the local high school, to install a reverse osmosis system in his home to remove any contaminants that pass through the municipal treatment plant. While the levels have been below legal requirements ... we decided to invest in a filtration system, said Enderle, who has lived in Rockton for 20 years and plans to stay. Closer to Chicago, several residents on private wells in southwest suburban Homer Glen said they feel fortunate they installed reverse osmosis systems years ago at the same time their wells were dug into the local aquifer. Joe Turrise, a retired Nabisco machinist, has had his own water treatment system since 1997. Back then the chief concern was taste, he said, but the system is even more appreciated since the dangers of PFAS and other contaminants became more widely understood. It is a little expensive when you consider you need to replace the filters at proper intervals, Turrise said. But you cant put a price tag on good, clean water. mhawthorne@chicagotribune.com An inspection is currently underway. A training aircraft made an emergency landing at around 9.30 am on Sunday due to a technical problem, said the airport authority. According to the authorities, one pilot-cum-instructor and another trainee pilot were on the flight. Both are safe. Kalaburagi Airport Director Chilka Mahesh visited the spot and held an inspection, they added. (ANI) "He (CM Dhami) said that drug addiction is ruining the future of our youth. For the better future of the youth along with society, everyone will have to take initiative in the direction of de-addiction" said the official statement. The statement also added that the Chief Minister also appealed to the people of the state to take an oath to fulfil the goals of drug-free India. Drug Prohibition Day is marked on June 26 year to disseminate awareness regarding the adverse consequences of drug consumption. (ANI) According to the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Coastal Security Group (CID) A.Kayalvizhi, more than eight hundred people participated in the no-drug awareness program. The official said that school students from several parts of Chennai participated in the anti-drug awareness event and presented cultural activities, dance and mime acts to the common public. Deputy Commissioner Tamil Nadu Police Coastal Security Group and Tamil Nadu cine artists and a few comedians were among others that participated in the drug awareness programme, said the DIG. Many of the common people visiting Marina Beach also participated in the awareness programme, added the DIG of Police Coastal Security. The anti-drug awareness event focused on several aspects of the issue such as the steps to be taken to avoid drugs from the sea, the recent seizure of drugs by the TN coastal security group and information about Ambergris and Ganja narcotics. The Tamil Nadu Police Coastal Security Group and the DIG, as well as everyone in attendance at the anti-drug awareness programme, took a pledge and committed to say no to narcotics. Earlier on June 16, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Guwahati zonal unit conducted an Anti-Drug awareness programme at the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. According to the official statement released, Rakesh Shukla, Zonal Director, NCB, Kolkata delivered the keynote speech during the programme. "About 40 students and faculty members participated in the said programme," it said. The participants also took Anti-Drug Pledge during the programme. (ANI) Former Lok Sabha speaker, Sumitra Mahajan praised the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and stated that he has the yearning and restlessness to serve people. While addressing the programme 'Save Culture Save India Mission' organized by "Save Culture Save India Foundation" at Gautam Buddha Nagar University, she said, "I have been seeing the spirit in Yogi Ji to do something good for society ever since he was a member of parliament and I was the speaker of the Lok Sabha", said Mahajan. During the programme, CM Yogi presented a statue of Lord Krishna made of Firozabad's ODOP (One District One Product) glass of Firozabad to the former Lok Sabha Speaker. "I have been hearing about the bangles of Firozabad for a long time, but I was very happy to see this form of local product there. Only CM Yogi can give such shape to the product of Firozabad", she remarked. The former Lok Sabha speaker added that by giving a good shape to the local products of UP, CM Yogi has given them a global identity. She also stated, "Uttar Pradesh saw many chief ministers, but none could think the way CM Yogi did for the state. Only a person with good intention and the idea of doing something better can do this". (ANI) Punjab Police on Sunday said that it conducted raids at suspected hideouts of persons linked with gangsters-turned-terrorists Lakhbir Singh alias Landa and Harwinder Singh alias Rinda. Police said that simultaneous raids were conducted from 6 am to 11 am on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav wherein all the residential and other premises linked with associates of both criminals were thoroughly searched in all the 28 police districts in the state. "All the CPs/SSPs were directed to depute strong police parties to make this operation successful, which was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers based in India and Abroad. Police teams were asked to round up suspicious persons during the operation," Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said. According to police all the major places linked with Landa and Rinda were raided during this operation by 364 parties of Punjab Police involving about 2000 police personnel. "Today's searches were planned after the questioning of several persons arrested during recently busted modules backed by Lakhbir Landa and Harwinder Rinda," Special DGP Arpit Shukla said. "Several persons have also been detained during the operation for further verification and incriminating material has been seized from their possession. The material and data collected during the search operation are being examined further," he added. Also, a Tarn Taran Police party led by DSP Bhikhiwind arrested two associates of Harwinder Rinda identified as Arshdeep Singh and his brother Wattandeep Singh, both residents of village Kulla. "Two pistols were recovered including a .30-bore Star Pistol and a .45 bore along with 285 live cartridges of different bores, besides, recovering 100 grams of Opium and 250 kg Lahan (Raw material used to make liquor) from their possession," police said. (ANI) Thousands of people from the LGBTQIA+ community and its supporters took part in a parade in Chennai's Egmore to display their orientation as a part of Pride Month. People in colourful attire and flags proudly paraded from the Egmore Raja Rathinam stadium to the Ramada Hotel. The community that was dressed in rainbow colours carried rainbow flags which are considered to be an identity for the community. They also carried a pluck card demanding basic rights for LGBTQIA+ and raised slogans seeking support for the community from society. People from the community expressed their happiness for participating and being part of the pride parade walk. Many participants told ANI that they all are waiting for Supreme Court verdict on same-sex marriage and also demanded that Central Government do the needful. "This is my first Pride month. I am very happy and proud to be part of this Parade" said a participant in the Pride walk. Another participant said, "Our main demand is a reservation for the LGBTQIA+ community. Because when our own family and government has to take care of us, our last option is the government. So there should be basic equal rights to the community". Earlier on June 11, the LGBTQ+ community celebrated pride month in Vadodara and reached out to a large section of the society by dressing up in colourful outfits and dancing to the tunes of Bollywood dance numbers. The Vadodara's Pride Rally was organized by Lakshya Trust, an organization working for the LGBTQ+ community in which a large number of people from the LGBTQ+ community participated. Manvendra Singh Gohil, the founder of Lakshya Trust, was also present during the rally. He demanded to give equal rights to the community. He said, "We are citizens of this country and should be given equal rights like others. We have to face many issues. We get fired. We are kicked out of the house. It is tough for us to get an education. In terms of health also somewhere we are not equally treated. So, we want our rights." Pride Month is celebrated in June when people of all sexual orientations participate in parades to display their orientation. Despite education and awareness, society is hesitant to accept people with different sexual orientations. However, with these events, they also proudly present themselves in front of society without any hesitation. Pride Month honours all individuals who took part in the Stonewall Riots, a string of gay liberation demonstrations that took place in 1969. On June 28, 1969, police stormed the well-known bar The Stonewall Inn in New York City. The Stonewall riots lasted for days and started a protracted battle for the rights of the LGTBQ community. The discussion surrounding Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which sparked rallies across the nation, is linked to Pride Month in India. (ANI) Following the arrest of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran in a cheating case, former KPCC President and Congress MP from the State K Muraleedharan on Sunday alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's CPI-M in Kerala is the B team of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) though the Marxist party nationally supports Congress. MP K Muraleedharan said that the party will take on this action against the KPCC chief legally and added that it is a cooked-up case. "We will face this legally. This is a cooked-up case. LDF wants to divert the attention ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and gain some seats. Because in Kerala people are against PM Modi and are anti-BJP, people will vote for Congress and we will win all 20 seats, and there is no role for LDF. So they want to divert it. Marxist Party nationally supports the Congress party but in Kerala, they don't, because CM Pinarayi Vijayan's CPI-M is the B team of BJP", MP Muraleedharan said. Further responding to Union Minister Smriti Irani's remarks on the Opposition meeting in Patna, the Congress leader said, "Modi is not India, he is a Prime Minister. So many Prime Ministers have been here, India doesn't belong to a single person. But we can call it Nehru's India because he is the founder of Modern India. Smriti Irani knows in the coming election, it will be their defeat." Kerala Police Crime Branch on Friday recorded K Sudhakaran as being arrested in an alleged fraud case related to fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal. However, the KPCC chief wasn't taken into custody as he had already secured anticipatory bail in the case. After getting anticipatory bail, Sudhakaran told the media persons, "I'll fight the case legally. I have nothing to hide. I have already explained my position to the police and don't need to make any further statements to the media. Everyone knows about Monson (fake antique leader) and his shady business. He has already been punished." Meanwhile, the Kerala Congress condemned the move saying the "Congress cannot be intimidated by such blatant attempts to misuse law enforcement agencies to target opposition leaders". Members and leaders of Congress in Kerala observed a 'black day' on Saturday, as a mark of their state-wide protest against the KPCC chief's arrest alleging that the arrest was part of a political conspiracy by the CPI (M) led government in Kerala. (ANI) West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhary on Sunday said that the incidents of violence against children in West Bengal's Murshidabad is a 'serious' issue and not just limited to child or human rights but about national security. The BJP MLA said that the Central government should intervene in this matter and intelligence agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) should investigate. "I have filed a complaint regarding the whole matter against the State government and CM Mamata Banerjee. This is quite a serious issue. I demand the Central government to intervenee in this matter. Intelligence agencies like CBI and NIA should invesgate the whole matter. This issue is not limited to the child or human rights. It is about national security," she warned. The Musrshibad English Bazaar constituency MLA said that the state government has failed to protect children in West Bengal's Musrshidabad. She also claimed that bombs are being manufactured in every house in Murshidabad. "The administration, police, state security and the state government has failed to protect children in Musrshidabad. Bombs are being manufacturing in every house in the villages of Murshidabad and in all other border areas of West Bengal. Childern are suffering badly because of this," she said. Describing an incident of bomb blast a couple of days back in her constituency the MLA said, "A couple of days back, a serious bomb blast took place in a village in my constituency. Five childern were badly injured in this, some received critical injures. I got to know about this after seeing a video in my phone. I tried my best to find those injured childern to help them out but THEY were all missing along with their families. There houses are locked. No one has any information about them. The state police is doing nothing, just worshipping their CM Mamata Banerjee." Earlier in the day, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) alleged that its fact-finding inquiry team was not allowed by the West Bengal state election commissioner to visit and meet the "injured" children in the Murshidabad due to model code of conduct which came into force ahead of the July 8 Panchayat elections in the state. Chairperson Priyanka Kanoonga asserted that it is the responsibility of the body to ensure help and treatment to the victims. The NCPCR had on June 20 sought permission to relax restrictions on the commission's team to the state for a fact-finding inquiry. While replying to the request, the state poll body had advised that the visit of the Commission's team may be deferred till the completion of the election process. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party Sanyukt Morcha meeting has been called in Delhi on July 1, party sources said. According to sources, in this meeting, the National General Secretary of the party will also participate. On the completion of nine years of the PM Modi government, the 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan' will be reviewed and a report will be made regarding their work. Under the 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan', all the prominent leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are doing programs across the country. On the occasion of the completion of nine years of the Modi government at the Centre, party leaders and ministers of the government are holding a grand rally across the country from May 30 to June 30 to inform about the achievements of several welfare schemes and development works launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in the country, sources said. In the meeting, the upcoming elections and the program of the party will be discussed and a strategy will be chalked out, the sources further said. During the meeting, all the fronts will present their report to the party leadership regarding the review of the ongoing party program 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan' and the expansion of the party. The strategy will also be discussed regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections including the upcoming five state assembly elections, they said. Earlier, BJP's Sanyukt Morcha meeting was held in Bihar's Patna. (ANI) Former Manipur Chief Minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh on Saturday claimed that he was not given sufficient time to put forward his suggestions on how to bring peace in the conflict-ridden state. "When I started giving my suggestions, I think he did not want to listen. I do not know for what reason," Singh said in a press conference. "At the end of the meeting, I repeatedly requested him to give me at least 5 minutes to speak," the only Manipur representative added. The former Manipur Chief Minister had also mentioned in the meeting that it was not the time to score political goals. "I told him that we have not come here for a political game. This is not the time to politicise. We want to bring normalcy and restoration of peace in Manipur," the senior Congress leader said. The all-party meeting was called by Amit Shah to take stock of the situation in the violence-wracked state. BJP national president JP Nadda, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and CPI(M) MP John Brittas among other leaders were present in the meeting. In May, Amit Shah appealed for peace and warned of strict action against miscreants during his four-day visit to the violence-hit state. (ANI) As the Justice Department official who was responsible for implementing the 1994 federal crime law, I had a ringside view of changes in U. S. policing in the 1990s. I came to one clear conclusion: The single-most important factor in determining whether cities made real progress in reducing violent crime was the quality of police leadership. Three cities were the poster children for crime reduction in the 90s. New York City went from 2,200 homicides in the early 90s to 650 by 2000; last year, it had 433. San Diego went from almost 170 homicides to 54 by the end of decade; it had 51 last year. Boston went from 150 to 40; it had 41 last year. An independent assessment of police department effectiveness based on crime rates and other factors in recent decades put the police in those three cities at the top of the list. Advertisement Not coincidentally all three of those cities had exceptional police leaders. William Bratton in New York City brought to the job a relentless focus on reducing crime and a management structure designed to motivate and hold district commanders accountable for progress toward that objective. San Diego police Chief Jerry Sanders was called the father of community policing in America and was a pioneer in training officers on how to engage effectively with communities; he was later elected mayor of San Diego. Police Commissioner Paul Evans in Boston developed close working relationships with key institutions in neighborhoods, including churches; when he stepped down after almost a decade, the British Home Office hired him to come to England to assess and improve performance of local police forces. Under the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Acts Community Oriented Policing Services program, the Justice Department funded police departments in other cities around the country that saw substantial crime reductions. When we looked closely, we always found a strong police commissioner leading a successful effort. Advertisement For more than a decade, except for less than six months of interim leadership by Charlie Beck, Chicago has not had police superintendent of that quality. Chicagos crime levels show the consequences. When Phil Cline stepped down as superintendent in 2007, the city had tallied fewer than 450 homicides, down from more than 900 in the early 90s. But then progress stopped. In 2016, homicides shot back up to more than 700. If homicides continue at their current pace, Chicago will still have more than 500 in 2023 double or more the per capita homicide rate in the successful cities. A universal trait of the police leaders who made major progress was an intense focus on achieving community support for effective policing. Bratton often quoted the father of modern policing Robert Peels basic principle that the police must always have the trust and confidence of the community they serve. For Sanders and Evans, active community engagement was a central tenet of police operations. 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 > Another trait of these strong police chiefs was that they never made excuses. They never told people in any neighborhood that their safety had to wait until economic investment changed the character of the neighborhood or until social, economic or other conditions improved. Poverty in New York City went up in the 90s while homicides were cut by two-thirds, and in other cities, the reduction of crime extended into neighborhoods at the lowest economic levels. A new Chicago superintendent will take over a department that is subject to a 4-year-old federal consent decree mandating reforms. Los Angeles was not a 90s success story. Instead, the city spent the decade resisting an investigation into its Police Department that the Justice Department began under new authority granted under the 1994 crime act to seek federal court relief against a pattern and practice of civil rights abuse. [ Kathleen OToole and Charlie Beck: Chicagos consent decree can improve policing for everyone ] Finally, in 2000, L.A. entered into a consent decree much like Chicagos. Bratton arrived as the new L.A. police commissioner in 2002, and he and his successor Charlie Beck demonstrated that if leaders embrace and use it, a decree of that kind can empower police leadership to make necessary reforms and restore community trust. During the Bratton-Beck years and ever since, L.A. crime has been on a downward track to the point where it is today; notably, although it has about a million more residents than Chicago, it tallies fewer than half our annual homicides. One strength a new superintendent will find in Chicago is a network of violence intervention programs, such as READI and CRED. They are focused on enabling individuals to move out of gangs and other criminal activity and can work closely with police in the highest-crime neighborhoods. Programs of this kind were not widespread in the 90s. Another unique potential Chicago strength is that it has now created, under the auspices of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, elected councils in every police district. If district commanders and council members do their jobs effectively, those councils can be a potent means for community engagement and confidence-building accountability. Chicagoans inside and outside the Police Department are ready for effective police leadership. Based on what I saw in the 90s, a strong new leader can have a real impact on reducing violent crime. John Schmidt was associate attorney general from 1994 to 1997 at the Justice Department, where his responsibilities included the creation and oversight of the COPS program, the Violence Against Women Program and all other aspects of implementation of the 1994 Federal Crime Act. Advertisement Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. After Wagner mercenary force chief Yevgeny Prigozhin decided to halt his forces' march to Moscow under deal brokered by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kremlin spokesperson on Saturday said the charges against the Wagner leader who led armed mutiny against the country's military leadership would be dropped, The New York Times reported The Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S Peskov said Prigozhin will go to Belarus, and the fighters who rebelled with him would not be prosecuted by law given their "service at the front." "Wagner fighters who did not participate in the mutiny can sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense," New York Times quoted Peskov as saying. This comes shortly after the Belarusian president stated he was in talks with Prigozhin about an agreement to "de-escalate tensions." Taking to Twitter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus wrote, "At 9 p.m. tonight, the Presidents spoke again by phone. The President of Belarus Lukashenko informed the President of Russia about the results of negotiations w/ the leader of the Wagner Group. President Putin thanked his counterpart for the work done." According to several videos circulating on social media, Wagner's armoured vehicles started departing the military centre of Rostov-on-Don in southwest Russia on Saturday night. However, Prighozin did not mention about it earlier whether his forces were backtracking from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don as well, where critical military and civilian buildings were seized. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met prominent yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel in Cairo on Saturday and encouraged them to visit India. He also appreciated them for their commitment towards yoga, as the two instructors briefed the Prime Minister about yoga's popularity in Egypt. "PM @narendramodi held a warm conversation with two young prominent Yoga instructors, Reem Jabak and Nada Adel, in Cairo," the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi tweeted. "PM praised them for their commitment to Yoga and encouraged them to visit India. They informed PM of great enthusiasm for Yoga in Egypt," the tweet added. Meanwhile, one of the yoga instructors, Reem Jabak spoke to ANI and shared her experience after meeting the Prime Minister in Cairo. She said, "It is great to see that despite his busy schedule, he still had time to address Yoga and its importance to Egypt and all around the world." "I was very impressed that how he is very keen about the Yoga community in Egypt and how he aspires to bring more intellectuality and information to the Yoga community in Egypt. All religions in the world come from peace and this is something I have learnt from Yoga," she added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a yoga enthusiast and he proved it during his very recent state visit to the US. During his visit to the United States, PM Modi participated in a Yoga programme organised at the UN headquarters in New York. The special Yoga session led by Prime Minister Modi on the lawns of the UN headquarters in New York also entered the Guinness Book of World Records for drawing people of most nationalities performing Yoga together. Prime Minister Modi led a special Yoga session on the lawns of the UN headquarters to mark the 9th edition of the International Day of Yoga on June 21. As of now, PM Modi is in Egypt on a two-day visit at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Upon his arrival in Cairo, he was received by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and was accorded a ceremonial welcome, becoming the first Prime Minister to visit the country since 1997. He also met the members of the diaspora there and received a very warm welcome. During his Egypt visit, Prime Minister Modi held a roundtable with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly. (ANI) During the inaugural ceremony of a religious school, these religious leaders emphasised the importance of both the religious and modern science education. "We ask the Islamic Emirate government to let girls get an education in accordance with Sharia law," TOLOnews quoted Nasrullah Urfan, a religious cleric, as saying. "As a citizen, I ask the Islamic Emirate to open schools across Afghanistan," another religious cleric, Ehsan said, lamenting over the situation of Afghan girls in the country. Afghan girls have repeatedly called on the Taliban to immediately open schools and universities for them, however, there is no development on the situation of females' right to education in the country hit by economic and humanitarian crisis. Notably, there were 63 religious schools in Parwan province during the previous government. However, since the Taliban regained power in August 2021 after the US exit from the country, women are not allowed to work in the fields of education with domestic and international organisations, in gyms, or in public spaces. Taliban has rolled back a wide range of human rights of women and girls, including a ban on attending high school and university, and restrictions on movement and work. (ANI) The UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, at the 53rd regular session of the Human Rights Council said that in Afghanistan, women's public presence has been totally erased by the 'Taliban', TOLO News reported. TOLO News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul. Irene Khan said in a report that women's rights groups play an important role in the struggle for gender equality and in promoting the agency of women. "Women's rights groups play an important role in the struggle for gender equality and in promoting the agency of women. They have come under pressure as civic space has shrunk in a number of countries, the most egregious example being Afghanistan, where women's public presence has been totally erased by the Taliban," the report reads, as per TOLO News. Suraya Paikan, a women's rights activist, said: "Women's presence in a ministry or in an institution cannot make up for their equal legal rights." The permanent Representative of Afghanistan in the United Nations Human Rights Council criticized what he called the increasing violence against women and girls in Afghanistan. Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to UNOG, Suraya Azizi, said: "Since the unlawful takeover of Afghanistan, women and girls continue to remain at an ever-increasing risk of violence. Mr President, systematic discrimination against women and girls, a core element of the Taliban's form of rule, has normalized gender-based violence. The restrictive environment they face outside the homes has multiplied instances of domestic violence." "Ignoring women's ability to run the government and removing them from social, political, and civil positions will leave the nation with more economic and social problems and lead to personality stagnation in a generation," said Nazela Hassanzada, a women's rights activist. Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Taliban's political office in Qatar, challenged claims that women had been entirely exiled from the political and social sphere and said some women were employed by institutions of the Afghan government and that they would be assigned in other institutions as needed in the future. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Egypt has been hailed by analysts as a potential "game changer" for bilateral ties, according to Al Jazeera. The PM's trip to Egypt is expected to pave the way for a substantial increase in India's investment in the North African country and a ladder for Egypt to gain entry to the BRICS economic bloc. It is PM Modi's first visit to Egypt as prime minister and the first by any Indian prime minister since 1997. The visit comes months after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's January visit to New Delhi when he was the chief guest at India's 74th Republic Day celebrations. El-Sisi was the first Egyptian president accorded the honour. Prime Minister Modi's visit has been viewed as strengthening the bilateral relations the two sides had already elevated to a strategic level during el-Sisi's January visit. Analysts say it could also reveal the contours of how ties could unfurl in the days ahead, according to Al Jazeera. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi has said: "This is a very quick, reciprocal visit coming just within six months of President Sisi's visit to India. We do expect and are confident that the visit will not just ensure continuing momentum to the relationship between our two countries, but will also help expand it to new areas of trade and economic engagement." The visit from Egypt's point of view is more about diversifying partnerships beyond the Western bloc. For India, observers have said it is to consolidate its position as a voice of the Global South as it gears up to host the G20 meeting in September in the capital New Delhi. PM Modi, apart from bilateral talks and the signing of various trade agreements, will interact with the small Indian community and was expected to meet some prominent leaders in Egypt. India and Egypt have enjoyed close ties as they were the founding numbers of the 1961 Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), a global forum of 120 developing countries that believed in the non-alignment of major power blocs. Egypt's President El-Sisi has travelled to India three times. While Egypt has eyed increasing India's investment in the country, experts said New Delhi is looking for deeper access to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through Cairo. Aftab Kamal Pasha, who taught Middle Eastern Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, told Al Jazeera that Egypt and India have enjoyed friendly relations historically. "There are clear limits to what he [PM Modi] can get from the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] states, so he turned to Egypt," Pasha said. Pasha said El-Sisi would like to see Egypt join BRICS, a powerful grouping of the world's major economies including Brazil, Russia, India, and China. PM Modi "wants to balance China in the organisation" and also to prevent Pakistan, which Beijing wants inside BRICS, from joining, he said. Expectations have been high that PM Modi will announce India's support for Egypt's desire to join BRICS. According to analysts, close ties with Cairo can also hold significance for India. The most populous country in MENA, Egypt holds a crucial geostrategic significance as 12 per cent of global trade passes through the Suez Canal. Cairo can be a gateway to major markets in both Europe and Africa for India, experts said. India has also been concerned about China's growing influence in Egypt. Currently, China's bilateral trade with Egypt stands at USD 15 billion, double that of India's USD 7.26 billion in 2021-22. The latest bilateral trade reached USD 5.18 billion from April 22 to January 23. Senior research fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), New Delhi, Fazzur Rahman Siddiqui, told Al Jazeera that India intends to emerge as a significant power in the Global South. "Since Modi came to power, India has tried to broaden its foreign policy outreach. India has opened almost 20 new missions on the African continent," Siddiqui said. "Egypt has lost its voice in regional affairs like in Palestine, Ethiopia, and many African countries over the years. The kind of say it used to have; they have lost their shine. And Egypt is now looking beyond the continent, and India happens to be potential for its growing stature." He said by allying with Egypt, India could have a deeper access to the Arab world, Africa, and much deeper access to Israel. After taking over the G20 presidency in December 2022, India has invited Egypt to participate as a "guest country". (ANI) US President Joe Biden on Thursday doubled down on his remarks made earlier this week when he called his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a dictator, VOA News reported. Biden has said his statements regarding China were "just not something I'm going to change very much." Biden made the remarks when asked about the statement during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. He took another dig at the Chinese government. Biden said he believes that the ties between China and US are not in the same place as the US-India relations, adding that "is that there's an overwhelming respect for each because we are both democracies", VOA News reported. A senior administration official in a statement on Wednesday said, "It should come as no surprise that the president speaks candidly about China and the differences that we have. We are certainly not alone in that", VOA News reported. On Tuesday, Biden called his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping a "dictator" who was not aware of the "spy balloon" that entered the United States airspace in January, The New York Times reported. Addressing a campaign fund-raiser in California, Biden spoke about the Chinese balloon that entered the US airspace, straining the ties between the two nations for months. He said US intelligence agencies had learned about the internal confusion in Beijing during the incident. Speaking at the event in California, Biden said Xi Jinping was left surprised after a suspected Chinese spy balloon entered US airspace before the American military shot it down in February. Biden said, "That's what's a great embarrassment for dictators when they didn't know what happened," he said, adding, "When it got shot down, he was very embarrassed. He denied it was even there." Reacting to US President's statement, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson accused Joe Biden of "political provocation". Responding to a question regarding remarks made by Biden recently, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson reiterated her government's stance that the balloon incident "was entirely an accidental event" and that the US had taken out of proportion, The New York Times reported. Addressing a news briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning said the remarks made by the US President were "utterly absurd and irresponsible" and added that "they are a grave violation of basic facts, diplomatic protocol and China's political dignity. They are an open political provocation". At the press briefing, Mao Ning said, "The relevant remarks by the U.S. side are extremely ridiculous and irresponsible. They seriously violate basic facts, diplomatic protocol and China's political dignity," VOA News reported. She added, "China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this." The statement of Biden came days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited China. Although Blinken's Beijing visit did not produce a major breakthrough, he and Xi agreed to stabilize the ties between China and US. Blinken's visit to Beijing was initially scheduled for February. However, it was postponed after the Chinese balloon crossed into US airspace. The US Department of State has denied the notion that Biden's remarks were counterproductive to Blinken's efforts. Addressing a media briefing on Wednesday, US Department of State spokesperson Vedant Patel said, "We will continue to responsibly manage this relationship, and maintain open lines of communication with the PRC. However, that, of course, does not mean we will not be blunt and forthright about our differences", VOA News reported. Patel added, "We have been very clear about the areas in which we disagree, including the clear differences we see when it comes to democracies and autocracies." Biden's recent remarks have brought the focus back to the balloon incident. (ANI) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko became the mediator and avoided a possible bloodbath by convincing the increasingly isolated Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) founder Yevgeny Prigozhin to give up his command and withdraw to Belarus, reported TASS News Agency. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that the Belarusian President volunteered because he has been acquainted with Prigozhin for about 20 years. "You will likely ask me why precisely President Lukashenko [became the mediator]? The thing is that Alexander Grigoryevich has known Prigozhin personally for a long time, about 20 years, and this was his personal initiative which was coordinated with President Putin," the Kremlin official said. Putin's press secretary stressed that June 24 was a "rather difficult day, literally filled with these tragic events." "You know that as a result, it was possible to resolve this situation without further losses, without further escalating the level of tensions," he said. "The two presidents, indeed, agreed on President Lukashenko providing mediating efforts on settling the situation [with the Wagner PMC]. We hold this readiness in high esteem," the Kremlin official concluded, as per TASS News Agency. According to informed Russia watchers, the Kremlin could not afford to go all out against Prigozhin and Wagner after their victories in Ukraine and the heavy price they paid for Russia. The mutiny could have escalated into a civil war if not nipped in the bud, given Prigozhin's highly unstable and abrasive character and the support he obviously had from the West. According to Scott Ritter, Prigozhin had been 'turned' by MI6 which had promised him the highest reward if he could get himself appointed as Minister of Defence and start negotiations with Ukraine. There was no basis for those claims but the goal was to demoralise the Russians and proclaim himself the saviour of Russia with a blank cheque to do what he would deem fit to stop the war (presumably rush into a deal with the West), as per informed Russia watchers. Earlier, on Saturday morning, Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a Telegram post, announced that his men had crossed the border from Ukraine into southern Russia and were ready to go "all the way" against the Russian military. He said he and his men would destroy anyone who stood in their way. "But we will destroy anyone who stands in our way," he said, adding, "We are moving forward and will go until the end." As the Wagner troops were said to be driving into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, Prigozhin said border guards greeted his mercenaries, reported ABC News. He said young conscripts at checkpoints stood back and offered no resistance, adding that his forces "aren't fighting against children. "After Prigozhin's statement, Russia's President Vladimir Putin in a televised address to the nation said the "armed mutiny" by the Wagner Group is a "stab in the back", vowing to punish those who were on the "path of treason" or anyone who takes up arms against the Russian military. (ANI) A police official was killed and two others were injured when a police van was targeted in a bomb blast at Chakar Azam Chowk by a female suicide attacker on Saturday, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. Kech Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammad Baloch said that the suicide attack happened in Balochistan's Turbat and one of the injured police officers was a female. He added that the bomb disposal squad and security forces had cordoned off the area while further investigation was underway. Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, Balochistan's Chief Minister condemned the blast and expressed regret at the news of the dead and injured police officials. He also extended his condolences to their families, as per Dawn. "The aim of terrorism is to halt the development process and intimidate the security forces. The evil intentions of terrorists will never be successful," the chief minister said in a statement, adding that the determination and courage of the security forces would not be dented by such acts. He further said, "The sensible people of Makran will thwart the ambitions of elements who are against development," he said, adding that the people's welfare would be ensured and the backwardness of the province would be eliminated by continuing the process of development, according to Dawn. Balochistan Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove also condemned the incident and sought a report. He said the plans of terrorists at the behest of "foreign forces" would be thwarted and lauded the sacrifices of security officials. "The war against terrorism will continue until peace is achieved," Langove said and offered prayers for the dead and injured," he said. Four security personnel were killed and one was injured in an attack in Turbat, in December. According to official sources, unknown militants had attacked a vehicle of Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan (South) in the Dannuk Gogdan area of Turbat, as per Dawn. The FC personnel had engaged the attackers and after a heavy exchange fire, four were killed, including a subedar. It is also pertinent to mention that the suicide bomber of the April 2022 Karachi University attack, identified as Shari Baloch alias Brimash, was born in Turbat in 1991, reported Dawn. (ANI) In the second attack on the Sikh community in two consecutive days in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial capital, a victim was shot dead after unidentified armed men opened fire at him, The News International reported. The victim was identified as Manmohan Singh who was murdered by unidentified assailants in Kakshal locality on Saturday. "Manmohan Singh, 34, was on his way home in an auto-rickshaw on Saturday evening when unidentified armed men opened fire on him near Guldara, Kakshal," a spokesman for the capital city police said on Saturday night. He was taken to hospital but he succumbed to injuries. The official said senior police officials and investigation teams have rushed to the spot to collect CCTV footage and other evidence. Besides, a search operation was also launched in the vicinity to arrest the culprits, reported The News International. The inspector general of police Akhtar Hayat Khan said he has tasked the capital city police to arrest the culprits at the earliest. A day earlier another Sikh was shot and injured in the Dabgari area of the provincial capital. The second incident in two days triggered concerns among the locals. The victim was identified as Tarlug Singh son of Makhan Singh was shot in the leg by unidentified armed men in Dabgari. He was taken to hospital where his condition was out of danger. In recent months, a Sikh was shot dead in his shop in Dir Colony. Also, attacks on Sikhs were reported near Kohat Adda and Sarband last year. It's the third attack on a Sikh community member this year in Pakistan. Last month, assailants gunned down Sardar Singh in a drive-by shooting in the eastern city of Lahore. Singh, 63, received a fatal gunshot to the head. Police officer Asad Abbas said the bodyguard was wounded in the attack, according to Pakistan Today. In April, gunmen shot and killed Dayal Singh in Peshawar. In the same city in May 2022, gunmen killed two members of the Sikh community. Last year, in May, May 15 recently, two Sikh traders--Kuljeet and Ranjit Singh- - were murdered on the outskirts of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Asian Lite International reported. This was the 'twelfth' incident, which was reported between 2014-2022 when Sikhs were targeted by extremists in KP province alone. Moreover, in September last year, Satnam Singh, a Sikh Unani medicine practitioner was shot down inside his clinic in Peshawar, the report added, citing the local community. (ANI) Corn grows among a barley cover crop on Richard Lyons downstate farm on May 10, 2023. Lyons, 77, urged Illinois lawmakers to pass legislation that would provide financial incentives to farmers who adopt practices like cover crops and reduced tillage that could prevent soil erosion. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune) The 2023 Farm Bill, under consideration in Congress, could reshape agricultural policy by shifting federal resources to encourage farmers and ranchers to practice healthy soil management techniques. These techniques would help prevent erosion and deadly dust storms like the one that occurred in May. It would also reduce the problems of water scarcity and pollution, nutrient deficiencies in soil and losses from farms that threaten farmers livelihoods. In addition, this approach would foster the growth of more nutritious food for consumers and the potential to make farming more profitable because of the reduced need for fertilizers and pesticides. Advertisement The disastrous crashes on Interstate 55 on May 1, caused by strong winds blowing dirt from farm fields, killed eight people and injured dozens of others. The dust was fertile topsoil from newly plowed farm fields. Implementing climate-smart regenerative agriculture practices, including no-till and cover crops on farms, would prevent future dust storms and tragedies. Researchers from Earths Future estimate the Midwest has lost more than 57 billion metric tons of soil in the last 160 years. Smithsonian Magazine indicated this loss of topsoil has occurred despite conservation efforts implemented in the 1930s after the Dust Bowl; it is estimated to be double what the U.S. Department of Agriculture says is sustainable. The USDA has reported that no-till practices have been implemented by 51% of soybean, cotton, corn and wheat farmers in the U.S., but other studies have shown that cover crops plants grown during the offseason that are also part of the solution protect only 4.8% (1 in 20 acres) of corn and soybeans across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota. A satellite-imagery study conducted by the Environmental Working Group confirmed the number of acres protected by cover crops is a small percentage. Advertisement Farmers need incentives in the 2023 Farm Bill to expand cover crops to mitigate topsoil loss from high wind conditions and rainstorms. We need to see the broader consequences of our eroding topsoil and press federal policymakers to include incentives for soil health management practices in the Farm Bill. The focus now should be on preventing future tragedies. Donna Twickler, Don Viecelli and Pamela Tate, Climate Reality Project, Chicago Bill would encourage cover crops Conservation practices in farming are crucial to risk mitigation, as a recent Tribune story mentions (Focus on farmers: Planting methods getting reexamined after fatal I-55 dust storm crash, June 19). Planting cover crops is one of these important practices, and I have introduced a bipartisan bill with fellow Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost to federalize a $5 per acre crop insurance discount to farmers who plant cover crops. Climate change has already made the federal crop insurance program more expensive and challenging to manage as drought, rain and extreme weather further stress our soils. Crop insurance payments have risen more than 400% for drought-related losses and nearly 300% for rain and flooding-related losses between 1995 and 2020. Unless we act, climate change will continue to exacerbate losses. Cover crops can help farmers mitigate this risk. A 2023 study found that higher cover-crop adoption led to lower levels of crop insurance losses due to prevented planting. Another study found that just a 1% increase in cover crop adoption led to nearly $40 million in savings from reduced prevented planting-related indemnities. With climate change threatening our food system, practices that build soil resilience are more crucial than ever. No one knows the importance of the soil that sustains us better than our farmers; they will play a vital role in achieving resiliency. In addition to supporting low-risk farming, cover crops prevent erosion, improve soil health and water quality, enhance soil water availability, suppress weeds, help control pests and diseases, increase biodiversity, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon. The bipartisan COVER Act would reward farmers who opt for risk mitigation and conservation practices. U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-Downers Grove Advertisement Support for regenerative farmers Im an eater! And I support regenerative farmers who grow food for consumption and specialty crops and build resilience in the local food system. I appreciate the background and lived experiences of Illinois farmers. Readers and all Illinoisans will gain awareness and knowledge through stories like the Tribune recounting of the terrible Interstate 55 dust storm that destroyed innocent lives. Amy Bartucci, Park Ridge My sisters wonderful caretakers Like letter writer Kathleen Melia (Final kindness to my dying dad, June 18), my sister was cared for in her dying days by angels here on earth. Julie had Down syndrome and lived at home for 30 years and at Misericordia Home for 30 years. She certainly outlived her original life expectancy of 12 years with a full life! During her last years with Alzheimers, we were blessed with Misericordias foresight to provide a continuum of care for its residents and the most amazing caretakers. Not only were these loving women with us all along the journey of Julies death, but after she passed, they had us leave the room, and they changed her from her pajamas to a beautiful white top and folded her arms across her chest. She looked so peaceful. 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 > I wish there could be words to truly express our thanks. We are forever grateful to these loving women for taking care of Julie in life and at the time of her death. Advertisement Patty Wolfe, Mount Prospect We are able to see the good Many compliments to Jane Artabasy on her letter Loss of lightness in society (June 17). Her poignant sentiments echoed my own thoughts in that we often seem to be a society that focuses on the negatives rather than on the beauty and joy of the world around us. We can change. We can look for the light. We can look for the good that is present in us all. Most importantly, we can try to love each other without judgment or fear. Thank you to Artabasy for a beautifully written letter that should remind us all that life is to be enjoyed and treasured. Traci Harris, Oswego Join the conversation in our Letters to the Editor Facebook group. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during which they signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership". Both the leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two nations, including in trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy, cultural and people-to-people ties. The two sides signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral partnership to a "strategic partnership." In addition, three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities and competition law were also signed between India and Egypt. Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "PM @narendramodiheld a productive meeting with President @AlsisiOfficial in Cairo on 25 June 2023 The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in trade & investment, defence & security, renewable energy, cultural and people to people ties. An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" was signed by the leaders. Three MoUs in the fields of Agriculture, Archaeology & Antiquities and Competition Law were also signed." Earlier, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conferred PM Modi with the highest state honour of Egypt, the 'Order of Nile. Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "A mark of abiding friendship between & ! PM @narendramodi was conferred with the highest civilian honour of Egypt, the 'Order of the Nile', by President @AlsisiOfficial in Cairo on 25 June 2023." PM Modi also visited the Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture." After visiting the Al-Hakim Mosque, PM Modi, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday, went to Heliopolis War Cemetery and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during the First World War. PM Modi is on a state visit to Egypt from June 24-25. On Saturday, PM Modi held a roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo. He also met thought leaders in Egypt as a part of his two-day visit to the Arab nation. PM Modi had a productive discussion with Hassan Allam, CEO of one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region. The two leaders discussed possibilities of forging closer cooperation with Indian companies in renewable energy and green hydrogen. Taking to Twitter, Arindam Bagchi wrote, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Mohamed Medhat Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Properties in Cairo, Egypt. PM @narendramodi held a fruitful meeting with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East & North African region." After landing in Egypt, the prime minister arrived at a hotel in Cairo amid a rousing welcome and chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Modi Modi'. Several members of the Indian community were present at the Ritz Carlton Hotel to welcome PM Modi. The Indian diaspora displayed their enthusiasm by waving the Tricolour and chanting "Modi Modi" and "Vande Mataram" slogans. Many people also sang Indian songs and presented cultural programmes to welcome PM Modi. (ANI) Afghan refugees in Pakistan face numerous challenges, including arbitrary detentions, harassment, and imprisonment by Pakistani police due to failing to provide valid residential permits and visas, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported. Pakistan is one of the primary destinations where Afghan refugees have travelled to after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. After the Taliban's return to power in 2021, new waves of Afghan refugees shifted to Iran and Pakistan due to various reasons, including fearing death threats and persecution by the Taliban. In spite of the refugees having the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) certificate, Pakistani police and other relevant agencies continue detaining and incarcerating Afghan refugees in various parts of the country, including Islamabad, Khaama Press reported. Earlier, Maniza Kakar, an attorney of Afghan prisoners in Karachi claimed Pakistani police tore the residential documents of some Afghan nationals while they were arrested, the report said. Pakistani government's mistreatment of Afghan refugees has been termed as "inhuman and hateful," sparking criticism in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other nations. "In less than two years, I have been detained three times by the police - harassed, humiliated and bitten due to not having a valid residential permit. Life has become extremely difficult for me in Pakistan. Every time, I come across police, I keep running from one ally to another to avoid possible imprisonment and forceful deportation to Afghanistan," Khaama Press quoted an Afghan refugee as saying. Another Afghan refugee who recently moved to France told Khaama Press that Pakistan does not give them anything other than sufferings. He called on other immigrants to follow up on their immigrant cases or otherwise, they will continuously face mistreatment, harassment and humiliation, according to Khaama Press. The majority of Afghan refugees who are currently living in Pakistan have a migration case to one of the countries, the procedure of which has become extremely lengthy at the moment, resulting in ambiguity and hopelessness for refugees. Earlier on June 13, the Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said that Pakistan has deported some 531 Afghan refugees, including women and children, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported. In a tweet, the Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said that Afghan refugees entered Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak crossing point in Southern Kandahar province on Sunday and Monday respectively, Khaama Press reported. It further said that the refugees were introduced to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to receive necessary aid. In the past months, Taliban officials have reported that about thousands of Afghan refugees returning to the country either forcefully or willingly from Iran and Turkey. Meanwhile, Pakistani police have arrested hundreds of Afghan nationals as they were not able to give legal stay permits (Visas) from Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other major cities during the last week, the report said. (ANI) After Egypt has requested to join the BRICS economic group, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that member countries are examining requests and simutaneouly deliberating on the criteria of expansion of the BRICS membership. "Currently, the member countries of the BRICS are examining all these requests on one hand, but on the other hand, they are also currently discussing between them as to what should be the criteria of expansion of the BRICS membership, what should be the process and procedure relating to that. That is yet to arrive," Kwatra said while answering the question on Egypt's request for BRICS membership. "BRICS takes all its decisions by consensus. So from our side, we are a very active participant along with other BRICS countries in that process. Right now, that is the current status. But we are looking actively at all the applications, naturally, including a very friendly and strategic partner like Egypt in the expanded structure of the BRICS," Kwatra said in a special briefing on Prime Minister's visit to Egypt. This statement came after Egypt submitted its application to join BRICS, Russian Ambassador to Cairo Georgy Borisenko confirmed, TASS News Agency reported. On Wednesday, 14 June, Egypt began the process of potential accession to the BRICS - the country has filed an application to join the five countries. This was reported by TASS, citing the message of the Russian Ambassador to Cairo, Georgy Borisenko. "Egypt has submitted its application to join the BRICS group because one of the endeavors that BRICS is currently pursuing is to shift trade to alternative currencies, be it national currencies or a new common currency. Egypt is very much interested in that," the envoy said in an interview with TASS. According to him, Egypt is eager to boost trade and economic cooperation with Russia. "New payment mechanisms are being created for trade transactions," the ambassador added. The foreign ministers of BRICS member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) held a meeting in Cape Town on June 2. The meeting was also attended by top diplomats from the 12 countries of the Global South that wish to join the group, namely Argentina, Bangladesh, Comoros, Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. (ANI) Concluding his first State visit to Egypt and the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emplaned for India. Earlier, on Sunday, PM Modi held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during which they signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership". Both the leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two nations, including in trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy, cultural and people-to-people ties. The two sides signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral partnership to a "strategic partnership." In addition, three Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities and competition law were also signed between India and Egypt. Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "PM @narendramodi held a productive meeting with President @AlsisiOfficial in Cairo on 25 June 2023 The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in trade & investment, defence & security, renewable energy, cultural and people to people ties. An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" was signed by the leaders. Three MoUs in the fields of Agriculture, Archaeology & Antiquities and Competition Law were also signed." Earlier, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conferred PM Modi with the highest state honour of Egypt, the 'Order of Nile'. PM Modi also visited the Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. Taking to Twitter, he said, "Honored to visit the historic Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. It's a profound testament to Egypt's rich heritage and culture." Later in the day, PM Modi, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday, went to Heliopolis War Cemetery and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during the First World War. On Saturday, PM Modi held a roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo. He also met thought leaders in Egypt as a part of his two-day visit to the Arab nation. PM Modi had a productive discussion with Hassan Allam, CEO of one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East and North African region. The two leaders discussed possibilities of forging closer cooperation with Indian companies in renewable energy and green hydrogen. Taking to Twitter, Arindam Bagchi wrote, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Mohamed Medhat Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Properties in Cairo, Egypt. PM @narendramodi held a fruitful meeting with Hassan Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding Company, one of the largest Egyptian companies operating in the Middle East & North African region." After landing in Egypt, the prime minister arrived at a hotel in Cairo amid a rousing welcome and chants of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Modi Modi'. Several members of the Indian community were present at the Ritz Carlton Hotel to welcome PM Modi. The Indian diaspora demonstrated their enthusiasm around PM Modi's visit by waving the Tricolour and chanting "Modi Modi" and "Vande Mataram" slogans. Many also sang Indian songs and presented cultural programmes to welcome PM Modi. (ANI) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on Saturday, lashed out at former US President Barack Obama for his comments on Indian Muslims and said that under his reign, the United States had bombed six Muslim-dominated countries. While addressing a press conference in Delhi, Nirmala Sitharaman said, "It was surprising that when the PM was visiting the US and telling people about India, a former US President (Barack Obama) was making a statement on Indian Muslims...I am speaking with caution, we want a good friendship with the US, but they comment on India's religious tolerance. Perhaps 6 Muslim-dominated countries were bombed due to him (Obama)... More than 26,000 bombs were dropped." This comment came after US former President Barack Obama, during a media interview, said if ethnic minorities are not protected, there is a strong possibility of the country "at some point starts pulling apart". Obama's made the remarks during an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour and said if President Joe Biden meets with PM Modi, "the protection of the Muslim minority in a majority Hindu India is something worth mentioning". Meanwhile, at the conference, the union minister defended PM Modi from questions surrounding the treatment being meted out to the Muslims in India and pointed out that out of 13 honors, that the Prime Minister received from different countries, six awards were from such nations where Muslims are in the majority. "Honorable prime minister himself during the press conference in US has said how his government works on 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' principle and doesn't discriminate against any community whatsoever but the fact remains that repeatedly when people join in in this debate and highlight issues which are non-issues in a way because if there are issues in states which are to be raised they are being raised at the state level," Sitharaman said at the press conference. Further, she added, "Law and Order is the State subject that people are taking care of it and elected governments are there in each of the states which respond to it. To just allege without basic data in hand just tells us that these are organized campaigns which purposely are being leveled at the doorstep of the Prime Minister otherwise why would countries give such an honor to the prime minister and why would there be a distortion in understanding how India and its minority population irrespective of which religion they belong to minority population are being part of the Indian mainstream." Slamming the opposition, she said that as Congress couldn't see the possibility of winning the election, they have started such kind of campaign. The minister further slammed Congress and stated that such campaigns are being flaoted into the ecosyatem as Congress is aware that they are incapable of wining the 2024 general electionas. "Congress is doing more this time than last two elections. Karnataka's talk was different but such toolkits which run in foreign countries, they are working against Prime Minister because they (Congress) are sure that the public will not support them. (ANI) Greece's conservative New Democracy party is leading the country's parliamentary election, Al Jazeera reported citing an exit poll. According to the Exit Poll, former Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' New Democracy party is set to clinch a second term in office with a clear majority. The exit poll showed that the New Democracy was 40-44 per cent of the vote versus 16.1-19.1 per cent for Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party, which governed the country during 2015-2019. Greeks voted for a second time in little more than a month to elect a new parliament, with voters having been expected to give Mitsotakis's conservative party a second term in office. Polling stations across the country opened at 7 am (04:00 GMT) on Sunday and closed 12 hours later, with results expected by about 17:00 GMT, reported Al Jazeera. The vote is overshadowed by a boat wreck off the coast of western Greece about a week ago in which hundreds of refugees and migrants either died or went missing. But the disaster is unlikely to significantly affect the overall outcome as Greeks are expected to focus on domestic economic issues. Last time also the New Democracy party won the election but not with a clear majority. Mitsotakis' New Democracy party was 40.83 per cent of the votes, ahead of the left-wing Syriza party of Alexis Tsipras, which had 20.1 per cent. The projections from Greece's interior ministry showed New Democracy falling six seats short of an outright majority in parliament, leaving Mitsotakis with the choice of building a coalition or bringing about a new ballot for a decisive result, reported Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, in this election, Mitsotakis' main rival is Alexis Tsipras, the 48-year-old head of the left-wing Syriza party who served as prime minister from 2015 to 2019, during some of the most turbulent years of Greece's nearly decade-long financial crisis. Tsipras fared dismally in the May elections, coming a distant second, 20 percentage points behind the New Democracy. He has been trying to rally his voter base, a task complicated by splinter parties formed by some of his former associates. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Delhi early Monday after completing his maiden state visits to the United States and Egypt spanning six days. The PM Modi was received at the Palam airport by BJP national President JP Nadda, Union Minister of State Meenakashi Lekhi and various party MPs including Hans Raj Hans and Gautam Gambhir among others. Earlier today, PM Modi took to his Twitter handle to share glimpses of his first visit to Egypt. The video shows his arrival in the African country, meeting his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and interacting with members of the Indian diaspora. Sharing the video on Twitter, PM Modi tagged the clip with a message stating, "My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection." Earlier in the day, PM Modi received Egypt's highest state honour from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. It was the thirteenth state honour of its kind to be given to him. In the past nine years, PM Modi has received many international awards including Companion of the Order of Logohu, Companion of the Order of Fiji and Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau, among others. On Sunday, PM Modi held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during which they signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership". The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two nations, including trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy, cultural and people-to-people ties. In Egypt, PM Modi visited the pyramids of Giza in Cairo and the Al-Hakim Mosque as well. After visiting the Al-Hakim Mosque, PM Modi went to Heliopolis War Cemetery and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during the First World War. On Saturday, PM Modi also held a roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo. He also met thought leaders in Egypt as a part of his two-day visit to the Arab nation. PM Modi was on a state visit to Egypt from June 24-25. In contrast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met prominent American and Indian CEOs, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, on his state visit to the United States. He received a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour at the White House upon his arrival. PM Modi was hosted by US President Joe Biden as well as First Lady Jill Biden for a state dinner at the White House, as well as a State Luncheon by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US Vice President Kamala Harris. On June 22, PM Modi became the first Indian leader to address the joint session of the US Congress twice. His first address to a joint meeting of the US Congress was in 2016. (ANI) A person walked into Miami Valley Hospital with a gunshot wound, reporting the shooting took place in a commercial area in Dayton early Sunday. >> TRENDING: AMBER Alert: Ohio teen remains missing for over 7 days An employee at Miami Valley Hospital alerted Dayton Police at 4:23 a.m. of a person who walked into the hospital with at least one gunshot wound, Montgomery County Regional Dispatch confirmed. Miami Valley Hospital was obligated to inform Dayton Police of anyone walking into the hospital with a gunshot wound. Information about how severe the persons injuries were was unavailable. During the investigation, Dayton Police were informed that the shooting took place in the 100 block of East 3rd Street, an area of Dayton populated by local businesses. Only one individual was found to have been shot. No one was placed in custody or arrested for the shooting at the time of questioning. Further information was not released due to the ongoing investigation, which the Dayton Police Department led. We will update this story as it develops. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Raymond Chambers never received a Purple Heart despite being wounded while serving during World War II, but now, at 100 years old, he may have a chance to receive the military decoration with the help of Collegedale resident Robert Gould. One of Goulds neighbors, an American Legion member, knew Chambers and helped introduce the two men. Gould took an interest in the life and history Chambers has experienced. It was fascinating to listen to him, to hear the history that he was bringing forth, Gould said by phone. In 1942, Chambers enlisted in the Army and served with the 3rd Infantry Division, mostly in France and Italy. The most difficult part of serving was watching his friends die in front of him, he said. Hard thing about combat is holding your buddy in your arms, or just watching the medics work on him, and him passing away with a bullet in him, Chambers said. It stays on you forever. Chambers remembered the names of several soldiers he watched die, but the one he spoke of most was a soldier from Texas named Cruz, who was a husband and father. During one battle, a lieutenant ordered Cruz to go out against the German forces, Chambers said, but he tried to tell Cruz to ignore the order due to the danger. I told him not to go, Chambers said. I said, Tell that lieutenant to go to hell. Cruz went out anyway, Chambers said, and the Germans killed him. Chambers said he did not want anything to do with the lieutenant after that. Chambers was not immune to the dangers of war. While fighting in France, he sustained wounds from artillery shrapnel that struck him in the head and rear end, he said. He spent two weeks in a hospital before returning to duty with the shrapnel still in his body. Chambers said the shrapnel has not caused many issues for him other than giving him some discomfort when sitting. For Chambers, the longest lasting wounds have been psychological. I was a nervous wreck when I came back, he said. When he returned to America in 1945, Chambers stayed for three months in a hospital in Florida. He said there were a couple of nights where he tried to dig foxholes with his hands outside the hospital. After his stay at the hospital, Chambers had the opportunity to fill out paperwork to receive his medals, including the Purple Heart, before a bus was set to take him home. Barbara Painter, Chambers living companion for the past decade, said Chambers felt rushed to get on the bus, and he wanted to go home more than he wanted his medals. So, he got on the bus, she said. At their initial meeting, Gould presented Chambers with a print of a painting by his father titled Peace 1783 A Nation is Born. Goulds father, John F. Gould, was an artist and illustrator who worked for General Electric Co. and the Saturday Evening Post. In honor of the nations bicentennial, John Gould created a series of three paintings depicting George Washington in historical scenes in 1783, Robert Gould said by phone. In Peace 1783 A Nation is Born, Washington is depicted in Newburgh, New York, where the first Badge of Military Merit, the precursor to the Purple Heart, was presented. While the Badge of Military Merit was forgotten over time, the award was reestablished as the Purple Heart in 1932 by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, at the time the chief of staff of the U.S. Army, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. After meeting with Chambers and presenting him with the print, Gould said he wanted to help Chambers obtain the Purple Heart. Peter Bedrossian, program director at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, said by phone that getting Chambers the Purple Heart would require contacting the U.S. Army Human Resources Command in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and providing officials there with information such as Chambers service number and period of service. The more information provided will help the command better determine Chambers eligibility for the Purple Heart, Bedrossian said. Gould has contacted the Human Resources Command and is planning to gather Chambers information in order to send them. 12 of the best street-style outfits Taylor Swift has ever worn Taylor Swift in New York City on July 22, 2018. TheStewartofNY/Getty Images Outside of music, Taylor Swift is widely known for her sparkling red-carpet outfits and stage looks. But she also has a strong street style, as seen during her New York City strolls over the years. Swift seems to be a fan of statement coats, patterned tights, and denim ensembles. Taylor Swift has been in the spotlight since the mid 2000s, but her street style really started to stand out in the 2010s. Taylor Swift in New York City on November 22, 2011. Alo Ceballos/Getty Images For a New York City outing in November 2011, for example, Swift tucked a navy, cable-knit sweater by Ralph Lauren into a pleated yellow skirt from ModCloth. Her academia-esque look was completed with magenta Marc Jacobs kitten heels, red lipstick, and a blue Fendi purse that matched the sparkling 13 drawn on her hand. 2014 in particular was a big year for Swift's fashion in the lead up to her album "1989." Taylor Swift in New York City on July 24, 2014. Alo Ceballos/Getty Images She wore lots of crop tops and miniskirts at the time, like this gray two-piece set from Alice + Olivia. Still, it was her accessories that made looks like the above stand out. She wore vibrant pink pumps designed by Christian Louboutin and carried a yellow version of Dolce & Gabbana's Linda Tote bag. She had fun with accessories that year ... including unconventional ones like her cat Olivia. Taylor Swift in New York City on September 16, 2014. Raymond Hall/Getty Images She carried her cat on a September day in New York City while wearing a classically preppy look. She tucked a white Free People top adorned with lace sleeves into a plaid skirt from RD Style, and completed the look with a maroon pair of sheer knee-highs by Tabbisocks. Swift also wore black loafer pumps from & Other Stories and carried a green Dolce & Gabbana bag. A longtime fashion staple of Swift's, standout coats also played a part in her "1989" wardrobe. Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss in New York City on November 12, 2014. Raymond Hall/Getty Images Less than a month after her fifth studio album was released, Swift was photographed spending time with Karlie Kloss in New York City. She wore a little black dress underneath a tan, tattersall coat, sheer polka-dot tights, and lace-up heeled Oxfords. Swift also carried a burgundy purse and sported a thin gold headband adorned with a small bow. By 2015, Swift had adopted tank tops and tailored shorts. Taylor Swift in New York City on May 26, 2015. Alo Ceballos/Getty Images For one outing in May 2015, Swift wore an open-back tank top from Zara with black-and-white printed shorts from River Island. She also added blue patent-leather heels from Pedro Garcia for a pop of color, Swarovski sunglasses, and a Mary Katrantzou bag. But in 2016, Swift's street style had a brief rocker period. Taylor Swift in New York City on May 1, 2016. Raymond Hall/Getty Images Not only had the musician chopped her long locks in favor of a bleached bob, but she also wore edgier clothes for a brief time. In May 2016, she was photographed leaving a gathering at Anna Wintour's home while wearing a plaid Louis Vuitton dress with chunky boots and a leather jacket both from the fashion house. For accessories, she chose only a small black purse designed by Mark Cross. Eventually, she returned to vibrant colors and denim garments. Taylor Swift in New York City on August 8, 2016. Robert Kamau/Getty Images In August 2016, Swift walked around New York City while wearing a pink Brandy Melville tank top underneath a denim, overall-style dress from Tularosa. She also sported a black Marni bag and flower-printed sneakers from Gucci. She also hinted at her glamorous red-carpet style with her nighttime looks. Taylor Swift in New York City on September 7, 2016. James Devaney/Getty Images One evening in September 2016, Swift was photographed wearing a black V-neck Aritzia bodysuit worn underneath a white miniskirt from Related Apparel. But her accessories really made the outfit. Swift wore strappy sandals from Louise et Cie, a tan clutch by Aspinal of London, and a white choker necklace from Adornmonde. A few days later, Swift wore one of the most colorful looks of her bleached-hair era. Taylor Swift in New York City on September 16, 2016. Alo Ceballos/Getty Images Her striped, long-sleeved bodysuit was from PH5, while her pleated, burgundy miniskirt was from Urban Outfitters. She wore both pieces with Michael Kors sunglasses, a Burberry bag, and platform, velvet sandals from Aquazurra. In the summer of 2018, Swift's street style began to reflect the transition from her "Reputation" album cycle to that of "Lover." Taylor Swift in New York City on July 22, 2018. TheStewartofNY/Getty Images She was photographed in July of that year wearing a pinstriped Unravel Project shirt hanging off one shoulder and distressed denim shorts from Gucci. While the casual outfit matched the dark aesthetic of her sixth studio album as did her black leather Tod's boots and Tommy Hilfiger bag her vibrant lipstick, wavy hair, and Miu Miu earrings hinted at the era to come. Swift fully embraced the colorful side of her style in 2019. Taylor Swift in New York City on April 22, 2019. Gotham/Getty Images Days before her song "ME!" was released to the world, Swift stepped out in New York City wearing one of her quirkiest outfits to date. It consisted of a floral Zimmermann dress, a red Mango blazer, and Rupert Sanderson sandals. The highlights of Swift's outfit, however, were her pink-tinted hair and her cat-printed purse from Anya Hindmarch. Most recently, the "Midnights" musician subtly leveled up a simple summer dress with luxurious jewelry. Taylor Swift in New York City on May 31, 2023. Gotham/Getty Images After performing three sold-out shows at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in late May, Swift was photographed outside Electric Lady Studios in New York City. She wore a black cotton dress with a black belt around the waist, $450 Waylon slide sandals from Anine Bing, $200 Indio sunglasses from the same brand, and a brown version of the $895 M Frame Box Bag from Mansur Gavriel. But most impressive was Swift's gold, diamond-encrusted Cartier necklace from the 1980s. The sparkling jewelry called the Agrafe Herringbone Twisted Necklace is no longer produced, but one recently sold on 1stDibs, an online luxury marketplace, for $27,250. Read the original article on Insider 50th anniversary of Tianjin-Kobe sister city relationship celebrated Xinhua) 08:26, June 25, 2023 TIANJIN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- A ceremony was held in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Saturday in celebration of the 50th anniversary of its sister city relationship with Kobe, Japan. On June 24, 1973, Tianjin and Kobe signed a sister city agreement, which was the first of this kind in China. The two cities have maintained frequent exchanges and cooperation in various areas such as port logistics, medical and health care, urban greening, culture and sports. During the COVID-19 pandemic, both cities donated anti-pandemic supplies to each other. As part of the celebration, a photo exhibition featuring the exchanges and friendship between Tianjin and Kobe over the decades drew many visitors. Zhang Gong, mayor of Tianjin, said in a congratulatory letter that the two cities formed a wide-ranging and high-level partnership, and fruitful exchanges and cooperation have been made. Mayor of Kobe Kizo Hisamoto also sent a congratulatory letter, expressing expectations for deeper exchanges in various fields. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) A dance drama featuring traditional Chinese kung fu that was staged in Beijing on the night of June 21 was warmly applauded by the diplomats from 29 countries who were in the audience. The show was part of a series of cultural activities organized by Shenzhen to demonstrates the development of the city in southern China. The dance drama Wing Chun, produced by the Shenzhen Opera & Dance Theatre, features five types of Chinese martial arts, including the well-known wing chun and tai chi and baguazhang, or eight fixed palms. It tells the story of the Chinese kung fu master Ye Wen. The drama has toured China since its launch last year and has won great popularity and acclaim from audiences across the country. It has been especially popular with young audiences. The diplomats showed they are still young at heart after they watched the performance in Beijing at Poly Theater on June 21. "It was probably the perfect blend between traditional Chinese culture and a very inspiring, moving, personal story plus the technology which we can see displayed on stage," says Duarte Pinto da Rocha, deputy chief of mission at the Portuguese Embassy in China. Luxembourg's ambassador to China Marc Hubsch and his wife Carole Hubsch-Tompers were also touched by the drama. The couple expected that one day it will be performed outside China to allow more audiences across the world to enjoy it. "It is an incredible performance. The combination of contemporary dance moves and traditional cultural values, kung fu moves and so on. This is just something that I never saw before," says Marc Hubsch. The drama is part of a series of cultural activities jointly held by the Publicity Department of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China. An event showcasing Shenzhen success stories and an activity inviting people to experience the traditional Dragon Boat Festival customs of the city were also held in Beijing. 17-year-old arrested in death of man found fatally shot earlier this month in Mount Airy Cincinnati police have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the death of a man found fatally shot in Mount Airy earlier this month. Police discovered Derrick Ferrell, 32, with a gunshot wound about 1 a.m. June 10 in the 2500 block of North Bend Road. Ferrell, last known to live in North College Hill, was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and died there June 10, according to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. Police said in a news release that officers arrested the 17-year-old June 22. The release does not say what the teen is charged with. The Enquirer is not naming the boy because he is being charged in juvenile court. The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information about Ferrell's death is asked to call police at 513-352-3542. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police arrest 17-year-old in death of man found shot in Mount Airy BRAINTREE A 16-year-old Braintree High School student was one of two people shot dead outside his home Sunday, Braintree police said. The victims are Jahzier Porter, 16, of 10 Alfred Road, and Jayden Santos-Andrade, of Dorchester, who would have turned 20 next month, said Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey. Based on shell casings found at the scene, Morrissey said authorities believe there were multiple assailants. Braintree police and State Police are investigating the shootings as a double homicide. No arrests have been made. Braintree police received numerous calls reporting gunshots about 1:30 a.m. Morrissey said when police arrived at the scene, "they found two individuals in a car outside 10 Alfred Road. Both were apparent victims of gunshot wounds." A third person in the car was not injured, Braintree police said. Jahzier Porter, 16, was one of two teenagers shot dead in Braintree on June 25, 2023. A Nissan Altima with the back window blown out was parked on the street in front of the home, a four-bedroom, single-family house. "There were no signs of any assailants at the time" officers arrived at the scene, the district attorney said at a news conference at the police station. Morrisey said the victims were shot from outside the vehicle. No other injuries were reported. Morrissey praised the work of emergency crews who tried to save Porter and Santos-Andrade, who were pronounced dead at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. Alfred Road is in a residential neighborhood off Common Street about a half-mile east of South Shore Plaza. While the investigation of the shootings continues, police say there is no threat to public safety. Braintree Deputy Police Chief Tim Cohoon said police will add extra patrols to the neighborhood to reassure residents, but said it is a very safe area and police officers live in the neighborhood. "There are two families grieving on what is the worst day of their lives," Cohoon said. A shooting early Sunday, June 25, 2023, has left two dead on Alfred Road in Braintree. Mayor Charles Kokoros called the shootings "a very bad tragedy" and said he is working with Braintree High School Superintendent James Lee to make grief counselors available at the school for Porter's classmates. In a message to the school community, Braintree High School Principal Christopher Scully said counseling will be available for students who need it. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the student's family, friends and everyone affected by the tragedy," Scully wrote. "Although school is not currently in session, any student or family in need of assistance should contact the Braintree Public Schools director of guidance, Mr. Anthony Garofalo, at 781-848-4000 x7820, to be put in touch with a counselor for a virtual appointment or any other necessary supports," Scully wrote. Anyone with information or video they believe to be relevant to the investigation is asked to call State Police detectives at 781-830-4990 or Braintree police detectives at 781-794-8620. These are the first homicides in Braintree in a little over 17 months. On Jan. 22, 2022, a Dorchester man was shot and killed amid Saturday afternoon shoppers at South Shore Plaza. A Dorchester man has been charged with murder in that slaying. Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@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: Two shot dead in Braintree 2 Ukrainian teenagers who it's alleged were tortured by the Russians shot an 'occupier' and a 'collaborator' before they were gunned down, reports say People walk along an embankment near a local port in city of Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia region, Russian-controlled Ukraine, May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Two teenagers were killed by Russian authorities in the Ukrainian city of Berdyansk, local news reported. The pair shot and killed a police officer and a civilian, according to reports. In May, a Ukrainian nonprofit said the 17-year-olds had be tortured by Russian law enforcement. Two teenagers were killed on Saturday by Russian authorities at an embankment in the Ukrainian city of Berdyansk, local news reported. This came after the pair shot and killed a police officer and a civilian, according to Independent Russian investigative news outlet Novaya Gazeta, who Ukrainian coverage called a "collaborator" and an "occupier." The two 17-year-olds, referred to by Russian authorities as "pro-Ukrainian terrorists," were "neutralized," Russian news agency Interfax reported. Interfax also reported two other residents were also wounded, per Novaya Gazeta. The teenagers were named Tigran Oganisyan and Mikita Khanganov, per local reports. The city of Berdyansk, in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has been under Russian control since the beginning of the country's invasion of Ukraine last year. A Ukrainian news outlet posted a video on Telegram recorded by Oganesyan shortly before his death. In it, he said they planned to kill two people and pans the camera to what appears to be a Kalashnikov rifle. "That's it, it's death, guys, goodbye! Glory to Ukraine!" he said, according to Novaya Gazeta. Tigran Oganisyan, 17, made a farewell video before launching an attack in the occupied Ukraiian city of Berdyansk Ukraine Pravada In May, local news reports said Russia's Investigative Committee brought charges against Oganisyan and Khanganov for trying to carry out sabotage, per Novaya Gazeta. Media Initiative for Human Rights, a Ukrainian nonprofit organization, reported in May that the teenagers had been tortured by Russian law enforcement. Oganisyan was subjected to "brutual" interrogations with beatings and electric torture, the organization said. Khanganov was subjected to interrogations and "investigative experiments" as Russian investigators forced the pair confess to plannng to sabotage the Melitopol railway in order to prevent Russian forces from receiving supplies, per the nonprofit. Read the original article on Business Insider Fighters of the 1st Mechanised Battalion of the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine completely defeated the 3rd Battalion of the 57th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Federation and cleared the western bank of the Siverskyi Donets Donbas canal from Russians on the Bakhmut front. Source: Andrii Biletskyi, the commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, in a video address Quote: "Today, the 3rd Assault Brigade, the 1st Mechanised Battalion carried out offensive operations, and the 3rd Battalion of the 57th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Federation was defeated. This battalion ceased to exist as an organised military force. More than 30 killed enemies, dozens of prisoners, half a hundred wounded... The western bank of the Siverskyi Donets Donbas channel has been completely cleared of the enemy. The bridgehead no longer exists on the west bank." Previously: Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said that the eastern group of forces launched offensives on several fronts at the same time, in particular in the direction of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Bohdanivka, Yahidne, Klishchiivka and Kurdiumivka. They are making gains on all fronts. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! When Chloe, a 22-year-old mom from Arizona, gave birth to her second child, a daughter, she cradled her on her chest, knowing it would be one of the few times they would physically touch. Holding her newborn skin-to-skin on her chest was something Chloe originally told doctors she did not want to do. "I was like, 'No, I don't want to do that. I don't want to get attached to her,'" Chloe, who asked that her last name not be used to protect her privacy, told ABC News." "Because I know the outcome of this." Chloe said she learned around 23 weeks into her pregnancy that her daughter had a condition known as holoprosencephaly, a birth defect in which the brain does not divide into two halves, the left and right hemispheres, according to the National Institutes of Health. Her baby's specific diagnosis of alobar holoprosencephaly is the most severe type, often resulting in stillbirth or death shortly after birth. When Chloe's baby, whom she named Laila, was born on Sept. 20, 2022, she said she decided she had no choice but to hold her daughter close. "As soon as she came out, I was like, no, I need to be the one that comforts her," she said. "That was definitely hard because you definitely do get attached, no matter what, no matter how hard you try to tell yourself, I know what's going to happen. I know the outcome." After a 24-hour long induction and several hours of active labor, Chloe had less than two days with her daughter. PHOTO: Chloe's daughter Laila is pictured shortly after her birth in September 2022. (Courtesy of Chloe) "She was alive for about 44 hours, which it was definitely hard to watch her just be in pain the whole entire time," she said, adding, "It's like I was trying to keep her from feeling this pain, and she still had to feel it." 'I wanted this baby so bad' When Chloe found out she was pregnant, in January 2022, she said she was surprised but more so excited, because a new baby would be a sibling for her first child, a daughter who was nearly 6-months-old at the time. As her pregnancy progressed, with the normalcy of morning sickness and ultrasounds, Chloe said she was especially excited to learn that she was expecting a girl. "I was really excited because I wanted to have two girls close in age," she said. "They could be like little besties but also tussle with each other a little bit. I thought that'd be really fun. Two divas." Chloe's dream was halted when she went in for a routine ultrasound 21 weeks into her pregnancy. She said she was told the ultrasound had "red flags" that necessitated a visit to a high-risk pregnancy specialist. PHOTO: Chloe is pictured during her 2022 pregnancy with her daughter Laila. (Courtesy of Chloe) A second ultrasound and additional testing by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist brought the devastating diagnosis of alobar holoprosencephaly. Chloe said doctors told her the baby she was carrying would not survive long after birth, if she made it that far. A baby born with alobar holoprosencephaly would not be able to breathe on their own for long, and would likely never be able to eat on their own, Chloe said she was told. Dr. Stephen Chasen, a maternal and fetal medicine specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, confirmed the difficulties babies born with alobar holoprosencephaly face, including what he described as severe "facial abnormalities." "Sometimes there's only one eye. Sometimes there's no nose. Often there's a cleft lip and cleft palate, but the major thing is there's very, very abnormal brain function," Chasen, who did not treat Chloe, told ABC News. "Newborns often will not breathe spontaneously or breathe abnormally, and the average lifespan is hours or days." Chloe said she "broke down" in tears when the doctor shared her baby's diagnosis, recalling, "I have never felt that way in my entire life." "I wanted this baby so bad. I wanted my daughter to have a little sister," she said. "It's something that you're planning for, something that you're thinking about for a very long time, and just to have that all be shut down and [be told], 'Your baby's not going to make it.' It was really hard." Dr. Ravi Gunatilake, medical director of Valley Perinatal, the high-risk pregnancy clinic where Chloe received the diagnosis, told "GMA" that alobar holoprosencephaly is typically identified between 18 to 21 weeks into a pregnancy. "Having an abnormal result [on first-trimester screening tests] and/or having abnormal findings on an early ultrasound performed by her OBGYN is frequently the referral pathway for patients such as Chloe and others like her," said Gunatilake, a board-certified OBGYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist. "So then typically what happens is, we would ideally see that patient relatively urgently within a few weeks." Gunatilake said his clinic only provided the diagnosis of alobar holoprosencephal for Chloe, who went on to be cared for her by her OBGYN throughout her pregnancy. "This was a situation where we really just performed a single consultation and assisted in the diagnosis and complex counseling," Gunatilake said of his clinic's role in Chloe's medical care. "But the patient was primarily cared for by her OBGYN." When Chloe learned of her baby's diagnosis, she was 23 weeks and four days into her pregnancy, according to her medical records. At the time, she said she was presented with three options: To continue the pregnancy, to try to obtain an abortion in Arizona before 24 weeks of pregnancy, as was permitted by state law at the time, or to travel out of state for abortion care. "It's important understand that in maternal fetal medicine, we provide objective counseling that's non-directive, so we don't advise patients to do anything," Gunatilake said. "We counsel them regarding their current situation, what the anticipated risks are, what their options are. We counsel them regarding their anticipated prognosis. If there are ways to improve the potential outcome in the pregnancy, we'll provide counseling." He continued, "In Arizona, if they're beyond the legal limit and they've expressed an interest in termination of pregnancy, we have the ability of letting them know what the legal standards are here in Arizona, and if they are interested in not continuing the pregnancy, most obstetrical providers are aware of legal limits in surrounding states and they may offer that information to patients." Carrying a nonviable pregnancy to term Days after Chloe received the diagnosis, thousands of miles away, in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion that had been the law nationwide for almost 50 years. The ruling returned power back to the states to decide abortion access. In Arizona, that began the process of putting into play a 15-week abortion ban with exemptions only for medical emergencies when continuing with the pregnancy would "create serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" for the mother. Chloe said prior to the ruling, she asked her OBGYN to induce labor so that she could deliver her baby early and not have to carry her pregnancy to term. While those conversations had been ongoing, she said her doctor told her he would not induce her in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision. "It was like an immediate no, you can't get an induction to terminate," Chloe said. "When [my doctor] told me, I couldn't even get any words out ... I just felt so stuck." Chloe's OBGYN declined to be interviewed by ABC News. Knowing that she wanted to terminate the pregnancy, Chloe said she made plans to travel by plane out of state for abortion care. MORE: Couple speaks out on decision to get abortion after fetus diagnosed with rare genetic conditions In July, just days before she was scheduled to fly out of Arizona, Chloe said the abortion clinic where she was to be treated canceled her appointment. The reason, she said she was told, was because of threats to the clinic and her own safety after she shared her story on social media. At nearly 30 weeks pregnant and unable to find an alternate option for abortion care, she continued on with the pregnancy. "I became extremely depressed, more depressed than I already was," Chloe said. "Knowing that now I have to carry the baby to full-term when that wasn't my plan when I found out what was wrong, I didn't want to leave my bed. I was so emotionally unattached from my daughter, from my relationship, from family, from friends, from everybody. I just wanted to sleep all day." Chloe described still having to go on with her life -- including working and caring for her older daughter -- while dealing the physical toll that any pregnancy brings, especially this one. "She shakes and seizes inside of me all the time," she said. "And if I'm uncomfortable with that happening, I can't imagine how she is inside of there." PHOTO: Chloe is pictured during her 2022 pregnancy with her daughter Laila. (Courtesy of Chloe) She also described what it is like to be visibly pregnant when out in public. "When I go out to the store, anything like that, people see me and they ask innocent questions, like 'Oh, are you having a boy or girl? When are you due?,'" she said. "I get stuck. I answer the questions, but in my head. I'm like, you know, it's a baby that's never gonna live." Chloe said she took a job during her pregnancy in order to be forced to leave her house, but took on a night shift to avoid seeing people. Gunatilake said it is not uncommon for patients to struggle emotionally with carrying a fetus that may not survive after delivery. "As maternal-fetal medicine specialists, we are aware that frequently these patients are at higher risk for having significant depression, anxiety and certainly afterwards, elements of post-traumatic stress disorder," Gunatilake said. "So frequently, we will assess these patients for mental health disorders and will refer them for perinatal psychiatric counseling." He continued, "We would expect Chloe to be at higher risk for experiencing some level of mental health deterioration carrying a very high-risk pregnancy like this." Chloe, who was treated by her OBGYN during her pregnancy, was treated for anxiety and depressive disorder as well as postpartum depression in the weeks after giving birth, her medical records show. Chasen said that in a state like New York, where abortion care is legal, physicians like himself are trained to provide patients with all of their options. "Physicians like me are not telling patients to have abortions, and we're not telling the patients what we would do if we were in their shoes, but we're providing them with information" Chasen said. "Most patients, in my experience, when told that they are carrying a baby that cannot survive or could maybe survive, but with absolutely no meaningful brain function, they arrive at the decision of themselves of why would I want to continue such a pregnancy?" He continued, "So we're not recommending abortion, but we all feel very strongly that it's an option that someone needs to have." Hospice care for a newborn baby When Chloe gave birth to her daughter on Sept. 20, she said it was an unexpectedly easy delivery, one in which she heard the sound of Laila crying as she entered the world. As is common in a baby with alobar holoprosencephaly, Laila was born with facial deformities including a cleft palate. "She came out crying, which my doctor and everybody else was super surprised about because that's not expected of babies with her condition," Chloe said. "But we could tell that her breathing was off, that it just wasn't normal." After just one day in the hospital -- during which Chloe said she was instructed to not feed Laila for fear of her choking -- they moved to a hospice center. Not going to extraordinary measures to keep Laila alive is a choice Chloe said she made earlier in her pregnancy. "That was never something I was interested in because that is such poor quality of life, in my opinion," she said. "She would have never been able to do anything besides lay there and be forced to be kept alive, and that was something that I felt strongly was not what I wanted for any of my children." She continued, "I did a lot of research about what I was doing and my choice before I made it, obviously." PHOTO: Chloe holds her daughter Laila shortly after her birth in September 2022. (Downeast Photographers) Once in hospice care, Chloe said her daughter's condition deteriorated quickly. Chloe said that while she had nearly two days with her newborn daughter, they were not times of joy or natural bonding. She described the time as they had together as, "peaceful but also difficult to watch." "When I think about it, I think about how I could tell that she was struggling," Chloe said of Laila. "I think about how she would scream as loud as she could because she could not eat." "It's definitely hard to think about just because there's so much I wanted to do for her, but I couldn't," she continued. "I knew that if I would have done these things, it would have just prolonged her life and her suffering at the same time." MORE: Women's health doctors say they feel increased scrutiny amid abortion bans Chloe said she was able to take photos with her daughter in the hospital, and from the hospice center, she received keepsakes like Laila's hand and foot prints in the shape of a butterfly. In the weeks after her daughter's death, Chloe said she suffered mentally. "I went to my doctor about two weeks postpartum and was like, 'I need to get on some type of medication. I'm not okay. I don't want to be having these scary thoughts anymore,'" she recalled. "So I've been on medication since then, and that really, really helped." Still, Chloe said she has struggled to maintain her job and struggled to parent her older daughter. "I would just be going through the motions," she said. "I wouldn't be the attentive parent that I want to be, which is horrible, because I want nothing more than for her to remember me being just like a happy, go-get-em parent, but I couldn't at the time." PHOTO: Chloe holds her older daughter at a tribute for her late daughter Laila, who died shortly after birth in September 2022. (Courtesy of Chloe) After carrying her daughter to term and spending 44 hours with her post-delivery, Chloe said she would still choose her initial option -- to terminate the pregnancy -- if she had to do it over again. "I would have terminated because now what I know now, seeing what I've seen, it's not fair, and it wasn't fair from the beginning, to her or to me," Chloe said. "If I could have terminated, I would have." She added of her decision, "As a mother, you want to be able to see your children thrive, and her being born, there was absolutely no thriving happening. There was never going to be, even if I would have chosen to save her." Editor's note: This was originally published on May 11, 2023. 44 hours with my baby: I carried a nonviable pregnancy to term after Roe v. Wade was overturned originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Up Stairs Lounge Fifty years ago, 32 people died in what was once the deadliest attack on the LGBTQ+ community in U.S. history. On the evening of June 24, 1973, an arsonist torched the entryway into the Up Stairs Lounge in New Orleans, setting off a catastrophic blaze that quickly ate up the stairway leading up to the bar before consuming the establishment itself. Sundays at the Up Stairs Lounge were the biggest nights thanks to its beer bust. From 5 to 7 p.m. you could buy a pitcher of beer for a pretty cheap price. Up Stairs was a working-class bar for working-class gay men and lesbians. More than 100 people could easily gather there during its beer bust. The identity of the arsonist has never been confirmed, and no one was arrested in connection with the fire. However, a known patron had been kicked out of the bar early in the day. While he was leaving, survivors of the fire recalled him saying something along the lines of threatening to set the place ablaze. Witnesses saw him buy lighter fluid at a nearby Walgreens. He allegedly threw the container in front of the stairwell that went to the entrance to the bar and ran. As journalist and author of Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation Robert Fieseler explained to The Advocate, the fire initially was contained in the stairs until the door to the bar was opened, causing something like a tidal wave of fire to crash into the lounge. Survivors said it was like a fireball or something shot from a cannon, according to Fieseler. A bartender by the name of Buddy Rasmussen was able to shepherd some patrons to another building through a secret door. However, because of the suddenness of the fire and the obstruction to victims senses it caused, many didnt hear him. Instead, they broke through the windows only to find bars preventing their escape. Some people were able to make their way through the bars but were burned by the metal they were made of. Others were cornered by the flames. A lot of people describe hearing the screams of the individuals once the flames reach the far corner as the worst thing they've ever heard, Fieseler said. The fire was put under control in less than 30 minutes. But it was too late for many. Twenty-nine people died that night. Three others died from their injuries in the days after. About a third were military veterans, according to local experts. While at first the fire was making news and people generally were horrified by what happened, as soon the queer identity of the space was revealed, New Orleans went cold on the fire. The tragedy didnt get the attention it deserved 50 years ago, and there are still a lot of people in New Orleans and elsewhere that dont know about it, said Frank Perez, who was one of the lead organizers around the 50th-anniversary event held June 24-25. In fact, Fieseler told The Advocate that the prime suspect was even apprehended by Rasmussen after the fire, but police didnt investigate as they should have or believed Rasmussen at the time. It was an intentionally set fire, and then in the wake of that intentionally set fire those murdered were then wiped from the slate of history, Fieseler said. They existed in a society that forced them to live invisibly in this semi-closet of existence, such that they had to seek comfort, friendship, camaraderie in havens like the Up Stairs Lounge bar. The fire is still the deadliest in New Orleans history, but the Pulse massacre has now become the deadliest attack on LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. Last year, the city of New Orleans issued an official apology. Perez and other local historians and advocates say the police have a duty to also apologize for the lack of proper investigation. "The city we are today is not the city we were then," Councilmember J.P. Morrell said in a statement at the time. "The City of New Orleans' lack of response to the deadliest fire in our history has kept individuals from mourning their loved ones, but today we took a step in the right direction. Thanks to books and documentaries about the fire, more people have become aware of what happened. However, there are still issues around the fire that haven't been resolved. One such thing is that three of the victims were buried in unmarked graves. While two of the three remain unidentified, the third is Ferris LeBlanc, a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and in Normandy. Most of his family didnt know he was a victim of the fire until 2015, LeBlancs nephew Skip Bailey said. LeBlancs family has been trying to get his body exhumed since then but to no avail. Bailey sees the anniversary to not only remember his uncle but to think about the issues LGBTQ+ people face today. Now it's even more important to continue to fight for the equality of everybody, he said. And this anniversary brings up [the Up Stairs Lounge fire] and keeps the whole fight in the forefront of everybody's mind. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced Saturday that U.S. Air Force Capt. Frederick M. Hall, 25, of Waynesville, North Carolina is now accounted for. Hall was a member of the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The search dates back to April 12, 1969 when 1st Lt. Hall was navigating a flight returning from a canceled strike mission near the Quang Nam Province of South Vietnam when the aircraft ascended into heavy cloud cover. The lead aircraft noticed Halls plane couldnt be seen and after an aerial search, Halls plane couldnt be found. Multiple search and rescue missions between 1995 and 2020 were unsuccessful meanwhile Hall was promoted to Captain while in a missing status. In March 2021 a recovery mission conducted by the host nation found possible remains and material evidence which was then sent to the DPAA lab for identification. DPAA used anthropological analysis, material evidence, and DNA analysis to identify Halls remains. A rosette will be placed next to Halls name on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the American Battle Monuments Commissions Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu to indicate he has been accounted for. Hall will be buried in Waynesville, N.C. on October 10. To see Halls personal profile click HERE. If you are a family member of Captain Hall click HERE to contact your casualty office representative. RELATED: Vietnam veteran gets to walk stage over 50 years after college graduation This article was originally published in Indiana Capital Chronicle. A new Indiana law that critics say will effectively ban discussions about LGBTQ+ people in schools under the guise of blocking conversations around human sexuality now faces a legal challenge. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana Friday on behalf of a public school teacher in Indianapolis who says the law infringes her constitutional rights. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb last month signed into law House Bill 1608, which requires Indiana schools to notify parents when a student asks for name or pronoun changes and prohibits human sexuality instruction to the youngest Hoosier students. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Kayla Smiley, an elementary school teacher in the Indianapolis Public School system, claims in the court challenge that the law poses First Amendment violations for teachers by taking away her ability to speak as a citizen on matters of public interest and to speak away from work on matters unrelated to her employment and addressed to a public audience. Story continue below. The complaint additionally argues that the law is overly broad, given that neither instruction nor human sexuality is defined. Smiley emphasized that instruction and interactions with students happen both inside and outside the classroom making it hard to know when a line has been crossed. The key terms of instruction and human sexuality are impossibly vague and lack any ascertainable standards for determining whether or not the law has been violated, the lawsuit reads. Teacher says law is impossibly vague Smiley said in the lawsuit that she is unable to determine how to conform her behavior to the law so she does not risk losing her license. According to the complaint, the teacher has a classroom library in her classroom that contains age-appropriate books across a diverse spectrum of subjects and concerns, including LGBTQ+ issues, such as biographies of Harvey Milk, and Elton John. She also has in her student classroom library the book And Tango Make Three, which is based on the true story of two male penguins who raise a chick together. The lawsuit alleges that teachers have no idea about whether or not such books qualify as instruction . . . on human sexuality or whether or not they can discuss any topics regarding same-sex relationships. Smiley also carries a water bottle in class, in hallways, and before and after school, which has on it stickers and pins supporting LGBTQ+ rights, including one that reads Trans rights are human rights. The bottle displays rainbow flags that are widely recognized as the symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, too. She is unsure if she is still allowed to engage in this display outside of her class or what to do if the display prompts a discussion in her class, the lawsuit said about the water bottle. Smiley is seeking an injunction to prevent the law from taking effect July 1. HEA 1608 is written so broadly that it would be next to impossible for teachers to determine what they can and cannot say to students, said Ken Falk, ACLU of Indiana legal director, in a written statement on Friday. In addition, teachers have a First Amendment right to express themselves as private citizens outside of the classroom, including in the schools hallways, playground, or before and after school, but the vagueness of this law would certainly have a chilling effect on those rights. How the controversial law came to be The law, authored by Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, is reminiscent of Floridas Dont Say Gay law that has been described by some as one of the most hateful pieces of legislation in the country. Davis and other GOP lawmakers have maintained the measure intends to empower Hoosier parents by reinforcing that theyre in the drivers seat when it comes to introducing sensitive topics to their children. She said previously that the bill was a response to numerous concerns of parents in her district. Supporters further say parents have the right and responsibility to control what their children learn and are called when at school. But critics of the law have argued that its part of a nationwide wave of legislation singling out LGBTQ+ people and their families. More specifically, they say that the new law could put transgender children at risk of harm if theyre outed to unsupportive or abusive parents. This session, legislators were determined to target LGBTQ community members and to censor conversation about the LGBTQ community in schools, HEA 1608 was no exception, said Katie Blair, ACLU of Indiana advocacy director. This bill, like others across the country, was modeled after Floridas infamous Dont Say Gay law. LGBTQ students exist at all ages and in all grade levels and their stories belong in Indiana schools. Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on Facebook and Twitter. An airport worker died after being ingested into a plane engine at the San Antonio International Airport last week. Multiple news outlets reported that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating an incident where a worker was sucked into a jet engine Friday night. According to a statement to NBC News, the NTSB said the worker was ingested into the engine at about 10:25 p.m. Friday night. The statement said the the Delta flight arrived in San Antonio from Los Angeles and was taxing to its gate with one engine. The board noted that it will continue to gather more information about the incident. We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family members life in San Antonio. Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time, Delta said in a statement to The Hill. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement to The Hill that it and the NTSB will be conducting an investigation into the incident. An airport ramp worker was involved in an accident in the gate area at San Antonio International Airport around around 10:30 p.m. local time on Friday, June 23, while a jetliner was pulling up to the terminal. Delta Flight 1111, an Airbus A319, had just arrived from Los Angeles International Airport, the FAA said in a statement. The Hill has reached out to the NTSB for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Americans guilty of charges similar to Hunter never got 'sweetheart' deal to keep them from prison: critics Americans guilty of charges similar to Hunter never got 'sweetheart' deal to keep them from prison: critics Hunter Bidens plea deal on a felony gun charge and two tax violations has been slammed as a "sweetheart" deal by critics who note others have landed behind bars for similar crimes. The Justice Department announced last week that President Biden's son agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax, and to enter into a pretrial diversion agreement regarding a separate charge of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. Hunter Biden is slated to make his first court appearance in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, on July 26, when he will formally plead guilty. The plea deal averts prosecution on a felony charge of illegally possessing a firearm as a drug user, as well as a trial that could have lasted days or even weeks. There is still a chance that presiding U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika will reject the deal, but the plea agreement has received fierce condemnation stretching from conservative political leaders to voters who say Biden received a mere slap on the wrist. GOP RIPS HUNTER'S 'SWEETHEART' PLEA DEAL ON TAX AND GUN CRIMES, ZERO IN ON JOE BIDEN Hunter Biden disembarks from Air Force One in Syracuse, New York, Feb. 4, 2023. "It continues to show the two-tier system in America," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said of Hunter Bidens plea deal, comparing it the federal charges facing former President Donald Trump. "If you are the presidents leading political opponent, the DOJ tries to literally put you in jail and give you prison time. But if you are the presidents son, you get a sweetheart deal." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP HUNTER BIDEN AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY IN FEDERAL TAX, GUN CASE Other Americans facing similar federal gun charges are facing months behind bars. Crime Prevention and Research Center chief John Lott detailed in a post on his website the case of Virginia woman Deja Taylor, whose 6-year-old son shot and injured his teacher in January. "Bidens plea deal lets him dodge possible charges on money laundering, bribery, trafficking and being an unregistered foreign agent," Lott wrote. "Deja Taylor also had other issues. Her son used the gun to shoot a teacher, but Taylor wasnt charged with a crime in that case." Taylor was charged earlier this year for being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. The controlled substance in this case was marijuana, which is legal in Virginia but is a controlled substance under U.S. law and is still regulated by the federal government. Federal authorities said Taylor knew "she was an unlawful user" of marijuana when she purchased her firearm and denied using cannabis on documentation. Taylor had no criminal history prior to the charges. She pleaded guilty this month and is awaiting her sentencing. The federal case against her could result in up to 25 years in prison, though her lawyers said sentencing guidelines call for 18 months to 24 months behind bars. MOTHER OF 6-YEAR-OLD VIRGINIA SCHOOL SHOOTER EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY TO USING MARIJUANA WHILE OWNING A GUN "Of cases involving false statements in buying a gun that are referred for prosecution, over 60% are prosecuted," Lott, a gun and crime expert who previously worked for the DOJ's Office of Justice Programs, told Fox News Digital. "And the ones that arent prosecuted it is because of problems with the evidence. These cases are handled quickly in a few months, not almost five years. The evidence in the Hunter Biden case is rock solid. There is no question that he was a drug addict, that he was using illegal drugs." Lott also took issue with how U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss, who is handling the Biden case, is characterized as a "Trump appointee" by the media. Hunter Biden and Joe Biden "The notion is that [Weiss] must be a Republican so that there is no political bias in how the Hunter Biden case was handled," Lott said. "Yet, President Obama originally appointed him as the acting U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware. Trump appointed Weiss as the U.S. attorney at the request of the two Democrat U.S. senators from Delaware." Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and others on Twitter also criticized Biden's "sweetheart deal" and compared it to Taylor's case. James Ellenson, Taylor's attorney, told Fox News Digital he will address the "inconsistency" between his client's case and Biden's pretrial diversion agreement later this year. "Unfortunately, Dejas father is not the president of the United States so no sweetheart deals for us," Ellenson said. "We will bring up the inconsistency to the sentencing judge." Fox News Digital previously reported on comparisons between the Biden case and how rapper Kodak Black was sentenced to more than three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to firearms possession by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of marijuana. WILL HUNTER GET THE SAME SENTENCE AS THESE RAPPERS WITH COMPARABLE CRIMES? Kodak Black received "46 months for the exact same thing that Hunter Biden is not even pleading to," the rapper's attorney Bradford Cohen told Fox News' "Hannity" on Wednesday. "He's actually getting a diversion program, which you almost never see diversion programs in federal court," Cohen said. "I mean, it is less than 1% of people that plea that actually get a diversion program." "If you score this out, which is how you do it in the federal system, he would score somewhere in the neighborhood of two years on this case," said Cohen. Trump ultimately commuted Kodak Black's sentence before leaving office in 2021. Another man, Brion Martai Odell Hamilton of Oklahoma, is facing up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty in October to making false statements on ATF Form 4473, the Washington Times reported. Hamilton had previously been convicted of carrying a firearm under the influence of marijuana in Oklahoma County, and federal prosecutors determined he lied on the ATF's Firearms Transaction Record form regarding his eligibility to purchase a firearm. Biden has been under investigation since 2018 following the discovery of suspicious activity reports regarding funds from "China and other foreign nations." His gun charge stemmed from allegations that in 2018 he lied during a gun purchase. BIDEN'S CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HUNTER'S BUSINESS DEALINGS IS BECOMING HARDER TO MAINTAIN President Joe Biden Republicans have vehemently criticized the deal this week, accusing Biden of using his father's influence overseas during the Obama administration when Joe Biden was vice president. "America has 2 million people incarcerated right now," Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., previously told Fox News Digital. "We have 6,000 jails. We could have found a place for Hunter. But the truth is, nobody really cares about Hunter Biden. Hunter was a rookie influence peddler and a troubled young man selling access to his dad. Hes a part of the Biden crime gamily, but hes not the Big Guy, he wasnt the VP, and hes not the inaugurated president." "This is deflection, deflection, deflection," Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., previously told Fox News Digital. "Hunter Biden has been involved in more serious crimes and this plea deal creates an illusion that justice has been served it hasnt." The Department of Justice declined to comment when Fox News Digital reached out regarding Biden's pretrial diversion agreement compared to similar cases. The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Fox News Digital's Jessica Chasmar and Alexander Hall contributed to this report. For Chinese students and their families preparing to make choices about where to study, the future can be daunting. How will decisions made now affect opportunity for employment success in the future? Competition for roles is certainly fierce after the economic impact of the pandemic, with a ratio between market demand and job applicants of 0.57. The competition for graduate roles is tougher still for college graduates according to the Development Research Centre of the State Council, with the contraction of some parts of the tech sector impacting the young. So how do young people and families avoid this outcome and ensure that they are fully prepared to succeed in such a challenging context? China is rightly taking the situation seriously. In my discussions with education colleagues at the Chinese embassy in London, it is apparent to me just how committed the country is to ensure qualifications and work experience match the needs of society and the economy. At home, central and local governments are implementing state-funded employment programmes and incentivising state-owned enterprises to hire new graduates. China has publicly committed to creating 12 million urban jobs and making finding employment a priority as it expands graduate programmes and civil service openings, especially in developing regions. But there are other opportunities for discerning students too. China doesn't only need traditional academic qualifications, its changing economy is hungry for industrial experience and the kind of international professional experience of working in global teams that are vital to the country's future. As Professor Yue Changjun from Peking University explains, "In an era of economic globalisation and digitalisation, which is driven by innovation," university graduates need to prepare for employment by strengthening skills such as "entrepreneurship, computer and digital literacy, foreign language ability, and an international mindset, which are demanded by the market." Advanced manufacturing including future industries such as green energy, smart materials and intelligent design are growing and hiring new graduates with the right mix of skills. These industries have bucked the trend and seen 20 percent recruitment growth and salaries. The electric vehicle manufacturer, BYD Co. Ltd., expanded its investment and factory scale in 2022 with government support and is looking for more than 30,000 college graduates across China. This is where British degrees of all kinds are changing to meet the future needs of employers in nations such as China, where graduates with global experience are at a particular advantage. Traditionally respected professional qualifications from high-ranked universities in areas such as medicine and engineering, business and law continue to lead to successful careers. But there are other options too. Although degrees at institutions such as Aberdeen, Durham, Cardiff, Leeds, Sussex and Sheffield are rightly highly-prized as a passport to successful careers, Chinese students are also making the most of study options in the UK's more modern university sector, focusing on professional training, often with close links to multinationals. These are options Chinese students keen to secure employment in the new economy would do well to carefully explore. Institutions such as Surrey, Strathclyde and Royal Holloway University of London work with world-leading companies to produce highly-employable graduates with expertise in communications, semiconductors, optics and law. Universities like Liverpool John Moores, Kingston, Teesside and Huddersfield offer a superb mix of affordability - as these degrees often cost less than their older counterparts - with tremendous teaching and preparation for the world of work in high-tech engineering, business and allied health professions. For those keen to take their place in China's advanced manufacturing future, vocational engineering with an industry component is a powerful mix. On a recent visit to the proud manufacturing north of England, for example, I learned from the inspirational Vice-Chancellor of The University of Huddersfield Professor Bob Cryan how international students directly benefit from collaboration with partners such as IBM, Siemens, Jaguar Land Rover, PWC and Santander, then proceed to take their mix of degree and work experience into their careers as graduates. An engineer himself from a modest background, Professor Cryan is determined that every one of his students who come to the university from across the world has the opportunity to thrive and succeed, which means they go straight on into quality employment to do meaningful work. The same is also true of much-needed experience in allied healthcare professions where there are known skills shortages. One of Huddersfield University's top ten partners is the British National Health Service. Students make the most of an opportunity to work and learn, most following their degrees with a life-changing experience of post-study work in the UK which later gives them a global perspective which accelerates their careers when they return home. Understanding the range of opportunities open to Chinese students keen to take advantage of a British education offers a pathway to success. Families considering study abroad options would be wise to open their eyes to the widest possible range of possibilities that will meet the needs of their own sons and daughters, and of a city in need of all the graduate talent and experience they have to offer. To be sitting here in my full self, being supported by the president of the United States, and making an impact on thousands of communities, it means the world to me, Michael D. Smith tells theGrio. As CEO of AmeriCorps, Michael D. Smith is a history-maker and trailblazer in public service. Not only is he the first openly gay Black man to lead the federal agency coordinating community service programs, but he is the highest-ranking gay Black man in the Biden administration. To be sitting here in my full-self, being supported by the president of the United States and making an impact on thousands of communities, it means the world to me, Smith told theGrio during an interview spotlighting his historic role for Pride Month. As the head of AmeriCorps, Smith shepherds about 200,000 members and volunteers serving in more than 40,000 locations throughout the country. Service projects range from tackling climate issues and responding to disasters to tutoring and mentoring students to working in food pantries. AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith is the first openly gay Black man to lead the federal agency geared toward community service. (Photo: Courtesy of AmeriCorps) Nominated to the role by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate, Smith has led AmeriCorps through efforts to continue diversifying the agency since 2021. What I love about this administrations focus on equity is that it isnt a talking point, he said. It shows up in our first-ever diversity, equity and inclusion plan [and] our first-ever chief diversity officer. Smith noted that AmeriCorps is more diverse than America itself, with more than 40% of its members coming from low-income backgrounds. Its not only a true tool to support communities of color, but its also been a transformational tool for AmeriCorps members that are people of color, he said. That inclusivity includes members of the LGBTQ+ community. Smith recalled a recent Pride Month staff call where a transgender employee expressed gratitude working for AmeriCorps, a place where she feels safe and comfortable, Smith said. Were going to create community for them and have their back, he added. Before working for the Biden administration, Smith served as executive director of former President Barack Obamas My Brothers Keeper Alliance. The alliance is a product of the Obama administrations My Brothers Keeper Initiative. In the Obama years, Smith served as a special assistant to the president and managed the White House program. Smith recalled working at AmeriCorps when Obama famously said, If I had a son, hed look like Trayvon [Martin], the unarmed Black teenager fatally shot in Florida by a white vigilante in 2012. My Brothers Keeper Alliance executive director Michael D. Smith stands next to former U.S. President Barack Obama as he talks with an attendee during the MBK Rising! My Brothers Keeper Alliance Summit on February 19, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) I remember sitting in my office crying, thinking, I cant believe I work for a president who sees me, shared Smith, who said he had just lost his brother to gun violence at the time. He said he was awed by the fact that Americas first Black president used his powerful perch to say to the world that the country had a responsibility to make sure young men of color know that their country cares about them and is willing to invest in them. Building community and support for vulnerable communities has been a mainstay in Smiths life, who grew up in a poor neighborhood in western Massachusetts, where he participated in a school desegregation busing program as a child. We didnt have a whole lot of resources, but we had a community that took care of each other, said Smith, who was raised by a teen mother, foster grandparents and members of the community including at the Boys and Girls Club, where he was exposed to a life of service. I knew at a very early age that I wanted to lead a career that was honoring them and making it easier for kids like me to achieve their dreams, Smith said. While he experienced firsthand some of the vulnerabilities that exist for young Black boys, he also experienced the challenges many young Black LGBTQ+ children face today. I grew up as a closeted kid in a Pentecostal church, said Smith, who recalled his pastor saying, Theyll never have a sissy preach in his pulpit. I had to change my whole life trajectory when I realized that I wasnt being delivered for being gay, he told theGrio. If you would have told me that I could live my full, authentic self that I could have a man that I love, that I have work that is truly meaningful and impactful, I dont know if I would have believed you. AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith is the first openly gay Black man to lead the federal agency geared toward community service. (Photo: Courtesy of AmeriCorps) While the LGBTQ+ community is currently enduring what it sees as legislative attacks on their freedoms amid a wave of bills restricting aspects of their lives in public spaces, Smith reminds that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is not much different than the battle for Black freedoms long fought for and won during the civil rights movement. We got to keep bending that moral arc. Its going to bend towards progress, he said. Were going to have some setbacks, were going to have some slips. But lets celebrate the victories. Smith encouraged Americans who are interested in serving to consider a career at AmeriCorps. There is something for you, whether you care about the environment or you care about food insecurity, or if you care about mental health, he told theGrio. You get a living allowance, you get an education award, and you also get a transformative experience that can change the directory of your life. Gerren Keith Gaynor Gerren Keith Gaynor is a White House Correspondent and the Managing Editor of Politics at theGrio. He is based in Washington, D.C. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post AmeriCorps CEO talks Black LGBTQ pride, historic role in Biden administration appeared first on TheGrio. Angels Trout, Drury and Thaiss homer on consecutive pitches in 13-run inning against Rockies Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout (27) celebrates after his solo home run with on-deck batter Brandon Drury (23) in the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, June 24, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) DENVER (AP) Mike Trout, Brandon Drury and Matt Thaiss of the Angels hit home runs on consecutive pitches to open a 13-run third inning for Los Angeles against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night. Trout hit a 451-foot homer to center field on a 1-0 pitch from Colorado starter Chase Anderson. Drury hit the next pitch for a 437-foot homer to left center, and Matt Thais followed with a 399-foot homer to right. The Angels went on to score 10 more runs on seven more hits, capped by a two-run homer by Mickey Moniak. The Angels' 13 runs in the third inning tied a team record. The 10 hits fell one short of a record, as were the team's 23 total bases. So far this season, Trout has 17 homers, Drury 13 and Thaiss 4. It is the second time Anderson has given up homers on three straight pitchers. He gave up consecutive homers to the Yankees Brett Gardner, DJ LeMahieu and Luke Voit while pitching for Toronto on Sept. 17, 2020. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the world is seeing cracks emerge in Vladimir Putins Russia as mercenary forces attempted a rebellion over the weekend amid the countrys ongoing war against Ukraine. After calling for an armed uprising aimed at removing Russias defense minister, Wagner Group troops and their far-right leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, appeared to take control of the Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don that oversee fighting in Ukraine. The troops then began advancing toward Moscow on Saturday before halting, thanks to a deal by the Kremlin to send Prigozhin to neighboring pro-Russia Belarus. The Kremlin said charges of attempted armed rebellion will be dropped, and Prigozhin ordered his fighters back to their camps. Despite the revolt being short-lived, Blinken and analysts say the move by Putins onetime protege could have long-term consequences for the invasion in Ukraine and the Russian presidents decades-long reign. I suspect that this is a moving picture and we havent seen the last act yet. But we can say this, the secretary of state told CNNs State of the Union. First of all, what we have seen is extraordinary. And I think you have seen cracks emerge that werent there before: first in having Prigozhin raise front and center questioning the very premises of the Russian aggression against Ukraine to begin with the argument that somehow Ukraine or NATO posed a threat to Russia, and a direct challenge to Putin himself. "I think you've seen cracks emerge that weren't there before." Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with CNN's Dana Bash on the abandoned mutiny of the Wagner Group in Russia and what this could mean for Russian President Vladimir Putin. @CNNSotu#CNNSOTUpic.twitter.com/lQnU5UYuFs CNN (@CNN) June 25, 2023 Wagner fighters have been extremely important in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut that has experienced some of the wars bloodiest, longest battles. Prigozhin, an ex-convict, has a long history with the Russian president earning the nickname Putins chef for obtaining lucrative Kremlin catering contracts. Prigozhin claimed his rebellion began due to Russian forces attacking Wagner camps in Ukraine something Moscow has denied. But the U.S. had intelligence that suggested the mercenary leader had been building up his forces near the Russian border for some time, according to The Associated Press and CNN. Moscow prepared for Wagner fighters arrival over the weekend by placing checkpoints on the citys southern border, allegedly pulling thousands of Chechen soldiers from fighting in Ukraine. By Sunday, the troops had withdrawn from the capital. Think about it this way: 16 months ago, Russian forces were on the doorstep of Kyiv, Ukraine, thinking they were going to take the city in a matter of days, erase the country from the map, Blinken said. Now, they have to be focused on defending Moscow, Russias capital, against mercenaries of Putins own making. So this raises lots of profound questions that will be answered, I think, in the days and weeks ahead. If this is the summer to finally sell your house, Archway Homes may be able to help. This hometown real estate company, owned by husband and wife team Jon and Stacy Bichelmeyer, has more than 20 years of experience buying homes in all conditions and does it quickly without the often painful and stressful selling process. They buy houses as is in any condition: houses needing little to no repair, houses needing everything repaired from leaking roofs to bad foundations, cluttered houses, or those simply in need of cosmetic updating. Archway provides a no-obligation offer within 24 hours, can pay cash and close within three days or on a future date of the sellers choice, and there are no fees or commissions to pay. One of the advantages of working with us is selling as is, said Jon. That means you dont have to do any extensive and expensive renovations to make your home appeal to todays buyers or have it ready to show at a moments notice, wait for the right buyer, wait for it to close, and then pay a real estate agents commission or sellers closing costs. We personally purchase every house. A third-generation real estate investor with roots in the Kansas City community for over 40 years, Jons extensive experience really makes a difference. The ability to sell a house quickly, in lieu of the traditional, lengthy home selling method, to an established and reputable company has been the perfect solution for numerous homeowners all over the Kansas City area, including Claudia L., who recently sold a house in Old Olathe to Archway. I was ready to sell my 1935 house. It had some foundation issues, and needed more work than I was able to do. I had talked with some other companies that buy houses direct, but just did not have a good feeling about them. I contacted Archway after seeing an ad and could tell they were different - just nice, normal people, she said. All things considered, I felt they offered a fair price. It was a nice benefit that I could take what I wanted and leave the rest. They were very helpful, not high pressure, and worked around my schedule. It all was pretty painless, really. I would definitely recommend Archway to others. Archway has purchased homes in all sorts of situations. Sometimes the properties need extensive repairs. Archway Homes will buy the home and make the needed repairs, relieving the sellers of the hassle and expense. Sellers can even leave the unwanted contents, saving time and expense. We are committed to working with sellers, even in difficult situations, to find a solution for all, Stacy said. They strive to make the difficult process of selling a home as stress-free as possible, especially in these challenging times. We even wrote the book on it. Literally! Home to Home Local Edition Kansas City Metro outlines the steps homeowners can take to sell their home and our experiences helping people do just that, Jon said. Weve seen some great times; we lived through the real estate crash in 2008-2010 and the insanity of the Covid market the last few years and have come through the other side. We plan to keep working with sellers no matter what the market is doing, said Jon. I know people are being cautious and careful, so we, too, are respectful of our sellers needs to make sure they feel comfortable. Archway Homes features a no-obligation offer process. The first step is to call the office at 913-599-5000 to schedule an appointment. Jon will then walk through the home and can provide an offer price within 24 hours. Archway Homes can pay cash and close in as fast as three days. However, some sellers need the opposite approach, needing a delayed closing several months away. They may need time to find their next home, or they are building a home and need time for it to be completed. Coordinating closing schedules in a traditional sale can be challenging. Archway Homes sets a closing date that will meet the sellers needs. Anyone who wants to sell a home quickly for cash should call Jon Bichelmeyer at 913-599-5000 or email him at jon@archwayhomesinc.com. Or they can visit Archway Homes website at archwaypropertieskc.com to fill out an online form. To get a free copy of their book Home to Home Local Edition Kansas City Metro, Kansas and Missouri, just call the office. Archway Homes Location: 15301 W. 87th St. Parkway, Suite B35 in the UMB Bank building Contact: Jon Bichelmeyer at 913-599-500 or jon@archwayhomesinc.com Website: archwaypropertieskc.com Australia slaps sanctions against those involved in downing flight MH17 over Ukraine The Australian government has slapped financial sanctions on three men involved in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) in 2014, foreign minister Penny Wong said on Saturday. The flight was brought down by a Russian-made missile over Ukraine killing 298 people onboard, including 38 Australian residents. In November last year, a Dutch court convicted Russian intelligence agents Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinskiy, and Ukrainian separatist leader Leonid Kharchenko in absentia for murder, and sentenced them to life in prison. Presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis said evidence presented by prosecutors at the trial proved the Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was brought down by a Buk missile fired by pro-Moscow Ukrainian rebels on 17 July 2014. None of the defendants appeared for the trial that began in March 2020 and it is deemed unlikely that the men will serve a prison sentence any time soon. The plane was one of 160 flights that crossed the airspace of eastern Ukraine that day. MH17 crashed near the Ukrainian village of Hrabove. There was an exclusion zone at 32,000ft because of the conflict between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed rebels. Five countries the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) into the tragedy. On 24 May 2018, the JIT announced that the Buk missile installation that brought down the flight belonged to the Russian army. The missile, which can reach a height of 80,000ft, was fired from rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine at a target that may mistakenly have been assumed to be a Ukrainian military aircraft. A man walks among the debris at the crash site near the village of Hrabove, in Ukraine (AP) Ms Wong said the sanctions announced Saturday targeted Sergey Dubinskiy and Leonid Kharchenko, two of those convicted by the Dutch court last year. Australia had already sanctioned Igor Girkin, for his involvement in supporting separatism in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Ms Wong said. The government has also sanctioned Sergey Muchkaev, a colonel with the Russian Armed Forces who commanded the brigade that supplied the missile system responsible for downing the plane, she said. These sanctions demonstrate the Australian Governments ongoing commitment to hold to account those responsible for the downing of Flight MH17, Ms Wong said in a statement. Australia is steadfast in our commitment to seek truth, justice and accountability for the victims of the downing of Flight MH17. While the international investigators earlier in February said there were strong indications that Vladimir Putin decided to supply the Russian missile system that downed MH17 over Ukraine, Moscow has previously denied involvement in the downing of the civilian jet. The international team said it was suspending its investigation this year, claiming to have insufficient evidence to launch any fresh prosecutions. Additional reporting by agencies Australian PM visit to China to be locked in at 'appropriate time' FILE PHOTO: Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gives the keynote address for the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that he would set the date for a China visit at an "appropriate time" as he stressed the importance of bilateral trade and expressed concerns about an Australian journalist detained in Beijing. Talks are under way about a visit by Albanese to China as Australia's centre-left Labor government pushes to end unofficial Chinese bans and tariffs placed on some Australian products in 2020 during a lowpoint in diplomatic relations. Asked about when a visit would happen, Albanese said "we'll finalise the date at an appropriate time", adding that his next overseas trip would be in July to the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Albanese refused to be drawn on whether Australians detained in China would be released prior to a visit, but reiterated a call for the release of Australian journalist Cheng Lei, detained in Beijing since being arrested in September 2020. "Cheng Lei ... should be released and should be allowed to come home to Australia," he said on Sky News television, according to an official transcript. Australia continued to advocate for the removal of any impediments to trade between the "two great nations", Albanese added. "The truth is that it is in Australia's interest to export to China, but it's also in China's interest to receive those exports," he said. China in May said it was set to resume imports of Australian timber days after Trade Minister Don Farrell returned from a trip to Beijing. A visit by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in December was followed weeks later by the resumption of coal shipments. (Reporting by Sam McKeith; Editing by David Gregorio) The original Barbie doll didnt even wear pink when it first debuted in 1959, wearing, instead, a black and white chevron bathing suit. (Getty Images) Amanda Hansen loves a hot pink moment. I think I just naturally am such a pink froufrou girl. All my stuff. Everything I buy is always a little bit Barbie-esque, she said. So it has taken over. Hansen, a graphic designer in Tacoma, Washington, infused her home with colors fit for Barbies Dreamhouse, from pink Smeg appliances in the kitchen to purple and pink floral wallpaper in the dining room and tons of colorful accents in between. The piece de resistance, though, is the backyard Barbie oasis. There, Hansen, 31, installed a hot pink aboveground pool, which she purchased on Amazon for about $150, and shaded it with a banana leaf print umbrella. She painted a pink and white checkered floor on the concrete patio and, soon, a pink cabana with a striped curtain will round off the space. I wanted to make it that Palm Springs feel with all pink, just as Barbie as I can get it to look, like its not a little backyard here in Tacoma, said Hansen. Barbiecore, a palette made up primarily of hot pink, and similarly bold rosy hues like fuchsia and magenta, is surging its way into home decor with the forthcoming release of the Barbie movie serving as a catalyst. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Information shared by Pinterest, the web service where people can save images to virtual pinboards, shows that there was a 1,135% increase in searches for Barbie aesthetic bedroom from May 2022 to May 2023. The web service also saw an increase in other searches for hot pink decor including bathroom decor and kitchen cabinets, said Swasti Sarna, Pinterests global director of data insights. Simply wearing hot pink isnt enough, people want to be surrounded by it at home, too. Hot pink fits right into maximalism, which experienced a resurgence in recent years as a response to the cool minimalist aesthetic that dominated Instagram feeds for so long. During the pandemic, people leaned into their personal styles at home, disco balls to handmade tiles. When Hansen married her husband six years ago, she gave farmhouse decor a try. It wasnt my style, and I realized that, but I was trying to be mature, she said. So it just kind of started happening one day and I think it was probably three or four years ago and I started painting the walls and it just has escalated. In Nashville, Tennessee, Beverly Griffith always loved the color and incorporated it into her home decor when she bought her house in 2017. Millennial pink isnt nearly pink enough for me, said Griffith, 42. Her bathroom, for example, has a hot pink shower curtain and pink tub and the recently renovated kitchen has hot pink appliances, which Griffith painted herself. At the start of the pandemic, when she left her job as a bartender, Griffith brought that affinity for hot pink to her homes exterior, too, by painting it in three different vibrant hues. The house became a social media sensation and now she rents it out to musicians and content creators who use the space for the day. Since Ive painted my house pink, Ive met people or read comments on social media, saying that theyve been embarrassed to say they like pink in the past, said Griffith. Theyve thanked me for being so outwardly and confidently pink. Pink is often thought of as a feminine color, but that wasnt always the case. According to Color Psychology, pink was originally worn by boys because it was a paler version of the red used in military uniforms. Eventually, pink was rebranded as a girls color. Hot pink made waves when Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli released her own iteration, called Shocking pink, in the mid-1930s. The original Barbie doll didnt even wear pink when it first debuted in 1959, wearing, instead, a black and white chevron bathing suit. The world truly made the pink connection with Barbie in the 70s when we started consistently leaning into predominantly pink packaging as a core brand identifier, said Kim Culmone, senior vice president and head of Barbie and fashion doll design for Mattel. Barbies pink shades evolved over the years, and in 2008 the vibrant Barbie Pink became an official Pantone color. With Barbie in the air, brands are seizing the moment. Following last year's collaboration with Mattel to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Barbie Dreamhouse, the furniture company Joybird is partnering with the toymaker on another collection that includes sofas and accent chairs in a deep jewel pink tone set to release in July. Gifty Walker, Joybirds director of merchandising and sourcing in Los Angeles, noted that Joybird had a hot pink couch that was popular in 2016. Now hot pink is back and customers are using it to eschew traditional neutrals like grays, browns and tans. Once, those bolder colors were reserved for pillows and rugs and just the decor accents, and now we see people really making them an anchor piece in the room, said Walker. For Jasmine Mitchell, a 30-year-old model, decorating with hot pink allowed her to connect with her inner child. When she moved from Dallas to Los Angeles in 2021 she designed her living room around the color. The first item she purchased for her apartments living room was a velvet hot pink accent chair with gold legs. LED lights surrounding the windows cast a pink glow in the evening. I like the other pinks, but hot pink just does something. Its electrifying. It makes me so happy and makes me feel alive, Mitchell said. So I kind of let my younger self guide me. c.2023 The New York Times Company Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko may not enjoy hosting Yevgeny Prigozhin (Ilya PITALEV) Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko scored a propaganda victory by brokering the deal which staved off the threat of an internal armed conflict in Russia but he may live to regret an accord that will see his country host the Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, observers say. In a surprise statement late Saturday, Lukashenko's press service said he had spent all day in negotiations with Prigozhin, with the approval of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the Wagner boss had agreed to stop his advance towards Moscow. The announcement was a boost for Lukashenko, who has ruled a nation that borders three EU states for almost 30 years but has been treated as a pariah by the West since disputed 2020 elections and now also because of his support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It also comes during a tricky period after the leader, 68, faced major questions about his health when he looked poorly during the annual World War II victory ceremony in Moscow last month and then vanished from view for several days. Under the deal brokered by Lukashenko, Prigozhin will in future live in exile in Belarus, the Kremlin announced. It still remains unclear if he will be bringing members of the Wagner militia with him. The late night phone call where, according to the Belarusian presidency, Putin thanked Lukashenko for his work must have been music to the Belarusian leader's ears. But Katia Glod, Russia-West Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network in London, said it was likely that Prigozhin was "dumped" on Lukashenko by Putin. "I don't think it was Lukashenko's own will. I think he was used by the Kremlin. He would rather not have Prigozhin," she told AFP. His presence in Belarus will bring "multiple risks" in a land where the loyalty of the security forces is of paramount importance after the the 2020 elections were followed by mass street protests and a brutal crackdown, she said. "The only plus that there could be for Lukashenko is he may want to use Prigozhin as personal army against any potential revolt." Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, whose country hosts the NATO summit next month, warned the alliance would need to strengthen its eastern borders "if Prigozhin or part of the Wagner group ends up in Belarus with unclear plans and unclear intentions". - 'Not a present' - Lukashenko has since 2020 grown ever more dependent on Kremlin backing for his future political survival, always appearing the junior partner in his regular meetings with Putin. In a dramatic change in policy and symbol of what the opposition sees as Belarus' loss of sovereignty, it is now hosting Russian tactical nuclear weapons after a deal between Lukashenko and Putin. "Putting nuclear weapons into Belarus territory is about Russia's slow motion annexation of Belarus," said William Alberque, Director of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) "I think Lukashenko already feels he is backed into a corner. Obviously if Putin says 'do me a favour' he is going to do so in the hope this buys him some kind of leverage." For the Belarusian opposition, whose leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya went into exile in the aftermath of the disputed elections that she says she won, Lukashenko's sheer dependence on Russia makes his move dangerous. "Prigozhin is not a present for Lukashenko because Putin, the autocrat, will never forgive the humiliation that he suffered at the hands of Prigozhin," said the former Belarus diplomat and culture minister Pavel Latushko, now part of the opposition. "This is small, tactical, artificial, superficial victory for Lukashenko that could turn into a strategic problem for the dictator himself," he added in a video commentary posted by the Poland-based Nexta opposition Telegram channel. - 'Risky bet' - Once described by the United States as running the "last dictatorship in Europe", Lukashenko cuts sometimes a mercurial presence in Belarus, often seen scything fields or planting vegetables as well as playing sports. But activists say internal repression has intensified since the 2020 protests, with some 1,500 people now held as political prisoners according to the Viasna rights group, including Tihkanovskayas fellow opposition figurehead Maria Kolesnikova. Glod described Lukashenko's rule as resting on two pillars -- violence and support from Russia. "He is clearly worried now as the Kremlin is not as strong as it seemed to be," she said. Hanna Liubakova, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council said while Lukashenka's position could be strengthened by the mediation "in the longer term, his regime will face the repercussions". Lukashenko had shown "unwavering loyalty" to the Kremlin but had placed a "risky bet" on Russia swiftly winning the battle for Ukraine. "With Putin's authority weakened, the regime in Minsk may find itself with reduced backing and support from Russia," she said. sjw/bp The White House received backlash Saturday after it was reported that Hunter Biden was accompanying his father to Camp David amid bombshell whistleblower allegations of political corruption along with recently pleading guilty to federal tax charges and agreeing to plea deal on a felony gun charge. The House Ways and Means Committee revealed Thursday its interview with an IRS whistleblower last month who shared a WhatsApp message from 2017 in which Hunter Biden allegedly told a Chinese business associate that he and his father would ensure "you will regret not following my direction." "I am sitting here with my father, and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled," Hunter Biden told Henry Zhao, the director of Chinese asset management firm Harvest Fund Management, in the message provided by IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley. "And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction." DOJ KNEW HUNTER BIDEN LAPTOP WAS 'NOT MANIPULATED,' CONTAINED 'RELIABLE EVIDENCE' IN 2019: WHISTLEBLOWER Conservatives noted on Twitter the close timing of the revelations and the father and son's travel together to Camp David. "This week, federal government whistleblowers allege massive DOJ/FBI corrupt obstruction to protect Hunter and Biden family," tweeted Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch. "And Biden regime sweetheart plea deal with Hunter is announced. Joe Biden's response? Bring Hunter to WH for a State Dinner and then off to Camp David for the weekend with him." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP HUNTER BIDEN'S IRS WHISTLEBLOWER NEWS DRAWS INTENSE TWITTER BACKLASH: 'COVER-UP OF BIDEN FAMILY CORRUPTION' Hunter Biden entered an agreement with his father's Justice Department to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay federal income taxes on at least $3 million he earned through foreign business deals. "COLLUSION: Hunter and Joe Biden retreated to Camp David with their lawyers for the weekend," tweeted @amuse, a prominent Substack writer. "Will Biden throw his son overboard to save his presidency?" "Lots of business to discuss?" GOP communicator Steve Guest tweeted. "Amazing. Taking a tax cheat and gun felon with him on a trip where he will be discussing high level international events," Washington Free Beacon reporter Chuck Ross tweeted. "But also, does Hunter live with Joe now or something?" "Strange to go to Camp David for such a short time," New York Post columnist Miranda Devine tweeted. "Maybe to have confidential discussions with unknown legal advisers in a heavily guarded place away from prying eyes." President Biden has consistently said that he never talks to his son about foreign business deals, despite piling evidence that he has met more than a dozen of Hunter Biden's business associates. The whistleblower testimony was revealed two days after Hunter Biden entered an agreement with his father's Justice Department to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay federal income taxes on at least $3 million he earned through foreign business deals. He also agreed to enter into a pretrial diversion agreement with regard to a separate charge of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. HUNTER BIDEN, AG GARLAND ENJOY WHITE HOUSE STATE DINNER WHILE FIRST SON FACES FEDERAL CHARGES "True to form, Biden leaves the White House for his weekend at Camp David, despite unrest in Russia," journalist Charlie Spiering tweeted. "Hunter Biden also spotted boarding with him on Marine One." In addition to accompanying his father to Camp David, he was also listed as a guest at the White House state dinner Thursday night for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his wife. Footage showed Hunter Biden rubbing elbows with prominent guests. When White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was pressed Friday about Hunter being a guest, she said, "I'm just not going to get into family discussion, personal family discussion." "As you know, Hunter's his son," she added. "I'm just not going to get into that." The White House did not respond to a request for comment. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden led Republican front-runner Donald Trump in a hypothetical 2024 election rematch in an NBC News poll, though his edge is within the surveys margin of error. Most Read from Bloomberg Biden has 49% support in the poll of registered voters and the former president garnered 45%. Bidens widest edge is among Black voters, while Trumps biggest advantage is among rural voters, according to the poll published Sunday. Trumps support among Republican primary voters in the June 16-20 poll increased to 51% from 46% in April, suggesting that hes weathering his federal indictment for allegedly mishandling classified documents for now. More respondents were concerned about Bidens physical and mental health to be president than about Trumps by a margin of 68% to 55%, according the NBC News. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden defeated Trump 306-232 in the Electoral College, with a 4 percentage-point lead in the popular vote, according to Pew Research Center. Both parties are affirming their stance on hot-button policy topics such abortion ahead of 2024. Trump appeared to toughen his public position during a speech to evangelical Christian voters on Saturday, saying theres a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life. Democrats are embarking on an abortion-rights messaging campaign, capitalizing on a Republican vulnerability as voters largely denounce the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Among Republican primary voters, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trailed with about 22% backing. Support for each other GOP candidate was in the single digits. The June 16-20 poll of 1,000 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. You are here: China China saw a total of 106 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 32.3 percent from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Tourism revenue reached 37.31 billion yuan (about 5.2 billion U.S. dollars) during the holiday which lasts from Thursday to Saturday, up 44.5 percent year-on-year, according to the ministry. President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the ongoing tensions in Russia on Sunday as well as the United States continued support for Ukraine. Zelensky said in a statement on Twitter that the conversation he had with Biden was a positive and inspiring chat, adding that he thanked the president for the unflagging support of Ukraine. He added that they discussed the further expansion of defense cooperation, especially about long-range weapons. We discussed the course of hostilities and the processes taking place in Russia. The world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored, Zelensky said in a statement on Twitter. Zelensky said he thanked Biden for the support of the fighter jet coalition, noting that its essential to increase Ukraines capabilities to protect their skies. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group chief, launched an armed rebellion to oust Russias defense minister on Friday, alleging that Sergei Shoigu ordered a strike on Wagners field camps in Ukraine. The rebellion was short-lived, Prigozhin ordered his forces to stop their advance on Moscow over the weekend and reportedly reached a deal with the Kremlin, agreeing to move to Belarus. The White House said in a statement that Biden and Zelensky discussed support as Ukraine continues to defend itself against Russia. They discussed Ukraines ongoing counter-offensive, and President Biden reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support, including through continued security, economic, and humanitarian aid, the White House said in a statement. The leaders also discussed recent events in Russia. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Blinken on attempted coup in Russia: I don't think this is final episode Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, believes that the attempted coup of the private military company Wagner indicates "very serious cracks" in the Russian government. Source: Blinken said this on Sunday on the air of the TV channel ABC, reports European Pravda. As he noted, the situation with the attempted coup in Russia "is still developing." "We have Prigozhin, who publicly questions the premise of Russian aggression against Ukraine the idea that Ukraine or NATO somehow threaten Russia. There is a person who publicly and very openly challenges Putin's power and very openly," he said. The head of the State Department stressed that 16 months ago, at the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, "Putin stood on the threshold of Kyiv in Ukraine, trying to capture the city in a matter of days and wipe the country off the face of the Earth." "Now he had to defend Moscow, the capital of Russia, from his own mercenary... I don't want to speculate, and I don't think we saw the final episode," Blinken added. He also confirmed that representatives of the US presidential administration spoke with their Russian counterparts. "First of all, because we want to ensure that Russia understands its duty to take care of the well-being of American citizens and our personnel in Russia. They are obliged to do this," the Secretary of State explained. On 23-24 June, an actual military confrontation between the head of the Wagner PMC and the official Russian elite was unfolding in Russia. In a special address, Vladimir Putin talked about the Civil War and rebellion. On Saturday evening, after a conversation with the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin said that his mercenaries turn back, and go in the opposite direction to the field camps. Later, it became known that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be closed, and he would "go to Belarus". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday backed President Bidens remarks calling Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator, saying the president speaks for all of us. Its very clear that when it comes to China, we are going to do and say things that they dont like. They are going to do and say things that we dont like, Blinken said on CNNs State of the Union when asked whether the president was wrong to refer to Xi as a dictator in comments about the Chinese spy balloon that crossed the U.S. before being shot down in February. Theres no secret about concerns we have about democracy, about human rights, about some of the actions that China is taking around the world, and being able to have better stronger sustained lines of communication means we can talk about these differences directly, Blinken said. Do you believe that Xi Jinping is a dictator? host Dana Bash pressed. The president speaks clearly. He speaks candidly. Ive worked for him for more than 20 years, and he speaks for all of us, Blinken said. China had ripped Biden for the remarks, which Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning labeled extremely absurd and irresponsible. Blinken visited Beijing earlier this month after a trip planned for February was postponed amid the surveillance balloon incident. Blinken met with Xi and other officials, including Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in a trip aimed at stabilizing tense Beijing-Washington relations. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday called the recent rebellion by Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin a real distraction for Russian President Vladimir Putin that could create greater openings for Kyivs forces as Ukraine mounts its counteroffensive. All of this is likely to unroll in the coming days, in the coming weeks, to the extent that it presents a real distraction for Putin, and for Russian authorities, that they have to sort of mind their rear even as theyre trying to deal with the counter offensive and Ukraine. I think that creates even greater openings for the Ukrainians to do well on the ground, Blinken said on CBS Newss Face the Nation. Prigozhin, who leads the private Russian military contractor organization the Wagner Group, urged an armed uprising to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, challenging Putins justification for Moscows ongoing war on its neighbor. Putin promised to put down the armed mutiny, but Prigozhin ordered his forces to stop their advance just a day later after an agreement reached with Belarus. Kyivs much-anticipated counteroffensive launched this month, more than a year since Russias invasion last February. Blinken said on CNNs State of the Union that the rebellion creates an additional advantage for Ukrainians as they lodge their counteroffensive push. The Russians have put in place lots of defenses over the last months in anticipation of this counteroffensive, but it is progressing. And to the extent that Russia is now distracted, that Putin has to worry about whats going on inside of Russia as much as he has to worry about what hes trying to do not successfully in Ukraine, I think that creates an additional advantage for the Ukrainians to take advantage of, Blinken said. Ukrainians have a clear plan and have in hand what they what they need to be successful despite tough terrain, the secretary said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Although the Wagner mercenary forces led by Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin have halted their assault on Moscow, the threat has revealed the fragility of Russian President Vladimir Putins regime, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. What weve seen is Russia having to defend Moscow, its capital, against mercenaries of its own making, Blinken said Sunday during an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press with Chuck Todd. So, in and of itself, thats extraordinary. And in so doing, weve also seen rise to the surface profound questions about the very premises for this Russian aggression against Ukraine that Prigozhin surfaced very publicly, as well as a direct challenge to Putins authority. WATCH: "Russia [is] having to defend Moscow against mercenaries of its own making," @SecBlinken says. Sec. Blinken: The Wagner Group rose "a direct challenge to Putins authority. We've seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade." pic.twitter.com/WV7sDTpSRp Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 25, 2023 Prigozhin, whose Wagner mercenaries have been fighting for Russia in its assault on Ukraine, redirected the forces to attack Russian cities on Friday, claiming that Russian troops were targeting Wagner troops with missile strikes. Prigozhins forces gained control over Rostov-on-Don near the Ukraine border before heading for Moscow. But the revolt came to an end with a deal, brokered by Belarus, between Putin and Prigozhin. Russia agreed to drop criminal charges against Prigozhin if he would depart Russia for Belarus. Putin defending his own country against mercenary forces is a stark contrast to more than a year ago when Russian forces were on the doorstep of Kyiv in Ukraine, believing they would take the capital in a matter of days and erase the country from the map as an independent country, Blinken said. WATCH: "Russia [is] having to defend Moscow against mercenaries of its own making," Sec. Blinken says.@SecBlinken: The Wagner Group rose "a direct challenge to Putins authority. We've seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade." pic.twitter.com/g00rqwmoWi Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 25, 2023 What weve seen is Russia having to defend Moscow, its capital, against mercenaries of his own making, the secretary continued. So in and of itself, thats extraordinary. And in so doing, weve also seen rise to the surface profound questions about the very premises for this Russian aggression against Ukraine, that Prigozhin surfaced very publicly, as well as a direct challenge to Putins authority. So, I think weve seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade. It is too soon to tell exactly where they go and when they get there. But certainly, we have all sorts of new questions that Putin is going to have to address in the weeks and months ahead. "I think you've seen cracks emerge that weren't there before." Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks with CNN's Dana Bash on the abandoned mutiny of the Wagner Group in Russia and what this could mean for Russian President Vladimir Putin. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/lQnU5UYuFs CNN (@CNN) June 25, 2023 In a separate interview on CNN, Blinken emphasized the uncertainty of the situation unfolding in Russia, pointing out that it remains to be seen how the Russian military brass will react to this challenge to Putins authority. I suspect that this is a moving picture and we havent seen the last act yet, Blinken said. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said the short-lived rebellion from Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin shows real cracks within Russia as it wages its war on Ukraine. Prigozhin himself, in this entire incident, has raised profound questions about the very premises for Russian aggression against Ukraine in the first place, saying that Ukraine or NATO did not pose a threat to Russia, which is part of Putins narrative. And it was a direct challenge to Putins authority. So this raises profound questions. It shows real cracks, Blinken said on CBS Newss Face the Nation, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin, who heads the private Russian military contractor organization, called on Friday for an armed uprising to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and raised questions about Moscows justification for its ongoing war on its neighbor. The Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee opened a criminal investigation into Prigozhin and Putin promised to put down the armed mutiny. The Wager Group crossed from Ukraine into Russia, but Prigozhin, a day later, ordered his forces to stop their advance on Moscow. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko assisted in negotiating a settlement between Prigozhin and Russian leadership. Sixteen months ago, Russian forces were on the doorstep of Kyiv, in Ukraine, thinking theyd take the city in a matter of days, thinking they would erase Ukraine from the map as an independent country. Now, over this weekend, theyve had to defend Moscow, Russias capital, against mercenaries of Putins own making, Blinken said on CBS. The secretary of State said were in the midst of a moving picture and we havent seen the last act, stressing that he wouldnt speculate about what happens in the coming weeks and months, but said we do know that Putin has a lot more to answer for. Blinken also called Prigozhin a rising storm inside Russia. Direct challenges to the leadership, to the military leadership, powerful criticism of Russias conduct, of its aggression against Ukraine. And now questioning the very premises of the war, Prigozhin himself, saying that Ukraine and NATO did not pose a threat to Russia These more cracks in the Russian facade, and those cracks are already profound. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the brief and chaotic insurrection in Russia led by the Wagner paramilitary group shows cracks in Russian President Vladimir Putins role as a leader of the country. This is just an added chapter to a very, very bad book that Putin has written for Russia. But whats so striking about it is, its internal, Blinken told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union, describing the situation as extraordinary. The fact that you have from within someone directly questioning Putins authority, directly questioning the premises that upon which he launched this aggression against Ukraine. That, in and of itself, is something very, very powerful. It adds cracks. Where those go, when they get there, too soon to say, but it clearly raises new questions that Putin has to deal with, he said. The comments from the nations top diplomat underscore the short-lived intensity of a crisis that started when Yevegeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group, marched his fighters toward Moscow, taking control of Russian military facilities along the way. Prigozhin on Friday openly accused Russias military of attacking a Wagner camp and killing a huge amount of his men. For months, he had railed against Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and the countrys top general, Valery Gerasimov, whom he blames for Moscows faltering invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin responded to the show of force from the Wagner Group by deploying heavily armed troops to the streets of Moscow and warning residents to stay indoors. By Saturday afternoon, the Kremlin said a deal had been reached to end the insurrection, with Prigozhin heading to neighboring Belarus and Wagner fighters turning back from their march. US intelligence had painted a grim picture, with the expectation that Prigozhins march toward Moscow would encounter much more resistance and be a lot more bloody than it was, according to one US official. There was surprise that Russias professional military didnt do a better job of confronting Wagner troops as they moved into Rostov and up towards Moscow, the official said. Compounding that surprise was the swiftness of the deal that was struck to cease the insurrection. We assessed it was going to be a great deal more violent and bloody, the official told CNN. The remarkable challenge to Russian leadership while brief threatened to plunge the country into crisis and destabilize its already stumbling war efforts in Ukraine. We dont know the effect this will have, but it clearly once again shows the world the difference between what is happening in Ukraine and what is happening in Russia, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota told Bash in a separate interview on State of the Union. Though tensions have deescalated, Putin may be more exposed than he has been in the last 23 years following the attempted insurrection, according to former CIA Director David Petraeus. The government has been shaken. Putin has been shaken personally. This makes him more vulnerable, arguably, than he has at any time in his two-decade rule of the Russian Federation, Petraeus said in a separate appearance on State of the Union. Petraeus said the rebellion will add to existing doubts surrounding the invasion in Ukraine, which the retired US Army general categorized as a catastrophic mistake, a terrible blunder on the part of Putin. President Joe Biden on Sunday discussed the US continued support for Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelensky, a White House official said. Blinken said Sunday that it was too soon to determine how the saga will end and that the fate of Russian leadership should be left up to its citizens. But we can say this: First of all, what weve seen is extraordinary. And I think youve seen cracks emerge that werent there before, he said. This story has been updated with additional details. CNNs Jessie Yeung and Alex Marquardt contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Relative normalcy returned to Moscow on Sunday as Russian troops deployed to protect the capital withdrew following the retreat of the rebellious mercenary forces. The brief insurgency, however, revealed the Kremlin's inability to provide an effective rapid response to the Wagner Group's advances, highlighting internal Russian security weaknesses, the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment. The Kremlin's struggle was likely the result of surprise combined with the impact of heavy losses in Ukraine, the assessment said. Wagner likely could have reached the outskirts of Moscow if Wagner leader Yevgheny Prigozhin had chosen to order them to do so, the assessment said. The march ended 300 miles from Moscow on Saturday with a deal between Prigozhin and President Vladimir Putin. On Sunday, roadblocks and checkpoints around the city had been removed and crowds swarmed the downtown area on a warm, sunny day, packing street cafes with customers, the Associated Press reported. Still, the Biden administration is monitoring fallout from the coup attempt that could provide profound consequences for Putin, Ukraine and Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. "This is just the latest chapter in a book of failure that Putin has written for himself and for Russia," Blinken said on NBC News' "Meet the Press." "Economically, militarily, its standing in the world all of those things have plummeted." Membes of the Wagner Group military company sit atop of a tank on a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Will Vladimir Putin keep his grip on power? Coup attempt dials up pressure over Ukraine war Developments: President Biden spoke Sunday with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about Ukraines ongoing counteroffensive. Biden reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support, including continued security, economic and humanitarian aid. The leaders "also discussed recent events in Russia," the White House said in a statement. GOP presidential hopeful Chris Christie dismissed a recent Pew Research survey indicating 44% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say the U.S. is giving too much aid to Ukraine. "America has never been a great country and the leader of the world by filling in the moat and pulling up the drawbridge," said on ABC News' "This Week." Two more bodies were found under the rubble of a Kyiv apartment building a day after it was hit by missile debris during a Russian strike Saturday, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Sunday. The discovery raises the death toll to five. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, apparently involved in negotiations that ended Prigozhin's march on Russia, could take part in negotiations to end the war, Ukraine Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Alexei Danilov said on his Facebook page. "Lukashenko's participation in this process is not excluded," Danilov wrote. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov spoke Sunday and discussed "regional security developments and dynamics on the ground in Ukraine," the Pentagon said in a statement. Whats happening in Russia? Kremlin says Wagner chief to leave for Belarus after rebellion Ukraine forces making 'gradual but steady' progress in war Ukrainian forces have recently "re-set" and are pressing major offensive operations in southern and eastern Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defense says in it latest assessment of the war. Ukrainian forces are using the experiences from the first two weeks of the counteroffensive to refine tactics for assaulting the deep, well-prepared Russian defenses and are making "gradual but steady tactical progress in key areas." The assessment adds that in the Luhansk region, Russian forces have made a "significant effort" to launch an attack, probably a reflection of senior leadership orders to go on the offensive whenever possible. "Russia has made some small gains, but Ukrainian forces have prevented a breakthrough," the assessment says. Putin assures Russians he monitors war 24-7 Putin told a Russian TV audience he monitors the war around the clock. "Of course, I pay priority attention," he told journalist Pavel Zarubin on the "Moscow.Kremlin.Putin" TV program that aired Sunday. "This is how the day begins and this is how it ends." When asked if he can get a report on important issues at 3 a.m., Putin said he "has been staying up quite late" due to what he calls the special military operation. "Of course, I always have to be in touch. That's the way it goes. Always ... close by," he said. Blinken sees 'real cracks' in Putin regime Blinken, making the rounds on Sunday morning talk shows, said the chaotic events of recent days raise "profound questions" about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and revealed "real cracks" in Putin's regime. The agreement that persuaded a popular mercenary leader to abandon a march to Moscow doesn't end Putin's leadership crisis, Blinken said. Blinken said officials are still trying to learn the details of the agreement between Putin and Prigozhin. The secretary of state did not comment on the stability of Putin's regime, or even whether he is still in Moscow. Asked about the security of Russia's massive nuclear stockpile, Blinken told CNN's "State of the Union" that is "something we're looking at very, very carefully." He also said that "its too soon to tell where this is going to go." China backs Putin's handling of rebellion China's foreign ministry issues a statement Sunday expressing vague support of the deal struck by Putin and Prigozhin. Putin has been working for months to strengthen ties with China in the face of Russia's hostile relations with the West. "This is Russias internal affair," the Chinese statement read. "As Russias friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination for the new era, China supports Russia in maintaining national stability and achieving development and prosperity." Revolt leader 'probably has got other arrows in the quiver' An attempted coup against Putin that was swiftly abandoned Saturday raised new questions about his grip on power and is expected to intensify pressure on him within Russia over the unpopular war in Ukraine. Putin had vowed a harsh penalty for Prigozhin, the head of the paramilitary force that has been fighting alongside Russia's regular army in Ukraine. But after Prigozhin abruptly ended the rebellion, the Kremlin said he would not be prosecuted and would instead leave for Belarus. Although Putin's authority has not been challenged during his more than two decades as Russia's president, a shadowy group known as the siloviki Russias version of the so-called Deep State security power brokers wields substantial power behind the scenes in Russia, said Steven Hall, a former Moscow chief of station and head of Russia operations for the CIA. If Putin loses their support, he could be forced out almost immediately, he said. "Putin and the Kremlin haven't played the last card yet," Hall said. "Neither have any of the other players here, including Prigozhin, who probably has got other arrows in the quiver." Josh Meyer Wagner mercenaries begin retreat from Russian territory Wagner militants were leaving the southern Russia region of Voronezh, a day after the group abandoned its armed march toward Moscow, local governor Alexander Gusev said Sunday. "The movement of Wagner units through Voronezh Oblast is ending," Gusev said in a Telegram post,adding that travel and social restrictions in the region will be lifted once "the situation is finally resolved." Wagner militants had reportedly seized all of the regional capital Voronezh's military facilities after Prigozhin launched his rebellion "to restore justice" after alleging that a Russian missile strike on his mercenary forces' camps in Ukraine caused substantial casualties. Contributing: Francesca Chambers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine Russia war updates: Blinken sees 'cracks' in Putin regime Ever since President Vladimir Putin gave the order for Russian troops to invade Ukraine, the international response has understandably focused on how best to end the land war. That has meant sending conventional military hardware tanks, missile systems, artillery and training Ukrainian soldiers. Not bad for an organization Frances President Emmanuel Macron warned in 2019 was facing brain death. Russias aggression hasnt been restricted to the battlefield. Even before the invasion, NATO officials noted a rise in non-conventional warfare aimed at Ukraine and other Western targets. Since the start of the war, disinformation, energy restrictions and cyberattacks on infrastructure have all been weaponized by the Kremlin to justify and advance its war. A weapon, by its broadest definition, is something that you can use to coerce someone into doing what you want them to do. You can put a gun to their head, you can blackmail them, you can spread disinformation to turn others against them or you can turn off the energy to their house, David van Weel, NATOs Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, told CNN. Those weapons are not only aimed at the target, in this case Ukraine. Russia claims that NATO promised never to expand to the east after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. And although weve been debunking that for years, you see that this keeps coming back. And theres definitely a percentage of our population that falls for this kind of disinformation, van Weel said. Ukrainian soldiers of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a grenade launcher at the front line near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on June 17, 2023. - Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty Images These sorts of attacks can have very real-world impact, van Weel explained, referencing a cyberattack that took out German wind farms last year. It is commonly accepted that energy security has been a key feature of the war in Ukraine, with Russia using energy as a weapon against Western allies. Much of the Western focus since the start of the war has been on defense spending. It is no secret that the vast majority of NATO allies have for years fallen far short of their 2% target, something that has long infuriated officials at NATOs Brussels HQ. A common explanation as to why this happened is that in the post-Soviet era, Western countries became complacent, feeling that they had won the Cold War. Countries far away from invasion themselves felt that distance would lead security, and they could continue to ignore the growing urgency of investment in hard security, said Keir Giles, a senior fellow at the London-based Chatham House think tank. Spending 2% of GDP on defence was supposed to be a baseline the minimum credible level of defence budget. Over time, cynical countries who didnt feel at risk pointed to the spending of 2% to claim that they were doing enough on defense. But in reality, there was no stipulation on what that 2% even if they reached that threshold was spent on, so it was never an indication of how prepared or useful they might be, Giles added. This inertia has also held back the Wests ability to deal with cyber and non-conventional threats from adversaries, including Russia and China. To those working in these areas, it came as no surprise that Russia had been so successful interfering in the elections of other nations or that China had so successfully spread disinformation in Western countries during the pandemic. Peter Caddick-Adams, a former official NATO historian, explains that it is extremely difficult for nations not currently at war to behave as though they are. This war mentality is key when dealing with threats that are not boots on the ground, but are just as aggressive and exist in places that are harder to see. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (left) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 20, 2023. - Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters NATO could only go as fast as members were willing to invest. If you are a peacetime democracy, its very difficult to switch to that footing and counterattack your opponents non-conventional attacks. If you are not at war, there will be a limit on what you and your public are willing to spend on things they cant see, he told CNN. While all eyes will be on whether or not Sweden becomes the 32nd country to join NATO at its summit next month, the collective defense alliance will also use its meeting to show that its prepared for its future. It will announce the NATO Innovation Fund, a project that will bring 23 of NATOs members together with private business in the technology sector. It will make the participating nations Limited Partners, meaning they will not seek majority stakes in companies and allow the companies to carry on working with other investors, including from outside NATO. Why is an organization like NATO taking such a relaxed approach to developing technologies that will soon become so critical to national and international security? Innovation used to come from the defense sector. We think of GPS and the internet. But that world has completely changed around that now. Innovation comes from start-ups and academic ecosystems, not from big companies or governments anymore, said van Weel. The innovation fund is the second major NATO plan to deal with non-conventional and emerging threats to launch this year. The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) launched its first pilot challenge program on June 19. France's President Emmanuel Macron (left) welcomes President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Elysee presidential palace, for a meeting in Paris with Macron and the German Chancellor on February 8, 2023. - Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images Will this push to better prepare the West for whatever the next decade looks like succeed? China, after all, is becoming more hostile and there is no certainty as to how the Russias war in Ukraine ends, nor if it spills beyond Ukraines borders. And if the war does end, is there a risk that allies revert to the complacency of the past? Giles argues that NATO is dealing with the consequences of decades when its members had the luxury of pretending that the problem of defense and security had gone away. Russias invasion ought to have proven beyond any doubt that Europe is under threat and needs to invest in protecting itself, both in terms of conventional and non-conventional security, he said. And while politicians are promising renewed spending and attention right now, he fears that convincing the public this is essential, even after Ukraine, is a leap of imagination that seems beyond the capabilities of most Western politicians. Caddick-Adams says that Ukraine provides a window for NATO to prove that the alliance can act effectively without engaging in war itself, thereby making its members more comfortable with spending in the future. Ukraine has become a springboard basically for NATOs experiments in this non-conventional stuff. Without engaging Russia, NATO has enabled Ukraine to try some of the things NATO would like to do but politically cannot do. It answers a lot of questions about warmongering or German uneasiness, but militarily in terms of capabilities, he said. Its easy to forget exactly how recently Macron made his brain death comments. The manner in which the alliance was caught cold by Putins escalation might lend some credibility to that view. But the alliances unity has been one of the least expected and most welcome aspects of the Wests response to the war in Ukraine. And the relative stability of the politics within the alliance has created windows for NATO to try new things and get the money to do so. However, officials are also aware that this collegiate approach might not last forever. And its not the unknown factor of how long the war persists and countries losing interest that worries some officials the most. Its the prospect of elections happening across the alliance in which the issue of Ukraine could become a wedge issue including the small matter of the race for the White House in 2024. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The prospect of a new battery factory in Northumberland has suffered a setback after the buyer of Britishvolt was raided by Australian police. Investigators went to the offices of Scale Facilitation and SaniteX, owned by Australian entrepreneur David Collard over alleged tax fraud. Recharge Industries, a subsidiary of Scale Facilitation, bought Britishvolt this year after it collapsed. But it is yet to pay for a prospective plant site near the Port of Blyth. Sources close to Mr Collard, who is a former partner at accountancy giant PwC, said that the tax raid is due to a misunderstanding of the interaction between US and Australian tax filings and that all parties were co-operating. Recharge Industries is ultimately owned and run by Scale Facilitation, a New York-based investment fund which has offices in Australia. Recharge Industries bought the assets of Britishvolt after it went into administration despite the public backing of politicians including former prime minister Boris Johnson. Britishvolt had planned to build a 4bn plant in Cambois near Blyth, Northumberland to make batteries for electric vehicles and create around 3,000 skilled jobs. However, the company struggled to make a profit and eventually ran out of money in January. A deadline for Recharge Industries to finalise and pay for the purchase of the site in Northumberland has been extended long beyond the original date of 31 March. Insiders close to Recharge confirmed that staff wages in Australia had gone unpaid for around two weeks but insisted those payments had now been made. They said the company remained confident it could secure the funding to complete the purchase of the land near Blyth in the next two to four weeks. The BBC understands that the owners of Recharge are still hopeful that a deal to develop the 4bn site can proceed. Recharge is expected to take a minority shareholding in a new company called North East Gigafactory Development LLP with well known and deep-pocketed investors Tritax and Abrdn owning the majority between them. Recharge's plan for the site was to initially develop battery storage technology, rather than batteries for electric vehicles. A person familiar with the situation told the BBC that emphasis had seen government enthusiasm for the project cool. "Government certainly wasn't rolling out the red carpet", they said and the BBC understands that the Australian owners have not met with either Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, or the Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero, Grant Shapps. Nevertheless it seems that the hopes for an imminent start on a plant that it is hoped would provide thousands of jobs in the North East are, once again, on hold. Chinese navy vessel "Qijiguang" returned to the port city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province Saturday after a 41-day training voyage. The vessel, with 476 navy cadets and officers on board, has sailed more than 8,500 nautical miles since it set off on May 15 and visited Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines, according to the navy sources. Besides finishing a series of training programs, the vessel held joint exercises with navy vessels from Vietnam, Brunei, and the Philippines, and received more than 6,000 visitors during the voyage, the sources said. The "Qijiguang" is a naval training ship named after Qi Jiguang, a Chinese hero best known for leading Ming forces to defend China's eastern coastal regions from raids by Japanese pirates in the 16th century. BROCKTON Brockton Public Schools plans to close multiple school buildings and scale back 1 of 4 buildings at BHS as the district grapples with dropping enrollment. Brockton City councilors just approved the $552 million revenue and spending plan. Mayor Robert F. Sullivan had asked for $2.6 million more than that. Councilors made these cuts. A 34-year-old Whitman man was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to driving while drugged during a fatal Bridgewater motorcycle crash that killed 71-year-old Richard Silva, of Brockton. A Dorchester man was convicted in the death of a woman who was found burned in Bridgewater. On Nov. 3, 2015, Bridgewater police received a 911 call just before midnight for a report that a fire was burning alongside the MBTA train tracks. Police determined a human body was on fire. In case you missed it, here are five stories of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area. Brockton closing multiple school programs, scaling back 1 of 4 buildings at BHS Brockton Public Schools plans to close multiple school buildings for the 2023-24 school year as the district grapples with dropping enrollment, said Superintendent Mike Thomas in a letter to BPS staff and parents. Thomas said that the district will "phase down operations" in Brockton High School's "Green Building" one of the school's four buildings on its campus and incoming freshmen will only be assigned to the other three buildings. Brockton closing school programs: Brockton closing multiple school programs, scaling back 1 of 4 buildings at BHS 'Chaos-bomb': 'Chaos-bomb': Hundreds of Brockton High teachers sign petition decrying layoffs Brockton lays off 130 teachers: 'After exhausting all other options' Brockton lays off 130 teachers as enrollment plummets A pink and yellow sky appears above Brockton High School as the sun sets Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019. 'Quick and delicious': drive-thru Vietnamese sandwiches have made it to Brockton Authentic Vietnamese flavors are running wild in the east of Brockton with N-GON Viet Subs. Sandwiches, or Banh mi's in a warm flaky French baguette, aren't the only savory treats found at the 321 Crescent St. location. Rice plates with your choice of protein from beef, chicken, or pork, marinated to perfection with a hint of cucumber, pickled carrots, daikon, and scallions, are popular. The Banh mi, a traditional Vietnamese sandwich, is comprised of an airy crusty bread with meat and pickled garnishes. At N-GON Viet Subs, "you won't find this type of flavor anywhere else. It's our creative recipe," James Van Lam, co-owner of N-GON Viet Subs, said. 'Quick and delicious': 'Quick and delicious': drive-thru Vietnamese sandwiches have made it to Brockton. N-GON Viet Subs owners James Simpson, left, and brother Peter Simpson, with James Simpson, 15-months on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Whitman man gets 5-7 years in prison for driving while drugged in fatal motorcycle crash Whitman man has pleaded guilty to charges that he was intoxicated by drugs and driving with a child in his car when he caused a fatal motorcycle crash in Bridgewater in 2018. Anthony Hathaway, 34, pleaded guilty last Friday in Plymouth County Superior Court to one count each of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of drugs, endangering a child while operating under the influence of drugs and reckless endangerment of a child. Brockton Superior Court Judge William Sullivan sentenced Hathaway to serve 5 to 7 years in state prison, followed by 2 years of probation. Whitman man sentenced: Whitman man gets 5-7 years in prison for driving while drugged in fatal motorcycle crash Brockton man killed riding motorcycle: Brockton man killed while riding Indian motorcycle was Vietnam veteran Whitman man held without bail: Whitman man held without bail in death of Brockton motorcyclist Anthony Hathaway, then 29, of Whitman, is arraigned in Brockton District Court on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018. Man convicted in death of woman who was found burned in Bridgewater A Dorchester man has been convicted for his role in the murder of a woman who was found dead and burned in Bridgewater in 2015. Following a 7-day trial, a jury deliberated for 10 hours before finding Fernando Owens, 51, guilty of one count each of first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping. The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Bridgewater in 2015. On Nov. 3, Bridgewater police received a 911 call just before midnight for a report that a fire was burning alongside the MBTA train tracks. Police determined a human body was on fire. Dorchest man convicted: Dorchester man convicted in death of woman who was found burned in Bridgewater Shannon Squires, left, Julian Squires, center, and Fernando Owens, right, are all charged in the November 2015 murder of Ashley Bortner in Bridgewater. Family-owned restaurant brings a taste of Italy and Portugal to South Easton La Familia Restaurant, a family-owned eatery in South Easton, serves classic Italian meals with a twist of Portuguese and American cuisine. Seasonings, bold flavors, and consistency are what the place has to offer, Deb Amaya, manager of La Familia, said. The restaurant, located at 20 Foundry St., South Easton, is home to Portuguese steak, fried calamari, chicken parmesan, and fresh but never frozen seafood. And every day there is a new chef-created dish on the specials menu. A taste of Italy and Portugal: Family-owned restaurant brings a taste of Italy and Portugal to South Easton La Familia Resturant dishes lockwise from left, Garlic Rosemary Wings, Watermelon Salad, Tomato Capri Salad, Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms, Veal Boccacini, and Chicken Parmesan, with drinks from left starting with a Dirty Martini, Red Wine, and a Cranberry Martini. Pictured on Friday, May 26, 2023. Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories Former federal judge Michael Luttig took to the pages of The New York Times on Sunday to slam Republicans for their spineless support of former President Trump and to lament that the GOP has convinced Mr. Trump of his political immortality. The former presidents behavior may have invited charges, but the Republicans spineless support for the past two years convinced Mr. Trump of his political immortality, giving him the assurance that he could purloin some of the nations most sensitive national security secrets upon leaving the White House and preposterously insist that they were his to do with as he wished all without facing political consequences, Luittig wrote in an op-ed. Luttig, a former judge on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and appointed by President George H. W. Bush, penned the op-ed titled Its Not Too Late for the Republican Party. He argued that now was the partys last chance to do away with Trump as the leader of the party. He criticized Republicans for enabling Trump and made the case that Trump was correct in believing that his political party would support him regardless of his behavior. Indeed, their fawning support since the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol has given Mr. Trump every reason to believe that he can ride these charges and any others not just to the Republican nomination, but also to the White House in 2024, Luttig wrote. In a word, the Republicans are as responsible as Mr. Trump for this months indictment and will be as responsible for any indictment and prosecution of him for Jan. 6, Luttig added. Trump was indicted on 37 federal criminal charges related to his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. He is accused of willfully retaining national security information, a violation of the Espionage Act, and showing classified documents to civilians who did not have security clearance, as well as making false statements and obstructing a federal investigation when the government sought to get the records back. Trump was also indicted in New York on charges related to his alleged role in hush money payment involving a porn actress during the 2016 presidential election. Trump also is being investigated by special counsel Jack Smith for his efforts to reverse the results of the 2020 election, which was the basis of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. A Georgia investigation is also in the final stages looking into Trumps attempts to reverse the results in that state. Luttig testified before the Jan. 6 committee. He at the time was an informal adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, who cited Luttigs legal argument in his refusal to comply with Trumps request to stop Congresss certification of the Electoral College results. As vice president, Pence oversaw the process. The Republican-appointed judge argued that supporting Trump to lead the 2024 GOP presidential ticket would be colossal political miscalculation. The stewards of the Republican Party have become so inured to their putative leader, they have managed to convince themselves that an indicted and perhaps even convicted Donald Trump is their partys best hope for the future, Luttig wrote. If the indictment of Mr. Trump on Espionage Act charges not to mention his now almost certain indictment for conspiring to obstruct Congress from certifying Mr. Biden as the president on Jan. 6 fails to shake the Republican Party from its moribund political senses, then it is beyond saving itself. Nor ought it be saved, he wrote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nearly two years ago, Bill Price of Cayucos, California was one of five people onboard the Titan submersible when it successfully journeyed about 2 miles below the ocean surface to the undersea wreckage of the Titanic. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the 22-foot-long submersible imploded after leaving on a similar mission about a week ago killing all five people on the vessel owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions. The Titan launched from an icebreaker ship on the morning of June 18 and was reported overdue that afternoon about 435 miles south of St. Johns, Newfoundland, the Associated Press reported. Debris from the 20,000-pound submersible was found roughly 1,600 feet from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters, the Coast Guard said Thursday, bringing an end to rescue efforts. Price is now grieving the deaths of two friends OceanGate CEO and Titan pilot Stockton Rush and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet as well of the loss of the sub and the Titan dream. Also killed in the implosion were two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, as well as British adventurer Hamish Harding. As details about the fatal incident emerged over the course of a week, Price said, I went from anticipation and hope to a kind of finality. In July 2021, Price went on an adventure of a lifetime embarking on two missions as a crew member. Only the second one was successful. I had spent days with Rush and Nargeolet, Price recalled. We had all our meals together with the other crew, spent 10 hours each on two days in the missions. We had this kind of bond in adventure, but also trying to accomplish something amazing. SLO County man is drawn to adventure Price said hes always been drawn to adventure. As a 14 year old, he and some pals took a 20-mile round trip from the Detroit suburb where they lived to across the Canadian border and back. His parents thought I was down at the park. It was many years before I told them where Id gone, he recalled. After years leading the YMT Vacations travel company started by his aunt and uncle, Price retired and left Manhattan Beach. He joined an adventurers club in Los Angeles, which led him to Rush and the Titan. He and second wife Nanette Price got married alongside a Pismo Beach cove, having vacationed often on the Central Coast. When his daughter Nicole was accepted to Cal Poly, got married and had a baby nearly four years ago, Bill and Nanette Price moved to Cayucos to be closer to her, her husband Willie Travis and their daughter Navi, as well as Willies 16-year-old son August. Bill Prices other daughter, Kristin Price, is a licensed acupuncturist from Playa del Rey. Cayucos is a perfect fit for us, Bill Price said. I love it here. Its great. The communication room on the Horizon Arctic, the support vessel for Bill Prices two missions aboard the Titan sub. The Horizon Arctic was one of the vessels used in the June 2023 search for the Titan after it suffered a catastrophic implosion on a dive to see the Titanic wreckage. Courtesy Bill Price SLO County man joins mission to find Titanic wreckage Price was an adjunct marketing advisor for Rush. I had an opportunity to be a mission specialist, be part of the crew in its attempts to locate the wreck of the famed Titanic ocean liner that sank in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg, Price said. Because of a confidentiality agreement, Price wouldnt say how much he paid to be part of the missions that recently cost in the neighborhood of $250,000 each. I can say it was over six figures, a substantial amount for me, he said. Because I had a lot of business and marketing experience, we agreed Id assist them, give them a lot of insight into that side of things in exchange for a discounted rate. Price was aboard the Titan on July 22 and July 23, 2021, when it attempted to reach the Titantic wreckage. Cayucos man: Titans problems started on 2021 mission While on the Titan, Price and his fellow crew members had no GPS or voice communication with their support vessel. Instead, they relied on a sonar device almost like a telex that sends beeps up and back, and comes out like a text, Price said. On July 22, when the crew began getting their bearings to adjust the submersibles location closer to the Titanic, We experienced some difficulties, he said. After an hour or so, we had a loss of communication. There was some concern, Price said, mostly because the crew on the support vessel were giving the Titan crew the coordinates. With our last known coordinates, we realized we needed to be in a different location, he added. That was when they learned that the Titans left side propulsion unit was not operating, so we couldnt really steer, Price recalled. The decision was made to abort that mission. Then the real issues came in, he added. Theres a series of weights attached to each side of the hull, in a rack. On the bottom of the rack, theres an electronic release mechanism, which had failed, he said. The way for us to get back to the surface was to release the weights. We were just stuck there in limbo while still descending, with quite a ways to go to the bottom. Stockton had anticipated this, Price said and came up with an alternate plan. If we could twist the sub far enough over on its side, maybe the weights would fall out and be released, he said. So, five of us went from one side of the sub to the other, until we got the submersible to spin or twist. That was tricky, considering tthat crew members normally sat facing each other aboard the cramped submersible. We were dead in the water, still sinking, he said. By then, we all faced the same direction and in a crouched position, began to go up one side. Wed climb the wall, go as far as we could, then turn around and go the other way. We did several back and forth (maneuvers). Eventually, he said, We heard a clunk, an indication one of the weights had gone. We continuing shifting from side to side until the sub started going back up. The tense process took about a half hour, Price estimates now. Was he ever scared? Looking back, I probably should have been, he said. But the focus of everybody at that time was not panic or concern. We knew we were stuck and had to concentrate on what needed to be done to get back up. What was it like to see Titanic wreckage? Even after that experience, Price and the others opted to join another mission to reach the Titanic wreckage the next day. Stockton went to each one of us, asked if we wanted to go back down, Price said. Based on the fact he was able to successfully manage when the difficulties arose, that gave me the confidence to go back down. Seeing the Titanic wreckage in person on July 23, 2021, was one of the highlights of my life, the Cayucos man recalled. Price said he was especially fortunate to make the trek alongside Nargeolet, who was able to point out what had changed since his previous visit to the wreck 20 years earlier. Some things were no longer there, Price said, such as part of the mast in front section of the bow The crows nest was no longer there. Another change was in the captains quarter, he said. Theres a bathtub thats pretty visible, When (Nargeolet) was there before, the tub was pretty empty, but this time almost filled to the top filled with debris. Those insights brought everything to life, Price said. When we arrived at the bow section itself, we had a moment for reflection and prayer for the people who lost their lives there, Price recalled. We made sure that nothing was touched or changed. We basically were there to observe, but seeing what not that many other people in the world have seen. Asked if he would visit the Titanic again, especially given the fate of the Titan, Price paused for a few moments. No. I certainly couldnt even afford the first one, at full cost, he said. But if they gave me the opportunity (to be on another submersible mission) to another unique destination, Id consider it. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said on Sunday that the armed rebellion from the Wagner Group shows Russian President Vladimir Putins power is waning among his people. In an interview with Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday, Cardin pointed to the rebellion by Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner Group as evidence of Putins declining credibility, even among his longtime allies. Putin has lost his credibility with his own people. His account of why he went into Ukraine is now being challenged, I think, with public opinion and Russia itself, Cardin told Bream. Prigozhin is the owner of the Wagner Group, which is a Kremlin-aligned private army of mercenaries and inmate recruits that has led some of Russias most brutal battles in Ukraine. Prigozhin is a longtime Putin ally and has benefited from the relationship in a variety of ways. On Friday, however, Prigozhin escalated his criticism of Putins war in Ukraine and called for the ouster of Russias defense minister, Sergei Shoigu. Prigozhin-led Wagner Group fighters left Ukraine, where they had been fighting, and crossed into Russia. Despite Prigozhins pledge to destroy anyone who stands in our way, an agreement was ultimately reached with Belarus and Prigozhin ordered his troops to stop the advance. In recent months, Prigozhins criticism of Russias war has also been escalating. On Friday, he released a viral video that denounced Putins explanation of the war as false and accused Russian oligarchs of being responsible for the war. In a subsequent video, he also accused the Russian military of attacking his groups campsite and killing many of his fighters. The war was not needed to return our Russian citizens and not to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, Prigozhin said in the initial video. The war was needed by oligarchs. It was needed by the clan that is today practically ruling in Russia. The Russian Defense Ministry has denied these claims, and the National Anti-Terrorism Committee opened a criminal case into Prigozhin hours after he posted the video. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) on Sunday said it wasnt a surprise that Russian President Vladimir Putin would face an armed rebellion from the Wagner Group, characterizing it as thugs dealing with thugs. In an interview with Fox Newss Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday, Cardin addressed the dramatic rebellion staged by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a 62-year-old owner of the Wagner Group, which has led some of Russias deadliest battles in Ukraine. Prigozhin over the weekend said his group of fighters crossed into Russias territory, reaching the town of Rostov before retreating. Wagner has been assisting the Russian military in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was key to Russia capturing the city of Bakhmut last month, but tensions have been rising between the groups as Russia has struggled to make gains for months and is trying to fight off a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Cardin echoed criticisms of Putin and the Wagner Group. Putin brought this upon himself doing business with the Wagner group. We know what they are. Theyre thugs dealing with thugs. So this was not unexpected that a problem would develop, Cardin told Bream. Prigozhin dramatically escalated his criticism of Russias actions in the war and called for the ouster of the defense minister, before charging forward toward Moscow. Prigozhin stood down and agreed to move to Belarus the following day, but the appearance of internal strife has caused damage to Putins global posture. The Wagner Group has been accused of committing acutely brutal human rights abuses throughout countries in Africa, including in the Central African Republic, in Mali and in Libya. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Celeste Maloy high-fives a supporter after securing the nomination during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News In a surprise win, delegates at the Utah Republican Partys nominating convention Saturday selected Celeste Maloy as the partys nominee for the 2nd Congressional Districts special election to replace retiring Rep. Chris Stewart. Maloy, who was the chief legal counsel in Stewarts Washington, D.C., office before resigning to run, was endorsed by Stewart and by former Congressman Rob Bishop, which helped her get ahead of some of the other, better known candidates. After her win, Maloy looked happy but surprised. The feeling is completely surreal, she told the Deseret News. Its been a short race, a really fast race. Ive worked hard, Ive called delegates, Ive put in the work and they responded to it. Maloy said her pitch to the delegates was, I want to represent you. Im going to go work for you. I am CD2 and Im not going to forget that. Maloy won in the fifth round of voting. She trailed former Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, who was considered a favorite to win the nomination, by at least four points in the first four rounds of voting. That all changed when former Utah GOP vice chairman and 3rd place candidate Jordan Hess endorsed Maloy after he was eliminated in the fourth round, leading to a raucous standing ovation from many in the audience. From the first round of voting, Maloy had a surprisingly good showing for being relatively unknown before the special election, receiving 24.1% of delegate votes to Hughes 28.5%. The gap widened during subsequent rounds as many delegates switched their votes from candidates who were eliminated to Hughes, whose 15 years in the statehouse, including three as speaker, and a 2020 gubernatorial bid gave him high name recognition. Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Celeste Maloy speaks after winning the nomination during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News However, after Maloy reminded the delegates of her endorsement from Stewart, and after she received the backing of Hess seen as one of the more conservative candidates given his work as Sen. Mike Lees campaign manager and at the Heritage Foundation Maloy surpassed Hughes in the fifth round of voting, winning the partys nomination with 52.1% of the vote compared to Hughes 47.9%. When asked to explain his endorsement of Maloy, which was pivotal in her win, Hess said it had to do with why he chose to run in the first place. Ive said from the very beginning that this district should be represented from someone from within the district and more so its important that southern Utah has representation. Thats why I got in this race, that was my number one priority, southern and rural representation in the district that is why, Hess said. Maloy currently lives in Cedar City and she began her legal career in Washington County. Hughes does not live in the district. Shortly after his loss, Hughes told the Deseret News, I love the delegate cycle. I love these delegates. I know we all worked and made our best case and we just heard them speak. Its liberating when you feel like youve done all you can and they vote and thats the result, I can live with it. Its a high information election cycle so its your best shot to not be misunderstood or misrepresented and you give it a go and delegates speak. The convention was held in the Delta High School gym and was hosted by the Utah Republican Party. Nearly 80% of the 947 2nd Congressional District delegates attended the event, significantly more than the number who attended the partys organizing convention two months ago. Unlike regular GOP nominating conventions, in which two candidates may advance to a primary election, state statute requires that only one candidate emerge from party conventions during a special election. This resulted in the party changing its bylaws to allow for a winner to emerge once a candidate received a majority of the vote. The impact of this rule change is far reaching. For the past few elections, candidates have had the option to gather signatures they need 7,000 in the case of congressional elections to have their names placed on a primary ballot. However, given the compressed timeline of a special election it is uncertain whether candidates will be able to secure the necessary number before the July 5 deadline in order to challenge Maloy in the GOP primary election. Two Republican candidates of the original 13 who filed for candidacy were disqualified from the race prior to Saturdays convention. Maloys win resulted in the elimination of another 7 candidates who had put all their faith in the convention process to advance them to the general election, leaving just four candidates with a possible route forward. However, if none are able to navigate the time- and resource-intensive process of signature gathering in time to make the July cut off, then Maloy will advance unopposed to a general election. If there is no primary (Maloy) will be the candidate from the GOP nominating convention in the general election, Rob Axson, state Republican Party chairman, said. The outcome of Saturdays convention will also be of interest to national GOP leadership, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy eager to fill Stewarts seat with a Republican who will demonstrate the same willingness to work with him as Stewart did, given his tenuous hold on his conference, which holds a narrow 10 seat majority in the House. The candidates who are working to collect signatures to challenge Maloy in the primary are Becky Edwards, who was a state lawmaker for 10 years and challenged Lee for U.S. Senate in the Republican primary last year, and Bruce Hough, who serves on the Republican National Committee and is the cofounder of Nutraceutical Corporation. He also served two terms as state party chairman. Two other candidates kept open the option to collect signatures when they filed with the state, Scott Allen Hatfield and Scott Reber. However, at the convention, Reber said he would not exercise the option to gather signatures. Related Edwards, who never received more than 5% of the delegates votes and was eliminated in the third round, said the race is far from over. She is tapping into the signature gathering apparatus she developed during her last campaign. Were in good shape. We have an army of volunteers around the state who are helping us because they share a same vision for a prosperous future for this state and they understand how important it is that we have someone step in to replace Chris Stewart that is ready to lead and ready to work and Im that candidate, she said. If there are candidates who meet the signature-gathering requirement, a special primary election will be held Sept. 5, and the special general election will be held Nov. 21. Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Greg Hughes speaks to supporters during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Celeste Maloy celebrates as her sister, Lucia Maloy, right, cheers after Celeste secured the nomination during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Celeste Maloy shakes the hand of fellow candidate Jordan Hess after Hess endorsed her during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Greg Hughes speaks to House Speaker Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Greg Hughes speaks during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Scott Reber speaks during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Kathleen Anderson speaks during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Bruce Hough speaks during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Bill Hoster pauses while speaking during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Jordan Hess waves during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Scott Hatfield pauses while speaking during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Scott Reber laughs during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Henry Eyring speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Becky Edwards speaks during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Quinn Denning speaks during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Scott Hatfield speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Kathleen Anderson speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Becky Edwards speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Celeste Maloy speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Bruce Hough speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Quinn Denning speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Scott Reber speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Supporters of Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Greg Hughes speak with other delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Greg Hughes introduces his family during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Greg Hughes speaks with delegates during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Candidates of Utah Congressional District 2, from left to right, Scott Hatfield, Bill Hoster, Quinn Denning, Scott Reber and Kathleen Anderson sit before speaking during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Utah Congressional 2nd District candidate Quinn Denning speaks during the Utah Republican Partys special election at Delta High School in Delta on June 24, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Now that summer is in full swing, millions of Americans will be looking to take much-needed vacations to unwind and relax. And while many people will be flocking to beaches across the U.S., there are plenty of options for people looking to skip the shoreline and instead head out into the open wilderness to take in the sights under the night sky. Recently, HomeToGo released its 2023 Summer Stargazing Index to showcase the top destinations for people looking to travel to get away and look to the heavens. By comparing factors such as average cloud cover, population density and the accessibility of affordable accommodations in the area, HomeToGo checked out various International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) across the country and came up with the ultimate vacation spots for stargazing. "We are thrilled to unveil the 2023 Summer Stargazing Index that reveals the top serene, star-filled destinations awaiting avid stargazers across the United States," Mike Pearce, the HomeToGo spokesperson and travel expert, said in a statement. "With dark sky tourism and astrotourism on the rise, as destinations continue to prioritize lowering light pollution, these secluded areas are like distant hidden gems, beckoning travelers to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the night sky." Here are the top five stargazing destinations you can check out this summer, according to HomeToGo. WHERE TO VIEW THE OCTOBER 2023 ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE BASED ON HISTORICAL WEATHER FILE - As darkness falls, people lie on the ground to view the Perseid meteor shower in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado at an astronomy night event on Aug. 12, 2018. When breaking down the cloud cover, solitude and accommodation affordability and availability, Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, Colorado, scored 33.30. According to HomeToGo, both locations are Colorado's first and only International Dark Sky Community and the highest-altitude IDSP-designated community in the world. The towns have a combined population of about 1,155 people and are home to some of the best stargazing the U.S. offers. A valley to the west of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff is a great place to check out the stars because of its high altitude of 8,000 feet. WILL WEATHER COOPERATE FOR TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN APRIL 2024? FILE - Depictions of two kinds of dust in space: At left the pyramid-shaped glow of Zodiacal Light caused by sunlight reflecting off interplanetary dust in the inner solar system from comets and meteoroids, while at right is the band of the bright Milky Way, made of stars in our galaxy But along it lie dark lanes of interstellar dust made of carbon compounds made in the atmospheres of stars and dispersed into the Galaxy. HomeToGo says that with a combined score of 32.80, Dripping Springs, Arizona, has become a premiere destination for stargazers. Its remote and has minimal light pollution, which makes it a prime spot to check out whats above us. While you're out in the wilderness and conditions are right, you'll see meteor showers, the constellations and the Milky Way. NASA PICKS 5 EXPERIMENTS TO FUND THAT WILL STUDY 2024 TOTAL ECLIPSE IN US FILE - The Comet Hyakutake passes through the night sky March 25 over Merritt Island, Florida, near the Kennedy Space Center. Harmony, Florida, is between Melbourne and Orlando and only has about 1,000 residents, according to HomeToGo. The combined score there is 32.10. The travel website says Harmony has hosted Dark Sky festivals and parties highlighting the town's commitment to preserving and celebrating the night sky. SEE THE OBJECTS HUMANS LEFT BEHIND ON THE MOON FILE - A visitor takes photos at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Nov. 10, 2022. Championed by dark sky advocates and bolstered by economic incentives, towns and parks around the U.S. West are making strides to preserve night sky views. Flagstaff, Arizona, was designated as the worlds first International Dark Sky City in 2001 and has a combined score of 32.00, according to HomeToGo. The Sunset Crater Volcano and Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930, provide different experiences to check out the night sky. WATCH OUT FOR THESE ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS IN 2023 FILE - A 20 minute time exposure showing Red Rock Butte and Courthouse Butte just north of the Village of Oak Creek, Arizona, south of Sedona in Yavapai County on May 18, 2021. Sedona, Arizona, and Beverly Shores, Indiana, tied for fifth place with combined scores of 31.50. Sedona is located within Coconino National Forest and is home to about 10,000 people. HomeToGo says the town lacks bright lights, making it an excellent spot for checking out celestial bodies. Check out areas like Dry Creek Road and Fay Canyon for an exceptional viewing experience. UFO OVER TURKEY? LEARN WHAT MAKES THESE CLOUDS APPEAR SO ALIEN-LIKE FILE - The 4-day-old waxing crescent Moon on April 8, 2019 in a blend of short and long exposures to bring out the faint Earthshine on the dark side of the Moon and deep blue twilight sky while retaining details in the bright sunlit crescent. Beverly Shores is located on Lake Michigan's shoreline southeast of Chicago and is often referred to as "The Island" due to its surrounding by Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and the great lake itself. HomeToGo says that through retrofitting and replacing light fixtures, the town demonstrated its commitment to controlling outdoor light pollution, which attracts residents and tourists to the great outdoors to appreciate what the night sky has to offer. Check out the HomeToGo website for the full list of their top stargazing destination in the U.S. Chimpanzees 605383547Getty Images/PHOTOSTOCK-ISRAEL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Humans are often thought to be the only animals capable of language. But it's difficult to prove a negative like this because we'll never definitively know the subjective interior monologues of other animals, if they even exist. Nonetheless, much research has been poured into the study of animal intellect and whether creatures like orcas, pigeons and octopuses share a similar type of sentience, especially when it comes to our close primate cousins, chimpanzees. One of the most outstanding and intriguing questions is whether chimps have language and a little ape named Nim Chimpsky has only made the prospect more controversial. People who study languages almost universally know the name "Noam Chomsky." In addition to being the father of modern linguistics, the popular intellectual has written more than 150 books on myriad political and social subjects. As a result, the name "Noam Chomsky" is familiar not only to students of linguistics, but also political nerds and social justice advocates. "Nim's signing wasn't spontaneous. He was unable to use words conversationally, let alone form sentences." Noam Chomsky is, if nothing else, a bona fide celebrity but who the heck is Nim Chimpsky? No, that isn't a cringey pun. (Well, it isn't only a cringey pun.) Nim Chimpsky is the cheeky moniker that was once applied to a real-life chimpanzee. Because Chomsky (not Chimpsky) argues that human beings are uniquely "wired" to develop language, Columbia University psychology and psychiatry professor Herbert S. Terrace decided to work with psycholinguist Thomas Bever on training a chimpanzee how to "speak" using American Sign Language. The thusly dubbed Nim Chimpsky (as a playful rebuke to Chomsky's theories) did not, as many hoped, unequivocally prove that chimpanzees can develop language just like humans. Related Noam Chomsky: We're nearing "the most dangerous point in human history" Then again, some people argue that Chimpsky did prove that. It's just that the matter remains, all these years later, intensely controversial. As chronicled in the 2011 documentary "Project Nim," Terrace decided to see if Chimpsky could learn human language by placing the infant monkey into the home of one of his former students, Stephanie LaFarge. The goal was to see if Chimpsky could acquire human-like language if he was raised like a real human being. Starting in late 1973, Nim Chimpsky began his life/experiment but controversy soon arose. Despite being treated kindly, Nim Chimpsky showed unexpected aggression toward his human caretakers. His behavior was so sporadically violent that, after he attacked one of the people taking care of him in 1977, Terrace moved Nim Chimpsky back to a regular laboratory. At that point, Terrace called off the experiment. Additionally, Terrace and his colleagues reached a disappointing conclusion: Although Chimpsky had appeared to learn language he moved his hands and body in a manner consistent with American Sign Language, using over 120 combinations, in order to seemingly ask for things like food and affection the evidence indicated that he was simply mimicking the behavior of the humans around him. It is possible that Chimpsky understood at least some of the "words" he was forming, but it is also very, very far from being proven. "Nim learned to sign to obtain food, drink, hugs and other physical rewards," Terrace later explained to Columbia University. "Nim often got the signs right, but that was because his teachers inadvertently prompted him by making appropriate signs a fraction of a second before he did. Nim's signing wasn't spontaneous. He was unable to use words conversationally, let alone form sentences." Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter The Vulgar Scientist. Nim Chimpsky simply wasn't happy being forced to live with humans. Chimpsky's story ends first with a scare, and then rather anticlimactically: He was initially sold to a pharmaceutical animal testing laboratory, but after public outcry, moved to the Black Beauty Ranch in Texas. There he lived out his remaining days in peace until passing away of natural causes in 2000. Yet the controversy about his legacy did not die with him. Speaking to Columbia University many years later, Terrace insisted that his experiments had proven the importance of words to the development of language. This still distinguishes Terrace's theory of language from Chomsky's, who argues that there is a "universal grammar" embedded in the neurology of every human brain which is unique to our species. Importantly, the presence of a universal grammar means humans can create an infinite number of meanings from a finite number of words. Yet if other animals can also form words, Terrace claims, this speaks to their ability to communicate regardless of whether they also form grammar. "Those insights had a profound effect on linguistics and cognitive psychology," Terrace concluded to Columbia University. "But they said nothing about words, without which none of his grammars would work. At best, Chomsky's theories are limited to people who know words. Project Nim showed why learning words is crucial for mastering language." Nim Chimpsky's life also opened up important questions about the ethics of animal research. Although Chimpsky was spared the horrid fate of living in a pharmaceutical laboratory, at least one of the humans who worked closely with him believes he was emotionally harmed by not being allowed to grow up with his own species. "You could read [fear and apprehension] through his facial expression and his body language," recalled Bob Ingersoll, a graduate student at the University of Oklahoma who worked with Nim Chimpsky, in a retrospective interview with NPR. "It was very distressing to him and ... we were really worried about Nim and we spent quite a lot of time with him, making sure he was eating and drinking and not being picked on by the other chimps." Indeed, Ingersoll even remembers smoking marijuana with Nim Chimpsky, stating that "although we were familiar with chimpanzees that did things like drinking and smoke cigarettes and that sort of thing, I'd never had a chimpanzee request weed from me. That was an eye-opener." Yet ultimately, Ingersoll's main observation was that Nim Chimpsky simply wasn't happy being forced to live with humans. "What he needed at that point was to be with other chimps," Ingersoll concluded. "Chimps don't need to be with humans. They need to have a chimp life. So my own personal need to hang out with Nim or walk with Nim wasn't as important to me as doing the right thing for Nim ... Chimpanzees in captivity is just not where they ought to be ... I would hope that one of the lessons that we learned from Nim's life is that keeping chimpanzees in cages is torture and really plays havoc on their mental health." Read more about primates China is looking all over the world for help building and flying its fighter jets China is looking all over the world for help building and flying its fighter jets A Tornado fighter jet pilot with his hands in the air after landing at a base in northern Germany in October 2018. Rainer Jensen/picture alliance via Getty Images China's air force has been scrambling to develop its pilots and jets in order to counter the US. To give itself a leg up, China appears to be seeking out Western experience and technical expertise. China has long had a reputation for copying technology. Now it has gone a step further by copying Western air combat tactics or rather, paying Westerners to teach them those tactics. China has recruited former pilots from NATO militaries to train its fliers, allowing the Chinese air force not only to take advantage of Western experience and replace rigid Soviet-style doctrine with more flexible Western methods but also giving it insight into how potential enemies would fight. In February, German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that former German fighter pilots had gone to China, where they appeared to have worked as trainers in exchange for salaries "that would normally be reserved for professional athletes or top executives." "German security officials believe it is very possible that the pilots have passed on military expertise and confidential operational tactics, and even practiced attack scenarios, such as an offensive against Taiwan," according to Der Spiegel. A British Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet at RAF Coningsby in May. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images The German report came just a few months after reports that as many as 30 former British military pilots had been hired to go to China and were paid as much as $270,000. Even US pilots appear to have been targeted by Chinese headhunters. Daniel Duggan, a former US Marine Corps pilot, has been accused of violating the Arms Export Control Act by training Chinese military pilots. Duggan, now an Australian citizen, has claimed he was training civilian pilots and is in an Australian jail facing extradition to the US. At the same time, China is aggressively seeking Western aviation technology, especially for jet engines. China's aviation industry has made impressive strides since the days when it merely copied Soviet models, to the point where it has developed its stealth fighter, the J-20 (which does appear to have borrowed some aspects of US designs). But the Achilles heel of Chinese aviation remains propulsion: In the past, China imported or copied Russian engines that were decades behind their Western counterparts in reliability and lifespan. China now uses the indigenously developed WS-10, which initially had a poor reputation for reliability. Efforts to develop the more advanced WS-15 engine date back to the 1990s, but the engine may only just be emerging from the development stage. (The WS-15 is said to be designed specifically for the J-20.) A WS-10 engine at Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai in September 2021. Chen Jimin/China News Service via Getty Images "In addition to trying to develop an engine that meets the thrust-to-weight requirements of fifth-generation aircraft, Chinese aerospace engineers are struggling to achieve meaningful reliability," according to a report published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, in March. "Currently, Chinese jet engines can at best achieve one-fourth the life span of Western engines," the report says. Ironically, Western countries were once happy to sell aviation technology to China. When relations thawed in the 1970s, China was able to import hardware, such as British-made jet engines, but the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 prompted Western sanctions that halted much of that trade. To manufacture engines, China still needs to import complex machine tools, including equipment made in Germany, Japan, Italy, and South Korea. In addition, China also seeking to exploit Western know-how while its own scientists and engineers gain experience. This includes teaming up with foreign universities to access technical knowledge. A J-20 stealth fighter jet at Airshow China 2022 in Zhuhai in November. Deng Hua/Xinhua via Getty Images "China has actively pursued opportunities to gain this knowledge by copying the innovations of other firms, engaging in partnerships that involve technology transfer, and working with universities around the world to gain new insights," the CSIS report said. China is hardly unique in this practice. Nations have always borrowed military expertise and technology from their friends and enemies. The Ottomans blew down the high walls of Constantinople and destroyed the Byzantine Empire in 1453 using newfangled cannons developed by a Hungarian gunmaker. Tsarist Russia imported foreign commanders, including the American naval hero John Paul Jones, who became a Russian admiral. After World War II, the US and the Soviets put former Nazi scientists to work on their ballistic-missile and space-exploration programs. In the end, Western countries are going to have make a choice: Blocking Chinese experts and firms from their hardware and know-how may mean walling themselves off from an immense Chinese market that has fueled decades of economic growth. Correction: June 26, 2023 This story has been updated to note that China has adopted the indigenously developed WS-10 engine for use on its fighter jets. 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 (Bloomberg) -- China said it supports Russias actions to maintain national stability, a day after Moscow defused the biggest threat to President Vladimir Putins rule. Most Read from Bloomberg The brief statement by a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who described the weekends events as Russias internal affair, came after Foreign Minister Qin Gang met in Beijing with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. It expanded on an earlier comment from Beijing that the pair had exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu also met Rudenko on Sunday, vowing to defend the countries common interests in the face of a complex and grim international environment. Mutual political trust between Beijing and Moscow has been growing under Putin and President Xi Jinping, Chinas foreign ministry cited Ma as saying in another statement. Read more: Silence Cloaks the Kremlin After Russian Mutiny Against Putin In a TV broadcast to the nation on Saturday, Putin spoke of treason as militia members loyal to Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin made their way north toward Moscow. As part of a deal to end the uprising late on Sunday, the Russian president guaranteed that Prigozhin would be allowed to leave for Belarus and authorities would drop criminal mutiny charges against him and his fighters, according to the Kremlin. The Chinese side expressed support for the efforts of the Russian leadership to stabilize the situation in the country in connection with the events of June 24 and reaffirmed its interest in strengthening the cohesion and further prosperity of Russia, Russians foreign ministry said in a statement on its website. The ministry said Rudenko was on a working trip and that the consultations had been planned. Blinken Says Wagner Uprising Is Direct Challenge to Putin The weekends events in Russia were covered by Chinese state media, with Peoples Daily and China Central Television running stories. Global Times published an article by former editor-in-chief Hu Xijin analyzing what scenarios the uprising could lead to, including regime change. Xi has a tight relationship with Putin and visited him in Moscow in March. The official Xinhua News Agency said in a Chinese-language article that Russian representatives from all parts of the nation, dignitaries and religious leaders strongly condemned the incident, and clearly stated that they stood on the side of the Russian federal government, stability and peace. The subject was also a hot topic on Chinas social media, with users sharing screen-shots of Twitter discussions. Some compared Prigozhins moves to the An Lushan Rebellion which began in 755 AD, when a disgruntled general and favorite of the emperor used his troops to capture the eastern capital and proclaim himself emperor. While the rebellion ultimately failed, it led to a weakening of the Tang Dynasty. A Weibo account operated by a part of the Peoples Liberation Army published a post by China National Radio about how Mao Zedong revamped the army in 1927 an event that ensured the party retained absolute leadership over the army. --With assistance from Jing Li and Xiao Zibang. (Updates with commentary from the Xinhua News Agency.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. You are here: China China's Ministry of Water Resources said Saturday that 16 rivers in the southern part of the country had seen their water levels surpass warning lines due to the recent rainfalls. These rivers are mostly tributaries of major regional rivers flowing through Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Yunnan. The heavy rain is expected to last till Sunday, pushing water levels to warning lines in certain rivers in the Pearl River basin and near the Dongting and Poyang lakes, the ministry said. The ministry has dispatched five work groups to provide instructions on flood prevention in affected areas. Regions such as Guangxi, Hunan, and Zhejiang have retained their emergency responses to flooding. The ministry added that it would keep a close watch on how the floods develop and implement various precautionary measures to ensure safety. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Sunday slammed former President Trump for touting his own indictment, calling it absurd. During a Faith and Freedom Coalition event Saturday, Trump described the two separate indictments he faces as a great badge of courage and said, Im being indicted for you, and I believe the you is more than 200 million people that love our country. In an interview on ABC Newss This Week, Christie criticized Trumps remarks and told host Jonathan Karl, When I listened to Donald Trumps speech last night I mean, he had the audacity to say that he got indicted for us. Now, I dont know how it benefited the American people for him to take highly sensitive intelligence and secret documents out of the White House, to stonewall the government on returning them for over a year and a half, to subject himself to a raid by the FBI even though they asked him voluntarily to return this stuff, and to then be subject to an indictment, which is obviously going to be one of great trouble for the country because no one wants to see this happen, Christie said. Donald Trump says thats for us. I mean, its absurd, Christie continued. The same way he has absurdly claimed in the last week that he still won the 2020 election, and he said thats how hes going to persuade suburban female voters to vote for him in 2024 that didnt vote for him in 20. Trump was indicted on 37 federal criminal counts related to his handling of classified documents. He is accused of obstruction of justice and willfully retaining national security information. He also faces an indictment in New York that involves a hush many payment made to a porn actress during the 2016 presidential election. Christie launched his 2024 presidential bid earlier this year aiming to be Trumps chief antagonist. Among the crowded Republican field, he has been the candidate most vocal and direct with criticisms of the former president. Christie was a former Trump ally but has more recently been an adversary of the former president. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Christie responds after being booed while criticizing Trump: 'They need to hear the truth' Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Sunday defended himself after he was booed at a conservative conference last week. The former governor drew boos when he criticized former President Donald Trump during remarks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's conference in Washington, D.C. on Friday, saying he has let us down. When asked about the negative reaction from the crowd by ABCs "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl, Christie said he expected the boos from predominantly a Trump crowd. But they need to hear the truth too, that character is the single most important element of a president of the United States. Because you cant know every issue thats going to come across the presidents desk, Christie said. 'You can boo all you want': Chris Christie faces backlash for criticism of Donald Trump The former governor, who has made criticizing Trump a centerpiece of his campaign, also took aim at Trumps Saturday remarks at the conference, saying he had the audacity to say that he got indicted for us and calling the argument absurd. Trump was indicted earlier this month for allegedly mishandling classified documents after his term in the White House. He was also indicted earlier this year in a hush money case in New York state. He is a three-time loser, Christie said, referencing Trumps loss in the 2020 presidential election and some Democratic victories in the 2018 and 2020 congressional and gubernatorial elections. We do not need our party to go to a fourth loss because Joe Biden, in my opinion, is an awful president, and we cant afford to have him from age 82 to 86 in the White House, or even worse, have Kamala Harris assume the presidency. Thats the stakes here. A NBC News poll released on Sunday found that 51% of Republican primary voters are choosing Trump as their first choice for the GOP nomination. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received 22% support, former Vice President Mike Pence received 7% support and Christie received 5%. USA TODAY has reached out to Trump for comment. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Chris Christie responds after being booed while slamming Donald Trump By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan began his testimony in the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, in a court session that was broadcast live from an English seaside town direct to Jerusalem. The trial is being held in Jerusalem but Milchan's testimony was taking place in Brighton, which is close to where the 78-year-old is presently based, on request of the prosecution. The testimony is expected to last several days. Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu wrongfully received almost 700,000 shekels (around $200,000) worth of gifts from Milchan, and from an Australian fellow-billionaire, which the indictment describes as a "supply-line" of champagne and cigars. The prime minister has denied any wrongdoing in this case and two other cases that are being heard in the same trial. Netanyahu is accused of helping Milchan with his business interests and with U.S. visa status. The prime minister has described the gift-giving among friends as normal conduct and his trial as a political witch-hunt. Milchan hinted at a deeper, patriotic cast to the relationship. "I can't tell you how many things Bibi and I did in secret for the country," he said in his testimony, using Netanyahu's nickname. When the prime minister arrived at the Jerusalem court to watch from afar, Milchan greeted him off-screen with "Shalom, Bibi!" Criminal probes against Netanyahu, now in a record sixth term as premier, began in 2016 and set off years of political turmoil in Israel. After a cycle of inconclusive elections and an 18 month-stint in the opposition, Netanyahu returned to power in December at the head of a hard-right government. Netanyahu has denied any link between his trial and reforms to the justice system that his coalition is seeking and that have drawn strong opposition. He has been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust for allegedly granting regulatory favours to businessmen in return for positive favourable media coverage. (Additional reporting by Dan Williams; Writing by Maayan Lubell; Editing by Frances Kerry) The Coast Guard announced Sunday that it will be kickstarting a Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) into the Titan submersible that imploded last week on its way to visit the 1912 wreck of the Titanic. And my primary goal is to prevent a similar occurrence by making the necessary recommendations to enhance the safety of the maritime domain worldwide, Chief Investigator Jason Neubauer said at a Coast Guard press conference Sunday. Upon receiving notification that the submersible Titan suffered a catastrophic failure with the loss of the five lives on board, the Coast Guard declared a major marine casualty and convened a report investigation commonly referred to as an MBI on June 23, he added. Neubauer said that the investigation is currently in its initial evidence collection stage, saying that debris and salvage operations are underway in collaboration with Canadian authorities in the Port of Saint Johns, Newfoundland. He said that the MBI will also be tasked with ensuring accountability for the parties involved in the Titan incident. The MBI, however, is also responsible for accountability aspects of the incident and it can make recommendations to the proper authorities to pursue civil or criminal sanctions as necessary, he said. However, any subsequent enforcement activities would be pursued under a separate investigation. The Titan submersible went missing on June 18 after it lost communication less than two hours into its dive. OceanGate, the company that owned the submersible, said last week that all five of the passengers the vessel was carrying were believed to be dead. After a days-long search and rescue operation, the Coast Guard said last week that debris from the Titan was found about 1,600 feet from the Titanic, which lies more than two miles beneath the surface of the water. Coast Guard authorities said that the debris field found near the wreck of the Titanic was consistent with catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber. The Navy also detected the sound of an underwater implosion around the same time the Titan submersible went missing, the service confirmed last week. The Navy said to the Associated Press that it would not use a large salvage system to retrieve the Titan submersible. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Coast Guard says 'recovery of items from the seafloor' is the current priority in its Titan sub investigation A person pulls a cart past the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Warren Deyampert, docked at Coast Guard Base Boston, Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Boston. Steven Senne/Associated Press The US Coast Guard has convened its highest investigative board to probe the Titan submersible implosion. Captain Jason Neubauer told reporters the current priority is to recover debris from the seafloor. Neubauer said part of the investigation could involve recommending civil or criminal sanctions. The US Coast Guard told reporters Sunday afternoon that "ongoing salvage operations" are underway at the site where the Titan submersible imploded. "The priority of the investigation is to recover items from the seafloor," Captain Jason Neubauer said at a press briefing. "The resources are on site and capable of recovering the debris." Neubauer said the Coast Guard declared a "major marine casualty" and convened a Marine Board of Investigation, known as an MBI, in response to the implosion that is presumed to have killed all five men aboard the OceanGate submersible. Neubauer explained that an MBI is "the highest level of investigation the Coast Guard conducts," and can recommend civil or criminal sanctions. He said the investigation is also an opportunity to "learn from the incident" and improve regulations and safety standards around the use of submersibles. The Titan went missing last week during a mission to visit the wreck of the RMS Titanic, and after a feverish four-day search-and-rescue effort, a Remotely Operated Vehicle found debris from the watercraft 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic. The Titan submersible in water. OceanGate The men aboard the vessel included OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, French maritime expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British billionaire Hamish Harding, and British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, and Dawood's 19-year-old son Suleman. On Sunday, Neubauer told reporters the MBI is in its initial evidence-collection phase, which includes salvaging debris at the site, and conducting interviews at the port in St. John's, Newfoundland, where the ship that launched the Titan is docked. Both American and Canadian investigators are speaking with the 41 people who were aboard the Polar Prince last Sunday when it launched the Titan. Neubauer told reporters that Coast Guard investigators have already mapped out the debris field from the implosion. In response to reporters' questions about whether any human remains might be recovered, Neubauer declined to provide details. "We are taking all proper precautions on site if we are to encounter any human remains," he said. Editors note: An earlier version of this story misstated the day of the press conference. It was on Sunday, not Saturday. Read the original article on Insider Collaborators with Russian passports are "evacuating" from the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson Oblast to Crimea. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "In temporarily occupied Kherson Oblast, the process of evacuating local collaborators with Russian passports in their own cars to temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea has intensified. However, the FSB officers carry out filtration measures against each traitor." Details: The General Staff has also reported that Russian occupation forces continue to suffer heavy losses in manpower and military equipment. And in order to hide their losses, they use the infrastructure of the temporarily occupied settlements to provide medical care to their wounded soldiers. In particular, according to the General Staff, in the village of Kalanchak, Kherson Oblast, the Russians set up a military hospital on the premises of the central district hospital. There are about 100 Russian servicemen in it, and it is forbidden to provide medical care to civilians, the General Staff said. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Column: Blinken tried to build a floor under U.S.-China relations. He may have to keep doing it U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week in Beijing. (Leah Millis / Associated Press) When Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken went to Beijing last week to try to repair the frayed relationship between the United States and China, both sides kept expectations low. For months, the two superpowers have clashed over a wide range of issues: the alleged Chinese spy balloon that wandered across the United States in February, U.S. attempts to block China from advanced semiconductor technology, and military near-collisions at sea and in the air. Read more: The U.S. population is older than ever. What that means Both countries agreed they needed to stop the rivalry from spiraling into open conflict and build a floor under the relationship which is exactly what President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping said they had already done at a summit meeting eight months ago. That floor didn't stay built hence last week's call for a repairman. By that modest standard, Blinken succeeded. The floor has been patched, but its still pretty shaky. The secretary of State asked for more frequent meetings, and he got that. But he also asked for direct exchanges between the two countries military leaders, a priority he called hugely important and the Chinese turned that down flat. And Xi deferred action on a request that should have been even easier: to curb Chinese-made chemicals that help produce the killer drug fentanyl. Its good that they recognized that they need to talk when the relationship is veering into dangerous territory, said Bates Gill, a China expert at the Asia Society in New York. But talking is still going to be very difficult. The drive toward peaceful coexistence still looks accident-prone. Only a day after Blinken left Beijing, Biden touched off a brief furor when he told donors that Xi hadnt known about the alleged spy balloon, which he called a great embarrassment for [a] dictator. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson called the remark absurd and irresponsible. The underlying problem, deeper than any Biden gaffe, is that the two countries dont merely have different goals; they view the world from different premises. In Xis view, China is rising toward its rightful role as Asias dominant country and the worlds leading economic power, while the United States is a nation in decline. U.S. officials understandably dont buy that narrative. They correctly argue that China has bullied its smaller neighbors, stolen Western technology and engaged in unfair trade practices. Even when they try to bridge those differences, the two governments often manage to talk past each other. When Biden entered the White House in 2021, his aides tried to come up with a useful, perhaps inoffensive framework for their approach to China. As Blinken put it: Well compete with confidence, cooperate when we can and confront when we must. The Chinese hated it. They see competition as meaning theres a winner and a loser, Gill said. They think our version of competition is about America winning and China losing. Beyond those differences, several major disagreements between the two countries are probably insoluble in the foreseeable future. China believes it has an inalienable right to take over Taiwan; the United States has long been committed to helping the independent island defend itself. Xis economic ambitions focus on making China a high-tech colossus; Biden believes U.S. security requires blocking Beijing from advanced semiconductor technology. Now add the Biden administrations success building alliances with other countries including India, whose prime minister, Narendra Modi, was feted at the White House last week and the European Union, even though its Chinas biggest economic partner. Xis regime hasnt done as well at making friends. Chinas only real allies are Russia and North Korea. All of these factors make it hard to find space for U.S.-Chinese cooperation, even when it should be relatively easy. For example, Blinkens request for military contacts to prevent accidental conflicts fell on deaf ears because the Chinese fear its a trap. They dont want to approach the issue from the standpoint of international law, because that might give us the right to fly or sail where they dont want us, said Bonnie Glaser of the German Marshall Fund. If it became safe for us to conduct these flights, theyd see that as a win for us. The clearest outcome of Blinkens trip will be a visit to Washington by Chinas foreign minister, Qin Gang and, with luck, a meeting between Biden and Xi in San Francisco this fall. But their agenda will be a familiar one: reducing the chances of U.S.-China conflict by repairing the same shaky floorboards again and again. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Commander of opposition volunteers calls on Belarusians to free themselves from dictatorship Denis Prokhorov, the commander of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment Denis Prokhorov, the commander of the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, a group of Belarusian opposition volunteers, has called on Belarusians to be ready for the liberation of their country from dictatorship and occupation by Russia, the regiment said on Telegram on June 24. He called the events in Russia the beginning of the end of the great tyranny. This is the beginning of the end of the great tyranny. I appeal to all the Belarusian military: do not take part in the internal conflict in Russia. This civil war is not our business, he said. Prokhorov said Belarusians currently have a more important task. For Belarusians, another important thing is that the time is approaching when you will be faced with a choice: to carry out a criminal order, or (fulfil) an oath of loyalty to the Belarusian people. We have a reserve in Belarus that includes the active military, the retired military, and ordinary citizens who want to liberate Belarus from dictatorship and occupation. Read also: Videos of fighting between Wagner and regime troops pop up on social media Prokhorov called on Belarusians to be ready to join self-defense units, and asked the military and reservists to wait for the signal. Military, reservists, Belarusians wait for our signal. The time of freedom is approaching, the appeal reads. Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on June 23 declared war on the Russian Defense Ministry after an alleged attack by the Russian army on his mercenaries military camp. The attack came against the background of his long-standing feud with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to media reports, Wagner mercenaries took control of Russian military facilities in Rostov and Voronezh on June 24. Prigozhin demands access to Russias top military leadership, threatening to advance towards Moscow. In his address on June 24, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said that the military had receivedan order to neutralize those who organized the insurrection. Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence reported that preparations are being made for a siege against the background of PMC Wagner's actions in Moscow military equipment is being brought there, the Russian capital city is practically isolated by security forces. 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 communication issue at the Pittsburgh International Airport led to some issues for fliers over the weekend. A spokesperson for the airport said the issue was in the air traffic control tower. The Pittsburgh International Airport was able to resolve the probe after working with the Federal Aviation Administration. The issue was fixed at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night. Some Southwest Airlines flights also had changed operations at the airport due to the company experiencing an unrelated technical issue, the spokesperson said. Channel 11 has reached out to Southwest Airlines for more information and has not heard back at this time. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 100-mile detour in place when 86-mile stretch of Pennsylvania Turnpike closes overnight Saturday Girlfriend of dentist who killed wife on safari in 2016 has been sentenced to 17 years in prison Police still searching for 2 suspects after major FBI drug raid in Pittsburgh VIDEO: Crews dig up bones while working in Sharpsburg DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Kenyan electric mobility company Roam is creating mobile charging hubs for electric motorcycles to encourage more drivers to switch to electric vehicle (EV) transportation options. The prevalence of gas-engine motorcycles has created a major pollution problem in Kenya. Africa News reported, In 2019 alone, air pollution was responsible for around 5,000 premature deaths in Kenya. Roam seeks to be a part of the solution with its new charging hubs for electric motorcycles. Roam has begun installing hubs where electric motorcycle drivers can recharge their batteries, get battery rentals, and even receive maintenance from trained technicians. The hope is that these new hubs will encourage more motorcycle drivers particularly the highly common motorcycle taxis called boda-bodas to switch to an EV model. The hubs are partially solar-powered, further contributing to their environmentally friendly benefits. Electric motorcycles have been around since 1967 and possibly earlier (reports say thats debatable). But Roam is the first company dedicated to creating an electric motorcycle thats ideal for urban environments in Africa. Roam has been helping Kenya transition to more electric vehicles since its inception in 2017. It aided them in the shift to EVs for the vehicles used for mining and developed all-electric public buses for the country. However, it wasnt until this May that Roam began introducing its electric motorcycle hubs. The company has plans to introduce three hubs in busy areas of Nairobi this year. Ideally, other countries will want to adopt Roams hubs because motorcycles create a pollution issue the world over. While many drivers think of motorcycles as more fuel-efficient options compared to cars, they actually release as much as 16 times the emissions that cars do, including toxic gases responsible for the planets rising temperatures. At Roam, we believe that simplifying the charging experience is essential to electric motorcycle adoption and customer satisfaction. We are confident that this hassle-free charging experience is what will eventually turn the boda-boda industry electric, said Habib Lukaya, Roams energy and charging product manager, according to Electrek. Roam will be keeping its hubs busy, too, since it has plans to produce 50,000 new electric motorcycles per year at a Kenya factory. It also has plans to have 15 more hubs up and running by the end of 2023 and will be expanding to more locations. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Conservative former U.S. appeals court judge J. Michael Luttig in an opinion piece on Sunday said Republicans are making a serious error with "spineless support" for Donald Trump's new bid for the White House. Lutting wrote in the New York Times that the Republican Party is in part to blame for the former president's federal indictment earlier this month accusing Trump of mishandling classified documents. There are few signs that Trump will face political consequences internally, which undermines rule of law and threatens the future of the party, Luttig said. "Building the Republican campaign around the newly indicted front-runner is a colossal political miscalculation, as comedic as it is tragic for the country," said Luttig, an appointee of Republican President George H.W. Bush who served from 1991 to 2006. "No assemblage of politicians except the Republicans would ever conceive of running for the American presidency by running against the Constitution and the rule of law. But thats exactly what theyre planning." Luttig served as an informal adviser to Trump's vice president, Mike Pence, and gave testimony a year ago to the congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Since federal prosecutors unsealed a 37-count indictment against Trump earlier this month, most candidates in the crowded Republican primary field have come to his defense. Some have said as president they would pardon Trump, should he be convicted in the case. Polling shows Trump holding a strong lead over his Republican rivals. (Reporting by Tyler Clifford; Editing by Scott Malone and Chizu Nomiyama) Conservative retired federal judge J. Michael Luttig has called the Republican Party base spineless for its continued support of former President Donald Trump and submitted that the GOP is destroying itself. If the indictment of Mr. Trump on Espionage Act charges not to mention his now almost certain indictment for conspiring to obstruct Congress from certifying Mr. Biden as the president on Jan. 6 fails to shake the Republican Party from its moribund political senses, then it is beyond saving itself. Nor ought it be saved, Luttig said in a scathing New York Times op-ed published Sunday. Luttig called Republican support of Trump, the current front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, a colossal political miscalculation. No assemblage of politicians except the Republicans would ever conceive of running for the American presidency by running against the Constitution and the rule of law. But thats exactly what theyre planning, Luttig wrote. The op-ed marks an extraordinary repudiation of the GOP from a lifelong registered Republican. Luttig, a former judge on the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals, was a key witness at the January 6 committee hearings last year. He is also known for his conservative credentials and longstanding ties with the Supreme Court. In 1991, he was part of the team that prepared Clarence Thomas for his controversial Supreme Court nomination hearings, and he later became known as one of the top feeder judges on the court of appeals level, sending 45 of his 47 clerks to clerk for justices on the high court. Ahead of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, Luttig advised Vice President Mike Pences legal team against claims from Trump allies such as attorney John Eastman, who had argued that Pence had the power to block the certification of the 2020 presidential election. The stewards of the Republican Party have become so inured to their putative leader, they have managed to convince themselves that an indicted and perhaps even convicted Donald Trump is their partys best hope for the future, Luttig wrote in his op-ed. He also name-checked prominent Republicans who have stopped short of throwing their political support to Trump but have attacked the Justice Department over its investigations into the former president. Both Governor DeSantis and Mr. Pence pledged in a new Republican litmus test that on their first day in office they would fire the director of the F.B.I., the Trump appointee Christopher Wray, obviously for his turpitude in investigating Mr. Trump, Luttig wrote. The retired judge ended the op-ed with a solemn plea, for his party to put the country first and pull back from the brink for the good of the party, as well as the nation. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com How could Spirit AeroSystems strike affect Wichitas economy? It all depends on timing With 6,000 workers striking the citys largest employer, Wichita is bracing for economic turbulence. How much has everything to do with timing. We know this is going to be a big impact on the Wichita economy, and we hope both sides can come to an agreement quickly, said Erika Maley, director of marketing for Don Hattan Dealerships. If a resolution is reached within a week, it should take Spirit AeroSystems no more than a quarter to make up losses, said Jeremy Hill, director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University. If its only one or two days, Spirits going to have them working overtime and nights and weekends, and theyre going to make up that lost time, Hill said. But an extended strike could have long-term consequences for the company, and loss of spending from out-of-work aircraft employees could hit the citys entertainment, retail and food services sectors hard. You have several weeks and then youre getting into your real losses that will permanently go away from the economy that we will not make up at the end of the year, Hill said. Machinists take up signs outside Spirit Picketing for Wichitas largest strike in decades began very early on Saturday, after the Machinists union rejected its first new contract in 13 years on Wednesday. Workers said a couple thousand people showed up for the kickoff of the strike, causing a backup of traffic late Friday night around K-15 and MacArthur. Hundreds were at Spirit on Saturday morning, manning 28 gates along the massive industrial property. Most of those along the picket line did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation. But they said they had been saving up in case a strike did happen. They said they were in it for the long haul. 69 days, one striker said, referring to the length of time the strike lasted in 1995, in which he also voted to strike. 90 days or more. There is no reason we cant. Aerospace jobs require more specialized knowledge and skill now than they have in the past, and workers are in high demand across the country. Today, were in an environment where theres less labor available generally particularly the aerospace [workers] that are skilled, which changes the power dynamic, Hill said. Our wages in aerospace in Wichita have not kept up, for the region or for the industry compared to other aerospace towns. Brandon Kettleman, a striking Spirit worker who was on the picket lines Saturday morning, said the guaranteed 16% wage increase over four years in the rejected contract doesnt reflect employees true value. Were not building toasters. Were building airplanes, Kettleman said. If something goes wrong with something we build, a lot of people can get hurt and killed, but they want to pay us barely more than some fast food workers start at. The contract Spirit had proposed, which the company called its best and final offer, to IAM was rejected with 79% of the vote on Wednesday. Then, 85% of union members voted to strike. Workers mentioned five top concerns in the contract Spirit proposed: Better cost of living increases Better pension Better wage increases Less or no forced overtime Better healthcare option 737 fuselages at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita. Contract negotiations resume between Spirit, Machinists Contract negotiations resumed at 10 a.m. Saturday between Spirit and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 70, Local 839. The union has roughly 6,000 members, but Spirit has several thousand other workers in Wichita. The company, which supplies products for Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Bell Helicopter, Lockheed, Mitsubishi and Northrop, has suspended production at the plant. An extended work stoppage in Wichita would jeopardize Boeings goal of ramping up production on the 737 MAX, potentially ratcheting up pressure on Spirit to reach an agreement with the Machinists. Our best guess is that a possible strike of even 2-3 weeks would start to impact BAs 737 output, Cowen analyst Cai von Rumohr wrote in a research note. This is a worst-case scenario for both Spirit and the overall aerospace industry, Morgan Stanley analyst Kristine Liwag told investors Thursday. In general, commercial aviation has been rebounding. Theres lots of opportunity for growth, Hill said. However, Spirit has been in some unfortunate market situations for the firm with 737 MAX (grounding) and then with some quality issues, and then COVID hit and it affected labor markets. He said the timing of contract negotiations the first at Spirit since 2010 pose a challenge to the company as it attempts to address ongoing supply chain and productivity issues. If this contract was next year, it would be a whole different dynamic than it is this year, Hill said. Next year, if they fix some more supply chain, they get more productivity, they get more training in and reap that productivity growth, they would be in a much better position to negotiate, but right now they have a lot of risks. Lost wages a concern for workers, businesses Even with more negotiating power than in past contract disputes, lost wages are a serious consideration for workers. Spirit has estimated that a two-month strike would cost a typical employee more than $10,000. A lot of the employees have prepared and theyve made adjustments, Hill said. That means tonight, theyre probably not going to go out and eat those discretionary decisions. Theyll continue to pay mortgages and all these other major costs. But if progress at the bargaining table is slow, families with less savings to draw from will likely have to find other areas to cut back on spending while major purchases such as new vehicles are put on hold. Thats where you start to have those impacts on this economy that are more significant, Hill said. For local businesses, Maley said Don Hattan dealers will have to adjust their approach in comparison to how they operate in times of economic success. We need to have our strong game on, you know? Were used to this with COVID, she said. Weve got to make sure weve got our best foot forward on everything that we do. We need to go back to how we started things out with COVID, and thats understanding where our customers are going to maybe potentially be at a pain point and not necessarily a happy point in their lives. Maley said Don Hattan expects customers to downsize their vehicle payments during the strike, stating that it isnt necessarily an all-negative effect for automotive. We also are hopeful that something will be approved with the union here soon, Maley said. The revolt marked the biggest challenge yet to Putin's long rule (Gavriil Grigorov) The Wagner mercenary group's mutiny has weakened President Vladimir Putin and could affect the course of the war in Ukraine, analysts say. The aborted weekend revolt led by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin -- who declared a sudden pull-back after marching towards Moscow -- has damaged Putin's image, boosted morale among Ukrainian troops, and generated confusion. It marked the biggest challenge yet to Putin's long rule and Russia's most serious security crisis since he came to power in 1999. But it's not clear if it will translate directly onto the battlefield -- as Rob Lee of the Foreign Policy Research Institute points out, Wagner no longer had a key role in the Ukrainian theatre. "Wagner forces were replaced in Bakhmut (in eastern Ukraine, the site of the war's longest and bloodiest battle) at the end of May-early June," Lee wrote on Twitter. "I don't think any Wagner troops are currently on the front lines, or were pulled from there for this event. "Wagner is designed for assaults and not for defensive operations. It was never clear what role they would play during Ukraine's counteroffensive," he added. Ukrainian soldiers returning from the front line on Sunday said the Wagner revolt had not noticeably affected fighting around Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine. - Putin's 'weakened credibility' - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that Wagner's aborted revolt exposed "real cracks" in Putin's authority. Prigozhin's rebellion marked "a direct challenge to Putin's authority," the top American diplomat said. French President Emmanuel Macron took a similar line, saying the revolt "shows the divisions that exist within the Russian camp, and the fragility of both its military and its auxillary forces". Prigozhin's long-standing feud with military top brass over the conduct of the Russian operation in Ukraine boiled over on Saturday, when Wagner forces seized a military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and advanced towards the capital. In a fiery speech Saturday, Putin accused Prigozhin of treason and vowed to punish the perpetrators, accusing them of pushing Russia to the brink of civil war. Just hours later however, he had accepted a deal brokered by Minsk granting an amnesty for the Wagner chief and his men, and exile to Belarus for Prigozhin himself. "This episode weakens the credibility of Putin, who appeared to be in panic on television on Saturday," William Alberque of the International Institute for Strategic Studies told AFP. "Everyone in Moscow is wondering: 'If it was a five-minute insurrection, why did the president talk about civil war?' "On the other hand, if Prigozhin stays alive, all the Russian security players will feel they have impunity", he warned. - The threat from Belarus - Kyiv on Saturday said the unrest offered a "window of opportunity" for its long-awaited counter-offensive. But Moscow insisted that the mutiny would not affect its operations in Ukraine. Russian strikes continued Saturday, killing five people in Kyiv according to the city's mayor. On Sunday, Russia said it repelled several Ukrainian assaults in the east and south of the country, where Kyiv had announced gains. But experts believe the mutiny will be a blow to the morale of Russian troops in Ukraine, who have endured heavy losses in 16 months for marginal territorial gains. "This must affect Russian morale," said Pierre Razoux, academic director of the France-based Mediterranean Foundation of Strategic Studies (FMES). "On the Ukrainian side, there is perhaps a momentum to be used to break through the front line, or at any rate to gain positions". But he warned Ukraine would "also have to secure the Belarus border because they are not safe from a treacherous blow. "If 15,000 of Wagner's men pour in from Belarus, they can do some damage. Maybe that's what Prigozhin has negotiated with Putin." dab-dla/lcm/jj Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, believes that the collapse of Russia is inevitable due to events on 24 June concerning the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC). He also suggests that Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko will serve as one of the negotiators after the war. Source: Danilov on Facebook Quote from Danilov: "Anything that might go wrong in Russia will go wrong, and this 'Prigozhin [chief of the Wagner PMC] incident' may or might have triggered processes with unpredictable consequences. The countdown has begun". Details: Danilov believes that Prigozhin's actions are the first stage of putting Putin's system in disarray, and the Wagner leader is only part of the group and the plan for the disruption process. The NSDC secretary stated that there is a group of security forces, officials and oligarchs in Russia dissatisfied with Putin and that yesterday's "march on Rostov" was proof of serious intentions, capabilities and the establishment of conditions for the start of a power transition, either voluntary or forced. Danilov reckons that the only way for Putin to save himself is to purge the security forces, bring down Wagner, impose martial law in Russia and initiate mass repression. Quote from Danilov: "The real group of future Russian negotiators with Ukraine already exists, but it remains in the shadows, although Lukashenko's participation in this process is not ruled out. Putin's regime has been stabbed in the back with a knife, if not instantly lethal [blow], but certainly inevitable [to be fatal], albeit delayed in time." Previously: On the evening of Saturday, 24 June, the press service of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus announced that Aleksandr Lukashenko held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin, and he accepted the proposal to stop the movement of the Wagnerites on the territory of Russia. Afterwards, Prigozhin announced that his mercenaries were turning their convoys around and going in the opposite direction to the field camps. Later, the Kremlin announced that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be closed and he would "go to Belarus". Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Like any serious competitor, Brenda Lichman put in the practice to emerge a winner, timing herself to make sure she was in top form before the actual competition. When she was declared the champion, the magnitude of what shed won hit her. Oh my gosh, a show, was the thought that ran through the ceramic artists mind after winning last years Versus: A Live Art Battle at Mark Arts for the opportunity to have an exhibition at the arts education center in 2023. During the Versus competition, regional artists have 20 minutes to create a piece of work, competing in rounds against one another while a couple hundred onlookers watch what they make. Lichman was one of eight competitors in the 3D category, while 12 artists competed in the 2D category last year. Judges with professional arts backgrounds choose a winner in each category. Painter Tim Stone won the 2D category. And then looking at the space, I thought again, Oh my gosh, a show, Lichman recalled. Lichman, who was featured as an emerging artist by Ceramics Monthly Magazine in 2009 and whose work is part of the well-regarded Rosenfield Collection, is no stranger to having her work in exhibitions. But this would be different. It would be her biggest exhibition in Wichita and one of the few where she is the featured artist. Artist Brenda Lichman works on a clay sculpture during Versus: A Live Art Battle at Mark Arts on June 8. Lichman and Tim Stone won the competition in 2022 and were rewarded with a show of their work at Mark Arts. (In)Flux is on display now through June 27. Jaime Green/The Wichita Eagle Stone, whos had more than five solo exhibitions and several group exhibitions, agreed that Mark Arts 5,000-square-foot Gladys & Karl T. Wiedemann Gallery is a big space to fill. Both artists spent the past year creating new works to fill the space for their joint exhibition called (In)Flux that is currently on display in the gallery through July 27. The artists will give a gallery talk and tour of the exhibition which features 30 ceramic works by Lichman and 22 paintings by Stone at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 29. In the months leading up to the exhibition, the two artists often talked about what they were creating so that the exhibition would be more cohesive and complementary. Both see their work as reflecting changes, complexities, contradictions and relationships, which helped them come up with the name of the exhibition. They liked the wordplay possibilities of (In)Flux as two separate words or as one. Initially, Lichman spent a lot of time developing glazes and narrowing down the palette of colors to blues and greens, along with white pieces that form a strong monochromatic element to the exhibition. Eventually, she made more than 60 new works to possibly use in the exhibition. Your white pieces next to my colorful pieces are really good, said Stone. Using oil, acrylic and spray paint in combination and separately, Stones paintings are indeed intensely colorful, often combining hues of greens, bright oranges and pinks. For Lichman, preparing for the exhibition meant balancing her creative time in the studio with her full-time job teaching ceramics at Wichita East High School. While last years Versus competition was Lichmans first, she was familiar with the competition since her students have competed in Mark Arts student version of the competition. For the exhibition, she wanted to use the vessels as a metaphor for the human figure, she said, to showcase and elicit emotions. For some pieces, she cut and pulled or pushed the clay to manipulate it into the final result. The names of some of her works are emotions themselves, like the grouping of three pieces called Bliss, Nurturing II and Nurture I. For his works, Stone said he often uses digital photographs hes taken as inspiration. What appears on his canvases are expressions in how astray I feel navigating a world that is isolating, yet super connected, he said in the exhibitions artist statements. Often, the spaces depicted are obstructed and not straightforward. After getting his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2012 from Wichita State, Stone has become well known in the local arts community. Wichita artist and KMUW art reviewer Curt Clonts has called Stone incendiary for his unique style. Stone, who grew up in Hutchinson, started teaching art in 2014, first at Mark Arts (then known as the Wichita Center for the Arts) and then Bethany College in Lindsborg. Since 2018, hes taught drawing and painting at WSU, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts in 2022. Along with creating paintings and teaching, Stone is also an art consultant, connecting artists with businesses that want to buy art. After earning art degrees in her native Wisconsin and then Texas, Lichman moved to Wichita a decade ago and brought the Empty Bowls fundraiser movement for the hungry with her. She still directs the annual event at WSU, for which artists create bowls that are then purchased by the public to use for sampling during a chili cook-off. The proceeds benefit the Kansas Food Bank. After seven years of teaching art at East High, Lichman will become the education curator for WSUs Ulrich Museum of Art in July. Artists compete in Versus: A Live Art Battle at Mark Arts. Each artist had 20 minutes to make a creation in front of a live audience during the fundraiser for Mark Arts. Jaime Green/The Wichita Eagle As past champions, Lichman and Stone were back to compete in this years Versus competition held June 8, less than a week after their exhibition had opened. While usually artists can apply to compete, this years competition was an all-stars event, said Katy Dorrah, the CEO of Mark Arts, with past champions and artists who had won the fan favorite awards invited to participate. The 2023 competition was Lichmans second and Stones fourth. Stone participated in the first Versus back in 2015, when only painters took part in the live competition. A Mark Arts volunteer had suggested holding the competition after seeing a YouTube video of a similar battle in Canada, Dorrah said. In 2016, a high school Versus competition was added and the 3D category was added to both the student and adult battles in 2018. This years student competition had 300 youth attendees and artists from a dozen regional schools. The 2023 adult competition had 12 2D artists and eight 3D artists. While Lichman had encouragingly said to Stone, Lets win this again, at the start of this years competition, they didnt repeat. This years Versus winners were Sheldon Draper in the 2D category and Casey TZ Smith in the 3D category, who earned the prize of having a joint Mark Arts exhibition in 2024. (In)Flux exhibition What: a joint exhibition the prize for winning the Mark Arts 2022 Versus: A Live Art Battle competition by ceramist Brenda Lichman and painter Tim Stone Where: Gladys & Karl T. Wiedemann Gallery, Mark Arts When: through Thursday, July 27. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. A free artist-led talk and tour happen at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 29. Advance registration for the June 29 event is suggested. Admission: Free More info: (316) 634-2787 or markartsks.com Criminal case against Prigozhin is to be closed and he will go to Belarus Putins spokesman The criminal case against Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is to be closed and he will "go to Belarus", Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, has announced. Source: Russian state-owned media outlet TASS, citing Peskov Details: Peskov does not know who Prigozhin will work for after he leaves for Belarus. According to the press secretary, the Russian authorities will not prosecute Wagner Group fighters who took part in the rebellion, in consideration of their frontline contributions. Some of the Wagner fighters who initially refused to participate in Prigozhin's "campaign" will sign contracts with the Ministry of Defence. Peskov also said that Moscow is highly appreciative of the mediation efforts of Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus. Lukashenko put himself forward as a negotiator, since he has known Prigozhin for over 20 years. Peskov said no further TV address by President Vladimir Putin is planned. He also stated that reshuffles in the Ministry of Defence are the prerogative of the president and were unlikely to be discussed during talks to settle the rebellion. However, Peskov is unaware of any changes in Putin's level of trust in his defence minister. Peskov stated that the situation with the mutiny will have no effect on the course of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine. The press secretary also insisted that Putin supposedly kept on working in the Kremlin all day. Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Dad tries to get help for stepson at scorching Texas park, officials say. Both died A 31-year-old man went to get help when his stepson passed out during a hike at Texas Big Bend National Park, but both were found dead, officials said. On June 23, the man, who was from Florida, was visiting Big Bend with his two stepsons, ages 14 and 21, and the trio attempted to hike the Marufo Vega Trail in 119-degree heat, the National Park Service said in a June 24 news release. The Marufo Vega Trail winds through extremely rugged desert and rocky cliffs within the hottest part of Big Bend National Park, officials said. No shade or water makes this strenuous trail dangerous to attempt in the heat of summer. Rangers received a call for help at 6 p.m. after the 14-year-old fell ill along the trail and lost consciousness, according to officials. The boys older brother picked him up and began carrying him while his stepfather hiked ahead to get to his car and find help, the release said. At 7:30 p.m., rangers and U.S. Border Patrol agents found the 14-year-old dead on the trail, according to park officials. Half an hour later, the stepfather was found dead inside his vehicle, having crashed over an embankment at Boquillas Canyon Overlook, officials said. The overlook is less than a mile away from the Marufo Vega Trailhead. Officials did not comment on the condition of the 21-year-old survivor, but McClatchy News has reached out to NPS for more information. This incident remains under investigation, the release said. 17-year-old dies after hes rescued from landmark Texas rock formation, officials say Hikers stumble across body on mountain where actor vanished, California officials say Aggressive bears charge at hikers, attack dog off Blue Ridge Parkway, rangers say Stranded siblings spend 32 hours awaiting rescue on snowy mountain, Washington cops say On this day in history, June 25, 1942, Eisenhower is appointed supreme commander of Allied Forces in Europe On this day in history, June 25, 1942, Eisenhower is appointed supreme commander of Allied Forces in Europe Future president Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower was appointed commanding general of the European Theater on this day in history, June 25, 1942. Born in Texas and raised in Kansas, Eisenhower began his military career when he received an appointment to West Point, according to the White House website. After graduating with the West Point class of 1915, Eisenhower was stationed in Texas as a second lieutenant. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, JUNE 24, 1997, AIR FORCE RELEASES THE ROSWELL REPORT: CASE CLOSED There, he met Mamie Geneva Doud. The two were married in 1916. Eisenhower was in charge of a tank training center during World War I, said the Museum of the American G.I. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Following the war, Eisenhower worked in the Panama Canal Zone and attended the Army War College, graduating at the top of his class, said the museum. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, pictured in July 1942, shortly after he was promoted to lieutenant general. Eisenhower continued to climb the ranks of the military, where he "excelled in staff assignments, serving under Generals John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, and Walter Krueger," said the White House website. After the United States entered World War II, "Eisenhower took over the Army War Plans Division to draft a basic strategy for the war against the Axis," said Military.com. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, JUNE 6, 1944, US AND ALLIES INVADE NORMANDY IN GREATEST MILITARY INVASION Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army George C. Marshall tapped Eisenhower for his biggest promotion yet, on June 25, 1942, when he was made commanding general of the European Theater, also known as the supreme commander. "Although he had not witnessed combat firsthand yet, his 27 years of knowledge and expertise stood out to George C. Marshall," said the Museum of the American G.I. Portrait of Allied military commanders as they pose around a table in England during the spring of 1944. Eisenhower is at center, bottom row. Eisenhower's leadership prowess and military skill was on display in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa by British and American troops in November 1942. His military successes continued. "By the end of 1943, Eisenhower had conducted successful landings in Sicily and Italy and negotiated an Italian surrender," said Military.com. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, JULY 29, PRESIDENT EISENHOWER SIGNED BILL CREATING NASA His star was not finished rising, however. Eisenhower was named supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force for the invasion of Europe. "Codenamed Operation OVERLORD, the attack across was to be the decisive act of the World War II," said Military.com. General Dwight Eisenhower, above left, talking to General Koenig after a parade under the Arc de Triomphe, Paris, on Aug. 28, 1944, nearly three months after Eisenhower led the successful invasion at Normandy. Today, Operation OVERLORD is better known as D-Day. "It was Eisenhowers job to surprise the Germans in the time and place of the landings. Complicating matters was the fact that the Allied resources were sufficient for only one invasion attempt," said Military.com. "After painstaking planning, Eisenhower launched the invasion on June 6, 1944." ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, MARCH 16, 1802, UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY ESTABLISHED AT WEST POINT After World War II, Eisenhower was appointed as chief of staff of the United States Army, a position he served until February 1948. After a stint as the president of Columbia University, Eisenhower was convinced to run for president, said the White House. Republicans "tried to interest Eisenhower in the Republican nomination, confident that his popularity would carry him to victory and certain that his internationalist policies were essential to success in the Cold War," said the University of Virginia's Miller Center website. "Finally, in January 1952, Eisenhower announced that he was a Republican and that he would be willing to accept the call of the American people to serve as president," that site noted. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, left, listens while Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower shows him his trailer, on Nov. 14, 1944, amid World War II. With the help of the catchy slogan "I Like Ike," Eisenhower was elected president on Nov. 4, 1952 winning in a landslide over Democrat Adlai Stevenson II. Eisenhower became the first Republican president in 20 years. He went on to serve two terms (beating Stevenson again in November 1956). CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "Before he left office in January 1961, for his farm in Gettysburg, he urged the necessity of maintaining an adequate military strength, but cautioned that vast, long-continued military expenditures could breed potential dangers to our way of life," said the White House. "He concluded with a prayer for peace in the goodness of time." Rebel mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who sent his fighters to topple the military leaders in Moscow, will leave for Belarus, the Kremlin has said (STRINGER) Knackered after covering a stunning march on Moscow by a small army of mercenaries? Take a day off after a "tense" weekend, Russian authorities told journalists on Sunday. An armed rebellion by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had vowed on Friday to topple the Russian military leadership and begun a march on Moscow, sparked the country's largest political crisis in decades and prompted many newsrooms to work around the clock. Moscow authorities introduced "anti-terror" measures and said residents will have a day off on Monday, even though Wagner chief Prigozhin suddenly aborted his revolt on Saturday evening. On Sunday, the Russian ministry of digital development also pitched in with recommendations, saying journalists and IT workers should take a day to rest. "Saturday was a very emotional and tense day," the ministry of digital development, communications and mass media said in a statement on social media. "We recommend giving employees of IT and telecom companies and media a day off." The ministry singled out employees of companies working round-the-clock and media workers, who operated in regions "at the epicentre of the events," saying they needed an opportunity to rest. "Many employees of the digital development ministry spent the weekend at their workplace," the statement said, "so we also made this decision for our employees." Wagner's aborted revolt has left many in Russia and abroad stunned, with even seasoned political analysts confused about Prigozhin's purposes. Prigozhin's announcement of the sudden climbdown sparked ridicule in Russia, and the latest audio message on his Telegram channel announcing he was turning around his forces has racked up nearly 400,000 "clown face" emojis. bur/lcm Death toll in Kyivs Solomyanskyi District from Russian missile strike rises to five Fragments of Russian missiles hit a high-rise building in Kyiv The bodies of two more people have been found under the rubble of a building in Kyiv's Solomyanskyi District hit by the fragments of a Russian missile in the early hours of June 24, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram on June 25. "Rescuers have found the bodies of two more victims," Klitschko said in a statement. The operation to eliminate the consequences of the enemy attack continues. Rescuers are still working in the damaged building, the mayor said. Read also: Russian missile debris falls in Kyiv Oblast, causing casualties and damaging homes A total of five people were killed in the building that was hit by the debris, the mayor said. In the early hours of June 24, Russian troops launched another missile attack on Ukraine. Most of the missiles were aimed at Kyiv. The local administration reported that all 20 missiles launched by the enemy over the capital were intercepted. However, fragments of a downed missile struck a high-rise building in Solomyanskyi District, damaging three floors and around 40 cars parked below. 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 A playground bench is colorfully decorated at the new Sandy Hook Elementary School, which replaced the one torn down after a gunman killed 20 first graders and six educators in 2012. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan After last years shooting in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, some local residents wanted the school demolished. Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez said that President Joe Biden had offered to help the school district secure a federal grant for the buildings demolition. This is not uncommon. In numerous similar cases, buildings were knocked down, abandoned or repurposed in the aftermath of a tragedy. After the Sandy Hook massacre of 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut, that school was destroyed and rebuilt on a different spot on the same property, at a cost of US million. And in 1996, the town of Gloucester in England bought the house where a couple, Fred and Rosemary West, raped, tortured, and killed 12 young women. The town razed the property to the ground, burned all timber, pulverized each brick and dumped the debris at a secret location before turning the lot into a park. At a visceral level, this seems obvious: Most people would be uncomfortable carrying on business as usual at the site of a bloodbath. But as an anthropologist who studies some of the most meaningful human experiences, I know that human reactions that feel obvious may often be hard to explain. Why would tearing down and rebuilding it make the situation any better? The answer lies in human psychology. Notions of contagion Research suggests that we, as humans, are natural-born essentialists. That is, we intuitively think of objects as having certain immaterial inner qualities or essences, which can be transmitted through contact. For instance, participants in an experiment conducted by psychologists Carol Nemeroff and Paul Rozin refused to wear a sweater that belonged to a serial killer, although they were happy to wear an identical sweater that belonged to someone else. These intuitions can be observed outside of the laboratory as well. For instance, a study conducted in Hong Kong looked at the effects of death on real estate prices. As it turns out, when a murder, suicide or fatal accident occurred in a house, its market value decreased by as much as 25%, and even nearby properties lost part of their value. Early anthropologists described this as a form of magical thinking. Scottish anthropologist James Frazer argued that this type of reasoning rests upon two basic principles common in all human societies. The first is the law of similarity, the idea that physical resemblance implies some deeper connection. This explains the belief found in many cultures that stabbing a doll that resembles a person could cause harm to that person. The second principle is what Frazer called the law of contagion. It states that when two things come into contact, they transfer part of their properties to each other. This is why John Lennons piano sold for over million, and why U.S. Rep. Bob Brady took the glass of water from which Pope Francis had drank during a 2015 address to the U.S. Congress and later shared it with his family. The assumption is that some of the qualities of the person who once came in contact with the object will rub off. Anything the pope touches becomes blessed, Brady said. If these beliefs and behaviors are based on mistaken premises, should we humor them, or should we dismiss them as irrational? Once again, human psychology might provide the answer. The power of symbolism We are a symbolic species. We experience things around us based not simply on their physical properties. We care about where they come from, their histories, their connections and what they stand for. This goes beyond what we think about those things it also affects how we interact with them. Psychologists George Newman and Paul Bloom designed an experiment to see whether beliefs about an objects contagiousness could be altered. They asked people how much they would pay to purchase a sweater previously owned by a beloved celebrity. As they expected, most were willing to shell out substantially more than what a brand-new sweater would cost. But here is the twist: When told that it would be thoroughly washed before being handed to them, people were less interested in buying the sweater. Inversely, when the researchers asked them the same question about a famous person they despised, participants were willing to pay a higher price after the item had been sterilized. It appears that physical purification would be perceived as removing part of the sweaters essence. Purification rites Cultural traditions around the world tap into these intuitions to soothe peoples fears and anxieties. In some cases, washing the body is meant to cleanse the soul, which is what happens in baptisms. In other cases, purification comes through the destruction of the evil substance or its proxy. On New Years Day, people in various parts of Latin America build life-size effigies, or munecos, that resemble wicked things and persons: corrupt public officials, villains, personal foes and even the coronavirus. Then they set them ablaze. Their demise is meant to exorcise their polluting power and symbolize hope for the coming year. A fire dancer performs on the dry lake bed at the Burning Man festival in August 2008 in the Black Rock Desert near Gerlach, Nevada. AP Photo/Brad Horn Since these practices rely on universal parts of human psychology, they make sense to people who are not religious too. Take, for example, the attendees of Burning Man, an annual festival in Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Ostensibly, this is a crowd as secular as they come: only 5% of them self-identify as religious. Yet thousands of people flock to a makeshift temple where they leave memorabilia related to some of their most traumatic experiences. They then gather to watch the temple burn to the ground, many of them in tears, carrying all the bad memories with it. There is a powerful cathartic aspect to those purification rituals. Symbolic gestures often speak to our psyche in ways no rational action could ever speak to our intellect. In times of tragedy, it is important to acknowledge this fundamental aspect of our humanity. For even as the pain remains, the knowledge that a tangible reminder of it has been undone can be soothing. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Dimitris Xygalatas, University of Connecticut. Read more: Dimitris Xygalatas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Around 11 a.m. Sunday, Andy Brown stood just outside the yellow police tape and stared down the street. His only child was lying on the ground with a white sheet covering his body. Dozens of orange evidence cones dotted the street nearby. There sits my son, Brown said. Camden Brown, 27, was one of three victims killed in a shooting near 57th and Prospect Avenue. Five additional shooting victims were taken to different hospitals by ambulance or private vehicle and are believed to have injuries that are not life-threatening. Just after 4:30 a.m., the Kansas City Police Department responded to a parking lot near the intersection. A heavy police presence remained at the scene as of 11 a.m. Loved ones milled around near the intersection of 57th and Wabash. Some cried or hugged or prayed. Andy Brown said it was disrespectful that his sons body had not yet been moved or at least shielded from the sun. Earlier, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves had said the scene was large and was still being processed. Andy Brown said witnesses had told him that an after hours party was going on when someone was told to leave. The person returned with a gun. Camden Brown and his girlfriend were running when he was caught in the crossfire and shot in the back. He didnt deserve this, Andy Brown said. He said he does not think much can be done about gun violence. Some people believe having a gun makes them a big shot, he said, but it doesnt. Andy Brown added that he thinks the after hours space should be shut down. People do stupid shit, he said. Ongoing gun violence The killings come about one month after a shooting at Klymax Lounge, 4242 Indiana Ave., just 2.5 miles away that killed three people and injured two. By some definitions, both incidents could be considered mass shootings. According to the Gun Violence Archive, an incident in which at least four people are injured or killed besides the shooter can be considered a mass shooting. Other organizations, like Everytown for Gun Safety, say that if at least four people other than the shooter are fatally shot, the incident is a mass shooting. Graves said officials talked with community members near the scene about violence in the city and what can be done to reduce shootings. People start out at such an escalated point that if theres a disagreement or an argument or anger, some people in Kansas City are just too quick to reach for guns, she said. Graves said it was frustrating that the city was involved in so many efforts to reduce violent crime, but the homicide rate continues to climb. She said some witnesses had not been cooperative and also said these investigations are difficult for the police departments officers. They see family members who are crying and we absorb that, Graves said. Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves held hands with Cherron Barney, left, and another woman as people gathered in the street to pray after three people died and five were injured following a shooting early Sunday, June 25, 2023, near 57th Street and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City. In May, Graves announced the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, a partnership between police, county prosecutors, crime-fighting groups, federal authorities and city agencies. Since Graves hosted a news conference announcing the citywide initiative on May 17, there have been 36 homicides in Kansas City. Mayor Quinton Lucas previously told The Star that the new initiative addresses crime prevention, intervention, enforcement and police reform. So were gonna keep trying, and I know people sometimes get frustrated and say, It always feels like theres a new plan, Lucas said. Of course, as long as there are murderers on our streets we will always have new plans and initiatives to try to get things resolved. Some community activists expressed skepticism in the plan and worried it would be another violence prevention program launched with great promise that eventually lost momentum. Kansas City Police Sgt. Jake Becchina and Chief Stacey Graves gathered with people including Pat Clarke and Cherron Barney in the street to pray after three people died and five were injured following a shooting early Sunday, June 25, 2023, near 57th Street and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City. I look at it as lip service for now, said Steve Young, who leads the Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project or KC LEAP. Anyone who was in the area at the time and heard or saw anything is asked to contact homicide detectives at 816-234-5043 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477. A reward of up to $25,000 is available for information submitted to TIPS that leads to an arrest. The Stars Glenn Rice contributed to this report. Water is entwined in Norfolks DNA. The mermaid city is fringed by 144 miles of shoreline along its lakes, rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, including the popular stretch of beach at Ocean View. Much of that land is situated in residential neighborhoods, and a large chunk of Norfolks economy and livelihood is centered on its waters. But this staple of Norfolk life could become its greatest threat as climate change creates problems for many coastal locales. So the city proposed ways to protect its residents and properties long-term. Now, the city is poised for big changes. At an April 25 meeting, the City Council approved the Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, a large-scale series of flood mitigation projects in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the next 10 years at a cost of more than $2 billion. The massive undertaking includes 8 miles of new or extended flood walls built around downtown neighborhoods over the next decade, as well as surge barriers and pump stations in other areas. The plan would be conducted over five phases, and all include new structures except one. The final phase, covering the neighborhoods south of the Elizabeth River, will not include new structures and instead focus on improvements to specific properties. This sparked worries among southside residents that discriminatory practices and decisions made almost 100 years ago were looming within the citys plans for the next century of flood protection. But they fought back. And won. Now, leaders across the board are working toward a solution that would address decades of disenfranchisement on the southside. ___ The project and its issues Most of the people over here have lived over here, 50 years plus, 80 years plus, and we even have members that lived here for 100 years, said Lawrence Brown, president of the Campostella Heights Civic League. His neighborhood is one of Hampton Roads oldest communities, he said, and not having the storm surge protections was unacceptable. Flooding is not new to the southside it faces nuisance flooding frequently but having storm surge protections against severe weather is imperative. Most people that live over here, they are retired, they got their home and they paid it off, Brown said. And now somebody comes in and tells them that they may have to come in and fill the basement. Basically, we didnt want a situation that had gone on like what happened in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Those wards flooded, and some of those people are still out of homes today. So thats basically how it started. In March, residents of southside neighborhoods gathered in front of the City Council to express those concerns. The resolution to approve the project already was delayed, but citizens said city leadership should focus on shortcomings in the current plan. The project is split into five phases. The first, which covers most of the citys downtown, is divided into several sub-phases. Phase 1A began the design phase in 2022, and will focus on a section from the Berkley Bridge to Campostella Road. Phase 1B will include Town Point Park and the Waterside District while Phase 1C will build structures from Ghent to Town Point Park. The final portion of the first phase is the downtown floodwall, which is estimated to be complete around 2031. By the end of the sub-phases, a system of floodwalls with a levee, surge barriers and natural features will extend from Ghent through downtown connecting to the Ohio Creek Watershed project. In the Ohio Creek Watershed project, eroding shoreline along the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River has been replaced by a 2,000-foot-long earthen berm, about 8 feet in height. Asphalt has been torn out from the three blocks closest to the river and replaced with red brick permeable pavers that allow water to soak into the ground. The $112 million project includes other features to reduce flooding, such as pump stations and hidden drains, and focuses more on nuisance flooding rather than storm surge. It is the storm surge flooding and hurricanes flooding that requires these types of structural solutions, but I think what we really need to be doing is kind of looking at hybrid solutions where we look at solutions that can actually maybe cut down some of the energy of a storm surge and then combining that with a structural solution, said Carol Considine, an associate professor of engineering technology and program head at the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience at Old Dominion University. For the second portion, a system of floodwalls and barriers will be built to reduce storm surge from entering Pretty Lake at Shore Drive. The design phase is set to begin in 2024, and construction will continue through the first half of 2028. For Phase three, barriers will be constructed from Norfolk International Terminal to the Lamberts Point area to reduce storm-surge risk to the Lafayette River watershed. Phase four is another system of floodwalls, storm surge barriers and tide gates to reduce storm surge from entering Broad Creek at Interstate 264. The final phase is the only portion without plans to build new structures. Instead, this portion is property-specific, meaning certain homes and structures will be the focus. That work includes elevating some homes, filling basements, flood-proofing and buyouts. Work would take place in several areas of the city, including Berkley, Campostella, Campostella Heights, Elizabeth Park, Ingleside, Norfolk International Terminal and Willoughby. In 2018, the evaluation criteria for structural measures was based on a benefit-to-cost ratio. This means the analysis focused primarily on the monetary value of damages to properties but did not allow for consideration of social effects, including life, health and safety. Sharon Hendrick, president of Campostella Civic League, said residents were unaware they were being left out of structured improvements until the study was completed. The idea was presented and when we found out about it, thats when we voiced our opinion, and started to advocate for our communities, she said. Because you cant put a value on property that has been passed down through generations and people have had for a lifetime. To have us displaced or, or even forgotten about, it was unacceptable. So thats when we started going down to City Hall and voicing our opinions. After those initial meetings, Hendrick, Brown and other southside leaders began reaching out to citywide leadership. The scheduled vote initially was delayed to address the equity issues and to find a path forward. By the end of April, southside leaders, the city and the Army Corps formed a partnership to make improvements to phase five. But according to researchers who study housing and environmental impacts, using cost analyses to choose which areas receive structures and which dont is a flawed process. ___ History of redlining in Norfolks southside Redlining, the mid-20th-century practice by banks and insurers to concentrate Black and other minority homeowners within certain neighborhoods, was banned under the Fair Housing Act of 1968. But its legacy has persisted through entrenched segregation, economic inequality, lack of public services, and negative environmental impacts. During redlining, Black neighborhoods were cut off from loans and other forms of investment, as well as racial covenants, where restrictions were placed on who could and could not buy homes. Federal redlining would deepen the divide created by city leaders in the 1930s and 40s. The maps that showed banks and mortgage lenders the relative risk of investment graded white neighborhoods low risk and Black neighborhoods red: a dangerous investment. That gave Black people far fewer choices for where to live, said Johnny Finn, associate professor of geography and Chair of the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology at Christopher Newport University. Over time, Finn said, redlining and other discriminatory housing policies have negatively affected property values in Black and other minority neighborhoods. Even when you control for household income, for every percentage point increase a neighborhood is African American, home values dropped by $700, Finn said. These are neighborhoods where the average annual income is the same. So taken out to the extreme, a neighborhood that is 100% white versus a neighborhood thats 100% Black, thats a $70,000 difference in home value, even where household incomes are the same. The trend of environmental impacts on Black and other minority neighborhoods exists not just in Norfolk. According to a 2020 study, researchers analyzed more than 100 U.S. cities and formerly redlined neighborhoods in nearly every city studied had hotter temperatures than the non-redlined neighborhoods, some by nearly 13 degrees. Redlined neighborhoods, on average, in Hampton Roads are 5.5 degrees hotter than neighborhoods, in some cases, just a couple of blocks away that escaped redlining, Finn said. So these neighborhoods have fewer trees, they have more pavement, theyre significantly hotter. I know that floodwalls dont deal with heat, but in the context of climate change, its an increasing (of) baseline temperatures. Extreme heat events are more intense and lasting for longer for the populations that live in these formerly redlined neighborhoods. Finn said overlooking or ignoring historic racial disparities in projects can continue negative impacts on low-income and minority communities. Another way to think about it is unless theyre actively taking into account the effect of historic discriminatory practices, thats automatically going to be there, he said. Because that effect is widespread, and it permeates every single aspect of housing, such as (property) values, in every single neighborhood nationwide. ___ Flooding disparities In the past, other cities have shared similar concerns about disparities in flood planning. Post-Katrina, residents in some areas in and near New Orleans expressed concerns with early repairs to the levee system. According to The Times-Picayune in 2008, residents were concerned about the area of three canals in western New Orleans that dramatically reduced the risk of flooding in predominantly white neighborhoods, while the risk of flooding in largely African American neighborhoods remained nearly the same as before Katrina. In 2021, the NAACP released a 40-page report on advancing racial justice in federal flood infrastructure projects. The report conducted case studies in three cities: St. Louis, Indianapolis and New Orleans. The federal processes and decision-making criteria used to approve new flood infrastructure are difficult to navigate and are structured in ways that do not always represent the needs of low-wealth communities of color, a portion of the report read. The report said the lack of action against disparities has created a vicious cycle for Black and other minority neighborhoods at risk of flooding, as climate change causes more severe inundation. When recovery favors wealthy (and usually white) neighborhoods, it leads to insufficient maintenance of existing systems in low-income neighborhoods. That, in turn, impacts housing and economic inequality. Our research confirms that Black Americans are systemically flood exposed and experience disproportionate flood impacts, the report read. We also note that it is difficult for communities to identify their level of flood exposure, due to omissions in the Federal Emergency Management Agencys floodplains. Official floodplain maps, used when making important decisions about zoning and property development, are outdated and omit critical information, in particular about potential climate impacts. Since the report, the federal government has taken steps to help address the disparities. One is the Justice40 Initiative, an executive order signed by President Joe Biden. The initiative aims to have 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution, according to an announcement of the initiative. The initiative uses the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), a map that identifies disadvantaged communities marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. It will be updated annually each fall. According to the CEJST, all Norfolk neighborhoods south of the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River were flagged as disadvantaged communities. The census tract including Berkley is in the 91st percentile for projected risk to properties from tides, rain, riverine and storm surges within 30 years. It comes down to the Army Corps of Engineers and this is not bashing them for years has had congressional oversight to move these types of projects forward without involving the community, Brown said. And unfortunately, in the neighborhoods that we live in, it was always our value of our houses being used in their cost analysis. Thats how we were left out. Lets make it clear this is not only Norfolk. This is across the country, but its beginning to change. All of the tracts on the southside, as well as tracts surrounding Harbor Park and Norfolk State University, have historically high barriers to accessing home loans. ___ Going forward Receiving federal dollars for large-scale mitigation projects can be highly competitive, said Jessica Whitehead, executive director of the Institute for Coastal Adaptation and Resilience at Old Dominion University. Whitehead, who also served as chief resiliency officer at the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency, said the process to get access to federal funding also is rigid. Once the plan is in place, it can be very difficult to make changes. In April, Norfolk City Council passed a resolution to address the issues and commit leadership to reassessing the design and construction of protections for the area. While changes are not guaranteed, and will likely take years, the Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to ask the federal government to modify the way it calculates whether structural flood protection measures could be used in the southside community. This, for southside city leaders, is a win not just for Norfolk, but for underrepresented communities across the country. Brown said citizens and leaders from around the country have reached out to speak with local leaders about how they rallied together for changes. Were going to do our best to not continue the inequities of our investments in the past, said Michael Connor, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, said at the signing of the projects formal agreement. Connor said all parties were committed to fixing the disparities from using the cost-benefit analysis. As we design our projects, we seek to maximize the benefits by protecting the most high-value properties in any particular community. Were not going to throw that out, Connor said. But weve got to leave room for ourselves to consider social, environmental and equitable benefits that need to be part of these features. And were in the middle of that right now. Theres a lot of those features in this project. Weve got the southside community that were still working with to see how we can be sure that those protections extend to that community, too. Pres. Biden has pushed us in this area, and Im very proud (that) the Army for Civil Works and the Army Corps of Engineers have embraced it. According to a notice from Resilient Norfolk, another name for the Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, impacts on historically Black neighborhoods in Norfolk were under assessed. Based on inputs from the southside community members, the city and the USACE recognize the criteria from the initial study was not comprehensive in all the factors impacting this community, the notice reads. It is important to take into consideration all social effects of a community, and when done so, there is no better case to be made for structural flood risk reduction features than the southside community. As for planning an alternative measure for the fifth phase, that will begin with a post authorization change report, also known as a PACR. Col. Brian P. Hallberg, commander of the Norfolk District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will put forth the justification and funding request to the Corps of Engineers Headquarters. If approved, the PACR would advance to the assistant secretary of the Army for civil works and the office of management and budget. If the PACR were to require Congressional approval, it would go into the next Water Resources Development Act. That act is slated for 2024. The timeline for the updates is expected to take three to five years. Prior to any construction, the public will be given the opportunity to provide input and feedback regarding the project, Hallberg said. We value the communitys involvement in planning, the design and implementation of this critical flood risk management project within the Southside community for their input thus far. We continue to work with the city to address their concerns for structural measures. For now, though, Brown and Hendrick said they look forward to continuing to work for protections for the southside. That lack of flood protection would have affected some of the countrys largest shipbuilding companies and repair companies, Brown said. So we all as the community, as a business community, had to come together and say, Hey, we need the same protection. But not just only for us lets make sure this whole project is protecting the people that need to be protected. Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com Michael H/Getty Images My baby was diagnosed with a rare liver disease when he was 3 months old. He was hospitalized for two months and received a liver transplant. Nurses at the hospital kept me company even when they were incredibly busy. My baby was hospitalized for almost two months during his first year of life. Facing a life-threatening disease called Biliary Atresia, it was a stressful time. My son underwent an initial surgery to repair his malformed bile ducts. The surgery did not fix the issue, so he received a liver transplant. Without medical intervention, Biliary Atresia is fatal by the age of 2. Multiple people saved my baby's life, and my heart is overflowing with gratitude. I am thankful to my son's organ donor and the donor's family: their selfless choice saved my child. I am grateful for my son's team of doctors: their care and expertise saved my child. Then, there are the nurses. Nurses are very special human beings. They seemed superhuman in how they helped my son and me. My baby was hospitalized so the doctors could save his life, but during that time, the nurses saved me. They saved me with their humanity When my son was diagnosed at 3 months old, he was immediately admitted to the hospital for 10 days. My world turned upside-down when he was diagnosed. I was hopeful that my son would receive the medical attention he needed, but I was flooded with worry. I was stressed and confined to a hospital room with my baby. I talked on the phone with loved ones, but I still felt sad and alone. It was the nurses who provided companionship. I could see how busy they were, so I was amazed that the nurses chatted with me. I expected them to check my son's vitals without conversation, but whenever they came into the room, they said a kind word. They asked how I was doing. They reassured me that things would get easier. They gave me information about liver disease. Those conversations fortified me. The nurses were sharing more than just their skills: they were sharing their humanity. During our first 10 days in the hospital, the nurses provided emotional comfort during a scary time. They made me as comfortable as possible When my baby returned to the hospital for a liver transplant, he stayed for six weeks. I knew that my son was gravely ill, so this hospitalization was less of an emotional shock than the first one. Even so, it was a challenging experience. I mostly stayed at the hospital while my husband cared for our older children at home. My husband continued to work while I was on maternity leave from my job. During this time, the nurses were indispensable in how they bettered our life at the hospital. They constantly did things to improve my son's stay, like bringing him toys or trying different creams on his diaper rash. They also made my stay more comfortable. One evening, I accidentally missed the deadline for buying dinner for myself. I tried to brush it off, but one of the nurses said, "You need to eat," and she brought me to the staff cafeteria so I could buy some food. Acts of kindness like that were not unusual. They are the norm for nurses. I hope they know how thankful I am As a teacher, I, too, work in a "caring" profession. Like myself and my teacher friends, I know that nurses truly want to help others. They did not choose their career for recognition or praise, but I hope they realize how appreciated they are. The nurses who worked with my son made my life infinitely better during a difficult time: I am forever grateful. Read the original article on Insider The march to Moscow by the Russian mercenary Wagner force of thousands came to a dramatic end on Saturday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin suffering severe dents to his armor that dispelled his indomitable image, according to critics. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Wagner, who is also known as "Putins Butcher," reportedly came within 120 miles of Moscow before he agreed to a deal to go into exile in Belarus that was brokered by the countrys authoritarian ruler Alexander Lukashenko. Garry Kasparov, who is a fierce opponent of Putins dictatorship, tweeted to his over one million followers: "Mafia is as mafia does. Whatever deal was reached today, blood has been spilled and Putin's illusion of invincibility is gone. He and his cronies tasted real fear. Moscow was threatened." WAGNER CHIEF ORDERS TROOPS TO TURN AROUND FROM MOSCOW 'TO AVOID BLOODSHED' Rebekah Koffler, former U.S. defense intelligence officer, told Fox News Digital, "Putin is perceived by the West as weaker," following the Wagner threat to his power. However, Koffler, whose expertise is on Putin and Russia, said, "Putin is perceived by many Russian people in Russia, generally, as stronger because he chased away the Wagner traitors who betrayed the president and the nation, and saved the country." A split image shows Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin; a Wagner group patrol in an area near a tank in Rostov-on-Don; and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Koffler added that the reality is "Putin is neither stronger nor weaker. His hold on power remains the same as before strong. He has taken several measures to squeeze his grip on power." She said Putin has introduced a counterterrorism operation "which augments security measures in Russia. Its a form of martial law, a legal regime that allows for a number of measures and temporary restrictions." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Putins state of anxiety about being toppled has reportedly led to a host of other measures to impede unrest in Russia. An armored personnel carrier is parked in a street as members of Wagner group patrol an area of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. According to Koffler, "Putin was always concerned about popular uprisings and stood up a special branch of service Rosgvardia, National Guard, 340,000 troops with the single purpose of monitoring key indications of an uprising and squashing it. He also stood up the National Center of State Defense, a wartime structure which conducts a 24/7 monitoring of internal and external threats." In an interview with "Fox and Friends Weekend," Ukraine born Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., echoed Kasparovs criticism, stating, "Russia is a country run by criminals." Spartz said the friction between Prigozhin and Russias minister of defense was already playing out. As a result, "Putin is afraid, you know, that he might have these people [Wagner] turn on him." BIDEN ADMIN, FOREIGN OFFICIALS REACT AS WAGNER GROUP MAKES MARCH FOR JUSTICE TOWARDS MOSCOW Wagner group fighters stand guard near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "When youre being challenged from within, as Putin has been over the last few days, that also raises profound questions. But weve seen, I think, lots of different cracks that have emerged in the conduct of this aggression, because everything Putin has tried to accomplish, the opposite has happened. Russia is weaker economically, its weaker militarily. Its standing in the world has plummeted." WAGNER GROUP: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT RUSSIAN MERCENARY GROUP IN UKRAINE The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War issued a series of tweets analyzing the volatility of Russia, noting: "The Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable equilibrium. The Lukashenko-negotiated deal is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution, and Prigozhins rebellion exposed severe weaknesses in the Kremlin and Russian MoD [Ministry of Defense]." Russia will remain in state of flux, according to some veteran experts of Russia. Alex Grinberg, who was born in Moscow and works as a foreign policy expert for the Jerusalem Institute for Security and Strategy, told Fox News Digital, "No one knows what will happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow because no one in the Russian authorities foresaw such a situation. It was not a revolt but a kind of mutiny. Russia is governed by a mafia." He added, "These people do not act as politicians. They never plan or have a contingency plan. As a result, what is clear is Putins authority was seriously shaken." Fox News Digital sent numerous press queries to Russian authorities for comment. A woman was killed and a man was left in critical condition from a dog attack in Sierra Vista on Friday morning, according to the Sierra Vista Police Department. Officers responded to the area after reports of a dog attack in the alley between Meadowlark Drive and Calle Del Norte. When officers arrived at the area, they found a dog attacking a man, later identified as Sam Sanches Jr., 53, in the backyard of a house on Calle Del Norte. Officers then killed the dog and provided first aid before emergency medical assistance arrived, according to a police news release. Sanches was taken to Banner Medical Center where he remained in critical condition from his injuries, according to the news release. Police also found a woman, later identified as Helene Jackson, 84, who was attacked by a dog in the alley behind the house on Calle Del Norte. Police say another dog returned to the same yard where the first dog attack happened. That dog was also killed by police, according to the news release. Jackson was brought to the Canyon Vista Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead from her injuries, according to the news release. Police also said Jackson's dog was found dead in the alley where she was located at the time of the dog attack. They did not specify how her dog was killed, according to the news release. The three dead dogs were taken in by the Sierra Vista Police Department's Animal Control Office for further investigation, according to the news release. The investigation was ongoing, and police ask anyone with information about the attacks to contact Detective Thomas P. Ransford at 520-452-7500. OFFER FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS: $1 per month for 12 months of access to azcentral.com. Subscribe at azcentral.com/NewsSale. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Dog attack kills woman, injures man in Sierra Vista Don Lemon opens up two months after CNN ouster: Im not perfect, no one is Former CNN anchor Don Lemon opened up in a sit-down interview two months after his ouster from the network. I have a responsibility not only as a journalist but as an American to tell the truth and to abide by the promises of the Constitution, Lemon told ABC24 Memphis in an exclusive interview that aired Saturday. Because the Constitution says a more perfect union, not a perfect union. Im not a perfect person. No one is. Lemon said in a Twitter post in late April that he had been fired by CNN after 17 years with the network, saying he was stunned by the move. Just a few months earlier, the journalist had come under fire and was temporarily removed from the airways for his comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haleys age. Nikki Haley isnt in her prime, sorry, Lemon said in response to the former South Carolina governors suggestion of mental competency tests for politicians over 75. When a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s. In the wake of his abrupt exit from CNN, Lemon suggested Saturday that hes not in any rush to figure out what hes doing next. Im not gonna force anything, Lemon said. Im not gonna let others peoples timelines influence me. I know people say, I miss you on television. What is your next move? Im figuring that out, he continued. I dont have to be in a rush. I think sometimes people rush to make decisions and they end up making the wrong decisions. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When David Guerra and his large family fled Florida in May, they left behind beds, mattresses, furniture and the construction tools they used to make a living. But it's when he thinks of his children's toys that his voice breaks. That is what has hurt me the most, my girls, who no longer have toys, said Guerra, who is from El Salvador and who, until a few weeks ago, had a home, a yard and a business with his family in Tampa. David Guerra and his family. (Cortesia) Their life as they knew it changed, according to Guerra, when Gov. Ron DeSantis, signed SB 1718, the immigration law that goes into effect on July 1. The law imposes strict restrictions and penalties to deter the employment of undocumented workers in the state. Of the 10 people who lived in the Guerra house, only three children were U.S. citizens. The others didn't have legal immigration status. They left Tampa on May 30, from the same street where, a month earlier, Guerra had seen the belongings left behind by other immigrants and joked in a popular TikTok video that he would be next. After a month, I had to leave," Guerra told Noticias Telemundo from Maryland, where he moved with his family. Guerra is not the only one. In various cities across the state, such as the farming community of Immokalee, many immigrants say they have at least one acquaintance, friend or neighbor who left after the law was passed. Some have posted of their exile on social networks. A woman carried a sign that reads: They dont want us here Guerra, a construction worker, came to the U.S. more than 20 years ago. Together with his partner, his sister-in-law and his stepdaughter who's a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ( DACA) program they worked polishing and putting the finishing touches on walls and ceilings in houses across the Tampa area. Guerra has been in Tampa for six years, where he built a clientele and bought his tools. Leaving some of them behind when he left the state cost him more than $2,000 in losses, he said. In Maryland, neither he nor his family has been able to get a job. "I was well, well, well situated in Florida. I was doing well financially, stable with work. There was no problem. Now it's the opposite," he said. Some 2.7 million immigrants made up 26% of Floridas labor force in 2018, according to a census analysis. More than 300,000 worked in the construction sector, like Guerra and his family. Guerra said neighbors started to leave when the Legislature first introduced the immigration bill. By the time the Legislature voted on the law and DeSantis signed it, there were no workers on one of the projects he was working on. So the time came to make a decision: I told my wife no way, shes going to have to go because they dont want us here. 'Leaving your life' Guerra packed what he had into two trucks and a car. In Maryland they live with a relative and have settled in as best they can. His two daughters, age 3 and 8, have to sleep with the adults. There (in Florida) they had their little bed, in the shape of a house, their rooms and now, well imagine, he said with sadness. His young daughter asks to go home and cries for her toys, he said. Nearly 100 miles from Tampa, where Guerra lived with his family, a 25-year-old undocumented immigrant rented an apartment with her boyfriend in the city of Ocala. Maria Fernanda, whose last name has been withheld because of her immigration status, arrived with a visa four years ago from Colombia. The visa was for a temporary stay that was extended by the Covid-19 pandemic. Florida was one of my favorite states, Maria Fernanda said, until she feared what could happen when the law took effect. Her boyfriend is also undocumented, and before DeSantis law was passed, they decided to leave for New York. Maria Fernanda moved to New York from Florida in April. (Courtesy Maria Fernanda) I said, I dont want to go through that fear or that need to see a policeman that can deport me or that they can stop me or ask me for my documents, Maria Fernanda said. They left without saying goodbye to their acquaintances and left their belongings behind, but not their cats, Loki and Alicia. She documented her journey in a series of videos that she shared on TikTok. Most of the commenters, she said, have thanked her for not abandoning her pets. Where I go, they go, and where I have a roof, they will have a roof," she said. Her boyfriend got a job in Delaware and she stayed in New York for work. The separation hurts; they must drive more than four hours to see each other and share the time with their cats. It is sad that couples, families are separated, that sometimes they abandon animals on the street because they cannot take them. They leave their things lying around, their houses abandoned," she said. "That is sad because it's leaving your life." Gauging the exodus It's difficult to know the number of immigrants who have left the state. Local communities and leaders base counts on what they hear by word of mouth: a neighbor who left his house, a worker who never came to work. This is happening at such a fast level that we dont have a concrete number, Rosa Elera, of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, told Noticias Telemundo. The Florida Policy Institute has stated the legislation could cost Floridas economy $12.6 billion in one year. Six industries, including construction, agriculture and services, employ an estimated 391,000 undocumented workers, or about 10% of workers in those sectors. Elera said people are frightened and confused by the law. Even though the law hasn't yet taken effect, the Florida Immigration Coalition has already received complaints that some clinics have been asking patients about their immigration status, even though only hospitals that accept Medicaid are required to ask about immigration status, and patients may decline to answer the question, Elera said. Primary doctors or clinics or emergency centers that do not receive Medicaid do not have to be asking the immigration status of a patient, she said. Guerra said he believed the environment changed after the law was passed. Many Americans didnt even greet you anymore, they looked down on you, so to speak, he said. That was what most led me to make the decision to come to Maryland." Fear of leaving and returning In Immokalee, Berta, an undocumented Guatemalan mother, picks tomatoes, chiles, squash and eggplants in the searing heat. About 40,000 farmworkers, many of them undocumented, work every season harvesting a variety of fruits and vegetables. But for the first time in more than 18 years, Berta, 52, said she's afraid of living in the U.S. We are used to working here without anyone scaring us," she said. Now, when I see police I am afraid that they will stop us, detain us and call the immigration authorities. Many of her acquaintances, she notes, have gone to Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington. When the harvest in Florida ends, Berta travels to other states to pick crops, but this year she wonders if she'll be able to come back. For the first time in more than 18 years, Berta said, she's afraid of living in the U.S. (Anagilmara Vilchez / Noticias Telemundo) Not everyone who fears the law can flee the state. Rosa Bartolo, 22, is an asylum seeker. Although she obtained a work permit, her husband and 15 other family members who live in Florida are undocumented. Although the Guatemalan family has thought of leaving, they're staying because they know only farming and they speak only their Indigenous language, Akateko Maya. Starting from scratch in another state for them is more difficult because you dont speak Spanish, you dont speak English, its much more difficult. People see you badly, as a strange thing," she said. 'Like a rat' When asked if he would return to Florida, Guerra said it's not in his plans, because he feels "damaged." "It hurt, it hurt to have to throw everything out," he said. "It's a humiliation what they did, to take you out, like a rat." In Maryland, he said, people treat him differently, better. Seven years ago he got his drivers license in that state and in Florida, when the legislation takes effect, an undocumented immigrant won't be able to use a valid driver's license. Thank God here you can breathe peace and tranquility, he said. Maria Fernanda is not afraid in New York. I dont feel that anyone who sees me and sees me as a Latina is going to stop me and say: Hey, show me your documents. Here, where I am, I dont feel persecuted because of my race." Meanwhile, Guerra takes comfort in knowing that before he left Florida he could give away some of his family's belongings to other immigrants in need. A young Cuban recently arrived in the country, he said, and took almost everything. Thank God, (the young man) told me, I was sleeping on the floor and look, now I have beds, Guerra said. Starting from scratch is very sad. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com How downtown Boise, one of the finest in U.S., was nearly bulldozed for a shopping mall For roughly two decades, developers and urban planners considered bulldozing many of downtown Boises historic buildings to make way for a shopping mall. A handful of Boise icons, such as Chinatown, were lost in the push to revitalize the area amid a lull in downtown business patronage in the 1960s and 1970s. But the ultimate failure of the plans preserved the historic integrity of downtown, which has allowed it to flourish as an attractive destination among locals and tourists today. Our downtown is one of the finest downtowns in the country, and its because it kept much of its historic integrity, said Clay Carley, a prominent Boise developer and former president of the Downtown Boise Association. A mall would have forever changed that. Right now, people would be saying, How do we undo this? Mall craze comes to Boise From 1965 to the mid-1980s, the Boise Redevelopment Agency later rebranded as the Capital City Development Corp. planned to level most of the buildings within eight city blocks downtown. The area, bounded by Bannock and Front streets and Ninth Street and Capitol Boulevard, would become a regional shopping mall. In the late 1970s, the Winmar Co., a Seattle-based development firm, proposed the most feasible plans to date: a 780,000-square-foot indoor shopping center anchored by three department stores. Winmar Co. was the fifth developer tapped for the mall project, and by then confidence in the idea was deteriorating. One city council candidate, running in opposition to the plans, called the mall concept a loser, the Idaho Statesman reported at the time. But the urban renewal agency pushed forward, fueling what a Statesman columnist later called a bitter, ugly battle. The mall was meant to revitalize shopping and property values that had withered downtown, and many central merchants supported it, according to Statesman reporting at the time. There was a feeling that malls were this huge generator of traffic, both local and tourist, said Bob Aldridge, a lawyer and former chairman of the Boise Historic Preservation Commission. They saw that as this huge economic thing that would just boost Boise. The Fidelity Building was targeted for demolition during Boises redevelopment area. The shopping mall planned for the area never came to fruition, and today, several historic buildings host bars and restaurants within the popular Eighth Street pedestrian corridor. Sage Yoga & Wellness/Facebook American shopping malls had their heyday after World War II. Most U.S. states opened their first mall during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Several cities pursued indoor shopping centers downtown, where central business districts were declining in popularity. Kiwanis Magazine, reporting on the downtown mall trend in 1961, hailed shopping malls as the beautifier of cities and a solution to the deterioration of urban life driven by traffic jams and grimy downtown buildings. Boises downtown was looking over the edge of abyss if city planners didnt come up with a central mall plan before one popped up in the suburbs, a Los Angeles consultant told local officials in 1965, the same year the Boise Redevelopment Agency was founded. Over the next decade, the urban renewal agency acquired downtown properties and leveled buildings to make way for redevelopment. At various times, plans called for the demolition of the Alexander, Idaho, Simplot and Fidelity buildings as well as the Union Block, the Romanesque Revival strip along Idaho Street with a gray sandstone facade thats home to Moons Kitchen Cafe. But actionable mall plans were slow to materialize, giving historic preservation groups time to organize in opposition to the destruction of historic buildings, the Statesman reported in 1974. Historic icons lost to redevelopment The Boise Redevelopment Agencys aggressive use of the wrecking ball gained national attention in 1974, when Boise native L.J. Davis published an article in Harpers Magazine entitled Tearing Down Boise. If things go on as they are, Boise stands an excellent chance of becoming the first American city to have deliberately eradicated itself, Davis wrote at the time. Locally, the Save Old Buildings Association and Preservation Idaho lobbied against demolishing historic sites, like Boises Chinatown. Founded in 1901, the laundry and restaurant district provided services and connections for Boises Chinese residents and planted memories of a distinctively different culture in the minds of many other residents, wrote Ann Felton in an urban studies report for Boise State University. Aldridge was an Idaho Supreme Court law clerk when justices considered whether the Boise Redevelopment Agency could condemn the Hop Sing Tong building, one of Chinatowns last remaining structures. The owners of the building fought its destruction in court, and Hop Sing Tongs last resident, Billy Fong, a former cook at Chinatowns most popular restaurant, Shanghai-Low Cafe, refused to leave until the wrecking ball arrived, the Statesman reported at the time. Aldridge said he felt a tremendous sense of guilt for his role in the courts decision allowing the Hop Sing Tong building to be destroyed. It would have been wonderful to preserve Chinatown in Boise, along with other things, Aldridge said by phone. Downtown Boises C.W. Moore Park displays artifacts from buildings demolished during the urban renewal era, including a turret from the W.E. Pierce Building, torn down in 1975, and the name stone from the Central School, demolished in 1973. Aldridge later joined the Historic Preservation and pushed for tax credits and other financial incentives to restore aging structures rather than destroy them. Urban renewal loans financed a remodel of the Alaska Center in 1983. The Alexander and Hoff buildings were also refurbished in addition to the Egyptian Theater and Jefferson Place, which all remain standing today. We did save some things that wouldnt have been saved, Aldridge said. We got some changes made, and Im happy about that. The losses hurt but its over and done. Downtown Boises C.W. Moore Park displays artifacts from buildings demolished during the urban renewal era, including a turret from the W.E. Pierce Building, demolished in 1975. Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com Mall plans abandoned, downtown reenergized Winmar Co. abandoned its mall plans in 1983, after struggling for years to secure commitments from department stores to anchor the shopping center. J.C. Penney Co., The Bon Marche and Montgomery Ward & Co. had each expressed interest, but a competing suburban shopping center proved more attractive. The Boise Towne Square mall opened in 1988. Winmar Co. President Frank Orrico also blamed Boise residents persistent skepticism for the failure of the downtown mall. The whole community must shoulder the blame, Orrico told the Statesman in 1984. There was always somebody with sufficient authority or clout raising a question in the press. Boise ultimately did get a downtown shopping center, although on a much smaller scale. After a decade of construction stagnation which left the area studded with debris-littered lots where decaying buildings once stood, as a Statesman editorial put it construction began on Capitol Terrace in 1988. Today known as Main and Marketplace, the two-story, open-air retail building that takes up about half of a city block is home to Rediscovered Books, Stellas Ice Cream and other popular stores and eateries. The historic Falks Building was destroyed to make way for the shopping center and next-door parking garage, but many considered the aging structure beyond preservation, according to Statesman reporting at the time. Bars, restaurants and shops within the boundaries of the original mall plans bustle with activity today. Business Insider recently called the area surrounding Eighth Street the coolest neighborhood in Idaho. The Grove Plaza, the Boise Centre and the Grove Hotel attract locals and tourists where Chinatown once stood. Travel blogs regularly rank Boises downtown among the most attractive in the country. Its No. 6 on Livability.coms Top Downtowns, and No. 19 on Attractions of Americas Top 20 Best Downtowns in the USA alongside New York, Chicago and Savannah, Georgia. Meanwhile, the number of indoor shopping malls in the U.S. has dropped from roughly 2,500 in the 1980s to about 700 today, and itll likely continue to decline, the Wall Street Journal reported last year. It would have been a disaster, Carley said of a downtown mall. It would have kept downtown from being as great as it is. Carley credits the city of Boise, the Capital City Development Corp. and the Downtown Boise Association for reenergizing the area in recent decades. Its interesting to walk anywhere because the architecture is interesting, Carley told the Statesman by phone. Its very walkable, its compact, its vibrant, its lively. This whole community is proud of its downtown, and it shows. For the past year or so, Ive been warning you that Wichita police-initiated tows are a ripoff. Now, theres hard proof. About a third of the time, towing companies contracted to the city have been padding their bills by overcharging motorists in a variety of ways, according to a recently completed audit that was ordered by the City Council in March. And thats on top of the already generous fees theyre actually allowed to charge. The audit examined 1,103 police-initiated tows from January 2022 to March 2023. In 366 of those, car owners or the city were overbilled. In total, there are questionable costs of $5,688.06 for the invoices assessed, the audit concluded. Theres another word for questionable charges: theft theft from the taxpayers and theft from accident victims whose cars are removed and stored to clear the streets. Overcharges ran through every phase of the towing business: inflated basic service charges, charging for more miles than the car was actually towed, charges for services that were never provided, miscalculated storage fees, miscounted days of storage and illegitimate auction fees. The audit also showed the system was badly mismanaged by the Police Department. Towing transactions were supposed to have been reviewed on a monthly basis by a police accountant to ensure the charges were legitimate. The accountant in WPD was not reviewing the monthly reports, nor the invoices submitted by the tow companies, the audit report said. This employee is also no longer an employee of the City of Wichita. Not only were the invoices not being reviewed for accuracy, a lot of them couldnt even be found. Most of the monthly reports and invoices were not located in the employees office or on their PC, the report said. They had to be requested from the tow companies again. Therefore, there were no controls that could be evaluated. The audit report rated the system as needs improvement. Id have rated it pathetic. To the citys credit, staff has taken steps to get the required reviews done going forward, and those who the audit identified as being scammed have received or are getting refunds. Props to Mayor Brandon Whipple, who asked for the audit after columns I wrote objected to the cartel-style pricing that motorists face in this town when their car is towed and to the rest of the City Council, who unanimously supported his motion. The mayor said it was the first time he knows of that an internal audit was conducted on orders of the City Council. The results indicate they ought to do that more often. I was relieved that we were able to find (the overcharges) and that it could be called to our attention so we could correct it, he said. Its a good start, but theres still the problem that towing and storage charges are simply too high. The tow companies have made a mockery of competitive bidding by organizing in an association that can more or less fix prices. Even allowable charges add up fast: $120-135 basic tow fee, $5 a mile, $40-$45 a day for storage, $50 for title verification fees, $30 to the city for calling the wrecker, $30 lot fee (whatever that is) plus a holy host of other fees, that may or may not apply to your tow depending on the circumstances. Lest you think this couldnt happen to you, there are lots of reasons in city code why your car could wind up in car jail: If youre in an accident and are hurt, or the cars not drivable. If your car breaks down on the side of the street and you dont have the money to fix it immediately. If your cars parked on the street and isnt moved every 48 hours to another block or the other side of the street. If you get arrested while driving, even if youre never charged with a crime or are found innocent, you still have to pay towing and storage fees. About a third of the people who get entangled in the police towing system lose their cars, because they cant afford the egregious charges. Those cars are sold at auction; the tow company gets most of the money, but the city gets a piece of the cake. In May of 2022, the council approved a payment plan to help people to get their cars out of hock and pay towing and storage fees back through the city over time. Its a good idea and theoretically could be helping a lot of people. But the rules are so tight that almost nobodys benefiting. As of March, 26 car owners had applied and only three were approved. I was incredibly disappointed that all the work that we did to try to help folks when it comes to these fees, so they can get their car back and get back to work . . . all that work we did that year, it wasnt implemented properly, Whipple said. Its incredibly disheartening as a policy-maker. About a year ago, I told you the story of Vernette Chance, who got in a minor accident downtown and got hit for $515 in fees for an eight-mile tow and four days of storage. It was an unnecessary expense because shes a member of the AAA Auto Club and could have had her car towed to her driveway for free where its been sitting ever since she got it out of impound-lot hell. A few weeks ago, she sent me this update: I received a $4 refund check from the car towing company today. Now I can take a cruise. So you tell me this system isnt broken. Trouble with towing The following lists problems found by a City of Wichita audit of various towing companies that handle accidents and impoundments through the city Police Department. Arrow Towing Five significant types of findings related to improper lot fees charged, incorrect mileage charged, incorrect standard tow charges, incorrect storage fees for holidays, and incorrect calculation of days stored on lot. Bud Roat Towing Four significant types of findings related to not having release dates on invoices which resulted in not being able to recalculate storage costs, incorrect mileage charged, incorrect fees for a standard tow, and charges on an invoice not aligning with the services rendered. Kidds Towing Five significant types of findings related to auction fees being charged which are unallowable per the fee schedule, incorrect mileage charged, incorrect standard tow charges, incorrect storage fee charges, and incorrect storage fees for holidays. Tow All Five significant types of findings related to incorrect types of charges (medium tow not addressed in the contract), incorrect mileage per tow, incorrect hook up charges, charges on an invoice not aligning with services rendered, and auction fees charged which are not allowed per contract. Kens Auto Towing No monthly reports with invoices were provided for testing and no invoices could be located internally for January 2022 March 2022. For the invoices that were pulled from the Citys financial system, there were issues noted with mileage charges. Reliable Towing No monthly reports with invoices were provided for testing and none could be found internally. No issues were noted on the invoices tested from the financial system. Tow Service Two significant types of findings related to not having a release date so the storage fees could be recalculated, incorrect standard tow charges. Wichita Towing & Auto Recovery Monthly reports were not provided by the company for testing and based on the payments to Wichita Towing & Auto Recovery assessed, the invoices were either submitted late (paid in 2023 for dates in 2021 and 2022), or they were processed internally way after receipt. Source: City of Wichita audit report Duke University announced this week that it will offer free tuition to undergraduate students from North Carolina and South Carolina with family incomes of $150,000 or less. The university will provide additional financial assistance for housing, meals and some campus expenses to those with family incomes below $65,000. About 340 currently enrolled undergraduate students are expected to benefit in the next academic year. Its a commendable step toward making college more affordable, and it will be meaningful for North and South Carolinians as well as for Duke itself. Duke has amassed somewhat of a reputation as an elite private institution filled mostly with students whose families can afford its costly tuition. Theres a degree of truth to that reputation. Tuition is costly: A semester at Duke will run you upwards of $31,000, and thats excluding campus fees, housing, meals and other expenses that make college even more cost-prohibitive for many. Also, according to data from The New York Times, the median family income of a Duke student is $186,700, and about 69% of students come from families at the top 20% of the income distribution. About a fifth of Duke students come from families in the top 1% a higher proportion than almost any other college in North Carolina. By removing one of the biggest barriers of entry for prospective low- and middle-income students the cost Duke can add more diversity to its student body. This may be a big deal for North Carolina, but Duke is certainly not the first institution to implement a tuition program like this. Stanford University covers tuition, room and board for students with family incomes of less than $100,000, though there is an expected student contribution of several thousand dollars. At Princeton University, more than a quarter of the undergraduate student body receives aid covering full tuition, room and board, thanks to financial aid policies that provide support to the highest-need students. But other North Carolina colleges and universities both public and private should follow in Dukes footsteps. To be fair, the UNC System has taken some steps toward affordability, and tuition remains relatively affordable compared to many peer institutions. Several years ago, North Carolina launched the N.C. Promise program, which caps in-state tuition at certain UNC System schools at just $500. Currently, four of the UNC Systems 16 universities participate in the program, but its most prestigious institutions do not. The same New York Times data shows that the share of low-income students at UNC-Chapel Hill is even lower than at Duke, and about 60% of students come from families at the top 20% of the income distribution. UNC-Chapel Hill does have the Carolina Covenant program, which helps students from families at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines graduate from college debt-free. But there is more that the UNC System and North Carolina can do to make college more affordable for not just low-income students, but middle-income students, too. Just look at what other states are doing. Georgia, for example, has scholarship programs that subsidizes tuition for in-state residents who attend one of Georgias public universities and meet certain academic eligibility requirements. For many students, those scholarships can cover as much as 90% to 100% of tuition costs. The University of California system covers full tuition and fees for in-state students whose total family income is less than $80,000, and the University of Virginia announced a similar program in 2018. These sorts of programs go a long way toward making college an option for not just low-income students, but middle-income students, too. Thats important, because a $200,000 degree can be expensive even for families who are able to make ends meet. Colleges and universities want to attract the best and brightest, but too often they only attract the students who can afford the cost of attendance. Oftentimes, students will choose the school that offers the best scholarships and financial aid and if thats Duke and not UNC-Chapel Hill, public universities lose their edge in that competition. North Carolina prides itself on having one of the best public university systems in the country, and it has the opportunity to be a leader in an even more important way by demonstrating a strong commitment to making college affordable for everyone. Batteries to store energy from wind turbines to power homes will be located in a field in Swardeston, Norfolk East Anglia has been left out of a 54bn national network for UK energy provision, a Conservative MP has said. Jerome Mayhew, who represents Broadland, in Norfolk, has spoken of his "frustration" at the process. He was among a group of 13 MPs who criticised plans for a 112-mile (180km) line of pylons across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. The government said many of the east coast projects were so advanced they could not fit into the network. The plans would see extra pylons installed to carry offshore wind power from Norwich to Tilbury, Essex. National Grid, which runs the electricity network, said its offshore and onshore projects were part of the "largest overhaul of the electricity grid in a generation". National Grid told the BBC that the capital costs of overland pylons would be 794m, compared to offshore cables costing 4.1bn, meaning that option was not "economic". New substations and pylons are needed to serve the major wind farms off the coast of Norfolk and Suffolk In a special BBC Politics East debate on renewable energy, windfarms and the infrastructure needed for them, Mr Mayhew said: "We have got the most successful development of offshore wind. "Now we are a mature industry, we have to take the next step to a holistic network. "The frustration is that the one bit of the whole country that was left off the Holistic Network Design was East Anglia. "They say it is now too late [for East Anglia] to be put in the Holistic Network Design. I disagree. I think it should be put in the Holistic Network Design." 'Affordable' power The Holistic Network Design "supports the large-scale delivery of electricity generated from offshore wind" in the UK, said National Grid ESO, which is separate from the National Grid. It said it would facilitate the "connection of 23gw wind, helping to deliver the government's ambition for 50gw connected offshore wind by 2030". On its website, the network was described as a "first step towards more centralised, strategic network planning that is critical for delivering affordable, clean and secure power". The co-leader of the Green Party Adrian Ramsay said: "The government has left East Anglia out, it's very clear." Mr Ramsay, who is the Green candidate for the new Waveney Valley constituency, said: "We need to have far more renewable energy, with all the benefits that brings, but I am deeply concerned at the proposals as they stand. "The government should really be looking at a much more joined up approach to energy infrastructure that minimises the impact on our countryside and our communities." Jess Asato, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Lowestoft, said: "Clearly, it is important to get the local community's support in terms of the infrastructure required, but we can't hide our heads in the sand. "The fact is, if we are going to decarbonise [eliminate carbon dioxide emissions] our electricity by 2030, which is Labour's plan, we are going to have that grid infrastructure. "I think it is important that we are honest with the public about the decisions that need to be made." Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader of Chelmsford City Council, said: "We are seeing the result of a failure of this government to prioritise investing in renewable energy and they are now scrabbling round with a scheme that hasn't been thought through." She said to quickly achieve our climate targets the government and bring bills down, the government should "help people insulate their homes" Ms Goldman added: "The energy they are using is going straight out of their windows and doors. That is something that can be done right now. Big infrastructure projects take a long time." A government spokesman said: "Many of the offshore wind projects in East Anglia were not included in the Holistic Network Design as they were already well-advanced and had contractual arrangements in place, with changes risking commercial impacts and delays. "We are working with industry, local MPs and community groups to reduce unnecessary new infrastructure in East Anglia by encouraging developers and other parties involved to work together wherever possible, including launching a 100m grant fund to boost coordination." A National Grid spokeswoman, in response to concerns raised about the pylons and substations, said: "We are carefully considering the feedback we are receiving from communities and stakeholders across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex as we develop our proposals in East Anglia. "The onshore and offshore projects we are developing as part of The Great Grid Upgrade - the largest overhaul of the electricity grid in a generation, are essential to deliver on the UK's net zero target. "Without it, cleaner, greener energy generated offshore would not be able to be transported to homes and businesses across the country. "Connecting more clean British electricity sources, such as offshore wind, will reduce our reliance on global fossil fuels and will help reduce electricity bills for everyone in the long term." National Grid said National Grid ESO was responsible for the energy network plans highlighted by Mr Mayhew. National Grid ESO said it would not be providing a comment on the government's decision to exclude East Anglia from the Holistic Network Design. A graphic showing areas affected by various energy projects in Suffolk Politics East will have a special debate on developing the " energy coastline" on Sunday, 25 June at 10:00 BST on BBC One and available after broadcast on the BBC iPlayer. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830 Elk Grove steakhouse voted best in California by Yelp. Restaurant reopens in July An Elk Grove restaurant has been voted best steakhouse in California by Yelp. Little Brazil Steakhouse located at 8698 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 3, near Highway 99 was voted Californias best steakhouse after Yelps database-generated results determined the highest-rated steakhouses in each state. The community-driven review platform first produced the list for Nexstar Media Group. The steakhouses website describes itself as a family-friendly Brazilian Steakhouse that offers a variety of rotisserie-cooked meats and sides. Customers have full control over their portions and pay based on the dishs weight after choosing what to eat. The steakhouse closed temporarily due to family matters on Sunday, the store said in an announcement on its website. It plans to reopen July 15. As a local, small business, we appreciate your support and always strive to provide the best quality food and service, the restaurant wrote in its announcement. Little Brazils owner, Ronan DeFarias, 49, declined to comment Sunday on Yelps findings due to overseas travel. Its regular hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; on Sundays, it is open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The steakhouse is closed Tuesdays. Elon Musk celebrating. Elon Musk talks a big game about freedom of expression. The billionaire refers to himself as a free speech absolutist, and spent the last year making bold promises about undoing Twitters perceived history of suppressing distasteful ideas. But the old saying goes, you should judge a man by his actions, not his words. By that metric, it seems Musk loves censorship, and the list of evidence just keeps getting longer. One shining example is Musks willingness to silence the opponents of foreign governments. Governments often ask social media companies to take down posts or accounts they dont like. Before Musk took over, Twitter complied with about half of these requests. The numbers shot up under his leadership; these days, Elons Twitter cooperates with government censorship requests 80% of the time. All this from a man who foamed at the mouth over the self-important Twitter Files, internal company emails that Elon said would reveal Twitters earlier collaboration with the US Government. (The Twitter Files did not reveal that.) Read more Musk isnt just censoring on behalf of government strong men, though. The tweeter-in-chief seems more than happy to decide what kind of speech is and isnt allowed on Twitter based on his own personal opinions, and has a history of changing Twitters policies to silence people and ideas he doesnt like. Take Musks growing obsession with the transgender community, for instance. He declared that the words cis and cisgender are now considered slurs on Twitter. These words are not slurs. Cisgender is a neutral, clinical term that means the opposite of transgender. There is no other well-known word for people who are not transgender. Thats peculiar behavior that seems to violate free speech champion Elon Musks own personal definition of free speech. In an interview last year, Musk said: A good sign as to whether there is free speech is, is someone you dont like allowed to say something you dont like? If that is the case, we have free speech. Its damn annoying when someone you dont like says something you dont like. That is the sign of a healthy, functioning free speech situation. The problem is serious enough to earn attention from congress. On Thursday, Congressman Adam Schiff read this article into the federal record at a House Judiciary Committee hearing with FTC chair Lina Khan. There are far more than ten examples of Musk censoring Twitter users because they say and do things he doesnt like. Look through this list and decide for yourself whether Elon Musk has established a healthy, functioning free speech situation, as he promised. Update 07/13/2023, 3:50 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with details about Rep. Adam Schiff reading this article into the federal record. Elon Musks Twitter Censored Turkish Dissidents, Just Before an Election Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkey held a presidential election in May, 2023. In the weeks leading up to it, the government of incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Twitter to ban four accounts and take down 409 tweets. That included the accounts of an investigative journalist and a Turkish businessman whos criticized Erdogan. Free speech crusader Elon Musk could have defended his users from a government who didnt want its people to hear their voices. Instead, Twitter bent over and did Erdogans bidding. We received what we believed to be a final threat to throttle the service after several such warnings and so in order to keep Twitter available over the election weekend, took action on four accounts and 409 Tweets identified by court order, the company tweeted about the decision. Journalist and provocateur Matt Yglesias tweeted criticism about the takedowns. Elon Musk responded: Did your brain fall out of your head, Yglesias? The choice is have Twitter throttled in its entirety or limit access to some tweets. Which one do you want? Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 13, 2023 In other words, free speech is less important than maintaining the Turkish peoples access to Twitter, even if that means people only get to see content approved by the Turkish government. Elon Musks Twitter Censored @ElonJet A jet. A sad truth for people who can afford their own planes is flight records are public, by law. One enterprising Twitter user set up a robot called @ElonJet that tweeted the comings and goings of Musks private plane. Understandably, Musk didnt like this, but he defended @ElonJets right to tweet as an example of his commitment to free speech on Twitter. Then he changed his mind. Reportedly, Twitter reportedly shadowbanned the @ElonJet account under Musks direction, meaning the platforming severely limited the visibility of the account. Then Twitter, banned, unbanned, and banned the @ElonJet account again. The company rewrote its policy on doxxing in a way that seemed specifically targeted at the account, after which the billionaire self-righteously defended his actions. Musk then took legal action against the college student who runs the @ElonJet account. Then Twitter Censored Journalists Who Wrote About @ElonJet Photo: Sharaf Maksumov / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock) As if banning @ElonJet wasnt enough, Twitter banned journalists who wrote about it. According to Musk, who tweeted through the ordeal, @ElonJet constituted a violation of the companys doxxing policy. Apparently, writing about @ElonJet counts as doxxing, too. Journalists who tweeted links to their own stories in publications like the Washington Post had their accounts suspended until they took the tweets. Read that again. It was a violation of Twitter rules to tweet a link to the Washington Post. A total of 10 journalists had their accounts suspended. Musk initially called the pans a permanent suspension. Then he changed his mind. (Noticing a pattern?) Musk created a Twitter poll asking if and when he should reinstate the journalists who were banned for tweeting about the ElonJets account. But after his first poll showed that most people wanted the journalists to be reinstated now, Musk apparently didnt like that result. Sorry, too many options, will redo the poll, Musk tweeted. Then Twitter Banned Another Journalist For Asking About the Situation Journalist Taylor Lorenz In the midst of the @ElonJet chaos, Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz tweeted at Elon Musk asking for a comment about the situation. Lorenz wrote that she and colleague Drew Harwell had emailed Musk several times about information theyd learned which they wanted to share with the billionaire. Lorenz wrote Were taking this very seriously and want to ensure this is pursued in the right way. Then, without any immediate explanation, Twitter banned Lorenzs account. Elon later said the ban was for doxxing Lorenz had done in the past (she hadnt) and ultimately reinstated her account with no further discussion on the subject. Elon Musks Twitter Blue is Censorship By Default Photo: Rokas Tenys / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock) Musks pet project is a paid service called Twitter Blue, which lets users pay for a blue checkmark and a boost in the algorithm. At the same time, the algorithm apparently lowers the visibility of people who arent not paying for Twitter Blue users. In other words, have all the free speech you want, unless you dont want to pay $8 a month, in which case the platform will censor you. Elon Musks Twitter Censored the #BlockTheBlue Campaign Photo: ssi77 / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock) Elons Twitter Blue is focused on paying to have your account verified. Before Musks tenure, Twitter used verification to verify the identity of significant users, as the word verification implies. That is no longer true, and Musk stripped the hundreds of thousands of previously verified accounts of their status on a day thats become known as the Blue Check Apocalypse. This left only those who were paying for Twitter Blue. Some angry users responded with a campaign called #BlockTheBlue, which asked people to ban any accounts they saw with a checkmark. Organizers even set up a dedicated Block The Blue twitter account. Twitter did not like this. Twitter banned the accounts of those organizing the Block the Blue campaign, accusing them of violating the company rules on platform manipulation and spam. Twitter also reportedly suppressed search results for the phrase Block The Blue, and removed #BlockTheBlue from Twitters page of trending topics so fewer people would see it. Elon Musks Twitter Censored Substack, One of Its Competitors Photo: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock) A number of companies, including big names such as Meta, owner of Facebook, are working on competing products similar to Twitter. One of the first to go public was a service called Notes from Substack, a newsletter platform. Shortly after Notes launched, Twitter borked Substack on its platform. The company blocked users from retweeting, liking, or commenting on Substack links, and made it so Substack users could no longer embed tweets in their newsletters. Users even reported that Twitter made it impossible to search for the word Substack on the platform. Musk tweeted, without evidence, that Substack was trying to download a massive portion of the Twitter database to bootstrap their Twitter clone, so their IP address is obviously untrusted. Substack denied this allegation. Musk also said Substack links werent blocked, which was demonstrably untrue, not to mention the fact that the situation was confirmed by Gizmodo and many others. Regardless, IP addresses have nothing to do with searching for the word Substack on Twitter. Elon Musks Twitter Censored Jack Dorsey and Shut Down Revue Jack Dorsey After Elon Musks Twitter Files an extended argument that Twitter engaged in censorship and colluded with the US Government and the Democratic Party Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey posted a long essay defending himself, and critiquing Musk. Dorsey published the screed on Revue, Twitters newsletter platform. Immediately after Dorseys post, Musk shut the Revue platform down, taking Dorseys views offline. Of course, the timing could have been coincidental. Fortunately for history buffs, the content is preserved by the Internet Archive. Elon Musks Twitter Censored Tweets On Behalf of the Indian Government Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi The BBC released a documentary examining Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis involvement with a riot that killed over 1,000 people, most of them Muslims. The documentary, called India: The Modi Question, concludes that the riots had the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing. Modi is often described as an ethnonationalist. Many analysts say the government is undermining its own constitutional commitments to protect Muslim and Christian Minorities. A Modi government official described the documentary as hostile propaganda and anti-India garbage. The Indian government did not like the movie, and asked Twitter to block links to the documentary. Twitter obliged. Actor John Cusack tweeted a link to the series, and said he received a notice that his account was now banned in India as a result. Musk tweeted that he was not aware of his own companys action against the documentary, and said It is not possible for me to fix every aspect of Twitter worldwide overnight. Elon Musks Twitter Plans To Censor People For Using the Word Cisgender Elon Musk smiling Untold millions of human beings feel disconnected from the gender they were assigned at birth. Some choose to identify as the opposite gender to which they were assigned. These people have come to be known as transgender. Due to the confines of human communication, that requires a word to describe people who are not transgender. That word is cisgender, sometimes shortened to cis, much like transgender is shortened to trans. Over the past two years, the American Right has become absolutely fixated on the transgender community. Elon Musk, apparently, feels the same way. Recently, Musk tweeted, The words cis or cisgender are considered slurs on this platform, echoing a newly-pervasive a decidedly-mythical notion that the word cis is primarily used as a derogatory term. It is not. The spreading of this piece of disinformation is part of a coordinated effort to make life difficult for an oppressed community. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either lying or misinformed. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Elon Musk is sparking outrage with one of his companies horrifying new proposals: We dont even know what it is The Boring Company, a tunnel-building company founded by Elon Musk, plans to dump 142,500 gallons of wastewater per day into the Colorado River in Texas, Insider reports. Local residents are alarmed at the plan and have pushed back. Whats going on? The Boring Company used an affiliate name, Gapped Bass LLC, to apply for a permit to dump the wastewater, Insider says. This is reportedly a short-term solution until the nearby Bastrop, Texas, water treatment plant is completed in 2025. For its part, The Boring Company claims it would treat the water itself before disposing of it in the river. However, according to Insider, the company is already under investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding improper wastewater treatment after the commission received three complaints last year. Why does wastewater in the river matter? The Colorado River is the main water source for nearby communities, including farms and ranches that produce food for people to eat, Insider reports. According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas is one of the nations leading exporters of meat, livestock, and wheat. Contamination from The Boring Companys wastewater could have a widespread impact on food from the region. Depending on the exact type of pollution in the river, food could be contaminated or crop yields might be lower than usual, driving up prices. The thought of this happening is horrifying, Erin, a local farmer, told Fox News. This stuff and we dont even know what it is going into the river that we depend on for food production. Other residents, like Chap Ambrose, are worried about the impact on plants and animals as well as people. I have environmental concerns on what I see, Ambrose told Insider. Whats being done about the proposal? For now, The Boring Companys permit hasnt been granted yet. According to KVUE, Bastrop Mayor Connie Schroder is hopeful that the company can hold off just two more years until the local water treatment plant is complete. This would take the wastewater treatment process out of The Boring Companys hands and ensure its done correctly by a provider with government oversight. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Adam Niklewicz for the Deseret News Liberalism has generated its own undoing. As a philosophy and practical political project, one of its main aims was to overthrow the old aristocracy, in which ones social station and political position was secured by birthright. No matter how much one strived or how dissolute one became ones social and political rank could not be changed. This immutability was true not only in regard to ones political position, but as a consequence that much of ones identity was the consequence of birth. The ruling class of this tradition, designated by inheritance, eventually lost its legitimacy in the eyes of the people it governed. Todays liberal ruling class, which arose to replace the old aristocracy, faces a similar challenge from below. Liberalism proposed to overthrow this ancien regime and put in its place an order in which people, through their striving, ability and hard work, could create an identity and future from the sum of their own choices. Several hundred years into this experiment, we have witnessed at firsthand the rise of a new ruling class, a meritocracy that has thrived under the conditions established and advanced by liberalism. Liberalism is today in crisis, not just because of the bad behavior of the new elite, but because its rise has corresponded with the attrition of institutions that benefited the lower classes while restraining the ambitious who wished to escape its restraints. The weakening of the family, neighborhood, association, church and religious community, and other associations has resulted in the degradation of the social and economic conditions of the many, even as the few have garnered a monopoly both on economic and social advantages. Liberalism has unmasked itself as an ideology that will force those who oppose it into submission. In the advanced liberal democracies across the world, working-class voters have risen up to reject the leaders who have regarded those who have been left behind with disdain and contempt. In response, liberalism has unmasked itself, revealing itself as an ideology that is willing to force those who oppose it into submission, and advancing an increasingly illiberal liberalism. Efforts to limit the political power of the culturally dispossessed and economically disadvantaged frequently by accusing majorities of being anti-democratic increasingly reveal liberalism not to be a mutually shared comprehensive system that allows self-determination, but rather a particular partisan set of commitments. Once an unassailable public philosophy, liberalism has been delegitimized. Populism and the working class The surge of a largely unorganized populism has arisen because of the degraded conditions that liberalism has created among the masses. Both social and economic conditions are measurably worse among the working classes across the western world, even as life has gotten better for the liberal ruling class. What is often called progress globalized economic expansion and the dismantling of traditional social mores has largely benefited only a small liberal elite. Like the revolutions against the ancien regime, the current order has lost support of the demos. These degraded conditions have arisen not because liberalism has failed, but because it has succeeded. Titanic economic inequality and a fraying social fabric are the results of realizing liberalisms conception of liberty. Ancient ideals of liberty as self-rule, requiring duty and self-sacrifice, were replaced with the liberal understanding of freedom: doing as one likes. Realization of liberal freedom has led to a hyper-individualistic order that weakens national economic solidarity and tends toward the dismantling of social institutions. Related The institutions of family, religion and government raised guardrails on the otherwise natural appetites and desires that, when succumbed to, resulted in what the classical and Biblical tradition regarded as a condition of servitude or slavery. The person who succumbed to lower nature not only had the soul of a slave, but also had the soul of a tyrant a gluttony for power that would allow the enslaved tyrant to commit any act, any crime, any awful deed. All of the citizenry, including the powerful, needed to be habituated to the virtue that accorded with this classical ideal of freedom, and the guardrails helped with that education for liberty. Under the new definition of liberty, what had previously been considered as guardrails came instead to be regarded as oppressions and unjust limitations on individual liberty. As a result, the advance of liberal liberty has meant the gradual, and then accelerating, weakening, redefinition or overthrowing of many formative institutions and practices of human life, whether family, the community, a vast array of associations, schools and universities, architecture, the arts and even the churches. In their place, a flattened world invites: the wide-open spaces of liberal freedom, a vast and widening playground for the project of self-creation. The progressive narrative of history Today, the story of liberalisms tearing down of guardrails is often told as a progress from heroic overcoming of past injustices to a present moment of enlightenment, justice, liberty and equality. Oppressed people are liberated from the unjust constraints of an earlier age. Anyone questioning the story is accused of defending privilege and nostalgically craving to reinstitute the injustices of a benighted past. This Whig history, a tale invented by the progressive liberals whose ideas won out, gets history wrong. The progressive narrative is self-serving, ignoring lessons from the past about limiting institutions that actually serve freedom. A characteristic self-congratulatory story of liberal progress is told by one of liberalisms heroes, John Stuart Mill. In his classic text On Liberty, Mill denounced the constraining role of tradition in favor of an open, liberal society that advantages those who seek to disrupt these kinds of formative institutions. In Mills parlance, custom is a despot over the lives of those who wish to instead engage in experiments in living. While its doubtless the case that custom appears to be a despot to those who seek to disrupt and overthrow long-standing traditions and customs of society, from another perspective, custom and the associated array of institutions that support and perpetuate ongoing cultural practices exist not merely to prevent the liberty of self-inventions, but to protect ordinary people from the potential rapaciousness of the ambitious. Viewed in such a light, these informal but pervasive cultural forms not only prevent efforts of a revolutionary character from reordering society around the imperative of individual liberty, but they protect the stability and order that most benefits ordinary people, people who are not well-served by instability, generational discontinuity, institutionalized disorder in short, what Mill calls progress. Meritocrats moralize success and failure and unwittingly promote credentialism an insidious prejudice against those who have not been to college. Mills contemporary across the English Channel, Alexis de Tocqueville, understood the threats of liberation from ambient culture in precisely this light. Observing the likely rise of a more revolutionary class in a liberalizing America, Tocqueville wrote admiringly especially of the constraining power of religion: The revolutionaries of America are obliged ostensibly to profess openly a certain respect for the morality and equity of Christianity, which does not allow them to violate the laws easily when those are opposed to the execution of their designs. ... Up to now, no one has been encountered in the United States who dared to advance the maxim that everything is permitted in the interest of society. An impious maxim one that seems to have been invented in a century of freedom to legitimate all the tyrants to come. Understood in light of Tocquevilles argument, the guardrails that limited those of a revolutionary temperament limits that might be understood as a benign form of tyranny of the majority can be properly understood as deeply democratic. They are democratic first because they are the creation of countless generations of forebears who contributed to their creation, won through hard experience, and assembled and bolstered them through institutions in order to protect the prospects of life flourishing no matter the economic or social position of the person. Tradition is only democracy extended through time Those likely to defend a preeminent role of cultural institutions implicitly recognize that there is inevitable inequality in the world, in any number of forms whether the ongoing presence of arbitrary social differences, or their replacement by natural inequalities due to differences of talent and self-direction and, rather than falsely claiming that all inequalities can ultimately and someday be overcome, instead insist that the governing cultural forms and norms are the best means of securing the prospects for flourishing, especially of the weaker and disadvantaged. They were democratic, secondly, because the accumulation of customs and practices embedded in social structures acted as a break, especially upon those of distinct ambition and even tyrannical impulse, those who would benefit especially from conditions of instability and disorder. It was for this reason that G.K. Chesterton stated his belief that tradition is only democracy extended through time. Tradition may be defined as an extension of the franchise. Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Contra Mill, long-standing cultural institutions and practices should be given the benefit of the doubt, precisely because they largely develop from the bottom up in order to achieve two simultaneous ends: foster conditions of flourishing for ordinary people, while restraining the tyrannical impulses of the powerful to be free of the moderating and restraining strictures of custom, tradition and culture. But, for such cultural forms to exercise widespread influence, the customs and norms must not merely be superficially and grudgingly accepted, but widely shared and generally embraced. Related In effect, those who ascend to positions of power, influence and wealth are controlled and limited by such forms not merely by passage of positive law or separation of powers, but by the governance of the democracy of the dead. Today, the essence of elite formation consists in two main objects, irrespective of major or course of study: First, taking part in the disassembling of traditional guardrails through a self-serving redefinition of those remnants as systems of oppression; and second, learning the skills to navigate a world without any guardrails. College especially at selective institutions is a place and time in which one experiments in a safe atmosphere where guardrails have been removed, but safety nets have been installed. One learns how to engage in safe sex, recreational alcohol and drug use, transgressive identities, how to ostensibly flaunt traditional institutions without bucking the system all preparatory to a life lived in a few global cities in which the culture comes to mean expensive and exclusive consumption goods, and not the shaping environment that governs the ambitious and settled alike. Those outside these institutions also have had the guardrails removed all are to be equally free but without safety nets in sight. Elite opinion thus officially condemns the older cultural institutions and forms while learning a new kind of internalization of norms that function as a kind of privatized guardrail, not unlike the secured spaces of those gated communities in which many in the ruling class will eventually live. The new class war Cultures rich with norms that applied to high and low alike had been a kind of public utility, serving everyone in society equally, but the official messaging of elite-driven society comes to attack and dismiss many of the long-standing ideals that were encouraged by older cultural forms. Thus, for instance, media, popular culture and the education industry come increasingly to express disapproval of the ideal of family or marriage by redescribing it as the traditional family or traditional marriage. By adding the designation traditional, disrepute and disapproval are signaled by the elite of the liberal order, in which the merely traditional is most often associated with arbitrary impositions of the past that are irrational, oppressive and constraining. Yet as social scientists such as Charles Murray and Bradford Wilcox note those who enjoy the benefits of advanced university education implicitly learn how to form families in an anti-culture without guardrails, depending especially on the benefits of privatized norms as well as greater wealth and opportunity. Meanwhile, the demolition of the cultural norm and ideals both through economic and social destruction results in the growing dissolution of family formation among the less advantaged. A further lesson follows: Those who succeed deserve their status; those who have been left behind have only themselves to blame. As Michael Sandel has recently argued, educational credentialism is the last acceptable prejudice. In a world increasingly arranged to guarantee financial and social success for those who have been formed by the sacred project of modern liberalism, those who fail to rise from the curse of being rooted somewhere come to be viewed as deserving their fate. The only obstacle to rising comes to be seen as a moral failure of sorts, particularly perceived as the clinging to outmoded beliefs and practices that those of superior pedigree had the courage and discernment to overcome. Sandel concludes that meritocrats moralize success and failure and unwittingly promote credentialism an insidious prejudice against those who have not been to college. The system that had come into existence to replace the arbitrary rule of aristocrats, he notes, can become a kind of tyranny. Proposals to redress historic injustices would have to include considering how the demise of formative social institutions and family life have harmed the working classes. Michael Lind has aptly described this new divide as the new class war. The division between elite and working class rests less on differentiation of wealth than credentials and access to a foothold and success in the managerial economy. Lind rightly notes that the working class is divided arguably not only with the blessing, but active encouragement of the managerial elite between old stock natives and recent immigrants and their descendants. Without denying the reality or seriousness of racism as a scourge in Western nations and particularly the United States, comprehensive and effective proposals to redress historic injustices would have to include considering how the demise of formative social institutions and family life have harmed the working classes, regardless of race. Such considerations are studiously avoided as part of the progressive effort to redescribe all of Western history as structurally racist, rather than structurally liberal and, hence, damaging to the life prospects of ordinary people regardless of their race and ethnic background. Arguments that give exclusive focus upon a racial basis of the Western political divide thus end up reinforcing the advantages of the managerial classes, forestalling recognition among a multiracial working class of common interest against the managerial class, which in turn benefits from the political impotence of this divided underclass. Yet, as recent American elections have shown, a growing awareness of this common interest is leading to the gradual development of a multiracial, multiethnic working class that has potential to become a powerful counterforce to the gentry liberals who govern them from their new medieval citadels. What can replace the disintegrating logic of liberalism? The ultimate aspiration of liberal globalism seeks to erect a universal umbrella over the ethos of effectual indifference. Its underlying assumption is that there is no objective good to which humans can agree in any time and in any place, so the only defensible political form is one in which every individual pursues his, her or xirs idea of individual good, and the global, cosmopolitan order ensures the backdrop of sufficient peace and prosperity leaving everyone largely undisturbed. In theory, most elites today regard this vision as both potentially imminent and truly utopian. In practice, the result is a deeply destabilizing outcome of winners and losers in which our purported nonjudgmentalism our indifference becomes a subtle justification to blame the unsuccessful. The common good The only genuine alternative to liberalisms commitment to a world of globalized indifference is one of common good that is secured with the assistance and support of our shared common order the political order. Of course, the first response of the liberal is to claim there is no such thing as the common good, since the liberal assumption is that any public good is merely whatever consensual agreement arises from autonomous individuals. There can be no determining in advance what constitutes the common good, since public opinion on this question changes. Liberalism is a denial that there can be any objective good for humans that is not simply the aggregation of individual opinion. Liberalism claims that any justification based upon the common good is ultimately nothing more than a preference disguised as a universal ideal. Related However, what we instead see arise is not a regime of toleration, nonjudgment and agreement to disagree, but the inevitable appearance of a new ordering principle that takes on all the features of a religion. What is often called the rise of woke-ism, or illiberal liberalism, is, unavoidably, the result of the elimination of considerations of an objective good from political life. What takes the place of a public order toward the good becomes the concerted effort to eliminate every last vestige of any claim to an objective good. Instead, the political order becomes devoted with white-hot fervor to the eradication of any law, custom or tradition that has as its premise that there are objective conditions of good that require public support. The whole of the social, economic, political and even metaphysical order must be refounded on the basis that individual preference must always prevail. Anyone who resists this commitment must eventually be forced to conform, whether through the force of opinion, private power of employment and other regulations, and ultimately, the force of law. Ironically, this totalitarian undertaking that we witness unfolding daily and even constantly accelerating is the consequence of the most fateful and fundamental separation: the so-called separation of church and state. As countless studies of this claim underscore, this separation was never complete, and can never be complete, since every political order rests on certain theological assumptions. The unseen theological foundations of liberalism were originally Christian: the dignity of every human life; the supreme value of a liberty as a choice for what is good; a constitution of limited government that prevents both tyranny and anarchy but establishes and protects a society in good order, peace and abundance. Liberalisms logic, premised on the complete liberation of the individual from any limiting claims of an objective good, eventually turns on these inherited commitments, and in their name becomes the opposite of what liberalism claims to be. The dignity of every life is sacrificed on the altar of the rule of the strong (economically or socially) over the weak; liberty is defined not as self-government, but a liberation from constraint to do as I wish; and in the name of tearing down every vestige of an antecedent order, the liberal state and social order becomes totalitarian. Liberty is defined not as self-government, but a liberation from constraint; and in the name of tearing down every vestige of an antecedent order, the social order becomes totalitarian. Many today believe that liberalism can be restored to its better form simply by recombining certain preliberal, often religious commitments in the form of leavening private and civil institutions. Right liberals wish to (as they say) retain the classical liberal baby while tossing out the illiberal bathwater, urging a renewal of liberal nations by means of strengthening civic and private institutions while leaving intact the basic principle that the good must be a matter of private or sub political civic concern. The very liberal indifferentism that led to the evisceration of the institutions that are supposed to save us whether by the forces of the market, its absorption through a pervasive anti-culture, or enforcement through the power of law are to be retained, while claiming that by restraining the worst effects of our public indifference, all will be well. In other words, they propose to retain the basic liberal principle that has led to the baby being submerged in a corrosive bath of acid, and then suggest that the baby will be fine if we dump out the acid just before all its life functions have ceased. There is no avoiding questions of the good. Common-good conservatism is not an effort to preserve a now-superceded version of liberalism that is based in a self-deceptive nostalgia for a largely theoretical, not-yet achieved form of liberalism. It is instead an aspiration to move beyond the failed project of liberalism as it now exists on the ground, and must unavoidably embrace a new effort to articulate and foster a common good. But rather than beginning with high-level debates over the nature of the good ones attractive to academic philosophers who largely enjoy conditions of private flourishing it instead begins with inquiring about, and properly understanding, what is common. The word common has two equally dominant meanings, and that the two meanings contained in the same word are not merely coincidental. To be common means that which is shared and that which is ordinary. Related Combined with the word good, we can see that a common good consists in those needs and concerns that are identified in the ordinary requirements of ordinary people. The common good is discernible in the needs that arise from the bottom up, and which can be more or less supplied, encouraged and fortified from the top-down. In a good society, the goods that are common are daily reinforced by the habits and practices of ordinary people. Those habits and practices form the common culture, such as through the virtues of thrift, honesty and long memory, which in turn foster gratitude and a widespread sense of mutual obligation. However, once such a common culture is weakened or destroyed, the only hope is a renewal and reinvigoration by a responsible governing class. A politics of the common good makes a good life more likely, even the default, for commoners. Thus, the common good is always either served or undermined by a political order there is no neutrality on the matter. Emphasizing this point in his indispensable book Prayer as a Political Problem, Jean Danielou, S. J., wrote: Politics ought to have care of the common good, that is to say, the duty of creating an order in which personal fulfillment is possible, where man might be able to completely fulfill his destiny. Danielou pointed to the duty of those charged with leading the political order not to deprive ordinary people of the ability both to participate in and realize the essential goods of human life. It is not enough to ensure their freedom to pursue such goods; rather, it is the duty of the political order to positively guide them and provide the conditions for the enjoyment of the goods of human life. Religious liberty, academic freedom, free markets and checks and balances, etc., are no substitutes for piety, truth, equitable prosperity and just government. The liberal order in its foundational form maintains that the absence of constraint in these and all other domains is the sufficient condition for people to attain fulfillment. The liberal sovereign treats all people equally, assuming that radically free human beings are equally capable of achieving the goods of human life. It is the liberal equivalent of the old Anatole France quip, The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread. What we should notice is that it is ordinary people the working class, citizens in flyover country, essential workers who are increasingly those who enjoy theoretical liberty but few of the substantive goods that are supposed to flow from their individual choices. As a political order, we have provided them the pursuit of happiness, but deprived them of happiness. Indeed, a main feature of the working classes are rising levels of deaths of despair. Those who seek to advance the common good should attend especially to the profound ordinariness of the concept how it can be tested especially by reference to an answer to the question, how are commoners doing today? The answer is: not good. The cure for our political disease Even before the onset of coronavirus, reams of data attested to the economic and social devastation upon less-educated, less upwardly mobile, working-class people. Economic globalization had deprived many in these communities of the sources of prosperity and stability that made flourishing lives possible. Attacks on social norms of family, faith and tradition, in addition to these economic challenges, have contributed to the breakdown of family and communal supports, leading in turn to broken lives of crime, unemployment and deaths of despair. Elite responses to the pandemic only increased the advantages of the laptop class and the worsening conditions of the tactile class. Prayer is a central practice of a flourishing human life, one in which we are cognizant of a horizon beyond our time and place. These breakdowns have led to the growing illegitimacy of liberalism itself. A globalized liberalism has generated a global revolution from below. As a result, western politics is increasingly divided between left- and right-liberals on one side (or, in the U.S., progressives and Never-Trumpers), and populists, on the other. A new class divide defines western politics posing a progressive class of liberal elites against anti-liberal populists who demand a more stable society. Marx was wrong: the proletariat is not revolutionary; they are demanding less revolution and more conservatism. Those in positions of power and influence have vilified and demonized these fellow citizens as backwards, racist, recidivist, even too lazy to get up and move. This has been the consistent message of an elite class that transcends political categories, and it is today the hallmark of the liberal gentry that runs the major institutions of modern liberal democracies. What elites call populism is a reaction of the immune system of the body politic, but it is not the cure for our political disease. The cure lies in the development of a new elite who are forthright in defending not merely the freedom to pursue the good and who then shrug their shoulders when ordinary people drown amid a world without guardrails or life vests but instead is dedicated to the promotion and construction of a society that assists ordinary fellow citizens in achieving lives of flourishing. Danielou provides a helpful starting point. His question was, in the pursuit of the common good the good life that is not extraordinary, but common, generalizable, widely achievable by most humans in a generally decent society how do we order a society that protects and supports the life of prayer among ordinary people? Danielou posited that prayer is a central practice of a flourishing human life, one in which we are cognizant of a horizon beyond our time and place, aware of our neediness, humbled by our dependence and called to think and pray for others. Yet, he noted that so many aspects of the modern age increasingly make a genuine life of prayer and these attendant virtues exceedingly difficult. Danielou understood that encouragement to personal piety in a world of constant distraction, technological acceleration and consumerism was not sufficient to the task. The freedom to pray in a world inimical to the habit of prayer was functionally equivalent to its outright deprivation. A recent reprint of Danielous classic book wisely chose for its cover the painting The Angelus by Jean-Francois Millet. The painting portrays what appear to be a husband and wife reciting the Angelus prayer (Annunciation), likely around dusk at 6 p.m. They seem to be simple farmers, but at this moment all the farming implements and potatoes have been dropped and lie scattered at their feet as they pray together. Rising above the horizon in the distance we can discern a church tower, far off but presumably near enough that the couple can hear its bells. It is a picture of simple but profound piety, and it captures a culture that points us beyond commerce and individual desire toward a wider and transcendent horizon. Speaking of his most well-known and popular painting, Millet would later relate: The idea for The Angelus came to me because I remembered that my grandmother, hearing the church bell ringing while we were working in the fields, always made us stop work to say the Angelus prayer for the poor departed, very religiously and with cap in hand. We shall be speaking then of the prayer of man involved in social life, Danielou wrote. It is in this sense that prayer belongs not to the strictly interior life of man with which politics has nothing to do but to the political sphere. Protecting and supporting a life of prayer, recognizing the transcendent, acknowledging the frailty and temptations of lives threatened by a madding world all point not just to prayer as a political problem, but politics as a place for prayer, since politics is how we together we seek to realize the good that is common. Adapted from Regime Change: Toward a Postliberal Future, by Patrick J. Deneen 2023. Published by Sentinel, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. This story appears in the June issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe. What is the Hajj pilgrimage and what does it mean for Muslims? Water mist is sprayed on Muslim pilgrims as they walk towards the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. Around two million pilgrims are converging on Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca for the largest Hajj since the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed access to one of Islam's five pillars. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) Over 1.8 million Muslims are taking part in this week's Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, as one of the world's largest religious gatherings returns to capacity following years of coronavirus restrictions. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so. For the pilgrims, it is a profound spiritual experience that wipes away sins, brings them closer to God and highlights Muslim unity. Pilgrims this week braved temperatures in excess of 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) to perform their rituals in the open air. For the Saudi royal family, which captured Mecca in the 1920s, organizing the pilgrimage is a major source of pride and legitimacy. Authorities have invested billions of dollars in modern infrastructure, but the Hajj has occasionally been marred by tragedy, as in 2015, when over 2,400 pilgrims died in a stampede. Saudi authorities had expected some 2 million pilgrims, but official figures released Tuesday put attendance at around 1.8 million, considerably fewer than the nearly 2.5 million who came in 2019. The cost of the pilgrimage, combined with widespread economic woes, may have been a factor. Here's a look at the pilgrimage and its meaning. WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE HAJJ PILGRIMAGE IN ISLAM? The pilgrimage draws Muslims from around the world to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia, where they walk in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad and retrace the journey of Ibrahim and Ismail, or Abraham and Ishmael as they are known in the Christian and Jewish traditions. As related in the Quran, Ibrahim is called upon to sacrifice his son Ismail as a test of faith, but God stays his hand at the last moment. Ibrahim and Ismail later are said to have built the Kaaba together. In the Christian and Jewish traditions, Abraham nearly sacrifices his other son, Isaac, on Mount Moriah, which is associated with a major holy site in Jerusalem. The Kaaba was a center for polytheistic worship among pagan Arabs until the arrival of Islam in the 7th century, when the Prophet Muhammad consecrated the site and inaugurated the Hajj. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure covered in a black, gold-embroidered cloth, but view it as their most sacred place and a powerful symbol of unity and monotheism. No matter where they are in the world, Muslims face toward the Kaaba during their daily prayers. The Hajj has been held every year since the time of the prophet, even through wars, plagues and other turmoil. In the Middle Ages, Muslim rulers organized massive caravans with armed escorts that would depart from Cairo, Damascus and other cities. It was an arduous journey through deserts where Bedouin tribes carried out raids and demanded tribute. A notorious Bedouin raid in 1757 wiped out an entire Hajj caravan, killing thousands of pilgrims. In 2020, amid worldwide coronavirus lockdowns, Saudi Arabia limited the pilgrimage to a few thousand citizens and local residents. This is the first year it is being held without COVID restrictions. HOW DO MUSLIMS PREPARE FOR THE HAJJ? Some pilgrims spend their whole lives saving up for the journey or wait years before getting a permit, which Saudi authorities distribute to countries based on a quota system. Travel agents offer packages catering to all income levels, and charities assist needy pilgrims. Pilgrims begin by entering a state of spiritual purity known as ihram. Women forgo makeup and perfume and cover their hair, while men change into seamless terrycloth robes. The garments cannot contain any stitching, a rule intended to promote unity among rich and poor. Pilgrims are forbidden from cutting their hair, trimming their nails or engaging in sexual intercourse while in the state of ihram. They are not supposed to argue or fight, but the heat, crowds and difficulty of the journey inevitably test people's patience. Many Muslims visit Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and where he built the first mosque, before heading to Mecca. WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE HAJJ? The Hajj begins with Muslims circling the Kaaba in Mecca counter-clockwise seven times while reciting prayers. Then they walk between two hills in a reenactment of Hagar's search for water for her son, Ismail, a story that occurs in different forms in Muslim, Christian and Jewish traditions. All of this takes place inside Mecca's Grand Mosque the world's largest which encompasses the Kaaba and the two hills. On Tuesday, pilgrims headed to Mount Arafat, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Mecca, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. There, they stood in prayer throughout the day asking God for forgiveness of their sins in what many view as the spiritual high point of the pilgrimage. Around sunset, pilgrims walked or took buses to an area called Muzdalifa, 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) west of Arafat. They picked up pebbles to use in a symbolic stoning of the devil in the valley of Mina, where Muslims believe Ibrahim was tempted to ignore God's command to sacrifice his son. The pilgrims stay for several nights in Mina in one of the largest tent camps in the world. The pilgrimage ends with a final circling of the Kaaba and further casting of stones at Mina. Men often shave their heads and women clip a lock of hair, signaling renewal. Many will assume the title of hajj or hajja a great honor, particularly in more traditional communities. Some paint murals on their homes with images of airplanes, ships and the Kaaba to commemorate the journey. The final days of Hajj coincide with Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice, a joyous occasion celebrated by Muslims around the world to commemorate Ibrahims test of faith. During the three-day Eid, Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor. ___ 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. An explosion occurred while an air-raid warning was in force in the city of Zaporizhzhia on the night of 24-25 June. Source: Suspilne news outlet Details: Suspilne reported that an explosion has occurred in the city of Zaporizhzhia. Before that, an air-raid warning was issued in the city and the surrounding oblast. The Air Force of Ukraine urged local residents to stay in shelters because of the use of ballistic weapons from the occupied territory. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Flash China urges the United States to stop using fentanyl-related issues as a pretext to sanction, indict or offer awards to hunt Chinese companies or nationals, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said Saturday. On June 23 local time, the U.S. Department of Justice announced indictments charging China-based companies and their employees with crimes related to fentanyl production, distribution and sales resulting from precursor chemicals. In response to a related query, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said U.S. law enforcement personnel ensnared Chinese nationals through "sting operation" in a third country and blatantly pressed charges against Chinese entities and individuals. This is typical arbitrary detention and unilateral sanction, which is completely illegal. It seriously harms the basic human rights of the Chinese nationals and the interests of the Chinese companies concerned. "China strongly condemns this move and has lodged serious demarches and strong protest to the U.S. side," the spokesperson said. China is an active participant in international counter-narcotics cooperation. Out of a sense of humanitarianism, China scheduled fentanyl-related substance as a classthe first country to do so in the worldwhich has played an important role in preventing the illicit manufacturing, trafficking and abuse of fentanyl, the spokesperson noted. Instead of giving China the credit for its contribution, the United States imposed illegal sanctions on Chinese counter-narcotics institutions and then openly slandered China's counter-narcotics efforts and illegally sanctioned Chinese companies. The United States has now gone even further by ensnaring and indicting Chinese nationals, the spokesperson said. Such long-arm jurisdiction and bullyism that tramples on international law has further undermined the lawful rights and interests of relevant Chinese institutions and nationals, and seriously undercut the foundation for China-U.S. cooperation on counter-narcotics, the spokesperson added. Things the United States has so far been doing to address its concerns over the drug problembe it pressure tactics, coercion or some kind of illegal operationsare essentially all about scapegoating. This will not work and benefits no one, the spokesperson said. "We urge the United States to stop shifting the blame, stop smearing and attacking China, immediately lift all sanctions on Chinese counter-narcotics law enforcement institutions, stop using fentanyl-related issues as a pretext to sanction, indict or offer awards to hunt Chinese companies or nationals, stop the arbitrary detentions, and immediately release the Chinese nationals under illegal arrest," the spokesperson said. China will continue to do what is necessary to firmly defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and nationals, the spokesperson added. A drone dropped explosives on an enterprise in Shebekino An unidentified drone dropped an explosive device on an industrial enterprise in Shebekino, Belgorod Oblast on June 24, Russian media have reported. The regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said the facility was set on fire, but reported no casualties. Another outbreak of fire was also observed in the regional capital of Belgorod itself. The reasons for the blaze are yet to be declared. Read also: Drone attack reportedly damages electric substation in Russias Bryansk Oblast An explosive device was also dropped the same day on a house in another town of Belgorod Oblast, Grayvoron, located close to Russias border with Ukraine. The house and gas pipeline damaged. No one was hurt in the incident, according to the governor. There has been a spate of drone attacks on Russian infrastructure and industrial objects in recent months, widely attributed by the Russian authorities to Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities deny being behind the attacks, though several of the unmarked drones recovered by the Russian authorities appear to be of known Ukrainian designs. In one of the most striking such incidents, more than a dozen drones were seen over the western residential districts of Moscow on May 30, at least two of which struck residential buildings. 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 By Sofia Menchu and Diego Ore (Reuters) - Polls suggest three Guatemalan presidential hopefuls lead the field to make it through Sunday's election to a second round run-off in August. All have previously run for president, and they come from across the political spectrum: SANDRA TORRES Early pace-setter Torres, 67, is a former first lady of Guatemala making her third bid for president. A polarizing figure, the center-left contender has promised to remove VAT tax from essential goods, grant loans to young entrepreneurs, lower electricity rates and cut medicine prices in half. Born and raised in the impoverished municipality of Melchor de Mencos, close to the Belize border, Torres later worked as an English teacher before specializing in public policy. She began her political life in 2003 when she founded the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party with her then-husband, the late Alvaro Colom. Colom went on to win the presidency in 2007 and Torres shot to prominence as first lady, overseeing social programs, for which she still enjoys broad support in rural areas. In 2011, she divorced Colom in an attempt to run for the presidency, but was constitutionally barred. She competed for the top job in 2015 and in 2019, finishing second both times. But UNE remained a political force. In 2019, she was accused by the U.N.-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) of campaign finance irregularities and illicit association, spending four months in prison. In November 2022, the case was closed for lack of evidence. EDMOND MULET Just a month ago, many polls suggested the 72-year-old former diplomat was unlikely to make the run-off. But since businessman Carlos Pineda was removed from the ballot, polls have put Mulet in second place. As part of a new center-right party, Cabal, Mulet has promised a monthly stipend of $64 to the elderly, free medicine and to fight extortion by gangs. Born in Guatemala in 1951, he spent part of his childhood between Canada, the U.S. and Switzerland due to his father's work as a diplomat. In 1982 he co-founded the centrist National Renewal Party (PNR), beginning an ascent through Congress to become leader of the house between 1992 and 1993. He then embarked on a diplomatic career as Guatemala's ambassador to the U.S. Later he was representative to the European Union and spent a decade at the United Nations. Returning to Guatemala, he ran in the 2019 presidential election, finishing third. At the time, he was opposed to legalizing same-sex marriage and the right to abortion. ZURY RIOS When Zury Rios was 14, a group of army officers staged a coup, putting her father, Efrain Rios Montt, in power from 1982-1983, during which he led one of Central America's harshest military dictatorships. In 2013 he was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity. The conviction was quickly annulled, and he died in 2018 awaiting retrial. Zury Rios began her political life aged 21 in the far-right Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) founded by her father. From 1995 to 2012 she was elected to four consecutive terms in Congress. Rios, 55, accompanied her father to all his trial hearings and calls him her "inspiration," insisting he was innocent. Rios ran for president in 2015 and came fifth. She tried to run again in 2019 but was blocked by a constitutional clause. She has promised to implement a hardline security strategy akin to that of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Rios has also proposed that income tax be channeled directly toward public works like hospitals, and that people convicted of corruption be barred from holding public office. (Reporting by Sofia Menchu in in Guatemala City and Diego Ore in Mexico City, Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Daniel Wallis) WASHINGTON Chris Christie knew he was going to ruffle some feathers, but he did it anyway. I am running because [Donald Trump] let us down, Christie, the former New Jersey governor, said Friday at the annual Faith and Freedom Coalition conference. Hes let us down because he is unwilling to take responsibility for any of the mistakes that were made, any of the faults that he has and any of the things that he has done. As it became clear Christie, a 2024 presidential aspirant, was about to criticize Trump, boos and jeers filled the air in the large convention space. Christie has said he is running for president to try to end Trumps political career, making him the only Republican in the field who has taken such an aggressive posture against Trump. You can boo all you want, Christie said as he sparred with the audience. The exchange was an eye-catching bit of political theater at an event before hundreds of Christian conservative activists at to the Washington Hilton, but it also provided a clear measure of the most engaged parts of the Republican base: They remain all in for Trump. Trump keynoted the Saturday evening gala, which was the final event of the weekend, hitting on a wide variety of go-to issues, most of which were met with thunderous applause from an audience well-tuned to his message. "As we gather today, our beloved nation is teetering on the edge of tyranny," Trump said. "Our enemies are waging war on faith and freedom, on science and religion, on history and tradition, on law and democracy, on God almighty himself." Trump took the stage to a huge ovation and chants of "USA, USA, USA." He said that he was "proud to be the most pro-life president in American history," that his administration created the "most secure border in U.S. history" and that he would appoint "rock solid conservative judges" if he wins in 2024. Trump spoke on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which happened in large part because of the three conservative justices he nominated. Nearly a dozen other Republican presidential candidates were among the more than 50 speakers throughout the three-day event, but none could compete with even the mere mentions of Trumps name, which each time elicited vocal reaction from the crowd. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is running for governor, got a standing ovation when he endorsed Trump. Panels were stocked with former Trump administration officials who touted policies he enacted in the White House. And at times, speakers who referred to Trump without even using his name got the crowd excited. What I think we learned when a brash, bold New Yorker came onto the scene is there is a lot more corruption than we thought, former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake said. How many of you miss that bull in a China shop? I miss the mean tweets and all. I think you know who I am talking about, added Lake, who also threw a shot in at Christie for his criticism of Trump. Kari Lake speaks during the Faith and Freedom Coalition Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. (Jose Luis Magana / AP) The mood was yet another example underscoring that Trump is the leader of the Republican Party and that any talk of so-called Trump fatigue amid an endless stream of investigations and legal problems, including two indictments, has not eroded his support with the GOP faithful. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely considered the biggest threat to Trump, has failed to meaningfully narrow Trump's significant lead in most public polling since he entered the race May 24. DeSantis is expected to have a huge campaign apparatus and the most money of any candidate in the race. He had spent months building up his presidential launch, but since he formalized his candidacy he has not come close to easing Trumps grip on the Republican base. DeSantis got a large round of applause Friday afternoon as he walked onto the stage for his remarks, which went longer than those of any of the other non-Trump speakers. They were packed with standard fare for a DeSantis speech. He centered much of them on culture war fights and said he supports the Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito amid reports from ProPublica that they did not report gifts and trips from wealthy Republican donors. DeSantis also criticized President Joe Bidens open border policies, long a common theme. Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) DeSantis did not mention Trump by name, but he did take veiled shots at him over losses Republicans have sustained over the past three election cycles as Trump was helping lead the GOPs efforts. None of this matters if we dont win, DeSantis said. There is no substitute for victory. We cannot continue with the culture of losing where we lose winnable races. Never Back Down, a pro-DeSantis super PAC, also framed his remarks as anti-Trump, even though DeSantis did not directly mention him by name. After his speech, the group tweeted that the crowd booed Trump for siding with woke Disney! The crowd did boo when DeSantis talked about Disney, but he did not once mention Trump. After his speech, DeSantis held a separate meeting with a small group of pastors. In the meeting, which was branded a roundtable, DeSantis briefly re-emphasized many of the points he made in his speech. At a private dinner Thursday night to talk about conservative-based criminal justice reforms, some people in the room were openly annoyed about DeSantis not having supported the First Step Act, Trump-era legislation that focused on lowering re-incarceration rates. Last month, DeSantis made waves when he told the conservative pundit Ben Shapiro that he would repeal Trumps signature criminal justice reform, saying it has allowed dangerous people out of prison who have now re-offended, and really, really hurt a number of people. The private dinner was co-hosted by former Rep. Doug Collins, a Georgia Republican who sponsored the First Step Act when he was in Congress and now works on criminal justice reform issues. No one who spoke mentioned DeSantis by name, but there was clearly disappointment in the room, a person who was at the dinner said. And there was talk about those headlines. It was a reference to the series of stories that were written after DeSantis told Shapiro he would repeal the proposal. On Saturday, a public safety panel featuring Jaron Smith, a former Trump administration official, focused heavily on the First Step Act, a signal it has not lost support with conservative criminal justice reformers. We were able to pass legislation called the First Step Act, he told the crowd, which was laser-focused on reducing recidivism in our federal prisons. Trump no longer vocally touts the legislation. Other candidates, including former Vice President Mike Pence, have said it is time to "rethink" the law. As the legislation has become a topic of conversation in the Republican primary, Trump has not chimed in, including not responding to a request for comment. Collins said DeSantis "sat next to me" on the House Judiciary Committee and voted for it. DeSantis voted for a version of the bill in May 2018. The final version passed in December that year, after DeSantis had been elected governor. Collins said candidates who have started questioning the bill, including DeSantis, have not reached out to him. The bill passed the House in 2018 on a 360-59 bipartisan vote, with support from DeSantis. "If any of them want to talk to me about it, I'm happy to talk to them," Collins said Saturday night of presidential candidates who might have concerns. DeSantis' campaign did not reply to a request for comment about why he no longer supports the proposal after he voted for it. Most other presidential candidates who spoke at the conference focused on their records and plans if they are elected, generally not mentioning Trump or any other candidate. Common themes were parental rights in education, making sure the federal criminal justice system is not weaponized a word Republicans have used consistently after Trump was indicted in connection with his handling of classified documents after he left the White House and abortion, which has long been one of the biggest policy fights for the Faith and Freedom Coalition. We are creating a culture of life in America, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said. And that is a really good thing. The Trump administration's ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said she was the most pro-life governor in the country when she was governor of South Carolina. Even candidates who want the party to move on from Trump tried to raise the issue delicately. Larry Elder, a conservative radio host who ran for governor as part of the 2021 effort to recall Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, said he still likes Trump but does not think he is electable. Have you lost friends because of Donald Trump? he asked. Are you walking on eggshells at work because of Donald Trump? Do you have strained relationships because of Donald Trump?" Elder was making the case that swing voters will never come around to Trump and that Republican voters have to realize they need to coalesce around a candidate not [named] Trump but has the same America First policies. But there was an overwhelming sentiment that those legal woes not only did not concern Trumps most ardent supporters, but also that those who challenge him will be jeered and mocked. Chris Christie could not be here. I apologize, David Brodie, a commentator with the Christian Broadcasting Network, joked when he opened a panel about media bias. After roughly 15 minutes, he turned to the same laugh line to close out the panel. Chris Christie says hello, he said. CORRECTION (June 25, 2023, 7:30 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated Doug Collins congressional role. He is a former House member, not a current member. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Mementos recently taken from a memorial honoring Brittanee Drexel has left members of the murder victims family devastated. Thats according to a June 24 Facebook post by Myrtle Beach officials, who said tokens were placed at the memorial in Grand Park were removed unintentionally through a local clean-up effort. The removal of these items has devastated the Drexel family, city leaders wrote, asking that they be returned. The Myrtle Beach Police Department is working to formalize the memorial, which is centered by a stone plaque with the April 25, 2009 date when Drexel disappeared. Becky Beckstead places flowers on a memorial at Grand Lake in Market Common for Brittanee Drexel on Monday after Georgetown authorities announced that Drexels remains were found and a Georgetown man was charged with her murder. Beckstead said that she and her granddaughter cried together when they heard the news today and the two frequently stopped and prayed for the missing girl during their walks around the lake. May 16, 2022. In October, 62-year-old Raymond Moody was sentenced to life in prison in the killing of Drexel after pleading guilty in May 2022 to charges of murder, kidnapping and criminal sexual conduct. Drexel was last seen alone leaving an Ocean Boulevard motel Drexel was last seen alone at the Blue Water Resort on Ocean Boulevard the night of April 25, 2009 according to previous reporting. Investigators relied on advancements to technology to pinpoint the location of her phone as it traveled around Georgetown County concluding when she was no longer walking alone but traveling by vehicle because her phone was moving about 60 miles per hour. They also figured out which vehicle she had been in and linked it to Moody. Moody told investigators that him and his girlfriend at the time, Angel Voss, had went to Myrtle Beach to party when they saw Drexel walking by herself down the street on that April night. He said she willingly got in the car with them to smoke marijuana, and thats when they headed to Moodys campground in Georgetown. Moody said he had hoped that with Drexel under the influence of marijuana, the teenager would have consensual sex with him. But, when that didnt happen, he forced her to take off her clothes and proceeded to rape her before strangling her and wrapping up her body in a blanket, police said. Moody would tell police later that he explained to Voss that Drexels friends had picked her up, later returning to the site to dispose of her body, burying it in a wooded area. Family Support Services Duval and Nassau counties and the First Coast YMCA are partnering to offer a new program in support of foster families. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Family Support Services is sending Foster Parent Partnership ecards to more than 600 foster families licensed with the agency in Duval and Nassau counties, providing them discounted memberships at their local YMCA. Family Support Services and the First Coast YMCA are aligned in our missions to support our First Coast families and build stronger communities, says Leigh Ann Luttrell, community engagement manager for FSS. Were thankful for this opportunity to provide our families a new network for fun, health and connection through this ongoing friendship with the Y. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] To participate, FSS-licensed foster families need to show their Foster Parent Partnership ecard to the Welcome Center staff at any First Coast YMCA branch in Duval or Nassau counties to receive the special discount. Good for six months at a time, foster families will receive new ecards from the agency if they continue their licensure in good standing. Everything we do is grounded in meeting the unique needs of the individuals and communities we serve, and we cant do it alone. Partners with like-minded values and goals, like Family Support Services, help us increase access and involvement so more people can reach their potential and thrive, said Michelle Moore, First Coast YMCA chief membership and marketing officer. Were excited to collaborate with Family Support Services to provide opportunities for more foster families in Jacksonville to be active together, learn new skills, strengthen bonds and create memories for a lifetime. Read: Civil rights legend and community leader, Ben Frazier, passes away one day after his 73 birthday The idea for this partnership was planted when the FSS Community Engagement approached the YMCA to take part in the child welfare agencys first-ever discount program for FSS-licensed foster parents in May, in which more than 20 local businesses provided discounts as a show of appreciation during National Foster Care Month. With nearly 1,000 children in the First Coast foster care system, the need for foster families exists throughout the year. Go to familysupport.org to learn more about Family Support Services and how to support children in the system of care. To find your local YMCA branch or learn about their programs, go to fcymca.org. Read: Clay County Sheriffs Office finds 76-year-old missing woman safe in South Carolina [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A federal appeals court judge previously on short lists for the Supreme Court is taking the rare step to broadly and publicly reject allegations that Justice Clarence Thomas has been improperly influenced by lavish gifts provided by a conservative billionaire, dismissing pot shots at the Supreme Court in general. Judges are just like every other human being. We have a diverse group of friends, and those friends dont influence the way we do our job, Judge Amul Thapar, who sits on a Cincinnati-based appeals court, told CNN in an interview. Thapar this past week released a new book about Thomas entitled The Peoples Justice, in which he explores the justices favored judicial philosophy of originalism. Thapar posits that the theory is wrongly described as always favoring the rich over the poor, the strong over the weak, the corporation over the consumer. He walks through Thomas reasoning in a handful of cases dealing with affirmative action, the Second Amendment, school vouchers, a cross burning law and public takings of private property, among others, and contends that Thomas originalism more often favors the ordinary people who come before the court because the core idea behind originalism is honoring the will of the people. RELATED: Supreme Court limits federal prisoners ability to bring some post-conviction challenges President Donald Trump nominated Thapar in to serve on the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017, and he was also on Trumps short list for Supreme Court vacancies. Thapar, 54, is a favorite of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who handpicked him to serve as the US attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky in 2006. Thapar declined to talk about specifics regarding real estate magnate Harlan Crows hospitality to Thomas that included rides on private jets and luxury yachts. But he said that any determination about whether judges or justices have been improperly influenced must begin with a look at the body of their work. You can judge their works, and what they do, against what theyve done in the past, Thapar told CNN. And if its consistent, then its hard to say anything influenced them. Thapar added that he finds it disheartening that people who know better are taking pot shots at the court. And while Thomas speaks often about his cross-country travels with his wife, Ginni, in their RV every summer, he never publicly detailed the extent of luxury travel associated with Crow until the news was fleshed out by ProPublica in April. Thapar, however, said the media has ignored Thomas other friends. What they dont tell you, Thapar said, is that he also has friends who are homeless, friends he meets in RV parks across the nation. In his book, the judge wrote: It makes sense that a justice who would rather spend his time in Walmart parking lots than at cocktail parties is an originalist. Virginia Canter, chief ethics counsel at the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said the title of Thapars book is completely disingenuous. Given the hundreds of thousands of dollars in private jet travel, luxurious vacations and other extravagant gifts he has accepted from his wealthy benefactor, Thomas represents anything but a justice for the people, Canter said. Ethics and financial disclosures Thapar rejects suggestions that Thomas should have disclosed the hospitality provided by Crow on annual financial disclosure forms. In April, Thomas released a statement saying he hadnt disclosed the hospitality because the ethics rules that have since changed didnt require disclosure at the time. The Crow dispute has been referred to the Administrative Office of the US Courts, the policy arm of the federal judiciary. As judges, we try not to disclose more than is required under the rules because otherwise it becomes a game of gotcha you disclosed x, why didnt you disclose y? Thapar said. So, what the Administrative Office has recommended is we disclose what is required by the rules, and I think its important we do that, Thapar said. I wish the rules were crystal clear, and when they are, we disclose whatever is required, or we should, and if we make a mistake ,we should own up to it. But when it comes to recusing themselves from cases when theres a possible conflict of interest with a party to the case, Thapar said its easier for a lower court judge who often sits on multimember panels to make that choice. Im one of 16, Thapar said. Another judge can step in my shoes. But the Supreme Court, on the other hand, only has nine members, Thapar pointed out, and they have no provision if they recuse for someone to take their spot, so its a lot harder for them. Endorsement of originalism Thapars book is a ringing endorsement of originalism, a judicial theory that requires the Constitution to be interpreted based on its original public meaning. Originalists believe that the American people, not nine unelected judges, are the source of the law that governs us through the Constitution and statutes enacted by our elected representatives, the judge writes. He says Thomas has been misunderstood over his career. By cherry-picking his opinions or misrepresenting them, Justice Thomass critics claim that his originalism favors the rich over the poor, the strong over the weak, and corporations over consumers. They have called Justice Thomas the cruelest justice, stupid, and even an Uncle Tom a traitor to his race, Thapar writes. Elizabeth Wydra, president of the liberal Constitutional Accountability Center, which supports what it calls a progressive view of originalism, believes the text and history of the entire Constitution, as amended, is remarkably progressive. She rejects the views taken by Thapar and Thomas. While it is true that originalism can lead to wins for the little guy, it only works that way if you give sufficient weight to the amendments that have, over time, pushed our Constitution along an arc of progress and made it a more inclusive and equality-focused document, Wydra said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A federal judge once on the shortlist for the Supreme Court defended Clarence Thomas over the justice's relationship with billionaire Harlan Crow: 'Judges are just like every other human being' Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky Judge Amul Thapar in his new book defended Clarence Thomas' relationship with megadonor Harlan Crow. Thapar told CNN that judges "have a diverse group of friends, and those friends don't influence the way we do our job." Thomas has faced criticism for failing to disclose numerous luxury trips provided by Crow. A federal judge who has previously been on the shortlist for the Supreme Court has come out in defense of Justice Clarence Thomas over the jurist's relationship with the billionaire real estate developer Harlan Crow, criticizing what he says are "pot shots" being lobbed at the high court. Amul Thapar, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, recently released a new book centered on Thomas entitled "The People's Justice," where he delves into the conservative jurist's originalist judicial philosophy. In an interview with CNN, Thapar rejected any notion that Thomas' decisions had been influenced by luxury trips provided by Crow. "Judges are just like every other human being," Thapar told the network. "We have a diverse group of friends, and those friends don't influence the way we do our job." In the book, Thapar refuted what he said was an incorrect perception that originalism elevated the "rich over the poor, the strong over the weak, the corporation over the consumer." And while speaking with CNN, Thapar also suggested that media reports about Thomas didn't always offer a clear picture of the longtime Supreme Court justice. "What they don't tell you is that he also has friends who are homeless, friends he meets in RV parks across the nation," the appeals court judge said. Describing Thomas' decisions in cases ranging from affirmative action to property rights, Thapar argued that originalism "more often favors the ordinary people who come before the court because the core idea behind originalism is honoring the will of the people." Thapar didn't speak with CNN about the specifics of the relationship between Thomas and Crow, but said that in order to ascertain whether there are any unethical influences in a judge's decisions, one must examine their entire work. "You can judge their works, and what they do, against what they've done in the past," Thapar told the network. "And if it's consistent, then it's hard to say anything influenced them." Thapar who in 2017 was nominated to the federal bench by former President Donald Trump also remarked that it was "disheartening that people who know better are taking potshots at the court." In April, ProPublica published a bombshell report that detailed how Thomas had taken luxury vacations funded by Crow for more than 20 years without disclosing the excursions. Thomas, in a response to revelations about the previously undisclosed trips, said at the time that he was advised that it wasn't necessary to report "this sort of personal hospitality." "Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we have been friends for over 25 years. As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them," the justice said in a statement released by the Supreme Court's press office. Thomas stated that going forward, he would follow new guidelines set forth by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Read the original article on Business Insider On the night of 24-25 June, a large-scale fire broke out in the storage point of the EMKO arms company near the Bulgarian town of Karnobat. This facility is owned by businessman Emilian Gebrev, and the owner suspects that it was an intentional arson attack. Source: European Pravda, referring to Balkan Radio Liberty service Details: According to Gebrev, the current fire broke out at around 00:40 on Sunday, and fortunately, none of the base's security guards were injured. He called the incident "uncertain" as there were no products in the burned storage point that could have caught fire on their own. "I can't say what the reasons are," Gebrev added in an interview with Radio Liberty. The fire was the second fire in a row at this facility after ammunition detonated in another storage point on 31 July 2022. Since then, an investigation has been ongoing, and the prosecutor's office has not released any official information about its progress. "No one told me anything, as if nothing had happened," Gebrev said, adding that investigators had not been trying to contact him at all after the latest incident. Earlier, a Bulgarian arms dealer who survived the alleged Novichok nerve agent poisoning in 2015 said he was "100% sure" that Russian specialists were behind the explosion and subsequent fire in July 2022 (Novichok is a group of nerve agents, some of which are binary chemical weapons, primarily used by Russian secret services for poisoning opponents ed.). Gebrev fell into a coma in 2015, and Western authorities and intelligence agencies believe that he was poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent by officers of Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Contending that higher-education accreditation agencies wield near limitless power over colleges and universities, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has filed a lawsuit alleging federal laws and policies are unconstitutional. Attorneys in Moodys office contend in the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, that the challenged laws and policies have led to accreditors having an outsized amount of influence. The lawsuit, for example, said colleges and universities cannot freely choose their masters, as federal law requires them to show reasonable cause to change accreditors. The result is that private accrediting agencies enjoy near limitless power over state institutions, said the lawsuit, which Moody and Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday during an appearance in Tampa. Read: Florida officials put out-of-state tuition hike on pause The state wants a judge to declare the federal accreditation requirements unconstitutional and block Biden administration officials from enforcing them. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and several other Biden administration education officials are named as defendants. The challenge comes as some Florida universities are in the process of changing accrediting agencies, with accreditation key to schools receiving federal student aid. After disputes with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or SACS, the Legislature and DeSantis, in 2022, approved a law that requires colleges and universities to periodically change accrediting agencies. The 41-page lawsuit specifically cited SACS, which has been the accrediting agency for all Florida colleges and universities, saying the 2022 law was prompted by the (U.S. Department of Educations) actions and incensed by SACS abuses. Read: Local hospital systems work with UCF to tackle nursing shortage The disputes involved issues such as the accrediting agencys president, Belle Wheelan, in 2021 taking issue with the possibility of then-state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran becoming president of Florida State University. Corcoran did not get the FSU job but is now interim president at New College of Florida. Moody cited the FSU presidential search during Thursdays event. They (SACS) felt like they were the governing body. In 2021, they threatened the accreditation status of FSU, because the Florida (university system) Board of Governors was considering our commissioner of education for the FSU president, Moody said. But last year, the U.S. Department of Education cited the Florida changes as it released guidance about accreditation to colleges and universities and accrediting agencies. Read: Florida universities consider using artificial intelligence in courses Recent changes to the accreditation landscape, such as the expansion of former regional accreditors to now accredit institutions outside their typical geographic boundaries and a new law in Florida that mandates public institutions to switch accrediting agencies before their next accreditation cycle, have been confusing to institutions and may also have a chilling effect on accrediting agencies as they seek to effectively do their job, a July 19, 2022, announcement about the guidance said. As a result, the Department (of Education) has taken a fresh look at the regulations and seeks to clarify the process for institutions looking to change accrediting agencies. The announcement, posted on the departments website, was titled, Postsecondary Accreditation Cannot Become a Race to the Bottom. The department aims to protect against a race to the bottom and ensure that accreditation remains a voluntary process, as required by law, and that institutions are not forced to switch against their will, the announcement said. The department will continue to work with institutions and accrediting agencies to implement these processes and protocols and to further ensure strong standards to better serve all students. Read: College Board wont alter AP courses for Floridas law banning lessons on gender, sexual orientation In the lawsuit, the state argues that federal laws and policies hamper colleges and universities efforts to change accreditors and violate parts of the U.S. Constitution and the federal Administrative Procedure Act. The so-called APA deals with the way federal agencies can craft and issue regulations. As it stands, state law requires over half of Floridas public colleges and universities to change accreditors in the next two years. Their ability to do so is substantially burdened, if not entirely prevented, by federal laws that violate the Constitution and federal policies that violate the APA, the lawsuit said. DeSantis, who is running for president in 2024 and frequently criticizes the Biden administration, took aim at accrediting agencies during Thursdays appearance. You cannot take legislative power and delegate it to an unaccountable private body and let them administer that power without any type of checks and balances, DeSantis said. 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. Former ambassador: US rightfully concerned chaos in Russia is very dangerous Former United States ambassador to Russia John Sullivan on Sunday said the U.S. is rightfully concerned that chaos in Russia after the short-lived rebellion over the weekend is very dangerous. Moderator Margaret Brennan asked Sullivan on CBS Newss Face the Nation whether, in the current situation, Russian President Vladimir Putin is preferable for Russian leadership to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group chief who mounted the rebellion. Well, hes certainly a known quantity. Hes a hardened adversary of the United States, but the alternative could be worse, Sullivan said of Putin. So I think the Biden administration is rightfully concerned with chaos and uncertainty in Russia, with their nuclear arsenal, its very dangerous, not just for the United States, but for the world, the former ambassador said. Prigozhin launched an armed rebellion to oust Russias defense minister on Friday, accusing Sergei Shoigu of ordering a strike on Wagners field camps in Ukraine. Prigozhins fighters reached Rostov-on-Don, the location of Russias military headquarters in the southern region, and began moving toward Moscow as Russias National Anti-Terrorism Committee opened a criminal case against him. Prigozhin on Saturday ordered his forces to stop their advance on Moscow. He reportedly reached a deal with the Kremlin and has agreed to move to Belarus. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday said the rebellion shows cracks in the Russian facade as Moscow also deals with a Ukrainian counteroffensive in Russias 16-month war on its neighbor. The Institute for the Study of War said Sunday that Russia is facing a deeply unstable equilibrium. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Flash Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday discussed the recent developments in Russia. In a phone conversation, the two top diplomats also exchanged views on the bilateral relations, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. Amir-Abdollahian voiced support for the rule of law in all countries, including the "neighboring and friendly" country of Russia, slamming any kind of foreign interference in the states' internal affairs. He stressed that Russia's internal situation is a domestic issue, adding that Russia will get through the current stage. Lavrov, for his part, underscored the enforcement of the rule of law regarding his country's territorial integrity, referring to remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian minister also spoke highly of the two countries' "high-level" relations, highlighting the necessity of implementing bilateral agreements. Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee announced on Saturday that a counter-terrorist operation regime has been introduced in Moscow city, the Moscow region and the Voronezh region to prevent possible terrorist acts after the Wagner private military group was accused of trying to organize an armed rebellion. Russian President Vladimir Putin on the same day ordered the Russian Armed Forces to neutralize those who organized the armed rebellion of the Wagner group. A criminal case is being initiated against Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner group, for incitement to armed insurrection, the Public Relations Center of the Russian Federal Security Service said earlier on Saturday, calling on Wagner fighters not to carry out Prigozhin's orders and to take measures to detain him. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon speaks out two months after his ouster from the network: 'I'm not a perfect person. No one is.' Former CNN anchor Don Lemon attends the Time100 Gala, celebrating the 100 most influential people, in Manhattan, on April 26, 2023. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is speaking out two months after he was ousted from the anchor's chair. Lemon, who worked at CNN for 17 years, told ABC24 Memphis he wasn't in a "rush" to land a new gig. "I know people say, 'I miss you on television. What is your next move?' I'm figuring that out," he said. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon in a recent interview spoke of his commitment to the pursuit of truth two months after his ouster from the network that employed him for 17 years. "I have a responsibility not only as a journalist but as an American to tell the truth and to abide by the promises of the Constitution," he told ABC24 Memphis. "Because the Constitution says a more perfect union, not a perfect union. I'm not a perfect person. No one is." "In order to fulfill the promise of the Constitution, we have to stand up for what is right. We have to stand up for the truth," he continued. Lemon then went on to explain his journalistic philosophy, built on his decades of experience in the field. "I don't believe in platforming liars and bigots, insurrectionists and election deniers and putting them on the same footing as people who are telling the truth; people who are fighting for what's right, people who are abiding by the Constitution," he said. "I think that would be a dereliction of journalistic duty to do those sorts of things." When asked what his future plans might entail, Lemon said that he wasn't in a hurry to pursue a new opportunity. "I'm not going to force anything," he told the Memphis, Tenn.-area ABC affiliate. I'm not going to let other people's time line influence me. I know people say, 'I miss you on television. What is your next move?' I'm figuring that out." "I don't have to be in a rush," he continued to say. "I think people rush and they end up making the wrong the decisions. I'm not rushing into anything." Lemon was once one of the most visible faces on the network, from his early days as an anchor and correspondent to hosting his primetime show "Don Lemon Tonight" before joining the "CNN This Morning" program late last year. But there had reportedly been some tension on the morning program for some time, which reached a fever pitch with Lemon's February remark that 2024 Republican presidential candidate and former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina was no longer "in her prime" as a woman in her 50s. Lemon later apologized for his comments, calling them "inartful and irrelevant" and praising the women in his life. Then-CNN chief executive officer Chris Licht rebuked Lemon in a network call shortly after his remarks about Haley, but the network stood by Lemon after a Variety article published in April alleged a series of misogynistic behavior from the veteran journalist. In a statement, CNN criticized the report. "The Variety story provides no actual proof and instead relies on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated claims from 10 to 15 years ago. CNN is unable to corroborate the alleged accounts," the network said at the time. However, when Lemon was ousted later that month, he said that he was "stunned" by the decision and called out CNN for what he said was their lack of "decency" in informing him of the decision personally. CNN then said that they had afforded Lemon a chance to speak with management but added that the journalist had instead chosen to tweet about the situation. After a turbulent 13-month tenure at the helm of CNN, Licht was also fired from his position earlier this month. Read the original article on Business Insider Former 'Eight is Enough' star Adam Rich's cause of death revealed Former 'Eight is Enough' star Adam Rich's cause of death revealed Former child star Adam Rich died in January due to the "effects of fentanyl," according to a report from the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office. The actor, who was best known for his role on the hit ABC comedy-drama "Eight Is Enough," was found dead at the age of 54 in his Los Angeles home on Jan. 8. Rich's manner of death was cited as an "accident," per the report. Rich was 8 years old when he was cast as Nicholas Bradford in "Eight Is Enough." He played the youngest son of widower Tom Bradford's eight children in the television series, which ran for five seasons from 1977 to 1981. Rich was dubbed "America's Little Brother" during his time on the show. Former child star Adam Rich died due to the "effects of fentanyl," according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office. "Eight is Enough" also starred Dick Van Patten, Diana Hyland, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Lani O'Grady, Laurie Walters, Susan Richardson, Dianne Kay, Connie Newton and Willie Aames. 'EIGHT IS ENOUGH CAST: WHERE ARE THEY NOW, 30 YEARS LATER? In addition to "Eight Is Enough," Rich's other television credits included "Dungeons & Dragons," "Baywatch," "Small Wonder," "Gun Shy," "Code Red" and "CHiPs." He reprised his role as Nicolas in the TV spinoff movies 1987's "Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion" and 1989's "An Eight Is Enough Wedding," READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In recent years, Rich had stayed away from working in front of the camera. He last appeared as himself in the 2003 film " Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" and played Crocodile Dundee in a 2003 episode of "Reel Comedy." Over the course of his life, Rich was arrested for attempted burglary as well as driving under the influence. Rich portrayed Nicholas Bradford on the hit ABC comedy-drama "Eight Is Enough." Rich's death was announced by his representative Danny Deraney in an emotional statement that he shared on Twitter. "Adam was simply a wonderful guy. He was kind, generous and a warrior in the fight against mental illness," Deraney wrote. "Adam did not have an ounce of ego. He was unselfish and always looked out for those he cared about. Which is why many people who grew up with him feel a part of their childhood gone, and sad today," he continued."He really was America's Little Brother." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Deraney thanked the public "for reaching out," before also noting, "If you knew Adam, you just loved the guy. And oh the stories he could tell." After Rich's death, Aames, who played his older brother Tommy in "Eight Is Enough," shared a tribute to his late co-star on Facebook. Willie Aames, who played his older brother Tommy in "Eight Is Enough," shared a tribute to his late co-star on Facebook. "This morning [my wife] Winnie woke me with the heartbreaking news of Adam Rich's passing," Aames wrote in a January post. "I'm gutted. Adam was more than a colleague. He was very much my only little brother. A lifelong friend." He continued, "These last few years Adam had dreams of renewing his career. He was one of those kid actors that our generation will always remember." Buckley, who played Rich's stepmother Abby in "Eight Is Enough." posted a slideshow of photos featuring the late actor with herself and the show's cast on Instagram. "Adam Rich was a light and my young pal for the four seasons I was blessed to work with him on 'Eight Is Enough,'" she wrote. "I adored him and loved working with him in our scenes together on the show. He was so sweet, funny, fresh and natural. He brought a lot of joy to all of us on the show and to our audiences. She continued, "Adam and I have remained friends all of these years. His love and support have always meant a lot to me. I am shocked by the news I received this morning of his death. Sending my love and deepest condolences to his friends and family. In recent years Adam dedicated himself to providing inspiration for others with mental and emotional illness. I will miss him greatly." Free gas: Heres when Old Navy will help fuel travel in Orlando An Orlando event will help drivers save on Fourth of July travel this week. The retail store Old Navy is helping residents celebrate Independence Day with free gas. Old Navy partnered with five Race Trac locations across five states for the promotion. The campaign will kick off on Monday, June 26 in Orlando, the most popular Fourth of July travel destination last year. Read: Summer travel: Gas prices holding steady nationally, Florida sees spike: AAA At each gas station in the campaign, the first 250 cars will receive a $50 Race Trac gift card for gas and snacks. Old Navy credit card holders will receive two $50 gift cards. Nationwide fans who follow Old Navys Instagram and TikTok accounts can win gas gift cards by sharing their summer travel plans. Read: OIA sees 5 million travelers 2 months in a row The company will start the giveaway at 9 a.m., and the exact location will be announced early Monday morning in partnership with local radio stations. On Thursday, June 29, the brand will fill tanks in other popular July 4 travel destinations, including Atlanta, Ga., Dallas, Texas, New Orleans, La. and Nashville, Tenn. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. The Fresno County Sheriffs Office is investigating a deputy-involved shooting Saturday afternoon. Sheriff John Zanoni said the incident occurred at 2:30 p.m. in the 36000 Mistletoe Road in Yokuts Valley after he said a woman was fearing for her safety and had a shovel because a man was on her property and acting erratically. A deputy arrived and gave the 21-year-old Northern California man commands, but he failed to listen and put his hands in his sweatshirt and charged straight at the deputy, Zanoni said. The deputy attempted to retreat before firing off several shots, striking the suspect in the leg and the upper body. While the deputy gave aid to the suspect, he told him he had a gun, but no gun was found, Zanoni said. The suspect was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center and is listed in stable condition. Zanoni said the suspect was being uncooperative with the medical staff. The woman never used the shovel. The woman and suspect have no connection, Zanoni said. He appears to be a transient whos come to the area and happened to contact the residents several homes down here in the 36000 block of Mistletoe Road, Zanoni said. Were just trying to figure out how he got here and exactly what was going on and what he was trying to accomplish here today by contacting the residents. Are you a gas guzzler? The government might try to persuade you to switch to an EV Governments on both coasts of the U.S. want to persuade the small percentage of drivers who use the most gas to switch to electric vehicles and some leaders are taking the first steps toward incentives to make it happen. Research shows the top 10% of drivers in the U.S. use almost one-third of the nation's gas. These noncommercial drivers log long miles, sometimes in inefficient vehicles like SUVs and trucks, guzzling serious amounts of gas and producing a lot of carbon dioxide. Some are commuters who can't afford to move closer to work; others are more affluent recreational drivers hauling boats or campers. All burn an outsized amount of gas. As the world rushes to stop releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to stave off the worst effects of global warming, some cities and states are focusing on encouraging these "gasoline superusers" to go electric. Earlier this month the city of Burlington, Vermont, passed a groundbreaking law creating incentives to help high-volume gasoline users. In recent days, Washington state released a report investigating what it calls "high consumption fuel users" and what it would take to motivate them to switch. California State Assembly member Phil Ting has proposed incentives specifically targeted at getting working- and middle-class people who drive long distances to shift from gas-powered to electric-powered vehicles for the past two years and he says he won't give up. Others wonder whether these efforts are coming too early in the evolution of electric vehicles. "I think it's a great idea, it just needs more work," said John Paul Helveston, a professor of engineering at George Washington University who studies accelerating the transition to electric vehicles. "You can't just give people money you've got to have the (charging) infrastructure and an actual vehicle option they want to switch to." It could be that such programs are too early because theres not yet enough awareness of the cost-savings EVs could represent for people who drive a high number of miles simply because they dont know about them. In focus groups he has done in California, few people had even heard of electric cars, said Scott Hardman, assistant director of the Electric Vehicle Research Center at the University of California, Davis. Electric vehicle companies aren't aggressively marketing themselves right now because they don't have to. "Demand exceeds supply. They're selling all the vehicles they're producing, so there's no need to promote them," he said. Gas 'superusers' produce a surprising amount of CO2 The idea behind the efforts comes from a report first issued in 2021 by Coltura, an energy nonprofit. The report sought to answer this question: "What's the fastest way to lower carbon dioxide emissions from transportation?" Electric vehicle incentive programs nationally have focused on raising the percentage of Americans switching to carbon-free cars and trucks, but "really its 'How can we reduce gasoline use?'" said Rob Sargent, Coltura's strategic adviser. Their findings spelled it out: Gasoline accounts for one-sixth of U.S. carbon emissions, and U.S. drivers burn 35% of all the gasoline in the world. 10% of U.S. drivers burn 32% of all gasoline. These "superusers" burn on average 1,500 gallons of gas a year compared with regular users' 409. If the goal is to lower carbon dioxide production, getting the people who drive most to switch to electric matters more than getting more people into electric vehicles a lot more. Coltura's estimates found that if all the biggest gasoline users shifted to electric, it would take 97 million vehicles to cut U.S. emissions from light-duty vehicles by 50%. If those same heavy gasoline users are the last ones to convert to EVs, it would require 233 million vehicles to achieve the same reduction in CO2 emissions. 'Me switching to an EV makes a much bigger difference' Those numbers intrigued Ting because he commutes between San Francisco and Sacramento, and the idea made intuitive sense. "I'm a superuser," he said. "I drive 20,000 miles a year. So me switching to an EV makes a much bigger difference than someone driving 6,000 miles a year." In 2022 and again in 2023, he introduced bills to the state Legislature that create incentives for low- and middle-income people who drive the most to buy electric vehicles. Both failed, but he's not giving up. Other California measures have long targeted the most polluting cars. The first of these was the state's clean vehicle rebate program, colloquially known as Cash for Clunkers. These began in California in 2009 with the goal of buying the oldest, most polluting cars in the state and crushing them to take them off the roads. Such programs have since spread nationwide as states realized they could entice drivers to scrap older, dirtier cars for relatively small amounts of money. Today the state's Clean Cars for All program doesnt just give people money to get those vehicles off the road, it also offers incentives to get those same drivers to buy a newer and less polluting vehicle, one thats not more than 8 years old. Theres additional money if they buy an electric vehicle. Combining the various programs that are available, a California resident driving an older, polluting car could get as much as $19,500 toward buying a newer, cleaner vehicle, along with state help on financing. For a family of four, the income limit would be about $83,000. Though the current program isnt focused on gasoline superusers, because its aimed at lower-income drivers, it will inherently grab many of the superusers, said Lisa Macumber, chief of the states Air Quality Boards Equitable Mobility Incentives Branch. Some gas superusers are commuters with thin budgets In California, the burden of long commutes tends to fall heaviest on exactly the people who aren't buying EVs, Ting said. "We should be creating more of an incentive for people who are forced to drive further because they're not wealthy, because they have to live further out to find a house they can afford," Ting said. Households that make more than $200,000 a year were the most likely to buy EVs, according to the National Highway Travel Survey. But they also drive the least. On average, EV drivers log 10,000 miles a year, compared with superusers' 30,348. Living farther out to find affordable housing and working in fields like construction where job sites are often far away are more common for gasoline superusers, Coltura found. Current tax incentives focus on making electric vehicles more affordable for middle- and low-income Americans, no matter how much or little they drive. Other gas guzzlers are affluent boaters, travelers Washington state was also intrigued by the Coltura findings and set out to investigate who was burning the most gas and why. Its findings suggest programs will need to be done on a state-by-state basis. In Washington, 10% of drivers consumed 26% of the fuel, and the bottom 50% of drivers burned less than top the 10%. Superusers drove 25,370 miles a year compared with 8,535 for non-gasoline superusers. The state found that 6.3% of its drivers were burning 1,000 gallons of gas or more a year, and 86% of them drove SUVs, pickups or vans. Possibly because of the number of people who own boats or routinely drive into the mountains, Washington's "high consumption fuel users" as the state calls them, tended to be slightly higher-income than drivers overall and were actually more interested than the general public in shifting to an EV. For these drivers, having a vehicle that can tow or do well in extreme conditions was important. The research found that building out the state's EV charging infrastructure would help encourage gasoline superusers to shift as more of their preferred vehicles trucks and SUVs become available in electric models. Another possibility was offering electric vehicle lease rebates for those driving more than the 12,000 miles usually allowed on vehicle leases. What do the proposed laws do? Burlington, Vermont (passed) Subsidize EVs for people who burn more than 1,000 gallons of gas a year. California (proposed) Would require state-funded EV incentive programs to maximize the displacement of gasoline by focusing on gas superusers who are also low- and moderate-income. Washington state (study). Policy suggestions included: More charging stations, EV purchase incentives and free emergency towing or recharging services would help persuade high-consumption fuel users to switch to EVs. A possible 5 cents a mile for every electric mile driven incentive, capped at $3,000 a year. Using financial incentives to encourage people leasing cars (who tend to be high-mileage drivers) to lease EVs. Isn't it better to drive old cars into the ground? Common wisdom has been that people should drive their old gas cars until they die because it takes so much energy to build a new car. But that logic changes for gasoline superusers because they burn so much fuel. In less than a year they emit more carbon than it takes to make a car, said Matthew Metz, Coltura founder. In terms of lower carbon emissions, it makes sense to shift to an EV, especially if you drive a lot, Hardman said. "A huge portion of the emissions associated with a gasoline vehicle are linked to use." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emerging EV incentives are trying to convert gas guzzlers Germany to donate to Ukraine 45 more Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns by year end German ZSU Gepard Germany plans to transfer to Ukraine 45 more Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns this year, Christian Freuding, Head of the Special Staff Ukraine at the German Federal Ministry of Defence said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag outlet on June 24. Germany will also "immediately" provide Ukraine with 64 guided missiles for Patriot air defence systems. Read also: Germany will not lead fighter jet coalition as it lacks expertise Thirty-four Gepard systems have already been supplied to Ukraine, and another 15 will arrive in the country in near future. "Additionally, in cooperation with the US, we want to send another 30 Gepard tanks towards the end of the year," the German general said, adding that the delivery is aimed at strengthening Ukrainian air defence. Read also: Germany to send 20 additional Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine by end of July The Pentagon also announced that it would allocate $118 million to purchase Gepards for Ukraine. The Gepard mobile air defense system consists of anti-aircraft cannon, targeted by a radar system, both mounted on the chassis of a Leopard tank. The Ukrainian military has said the Gepard system is particularly effective against the Iranian Shahed suicide drones that Russia regularly uses to attack 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 Boris Pistorius Germany has no F-16 fighter jets in service, therefore it can't participate in the "fighter jets for Ukraine coalition," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on June 24. We have been the experts for tank deliveries, tank technology, for air defence, which are still of enormous importance, Pistorius said in his speech to delegates of a party conference of the SPD in Lower Saxony in Aurich. But Germany won't lead in the aircraft issue, Pistorius said. Quick help cannot be reached in the next few weeks because training has to take place. The repairs and logistics have to be prepared, he said, emphasizing the importance of having realistic expectations. The German Armed Forces or Bundeswehr currently deploy Eurofighters and Tornado fighter aircraft, which are not supposed to be provided to Ukraine. That's the main reason why Germany will stand aside the coalition, Pistorius said. Meanwhile, the German military training program for Ukraine is in full swing as almost 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers will undergo it by the end of the year. No other country in the world has trained as much, the minister said. F-16s for Ukraine: What is known The Netherlands and Denmark will lead the training program of the European fighter jets for Ukraine coalition, as stated at the Ramstein defence ministers meeting on May 25. Read also: Ukrainian pilots could be trained to fly F-16 fighters in four months, Reznikov believes The United States has announced that in the upcoming months, Ukraines military allies will collaborate to determine the timing, participants, and number of aircraft to be transferred to Ukraine. However, the delivery of fighter jets will be contingent upon Ukraine's commitment to refrain from employing them in strikes on Russian territory. Eight European countries have already joined the fighter coalition supporting Ukraine, with the Netherlands and Denmark leading the collaborative effort. The Dutch government wants to launch training at Skrydstrup military base hosting these fighter jets. Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov wishes that Santa will bring him "at least one F-16 was in the air before the New Year," although it's more realistic to expect them not earlier than 2024. Politico reported that Romania is being considered as a possible location for Ukrainian pilots training in F-16 fighter jets. 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 Saudi family distributes free tea to pilgrims in Mecca for the hajj pilgrimage (Sajjad HUSSAIN) Braving the scorching Saudi heat, Mecca resident Amer Abdullah distributed free tea and bread to worshippers performing the annual hajj pilgrimage, honouring a long-standing tradition in Islam's holiest city. Joined by his five sons, the 45-year-old Saudi man who spends his evenings serving warm beverages to worn-out Muslim pilgrims, said hajj hospitality runs in his blood. "For the people of Mecca, there is no higher honour than serving pilgrims," Abdullah told AFP ahead of the start of hajj rituals on Sunday. "My father did it as did his forefathers before him and now I am trying to pass it down to my sons," he added, pearls of sweat forming on his face. Before hotels and high-rises sprang up in Mecca, locals used to host pilgrims in their homes. Now, while the holy city is dotted with luxury accommodation and air-conditioned shopping malls, these have not replaced the deeply ingrained culture of hospitality. Every day at around noon, Abdullah and his sons start filling vacuum flasks with tea and hot milk. They pack hundreds of loaves of bread into tightly sealed plastic bags before heading out for the night. They set up near the Grand Mosque, which is overflowing with worshippers, some of whom survive solely on handouts for the duration of the four-day pilgrimage. "This is an honour passed down through generations here," Abdullah said, pouring tea into a paper cup. - 'Racing to help' - Hospitality, already firmly rooted in Saudi culture, gains even more currency during hajj -- one of the five pillars of Islam that all Muslims with the means must undertake at least once in their lives. More than two million pilgrims from more than 160 countries are expected this year. According to Muslim tradition, they are "guests of God", meaning they must be provided with accommodation, food and drink even if they cannot afford it. Across Mecca, young men distribute free meals consisting of rice, chicken or meat to pilgrims who line up in long queues. Faisal al-Husseini, a Pakistani businessman living in Mecca, has been distributing hot meals every day for weeks. "It is a great honour to serve God's guests," he said, handing food in a blue plastic bag to a pilgrim. For 47-year-old Egyptian visitor Mahmoud Talaat, the handouts are his sole source of sustenance. "I depend on these meals because I am unable to afford them," he said. This year's summer timing for the hajj, which follows the lunar calendar, will test the endurance of worshippers during the mostly outdoor ritual. As temperatures exceed 42 degrees celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit), young men distribute bottles of frozen water to help pilgrims survive the heat. "We buy water and cool it well, then we start distributing it once or twice a day after prayers," said Mecca resident Hamza Taher, 25. Standing near a truck loaded with water bottles, his brother Anas, 22, said they were not the only ones helping out. "All of the people of Mecca are racing to help," he said. The tradition of hosting pilgrims in Mecca's homes has died out in recent years, with Saudi authorities embarking on an infrastructural expansion project that has increased accommodation options. But many of the city's residents still remember the centuries-old custom. "When I was growing up, we used to host pilgrims in our homes," said a Mecca resident who asked not to be named over privacy concerns. "It was a beautiful tradition". And while some practices die out, younger ones are coming into play, including a state-led initiative by the education ministry that has dispatched hundreds of Mecca's school children to help with hajj. Their tasks include assisting wheelchair-bound pilgrims and guiding non-Arabic speakers to holy sites. "I am completing what my ancestors started hundreds of years ago," said 17-year-old student Sultan al-Ghamdi. ht/ho/it/ami House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R) called for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify all data reviewed in the probe into the origins of the COVID-19 virus and into the possible link to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, calling a recent report released by the agency not sufficient. On Friday, the ODNI released a report summarizing the findings of its research. It concluded that while some researchers at the institute were ill in 2019 with symptoms that were consistent with COVID-19, the symptoms were not necessarily diagnostic of the illness. The report was issued in compliance with a law passed by Congress that required all information related to this probe by the ODNI to be declassified. In an interview on CBS Newss Face the Nation, Turner criticized the report for summarizing the findings, rather than giving a transparent look at the data and predicted this would set up a potential battle with Congress. What they did is they basically went in and did a paper on what they believe about the intelligence theyve looked at, Turner said of the report. Weve asked to open the curtain and release the intelligence, and they went behind the curtain, read the stuff and came out and said, Well, this is what we think about it. This is not sufficient, Turner said. And certainly, this is going to set up a battle between Congress and the Director of National Intelligence to make certain that that the law that was passed unanimously, both the Senate and the House and was signed by the president is complied with, but also the American public get the answers they deserve. When moderator Margaret Brennan asked about a classified annex of the report, Turner said the very existence of the annex contradicts the essence of the law, which requires the information to be declassified by the American public. Actually we just got this late late Friday, so I havent had access to it in a classified setting, but even releasing a classified annex goes against what the law says. The law says, declassified, not, give us more classified information. I mean, my committee has already seen a significant amount of this intelligence. Giving my committee more intelligence doesnt give it to the American public. And thats what the declassification law was about. In the executive summary of the report, the ODNI said the classified annex was necessary to protect sources but that the findings were consistent with what was released in the report. A classified annex to this report includes information that was necessary to exclude from the unclassified portion of this report in order to protect sources and methods, but the information contained in the annex is consistent with the unclassified assessments contained in this report, read the executive summary of the report, which was released Friday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Japanese companies eager to capitalize on vast potential in Chinese market Xinhua) 08:28, June 25, 2023 TIANJIN, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Okada Yoshihide, a Japanese businessman based in north China's Tianjin Municipality for nearly two decades, has recently been busy revising his company's production plan for this year. "Our company's research and development (R&D) center in Tianjin has gone into service officially this year, and we will develop more competitive products in this port city for the Chinese and international markets," said Okada, general manager of Pegasus (Tianjin) Sewing Machine Co., Ltd. Established in 1994, the Tianjin-based company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Pegasus Sewing Machine Mfg Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Pegasus"), a century-old brand of industrial sewing machines from Japan. Through nearly 30 years of development, the subsidiary has evolved into Pegasus's most important production base and sales market on a global scale, with an annual output of over 100,000 sewing machines. "The friendship between Pegasus and China has lasted for almost half a century," said Okada, who came to Tianjin in 2005. He added that he was deeply impressed by the continued development of the Chinese economy as well as the economic and trade relations between China and Japan. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, trade between China and Japan reached 546.4 billion yuan (about 76 billion U.S. dollars) during the first quarter of this year, a size topping all the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members. China has a good business environment, as well as a stable sales network and production chain, which provides ample space and solid backing for foreign enterprises to take root in the Chinese market, Okada said. "We will increase our efforts in R&D and sales of new products to further expand our business in China." Okada added that as China's high-end sewing market thrives, Pegasus's newly-established R&D center in Tianjin will help the company cater to China's growing demand for high-performance, multi-functional sewing machines. In recent years, China has stepped up efforts to create a more favorable business environment for Japanese enterprises. A case in point is the RCEP agreement, which is the first free trade deal between Japan and its largest trading partner China. Thanks to such commendable efforts, Japanese companies have remained confident in the Chinese market, and continued to expand investment and business. For instance, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance (China) Company Limited has increased its capital in China by 375 million yuan this year, while Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd. has put into operation a new factory in Tianjin. Apart from the improving business environment, Okada is also visibly impressed by China's rapid infrastructure development over the past 20 years, which has helped make his life and business easier. "I am very surprised by the convenience of transportation. Now I can fly directly from Tianjin to Osaka. The number of private cars in China is also very impressive, especially the new energy vehicles," Okada said. "We have developed in China, and we have also witnessed China's development. I believe our R&D center in Tianjin will inject new energy into the development of the company," he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) Flash Russian national flag waves at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Jan. 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, reached a compromise through the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko late Saturday, according to RIA Novosti news agency reports. Prigozhin has accepted Lukashenko's proposal to stop the advance of the Wagner troops and de-escalate the situation, the reports said. On Saturday morning, Putin informed his Belarusian counterpart of the situation in Russia regarding the Wagner group and the heads of state agreed on joint actions. "The president of Belarus held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin ... They came to an agreement on the inadmissibility of unleashing a bloody massacre on the Russian territory," the press service of the Belarusian president was quoted as saying. Then the Wagner fighters left southern Russia's Rostov region and were headed to their field camps, according to Russia's TASS news agency. The criminal case against Prigozhin will be dropped, and he will go to Belarus, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on late Saturday, without specifying what exactly Prigozhin will do in the former Soviet republic. Lukashenko has been personally acquainted with Prigozhin for about 20 years and "this was his personal proposal agreed with Putin, " Peskov said. "There was a higher goal to avoid bloodshed, to avoid internal confrontation, to avoid clashes with unpredictable results. It was for the sake of these goals that Lukashenko's mediation efforts were made, and President Putin made the appropriate decision," the spokesman said. According to the official, the guarantee that Prigozhin will be able to leave for Belarus was the word of the Russian president. The incident with the Wagner group will not affect the course of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, which will continue, he added. GraceMed Health Clinic has raised roughly $340,000 in private donations to pay for past and present residents of the 29th and Grove contamination site in northeast Wichita to receive health screenings. A leading gift of $200,000 from Minnesota-based healthcare company UCare will allow the community clinic to conduct a range of blood and urine tests to evaluate liver and kidney function and screen for cancers. The first health study in the affected area since the trichloroethene (TCE) spill was identified in 1994 at the site of the Union Pacific railyard found significantly elevated rates of liver cancer diagnoses among residents. Bring any documentation to show you lived there or that your loved one lived there, but dont be distracted if you dont have it, GraceMed CEO Venus Lee said at a community meeting Saturday. We may end up dealing with the honors system, but at this point, we just want to get people tested. A representative from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment talks to a resident at a community meeting about the 29th and Grove contamination site held June 24 at the Boys and Girls Club. TCE exposure, which occurs when a person breathes, ingests or touches the chemical, can increase the risk of cancer, particularly kidney cancer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The spill is believed to have happened as early as 1970, and remediation efforts have been underway since 2004. Funding for health screenings and treatment related to possible diagnoses is not included in the $14 million final cleanup plan that the Kansas Department of Health and Environment is requiring Union Pacific to pay for. The state, Sedgwick County and the city of Wichita have also not contributed any funds for medical expenses related to cancer diagnoses. The $14 million I wanted to know if some of it could be used for testing the people in the neighborhood, but I was told that it was not. It was for the cleanup itself, said James Roseboro, who lives in the affected area. But to me, testing the people, I mean thats just the reality. It would be part of the cleanup. Testing and cleanup At Saturdays meeting, Union Pacific laid out its state-approved plans for remediation along the 2.9-mile plume of polluted groundwater that runs under several of Wichitas historically Black neighborhoods. Over the years, weve collected thousands of samples of the soil, the groundwater, the air, said Rebecca Rowey, Union Pacifics senior manager for environmental site remediation. The soil in the neighborhood is safe, the drinking water that you get from the city of Wichita is safe, and the data collected today says that the indoor and outdoor air is safe. More vapor testing is planned for the next year, including retesting air in schools and other buildings in the project site. Groundwater testing is still being completed on a quarterly basis, along with testing at Chisholm Creek. The last two tests of creek water have found no TCE present, Rowey said, after previous tests indicated low levels of contamination. The remediation plan calls for extracting and treating groundwater before discharging it back into the creek or injecting it back into the ground. Five separate treatment buildings roughly the size of a single-car garage will be constructed on city property while the remaining infrastructure will be underground. Field studies and engineering designs still have to be completed before installation of groundwater extraction/injection wells and piping takes place in 2024 or 2025. After installation, water-treatment efforts are expected to last another 10 years. Rather than allowing meeting attendees to address the room, facilitators with Union Pacific, KDHE and the Kansas Leadership Center directed residents to write their feedback down or ask questions to staff sitting at tables scattered around the Boys and Girls Club gymnasium. Former Wichita City Council member Lavonta Williams characterized the meeting as poorly run and dysfunctional. Its very important that everybody hear the same thing at the same time so that we all know how to move forward together, Williams said. People need to be heard. Thats the main thing. Let them speak and let them ask questions. A ground crew worker was killed after being sucked into the engine of a Delta plane as it was taxiing at San Antonio airport A Delta Airlines plane on the tarmac at San Antonio International Airport in Texas. Robert Alexander/Getty Images An airline worker was sucked into the engine of a Delta plane at San Antonio International Airport in Texas. The employee was killed after being "ingested" into the engine. Authorities are still gathering information about the incident. A ground crew worker at San Antonio International Airport, Texas, was killed after being sucked into an engine on the tarmac. The incident occurred at 10:25 p.m. on Friday after the Delta plane arrived from Los Angeles and was taxiing to the gate, The National Transportation Safety Board said, per DailyMail.com. The board confirmed that the ground crew employee died after being "ingested" into the engine of the Airbus A319, the outlet reported. "The NTSB has been in contact with Delta. They are in the information-gathering process at this point," the board said. A tourist who witnessed the clean-up operation told a local TV station that the gate was in "turmoil after the incident, and when he looked out at the plane, there was a large tarp beneath the engine and a Hazmat crew in attendance. The employee, who is yet to be identified, was employed by Delta Air Lines contractor Unifi and worked to support ground handling operations. "An accident occurred on the ground at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) tonight that resulted in the fatality of an airline ground crew member," the airport said in a statement, per DailyMail.com. "We are deeply saddened by this incident and are working with authorities as they begin their investigation. We will share more information as details become available." Unifi Aviation, the company that employed the worker, said it was "deeply saddened" by the "tragic incident" and noted that an initial investigation indicates this was unrelated to the company's safety procedures, per the outlet. "Out of respect for the deceased, we will not be sharing any additional information. While police and other officials continue to investigate this incident, we defer to them on providing further details," Unifi said. 'From our initial investigation, this incident was unrelated to Unifi's operational processes, safety procedures, and policies," it added. This is the second incident of its kind to occur at an airport in the US in the past year. Airline worker Courtney Edwards, a mother of three, was similarly "ingested" into the engine of a plane in Alabama earlier this year. Read the original article on Business Insider Matt Huron Every June, rainbow flags are flown in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. The colors light up buildings and landmarks, and companies from all sectors market products that celebrate Pride Month. While cannabis companies are no exception, they align much more authentically with Pride than others because of their deep connection to one another as longtime partners in the slow march toward acceptance. In fact, the legalization of medical (and adult-use) cannabis would never have been possible without the early adopters in the LGBTQ+ community who advocated for patient access to cannabis during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I had a front-row seat to the evolution of the medical cannabis movement while living with my father, who was gay, in the Castro District of San Francisco in the 1980s and '90s. I moved in with him when I was in the third grade, so he basically raised me in this district, an historically gay neighborhood and hotbed for LGBTQ+ activism. I remember in the early days, my dad and his partner Elmar would regularly host dinner parties at our home. These gatherings grew smaller over the years as their friends increasingly became sick and succumbed to the HIV/AIDS virus. When Elmar and my dad, a few years later, were diagnosed with the virus, they began using cannabis medicinally, perhaps without even realizing it. All they knew was that cannabis soothed their pain, increased their appetites and decreased their anxiety. However, while the therapeutic cred of cannabis grew within the LGBTQ+ community during this time, it wasnt easy for AIDS patients to access the medicinal plant. It was still illegal then in California. Still, I watched as people across the community found creative ways to ensure their suffering friends and family members could get access to high-quality cannabis. I heard about Mary Jane Rathbun, an IHOP waitress in her 60s who became known as Brownie Mary for passing out cannabis-infused brownies to AIDS patients at the local hospital. I read about the work of fellow Castro dweller and gay activist Dennis Peron, whod been active in San Franciscos underground cannabis communities for years. After he was arrested in 1990 for having cannabis in his home for his dying partner, Peron fought to change the law in California. Proposition P, which passed in 1991, allowed doctors in the city to recommend medical cannabis to patients. Shortly thereafter, Peron opened a Cannabis Buyers Club, where people with AIDS and other wasting syndromes could purchase cannabis to help relieve the physical and psychological symptoms of their illnesses. These early battles for medicinal cannabis rights in the gay community were a true flashpoint in the legalization movement, helping open the public's eyes and minds to the plants benefits for terminally ill patients. It also led many of us to our lifes purpose. While in college, I took a trip to Austria, where I learned how to grow and cultivate cannabis. After returning to the Castro I opened my first medical cannabis co-op with my dad. We named it Elmar Lins Compassionate Care Co-op, after his partner. Our co-op provided cannabis to local patients in hospice care and assisted living for almost a decade until my father passed away in July 2009, just one year after Elmars death. Straight from my dads funeral, I flew to Colorado, where my best friend Toby lived he later became the COO/CFO of Good Chemistry Nurseries and he told me about the new emerging market and the potential for the first state law that would regulate cannabis. With my fathers passing and the excitement to operate in a state that passed the first historic cannabis regulatory framework legislation, I moved from San Francisco and started Good Chemistry Nurseries in 2010. I opened with one small cultivation and one store. Today we have expanded to three cultivations and four dispensaries in Colorado, and in 2018, we opened our first cultivation and dispensary in Massachusetts, followed by a second cultivation and dispensary in 2021. Today, the cannabis industry has grown to an over $30 billion market, which means a lot of venture capitalists and Wall Street types have flocked to it on a mission to make a quick buck but do not have a passion to produce quality flower. Our mission, however, has always been guided by the impact cannabis had on my father and Elmar, and the overall Pride and cannabis legalization movements that I watched gain momentum throughout my childhood. As dispensaries continue to proliferate, theyd be wise in the spirit of Pride to pay homage to the spirit of the Castro District that delivered cannabis, comfort and compassion to LGBTQ+ community so many decades ago. Matt Huron is the founder and CEO of Good Chemistry Nurseries. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Pride, cannabis movements grew together This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Gunmen shot and killed a member of Pakistans minority Sikh community in an overnight attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar, police said Sunday. Gauher Khan, a local officer, said the attack on Manmohan Singh, 35, appeared to be a targeted killing. A police investigation continues, Khan said, into the motive. Khan said the assailants opened fire at Singh while he was returning home from a suburban area. The assailants fled the scene. The Islamic State group in a statement claimed responsibility for the killing, saying Singh had been a follower of what it called a polytheistic Sikh sect in Peshawar. It also claimed wounding a Sikh in the northwestern city the previous day. It's the third killing of a Sikh community member this year in Pakistan. Last month, assailants gunned down Sardar Singh in a drive-by shooting in the eastern city of Lahore. In April, gunmen shot and killed Dayal Singh in Peshawar. In the same city in May 2022, gunmen killed two members of Sikh community. Most Sikhs migrated to neighboring India in 1947, the year British rule of the subcontinent ended and Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims in the region. Thousands of Sikhs stayed in Pakistan, where they generally live peacefully. But isolated attacks on minority Sikhs, Christians and members of the Ahmadi sect have continued. (Bloomberg) -- Most Read from Bloomberg South African Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe refused to attend a top-level meeting held by President Cyril Ramaphosa with European leaders for the signing of a green energy memorandum of understanding, the Johannesburg-based Sunday Times reported. Mantashe didnt sign the $1 billion agreement with the Netherlands and Denmark because it was drafted without his input, the newspaper said, citing the minister and other officials. The pact was ultimately signed by others. The adoption of cleaner energy has been beset by infighting within the South African government as much of the ruling African National Congresss traditional support comes from labor unions, including the National Union of Mineworkers. Both Ramaphosa and Mantashe are former leaders of the mining union. State-backed firms from the Netherlands agreed to back a $1 billion dollar of green hydrogen funds in South Africa. Climate Fund Managers BV, a Hague-based company owned by Netherlandss development bank FMO and South African insurer Sanlam Ltd., and Invest International BV will help run and finance the initiatives, according to statements. South Africa estimates it will cost about 1.5 trillion rand ($80 billion) over the next five years to transition away from the use of coal for power and create electric vehicle and green hydrogen industries. Read more: The Big Plan to Help Developing Nations Go Green Is Foundering Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. I had to get my fix! Why a Gulf angler drove 6 hours to fish on Fathers Day Weekend Angler Geoff Groves loves an adventure. Hes been known to go on last-minute fishing trips across the state to the east coast for monster snook or down to the Florida Keys for mahi and tuna when the fishing is good. If just send it had a poster child, it could very well feature a picture of Groves. Im off to catch the endangered American red snapper solo on Fathers Day! he posted to Facebook at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, one day after the Gulf of Mexico red snapper season opened. But he wasnt heading west to fish his normal fishing spots out of Tampa Bay. Accompanying his post were two pictures. One showed his small catamaran with a 140 Suzuki engine on a trailer hooked up to his truck ready to tow. The other was a map to Niceville, a town between Panama City and Pensacola in the panhandle of Florida. The estimated time to drive was over 6 hours and covered 360 miles. Groves, like most offshore anglers who fish the Gulf in Florida, had June 16 circled on the calendar since the recreational red snapper season opening was announced for that day. But as the date came closer, the forecast deteriorated leaving the opening weekend with southwest winds between 10 and 25 miles per hour. I think Tuesday when it was 5-foot forecasted here, I decided to go, Groves explained. I had to get my fix! That place is gorgeous and the American red snapper there are as plentiful as grunts here. He made the drive, arriving Saturday. In the Panhandle, red snapper are known to be caught much shallower than other areas of the Gulf. Legal-sized fish have been caught by anglers kayaking from the beach and inside Choctawhatchee Bay between Niceville and Destin. But Groves wanted to fish deeper, and with a small weather window in the panhandle set for Sunday he pushed south into the Gulf of Mexico on Fathers Day morning. Light winds greeted him as he ventured to new grounds and began exploring. I found a random spot on a break in 105 feet about 17 miles offshore. I caught five or six red snapper then got a keeper. The next drop I got another keeper. It took only about 20 minutes, Groves said, who had his two fish limit of red snapper. I went further to 200 feet, which was about 30 miles. I dropped twice and heard thunder and then I knew the trip was over. I could have gotten a couple real big ones if the weather cooperated. When he came back inshore around noon on Sunday, a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect for his area. He packed up and set his six-hour return for home, but the adventure wasnt done yet. Around Tallahassee trailer problems had him stuck. After four hours of running around Tallahassee looking for studs, I got it fixed, the always-smiling Groves said. I made it home at 2 a.m. So worth it! The remains of a derailed train in Montana following a bridge collapse. Matthew Brown/AP Photo Several freight train cars carrying hazardous materials plunged into the Yellowstone River in Montana on Saturday during a bridge collapse, officials said. The incident occurred in Stillwater County, approximately 60 miles from Montana's largest city, Billings. At least seven freight cars fell into the river when the bridge collapsed, according to a statement from the Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services. The water supply downstream was shut down temporarily while officials assessed the full scale of the event, The Associated Press reported. Montana Rail Link, the company that operated the train, said no injuries were reported and the train operators were safe. The area around the derailment is sparsely populated, and the river flows away from Yellowstone National Park, located about 110 miles away. However, the cars that fell into the river contained hot asphalt and molten sulfur, Stillwater County officials said. It was initially unclear if the train cars had been compromised, but AP reported that a yellow substance was seen emerging from at least one of the cars sitting in the river. While the asphalt and sulfur both solidify quickly when exposed to cooler temperatures, Stillwater County said that two other cars that derailed had contained sodium hydrogen sulfate. This is a toxic substance, and "ingestion or skin contact with [the] material may cause severe injury or death," the National Institutes of Health reported. However, officials said neither of the cars containing sodium hydrogen sulfate had entered the river. Multiple state and federal agencies were on the scene, CBS News reported, including Federal Railroad Administration officials. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted that he'd spoken to Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) to "offer support following a derailment," adding that additional federal resources will be available. "Residents concerned about potential impacts should follow information and instructions from local authorities," Buttigieg said. You may also like Problematic Ford Explorer recall prompts federal investigation Did the Dobbs decision help or hinder Republicans? Putin's grip on power apparently damaged after Wagner mutiny Hikers stumble across body on mountain where actor vanished, California officials say Hikers discovered human remains on Mount Baldy, a rugged Southern California mountain where actor Julian Sands vanished on a hike in January, authorities reported. The body, reported at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 24, has not been identified, the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said in a news release. Deputies took the remains to the county coroners office, the release said. Identification should be completed sometime this week. Sands, 65, was reported missing Jan. 13 after not returning from a hike on the snow-covered mountain near Los Angeles, McClatchy News reported. The actor, an avid hiker, appeared in several Oscar-nominated films, including A Room with a View. The sheriffs office said June 17 that the search for him was ongoing in a limited capacity. Mount Baldy is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains, about 45 miles northeast of Los Angeles, according to Conde Nast Traveler. Avid cliff diver drowns in aggressive current after leap from waterfall, CA cops say Lost skier gets stranded 6,000 feet up backside of California mountain, sheriff says Hikers with busted equipment lose their footing 7,600 feet up icy California mountain A Hollywood movie mogul and campaign adviser to Joe Biden is telling the president to embrace his age like Harrison Ford and Mick Jagger Jeffrey Katzenberg arrives to the American Film Institute's 46th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute in Hollywood, California. Michael Tran/FilmMagic A Hollywood big shot is helping Joe Biden pitch his age to wary voters in the 2024 election. Jeffrey Katzenberg wants Biden to tout his age like Harrison Ford or Mick Jagger, per The Wall Street Journal. Biden, now 80, will be weeks away from turning 82 when the presidential election is held in November 2024. President Joe Biden tapped a Hollywood movie mogul to help him pitch his age to voters in the 2024 presidential election. In this role, Jeffrey Katzenberg the co-founder of DreamWorks SKG and a national co-chair on Biden's campaign is encouraging the president to proudly tout his age as experience, The Wall Street Journal reported. Katzenberg has told Biden to embrace his age like 80-year-old Harrison Ford, who is reprising his role in the "Indiana Jones" franchise, or Mick Jagger, who was still performing on tour last year at 79. "He is determined, and the thing about Jeffrey is there's just no version that he takes no for an answer," actor George Clooney told the Journal about Katzenberg, who is a longtime supporter of Democrats. "Jeffrey, he's a dog with a bone, and he doesn't let go." Aside from helping Biden convince hesitant younger voters that his age isn't an issue, Katzenberg is also expected to use his industry contacts to raise some $2 billion in campaign funds, the Journal reported. "Everybody keeps coming into Hollywood for cash, and they don't come to us for the one thing we do better than anybody, which is tell stories," Clooney told the outlet. "And so I think it's probably a very good idea that they're going to Jeffrey not just for raising money, but for narratives." While Katzenberg and Biden grew closer when the latter was serving as vice president, they've known each other since the 1980s, the Journal reported. Katzenberg has also said he doesn't want to serve in an appointed position or an ambassadorship, the outlet reported. Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist who has known Katzenberg for years, told the outlet that the movie mogul is in this fight for the cause, not himself. "I've never, ever had the sense that Jeffrey does this for what the business people call ROI," Begala told the Journal. "He's very much committed to Biden, for Biden, and I think he may be one of the few people who can talk to him as a near peer." Read the original article on Business Insider Homeowner furious after HOAs mismanaged sprinkler system causes damage to their home: Three inches of moss and algae One Southern California resident is furious after their HOAs mismanagement of a sprinkler system caused severe water damage in their home. A Reddit user took to the popular forum to vent and ask for advice about the water damage in their home, which was a direct result of the HOA failing to properly manage an irrigation system. The Redditor explains in the post that the irrigation system regularly sprays their outer wall, and even though the HOA said that was normal, the water eventually got into the wall, causing damage to the homeowners floors. They kept calling it normal irrigation. 3 inches of moss and algae later, in the summer in Southern California, I had a water intrusion into the wall, explains the Reddit user. Why a little sprinkler can cause big damage The Redditors water damage nightmare speaks to a larger issue: the misuse of irrigation systems, which is a waste of water. As our planet continues to get warmer, not only do certain places like California and Arizona see less rainfall on average, but the water that does come down from the skies evaporates faster. Thats why we have been facing notable droughts. Governor Gavin Newsom recently lifted the water use restrictions in California, so now is a good time for residents to be conscious about how they use their sprinklers. How to be a responsible sprinkler owner If you want to be conscientious of your water usage, consider some of these water-wise tips from the Environmental Protection Agency. Buy a smart irrigation system. Some irrigation systems self-adjust according to the weather. So, when it rains more in your area, your sprinkler system works a little less. Adjust your irrigation system. You can manually adjust your irrigation system to work in harmony with the weather, scaling it back when there is a lot of rain. Properly position your sprinkler. Make sure your sprinkler is positioned so that only the areas you want to get water are getting it. You may also consider swapping thirsty turf lawns for a drought-tolerant, easy-to-maintain native lawn. Redditors had suggestions for the original poster to handle their situation in the meantime. Contact your homeowners insurance company. Even though the water damage is from an external source, theyll be more likely to get you satisfaction, said one Redditor. Personally I would try to have the laminate replaced with waterproof vinyl flooring, advised another Reddit user. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. Flash People holding signs rally to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater into the sea near the Seoul City Hall in Seoul, South Korea, June 24, 2023. [Photo/NEWSIS via Xinhua] Thousands of South Koreans rallied in central Seoul Saturday to urge the Japanese government to build more storage facilities on land for nuclear-contaminated water instead of discharging it into the sea. The civic activists gathered near the Seoul City Hall to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater, holding signs that read "Protect Pacific Ocean!" and "Storage on Land." They also urged the South Korean government and people to prevent Japan's irresponsible plan of discharging nuke-contaminated water into the sea. The organizer said that as the time for Japan's plan of dumping radioactive wastewater approaches, concerns are growing in South Korea and abroad, while evidence abounds that the release has adverse effects on the ecosystem. Kwon Min-kyung, a Seoul citizen who joined the protest rally, said that the Japanese government's decision to dump radioactive wastewater simply to save money is a criminal act of destroying the marine ecosystem, even though there is a way to store it on land. Despite grave concerns expressed by neighbors and the Pacific island countries, the Japanese government has decided to release radioactive wastewater from the crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean "in spring or summer." Climate Activists ProtestRachel Bomeyer/picture alliance via Getty Images The day Donald Trump was arraigned for unauthorized possession of national security documents heightening his party's attacks on the nation's justice system also saw the publication of Peter Turchin's new book, "End Times: Elites, Counter-Elites, and the Path of Political Disintegration," arguably the most comprehensive explanation so far of the current and ongoing crisis of American politics. For all its breadth and depth, there's a simple message at the core of "End Times": At the heart of our problems, Turchin writes, is "a perverse 'wealth pump' ... taking from the poor and giving to the rich," and we have to find a way to turn it off. America has essentially done that before, during the New Deal era, and other nations and societies have done it as well. But only about one in five of the nation-states or empires that face cyclical crises like the one we're in today escapes it, Turchin reports. So the odds aren't great, unless we act fast and with purpose, making full use of what we now know. As I explained in my recent interview with Turchin for Salon, he was one of the few observers who saw this breakdown of political order coming. In a 2010 letter to Nature he warned: "The next decade is likely to be a period of growing instability in the United States set to peak in the years around 2020." Related Welcome to the "End Times": Peter Turchin saw this coming and says we can still prevent collapse He was drawing on a model of cyclical integration and disintegration first introduced in Jack Goldstone's 1991 "Revolution and Rebellion in the Early Modern World." Since then, Turchin and his colleagues have created a database of roughly 300 cases of crisis, stretching from the Neolithic Age to the present, with what he calls "good data" on about 100 of them. For example, their analysis codes for 12 indicators of negative consequences, such as population loss (which occurs in about half such crises) and ending in revolutions, civil wars or both (which happens about 75% of the time). Cases that avoid such outcomes obviously hold valuable lessons especially since the sample size is just about big enough to guard against cherry-picking evidence to prove some cherished point. It should be no surprise that the Progressive/New Deal era in America, which produced decades-long high levels of social cohesion, is one such example. But "End Times" helps us understand that as one specific example of a broader genre of successful sociopolitical responses, some of which might be less obvious. That can potentially help us think more constructively about how to find our way out of our current crisis state and mitigate the next one. There's a central tension in "End Times" between the evidence about what works and the obstacles to executing those things, and that's also based on the historical record. On the one hand, Turchin's book strongly argues that something akin to New Deal reforms isn't just a good idea in moral or political terms but is an objective necessity to avoid disaster and rebuild social trust. But he's also clear about the deeply rooted forces that stand in the way of such reforms, casting them as damaging partisan politics or even an existential threat. In our interview, Turchin told me, "We don't have to do exactly the same thing the Democrats did in the New Deal, but somehow we have to achieve the same result. And I just don't see that happening." In elite discourse today, "extreme left" and "extreme right" are routinely equated as unreasonable extremes, in contrast to an ideal version of pragmatic bipartisanship that will somehow save us. somehow the source of our salvation. But most of what is commonly called "leftist" these days is just an expanded version of the progressive policy vision that resolved America's previous period of crisis during the Great Depression, and that vision has significant electoral support. My point is not to claim that all answers can be found on the left, which has its own internal conflicts and contradictions. But "End Times" offers a pathway toward a realistic focus on viable solution paths that elite compromise politics are doomed to obscure, if not destroy. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. In three appendices to his book, Turchin provides a non-technical explanation of his approach to understanding history and how it developed over time. Goldstone's book "was almost completely ignored" for a decade after its publication, he writes. His own experience was quite different: "To my surprise, the new science of cliodynamics, which I launched in 2003, started getting immediate traction." The reason, he says, was his use of data, which he discusses in detail. Turchin doesn't even mention the biggest reason Goldstone's book was ignored: It defied the dominant zeitgeist of the early 1990s. It was published the same year as the Soviet Union collapsed, and the following year saw the publication of Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History and the Last Man," which argued that we had reached "the end-point of mankind's ideological evolution." There were no more revolutions to be had. It was a huge hit. Everyone wanted to believe it. By 2003, not so much. One of Goldstone's key discoveries was this: "Before every major revolution or rebellion between 1500 and 1900, I found that indeed, population had grown substantially in the prior half century." But "population growth was almost nil" in periods when those explosive outcomes did not happen. His model was more complex than that, and concerned not just the size and condition of the general population, but also that of elite groups who held social power. Turchin had been a mathematically-inclined biologist before turning his attention to human history (his PhD from Duke is in zoology), and understood how to use nonlinear models of processes in which small changes can produce large results, as can happen, for example, with modest changes in fertility rates. Goldstone's model, known as structural demographic theory (SDT), suggested that human systems could be modeled in similar ways. Of course revolutions and civil wars are complex phenomena, but Turchin's scientific experience led him to conclude that a "relatively small set of mechanisms can generate exceedingly complex dynamics." He sees four main drivers that lead to societal crisis, of which the most important is "intraelite competition and conflict," and the most variable is "geopolitical factors," which for large and powerful nations like the U.S. tend to be negligible. Another driver, "popular immiseration," increases as population growth drives down living standards, which leads to "elite overproduction," for example when too many middle-class college graduates compete for a stagnant number of well-paying jobs. The last driver, the "failing fiscal health and weakened legitimacy of the state," is exacerbated by both popular immiseration and elite overproduction, which are clearly the central features. Turchin also focuses attention on what he calls the "engine" at the heart of the model, the previously mentioned "perverse 'wealth pump'... taking from the poor and giving to the rich." It intensifies and locks in popular immiseration and also drives elite overproduction, undermining social trust at both the top and bottom of the social pyramid. America since Reagan has fallen prey to "one of the most fundamental principles in sociology, the 'iron law of oligarchy,'" Turchin writes, leading to the "perverse 'wealth pump' ... taking from the poor and giving to the rich." This reflects "one of the most fundamental principles in sociology, the 'iron law of oligarchy,'" he writes, "which states that when an interest group acquires a lot of power, it inevitably starts using that power in self-interested ways." For example, while wages fell far behind the growth of economic productivity from 1979 onward, Turchin cites analysis from the Economic Policy Institute indicating that three-fourths of that gap was due to elite-driven policy shifts: weakened labor standards, the erosion of collective bargaining, corporate globalization and so-called fiscal austerity. That was all part of what Turchin calls the "Trend Reversal of the Reagan Era," when the broad-based well-being and social trust from the New Deal era dramatically reversed themselves: Diminished economic conditions for the less educated were accompanied by a decline in the social institutions that nurtured their social life and cooperation. These institutions include the family, the church, the labor union, the public schools and their parent-teacher associations, and various voluntary neighborhood associations. The importance of the wealth pump in driving instability, and the need to constrain it to avoid collapse, cannot be overemphasized. It's reflected in the last lines of Turchin's book: "Complex human societies need elites rulers, administrators, thought leaders to function well. We don't want to get rid of them; the trick is to constrain them to act for the benefit of all." That's a lot easier said than done, of course. But clearly establishing the need, and showing that it's not just an ideological position but an urgent practical necessity, represents a huge step forward. That alone makes "End Times" required reading for all who are serious about saving or redeeming American democracy. Read more from Paul Rosenberg on politics, power and history Sands went missing on Mount San Antonio, just outside the city of Los Angeles (Alberto PIZZOLI) Hikers found human remains in California's Mount San Antonio area, local authorities said, around the same area where British actor Julian Sands went missing five months ago. The remains were discovered in the wilderness on Saturday morning, San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said in a statement. "Civilian hikers contacted the Fontana Sheriff's Station after they discovered human remains" near the mountain, it added. The body was taken to the coroner's office to be identified, with the process expected to be completed next week. Sands, who shot to fame in 1985 for his role in "A Room with a View", went missing in January on the 10,000-foot (3,000-meter) Mount San Antonio, known locally as Mount Baldy, just outside the city of Los Angeles. The 65-year-old is an experienced hiker who has previously described himself as happiest "close to a mountain summit on a glorious cold morning." California was hit by a succession of heavy storms in December and January that brought heavy snow to mountain ranges, including to Mount San Antonio. The peak where Sands disappeared is the highest in the San Gabriel Mountains and a popular destination for Los Angeles residents. San Bernardino County Sheriff at the time said it was increasingly treacherous, with eight known deaths between 2017 and 2022. The actor's brother, Nick, said two weeks after search efforts began that he had accepted Sands would not be found alive. "He has not yet been declared missing, presumed dead, but I know in my heart that he has gone," he had said, according to English local media in Yorkshire, where the brothers grew up. bur-dhw/leg Husband dies after calling 911, saying he may have killed his wife, Wichita police say Wichita police say a 47-year-old man called 911 early Sunday to report he may have killed his wife and shortly after officers arrived at the residence they placed the suspect in custody, when he became unresponsive and died, according to a news release. Wichita police also found a deceased 44-year-old woman inside the residence in the 2700 block of North Parkridge upon arriving at 5:21 a.m. Sunday. The woman died of an apparent gunshot wound in what is being investigated as domestic violence, police said. The male who was taken into custody became unresponsive, Wichita police spokesperson Kristopher Gupilan said in a media release. Officers notified Sedgwick County EMS of the males status and medical aid was rendered. The male shooting suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. In the interest transparency and accountability, Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan has requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation inspect the suspects death. Wichita police encourages domestic abuse survivors to contact local service providers for assistance at at wichita.gov/wpd. MANGUITO, CUBA The majority of Marcos Perezs friends fled the country last year. Now, he and his family are pooling their money to do the same. Only a few of my friends are left, the ones who lack ambition and the ones who have kids. I could count them on one hand, Perez said. His father sells goods on the black market to keep the family fed and clothed, and has even earned enough to buy a new, sleek metal fridge, an uncommon luxury in Cuba. Over the past year, 305,000 Cubans crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, most asking for asylum. Thats nearly 3% of the islands population. Many migrants flew to Nicaragua or Panama, countries that do not require a specific visa for Cubans, and trekked through Central America and Mexico to arrive at the U.S. border. Others applied for visas to travel to the U.S. directly. The exodus was the product of the islands economic collapse, which has driven many thousands into food insecurity. Originally, Cubans were exempt from Title 42, the pandemic-era law that allowed border patrol to return migrants from six countries into Mexico without a formal deportation process, due to public health concerns. Then, in January, President Joe Biden signed an executive order effectively ending this exemption and blocking Cubans from entering the United States through the Mexican border and asking for asylum. Since then, thousands of Cubans have been turned away and are now stuck in border towns in Mexico. Title 42 recently expired, but the alternative is not much better for Cuban migrants. A new order from the administration equires migrants to apply for asylum in Mexico before they arrive at the U.S. border, and most single adults will be turned away and deported back into Mexico if border patrol encounters them at the wall. Mexico has agreed to keep taking in migrants from other countries, as they did under Title 42, in exchange for the building of a gas pipeline and other infrastructural projects. Thousands who were planning to leave Cuba through the U.S.-Mexico border route are frantically looking for sponsors within the U.S. who can help them get a visa through the new humanitarian parole program, which requires Cubans to apply for a visa, wait for months for an approval, and then fly directly from Havana. Those who cannot find a sponsor, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who can legally vouch for the migrant, are left without options. At the same time, Cuba is facing an economic disaster, along with bleak shortages of food and fuel. Hundreds of thousands of people who were planning to leave the island this year will not be able to, as only those with strong ties to the U.S., in the form of a family member to serve as a sponsor, will be allowed in. Critics of Bidens new immigration policy say it is inhumane, as it forbids Cubans, many of whom are facing severe poverty and food insecurity, from asking for asylum, and abandons migrants in Mexican border towns where they are vulnerable to kidnappings for ransom. Its a rich and middle class migrant program, because you need both a passport and a sponsor. Its gatekeeping. It isnt a humanitarian law because it favors migrants with more access," said Adam Isacson, the Director of Defense Oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America. A drop in Cuban migration to the U.S. Cuban migration to the U.S. has dropped by nearly 90% since the introduction of the new policy, but Cubans are still the third-most represented country of origin for migrants crossing the Guatemala-Mexico border, meaning thousands of Cubans are stuck waiting in Mexico for the rules to change. To make things worse, the poverty inherent in modern Cuban life is in part the result of the long held U.S. embargo, which forbids any company, U.S. or foreign, from operating both in the United States and Cuba. This rule effectively isolates Cuba from the rest of the global economy. President Barack Obama, in 2015, announced a reopening of diplomatic relations and tourism with Cuba and it looked as if the embargo was on its way out. However, under President Trump, sanctions on Cuba were augmented, leading to a severe oil shortage, and Americans were again forbidden from visiting the island as tourists. Under President Biden, Cuba policy has more closely resembled Trumps approach, with perhaps a more neutral attitude. In 2021, the Biden administration said, in a press conference, that a change in policy towards Cuba was not a priority. During the pandemic, Cubas economy nosedived, and it seems no matter how much society returns to normal, the value of the Cuban peso slides further and further downward and prices for most necessary goods spike ever higher into a canopy of unaffordability. Some believe this collapse is worse than that so-called Special Period in the 90s, when many Cubans faced serious food insecurity. Over the past four years, the customary price of a ham sandwich from a street vendor in Havana has risen by 2000%. Rolling blackouts are common in rural areas, and the value of the Cuban peso in street exchanges has dropped from 25 pesos to the dollar (in 2019) to nearly 200 pesos to the dollar. The price of a packet of pork, enough to feed two people for about a week, costs the same as the average monthly salary in Cuba, which is close to fifteen dollars at the current street exchange rate. Now, with the new immigration policy, those left behind in Cuba have few options to leave themselves, and must stay and endure whatever will happen next. An altered economy, a quiet town park, and horse carts for transport Life in Cuba has changed for the people left behind The absence of hundreds of thousands of people, many of them in their 20s and 30s, has left holes in many industries, and altered Cubas economy. In Perezs pueblo, Manguito, Matanzas, 120 miles away from Havana, nearly half the population of 2,000 disappeared over one calendar year, fundamentally altering the fabric of the community. Its three in the afternoon and Manguitos central park, a collection of trees, metal benches, and a few patches of grass, sits still in the sun. Iliana Herrera, a retired historian who lives in the village, recognizes this silence as the new normal. The teenagers who used to chatter in the square are gone now. Only a few remain, wandering back and forth in their school uniforms, trying to catch cell service on their phones. It used to be that youd open your door, and even though the town is tiny, there was a vibrant social life on the street youd see young people playing sports, listening to music, chatting about this and that. The emptiness is noticeable, Herrera said. Without oil, many people say finding transportation on the island is akin to doing magic. Chauffeurs wait in lines for days to fill their taxis with gasoline, and buses often arrive two or three hours late, overstuffed to the point that everyone inside becomes one, sweaty body. In the early 20th century, Manguito was home to one of Latin Americas first railroad stations. Now, people use horse carts for transport. Julio Gomez, a schoolteacher who has taught Manguitos adolescents for decades, has noticed a significant shift in the temperament and interests of his students. The pull of escape is so strong, teenagers no longer appear interested in building lives in Cuba. There is no hunger for learning, only for leaving. Their focuses are the accumulation of cash needed to leave the country and distracting themselves to pass the days while they wait their turn to board an airplane. Life is challenging for people still in Cuba Only mayonnaise for sale The internet offers a lesson that much of the world is free of the scarcity that plagues the island. Manguitos one state-run store is a white box with mostly empty shelves. Often, theres an influx of one product, like mayonnaise or detergent, and nothing else for sale. Products must be bought using special cards that can only be filled with dollars or euros, as the Cuban government needs convertible currency. Each Cuban citizen receives a small cache of rice, beans, hot dogs, soap, and other basic items from the government, but it is nowhere near enough to survive. Most people sell goods on the black market, which means selling items out of their homes, to afford to live. Now, with the majority of the working population gone, Manguito has stagnated even further. The retirees who make up the largest segment of the village are not working the land or raising pigs, Manguitos previous industries. They are living off of black-market deals, government rations, and a slow trickle of cash from relatives abroad, as their monthly pensions edge closer to ten dollars a month. Undoubtedly emigration affects the economic development of the population, when the majority of the labor force is leaving due to the conditions and the material limitations of life here. The majority of the people who leave are of working age, and so the standard of life for everyone descends considerably, Herrera said. It is impossible to start development in a place without the necessary raw materials, and now with no food, and with no people. To make things worse, the town will be forced to wait months or years for remittances to arrive from those who left recently. Customarily, relatives abroad will foot the 10,000 dollar bill for the journey to the U.S., because it is virtually impossible to save that much money while living in Cuba. After settling in, in Miami, or Houston, or the New Jersey suburbs, the migrant is often expected to pay back that 10,000 dollars as fast as they can by working multiple grueling jobs. Only when they have paid their debts and figured out how to support themselves can anything be sent back to Cuba. Sometimes, remittances dont just arrive late they never arrive at all. Several young people from the village ostensibly made it to the United States and then disappeared, never contacting their families back in Cuba or responding to messages from anyone on the island. Sometimes a son will leave and then forget his family. We as a town try to offer solidarity to the families when this happens and help them survive, Herrera said. LuzMaria Hernandez, who lives in Manguito and has two adult sons in the U.S., is struggling to feed herself. Every six months, her eldest son returns to Cuba and buys her a stockpile of supplies, and she sells cigarettes and other items out of her home while she awaits his return. But Hernandezs younger son never figured out how to support himself in Miami. Shortly after his arrival in Florida, he was busted selling marijuana in an attempt to pay back his debts, and is now in prison. Hernandez disappears into the back room of her house and returns with a creased photo of her sons from over a decade ago, holding beer cans and smiling, back when Manguito had rowdier neighborhood parties. Doesnt he look happy? she says, of her younger son. They were so close. Back at the Perez house, the mood is light, and a meal of rice, beans, and pork is bubbling on the stove. Adida Perez, Marcos and Mardelys mother, says she is not sure how they will save up enough money to leave the country, only that this is the plan, so for now, theres nothing left to do but continue buying and selling, wait and see. Can you find us a sponsor? Adida Perez asks. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is life like for people still in Cuba? The U.S. Supreme Court (Photo/Levi Rickert for Native News Online) Guest Opinion. As Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, I joined the celebrations across Indian Country for the U.S. Supreme Courts 7-2 Brackeen v. Haaland decision upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The ruling was a triumph for tribes and, more importantly, for the health and safety of Native American children. When it comes to defending ICWA, the facts, the law, and the U.S. Constitution have always been on our side. The SCOTUS decision reinforces years of legal precedent that tribes and tribal citizens have a sovereign right to self-determination and preservation of our cultural identities. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Enacted in 1978, ICWA exists due to the dark chapter in American history when a staggering 25 to 35% of Indian children were wrongfully removed from their families and the majority placed into non-Native homes. Throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, this was done by state officials and private groups with the intention of eradicating Native American culture and language. In an echo of the earlier federal boarding school period, children were taken from their families often without due process of the law. ICWA is essential to making sure that never happens again. We know Native children are safest and happiest when they can grow up within their own community. However, that hasnt stopped repeated attempts to tear down ICWA, driven by political motivations and based on falsehoods. Unfortunately, throughout history, attacks on tribal rights have often succeeded. Recognizing this in the Brackeen case, the Cherokee Nation proudly joined forces with many other tribes, scholars, child welfare advocates and elected leaders from across the political spectrum to combat these assaults. We stood united in support of ICWA because we all understand that it represents the gold standard in child welfare laws. Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. While our recent Supreme Court victory was significant, the groups that poured millions of dollars into misleading attacks on ICWA are continuing efforts to undermine the law. Critics wrongly frame ICWA as a race-based law, but as those familiar with American history and constitutional law have repeatedly proven, tribal citizenship is not about race. It is about the inherent sovereignty of tribes, like the Cherokee Nation, that existed since long before the United States was founded and that continue today. Cherokee Nation will continue our work with our partners to strengthen ICWA and safeguard tribal sovereignty against future attacks. We have a duty to protect our children and families, and I am confident that our sister tribes share this commitment. Yet we still have work to do: out of the 1,141 Cherokee children with active foster care cases, 30% are placed in non-Native homes. We urgently need more Cherokees to step up to become foster families and close this gap. For the Cherokee Nation, ICWA is a lifeline. It solidifies our powers to protect our children, heal historical wounds and renew pride in our culture. It acknowledges the profound importance of family and community in the Cherokee way of life. As we celebrate this victory, we hope it provides for a deeper understanding and appreciation of what it means to belong to a Native family and a Tribal Nation. Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. The inside man who shook the Kremlin: Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin, and whats next for him? Yevgeny Prigozhin used his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin to get rich and build a private army then marched it on Moscow in a stunning challenge to his former bosss rule. The Wagner mercenary group chief now appears to have abandoned that rebellion for exile in Belarus, in a deal that leaves more questions than answers. Prigozhin would be naive to think this is over, Michael A. Horowitz, a geopolitical and security analyst who is the head of intelligence at Le Beck consultancy, told NBC News. Heres a look at the man behind Russias biggest insurrection in its post-Soviet history, who went from prison to leading a military revolt that got within a hundred or so miles of Moscow. Who knows whats next. How did Prigozhin build Wagner? A St. Petersburg native like Putin, Prigozhin, 62, has one of the most varied biographies among the Kremlin elite. He has admitted to serving 10 years in prison as a young man, though he has not said what for. He then grew a hot-dog stand into a chain of upscale restaurants, eventually drawing the Russian presidents attention and earning lucrative contracts to cater for public school and Kremlin events, which earned him the nickname Putins chef. Over time, Prigohzin has catered to a variety of Putins other needs. The Russian leader has sought to project influence around the world from his neighbors in eastern Europe to the Middle East and Africa and Prigozhin has helped him do it. Around 2014, he created Wagner, according to a member who was recruited to the mercenary outfit by Prigozhin in its early days. The Kremlin had just seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and had its sights on the eastern Donbas region, where a conflict was brewing after mass protests in Kyiv toppled a pro-Russian government. Suddenly, Putin had a war on his hands but did not want to send in regular army troops or call up a draft and face the possibility of Russians coming home in body bags. So Prigozhin provided a solution. He created a force of undesirables, people with military experience or a history of violence who were looking for jobs and may be less likely to be missed if they were killed. Wagners early operations in Ukraine were somewhat successful, and the conflict there continued without pushback from the Russian public. Yevgeny Prigozhin shows Russian President Vladimir Putin around his factory outside St. Petersburg on Sept. 20, 2010. (Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP file) The Kremlin has always denied any official military presence in eastern Ukraine, and while Prigozhin had previously refuted suggestions that he was connected to Wagner, last year he admitted on social media that he had created the group in 2014 and it had taken part in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Prigohzins next mission got much more attention, particularly from the U.S. He founded the Internet Research Agency, the bot farm that interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, polluting social media with disinformation, lies and skepticism about the legitimacy of the electoral process. Whether it swayed the outcome of the election remains an open question, but the U.S. intelligence community called it out and sanctioned Prigozhin, who said last year that he had interfered in U.S. elections and would continue to do so. After that came Russias intervention in the war in Syria. Putin wanted to back President Bashar al-Assad and fight rebels backed by the West, but, again, do it off the books with few official Russian casualties. There, Wagner once again became instrumental to his efforts, and its fighters remain on the ground in the Middle Eastern country many years later. Ever the entrepreneur, Prigozhin also expanded his operations into Africa. In the Central African Republic, Prigohzin discovered that if Wagner propped up the weak government and helped it fight off a rebellion, the group could help itself to the impoverished countrys resources, mainly gold and blood diamonds. Now the man who restarted his life with a single hot-dog stand had an army that was battle tested, experienced in disinformation, and perhaps most crucially, had its own independent source of funding. From Bakhmut to Moscow: What sparked the rebellion? With the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Prigozhin was able and eager to again prove his value to Putin. As the Russian army came up against surprisingly strong resistance, Wagners mercenaries came in handy in the bloodiest of battles. To bolster their ranks, Prigozhin turned to a place he knew well, promising convicts in Russian prisons freedom if they could survive more than six months on the front lines. Wagner led the fighting for several key Ukrainian cities, including Bakhmut, an eastern city that became a key symbolic prize for Putin when he claimed to have seized it last month at the cost of thousands of men. While he touted his mercenary forces as game changers in Ukraine and gradually entered the public spotlight, Prigozhin increasingly clashed with the military establishment in Moscow. Using his well-oiled social media machine, Prigozhin emerged as a leading voice for hardliners and influential pro-war figures who were critical of the Kremlins approach to the war. He accused the Defense Ministry and its head, Sergei Shoigu, of downplaying Wagners role and not supplying his fighters with sufficient ammunition, while blaming incompetent military leadership for Russias failures in Ukraine. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 21, 2023. (Egor Aleev / AFP - Getty Images) The bitter feud escalated in recent weeks as Moscow gave all private mercenary forces until July 1 to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry, which Prigozhin refused. The standoff then exploded and Prigozhin launched an armed rebellion on Friday after alleging that the Russian army fired at his mercenaries. While Putin initially seemed happy to let the internal squabbles play out, it appears even the Russian leader may have underestimated just how powerful and daring Prigohzin had become. I think what really triggered his decision to carry out a mad dash toward Moscow was the order issued earlier this month, said Horowitz, referring to the demand that his fighters sign Defense Ministry contracts. Prigozhin saw this as a prelude to disbanding the private army he had worked for years to build, Horowitz said. This was a signal for the mercenary chief that Putin had sided with his enemies, he said, adding that Prigozhin may have felt that his own safety was no longer guaranteed, in the long run, and that if he did not act he would end up sidelined (at best) or dead. He had nothing to lose. Ahead of the rebellion, U.S. intelligence agencies had collected information that Prigozhin had been planning to challenge Russias senior military leaders and briefed congressional leaders about it last week, a source familiar with the matter told NBC News. They added that the intelligence revealed that Wagner had been amassing forces and weapons, although the intelligence wasnt definitive. What now? In the end, its unclear what Prigozhin has gained. He said Saturday he was within 120 miles of the Russian capital but decided to turn his troops around to avoid spilling Russian blood. The Kremlin said Prigozhin would not face any charges and would go to Belarus, whose leader, Alexander Lukashenko, apparently helped broker the deal. A big question thats left hanging is what will happen to his Wagner troops? The Kremlin has said it would not prosecute those fighters who took part in the rebellion, and that Wagner forces could still sign contracts with the Defense Ministry if they wanted to. Its possible that the estimated 25,000 Wagner fighters will be dispersed, under suspicion, across Russias regular army, said Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, at a funeral in Moscow on April 8, 2023. (v.v.smolnikov / AP file) As for Prigozhin himself, the true nature of the resolution to the crisis remains unknown, as is the Wagner chiefs future. But Putin is not known to allow his enemies to live quietly in exile, and his description of Prigozhin as a traitor suggests he viewed the revolt, like many analysts, as a direct threat to his rule. Going to Belarus may be an option he seems to know and trust Lukashenko very well but he would still be in danger there, said Horowitz. My best bet is that he will continue to operate in Ukraine, rather than Belarus, where he can justify maintaining relative freedom among men who are loyal to him. But either way, he has cornered himself by either going too far, or not going far enough, Horowitz said. If he lays low, he may still end up drinking poisoned tea, and if he is too loud, he will become even more of a liability for Moscow. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Investigators search the ship that carried the Titan submersible as authorities weigh a possible criminal investigation into the deadly implosion The Polar Prince arriving in Newfoundland, Canada, with flags at half mast on June 24. David Hiscock/Reuters The ship that carried the Titan submersible before it descended arrived back in Canada on Saturday. Investigators boarded the Polar Prince and conducted interviews with those on board. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is determining whether it should open a criminal investigation. The Polar Prince, the Canadian research ship that lost contact with the Titan submersible on Sunday, was met by investigators with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police when it returned to Newfoundland on Saturday with flags at half mast, The New York Times reported. According to the Times, family members of the five people on the Titan who were on board the ship owned by the private company Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Services were interviewed by the TSBC. At the same time, law enforcement began interviewing crew members and passengers as part of its probe into whether it should launch a formal criminal investigation into the incident. Kathy Fox, the chair of the TSBC, announced that investigators had also collected information from the ship's voyage-data recorder, which documents information such as audio on the ship. International bodies, including the TSBC and the US Coast Guard, are looking into the lack of safety precautions that OceanGate took when five people, including its CEO Stockton Rush, boarded the Titan submersible on Sunday for a trip to the Titanic shipwreck. Officials said the submersible lost contact with the Polar Prince hours after it began its descent and most likely imploded, instantly killing the five men on board. During a Saturday press conference, the RCMP Superintendent Kent Osmond said that "there's no suspicion of criminal activity per se" but added that law enforcement was not ruling it out. Following the catastrophic failure, greater scrutiny was given by the media, dive experts, and investigators on the years of statements made by OceanGate disregarding certifications and regulations before last week's expedition. And while Rush complained about the industry being "obscenely safe," the company previously faced a safety lawsuit from a former employee. There were also stories of those who participated in previous dives raising safety concerns. A friend of Rush told the CEO after a 2019 dive in the Titan that he heard cracking noises he attributed to a "flaw/defect in one area," according to emails seen by CNN. And on Friday, the YouTuber Jake Koehler, who was on the submersible days before its final voyage Sunday, shared footage of Rush discussing issues with the sub's control systems. The OceanGate cofounder Guillermo Sohnlein defended the company's record and said that ocean dives always came with some risk. However, experts have disputed this and argued that the disaster was entirely preventable. The RCMP and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Iran likely supplies new batch of suicide drones to Russia Downed Iranian drone Shahed Russia is conducting drone reconnaissance operations in the south of Ukraine, probably searching for new targets of a mass drone or missile strike, Ukraines South Operational Command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk said on national television on June 25. "The russians are carrying out reconnaissance, Humeniuk said. They are likely to have received a new batch of Shahed drones from Iran. Therefore, a new mass attack may be expected in the coming days." Russians often compensate for their failures in the frontline with drone and missile attacks on civilians, presenting them as a "gain" in propaganda news, Humeniuk added. Read also: Russian missile debris hits high-rise building in Kyiv, three civilians dead "There are currently six warships deployed in the Black Sea, including one submarine missile carrier, she said. (Subsurface missile launches) make air defence work harder, but not impossible. (The Russians have) four Kalibr (cruise) missiles ready to be used." Other enemy missile carriers have been returned to the Black Sea ports, in particular due to a storm that is soon expected to arrive in the area. During the last air attack on Ukraine overnight on June 24, Ukrainian air defenses downed all 40 Kh-101/Kh-555 cruise missiles, one Kalibr cruise missile and two Shahed-136/131 attack drones launched by Russia. 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 Is this the beginning of the end for Vladimir Putin? For several hours on Friday and Saturday, it seemed Russian President Vladimir Putin was in serious danger of losing his grip on a nation he has led for more than two decades. A deal struck Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group mercenary army that had advanced to the outskirts of Moscow late Saturday, ended what many saw as a coup attempt. Under the terms of the deal, Prigozhin agreed to call off a military assault on the Russian capital, withdraw forces from the captured city of Rostov-on-Don and leave Russia for Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in Moscow on June 24. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) All that did little to calm speculation that the episode marked the end of Putins iron grip on Russia. The question now is how strong that grip remains and whether it could soon face another similar challenge. This is a very powerful defeat for him, political scientist Tatiana Stanovaya told Bloomberg. How the mutiny began With his prison-recruited Wagner mercenaries, Prigozhin had made some gains on the battlefield in Ukraine, where they fought for Russia. As he did so, he grew ever more vocal in his criticism of the Ministry of Defense, and of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in particular. Many Russians who had been promised a painless war came to share his frustration, turning the burly, profane Prigozhin into a folk hero. Members of Wagner Group sit on the sidewalk as others patrol the center of Rostov-on-Don on June 24. (AFP via Getty Images) U.S. intelligence appeared to know that Prigozhins ire towards Shoigu was heading toward a confrontation, but it did not know what that confrontation would look like. The tension had been building for so long without anything actually happening, an intelligence official told CNN. The tension crested on Saturday, as Wagner forces streamed toward Moscow. Read more from our partners: Rebellion in Russia is a gift for Ukrainian offensive CNN Safe harbor in Belarus Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the Wagner Group military company. (File/AP) Prigozhin ended his push toward Moscow at the behest of Belorussian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, one of Putins few allies in Europe. The deal promised Prigozhin safe passage to Belarus; the Wagner fighters who had followed him to Moscow would face no charges for taking part in a mutiny. It appears that other Wagneritesthose who had not joined the uprisingwould be integrated into regular army units. Those were highly unusual, and lenient, terms. In a speech from the Kremlin early Saturday, Putin had promised harsh retribution. But so far, he has shown rare restraint. 'An organized resistance movement' Vehicles from the Wagner private mercenary group drive along the M-4 highway, which links Moscow with Russia's southern cities. (Reuters) Discontent had been brewing in the Kremlin ever since it became clear that the Ukraine invasion would not result in the quick victory Putin and his top generals imagined. That unhappiness has now burst into the open, and without a strong counterpunch from Putin, he is bound to see more challenges to his rule. The existence of an organized resistance movement against Putin within the military has always been speculative. Its now accurate to say it is no longer speculation, a Kremlin insider told the Daily Beast. Others also believe that Prigozhin would not have acted without sanction from at least some figures in Putins inner circle. Read more from our partners: House Intel chair: Wagner rebellion 'really does hurt Putin' A good day for Ukraine Ukrainian soldiers fire toward Russian positions on the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine on June 24. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Prigozhins brazen advance materialized as Ukraine was engaged in a counteroffensive meant to claw back territory taken by Russia in the countrys eastern regions. Launched in earnest this month, the military campaign has been slow, as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged. Kremlin disarray can only help Zelenskys cause and bolster his case to Western allies whose support is crucial. Russias weakness is obvious, Zelensky said on Saturday. Full-scale weakness. Ukraine has no intentions of seizing Moscow or toppling Putin, but the events of the last 48 hours made clear that the Kremlin barely has tenuous control over its internal affairs, let alone the theater of war, where its military campaign has faltered. Supporters of Ukraine will now likely argue that victory is not only possible but closer than had been supposed. It is too good to be true, one Ukrainian official said. Read more from our partners: Blinken on Russia crisis: We haven't seen the last act Putin the survivor Putin, left, listens to Ivan Dedov, member of the Russian Academy of Sciences during a meeting at the Kremlin on June 23. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Putin is still the leader of Russia, and he has extralegal means at his disposal assassinations, trumped-up charges that result in lengthy prison sentences, rigged elections that suppress dissent that leaders of democratic nations cannot use to stay in power. He controls the popular media, the financial sector, and a military that, while depleted by the war in Ukraine, remains loyal to the Kremlin. Putin will likely survive, for now, diplomat Ivo Daalder wrote on Twitter. But, he added, the last 24 hours raise serious questions about his hold on power. By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli lawmakers on Sunday began debating a bill that would limit the Supreme Court's powers, rebooting a fiercely opposed judicial overhaul instigated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition. Anti-government demonstrations had prompted Netanyahu to suspend his judicial drive in March to allow compromise talks with opposition parties. He declared those talks fruitless last week and ordered some of the legislation to be revived. The proposed changes, which included curbs on the court's ability to rule against the government, had sparked frequent street protests before the March suspension and on Saturday night anti-overhaul activists blocked a major Tel Aviv highway. Coalition lawmakers have indicated that the new bill would be a far softer version of previous proposals that had sought to almost totally roll back the Supreme Court's power to rule against the executive. The opposition, however, says the new bill would still open the door to corruption. "You are renewing a legislation blitz meant to destroy the justice system's independence and badly hurt Israeli democracy's delicate checks and balances," Labour lawmaker Gilad Kariv said as the debate began. Opposition leader Yair Lapid on Twitter urged Netanyahu to stop the legislation and revive negotiations "until we reach agreements that will safeguard democracy and prevent a national disaster". The proposed judicial overhaul has also stirred Western concern over Israel's democratic health and spooked investors. Critics see it as an attempt to curb court independence by Netanyahu, who is on trial on graft charges that he denies. The coalition says its goal is to balance the powers of the government, legislature and judiciary by reining in a Supreme Court they see as too interventionist. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell; Additional reporting by Dan Williams; Editing by David Goodman) The Issue 1 'brawl' cuts deep. Republicans want Ohioans to work for them| Thomas Suddes: May 10, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Protesters for and against the resolution convene inside the Ohio Statehouse prior to the deadline for the Ohio House to decide whether to create an August special election for a resolution that would increase the voter threshold to 60 percent for constitutional amendments. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com. The Ohio Senate and Ohios House of Representatives, both GOP-controlled, want to make it harder for Ohios constitutional sovereigns voters to amend the Ohio Constitution. And here you thought legislators worked for you rather than tried to make you work for them. As if that werent enough to agitate the Statehouse, Senate and House Republicans must agree on a compromise state budget for the two years that will begin on Saturday, July 1. Our view: A 'yes' vote on Issue 1 would drive dagger in Ohio's 'heart' The Republican power-grab is called State Issue 1. Its on Aug. 8s statewide ballot. (Early in-person voting begins July11). If voters ratify Issue 1, itd require a 60% yes vote from Ohioans voting on future state constitutional amendments to approve them. Now, the required majority for ratification is 50% plus 1 of those Ohioans voting on an amendment. Why do Republicans lawmakers what Issue 1? Key motive: Republicans aim to repay the anti-abortion lobby for its support by making it more difficult for Ohioans to ratify an abortion-rights amendment. Related goal: To roadblock an anti-gerrymandering amendment aimed at GOP-skewed legislative and congressional districts. Thomas Suddes: Matt Huffman, Jason Stephens battle shaking 'Big Frat House on Capitol Square' Thomas Suddes: Ohio lawmakers are not conservatives.They are power monger at war with America The fight for your money Meanwhile, backdropping the Issue 1 brawl, theres state Budget Complication One: While both chambers are GOP-led, theyve proposed competing versions of the budget. The Senate version of the budget is composed of 9,198 pages. The House version of the budget is composed of 5,559 pages. (The current budget, passed in 2021, has 2,436 pages.) A big reason for the Senate bloat is because Senate Republican wrapped into the budget what had been completely separate measures. Example: The Senate budget consigns the state Education Department to Republican Gov. Mike DeWines oversight by all but abolishing the State Board of Education. In theory the (renamed) Department of Education and Workforce plus DeWines supervision will make for better coordination of career preparation and the like. But it will also make DeWine, not the state board, the lightning rod for gripes about Ohio schools. Thats why in a year or two the governor might have second thoughts about getting what he wished for. More: Ohio State Board of Education asks attorney general if bill to strip its power is legal And heres Budget Complication Two: A split in the House Republican caucus may give the Senate, especially Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, extra leverage in budget negotiations with House Republicans. Troubled waters can make for good fishing. The House is led by Speaker Jason Stephens, a Gallia County Republican, whose January election to the speakership was opposed by 43 House Republicans who instead supported suburban Toledo Republican Derek Merrin. That is, the House GOP caucus split, with about one-third of the Houses 67 Republicans voting for Stephens, and two-thirds voting for Merrin. Upshot: Of Stephenss 54 votes, 32 came from the Houses Democrats, while 22 came from House Republicans. While Merrins 40-plus January supporters havent necessarily coalesced as a permanent anti-Stephens bloc, Merrin and 16 other House Republicans voted against the House/Stephens version of the budget. That wasnt exactly Hoyle in terms of Ohio Statehouse traditions. That virtually invited Huffman who may want to become the Houses next speaker, first winning a House seat in 2024, then unseating Stephens as speaker in 2025 to play budget pat-a-cake with the Houses anti-Stephens Republicans. (Merrin is term-limited out of the House next year.) Stephens said last week that Senate-House budget negotiations could extend into July, given the stark differences between the House-passed and Senate-passed versions of the budget, in human services programs and in the Senates vast expansion of school voucher programs. Thomas Suddes Vouchers divert tax money to help parents pay for sending their children to non-public schools. A budget debate that extends into July can lead to some just-get-it-over-with decisions about Ohios direction. And thats a problem. Ohios median household income is $61,938; the nations is $69,021. Ohios poverty rate is 13.4%; the nations is 11.6%. The question is whether House Bill 33, the proposed budget, will move those needles in positive directions when someone gauges Ohios prospects. The evidence of the last 30- or 35 years says recent budgets havent. And anyone who heaves him or herself out of a General Assembly seat, and visits de-industrialized Ohio cities, knows it. Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The real reason Ohio Issue 1 will be on the August 8 ballot| Thomas Suddes Turkish Pride marchers waved rainbow flags at rallies including in Istanbul's upscale Nisantasi neighborhood after being banned from the city's iconic Taksim square (YASIN AKGUL) Turkish activists on Sunday defied a ban to stage an annual gay pride march in Istanbul one month after Turkey's election followed a homophobic hate-filled campaign. A few hundred demonstrators waving rainbow flags held rallies including in Istanbul's upscale Nisantasi neighborhood after being banned from the iconic Taksim square -- the venue of 2013 anti-government protests. Turkey's LGBTQ community fears more pressure after conservative President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won the May vote to extend his rule until 2028. This year's pride march started and finished earlier than expected without any street clashes or police violence, according to AFP journalists on the ground. More than 40 activists were detained, according to protesting groups. Police heightened security in and around Taksim square. Erol Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders, criticised the police blockade of journalists at almost every social event around the square. "The reality is that journalists' rights are violated arbitrarily," he tweeted. Erdogan accused Turkey's main opposition party CHP and its allies of being pro-LGBTQ before and after the elections, promising his supporters that the LGBTQ community will never enter his Islamic-rooted party. "By ramping up anti-LGBTI rhetoric, the government has helped whip up prejudice, emboldening anti-LGBTI groups in Turkey, some of which have called for violence against LGBTI communities," Amnesty International Europe director Nils Muiznieks warned on Friday. "Under the pretext of protecting family values, the authorities are denying LGBTI people the right to live freely," he said. fo/bp ISW predicts how Lukashenko will take advantage of the "de-escalation" of Prigozhin's rebellion Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War have reported that Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko will use mediation in resolving Yevgeny Prigozhins rebellion, delay the formalisation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus or prevent Putin from using Belarusian forces in Ukraine. Source: ISW Details: The review analysed the situation with the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) rebellion. The analysts pointed out that late on 24 June, the Kremlin announced that Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko had agreed that Wagner financier Yevgeny Prigozhin would leave for Belarus without being prosecuted in Russia; some Wagner fighters would sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence; and none of the Wagner fighters would be charged for their participation in the armed uprising. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that the Russian authorities would close the criminal case against Prigozhin, who will go to Belarus, and thanked Lukashenko for his role in mediating the deal with the "higher goal of avoiding bloodshed". Earlier, Lukashenko's press service reported that he had held talks with Prigozhin and claimed that Lukashenko and Putin had agreed on "bilateral actions" to resolve the conflict. Lukashenko stressed the importance of avoiding a "bloody massacre" and providing security guarantees for the Wagner fighters. Following the first Belarusian report, Prigozhin released an audio message in which he stated that his 'march for justice' had achieved its goal and that he had ordered the Wagner fighters to return to their positions to prevent the situation from escalating into a bloody massacre. In his statement, Prigozhin did not mention Lukashenko's involvement in the conflict or the details of the agreement reached as a result of the negotiations. The report notes that Prigozhins rebellion has demonstrated that Russian forces lack reserves in many rear areas and almost certainly will deteriorate the morale of Russian personnel in Ukraine, which Ukrainian troops could use to adjust attempts to break through Russian defences. According to the analysts, the Lukashenko-mediated agreement is likely to eliminate the Wagner PMC as an independent player led by Prigozhin in its current form, although some elements of the group may continue to exist under the Russian Defence Ministry. Analysts point out that it is not clear how the Kremlin will define Wagner personnel as not having participated in the rebellion, and Peskovs statement does not specify the fate of Wagner personnel who participated in it, other than receiving pardons. It is also noted that Prigozhin almost certainly planned the rebellion in advance, given the coordination and speed of Wagner's movement, but the ISW cannot confirm this hypothesis. In addition, the review says that Prigozhin's armed rebellion may have further undermined Wagner's support by forcing regional authorities and recruitment organisations associated with it to condemn Prigozhin's actions. It is also noted that it is not clear whether Prigozhin secured the support of Wagner's commanders or rank-and-file before making the deal, and many Wagner members are likely to be unhappy about having to sign contracts with the Russian MoD, demobilise or relocate outside Ukraine. Experts also suggest that Lukashenko is likely to try to use the de-escalation of the armed rebellion to achieve his goals, such as delaying the formalisation of the Union State of Russia and Belarus or preventing Putin from using Belarusian forces in Ukraine. Analysts point out that the Kremlin is now in a state of deep instability. A deal with Lukashenko is a short-term rather than a long-term solution, and Prigozhin's rebellion has exposed weaknesses in the Kremlin and the Russian MoD. According to experts, assumptions that Prigozhin's rebellion, the Kremlin's reaction and Lukashenko's mediation were staged by the Kremlin are absurd. They also note that Prigozhin's rebellion and the outcome of the events of 23-24 June, although this is not necessarily the struggle of Prigozhin and the Kremlin in full, are likely to cause significant damage to Putin's power and the Russian war effort in Ukraine. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 24 June: The Kremlin announced late on 24 June that Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko negotiated a deal under which Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin will travel to Belarus without facing criminal charges in Russia; some portion of Wagner Group fighters will sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD); and no Wagner personnel will be charged for their involvement in an armed rebellion. The Wagner Group encircled the Russian Southern Military District (SMD)s headquarters in Rostov-on-Don and drove to within 330 kilometres of Moscow City prior to the announcement of the deal. Wagner forces will reportedly begin withdrawing to their bases soon, and footage reportedly depicts Prigozhin departing Rostov-on-Don. The Kremlin struggled to cohere an effective rapid response to Wagners advances, highlighting internal security weaknesses likely due to surprise and the impact of heavy losses in Ukraine. Putin unsurprisingly elected to back the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and its ongoing efforts to centralise control of Russian irregular forces (including Wagner) over Prigozhin. The Lukashenko-brokered agreement will very likely eliminate Wagner Group as a Prigozhin-led independent actor in its current form, although elements of the organisation may endure under existing and new capacities. Prigozhin likely gambled that his only avenue to retain Wagner Group as an independent force was to march against the Russian MoD, likely intending to secure defections in the Russian military but overestimating his own prospects. The optics of Belarusian President Lukashenko playing a direct role in halting a military advance on Moscow are humiliating to Putin and may have secured Lukashenko other benefits. The Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable equilibrium. The Lukashenko-negotiated deal is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution, and Prigozhins rebellion exposed severe weaknesses in the Kremlin and Russian MoD. Russian forces launched their largest series of missile strikes against Ukraine in recent months on 24 June, despite the armed rebellion within Russia. Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least two sectors of the front and reportedly made advances on 24 June, and regular fighting continued on other sectors of the line. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Jacksonville UPS driver Driver Craig Campbell Sr. was named Florida Trucking Associations Driver of the Year. With nearly 35 years of safe driving experience and a strong commitment to the community, this Jacksonville resident delivers what matters both at work and at home. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Driver of the Year recipients are chosen based on the drivers safety record, professional experience and community leadership, says UPS in a news release. Campbell was presented with a Driver of the Year ring, a VIP experience at an upcoming Nascar race, and a cash prize. Beyond his professional driving skills and decorated UPS career history, Campbell dedicates his time to the community with a focus on military and ministry. He currently serves as the pastor and founder of Armor of Faith Christian Center in Jacksonville. He is a retired member of the Army National Guard, Army Reserves, and a retired Jacksonville police reserve officer. he served each position for over 20 years. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] UPS recognizes its safe drivers through the Circle of Honor program in which drivers earn their badges by driving for more than 25 years without an accident. With nearly 35 years of safe driving, Campbell will have plenty to share regarding his safe and successful career at UPS. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Jet engine pulls in worker at Texas airport, killing him, officials say An airline worker is dead after being pulled into the engine of a plane at San Antonio International Airport in Texas, officials told news outlets. A flight from Los Angeles had just landed at about 10:30 p.m. on June 23 and while it was taxiing, a worker on the ground was ingested into an engine, the National Transportation Safety Board told WOAI in a statement. The plane belongs to Delta Airlines, and the NTSB said it is communicating with the airline as they investigate the deadly incident, KENS reported. The worker was employed by Unifi, a company that Delta contracts with, the company told McClatchy News. We are heartbroken and grieving the loss of an aviation family members life in San Antonio, Delta said in an email. Our hearts and full support are with their family, friends and loved ones during this difficult time. Unifi Aviation said in a statement obtained by KENS that the incident was unrelated to Unifis operational processes, safety procedures and policies. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased, and we remain focused on supporting our employees on the ground and ensuring they are being taken care of during this time, the company said, according to the outlet. The airport said that it will release more information when its available, WOAI reported. We are deeply saddened by this incident and are working with authorities as they begin their investigation, the airport said, according to the outlet. McClatchy News has reached out to the NTSB for more information. Worker was sucked into plane engine and died, feds say. Airline now fined Man again caught hiding in planes landing gear on flight to Miami, Texas officials say Woman refusing to get off phone on plane spits on passenger, slides down exit, feds say Passenger spies pilot climbing through cockpit window. Heres the story behind photo John Hood RALEIGH Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have legitimate grievances against the Democrat-controlled State Board of Elections. The latter has abused its power in overtly partisan ways in recent years, most egregiously by striking a collusive settlement with Democratic attorney Marc Elias and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein in 2020 to change our election procedures in direct contravention of election laws enacted by the General Assembly. The North Carolina constitution clearly places the legislature in charge of writing our laws on such matters as voter registration, electoral districts, and voting procedures. Stein and the State Board were subsequently chastised by federal judges for their arbitrary and flagrant departures from the rule of law and the separation of powers. Alas, Republican lawmakers are responding to this debacle by violating the separation of powers. Senate Bill 749 would add three appointees to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, giving it eight members. The bill would also remove a member from each county board of elections, making them four-person panels. All boards would include an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. Advocates argue this will encourage more bipartisan cooperation. Detractors argue it will produce constant, bitter deadlocks. As a practical matter, most elections boards already make most decisions by consensus. I think the detractors are exaggerating their case, and that there could be some salutary effects on the state board, in particular. But who gets to pick the board members? And who gets to resolve deadlocks? Senate Bill 749 offers bad answers to these good questions. Right now the governor picks the members of the state board, three Democrats and two Republicans, from among four nominees offered by the Democratic Party and four from Republicans. Under the proposed change, the highest-ranking legislators in each chamber president pro tem and minority leader in the Senate, speaker and minority leader in the House would each pick two members, producing the 4-4 split. The bill also treats nominations from state parties as advisory. Legislative leaders arent required to choose from among them. As for the 100 county boards, the State Board of Elections currently picks four of the five members, with the governor picking a fifth as chair. Under Senate bill 749, it would again be the four legislative leaders who populate the local boards. Whatever the merits of bipartisan boards might be, this is a flatly unconstitutional way of selecting and governing them. The administration of elections is an inherently executive function. And when these boards hear complaints about or challenges to electoral procedures and outcomes, they are acting in either executive or quasi-judicial roles, depending on how you define it, but certainly not legislative ones. Ive written before about the North Carolina Supreme Courts 2016 decision in McCrory v. Berger, which rejected a legislative attempt to determine the majority composition and operation of administrative boards. The court didnt rule that only the governor has a legitimate role in filling administrative offices. Indeed, the author of the majority decision in 2016, former Chief Justice Mark Martin, wrote a dissent in 2018 upholding a prior version of a bipartisan elections board. Martin did so, however, because that prior version retained gubernatorial appointment of the new eight-member State Board of Elections. That bill simply required that the governor appoint no more than four members from his own party. It also allowed the governor to remove any member of the board for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance. Lawmakers could comply with the state constitution by substituting this prior language for filling the reconstituted state and local elections boards. Or they could assign the appointments to some other executive, such as the secretary of state, perhaps with Senate confirmation (also expressly permitted by the constitution). What they cant do is give lawmakers the power to appoint all the members (and to resolve deadlocks over, say, personnel decisions, as Senate Bill 749 currently does). Not if legislative leaders want to uphold the very separation of powers they have previously and commendably championed. John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com). This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: John Hood: North Carolina elections bill ignores state constitution Joint Forces Commander on possible attack of Wagner mercenaries from Belarus: It will be nothing but suicide The commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev, states that there is no build-up of Russian equipment or manpower on the northern border of Ukraine. If the Russians try to cross the border from the north, it will be a suicide for them. Source: Naiev regarding the statements about the possible participation of PMC Wagner in the attack on the territory of Ukraine from Belarus, reports Military Media Center Quote: "I want to assure everyone that the situation in the northern operating zone remains stable and controlled. Our troops continue to build up their defensive capabilities. All services, from intelligence to engineering troops, are working in an enhanced mode. So far, there has been no build-up of equipment or enemy personnel. The state border is reliably protected 24/7. If this happens and the enemy tries to cross the state border, for them, it will be nothing but suicide. Our soldiers are ready to give a decent response to anyone who dares to cross the state border with weapons in their hands." Background: General Richard Dannatt, former Chief of the UK General Staff, said that Ukraine should beware of a possible attack on Kyiv by Wagner mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who left for Belarus after the attempted uprising in Russia. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! UPDATE 9:02 a.m. on 6/26- JSOs incident report confirmed that the hazardous device was a suspected pipe bomb in the back of a car. The device was properly secured at the scene. Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is investigating an overnight bomb threat on 3rd Avenue. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< According to detectives, around 1:34 a.m. after getting calls about a potential bomb threat. Upon arrival, officers located a potentially destructive device. Residents in nearby homes were told to evacuate for their safety, and people in the area outside the evacuation zone were told to shelter in place. Read: Family Support Services teams up with YMCA to give foster families discounted memberships JSOs Hazardous Devices Unit responded, and the scene is no longer active. There is currently no information available on what the device was or if it was determined to be a real bomb. At this time, police dont believe any suspects are outstanding. Detectives believe they have identified and are in contact with all parties involved. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call JSO at 904-630-0500, email jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org or call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 866-845-TIPS. Action News Jax will continue to follow the story and update you as events unfold. Read: Goodwill in Jax Beach reopens after massive renovation [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Yevgeny Prigozhin and Ramzan Kadyrov Units under the control of Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov suddenly withdrew from Maryinka, Donetsk Oblast late on June 24, press officer of the 79th separate airborne assault brigade Yaroslav Chepurnyi said on Ukrainian national television on June 25. Read also: Ukrainian army confirms liberation of territories in Donetsk Oblast occupied since 2014 "Last night, Chechen (leader Kadyrov's) units, fighting against us in Maryinka, suddenly withdrew and started to leave Maryinka," Chepurnyi said. Chepurnyi said that aerial reconnaissance had spotted the withdrawal, and the enemy was attacked one Russian armored personnel carrier was hit. "The Akhmat-Vostok regiment, which was fighting here, and the special forces withdrew and went somewhere in full force," the officer added. Earlier, a source close to the Russian General Staff claimed that the Russian army was gathering "all the units not employed at the front," including Kadyrov's men, to "block (the leader of the Wagner mercenary company Yevgeny) Prigozhin's passage to Moscow." Read also: Kadyrov sides with Putin amid Prigozhin's rebellion Kadyrov, the Kremlins puppet leader in Chechnya, claimed that his military units had been sent to Rostov Oblast to "suppress the rebellion" of Wagner's militants. Prigozhin announced his march on Moscow and the beginning of an armed conflict with the Russian Defense Ministry on the evening of June 23, allegedly after the Russian army struck the mercenaries' "rear camp." However, on the evening of June 24, the leader of Wagner mercenary company announced that he was "turning back the columns" that, according to him, had not come closer than 200 kilometers to Moscow, because his fighters allegedly did not want to "shed Russian blood." The press service of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko at the same time claimed that Lukashenko had been negotiating with Prigozhin all day, and that the Wagner warlord agreed to "stop movement through the territory of Russia," and his militants were promised "security guarantees" in return. The Kremlin said that the case of Prigozhin's armed rebellion would be closed, the Wagner units would return to the "rear camps," and Prigozhin himself would go to Belarus. 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 Kansas attorney general asked a federal judge on Friday to end a requirement that the state allow transgender people to update their birth certificates, following the passage of new legislation. Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) requested that the judge modify a 2019 consent judgement, arguing that the recently enacted Senate Bill 180 requires state officials to act in a way that would violate the judgement. But now that the legislature has spoken, the agency is bound to execute the law as written, Kobach said in Fridays filing. The consent judgement was part of a previous lawsuit brought by four transgender Kansas residents over a state policy that barred them from obtaining updated birth certificates to match their gender identity. However, under SB 180, state agencies and offices are required to identify people as either male or female at birth for the purpose of complying with anti-discrimination laws and gathering accurate data. The law, which was passed by the Republican-controlled legislature over Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto in April, is set to go into effect next week. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas said on Friday that it vehemently condemns the request from the states attorney general on Friday. What was true in 2019 remains true today: the state of Kansas cannot pick and choose which constitutionally protected rights it will recognize, and to deny any constitutional right to LGBTQ+ Kansans is unconstitutional and antithetical to our shared values, Micah Kubic, the executive Director of the ACLU of Kansas, said in a statement. Lambda Legal, who filed the original lawsuit against the state over the birth certificate policy, also said on Saturday that it would vigorously oppose this gimmick and would not allow Kobuch to nullify a binding, years-old federal judgment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on Sunday shrugged off criticism of President Bidens son Hunter Biden attending a state dinner at the White House last week just after pleading guilty to tax crimes. You know, I think as the president explained, thats his son. Thats a separate thing, Klobuchar said on NBCs Meet the Press, when asked if she thinks it was appropriate for Hunter Biden to be at the state dinner, which Attorney General Merrick Garland also attended. The presidents son was in attendance at the dinner held during the official state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. Court documents last week also revealed Hunter, who has been under investigation for tax matters for several years, will plead guilty to tax crimes in a plea deal with prosecutors, and reached a diversion agreement relating to unlawful possession of a weapon. And I would like to say about that, that decision was made by an independent prosecutor, who is a Trump appointed U.S. attorney, who had 10 years of experience, well-respected. [The] Philadelphia Inquirer reported that he was a registered Republican. He looked at the facts and evidence and made that decision, Klobuchar said of the legal development. And by the way, if thats what the Republicans want to run on, in the coming election, good luck, Klobuchar said. Asked whether she wished the perception were different, Klobuchar said, You always wish there are different perceptions. Republicans have bashed the deal as too lenient on the presidents son, with many attacking the Justice Department. Garland, who was also at the state dinner, has denied allegations of political interference in the Justice Departments investigation into Hunter Biden. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. What you need to know about National HIV testing Day in Jacksonville Take the Test & Take the Next Step is the theme for the 28th annual National HIV Testing Day. River Region Human Services Mobile Unit will arrive at Walgreens, 5108 Norwood Ave., on June 27. The staff will provide free, rapid, and confidential HIV testing from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< In 2021, there were 120,502 people living with HIV in Florida. Of these, 6,764 were in Duval County. That is why we are in communities offering free HIV testing and providing education and resources to prevent further transmission, said Melissa Daniels, director of Prevention at River Region. Despite the advancements in HIV treatments and their effectiveness, the stigma of the virus still exists. Residents are encouraged to join River Region staff and wear red on National HIV Testing Day. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] For more than 50 years, the River Region Human Services, Inc. has been serving residents in Northeast Florida to provide integrated health services that change lives. The staff is dedicated to the recovery, restoration and promotion of strong, healthy individuals and their loved ones. River Region is the place where hope comes alive [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The Kremlin is facing a deeply unstable equilibrium after Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin committed to overthrowing Russian military leadership, according to a new think tank report. The Kremlin now faces a deeply unstable equilibrium, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in an assessment released Saturday. The deal negotiated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to let Prigozhin travel to Belarus without facing criminal charges in Russia is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution, and Prigozhins rebellion exposed severe weaknesses in the Kremlin and Russian [Ministry of Defense], the group wrote. Prigozhin, who heads the private Russian military contractor organization, called on Friday for an armed uprising to oust Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and denounced Moscows justification for its war on Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to put down the armed mutiny and the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee opened a criminal investigation into Prigozhin. A day later, Prigozhin ordered Wagner Group forces to stop their advance on Moscow, after the Belarus government assisted in negotiating a settlement between Prigozhin and Russian leadership. Suggestions that Prigozhins rebellion, the Kremlins response, and Lukashenkos mediation were all staged by the Kremlin are absurd. The imagery of Putin appearing on national television to call for the end of an armed rebellion and warning of a repeat of the 1917 revolution and then requiring mediation from a foreign leader to resolve the rebellion will have a lasting impact, the ISW report reads. The optics of Belarusian President Lukashenko playing a direct role in halting a military advance on Moscow are humiliating to Putin and may have secured Lukashenko other benefits. The Wagner Group has been involved in some of Russias deadliest battles amid the yearlong war on Ukraine. The ISW also predicts the agreement in the wake of the rebellion will very likely eliminate the Wagner Group as a Prigozhin-led independent actor in its current form. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Lawyer Who Got in Trouble for Using ChatGPT Gets Away With Slap on the Wrist Time Out Steven Schwartz, the lawyer who cited six nonexistent, ChatGPT-fabricated citations as precedents while attempting to argue a federal court case, has officially been punished by the court. As Ars Technica reports, US District Judge Kevin Castel has ordered Schwartz and his partner Peter LoDuca to pay a $5,000 fine. The original lawsuit has also been tossed out in its entirety. The lawyers are also required to send apology letters via "first class mail" to the six real judges that were named in the fake citations, complete with a transcript of the original court hearing as well as the details of their newly-handed punishment. It's no disbarment frankly, it reads a bit more like a very expensive and embarrassing timeout but rest assured: in his order, Castel made his feelings about the two lawyers' actions more than clear. Schwartz and LoDuca "abandoned their responsibilities when they submitted non-existent judicial opinions with fake quotes and citations created by the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT," Castel wrote in the order, issued yesterday in a Manhattan court, "then continued to stand by the fake opinions after judicial orders called their existence into question." Making an Example Castel didn't just condemn the use of ChatGPT. He was also careful to spell out the dangers of what the lawyers did. "Many harms flow from the submission of fake opinions," reads the order. "The opposing party wastes time and money in exposing the deception. The Court's time is taken from other important endeavors. The client may be deprived of arguments based on authentic judicial precedents." "It promotes cynicism about the legal profession and the American judicial system," it continues. "And a future litigant may be tempted to defy a judicial ruling by disingenuously claiming doubt about its authenticity." Castel makes some very salient points. AI technologies are already having an impact in the courtroom Tesla's lawyers, for example, have tried to argue that videos of the company's CEO Elon Musk might be deepfaked, something that experts worry could cause a precedent. In other words, truth matters. And hopefully, other lawyers will learn a lesson from all of this. More on AI in the courtroom: Reality Is Melting as Lawyers Claim Real Videos Are Deepfakes Many men describe their grief experiences as feeling devoid of emotion and lacking tears. My father, Lou, was not like other men. He shared his loss and his grief openly, showing tears and savoring memories of when he lost my mother and my stepmother. Little did I know that he offered me a lesson and model of grief and grieving. Six months later as I returned from a business trip, I opened the door of our shared family home to find my father crying while decorating a Christmas tree. He quickly set my suitcase down, and we remembered Mom while finishing decorating the tree, which Dad believed would make Mom happy. Two hours later in the middle of the night, I answered a phone call. It was one of those moments when a late phone call causes the heart to race and adrenaline to flow freely. On the other end of the line was a U.S. military officer who shared the news that no parent wishes to hear. My son, Nicholas P. Berrena, was killed in a military accident at Fort Oglethorpe located in North Georgia. Hoping I was dreaming, I handed the phone to Dad, whod heard me talking and crying and quickly appeared by my side. It was not a dream. Within a few days, Dad and I flew to Georgia to bring Nick home to State College. Nicks mother and I made the necessary preparations while trying to care for ourselves and our four daughters. Within days, I was trying to make sense of what made no sense to me. Friends and family members did their best to support me and to help, and their kindness was immeasurable. Yet, they could not relieve what seems like the most unbearable loss the death of a child. It is not supposed to happen in that order ... a parent is supposed to reach old age and pass, first. I was lucky to be living with my father, Lou. During my grief journey, I turned to supports that I thought could help alcohol, sleep, some friends and family members who did not know how to deal with me and my wish to talk about Nick. Ultimately, the grief process is an inside job. It never goes away, but it changes, just like life. The constant in my life was my father and my young daughters. Both brought me joy, love and support. My father died on Feb. 21 at the age of 99. He lived a rich life that included more life experiences than most of us will ever imagine as our own. As I write this, Im preparing for the first Fathers Day without him and without Nick. While I do not have specific expectations or plans, I do know that I will honor Dad and Nick in a manner that would bring them joy. Mike Berrena has lived in the State College area since he was a toddler. He is a son, brother, father, grandfather, husband, friend and mentor. He tries to follow in his fathers footsteps as best he can. Microdosing with psilocybin "magic" mushrooms microgen / Getty Images Psychedelic-assisted therapy may become more mainstream soon due to recent legislative efforts and promising research, offering an alternative for specific mental health conditions. It may be the "next big trend in mental health treatments," and experts say we can expect a rising buzz about the "emerging wellness trend" soon, per USA Today. Dr. Matthew W. Johnson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins and a psychedelics expert, has recently seen a "dramatic increase in interest" in the area and believes it's "only going to increase" over the next few years. The increase in clinical trials and legislative wins have led schools to focus on training future therapists and practitioners who will facilitate the sessions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently released new draft guidance, highlighting critical considerations for researchers interested in testing psychedelic treatments for various conditions, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. This is the first time the agency has outlined trial conduct, data collection, and safety precautions for researchers studying psychedelics as medicine. The guidance covers prospective studies on "classic psychedelics," like psilocybin and LSD, or "entactogens" or "empathogens" like MDMA. The FDA filed the document two days after a bipartisan coalition in Congress led by Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) introduced a bill that called for the agency to issue clinical trial guidelines for psychedelic-assisted therapy. Is psychedelic therapy legal in the U.S.? Psychedelics have been "staunchly outlawed" in most parts of the world and remained "culturally taboo and scientifically off-limits" for much of the last century, Webb Wright said in Double Blind Magazine. Classic psychedelics like mescaline, LSD, psilocybin and DMT have been classified as Schedule 1 substances by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) since 1970, and MDMA, the synthetic psychedelic also known as ecstasy or molly, was added to the list in 1987. While they remain illegal on the federal level, "clinical trials, deprioritization and limited forms of state-level adult-use legalization have forged the first pathways for psychedelic therapy within the country," Wright added. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration granted Breakthrough Therapy status to MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD and did the same the next year with psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression. The designation is meant to expedite the process of gaining FDA approval. At the end of 2022, the American nonprofit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) completed a second phase-three trial on MDMA therapy for PTSD, a step widely considered the "last hurdle to clear" before applying for FDA approval, Time reported. Rick Doblin, MAPS' founder and executive director, said the group plans to apply for FDA approval based on the trial data, putting them on track for the drug to be approved as soon as 2024. While several American cities have decriminalized personal psilocybin use, Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin use under strict supervision in 2020 and was followed by Colorado in 2022. Other states have proposed similar bills to legalize psilocybin, including California, Connecticut and New Jersey. Oregon's Measure 109 took effect at the beginning of 2023, so many are looking at the state's program as a "real-world experiment" for psychedelic medicine. "One small hiccup: Oregon hasn't legalized psychedelic medicine," Grace Browne said in Wired. The law specifically permits "supported adult use" of psilocybin but does not require or even allow any medical referral. While people can legally trip in the presence of a licensed facilitator, Browne added, "psychedelic-assisted therapy it is not." Clients must sign a consent agreement that states they "understand that psilocybin services do not require medical diagnosis or referral and that psilocybin services are not a medical or clinical treatment." The FDA-approved anesthetic ketamine falls in a lower category than other hallucinogenic drugs and is generally legal to prescribe throughout the country. While some might debate over whether an anesthetic counts as a psychedelic, its hallucinogenic properties are similar enough to psychedelic treatments to be considered in the same category. The FDA approved a ketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression in 2018, and several companies operate ketamine therapy centers nationwide. How does legalization compare to other countries? On Feb. 3, Australia became the first country to recognize psychedelics for medicinal use legally after regulators announced that medicines containing MDMA or psilocybin could be used to treat PTSD and treatment-resistant depression in controlled settings. While some countries, like Jamaica and the Netherlands, already have legal psilocybin clinics and retreats, Australia is the first to offer it broadly as an approved medical treatment. While the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has yet to approve any psychedelic-based medication, the organization says the reclassification will allow "authorized psychiatrists to access and legally supply a specified 'unapproved' medicine containing these substances to patients under their care for these specific uses." Regulations in Canada, Israel and Switzerland allow clinicians to prescribe certain psychedelics in limited circumstances for patients with severe ailments. Ayahuasca, another hallucinogen anecdotally known for its therapeutic potential, is legal in Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru, and retreats draw tourists from around the world. Update June 26, 2023: This article has been updated throughout. You may also like Ireland will pay you $90,000 to move to one of its remote coastal islands Did the Dobbs decision help or hinder Republicans? Pope Francis investigates Texas bishop, accepts early resignation of embattled Tennessee prelate A man and his 14-year-old stepson died while hiking through the 'hottest part of Big Bend National Park,' park rangers say A falcon flies over the Chisos Basin on October 16, 2016 in the Big Bend National Park in West Texas. John Moore/Getty Images A man and his 14-year-old stepson are dead after hiking in Big Bend National Park in extreme heat. Park rangers found the stepson dead along the trail, and his stepfather crashed his vehicle while seeking help. The park service has issued an extreme heat advisory and warned hikers to stay off trails in the afternoons. A stepfather and stepson died on Friday after hiking through "the hottest part of Big Bend National Park" in Texas, where temperatures reached 119 degrees Fahrenheit, the National Park Service said in a press release. The fatalities occurred along the Marufo Vega Trail, a 14-mile loop that weaves through the Deadhorse Mountains. The park service said the 31-year-old stepfather was hiking the trail "in extreme heat" with his two stepsons, when the younger one, who was just 14, fell ill and lost consciousness. The stepfather then left and hiked back to his vehicle to seek help, while the older stepson, 21, tried to carry his younger brother back to the trailhead, the NPS said. Park rangers received a call for help around 6 p.m. on Friday, and they reached the scene at 7:30 p.m. Rangers and Border Patrol agents found the younger stepson "deceased along the trail." Rangers then found the stepfather and his vehicle crashed over an embankment, the NPS said. The park service warned that Big Bend National Park is experiencing "extreme heat," with daily highs reaching 110 to 119 degrees Fahrenheit. The agency has issued an extreme heat advisory and told hikers to stay off trails in the afternoons, stay hydrated, and limit their exposure. "The Marufo Vega Trail winds through extremely rugged desert and rocky cliffs within the hottest part of Big Bend National Park," the NPS said in a statement. "No shade or water makes this strenuous trail dangerous to attempt in the heat of summer." The park service's webpage on the Marufo Vega Trail warns that the trail is "not an appropriate hike for the unprepared or unfit," and can be deadly for hikers between April and September. The park service also notes that "timely rescue is not guaranteed," and rescuers often cannot set out until the temperatures cool usually in the early morning hours. "Hikers must be duly prepared for the challenges of this trail," the page warns. "Marufo Vega is pleasant to hike during the winter months, but hikers have died in the intense heat of spring and summer." Read the original article on Insider Ventura Police Department A man who allegedly threatened officers with pruning shears after a foot pursuit Friday morning in west Ventura was ultimately arrested without injury, the Ventura Police Department reported. The 33-year-old Ventura man had been riding an electric bicycle against oncoming traffic near the intersection of Main and Olive streets shortly before 8 a.m., authorities said, when officers tried to stop him. Instead, the man refused to stop and actively evaded police. He dumped the e-bike and fled on foot to the rear of a business at Main Street and Ventura Avenue, according to the police account. A police drone spotted the man, armed with pruning shears, in the rear fenced yard of a nearby art studio. Investigators later learned he had tried to enter the studio through a sliding glass door during the pursuit. Authorities established a perimeter and got people out of the studio. The suspect then allegedly threatened to kill officers if they approached and he brandished the pruning shears. Police negotiated with the man for about an hour before he agreed to surrender. Officers who searched him as he was taken into custody reportedly found a pair of small, pointed scissors hidden in his clothing in a way that allowed him easy access to the potential weapon, authorities said. Authorities later determined the e-bike had been stolen when an officer on an unrelated call took a report about the theft. The e-bike was returned to the owner. The man was arrested on suspicion of multiple felonies and for violating terms of post-release supervision in a Kern County case. He remained in Ventura County jail Saturday in lieu of $100,000 bail, jail records showed. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Man allegedly threatens Ventura police with pruning shears Man charged in the murder of a 24 year old who was found outside south KC apartment A 39-year-old man has been charged in the murder of a woman who police found on the ground in May outside the Canyon Creek Apartments and Townhomes in south Kansas City. Maurice Jacques, 39, was charged June 16 with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in Jackson County Circuit Court, according to Michael Mansur, a spokesman for the Jackson County Prosecutors Office. The charges were sealed until Friday, Mansur said in a statement. Just before 3 a.m. on May 22, police were called to investigate the sound of gunfire at the south Kansas City apartments in the 9500 block of Bales Drive. While en route, the call was updated to a shooting. Police discovered a woman on the ground who had been shot in the back while in the breezeway of one of the Canyon Creek Apartments and Townhomes, according to court documents. She was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and died a few hours later. In police interviews, the mother of the victim said her daughter, later identified as 24-year-old Nykolett Schroeder, was homeless. Some family members used to live in the apartment complex, she said, but they had moved almost a year ago. During the police investigation, officers found a bullet hole in the front apartment door directly across from the apartment of Maurice Jacques, court documents said. Witnesses told police that Jacques had been involved in the shooting. They alleged Jacques believed Schroeder was attempting to break into his apartment before he shot her, court documents said. Jacques gave police permission to search his apartment, where they located a spent shell casing and no damage to his front door. Authorities believe his door was open when firing the weapon, court documents said. As of June 15, Jacques had yet to reach back out to detectives with an attorney and provide a statement. Man dies after KCK nursing home stay left him with sepsis. Its not the first complaint John Curtright of Kansas City, Kansas, could barely move. A stroke contorted his right leg muscles into a shape that made walking near impossible. The former roving musician appeared frozen, unable to sit up straight. So, his only daughter, Amanda Cook, rushed him out of a rehabilitation facility in January 2022 to search for a place able to care for him long term. The Healthcare Resort of Kansas City, a 70-bed nursing home on Parallel Parkway, claimed to have the resources to care for Curtright, alleged a Wyandotte County District Court lawsuit, which was filed last week on behalf of his daughter. But three months into his stay, caretakers found Curtright unresponsive and rushed him to the hospital. Providence Medical Center doctors believed he was in an altered mental state. Curtright appeared severely malnourished. A wound left to fester on his right toe had turned into sepsis, court documents said. He died about one week later at the age of 78. An attorney for the family, Chris Schnieders, said nursing home staff had assured Cook on multiple phone calls and in-person visits that her father was healthy, aside from his contorted leg. There were no issues with any sort of wounds that were healing, Schnieders said of Curtrights condition entering the nursing home. [Cook] was told that everything was fine and there was nothing to be concerned about. She filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the nursing home on June 12, seeking $75,000 in damages for the alleged neglect of her father. Schnieders said they plan on increasing that amount by much more in court. John Curtright, 78, was described as a gifted musician and never far from his guitar in a family written obituary following his death on May 5, 2022. And Cook is not the only one with such complaints. The nursing home has been embroiled in at least three other similar wrongful death cases filed in Wyandotte County since 2020. A company which owns the facility, Ensign Group Inc., also operates the Kansas City, Kansas, Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation on Freeman Avenue. The site became one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in Kansas in April 2020, leading to about 35 deaths including both patients and staff. This is a group that has facilities all over the country and many of them have the same kind of track record. Wed like to see that improved upon, Schnieders said. The Healthcare Resort of Kansas City and its owners did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Cara Sloan, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability, which warns the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of under-performing facilities, declined to comment on the Kansas City, Kansas nursing home. The nursing home performs well below the state and national average, according to surveys and inspection reports compiled by CMS. In multiple cases, the nursing home failed to investigate patient falls that led to major injury. In another, staff failed to provide respiratory assistance to a patient struggling to breathe. A March 2023 inspection report revealed a patient suffering from sepsis and staff failing to alert the physician to the need for treatment. The life and death of John Curtright Curtright lived most of his life in the Kansas City, Kansas area, according to an obituary written by family members. He was born on St. Patricks Day in 1944, and from that day on, he was never far from his guitar. The musician studied Economics at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas and served as a dental technician for the Navy Reserves in the Vietnam War. His only daughter Amanda Cook moved him from nursing home to nursing home around Kansas City, Kansas, as he grew older. After a serious stroke, Cook placed him in Providence Medical Center and Rehabilitation Facility on Nov. 28, 2021. Less than two months into his stay, staff told Cook she would need to find him another treatment center. Her father, the former traveling guitarist, was practically immobile. His right leg muscles hardened, creating a contracture that froze his leg into place. He could not walk and required constant supervision. A transferring care team at the Healthcare Resort of Kansas City told Cook they would make him comfortable and keep him as functional as possible, according to Cooks attorney Chris Schnieders. When he arrived on Jan. 26, 2022, Providence Medical Center staff told the nursing home Curtright needed certain medical provisions to keep wounds from occurring on his right leg. Nursing staff noted a foam brace would help prevent the pressure sores from developing, but it is unclear whether one was ever provided, according to Schnieders. By March 7, a wound appeared on Curtrights right toe, court documents said. The Healthcare Resort of Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas, is being sued for the wrongful death of John Curtright, a former patient who developed sepsis while at the facility. He died on May 5, 2022. Two weeks later the sore became a deep crater, affecting the skins underlying tissue. The wound continued to fester for weeks. By April 11, his bone peeked out from under the ulcer. When Cook called to check in, she heard her father complain of pain around his right foot. But nurses told her, You have nothing to worry about, Schnieders said. They were pretty careful to make sure everything was covered up so when [Cook] was there, there was absolutely no attention called to what was going on with his wounds, he said. The nursing home did not respond to questions from The Star regarding the daughters allegation. On April 26, Curtright was discovered unconscious. His confused mental state led doctors to determine he was suffering from sepsis and severe malnutrition. His white blood cell levels were extremely high and a mild odor emanated from his right toe, court documents said. Doctors considered amputating his leg, but his condition was rapidly deteriorating. He was placed in a hospice on May 5 and died the same day. [The Healthcare Resort of Kansas City] frequently are allowing their patients to go into dire straits with their infections prior to doing anything like contacting a hospital, Schnieders said of the nursing home. In our regard, John passed away because they didnt get there on time. Health and safety issues Since 2018, the federal government has fined the Healthcare Resort of Kansas City over $100,000 for failing to correct problems cited on inspections reports or allowing issues to lead to serious patient harm. The largest single fine of $78,458 followed an Aug. 3, 2022 inspection where a patient with dementia was placed in immediate jeopardy after multiple falls and a lack of supervision led to her fracturing her shoulder, documents said. While the nursing home has a documented history of concerns, it has yet to be flagged by the federal government. On the state level, Kansas can only flag two nursing homes at a time to be a part of the Special Focus Facility program, which monitors problematic nursing homes every six months with state inspections, said Cara Sloan, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability. John Curtright died on May 5, 2022 at 78 years old after suffering from sepsis and respiratory failure, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed June 12 in Wyandotte County District Court. By the end of the program a nursing home will either graduate or have their Medicare and Medicaid programs terminated, which often leads to the facility shutting down, Schnieders said. The facility sits on a list of ten other Kansas nursing homes at risk of being submitted to the CMS SFF program for quality issue violations. Past inspections for the Healthcare Resort of Kansas City have exposed issues, documents said. The nursing home accumulated 49 citations detailing deficiencies around patient health and safety since 2018, which is high compared to other facilities across the state and nationwide. An inspection report published Thursday discovered issues that ranged from a physician missing a patients urine analysis reports to a nurse failing to provide wound care. Prior reports revealed staff struggled to communicate the needs of patients to physicians, leading to some patients missing treatments or not receiving aid for injuries developed at the facility. On a number of occasions, nursing staff were cited for failing to investigate patient falls, documents said. Some of these issues appeared to stem from high staff turnover. According to CMS inspection reports, turnover among the total nursing staff is nearly 17% higher at the facility than the state average and 20% higher than the national average. Its pretty clear this facility has a pretty dismal track record of caring for patients under infectious disease circumstances, and also under sepsis conditions, Schnieders said. Pittsburgh police are investigating a shooting that took place early Sunday. According to police, officers were called to William Penn Place and Sixth Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh for reports of a man shot just after 4 a.m. First responders found bystanders rendering aid to the victim, who had been shot in the hip area. The victim was taken to a local hospital in stable condition. According to police, responding officers found a shell casing on Strawberry Way, near where the victim was found. There are no suspects or arrests at this time, police said. The investigation is ongoing. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 100-mile detour in place when 86-mile stretch of Pennsylvania Turnpike closes overnight Saturday 2 women dead after shooting in Beaver County, suspect identified Pittsburgh Police looking for missing 12-year-old twins VIDEO: Local police, representative hold event to help people get updated license plates DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A Florida man and his teenage stepson died after hiking in extreme heat at Big Bend National Park in Texas, officials said Saturday. With temperatures at 119 degrees Fahrenheit, the 14-year-old boy fell ill along the Marufo Vega Trail and passed out on Friday around 6 p.m., according to the National Park Service. The 31-year-old stepdad began to hike back to their vehicle to find help. His other stepson, 21, tried to carry the teen back to the trailhead. Park Rangers and agents from the U.S. Border Patrol arrived around 7:30 p.m. and found the teen had died along the trail, officials said. Officials started a search for the father and found his vehicle had crashed over the embankment at the Boquillas Overlook. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not yet publicly identified the victims. The National Park Service describes the trail as extremely rugged. It winds through rocky cliffs in the hottest part of Big Bend, and there's no shade or water along the strenuous trail. During the summer, the terrain along the Rio Grande and desert areas of Big Bend see daily highs of 110-119 degrees Fahrenheit. On Saturday, an extreme heat advisory was in place for the Big Bend's desert areas. The National Park Service said that "hikers should be OFF TRAILS in the afternoon" and advised hikers to stay hydrated and limit their exposure. In March, a 64-year-old woman collapsed and died while hiking in Big Bend. In February, a 56-year-old man died after reportedly experiencing chest pains while hiking along the park's Pinnacles Trail. Hans Zimmer: The 60 Minutes Interview Saudi Arabia becomes unlikely sports hub amid sportswashing accusations | 60 Minutes Convoy of Life: Getting kids with cancer out of Ukraine | 60 Minutes Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin says it wasn't 'unexpected' that Putin would face an attempted mutiny by the Wagner Group: 'They're thugs dealing with thugs' Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Sen. Ben Cardin on Sunday criticized both Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Wagner Group. "They're thugs dealing with thugs," he said during a Sunday appearance on Fox News. The Wagner Group attempted to stage an armed rebellion this weekend but retreated from their effort. Sen. Ben Cardin on Sunday said that the attempted mutiny by Russia's Wagner Group of mercenaries on Russian President Vladimir Putin wasn't a surprise, describing the scenario as "thugs dealing with thugs." During an interview on "Fox News Sunday," the Maryland Democrat and former ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said Putin should have foreseen such an issue, pointing to the motivations of Wagner Group owner Yevgeny Prigozhin. Prigozhin had long been allied with Putin, and the group has been aiding the Russian military during the country's invasion of Ukraine. But tensions between the groups have flared as Russia became bogged down in Ukraine without the sort of progress envisioned by the Kremlin. "Putin brought this upon himself doing business with the Wagner Group," Cardin told anchor Shannon Bream. "We know what they are. They're thugs dealing with thugs. So this was not unexpected that a problem would develop. "Putin's lost his credibility with his own people. His account of why he went into Ukraine is now being challenged with public opinion in Russia itself," he added. Prigozhin has repeatedly placed blame on Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu over the country's setbacks in Ukraine. Wagner mercenaries this week entered Rostov-on-Don before retreating from the strategic Russian city. Meanwhile, Russian military leaders worked to protect Moscow during the attempted mutiny. Prigozhin subsequently ended the Saturday uprising and has left Russia for Belarus. Per a Kremlin spokesperson, he won't be prosecuted. Read the original article on Business Insider According to one Redditor, McDonalds allegedly throws out so much food it has an itemized form to track the cost. The user shared a photo of a form labeled Waste Sheet, with sections for breakfast dishes, regular menu items, and desserts. Each section includes entries for individual products, blanks to write down how many have been thrown away throughout the day, and the cost to the store for each discarded item. This process aims to help franchise owners track just how much money is being spent on wasted inventory. Commenters are frustrated at the amount of food going into the trash. I worked in fast food when I was a teenager, says one user. It was always so crazy to me that we had to throw everything in the garbage end of the day rather than anyone taking it home. They said it would make people throw more food out so they could take it home. The original poster responds, I always hated throwing it away too. Sometimes, though, employees defy those rules. I had a friend who worked at the arches and hed hand us bags full of single hamburgers and fries near closing, claims one commenter. Many restaurants throw out food they cant sell, even if its completely edible. While some, like this Detroit pizzeria, adjust their menu and buying practices to minimize waste, others simply factor the loss into their prices costing buyers more and creating pollution by increasing the amount of food that is shipped to their location. Many fast-food employees in similar positions find their own ways to minimize waste. For example, one TikToker recently claimed she usually gets extra helpings of hot items like proteins at Sweetgreen if she goes near closing time when the unused food would otherwise be thrown out. Apps like Flashfood and Too Good To Go also help buyers find deals on food thats about to be tossed in the trash, saving both businesses and customers money. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. Miami doctor got his license suspended this week. Hes been in prison since September The emergency suspension order signed by the Florida surgeon general on Wednesday means Miami-Dade Dr. Manuel Barbeito legally cant play doctor for now. The suspension order is for the same reason that Barbeito has been in federal prison since September. Barbeito, 59, slung pills at General Care Center, an all-cash pill mill at 7805 Coral Way that landed several folks in federal prison, led by owner Habib Palacios. After pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense a controlled substance, Barbeito got sentenced to five years and 10 months last year. Court documents say Barbeitos sentence got reduced to three years, six months. His release date is June 7, 2025. His government stay got reduced after he was prepared to testify against General Cares shadow owner Habib Palacios. Palacios is scheduled to be in federal prison in downtown Miami until Dec. 4, 2034, serving time for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distributing a controlled substance. READ MORE: The owner who ran a $3 million pill mill and the doctors who prescribed for him Court documents say Barbeito also cooperated against Dr. Bruno Gallo, who signed a plea bargain before taking his own life. Barbeito also helped the prosecution of Lisset Martinez and Adriana Benedi. Each pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and dispense a controlled substance. Marianna federal prison has Martinez, 55, until Jan. 30, 2029 and Benedi, 61, until July 7, 2026. Illegal treatment at General Care? Online records say Barbeito has been licensed in Florida since June 20, 1997. He lost that license for $1,500 to $2,000 per week plus $120 cash bonus for every opioid prescription Barbeito wrote from March 2018 through November 2019. Thats in Barbeitos admission of facts with his guilty plea. Palacios hired Barbeito to be one of the doctors prescribing oxycodone for $250 to $300 per prescription. While employed at GCC, Barbeito knowingly prescribed oxycodone hydrochloride 30mg to patients who did not have a legitimate medical need for the medication, the admission says. For example, Barbeito prescribed oxycodone to patients who appeared young and healthy, and to patients whose requests for oxycodone were inconsistent with their medical history, their descriptions of their pain, and/or their patient files. Nevertheless, Barbeito prescribed oxycodone to all or nearly all of the patients he saw at GCC because Palacios directed him to do so. Palacios has never held a medical license. By the time Barbeito gets out or prison, he wont have one, either. Former Vice President Mike Pence celebrated the one-year anniversary of the fall of Roe v. Wade on Sunday, and vowed to push a national 15-week abortion ban if he is elected president. Pence made the comments during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," one day after the anniversary of last year's landmark Supreme Court decision that allowed states to regulate abortion. "I'm pro-life and I don't apologize for it, and this weekend we're celebrating a historic victory, when one year ago the Supreme Court of the United States sent Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history," Pence said. "I couldn't be more proud of the some 20 states that advanced protections for the unborn and support for women facing crisis pregnancy." Host Shannon Bream confronted Pence with polling showing that a large majority of Americans are opposed to a blanket national ban on abortion. Pence called on every candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination to commit to pushing a "minimum standard" of a 15-week abortion ban if they are elected. KAMALA HARRIS RIDICULED FOR POST ON ROE ANNIVERSARY AS SHE RECOUNTS RAGE Former Vice President Mike Pence is calling on his fellow candidates for president to commit to pushing a 15-week abortion ban on the national level. "That would align American law with most of the countries in Europe that literally ban abortion after 12 to 15 weeks," Pence said. "Our laws at the national level today are more aligned with North Korea, China and Iran than with other Western countries in Europe." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP TRUMP SAYS HE'S PROUD TO BE THE MOST PRO-LIFE PRESIDENT IN US HISTORY ON ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE OVERTURN "A decisive majority of Americans would support legislation that bans abortion after unborn children are capable of pain at the 15-week mark," he continued. "We cannot rest or relent until we restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law." Pence was among many politicians on both sides of the aisle to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade's fall this weekend. Former President Donald Trump spoke at the Faith & Freedom Coalition Gala in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, and claimed to be "the most pro-life president" in U.S. history. FORMER NFL STAR SAYS NEW BOOK OFFERS A VISION FOR PRO-LIFE ADVOCATES IN A POST-ROE ERA "From my first day in office, I took historic action to protect the unborn, very historic. Nobody else did anything near what we did," he said. Vice President Kamala Harris also posted a video this weekend in which she marked the one-year anniversary of the end of Roe v. Wade, claiming it was a tragedy for womens rights. "One year ago, the United States Supreme Court took a constitutional right from the people of America," she wrote. "Today, we stand with the majority of Americans who believe the right to choose is fundamental." Military: Russia redeploys airborne troops from Ukraine to protect Moscow during Wagner's mutiny Russia redeployed two separate airborne units from the occupied territories of Ukraine to protect its capital, Moscow, during the Wagner Group's mutiny, the Ukrainian military's National Resistance Center reported on June 25. Up to two companies of Russias 76th Airborne Assault Division got to Moscow by Il-76 transport aircraft, according to the report. The Wagner mercenaries convoy stopped before arriving to Moscow on June 24. Russian command plans to keep them (airborne troops) for at least a week (in Moscow), the National Resistance Center said. Wagner Group Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has a long-going conflict with the Russian generals. He blamed Defense Misnister Sergei Shoigu and General Staff Head Valery Gerasimov of a lack of ammunition during the Battle of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, and publicaly attacked both for their incompetence. Russia comes to the brink of civil war: How we got here and what it means Visually, the scene was a familiar one. Russian armored vehicles emblazoned with the Z logo in the central streets of a once peaceful city, masked soldiers standing at key intersections, and confrontational conversations with bemused local civilians. But this wasnt a Ukrainian city in the first da The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell During the day-long armed rebellion, the Wagner mercenary group managed to seize the Russian army's Southern Military District headquarters in the city of Rostov, an important strategic command center in Russias war against Ukraine. Millions of Illinois residents get their drinking water from municipal and private wells contaminated with toxic forever chemicals Testing during the past three years revealed nearly a million Illinoisans get their drinking water from municipal wells contaminated with toxic forever chemicals at levels exceeding state health guidelines. Another 1.4 million people in the state depend on private wells, including scores in the Chicago suburbs. But there has been no systematic approach to determine if any of them are unknowingly ingesting chemicals that build up in human blood, cause cancer and other diseases and take years to leave the body. As far as the state is concerned, it is up to individual well owners to decide if its worth spending $500 or so to test their water for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. In one of only three instances when local and state health officials have stepped in, they found it difficult to persuade well owners on the south side of Rockford to get their water tested for free, even after being told some of the highest PFAS concentrations in the state had been detected nearby. These are huge challenges we face in the modern world, said Dr. Sandra Martell, administrator of the Winnebago County Health Department. How do we ensure our communities have access to safe drinking water, and how do we get people to take steps to protect themselves? Nearly every American has PFAS in their bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Babies are born with the chemicals in their blood. Scientists are finding that tiny concentrations of some forever chemicals can trigger testicular and kidney cancer, birth defects, liver damage, impaired fertility, immune system disorders, high cholesterol and obesity. Links to breast cancer and other diseases are suspected. Yet PFAS remain largely unregulated. Manufacturers, users and sewage treatment agencies are fighting to keep it that way. Corporations and government agencies potentially responsible for contaminating water sources have spent the past year and a half lobbying against state regulations that would impose the first limits on six PFAS in groundwater throughout Illinois. If enacted, the standards would open the door to legal action by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and private lawsuits intended to force the cleanup of contaminated sites and steps to ensure well owners have safe water. Bad news Besides the Rockford neighborhood, several private wells are known to be contaminated in nearby Rockton, where PFAS-laden firefighting foam was sprayed after a 2021 explosion leveled a Chemtool lubricant factory. Mike and Kacy Krause are among the Chemtool neighbors who were evacuated. Late last year, officials from the Illinois EPA and county health department knocked on the couples door and asked if they could collect water samples from their well. The request wasnt unusual, Mike Krause said. Shortly after moving in 20 years ago, he said, the Krauses discovered they had bought a house within a federal Superfund site, the governments designation for the nations most polluted industrial properties. State officials have routinely tested wells in the Wright Kiles Blackhawk subdivision since the early 1980s after finding cancer-causing solvents in groundwater near a former Beloit Corp. factory that manufactured papermaking equipment. But last year was the first time the state came looking for PFAS. The Krauses and their neighbors got the results in April. For many, the news wasnt good. It was just ridiculous, said Mike Krause, a construction contractor. Levels of one forever chemical, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), were as high as 130 parts per trillion 65 times higher than the 2 ppt limit proposed by the state. The states proposed limit for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is 7.7 ppt. Testing in the Blackhawk subdivision found levels nearly four times higher. PFOS once was used widely in firefighting foam and PFOA sometimes was an unintentional byproduct of foam manufacturing. Levels of both chemicals were generally highest at homes on Watts Avenue close to the Chemtool site. Mike Krause blames the company for the 12 ppt of PFOS and 5.5 ppt of PFOA the state found in his well. It doesnt take a genius to figure out where it came from, he said, noting his family has sued Chemtool and has been drinking bottled water since being notified of the test results. State and local officials arent so sure. The now-destroyed Chemtool factory was built on the site of the former Beloit Corp. facility, and groundwater in the area generally moves to the southwest, toward the Rock River and away from nearby homes, said Kyle Rominger, chief of the Illinois EPAs land bureau. No clearly identifiable (PFAS) plume, Rominger said. No smoking gun. Unknown sources of PFAS There could be other, still unknown sources. For decades, PFOA, PFOS and hundreds of related chemicals were (and some still are) used in industrial processes and in products such as carpets, clothing, cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, fast-food wrappers, food packaging, microwave popcorn bags, paper plates, pizza boxes, rain jackets and ski wax. Results from testing in the Sandy Hollow area of Rockford were just as confounding. The local health department asked state officials for assistance after the Illinois EPA found high levels of PFOA and PFOS in wells dug for the Family Manufactured Home Community near U.S. Route 20 and Illinois Route 251. As the health department went door to door reaching out to more than 50 nearby homes on private wells, the Illinois EPA sampled monitoring wells from the Southeast Rockford Groundwater Plume, another Superfund site. Like the Beloit Corp. site in Rockton, the one in Rockford has been in the Superfund program for decades. In 1990, about 200 homes and businesses accepted bottled water provided by the U.S. EPA to protect them from harmful solvents dumped by industries in the area, and the city later hooked up several hundred homes to the municipal water supply. When the state tested for PFAS last year in the Superfund monitoring wells and in several remaining private wells, they found the highest levels were outside the plume of solvents. It is unclear at this point how forever chemicals seeped into the wells. It would be great to find a source and stop it right there, said Martell, the Winnebago County health administrator. For now we are going to have to deal with immediate action people can take, in particular when it comes to protecting young children who are more vulnerable because their bodies are still developing. That means more people using water filters, Martell added, and eventually getting them connected to municipal sources of water. State officials said there are no plans to test for PFAS in private wells near the 43 other Superfund sites in Illinois or near communities where forever chemicals have been detected in municipal wells. Without PFAS-specific regulations directing them to look for the chemicals in groundwater, state officials said, they have no legal authority to do so. By contrast, Michigan had tested more than 6,000 private wells at least once by the end of last year. Officials in that state were among the first in the nation to address PFAS contamination after high levels of the chemicals were found near a former Air Force base and in residential wells close to a former tannery. The Illinois Department of Public Health encouraged the states well owners to check its website to learn more about water filters certified to remove PFAS. The department also provides a list of laboratories approved to test for the chemicals. Companies reach settlements Government action to protect Americans from PFAS has been slow-coming in part because chemical manufacturers kept secret what they knew about the dangers. Documents unearthed during lawsuits show top executives at Minnesota-based 3M knew as early as the 1950s about the harmful effects of forever chemicals the conglomerate pioneered after World War II. 3M didnt begin telling the U.S. EPA what it knew about PFOA and PFOS until 1998 more than two decades after Congress approved the nations first chemical safety law. Until this year the chief manufacturers, 3M and DuPont, had paid nearly $2 billion combined to settle PFAS-related lawsuits without accepting responsibility for contaminated drinking water or diseases suffered by people exposed to the chemicals. 3M has long maintained the chemicals are not harmful at levels typically found in people. On Thursday, 3M announced the company will pay at least another $10.3 billion to settle thousands of other claims accusing the company of contaminating public water systems with forever chemicals. DuPont and two other companies earlier said they had brokered a $1.19 billion settlement in the same cases, filed by cities and water systems across the nation and consolidated in a South Carolina federal court. The money is expected to be paid out over time to test for and treat PFAS-contaminated water. 3M said earlier this year it will stop making the chemicals by 2025. 3M agreed in November to test private wells and public water systems near one of its PFAS manufacturing plants in Cordova, Illinois, where for decades it discharged the chemicals into the Mississippi River without limits about 15 miles upstream from the Quad Cities. A Chicago Tribune investigation found the Illinois EPA knew more than a decade ago about PFAS-contaminated wells in and around the 3M plant. The state agency allowed 3M to enter a voluntary cleanup program and later signed off when the company said it was powerless to reduce its PFAS pollution, according to records and emails obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests. The Tribune also identified more than 1,600 other potential sources of PFAS in Illinois through a national analysis of industry codes designating the type of products manufactured or used. Only California, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Florida have more facilities on the list of suspected polluters. More than 60% of the Illinois facilities are in Chicago and its suburbs, the Tribune found. There is at least one potential industrial source in 85 of the states 102 counties, yet there are still no limits on the amount of PFAS pollution released into the air or discharged into sewers. Back in Rockton, the state found two PFAS in a municipal well but at concentrations well below health guidelines. Low concentrations of arsenic and radium also have been detected over the years. The results prompted Dan Enderle, a teacher at the local high school, to install a reverse osmosis system in his home to remove any contaminants that pass through the municipal treatment plant. While the levels have been below legal requirements ... we decided to invest in a filtration system, said Enderle, who has lived in Rockton for 20 years and plans to stay. Closer to Chicago, several residents on private wells in southwest suburban Homer Glen said they feel fortunate they installed reverse osmosis systems years ago at the same time their wells were dug into the local aquifer. Joe Turrise, a retired Nabisco machinist, has had his own water treatment system since 1997. Back then the chief concern was taste, he said, but the system is even more appreciated since the dangers of PFAS and other contaminants became more widely understood. It is a little expensive when you consider you need to replace the filters at proper intervals, Turrise said. But you cant put a price tag on good, clean water. mhawthorne@chicagotribune.com Ministry: Dnipro River returns to its banks after flooding caused by Kakhovka Dam explosion The Dnipro River in Kherson has returned to its banks after the flooding caused by the June 6 Kakhovka Dam explosion, the Environment Ministry reported on June 25. The water level decreased by 4 centimeters, resulting in a total drop of 5.35 meters since the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station by Russian forces, located about 60 km upstream from Kherson. The shallowing of the water continues in the Great Meadow (Velykyi Luh) National Nature Park, which may result in a drought. The protected area consisting of 13 islands in the northeastern part of the Kakhovka Reservoir has been completely drained, the ministry said. The water level has decreased by approximately 13 meters in the Kamianska Sich National Park, according to the report. This Week in Ukraine Ep. 11 Russias destruction of Ukrainian dam, and catastrophic flood it caused Episode #11 of our weekly video podcast This Week in Ukraine is dedicated to Russias destruction of Ukraines Kakhovka dam, and the catastrophic flood it caused. Host Anastasiia Lapatina is joined by the Kyiv Independent reporter Igor Kossov. Listen to the audio version of the podcast on Apple, The Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka Dam on June 6 triggered one of the largest man-made environmental disasters in Ukraine's history. The southern Kherson Oblast has suffered catastrophic floods and a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Ruslan Strilets, said on June 21 that the Kakhovka dam explosion and flooding has already caused more than $1.5 billion worth of damage to Ukraine. Over a million people living in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's Nikopol and Kryvyi Rih districts could face water shortages as a result, Mykola Lukashuk, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk's regional council, said on June 14. Jada Samuel was overcome with emotion when she was named Miss South Carolina 2023 Saturday, saying she was proud to be the fourth Black woman to wear the crown. Her voice shaking, she said her 86-year-old grandmother was at home watching her on television. As a young woman, her grandmother could not compete, she said. Samuel, 26, is from Greenville and competed as Miss Bridge City. Many may know her as an on-air host for The South Carolina Lottery. She is a digital marketing strategist and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a broadcast journalism degree. She is pursuing an MBA at Louisiana State University. For her talent, she recited a powerful acceptance speech once given by Angela Bassett. Samuel also won the Miss Evening Gown Award. She said she will concentrate on service. Service is everything, she said, adding Miss South Carolinas job would not be about her but what she can do for others. She calls herself a servant leader. Samuel said she hopes to draw more contestants Miss SC Organization called them delegates from various backgrounds and to continue to be a mentor for young people. Toward that end, she founded a nonprofit iShapeMe Inc. in 2014 to encourage positive body image, self-esteem and a fit and healthy lifestyle, according to her LinkedIn page. You can find me doing my best work at the intersection of storytelling and making an impact, she wrote on LinkedIn. Samuel won a $60,000 scholarship and will compete in the Miss America contest, the date and place has not been announced. The Miss South Carolina competition was held at Columbias Township Auditorium and included 47 contestants. In all, $250,000 in scholarships were awarded by the Miss South Carolina Organization, the most among those affiliated with MIss America. This year marked the return of the health and fitness round, which previously was known as the swimsuit competition. Now, the women wear upscale workout clothes. On Friday night, 16-year-old Margaret Turner was named Miss South Carolina Teen. She was Miss Lakelands Teen and is from Greenwood. When she was 14 years old she won Miss Junior High School America on an anti-bullying platform. She is also interested in encouraging blood donation. She appeared during the Miss South Carolina contest and said she had already started working as Miss South Carolina teen. Turner won $10,000 from the Miss America Organization. Miss South Carolina Teen 2022 was Piper Holt Jill Dudley was Miss South Carolina 2022. She seemed to become emotional while she was singing Forever Young toward the end of the show as the sole prince and princesses, former winners and current delegates walked across the stage. A Socastee native and rape survivor, Dudleys focus has been on examining the myths of rape culture, share stories of survival and encourage bystanders to get in the fight. Her platform is called Shatter the Cycle. Runners up to Miss South Carolina were first runner up Miss Greater Carolina Davis Walsh, second Miss Charleston Sydney Ford, third Miss Clemson Berkley Bryant and fourth Miss North Myrtle Beach Brooke Vu. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit is fueling concerns from activist groups that the Biden administration is putting human rights on the back burner. During the visit, President Biden held back from public criticism of Modis handling of human rights and democratic values issues that led a handful of progressive lawmakers to boycott his speech to a joint address to Congress. The president, instead, rolled out the red carpet for Modi with a celebratory welcome and hug, a 21-gun salute and a state dinner with notable White House guests, a charm offensive underscoring Indias economic and foreign policy importance to the United States. Biden had previously come under criticism last July for a fist bump with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to Jeddah that advocates argue effectively ignored the Saudi governments human rights abuses. White House officials contend that tough conversations with allies behind closed doors including Modi are more productive than grandstanding and scolding in public. The prime minister and I had a good discussion about democratic values. Were straightforward with each other, and and we respect each other, Biden said during a press conference alongside Modi at the White House on Thursday. But critics say that puts little pressure on governments and leaders like Modi to actually deliver on reforms. The Indian leader in particular is criticized for failing to counter anti-Muslim hate and is cracking down on civil liberties and press freedoms issues that strike at the core of respect for democratic governments. I would argue that the administration needs to be more explicit about backsliding allies, practically recommitting themselves to fundamental freedoms and the respect for human rights as the basis for an evolving global order, said Tess McEnery, who previously served as Bidens director for democracy and human rights at the National Security Council. During his campaign, Biden put human rights at the center of his foreign policy messaging and identified strengthening democracy at home and abroad as key to pushing back against autocratic governments such as Russia and China. Yet in pushing back on Russia and China, the U.S. also needs allies. And that has complicated efforts with human rights. The White House sees India as an indispensable partner in its strategy with China; its population of 1.4 billion people is the only market that can compete with Beijings. India represents a needed partner in the administrations efforts to diversify supply chains away from China for critical materials such as semiconductors and rare earth minerals that are the building blocks of those technologies. Modi recognized the power that India holds during his address to Congress on Thursday. When defense and aerospace in India grow, industries in the states of Washington, Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania thrive. When Indians fly more, a single order for aircrafts creates more than a million jobs in 44 states in America, he said. When an American phone maker invests in India, it creates an entire ecosystem of jobs and opportunities in both countries. The most robust applause from Congress came when Modi said the U.S. was one of Indias most important defense partners an important statement given American efforts to turn New Delhi away from its reliance on on Russias defense industry and have it serve a bulwark against Chinas growing military. Being hospitable to Modi also has its domestic political benefits. The U.S. is home to a more than an Indian-American community of more than 4.5 million people a key voting bloc that the president hopes to hold onto ahead of what is likely to be a fraught 2024 presidential election. I think that President Biden is eager not to cede any of the, kind of, Indian-American community vote to the Republican Party, said Daniel Markey, senior adviser on South Asia at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Republicans and Democrats in Congress are largely united in supporting a robust U.S. and Indian partnership. A bipartisan and bicameral grouping introduced legislation Thursday to fast-track weapons sales to India in recognition of Modis visit. And while more than 70 House and Senate lawmakers raised concerns over Modis human rights record in a letter to Biden ahead of the visit, only a little more than a handful of progressive Democratic lawmakers boycotted the prime ministers speech. We are told that we must now turn a blind eye to the repression because of foreign policy concerns, even though human rights are supposed to be at the center of our foreign policy, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said during a policy briefing she hosted with human rights advocates after Modis address, which she boycotted. Among the most pressing criticisms against Modis rule is the criminal conviction against Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who was sentenced to two years in prison for negatively using Modis surname during a political rally in 2019. Advocates have also warned about freedom of speech and press freedoms in India in the wake of a tax raid on the offices of the BBC in India in March, and cases of journalists being jailed. Freedom House, a nongovernmental organization that tracks democratic freedoms globally, rated India as partly free in its Freedom in the World report for 2023. The group claimed Modis government and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has presided over discriminatory policies and a rise in persecution affecting the Muslim population. The constitution guarantees civil liberties including freedom of expression and freedom of religion, but harassment of journalists, nongovernmental organizations, and other government critics has increased significantly under Modi, the group wrote. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, argued that a balance can be met between calling out human rights concerns while also supporting the U.S.-Indian relationship. Its because we value our friendship with the Indian people that we also have to speak the truth about human rights abuses in India that are ongoing, well-documented by credible observers and deeply troubling, he said at the policy briefing hosted by Omar. We dont raise these issues to discredit India, he continued. We raise them because we know from our own experience that if human rights problems are not confronted and resolved, they will fester and deepen and undermine a countrys promise. Markey, of the USIP, said the Biden administration prepared for blowback over the decision to keep criticisms against Modi in private, but added that its excessive references to sharing appreciation for democratic governance did itself no favors. I think they went even farther than maybe they needed to do, for Indian consumption, he said. They leaned into the shared-democracy issue, rather than pulling back from it, Markey added. They gave a lot of ammunition to those who would suggest that this is just pure hypocrisy at this point, rather than kind of edging around it. McEnery, who is now the executive director of the Project on Middle East Democracy, said the Biden administration needs to elevate defending democracy and human rights to an interest more than a value. That would mean doing trade and economic deals centered on good governance principles, she said, or reforming arms and security relationships based on human rights. I saw this firsthand a lot, where many good, hard-working people inside every arm of the U.S. government, including the National Security Council, tried to make the case for democracy and human rights as a vital national security interest, she said. And I would see that shot down time and again by others throughout the government. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A cold front is again bringing severe thunderstorms, hail and a brief tornado threat through the Charlotte area Monday evening. Hail larger than 2 inches could shower the area, officials said. The National Weather upgraded a hazardous weather bullet issued early Monday to a severe thunderstorm watch in more than 35 counties, it said. The watch was expected to stay in effect in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Catawba, Lincoln, Gaston, Union, Cabarrus and Rowan counties through 11 p.m. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch are possible in Charlotte on Monday night, the weather service forecasts. Monday mornings sunny blue skies were warming up and expected to destabilize the cold front into thunderstorms, it posted on Facebook. The forecast projects damaging winds, hail and thunderstorms across the region, including Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cabarrus, Iredell and Union counties as well as York and Chester counties in South Carolina. Charlotte weather Wind gusts Monday could register as high as 22 mph, according to the weather service. The high Monday is 92, with temperatures in the low 60s at night. The severe weather chances come on the heels of a wet week in Charlotte when the area got nearly 2 inches of rain, according to climate data. Charlottes weather will improve over the course of the week, the weather service predicts. Charlotte remained under a flood watch for most of last week as rain clouds lingered over the states. Parts of Kannapolis were evacuated after floods overtook the area Tuesday, and sinkholes were reported in Cornelius and Kannapolis. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies from Tuesday until Thursday. A chance of thunderstorms returns Friday. Temperatures are forecast to reach the high 80s during the week and possibly even the low 90s during the day Monday, with overnight lows in the 60s throughout the week. Moscow has stepped back from civil war with Wagner. But the dangers not over, experts warn Russia glimpsed the threat of armed insurrection over the weekend, with Wagner Group mercenaries marching toward Moscow as President Vladimir Putin vowed retribution all before a sudden deal seemed to defuse the crisis as rapidly as it had emerged. The immediate risk of bloodshed appears to have dissipated, but much remains uncertain; experts warn that the rare uprising is still likely to have consequences down the line. Putin must now navigate the aftermath of the most serious challenge to his authority since he came to power over 20 years ago, which appeared to have him on the back foot for a day and half. The fate of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin who led the provocative march and seizure of cities along the way remains murky. The typically outspoken oligarch has been quiet about the Minsk-brokered deal, which would see him sent to Belarus and his troops absorbed by the Russian military. Neither the Kremlin nor Belarusian officials could say where he was on Sunday. Heres what we know. Whats the latest? According to the deal described by the Kremlin and the Belarusian government, Prigozhin has agreed to leave Russia for neighboring Belarus. However, his whereabouts remain unknown. Wagner fighters leave the military headquarters they had briefly occupied in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24. - Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters Belarusian officials told CNN on Sunday that they had no details on what Prigozhins status would be in Belarus and could not confirm whether he had already arrived in the country. The press service for Prigozhins Concord management company declined to offer an update, telling CNN only that the warlord sends his regards to everyone and will answer questions when he has proper communication. A Kremlin spokesman also said that a criminal case against Prigozhin for the rebellion will be dropped. Wagner fighters will now sign contracts with Russias Ministry of Defense, the spokesman also said a move Prigozhin had previously rejected as an attempt to bring his paramilitary force in line. Videos authenticated and geolocated by CNN on Saturday showed Prigozhin and his forces withdrawing from the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. How did this happen? The crisis in Russia erupted Friday when Prigozhin accused Russias military of attacking a Wagner camp and killing his men and vowed to retaliate by force. Prigozhin then led his troops into Rostov-on-Don and claimed to have taken control of key military facilities in the Voronezh region, where there was an apparent clash between Wagner units and Russian forces. Prigozhin claimed it wasnt a coup but a march of justice. But that did little to appease Moscow, with a top security official calling Prigozhins actions a staged coup detat, according to Russian state media. Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation after an insurrection led by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, on June 24. - Pavel Bednyakov/Sputnik via AP Russias Defense Ministry denied attacking Wagners troops, and Russias internal security force opened a criminal case against Prigozhin. Then came a remarkable national address from Putin. In a speech that was broadcast across Russia on Saturday morning local time, a visibly furious Putin vowed to punish those on a path to treason. Wagners betrayal was a stab in the back of our country and our people, he said, likening the groups actions to the 1917 Russian Revolution that toppled Tsar Nicholas II in the midst of WWI. Things were tense on the ground, with civilians in Voronezh told to stay home. Meanwhile, Moscow stepped up its security measures across the capital, declaring Monday a non-workday. Photos show Russian forces in body armor and wielding automatic weapons near a highway outside Moscow. All signs pointed to an impending armed confrontation in the capital as rumors and uncertainty swirled. Then almost as suddenly as it began, the short-lived mutiny fizzled out with the Belarus deal seeming putting out the fire at least for now. Whats next for Prigozhin and Wagner? Much remains unclear, such as what will happen to Prigozhins role within Wagner and the Ukraine war, and whether all his fighters will be contracted to Russias military. The Kremlin spokesperson said on Saturday he cannot answer what position Prigozhin will take in Belarus. Prigozhin himself has provided little detail about his agreement to halt the advance on Moscow. The Wagner group is an independent fighting company with different conditions than the Russian military, said retired US Army Maj. Mike Lyons on Saturday. For instance, Wagner fighters are better fed than the military meaning a full assimilation would be difficult. Maybe some will splinter off, he added. Those people are loyal to the man, Prigozhin, not to the country, not to the mission. I think weve got a lot more questions that are not answered right now. The danger isnt over for the Wagner boss, either, experts say. Putin doesnt forgive traitors. Even if Putin says, Prigozhin, you go to Belarus, he is still a traitor and I think Putin will never forgive that, said Jill Dougherty, CNNs former Moscow bureau chief and a longstanding expert on Russian affairs. Its possible we could see Prigozhin get killed in Belarus, she added but its a tough dilemma for Moscow because as long as Prigozhin has some type of support, he is a threat, regardless of where he is. What does this mean for Putin? Putin now faces real problems, too. Multiple experts told CNN that while the Russian president survived the stand-off, he now looks weak not only to the world and his enemies, but to his own people and military. That could pose a risk if there are skeptics or rivals within Moscow who see an opportunity to undermine Putins position. If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave, said Dougherty. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in the backseat of a vehicle departing Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24. - Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters One video, geolocated and verified by CNN, showed crowds cheering as Prigozhins vehicle departed Rostov-on-Don. The vehicle stopped when one individual approached and shook Prigozhins hand. Why are average Russians on the street cheering people who just tried to carry out a coup? Dougherty said. That means that maybe they support them or they like them. Whatever it is, its really bad news for Putin. Who is Prigozhin? Why would he do this? Prigozhin has known Putin since the 1990s, and was nicknamed Putins chef after winning lucrative catering contracts with the Kremlin. But Russian-backed separatist movements in Ukraine in 2014 set the foundation for Prigozhins transformation into a warlord. Prigozhin founded Wagner to be a shadowy mercenary outfit that fought both in eastern Ukraine and, increasingly, for Russian-backed causes around the world. Wagner was thrust into the spotlight during the Ukraine war, with the fighters appearing to win tangible progress where regular Russian troops failed. However, its brutal tactics are believed to have caused high numbers of casualties. As the war dragged on, Prigozhin and Russias military leadership have engaged in a public feud, with the Wagner boss accusing the military of not giving his forces ammunition and bemoaning the lack of battlefield successes by regular military units. He was repeatedly critical of their handling of the conflict, casting himself as ruthless and competent in comparison. Prigozhin was always careful to direct his blame towards Russias military leadership, not Putin, and had defended the reasoning for the war in Ukraine. That was, until Friday as the insurrection kicked off. In a remarkable statement, Prigozhin said Moscow invaded Ukraine under false pretenses devised by the Russian Ministry of Defense, and that Russia was actually losing ground on the battlefield. Steve Hall, a former CIA chief of Russia operations, said even seasoned Russia watchers were taken aback by recent events. Everybody is scratching their heads, he told CNN. The only sense I can make from a day like today, you have two guys who found themselves in untenable situations and had to find their way out. Hall said Prigozhin may have felt he had bitten off more than he could chew as his column of troops marched towards Moscow. But at the same time Putin faced the very real prospect of having to defeat some 25,000 Wagner mercenaries. Sending Prigozhin to Belarus was a face saving move for both sides. But Hall said Putin comes out ultimately worse off and weakened. Putin should have seen it coming literally months ago. Well see how it ends up. I dont think the story is over yet, Hall said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Popular YouTuber MrBeast has claimed that he turned down a trip on the Titanic submarine that imploded earlier this week. Five people died on an undersea expedition to visit the wreckage of the Titanic, as part of an expensive tourist attraction run by OceanGate Expeditions. Among those to die in the catastrophic incident were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood. MrBeast, real name James Donaldson, is the worlds most subscribed individual YouTuber, and the owner of the second-most-subscribed channel overall. On Twitter, he wrote: I was invited earlier this month to ride the Titanic submarine, I said no. Kind of scary that I could have been on it. Alongside this, he shared a screenshot of what appears to be a message sent to his phone, which reads: Also, Im going to the Titanic in a submarine late this month. The team would be stoked to have you along. You can read a full timeline of the Titan submersible disaster here. After word of the tragedy broke on Thursday (22 June), Titanic director James Cameron shared his reaction to the news in a TV interview. The Canadian filmmaker and avid sea tourist told ABC News: Many people in the community were very concerned about this sub. A number of the top players in the deep submergence engineering community even wrote letters to the company, saying that what they were doing was too experimental to carry passengers and that it needed to be certified and so on. I was invited earlier this month to ride the titanic submarine, I said no. Kind of scary that I could have been on it pic.twitter.com/bQUnaRiczA MrBeast (@MrBeast) June 25, 2023 Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet he steamed at full speed into an ice field on a moonless night and many people died as a result. Cameron has made dozens of trips himself to the site of the Titanic shipwreck. In 2012, he became the first person to complete a solo descent to the deepest part of the Earths ocean, the Mariana Trench. For us, a very similar tragedy where warnings went unheeded to take place at the same exact site with all the diving thats going on all around the world, I think its just astonishing. Its really quite surreal, he continued. State flags of Russia and North Korea fly in a street in Vladivostok SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's vice foreign minister in a meeting with the Russian ambassador on Sunday said he supported any decision by the Russian leadership to deal with a recent mutiny, North Korean state media reported. Im Chon Il, the vice foreign minister, "expressed firm belief that the recent armed rebellion in Russia would be successfully put down in conformity with the aspiration and will of the Russian people," state KCNA news agency said. Heavily armed Russian mercenaries who advanced most of the way to Moscow this weekend halted their approach, de-escalating a major challenge to President Vladimir Putin's grip on power, in a move their leader said would avoid bloodshed. North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, blaming the "hegemonic policy" of the United States and the West. Im also said he believed the Russian army would "overcome trials and ordeals and heroically emerge victorious in the special military operation against Ukraine," according to KCNA. (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Tom Hogue) The 14th-century monastery is a World Heritage listed site, and under constant guard by NATO-led peacekeepers (Armend NIMANI) Located at the foot of the Balkans' Accursed Mountains, the Decani Monastery is seen as a symbol of Serbia's religious heritage in Kosovo -- and a "miracle" of survival through many conflicts. The 14th century domed building, a World Heritage site which still boasts its original frescoes, is under 24-hour guard by NATO-led peacekeepers. They are stationed at the approach to the monastery, their armoured vehicle topped with a big gun and sandbagged sentry post anomalous in the bucolic valley. Inside the monastery compound, the soldiers' camouflage uniforms mingle with the black robes of the 20 Eastern Orthodox monks who live there. Since the ethnic Albanian majority of Kosovo rose up in 1998-1999 against Belgrade, sites linked to Serbian heritage such as the monastery have become targets. Although the situation in Kosovo has largely calmed in the two and a half decades since the 1999 Kosovo war, in which NATO intervened, simmering tensions require continued vigilance by the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force. Tensions are currently at their highest since 2004, KFOR commanders say, with ethnic Albanians claiming municipal administrations in Serb-majority flashpoint towns in Kosovo's north, and Serbia holding three Kosovo policemen that were arrested mid-June. - A haven - The peace that reigns in Decani Monastery makes those troubles seem a world away, but its monks are aware that conflict has often lapped at its walls. "Two Balkans wars, two world wars, Communism... the church suffered a lot. So it is kind of a miracle the church survived in such conditions," one of them, Father Petar, told journalists including AFP who visited under KFOR escort in late June. The monk did not dwell on what threats the site confronts today, emphasising instead its mix of Gothic, Byzantine and Eastern architecture. "It is a combination of the most beautiful elements of Christian art, from east and west," Father Petar said, observing that the church has "never changed" over its 700-year history. During the Kosovo war and its aftermath, the monastery was a refuge for people of several religious beliefs, a haven from ethnic rivalries. Built between 1327 and 1335, its founder was Serbian King Stefan Decanski, after whom it and the nearby village was named -- though Serbs refer to the village as Decani while ethnic Albanians call it Decan. Orthodox faithful come from far to worship the remains of King Stefan, who was anointed Saint Stefan of Decani, which are kept in the altar under the cupola inside the monastery. KFOR soldiers keep a respectful watch inside and outside the monastery as monks carry out the rituals. "Our job is to maintain good relations with all the municipality elements, disparate ethnics (ethnicities) of course," said the KFOR team leader for the site, Sergeant Manuel Cetrullo. rmb/rox Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning Sunday instructing Jewish settlers not to grab land illegally in the occupied West Bank, after humanitarian bodies raised the alarm over a series of deadly attacks on Palestinian villagers. At the same time, Netanyahu repeatedly endorsed the construction of settlements approved by the government, which are considered illegal under international law. Calls to grab land illegally and actions of grabbing land illegally, are unacceptable to me. They undermine law and order in Judea and Samaria [West Bank] and must stop immediately, he said at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. Not only will we not back such actions, our government will take strong action against them. These calls and actions do not strengthen settlement on the contrary, they hurt it. I say this as someone who doubled settlement in Judea and Samaria despite great and unprecedented international pressure to carry out withdrawals that I have not carried out and will not carry out. These calls hurt the vital interests of the State of Israel and they must stop immediately. Israeli authorities describe the West Bank as Judea and Samaria. Netanyahu stressed a twin approach to security. We have been targeting a record number of terrorists and also building in our country on a broad scale according to approved construction plans. I emphasize approved. The recent uptick in violence peaked on Wednesday, when Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Turmusayya in the occupied West Bank, the day after the killing of four Jewish settlers nearby, according to the mayor of the village. Those killings had been in retaliation to an Israeli military operation in the Jenin area on Monday, which left seven Palestinians dead and 91 injured, according to the UN. Seven Israeli soldiers were injured. Israeli security forces have recently ramped up armed hostilities against Palestinian militants, amid Netanyahus campaign for illegal settlers outposts to be expanded and turned into full settlements. Nationalist terrorism Senior Israeli security officials condemned what they called nationalist terrorism by some settlers, after the latest attacks took place on Saturday around the Palestinian village of Umm Safr, north of Ramallah. In recent days, violent attacks have been carried out by Israelis in Judea and Samaria against innocent Palestinians, the Chief of the Israeli General Staff, Gen. Herzi Halevi, the Director of the Israel Security Agency [ISA], Ronen Bar and Israels Police Commissioner, Yaakov Shabtai, said in a statement. These attacks contradict every moral and Jewish value; they constitute, in every way, nationalist terrorism, and we are obliged to fight them. Israels security forces are operating against those rioters, risking the lives of IDF soldiers, Israel Police officers and ISA personnel, the statement said, adding that arrests would be made as the violence diverts the security forces from their main mission of operating against Palestinian terrorism. Israeli police were met with resistance when trying to seize vehicles belonging to settlers said to have set fire to two houses, a truck and two vehicles as part of the attacks in Umm Safr, according to a spokesperson for the force. The rioters proceeded to throw stones and other projectiles at both police officers and their vehicles, resulting in significant damage, the police spokesperson said. It took several hours to reopen the settlement gate, which the individuals had deliberately damaged to prevent entry or exit. Additionally, a search of vehicles elsewhere had revealed a gasoline-like substance, gloves, batons, and a knife, which were confiscated, and two suspects were apprehended. Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, the head of the European Union's mission to the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, stands inside a destroyed structure in Ramallah on Friday. - Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images Separately, the IDF said on Saturday that rocks had been thrown in Umm Safr while Israeli citizens reportedly set fire to Palestinian property. It said an Israeli citizen had been arrested, adding: The IDF condemns such acts of nationalist crime that lead to escalation. Ghassan Douglas, a Palestinian official who monitors settler violence, said that 10 houses in Umm Safr were set on fire Saturday and seven vehicles destroyed. He accused settlers of firing live rounds at the village and two bullets had hit the camera of a Palestine TV crew. Videos obtained by CNN showed properties and an electrical generator on fire, as well as a group of settlers opening fire from a road. Palestine TV cameraman Mohammad Radee told CNN on Sunday that he and a reporter had tried to hide behind a house in the village. We were surprised that a handful of settlers managed to track us and started firing towards us directly from a distance of 20 meters. A family of eight was rescued from one burning house, according to Palestinian civil defense teams. The Palestinian authorities said on Sunday that the Israeli authorities had been forced to make a clear and public recognition of the existence of national terrorism committed by thousands of settlers carrying weapons, who enjoy public protection from the occupation army and political cover from ministers in the Israeli government. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that the Israeli statement was issued to address international opinion, but not intended to arrest settler elements and their terrorist leaders or start collecting their weapons. Kareem Khadder and Hadas Gold reported from Jerusalem, Sana Noor Haq wrote in London. CNNs Tim Lister and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Nine people have been killed and dozens injured after Russian fighter jets bombed a city in Syrias rebel-controlled northwestern Idlib province, according to the local White Helmets emergency response group. A fruit and vegetable market was impacted in the Sunday attack on the city of Jisr al-Shughur. One eyewitness told CNN that the missile had so much pressure and the sharpness hit the crowded market. Smoke rises as a result of an air strike by Russian warplanes hit close to a fruit and vegetable market. - Anas Alkharboutli/picture alliance/Getty Images Thirty minutes after the strike, I went to the location, 26-year-old Ahmad Rahhal, a local journalist, said. I saw wagons of tomato on the ground and blood on the floor. The White Helmets said this was the second day of airstrikes in the area, coming ahead of the Muslim festival, Eid al-Adha, in the Muslim-majority country. The past four days have also seen artillery fire, the civil defense added. Sundays strike in Jisr al-Shughur stands as the most fatal in northwestern Syria so far in 2023. People stand next to damaged trucks at the market in Idlib following the Russian airstrike. - Yahya Nemah/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Russian military flights over the country have shown marked aggression in the past few months. In April, Russian pilots attempted to dogfight US jets over Syria, the US said. In military aviation, dogfighting is engaging in aerial combat, often at relatively close ranges. Earlier this month, the US deployed F-22 fighter jets to the Middle East over concerns about unsafe and unprofessional behavior by Russian aircraft. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com 'We have no placement for them': L.A. County still keeping troubled youths in hotel rooms In 2021, the director of Los Angeles County's child welfare agency struck a deal with the operators of the Biltmore Los Angeles Hotel to house foster youths. (Los Angeles Times) Facing an unprecedented shortage of foster homes, some Los Angeles County leaders are calling on the state to fast-track facilities that could care for the most troubled youths under the countys protection. The Times reported last month that the countys Department of Children and Family Services relied on unlicensed hotel rooms to take foster youths it could not find a home for, prompting an outcry from leaders. L.A. schools Supt. Alberto M. Carvalho said he was appalled. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, one of five elected officials who oversee one of the largest child welfare systems in the nation, said she felt that violence was inevitable. But the practice has continued. As of Wednesday, five foster youths were staying in hotel rooms, according to the countys child welfare department. Other counties have placed children in former detention facilities and office buildings. Barger said the department is out of options. We have no placement for them, the supervisor said in an interview. Barger said shes not comfortable with the county placing young people in hotels, and she worries that it is dangerous for both staff and the foster youths they are overseeing. But she said changes in state law tied the countys hands. Following a wave of scandals over sexual abuse and violence in group homes across California, then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed a landmark law in 2015 that would move the state away from group homes and make it a priority to place young people with relatives or foster families. Many group homes shuttered in the aftermath, and those that remained downsized significantly. The law, hailed as one of the most significant reforms of Californias child welfare system in decades, left counties with few places to put in their custody young people whose behavioral problems are so severe that that no group home or foster family will take them. Barger said she believed state legislators needed to move fast to green-light facilities that will. Read more: Violence and crisis: How hundreds of L.A. Countys abused children ended up in hotels We need to push the state to rethink the issue surrounding licensed secure sites in the state of California, said Barger, who got her start in the county advising then-Supervisor Mike Antonovich on child welfare policy. Because when you have a total of less than 50 beds available for youth we have a problem. She said she was referring to Star View in Torrance and Vista del Mar on the Westside, locked facilities that serve youths with mental illness. As it stands, every youth facility available to L.A. County can say no to young people who they believe require a more intensive level of care than it can provide. To open a site that can support youths that no other facility will, the county needs approval from Sacramento, but the Legislature has been reluctant to approve such sites, wary of undermining the push to curtail group homes. Scott Murray, a spokesperson for the California Department of Social Services, said the agency is working with counties to ensure that every foster youth has a place that will support them. He noted that the governor recently signed a bill to create new places for foster youth who need psychiatric treatment with the goal of quickly moving them to less restrictive settings. We know that youth who must live apart from their biological parents do best when they are cared for in committed, nurturing family homes, he said. Its critical for youth to remain in the least restrictive, most family-like settings possible, supported by a robust continuum of services to address individual needs. But in L.A. County, politicians say hotel rooms remain the least objectionable choice for the foreseeable future. We dont have any other option at this point, Supervisor Janice Hahn said. Having to choose between our foster youth staying in hotel rooms instead of the streets is a last resort, said Supervisor Holly Mitchell. Both said they wanted to see the state expand licensing options to better support youths in hotels. Mitchell said she wanted to see more Intensive Treatment Foster Care Homes, which take young people who need a greater level of support. Hahn agreed with Barger that there needed to be more secure facilities, and Hahn called for a new strategy to recruit more foster parents. Supervisor Hilda Solis cautioned against viewing any one type of placement as an antidote. We have seen the dangers of succumbing to a one-size-fits-all approach that simply prioritizes placement of youth while neglecting their needs, she said. We must recognize that we will not find the solution with one type of facility. The use of hotel rooms has proved detrimental to the young people placed there with little support or programming and to staff who watch them. The Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley and The Times reported last month that two social workers had been attacked this year while looking after youth staying in the rooms. One youth had been placed under psychiatric holds more than 20 times. The countys child welfare department said a small fraction of the youths under their care are in hotels and that all are between the ages of 18 and 21. Young people placed in these rooms are typically grappling with substance abuse issues, mental health disorders and generational trauma, the agency said, and they have been disconnected from their families. Even if officials find a place for them, the department noted, the young person can reject it. We acknowledge that being in a hotel is not an ideal environment for the youth to begin to heal, department officials wrote in a statement. Sadly, there is no easy or simple approach to addressing their individual needs based on the currently available housing options. After two workers were assaulted, David Green, a county social worker who leads SEIU Local 721, said he convened a meeting with officials from the countys department and offices that carry some role in child welfare. Candidly, I was afraid if it continued as is, and we weren't going to do anything different, that one of our workers could be killed, and we're going to be going to a social workers funeral, Green said. He said the department quickly ushered in short-term changes: a 2-1 staff ratio, de-escalation training, on-site security guards. But he said the group left convinced that if the hotels are to no longer be an option, they would need to work with the state to create a facility that would have a no-refusal policy required to take all youths referred to them. Read more: Shape Your L.A. at the county level A lot of social workers, they can call 20 different foster families, and theyll just say no, he said. Theyre just left without any other alternative. Thats not fair for the kids. Its not fair for the social workers. Asked what such a facility would look like, he said it would be easier to describe what it shouldnt be. It shouldnt resemble a juvenile detention center. And it should not look like MacLaren Hall a facility for foster youth that shuttered in the early 2000s after allegations of systemic abuse. At the start of this legislative session, Cathy Senderling-McDonald and Diana Boyer with the County Welfare Directors Assn. of California said theyd hoped the bill the association co-sponsored SB 408 would beef up the support and staffing offered at the facilities providing the highest-intensity support for foster youth in California. That language was cut from the bill, and the current version is more narrowly tailored to creating regional health teams made up of a physician, a clinical social worker and a nurse that would provide care to youths with "complex needs" referred to them. They said the changes meant the bill no longer directly addressed the statewide issue of youth in unlicensed care. I mean up and down the state, weve seen kids in offices and hotels, overstaying in shelters, Boyer said. Its happening daily. Hurd is a reporter for UC Berkeley's Investigative Reporting Program. 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 celebration of Pride Month and Black Music Month, Dr. Alisha Lola Jones reflects on truths about gospel music shared in the short film, God, Gays, and the Gospel. Notes on faith is theGrios inspirational, interdenominational series featuring Black thought leaders across faiths. Awakening to a flurry of DMs and texts the other day, I was directed to a short film entitled God, Gays, and the Gospel. It opened with a provocative remark by music historian and journalist Tim Dillinger about the connection between gospel music and queerness. Paraphrasing same-gender-loving (SGL) clergywoman Bishop Yvette Flunder, Dillinger plainly states, There would be no gospel music without gay people because ultimately, we created it. No lies were detected. When we are completely honest, we have always sensed the connection between gospel music and queerness. Having grown up in the Pentecostal tradition, for as long as I can remember, the believers who exposed me to the excellence in gospel music I now know by heart were from the LGBTQIA+ community. Unfortunately, our dont ask, dont tell arrangements in many churches and the gospel industry have gotten in the way of non-queer folk being let into gay peoples truth. But if we just follow gospel music, its tastemakers, fans, and musical styles, it is evident that God, gays, the gospel message and its music have always been intertwined. Photo: AdobeStock Recognized by many as The Mother of a Movement, Bishop Yvette Flunder, herself a daughter of the Church of God in Christ, is the presiding prelate of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries (TFAM), an inclusive United Church of Christ (UCC) affiliated organization. Speaking on the issue with the New Yorker, Flunder estimated that over 90% of chart-topping gospel performers are queer her conservative assessment. She would know; as a hitmaking soloist in her own right on Bishop Walter Hawkins 1990 gospel staple and crossover hit Thank You, Lord, Flunder is a veteran of the gospel music ministry. Not only is she a chart-topper; in life, Flunder is partnered with iconic vocalist Mother Shirley Miller, who first recorded the crossover gospel hit, Oh, Happy Day a selection known and requested worldwide. Together, the two have long embodied pulpit and music ministry goals and couples goals for those who openly and discreetly identify as LGBTQIA+ in gospel music networks. To be sure, as evidenced in the blues-infused musical style established by gospel music foreparents such as Professor Thomas A. Dorsey (formerly the blues musician Georgia Tom), gospel artists have always blurred the boundaries between the club and the church. Pushing Flunders analysis even further, in God, Gays, and the Gospel, Dillinger explains how gospel music first found its home in the mainstream, as several of its artists found an intended queer audience and crossed over from church to disco venues, performing gospel to 70s dance club rhythms in gospel discos. Chronicling gospel disco as a natural evolution and subgenre, Dillinger traces crossovers from the church to disco by gospel recording artists. From the quartet Mighty Clouds of Joy to Tramaine Hawkins, the music of these presumably non-queer, worship leader-entertainers went beyond the church to help queer clubgoers feel the spirit in the dark and on the dance floor. Behind the scenes, Flunders good friend, the late Pastor Daryl Coley, is another link in this musical genealogy, having been music director to both Hawkins and disco icon Sylvester James, (popularly known simply as Sylvester). Flunder was a spiritual mother to Sylvester, pastoring him until his death at 41 from AIDS-related complications. And though Coley eventually married and fathered children, he was among the first to divulge his complex queer sexual history to the gospel music industry. Although I have researched these correlations for over 15 years, without fail, these basic truths seem to shock people, even as they confirm some of their deepest suspicions about the gospel music scene. Whether we readily accept Flunders estimation or not, there remains recurrent anxiety about queer participation in gospel music, so much so that it prompted the research for my book, Flaming? The Peculiar Theopolitics of Fire and Desire in Black Male Gospel Performance. As a cisgender, heterosexual, and married theologian woman, I remain concerned by the conflict between the scriptures and our practice of the text and committed to humanizing the very people who are often maligned while doing the Lords work. My book sought to look closely at the performances folks have found peculiar. Over and over in our interviews, artists were forthcoming about who they were, especially when they felt safe. And various gospel fans speculated about artists sexualities while simultaneously admitting that the music and ministries of those artists have been life-changing, often facilitating a God-encounter. In short, artists like Coley, Sylvester, and contemporary artist B.Slade have long understood the assignment, taking the message of love, joy, and light outside of the four-walled church and into the world, delivering it in a language even non-Christians can recognize. However, I remain struck by how church culture challenges ethical norms in our treatment of LGBTQIA+ people. How is it that LGBTQIA+ people who lead us in worship are susceptible to being ousted from Black churches? How can we, as believers, participate in one of the most unloving parts of culture at large? Nothing can separate us from Love Undoubtedly, LGBTQIA+ musicians are the architects of Black worship in both pulpit and music ministry. Yet historically, SGL believers have been forced to suppress, compartmentalize or forge new paths to faith, delivering themselves from homoantagonistic spaces and entering or creating communities where they can be themselves free of wrath or doubt. Even when exiled or departed from Black churches where conservative theologies preclude loving interactions, LGBTQIA+ believers have always found ways to connect to Gods love in and beyond the church. Our inability to acknowledge these believers as key to our most transcendent experiences contributes to their tumultuous relationship with an unloving church, not with God. Because God is, and has always been, Love. One thing is for sure: Though humanity may fail or antagonize us, nothing can separate us from the love of God. I have learned so much about grace observing the lives of LGBTQIA+ worship leaders who were rejected by the family and faith communities they were born into. For those of us who cannot comprehend LGBTQIA+ plus people being our kin, made in the image of God, allow me to offer this sentiment: By our love, by our love, they will know we are Christians by our love. When I reflect on the ethics practiced within my faith tradition, I am often haunted by the lyrics from this hymn based on John 13:35. Its perspective seems so simple being known by how well we love but as an Afro-Protestant Christian raised in a biblical literalist tradition, I have observed the ways we repeatedly fall short of loving our kin when navigating differences. Rather than trying to confirm or dispute ones sexuality, lets find our kin where we all meet God. Lets meet our siblings in doing the work of loving each other well. Lets love in a way that is more than charity; let it be full of compassion, seeking understanding with a passion. My prayer for my LGBTQIA+ kin is this: May your work continue to speak. May our love rise to meet and understand who you are. You are a gift from God. You are made in Gods image. I confess that we have been unloving to you. Please forgive us because we had no idea who you are. May you receive ease, compassion, and grace for your journey. May you be freed to rise and shine brightly with resounding peace and unstoppable power. You are loved by the Most High. Rev. Dr. Alisha Lola Jones Rev. Dr. Alisha Lola Jones is a faith leader helping people to find their groove in a fast-paced world, as a consultant for various arts and faith organizations and professor of music in contemporary societies at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. She is an award-winning author of Flaming? The Peculiar Theopolitics of Fire and Desire in Black Male Gospel Performance (Oxford University Press). For more information, please visit DrAlisha.com. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post Notes on faith: Its time to tell the truth about God, gays, and gospel music appeared first on TheGrio. Dangerous weather is forecast to sweep through the East Coast, with some areas of the Northeast expected to be at risk for severe weather once again on Tuesday. AccuWeather meteorologists warn that after the severe weather exits, more wet weather could impact the drought-stricken region. The jet stream is expected to dip southward across the Great Lakes and the Northeast early this week and remain that way through the final days of June. For those in the Northeast, this is expected to allow for a very different weather pattern than what was experienced during the majority of June. After severe thunderstorms began across much of Iowa and Illinois on Saturday, producing gusty winds and hail, thunderstorms spread into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley into Sunday night. Similar to earlier in the weekend, thunderstorms produced damaging hail and gusty winds from Michigan on south to Tennessee. On Sunday, dozens of storms erupted across Michigan and Indiana, some producing damaging hail, wind and at least one deadly tornado. Behind the weekend storms, cooler conditions were prevalent from the Midwest to the interior Northeast on Monday. The change in temperature that began on Tuesday for locations like Buffalo, New York, and Columbus, Ohio, is not expected to be as drastic as those farther west; however, temperatures are forecast to be in the lower 70s rather than the 80s of last week. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Of the more than 330 storm reports from Monday across the U.S., the majority across the Northeast included damaging wind gusts and hail, according to the Storm Prediction Center. As the week progresses, thunderstorms could once again be feisty into Tuesday evening, which will again threaten some of the same cities, like Philadelphia. Locations right along the Eastern Seaboard will be most at risk for severe weather into Tuesday evening, thanks to the influx of moisture from the Atlantic. Once again, damaging winds will be the most widespread risk, but downpours are also expected to be heavy during this time. Even after the severe weather exits the region, wet conditions are forecast to linger across the Northeast into the final days of June. The same storm helping to produce the severe weather is expected to move through the Northeast, but it will take several days to do so. In fact, it may not be until Thursday or Friday before some areas finally see slightly drier conditions. While an all-out washout is not expected every day across the Northeast, the moist conditions will favor a couple of heavier downpours. Heavier rainfall may cause ponding on roadways and reduced visibility, both of which would certainly slow travel for motorists in the region. If the same area were to get hit by those downpours for multiple days, flash flooding could also quickly become a concern. Given the recent dry weather across the area, some pockets of the Northeast can only afford 1-2 inches of rain in a short period of time. Even in the areas that miss out on the heaviest rain one day, dew points are expected to remain on the higher side, in the 60s Fahrenheit, or even the lower 70s along the Atlantic Coast. For some Northeast residents, dew points reaching the 70-degree mark can be downright uncomfortable. Relief from the humidity levels may not arrive for the interior Northeast until the latter half of the week, when some drier air finally moves in from Canada. The severe weather and soggy conditions in the forecast this week come after a particularly dry spell across the Northeast. As of June 20, over 70% of the region was at least abnormally dry, with a total of 34% of the area in at least a moderate drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A small portion of southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland was even classified as being in a severe drought. Looking at the amount of rain that fell over much of the East during the first half of June, it's no wonder that much of the Northeast is drought stricken. During the first 20 days of June, Hartford, Connecticut, only received 0.54 of an inch of rain, a measly 13% of the historical average for that time of year. Reagan International Airport in Washington, D.C., only reported 0.23 of an inch of rain, which is only 8% of normal. In the past week, a shift in the weather pattern has brought some more substantial rain to parts of the region, with more than an inch of rain coming to places like Baltimore and Norfolk, Virginia, in just a couple of days. "Despite the hazards that the rain and thunderstorms could bring, several days of damp weather may prove beneficial for the current drought situation in the Northeast," Smithmyer explained. AccuWeather meteorologists say that the wet weather is likely to extend into southern Canada, and hopefully assist with the containment of the wildfires in Quebec. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Cops hunted Saturday for a masked gunman who wounded two people in a brazen broad daylight shooting on a commercial street in Brooklyn. The gunman walked up to a gray sedan stopped next to an MTA bus on Fifth Ave. near 95th St. in Bay Ridge at about 4:10 p.m. Friday, pulled a gun, and opened fire into a parked car. After the shots rang out, two men fled the sedan from the front and rear passenger doors and bolted down the street. Bystanders further down the busy street ran off with them. The sedan, which had New Jersey plates, then inched forward, and a woman hopped out of the backseat. She limped across the sidewalk while appearing to scream for help. The woman, 21, was struck once in the right thigh, police said. After the woman got out of the car, it rolled slowly forward, hopped a curb, and slammed into a lamp post. The gunman ran away on 95th St. heading towards Third Ave. and he remained on the loose on Saturday. Another victim, a 24-year-old man, was struck once in the right arm, said cops. An NYPD spokesperson said it was unclear where the second victim was when he got struck. Medics rushed the two victims to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn where they were reported in stable condition, cops said. PD believe shooting was targeted, the local City Council member, Justin Brannan (D-Brooklyn), wrote in a tweet on Friday night. A spokesperson for the NYPD could not confirm whether or not it was a targeted attack. Cops described the gunman to be about 20 to 25 years old, with a dark complexion and a medium build. Surveillance video captured after the incident shows him wearing an all-dark blue tracksuit with white and red sneakers and a black ski mask with his face showing, running away from the scene. Anyone with information in regard to this shooting is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). Oil depot in Voronezh put out for over 12 hours The oil depot in the Russian city of Voronezh, which blew up on the afternoon of 24 June during the Wagner terrorists' "march" across Russia, has been extinguished overnight. Source: Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations Details: The fire reportedly destroyed a 5,000-cubic-metre tank of aircraft kerosene over an area of 800 square metres. There are no reported injuries, and the fire was put out at 00:40 on 25 June. A total of 97 Russian emergency rescuers and 31 fire appliances were engaged in extinguishing the fire. Background: Russian media reported that an AN-24 aircraft crashed in Russias Voronezh Oblast during the Wagner Groups stay there, and a fire broke out at an oil depot. The cause of the explosion at the oil depot is still unknown. Some media outlets and telegram channels suggested this could have happened when the Wagnerites targeted Russian aircraft and hit an oil depot with a missile. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released the names of the boaters involved in the crash. Theyre included in the story below. PortMiami reopened to cruise ship traffic on Sunday afternoon after salvage crews surfaced a 32-foot-boat that sank after an early morning collision with the Fisher Island Ferry left one man dead and one man hospitalized in serious condition. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Cristian Gaston Fernandez, of Cutler Bay, died. He was 27 years old. Hialeahs Angel Dominguez, 29, was hospitalized in serious condition. The accident and cleanup delayed travel plans for tens of thousands of people for nearly a day, including more than 15,000 passengers at sea on three cruise ships that had planned to dock at the port around 8 a.m. Sunday but were left idling off the coast while crews worked on clearing the obstructed channel. The U.S. Coast Guard closed PortMiami following the 3:40 a.m. crash and announced just after 2:30 p.m. on social media that the port was now open after crews have successfully recovered the sunken vessel & removed the obstruction in the North channel. A photo of the boat that sunk off PortMiami after colliding with a Fisher Island ferry early Sunday. Salvage crews supervised by the U.S. Coast Guard surfaced the vessel Sunday afternoon, clearing the way for PortMiami to reopen to cruise traffic. An early morning accident The crash happened around 3:40 a.m. east of the Pilot House Station at Dodge Island, the island of cruise ship passenger terminals that draws the attention of many crossing the MacArthur Causeway between Miami Beach and Miami. Photos taken of the salvage operation show a mostly intact pleasure craft, with a center console control and a shade structure over the wheel known as a T-Top. Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez said the U.S. Coast Guard told Miami Fire Rescue Fireboat 15 that a 30-foot boat hit the ferry in the channel. The man later identified as Dominguez was pulled out of the water by ferry workers, handed to the Coast Guard, then to Miami Fire Rescue for transport to Jackson Memorial Hospitals Ryder Trauma Center. Though Dominguez was in serious condition, Lt. Sanchez said, he was able to say that his friend was still missing. Miami Fire Rescue dive team, leading a multi-agency search, found Fernandez, who was already dead. Video of the area directly after the accident shows a busy scene, with the ferry drifting west slowly as rescue and other boats buzz around the area. Andres Asion, a Miami Beach real estate broker, said he checked his security camera that points at Government Cut later on Sunday but found it was just west of the actual scene of the accident. He shared the video it captured, a time-lapse from 3:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m, with the U.S. Coast Guard to aid in the investigation. Somebody was seriously not paying attention, he said. It is a shame. Travel plans delayed The closed port stranded several cruise ships that had planned to arrive around 8 a.m. Sunday: the Carnival Celebration, Norwegian Cruise Line Escape and MSC Seascape ships. The closure led to a day of passengers aboard the ships worrying about missed flights while enjoying an extra day at sea with reopened pools, bars and restaurants. And it led to a day of would-be passengers planning for afternoon boardings in Miami on the same ships wondering when their Caribbean vacations would begin. By 4:30 p.m., the Seascape and Escape were docked at the port and the Celebration was preparing to dock, according to the Biscayne Bay Pilots Association website. The site listed departures Sunday for three ships between 10 p.m. and midnight. Carnival sent a message to passengers awaiting news on their Caribbean cruise leaving PortMiami on Sunday that the terminal would be open for them at 8 p.m. and that they needed to be there no later than 11 p.m. Boat crash with Fisher Island ferry is second deadly accident involving ferry since 2020 It was the first update of the day that didnt tell would-be passengers to stay put. Miami Fire Rescue at the Fisher Island Ferry tragedy, Saturday, June 24. As a result of a boating incident, PortMiami is currently closed, a morning message read. Carnival Celebration will be delayed docking this morning. This will impact your embarkation. Please do not proceed to the port at this time. With an estimated 16,000 passengers on three shifts idling off PortMiami, the delays threatened a wave of missed flights at Miami International Airport. Spokesperson Greg Chin said the county-owned airport notified airlines of the situation at PortMiami, and that all rebooking fees are being waived for cruise passengers impacted by the situation. A coast guard boat, far right, turns back boats from the PortMiami channel after the Fisher Island ferry was struck by a boat early Sunday morning, which caused PortMiami to close. Closing PortMiami on Sunday disrupted travel plans for about 33,000 people, according to figures provided by Suzy Trutie, a spokesperson for the county-owned port. Each ship expected to unload between 5,000 and 6,000 passengers from a Caribbean cruise after docking on Sunday morning, and then welcome another batch of passengers for departures in the afternoon. Vehicles wait for the Fisher Island ferry on Sunday morning after a boat crashed into the ferry early Sunday morning, which caused the closure of PortMiami. Fisher Island residents were alerted Sunday morning that the ferry would be out of service until the channel was reopened. Miami Herald staff writer Alex Harris contributed to this report. One dead, seven hurt as rollercoaster derails in Sweden Stockholm's Grona Lund amusement park was evacuated after the accident on the roller coaster left one person dead (Claudio BRESCIANI) A rollercoaster derailed at a Swedish theme park on Sunday, killing one person and injuring seven, police and the park in Stockholm said. A carriage of the Jetline rollercoaster broke away and fell from a great height, taking several people with it, according to a correspondent for Swedish television SVT at the Grona Lund theme park. The ride, launched in 1988, travels at around 90 kph (56 mph). "One person unfortunately died," Grona Lund spokeswoman Cecilia Bjorling told AFP. Stockholm police confirmed that seven people were injured and taken to hospital. The injuries were caused by falls, said Stockholm police spokeswoman Helena Bostrom Thomas. "We received the alert at around 11:39 am (09:39 GMT), a rollercoaster had derailed and several people were injured," Hakan Eriksson of the Swedish capital's emergency services told AFP. The park was evacuated and police and ambulances were sent to the scene. "I suddenly heard a metallic thud and then the rides started to shake," correspondent Jenny Lagerstedt told SVT. "My husband, who was sitting outside, saw a car detach and fall." Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand told the TT news agency: "I recently visited the park with my family and I can't even imagine how it must feel when the most beautiful day suddenly turns into a nightmare". nzg/thm/lcm/bp A crowd gathered outside the house of Poland's ruling conservative party leader Jarosaw Kaczynski in Warsaw in 2020, protesting a court ruling that limited abortion rights. (Czarek Sokolowski / Associated Press) Elections are always high-stakes affairs in countries experiencing democratic backsliding. This was true of Turkeys recent presidential election described as free but unfair . Likewise, when Poles go to vote this fall , democracy itself will be on the line. Since coming to power in 2015, Polands populist Law and Justice (PiS) party has politicized the judiciary , harassed civil society and worked tirelessly to drive independent media out of business. It has capitalized on the politics of fear and grievance, pitted urban voters against rural constituencies and touted a mythologized version of Polish history. In this sense, the PiS has been following in the footsteps of both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, whose country can no longer even be considered a democracy , though it remains a member of the European Union. The difference is that Polands de facto leader, Jarosaw Kaczynski, has left the presidency to someone else Andrzej Duda thereby shielding his influence from vigorous scrutiny. Read more: Column: Putin's war on Ukraine is in the sinister tradition of the Russian war machine These tactics may well be working in Poland, just as they have in Turkey and Hungary. During a recent trip to Poland, I was shocked by the sometimes poisonous anti-European and, specifically, anti-German tone of public discourse. Ultimately, only Polands voters can decide their countrys political future. But that is no reason for complacency on the part of the international community, especially the worlds democracies. Full-blown authoritarianism would inflict incalculable damage on the West while a war rages next door. A Polish government that eschews democracy, the rule of law, and European unity would embolden illiberal forces elsewhere, including in the United States, where Donald Trump is leading the Republican field ahead of next years presidential election. Another PiS victory might also weaken Polands position as a bulwark against Russian President Vladimir Putins imperial designs. Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last year, Poland has provided sanctuary for millions of refugees and has served as the main conduit for Western military supplies flowing to Ukraines armed forces. Poles can identify with the refugees plight, which recalls the barbarism they suffered at the hands of the Nazis, including the destruction of Warsaw on Hitlers orders (while the Red Army, on Stalins orders, sat on the opposite bank of the Vistula and watched ). Read more: Opinion: Why Ukraine may have launched an unprecedented drone attack on Moscow The PiS government deserves high praise for its support of Ukraine, which stands in stark contrast with the Orban governments Hungary for Hungarians stance and grotesque embrace of Putin . But its commitment to this approach may have its limits. In an apparent attempt to secure farmers votes, it announced in April that it was halting imports of Ukrainian grain, though it must be said that Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia also have prohibited grain imports from Ukraine, and all have done so with the EUs blessing . Fortunately, the U.S. and the EU do have some leverage that they can use to prevent Poland from threatening foundations of the post-Cold War order, including Polands obvious reliance on NATO for its security and the EU for financial support. The EU must adopt a constructive yet firm approach to the Polish government, backed by the enforcement of the rule-of-law conditionality that was imposed on diplomatic and financial support for both Poland and Hungary last year. Already, the EU has withheld billions of euros that were supposed to go to Poland. Moreover, the European Court of Justice has imposed a massive daily fine on the country recently reduced from 1 million euros to 500,000 euros over its refusal to comply with EU demands to alter its 2019 judicial reforms, which the ECJ ruled violate EU law. The EU must back this ruling with even more institutional and financial muscle. The restoration of judicial independence is nonnegotiable. Read more: Opinion: How long will Russians tolerate Putin's costly war? Democratic and humanist values the values for which the Ukrainian people are now fighting, at extraordinary cost are at the heart of the post-Cold War European order. Fortunately, Polish civil society remains robust, with younger generations increasingly leading the fight against PiSs depredations. They are committed to preventing further democratic backsliding and upholding European values, even if Kaczynski is not. And they deserve greater support from their Western allies. The large Polish diaspora in the U.S. and Western Europe is uniquely positioned to help, along with the broader international community. Brave Polish NGOs such as Womens Strike are fighting on the front lines to defend womens rights, under direct threat from PiS. We must amplify their voices, as well as those of Polands increasingly threatened LGBT+ community. It is up to todays Poles to take up the mantle of the Gdansk shipyard workers whose strike in 1980 led to the establishment of the anti-authoritarian Solidarity trade union and social movement, which ultimately brought down communist rule in Central Europe in 1989. But Polands friends must also support those Poles who embody this spirit. Without solidarity, Poland may well lose its democracy. Kati Marton, chair of Action for Democracy Advisory Council, is a journalist, human rights activist and the author, most recently, of The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel . 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin made a speech Saturday condemning the mutiny by the Wagner group, comparing the uprising to the events sparked by Russias 1917 revolution. Putin claimed that the Russians were stabbed in the back by nameless enemies towards the end of World War I, which is why the Russians lost that war and that in turn led to a civil war in Russia, he said. Peter Bergen - CNN It was a strange but telling comparison for Putin to make. Not for the first time Putins account of Russian history was seriously off during his remarks on Saturday, but his invocation of the events surrounding the 1917 revolution shows where his head is at. Like other Russian leaders through history, he has to be concerned that military defeat, in this case the failure of Russia to conquer the much smaller nation of Ukraine, could prove his undoing. After all, the Communist regime that Putin served as a KGB officer owed its very existence to the 1917 revolution, which was precipitated by the disastrous leadership of Russian emperor Nicholas II during World War I. (Nicholas II had also helped pave the way for the 1917 revolution by his mistakes during the Russo-Japanese War of 1905, which the Russians lost to the Japanese.) The Russians were not stabbed in the back during World War I, as Putin suggested during his remarks on Saturday. In fact, they fought a ruinous land war in Europe that was characterized by the extreme incompetence of Nicholas II and his senior leadership. As Russian losses on the battlefield mounted, Russian soldiers mutinied, helping to instigate the 1917 revolution. Sound familiar? During the 1917 revolution, a Marxist party known as the Bolsheviks seized power. A year later, Nicholas II and other members of the ruling Romanov family ended up on the wrong end of a firing squad. The Bolsheviks then evolved into the Communist Party, the supreme source of power in the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. A keen student of Russian history, Putin is aware of the stakes here. His invocation of the events in 1917 shows that he knows that the Wagner group mutiny may pose an existential threat to his regime. He has expunged pretty much all resistance by any civilian organizations, so he only faces a real threat from Russian military forces. Arguably no event better explains Putins view of the world than the fall of the Berlin Wall in December 1989 when he was a KGB officer posted in Dresden in what was then East Germany. The fall of the wall was a prelude to the implosion of the Soviet Union two years later. Ever since then, Putin has been trying to make Russia great again. The Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan in February 1989 after an almost decade-long war helped set the stage for both the fall of the Berlin Wall and of the Soviet Union. If the Soviets couldnt defeat a lightly armed Afghan guerilla force in a country they shared a border with, what did it say about their ability to maintain their iron grip on Eastern Europe? Military defeats in the Russo-Japanese War and World War I proved fatal for the Romanovs, while defeat in Afghanistan hastened the end of the Soviet empire. By contrast, dictator Josef Stalins key role in the defeat of the Nazis during World War II helped to ensure that he died peacefully in his own bed and even today, he remains a popular figure among Russians. Putin is surely aware that history may not repeat itself but sometimes it can rhyme, to paraphrase a remark often attributed to Mark Twain. Putin doesnt want to go the way of the Romanovs nor of the Soviets and would prefer Stalins comfortable exit from this world when the time comes. The big question will be: Can he pull it off? And the short answer is that no one knows if he can, including Putin himself. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Rina Sawayama seemingly took a swipe at The 1975 frontman Matty Healy during her Glastonbury 2023 set. While introducing the song STFU! on the festivals Woodsies stage, the 32-year-old Japanese-British artist made reference to Healys recent racism controversy, as well as his self-admitted pornography habits. Crouching on the floor, Sawayama said: Tonight, this goes out to a white man that watches Ghetto Gaggers, and mocks Asian people on a podcast... he also owns my masters... Ive had enough. Follow along with all the updates from Glastonbury at our live blog. Healy spoke about having watched Ghetto Gaggers a brand of racially charged pornographic videos in which women of colour are reportedly put in submissive positions to white men during an appearance on the Adam Friedland Show podcast. The podcast also featured segments in which Healy made reference to the US rapper Ice Spice. The hosts of the podcast mistakenly identified the rapper as being from Hawaiian Inuit and Chinese heritage, mocking each accent. Later in the podcast, the hosts, comedians Adam Friedland and Nick Mullen, performed impressions of Japanese people working in concentration camps, while Healy was heard joining in. Sawayama and The 1975 are both signed to UK record label Dirty Hit. Healy served as director of Dirty Hit Limited, the labels parent company, from 2018 until April 2023, when he left the role for unspecified reasons. The Independent has contacted representatives of Healy and Dirty Hit for comment. Healy issued an apology of-sorts to Ice Spice while onstage with The 1975 in Auckland, New Zealand. I just feel a bit bad, and Im kind of a bit sorry if Ive offended you, he said. Ice Spice, Im sorry. Its not because Im annoyed that me joking got misconstrued. Its because I dont want Ice Spice to think Im a d***. I love you, Ice Spice. Im so sorry. Rina Sawayama and Matty Healy (BBC/Getty) According to Rolling Stone, Healy continued: The truth is, I see a sign that says like, Matty, I hope youre OK. I feel a bit bad, to be honest, because I feel like Ive been a bit irresponsible. Its very well for me to say, I dont understand how famous I am. I dont like being famous. But reality is reality. And I think that Ive said some things or kind of, I make a joke out of everything. Thats my thing. And I can take it too far sometimes in front of too many people. And I feel a bit embarrassed. So thats the truth. Sawayamas apparent dig at Healy didnt escape the notice of viewers watching Glastonbury at home, with many sharing their thoughts on social media. Rina Sawayama calling out Matty Healy and incorporating a Limp Bizkit cover into STFU is absolutely everything. I adore this woman, one fan wrote. Matty Healy??? Owns rinas masters??????? another person asked in bemusement. Rina Sawayama opening STFU by calling out Matty Healy, all is well, someone else wrote. Sawayama is best known for her 2022 record Hold the Girl, and also featured as an actor in the 2023 film John Wick: Chapter 4. Matty Healy (Apple Music) Healy addressed the podcast controversy in an interview with The New York Times in May. Asked if he had been baiting his fans with the remarks, he said: A little bit. But it doesnt actually matter. Nobody is sitting there at night slumped at their computer, and their boyfriend comes over and goes, Whats wrong, darling? and they go, Its just this thing with Matty Healy. That doesnt happen. The interviewer then suggested that maybe this does happen, prompting Healy to respond: If it does, youre either deluded or you are, sorry, a liar. Youre either lying that you are hurt, or youre a bit mental for being hurt. Its just people going, Oh, theres a bad thing over there, let me get as close to it as possible so you can see how good I am. And I kind of want them to do that, because theyre demonstrating something so base level. Part of Russian elite wants to end war with Ukraine, says Danilov PMC Wagner's equipment is moving to Moscow, June 24, 2023 There is a group of Russian elites who want to end war with Ukraine and see Russian dictator Vladimir Putin brought to justice, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov has said on Twitter. He was commenting on the June 23-24 armed rebellion in Russia. "Anything that might not go according to plan in Russia, will do so. Danilov said. The 'Prigozhin incident' may launch, or has already launched, processes with unpredictable consequences. A countdown has begun," Danilov said, referring to Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhins mutiny against the Russian Ministry of Defence. Read also: Russian providers blocked Google news amid Prigozhin armed rebellion Danilov also listed seven consequences of Prigozhins mutiny, namely: Prigozhin's rebellion is the first step in the collapse of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's regime. Prigozhin is only part of a larger group and a larger plan "the tip of the iceberg of the destabilization processes" in Russia. There is a group of dissatisfied people in Russia, including security officers, top-officials and oligarchs. They consider Putin to be mortally dangerous to their own interests and lives, as well as to Russia in general. "Prigozhin's march from Rostov to Moscow" was a demonstration of his serious intentions, his real ability to seize power by force. The Wagnerites showed they are capable of reaching Red Square in Moscow. Putin has only one way to survive he needs to remove everyone he cannot trust, he needs to eliminate the Wagner Group, and publicly punish Prigozhin. He also needs to introduce martial law and mass repression in the country. There is a group of people in Russia who really want to negotiate with Ukraine, however they remain in the shadows as of now. It is possible (self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander) Lukashenko is in this group. Putins regime has been stabbed with a knife in the back, which inevitably will lead to death, even if not immediately. "We need to mind our own business... (regaining) the 1991 borders," Danilov said, summing up his post on Twitter. Read also: Prigozhin declares that he has seized control of Rostov's military headquarters, airbase In the evening of June 24, Prigozhin left Rostov-on-Don, where his fighters had seized all main military facilities in and around the city. Upon his agreement with Putin, he ordered to stop his mercenaries marching on Moscow and all units were ordered to return to combat positions. The self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mediated in the talks between Putin and Prigozhin, according to remlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The Kremlin pledged to drop all charges against Prigozhin, whose whereabouts are now unknown. He is thought to have left for Belarus, in line with the deal struck with the Kremlin. Read also: Wagner allegedly aims to seize nuke storage in Voronezh Oblast partisan movement 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 Passengers hit by a storm on a Royal Caribbean cruise line cling to railings as intense gusts rock the ship and send debris flying, videos show People looking at a cruise ship. China News Service/Getty Images A Royal Caribbean cruise was battered by gusts of rain and wind before its departure Friday. Passengers shared videos of patrons sliding along the deck during the storm. The cruise line says no serious injuries or damage occurred as a result of the storm. Passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship ran for cover as umbrellas, chairs, and other furniture flew around them during a sudden, spectacular storm that struck Florida's Port Canaveral on Friday. As the Independence of the Seas prepared to depart, strong winds and rain battered the 15-deck ship. In multiple videos posted to YouTube and Twitter, passengers are shown slipping and sliding across the decks while attempting to get safely inside. The ship departed for the Bahamas despite the storm and arrived at CocoCay on time, according to a Royal Caribbean statement to Insider. The company called the storm "brief" and said there were no serious injuries to crewmembers or passengers. Passengers took to the internet to describe their personal experiences. "Instead of telling people to come up to the top deck when we have a severe thunderstorm warning, maybe you should be more worried about your guests and employees and tell them to get inside," tweeted one passenger who filmed the storm. Jerry Pike, a photographer and Florida local, told Insider he watched the storm hit the Independence of the Seas while sitting in a car in Jetty Park facing the port. Though the storm lasted only minutes, he said it was "exceptionally strong." Pike estimated winds reached between 40 and 50 miles per hour at the height of the storm, which he added was "terrifying" to watch. A meteorologist for Fox 35 reported winds reached from 55 to 60 miles an hour at their peak strength. "The Independence was just getting battered by winds as it was trying to push off the dock," Pike said. "Then [it] was covered by the gray cloud of rain and we couldn't see more than 20 yards out the window." The storm is just one of many expected to hit the Florida coast as hurricane season begins in the Atlantic Ocean, which runs from the beginning of June to November 30. Read the original article on Insider John Eastman, a former lawyer for Donald Trump, appears on screen during a House Jan. 6 committee hearing in 2022. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images) On the day before rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021, Orange County law professor John Eastman was trying to convince Mike Pence's attorney that the vice president possessed a power that none of his predecessors had ever exercised in American history. Eastman was in Washington, D.C., in his capacity as a legal advisor to then-President Trump. He argued that Pence, as president of the Senate, could unilaterally reject electoral votes from seven contested states in which fraud was alleged, according to Gregory Jacob, who was Pences chief counsel at the time. Jacob said the vice president had flatly dismissed the idea as unconstitutional. From our very first discussion he indicated that it didnt make sense to him that he would have that authority, Jacob said, testifying remotely last week before the California Bar Court in Los Angeles at a trial to determine whether Eastman should keep his law license. Even Eastman conceded that the Supreme Court would likely reject the theory unanimously, Jacob said. However, Eastman continued to argue that Pence had the power to delay the vote certification, which Jacob believed helped fuel the violence on Jan. 6. He said rioters were driven by the false notion that a momentous decision to determine the presidency lay in Pences hands that day. Ive seen the video footage of them shouting Hang Mike Pence, Jacob said. The vice president was my boss. He said the rioters believed the vice president had authority to decide the election in favor of President Trump, or at minimum head things in that direction. Read more: State Bar argues that former Trump advisor John Eastman should lose his law license It was one thing, Jacob suggested, to float a far-flung academic theory in the safety of a law review article. It was another to invoke the theory while advising the president at a fraught national moment. I was offended for my profession, Jacob said. I thought that it brought our profession into disrepute. Jacob was one of several witnesses called by the California Bar as it mounted its case against Eastman. Among them were election officials from Arizona, Pennsylvania and Nevada. The officials detailed audits, tabulation-machine tests and other steps to ensure the integrity of the vote count in their states, which Eastman had derided as tainted. Eastman, a former dean and professor at Chapman University law school, has been on and off the witness stand himself, his manner unapologetic and defiant under sharp questioning from Bar attorney Duncan Carling. In the aftermath of the election, Eastman made the case that contested states, where Biden had been declared the winner, had the power to decertify electors and pick pro-Trump alternates. When Carling asked what effect such a plan would have had, if adopted, Eastman replied: "It's uncharted territory." The State Bar accuses Eastman of ethics violations for attempting to obstruct the electoral count on Jan. 6 by pressuring Pence to reject electors, promoting false claims that electoral cheating cost Trump the election, drumming up slates of bogus electors, and fueling the mob with falsehoods. Eastmans defense is that he was exercising his 1st Amendment rights and acting as a vigorous advocate for his client, Trump. He maintains that he shouldnt be penalized for advancing a legal theory that a reasonable lawyer might consider viable. The Bar trial is expected to continue at least through this week. Eastman faces trouble beyond the prospect of losing his license to practice law. When Eastman appeared before the House Jan. 6 committee, he repeatedly invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination. The FBI has seized his phone, and the committee has recommended that the Department of Justice consider prosecuting him for obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to defraud the United States. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter has ruled that Eastman more likely than not committed crimes in connection with the 2020 election. In addition, Eastman is a possible target of a criminal probe related to the alternate-elector scheme in Georgia. Testifying at Eastmans Bar trial last week, Jacob, the vice presidents former lawyer, said Pence did not waver in his view that Eastmans reject-the-electors proposal was baseless. Jacob said that no vice president in American history had ever exercised such authority, or expressed belief that he possessed it. Jacob said Pence never believed that the constitutional framers with their zeal for checks and balances, and loathing of King George IIIs one-man rule would want such power in one persons hands. Instead, Jacob said, Pence saw his vote-counting role as ministerial. Jacob said there were voter irregularities in various states but no evidence they were large enough to have tilted the election. In the run-up to the vote-count on Jan. 6, Trump repeatedly suggested that Pence had the power to keep him in office by sending the vote back to the states. If Vice President Mike Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency, Trump tweeted on the night of Jan. 5. Mike can send it back! Violence erupted on Jan. 6 in Washington soon after Eastman spoke at a "Stop the Steal" rally there, and as part of their case, attorneys for the California Bar are pointing to emails exchanged between Eastman and Jacob that day. Read more: How John Eastmans role in Jan. 6 still haunts the California university where he taught I share your concerns about what Democrats will do once in power, Jacob wrote. I want election integrity fixed. But I have run down every legal trail placed before me to its conclusion, and I respectfully conclude that as a legal framework, it is a result oriented position that you would never support if attempted by the opposition, and essentially entirely made up. And thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege. Eastman replied that there was compelling evidence that the election was stolen, and blamed the siege on Pence not doing what was necessary. Jacob apologized for his unbecoming language, but added that Eastmans advice had been a serpent in the ear of the president of the United States. He said it had been gravely irresponsible for you to entice the President with an academic theory that had no legal viability. Jacob asked Eastman whether he had informed Trump that Pence lacked the power to decide the election unilaterally a claim Trump and his surrogates had been making publicly. Eastman replied that yes, he had so informed Trump, but added: You know him once he gets something in his head, it is hard to get him to change course. Eastman added: When this is over, we should have a good bottle of wine over a nice dinner someplace. 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. People claiming to have been duped by 'Home Improvement' star's crypto scam say it was a 'gut punch' Actor Zachery Ty Bryan attends P.S. ARTS and OneWest Bank's Express Yourself 2016 at Barker Hangar on November 13, 2016 in Santa Monica, California. Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for P.S. ARTS Former actor Zachery Ty Bryan is accused of pocketing $50,000 as part of a crypto scam. The four people told The Hollywood Reporter that Bryan promised to invest their money. However, they say they have yet to see a return. Former "Home Improvement" star Zachery Ty Bryan is accused of taking people's money as part of a cryptocurrency scam, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Bryan's profile has resurfaced years after his popular show ended in 1999 after an arrest in 2020 that led to a charge of felony strangulation. He is best known for his role as Brad Taylor on "Home Improvement," where he acted alongside stars Tim Allen and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Now, four people who said they gave money to Bryan to buy digital coins for a startup called Producers Market told the Hollywood Reporter that Bryan took $50,000 of their money by promising to invest it in a cryptocurrency opportunity that did not exist. "I got duped," one source told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's a gut punch, for sure." Bryan was brought on as an adviser by the company after it heard about how the former child actor amassed a fortune on Bitcoin, according to The Hollywood Reporter. At the time, the company was considering a token sale an offering of cryptocurrency tokens to private investors to help fund a startup or project. Shortly after, he began promoting the digital tokens. The problem was Producers Market had not established a token sale for the company at that point and ultimately decided against doing so, per the outlet. One woman who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter said she pulled together $5,000 as a "broke college student" after going on a date with Bryan, who convinced her to invest and presented her with a contract before she handed over the money. Other sources who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter said they also trusted the actor with their money because he was listed as a founding investment partner on the Producers Market website. A spokesperson for Producers Market told Insider in a statement that when the company discovered that Bryan was offering the nonexistent tokens, it "immediately issued a cease-and-desist demand to him." "Mr. Bryan misrepresented our company without our knowledge, participation or permission," John Collins, a spokesperson for Producers Market, said. "When we found out, we immediately issued a cease-and-desist demand to him. This activity is unacceptable and not a reflection of our mission to support the wellbeing of farmers and our food systems." In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bryan claimed he was also confused by the situation. "This was not me running some shady scam deal or something that's just not me," Bryan told the publication. He also said he still has a stake in the company and would return his stock to those accusing him of taking their money. Bryan has not faced any criminal charges for his time with Producers Market, and the people who spoke with The Hollywood Reporter said they did not alert authorities or pursue any legal action. The Hollywood Reporter feature on Bryan, who continues to act and promotes his conservative views on channels like Newsmax, also highlights the "fall" of the actor through interviews with friends and former costars. Allen also spoke to the outlet about his thoughts on Bryan's situation, calling him a "great kid who has grown into a complex man." "I don't know what happens when people get corrupted. You just don't know," Allen told The Hollywood Reporter. A spokesperson for Bryan did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Update: July 2, 2023 This story was updated with a statement from Producers Market. Read the original article on Business Insider A man was shot and killed while riding his bike in Pittsburghs North Side early Sunday morning. According to Pittsburgh police, the shooting happened on Federal Street at W. North Avenue at 7 a.m. Responding officers found a male victim down on the street who had been shot in the back while riding his bike. Monday, the Allegheny County Medical Examiners Office identified the victim as Dashawn Rankin, 32. The initial investigation shows that the victim had a brief exchange with a male suspect moments before he was shot, police said. The victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition but was pronounced dead a short time later. Sarah Halter said her co-worker was opening Yinz Coffee around the same time as the shooting. She said she saw bystanders immediately jump in to try and help the man. Halter told Channel 11 nurses and police officers attempted resuscitation efforts before medics arrived and took him to a hospital. Surveillance video from the coffee shop shows two nurses getting out of their car and checking the victims pulse. Kevin McCloskey moved to the area four months ago and supports a popular pizza shop and other restaurants that sit near the corner where the shooting happened. He fears the crime will drive customers away. People come from miles award to grab food but I dont know. It almost worries me that people wont come anymore because the dude got shot in broad daylight, said McCloskey. The people in the area say something needs to change. I just keep thinking that this gun violence issue just goes on and on, something needs to be done about it, said Halter. No arrests have been made at this time. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 100-mile detour in place when 86-mile stretch of Pennsylvania Turnpike closes overnight Saturday 2 women dead after shooting in Beaver County, suspect identified Pittsburgh Police looking for missing 12-year-old twins VIDEO: Local police, representative hold event to help people get updated license plates DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Pictures of the week: Solstice swimming, pride parades and an extreme bike battle The annual nude winter solstice swim at Long Beach, Hobart, Australia (EPA) Each week the picture editors at The Independent sort through hundreds of thousands images sent into us by photography agencies from all around the world. These are some of the most eye-catching and the most striking images from culture, news, politics, sport and lifestyle. You can also keep up with the latest photography making headlines via our Instagram. (AFP/Getty) People in the crowd form the word Family during the annual Pink Dot event supporting the LGBTQ+ community at Hong Lim Park in Singapore. (AFP/Getty) Performers from the Notting Hill Carnival dance at Glastonbury festival in Somerset. (EPA) Aikaterina Sotiriou of Greece competes for the ball against Petra Holesinka of the Czech Republic during the Fiba Womens EuroBasket quarter-final qualification match in Tel Aviv. (AFP/Getty) King Charles, Queen Camilla, Lady Gabriella Kingston and Thomas Kingston watch the Wokingham handicap from the Royal Box on the final day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting. (AFP/Getty) Smoke billows from rubbles of a building at Place Alphonse-Laveran in Paris after a major fire broke out. (AFP/Getty) Zebra at Paris Zoo. (AP) Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. Switzerland perform during the artistic swimming team free preliminary at the European Games in Poland (Reuters) Switzerland perform during the artistic swimming team preliminary at the European Games in Poland. (Reuters) German chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese premier Li Qiang review the troops during a bilateral summit in Berlin. (AP) People take pictures of Gustav Klimts Lady with Fan as it is displayed at Sothebys auction rooms in London. The painting is expected to fetch 65m at the 27 June auction. (EPA) A Rafale fighter jet from Frances 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. (Reuters) Pride parade in Dublin. (AP) People join a yoga class in Times Square, New York. (AP) Revellers gather at the ancient stone circle Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice near Salisbury. (PA) Katherine Jenkinson from Carlisle with her jersey calf ahead of the Royal Highland Show. (AFP/Getty) A man holds a Russian flag in front of a Wagner group military vehicle, which has Rostov written on it, in Rostov-on-Don. (Reuters) A rider from the Extreme Bike Battle team performs a stunt as part of the Royal Cheshire County Show near Knutsford. (PA) Dawn breaks at 4.25am at St Marys Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, on the northeast coast of England, the day before the summer solstice the longest day of the year. (AFP via Getty) Artists perform during the celebration Sukarnos Month at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. (EPA) Frances Yasmina Aziez competes during a virtual Taekwondo event during the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore. (AP) Members of a military band walk through a sunflower field in Paju, South Korea. Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca (AFP/Getty) (AFP via Getty) Czech driver Martin Prokop during the Safari Rally at Kasarani in Nairobi. (EPA) A Tibetan mastiff dog stands on a hill overlooking the Yamdrok Lake. (AFP/Getty) A person at a pride parade in San Salvador. (AFP/Getty) A performer entertains festivalgoers in the circus field at Glastonbury. (ANP/AFP via Getty) A woman dressed in a cosplay costume takes the subway during the Dutch Comic Con event in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht. Two missing 12-year-old twin brothers have been found and returned home. Pittsburgh police thank everyone who shared the information. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Person fatally shot while riding bike in Pittsburghs North Side Man hospitalized after assault in Clairton 2 women dead after shooting in Beaver County, suspect identified VIDEO: Local police, representative hold event to help people get updated license plates DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Plan to blow up Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant approved, situation has never been so severe before Chief of Defence Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defence Intelligence, is convinced that the plan to blow up the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) by Russians has been fully developed and approved, and the threat has never been as great as it is now. Source: Budanov, in an interview with The New Statesman, as cited by Defence Intelligence website Quote: "The situation has never been as severe as now." Details: According to Budanov, Russia has completed preparations for the terrorist attack on the ZNPP. When asked whether the Russians decided to blow up the power plant, Budanov said the plan was entirely "drafted and approved." The only element missing is the order to act. "Then it can happen in a matter of minutes," he said. At the same time, Budanov believes that "technical assets can be used to accelerate the disaster." According to the head of Defence Intelligence, the cooling reservoir of the station was mined by Russian troops. Without cooling, nuclear reactors can melt within a period from ten hours to 14 days. He believes Russia will be able to increase the voltage in the power lines at the plant, leading to a nuclear accident at the bottom of this time interval. Ukrainian intelligence has determined that Russian troops have moved vehicles packed with explosives to four of the six power units. It is not known whether access to these units was granted to the International Atomic Energy Agency during its visit on June 15, the newspaper writes. According to the head of the Defence Intelligence, Russia's order to commit a terrorist attack on the ZNPP may have been caused by the defeat of the Russian occupation forces on the Left Bank of Dnipro Russia considers creation of a nuclear disaster zone a safeguard for the further advance of the defence forces of Ukraine. At the same time, according to Budanov, there is a risk that the Russian Federation may cause a radiation leak at the ZNPP as a "preventive measure" to stop Ukraine's offensive operation and freeze the front line in its current form. There is frustration in Ukrainian intelligence and government circles that the international community's response to the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam on 6 June was so muted that this could provoke further use of "scorched Earth tactic," the newspaper notes. Background: On 20 June, Budanov said that the threat of an explosion or accident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant existed because Russians additionally mined the cooler. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Police arrest suspects in two different robberies and assaults, minutes after one another The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office was at the scene of two different robberies and assaults Saturday afternoon. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< At approximately 3:00 p.m., officers responded to the 3800 block of St. Augustine Road., about a person being robbed When authorities arrived, they found that a woman had sustained injuries while being attacked. The initial investigation revealed the suspect and the victim knew one another and they began to argue. The suspect then decided to rob the victim of her backpack. Detectives currently have the suspect in custody and are continuing to investigate. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The second robbery happened at 3:45 p.m., in which a man reported to police that he had been robbed and stabbed in the leg near the 100 block of Lee Street. The male was transported to a local hospital for his injuries. JSOs initial investigation revealed the suspect and the victim in this incident also knew one another. An argument took place and the suspect stabbed the victim and robbed him of a bag. Detectives are currently investigating this incident. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Sheriffs office at 904-630-0500 or go online to JSOCRIMETIPS@JAXSHERIFF.ORG or call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 866-845-TIPS. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Police detain 50 after Pride march in Istanbul Turkey's LGBT+ community gather for a pride parade, in Istanbul ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish police detained at least 50 people on Sunday after Istanbul's LGBT community held their annual Pride march. The government led by President Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamist-rooted AK Party has toughened its stance on LGBTQ+ freedoms. Speaking after his election victory in a runoff last month, Erdogan accused opposition parties of being "pro-LGBT". On Sunday, police in riot gear prevented access to Istiklal Avenue, the traditional venue for Pride marches, as well as the central Taksim Square. Streets nearby were blockaded and public transport in the area was suspended. On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of people carrying rainbow and transgender flags gathered instead in Mistik Park in the Sisli district. They chanted slogans while organisers read a statement to mark Pride week. A big rainbow flag was hung on a multi-storey car park nearby. Groups of people carrying rainbow flags marched in the streets of the Sisli district before organisers called on them to disperse. Police held more than 50 people after the march, organisers said. Amnesty International's Turkey office said at least one person suffered head injuries while being detained by police. Organisers said their community had already been targeted by Erdogan. "We don't accept this hate and denial policy," Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week said in their statement. In the coastal city of Izmir, the country's third largest, police detained at least 44 people on Sunday after authorities banned the Pride march, Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week said. Homosexuality is not a crime in Turkey, but hostility to it is widespread and police crackdowns on Pride parades have become tougher over the years. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said on Twitter this month that any activity threatening the traditional family structure would not be allowed. (Reporting by Bulent Usta and Dilara Senkaya; Writing by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Giles Elgood) Police: Motorcyclist dies after crashing into utility pole in Dracut A motorcyclist died early Saturday morning after striking a utility pole in Dracut. The operator, a 23-year-old Lowell man, hit a pole on Lakeview Avenue near Old Road just after midnight, according to Dracut Police. The motorcyclist was taken to Lowell General Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. The crash is still under investigation by Dracut and Massachusetts State Police. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Pope offers prayers to family of 'Vatican girl' who went missing 40 years ago Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window at the Vatican Pope offers prayers to family of 'Vatican girl' who went missing 40 years ago Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window at the Vatican VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday offered prayers and solidarity to the family of a Vatican schoolgirl who went missing 40 years ago in one of Italy's most enduring mysteries. Emanuela Orlandi, the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican usher, failed to return home on June 22, 1983, after a music lesson in central Rome. The case has drawn renewed worldwide attention following the release of the Netflix series "Vatican Girl" late last year. Referring to the 40th anniversary of the disappearance, Francis said he wanted "to express once again my closeness to her family, especially her mother, assuring my prayers". Delivering his Angelus message, Francis addressed crowds in St Peter's Square including Orlandi's brother Pietro, who has long campaigned for the Vatican to shed light on the mystery. Pietro Orlandi was standing with a group of supporters holding up photographs and banners that called for "truth" and "justice". He welcomed the pope's remarks, calling them "a positive signal" and "a good step forward", in comments to Italian news agency ANSA. Foul play has long been suspected in the Orlandi case, and this year both Vatican and Italian investigators have reopened investigations into it, with possible new leads. Theories about Orlandi's disappearance have run the gamut from speculation it was linked to a plot to kill Pope John Paul II, to suggestions that she was kidnapped by the Rome underworld, to accusations she was the victim of a priestly paedophile group. Earlier this year, Pietro Orlandi played an audio tape on Italian television from an alleged gangster who said girls were brought into the Vatican to be molested and that John Paul II knew about it. In April, Pope Francis called the allegations "offensive and unfounded insinuations". (Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) It is possible that Putin will kill Prigozhin in Belarus CNN CNN journalists believe that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will not forgive Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, for his rebellion. Source: former CNN Moscow bureau chief Jean Dougherty, quoted by the news outlet Quote from Dougherty: "Putin doesnt forgive traitors. Even if Putin says, Prigozhin, you go to Belarus, he is still a traitor and I think Putin will never forgive that" "If I were Putin, I would be worried about those people on the streets of Rostov cheering the Wagner people as they leave. Why are average Russians on the street cheering people who just tried to carry out a coup?" Dougherty said. "That means that maybe they support them or they like them. Whatever it is, its really bad news for Putin." Details: She added that it was entirely possible that Prigozhin would "be killed in Belarus", but it was a difficult dilemma for Moscow because as long as Prigozhin "has some type of support, he is a threat, regardless of where he is". Previously: On Saturday evening, the press service of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus announced that Aleksandr Lukashenko held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Private Military Company, and he accepted the proposal to stop the movement of the Wagnerites on the territory of Russia. After that, Prigozhin declared that his mercenaries were turning their convoys around and going in the opposite direction to the field camps. Later, the Kremlin announced that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be closed and he would "go to Belarus." Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Pregnant woman caught in Russian shelling in Kherson Oblast, two civilians injured In Kherson Oblast, a man was injured in Antonivka in the second of the two Russian attacks on the settlement over the day; another man was injured in Burhunets. A pregnant woman was also caught in a shelling and is currently being treated. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration Quote: "The Russian army has once again attacked Antonivka. A 29-year-old man sustained injuries. He was provided with the necessary treatment. Burhunka also came under [Russian] fire. A man was hospitalised with severe injuries. A pregnant woman was also caught in this shelling. Doctors are currently treating the future mother to prevent a premature birth. Today the Russians deployed aircraft to drop bombs on Kozatske and Vesele. Fortunately, there were no civilian casualties." Previously: The Kherson Oblast Military Administration earlier reported that a 21-year-old man was injured in a Russian attack on Antonivka on Sunday, 25 June. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Prigozhin may have been offered dismissal of Shoigu and Gerasimov, says SBU Prigozhin could abandon his attempted rebellion because he was promised the release of Shoigu and Gerasimov Wagner Group mercenary's leader Yevgen Prigozhin may have been promised that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other top military officials to be dismissed in exchange for ending his mutiny, Ukraines SBU security service said on June 25. In return for halting his Wagnerite mercenaries march on Moscow, Prigozhin may have been offered the dismissal of not only Shoigu, but Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and other military officers with whom he was in conflict, Ukrainian news outlet and NV sister publication Ukrainska Pravda reported, referring to sources in the SBU. The Wagner mercenaries aren't likely to go to Belarus, the sources added. Prigozhin's march on Moscow: What did he want? Read also: Kadyrovs units suddenly withdraw from Maryinka, Ukrainian military says Prigozhin announced the beginning of an armed conflict with the Russian Defense Ministry on the evening of June 23, claiming that he wanted to restore justice in Russia. He said that the Russian army struck the mercenaries' "rear camp." However, the conflict between Prigozhin and Shoigu had started months earlier. For the past few months, the Wagner leader has been persistently demanding the resignation of the Russian defense minister, accusing him of poor management of the occupiers' troops and not supplying enough ammunition to Wagner forces. The next day, the Wagnerites took control over the main military facilities in Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh. They also shot down seven Russian Air Force aircraft. Prigozhin demanded meetings with Russias top military leadership and threatened to advance towards Moscow in a video address shot in Rostov-on-Don. Read also: Prigozhin vows to end Shoigu, FSB charges Wagner with inciting insurrection updated Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, in turn, posted a video address saying that the Russian Armed Forces had ordered to eliminate those who led the coup. The Wagnerites' convoys nevertheless moved towards Moscow in a "march for justice," as Progozhin called it. The FSB charged Prigozhin with inciting insurrection, while the security forces were preparing to defend Moscow. Putin is believed to have fled the capital to his residence in Valdai, northwest of Moscow. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin as his mercenaries closed in on Moscow, the press-office of the self-proclaimed president of Belarus reported. Read also: Russian providers blocked Google news amid Prigozhin armed rebellion Prigozhin then agreed to halt his forces advance on the Russian capital. Soon after, Prigozhin ordered the Wagner mercenaries to turn away from Moscow and go back to their combat positions. The Kremlin pledged to drop all charges against Prigozhin, whose whereabouts are now unknown. He is thought to have left for Belarus, in line with the deal he struck with the Kremlin. 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 Russian missile launch Ever since Vladimir Putin made one of the great strategic blunders in history by invading Ukraine expecting an easy victory, the outlook for all participants has been bleak. The Ukrainians have seen their towns and cities attacked and some destroyed. Thousands have been forced into leaving their country, with many mothers and children living abroad more than 16 months later. The death toll among the defenders is unknown but possibly exceeds 100,000 dead and wounded, including both military and civilian casualties. The toll on Russian forces is reported to be higher. It was the reckless way the Russian high command has been using its troops that prompted the mutiny on Saturday by the mercenaries attached to the Wagner Group. Its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has been fighting a rhetorical war with Russian defence chiefs for weeks and decided instead to use force to get them removed. The deal with the Kremlin that led to Prigozhin backing down 125 miles from Moscow, or so he claims, and apparently going into exile may have included changes at the top. It is rumoured that Gen Valery Gerasimov, head of the armed forces, and Sergei Shoigu, the defence minister, could be replaced. The immediate threat to Vladimir Putin has receded, even if the consensus is that he has been weakened. Russian people who have been fed lies about the Ukraine invasion from the outset must be asking how a heavily armed unit can take over a city of more than one million almost unchallenged. While President Putins discomfiture is heartening, a disintegrating Russia is not something to wish for. If chaos reigns, what is the potential fate of Russias nuclear arsenal? At least during the Cold War it was known to be under strong central control. Prigozhins rebellion suggests that these weapons could fall into the hands of a motley band of mercenaries seemingly able to traverse the country at will. Putin keeps making threats about using nuclear weapons which few analysts take seriously. But do we know how secure the countrys stockpiles are? The mutiny may have lasted just 24 hours, but it has demonstrated just how tenuous Putins grip on power really is. He has seemingly taken his country with him in seeking to subjugate Ukraine but only because he has kept the brutal truth from the people and because he appeared strong. A weak leader never survives in Russia. 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. Ukrainian intelligence services suggest that Yevgeny Prigozhin, financier of the Wagner Private Military Company, might have been promised the dismissal of Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and several other military officials, sources told Ukrainska Pravda. Source: Sources of Ukrainska Pravda in the Ukrainian special services Details: Sources note that in exchange for turning the convoys of Wagner Groups forces away from Moscow, Prigozhin could have been promised the dismissal of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov and other minor Russian officials with whom the owner of the Wagner PMC is in conflict. The sources also cast doubt on whether the Wagnerites will actually move to Belarus. Previously: On the evening of Saturday, 24 June, the press service of the self-proclaimed President of Belarus announced that Aleksandr Lukashenko held talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin, and he accepted the proposal to stop the movement of the Wagnerites on the territory of Russia. Afterwards, Prigozhin announced that his mercenaries were turning their convoys around and going in the opposite direction to the field camps. Later, the Kremlin announced that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be closed and he would "go to Belarus". Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Prigozhin's mutiny against Russia is the beginning of the end of Putin, military strategist says Prigozhin's mutiny against Russia is the beginning of the end of Putin, military strategist says In this handout photo taken from video released by Prigozhin Press Service, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Prigozhin Press Service via Associated Press Military strategists say that Prigozhin's mutiny may be the beginning of the end of Putin's reign. Retired major general Mick Ryan told Insider Yevgeny Prigozhin's days are also likely numbered. Ryan said the uprising against the Russian military will have consequences for the war in Ukraine. Though Yevgeny Prigozhin didn't seize control in his attempted uprising against the Russian military, the mutiny undermining Vladimir Putin's power may spell the beginning of the end for the Russian leader. Mick Ryan, a retired major general in the Australian military and fellow for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Insider that Prigozhin's mutiny would have "short, medium, and longer-term impacts" on the war in Ukraine, as well as the stability of Russia into the future. "Putin's authority has been challenged openly and he hasn't come out looking very good," Ryan said, suggesting waning confidence in the Russian leader may decrease the morale of invading Russian troops and be used by Ukrainians to exploit internal weaknesses that arise due to the infighting. While Putin's next steps remain unknown, Ryan said, "somewhere down the track when we look at the fall of Putin, this was where it began," echoing analysis by political scientist Mark Galeotti, who wrote in an essay for The Sunday Times that the endgame for Putin has started. "Putin may be talking tough now, but it was his failure to act in a timely way to control Prigozhin (or remove Shoigu and Gerasimov) that has led to this crisis," Galeotti wrote. "Putin seems likely to defuse or defeat this specific challenge, but will still take what may in the long term prove to be a mortal wound." Prigozhin, despite being exiled to Belarus after staging the coup, isn't likely long for this world, either, Ryan added. "Putin is a fairly vindictive individual. My sense is Prigozhin probably shouldn't be booking accommodation in a retirement home, you know," Ryan told Insider. "I think his days on the balance of probabilities are probably limited." Read the original article on Business Insider Prigozhin's Press Secretary claims he is "out of touch" The press service of Yevgeny Prigozhin, financier of the Wagner Private Military Company, has said that he has not been in touch yet. The media note that his current location is unknown. Source: Meduza; RTVI Details: The media noted that Prigozhin was last seen when he left Rostov in the evening of 24 June, and his current location is unknown. The press service replied to the journalists that Prigozhin would answer all questions when "he will get in touch normally". Quote: "He says hi to everyone and will answer questions when he will get in touch normally." More details: Meanwhile, the press service said that their recruitment headquarters in Astrakhan and Voronezh continue to work, adding that they were "allowed". Background: Ukrainian special services doubt that the Wagner Group mercenaries went to Belarus. CNN journalists believe that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will not forgive Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, for his rebellion and will try to kill him in Belarus. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg speaks to media in December 2022. The PBSO had just announced the arrest of the 29-year-old mother of Baby June, a 2-day-old infant who was found dead in the Boynton Beach Inlet in 2018. With Dave Aronberg's announcement he won't seek reelection next year, the race for Palm Beach County State Attorney has begun. Two contenders have entered the race so far: Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Alexcia Cox and veteran West Palm Beach criminal defense attorney Gregg Lerman. There'll be plenty of time for campaigning and endorsements. The primary doesn't take place until next August and the general election, next November, and Aronberg plans to remain until the end of his term in January 2025. For now, we thought it important to help put this race on readers' radar, because this post is crucial to our daily experience and our ground-level confidence that the values written into our lawbooks are enforced with firmness, tempered by fairness and proportion. In that light we asked the departing incumbent, as well as candidates Cox and Lerman, to share their priorities for how the office can best serve the public in the years just ahead, their thoughts on what work remains undone and which crimes merit sharper focus. More: Who is state attorney Dave Aronberg? A study in contradiction. Cox, who began her career prosecuting domestic violence, believes the State Attorney's Office should continue its focus on issues like that, "speaking up for vulnerable communities, seeking justice, making sure people feel protected." That's also an area in which her perspective would help, she said, as a single mother and someone who would be the first woman and African American in the job. She'd also put thought into how the residents who suffer from mental illness are charged with crimes. As a prosecutor, she said, she often was approached by parents of those charged who would call 911 not so much to address a case but hoping to secure social services for the illness underlying the crime. The SAO isn't a social service agency but she'd like to explore ways it could be of more help. She would create an Elder Crimes Unit, to prioritize crimes against senior citizens, whether by scammers or caregivers. Community engagement should be a priority as well, she said, to build respect and trust for the office. Gregg Lerman announced his candidacy for Palm Beach County state attorney outside of the State Attorney's office in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla., on June 14, 2023. Lerman said that as a defense attorney for 38 years, he's seen how the SAO operates regarding juveniles, capital and non-capital felonies, and how the correctional system operates, from Belle Glade to Gun Club Road, so he has an understanding of where the office's internal problems lie, and how to address them. He also would focus on crimes against the elderly but is skeptical of Cox's plans for a specialized unit for that. "She's been there. What's she done in all these years?" he asked. To make that effort work, it will be important to get law enforcement involved and to educate elderly residents at Century Village to avoid scams, and encourage them to report crimes, he said. As for public corruption, the SAO and US Attorney's Office should work together, Lerman said. The SAO "needs to be looking and conducting oversight" especially when development proposals raise questions about whether pockets are being lined, he added. The office should maintain its focus on gun violence, drugs and mental health issues, said Lerman, who added,"I've lost clients to gun violence and have lost friends and family members to drug overdoses." He'd want to get people who have drug problems into treatment, rather than just put "on a carousel" where they go into the system, come out and go back in again. Alexcia Cox State attorney Aronberg, looking back on 11 years in the 120-prosecutor office, noted the SAO's success in addressing the county's opioid epidemic and in cleaning up a corrupt sober home industry. That's an area where the office can't rest, he said. The same goes for human trafficking, not as often a kidnapping crime here as it is one of grooming children to run away and enter lives of prostitution, he said. A tough problem will be for the next state attorney to decide when to try nonviolent youths as juveniles and when as adults, Aronberg said. It's often not easy to decide at what point a rap sheet is too long to afford another chance as a juvenile defendant, he said. No matter who takes over the office, no matter what their philosophy is, prosecuting violent crime will be a top priority, he said: "making people feel safe." This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Editorial: Priorities for Palm Beach County's next state attorney The super PAC supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), Never Back Down, rolled out a video hitting former President Trump over his commutation of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatricks sentence ahead of Trumps campaign stop in the Michigan citys suburbs Sunday. The spot, titled Welcome to Detroit, details Kilpatricks sentence to 28 years in prison on corruption and fraud charges in 2013 and how Trump commuted his sentence on his last day as president in 2021. The video alludes to how millionaire businessman Peter Karmanos relayed the clemency request to Trumps son-in-law and former White House adviser Jared Kushner before Trump commuted his sentence. For the elites in the swamp, thats just business as usual, the video says. Its up to the rest of us to elect a president who will put an end to it. Kilpatrick was one of more than 100 people who Trump granted clemency shortly before he left office. Others included his former chief strategy Steve Bannon, rapper Lil Wayne and GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy. President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick, Trumps White House said in a statement in 2021. Mr. Kilpatrick has served approximately 7 years in prison for his role in a racketeering and bribery scheme while he held public office. During his incarceration, Mr. Kilpatrick has taught public speaking classes and has led Bible Study groups with his fellow inmates. The video was released a day before Trump makes a campaign stop in the state that he flipped in 2016. The former president is scheduled to speak at the Oakland County Republican Partys Lincoln Day Dinner on Sunday. He is being honored at the Man of the Decade at the gathering. DeSantis and his allies are upping their attacks on Trump over criminal justice, seeking to portray the former president as soft on crime. Last month, DeSantis said he would push to repeal the First Step Act, a bipartisan bill passed in 2018 and signed by Trump that reduced mandatory minimum sentences, expanded credits for well-behaved prisoners looking for shorter sentences and aimed to reduce recidivism. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Russian pro-war media and Telegram channels are claiming that 13 to 20 people died as a result of the mutiny by Wagner Group fighters. Source: Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet, citing pro-war Telegram channels Details: Readovka, a so-called "patriotic" Russian media outlet, without citing sources, estimated the Russian Defence Ministrys losses from the mutiny at 15 people, all servicemen who were on board the downed planes and helicopters. Readovka claims that these include at least eight people who were on board the airborne command post based on the Il-18 aircraft. A Telegram channel called Rybar says that more than 20 pilots who were on board seven helicopters and planes were killed. The Telegram channel Fighterbomber, which reported on downed aircraft during the mutiny, is reporting 13 dead. There is no official information on this matter. Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Ford logo on the company's Michigan headquarters. Jeff Kowalsky / AFP via Getty Images The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation Saturday into the Ford Motor Company's recall of 300,000 Explorer SUVs. The investigation was prompted by allegations that the vehicles behaved erratically even after undergoing recall-related repairs. The recall, originally issued by the company in April 2022, affected Ford Explorers made from 2020 to 2022 and was mainly over a problematic rear axle mounting bolt that could fracture and eventually "allow the vehicle to roll in park if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of crash and injury," Ford said in its recall notice. Ford attempted to address these rear axle issues with a software update that would apply an electronic parking brake even if the manual one failed. However, NHTSA noted that this fix only creates an electronic failsafe, and does not address the actual problem with the rear axle. At least two complaints were lodged alleging that the Explorers continued to have issues even after the company reportedly had them fixed. In one case, the vehicle "would reportedly slam to a complete stop at speeds of up to 30 or 40 miles per hour," The Associated Press reported, while the other case saw the Explorer "reportedly lurch into motion while the driver was attempting to disengage the electronic brake." While no injuries were reported from these incidents, the AP reported that the first driver struck a utility pole when the Explorer started rolling downhill following a sudden stop. "The vehicle would randomly slam to a complete stop while driving. It happened several times with three different drivers (myself, my wife, and my son)," one of the cases alleged, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by Reuters. A representative for Ford told AP that the company is working with NHTSA on the investigation. You may also like Problematic Ford Explorer recall prompts federal investigation Did the Dobbs decision help or hinder Republicans? Putin's grip on power apparently damaged after Wagner mutiny Former President Trump arrives at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., on June 13, after pleading not guilty in a Miami courtroom to dozens of felony counts that he hoarded classified documents and refused government demands to give them back. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) When he announced the federal indictment of former President Trump for allegedly mishandling classified documents, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith said there is one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone. But that isnt necessarily true. According to many legal and political scholars and the Justice Department itself, there are different rules for sitting U.S. presidents, including that they cannot be criminally prosecuted while in office. That rule which is both long-standing and open to debate is at the center of a staggering legal crisis looming before the nation as the twice-indicted former president seeks a second term. Trumps precarious legal position as a leading presidential contender has put the federal governments executive and judicial branches on a high-speed collision course, scholars say, and could lead to political and constitutional crises if not averted by voters. A Trump victory in the November 2024 general election would not be precluded by the pending charges, potential convictions or even Trumps imprisonment. And it would test the nations separation of powers and the presumed privileges of the presidency like never before. Supporters cheer for Trump at a March campaign rally at Waco Regional Airport in Texas. (Nathan Howard / Associated Press) Trumps reelection could spur court battles over his ability to pardon himself or to direct the Justice Department to dismiss charges against him in any ongoing federal cases, and over his continued vulnerability in ongoing state prosecutions. Those include cases in New York, where he has been indicted, and Georgia, where he is under investigation. If any of the cases are decided before the election, a Trump victory could spark legal battles over the terms of any convictions and whether he would still be subject to them as president. The circumstances are so unprecedented, and the law around presidential privileges so unsettled, that it is impossible to know how all of Trumps legal and political woes will play out, experts say. But it wont be pretty. Were certainly in completely uncharted waters, even now, said Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor who now represents high-profile federal defendants. The founding fathers never anticipated anything like this, said Robert Shrum, director of USCs Center for the Political Future. The cases Trump is the first U.S. president to be indicted, and it has happened twice in the last few months. In April, Manhattan Dist. Atty. Alvin Bragg announced the indictment of Trump in New York on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of an alleged scheme to conceal damaging information and unlawful activity from voters before and after the 2016 election. The scheme, Bragg said, included the use of hush money by Trump and his team to bury negative stories, such as adult film star Stormy Daniels claims of an affair. Manhattan Dist. Atty. Alvin Bragg in April announced the indictment of former President Trump in New York. (Seth Wenig / Asociated Press) To carry out the scheme, Bragg alleged, Trump and others violated election laws and made and caused false entries in the business records of various entities in New York and mischaracterized, for tax purposes, the true nature of the payments. Trump has pleaded not guilty. A trial has been set for March, but it could be delayed. Trump could face years in prison. Smith this month announced the federal indictment of Trump on 37 felony charges related to his alleged mishandling of highly sensitive government documents from his time in the White House, including 31 counts of violating the Espionage Act. The indictment alleges that Trump knew the documents were classified and illegal for him to possess, retained them and showed them to others without proper clearances, left them dangerously exposed in storage at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and actively subverted attempts by the federal government and his own attorneys to retrieve them. The indictment alleges that the documents included records detailing U.S. nuclear programs, nuclear capabilities of foreign nations, defense and weapons capabilities of the U.S. and foreign countries and potential vulnerabilities of the U.S. and its allies to military attack. The indictment outlined the evidence against Trump in great detail, including a recording in which he allegedly acknowledged that a document he had was never declassified undermining his own claim that he had every right to retain the records. Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to reporters this month in Washington. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) Boxes of records are stored in a bathroom at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, as seen in a photograph contained in the indictment against him. (Justice Department via Associated Press) Trump has pleaded not guilty. A trial has been set for August, but that is likely to change given the complexity of the case. The government has asked for a delay until December. Trump again faces years in prison if convicted, though his sentence would depend on a variety of factors. In addition to the indicted cases, Smith is conducting a separate investigation into Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, while prosecutors in Fulton County, Ga., are investigating attempts by Trump to overturn the 2020 election there. Trump has denounced all the investigations as part of a politically motivated witch hunt. In New York, Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels, denied direct involvement in any hush money payments, blamed others including those who implicated him, such as his former attorney Michael Cohen and ridiculed Braggs case as legally dubious. In the classified documents case, Trumps defense has varied from claims that he was within his rights to have the documents to an argument that he was very busy when federal authorities initially came asking for the records and was unable to immediately comply. Legal experts have said the strength of Braggs case remains unclear, in part because the New York prosecutor didnt fully detail in the indictment the evidence he has against Trump. They largely agree on the substantial strength of Smiths case, noting the striking amount of evidence detailed in that indictment. In the long run, however, the strength of the cases may matter less than the election. Even if he got convicted, Shrum said, he could still run for president. Presidential privileges While the Constitution outlines the process by which Congress can impeach a sitting president Trump was twice impeached by the House but never convicted by the Senate it is silent on the question of whether a sitting president can be prosecuted through normal judicial channels. The courts have likewise been quiet on the question, experts said, though the Justice Department has weighed in. In 1973 and again in 2000, when Presidents Nixon and Clinton were in hot water, Justice Department officials issued opinions concluding that sitting presidents cannot be indicted or prosecuted. Both opinions hinged on a core principle of American democracy: the separation of powers. They concluded that any judicial interest in charging a sitting president with a crime and subjecting him or her to the physical and mental demands of a potentially lengthy and politically fraught criminal trial was outweighed by the mandate from voters to perform the onerous executive duties of the presidency. On balance, department officials reasoned, it would be untenable for any individual prosecutor to have the power to target and temporarily incapacitate through criminal proceedings the head of the executive branch. In the 2000 opinion, Randolph D. Moss, the assistant attorney general at the time, wrote that indicting or prosecuting a sitting president would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions. So sitting presidents and sitting presidents alone in all of government are immune from such actions. Where the President is concerned, Moss wrote, only the House of Representatives has the authority to bring charges of criminal misconduct through the constitutionally sanctioned process of impeachment. Moss, now a federal judge, did not respond to a request for comment. His opinion was reiterated by Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel brought on by the Justice Department in the early years of Trumps presidency to investigate possible collusion between Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and Russia. Former special counsel Robert S. Mueller III prepares to testify before the House Judiciary Committee during a hearing about Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible efforts by Trump to obstruct Mueller's investigation. (Shawn Thew / EPA/Shutterstock ) Mueller and his team of prosecutors indicted or secured guilty pleas from 34 people and three companies during the nearly two-year investigation, including Trumps campaign manager, former national security advisor and Cohen, the presidents personal attorney. But when it came to Trump and whether he obstructed justice by attempting to thwart the probe, Mueller punted. Citing the Justice Departments position that sitting presidents cant be indicted, Mueller decided it would be unfair to conclude one way or the other whether Trump had committed a crime. Accordingly, Mueller wrote, while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him. Trumps critics denounced the double standard afforded the president and noted that Muellers team had collected substantial evidence to suggest obstruction. Directly contradicting Muellers words, Trump claimed that the report offered him complete and total EXONERATION. Based on that history, legal experts say, Trump is clearly more vulnerable now, while he is out of office, than he was during his first term as president or would be were he to win a second term. That has created the intense legal window in which cases have been brought, but its unclear whether they will be adjudicated prior to the election or if any outcomes will even matter if Trump wins a second term. If Smiths federal case were pending when Trump won the election, then the decision about whether to pursue the case would be up to the attorney general at the time, and the Department of Justice could elect to simply dismiss the charges and not pursue them, Mintz said. If the New York case or one in another state were pending when he won the election, prosecutors in those states would similarly be forced to consider whether they could continue trying the president. If they decided they could and pushed forward, Trump would likely challenge their authority potentially taking the question of whether a sitting president can be prosecuted to the U.S. Supreme Court, which leans conservative and includes three Trump appointees. In addition to the indicted cases, there is a separate investigation into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, while prosecutors in Fulton County, Ga., are investigating his attempts to overturn the 2020 election there. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) If Trump were convicted on any of the federal or state charges before the election, what would happen with those convictions and any sentences that have been handed down is anyones guess, Mintz said, and raises a host of unprecedented legal questions that would no doubt prompt their own legal battles, particularly if Trump sought to pardon himself. Shrum said he considers the probability of Trump going to trial before the election a long shot, in part because Trump hopes to win the election first and is trying to delay this as much as possible. His lawyers will file every motion they can. If he does win, Shrum said, Trump will likely seek to politicize the Justice Department to immediately clear himself of any wrongdoing and go after his political enemies. Daniel Farber, a professor at UC Berkeley Law School who studies presidential power, said there is a less controversial scenario wherein Trump gets elected and simply asks Justice Department holdovers from the Biden administration to reconsider the cases against him in light of the departments standing policy that sitting presidents cant be prosecuted. But Trump is brash, Farber said, and is just as likely to come in and clear out the top ranks of the Justice Department, in a move akin to Nixons 1973 Saturday Night Massacre, in which the president fired his attorney general, deputy attorney general and the special counsel investigating the Watergate scandal. Whatever happens, Farber said, officials overseeing the cases against Trump will have to make tough decisions if he wins the election, given the protections hed gain. Its a real bind, Farber said. How do you weigh the rule of law versus respecting the result of the election? Up to the voters Experts agree that voters hold the strongest hand, as they alone have the power to deny Trump reelection. The criminal cases are powerful in part because they are playing out not just in court but in the court of public opinion and could sway voters. A poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and co-sponsored by The Times conducted after Bragg filed his indictment but before Smiths found that 86% of likely Republican voters in California believed that the investigations of Trump were more about politics and political revenge than about law and justice, and 70% felt they should be halted for the good of the country. A recent poll found that 86% of likely Republican voters in California believed that the investigations of Trump were more about politics and revenge than about law and justice, and 70% felt they should be halted for the good of the country. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press) However, a majority of California voters overall, who skew Democratic, rejected those ideas, the poll found, with about 6 in 10 saying the investigations aim to hold Trump accountable for his unlawful actions. Meena Bose, director of the Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency at Hofstra University, said American democracy is grounded in the law but also on norms and expectations of responsibility among elected officials that have repeatedly been challenged by presidents, including Nixon, Clinton and Trump. All of the unprecedented events and controversies of the Trump presidency and post-presidency have perhaps presented a complicated path for Trump to return to the White House, Bose said, but it is also pretty clear that the former presidents core supporters are with him no matter what. Shrum said the revelations in the indictments are damning, and Trumps responses arent helping him. Trump hasnt just dismissed the cases as meritless but has suggested that, if reelected, he would go after the Justice Department and even the U.S. Constitution in order to protect himself and attack his political opponents, Shrum said. That messaging raises threats to democracy, evokes the chaos of Trumps first term and could drive key voting groups to the polls to vote against him, Shrum said if not in the Republican primary, then in the general election. If that happens and he loses independents, and Gen Z turns out and suburban women turn out, I dont see the equation that gets him elected to a second term, Shrum said. Gabriel Lenz, a political science professor at UC Berkeley, said there is a flip side, in that Trump has had political success in suggesting to supporters that hisindictments are proof of a corrupt system that is out to get him. The indictments just play into Trumps narrative that the Democrats are using the government unfairly to go against their leader, Lenz said. That just will increase Republicans tolerance for Trumps own backsliding on democracy. Eric Schickler, also a political science professor at Berkeley, said Trump has long benefited from other Republican leaders being so afraid of the partys base turning on them if they speak out against him that they largely remain silent about or dismiss as unfair his troubles, legal and otherwise. However, since Smith filed his detailed indictment over the classified documents, more Republicans including former Trump White House officials such as Atty. Gen. William Barr and primary rivals such as Gov. Chris Christie are speaking out against the former president. Whether that growing criticism will make any difference remains to be seen, Schickler said. One thing weve seen with Trump, he said, is that its hard to get a lot of political voters to change their minds about him. A supporter waves as Trump's plane takes off from Palm Beach International Airport in April, when he traveled to New York for his booking and arraignment on charges arising from hush money payments during his 2016 campaign. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) 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. FILE - Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, arrives during a funeral ceremony at the Troyekurovskoye cemetery in Moscow, Russia, on April 8, 2023. On Friday, June 23, Prigozhin made his most direct challenge to the Kremlin yet, calling for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russias defense minister. The security services reacted immediately by calling for his arrest. (AP Photo/File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) MOSCOW Over the course of a month I spent in the Russian capital, the red-and-black billboards of Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner paramilitary group multiplied. Join the team of victors! they said, beneath an image of menacing mercenaries in balaclavas and masks, only their eyes visible. A possible implication was that the Russian forces on the other mushrooming Moscow billboards regular soldiers recruited by the Ministry of Defense pictured above slogans like Real Work! or Be a hero! were the losers of Russian President Vladimir Putins reckless gamble in Ukraine. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times As heedless Muscovites headed for their offices and gyms, their Italian or Japanese restaurants, their bars and nightclubs, this military recruitment drive on two fronts offered the sole image in the capital of the Russian scramble to contain the fallout, and hide the full impact, of the invasion that began 16 months ago. Easier to order a latte than dwell on lost lives in Mariupol, Ukraine. Now, with his blunt depiction of that invasion as a racket that wasnt needed to demilitarize or denazify Ukraine, and his apparently short-lived armed uprising, Prigozhin has played on one of Putins worst fears: division and rebellion, with tanks on the streets, as in the mayhem of the 1990s from which Putin, a former KGB officer, abruptly emerged as the inscrutable president and Mr. Stability. Since then, over 23 years, Putin has steadily consolidated his power, using his wars that began in Chechnya to cement nationalist sentiment, terrorizing the opposition to the point that dissent has become a crime, and shaping a wildly unequal economy around a coterie of hand-picked oligarchs. He has reverted Russia to type as an autocratic police state under an all-powerful latter-day czar after its brief but heady post-Communist flirtation with a freer society. The system Putin built is very stable, a Western ambassador in Moscow told me this month. But if I woke up one morning and saw tanks on the street, I would not be totally astonished. This surprising disclosure, uttered under customary diplomatic anonymity, is indicative of the close-knit secrecy of Putins inner circle that has made Kremlinology during the war in Ukraine as arduous as at the height of the Cold War. There are very few tea leaves to read. Russia, smothered in propaganda and fear, is opaque. At the same time, even as the government has gone to great lengths, and expense, to maintain an illusion of business as usual, the placid surface Russia has until now presented during the war masks unease. In muttered expressions across the country of bewilderment and anger, and not least in Prigozhins foul-mouthed diatribes against what he sees as the craven incompetence and half-measures of Russias generals, lay the seeds of those tanks in the ambassadors prescient imaginings. Russia tends not to evolve; it lurches, as in 1917 or 1991, and it circles about. Putin has perpetuated old habits in deploying double-think. He prefers to forget whatever it was necessary to forget, and then restore memory again at the moment when it was needed, as George Orwell put it. Hence Putins invocation of 1917 in his brief speech Saturday, a time when internal fracture led to the nascent Soviet republic losing significant population and vast swaths of agricultural land in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk the next year. Therefore, Putin vowed, he would resist the current deadly threat of mutiny through brutal actions. Suddenly the glorious Soviet victory over Nazis and Fascists of The Great Patriotic War of 1941 to 1945, which has been the drumbeat of the quixotic Ukrainian assault, was set aside by Putin in favor of a crushing historical defeat. He wields the past to his ends, even as he has very little to say about the future. Nobody, for example, knows what Putin would define as victory in his special military operation in Ukraine. Other mysteries abound. The question, for many months now, has been how Prigozhin, a former convict who started in hot dogs in St. Petersburg and went on to provide catering for the Kremlin, has survived. If the family of a Russian child drawing a picture of a Ukrainian flag risks prison in Putins Russia, how could this loudmouth in battle fatigues get away with suggesting that Sergei Shoigu, the defense minister, has enabled genocide, among a torrent of other accusations and insults? I heard many answers across Russia. But perhaps the most fundamental lay in the recently dug grave of Boris Batsev, aged 42, a railroad worker who was killed six months ago near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, leaving a wife and two children. Brightly colored plastic roses and carnations were piled high around his gravestone, beneath the red-and-gold Wagner flag, in Siberia, near the town of Talofka, thousands of miles from the Ukrainian front. Blood, honor, motherland, bravery, a Wagner inscription said. A mild breeze blew across the Troetskoe cemetery as agents of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, looked on from a vehicle that had abruptly appeared nearby. With Russian forces often bereft of essential equipment and sometimes operating as a human wave, Putin has needed flesh for the meat grinder. Prigozhin, recruiting in Russian prisons with offers of amnesty and big payouts, could provide that, from as far away as Siberia. He has been too effective and useful to toss aside. In the long battle for the charred ruins of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut alone, Prigozhin has said Wagner lost 20,000 troops. The use of Prigozhin, others suggested, was the apotheosis of Putins modus operandi of dividing his subordinates, shifting influence in recent years from Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister, to Shoigu as the militarization of Russian society proceeded, only to undermine the defense minister through Prigozhin. Putin likes competition, he has liked putting pressure on Shoigu, and enjoyed the theater, Dmitri Muratov, the Nobel Prize-winning editor of the shuttered independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, told me in an interview. Meanwhile, the elite around Putin dont give a damn for their country, theyre just afraid for their lives. Prigozhin has been useful in other ways for Putin. Through Wagner, he has helped project a ruthless and lawless form of Russian power across several African countries, including Mali and the Central African Republic. He was also a way, in the midst of an utterly misjudged war, for the Russian leader to play the moderate, to suggest that if it was not for him, things could be even worse and become as unstable as Prigozhins temper. Finally, Prigozhin became an increasingly popular mouthpiece for the widespread resentment of moneyed Russian elites, oblivious to the cost and suffering of the war in Ukraine. This was cathartic, given accumulated Russian frustrations, and perhaps useful to Putin in that sense. But the paramilitary leader also developed, through adept use of social media and compelling rhetoric over the past nine months, into a true national figure, with a notoriety that has made him the object of much debate and speculation about a possible political future. Putin has now awakened to this danger, even as Prigozhin may have overplayed his hand. The Russian president has spoken of an armed rebellion, and a former commander of Russian troops in Ukraine has spoken of a military coup, but Prigozhins description of his actions as a march for justice will have resonated with some, perhaps many, Russians. These sentiments will not disappear overnight, even if, according to Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, Prigozhin has now ceased moving military convoys toward Moscow and agreed to go to Belarus in exchange for charges being dropped against him and his fighters. To what degree the whole back-and-forth was orchestrated theater, and to what degree a genuine confrontation, seems unlikely to be clarified soon, if ever. What is clear is that Putin has deep reserves of support. The West told Russia that all it has the right to do is yield, Petr Tolstoy, the deputy chair of the Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, said in an interview. Putin said Enough! and that ensures him of popular backing. The presidents control of the countrys military, security and intelligence apparatus is such that the biggest direct challenge to his rule in more than two decades appears to have been repulsed in short order, even if Putin has suffered the acute embarrassment of allowing a man he called a traitor to get off scot free the day he made that accusation. It had been a long time since Putin blinked in this way. There will be reverberations. Very little since the Ukraine invasion on Feb. 24 of last year has gone according to plan for Putin. Hiding a war that has taken 100,000 Russian lives, according to U.S. diplomats in Moscow, has a cost. The exercise of not leveling with the Russian people contributed to Prigozhins fury, as was made clear in his repeated statements that the defense establishment was lying. Prigozhin has styled himself as the man who delivers the hard truth. In the Belgorod region on Russias border with Ukraine, which I visited earlier this month, he was infuriated that Putin and his state media would prefer to forget the devastation through cross-border Ukrainian shelling of Shebekino, a Russian town of 40,000 people. In the city of Belgorod, in a vast improvised dormitory for the displaced at an indoor cycle track, I met Aleksandr Petrianko, 62, half-paralyzed by a stroke. Could Mr. Prigozhin have saved Shebekino? I asked him. I dont know, he said in a trembling voice. I hope he is not killed before his time. c.2023 The New York Times Company How Putin defenders among the US right reacted to the Wagner mutiny Former President Donald Trump (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. JORGE SILVA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Several figures from the US right weighed in on the Wagner Group mutiny in Russia. Many of the MAGA wing of the party have long been defenders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some said Yevgeny Prigozhin would be a worse leader than Putin, and vaguely blamed the US for the events. Much of the world watched with bated breath when the leader of Russia's mercenary Wagner Group stormed into Russia with his men on Saturday in what became a short-lived armed mutiny. Several figures from the US right weighed in on the events many of whom have previously expressed admiration for the Russian president. Most of the responses fell along two key themes: implying that it would be worse to have Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in charge of Russia than Putin or vaguely implying that the US government under Joe Biden somehow supported the uprising. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, a Putin superfan, remained silent however. While polling has previously shown that only 5% of Republicans support Russia over the war in Ukraine, the MAGA wing of the party has regularly sided with Putin. Former President Donald Trump Former President Donald Trump. Alex Brandon/AP Former President Donald Trump has praised the Russian president for being "smart" and "genius," even after the invasion of Ukraine. He has also repeatedly claimed that Putin would not have invaded if he was still president. Trump weighed in on the mutiny on his Truth Social platform: "A big mess in Russia, but be careful what you wish for. Next in may be far worse!" he said. Conservative commentator Candace Owens Candace Owens. Michael Conroy/AP Trump's comments were echoed by conservative commentator Candance Owens. "If Putin goes down, it's likely the next Russian leader won't hesitate to use nukes. Be careful what you wish for," she said on Twitter. The controversial Trump-supporting commentator has previously backed Putin and his justifications for invading Ukraine. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia. Drew Angerer/Getty Images Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene bizarrely implied that the US government could have been supporting the Wagner mutiny. "After our government has been funding a proxy war with Russia in Ukraine for over a year, I sure hope our government isn't behind a coup attempt currently happening in Russia," she said. The Georgia Republican has previously been accused of repeating Russian propaganda and has been vocal in her criticisms of the Biden administration for supporting Ukraine. Rep. Andy Biggs Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona. Photo By Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Rep. Andy Biggs, a Republican from Arizona, chose to take the moment to compliment former President Trump. "The world was a much safer place with Donald Trump as our president," he said on Twitter. Rep. Madison Cawthorn Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a Republican from North Carolina. Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a Republican from North Carolina, shared a video on Twitter in which a man suggested that Putin was, in fact, pulling the strings of the Wagner coup as he wanted to get rid of Russian military leadership. He simply wrote, "Interesting." It is not clear in this theory why Putin would not have just fired military leaders himself without Prigozhin's open challenge to his authority. Read the original article on Business Insider Putin has been exposed as a 'lame duck,' experts say: 'I have the feeling he is not really running the country' Putin has been exposed as a 'lame duck,' experts say: 'I have the feeling he is not really running the country' People walk past a screen broadcasting Russian President Vladimir Putin's televised address to the nation, in Moscow, Russia, June 24, 2023. Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr/Xinhua via Getty Images Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion is over but the damage to Vladimir Putin is irreversible, experts say. The Wagner boss showed that the Russian president no longer enjoys a monopoly of force in his country. Among Moscow's elites, "there is the growing feeling that he is a lame duck," a Russian journalist said. Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion may have abruptly ended before Wagner's forces entered Moscow, but the very fact that a warlord and thousands of his soldiers were able to threaten the capital and that a foreign leader had to step in to negotiate a peace deal is a humiliating blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin from which he will never fully recover, experts said in the wake of a remarkable 48 hours. The mutiny was not, ostensibly, about Putin at all. In his public remarks, Prigozhin directed his criticism at Russia's military leaders, accusing them of mismanaging the war in Ukraine and undermining his private military company the culmination of a months-long feud, coming just days before the Ministry of Defense was set to formally take over control of groups such as Wagner. But, experts say, Russians will not soon forget the sight of mercenaries seizing military installations, capturing a city home to more than one million people, and marching to within striking distance of the Kremlin, prompting emergency "counter-terrorist" measures and a desperate attempt to thwart Wagner's advance by tearing up the road into Moscow. Mikhail Zygar, a Russian journalist and author of the book, "All the Kremlin's Men," told The New Yorker that Prigozhin, a former prisoner whose brand of populist "straight talk" has won him a massive following on social media and who may have larger political ambitions effectively exposed Putin as the sort of out-of-touch elite he used to decry. The student became the master, or at least threatened to. "There came a moment when Prigozhin was no longer Putin's puppet," Zygar said. "Pinocchio became a real boy." Zygar added that, while the crisis was staved off following the intervention of Belarus President Alexsandr Lukashenko, the damage is done: "Putin is weaker. I have the feeling he is not really running the country. Certainly, not the way he once did. He is still President, but all the different clans now have the feeling that 'Russia after Putin' is getting closer. Putin is still alive. He is still there in his bunker. But there is the growing feeling that he is a lame duck, and they have to prepare for Russia after Putin." That assessment was shared by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank. Researchers with the group said the mutiny, though it did not topple the government, embarrassed Putin before friend and foe alike, revealing that he no longer enjoys a monopoly of force within his own country: The optics of Belarusian President Lukashenko playing a direct role in halting a military advance on Moscow are humiliating to Putin and may have secured Lukashenko other benefits. [...] Suggestions that Prigozhin's rebellion, the Kremlin's response, and Lukashenko's mediation were all staged by the Kremlin are absurd. The imagery of Putin appearing on national television to call for the end of an armed rebellion and warning of a repeat of the 1917 revolution and then requiring mediation from a foreign leader to resolve the rebellion will have a lasting impact. The rebellion exposed the weakness of the Russian security forces and demonstrated Putin's inability to use his forces in a timely manner to repel an internal threat and further eroded his monopoly on force. A senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, Andrew Kolesnikov, told the Wall Street Journal that both Prigozhin and Putin, his erstwhile ally, were harmed by Saturday's aborted march on the capital. Prigozhin's tough talk was followed by an apparent deal that will see him exiled to Belarus, with Putin also now seen as a man whose actions cannot live up to his rhetoric, according to Kolesnikov, who was in Moscow on Saturday. "The entire system has lost yesterday, including Prigozhin, who is also part of the system," Kolesnikov said. "Turned out that the czar is not a real czar because he couldn't control a man from his own system who's supposed to be under his full control." Mick Ryan, who served as a major general in the Australian military before joining the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Insider's Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert that the mutiny signals the beginning of the end for Putin's regime. "Putin's authority has been challenged openly and he hasn't come out looking very good," Ryan said, adding that, "somewhere down the track when we look at the fall of Putin, this was where it began." Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider (Reuters) - Russian state television on Sunday showed Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing confidence in plans for Ukraine in an interview that appeared to have been recorded before Saturday's aborted revolt by the Wagner group of mercenaries. "We feel confident, and, of course, we are in a position to implement all the plans and tasks ahead of us," Putin said. "This also applies to the country's defence, it applies to the special military operation, it applies to the economy as a whole and its individual areas." The comments in an interview with Kremlin correspondent Pavel Zarubin were broadcast by Rossiya state television. Zarubin said the interview was done after a meeting with military graduates, in an apparent reference to an event held on Wednesday. The full interview was due to be broadcast later on Sunday. The short report did not mention Saturday's revolt, in which Wagner mercenaries took a southern city before heading toward Moscow. In a televised address before the drama was defused and the group stopped their advance, Putin said the rebellion put Russia's very existence under threat. In its daily briefing on Sunday the Defence Ministry also did not mention anything about the actions of Wagner and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Asked in the interview how much time he dedicates to what Russia calls its special military operation, Putin said: "Of course, this is paramount, every day starts and ends with this." (Reporting by Alexander Marrow and Maxim Rodionov; Writing by Conor Humphries; Editing by David Goodman and Frances Kerry) Members of the Wagner Group sit atop a tank in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, after the mercenary army's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, declared an armed rebellion. (Roman Romokhov / AFP/Getty Images) A Russian mercenary army late Saturday abruptly halted its march on Moscow as President Vladimir Putin vowed to punish the rebellions commanders in the most serious challenge to date of the Russian leaders more than 2-decade-old grip on power. The seemingly short-lived insurrection against the Kremlins military leaders shook Putins authority like no other crisis in nearly a generation and threatened to alter the course of the war in Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the private army known as the Wagner Group, said his armored forces had advanced to within 125 miles of the Russian capital after seizing control of Russias main rear logistical hub for its war in Ukraine, the military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. We turn our columns around, and depart in the opposite direction, Prigozhin said on the messaging app Telegram. His apparent stand-down which he portrayed as a desire to avoid bloodshed came hours after Putin, in an emergency address to the nation, called the uprising a betrayal and a deadly threat to the Russian state. The deal to halt the movement of Wagner forces was brokered by Putin ally Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus, according to Lukashenkos office. The Kremlin said that Prigozhin would move to Belarus, charges against him would be dropped and troops participating would not be prosecuted. Wagner fighters who did not take part in the insurrection will be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry, authorities in Moscow said. In his earlier speech, Putin had vowed to punish those behind the uprising, the culmination of Prigozhins bitter feud with Russias defense establishment. The uprising was framed as a strike against Russias top military commanders, whose removal Prigozhin has demanded, rather than Putin himself. But it marks the latest calamitous blowback staggeringly high military casualties, economic woes, diplomatic near-isolation in a war that Kremlin planners had envisioned as a swift takeover of its smaller neighbor, a onetime Soviet republic. For much of the day, Prigozhins rebel convoy moved northward in the direction of Moscow, 700 miles away, meeting little resistance, although Russian military helicopters reportedly opened fire on the procession at one point. Read more: Russia's Wagner militia says it's handing control of Bakhmut over to Moscow Whatever the next moves are, the uprising was a shocking episode in a country that Putin has ruled with an iron fist for nearly a quarter-century. And it reveals a fragility to Putins authority. It is not fully clear now what Prigozhins future is and what exactly motivated him to back down. The prospect of a nuclear-armed superpower falling into disarray terrified neighboring countries throughout Europe and put the White House on alert. President Biden on Saturday was briefed in a rare meeting of all senior U.S. officials from intelligence, Defense and diplomatic parts of government. Officials in numerous European capitals went into emergency sessions. U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken was in urgent consultations with his counterparts in six nations, including Germany and Japan, as well as the European Union as all sought to make sense of the rapidly unfolding developments. It looks like Putins power of centralized, vertical strong government control is in question for the first time, said Rajan Menon, a political scientist who specializes in war and ethics at City University of New York and Columbia University. While not immediately clear how, the crisis in Russia was bound to affect the war in Ukraine. The bizarre turn of events across the border was regarded with caution by Ukrainian officials. While most said it was too soon to say how the turmoil might affect the battlefield picture, President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that it showed Ukraine stands as a bulwark against the spread of Russian evil and chaos. Read more: Welcome to the Wagner-verse, where action films serve up propaganda for Russias notorious mercenary army Many ordinary Ukrainians reacted to word of Putins troubles with unrestrained glee. The 16-month-old war has leveled entire cities, pummeled national infrastructure, sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing their homes and killed and maimed thousands of civilians. An overnight missile barrage on the capital, Kyiv, killed at least three people, Ukrainian officials said Saturday. Prigozhins mercenaries have fought alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, where they have been known for their use of spectacularly brutal tactics. During the bloody struggle for the eastern city of Bakhmut, Wagner used prisoner recruits for human wave attacks and executed those from its own ranks who faltered or tried to run away. In what was described as an emergency address to the nation, Putin did not mention Prigozhin by name, but vowed to crush those taking part in the uprising. For his part, Prigozhin refrained from criticizing Putins rule directly, but cast himself as a popular savior against corruption, deceit and bureaucracy. He said the Russian president was deeply mistaken in describing the rebellion as an assault on the homeland. We are patriots, he said in an audio message posted on his Telegram channel, calling the uprising a march of justice. Few Western journalists have remained in Russia after the March arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and a concerted campaign against independent Russian media that began almost as soon as the invasion occurred. Criticism of the military or the governments conduct of the war is treated as a criminal offense. Read more: Owner of Russia's Wagner Group threatens to pull troops out of Ukraine's Bakhmut In part because of that, many questions about the uprising remain unanswered. Social media images posted by onlookers in Rostov-on-Don have shown military vehicles in the streets around the headquarters. Prigozhin posted a video of himself, purportedly taken inside, and said Wagner troops who took part in the rebellion had crossed over from Ukraine with virtually no resistance from Russian troops. In their march toward Moscow, Wagner elements did not seem to meet much resistance, according to reports from Russia. Although the threat to Putin is manifesting itself from within, the Russian president as he has throughout the war railed against the West as the enemy and instigator. Russia, he declared, is the target of the entire military, economic and information machine of the West. Prigozhin had denounced the Russian military establishment for months with no apparent repercussions, seemingly with tacit permission from Putin. But his declaration of armed rebellion, issued late Friday, crossed a line and triggered a call by authorities for his arrest. Putin, who has taken harsh measures to quell any domestic dissent since the February 2022 invasion, suggested a crackdown against perceived conspirators was already beginning in the Russian capital. Additional anti-terrorist security measures are now being implemented in Moscow, Moscow region, and a number of other regions, he said, adding that decisive actions would be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don. Read more: Russias Defense Ministry reports Wagner group has taken Bakhmut But he acknowledged that the situation in the southern city, which is a major center of operations for the Ukraine war, remained difficult. In recent months, Prigozhin has taken ever-sharpening aim at Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the military General Staff. But he dramatically escalated his rhetoric in a series of angry messages over a period of about 24 hours, accusing the pair of ordering attacks on Wagner positions inside Ukraine. Russias Defense Ministry denied the claim. Prigozhins longer-term strategy remained unclear. Menon said the man once known as Putins chef, because of his lucrative restaurant businesses, was not thought to be a gambler who would take uncalculated, suicidal risks. He could still have backing within Putins inner circle that is unknown to Western observers, or some other reason to believe he will prevail. This goes beyond fighting a war in Ukraine, Menon said. This is playing for keeps. Times staff writers King and Wilkinson reported from Kyiv and Washington, respectively. Staff writer Erin Logan in Washington contributed to this report. 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin. Contributor / Getty Images The attempted rebellion by the Wagner Group mercenaries came to an end on Saturday. However, analysts say that the dictatorial image of Russian President Vladimir Putin has been significantly weakened by the uprising. Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin agreed to end his soldiers' push toward Moscow, which occurred after they had already taken over the strategic Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin agreed to move to Belarus in exchange for avoiding Russian prosecution. However, the incident has undoubtedly damaged Putin's reputation in Russia, and he "will try to compensate by making the regime even more hands-on," Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, told NPR. As Putin looks to move beyond the embarrassing event for his government, his "regime will become increasingly more repressive at home," Gabuev added. Many experts consider the mutiny the greatest threat to Putin's decades in power. The Russian president has ruled the country either as prime minister or president continuously since 1999, but there's "no doubt" Prigozhin's coup attempt makes him look weak, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul told NPR. Prigozhin and Putin were previously allies who fought alongside each other during the Ukrainian war. The fact that Prigozhin stepped so far out of line with the Russian president "raises doubts about [Putin's] ability to continue to govern Russia in an effective way," McFaul added. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also addressed the uprising, telling CNN, "You've seen cracks emerge that weren't there before." Blinken noted that Russian forces appeared destined to take over the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Instead, "they're defending Moscow against mercenaries of Putin's own making," Blinken said. While the true fallout from the incident remains to be seen, "One thing we know for certain is that Putin's authority is irreparably damaged," Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the Rand Corp, told NPR. You may also like Problematic Ford Explorer recall prompts federal investigation Putin's grip on power apparently damaged after Wagner mutiny Letting the bull loose The Albanian governments raid of a camp run by the exiled Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) has led to criticism against the White House and Albania for allegedly placating the Islamic Republic of Iran the worlds top state sponsor of terrorism. When asked about the Albania state raid, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News Digital, "By providing sanctions relief to the Iranian regime, President Biden and Rob Malley are abandoning the Iranian people and enriching their oppressors. The regime is committed to crushing its own people while spreading terror and mayhem abroad, and the Biden administration's blind desire to appease and negotiate with it has made the world a more dangerous place." Pompeo visited the MEK headquarters last year. Robert Malley, who is the U.S. special envoy to Iran, is seen by some Iran commentators as a highly controversial diplomat because of his efforts to offer Irans regime significant financial concessions in order to reach a nuclear agreement with Tehran. Critics term Malleys posture toward Iran appeasement politics. Congressional representatives in the Senate and House have expressed alarm about the Albanian governments violent raid of the MEK camp. IRANIAN PRESIDENT HACKED AS GROUP CLAIMS DATA SHOWS EXPANDED SECURITY AROUND NUCLEAR SITE Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas., tweeted: "Deeply concerned that across Europe and especially right now, France and Albania our allies are appeasing the Iranian regime and cracking down on anti-regime dissidents." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas., also condemned the raid in a series of tweets. When asked about the Albanian raid on the MEK and whether the Biden administration is going soft on Irans regime to secure a mini-nuclear deal with Tehran, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "We understand that on June 20 the Albanian State Police entered the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) compound in Durres, Albania to execute a court order. " The U.S. State spokesperson added, "The Albanian State Police have assured us that all actions were conducted in accordance with applicable laws, including with regard to the protection of the rights and freedoms of all persons in Albania. We support the Government of Albanias right to investigate any potential illegal activities within its territory." Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Fox News Digital, "It is deeply concerning that Albanian officials are obfuscating truth in this situation by denying the presence of violence. These assertions only deepen impressions that there was wrongdoing on the part of law enforcement involved in this raid. I urge the Biden administration to evaluate this situation and not sacrifice justice as the result of any backroom negotiations taking place with Iran." People wave flags during at an event in Ashraf-3 camp, which is a base for MEK in Manza, Albania, July 13, 2019. IRAN EXPANDING INFLUENCE 'WITH IMPUNITY' IN AMERICA'S BACKYARD, CONGRESSWOMAN SAYS Albanias embassy in Washington, D.C., wrote Fox News Digital, "We cannot tolerate that our territory be used to engage in illegal, subversive and political activity against other countries, as has allegedly been the case with the MEK." The Albanian embassy said, "Pepper spray was only used in a number of limited cases in order to control the volatile situation, but at no point during the search operation physical force was used by the State Police." According to critics of the White Houses Iran policy, the Biden administration is going to great lengths to secure a short-term agreement with Iran that would provide at least $17 billion to the mullah regime in exchange for temporary restrictions on Tehrans alleged illicit nuclear weapons program. United Against Nuclear Iran's (UANI) chairman, former Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, and CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, said on Friday, "The press reports about an understanding between the Islamic Republic and the United States over the nuclear file are concerning because they risk legitimizing its enrichment at 60% purity, even if the product is downblended, which has no credible civilian justification." Lieberman and Wallace added, "This represents a collapse of the international negotiating position on Irans nuclear program, which morphed from zero enrichment before 2013 to now tolerating 60% enrichment in 2023. The lack of any consequences to thwart Irans nuclear escalation is a vindication of [Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali] Khameneis strategy and an indictment of our own." Former U.S. Secretaries of State, John Kerry and Hillary Clinton, played a key role in the resettlement of the Iranians from Iraq to Albania. An Iranian military truck carries surface-to-air missiles past a portrait of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a parade on April 18, 2018, in Tehran. IRAN REGIME CLOSE TO GETTING NUCLEAR BOMB, BUT WHAT'S THE HOLDUP? A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Kerry is focused on climate policy and we would refer you to the comments we've already provided on this issue." A Fox News Digital press query sent to the Clinton Foundation was not returned. Ali Safavi, a representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, whose main member is the MEK, told Fox News Digital "We've seen this movie before, a poorly scripted and cheaply produced spectacle. It features Foggy Bottom's repeated and failed attempts to appease the mullahs medieval regime. From the Iran-contra scandal of 1985, to a distorted report in 1994, to misplaced goodwill gestures in 1997, and the ill-advised quid-pro-quo involving the MEK before the Iraq war in 2003, the State Department's narrative remains predictably and tragically the same: unjustly vilifying the Mujahedin-e Khalq to placate the murderous tyrants ruling Iran." He added, "These futile and unconscionable concessions have yielded no results and will not do so now or in the future. The legitimacy of the MEK does not emanate from the State Department's preposterous proclamations but is instead deeply anchored in its unwavering six-decade-long struggle and the heavy toll it has paid in the quest for freedom in Iran." Ali Safavi, a representative of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, speaks on Feb. 11, 2019, at the Prospects of Change in Iran conference. The U.S. State Department said it "continues to have serious concerns about the MEK as an organization, including allegations of abuse committed against its own members." The State Department added that the White House does not consider the MEK "a viable democratic opposition movement that is representative of the Iranian people." Sali Berisha, the former prime minister of Albania (2005-2013) who is currently an MP for the conservative Democratic Party of Albania, told Fox News Digital there was "no doubt" that the raid was an effort to appease the Iranian regime. "I asked in Parliament that the Interior Minister [Bledi Cuci] should resign because a man was killed and 100 people were injured, "said Berisha, who also served as the country's president in 1990s. WEST CAN'T STOP IRAN FROM GETTING NUKES, IRAN SUPREME LEADER SAYS U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sanctioned Berisha in 2021 due to alleged "involvement in significant corruption." Blinken has barred the former prime minister from entering the U.S. Berisha has flatly denied the accusation of corruption and declared the false information leveled against him stems from the controversial billionaire investor, George Soros and the current prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama. Former Congressman Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., accused the Biden administration of punishing Berisha because he is an ally of the Republicans and opposes the ultra-liberal Soros. Iran celebrated Albanias raid of the MEK camp. According to a report in the Tasnim News Agency, "What happened in Albania was actually the result of the power of diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a collection of actions by different institutions." The U.S. Department of State on Jan. 6, 2020, in Washington, D.C. Tasnim is affiliated with the U.S.-sanctioned terrorist organization, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The news organization, Kayhan, which is the mouthpiece for the supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, said, "The events of Tuesday in France and Albania should be clearly seen as the exemplary prowess of the Islamic Republic and the desperation of the West in its 44-year effort to confront Iran. " The raid on the MEK camp coincides with the French government canceling a NCRI rally in July and the Belgian government releasing a convicted Iranian diplomat for a planned mass murder bombing of an MEK conference, in exchange for a kidnapped Belgian aid worker held in Iran. The U.S. added the MEK to its terrorist list in 1997 due to its reported killing of Americans in Iran in 1970s. But by 2012 the State Department removed them from its terror list because the group renounced violence. An NCRI spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the group rejected out of hand any involvement in killing American citizens. The group, sworn enemy of the Iranian regime, left its camp in Iraq in 2013 under a U.N.-U.S.-brokered agreement where thousands of its members resettled in Albania. Vlad Karkov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner private army has pulled back from their advance into Moscow on Saturday, agreeing to retreat towards Belarus in a deal struck that will spare them prosecution for their rebellion. After previously stating that his army had no intention of backing down, the fray fizzled out rather quickly, with Prigozhin later stating that he wished to avoid bloodshed. Per reporting from Politico, "ultimately, Moscow appeared an improbably ambitious target for Prigozhin and Russian regular forces appeared unable to do much to counter Prigozhin in the south." Related Putin calls uprising a "stab in the back" as armed rebellion presses into Moscow "During this time we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters," Prigozhin said in the aftermath. "Taking responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed on one side we will turn our columns around and go in the opposite direction to field camps, according to the plan," he said. Prior to the rebellion retreating, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko issued a statement "claiming he held talks throughout the day with the outspoken oligarch" and that they'd come to an agreement. "Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal of the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, to stop the movement of armed personnel of the Wagner company inside Russia, and take additional steps to de-escalate tensions," a statement from Lukashenko's office detailed. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a statement in response to the events of Saturday saying, "Today, the world saw that the bosses of Russia do not control anything. Nothing at all. Complete chaos. Complete absence of any predictability . . . The longer your troops stay on Ukrainian land, the more devastation they will bring to Russia. The longer this person is in the Kremlin, the more disasters there will be." Read more about this topic S. Koreans urge Japan to store nuke-contaminated water on land Xinhua) 08:39, June 25, 2023 People holding signs rally to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater into the sea near the Seoul City Hall in Seoul, South Korea, June 24, 2023. Thousands of South Koreans rallied in central Seoul Saturday to urge the Japanese government to build more storage facilities on land for nuclear-contaminated water instead of discharging it into the sea. (NEWSIS via Xinhua) SEOUL, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of South Koreans rallied in central Seoul Saturday to urge the Japanese government to build more storage facilities on land for nuclear-contaminated water instead of discharging it into the sea. The civic activists gathered near the Seoul City Hall to clamor against Japan's planned discharge of radioactive wastewater, holding signs that read "Protect Pacific Ocean!" and "Storage on Land." They also urged the South Korean government and people to prevent Japan's irresponsible plan of discharging nuke-contaminated water into the sea. The organizer said that as the time for Japan's plan of dumping radioactive wastewater approaches, concerns are growing in South Korea and abroad, while evidence abounds that the release has adverse effects on the ecosystem. Kwon Min-kyung, a Seoul citizen who joined the protest rally, told Xinhua that the Japanese government's decision to dump radioactive wastewater simply to save money is a criminal act of destroying the marine ecosystem, even though there is a way to store it on land. Despite grave concerns expressed by neighbors and the Pacific island countries, the Japanese government has decided to release radioactive wastewater from the crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima into the Pacific Ocean "in spring or summer." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) The rebels backed down, but Putin's rule is more uncertain than ever The mercenaries march to Moscow may have ended, but the short-lived armed rebellion has exposed deep weaknesses inside the Kremlin and undermined Russian President Vladimir Putins 23-year rule like never before. The crisis was unprecedented in Russias recent history and may forever tarnish the image of the countrys strongman president, analysts told NBC News. With this authoritarian veneer besmirched by the consequences of his own war in Ukraine and two decades of a divide and rule approach, its unclear whats next for Putin. This is a devastating blow to Putins image as a strongman, said Bill Browder, the American-born human rights lawyer and leading Putin critic. If a warlord with just 25,000 men is able to take over several cities in Russia and make it to Moscow unopposed, it shows that Putins authority as a dictator is completely fake. Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia under then-President Barack Obama, agreed that even this fleeting display of insubordination would gravely hurt the Russian president. I dont think hes mortally weakened, said McFaul, also a former Obama adviser who specialized in Russia. I think he can survive this. But he is much weaker today than he was just 24 hours ago. Members of Wagner group sit atop of a tank in a street in Rostov-on-Don, Russia (Stringer / AFP via Getty Images) Who can Putin trust? This is new ground for Putins Russia, until now only troubled by the occasional unarmed protest swiftly crushed by police. By contrast, in a few short hours, Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner mutineers were able to overrun a key Russian city, shoot down several military aircraft and leave the Kremlin scrambling to defend the capital. The few Russian troops not deployed in Ukraine were seemingly unable or unwilling to thwart Prigozhins advance, with his fighters even cheered by some locals. The revolts abrupt resolution may only add to the questions now hanging over the Kremlin, not least because of Putins apparent willingness to pardon Prigozhin sending him to Belarus and dropping charges against his fighters just hours after accusing him of stabbing Russia in the back. The situation that unfolded in Russia over the past 24 hours was the most dramatic political development to take place in decades. It was the kind of sudden crisis that at one stage looked like it was evoking the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the 1993 constitutional crisis that saw troops loyal to then-President Boris Yeltsin fire tank shells at the offices of Parliament. Prigozhin called it a rebellion against Russias Defense Ministry, led by his rival Sergei Shoigu. The mercenary chief was careful not to criticize Putin, but his advance was a clear threat to the Russian president, who denounced it as such and vowed to neutralize the uprising. While this was playing out, a senior American military official told NBC News it was a very dangerous time and it all depends on how the military acts the next 72 hours are critical. The best way to understand what happened is to see it as an attempted Mafia takeover, the official said, with a loyal soldier who has risen through the ranks seeking more power for himself. The mercenaries got within 125 miles of Moscow before making the shock announcement that they were turning back. But this maverick act of revolt from one of Putins former close allies has presented Russians with an alternative narrative for the war in Ukraine and a glimpse at the weakness of the state. Prigozhin preceded his advance on Moscow with public defiance of Kremlin propaganda, denouncing the invasion as an unjustified attempt by elites to plunder Ukraines material assets resulting in the needless deaths of untold thousands of Russians. The Russian people, its military and elites will not forget Prigozhins searing criticisms, much less the vulnerabilities his uprising exposed. Whats done cannot be undone, as the Atlantic Council, a Washington think tank, said in a briefing. It also raises uncomfortable questions for the authoritarian leader: Put simply, Who can Putin trust? said Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe. With such a schism exposed at the heart of the worlds most well-stocked nuclear power, the West will also be trying to work out how to respond to this new era of Russian instability. The United States and its allies must recalculate its assessment of Putins actual power and strength within Russia and his willingness and ability to use nuclear weapons, Hodges said. Clearly he cannot count on the loyalty of all of his officers, he added, given the apparent lack of foresight and pushback from Russias intelligence and security services respectively. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address to his country from the Kremlin (Gavriil Grigorov / AFP via Getty Images) And even with the immediate threat from Prigozhin neutered, the very fact it was allowed to get so far is bound to sow confusion and uncertainty among Russian soldiers and commanders more widely, said Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at the London think tank Chatham House. Before Prigozhin launched his revolt, he was believed to have few reliable allies in the halls of the Kremlin. Members of the Russian government and elite made appeals throughout the day, urging Wagner forces to lay down their arms and turn in Prigozhin to the authorities. But when Prigozhin and his men left Rostov-on-Don, the southern Russian city they swiftly captured, the sight of cheering crowds and celebratory gunfire would not have gone unnoticed. Theres probably a purge coming for those oligarchs and military who were not sufficiently loyal over the last couple of days, Hodges said. Browder, the human rights lawyer, agreed, saying he believes that the only way Putin can restore some semblance of authority is by unleashing some devastatingly furious and tough response domestically. Putin is usually very good at this, he said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Reducing litter across state makes South Carolina a healthier, better home for all | Opinion Keep S.C. clean Note: Taylor Gray is the grants coordinator for the City of Cayce. Litter is a problem across South Carolina and its time we did something about it. Every year, millions of pounds of litter are left on our streets, highways and waterways. This litter is unsightly, harmful to the environment and a public health hazard. Litter also has grave impacts on our economy. Studies have shown that litter can deter tourists and businesses from choosing to visit or expand their company in our state. Litter can increase the costs for local businesses as they must spend more money cleaning up the trash left behind by others. One group helping to improve the situation is the City of Cayce which has partnered with Palmetto Pride, a non-profit organization that is working to reduce litter in South Carolina, to foster community clean-ups. With Palmetto Prides help, Cayce is working to educate our community and visitors to our city about the importance of litter prevention, litter laws, and how to keep Cayce litter-free. What can you do? Dont litter. Its as simple as that. If you see trash, pick it up and put it in a trash can. Encourage your friends and family not to litter. Talk to them about the importance of keeping our streets and waterways clean. Support organizations that are working to reduce litter. Donate to Palmetto Pride or similar organizations. Lets work together to make South Carolina a cleaner place to live, do business, visit and enjoy. Taylor Gray, Cayce Maybe a Plan B? To show our land respect it deserves is posted on the main page of Scout Motors, but the destruction of nearly 80 acres of wetlands at the proposed site of the facility in Blythewood does not echo this. Scout claims to offset this with preservation of land along the Congaree River. This is great but does not directly help those that are in the Blythewood area. Secondly, much of this land will never be accessible to those from the Blythewood area. In this day and time should I be surprised that we continue to allow this? Are we that disconnected from the realities of what wetlands do and the life they support? I encourage Scout to live what they claim. I am curious as to why land is also not being offset in Blythewood which appears to be growing so fast that the motto of its own town no longer reads true: Blythewood has always been attractive to families searching for the virtues of small town living. Your growth in the area of increased traffic, destruction of land and influx of people projected to move there is opposite of these virtues. There is always a Plan B to do better. Todd Beasley, Columbia Let democracy thrive I am writing this letter out of concern for the growing public misunderstanding surrounding two distinct pedagogical approaches: culturally relevant teaching and critical race theory. These two concepts are increasingly being conflated in public discourse, potentially leading to unfounded accusations and a general climate of mistrust. Culturally relevant teaching is an educational philosophy that emphasizes the importance of incorporating students cultural references in all aspects of learning. It promotes diversity, inclusivity, and the validation of students own experiences, empowering them to relate personally to the curriculum and contribute their unique perspectives to classroom discussions. On the other hand, critical race theory is a framework that examines society and culture as they intersect with race, law and power. While this approach has its place in academia, specifically in the exploration of societal structures and inequality, it is distinctly different from culturally relevant teaching. A healthy democracy thrives on informed debate and mutual respect for diverse perspectives. We must, therefore, strive to understand and communicate the accurate definitions of culturally relevant teaching and critical race theory, and their respective places within the educational system. George Johnson Jr., Ph.D., Columbia Reading matters As a former English teacher and a patriot, I find the growing influence of extremist groups horrifying. According to the views they are espousing, anybody who is different from them homosexuals, immigrants, or liberals should be silenced and shunned. Case in point: school boards have been bullied into banning books that before the latest mania were considered perfectly fine. It is essential that every student, regardless of gender or race, have the chance to see themselves reflected in what they read. If the purpose of education is to groom law-abiding, tolerant citizens, this trend must be stopped. Otherwise, we run the risk of raising a nation of bigots. Amy Mikell, West Columbia Reducing litter across state makes South Carolina a healthier, better home for all | Opinion Keep S.C. clean Note: Taylor Gray is the grants coordinator for the City of Cayce. Litter is a problem across South Carolina and its time we did something about it. Every year, millions of pounds of litter are left on our streets, highways and waterways. This litter is unsightly, harmful to the environment and a public health hazard. Litter also has grave impacts on our economy. Studies have shown that litter can deter tourists and businesses from choosing to visit or expand their company in our state. Litter can increase the costs for local businesses as they must spend more money cleaning up the trash left behind by others. One group helping to improve the situation is the City of Cayce which has partnered with Palmetto Pride, a non-profit organization that is working to reduce litter in South Carolina, to foster community clean-ups. With Palmetto Prides help, Cayce is working to educate our community and visitors to our city about the importance of litter prevention, litter laws, and how to keep Cayce litter-free. What can you do? Dont litter. Its as simple as that. If you see trash, pick it up and put it in a trash can. Encourage your friends and family not to litter. Talk to them about the importance of keeping our streets and waterways clean. Support organizations that are working to reduce litter. Donate to Palmetto Pride or similar organizations. Lets work together to make South Carolina a cleaner place to live, do business, visit and enjoy. Taylor Gray, Cayce Let democracy thrive I am writing out of concern for the growing public misunderstanding surrounding two distinct pedagogical approaches: culturally relevant teaching and critical race theory. These two concepts are increasingly being conflated in public discourse, leading to unfounded accusations and a general climate of mistrust. Culturally relevant teaching is an educational philosophy that emphasizes the importance of incorporating students cultural references in all aspects of learning. It promotes diversity, inclusivity, and the validation of students own experiences, empowering them to relate personally to the curriculum and contribute their unique perspectives to classroom discussions. Critical race theory is a framework that examines society and culture as they intersect with race, law and power. While this approach has its place in academia, specifically in the exploration of societal structures and inequality, it is distinctly different from culturally relevant teaching. A healthy democracy thrives on informed debate and mutual respect for diverse perspectives. We must, therefore, strive to understand and communicate the accurate definitions of culturally relevant teaching and critical race theory, and their respective places within the educational system. George Johnson Jr., Ph.D., Columbia Reading matters As a former English teacher and a patriot, I find the growing influence of extremist groups horrifying. According to the views they are espousing, anybody who is different from them should be silenced and shunned. Case in point: school boards have been bullied into banning books that before now were considered perfectly fine. It is essential that every student, regardless of gender or race, have the chance to see themselves reflected in what they read. If the purpose of education is to create law-abiding, tolerant citizens, this trend must be stopped. Otherwise, we run the risk of raising a nation of bigots. Amy Mikell, West Columbia Travel lessons After traveling to Switzerland to stand on the dock where an episode of Crash Landing on You, a 2019 Korean drama, was filmed, I was hooked on visiting actual filming locations. This year, I traveled to Gwanghwamun Plaza in Korea to see the site of the K-drama The King Eternal Monarch. This leads me to what I learned in Korea. Their government budgets money to preserve history and culture. Tourists are a priority. They have a superior transportation system and there is no litter. The older generation who went through the war will tell you how appreciative they are that America came and helped fight for their freedom. Laraine Unik, Bluffton On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: As we pass the 1-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision that overturned Roe v Wade, we look at how the controversy over abortion rights has transformed Carbondale, Illinois. USA TODAY reporter Chris Kenning describes how this small blue dot in a sea of red has become a symbol of abortion rights in America today. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. Dana Taylor: Hi. I'm Dana Taylor. It's Sunday, June 25th, 2023. The one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade is this weekend. That ruling not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent that had enshrined abortion rights in the US, it created new fault light and added fuel to one of America's most contentious debate. At the center of this debate are places like Carbondale, Illinois, a place reporter Chris Kenning describes as a blue dot in a sea of red, a symbol of abortion right in America today. Chris Kenning spent a year covering how the issue has transformed the city over the past year and now joins me to talk about his reporting for this story. Chris, thanks for joining me. Chris Kenning: Thanks for having me. Dana Taylor: So your report focuses on Carbondale, Illinois, a place you call a quiet college town. Tell me about Carbondale. Chris Kenning: Sure. Carbondale is a town of about 22,000 people. It's in a rural part of southernmost Illinois. It was founded in the 1850s as a railroad junction, later became the home of Southern Illinois University. It's kind of a medical hub now, but it's a quiet small town of neighborhoods and churches, but it also has a thriving LGBTQ community and a cannabis dispensary. It's all centered in this downtown that's got a 1950s Dairy Queen that people line up for at night and an Amtrak line that runs from New Orleans to Chicago. But really, one of its most important attributes is that it's been a democratic leaning outlier in this more conservative, red, rural area of Illinois. Dana Taylor: Carbondale also happens to be accessible to five states where abortions are banned or otherwise unavailable. How did you and your team set your sights on Carbondale for this story? Chris Kenning: Last summer after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs decision, we knew that red state lawmakers across the South and the Midwest we're going to push to enact restrictions in bans on abortion. At the time, abortion providers were looking to figure out what to do, where they going to cross state lines and reopen to keep serving their clients in as close proximity as they could. As these moves started to take place, we wanted to see how this would play out in some of these small towns with opponents and providers and cities that were going to find this issue landing on their doorstep. So we look for a spot that might be especially pivotal to access and Carbondale was located amid a lot of states that were going to ban or restrict abortion. Its location as the southernmost point in an abortion rights state dipped into the South was going to make it extra pivotal in importance. Dana Taylor: Well, so this really interesting thing is that a year ago, there were no abortion providers there. So elective abortions, they hadn't been performed there or available since 1985. Now there are two, maybe a third coming soon. How did that come about? Chris Kenning: Yeah, it is really interesting. Really began even before the leak of the decision happened last May. Choices Clinic in Memphis, Tennessee had been eyeing Carbondale for a while. Lawmakers in Tennessee had passed restrictions over the years that included a trigger ban or trigger law, which would go into effect to effectively ban abortion if Roe ever fell. In May of 2021, when the court decided to take up the Dobbs case, which was the 15-week ban in Mississippi, and they said that they were going to rule on the constitutionality of all prohibitions on abortion before viability, Pepper decided that this court was looking to overturn Roe and she needed to find a new location. She chose Carbondale for some of the reasons we talked about, that it was a liberal dot in this mostly conservative area, so might be more welcoming. Then at the same time, another clinic, the Alamo Women's Clinic, which was operating in San Antonio, Texas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, was also deciding to open a clinic in Carbondale. So those got it started and there's another one city officials say that we expect to see open later this year. Dana Taylor: Well, you mentioned in your piece that these clinics are now the closest source for abortion care for over a million women from surrounding areas that effectively live in abortion deserts. How have these women been hearing about these clinics? Chris Kenning: A lot of women had to do a lot of searching online. In a lot of cases, it was folks that these clinics were already serving from a number of states that had already restricted it quite a bit. For example, the directors of the Alamo Clinic had told me that for a lot of their clients, this had just been one thing after another because Texas, for example, banned abortion after roughly six weeks in 2021, and that meant that they couldn't serve a lot of the clients that they were serving. So they would send them nine hours away to their clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Then Tulsa passed a very restrictive ban and then a month later, the Supreme Court overturned Roe, so they had to completely stop. It wasn't until November when they opened in Carbondale that they finally started serving those clients again. Dana Taylor: Well, you spoke with some of the women who've been accessing abortion care in Carbondale, and I wonder if they were reluctant to share, eager to share their stories. What did they tell you? Chris Kenning: One common theme was that they had faced an incredible challenge of getting there. Like I say, these long drives. They had to get off work and find a ride or even a flight. They had to get childcare, some of them. Then there were the expenses of staying overnight for folks who wanted to do that. Another theme was that they would arrive and they'd often have to pass protestors. Once inside, a lot of folks I talked to felt like some of the anti-abortion protestors cast their decision to have an abortion as maybe [inaudible 00:06:17] and not thought through. They talked about how complex and personal these decisions were, and in some cases, difficult. I think they felt like that's lost in the political discourse about it. Dana Taylor: Well, abortion is obviously a polarizing and sensitive topic. What was the process of reporting this story like? Chris Kenning: It really is a tough topic. I traveled there starting in the summer and visited multiple times in the fall, winter, and the spring, talking to people over time. Talked to a lot of residents and everyone there felt like the stakes were high for them in various ways. But I think the fact that we could spend so much time there and we weren't just parachuting in for a day, we were able to gain trust. Dana Taylor: You followed the story for a year, Chris. Did you sense that the community became more polarized during that time? Chris Kenning: Some people said it caused tensions, more tensions in town among people of differing views. We saw some people putting up yard signs. We saw other people driving by clusters of a handful of demonstrators and giving them obscene gesture as they drove by. I think some people thought it reflected and reinforced some of these larger political blue-red divides that we see. Dana Taylor: So how are clinic leaders facilitating patient access for people who are traveling these great distances and/or have limited funds? Chris Kenning: Yeah, great question. A lot of people are being helped by abortion funds, which are nonprofits that are playing an increasingly important role as women have to travel farther and farther for care. I spent time with one person who helps run the Midwest Access Coalition, which has been around for a few years. This woman runs the hotline on some days out of a farmhouse in Illinois. She's getting messages all day from women who need gas money, airfare, hotels. I remember one day, she was texting with a 24-year-old woman from Arkansas who had an appointment in Carbondale and she was given $150 for gas, $40 for food, and a room at the Best Western in Carbondale. That was going to be the difference maker about whether she was going to get there. But this group and a lot of these abortion funds are swamped. The demand is really, really high, so they said even with their help, they're seeing a lot of women wind up having to manage their own abortion through medication or wind up carrying an unwanted or even a dangerous pregnancy deterrent. Dana Taylor: So I imagine Carbondale has also attracted a sizable group of the medical community who used to work in some of the regions where abortions have now been restricted or even eliminated. Were you able to talk to any of them? Chris Kenning: One story that really struck out to me was the administrator of the Alamo Clinic decided to move herself and her entire family 14 hours north from San Antonio to Carbondale, a place she'd not been to before to help operate the clinic. She said, "We're in the same position as these women are, having to travel to preserve care and access." She wondered how that would look different for her in a city of over a million. She saw protestors at work every day, but rarely out in the community and she wondered, "Well, will I see them at the grocery store, at schools. How will that look?" I think some other folks had some worries about that too, but generally, I think over time, clinical staff found that they're really welcomed in the community. Dana Taylor: Closest abortion destination clinics, they've become their own rapidly growing trend. Did you find other blue dot cities surrounded by red regions that have also stepped up to provide abortion access? Chris Kenning: It's happening in a number of small towns where you see clinics moving from West Wendover, Nevada to Cumberland, Maryland, which is where a clinic that left West Virginia is set to open this month. Dana Taylor: How does your story fit into the broader context of the battle around reproductive rights? Chris Kenning: The movement of clinics across state lines is just one part of a landscape of access that's still unfolding in a lot of ways. Nearly a year later, it's still shifting. Right now, there are 14 states where abortions are banned or unavailable. Other states have enacted gestational limits like six-week bans. Some of those are blocked by state courts currently, places like Ohio. At the same time, voters and lawmakers in some states have worked to expand abortion rights, places like California, Illinois, Vermont, Oregon, New York. So you still have some of these challenges going through the courts. Another issue is the fight over medication abortion. That issue is still out there. There's just a lot of unknown still. Dana Taylor: What surprised you the most in reporting this story? Chris Kenning: Well, a lot surprised me, but the one thing that really struck me, has stuck with me is how oftentimes these abstract political debates that are abstract to a lot of folks really take on different dimensions when they're real and right in front of you. That's what happened just to some folks in Carbondale. I remember talking to a clinic worker who was new to the field and wanted to be part of this effort saying that when she would talk to the women that were coming in, she was struck by how complicated and sometimes painful and difficult these decisions were and it gave her a really more nuanced perspective on the issue. While I think it reinforced this idea of blue-red political divide for a lot of people in town, others told me that because it was such a small town, they had to still see people and be around them and work with them. They learned to stay friendly and look past some of those differences. So I found that hopeful. Dana Taylor: Chris, thank you so much for spending time today. Chris Kenning: Thanks so much for having me. Dana Taylor: Thanks to Mark Sivell, Alexis Gustin, and Cherie Saunders for their production assistance. Our senior producer is Shannon Rae Green, and our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcast@usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow with another episode of 5 Things. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How the repeal of Roe v. Wade transformed abortion rights-and a small Illinois town Repeated red flags raised by experts about the Titan's safety are likely to feature in investigations into the tragedy OceanGate owns other submersibles as well as the Titan. David L. Ryan/Getty Images Submersible experts raised red flags about the Titan's safety long before it imploded. Those warnings will play an important part in investigations into the implosion, officials said. It comes after five people died on OceanGate's submersible, which wasn't independently certified. Investigations into the implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible are likely to examine repeated warnings about the craft's safety and design. Investigators searched the Canadian research ship the Polar Prince, which took the Titan into international waters, on Saturday after it returned to port in Newfoundland, per The New York Times. Staff from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police searched the ship as what looks to be a lengthy investigation into the fatal voyage begins. Relatives of the five people who died on the Titan, its past passengers, and crew of the Polar Prince, were being interviewed, per the Times. But it's also expected that investigators will examine past warnings by experts, engineers, and former employees about the seaworthiness of the submersible. Speaking on Thursday, US Coast Guard Rear Adm. John Mauger said safety and regulations were likely to be the "focus for future review." Submersible experts raised red flags about the Titan's safety long before it imploded but OceanGate continued its expeditions. The company was even sued in 2018 by a former employee after he highlighted concerns he had with the sub, which was not independently certified, and said it needed more testing. OceanGate's former director of marine operations, David Lochridge, also warned the company about inadequate "quality control and safety" protocols. He said Stockton Rush, the CEO who also died on the Titan, had asked him to carry out a quality inspection of the sub. Lochridge claimed in the suit that he addressed his uneasiness with the sub's safety with management, but was fired and accused of breach of contract. The case was settled out of court in November 2018. In a since-deleted blog post titled "Why Isn't Titan Classed?", which is archived online, the company wrote that getting the Titan classed would be a lengthy process, and that could stifle innovation. "Bringing an outside entity up to speed on every innovation before it is put into real-world testing is anathema to rapid innovation," OceanGate stated. A former OceanGate consultant also reportedly warned Rush, the OceanGate cofounder, that he was putting passengers in danger. "Until a sub is classed, tested and proven it should not be used for commercial deep dive operations," Rob McCallum told Rush, according to emails seen by BBC News. "I implore you to take every care in your testing and sea trials and to be very, very conservative." Rush responded and said he was "tired of industry players who try to use a safety argument to stop innovation". Read the original article on Business Insider The Scene A routine drive from Bouar, a town in western Central African Republic, to the northern city of Bohong became a masterclass in reporting from the frontlines of war. Bouar was a former French military garrison, but the French soldiers had long left, and soldiers of the Central African government had occupied the military base. Mirekthe local abbot of Bouarand I traversed a rocky moonscape in his white pickup. Cell phone networks didnt reach this place and Mirek was in a hurry. The village was silent when we arrived, until Mirek honked loudly. I saw movement at the edge of my vision: a man ran at us. I rolled down my window and the man thrust a sheet of paper at my face. A rebel? I asked Mirek. Probably, by now, he said. All the villagers are joining the rebels to fight against the government. The rebels sheet lay in my lap. On it, columns had been drawn and in the first column was a list of names. The second column described what had happened to them: who had been killed, whose property had been stolen, and who was now ill with dysentery or fever. The abbot stuffed each villages war report into his glove compartment. In the twenty-first century, people here had been so isolated that facts needed to be relayed by hand. Mirek used his position as the local abbot, a respected figure, known to the soldiers, to serve as an information relay. In a world inundated with information, this was how news had to be collected in the Central African Republics warby hand, and the courage of an abbot. Anjan's view Central Africans have been casualties of inattention; their lives deemed dispensable, less important, less worthy of international news coverage. While hundreds of international reporters rotate in and out of Ukraine, providing round the clock coverage, the Central African Republic is shrouded in darkness, many of its killings passing unreported. Reporting on the worlds most isolated major war, in the Central African Republic, is made difficult by the relative obscurity of the country, outside its region. International magazine editors are largely unaware that the country exists, or that a war is underway there. News from CAR still travels to New York and Paris before it reaches an audience in Nigeria or Kenya. When I traveled through the CAR, I didnt meet a single African reporter. A colonial international news structure, heavily dependent on funding and reporting from Western capitals, is not good enough. The Global South needs to step up. African middle-income economies should take a greater interest in their neighbors, investing in deploying journalists who report on events affecting millions of Central Africans. Instead of continually criticizing the West for its blind spots, its time for the Global South to provide a new, post-colonial perspective on the world, showing us how to view events with intelligence and compassion, outside Western frames of reference. Know More The ongoing conflict in CAR is the third civil war the country has seen in just over three decades. In March 2013, rebel groups formed in the north to oppose the government, which rebels claimed was not abiding by peace agreements after the preceding CAR Bush War. Rebels formed a coalition called the Seleka and seized the capital. Looting and atrocities soon led to deadly reprisals by self-defense committees made up of villagers and former soldiers called the Anti-balaka militias. Much of the tension between coalitions is over religious identity between Muslim Seleka fighters and Christian Anti-balaka. The View From Nairobi The news famine in CAR is symptomatic of the larger questions of African news production - on what logic does it operate? Who dictates its consumption? News from the continent is still largely financed, organized and directed from the colonial metropolis, said Parselelo Kantai, Politics and Society Editor at African Arguments. The infrastructure for pan-African news production remains in a kind of suspended infancy, still dominated by a handful of commercial outfits. The vast opportunities to establish pan-African media outfits circulating news within and for Africa, is testimony to the poverty of continental news media. Notable Republican lawmakers across 3 states have received letters in the last week filled with a mysterious white powder At least two Montana legislators received letters with the mysterious powder Friday. powerofforever/Getty Images Someone sent Republican lawmakers in Montana letters containing an unknown white powder. Republican officials in Tennessee and Kansas also received similar letters over the last week. The letters contained cryptic messages and details designed to make recipients open them. Republican legislators from three states have received letters over the last week containing a mysterious white powder. Someone sent two lawmakers in Montana the unsettling letters on Friday, CNN reported. Several Tennessee Republicans got similar letters the day before, according to the Tennessee Star. And on June 18, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported that more than 100 Republican lawmakers and officials from across Kansas received similar letters, which also included the suspicious powder. The FBI is looking into the incidents in all three states. "The state will bring to bear whatever resources are needed to support law enforcement officers as they investigate," Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte tweeted Friday. Meanwhile, in both Tennessee and Kansas, investigators say preliminary testing showed the powder was not a threat to public health. The letters contained cryptic messages and details designed to get recipients to open them, lawmakers told CNN. "To honor your recent accomplishments I send to you a gift from the exclusive astruc baruch collection," one letter to Kansas State Rep. Stephen Owens read, according to CNN. "It is important not to choke on your ambition." Owens told CNN the return address listed a church located in her district: "It was very deliberate, very intentional to get us to open the letters." Read the original article on Business Insider Gov. Ron DeSantis has toured the country calling Florida the place where woke goes to die. But its still alive at the company Sara Margulis runs. At Honeyfund, a website for engaged couples to create gift registries that can pay for their honeymoons, Margulis Florida employees learn about privilege and institutional racism. Margulis, the CEO and co-founder, said the training makes her staff better suited to serve couples of any background. Planning for this falls employee retreat is underway, with a session scheduled on DEI or diversity, equity and inclusion, a term DeSantis often rails against. DeSantis tried to ban such employee training in 2022, when the Florida Republican championed what he called the Stop WOKE Act. But Honeyfund and others sued on the grounds that the law violated their free speech. A federal judge agreed and blocked it from going into effect. The DeSantis administration then appealed one of many of the governors ongoing legal battles as he pursues the presidency. Companies arent going woke out of allegiance to Democrats. Time after time, diversity has proven to be good for the bottom line, Margulis said. Valuing diversity means understanding it, understanding means training and training means having to deal with this law. We were really handed a chance to make a difference for other business owners by challenging it, and we took it. In his early outreach to Republican voters as a presidential candidate, DeSantis has portrayed himself as a fighter and, crucially, a winner in the cultural battles increasingly important to conservatives. If elected to the White House, hell take those fights to Washington, he has said. I will go on offense, DeSantis said in Iowa last month. I will lean into all the issues that matter. But back in Florida, the agenda at the centerpiece of his pitch remains unsettled. Still ongoing are more than a dozen legal battles testing the constitutionality of many of the victories DeSantis has touted on the campaign trail. Critics say DeSantis has built his governorship around enacting laws that appeal to his conservative base but that, as a Harvard-trained lawyer, he knows are unconstitutional and not likely to take effect. In addition to halting parts of the Stop WOKE Act, judges have also intervened to freeze implementation of other DeSantis-led laws cracking down on protesters and Big Tech. The six-week abortion ban he signed this year which he has called the heartbeat bill when speaking to conservative, and especially evangelical, audiences wont take effect unless the state Supreme Court determines that a privacy clause in Floridas constitution doesnt protect access to the procedure. Disney the most famous of DeSantis political adversaries has argued in court that the governor overstepped his power when he orchestrated a takeover of the entertainment giants special taxing district to punish the company for speaking out against his agenda. So did Andrew Warren, the twice-elected Tampa prosecutor whom DeSantis suspended last year in another act of political retaliation. DeSantis has repeatedly predicted he will ultimately prevail in these challenges. Bryan Griffin, a spokesman for his campaign, called the lawsuits the tactics of activists who seek to impose their will on people by judicial fiat. These attempts to circumvent the will of the legislature are not indicative of anything beyond the failure of the lefts ideas at the ballot box, Griffin said in a statement. Governor DeSantis is a proven fighter who will bring the same temerity to the presidency. Recent weeks, though, have seen a handful of reminders that several pillars of his record remain fragile even as they figure prominently in his stump speeches. On Friday, a federal judge blocked a new Florida law that gave the DeSantis administration the power to shut down bars or restaurants that admit children to certain adult live performances, widely seen as a crackdown on drag shows. Another federal judge said Wednesday that Florida could not restrict transgender adults on Medicaid from receiving gender-affirming care. The same judge earlier this month had stepped in to allow three transgender children to receive puberty blockers while a lawsuit seeking to overturn a state ban on the treatment proceeds. In both rulings, the judge said there was no rational basis to prevent the care and declared gender identity is real, casting doubts on the future of the states prohibition. LGBTQ advocates protest inside the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee on March 7, 2022. - Wilfredo Lee/AP DeSantis, as a presidential candidate, has seized on conservative concerns over such treatment, particularly for minors. His efforts to halt it including signing a law that prohibits transgender children from receiving gender-affirming treatments and punish doctors who run afoul of it are prominently featured in his stump speeches. Speaking to North Carolina Republicans after the ruling, the governor acknowledged the legal fight, but he assured the audience: We are going to win. It is mutilation, and it is wrong, and it has no place in our state, he said. DeSantis of late has also taken credit for the GOPs narrow US House majority, noting the highly partisan map he pushed through his state legislature, which ultimately helped Republicans net four critical seats. But those suing Florida to invalidate the states congressional boundaries have new reason for optimism after the US Supreme Court ordered Alabama officials to redraw its map to allow an additional Black-majority district. The DeSantis map was similarly criticized as diminishing the power of minority voters in Florida. Many of the things coming from the governor are form over function, said Cecile Scoon, president of the League of Women Voters of Florida, one of plaintiffs in the redistricting lawsuit. They want to get to a certain result, so they find a means to do it, whether it makes logic or legal sense or not. The Florida firewall The US District Court for the Northern District of Florida has in particular stymied DeSantis agenda. Two judges on the bench, Mark Walker and Robert Hinkle, have repeatedly ruled against the governor, often punctuating their opinions with harsh and colorful repudiations. Walker, in one ruling blocking parts of the Stop WOKE Act, compared Floridas treatment of the First Amendment under DeSantis to the Upside Down, the nightmare alternative dimension from the Netflix series Stranger Things. In another lawsuit over the law, this one filed by college professors, Walker called the law dystopian and wrote that DeSantis and Florida Republicans had declared the state has unfettered authority to muzzle its professors in the name of freedom. Hinkle, in January, chided DeSantis suspension of Warren as political, unconstitutional and executed with not a hint of misconduct, though he ultimately ruled he was powerless to intervene. Warren is appealing, though he suffered another defeat when the state Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a separate request to reinstate him. Ruling this month against the state in the two cases dealing with transgender care prohibition, Hinkle called the law an exercise in politics, not good medicine. Nothing could have motivated this remarkable intrusion into parental prerogatives other than opposition to transgender status itself, he wrote. DeSantis has shrugged off these defeats as the work of left-leaning judges. President Barack Obama nominated Walker to his district court judgeship in 2012, and Hinkle was selected by President Bill Clinton in 1996. Neither nomination drew objection from Senate Republicans at the time. When Walker ruled to block Floridas anti-riot law comparing it to past attempts to squash dissent from Civil Rights activists in the 1950s and 60s DeSantis dismissed it as a foreordained conclusion in front of that court. We will win that on appeal, DeSantis said. I guarantee well win that on appeal. That assurance came 21 months ago. In the meantime, the law has yet to take effect. An injunction isnt always relief Dana Thompson Dorsey, a professor of education law, was among seven Florida college professors who sued to block the Stop WOKE Act over provisions that limited how she and her colleagues could talk about race and sex with students. She called Walkers decision halting the law a work of art. Since then, she has continued to teach critical race studies to her doctoral students at the University of South Florida, while DeSantis has taken his fight against the concept national. But despite winning injunctive relief, she remains troubled by the new environment for higher education under DeSantis. There is a lot at stake and its not just for those of us brave enough to be plaintiffs, she said. The idea of telling adults what they can and cannot learn is unfathomable. The students who become our future leaders will repeat our mistakes if they dont understand the past. While legal challenges have prevented DeSantis from fully realizing his vision for Florida, the uncertainty has not always benefited opponents and the plaintiffs suing to block his agenda. Abortions after 15 weeks have paused in most cases in Florida while providers await a ruling on the states ban. Andrew Warren remains out of office. Transgender care providers are in uncertain territory Hinkles limited rulings provided relief but only for those who sued the state. The League of Women Voters of Florida is taking the state to court over new restrictions on third-party voter registration. Fines for violating the law could cost as much as $250,000 a year and the organization has asked for a preliminary injunction to prevent its enforcement. In the meantime, the league decided it would no longer collect and turn in voter registration forms, pausing for now a practice that has been central to its civic outreach for more than 75 years. Thats a very sad and horrible result, but we cannot figure out a way to protect ourselves without that major change, Scoon said. DeSantis has also managed to maneuver when legal challenges have threatened to stymie his efforts, thanks to a closely aligned Republican-led legislature. When a lawsuit accused the governor of breaking state law when he sent two planes carrying migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, lawmakers helped change the law to allow him to do so. His administration recently orchestrated the transport of migrants from El Paso, Texas, to California. After several individuals arrested last year for voter fraud by DeSantis new election security force had their cases dismissed, lawmakers again tweaked the law to try to make it easier for the state to secure convictions. DeSantis and Florida Republicans have signaled they intend to keep fighting in court, too. The budget DeSantis signed earlier this month included $16 million for legal battles underway and the ones to come. We will never surrender to the woke mob, the governor recently told an audience in Greenville, South Carolina. We are going to leave woke ideology in the dustbin of history where it belongs. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship were forced to run for cover after unexpected, dangerously-high winds sent deck furniture flying. Videos posted on social media showed chairs and tables flying across decks while people in swimsuits gripped onto walls. One TikTok video showed a lounger narrowly miss a woman carrying a small child. The Independence of the Seas ship was caught in a brief but intense rain storm as it prepared to leave Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida last week. Passengers were lounging by the pool in the sunshine when strong winds and heavy rain suddenly rolled in. Videos showed passengers running for cover and sliding across the slick decks, and ducking to avoid airborne chairs and umbrellas. Royal Caribbean said in a statement that no passengers were seriously injured due to the flash storm. Two passengers aboard the ship complained on TikTok about the cruise line failing to notify passengers of the storm. Just a fun evening leaving Port Canaveral this past Friday, TikTok user lucassparrow1110captioned his video. No announcement from the captain before or after, also no mention of what happened. Just pretend like it didnt happen I guess, he wrote. The sun was shining just 10 minutes before! Cora Cornett captioned her video. We were on the top deck watching another boat in port get hit with rain when suddenly it DISAPPEARED in the rain so we ran down to the next deck but it was already on us. Ms Cornett said the weather passed over extremely quickly at around 4pm on 16 June. No ship announcements were made before or after so people on the lower pool deck were hit completely without warning, Ms Cornett wrote. The Independent has reached out to Royal Caribbean for comment. In response to the incident, Royal Caribbean told Distractify: On Friday, June 16, while departing from Port Canaveral, Independence of the Seasencountered a sudden gust of high winds. This latest for a brief period and there were no serious injuries to our guests or crew. The company said that the ship continued on its scheduled three-night itinerary and arrived in the Bahamas on Saturday. Ruby Sunshine dishes up breakfast all day at new south Charlotte restaurant Ruby Sunshine welcomed its first diners this week at its new restaurant in south Charlotte. The New Orleans-based breakfast and brunch concept opened June 21 in Toringdon Circle Shopping Center. The roughly 4,700-square-foot, 150-seat restaurant is at 12330 Johnston Road. The space was previously home to Cantina 1511. ALSO READ: Husband-and-wife team brings taste of France to Rock Hill bakery Diners will find an Instagrammable atmosphere, with wall-to-wall murals hand-painted by Ruby Sunshines Buurbon Mitchell and art by New Orleans artists. Read more here. (VIDEO: Craving authentic Italian? Check out this Matthews market and deli) Russia coup latest: Cracks in Putin's power revealed by Wagner mutiny, US says Putin has not been seen in public since Saturday morning - Gavriil Grigorov The attempted mutiny in Russia shows real cracks in the power of Vladimir Putin, Americas top diplomat has said. In the first direct comments by the US government, Anthony Blinken said Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigohzin had issued a direct challenge to the Russian president. I dont think we have seen the final act, Mr Blinken said, after a deal was struck to turn Prigohzins fighters back from Moscow on Saturday night. Putin has not been seen in public since addressing the nation on Saturday morning, vowing to put down the rebellion. Russian soldiers clear headquarters in Rostov - AP Mr Blinken described the conflict as an internal matter for Putin, who must now seek to address the turmoil in the weeks ahead as the fracture threatens Moscows military capabilities. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, echoed Mr Blinken on Sunday, saying Wagners revolt had highlighted the divisions within Russian leadership. The abandoned march on Moscow shows the divisions that exist within the Russian camp, and the fragility of both its military and its auxillary forces, Mr Macron told Provence newspaper. He added that the situation is still developing and that he was following the events hour by hour. The rebellion was the culmination of Prigozhins frustration with leaders within the Russian military over their conduct in the invasion of Ukraine. 09:11 PM BST That's all for today Were ending our live coverage of the Wagner military coup in Russia here for today. Thank you for following check back to our homepage for the latest updates. 07:48 PM BST Russia sends Wagner replica to east Ukraine Thousands of Russian troops have been sent to eastern Ukraine including a replica of the Wagner group called Storm Z, according to a spokesman for Ukrainian forces. Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for Operational Command East, told national media that all kinds of troops. He added that more than 170,000 had flocked to the region. They are pulling all kinds of units into our operational area these are airborne units, infantry, the Bars combat reserve, territorial forces, and a number of other smaller PMCs such as Patriot, Fakel, and Veterans. The latest were the Storm Z assault companies. This replica of Wagner Group was established under the Military Draft Offices. There are probably more than 170,000 of them in our operational zone, he said. 07:16 PM BST Poland reinforces borders with Belarus and Russia Poland has strengthened its eastern borders with Belarus following reports the Wagner chief has been exiled to the country. Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish prime minister, said on Sunday that it has also reinforced more than 230 kilometres of the border with Russias Kaliningrad Oblast in the northeast. Poland is closely monitoring the actions of Russias Wagner mercenary group after its one-day rebellion, added Mr Morawiecki. We are aware of these threats and respond to them by anticipating attacks, Mr Morawiecki said. (Alexander) Lukashenko and (Vladimir) Putin can act in a very strange way. Those actions are still the subject of various analyses and studies by us and our NATO allies. The country is reportedly anticipating an armoured attack from the countrys eastern neighbours. 07:07 PM BST War is 'moving in the right direction', says Ukraine's defence minister Oleksii Reznikov, the Ukrainian defence minister, said he discussed the turmoil in Russia in a phone call with his American counterpart on Sunday, describing the Russian authorities as weak and saying things were moving in the right direction. In a brief readout of the call with defence secretary Lloyd Austin, Mr Reznikov said they also discussed Ukraines counteroffensive and steps to strengthen Ukraines armed forces. We agree that the Russian authorities are weak and that withdrawing Russian troops from Ukraine is the best choice for the Kremlin, Mr Reznikov wrote on Twitter. 06:03 PM BST Investors may pull out of Russia and flock to US safe havens Investors were watching for ripple effects from the aborted mutiny in Russia, with some expecting a move into safe havens such as US government bonds and the dollar when markets open later on Sunday. After Saturdays events, some investors said they were focused on the potential impact on safe-haven assets such as US Treasuries and on commodities prices, given that Russia is a major energy and grains supplier. Gennadiy Goldberg, head of US rates strategy at TD Securities in New York, said: If there remains uncertainty about leadership in Russia, investors may flock to safe havens. Markets typically do not respond well to events that are unfolding and are uncertain, particularly relating to Putin and Russia, said Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist at LPL Financial. If the uncertainty escalates, youre going to see Treasuries get a bid, gold will get a bid and the Japanese yen tends to gain in situations like this, said Ms Krosby. 05:42 PM BST Russian troops stand down in Moscow Russian government troops have withdrawn from the streets of Moscow and people are flocking to parks and cafes following a short-lived revolt by the Wagner group. The march on the capital by Wagner troops led by its chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is understood to have severely dented Putins reputation as a leader. Putin and Mr Prigozhin have not yet commented on the deal. 05:27 PM BST In Pictures: Ukrainian soldiers fight near Bakhmut on Sunday Ukrainian soldiers on a Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicle - AP/Roman Chop 05:20 PM BST In Pictures: Life goes on in Russia amid Wagner deal An officer, military graduate, dances with a young woman in a park in Voronezh, Russia on Sunday - Arik Kilanyants/AP 05:11 PM BST Russia summons airborne forces to protect Moscow Russia has sent two airborne units from occupied territories in Ukraine to protect Moscow during the Wagner groups rebellion. Russian command plans to keep them [airborne troops] for at least a week (in Moscow), the Ukrainian militarys National Resistance Center said on Sunday. Up to two companies of Russias 76th Airborne Assault Division got to Moscow by Il-76 transport aircraft, according to the report. 04:56 PM BST Convict fighters accuse Prigozhin of 'walking off' Russian convict fighters who had expressed support for Yevgeny Prigozhin and his armed coup on Saturday have accused him of walking off after he struck a deal with President Vladimir Putin. Recruits of a Storm Z unit, a Russian military unit made up of convicts, stood in combat uniform holding assault rifles as one addressed Prigozhin and said he was not a man after he called off the mutiny. Rumours say you walked off, lied to all the lads. The whole of Storm Z was ready to stand behind you, and not only Storm Z, your guys also. But you walked off, he added. In the terms of the deal, Prigozhin has said he will relocate to Belarus. Another soldier said: You spoke beautifully, we supported you. And now what? 04:45 PM BST Beef-up NATO to protect nations from Wagner, says Lithuania's president Lithuanias president has warned that if Belarus is to host Wagner mercenary group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin then NATO will need to strengthen its eastern flank. The head of state, whose Baltic country neighbours Belarus and Russia and will host next months NATO summit, spoke after a state security council meeting to discuss Wagners aborted revolt against the Kremlin. If Prigozhin or part of the Wagner group ends up in Belarus with unclear plans and unclear intentions, it will only mean that we need to further strengthen the security of our eastern borders, Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda told reporters. I am not only talking about Lithuania here, but without a doubt the whole of NATO, he said. Nauseda added that Lithuania will devote more intelligence capabilities to assessing the political and security aspects of Belarus. 04:24 PM BST Wagner troops withdraw from Rostov Heavily armed Wagner mercenaries withdrew from the southern Russian city of Rostov overnight under a deal that halted their rapid advance on Moscow. Mr Prigozhin, 62, was seen leaving the district military headquarters in Rostov - hundreds of miles south of Moscow - late on Saturday in a sport utility vehicle. His whereabouts on Sunday were not known. Mr Prigozhin, a former Putin ally and ex-convict whose forces have fought the bloodiest battles of the 16-month war in Ukraine, said his decision to advance on Moscow was intended to remove corrupt and incompetent Russian commanders he blames for botching the war. 04:13 PM BST Belarus leader may 'live to regret' Wagner deal, say experts Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, scored a propaganda victory by brokering the deal which staved off the threat of an internal armed conflict in Russia but he may live to regret an accord that will see his country host the Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, observers say. In a statement late Saturday, Mr Lukashenkos press service said he had spent all day in negotiations with Mr Prigozhin, with the approval of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, and the Wagner boss had agreed to stop his advance towards Moscow. The announcement was a boost for Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled a nation that borders three EU states for almost 30 years but has been treated as a pariah by the West since disputed 2020 elections and now also because of his support for Russias invasion of Ukraine. Under the deal brokered by Mr Lukashenko, Mr Prigozhin will in future live in exile in Belarus, the Kremlin announced. It still remains unclear if he will be bringing members of the Wagner militia with him. Katia Glod, Russia-West Policy Fellow at the European Leadership Network in London, said it was likely that Mr Prigozhin was dumped on Mr Lukashenko by Putin. I dont think it was Lukashenkos own will. I think he was used by the Kremlin. He would rather not have Prigozhin, she told AFP. The only plus that there could be for Lukashenko is he may want to use Prigozhin as personal army against any potential revolt. 04:06 PM BST Prigozhin calls for peaceful protest in support of Wagner Russian Mozhem Obyasnit Telegram: "Prigozhin supporters were told about the resignation of Shoigu and were called to go to a peaceful solidarity action with the Wagner PMC. The correspondent of Mozhem Obyasnit Telegram channel signed up as a supporter of Yevgeny Prigozhin pic.twitter.com/rir25Wh5Fr Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 25, 2023 03:55 PM BST Wagner troops downed six Russian helicopters Wagner mercenaries downed six Russian army helicopters and one plane on Saturday. Yurii Ihnat, Ukraines Air Force spokesman, told national media on Sunday that Russia lost two attack helicopters and four transport aircraft. Mi-8 transport helicopters are powerful hardware that really helps the Russian army in its war against Ukraine, the spokesman said. Russian pro-Kremlin military bloggers reported on Saturday that the Wagner troops downed one Ka-52 attack helicopter, one Mi-8 transport helicopter, three Mi-8 electronic warfare helicopters, one Mi-35 attack helicopter, and one Il-18 aircraft. 03:46 PM BST Russia launches its biggest missile strike on Ukraine Russian forces launched their largest series of missile strikes against #Ukraine in recent months on June 24, despite the armed rebellion within #Russia. https://t.co/M5yx53y7GV https://t.co/0h8sngtoLS pic.twitter.com/Tsg8aysJ1A ISW (@TheStudyofWar) June 25, 2023 03:29 PM BST China 'supports Russia to protect national stability' China said it supported Russia in protecting national stability, in Beijings first official remarks on a short-lived armed uprising led by the head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin. As a friendly neighbour and a new era comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China supports Russia in protecting national stability and achieving development and prosperity, the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding the issue was Russias internal affair. 02:57 PM BST 'I thought some people can be trusted,' Kadyrov has reportedly said in dig at Prigozhin Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen Republic, has reportedly made a dig at the Wagner chief who staged a short coup against the Russian leader. Mr Kadyrov said: I thought some people can be trusted. But it turned out that for the sake of personal ambitions, profit and because of arrogance, people dont give a damn about love for the Motherland. 02:42 PM BST Ukrainian government advisor Anton Gerashchenko on the weekend's events Some possible outcomes of yesterday's events: 1. In Wagner PMC, a split has reportedly started between those who felt used and those who remained loyal to Prigozhin after the failed rebellion. 2. Combat pilots reportedly quit Wagner PMC due to their disagreement with the way Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 25, 2023 02:32 PM BST Russia crisis reveals 'real cracks' in Putin's authority, says Blinken The armed uprising in Russia exposed real cracks in President Vladimir Putins authority after he was forced into an amnesty deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday. The revolt by the Wagner private mercenary group and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin over the weekend marked a direct challenge to Putins authority. So this raises profound questions, it shows real cracks, Mr Blinken told CBS News talk show Face the Nation. 02:14 PM BST Wagner recruitment centre reportedly reopens in Voronezh Recruitment centres for the Wagner private mercenary group (PMC) reportedly reopened on Sunday, a day after the groups leader staged an armed coup. Russian-language news outlet RTVI reports that among those centres which have reopened is one in Voronezh, which had been occupied by Wagner troops on Saturday as they moved towards Moscow. The Voronezh centre clarified that [it] was closed yesterday but not we are allowed to work. The recruitment centre in Astrakhan, another city in southern Russia, is also reportedly open. A RTVI journalist was asked about their age, criminal record, and the state of their health. The journalist could not reach the centres in Moscow and St Petersburg. 02:00 PM BST Chinese journalist says Russia 'cannot return to the country it was' - before deleting comment A prominent Chinese commentator said Russia cannot return to the country it was after Yevgeny Prigozhins coup attempt before apparently deleting his tweet, Louise Watt writes. Nationalistic commentator Hu Xijin said on Saturday that the Wagner chiefs final outcome would be tragic after he ordered his troops to march on Moscow. His armed rebellion has made the Russian political situation cross the tipping point. Regardless of his outcome, Russia cannot return to the country it was before the rebellion anymore, Mr Hu purportedly wrote in a tweet that was later deleted. Read more on this story here. 01:38 PM BST In pictures: War in Ukraine A Ukrainian soldier looks at the sky searching for a drone on the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region - Efrem Lukatsky/AP A Ukrainian soldier prepares ammunition to fire towards Russian positions on the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region - Efrem Lukatsky/AP 01:33 PM BST US feared for Russian nuclear weapons during Wagner coup The US was worried that Vladimir Putin would lose control of his nuclear arsenal during a coup attempt in Russia by Yevgeny Prigozhin, James Kilner writes. Intelligence officers had picked up information that the Wagner chief and his mercenaries were planning a coup 10 days ago but were not sure of the exact timing. Even so, there were enough signals to be able to tell the (American) leadership that something was up, the Washington Post quoted a US intelligence official as saying. Read more on this story here. 01:02 PM BST China expressed support for Russia's leadership following outbreak of mutiny, says Moscow Russias foreign ministry has said China had expressed support for Russias leadership in its efforts to stabilise the domestic situation following Saturdays mutiny by the Wagner group. It was previously reported that Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko held a meeting with Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sunday, after flying to Beijing for talks on international issues. 12:55 PM BST Former Russian PM says mutiny marks beginning of the end for Putin Mikhail Kasyanov, Russian Prime Minister under Vladimir Putin from 2000 to 2004, has said that the events this weekend mark the beginning of the end for the Russian president. A leading critic of Putin since being sacked, Mr Kasyanov told the BBC that he thought Yevgeny Prigozhin will first go to Belarus, and then to Africa and be somewhere in the jungle or something like that. The Wagner Group conducts several operations in Africa. He added that Mr Putin cannot forgive him for this and that his life will be under a big question as a result of the armed mutiny. Mr Kasyanov said that, for Putin, this is the beginning of the end... hes in very big trouble right now. 12:45 PM BST Putin to take part in Russia Security Council meeting next week President Vladimir Putin will take part in a meeting of Russias Security Council next week, state television reported on Sunday. The report by Rossiya 1 television channels current affairs programme Vesti did not specify whether the meeting would take place on Friday as normal or be brought forward, following the armed mutiny by the Wagner group. 12:29 PM BST Russian defence ministry claims military repelled attacks in Ukraine Russias defence ministry on Sunday said it had repelled attempted attacks by Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported. The ministry said it had repelled 10 attacks in the Bakhmut area over the last day, TASS news agency reported. In an interview on state television recorded on June 21 and aired on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was in constant contact with the defence ministry and that the country remained confident in realising its plans related to the special military operation in Ukraine. The comments in an interview with Kremlin correspondent Pavel Zarubin were broadcast by Rossiya state television. The full interview is due to be broadcast later on Sunday. 12:06 PM BST Prigozhin accused of 'walking off' by supporters Russian fighters who had expressed support for Yevgeny Prigozhin during his armed coup on Saturday have criticised him for walking off, after a deal was struck between President Vladimir Putin and the Wagner chief. In a video shared on social media, members of a Storm Z unit, a Russian military unit made up of convicts, told Prigozhin he was not a man after he called off the mutiny. One soldier, carrying a gun, spoke to the camera: Rumours say you walked off, lied to all the lads. The whole of Storm Z was ready to stand behind you, and not only Storm Z, your guys also. But you walked off. Another soldier said: You spoke beautifully, we supported you. And now what? 11:45 AM BST North Korean vice foreign minister supports Russian leadership over mutiny North Koreas vice foreign minister said in a meeting with the Russian ambassador that he supported any decision by the Russian leadership to deal with a recent mutiny, North Korean state media reported. Im Chon Il, the vice foreign minister, expressed firm belief that the recent armed rebellion in Russia would be successfully put down in conformity with the aspiration and will of the Russian people, state news agency KCNA said. North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and supported Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, blaming the hegemonic policy of the United States and the West. Mr Im also said he believed the Russian army would overcome trials and ordeals and heroically emerge victorious in the special military operation against Ukraine, KCNA reported. 11:31 AM BST Pictured: Red Square closed off after Wagner mutiny People stand near the closed Red Square in Moscow - EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/REUTERS 11:15 AM BST How Yevgeny Prigozhin went for broke then left everyone guessing As with so many episodes in Russias disastrous invasion of Ukraine, it began with grainy smartphone footage of a missile-wrecked Russian military base. The camera panned over burning tree stumps and charred body parts, showing what seemed to be the loss of yet more Russian servicemen on Ukraines frontline, Colin Freeman writes. The video was posted late on Friday night on the Telegram channel of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of Russias Wagner mercenary group. He has posted numerous such gory videos before usually accompanied by a foul-mouthed rant against the generals in Russias defence ministry, whom he blames for botching the war. This time, though, he claimed the missile came not from Ukrainian forces, but from b------ on his own side. And this time, he added, he and his 25,000 fighters had had enough. Read more on this story here. 10:59 AM BST Prigozhin's social media blocked in Russia Yevgeny Prigozhins business page on VKontakte, a Russian social media platform, has been shut down by the Russian authorities. The Concord Group page, which published various statements and announcements by the Wagner chief, currently shows the message: This community has been blocked in compliance with a request from Roskomnadzor. Roskomnadzor is Russias communications watchdog. The VKontakte page for Concord Group, Prigozhin's business that published his various statements and announcements, has been shut down by Russian authorities.https://t.co/Hj9dO2kMM6 pic.twitter.com/RoBQVRYo9r Eliot Higgins (@EliotHiggins) June 25, 2023 10:39 AM BST Russian diplomat flies to Beijing amid Wagner coup Russias deputy foreign minister Andrei Rudenko flew to China for talks on international issues with Beijing, amid a major challenge to political power by the Wagner Group. Mr Rudenko met with Foreign Minister Qin Gang for a meeting in the Chinese capital on Sunday to discuss Sino-Russian relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, Chinas foreign ministry said on its website. It is unclear when Mr Rudenko arrived in Beijing, or whether his visit was in response to the apparent rebellion on Friday. China, a key ally of Russia, has not yet publicly commented on the uprising. 10:28 AM BST Watch: Wagner mutineers turn back from Moscow after striking deal with Putin 10:15 AM BST Wagner uprising suggests Putin has 'lost authority' in Russia, says ex-MI6 officer An uprising by the Wagner group suggests that Vladimir Putin has lost authority in Russia, a former MI6 officer has said. Christopher Steele told Sky News Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: Whats changed I think is that Vladimir Putin has lost authority and legitimacy within Russia and has been challenged in a way, yes hes managed to worm his way out of it for the present. To see events unfold in Russia yesterday and the speed with which the situation seemed to spiral out of control must be very concerning for Putin and the people around him. 10:07 AM BST Kadyrovs Chechen forces pull out of Rostov The Chechen Akhmat special forces are pulling out of Russias Rostov region, state news agency TASS reports. Commander of the special forces unit, Apti Alaudinov, said that some units had been moved from the front line in Ukraine to Rostov to help put down the Wagner armed coup, but they were returning. Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of Chechnya, said on Telegram on Saturday that the situation ended without direct confrontation between his forces and Wagner troops. 09:58 AM BST Inside Rostov-on-Don where Prigozhin and Wagner Group made their base When a helicopter shrieked over the roof of her home at 4am on Saturday, Torya Sporysheva knew a defining day in Russian history had begun, Nataliya Vasilyeva reports. The craft, she was aware, was not the first sign of a Ukrainian force advancing on Rostov, the Russian city 100km from the Ukrainian border where she lives in a quiet residential area. Instead, it was the first sign that Yevgeny Prigohzin had made good on his threats of the previous night, which she had followed obsessively on her phone until she fell asleep. The mercenary leader of the Wagner Group had seized control of her hometown, a wealthy city on the river Don, turning his ire away from Ukraine and back at the state he claimed had betrayed his soldiers on the front. I woke up at about 4 or 5am from an incredible noise: The helicopters were flying over, Ms Sporysheva, a 47-year-old opposition activist, told The Telegraph on Saturday. Read more from our Russia correspondent here. 09:42 AM BST Transport restrictions in Rostov region lifted All transport restrictions in Russias Rostov region have been lifted, including those on highways, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing local officials. Sergey Tyurin, deputy minister of regional policy and mass communications for the Rostov region, was cited as saying: Bus and railway stations are working in normal mode. Tickets are on sale, all destinations are on schedule. 09:34 AM BST Wagner fighters leave Voronezh Wagner fighters were leaving Russias southern Voronezh region Sunday, the local governor said, as he thanked residents for their fortitude and reasonableness in the face of the armed action on Saturday. Voronezh governor, Alexander Gusev, said: The movement of Wagner units through the Voronezh region is ending, It is running normally and without incidents, Mr Gusev added, saying travel restrictions imposed during Saturdays operation against the mutiny will be lifted once the situation is finally resolved. I thank all Voronezh residents for their endurance, fortitude and reasonableness, and all law enforcement agencies and agencies involved for their well-coordinated work and professionalism. 09:27 AM BST Pictured: Today's front page Front Page of the Sunday Telegraph 09:24 AM BST Putin's position getting 'weaker and weaker', says granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev The granddaughter of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev has said that Vladimir Putins position is becoming weaker and weaker, despite being seen as a victor against Yevgeny Prigozhin. Nina Khrushcheva, a professor of international affairs, told Times Radio from Moscow: Some people that I talked to, at least in my building, were saying, well whatever Putin is, at least we dont have a bloody war with rapists and murderers and revolution on our hands. So in some way, at least in the short run, he seems to (have) come out as victor. But he has been weakened. Being a victor in this particular situation doesnt mean that he won... He has been weakened since February 24 2022 when he announced the occupation of Ukraine, the special military operation, as they call it here. But you know, in regular terms...the war is not going well and its clear to everybody that its not going well.... It is (the) calm before the storm and Putins position is getting weaker and weaker. And thats why he will continue to fight because thats the only thing, it seems to me, that keeps him in power. 09:18 AM BST Attempted rebellion 'fundamentally an internal matter', says Treasury minister The attempted rebellion in Russia is an internal matter for Moscow and does not affect the UKs position on Ukraine, a Treasury minister has said. John Glen, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge on Sunday show: It is obviously a very unstable situation in Russia, but it is fundamentally an internal matter. And weve obviously urged, alongside our allies ... that obviously civilian interests are considered. This isnt a matter that we will be intervening in, but obviously we observe and monitor the situation on an ongoing basis very carefully. He added: Nothing has changed with respect to the British Governments position on supporting Ukraine. 08:49 AM BST It will take two days to repair roadway damage from Wagner vehicles, says mayor of Rostov-on-Don The Wagner groups military equipment damaged more than 10,000 square metres of roadway in Rostov-on-Don, Russian state media cites the citys mayor as saying. RIA Novosti reported that the mayor said the roads will be repaired in two days. Wagner forces arrived in Rostov-on-Don in the early hours of Saturday morning, before heading on to Voronezh and towards Moscow. 08:43 AM BST How the world reacted to the Wagner coup The world's front pages on 25 June following an armed mutiny by the Wagner Group (including New York Post, Mainichi Shimbun, El Pais, Corriere Della Sera, The Washington Post, The New York Times) 08:27 AM BST 'Anti-terrorist operation regime' remains in place in Moscow as capital announces day off on Monday An anti-terrorist operation regime was still in force in Moscow on Sunday, a day after mutinous Wagner mercenaries threatened to storm the capital. The anti-terrorist regime was introduced on Saturday, as Prigozhins forces appeared to advance on the capital. Moscow authorities also said that a day off work introduced to curb movement around the city on Monday would remain in place for security reasons. Meanwhile, authorities in the Kaluga region, south of Moscow, said they were starting to lift road restrictions introduced to stop the Wagner rebellion late on Saturday.. 08:19 AM BST What next for Wagner? The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, has said that the agreement brokered by Alexander Lukashenko will very likely eliminate Wagner Group as a Prigozhin-led independent actor in its current form, following Prigozhins attempted coup on Saturday. The think tank said in their analysis: The Lukashenko-brokered deal notably strips Prigozhin of control of Wagner Group in exchange for dropping criminal charges for rebellion and treason. The deal will, if executed as framed by[Kremlin spokesman] Peskov, subordinate some portion of the Wagner Group under the Russian MoD, as Defense Minister Shoigu has long desired. However, it is unclear how the Kremlin will define Wagner personnel as having not participated in the rebellion, and Peskovs announcement does not specify the fate of Wagner personnel who did participate, other than receiving a pardon. These personnel could potentially sign contracts with the MoD on an individual basis; demobilise in Russia (a likely dangerous course of action for Kremlin internal security), travel to Belarus in some capacity, or deploy abroad to support Wagners previous main effort of operations in Africa or the Middle East. 07:39 AM BST Ukraine military leaders running out of popcorn as they followed Prigozhin mutiny Ukrainian military officials were said to be running out of popcorn as they followed the chaos engulfing their adversary and weighed how to take advantage in their counter-offensive, Ben Farmer and Colin Freeman write. Turmoil gripped the Russian regime after Yevgeny Prigozhins mutiny was welcomed in Ukraine, but defence sources also cautioned they had so far seen no corresponding weakening of Russias front lines. We are little-by-little running out of popcorn, Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraines defence minister, told the BBC. Ukrainian officials following the fast-moving developments predicted Mr Prigozhins revolt and his march on Moscow would weaken their enemy, bringing a Ukrainian victory closer and perhaps the fall of Putin. Read more on this story here. 07:30 AM BST Latest MoD intelligence update: Ukrainian forces 'refine tactics' and are making 'gradual but steady' progress Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 25 June 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/H5IDdCZHR4 #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/HasXLi6MAb Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) June 25, 2023 07:15 AM BST Rostov-on-Don appears calm after Wagner troops leave, according to state media The situation around the headquarters of Russias Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don was calm and street traffic resumed, according to footage shared by Russian state media, after Wagner mercenaries left the city. In a video shared by RIA Novosti purportedly from Sunday morning of the streets of Rostov-on-Don, a man was sweeping the street, traffic was moving along the main road and pedestrians were walking around the city. The entrance to the citys circus, where a Wagner tank had been stationed on Saturday, was shown to be empty. The report could not be verified. 07:05 AM BST Pictured: Wagner fighters stand guard in a street near military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don Fighters of Wagner private mercenary group stand guard in a street near the headquarters of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov-on-Don - STRINGER/REUTERS 07:03 AM BST Vladimir Putin receives lukewarm response from allies over 'internal' problem Vladimir Putin received a lukewarm response as he launched a flurry of phone calls to international allies, Nick Allen writes. The Russian president has alienated himself from much of the world following his invasion of Ukraine, and his diplomatic isolation could leave him vulnerable as the internal chaos continues. There was initial silence from Beijing, despite the recent growing closeness of China and Russia. And in public statements, other capitals friendly to Moscow maintained the crisis was an internal problem for Russia, rather than issuing pledges of support for Putin. Read more on this story from Nick Allen here. 06:49 AM BST What do we know about Prigozhin's deal? The key plank of the deal appeared to be the Kremlin dropping plans to abolish the Wagner military company, writes Roland Oliphant. They were going to dismantle PMC Wagner. We came out on June 23 to the march of justice, Prigozhin said in a voice message. In a day, we walked to nearly 200 kilometres away from Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. Now, the moment has come when blood may spill. Thats why we are turning back our convoys and going back to field camps according to the plan. The Kremlin announced later in the evening that Prigozhin had agreed to move to Belarus under the terms of the deal. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman, said criminal charges against him would be dropped. Wagner troops that took part in the rebellion would similarly be spared from prosecution, Mr Peskov said. 06:45 AM BST Russian state TV cuts to caviar programme instead of covering coup Russian state television cut to adverts and broadcast a programme about caviar while the potential coup was going on. The unfolding political and military crisis was covered but viewers were given official statements, including from Vladimir Putin, and told that the situation was calm. State television broadcast that Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin had launched an armed rebellion. And it showed footage of Wagner troops in Rostov, the Russian city of one million people near the Ukraine border that Mr Prigozhin said his forces had taken. Read the full story 06:40 AM BST Highway restrictions in Moscow Traffic restrictions remained on the M-4 Don major expressway in the Moscow and Tula regions on Sunday, the Federal Road Agency said. According to earlier decisions made in the regions, the restriction of traffic along the M-4 in the Tula and Moscow regions remains in place, the agency said. Heavily armed Russian mercenaries who had advanced most of the way to Moscow on Saturday then halted their approach, de-escalating a major challenge to President Vladimir Putins grip on power, in a move their leader said would avoid bloodshed. 05:33 AM BST US agencies briefed politicians on possible uprising A Wagner Group vehicle during the departure preparations in Rostov. - Anadolu The US had intelligence that Yevgeny Prigozhin was building up his Wagner forces near the border with Russia for some time. Officials briefed congressional leaders known as the Gang of Eight on the buildup earlier last week, a person familiar with the matter told the Associated Press. The US intelligence briefing was first reported by CNN. Other US media reported US spy agencies picked up signs days ago of the possible uprising. Intelligence officials conducted briefings at the White House, the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill about the potential for unrest in nuclear-armed Russia a full day before it unfolded, the Washington Post and New York Times reported. Spy agencies first began tracking indications that Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary force intended to move against the Russian military leadership in mid-June, the Post said. The NY Times said the information was both solid and alarming by mid-week, leading to the flurry of briefings. As US intelligence officials pinned down information that Prigozhin was preparing military action, they grew concerned about chaos in a country with a powerful nuclear arsenal, the Times reported. US spy agencies believe that Vladimir Putin himself was informed that Prigozhin, once a close ally, was plotting his rebellion at least a day before it occurred, the Post reported. The military preparations raise questions about Prigozhins explanation for why he seemingly spontaneously sent his forces into Russia and whether he had instead long been planning a challenge to Russias military leadership. Wagner troops have played a crucial role in the Ukraine war, capturing the eastern city of Bakhmut, an area where the bloodiest and longest battles have taken place. But Prigozhin has increasingly criticised the military brass, accusing it of incompetence and of starving his troops of munitions. Russian media reported late on Saturday that several helicopters and a military communications plane were downed by Wagner troops during the short-lived uprising. Prigozhin previously said his forces had taken control of the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, as well as other military facilities in the city without any deaths or even a single gunshot. ALSO READ: Prigozhins attempted coup will change Russia forever 04:47 AM BST Wagner paramilitaries have left Rostov, says governor Members of the Wagner Group in their vehicle on a street in Rostov-on-Don as they prepare to leave the area - AP By early Sunday, Yevgeny Prigozhins Wagner Group had pulled fighters and equipment from Rostov-on-Don, where they had seized the military headquarters, according to the governor in that southern Russian region about 600 miles south of Moscow. But before they left, dozens of residents were cheering and chanting Wagner! Wagner! outside the military headquarters they had captured, AFP reported. Authorities in the southern Lipetsk region announced the lifting of restrictions after earlier reporting Wagner fighters in their territory, where the local capital is 260 miles south of Moscow. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said he had negotiated a truce with Prigozhin, drawing thanks from Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later told reporters that the criminal case against him (Prigozhin) will be dropped. He himself will go to Belarus. Mr Peskov also said that members of Wagner who had taken part in what authorities termed an armed rebellion would not be prosecuted Avoiding bloodshed, internal confrontation, and clashes with unpredictable results was the highest goal, Mr Peskov said. ALSO READ: A full timeline of the Wagner rebellion 03:44 AM BST Intelligence community 'super-focused' on nuclear stockpile security In this image from video, a man sits atop an armoured vehicle in a street in Rostov on Saturday. The Wagner rebels claimed to control the city then - APTN Images of tanks on Russian streets on Saturday raised concerns about the security of the nuclear arsenal and the possibility of a rogue commander stealing a warhead, said former US intelligence officials. The IC (intelligence community) will be super-focused on the (Russian) nuclear stockpile, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA officer who oversaw the agencys clandestine operations in Europe and Eurasia. You want to know who has control of the nuclear weapons because youre worried that terrorists or bad guys like (Chechen leader Ramzan) Kadyrov might come after them for the leverage they can get, said Daniel Hoffman, a former senior CIA officer who served as the agencys Moscow station chief. Mr Kadyrov dispatched thousands of his own militiamen to Rostov-on-Don, the southern city seized and then abandoned by Yevgeny Prigozhins fighters, vowing to help put down the revolt. US officials say they do not see an immediate threat to the security of Russias strategic and tactical weapons. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the deal that sent Wagner fighters back to their camps was aimed at avoiding confrontation and bloodshed. We have not seen any changes in the disposition of Russian nuclear forces, said a National Security Council spokesperson in response to questions from Reuters. Russia has a special responsibility to maintain command, control, and custody of its nuclear forces and to ensure that no actions are taken that imperil strategic stability. But the safety of these weapons is a persistent worry for Washington. US intelligence agencies said in their 2023 Annual Threat assessment that Russias nuclear material security ... remains a concern despite improvements to material protection, control, and accounting at Russias nuclear sites since the 1990s. A congressional aide noted that the Kremlin has pumped extra resources into modernising its arsenal in recent years, adding that, Russias strategic forces have generally been in shipshape. ALSO READ: The Kremlin must not be allowed to drag the entire world into nuclear Armageddon 03:28 AM BST Moscovites 'thinking about what might happen' Security measures in Moscow on Saturday - Boris Alekseev/Anadolu One Moscow resident who gave his name as Nikolai declining like others to give his surname - had watched the military take up positions to protect the city. Its frightening of course. You sit at home thinking about what might happen, he told Reuters. Its disturbing, both for you and your loved ones. Some Moscow residents found it hard to grasp the scale of events on Saturday. Its really tough news, really unexpected. Ive just come back from university. Ive just done my last exam and the news was really unexpected as I was prepping (for the exam) last night, said Vladimir, a student. I dont really know how to react. I havent really got my head around it yet. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, had declared that a counter-terrorism regime was in force, before the leader of the Wagner private militia announced that his fighters would turn back to avoid bloodshed. In Kyivs Independence Square, packed with residents enjoying a stroll, Natalia Tanich, 48, acknowledged a certain pleasure in watching the Russian standoff. I enjoy what is happening in Russia. The inevitable conflict between Prigozhin and Putin was expected, she said. I dont know what may come out of it. But I wish for them to shoot each other and die. In Moscow a woman called Galina said she thought what was happening was some kind of provocation. It doesnt frighten me at all, she said. I have confidence in our president and our people. One man who declined to be named at all said he thought it was just politics playing out. They might cancel a few events, and I make my living from events. I have an event going on now, so I could lose out because of this, he said. But otherwise, its their business, its politics let them get on with it. 03:10 AM BST Zelensky says revolt shows need for allies to support Ukraine forces President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted after the rebellion ended that Ukraine will definitely be able to protect Europe from any Russian forces, and it doesnt matter who commands them, adding the security of Europes eastern flank depends only on our defence. He said the longer this person [Vladimir Putin] is in the Kremlin, the more disasters there will be. Today, the world saw that the bosses of Russia do not control anything. Nothing at all. Complete chaos. Complete absence of any predictability. First, the world should not be afraid. We know what protects us. Our unity. Ukraine will definitely be able to protect Europe from any (@ZelenskyyUa) June 24, 2023 02:50 AM BST Ukraine claims battlefield gains during rebellion The insurrection left the situation for Russias invasion force in Ukraine more uncertain as Kyiv continues its strongest counteroffensive since the war began in February last year. Ukraines military said on Saturday its forces made advances near Bakhmut, on the eastern front, and further south, Reuters reported. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said an offensive was launched near a group of villages ringing Bakhmut, which was taken by Wagner forces in May after months of fighting. Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the southern front, said Ukrainian forces had liberated an area near Krasnohorivka, west of the Russian-held regional centre of Donetsk. He said the area had been under Russian control since separatist forces backed by Moscow seized it in 2014. 01:33 AM BST Full report: Mutineers turn back from Moscow Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary leader, turned his fighters back from a march on the Kremlin on Saturday after a truce was struck with Vladimir Putin. Mutinous Wagner mercenaries marched to within 150 miles of Moscow in what the Russian president described as a treasonous stab in the back before they abruptly halted. The stand-down came after Alexander Lukashenko, the dictator of Belarus, said he had brokered a last-minute truce to avoid a Russian civil war. The key plank of the deal appeared to be the Kremlin dropping plans to abolish the Wagner military company. They were going to dismantle PMC Wagner. We came out on June 23 to the march of justice, Prigozhin said in a voice message. In a day, we walked to nearly 200 kilometres away from Moscow. In this time, we did not spill a single drop of blood of our fighters. Now, the moment has come when blood may spill. Thats why we are turning back our convoys and going back to field camps according to the plan. Read more: Wagner mutineers turn back from Moscow after striking deal with Putin 12:58 AM BST Today's top stories Good morning and welcome to our live blog of the developing situation in Russia. Here is the latest news: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary leader, turned his fighters back from a march on the Kremlin on Saturday after a truce was struck with Vladimir Putin Wagner mercenaries marched to within 150 miles of Moscow in what the Russian president described as a treasonous stab in the back The Kremlin announced on Saturday evening that Prigozhin had agreed to move to Belarus under the terms of the truce and criminal charges against him will be dropped Western leaders held an emergency consultation and said they were monitoring the situation Russian state television cut to adverts and broadcast a programme about caviar while the potential coup was going on Putin received a lukewarm response as he launched a flurry of phone calls to international allies Ukrainian military officials were said to be running out of popcorn as they followed the chaos engulfing their adversary 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. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the aborted insurrection by the private Wagner group exposed 'real cracks' in the rule of President Vladimir Putin, but America's top diplomat said it was too early to say how the crisis will play out (SAMUEL CORUM) Russia's crisis involving a mercenary group's aborted revolt against the Kremlin exposed "real cracks" in President Vladimir Putin's rule, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday. The uprising by the armed Wagner group and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin over the weekend, with Prigozhin's private military rushing towards Moscow before they were called off in a stunning development for nuclear-armed Russia, marked "a direct challenge to Putin's authority," Blinken told CBS News talk show "Face the Nation." "So this raises profound questions, it shows real cracks," the top American diplomat said. The remarks were the first public declarations about the crisis by the United States, which over the past 24 hours had been intensively engaged in consultations with European allies on the revolt. Blinken, making the rounds on multiple Sunday talk shows, said it was too early to speculate on the impact of the rebellion, either on the Kremlin or on the war in Ukraine. But he deemed it an "extraordinary" series of events, in which a close Putin ally -- who sent his private mercenaries into Ukraine to undertake some of the most brutal fighting of the war -- rapidly turned against Russia's leader and threatened the very center of power in the Kremlin. While 16 months ago Russian forces were on Kyiv's doorstep, "now, over this weekend, they've had to defend Moscow, Russia's capital, against mercenaries of Putin's own making," Blinken told ABC News show "This Week." He said the Prigozhin drama has shown just how deep of a "failure" the invasion of Ukraine has been for Russia, and how much Putin, whose grip on power had appeared absolute in recent years, is "being challenged from within." "Prigozhin... has raised profound questions about the very premises of Russia's aggression against Ukraine in the first place, saying that Ukraine or NATO did not pose a threat to Russia, which is part of Putin's narrative." Putin on Saturday accused Prigozhin of treason and vowed tough punishment, but then accepted an amnesty deal in which the Wagner chief would avoid prosecution and leave for neighboring Belarus. Blinken said that Moscow being "distracted" over the revolt may "help the Ukrainians on the battlefield" in the midst of Kyiv's counteroffensive against Russian forces. But "we can't speculate" on how the Wagner crisis will play out in Russia, he said. Washington's former ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul, said the deal struck with Prigozhin is "embarrassing" for Putin, noting how crowds of people cheered Wagner troops as they took the streets of some Russian cities. Such scenes will be "very striking to Putin and Kremlin officials" because "now there's a real opposition candidate who's not in jail," McFaul told MSNBC. "And I just can't imagine that Prigozhin is going to sit on the sidelines." mlm/nro (Bloomberg) -- An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said there have been no indications the Wagner mercenary group is retreating from conflict areas in the country after its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin agreed to go into exile. Most Read from Bloomberg Russian officials met key partners, including in China, a day after Prigozhin halted his advance toward Moscow. That sudden turnaround defused the biggest threat to President Vladimir Putins almost quarter-century grip on power. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the uprising posed a direct challenge to the Russian president, and Australia offered a fresh package of aid to Kyiv that included vehicles and ammunition. In a deal to end the revolt, Putin guaranteed that Prigozhin would be allowed to leave for Belarus and authorities would drop criminal mutiny charges against him and his fighters. Latest Coverage Putin Faces Historic Threat to Absolute Grip on Power in Russia Blinken Says Wagner Uprising Is Direct Challenge to Putin China Backs Russian National Stability Move as Diplomats Meet Silence Cloaks Kremlin After Russian Mutiny Against Putin Russias Descent Into Chaos Marks a Good Day for Ukraine What Is Russias Wagner Group and Why Was It Accused of Mutiny? All times are CET Oil Fluctuates, Markets Calm (5:26 a.m.) Oil fluctuated as investors weighed the potential for more civil unrest in Russia after the dramatic but short-lived rebellion in the major OPEC+ producer. Elsewhere in global markets there were few signs of alarm, with stocks posting modest gains and currency trading mixed. West Texas Intermediate traded near $69 a barrel and Brent was steady after both benchmarks pared earlier gains of more than 1%. Russia is a key producer of the OPEC+ coalition, along with Saudi Arabia, and any prolonged turmoil in the nation could reverberate through global oil markets. Shares of Russian aluminum producer United Co. Rusal International PJSC fell as much as 2.9% in Hong Kong before paring losses on Monday. Australia to Provide Aid Package to Kyiv (4:27 a.m.) Australia said it would provide a package of aid valued at about $74 million to Ukraine in response to its request for vehicles and ammunition. The assistance includes 28 M113 armored vehicles and 14 special operations vehicles, the government said. Australia Pressured to Use Russia War Windfall to Help Ukraine China Backs Russian National Stability (2:12 a.m.) China said it supports Russias actions to maintain national stability in a brief statement by a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, who described the weekends events as Russias internal affair. The statement came after Foreign Minister Qin Gang met in Beijing with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko. It expanded on an earlier comment from Beijing that the pair had exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest. The latest events in Russia were covered by Chinese state media, with the Peoples Daily and CCTV both running stories as the news developed. Global Times published an article by former editor-in-chief Hu Xijin analyzing what scenarios the uprising could lead to, including regime change. China Backs Russian National Stability as Diplomats Meet Wagner Group Remains in Luhansk, Adviser Says (1:30 a.m.) Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraines president, said hes not seeing any exodus of Wagners group from the Luhansk region, where its main forces are concentrated. My understanding is that they havent completed initial tasks and agreements yet and they dont have a vision of new logistics, he said in an interview with Bloomberg. Podolyak added theres a need to wait and assess possible changes in Russias military, as the Wagners group was really much more aggressive and competent on the battlefields, compared to Russias army. Give Them a Day Off, Russian Ministry Advises (10:08 p.m.) Russias Ministry of Digital Development recommended that employers of IT, telecom and media workers give them a day off on Monday because Saturday when mercenary leader Prigozhin marched toward Moscow was a very emotional and stressful day. Many ministry employees spent the weekend at their workplace, so we also made this decision for our employees, the Moscow-based department said on the VKontakte social media forum. Biden, Zelenskiy Discuss Wagner Mutiny (9:33 p.m.) Zelenskiy said he discussed a further expansion of defense cooperation with Joe Biden in a phone call Sunday, including air defense and long-range weapons. The world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored, Zelenskiy said on his Twitter account. A White House readout said the US and Ukrainian presidents discussed support for Ukraine, and the countrys offensive to retake Russian-occupied areas. Biden reaffirmed unwavering US support and the leaders also discussed recent events in Russia. Macron Says Russian Fragility on Display (7:25 p.m.) French President Emmanuel Macron said the turmoil in Russia should make us very vigilant, according to an interview with La Provence. He also said it fully justifies the support we are giving the Ukrainians in their resistance. Prigozhins now-halted march on Moscow highlights divisions in Russia as well as the fragility of its armed forces and of auxiliary forces such as Wagner Group, Macron was quoted as saying. Lukashenko Had Another Call With Putin, Belta Says (5:20 p.m.) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko talked with Putin on Sunday morning, the Belarusian state news agency Belta reported without providing details about the call, the pairs second in as many days. There was no confirmation from Russian official sources about the call. Lukashenko also had a phone call with former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to discuss the situation in the region, Belta said in the same statement. Blinken Says Uprising Poses Direct Challenge to Putin (3:18 p.m.) Blinken said the Wagner groups revolt was a direct challenge to Putins authority, and the US is focused on supporting Ukraine in its war to drive out Russian forces. This raises profound questions. It shows real cracks, Blinken said Sunday on CBSs Face the Nation. We cant speculate or know exactly where thats going to go. We do know that Putin has a lot more to answer for in the weeks and months ahead. This is an unfolding story. We havent seen the last act, Blinken said, adding that US intelligence hasnt seen any change in Russias nuclear posture amid the crisis. Moscow Exchange to Work as Usual on Monday (1:40 p.m.) Russias central bank said trading will take place as normal Monday on the Moscow Exchange, even after authorities in the capital declared Monday a non-working day. Financial organizations will continue to provide key functions, the Bank of Russia said in a website statement. North Korea Backs Putins Move on Mutiny (1:30 p.m.) Im Chon Il, North Koreas vice foreign minister, told Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora he hopes the rebellion in Russia would be successfully put down. The DPRK supports any decision taken by the Russian leadership, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. Wagner Forces Leave Lipetsk, Voronezh Regions (12:49 p.m.) Members of the Wagner group left the two regions, local authorities said, according to RIA Novosti news agency. They were said to be headed back to their camps at unspecified locations. Road Blocks Dismantled on Highways Leading to Moscow (10:20 a.m.) All blockages on the roads leading to Moscow are being removed, the Moscow administration reported, citing the Federal Road Agency. Monday still remains a non-working day for most Muscovites. Russian, Ukrainian Troops Vie for Upper Hand, UK Says (8:40 a.m.) Russian troops are attempting to advance in Ukraines east, including around Bakhmut, while also looking to quash Kyivs counteroffensive in the southern Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in an update. Ukrainian forces have reset in recent days and are using the experiences from the first two weeks of the counteroffensive to refine tactics for assaulting the deep, well prepared Russian defenses, the UK defense ministry said. In Luhansk, Kremlin forces have made their own significant effort to launch an attack in the Serebryanka Forest near Kremina. This probably reflects continued Russian senior leadership orders to go on the offensive whenever possible, the ministry said on Twitter, adding that Ukrainian forces have prevented a breakthrough so far. Italy Says Peace in Ukraine Now More Likely (8:03 a.m.) Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said events in Russia showed that its front in Ukraine is weaker, telling Messaggero in an interview that he hopes a peace deal in Ukraine is now closer. Putin is not a myth anymore, he said. US Suspected Prigozhin Was Ready to Act, NYT Reports (8 a.m.) US intelligence agencies briefed senior military and administration officials on Wednesday that Prigozhin was preparing to take action against senior Russian defense officials, the New York Times reported, citing officials it didnt identify. The agencies kept silent about Prigozhins plans, the information about which was considered both solid and alarming, because they felt that if they said anything, Putin could accuse them of orchestrating a coup, the NYT said. A narrow group of Congressional leaders was briefed on Thursday as additional confirmation of the plot became known, the newspaper reported. Kazakh Leader Welcomes Resolution of Events (8 a.m.) Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed the measures taken by the Russian authorities to restore constitutional order and ensure the safety of their citizens. (An earlier version corrected Blinkens first name.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Russia shells five-storey building in Kherson, dead and injured said under rubble Ukrainian military Russian invading troops killed a man, 44, in a shelling attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson overnight on June 25, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said in a post on his channel on Telegram. A woman remains under the rubble in the five-storey building. "One of the shells exploded right in the middle of the room," the governor said. Other buildings and possessions of their owners were damaged in the attack, he added. The Kherson Oblast Prosecutors Office reported that the shelling was conducted at around 3.20 a.m. on June 25. Preliminary, it was an artillery attack against the peaceful city, prosecutors said. Russian invasion troops regularly shell civilian residential areas in Ukrainian oblasts close to Russian territory or Russian-occupied territory, including Chernihiv, Sumy Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts. Read also: Russian forces shell seven villages in Sumy Oblast, casualties reported The International Criminal Court recently announced that it was opening two war crimes cases against Russia, one of which concerns illegal attacks on civilian infrastructure. Russia claims to have annexed Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson oblasts, but it does not have complete control over any of them. It lost control of the city of Kherson the only major Ukrainian regional center it managed to capture in its full-scale invasion in early November last year, and has so far been forced to retreat from small parts of Zhytomyr Oblast, and parts of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy Kharkiv, Luhansk and Kherson oblasts. About 18% of Ukraines internationally recognized territory remains under Russian occupation including Ukraines Crimea and the parts of the Donbas that were invaded by Russia in 2014. The Kremlin falsely declared it had annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 but this claim has only been recognized by a handful of the worlds rogue and pariah states. 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 BEIJING (Reuters) -China supports Russia in maintaining its national stability, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Sunday, a day after an aborted mutiny by the Wagner group of heavily armed mercenaries. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko held talks in Beijing on "international" issues on Sunday following the most serious challenge to President Vladimir Putin's grip on power since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. "The Chinese side expressed support for the efforts of the leadership of the Russian Federation to stabilise the situation in the country in connection with the events of June 24 and confirmed its interest in strengthening the cohesion and further prosperity of Russia," the Russian foreign ministry said. China's foreign ministry initially said only that Rudenko had exchanged views with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Sino-Russian relations as well as "international and regional issues of common concern". It later said China supports Russia in maintaining its national stability and that the recent escalation in tensions in Russia was Russia's "internal affairs". It was unclear when Rudenko arrived in Beijing, or whether his visit to China, a key ally of Russia, was in response to the apparent rebellion led by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The mutiny was aborted on Saturday in a deal that spared Prigozhin and his mercenaries from facing criminal charges in return for Prigozhin pulling his fighters back to base and moving to Belarus. CHINA SILENCE China earlier made no comment on the rebellion that Putin said threatened Russia's very existence while Western leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden said they were closely monitoring the situation. "China will support Russia while stressing no interference of its internal affairs," prominent Chinese military expert and TV commentator Song Zhongping told Reuters. "Prigozhin realises that it is difficult to achieve the desired results through this rebellion." Prigozhin had said his "march" on Moscow was intended to remove corrupt and incompetent commanders he blames for botching the war in Ukraine. The rebellion has been closely followed by Chinese media, which has largely refrained from comment ahead of any official remarks. But Chinese state-controlled Global Times said on Saturday that hyping up the "mutiny" of Prigozhin and creating an "illusion" Russia has many internal contradictions and "the building is collapsing" amounted to the latest attack by Western media and another attempt to undermine Russian social unity. Many Chinese citizens expressed support for Putin on social media. "You can do it, Russia!" multiple social media posts read. China's Embassy in Russia told Chinese media outlet Southern Metropolis Daily on Saturday that the region around Moscow was calm. (Reporting by Ryan Woo, Beijing newsroom and Alexander Marrow in London; Editing by Tom Hogue, Christopher Cushing and Philippa Fletcher) "That's all, guys, Glory to Ukraine": Russian invaders kill two teenage Ukrainian partisans in Berdiansk Russian collaborator Vladimir Rogov, who leads the occupation administration in the occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has announced the killing of two Ukrainian partisans. Source: Rogov on Telegram; Berdiansk Today, an independent media resource created to cover the events in Berdiansk; Media Initiative for Human Rights and their coordinator Olga Reshetylova on Facebook; Magnolia Child Tracing Service Details: The occupiers have claimed to have killed two teenagers, whom they call "terrorists and militants". Quote: "Details of the shooting in Berdiansk: two pro-Ukrainian terrorists have been killed. At about 19:00, when the population was resting with their families on the city embankment, two militants opened fire from machine guns. As a result of the coordinated and operational actions of law enforcement agencies, the terrorists were stopped and killed." More details: Rogov also said that one of the dead was Tihran Ohannisian, who had previously been detained for anti-Russian activities. The Berdiansk Today Telegram channel reported that the information about the murder of Tihran is most likely true. Updated: Human rights activists are trying to understand what really happened. According to their data, the teenagers cases were investigated in occupied Berdiansk, and the occupying Russian authorities decided to take the cases to court. Investigators put pressure on the boys and their relatives. A video appeared on social media, apparently recorded by Tyhran. He is wearing a machine gun and tactical gloves. Ohannisian apparently reports that they had killed two Russian occupiers. In the video, he says: "Two for sure, that's death, guys. Farewell! Glory to Ukraine!" Reshetylova said that a few days ago, an investigator came to pick up the boys with an armed convoy, but they managed to escape. She said that on the day before the murder, the boys had reported to the occupation police. Half an hour before the investigator called to tell the parents that the boys had been killed, Tyhran's mother talked to him. Tyhran was calm, saying that they were walking with Mykyta and thinking about how to celebrate Mykyta's birthday. Mykyta would have turned 17 today, 25 June. The coordinator emphasises that there are many inconsistencies in facts, time, and clothing. Quote from Reshetylova: "The parents have not yet seen the bodies of the boys. Instead, relatives have been tortured with interrogations and searches since yesterday evening (24 June ed.). This gives grounds to question the main version of the Russian investigative committee about the attack on the police officers. At least the parents of Tyhran and Mykyta believe that this whole shootout and the death video were staged to kill the boys." Background: On 24 May 2034, two teenagers, Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov, both aged around 17, were charged by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied city of Berdiansk for allegedly preparing sabotage on the railway. They faced imprisonment for a term of 10 to 20 years. The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the actions of the Russian entities that had used torture and initiated criminal proceedings against Ukrainian teenagers Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian military sees almost 5,000 casualties in one week of Ukrainian offensive Destroyed Russian BMP-3 (archive photo) Russia continues to suffer staggering losses in its unprovoked war against Ukraine, losing almost 5,000 troops during the second week of fighting in Ukraines counter-offensive against invading Russian forces, a senior Ukrainian army officer has said. The First Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, reported in a Telegram post on Russia's losses during the week of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive from June 19 to 25. During this period, the Ukrainian Defense Forces killed approximately 4,810 enemy troops and 692 pieces of weapons and military equipment, Pavliuk said. Read also: Ukrainian counteroffensive seeing notable success on southern front, says military In particular, the Russian occupation army lost: 46 tanks; 77 armored combat vehicles; 77 armored vehicles 187 artillery systems; 14 multiple launcher rocket systems; 21 air defense systems; 164 vehicles; 30 units of special equipment. Ukrainian defenders also shot down four helicopters, 48 enemy missiles and 101 unmanned aerial vehicles over the week. According to Ukraines General Staff, since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, as of the morning of June 25, Russia has lost more than 224,000 of its soldiers, including 720 troops killed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces over the past day. Read also: Ukraine can deploy 75% more forces for counteroffensive retired officer 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 Wagnerites in Rostov Some Russian internet providers made the Google News aggregator platform unavailable during a march by rebel Wagner mercenaries towards Moscow on June 24, the NetBlocks watchdog organization said on Twitter. A NetBlocks analysis of visit metrics shows that at least five major Russian internet providers, including Rostelecom, U-LAN and Telpus, blocked the Google News service on June 23 and 24. "Confirmed: Metrics show that the Google News aggregator platform has become unavailable for many users in Russia; the incident comes amid heightened tensions between the Wagner paramilitary group and Moscow," the message reads. NetBlocks is an online open service that monitors cybersecurity and the digital governance of connectivity on the Internet. Read also: Prigozhin vows to end Shoigu, FSB charges Wagner with inciting insurrection updated Wagner mercenary company chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced his "march on Moscow" and an armed rebellion against Russian Ministry of Defence in the evening on June 23, allegedly following a Russian Air Force attack on Wagner troops and "civilians." The conflict had run its course by the evening of June 24, when Prigozhin left Rostov-on-Don, where his fighters had seized all main city military objects. Upon his agreement with Putin, he ordered to stop his mercenaries march on Moscow and all units were ordered to return to combat positions. The self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mediated in the talks between Putin and Prigozhin, according to the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The Kremlin pledged to drop all charges against Prigozhin, whose whereabouts are now unknown. He is thought to have left for Belarus, in line with the deal struck with the Kremlin. 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 plume of smoke rises from a building following reported Russian air strikes on Syria's northwestern rebel-held Idlib province (Abdulaziz KETAZ) Russian air strikes Sunday on Syria's northwest killed at least 11 people including seven civilians, in retaliation for deadly drone attacks blamed on rebel forces, a war monitor said. "Six civilians were killed in Jisr al-Shughur and three rebel fighters were killed nearby by Russian air strikes," Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. Ahmed Yezidi of the civil defence in Jisr al-Shughur, a city in rebel-held Idlib province, said the strikes killed nine people, without specifying whether fighters were included in the toll. A fruit and vegetable market in the city was hit by the Russian strike, said the Observatory and an AFP correspondent at the scene. Yezidi called it "a direct attack on the popular market, which is a basic source of income for farmers" in the area. One civilian and one rebel fighter were also killed in a strike on the outskirts of Idlib city, said Abdel Rahman, whose Britain-based monitor has a wide network of sources inside war-torn Syria. At least 30 civilians were wounded in Sunday's strikes, he said, adding that the death toll was likely to rise. Russian forces, which back the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, were responding to rebel drone strikes over the past week that killed four civilians including two children, according to Abdel Rahman. Damascus, with Russian and Iranian support, has clawed back much of the ground lost in the early stages of Syria's conflict, which erupted in 2011 when the government brutally repressed pro-democracy protests. The last pocket of armed opposition to the regime includes large swathes of Idlib province and parts of the neighbouring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, headed by ex-members of Syria's former Al-Qaeda franchise, is the dominant group in the area but other rebel groups are also active, with varying degrees of Turkish backing. Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and forced around half of the country's pre-war population from their homes. str-aya/ami A plume of smoke rises following the reported Russian air strike on Syria's rebel-held Idlib province (Abdulaziz KETAZ) Russian air strikes killed at least 13 people in rebel-held northwest Syria on Sunday, the deadliest attack on the country this year, a war monitor said. At least nine civilians, including two children, were among the dead, with most killed at a fruit and vegetable market in Jisr al-Shugur in the Idlib region. "These Russian strikes are the deadliest in Syria this year and amount to a massacre," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Russian forces which back President Bashar al-Assad's regime were responding to rebel drone strikes over the past week that killed four civilians including two children, according to the Observatory. Saad Fato, 35, a labourer who survived the strike on the market, told AFP he helped efforts to try to rescue the wounded. "Russians shells rained on us," he said, recounting that he was unloading tomatoes and cucumbers at the time of the attack. "It was indescribable, seeing the dead, the wounded," he said, his hands still covered with their blood. An AFP correspondent at the scene saw plumes of black smoke rising from the site and ambulances, their sirens wailing, rushing the wounded from the market to hospital. The Syrian Defence Ministry said in a statement Sunday evening that its armed forces had "cooperated" with the Russian air force in retaliation for attacks over the past few days that killed civilians in Hama and Latakia provinces. The operation targeted "terrorist positions" in Idlib province, killing dozens and destroying arms depots and drones, said the statement carried by Syria's official news agency SANA. - 'Direct attack' - Six civilians died in Jisr al-Shughur and three rebel fighters were killed nearby by Russian air strikes, said Abdel Rahman, whose group relies on a network of sources inside Syria. Another three civilians, including two children, and one rebel fighter were killed in a strike on the outskirts of Idlib city, said Abdel Rahman. That fighter was a member of the Turkistan Islamic Party, a Uyghur-dominated jihadist group, he said, adding that the parents of the dead children also belonged to that group. At least 30 civilians were wounded in Sunday's strikes, said Abdel Rahman, who added that the death toll was likely to rise. Ahmed Yazigi of the civil defence in Jisr al-Shughur earlier reported that the strikes killed nine people, without specifying whether the toll included fighters. Yazigi called the assault "a direct attack on the popular market which provides a basic source of income for farmers". Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and forced around half of the country's pre-war population from their homes. The Assad regime, with Russian and Iranian support, has clawed back much of the ground lost early in Syria's conflict which erupted in 2011 when it brutally repressed pro-democracy protests. Russia has over the years repeatedly struck Syria's last pocket of armed opposition to the regime in the northwest. But deadly attacks on civilians had been limited so far this year until the latest Russian strikes. On Saturday, a Russian airstrike killed two civilians in the Idlib region. str-aya/fz/hkb/it It was estimated that in Rostov-on-Don alone, the mercenaries of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) damaged over 10,000 square metres of roadway on 24 June. Source: Alexei Logvinenko, Mayor of Rostov-on-Don, quoted by Russian state-owned news agency RBK Quote: "After the units of Wagner PMC left the city, road services began their work. Experts conducted a survey of the roads along which ran the path of military equipment. According to preliminary data, over 10,000 square metres of roadway was damaged." Reference: Mercenaries of the Wagner PMC deployed armoured vehicles on civilian roads, and at that time the Russian army attacked them with military aircraft. The Russian authorities themselves destroyed roads in Moscow Oblast in order to stop the movement of Wagner terrorists. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! In the Bilohirsk District of Crimea, Russian security forces detained three Crimean Tatars for participating in a convoy with Crimean Tatar flags. Source: OVD-Info Live, Crimean Solidarity Details: Cars with Crimean Tatar flags attracted the attention of police officers the Russian police detained Rustem Kurnosov, Enver Useinov and Ebabil Ibragimov. The reason was participation in a convoy with flags the activists would climb the rock with them. The men were taken to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Department in the Bilohirsk District. Ibragimov was released after giving explanations, the other two continued to be held in the Department. Later it became known that reports were drawn up on Kurnosov and Useinov under the "arrest" article on organising an uncoordinated event. According to Crimean Solidarity, a convoy of several cars was heading to the foot of Bila Skelia, its participants intended to make an ascent with Crimean Tatar flags. "The cars were driving one after the other, but only two carried flags. There were no slogans or appeals during the movement. They took everyone's statements on the spot, then a police officer got into a car and accompanied them to the regional department in Bilohirsk," one of the activists said in a comment to Crimean Solidarity. Later, the Bilohirsk District Court found the Crimean Tatars guilty of "holding a public event without submitting a notice of holding a public event following the established procedure" and imposed a fine of 20,000 roubles [US$ 160.86]. Note: On 26 June, the day of the Crimean Tatar flag is celebrated. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Wagnerites in Rostov Amid the armed rebellion in Russia by Wagner mercenary company leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russians are actively buying air tickets for destinations abroad, Russian news outlet Baza reported on June 24. And with demand to travel, prices have gone up, and some flights are sold out. Currently, the price of a flight to Yerevan has jumped to 200,000 rubles (about $2,400). Reportedly, there are no tickets left on sale for direct flights from Moscow to Istanbul, Astana, and Tbilisi. Moreover, there are practically no tickets left with transfers to these destinations. At the same time, a direct flight to Yerevan will cost 198,000 rubles ($2,340), while previously a ticket to this destination cost about 10,000 rubles (about $120). Flights to Antalya are still available, but their price has increased from 20,000 rubles ($240) to 68,000 rubles ($800). Read also: Prigozhin vows to end Shoigu, FSB charges Wagner with inciting insurrection updated Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on June 23 declared war on the Russian Defense Ministry after an alleged attack by the Russian army on his mercenaries military camp. The attack came against the background of his long-standing feud with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to media reports, Wagner mercenaries took control of Russian military facilities in Rostov and Voronezh on June 24. Prigozhin demands access to Russias top military leadership, threatening to advance towards Moscow. In his address on June 24, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said that the military had received an order to neutralize those who organized the insurrection. Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence reported that preparations are being made for a siege against the background of PMC Wagner's actions in Moscow military equipment is being brought there, the Russian capital city is practically isolated by security forces. 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 Russians have wounded a man, attacked other settlements, and damaged houses, a gas pipeline and a power line in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Quote: "Another night of war... Another night that was not without its victims. A 47-year-old man has been injured as a result of an enemy attack in Nikopol. He has a mine-blast injury. Multiple shrapnel wounds. Three private houses and a gas pipeline were damaged in the city." Details: In addition, the Russians also fired with heavy artillery at the Marhanets hromada [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories ed.] in Nikopol region. The aftermath of the attack is being assessed. In addition, the Russian forces fired 20 rounds of ammunition in the Synelnykove district, in particular in the Velykomykhailivka hromada. A power line was damaged as a result of the bombardment. Some settlements have been left without power. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Johanna Martinezmoles had an ominous feeling someone would try to vandalize her rainbow-colored Pride flag when she first placed it last year outside her Antelope home. She said she knows raising a flag to show she and her family are allies to the LGBTQ+ community would unintentionally become a lightning rod to criticism from the intolerant, even in their Sacramento County suburban neighborhood. So it came with little surprise this year to Martinezmoles when her home became the target of vandalism, which is now being investigated as a hate crime. Her familys Pride flags have been yanked from the small flag installation just outside her front door three times in the past year; burned twice in an intimidating manner. But it hasnt stopped the Martinezmoles family from placing a symbol or message of inclusiveness and tolerance in front of their home this month during LGBTQ+ Pride Month. You do not want to risk the safety of your family or your house, Martinezmoles said. But you also dont want to back down to bullies. You dont want to back down to hate. Her home was most recently targeted on June 7. That same week, Pride flags were taken down and burned at two other Antelope homes in the area, said Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a Sacramento County Sheriffs Office spokesman. We take these crimes seriously, Gandhi said. These are not some teenage pranks. These are hateful crimes against a marginalized group protected under state law. Sheriffs investigators had not yet identified any suspects, but Gandhi said detectives were still collecting video and trying to find other possible witnesses. The preliminary information gathered indicates the suspects were likely teens in groups of up to eight, all of them wearing masks, Gandhi said. Theyve been seen casing neighborhoods, possibly looking for targets, Gandhi said. We need people to report these types of incidents, so we can try and contact and identify them. First Pride flag was burned last year Martinezmoles was at home in March 2022, not long after her family installed their first Pride flag, when she spotted two boys in front of her house. One of the boys was recording video with his cellphone the flag was already on the ground. She went outside and the boys ran off in different directions. I did not call police at the time, thinking they were just dumb kids, Martinezmoles said. The family placed the Pride flag back up. A week later, her youngest son arrived home and found the charred Pride flag on their front porch. After watching security videos from neighbors, Martinezmoles learned a group of boys had torn down the Pride flag, burned it on the street behind their home and placed it under a rock on her porch. It was burned somewhere else and brought back, Martinezmoles said. It was very clearly intentional. This time, she called the Sheriffs Office and reported the crime. She said deputies arrived at her home and collected evidence. She later heard that investigators had a juvenile person-of-interest, but no arrests were made. Unidentified vandals took a LGBTQ+ rainbow-colored Pride flag placed outside by the Martinezmoles family and burned it on Wednesday June 7, 2023, in front of their home in Antelope, California. The most recent incident at her home occurred around 7:30 p.m. June 7. The Pride flag, which is rotated with an American flag, had only been up for about four days when a group of vandals pulled down the Pride flag and burned it on the street in front of the home. A neighbor across the street the commotion, spotted the vandals, yelled at them and scared them away, according to Martinezmoles. The neighbors husband grabbed the scorched Pride flag and returned it to the Martinezmoles front lawn. My heart kind of sunk, because this had happened before, Martinezmoles said. I think its the same group of kids. Antelope neighbors support family The incidents have brought her closer to her neighbors, who showed support in the wake of the latest crime. Martinezmoles says she hasnt raised another Pride Flag because the vandals left behind wall damage after yanking at the flag pole. Instead, the family placed a sign where the Pride flag would be with the message: We have decided to stick to love. Hate is too great a burden to bear. Its a slight variation on a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. Johanna Martinezmoles has a sign posted outside her home with a Martin Luther King Jr. quote on June 20 in Antelope. Her LGBTQ+ Pride flags have been taken three times in the past year. I think its really the message of tolerance, Martinezmoles said. Everyone is allowed to have what beliefs they have. This is my belief on my property, and you can just walk by. Its not bothering you. Shannon Gentry, who lives about a mile away from Martinezmoles, continues to replace her Pride flags, even though the flags were taken down and burned on the street twice in four days. Gentrys Antelope home was among the three that were targeted earlier this month. A LGBTQ+ Pride flag was taken from Shannon Gentrys home and burned on the street on June 8, 2023 and again four days later at this home in Antelope, California. Two other homes in the same area also were targeted in the same week. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office is investigating these incidents as hate crimes. Investigators believe the crimes were committed by the same group of unidentified vandals. The suspects, wearing masks and hooded-sweatshirts, are seen in security camera video taking the Pride flags and burning them nearby. Like her neighbors, Gentry believes the same group of youths are responsible. In the incidents June 8 and 12, her security cameras captured one of the vandals jumping her 3-foot front yard fence, grabbing the Pride flag and take to the rest of the group on the street where it was burned. The video shows the vandals using a lighter fluid to start the fire. Gentry said she lives among welcoming neighbors who have been supportive in the aftermath of the attacks. Martinezmoles contacted Gentry after the attacks, and the two have become friends. Gentry encouraged other Antelope residents or anyone else with information about these hate crimes to call the Sheriffs Office at 916-874-5115. She hopes the attention these crimes have received doesnt go away after Pride month ends. We really want our home, just as any home, to be respected, Gentry said to the vandals. We fly our Pride flags throughout the year, not just in June, and your hate nor intolerance will not stop us from continuing to be allies nor sharing our love and desire for equality. Sandra Torres is the ex-wife of former leftist president Alvaro Colom (Johan Ordonez) A former first lady and the son of an ex-president -- both social democrats -- will go head-to-head in Guatemala's August runoff after no candidate secured enough votes to win Sunday's first round of presidential elections. The battle between Sandra Torres and Bernardo Arevalo -- who unexpectedly ended in second place having polled at number eight -- means Guatemala will have its first leftist leader in more than a decade. Torres, the ex-wife of deceased former president Alvaro Colom, came in first Sunday with about 15.8 percent of votes cast, followed by Arevalo with just under 12 percent, according to the near-complete count early Monday. Both oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage and elective abortion in this staunchly Catholic Central American country. Career diplomat Edmond Mulet and rightwinger Zury Rios, daughter of a former dictator, placed fifth and sixth respectively, having polled in the top three with Torres ahead of the vote. The candidate from outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei's Vamos party, Manuel Conde, came in third out of a crowded field of 22 candidates. "We are very pleased with the results," said Arevalo, son of Juan Jose Arevalo who in 1945 became Guatemala's first democratically-elected president after decades of dictatorship. "We did not feature in the polls, but we always said that we didnt come to win polls, we came to win at the ballot box," the 64-year-old sociologist added. For her part, Torres, 67, declared: "We are ready, ready and willing to win." Representing the same National Unity of Hope (UNE) party as her ex-husband, Torres had lost her last two races in 2015 and 2019. - 'Always the same' - Sunday's election saw low turnout and a high rate of invalid ballots cast, with few Guatemalans holding out hope that their next president will solve the problems of crushing poverty, violence and corruption. "We woke up very early to vote. We vote with enthusiasm -- and afterward, the presidents, it's always the same thing," voter Maria Chajon told AFP, resigned. "There are no options to improve the country. They are the same as always," added lawyer Manuel Morales, 58. More than 17.3 percent of all votes were invalid, more than the percentage won by any single candidate and four times higher than in the first round election in 2019. "The winner is definitely the null vote, (evidence of) citizen discontent... in the system," Edie Cux, director of the local chapter of the Transparency International, told Emisoras Unidas radio. The country of 17.6 million is one of Latin America's poorest, a reality that has, along with high rates of violent crime, compelled hundreds of thousands to risk the perilous migrant journey north toward the United States in hopes of a better life. Rights groups have furthermore expressed increasing concern over perceived efforts to crack down on prosecutors and journalists in an apparent bid by the government to protect a corrupt system benefiting those in power. Guatemala has one of Latin America's highest rates of social inequality, according to the World Bank. More than half its inhabitants live in poverty and half of all children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, according to the United Nations. Crime is another major election issue. Guatemala's homicide rate is 17.3 per 100,000 inhabitants -- about three times the world average, the UN says. - Burning ballots - Sunday's vote was marred by the exclusion of two popular candidates, Carlos Pineda and Thelma Cabrera, invalidated by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal decisions their supporters claim amounted to political sidelining. On election day, Torres lobbed claims of "buying votes" against the ruling party, as Mulet also pointed to alleged irregularities. Voters clashed with police and soldiers in San Jose del Golfo, 18 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of Guatemala City, amid allegations the mayor brought people from other districts to vote for the ruling party. Voting in the town was suspended. In San Martin Zapotitlan police fired tear gas at demonstrators making similar allegations as they burned ballot papers at a local voting center. Eleven people were arrested, police chief Edgar Moran said. Giammattei, ending his constitutionally-limited single term with high disapproval ratings, did not comment on the claims of irregularities, instead accusing opposition groups of inciting violence. According to early estimations, Giammattei's Vamos party will become the biggest grouping in the 160-member Congress, taking about 40 seats. Torres's UNE, currently the biggest, will have about 27 and Arevalo's Semilla (Seed) party 24. The runoff will be held on August 20. burs-mlr/dw Sarah Tapscott Sarah Tapscott is joining the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln as its vice president of development. Tapscott served as the director of advancement at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School for the past two years. Her responsibilities for the Community Foundation include planning, directing and evaluating its fund development activities. Zoned in: City's zone managers will look for 'anything and everything' on streets I am excited to start my journey here at the Community Foundation," Tapscott said. "I look forward to sharing the vison and mission of this wonderful organization and helping connect people with causes that matter." Tapscott previously worked at the United Way of Central Illinois as the director of community impact where she collaborated closely with the Community Foundation on several community-wide initiatives. After leaving United Way, she spent time fundraising at local nonprofits before becoming the director of statewide partnerships at Forefront, the statewide association for nonprofits and grant makers in Illinois. Started as the Sangamon County Foundation in 1924, the Community Foundations assists individuals, families, businesses and organizations create permanent charitable funds to support causes within an eight-county region. The foundation invests and administers these funds. It has close to 300 funds with approximately $64 million in total assets. The Community Foundation has awarded about $25 million in grants since its reorganization in 2002. Tapscott has a bachelor of arts degree from Illinois State University in community health education, has served on several community and professional boards, including as president of the local Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter. She and her husband Nick and their two children live in Springfield. Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Sarah Tapscott is joining the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln Psychedelics conferencePhoto by Rae Hodge At $1,800 for a business-class ticket, the Colorado Convention Center's Bellco Theater is full on Friday night with the who's-who of a burgeoning psychedelics industry that's predicted to be worth $100 billion by 2030. The dress code is "psychedelic business casual" on the final night of Psychedelic Science 2023 the largest conference of its kind in history with more than 11,000 attending, according to event sponsors the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). The man of the hour is MAPS President Rick Doblin. His legacy spearheading the campaign for FDA-approved MDMA trials and a lifetime spent bouncing around psychedelic research units have led him to the Denver stage. He steps out to greet a roaring crowd, ready to deliver the week-long conference's closing remarks. Related For a certain class of toad venomsmoking purists, synthetic toad venom just won't cut it That's when, from the back of the theater, the drum starts. Like a heartbeat boom-boom, boom-boom growing louder. Then come the shouts. A woman's voice rises above crowd, calling to the stage. "We are Indigenous! And we have been excluded!" she shouts. "The Native coalition asks Rick Doblin: Where were you yesterday during our panel? Where is the panel for sexual assault survivors?" "You're erasing our cultures. Please stop. Think. Please look at the cycle of colonization and how this continues to happen." A group of protesters gather and slowly move toward the stage, drum beating steadily against a tide of jeers from a mostly white crowd that's suddenly lost its zen. Doblin, hands over his brow as he peers out from under the stage lights, tells the protesters that now's not the time. The crowd's booing grows more hostile, someone shouts "Security!" The heartbeat-drum continues. "We tried to be as inclusive as we could be," Doblin says, pacing as the crowd starts chanting on his behalf. Doblin seems to realize he's losing control. Finally relenting, he offers the protesters one minute of speaking time on stage. A woman takes to the mic, followed by others who climb up. "Where are the Indigenous people of these lands? The elders?" she asks. "Where are the investors, investing in Land Back water rights?" When she yields the mic to a young Indigenous man, he implores the crowd not to be deceived by commercial interests posing as healthcare. The crowd boos him too. "You're erasing our cultures. Please stop. Think," he says, voice trembling. "The same happened to tobacco. Now it causes cancer. The same happened to opioids. Now it causes addiction. Same happened to coca. Now cocaine causes a lot of harm. Please look at the cycle of colonization and how this continues to happen. In 2030 and decades from now, you're going to see the medicine harming you because they are living beings and they don't like to be abused." "This isn't a collective liberation movement. This is a capitalization and you're stepping on our plants. You're stepping on our medicines." https://twitter.com/matthabusby/status/1672434872009490432 The Science of Risk The chemical responsible for a psychedelic experience actually penetrates down to the cell a part of the brain that is otherwise hardened by a dense structure Critics of the encroaching control of corporatizing forces in the emerging world of psychedelic research were not limited to the event's Indigenous contingent. Before being allowed to present their studies at Psychedelic Science 2023, researchers and scientists were required to sign a contract with MAPS. It included two notable clauses, as reported by Psymposia's Russell Hausfeld. First, presenters would be barred from making appearances related to their research for a full four months (two before the event, two after) anywhere within a 500-mile radius of Denver. Second, and more controversially, presenters could be turned away if they offered any statements that "discredits MAPS or tarnishes its reputation and goodwill" (or were affiliated with an organization). Following the publication of Psymposia's article, MAPS reportedly released all presenters from the radius clause of the contract, though the reputational clause remained drawing concerns over potential interference with academically independent critique. But other worries appeared about MAPS' handling of scientific ethics when presenters were reportedly told that their slides which contained conflict-of-interest statements would be removed and that the information would be tucked into the event's app. "Unless the audience checks the app, they would have no idea if a speaker declared a COI," Psymposia's Brian Normand said in a tweet. At #psychedelicscience2023, conflict of interest slides were intentionally removed from speaker slide presentations & buried in the conf app. Unless the audience checks the app, they would have no idea if a speaker declared a COI. So here they are #PS2023https://t.co/mPDjS6hco4 https://t.co/eF6No4qWnG pic.twitter.com/qeQcEDmWpv Brian Normand (@diterpene) June 22, 2023 The clauses drew critical glances from more than just the press. MAPS sponsors some of the most advanced Food and Drug Administration clinical trials on psychedelics and continues to curry millions of dollars in donations to fund the path it's quickly charting toward FDA-approval of MDMA (sometimes called "Molly") for therapeutic use. But that path has been perilous for some, and MAPS has a history of being criticized by some of the participants in those trials. In a notably timed Friday release, the Food and Drug Administration issued its new draft guidance on the use of psychedelic drugs in clinical research. "FDA may place a study under an IND [investigational new drug] under clinical hold if it finds, among other reasons, that human subjects are or would be exposed to an unreasonable and significant risk of illness or injury," the agency said, noting that subjects receiving active treatment with psychedelic drugs remain in a vulnerable state for as long as 12 hours, depending on the substance. At Psychedelic Science 2023, neuroscientist Gul Dolan presents research on the opening of "critical periods" of cognitive development. (Photo by Rae Hodge)The agency proposed any subject being tested would need two professionals monitoring them at all times a lead with graduate-level professional training and clinical psychotherapy experience, licensed to practice independently, and an assistant with a bachelor's degree and at least one year of experience in a licensed mental healthcare setting (though not necessarily licensed themself). In 2020, Doblin told Quartz in an interview that he negotiated with the FDA to conduct psychedelic therapy with one license per two-person team. "We do not think it's necessary or important for both people to have a license," he said, arguing the second licensed therapist could make treatment too expensive for patients. The Science of the Sacred Scientifically speaking, something rather miraculous happens inside the brains of mammals when we take psilocybin in a therapeutic context. The chemical responsible for a psychedelic experience actually penetrates down to the cell a part of the brain that is otherwise hardened by a dense structure, and unlocks a level of cognitive development that we leave behind in our early years of cognitive development. Neuroscientist Gul Dolen called this a "critical period" and explained to the conference crowd that this unique process could allow us to experience and heal levels of cognitive development that we haven't had access to since childhood. Most remarkable, however, is that this effect doesn't disappear after the trip. Once the immediate effects of a mushroom trip subside after a few hours, the long-term benefits and ability to access this "critical period" remain remain available for up to two weeks more. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter The Vulgar Scientist. "Where you grew up, and what culture you were raised in has a big impact on our understanding of the rules of hierarchy and dominance So if you go to a new culture, you will struggle to adapt to the social rules if you don't have any familiarity. And so people intuited that there was a 'critical period' for this type of learning on your social environment," Dolen said. Neuroscientist Gul Dolen called this a "critical period" that could allow us to experience and heal levels of cognitive development that we haven't had access to since childhood. But psychedelics, she explained, are proving to offer access to a potentially wider range of critical learning periods where humans can re-learn pro-social values that could be healthy for therapeutic treatment. There's no critical period for human psycho-spiritual development, though. While religious indoctrination is often entrenched in childrearing across both Indigenous and Abrahamic traditions, we humans are not limited to any single window of time when it comes to developing a faith in the divine through moments of religious ecstasy. Nor, among the non-religious, is there any deadline for undergoing what foundational psychologist Abraham Maslow called "peak experiences" of transcendent communion with a sense of timeless universal connectedness. Altered states of consciousness can and do find us, at any moment throughout our lives, from dreams to orgasms to yes, taking drugs. It's this hopeful fact which drove conference-goers to overflow into hallways and scramble for seats during a packed Thursday session held by researchers from John Hopkins and New York Universities. In the course of their small but uniquely important study, the researchers gathered 24 religious clergy from 16 distinct organizations giving each of them two high-dose psilocybin sessions, then monitoring participants for long-term changes. Researchers were introduced by Anthony Bossis, a clinical assistant professors at NYU's Grossman School of Medicine, who told the audience that implications of psychedelic research may far exceed usefulness in the treatment of clinical disorders. "They may promote meaning-making. They may force you into spiritual continuous dialogue. And they may be useful in consciousness and religious studies. Are we wired for meaning?," Bossis said. "And, if so, why?" Though the participants' identities were not revealed, researchers relayed both quantitative findings of the study and the post-session statements of participating clergy. Like the words of a rabbi of the Jewish Renewal movement who, Bossis said, expressed "The experience deepened and open my appreciation of other religions as well as my own," the rabbi told Bossis. "And I realized that each have this incredible truth. And all the truths are in all religions to some degree. Some of them just highlight one factor more than the other, but the active ingredients are all the same." Sandor Iron Rope, president of the Native American Church of South Dakota, addresses NYU and John Hopkins religious researchers. (Photo by Rae Hodge)Remarkably, none of the clergy reported that the experience was incompatible with their fundamental theology, or resulted in any crisis of faith though the challenges reported included a difficulty integrating the experience into their everyday life because they didn't feel like they could talk to their communities. "An experiential reference point for understanding theological beliefs. The words before, of their theological understandings may be understood conceptually or intellectually from their training. It was now felt and understood from the lived experience," said researcher and therapist Cody Swift. "These types of studies are the only way that the Western world could really understand the correlation of Spirit and these medicines." There are reasons to remain skeptical and wary of even the good-faith efforts of religious researchers. The long-promised psychedelic industry is steadily becoming concentrated in the hands of pharmaceutical and tech giants before it's even off the ground, it is haunted by the voices of test subjects who suffered the trauma of unethical research, and it teeters on the edge of further colonizing an Indigenous medicine at the expense of its historic stewards. But hope persists that if the marriage of psychedelic medicine and its cultural history is protected, and if qualitative research into our holistic human experiences is likewise seated at the table a body politic of the psychedelic industry can still emerge which does more good than harm. Among those voices of hope are Indigenous leaders like Sandor Iron Rope, President of the Native American Church of South Dakota and board member of the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative. "These types of studies are the only way that the Western world could really understand the correlation of Spirit and these medicines," Iron Rope told the research panel Thursday. "Thank you, everybody, for understanding the Indigenous perspectives and these vital cultures. And I'm looking forward to unifying and finding balance in this life." That sense of unification, itself the most commonly reported feeling of who undergo psychedelic experiences, is critical not only to the ecological conservation of the medicine, but to the cultural conservation of the psycho-spiritual cure the medicine has always provided humans. Psychedelic medicine's intrinsic property is that it elicits in us a timeless sense of caring pro-social reciprocity only otherwise glimpsed in our earliest years a critical period, one that the medicine re-opens long past the close of childhood's brief hour. And if we seek a culture-wide transformation through the use psychedelic therapies, as MAPS has claimed it does, then the medicine's rave-going euphoria and storefront availability must never be divorced from the root-deep psychological healing we ask these plants to give us as individual adults. Reckless western industrialization and extractive capitalization of this sacred medicine, being inherently anti-social pursuits themselves, risk making the medicine completely ineffective for those who take it. Worse yet, they risk completely stripping the medicine of any cultural transformation espoused by its biggest profiteers. Or, as Bossis put it Thursday: "The psychedelic experience alone doesn't change us unless it changes our values and our lives." Read more about psychedelics Senator Tillis to host roundtable meeting 1 year after mental health bill signed into law North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis will be hosting a roundtable discussion on mental health care and the substance abuse crisis with other state leaders on Monday. The meeting comes just after the one-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, written by Tillis, being signed into law. The act resulted in the largest amount of money being invested in mental health care in U.S. history. ALSO READ: Local group walks in Uptown to bring awareness to mental health Senator Tillis will be joined by Kody Kinsley, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Timothy Reeder and Senator Jim Burgin from the NC General Assembly; Dr. Robyn Jordan from the NC Medical Society; Karen Kelley from the Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers; Stephen Lawler from the NC Healthcare Association; and Dr. Ripple Sekhon with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. The meeting will begin at 10:15 a.m. on Monday at the Terry Sanford Federal Building in Raleigh. (WATCH BELOW: VIDEO: CEO of The Blanchard Institute discusses links between drugs and mental health) Re:SET comes to Riis Park, a destination concert for fans of boygenius and indie music On Saturday during the Re:SET concert series in Riis Park on the Northwest Side, two roommates awaited the nights headliners covered in blue paint in an homage to True Blue, a boygenius song about self-discovery, old friends and Chicagos L train. Maya Wanner, 26, and Madeline Lauver, 25, of Rogers Park, figured the song would get a response from concertgoers. That night, as band member Lucy Dacus sang about a friend who moves to Chicago and makes a phone call from the train platform when you called me from the train / water freezing in your eyes / you were happy / and I wasnt surprised under blue lights, the crowd did indeed erupt. Under a tree in the park in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood, with paint streaking their foreheads and splattered in their hair, Wanner and Lauver said theyd wanted to dress up somehow for the event. The pair said theyd been inspired by the supergroups video featuring the song, in which Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker paint a room blue before turning brushes and cans on themselves. Boygenius capped off the days quartet of acts alongside Bartees Strange, Dijon and Clairo. All performed in the summer heat and reminded audience members crammed against barricades to drink water. LCD Soundsystem and Steve Lacy were the other two headliners over three days worth of indie and alternative music that brought throngs of concertgoers to Riis Park. The Chicago Park District permitted the event about 10 days before it was set to take place after months of vocal protest from neighbors, who said event organizers didnt give them enough of a heads-up and didnt involve them enough in planning. Inside the event gates, fans in white shirts and black ties (the headliners frequent concert attire) and innumerable pairs of Dr. Martens clustered under massive trees for shade. Many incorporated teeth into their concert attire in an apparent nod to the matching tooth tattoos of boygenius group members. Julia Lakin, 23, was wearing a total of six extra teeth on her macabre earrings, paired with a hand-embroidered boys will be boys shirt. She had made the trip up from central Illinois Chatham for what she said was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with her girlfriend Ashley Bresnahn, 25. Bresnahn said she was most excited to hear Clairos 4EVER and a number of songs from boygenius 2018 EP. Katie Kasendorf, 22, was sprawled out near the merchandise tent with an armload of new purchases: a Clairo sweatshirt for a friend depicting a small dog in headphones, a Re:SET bandana for her wall and several boygenius shirts. She held up a shirt that showed the group members posing together against a background of flames reminiscent of Hell. If somebody saw me wearing this, theyd totally steal my lunch and call me a loser, Kasendorf said, before clarifying that this was a plus in her book. Kasendorf had taken a Greyhound bus from Minneapolis to the concert, deeming the trip a very main character moment. She was most looking forward to hearing the boygenius number Me & My Dog, a song about going to the lengths of outer space in an attempt to forget someone, from the groups 2018 release. Me & My Dog also topped the list for Jacob Kemiel, 25, of Chicagos Edgewater neighborhood, along with Letter to an Old Poet. Bridgers described Letter to an Old Poet later that night as a song about being in love with someone who (expletive) hated me and said how nice it was to perform it alongside two of her closest friends. The band, she said, had history in Chicago: Weve made some core memories here, and some core friends here. We love it. Then the opening chords of Salt in the Wound rang out to close the show. Three minutes and a lot of guitar shredding later, the three friends collapsed into one another onstage. Caroline Kubzansky is a reporter for the Pioneer Press papers. She complained about safety at a White Settlement hotel. The hotel told her to check out A woman who spoke with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram about her safety concerns with the extended stay hotel she lives at is being forced to check out after she spoke out. Charlotte Smith has been living at the Red Roof Inn in White Settlement the past year with her daughter. Smith spoke to the Star-Telegram about safety concerns at the extended stay which White Settlement police say has the highest number of calls made for service for a story on the departments task force and its efforts to curb crime at area hotels, motels and extended stays. Smith told a Star-Telegram reporter Saturday that Red Roof management had previously been patient with late payments on her room. The familys next paycheck does not come in until Friday, and Smiths daughter has been out of work for the past two weeks, Smith said. Red Roof Inn manager Bhumi Jariwala said she did not have time to wait for Smiths payment and that she would have to pay the full amount for the room or check out. The patience Jariwala once had with Smith ran out, she said, after she learned of Smiths complaints in the Star-Telegram article. Jariwala said she previously thought Smith and her daughter were satisfied guests. I did say, Did you read the Star-Telegram, and if youre not safe or you dont feel safe here and if youre not satisfied and have all these complaints, then I dont know why yall are here and staying here, Jariwala said. So even if you want to stay here, thats fine, but I cant wait till Friday until you get paid anymore. Jariwala said she wished Smith had come to the hotel with complaints. When asked what type of message this sends to other guests who might feel unsafe staying at the Red Roof Inn, Jariwala said guests should express their concerns to the property first. There are few protections for those who live in hotels long term, according to an article by Scott Alagood with Denton-based law firm Alagood Cartwright Burke PC. Texas Property Code exempts transient housing, hotels and extended stays from leasing laws. Red Roof Inn is not the only hotel in White Settlement facing an issue with crime. White Settlement police have clocked nearly 3,000 calls for service across eight properties on Interstate 30 and West Loop 820 South since January 2021. Those calls include everything from assaults and burglaries to stabbings and shootings. The Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office is asking those who are not employees of Spirit AeroSystems to avoid certain sections of town as employees are amid an ongoing strike by Machinists. The areas to avoid are Oliver from 31st Street South to 47th Street South and K-15 from 31st Street South to 47th Street South, the media release reads. The Sheriffs Office is asking people to avoid the areas starting Monday, June 26. However, the areas could be blocked longer according to the strikes duration. Members of the local Machinists union were picketing on Saturday at the beginning of their strike. The strike was authorized following a vote on Wednesday where union members rejected a new four-year contract. Almost 80% of union voters rejected the contract, while 85% voted to authorize a strike. Wages, forced overtime and health care were among listed concerns union members had with the proposed Spirit contract. Kakhovka Reservoir The Kakhovka Reservoir has turned into a desert after the Russian military demolished the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and dam, a shocking photo posted by Ukrainian journalist and blogger Denys Kazansky on Telegram on June 25 shows. The photo was recently taken by Kherson journalist Serhiy Nikitenko. It shows that a desert has formed at the site of the hydroelectric power plant in under three weeks since the destruction of the dam on June 6. On June 20, OSINT blogger WarMapper published new images of the Kakhovka Reservoir from Copernicus Sentinel satellites, showing that the reservoir essentially no longer exists. WarMapper notes that the wasteland that has appeared is unlikely to allow for easy crossing, but it will clearly open up new opportunities for maneuvering for both the Russian invasion forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In the early hours of June 6, Russian troops blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, which they had had under their control for over a year. The dam breach partially flooded downstream cities and towns along the Dnipro River, including the regional capital of Kherson. Read also: Animals being rescued in Kherson Oblast after Kakhovka dam destruction video Ukraine began evacuating the west bank of Kherson Oblast from the government-controlled territories, while a humanitarian catastrophe unfolded on the Russian-occupied east bank, which suffered much more from the flooding due to its lower elevation. The Russians failed to carry out a proper evacuation of the civilian population in the wake of the dams destruction, and refused to allow humanitarian relief organizations, including those from the United Nations, to access the parts of Ukraine under Russian military occupation. 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 Two people were killed and 15 others were injured in a shooting at a street party in Saginaw, Mich., early Saturday morning, state police said. Police began receiving calls about the shooting shortly after midnight, according to a news release from Michigan State Police. A preliminary investigation suggested that shots were fired after a fight broke out between partygoers, leading others in the crowd to begin shooting in response, state police said. At least five different caliber weapons were used in the incident. A 19-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman were killed, while 15 others were transported to local hospitals to receive medical treatment. Some of the victims were injured by gunshots, while others were injured after being struck by cars as people attempted to flee the scene, according to the news release. State police said officers were nearby when the shooting was reported, after having previously attempted to disperse the large crowd that had gathered for the street party. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sleeping on the floor of a Chicago police station for weeks, some migrants say its still their best option Carlos Ramirez, who was a police officer in Venezuela before he says he was persecuted by government officials, now sleeps on an air mattress on the floor of a police station in Chicago. He and his wife Betzabeth Bracho have nestled their suitcases on a bench at the 5th District police station in Pullman. About seven weeks since arriving in Chicago from San Antonio, Texas, they have established a routine for themselves. They came to the city because theyd heard its sanctuary label made it a friendly place for migrants. Before bed, they eat donated food and store-bought sandwiches in plastic containers, bathe in the public restroom, blow up their air mattress bed and call their two young sons across borders. Ramirez, 38, and Bracho, 33, havent been selected as part of the cohort of people with medical or special needs, families, or singles with other critical needs such as pregnancy who have been prioritized by the city for removal to temporary shelters, and like many recent arrivals, they are fine with that. Theyre getting better treatment at the police stations than they would at city-run shelters, they say, despite what onlookers might describe as inhumane living conditions. The Tribune spent a night at the 5th District station to observe what it is like for migrants to fall asleep on hard tile floors, with bright lights shining in their faces, residents spilling into the station at any hour of the night and police sirens occasionally blaring. As of Friday, there were 4,878 asylum-seekers in 13 city-run shelters and 460 waiting in police stations, according to a statement from Office of Emergency Management and Communications spokesperson Mary May. Police district census numbers are analyzed each morning, according to the statement, and decompression decisions are based off volume of clients at specific stations, people with special circumstances, availability of space and transportation plans. Individuals receive a service request number from 311 upon arrival in the system. This helps with tracking when they arrive, the statement said. As new arrivals and asylum-seekers continue to arrive in Chicago via bus and other means, City officials are working simultaneously to identify spaces to convert into temporary shelters and to assist individuals and families in identifying more permanent housing opportunities. Oftentimes when the number goes down, it quickly goes back up with additional asylum-seekers arriving, the statement said. Nearly two dozen buses have arrived from Texas since May 9, according to the city, including seven since the middle of this month. The city brought about 38 of the migrants to the 5th District station in early May and 12 remain, Bracho said on a recent night. 7:25 p.m. Bracho stood outside the station, and said she spent the day building houses. She said every day a man comes around 9 a.m. to pick up a group of men from the station in his truck and take them to a construction site. He drops them back off a little before 7 p.m. Ramirez can make $120 to $150 a day, and when she goes too, they make even more, Bracho said. In Venezuela, Bracho was studying to be a kindergarten teacher. Police officers mostly leave them alone, she said, but sometimes they give them bad looks. And they certainly dont try to help them, she said. Were not here because we want to be. I want to leave, she said in Spanish. My husband goes out every day to find work. I go out every day to find work. Id like to tell them were trying to make money so we can move out as quickly as possible. Two to three times a week, a volunteer brings them to a different location to shower. Tonight, they washed off using a plastic bucket of water which they fill up in the sink, then walked to a store nearby to get hot chicken. The store was closed Thursday evening, she said, so they ate the non-perishables they had saved. No es facil estar aqui, said Bracho. Its not easy living here. She pointed to a cluster of bikes leaning against the wall of the station and said a group of volunteers had donated them. Most of them were kids bikes, and the volunteers had asked if the migrants still wanted them. Theyd all said yes. Brachos sons 7-year-old Jose Ramirez and 11-year old Jubert Javier are living in Venezuela with their aunt and grandmother. 8:54 p.m. While Bracho showered and ate, others from Venezuela milled around the station. Huberth Espinoza, 65, lay on a metal bench outside with his 27-year-old son Kalil Espinoza sitting beside him. The bottom of his belly bulged out from his green T-shirt. Theyve been at the station for a month, he said. Espinoza said he also fled his country for political reasons, and is saving money to buy an apartment in the city. His face lit up when he described the way his country used to be, before Nicolas Maduro began cracking down on oppositional forces and before millions lost access to health care and nutrition. He said the inside of the police station can be loud and hostile at night, especially on the weekends. When its cold outside its worse, he said in Spanish. People urinate on the floor. Espinoza said he worked in solar electric in Venezuela. He said his 11 kids are scattered across Latin America, his wife in Chile. Like many, his journey to the United States was brutal, he said. We came through the mountains, crossing rivers, women were violated, people died, he said, recounting the months he spent passing through Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras. Crossing from Juarez to El Paso was the most difficult, he said, because he was separated from his son in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement roundup in the Franklin Mountains. When he got to the United States, he turned himself into authorities so he could be reunited with his son. They have a court date scheduled in September, he said. He cried thinking about that time without his son, looking up at the sliver of moon which shone down on the police courtyard. The two now sat side by side, tinkering with a phone and data card Espinoza bought. When it got late enough, they entered through the revolving door of the station, pulled a donated mat next to an EZ Pay kiosk and in front of a used prescription disposal box, layered it with donated blankets and laid down side by side. They scrolled on Espinozas new phone. 9:16 p.m. Police officers drove up and walked to the counter to start their shift as migrants wound down for the evening. Two women who didnt give their names to the Tribune lay close together on an air mattress and put a blanket over their heads, whispering. Later, they watched TikToks and laughed. 10:06 p.m. Sylvia Mares, a volunteer from the Chicago Police Station Response Team entered. She walked around with a pen and paper, hoping to take down the names of people who might want to be moved to a shelter. Everyone she asked said no. They are comfortable here, they have a job and theyve had enough unknown in their lives recently, she said. And many of them have heard from their contacts that conditions at other shelters are worse than at police stations. The Tribune recently spoke to migrants from nine shelters who said that they are crowded in hotel rooms or sleeping on the ground, eating cold and unappetizing meals and unsure of where to find resources. Volunteers have said they are unable to enter shelters and provide donations such as clothes and hot meals, and the city has rejected numerous requests by the Tribune to see inside. Mares comes two to three times a day to bring migrants food and resources at Districts 3, 4 and 22, she said. Alejandra Mendez, 25, in District 5 is two months pregnant and Mares has been helping her. She took her to buy a pregnancy test, and has brought her to the hospital for routine checkups, she said. Im just doing what I can, she said. She calls them her kids and says they grow up so fast in three months. Mares was born in Chicago, but lived in Mexico for a large part of her youth. At Mares request, she asked Ramirez to gather a group of people to go through the trash bags full of clothing donations in the back of her car. People stood outside and held up shirts and shorts for a full view. They draped corduroys and sweatshirts and plaid shirts over their shoulders. Look, so beautiful! said Mares in Spanish to a woman holding up a satin orange blouse. She whistled. This one is sexy, with a flower, she said to another, picking out a sweater. Ramirez and Bracho lingered and followed Mares to her car. She gave them rental assistance advice and tips about how to search for furniture once they have found an apartment. 10:38 p.m. Migrants refilled their trash bags after inspecting the clothing and entered the shelter to lie down. Through the windows of the station, people covered in blankets could be seen lying horizontal on the plastic mattresses. Old Easter decorations hung from the ceiling. Police officials walked briskly down the corridors on the second floor of the building, visible from the courtyard. 12:26 a.m. A man wearing mostly black came into the station and put his stuff on the bench next to Ramirez and Brachos neatly stacked suitcases. He spent a few minutes rummaging through his backpack, stretched his legs on the bench and started to snore. The station filled up and then emptied out with various residents from the neighborhood, some going up to the desk to talk to officers. One woman had an arm in a sling. A man entered and four officers urgently followed him out. 3:36 a.m. A woman walked inside and slowly staggered to the front. Is anybody going to get me a bologna sandwich? she said. Another woman entered the station, mumbling and pacing. She crumpled up on the floor at the foot of Ramirez and Brachos bed, covering herself with a light blue sheet, squirming. Officials sat at the counter and typed. The automatic door opened and closed. Some migrants covered their eyes with strips of cloth to block out the light. Mendez, the pregnant woman, got up to go to the bathroom for the third or fourth time, carrying a plastic bucket with her. 6 a.m. Sunlight flooded the station, streaming in the windows on the individuals and couples who had spent days and nights traveling miles, riding trains, crossing rivers and jungles to get here. But packaged sandwiches and a few police officers who stare is better than living in constant fear, Bracho said. Were uncomfortable, but all we can do is wait, she said in Spanish. She said she woke up feeling sad and stressed. She knew she would have to look for work, and wondered where and how she and her husband would find an apartment. nsalzman@chicagotribune.com Nearly two years ago, Bill Price of Cayucos was one of five people onboard the Titan submersible when it successfully journeyed about 2 miles below the ocean surface to the undersea wreckage of the Titanic. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the 22-foot-long submersible imploded after leaving on a similar mission about a week ago killing all five people on the vessel owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions. The Titan launched from an icebreaker ship on the morning of June 18 and was reported overdue that afternoon about 435 miles south of St. Johns, Newfoundland, the Associated Press reported. Debris from the 20,000-pound submersible was found roughly 1,600 feet from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters, the Coast Guard said Thursday, bringing an end to rescue efforts. Price is now grieving the deaths of two friends OceanGate CEO and Titan pilot Stockton Rush and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet as well of the loss of the sub and the Titan dream. Also killed in the implosion were two members of a prominent Pakistani family, Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman Dawood, as well as British adventurer Hamish Harding. As details about the fatal incident emerged over the course of a week, Price said, I went from anticipation and hope to a kind of finality. In July 2021, Price went on an adventure of a lifetime embarking on two missions as a crew member. Only the second one was successful. I had spent days with Rush and Nargeolet, Price recalled. We had all our meals together with the other crew, spent 10 hours each on two days in the missions. We had this kind of bond in adventure, but also trying to accomplish something amazing. Bill Price of Cayucos pops out of a small sub during a visit to the Morro Bay Maritime Museum in March 2020. SLO County man is drawn to adventure Price said hes always been drawn to adventure. As a 14-year-old, he and some pals took a 20-mile round trip from the Detroit suburb where they lived to across the Canadian border and back. His parents thought I was down at the park. It was many years before I told them where Id gone, he recalled. After years leading the YMT Vacations travel company started by his aunt and uncle, Price retired and left Manhattan Beach. He joined an adventurers club in Los Angeles, which led him to Rush and the Titan. He and second wife Nanette Price got married alongside a Pismo Beach cove, having vacationed often on the Central Coast. When his daughter Nicole was accepted to Cal Poly, got married and had a baby nearly four years ago, Bill and Nanette Price moved to Cayucos to be closer to her, her husband Willie Travis and their daughter Navi, as well as Willies 16-year-old son August. Bill Prices other daughter, Kristin Price, is a licensed acupuncturist from Playa del Rey. Cayucos is a perfect fit for us, Bill Price said. I love it here. Its great. The communication room on the Horizon Arctic, the support vessel for Bill Prices two missions aboard the Titan sub. The Horizon Arctic was one of the vessels used in the June 2023 search for the Titan after it suffered a catastrophic implosion on a dive to see the Titanic wreckage. SLO County man joins mission to find Titanic wreckage Price was an adjunct marketing adviser for Rush. I had an opportunity to be a mission specialist, be part of the crew in its attempts to locate the wreck of the famed Titanic ocean liner that sank in 1912 after colliding with an iceberg, Price said. Because of a confidentiality agreement, Price wouldnt say how much he paid to be part of the missions that recently cost in the neighborhood of $250,000 each. I can say it was over six figures, a substantial amount for me, he said. Because I had a lot of business and marketing experience, we agreed Id assist them, give them a lot of insight into that side of things in exchange for a discounted rate. Price was aboard the Titan on July 22 and July 23, 2021, when it attempted to reach the Titanic wreckage. Paul-Henri P.H. Nargeolet, Scott Griffith and Stockton Rush pose for a photo after the Titans mission on July 23, 2021, the second one Bill Price was a mission specialist on. Cayucos man: Titans problems started on 2021 mission While on the Titan, Price and his fellow crew members had no GPS or voice communication with their support vessel. Instead, they relied on a sonar device almost like a telex that sends beeps up and back, and comes out like a text, Price said. On July 22, when the crew began getting their bearings to adjust the submersibles location closer to the Titanic, We experienced some difficulties, he said. After an hour or so, we had a loss of communication. There was some concern, Price said, mostly because the crew on the support vessel were giving the Titan crew the coordinates. With our last known coordinates, we realized we needed to be in a different location, he added. That was when they learned that the Titans left side propulsion unit was not operating, so we couldnt really steer, Price recalled. The decision was made to abort that mission. Then the real issues came in, he said. A crushed styrofoam cup signed by Bill Price, right, shows the effect of undersea pressure at the depth of the Titan submersibles dive to the Titanic shipwreck. The cups were placed in an unpressurized spot outside the Titan and kept as souvenirs. Theres a series of weights attached to each side of the hull, in a rack. On the bottom of the rack, theres an electronic release mechanism, which had failed, he said. The way for us to get back to the surface was to release the weights. We were just stuck there in limbo while still descending, with quite a ways to go to the bottom. Stockton had anticipated this, Price said and came up with an alternate plan. If we could twist the sub far enough over on its side, maybe the weights would fall out and be released, he said. So, five of us went from one side of the sub to the other, until we got the submersible to spin or twist. That was tricky, considering that crew members normally sat facing each other aboard the cramped submersible. We were dead in the water, still sinking, he said. By then, we all faced the same direction and in a crouched position, began to go up one side. Wed climb the wall, go as far as we could, then turn around and go the other way. We did several back and forth (maneuvers). Eventually, he said, We heard a clunk, an indication one of the weights had gone. We continuing shifting from side to side until the sub started going back up. The tense process took about a half hour, Price estimates now. Was he ever scared? Looking back, I probably should have been, he said. But the focus of everybody at that time was not panic or concern. We knew we were stuck and had to concentrate on what needed to be done to get back up. The Titanic leaves Southampton, England, on her maiden voyage on April 10, 1912. The wrecks of the Titanic and the Titan sit on the ocean floor, separated by 1,600 feet and 111 years of history. What was it like to see Titanic wreckage? Even after that experience, Price and the others opted to join another mission to reach the Titanic wreckage the next day. Stockton went to each one of us, asked if we wanted to go back down, Price said. Based on the fact he was able to successfully manage when the difficulties arose, that gave me the confidence to go back down. Seeing the Titanic wreckage in person on July 23, 2021, was one of the highlights of my life, the Cayucos man recalled. Price said he was especially fortunate to make the trek alongside Nargeolet, who was able to point out what had changed since his previous visit to the wreck 20 years earlier. Some things were no longer there, Price said, such as part of the mast in front section of the bow. The crows nest was no longer there. OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush removes the cover from the Titans porthole before Bill Prices trip aboard the vessel in 2021. Another change was in the captains quarter, he said. Theres a bathtub thats pretty visible, When (Nargeolet) was there before, the tub was pretty empty, but this time almost filled to the top filled with debris. Those insights brought everything to life, Price said. When we arrived at the bow section itself, we had a moment for reflection and prayer for the people who lost their lives there, Price recalled. We made sure that nothing was touched or changed. We basically were there to observe, but seeing what not that many other people in the world have seen. Asked if he would visit the Titanic again, especially given the fate of the Titan, Price paused for a few moments. No. I certainly couldnt even afford the first one, at full cost, he said. But if they gave me the opportunity (to be on another submersible mission) to another unique destination, Id consider it. Ongoing volatility in the used-car market continues to weigh on Sonic Automotive Inc.s EchoPark brand. The Charlotte-based auto retailer said this week that it has indefinitely suspended operations at eight EchoPark locations and an unspecified number of related delivery/buy centers. ALSO READ: Looking to buy a car or a home? Heres what you should do Sonic said it is making those moves to align its used-car, technology-driven EchoPark brand with current conditions in the pre-owned market, which has been impacted by lower production of new vehicles over the past three years. Thats contributed to a limited inventory of used vehicles and higher prices. Sonic said that by suspending operations at those locations, it will be able to allocate more vehicles to key markets and increase capacity to address current demand in those markets. Keep reading here. (WATCH BELOW: Not having previous maintenance records nearly cost man thousands in car repairs) I spent over $11,000 on a luxurious trip to Paris. Here are 5 things worth the splurge and 4 I'd suggest skipping. I wanted to have a luxurious Paris trip with no expenses spared. Ashley Couto In March, I took a luxury paid trip to Paris some splurges were worth it and others weren't. Luxury car rides weren't worth it to us and neither were bike rides around the city. I'm glad we paid for cab rides, business-class flights, and a nice hotel in a central location. In March, I took my 67-year-old aunt on an all-expenses paid luxury trip to Paris. It's the kind of trip she'd never be able to afford on her own and I wanted her to have a five-star experience at least once in her life. I'd been to Paris as a broke grad student and stayed with my friend in her mouse-infested apartment, so I was also very much looking forward to doing Paris differently this time. My trip cost about 15,000 Canadian dollars, about $11,357, and some parts of it were worth the splurge others weren't. Here's a breakdown. Business-class plane tickets were expensive but worth it Our plane tickets and hotel were expensive but I don't regret the high prices. Ashley Couto Our biggest combined expense was our flights and hotel, which came in at nearly CA$12,000. My personal rule is to fly premium economy for any flight under three hours and to spring for business class if it's longer. In some cases, you can even save a few thousand dollars by doing business class with a stopover. Montreal to Paris is a fairly long flight nearly seven hours so having the luxury of a business-class seat definitely feels worth it if you can afford it. We chose to fly with Air Canada and stay in solo pods as opposed to the middle-seat pairs pods because we knew we'd be sleeping for the majority of the flight and wanted window seating. Flying in business class is an entirely different experience that comes with better food, better perks, and better comfort. For us, it made the stress of flying far more manageable. Cabs were worth our money In my experience, cabs were always readily available within a minute or two and were pretty reasonably priced. Our average fare was 12 Euros for a 15-minute trip. Unlike the Metro, where you're stuck underground and can't see much of the city, cabs allow you to see more and pass by additional historical monuments and neighborhoods. We also discovered some great local Parisian favorites to eat at on small side streets taken by our cab drivers. That wouldn't have been possible on the Metro. Though trains would've been cheaper, I'm glad we sprung for cab rides. Our 4-star hotel in the heart of Paris was quaint and a good value When choosing a hotel I wanted it to be within walking distance of some of the activities we wanted to do, have at least four stars, and an in-room bathtub. Hotel Le Pradey fit the bill. I bundled our flights and our hotel together on Expedia for a discount, but the hotel is about 306 Euros per night in the off-season. Located right off of Rue du Rivoli, the hotel was basically across the street from the famous Jardin des Tuileries. I walk with canes, so I'm slower than the average tourist, and it still only took me 10 minutes to walk from the hotel to The Louvre. The Musee de L'Orangerie is also 15 minutes away and the gorgeous Musee d'Orsay is about 30 minutes away by foot. Our room in the hotel was small, but it had plenty of space for us as we spent most of our time out and about. The bathroom had a deep soaking tub with water that actually got hot. If you travel a lot, you know that's not a given. The hotel didn't have a lot of frills, but we found it to be a great little boutique hotel with friendly staff. We enjoyed our stay there. The biggest drawback is that there isn't really room service if you want a quiet night in, but there are lots of restaurants within five minutes of the hotel. Pay to visit attractions it's worth it I'd recommend avoiding very popular attractions on the first Sunday of the month if you can. Ashley Couto Many museums in Paris have free days on the first Sunday of the month. We accidentally ended up going to two museums on a free day because we'd already planned to do those activities and had booked our non-movable tickets for the other days. But "free" brings in a lot of visitors and we found some museums to be so crowded that it was difficult to see the artwork. When we paid to visit museums on other days of the week they were less crowded and we were able to more easily speak to staff members. Ebis is a hidden restaurant gem in the 1st Arrondissement and our meals were worth every penny The food was so good we went twice. Ashley Couto We first went to Ebis largely out of convenience it's down the street from the hotel we were staying at but we went back a second night because of the amazing food. Each time, our meals came to about 50 Euros for two people. We had the best food of our entire trip at the small, family-owned Asian-fusion restaurant. I recommend the vegetable rice and pork dishes. One way we really knew it was good is that the tables around us seemed to be filled with Parisian locals. You can make reservations online and I definitely recommend it as the tables fill up quickly. On the other hand, the 'luxury' car service I booked to and from the airport wasn't actually that fancy I took the train to and from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris as a grad student. Getting a nicer, prebooked car service this time seemed like the right choice but it ended up not being worth it for us. With the service I booked, the drivers didn't wait inside with signs to help us with our bags. We had to go outside to find them. The company we used also didn't provide luxury vehicles, just cars with black exteriors. It was basically a cab we paid more money for. If you plan to spring for a luxurious car service, do your research and see what you're actually getting. Or just take a cab. I wish we'd skipped the overpriced bike rides Like in many major cities, Paris had people on bikes offering to pedal visitors around the city. It's quite an experience, but it's not always a great deal. At one point, we were tired of walking around and wanted to take transportation from a museum to our hotel. Our hotel was a five-minute cab ride away that would've cost us about 7 Euros total. But while we got stuck at the crossing light to get to the taxi stand, a bike transporter convinced us to ride with her because it would be a fun experience. Next thing we knew, we were sitting on a tiny bench and experiencing the city by bike. We didn't think to ask how much it would cost us. We figured it would be a small premium, but not more than 20 Euros total. It cost a whopping 25 Euros per person for a seven-minute bike ride. We should've checked ahead of time, but at least we have the story. Crazy Horse is an incredible show, but VIP seating may not be worth the upgrade Crazy Horse will not disappoint if you want to see a great cabaret show. In my opinion, though, you don't need to sit close to have a good time. Regular tickets are about 180 Euros and tickets with preferential seating plus canapes and Champagne is 250 Euros. I sprung to get the premium seats but, if the ravages of time have started to take hold of your neck, I don't totally recommend it. My seat was so close I was looking up at the performers. After the first 15 or 20 minutes, I kept taking breaks and look straight ahead at the performers' legs because my neck was killing me. Fortunately, the theater is so small that even if you're in the back row, you'll still have a phenomenal view. Plus you won't be looking up the whole time. I'd skip Cafe Angelina next time, as I felt it was a bit overpriced for what I got In front of Andrea Mantegna's Madonna della vittoria at The Louvre. Ashley Couto Cafe Angelina is a local Parisian restaurant chain that has found a home in lots of tourist attractions, though some have dubbed it a bit of a tourist trap. We first stopped at Cafe Angelina at Versailles, where there aren't a lot of food options. I paid over 20 Euros for mac and cheese with about three squares of ham in it at The Louvre because it was the only restaurant in that wing of the museum. The food was good but not great, and I thought the prices seemed high for pretty basic food. Next time we'd probably try to find somewhere else, perhaps not a chain, for a quick bite. Read the original article on Insider Key art for the Spy x Family CODE: White movie. Its always exciting when a new anime becomes the talk of the town, and one of last years hits in that regard was Spy x Family. The adaptation of Tetsuya Endos action series quickly became a fan favorite, and its returning later this year in the form of both season two and its first-ever movie. Though details on the former are basically nonexistent, Toho Animation released a short teaser trailer for the film, Spy x Family CODE: White. The movie, with an original story conceived by Endo, sees the Forger familywhich consists of government spy Loid, assassin Yor, telepathic child Anya, and their precognitive dog Bondtake a family trip to the region of Frigis. Though theyre there to learn the recipe of a special treat at Anyas school, things quickly go pear-shaped, and the three of them get caught up in a crisis that Loid and Yor have to prevent, while also keeping their respective double life secret from everyone else. (Anya, who knows both of their secrets, will do what she can to help sell the lie, even while also getting into trouble herself.) Read more SPYFAMILY CODE: White 1222() Despite its relatively short life so far, Spy x Familys always managed to be extremely charming and provide a wacky good time. Its one of those shows thats hard to dislike, and if there were any anime that deserved to hit a new milestone like getting a movie, itd be this one. Getting ballooned into a feature-length film is sure to be a fun time, especially given its proximity to the holidays. Spy x Family CODE: White will hit theaters in Japan on December 22. At time of writing, theres no telling when itll release internationally, or with either Japanese or English dubs. 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. Statue of Revolutionary War general comes down in Albany because he enslaved people A statue of an 18th-century Revolutionary War general has been removed from its place outside city hall in Albany, N.Y. due to him being an owner of enslaved people. In an interview with the New York Times published Sunday, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan (D) said her decision to remove the statue of Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler outside of Romanesque City Hall was due in part to concerns raised by Black members of her staff. Philip Schuyler served as a military commander during the Revolutionary War and was a member of the Continental Congress and held public office as a U.S. senator. He was also Alexander Hamiltons father in law. Sheehan signed an executive order in June 2020 to remove Schuylers statue outside city hall, due to him being the largest owner of enslaved people in the city during his time, adding that the statue will be given to a museum or institution for future display with appropriate historical context. You couldnt get into City Hall without walking past the statue, Sheehan told the Times, also noting that budget problems and the previous COVID-19 pandemic stalled the eventual removal of the statue. Sheehan also said that Schuylers slave holding has been well-known in the community, saying remains of enslaved people were found on the familys former property, according to the Times. Theres also been opposition to the removal of the statue, with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who represents a district in Northern New York, accusing Sheehan of erasing history with the statues removal, the Times reported. It didnt seem right that we should have a statue on public property, glorifying and paying tribute to someone who had done what he did to African American people, Alice Green, the executive director of the Center for Law and Justice, a local civil rights organization, told the Times, also calling the removal of the statue a relief. Some people, I think, became more angry after learning more about who Schuyler was, Green said, noting that her organization has spent years calling for the removal of the statute. And they only were able to do that because people started talking about Schuyler as a result of Hamilton. The removal is part of the initial reckoning of calls to remove statues, including those of Confederate generals, during nationwide protests in the summer of 2020 over police brutality following the police-involved death of George Floyd. Updated on June 26 at 8:51 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After striking deal with Putin, Prigozhin and his fighters abandon march on Moscow Yevgeny Prigozhin talks to two senior Russian generals at the headquarters of Russias Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia, on June 24 In a bizarre turn of events, Wagner mercenary warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin on June 24 abruptly called off his fighters march on Moscow, saying he had reached agreement with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to avoid bloodshed. At the same time, officials in Minsk said a deal between Prigozhin and Putin, brokered by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, would see the Wagner warlord exiled to Belarus, those of his fighters that joined the march on Moscow amnestied, and the remaining Wagner mercenaries allowed to sign contracts with the regular Russian army. Press spokespeople for Lukashenko said that he allegedly spent the whole day on June 24 negotiating with Prigozhin, and that the warlord had agreed to "stop movement through the territory of Russia," and his fighters were promised "security guarantees." For most of the day on June 24 the world watched in fascination as Wagner mercenaries first captured the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, entered another regional capital further north Voronezh and then sent a column bristling with weapons north towards the Russian capital Moscow. Read also: Prigozhin vows to end Shoigu, FSB charges Wagner with inciting insurrection updated In video that appeared during the day, the column was seen apparently being attacked from the air. There were also videos with gunfire, apparently exchanges between Wagner mercenaries and government troops. Speaking to senior Russian officers at the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don after it was captured by his men, Prigozhin also claimed his fighters had shot down three helicopters. He called on the Russian military not to attack his column again. The dramatic events unfolded on June 24 a day after Prigozhin claimed government forces had attack a Wagner base, killing many men, which he connected to his long-running feud with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov. Prigozhin has long-complained that Shoigu and Gerasimov were trying to hobble his force by denying it ammunition and supplies. In a series of vitriolic and expletive-laden rants in recent weeks, he has accused the two of incompetence in managing Russias full-scale invasion and war against Ukraine. Read also: Mass riots by prisoners in Moscow's remand prisons reported And in a recent video, Prigozhin also accused Shoigu of organizing the war in Ukraine in order to increase his rank to marshal, and to win another Hero of the Russian Federation award the Russian states highest honor. He also said the number of casualties suffered by Russia in Ukraine, both in killed and wounded, were many times higher than the Russian Defense Ministry has admitted. He then threatened to March on Moscow to remove Shoigu and Gerasimov from their posts. As the Wagner column advanced north towards Moscow, it appeared that government troops were either unwilling or unable to stop it, although there were reports of skirmishes and air strikes as the column raced towards the Russian capital. There was some evidence, on video, of government troops setting up roadblocks and apparently creating a defensive perimeter along the Oka River, about 60 kilometers south of Moscow, and on highways closer to the Russian capital, just beyond its inner orbital ring-road. But the Wagner column had not reached these defenses by the time the deal between Prigozhin and Putin was announced. Later, the Wagner mercenaries were seen leaving the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, to enthusiastic applause from Russian civilians. The fighters were reported to be returning to their bases. Later video from Rostov showed members of the public shouting shame and traitors at the police as they returned to the city the police initially having fled when the Wagner mercenaries took control of Rostov-on-Don. Prigozhin was also seen leaving the city in a black SUV, and his whereabouts are now unknown. The rapid and dramatic turn of events in Russia left Russia-watchers struggling to explain what had just happened. However, the standoff between the Wagner warlord and the Russian dictator seems to have left both wounded and weakened Prigozhin having lost his power-base, the Wagner mercenary company, and forced into exile in Belarus, and Putin, after vowing to eliminate Prigozhin, being forced to cut a deal with Wagner warlord after government troops appeared unable to properly defend even the Russian capital. 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 Containers of water, which is in short supply in Khartoum during Sudan's war (-) Fighting on Sunday between rival Sudanese generals in Darfur killed at least a dozen civilians, said a doctor in the devastated region. Speaking from the capital of South Darfur state, the doctor said fighting there had led to "a provisional toll of 12 civilians killed in Nyala". But the source -- speaking anonymously for security reasons -- noted that "the violence of the fighting restricts movement" of victims to hospital. Residents on Saturday had reported battles, shelling and artillery strikes in Nyala. Darfur, a vast western region on the border with Chad, has witnessed the deadliest violence in the battle for power between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Rapid Support Forces paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The United Nations says violence in Darfur has taken an "ethnic dimension" and could constitute "crimes against humanity". Daglo's RSF have their origins in the Janjaweed militias which former strongman Omar al-Bashir unleashed in response to a rebellion by ethnic minorities in Darfur in 2003, drawing charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Nearly 2,800 people have been killed in Sudan since battles began in the capital Khartoum on April 15, according to a new toll from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Almost two million others have been displaced within the country, and roughly 600,000 have fled over Sudan's borders, the International Organization for Migration said. The UN on Saturday urged "immediate action" to stop the killings of people fleeing El Geneina, the West Darfur state capital, by Arab militias aided by the paramilitaries. Up to 1,100 people have been killed in El Geneina, the United States State Department said in mid-June. Bodies have been left lying in the streets, including several that appeared to be face down together on a dirt road. Shops have been ripped open by looters. - 'Rockets are falling' - In the chaos, families try to avoid bullets on the 30-kilometre (18-mile) journey to neighbouring Chad -- where more than 155,000 have taken refuge. Across the border in Adre, refugees gather under tarpaulins stretched over branches, and form long lines to collect food and water. Aid has reached at least 2.8 million people in Sudan, the UN said, but agencies report major hurdles to their work, from visas for foreign humanitarians to securing safe corridors. International donors pledged $1.5 billion in aid at a conference in Geneva last week -- less than half the estimated needs for Sudan and its affected neighbours. The United States, which along with Saudi Arabia sought to mediate between the warring sides and ensure humanitarian aid can reach those in need, said Thursday it had put its efforts on hold. Outside of Darfur, the capital Khartoum has been the war's main battleground. The armed forces have stepped up air raids there, while RSF artillery targets army and police bases. Residents who remain in the city are suffering electricity and water shortages. On Sunday, several of them reported artillery fire in the south of the city, and fighting elsewhere. "Rockets are falling on the houses," a witness in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman told AFP. bur/ysm Just hours after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dressed down a heckler at an event in South Carolina, his aligned super PAC, Never Back Down, tweeted the video with clapping emojis and the caption, Not On Our Watch. The incident racked up millions of views and got play on Fox News. Never Back Down operates side by side with the DeSantis campaign. Its buses and staffers appear at his events. And it has recently pledged a massive door-knocking effort to bolster his campaign. Its not just DeSantis and Never Back Down in lockstep on the trail. Super PACs have been growing in strength for more than a decade, but this cycle are swimming in more money than ever. They have started earlier, with more than $14 million in independent expenditures in the primary already, according to federal data, compared with around $950,000 at this time in 2015. The groups are also taking new approaches, deploying staffing at campaign events, paying for door-knocking operations and even sending fundraising texts on candidates behalf. Some of the new strategies could test the legal limits on coordination between campaigns and super PACs, though campaign finance experts say the groups so far seem to be complying with how the Federal Election Commission has interpreted the rules. But the greater on-the-ground presence of super PACs has not gone unnoticed. There does seem to be a new level of brazenness about how much super PACs are appearing at campaign events and vice versa, said Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center. This gush of resources could be a huge advantage for candidates who can leverage it, although past primaries show that having the most money doesnt automatically make a candidate a winner. MAGA Inc., the super PAC backing former President Donald Trump, began running ads against DeSantis before the Florida governor officially became a presidential candidate. The mnemonically named Trust In the Mission PAC, supporting Sen. Tim Scotts presidential bid, has dropped millions on TV ads that happen to feature the URL of Scotts official campaign website. And Committed To America, the group supporting former Vice President Mike Pence, has quietly dropped hundreds of thousands of dollars on canvassing in Iowa. Outside groups have also looked to take candidates down: Americans for Prosperity Action, a super PAC backed by the Koch brothers, has spent a bit over $100,000 on a digital ad buy opposing Trump. But no campaign appears to have benefited as much from a super PAC so far as DeSantis. The Republican whos cemented himself as the leading alternative to Trump has enjoyed massive support from Never Back Down. Its embrace of his candidacy is underwritten by more than $110 million in funding though much of that came from a Florida political committee that was once DeSantis own gubernatorial campaign. Never Back Down staffers regularly work DeSantis events in early voting states, delivering swag and volunteers whose messaging matches the campaigns, right down to the slogan. DeSantis stump speech includes a line about how he does not back down from tough fights. (The group said it learns of DeSantis campaign events only when they are publicly posted.) Never Back Down staffers showed up to an event DeSantis headlined in Iowa shortly before announcing his campaign with signs and a decorated bus in tow. They followed his appearances throughout the Hawkeye State, joining him at an impromptu stop at a pizza shop in the afternoon and a bar later that evening. The group was on hand again during his first week as a candidate, trolling Trump with a bus in Iowa and greeting attendees at a rally in South Carolina. And they are active on social media, defending the governor and hitting his rivals. A recent tweet mocked Trump for losing reelection a step past what DeSantis has been willing to say about the former presidents electoral performance. The group said its canvassers have already knocked on 300,000 doors across the first four primary states. The unparalleled momentum behind Gov. DeSantis has enabled Never Back Down to build an expansive operation across the early primary states, Never Back Down spokesperson Jess Szymanski said. The role for super PACs dates back to 2010, when a pair of Supreme Court decisions enabled outside groups to spend unlimited money in politics provided that they do not coordinate with campaigns. Total super PAC spending has increased in every presidential cycle since then, a trend that is all but certain to continue. Though the presence of super PACs at campaign events might make it seem as though they are working with campaigns, the FEC has interpreted the restriction on coordination narrowly. Many candidates get around it simply by making campaign information available widely. In order to be restricted or prohibited, a super PAC has to be talking to a candidate. They need to be in conversation in coordination about specific details of specific expenditures made by the super PAC, said Paul S. Ryan, a longtime campaign finance and ethics lawyer. It's such a narrow scope of related activities that it has proven to be almost meaningless. In 2016, a super PAC backing former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorinas presidential campaign hosted and staffed events the candidate attended, a setup that was legal because Fiorinas campaign made her travel schedule public, so there was no private communication between her campaign and the outside group. The super PAC, named Carly for America, even skirted an FEC rule that super PACs cannot use the name of the candidate by having Carly stylized in all capital letters and stand for Conservative, Authentic, Responsive Leadership for You. It's easy in a digital age for outside groups to track and replicate the campaigns official message, whether for advertisements or scripts for paid door-knockers, which often draw from a candidates stump speech or other public messaging. Super PACs have stepped in to help long-shot candidates garner enough small-dollar donors to meet debate state qualifications. The super PAC supporting former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Tell It Like It Is, has run digital ads that include a link to donate to his official campaign and a message about helping the former New Jersey governor make the August debate stage. The role for super PACs in candidate fundraising is relatively new, but the law allows the groups to share links to a candidates donation page just as they would any other communication. Never Back Down has sent fundraising texts that enable the user to donate directly to DeSantis. The group also gathered online contributions for DeSantis official campaign prior to his launch; it said that effort raised $500,000. Super PACs are also still engaging in typical activities such as expensive TV ad buys, led by MAGA Inc., which has spent nearly $20 million this year, according to data from AdImpact. Never Back Down has dropped $14.1 million so far. The flow of cash still troubles Ghosh, of the Campaign Legal Center, because of its implications for the greater role of wealthy donors who finance the outside groups. They are part of the campaign finance landscape in such a way that I think it's become unthinkable that someone could actually run for president without one, he said. Zach Montellaro contributed to this report. Supreme Court set for furious round of decisions in final days of June Supreme Court set for furious round of decisions in final days of June The Supreme Court is set to hand down key decisions this week on student debt relief, affirmative action and federal election laws as it enters the last week of its summer session with 10 cases pending. The court has given no indication it will break its norm of finishing decisions by the end of June, and the next batch is slated to be released Tuesday morning. Beyond the decisions, the court is also forming its docket for the next term. The justices Monday could announce whether they will take up several high-profile cases, including on guns, racial discrimination and qualified immunity. Here are the remaining cases as the Supreme Court wraps up its annual term: Student Debt Relief President Bidens plan to forgive student debt for more than 40 million borrowers will soon be greenlighted or blocked, depending on how the justices rule. Bidens plan would forgive up to $10,000 for borrowers who meet income requirements and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. But the debt relief remains on hold until the Supreme Court resolves two lawsuits challenging the plan. If either succeeds, the debt relief will be blocked. During oral arguments, the conservative majority cast doubt that the administration had the authority to cancel the debts, expected to amount to hundreds of billions of dollars. But before they can strike down the plan as unlawful, the justices must first decide whether any of the challengers have legal standing. The six GOP-led states and two individual borrowers challenging the plan have promoted various arguments. Missouris argument received the most attention, and conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the courts three liberals in questioning the states theory during oral argument. The cases are Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown. Affirmative Action When the Supreme Court upheld affirmative action in college admissions in 2003, Justice Sandra Day OConnor in her majority opinion made a temporal prediction: The Court expects that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today, she wrote. That landmark decision, Grutter v. Bollinger, marked its 20th anniversary Friday. It might not reach its 21st. The justices have been weighing whether to overturn Grutter and decades of affirmative action programs in higher education along with it in challenges to admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During oral argument, the majority appeared skeptical of upholding race-conscious college admissions. Each justice tends to write no more than one majority opinion for each monthly argument session. Chief Justice John Roberts and conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh have not yet issued majority opinions for any cases argued in November, when the affirmative action challenges were heard, meaning one of them is the likely author. The cases are Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. Same-sex wedding websites Web designer Lorie Smith, an evangelical Christian, is challenging Colorados public accommodation law on free speech grounds. Like many other states, Colorados law prohibits businesses that serve the public from discriminating based on sexual orientation. Smith wants to expand her business to create wedding websites. But Colorados law would demand she create same-sex wedding websites if she wants to do so for opposite-sex unions, and Smith is vehemently opposed to gay marriage. The justices are now set to decide whether public accommodation laws, as applied to Smith and other artists, violate the First Amendment by compelling their speech. The conservative majority signaled support for Smith during oral argument. Roberts and Justice Neil Gorsuch appear to be the likely pool of authors, because they are the two remaining justices who have not issued majority opinions from a case argued in December. The case is 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis. Independent State Legislature Theory The court is weighing a major election clash that will decide who has the final word on setting federal election rules. North Carolina Republican lawmakers appealed a state court ruling that struck down their congressional map, promoting to the justices a sweeping argument known as the independent state legislature theory. That theory asserts that state legislatures have exclusive authority to set federal election rules under the Constitution. Adopting it would claw back the ability of state courts and state constitutions to block legislatures congressional map designs and other regulations surrounding federal elections. Its possible, however, that the court tosses the case without reaching the theorys merits. As the justices considered the case, Republicans regained control of North Carolinas top court and overturned the underlying decision that struck down the states congressional map. The Supreme Court has been paying close attention to whether they still have jurisdiction in the case, a potential offramp from the high-stakes dispute. Based on the decisions released so far, Roberts or Gorsuch appears to be the likely author of the majority opinion. The case is Moore v. Harper. Other cases The court has four other cases remaining. In Groff v. DeJoy, the justices will decide whether the U.S. Postal Service had to accommodate postal worker Gerald Groffs request to not work on Sundays for religious reasons. The decision could change the standard for when businesses must provide religious accommodations under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In Counterman v. Colorado, the court is grappling with a mans appeal of his stalking conviction on First Amendment grounds. The high court has long carved out true threats as an exception to free speech protections, and the case will clarify when it applies: when a reasonable person regards the statement as a threat of violence, or only when the speaker intended for it to be threatening. In a case closely watched by business interests, the justices in Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co. are weighing a constitutional challenge to a Pennsylvania law, which mandates that corporations doing business there consent that state courts have jurisdiction to hear lawsuits against the company. In Abitron Austria GmbH v. Hetronic International Inc., the justices are weighing whether federal law can be used to punish trademark infringement if the infringement happens overseas. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. How surgeons in Ukraine are saving soldiers' lives with a simple tube grown from human cells The human acellular vessel could replace traditional methods of treating traumatic vascular injuries. Humacyte Some Ukrainian surgeons are using cutting-edge medical technology to treat wounded soldiers. The medical device is a human acellular vessel and is designed to treat traumatic vascular injuries. HAVs combine the simplicity of using artificial vessels with the safety of using a person's vein. Last year, a new type of medical device arrived on the battlefield in the war in Ukraine. It's a small tube called the human acellular vessel (HAV) designed to treat traumatic vascular injuries mostly due to blasts and shrapnel. Dr. Oleksandr Sokolov, a vascular surgeon in Ukraine, told Insider that HAVs have been used in simple vascular reconstructions as well as in contaminated and complicated wounds. So far, HAVs have helped 18 injured military personnel and civilians. The HAV "really makes sense in civil and military medicine, especially for treatment of blast shrapnel and gunshot injuries, during massive casualties, when every moment is very expensive," Sokolov said. Why vascular injuries are so dangerous Vascular injuries are a leading cause of preventable death in military combat and a leading cause of amputation. When a blood vessel is damaged it can lead to limb loss if the blood supply is cut off or death if damaged arteries cause too much blood loss. Between 2009 and 2015 in Afghanistan, nearly 20% of all combat injuries suffered by US soldiers were due to vascular trauma 70% were caused by fragments from explosions and 30% by gunshot wounds. How HAVs reached Ukraine Not long after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, surgeons in Ukraine reached out to the biotech company that created the HAV, Humacyte. Humacyte worked with the FDA's Office of International Programs and the Ukrainian Ministry of Health to send the still experimental HAVs to the war zone. "We shipped vessels to five frontline hospitals around June of 2022," said Laura Niklason, CEO and founder of Humacyte. Part of what makes the HAV different and so promising is that it's actually bioengineered from human cells. A lab-grown replacement blood vessel The hope is that HAVs can provide a superior option to current vascular replacement techniques. They're lab-grown from human vascular cells in about eight weeks and then sanitized to be ready as an off-the-shelf replacement blood vessel. HAVs are grown in a manufacturing lab facility from human cells. Humacyte Vascular surgeons often treat traumatic vascular injuries with grafts. The preferred method involves taking a vein from one part of a patient's body and grafting it into the injured area. But if a vein isn't available for example, in a battlefield injury where all limbs sustained damage a surgeon can use a prosthetic blood vessel made of synthetic material. Though both of these methods can be effective, they have some drawbacks. When using a vein from a patient's body, harvesting the vein can lead to complications, as well as taking more time which can be a critical factor in treating severe injuries. Prosthetic vessels, on the other hand, are quickly available, but tend to have a high infection rate and are prone to blood clotting complications. HAVs avoid both of these drawbacks because they're immediately available and since they're made of human vascular cells they have low infection rates, according to clinical trials. They combine the simplicity of using artificial vessels with the safety and confidence of using a person's own vein, Sokolov said. Plus, over time "you can see stem cells from the patient start off on the outside of the HAV, and then over time they work their way in and become vascular cells, so this HAV becomes a new artery," Niklason said. HAVs don't contain elastin, a protein that helps blood vessels contract and relax and elastin doesn't seem to reform as part of the HAV inside the body. But other than that, "over time it very, very much resembles a native blood vessel," Niklosan said. An HAV repopulated by human cells. Smooth muscle cells are red, cell nuclei are blue, and progenitor cells descendants of stem cells are green. Laura Niklason/Jeffrey Lawson Sokolov said people in Ukraine treated with HAVs have no signs of complications since they were first used about one year ago. "In my opinion, arterial reconstruction using an HAV is a fairly simple and reproducible technique for operating vascular surgeons," he said. HAVs aren't just for battlefield blast injuries. Clinical trials are ongoing for their treatment of other traumatic injuries, such as from car accidents and workplace accidents involving heavy machinery. Dr. Miechia Esco, a vascular surgeon experienced in treating traumatic injuries, reviewed reports of the HAV in clinical trials. She told Insider, "A bioengineered vessel universally readily available for complex vascular trauma is remarkable." Esco wondered what HAVs will cost if they're mass-produced if they are potentially more expensive than current treatment options, but said, "If the reports, Phase III trial results, and other claims of Humacyte remain consistent in what is actually observed in civilian and combat scenarios, it could be the optimal choice in select vascular trauma patients." What's next? A representative for Humactye wouldn't share the cost of the HAV. The company is waiting until their device is FDA-approved. But they expect HAVs will provide overall cost savings for the medical community due to fewer complications, such as infections and amputations compared to the current standard of care. Humacyte plans to file an application with the FDA later this year for HAVs to treat traumatic vascular injuries. Niklason hopes for approval by the middle of 2024 and said scaling up production shouldn't be an issue. The company has the capacity to grow 40,000 HAVs per year, Niklason said. Correction June 26, 2023 An earlier version of this story misstated that the human acellular vessel had helped 18 injured soldiers. The 18 in question were both military personnel and civilians. Read the original article on Business Insider Suspected car dealership thief asks for medical help after jumping fence trying to get away A man who broke into a Georgia car dealership had to ask for medical assistance after he injured himself running away from officers, Winder police said. Just after 9 a.m. on June 11, Winder Police Dept units responded to Akins Ford in reference to an alarm. Dispatch told officers that a thermal camera at the dealership picked up a person, later identified as Kevin Santiago, who was seen sitting in one of the cars on the lot. When police arrived, Santiago jumped the fence from inside the car dealership parking lot. Santiago was seen laying on the ground motionless after falling over the fence. TRENDING STORIES: He reportedly requested medical help after injuring himself trying to jump over the fence. After Santiago was medically examined, police took over the case and arrested him. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Santiago was accused of breaking into eight cars, police said. He was charged with burglary, theft by taking, felony entering and other charges, according to police. Police said body camera footage was captured on the scene. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Taylor Swift reportedly turned down Meghan Markles request for her to be on her "Archetypes" podcast. Did Taylor Swift think Meghan Markle was trouble? Did she know all too well about the familial friction between the British royal family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex? Was she not ready for an appearance on Markle's "Archetype" podcast? The world may never know. A little over a week after it was announced that Markle and Prince Harry's organization Archewell had mutually parted from its partnership with Spotify, it was reported that Markle wrote a personal note to Swift, requesting she come on her now-defunct podcast. Swift reportedly rejected the offer via her representative, the Wall Street Journal reported. Taylor Swift reportedly turned down a request to appear on Meghan Markle's "Archetypes" podcast. A representative for Swift did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. The Journal report expanded on the relationships the Duke and Duchess have curated in Hollywood after their infamous departure as senior members of the royal family in 2020, and the consequential birth of their nonprofit organization Archewell. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP They would ink deals with both Netflix and Spotify that year, beginning with their lucrative "Harry & Meghan" documentary, which premiered in December 2022. According to the report, employees felt that the documentary was critical for continuing the relationship with Netflix. Their second project, "Live to Lead," also debuted in December of the same year, but failed to reach Netflix's top 10. Their children's program, "Pearl," was previously scrapped by the streaming service. The couple have several projects in the works with the platform, though insiders suggested to the outlet that Netflix will likely not renew their deal, which expires in 2025. Meghan Markle's podcast "Archetypes" featured stories from several prominent women. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Things with Spotify are also not cut-and-dry. Markle's podcast "Archetypes" was an immediate hit, with the podcast featuring special guests Serena Williams, Mariah Carey and Mindy Kaling in the first three episodes. However, according to the report, it was Prince Harry who did not fulfill his end of the bargain, as the initial deal with Spotify included "each of the Sussexes voicing and being directly involved in a podcast." Prince Harry was reportedly supposed to have a podcast of his own. Despite their success, their work was reportedly not without flaws. People who worked for the couple alluded to the "Spare" author and his wife not being experienced in the podcast space, lacking direction, and underestimating the amount of work it would take to produce content. Spotify and Netflix had been cutting costs and content and reportedly were not pleased that the couple had not been producing as much as they had expected. Insiders say that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have "a lack of productivity." In January, amid an announcement of several promotions and new hires, Archewell also parted ways with two of its top executives. Neither Ben Browning, head of content for Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio, nor Fara Taylor, head of marketing for Archewell, have continued with the company. "Ben and Fara have been integral to the creation and execution of many critically and commercially acclaimed projects during their tenure. They have expertly delivered content and campaigns that have exceeded expectations and made their mark within the cultural zeitgeist," a press release obtained by Fox News Digital read. "They played a critical role in helping to tell the stories of the Duke and Duchess thus far and the couple remain hugely grateful for their support on those vital look back projects, as they now look forward." Representatives for the Duke and Duchess did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment. A teenager fatally shot in the neck staggered for a block before collapsing on a Lower East Side street early Sunday, cops said. Police found the 18-year-old victim mortally wounded outside a smoke shop on Rivington St. near Pitt St. at about 12:50 a.m., cops said. Medics rushed him to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Lower Manhattan, but he couldnt be saved. His name was not immediately released. The teen was shot near the corner of Ridge and Rivington Sts. and left a trail of blood on the ground and on parked cars on his way to the smoke shop. Thats my car, said one man, referring to his silver Honda sedan, which had a bloody hand print on the rear passenger side. Were just in shock. Were still processing this. Police are looking for two men who ran off west on Rivington St. but have made no arrests. One neighbor, who didnt give his name, said he heard two shots in quick succession and came to see what had happened. I came downstairs and saw all the action. A lot of cops, he said. They were taking the ambulance away. I lived in this neighborhood since 2014. Theres always little things here and there, but this is literally a little too close to home, he added. Im very sad that its somebody so young. Its senseless stuff. The shooting happened about a half mile from Orchard and Stanton Sts., where a 28-year-old man was shot in the head and critically wounded a week ago. A suspect, DaJaun Bradley, 25, is charged with attempted murder and remains held on $100,000 bail for the 3 a.m. June 18 shooting. Sundays killing marks the second homicide reported this year in the 7th Precinct, which covers the Lower East Side, compared with two in the same timeframe last year. The precinct has seen three shootings with three victims as of June 18, compared with four shootings with six victims in the same time period last year. Bike thieves were the least likely to be caught - Kenny Williamson/Moment Theft has been decriminalised across two thirds of neighbourhoods in England and Wales over the past three years, a Telegraph investigation has found. From 2020, not a single personal, vehicle or bike theft was solved by police in between half and two-thirds of the 30,100 neighbourhoods in England and Wales, according to an analysis of police data. Bike thieves were the least likely to be caught with every reported bicycle theft remaining unsolved in 66 per cent of the neighbourhoods since 2020. Of around 184,400 thefts, 3,863 were solved. Not a single case of vehicle crime which includes theft of and from a car, van or lorry was solved in 59 per cent of neighbourhoods. That meant that nationally during the three years only 21,547 cases were solved while 888,696 were unsolved. For theft of personal items, such as cash, purses and bags, all reported crimes remained unsolved in 56 per cent of the neighbourhoods. That represented 191,283 unsolved thefts with 2,914 solved. Rick Muir, director at the Police Foundation, Britains independent police think-tank, said crimes such as theft had been decriminalised in parts of the country by police shifting over the past decade from a focus on charging or outcomes to simply managing demand. This data demonstrates how the focus in policing has shifted away from core crime outcomes in recent years. Very many people are not receiving any response at all when they are reporting theft, Mr Muir said. This reflects the reductions in resources over the last decade, as well as a more complex crime mix, but now police numbers have returned to their 2010 level it is reasonable to expect more in terms of resolution rates. Nationally, the proportion of thefts resulting in a suspect being charged has plummeted in the past six years. Figures are down from 6.6 per cent to 2.2 per cent for theft of a vehicle since 2017. And they have fallen from 1.8 per cent to 0.9 per cent or one in 100 for theft from a vehicle. Bike theft charging rates have nearly halved from 2.5 per cent to 1.4 per cent, or one in 70 being solved. Charging rates for personal theft have more than halved from 1.7 per cent in 2017 to 0.8 per cent, or one in 125 crimes. Harvey Redgrave, a former No 10 adviser and chief executive of crime consultancy Crest Advisory, said: These shocking figures indicate a police service that is failing to do the basics and will put further strain on its already damaged relationship with the public. Urgent need for a national plan The current situation is intolerable for communities already suffering in a cost of living crisis. We are at a point where many will start to wonder if calling the police is worth the effort and criminals will be left emboldened. Theres an urgent need for government to set out a national plan for reversing the collapse in charge rates. In the worst area for vehicle crime covering theft of and from vehicles, Upper Edmonton East and Meridian Water in Enfield, North London, all 580 cases were unsolved in three years. Purfleet, South Stifford and Lakeside in Thurrock, Essex, had the highest number of vehicle crime cases in the country over the three years with 943, of which 43 were solved. Hans Town in Kensington, west London, saw just one of its 730 closed cases solved. For bike theft, Trumpington in Cambridge had none of its 305 crimes solved. Just down the road, central and west Cambridge had the highest number of thefts at 1,110, of which 27 were solved. The two worst areas for personal thefts were in the south London borough of Lambeth: Brixton North, which had all its 293 cases unsolved in three years, and Clapham North, with 233 unsolved. Across the entirety of Soho, fewer than 100 of the 15,263 personal thefts were solved (a clearance rate of 0.5 per cent). Shocking figures highlight reality Diana Fawcett, chief executive of Victim Support, said: These shocking figures highlight the unfortunate reality facing many victims of theft that far too many go unsolved. These are crimes that can have a devastating impact on individuals, communities and neighbourhoods. However, time and time again victims are left feeling that they have not been taken seriously, and the statistics back this up. This must change, and the police and government must pull out the stops to tackle and solve these crimes. Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, of the National Police Chiefs Council, said police did take the offences seriously, and where there was not enough evidence to prosecute, forces prioritised targeting prolific offenders, organised crime gangs and preventative measures. I understand the disappointment felt by victims who do not get a quality service by the police or the outcomes they would want through the criminal justice system, she said. We know there is much more that needs to be done, and police and prosecutors are doing their part, working together to make sure we improve the experience of those affected by these devastating crimes. 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. An intense, four-day international hunt for a submersible containing Titanic tourists has ended, but questions remain about not only what happened but why it was allowed to. The five-passenger submersible was billed as state of the art by operator OceanGate Expeditions. It featured newer, lighter materials and an elongated shape that made it able to ferry more undersea tourists than any other deep-dive vessel. But the unique design hadnt been widely tested or classed by a third-party agency. The company and its CEO and co-founder Stockton Rush, who was among those killed in last weeks dive, argued the lengthy process to do so would stifle innovation, as Rush told Smithsonian Magazine in 2019. The Titan tourist submersible, which is operated by OceanGate Expeditions, is seen during a descent. The vessel's elongated hull was a unique design for such deep-sea treks, which raised concern prior to last week's dive. The Titan tourist submersible, which is operated by OceanGate Expeditions, is seen during a descent. The vessel's elongated hull was a unique design for such deep-sea treks, which raised concern prior to last week's dive. Bringing an outside entity up to speed on every innovation before it is put into real-world testing is anathema to rapid innovation, the company similarly argued in a 2019 blog post titled Why Isnt Titan Classed? They Had Received Numerous Warnings. Im not exactly sure how many people actually understood what that meant, Sal Mercogliano, an associate professor of history at Campbell University in North Carolina and an adjunct professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, said of those who agreed to ride in it.What that meant was, this company, OceanGate, was doing the checks and certifications themselves on their craft, and they had received numerous warnings in the industry about the experimental nature of this craft. OceanGates Titan submersible had completed multiple trips to the Titanic since 2021 and that alone appeared to be reason enough for the company to promote its safety, but the vessel hadnt been involved in long-term tests on whether its unique carbon-fiber hull and tube-shaped design could continually withstand the extreme pressures and temperature changes miles beneath the oceans surface, Mercogliano said. In 2018, a group of industry leaders, deep-sea explorers and oceanographers sent a letter to Rush warning that his companys experimental approach could result in catastrophe and that his representation of his practices was at a minimum misleading to the public, as The New York Times reported. A former employee also said he spoke out against the design and was fired after doing so. Everybody said that thats a very radical design and that it hasnt been fully tested, Mercogliano said. A general view of James Cameron's single-seater Deepsea Challenger submersible is seen on display at California Science Center. Most deep-sea submersibles feature circular hulls to better withstand extreme pressure, said Dr. Sal Mercogliano. A general view of James Cameron's single-seater Deepsea Challenger submersible is seen on display at California Science Center. Most deep-sea submersibles feature circular hulls to better withstand extreme pressure, said Dr. Sal Mercogliano. Most deep-diving submersibles follow the same general design pattern, typically steel or titanium balls to withstand the pressure, he said. (You can read about the spherical design of the submersible that carried film director James Cameron to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean.) Building off the same tried-and-tested designs is part of what has made the submersible industry incredibly safe, said Mercogliano. Its been since the 60s, you havent had a failure of a deep-submergence vessel at all. There have been no fatalities, he said. But what Rush wanted to do was really try and go to the next level and he thought he had the solution, which was this carbon fiber vessel with the titanium caps because what that allowed you to do, unlike other submersibles, is put more people inside. Because a big sphere, you cant get that many people inside. So why was it allowed to operate? The submersibles miles-long trek to the bottom of the remote North Atlantic Ocean was just one of many risky ways thrill seekers today can pay big bucks to defy the limits. Theres space tourism, offered by Elon Musks SpaceX, Jeff Bezos Blue Origin, and later this month, Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic. People can also explore active volcanoesand climb Mount Everest, where at least a dozen people died this year. Most of those excursions feature government safety regulations because they occur on land thats governed by a nation. In the case of spaceflight in the U.S., for instance, the trips face regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Titan submersible was different, however, because it set sail from Canada and dove in international waters where there is no maritime organization that sets the parameters for submersibles, said Mercogliano. A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sits in a port near a Coast Guard Station amid the intense, days-long search for the missing submersible. A U.S. Coast Guard vessel sits in a port near a Coast Guard Station amid the intense, days-long search for the missing submersible. Some tourist diving sites have rules on submersibles because theyre in government territories such as in the Bahamas and Australias Great Barrier Reef but Canada has no regulations on the vessels that leave its ports simply because no one foresaw the idea of doing this commercially in its waters, said Mercogliano. I think theres going to be a serious look in Canada about what their rules and regulations are governing this because if youre going to dive to the Titanic youre probably going to come out of a Canadian port, he said. And despite the risks and fatalities, Arun Upneja, dean of Boston Universitys School of Hospitality Administration, said people are going to want to keep going on these trips. Anytime theres a high-profile event, its a very sad event where people lost their lives, but I think its just going to increase the interest in not just undersea but other adventure activities, he said. How much are we willing to spend on these rescue missions when people are willing to risk their lives on these kinds of adventures?Arun Upneja, dean of Boston Universitys School of Hospitality Administration Passengers who have been aboard the Titan said they signed lengthy waivers acknowledging the risk of death, but as Mercogliano pointed out, some people may not have entirely understood how serious the risks were. The companys own CEO taking the trek with passengers on this dive may have also given them a false sense of security, said Upneja. He was prepared to take a very high level of risk. Was their risk tolerance aligned with his? he said. People have to be careful and do their due diligence before they sign up for these kinds of extremely risky and dangerous expeditions. Upneja said he hopes future thrill seekers ask more rigorous questions and fully investigate before participating in activities. He also thinks we, as a society, need to question whether the expeditions are worth the costs involved when something goes wrong. How much are we willing to spend on these rescue missions when people are willing to risk their lives on these kinds of adventures? he asked. Search-and-rescue teams from multiple countries and private companies trekked to the remote location where the Titan submersible was last seen to help in what is estimated to have been a multimillion-dollar search operation. The U.S. Coast Guard, which did not respond to HuffPosts question on the estimated costs incurred, is not legally allowed to charge those in need of rescue, though the private companies that participated will likely file claims against OceanGate for compensation, Mercogliano said. Related... The 1997 blockbusterTitanic will return to Netflix in July - just weeks after a doomed expedition to the ocean liners resting place on the oceanfloor. The movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet is returning to the streaming platform on 1 July, according to HuffPost, along nearly 100 other titles. The Independent could not independently confirm this report, and has contacted Netflix for comment. Five crew members were killed on Oceangate Expeditions Titan submersible as it voyaged 12,00ft down in the Atlantic ocean to view the Titanics wreckage. It is unclear whether the decision to add Titanic was made before or after the Titan submersible tragedy this week but some on social media suggested Netflix couldve picked a better time and suggested that the company was seizing on the tragedy to increase viewing figures. Others said the streaming service could be merely responding to demands from viewers. The movie, which follows the fictional romance between an aristocrat and an artist onboard the Titanic, is already available on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime. Last week Titanic director, James Cameron, who claims to have spent more time inside the Titanic than its captain, told ABC News that the Titans tragedy was avoidable. The submersible, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, was on its way to the Titanic wreckage when it lost communication with its surface ship just one hour and 45 minutes into its descent. The Coast Guard announced on Thursday (22 June) that debris from the sub was located approximately 12,500 feet underwater. On board the watercraft were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman Dawood. Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet, he steamed up full speed into an ice field on a moonless night, and many people died as a result, Mr Cameron told ABC, criticising safety issues with the Titan. And for a very similar tragedy, where warnings went unheeded, to take place at the same exact site, with all the diving thats going on all around the world, I think its just astonishing, its really quite surreal. It has since emerged that the submersible relied on a design featuring key components made out of carbon fibre, which experts say hasnt been proven as a reliable material for deep-sea use. Innovation is a wonderful thing, Bart Kemper, a mechanical engineer from the Marine Technology Society, told NBC News. But everything that is new and not tried introduces uncertainty, and uncertainty is risk. A lawsuit filed by a former OceanGate employee in 2018 and obtained by The New Republic also listed visible flaws with the vessel that were reportedly ignored by senior management. Submarine experts had also signed a letter expressing unanimous concern with the companys decision not to seek outside evaluation and testing before bringing passengers down to the Titanic. The Independent has contacted OceanGate for comment on the allegations. A 2019 post on OceanGates website stated that the Titan was not classed by major marine operations because those certifications do not ensure that operators adhere to proper operating procedures and decision-making processes two areas that are much more important for mitigating risks at sea, according to CNN. Following the tragic incident, the company issued a statement mourning the deaths of the five passengers. OceanGate Expeditions Titan submersible which imploded, killing all five passengers (OceanGate Expeditions) These men were true explorers who shared a distinct spirit of adventure, and a deep passion for exploring and protecting the worlds oceans, the release read. Our hearts are with these five souls and every member of their families during this tragic time. We grieve the loss of life and joy they brought to everyone they knew. Multi-agency investigations into the catastrophic implosion are now underway, Canadian and US authorities have said. Canadian officials revealed on Saturday that audio and commands between the Titan and its mother ship Polar Prince will be analysed as part of their probe. The chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Kathy Fox, said that the crew was interviewed to collect information from the vessels voyage data recorder and other vessel systems that contain useful information, according to CNN. Titanic sub update YouTuber reveals he was invited on fated Titan tour as submersibles implosion probed A popular Youtuber has revealed he was invited on the OceanGate Titanic expedition tour that imploded last week, killing all five of its passengers. James Donaldson, most known as MrBeast on Youtube for his videos giving out charity, said that he had declined the invitation. I was invited earlier this month to ride the [T]itanic submarine, I said no. Kind of scary that I could have been on it, Mr Donaldson tweeted. Meanwhile, authorities from the US and Canada said they will investigate the cause of the catastrophic implosion. The US Coast Guard, assisted by the US National Transportation Safety Board, as well as the Transportation Safety Board of Canada will launch investigations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they too would be looking into whether a formal criminal investigation is warranted. The Coast Guard announced debris from the sub was located approximately 12,500 feet (3,810 metres) underwater and 1,600 feet away from the Titanic wreckage. OceanGate Expeditions submersible was on its way to the wreckage when it lost communication with its surface ship and eventually imploded on Sunday, 18 June. For four days an international search and rescue mission was conducted in the hopes of finding the five people on the submersible. Aboard the watercraft were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, British billionaire Hamish Harding, French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman Dawood. Key points US Coast Guard to lead investigation of sub disaster Why did the Titanic sub implode? James Cameron reveals he knew Titanic sub imploded on Monday Secret US Navy underwater microphones detected Titan sub implosion Where is the Titanic wreck and how far down is it? WATCH: Ships return to harbour as Titan submersible recovery operations begin to wind down 17:37 , Andrea Blanco Titanics director struck by similarity of Titans disasters to sinking of 1912 vessel 16:41 , Andrea Blanco In an interview with ABC News, the director of the 1997 blockbuster criticised the Titans lack of certifications, noting that the tragedy was completely avoidable. Im struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster itself, where the captain was repeatedly warned about ice ahead of his ship, and yet, he steamed up full speed into an ice field on a moonless night, and many people died as a result, James Cameron said. And for a very similar tragedy, where warnings went unheeded, to take place at the same exact site, with all the diving thats going on all around the world, I think its just astonishing, its really quite surreal. Data from Titans mother ship to be analysed 15:57 , Andrea Blanco Canadian officials have revealed that audio and commands between the Titan and its mother ship Polar Prince will be subject to an investigation. The chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, Kathy Fox, said that the crew was interviewed to collect information from the vessels voyage data recorder and other vessel systems that contain useful information, according to CNN. Ms Fox noted that the goal was to determine what went wrong after the Titan lost contact with its mother ship just an hour and 45 minutes into its descent to the wreckage of the Titanic. After ROVs (remotely-operated vehicles) found debris found 1,600 feet from the wreck of the Titanic, the US Coast Guard determined that all five passengers aboard the submersible were killed after the vessel imploded. The Polar Prince returned to St Johns on Saturday with its flags at half-mast. American Youtuber reveals he was asked to go on OceanGate tour before tragedy 15:35 , Andrea Blanco James Donaldson, most known as Mr Beast on Youtube, revealed on Sunday that he was asked to join the Titan crew. I was invited earlier this month to ride the titanic submarine, I said no. Kind of scary that I could have been on it, Mr Donaldson, who is famous on the platform for his videos giving out charity, tweeted. I was invited earlier this month to ride the titanic submarine, I said no. Kind of scary that I could have been on it pic.twitter.com/bQUnaRiczA MrBeast (@MrBeast) June 25, 2023 OceanGate sub carbon fiber design 'was not proven as reliable 15:04 , Andrea Blanco The submarine expedition to the Titanic that claimed five lives over the weekend relied on a design featuring key components made out of carbon fiber, which experts say hasnt been proven as a reliable material for deep sea use. Innovation is a wonderful thing, Bart Kemper, a mechanical engineer from the Marine Technology Society, told NBC News. But everything that is new and not tried introduces uncertainty, and uncertainty is risk. The wreck of the Titanic is at about 13,000 feet under the ocean, multiple times deeper than where US Navy subs typically operate. At that depth, pressure is nearly 400 times that of the oceans surface. Its a design thats not been used in this way at this depth, Mr Kemper added. All it has to do is fail in one spot and game over. Netflix to stream Titanic 15:03 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Netflix to stream Titanic from 1 July, just days after the Titan submersible disaster that killed five people. The five on board were on a mission to visit the ruins of the Titanic ship which sank in 1912, killing 1500 people. However, Netflix is also facing criticism on social media after the streaming giant released a trailer for its new freediving documentary, The Deepest Breath. Produced by A24, The Deepest Breath tells the story of Alessia Zecchini, the current holder of the freediving world record. The trailer was shared on Tuesday (20 June) as rescue efforts were well underway to find the five missing passengers onboard the Titan, which went missing on an expedition to see the Titanic shipwreck. On Twitter, many Netflix subscribers questioned the timing of the deep-sea-related release given the tragedy. The timing of this, one person commented. Probably not the best timing for this, another agreed. Canadian police weigh criminal investigation over Titan sub disaster 14:00 , Ariana Baio Police in Canada announced on Saturday that they are considering a criminal investigation over the deaths of five men in the Oceangate submersible implosion. Superintendent Kent Osmond of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Newfoundland and Labrador said law enforcement were in the early stages of the probe. Following the US Coast Guards announcement earlier this week that debris from the submersible was located and all five on board were presumed dead, we will now look at the circumstances that led to those deaths, Mr Osmond said, at a press conference. Such an investigation will proceed only if our examination of the circumstances indicate criminal, federal or provincial laws may possibly have been broken. Ariana Baio reports: Canadian police weigh criminal investigation over Titan sub disaster Nine looming questions in Titanic sub catastrophe 13:00 , Ariana Baio The desperate five-day search for the missing Titan submersible came to a tragic end on Thursday when debris was discovered close to the Titanic shipwreck. OceanGate CEO and founder Stockton Rush, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman set off on a trip of a lifetime on Sunday morning (18 June), traveling around 13,000 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean to visit the famed ocean liners wreckage. But the five explorers met a chillingly similar fate to the doomed White Star Line ship more than a century earlier. Now, as ROVs continue to search the debris field, questions are mounting about what went wrong, whether the tragedy could have been avoided and what happens next. The Independent reports: These nine questions remain unanswered in the Titanic sub catastrophe US and Canada start the process of determining how the Titanic-bound submersible imploded 12:00 , Ariana Baio Authorities from the U.S. and Canada began the process of investigating the cause of the fatal Titan submersible implosion even as they grappled with questions of who was responsible for determining how the tragedy unfolded. The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday that the U.S. Coast Guard has declared the loss of the Titan submersible to be a major marine casualty and the Coast Guard will lead the investigation. NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson said that information was provided to the agencys senior management by Coast Guard officials, and the NTSB has joined the investigation. The U.S. Coast Guard has declared the loss of the Titan submersible to be a major marine casualty and will lead the investigation. The NTSB has joined the investigation and will contribute to their efforts. The USCG is handling all media inquiries related to this investigation. NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) June 23, 2023 Watch: Ships return to harbour as Titan submersible recovery operations begin to wind down 11:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Canada is investigating why the Titanic-bound submersible imploded 10:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Transportation Safety Board of Canada said Saturday that its conducting an investigation into the loss of the Titan submersible and has been speaking with those who traveled on Titans mothership, the Polar Prince. The development comes as authorities from the U.S. and Canada began the process of probing the cause of the underwater implosion and grappled with questions of who was responsible for determining how the tragedy unfolded. Maritime agencies are searching the area in the North Atlantic where the vessel was destroyed, killing all five people aboard. Debris was located about 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) underwater, several hundred feet away from the Titanic wreckage it was on its way to explore. We are conducting a safety investigation in Canada given that this was a Canadian-flagged vessel that departed a Canadian port and was involved in this occurrence, albeit in international waters, said Kathy Fox, chair of the transportation board. Other agencies may choose to conduct investigations and thats up to them. (OceanGate Expeditions) Carbon fiber design of OceanGate sub was unproven, experts say 10:00 , Ariana Baio The submarine expedition to the Titanic that claimed five lives over the weekend relied on a design featuring key components made out of carbon fiber, which experts say hasnt been proven as a reliable material for deep sea use. Innovation is a wonderful thing, Bart Kemper, a mechanical engineer from the Marine Technology Society, told NBC News. But everything that is new and not tried introduces uncertainty, and uncertainty is risk. The wreck of the Titanic is at about 13,000 feet under the ocean, multiple times deeper than where US Navy subs typically operate. At that depth, pressure is nearly 400 times that of the oceans surface. Its a design thats not been used in this way at this depth, Mr Kemper added. All it has to do is fail in one spot and game over. Suleman Dawood: Teenager who died on submersible had a sense Titanic expedition was not okay 09:00 , Ariana Baio Voices: Why dark tourists pay to put their lives at risk 08:00 , Ariana Baio The phenomenon of dark tourism has fascinated researchers for many years, but tourists are being increasingly drawn to places associated with atrocity, violence and disaster. Historic sites include Auschwitz-Birkenau, Chernobyl (before the war in Ukraine) and Ground Zero. However, experiences can now be excursions to sites of slavery, war, the famous dead, serial murder, natural disasters and, as in the case of the OceanGate trip, maritime tragedies such as the Titanic. Dr Donna Poade writes: Opinion: Why dark tourists pay to put their lives at risk Flags half-mast as Titan support ship docks at St Johns harbour 07:00 , Ariana Baio Flags on board the main support ship for the Titan submersible could be seen at half-mast as it began to dock at St Johns harbour. A Canadian national flag and a Mikmaq flag, which represents the North American people who inhabit the Maritime Provinces of Canada, were both at half-mast at either end of the vessel. Polar Prince, the main support ship for the Titan submersible, arrives at the Port of St. John's in Newfoundland, Canada. (PA) Watch: Moment OceanGate co-founder told debris from Titan submersible has been discovered 06:00 , Ariana Baio Potential Titan passenger reveals OceanGate CEO assured him it was safe 05:00 , Ariana Baio Jay Bloom, a Las Vegas investor, revealed in a Facebook post that he turned down seats on the Titan submersible trip, offered by OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, due to safety concerns. In his post, Mr Bloom shared screenshots of messages he exchanged with Mr Rush months before the fatal trip in which he expressed safety concerns for himself and his son, Sean, who was supposed to join him on the excursion. I expressed safety concerns and Stockton told me: While theres obviously risk its way safer than flying in a helicopter or even scuba diving. I am sure he really believed what he was saying. But he was very wrong, Mr Bloom wrote. In text messages, Mr Bloom told Mr Rush that his son was concerned about stupid dangers like a giant squid or sperm whale attacking the submersible. In response, Mr Rush assured Mr Bloom it was safe and due to the intense pressure at the depth of water they would be travelling, neither sperm whale nor giant squid would be able to reach them. There hasnt been even an injury in 35 years in a non-military sub, Mr Rush texted Mr Bloom. Mr Bloom said he last saw Mr Rush in early March when the two went to the Titanic Exhibit at Luxor together. Mr Bloom added: Then, at lunch in the Luxor food court we talked about the dive, including safety. He was absolutely convinced that it was safer than crossing the street. An 1851 maritime law protected the Titanics owners in court. Could OceanGate use it too? 04:00 , Ariana Baio A five-day search for OceanGate Expeditions tourist submersible came to a grim conclusion on Thursday as officials confirmed the discovery of debris consistent with a catastrophic implosion presumed to have claimed the lives of all five passengers. With recovery efforts to collect the debris underway, focus has turned to whether and how OceanGate could be held liable in court. Experts tell The Independent that one 172-year-old piece of legislation could prove pivotal for the company: the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851. Sheila Flynn reports: An 1851 maritime law protected Titanic owners in court. Could OceanGate use it too? Why did the Titanic sub implode? 03:00 , Ariana Baio In the days after OceanGate chief executive Stockton Rush and his four paying crew members went missing on their way to the wreck of the Titanic, experts had several theories as to their fate. But what exactly caused the Titan to implode? While we dont yet know the truth of what happened, we do know enough to have some idea of what might have sealed the subs doom. Io Dodds reports: Why did the Titanic sub implode? Online gamblers made thousands in bets on Titanic search and rescue operation 02:00 , Ariana Baio Online gamblers bet hundreds of thousands of dollars on whether the submarine that went missing on a recent expedition to the Titanic, in what online critics called a dystopian use of digital finance. Since Wednesday, people wagered at least $300,000 on the fate of the vehicle using the crypto platform Polymarket, Mother Jones reports. On the site, betters buy and sell shares on the outcomes of events using cryptocurrency, and can redeem their shares for $1 each if their guesses are correct. Josh Marcus reports: Online gamblers raked in thousands on bets against the Titanic sub crews survival OceanGate CEO wanted to be Captain Kirk' 01:00 , Ariana Baio Stockton Rush, the co-founder of OceanGate, and one of the five submarine passengers who died on the ill-fated Titanic expedition, was seen as a thrill-seeker by those who knew him. We were frustrated astronauts, Guillermo Sohnlein, another co-founder, told The New York Times. After viewing the 2004 launch of SpaceShipOne, the first private effort to reach space, Rush told Smithsonian magazine that he decided he didnt want to merely be a passenger on someone elses expedition, but rather lead his own mission. I didnt want to go up into space as a tourist, he told the magazine. I wanted to be Captain Kirk on the Enterprise. Timeline of how the deep-sea tragedy unfolded Sunday 25 June 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio What happened to the Titanic submarine? A timeline of events Watch: Barack Obama slams hypocrisy over interest in Titanic sub compared to migrant boat tragedy Saturday 24 June 2023 23:30 , Ariana Baio Voices: The Titanic submersible disaster was an accident waiting to happen Saturday 24 June 2023 23:00 , Ariana Baio Whether the Titan is missing because of deficiencies in design and construction or because of mistakes made by its operator Rush may be lost to history if the submersible is never found. The lesson of the Titanic, however, is that it can be both. Had Captain Edward Smith reduced the ships speed, perhaps it could have navigated the icy waters better. Had the ship been equipped with enough lifeboats for passengers, or had fewer of the watertight compartments been breached, perhaps more lives could have been saved. Skylar Baker-Jordan writes: The Titanic sub disaster was an accident waiting to happen | Opinion Daughter of French pilot on Titanic sub says if he died he would be where he loved Saturday 24 June 2023 22:30 , Ariana Baio Sidonie Nargeolet, the daughter of Paul-Henri Nargeolet said she continued to hope they would be rescued but that she is comforted by the knowledge that her father is in the place he loved most. At times, I have a lot of hope, I am fine, I believe and have a lot of hope. But in others, hope goes away and it is hard to endure, and as more time goes by it gets harder, she said. Ms Nargeloet said she learnt about the accident on Monday, when she received a text message from her fathers spouse saying he should have been back at 6 pm on Sunday. I cried a lot, she said. She had last seen her father just before Christmas last year in Andorra. He sent me a message a week before (getting in the submersible) telling me the weather was bad, so they hadnt been able to go down, but that there was a great atmosphere, she said. I sent him a message on Sunday for Fathers Day but he didnt reply. I would prefer him (dying) at a place where he is very happy, Ms Nargeolet said. Authorities speaking with family of deceased on Polar Prince Saturday 24 June 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio Authorities within the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said they have already begun speaking with people on board the Polar Prince, the vessel that helped launch the Titan submersible, including family members of those who died in the sub. I think anybody can imagine that its difficult, the circumstances they have been under for the last few days, Kathy Fox, chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, said. And we have to understand that, thats going to affect particularly the families who have lost loved ones. Transportation Safety Board Chair Kathy Fox Responds to a question during a news conference (AP) Canadian Transportation Safety Board launches investigation Saturday 24 June 2023 21:00 , Ariana Baio In addition to assisting the RCMP with their preliminary probe into the Titan submersible deaths, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said they would be launching their own investigation. Kathy Fox, chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, told reports on Saturday (24 June) that they had begun gathering data from the Polar Prince, the surface ship to the Titan. Ms Fox said the investigation would possibly take 18 months to two years. We obviously try to do them quicker, because we know that everybody wants answers particularly the family, Ms Fox said. We need to take the time with respect to how far we will go. Ms Fox said they were conducting the inquiry to prevent accidents like this from happening again. Royal Canadian Mounted Police will look into Titan deaths Saturday 24 June 2023 20:38 , Ariana Baio The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of Newfoundland and Labrador said a team of investigators will determine whether a criminal investigation is warranted. Superintendent Kent Osmond said, Such an investigation will proceed only if our examination of the circumstances indicate criminal, federal or provincial laws may possibly have been broken in a press conference on Saturday (24 June). Mr Osmond said investigators had already begun to look into the possibility of launching a formal investigation. Once a determination has been made as to whether or not a full investigation will be launched, we will provide an update at that time, Mr Osmond said. Safety investigators board Titans support ship after fatal implosion Saturday 24 June 2023 20:30 , Ariana Baio A team of investigators has boarded the main support ship of the Titan submersible after it returned to the harbour following the deep-sea vessels fatal implosion. Flags on board the Polar Prince were at half-mast as it arrived at the port in St Johns in Newfoundland on Saturday, after four passengers and the pilot of Titan were killed in the incident near the wreckage of the Titanic. Police and safety investigators could be seen on board the vessel after the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada announced it would be the subject of an investigation. Officials from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada board the Polar Prince, the main support ship for the Titan submersible (PA) Discovery Channel host refused trip on Titanic submarine due to safety concerns after test dive Saturday 24 June 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio A veteran explorer and host of Expedition Unknown on Discovery Plus said he decided to pass on a chance to film on OceanGates Titan submersible over safety concerns. Josh Gates tweeted on Wednesday that he had decided to walk away from an opportunity to film Titanic because the submersible did not perform well during a test dive. To those asking, #Titan did not perform well on my dive. Ultimately, I walked away from a huge opportunity to film Titanic due to my safety concerns w/ the @OceanGate platform. There's more to the history and design of Titan that has not been made public - much of it concerning. Josh Gates (@joshuagates) June 21, 2023 A spokesperson for the mothership which launched the missing submersible defended OceanGate, saying it runs an extremely safe operation after questions were raised about safety. The submersible Titan is run by OceanGate. Navy doctor reveals Titanic sub victims would have died instantly in catastrophic implosion Saturday 24 June 2023 19:30 , Ariana Baio A former Navy doctor has revealed what would have happened to the five people on board the missing Titan submersible in its final moments even as officials announced the vessel imploded. Dale Mole, a former director of the US Navy for undersea medicine and radiation health, said they would have died instantly and painlessly by the force under the depth of the sea. It would have been so sudden, that they wouldnt even have known that there was a problem, or what happened to them, he told the Daily Mail. Its like being here one minute, and then the switch is turned off. Youre alive one millisecond, and the next millisecond youre dead, he said. Watch: Ships return to harbour as Titan submersible recovery operations begin to wind down Saturday 24 June 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio Coast Guard admits explosion heard when Titanic sub lost contact Saturday 24 June 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio The US Coast Guard has admitted an explosion was heard in the vicinity of where the Titan submersible was when it lost contact with its support vessel. The US Navy detected an anomaly consistent with an implosion or explosion after the tourist submarine lost contact one hour and 45 minutes into the descent to the Titanic wreckage on Sunday, the Coast Guard confirmed to The Independent. The sound was consistent with the catastrophic implosion, which killed five men on board the Titan sub, including OceanGate Expeditions chief executive Stockton Rush. No more similar sounds were heard throughout the four-day search and rescue mission, a Coast Guard spokesperson said. Tara Cobham reports: Coast Guard admits explosion heard when Titanic sub lost contact Sons of Hamish Harding pay tribute to their father Saturday 24 June 2023 18:00 , Ariana Baio The sons of British billionaire and explorer Hamish Harding have released statements about the death of their father, attributing their success in life to him. My dad was tenacious, hard-working businessman but most important he was the best father I could have ever asked for, one of the statements, provided to The Independent by Action Aviation, said. He inspired me more than anyone will ever know, taught me things Ill never forget, and he meant everything to me. Anyone who ever met my dad will praise his humourous personality, his sheer work ethic, and his constant generosity. My life will be a success if Im even half the man he is, the statement continued. Mr Harding has two sons: Rory and Giles. In the other statement, Mr Hardings other son wrote: My father was an avid adventurer, a loving father, family man and a determined and tireless businessman. In all these areas, he constantly sought to be the best man he could be and did nothing half-way. Constantly full of wisdom and life advice to bestow, he made my brother and I into the people we are today. Action Aviation did not clarify which statement came from which son. President of Titanic society questions if trips to wreckage should end Saturday 24 June 2023 17:30 , Ariana Baio In a statement published on Facebook, Charles Haas, president of the Titanic International Society, an organisation set up in 1989 to preserve the history of the Titanic, questioned whether visits to the historic site 3,800m below the surface should continue. He said: It is time to consider seriously whether human trips to Titanics wreck should end in the name of safety, with relatively little remaining to be learned from or about the wreck. Crewed submersibles roles in surveying the wreck now can be assigned to autonomous underwater vehicles, like those that mapped the ship and its debris field in high-resolution, 3-D detail last summer. The world joins us in expressing our profound sadness and heartbreak about this tragic, avoidable event. A British billionaire, father and son and renowned diver: Who was on the Titanic submarine? Saturday 24 June 2023 17:00 , Ariana Baio The pilot and four passengers of the Titan submersible that vanished during a mission to explore the Titanic wreckage are believed to be dead, authorities say. British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, UK citizens Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood, French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet and OceanGate Expeditions chief executive Stockton Rush had sadly been lost, the company announced. The Independent reports: Who was on the missing Titanic submarine? Woman who visited Titanic shipwreck with OceanGate describes what it was like Saturday 24 June 2023 16:30 , Ariana Baio Renata Rojas had been obsessed with the Titanic for more than half of her life when she looked out the window of a submersible, 4,000 metres under the North Atlantic, and saw the doomed ships spectre appear hauntingly from the depths. She thought shed cry but she was far too busy. Ms Rojas, 50, was one of only five people on that submersible, part of the 2022 OceanGate Titanic Expedition to the wreck in July. Accompanied by a pilot and a research scientist, she and two other mission specialists, civilians who could pay a six-figure price for the trip, embarked upon the meticulously-planned, deep-sea exploration. Sheila Flynn reports: Woman who visited Titanic shipwreck with OceanGate describes what it was like Family of Shahzada and Suleman Dawood calls loss devastating Saturday 24 June 2023 16:00 , Ariana Baio Samad Dawood, the brother of Shahzada Dawood and uncle of Suleman Dawood, spoke about the devastating loss the Dawood family is facing after Shahzada and Suleman were killed on the Titan submersible. This is beyond what you could ever imagine in terms of the kind of hardships and struggle that weve had. I think what weve seen is enormous tragedy and devastation and a lot of emotions, Samad told ABC News in an interview. Samad called his brother an inspiration saying he was somebody who had love for the world and wanted to experience everything the world had to offer. Samad told ABC News that his 19-year-old nephew shared a similar love of adventure with his father. He was so filled with humbleness and gratitude, Samad said. I think its sad but also amazing that... his death also brought the world together, and I thank him for it. Family of Hamish Harding say instant death from implosion was best outcome Saturday 24 June 2023 15:30 , Ariana Baio Kathleen Cosnett, the cousin of explorer Hamish Harding, said knowing nothing about it was the best way to go. In a tribute on Friday, Ms Cosnett said her cousin, a daredevil who had been a real apple of his parents eye, died doing what he loved undertaking an adventure. Now we know that it likely imploded on the descent, it is really the best outcome. They would have not known it was coming, she told The Times. In a way, it is the best way to go, as he didnt know it was happening. Its really the best way to go isnt it, being killed and knowing nothing about it? Ms Cosnett, from Twyford, Berkshire, told Sky News: Hes a great adventurer, going up as high as he can, to space even, where he did go for 10 minutes last year, with other people. So, to me, it wasnt too much of a surprise This was just a sad disaster, perhaps waiting to happen. Watch: Relatives of Titanic victims criticise dark tourism of submersible tours Saturday 24 June 2023 15:00 , Ariana Baio National Transportation Safety Board will assist Coast Guard investigation Saturday 24 June 2023 14:35 , Ariana Baio The US National Transportation Safety Board said they would assist the US Coast Guard in their investigation into the Titan submersible accident in a tweet. The U.S. Coast Guard has declared the loss of the Titan submersible to be a major marine casualty and will lead the investigation. The NTSB has joined the investigation and will contribute to their efforts. The USCG is handling all media inquiries related to this investigation, They wrote. The U.S. Coast Guard has declared the loss of the Titan submersible to be a major marine casualty and will lead the investigation. The NTSB has joined the investigation and will contribute to their efforts. The USCG is handling all media inquiries related to this investigation. NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) June 23, 2023 Where is the Titanic wreck and how far down is it? Saturday 24 June 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio The RMS Titanics final resting spot is approximately 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada in the North Atlantic Ocean. It sank in 1912, killing approximately 1,500 people on board. Its coordinates are 414332N, 495649W. The ship famously began to sink after it struck an iceberg just before midnight during its maiden voyage. The collision caused a dent in the ships submerged hull, which then caused its seams to buckle. Five of its interior compartments flooded, dooming the ship. Where is the Titanic wreck and how far down is it? Titans main support ship returns to harbour Saturday 24 June 2023 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The main support ship of the Titan submersible has returned to a Canadian harbour following the deep-sea vessels fatal implosion. Flags on board the Polar Prince were at half-mast as it arrived at the port in St Johns in Newfoundland on Saturday morning after four passengers and the pilot of Titan were killed in the incident. The support ship is set to be the subject of a safety investigation from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada. Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) boats had already started to return to St Johns harbour on Friday as the recovery operation began to wind down. British adventurer Hamish Harding and father and son Shahzada and Suleman Dawood were killed on board the Titan submersible, alongside the chief executive of the company responsible for the vessel, Stockton Rush, and French national Paul-Henri Nargeolet. (PA) In a statement issued before ships began to return to the port, the CCG said the search and rescue operation had concluded. The CCG confirmed one its vessels would remain on the scene and would provide assistance and support to the recovery and salvage operations as requested by Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Boston. The TSB said a team of investigators had been deployed to St Johns to gather information, conduct interviews and assess the occurrence. In its own statement, the safety body said the investigation would be carried out in accordance with the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and international agreements. The TSB will not determine civil or criminal liability and conducts investigations for the advancement of transportation safety. Watch: Titanic director James Cameron felt in his bones tourist submersible was lost Saturday 24 June 2023 13:00 , Ariana Baio How much did Titan search cost? US Coast Guard's bill alone will be in the millions, experts say Saturday 24 June 2023 12:30 , Namita Singh The cost of the unprecedented search for the missing Titan submersible will easily stretch into the millions of dollars, experts said Friday. The massive international effort by aircraft, surface ships and deep-sea robots began Sunday when the Titan was reported missing. Searchers raced against a 96-hour clock in the desperate hope to find and rescue the vessels occupants before their oxygen supply ran out. But all hope was extinguished Thursday when officials announced the submersible had suffered a catastrophic implosion, killing all five aboard. A scaled-back search remained in place Friday as the robots remotely operated vehicles, known as ROVs continued to scan the sea floor for evidence that might shed light on what occurred in the deep waters of the North Atlantic. The search area spanned thousands of miles twice the size of Connecticut and in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep with agencies such as the US Coast Guard, the Canadian Coast Guard, US Navy and other agencies and private entities. Theres no other comparable ocean search, especially with so many countries and even commercial enterprises being involved in recent times, said Norman Polmar, a naval historian, analyst and author based in Virginia. The aircraft, alone, are expensive to operate, and the Government Accountability Office has put the hourly cost at tens of thousands of dollars. Turboprop P-3 Orion and jet-powered P-8 Poseidon sub hunters, along with C-130 Hercules, were all utilized in the search. Some agencies can seek reimbursements. But the US Coast Guard whose bill alone will hit the millions of dollars is generally prohibited by federal law from collecting reimbursement pertaining to any search or rescue service, said Stephen Koerting, an attorney in Maine who specializes in maritime law. The Coast Guard, as a matter of both law and policy, does not seek to recover the costs associated with search and rescue from the recipients of those services, the Coast Guard said Friday in a statement. A scaled-back search remained in place Friday as the robots remotely operated vehicles, known as ROVs continued to scan the sea floor for evidence that might shed light on what occurred in the deep waters of the North Atlantic. What the Titanic submersible saga and the Greek migrant shipwreck say about our reactions to tragedy Saturday 24 June 2023 11:30 , Namita Singh Across the span of nearly a week, the saga of a lost submersible that had gone into the depths of the ocean to see the Titanic wreckage rippled across the national and global conversation culminating in news that the craft had imploded and its five occupants were dead. But a far bigger disaster days earlier, the wrecking of a ship off Greece filled with migrants that killed at least 80 people and left a horrifying 500 missing, did not become a moment-by-moment worldwide focus in anywhere near the same way. One grabbed unrelenting, moment-to-moment attention. One was watched and discussed as another sad, but routine, news story.What makes these two events at sea different in how they were received? Viewed next to each other, what do they say about human reactions to tragic news? And why did the saga of the submersible grab so much attention? Report: What the submersible saga and the Greek migrant shipwreck say about our reactions to tragedy Ross Kemp turned down Titanic sub trip over safety fears Saturday 24 June 2023 09:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain British documentary-maker Ross Kemp turned down a trip to see the Titanic on an OceanGate submersible for a television show. The former EastEnders star, 58, had been keen to take part in the mission last year but it was deemed to be unsafe. An expert production company carried out checks and decided it would be too risky to let anybody board the Titan submersible to view the shipwreck on the seafloor of the North Atlantic, off the coast of Canada. Kemps agent, InterTalent chairman Professor Jonathan Shalit, said they pulled out of using the OceanGate craft because it was deemed to be unsafe on every level. Prof Shalit told the PA news agency: The production company, who are well known and renowned, looked into the sub and decided it was unsafe on every level and werent prepared to use it. We were told it is unsafe, we are not going - that was a year ago. It is deeply sad for the families who have suffered such a terrible loss. I am relieved that Ross did not participate but I am obviously reassured by the professionalism of those companies we were working with that they didnt suggest that he go on the submarine. The lesson to be learnt is do your checks thoroughly. By good fortune for us the checks had been done thoroughly. British documentary maker Ross Kemp turned down Titanic sub trip (PA Archive) Whistleblowers warned OceanGate safety issues could prove catastrophic Saturday 24 June 2023 09:00 , Ariana Baio Safety concerns about the Titan submarine that imploded in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with five people on board have been revealed in a number of scathing reports. But before boarding submarines from OceanGate, travellers were warned in a contract that it has not been approved or certified by any regulatory body, and could result in physical injury, disability, motion trauma, or death. The disclaimer is part of a long list of concerns regarding the companys safety record. In 2018, the company fired David Lochridge, OceanGates director of marine operations. They claimed he breached his contract and shared confidential information about its designs with two individuals as well as with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. However, Mr Lochridge alleged in a wrongful termination suit obtained by The New Republic that he was fired for blowing the whistle about concerning safety issues. According to the suit, Mr Lochridge delivered highly critical updates regarding the ships quality control to senior management and OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, pointing to alleged issues such as visible flaws in the ships carbon fibre hull, prevalent flaws in a scale model, flammable materials onboard, a viewing window not rated for the Titanics depth, and key safety documents that were not shared with him. Now is the time to properly address items that may pose a safety risk to personnel, he allegedly said at one point. Verbal communication of the key items I have addressed in my attached document have been dismissed on several occasions, so I feel now I must make this report so there is an official record in place. He claimed, according to filings obtained by the magazine, that he was fired when he said he wouldnt authorise manned testing of the sub without scans of the crafts hull. The Independent has contacted OceanGate for comment. Previous passengers recall ill-fated Titan: 'I 100% knew this was going to happen' Saturday 24 June 2023 08:30 , Namita Singh Talk to someone who rode on the Titan submersible, and theyre likely to mention a technological glitch: the propulsion system failed or communications with people on the surface cut out. Maybe there were problems balancing weights on board. They are also likely to mention Stockton Rush, the OceanGate Expeditions CEO who died on the fatal trip this week. He has been described by past passengers as both a meticulous planner and an overconfident pioneer. In the wake of the Titans fatal implosion near the Titanic shipwreck on Sunday, some people who embarked on the companys deep-sea expeditions described experiences that foreshadowed the tragedy and look back on their decision to dive as a bit naive. But others expressed confidence and said that they felt they were in good hands nearly 13,000 feet (3,962 meters) below the oceans surface. Report: Previous passengers recall ill-fated Titan: 'I 100% knew this was going to happen' Where the Titan debris field was found Saturday 24 June 2023 08:00 , Ariana Baio The hunt for the missing OceanGate Expeditions submersible the Titan ended in tragedy on Thursday when, hours after the craft exhausted its 96-hour oxygen supply, the US Coast Guard revealed that parts of the vessel had been found on the seabed. A deep sea remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), equipped with cameras and sonar and deployed from the Canadian vessel Horizon Arctic, discovered debris from the vessel roughly 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic. Emails show submersible chief executive dismissed safety concerns over vessel Saturday 24 June 2023 07:00 , Ariana Baio The BBC reported Stockton Rush, who was one of the five people who died in Titans catastrophic implosion, had previously written that he had heard baseless cries of you are going to kill someone which he believed were a serious personal insult. His words could be seen in emails between Mr Rush and deep sea exploration specialist Rob McCallum in which he also said he was tired of industry players who try to use a safety argument to stop innovation. The emails, seen by the BBC, show Mr McCallum told OceanGates chief executive that he was mirroring that famous cry of the Titanics builders: She is unsinkable. One of his emails read: I implore you to take every care in your testing and sea trials and to be very, very conservative. As much as I appreciate entrepreneurship and innovation, you are potentially putting an entire industry at risk. Bodies of missing Titanic sub passengers may never be recovered, Coast Guard says Saturday 24 June 2023 05:00 , Ariana Baio The bodies of the five passengers aboard the Titanic sub that was lost in a catastrophic implosion near the wreck may never be recovered from the floor of the Atlantic, says the US Coast Guard. This is an incredibly unforgiving environment out there on the sea floor. The debris is consistent with the catastrophic implosion of the vessel. We will continue to work and search the area down there but I dont have an answer on prospects at this time, said Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard. The Coast Guard says that ROVs will remain in place but that it will begin to pull back equipment over the next 48 hours. The Rear Admiral said that sonar buoys had been in the water for the past 72 hours and that they had not picked up any evidence of an implosion, suggesting that it had happened early on in the dive. Graeme Massie reports: Bodies of missing Titanic sub passengers may never be recovered, Coast Guard says OceanGate searched for new submarine pilot while crew was missing on Titanic mission Saturday 24 June 2023 03:30 , Josh Marcus OceanGate was reportedly searching for a new submarine pilot at the same time as a five-person crew on one of its vehicles was missing during its mission to the Titanic wreck. A posting obtained by the Mirror, which allegedly ran between Monday and Thursday, sought a Submersible Pilot/Marine Technician to join the team ... looking for someone to manage and operate our fleet of manned submersibles and support vessels. The following is a transcript of an interview with U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio, that aired on "Face the Nation" on June 25, 2023. MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Republican Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio. He joins us from Dayton. Good morning to you. REP. MIKE TURNER: Morning, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: I understand top congressional leaders, yourself included, have been briefed multiple times in recent days by the administration in regard to the risk posed by the Wagner group. Last year, U.S. intelligence had 'extraordinary detail,' those are the words, the head of US intelligence, about Putin's plans to invade Ukraine. I wonder how you would describe the intelligence the U.S. had about this march on Moscow? REP. TURNER: Sure. Well, if the Intelligence Committee was very much aware of it. The conflict between Prigozhin and Putin was inevitable, and even from public sources, which you've seen Prigozhin, for months, has put out videos critical of the Russian government critical of Putin. Putin has allowed this and as the Secretary said, those videos themselves even included, criticizing Putin is very premise of the war, that it was not started by NATO, that there were not Nazis in Ukraine. And then entering into Moscow- entering into Russia itself and taking their convoy to Moscow, that really shows to the basic issue of whether or not Putin controls his military. For any government to have stability, they have to control their military, obviously Prigozhin, in order to make it that distance, has to have accomplices, you know, where was the Air Force? Where was the Russian Air Force and preventing this? That's going to be an issue that- that Putin is gonna have to deal with both internationally and domestically, is, his government as an authoritarian government depends on its assertion of power, force, in order to be able to contain- to continue to wield power, and that certainly is going to be an issue MARGARET BRENNAN: Was Vladimir Putin himself aware of the potential of this uprising? REP. TURNER: Well, I can't go into what our intelligence was. But I can tell you this, these videos that he was allowing Prigozhin, to put- put out, were public, they were distributed around the world. Putin certainly was aware of them because he was allowing them, the content of them, where they not only criticized Putin and the Russian government, and called for the removal of the Minister of Defense. Ultimately, as you know, this weekend Prigozhin's statement was the removal of the President himself. So Vladimir Putin certainly had lots of public notice that Prigozhin was- was a- was a critic and was threatening the government and now ultimately took this military action into Russia itself. MARGARET BRENNAN: But that raises the question of whether this was a strategic move by Prigozhin or just sort of a gamble and an opportunity he seized, do we have any insight? REP. TURNER: You know, he's a military guy. Remember, this is like a 12-hour trip from Ukraine to Moscow, and he got within two hours of Moscow. Now being a military guy, he understands the logistics and really the- the assistance that he's going to need to do that. This is not a weekend trip he's taking, taking his convoy- his military convoy up to Moscow. There's a number of accomplices, including as we saw, some of the Russian people on the border with Ukraine who clearly support the Wagner group, in contrast to their support for the Russian government. This is something that would have had to been planned for a significant amount of time to be executed in the manner in which it was, MARGARET BRENNAN: There was a report last month that Prigozhin had offered in January to help Ukraine attack the Russian military by sharing information on troop positions that he had. Is this in any way helpful? What has just occurred to ending the war in Ukraine, like where is Prigozhin's interest? REP. TURNER: Right, so this really does hurt- hurt Putin, and not only just politically and in his leadership in Russia and his presidency, but in his efforts to continue the war in Ukraine. You know, I think obviously, in the beginning, there's going to be a- an initial increase of activity from Russia against Ukraine, but because he went- Putin himself went on a national TV to respond to Prigozhin and Prigozhin said that your government has lied to you, this is not a war that NATO started, there are no Nazis in Ukraine. Taking down the very premise makes it much more difficult for Putin to continue to turn to the Russian people and say we should continue to send people to die in this war that for which Prigozhin himself has said to the Russian people, the premise is a lie. MARGARET BRENNAN: There was a lot that Secretary Blinken said he could not answer during our interview. Is that because U.S. intelligence does not know, or because it's classified? REP. TURNER: Well, you know, I can't answer that either. But you can- you can assume certainly that we have been very focused on Russia and Ukraine. And this is an area where Ukraine's successes has been a result in part because of the successes of the intelligence community. So we've been very, very focused on this. I think that as we- as we go forward, this is going to be even more critical as it fit- as we face the threats, both for Ukraine and for the United States, is what's going to happen to Putin and Russia next? MARGARET BRENNAN: Chairman, please stay with us. We have to take a break. We'll be right back in one minute with more of our conversation. *COMMERCIAL BREAK* MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're back with House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner. I want to talk a bit about China here as well, sir. But let me just button up, how would you define the relationship between China and Vladimir Putin right now? REP. TURNER: Right. So President Xi has got to be very concerned right now, because as you know, he went to Moscow, stood next to Putin and said, you know, we're together- he and Vladimir Putin are bringing about change that hasn't happened for 100 years. And of course, that is the march of authoritarianism against democracy that we won in World War Two that they're now rising up against. But now he's standing next to a guy who can't even control his- his own- his own military. Remember, Putin, in his national address said that these individuals are going to have inevitable punishment. And then in the end, Prigozhin gets a vacation in- in Belarus and his troops are now going to sign contracts, that sounds more like paperwork, than a KGB agent, doing inevitable punishment. Xi, in seeing that with Putin, has got to understand that- that Putin's stature in the world has diminished- that diminishes President Xi, and certainly as Putin looks weakened, certainly not being able to control his- his military and being a strong nuclear power, President Xi has to be worried about the stability of Russia itself. MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be watching that. You know, last Friday, the- this past Friday, sorry, I'm back from Beijing and my timeframe's all screwed up here. But the Director of National Intelligence released this declassified summary of the findings in regard to links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the origin of the COVID pandemic. It says several researchers at that Institute were ill in 2019, with symptoms consistent with, but not diagnostic of COVID? Why is it so inconclusive still? REP. TURNER: Well, and this is the problem, really what- what the Director of National Intelligence has done, Director Haines. We passed a law saying to declassify the information that you have about the COVID and Wuhan lab's activities. What they did is they basically went and did a paper on what they believe about the intelligence they've looked at. I'll give an example of this, we've asked to open the curtain and release the intelligence, and they went behind the curtain, read this stuff and came out and said, 'Well, this is what we think about it.' This is not sufficient and certainly this is going to be set up between a battle between Congress and the Director of National Intelligence to make certain that- that the law that was passed unanimously, both the Senate and the House and signed by the President is complied with, but also the American public get the answers they deserve. MARGARET BRENNAN: So there was a classified annex to this, though that was not released, I would assume that you have read that? Is that-- REP. TURNER: No, actually, we just got this late, late Friday, so I haven't had access to it in a classified setting, but even releasing a classified annex goes against what the law says. The law says declassify, not give us more classified information. I mean, my committee has already seen a significant amount of this intelligence, giving my committee more intelligence doesn't give it to the American public, and that's what the declassification law was about. MARGARET BRENNAN: The- the report says that, you know, it details two agencies say it was a lab accident, CIA can't determine, the National Intelligence Council and four other agencies say most likely caused by natural exposure. Do you believe that there actually is a definitive conclusion that the government's not releasing? REP. TURNER: So I have seen, for example, the classified annex to the report that President Biden requested the intelligence community gave. What you just read were more conclusions by the intelligence community. In the report that was given to the President, the 90 day or so report, they have- they have information in that report that contradicts, I believe, the impressions that are given in these statements by the intelligence committee. We want the intelligence released, not their opinion about the intelligence. If we wanted their opinion, we would have asked for it. We passed a law saying, declassify it, it's the law of the land. Release this to the American public and see it- experts out there in the community, besides the intelligence community need to take a look at this and help us understand what really happened that resulted in millions of people dying. MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman, thank you for your time today. We'll be right back. REPORTERS NOTEBOOK: Margaret Brennans trip to China Full interview: Cindy McCain, World Food Programme executive director Halting Ukrainian grain exports risks "starvation and famine," warns Cindy McCain, World Food Programme head The following is a transcript of an interview with U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, Democrat of Texas, that aired on "Face the Nation" on June 25, 2023. MARGARET BRENNAN: It's now been one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade and the political dissension over abortion rights continues to grow. We've recently discussed the topic with Republican presidential candidates on this broadcast, but today we turn to Texas Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, a co-chair of President Biden's reelection bid and she joins us from El Paso. Good morning to you, Congresswoman. It's been 50 years since 1973 and that ruling, but in that time, Congress failed to pass any protections for abortion access, even when Democrats controlled both houses even when presidents were Democrats. We're now at this point where our CBS News polling shows 53 percent of Democrats feel as though your party isn't doing enough on the issue of abortion. Why do Democrats think this is a winning issue for the party when they've not been able to deliver on it for so long? REP. VERONICA ESCOBAR: Well, Margaret, the House Democrats have passed the Women's Health Care Protection Act. We did that both sessions of Congress the last two when we had a majority. But as you know, and as the American people know, we did not have a wide enough majority in the Senate. In the Senate because of the filibuster, the Senate has not acted on protecting access and women's freedom to have access to abortion care. But it is really important that we look at what's happened since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Republican controlled Supreme Court. We have seen 23 million women lose access to reproductive health care. We've seen 18 states enact harsh abortion bans. And we have also seen every single Republican nominee expressed support for a Federal National abortion ban. We cannot go in that direction. And that's why these upcoming elections are critically important. MARGARET BRENNAN: But even when there was unified control, it wasn't delivered on. When you look at what's happening now half of those polled by CBS say abortion access has become more restricted over the past year, as you just detailed. So we know President Biden's taking these executive actions and orders. Why isn't there more grassroots mobilization at the state level? If the entire point of the court ruling was that it goes back to the States? REP. ESCOBAR: We have seen grassroots mobilization at the state level, we've seen stage saying MARGARET BRENNAN: You're saying you're losing the argument, though. REP. ESCOBAR: I'm sorry MARGARET BRENNAN: But, you just detailed that state by state and many places, you're losing that argument. REP. ESCOBAR: Well, states are making every effort and grassroots organizations and women across the country are working to put in protections at the current state constitutional level. But the challenge that we will face should Republicans maintain control of the House and gain control of the Senate or the White House is that we would see national restrictions that are harsher and more serious than- than what we see today. So we've got a very- we've got a huge challenge on our hands, in the sense that women's reproductive freedoms continue to be rolled back. And the only way to win that is by winning elections, both making sure that we flip the house and regain control, and that we elect a wide enough margin, a filibuster proof majority, or senators willing to lift the majority to protect women and we've got to maintain the White House. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was recently on this program and she said candidates aren't telling the American people the truth, Republicans and Democrats she puts in that bucket. She said there's, you know, there's neither the consensus nor the votes for either party to either legalize or fully ban abortion, listen to what she said: NIKKI HALEY SOT: So let's be honest with the American people and say, let's find national consensus. Let's agree on, you know, getting rid of late-term abortion. Let's agree on the fact that we need more adoptions. Let's agree on the fact that we need accessible contraception. Let's agree on the fact that mothers shouldn't be jailed or go to, you know, get the death penalty for abortions. MARGARET BRENNAN: Doesn't she have a point, there are smaller issues related to abortion, you can find consensus on? REP. ESCOBAR: The national consensus, Margaret, is that 80% of Americans do not agree with the overturning of Roe v. Wade MARGARET BRENNAN: But in terms of what you could actually get passed in Congress. REP. ESCOBAR: Well, we again, we have Democrats passed the Women's Health Care Protection Act in the house MARGARET BRENNAN: In the House. Yes only in the house. REP. ESCOBAR: And the challenge in the Senate is that you need a supermajority. You MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. Exactly. REP. ESCOBAR: need 60 votes, right. Which is why we need to win elections this- next November. And furthermore, we've got to retain the White House because there's only one person who will be on the ballot next November. And that's President Biden, who has promised and committed to fighting for women's reproductive freedom, that- make no mistake about it, as much as Nikki Haley wants to talk about finding consensus here and there. The bottom line is MARGARET BRENNAN: Well stopping women from being prosecuted, for example, the death penalty, I mean you have to appreciate that, why not pass a law on that front? REP. ESCOBAR: Can you imagine that MARGARET BRENNAN: Is that not worth it? REP. ESCOBAR: That's their, that's where they want to allow MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, she's saying let's pass a law to prevent that on the national level. REP. ESCOBAR: Well, I- my perspective, and I think the vast majority of Americans' perspective is we want the protections under Roe v. Wade restored. 80% and in fact, even so MARGARET BRENNAN: So, 24 weeks? REP. ESCOBAR: I'm sorry? MARGARET BRENNAN: Protection up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. That's your defined position. I know that's what was in the Protection Act, but specifically, that's what you are endorsing? REP. ESCOBAR: Roe v. Wade essentially protects a woman's right to access abortion. And what we are seeing in states like my own in Texas, where the rollbacks have happened and the bans are occurring is that even in cases where women's health is at risk, politicians don't really care about the- the health of the woman. MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman, thank you for coming on and making that case we'll be back in a moment. REPORTERS NOTEBOOK: Margaret Brennans trip to China Full interview: Cindy McCain, World Food Programme executive director Halting Ukrainian grain exports risks "starvation and famine," warns Cindy McCain, World Food Programme head The following is a transcript of an interview with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that aired on "Face the Nation" on June 25, 2023. MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary of State Antony Blinken is one of the many top Biden administration officials who has been monitoring the events of the last two days. And he joins us from the State Department. Good morning to you, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN: Morning, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: Can you tell us who in the Biden administration has been in touch with Russian leadership? SEC. BLINKEN: Well, I instructed my own team at the President's behest to engage with the Russians, first and foremost, to make sure that they understood their responsibilities in terms of protecting our own personnel, ensuring their safety and well-being, as well as any American citizens in Russia. So a number of people have engaged to make sure that the Russians got that message. MARGARET BRENNAN: Is the U.S. ready for further unrest in Russia, and the scenario that Vladimir Putin does not remain in power? SEC. BLINKEN: Margaret, this is an unfolding story. And I think we're in the midst of a moving picture. We haven't seen- we haven't seen the last act. We're watching it very closely and carefully, but just step back for a second and put this in- in context. Sixteen months ago, Russian forces were on the doorstep of Kyiv in Ukraine, thinking they'd take the city in a matter of days, thinking they would erase Ukraine from the map as an independent country. Now over this weekend, they've had to defend Moscow, Russia's capital, against mercenaries of Putin's own making. Prigozhin himself in this entire incident has raised profound questions about the very premises for Russia's aggression against Ukraine in the first place, saying that Ukraine or NATO did not pose a threat to Russia, which is part of Putin's narrative. And it was a direct challenge to Putin's authority. So this raises profound questions. It shows real cracks. We can't speculate or know exactly where that's gonna go. We do know that Putin has a lot more to answer for in the- in the weeks and months ahead. MARGARET BRENNAN: But is the U.S. prepared for the potential of the fall of the Putin government? And is their nuclear stockpile, the largest in the world, secure? SEC. BLINKEN: We always prepare for every contingency in terms of what happens in Russia. It's an internal matter for the Russians to figure out. Of course, when we're dealing with a major power, and especially a major power that has nuclear weapons, that's something that's of concern, something we're very focused on. We haven't seen any change in Russia's nuclear posture. There hasn't been any change in ours, but it's something we're going to watch very, very carefully. MARGARET BRENNAN: Vladimir Putin is appearing on television this morning. But it appears to have been pre-recorded. Do you know the whereabouts of Vladimir Putin right now? Is he in Moscow? SEC. BLINKEN: I don't want to- I don't want to speculate on that, or what information that we have. Again, we're watching that- that carefully. I think one of the things this- this tells you is that we still don't- don't have finality in terms of what was actually agreed between Prigozhin and Putin. I suspect that we're going to learn more in the days and weeks ahead about what- what deal they struck. Our focus is relentlessly on Ukraine, making sure that they continue to have what they need to defend themselves, to take back the territory that Russia seized. The President brought together not only the national security cabinet yesterday, he brought together the leaders of our key allies and partners. He instructed all of us to do the same. We have tremendous unity of purpose and unity of action when it comes to supporting Ukraine. And that's where our focus is. MARGARET BRENNAN: But as you just said, Prigozhin drew into question the very premise for Vladimir Putin's war. So do the Wagner fighters return to the fight in Ukraine? Do we know? SEC. BLINKEN: Too soon to tell what's going to happen to the Wagner forces, whether they go back to the fight. And it was extraordinary that they were moving out of Ukraine and into Russia. But it's too soon to tell whether they're going to go back into the fight as Wagner, whether they get integrated into regular Russian forces. What this means for Wagner in other parts of the world. I mean, keep in mind, both Putin and Prigozhin are responsible for committing terrible acts in Ukraine against Ukrainian civilians. But also, in the case of Wagner, in country after country in Africa, wherever Wagner is, death and destruction and exploitation follow. But all of this is likely to unroll in the in the coming days in the coming weeks. To the extent that it presents a real distraction for - for Putin, and for Russian authorities, that they have to look at - sort of mind their their rear even as they're trying to deal with the counter offensive and Ukraine. I think that creates even greater openings for the Ukrainians to do well on the ground. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, as you just indicated, Yevgeny Prigozhin has a footprint that goes from Africa, to Syria to Ukraine. Do you have any idea where he is right now? SEC. BLINKEN: I can't get into what we know or don't know, through- through- through intelligence. It's something that we're looking at, and that we're tracking. But for us, the most important thing is to do exactly what the president did yesterday, which was, even as he brought people together, to share whatever information we had about what was going on inside of Russia to make sure that our focus remains in supporting of the Ukrainians and making sure that they do as well as they possibly can. When it comes to the counter offensive. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, one of the things Prigozhin did was directly undermine the Russian military leadership. Do we know who is in charge of the Russian military right now? And how could Vladimir Putin agree to any changes in the leadership of his military and still look like he's in charge? SEC. BLINKEN: Now, those are- those are great questions. And I think we'll get the answers in the- in the days and weeks ahead. It's too soon to say with any- any certainty what the final chapter in this particular book is going to be. The- The Rising Storm of Prigozhin, inside of Russia is something that many people have seen over- over months now. Direct challenges to the leadership to the military leadership, powerful criticism of Russia's conduct of its aggression against Ukraine, and now, questioning the very premises of the- the war. Prigozhin himself saying that Ukraine and NATO did not pose a threat to Russia, which is, you know, been part of Putin's narrative. These create more cracks in the Russian facade. And those cracks are already profound. Economically, militarily, it's standing in the world, all of those things have been dramatically diminished by Putin's aggression against Ukraine. He's managed to bring Europe together, he's managed to bring NATO together, he's managed to get Europe to move off of Russian energy, he's managed to alienate Ukrainians and unite Ukraine at the same time. So across the board, this has been a strategic failure. Now, you introduce into that, profound internal divisions. And there are lots of questions he's going to have to answer in the weeks ahead. MARGARET BRENNAN: Is there a possibility of civil war? SEC. BLINKEN: I don't want to speculate on that. These are fundamentally internal matters for the Russians to- to figure out, it's not our place to do that. It is our place to make sure that Ukraine continues to have what it needs to defend itself, and to take back the territory that Russia sees from it. MARGARET BRENNAN: Will President Biden reach out directly to Vladimir Putin? Has the CIA director reached out to Russian intelligence? SEC. BLINKEN: Margaret, I'm not gonna get into any diplomatic contacts that we- we may have or have had, I can tell you that, on my instruction, on the President's instruction, we had some engagement with the Russians over the weekend to make sure they understood their responsibilities when it comes to looking out for the safety and security of our personnel in Russia. Very important that we do that, and we did that. MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you about Beijing. I was there with you earlier this week. And I listened to you pick every single one of your words very carefully. And then on our way home, President Biden called Xi Jinping a dictator with economic problems, who didn't know what his own military was doing by flying the spy balloon over the United States. How much did that hurt the work you did? SEC. BLINKEN: Margaret, one of the things that I think you heard me say during the trip, and after the trip is the main purpose was to bring some greater stability to the relationship. We have an obligation, and I think China has an obligation to manage that relationship responsibly, to make sure that the profound differences we have don't veer into - into conflict. But one of the things that I said to Chinese counterparts during this trip was that we are going to continue to do things, and say things that you don't like, just as you're no doubt going to continue to do and say things that we don't like. And if you look at what comes out of the Chinese Foreign Ministry MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you saying that was a strategic remark? SEC. BLINKEN: -- on a daily basis, you'll hear that. The President always speaks candidly, he speaks directly. He speaks clearly, and he speaks for all of us. But the entire focus of what we're doing is to make sure that even when we're expressing our differences, by action, or by words, just as they're doing the same thing. We continue to work through that, to build our lines of communication, because we have a responsibility. And we especially have a responsibility to make sure that the competition we're in doesn't veer into conflict, I think we've now put in place a better path to do just that. And we'll see that over the next weeks and months. MARGARET BRENNAN: You also said that Chinese officials assured you they won't provide legal assistance to Russia, but that Chinese companies are. According to US Treasury, Chinese companies have also done business with the Wagner group. Have you reached out to the Chinese about trying to gauge what is happening on the ground inside Russia now? SEC. BLINKEN: Again, I can't get into any diplomatic context that we may or may not have had. But, you're exactly right, that when it comes to the visit, the Chinese did reiterate to us, as well as to many other countries that they have not and will not provide lethal military assistance to Russia for use in Ukraine. I also raised the concerns that you said about Chinese companies providing that kind of support and pressed them to be vigilant about that. I'm sure they're making their - their own assessments about what's happened inside of Russia in recent days. And as - as our contacts continue to unfold, as we have stronger and more sustained lines of communication, one of the things that we said we need to talk about is the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine. It's something we spent some time talking about when I was in China. I would expect those conversations to continue. MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Blinken, thank you for your time this morning. SEC. BLINKEN: Thanks, Margaret. Good to be with you. REPORTERS NOTEBOOK: Margaret Brennans trip to China Full interview: Cindy McCain, World Food Programme executive director Halting Ukrainian grain exports risks "starvation and famine," warns Cindy McCain, World Food Programme head Former president Donald Trump referred to the armed rebellion in Russia as a big mess on Saturday as insurgent leader Yevgeny Prigozhin turned his Wagner paramilitary forces away from Moscow. A big mess in Russia, but be careful what you wish for. Next in may be far worse! Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. In a separate post, he appeared to invoke news of the latest threats in Russia to baselessly accuse President Joe Biden and his son Hunter of illegally collecting money from China and asserting that his rival will do about Russia whatever President Xi wants. He went on to claim that the latest assault provides an unthinkable opportunity for China to seize large portions of Russia. Mr Trumps rivals in the 2024 Republican presidential race also weighed in on the Wagner crisis which unfolded rapidly on Saturday. By the end of the day, Prigozhin had ordered his forces to halt their march towards Moscow in what Russian officials called an attempted coup. This is one more piece of evidence that Russia is likely a paper tiger, GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy alleged in an interview with Fox News. The idea that Russia has the capabilities that go for Poland or other parts of Western Europe looks increasingly farcical. Mr Ramaswamy said China remains a top threat and the US should remain focused on deterring Chinese aggression. He added that if elected president he would urge Russia to end its war in Ukraine on the condition that Russian President Vladmir Putin distance himself from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Vivek Ramaswamy speaks to Faith and Freedom Road to Majority attendees in Washington DC on Friday (Getty Images) Former Texas congressman Will Hurd, another long-shot candidate for the GOP nomination, called on the US to help Ukraine implement a no-fly zone to protect the country in the event of an outbreak of civil war in Russia. In complicated times when our adversaries are trying to displace us as a superpower, its common sense to defend the global order that has benefited us and to help our allies, he tweeted. Ukraine is not a territorial dispute and Vladimir Putin is a war criminal, he added. It shouldnt be hard to admit this. Even the villainous [Yevgeny] Prigozhin knows this. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, another long-shot candidate for the 2024 nomination, called on peace-loving people around the world to pray for the freedom-loving people of Russia. The next few days will be crucial, he wrote on Twitter. Please pray for God to protect the innocent. Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris along with cabinet officials and top national security officials were briefed on the crisis throughout the day, according to the White House. The president also spoke with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French president Emmanuel Macron, and German chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss the situation and affirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine, according to a White House readout of the call. Former President Trump expanded his lead over the GOP presidential field following his federal indictment earlier this month, with over half of Republican primary voters now saying in a survey that the former president would be their first choice for the 2024 nomination. The latest NBC News poll found that 51 percent of GOP primary voters said Trump would be their first pick for the 2024 Republican nomination, a 5-point jump from April. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is in second place, currently holding 22 percent of the votes, a 9-point drop from where he stood in April. Only 7 percent of respondents say they would choose former Vice President Mike Pence, and 5 percent say they would vote for former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. No other Republican candidate received more than 4 percent support in the poll. While a majority of Republican voters said Trump would be their first choice for the 2024 GOP nomination, Republicans are split on whether he should remain leader of the party. Forty-nine percent of Republican voters said the former president should continue being a leader for the Republican Party with a majority of the same voters saying Trump is their first pick for the nomination. However, 21 percent said they would prefer another leader of the GOP, with a majority of these voters choosing DeSantis as their first pick for the nomination. Trump receives support from 1 of 5 of these voters. Another 29 percent say that the GOP needs a new leader with better personal behavior as well as a different approach from the former president. These voters preferred DeSantis, Pence, Christie and other candidates as their first choice for the GOP nomination. The new poll follows Trumps federal indictment for his handling of classified documents that were found last year at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Authorities allege that he kept classified documents at his Florida club and that he sought to block federal officials from getting the documents back. He has pleaded not guilty to all 37 charges. Trump on Saturday seemingly bragged about the indictment, as well as an earlier one in New York, saying they are like a great badge of courage during a Faith & Freedom Coalition event. Every time the radical left Democrats, Marxist, communists and fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of courage, the former president said. Im being indicted for you and I believe the you is more than 200 million people that love our country, he added. The NBC News poll of 1,000 registered voters, conducted June 16 to 20, has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. A CNN survey released last week found that Trumps lead over the GOP field had slipped 6 points in the wake of the federal indictment. Updated at 12:48 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. On the first anniversary of the Dobbs abortion ruling, Donald Trump leaned into his self-proclaimed title as the most pro-life president ever to raucous applause from a packed ballroom of evangelical Christian activists. We terminated Roe v. Wade, Trump said at the Faith & Freedom Coalitions annual conference Saturday, touting his appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices. Every child born and unborn is a sacred gift from God. Trump, who has expressed some discomfort with more restrictive abortion laws popping up across the country, didnt say he would back a 15-week national abortion ban advocated by Sen. Lindsey Graham, an ally of the former president. He did say there is a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life, promising that well get something done. This years conference highlights the challenge the 2024 Republican field faces a year after the overturning of Roe, a decision that galvanized the Democratic Party just months before a midterm election. Democrats have seized on GOP talks of a national ban, while some Republicans have cautioned against its potential to turn away general election voters. But in the first major gathering of 2024 presidential contenders with the former president in attendance, one thing was clear: Trump still has a stronghold on evangelical voters. He was the events main attraction, receiving an enthusiastic welcome for nearly the full length of Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA when he walked on stage. His winding speech went on for an hour and a half, peppered with chants of USA and We love Trump from the crowd, while his GOP rivals were tied to strict five to 15-minute time limits. At one point, as the crowd erupted into cheering and applause, Trump turned to Ralph Reed, the founder and chair of Faith & Freedom, asking if his 2024 rivals also received this kind of response. The speech also offered a preview of what Americans will continue to hear from the former president as he vies for a second chance to hold the nations highest office. He went well beyond abortion, touching on a number of his base-rallying greatest hits from the border to transgender issues to election security. He once again aired grievances about the 2020 election he lost but continues to claim was rigged. His speech touched on foreign policy, but he didnt focus particularly on current events in Russia. He also talked at length about his indictment on charges connected to his handling of classified national security records, painting it as political persecution. Hes probably the only president whos been indicted and my numbers went up, Trump joked. Every time the radical left Democrats, Marxists, Communists, fascists, indict me I consider it a great badge of courage. I am being indicted for you, and I believe the you is the more than 200 million who love our country, Trump said. A woman seated in the crowd shook her head as Trump spoke about the indictment, saying Just so terrible. Its ridiculous. The man to her right nodded. They were hard to spot in the cheering crowd, but not everyone in attendance was a diehard Trump fan. Bill Moher, a Republican running for Virginias 7th District, said he was most impressed by Vivek Ramaswamy over the last two days. He likes Trump, but he said he wishes he could be more policy-focused and disciplined in his messaging. I think the DAs who are charging him I think theyre going to get him reelected. And I dont know if thats a good thing or a bad thing, Moher said. If he goes back to the policies, gets himself a better team of people around him, then it might be a really good thing. But I wish to God he would talk with a positive message. Because Make America Great Again says that America is not great today. And America is pretty goddamn great today, he added. Another woman, Darla Williams, held up her phone to record bits and pieces of Trumps speech. She traveled from Georgia for the conference and to hear the former president speak. Williams, a Trump supporter, said she has no issue squaring her faith with any criticism of Trumps morals. She said while the former president has some flaws, hes a genuine Christian at heart and delivered to his supporters on abortion issues. He said he would do it, and he did it. Thats one thing I like. You get a lot of people who will say things but with him, when he says hell do it, he does it, she said. Williams said she doesnt believe Trump should promise to support a national 15-week abortion ban, warning that it could only hurt him. She said shes heard enough from Trump on the issue that she knows where he stands, and what he would do if he were to become president again. Zachary Scherer, 20, who traveled from Pittsburgh as part of the Pennsylvania chapter of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, agreed, simply saying its too early in the race. Wearing a red Make America Great Again hat, he said he believes that life begins at conception and is in favor of a national ban. But he doesnt think Trump should go there yet. Right now his popularity is very high after the indictment and all of the news lately, hes starting to draw a lot more Hispanic votes and a lot more minority votes, Scherer said. I think if he makes too many extreme or radical motions or speeches, he could potentially lose those voters that he gained. Trumps vulnerability on crime may have been exposed in Fox interview Trumps vulnerability on crime may have been exposed in Fox interview When then-President Trump signed the First Step Act into law in December 2018, he hailed it as an incredible success for our country. But in an interview with Fox News this week, Trump struggled to reconcile his support for that criminal justice reform law with his call for the death penalty to be imposed against drug dealers, appearing caught off guard when anchor Bret Baier noted the punishment would apply to Alice Johnson, a woman whose sentence he commuted. The exchange with Baier underscores the vulnerability Trumps challengers see in the former president on the issue of crime, even as Trump touts himself as a law-and-order candidate. After the defund the police movement, Republican primary voters want candidates who are going to be tough on crime, said Alex Conant, a GOP strategist who worked on Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) 2016 presidential bid. Its one of those issues where a lot has changed in just a few years, Conant said. Every candidate is looking for ways to attack Trump from the right, and crime is one of those openings. Upon its passage in 2018, the First Step Act was embraced by many as a significant bipartisan success during an administration that was rife with polarization. Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser at the time, Jared Kushner, led the push for the bill from the White House. The law reduced mandatory minimum sentences, expanded credits for well-behaved prisoners looking for shorter sentences and aimed to reduce recidivism. It was viewed as such an asset for Trump at the time that his 2020 campaign paid millions of dollars to air a Super Bowl ad that year highlighting Johnsons story and featuring the line, Politicians talk about criminal justice reform. President Trump got it done. But the conversation around crime within the GOP has shifted since that ad aired. Strategists and party officials largely point to the protests against racial injustice that swept the nation in summer 2020 after the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others, and the calls from some progressives to defund the police that sprung out of that movement. With a Democrat in the White House, it has become easier for Republicans to blame the opposing party for high-profile violent incidents in New York City or increased crime rates in Washington. Instead of embracing criminal justice reform as an accomplishment, the GOP position toward crime has hardened, with politicians and presidential candidates calling for severe crackdowns on violent offenders and drug dealers. That has made the First Step Act in particular a target for criticism from some candidates challenging Trump for the partys 2024 nomination. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who is running second behind Trump in most primary polls, said last month that if elected president, he would call on Congress to repeal the criminal justice reform law. DeSantis voted for the initial House version of the bill while serving as a congressman in 2018, something Trumps team has highlighted. But DeSantis resigned his seat to run for governor before the final version of the bill came up for a vote that year; critics argue the final bill was watered down from the House version. Even Trumps vice president, Mike Pence, has argued there is a need to rethink the criminal justice reform bill signed by Trump. I mean weve got a crime wave in our major cities, and I think now more than ever we ought to be thinking about how we make penalties tougher on people who are victimizing families in this country, Pence said during a CNN town hall the day he launched his 2024 bid. Trump himself has offered a policy platform for a potential second term that includes intense crackdowns on cities and criminals in a bid to curb crime. His proposals include moving homeless encampments out of cities, giving police more authority, deploying the military to squash the drug trade and imposing the death penalty for convicted drug dealers. But those ideas can be hard to square with the former presidents previous support for criminal justice reform and a raft of pardons he offered for nonviolent offenders who were in jail for drug-related crimes. In this weeks Fox interview, when Trump highlighted the clemency he granted Johnson, Baier noted she would be killed under his new proposal. No, no, no, under my oh, under that? Trump responded. It would depend on the severity. Additionally, Trumps attacks on the FBI and the Justice Department and his defense of rioters from the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol have given President Biden and the White House ample fodder to undermine Trumps image as a law-and-order candidate. The issue of crime and criminal justice reform is an example of the needle Trump may have to thread to win the GOP primary where voters are more right-leaning while also competing in the general election, where he will have to win over moderate and independent voters in a race against President Biden. Part of the emphasis on Trumps record on criminal justice reform in 2020 was due to the fact he was running against Biden, who was criticized for leading the passage of the 1994 crime bill that activists blame in part for driving up incarceration rates. In addition, Trump has said Kushner, who had significant influence during his first White House term, will not play a role in the 2024 campaign. And Johnsons case was brought to Trumps attention by Kim Kardashian, who similarly is unlikely to have any influence on Trumps thinking moving forward. Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, which hosted a major conference in Washington this weekend and featured numerous GOP presidential candidates, advocated for criminal justice reform at the federal level for years leading up to the passage of the First Step Act. Reed said in an interview there are many positives about the law that get overlooked because of the shift rightward on crime, and he argued Trump signing the legislation was a factor that helped him win over a larger share of Black voters in 2020 compared to 2016. Its not a soft-on-crime position, Reed said. And were certainly not in favor of allowing violent repeat offenders back on the streets. But, Reed added, When you have rising crime rates you cant be surprised if theres a political shift. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Joseph O'Connor was arrested in Spain in 2021 and extradited to the US in April A British man who hacked high profile Twitter accounts as part of a Bitcoin scam has been jailed in the US. Joseph O'Connor, from Liverpool, hijacked more than 130 accounts in July 2020, including those of Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Elon Musk. The 24-year-old pleaded guilty to hacking charges last month. On Friday, he was sentenced to five years for cyber crimes, according to the United States Attorney's Office in the southern district of New York. The hacking was part of a major Bitcoin scam that generated tweets asking followers to send Bitcoin to an account, promising to double their money. As a result of the fraud, an estimated 350 million Twitter users viewed suspicious tweets from official accounts of some of the platform's biggest users, including Apple, Uber, Kanye West and Bill Gates. Thousands were duped into believing that a crypto giveaway was real. Twitter hack: What went wrong? O'Connor, who went by the alias PlugwalkJoe, was extradited from Spain to the US in April and last month pleaded guilty to hacking charges that carried a total maximum sentence of more than 70 years. Three other men have been charged over the scam, with US teenager Graham Clark pleading guilty to his part in the deception in 2021. The hackers telephoned a small number of Twitter employees with a believable tale to convince them to hand over their internal login details - which eventually granted them access to Twitter's administrative tools. They managed to use social engineering tricks - more akin to conmen than high-level cyber-criminals - to get access to the powerful internal control panel at the site. In a statement, US Assistant Attorney-General Kenneth Polite Jr described O'Connor's actions as "flagrant and malicious", saying he had "harassed, threatened and extorted his victims, causing substantial emotional harm". The US justice department also said O'Connor admitted other hacking crimes including gaining access to a high-profile TikTok account and stalking a minor. He was also ordered to pay almost $800,000 in forfeiture, the US justice department said. Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk By Lidia Kelly (Reuters) - Chaos in Russia works to Kyiv's advantage, Ukraine officials said on Saturday, but it remains to be seen whether President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his army can capitalise on the disorder caused this weekend as mercenaries marched towards Moscow. Late on Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, a founder of the Wagner army, said he was halting his "march for justice" on Moscow after a deal that spared him and his mercenaries from facing criminal charges. The deal also exiled Prigozhin to Belarus. "Today the world saw that the masters of Russia do not control anything. Nothing at all. Just complete chaos," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address, urging Ukraine's allies to use the moment and send more weapons to Kyiv. The Prigozhin unrest, the biggest internal challenge to President Vladimir Putin as Russia's paramount leader for 23 years, has spurred global security concerns and a frenzy of calls between Washington and its allies to coordinate actions. "Any chaos behind the enemy lines works in our interests," State-run Ukrinform news agency quoted Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba as saying on Saturday. Putin called Prigozhin's actions a "blow to Russia", but there were no immediate signs his rule was threatened. The defence ministry, under the helm of Putin's loyal ally Sergei Shoigu, remained silent throughout the weekend's events. Kuleba said it was too early to speak of consequences for Ukraine, but later in the day he held a call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to discuss the events and Kyiv's counteroffensive efforts. The U.S. State Department said in a statement afterwards that Washington will stay "in close cooperation" with Kyiv as the situation develops. Ukraine's military reported on Saturday an offensive near villages ringing Bakhmut, which was taken by Wagner forces in May after months of fighting. Kyiv also claimed the liberation of Krasnohorivka village in Donetsk, but gains were incremental. The counteroffensive has been in general "slower than desired", Zelenskiy said recently. Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, said on Saturday there was no immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from the frontline to Moscow. "They ... all remain in their places. They continue their resistance," Ukrainian state media quoted Danilov as saying. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Tom Hogue) Ukraine war latest: Military reports advance on Bakhmut flanks; 2 Ukrainian teenagers reportedly killed by Russians in Berdiansk Key developments on June 25: Military reports advance on southern, northern flanks of Bakhmut Russia reportedly kills two Ukrainian teenagers in occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Germany to provide Ukraine with 45 more Gepard anti-aircraft guns Russia reportedly redeploys troops from Ukraine to protect Moscow Ukraines Air Force: Wagner Group downs 6 Russian army helicopters, 1 plane within day-long rebellion. Ukrainian forces have advanced on the flanks of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast up to one kilometer, the Eastern Command spokesperson Serhii Cherevatyi reported on June 25. The advance is reported on the southern and northern flanks. Russia had 186 troops killed in action, 224 wounded in action, and eight captured as the prisoners of the war over the past day in that area, Cherevatyi said on television. However, Russia continues reinforcement in Bakhmut with airborne troops. This clearly indicates that Moscow seeks to hold the city, Cherevatyi said. We know their goals, units, commanders, tactics, Cherevatyi said, adding however, that nothing will help the Russian forces. Meanwhile, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the Tavria military sector commander, reported on June 25 that Ukrainian forces had attacked Russian positions over 1,000 times in the past day. According to Tarnavskyi, approximately three platoons of Russian troops were killed or wounded, and a total of 16 Russian military vehicles, including a tank, a multiple rocket launcher, a howitzer, and five ammunition depots, were destroyed over the same period. Nevertheless, Russian forces attempted assaults in the Bakhmut, Lyman, and Marinka sectors in the east, where 20 engagements occurred, according to the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces. In the south, the Russian forces are putting main effort into holding the Ukrainian advance, the military said in its evening update on June 25. Russian forces also attacked 30 settlements in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts over the past day, according to the report. The General Staff also reported a Russian saboteur groups failed attempt to cross into the northern Sumy Oblast. Counteroffensive underway: We overestimated Russians and underestimated ourselves Editors Note: The Kyiv Independent introduces soldiers interviewed for the story by their first names or callsigns due to security reasons. DONETSK OBLAST Islams mind was empty of thoughts and feelings as he crawled carefully towards the Russian trenches near Siversk, with grenades prepared. The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov Russia reportedly kills two Ukrainian teenagers in occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Russian proxies in Zaporizhzhia Oblast reported that Russian troops killed two teenagers in the occupied port city of Berdiansk. Moscow suspected both kids of preparing the sabotage against the Russian military. Vladimir Rogov, a Russian proxy, said on June 25 that the Russian troops killed two pro-Ukrainian terrorists, naming one of them Tihran Ohannisian. Later that day, Ukraines Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said Russian troops killed two teenagers and named the second victim Mykyta Khanhanov. Both were 16 years old. Lubinets attached Ohannisians footage with an assault rifle in his hand, where he is saying, (The plan is to kill) two (people) for certain. Thats it, its death, guys. Goodbye! Glory to Ukraine! Russian proxies have long persecuted the two boys and their families, according to the ombudsman's office. In September 2022, Russian troops abducted Ohannisian for five days, beating and torturing him to elicit a confession that he was preparing railway sabotage to hinder Russian military logistics. The proxies also suspected Khanhanov, but the teenager avoided an extrajudicial arrest. However, Russian occupiers charged the two minors with planning sabotage in late May. In the wake of the Russian sham trial, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, calling on Russia to end grave violations against children affected by the armed conflict. The whole world must understand that human rights are violated every day in the occupied territories, Lubinets said. And until Ukraine returns its territories, it will continue and continue! Olha Reshetylova, the chairwoman of the Media Initiative for Human Rights, said the relatives of the boys had not seen the bodies yet. The human rights defender said Ukrainian law enforcement started an investigation into the alleged murder of the children. Theyll kill me if I come back: Abduction, torture become routine in Russian-occupied Melitopol In a rare glimpse, the Kyiv Independent talked to some who escaped Russian-occupied Melitopol and learned whats happening behind the curtain of Russias occupation. Since Melitopol fell to Russian forces in March 2022, the citys residents constantly fear being kidnapped, sometimes in broad dayligh The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Query Russia reportedly redeploys troops to protect Moscow During a day-long Wagner Groups armed rebellion, Russia redeployed two separate airborne units from Ukraine to protect Moscow, the Ukrainian military's National Resistance Center reported on June 25. The Il-75 transport aircraft carried up to two companies of Russias 76th Airborne Assault Division to Moscow, where they will stay for at least a week, according to the report. However, not every aircraft made it through the Russian sky as Wagner Groups columns were marching toward Moscow. Ukraines Air Force spokesman, Yurii Ihnat, confirmed the Russian reports of Wagner troops downing the Russian army's two attack helicopters, four transport ones, and one aircraft. These include one Ka-52 attack helicopter, one Mi-35 attack helicopter, one Mi-8 transport helicopter, three Mi-8 electronic warfare helicopters, and one Il-18 aircraft. Mi-8 transport helicopters are powerful hardware that really helps the Russian army in its war against Ukraine, the centers spokesperson said on television on June 25. On June 23, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a rebellion "to restore justice" after alleging that a Russian missile strike on his mercenary forces' camps in Ukraine caused substantial casualties. The biggest armed rebellion during the leadership of President Vladimir Putin was short-lived and appeared to be over by the end of June 24. Prigozhin said that his forces would return to military camps. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 24 that the insurrection case against Prigozhin would be dropped, and he would move to Belarus. Russia comes to the brink of civil war: How we got here and what it means Visually, the scene was a familiar one. Russian armored vehicles emblazoned with the Z logo in the central streets of a once peaceful city, masked soldiers standing at key intersections, and confrontational conversations with bemused local civilians. But this wasnt a Ukrainian city in the first da The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell Germany to provide Ukraine with air defense, anti-aircraft systems Germany announced it would supply Ukraine with more military hardware, including anti-aircraft and air defense systems, to protect Ukrainian skies. In an interview with Welt am Sonntag published on June 25, German Brigadier General Christian Freuding said that Berlin would supply Ukraine with 45 Gepard self-propelled anti-air systems by the end of the year. Fifteen of them will be delivered in the coming weeks, according to the official. Berlin will also provide Kyiv with two more IRIS-T air defense systems by the end of the year and another four in 2024, Freuding said. Freuding also that Ukraine still needs more air defense, even if its partners are doing everything to provide what they can. The Gepards are to be provided in cooperation with the U.S., according to Freuding. The Pentagon announced in a press release on June 1 that the U.S. would buy Gepards worth $118.3 million for Ukraine. Germany has already delivered 34 Gepards with some 6,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale war. The Gepards are helping Ukraine to defend itself against Iranian-made Shahed loitering munitions Russia is launching to attack civilian and critical infrastructure, the German Embassy in Ukraine said last November. The UK Ministry of Defence has assessed the offensive operations of Ukrainian troops on three key fronts as making gradual but steady tactical progress. Source: UK Defence Intelligence report; European Pravda Details: British analysts noted that in recent days, Ukrainian troops have regrouped and are once again carrying out large-scale offensive operations on three main fronts in the south and east of Ukraine. The Ukrainian troops are using the experience of the first two weeks of the counteroffensive to improve their tactics for assaulting deep, well-prepared Russian defences, the ministry noted. Ukrainian units are making gradual but steady tactical progress on key fronts. In Luhansk Oblast, the UK Ministry of Defence stressed that Russian troops have made significant efforts to advance in the Serebrianske Forest near Kreminna. Their actions likely reflect continued orders from Russian senior leadership to go on the offensive at any opportunity. Russia has made some small gains in the area, but Ukrainian troops have prevented a breakthrough by Russian troops, the British analysts said. Background: Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, said this week that the armed forces need more planes, helicopters, and MANPADS for a successful counteroffensive, to end Russian dominance in the air. At the same time, against the backdrop of the counteroffensive, a committee of the US House of Representatives called on President Biden to provide ATACMS to Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraine's Defence Minister talks with the US Secretary of Defence: Everything moving in right direction Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defence, have discussed the counteroffensive of Ukraine and the attempted mutiny of the Wagner Group in Russia. Source: Reznikov on Twitter Quote: "We talked about the latest events in Russia. We agree that the Russian government is weak and that the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine is the best choice for the Kremlin. It would be better for Russia to solve its own problems. We also discussed the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army and the next steps to strengthen our defence forces. Everything is moving in the right direction. Ukraine will win." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraine's Interior Ministry shows first minutes after missile fragments fell on residential building in Kyiv The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has posted a video showing the first minutes after a multi-storey residential building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district was damaged by a missile attack from the Russians. Source: Press service of the Interior Ministry on Telegram Quote: "Patrol policemen, together with search and rescue workers, helped to recover people from the rubble, evacuated citizens from destroyed homes and escorted them to safety." Background: Fragments from a Russian aerial target shot down on the night of 23-24 June damaged a 25-storey building in Kyiv's Solomianskyi district. Three people had been killed as a result of the falling debris. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukraine has a flurry of calls with allies after Moscow disorder KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his defence minister said they held a series of calls with Kyiv's allies on Sunday to discuss the "weakness" of Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's next counteroffensive steps. The phone calls took place after an extraordinary failed mutiny by the head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, that raised questions about Putin's grip on power as Ukraine presses a counteroffensive in its south and east. "We discussed the course of hostilities and the processes taking place in Russia. The world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored," Zelenskiy said after a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden. According to the White House readout, the two leaders "discussed Ukraine's ongoing counteroffensive, and President Biden reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support." Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine's defence minister, said he and U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed Ukraine's counteroffensive and next steps to strengthen the forces. "Things are moving in the right direction," Reznikov wrote on Twitter. While Ukraine's officials said the Russia chaos works to Kyiv's advantage, it yet remains to be seen whether Zelenskiy and his army can capitalise on the Moscow disorder to reclaim territories now occupied by Russia. Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine's eastern military command, said on Sunday Kyiv's army advanced 600 metres (2,000 ft) to 1,000 metres over the previous day near Bakhmut, a city taken by Wagner forces in May after months of fighting. But the gains have been incremental so far, with Zelenskiy saying recently the counteroffensive has been "slower than desired." On Sunday, Zelenskiy said he and Biden had discussed expanding defence cooperation with an emphasis on long-range weapons, coordination ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius next month and preparations for a "Global Peace Summit" he has promoted. "Yesterday's events exposed the weakness of Putin's regime," Zelenskiy was quoted in the statement. Separately, Zelenskiy said he had told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a call about the "threatening situation" at Ukraine's vast, Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Zelenskiy warned earlier this week that Russia was considering carrying out an act of "terrorism" involving the release of radiation at the plant, an allegation denied by Russia. "Ukraine's partners must demonstrate a principled response, in particular at the NATO Summit in Vilnius," he said. The Ukrainian leader made similar comments in a statement announcing a phone call with Polish President Andrzej Duda. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth and Pavel Polityuk; Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly;Writing by Tom Balmforth and Lidia Kelly;Editing by Jane Merriman, Lisa Shumaker, Diane Craft and Lincoln Feast) The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel has accused this state of a "clear pro-Russian position" and called for taking the right side of history. In turn, the Israeli Foreign Ministry intends to summon the Ukrainian ambassador. Source: Ukrainian Embassy in Israel, The Jerusalem Post Quote from the embassy: "The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Israel regretfully emphasises that the current Israeli government has opted for a path of close cooperation with the Russian Federation. While the people of Ukraine, including its substantial Jewish community, are bleeding under the onslaught of Russian missiles and Iranian drones, the Israeli leadership, hiding behind verbal demagoguery about their neutrality (albeit no longer concealing it) actively forges relations with the Russian Federation. In reality, on the ground, the so-called "neutrality" of the Israeli government is considered as a clear pro-Russian position. Regrettably, the Israeli government pays little attention to the opinions of its own people and disregards the pleas of the global Jewish diaspora, who unequivocally support Ukraine in its struggle against Russian state terrorism. We urge the Israeli government to change its position and to support Ukraine with defensive means, to support freedom and democratic world order. We expect Israel to be on the right side of history!" Details: According to the embassy, Israel's pro-Russian position is evidenced by a number of "rather controversial events" that occurred in the first half of 2023 and coincided with the almost complete lack of Israeli humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. "Particularly noteworthy among them are the fruitless visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister to Ukraine this February and a series of interviews by Prime Minister Netanyahu with media outlets, including the most recent one with the Jerusalem Post on June 22," the statement reads. The embassy accused Israel of "complete inaction" in providing Ukraine with defence assistance over the past 18 months. It also noted that in the last interview with Netanyahu, quite fictional and speculative assumptions appeared, suggesting the transfer of Western weapons from the battlefield in Ukraine to the Syrian and Iranian regimes. Moreover, the Israeli government recently successfully held two rounds of high-level political talks with the Russian Foreign Ministry. In addition, an agreement was reached to create another Russian diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, for which land was even allocated free of charge. After this statement from the Ukrainian embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel plans to summon Yevhen Korniychuk, the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said at a briefing that "despite difficult relations with Russia, Israel has been with Ukraine from the beginning of the war to the present day, publicly supported its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and voted to condemn Russia in international forums." The minister said that last year, Israel sent Ukraine an unprecedented amount of air worth of NIS 80 million [US$22 million], and it has an even larger budget to help Kyiv this year. In addition, Cohen said that the Israeli missile attack warning system, which is being tested in Kyiv, will save the lives of Ukrainian civilians. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Editors Note: This is issue 94 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from June 17-23, 2023. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission. Ukrainian SOE Weekly is an independent weekly digest based on a compilation of the most important news related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned banks in Ukraine. This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union within the project Supporting Ukraine in rebuilding and recovery implemented by the KSE Institute. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editorial team of the Ukrainian SOE Weekly and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. Corporate governance of SOEs State Property Fund to liquidate over 1,200 loss-making SOEs. On June 16, the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) reported that it had analyzed 2,364 enterprises currently managed by the SPFU: 134 are strategic assets that will remain under the management of the SPFU; 288 are to be privatized and are looking for investors; 664 are in occupied territories; and 1,278 are slated for liquidation or bankruptcy. The assets that remain under the SPFUs management are strategic enterprises and enterprises important for social policy, such as the operating and profitable prosthetic and orthopaedic producers or defense companies, the SPFU added. The SPFU did not specify the names of companies. By the end of 2023, the SPFU plans to take over the management of about 1,200 more SOEs. According to the SPFU, the liquidation of non-performing assets would allow it to reduce the debt burden on the state budget, pay wage arrears to employees, create new businesses using the property of unprofitable enterprises, and develop the Ukrainian economy. Liquidation of enterprises can take from four months to 1.5 years. The SPFU plans to liquidate 347 companies in 2023, 400 companies in 2024, and another 141 in 2025. In SOE Weekly (Issue 90), we reported that since September 2022, the SPFU has replaced 89 CEOs and 53 supervisory board members at enterprises that it manages. The fund was awaiting appointment approvals at another 26 enterprises. In Issue 83, we reported that the Verkhovna Rada approved a mechanism for liquidating more than 1,200 non-performing SOEs. In Issue 79, we reported that the SPFU announced that it planned to replace chief executives at 65 SOEs. The decision was based on the analysis of those enterprises financial indicators. In Issue 75, we reported that the SPFU announced that it began dismissing SOE managers found to be lacking integrity. Russia comes to the brink of civil war: How we got here and what it means Visually, the scene was a familiar one. Russian armored vehicles emblazoned with the Z logo in the central streets of a once peaceful city, masked soldiers standing at key intersections, and confrontational conversations with bemused local civilians. But this wasnt a Ukrainian city in the first da The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell Ukroboronproms supervisory board approves its strategic development priorities until 2034. On June 21, Ukroboronprom reported that its supervisory board approved the strategy that sets priorities for Ukroboronprom itself and the companies that it oversees for 2023-2034. SOEs, particularly those overseen by Ukroboronprom, were responsible for delivering 36% of the State Defense Order in 2020. According to Ukroboronproms release, its primary objective is to ensure the sustainable development of production and technology infrastructure. This includes serial production and supply of products and services to meet the needs of Ukraines Security and Defense Forces. The strategic priorities of Ukroboronprom and its enterprises include: preserving the existing scientific, technical, and production competence; developing new competence through technology transfers from leading Western companies; and supporting the entire life cycle of state-of-the-art weapons and military equipment models. Ukroboronprom aims to ensure that weapons and military equipment used by the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine and NATO member states are interoperable and interchangeable. To achieve this, Ukroboronprom will cooperate with defence companies from the United States, as well as other NATO and EU member states. Previously, we reported that Ukroboronprom established several production sites in NATO countries. See SOE Weeklys issues 91, 88, 74, 79, and 80 for detail. Note that it is important for the SOEs strategy to be in line with the expectations set by the state as the owner. These expectations are typically outlined in the state ownership policy. The concept of corporate governance reform of Ukroboronprom, including its ownership policy, was drafted by Andriy Boytsun, Oleksandr Lysenko, and Dmytro Yablonovskyi, members of the SOE Weekly team, as well as the international law firm Kinstellar, in early 2020. The policy was subsequently adopted by the government in 2021. For a discussion of these documents, see the OECD Review of the Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises in Ukraine. However, no public information is available on whether any changes have been contemplated to that policy since the full-scale invasion of Russia. We are also unaware of how Ukroboronproms recently approved strategy reflects its ownership policy. In SOE Weekly (Issue 59), we reported that in July 2021, the Verkhovna Rada adopted Law 1630-IX (previously known as Draft Law No. 3822) which laid the groundwork for Ukroboronproms transformation. On Dec. 9, 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers approved resolutions and ordinances to convert Ukroboronprom into a joint-stock company. The Cabinet also approved the conversion of Ukroboronproms 43 uncorporatized enterprises into joint-stock companies or limited liability companies fully controlled by the state. As we reported in Issue 80, the Cabinet said in a press release that it approved the corporatization of Ukroboronprom on March 21. In Issue 83, we reported that the corporatization had not yet begun: The government resolution to convert the State Concern Ukroboronprom into a joint-stock company called Ukrainian Defense Industry was not public yet. On May 4, the Cabinet of Ministers published the resolution. (See Issue 87 for detail.) However, the conversion of Ukroboronprom, as required by that resolution, remained blocked (see Issue 92). Among other things, the corporatization of Ukroboronprom implies setting up a new supervisory board that will include independent members. This board will have yet to develop a strategic view for the newly corporatized company, including updating the current strategic priorities or developing new ones. Inside Ukraines costly mission to grind down Russia near Bakhmut Editors note: The Kyiv Independent interviewed a few dozen soldiers deployed near Bakhmut and visited their positions in late May and early June. The soldiers are identified by their first names or call signs for security reasons amid the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. NEAR IVANIVSKE VILLAGE, Don The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima Energy EBRD to provide 600 million euros to support Ukraines energy sector funds would go to Ukrenergo, Naftogaz, and Ukrhydroenergo. On June 21, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) would support the Ukrainian energy sector with a 600 million euro aid package in 2023. According to Shmyhal, the relevant memorandums were signed on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London. Each company would receive 200 million euro in the form of loans and grants from international partners. The EBRDs memorandum with Naftogaz envisages three main areas of cooperation: building strategic natural gas reserves, investments to decarbonise and reduce methane emissions, and investments to improve energy efficiency, the Prime Minister added. According to Ukrhydroenergo, the EBRD will also support the restoration and modernisation of its hydroelectric power plants. The EBRD stated that the financing package would be provided in response to the recent flooding in the Kherson region caused by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam. State-owned Ukrhydroenergo holds the assets of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (Kakhovka HPP). Fifty million euro would be liquidity financing to support the companys resilience, while the remaining 150 million euro is earmarked for the restoration of two hydroelectric power plants near the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the EBRD explained. As SOE Weekly wrote in Issue 91, Ukrhydroenergo reported that the Kakhovka HPP was destroyed beyond restoration after the Russians set off a massive explosion in the engine room. The memorandum with Ukrenergo lays out the goal to ensure stable and uninterrupted transmission and dispatch of electricity, Shmyhal said. According to Ukrenergos CEO Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, this is not the first investment in the stability of the Ukrainian energy sector by international partners. Since Russias full-scale invasion, Ukrenergo has attracted financial support from the EBRD in the form of loans and grants worth more than 500 million euro. About 300 million euro of that amount strengthened the companys liquidity and allowed it to make payments to market participants for 2022 and 2023, Kudrytskyi wrote. 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 Naftogaz sues Russia in US court, seeking $5 billion in compensation for Crimean assets. On June 23, Naftogaz reported that it filed a motion to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia as it tries to claim an earlier $5 billion award by the Arbitral Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. The tribunal ordered Russia to pay $5 billion plus interest, in compensation for the damages and lost property in Crimea. Russia never paid it. According to the Naftogaz statement, the company has the right to initiate enforcement under the 1958 New York Convention in countries hosting Russian assets. Under U.S. laws, confirmation of the award is mandatory unless the court establishes the existence of causes to refuse or delay recognition or enforcement of the award set out in the New York Convention. Interest will continue to accrue until Russia pays in full, Naftogaz explained. In SOE Weekly (Issue 83), we reported that The Hagues Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration ordered Russia to pay $5 billion to cover Naftogaz Groups losses in Crimea when Russia seized them in 2014. Defense Ukroboronprom reports successful use of a new drone. On June 20, Ukroboronprom reported about the successful use of a Ukraine-produced drone with a 1,000 km range. According to Ukrainska Pravdas (UP) sources, the drone was efficiently used on May 3. A Russian oil depot reportedly caught fire on the same day in the village of Volna in Krasnodar Krai in Russia, not far from the Crimean Bridge. Previously, we reported that Ukroboronprom established several production sites in NATO countries. See SOE Weeklys issues 91, 88, 74, 79, and 80 for detail. Confiscation of the aggressor states assets, nationalization, and asset seizure The law on nationalization of Sense Bank comes into force; ABHH threatens litigation. On June 16, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law that allows the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) to nationalize banks of sanctioned owners. In particular, this applies to the last major Russia-linked bank in Ukraine, Sense Bank (which had operated under the name Alfa-Bank until Dec. 1). The banks ultimate beneficial owners are sanctioned Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, and Andrey Kosogov. According to Ekonomichna Pravda (EP), the most likely dates for nationalization are June 23 or 30. Meanwhile, ABH Holdings S.A. (ABHH), the nominal owner of Sense Banks shares, said that it was seriously concerned that the NBU would nationalize Sense Bank and only give a nominal amount to ABHH in compensation. ABHH said that it would complain to an international court in that case. Earlier, the company appealed to the National Security and Defense Council, asking for permission for the banks shares to be sold to a European investor. ABHH claimed that the proceeds from the sale would not go to the sanctioned owners. In SOE Weekly (Issue 91), we reported that the Verkhovna Rada adopted Draft Law No. 9107-1, which allows the NBU to nationalize Sense Bank. Kyivs frustration boils as flow of Western chips for Russian missiles continues uninterrupted Destroyed apartments, burnt-out cars, lives upturned or extinguished altogether: Russias June 13 missile attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih was, in many ways, nothing out of the ordinary for wartime Ukraine. The evening after the attack, which killed 13 civilians, President Volodymyr Zelensky came o The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell HACC Appeals Chamber rules to nationalize Deripaskas quarries; rejects the request to nationalize two quarries saying they are not Deripaskas. On June 16, the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) considered the challenges of companies owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska against the HACCs Feb. 16 decision to confiscate his assets. The HACC Appeals Chamber decided to uphold the decision of the HACC to impose sanctions and confiscate 100% of the corporate rights of the following companies: Aluminium Company of Ukraine LLC, Metallurg Service Centre LLC, Mykolaiv Alumina Plant LLC, Hlukhiv Quartzite Quarry LLC, and Zaporizhzhia Lumintorh LLC. At the same time, the HACC Appeals Chamber denied the Ministry of Justices request to confiscate Khust Quarry PJSC and Zhezheliv Quarry PJSC, finding that the evidence of their connection to Deripaska was insufficient. The ruling cannot be appealed. Ihor Mazepa, CEO of Concorde Capital, previously stated that Khust and Zhezheliv quarries belong to him, Vitaliy Antonov, Vasyl Danylyak, and a German national, Florian Guth. He claimed that none of the investors are related to the Russian oligarchy. We bought these assets from Strabag, an Austrian building materials manufacturer, where Deripaska had a 27% stake. That is, these assets have nothing to do with Strabag or its minority shareholder Deripaska, Mazepa said. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko expressed disappointment with the decision, saying that it did not fully comply with the one we sought and fought for, but Deripaskas primary assets would be recovered by the state. In SOE Weekly (Issue 75), we reported that, on Feb. 16, the HACC satisfied the claim of the Ministry of Justice and ruled to transfer companies owned by Deripaska to Ukrainian state ownership. In Issue 70, we reported that the Ministry of Justice filed a lawsuit with the HACC, seeking to seize assets belonging to Deripaska. Ukrainian troops are refining their tactics and undertaking major offensive operations in Kyivs counteroffensive against Moscow, according to a new intelligence update from the United Kingdoms Ministry of Defense. In recent days, Ukrainian forces have re-set and have again been undertaking major offensive operations on three main axes in southern and eastern Ukraine, the British officials said in their assessment of the conflict. Ukrainian forces are using the experiences from the first two weeks of the counter-offensive to refine tactics for assaulting the deep, well prepared Russian defences. Ukrainian units are making gradual but steady tactical progress in key areas. Kyivs much-anticipated counteroffensive launched earlier this month, more than a year since Russias invasion, and Ukraine appeared to both make progress and take losses. Russian forces have made a significant effort to launch an attack in the Serebryanka Forest in Luhansk Oblast, Sundays UK intelligence update said, assessing that this probably reflects continued Russian senior leadership orders to go on the offensive whenever possible. Russia has made some small gains, but Ukrainian forces have prevented a breakthrough, the update concluded. A British intelligence update released last week found that both sides of the fighting in Russias war, as Ukraine mounted the counteroffensive, were suffering high casualties. Amid recent turmoil in Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address over the weekend that Ukraine will definitely be able to protect Europe from any Russian forces, and it doesnt matter who commands them. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast On a Tuesday afternoon, police encircled the Elmhurst, Queens public library in two layers of crowd-control barricades. Next to arrive were the volunteers, carrying rainbow umbrellas and brightly colored posters. Libraries are for everyone, read one sign. Then, minutes before a family-oriented story time was set to begin inside the library, the right arrived. Bearing Dont Tread On Me flags and Blue Lives Matter t-shirts, the dozen or so demonstrators paced the sidewalk shouting slogans and obscenities as library patrons maneuvered the cops and fences to access a public building where, for the next hour, a drag performer would read books to children. Pauline Park, a longtime Queens-based LGBTQ rights organizer, watched the anti-drag demonstrators, a rainbow poster in her hands. The RuPauls Drag Race Queen Playing the Best Reality TV Game I know some of these people by sight, she told The Daily Beast. The same bunch of people, about a dozen of them, go from drag story hour to drag story hour. They have nothing better to do with their time than to try to disrupt. Its LGBTQ Pride Month in the city that kickstarted Americas gay rights movement more than 50 years ago. But that liberation movement remains a battle, played out in state legislatures and at barricades around public libraries as the GOP puts LGBTQ rights in its crosshairs. On one frontline of the fight are New York Citys drag defenders, a coalition of volunteers who guard events like drag story hour against a small but emboldened set of opponents. On the one hand, a few bigots, some of them with the Proud Boys, Park said of the anti-drag crowd. On the other side, you have people from throughout Queens, both LGBT and non-queer folks who are supporting this event. A Drag Story Hour defender and Flame, a fabulous drag queen. Kelly Weill/Handout Libraries have hosted the drag events since at least 2015 when author and activist Michelle Tea launched Drag Story Hour (now a nonprofit with dozens of chapters in the U.S. and abroad). The kid-friendly events feature performers in colorful dress, and messages about inclusivity. Flame, a New York City-based Drag Story Hour performer, has been attending those story hours for five years. Some of the children they once read to are now teenagers, who remember me reading to them when I was still a kid, Flame told The Daily Beast. They remember me by name, they remember the stories I read and they remember the lessons we teach of self love, creative self-expression, and empathy and respect for others despite race, color, gender, orientation, or disabilities. Its been so rewarding to see. But the readings have drawn increasing conservative ire as Republican politicians unveil a legislative broadside against LGBTQ rightsin 2023, lawmakers have introduced more than 520 anti-LGBTQ bills, many of them targeting drag and minors ability to access information on LGBTQ issues. With those bills have come demonstrations against drag events. A June report by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue found anti-drag protests to have increased in 2023, sometimes escalating to threats, doxxing, and property damage for drag performers and venues that host drag shows. The first five months of 2023 have seen more incidents of anti-drag protests, online and offline threats, and violence (97 in total; average of 19.4 per month) than in the last seven months of 2022 (106 in total; average of 15.1 per month), the ISD report found. The report also found that the anti-drag demonstrations were being driven by not just traditional anti-LGBTQ+ groups but include growing numbers of assorted other actors, from local extremists and white supremacists through to parents rights activists, members of anti-vaxxer groups, and Christian nationalists. The opposition has definitely become more organized, Lucy, a local parent who held pro-LGBTQ posters outside the Elmhurst library, told The Daily Beast. Rainbow umbrellas at drag queen story hour. Kelly Weill To be honest, I think there are a lot of fringe, extreme right groups that are pretty racist, pretty anti-immigrant, pretty sexist, theyre anti-vaxx, they use intimidation and harassment to get their ideas across, and I think a lot of them have latched onto trans rights as a wedge issue that they think they can gain traction on. Over the past year, some of the regular drag defenders have formalized techniques for shielding the childrens story events. On Tuesday, a line of pro-LGBTQ activists rattled colorful noisemakers to drown out chants of groomer and held up a wall of rainbow umbrellas, shielding the librarys entrance from the anti-drag faction, some of whom were filming on phones. In Elmhurst, drag defense is a neighborhood affair, said New York City council member Shekar Krishnan, who represents the neighborhood and nearby Jackson Heights. Krishnan pointed to a recent trend of anti-drag incidents, particularly in Jackson Heights which is home to a long history of LGBTQ activism. The drag story hour defense is such an essential, uplifting, and necessary part of this work, Krishnan told The Daily Beast. When our community shows up every time, far outnumbering the extremists who are there, that is a definition of community safety, that is a definition of solidarity to show up together. Lucy said drag defense has connected her with other families in her building and on her block who want to attend the events but are fearful of anti-drag demonstrators. Our welcoming, festive presence makes it feel safe for families to attend, she said. Ive got a lot of emails from people in my neighborhood thanking everyone who comes out in support. Still, drag defense is not without risk. Lucy asked to withhold her last name, citing the potential for harassment, which other supporters of drag story hour have previously experienced intimidation online and at their homes and offices. Krishnan has previously supported drag story hours in his district, only to be targeted by some of the same demonstrators at his home. While Krishnan was at home with his children in January, anti-drag protesters gathered outside to shout racist slurs and scrawl groomer on the sidewalk. Its an extremely offensive and vile display, he said. The Best Photos of New Yorks Pride Parade His district office was also vandalized, as were the homes of fellow council members Erik Bottcher and Crystal Hudson, who also supported drag story hour. Bottcher, who is gay, has been a particular target of anti-drag demonstrators. In December, two anti-story hour regulars broke into Bottchers building and refused to leave. They pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in March. A leader of their anti-drag group, David Nieves, was arrested in December for allegedly breaking into Bottchers building and assaulting his neighbor. Nieves was present at Tuesdays drag event in Elmhurst, where he shouted erratically at library workers until police moved him away from a barricade. Callan Ditmyer, one of the volunteers who gathered in support of the drag story hour, said hed seen similar outbursts over the past yearbut that drag defenders goal is to keep them out of the library. Were not going to tolerate people going up and disrupting a childrens event, he said. Its like, do you have anything better to do? Indiana Moms for Liberty Chapter Apologizes for Quoting Hitler in First Newsletter Nieves group, the Guardians of Divinity, emerged from the anti-vaccine conspiracy world, and pivoted to anti-drag activism around September 2022, according to the ISD report. Since then the group has orchestrated 21 anti-drag events (averaging 3 events a month), 16 of which have ended with verbal or physical clashes between Guardians of Divinity and either counter-protestors or event attendees, the ISD found. The group is small, ISD notes. Even its Telegram channel has a scant 229 followers, and its in-person events are smaller. Approximately 10 people, some of them recognizable members of the group, demonstrated outside the Elmhurst library on Tuesday. Past events have included uniformed members of the Proud Boys, another far-right group with a violent history in the city. Small and extreme, these groups are the anti-LGBT movements boots on the ground. But theyre networked with more established figures in more conventional conservative operations. In March, the New York Young Republicans Club hosted Nieves and his fellow demonstrator Anna Morgan, who had pleaded guilty the previous day to disorderly conduct in Bottchers building. Other microcelebrities of the right have also demonstrated outside New Yorks drag story hours. Joining the crowd outside the Elmhurst library on Tuesday was Brandon Straka, a pro-Trump internet personality who pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for his actions during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Straka, unsuccessfully disguised in a Black Lives Matter shirt, attempted to enter the library during the story hour, but was turned away by employees. Straka told The Daily Beast he was acquainted with some of the other anti-drag demonstrators, though he declined to provide namesless than he did after Jan. 6, when he provided information on fellow Stop The Steal activists to the FBI. For all their noise outside the library, the anti-drag demonstrators have been consistently outnumbered by drag defenders, with approximately three times as many pro-LGBTQ volunteers as opponents on Tuesday. And those numbers only reflect the outside of the library, Park, the Queens activist said. These events are often packed, sometimes to capacity, she said, recalling a recent drag story hour in Jackson Heights, where they had to turn away families, unfortunately, because it was so popular. 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. An early battle in the trial of Bryan Kohberger is playing out over a key piece of evidence in the Idaho murder case, and its outcome could set court precedent for how the nations police investigate suspects of violent crime. The recent revelation that the FBI submitted DNA to public genealogy websites to pinpoint Kohberger as the alleged killer is raising significant legal questions, including with his public defense. Law enforcements latest crime-solving technique, used in the quadruple homicide case, was whispered about for months, but only officially confirmed by prosecutors last week. Federal agents employed DNA in the active investigation in a way typically reserved for cold cases, according to court records. The relatively new, unvetted and largely unregulated method has drawn scrutiny over possible limits on civil liberties, in part from the lack of a paper trail. The technique, known as investigative genetic genealogy (IGG), provided the lead that ended at Kohberger, Idaho prosecutors said. The process entailed using popular ancestry websites to build a family tree from DNA discovered at a crime scene. Four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death on Nov. 13 at an off-campus home on King Road in Moscow. The victims were seniors Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21; and junior Xana Kernodle and freshman Ethan Chapin, both 20. Detectives found touch DNA on a combat-style knife sheath located on the bed of one of the four victims, Kohbergers defense said in a court record last week. They argued for access to the IGG records, stating the prosecution is hiding its entire case. Presumably, the defense is expected to accept at face value that the sheath had touch DNA just waiting for testing by all the FBIs myriad resources, read the court record signed by public defender Jay Logsdon. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Mr. Kohberger does not accept that his defense does not need this information. Meanwhile, the prosecution aims to withhold the documents from that investigative process, which was not disclosed by officials involved in the case until last week. Critics say such legal maneuvering yields far-reaching questions about criminal civil rights and law enforcement transparency. But IGG experts have fewer worries, including surrounding personal privacy. The method, they told the Idaho Statesman and McClatchy, should be considered just another investigative technique be it a more modern one driven by scientific advances at law enforcements disposal to zero in on violent criminal suspects. Barbara Rae-Venter helped police in 2018 identify Joseph James DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer the man responsible for a string of murders, rapes and kidnappings throughout California in the 1970s and 80s. Especially in light of IGG leading investigators to Kohberger, she wants to see the method go mainstream in policing. IGG is an investigative tool, just like fingerprints, or the psychic who says where the missing person is, Rae-Venter told the Statesman by phone. Its the eyewitness who says they saw somebody with whatever description leaving the premises. Were trying to narrow down who the suspect is, thats all were doing. Fellow IGG expert Christi Guerrini, assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, likened investigators use of public genealogy tools to that of a public tip line. The information from both techniques is never used as the basis for an arrest, Guerrini told McClatchy by phone, but it thins the pool of suspects for law enforcement. In any investigation, when there are no suspect leads, investigators are basically looking for a needle in an impossibly large haystack that they are trying to make more manageable, Guerrini said. A rationale for not including the family tree information in court proceedings is that its not the basis of an arrest. It helps shrink the haystack, but the person was not arrested based on who they were related to. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, who is leading the case against Kohberger, argued similarly in a court filing released last week. In response to the demand by Kohbergers attorneys for all IGG records as part of the discovery process to mount a credible defense, he requested the Idaho district judge overseeing the case rule in the states favor. The information the FBI obtained through IGG, Thompson wrote, is immaterial to how police established probable cause to arrest and charge the former Washington State University graduate student of criminology. Judge John Judge of Idahos 2nd Judicial District Court in Latah County will hold a hearing Tuesday on the matter. Bryan Kohberger is charged with killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. Investigators used genetic genealogy to identify him as a suspect. Kohberger, 28, awaits a scheduled Oct. 2 trial after a grand jury last month indicted him on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. Prosecutors could seek the death penalty in the case but have not stated their intentions yet. Thompson revealed in the court filing that the FBI developed a family tree after submitting the DNA from the knife sheath to one or more unnamed genealogy websites. Further vetting of the information led federal agents to send a tip to local police to investigate Kohberger, according to the court record. However, IGG did not take the place of more traditional investigative techniques, which Idaho police pursued once the FBI forwarded the tip, Thompson said. The IGG process pointed law enforcement toward (Kohberger), but it did not provide law enforcement with substantive evidence of guilt, Thompson wrote. Moreover, he said, the FBI produced limited records from its creation of the family tree that led the agency to land on Kohberger. And, per Department of Justice policy on the use of IGG techniques, federal agents removed the DNA profile related to the Ka-Bar brand leather knife sheath once Kohberger was arrested, Thompson wrote. The state has not seen nor does the state possess these records or copies of these records, he said. Idaho case could make IGG more accepted IGG, more often associated with decades-old, unsolved crimes, is becoming increasingly popular in active investigations. The practice involves sending a DNA profile to public genealogy websites like Ancestry.com or 23andMe, and awaiting the return of familial ties. Neither of the two direct-to-consumer services cooperates with law enforcement, each reported on their websites. So instead, investigators usually lean on the smaller genealogy services GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA, Rae-Venter said. But each company has several million fewer DNA profiles than their more widely known competitors. Barbara Rae-Venter is a genetic genealogy expert who helped identify California serial murderer Joseph James DeAngelo, better known as the Golden State Killer. A case of significant national attention such as Kohbergers stands to make the technique more commonplace beyond cold cases. Right now, its only being used in current cases where theres some urgency involved, Rae-Venter said. I would hope that it becomes more universally used. It remains unclear why police did not identify using IGG during the homicide investigation in the probable cause affidavit filed to justify Kohbergers arrest in late December. The affidavit instead referenced location data from Kohbergers cellphone and video footage of a white sedan as it made trips between Pullman and the victims off-campus rental home in Moscow as evidence he was the suspect. Kohberger owned a white 2015 Hyundai Elantra. In late December, investigators also obtained trash from Kohbergers parents home in eastern Pennsylvania, where he was staying at the time of his arrest. DNA from the trash was identified by the Idaho State Police crime lab in Meridian as belonging to the biological father of the person whose DNA was found on the knife sheath. But the absence of any information about law enforcements use of IGG until last week more than seven months into the closely watched quadruple homicide case has concerned attorneys keeping an eye on its legal process. Media reports, including from Slate, began to surface as early as January that detectives incorporated the DNA method to help solve the crime that instantly gained national attention. Ritchie Eppink, a Boise-based civil rights attorney formerly with the ACLU of Idaho, questioned law enforcements decision in the case to conceal its use of any investigative techniques. The prosecutions push to keep the records from Kohbergers defense team is equally problematic regarding due-process rights of the accused, he told the Statesman. Secret evidence is not fair, its un-American, and its not a good way to instill confidence in our courts, Eppink said in a phone interview. There are constitutional implications all over this, especially when the state then wants to hide where it did (forensic genealogy) and how it did it. The nondisclosure of IGG in the affidavit also came as a surprise to Rae-Venter. Im not sure what drove that, she said. Because if it was me, Id be bragging that IGG had helped to solve the crime. Prosecution argues against disclosure The prosecution seeks to protect the personally identifying information of Kohbergers relatives, and the public genealogy services that law enforcement used in its investigation, Thompson wrote in his court filing. Idaho criminal law also does not require the state to turn over records from the use of IGG at least not without the defense first obtaining a court order, he said. The Idaho law is broad, but it is not a free-for-all, Thompson wrote. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson is leading the murder case against Bryan Kohberger, who is scheduled for trial in October on charges of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022. In addition, the prosecution does not plan to introduce IGG evidence at trial, the information does not negate the defendants guilt, nor does the technique by definition represent a scientific test, Thompson argued. The defense contested the last two points in its response. Frankly, the fact that members of the FBI are so concerned about permitting Mr. Kohberger to know what they were up to with what was supposedly his DNA, does not give one the impression that there is nothing to see here as the state seems to imply, Logsdon challenged. David Gurney, director of the IGG Center and assistant professor of law and society at Ramapo College of New Jersey, predicted the prosecution is likely to win this pre-trial court fight. He cited several reasons, including that the genealogy data was not the basis of Kohbergers arrest. I expect that the Idaho court will side with the state and rule that the IGG materials are not required to be turned over to the defense under Idahos discovery rules, Gurney told McClatchy by email. Nearly every court that has heard similar motions has granted them. Gurney, like Thompson in his court filing, addressed the question of possible violations of Kohbergers Fourth Amendment rights, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures in this circumstance related to a suspects DNA. That argument has been roundly defeated in every court where it has been raised, he said. There is no Fourth Amendment privacy interest in biological evidence left by a murderer at a crime scene full stop. Gurney expected the state to instead introduce its evidence directly comparing the DNA profile from the knife sheath to the DNA cheek swab law enforcement later obtained from Kohberger once he was taken into custody. At the moment, no official guidelines exist about the specific kinds of records that law enforcement agencies must keep when using IGG, he added. Justice Department policy does direct investigating agencies, such as the FBI, to request DNA platforms remove any profiles they made in their search for genealogical connections to suspects. Thompson affirmed that occurred in his court filing, adding that the FBI produced limited records while employing IGG. The genealogy conducted by the FBI resulted in a lead that pointed law enforcement to (the) defendant, but it did not result in the creation of many documents or records, Thompson wrote. The FBI did not download or create copies of those records. Those records included only notes FBI agents kept as they built Kohbergers family tree, and records produced to document removal of the DNA profile, he said. However, the Justice Department policy also states that all IGG data shall be retained by the investigative agency for potential use during prosecution and subsequent judicial proceedings. The FBI and Justice Department each refused to explain why Idaho prosecutors wrote in a court filing that all such data was not retained regarding Kohberger. They first claimed to be subject to the cases gag order in a criminal case to which neither are named as a party before simply declining to comment. Mr. Kohberger has reasons to be extremely suspicious of the IGG used in this case, wrote Logsdon, one of his public defenders. Rather than seeing it as some sort of complex tree building that led to him, it appears far more like a lineup where the government was already aware of who they wanted to target. Eppink, the Idaho civil rights attorney, said he worried that newer police investigative technologies, such as IGG, continue to encroach upon our basic notions of criminal due process. Courts are forced to play catch-up, which law enforcement exploits, he said. Even to the extent that there are privacy implications of disclosing the names of matches on genealogy databases, thats not grounds that I can imagine for withholding that information from the defense team, he said. That law enforcement followed a process here and, in fact, the process theyre directed to follow where they cover their tracks it seems to me to raise a lot of concerns and questions, including, Why have such a process if what youre doing is fair and accurate? When Jennifer Hoods University of Phoenix diploma arrived in the mail, the degree it listed was not the degree she had earned. The diploma said she graduated with an MBA but did not include the health care management distinction it was supposed to have, she said. She requested and received a revised diploma, but that was just the beginning of her problems. For more than a year after her graduation, she sent her resume to at least 20 potential employers and didnt get a single interview, she told the Idaho Statesman. It wasnt until after she deleted the Phoenix degree that she found a new job. So when she heard that the University of Idaho wanted to buy Phoenix, she wrote an email to the State Board of Education, which needed to approve the deal. I implore you to NOT partner with that university for the sake of your students, she wrote The board didnt listen to her or others who opposed the purchase. At a meeting held just a day after the plan became public, board members approved it unanimously with little public comment or debate, the Statesman previously reported. With the purchase comes University of Phoenixs baggage, a history of what some characterize as targeting vulnerable students and making promises it couldnt fulfill. Experts say the university has focused resources on marketing, not academic rigor, and poses risks for the University of Idaho of continuing liability for its past actions. University of Phoenix purchase is risky University of Phoenix started in 1976 with a fairly honorable ambition, said Frank Donoghue, an Ohio State University professor who studies higher education in America. It would help adults with work experience obtain a bachelors degree at a time when that degree was becoming more of a leg up for job applicants. The school decided to go public in 1994, according to New York Times reporting at the time. And it led a wave of companies offering online education in the 1990s and early 2000s. But Donoghue said being traded on the stock exchange shifted its priorities. I think what happened is that all of those universities, including Phoenix, got greedy and started caring more about their profits and their shareholders happiness than the education they were delivering, he said. After Phoenix went public, it grew to enormous proportions. By 2010, it had more than 470,000 students, according to a 2012 U.S. Senate report. At the same time, the school faced investigations by the federal government and state attorneys general into its marketing practices. In 2019, University of Phoenix and its parent company, Apollo Education Group, brokered a record $191 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission to resolve charges that their advertising had falsely implied they worked with companies like Twitter and Microsoft to provide jobs to students and create curricula. The FTC also alleged they had targeted Latino students and veterans, an FTC news release at the time stated. In an interview, University of Phoenix Provost John Woods told the Statesman that the school admitted no wrongdoing. We had partnerships with the companies whose logos were used in a campaign, and there were agreements with those companies to hire students, he said. But in a follow-up email, he conceded that was not the case. You asked me if we had agreements with employers featured in the advertisements to hire our students, and I indicated we did, he said. That is an error; I was answering the first part of your question, if we had agreements with employers, which we did but to post jobs, not guarantee hiring. University of Phoenix has also directed its marketing toward single parents and first-generation students, said Eileen Connor, director of the Project on Predatory Student Lending, which has represented former students of for-profit colleges to help them get their debt canceled. The expertise of a lot of these schools, and I would put University of Phoenix in this bucket, really is on how to convince people to enroll in programs. The focus and the resources go in that front end of marketing, recruiting, convincing and enrolling, not developing a strong curriculum, she told the Statesman. Connor said U of Is purchase is enormously risky given the University of Phoenixs track record. I just dont know why a university system would want to put its name on the line and really take on potentially a lot of liability by associating itself with this school, Connor told the Statesman. Connors organization handled the Sweet v. Cardona case, a lawsuit that led to the federal government agreeing to cancel $6 billion in student loans for over 150 schools, including University of Phoenix, according to news reports. The Department of Education could pursue University of Phoenix to try to recoup student debt that has been canceled, as it recently did in the case of another for-profit university, Connor said. To protect against the liability that may come with the deal, the U of I has acquired $25 million worth of directors and officers insurance which covers legal defense costs and damages and could seek more, President Scott Green told the Statesman last month. We believe we can manage that risk, Green said. Idaho alum says Phoenix overpromised Toma Bartlett, who is from Wendell and now lives in Twin Falls, was one of University of Phoenixs military students. In the early 2000s, he was serving in the Coast Guard and started attending the schools physical campus in Cleveland. Hed seen advertisements that made University of Phoenix seem veteran-friendly, and the classes fit into his schedule conveniently. He hoped that if he left the military, his bachelors degree in health care administration would help him to jump-start a second career. The university promised that when he finished, he would get at least a mid-management job, he said in an interview with the Statesman. But the classes were disorganized, he said, and some days he felt like he was learning nothing. The professors mostly acted like they were just trying to get a paycheck and go home. And once he switched to the online version, everything seemed to him to be focused on participation, not the quality of the student work. He didnt get to know any of the online professors and didnt make any friends. University of Phoenix didnt keep its promise to help him find a job after he graduated, Bartlett said. He managed to build a career in health care, but he said an in-home health business his family owned not his Phoenix degree made that possible. I dont know if I really learned anything that wouldve been of value to me that I didnt learn on the job, he said. Others had a more positive experience. Mark Eberly, another Idaho alum, told the Statesman he chose the school because it was flexible and many of the instructors were professionals with real world experience. His MBA from the school helped him advance his career in sales, he said, and hes still in touch with some of his professors. I have my diploma on my desk in my office, he said. Im pretty proud of it. How U of I compares with Phoenix By many metrics that the U.S. Department of Education tracks, University of Phoenix and U of I are very different schools. University of Phoenixs students who are mostly working adults, often with dependents number about 64,000 undergraduates and have a graduation rate of 27%. U of I has around 7,000 undergraduates, 60% of whom graduate. University of Phoenix accepts 100% of applicants, whereas U of I takes 81%. The median earnings for a University of Phoenix grad who received federal aid 10 years after they entered the school are about $13,000 lower than for an equivalent U of I alum, and a University of Phoenix graduate leaves college with about $10,000 more debt, according to the departments website. I dont think our (for-profit) tax status influences how we approach things, Woods said. I think our mission does, and our mission is to try and help people access education. But he said that unlike U of Is more traditional students, their students have risk factors, such as having children to raise on their own. The schools retention rate has improved in recent years, he said. Blaming students for poor results is a tactic for-profit schools use, said Barmak Nassirian, a longtime higher education policy analyst who works for Veterans Education Success. When predatory institutions have a pattern of low graduation rates and complaints, they actually end up stigmatizing the victim, he said. Its very easy in education to say, Well obviously, we serve low-income people and some of them are just not well-prepared. Nassirian said there could be other governmental investigations pending that Phoenix hasnt disclosed or doesnt know about. Hes suspicious about the sale because of the way it was conceived in private. A well-considered, beneficial arrangement would be publicly discussed, he said. You tend to hide things that probably undermine your position. You dont tend to hide things that fortify your position. If all this good is gonna ensue and all this money is gonna pour into the coffers of the University of Idaho, why the secrecy? US Army unveils its new 'M10 Booker' infantry assault vehicle that's named after 2 hero soldiers M10 Booker. US Army The US Army has unveiled its new "M10 Booker" infantry assault vehicle. It's named after two hero soldiers, staff sergeant Stevon A. Booker and private Robert D. Booker Stevon was killed during the 2003 Iraq invasion, while Robert lost his life during World War II. The US Army unveiled a new infantry assault vehicle the "M10 Booker" earlier this month. Its name honors two soldiers with "heroic legacies" who died 60 years apart but who served the US "selflessly during times of great conflict," the US Army said in a statement. The army's newest infantry assault vehicle was announced at a celebration of the Army's 248th birthday at the National Museum of the US Army at Fort Belvoir, according to Army Public Affairs. It honors the Medal of Honor recipient Private Robert D. Booker, who died during World War II, as well as Distinguished Service Cross recipient Staff Sergeant Stevon A. Booker, who died from his injuries in Iraq. "The M10 Booker Combat Vehicle is named in their honor because it will accomplish what they both did enabling squads to continue pushing forward through heavy machine-gun fire while protecting our most important weapon system: our soldiers," US Army Chief of Staff James McConville said. M10 Booker. US Army Nebraska native Robert D. Booker joined the Army in 1942 during World War II. He was in the 34th Infantry Division, which supported the Allied North African campaign in Tunisia. In 1943, Booked crossed about 200 yards of an open field near Fondouk, Tunisia, in the face of enemy fire. Despite being shot and injured, he destroyed an enemy's machine gun, per Army Public Affairs, which adds that he remained calm and encouraging to his fellow soldiers during his final moments. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart in 1944. Staff Sgt. Stevon A. Booker joined the Army in 1987 and served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Booker, from Pennsylvania, was in a unit that led an attack in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 5, 2003. The armored assault eventually led to the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime, according to Army Public Affairs. Under heavy fire during the raid, Booker's machine gun malfunctioned, but he "disregarded his personal safety and took up an exposed prone position on the top of his tank" until he was fatally wounded, per Army Public Affairs. The M10 Booker, built by General Dynamics, will allow "light maneuver forces to overmatch adversaries," the Army said. It is manned by four soldiers and has a "heavy 105-millimeter direct-fire cannon," according to The Defense Post. It also has an enhanced thermal viewer, a diesel engine, and a lightweight body and turret, it reported. Read the original article on Business Insider US Coast Guard declares recovery of items from sea floor as priority in Titanic sub investigation Crew members of the Polar Prince prepare to dock the ship as it arrives at the Coast Guard wharf in on Saturday, June 24, 2023 in St. John's, Newfoundland (AP) The US Coast Guard says that its priority in its investigation into the fatal Titanic sub implosion is now the recovery of items from the sea floor. All five people aboard the OceanGate Titan submersible were killed as it dived down to the wreck of the famed liner in the Atlantic last week. The Coast Guard opened a marine board investigation on Friday and is working with the FBI to salvage debris on the sea floor at a depth of more than two miles below the surface. Captain Jason Neubauer, chief investigator with the US Coast Guard, told reporters on Sunday, that that the priority of the investigation is to recover items from the sea floor. An ROV discovered debris from the Titan around 1,600ft from the bow of the liner days after it lost contact with its mother ship 1 hour and 45 minutes into its dive. Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman Dawood are missing along with CEO and founder of OceanGate Expeditions Stockton Rush, British billionaire explorer Hamish Harding and renowned French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet. Mr Dawood and his son, who were both British citizens, are part of one of Pakistans leading families, with investments in the countrys agriculture and industry. Pelagic Research Services tweeted pictures of the Titan recovery mission on Sunday. My primary goal is to prevent a similar occurrence by making the necessary recommendations to enhance the safety of the maritime domain worldwide, added Captain Neubauer. He added that the Coast Guard is in touch with the families of the five victims and that investigators are taking all precautions on site if we are to encounter any human remains. Meanwhile, Canadian investigators boarded the Polar Prince, on Saturday to collect information from the vessels voyage data recorder and other vessel systems that contain useful information, said Kathy Fox, chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. US officials have said they are not sure if they will ever be able to retrieve the bodies of the victims because of the depth they were lost at. US to postpone new sanctions against Wagner Group amid fears of being on Putin's side WSJ The US Department of State has decided to postpone the planned imposition of sanctions against the gold mining business of Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) in Africa. Source: Wall Street Journal, citing sources Details: the State Department intended to announce additional sanctions against the alleged "gold business" of the Wagner PMC in Africa. However, the US reportedly plans to postpone the new sanctions. "Washington does not want to appear to be taking sides in this," the WSJ quoted an informed source. Previously: In May, the US Treasury Department announced the imposition of sanctions against Ivan Maslov, the head of the Wagner PMC in Mali, after the group's attempts to transfer weapons to Russia were revealed. Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Henry Nicholls/Pool Photo via AP Russia's mercenary Wagner Group rebelled this weekend, nearly reaching Moscow before calling it off. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the events "extraordinary." The insurrection revealed "cracks" in Russia's "military facade," Blinken added. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Wagner Group's uprising against Russian President Vladimir Putin shows "cracks" in the Russian regime. The Wagner Group, a powerful paramilitary organization led by former Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, took over a Russian military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don without issue on Saturday and then continued to push toward Moscow. Prigozhin then suddenly called off the march just 120 miles from Moscow after Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko brokered an apparent deal. Putin, who in the middle of it all may have fled the city on his presidential plane, has emerged from the ordeal not in the best of shape. An array of experts say the rebellion weakened Putin. Blinken seems to agree. Blinken was just one of many US officials monitoring the situation in Russia on Saturday as the Wagner Group marched toward Moscow. Blinken told "Meet the Press" on NBC News that the public challenge to Putin's authority was "extraordinary." "Think about it this way: 16 months ago, Russian forces were on the doorstep of Kyiv in Ukraine, believing they would take the capital in a matter of days and erase the country from the map as an independent country. Now, what we've seen is Russia having to defend Moscow, its capital, against mercenaries of its own making," Blinken said. "I think we've seen more cracks emerge in the Russian facade," Blinken added. As for the implications for Prigozhin and the future of the Wagner Group, Blinken said it's too soon to tell but that those questions pose a distraction for Putin that may be "to the advantage of Ukraine." "We'll see if this means that Wagner forces are coming out of Ukraine. I mean, the very fact that over the weekend, Wagner forces were coming out of Ukraine and going into Russia and toward Moscow, in and of itself, is extraordinary," Blinken said. "But where this goes, whether those forces remain in Ukraine, whether they become integrated into the regular Russian military, what it means for Wagner in Africa too soon to tell." Read the original article on Business Insider U.S. spy agencies reportedly obtained intelligence in mid-June that Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeniy Prigozhin was planning "armed action" against Russian establishment. The Washington Post reported Saturday, citing several U.S. officials, that Prigozhin even warned the White House and other U.S. agencies of his plot "so that they were not caught off guard." The officials said senior leadership at the Pentagon, State Department and in Congress were briefed on the intelligence within the past two weeks, though the exact timing of Prigozhins plot had remained unclear up until the Wagner leaders takeover of military command and tank run toward Moscow Friday and Saturday. There was reportedly "high concern" in Washington over the potential prospects of what would become of Russias nuclear arsenal if President Vladimir Putin was removed from power and if there would be "civil war" in Russia. WAGNER CHIEF ORDERS TROOPS TO TURN AROUND FROM MOSCOW 'TO AVOID BLOODSHED' Prigozhin, referred to as "Putins chef" due to his catering contracts with the Kremlin, had publicly protested the Russian Defense Ministrys June 10 order that all volunteer detachments would have to sign contracts with the government, viewing the directive as an attempted takeover of the Wagner mercenary troops who played an important tactical role in Putins military campaign in Ukraine. A senior Ukrainian official told the Post that the Ukrainian military had been monitoring Prigozhin after the June 10 announcement and "increasingly believed that he might mobilize forces against Moscow," though that person claimed to not have been aware of the U.S. sharing similar intelligence with Kyiv. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Tensions between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defense are no secret," a senior Biden administration official told the Post, without commenting on the U.S. intelligence. "We have all seen Mr. Prigozhin publicly criticize, warn and even threaten the Russian military on any number of occasions." Prigozhin had accused Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of ordering an attack on his mercenaries and called to "put an end" to Shoigu leadership, the Post reported. WAGNER GROUP: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT RUSSIAN MERCENARY GROUP IN UKRAINE Even as his fighters moved swiftly toward Moscow on Saturday, Prigozhin did not criticize Putin directly and instead claimed his aim was to oust the Russian defense establishment, which he has denounced as corrupt and incompetent, complaining that it undermined his forces fighting in Ukraine, The Associated Press noted. Prigozhin, who reportedly came within 120 miles of Moscow before the agreement was reached, on Sunday was uncharacteristically silent as his Wagner private army forces pulled back from Russian cities after a Kremlin announcement that he agreed to depart for Belarus, according to the AP, which assesses that it remains unclear whether hes actually there. A deal reportedly negotiated with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Putin removes Prigozhins control of Wagner, but it is unclear whether any of his fighters would follow him to Belarus, either out of a sense of loyalty or due to dismay with being absorbed into the Russian military as contract soldiers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. US spy agencies knew 'something was up' before Wagner Group mutiny, report says Yevgeny Prigozhin. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko US agencies had intelligence suggesting Yevgeny Prigozhin was planning action in Russia. There were enough signals to know "something was up," a US official told The Washington Post. The Wagner boss stood down his troops after they began marching to Moscow in an apparent rebellion. US spy agencies had intelligence earlier this month suggesting that Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia's Wagner Group, was planning some kind of armed action, according to The Washington Post. Citing several unnamed sources, the report says that US officials had warned the White House and other US agencies of their intelligence. "There were enough signals to be able to tell the leadership that something was up," an anonymous US official told the news outlet. "So I think they were ready for it." This weekend, Prigozhin's Wagner Group launched a remarkable armed mutiny in Russia, with fighters first seizing the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don before marching on the country's capital. Prigozhin later stood down his troops, ordering them to return to their camps in order to avoid Russian bloodshed. There had been "high concern" over the past two weeks over whether Putin would remain in power and over what kind of instability a Russian "civil war" might cause, US officials told The Post. A key provocation for the Wagner uprising was on June 10, The Post reported, after Russia's Ministry of Defense announced that all volunteer fighting groups would have to sign government contracts. The announcement was generally seen as a means of bringing the mercenary group under official Russian military control. While Russian President Vladimir Putin previously vowed to punish the actions of the fighters, Russia later said it would not prosecute any of the troops in exchange for Prigozhin's exile to Belarus, The Associated Press reported. Under the terms of the deal, charges against Prigozhin of leading an armed rebellion would also be dropped, per The AP. Read the original article on Business Insider I visited the Cu Chi Tunnels used to ambush US soldiers, a grisly but unforgettable reminder of the Vietnam War take a look Markus Egolf/Getty Images I had the opportunity to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, which are just outside Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The tunnel network was started in the late 1940s and used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The incredibly cramped and hot tunnels were one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I was recently lucky enough to visit Southeast Asia, traveling through both Vietnam and Cambodia. One of the most memorable parts of my trip, and indeed my life, was an excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City in the south of Vietnam. The tunnel network were started in the 1940s as communist forces faced off against French colonial troops in the first Indochina War. They provided a subterranean world from which the Vietnamese guerilla fighters - the Viet Cong - could launch attacks and hideout. With the onset of the war against the US in the 1960s which ended up claiming the lives of over 58,000 US soldiers the Viet Cong gradually began to expand the tunnel network. The tunnels "provided the Viet Cong with manufacturing, resupply, and planning space within easy striking distance of their targets," according to The National Museum of the United States Army. As bombing raids and smoke tactics failed to prevent the threat posed by the tunnels, the US began sending soldiers, who became known as "tunnel rats," into the tunnels to clear them. Inside, the tunnel rats faced danger at every corner, and they had to watch out for ambushes, booby traps, venomous snakes, scorpions, spiders, bats, and mosquitoes, among other things. Take a look inside the stifling tunnels, one of the Vietnam War's best-preserved relics. After around a two-hour journey from my hostel in Ho Chi Minh City, formally known as Saigon, I arrived at Ben Duoc Tunnels, one of the two Cu Chi Tunnels tourist spots open to the public. There were relics of the war on display around the site, including this US C-130 plane. Nathan Rennolds/Insider Stepping off of our tour's minibus, we were greeted by the constant, deafening sound of cicada insects in the jungle surrounding the tunnels. Nathan Rennolds/Insider As we made our way through the jungle, our guide showed us some of the entrances used by the Viet Cong to access the tunnels. He told us that they were multi-layered and included rooms for cooking, medical treatment, and weapons caches. Nathan Rennolds/Insider The holes were incredibly small and eerie, appearing to disappear into a dark void. Nathan Rennolds/Insider But our guide was less apprehensive, hopping into the tunnel and showing us how Viet Cong soldiers would enter while replacing the cover over the entrance. Nathan Rennolds/Insider We had the opportunity to get into the tunnels ourselves, which was no mean feat. It was an extremely tight squeeze, but I just about managed to lower myself down into the labyrinth below. Nathan Rennolds/Insider Inside, the tunnels offered an unforgettable experience. The tiny passageways were stiflingly hot and claustrophobic, and I had to crouch or crawl to get through despite some tunnels having been made larger for tourists. Nathan Rennolds/Insider US 'tunnel rats' hunt the enemy: At the peak of the war, the tunnel network around Ho Chi Minh City, then known as Saigon, stretched to around 250 km, which is around 155 miles. US soldiers at a Viet Cong tunnel during a search and destroy mission in Vietnam, on April 24, 1967. REUTERS/Courtesy U.S. National Archives Source: History Channel Life in the tunnels was incredibly tough for the Viet Cong. They were infested with spiders, snakes, and bats, among other things, while they were also subjected to heavy bombing by US forces. History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Our guide highlighted another former tunnel entrance, even smaller than those we'd seen. Nathan Rennolds/Insider Ventilation ducts for the tunnels were disguised as things like termite mounds, our guide told us. Nathan Rennolds/Insider Footwear worn by Viet Cong soldiers was designed to leave tracks that appeared to go in the opposite direction, the guide said. Nathan Rennolds/Insider There were gruesome reminders of the obstacles faced by soldiers during the war, such as this "rolling trap." Nathan Rennolds/Insider The "window trap." Nathan Rennolds/Insider The "sticking trap." Nathan Rennolds/Insider And the "clipping armpit trap." Nathan Rennolds/Insider We also had the chance to try fresh tapioca, the root of the cassava tree. It was the staple food of the Viet Cong stationed in the tunnels. Nathan Rennolds/Insider Visitors were also able to go to a shooting range and fire live ammunition, which you had to pay for by the bullet. Nathan Rennolds/Insider The tunnels were a striking reminder of a savage war that dragged on from 1955 to 1975. Captured US weapons on display in 1968, Cu Chi, South Vietnam. History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The conflict ended in 1975, with the fall of Saigon, which marked the collapse of the non-communist South Vietnam. History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON - Before an adoring crowd of religious conservatives, Donald Trump marked the one-year anniversary of the end of Roe v. Wade by adopting new language and endorsing the idea of national abortion restrictions. Trump, who has previously discussed abortion as more of a state issue, told the cheering members of the Faith and Freedom Coalition "I will fight for you like no president ever" on the abortion issue. He did not endorse any specific anti-abortion legislation or time limits in his nearly 90-minute speech to members of the coalition in D.C. but did say "there of course remains a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life." The former president and front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination also attacked prosecutors who have indicted him, threatened China, and avoided talking about an armed insurrection in Russia. Donald Trump at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Some campaign opponents, including his former vice president Mike Pence, have questioned Trump's commitment to fighting abortion, noting that the former president has blamed the issue for Republican defeats in last year's congressional elections. Democrats welcomed Trump's endorsement of federal abortion legislation. They agreed that the issue hurt GOP candidates last year and will hurt them again in 2024. In a statement, the Democratic National Committee said Trump is changing his abortion views under pressure from other Republican candidates, and they all "wont rest until every woman in this country is stripped of their reproductive freedom." 'You can boo all you want': Chris Christie faces backlash for criticism of Donald Trump Indictments, Russia, China Beyond abortion and other faith issues, Trump spent more time with the group of religious conservatives protesting the two indictments and other investigations against him. He also noted that, if anything, the charges have bolstered his standing with conservative Republican voters. "My numbers went up," Trump said, drawing a standing ovation. As for Russia, Trump - whose admiration for Russian leader Vladimir Putin has been the source of much criticism - again claimed that he can quickly settle the Russian-Ukrainian war. Yet he made no mention of Saturday's drama in which the head of a private Russian military company marched on Moscow before halting as part of a deal to avoid prosecution. On another foreign policy issue, Trump threated to put more tariffs on China if it pursues a spy base in Cuba. The abortion issue Given his audience of Christian conservatives, Trump played up past efforts and future proposals to end abortion. Hailing the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v. Wade, Trump stressed that he appointed three justices who were pivotal votes in striking down the abortion rights ruling. Pledging to continue to fight against the abortion, Trump reflected his skittishness over the topic by saying he still supports exceptions for rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Earlier in the conference, Pence did not name Trump, but called on other candidates to prove their commitment to the anti-abortion credentials by backing a federal ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Trump also denounced transgender policies before the religious group. 'I'm being indicted for you' Beyond faith issues, Trump again spent much of his speech asking supporters to stick with him in the face of criminal indictments and investigations. Telling the pro-Trump crowd that the indictments are aimed at his campaign and its voters. Trump said "I consider it a great badge of courage ... I'm being indicted for you." A federal grand jury in Miami indicted the ex-president on obstruction of justice charges stemming from his removal of classified documents from the White House. In late March, a state grand jury in New York indicted Trump on charges of falsifying business records to shield hush-money payments. Trump could face two other trials. He is the subject of investigations in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., concerning efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. Trump also protested the plea bargain of presidential son Hunter Biden, and accused Biden himself of corruption. Other candidates avoid attacking Trump - except Christie Trump's speech capped the Faith and Freedom Coalition's policy conference featuring other presidential candidates, few of whom ventured to take on the front-runner. Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Pence made only glancing references to their differences with Trump. The exception was former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who earned boos and catcalls on Friday when he said that Trump has let down his supporters and should be rejected. Trump is "unwilling to take responsibility for any of the mistakes that were made" and "any of the faults that he has," Christie said. In his speech Saturday night, Trump mocked Christie and other opponents by telling delegates: "Were your other candidates treated this way? I don't think so." A lane for dark horses? Hours before Trump took the stage Saturday, anti-Trump candidate Will Hurd spoke to members of the Faith and Freedom conference, but did not mention the front-runner. Afterward, Hurd said he only had five minutes to speak and "my goal was to introduce myself." He said Trump's re-nomination is "not a fait accompli," and that he and others will continue to make the case against him. "There's a lane for a dark-horse candidate like me," Hurd said. Not voting for a pastor Religious voters play a large role in Republican presidential races, particularly evangelicals in the early states of Iowa and South Carolina. Trump had a lot of supporters at the Faith and Freedom Coalition. Delegates said they continue to support Trump, despite reports of un-Christian behavior that range from hush money to an adult film star - the source of the New York indictment - to the verdict of a New York civil jury finding him liable for sexual abuse of writer E. Jean Carroll. Christian supporters stressed that Trump has followed through on items important to them, particularly with the Supreme Court and abortion. During one of the conference sessions, Republican communications consultant Alice Stewart drew loud applause when she said that "we may not like how he does things, but he has delivered on what we wanted." Stewart also said "I didn't vote for him to be my pastor." 'A phenomenon' Ralph Reed, the founder and chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, said Trump has as much evangelical support as he has ever had. While Reed is neutral in the 2024 presidential race, he said Trump is as a strong a front-runner as the GOP has seen in decades and he will be hard to overtake. "He's a phenomenon," Reed said. "There's no question about it." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump supports national abortion restrictions in new speech Voice recordings and data from the mother ship that carried the Titan submersible before it imploded will be examined, investigators say One week after the Titan submersible started what became a catastrophic underwater voyage to the Titanic wreckage killing all five people aboard US officials laid out their next steps in investigating the disaster. The US Coast Guard announced Sunday it convened a Marine Board of Investigation to probe the implosion the highest level of investigation the Coast Guard conducts, US Coast Guard chief investigator Capt. Jason Neubauer said. The panel will be tasked with determining what caused the tragedy and offer possible recommendations to the proper authorities to pursue civil or criminal sanctions as necessary, Neubauer said at a Sunday news conference. The Coast Guard probe one of several announced since the Titan imploded is just beginning and will concentrate on collecting debris from the wreckage and interviews. After that, the board will hold a public hearing to gather additional testimony from witnesses, Neubauer said. It will then issue a report with evidence, conclusions and recommendations, he added. As officials try to piece together exactly what happened, investigators will also be reviewing voice recordings from the mother ship that carried the vessel and its five occupants, Canadian officials said. Canadian investigators boarded that ship, the Polar Prince, on Saturday to collect information from the vessels voyage data recorder and other vessel systems that contain useful information, Kathy Fox, chair of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, said Saturday. A voyage data recorder stores audio from the ships bridge. The crew and family members were also being interviewed aboard the Polar Prince, which returned to St. Johns, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, with its flags at half-mast Saturday. The Polar Prince arrives at the port in St. John's on Saturday. Authorities from the US and Canada are investigating the cause of the fatal Titan submersible. - Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/AP The agencys mission isnt to assign blame, but rather find out what happened and why and to find out what needs to change to reduce the chance or the risk of such occurrences in the future, Fox said. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is also investigating the incident and said it is looking into whether criminal, federal, or provincial laws may possibly have been broken. Communications between the submersible and its mother ship will also likely be scrutinized by officials probing the disaster. The ship could communicate with the submersible by text messages, and its required to communicate every 15 minutes, according to the archived website of OceanGate Expeditions. The latest announcements come just about three days since the US Coast Guard announced the vessel had suffered a catastrophic implosion that killed all those aboard. Military experts found debris in the ocean about 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic consistent with the loss of the small vessels pressure chamber, US Coast Guard Rear Adm. John Mauger said. Those killed were Stockton Rush, CEO of the vessels operator OceanGate Expeditions; British businessman Hamish Harding; French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet; and Pakistani-born businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman, who were British citizens. Titan recovery mission continues on the sea floor Meanwhile, the mission to recover debris from the submersibles implosion is ongoing in the Atlantic Ocean, according to a statement from Pelagic Research Services, first seen by CNN, on Sunday. The Odysseus 6K, a remotely operated vehicle, is on the seafloor in its fourth dive since arriving at the Titan rescue site, the statement said. The company added Odysseus heavy lift capabilities have been utilized and continue to be utilized in the Titan recovery mission but would not confirm if debris had been recovered and referred CNN to the US Coast Guard, which is leading the investigation into the implosion and recovery effort. CNN reached out to the Coast Guard for comment. The vehicles that have been gathering information from the sea floor have worked to map out the vessels debris field, which is more than 2 miles deep in the North Atlantic, Mauger, the US Coast Guard Rear Admiral, has said. Five different major pieces of debris from the submersible were found Thursday morning, officials said. Each end of the pressure hull was found in a different place, according to Paul Hankins, US Navy director of Salvage Operations and Ocean Engineering. ROV missions are expected to continue for about another week, according to Jeff Mahoney, spokesperson for Pelagic Research Services, a company that specializes in ocean expedition. Any attempts to recover anything from the debris field will warrant a larger operation in tandem with Deep Energy, another company helping with the mission, because the debris will likely be too heavy for Pelagics ROV to lift by itself, Mahoney told CNN on Friday. The recovery efforts would include using rigged cabling to pull up any debris. Questions about Titans design This undated image courtesy of OceanGate Expeditions, shows their Titan submersible beginning a descent. - OceanGate/AFP/Getty Images/File The multinational investigation comes amid mounting questions about the Titans design. A CNN review of OceanGates marketing material, public statements made by Rush and court records show that even as the company touted a commitment to safety measures, it rejected industry standards that would have imposed greater scrutiny on its operations and vessels. The company strayed from industry norms by declining a voluntary, rigorous safety review of the vessel, according to an industry leader. And when submersible expert Karl Stanley was aboard the Titan for an underseas excursion off the coast of the Bahamas in April 2019, he felt there was something wrong with the vessel when loud noises were heard and sent an email to Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, sounding the alarm on suspected defects. What we heard, in my opinion sounded like a flaw/defect in one area being acted on by the tremendous pressures and being crushed/damaged, Stanley wrote in the email, a copy of which has been obtained by CNN. From the intensity of the sounds, the fact that they never totally stopped at depth, and the fact that there were sounds at about 300 feet that indicated a relaxing of stored energy/would indicate that there is an area of the hull that is breaking down/ getting spongy, Stanley continued. When asked for comment about Stanleys email, a spokesman for OceanGate told CNN they were unable to provide any additional information at this time. CNNs Zenebou Sylla, Gloria Pazmino, Cole Higgins, Zoe Sottile, Rob Frehse, Paul P. Murphy, Gabe Cohen, Isabelle Chapman and Curt Devine contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A year has passed since the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade. ALSO READ: What overturning Roe v. Wade means for people in the Carolinas On Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Charlotte and called on Congress to restore abortion protections across the country. She met with the Democratic Party at the Grady Cole Center on North Kings Drive. North Carolina, lets stand because we know medical decisions should be made by a woman and her doctor, not politicians, Harris said. The VPs visit comes just a week before North Carolinas new abortion law goes into effect. The states new law will allow abortion for any reason up to 12 weeks, up to 20 weeks for cases of rape and incest, and up to 24 weeks for life-limiting conditions. At this time, there are no abortion restrictions in North Carolina when the life of the mother is at risk. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper disagrees with that states new abortion policy, saying it passed with little to no public opinion. They passed the bill with no amendments and no public input faster than the 72-hour waiting period they imposed on women before an abortion, Cooper said. Members of the Republican Party agree with the Supreme Courts decision. Former Vice President Mike Pence met with other abortion opponents outside Washington, D.C.s Lincoln Memorial. Michael Whatley, a North Carolina GOP chairman, supports both the states and the courts decisions. We feel very strongly that the courts got it right. We feel strongly that the legislature in North Carolina got it right, and the voters of North Carolina support these decisions, Whatley said (WATCH BELOW: VP Kamala Harris visiting Charlotte to talk reproductive rights, internet infrastructure) Wagner chief moving to Belarus after Lukashenko-brokered deal to halt march on Moscow Wagner chief moving to Belarus after Lukashenko-brokered deal to halt march on Moscow Wagner chief Veygeny Prigozhin is moving to Belarus under a deal brokered by President Alexander Lukashenko to halt the mercenary groups march on Moscow, according to an announcement from the Kremlin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Lukashenko had offered to mediate, with an agreement from Russian President Vladimir Putin, because he had known Prigozhin personally for around 20 years. The announcement came after Prigozhin said he had ordered Wagner troops to turn around, defusing a dramatically escalating crisis. Early Saturday, Wagner troops appeared to control the military headquarters in Rostov-on-Don, a city 660 miles south of Moscow that runs Russian operations in Ukraine. Wagner troops and equipment also were in Lipetsk province, about 360 kilometers south of Moscow, where authorities were "taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the population," said regional Gov. Igor Artamonov, via Telegram. TRUMP WARNS ABOUT OUSTING PUTIN IN RUSSIA, SAYS SUCCESSOR COULD BE FAR WORSE Later Saturday, Prigozhin announced that while his men were just 120 miles from Moscow, he decided to turn them back to avoid "shedding Russian blood." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The announcement followed a statement from the office of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko saying he spent most of Saturday negotiating a deal between Prigozhin and Putin, The Wall Street Journal reported. Prigozhin agreed to halt the advance in a proposed settlement including security guarantees for Wagner troops, Lukashenko's office said, without elaborating. Poland has sanctioned 365 Belarusians and frozen the assets of 36 Russian-linked entities over authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko's government's decision to uphold the eight-year prison sentence of a Polish-Belarusian journalist. Putin had vowed harsh consequences for organizers of the armed uprising led by his onetime protege. In a televised speech to the nation, Putin called the rebellion a "betrayal" and "treason." "All those who prepared the rebellion will suffer inevitable punishment," Putin said. "The armed forces and other government agencies have received the necessary orders." WAGNER GROUP CHIEF LIKELY THOUGHT ODDS WERE NOT IN HIS FAVOR BEFORE ORDERING TROOPS TO TURN AROUND: EXPERT It wasn't immediately clear what concessions, if any, Putin may have made to persuade Prigozhin to halt his march. The Wagner Group, a private army led by Prigozhin, has been fighting alongside regular Russian troops in Ukraine. Peskov said Wagner troops would not be charged "because of their deeds on the front." Peskov added that Wagner troops who did not take part in the rebellion would sign contracts with Russias defense ministry. Members of Wagner group inspect a car in a street of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. Western analysts have cautioned that the crisis in Russia is far from over. Dr. Ivana Stradner, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who has been studying the unfolding situation closely, told Fox News Digital that "whoever believes this will end soon is sorely mistaken." "Never trust Putin. He loathes disloyalty more than anything else and [Prighozin] moving to Belarus wont guarantee that he will not also experience windows or tea," Stradner added, referring to Russian dissidents' propensity for being poisoned or mysteriously falling out of windows. Stradner cautioned the U.S. not to take sides, saying "we should not be overly optimistic about regime change as after Putin, we may see someone even more radical." The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Its likely to take several more days, if not weeks and months, to make sense of the unusual insurrection staged by the leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. But already its clear that Russia is facing twin crises, one at home and one abroad. Wagner forces have been fighting in Ukraine for many months alongside regular Russian military. But tension between the two groups sparked Prigozhins mutiny he withdrew thousands of his fighters from Ukraine and turned them on Russia instead, declaring his intentions to exact revenge on those who have marginalized or mistreated Wagner forces. The mercenaries captured Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia that has served as a critical logistics hub supporting Russias ongoing war in Ukraine and were continuing to advance on Moscow until Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced a deal for Prigozhin to call off the coup and take refuge in Belarus. The aborted coup attempt exposes the fragility of Putins regime at home. Before the Wagner offensive was called off, Putin turned to Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov for assistance, with the latter dispatching his own mercenaries, known as Akhmat, to help quell the rebellion. That Chechen forces had to come to the rescue of the Kremlin is ironic in its own right, but it also signals something more troubling for the longer-term prospects of Putins rule: Even with the Wagner uprising temporarily quelled, the brazen nature of the assault will likely lead to problems elsewhere, both at home in Russia, but also in its sphere of influence around the world. Despite the deal with Lukashenko, it is difficult to see how Prigozhin survives with his status and power intact after embarrassing Putin and exposing the fissures in the highest ranks of the Russian state. And that raises the question of what the future of the Wagner Group will be. So while most of the focus in coming days is likely to be trained on events in Russia and Ukraine, we shouldnt lose sight of the serious implications this episode is likely to have elsewhere, implications that the United States and its allies need to prepare for as quickly as possible. The expectation is that Wagner forces in Ukraine are going to be integrated in the regular Russian military. But the Wagner Group operates worldwide from the Middle East to Africa to Latin America. For years, Wagner has served as the tip of the spear for Russias foreign policy in countries from Syria to Sudan to Venezuela, even as it has long sought to maintain plausible deniability about the extent of its linkages to the Kremlin. In Syria, Wagner has propped up the regime of Bashar al-Assad, supplying essential military force to help the dictator beat back the Islamic State and recapture important territory. In Libya, the guns for hire have backed warlord Khalifa Haftar, serving as a bulwark for the expansion of the Libyan National Army in its quest to prevail in that countrys civil war. In both cases, Wagner receives concessions from contracts related to oil and gas installations that the group helped seize and protect. These funds, as well as funds from extractive resources in Mali, Sudan, and the Central African Republic in the form of diamonds and gold have been helping the Kremlin evade sanctions. If Wagner winds up being pulled out of some of the countries where it currently operates, that could create an opening for a U.S. diplomatic blitz to help figure out how to fill the resulting power vacuum and regain influence in those areas. In particular, there could be an opening in some African countries where Washington might be able to offer security cooperation or build partner capacity arrangements in exchange for pledges to move toward democratic or good governance initiatives. With China also making inroads into Africa, this is an opportunity the United States should not let pass. If Wagner does withdraw from those countries, as many now expect, Putin and his inner circle may attempt to deploy another private military company in Wagners place. But that would likely take some time. In the meantime, the lag will offer terrorists and other insurgents opportunities to go on the offensive, which will breed further instability. Even if the U.S. prefers to move away from counterterrorism and toward great power competition, it cant afford to let the situation in the Sahel and other areas grow less stable and more dangerous as a Wagner withdrawal allows the Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliates to ramp up their own activities. In many ways, Wagners presence in Africa and the Middle East has posed a Catch-22 for the countries where it operates although its forces are invited in to stabilize fragile states, its actions often invite further instability, creating more opportunities and a greater demand for its services. If Wagner withdraws, there is a serious threat to some of the regimes that depend upon it for security and protection. This does offer an opportunity to the West, if countries like France and the United States are able to make some inroads with unstable regimes, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa struggling with security. Moreover, Wagner is not simply a mercenary group. Wagner has demonstrated effective expeditionary skills and logistical capabilities that many other mercenary organizations could not marshal, continuously diversifying its portfolio. Beyond the military training that Wagner provides, which includes conducting offensive combat operations and, in some cases, serving as regime security, the group also advises government leadership on political issues and conducts information operations campaigns. In both Madagascar and Mali, Wagner has engaged in election meddling and false accusations to cover up war crimes, utilizing Prigozhins Internet Research Agency. If the United States and other western nations dont step in, other actors will. The way Wagner has been used by the Russians could prove a highly attractive model for other countries to emulate. Wagner generates profits, operating through a series of shell companies it has invested in extractive industries across Africa, receiving access and rights to commodities in exchange for its security services. Wagners opaque structure allows it to carry out Russian foreign policy objectives while insulating Moscow from significant blowback at least until recently. Moscow has invested so much in the Wagner Group, that any change in the status quo will present major challenges to Putins regime. There are other second- and third-order effects likely to directly impact global stability, including new power vacuums likely to be filled by predatory states, particularly those capable of leveraging their own proxy networks. Finally, Prigozhins mutiny has further exposed Russia as a second-rate power. Put simply, when we speak about great power competition, Russia doesnt belong in the conversation. But a wounded and vindictive Russia could be a continued source of instability, as the Kremlin seeks new avenues for influence, upending security arrangements in fragile states that will be unable to recover easily. The result could be a more dangerous world, even if the danger no longer emanates from Russian mercenaries. Thats a future that we should work to forestall, by acting quickly to reinforce the stability of regimes that may soon need to wean themselves off Wagners support. Helicopter over the Rostov region During the rebellion of Wagner PMC leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, his militants destroyed seven Russian aircraft after launching preemptive strikes against them, the spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yuriy Ihnat said on national television on June 25. Wagner units allegedly shot down one warplane, two combat helicopters and four transport aircraft. The Ukrainian officer said Prigozhin's mercenaries realized that Russian aviation was capable of breaking up their military convoys quickly and effectively. "This is probably what the (mercenaries) were afraid of, and therefore they preventively destroyed what was in the sky," Ihnat said. Aviation today can break up a column on the march very quickly. Read also: Videos of fighting between Wagner and regime troops pop up on social media The day before, the OSINT project Oryx recorded that the Russian military had lost an Il-22 aircraft, two electronic warfare helicopters, and one Mi-35 helicopter. The media also reported the downing of an An-24 aircraft over the Russian city of Voronezh. Prigozhin announced his "march on Moscow" and the beginning of the armed conflict with the Russian Defense Ministry on the evening of June 23, allegedly after the Russian army struck the mercenaries' "rear camp." On the evening of June 24, the leader of Wagner Group announced that he was "turning back the columns" that, according to him, were 200 km away from Moscow because his fighters allegedly did not want to "shed Russian blood." The press service of the Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he had allegedly been negotiating with Prigozhin all day, and the latter agreed to "stop the movement through the territory of Russia," and his militants were promised "security guarantees" in return. The Kremlin said that the case on Prigozhin's armed rebellion would be closed, the Wagner units would return to the "rear camps," and Prigozhin himself would go to Belarus. 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 Nineteen houses were damaged in Voronezh Oblast in the shooting between the Russian military and the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) on 24 June. The Wagner PMC left Lipetsk and Voronezh oblasts on 25 June. Source: Russian Interfax Quote from Maksim Yantsov, Head of Pavlovsky district, Voronezh Oblast: "Nineteen houses in the village were damaged as a result of the shooting that took place near Elizavetovka, Pavlovsky District, on 24 June, when the Wagner PMC convoy was passing through our district. There is no threat to the integrity of houses or outbuildings." Details: Alexander Gusev, Governor of Russias Voronezh Oblast, said on 25 June that the restrictions introduced in the oblast the day before will be cancelled after the Wagner Group units leave the oblast in their entirety. According to him, the movement of Wagner units through the oblast "takes place in regular order and without any violations". Later, the government of Voronezh Oblast announced the cancellation of all traffic restrictions on the M-4 Don road, which was introduced earlier. On 24 June, traffic on the M-4 Don highway in the oblast was limited on the section from the 464th to the 777th km. Before that, on Sunday, it became known that the Wagner Group had left Lipetsk Oblast. "Units of the Wagner PMC, which stopped in Lipetsk Oblast the day before, left the territory of the region," the oblast government said. At the same time, traffic was restored on all the bridges in Moscow Oblast that were closed the day before, in particular on the M-2 and M-4 roads. Background: Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Visit these destinations to experience and understand the enduring power, prevalence and history of Black house music. Have you enjoyed the mainstream success house music has received since the release of Beyonces Renaissance and Drakes Honestly, Nevermind albums? As many already know, house music has always been heralded in Black and marginalized communities, and like many musical genres, it originated at a time when collective frustrations were high. While many identify the genre with the 1980s, it was in the aftermath of the civil rights movement that house music was birthed, out of both evolution and revolution. In the 1970s, many Black people were finally beginning to get their feet into mainstream doors and receive recognition for their contributions to pop culture. However, in New York City, the epicenter of ethnicity, Black and brown people were becoming poorer. Queer communities were finding new outlets after fighting for liberation in the Stonewall Riots and, as members of other marginalized groups including Latinos and Africans, cultivated an underground subculture to socialize as a respite from the grim realities they faced. Nevertheless, the parties, music and culture started to gain favor as white America caught on, and the dance floors where house music played were soon among the most progressive spaces in America. DJ Frankie Knuckles plays at the Def Mix 20th Anniversary Weekender at Turnmills nightclub on May 6, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Claire Greenway/Getty Images) Some of the earliest documented house music began in New York City in the 1970s. Black teenage DJs Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan began spinning in post-disco basement parties at the at Ansonia Hotels Continental Baths. Their style of music a fusion of soul, rock, disco, rhythm and blues were so viral that Chicago-based promoters invited the DJs down to the newly opened Warehouse Club in the Windy City, and the rest is history. House music soon became so popular that demand rose at record stores, and record labels began to commission DJs to create dance mixes for their top artists songs. Since then, the Black music style born out of New York City and nurtured in Chicago has found its way across the world, pinnacling in the U.K. and Ibiza, where it still holds major popularity today. Other cultural centers in Detroit, New Jersey and Baltimore have also formed their own house and club music styles, which is now heard in many mainstream songs today. Want to take a deeper dive into the decades-old genre? Check out the breakdown of Black house music and sub-genres below to figure out where to visit to pay homage, gain greater historical context or just dance away the frustrations of today. New York City, N.Y. From Continental Baths to The Gallery and Paradise Garage, NYCs underground clubs brought dance remixes and house music to the mainstream. Today, it is not hard to locate house music in NYC it is alive and well, and you can find it in every other club. Try to visit when a popular house music DJ like Black Coffee is spinning at The Brooklyn Mirage, or visit Lambda Lounge, one of the only Black-owned gay bars in the city. Chicago, Ill. If youre familiar with house music, you know Chicago is the greatest to ever do it. To this day, Chicago remains the most involved in house music and dance mixes, with sounds booming from multiple areas in the city. In 2004, the city named a stretch of Jefferson Street where the honorable Warehouse club once stood Frankie Knuckles Way in honor of DJ Knuckles, the pioneer of house music. On June 21, The Warehouse was named an official landmark by the city. You also cant mention Chicago house music without referencing the annual weekend-long picnic produced by The Chosen Few DJs, which attracts thousands of house music devotees each summer. Detroit, Mich. In Belleville, Michigan, high school friends Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson formed The Belleville Three, producing a sound heavily identified by the use of synthesizers like the Korg MS-10 and the MiniKorg-700S. In 1982, the electro track Clear was recorded by Atkins and Rick Davis as Cybotron, which is considered the first proto-techno track. From there, Detroit techno took off, reaching far corners of the world. When in Michigan, take a Detroit Techno tour to visit all the landmarks, social clubs, and lounges that helped make the Detroit techno sound a worldwide phenomenon. Myles Milner from Virginia wears a Tigers jersey with the word Techno written in the back during the Movement Festival at Hart Plaza in Detroit on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Credit: David Rodriguez Munoz / USA TODAY NETWORK) Ibiza, Spain It is now house music lore that, in the early 1980s, Detroit techno progenitor Derrick May sold a Roland TB-303 electronic synthesizer to Knuckles, whose influence eventually traveled to the United Kingdom. When U.K. house music DJs like Paul Oakland visited Ibizas Club Amnesia for the first time, they heard acid house and Balearic house, styles almost directly descended from Detroits techno style. The legendary Amnesia is still open, so when in Ibiza, make time to visit this destination, which has a club music reputation that has now lasted over five decades. Try to be in Ibiza when top Black DJs such as Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Afrojack or Black Coffee are set to spin at one of the islands clubs. Manchester, U.K. One of the first major successes in house music history is when Love Cant Turn Around by Farley Jackmaster Funk and Jesse Saunders peaked at #10 on the U.K. singles chart in 1986. By 1987, influential American DJs, including Knuckles, were on tour in the U.K., where house music continued to chart even more prominently than in the U.S. and soon took over the nations dance scene. When house ruled the U.K., Manchesters Hacienda nightclub, now demolished and turned into Hacienda Apartments, was the place to be. Today, visit Fac251 Factory Manchester to experience the best of U.K. house music. Baltimore, Md. A derivative of house music, Baltimore club music began in the 80s as a fusion of breakbeat, hip-house, Chicago house, hardcore U.K. rave and Miami bass. Go to any homecoming in the DMV area and you will hear Bmore club music blasted on lawns, in concerts, and at parties just as regularly as in clubs. Visit Morgan State University during homecoming weekend in Baltimore, and youll be bombarded with TikTok stars who have gone viral making dances and themes based on Baltimore club songs for followers to join along. New Jersey Widely considered the second coming of Baltimore music, New Jersey club music took the drivers seat in the 2000s as the leader in club music and the producer of most samples still heard today. Collectives like the Brick Bandits from Newark, DJ Wallah, DJ Lil Man, DJ Frosty, DJ Jayhood and DJ Fade have carried the sound on their backs, creating smoother transitions using the same base format as Baltimore club house, but with more elements. When planning a trip to N.J., visit during summer house music festival time and check out the Weequahic Park House Music Festival, the Lincoln Park Music Festival or even the Roselle House Music Festival to hear the best of New Jersey club music and house music that continues to shape the genre. Noel Cymone Walker theGrio.com Noel Cymone Walker is an NYC-based writer specializing in beauty, fashion, music, travel, and cultural anthropology. She has written and produced visuals for several notable publications such as The Recording Academy/The Grammys, The Fader, Billboard, OkayPlayer, Marie Claire, Glamour, Allure, Essence, Ebony, and more. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post Where is house music at home? Check out 7 destinations rich in Black house history appeared first on TheGrio. From video obtained by Reuters The same government that has been slaughtering Ukrainian civilians for more than a year because it claims NATO baddies are too close to its borders allowed its own rogue mercenary boss to shoot down military helicopters on Saturday and, according to state media, kill several soldiers before calmly waltzing away to a new life in Belarus. The Kremlin even publicly guaranteed that Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin had President Vladimir Putins word he could safely leave the countryafter conveniently having criminal charges against him dropped. So why is Prigozhin so untouchable? Or is the Kremlin simply biding its time to deal with him in a less public manner? Its hard to imagine the former hot-dog vendor will get off unscathed after humiliating the Russian leader while the whole world watched. The chaotic spectacle of Prigozhins armed uprising and the ease with which he and his Wagner mercenaries appeared to take control in Rostov shattered Putins carefully cultivated image as a strongman leader. Hours after Putin vowed to take brutal measures against the coup organizers, they walked away. And in another blow to Putin, crowds of supportive Rostov residents were filmed cheering on the Wagner fighters and shaking their hands. Ukraine Will Be the Big Winner of Prigozhin Turning On Putin That may have played a factor in the decision to let the whole thing slide. Prigozhin has amassed considerable support among pro-war hardliners in recent months and has appealed to ordinary Russians by positioning himself as an anti-elitist crusader (spoiler alert: hes not). His frequent criticisms of the countrys military leadership have also won him praise for his honesty among some Russians who previously had no idea who he was. An unnamed source close to the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces was quoted telling the independent Russian news outlet iStories on Saturday that Putin had ordered security services to liquidate Prigozhin to avoid having to engage in battles in Russian cities. Putin doesnt need a big shootout, so the main task is to eliminate Prigozhin and tear off the backbone of Wagner, promising amnesty [to Wagner fighters] for this disgrace, the source said. Its not clear if the security services made any attempt to take out Prigozhin during the brief takeover, but he was ultimately allowed to leave, even happily posing for photos while he departed from Rostov. It may be that Moscow recognized the potential for Prigozhin being turned into a martyr if he were to go out in a blaze of glory in the midst of his rebellion. Several Russian officers interviewed anonymously by The Moscow Times also said most troops were simply not willing to go head to head against Wagner fighters to defend cities from a takeover. The mood is that no one is going to die for Moscow. Everyone understands that this is not about protecting against the enemy, but about dirty internal skirmishes, it makes no sense to die for this, one officer said. Others said they actually supported Prigozhin: Thats why almost all roads are open for the [Wagner] convoys, for the same reason they managed to take Rostov-on-Don without a single shot in a few hours. A fighter of Wagner private mercenary group walks past a tank in a street near a local circus in the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Reuters But Prigozhin also appears to have some powerful figures invested in him, including Yury Kovalchuk, a close friend of Putin and billionaire considered one of the most influential figures in Russia. The independent outlet Meduza cited a source close to the Kremlin last November who described Prigozhin as a tool of Yury Kovalchuk and his brother Mikhail. The Kovalchuk brothers were said to have partnered with Prigozhin on launching a patriotic and anti-elitist political movement that could eventually grow into a party. Prigozhin was also reported to have met with Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin last March, and the Wagner boss is said to have walked away with an agreement for the Putin ally to sponsor some of his projects. Its not clear what exactly he will do in Belarus, or how long he will remain there (if he does, in fact, move there). As of Saturday night, the mercenary boss was mum on social media, and Russian prosecutors had already blocked him on the popular VK networking site. Putin, for his part, had apparently retreated to his bunker after the whole dizzying saga, with his spokesman confirming to reporters that the Russian leader had absolutely nothing to say: No, no. Weve told you everything that we wanted to and could tell you. 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. Custer's Last Stand By Paxson Custer's Last Stand from the Battle of Little Bighorn by Edgar Samuel Paxson Credit - GraphicaArtis/Getty Images Sometimes to get remembered in history, you need a great publicist. This weekend marks the 147th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighornalso known as Custers Last Standa chapter in U.S. history that some historians are arguing needs a rewrite. The story American students are generally taught is that in one of the most decisive battles in American history, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and more than 200 men from five companies of the Seventh infantry cavalry heroically died on June 25, 1876, in a sneak attack by Native Americans in whats now Montana. It was part of the broader crackdown by the U.S. government on Native Americans, who were seen as threatening innocent white settlers. So how did a defeat become viewed as one of the greatest noble tragedies in American history? A persistent lobbying campaign by Custers widow, for one, and because the story of Custer as a martyr fit neatly in the larger story that Americans wanted to tell about the nations push westward after the Civil War, historians say. Only in recent years have we begun to learn more about the perspective of Little Bighorn from its Native American victors, whose roots at that site go back decades before the settlers arrivedand started to rethink the legacy of the man who led the charge. When we think of Custers Last Stand or the Battle of Little Bighorn we should think of it as a successful defense by Native people against an attempted act of genocide, says Lindsay Stallones Marshall, assistant professor of history at Illinois State University, who got her start teaching about Custer as an AP U.S. History teacher. Marshall is writing a book on how distorted narratives about the Indian wars after the Civil War made their way into schools. The answer reveals a potent mix of the powerful who engage in history making: soldiers burnishing their own reputations, loved ones honoring family members, lawmakers lobbying for federal dollars, and textbook writers mythologizing American Manifest Destiny. Textbooks are a specific kind of document designed for a specific purpose, and its not simply to tell students what happened in the past, but to give them a particular view, particularly of the American past, says Marshall. Some of the early narratives about Custer came from the man himself; because of his celebrity as a Civil War hero, Custer ghost-wrote newspaper dispatches in which he pretended to be a correspondent and inflated his own role in battles and military exploits. (A couple of newspapers published these posthumously, acknowledging Custer as the author.) But Marshall says a bigger reason Custers Last Stand is so well known is because of the military officers widow, Elizabeth Libbie Bacon Custer, who worked to burnish her husbands legacy. She published the 1876 bestseller A Popular Life of General Custer with Frederick Whittaker and a memoir Boots and Saddles in 1885, both of which glorified Custers exploits in battle. She also came out with a pamphlet defending her husband after one of the men who commanded a separate operation, Frederick Benteen, claimed that Custer recklessly endangered his troops. Over the next few decades, she wrote, and encouraged journalists to write, newspaper articles about her husband and organized commemorations of the battle and statues of him. Portrait of General George A. Custer with his brother, Tom, and wife, Libbie. Corbis/Getty Images Part of the reason Libbies efforts were so successful is that no one from Custers five companies survived the battle, and Mark Kellogg, a journalist from the Bismarck Tribune who had been covering Custer that summer, was also killed in the fight. This left a lot of gaps to fill in over the yearsand opportunities to reframe the defeat. Many Custer experts dont even know where the phrase Custers Last Stand comes from. But what they do know is that Libbies campaigning helped galvanize a cottage industry of amateur historians going out to the battlefield site looking for artifacts and trying to understand what exactly happened in the battle. During that time, several Indian wars veterans associations were also schmoozing members of Congress and valorizing Custer for introducing civilization to the West as a way to try to increase the size of military pensions and expand eligibility. They were pushing for the government to offer pensions to everyone who fought in the Battle of Little Bighorn and all Indian wars beyond enlisted soldiers, as well as expand access to soldiers homes and healthcare for those who had been wounded. In 1917, in part thanks to these lobbying efforts, Congress approved a new system of compensation for military veterans that included more people who served in the post-Civil War Indian wars. Marshalls research found that accounts praising Custer seeped into textbooks, which perpetuated Custers heroic reputation for generations to come. One 1880 textbook said that while Custer lost the Battle of Little Bighorn, the Native Americans were soon beaten on every hand. By the 1920s, most textbook narratives sounded like a 1919 textbook Our United States, which described Native American resistance as a hopeless struggleagainst the tide of civilization. Over the last century, Marshall found that textbooks tend to depict Native Americans as inconvenient to the triumphal story of American expansion. Native Americans are described as an obstacle to progress, as Marshall puts it. Assimilation into American society, according to Marshalls reading, is the only beneficial outcome of any encounter between the United States or settlers and indigenous peoplesand Custers story is instrumental in pushing that narrative. Little Big Horn battlefield, 2019. Dukas/Universal Images Group/Getty Images In the 1920s, the author of a textbook for the dominant textbook publisher at the time, American Book Company, was going to leave out Custers Last Stand because it didnt change the course of western expansion, but Marshall found a revealing handwritten note in the publishers archives that said, We shall have to make room for Custer. The story of Custer was so inspiring that booksellers in the Northern Plain states told the American Book Company that they wouldnt be able to sell a textbook that didnt mention Custers Last Stand. American students today still learn some of these same lessons. I did a bunch of forensic tracing and found phrases and specific details lifted straight out of books going all the way back to the 19th century, Marshall says. Thats how this framing remains preserved. Students still tend to learn about Custer dying bravely during battle, for example, but not about the bravery of the Native Americans who defended themselves against settlers of European descent who were there illegally. What doesnt fit neatly into the Custer story of the popular imagination is the 1868 Treaty of Laramie, which had given the area where the battle took place to Lakota. However, once gold was discovered in the Black Hills area where the battle occurred, settlers and miners flocked to the area. These settlers were there against U.S. treaty law and native people were rightfully defending themselves, says Marshall. Nor do American students often learn about the Battle of the Washita, which took place eight years before Little Bighorn and in which Custer led an attack on a village of mostly Southern Cheyenne people and rounded up women and children as prisoners. Still, Custermania grew during the golden age of Hollywood in the first half of the 20th century. A 1936 movie Custers Last Stand showed the phrase had taken hold and may have helped popularize this framing. Films like the 1941 They Died With Their Boots On, starring Errol Flynn as Custer and Olivia de Havilland as his Libbie Custer, came out in time for the U.S. entering World War II, bolstering patriotic feeling and support for the troops. One of the most reproduced lithographs of all time is an Anheuser-Busch ad depicting Custers Last Fight, showing Custer waving a saber and Native Americans pointing their weapons at him; it hung in bars in the 19th and 20th centuries. Most students never got that part of the history In the last three decades, the Native Americans side of the Battle of Little Bighornwhich they refer to as Battle of the Greasy Grasshas become better known, further complicating Custers legacy. Lakota historian Donovin Sprague cites the renaming of Custer Battlefield to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in 1991, as a beginning for Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho nations to incorporate more of the Native American perspective in displays at the monument and around the battle site. (TIME declared, The Winners Get Their Due in the Dec. 9, 1991, issue, when Congress approved a bill renaming the site.) People are just beginning to see that it isnt just this black-and-white, cowboys versus Indians theme, and thats the way that its been portrayed in popular culture and Westerns, says Mandy Van Heuvelen, a South Dakota native and enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe who is a project manager at the Smithsonians Anacostia Community Museum. Traditionally, the Native American side of the Battle of Little Bighorn has been passed down through families; she learned from her grandfather that his grandmother witnessed the battle. Maybe we shouldnt hold [Custer] on as high of a pedestal as we have, she says. Its important to understand the history from multiple points of view. Read More: Without Indigenous History, There Is No U.S. History That perspective is slowly coming to the classroom, too. Donovin Sprague, a descendent of Crazy Horse, who led the Native Americans to victory in the Battle of Little Bighorn, now teaches the Native American side of this history at Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wy. Most students never got that part of the history, Sprague says. Every year, educator Jim Real Bird orchestrates a reenactment of the Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana featuring about 150 participants. He says the goal of this years event is to feature Native Americans and focus on their often downplayed victory in the battle. Thats why we do the show, he says. It heals people. Chief Crazy Horse, circa 1870. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images In the aftermath of George Floyds 2020 murder and the conversation it sparked about the history of underrepresented voices in America, Native Americans and their supporters found a new opportunity to voice their concerns about the predominantly white men lionized in the nations monumentsCuster included. In Oct. 2020, the National Park Service announced plans to build a new visitors center on the site of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument to offer more educational programming on the tribes that fought in that battle. In 2021, in Monroe, Mich., where Custer and his wife grew up, residents called for the monument of Custer on horseback to be removed. At a June 15 Monroe City Council meeting via Zoom, the city clerk read out a letter from George Chip Armstrong Custer IV, one of Custers descendants, against the removal of the monument, arguing that Custer and fellow U.S. military officers were simply following orders: Custer has become the poster boy for all wrongs committed against the American Indian during our roughly 250 years as a nation. The next month, the City Council unanimously approved a plan to develop, with local schools and Native American groups, a plan to expand the site of the monument to include a more complete representation of Custers military career and Native American perspectives. (That project and the fight to remove the monument stalled in 2022.) Marshall hopes illuminating how Custer became a heroic fixture in American memory will help Americans think more critically about their monuments, their reenactments, their oral histories, and their textbooks. The stories we tell give us the reasons for acting the way that we do, says Marshall. So I think its really important to understand where our stories come from, so that we can correct them when they lead us astray. -With reporting by Arpita Aneja A woman who entered a home posing as a CPS worker said she wanted to 'scare' the parents because she felt they weren't supervising their child A stock image of a crime scene investigation. Ashley Cooper/Getty Images An Ohio woman has been charged with child enticement, burglary, and impersonating an officer. Her hand-written affidavit said she was drunk at the time of the incident. If convicted the woman could face six months or more in jail. A woman from Norwood, Ohio, was charged Monday with child enticement after parents accused her of pretending to be from Child Protective Services and attempting to lure their child away from home. In a home surveillance recording posted to Facebook, the woman, identified by police as 44-year-old Lisa Nacrelli, can be seen in the front yard touching the child's back and head. After the child runs inside to bring out his mother, Nacrelli appears to identify herself as a CPS investigator and enters the home. Child enticement is generally defined as an effort to convince a child to accompany an adult. In Ohio, a first-time violation is a first-degree misdemeanor. Nacrelli could be sentenced to up to six months in jail if convicted. Tuesday, the Norwood Police Department filed additional charges of burglary and impersonating an officer against Nacrelli, which could add additional time to her sentence if convicted. In her written affidavit, filed in Hamilton County Municipal Court Saturday, Nacrelli said she had been drinking "since [she] woke up that morning." "I walked to Kroger to get more beer," the affidavit reads. "on the walk home, I saw a young child that I felt wasn't being supervised, so in an attempt to scare the parent, I pretended to be from CPS." However, Timothy Spradlin, the boy's father, alleged in his affidavit that Nacrelli was "rubbing" his child and made the four-year-old "uncomfortable." In an interview with Fox19, Spradlin said Nacrelli had a fake CPS badge, which he said convinced his wife, Jaimie, to let Nacrelli examine their home. "Please teach your children about stranger danger and to always get an adult," Jaimie Spradlin wrote in her Facebook post about the event. "I was very proud of my son for coming to get me. Too close for comfort." The Spradlin family, Nacrelli's lawyer, and the Norwood Police Department did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Woman's New Boss Calls Her 'Unprofessional' After She Refuses To Go On A 'Team Vacation' Without Her Spouse Woman bullied at work, quotes from Reddit A woman on Reddit recently started a new job where she has already fallen into a conflict with her new boss after she refused to go on vacation with her team at work. Posting her story to the r/antiwork forum, she explained the work environment that shes a part of and how her boss handled the situation which was poorly, to say the least. RELATED: Worker Walks Out In Middle Of Shift After Boss Tells Her She Needs To Go Home And Change Her Outfit 'I Wear These Shorts To Work Often' Her boss told her she was irresponsible and unprofessional for not coming on vacation. I started working in a new company a few months ago, and I really love my job. The team I'm in is very tight-knit, she wrote. They like to go out for drinks, they like to go on vacations together, and they organize team buildings very often. Hanging out with your coworkers outside of work can be fun! Work is more often than not a collaborative effort, so building chemistry outside of work can help with efficiency on the clock. But its not only about work efficiency who doesnt love to make friends? womans boss calls her unprofessional for refusing team vacation Photo: Reddit RELATED: Worker Gets An Invoice With A $150 Fee After Quitting Without Giving A Two-Week Notice This woman doesnt mind the friend-making part of it all, what she minds is the being forced to part, and also the I want to spend time with my family part, which her boss doesnt seem to get. I was part of one team building 2 weeks ago, and now they are organizing a weekend (Friday-Sunday) trip away; however, they don't allow any families and spouses on these trips, which I understand, she continued. Let me be clear this isn't a business trip it's a vacation. She explained to her boss that, although she enjoys hanging out with them (even though most of the [time] I'm being forced to participate), she doesnt feel comfortable going away for the weekend without her spouse to go party with her colleagues. I told her that [I] and my fiance work opposite schedules he works night shifts and basically the weekend is the only time I get to spend with him, she explained, and told her that I'm not comfortable going on the weekend when I spend time with my colleagues 9 hours a day. Most people would deem this an understandable reason her boss is not most people. RELATED: Woman Quits Job She's Had For 5 Years On The Spot After Returning From Time Off To Find Out She's No Longer The Manager Her boss started acting differently towards her at work after she refused to go on the company vacation. To put it plainly, her boss started being mean to her at the office, writing, Basically she started acting rude, saying that I'm being irresponsible for my job and that [it] wasn't a family trip because of people like me we can't be a good team. Also, she said that it's unprofessional to not be able to live without my spouse for a weekend. A lot of things that, quite honestly, dont make sense here. Why would you be rude to someone for not wanting to go on vacation with you? How is that irresponsible in regard to her job if it wasnt a business trip? If shes going to every other team-building activity (against her best wishes), how is it affecting the boss and coworkers? And how is it unprofessional to want to spend time with her fiance? womans boss calls her unprofessional for refusing team vacation Photo: Reddit We dont have the answers, but it seems like our fellow employee here is looking for some, and Redditors supplied her with ways to deal with her new boss. The most common theme here seems to be looking for a straight answer on whether or not the trips are mandatory. If not, then it shouldnt be a problem, but if they are, she should be getting compensated for everything she would have to spend money on to go. RELATED: Introvert Employee Claims She Was Given An Ultimatum To Either Small Talk With Her Coworkers Or Get Fired Isaac Serna-Diez is an Assistant Editor for YourTango who focuses on entertainment and news, social justice, and politics. This article originally appeared on YourTango Wrong-way driver charged with aggravated DUI after 5-vehicle crash in Nashua, NH, state police say A New Hampshire woman is accused of driving a Subaru the wrong way on the Everett Turnpike in Nashua while driving under the influence, which caused a five-vehicle crash that seriously injured two people, state police said. Jennifer Pratka, 29, of Litchfield was pulled from the Subaru she was driving by responding troopers after it crashed into another vehicle and caught fire, state police said. Pratka was charged with aggravated driving under the influence and reckless conduct. She is scheduled to appear in Hillsborough Superior Court in July to face those charges, state police said. At approximately 10:34 p.m. Saturday, troopers responded to a report of a wrong-way driver, driving north in the southbound lanes on the F.E. Everett Turnpike, state police said. A short time later, state police received a report that the wrong-way driver had struck another vehicle in the area of Exit 7W. A preliminary investigation found that the Subaru Impreza was driving north on the F.E. Everett Turnpike in the southbound lanes when it collided with a pickup truck in the left lane, state police said. Immediately after, three other vehicles crashed into these two vehicles. The driver and the passenger of the pickup truck suffered serious injuries, and the occupants of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries. Pratka was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua with minor injuries, state police said. The F.E. Everett Turnpike southbound lanes were shut down between Exits 7W and 7E for approximately three and half hours following the crash while investigators and cleanup crews were on scene. New Hampshire State Police were assisted on scene by Nashua Police, Nashua Fire and EMS, and the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. A GoFundMe was set up for those victims of the crash. Click here to help. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Trooper Harkonen at 603-223-8308 or at Ryan.R.Harknoen@dos.nh.gov. 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 This man set up a removals business with a mini Kei truck that cost just $4,500 but a new mirror and wiper set him back $600 This man set up a removals business with a mini Kei truck that cost just $4,500 but a new mirror and wiper set him back $600 Craig Disbrow runs a removal business with his Kei truck. Craig Disbrow A Kei truck owner plans to give up his mini pickup as it's too hard and costly to find spare parts. Craig Disbrow uses a modified 1990 Mazda Bongo for his removal business in New York City. A new windshield wiper and side mirror alone cost him $600 to replace. Craig Disbrow bought a a modified 1990 Mazda Bongo to start a removal business in New York City. He said he fell in love with the mini Japanese "Kei" truck, but the unexpectedly high costs of replacing broken parts means he's reluctantly planning to give it up. Finding the Kei truck Disbrow, 48, said he came across the truck while driving in North Carolina, where he'd moved with his wife during the pandemic. He said he had already been reluctant to go back to his job as a waiter in New York, so when he spotted the right-hand-drive mini truck, he had an idea. "Within 30 seconds I had this whole rush of information come to me about what I'm doing right now, about the moving business," Disbrow told Insider, speaking hands-free while driving his truck on a New York highway. Craig Disbrow's modified Kei truck without covers on the back. Craig Disbrow After a bidding war, Disbrow said he bought the truck for about $4,500. He estimates he spent another $3,000 turning it into a mini removal van. Disbrow said the truck had done only 23,000 kilometers (14,300 miles) when he bought it. After purchasing the vehicle, he founded Truck and a Driver, a moving company operating across the five boroughs of New York. He said his moving company was popular for people moving out of studio and one-bed apartments, and the nimble Kei truck can squeeze into small spots that bigger vans cannot. Disbrow said that the Kei truck's unique style also turned heads, offering him some free advertising. "People see it and can't help but smile. People beep at me all the time on the highway it's fun." Spare parts pain Kei trucks have increased in popularity in the US in recent years, particularly in rural America where they're used around ranches, beaches, and even as beekeeper wagons. But Disbrow's shown they can be effective in urban settings too. There are a few problems with the trucks that potential customers need to consider, however. The rarity of the vehicles, combined with their old age, means spare parts can be hard to come by. Disbrow said he had first-hand experience of this, after vandals ripped off the windshield wiper and side mirror. The wiper cost about $250 to replace, while the side mirror set him back $350. More recently, Disbrow said he had his driver-side window smashed and items stolen. He said he didn't even know where to source a new one for import, adding that glass items have different import restrictions. "It's literally like owning a unicorn," Disbrow said. "It's a wonderful truck, it does the job beautifully. The only problem is when something's wrong because I don't have the resources to get parts or anything." It's been enough to make Disbrow begrudgingly plan to give up the Kei truck and find something more common, he said. "Three problems ago my wife was like, 'can't we just get something you can fix easy?'," Disbrow said. "But because something always seems to happen; I can now see what she means." Do you own a Kei truck and have had problems too? Get in touch with this reporter at rhogg@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider A fire company in Westmoreland County celebrates its 100-year anniversary on Saturday. The Yukon Volunteer Fire Company held a carnival and invited the public to join them in the celebration of their centennial. The carnival was held for the first time after a 13-year-long gap. Festivities were held on Highway Street in South Huntingdon. Fire Chief, Mark Kite, has been with the company for almost half of its existence. He has been a member for 47 years. Its a family tradition for him. He was actually born in the home he lives in and his great grandfather, grandfather, father and actually both of his brothers were also firemen, said Rachel Ray, assistant chief and president of the fire company. A display was made that highlighted all of the firefighting equipment used by the department over the course of its history. The celebration closed out with a fireworks show at 9 p.m. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: 100-mile detour in place when 86-mile stretch of Pennsylvania Turnpike closes overnight Saturday Girlfriend of dentist who killed wife on safari in 2016 has been sentenced to 17 years in prison Police still searching for 2 suspects after major FBI drug raid in Pittsburgh VIDEO: Crews dig up bones while working in Sharpsburg DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts During a telephone conversation on Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden discussed, in particular, the course of hostilities in Ukraine and the latest events in Russia. Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram; the Ukrainian President's website; the White House Quote: "I spoke with US President Joseph Biden. A positive and inspiring conversation. We discussed the course of military operations and the processes that are taking place in Russia. The world must put pressure on Russia to restore international order." Quote from Zelenskyy: "Yesterday's events exposed the weakness of Putin's regime." Details: Zelenskyy also thanked Biden for his relentless support for Ukraine, especially for the Patriot systems. "It is important to further increase Ukraine's ability to protect our sky. In this context, I also thanked [Biden] for the support of the fighter jet coalition," he said. The presidents also discussed further expansion of defence cooperation with a focus on long-range weapons. Zelenskyy and Biden also coordinated their positions before the Vilnius NATO summit, discussed continuing work on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and preparations for the Global Peace Summit. The White House website also reported on the conversation. Quote from the White House: "President Biden spoke today with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine to discuss support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression. They discussed Ukraines ongoing counter-offensive, and President Biden reaffirmed unwavering U.S. support, including through continued security, economic, and humanitarian aid. The leaders also discussed recent events in Russia". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a telephone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, discussing the Wagner Group mutiny in Russia and the dangerous situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine. Source: President Zelenskyy on Telegram Quote from Zelenskyy: "I held the first in a series of important telephone conversations with Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. I thanked him for his recent visit to Kyiv and Canada and all Canadians for their constant support for Ukraine. I told him about the current situation on the battlefield and shared Ukrainian assessments of the attempted coup in Russia and the effect this situation will have on the course of hostilities. I drew the Prime Ministers attention to the dangerous situation the occupation forces have created at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The lack of a global response to Russia blowing up the dam at the Kakhovka HPP and to its attempt to blow up the dam at the Kryvyi Rih reservoir have enabled the occupation forces to prepare a terrorist attack [that might result in] a radiation leak at the ZNPP. Ukraines partners have to take a firm stand on this, especially during the NATO summit in Vilnius." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Some area residents will probably never see the regional public health agencies' latest public health campaign. With MPOX showing up again this year in Chicago, Minneapolis and Milwaukee, the department has launched an initiative to get a head start on prevention by warning about the risks of the disease and the need for vaccination. But instead of sounding those alerts far and wide, it's targeting them to those at highest risk of the illness, formerly known as monkeypox, by placing them on dating apps in the metro area. Justin Frederick, the Douglas County Health Departments division chief of epidemiology and preparedness, said the department changed its focus last fall after learning during last summers MPOX outbreak that its initial messages werent reaching their target audience. Frederick said other area health departments have joined the campaign, including the Sarpy/Cass Health Department, the Pottawattamie County Health Department in Iowa and the Three Rivers Public Health Department serving Nebraska's Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties. MPOX began spreading globally last summer primarily through close, intimate contact. It largely affected gay and bisexual men who have sex with other men. Douglas County confirmed 25 cases last year, the last in September. The Omaha-based health department, working with an agency called Commando, launched a more targeted and catchy campaign in October that ran until January. That campaign received an impressive 830,000 impressions, or views. We felt like we were getting the message out and getting it to the right people, Frederick said. This year, department officials wanted to get ahead of any potential spread. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory for health care providers about new cases in the U.S. in mid-May. A total of 39 new cases have been reported in Chicago, plus two in Minneapolis and one in Milwaukee. Lana Dayne, a disease investigator in the Douglas County Health Department's epidemiology section, told the Douglas County Board of Health that Nebraska's MPOX vaccination coverage is considered low, with 34% of the at-risk population having one dose of the vaccine. CDC has warned that states with less than 35% of at-risk people with at least one dose of the two-dose vaccine could face a resurgence. One dose of the vaccine is 75% effective, and it's 86% effective with two doses. This year's campaign launched June 1, said Blake Frederick, a community health educator in the department's division of health equity and planning. If users click on an ad, they're taken to an online landing page with information about MPOX. The page allows them to sign up for a vaccination appointment and a survey link lists all clinics in the area that provide sexual health care. "We're really doing (the campaign) regionally," he said. "We're hoping to get a lot of views and get the message out." Nominations are now open for 2023 Women Impacting Agriculture, which honors women who are making a positive difference in Iowa agriculture. Honorees will be recognized Nov. 30 at the seventh annual Women in Ag Leadership Conference, hosted by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Women in Ag program, according to a news release. Iowans can nominate any woman working in the agricultural industry by submitting an online application. Nominations are due by June 30 at 5 p.m. Eligibility requirements are listed on the Women in Ag website, tinyurl.com/womenimpactag. Nominees will be selected by a committee of past honorees, past conference attendees and extension staff and partners. This recognition is in its eighth year and 35 women have been honored. I really appreciate how the Women Impacting Agriculture awards celebrate and recognize everyday champions in every facet of agriculture, Madeline Schultz, ISU Extension and Outreach Women in Ag program manager, said in a release. I love it when other women tell me they can relate to the honorees and can see themselves as champions, too. The Women Impacting Agriculture honorees will have the opportunity to attend the annual two-day Women in Ag Leadership Conference in Ames starting Nov. 29. I always enjoy the summer and winter Women in Ag conferences, said 2022 honoree Susan Kuennen, of Fayette County. The afternoon, the day before is one of the highlights I really look forward to; that boots on the ground experience, visiting a business, factory, Iowa State facilities, etc. Love the ability to interact with other like-minded women as we all want to be better caretakers of our land." Women Impacting Agriculture honors women who are making positive changes and creating a more sustainable Iowa by improving economic resiliency and stability; conserving natural resources; and being influential agricultural leaders, family members and community volunteers. MBTs en route to training field China Military Online) 08:51, June 25, 2023 Main battle tanks attached to a brigade under the PLA 77th Group Army kick up plumes of dust as they move forward to the designated base during a maneuver operation in desert on June 7, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Peng Jiazheng) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Wu Chaolan) The Southwest Iowa Educational Foundation awarded more than $600,000 in scholarships to nearly 150 students throughout southwest Iowa at its annual scholar recognition celebration hosted by Iowa Western Community College. It was another record year for the nonprofit organization dedicated to soliciting, managing, and awarding scholarships, in partnership the Community Foundation of Western Iowa, according to a news release. Every year, we seem to grow and are able to assist more students in reaching their goal of earning a college education, SWIEF board president Cara Cool Trede said in the release. Its very gratifying for our volunteer board to bring the students and donors together to acknowledge and celebrate with each other. Not only do scholarships offer a financial boost for students to earn a degree, credential or certificate, but they also create the possibility of fulfilling a dream for the many first-generation students. The geographical footprint of SWIEF scholars covers many counties and includes about 22 high schools. The average award amount is $3,900. Our southwest Iowa region is fortunate to have an organization such as SWIEF, to coordinate, manage, and build scholarship support, Donna Dostal, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Western Iowa, said in the release. This sort of coordinated work is unique to our region, and the partnership we have with SWIEF at the community foundation helps to streamline their important work. We are very glad to be part of what SWIEF does to build our nations future leaders through education. For more information about SWIEF, either as a future applicant or prospective donor visit swiowaeducationalfoundation.org. Now that Nebraskaland Days are over, are you looking for a way to have some inexpensive fun close to home, and something that the kids would enjoy? It is hard to have better time or more good old-fashioned fun than catching bluegill. Statistically speaking, bluegills are the most sought-after fish species in Nebraska. For many of us, it is probably the first fish we ever caught. Ive noticed that bluegills are making nests and spawning at Iron Horse Lake. You can see the dish-shaped depressions that the fish make to create their nests. A typical bluegill bed will be around 16-inches in diameter and in a nearly perfect circle. It is quite interesting to see the male bluegill fan the bottom of a lake to make his nest. The walls that rim the nest will be a couple inches tall to keep the eggs hidden from the eyes of nearby predators. The ideal bottom for bluegill to bed is a soft, gravel bottom. This type of bottom structure allows them to form the bed easily but is strong enough to hold its shape. The biggest factor that triggers spawning activity in bluegills is water temperature. When the water temperature reaches the 72-degree mark, spawning will begin. Spawning can last for weeks. Another variable in spawning is the moon. Typically, five days before and after a full moon is when bluegills are most likely to make their nesting beds. Male bluegills often create large colonies of nests the same areas in shallow waters that get lots of sun. You can see these areas from the shore or boat and the bull bluegills will actively defend their nests. This means that bluegills can be easily targeted by anglers. I love catching bluegill, but at this time of the year I diligently practice catch-and-release. Bluegills are rather unique in that their populations can withstand sustained harvests. Their reproduction rate will handle all but the heaviest fishing pressure, but you must give them a chance. Catching little bluegills, smaller than the size of your hand, is often easy. Catching big bull bluegills, the ones that are well over a pound, takes a little more effort. Private farm ponds that do not get a lot of fishing pressure are excellent habitat for bluegills. Search out weedy areas and weed lines that provide cover. Next, look for areas that are a mixture of hard and soft bottoms. Shallower lakes are generally better than deeper lakes. Small, shallow, fertile farm ponds provide some of the best bluegill fishing action. Look for lakes that have a good predator base. Bluegills will overpopulate a body of water and stay small unless predator fish keep their numbers in check. Odd as it sounds, you must have big predators to grow big bluegills. Heres a hint: If you know of a lake with a nice population of 2 to 3 pound largemouth bass, it probably has some good size bluegill in it as well. If you are fishing from a boat, dont ignore deeper weed beds or humps with a little vegetation. The interstate lake at Hershey is a classic example of this, and I generally find bigger bluegills out in the middle of the lake on these humps than along the shoreline. Vertical jigging and use of slip bobbers works very well on these spots. Tackle It doesnt take special equipment to get into bluegill fishing, just about any rod and reel combination will work. A basic rig is a 6-foot rod and reel spooled with 4-pound test line. However, if you want to increase your fun factor use ultra-light gear. Even a half-pound bluegill feels like a marlin. A simple bobber and a hook tipped with a piece of night crawler are hard to beat. I wonder how many millions of bluegills have been caught with this set up. Small jigs and spinners are also very effective. Bluegills do react to different color lures at different times, so carry a variety with you. Kayak camp July 11 is the date; Iron Horse Lake is the place. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and some of its volunteer outdoor educators will host a kayak night at Iron Horse Lake, near the Veterans and Law Enforcement Memorials. There will be a limited number of kayaks available on a first-come basis to use and volunteer educators are encouraged to bring their own kayaks. Pre-registration to participate in this event is required. Along with learning more about the sport of kayaking there will be a lake cleanup taking place. Trash bags and gloves will be provided as leaders and volunteers clean up trash from 6-8 p.m. For more information, including where to meet and to register, visit the calendar event entry at outdoornebraska.gov. Record carp Chuck Hensel of Valentine is now a state record holder. He was fishing Merritt Reservoir in April and caught a common carp that beat the old state record by over 4 1/2 pounds! Hensels record fish was over 40 inches long and weighed in at 39 pounds, 8 ounces. Fishing etiquette And finally for this week I recently read a piece about proper rules of etiquette for fishing. The article offered some advice on being too close and staying in one place too long, but it was a little long winded for me. Get straight to the point. My advice for social distancing in fishing, if you are within casting distance of the next angler, you are too close. This goes for anglers on boats and on shore. If you are on a good spot, catch your limit and move on. No need to stay there all day! Enjoy the outdoors and what Nebraska has to offer. Community Journalism Week in Nebraska, starting Monday, and Julys publication changes at The Telegraph naturally have me reflecting on my lifes adult path. Most folks who knew me growing up in Ogallala expected me to go into music. So did I. I loved playing piano for my high schools musical groups Select Choir, Show Choir, Stage Band and for three 1980s years in the Front Street Crystal Palace Revue, now in its 60th consecutive season. I usually sum up my first 20 or so years after high school in two sentences: I started out at Concordia in Seward, planning to become a music teacher in Lutheran high schools. I wound up a journalist and a Catholic. Look up my name online for the religious part. As for the professional part, the late Jack and Bev Pollock, who gave me my start at Ogallalas Keith County News, deserve much of the credit for modeling a different way to serve others: community journalism. What they sparked, and what my University of Nebraska-Lincoln journalism professors developed, The Telegraphs late Editor Keith Blackledge and his managing editor Jill Claflin cemented in the 15 months after I started my first stint here on Jan. 3, 1987. Both had worked at daily papers in large cities. Neither considered journalism in North Platte to be a step down. Both left here and came back. So did I twice with my wife and beloved Madame Editor, Joan, as we moved up and down a line stretching from Scottsbluff and along U.S. 26 to Ogallala, North Platte, Omaha and Des Moines on I-80. We returned to The Telegraph from 1995 to 1997 before 19 years in Omaha. Since my latest return, Ive told people: We must love North Platte. We keep coming back. But its more than that. Its about serving wherever youre called. And being able to once more practice community journalism in our western Nebraska home country. What does community journalism mean to us? We tell the stories of our people. And we offer information they may need to thrive in life and fulfill their duties as citizens of this uniquely republican, democratic nation. Its harder to communicate that last part today. Its dismaying, for example, to believe in keeping people informed about their world and be accused of tilting left (or right) simply because a given story merely appears in our print and now digital publications. Full disclosure: Ive been a right-of-center journalist in a left-of-center profession for 35 years. I groan at big-city national or international stories like many of you. Ask my wife. But Ill always defend the presence of stories like those. Why? Because Ive always figured it was worth it to learn what people I dont agree with are up to. To know your enemy, in other words, if we must have enemies. And in this country, as Abraham Lincoln said on the eve of the Civil War, we must not be enemies. Community journalism isnt about new world orders. Our issues are more down to earth. And, thankfully, Nebraskas local and state issues usually have little to do with party labels. Is there a Republican or Democratic or nonpartisan way to build a road or install a water main or properly grow crops or prepare for a tornado or blizzard? Even when local issues reflect partisan strife, its our job to tell people how their elected leaders and neighbors worked things out. Or didnt. Even if we hate the result. We can do that only to the extent that all of you help us tell your stories and help put food on our tables by subscribing, advertising or both. Thats how news people and news operations survive. Its that simple. Regarding those changes announced last week: Even in my pre-internet J-School classes 40 years ago, we were told computers would replace newsprint sometime before we retired. I first carried my hometown paper at age 9 in 1973. I carried The Telegraph in Ogallala for a time, too. The idea of fewer issues of a printed newspaper is hitting all of us hard. But well still be a daily publication in that digital world our professors told us was coming. And youll see not six but seven newspaper-style e-editions of The Telegraph every week beyond what appears instantly on our website. Weve never been a seven-day daily before. Weve been telling your stories for 142 years. Only Union Pacific has been around North Platte longer than us. Ill stick it out if you do. Earlier this month, a group called Climate Defiance burst into an address by West Virginia senator Joe Manchin and drowned it out with chants denouncing his support for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Disrupting the panel was very much the point of the protest. Activists Shut Down Manchin Talk at D.C. Event Over Climate Destruction, Mountain Valley Pipeline, reported Democracy Now! excitedly. We just fully shut down Senator Joe Manchins keynote address, exulted Climate Defiance on Twitter. He is shoving a 2,000,000,000 cubic-foot-per-day fracked gas pipeline down our throats. The shoving down our throats formulation is a familiar one. Usually, it is used by conservative groups to complain about Obamacare, fiscal stimulus, or other liberal legislation. The utility of this term of art is that it renders legitimate exercises of legislative democracy illegitimate and even violent by passing laws, they are shoving something down our throats, an act that feels like a violation of our rights, even if we cannot articulate exactly how. Whether or not you think the pipeline makes sense, Manchin got it through democratic channels: The House and Senate included it in a bill that passed both chambers by wide margins. But one thing the protest brought to the surface is that corners of the left have a different definition of democracy. Or, to put it more sharply, they dont fully believe in democracy. How did he win this? Its because he takes the most money from fossil fuel corporations, complained Climate Defiance activist Rylee Haught. 23 days I hunger striked because we did everything were supposed to. I knocked on thousands of doors, I spoke to hundreds of West Virginians! I did everything I was supposed to. The confusion revealed by these remarks is that she believes she is not only entitled to engage in attempts at political persuasion but also to win. The fossil-fuel infrastructure issue has brought this belief to the surface. A large segment of the climate movement has settled on blocking fossil-fuel infrastructure as their central strategy for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. They have calculated that their best route to achieving this objective is to mobilize groups of activists, which they present as representing the authentic beliefs of local communities, especially minorities. Those activists can then mobilize to attend local community hearings and block fossil-fuel infrastructure. One problem with this strategy is that the activists do not actually speak for the communities they claim to represent. They represent the beliefs of their funders. This is a dynamic progressives had an easy time understanding when the grassroots activists were the tea party and their funders, say, the Koch brothers. In Alaska, climate groups pushed hard to block the Willow oil project, but it had the backing of the Alaska Federation of Natives, the state chapter of the AFL-CIO and other unions, and Representative Mary Peltola. The Washington Post has a report from Louisiana, where climate activists are opposing a new project to build new carbon-capture facilities. The project has support from the states governor, John Bel Edwards, and from Leroy Sullivan, the mayor of the town where the new project will be located. But Sullivans support, the Post notes, puts him at odds with national leaders of the environmental justice movement. A second problem with the fetishization of community input is that it grants power to people with the strongest beliefs, rather than simply assume elected officials can best represent their constituents. Tea-party protesters swarmed town-hall meetings and denounced health-care reform in 2009, but liberals rightly chose not to treat community input as an important element of the democratic process. There is a strain of thought on the left that holds that activists ipso facto represent the people. Democracy, therefore, means deferring to the wishes of the activists, even if elected officials chosen by the people dont agree with their position. Matthew Yglesias, in a column arguing that community meetings dominated by a tiny number of interested residents and professional activists are not more democratic than decisions by elected legislatures, notes that progressives have a favorite slogan that appears at nearly any protest: This is what democracy looks like! I think this line is useful to activists because it has two quite different meanings that appeal to different strands of progressives. To a liberal, it simply means that democracy entails a right to public protest. A protest is what democracy looks like because democracies include rights like freedom of speech. To a radical, however, a protest is not merely a protected right within democracy but its highest form. Real democracy is advanced through direct action, which can involve either peaceful or violent protest. The protesters represent a vanguard of the people, and their organized activation of suppressed grievances represents the culmination of democracy. Protest cannot merely supplement elected representation but supplant it. I am not trying to suggest the climate-justice movement is inherently undemocratic. But there are distinct elements of undemocratic thought mingled into it. Democracy is not the same thing as your side getting its way. The tea-party era featured a lot of rhetoric from passionate activists convinced that democracy required their side to win because they represented some form of the public will that superseded the election results. Sometimes, elected representatives defying angry activists who claim to represent the people, and shoving a law down their throats, is what democracy looks like. The volume of gas being transited between Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan under a groundbreaking three-way swap agreement signed in late 2021 is expected to grow by 70 percent this year according to Majid Chegeni, the head of Iran's national gas company, NIGC. Chegeni did not mention the volume of gas he expected to be transited to Turkmenistan this year but the original agreement allowed for between 1.5 and 2 billion cubic meters a year, a volume which numerous subsequent reports said would quickly be increased. In mid-2022 Iranian oil minister Javad Owji announced the three partners had reached an agreement to double the volume of gas swaps. While it's unclear whether that agreement has been formally adopted, Iran has been pushing ahead with its own plans to expand its gas transit infrastructure with the apparent aim of boosting its capacity to transit gas between its neighbors. Earlier this year Iranian officials confirmed that work on expanding its Rasht-Chelavand gas pipeline would be completed by the middle of this year, boosting the volume of gas it can transit to Azerbaijan to an annual 5.5 billion cubic meters. Last month Owji announced Iran was planning to sign a new gas import agreement with Turkmenistan for up to 10 billion cubic meters a year. It is unclear how much of that gas would be transited to Azerbaijan but what is certain is that Azerbaijan needs extra volumes of gas both to meet its own growing domestic demand and to meet its export commitments to Georgia, Turkey and Europe. In July last year Baku signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU to double the volume of gas it sends to Europe through the Southern Gas Corridor to an annual 20 billion cubic meters by 2027, to help compensate for the loss of Russian gas. The first stage of that agreement will see Azerbaijani gas exports reach 11.5 billion cubic meters this year, up from an annual 10 billion cubic meters prior to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Work is ongoing to increase production from Azerbaijan's giant Shah Deniz Caspian gas field though field operator BP has indicated that this field alone cannot supply all the gas required. Azerbaijan does have other gas reserves. In January, BP announced it had started exploratory drilling into "deep" gas reservoirs believed to lie below the Shah Deniz gas field and Azerbaijan's main oil field, Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG). However, even if the drilling confirms commercially extractable reserves it is unlikely that production could begin before 2027. Earlier this month France's Total Energies announced that it would start gas production from its Absheron field by the end of this year. However initial production will be only an annual 1.5 billion cubic meters, which has already been earmarked for Azerbaijan's growing domestic gas market, where demand grew by 18 percent between 2018 and 2021. A second phase of production is planned but again the extra gas is likely to go to Azerbaijan's domestic market, meaning Baku will still have to look to its swap deal with Iran and Turkmenistan to meet all its commitments. Pipe dreams Increasing the gas swaps would help boost the volume of Azerbaijani gas available for export to Europe, and would in a way realize the 25-year-old dream of bringing gas from Turkmenistan to Europe, albeit by proxy. Since the late 1990s a series of projects have tried and failed to develop pipelines to bring Turkmen gas to Europe. Unsurprisingly Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year has rekindled interest in Turkmenistan as a source of gas. Boasting the fourth or fifth largest gas reserves on the planet, between 9.8 and 19 billion cubic meters according to various estimates, on paper at least Turkmenistan is more than able to replace the annual 174 billion cubic meters of gas that Russia was exporting annually to Europe prior to the Ukraine war. Or at least it could if a pipeline was developed to transport that gas from the landlocked Central Asian republic, across the Caspian Sea, and through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey to Europe. ADVERTISEMENT However, increasing the volume of gas reaching Azerbaijan through the swap agreement and enabling Baku to meet its commitments will likely serve to make such a pipeline harder to realize. Azerbaijani officials have pointed out repeatedly that the existing Southern Gas Corridor pipelines only have the capacity for an annual 20 billion cubic meters of gas, which Baku intends to supply itself. Speaking at a conference in early May Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that Azerbaijan would support the development of a pipeline to carry Turkmen gas to Europe. "We can provide technical assistance, we can provide our pipe-laying barges and we can provide access to our Sangachal terminal," he said, adding that what Baku would not do was provide financing for any new pipelines. "We cannot initiate this project, and we cannot finance it. We can only be a transit country and will definitely be a very fair transit partner," he promised, pointing out the need for the owners of the Turkmen gas and the market players to the west to put together a consortium to raise the necessary money. By David OByrne via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via Jamestown.org In April 2023, the first trilateral political consultation between the deputy foreign ministers of Iran, India and Armenia was held in Yerevan (Shargh Daily, April 21). The three countries focused primarily on economic issues and regional communication channels, and the sides agreed to continue consultations in the trilateral format (Mfa.am, April 20). The formation of this tripartite format has a number of key strategic implications that could disrupt the geopolitical balance in the South Caucasus. First, growing cooperation between Iran, Armenia and India can be seen as part of Tehrans effort to restore the balance of power in the South Caucasus after the Second Karabakh War. This grouping stands in contrast to the trilateral cooperation between Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan, with the Three Brothers military exercises in September 2021 being one of its more significant manifestations (Aa.com.tr, September 9, 2021). However, it is unlikely that, in the near future, the scope of Iranian-Armenian-Indian cooperation will extend from economic, commercial and transit interests to the military arena, including joint exercises. It seems that the nature of this particular tripartite cooperation will, instead of hard balancing (military-security), focus efforts on soft balancing (economic-transit) against the tripartite ties of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Pakistan in the South Caucasus. Second, though Azerbaijan and Armenia are involved in both the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Persian GulfBlack Sea International Transport and Transit Corridor projects, due to tensions between Baku and Yerevan, in practice, Azerbaijan is more active in the INSTC, while Armenia plays an essential role in the Persian GulfBlack Sea Corridor. Nevertheless, due to changes in the balance of power in the South Caucasus following the Second Karabakh War and Russias war against Ukraine, Armenia (Mfa.am, January 12) and India (Economic Times, March 10) are planning to be more active in both corridors. In such circumstances, Iran is trying to emphasize the common needs and approaches of Armenia and India regarding the Persian GulfBlack Sea Corridor, in parallel to the development of transit and trade along the INSTC (Valdaiclub.com, March 30). Tehran was chosen as the trustee of the agreement, responsible for coordinating demands and finalizing documents for the national parliaments of the other five countries involved in the Persian GulfBlack Sea Corridor (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bulgaria and Greece). Iran has played a central role in establishing transit routes to the Black Sea region since 2016. As a result, Iran hopes to establish a transit balance in the South Caucasus as part of its balanced foreign policy approach, specifically using the INSTC and the Persian GulfBlack Sea Corridor to further cement its influence in the region. Third, the Port of Chabahar, in the Sistan and Baluchistan province of southeastern Iran, represents the transit and commercial bridge between Iran, India and Armenia. This facility is of great importance as it is the only Iranian port with direct access to the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, within the framework of the tripartite agreement signed by Iran, India and Afghanistan on May 24, 2016, the successful efforts of the Indian lobby have exempted the Chabahar transit project from unilateral US sanctions (Valdaiclub.com, May 19). For its part, Uzbekistan also recently joined this agreement. Parallel to the participation of Russia and China in the Chabahar Port project, including investments in both the Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari parts of the Chabahar Free TradeIndustrial Zone (FTZ), which have grown since the war in Ukraine began, Armenia has also shown more attention to this Iranian port project in further developing transit and trade with India. In this regard, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan set up an inter-agency task force to launch a new international cargo transportation route and become an operator at Irans Chabahar Port (Tasnim News Agency, May 8). Fourth, impeding the simultaneous development of a transit corridor through Armenia can also be considered as part of Tehrans targeted effort to strengthen the Iranian presence in the Syunik province of southern Armenia, which shares a border with Iran. The passage in question is the Zangezur Corridor as promoted by Azerbaijan, which, if established, could hamper Iranian involvement in regional transit (see EDM, October 14, 2022). In this regard, in parallel with holding two large military exercisesFatehan (Conquerors) of Kheibar in October 2021 and the Eghtedar (Power) in October 2022Iran opened a consulate in Kapan, the capital of Syunik province (Armenpress, October 21, 2022). Additionally, on May 25, Iran announced the establishment of the joint free trade zone of Aras (Iran) and Meghri (in Syunik province) (Fars News Agency, May 25). Therefore, deepening trade and commerce ties between India, Iran and Armenia, as opposed to the Zangezur Corridor, will focus on developing the INSTC and the Persian GulfBlack Sea Corridor, as both will ostensibly pass through Syunik province. In the meantime, though Moscow does not share Tehrans concerns about the Zangezur Corridor, Russia is still not in favor of further weakening Armenia and disrupting the balance of power in favor of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Moscows recent decision to open a consulate in Kapan could signal a step toward Russias reengagement with the South Caucasus (Panarmenian.net, May 29). Fifth, despite efforts to improve development, the Iranian-Azerbaijani-Russian land routes within the INSTC have high-quality infrastructure in comparison with the Armenian routes. Yerevans inadequate transit infrastructure and the still incomplete North-South highway are the main problems in this regard. The 400-kilometer road from Yerevan to Meghri on the Iranian border passes through mountainous areas and is very narrow, making it difficult and slow to pass through for trucks, especially during the winter. Furthermore, the lack of a rail connection between Iran and Armenia has reduced the volume and speed of goods transferred along this portion of the corridor. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, the passage running through Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia (Astara-Baku-Dagestan) will remain the INSTCs primary route. At the moment, on average, a truck crosses the shared border of Iran and Azerbaijan every seven minutes. However, moving forward, Iran will likely try to transfer at least part of this traffic to the Armenian-Georgian land route and the Iranian-Russian sea route in the Caspian (Valdaiclub.com, February 17). Sixth and final, while Indias increased participation in the INSTC has helped increase the countrys role in three main routes of this corridorthe western route (Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran-India), Trans-Caspian route (Russia-Iran-India) and eastern route (RussiaCentral AsiaIranIndia), New Delhis increased use of the INSTCs other route (Iran-Armenia) and the Persian GulfBlack Sea Corridor will elevate its transit and commercial role in the South Caucasus and Black Sea regiontwo regions where Indias competitors, namely China and Pakistan, have taken important steps in recent years to strengthen their position. ADVERTISEMENT Vali Kaleji More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The 55th Wing officially welcomed its new leader during a change of command ceremony Thursday at Offutt Air Force Base. Col. Mark Howard accepted the guidon from Col. Kristen Thompson during a tradition-filled ceremony. When selecting a wing commander, I look for leaders who have demonstrated the ability to build teams, communicate their vision and continually seek a connection with the airmen who are entrusted to their command and continually seek greater understanding and deeper insight on the mission they are charged to lead, said Lt. Gen. Kevin B. Kennedy, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) commander, who served as presiding official. Col. Howard is that airman. The new Warhawk 01 has spent much of his career serving across the Fightin Fifty-Fifth. He is a master RC-135V/W Rivet Joint combat systems officer with more than 2,400 flying hours, including 940 combat and 140 combat support hours. I am incredibly honored and humbled to serve this elite group of warfighters, Howard said. He essentially moves just a few feet down a short hallway from one office to another as he has served as the wings vice commander since July 2021. Your key characteristic is that you never give up on each other," Howard said, addressing the unit for the first time as commander. Our new systems require new tactics, techniques and procedures and we are excited and more than ready for that challenge, he continued. Our courage and resolve will be tested, but we are in this together and we have what it takes. Kennedy awarded Thompson the Legion of Merit during the ceremony. She led the wing through the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, a runway replacement project and ongoing flood recovery while also establishing an A-Staff and Lead Wing operations simultaneously. Leading a wing of the scale, scope and complexity of the 55th is no small task, Kennedy said. Thanks to your vision and dedication, you empowered your team and elevated them to unprecedented achievements. Thompson departs the wing for New York, where she will serve as a military fellow to the Council on Foreign Relations. The Air Force chief of staff nominated Thompson for the position and an internal selection panel, composed of former secretary of defense, former deputy secretary of defense and retired general officers, selected her. The sun never sets on this incredible fighting force, she said. We foster a culture here that captures our airmen and nations imagination, our civilian leaderships trust, and our services brilliance." Thompson concluded: Commanding this wing has been the honor of a lifetime and Im forever grateful. As the wing transitions to its new leader, Kennedy said the United States is approaching a decisive decade that will set the course of the nations security for the next century, and the 55th Wing will play a key role going forward. "Your knowledge and expertise will remain in high demand," Kennedy said. "I am incredibly proud of your accomplishments under Col. Thompson and look forward to seeing what you will achieve with Col. Howard in the seat. High-tech manufacturers are eyeing Nebraska for a potential project that could bring thousands of jobs and a new industry to the state. With billions in federal aid up for grabs, the semiconductor industry has renewed resources to expand in the United States. And with recently-passed state legislation, Nebraska is beckoning manufacturers to the Cornhusker State. A group of semiconductor companies are considering sites in Fremont and the Omaha area for a project called Silicon Heartland, which would develop a technology cluster of manufacturers that project leaders say would benefit from working with one another. Semiconductors, sometimes referred to as microchips, are important pieces of tech that serve as a foundation for computers and other electronic devices. Congress last year passed a $280 billion package to boost the semiconductor industry and scientific research in a bid to create more high-tech jobs in the United States and help it better compete with international rivals, namely China. Recently passed state legislation offers incentives for semiconductor firms looking to build in Nebraska. The state has also allocated $20 million for training programs related to the semiconductor industry. Though Nebraska is being considered for the Silicon Heartland project, the group is still not set on a location, said Trent Overhue, chairman of the board of directors of Nantero Inc., which is one of several companies behind Silicon Heartland. Right now Nebraska is definitely in the running, but we are looking at several different side options, Overhue said. Most likely, wed look at multiple areas in the metro area, Fremont being one of them. If the project moves forward, Overhue estimates between 1,500 and 3,000 jobs could be created through Silicon Heartland. I would think it would change the trajectory of the state, Overhue said. Meaning that this would be kind of the foundation of something that could grow into truly one of the largest industries of this state relatively quickly. The Nebraska native listed North Omaha and Bellevue as potential sites but said its too early to disclose any specific locations. I dont think we would build everything in one community, Overhue said. Some of these projects are very large so we would spread them out regionally where theres more resources. Among the multiple factors to consider are utility constraints. Silicon Heartland would contribute to an unprecedented spike in energy generation that the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) is expecting to see in coming years. In 2022, the industrial class made up about 36% of the utility providers energy sales. That share is expected to rise to 57% by 2032. Overhue said the group has been in talks with OPPD. While possible sites in the Omaha metro havent been disclosed, the projects potential location in Fremont is more concrete. In 2021, state legislation was passed to allow for the creation of an inland port authority, which gives certain bureaucratic powers to a designated district such as funding and site development, and is meant to develop large industrial sites and attract new business to the state. Earlier this year, a 1,500-acre site near Fremont was designated as one of the first Municipal Inland Port Authorities in Nebraska. The inland port is still in its infancy stages of development, and preparing land, utilities and securing projects for a potential semiconductor cluster could take years, former Gov. Dave Heineman, chairperson of the Fremont Municipal Inland Port Authority Board, told the Fremont Tribune. Every piece of the Silicon Heartland project, whether in Fremont or Omaha, will be subject to approval from the involvement from the federal CHIPS act, Overhue said. The CHIPS act was signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022. The bill provides more than $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry as well as a 25% tax credit for those companies that invest in chip plants in the United States. Overhue said the Silicon Heartland group expects to apply for the federal program sometime this summer, and predicts awards will be made in late 2023 or early 2024. This report includes material from the Associated Press. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023 Nebraska Medicine is preparing to open a fourth building at its Village Pointe location, which will include the addition of several new specialty care services. The newest building at the Village Pointe Health Center, situated on the east side of the campus at 17405 Burke St., will allow for the addition of heart and vascular, orthopedics, pre-surgical screening and pulmonology as well as an on-site outpatient pharmacy. The location also will feature expanded dermatology offerings. The 90,000-square-foot facility will officially begin opening to patients July 5 with the launch of the on-site pharmacy. Additional specialty clinics will follow over the ensuing weeks, including orthopedics on July 10 and heart and vascular on July 17. Were excited to expand the services we provide here at Village Pointe, said Dr. James Linder, Nebraska Medicines CEO. He noted that the health systems clinical team was heavily involved in planning the facility. Tom Macy, Nebraska Medicines vice president of operations, said the new building completes the health systems campus and allows it to continue to grow its services in the area. The total cost of the building is $81 million. Noddle Companies developed and constructed the building in partnership with Nebraska Medicine. At the end of a lease period, which was not immediately available, ownership will transition to Nebraska Medicine. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023 Peetz Koerwitz & Lafleur, PC LLO The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) announced three Nebraskans elected to serve the organization during the College's 2023 Annual Business Meeting held in New Orleans. Jeffery Peetz is one of twelve new Regents elected to the college's Board of Regents. Nominees are elected for an initial three-year term ending in 2026. ACTEC's Board of Regents is he governing body of the College and consists of thirty-five members. Jeff is past Regional Chair for the Heart of America region and completed a five year term as Nebraska State Chair. He is a partner in the firm of Peetz, Koerwitz & Lafleur in Lincoln, Nebraska. Daniel Wintz was appointed Nebraska State Chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) by the regents of the college. As state chair, Wintz will lead the state membership in nomination of new members, plan state meetings, represent the state on regional matters, direct communication with state ACTEC members and recommend committee appointments. Dan is a director in the firm of Gross, Welch, Marks & Clare in Omaha, Nebraska. Victoria J. Haneman was elected as an ACTEC Academic Fellow by the Board of Regents. Professor Haneman is the Frank J. Kellegher Professor of Trusts & Estates at Creighton University School of Law. She teaches courses addressing various aspects of taxation, wills, trusts and estates, and business associations. Victoria is a regularly engaged in the area of trusts and estates and lives in Omaha, Nebraska. About the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): Established in 1949, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a national, nonprofit association of approximately 2,400 lawyers and law professors from throughout the United States and abroad. ACTEC members (Fellows) are peer-elected on the basis of professional reputation and expertise in the preparation of wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, trust administration and related practice area. The College's mission includes the improvement and reform of probate, trust and tax laws and procedures and professional practice standards. UNICO Group Grows Omaha Office with Key Hires UNICO Group, a client-focused insurance broker, is pleased to announce the addition of Austin Beber and Cody Roach, Risk Advisors and Jackie Damon, Account Manager to UNICO's Omaha team. "We are excited to add Austin, Cody and Jackie to our team," said Shane Ideus, Executive Vice President. "Their experience and dedication to their clients aligns perfectly with our core values and mission. We are confident that they will contribute to our continued growth and success in the Omaha market." Austin Beber joins UNICO with over 10 years of insurance experience. He began his career with Zurich and most recently served as a Regional Commercial Sales Leader and Commercial Lines Producer at Universal Group Insurance in Omaha. Austin can be reached at abeber@unicogroup.com "Throughout my time in the industry, I have come to admire the reputation that comes along with the UNICO name," stated Beber. "When I knew it was time for me to find a new organization to call home, UNICO's ability to offer a full suite of services to business owners made them the top pick." Cody Roach has spent the last 3 years building a solid reputation by creating strategic property and casualty insurance solutions. His prior experience as a Safety Director at Nebraska Beef enabled him to transition seamlessly into the insurance industry. Cody can be reached at croach@unicogroup.com Jackie Damon brings over 10 years of experience supporting clients in the auto dealer and banking industries. Previously, Jackie served as Customer Insurance Advocate where she successfully managed a large book of business. Jackie can be reached at jdamon@unicogroup.com This dynamic team will be concentrating on building tailored insurance solutions within the auto dealer, towing and auto after-market industries across Nebraska. About UNICO Group UNICO Group is a client-focused insurance broker headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our consultative and relational approach develops customized solutions for clients all around the nation. For more information, call 402.434.7200 or visit unicogroup.com. In the good ol summertime, Omahans of yesteryear strolled through shady lanes and groves. When it got really hot, it was time for a dip and some boyish hijinks in one of the many swimming holes. Only the old timers can recall Omaha as she was, surrounded with a network of riverlets or streams flowing in every direction, here and there, joining forces and continuing on as one larger and more beautiful stream, then separating again each pursuing its own course, later to reunite again, thus forming small islands and peninsulas, H.D. Rhoades of the Omaha Daily News wrote in 1912. These streams receive their supply of water from springs bubbling from the ground and frequent intervals along the bed of the creek. Along some of the streams the springs were so frequent and the flow so great that quite a depth of water was produced. In and such places as these the Omaha boys of those days found their old swimming hole. Rhodes said early Omaha was encircled by woods. On the south side, those extended from the Missouri River to Hanscom Park, from St. Marys Avenue to Syndicate (Spring Lake) Park. From Hanscom Park the woods continued on the west side to Redicks Grove (todays Dewey Park), Lowes Grove (todays Bemis Park) and the area east of Prospect Hill Cemetery to the Saratoga district near 24th and Ames before turning east to the bluff. From there one could travel in the shade of the woods, with the beautiful view of the Missouri River, until the old north Omaha bridge was reached at 16th and Izard Streets, thus again arriving in the city and completing the circuit, he wrote. It was farmers groves such as Redicks where the city went for big picnics and gatherings. Hanscom Park didnt exist until 1872. Syndicate Park came with the founding of South Omaha in 1884. Elmwood, Fontenelle and Miller Parks were acquired in the 1890s. John L. Redick bought his farm (Farnam to Leavenworth, 27th to 33rd Streets) in 1861 from Thomas Weatherwax, who was headed to the Civil War. Redick dammed the small creek now covered by Turner Boulevard for a swimming hole for his boys. Over the years, Redick added a bathhouse, pavilion, swings, seats and arbors to his 35-acre maple grove. Part of the grove became a city playground in 1909 the start of Dewey Park. Redicks son William sold off the last of the 120 acres for a subdivision in 1915. Saunders Grove on the north side of Harney Street was 15 acres owned by former Gov. Alvin Saunders. It was platted into lots in 1877. Lowes Grove was part of the farm of the citys first mayor, Jesse Lowe. Cuming Street runs through the property. Bemis Park was carved from the northern part of the original 640 acres. Paddocks Grove was southeast of 96th Street and West Center Road. Joseph Paddock, who claimed the land in 1857, had timber on 240 of the 340 acres. The grove had a role in the Eddie Cudahy kidnapping story of 1900. Meat packer Edward Cudahy left the $25,000 ransom payment in the woods for his sons safe return. Researching Omahas swimming holes was not a deep dive. Bond P. Geddes of the Omaha Daily News covered the subject thoroughly in 1910. Forty years ago, Omaha was dotted with little ponds, delightful, isolated spots with no policeman to spoil the fun, Geddes wrote. In those days, say grizzled and veteran swimming champs of Omaha, a boy didnt have to walk miles to get a swim and then take a chance at Carter Lake getting a foot cut on a submerged bottle. Neither did the boys of that generation have to rent bathing suits at two bits each and splash around a popular resort with women bathers. The lake in Heartland of America Park at the RiverFront occupies the site where Geddes said was the most popular swimming hole and the one that stayed around the longest: the gas pond. It was behind the Union Pacific headquarters at Eighth and Farnam Streets. Every kid in town, 40 or 50 years ago, went swimming there, an old-timer recalled. It was the most popular and safe place near Omaha and (was) a fine skating pond in winter sheltered on the north, south and west from the wind. On the citys south side were ponds at 16th and William Streets; 25th Street and Poppleton Avenue (The Summit), popular for Sheelytown and Hanscom Park boys; Greens Holler east of Riverview Park in what became the Gibson district; 30th and Y Streets near Jetters Brewery; 15th and O Streets, where several icy cold springs made cramps a danger; and the cold spring-fed lake at Syndicate Park that for a time was enclosed by a high-board fence and guarded by security. In the fashionable West Farnam (Blackstone/Joslyn Castle) district, Geddes wrote the wealthy boys in natures garb enjoyed swimming in ponds including Mercers Lake at 42nd and Cuming Streets, 28th and Davenport Streets (a large raft was used for years until it disintegrated, Geddes wrote), and on Lowe Avenue (40th Street) between St. Cecilia Cathedral and Joslyn Castle. At 36th and Davenport was a pond known as the 30-footer for its depth. Old North Omaha Creek provided swimming holes at 25th Street and Patrick Avenue and 25th and Cuming Streets at the Military Bridge. Closer to downtown, ponds were at 19th and Harney Streets, 17th Street and St. Marys Avenue and the southwest corner of 16th and Jackson Streets. You ask, where were the girls to swim? This was the Victorian era. Certainly proper girls werent going to have their proper mothers allow them to join the boys unsupervised. Only a handful of Omaha women knew how to swim before the 1889 opening of C.F. Catlins Natatorium and swim school at 1313 Howard St. Within a year, 150 girls and women were swimming in the 24-by-85-foot cement basin that sloped from 30 inches to 9 feet deep. Ladies swam in the morning, under the tutelage of Ethel Esterbrook from Chicago and B.B. Coburn from St. Louis. Afternoons were for the men. Swimming finally became co-ed in the 1890s with the advent of the outdoor resorts Lake Manawa, Courtland Beach at Cutoff (Carter Lake), Krug Park and Seymour Lake notably. No longer were the old swimming holes, like the groves that gave way to modern parks, needed to provide summer relief to the city. The lazy, crazy, hazy days had changed. A 5-year-old boy was taken to an Omaha hospital with life-saving measures in progress Sunday after being found down in the pool at the Fun-Plex Waterpark. Medical personnel from the Omaha Fire Department were called to the pool at 7003 Q St. in Ralston about 2:45 p.m., according to a Douglas County 911 dispatcher. Radio traffic indicated that a 5-year-old boy was unconscious when he was pulled from the pool. CPR was in progress when medics arrived. The boy was taken by ambulance to the Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy and then transported to Childrens Hospital & Medical Center. A person who identified himself on the phone as a Fun-Plex manager said the pool had been closed for the day following the incident. Fun-Plex is the largest waterpark in Nebraska, according to its website. Fun-Plex began as The Kart Ranch in 1979 with just a go-kart track. The article on partisan division in the June 19, 2023, Omaha World-Herald has prompted my response. Having served in the Legislature in 2015-2018 with Sens. John McCollister and Laura Ebke, and currently serving for a second term, I feel I can provide some insight. The legislative process by its very nature is where thoughts, ideas and ideologies collide. We are a diverse collection of individuals of various cultural values, age, gender, race, economic status, military experience and enough other differences to assure no two of us is exactly the same. With the conclusion of the 2022 Legislative session, three senators from my 2015 class were term-limited out after having served eight years honorably. These three senators might be considered moderate or at least more moderate than their successors. A few votes can change the dynamics of any legislative group. With new players even of the same party comes new values and commitments. As a nation, we are in the midst of a cultural divide of values and groups with a fierce intent never to surrender. The 108th Nebraska Legislature (2023), unlike any previous Legislature, faced abortion, gender identity, constitutional carry, school choice, significantly expanded school funding, on-going challenges in health care, taxes, finding workers and affordable housing. Any one of these issues is sufficient to destroy a family over a weekend dinner. Did we have difference of opinion? Yes! Did we have moments in committees and in the Chamber where we talked, sometimes agreed, while often times not only on occasion did an issue become heated but never personal. But remember, the process is to make laws to govern all of us. I personally spent time after hours having a beer with members of the other party. They invited, and I said yes. We created relationships, and I value these now friends, yet we are most likely not to agree on ideology going forward. While the 108th Legislature (2023) was contentious given legitimate filibusters, balcony outbursts and loud protest in the Capitol, we welcomed numerous fourth-graders, musical groups and adult visitors from across the state and country. Partisan division? Yes, more than last session because we had more highly volatile issues we elected to address. Can we do better as individuals and a legislative body? Yes, but that is life and will always be a challenge. Concerns weve expressed regarding the numerous omnibus bills some called Christmas trees I call them trains. Speaker Arch rightfully sought to have omnibus bills be consent bills bills that come out of their respective committee with unanimous support. Speaker John Arch drew a hard hand but he, along with Brandon Metzler, the new Clerk of the Legislature, exhibited stead hands and stayed above the fray in a successful effort to preserve the institution. I often quoted to others and to myself the words Secretary Madeline Albright spoke to President Barack Obama shortly after his election, remember you wanted this job. Spread the love Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, has been criticized over a photograph she posted from a leadership summit in Paris, France. Okonjo-Iweala had posted a photograph where President Bola Tinubu was alleged to have been cropped out. Tinubu attended the summit for A New Global Financing Pact convened by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. The summit afforded Tinubu the opportunity of projecting, on a global stage, his advocacy for widening the fiscal space, economic justice for Africa as the world accelerates the pace of energy transition, and the urgency of addressing the pressing issues of poverty and climate change. However, the photograph posted by Okonjo-Iweala has generated controversy on social media. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adamu Garba, criticized Okonjo-Iweala for posting the photograph. Garba said the former Nigerian Minister of Finance cant spite at Tinubu with such a photograph. Taking to their Twitter handles, some Nigerians wrote. READ ALSO: AIIB appoints Okonjo Iweala Advisory Board member Garba: If she likes, let her not acknowledge or recognize the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The same Nigeria that did everything for her to become who she is today, the leader of the same party, APC, which gave her the wherewithal to get her current office as DG of WTO. If doing so is to spite Tinubu as a person, she should know that Tinubu is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Whoever spites at him has done so against the government and the people of Nigeria. And we noted that. Indeed, rebellion is the greatest of all sins. Advertisement @LydiaTeeanaJaja: Wow so she literally cropped out the part President Tinubu was showing. God cannot be mocked and thats why Peter Obi can never be President of Nigeria. The Igbos will learn the hard way. @jadesolar_01: This is Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who became the DG of WTO with the support of the APC administration, today she went for a summit in France and intentionally cropped out President Tinubu from all her pictures, the south Easterners are the most dangerous people to share country with. Iya agbaya like you, the hatred all of you have for south west will end up consuming you, whether you like it or not Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is your president for the next 8 years, and as far as Nigeria is concerned, no Igbo man will ever become the president of this great Nation. Advertisement The demolition exercise ongoing in Kano State by the newly sworn-in Governor of Kano State, Alh Abba Yusuf have suffered a setback. This is following a court order from a High Court in Kano halting the continued demolition exercise. The order came as a result f aggrieved residents of Kano who sought relief from the Courts. The residents of Kano had registered their protest against the indiscriminate demolitions of buildings belonging to private citizens and of public monuments. But the Kano State government ignored the protests. See Court order below. Related Advertisement Nigerian actor and movie director, Daniel Effiong, has revealed how his father, Colonel Moses Effiong, escaped execution and life jail term over a coup. Daniel disclosed this in an interview with media personality, Nancy Isime on The Nancy Isime Show shared on Saturday night. During the interview, the actor asked how he managed their familys challenges and still achieved his best in his career. He responded, I was born into a military family in Jaji, Kaduna and there was a coup to overthrow the then government of Ibrahim Babangida. A neighbour very close to us who is part of the mastermind of the coup wanted my dad to go down with him. Few minutes for them to be shot and killed after they were all caught, an officer walked up and called out three officers including my dad from a list to be set apart and committed to life imprisonment. My father was in prison for a long, long time. And the one of the things IBB did was to pardon my father just before he left, but he didnt make it official. So although my father was released in 1993, he lived like a pariar. No one wanted to touch him, no one was sure about him until 2020 when the government of Muhammadu Buhari pardoned him officially. And his rank and entitlement were restored. And that backlog of salaries, pension were now paid to him. After three years of being in prison, my mum was traveling to Benin. On her way to visit my dad at the Kano central prison, she had an accident and she died. Of course that broke my fathers heart and I lived through all of that. In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that Popular Nollywood actress, Ini Edo says she regretted getting married. She stated this in an exclusive interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, which he posted on his official Instagram handle on Saturday. Related Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Sunday, maintained that the suspension of council chairmen and their councilors stands despite threats not to leave their offices. Alia, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo in a statement, expressed shock that the suspended chairmen were acting as if they had political immunity. The governor said he had no knowledge of the court judgement being brandished by the suspended council chairmen. The states 23 council chairmen had on Saturday, dared the state government to continue in office, not minding their indefinite suspension. Addressing journalists on Saturday at the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat, the state chairman of the Association of Local Government, Mike Uba, described their suspension as illegal and vowed not to heed the directive. However, in his reaction to the threat, the governor said he was surprised that the chairmen had chosen to react this way and insisted that the chairmen had only been suspended from office, to pave the way for a seamless investigation, not sacked. According to the statement, the media aide said that the governor acted on the correspondence from the State Assembly that recommended the suspension of the council chairmen, pending when they will complete their investigations into cases of corruption alleged to have been committed by them. The governor denied knowledge of any court judgement, adding, Even if there is any, it is merely speculative, especially that a cause of action has not arisen as at the time the chairmen are talking about a court order or judgement. The governor is a man who obeys the law; he will never do anything to breach a court order. So, even if there exists a court order not to sack council chairmen, at least there is none barring anyone from investigating them. But are they insulated from appropriate sanctions by the extant constitutional provisions? They should come to equity with clean hands, he wondered. He queried further, Perhaps, they may have been misled into assuming that they are entitled to political immunity as elected council chairmen. He urged the council chairmen to be patient, as they will be afforded the opportunity to defend themselves before the House of Assembly committee, stating that those who will not be found guilty of the charges will be reinstated, insisting that they remain suspended from office pending the outcome of the investigation In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that the immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle has donated the sum of N200 million to various categories of people in the state for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Related JERUSALEM, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Morocco have agreed to cooperate on climate and environmental issues, Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection said Sunday. Collaborations include climate change, preservation of the marine and coastal environment, conservation of biological diversity and ecosystems, water desalination and management, air quality, environmental technologies and innovations, and regional initiatives, according to a ministry statement. The two countries are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on these issues in July, after a meeting between Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali and Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman in Morocco's capital Rabat on Friday. The document is likely to be signed in New York during the annual United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The agreement will be a basis for environment and climate cooperation between research institutes, entrepreneurs, and private and public entities, alongside governmental and local environmental organizations in Morocco and Israel, according to the statement. Spread the love As an opening statement, it must be put out strongly and as a truism that treachery or sabotage is not politics. The dictionary clearly explains that treachery is betrayal of trust. Treachery is violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence. In the extreme, it is treason. Treachery is a word that is reserved for the most despicable breaches of trust. On the other hand, sabotage is deliberate subversion. Someone who sabotages is called a saboteur. Sabotage can only come from within. Only a close ally, friend or partner can sabotage. An enemy cannot sabotage as he never had your trust or confidences. A true friend, partner or ally may feel offended but will never sabotage or betray. Sadly, treachery and betrayal seem to be the most prominent characteristics of politics in Naija. Truth be told, and before going any further, treachery and sabotage are acts of cowardice. They are not acts of bravery and they are not politics either. Give it to Naija politicians, they are a study in the good, the bad and the ugly. In one electoral season, they do a lot of harm to themselves, say unprintable things about each other, scheme and plot evil and even threaten to go on exile if their sworn enemy does not lose the pending election. Believe them at your peril. Most Naija politicians are chameleonic- readily changing colour. Tenacious fidelity is in short supply in Naija politics. It is no longer news that during political campaigns, before the general election is held or shortly after the election is won and lost or in the build up to another election cycle, the same person or persons talking crap and poppycock will jump ship and publicly embrace the same man or woman they had vilified in the most unprintable ways. People no get shameoo. Naija politicians forgive a lot too. They are quick to disagree obviously on selfish grounds. They are also quick to make up or reconcile if their interests are communal against the masses. Talk of partners in crime and not partners in progress. Advertisement Looking at the way Nigerian politicians forgive themselves or pretend at it or embrace those who betrayed or sabotaged them in the past, one may be tempted to think that politicians will make heaven. That is not the case anyway. No sinner will make heaven. At least the Holy Book says so. Naija politicians repent so that you can make heaven! In the recently concluded 2023 Presidential election, almost all the major campaign Spokespersons of the Presidential candidates were political torn coats who had earlier campaigned viciously against the election of the same men they were sweating to sell to Nigerians as the best men for the job. It is called chopping and changing! Gleefully, on national television, radio, social media and during political rallies, these dual faced characters would be struggling to rationalise their current embarassing posture as new convictions. They hide under the cliche that there is no permanent friend in politics but permanent friends. If you cant beat them join them. On the other hand, food is ready politics, is what cynics call it. But there is more to it. Naija politics remains dirty and murky because of lack of ideology or convictions. Politics is indeed a game but it is highly doubtful if it has rules in our clime. How do you explain senior party officers at both national and state levels shamelessly throwing spanners in the works against their party candidates? There is indeed no morality in Naija politics. Naija politics remains a study of the thesis that power is not given, power is taken. All is fair in warfare. Politics is war by other means. In power politics, it is not over until it is over. Hence, you can expect anything including the worst from the Nigerian politcian. 360 degrees turnaround is a given in Naija politics. Those who swore to go on exile will be the first to congratulate the man they vehemently opposed. They are usually the first set of people to be patronised. More often than not, they end up taking over the government they opposed its formation to the detriment of those who stayed strong and supported ab initio. What a paradox! Of a truth, every politician has a price although it would appear that some have no price. It is just in their sly nature not to be reliable to the extent that they sell on credit to an unknown customer. Betrayal and sabotage seem to be the main drivers of politics in Naija. Friends today, enemies tomorrow. It did not start today. It will not end anytime soon. But a new normal is possible! What has come out of all these is, never bank on any political ally or party official, supporter or sponsor in Naija politics. It is in their DNA to play migratory politics without scrupples. Advertisement When pricked by conscience, there will always be countless reasons to explain away drivels and empty breezes. A reconciled enemy is never to be trusted. In the military, those who sabotage or betray are summarily tried and punished. This is because if you forgive a coup plotter, he will never forgive himself. He will keep plotting against the system. That is why coup plotters are summarily executed when they are caught, tried and convicted. Truth is, political mobility is both legal and constitutional. A person is at liberty to defect to another political party. Even within the same political party, a person can change camp or stay away from associating with his or her old allies without sounding like a broken pot. Kiss and tell syndrome is no politics! The idea that there is no permanent friend but permanent interest in politics should serve as a guardrail or restraint to what thngs politicians do or say. If only Nigerian politicians know that they will soon embrace the man or woman they are viciously criticising today, they will keep their campaigns clean. Onu kwufo bu afa madu burukwa ilu. Our politics can afford not to be toxic, venemous and abusive since no one knows tomorrow. Yes, there is no morality in politics but how can one proudly lick his vomit? For how much and for what reasons? Only a conscienceless person will do that and feel no scrupples about it. Their is no moral or ethical lesson to learn from Naija politicians, their politics, politique and politricks. Naija politics remains anywhere belle face, food is ready and Machevellian. Shakespares is quoted to have said that there is honour among thieves. Can there be honour among thieves? The Holy Bible says unequivocally that there is no honor among thieves. The end does not always justify the means. Honour, integrity, trustworthiness and ethical standards remain irreplaceable qualities in politics. Naija politicians repent! A new normal is possible! [unable to retrieve full-text content] An FCT High Court has nullified the election of Omar Tata of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Zaki Federal Constituency in Bauchi state. The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue certificate of return to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jatau Muhammad Auwal, who came second in the elections. The FCT High Court, presided over by Justice Bello Kawu, declared as null and void the publication of the name of Mr Tata of the APC as winner of the seat in Zaki Federal Constituency. The court also ruled that the APC does not have and cannot sponsor any candidate for Zaki Federal Constituency of Bauchi State for 2019 National Assembly Election. The judge further declared that the votes scored by Mr Tata in the election was null and void, then consequently ordered INEC to issue Certificate of Return to the candidate that come second in the election. The court order followed an application filed by the PDP candidate in the election, Mr Auwal, who had challenged the emergence of Mr Tata as the winner of the election. Mr Auwal had told the court that APC did not conduct any valid primary election through which Mr. Tatas name was submitted to INEC as the flag-bearer for the party. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The woman killed her husband A 36-year-old man, Bryan Indimuli has been confirmed dead after being stabbed by his 25-year-old wife, Joy Indeche at their residence in Ikoli Village in Malava Constituency, Kakamega County of Kenya. Father of the deceased, John Indimuli said the incident occurred after his son complained that Indeche tripped over a chair and the ugali (maize porridge eaten in east and central Africa) she was carrying fell on the floor. He said; My son suspected his wife had taken alcohol, hence her wobbly feet, which led to her tripping over and resulting in the fall of the ugali Following her husbands attempt to cane her, Indeche picked a kitchen knife and drove it into his abdomen repeatedly. The lady stabbed her husband multiple times before turning the kitchen knife on herself. She is currently fighting for her life at Kakamega County Referral Hospital, where she was rushed to by their neighbours. Ikoli Assistant Chief Walter Moses Namutali said; Her intestines were ripped out. John Indimuli admitted that his sons marriage was filled with unending conflicts. He told K24TV; One year ago, the two had gone separate ways before reuniting. My son had married Indeche when she had a daughter from a previous relationship. The two would, thereafter, got a son together. Mzee Indimuli, a police officer in Busia County revealed that they buried the deceased on Saturday night, in compliance with the county governments directive on burials during this period of COVID-19 crisis. Lecturers of the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, FECA on Monday kicked against the appointment of Dr. Fadiyimu Akinyemi, as the new Acting Provost of the institution. Bearing placards with various inscriptions, the protesting lecturers who described Fadiyimus appointment as illegal and unconstitutional, faulted the institutions governing council for approving the appointment of Fadiyimu. Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, Dissolve FECA Governing Board Now, Save FECA from Collapse, Call ARCN to Order and Corruption in FECA, FG Probe FECA According to the lecturers, Fadiyimu is not qualified for the post, stressing that he is not the most senior officer in the college. The aggrieved lecturers said the protest would continue until the appointment of Fadiyimu who was appointed last week Friday as the institutions acting provost is reversed. Reacting to the protest against his appointment, Fadiyimu said that, They are bound to be different opinions and views because we have freedom of expression to air our thoughts. But I must tell you that we have other two unions in the college that are not protesting and they are at their duty posts, he said. At least three people have died while some others were injured following a road accident that occured near the Adamawa State capital, Yola. The accident, which occurred towards the Yola end of the Numan-Yola road, involved two Starlet cars, the sort of cars commonly used for commercial intercity transport in Adamawa State, especially on the Numan-Yola road. A survivor of the accident, who is currently receiving treatment at the state Specialist Hospital in Jimeta, told relatives attending to him that the vehicle in which he was travelling crashed into an oncoming car, killing two people in the front and one directly behind the driver. The survivors nephew, Mr Joseph Adanu, who recounted the development to our correspondent on Friday, quoted his uncle as expressing the reservation that the driver was so badly injured, in the accident which occured on Wednesday, that he would be lucky to survive it. There was no information by press time what happened to the occupants of the other car, which was said to have caused the confusion that led to the head-on collision. Mr. Adanu said that, according to the account of his uncle, the other car took too much of the road after overtaking a vehicle in front of him, giving the driver of his own cab no room to avoid the collision. My uncle, who was travelling out, had to return to Yola for medical attention, so he didnt find out how the passengers of the other car were affected, but he said he saw the car and it was badly smashed, Adanu said. The Adamawa Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Husseini Muhammed, confirmed the accident in a telephone interview Friday evening, but could not specify the casualty figure. He said someone came to report the accident after it happened, but that the report got to his office so late that by the time his men arrived the scene of the accident, they were only told by some people around the place that some good Samaritans had done the rescue work, and that his men could therefore not verify the effects of the accident. A long-awaited expansion of the simulation lab at Illinois State Universitys Mennonite College of Nursing is nearing reality, with students expected to start learning there in 2024. University officials on Friday held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the $18 million project, which was approved by ISUs Board of Trustees in May 2021. The 16,000-square-foot expansion will more than double the size of the facility, increasing capacity for a program that university officials have said is in high demand. "For us, it means we're able to educate an additional 400 students," said Dr. Judy Neubrander, dean of Mennonite College of Nursing. "Of course, our state and our nation needs additional nurses, so this is a great opportunity for us to be a part of helping alleviate the nursing shortage." Among the plans previously announced by the university: a multipurpose area with a 60-seat classroom, a technology room for virtual reality programming, hospital simulation space, a skills lab and new office space for the college. Funding for the project comes from the university, the federal government and private donors. "It gives us an opportunity to bring in more nursing students, and it's been a dream," Neubrander said. "We have a 104-year history of nursing excellence, so we want to continue that and continue to grow." MANILA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A police officer was killed and 13 others, plus a government soldier, were wounded during a clash with armed men in the southern Philippines, Armed Forces of the Philippine Chief of Staff Andres Centino said on Sunday. Centino said an armed man was also killed in the clash. The fighting broke out on Saturday morning when a team of policemen and soldiers went to a local politician's house in Maimbung town in Sulu province to serve arrest and search warrants against the politician, Centino said. The warrants were in connection with charges of murder, frustrated murder, and illegal possession of firearms against the former town official allegedly linked with criminal groups in the area, he said. The politician's armed men opened fire at the team, resulting in nearly five-hour fighting, the military chief added. The fighting stopped before noon after the politician and his armed men escaped. Centino said a pursuit operation is underway to find the politician and his men. How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago June 25, 1923: The Lincoln City Council is expected to pass ordinances providing for 24 blocks of pavement to be laid this season. Another project also being discussed would connect up the hard road coming into Lincoln from the north. How this connection will be routed has not been determined. 75 years ago June 25, 1948: Normal businessmen turned handymen on Thursday to build a bandstand for the town's first band concert Friday. Temporary carpenters were Paul Rice, Less Cornick and Fred Fissell. The stand and bleachers have been erected just east of the Illinois Central tracks on Beaufort Street. 50 years ago June 25, 1973: All members of the wedding party were on skates Saturday when Georgianna T. Brewer, 1211 S. Wright, became the bride of Gene L. Cunningham, 906 E. Oakland. The wedding was at Skate 'n Place, 1701 S. Morris, which is owned by the bridegroom and his best man. 25 years ago June 25, 1998: Illinois Power Co. is calling for a "conservation day" due to tight power supplies. The utility is asking customers to reduce the use of electricity not essential to healthy and safety between the peak hours of usage, which are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Continued heat and humidity are pushing demand higher while supplies are tight. 101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup' So its here, at last: summer 23. It officially began Wednesday. As goes the popular car commercial, summer is a great time to go the extra mile to see friends to see family to see the world. Or, in a much cheaper option, to perhaps simply explore some of the more out-of-the-way little things right here in your own backyard... Head to Central Illinois Regional Airport at about 9:50 p.m. on almost any weeknight and from a parking lot or road nearby, watch one of the largest jetliners around a Boeing 757-200 that comes in at 198,000 pounds in gross landing weight as it lifts off over you (remember the scene in Waynes World?) for its nightly FedEx run to Memphis. Go to Miller Park Zoo and try to outstare the Sumatran tiger. (Warning: Hell probably win.) Catch a movie, sit way in back with your favorite someone at the storied Normal Theater and during an amorous moment just like late, great "M*A*S*H" actor (and Bloomington High grad) McLean Stevenson cozy up and nuzzle on the ear of your favorite someone. (Except unlike Stevenson, as he once regaled on The Tonight Show to a doubled-over-in-laughter Johnny Carson, try not to get a Milk Dud stuck in your partners ear.) At Franklin Park, throw down a blanket and gaze up at the trees that have been there since your great-great grandparents did the same. At David Davis Mansion, check for any clover out on the lawn. No dummy, because it didnt grow tall like grass, Davis planted clover instead. Cloverlawn, he aptly called it. Enjoy the quiet ride on one of those new-fangled, all-electric Connect Transit buses. (Admit it you havent yet, have you?) Stand at the base of Illinois State University's Watterson Towers, the 28-story twin towers, and experience the amazingly strong winds created by a sudden, strong downburst created by tall buildings against an otherwise flat land. (A venturi, they tell us such winds are called.) Saddle up to the bar at the legendary Lucca Grill downtown and order a French Country Ale and large sausage pizza, just like TVs Jimmy Fallon did back in 2002 on a B-N stop. (Fallons best line that evening: "This is a beautiful town. You can even smell the oxygen here!) Head downtown for a "Saturdays on the Square" concert put on by the Castle Theatre and this very newspaper. Next up: On July 15, catch Dan Hubbard, a class act with a great local name. Ogle the growing refuse-art sculpture park under the Main Street Bridge, south of Bloomingtons downtown, the idea of Twin City refuse artist Tom Kirk. Kirkhenge, its now being called. If in nearby Washington, in the latest of gigantic structures to draw tourists, stand between the 31-foot tall Abe Lincoln and a 26-foot tall common man holding a copy of the Gettysburg Address. (Thats ISU professor emeritus Bob Bradley pictured here, looking a bit like an ant man or an outtake from Honey, I Shrunk The Kids.) Take a book and forage a faraway nook at ISU's catacombesque Milner Library. You'll feel so far away and yet not far away at all. Go on a micro-brew tour: Destihl Beer Hall (1200 Greenbriar Drive), then Casper Brewing (3807 Ballybunion Road), then Keg Grove (712 E. Empire St.), then Lil Beaver (5 Finance Drive), then White Oak Brewing (1801 Industrial Park Drive), then Fiala Brothers Brewery in uptown. Another day, do Analytical Brewing in Lexington. Be sure to have as a driver someone who only likes cola. Do the Shakespeare thing at Ewing. Yup, its nationally renowned, right here in your own backyard. Stand downtown, just west of Elroys along West Washington, and realize the unusually local depth of American history that is said to have occurred right there. That is where Abe Lincoln was allegedly convinced by cohorts to run for the U.S. presidency, a historic term that changed the course of America. Skip a flat rock from atop Friendship Bridge at Miller Park. Try to make every stoplight all 20 of them, without stopping once along Veterans Parkway, from West Hamilton Road in southwest Bloomington all the way up to Shepard Road in northeast Normal. (Tip: Those who program the lights claim it can be done, during non-high-traffic hours, by going a reasonably constant 37 mph.) (Further tip: Weve tried this numerous times and only succeeded once.) Yes, enjoy the summer. Ahhhh. Dont forget to send out vacation postcards! SPRINGFIELD The excitement of the annual Illinois FFA Convention is amplified during the election of new state officers. This year, during the convention's 95th occurrence, suspense built when the internet was down and everything was handled by paper ballots. Tension filled the room, followed by an eruption of joy as a new state officer is announced. Four people among 6,000 in attendance at the BOS Center in Springfield earlier this month can relate to both the excitement of being elected as a state FFA officers and to using paper ballots. They shared the same experience 50 years ago. Foundations for success Accepting the title of state president in 1973 was Gene Schwarm, who grew up on a cattle farm in Loogootee in Fayette County. The University of Illinois graduate became a lawyer, later serving as a state court judge in Illinois for 23 years. He his experiences in FFA helped him in his career. I used the leadership, public speaking, and communication skills a lot of in my lifes work, he said. For him, one of the most memorable moments as FFA president in 1973-74 was going to Washington, D.C., to talk policy. That summer President Richard Nixon wasnt available, so we got to talk to Earl Butz, the Secretary of Agriculture, he said of being at the capital when history was being made during the Watergate era. Schwarm and his fellow officers reunited at the FFA convention on June 15. They said they hadnt kept in touch over the years but were looking forward to dining together at the past-officers luncheon. Serving as vice president with Schwarm in 1973-74, Darwin Hall said he also used skills honed in FFA during several years as a high school and college ag teacher and the rest of his career in feed sales in Lee County. It gave us more opportunities, he said. David Rothermel of Champaign County, who was elected secretary-treasurer 50 years ago when the convention was in Champaign, said the advice hed give incoming state officers is: Dont be shy. Make the most of every moment this year. Rothermel, who grew corn and soybeans in Champaign County for 30 years, has moved to Florida and works in real estate. Rounding out the team, Tom Scheider, who has farmed in the Stephenson County city of Freeport for 45 years raising hogs and corn and soybeans, said a highlight of being the FFA state reporter 50 years ago was producing the state FFA magazine. At that time, the end of the war in Vietnam was nearing, and people paid about 50 cents a gallon for gasoline, said Tom Kelly, the 1972-73 FFA secretary-treasurer the year before Schwarm and his team. Meet the new leaders After the tribute to past officers, new 2023-24 officers are elected and welcomed with fanfare. This year's victors are: Thaddeus "Thad" Bergschneider, president Eric Wisely, vice president Cooper Nelson, reporter Riley Kessler, secretary Benjamin Bremmer, treasurer Bergschneider graduated from tiny Franklin High School in Morgan County in a class of 13. He has three brothers and three sisters and raises sheep, chickens and turkeys. His Supervised Agricultural Experience project was raising 300 turkeys for the Thanksgiving market. Bucking bales with this guy made me want to run for state office, Bergschneider said as he was congratulated and hugged by neighbor Matt Wells, state president in 1997-98. After his year of service as an FFA officer, Bergschneider is headed to Purdue University to study ag economics. Wisely, a graduate of Nashville High School in Southern Illinois, said growing up with horses inspired him to join FFA. The newly elected vice president plans to study agriculture education at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Nelson, of Canton in Fulton County, said that he never doubted that he wanted a career in agriculture after he had started in 4-H. He grew up on a small-scale farm showing lambs. He won a calf in the Fulton County Fair scramble when he was 14 years old and bred the heifer to start a small herd. Referring to his preparation for public office, Nelson said: You eat, breathe and sleep it. Without a pause, he added: The work starts now. Ive never felt happier, said Kessler, the secretary, who lives in Madison County and went to school in Macoupin County. New treasurer Benjamin Bremmer, of Stephenson County, is excited to be the first FFA officer elected from that community in 30 years. His family has a niche dairy market raising heifers. While he enjoys the Holsteins, he said being in that tractor seat is what hell miss most about farm life while serving as a state officer. Getting dairy from farm to table is a complex process and farmers are adapting to get it there A different way to farm: Using agritourism to bolster dairy operations Getting dairy from farm cow to your fridge is more complex than you think Technology is reinventing dairy production and its helping farmers keep pace The final flight carrying 430 Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims has arrived safely in Jeddah after taking off in Accra Saturday morning. The final flight was originally scheduled to take off on Thursday but the Hajj Board rescheduled it to Saturday to pave way for the processing of more documents for a full flight. In the end, the decision paid off as the final flight which left Accra on Saturday was full with 430 passengers on board. Unfortunately, 27 passengers were unable to make it as the last flight was over subscribed. With all of the Board's 10 scheduled chartered flight over, the Hajj Board is making frantic efforts to ensure the 27 who could not find space on the last flight are airlifted through other means. The Chairman of the Hajj Board, Ben Abdallah Banda has expressed disappointment about the inability of the 27 people to join and confirmed that, inspite of the tight schedule and how close the Hajj is, the Board is trying its best to find a suitable alternative for them. Over all, the Board has airlifted 4190 Ghananain pilgrims for the 2023 Hajj from Tamale and Accra with both the northern and southern zones doing 5 flights each. 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 The Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Journalist Association(GJA) has awarded Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah for his contributions to media development. The former New Patriotic Party(NPP) Chairman for Afigya Kwabre South in the Ashanti region is touted as an important stakeholder and pillar who has imparted in the media good ethics and professionalism. The event that took place at the Rattray Park on Saturday, June 24, is in its fifth stage after its launch in May 2019. The Association describes COKA as a truly selfless, Boundless Partner and a warrior in Media Development within Ghana and beyond. Your lifeline support to the media fraternity is really admirable, and you indeed walk your talk. The citation reads: You are the kind of personality, irrespective of your political affiliation, always believing that unity is strength when there is teamwork and collaboration; that is only when wonderful things can be achieved. You have imparted in the media good ethics and professionalism. And extraordinarily, manage many characters and dispel the fears and worries in the media activism and wherever we need you, you are always there to support us and show us the way. GJA Ashanti would like to thank you and honor your exemplary leadership and support. Ayekoo Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah. COKAs acknowledgement I was honored when you expressed your appreciation of me. Your approval makes all my effort feel worthwhile. I am happy that you see me as an asset to the media fraternity. Thank you for this recognition. It motivates me to continue to do more, he stressed. GJA President address In an address, Mr Albert Kwabena Dwomfour, National President of the GJA, said, Journalists in Ghana will continue to hold government accountable until the living conditions of every Ghanaian is improved. As we have done in the past, we will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including government, to strengthen governance while ensuring accountability, he added. The event was attended by Nana Boakye Yam Ababio, chief of Nkwantakese, Samuel Payn, regional Mayor, regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, the Honourable Minister for Education and MP for Bosomtwe, Yaw Osei Adutwum and the Chairman of the National Media Commission, Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo. Source: Peacefmonline com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Despite Media Journalist Sampson Kwame Nyamekye has been honoured at the Maiden Edition of Ghana Journalists Excellence Awards by the Ashanti Regional Branch in Kumasi of the Ashanti Region. Sampson among other journalists in the region was recognized for his immense contribution and consistency in the media fraternity as far as news coverage is concerned. The plague he received at the awards night read your illustrious career started on the mid-2000 shortly before your graduation from journalism school, when you were regularly on the beat for Kumasi Mail, with your biggest assignment as a young reporter being the coverage of the crucial year 2000 Presidential and Parliamentary elections that saw the first ever peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another in Ghanas post-independence history. The Awardee who is currently the General Manager of Hello Fm, a conglomerate of Despite Media according to Ashanti Regional Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association work has impacted positively on Individuals and Communities across the country. The Excellence Award ceremony which was held in Kumasi , Ashanti Regional Capital was the maiden edition and the President of the Association, Mr Kingsley Hope admitted that Sampson Kwame Nyamekye level of professionalism exhibited in his work is worth emulating by the up-and-coming journalists in the region and across the country. ABOUT THE AWARDEE Sampson Kwame Nyamekye has established himself as a consummate media and communication professional in the Ashanti Region and the entire country due to his passion for professionalism, teamwork, organizational efficiency and assertiveness. This is attested by the fact that he hosts one of the most listened to programs on radio in the Ashanti Region. His illustrious career started in mid-2000, shortly before he graduated from journalism school, when he was regularly on the beat for Kumasi Mail. His biggest assignment as a young reporter was when he had to cover the crucial year 2000 presidential and parliamentary elections that saw the first-ever peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another in Ghanas post-independence history. Working as a journalist prior to January 2001 was a challenging and scary undertaking due to some constitutional provisions such as the criminal libel law that made it a daunting task to practice as a media person. Not discouraged by these constitutional hurdles, Sampson looked up to other senior journalists, who against all odds, had taken their journalistic game to the powers-that-be of the time. After the change in government in 2000 and the subsequent repeal of the criminal libel law, that saw an unprecedented liberalization of the media landscape, he moved on to become the Ashanti Regional bureau chief of The Independent newspaper, which was established in the 1980s by celebrated Ghanaian journalist, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere. Working under lawyer Egbert Faibille, Sampson succeeded in popularizing the newspaper in Kumasi and beyound by reporting on very pertinent issues that border on economy, politics, society and many more. Sampson was to cut his teeth in broadcast journalism by appearing on the most popular morning show program in 2002 hosted by Kwame Adinkra on Fox Fm. Sampson contributed to important national issues alongside other respected individuals. It was through his deep intellectual analysis of national issues that caught the attention of recruiters from the Despite Media Group, who spotted the potentials deeply buried in him. He was soon recruited to join the core group of professionals who established the presence of Despite Media Group in Kumasi with the creation of Hello Fm. The station became a force to be reckoned with. And 19 years down the lane the recruiters have been proven right in deciding to offer him a position. Sampson has since served as an anchor for all the Despite Media Groups outlets in Accra and across the country by providing information from credible sources on all major events that happen in the Ashanti Region. He is gives live reports to UTV on all major events in Kumasi. He currently holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree (2017) from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and a bachelor's degree in business administration (2014) from University of Education. His other post-secondary qualification is a diploma in journalism and Marketing (2001) from Institute of Business Management and Journalism, Kumasi. Sampson is a former student of Ahafoman Secondary Technical School in Goaso. To further sharpen his skills on important international issues, Sampson has attended several conferences outside the shoes of Ghana, and these include: Memphis in May International Festival , Memphis, Tennessee (May 2022), 2021 United Climate Change Conference COP26, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom ( 31st October- 13TH November 2021), 74th UN General Assembly Meeting, New York City, US (September 2019) , Asanteman Association in Denver Colorado conference, USA (August 2018), the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, China (April 2016), ContractaEngenharia Com. Ltd. and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly tour to Sau Paulo, Brazil (15th to 20th May 2015), and World Water Week Celebration, Stockholm, Sweden (August/September 2014). Sampsons contribution to media development in the country has not gone unnoticed and he has been the recipient of several awards that recognize the successful roles he has played in promoting professionalism and media excellence. Some of his awards include: Africa Role Model in Journalism and Media Excellence Award ( Komla Dumor), ( 2022), Best Radio Personality of the Year 2018/19, Honouring Award for Promoting the Growth of Journalism in Ghana (2018) by the Asanteman Association of Colorado, USA, Best Radio Reporter of the Year, Ashanti Region (2017/18) and many more. Sampsons prowess is not limited to the media only as he has displayed exceptional managerial and organizational capabilities since assuming the role of general manager of Hello Fm. Source: Peacefmonline com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Director for Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Franklin Aseidu-Bekoe, says Ghanaians need to keep observing the COVID-19 prevention protocols and protect themselves from contracting the virus until the nation attains herd immunity. He said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that although the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared that COVID-19 was no longer a global health emergency, countries with low population immunity might not be out of the woods yet. Scientists and medical experts have estimated that at least 94 percent of the population be vaccinated and immune to interrupt the chain of coronavirus transmission. In Ghana, data on the Ghana Health Service (GHS) COVID-19 Update website showed that as of April 30 this year, about 11 million people, representing 57 percent of the nations 18.2 million target have been fully vaccinated. The data showed that presently, only 32.9 percent of the total targeted population of persons 18 years and above have been fully vaccinated. According to the website, a total of 24,941,992 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered within the same period. Out of that, about 14 million people representing, 74.2 per cent of the 18.2 million targets have received a first dose. Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe said to help boost the population's immunity, the GHS would in July launch another mass vaccination campaign to get more persons vaccinated. He said the GHS was also developing a COVID-19 Vaccination Integration Plan to ensure that COVID-19 vaccination was made part of the routine vaccinations, noting that this means that everyone can walk into a health facility to get a COVID-19 jab. The Director for Public Health encouraged individuals who were yet to be vaccinated against the virus to get a jab and those who had been vaccinated already to get the booster shots. He said Ghana was still recording COVID-19 cases, but there are no severe cases now. If people want to see COVID-19 as a normal disease then we need to attain herd immunity so that even those who contract it would have mild complications. If the immunity is low and we are not taking precautions then infections are likely to be severe, he said. Herd immunity, also known as population immunity, according to the WHO is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection. The WHO supports achieving herd immunity through vaccination, not by allowing disease to spread through any segment of the population, as this would result in unnecessary cases and deaths. The WHO said herd immunity against COVID-19 should be achieved by protecting people through vaccination, not by exposing them to the pathogen that causes the disease. It said to safely achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, a substantial proportion of the population would need to be vaccinated, lowering the overall amount of virus able to spread in the whole population. One of the aims with working towards herd immunity is to keep vulnerable groups who cannot get vaccinated due to health conditions like allergic reactions to the vaccine safe and protected from the disease, it said. The percentage of people who need to be immune in order to achieve herd immunity varies with each disease. For example, herd immunity against measles requires about 95 percent of the population to be vaccinated, the remaining five percent will be protected by the fact that measles will not spread among those who are vaccinated. For polio, the threshold is about 80 percent. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his 29th address to the nation on measures taken against the coronavirus reiterated the announcement made by WHO that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of global concern, saying In other words, we can now breathe that collective sigh of relief, The emergency is over, and we can safely lift many of the oppressive restrictions we have had to endure, we can shake hands, we can hug, we can visit, and we no longer have to wear masks, he said. Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said what this meant was that the nation would no longer focus on having funds to fight the virus but would rather inculcate treatment of the disease into existing health systems. He advised Ghanaians to keep washing their hands with soap under running water as it prevented them from contracting COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. He also urged all to put on a mask when in a place with poor ventilation. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with the virus experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention. The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is to be well informed about the disease and how the virus spreads, vaccination, wear a properly fitted mask, and washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub frequently. The virus can spread from an infected persons mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing, or breathe. This report was made possible with technical support from the Center for Science and Health Communication (CSHC) and funding from the National Research Foundation, South Africa. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. and the former Head of Monitoring Unit at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu on Friday, June 23, clashed over the Assin North by-election where the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be going head-to-head on Tuesday, June 27, hoping their candidates win the election. With the NDC, the deposed Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, will be contesting the seat again on the party's ticket and with the NPP, Charles Opoku will be contesting for the party. However, there is a criminal charge against Mr. Gyakye Quayson as the Attorney General has filed a case in court. Speaking on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Charles Owusu appealed to the electorates at Assin North to vote massively for the NPP candidate and asked that they place Mr. Gyakye Quayson aside. He made further statements to suggest that Mr. Gyakye Quayson doesn't stand a second chance in the constituency. But Kwesi Pratt, taking his turn to comment on the by-election, condemned any person who makes statements in connection with the court case against the former Assin North MP. According to him, anyone who comments to determine whether or not Mr. Gyakye Quayson is guilty of the charges against him risks being cited for contempt of court, something that Charles Owusu took immediate exception to as he replied Mr. Pratt that he hadn't said anything contemptuous. "If someone is processed for court on criminal charges and you come on air to say he is guilty or not, you have breached the law. It's straightforward contempt!...You have no right whatsoever to make any suggestions about the outcome of the case," Kwesi Pratt insisted. 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 Isaac Nana Shoetan, popularly known as Papa Shoto from the well-known Ghanaian music duo Buk Bak, has made a remarkable comeback with his debut gospel song titled "Nyame Bi," accompanied by a captivating music video. After a significant hiatus from the music scene, the Switzerland-based artist has embraced a new direction in his musical journey. "Nyame Bi" centres around the wondrous works of God, emphasizing His miracles and divine interventions. The production credit for the song goes to 10minitz, who contributed their expertise to the project. Reflecting on the inspiration behind "Nyame Bi," Papa Shotosaid the song mystically came to him. Having faced numerous challenges in his life, including the loss of his brother three years ago, he found solace in his faith and sought a deeper connection with his Creator. The song symbolizes his journey of resilience and personal growth. Drawing from his strong hip-hop background, Papa Shoto aimed to infuse a unique flavour into gospel music, recognizing a gap in the Ghanaian market for hip-hop gospel songs. https://youtu.be/MwaQ9WF7YvE His musical journey began in 1994/1995 at De Youngsters IntSchool, before pursuing his senior high school education at Adisadel College. The creative process behind "Nyame Bi" was spontaneous yet spiritually driven. Papa Shoto and his production team entered the studio and, within ten minutes, they found themselves immersed in crafting the song. I believe that divine intervention played a pivotal role in my song's creation. I hope that listeners will not only appreciate my music but also connect with my life experiences, Papa Shotosaid. According to him, having overcome significant obstacles with God's guidance, he aims to instil hope and inspire others through his testimony. Expressing his gratitude for the blessings in his life, recounting the losses he experienced, particularly the passing of his brother and bandmate Ronnie, Papa Shoto said it reminded him of the impermanence of life. Additionally, in an interview with Adomonline,com, he emphasized the value of leaving behind a good name and legacy rather than focusing solely on material wealth. I want Nyame Bi to transcend the ordinary and deliver an authentic and relatable message as I firmly believe that if God can use my music to touch people's lives, it is a testament to the existence of an ever-present and ever-powerful God, he said. Collaborating with Adinkra on the track, Papa Shotoacknowledges his unwavering support and views his contribution as a genuine manifestation of God's work in people's lives. Contrary to expectations, Papa Shoto did not write down any lyrics before recording "Nyame Bi." The song's creation was a fluid process as he and the team began with a hook and chorus, improvising the rest while recording. Music has always been an integral part of my life, and I intend to continue using my gifts to inspire and uplift others, Papa Shoto said. During the recording session for "Nyame Bi," unforeseen delays occurred due to technical issues. However, Papa Shoto said he perceivesd these obstacles as divine intervention. Despite the setbacks, the timing of the song's release felt perfect, aligning with God's mysterious plan. Papa Shoto acknowledges that music is not his full-time pursuit due to other commitments, but he is determined not to let his talent go to waste. Through his transformative journey, he has demonstrated versatility by incorporating multiple languages into his rap, including English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Grateful for the grace of God and the opportunity to live, Papa Shoto cites DMX as one of his major influences, admiring the late hip-hop artist's ability to infuse spirituality into his music. Papa Shoto emphasizes personal growth and evolution since his days with Buk Bak in the late 1990s. He advises aspiring artists to embrace patience and understand that success comes in due time. Hard work and dedication are vital, as there are no shortcuts to lasting achievements. By combining perseverance with faith, Ibelieves that individuals can receive everlasting blessings that transcend generations, he explained. With a firm resolve, Papa Shoto asserts that his return to the music scene is not an attempt to revive past glories or prove himself to anyone. Music is an intrinsic part of him, and he aims to provide his fans with meaningful and positive content. Recognizing music's ability to nourish and heal the soul, he aspires to inspire and educate future generations through his art. Nonetheless, Papa Shoto prays that God will continue to use him as a vessel to impact people's lives in a profound and meaningful way. As long as he possesses the strength and wisdom, listeners can expect to hear more from him in the future, despite his part-time musical pursuits. 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 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: Anna Kucherova / Shutterstock Around the world, rainforests are becoming savanna or farmland, savanna is drying out and turning into desert, and icy tundra is thawing. Indeed, scientific studies have now recorded "regime shifts" like these in more than 20 different types of ecosystem where tipping points have been passed. Around the world, more than 20% of ecosystems are in danger of shifting or collapsing into something different. These collapses might happen sooner than you'd think. Humans are already putting ecosystems under pressure in many different wayswhat we refer to as stresses. And when you combine these stresses with an increase in climate-driven extreme weather, the date these tipping points are crossed could be brought forward by as much as 80%. This means an ecosystem collapse that we might previously have expected to avoid until late this century could happen as soon as in the next few decades. That's the gloomy conclusion of our latest research, published in Nature Sustainability. Human population growth, increased economic demands, and greenhouse gas concentrations put pressures on ecosystems and landscapes to supply food and maintain key services such as clean water. The number of extreme climate events is also increasing and will only get worse. What really worries us is that climate extremes could hit already stressed ecosystems, which in turn transfer new or heightened stresses to some other ecosystem, and so on. This means one collapsing ecosystem could have a knock-on effect on neighboring ecosystems through successive feedback loops: an "ecological doom-loop" scenario, with catastrophic consequences. How long until a collapse? In our new research, we wanted to get a sense of the amount of stress that ecosystems can take before collapsing. We did this using modelscomputer programs that simulate how an ecosystem will work in future, and how it will react to changes in circumstance. We used two general ecological models representing forests and lake water quality, and two location-specific models representing the Chilika lagoon fishery in the eastern Indian state of Odisha and Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in the Pacific Ocean. These latter two models both explicitly include interactions between human activities and the natural environment. The key characteristic of each model is the presence of feedback mechanisms, which help to keep the system balanced and stable when stresses are sufficiently weak to be absorbed. For example, fishers on Lake Chilika tend to prefer catching adult fish while the fish stock is abundant. So long as enough adults are left to breed, this can be stable. However, when stresses can no longer be absorbed, the ecosystem abruptly passes a point of no returnthe tipping pointand collapses. In Chilika, this might occur when fishers increase the catch of juvenile fish during shortages, which further undermines the renewal of the fish stock. We used the software to model more than 70,000 different simulations. Across all four models, the combinations of stress and extreme events brought forward the date of a predicted tipping point by between 30% and 80%. This means an ecosystem predicted to collapse in the 2090s owing to the creeping rise of a single source of stress, such as global temperatures, could, in a worst-case scenario, collapse in the 2030s once we factor in other issues like extreme rainfall, pollution, or a sudden spike in natural resource use. Importantly, around 15% of ecosystem collapses in our simulations occurred as a result of new stresses or extreme events, while the main stress was kept constant. In other words, even if we believe we are managing ecosystems sustainably by keeping the main stress levels constantfor example, by regulating fish catcheswe had better keep an eye out for new stresses and extreme events. There are no ecological bailouts Previous studies have suggested significant costs from going past tipping points in large ecosystems will kick in from the second half of this century onwards. But our findings suggest these costs could occur much sooner. We found the speed at which stress is applied is vital to understanding system collapse, which is probably relevant to non-ecological systems too. Indeed, the increased speed of both news coverage and mobile banking processes has recently been invoked as raising the risk of bank collapse. As the journalist Gillian Tett has observed: "The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank provided one horrifying lesson in how tech innovation can unexpectedly change finance (in this case by intensifying digital herding). Recent flash crashes offer another. However, these are probably a small foretaste of the future of viral feedback loops." But there the comparison between ecological and economic systems runs out. Banks can be saved as long as governments provide sufficient financial capital in bailouts. In contrast, no government can provide the immediate natural capital needed to restore a collapsed ecosystem. There is no way to restore collapsed ecosystems within any reasonable timeframe. There are no ecological bailouts. In the financial vernacular, we will just have to take the hit. More information: Simon Willcock et al, Earlier collapse of Anthropocene ecosystems driven by multiple faster and noisier drivers, Nature Sustainability (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01157-x Journal information: Nature Sustainability This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. JERUSALEM, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Hollywood producer and tycoon Arnon Milchan on Sunday testified against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his corruption trial, saying he used to send lavish gifts to Netanyahu and his wife. Testifying from the English seaside city of Brighton, near where Milchan is based, the 78-year-old said the gifts he routinely sent included expensive cigars, pink champagne, jewels, shirts and coats, and code names were used for them. The quantities of the goods "went larger and larger" following requests from the couple, although it was Milchan who initiated the practice of sending the luxurious goods, according to the tycoon. Milchan's testimony, which is expected to last several days, was transmitted through a video conference to the courtroom in Jerusalem where Netanyahu listened on the first day. During the testimony, Netanyahu's wife Sara, who is on a private visit to Britain, sat in the room with Milchan. In the case, dubbed Case 1000, the Israeli prime minister is accused of using his power to promote the personal interests of Milchan, an Israeli national who worked in Hollywood for decades, between 2007 and 2016. According to the indictment, Netanyahu asked U.S. officials to extend Milchan's residence visa and attempted to grant him tax breaks in Israel. In exchange, Netanyahu and his family allegedly received expensive goods worth about 1 million new shekels (280,000 U.S. dollars) from Milchan. In the trial, which began in 2020 and has been progressing slowly since, Netanyahu is also charged in two other cases of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, denied all allegations against him, calling the indictment part of "a witch hunt." By Mohamed Foday Conteh Justice Adrian Fisher of the High Court has ruled against Dr. Sylvia Blydens application to be an added plaintiff in the ongoing intra-party matter between Alfred Peter Conteh versus the APC party and some big wigs within the main opposition. Justice Fisher gave his ruling on Monday 8th November this year at the High Court in Freetown. Her presence is not necessary in this litigation for the purpose of determining the issues, the Judge said. He added that her presence will merely lengthen the proceedings and will have litigating issues that have already been addressed by the defendants. The ruling followed Dr. Blydens application to be an added plaintiff in the matter between the APC diaspora member Conteh against former President Ernest Bai Koroma, Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh and the party, on allegations of it being undemocratic and that some of its members are illegal. It is against this backdrop after several sittings that Justice Fisher ruled that the party should hold a convention in order to adopt a new constitution. It was after the new constitution was adopted by the party at the Makeni Convention in September this year that Dr. Blyden filed an application to the High Court to be included as plaintiff in the matter. She filed an affidavit in court with 17 exhibits on the 19th of October this year. Ibrahim Mansaray, counsel for the first defendant, former president Koroma raised an objection citing that some elements of the affidavit of Dr. Blyden were scandalous and meant to smear the image of his client. The lawyer also objected that the numbering of the affidavit is defective. Counsel representing Yansaneh, the second defendant also objected to the affidavit by Dr. Blyden. He said the affidavit was not in a proper format and issues raised were fresh and if allowed, will change the face of the matter. Lawyer Ady Macauley, representing the APC Party objected to the affidavit saying that the inclusion of Dr. Blyden will also affect the existing plaintiff. Meanwhile, counsel for Conteh; the existing plaintiff, Jesse Jengo objected to Dr. Blyden being added as a plaintiff in the matter. He said that the inclusion of Dr. Blyden will slow the pace of the matter. The judge said Dr. Blyden being a litigant in person could be faced with challenges like working in an alien environment, lacking necessary expertise in law, frustration and excitement especially when faced with a team of lawyers. He also stated that the bone of contention on which Dr. Blyden filed her application was almost the same as to the one filed by Conteh. The judge also affirmed that the major difference is that Contehs application is scanty as compared to Dr. Blydens application. They both raised issues of illegality and undemocratic practices within the APC party, Justice Fisher said. He added that both Conteh and Dr. Blyden targeted individuals they believe to be undemocratic but that Dr. Blyden went in-depth into the level of illegality and undemocratic practices. Lawyers for the defendants pleaded with the judge to grant them an injunction for an adoption of a new constitution. The judge drew reference to an argument made by Dr. Blyden in the previous sitting on an existing APC Constitution in 1991. The judge said that there is no litigation in court with regards the said constitution. He said that the court will not order the defendants to produce such constitution since they have adopted a new constitution and Dr. Blydens application for such would have been upheld, had she made an earlier application before the new constitution. He asked the leadership of the party to address the point raised by Dr. Blyden internally, if they so wish to avoid litigation in the future. The ruling against Dr. Blyden came at no cost after the defendants refused to accept cost from her. Meanwhile, the matter has been allowed to continue with Conteh as the plaintiff against the party and its other heavy weights. Copyright Politico Online 10/11/21 By Saio Marrah The Chairman of Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), Francis Sowa (PHD) has urged journalists to promote peace, democracy and good governance during and after elections. Dr. Sowa made this call during a training of journalists on the revised Independent Media Commission (IMC) code of practice, regulations and elections coverage held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown on Friday 23rd June, 2023. By promoting peace, he said the general guidelines for elections media coverage and reporting contained in the new IMC code include desisting from promoting or inciting racial, ethnic or regional hatred or bias reporting. Dr. Sowa also warned journalists to deviate from promoting or causing public disorder, or reporting that become a threat to the security of society. According to him, the new code or regulations, which he said formed part of the laws of Sierra Leone, frowns at reporting that ridicule, stigmatize or demonize persons on the basis of gender, race, class, language, sexual orientation and physical or mental ability. Another key issue Dr. Sowa called on journalists to uphold, which he said are contained in the new IMC regulation to provide fair, adequate and equitable media coverage and reporting of the activities of political parties. He also noted that the regulation also contains a truthful, comprehensive, accurate, balanced and fair account of events in a context that gives them meaning. He also called on media institutions not to censor or edit materials submitted by political parties or their agents and that proper editorial judgment should be exercised in favour of good taste and respect for public safety, security and morality. He said publications or broadcasts should be refused if materials are hateful, ethnically offensive and likely to provoke public disorder or threaten the security of the state. Dr. Sowa said when such material is refused, the concerned political party or its agent should be given an opportunity to modify the material in order to conform to acceptable standards. According to him, media practitioners should label as provisional result for results released from the polling stations immediately after vote counting. On election media coverage and reporting, Dr. Sowa pointed out that the regulations require professional coverage and reporting of all political activities. Another facilitator of the programme, Josuah Nicol, who is a senior lecturer at the Media School at Fourah College, University of Sierra Leone, called on journalists to apply delay devise in their studios for phone calls or live programmes to avoid comments that are distasteful or inciting for radios and television stations. He also called on media practitioners to be able to differentiate the two roles played by the incumbent when he is playing a role as candidate in the election and as president of the country. On Election Day, he said journalists should encourage people to cast their votes and that they should not be bothered about who they vote for. Among other things, Nicol called on media practitioners to desist from announcing election results not confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone. The programme was organized by Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) with support from the European Union. Copyright (c) 2023 Politico (23/06/23) GLENS FALLS The 120 graduates of Glens Falls High Schools Class of 2023 were encouraged to have credibility, resiliency and adaptability before they entered the next phase of their lives. Valedictorian Clara Avery recalled how the first advice they got when they entered high school as freshmen was to always walk on the right side of the hallway. She said that became irrelevant when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March of 2020. There isnt a school hallway to walk down on the way to your bedroom for a Google Meet, she said. The day-to-day of high school came to a screeching halt. We found that we are more resourceful and resilient than we imagined, she went on to say. It became apparent that life involves more than walking on a freshly waxed floor. There are twists and turns, potholes and detours. The building we thought was our school was no longer a reality. We learned to adapt. Avery said they were helped along the way by the adults in the community including teachers to learn the new skill of adaptability and setting a good example of how to face the unknown. Salutatorian Katherine Lieberth encouraged the graduates to share their talents with others and take the initiative to make their communities better places to live. I cannot wait to see what the future holds and the way you make the world your own, she said. For the first time ever, the school had a contest to determine two student speakers Aliveah Nelson and Aiden Gormley. Gormley shared some lessons that he has learned. He said you will make some mistakes in life, but learning the lesson is crucial. He said there will be peaks and valleys in life. The most important is the journey and the people who climbed with you, he said. He also said that the students should never lose their curiosity or desire to learn. And people should remember to express gratitude. The Class of 2023 made a donation to the National Alliance for Childrens Grief, which is an organization that is dedicated to helping and raising awareness of children who are grieving a death. Principal Kevin Warren shared some statistics about the Class of 2023. They have spent 26,000 hours practicing on a field, court or track. They have done over 3,200 hours of volunteer work including about 1,200 through the National Honor Society. They have logged 5,000 hours rehearing for productions, which paid off with three awards at the High School Musical Theatre Awards including Best Musical. Eighty students are going on to college. Six are going to trade schools or apprenticeship programs, 18 are going into the workforce and four are going to serve their country. After going through all those statistics, Warren said the most important value students can have is credibility. Take the knowledge they learn and put it to good use. If you cant apply what you have learned from those credentials, you will not have any credibility, he said. Warren said students will figure it out along the way with the help of those who love them. Superintendent of Schools Krislynn Dengler told the graduates that there may have been some times in their lives when they asked if they were up for this and times when they doubted themselves. You got up, pushed on and leveled up, she said. Dengler said they relied on resilience and grit. She furthered defined grit by using each of the letters in the world greatness, rising above, integrity and team. She has seen the students exhibit all those qualities. Reach for that hand of help. Continue the climb. You are resilient, she said. WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has partnered with controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on two resolutions that would expunge both impeachments of former President Donald J. Trump. Late on Thursday, Stefanik released a joint press statement alongside Greene, R-Ga., announcing the introduction of two resolutions that would expunge the impeachments against the former president filed on Dec. 18, 2019 and Jan. 13, 2021, reversing them as if they had never occurred. Stefanik, who garnered national attention for the first time in her defense of Mr. Trump during the first impeachment process in 2019, has long held that both impeachments were unconstitutional, and Greene was elected to Congress in 2020 with the promise to undo the impeachments. The American people know Democrats weaponized the power of impeachment against President Donald Trump to advance their own extreme political agenda, Stefanik said. From the beginning of this sham process, I stood up against Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiffs blatant attempt to shred the Constitution as House Democrats ignored the Constitution and failed to follow the legislative process. Stefanik cited the fact that Trump, while impeached, was never found guilty during trial in the Senate. She said she believes its time to clear the former presidents name, even as he fights at two separate criminal cases, with multiple charges each, in New York state and federal court in Florida. In 2019, Trump was impeached in the Democrat-led House on two separate articles, citing abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, alleging that Trump had used the powers of government to garner help in the 2020 election from Ukraine. Democrats alleged that Trump had pressured the Ukrainian government to investigate then-candidate Joseph Biden and his son Hunters connection to the Ukrainian national gas company Burisma, and threatened to withhold defense aid if they did not. In 2021, Trump was impeached for a historic second time, on an article citing incitement of insurrection, this time for his involvement and alleged incitement of the mob that attacked Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. In both cases, Trumps impeachment went to the Senate for trial, but failed to reach the 67-vote threshold required to convict and remove a president from office. Stefanik authored the resolution to expunge the 2021 impeachment, while Greene introduce the resolution to expunge the 2019 impeachment. Stefanik used her resolution to go into detail on why she believes Mr. Trumps impeachment should be invalidated, and used the document to cast further doubt on the 2020 election results. Stefanik cited a number of anecdotal issues that she said should cast doubt on an election that legal experts, voting analysts and even the Trump-appointed election integrity monitor have all repeatedly affirmed to have been a free, fair and accurately-tabulated election. She pointed to the fact that Mr. Trump won 18 of 19 counties across the nation that have historically predicted the presidency, although those counties have not always been bellwethers and some have seen significant voting pattern changes in recent years. She also cited a legal debate that had swirled around the second impeachment, which came just a few weeks before Trumps term as president ended and saw a Senate trial after he had left office, arguing that a president who left office cannot be impeached. The resolutions come on the heels of a push by some House Republicans to impeach President Biden, with articles of impeachment introduced against him by Greene in May and a push by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., that restarted on Wednesday, prompting an argument between Greene and Boebert on the House floor. Its clear that President Trumps impeachment was nothing more than a witch hunt that needs to be expunged from our history, Greene said. Im proud to work with Chairwoman (of the House Republican Conference) Elise Stefanik on our joint resolutions to correct the record and clear President Trumps good name. As the resolutions relate to House-specific actions, they would not need to be approved by the Senate to take effect, and the now-majority Republican House could see fit to take them up, although its unclear if a majority of the Houses membership would agree to the unprecedented step of undoing an impeachment. Both Stefaniks and Greenes resolutions were referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, where they will be voted on by the committee before advancing to a possible floor vote at the will of Speaker of the House Kevin R. McCarthy, R-Calif. ATLANTIC CITY New York Avenue in the 1960s and 70s was viewed as a thriving oasis for the LGBTQ community. The city featured at least 10 gay bars, including the West Side Bar and Brass Rail. Today the city has a plethora of attractions, including restaurants and casinos but no gay bars. Its kind of sad, said Jordan Wooding, a 34-year-old city native. There used to be the West Side Bar, the Pro Bar in Resorts ... the Rainbow Room was another hole in the wall. If we at least had one location in the city, that would be cool. A lot of us go out. As acceptance of the community has increased over time, so have the number of places they feel safe. Theres no question that the increased acceptance or perceived acceptance of the LGBTQ lifestyle and LGBTQ people have led to the disappearance of the bars as well, because people will argue, especially younger people, that they can go to a regular bar, said Laurie Greene, an LGBTQ activist and author of the book Drag Queens and Beauty Queens: Contesting Femininity in the Worlds Playground. But thats not necessarily true for queer people of color, especially gender non-conforming people. They dont feel safe in straight bars the way that straight white men do. So that creates a real void. In Atlantic City, there were 15 to 20 bars in and around New York Avenue dating to the 1950s, although it was illegal to operate a gay bar or serve gay people, Greene said. In the 50s and 60s, bar owners could have their establishments shut down by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control if they served homosexuals, said John Schultz, a former Atlantic City councilman. That was the case for Vals Bar on New York Avenue. It wasnt until 1967 that Vals and a New Brunswick-based company, One Eleven Wines and Liquors Inc., fought against their shutdowns and won their New Jersey Supreme Court case against the ABC. And that was about a year or two before Stonewall, added Schultz, referring to the 1969 riots in New York surrounding the police raid of a gay bar. More recently, in the 1980s there were more than 1,000 gay bars in the country. Now theres less than 200 and I think something like 18 female bars in the entire country, Greene said. Schultz said dating apps like Tinder and Grindr have diminished the need for LGBTQ bars. He and his husband, Gary Hill, owned several gay bars and real estate properties in Atlantic City in the 1970s. Some of those included the Brass Rail on Mount Vernon Avenue, Studio 5 Disco on South Kentucky Avenue and Studio Six. Technically why theres no gay bar in Atlantic City is because the only places with gay bars now are in major cities like San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia they all have gay bars. And then most of the gay bars are a mixture between straight and gay, said Schultz. And so as the Grindr and then the gay dating sites came, these young kids, they dont need to go to a bar, you know? I mean, in those days, you read where to go in the newspaper. Even as acceptance has grown, some still dont feel comfortable going to many city establishments. Jeremy Kelly, of Atlantic City, will go to any bar or restaurant in the city to have a good time, but his friend, Jessie Cherlin, who is Black, said he doesnt feel like hes allowed to be himself when he goes to places that arent his usual safe spots. Im 6 foot tall, but Im 6-foot-9 in heels, Cherlin said. I feel like Im just being stared at or laughed at. AtlantiCare highlights health equity efforts at DEI summit ATLANTIC CITY With the past several years bringing health inequities to the forefront, the Cherlin and Kelly both like going to places like Rhythm and Spirits on Tennessee Avenue, the Anchor Rock Club and the former Bourre on New York Avenue. They also said they go to the AC Pride monthly mixers to meet others in the community. Id throw us in as allies, said Greg Mungan, production manager for Anchor Rock Club. Having diverse programming is important to us, including pride programming. Were always interested in making it a comfortable setting for people of all walks of life to come out, including folks in the queer community. Mungan said Anchor Rock Club would still be doing all-inclusive events regardless of being the site of the former Chez Paree Night Club. He was honored to occupy the same space as what was a central location for what was a gay neighborhood from the 60s to the 80s. Its definitely been very helpful for us to connect the dots with the pride/queer community because we occupy the same space, a natural inclination for people that used to go there, on the lookout for their space more, said Mungan, who has hosted events with Wooding for his monthly drag cabarets, AC Pride and other organizations. Its important for us to be an ally and celebrate what is clearly a rich tradition in Atlantic City. Judah Dorrington, the citys LGBTQ+ liaison, said it was important to have different kinds of safe places that facilitate empowerment and entrepreneurship, in addition to providing information, resources and programs for the community. Yeah, we need a gay bar, but what were also interested in is safety, health, enhancing LGBTQ+ wealth, said Dorrington. There are more gay spaces non-alcoholic or sober spaces, and day spaces beyond the bar. GALLERY: John Schultz and Atlantic City's gay scene An Ontario, Canada, man is facing sex abuse charges in Scott County after he allegedly drove to Bettendorf to have sex with a 15-year-old girl he met online, Bettendorf Police said. Tevontaye Emmannuel Elliott, 22, of Oshawa, Ontario, is charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse. Each of the charges is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years. Elliott also is charged with one count of indecent exposure, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Bettendorf Police Officer Jeremy Salsberry, at 2:47 p.m. Friday, a woman called Bettendorf Police to Veterans Memorial Park after seeing a couple engaged in a sex act in the front seat of a 2018 Honda Civic. Officers arrived on the scene and observed Elliott on top of the victim in the front passenger seat. Elliott is more than four years older than the victim. The age of consent in Iowa is 16. During a post-Miranda interview, Elliott admitted that between May 13 and May 18, he traveled from his home in Ontario to spend time with the 15-year-old girl. He admitted that on two occasions, he had sexual relations with the girl at the Clarion Pointe hotel, 815 Golden Valley Drive. Elliott admitted to police he has no local ties to the area and no local employment. The victim requested an order of protection. During a first appearance on the charges Saturday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Christine Frederick scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for June 30. Frederick ordered that Elliott be held without bond in the Scott County Jail. For nearly a year, a clinic at Western Illinois University has provided gender-affirming care at its Quad-Cities campus amid a national environment increasingly hostile to transgender and non-binary individuals. The WIU LGBTQ+ clinic has become a source for gender-affirming assessments in the Quad-Cities area with free services. Assistant Professor Dr. Haley Wikoff heads the WIU clinic, bringing her experience at the former LGBTQ clinic at the University of Iowa. While the WIU clinic doesnt administer treatment options, a letter of support from the clinic may mean the world for people on their transitional journey. This was just an opportunity to have a free option and to be able to connect Western Illinois to the community, Wikoff said. If anything, we are providing a service that just makes all the barriers and nastiness that they (transgender and nonbinary individuals) have to face elsewhere; we take some of that away in here. Psychosocial assessment The LGBTQ+ clinic is specifically catered to trans and non-binary individuals. Wikoff and interning students who are part of WIUs Counselor Education program can assess and provide letters of support to those interested in hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery. Clients start by setting up an appointment for a psychosocial assessment, which allows the doctor to get an in-depth look into a clients background and how treatment will impact their lives. It really just goes through getting to understand the client in front of you, she said. Getting to understand their story of their gender identity, any history of gender dysphoria, how they came to know who they were. The clinic follows the World Professional Association for Transgender Health standards required for providing gender-affirming care. WPATH requires the individual to be 18 years or older while consenting or having a parents consent for any treatment, be diagnosed with gender dysphoria and indicate a controlled mental health history. Gender dysphoria is the condition that affects many transgender people, of feeling inconsistent with their assigned gender at birth and often causes complications to their lives when they arent able to authenticate their identity. Treatments related to gender affirmation often require one or two referral letters for insurance companies and surgeons before their procedures. The latest version of the Standards of Care for WPATH version 8 issued that now only one letter from a provider is required, but Wikoff says many providers still follow the seventh edition that requires two. Literally any mental health provider has the skills to do it (the assessment), and unfortunately theres just so many that dont understand it and dont know that they could be providing the service, she said. Individuals are often able to use the results of the assessment as a valid analysis to see if they have gender dysphoria, or if other attributes in their mental health may be contributing. External factors are also considered when clients indicate how accepted they feel in their community, considering aspects like if theyve revealed their identity to friends or if they know theyll be called the correct pronouns at school. With individuals in the trans community, having some sort of meaningful close relationship and support of their gender identity is incredibly important in order for them to be comfortable, Wikoff said. Wikoff is clear with the risks and benefits for different procedures clients may be interested in, but she says factors that are discussed during their assessment including their mental and medical history are necessary. We talk about 'do no harm' and the 'best interest of the client' and all those things. I know that a client is considering a transition, yet they have no support at home, at work, at school, from friends, she said. I mean not that they cant do that, but I think its important that they have a conversation about how that might impact them if they are navigating this transition on their own. Clinic offers counseling internships Even while being based at the campus, Wikoff says 100% of her clients are from the Illinois and Iowa community. She has had students request psychosocial assessments, but many use their own medical provider at home. Still, she says the college has done much to support the clinic and the LGBTQ+ community at the campus. Students who are part of the clinical counseling track at WIU can intern at the clinic and work with the doctor to conduct the assessments and work hands-on with individuals. Jill Hayden, former counseling major and graduate of WIU, volunteered at the clinic and attributes her confidence working with LGBTQ+ clients at her current agency with her time at the clinic. I work with a lot of individuals in the LGBTQ+ communities, so just having that practice, you know, using pronouns and chosen names of people and all that kind of gender affirming stuff that I've got practice has been helpful to me, she said. Wikoff notes that additional barriers limiting trans individuals access to medical care and coverage have become increasingly present nationwide. Iowa's recent ban on gender-affirming care for minors has added to the stigma, Wikoff said. I think just the climate in general, I think there was upwards of 437 bills that were proposed across the United States related to LGBTQ, or more specifically trans kinds of bans, she said. You feel the weight when youre talking with someone. Wikoff hopes for expansion While Wikoff works the clinic by herself this summer, shes seen as many cases from May to June as she'd seen for the entire school year. Plans for the clinics expansion is still a dream for her, but the potential to offer free ongoing counseling services alongside the current assessments arent too far off with the growing expansion of their services and the colleges collaboration. For now, Wikoff hopes to continue the clinics current progress, as a resource for the community. Those who want to request an appointment can contact LGBTQ-Clinic@wiu.edu or call 309-762-1876. Thousands of South Koreans rallied in central Seoul Saturday to urge the Japanese government to build more storage facilities on land for nuclear-contaminated water instead of discharging it into the sea. Produced by Xinhua Global Service A Fort Smith, Arkansas, woman has been arrested in connection with the March 2021 overdose death of a man at a Walcott hotel, according to the Scott County Sheriffs Department. Phyllis Andrea Lee, 35, is charged in Scott County District Court with one count of involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the March 3, 2021, overdose death of William Harmon, 39, of Newburgh, Indiana. She is accused of providing the drugs on which Harmon overdosed. The charge is a Class D felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of five years. Lee also is charged with one count of ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of 25 years, and possession with the intent to deliver heroin, a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of 10 years. Lee is the second person arrested in connection with Harmons death. Paulette Hicks, 62, of Rock Island, was arrested June 1 on one count each of ongoing criminal conduct and possession with the intent to deliver heroin. Hicks is scheduled to be arraigned July 6 in Scott County District Court. Hicks was being held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail on a bond of $25,000, cash or surety. Lee, who was arrested Wednesday, made a first appearance on the charges against her Thursday in Scott County District Court. During the hearing Magistrate Douglas Wells scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for June 30. Wells also set Lees bond at $50,000, cash only. Lee continued to be held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail. The arrests of Lee and Hicks concluded a more than two-year investigation into Harmon's death. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Scott County Sheriffs Sgt. Eric Burton, early on the morning of March 3, 2021, deputies found Harmon dead inside his hotel room at the Days Inn, 2889 N. Plainview Road, Walcott. Deputies located a used syringe and a spoon with an unknown residue near his body. Investigators who interviewed Harmons associates said that he was part of a traveling sales crew staying at the hotel and that he was a heroin addict. A report from the Iowa State Patrols Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory showed that the spoon tested positive for heroin, fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl. An autopsy determined that Harmon died of acute intoxication by the combined effects of heroin, fentanyl, hydrocodone, acetyl fentanyl, and alcohol. Hotels records showed the sales crew arrived at the hotel on Feb. 17, 2021. On March 23, 2021, Burton interviewed an associate of Harmons who stated they witnessed Harmon obtain heroin from Phyllis Lee inside Lees hotel room just hours before his death. Hotel surveillance video showed Harmon leaving Lees hotel room before going into his own room approximately six hours before he was found dead. Surveillance video also showed Lee knocking on Harmons door at about 12:24 a.m. on the morning of March 3, 2021, but no one answered. Immediately after Harmon was found dead, the witness told Burton that Lee stated she was worried about getting arrested for dealing heroin to Harmon, which caused his death. The witness also told Burton that whenever the sales crew settled in a new city, Lee always found a local drug supplier. She would then supply the rest of the sales crew with their drugs of choice. The witness told Burton that locally, Lee got her heroin from Hicks in Rock Island and was able to provide Burton with a phone number as Lee had used the witnesss phone to call Hicks. On April 20, 2021, another witness also told Burton that Lee was worried about being arrested for dealing heroin to Harmon. That witness also told Burton that Lee was the primary supplier of drugs for the sales crew. Lee would obtain the drugs from someone locally and then distribute it to the crew at the hotel. On May 27, 2021, a search warrant was served on Hicks home in Rock Island. Officers seized small amounts of heroin, cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Hicks consented to an interview and told Burton that she had known Lee for months and knew her to be staying in a Walcott hotel. Hicks knew Lee to be a heroin addict and supplied Lee with heroin on a daily basis for the duration of the time Lee was in Walcott, which was about a month. Hicks was released at that time pending further investigation but was arrested June 1 on the drug and criminal conduct charges. At least six lawsuits have been filed in Scott County court aiming to hold the building owner and others liable for the building collapse at 324 Main St. in Davenport. After the collapse May 28, three men were found dead and an estimated 100 households were displaced. And one lawyer who has not yet filed in Scott County has met with tenants of 324 Main St. and surrounding buildings about joining a class-action lawsuit. George Jones, an attorney from southern Iowa, advertised on Facebook this week meetings with attorneys from his office on Thursday, who also were surveying the damage. A class-action suit allows a single person or a small number of people to represent the interest of a larger, similar group, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch. A judge must authorize class-action status. In the days after the building fell, filings in one suit brought by tenant Mildred Harrington indicated it would seek that status. Represented by West Des Moines attorney John Goplerud, they are suing Andrew Wold, Andrew Wold Investments, LLC, Bi-State Masonry, Select Structural Engineering and the city of Davenport. City releases contracts with firms investigating the collapse The city announced June 14 it had hired two firms to investigate the partial collapse at 324 Main St., SOCOTEC and White Birch Group. Communications with those groups started before that. In a signed "work authorization agreement" dated June 5, the SOCOTEC CEO Robert Vecchio writes "Client has engaged (SOCOTEC Engineering, Inc.) to perform a forensic investigation to attempt to determine the cause and origin of the partial building collapse." The SOCOTEC agreement doesn't go into detail about work to be performed but lists hourly rates of 14 titles that range from $120 an hour to $490 an hour. The White Birch Group submitted an agreement for "investigative support services" at 324 Main St. collapse incident in an emailed memo dated June 2. The scope of services listed include reviewing documents and evidence pertinent to the building collapse, reports issued, perform site evaluations and technical analysis, prepare exhibits, issue findings and conclusions "in oral and/or report format, whichever may be requested," and provide expert witness testimony in deposition. The agreement stated the project manager, Scott Nacheman, would bill at a rate at $370 per hour. Neither agreement gave a total cost estimate. An amendment to the city budget being voted on Wednesday includes $3 million for the 324 Main St. response and contracts signed. The bulk of the $3 million is for a demolition contract with D.W. Zinser. $500,000 of it is for the public safety response. Photos: Demolition continues Tuesday on the collapsed The Davenport apartments The pilot shortage is one of the hottest topics in the aviation industry right now, and two Quad-City natives are planning to make a dent. Matt Davis is only 22, but he's known for half of his life what career he was after. At age 10, he took his first commercial flight. The captain allowed him into the flight deck to look around, and it was love at first flight. "From that moment on, I knew this is what I wanted to do as a career and kept that in mind throughout elementary school, middle school and high school," Davis said. He started flight training at 15, the legal age to begin, according to the Experimental Aircraft Association. Following his 2019 graduation from Alleman Catholic High School, and with his private pilot's license in hand, he took a gap year before enrolling in community college, then the University of Dubuque, where he studied aviation. Three years later, he graduated with a bachelors degree in aeronautical science and multiple certifications, but it came at a cost and not just the $200,000 in student loans he's racked up. "For three years I basically had no life," he said. "It was flying every single day." Following school, he shopped around for job opportunities and landed one with the Quad City Flying Eagles, a nonprofit flying club. Eventually QC Aero, a flight school that operates out of the Quad Cities International Airport, hired him as an instructor. Davis teaches flight lessons daily and is halfway to earning the 1,000 hours required to be certified as a commercial pilot. All of his students are working on private pilot's licenses, the first step. But before that, Davis recommends anyone interested in lessons try a discovery flight. During the hourlong flight, the prospective student flies with an instructor and learns about the aircraft they would possibly fly. "Not only are you going to be able to fly, but you get the opportunity to talk to someone that's gone through it," he said. "I think there's a big hurdle where people think this is out of reach, but this is definitely doable." After achieving a private license, which takes a minimum of 40 hours, students typically earn their instrument rating. This allows them to fly through the clouds. From there, most students choose to become a CFI (certified flight instructor) and build the required hours for becoming a commercial pilot. College graduates need 1,000 hours of training and those without a degree need 1,500. From there, students build their time log until they can be hired by the airlines. Airlines typically will pay for subsequent training that allows them to fly jets. Adam Hyder, 21, will begin his training in the program next month in Dallas. Growing up in Milan, Hyder was constantly watching planes leaving Quad Cities International Airport. From an early age, the world of aviation had his attention, and his parents encouraged it. "When I was 12, my parents gave me the best birthday present ever: It was a discovery flight," he said. "I just went up and flew around, and I was set at that point on flying." His dad, Mo Hyder, began flying soon after, and his son rode along with him. An instructor recommended Hyder attend a camp in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which furthered his interest. When he turned 15, he started taking lessons between his classes at Alleman, which he attended with Davis. Later, COVID hit and his instructor was taking time off to be with family. With no one in the sky, Hyder was able to fly with his dad and ultimately earn his own private pilot's license. "My dad signed me off for my first check ride (solo) ever. It was the most petrifying experience I ever had," he said. For college, Hyder enrolled in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. By staying and working through the summer, he was able to earn his degree and multiple other certifications as well as the required hours in three years. In March of this year, he interviewed with Envoy Air, a subsidiary of American Airlines. The legal age to become a corporate pilot is 21, and he hit that birthday last month. Hyder will begin his corporate career in July with training in Dallas. It will begin with orientation day, then seven weeks of training five weeks of training in Dallas and two weeks of online training. During that time, he will learn procedures, practice on a simulator, then take a check-ride to earn his airline transport license. From there he will fly with an experienced pilot who will show him the ropes of flying a jet for the first time. "After that, you get put on reserve until you have enough seniority to be able to hold a line and fly," he said. Davis is following close behind, hoping to complete his required hours by January. Despite not being certified to fly commercially just yet, he has four offers on the table. The CJO, conditional job offer, means he has completed the required interviews with the airlines and once he hits 1,000 hours, they'll call him back with the official offer. He is not sure yet which airline he will choose and has not ruled out corporate flying either, he said. The conditional job offer is a new program that started when the pilot shortage hit its peak during COVID, he said. "It really helps ensure people that when you take out the massive amount of money to do this that it will pay off eventually," he said. Both pilots chose to earn college degrees, but they are not required. Most airlines now have degrees listed as "preferred," Davis said, following a set of rules changes more than a decade ago. In February 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed on its approach to Buffalo, New York, killing 50 people onboard, according to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Pilot fatigue and lack of simulated training in stormy weather were found to be contributing factors in the crash. After an intensive investigation into the cause, 25 recommendations, ranging from pilot hiring standards and pilot training/qualification requirements to standards for rest and fatigue management, were made. A year later, the Aviation Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010, was passed by congress and signed by then-President Barack Obama. The changes included limiting the maximum amount of time pilots could be on duty, a minimum amount of rest time for pilots and requiring airlines to develop a pilot fatigue plan. For Davis, who started his aviation career fairly recently, college was the only way he knew to get to the airlines. Locally, Black Hawk College in Moline is working to develop a more affordable pathway. Dr. Richard Bush, associate vice president for economic and workforce development, said the school was in the approval process for curriculum and likely would have a soft launch in spring 2024, with a hard launch that fall. To ensure students can continue to earn credits toward their Associate in Arts degree, we are working with Revv Aviation to deliver some of the courses until full approval is received. We continue to look for additional flight schools to partner with for the aviation version of our AA degree," he said through a spokesperson. Once approved, we will be launching a certificate for drone pilots as well. We are seeking employer partners in the aircraft/airframe maintenance and avionics areas to work with us to create a program around those areas as well," Bush said. Davis and Hyder found the news encouraging, especially for young pilots who see the financial burden as an obstacle to flying. "It would have altered where I went and what I chose to do," Davis said of the BHC programs. "It would have saved me a lot of money." Despite the costs and investments in time, one thing that made aviation the choice for both pilots was the support of their parents as they worked for their dreams. "They didn't hand this to me," Davis said, adding the average cost for a private pilot's license alone is $10,000 to $15,000. Instead, he spent the summers of his high school years mowing lawns and working every job he could find in order to pay for lessons. "I worked my way from the bottom up," he said. Money was not the only thing on their minds. The danger of being in the air, coupled with the massive commitment it takes to become a commercial pilot were also concerns. But Davis said he proved to his parents quickly that he was serious about his aviation career. "My parents always said, 'The sky's your limit when it comes to this. Work hard, do your best, and God will reward you,' " he said. Hyder's parents also recognized and supported his love of aviation. His dad learning to fly, as well, created a bond and supplied him a sounding board, where he could ask the man he trusted the most for advice. "Being able to talk about it with your dad, it's a really rewarding feeling," he said. "And, of course, my mom is always on the sidelines cheering me on." Both men hope other young people see the possibilities in aviation and help bolster the number of available pilots across the industry. "When I work with someone, it is my goal for them to be better than me," Hyder said. "I think it's really important for younger people to get into it because then they have so much time to build the experience to become the next great leaders." For Davis, the skills go far beyond the walls of the airplane. Critical thinking, character building and communication skills all come with it. Hyder said he saw maturity, hard work and discipline as three more skills pilots learned. "If you take it seriously and you put the time and dedication into it, you'll develop the skills ... you can take to other aspects in your life," he said. Davis added: "The sky is your limit when it comes to aviation. If this is your passion, if this is something that you want to do, it's doable. You will make it happen." Young pilots work towards their certifications to fly commercial airline planes We all know that there are cultural differences between, say, China, and the United States. In China, which I have had the privilege of visiting on several occasions, nearly a billion people speak Mandarin Chinese (one of several languages spoken in China.) It is a tonal language with the tone of the voice indicating which word is being spoken (which makes it a beautiful language to listen to, a language that is quite musical in its spoken form and a language that is very difficult to speak). English, it should be added, is also one of the languages spoken in China. All school children are required to study English. College and university students are typically required to take at least one course taught in English. When I was a guest professor at Shanghai Normal University a few years ago, my course was one of the English courses that counted toward this requirement. Because English and Mandarin Chinese are very different languages, many Chinese speak heavily accented English. My students, who like many other Chinese had delightful senses of humor, referred to the English that they spoke as Chinglish. Because so many Chinese speak English, particularly in urban areas, learning to speak Chinese is not a prerequisite for going to China. Learning how to eat with chopsticks, however, is. At a Chinese restaurant I was at with some of my Chinese friends, a tourist inadvertently ended up entertaining those of us seated at nearby tables by attempting to eat fried rice with one chopstick held in each hand. (Chopsticks work best if they are held in one hand and used as tweezers to capture the food for the journey from the bowl to the mouth.) I have very fond memories of the students that it was my privilege to teach while I was a guest professor at Shanghai Normal University. They were remarkably similar to the students that it is my privilege to teach here at Augustana. People with hopes and dreams. People with times of success and times of failure. People with insecurities and anxieties. People who want to be treated with respect and dignity. People I like very much. My experience teaching in China led me to conclude that there is a common humanity that we can see if we look beyond the cultural differences that so often end up being divisive. And by discovering this common humanity, we more fully realize our own humanity. As regular readers of my columns know, in recent years I have had the opportunity to spend time with members of Amish communities, both in Montana and in Iowa. Once again there are significant cultural differences. They dont own cars. I have two cars (only one of which I drive the other is a vintage Mustang convertible) and a beat up old Ford pickup. Amish men do not have mustaches. I have a mustache. Amish are pacifists who do not serve in the military. I am a veteran. The Amish are a patriarchal society. I believe in equal rights for women. Yet, as in the case of the time I spent with the students that it was my privilege to teach in China, I have greatly enjoyed spending time with Amish. They are warm, gentle people who live very simple lives. They work hard and are compassionate and caring. They are people I hold in high regard. As were my students in China, they are people who remind me that there is a common humanity. They are people I like very much. The Golden Rule, which appears in many different forms in many different religious and philosophical traditions, states, What you wish done to yourself, do to others. That is good advice. We all wish to be treated with respect and dignity. Should we not treat others with respect and dignity? To fail to do so is at odds with the common humanity that we all share. To treat others with respect and dignity is an important aspect of realizing our own humanity. So also is being compassionate and understanding, including being understanding of the fears and anxieties that other people experience. So also is rejoicing with others when their hopes and dreams are realized, and grieving with them when they are not. For such it is to be human. In connection with serving on the Board of the Quad Cities Community Foundation, I recently had the privilege of hearing a report by a couple of highly motivated young people describe their experiences in Teens for Tomorrow. Teens for Tomorrow is a program of the QCCF set up to engage our areas young people in learning how to raise funds for worthwhile projects within our community. These teenagers secured over double what they were challenged to raise; and then carefully selected the worthy causes in our community to which the funds would be directed. This wonderful initiative brought to mind a couple of things. First, that our Quad Cities youth are highly motivated and committed to causes helping those in need. Too often, we who are older may tend to see Millennials and Generation Zers as so preoccupied with social media and computer games that theyre indifferent to the world around them. They clearly are not. They recognize the problems we face problems they will inherit and are keen to do something about it. Second, this experience reminded me again of the value of civic engagement; of seeking ways we can contribute to making the world, or at least our corner of it in the Quad-Cities, a better place. Some years ago, when I was mayor of Rock Island, I would occasionally be invited to grade schools to read and visit with students. Frequently, Id find a way to ask them what they were most proud of having done in their young lives. Almost invariably, the answers concerned helping someone else: whether aiding a struggling fellow student with homework, or befriending someone who was lonely, or maybe even protecting another child from bullying. If we ask ourselves what it is that were most proud of in our lives, quite likely our answer will be the same. Its not how much money weve made or how many toys weve accumulated that matter. Instead, our most memorable moments generally involve something we did for someone else - maybe even someone who didnt expect it - but that made their lives a little better. Whether helping with the church food pantry, or volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity homebuilding project, or serving on the school board or other local board or commission, what we do for others gives life its greatest satisfaction and meaning. This, in turn, brought to mind how in our challenging times, we often focus on what divides rather than unites us. Whether over questions of immigration policy, or gender identity, or the proper role of government in addressing reform or change, we tend to circle the wagons with folks we agree with and shut out all others. In the process, we can become defensive and isolated. In following this path, we forego the enormous satisfaction that comes from helping our neighbors regardless of our differences. The farmer whose barn burns down can count on his or her neighbor to pitch in to help raise a new one; quite likely, regardless of political differences. In the same way, the person who loses a close family member can rely on his or her workmates to provide sympathy and support through the time of grief. Foundational to all of the worlds great religions is a teaching that we should have as much concern for our neighbors as for ourselves. We are, after all, social animals that have thrived over the millennia not by back-biting and suppressing one another, but by working together and helping each other experience a better outcome for all. Civic mindedness is not just a source of intense personal satisfaction. It represents as well the basic building block of social progress and well-being. UPDATE (6/25/23 @ 9:00 a.m.): OST DPS confirmed that Yellow Hair has been located safe. The Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety is asking for the publics help to locate a missing man. Elmer Yellow Hair, Jr., 51, was last seen on June 18 walking east on Highway 18 from the Gordon Junction. Yellow Hair was wearing a light pink t-shirt, blue jeans and black shoes. He stands 5-foot-10-inches and weighs 165 lbs with black-and-gray hair and brown eyes. Yellow Hair also has a surgery scar and plate on his left ankle, and an infinity tattoo on his left ring finger. Last year, Yellow Hair was involved in an auto accident. It is believed he suffered some brain damage that might impair his cognitive abilities. He walks a lot and could be lost. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Oglala Sioux Tribe Dispatch at (605) 867-5111. I am amazing, I believe in myself, I am beautiful inside and out. I am capable of anything I wanna do, and I'm doing a great job. I am excellent, and I have faith in me, I have great ideas, And I'm so happy that I am alive. - You Are Amazing by Lindsay Muller HEARTism is still a center of love and appreciation for all who visit, but in a new location. HEARTism moved from Corvallis to Hamilton at the end of April. The new center has a sensory play area, a sensory bubble tube area, a large art area, a handicapped-accessible restroom and a work, storage and basic food prep area. It is a smaller space, but we really like it, said Jessica Fitzpatrick, executive director. Since weve moved in here, weve doubled our art classes. We were doing one art class every Monday, but we are so full we are doing two and they are both full. On Wednesday, the HEARTism Center had an open play sensory time from 3 to 4 p.m., then participants joined a music therapy class with Raine Cope. The group area of the center seated around 20 attendees in a sharing circle. Parents, caregivers and youth enjoyed Copes vocals and guitar playing as everyone, of all abilities, clapped, waved and stomped with the opening song Everybodys welcome, it is music time. In a call-and-response style, Cope taught them the tune and words of You Are Amazing by Lindsay Muller. I am amazing, I believe in myself, I am beautiful inside and out. I am capable of anything I wanna do, and I'm doing a great job. I am excellent, and I have faith in me, I have great ideas, and I'm so happy that I am alive. Raines music therapy class often makes me tear up from the lyrics of her empowering songs, Fitzpatrick said. Our kids are important and amazing and deserve to be told so every day. HEARTism started in November of 2016 offering services to children and families with special needs. It became western Montanas only Certified Autism Center in 2020 and became its own 501(c)(3) this past January. We are the only organization of our kind, and some of our families travel as much as an hour each way to attend our programs, Fitzpatrick said. Our certification includes two certified autism specialists and 30 community volunteers trained in sensory awareness. Volunteers include many local fire and police officers. HEARTism has two AmeriCorps Vista staff helping with summer programming. When the Corvallis buildings owner sold the building, HEARTism had to relocate. We were sad to move but we really like it here, Fitzpatrick said. Hamilton has really welcomed us. A lot of people and businesses are supportive. Evans Ace Hardware has been fantastic in getting settled. The Corvallis location had a full kitchen, but the new location does not, so the HEARTism board got creative and installed a kitchen-type area with cupboards, a counter, a microwave and a mini fridge, donated by Ace. Ace helped us get our backroom set up too, Fitzpatrick said. We had no storage. Weve had lots of little blessings from community members. It has been fantastic. The sensory bubble tube area provides a place for overstimulated youth to retreat to, yet still watch programming. It has little vibrations, you can hear the bubbles, you can see them and feel them, it is all sensory, Fitzpatrick said. Sequoia (Fitzpatrick's daughter) loves it and it is her corner to be out of the main group. Overstimulated youth will just naturally go to that space. According to its website, it is "a certified autism center providing a safe space for children and teens to thrive in our community. The vision is Bringing families together to celebrate the diverse gifts of children and young adults of all abilities through creative activities in a welcome environment to encourage a life beyond labels. The focus is exploring the arts, music, dance, nutrition, and life skill activities while offering support and education to families and the community. Fitzpatrick said HEARTism is looking for a pediatric therapist (PT, OT, Speech or other therapy) in search of a professional space to use the center when it is not holding HEARTism classes. It would just help us pay for our space, Fitzpatrick said. There are more people in the valley and a lot of people are looking for spaces. If we could partner up it would be a winwin. If interested, email her at heartism406@gmail.com. The HEARTism Center offers summer programming, and the July and August calendars are nearly full with art classes, sensory play, social groups, farm camp, music classes, ropes course, and theatre camps. HEARTism is located at 1720 N. 1 St., Suite G, in the mini-mall just south of Splash car wash, across from Mildenberger Motors. The HEARTism website is Heartism406.org. Growing up in Darby, 16-year-old Devyn Hundley has been around rodeo pretty much all of his life. His dad, Josh Hundley, and his uncle, Kenny Beall, were both in rodeo, and whether it was sheep, steers or bulls, from the time he was little, Devyn knew he wanted to follow in their footsteps. That's been his dream since he was two, said his mom, Amy Hundley, at the Darby Rodeo Arena on Wednesday. This is where it all happened. He started riding when he was six, and we just love supporting him. This is what he wants to do, and we push him to do it. Hundley recently retained his title as Montana High School Rodeo Association Bull Riding Champion at the High School Rodeo State Finals, June 5-10 in Great Falls, scoring 73 on his Thursday ride, and a 64 on Friday. This year was a little bit different, Devyn Hundley said. Last year, I was coming into state fourth. So I kind of had to work for it. This year, I came into state at first. So it's a little bit of pressure. The two-time state bull-riding champ is now preparing to compete in the 2023 National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming, July 16-20. This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the event and will feature more than 1,700 contestants from 44 states, Canada, Australia, Mexico and New Zealand. Participants will be competing for more than $150,000 in prizes and more than $375,000 in college scholarships. Cal Rourke, president of the Darby Rodeo Association and founder of the Darby Rodeo Arena, has watched Hundley compete since he was little boy, and was by Hundleys side when he took his first ride on a steer at 8 years old. As the years went by, Rourke eventually passed on his old gear bag and bull rope to Hundley. He says he looks at the young bull rider like his own grandson. I've been around Devyn ever since he was a little kid. He's one of those kinds of guys who always had a pair of cowboy boots on and a pair Wranglers and a cowboy hat, Rourke said. As things just progressed, he just kept getting a little tougher and tougher. And I kind of wondered then if he was gonna break. This game, it's tough. I mean, it's brutal. And as you can see now, he's coming along really well. I think if he can stay healthy the chances of him going on and doing well, I think are excellent. He's got that not-give-up spirit. Hundley said hes been feeling a bit of pressure going into the national competition, but is looking forward to the trip and catching up with friends hes made through the rodeo circuit over the years. Hundley competed at the National High School Rodeo Finals in 2022 as well. He said the event has an energy to it you can feel just being there. Theyre really talented people, Hundley said. We're all friends, so we all get along. We all kind of cheer for each other. When somebody else gets on and I'm there helping them, it kind of hypes me up. Hundleys success in bull riding hasnt come without some pain and suffering along the way though. At last years NILE Stockshow and Rodeo in Billings Hundley got stomped riding his first PRCA bull. The bull came down on his left calf. He developed a hematoma in his leg and spent a month on crutches. Hundleys mom, Amy, said it can be hard watching her son from the sidelines sometimes, but shes learned to take her cues from Devyn as hes progressed in the sport. If he seems pretty mellow and pretty calm, then I know that it's okay, she said. He's only had a couple of times where he's told me, I'm a little nervous. So then that makes my heart drop a little bit. Other than that, he does what he does. I know that he loves to do it, so I go with it. Beyond the crowds and the competition, when Hundley is riding a bull, everything else seems to fade into the background. It definitely feels like time slows by a lot, he said. "It doesn't feel like eight seconds at all. It feels like youre on top of the bull for like five minutes. Youre just trying to really follow the bull. Rourke has high hopes for Hundley heading into the competition in Wyoming. He's got his head screwed on right, he really does, Rourke said. It's a whole different world when he goes to nationals. The main thing is to keep your head screwed on and not get cocky. You gotta earn every one of those rides, you don't ever get one given to you. In rodeo, you don't get things given to you. TIANJIN, June 25 (Xinhua) -- A 12,000-square-meter manufacturing factory of German company Big Dutchman in north China's Tianjin Municipality is in full swing. Poultry farming equipment rolled off automated production lines, with a few workers operating the intelligent system. Neatly stacked products on the shelves by the wall would be soon delivered to customers across China. Established in 1938, Big Dutchman is one of the world's largest suppliers of feeding systems and housing equipment for modern pig and poultry production. As the company's only production factory and logistics center in China, the Tianjin base, founded in 1997, has businesses involving marketing, production, services, procurement, and logistics. "China is a pillar market for the company's business growth. We still have great development potential in China in the future," said Walter Benz, president of Big Dutchman China. After 30 years of development in China, Big Dutchman's business in China is on the up-and-up, with an annual output value of around 1 billion yuan (about 139 million U.S. dollars), contributing one-eighth to the company's total global output. Currently, the company's customers and suppliers are all over China, and sales branches have been set up in many Chinese cities, such as Guangzhou and Chengdu. To meet the trend of China's intelligent manufacturing development and better help Chinese customers manage their farms, Big Dutchman has made large investments in digitalized breeding systems and equipment to enhance its products' competitiveness in China. In the near future, the company plans to build its first insect farm in China to provide organic feed for poultry breeding and extend the industry chain, and it also decided to design a new automated breeding greenhouse to enrich the product portfolio. Like Big Dutchman, many German companies, including Flender, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and Leybold, have cooperated well with Tianjin for many years. According to statistics from the Tianjin municipal bureau of commerce, as of May 2023, Tianjin has 471 German-invested enterprises, involving the fields of equipment manufacturing, automobile manufacturing, and electrical and mechanical manufacturing. The cumulative contracted foreign investment of these companies has reached nearly 5.7 billion U.S. dollars, and the accumulated actual utilized foreign investment has exceeded 4 billion U.S. dollars. China has been Germany's most important trading partner for seven years in a row. German corporations invested a record 11.5 billion euros in China in 2022, according to the German Economic Institute report released in March. Recently, Siemens announced a plan to increase investments in China, including an additional 1.1 billion yuan in fixed asset investment for its industrial automation products China smart manufacturing base in southwest China's Chengdu City. German chemical giant BASF continues to see China as a future growth market and is willing to strengthen its business in China to continue its momentum of development. According to data from the German Institute for Economic Research, direct investment by Germany in China is still on the rise. According to a survey published by the German Chamber of Commerce in China in June, about 55 percent of the responded German companies plan to increase investment in China in the coming two years. "To achieve long-term development in China, we plan to establish a second production base and logistics center in south China to meet the increasingly developing Chinese market," said Benz. In the next five years, the company is looking forward to increasing its output value in China to 1.5 billion yuan and will continue to share the growth potential of the Chinese market, Benz added. Too many thrillers rely on a single factor plot to carry the novel. But not Polly Stewarts debut in the genre, The Good Ones (Harper, $30, 304 pages). On Aug. 10, 2001, 23-year-old Lauren Ballard vanishes from fictional Tyndall County, a small locality in Virginias Blue Ridge Mountains. Sixteen years later, a friend, Nicola Bennett, now 37 and out of work after teaching at several small colleges across the nation, returns to Tyndall, still haunted by Laurens disappearance. As she reconnects with other Tyndall residents including Laurens husband, Warren Ballard, her daughter, Mabry, and Warrens brother, Sean she wonders if Lauren is a murder victim or a runaway wife. Stewart born in Radford, raised in Roanoke, educated at Hollins University lives in Lexington, where she teaches English and creative writing at Virginia Military Institute. Her Old Dominion background and fertile imagination provide the splendid components that elevate The Good Ones to excellence: an intelligent and intricate storyline that features a multilayered array of twists, a cluster of carefully nurtured characters, descriptive prose (floodwater rose over the tops of the grass wobbling like a mousse) and surprising references to Schrodingers cat, whether alive or not, and poet Sylvia Plath, definitely dead. But the focus lies on complex, conflicted Nicola, as she gradually sheds the emotional cataracts that cloud her vision about the past, the townspeople and herself in this accomplished festival of secrets and deceit. Who gets the last word? Advice to book critics, pro and amateur: Before you post a review that crosses the line from adverse to antagonistic to acerbic, consider the authors reaction, especially if he writes with clownish but intense overkill. Thats what reclusive Emma Carpenter faces in Taylor Adams thriller The Last Word (William Morrow, $30, 352 pages). Emma, a math teacher, fled Utah with her beloved dog to coastal Strand Beach, a remote site in Washington state, after the loss of her husband, Shawn. Shes housesitting for Jules Julie Phelps, who resides in Oregon. Her only neighbor, Deacon Deek Cowl, is a quarter-mile away. Having read Murder Mountain by H.G. Kane, Emma posts a brutally negative online review saying, among other criticisms, that she has never been happier to see the words The End. Kane replies and asks her to remove her review. Emma declines, and Kanes requests become increasingly threatening. And when she has reason to think that shes being observed, her fear morphs into panic and determination. And the carnage commences. Adams lives in Washington state with a golden retriever and a Chihuahua. He forges a terrifying storyline complete with two major twists that commands unrelenting attention. And he paints vivid portraits of the principal characters, leaving no portion of their inner lives unrevealed. Inspired and intelligent, The Last Word offers a propulsive plot layered with grit and gloom, death and deception. A deluge of deception We remember floods that kill thousands, such as the 2005 killer spawned by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Or those near us, such as the record-breaking deluge from the remnants of Hurricane Camille that in Virginia took the lives of over 150 souls in 1969, mostly in Nelson County. Smaller inundations often escape our notice. But not the one around which Samantha Jayne Allen structures her second novel, Hard Rain (Minotaur, $27.99, 352 pages), which, like its predecessor, features budding private investigator Annie McIntyre in rural Garnett, Texas. When ministerial wife Bethany Richter is caught in a flood, shes saved by a young man who is swept away and remains missing. Annie the granddaughter of former Sheriff Leroy McIntyre and the employee of Mary-Pat Zimmerman (Leroys former partner) is assigned the case. She cant find the rescuer, but she discovers a victim shot to death. What follows in this tense and twist-laden thriller encompasses preachers and pharmaceuticals, neer-do-wells and neighbors and leaves the reader gasping at Allens mastery of storyline and characters. As they intersect in stunning ways, Allen fosters arresting reading and thoughtful response. And her prose, as tough as an old stone fence and as resonant with grace as Scripture, provides the perfect phrasing to accompany the plot and shed light on the cast. In no way are these narrative downpours solely the showers of blessing that are promised in the old Baptist hymn. Allens hard rain stands instead for the power of torrents to torment and simultaneously for the mercy drops that provide a measure of justice and peace. The Hokie Storm Chasers have returned to the Plains for another chase. An annual event led by David Carroll, a meteorology instructor at Virginia Tech, this years chase includes a dozen students and five professional meteorologists, who will intercept severe storms and work to better understand how they form. Among those on the trip is rising senior Edward Shaw III, a 2020 graduate of Cosby High School in Chesterfield County. The appeal of storm chasing stood out to him as a reason to attend Virginia Tech. I saw the different things that the Hokie Storm Chasers were doing, so that was a big part of my decision for college, Shaw said. This is his first chase, and he cautions about reality versus expectations. Its not what a lot of people see on television or on the Twitter-verse. The road situation stands out a little bit more than I expected, and I dont think that is something that is talked about on television or on Twitter, he said. The vast size of the Plains makes it difficult to reach storms without continuous planning for the subsequent chase days. Road conditions and networks vary over such a large area, and there is concern that too many other chasers will follow the same storm, in what has become known as chaser convergence. It becomes an especially large problem during the peak severe weather season in April and May. Shaw acknowledges, Its actually the reason we pushed the chase back to June. Shaw and the rest of the students make the key decisions on where to chase, with guidance from Carroll and the other professionals on the trip. After a long discussion and a weather analysis first thing in the morning, the team decided to head north on Friday morning, from the plains of Colorado into eastern Wyoming, where conditions looked the best for storm development. Carroll has been leading the chases since 1992, but he wants students to learn by making their own decisions. He adds, Thats what makes this trip a little bit different from some of the others out there, because the students call the shots. He said the presence of him and the professionals serves as a failsafe. We try to keep ourselves safe in that near-storm environment, which can be a really, really volatile place to be. Their success rate over the years is pretty good. Carroll recalls, About 90% of the trips we nab at least one tornado. Weve been out during some really active patterns weve seen anywhere between no tornadoes to a couple of dozen in one trip. They do have capacity limits, as the logistics of getting more than a dozen people together on such a trip are challenging. The team takes three minivans, each outfitted with computers and functional radar. What we are trying to do is keep the students engaged. Everybody has access to the weather data, they all help navigate, and they all take turns on the hot seat where they are running the radar on a storm day, Carroll continued. So far, they have managed to catch a few storms on this trip, and the chase will likely continue into this week, depending on how the weather pattern evolves. And they will likely do it all again next year. The Hokie Storm Chasers have a Facebook page for those who want to go along virtually for the ride. In recent years, the deaths of Black men in police custody have sparked calls for law enforcement agencies to obtain and deploy body-worn cameras, and in some cases, make the video recorded from them available for public viewing. In the Roanoke and New River valleys, some departments have yet to answer that call. The cost to obtain equipment and the staff to maintain them present significant barriers to smaller departments. And rural departments dont see the same demand for cameras as urban ones, which tend to run more calls. Among the departments that have body cameras are sheriffs offices in the counties of Roanoke, Franklin and Montgomery, plus police departments in the cities of Salem, Roanoke and Radford and the towns of Christiansburg and Vinton. The Botetourt County Sheriffs Office and the Roanoke County Police Department dont have body cameras, and neither agency has immediate plans to obtain the equipment. Roanoke County Police Chief Michael Poindexter said deploying body-worn cameras demands more manpower. The problem with getting body cams for every officer becomes storage of the data that you receive. It has to be reviewed, Poindexter said. We would have to work in hand with the commonwealths attorney, because once that video is in our possession, it has to be reviewed by them, as well, for cases that go to court. It almost doubles or triples the amount of manpower it would take to maintain it once you get it. But the Blacksburg Police Department has taken steps to secure funding for body-worn cameras. Lt. Kale Craver, the departments public information officer, said that the department has signed a contract and has plans to obtain and deploy the equipment as early as this fall. Each officer will be equipped with a [body-worn camera] and they will work in conjunction with the current vehicle camera system, Craver said in an email. The cameras [are] being funded by the [citys] Capital Improvement Program, or CIP. According to Blacksburgs recommended CIP for fiscal years 2023 through 2028, the technology upgrade will cost nearly $450,000 and be complete by spring 2024. It is not uncommon today for police to encounter citizens who are recording their contact with the police. Our officers respond without the benefit of body-worn cameras as an investigative tool, the recommended CIP reads. Creating a timeline of events for a specific day from the voice recording of police radio traffic is a daunting task. Both the Blacksburg and Roanoke County departments have equipped all of their patrol cars with dash cameras. Blacksburg has 44 of them, and Roanoke County has 86. Poindexter said every officer using a patrol vehicle is equipped with a microphone. If your car is equipped with a video camera, you have a body mic, as well. You keep the microphone with you, Poindexter said. The Salem Police Department had dash cameras long before it had body-cameras. Chief Mike Crawley said because officers were used to in-car cameras, it wasnt a shock to officers to have to wear body cameras. Crawley said the Salem department was at the forefront of body-worn camera deployment in the region. Their officers started wearing them in 2012, eight years before the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, spurred calls for law enforcement reform. Weve had in-car dash cameras my entire career here, said Crawley, who began patrolling as a Salem officer in 1999. I think we were probably one of the first departments in Virginia to actually start deploying body cameras. Chief Sam Roman said the Roanoke Police Department was also far ahead of the curve. He said many of the restrictive use of force policies called for in the 8 Cant Wait campaign that launched after Floyds death were already in place in Roanoke in 2020. The things that communities were calling for in 2020, we actually had them in practice since the early 2000s, and some even earlier than that, Roman said. Excessive force reviews Roanokes department annually publish a use of force analysis report, a biased-based policing report and a citizen complaints analysis report. Anytime theres a use of force, every use of force that is used, that is reviewed on multiple levels, all the way up to the assistant chief, Roman said, just to ensure that the force was used as commensurate to the level of resistance that was being given by an individual perhaps who does not want to go to jail. The 2022 use of force report came out in April. It says that there were 241 police incidents that required the use of force by one or more officers in 2022, and 406 officers reported using force in those 241 incidents. The primary reason for officers using force continues to involve subjects who are resisting arrest or fleeing, the report continues. Forty-three percent of all 241 use of force incidents involved a fleeing or resisting subject, 18% involved a possible weapon, 17% involved non-compliance and 15% involved a traffic stop or an eluding subject. In 35% of all force use instances in 2022, officers reported using their hands against a subject. But the analysis report indicates an increase from the previous year in firearm displays by officers. There were 29 more instances of officers displaying their handguns in 2022 than in 2021 and 41 more times when compared to 2019, the report reads. Of those 115 handgun displays, however, only a single officer actually fired their handgun in 2022. On the decline is officers use of pepper spray, or OC spray. Of the use of force instances in 2020, 12% involved the spray, followed by 4% in 2021 and 8% in 2022. Of the 15 officers who used OC Spray more than once in 2020, eight of them no longer work for the department and four have since moved into different assignments where there is typically much less opportunity to be involved in a use of force situation, the report explains. The department reported seven use of force complaints in 2017, 11 in 2018, one in 2019, seven in 2020 and three in 2021. The departments Professional Standards Unit has reported online that 50 allegations were made against officers in 2022. The preliminary data doesnt indicate how many of those complaints were force-related. Between 2017 and 2021, only three officers were either suspended or left the department due to citizen complaints. All three of those cases occurred in 2018, according to the annual citizen complaints report. Whether the associated complaints were related to racial profiling or excessive force is unclear in the 2018 report. Roanoke Countys department reported it has received three excessive force complaints since 2017 one in 2017, one in 2018 and one in 2022 but they were all not sustained. We like to think that were always transparent. Our doors are always open, Poindexter said. If someone feels theres an issue, we will address it. The Roanoke County department and one of its officers are the subject of a federal wrongful death lawsuit that claims the officer shot an unarmed man who was in the midst of a mental breakdown in his home in November 2021. A federal judge this month declined to dismiss the suit against Officer Matthew Jennings, allowing the case to proceed to the discovery stage. Roman said that while his Roanoke department embraces body-worn cameras, there is just a whole bigger, broader conversation that we never get to in terms of accountability. As many people die in the operating room, if not more, than at the hands of law enforcement, but we have never entertained ensuring that cameras and recording devices are in an operating room, Roman said. The Roanoke department recently said it has 202 certified, sworn officers who are required to wear body cameras. All sworn officers and animal wardens are currently assigned and required to wear a body camera when working in a uniformed capacity, Elizabeth Spar, the departments FOIA clerk, said in an email. The departments most recent roster listed 197 certified, sworn officers, five pre-certified transfers who are currently at the police academy, eight non-certified recruits who are assigned cameras during the academy and three animal wardens. The department has 299 functioning cameras, though, including 269 allotted to sworn officers and animal wardens for daily use when at full staff and 30 secondary cameras for our tactical response team operators, Spar said, adding that five of those 30 are spares. The department also has 96 patrol-style vehicles, all of which are equipped with in-car cameras, Spar said. The Salem Police Department has 70 body worn cameras, and all officers are required to wear them while on patrol. It also has 17 marked cars assigned to patrol that are equipped with dash cameras. Crawley said the captured footage allows the department to assess its own officers. We dont wait for a citizen to complain on an officer before we go back and see what his conduct looked like. We require supervisors to do quarterly reviews of both in-car camera footage and body camera footage, Crawley said. If there are some behaviors or conduct that is not to standard, were able to identify it early and make those corrections. Public release of videos The Roanoke Times recently submitted a request for dash camera footage of the pursuit under Virginias Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. The Salem police denied the request. Video camera footage is considered criminal investigation information or material. As such, it is exempted from mandatory disclosure, Crawley wrote in a letter, citing Virginia FOIA code. Police are required by law to release some information related to felony offenses to the media, including a general description of the criminal activity reported, the date, time and general location of the alleged crime, the identity of the investigating officer or other point of contact and a description of any injuries suffered or property damaged or stolen. If an investigation of a felony offense is ongoing, criminal investigative files are excluded from the mandatory disclosure provisions, the FOIA code section says. Releasing those files is at the discretion of the police department, but not if doing so would interfere with a particular ongoing criminal investigation, deprive a person of a right to a fair trial, constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, disclose a confidential sources identity or information furnished only by a confidential source, disclose law-enforcement investigative techniques and procedures or endanger the life or physical safety of any individual. The Salem Police Departments policy explains that any release of information on media cards, or recordings from the digital camera system, to the media (press) must receive the prior approval of the Office of the Chief of Police. The Roanoke Police Department has a similar policy that also leaves the release of body-worn camera and dash camera footage up to the chief. The release of any in-car camera or [body-worn camera] electronic media must be authorized by the chief or his designee prior to such release, the Roanoke policy reads. No in-car camera or [body-worn camera] electronic media will be released where there is no indication of police misconduct or evidence of a crime or criminal activity. The city denied all three requests, again citing FOIA code related to ongoing criminal investigations. Such release is likely to jeopardize an ongoing investigation related to certain investigative files, City Attorney Tim Spencer wrote in a letter. The city has previously released body-worn camera footage during ongoing investigations. In July 2020, a shooting occurred in downtown Roanoke. A few days later, the police department shared an officers body-worn camera footage on social media. This is body camera video from an officer who was approximately one block away from the scene, the department wrote in a Facebook post. This officer and several others were able to respond almost immediately. Thankfully, no one was injured. However, we are asking the community to come forward and help us understand the circumstances surrounding this incident. The following November, the department released body-worn camera footage of an officer-involved shooting that killed 26-year-old Rasheed Mathew Moorman the previous June. The Roanoke Times reported police cited transparency and community trust in explaining its decision to grant the request to release the footage. The case had been thoroughly investigated and all inquiries were complete before the request was considered. Virginia code used to more readily allow the release of video footage related to closed criminal investigations, or investigations that are not ongoing. But a change to the FOIA code section that kicked in last July has made it harder for members of the press to access that footage. According to the newly enacted code section, the release of those files by police departments is not mandatory, however, such records shall be disclosed, by request to victims, members of the victims families or an attorney representing the person petitioning for the release of the files. Before the law change took effect last summer, the Roanoke Rambler, an online news publication, requested access to some footage from a Roanoke County officer-involved shooting that killed 18-year-old Kionte Desean Spencer in 2016. The county complied with the request, but the Rambler reported that the county charged the publication more than $1,000 for the records. Some local law enforcement agencies have not received FOIA requests from the media in recent years. But sheriffs offices in both Franklin and Botetourt counties reported that they have released footage to individual members of the general public. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office has deployed body-worn cameras since at least April 2018, when its body-worn camera policy went into effect, said Sgt. Megan Huston, the departments public information officer. The department has 36 patrol deputies who are required to wear the cameras. It also has nine school resource officers that are issued body worn cameras and are encouraged to wear them, Huston said in an email, but it is not mandatory as they have an alternate uniform on some days. While the Botetourt County Sheriffs Office said it has released dash camera footage upon request, it does not deploy body-worn cameras. There are no plans at this time for the Botetourt County Sheriffs Office to obtain body-worn cameras for its deputies, Andrea Mundy, the sheriffs offices records manager, said in an email. 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. "Developing a Model of Guilty Plea Decision-Making: Fuzzy-Trace Theory, Gist, and Categorical Boundaries" | Main | Senator Booker releases policy brief highlighting CARES Act home confinement program June 24, 2023 Some reflections in headlines on Hunter Biden's "sweetheart" plea deal I have not had a chance to read all the commentary that Hunter Biden's plea deal has generated, but I have made tome to gather here some notable pieces I have seen that capture all sorts of stories just through their headlines: From Bloomberg, "Hunter Biden Plea Deal Pumps Up Republican Paranoia" From Politico, "Garland denies allegations of politics impacting Hunter Biden plea deal" From Ipsos, "Reuters/Ipsos Poll finds half of Americans think Hunter Biden is receiving favorable treatment" From The Nation, "A Failson Meets a Failed Justice System" From the Wall Street Journal, "Its the Criminality, Stupid: Why Voters See Crooks in All Corners of Politics" From the Washington Post, "Hunter Biden might have Clarence Thomas to thank for his gun plea deal" In addition to the above pieces, I found particularly notable (and amusing) this troika of headlined: From Newsweek, "The Hunter Biden Sweetheart Deal Endangers Us All. Every Criminal Is Going to Ask for It." From Reason, "Hunter Biden's Prison-Free Plea Should Be Available to Everybody" From the Washington Times, "Va. mom of 6-year-old who shot teacher will cite Hunter Bidens plea deal for leniency, lawyer says" Prior related posts: June 24, 2023 at 06:51 PM | Permalink Comments Oh good grief Doug, citing WaPo on Hunter? Really? The fact is that he lied on the application, so even if Bruen gives drug addicts a right to own guns while addicted, there's the lying part. Such weak deflection. Posted by: federalist | Jun 25, 2023 7:52:21 PM https://nypost.com/2023/06/21/this-delaware-businessman-received-jail-time-from-the-feds-because-he-wasnt-a-biden/ By the by, with respect to the employee reimbursement discussed in the article, which Doug would never cite, Baron Budd did same thing, but no one went to jail. This guy has a beef. The fact is--either Doug's constrained by faculty lounge politics or he's ok with the two standards of justice in America. One wonders if our judiciary will put up with it. If I were the judge in the Va. mom case, I'd order the DOJ to brief the issue. Posted by: federalist | Jun 26, 2023 11:42:31 AM I cannot speak for everyone in the faculty lounge, federalist, but the vast majority of the papers authored by CJ academics these days lament that the rich and powerful (mostly white) get one standard of justice, while the marginalized (mostly people of color) get another standard. The entire BLM movement and calls to abolish the police and prisons (that still find expression in many faculty lounges) are deeply concerned with race and wealth as the main driver of "two standards of justice in America." Similarly, one big reason many in the faculty lounge (myself included) advocate for marijuana legalization and reform of the punitive drug war is based in decades of data documenting "two standards of justice in America" when it comes to drug use and punitive drug law enforcement. (Hunter's history of drug use, of course, highlights this reality as does the drug use history of all three Presidents who served before Trump). I trust you are familiar with Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow," and that book proved so popular because so many see race as the driver of "two standards of justice in America." I have repeatedly urged you to look at the federal stash-house sting cases because they serve as one extreme, but all too common, variation of racialized standards of justice in America that are created by DOJ policies and practices. That we still have a significant crack/powder sentencing distinction in federal sentencing law is yet another very tangible and lamentable marker of "two standards of justice in America." To date, partially because of various deflections embraced by the "tough on crime" crowd, our judiciary has "put up with it." The Armstrong case is just one of many examples of the judiciary turning a blind eye to efforts to tackle "two standards of justice in America." I have asked you repeatedly if you think Armstrong should be overturned, but perhaps "federalist politics" prevent you from directly addressing a doctrine that stands in the way of efforts to break down "two standards of justice in America." I also think you balked at the recent application of a California racial justice law that is expressly designed to provide judges with more remedies to address disparate justice. Of course, the SCOTUS Jones ruling highlights that now even some innocent federal prisoners can be subject to continued incarceration even if no one substantively disputes that their conviction/sentence is wrongful. When the legally innocent can get even worse justice than the clearly guilty, we have hit a whole new worrisome level of "two standards of justice in America." If you are really troubled by two tiered justice and want the judiciary to do something, federalist, will you start by calling for overturning Armstrong, supporting racial justice acts in California and elsewhere, and supporting Jones work-arounds? Posted by: Doug B | Jun 26, 2023 12:23:26 PM Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Posted by: federalist | Jun 26, 2023 12:33:21 PM Federalist is barely one step above a troll at this point. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Jun 26, 2023 11:11:57 PM Fat Bastard, you're a shill for thugs. Doug may well be right that rich guys get off sometimes or that some places really suck--look for example, the initial failure to charge the animals who killed Auberry in Georgia cannot possibly be the only problem in that particular county given the deviation from what the appropriate prosecution decision would have been, But what we are talking about here is deeply problematic. Hunter's crimes are so overt and so problematic that the slow-walking of the prosecution and now the lenience is evidence of a corrupt DOJ. The slow-walking helped a major party candidate for president, and this is coupled with the bullshit Logan Act investigation of Flynn designed to give the impression of collusion. Barack Obama and Joe Biden were in on it--so much for peaceful transfers of power, by the way. The DOJ also went after people who found Ashley Biden's diary, nice to have a Praetorian Guard, and also actively suppressed the laptop (to influence a campaign). Awful, and there's a lot more. And I am troll. Hardly. Doug knows all of this is true, and therefore has to deflect. Weak. Posted by: federalist | Jun 27, 2023 7:13:53 AM What I know to be true, federalist, is that you are a partisan with a lot of curious feelings about law and its practice which seem often not closely connected to the reality of law and its practice. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 10:11:53 AM Yeah, Doug, because I ask why, given the reality that self-defense is a constitutional right, that someone in the shoes of Rosa Parks supposedly doesn't have the right to defend herself against an unlawful seizure, I am somehow disconnected from reality. Fine to think that way, but your view of "law" can be an instrument of tyranny. And by the by, it seems that lawyers are going to start using the "Hunter" defense in court. Posted by: federalist | Jun 27, 2023 10:31:36 AM I am glad you want to ask hard questions about the exercise of state power, federalist, but we still await hearing how your feelings about Rosa Parks apply to legally innocent people left in federal prison without a clear habeas remedy after Jones. Can you cogently explain your feelings in this modern setting (while showing you actually understand important distinctions between moral views and legal doctrines)? The tyranny of Jim Crow laws are now formally in the past (and you are curiously dismissive of claims by the BLM crowd that they persist in other forms with similar function), but the tyranny of Jones is an on-going reality for Marcus DeAngelo Jones and perhaps thousands of other legally innocent federal prisoners. Can you address how your feelings about "self-defense is a constitutional right" and "tyranny" apply to those now subject to what (I think) you'd call an "unlawful seizure"? As for the "Hunter defense," of course defense attorneys in the federal system are going to highlight Hunter's deal and 3553(a)(6) to argue for leniency. In comparable cases, they would be ineffective for failing to do so. But they will be making statutory sentencing claims, not constitutional claims based in the Equal Protection Clause that was central to the yarn you were spinning. This is basic law student stuff, federalist. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 10:53:57 AM Typical Doug. When struggling in a debate with federalist, he changes the topic to one discussed ad nauseam. From behind NROs paywall: Brett Tolman, executive director of Right on Crime and former U.S. attorney for the District of Utah, told National Review that the misdemeanor charges against Hunter Biden are not consistent with any historical practice. The DOJ, he explained, is run by attorney-general memos. The Holder memo says federal prosecutors should ordinarily charge the most serious readily provable offense though decisions must always be made in the context of an individualized assessment of the extent to which particular charges fit the specific circumstances of the case, are consistent with the purpose of the Federal criminal code and maximize the impact of Federal resources on crime. And, in all cases, the charges should fairly represent the defendants criminal conduct, and due consideration should be given to the defendants substantial assistance in an investigation or prosecution. The culture of the DOJ is about charging as many felonies as you can and getting as long a sentence as you can, Tolman said. And everybody else thats been crushed by the Department of Justice or the criminal-justice system in this country has experienced that. When I was U.S. attorney, I think I authorized maybe one or two diversions and theyre oftentimes cases where you dont have victims. Theyre also not part of any sort of top priority [at] DOJ, he said. But by contrast, gun possession cases have been a top priority of DOJ for a very long time under Project Safe Neighborhoods. During his time as assistant U.S. attorney, the average sentence for gun possession cases was five years. He recalled sending one person to prison for 3.5 years just for possessing ammo without a gun. Theres just hundreds of thousands of these that are people serving long, lengthy prison sentences for a simple possession case, he said. He noted that the allegations stemming from Hunter Bidens laptop should have made the case one of the biggest, highest priority cases the DOJ would ever see. But everything about this case is wrong. Everything about it in terms of the scope of the investigation, the length of time it took to investigate this. If youre going to take that length of time, there is no way the only charges that youre coming up with are two tax misdemeanors, a felony possession of firearm diversion and no jail time, he said. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 27, 2023 11:45:58 AM What is basic law school stuff is that EPC applies to the decisions of prosecutors . . . . And is Marcus DeAngelo Jones factually innocent, or is he just losing out on being able to make the claim . . . . I've already provided my answer about actually innocent people in prison. Posted by: federalist | Jun 27, 2023 11:49:25 AM https://nypost.com/2023/06/27/carlishia-hood-accused-of-ordering-14-year-old-son-to-shoot-kill-man-at-hot-dog-stand-has-charges-dropped/ Interesting. Rittenhouse didn't follow, but fled, and he was threatened with life in a cage (Doug was ok with that), but presumably, Doug's ok with following a dude who's been shot and shooting him so more. Posted by: federalist | Jun 27, 2023 12:22:45 PM Nice to hear from you, Master Tarls, and always good to see you quote my pal Brett Tollman. He and I got a chance to hang out together last week while waiting to testify to Congress (as GOP witnesses) in support of more use of clemency by Presidents. I am not sure Brett and I have always agreed on everything --- eg, he worked to keep Weldon Angelos in prison for 55 years as US Attorney, while I was working to get him released --- but I agree with Brett 100% that there has been a long history of "everybody [getting] crushed by the Department of Justice or the criminal-justice system in this country." I surmise Brett's current view, since he now directs Right on Crime, is that we have too often hammered way too many people way too hard for various gun crimes and that Hunter's sweet deal ought to be the norm for many others if they pose no real threat to public safety. (Right on Crime calls for, eg, "reducing excessive sentence lengths and holding nonviolent offenders accountable through prison alternatives.") Do you agree with the Right on Crime principles calling for prison to be reserved for "dangerous offenders and career criminals"? (Also speaking of hammering people for ammo, I filed an amicus brief and argued before a Sixth Circuit panel that possession of shotgun shells could never constitutionally justify a 15-year term under ACCA. Would you agree? Sadly, I could not get the mostly-D-appointed judges on board with what struck me as a sentence that should make a totalitarian blush.) For the record, just as I have a nagging feeling that the Clintons and the Trumps seemed to have gotten away with a whole lot, I also have a nagging feeling that the Bidens are getting away with stuff, too. I sincerely hope we can turn the page on a stinky set of baby-boomer leaders, but I remain quite fearful we will not be given any other choices yet again. And, federalist, since you cannot seem to explain your self defense feelings in a way I can comprehend, I will stop asking. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 1:02:21 PM What did Trump get away with? The DOJ mucked with his election prospects in 2016 and his re-election prospects in 2020. They went after his Nat Sec Advisor for doing his job on the basis of the Logan Act. What you're missing is that the DOJ put its thumb on the scale in elections. That's a problem. And now they are giving preferential treatment to a Dem, when Trump people got the hammer. You consistently ignore these issues--even going so far as to tout Bruen as a reason Hunter got off easy--but that ignores the lie on the form. Weak. My self-defense ideas are pretty easy to comprehend. Self-defense is a constitutional right, and that right doesn't go away if it's the government doing the threatening. I have pointed out that what you're saying means that people have to take abuses like those I've pointed out. I don't know that's really consistent with the idea that self-defense is a right. The implications of that idea ARE scary, and my larger point is that it means that government really has to act a lot better. Ultimately, the question becomes what the categorical imperative is--listening to government and fighting later in a forum the government chooses or being able to resist. The necessary implication of your view is that government gets to do what it wants, lawful or not, and maybe you get to complain about it later. That isn't really the rule of law. This isn't hard to understand. Posted by: federalist | Jun 27, 2023 1:43:14 PM What makes you so tiresome, federalist, is you do not even bother to acknowledge (or seemingly understand) the many failings in your talking points. As but one of so many examples, you have yet to properly explain the basis for your assertion that "self-defense is a constitutional right" and where/how it exactly finds constitutional expression. You still have not engaged that most basic reality or in any way explained whether/why any/every state case possibly engaging SD issues is actually a federal constitutional matter. This is basic stuff, but you move past foundational doctrinal concerns to prattle off, yet again, your "rule of federalist" feelings. Worse still, you seem to believe you are expounding "law" --- though you run away from talking through real cases as you return only to hypos --- when you are obviously just expressing your feelings with no legal cites, no legal authority, no legal doctrines, not even a dissenting opinion or a law review to go with your statement of feelings. If you really think your feelings are legally meaningful, try to write them up in a rigorous way under your real name rather than just wasting time as a blog troll under a fake name. As I noted above, Marcus DeAngelo Jones and perhaps thousands of other legally innocent federal prisoners would surely like some advice on how to move forward if this really "isn't hard to understand." Also, if this is so simple, I trust Bill and Master Tarls might explain whether they fully understand and fully agree with what I see as your claims that all legally innocent people in federal prison have a legal (constitutional?) right to attack guards and other law enforcement officials involved in their "unlawful seizure." (Again, I may not be accurately saying what you claim, which is why in the wake of Jones, a rigorous write up from you could be helpful to so many -- unless your theory only applies to the late Rosa Parks.) Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 2:54:03 PM Do you really believe that the right to self-defense is at the pleasure of the state? Really? Do you think that a state could pass a law saying that no citizen may use violence in response to violence? Brown v. United States is an expression of the right to self-defense. Posted by: federalist | Jun 27, 2023 4:00:49 PM Doug, You have this weird habit of connecting a posters belief to everything a provided source supports. The quote I provided had nothing to do with whether I agree with Brett on whether, we have hammered on too many people, with gun crime or who should go to prison. The quote is about the specialized treatment Hunter got and how it goes completely against the DOJ playbook, which Brett provides. And this is much worse than a powerful guy gets away with it story. This is part of a coup detat that started with Hillary working with the Russians to interfere with an election while claiming the other side was doing it, a DOJ coverup of her role, engaging in an illegal investigation to discredit the victim, a coverup of the laptop to interfere with a second election, and gaslighting the American people for seven years now. No writer would have the imagination to come up with such a political thriller. The above is the biggest political scandal in history and few even acknowledge it. As much as I hate Trump, he is a victim. I cant believe I even said it, but it is true. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 27, 2023 5:30:37 PM Brown is obviously a common law ruling, and the fact that it does not cite any provision of the Constitution (and that nobody ever cites it for a constitutional principle) serves as proof that Brown has no constitutional juice to squeeze. (Intriguingly, Justice Holmes in Brown does reference "the law from the time when a man who had killed another, no matter how innocently, had to get his pardon....") For anyone truly committed to constitutional textualism, I think finding a "right to self-defense" in the Constitution is a very challenging question. (And, your fave Justice Scalia often stressed that not every good idea is safeguarded by our charter.) I tend to look to the Ninth Amendment to find all the rights I want to find in the document, so I wondered if you think it is located there. Perhaps you instead would ground it in the Due Process Clause, but rulings like Kahler v. Kansas and Martin v. Ohio become obstacles to that route. More problematically, if there is a constitutional right to self defense, what are state limits in restricting it? Ohio has a broad and vague "at fault" limit on SD --- in Ohio "no citizen may use violence in response to violence" if that citizen "was at fault in creating the violent situation." Is that unconstitutional? How about states that still have broad duties to retreat? Is imminence as a limit constitutionally allowed or does a battered wife have a constitutional right to kill her sleeping husband? And so on and so on. If the US Constitution says the state MUST have a self defense law, must it have any particular attributes? Whatever are your answers to these particulars --- ie, where is SD right in the constitution and what are its parameters --- can you explain why people who fail with SD claims in state court do not try to claim that they have had their constitutional rights violated? I am not aware of state prisoners bringing federal habeas claim based on a purposed constitutional right to SD. Have generations of lawyers been leaving great constitutional claims behind? Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 5:34:27 PM One more thing. The biggest problem created by a biased DOJ, is that it loses credibility as an institution. There are reportedly recordings of Trump talking about invasion plans regarding Iran, and if so, he should go to prison. But after the way the DOJ has acted, can we feel confident its true? Can we feel confident that Bidens docs were looked through thoroughly and given equal consideration? Especially when we know some could have only been stolen from a SCIF? Between this and COVID, the Dems have ruined all trust and confidence in our government. Instead of getting cushy jobs at CNN, all of these disgraced bureaucrats and politicians (looking at you, Adam Schiff) should be removed from polite society. Boss Tweed is blushing at what the Dems are getting away with. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 27, 2023 5:46:31 PM Master Tarls: I take seriously your concerns (although your prior emphasis on Senator Grassley proved not as juicy as I had hoped). Of particular note is your statement that DOJ is involved in a "coup detat" that amounts to "the biggest political scandal in history and few even acknowledge it." Do you have a sense for why the likes of Jeff Sessions and Rod Rosenstein and Jeff Rosen and Bill Barr and Christopher Wray are disinclined to see or discuss these matters in the way that you do? Are they all "in on it"? I have noted before that I think both Clintons got away with way too much --- I think both should have been subject to felony prosecutions --- and the stink around the Bidens is almost older than "the Big Guy." But do you think it is pure hatred for Trump that lead so many to look the other way? Joe Biden seems like the weakest Prez of my lifetime (including Gerald Ford) and yet many with rich GOP history are helping with the coup detat because they hate Trump so much? Key point on the CJ front is that the real "DOJ playbook" is to hammer lots and lots of little guys and to often (but not always) give elites relative breaks. Read about the lenient treatment of Judge Camp, or the first prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein, or how about David Petraeus, and so on. Part of the story is that elites have a lot more resources --- money, time, power --- to fight government players who like easy wins and (reasonably?) think long fights are not "worth it" if there is any risk of losing. So, as I see it, DOJ and every other law enforcement force ends up structurally inclined to go harder after the marginalized and softer after the elites. And, in every era, just who is elite getting a break and who is marginalized getting slammed has political elements. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 6:02:54 PM Good question, if not all that valid. My personal theory would be that the top of DOJ needs information from both directions. Garland likely was under pressure from above to not press the issue with Hunter, which is outlined by his perjury to Congress. This has been verified by two whistleblowers who indicated that Weiss stated he could not bring charges. I also believe a lot of those you mention were not getting sufficient information from below and are only seeing what is selectively put in front of them. Its not like Sessions was reading Peter Stroucks emails in real time, nor was there an IG report, etc. The tail (liberal bureaucracy) wagging the dog. And I think we can both agree that both Sessions and Barr are a couple of the very few good guys in all of this. Despite Trumps campaign rhetoric, Sessions didnt Lock [Hillary] up. Certainly better than Wray or Garland, for example. Imagine him on SCOTUS? He is filth. I expect both of Sessions and Barr think a lot more than they would ever say about the current DOJ. As far as my use of coup detat, you didnt really challenge the facts as we know them. Do you know something the rest of us dont? What would you call the attempted influence on two elections and a phony investigation to hamstring a President? Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 27, 2023 6:46:03 PM And on your one more thing, Master Tarls, you seem to be humming just a slight variation on the tune of the BLM Abolish crowd. That crowd has long concluded that unredeemable bias and corruption infects --- and so "ruined all trust and confidence in" --- our existing criminal justice systems. (They now call it the "criminal legal system" because they do not want to even hint that it seeks "justice" in any way.) With such bias and corruption baked into this system, the only path out is to abolish and start over --- or, as you put it law enforcement "should be removed from polite society." Sound like you are largely inclined to join the BLM band, though playing a slightly different tune to get with the rhythm. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 6:47:40 PM Doug, You talk about the DOJ hammering the little guy but giving breaks to the elite and rich. Who is more elite and rich than a billionaire and former POTUS? Doesnt there have to be something else in play? Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 27, 2023 6:48:37 PM Thumbing one's nose at federal prosecutors always leads to getting slammed --- ergo the extreme "trial penalty" many face and all sorts of ugliness for those unwilling to "play ball" with DOJ. Had Trump given back the docs and not played games, I am certain he would not have been charged in the Florida documents case. Elites who do not play nice DOJ --- see, eg, all the white collar folks who go to trial --- generally get the wrath of the system. Bill helped build it that way so the feds do not even have to shoot fish in the barrel --- they can just say you better jump into the net or else. Trump is getting the "or else." Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 7:14:38 PM Doug, Does any serious person not know that BLM was a scam? It was always a political movement based on falsities. There has never, nor has there ever been, a police killing unarmed black men epidemic. It was always a movement of socialism. Look at their platform from even the first year and it is clear. That the DOJ interfered with two elections and intentionally hamstrung a president is not even a question of fact. Its only how much and who is responsible. Nor am I calling for the abolishment of the FBI. Id rather decapitate it from mid-management up and allow each to apply for their jobs back with a thorough evaluation of their past cases. Its the only way to have it regain its credibility. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 27, 2023 10:22:22 PM I surmise the BLM crowd views capitalism as inherently racist and corrupt and their concerns about the deep state run far deeper than just law enforcement as they see bias and corruption as inherent in many of our existing governing structures. You see and are troubled by a different sort of bias and corruption in the deep state, but the songs you are singing about the flaws of the American governing system are quite comparable in various ways. That said, it seems you've only come to see government bias and corruption problems in recent decades; they've been flagging these issues for centuries. You're troubled by Trump recently being "hamstrung" by the FBI; they lament Fred Hampton being assassinated by the FBI. The patterns and political commitments may be different, but the fabric of the perspectives are still cut from the same kind of cloth. (And I am always so eager to limit government powers, especially criminal punishment powers, in all settings and in all sorts of ways because I think you all (and many others) make some important points.) Posted by: Doug B | Jun 27, 2023 11:45:11 PM Doug, hanstringing a president in such a manner is an attack on democracy. Or do you disagree? Posted by: federalist | Jun 28, 2023 12:27:31 PM I do not disagree, federalist. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 28, 2023 3:11:15 PM Doug, I surmise the BLM crowd views capitalism as inherently racist and corrupt and their concerns about the deep state run far deeper than just law enforcement as they see bias and corruption as inherent in many of our existing governing structures. Then you admit the entire premise of the movement is a lie. BLM was originally portrayed to be a single issue group, not an anti-capitalist and alphabet group movement. They got rich off of the lie of an epidemic of cops killing unarmed black kids. That said, I cannot believe you dont see the difference in your awful analogy. BLM is a political movement led by citizens, completely legit in the sense that democracy is built on movements, consensus building, etc. The attack on Trump is one done by a runaway bureaucracy. You can surely see the difference between a political movement and an attack on politicians, including the head of the executive branch, by the executives own employees, right? It is illegal to make a political phone call on government time, yet you cannot see the difference between illegal investigations based on politics and BLM? Sheesh. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 28, 2023 4:19:50 PM Brown is a "common law" ruling? How so? It leverages the pre-Constitution common law. But I will ask the question--can a state takeaway the power of self-defense. Could a state pass a statute that said that I have to let someone rape my child? Posted by: federalist | Jun 28, 2023 6:26:08 PM So Doug, have you conceded that Strzok, Comey etc. hamstrung Trump and thus attacked democracy? Posted by: federalist | Jun 28, 2023 6:27:06 PM Master Tarls: the "BLM crowd" point I was seeking to make is just that many folks have been complaining about biases and corruption in the FBI, DOJ and other existing governing structures long before the MAGA movement. That's the only analogy I was trying to make when saying "you seem to be humming just a slight variation on the tune of the BLM Abolish crowd." Of course, I certainly can sees differences between political biases in the FBI/DOJ that lead government misconduct and racial biases in the FBI/DOJ that lead to government assassination of citizen activists on J Edgar Hoover's enemies list. (Though, of course, Hoover's enemies list was, as I understand it, a mixture of racism and politics.) And when I reference the "BLM crowd," I mean that only as a short-hand for modern variations on century-long complaints about pernicious racialized politics in federal law enforcement structures. And I suspect that "crowd," if it had effective leaders, would happily swing the FBI/DOJ-focused axe with you to "decapitate it from mid-management up." Though BLM folks would then hope to keep swinging. federalist: you are such a legal clown sometimes. You ask, how is Brown a common law ruling, but still seem to realize it references (only) common law cases. But not "pre-Constitution common law" --- Justice Holmes cites his own Mass Supreme Judicial Court rulings, Texas cases, and SCOTUS rulings from the 1890s and 1900s, not any pre-Constitution cases. Geez. (Also, if you check out the version of Brown with the parties' briefing, you can see the parties debate only common law doctrines, not any constitutional law: https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep256/usrep256335/usrep256335.pdf) And not only are you unable to understand a SCOTUS ruling you cited, you are unable to understand I said I would likely argue for a right of SD in the Ninth Amendment in extreme cases (which have never arisen). But finding substantive rights in the Ninth Amendment can be controversial -- eg, I also see an abortion right there --- which is why I asked you where you think SD is to constitutionally located (and also asked why nobody ever seeks to litigate SD as a constitutional right if it is widely accepted as one). I also mentioned that the state of Ohio does take away the right of self defense if you are "at fault" in creating the situation. Is that unconstitutional in your view? As for Strzok, Comey etc., I sincerely have no crisp sense of what they specifically did to "hamstring Trump." I think I have some sense for what Hillary's crowd did, and she seems to have "attacked democracy." And I certainly think any persons who intentionally seek to interfere unlawfully with the work of duly elected officials can and should be accused of having "attacked democracy." And, Master Tarls and federalist, why no tough questions for Bill about what he saw inside DOJ for decades? I am pretty sure his times with DOJ overlapped with Comey and Wray and Barr and I think he was pals with Sessions. He loves to attack defense attorneys, but they are obviously not the ones who "attacked democracy" from inside the house. What kind of DOJ culture and beliefs can explain the coup? I'd guess the same culture and beliefs that runs stash-house stings and defends extreme ACCA sentences, the culture and beliefs that Bill seems to be quite proud about. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 28, 2023 8:51:04 PM Doug, I would be welcome to have this discussion with Bill. He hasnt been on this thread, however. I believe there is more than a slight variation between decapitate the political bureaucracy at the top and abolishment. The former is also legitimate complaint while BLM was built on a lie. And I get that there has been corruption from the founding of the FBI until now. Some were gross and indeed indicative of necessary reform. If an organization isnt constantly reforming, it is backsliding. I just see this run from Hillary to now as democracy threatening, much more dangerous than even egregious acts against MLK, Fred Hampton, etc. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 28, 2023 9:15:39 PM I said the "slight variation" in response to your statements that "the Dems have ruined ALL trust and confidence in our government" and that "ALL of these disgraced bureaucrats and politicians (looking at you, Adam Schiff) should be removed from polite society." I have not stress the "all" i these phrases because that led me to wrongly think you were calling for abolish-like house cleaning. But now I surmise that you hope a bureaucrat's scalpel rather than an abolish blowtorch will get the job done. I suspect the BLM crowd might preach that long-standing biases in FBI/DOJ are not so easily excised. And I sense various views on the relative threats and dangers of different FBI/DOJ biases can often turn on whose votes and lives are most threatened. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 28, 2023 9:38:21 PM Doug, you give away the game when you cannot just come out and say that states have the right to take away SD rights. And if Brown doesn't state a constitutional rule (and the common law rights are pre-Constitutional, whether or not expressed in post-constitutional rights), then what does it state? Certainly, as you know, the common law doesn't override a statute (you know, the thingy under which Brown was prosecuted). In any event, the right to SD has limits--you cannot provoke a fight, then draw a gun and shoot someone (unless the provoked person is using deadly force) (that's the general rule). If you don't know what Strzok and Comey did, well, I don't know what to tell you--read Andrew McCarthy. Posted by: federalist | Jun 29, 2023 8:53:41 AM post-constitutional cases. Posted by: federalist | Jun 29, 2023 8:54:19 AM I "cannot just come out and say that states have the right to take away SD rights" because I am not sure they can. I think there might be a constitution right, under the Ninth Amendment, to a various constitutional necessity defenses (eg, I think Angel Raich should have prevailed on a Ninth Amendment medical necessity claim, which Justice Stevens hinted at in OCBC.) The issue has never arisen, but I do view Ninth Amendment as a safeguard of rights/liberties not protected elsewhere, and SD could fit there in extreme cases. But state law (and federal common law) has always reasonably protected SD right/liberties. But that you do not even understand that there are huge distinctions between common law doctrines and constitutional doctrines makes me wonder if you even are a lawyer. In the criminal law area, defenses have long been developed at common law to place restrictions on the reach of criminal statutes. In Ohio, all the common-law affirmative defenses work that way, and the same has long been true in federal law. (That's been the assumption even in modern federal SCOTUS cases (see, eg, SCOTUS cases like OCBC (necessity), Dixon (duress)). Perhaps it is just the medium of blog comments that make you seem especially dense, but the kind of basic legal matters you seem to completely misstate (or misunderstand) continues to be stunning. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 29, 2023 9:59:19 AM Doug, I dont consider a field agent in Nebraska is a bureaucrat. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 29, 2023 10:26:06 AM How about all the field agents involved in stash house stings in Chicago and elsewhere nationwide (seemingly pushed by ATF field agents and maybe others)? Those involved in Fast and Furious in Arizona? Notably, these constitutionally dubious operations seem to really kick into high gear in the GW Bush years. Posted by: Doug B | Jun 29, 2023 10:39:45 AM Doug, if the statute under which the guy was prosecuted does not admit of a self-defense defense, then to add that defense is either a statutory interpretation case (i.e., to say that the statute was passed against the backdrop of common law and thus absorbed it, so to speak) or a constitutional limitation. It does not appear to be a statutory interpretation case; thus, what's left is constitution. Now, I agree that a lot of non-constitutional cases have been erroneously afforded constitutional status when they really were just SCOTUS supervising lower courts on procedure--the Ninth Circuit made that mistake in 2002. But here, there are only two choices. Posted by: federalist | Jun 29, 2023 10:40:18 AM federalist, are you asserting there is no such thing as "common law" in an age of statutes anywhere or just for federal law or just for federal criminal statutes? Of course, statutes can and sometimes will expressly supersede common law, but SCOTUS in Dixon as recently as 2005 spoke of the "common-law rule that now prevails in federal courts" and of "the federal common-law rule" in the context of applying a traditional common law defense to a general statutory crime. The place of "common law" in modern legal doctrines is a fascinating general topic. But, of course, prior to Erie, federal courts of all stripes, and especially Justices like Justice Holmes, were keen on developing a robust federal common law in all sorts of settings. Brown is obviously a common law case, not a constitutional one. Have you ever seen anyone, anywhere in any setting citing Brown as a constitutional holding? Posted by: Doug B | Jun 29, 2023 10:58:51 AM Doug, Didnt F&F occur under Obama? Dubious law enforcement tactics are not the same as corruption. We are talking apples and sofas. Im all for stash house stings. Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 29, 2023 5:30:02 PM Doug, why are you citing Erie? That had to do with following state law. Brown was a federal case. I get it that Erie is probably in cf. land, but it's not directly applicable to Brown. No one really needs to cite Brown because no one questions SD rights. But how is Brown not--do you think if a state took away self-defense rights that Brown would not be cited? And Doug, Dixon is an example of my first category, and if you want to say Brown is in that category, fine, but the court doesn't say that, so you're left with the second option. Posted by: federalist | Jun 29, 2023 5:49:27 PM Master Tarls: F&F started in 2006 under AG Gonzales during the GWB years (and not long after Comey was the DAG, so I suspect he had a hand in planning it). That you do not recall that reality serves as a good example of how effective DOJ can sometimes be at playing political games as serves its state-power interests. Same goes for the fact that most folks don't know what stash house stings are, even though their racialized realities have been well documented in court. And, for those who are the target of "dubious law enforcement tactics," abuses of government power to ruin the lives of individual citizens is a big sofa (or, in some instances, a coffin), though where one sits may shape where one stands on federal use of power to go after whomever is on the latest DOJ enemies list. federalist: I mentioned Erie because, as I said, before Erie (which is when Brown was decided) "federal courts of all stripes, and especially Justices like Justice Holmes, were keen on developing a robust federal common law in all sorts of settings." The point is that in 1921, SCOTUS in a case like Brown would have not worried about the appropriateness of a common-law ruling like Brown as an form of judge-made law (apart from statutory or constitutional law). And that is why Brown cites all sorts of common law cases and not any constitutional provisions (or statutory provisions) in its discussion of SD -- it is fundamentally a common law ruling, not a constitutional one. And state courts and legislatures take away SD rights all the time when declaring that being "at fault" eliminates the right OR when placing other requirements/restrictions on the right. To my knowledge, never have state courts or state legislatures or the Model Penal Code drafters or anyone else believed or suggested that any aspects of common law or legislative development of SD is subject to constitutional regulation or restriction. That's the key point -- I can cite thousands of examples of common law development of SD, but you have yet to cite a single example of constitutional engagement of SD. So what evidence, in legal doctrine or legal practice, is there to support claims that SD is a constitutional right? (Again, I would be inclined to say it is an enforceable right via the Ninth Amendment, but that is contestable and constitutional particulars are discussed at all in Brown or any other case I am aware of.) Posted by: Doug B | Jun 29, 2023 6:38:02 PM Funny the details Doug will pull up when 'rats are defended. There were significant differences between F & F and the Bush era program, which Cornyn got Holder to admit on the record. I know why you cited Erie, but you didn't explain its relevance, and it doesn't detract from my point. And because SD is not unlimited does not make it less of a right. Posted by: federalist | Jun 30, 2023 2:48:42 PM And still we all await any cite to any example of any court or legal authority discussing SD as a federal constitutional right. Do ya have any? Posted by: Doug B | Jun 30, 2023 3:40:51 PM Post a comment High-tech manufacturers are eyeing Nebraska for a potential project that could bring thousands of jobs and a new industry to the state. With billions in federal aid up for grabs, the semiconductor industry has renewed resources to expand in the United States. And with recently-passed state legislation, Nebraska is beckoning manufacturers to the Cornhusker State. A group of semiconductor companies are considering sites in Fremont and the Omaha area for a project called Silicon Heartland, which would develop a "technology cluster" of manufacturers that project leaders say would benefit from working with one another. Semiconductors, sometimes referred to as microchips, are important pieces of tech that serve as a foundation for computers and other electronic devices. Congress last year passed a $280 billion package to boost the semiconductor industry and scientific research in a bid to create more high-tech jobs in the United States and help it better compete with international rivals, namely China. Recently-passed state legislation offers incentives for semiconductor firms looking to build in Nebraska. The state has also allocated $20 million for training programs related to the semiconductor industry. Though Nebraska is being considered for the Silicon Heartland project, the group is still not set on a location, said Trent Overhue, chairman of the board of directors of Nantero, Inc., which is one of several companies behind Silicon Heartland. "Right now Nebraska is definitely in the running, but we are looking at several different side options," Overhue said. "Most likely, we'd look at multiple areas in the metro area, Fremont being one of them." If the project moves forward, Overhue estimates between 1,500 and 3,000 jobs could be created through Silicon Heartland. "I would think it would change the trajectory of the state," Overhue said. "Meaning that this would be kind of the foundation of something that could grow into truly one of the largest industries of this state relatively quickly." The Nebraska native listed North Omaha and Bellevue as potential sites, but said it's too early to disclose any specific locations. "I don't think we would build everything in one community," Overhue said. "Some of these projects are very large so we would spread them out regionally where there's more resources." Among the multiple factors to consider are utility constraints. Silicon Heartland would contribute to an "unprecedented" spike in energy generation that the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) is expecting to see in coming years. In 2022, the industrial class made up about 36% of the utility provider's energy sales. That share is expected to rise to 57% by 2032. Overhue said the group has been in talks with OPPD. While possible sites in the Omaha metro haven't been disclosed, the project's potential location in Fremont is more concrete. In 2021, state legislation was passed to allow for the creation of an inland port authority, which gives certain bureaucratic powers, such as funding and site development, meant to develop large industrial sites and attract new business to the state. Earlier this year, a 1,500-acre site near Fremont was designated as one of the first Municipal Inland Port Authorities in Nebraska. The inland port is still in its infancy stages of development, and preparing land, utilities and securing projects for a potential semiconductor cluster could take years, former Gov. Dave Heineman, chairperson of the Fremont Municipal Inland Port Authority Board, told the Fremont Tribune. Every piece of the Silicon Heartland project, whether in Fremont or Omaha, will be subject to approval from the involvement from the federal CHIPS act, Overhue said. The CHIPS act was signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022. The bill provides more than $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry as well as a 25% tax credit for those companies that invest in chip plants in the United States. Overhue said the Silicon Heartland group expects to apply for the federal program sometime this summer, and predicts awards will be made in late 2023 or early 2024. This report includes material from the Associated Press. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023 WASHINGTON A powerful animal sedative in the illicit drug supply is complicating the U.S. response to the opioid crisis, scrambling longstanding methods for reversing overdoses and treating addiction. Xylazine can cause severe skin wounds, but whether it is leading to more deaths as suggested by officials in Washington is not yet clear, according to health and law enforcement professionals on the front lines of efforts in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. In fact, early data suggests the drug may inadvertently be diluting the effects of fentanyl, the synthetic opioid behind most overdose deaths. There is broad agreement, however, that much more information is needed to understand xylazines impact, to craft ways of disrupting illegal supplies and to develop medicines to reverse its effects. We dont know whether xylazine is increasing the risk of overdose or reducing the risk of overdose, said Dr. Lewis Nelson of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, who advises federal regulators on drug safety. All we know is that there are a lot of people taking xylazine and a lot of them are dying, but it doesnt mean that xylazine is doing it. In almost all cases, xylazine a drug for sedating horses and other animals is added to fentanyl, the potent opioid that can be lethal even in small amounts. Some users say the combination, dubbed tranq or tranq dope, gives a longer-lasting high, more like heroin, which has largely been replaced by fentanyl in U.S. drug markets. Like other cutting agents, xylazine benefits dealers: Its often cheaper and easier to get than fentanyl. Chinese websites sell a kilogram for $6 to $20, no prescription required. Chemicals used to produce fentanyl can cost $75 or more per kilogram. Nobody asked for xylazine in the drug supply, said Sarah Laurel, founder of Savage Sisters, a Philadelphia outreach group. Before anybody knew it, the community was chemically dependent on it. So now, yes, people do seek it out. Xylazines effects are easy to spot: users experience a lethargic, trancelike state and sometimes black out, exposing themselves to robbery or assault. Its a delayed reaction, I could be walking down the street, it's 45 minutes later, says Dominic Rodriguez, who is homeless and battling addiction. Then I wake up, trying to piece together what happened. Xylazine: What is it? U.S. regulators approved xylazine in 1971 to sedate animals for surgery, dental procedures and handling purposes. In humans, the drug can cause breathing and heart rates to drop. Its also linked to severe skin ulcers and abscesses, which can lead to infections, rotting tissue and amputations. Experts disagree on the exact cause of the wounds, which are much deeper than those seen with other injectable drugs. Naloxone, a medication used revive people who have stopped breathing, doesnt reverse the effects of xylazine. With no approved reversal drug for xylazine, the Savage Sisters group has taken to carrying oxygen tanks to help revive people. Meanwhile, a roaming van staffed by local health workers and city staffers aims to treat the skin wounds before they require hospitalization. The wounds can make it harder to get people into addiction treatment programs, which typically dont have the expertise to treat deep lesions that can expose tissue and bone. If you have someone out there whos ready to come in for treatment, you really want to act on that quickly, said Jill Bowen, who runs Philadelphia's behavioral health department. Xylazine can be addictive and patients who stop taking it report severe withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety and distress. Theres no approved treatment but physicians have been using the blood pressure-lowering drug clonidine, which is sometimes prescribed for anxiety. In April, federal officials declared xylazine-laced fentanyl an emerging threat, pointing to the problems in Philadelphia and other northeastern cities. Testing is far from uniform, but the drug has been detected in all 50 states and appears to be moving westward, similar to earlier waves of drug use. Officials describe the drug's toll in stark terms and statistics: Fatal overdoses involving xylazine increased more than 1,200% percent between 2018 and 2021. But that largely reflects increased testing, since most medical examiners werent looking for the drug until recently. What it is doing is making the deadliest drug weve ever seen, fentanyl, even deadlier, Anne Milgram, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, told attendees at a recent conference. But those who have studied the problem closely arent so sure. Startling study One of the only studies looking at the issue reached a startling conclusion: People who overdosed on a combination of fentanyl and xylazine had significantly less severe outcomes than those taking fentanyl alone. It was the opposite of what Dr. Jennifer Love and her colleagues expected, given xylazines dangerous effects on breathing. But their analysis of more than 320 overdose patients who received emergency care found lower rates of cardiac arrest and coma when xylazine was involved. Love, an emergency medicine physician at New York's Mount Sinai hospital, suggested xylazine may be reducing the amount of fentanyl in each dose. She stressed that this is only one possible explanation, and more research is needed into xylazine's long-term effects. She also noted that the study didnt track downstream effects of xylazine that could be deadly, including skin infections and amputations. A shifting mix of opioids, stimulants and sedatives has come to define the U.S. drug epidemic, making it harder to manage a crisis that now claims more than 100,000 lives a year. The Biden administration and Congress are considering changes to try to limit xylazine prescribing and distribution. But past restrictions didnt solve the problem: When regulators cracked down on painkillers like OxyContin, people largely shifted to heroin and then fentanyl. First we had pills, then we had heroin and then we had fentanyl, Piotrowski said. Now we have everything. And xylazine is just a part of that. Photos: Tranq, the new fentanyl additive worsening Americas opioid epidemic 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 At least six lawsuits have been filed in Scott County court aiming to hold the building owner and others liable for the building collapse at 324 Main St. in Davenport. After the collapse May 28, three men were found dead and an estimated 100 households were displaced. And one lawyer who has not yet filed in Scott County has met with tenants of 324 Main St. and surrounding buildings about joining a class-action lawsuit. George Jones, an attorney from southern Iowa, advertised on Facebook this week meetings with attorneys from his office on Thursday, who also were surveying the damage. A class-action suit allows a single person or a small number of people to represent the interest of a larger, similar group, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch. A judge must authorize class-action status. In the days after the building fell, filings in one suit brought by tenant Mildred Harrington indicated it would seek that status. Represented by West Des Moines attorney John Goplerud, they are suing Andrew Wold, Andrew Wold Investments, LLC, Bi-State Masonry, Select Structural Engineering and the city of Davenport. City releases contracts with firms investigating the collapse The city announced June 14 it had hired two firms to investigate the partial collapse at 324 Main St., SOCOTEC and White Birch Group. Communications with those groups started before that. In a signed "work authorization agreement" dated June 5, the SOCOTEC CEO Robert Vecchio writes "Client has engaged (SOCOTEC Engineering, Inc.) to perform a forensic investigation to attempt to determine the cause and origin of the partial building collapse." The SOCOTEC agreement doesn't go into detail about work to be performed but lists hourly rates of 14 titles that range from $120 an hour to $490 an hour. The White Birch Group submitted an agreement for "investigative support services" at 324 Main St. collapse incident in an emailed memo dated June 2. The scope of services listed include reviewing documents and evidence pertinent to the building collapse, reports issued, perform site evaluations and technical analysis, prepare exhibits, issue findings and conclusions "in oral and/or report format, whichever may be requested," and provide expert witness testimony in deposition. The agreement stated the project manager, Scott Nacheman, would bill at a rate at $370 per hour. Neither agreement gave a total cost estimate. An amendment to the city budget being voted on Wednesday includes $3 million for the 324 Main St. response and contracts signed. The bulk of the $3 million is for a demolition contract with D.W. Zinser. $500,000 of it is for the public safety response. Photos: Demolition continues Tuesday on the collapsed The Davenport apartments 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-103 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-114 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-097 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-065 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-084 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-058 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-076 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-109 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-066 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-105 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-086 061323-qc-nws-demolitioncontinue-056 While abortion remains legal in Iowa until roughly 20 weeks of pregnancy, lawmakers and activists on both sides of the issue are gearing up for another protracted battle. A divided Iowa Supreme Court, in a rare 3-3 decision this month, declined to reinstate a six-week abortion ban previously blocked by state courts, but a new law could be coming. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, in a statement responding to the court order, said the fight is not over. Kollin Crompton, Reynolds deputy communications director, said the governor is considering options, but didnt give specifics, such as calling for a special legislative session to enact stricter abortion laws. The governors office would not say whether Reynolds plans to propose her own legislation on abortion restrictions, or whether she will she work with Republican legislators through the legislative process. Republicans hold large majorities in the Iowa House and Senate, and leaders of both chambers have criticized the ruling and suggested they will work toward passing new legislation. 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 immediately following the Supreme Courts order, also expressing their disappointment in the split opinion. Whitver said the courts decision a year ago overturning a prior 2018 ruling establishing a constitutional right of women to terminate a pregnancy should reasonably be considered a substantial change in the law and the injunction should have been lifted. Senate Republicans have a consistent record of defending life, including the passage of the heartbeat bill, he said. We will work with Gov. Reynolds and the House to advance pro-life policies to protect the unborn. Caleb Hunter, Whitvers spokesman, said the Senate Majority Leader did not have any comment beyond his previously released statement. Grassleys office did not respond to multiple messages last week seeking comment. What are Republicans options? Iowa GOP lawmakers could write another law that further restricts abortions, which would assuredly be challenged and return to the Iowa Supreme Court, where justices would be required to determine whether a different legal standard of review should now be applied, said Drake University law professor Sally Frank. Republicans also could see through a proposal to amend the Iowa Constitution to clearly state it does not guarantee an Iowans right to abortion. Amending the state constitution requires passage through consecutive two-year sessions of the Iowa Legislature, plus a public vote. Lawmakers have approved the proposed amendment once; they would need to pass it again by 2024 and then put it to a public vote. Republicans also have multiple options as to when they take their next step. The regular work of the 2023 Iowa Legislature concluded in early May, but Reynolds could call for a special session. Otherwise, the next regular legislative session begins in January. Anti-abortion advocates in the state said they are encouraging state lawmakers and the governor to look at all the options on the table, including a special legislative session to pass another version of the fetal heartbeat bill. Maggie DeWitte, executive director of the anti-abortion group Pulse Life Advocates, formerly Iowa Right to Life, says the overturning the fundamental right to abortion one year ago has opened the door to move forward with a fetal heartbeat abortion ban, and they will continue to work on ending abortion. We are going to support the quickest measure that we can move forward to save babies lives in the womb, DeWitte said. At this point, everything is a possibility and we are looking at all of the different avenues available to us, which includes a heartbeat bill or something similar. Additionally, DeWitte said the group will continue to advocate for legislation that would define life starting at conception, as well as the constitutional amendment. The people of Iowa spoke when they elected our pro-life Legislature and governor, she said. Theyre speaking very loudly that they expect pro-life legislation to be passed here in our state. Iowa Democrats argue the vast majority of Iowans support legal access to abortion care. A Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll from March found 61 percent of Iowa adults believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 35 percent said the procedure should be illegal in most or all cases. More than two-thirds of Iowa women said abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Anti-abortion groups meanwhile point to new polling commissioned by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America that the group is using to persuade Republicans to back a 15-week national ban. The poll of 1,000 voters nationwide found 77 percent of respondents support at least some prohibition to abortion, with exceptions for the life of the mother, rape and incest. How we got here The blocked 2018 fetal heartbeat law would have prohibited abortions from being performed in the state once cardiac impulses can be detected, roughly around the sixth week of pregnancy, which often is before an individual is aware they are pregnant. Abortion rights advocates say such a prohibition would end 98 percent of the now-legal abortions in Iowa. The law has exceptions for rape, incest, preserving the life of the pregnant person, and fetal abnormalities that are incompatible with life. Supporters of the bill say the presence of a heartbeat indicates life. 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. Opponents, including Planned Parenthood, say the bill restricts a womans ability to make decisions about her body with her doctor. Reynolds signed the bill into law in 2018, but it was blocked by the Polk County District Court and never enforced. The District Court ruled the bill unconstitutional, saying it violates the due process and equal protection provisions of the Iowa Constitution. At the time, legal protections for abortion rights did not allow for such a strict abortion ban. That changed a year ago, when the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a 2018 decision, now saying the Iowa Constitution does not provide a fundamental right to an abortion. The U.S. Supreme Court soon after reversed the decades-old Roe v. Wade decision, removing the federal right to an abortion and sending the issue back to states. After that, Reynolds asked the courts to reconsider the fetal heartbeat ban. But rather than ruling on its merits, the deadlocked justices left in place the District Courts permanent injunction largely on procedural grounds, noting the unprecedented scope of the legal ask made by Reynolds. In our view it is legislating from the bench to take a statute that was moribund when it was enacted and has been enjoined for four years and then to put it in effect, Justice Thomas Waterman wrote for the three justices who denied the states request to reinstate the law. Waterman argued when enacted in 2018, the law had no chance of taking effect. To put it politely, the legislature was enacting a hypothetical law, he wrote. Today, such a statute might take effect given the change in the constitutional law landscape. But uncertainty exists about whether a fetal heartbeat bill would be passed today. To begin, a different general assembly is in place than was in place in 2018, with significant turnover of membership in the intervening three election cycles. Additionally, the Iowa Legislature has not voted to approve the constitutional amendment that passed in the last assembly, stating that there is no constitutional right to abortion, Waterman wrote. Decision buys another year of legal abortion in Iowa Whether state lawmakers call a special session or return to the statehouse like normal in January, Frank, the Drake University law professor, anticipates Republicans will pass further abortion restrictions, which will spark a new legal battle. Whatever they pass, be it another six-week ban or something else, will likely be challenged by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union and taken back to District Court. There, Frank expects it will again be blocked for creating an undue burden on someones access to abortion, inevitably landing back before the Iowa Supreme Court, this time to establish the newly defined level of legal scrutiny that should be applied to abortion regulations in Iowa. In the wake of Iowa and U.S. Supreme Court rulings reversing a fundamental right to abortion, abortion opponents argue a new rational basis test now applies, which would open the door to banning abortion in Iowa. To pass the test, laws need only be rationally related to a legitimate governmental interest. I expect that the court would find that the standard of review is rational basis and uphold the ban, Frank said. All of the justices were appointed by Republican governors and five were appointed by Reynolds. Whatever the next action on abortion is, there will be a long road ahead in court, Frank said. Weve gotten another year, basically, of legal abortion in Iowa, she said. A ban would likely pass (the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature). The questions then becomes what are the exceptions, if any. Frank said she anticipates lawmakers will likely also pass a constitutional amendment saying Iowa does not recognize any right to abortion. They can pass a ban, but they wont be able to end abortion, Frank said. Iowa women with resources will go to states where they can legally have an abortion. And poor Iowa women will engage in self-harm to self-abort, or go to back-alley abortions, as was done before abortion was made legal. And we will have women dying, due to the complications of unsafe abortions, Frank said. Republican lawmakers undecided on special session Iowa Rep. Steve Holt, a Republican from Denison, who believes life should be protected from conception to natural death, said GOP lawmakers are undecided about whether to return for a special session to pass a new abortion ban, or wait until next year. Holt said hes inclined to again pass the six-week ban and force the Iowa Supreme Court to rule on its merits, rather than procedure. He also said he doesnt foresee the need to move ahead with a constitutional amendment in the wake of the Iowa Supreme Courts ruling overturning the fundamental right to an abortion. Holt led passage of the constitutional amendment bill during the 2021 session, prior to the 2022 court ruling. Rep. Brent Siegrist, an assistant House majority leader and a Republican from Council Bluffs, said the issue is best left to be worked out during the next regular legislative session that begins in January. I think theres more than a few complicating factors the constitutional amendment, the current political mood, exemptions in the original bill and whether they stay or are expanded, Siegrist said. I dont know if attitudes have changed since we passed the bill, but its a pretty volatile political issue to try to tackle in a abbreviated special session. Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats, president of the Christian conservative group The Family Leader, wants state lawmakers to take action before the regular session in January. Well support them in the direction that they want to take it, Vander Plaats told The Gazette. My recommendation would be is that they would call a special session early next month, repass the heartbeat bill at minimum, and run it through the courts so the courts now know were serious about protecting unborn lives. He said his group has backed away from the constitutional amendment after justices ruled there is no fundamental right to abortion under the Iowa Constitution subject to strict scrutiny. Vander Plaats has said the three justices on the Iowa Supreme Court who blocked reinstating the fetal heartbeat ban should resign, be impeached or be ousted. He led a successful campaign in 2010 to oust three other justices after the court legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa. Vander Plaats called the courts order "disrespectful to Iowans and their own court. He cited the opinion from the three justices who voted to overturn the lower courts ruling, Christopher McDonald, Matthew McDermott and David May. It isnt for us to dictate abortion policy in the state, but simply to interpret and apply the law as best we can in cases that come before us, McDermott wrote. We fail the parties, the public, and the rule of law in our refusal today to apply the law and decide this case. Vander Plaats argues Waterman, Chief Justice Susan Christensen and Justice Edward Mansfield violated their oath and went outside their constitutional parameters as an activist court in voting to let stand the District Courts permanent injunction of the law. Frank, the Drake law professor, called the argument absurd. Impeachment has to do with conviction of a felony and high crimes and misdemeanors, said Frank. You dont get impeached for disagreeing with a ruling. Holt, while calling the courts order egregious, threw cold water on the notion of impeachment. I understand the argument there, but I also believe we have to be very careful when we talk about impeachment of justices because we disagree with their ruling, Holt said. Connie Ryan, chairperson of Justice Not Politics, said Vander Plaats attack on Iowas Supreme Court justices politicizes the courts for political gain. Contrary to Bob Vander Plaats political point of view, Iowas Supreme Court justices meet all legitimate standards to serve the people of Iowa, Ryan said in a statement. Just because you disagree with a ruling does not mean the justices are not qualified. Iowans see through Vander Plaats political charade and will continue to support Iowas fair and impartial judicial system. Vander Plaats was also among a panel of anti-abortion leaders who last week called upon GOP presidential candidates to embrace a national abortion ban to win the Republican Iowa caucuses. The evangelical leader urged presidential front-runners to embrace the issue with a clear stance. Some in the party, however, attribute a poor national showing in the 2022 midterms in part to unpopular messaging and policy on abortion. Opponents, too, have warned of a potential political backlash to a new abortion restriction, highlighting failed anti-abortion ballot measures in Kansas and Kentucky last year. Democrats pledge to protect abortion rights During a news conference last week at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines, leaders in the Iowa Democratic Party said they expect statehouse Republicans to introduce legislation that will restrict abortions, and that they will make some effort to change the makeup of the Iowa Supreme Court or the language in the Iowa Constitution. Democrats will work to stop those efforts, and make their case to Iowans as to why, Iowa Democratic Party leaders said. We will continue to stand up and speak to the damage that the bills that Republicans have and will propose will cost Iowa families, Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, of Windsor Heights, said at the news conference. There are unintended consequences all over what Republicans want to do in this state, and there are womens lives who are at risk with some of their proposals, Konfrst said. And were going to be loud and proactive about what it is that were going to do to stop this. She said statehouse Democrats dont know specifically what to expect from Republicans in regard to abortion legislation, but are prepared to anything. "They have to find consensus within a pretty extreme caucus, within another extreme caucus, and with the governor, Konfrst said. So their negotiations are not thinking about what do Iowans want. Theyre thinking about, What can we pass to appease the special interests? And so theyre not considering a lot of things that are what you should consider when writing policy. Theyre considering politics. She also said Iowa Democrats will push back at any conservative effort to have sitting Iowa Supreme Court justices removed or change the way Iowa judges are nominated to the courts. This is absolutely way out of touch with what Iowans expect, and it is out of touch with what the system is developed to do, Konfrst said. Bob Vander Plaats is a special interest representative, and if he wants to oust judges, thats his opinion. But to engage elected officials, and doing it in a way that would usurp their independence is absolutely unacceptable and inappropriate. DES MOINES Maggie DeWitte spoke to a crowd at the Iowa State Capitol, celebrating the one-year anniversary of Roe vs. Wade being reduced to a pile of dung in the annals of jurisprudence. Because of all of you your endless prayers, your blood, sweat and tears and your resolve to keep pressing, that we are here today and we can celebrate the end of one of the most devastating court rulings in the history of America, DeWitte, the executive director of Iowas Pulse Life Advocates, said. Anti-abortion activists gathered Saturday at the Capitol for the annual March For Life, which marked one year since the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which struck down federal abortion protections and allowed states to restrict or outlaw abortion. Republican politicians and other advocates praised that decision while at the same time denouncing an order from Iowas Supreme Court last week that rejected a bid to reinstate a six-week abortion ban in the state. Iowas Supreme Court was split 3-3 in a case brought by Gov. Kim Reynolds to reinstate the so-called fetal heartbeat law, passed by Republicans in 2018. The law would have banned abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus. I was disappointed in the court's decision, but we know that's not the end, is it? Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said. The fight does not stop there. Our work does not stop. DeWitte said Iowa lawmakers should call a special session to pass new abortion restrictions, and the three justices who opposed reinstating the six-week abortion ban should be held accountable to the fullest legal extent possible. Family Leader CEO Bob Vander Plaats, an influential conservative and anti-abortion leader, called for the justices to be voted out in a recall election or impeached last week. This is a life-and-death issue and we cannot wait any longer for restrictions against this barbaric practice to be put in place, DeWitte said. The time to act is now. Iowa Republican leaders have not said whether they would call a special session to enact abortion restrictions this year, but they signaled when the court decision was announced they would push for more abortion restrictions. State Sen. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, said Republicans and anti-abortion activists had made significant gains since she entered the Legislature in 2012, when there were few restrictions on abortions in Iowa. Since then, Iowa Republicans have limited abortions to 20 weeks, required ultrasounds, instituted a 24-hour waiting period and passed further measures that were blocked by courts. Comparing the movement to World War II, she said they had landed on Omaha Beach in 2012 and were now partway across the nation of France. But folks, Berlin is our objective, she said. And we will get there. We wont stop until unborn children fully enjoy their God-given rightfully deserved protection of life. Iowa Democrats said on Friday they expected Republicans to hold a special session to pass anti-abortion measures. The Governor and GOP lawmakers have a choice to make, House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst said. They can either stand with the strong majority of Iowans who believe everyone deserves the right to make their own health care decisions, especially when it comes to reproductive care and abortion. Or, they can keep playing politics and stand with the special interests led by Bob Vander Plaats who dont believe in reproductive freedom. Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries 1980s-2000s: Legal challenges to Roe v. Wade introduce restrictions 2020s: Roe v. Wade is overturned; Postal Service allowed to mail abortion medication The evolution of abortion in America 1970s: Roe v. Wade protects women's right to abortion; politics shift Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds a welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 25, 2023. Li held talks with Mottley, who is on an official visit to China, on Sunday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling) BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, who is on an official visit to China, on Sunday in Beijing. Barbados is a good friend and partner of China in the Caribbean region, Li noted. He said that under the new circumstances, China is willing to enhance strategic mutual trust with Barbados, deepen cooperation in various fields, and build China-Barbados relations into a model of solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit for developing countries. China is ready to work with Barbados to promote the joint construction of a high-quality Belt and Road, and enhance exchanges and cooperation related to the economy, trade, culture and other fields. China encourages its enterprises to invest and do business in Barbados, stands ready to import more competitive products from Barbados, and will continue to provide assistance within its capacity for Barbados' economic and social development, he said. China understands the situation and special concerns of developing island countries in coping with climate change and other issues. China is willing to jointly seek solutions for financing difficulties, and to support developing countries as they accelerate their energy transformation and achieve sustainable development, he noted. Mottley said that Barbados attaches great importance to Barbados-China relations, and both countries are committed to improving people's lives and promoting sustainable development. She thanked China for sending medical teams to Barbados and providing support for its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Barbados is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the fields of agriculture, energy, infrastructure construction, poverty reduction, tourism, culture and education, and jointly tackle climate change and other global challenges, she said. Barbados opposes "decoupling and breaking the chain," and supports maintaining the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core and maintaining the stability of international production and supply chains. After the talks, they jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the blue economy, local cooperation, medical and health care, and news media. Public and K12 librarians have become some of the most recognizable voices of the culture wars in recent years for speaking out against coordinated efforts to restrict or remove access to materials concerning sex, gender, and race. In Florida, however, the fallout from the political takeover of a small public liberal arts college coupled with uncertainty around how public higher education institutions will implement a series of new laws signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis have another type of librarian wondering if theyre next. Advertisement Academic librarians in the state were alarmed to learn that the series of abrupt firings that ensued this past spring after DeSantis appointed six conservative board members to the New College of Floridas board of trustees included the termination of Helene Gold. Gold, who was an associate dean at the New Colleges Jane Bancroft Cook Library, was fired during what most college students would consider crunch time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Academic librarians wear a lot of different hats. They consult with students and faculty on research projects, often bringing a certain level of subject-matter expertise thats useful when navigating databases and suggesting source material. They also instruct on information literacy and citation management, purchase and catalog books and periodicals, and maintain electronic databases and service websites. Advertisement They fired her a week before thesis deadlines, as final exams are starting, and a lot of students were still working with her on their research projects, recalls Madi Markham, a recent graduate of New College. Gold was her go-to librarian for her senior thesis project. Even if they were restructuring the library, youd think theyd wait until the end of May, and also give her notice so she would help people transfer their work to other librarians or staff members. Gold believes administrators had identified her as a troublemaker. In the months leading up to her firing, Gold said, she and her boss were disagreeing on how to communicate and work with the DeSantis-installed New College of Florida president Richard Corcoran (the Republican former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives) and other members of the new administration. Advertisement Advertisement New College of Florida did not return a request for comment on Golds firing in time for publication. I [was] incredibly outspoken and visible and very out on campus, so my firing really didnt surprise me, Gold, who is a lesbian, told Slate. The timing of it really surprised me. Adding insult to injury for graduating seniors like Markham, who lost a librarian familiar with their work and had graduation deadlines to meet, was DeSantis May campus visit to sign SB 266nicknamed the College Culture War Billinto law. Civil rights organizations have condemned the bill for a number of reasons, one being that it explicitly prohibits expenditure of federal or state funds that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or promote or engage in political or social activism. Opponents point out that, similar to other legislation that has targeted education in the state, theres still a lot of vagueness in how public colleges and universities should interpret the law, let alone academic librarians. Advertisement Advertisement There is no definition in the bill regarding university programs or activities, and it is unclear at this time what impact this may have on university libraries, especially with regard to subjects and topics that are prohibited under this unconstitutional law, Kara Gross, legislative director for the ACLU of Florida, told Slate. What we do know is that every student deserves to learn in an environment free from government censorship, and this law infringes on these basic rights. Advertisement Advertisement But this hasnt kept librarians in higher ed from wondering. Golds concerns include how libraries will be able to promote recurring events like Pride month. But she also wonders how SB 266 will impact consortium purchasing through the Florida Virtual Campus, which oversees library services for dozens of public universities and colleges in the state system by providing centralized licensing services for electronic resources, like databases that house academic journals, e-book collections, newspaper archives, video streaming services, and other content. According to FLVCs website, access to these resources is state-funded. Gold fears some of the items in these collections, particularly those that are dealing with sex, gender, and race, would violate the new law. Advertisement When you purchase licensing to aggregate database collections through big companies like EBSCO and Gale, you cant cherry-pick out, at the item level, what you want and what you dont want and what you can have access to or not, Gold said. Avoiding the state-funded purchase of access to databases that include social justicefocused materials, like the Black Life in America digital news media archive, or Gales Archives of Sexuality and Gender, would mean not having access to the entire collection. Advertisement Without access to licensing agreements that the FLVC can negotiate with large publishing companies that aggregate collections of databases for academic journal articles like Gale, EBSCO, or ProQuest, public universities risk losing their accreditation status from federal and state accreditors which require institutions to provide a certain level of support to students, faculty, and staffto support all educational, research, and public service programs. GOP presidential contenders DeSantis and Donald Trump have each taken aim at accreditation agencies recently, claiming that if elected, they would replace them with a new breed of anti-DEI accreditors. Advertisement Advertisement Gale, ProQuest, and EBSCO declined opportunities to comment about whether publishing companies are considering a market adjustment to assist academic librarians in states with anti-CRT and anti-DEI laws in maintaining their ability to provide resources. SB 266 banned institutions from using federal, state, or private dollars to promote or provide access to programming for students, and these large databases are going to have those kinds of ideas, Andrew Gothard, president of the United Faculty of Florida, the higher education branch of the Florida Education Association, told Slate. If students and faculty dont have access to major research archives as part of their education and as part of their work, we have no doubt that this is going to cause a conflict with the accreditation standards which require academic freedom, freedom of speech, and the ability of students and faculty to explore all ideas free from undue political influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In light of the unknowns, academic librarians are taking steps to protect their jobs. To get a better sense of what its like to be an academic librarian in Florida these days, Slate spoke with a handful who are currently employed by public and private institutions across the state, all under the condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation from their employers, the DeSantis administration, or both. Lots of librarians have wasted a ton of time deleting and cleaning up files in their [Microsoft file-hosting service] OneDrives; removing their names from projects, committees; taking down libguides [resource guides made by librarians] and associated documents related to DEI or anything that is related to diversity and inclusion on any level, one librarian from a public college told Slate. Advertisement This librarian also said that out of an abundance of caution, they are removing metadata like diversity and decolonization from publications theyd uploaded to their institutions repository, saying that theyve done this because they dont want what happened to Gold to also happen to them. But other academic librarians at public institutions call this kind of self-censorship an overreaction, in part because Golds status as an administrator made her ineligible for union protections that faculty can typically enjoy. Advertisement Related from Slate Aymann Ismail Republicans Are Finding New Voters With Ron DeSantis Favorite Talking Point. Its Just the Beginning. Read More Ive encouraged [my colleagues across the state] to be a little bit bolder and act through their associations and use that as cover so they can engage in advocacy, a different academic librarian from another public institution told Slate. Theres a lot of hesitation because people feel like its not in our job descriptions to do this, but I feel like it is. I feel like its in our purview to protect our collections and the people who work for us and the people who are marginalized in the professional community, professional librarians as well. Advertisement Neither the Florida Board of Education nor the state university systems board of governors have offered institutions guidance on how to navigate the law. Gothard tells Slate that elements of this strategy look similar to those surrounding other bills recently signed by DeSantis, including Floridas book ban law, which had school districts threatening teachers and librarians with third-degree felonies for giving students access to books with topics on race, sex, and gender, when the onus was really on the district. A similar theme can be deduced from the so-called Dont Say Gay law that was recently expanded in coverage from third grade to eighth grade in public schools. Advertisement Advertisement They want to do unconstitutional things, but they dont want to be held accountable for it, so they try to offload the accountability to somebody else, Gothard added. Theyre trying to be cagey about who is actually going to do the punishing and whos going to do the reporting. Advertisement Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom, affirmed for Slate in a statement that SB 266 places in jeopardy any college or university librarian who makes available certain books and resources. By threatening academic librarians tenure and unconstitutionally banning consideration of entire topics related to race, gender, and history, we know that implementation of SB 266 will chill academic librarians ability to serve the information and research needs of students and faculty alike and diminish the education of students in Floridas universities, Caldwell-Stone told Slate. Advertisement While academic librarians weigh their options, including what it would take to apply for jobs out of state, they also note that getting involved in their institutions respective unions has been beneficial. Another piece of legislation recently signed by DeSantis, SB 256, eliminated public employees ability to have union dues deducted from their paychecks, and requires at least 60 percent of eligible employees to pay union dues in order for a union to be certified as such. But according to the academic librarians we spoke to for this story, many are seeing their respective unions reach or surpass that 60 percent limit. Wait and see is definitely the state of play at the institutional level, said one librarian employed by a public university. But behind the scenes, at an individual level, people are getting ready. The heat waves wracking the country are bad enough on their own. But theyre colliding with another crisis: The water is running low. Throughout this month, persistent triple-digit temperatures have blanketed the Bible Belt, sometimes exceeding 120 degrees. This unrelenting heat wave has spurred lasting power outages, hailstorms and tornadoes, and physical illnesses across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texasa ring of fire effect of self-reinforcing air currents, humidity, and heat domes wreaking damage across the South. In some parts of Texas, the Weather Channel noted, the heat wave has rewritten the history books for all-time record heat. Punishing as the ordeal has already been for tens of millions of Americans, this hot weather may last through early July and leak into the Southwest, potentially hitting Arizona and New Mexico with more wildfires and gusty winds. As ocean-surface temperatures breach alarming thresholds, killing off thousands of fish, and El Nino makes its grim return, the Souths plight makes clear that this season will set another record for climate changefueled extreme weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the midst of this disaster loop, plenty of attention has turned to regional electricity capacity. Oklahoma and Louisiana are still repairing storm-wrecked power lines, and Texas stand-alone, notoriously weakened grid has again asked residents to voluntarily cut back their energy use, including air conditioning. (Thankfully, the states ample solar installations have staved off the potential for grid collapse, in spite of lawmakers attempts to hurt the renewables industry.) Yet far less attention has been paid to the forced scarcity of another, equally important, equally endangered resource: the water supply. Among the devastating health effects of searing heat, which kills more Americans than any other form of extreme weather, dehydration is paramount. Excess, unchecked body-water deprivation resulting from sweat and dry skinas well as lack of ready water supply for intake, thanks to heat-linked system breakdowns and drought conditionscan presage more dire physical ailments like kidney damage and high blood pressure, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Despite this fact, some of these heat-wave-ridden states have taken steps to reduce their residents water availability. Or, as in the case of Mississippi, theyve continued to neglect longtime drinking-water crises even as the terrible heat comes to town. Advertisement Related from Slate Avery Arena The Colorado River Is in Crisis. Its Not Just About Water. Read More Earlier this month, the Texas Tribune reported, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill nullifying local ordinances that require construction companies to grant their workers 10-minute breaks for water and shade every four hourseven though Texas sees the most heat-related labor deaths of any state. The law doesnt go into effect until September, but the types of consequences it will have are already apparent: In Dallas, which has such a soon-to-be-nullified regulation on the books, postal worker Eugene Gates Jr. died of heat illness while traveling his letter-carrying route. Near Dallas, the city of Boyd is facing a boil-water notice thanks to a damaged system, while an important High Plains aquifer is gradually running dry. The essential workers the Lone Star State relies on during these nonstop climate crisesto transport mail and supplies, to fix strained water and electricity infrastructure, to manage outdoor food sourceswill be the first and hardest hit by the fatal heat that their jobs wont let them avoid. Advertisement Advertisement Its not just Texas; most states, with the exception of California, Oregon, and Washington, have no mandatory heat protections for outdoor laborers. Still, insidious ways of limiting even more water relief are spreading. On Thursday, the Supreme Court denied the Navajo Nation the right to have the federal government ensure its access to steady, secure water infrastructure. The baffling ruling arrives at a moment when Navajo Nation citizens, about half of whom lack reliable plumbing, are being incentivized to further reduce water consumption thanks to a federally mandated interstate deal to ration water portions afforded from the Colorado River. It also comes at a moment when Arizona stands to build out large industrial facilities for battery manufacturing and chipmakingboth of which require ample amounts of water use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another group of Southern Americans feeling the piercing sun without guaranteed water on hand: prisoners. Just about every state suffering through this heat wave is known for fostering carceral conditions that deprive their populations of basic necessitieslike water. In Texas, whose Legislature refuses to properly fund prison cooling services, incarcerated people dealing with malfunctioning systems are often forced to consume and cool themselves with dirty toilet water, despite local protocols requiring that they be provided extra water, ice, and time for cold showers. When it comes to people interred in Alabama, a criminal justice advocate told the Guardian, A lot of the time they dont have any water to drink. They dont have ice, they dont have anything. Arizona prisons, in particular, have seen repeated water-system breakdowns that take an excruciatingly long time to fix. Yet the nationwide issues with correctional-facility water are treated with little urgency, even as heat conditions in those prisons grow more unbearable year after year. Across huge swaths of the country, an already-pressing heat wave is set to fester and worsen in the following months. Yet local and national governments seem entirely unconcerned about the precious need for available potable water, even as those struck by blistery conditions need it more than ever. What will it take to finally get their attention? Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Bank of America announced that it has exceeded $500 million in equity investments in minority- and women-led funds, a substantial increase from the initial commitment of $200 million. This move could have far-reaching implications for small business owners who typically struggle with access to capital. The bank has so far allocated these funds to over 150 diverse-led funds, resulting in capital deployment to over 1,000 companies across 40 states. These beneficiary companies, led by 1,500 diverse entrepreneurs, collectively employ over 21,000 people. For many small businesses, access to capital is one of the most significant challenges, particularly for minority and women-led companies. Bank of Americas move is seen as a direct response to addressing this concern. Sell Your Business Conduct Market Research Power Up Your Event's Success We work across our company to address critical needs in our communities, including the lack of access to capital that diverse business owners face as they start or grow their businesses, said Tram Nguyen, Global Head of Strategic and Sustainable Investments at Bank of America. Our goal is to advance racial equality and economic opportunity. The impact of the banks equity investment is already evident in its support for funds such as Zeal Capital Partners, led by Nasir Qadree. Zeal Capital Partners focuses on providing overlooked founders with resources they need for their next growth stage. Their successes include being an early investor in Esusu, now one of the few Black-owned unicorns, a company offering rent reporting and credit building solutions for immigrants and minorities. Bank of Americas investments also include Chingona Ventures, the only active fund in the Midwest started and led by a Latina, Samara Hernandez, at the time of the banks investment. Chingona Ventures supports founders from unique backgrounds creating businesses in often overlooked markets, such as Papaya, a bilingual STEM tutoring organization aiming to close the educational gap for underserved students. These investments signify a new chapter in supporting small businesses, especially those led by diverse entrepreneurs. As Bank of America continues to innovate and expand the capital and resources available to entrepreneurs and small business owners, a significant wave of economic growth in their communities is anticipated. By providing financial support to funds that understand and cater to diverse entrepreneurs, the bank is empowering these entrepreneurs to overcome barriers, catalyze change, and spur economic growth. For small business owners, this could mean greater opportunities for growth, expansion, and success. This commitment by Bank of America marks a significant stride in promoting inclusivity and diversity in the business world. It demonstrates a powerful move toward leveling the playing field for women and minority entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth and promoting greater business diversity across the U.S. For the latest, follow us on Google News. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Thinking about ditching the paper towels for a hand dryer? Great idea! Investing in a commercial hand dryer has many benefits. Installing a hand dryer in your business is more cost-effective, better for the environment, and more sanitary than paper towels, which can be messy and need to be constantly replenished. The best air hand dryers for work should be reliable, with a long work life because they are being used constantly, and should be energy efficient. Whether you are installing a hand dryer in a restroom, kitchen, or handwashing station, the units on this list will provide a valuable buying guide. Why Your Business Should Have a Commercial Hand Dryer Making the switch to a commercial hand dryer indeed comes with a range of benefits, both tangible and intangible, which can greatly enhance your businesss overall functionality and reputation. To further emphasize the point, lets delve into a few additional aspects of why this investment might be worthwhile: Customer Perception Believe it or not, the state of your restroom can greatly impact a customers overall impression of your business. A well-maintained, modern restroom with a high-quality hand dryer indicates that you care about details, hygiene, and sustainability. This can boost your companys reputation and customer loyalty. Long-term Savings Despite the initial cost of installing a hand dryer, youll likely notice considerable long-term savings. Unlike paper towels, theres no need to continuously buy, store, or replace anything. Moreover, many of todays models are energy-efficient, further lowering your operating costs. Reduced Maintenance Hand dryers reduce the time and effort needed for janitorial services. Theres no need to replenish paper towel dispensers, clean up discarded towels, or deal with the resulting plumbing issues when these end up in toilets. Space Optimization Paper towel dispensers, and the storage required for their refills, take up valuable space. Hand dryers are compact, freeing up room for other amenities. Commercial hand dryers also offer: Quiet Operation: Many modern hand dryers operate quietly, reducing noise pollution in your restroom. Customization Options: You can select a hand dryer that aligns with your restrooms aesthetic. Many models offer different finishes and styles. Accessibility Compliance: Certain hand dryer models are designed to comply with accessibility standards, making them a great choice for businesses seeking to be more inclusive. Overall, while the decision to install a commercial hand dryer may seem minor, its impact on your businesss operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and reputation can be significant Types of Commercial Hand Dryers Commercial hand dryers have become increasingly popular in the past few years. Businesses are looking to replace paper towels and their dispensers in an effort to save money and be more environmentally friendly. In response, vendors have made various styles of hand dryers available with different features and options. Here are the general types of commercial hand dryers available: Traditional Hand Dryers This style of hand dryer features a push-button activation that provides heated air for a preset amount of time. This style of hand dryer features a push-button activation that provides heated air for a preset amount of time. Automatic Hand Dryers Automatic hand dryers use sensors to turn on only when in use. They provide heated air to the user for a shorter amount of time. Automatic hand dryers use sensors to turn on only when in use. They provide heated air to the user for a shorter amount of time. High-Speed Hand Dryers High-speed hand dryers boast the quickest drying time, making them perfect for a busy bathroom. Commercial Hand Dryer: Our Top Picks For Your Business Features / Model Top Pick: Goetland Stainless Steel Commercial Hand Dryer Runner Up: XLERATOR Automatic High-Speed Hand Dryer Best Value: JETWELL 2Pack High-Speed Commercial Automatic Eco Hand Dryer Power 1800 Watts 1500 Watts 1400 Watts Dry Time 10-12 seconds 10-15 seconds 7-10 seconds Speed Air speed of 200 mph High-velocity air stream Not specified Sensor Range 2-5.9 inches Automatic infrared optical start/stop sensor Up to 6 inches Noise Level 70-72 decibels Lowered by 9 decibels with noise reduction nozzle 72 decibels Installation Wall-mounted, plug-in Surface-mounted Not specified Weight 10.1 pounds Not specified Not specified Special Features Polished stainless steel Brushed stainless steel cover, Noise reduction nozzle Infrared sensor, Brush motor, Uses 80% less energy Warranty Not specified 5 years Not specified Price Range High-end Mid-range Budget (value for 2-pack) Ideal For Commercial use Commercial use Commercial use where multiple hand dryers are needed Package Includes 1 Hand Dryer 1 Hand Dryer 2 Hand Dryers Goetland Stainless Steel Commercial Hand Dryer Top Pick: The polished stainless steel Goetland hand dryer uses 1800 watts to dry hands within 10-12 seconds by moving air at 200 mph. The infrared sensing distance is set between 2-5.9 inches, with noise ranging between 70-72 decibels. Ideal for commercial use, this hand dryer weighs 10.1 pounds. This dryer can be easily wall-mounted and may be plugged in directly to an outlet. Goetland Stainless Steel Commercial Hand Dryer 1800w Automatic High-Speed Heavy-Duty Dull Polished Buy on Amazon XLERATOR Automatic High-Speed Hand Dryer Runner Up: The XLERATOR air hand dryer is made with a brushed stainless steel cover accompanied by a noise reduction nozzle that lowers the noise by 9 decibels. This surface-mounted hand dryer with a high-velocity air stream can dry hands in 10-15 seconds. It also has an automatic infrared optical start/stop sensor that runs the dryer for 35 seconds or until hands are removed from under the sensor. It runs on 1500 watts and comes with a five-year warranty. XLERATOR XL-SB Automatic High-Speed Hand Dryer with Brushed Stainless Steel Cover Buy on Amazon JETWELL 2Pack High-Speed Commercial Automatic Eco Hand Dryer Best Value: The JETWELL 2Pack UL hand dryer uses 1400 Watts to dry hands within 7 to 10 seconds. It comes with an infrared sensor that works up to six inches, and it has been tested to work more than 500,000 times. The brush motor operates at 72 decibels and uses 80% less energy. This option is a great value if your business needs multiple hand dryers. JETWELL 2Pack UL Listed High-Speed Commercial Automatic Eco Hand Dryer with HEPA Filter Buy on Amazon AIKE AK2903 Heavy Duty Commercial Hand Dryer The carbon brush motor can dry your hands in 10 15 seconds. This dryer has a built-in HEPA filter, automatic heating that heats up to save more than 70% of energy use per day, UL approved, and 45-second overtime protection. The company guarantees the device for two years with worry-free replacement. This economical hand dryer comes highly rated by its users. AIKE AK2903 Heavy Duty Commercial Hand Dryer with Hepa Filter Polished Stainless-Steel UL Approved Buy on Amazon ASIALEO Commercial Hand Dryer This dryer takes up less space because of its patented horizontal compact design. It dries your hands in under 12 seconds using a motor tested for more than half a million times without any issues. The noise level comes in at 70db with 76.5 cubic feet per minute airflow. It also features temperature control for either room temperature or warm air, and a corrosion-proof stainless steel cover. ASIALEO Commercial Hand Dryer High-Speed Automatic Electric Hand Dryers Buy on Amazon Dyson Airblade dB Hand Dryer AB14 The Dyson hand dryer is one of the fastest hand dryers you can get, but the price puts it out of reach for many small businesses. It moves air at an amazing and unmatched 420 miles an hour. A dry time of around 11 seconds, a high-grade HEPA filter, a 5-year warranty, and a long-life brushless motor make it a quality dryer. This hand dryer may not be for everyone, but it gets rave reviews from suppliers. Dyson Airblade dB Hand Dryer AB14 Buy on Amazon World Dryer 0833 NOVA-1 Plug-In Economical Automatic Hand Dryer The NOVA-1 by World Dryer is a cost-efficient option for smaller, lower traffic areas. It is compact and easy to install and dries hands in about 30 seconds. This model comes in a white epoxy enamel finish on die-cast aluminum for a clean and vandal-resistant surface. This dryer has a cord with a 3-prong plug, making it compatible with any 120-volt wall outlet. World Dryer 0833 NOVA-1 Plug-In Economical Surface Mounted Plug-In Quick Install Automatic Hand Dryer Buy on Amazon Excel Dryer ThinAir Commercial Hand Dryer This hand dryer by Excel is popular among energy-conscious small businesses mainly because it can qualify users for LEED credits. It promises to reduce paper towel waste and use 80% less energy than other commercial dryers. In addition, this model has adjustable heat and speed options and is ADA compliant. This surface-mounted hand dryer also features an anti-microbial cover and washable pre-filter. Excel Dryer ThinAir ADA-Compliant Commercial Hand Dryer, Surface Mount, White Antimicrobial ABS Cover, 950 Watts 110/120V Buy on Amazon EnBath Commercial Hand Dryer If you like supporting small businesses and saving money, consider this stainless steel option by EnBath. This compact dryer provides 224-mph-velocity for each session and has adjustable speed and volume options. It uses only 1350 watts of electricity for heated air and 500 watts for room temperature air. Despite its small size, this dryer is built for long-term use and has been lab-tested over half a million times. EnBath Hand Dryer (224 mph) Automatic Electric Hand Dryers for Bathrooms, Stainless Steel Buy on Amazon Alpine Industries Commercial Automatic Hand Dryer This hand dryer from Alpine Industries combines power, energy efficiency and sleek design. Its 25,000 rpm brush motor dries hands in 10 seconds, making it ideal for high-traffic, heavily used areas. This hand dryer is corrosion-proof and lightweight and has a lower price point than some of the other commercial hand dryers. It also is one of the few models offering different color choices. Alpine Commercial Automatic Hand Dryer High Speed Air Hand Dryer for Home Buy on Amazon AIKE AK2903 Heavy Duty Commercial Hand Dryer with Hepa Filter The built-in Hepa filter is the star of the AIKE AK2903, providing clean and hygienic air for each use. Additionally, this model boasts a smart heating system, so it only uses warm air when the room temperature is below a certain level. This hand dryer is made of corrosion-proof stainless steel, is UL approved, and comes with a two-year warranty. AIKE AK2903 Heavy Duty Commercial Hand Dryer Buy on Amazon How to Choose the Best Hand Dryer for Your Business A hand dryer may seem like a simple purchase, but you want to make sure youre getting the right one for your business. There are several factors to consider before hitting the Buy Now button. High Speed The new generation of high-speed hand dryers are fast, with 10 to 15 seconds drying times now the standard for quality devices. However, not every business needs a high-speed hand dryer, and many of them are expensive. Standard speed hand dryers are a good option for lower traffic areas. Automatic Hand Dryer The optimal hand dryer for your business may be automatic or push-button. An automatic dryer is more sanitary and uses less energy because they turn off as soon as the hand is removed. Push-button models have a timer cycle that continues to run until it is over. Many automatic hand dryers have an air volume regulator to help reduce stack effects on building HVAC systems. A push-button hand dryer might be ideal if your space is small. Inclusivity Businesses must be careful to comply with ADA guidelines when installing hand dryers. Most hand dryers are designed to be installed lower to the ground to ensure blind users visiting dont accidentally bump into them. Keep this in mind when choosing a model and location. Models with a slimmer design can also help keep you in compliance. Noise Fast, powerful hand dryers can be noisy. Think about where the dryer will be installed if it will be in or near a noise-sensitive area, look for quiet hand dryers with adjustable motor speeds or low decibels. Energy Use Most people switch from paper towels to hand dryers in an effort to reduce paper towel mess and energy costs. Contrary to the name, high-powered automatic units are, in reality, more energy-efficient. They dry hands quicker and automatically turn off when not in service. Vandal Proof Depending on the location, hand dryers can be roughed up. In this case, you do not want the most expensive/high-end unit. Look into vandal-proof and corrosion-proof dryers with a lower price point if this is a concern. Easy to Install Many hand dryers are listed as easy to install, while others recommend having an electrician assist with or complete the installation. Additionally, some hand dryers are plug-in while others are wireless. Some are designed to be either with some changes to the wiring. Think about who will install your hand dryers before choosing. Hygienic Hygiene has become more important than ever, and some dryers are more hygienic than others. Automatic hand dryers are more sanitary than push-button hand dryers since there is no need to touch them. However, most models come with hygienic accessories like washable filters, antimicrobial covers, or HEPA filters. Summary Hand dryers have become a standard in most public restrooms and other wash areas. Customers now expect a hand dryer in order to avoid another point of contact and to keep their time in the restroom brief. The good news is you can find hand dryers across all budgets and quickly install one in your place of business. Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Promotional products are useful items for small business owners to increase brand awareness among consumers. Business promotional items are a great marketing tool as they allow your brand to connect with consumers by engaging their senses. It is a form of advertising that allows consumers to interact with a brand on a physical level. And promotional products often create a more memorable brand experience. Unlike advertising messages, promotional products are not as intrusive and distracting. Offering a promotional item is like saying We care. Thank you for being a valued customer. When prospects or clients receive these products, they are more likely inclined to reciprocate by looking or purchasing the products or services. According to research, people who receive promotional items are more likely to remember the advertisers name on the products. Upon receiving the promotional products, others will be more inclined to research the company or product. Conduct Market Research Power Up Your Event's Success Sell Your Business It all falls on your ability to capture the imagination of your targets and help build lasting connections. Promotional items might include wearables, drinkware, bags, computer products, desk office accessories, calendars, tech devices, and more they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. In many cases, its even possible to obtain custom items that arent usually found in promotional product catalogs. Below are some of our picks for your consideration: The Benefits of Business Promotional Items Small business owners can go a long way to get their brand noticed with promotional products with the business name and info. Some examples are: Marketing Campaign: Send promotional products out into the community for outreach and to attract potential customers Send promotional products out into the community for outreach and to attract potential customers Customer Appreciation: Let your customers know you appreciate their business Let your customers know you appreciate their business Trade Shows: Get your brand seen by fellow business owners Get your brand seen by fellow business owners Employee Appreciation: You can also use these items to give to your staff as rewards or incentives Best Business Promotional Items for Your Small Business You dont have to break your budget to find the best promotional products. There are a lot of options for both cheap promotional items or more expensive ones. We rounded up some ideas for small business promotional products for you in the list below: Product Top Pick: Amazon.com Gift Card in a Mini Envelope Runner Up: Atmos Green 100% Cotton Reusable Grocery Bags Best Value: 100pcs Personalized Bottle Opener Keychain Pricing (Estimate) Variable ($10 to $2,000) Moderately Priced Most Affordable Customization Options Mini envelope can be printed or stamped with your logo or company name Company name, logo, or other promotional content can be printed on either side of the bag Can be customized with up to two lines Special Features No fees on the cards and no expiration date Made from 100% recycled cotton, available in 34 colors, and bulk orders from five to 200 pieces are possible Comes in a variety of colors, several different fonts are available for your company name Quantity Single Single or Bulk (5 to 200 pieces) Bulk (100 pieces) Ideal Use For rewarding customers or employees Great for trade shows, events, and regular use by customers Great for trade shows, events, and as promotional gifts Amazon.com Gift Card in a Mini Envelope Top Pick: Amazon gift cards can be great business promotional items if you serve a very diverse customer base and cant decide on what item to settle on. Amazon gift cards are pre-loaded with a set amount of money that allows recipients to redeem their gift from amazon. Gift cards range from as low as $10 to as high as $2,000, allowing you the discretion to reward customers based on their loyalty and frequency of patronage. They are also a good way to reward your employees as well. What is also great is that there are no fees on the cards and no expiration date. You can print or stamp the mini envelope with your logo or company name. Amazon.com Gift Card in a Mini Envelope Buy on Amazon Atmos Green 100% Cotton Reusable Grocery Bags Runner Up: Branded reusable grocery bags are great promotional products. They are used by most people, are environmentally friendly, and will be seen by many. The Atmos Green reusable grocery bag is made from 100% recycled cotton, and it comes in at 15 X 16 inches with a 27? long handle. You can print your company name, logo, or other promotional content on either side of the bag. And the company provides the bag in 34 colors and bulk orders from five to 200 pieces. Atmos Green Recycled Cotton Reusable Grocery bags Buy on Amazon 100pcs Personalized Bottle Opener Keychain Best Value: Our best value pick is this 100-pack of aluminum bottle openers that can be customized with up to two lines. Bottle openers are convenient and small, making them especially great for trade shows. And the best part is, that the customization is done by the company that ships the keychains, so you dont have to worry about separate printing costs. You get 100 pieces of promotional gifts for a low price. They come in a variety of colors and several different fonts are available for your company name. 100PCS Custom Personalized Bottle Opener Keychain Bulk Buy on Amazon Smart Go Microfiber Cleaning Cloth (100 Pieces) Customization company Smart Go offers edge-to-edge customization on these microfiber cleaning cloths. They will print your company logo or artwork on each white cloth, ensuring your brand stands out. Microfiber cloths are used by almost everyone for electronics, eyeglasses, and more. Smart Go Microfiber Cleaning Cloth (100 Pieces) Digital Custom Print Your Company Artwork or Business Logo Buy on Amazon Promotional Custom Hand Sanitizers 12 Count Hand sanitizer has become one of the most popular business promotional items, especially if they can be customized. This 12-count hand sanitizers can be customized using a four-color process with your logo, which goes on the sticker on the bottle. Each 1.5 oz bottle is filled with a fresh scented hand sanitizer infused with moisturizers. Promotional Hand Sanitizer with Carabiner, Custom Hand Sanitizers 12 Quantity Buy on Amazon Belladonna Vanilla Lip Balm 50 Pack Lip balms make great promotional products because just about everyone uses them. This 50-pack by Belladonna is vanilla scented with moisturizing vitamin E and shea butter. The tubes are blank and can be easily and quickly customized by using a label printed with your business name/logo. Belladonna Vanilla Lip Balm 50 Pack Buy on Amazon 20 oz. Water Bottles with Carabiner Set of 100 Nothing beats ice-cold water on hot summer days. Water bottles make great promotional gifts, and your customers will be sure to get a lot of use from these BPA-free, high-quality aluminum water bottles. These bottles have a twist cap to prevent spilling and are designed with a slim bottom to fit most cupholders. Discount Promos will print your company logo on the bottles so they arrive ready to go. These bottles are printed in the USA. Custom Water Bottles with Carabiner 20 oz. Set of 100 Buy on Amazon M&Ms Fun Size Giveaways Another option for promotional products is candy. This 50-pack of custom promotional fun-sized M&Ms is sure to be a hit with your customers. You can have your small business company logo printed on one side of the wrapper, making it a fun and memorable gift. 50ct Promotional Items Add Your Logo Candy M&Ms Fun Size Giveaways (50 Pack) Buy on Amazon Express Pencils Rainbow Rubberized Soft Touch Ballpoint Pens This offering by Express Pencils comes with a 2-in-1 pen/stylus design. The stylus tip is ideal for use on tablets, cellphones, or computer screens. The metal pens come in black ink and are medium point. Each box comes with seven pens in an assortment of colors. The rubberized barrel offers a soft touch grip for extra comfort and is an ideal gift at conventions, trade shows, corporate events, and more. Coming in at 6.93 x 3.7 x 2.44 inches, you can print your small business logo or company tagline to boost your promotions. Rainbow Rubberized Soft Touch Ballpoint Pen with Stylus Tip a stylish, premium metal pen, black ink, medium point Buy on Amazon Joinwin Mini LED Flashlight Key Chain Key chains are affordable and popular promotional items among businesses. These key chains by Joinwin come with an additional perk, a flashlight to help you maneuver through keyholes in the dark. You get a dozen per package in an assortment of colors. Another plus is there is enough space to imprint your logo or branding on the flashlight. Each unit weighs just 3.2 ounces and comes in at 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.7 inches. Joinwin Mini LED Flashlight Key Chain Thin LED Flashlight on Keychain Buy on Amazon Canopy Street Stores Motivational Quote Cards These motivation cards come in batches of 50, with 25 distinct designs on business card sizes (2 x 3.5 inches). These kindness cards help send out positive messages and joy to the people that matter to your business, including employees, customers, and other people youd love to spread positivity to. The cards come with a blank back so you can add your small business logo and company information should you choose to do so. The cards come in various colors that include pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, white, and teal. Motivational Quote Cards/Business Card Size / 50 Kindness Cards Buy on Amazon Mr-Label Waterproof Matte White Water Bottle Labels From company to promotional events, conferences, open houses, and trade shows, having your brand on a bottle of water will get the attention of your audience. Mr-Label lets you print your content on an 8.11 x 2 label using an inkjet or laser printer. Once it is printed, you peel the labels from the sheet and stick them on the bottle of water. The company provides an online design solution, or you can use Mr-Label MS Word, OpenOffice, or Photoshop templates. You can get ten sheets with 50 labels or 50 sheets with 250 labels. Mr-Label 8.11?2? Waterproof Matte White Water Bottle Labels for Inkjet/Laser Printer Self-Adhesive Wraparound Buy on Amazon Choosing the Right Promotional Items Promotional products can be an incredible marketing tool for small businesses, helping to increase brand recognition and fostering a sense of connection with your customers. As you evaluate potential promotional items, consider the following tips to make the most impact: Quality: The items you choose should reflect the quality your business stands for. Opt for durable, well-made products. Subpar items could harm your brands reputation rather than enhance it. Usefulness: Aim for items that offer practical value to the recipients. Items that your customers use daily will keep your brand in the forefront of their minds. Here are a few commonly appreciated promotional items: Personalized Pens: Almost everyone uses pens, making them a practical choice. Branded Water Bottles: Ideal for fitness-focused businesses or any company promoting sustainability. Custom Lip Balm: A unique and useful item, perfect for businesses in colder climates or the beauty sector. Uniqueness: To stand out from the crowd, choose items that are distinctive and memorable. Strive for creative, innovative ideas that capture your brands spirit while respecting your marketing budget. Logo: Your logo or business information should be prominently displayed on your promotional items. Make sure it fits well and enhances the items overall look. Having your logo on these products consistently reminds your customers about your brand. If youre looking to put a personal touch on your items, consider working with vendors that offer custom printing services. Promotional Giveaways Promotional giveaways are another great marketing tool for small businesses. You can order bulk items and have enough to give away to a lot of people, or you can get just a few things for a special giveaway. Using Promotional Items Promotional items can be used for a variety of purposes. Popular programs include business gifts, employee relations, orientation programs, corporate communications, tradeshows, dealer/distribution programs, company stores, generating new customers or new accounts, and promoting brand awareness and brand loyalty. Other uses may include employee incentive programs, new product or service introductions, and marketing research for survey and focus group participants. If you have a decent budget, you can use it also to impact new and existing customers. For example, you can give out some promotional items to anyone while giving the other two out for high targets and best performers. A rule of thumb is to categorize promotional products based on good, better, and best. This will help you stay organized and keep track of your giveaways. Choosing the right promotional items can be a game-changer for your small business. By ensuring the products are of high quality, useful, unique, and well-branded, youre more likely to make a lasting impression on your customers. Always keep your target audience in mind and strive for items that theyll appreciate and use often. This strategy can significantly boost your brands profile and help foster long-term customer loyalty. Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. Foreign students need fewer points than Slovak students to be accepted by Slovak medical faculties. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page In Austria or Germany, they were not accepted to study of medicine three or even five times. So they paid the agency SVM Bratislava to help them get a place at the medical faculty of Comenius University in the Slovak capital. Foreign students usually need to obtain fewer points in entrance exams than Slovak students interested in studying medicine. Many Slovak secondary school graduates prefer to study medicine in the Czech Republic, and most will not return. At Slovak medical faculties, the number of foreign students continues to increase year by year. Almost half of them study at Comenius Universitys Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, central Slovakia. Bratislava is especially attractive to Austrians and Germans. Martin is more sought after by Norwegians and Icelanders. In the European Union, Slovak medical faculties have become the top schools that educate foreign doctors who then return home with a degree. This business is beneficial for agencies like SVM Bratislava as well as for medical faculties. The agencies earn thousands of euros from one foreign student, and the faculties use the money they receive from foreigners to subsidise, for example, the studies of Slovak medicine students. The state gives them less money than they ask for. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/dc-scholars-ukraine-conflict-shows-world-has-grown-weary-of-us-hegemony-1111449771.html DC Scholars: Ukraine Conflict Shows World Has Grown Weary of US Hegemony DC Scholars: Ukraine Conflict Shows World Has Grown Weary of US Hegemony Despite having the largest military budget in the world and being the largest operator of military bases abroad, the US is far from being a global hegemon... 24.06.2023, Sputnik International 2023-06-24T23:25+0000 2023-06-24T23:25+0000 2023-06-25T02:56+0000 americas us joe biden fiona hill washington dc asean pentagon china /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/01/1110840003_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ce57418ee469403a86d6c5f7cb2939fa.jpg Over the past decades Washington has demonstrated a capacity for mass destruction in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere but "it has won no more than Pyrrhic victories" which led to the erosion of trust in Pax Americana both at home and abroad, according to Responsible Statecraft scholars.The US military spending reached $876.9 billion in 2022, while the nation also operates a whopping 750 foreign military bases. Still, Washington is incapable of persuading the Global South to join anti-Russia sanctions over the latter's special military operation in Ukraine, the think tank remarks. "If hegemony means the capacity to get other countries to comply with ones demands, the United States is far from being a global hegemon," the report notes.Judging from the so-called Pentagon leak, even some US allies and partners demonstrated hesitance and unwillingness to provide the Kiev regime with shells, jets and armored vehicles. Meanwhile, most nations of the Global South shrugged off the US calls for slapping sanctions on Moscow as contradicting their national interests.US political observers emphasize that six nations in the Global South namely, India, Brazil, Turkiye, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa are set to decide the future of geopolitics and insist that the Biden administration needs to win their hearts and minds. At the same time, European commentators argue that developing nations have the right to remain neutral and non-aligned.For instance, in June 2022, India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar shredded the West's claim that New Delhi was "sitting on the fence." According to the minister, India is entitled to its opinion when it comes to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.Likewise, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has chosen to collaborate with both the US and China, instead of taking sides. Moreover, ASEAN nations are active participants of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) regardless of Washington's attempts to maintain its dominance in the region and curb China's influence in the Asia Pacific.Per DC scholars, the emerging trend was articulated by Brookings Institution fellow Fiona Hill, former Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States, in May 2023:According to Hill, the Global South's resistance to the US and the EU's demands to slap sanctions on Moscow is nothing short of "an open rebellion." She noted that "this is a mutiny against what they see as the collective West dominating the international discourse and foisting its problems on everyone else, while brushing aside their priorities on climate change compensation, economic development, and debt relief."Western observers also acknowledge that the world's center of gravity is steadily shifting east, adding that the Biden administration has so far sought to avert this trend by trying to establish "a lasting technological lead over China" and beefing up the US military in Western Pacific.However, "most developing countries, including emerging powers in the Global South, are no longer willing to make zero-sum choices" between Washington and its geopolitical rivals, DC scholars underscore, urging American policymakers to accept the reality that the US is no longer "the indispensable nation." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/new-brics-currency-can-challenge-dollar-hegemony-of-us-led-g7-economic-gang-1110984675.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/ex-cia-advisor-reveals-date-when-dollars-hegemony-may-start-to-crumble-1110978215.html americas washington dc china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova 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 Ekaterina Blinova us, joe biden, fiona hill, washington, dc, asean, pentagon, china https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/air-raid-sirens-sound-in-multiple-regions-of-ukraine-1111449986.html Air Raid Sirens Sound in Multiple Regions of Ukraine Air Raid Sirens Sound in Multiple Regions of Ukraine Air raid warning were issued in several regions of Ukraine 2023-06-25T00:08+0000 2023-06-25T00:08+0000 2023-06-25T00:28+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine kharkov dnepropetrovsk zaporozhye /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/13/1111293817_0:0:2177:1225_1920x0_80_0_0_7c9959524ab7ad410f3edd8e5373e5a1.jpg Air raid sirens went off in the Ukrainian regions of Sumy, Poltava, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, as well as the Kiev-controlled parts of Zaporozhye region, at around 19:50 GMT on Saturday, the ministrys online map showed. On the night from Friday to Saturday, air raid warnings were in effect across the entire territory of Ukraine. Ukrainian media reported that explosions were heard in several regions of Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday. Ukrainian media reported after midnight that explosions were heard in the Ukraine-controlled city of Zaporozhye during the night.Precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure have been carried out by Russia since October 10 (two days after the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge). In February, the head of Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo said that direct damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure caused by Russian strikes may amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, with economic losses ranging in billions. ukraine kharkov dnepropetrovsk zaporozhye 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 russia special military operation, ukraine, air raid https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/american-media-claim-us-intelligence-learned-about-prigozhins-plans-for-mutiny-in-mid-june-1111453277.html American Media Claims US Intelligence Knew About Prigozhin's Planned Mutiny in Mid-June American Media Claims US Intelligence Knew About Prigozhin's Planned Mutiny in Mid-June US intelligence agencies received indications that the head of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), Yevgeny Prigozhin, might be plotting a mutiny and informed the White House and other government agencies so they would not be caught off guard, the US media reported, citing several U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. 2023-06-25T09:36+0000 2023-06-25T09:36+0000 2023-06-26T14:08+0000 ukrainian crisis world russia wagner aborted mutiny /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/19/1111453567_0:138:3151:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_1031122b4260df3697798a226694bebf.jpg One source who spoke on condition of anonymity said that "there were enough signals to be able to tell the leadership that something was up," although the details of Prigozhin's plans were not clear. Over the past two weeks, the intelligence agencies briefed the White House, as well as senior officials at the Department of State, the Pentagon and in Congress, unnamed officials told the newspaper. Another US news outlet reported that the intelligence was not declassified as the US spy agencies were concerned that Russia would accuse them of orchestrating a coup. They also had "little interest" in helping Russian authorities, the report said. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of Prigozhin. The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group PMC as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. Later in the day, the Belarusian presidential office announced that Prigozhin had accepted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and to take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that the Wagner troops were returning to their field camps. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday evening that the criminal case against Prigozhin had been dropped and that he would leave for Belarus under guarantees given by Putin. The spokesman added that the members of the Wagner PMC involved in Saturday's events would not be prosecuted given their distinguished service during Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/mutiny-averted-everything-we-know-as-prigozhin-halts-wagner-march-on-moscow-1111448622.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/russians-urged-to-unite-in-face-of-wagner-armed-mutiny-attempt-1111440232.html russia 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 prigozhin mutiny attempt, ukrainian crisis, us intelligence https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/canadian-police-probe-circumstances-behind-death-of-five-on-board-titan-sub-1111452726.html Canadian Police Probe Circumstances Behind Death of Five on Board Titan Sub Canadian Police Probe Circumstances Behind Death of Five on Board Titan Sub Superintendent Kent Osmond of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has confirmed that they are looking "at the circumstances" that led to the deaths of five people killed in the implosion of the Titan submersible. 2023-06-25T08:37+0000 2023-06-25T08:37+0000 2023-06-25T08:37+0000 americas us titanic titan police /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/16/1111409609_0:121:2311:1421_1920x0_80_0_0_3b0c393c893ba1e2f63e9a3df5a7a546.jpg Superintendent Kent Osmond of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has confirmed that they are looking "at the circumstances" that led to the deaths of five people killed in the implosion of the Titan submersible. He told reporters that a team of investigators had been formed with the "sole purpose" of defining whether a criminal investigation would be warranted. Asked whether the police had any suspicion of criminal activity, Osmond said that "There is no suspicion of criminal activity per se, but the RCMP is taking initial steps to assess whether or not we will go down that road." Apart from the police probe, Canadas Transportation Safety Board announced its own investigation, as Titan's support vessel was the Canadian-flagged Polar Prince. This followed the US Coast Guard (USCG) asking the countrys National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to assist in its investigation into the implosion of the Titan submersible, which has been called a major marine casualty. Owned by a US private company, OceanGate, the Titan was reported missing on June 18 during a manned mission to survey the wreckage of the Titanic, which is located 900 nautical miles (1666,8 km) east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts about four kilometers below the oceans surface. Those on board included Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate Expeditions, the company behind the mission, British billionaire Hamish Harding, the owner of Action Aviation, French dive expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, as well as prominent Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman. The 6.5-meter-long Titan lost contact with the Polar Prince vehicle about one hour and 45 minutes into its dive, in what prompted a multinational search and rescue operation. Last Thursday, OceanGate Expeditions announced that all five on board were dead as a crew guiding a remotely operated vehicle tracked pieces of the submersible about 500 meters from the bow of the Titanic. US Coast Guard Rear Adm. John Mauger, the First Coast Guard District commander, for his part, told reporters that "The debris is consistent with a catastrophic implosion of the vessel," which killed everyone on board. US media reported in this vein that the tragedy "renewed criticisms of OceanGates approach to safety from employees and other industry leaders", given the fact that the deep-sea submersible was made of "an experimental combination of carbon fiber and titanium and relied on decidedly low-tech parts, such as a video game controller." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230623/what-could-have-caused-the-titan-sub-tragedy-1111422376.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.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 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg titan submersible, titan tragedy, titan all dead on board, titan submersible incident, titan tragedy investigation ADDIS ABABA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- China's Hua Hong Construction Private Limited Company (PLC) on Saturday signed an agreement with an Ethiopian real estate developer NMC Real Estate PLC to build hundreds of high-end apartments in the Akaki Kality sub-city of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. The over-155-million-U.S.-dollar project, which will incorporate 600 apartments and 30 villas, to be built on 35,000 square meters of land, is expected to partly address the grave housing problem in the city. Meseret Mekonnen, chief executive officer (CEO) of the NMC Real Estate PLC, said the project, to be completed within two years, will be one of Ethiopia's milestones that will embrace high-quality apartment standards and construction technologies. "Our company selected Hua Hong Construction PLC after we found out that the Chinese company has had a successful track record in effectively accomplishing various development projects in Ethiopia and especially considering its finance and timely delivering capabilities," Mekonnen told media in a briefing. According to the CEO, the Chinese company has successfully completed Ayat Grand Mall and other real estate projects in Ethiopia by using the latest technologies and employing an adequate number of skilled workers. Mekonnen, also the owner of the NMC Real Estate PLC, said the apartments will be sold at a reasonable price in a tripartite agreement to be reached between his company, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, and buyers. Han Jianyan, general manager of Hua Hong Construction PLC, told the media that his company will build the apartments with high quality and complete them on schedule. The project is expected to create employment opportunities for more than 2000 job seekers in the city. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/claim-to-fame-uk-man-gets-5-year-sentence-for-hacking-celeb-twitter-accounts-1111452061.html Claim to Fame: UK Man Gets 5-Year Sentence For Hacking Celeb Twitter Accounts Claim to Fame: UK Man Gets 5-Year Sentence For Hacking Celeb Twitter Accounts Joseph James OConnor and his accomplices compromised over 130 Twitter accounts in their Bitcoin scam, including those of Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffett. 2023-06-25T06:43+0000 2023-06-25T06:43+0000 2023-06-25T06:49+0000 americas hacker hacker attack twitter us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106414/80/1064148054_0:67:1280:787_1920x0_80_0_0_9be88b335a609cdef398a80a8c845195.jpg A New York federal court has sentenced a UK citizen to five years behind bars for his involvement in a 2020 social media hack that included hijacking the Twitter accounts of top US political and business leaders, as well as for cyberstalking and threatening several individuals.The US Justice Department, in turn, said in a statement that "After stealing and fraudulently diverting the stolen cryptocurrency, 24-year-old Joseph James OConnor and his co-conspirators laundered it through dozens of transfers and transactions and exchanged some of it for Bitcoin using cryptocurrency exchange services.According to the statement, "Ultimately, a portion of the stolen cryptocurrency was deposited into a cryptocurrency exchange account controlled by O'Connor."The 24-year-old, known online as PlugwalkJoe, told US District Judge Jed Rakoff during his sentencing hearing in Manhattan on Friday that he was ashamed to be here."Im sorry to all the victims of my crimes. Im here because I did stupid and shameful things. I will never break the law again. I want to live a life with meaning, not the idiotic, empty, hermit life I was living," O'Connor added. O'Connor also pleaded guilty to stealing as much as $794,000 in virtual currency from a New York cryptocurrency company. Kenneth A. Polite Jr, an assistant attorney general in the US justice departments criminal division, said at the time that "OConnors criminal activities were flagrant and malicious and his conduct impacted multiple peoples lives. He harassed, threatened and extorted his victims, causing substantial emotional harm." The assistant attorney general added that "Like many criminal actors, OConnor tried to stay anonymous by using a computer to hide behind stealth accounts and aliases from outside the United States." The 24-year-old was extradited from Spain at the request of US prosecutors in April and has since then remained in custody. The July 2020 intrusion prodded Twitter to take the unprecedented measure of stopping all verified accounts from posting to the site as the company grappled with what was reported as "one of the most visible hacks in recent history." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230106/hack-attack-on-twitter-reportedly-results-in-data-dump-exposing-info-of-over-200-million-users-1106076670.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.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 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg uk hacker sentence, uk hacker sentenced for hijacking celeb twitter accounts https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/cuban-president-expresses-solidarity-to-putin-amid-wagner-mutiny-attempt-1111451319.html Cuban President Expresses Solidarity to Putin Amid Wagner Mutiny Attempt Cuban President Expresses Solidarity to Putin Amid Wagner Mutiny Attempt Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has expressed solidarity and support to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people amid the Saturday events, involving the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) and its head Yevgeny Prigozhin. 2023-06-25T04:21+0000 2023-06-25T04:21+0000 2023-06-26T14:08+0000 world cuba russia vladimir putin wagner aborted mutiny /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/19/1111451430_0:0:3078:1731_1920x0_80_0_0_4d68de95f3271b9bd01a1ccf662feb95.jpg "I express the solidarity of the people and government of Cuba to the respected President Putin and the brotherly people of the Russian Federation, in the face of attempts to provoke an armed rebellion in the country. We are fully convinced that unity and constitutional order will prevail," Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Twitter on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed support and solidarity to Russia and its government. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of Prigozhin. The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group PMC as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. Later in the day, the Belarusian presidential office said that Prigozhin accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that Wagner troops were returning back to their field camps. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday evening that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be terminated and he would leave for Belarus under guarantees given by Putin. The spokesman added that members of the Wagner PMC who were involved in the Saturday events would not be prosecuted given their distinguished service during Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/putin-we-will-not-let-russia-be-split-will-protect-its-people-1111438289.html cuba russia 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 wagner mutiny attempt, russia mutiny attempt, prigozhin mutiny attempt, cuba on mutiby attempt in russia, cuban president supports putin amid wagner mutiny attempt https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/former-greek-prime-minister-mitsotakis-party-wins-snap-elections-1111464393.html Former Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis' Party Wins Snap Elections Former Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis' Party Wins Snap Elections The conservative party led by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has won the 158 out of 300 seats in parliament. 2023-06-25T20:43+0000 2023-06-25T20:43+0000 2023-06-25T20:43+0000 world kyriakos mitsotakis nikos christodoulides greece new democracy party /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/1b/1106763150_448:0:1602:649_1920x0_80_0_0_335a27cbe9ac5ec5eb099c6370c4fce8.jpg Mitsotakis' party is followed by the left-wing opposition party Syriza with around 17.9% of the votes and 47 seats, with the Panhellenic Socialist Movement and the Communist Party of Greece receiving some 11.96% and 7.61% of the votes, respectively, the interior ministry added. A total of eight parties are expected to make it into the parliament, whereas only five parties managed to do so during the previous elections on May 21. Following the announcement of preliminary election results, Mitsotakis made a statement, vowing to transform the country over the next four years and improve life of Greek citizens. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said that he had called Mitsotakis to congratulate him on the election victory. The snap parliamentary elections were announced in late May after no party won an absolute majority in the parliament during the previous round on May 21. This time, the vote was held under the proportional party list system, in which several candidates are elected based on their position on the electoral list proposed by their party. The leading party is rewarded with up to 50 bonus seats. greece 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 greece, elections, snap elections, parliamentary elections, new democracy party, panhellenic socialist movement, communist party of greece https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/he-speaks-for-us-all-blinken-defends-bidens-dictator-remark-on-xi-1111460414.html 'He Speaks For Us All': Blinken Defends Biden's 'Dictator' Remark on Xi 'He Speaks For Us All': Blinken Defends Biden's 'Dictator' Remark on Xi Biden administration officials have made it clear that the US president's "dictator" comment regarding his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping was by no means a "gaffe." 2023-06-25T17:01+0000 2023-06-25T17:01+0000 2023-06-25T17:01+0000 americas joe biden antony blinken china us xi jinping chinese balloon over us kuomintang state department democratic party /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/03/03/1082245223_0:0:2995:1685_1920x0_80_0_0_942765cd950ba4a9fdc8b8b67b60448d.jpg "The president speaks clearly. He speaks candidly. Ive worked for him for more than 20 years, and he speaks for all of us," Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the US press on Sunday. "Its very clear that when it comes to China, we are going to do and say things that they dont like. They are going to do and say things that we dont like."Joe Biden's notorious remark came a day after Blinken completed his tour to Beijing earlier this week. While the US secretary of state and his Chinese counterparts signaled some modest progress following the so-called "spy balloon" scandal, the US president called Chairman Xi a "dictator" while speaking at a Democratic Party fundraiser in northern California on Tuesday.It's not the first time that Joe Biden has made harsh comments concerning the People's Republic. Since the beginning of his presidency Biden has repeatedly pledged to militarily "protect" Taiwan from China, even though the latter sees the island as its inalienable territory and used to maintain joint projects with the Taiwanese Kuomintang leaders under Xi.On Thursday, Biden tried to defend his stance, adding that his remarks would not have any real consequence for relations between Washington and Beijing.Previously, the State Department dismissed Biden's rough statements as "gaffes"; however, this time, Blinken backed the US president.Nonetheless, Beijing has demonstrated to Washington that it considers Biden's remark as "extremely absurd and irresponsible."US-China relations have considerably deteriorated over the past several years as Washington has increased pressure on the People's Republic's hi-tech sector and beefed up a US-NATO military presence in Western Pacific. In addition, the Biden administration and American lawmakers have repeatedly resorted to provocations against China over Taiwan and the South China Sea. To cap it off, the Pentagon's military doctrine openly proclaims China a systemic challenge against US national security. Beijing has warned the US against provocations, urging Washington to abandon the Cold War mentality and a zero-sum game approach to foreign affairs. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230621/biden-likens-chinas-xi-to-dictator-day-after-blinken-visit-1111349971.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230619/biden-us-china-relations-on-right-trail-after-blinken-visit-to-beijing-1111308245.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/why-aukus-nuclear-sub-deal-will-stir-up-pacific-into-ocean-of-storms-1110982350.html americas china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova 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 Ekaterina Blinova joe biden, joe biden dictator comment, xi jinping, us-china relations, antony blinken, spy balloon accident, pentagon china systemic challenge, taiwan, taiwan strait, biden taiwan remarks, us provocations china, pivot to asia https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/irans-foreign-minister-expresses-support-to-lavrov-amid-wagner-mutiny-attempt-1111450619.html Irans Foreign Minister Expresses Support to Lavrov Amid Wagner Mutiny Attempt Irans Foreign Minister Expresses Support to Lavrov Amid Wagner Mutiny Attempt Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian expressed his country's support for Russia during a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov amid an attempted mutiny attempt by Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin. 2023-06-25T02:13+0000 2023-06-25T02:13+0000 2023-06-26T14:08+0000 russia vladimir putin sergey lavrov iran russian foreign ministry russia hossein amir-abdollahian wagner aborted mutiny /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1e/1094326489_0:135:2603:1599_1920x0_80_0_0_d2fbfc4dcfe6097d62381bc6f27c4665.jpg The Saturday phone call was held at the initiative of the Iranian side. The foreign ministers also discussed Russian-Iranian agenda and regional and international topics. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC). The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. Later in the day, the Belarusian presidential office said that Prigozhin accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that Wagner troops were returning back to their field camps. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has expressed his solidarity and support in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the Saturday events, saying that the Russian government and people are facing a moment of challenge to the character, identity, wisdom and strength of Russia. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a special meeting on Saturday night with the heads of key governmental departments, discussing the situation in Russia. Netanyahu said that the events concerning Wagner Group were Russias internal affair but Israel was going to continue monitoring the developments. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday evening that the criminal case against Prigozhin would be terminated and he would leave for Belarus under guarantees given by Putin. The spokesman added that members of the Wagner PMC who were involved in the Saturday events would not be prosecuted given their distinguished service during Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/mutiny-averted-everything-we-know-as-prigozhin-halts-wagner-march-on-moscow-1111448622.html iran russia 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 wagner mutiny, iran-russia relations, civil war, russia, coup attempt https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/russian-deputy-foreign-minister-meets-chinese-foreign-minister-in-beijing-1111454609.html Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Meets Chinese Foreign Minister in Beijing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Meets Chinese Foreign Minister in Beijing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang exchanged views on a number of issues in Beijing on Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. 2023-06-25T11:05+0000 2023-06-25T11:05+0000 2023-06-25T11:05+0000 world russia china qin gang /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101972/89/1019728957_0:219:4288:2631_1920x0_80_0_0_1c2e77c37cf56293b3a8de38094660b2.jpg "On June 25, 2023, a member of China's State Council, Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko in Beijing and exchanged views with him on Sino-Russian relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest," the ministry said in a statement. No further details of the meeting were given. On June 20, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the level of strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing allowed Russia to be sure that building relations between China and other countries would not be directed against the Russian Federation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230619/cool-on-politics-hot-on-economics-china-lays-out-terms-for-stabilizing-us-ties--1111281923.html russia china 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 russia-china relations, russia-china ties, russian-chinese friendship https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/russian-forces-repel-ukrainian-attacks-in-two-directions-1111450776.html Russian Forces Repel Ukrainian Attacks in Two Directions Russian Forces Repel Ukrainian Attacks in Two Directions MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces have repelled enemy attacks in the south Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, destroying tanks, armored vehicles and manpower... 25.06.2023, Sputnik International 2023-06-25T02:20+0000 2023-06-25T02:20+0000 2023-06-25T04:38+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine donetsk russia ukraine defense ministry zaporozhye donetsk people's republic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/14/1111325740_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_35e82cc430c784cba36b48a1bc23d903.jpg "In the south Donetsk direction, the advanced units of the Vostok group of forces repelled an enemy attack in the Makarovka area. A tank, armored combat vehicles and manpower were destroyed. Having suffered losses, the enemy retreated," the spokesperson said. In the Zaporozhye direction, another Ukrainian attack was repelled and the enemy retreated having suffered losses in manpower and equipment, the spokesperson added. In the South Donetsk direction, Russian forces have also destroyed over 50 Ukrainian militants and seven armored vehicles, the defense ministry spokesperson told Sputnik.Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations. In response to Russias operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine.On September 30, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, as well as Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, signed agreements on the accession of these territories to Russia, following referendums that showed that an overwhelming majority of the local population supported becoming part of Russia.The situation involving the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) and its head Yevgeny Prigozhin in Russia will not affect the progress of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/scott-ritter-ukrainian-counteroffensive-turning-into-suicide-mission-1111441680.html donetsk russia ukraine zaporozhye 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 donetsk, russia, ukraine, defense ministry, zaporozhye, donetsk people's republic https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/serbia-will-never-support-coup-in-russia-any-other-country---vucic-1111454903.html Serbia Will Never Support Coup in Russia, Any Other Country - President Vucic Serbia Will Never Support Coup in Russia, Any Other Country - President Vucic As a serious state, Serbia does not support the attempted coup by the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) in Russia, nor did it support a coup in Turkiye or any other state, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday. 2023-06-25T11:35+0000 2023-06-25T11:35+0000 2023-06-26T14:08+0000 world serbia aleksandar vucic elections military coup coup d'etat wagner aborted mutiny /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/14/1104469452_0:46:3087:1782_1920x0_80_0_0_deead960543e4639b42ae23c9b45ace6.jpg As a serious state, Serbia does not support the attempted coup by the Wagner Group private military company (PMC) in Russia, nor did it support a coup in Turkiye or any other state, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday."The Republic of Serbia, as a serious state, would never support a coup in any state, that is, a coup by military means, by armed means using the army ... We did not support it in Turkiye, Russia, we would not support it in America, in any other country," Vucic said on air of Serbian broadcaster. The Serbian leader stressed that power must be changed in elections, not in the streets. Noting that he and official Belgrade were not in a hurry to comment, Vucic pointed to the haste and rashness of Kiev and some foreign politicians in supporting the actions of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group. The Serbian president also said that the coup had foreign support. The Serbian leader added that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally stopped the rebellion because no one else would. On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of Wagner Group's head Yevgeny Prigozhin. The FSB said that there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true. Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on Saturday in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group PMC as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents. Later in the day, the Belarusian presidential office said that Prigozhin had accepted Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to stop the movement of Wagner troops in Russia and to take further steps to de-escalate the situation. Prigozhin later confirmed the information, saying that the Wagner troops were returning to their field camps. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Saturday evening that the criminal case against Prigozhin had been dropped and that he would leave for Belarus under guarantees given by Putin. The spokesman added that the members of the Wagner PMC who were involved in Saturday's events would not be prosecuted, given their distinguished service during Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/foreign-leaders-express-solidarity-with-russia-amid-wagner-mutiny-1111445545.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/russians-urged-to-unite-in-face-of-wagner-armed-mutiny-attempt-1111440232.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/mutiny-averted-everything-we-know-as-prigozhin-halts-wagner-march-on-moscow-1111448622.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230624/kremlin-situation-with-wanger-pmc-wont-affect-russias-military-op-in-ukraine-1111449040.html serbia 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 prigozhin armed mutiny attempt, wagner group, serbia, aleksandar vucic https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/situation-at-frontline-in-zaporozhye-region-stable-1111451902.html Situation at Frontline in Zaporozhye Region Stable Situation at Frontline in Zaporozhye Region Stable he situation at the frontline in the Zaporozhye region remains stable and Ukrainian troops have not made any significant advances, Vladimir Rogov, a senior official of the Zaporozhye regional administration, told Sputnik. 2023-06-25T04:59+0000 2023-06-25T04:59+0000 2023-06-25T04:59+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis zaporozhye zaporozhye npp /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0c/1111086924_0:317:3072:2045_1920x0_80_0_0_27a84bf1b0df32922284e7dbc88a43ba.jpg "The frontline in the Zaporozhye region is stable and is under the control of our troops. The enemy is making attempts to advance, fighting is underway in the gray zone and on a small section of the first line of defense, where the enemy is trying to gain a foothold," Rogov said. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, after the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian agression. In response to Russias operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine. zaporozhye 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 russian special military operation, ukrainian crisis, zaporozhye https://sputnikglobe.com/20230625/taipei-urges-australia-to-send-military-attache-to-taiwan-1111455891.html Taipei Urges Australia to Send Military Attache to Taiwan Taipei Urges Australia to Send Military Attache to Taiwan Taiwan is calling on Australia to send a military attache to the island so that both sides can share their assessment of the situation with China, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told The Australian media on Sunday. 2023-06-25T12:31+0000 2023-06-25T12:31+0000 2023-06-25T12:31+0000 military asian version of nato aukus asia-pacific region joseph wu taiwan tsai ing-wen australia kevin mccarthy china /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/09/1111020584_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f091bc815509abdfd2fab01c8954bbea.jpg "I think it is very important when the Australian government is paying so much more attention to the regional security issues for the two countries to be able to share their observations, their assessment of the situation," Wu said in an interview. The newspaper specified that the United States, Japan and Singapore have long placed their attaches on the island in order to maintain communication with Taiwanese intelligence services. Wu added that Taiwan also wanted to send a military attache to the Canberra office. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing regards the island as its province, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous entity but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official foreign contacts with Taipei and regards Chinese sovereignty over the island as indisputable. The latest escalation around Taiwan took place in April after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Beijing responded by launching massive three-day military drills near the island in what it called a "warning" to Taiwanese separatists and foreign powers. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/why-aukus-nuclear-sub-deal-will-stir-up-pacific-into-ocean-of-storms-1110982350.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230602/keeping-taiwans-autonomous-status-quo-most-west-can-achieve--french-diplomat-1110855750.html taiwan australia china 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 asian version of nato, aukus, taiwan, china, one-china policy, mainland china, deterring china